MR. R AMES ' S FRANCE SINCE 1830.

Ma. RAIKES is known, and not unfavourably, for a superficial but readable book descriptive of St. Petersburg and impressions he re- ceived there. The publication, however, had this peculiarity, that being written in 1829 to describe what he saw and heard, but pub- lished in 1838 to stimulate the Russophobia and flatter the Tories, the views which he thought most important were put into a post- script, whose assertions sometimes contradicted the facts of the text. A similar awkwardness attends upon France since 1830. Written before the Syrian war and all the national differences that threatened to end so disastrously, the work would now have seemed. without a drift, or any immediate application. Mr. RAIKES there- fore adds an Introduction, in which he goes over the history of the PALMERSTON and TRIERS squabble ; denouncing the character and ambition of TIMERS, and dwelling upon the " wily diplomacy " of Russia, to which he attributes a course of riskful conduct, (from which she does not seem to have derived much benefit); but as he was compelled to close his prophecies before the last moment of going to press, the late turn of events does not altogether support his sagacity.

Besides this peculiarity, which seems as inevitable to Mr. RAIKES as a postscript to a lady, the book does not bear out the title. France since 1830 scarcely forms one-fourth of the pub- lication ; the first volume being wholly devoted to the Revolution of 1830, and a good part of the second to a summary view of the upper classes of French society from the age of Louis the Fourteenth to that of CHARLES the Tenth ; the remainder of the volume alone describing the characteristics of the " glorious three days," as Mr. RAIKES conceives them. The book, however, is always readable ; and the author being fluent in the exposition of his views—dealing largely in his narrative with facts and anec- dotes— borrowing, where he borrows, (which we suspect he does largely,) from clever and lively French writers—and dealing, more- over, with periods of great interest in themselves—Mr. RAIKES " on France for the last Two Centuries " may be recommended as a book that will furnish a good deal of information in an agree- able way, if the reader is not well versed in the subject, and guards himself against the author's prejudices.

Mr. RAIKES was himself in Paris during the Revolution ; and he describes the appearance of the city, where the fighting was not going on, from personal observation. Of fighting, however, be says ---- e-r, deckle the first two days (Monday and Tuesa.,, . nor would there have been at all, but for the new paper-editors and great manufacturers. The former out of malice prepense to the Government, and the latter galled by the neglect of the Court and the superciliousness of the returned Emigrants, dismissed all their workmen, who, having nothing else to do, rose in rebellion. The fact we believe to be true ; but the inference Mr. RAIKES deduces is clearly false. Workmen are constantly dismissed, and the masses frequently reduced to the prospect of great distress, without a revolution following, because there is no sufficient provocation to lead them to attack the Government. Nor is the author's view consistent with his theory, that the Revolution was not, as many suppose, the result of a conspiracy, but of a series of occurrences steadily followed up by the party of the People, not a little assisted by the blindness, ignorance, vanity, weakness, and self-conceit of the Court.

Of the Royal proceedings, from the first moment of well-bred annoyance at the disturbances, (for dethronement followed imme- diately upon alarm,) to the landing in England, Mr. RAIKES is minutely particular in his narrative : and though he is not an eye- witness of what he relates, he has had opportunities of hearing many anecdotes floating in society, and seems to have consulted pretty nearly all that has been published with any authoritative character—though he omits quoting his authorities. Here is the first distinct misgiving of the Ordinances by a Government editor, who had seen all sorts of revolutions in his time. And the " gentleman of the press " seems to have had more honesty and sagacity than ministers or courtiers.

THE PUBLICATION OF THE ORDINANCES.

The Ministers returned to Paris, carrying with them the Ordinances signed in due form by the King. At five o'clock in the afternoon, M. Sanyo, chief editor of the Moniteur, received the very unusual order to repair punctually at eleven o'clock that night to the hotel of the Keeper of the Seals.

On his arrival thither, M. de Cbantelauze handed over to him the Ordi- nances and the report to the King, with directions that they should be in-

serted in the 3foniteur on the following morning. M. Sauvo evinced consi- derable emotion on perusing these documents : his voice seemed to falter at particular passages ; and M. de Montbel, who was present, remarking his agita- tion, said, in an inquiring tone, " Well I God preserve the King!"

" May God preserve France," replied M. Sanyo.

" So do we hope and trust," added the two Ministers.

M. Sauvo then retiring from the room, added, "Gentlemen, I am now fifty years old ; I have witnessed all the events of the Revolution, and I confess that 1 leave your presence with a mind full of awful apprehension for the future." Re closed the door, and the die was cast.

OMENS ON THE FIRST DAY.

On the Monday morning, Charles the Tenth, with the view of avoiding all further comments as to the Ordinances, or perhaps to divert his mind from the intrusion of any unpleasant reflections, commanded the necessary arrangements to be made for a hunting-party at Rambouillet. Instead of setting off at his usual hour of nine o'clock, the horses were ordered at the early hour of seven ; long before it was possible that the Dfoniteur of that nsorning could arrive at St. Cloud. Instead of returning home at nine or ten o'clock in the evening, as had been his constant habit, it was past midnight before the royal party returned to the Palace. The chase was dull and tedious, the King thoughtful .and absent.

Notwithstanding the fineness of the weather, it was long before the hounds could find their game, and even then the stag was unwilling to show any sport : he made repeated turnings and windings, till at last the slot was lost. The King appeared to take no interest in this his most favourite amusement : he rode -on, seemingly absorbed in thought ; and when one of the huntsmen pointed out to his Majesty some broken branches in the forest, as an indication of the track which the animal bad taken, he listened without attention, and made no com- ment. The courtiers, who were in total ignorance of the promulgation of the Ordinances, made every effort to amuse the King, and dispel the gloom which was hourly becoming more contagious All was in vain : the whole party, lost in conjectures, abandoned as hopeless all attempts to remove the King's depression of spirits. On the Wednesday, when matters were evidently growing very serious, MARMONT wrote a succession of despatches, stating that the disturbance was " no longer a riot, but a revolution, and urging prompt and conciliatory measures. The last missive he -sent by his Aide-de-camp, Colonel KoratenowsKy ; who was also charged to give a verbal report of the state of affairs. The Aide- de-camp delivered his despatch and gave his explanation.

The King replied that he would read the despatch, and I retired to wait his commands. Having passed some time in fruitless expectation, 1 requested the Due de Duras to go to his Majesty and implore an answer ; but he told me that the laws of etiquette forbade him from taking such a liberty. At the -expiration of half an hour, I was recalled by the King into his cabinet ; who de- livered to me no written instructions, but only charged me with his orders to the Marshal to stand firm, to unite his forces on the Carousel and the Place de Louis Quinze, and to act on the enemy with masses; these last words he repeated twice. The Duchene de Berri and the Dauphin were both present in the room, but said nothing.' As M. de Komierowaky took this opportunity of touching upon the serious aspect of the insurrection, the King told him to be brief. As he returned through the suite of apartments, he was surrounded by the courtiers and different officers of the household, who made various in- quiries : all seemed to be in a perfect state of security, much enraged against the exciters of revolt, but quite incredulous as to their success. The Court passed these three days in giving unimportant directions, in the expectation of good news from Paris, and the disbelief of those which were unfavourable ; treat- ing the bearers of such reports with ill humour, and affecting to doubt their veracity."

THE LAST DAY.

The day was passed in the usual routine of Court ceremony; in the morning, the mass and the audiences ; in the evening, the rubber of whist with its for- malities; and it was thus, while the earthquake was rumbling in the neigh- bourhood, that precautions were taken to avoid it.

Many ill-natured comments have been made on this whist-party by the ma- levolent, as if Charles the Tenth had reallr occupied himself purposely with this trifling amusement while surrounded with such imminent dangers; but those who have lived in courts must know that the daily life is regulated by a monotonous uniformity, which is not to be infringed because a variety of pri- vate interests are connected with its existence.

Charles the Tenth did not of his own accord propose the game; but every evening at a stated hour, the lord in waiting approached his Majesty and said, -"Sire. the card-table is nrenared. and vour tarry is fermed."

On the evening of the 28th, the usual ceremony took place ; and the King indeed sat down mechanically in his accustomed manner—we all become gra. dually the creatures of habit, particularly as we advance in life : but the dis- tant murmur of cannon was still audible, and the echo of civil war resounded in the vale below the château. Charles was evidently disturbed; any idea of amusement was little in unison with his feelings: the cards were left un- touched ; lie rose from his chair, and went out on the balcony, where he re- mained some time looking towards Paris with considerable anxiety.

We have seen how closely etiquette was observed when the mo- narchy was falling—when it had fallen, ceremony was equally kept up. During the Journey to Cherbourg, the national Commissioners had on one or two occasions to precede the cortege and soothe the people by speeches. Yet see how the shadow was clung to when the substance was gone.

ETIQUETTE.

As they marched into Drenx, General Vincent stationed himself at the door of the King's coach, conceiving that the sight of a general officer in uniform, with his bare head, would create some feeling of respect for the King. " Vin- cent, Vincent !" cried the Dauphin, " this is the place of the Lieutenant of

the Garde du Corps." * • *

Etiquette prescribes that the Kings of France should dine at a square table, as the place of honour is more distinctly pointed out than at a circular. During the whole of this journey, the King's household adhered rigidly to this rule; and as no square table could be found at L'Aigle, it became necessary to have one made fur the purpose.

COURTLY GRATITUDE.

On the borders of the road taken by the Royal Family from St. Cloud were various fine châteaux, of which the proprietors occupied eminent places at Court, or owed their whole fortune to the Restoration : none of these, however, appeared at their threshholds to offer a passing hospitality to their fallen bene- factors, except the generous Due de Noailles, whose loyalty and attachment to

his Sovereign was checked by no selfish considerations. * • •

During the journey, those about the King had inquired how many persons he thought would probably accompany him out of France? His reply at first had been two hundred; and preparations were made accordingly at Cherbourg. Further on, the King said that he should take with him one hundred and fifty, then one hundred. The number was gradually diminished as they ap- proached the coast; till at last, when arrived at Cherbourg, there were only ten individuals who in fact embarked with him.

ADVICE TOO LATE.

The motion of the ship soon produced its natural consequences, and the passengers were affected with sea-sickness. The Duchesse de Berri, who suf- fered martyrdom, but struggled with great energy to combat the malady, ob- served to M. d'erville, that she was not formed to make a good sailor.

• Madame," said he, " with the courage and heroism which you possess, you would soon overcome that difficulty."

On hearing which remark, Madame de Gontaut, who was reclining on a bed and suffering from the same cause, said, with a certain degree of acrimony, " Sir, you should never flatter princes; it is their ruin."

A good deal of space devoted to France since 1830 is given to Maxi-RAND ; from which we take a few ana.

TALLEYRAND ON THE HOLLANDS.

He said of Lord 11---d, " C'est la bienveillance mdme, mais la bienveil- lance Is plus perturbatriqe qu'on aitjamaisvue "; and in speaking of her Lady- ship, he observed, " Elle est tout assertion, mais quand vous en demandea Is pi:cure, c'est lit son secret."

Everybody remembers the Duke ofWELLniarozes defence of his veteran friend from the furious and almost foul-mouthed attack of Lord LONDONDERRY—.

• On the following morning, an intimate friend of AL de Talleyrand paid him a visit, and found him in a considerable state of agitation, occupied in reading the debates of the preceding night, which had reference to himself. On remarking to him that these hasty sallies were of frequent occurrence in the English Parliament, his friend expressed a hope that he would not allow the late circumstance to give him any real uneasiness. Talleyrand replied, that though hurt by the late attack, he was infinitely more affected by the friendly intervention of the Duke, and expressed his gratitude in the warmest terms ; adding, it is said with tears, " J'en suis d'autant plus reconnaissant k Monsieur le Due, parse Sue 'fest le seal homme d'etat dans le monde qui aft jamais dit du hien de rm.' Was this a sarcasm, 2nalgre lid ? Mr. RAIKES is very depreciatory and desponding on the subject of the Revolution of July ; but, as in his book on Russia, his facts in a measure contradict his theory. The populace of Paris, he says, are rude, and even get drunk, on account of wages being so high : but the drink and the rudeness are accidents of good employment, and the whole is better than the starvation and misery of old times. Then compare his narrative of the vices under the last three Bour- bons with this account of

MODERN FRENCH MARRIAGES. _

I should say that marriages in France are, generally speaking, happy ; and when it is considered that they are in almost every instance concluded by pa- rents, without any decided previous partiality between the contracting parties, it may become a question why the so-called love-matches in England are often productive of such very different results. At any rate, it may be asserted that there are quite as many happy marriages in France as with us : were I to go further, and say that there were more, it might be traced to the ascendancy which women possess here over the men—ascendancy as compared to our habits, perhaps more properly speaking the equality which exists between man and wife. There is a proverbial prejudice in an English menage against the interference of the female in all that regards her husband's conduct, which has driven many a weak and self-willed man to cause the misery of both, rather than listen to advice which a moment's cool reflection would have taught him to approve. I hardly dare to add, that in what is called fashionable life, the re- gular habits of a French family, the prudent administration of a moderate for- tune, and the sober enjoyment of quiet society, are more calculated to insure domestic happiness than nights spent at Crockford's, under the fascination of play and excitement, which inevitably bring in their train loss of fortune, loss of character, and loss of internal peace.

Again we have this picture of

FRENCH ECONOMY.

In the present day the fortunes in France are, with some few exceptions, not large, and the law of inheritance can only tend to diminish them ; but here in society are to be seen no instances of men of rank and family who plunge headlong into ruin. The temptations to extravagance and luxury are certainly as alluring here as in any other capital; but not only every father of a family, but every young man who enjoys an independence, seems anxious to regulate his expenses by the scale of order and prudence. It would be considered an at of very bad taste to incur large debts without the immediate means of pay.: ing them : but as to that reckless profusion which consigns whole estates to the hammer of the auctioneer, and entails poverty on future generations, it is almost unknown in France ; and certainly no epithet would be wanting to stigmatize it with obloquy and dishonour. There are to be seen here and there a few ignoble squanderers, who suddenly gain money and as suddenly disperse it ; but as these are neither known or heeded in the world, such ob- scure examples can never be contagious. The French families of distinction live more on their estates than formerly; la vie du chdteau is not without its charms ; the example of England has given a taste for agriculture; and when the economy of a country life is combined with projects for the improvement of landed property, a four months' residence in Paris may be deemed quite sufficient for all the purposes of gayety and pleasure. The French, it must be owned, are a very contented people : they enjoy the comforts within their reach, and neither envy or imitate those who possess superior advantages of rank or fortune : above all, they are free from that rivalry with each other in luxury and expense which has proved the bane of so many families in

England. .

Ilte closing pages of the book contain some reminiscences of a mighty monarch of fashion, who was also dethroned, the celebrated Beau BRUMMELL. Of this personage-Mr. RAIRES gives a favour- able account, together with a short sketch aids life and character : but we can only spare room for one extract.

THE MYSTERY UNVEILED.

This violent intimacy, notwithstanding the great disparity of rank, lasted for some years; till at last he risked some freedom of speech with his Royal patron, which brought on a rupture, and the Prince never spoke to him again. The story of" Wales, ring the bell 1" was always denied by Mammal; and from his general well-bred manners, it is not likely he would have ta':en such an unpar- donable liberty with the Prince : but he had a great talent for ridicule, which he exerted very readily on all around him, and even his Royal master was not spared. There was at that time a gigantic porter at Carlton House, nicknamed Big Ben ; and as the Prince was then increasing in size, Brnmmel1 would often. designate the master by the appellation of his servant, and a certain high lady by that of Bening. These and other ill-timed jokes came to the Prince's ears, and were instantly resented. No excuse was to be made for his indiscretion; but a rancour on the other side which lasted to the grave is not to be palliated. The ludicrous part of the story was, that Brummell took the matter up in a high tone, and waged open war against his Royal adversary ; assailing him with ridicule in all quarters, and affecting to say that he himself had cut the connexion.