lister’s TRAVELS IN FRANCE.

55

One afternoon in Lent , I was to hear a fermon at La Charite, preached by an abbot,a very young man. His text was about the angel’s defcent into the pool of Bethefda,and troubling the waters. I am not fo good a Frenchman as to underhand all he faid,but he had many good arguments about the neceffity of grace, and the means to at-tain it. I was drangely furprifed at the vehemency of his action, which to me appear-ed altogether comical, and like the aCtors upon the ftage, which I had feen a few daysbefore: befides, his expreffions feemed to be in too familiar a (tile. I always took afermon to the people to require a grave and ornate kind of eloquence, and not verbaG/uotidiana, with a certain dignity of action ; but it is poffible this way here bed fuitswith the cuftoms and manners of the people; who are all motion, even when they faythe eafieft and mod intelligible things.

Gaming is a perpetual diverfion here, if not one of the debauches of the town: butgames of mere hazard are driCtly forbid upon fevere fines to the mader of the houfe,as well private as public, where fuch playing (hall be difcovered. This was done uponthe account of the officers in the army ; who, during the winter ufed to lofe the money,which was given them to make their recruits, and renew their equipages in the fpring.And indeed, fuch quick games, as bafi’et, hazard, &c. where fortune in a manner isall in all, are great temptations to ruin, by the fudden paffions they are apt to raile inthe players. Whereas games, where (kill, and cunning, and much thought are em-ployed, as well as luck, give a man time to cool, and recover his wits, if at any timegreat lofs (hall have difmounted his reafon: for he mud quickly come to himfelfagain, or forfeit his (kill and reputation in conducting the game, as well as hulbandinghis money.

We were in Paris at the time of the fair of St. Germain. It lads fix weeks at lead;the place where it is kept well befpeaks its antiquity ; for it is a very pit or hole!, inthe middle of the Faubourg, and belongs to the great abbey of that name. You de-fcend into it on all fides, and in fome places above twelve deps; fo that the city israifed above it fix or eight foot.

The building is a very barn, or frame of wood, tiled over; confiding of many longallies, eroding one another, the floor of the allies unpaved, and of earth, and as un-even as may be: which makes it very uneafy to walk in, were it not the vad croud ofpeople which keep you up. But all this befpeaks its antiquity, and the rudenefs of thefird ages of Paris , which is a foil to its pelitenefs in all things elfe now.

The fair confids of mod toy-ffiops, and Bartholomew-fair ware; alfo fiance andpictures, joiner’s work, linen and woollen manufactures; many of the great ribband(hops remove out of the Palais hither; no books; many (hops of confectioners, wherethe ladies are commodioully treated.

The great rendezvous is at night, after the play and opera are done; and rafflingfor all things vendible is the great uiverfion; no (hop wanting two or three rafflingboards. Monfieur, the Dauphin, and other princes of the blood come, at lead oncein the fair-time to grace it.

Here are alfo cofiee-ffiops, where that and all forts of drong liquors above-mentionedare fold.

Knavery here is in perfection as with us; as dexterous cut-purfes and pick-pockets.A pick-pocket came into the fair at night, extremely well clad, with four lacqueyswith good liveries attending him : he was caught in the faCt , and more fwords weredrawn in his defence than againd him ; but yet he was taken, and delivered into thehands of judice, which is here fudden and no jefl.

3

I was