FRANCE. 



617 



Philosophy, and Belles-Lettres. In the Royal Colleges, (which are a grade lower,) and of 

 which there are about 40, lectures are delivered gratis to the students, and instruction given in 

 the classics, history, rhetoric, mathematics, &,c. The District Colleges or High-schools are 

 preparatory to these colleges, and are 322 in number. Reading, writing, and arithmetic, &c., 

 are taught in them. 



In Paris, there is a great diffusion of knowledge ; it is the spirit of the place, and of the 

 age, to throw open to the public the vast collections in science and art ; and there are public 

 lectures on various scientific subjects. It is common in Paris to see fruit women, coachmen, 

 and others of the same class, reading while on their stand ; and the book, if examined, would 

 be found to be a volume of Racine or Corneiile, or of some author of that grade.* 



23. State of the Arts, Sciences, and Literature. France is rich in scientific works, espe- 

 cially in zoology, botany, chemistry, and mathematics. Among many other names distinguished 

 in these sciences, are Buffon, Cuvier, La Place, Lacepede, Jussieu, Lavoisier, Fourcroy, 

 Geoffroy, &c. The French literature abounds in excellent works on morals and law ; and in 

 memoirs and letter-writing it is unrivaled. The ornamental arts are in a high state, and Paris 

 is richly endowed with painting and sculpture. Many of the monuments of ancient art collected 

 by Napoleon, in the capital, are yet in France. The king's museum, in the Louvre, affords 

 a greater display of fine paintings and fine statuary, than any other collection in the world. Yet 

 these do not seem to have had the effect upon the national taste which might naturally have 

 been expected. A dry and insipid imitation of the Greek style distinguishes both the paint- 

 ing and sculpture of the present day in France. David, born in 1750, was the founder of the 

 modern school of painting. In his desire to correct the florid and unmeaning style which had 

 existed since the days of Louis the Fourteenth, he fell into the contrary extreme. He ap- 

 plied himself to the study of antique sculpture, and with much success. His drawing and de- 

 sign are correct and noble, but his works are in general devoid of simplicity and nature. In 

 his style, he resembled Pouissin, but that great artist represented the simplicity and repose of 

 the ancient statues. David added forced attitudes, and exaggerated expressions to his figures. 

 Yet, the Horatii of David, his Funeral of Patroclus, and his Coronation of Napoleon, are 

 fine performances ; and his portraits of his Imperial patron Napoleon, can hardly be criticized. 

 Those who have followed in the style of David, have in general adopted his faults, and their 

 want of talent renders their errors more glaring. 



The French sculptors of the present day have more science than feeling or invention. Their 

 works display the correct proportion and symmetry of the Grecian statues, but are totally 

 wanting in the divine expression and sentiment which animated these works. In the useful 

 arts, the French have many ingenious inventions, but they are, on the whole, much behind the 

 English In copper, steel, and wood engravings, they are also inferior ; but they have brought 

 the lithographic art to great perfection, and by means of this, we are supplied in the United 

 States with beautiful copies of many of the best paintings in Europe, as well ancient as 

 motlern. 



24. Religion. Until the revolution of 1830, the Roman Catholic was the established 

 religion ; but no one sect has now any advantage over another. The following are the prin- 

 cipal clergy ; there are several cardinals, all of which have 30,000 francs a year, except the 

 archbishop of Paris, who has 100,000. There are 14 archbishops, who receive (except 

 those who are cardinals) 25,000 francs a year. There are 66 bishops, with salaries of 15,000 

 francs ; 174 vicars-general, who receive from 4,000 to 2,000 francs ; 660 titular canons, or 

 prebendaries, receiving from 2,400 to 1,500 francs ; 1,783 honorary canons and 3,085 cu- 

 rates or rectors, receiving from 1,600 francs to 1,100 francs. 26,800 desservans who perform 

 the duties of the titular clergy, receiving from 900 to 750 francs ; 5,756 vicars, 439 chap- 

 lains, 839 almoners, 1,976 priests, resident in parishes, and 1,044 directors, and professors 

 of seminaries. The total number of Catholic priests actually doing duty is nearly 40,000. 

 The number of women in religious establishments is about 20,000. There are 1,983 of these 



• France had 23 Universities before the revolution. Of 

 ihese, the Sorbonne, founded at Paris in 12.50, by Robert 

 de Sorbonne, was the most celebrated. The academies 

 and literary societies were 29. The universities were sup- 

 planted at the revolution by the icolcs centrales, primaires 

 and secondaires. The academies of Paris were united into 

 one, and denominated the National Institute, soon after the 

 revolution. This institution is divided into 4 academies 



78 



the ^4cadimie Frangaise, composed of 40 members ; that of 

 Inscriptions and Bcllcs Lcttres, also of 40 ; the Royal Acad- 

 emy of Sciences, with 63 ; and that of the Fine Arts, with 

 40 ; Napoleon's Imperial University has been re.tained with 

 some modification. It includes 26 academies universi 

 taircs, preparatory to which are the colleges or high 

 schools. 



