on this spot were congregated daily an immense multitude, for no other
purpose than to watch the busy comedy of real life that animated the
corridors, gardens, and saloons of that vast building, which was founded
by Richelieu and Mazarin, and modified by Philippe Egalite. Mingled
together, and moving about the area of this oblong-square block of buildings,
might be seen, about seven o'clock P.M., a crowd of English, Russian,
Prussian, Austrian, and other officers of the Allied armies, together
with countless foreigners from all parts of the world. Here, too, might
have been seen the present King of Prussia, with his father and brother,
the late king, the Dukes of Nassau, Baden, and a host of continental
princes, who entered familiarly into the amusements of ordinary mortals,
dining incog. at the most renowned restaurants, and flirting with painted
female frai1ty,

A description of one of the houses of the Palais Royal, will serve to
portray the whole of this French pandemonium. On the ground floor is
a jeweller's shop, where may be purchased diamonds, pearls, emeralds,
and every description of female ornament, such as only can be possessed
by those who have very large sums of money at their command. It was
here that the successful gambler often deposited a portion of his winnings,
and took away some costly article of jewellery, which he presented to
some female friend who had never appeared with him at the altar of marriage.
Beside this shop was a staircase, generally very dirty, which communicated
with the floors above. Immediately over the shop was a cafe, at the
counter of which presided a lady, generally of more than ordinary female
attractions, who was very much decolletee, and wore an amount of jewellery
which would have made the eye of an Israelite twinkle with delight.
And there la creme de la creme of male society used to meet, sip their
ice and drink their cup of mocha, whilst holding long conversations,
almost exclusively about gambling and women.