The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-02-07
AMUSING MiSChLLAN4.
Original Letters, from an american Traveller
~ Eurohe, TO HE friends in this country.
LETTER TWENTY-SIXTH.
CCsnciuded]

THE rre~ch postillions, when we consider the
nature Of their occupation, and their education, may
bc considereda decent, civil class of men but
found none Of that extreme politeness Of behaviour
which many travellers have described,
To return to the psstillions. They drive with
great dexterty, and ~ you would conclude from the
i'npasnce and vivacity Of their nation, with great
speed. Yaumay pretty fairly reckon upon riding
change horses, and you csn generally ride ninety
miles in . day in the summer season. without en-.
croachng upon the night Ais"
The postmasters, who are scattered all over the
country. and in almost every village, are generally
Me most considerable men Of the place. They are
required by law to be always at the posts and, A
their sole employment consists in experimenting the
conduct of Sheir Positions, and the management of
their horses they are pretty indolent set of men,
Generally spsakng, they civil and indeed polite
Iney are allowed thirty sous per postc. about six
horses The horses they furnish you, are generally
stallions of the Norman breed short. strong, and
ugly exceedngly IKE the breed of horses in Cana
"a, The harness Of French postmaster 10 certain
" not % cxpersivc a. to endanger his ruin It cor-
sists of.tacklmg much simpler and more ordinary
than that Of our common horsc carts The leather
part sf the hariess 10 Of the natural colour of the
leather aferit has been tanned without hlacking, and
the traces are universally, Of rope. 90 abomnable
are these harnesses, that you scarcely can ride
single post in France, without being obliged to stop
somsluhtsoccUfGas ofen a four or Eve times in a.
many miles.
The inns in France are certainly not bad as they
have been sometimes represented. II they have
generally their sqgreswens, they bave assuredly, IN
sll cases.. their comforts. After partaking Of the
fare allotted you in Germany Holland, Italy, or CO.
peraly in the United States, you would think yaur-
self very nobiy and agrcesbly ledgsd in the greater
part Of the inns. Of France,
The innkcepers and their servants are, almost
without exception polite and attentive. AZ soon as
you are driven under an arch through the building
into court yard, or what is SIN more common into
the stable, you hnd yoursslves surrounded BY the
host, hostess, and every other male and female Of
the family, whos with eager and curious eyes, and
pleasant faces wcleone your arrival at the Boiec
Tor,"' or at the (" CsMrsnae kwpsriale"
If Il be winter season, fire of faggots Is very soon
bnicd, and you ere invited to sclect out of long
and generally An excellent bill of fare the articles
you may wish for supper. However the French may
improperly and vanly contend for precedence in
erv thing. certainly superiority IN the art Of cook.
cry is their fair and just praise This art is no; con-
6ned to their hotels Of high reputation but, in
every uagc and almost IN every cabaret, or tippng
house, YOU find cooks, who would satsfy the paate
OF t'e ,stfAs,idious cpicurc Nor Is the goodness
OF thc frcnoh inn confined solely to their cookerv
the Gle laincss and abundance of their table linen
an the niscty and goodness of their beds, contribute
IA great degree to the comfort Of the travellers
'vhus, thens have made You in somo degree &C.
q'sintcl with the quality of our. roads. with our
uole cf travelling, and with The characters of the
a. tcrcrt persons with whom we must have ncecssa-
rily some intcrcofrse in our jourues You will hus
b. better ahle To follow in our tour, and 10 enter
inlo our feelings and situation Before close The
present Letter. would add one circumstances which
every part sf frorcc The roads in France are IN
6rs'cd ard repaired by the government, bat sksrs