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IN honest truth, and upon a more candid revision of the matter. The French expression professes more than it performs.

I THINK I can see the precife and diftingushing marks of national characters more in these nonsensical minutia, then in the most important matters of state; where great men of all nations talk so much alike, that I would not give ninepence to chuse amongst them.

I was so long in getting from under my barber's hands, that I was too late of thinking of going with my letter to Madame R*** that night: but, when a man is once preffed at all points for going out, his reflections turn to little account; fo taking down the name of the Hotel de Modene where I lodged, I walked forth without any determination where to go -I shall confider of that, faid I, as I walk along.

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PARIS.

AIL! ye small sweet courtefies of life, for smooth do ye make the Froad of it! like grace and beauty, which beget inclinations to love at first sight; 'tis ye who open this door, and let the stranger in.

-PRAY, Madame, said I, have the goodness to tell me which way I must turn to go to the Opera comique: Most willingly, Monfieur, said she, laying afide her work

I HAD given a cast with my eye into half a dozen shops as I came along in fearch of a face not likely to be difordered by such an interruption; till at last, this hitting my fancy, I had walked in.

SHE

SHE was working a pair of ruffles as The fat in a low chair on the far fide of the shop facing the door

-Tres volontiers, most willingly, faid she, laying her work down upon a chair next her, and rifing up from the low chair she was fitting in, with so chearful a movement and fo chearful a look, that had I been laying out fifty louis d'ors with her, I fhould have faid "This woman " is "grateful."

You must turn, Monsieur, faid the, going with me to the door of the shop, and pointing the way down the ftreet I was to take-you must turn firft to your left hand-mais prenez garde-there are two turns; and be so good as to take the fecond-then go down a little way, and you'll fee a church, and when you are past it, give yourself the trouble to turn

directly to the right, and that will lead VOL. I.

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you

you to the foot of the Pont Neuf, which you must cross--and there, any one will do himfelf the pleasure to shew you

SHE repeated her instructions three times over to me with the fame good natured patience the third time as the first; -and if notes and manners have a meaning, which certainly they have, unless to hearts which shut them out-she seemed really interested, that I should not lose myself.

I WILL not suppose it was the woman's beauty, notwithstanding she was the handsomest griffet, I think, I ever faw, which had much to do with the sense I had of her courtesy; only I remember when I told her how much I was obliged to her, that I looked very full in her eyes, and that I repeated my thanks as often as she had done her instructions.

I

I HAD not got ten paces from the door, before I found I had forgot every tittle of what she had faid-fo looking back, and feeing her ftill standing in the door of the shop, as if to look whether I went right or not - I returned back, to afk her whether the first turn was to my right or left-for that I had absolutely forgot. -Is it poffible! faid she, half laughing. 'Tis very possible, replied I, when a man is thinking more of a woman than of her good advice.

As this was the real truth-fhe took it, as every woman takes a matter of right, with a flight courtesy.

-Attendez! said she, laying her hand upon my arm to detain me, whilst she called a lad out of the back-shop to get ready a parcel of gloves. I am just going to send him, faid she, with a packet

into that quarter; and if you will have the

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