CALAIS ROYAL. 449 



capitals. This gallery is double, and has fhops on 

 each fide, limilar to thofe under the arcades, and 

 where all articles of convenience and luxury are ex~ 

 pofed to fale. By day this gallery is deficient in light, 

 but on evenings it fhines with the light of thoufands 

 of lamps and tapers, though it muft be confefTed the 

 fmoak of them is fomewhat offenfrve. The firft ftory 

 of the palais royal is allotted to objects of another kind, 

 in a ftill more elegant flyle, and on a more extenhVe 

 fcale. Here are large cabinets of pictures, magazines 

 of furniture, gold and filver plate, and pieces of me- 

 dian if m of various kinds, felect focieties, clubs, halls 

 for lectures and the arts, for chefs-play, for billiards, 

 furnifhed chambers for foreigners, halls, and apart- 

 ments for reftaurateurs, &c. in the greater! diversity. 

 Let us run over them. 



Numbers 4 to 12 are taken up with what is called, 

 Magazin de conflance, where the commodities are fold 

 at a fixt price without abatement. The parifian trades- 

 men, from the greater!: to the leait, ever fet a price 

 upon their goods higher or lower according as they 

 fuppofe the cuftomer to be acquainted or not acquainted 

 with the true value of the article ; but never lefs than 

 one third above what they would take for it. A fo- 

 reigner, ignorant of the real worth of things at Paris, is 

 in a difagreeable fituation in this refpect ; as he feldom 

 comes out of their fhops without having been cheated. 

 This is in a particular manner the cafe with Engliih- 

 men and Germans, who are unaccuilomed to this jew- 

 ifh mode of dealing in their own countries, or bring 3, 

 I kind of falfe generality with them to Paris, which 

 ought to make the cheat afhamed ; but he cares only 

 vol, 11. g. q how 



