The Tourist is aware that no one can walk about Paris without seeing abundant evidences of the coarsest moral and social feeling, and claims an infinitely higher position for his own countrymen and countrywomen in this respect. He also recollects that he has already ridiculed the dress of Frenchmen, and sees that this may be supposed inconsistent with a sweeping panegyric on French taste. But this is an exception that proves the rule. A Frenchman's _theory_ of dress is wrong. He always wants to be conspicuous and picturesque. Hence, nothing is too singular and showy for him. He gets himself up, as if for the stage, with velvet and fur and beard and moustache, and exhausts the resources of his inventive mind for new and still more _piquant_ combinations. When he turns his attentions to the chase, the result is something worth seeing, and no mistake, as will be more plainly seen by a picture of a party of sporting gentlemen going out shooting. But these comicalities are eschewed by the genuine "swells," who adopt our sober English notions of masculine costume, and, indeed, dress exactly like Englishmen. The advice of _Polonius_ to _Laertes_ will literally apply to the matter at the present day:-- "Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy. But _not expressed in fancy_--rich, not gaudy-- For the apparel oft proclaims the man. And they in France _of the best rank and station_ Are most select and generous, chief in that--" The most august confirmation has been given to this view. I state with becoming reverence and awe that his I----L M----Y, with that regard for detail which characterises his great mind, has sent a special envoy to London, and had all his liveries made in Saville Row, with which unspeakably solemn allusion I close this communication. [Footnote 5:] This is not intended to apply to our painters, who may well be compared with those of any country, but to the designers for manufactures. [Illustration] * * * * * SPIRITED CONDUCT OF A PUBLIC COMPANY.