into the bosom of the earth. By his side, on a slab, is the most eloquent of all inscriptions, the titles of his literary and scientific works. Before this chef d'œuvre are two marble tables, inlaid with Florentine mosaic, most beautifully executed-and a table, of which the top is a specimen of every marble of Spain, cut in a square, and forming an exhibition of patchwork. This was a present from one of the kings of that country many years since to this museum. The galleries on one side contain all the known rocks and earths, geologically arranged; and on the other, the fossils which are found in them.

The mineralogical collection is divided into four grand classes, viz; earths, containing an acid; earthy substances or stones; inflammable materials and metals. There are various kinds of spar; precious stones of all sorts, including diamonds of every colour, without mentioning inferior ones, called rubies and emeralds, which are quite cast into the shade by the unrivalled brilliancy of the choicest of gems. Vases and crystals of colourless quartz, agate, chalcedony, lapis lazuli, &c., attract the unskilled eye. A large piece of native gold in nearly a pure state is displayed, which weighs sixteen and a quarter ounces. This cabinet was much improved by a a donation made in 1825 by Charles X., of a fine collection, bought by the civil list for twelve thousand pounds. Additions are constantly made. Every encouragement is given to the student by the professors, who are assiduous in their efforts to explain and aid the stranger. In one of the galleries are specimens of the skeleton of the mammoth, found in the caves of Ohio, but much inferior to those to be seen at home; also of the elephants found in Siberia.

This is a very meagre account of the minerals, I confess; and, if there were room, which there is not, to draw even an outline of them, it would ill become me to attempt such a thing-me, who regard earths as good for nothing, but the nutrition of grain, cotton and grass; rock not as a chronometer to tell how old the world is, but, merely as furnishing a missile to throw at a dog, who disturbs my night's repose with baying at the moon, or a weapon to extinguish the caterwauling gentry, against whom I would willingly with all my might cast

ន

the choicest piece of granite in the whole cabinet, even if I knew that its felspar and mica had been coupled in their everlasting union more than one hundred thousand years ago. Cats however-and it is a remarkable fact are never heard of in Paris, any more than fires. The reason of this must be left to the decision of the Epicurean philosopher, simply remarking, that this scarcity accounts for the leanness of the collection in that branch of natural history.

At one end of this last mentioned gallery, and in a manner continuous with it, is the Botanical Gallery, founded by Vaillant. The general herbal contains more than fifty thousand species. There are besides separate ones of New Holland, India, Egypt, and many more, which served as models for various works, as that of Humboldt and others. Here, too, are specimens of the woods, barks, roots and foliage of the trees of every climate. With this collection and the living specimen in the green houses, one, well studied, would never be at a loss to know the name of a plant, or its nature, if wandering alone in the forests of the tropics. Every wood is here found cut in different directions, thus showing its various appearances. The most curious of the whole are two cabinets, representing the fungus family, made in wax, and presented to the museum, one by Charles X., and the other by the Emperor of Austria. The former was executed by De Pinson, and is estimated at the value of eight hundred pounds. Each specimen is exhibited in two views; one whole, the other cut lengthwise, showing its interior construction. The number of dried plants is more than three hundred and fifty thousand, and of grains, woods, and fruit, five thousand. The marble statue of Jussieu is of great beauty. The illustrious botanist is sculptured in the act of examining a flower, which he holds in his hand. It is a whole length, executed by Heral.

The library numbers thirty thousand volumes, and fifteen thousand pamphlets; but its most remarkable portion is its portfolios, ninety in number, which contain six thousand drawings, original designs, mostly upon vellum, figuring fruit and flowers. Nothing can exceed the wonderful beauty of this unrivalled collection, com

menced in 1635, and valued now at more than eighty thousand pounds.

I have thus run through the enumeration of a small part of what to see alone requires days, and many years to know. Sufficient has been said, perhaps, to give some idea of its greatness, its excellence and beauty.

XL.

Hopital de la Pitie. Lisfranc. Velpeau. Louis. Bourgeois Marriage and Wedding Festivities. The two Milliners. A tender-hearted

Lawyer.

BEHIND the Jardin des Plantes is the Hôpital de la Pitié, founded in 1612, formerly an asylum for orphan children; but since 1809 attached to the Hotel Dieu, and containing patients of all classes. It is most noticeable for being the one to which Lisfranc is attached. This great man, if talent can make one so, and one of the most skilful surgeons, not only in Paris, but the world, is now advanced in years. His fine head is crowned, like Mount Blanc, by the snows of many winters, his locks being perfectly blanched. His face is expanded and noble; his eyes black and gleaming; his nose slightly Roman; his mouth large. As a man he is said to be very rough and jockeyish, and as a public character, in which light only have I seen him, he is evidently a person of extremely high and irritable feelings. He is abundantly skilful in his operations, possessing at the same time an unerring judgment. In his lectures his tones of voice are most remarkable. After going on in a very low strain for a considerable time, so subdued indeed, that great effort is required to hear him at all, he bursts out all of a sudden, at the top of a most sonorous voice, making the walls ring again, waking all his sleepy listeners, and that, too, on a word, often the most unimportant of the whole sentence. With Velpeau he has often come into collision, in the Concours, and the battle has been desperately contested, victory sometimes bestowing her laurel on one, sometimes on the other. The consequence is, that a deadly animosity burns between them; and they give it vent, at the same time adding new fuel to the flame, by calling each other hard names with the rough side of their tongues. Velpeau, speaking of him in his public lectures, calls him "that man, more

remarkable for the sound of his voice, than any thing he ever said." Lisfranc, who hears the remark from some kind friendly gossip, seizes the first occasion, that presents itself to throw the arrow back. He almost shrieks with excitement; his arms are lifted above his head, or dashed upon the table before him; he takes huge pinches of snuff in rapid succession, while his countenance is contorted with anger; but

"The foe invulnerable still

Foils his wild rage by steady skill."

Rarely does Lisfranc begin a lecture without abusing his competitor; styling him, in revenge, "the little butcher of la Charité." This hatred, so virulent between these distinguished men, is not an uncommon occurrence in the city. It is one of the evils resulting from the system of Concours, to which I referred in one of my communications on the hospitals. A similar ill-will existed between the celebrated Dupuytren and Roux, which ceased only with the life of the former. They however restrained their bitter feelings more within their own bosoms, and never allowed an entire lecture to be polluted with such railing, as disgraces the two competitors of the present day. It is a melancholy sight to see two old people quarrelling, and Time standing near, ready to cut the victor down. Gray hairs should exhibit the mellowness along with the decay of age; and can never hope to command respect, unless the fruit, as well as frost of time, is seen in their company.

I was delighted, as you may suppose, to see cousin Ellen and her husband here. "What! come for your health? it is perfectly ridiculous;" and I succeeded so well in convincing her of her bonne santé, that she had half a mind to forego the object of her journey, which was to consult the great Louis. His charge, however, is so moderate-only eight shillings-that an interview with him was considered by us all to be advisable; for his decision is a fiat. Accordingly I called on him at his residence, Rue de Ménars, No. 8. While waiting for him in a handsomely furnished parlour, I turned over the books upon the table. Without exception, they were works of caricature. His intention must be, it would