two sou pieces, which resemble
our penny pieces; there is likewise a little dingy looking copper coin,
with an N upon one side and 10 centimes on the other, that is also two
sous; they once had a little silver wash upon them, but it has now
disappeared. Next there is a little piece which looks like a bad
farthing, rather whitish from the silver not being quite worn away,
which passes for a sou and a half or six liards. We then rise to a
quarter franc, or 5 sous, which is a very neat little silver coin; next
the half franc, then a fifteen sous piece, which is copper washed over
with silver, with a head of Louis on one side and a figure on the other;
double the size but exactly similar is the 30 sous piece; the franc is
20 sous, the two francs 40 sous, both of which are neat silver coin, as
also the 5 francs piece. The gold circulation consists in ten, twenty,
and forty franc pieces. There are no notes in Paris for less than 500
francs, which are of the Bank of France; the visiter on arriving in
Paris will require to change his English money, and there are many money
changers; I have had transactions with most of them, but have found
Madame Emerique, of No. 32, Palais-Royal, Galerie Montpensier, (there is
an entrance also Rue Montpensier, No. 22,) the most liberal and just of
any, and I am quite certain that any stranger might go there with a
total ignorance of the value of the money he presented, and would
receive the full amount according to the state of exchange at the time.
Much credit is due to Madame Emerique from our country-people with
regard to her conduct respecting stolen Bank of England notes; she takes
great pains to obtain a list of such as are stolen, that she may not be
unconsciously accessary in aiding the success of crime, by giving the
value for that which had been obtained by theft, and adopts every means
that the presenters should be detained; if all the money changers were
as particular in that respect, thieves would derive no benefit in coming
over to France with their stolen notes. The office of Madame Emerique
has been the longest established of any, and the high respectability of
her family and connexions are a certain guarantee for the foreigner
against being imposed upon. The number of hotels in Paris is immense; as
I always frequent the same which I have known for nearly 20 years, of
course I can recommend it, both as regards the extreme respectability of
the persons by whom it is kept and the m