43^ LETTERS PROM PARIS. 



that minifter to conveniency, to luxury and orienta- 

 tion, which have eflablifhed themfelves in the prefent 

 Paris, were not then even in bud. A fon of this very 

 king died by a fall from a horfe, under which a num- 

 ber of fwine returning from the fields had run, even in 

 the midfl of Paris, and who trampled over the prince 

 as he lay. We can now, hardly imagine it of the fon 

 of a burgomafler of feme petty town in Germany ; an 

 inflance, at once, of the ruflicity of the place, and the 

 poor attendance of the prince. 



Not till under the reign of Philip Auguftus did Pa- 

 ris begin to make any conliderable figure. This prince, 

 who was fond of galantry, and all the arts relating to 

 it or that are foftered or required by it, when it is in 

 powerful hands, was likewife fas is always the cafe 

 with princes of his flamp) a great promoter of real 

 learning ; and men foon began to perceive that the 

 fruits of the head and of luxury are more conveniently 

 reaped, than thofe which muft be fparingly extorted 

 by the hands continually employed. All flocked nearer 

 to the king and his refidence ; and the wafles on the 

 right and left banks of the Seine were gradually built 

 on and peopled. The fchools became famous, fo as to 

 attract y.oimg perfons from the other provinces and 

 even from abroad ; while the condefcending and amia- 

 ble king found means of drawing the lefs haughty vaf- 

 fais imperceptibly from their fond fpoufes, about his 

 perfon and his court. Thus, in the fpace round the 

 little ille, houfe was added to houfe and frreet to ftreet ; 

 fo that even this king already found it neceflary to 

 connect the feveral parts of his refidence together by a 

 wall. . { ; . 



6 He 



