The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-08-04

keeping the window, open all night on my
side. in consequence Of the dlsagl eeable
proximity OF young priest who got in
to the diligence al I.usignan, and who Ger
tainly could have had nothing in his per
son to charm the fsil Melusinc, the tute
lar genius OF that romantic spot, unless
her olfactory nerves were French over
proof AT Poitlers grand fair was be
ingi held, and il was with some difficulty
could lEd bedroom to spare at the
Hotel de France where we stopped: hut
as wanted one more on account ofmy
four footed companion Than OIL m, own.
7 succeeded a, las, III getting the necessa-
~ accom- odanon, locked mp Gave for The
day, and devoted The whole of the time I
was 10 remain at Potiets in visiting the
countless relics of antiquity for which the
old city is SO remarkable. In the even
ing l resumed my journey towards Sau-
muir on the, Loire. aud little after mid
night arrived at Loudon
The occasions are few on which I have
been more impressed with feeling ofsol
emn awe than during the hall honr Isav
ed at Loudon; for so long did 1t take to
obtain the relay that was to convey Us 10
the next sage, and to receive the only pas
seneer, who certainly did not appear to
be in any extraordinary hurry. In the
meantime, such travellers as had started
from poiie,s with me had been set down
at different places on me road, and when
the tired horses were taken out of the hea
Wy numbering diligence, and 1 was left
alone in the wide market place. with tn.
bright moonlight casting the towers Of
The old church of St Pierre into deep
shadow. and throwing aghastv light on
the tall houses opposite, it seemed As if
no effort Of memory were Necessary to
bring wildly before me the SCENE of cru
city Which, TWO hundred yeas before had
been perpetrsted there. when Urban
Grandler, accused and convicted Of witch
craft but in reality the victims OF priest
ly tyranny, was burned in the square on
which | was now gazing. Gould we re
call, or were we acquainted with the
events which have happened wherever,
in The course Of orr wanderngs we may
chance to have paused, no dou5t tn" ,e-
collections might b. as melancholy as
hey proved to lie On this occasion; for
whore Is the spot of earth unprofaned
by CRIME more or less recent? But even
those places w h which we are most "a.
miliar depend in great degree upon
the aspect under winch hey are present.
ed 10 US for the impress Oh which they
produce. In the broad light o? day 9TH
er influences are at work, We argue more
ccolly, We take things more as matter
of course than Ianv other time: but
iThen, Unexpectedly and in the dead hour
ornigh': the memory of deeds Of blood
fdfces itself upon us. ii meets with ave
~ different reception. 1t was for this
eason, suppose, that the fate of Urban
Graz der had so mnch hold upon my i'm
aglnation at that moment.
he uncomfortable feeling which I
have dr'scr bed was gaining ground very
rapidly, when the Gathering sound of
horses hoofs and the posIillIon's rude
voice Encouragement luckily dlspel'-
ed item. Our cattle were put to with
the usual noise which accompanies the
yoking of team, or anything else, in
France; but before we started for Fontev
rault, the steps of the diligence were let
down, and the door was thrown open by
the cohdurteur, to admit the person who
was to occupy the interior with me for
the rest OF the night. The night appears
to be considered the most propitlous Of
all SEASONS for travelling in France. and
indeed generally on the continent. and
whether the distances be long or short,
the public conyeyances always set out at
The most announcement hours Perhaps
locomotion is so much less natural TO
them than to ourselves, thai they try to
get over it in their sleep. Their own
excuse is. that it saves time; and so 1t
does, if you are fit for anything next day
after travelling all night in diligence
l did not, however, question the proprle
ty OF The arrangement at Loudon when [
found that my companion Was female,
and; as far as could Judge by the
glimpse go. Of her figure, young and
well formed The conducteur, with Gus
tomary pohteness, assisted her into the
and then handed 10 her some-
thing covered with a handkerchief,
which had greatly the appearance of a
bird cage; nor could ! have much doubt
OF the fact when heard the lady utter
chipping sound. and desire Coco 'rester
bien tranquiIle'
"a canary thought I, cts a pity that
my pet is not inside too But conso-
led myself with the reflection that she
was most probably fast aseepin her
basket in the sheltered cabriolet over
head.
The terrific rattle of the wheels of the
diligence through the deserted streets Of
Loudon totally precluded all attempts of