The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-11-23

Thus popular prcjudices, pique, false
taste and Judgment, or the headlong inn
pulse of folly and fashion, may coun-
tcract all the efforts Of struggling genius,
and render as abortve lis endeavonrs 10
please as those Of the Old Udn and his
Son, in the fable, who, by turns led,
drove, rode, and carried the ass, Il
please the caprices Of individuals, but III
in vain; and the following story, SET
TING forth the ombauassments and dis
hcsScs of an American traveller, IN
passing through -four different countries
in Europe, may, in some degree, tend
to confirm the observation:
lyon must know SAYS he, that du-
! ring the rage of the last continental W
I in Europe, particular business obliged
me to set out upon journey 10 Vienna !;
but being a stranger To the etiquette of
travelling, | neglected TO provide N.Y.
self with a passport; for, as my business
was Of no concern TO foreign nations,
had no notion that they had any busi-
ness 10 concern themselves about me.
. | had to shape my course through
the territories ofneutral aud contendinp
powers. landed in Holland and pass
ed the usual examination hut frankly
confcsSing that the business that brought
me there was ola private nature, ] was
imprisoned, cross examined, and my
baggage searched but finding no cause
to detain me, was at length permitted TO
pursue my journey.
ITO the officer Of the guard, who
conducted me 10 the frontiers, conn
planned bitterly of the loss should sus-
tain by the delay: and as we were in
alliance with the United Provinces, /
said it was unfriendly--it was ungenor-
ous-6vc hundred Dutchmon may trav-
ell through America without a question !;
they never questioned any stronger in
America, nor stopped them, nor imprs-
oned them, upon any preiext whatever.
Reused from his native phlegm, by these
reflections on the police Of his country,
the Dutchman slowly drew the pipe
from his mouth, and putting out vol
umc of SMOKE Mynheer, ven You
worst set foot in de land Of dc Seven
United Provinshes, you should have de-
clared You wash a marshand and come
upon affairs of commerce. and then re-
| placing his pipe in his mouth again, he
reIapsed into immoVeable tacltnrnity.
This was a hint, however; and so being
released from this unsocial companion,
soon arrived at a French town, where
the sentry at the gate requested my per-
mission to ask for my passport and up
on telling him buntly that | had none,
he begged pardon ten thousand times for
{ de Iiberte he vas obliged TO take, by
conducting me 10 de Commisaire.'
Monsieur lie Commisare received me
with true French politeness, and, with
all the graces OF Galllc shrug and grin,
made the usual inquiries; and, | being
determined to avoid the error which
caused such Inconvenience before, re-
Piled that affairs of commerce had
brought me 10 the continent.
Mon dieun says the commissaire,
IT'S an negociant una Bourgeois Here
take him away TO dc Mareebasse, me
vile examine autrc fois, AT dis time
must 90 dress for de opera, allons =
Monsieur Anglois,' says the French
soldier, as he conducted me to the
guardroom, you should not ave mem
ton dc commerce to Monsieur lc Com
misaire, dev pay no regard to trafiique
in dis country; you should ave tell Mon
sieur lie Commissair dat you come here
to dance, to sing, and 10 dress Ia
Francois, den he would ave treat n you
vid bcaucoup de'compliment, congo down
to dc ground, seven, six, two, three,
four time, we'd tres humble serviteur,
Monsieur, my Lort Anglois.'
This was but poor consolation bur
however, it was all | could get so ]
had the honour of spending the night ii
a French guarlroom, with a set Of
wrctches as ragged as scare-crows, and
the next day tho commissare condos
ccnded to let me 60 about my business
I Proceeding on my way few league.
further, | fell in with a detachment o.
! German chasseurS, who demanded my
name, quality, and what brought mt
Here?' Upon which | told them that
came to dance, to sing, and to Dress
To dance, 10 sing and to dress! He
a French spy says one.;' he must be
hanged says another, so was COM
handed to mount behind a dragoon, and
away they scampered me, full drive II
camp.
when came there, instead of a
rope, only met with areprimapd, for
giving such foolish account of myself
and was presently discharged, with a
word, or two by way of advice. We
Germans says the commanding officer,
= eat, drink, and smoke those are our
favorite employments d if you inform
the dragoon that yon followed no Other
business, you would have saved them,
/ e !