FRANCE. 



611 



tsh cider is made, and there is none superior to that of Normandy. Bui France is the country of 

 the grape ; the product of the vineyards is delicious, and so abundant, that it supplies the demand 

 of every less fortunate chniate. The choicest wines, however, seldom pass the frontiers. The 

 Champagne is a sparkling wine, and the best is not to be had for less than 5 or 6 francs a bottle; 

 and this quality is in too much demand to be easily obtained. The Chaa)pagne river wines 

 are generally red, and the mountain wines white. Those of Sillery are the most esteemed. 

 Some of the choice Burgundy has been sold on the spot for 12 francs a bottle. The wines of 

 Burgundy are both red and white ; they are light and delicious, both in taste and perfume. 

 The best are those raised in the departments of the Cote d'Or, Yonne, Saone, and Loire. 

 Some of the red wines are the Chanibertin, Romance Conti, Richebourg, Romance de St. 

 Vivant, Tache, and St. George. The Mont Rachet is a white wine of great celebrity. The 

 Hermitage is a delicious red wine, produced on the Rhone. 



Among the clarets, the La Fitle, the Latour, the Chateau Margaux, and Haut Brion, are 

 sold for about 25 per cent, more than the common qualities ; and even at Bordeaux, a bottle 

 of the best of these is not to be had for less than 6 francs. These are the wines that are the 

 most known and esteemed. The common vin du pays, or country wine, is of various quali- 

 ties, and great quantities of it are consumed. The bare names of all the various wines of 

 France, would hardly be contained in one of these pages. There are more than 250 different 

 kinds. It is estimated, that about one twenty-sixth part of the territory is taken up in the cul- 

 tivation of the vine. The price of vineyard land is very high. An arpent, or rather more 

 than an English acre, which produces 800 bottles, is sometimes sold for 3,000 dollars. It is 

 undoubtedly true, that the people of countries abounding in wines are far more temperate than 

 those who cannot cultivate the grape. All the inventions of man to supply the want of wines 

 are deleterious. It has been contended, that wine is everywhere an evil, yet we believe it may 

 be safely stated, that, in the country of vineyards, it is seldom perverted to a curse. But, 

 when it becomes an article of commerce, it is mixed; adulterated, and dashed with spirits, 

 for better preservation. In the United States, a deleterious manufacture of wines is carried 

 on to a great extent ; and the use of this poisoned beverage is often the beginning of intem- 

 perance, which is the less suspected, because the enemy comes in the seeming guise of a 

 friend. 



18. Diseases. France is, in general, a salubrious country, and there are few diseases of a 

 malignant type. The plague has been imported at Marseilles, where it made fearful ravages ; 

 but perhaps the most common of the local diseases is the fever and ague, which prevails in 

 many places. 



19. Traveling. There is less internal communication in France than in England. The 

 method of posting extends over France, as well as Europe generally. The postmasters are 

 appointed by the government, and furnish horses and carriages at a moment's warning. The 

 postilion, by certain notes of his horn, gives notice to the post-houses ; and when the traveler 

 arrives, the horses are in readiness. This mode of traveling is expensive ; and the rate is about 

 6 miles an hour. The diligence is a cheaper and a much slower method. The Diligence, 

 the name of which promises little speed, is something between a wagon and a coach ; its stops 



are brief, and it goes from 4 to 6 miles an hour. 

 There are usually 5 horses. One is within a heavy 

 ;, pair of shafts, another is harnessed without the shaft, 

 at the side of the first, and three are leader? harnessed 

 with ropes, abreast. Tlie postilion is himself a char- 

 ^ acter. He wears a little round hat, a green jacket, 

 S hair en queue., and jack-boots, that may well be called 

 '~ enormous. The nature of his equipments calls upon 

 him for perpetual expedients, and he seems to be al- 

 ways joining a bridle, knotting a whip, or knocking on 

 a saddle with a stone. He is off and on his horse's back many times in a stage, without stop- 

 ping the vehicle. If a passenger calls, he dismounts, pops his head into the window, or runs 

 by the side. The diligence has a conductor, who sleeps in the cabriolet, or forward apart- 

 ment, and who sits at the head of the table with the passengers. 



Some of the great roads of France are paved with stone^ in a very superior manner. They 

 were made in times when the peasantry were compelled to labor upon them, and many are 

 shaded with rows of venerable trees. Yet they are far less agreeable to travel upon than the 



