The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

PARIS.

The road from Calais to Paris having been lately repaired by the labour of all the neighbouring communes, it is said to be the best in France. But the churches, which were visible from it, have for the most part been destroyed, and their ruins only remain to mark their position. The noble cathedral of Amiens, equal in size to that of Canterbury, remains, however, but with little injury; and that little only such as Canterbury itself has suffered in the demolition of some of the numerous images, which filled the tabernacles over the gateways.

The Thermes, or Hot Baths, are nearly a new institution at Paris. The chief of these are in the Bains Vigier, and are formed in a very long vessel, which floats upon the river, near the second arch of the Pont Royal. In this structure there are 140 baths in two stories, to which you descend by convenient stair-cases, each story being bounded by a gallery for promenade, ornamented by columns and pilasters. There is also another walk on the outside of the vessel, planted with orange-trees, myrtles, and all kinds of flowering shrubs. In these baths, when you have sat as long as you please, you ring a bell, which is at your hand, and whatever refreshment you desire-- chocolate, soup, bouillon, is floated to you upon a kind of cork salver. If you desire perfumes, you have them, and you then retire to dress in a small room, which pertains to each of the private baths. The price of this indulgence, refreshments excepted, is 15d. English, and the baths are open night and day. After dark they are distinguished by a kind of illuminated column. There are several other baths, hot as well as cold, and a Citizen Deligny actually keeps a school for swimming in the Rue de l'Universite.

Eight or ten saloons are opened, each two or three times in a decade, for balls at which the prices vary from three livres to one and a half for a cavalier, as he is called, introducing a lady. At these balls, at the theatres, and at the houses for play, the Parisians pass their evenings, for there is very little private society here. The contrariety of principles, and the losses which the greater part have sustained by political principles of every kind, forbid it. What has the appearance of being private, is the society at the house of persons of some condition, where, however, there is no great difficulty of introduction, and where every person immediately sits down to play, first depositing a certain sum for refreshments, lights, and cards.

At these parties the play is generally very deep, and both sexes engage in it.

Divorce. Mr. Windham, when he said that French marriages were as loose as the tenure of furnished lodgings, had really too much foundation for what he stated. Mr. Malleville, one of those who drew up the civil code, has published a pamphlet, justifying the authors of that work, for having lessened the facilities of divorce. The following extract from Malleville's book, we think must convince all impartial men of the horrible consequences of relaxing in the prohibition of divorce, and of the unparalleled scandal of making laws itself pander to the vices of mankind.

"The fury of divorce, says Malleville, has not ceased for the last ten years. At present it no longer prevails in the case of marriages contracted previously to the nation obtaining this fatal permission. It is in marriages contracted since that it rages with the most boundless licence. It is most frequent in the case of marriages contracted after a divorce. Sometimes divorce takes place when a marriage has existed but for eight days!!! A circumstance which ought to excite the most serious reflections is, that the number of marriages in Paris in the year 8 (1799-1800) was only 3,306, and the number of divorces was 884. In the eleven last months of the year 9 (1800-1801) the number of marriages was 3,501, and that of divorces 689; so that out of five marriages the chance is, that one will be annulled. Was there ever such a thing heard of amongst nations which have practiced divorce since the time when in the days of fallen, degenerate Rome, the women computed their age, not by the consuls, but by the number of their husbands?"