During the last year of the republican era, the number of males born in Paris was 9296; and that of females, 9177; making the general total of births 18,473, of which the males, born out of wedlock, amounted to 1792; and the females, to 1852. The number of persons deceased, within the same period, was 10,446 males, and 10,301 females; making together 20,747. The annual decrease in population was consequently 2274 souls. The number of marriages was 3826; and that of divorces, 720; which is nearly 2 out of 11.
The ancient division of Paris consisted of three parts; namely, La Cité, l'Université, and La Ville. La Cite comprised all the Ile du Palais. This is the parent-stock of the capital, whence have extended, like so many branches, the numerous quarters by which it is surrounded. L'Université was bordered by the Seine, the Faubourg St. Bernard, St. Victor, St. Marcel, St. Jacques, and the Faubourg St. Germain. The number of colleges in this quarter, had obtained it the name of Le Pays Latin. La Ville comprehended all the rest of the capital, not included in the suburbs.
At present, Paris is divided into twelve mayoralties (as you will see by the Plan), each of which is presided by a central office of municipal police. The Faubourgs retain their ancient names; but those of many of the streets have been changed in the course of the revolution. The Chaussée d'Antin, which comprises the new streets north of the Boulevard Italien, is now the most fashionable part of the town. The houses here are chiefly inhabited by bankers and persons living in affluence; and apartments in this neighbourhood are considerably dearer than in the Faubourg St. Germain, which, comparatively speaking, is deserted.
I have already described the Porte St. Denis and the Porte St. Martin, which are nothing more than arcs of triumph. In proportion as the limits of the capital became extended, the real gates were removed, but reappeared under the name of barrières. These costly edifices were constructed during the ministry of CALONNE, under the direction of LEDOUX, the architect, who has taken a pleasure in varying their form and character. One represents an observatory; another, a chapel; some have the appearance of rusticated buildings; others, that of temples. Under the old régime too, the farmers-general had inclosed Paris with a high wall, the extent of which has been estimated at upwards of 10,000 toises. This wall displeased the eye of the Parisians, and, when they were out of humour, induced them to murmur loudly. Whence the following jeu de mots:
"Le mur, murant Paris, rend Paris murmurout."
During the revolution, it was by no means uncommon to shut the barrières, in order to serve the purposes of party, and favour the arrest of particular persons. To the number of sixty, they are placed at the principal outlets of the suburbs, and occupied by custom-house officers, whose business is to collect duties, and watch that no contraband goods find their way into the city. Formerly, when every carriage entering Paris was stopped and examined (which is not the case at present), the self-importance of these commis des barrières could be equalled only by their ignorance.
A traveller arriving from Egypt brought with him a mummy. The case being long, he chose not to fasten it on to his post-chaise, but sent it to Paris by water. When it was landed at the barrière, the custom-house officers opened it, and, finding it to contain a black-looking body, decided that this was a man who had been baked in an oven. They took the linen bandages for his burnt shirt, and, after drawing up a procès-verbal in due form, sent the mummy to the Morne, where dead bodies are exposed in order to be owned. When the proprietor reached Paris, he went to the barrière to claim his mummy. The commis listened to him and stared at him with astonishment. He grew angry, and at length broke out into a violent passion; when one of the searchers, in a whisper, advised him to decamp, if he wished to avoid the gallows. The traveller, stupified, was obliged to apply to the Minister of the Police, and, with some difficulty, recovered from the Morne his Egyptian prince or princess, who, after having been preserved 2000 years, was on the point of being buried in a catholic cemetery, instead of figuring in a cabinet of curiosities.
[Footnote 1]: The article of lead alone for the water-pipes cost thirty-two millions of livres or £1,333,333 sterling; but
"Rich in her weeping country's spoils, Versailles!
May boast a thousand fountains, that can cast
The tortur'd waters to the distant heav'ns"—