The Stranger in France

Review.-Mons. l'Abbé.-Bridge of Boats.-The Quay.-Exchange.-Theat

to the porter's lodge (all the great inns and respectable townhouses in France have great gates, and a porter's lodge, at the entrance.) As we wished to have three rooms, we told her, we were friends of Messrs. G--, (the principal merchants of Rouen). She said, they were very amiable men, and were pleased to send all their friends to her house (a little french fib of Madame F--'s, by the by, as will appear hereafter); and she was truly sorry that she could not accommodate us better. We looked into the room, which also looked into the street, was exposed to all its noise, and very small. So we made our bows to Madame F--, and proceeded with our wheelbarrow to the H?tel de Poitiers-a rival house. It is situated in the beautiful boulevards, which I have mentioned, and is part of a row of fine stonebuilt houses. Upon our ringing the bell, Madame P-- presented herself. We told her, we were just arrived at Rouen, that we had the honour of being known to Messrs. G--, and should be happy to be placed under her roof, and wished to have two lodging rooms and a sitting room to ours

oned. She received us with great politeness, and immediately arranged a dinner party for us, for that day. It being

f all the military and civil authorities to the h?t

of Rouen (who was then upon a visit to the prefect, until his

making the former enemies of his worship pay homage to his

Mars, and saw a review of the 20th regiment of chasseurs, under the command of generals St. Hilia

all wore mustachios. They were just arrived from Amiens, where, a

ung man, and in person much resembles his patron and fr

, upon making the remark, that they had lost many in battle, and had not had time properly to repla

om his wealth, piety, and munificence, possessed considerable influence in Rouen, was sought after with keen pursuit. Madame G-- was the saviour of his life, by concealing him, previous to her own imprisonment, for two years, in different cellars, under her house, which she rendered as warm and as comfor

the ruins of the fine bridge of 13 arches, built by the empress Maud, daughter of Henry I of England. This ingenious fabric rests upon 19 immense barges, which rise and fall with the flowing and subsiding of the tide. When vessels have occasion to pass it, a portion of the platform sufficient to admit their passage is raised, and rolled over the other part. In the winter, when any danger is apprehended from the large flakes of ice, which float down the river, the whole is taken to pieces in an hour. The expense of keeping it in repair is estimated at 1

tive countries, which produced quite the effect of a masquerade. The river Seine is so deep at this place, that ships of three hundred tons burden are moored close to the quay, and make a very fine appearance. The exchange for the merchants is parallel with the centre of the quay, and is a long paved building of about 400 fe

s. In the municipality box which was in the centre, lined with green silk, and gold, were two fine young women who appeared to be ladies of fashion, and consequence; they were dressed after the antique, in an attire which, for lightness, and scantiness I never saw equalled, till I saw it surpassed at Paris. They appeared to be clothed only in jewels, and a

uresque mountains. It is near two leagues in compass, exclusive of the fauxbourgs of St. Severs, Cauchoise, Bouveul, St. Hiliare, Martainville and Beauvisme. Its commerce was very celebra

e Conqueror. It has two towers, one of which, is surmounted by a wooden spire covered wi

uring the revolution, this august edifice was converted into a sulphur and gunpowder manufactory, by w

rts of our Henry III, and Richard I, kings of England, and dukes of Normandy, which were

I next visited the church of St. Ouens, which is not so large as the cathedral, but surpasses that, and every other sacred edifice I ever beheld, in point of elegance. This graceful pile, has also had its share of sufferings, during the reign of revolutionary barbarism. Its chaste, and elegant pillars, have been violated by the smoke of sulphur and wood; and in many places, present to the distressed eye, chasms, produced by massy forges, which were erected against them, for casting ball. The cos

d entrance, by which the spectator has an uninterrupted view, and commands the whole length of the interior building. In the English cath

s consecrated, having withstood the assailing storm, and elevating its meek, but magnificent head above its enemies

al master, and joined the victorious and pursuing foe. I beheld him in a shaded corner of one of the cloisters of St. Ouens, in poor attire, with an old umbre

elaborate history of them, or of any other public edifices. The detail, if attempted, might

fact to gratify the barbarous revenge of the duke of Bedford, the then regent of France; because after signal successes, she conducted her sovereign, Charles, in safety, to Rheims, where he was crowned, and obt

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ns either an inn, or priv

t are to the engli

nd experienced a similar fate from the com