[84] The national garden of plants.
[85] Among the curious quadrupeds here preserved is the Camelopardalis. Vide Vaillant’s Travels in Africa.
[86] I do not mention l’École Polytechnique, that admirable institution, in which eight hundred young men, named by the government (principally as a reward for the services of their fathers), are liberally educated, because it forms part of the system of public instruction, which, being of a political nature, is foreign to my object. In this letter I only mean to point out those establishments, from which foreigners can derive either information or pleasure.
[87] The boiled beef, which, after making the soup, is always served at a trench table. “Le vin ordinaire,” or common wine, is a weak, sour beverage, which costs about sixpence english per bottle, and is not, either in taste or strength, superiour to our small beer.
[88] The boxes “au baignoir” are on the level with the pit, under the first tier, and are in the shape of a bath, from which they take their name.
[89] Persons going to France ought to know, that, the exchange being at present against England, we regularly lose from five to seven per cent on the money drawn from the latter country. This loss must of course be added to the calculation of expenses on the continent.
[90] I have heard, since I left Paris, that a very fine house, formerly belonging to a nobleman, and known by the name of “l’Hôtel de Beauveau,” has lately been opened as an “hôtel garni,” and assumed the title of “Hôtel de Prince de Galle.” It stands in “la Rue Fauxbourg St. Honoré,” nearly fronting one of the avenues to the Champs Elisées. In spring the situation must be very pleasant. It is at a considerable distance from the theatres, but in a most respectable part of the town.
[91] “Restaurateurs” are tavern keepers, where dinners are served.
[92] Visits.—It is the custom, in all parts of France, and particularly at Paris, to receive and pay perpetual visits. The whole of every evening is passed in a routine of this kind (when the spectacle offers no irresistible temptation); and a parisian belle was, the other day, quite astonished and disgusted, when I told her, that in England ladies seldom received the visits of young men.—“Qu’elle vie ennuyeuse que votre vie de Londres!” exclaimed the fair one; “qu’on doit passer des tristes journées! Que peut elle faire, une malheureuse anglaise, après diner?”
“Elle va aux assemblées ou à l’opera—Mais si elle est malade?