The Ecole Militaire, to the left, of which Marshal Ney had once the chief command, struck me as a noble establishment.  But it was on approaching Sevre that all the bustle and population, attendant upon the immediate vicinity of a great metropolis, became evident.  Single-horsed vehicles—­in many of which not fewer than nine persons were pretty closely stowed—­three upon a bench, and three benches under the roof—­fiacres, barouches, and carriages of every description, among which we discovered a great number from our own country—­did not fail to occupy our unremitting attention. Sevre is a long, rambling, and chiefly single-street town; but picturesquely situated, on a slope, and ornamented to the left by the windings of the Seine.  We were downright glad to renew our acquaintance with our old, and long-lost friend, the river Seine; although it appeared to be sadly shorn of its majestic breadth since we had parted with it before the walls of Montmorenci castle, in our route to Havre.  The new nine-arch bridge at Sevre is a sort of Waterloo bridge in miniature.  Upon the heights, above it, I learnt that there was a beautiful view of the river in the foreground with Paris in the distance.  We passed over the old bridge, and saw St. Cloud to the left:  which of course interested us as the late residence of Bonaparte, but which, in truth, has nothing beyond the air of a large respectable country-gentleman’s mansion in England.  We pushed on, and began to have distinct perceptions of the great city.  Of all the desirable places of retreat, whether for its elevated situation, or respectable appearance, or commodious neighbourhood, nothing struck me more forcibly than the village of PASSY, upon a commanding terrace, to the left; some three or four English miles from Paris—­and having a noble view both of the river and of the city.  It is also considered to be remarkably healthy; and carriages of every description, are constantly passing thither to and from Paris.

The dome of the Pantheon, and the gilded one of the Hotel des Invalides, together with the stunted towers of Notre Dame, were among the chief objects to the right:  while the accompaniment of the Seine, afforded a pleasing foreground to this architectural picture in the distance.  But, my friend, I will frankly own to you, that I was disappointed ... upon this first glimpse of the GREAT city.  In the first place, the surrounding country is flat; with the exception of Mount Calvary, to the left, which has nothing to do with the metropolitan view from this situation.  In the second place, what are the Pantheon and Notre Dame compared with St. Paul’s and Westminster Abbey?—­to say nothing of the vicinity of London, as is connected with the beautifully undulating ground about Camberwell, Sydenham, Norwood, and.  Shooter’s Hill—­and, on the other side of the water, Hampstead, Highgate and Harrow:  again, Wimbledon and Richmond!...  What lovely