A Residence in France

Residence in France, A

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Title: A Residence in France With An Excursion Up The Rhine, And A
Second Visit To Switzerland
Author: J. Fenimore Cooper
Release Date: July 22, 2004 [EBook #12990]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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RESIDENCE IN FRANCE ***

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COLLECTION
OF

ANCIENT AND MODERN
BRITISH AUTHORS
VOL. CXLIV.

A
RESIDENCE IN FRANCE;
WITH AN
EXCURSION UP THE RHINE,
AND A
SECOND VISIT TO SWITZERLAND.
BY J. FENIMORE COOPER ESQ.
AUTHOR OF "THE PILOT," "THE SPY," &c.
PARIS,
BAUDRY'S EUROPEAN LIBRARY,
RUE DU COQ. NEAR THE LOUVRE;
SOLD ALSO BY AMYOT, RUE DE LA PAIX; TRUCHY,
BOULEVARD DES ITALIENS;
THEOPHILE BARROIS, JUN., RUE RICHELIEU; LIBRAIRIE DES
ETRANGERS,
RUE NEUVE-SAINT-AUGUSTIN; AND HEIDELOFF AND
CAMPE,
RUE VIVIENNE.

1836.

PREFACE.
The introduction to
Part I. of the "Sketches of Switzerland,"
leaves
very little for the author to say in addition. The reader will be prepared
to meet with a long digression, that touches on the situation and
interests of another country, and it is probable he will understand the
author's motive for thus embracing matter that is not strictly connected
with the principal subject of the work.
The first visit of the writer to Switzerland was paid in 1828; that which
is related in these two volumes, in 1832. While four years had made no
changes in the sublime nature of the region, they had seriously affected
the political condition of all Europe. They had also produced a variance
of feeling and taste in the author, that is the unavoidable consequences
of time and experience. Four years in Europe are an age to the
American, as are four years in America to the European. Jefferson has
somewhere said, that no American ought to be more than five years, at
a time, out of his own country, lest he get behind it. This may be true,
as to its _facts_; but the author is convinced that there is more danger
of his getting before it, as to opinion. It is not improbable that this book
may furnish evidence of both these truths.
Some one, in criticising the First Part of Switzerland, has intimated that
the writer has a purpose to serve with the "Trades' Unions," by the
purport of some of his remarks. As this is a country in which the
avowal of a tolerably sordid and base motive seems to be indispensable,
even to safety, the writer desires to express his sense of the critic's
liberality, as it may save him from a much graver imputation.

There is really a painful humiliation in the reflection, that a citizen of
mature years, with as good natural and accidental means for preferment
as have fallen to the share of most others, may pass his life without a
fact of any sort to impeach his disinterestedness, and yet not be able to
express a generous or just sentiment in behalf of his fellow-creatures,
without laying himself open to suspicions that are as degrading to those
who entertain them, as they are injurious to all independence of thought,
and manliness of character.

CONTENTS.
LETTER I.
Influence of the late Revolution in France.--General Lafayette.--Sketch
of his Private Life.--My visits to him.--His opinion of Louis XVI.--Mr.
Morris and Mr. Crawford.--Duplicity of Louis XVIII.--Charles
X.--Marie Antoinette.--Legitimacy of the Duc de Bordeaux.--Discovery
of the Plot of 1822.--Lafayette's conduct on that occasion.--A negro
Spy.--General Knyphausen.--Louis-Philippe and Lafayette.--My visit to
Court.--The King, the Queen, Madame Adelaide, and the
Princesses.--Marshal Jourdan.--The Duke of Orleans.--Interview with
the King.--"_Adieu l'Amérique!_"--Conversation with Lafayette.--The
_Juste Milieu._--Monarchy not inconsistent with Republican
Institutions.--Party in favour of the Duc de Bordeaux.
LETTER II.
The Cholera in Paris.--Its frightful ravages.--Desertion of the city--My
determination to remain.--Deaths in the higher classes.--Unexpected
arrival and retreat.--Praiseworthy conduct of the Authorities.--The
Cholera caricatured!--Invitation from an English
General.--Atmospherical appearance denoting the arrival of the
Cholera.--Lord Robert Fitzgerald.--Dinner at the house of Madame de
B----
LETTER III.

Insecurity of the Government--Louis-Philippe and the
Pear.--Caricatures.--Ugliness of the Public Men of France.--The Duke
de Valmy.--Care-worn aspect of Society under the New
Regime.--Controversy in France respecting the Cost of Government in
America.--Conduct of American Agents in Europe
LETTER IV.
Gradual disappearance of the Cholera.--Death of M. Casimir
Perier.--His Funeral.--Funeral of General Lamarque.--Magnificent
Military Escort.--The Duc de Fitzjames.--An Alarm.--First symptoms
of popular Revolt.--Scene on the