A Year's Journey through France and Part of Spain Volume II Part 11

Jealousy is scarce known in France; by the time the first child is born, an indifference generally takes place: the husband and wife have their separate acquaintance, and pursue their separate _amus.e.m.e.nts_, undisturbed by domestic squabbles: when they meet in the evening, it is with perfect good humour, and in general, perfect good breeding.--When an English wife plays truant, she soon becomes abandoned: it is not so with the French; they preserve appearances and proper decorum, because they are seldom attached to any particular man. While they are at their toilet, they receive the visits of their male acquaintance, and he must be a man of uncommon discernment, who finds out whom it is she prefers at that time.--In the southern parts of France, the women are in general very _free_ and _easy_ indeed.

XXV.

It is seldom that virgins are seduced in France; the married women are the objects of the men of gallantry. The seduction of a young girl is punished with death; and when they fall, it is generally into the arms of their confessor,--and that is seldom disclosed. Auricular confession is big with many mischiefs, as well as much good. Where the penitent and the confessor happen both to be young, he makes her confess not only all her sins, but sinful thoughts, and then, I fear he knows more than his prudence can absolve _decently_, and even when the confessor is old, the penitent may not be out of danger.

XXVI.

Never ask a Frenchman his age; no question whatever can be more offensive to him, nor will he ever give you a direct, though he may a civil answer.--_Lewis_ the XVth was always asking every man about him, his age. A King may take that liberty, and even then, it always gives pain.--_Lewis_ the XIVth said to _Comte de Grammont_, "_Je sais votre age, l'Eveque de Senlis qui a 84 ans, m'a donne pour epoque, que vous avez etudie ensemble dans la meme cla.s.se_." _Cet Eveque, Sire_, (replied the _Comte,) n'accuse pas juste, car ni lui, ni moi n'avons jamais Etudie_.--Before I knew how offensive this question was to a Frenchman, I have had many equivocal answers,--such as, _O! mon dieu_, as old as the town, or, I thank G.o.d, I am in good health, &c.

XXVII.

A modern French author says, that the French language is not capable of the _jeux de mots_. _Les jeux de mots_, are not, says he, in the genius _de notre langue, qui est grave, de serieuse_. Perhaps it maybe so; but the language, and the men, are then so different, that I thought quite otherwise,--though the following beautiful specimen of the seriousness of the language ought, in some measure; to justify his remark:

Un seul est frappe, & tous sont delivres, Dieu frappe sons fils innocent, pour l'amour Des hommes coupables, & pardonne aux hommes Coupables, pour l'amour de son fils innocent.

XXVIII.

All English women, as well as women of other nations, prefer France to their own country; because in France there is much less restraint on their actions, than there is, (should I not say, than there _was_?) in England. All Englishmen, however, who have young and beautiful wives, should, if they are not indifferent about their conduct, avoid a trip to _Paris_, &c. tho' it be but for "_a six weeks tour_." She must be good and wise too, if six weeks does not corrupt her mind and debauch her morals, and that too by her own s.e.x, which is infinitely the most dangerous company. A French woman is as great an adept at laughing an English-woman into all contempt of fidelity to her husband, as married English-women are in general, in preparing them during their first pregnancy, for the touch of a man-midwife,--and both from the same motive; _i.e._ to do, as they have done, and bring all the s.e.x upon a level.

XXIX.

The French will not allow their language to be so difficult to speak properly, as the English language; and perhaps they are in the right; for how often do we meet with Englishmen who speak French perfectly? how seldom do we hear a Frenchman speak English without betraying his country by his p.r.o.nunciation? It is not so with the Spaniards; I conversed with two Spaniards who were never twenty miles from _Barcelona_, that spoke English perfectly well.--How, for instance, shall a Frenchman who cannot p.r.o.nounce the English, be able to understand, (great as the difference is) what I mean when I say _the sun is an hour high_? May he not equally suppose that I said _the sun is in our eye_?

x.x.x.

When you make an agreement with an _aubergiste_ where you intend to lie, take care to include beds, rooms, &c. or he will charge separately for these articles.

x.x.xI.

After all, it must be confessed, that _Mons. Dessein's a l'Hotel d'Angleterre_ at _Calais_, is not only the first inn strangers of fashion generally go to, but that it is also the first and best inn in France. _Dessein_ is the decoy-duck, and ought to have a salary from the French government: he is always sure of a good one from the English.

x.x.xII.

In frontier or garrison towns, where they have a right to examine your baggage, a twenty-four _sols_ piece, and a.s.suring the officer that you are a gentleman, and not a merchant, will carry you through without delay.

x.x.xIII.

Those who travel post should, before they set out, put up in parcels the money for the number of horses they use for one post, two posts, and a post _et demi_, adding to each parcel, that which is intended to be given to the driver, or drivers, who are int.i.tled by the King's ordinance to five _sols_ a post; and if they behave ill, they should be given no more; when they are civil, ten or twelve _sols_ a post is sufficient. If these packets are not prepared, and properly marked, the traveller, especially if he is not well acquainted with the money, cannot count it out while the horses are changing, from the number of beggars which surround the carriage and who will take no denial.

x.x.xIV.

People of rank and condition, either going to, or coming from the continent, by writing to PETER FECTOR, Esq; at _Dover_, will find him a man of property and character, on whom they may depend.

LASTLY,

Valetudinarians, or men of a certain age, who travel into the southern parts of France, Spain, or Italy, should never omit to wear either a callico or fine flannel waistcoat under their shirts: strange as it may seem to say so, this precaution is more necessary in the south of France, than in England. In May last it was so hot at _Lyons_, on the side of the streets the sun shone on, and so cold on the shady side, that both were intolerable. The air is much more _vif_ and penetrating in hot climates, than in cold. A dead dog, thrown into the streets of Madrid at night, will not have a bit of flesh upon his bones after it has been exposed to that keen air twenty-four hours.

FINIS.