not a friend called upon me to fee the humours of the Guinguette on Eafter-Sunday, I verily believe that I might have been mad enough to have chan ged my religion to have embraced that order.

Guinguettes are places about the environs of Pa ris, not unfimilar to White-conduit-house, Bagniggewells, and the like, in the purlieus of London; with this difference, that inftead of tea, petitis fou pers are given, and a bottle of wine is drank till they are ready. The principal amufement confifts of dancing. As thefe places are chiefly frequented by the Bourgeoife of Paris, they are reforted to by the greatest number on Sundays, as public dancing as well as plays and operas are allowed on that day. This being Eafter-Sunday, they were not only very crowded, but much more brilliant than ufual, on account of the variety of new clothes conftantly exhibited on this day.

TH

LES TAPAGEURS.

HESE are a fpecies of animals, who, from a principle of falfe honour, and ftill more ridiculous vanity, fancy they are authorized to di. Aurb the repofe and merriment of the citizens of Paris. They generally confift of Mufquetaires and Pages. Being trained from their infancy to the fword, by the time they attain manhood, they are generally proficients in fencing; and upon this fu periority in arms, they build their title to infolence and impertinence.

A Guinguette, especially on Sunday, is the cer sain mart of their abilities: here they difplay their

Z3.

falfe

falle wit and falfe courage, and frequently pafs them off for genuine; however, the counterfeits are fometimes detected, and feverely punished.

-3

Having, with my friend, taken a seat in the most retired corner of the room, that we might be unobferved fpectators of what paffed, a couple of Ta pageurs prefently entered, and having taken a view of the company, they fixed upon a young Jew eller, who was with his Sweetheart, for the object of their prefent ridicule.

about him.

The young fellow was dreffed very genteelly, with a fword, and carried no marks of plebianifat But they knew he was a mechanic ; and it is a rule with the Tapageurs, to chaftife all fuch, as they call them, when they find them either in drefs or company out of their fphere. The young woman was very handfome, and by the mo defty which was depicted in her countenance, was intitled to respect even from the most abandoned. But the Tapageurs confider decency and decorum as vices which a Page or Moufquetaire thould never be guilty of, and therefore carefully avoid com. mitting them.

One of thefe heroes went up to the table where the Jeweller and his miftrefs were fitting drinking a glass of wine; and alking him. if his wine was good, without invitation helped himself to a glass: he then pronounced it excellent; and thus continued to ferve firft his companion, and afterwards himself, till the whole bottle was emptied.

The young Jeweller bore all thefe infults with great good temper; and calling for another bottle, told them he was very proud of the honour of their company; and that if they could not afford to pay,

they

they were even very welcome to another or two at. his expence.

Comment, Monfieur le Foucillier, comptez-vous que vous n'êtes pas commu? Allez balayer vétre boutique, & laiffez votre epée chez vous."

What, Mr Jeweller, do you think you” arè not known?-Go and fweep your shop, and leave your fword at home.”.

"Je le ferai lien," replied the Jeweller, "après que je vous ai corrigé pour votre infolence."

"That I will readily do, after I have corrected 66 you for your infolence."

They now retired, whilft the Jeweller's mistress fainted away; however, by the help of fome hart horn and water, the recovered herself, just as her lover returned victorious.

The Moufquetaire, vain-gloriously trifling with the Jeweller, whom he judged much inferior in fkill, happening to stumble over a stone, was wound+ ed through the body. A furgeon was immediately fent for, who was very doubtful concerning the wound. He was, however, put to bed, and all poffible care taken of him.

quence I poffeffed, to induce her to take her fille de chambre once more under her protection.

Whilft I was ruminating upon the moft effectual plan of operations, I accidentally ftrolled into the Tuilleries, and being fomewhat fatigued, feated myfelf next a lady, who proving very communica. tive, we presently fell into general converfation, and from general defcended to particular: fo that without any kind of feeming impropriety, I afked her, if the knew Madame Rambouillet."Ma "dame Rambouillet! (the repeated) c'est moi ""même."

Good heaven, faid I, what an accident! You are the very lady I propofed waiting upon to. morrow-morning, with a letter I have been fo "neglectful as to keep thefe two months in my "pocket."

"Vous êtes Mr Yorick, donc ; -et comment "eft-il arrivé que vous n'êtes pas vena me voir ??

Saying this, fhe rofe up, and feizing me by the arm, led me to her coach. I was now preparing to take leave, but the faid with a very imperative tone "Il faut fouper avec moi."

I

THE TUILLERIES.

Sufpected Madame Rambouillet's fudden and abrupt departure from the Gardens was occafioned by a fpectacle, or rather a pair of spectacles, which, in a lefs polifhed fphere of action, would

have been exploded, as erring against all the rules: of decent optics.

On the left-hand walk from the Louvre is a range of fhrubbery that runs paralled to the wall," at about fix feet diftance, and which in fummer, when the leaves are fully expanded, forms a kind of retreat; behind which obfcenities of any fpecies' may be committed, unobferved by the company in' the Gardens; but in winter and fpring, every thing performed behind this fhrubbery is as much exposed as if done in any other part of the Tuilleries.

Having afcertained the topography of this retreat, I shall now point out its uses.

There are two Goddesses, whofe numerous vota ries confider it as the highest infult to these Divinities to expose the devotions they pay to them; the moft reclufe retreats, therefore, are conftantly chofen for these oblations. But, by a strange effect of French vivacity, the Parifians forget the seasons of the year; and this being the end of March, there was not a fingle leaf yet difclofed to conceal the rites which two devotees of one, Goddess were at this time performing.

THE MISTAKE.

LTHOUGH I had fuppofed this exhibition had fhocked the delicacy of Madame Rambouillet fo much as to render any longer ftay in the Gardens impracticable. I was afterwards. thoroughly convinced that French politeffe does not

extend