PEREGRINE
IN
FRANCE.
IN FAMILIAR LETTERS TO HIS FRIEND.
LONDON:
Printed by Thomas Davison, Whitefriars,
FOR JAMES HARPER AND CO., 46, FLEET-STREET.
1816.
PREFACE.
The friend who has ventured to send these letters to the press feelsit necessary to state, in apology for the insufficiency of such atrifle to meet the public eye, that they are actually publishedwithout the knowledge of Peregrine (who is still abroad) and chieflywith the view of giving copies to the numerous friends by whom he isso justly regarded. The editor, therefore, relying on the indulgenceof those friends, humbly also deprecates the stranger critic'scensure, both for poor Peregrine and himself.
LETTER I.
Paris, December 14, 1815.
MY DEAR FRIEND,
Arrived safely at this interesting metropolis, I take the earliestopportunity of relieving the affectionate anxiety you expressed overour parting glass, by the assurance that I have happily escaped allthe evils prognosticated by some of our acquaintance from a journey atthis inclement season.
Those indeed of the inquisitive family of John Bull, who look only forluxury and convenience in travelling, will do well never to leave thecomforts of their own happy island from motives of expected pleasure,as they will be sure to be fretted by a series of pettydisappointments and vexations which fall to the lot of everytraveller. A little forethought may occasionally be necessary, but Iam convinced that he alone will truly enjoy a continental trip whoknows how at once to reconcile himself to the chances of the moment,derive from them all the good he can, thank God for it,—and besatisfied.
Without more prosing I will endeavour to comply with Mrs. ——'srequest, and, trying to overcome my propensity to lounging indolence,send you, from time to time, such crude observations as may suggestthemselves in my peregrinations through some of the towns andprovinces of France, and during my short stay in the capital; althoughI fear all novelty on this subject has already met your eye, from theabler pens of more accomplished tourists.
At Dover I repaired immediately to the York Hotel, where the host andhostess justified all you had told me of their attention and civility.I found that the mail packet would attempt to get out of harbour onSaturday afternoon; the captain had in vain endeavoured to put to seathat morning: however, we succeeded on a second trial, and held onecourse to Boulogne, which we reached in about four hours. The vesselwas very much crowded, having the mails of four days on board, and theaccumulation of four days' passengers. It was very cold, and I was, asusual, sea-sick. I went on shore about eleven o'clock that night, andwas conducted to an hotel in the upper town, all those of the lowertown, which are the best, being full. I took under my protection anEnglish l