The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. TitmarshThackeray, William Makepeace
General
The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. Titmarsh
Thackeray, William Makepeace
Paris (France) -- Description and travel
in annually rejoicing over the conquered? Would we have thought Charles
X. justified in causing fireworks to be blazed, and concerts to be
sung, and speeches to be spouted, in commemoration of his victory over
his slaughtered countrymen?—I wish for my part they would allow the
people to go about their business as on the other 362 days of the year,
and leave the Champs Elysées free for the omnibuses to run, and the
Tuileries’ in quiet, so that the nurse-maids might come as usual, and
the newspapers be read for a halfpenny apiece.
Shall I trouble you with an account of the speculations of these
latter, and the state of the parties which they represent? The
complication is not a little curious, and may form, perhaps, a subject
of graver disquisition. The July fêtes occupy, as you may imagine, a
considerable part of their columns just now, and it is amusing to
follow them one by one; to read Tweedledum’s praise, and Tweedledee’s
indignation—to read, in the Débats how the King was received with
shouts and loyal vivats—in the Nation, how not a tongue was wagged in
his praise, but, on the instant of his departure, how the people called
for the “Marseillaise” and applauded THAT.—But best say no more about
the fête. The Legitimists were always indignant at it. The high
Philippist party sneers at and despises it; the Republicans hate it: it
seems a joke against THEM. Why continue it?—If there be anything sacred
in the name and idea of loyalty, why renew this fête? It only shows how
a rightful monarch was hurled from his throne, and a dexterous usurper
stole his precious diadem. If there be anything noble in the memory of
a day, when citizens, unused to war, rose against practised veterans,
and, armed with the strength of their cause, overthrew them, why speak
of it now? or renew the bitter recollections of the bootless struggle
and victory? O Lafayette! O hero of two worlds! O accomplished Cromwell
Grandison! you have to answer for more than any mortal man who has
played a part in history: two republics and one monarchy does the world
owe to you; and especially grateful should your country be to you. Did
you not, in ’90, make clear the path for honest Robespierre, and in
’30, prepare the way for—
[The Editor of the Bungay Beacon would insert no more of this letter,
which is, therefore, for ever lost to the public.]
ON THE FRENCH SCHOOL OF PAINTING:
WITH APPROPRIATE ANECDOTES, ILLUSTRATIONS, AND PHILOSOPHICAL
DISQUISITIONS.
IN A LETTER TO MR. MACGILP, OF LONDON.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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