"I wrote to dearest mamma from Paris, by the messenger who took my letter to the King. I move from this to-morrow, but whither I know not; but I shall certainly leave this for the mountains about one in the morning.

"The moon here is very brilliant; but the lightning for the last two nights has been tremendous. However, it is, I believe, now all over.

"It will be some days before I put this letter into the post; and when I again write upon this paper, I shall, I hope, be on the Mediterranean coast. For to-day, God bless you, my beloved. Love and best affections to all."

"Toulouse, Sept. 14th.

"I FIND that I must send to England to-morrow: this will be opened with the other packet. I am quite well, and getting on satisfactorily so far. Tell dearest. mamma I hope to write to her when I cross the Alps. From the Pyrenees to the

Alps is tremendous work. My travelling books will be amusing to you some day

-all in good time. Tell dearest Willy I have picked up a valuable work on antiquarian concerns for him.

"Ever yours, &c.

W. K."

"Toulon, Sept. 21st, 1824.

"ONE line, to tell you I am quite well, and I trust in God that you and my dear children are the same. I arrived here late last night, and am proceeding; but I hope and believe that a very few days will put an end to my journey in this direction, and then I shall get on, I trust, as fast as possible for Paris. The harbour of this port is beautiful, and so indeed is the scenery around. One wants, however, those common comforts, which by the traveller, as you know, are seldom attainable. The heat is excessive through the day, but the nights are cold. I am very cautious of my health, and in consequence I bear my fatigue well.

"I shall say no more. This letter in a minute or two will be read by the police. God bless you! Kiss my darlings. Give my love to my beloved Willy when you write, and say I hope we shall spend a pleasant Christmas together.

"Ever yours, &c.

"W. K."

CHAPTER XII.

Sir William Knighton's Journey to the Continent. His description of France in 1824.-Letters to his Family.

SOME remarks on France, which appear to have been written during the journey described in the foregoing chapter, seem very descriptive of the country at that period, 1824. They are as follows.

"IN passing from Calais to Paris, I was much struck with the miserable appearance of the towns and villages through which I passed. The dilapidated state of the houses seemed everywhere to mark poverty, and a carelessness as to the sufficient provision even for the day. I find it difficult to reconcile this state of things

with the appearance, as it seemed to me, of constant industry; for in many parts where the same wretchedness characterized the villages and the inhabitants, I observed the women were every moment employed in knitting. But I ought to make an exception to this rule, and this exception was nowhere to be found but where the English resided. In those towns you saw the peaceful, clean tranquillity, so apparent to a stranger when passing through the greatest towns and smallest villages of England. I may mention the French towns of Abbeville, Tours, Boulogne-sur-mer, Toulouse, &c. &c. These particular places, from circumstances of the inhabitants, may no doubt have always worn the more agreeable appearance of comfort and cleanliness, and hence the English may have been tempted to reside in them; nevertheless, I have no question but that the English have materially contributed to their superiority.