The American in Paris; vol. 2 of 2

IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1838.

LONDON: PRINTED BY STEWART AND MURRAY, OLD BAILEY.


Mass at St. Roch for Admiral de Rigny.—The Abbé Lacordaire at Notre Dame.—State of the French Church.—St. Genevieve.—St. Etienne du Mont.—The American child at Prayers.—St. Medard.—Its Miracles.—Chapelle de St. Nicholas.—The Madelaine.—Notre Dame.—St. Denis.—St. Sulpice.—The Church Service.—Celibacy of the Clergy.—American Churches.—Manner of keeping Sunday.
Paris, November 14th, 1835.
I attended yesterday a mass said at St. Roch’s for the soul of the Admiral de Rigny, who was famous, you know, for much fighting at sea and land, especially at Navarino, and for much talking in the Chamber of Peers about the American Indemnity. He was never chary about dying, he said, but he thought it unlucky to be snatched away just when he was wanted to chastise “Old Hickory” for his impudent Message. By-the-bye, all the world is talking of war here by the hour, with great fluency and ignorance. Newspapers and conversation are full of abuse. They send out privateers by five hundreds, and take our ships as kites catch chickens. Worst of all, they don’t leave an American alive, and they kill us all off without losing a man.—The Admiral’s hearse was rich with the spoils of vanquished enemies, and was escorted by ten thousand French heroes to Pére la Chaise , with thrilling music from all the military bands, and with a pomp and circumstance suitable to the dignity of so great a personage.
I went this morning with every body to Notre Dame, to hear the celebrated Abbé Lacordaire preach. He was too eloquent! Oratory in this country, at least in the pulpit, has her trumpet always at full blast, and announces the smallest little news with the emphasis of a miracle. Her method is to run up to the top of the voice and then pour out her whole spirit, as your Methodists on Guinea Hill, until human nature is exhausted, and then to take a drink and begin again. I will set you a French sermon, if you please, to the gamut, and you may play it on the piano.