English chapel, both of which
are near to the residence of Madame Loiseau. The masters for the
different accomplishments are judiciously selected, and although much
attention is devoted to enriching the minds of the pupils with the
beauties of literature, and elegant acquirements, Madame Loiseau takes
still more pains in instructing them in every social duty, towards
rendering them exemplary, either as daughters, wives, or mothers. In
case of any pupils proving unwell, apartments are appropriated to them,
separated from the dormitories, where they receive the most assiduous
attention; baths are amongst other conveniences contained within the
establishment. The table is most liberally supplied, and on those days
which are observed as fasts by the catholics, joints are prepared for
the protestants, the same as upon other days. The terms are moderate,
proportioned to the advantages which are offered.

The physical appearance of the French strikes me as having undergone a
considerable change; when I was a child, I can remember a host of
emigrants who used to live mostly about Somers Town, and impressed me
with the idea of their being tall and meagre, exactly as I was
accustomed to see them represented in the caricatures; I remember
particularly remarking that they had thin visages, hollow cheeks, long
noses and chins, that I used to observe they were all features and no
face, they had besides a sort of grouty snuffy appearance; of the
females I have less recollection, except that I thought they looked
rather yellow, and generally took snuff. When I came to France,
therefore, I was very much struck with the change, particularly in the
young men, whom I found with small features, and generally round faces,
of the middle height, and well made, not so dark or so pale as I
expected to find them. The same description applies to the females;
there is not so much red and white as we are accustomed to see in
England, nor the soft blue eye, nor flaxen nor golden hair, nor
generally speaking such fine busts, and I know not why, but the French
women have almost always shorter necks, but they have mostly very pretty
little feet and ankles, and although their features may not be regular
or handsome, taken separately, yet the ensemble is generally pleasing;
their eyes are fine and expressive, and after all, in my opinion,
expression is the soul of beauty. The female peasantry of France take no
pains in guarding against the sun and wind,