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it more as the humble tribute of gratitude than of politeness, or perhaps both were blended in the offer. In the afternoon, their baggage was searched by the revenue officers, who, on this occasion, exer cised a liberal gentleness, which gave but little trouble, and no pain. They who brought nothing into a country but the recollection of their miseries, were not very likely to carry much out of it but the remembrance of its generosity.

At seven o'clock in the evening we were all on board, and sailed with a gentle breeze down the river: we carried with us a good stock of vegetables, which we procured fresh, from the admirable market of Southampton. Upon going down into the cabin, I was struck, and at first shocked, with seeing a very aged man, stretched at his length upon pillows and clothes, placed on the floor, attended by two clergymen, and some women, who, in their attentions to this apparently dying old gentleman, seemed to have forgotten their own comfortless situation, arising from so many persons being crowded in so small a space, for our numbers above and below amounted to sixty. Upon inquiry, they informed me, that the person whose appearance had so affected me, had been a clergyman of great repute and esteem_at Havre, that he was then past the age of ninety-five years, scarcely expected to survive our short voyage, but anxious to breathe his last in his own country. They spoke of him as a man who, in other times, and in the vigour of his faculties, had often, from his pulpit, struck with terror and contrition the trembling. souls of auditors, by the force of his exalted eloquence; who had embellished the society in which he moved, with his elegant attainments; and who had relieved the unhappy, with an enlarged heart and munificent hand. A mere mass of misery and helpless infirmities remained of all these noble qualities!

The appearance of the coast of Havre is high, rugged, and rocky; to use a good marine expression, it

STRANGER IN FRANCE.

URING the whole of the second day after our

Darrival, the town of Southampton was in a

bustle, occasioned by the flocking in of a great number of French emigrants, who were returning to their own country in consequence of a mild decree which had been passed in their favour. The scene was truly interesting, and the sentiment which it excited delightful to the heart.

A respectable curé, who dined in the same room with us at our inn, was observed to eat very little; upon being pressed to enlarge his meal, this amiable man said, with tears starting in his eyes, "Alas! I have no appetite; a very short time will bring me amongst the scenes of my nativity, my youth, and my happiness, from which a remorseless revolution has parted me for these ten long years; I shall ask for those who are dear to me, and find them for ever gone: those who are left will fill my mind with the most afflicting descriptions; no, I cannot eat, my good sir."

About noon, these unfortunate exiles had deposited their baggage upon the quay, which formed a pile of old portmanteaus, and battered trunks. Parties remained to protect them, previous to their embarka tion. The sun was intensely hot, they were seated under the shade of tattered umbrellas, which looked as if they had been the companions of their banish

ment.

Their countenances appeared strongly marked with the pious character of resignation, over which were to be seen a sweetness and corrected animation, expressive of the heart's delight upon returning to its VOL. XXVII.

CARR'S STRANGER

native home, erected wherever it may be, and the Tegret of leaving a nation, which, in the hour of flight and misery, had nobly enrolled them in the list of her own children, and had covered them with protection.

To the eternal honour of these unhappy, but excellent people, be it observed, that they have proved themselves worthy to be received into such a sanctuary. Our country has enjoyed the benefit of their unblemished morals, and their mild, polite, and unassuming manners, and wherever destiny has placed them, they have industriously relieved the national burden attending their support, by diffusing the knowledge of a language, which has in consequence become very general, and, from its great utility as well as beauty, ought to be considered as an important branch of education.

Amongst these groups were some females, the wives and daughters of Toulonese merchants, who left their city when lord Hood abandoned that port. The politeness and attention which were paid to them by the men were truly pleasing. It was the good breeding of elegant habits, retaining all their softness in the midst of adversity, sweetened by the sympathy of mutual and similar sufferings.

They had finished their dinner, and were drinking their favourite beverage of coffee. Poor wanderers ! the water was scarcely turned brown with the few grains which remained of what they had purchased for their journey.

I addressed them, by telling them, that I should have the happiness of being a passenger with them in the same vessel; they said they were fortunate to have in their company one of that nation which would be dear to them as long as they lived. A genteel middle aged woman offered to open a little parcel of fresh coffee, which she had purchased in the town for the voyage, and begged to make some for me. By her manner, she seemed to wish me to consider

it more as the humble tribute of gratitude than of politeness, or perhaps both were blended in the offer. In the afternoon, their baggage was searched by the revenue officers, who, on this occasion, exercised a liberal gentleness, which gave but little trouble, and no pain. They who brought nothing into a country but the recollection of their miseries, were not very likely to carry much out of it but the remembrance of its generosity.

At seven o'clock in the evening we were all on board, and sailed with a gentle breeze down the river we carried with us a good stock of vegetables, which we procured fresh, from the admirable market of Southampton. Upon going down into the cabin, I was struck, and at first shocked, with seeing a very aged man, stretched at his length upon pillows and clothes, placed on the floor, attended by two clergymen, and some women, who, in their attentions to this apparently dying old gentleman, seemed to have forgotten their own comfortless situation, arising from so many persons being crowded in so small a space, for our numbers above and below amounted to sixty. Upon inquiry, they informed me, that the person whose appearance had so affected me, had been a clergyman of great repute and esteem at Havre, that he was then past the age of ninety-five years, scarcely expected to survive our short voyage, but anxious to breathe his last in his own country. They spoke of him as a man who, in other times, and in the vigour of his faculties, had often, from his pulpit, struck with terror and contrition the trembling souls of auditors, by the force of his exalted eloquence; who had embellished the society in which he moved, with his elegant attainments; and who had relieved the unhappy, with an enlarged heart and munificent hand. A mere mass of misery and helpless infirmities remained of all these noble qualities!

The appearance of the coast of Havre is high, rugged, and rocky; to use a good marine expression, it

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