C H A R A C T E R OF
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lid,” says, that the people of Lyons looked
at the English with an envious eye, and were
particularly uncivil. This he attributes to
their fear of our taking away their trade.
As this writer is on all other occasions
candid and liberal in his remarks on
the character of foreigners, it may aL
ford him some satisfaction to learn, that
whatever m ight be the feelings of the Lyonnese
towards the English at the period
when he visited the city, they are at present
as courteous to British travellers as
the natives of any other town in France.
I speak this not only from my own observation,
but from the information of an F n g lish
family who passed a winter here, and
gave a very favourable account of the people.
I had an opportunity of seeing a large portion
of the manufacturing population of
Lyons amusing themselves in the fields on a
fête day. Therewere several thousands playing
at bowls and other diversions ; their
wives and children were also present. I
was highly gratified in observing the quiet
cheerfulness, sobriety, and good temper
which prevailed, and the respect and civility
with which the lowest classes of
citizens addressed each other. It was alto-
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aether different from the vociferous brawl-
ing, swearing, and quarrelling, which would
have been heard among the same number
of English people collected in any of our
manufacturing districts. From all that I
have seen and heard of the labouring classes
in France, including the peasantry, I am
compelled to believe, that they are superior
both in morals and manners, to the
same classes in England, and that instances
of gross brutality and depravity are more
rare among the French than among the
English populace.
There are two bridges over the Rhone,
leading to the south of France, and six or
seven bridges over the Saone. The quais
and buildings facing the Rhône are very
magnificent. The square called Place Belle-
cour, is spacious, and worthy of a great city.
At each end are two very handsome buildings
; they are exactly similar. On one
side is a public promenade, planted with
rows of trees. The quais and buildings,
and bridges on the Saone, have also an imposing
appearance j but in the interior of
the city the streets are narrow, dark, and
intricate, like those in all very ancient
towns.
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