and elevated pile, part of which was once an abbey. The more recent portion was erected by the congregation of the Oratoire, under whom the whole fabric assumed the character of a collegiate institution: this was in the year 1639, and the establishment is supposed to be one of the most ancient schools in France. It is also remarkable as always having been under the direction of clergymen; and, being anterior to the University in time of foundation, it has been allowed to maintain a peculiar independence of its own, so that it is a college de plein exercice, as it is called; that is, it enjoys the privilege of giving certificates to its scholars, which entitle them to offer themselves as candidates for the bachelor's degree in the University. The Collège Stanislas at Paris is of this kind, with which the college at Juilly maintains the most friendly relations. Those Stanislas students, who do not go home for the holydays, come here.

Of the 1434 colleges, of which 46 are royal, 312 communal, 914 pensions, 162 private institutions, 160 alone are conducted by clergymen ; and there are only 23 of the 1434 which are collèges de plein

exercice.

I had a letter for the Principal, the Abbé Bautain ; he was not then at Juilly, but was expected in the evening, as I learnt from the Abbé Goschler, one of the professors, who holds the office of directeur des études du collège, who received me very courteously,

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ends at Versailles, we re

Tad with us in our train ountry village, who was very

hot give me a very favourSissional sensibilities; he 11 Lament vinch securred not long f the are ruche, when upTeorie vere absolutely burnt to f the attachment, to the end i zure nowerful engine than that at de loors of the carriages being Yad seen the train and all its wretched Rs Chost (mmediately after the cata* A ↑ will be remembered, occurred on a ay when the grand water-works at the Forseilles played: but he seemed to regard

le more than a natural consequence I revnanieau skil, experience, and presence

of mind, which it would be very easy to acquire in time. The religious and moral uses of such awful dispensations did not seem to occur to his mind, nor indeed to meet with any response when presented to it.

Dined in the evening in the Champs-Elysées. Among our company we had an American lady and gentleman, very wealthy, and great travellers; this gentleman mentioned to me a book lately published by Madden, in London, as containing a great deal of very valuable statistical information concerning France. I had heard before that American ladies have lately taken to smoking, but never had personal experience of the fact till this evening: while the American gentleman was smoking his cigar without compunction in our host's salle à manger, (much to our annoyance,) his wife and her young friend were regaling the ladies in a similar manner on the terrace of the drawing-room. A young lady said to them very frankly, that, after this exhibition, she should believe all that Mrs. Trollope had written concerning America. These two American ladies were young and good-loooking; this novel accomplishment did not add much to their charms.

Our English friends, who have resided here for ▾ some time, seem to have a very unfavourable opinion of French education, both for boys and girls. The

The title is," France and her Governmental Administration," 10s. 6d. London, Madden.

H

and pressed me to pass the day and sleep at the college, which accordingly I did. He particularly urged the invitation on account of the expected return of his superior, and the pleasure I should have in forming his acquaintance. Once or twice in this journal notice has been taken of the great appearance of subordination in religious and ecclesiastical institutions here; the Benedictines, for instance, referred to their principal, Dom Guéranger, and his literary labours; the frère Chrétien resolved every thing into the will of their director; and there was the same spirit here at Juilly. This demonstration of respect and subordination to the Head of the House gives these establishments a very domestic character, and no doubt greatly augments their efficiency in producing the various results, collegiate, religious, moral, and intellectual, which they have in view.

This was St. Bartholomew's day, but being Saturday it was a jour maigre notwithstanding: this is, I was informed, the general rule in France. The Abbé Goschler has been mentioned before in this Diary as the author of an address on the heterogeneous, desultory, and superficial character of the present system of University studies in France, and on the neglect into which solid learning has fallen. A little of every thing and enough of nothing, seems to

5 Above, p. 122.

be the rule followed by the University in prescribing the course of study to be pursued by the candidates for the bachelor's degree. He presented me with a copy of his discourse which he recited Aug. 7, this year, on the occasion of the annual distribution of prizes here at Juilly, which I have read with very much interest. He also very kindly gave up to me a great part of his afternoon, explaining to me the plan of the institution, and conducting me into the different parts of the building.

The college is surrounded by a park containing a grove of fine timber trees at a small distance from it, and also a large piece of water; and though less varied in its surface, reminded me in its natural beauties of our park at Harrow. The number of students in the collège is about three hundred: I call it by the French term collège, but the reader will recollect that this answers to our school in England; and Juilly, as well as the great colleges in Paris, may be considered as corresponding to our public schools, though in truth, except in the age of the students, nothing can be imagined much more different than these scholastic institutions of the two countries are from each other.

I asked how it happened that, with such an institution as this of Juilly, being, as it is, under religious superintendence, and possessing so many natural and professional advantages within twenty-seven miles of Paris, any French parents should think of sending