It is also the favourite theme of conversation; and a parisian compelled to talk with a foreigner, is sure to begin with the following words: “Allez vous souvent, monsieur, au spectacle? Ne sont ils pas bien beaux nos spectacles?” (Do you often go to the _spectacles_? Are not our _spectacles_ very fine?) A similar observation forms likewise the hospitable kind of consolation which an englishman sometimes receives, if he complain, that he has not seen much of french society. “Mais cependant, vous ne pouvez pas manquer d’amusement; à Paris les spectacles sont si beaux.” (You cannot want amusement, however; the spectacles at Paris are so fine.) In consequence of the general application of this word in France to every thing relating to the stage, a parisian, on his arrival in London, wishing to go to the play, supposed that he had only to look for the word spectacle in a french and english dictionary; and, having found that the literal translation gave him the same word, with perfect confidence directed his hackney coachman to _drive to the spectacle_. The fellow, supposing that he wanted to purchase a pair of spectacles, conducted him to the celebrated shop at Charing-cross. The frenchman flew into a passion, and by his gestures conveyed, that this was not the place where he desired to go. The coachman, imagining that this was not the optician’s, to which he wished to be taken, carried him to several others in different parts of the town. After a long round, during which the favourite oaths of the two countries were mutually exchanged between _monsieur_ and his _charioteer_, the former was compelled to pass his evening in the hackney coach instead of the play-house, and thus learnt the difference between french _spectacles_ and english _spectacles_. [7] Mademoiselle Beauharnois is since married to Louis Bonaparte, one of the brothers of the first consul; to whom she has become, therefore, both daughter and sister. [8] Married to General le Clerc, who commanded the expedition to St. Domingo. She accompanied him to that island, and incurred all the dangers of climate and of war. She did so in obedience to Bonaparte’s particular orders; with whom it is an undeviating principle, that a wife should always follow the steps and fortunes of her husband. [9] As we should say in english, “a lost thing.” The french expression is more commonly used, and is infinitely stronger in its meaning. It is adopted on all occasions of misfortune; such as to deplore the death of a friend, or the loss of a “spectacle.” A general was lately killed in a duel. A fair parisian of high fashion, to whom he was much attached, on hearing of the accident, exclaimed, with an accent of deep despair, “Que je suis à plaindre! il devoit m’avoir amenée au bal de l’opéra demain. Voilà une affaire bien manquée.” (How am I to be pitied! he was to have taken me to the ball at the opera to-morrow. Here is a lost thing, or a party completely deranged.)