The subject is a particularly happy one, being no less than the solemn declaration of the King of the French (while being invested with the Order of the Garter) that he would never make war upon the Sovereign of the Order alluded to.
The circumstance that the oath taken includes no promise or declaration of the kind can of course be of no consequence, as the leader is intended for a French newspaper. The following is the specimen:—
"Nous voyons [We see] que perfide Albion (we don't translate perfide Albion, for everybody knows the meaning of that) a donné une Jarretière [has given a Garter] à Louis Philippe [to Louis Philippe]. Mais, pourquoi cette Jarretière? [But why this Garter?] Nous voyons dans cette Jarretière [We see in this Garter] une autre chaîne [another chain] pour France [for France]. Oui, oui! [Yes, yes!] cette Jarretière infâme [this infamous Garter] tiera Louis Philippe par la jambe [will tie Louis Philippe by the leg] plus que jamais [more than ever]. En recevant ce Jarretière honteuse [In receiving this infamous Garter] on lui a fait jurer, [they made him swear,] qu'il ne fera pas la guerre [that he will not make war] sur le Souverain de l'Ordre [on the Sovereign of the Order]. Hein, hein! [Alas, alas!] notre pauvre campagne [our poor country] est trahie [is betrayed].
"Mais on a donné cette Jarretière déshonorante [But they have given this degrading Garter] au Roi de la Prusse aussi bien, [to the King of Prussia as well,] et aussi à l'Empereur de Russie [and also to the Emperor of Russia]. Tous ont juré la même chose, [All have sworn the same thing,] de ne pas faire la guerre contre le Souverain de l'Ordre [not to make war on the Sovereign of the Order]. Et qui est le souverain contre qui on a juré de ne pas faire la guerre? [And who is the sovereign against whom they have sworn not to make war?] Pourquoi, la Reine Victoria, pour être certain. [Why, Queen Victoria, to be sure]. Et qui est elle? [And who is she?] Pourquoi, perfide Albion, comme une matière du courant. [Why, perfidious Albion, as a matter of course]. Laisser les Anglais aller se pendre [Let the English go and hang themselves] dans leurs jarretières, [in their garters,] comme cette misérable Mademoiselle Bailey, [like that unfortunate Miss Bailey,] de qui on chante quelquefois [whom they occasionally sing about]. Mais ne laissez pas les Français [But do not let the French] suivre l'exemple [follow the example] de la demoiselle à qui nous avons fait allusion [of the young lady whom we have alluded to]. Laissons les rappeler [Let them remember] le sort horrible [the horrible fate] de cette jeune dame, [of that young lady,] qui peut avoir été [who might have been] une decoration à sa sexe [an ornament to her sex] mais pour les jarretières [but for the garters]."
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON WASHHOUSES
FOR THE PEOPLE.
The committee appointed to select a site for a great National Washhouse, vacillated for some time between the Fleet Prison and Covent Garden Theatre; but at length, for the reasons hereinafter stated, gave the latter the preference.
Covent Garden Theatre has had cold water thrown upon it so long, that no expense need be gone to in laying on any more of the salubrious element. The genius of the place is also favourable to such an experiment as the one proposed, for in the event of water being scarce, recourse might be had to some of the old pumps, which, though rather out of use, could easily be made to act again. These pumps possess the advantage of never causing an overflow.
It is proposed to turn the pit into a drying-ground, the backs of the seats being used for hanging clothes upon.
Persons bringing their own soap cannot, on any account, be admitted into the dress circle with mottled; and a moderate quantity of starch will be expected in the private boxes. Tickets for single tubs may be had at the doors, and family coppers to admit six may be had at all the libraries.
One advantage connected with the scheme for turning the theatre into a washhouse, is the opportunity that would be afforded for employing some of the regular company of actors, who, in the mangling department, would be invaluable. The style in which they have occasionally got up and mangled some of Shakspeare's fine things ought never to be forgotten.