fountain, the jet d'eau of which is thrown up to the height of several feet in the shape of a fleur-de-lis; probably in honour of the existing government, as it has been erected since the restoration of the Bourbons. The architecture of this truly noble building is of the composite order. Thus having given you some idea of the exterior, I will endeavour, though difficult will be the task, to describe its interior, so as to justify my appellation of its being a "Tower of Babel." The ground-floor, or as the French term it, Le Rez de Chaussée, is a gallery supported by 180 arcades, under which, occupying the whole extent of the building, is a row of shops inhabited by Jewellers, Tailors, Milliners, Confectioners, Shoemakers, and Booksellers, but into the shops of many of the latter named gentry, no female, can with any degree of delicacy, enter: here too are also to be found coffee and eating-houses in abundance, but to give you in a few words a more just idea of the place I would only say, here is every thing that the heart, eye, or appetite can wish for. In the garden, and under the arcades, people from all countries are assembled, who appear occupied only in one pursuit, that of pleasure. The continual buzz, kept up by this confusion of tongues, certainly justifies my appellation in the former part of this epistle. Thus much for the ground-floor; but that no part may go undescribed, allow me to conduct you to the shades below, previous to carrying you above stairs. The cellars underneath the arcades are also converted into coffee-houses, where are generally exhibited scenes of the most disgusting nature, at least to English eyes; though our Gallic neighbours do not appear to look upon them in that light. In one corner of these miserable places, you will meet with some most filthy looking objects, apparently happy from the exhilarating effects of eau de vie, (brandy) which they take in no small quantity; in another corner, if you should not be so much disgusted by the vulgarity of the former group, as not to venture a further glance, you will probably find a set of the most abandoned objects, dancing to the scraping of a miserable fiddler. But enough of this; let me once more ascend to day-light, and soar to higher things, which I do, by saying, the first story above the arcades, is, like the one beneath, occupied by coffee rooms, gambling houses, and eating houses; the former are fitted up in a style of elegance unknown in England. One of them, which far surpasses the rest, I must mention more particularly; it is the far famed Café des Mille Colonnes, or coffee house containing a thousand pillars. At this expression, until you proceed further, methinks I see you inclined to lay aside my letter, snpposing me to be indulging in the licence travellers but too often take. You must however be told, that this room is, if I may be allowed the expression, papered with mirrors, which of course multiply, ad infinitum. About twenty pillars the room really does contain; indeed, such is the glare and brilliancy of every thing around you, that, were it not for the fantastic groups there assembled, you might almost fancy yourself in the palace of some of the Arabian Night's heroes. But, what still is a greater attraction, is, the beauty of the female who here presides, and who in our plebeian language, would be called a bar-maid. She is placed behind a counter of red marble, ornamented with devices in Or moulù, upon which are a silver gilt standish, and flowers of the greatest beauty; the latter of which are probably placed there to prove themselves less fair than their mistress, who is dressed out in diamonds and pearls. She attracts all eyes, and it appears to cause her no trifling delight, to see herself reflected so often in the looking-glasses before mentioned. Every Petit Maître esteems it a high favour to have the change, out of the money offered for what he may have taken by the way of refreshment, presented to him by the prettiest arm in Paris. The gaming houses are large and numerous, and are under the immediate protection of government, which reaps, by_licencing them, no small portion of its revenue. They appear to be as essential to the French as eating houses, and, sorry am I to remark, our own countrymen are not less frequent visitors; as they but too frequently pass the best part of their days and nights in these places, where they generally lose their money, their repose, and I fear, their reputation. These places open at mid-day and close at mid-night; the games generally played are Rouge et Noir (Red and black) Roulette (similar to our E. O. tables) and hazard. But, in order that no one, however poor their condition, may be prevented from trying their luck, there is a game called the lottery, at which so low a sum as five pence sterling can be risked. It is astonishing to see the avidity with which some of the halfstarved wretches, here offered to your view, put down their money with almost the certainty of loss; the chance against them being above thirty to one. second story also abounds with the same places of amusement, but of a lower cast. The third, if you dare ascend so high, you will find inhabited by the frail daughters of Eve, whom you see so sprightly under the arcades and in the garden; but, to conclude, assembled in this one building is to be found all that can disgust, and but very little that can please; as it is the habitation of courtisans and gamesters. Paris, 1818. FOR THE POCKET MAGAZINE. The J. G. P. SIR,-Should the following short account be deemed worthy a place in your valuable miscellany, I shall be very much gratified by its insertion. Strand. Your constant reader, B. G. THE following curious circumstance occurred_not fourteen miles from Carlisle, and can be well authenticated:-About six years ago, at a farm on the banks of the Sark, not two miles above Gretna, a young woman married a farmer, near Kirkgunzeen Kirk, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright; and when her parents were giving her outgate, as it is called in Scotland, in addition to their gift, she begged of them to give her a favourite cat, which had two kittens: this was granted, and the cat and kittens were mounted along with her on the cart, which arrived at the farmer's residence at Kirkgunzeen Kirk, that evening. Puss, not satisfied with her new quarters, next night decamped with her two kittens, carrying them one after another during the night, and hiding them in the day, when, it is supposed, she supported herself with what scanty provisions she could procure. It was ascertained that she lost one of her kittens in the Langwood, parish of Troguire, about four miles from Dumfries, where she was two days; and after passing through Dumfries, she arrived at her old fodgings, on the banks of the Sark, with the other kitten, having, on her return, travelled not less than forty miles in twelve days. December 9th, 1818. FOR THE POCKET MAGAZINE. A FRAGMENT. "NAY," said I, hastily pushing him aside, " do not tread upon it."""Tis but a worm," he answered." He who would tread upon a worm-but no matter! you could not feel my reproof, were I to utter it." He had trodden upon it-I picked it up, and throwing it among the grass which grew plentifully by the side of the path-" go," said I, "thy little life may still be sweet, although that inconsiderate mortal has for the present embittered it." I parted from my companion, and crossing the path, presently got into a pleasant lane, shaded on each side by a hedge, which was rendered fragrant by the occasional presence of the honeysuckle. At some distance, I perceived a man whose venerable aspect, even at the first glance, interested me considerably in his favour. He stood beside an aged oak-" fit emblem of thyself," said I internally, the winter of thy days is come, no more gay spring shall see thee clothed in verdure, thy withered trunk, thus blasted and decayed, must bear the fury of the passing storm." Whilst I was indulging in this train of thought, a person of most elegant appearance passed, the poor old man bowed his feeble frame, and uncovering a head whose snowy whiteness might have infused pity into any human breast, humbly asked assistance; but he, regardless of the tear which trembled in the old man's eye, passed on contemptuously, muttering he had nothing to bestow in charity-nor much charity, thought I: heaven knows the heart, but I would not be the man you seem to be, though I might sway the world's sceptre. I advanced to the old man; his looks expressed the sorrow of his heart-it was not that sorrow which rises from disappointment, it was deeper felt; it showed, evidently, that those little organs of sensibili ty which twine around the heart of man, and blend themselves with his very existence, were lacerated; he preferred no request to me, he feared a repetition of the insult, but I at once relieved him from his fears, and putting a trifle in his hand, passed on. I gave him but a trifle, but he gave me a world of thanks. I thought of the worm-" Poor soul!" cried I," thou, too, hast been trampled on! the tender fibres of thy mind are torn: the feelings of the man are outraged!" There is a sort of self-approbation in reflecting on the performance of a good action, which, if not indulged in to excess, is far from blameable. I might. have felt it at that moment. I could not help drawing a comparison. How easily, thought I, might that man have contributed, from his abundance, to the relief of a fellow creature! How far superior is he, who, having but little of this world's good, yet, seeing distress in any shape, comes forward cheerfully, to alleviate the psha! psha! say no more about it-this is downright egotism! FOR THE POCKET MAGAZINE. W. SIR,-The inclosed, if it be worth your notice, you may insert in your Pocket Magazine. ANTROBUS. AN INSCRIPTION FOR A CHIMNEY BOARD. Here lies, entombed, The ashes, earthly parts, and remains Of a brilliant and volatile nature; |