J.S.

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SUGAR AND WATER CRITICISM.

In one of the critiques on the last _Monthly Magazine_, some verses by
Mrs. Hemans are said to be "elegant and lady-like."

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THE SKETCH BOOK

A DAY AT ST. CLOUD.

_September_ 24, 1826.

I walked up gravely to the window in my dusty black coat, and
looking through the glass, saw all the world in yellow, blue,
and green, running at the ring of pleasure.--STERNE.

St. Cloud is the Richmond of France; or rather, it is to Paris what
Richmond, in the days of its regal splendour, was to London--the summer
palace of the court. In this comparison, allowance must be made for the
opposite building taste of each nation; especially as Richmond has an
appearance of substantial comfort in its massive brick mansions and
rusticated cottage groups. The French _Sheen_ is, on the contrary,
gayer; the exterior of the residences being whitened, or what is still
more artificial, coloured and decorated in tawdry French taste. Such, at
least, is the character of the _auberges_, or inns, and _restaurateurs_,
with which St. Cloud is even better supplied than our Richmond. In
situation, however, they strongly assimilate; the former being placed on
an acclivity overlooking the Seine, as the latter is on the banks of the
Thames.

St. Cloud, as I have already said, is the usual summer residence of the
French court; and with a royal liberality which might be less politic
elsewhere, the park is granted for three fairs--September 7, and the
three following Sundays, on the last of which I resolved to visit the
fete of St. Cloud. It was a glowing September day. The sun shone with
more than mellow warmth through the groves of the Tuilleries, and on the
little southern terrace, which was unusually crowded with groups of rosy
children, with here and there a valetudinarian, who seemed to have
emerged from his chamber to enjoy the parting glories of the season.
Crowds of elegantly-dressed company were promenading the mall, or
principal walk, and some few were not incuriously lingering about the
enclosed parterres of the garden, whose beauties would soon be
transported to a milder atmosphere. There was a general stir in the
neighbouring streets; it did not resemble the bustle of business, but
had more of the gaiety of a holiday scene. The _Pont Royal_ was thronged
with passengers, and just beneath it, were se