lates to fancy goods, whilst the other partner is English, partaking
of that truly national character which pries deeply into the worth and
solidity of every article, before it is presented to the public. Thus
far I can speak from experience, having for sixteen years been
accustomed to purchase every thing I required at the Grand Colbert,
either in linen, drapery, mercery, hosiery, lace, millinery, etc. The
premises are entered from two different points, the Rue Vivienne, and
the Rue Neuve-des-Petits-Champs, of which streets it forms the corner.
The central position adds another recommendation to the stranger, being
close to the Palais Royal, in a street communicating with the Bourse,
and the most fashionable part of the Boulevards, but a few minutes' walk
from all the principal Theatres, at the back of the Royal Library, and
in fact in the midst of the most attractive and frequented parts of
Paris. Whilst a long range of immense squares of plate glass not only
have an ornamental appearance but have the effect of throwing so
powerful a light upon the premises that every possible advantage may be
afforded for the examination of the goods.

Just near this spot they are about to open a new street, which will be
on the spacious and handsome plan of those which have been recently
constructed; many others are projected on the same system, and will have
a most beneficial effect, in adding to the salubrity of the capital, by
clearing away a number of little dirty lanes and alleys, hundreds of
which have already been absorbed in the great improvements which have
been effected in Paris within my recollection. The extensive projects
which are in contemplation for the embellishing of the city, would cost
some hundreds of millions of francs to carry into effect, but could
have been executed, had not so large a sum been required for the
erection of the fortifications, which are proceeding, if not rapidly, at
any rate steadily. Concerning their utility or the policy of such a
measure, opinion is much divided, but the majority conceive that such
circumstances as could render them necessary are never likely to arrive,
as they consider that by keeping the frontiers always in the best state
of defense, there never could be any fear of an army reaching Paris, as
when it occurred under Napoleon, it was after the resources of France
had been exhausted by a war of upwards of twenty years, an event that in
all probability never could happen aga