ueen of Portugal, etc., and amongst the leading
personages of Paris, the Princess Demidoff, the Duchesses d'Eckmuehl, de
Montebello, de Valmy, Marquise d'Osmond, etc. To the above list might be
added many names of the English nobility, who still continue to be
supplied from this establishment, which independent of the merit which
is displayed in the arrangement of every article which it produces, is
also highly recommendable on account of the attentive civility which
they extend to all who may have occasion to apply to them.

CHAPTER X.

The present artists in France and their productions, improvements
in Paris, fortifications, humanity to animals, education of
females, personal appearance of the French, army and navy,
scientific Societies, and commercial enterprises.

Never perhaps at any period was there so much encouragement given to the
arts and sciences in general in France as at the present, nor ever was
there a monarch who reigned over the French, who so much endeavoured to
promote every object which tended to usefulness, or to the advancement
of the fine arts. No country in the world has such advantages as France
for nurturing talent, and giving it the opportunity of developing
itself, so numerous are the societies and institutions where lectures
and instruction are afforded gratuitously, hence the great assistance to
young artists; without any expense or trouble, they are admitted into a
drawing academy, where they may acquire the fundamental principles of
the graphic art; afterwards there are other different establishments
which they can enter as their studies progress, and when they attain any
degree of proficiency, they have a chance of being sent at the expense
of government to Rome, to complete their studies, and if they excel to a
moderate degree, are sure to be employed by the King, or some member of
the royal family, or by the nation. With all these immense advantages,
how much might be expected of the French artists, but the fact does not
realise those hopes that might be justly formed from the solid
rudimental education which they have the power of receiving. The
exhibition this year at the Louvre of the paintings of the living
artists was a complete illustration of what I have stated, as every one
allows that it was far inferior to that of last year, which was
considered much worse than those of former years.

At the same time it must be admitted that several of the bes