however to make the malcontents of the profession think Mr. Bulwer a wonderful genius for the time -at all events he thought so himself. The reader readily understand that every prospect now presented itself of, at least, a skirmish: it was better than that it was little short of a regular pitched battle. I was assailed in every direction, and by every missile, assertion upon assertion, contumely upon contumely, and, the grand ingredient of both, falsehood upon falsehood! Caricatures, anonymous letters, authorless pamphlets, blackguardisms, and sottises of every description met one at the corner of every street; but with temper for a preceptor and truth for a guide, the path to follow was not so difficult as, under opposite influences, it might have been. I examined this, perused that, laughed at the one, and despised the other; and in the conflict these impressions occasioned, I left London for Paris. 124 CHAPTER VII. Mems. of a Manager, during a Continental trip-Terms on which to meet a bad dramatist-French honour, and its reward-Opinions on the novelties of the day-Mademoiselle Falcon and Madame Vestris-Death of a celebrated theatrical character-A man can never be drowned who is born to be hanged-Mr. Braham and his talent for anecdoteOpening of the patent theatres after their union-Free ListSome on it," more free than welcome"-John Barnett and John Bull-Musical genius-First effects of the GRAND JUNCTION, and its overflow. I WILL now endeavour to amuse my reader with a short journal, kept during a trip to the capital of our diverting neighbours, which I have found amongst my papers. August 6.-Steamed to Ramsgate. Fine weather: no excuse for being sick, but there are those overreaching rascals in the world who will be. Landed "after a prosperous voyage," dined, strolled on the sea shore. What a glorious sight is that said sea, whether "Calm or convuls'd-in breeze, or gale, or storm, If a man has any thought in him, it is sure to bring it out. "Household" being at Ramsgate, took a family ride with child and donkey: "we three, pares cum paribus"-raffled at the library, and won; read papers -saw my correspondence with Mr. Bulwer therein. "We shall meet again at Philippi," but only on these August 7.-Steamed to Calais-" cut in" with Thompson of the 87th, and we agreed to post together to Paris. Did so, as will be seen: always like to get out of Calais as speedily as possible, "becase as how” Calais contrives to get out of me all in its power as long as I stay there. When I shall undergo the post mortem dissection, there will be very little of "Mary's fever" found on my heart. August 8.—After thirty hours' posting, two dinners, one breakfast, one supper, a broil in the sun, and another with the postilion, we landed at eleven in the night, at the Hotel Windsor, Rue Rivoli. Had a hot bath-and" to bed, to bed.” August 9.-So-they have done justice to Napoleon at last, by replacing his statue on his immortal column. The other party say it looks more like that of an old * Written nearly seven years ago, before Mr. Bulwer had written one; and having seen those he has written-my opinion is unaltered. watchman than " an old soldier;" but "when comes such another?" Ascended the said column, to do homage; nearly smothered between the heat of the day, the ill savour of the place, and the narrowness of the staircase; but it is a glorious work of art, and the view from the balcony worth all the risk and trouble. Nevertheless, neither enthusiasm nor any other 'asm, or 'ism in this world will ever take me up it again. After dining at the Café de Paris, went to the Opéra Comique, to see Le Pré aux Clercs. What melody there is in Hérold! Casimir always was, and still is, a delightful singer, and has some delightful music to sing herein. August 10.-Accepted the invitation of my friend, Monsieur Véron (the spirited directeur of the Académie Royale) to dine with him at the Café de Paris. "A royal spread." Met the Marquis de Lavalette, who had done me the honour of calling on me during my absence in the morning; told me of a row at the opera last night, between Colonel Gallois and Nestor Roqueplan, editor of the Figaro-the Colonel pulling the ribbon of the Legion of Honor!!! from the scribe's button-hole, and the said scribe breaking the said Colonel's head with a stick, "leaded" at the top "when lead meets lead!" It sickens one even to nausea to think of a writer in a penny publication wearing the STAR, whose honours were conferred by Napoleon, and immortalised by the verse of Byron "Star of the brave, whose beam hath shed But they'll fight to-morrow, I find, and as WILL. singeth, "there's honour for you!" Thermometer 92-face and every thing else in a regular blister. Got iced, and got better-went to see the ballet, and then to the "balm of hurt minds 66 great nature's second course." Clercs, and must see it again. (and bodies too!) Read Le Pré aux August 11.-Colonel Gallois and Roqueplan fought to-day in the Bois de Meudon: Colonel stuck scribe three times, then proposed pistols; scribe declined "that ere trifle," et voilà l'affaire finie. Dined "alone in my glory" at the Rocher de Cancale. Went afterwards to the Porte St. Martin, and saw a bad piece called Trois Têtes dans un Bonnet: thence I proceeded to the Opéra Comique to see Le Pré aux Clercs again. More pleased with it than before: it would do for Johannes Taurus, if his singers were but actors also. an 66 August 12.-Bainbridge, M.P. for Taunton, favoured me with a call. Paris a pleasant place: sight of English gentleman," and so agreeable an one as he is, much pleasanter. Wrote to Dunn and Reynolds, (London), and to Hunter (Calais), who, being the English Courier, will secure me a berth homewards in some messenger's calèche, and when he comes to town I'll secure him "a front row to see the new pantomime" -quits. Can't "take it coolly" for the life of me, for with this sun even baths and ices are at a discount. Dined at Anatole's country-seat, a decent little place enough, considering that it is FRENCH, and he calls |