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Dr. STEARNS's TOUR FROM LONDON TO PARIS.
Dr. STEARNS's TOUR FROM LONDON TO PARIS.
==== CONTAINING, A Description of the Kingdom of France —The Customs, Manners, Polity, Science, Commerce, and Agriculture of the Inhabitants—Its Ancient form of Government ,—and the New —Particulars concerning the Royal Family —Causes of the late Revolution —Proceedings and Decrees of the National Assembly —An Account of the Destruction of the Bastille , and of many dreadful Commotions which have happened in the Nation—With a minute Detail of the late grand Proceedings at the Champ de Mars .—The
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
Kind Reader , As I am obliged to spend the greatest part of my time in mathematical, philosophical, and physical studies, it was not my design to have written on this subject, although I was advised to do it more than twelve months ago; but on seeing the movements in France, on account of the Revolution , I altered my mind, kept a journal of many things which I saw and heard, and have accordingly written the following pages, which are presented for your perusal and consideration. I have endeavou
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ERRATA.
ERRATA.
Page 13. line 13. for ni read in . 14. —— 3. — abliged read obliged . 18. —— 19. — was read were . 23. —— 5. — market read marked . 26. —— 7. — received into the centre read received them into the centre . 36. —— 18. — meteria read materia . 71. —— 10. — malconduct read maleconduct . 96. —— 20. — againt read against . 98. —— 15. — The semicolon should have been placed after the word only;—. TOUR FROM LONDON TO PARIS....
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CHAP. I.
CHAP. I.
The Doctor engages a Passage to Paris.— Copy of a Card received at Piccadilly.—He arrives at Dover, and Calais.— Is met by a number of Gentlemen, who welcome him to France.—An Account of the Beggars, and of the French Diet.—Observations on drinking Healths. July 7, 1790. Having had an inclination to go to Paris for some months past, I went to Piccadilly this day, where I engaged a passage on board the stage coaches, called the diligences, for which I paid five guineas, and was told "That I would
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CHAP. II.
CHAP. II.
The Latitude, Longitude, and Description of Calais.— The Doctor and others obliged to wear National Cockades.—English Money and Bank Notes not passable in France.—How Strangers ought to be dressed.—A Table of French Coins, with their Value in English Money.—Of French Measures, in Length. Calais is situated in latitude 50 deg. and 58 min. North, and longitude 1 deg. and 49 min. East from the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. It is a very pleasant town, invironed with ramparts thrown up at a vast ex
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CHAP. III.
CHAP. III.
Leaves Calais.— A Description of the Stage Coaches in France.—The Doctor arrives at Paris.— A further Account of the Beggars.—With a Description of the Country. Early in the morning of the memorable 14th of July we left Calais, and proceeded in a stage coach, drawn by eight horses, on our journey towards Paris. These coaches are almost as large as a small house. They are very heavy; and eight persons may sit comfortably in the inside, and I believe a dozen more upon the outside. We had a conduct
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CHAP. IV.
CHAP. IV.
Views and Describes the Champ de Mars.— Goes to the Royal Palace belonging to the Duke of Orleans.—Dines with the French Officers at the Grand Hotel. On the day of our arrival at Paris, I went in a coach with the gentleman that had put up at the hotel with me, and viewed the Champ de Mars . Here we saw great multitudes of people, eating, drinking, and dancing at the sound of the bands of music. At this place the oaths of allegiance had been administered to the people on the preceding Wednesday;
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CHAP. V.
CHAP. V.
The Contents of the King's Proclamation.—Of the Obedience paid to it—and, the Proceedings of the Grand Confederation, on the 14th of July, at the Champ de Mars. Having in the preceding chapter given a description of the Champ de Mars , I shall attempt in this to exhibit how matters were conducted on the 14th: but it may be proper to premise, that on the 11th, the king, to prevent confusion and disorder, wisely issued a proclamation, setting forth how the different corps that were to compose the
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CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VI.
Inquiry is made whether the Doctor had Recommendations, &c.—His Advice to Gentlemen and Ladies.—He is visited by a Physician to the Court of Spain.—Views the Place where the Bastille stood.—How that Place was taken, and the Governor and other Officers executed. Paris, July 17. This morning the gentleman who had put up at the hotel with me, asked if I had any letters of recommendation from any gentlemen in London, to any in Paris? I told him I had not: that I had had the offer of some, bu
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CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VII.
The Doctor goes to the Champ de Mars— an Air Balloon descends on his Head.—He dines at a Grand Hotel, where commences un tête à tête with a fine Lady.—He goes to the Italian Opera. Paris, July 18. This morning, being Sunday, I sent my servant for a coach to carry me to the Champ de Mars ; but he returned without any, with this intelligence from the coachman, viz. that they were all forbid to move a coach that day, by reason of the great multitude of people that was to convene; as it was supposed
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CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. VIII.
The Doctor views three Hospitals, and the largest Cathedral in the Kingdom.—An Account of the Foundling Hospital. He goes to Versailles— views the King and Queen's Palaces, returns to Paris, and sees the Dauphin of France . Paris, July 19. This morning I viewed the grand hospital, the lying-in hospital, the foundling hospital, and the greatest cathedral in the kingdom, called L'Eglise de Notre Dame . It is a grand Gothic structure, has a very fine choir, altar, &c. and many paintings, so
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CHAP. IX.
CHAP. IX.
Views two Hospitals, the Royal Observatory, and sundry other Magnificent Buildings.—Goes to the French Theatre, &c.—A Caution against going into bad Company. Paris, July 20. This day I viewed the charity hospital, and the hospital for invalids. The latter is a large and elegant building, in which there is a chapel, that is said to cover as much ground as the cathedral of St. Paul's, in London. The floors of the domes are made of fine marble, and each dome is dedicated to some saint, whos
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CHAP. X.
CHAP. X.
Contemplations, Philosophical and Moral, on the State and Condition of the Living and the Dead, which the Author indulges at the Abbey of St. Denis, where the Kings of France are buried . St. Denis, July 21 , At half past one , P. M. I am now standing in the abbey of St. Denis, which is about six miles from Paris, and have been told that all the kings of France, excepting Lewis XVI. are buried here, and that the house of Bourbon lie under my feet.—Alas! said I, here is the end of those mighty mo
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CHAP. XI.
CHAP. XI.
Of the Curiosities in the Abbey of St. Denis.—The Doctor views the King's Treasure.—Goes to the Italian Theatre.—Observations on the Actors, &c. Whilst I was at the abbey of St. Denis, I viewed many elegant statues and paintings, and the font, or baptismal bason, out of which the kings of France had been christened. Afterwards I was admitted by a monk into the king's treasure, where I saw the crowns of the kings and queens of France, with many golden vessels and splendid ornaments. I din
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CHAP. XII.
CHAP. XII.
Views the Anatomical Productions at Cherenton. A Description of the Vineyards.—The People meet where the Bastille stood, and pray for the Souls of them that were slain in taking that Place. Their Form of Prayer.—Surveys the King's Physical Gardens. Paris, July 22. This morning I went to Cherenton, which is two leagues from Paris, and viewed a great number of skeletons, not only of human bodies, but of birds, beasts, and fishes; and I must join in opinion with the Spanish physician, viz . that th
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CHAP. XIII.
CHAP. XIII.
A Description of Paris.— Of the River Seine.— Of the Climate.—Dress,—Anecdote of a Frenchman.—French Courtship, and the Fondness of the Ladies , &c. Paris, the capital of France, is situated in lat. 48 deg. 50 min. north; and long. 2 deg. 10 min. east of the royal observatory at Greenwich; and is called one of the grandest and most beautiful cities in Europe. It is built in a circular form, and was about eighteen miles in circumference, 'till of late it has been made much larger by the a
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CHAP. XIV.
CHAP. XIV.
The Length, Breadth, Boundaries, Inhabitants, New Divisions, Mountains, Rivers, Soil, Produce, Manufactories, Commerce, Religion, and Laws of France. The kingdom of France is about six hundred and twenty-two miles in length from north to south, and six hundred and twenty in breadth from east to west: It is bounded—Easterly on Germany, Switzerland, Savoy, and Piedmont—Southerly on the Mediterranean sea, and the Pyrenean mountains, which separate it from Spain—Westerly on the Bay of Biscay—Norther
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CHAP. XV.
CHAP. XV.
France an unlimited Monarchy before the Revolution.—The Kingdom was divided into fifteen Parts, in which were as many Parliaments.—It was also divided into twenty-five Generalities.—The King nominated the Bishops.—The Privileges of the Clergy.—The Orders of Knighthood.—From what the Revenues were collected.—A Statement of the Annual Incomes and Expences.—Of the Gold and Silver in Circulation.—National Debt, &c. Having, partly from my own knowledge, and partly from credible information, g
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CHAP. XVI.
CHAP. XVI.
The Constitution of France changed from Monarchy to Democracy.—The Number and Power of the National Assembly.—The King is only an executive Officer.—A Decree of the National Assembly.—Titles of Nobility abolished. Having in the preceding chapter given an account of the constitution and government of France before the Revolution, let us consider, in the next place, of the present constitution and government of that kingdom. We must therefore observe: 1. That the constitution is changed from monar
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CHAP. XVII.
CHAP. XVII.
Supposed Causes of the Revolution.—The Resolutions of the National Assembly.—Names of some of the Officers appointed under the New Constitution. It is said that the Revolution arose from various causes: as, 1. The people had no part of the power of legislation. 2. They were deprived of the right of a trial by jury. 3. They paid more than their proportion of the public taxes, because the nobility, clergy, &c. were exempted from paying a land-tax. 4. They were under some laws peculiarly op
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CHAP. XVIII.
CHAP. XVIII.
A Declaration of the Rights which have been adopted by the National Assembly.—Reductions made from the Annual Revenues.—Two Banks established.—Criminals may employ Counsel, &c. "The representatives of the people of France, constituted in national assembly, considering that ignorance, forgetfulness, or neglect of the rights of man, are the sole causes of public misfortunes, and of the corruption of governments, have resolved to explain, in a solemn declaration, the natural imprescriptible
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CHAP. XIX.
CHAP. XIX.
An Account of several Insurrections, Mobs, and Riots in France.— Of an Attempt to seize and kill the Queen.—The King, Queen, &c. go from Versailles to Paris.— An Account of several other Riots.—The King, a wise and prudent Man. It appears by the information I received in France, and a number of publications that I have read, that there have been divers tumults and outrages in different parts of the kingdom, in consequence of the Revolution: for besides the taking of the Bastille, where m
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CHAP. XX.
CHAP. XX.
Of the Birth, Marriage, and Character of the King of France—Of the Birth and Character of the Queen.—An Account of the Dauphin, and of the Princess Royal.—Where the Royal Family may be seen. His most Christian Majesty, Lewis XVI. king of France and Navarre, was born August 23, 1753. He was married May 16, 1770; to Marie Antoinette, sister to the late Emperor of Germany. The king began to reign, May 10, 1774; and was crowned June 11, 1775. He is of a middling stature, something corpulent, and of
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CHAP. XXI.
CHAP. XXI.
Some of the Nobility and Clergy opposed to the Revolution.—Monks and Nuns have Liberty to marry.—The Standing Army reduced.—Soldiers Wages augmented—And the Incomes of the lower Orders of the Clergy.—Why the Revolution is called Glorious.—The Protest of a Bishop.—Observations on the King's Oath. It is said, that some of the nobility and clergy are much opposed to the Revolution, because the titles of honour are abolished, the annual incomes diminished, and all are obliged to pay taxes in proport
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CHAP. XXII.
CHAP. XXII.
The Author sets out for London.— Falls in Company with a Lady.—Arrives at Amiens.— Views the Convent, Cathedral, &c. in Company with the Lady—With whom he is left alone.—They discourse about Matrimony. Paris, July 23 , Having viewed the greatest hospitals and principal curiosities in this city, and the parts adjacent, and obtained an account of the late observations on the operation of medicines, and collected intelligence upon political subjects, I paid my reckoning at the hotel, bid th
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CHAP. XXIII.
CHAP. XXIII.
The Lady concludes to lodge at Abbeville.— Observations on her Plan.—She being disappointed about getting a Post-chaise, continues in the Stage Coach.—A short Description of Montreul.— They arrive at Calais.— Embark for and arrive at Dover.— Of Disputes upon Philosophical Subjects. Saturday, July 24. We dined at the hotel, and set off towards London. Sometime before night, our lady told me, that she was almost beat out; that she had had but a little sleep for several nights, and intended to lodg
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CHAP. XXIV.
CHAP. XXIV.
Further Claims on our Bounty.—French Coin exchanged for English.—Views the Castle and Town of Dover.— Arrives at Canterbury.— A Description of the Abbey.—Comes to Rochester, and at length reaches Piccadilly. July 26. When we had arrived at Dover we breakfasted at the hotel, where the captain of the vessel, the steward, porters, &c. came and begged of us. We gave the captain half a crown a-piece, and something to the rest of the beggars; but were now obliged to get our French money change
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CHAP. XXV.
CHAP. XXV.
Definition of Liberty.—All have a Right to it, but some deprive themselves of that Right by their own Conduct, and some by the Conduct of others.—Of the Duty of Nations.—The evil Effects of bad Constitutions.—Of the French Revolution.—The happy Condition of the British Empire. As liberty consists in the free exercise of our religion, the enjoyment of our rights, and the profits of our labour, with the protection of our persons and properties, it is a privilege of an immense value. And as it is t
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CHAP. XXVI.
CHAP. XXVI.
THE GREAT CONSTITUTION OF LIBERTY, Founded upon the Principles of Justice, and the Laws of Humanity . Every constitution and system of laws ought to be constructed upon the principles of justice and humanity, which will ensure the rights of a king, and the peace, liberty, and happiness of his subjects. I shall therefore beg leave to observe: 1. That every man has a legal right to perform religious worship according to the dictates of his conscience, at such times and places as shall be most agre
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CHAP. XXVII.
CHAP. XXVII.
Of the impossibility of framing a Constitution that will please every Body.—Anecdote of two Irishmen.—The Rights of Kings, and Liberties of their Subjects, ought to be secured by a good Constitution and System of Laws.—Story of the Parson's Wig.—Thoughts on the Mode of chusing Representatives.—The Happiness of the People ought to be promoted. I cannot expect my political sentiments will please every body, let them be ever so well founded on reason; for there are such a number of discontented mor
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CHAP. XXVIII.
CHAP. XXVIII.
A Description of the Road to Liberty . To all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the world. 2. Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied unto you. 3. It hath seemed good unto me to promulgate this Epistle , and to make known thereby the genuine description of the road which leads to that liberty which is destitute of licentiousness. 4. To mention those things that will make you comfortable in this life, and conduct you in the way to everlasting felicity in the realms of immortal bliss
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