The Sun.
London, England, 1838-09-07 00:00:00

WATERING PLA.CES-BOULOGNE.

Wat,

atc ring places, like empires, have their rise and fall—
their ebb and flow—like the ocecn which has called them
into being, and it would make a pretty chapter in a naval
magazine to dip into their respective histories. There arc
watering places on land as well as on sea, but they go under
or affect a different cognomen—Spas—evidently derived
from that word which is constantly put in practice by land-
labb,:rs when rounding the North Foreland in a heavy
"WI, or in crossing tie Channel when the wind and tide
are playing at cross purposes for the diversion of the
learned in such matters. No one goes to Gravesend
now-a-days—even the dustmen, who take a Sunday's
recreation in spite of Sir Andrew Agnew, turn up
their noses at it. No ! they " goes" to Kcw and Vind-
ser to sec `VICTORIA. And as for Margate, the very
cockneys have bolted from that sink of corruption like
the wild fowl in fine weather. R imsgate, to be sure, is
passable enough, if so many unfortunate children and short-
sighted people did not pass over the cliffs, and, as a conse-
quence, break their necks, which "accident" is always
bushed up, " for fear it might prevent others from coming
to the place," and thereby hurt the town. Such is the
natural sympathy of the sea for the land-shark ! As for
Dover, it is a fine place when there is a fleet in the
Downs, but that will never be in our time, for England is
now at peace with all the world--smugglers excepted.
Then, as for Brighton, the very beach is burnt up—and the
coaches are shaking to pieces, in apprehension of the Rail-
way ; while the poor horses, like Othello, are mourning
that their occupation is going befsme they are themselves
gone. No, no, nobody goe:a to Brighton till the Court
goes there—but everybe.;ty goes to Brighton over the
water—BoutooNE, the Brighton of France! If you
see a man with hi 7., hat in one hand and a band-box in the
other running ,or his life, and ask him what o'clock it is ?
you will be. answered in breathless ejaculation, " My
God ! is the boat gone?"—" What boat ?"--" What
boat F 1 he will dart at you in scornful glance at
your simplicity, and as ho dashes by, mutter " Bulone,
t-0 be sure—every body goes to Bulone !" And so
they do. The very cabs and hackneys, who have been
idle half the day, and dozieg all night, brush up with the
morning sun to hurry the brave gentlemen, sweet ladies,
the
ed
wthaetedreig a
dear
calm,
alto: creatures, creatures, who won't be sea-sick because
all down to London Bridge and Nichol-
icn's VVlarf—just one minute lower down—the bill is very
g
Particular, and the coachman knows the way, but " can't
fortetown, Ma'am !—" Can't get down! what for ?" " Why
fhem ere wehicles what crowds the way all going to
hoellisj)onaet, Sir !" rejoins coachee with cool indifference, hoping
may be off that he may get a double fare. Talking
of fares, why, the fare to Boulogne costs no more than
hackney coach from Charing-cross to Nicholson's Wharf !
But the price is far too low when we take into account
that Nicholson boasts his tea is a specific against
;lea 1,
a:--e'ness, and that we suppose is the reason all the
"`3) in an interesting way, prefer his boat ! But all the
biboats are excellent, and the captains as civil and jocular as
ud and weather will permit. In fact it has been remarked
r a very knowing observer that their wit always brightens
Its they near the shores of France—very probably in
enticipation of the cheap brandy. Nothing can be
°lure cheering than the faces of all the happy pas-
iencera when, in a fine evening, their smiles reflect
"hthe sitting beams of the sun sinking in the western deep,
ist as the boat is entering the harbour of Boulogne !
Those who never felt the spirit of poetry before, hug them-
eles with rapture at that moment—the very spirit heaves
Within, while they give a look back at the ugly swell be-
hind them!
hAnd now for Boulogne I—" Thank God we are all safe
ire at last!" she„ Hl oeorke isisn
tai di
e-
aat the exclaimsr
ou d h heights gh fondts of mother,invasion.a
s
Place Where Nelson tried to cut out the flat-bottomed
,xrt
st o
"---says another. " But did'nt succeed"—says a third.
-ts,by " Because they were chained to Me bottom I"
"si:vlmhat are you looking at so eagerly with that long glass,
Why the very spot on which Bonaparte stood
:°ig over to England the evening before the grand
:::rcY broke up."--." Do you mean that cliff there,
7r?"---" Yes, that's it."—" Well, I shall stand there
."Yself the very first thing to-morrow morning ! I would
even Co to-night but for these Custom-house fellows."
And so the busy hum of wonder and curiosity goes round
on And
first visit to Boulogne.
ut
0 independently of its:memorable associations, Bou-
Possessea an infinity of other attractions peculiar to
10,
itself,
,
t° c The principal defect is in its streets, which seem
ave been paved solely for the benefit of shoemakers,
'or the stones rise up in judgment against one another, like
the backs of two terriers on the point of a friendly set-to.
The bathing at Boulogne is far superior to that on the
English coast, and much cheaper. One can bathe
twelve times for five francs—that is some something
less than 4id. each time ! with lots of French civility into
the bargain. Besides the French affect a world of modesty
in bathing. The ladies are allowed to do what they
Please, but the gentlemen aro furnished by the femmes in
Waiting, with certain indescribables, which put one in mind
of Tam O'Shanter's famous Cutty Sark! The sight is
more picturesque than satisfactory for the curious.
Then as to provisions—cheapness is everywhere the
Order of the day. Vegetables are so cheap, and fowls so
Plentiful, that the English servants declare they must bo
rotten, though some of the live cock chickens crow them
out of countenance. But such is the force of habit—people
ttat even reconciled to dear things. A pair of fowls, or
wo pair of chickens, can be had for about a couple of shil-
ugs ; and as for bread, the very cheapness of that proves
at once that there aro no Corn Laws in France to starve
the Poor.
There are numberless hotels with excellent accommoda-
''lan--the principal are the Hotel des Bains and Du Nord.
Marshal Soult put up at the first, and had to pay about
301. for a new turkey carpet on which one of his suite spat
a Mouthful of tobacco juice. The old gentleman was more
"Rayed at the circumstance than if he had sacrificed
8,000 foes in honour of France.
°lle of the most remarkable buildings in Boulogne is the
GalleryGalleryD'lTerlen, a modern erection, in which the visitor
Meets
with the Pa!ais Royale in miniature. The
spirited proprietor, M. D'Herlen has expended a large
sum in embellishing this favourite place of resort. It ex-
tends from the Rue Grande to the Rue des Vieillards,
and contains a great number of shops done up in tasteful
variety.
At night tho passage is lit up with
looks verygas, brilliant and gay,—
It forms, indeed, a beautiful arcade—
From storms a shelter, and from suns a shade.
Besides these advantages, the enterprising proprietor,
Who is withal a perfect gentleman for urbanity and
Politeness, has constructed several suites of rooms
capable of accommodating large families, and at very mo-
derate terms. It is a place well worthy the attention of
visitors. A little further up is the Fort, the ramparts of
Which are about a mile round, and pleasantly shaded by rows
of trees. The view from these all over the country, and the
'ea, is very commanding and delightful, with the " Colonno"
in the distance over the heights. Altogether Boulogne is a
very desirable place for invalids as well as for those who
Wish to improve their condition.
When one is tired of the town, there is the country, un-
folding its varied charms ; and pic-nic parties may be seen
i? every direction, enjoying themselves among the rural
7aldes, and dancing as lightly as if the world knew no care.
he °le pastimes vary the sojourn very agreeably, and afford
althful recreation. We were present at one of these the
other day, where all were happy save one prey young girl,
turned away from the
sport because her sweetheart
was in England, and could not partake of the " fun" that
gladdened all around. She strayed among the trees.
---" Like melancholy musing maid,
With pensive eye that loves the ground."
ZBut there is hope for her yet, for her lover comes by the
et
Would advise all true lovers to go to Boulogne and

t--.....--,........—_.
~ THE FATAL DUEL.Iti Vaux's " Rambles to
Lac Pyrenees" there is a description of a dinner party at St.
Sebastian, last September, to the following. effect :—" On
the removal of the cloth a row of blushing decanters was
ranged before the president, a young officer who was that
evening unanimously voted to the chair, from his felicitous pe-
eUliarity in guarding the guests against empty glasses, and
Inaintaining, at the same time, a constant flow of original met%
timent
liot, then ;his and, certainly-, never did president more ably dis-
charge
uties." The president, on this occasion,
was Mr.
. ebastia a lieutenant of lancers in the Legion, the survivor
Sin this dunel.who At
creelth same time there were two officers in St w imping about on crutches, from the
ef-
fects of wounds received in duels with the same Mr. Eliot .