Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-11-12

SeS' my iflenu ana mvSell were 1Ortu
nate enough to be ushered; and as W,
found chimnies and windows alread,
formed, the former permitting us t,
keep fires alight without the attendant
misery OF smoke, and the latter proc
against the weather, we sincerely con-
graduated ourselves on our change O
abode. Nor was it only on account Of
the superiority of these over our for
mer quarters that we rejoiced in thi;
migration. The country around pro-
we'd TO b. better stocked with game, es-
pecially with hares, than any which
we had We, inhabited; and hence we
continued, by the help of our guns and
greyhounds, not only to spend the
mornings very agreeably, but to keep
our own and our friends tables well
supplied.
have mentioned, in former chap
ter, that the little town of Biaritez
stands upon the sea shore, and that it
was at the period of which | now write
regarded as sort ofneutral ground by
the French and English armies. Pat
roles from both did, indeed occasion :
ally reconnoitre it; the French, in par
ticular, seldom permitting a day to pass
without party Of their light ca. airy
riding through it. Yet to visit Bari
tez became now the favourite amuse:
ment amongst US, and the greater the
risk run Of being sabred or taken, the
more eager were we 10 incur and TO es-
cape It, But there was cause for
this, good reader, and | will tell thee
what it was.
In peaceable time, Biaritez contin-
ued, as we learned from its Inhabitants,
fashionable watering place to the
wealthy people o. Bayonne and its Vi
cinity. 1t was, and no doubt is, now a
remarkably pretty village, about as
large perhaps as Sandgaite, and built
upon the very margin ofthe water. The
town Itself lies in u sort of hollow, be-
tween two green hills, which, towards
the sea, end in broken cliffs. lis houses
were. neatly white-washed; and, above
all, il was, and | trust still is, distin-
guished as the residence of two or
nsss Of ffTensh Woma w Thess laes
deal of the sentimentality of our own
fair country-women. To US they were
particularly pleasant, protesting, |
know not how truly, to prefer our soci-
ely to that Of any persons besides: and
we, of course, were far too gallant to
deny them that gratific alton, because
we risked our lives or our freedom al
each visit BY no means Two or
three times in each week the favoured
few mounted their horses, and took the
road TO Biaritcz, from which, on more
than one occasion, they with difficulty
returned.
With the circumstances Of one OF
these escapes may as well make my
reader acquainted.
We were, for the most part, prudent
| enough to cast lots previous toiour set
ting out, in order to decide on whom,
among the party, the ordinary task
should devo!ve of watching outside, to
prevent a surprisal by the enemy's
cavalry, whilst his companions were
more eagerly employed within. So
many visits had, however, been paid,
withou, any alarm being given, that
one morning, having Quilted Bedart
fewer in number than usual, we rashly
determined to run all risks, rather than
that one Of three should spend an hour
so cheerlessly. The only precaution
which we took was to picquet our hor'
ses, ready saddlei and bridled, at the
garden gate instead ofput,ing them up,
as we were in the habit OF doing, In
the stable.
| TWAS well for us that even this slen-
der rrecaution had been taken We
had sitten about half an hour with our
fair friends, and had just ceased to joke
on the probability Of our suffering the
fate of Sampson, and being caught by
the Philistines, when on pause in the
conversation taking place, our ears
were saluted with the sound of horses
hoofs trampllng upon the paved street
We sprang to the window, and oul
CONSERVATION may be guessed at, when
we bcheld eight or ten French hussars
riding slowly. from the lower end Of
the town. Whilst we were hesitatlne
how to proceed, whether to remain
quiet with the hope that the party
might retire without searching any O.
the houses, or expose ourselves to
certain pursuit by flying, we observed
a rascal in the garb Of a seaman run uT
to the leader of the patrole, lay hold o
the bride, and enter into a converse
ton with him, and point to the abode
of our new acquaintances. This wa
! hin, anonob Without Dausinp to say