Recollections of Europe. James Fenimore Cooper

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       Breeding.—Characteristic Traits.—Influence of a Court.

      LETTER XIX.

      Garden of the Tuileries.—The French Parliament.—Parliamentary

       Speakers.—The Tribune.—Royal Initiative.—The Charter.—Mongrel

       Government.—Ministerial Responsibility.—Elections in

       France.—Doctrinaires.—Differences of Opinion.—Controversy.

      LETTER XX.

      Excursion with Lafayette.—Vincennes.—The Donjon.—Lagrange.—The

       Towers.—Interior of the House—the General's Apartments.—the Cabinet.

      —Lafayette's Title.—Church of the Chateau.—Ruins of Vivier.—Roman

       Remains.—American Curiosity.—The Table at Lagrange.—Swindling.

      LETTER XXI.

      Insecurity of the Bourbons.—Distrust of Americans.—Literary Visitor.

      —The Templars.—Presents and Invitations.—A Spy.—American Virtue.

      —Inconsistency.—Social Freedom in America.—French Mannerists.

      —National Distinctions.—A lively Reaction.

      LETTER XXII.

      Animal Magnetism.—Somnambules.—Magnetised Patients.—My own

       Examination.—A Prediction.—Ventriloquism.—Force of the Imagination.

      LETTER XXIII.

      Preparations for Departure.—My Consulate.—Leave

       Paris.—Picardy.—Cressy.—Montreuil.—Gate of Calais.—Port of

       Calais.—Magical Words.

PREFACE.

       Table of Contents

      It may seem to be late in the day to give an account of the more ordinary characteristics of Europe. But the mass of all nations can form their opinions of others through the medium of testimony only; and as no two travellers see precisely the same things, or, when seen, view them with precisely the same eyes, this is a species of writing, after all, that is not likely to pall, or cease to be useful. The changes that are constantly going on everywhere, call for as constant repetitions of the descriptions; and although the pictures may not always be drawn and coloured equally well, so long as they are taken in good faith, they will not be without their value.

      It is not a very difficult task to make what is commonly called an amusing book of travels. Any one who will tell, with a reasonable degree of graphic effect, what he has seen, will not fail to carry the reader with him; for the interest we all feel in personal adventure is, of itself, success. But it is much more difficult to give an honest and a discriminating summary of what one has seen. The mind so naturally turns to exceptions, that an observer has great need of self-distrust, of the powers of analysis, and, most of all, of a knowledge of the world, to be what the lawyers call a safe witness.

      I have no excuse of haste, or of a want of time, to offer for the defect of these volumes. All I ask is, that they may be viewed as no more than they profess to be. They are the gleanings of a harvest already gathered, thrown together in a desultory manner, and without the slightest, or, at least, very small pretensions, to any of those arithmetical and statistical accounts that properly belong to works of a graver character. They contain the passing remarks of one who has certainly seen something of the world, whether it has been to his advantage or not, who had reasonably good opportunities to examine what he saw, and who is not conscious of being, in the slightest degree, influenced "by fear, favour, or the hope of reward." His compte rendu must pass for what it is worth.

FRANCE.

       Table of Contents

      LETTER I.

      Our Embarkation.—Leave-taking.—Our Abigail.—Bay of New York.

      —The Hudson.—Ominous Prediction.—The Prophet falsified.—Enter the

       Atlantic.—"Land-birds."—Our Master.—Officers of Packet-ships.

      —Loss of "The Crisis."—The "Three Chimneys."—Calamities at Sea.

      —Sailing-match.—View of the Eddystone.—The Don Quixote.

      —Comparative Sailing.—Pilot-boats.—Coast of Dorsetshire.—The Needles.

      —Lymington.—Southampton Water.—The Custom-house.

      TO CAPTAIN SHUBRICK, U.S.N.

      MY DEAR SHUBRICK,

      "Passengers by the Liverpool, London and Havre packets are informed that a steam-boat will leave the White Hall Wharf precisely at eleven, A.M. to-morrow, June 1st." If to this notice be added the year 1826, you have the very hour and place of our embarkation. We were nominally of the London party, it being our intention, however, to land at Cowes, from which place we proposed crossing the Channel to Havre. The reason for making this variation from the direct route, was the superior comfort of the London ship; that of the French line for the 1st June, though a good vessel and well commanded, being actually the least commodious packet that plied between the two hemispheres.

      We were punctual to the hour, and found one of the smaller steamers crowded with those who, like ourselves, were bound to the "old world," and the friends who had come to take the last look at them. We had our leave-takings, too, which are sufficiently painful when it is known that years must intervene before there is another meeting. As is always done by good Manhattanese, the town house had been given up on the 1st of May, since which time we had resided at an hotel. The furniture had been principally sold at auction, and the entire month had passed in what I believed to be very ample preparations. It may be questioned if there is any such thing as being completely prepared for so material a change; at all events, we found a dozen essentials neglected at the last moment, and as many oversights to be repaired in the same instant.

      On quitting the hotel, some fifty or a hundred volumes and pamphlets lay on the floor of my bed-room. Luckily, you were to sail on a cruise in a day or two, and as you promised not only to give them a berth, but to read them one and all, they were transferred forthwith to the Lexington. They were a dear gift, if you kept your word! John was sent with a note, with orders to be at the wharf in half an hour. I have not seen him since. Then Abigail was to be discharged. We had long debated whether this excellent woman should, or should not, be taken. She was an American, and like most of her countrywomen who will consent to serve in a household, a most valuable domestic. She wished much to go, but, on the other side, was the conviction, that СКАЧАТЬ