CHAP. IX.] THE " MONDE DE LA HER." 95 



and there are glass facings to brick and cement tanks, 5 or 6 feet wide. 

 These thirteen are for salt water alone; but there are others for fresh 

 water, and two little ponds 10 or 12 feet across. The aquaria are lit by 

 gas-lights placed above, which light up in the most efficient manner the 

 interior, and show every fish most perfectly. There appears to be no 

 confervoid growth ; and doubtless the gas-light is unfavourable to such 

 vegetation, but gives an illumination more resembling the natural con- 

 dition in deep water. A gas-engine is employed to change the water, 

 which continually runs to a tank below, and is pumped back, the jet 

 being thrown with such force as to carry down a great quantity of air in 

 very minute division so much, in fact, that I thought it was done by an 

 air-pump, until the attendant obliged me by allowing me to go behind the 

 scenes and inspect the contrivance. The " Monde de la Mer " in these 

 tanks were truly wonderful : large fish a yard long, soles and skates of 

 ample proportions, with lobster, crayfish, and numerous species of fish of 

 brilliant colours from the Mediterranean. Hundreds of anemones made 

 a sort of flower-garden ; and the effect was so interesting and so beautiful 

 that it has to be seen to be believed and appreciated. 



The aquarium at the Zoological Gardens, which formerly attracted so 

 much attention, was a mere baby to it, and gave no idea of the behaviour 

 of the great-grandfather fish which are here contained. 



It occurred to me, that if I was a child and fell in love with this 

 beautiful exhibition, there must be hundreds and thousands of grown-up 

 children who would also like to be introduced to the " Monde de la Mer." 

 Then why not get up a bigger " Mer," and a more distinguished " Monde " 

 at the Zoological Gardens ? 



The place would be the bank sloping to the canal, looking towards 

 the north : for fish have a decided natural objection to be cooked by a 

 southern sun. And the moment I arrive in England I shall rush to the 

 Zoo to see if perfidious Albion has copied the idea and out-Mer'd and out- 

 Monde'd the " Monde de la Mer " of Paris. 



I remain, my dear Sir, 



Yours faithfully, 



HOTEL MEURICE, Paris, ALFRED SMEE. 



Nov. 19th, 1866. 



In 1866, it will be remembered, a great monetary panic occurred 

 in the city of London, when many families lost large fortunes, 

 and when, to add to the misfortune, the discount house of Overend 

 and Gurney stopped payment. To endeavour to stop the stagna- 

 tion which was occasioned by large sums of money which were 

 not lost, but not get-at-able, in fact " locked up " for a consider- 

 able space of time, an ingenious remedy was suggested by Alfred 

 Smee, which will be found in the Appendix, No. XXX. This 

 panic was succeeded by hardships which had to be endured by 

 unfortunate shareholders of public companies in liquidation, 

 and which elicited some anonymous letters from Mr. Smee's 

 pen. These letters follow those on ' Locked-up Money,' in the 

 Appendix, No. XXXI. 



