The stranger in France

The little tour which gave birth to the following remarks, was taken immediately after the exchange of the ratifications of a peace, necessary, but not inglorious to my country, after a contest unexampled in its cause, calamity, extension, vicissitudes and glory; amidst a people who, under the influence of a political change, hitherto unparallelled, were to be approached as an order of beings, exhibiting a moral and political form before but little known to themselves and to the world, in the abrupt removal of habits and sentiments which had silently and uninterruptedly taken deep root in the soil of ages.

During a separation of ten years, we have received very little account of this extraordinary people, which could be relied upon. Dissimilar sensations, excited by their principles and proceedings, ever partially and irregularly known, have depicted unaccording representations of them, and, in the sequel, have exhibited rather a high-coloured, fanciful delineation, than a plain and faithful resemblance of the original. Many are the persons who have been thus misled.

These fugitive sketches, in which an attempt is made to delineate, just as they occurred, those scenes which, to my mind at least, were new and interesting, were originally penned for the private perusal of those whom I esteem; and by their persuasion they are now offered to the public eye. Amongst them I must be permitted to indulge in the pride and pleasure of enumerating William Hayley, esq. a name familiar and dear to every elegant and polished mind. Enlightened by his emendations, and supported by the cherishing spirit of his approval, I approach, with a more subdued apprehension, the tribunal of public opinion; and to my friends I dedicate this humble result of a short relaxation from the duties of an anxious and laborious profession. If, by submitting to their wishes, I have erred, I have only to offer, that it is my first, and shall be my last offence.

Totnes, August, 1802. JOHN CARR.

[Symbol: right pointing index] The engravings which accompany this work, are of sketches made on the spot by an untutored pencil, and are introduced for the purpose of illustration only.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Torr Abbey.--Cap of Liberty.--Anecdote of English Prejudice.--Fire Ships.--Southampton River.--Netley Abbey. page 1.

CHAPTER II.

_French Emigrants.--Scene on the Quay of Southampton.--Sail for Havre.--Aged French Priest.--Their respectable Conduct in England.--Their Gratitude.--Make the Port of Havre.--Panic of the Emigrants.--Landing described.--Hotel de la Paix.--Breakfast Knife.--Municipality._ p. 6.

CHAPTER III.

_Passports procured.--Coins.--Town of Havre.--Carts.--Citoyen.--Honfleur.--Deserters.--Prefect de Marine.--Ville de Sandwich.--French Farmers.--Sir Sydney Smith.--Catherine de Medicis.--Light Houses.--Rafts._ p. 20.

CHAPTER IV.

_Cheap travelling to Paris.--Diligences.--French Postilions.--Spanish Postilions.--Norman Horses.--Bolbec.--Natives of Caux.--Ivetot.--Return of Religion.--Santerre.--Jacobin.--The Mustard-pot.--National Property._ p. 31.

CHAPTER V.

_A female french fib.--Military and Civil Procession.--Madame G.--The Review.--Mons. l'Abbe.--Bridge of Boats.--The Quay.--Exchange.--Theatre.--Rouen.--Cathedral.--St. Ouens.--Prince of Waldec.--Maid of Orleans._ p. 40.

CHAPTER VI.