In consequence of the general application of this word in France to every thing relating to the stage, a parisian, on his arrival in London, wishing to go to the play, supposed that he had only to look for the word spectacle in a french and english dictionary; and, having found that the literal translation gave him the same word, with perfect confidence directed his hackney coachman to drive to the spectacle. The fellow, supposing that he wanted to purchase a pair of spectacles, conducted him to the celebrated shop at Charing-cross. The frenchman flew into a passion, and by his gestures conveyed, that this was not the place where he desired to go. The coachman, imagining that this was not the optician’s, to which he wished to be taken, carried him to several others in different parts of the town. After a long round, during which the favourite oaths of the two countries were mutually exchanged between monsieur and his charioteer, the former was compelled to pass his evening in the hackney coach instead of the play-house, and thus learnt the difference between french spectacles and english spectacles.
[7] Mademoiselle Beauharnois is since married to Louis Bonaparte, one of the brothers of the first consul; to whom she has become, therefore, both daughter and sister.
[8] Married to General le Clerc, who commanded the expedition to St. Domingo. She accompanied him to that island, and incurred all the dangers of climate and of war. She did so in obedience to Bonaparte’s particular orders; with whom it is an undeviating principle, that a wife should always follow the steps and fortunes of her husband.
[9] As we should say in english, “a lost thing.” The french expression is more commonly used, and is infinitely stronger in its meaning. It is adopted on all occasions of misfortune; such as to deplore the death of a friend, or the loss of a “spectacle.” A general was lately killed in a duel. A fair parisian of high fashion, to whom he was much attached, on hearing of the accident, exclaimed, with an accent of deep despair, “Que je suis à plaindre! il devoit m’avoir amenée au bal de l’opéra demain. Voilà une affaire bien manquée.” (How am I to be pitied! he was to have taken me to the ball at the opera to-morrow. Here is a lost thing, or a party completely deranged.)
[10] What bad weather! what a misfortune! really it is terrible! it is shocking! The fête would have been so fine, if this devilish rain had not fallen!
[11] By the good fortune of Bonaparte.
[12] At the house of the respectable M. de la T⸺, whose niece is the lady of the celebrated P⸺t, some time president of the convention, and afterwards banished, with many other worthy men, at the revolution of the 18th of Fructidor. M. P⸺t is a distinguished writer; and, as a politician, was much esteemed for the moderation of his principles, and the integrity of his conduct. Madame P⸺t is a woman of very superiour talents and great acquirements. She is likewise justly admired for the humanity which has induced her to devote her hours to that excellent institution, la Société Maternelle, of which she is the president. The object of this society is, to afford deserted orphans that comfort, of which they have been deprived by the death or the fault of their parents.
[13] “De mauvaise compagnie”—“of bad company, unfit for good company.” The terms, “bonne compagnie,” and “mauvaise compagnie,” are for ever in the mouths of coquettes and petits-maîtres. It is difficult to define what, I believe, is meant to be indefinable.
[14] L’ancienne noblesse, literally translated, “the ancient nobility.” I use the expression in french, because the word “nobility,” in our language, expresses a very different thing.—The nobility of England are a small, respectable, and wealthy body, exercising a great and important part of the constitution, and possessed of powers highly important to the state. The french “noblesse” consisted of sixty or seventy thousand families, every individual of which would have thought himself disgraced by engaging in any branch of trade, or useful industry; enjoying many privileges personally advantageous, but discharging no public functions, as nobles, at all connected with the government.
[15] “Contractors.”