THEATRE AT PARIS. 



JS'X TRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF A TRAVELLER, 

 PRINCIPALLY RELATING TO 

 THE THEATRE AT PARIS. 



1789. June 18. In the forenoon faw the proceffion of 

 the petite Fete-Dieu. Induftry of the french on fucli 

 OGcafions. 



Great tables and carts were fet for people to get 

 upon, in places where the holy trumpery was to pafs. 

 The rude janizary muflc fuited very well with the rough 

 voices of the eccleliairics, but badly to the pious ge- 

 nuflexions of the fpeclators ; many of whom, covered 

 with braifes, and replete with love to themfelves and 

 to God, ran from one remote quarter of the town to 

 another — the petit-maitres, with the powder falling 

 down their cloaths, looked like fo many barbers, and 

 the girls tripping along with their petticoats under their 

 arms, becaufe the ftreets were dirty, added to the 

 gaiety and livelinefs of the fcene. While the fhow 

 was paffing, the favoyards were conftantly crying * 

 Place a louer ! — Then away to the opera ! 



The french opera is worthy of being the pride of the 

 "nation. The fplendid decorations, the fpacious ftage, 

 the rapidity and exactitude of the fcene-iliifting, is 

 perhaps no where to be equalled. Every deception m 

 the power of perfpeclive I faw this clay in the reprefen- 

 tation of the ifle of Naxos. The rocks, the agitations, 

 of the fea 3 the remote Iky in qontacl: with the watery 



element 



