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the troops had been moving into their proper positions, the infantry, formed into companies three deep-every regiment was preceded by a detachment of pioneers with long beards and white leather aprons, each carrying his axe horizontally on his right shoulder-marching past in the ordinary "pas accéléré"* of 120 paces per minute. (By regulation it is 100, that of British troops 108). They were exceedingly small men, and their tread, although quicker, was not so heavy as that of British troops. When the regiments of the line had all passed there ensued a short pause, after which I saw approaching us the cavalry, headed by an infanty regiment of chasseurs à pied," who, I was astonished to observe, were advancing very rapidly.

As it approached, there first of all trotted very proudly by the President, with bodies half shaved and tails entirely shaved, two white poodle-dogs of the regiment. Then came trotting by on foot, waving an ornamented pole, a magnificently-dressed tall tambour-major,† followed by his brass band, all of whom, playing as they advanced, trotted by, and then, suddenly wheeling to their left, formed in front of the President, where they continued, tambour-major and all, dancing up and down, keeping time to the air they played. As each company rapidly advanced their appearance was not only astonishing but truly beautiful. Although, according to French regulations, they had come to the review, not only in heavy marching order (knapsacks and great-coats), but laden with camp kettles and pans for soup, &c. (they are not allowed when reviewed to leave anything behind), they advanced and passed with an ease and lightness of step it is quite impossible to describe, and which I am sensible can scarcely be believed, unless it has been witnessed. In this way they preceded the cavalry, who were at a trot; and as soon as the last company had passed the President, the band and tambour-major, who had never ceased dancing for an instant, accompanied by the two white half-shaved poodle dogs, darted after them, until the whole disappeared from view.

On expressing my astonishment at the pace at which they had passed, I was assured by two or three general officers, as well as by the President himself, that the "chasseurs à pied" + Drum-major.

* Quick march.

in the French service can, in heavy marching, keep up with the cavalry at a trot for two leagues; indeed, they added, if necessary, for a couple of hours;-the effect no doubt of the gymnastic exercises I had witnessed, and which I had been truly told by the French officers superintending them were instituted for the purpose of giving activity and celerity of movement to the troops. The chasseurs à pied are armed with the new internally grooved French carbine, the extraordinary range of which I have described; and as their fire is deadly at a distance more than three times greater than that of the English ordinary musket, their power of speedily advancing, and, if necessary, as speedily running away, all added together, form advantages which, it is submitted, are worthy of the very serious consideration of the British nation.

After a variety of manoeuvres of infantry and cavalry, separately and combined, the latter charged up the Champ de Mars in line. The sound of their approaching was like that of distant thunder; but as their pace freshened, their disorder increased, until, on the word "Halt !" being sounded, they were far from forming a compact line. During the charge a horse fell, and the President, riding up to the man, very kindly inquired of him whether he was much hurt. His trousers were rubbed into holes; he had taken his stock off; and was altogether considerably jumbled both in body and mind; however, with a comrade on each side, and a surgeon on foot behind him, he managed, sometimes walking and sometimes reeling a little, to get off the field.

The review was now over, and accordingly the President (after the expression in a very pleasing tone and manner of a few words of approbation to the General commanding and to the principal officers of his staff) returned along the avenue of the Champ de Elysées to his palace, in the yard of which he took leave of the same crowd of officers assembled there in the morning, and who during the day had accompanied him.

PRISON MODÈLE.

FROM the Elysée, as I was hastening to my lodging, I ordered the Commissionaire standing at the corner of my street to get me a fiacre; during the few moments he was employed in doing so I changed my clothing, and in the course of little more than half an hour found myself, by myself, standing gazing at the lofty loopholed dead walls, 30 feet high, and exterior massive gate of the great Prison commonly called "La Nouvelle Force" or "Prison Modèle," on the outside of which, in grey coats, red epaulettes, and scarlet trousers, were reposing on stone benches a guard, composed of a lieutenant, two sergeants, four corporals, and 51 soldiers, who watch over the building night and day. All looked indolent or half asleep, save a few, who, as if to keep themselves awake, were smoking—smoking— smoking

"And thus on till wisdom is push'd out of life."

On ringing the bell the gate slowly opened, and, passing across a short space, I was, on the production of my special order of admission, conducted through another gate into the interior of the prison, which during the horrors of the revolution of 1792 was twice in the hands of the infuriated populace, who, in September of that dreadful year, in cold blood massacred within it 160 persons, among whom was the unfortunate Princesse de Lamballe.

On arriving at the "Bureau Central du Brigadier," I entered a small detached office, containing six windows, from each of which, like a large, fat, black spider looking at once over half of his web, I saw radiating before me six passages, each 264 feet long, separating six sets of buildings, three stories high. Every one of these buildings, or rather narrow slices of a building, was a prison, containing on each of its three floors 70 separate cells, or altogether 210 cells. From the central office my eye consequently glanced along passages below and

*Central Office of the Brigadier.

galleries above, communicating altogether with 1260 separate cells.

On asking the superintendent to be so good as to explain to me the nature of the curious-looking establishment over which he presided, he told me its objects were two-fold

1st. The prevention of crime;

2nd. The retention of those who were supposed to have committed crime.

He added that it contained only males, the first class beggars and "vagabonds" forwarded by the police to be retained for three or four weeks; the second (who composed by far the greater proportion) robbers and assassins, usually confined three or four months previous to their trial; and having given me this information, he obligingly desired one of his subordinates to take me over the buildings.

At the entrance of each of the six passages, I found on a level with my face three hooks and a little round mouth-piece. The former were bells, communicating with the galleries of the three stories; the latter a speaking-trumpet, or "porte-voix,” communicating with each and common to all. By this simple arrangement the superintendent, if he wishes to communicate with the surveillant or keeper of any one of the three galleries of any one of the six prisons which converge upon his office, has only first to call his attention by ringing his bell, and then, through the mouth-piece, to whisper into his ear through the speakingtrumpet whatever he may wish to say; moreover, by putting his own ear to the "porte-voix," he can hear whatever answer the surveillant may have to give to him.

On the ground-floor are constructed, for each of the six prisons, seven cells "de Parloir." On opening one, I saw almost touching the door, which had receded from it, a wooden bench, immediately opposite to which was an open grating or window, secured by three iron bars; beyond, at a distance of three feet, was another grating, similarly barred and secured. The object of this triple arrangement is to enable the prisoners-robbers, assassins, and all-to receive the visits of their friends from eleven to three on Mondays and Fridays: the interview is curiously arranged as follows:

The prisoner, carefully conducted from his cell, is allowed to enter and sit upon the bench of one of the seven "Parloirs," or speaking cells, the door of which, at his back, is then closed

and locked; between the two gratings in front of him is stationed a keeper, beyond whom the culprit sees, as in a kit-kat picture, the hair, face, throat, body, arms, and hands, of the wife, father, mother, sister, brother, or friend, male or female, who has come to see him. The duty of the keeper, caged between both, is not only to listen to all that is said, but to prevent the transmission between the parties of any substance whatever.

On each of the three galleries of each of the six prisons are constantly patrolling two surveillants, six for each prison. Every cell is ten feet long, six feet broad, and, including its vaulted roof, nine feet high. At the top of the wall, opposite to the door, over which reposes a shelf 15 inches broad, is a small window of four panes of plate glass fluted, so as to admit light and yet completely to disturb the line of vision. On the oak floor lies a palliasse and blanket; also a small table, and in the corner a well-arranged water-closet. The cell, as well as the whole interior of the prison, is maintained at a proper temperature by pipes of hot water.

On a prisoner being led into his cell, he is given by his conductor a black "plaquet," or round ticket, on which is inscribed on one side, in white letters, the numbers of the division, story, and cell, in which he is confined; hung on the outside of his door, it indicates the cell is full. On the other side of the plaquet is inscribed "Au Palais,"* and when by reversing the ticket this notice is made to appear, the inspector, keeper, or any one passing along the gallery, who reads it, is reminded that the tenant of that cell is absent on his trial. Any prisoner, by pulling a sort of bell-handle in his cell, can cause to dart out into the passage an iron blade, "indicateur," indicative to the keeper that he wishes to speak to him.

In each cell is a bee's-wing of gas, which, lighted at dark, is allowed to remain burning till 9 P. M., when, by the turning of a handle, the captives throughout the prison are simultaneously thrown into utter darkness. In the door is a small hole covered, through which the keepers alone-for strangers are not allowed to do so-can peep at the prisoner without his knowledge; below is a small wicket-shutter, a foot long by seven inches broad, for the admission of his food. Every prisoner is allowed a clean shirt once a week, and sheets once a fortnight.

At the Court of Justice.

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