1807.] 
every side, they are apt to lose all pre- 
sence of mind, become giddy, and fall 
down; thus, not only obstructing the ex- 
ertions of the experienced firemen, but 
disheartening the tyro from following the 
example of his master, The veteran 
fireman, on the contrary, forms his opi- 
nion of a conflagration at the first sight 
of it; he immediately knows whither to di- 
rect his engine, and what instructions to 
give to the assistants. 
A guard of firemen consists of three 
persons; a corporal, a head fireman, and 
an under-fireman. The first supermtends 
the engine, that is to say, he directs the 
working of it, and takes care that no 
muddy or gritty water be poured into the 
cistern of the pump. The second super- 
antends the fire, thatis, he attends to the 
tendency, power, and extension of it, and 
points the spout of the engine according- 
ly. The third superintends the leather 
pipes, that is, he follows the second, being 
very careful that the pipes be well laid, 
do not become entangled, or swell too 
much in one place. To prevent their 
bursting, he is always provided with some 
twine, for the purpose of applying it in 
time. For, even if the pipe actually 
burst, this application is so_ beneficial, 
that the operation is no way interrupted 
by the aperture. The firemen, who pos- 
sess the privilege of compelling every one 
present to give assistance, are expected 
to assign each person his proper place, » 
lest he labour to no purpose. This task 
is allotted to the first fireman, who di- 
rects the working of the engine, and ar- 
ranges near it the first file of from ten to 
fifteen persons, handing the buckets. The 
rest are under the orders of a magistrate, 
attending for that purpose. As scarely a 
day passes at Paris without some fire 
breaking out, the firemen are kept in 
continual practice. Every playhouse 
in Paris is obliged to provide a fire-en- 
gine, which is served by three firemen, 
who are daily relieved by others. Their 
attendance begins at five o’clock in the 
afternoon precisely, and. is continued 
through the whole of the night till day- 
light, during which tiie they keep strict 
watch. Each man receives a monthly 
gratuity of thirty francs, as their pay, 
considering the extraordinary hardships 
and dangers to which they are exposed, 
is very slender; for the city pays to each 
fireman no more than sixteen so/s a day. 
The smaller theatres. disburse every day 
for the three firemen nine livres, and the 
larger ones from fifteen to eighteen livres. 
In case a theatre be set on lire, the first 
Montuty Mac, No, 157. 
Account of the Company of Firemen at Paris. 
453 
sound of a particular whistle denotes that 
the firemen are at their post; the se 
cond, that the working of the engine has 
becun; aad the third, that it has ceased, 
and is no longer necessary. 
After what has been observed, no one 
ean, even in Paris, become an expert 
firemen, before seven or eight years pracs 
uce. For although theoretical know- 
ledge is of some use, yet the views of ma- 
ny totally different conflagrations, an un- 
common presence of mind, and a cous 
rage supported by the generous disposi- 
tion of succouring the unfortunate, are 
absolutely necessary to insure ultimate 
success. 
In Paris, the idea of honesty is inse= 
parably connected with that of fireman ; 
for although the fireman has a right to 
demand the opening of any room, and in 
case of refusal, to burst open both street 
and room-doors, yet there is no person 
who would take more scrupulous care 
of property entrusted to him, 
Skilful engineers have more than once 
attended at cosflagrations, but have free- 
ly confessed, that on such emergencies 
their theoretical knowledge proved insuf- 
ficient to direct the operations of the fire~ 
men, who had the advantage of experi- 
ence, derived from long practice. 
Every fireman is at liberty to retire 
from the service of the company at plea- 
sure, which is a wise regulation, calcu- 
lated for its general benefit. For many 
individuals are admitted members, who, 
after becoming more intimately acquaint- 
ed with the dangers, to which every fire- 
man is daily expased, shrink from the 
_diticulties of such a service. Were these 
men enrolled like soldiers, they would 
discharge their duties not only in a ser 
vile manner, but in constant agony, and 
certainly do more harm than good; as the 
firemen engaged in actual service are en= 
jomed to pertorm certain functions, frem 
which every other citizen is excluded. 
I have been informed that the French 
soldiers who returned from Egypt unani- 
mously assert, that if Bonaparte had 
taken with hun either a whole company, 
or at least a dozen, of firemen, to in- 
struct ethers, they would not, during 
their stay in that country, have been an- 
noyed by so many conflagrations. 
The new organization of the Paris 
firemen is set forth in a decree, which 
passed in the ninth year, under the Con- 
sular government. Its principal features 
arean augmentation of their number, and 
an increase of pay. The age ofthe fire- 
men is likewise restricted to the period 
3K ot 
