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sons are the most stubborn and self-will- in the first place, Never indulge an imed. Many of this temper are so per- proper disposition. We are naturally so verse as not to be persuaded to the con- blind to our own failings, that many illtrary, though their own interest and hap- tempered persons do not know they are piness are obviously connected with tak so, and very few are humble enough to ing such advice. own it. But as the mischiefs arising from Let us now take a view of some of cherishing such a disposition are manithe chief good tempers; and the first I fold, therefore all possible means should shall mention is an open benevolent dis- be continually used to curb an improper position. There certainly is a prudent temper. On this part of the subject an reserve that is becoming, especially be- excellent modern author thus writes:fore designing persons and strangers; "It will be readily acknowledged, that and none should be indiscriminate in their some are born with unhappy tempers, benevolence. But where the heart is but more derive them from habitual inclosed to what is generous, there must dulgence. Persons in high life, or in be a selfish, sordid, and narrow mind. easy circumstances, too often cherish Persons of good character have no need their evil humours, having it in their to have recourse to concealment, or what power to gratify them, and being suris mysterious, in their deportment; and rounded with flatterers. We may attrithey should do good according to their bute most of the evils of domestic life to ability without injuring their families. an unhappy determination of some badSecondly, a peaceable temper. It is to tempered persons to have their own way. be deeply regretted, that there are so and the want of condescension in others many of such a spirit, that they often at the beginning of a disagreement. Hadisturb their own peace, and that of bits of strict temperance, and especially others, in matters of a trifling nature. the restraints of religion, are the very On the contrary, there are a few who are best means to prevent improper indulso very mild, as to be almost willing to gences of this kind." Secondly, let not give up truth and justice, so that they trifles put you out of temper. We frecan enjoy quietness. The latter dispo- quently see that small matters ruffle the sition is much better than the former, mind more than such as are really imyet it is not necessary that any should portant, especially where the natural make such sacrifices in order to procure temper is not good: and it is a lamentpeace. A temper may be truly pacific, able fact, that more families have been gentle, and condescending, and yet firmly divided or friends separated by the indetermined to maintain what is right, by dulgence of evil tempers, than by most resisting injustice. Thirdly, a cheerful other occurrences. The following addisposition. Some are constitutionally vice of a lady to one of her late pupils, gloomy, and others, from mistaken is worthy of serious consideration, parnotions of religion, think that, in order ticularly by females :-" As our sex have to be serious, they must be in some meas- quicker sensations than men, we have ure sad. A truly cheerful temper is lively, been charged with having sharper tembut not too light, and animated without pers, and being more unwilling to forgive being too volatile. Lastly, there is an than the other sex. I will not take upon equanimity of temper. Perhaps this is me to say how far in general such a the most desirable of any, especially as it charge is true, but I hope, my dear, that respects personal happiness. Not that it will not be so with you. O never forthere is any person of so even a disposi- get that one great point to your present tion as never to be ruffled; but some and future comfort is the due regulation have so much self-command as to be of your temper, as an individual, and seldom very much elated or too much more particularly if you should become depressed. a wife and mother. The character of

Having offered many discriminating Serena, in Mr. Hayley's poem on the reflections on good and bad tempers, I Triumphs of Temper, is truly amiable, shall now propose some admonitory ad- and such a lovely picture, as I wish you, vices respecting tempers in general. And my dear, and all females, frequently to

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view, in order to imitate." Finally, let cast wear it in their visage, or to use a every one strive to possess and preserve phrase of Skakspeare, they have a vinegar a good temper. An amiable disposition aspect. However, this is no certain rule; is often the gift of nature in the confor- for it is well known, that many with an mation of the individual; but a proper open and smiling countenance have very education and a regular life, with the bad tempers. But now let us take a influence of vital religion, will contribute short view of the man who is habitually very much to form a good temper, and good tempered. Having only a good to sweeten and regulate one that is not moral character, and common sense, he so. It must also be remembered, that will be well received in life, though he as old age, poverty, or disappointments, may have no riches, learning, wit, or have a tendency, by degrees, to render comeliness of person to recommend him. excellent dispositions less amiable, per- His pleasant behaviour and kind treatsons under such circumstances should be ment of others will excite them to make on their guard, lest their temper, by such suitable returns; and those who cannot changes, be materially injured. serve him, will at least be gentle towards I shall leave the subject on the minds his errors and faults. He may not shine of your readers with the following appro- in conversation, but his affability and priate quotation:-" Much has been cheerfulness will please and enliven written of late years respecting the mise- every company into which he comes. ries of life; but I am persuaded, that In sickness, poverty, or sorrow, he will the principal source of most of them is always meet with some to help or symthe indulgence of bad tempers. Thus pathise with him, and his death will be they poison the comforts of life, set a sincerely lamented by all who were acbad example, and are ungrateful to God quainted with him." for his bountiful goodness. Some of this

G. G. SCRAGGS.

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Continued from p. 67.

provinces. The man was constantly in a To form an opinion of the French passion with his horses, or something character from that of the Parisians, else, during the whole stage he drove would I think be forming it upon a de- us. The many fine countenances among fective basis. Besides that at the present the men, and fair complexions among time a stranger at Paris can hardly be the women, met with in this place, are said to live among the French, so much no doubt indigenous to the more northern is it in the possession of foreigners, the parts of France. Female beauty, as far extent of France contains more than one as it consists in the elegant oval contour nation, and they may be supposed to of the head, symmetrical disposition of exhibit as many different characters as the bones of the face, whiteness and dethey do physiognomies. Among the lat- licacy of skin, tinted by the pencil of ter, I had long before, out of France, health with roseate hue on the cheek and distinguished one particularly disagree- crimson on the lips, appears to me, when able to me, and which I met with in I remember the fair daughters of Albion, France for the first time among our pos- very rare, among the Parisian dames at tilions. This man's complexion was least. The shape of their heads combrown, with black rugged eye-brows, monly deviates too much from the cleblack coarse eye-lashes, the nose broad gant figure of the oval; but where this at the bottom, with large nostrils, and grace is added to the beauties peculiar inclined to turn up, the mouth very large to the French lady's face, the result is with thick lips, the head covered with an interest and fascination from the whole black coarse hair, tied in a queue with a to which only the words je ne sçais quoi greasy ribbon. This character probably can be applied. draws its origin from the more southern

The women of that class to which

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shopkeepers and other tradesmen belong, that the appearance of women being no seem to me to bear more than their due novelty in those places, attracts no noproportion of the labours of society. tice; and that Frenchmen drink their These almost exclusively manage the light wines with their meals, and do not business of the shops; and they cannot sit afterwards over their bottles indulgbe too much praised for their unwearied ing in conversation, which would make industry. Many mothers among them it improper for females to be placed do not allow themselves sufficient leisure within hearing of them.

to attend to their children, who are sent It seems to be generally admitted that into the country to nurse. The women Frenchwomen do not possess that kind do not confine themselves to the mere of delicacy to which Sterne alludes, in sale of the goods; in the evening, when that superior degree which heightens so on account of the lights the inside of much the charms of the British fair; and the shop can be better observed, I have I have myself observed some ludicrous seen women sitting, making or repairing instances of this defect. This appears a watch, engraving a seal, besides others to be a strange anomaly in nature, conengaged upon elegant needle-work. A sidering the degree of taste and elegance shoemaker, whilst in his shop he takes in their deportment displayed by the the measure of your foot, will call out ladies of France. This delicacy, whose the size to his wife, who enters it into existence is on occasions indicated by a the order-book.-Such constant occupa- blush, or expression of painful emotion, tion from early in the morning till late seems to me to be founded in an unconat night, argues at least in favour of the scious feeling of the mind of its purer character of those females who, from one nature than that of the body; and any end of the week to the other, are thus idea which even by association only leads secured from the temptations which idle- to a contemplation of the brutish nature ness furnishes; nor has any thing fallen of the body, creates a feeling of humiliaunder my observation tending to the pre- tion from which the unpolluted mind judice of the character of this class of shrinks with aversion. So far I consider females, unless I consider as evidence this feeling as expressed by delicacy, the sarcastic smiles and significant shrugs whilst that species of indelicacy more of men who, without being able to make properly termed obscenity, I do not by out a case, appear only desirous to make any means consider as included in the you believe that they are among the charge against French females of the favourites who are admitted into the ar- better classes. Yet the phenomenon of cana of the boudoirs, though neither the a female French artist being seen (as sher minds nor persons of these men seem to was by me on more than one day) sitting possess any thing to recommend them. before, and making a drawing from, a -Even the fore part of the Sunday (with- large male statue, totally naked, cannot out adverting here to the irreligiousness be concealed, as it was seen by hundreds of this practice) is employed by these who visited the gallery of the Louvre at females in the occupations of their shops; the same time. This, and some other but the afternoon and evening of that exhibitions I witnessed, prove an unacday they consider as allotted for their countable want of a sense of propriety recreation; they enjoy that opportunity to display their fashionable clothes, and to make their observations upon the taste of others.

The custom of females sitting down in coffee-houses, and taking their dinner there, I am told, has obtained only since the Revolution. This exhibition, however, though novel to us, will appear much less objectionable when it is considered that these females always come attended by one or more gentlemen;

and decency, from which in other countries the most lascivious propensities would be inferred to prevail; but here neither the individual seems to be conscious of such connexion, nor do other symptoms prove the existence of such propensities, nor do the people of this country seem to suspect them as necessarily existing with such conduct. It must appear strange that the French on their part should charge the English with want of a sense of delicacy, in being

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entertained with, instead of being shocked a right and a half on his side in order to at, the indecencies and vulgarities of gain his cause;" so much will the premany of their favourite plays. With all sumed ignorance of the foreign be althis it must be allowed that, in many re- lowed to tell in his favour. spects, there appears a greater propriety At public exhibitions, and other public in the public conduct of the people here places, where either Frenchmen are adthan in some other countries. No inde- mitted only on certain days, or where but cent writing or figuring on public build- a limited number of people can be placed, ings and walls evinces the coarse depra- the foreigner is admitted every day, or vity of the lower classes of the people; has the preference given him before the no filthy, no blasphemous oaths, from natives. I feel no inclination fastidiousthe mouths of drunken men or women ly to inquire into the basis of this kind disgust or alarm the ears of modest of politeness, as I have heard others do, females passing along the streets. The who suspected vanity to be at the bottom play-houses and public places of amuse- of it, since Frenchmen consider themment are not occupied by courtesans, as by a garrison, whose corps des gurdes are in the lobbies; and the very prostitutes at their places of rendezvous observe a degree of decorum.

selves as a nation far superior to all others. Whether it be owing to this nation having been so much deceived, or to a consciousness of their own propensity to deceive, they show a most obviParis having ever been a court resi- ous disposition to suspect finesse every dence only, an external refinement of where; and the most palpable reason or nanners has been particularly cultivated cause they are sure to reject in search here, and naturally diffused itself among of a more recondite one. Perhaps this the lowest classes of the people, who may also be a trait of vanity, which asonce at least were possessed of the am- sumes an air of greater penetration than bition of being thought polite; whilst what belongs to the multitude. BuonaLondon, being not only a royal residence, parte knew well how to avail himself of but at the same time the most important this feature in the character of Frenchseaport in the world, must naturally ex- men, when he wished, in the course of hibit a greater admixture of the rough his operations, to make them look to any manners of those who live in habitations cause suitable to his purpose, rather than floating upon the ocean. Perhaps there to the most obvious and real one. There is also something in the sturdy mind of are men now in France, who pretend to these islanders which will not be trimmed so much penetration, as not to believe and tied down by the silken strings of that Buonaparte escaped from Elba withpoliteness. Hence the more frequent out the connivance of the English, who broils in the streets of London. If here were desirous of renewing the war with in Paris two Frenchmen run against each France because they observed the French other, the case must appear at once very manufactures prosper too rapidly. "L'on clearly against one of them, if each does en veut jusqu'a nos fabriques; voila le not take the fault upon himself, with secret!" said a French gentleman from many apologies. The nature of French- the south to me, who had been an officer men does not lead them to take occasion in Buonaparte's guards, and was suffi for quarrelling from circumstances like these, and least of all with a foreigner.* "In a dispute between a stranger and a native of France," observed a Frenchman to me," the Frenchman must have

ciently imbued with that political insight for which Buonaparte thought it good policy to give them credit. A French officer related in company, in the presence of a friend of mine, that he had been commissioned by the magistrates of a country town to purchase a sword, which was to be presented to a Prussian general, as a compliment for the good conduct of his men whilst they were quartered in that town; "but," added the French officer, "I shall ask the

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Prussian general to give me his address; intercepted letters written to his sister, for as we shall in two years be at Berlin the wife of Murat. As the French when again, I intend to call on him, and de- assembled in great numbers may be camand the sword back of him."-Whilst pable of the highest enthusiasm of couI was standing on the Boulevards, look- rage, so they seem also in such situations ing at a print-shop, where there was ex- subject to panic; whilst the last revoluhibited a print of Buonaparte, with his tion alone has produced more than suffiface cut up into figures, and near it a cient instances to show that individually portrait of Louis XVIII., I was addressed they can have death, even certain death by a Frenchwoman with a very expres- by the hand of the executioner.—I have sive countenance, pointing to these por- read in some history of France, that fortraits: "A present qu'il est bus; on se merly, when an engagement of consemoque de lui; il vaut bien ce gros roi; quence was to be entered into by indivion le reverra; il n'est pas mort." I hope duals in that country, the parties were I am right in thinking that this woman made to swear upon the tomb of some will not prove a Cassandra.-A French- eminent saint to the performance of their man, a fellow-traveller in a diligence, engagement; but that, in process of time, could not bear the idea that he should it was found necessary to take the parbe thought so destitute of penetration as ties to the tombs of several such saints to believe that the King of England is to try to bind them to the execution of still alive, without, however, being able their engagement. A French historian, to mention a single reason why his death in noticing an eminent person among his should be concealed. countrymen, describes his character as The political fate of France, which most excellent, only that he was apt not has delivered her into the possession of to keep his word. This trait, as well as foreign armies, together with her domes- too great a readiness to proffer their sertic differences, give a great check to the vices, seems to me to be the effect of the display of the national character; whilst want of a sufficient degree of strength that original character has during the in the character. Whatever defects may Revolution exhibited itself under so many appear to attach to the character of different aspects, that it must be very Frenchmen in particular, they are aldifficult for an observer to seize upon lowed to be exempt from that masterthe genuine and radical features of that vice-drunkenness. What difference the character.

absence of this vice must make in the On an occasion where the French cha- happiness of the lower classes of the racter was the subject of conversation, people, may not only be conjectured, but and surprise was expressed that the bet- is evident from the appearance and conter part of the nation should have so duct in public of those people in this tamely submitted to the sway of so many country; nay, the superior classes may factions of the most unprincipled indivi- bless their favoured lot, that their nation duals, a French diplomatic gentleman is not contaminated by that vice, in the replied: "The French, when collected train of which the poet or painter might in a numerous body in the face of the depict every crime that has a nameworld, under the eyes of History and a horrid procession! Fame, will attempt the most heroic ex- The revolutionary career with France ploits; but if you take a Frenchman has run during so many years, has introseparately, under circumstances of great duced an unexampled variety of political difficulty, and endeavour to make him opinions, which were all kept compressed take a decisive and active part in the by the energy and splendour of Napocause, which to himself appears to have leon's government. These are now let justice on its side, he will shrug up his loose and Heaven knows what settleshoulders, wring his hands, and-shed ment will ultimately take place of this tears!" This at least corresponds well chaos of opinions of ultra-royalists, limitwith the observation of Buonaparte upon ed monarchists, republicans, democrats, the character of Murat, in one of his and those who do not know what they Z Eng. Mag. Vol, I.