How to Enjoy Paris in 1842 | Page 5

son a lieutenant in the navy, but like many of the
French, having a house considerably larger than she could occupy, she
let a part of it. I should always however recommend the English when
they are taking a house or apartment for any length of time, or in fact
entering into any engagement of importance with the French, to have
an agreement in writing, in case of misunderstanding, which may arise
from the English not comprehending, or not expressing themselves in
French so well as they imagine. It is always a document to refer to

which settles all differences, and is a check upon all bad memories,
either on the one side or the other; and as there are bad people in France
as well as other countries, it prevents strangers becoming victims to
those who are disposed to take advantage, when they are aware that
there is no legal instrument to hold them to their contract. I have lodged
in eighteen different houses in France, and never had any other than a
verbal agreement, and certainly had not in any one instance cause to
regret; but was fortunate enough, with one exception, always to have
met with good people; but as I wish my readers during their sojourn in
France to be secured from any unpleasant discussions or altercations, I
recommend them to be on the safe side.
I must now appeal to my two most powerful allies, candour and justice,
against that invincible demon national prejudice. I am perfectly aware
that it is a hopeless attempt even to imagine that there is the slightest
chance of ameliorating its force. I consider it more immoveable than a
rock, because by dint of time you may cut that away, or you may blast
it with gunpowder; but I know of no means which can soften the
adamantine strength of national prejudice. One might naturally suppose
that a long communication between the two countries, a mutual
interchange of kindnesses, the number of intermarriages by which the
two nations have become so connected with each other, would have
contributed in some degree to diminish the asperity of that bitter feeling
against the French which we acquire in our school-boy days, but which
reason and commerce with the world, it might be expected, would
correct. As there is no argument so powerful as exemplification, I will
here cite two instances amongst the hundreds that have come within my
knowledge, of the extreme incorrigibility of the baneful sentiment to
which I allude. I once travelled with a Mr. Lewis from Paris to Dieppe,
and found him a man of considerable information, very gentlemanly in
his address and manners, and possessing such colloquial powers as
contributed to render the journey particularly agreeable; he was an
enthusiastic admirer of the arts, and was very fond of drawing, and
certainly excelled in that accomplishment, from the very beautiful
sketches he showed me which he had made in different parts of France,
and in fact was an amateur artist of considerable merit. He gave me a
very interesting account of his tour through France and of the kindness

he had met with from the inhabitants; that in many instances when he
had been sketching the chateaux of the nobility and gentry, how often it
had occurred that the proprietors had come out and invited him to
breakfast or dinner, according to the hour, or at any rate to take some
refreshment; and several sent for his portemanteau from the inn where
he had put up (sometimes without his knowledge), compelling him to
pass the night at their chateau. On my making some remark as to the
urbanity of the French, "Oh! don't think," he exclaimed, "that I am
praising them as a nation, for I hate them; I only speak of facts as they
happened." I then asked him how he was treated at the inns in the
different provinces, and whether he was much imposed upon. "I cannot
say I was," he replied, "or in any instance that I had reason to complain
of my treatment."
From this gentleman's account of the reception he had met with in
France, would not any rational being have imagined that he would
speak well of the French? instead of which, I soon had the most
powerful proofs to the contrary. When we arrived at Dieppe we found a
party assembled at the table d'hôte, at the hôtel at which we alighted,
consisting of a few French but, more of English; the former left the
room as soon as the cloth was withdrawn, and the latter remaining, the
conversation became general and very patriotic; and as the merits of
England and the English rose in the discussion, so did the demerits of
France and the French sink, and at last bumpers were