"Queen of Spades: 'Liberté de la Presse,'—Liberty of the Press. A female figure with a pen in one hand, and with the other sustaining a desk, on which lies a roll of paper partly unfolded, and displaying the words 'Morale, Religion, Philosophie, Physique, Politique, Histoire.' At the bottom, masks, rolls of manuscript, and such like.
"Knave of Spades: 'Egalité de Rangs,'—Equality of Ranks. The figure of a man whose costume accords rather with that of a 'Septembriseur' than with that of a mere 'Sans-culotte' of the period. He wears sabots, and has a red cap on his head. He has no coat on, and his shirt-sleeves are tucked up to the elbows. His small-clothes are loose at the knees, and his legs are bare. He is seated on a large stone, on which is inscribed: 'Démolition de la Bastille. 10 Août, 1792.' Under his feet is a scroll inscribed 'Noblesse,' and displaying shields of arms. The vertical inscription is 'Puissance.'
"King of Clubs: 'Génie de la Paix,'—Genius of Peace. In his right hand he holds the 'Fasces' and an olive branch, and in the left a scroll containing the word 'Lois.' The vertical inscription is 'Prospérité.'
"Queen of Clubs: 'Liberté du Mariage,'—Liberty of Marriage. The figure of a female holding a pike surmounted with the red cap; and on a scroll attached to the pike is the word 'Divorce.' The vertical inscription is 'Pudeur.' On a pedestal is a statue of the crouching Venus entirely naked,—without doubt intended for the emblem of Modesty.
"Knave of Clubs: 'Egalité de Droits,'—Equality of Rights. A judge in tricolor costume, holding in one hand a pair of scales, and in the other a scroll containing the inscription 'La loi pour tous.' He is trampling on a serpent or dragon, the tortuous folds of which represent legal chicanery. The vertical inscription is 'Justice.'
"King of Diamonds: 'Génie du Commerce,'—the Genius of Commerce. He is seated on a large bale, which contains the inscription 'P. B. d'inv. J. D. à Paris.' In one hand he holds a purse, and in the other a caduceus and an olive-branch. The vertical inscription is 'Richesse.' At the bottom are an anchor, the prow of a ship, a portfolio, and such like.
"Queen of Diamonds: 'Liberté des Professions,'—Liberty of Professions and Trades. A female figure who, in the same manner as the other three Liberties, holds a pike surmounted with the red cap. With the other hand she holds a cornucopiæ and a scroll containing the word 'Patentes.' The vertical inscription is 'Industrie.'
"Knave of Diamonds: 'Egalité de Couleurs,'—Equality of Colours. The figure of a Negro, seated, and leaning upon a musket. Below is the word 'Café.' Near to him are a sugar-loaf, a broken yoke, fetters, iron collars for the neck, and such like. The vertical inscription is 'Courage.'
"Such are the coat cards of this Republican pack. The numeral cards are the same as the old ones, with the exception of the Aces, which are surrounded by four fasces placed lozenge-wise, with these words: 'La Loi. Rép. Franç.;' the whole coloured blue. It is scarcely necessary to say that those ridiculous cards had not even a momentary vogue." [300]
The coat cards of a Republican pack, of recent American manufacture, have been forwarded to me by a friend, resident at New York. From the name of the maker,—R. Sauzade,—which occurs on the Ace of Spades, I am inclined to think that their invention is to be ascribed rather to a Frenchman than to an American. For the Kings we have: Hearts, Washington; Diamonds, John Adams, the second President of the United States; Clubs, Franklin; Spades, La Fayette. For the Queens: Hearts, Venus,—modestly concealing her charms with a mantle, in accordance with American notions of delicacy. Diamonds, Fortune; Clubs, Ceres; Spades, Minerva. The Knaves are represented by Four Indian chiefs. The figures appear to be engraved on copper, and are coloured. The marks of the suits are the same as those on the cards in common use in England. Those cards, I am informed, are held in no estimation by the card-players of America, who continue to prefer those of the old pattern.—The chief town in America for the manufacture of cards is Boston; whose discreet, meeting-going people seem to have no objection to make a profit by supplying the profane with the instruments of perdition.