THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 273 



a day. I went to the theatre with John Chorley to see 

 " The Hypocrite ; " it is stolen from Moliere's famous 

 " Tartuffe, " — cut and sliced to suit the English market. 

 I finished my evening by reading the Life of Tasso. 



December 2Jj- The whole town appears to be engaged 

 in purchasing eatables for to-morrow. I saw some people 

 carrying large nosegays of holly ornamented with flowers in 

 imitation of white roses, carnations, and others, cut out of 

 turnips and carrots; Taut I heard not a single gun fire, no 

 fireworks s going on anywhere, — a very different time to 

 what we have in Louisiana. I spent my evening with Dr. 

 Rutter looking at his valuable collection of prints of the 

 men of the Revolution. Poor Charette, 1 whom I saw shot on 

 the Place de Viarme at Nantes, was peculiarly good, as were 

 General Moreau, Napoleon, when Consul, and many others ; 

 and Dr. Rutter knew their lives well. 



December 25. At midnight I was awakened by Dr. 

 Munroe, who came with a bottle of that smoky Scotch 

 whiskey which I can never like, and who insisted on my 

 taking a glass with him in honor of the day. Christmas 

 in my country is very different indeed from what I have 

 seen here. With us it is a general merry-making, a day 

 of joy. Our lads have guns, and fire almost all night, and 

 dance all day and the next night. Invitations are sent to 

 all friends and acquaintances, and the time passes more 

 gayly than I can describe. Here, families only join to- 

 gether, they go to church together, eat a very good dinner 

 together, I dare say; but all is dull — silent — -mournful. 

 As to myself, I took a walk and dined with Mr. Munroe 

 and family, and spent a quiet evening with John Chorley. 

 This is my Christmas day for 1827. 



December 28. Immediately after breakfast the box came 

 containing the fifth number, and three full sets for my new 

 subscribers here. The work pleased me quite. 



1 Francois Athanase de Charette, a leader of the Vend^ans against the 

 French Republic ; executed at Nantes, on May 12, 1797. 

 vol. 1. — 18 



