ANA.
Polish Statistics.—A recent account of the population of Poland gives the following particulars relative to the inhabitants of the country:—The greater part of the laud is in the hands of about 5,000 families, consisting of 25,000 individuals of both sexes; these constitute the high nobility. The class immediately attached to them comprises about 170,000 persons; these form the lesser nobility, most of whom possess a small piece of land, though the generality of them are said to regard the cultivation of it as degrading. It is from among this class that the functionaries are taken, and they also supply the higher nobility with many of their servants. The Roman Catholic ecclesiastics consist of 4,600 members, 2,218 of whom are priests, 1808 monks, and 521 nuns. Hitherto the clergy have had the privilege of tithing the whole of the natural productions of the kingdom, without respect to the creed of the proprietors. The number of the population engaged in trades and manufactures is estimated at about 930,000, of whom more than 580,000 are Jews. A large proportion of these are under the direct influence of the high nobility: 228 of the towns they occupy of the 453 contained in the kingdom are the property of single individuals, and the municipal and judicial institutions are, in fact, under the direct patronage of the great proprietors. Of course, the influence of the nobility is still greater over the rural population, the total number of whom is estimated at 3,270,000, which may be subdivided into 1,277,500 small farmers, 522,000 peasant proprietors, plus 28,000 Jews, and the remainder is made up of labourers, who are described as merely serfs of the great nobles, or vagabonds, and whose condition is exceedingly wretched. This state of things is in course of alteration or amendment.
A FEW DAYS AT LYONS.
The Paris Season was advancing, and the summer heat was already oppressive. Though the gardens of the Tuileries presented their gay attractions, and the stream of vehicles rolled as usual past the Arc do l'Etoile and along the Avenue de l'Impératrice on their way to the lake, the verdure, the shade, and the cooling freshness of the Bois de Boulogne, still the commonly laughing capital was beginning to appear somewhat dull. Paris, to say the truth, is moving out of town, and the Emperor having set the example of a sojourn at Fontainebleau, followed by an excursion to the baths of Vichy, his loyal subjects are rapidly making it the fashion to speed away to the country, and especially to the beautiful Établissemens des Bains, which are found more particularly in the Pyrenean region. Under these circumstances, business flags, and that which took us to Paris could not be completed; and so, having been frequently solicited to pass a few days with some old and cherished acquaintances in Southern France,
"Since all the world is gone," I observed, "let us go too—let us breathe for a short time the strengthening air of the Swiss mountains, and imbibe on our way thither the not less invigorating draughts which spring from the renewal of the associations of early friendship."
Nothing was necessary but to make our own arrangements, and to telegraph to the neighbourhood of Lyons the time of our departure; and this we did on the same day that we left Paris by the evening express, preferring at this season a night journey. As we wended our way southwards day dawned about 3 a.m., and before 5 every object was bathed in sunlight.
The country for many miles before reaching Lyons wears an aspect of great richness; the undulating hill-sides, and even the lofty eminences of the Côte d'Or, are covered with vines, while the more level country is verdant with crops and foliage.
The station was reached about 7 a.m., and there, accompanied by a young Englishman, we found the carriage of our host awaiting us, and were swiftly conveyed to his country residence. The sun shone brilliantly over the grim landscape through which the Saone flows towards the sea.
After reaching the confluence with the Phone, its brother (the Saone being a La, and the Rhone a Le), we turned in another direction, and in a few minutes found ourselves within the lodge-gates and at the hospitable doors of a large country mansion. Even at that early hour life was astir; family groups were driving into the city; young ladies taking their morning exercise, and peasant women, shaded by large straw hats, were vending fruits and vegetables, which they carried on large barrows, to parties who chatted in groups at the open doors.
"Are monsieur and madame at home?" we inquired.
"Oh yes; you will see them directly—pray walk in. Does madame require anything? Madame must ask for all that she requires. Madame must do just as she would do at home!"
All this was said in a few seconds while finding our way to our apartments, and in the purest French, by a young woman with