382 BRIGHTON DIEPPE ROUEN. 



and are more delightful to the eye of the philanthropist than the 

 ornamental grounds of the English exclusif, who must have 



" Space for his lake, his park's extended bounds, 

 Space for his horses, equipage, and hounds;" 



for although the proud domains of the liberal part of the English 

 aristocracy are not always shut against the public, and the " sic vos 

 non vobis" of the Latin poet may be justly applied to them, they 

 not the less occupy the soil which, if applied to agricultural purposes, 

 might obviate the necessity of corn-laws, diminish the price of the 

 staff of life, and afford sustenance to the half-starved population, 

 doomed to witness the waste and dissipation of their opulent neigh- 

 bours, the crumbs even from whose tables are often withheld from 

 suffering humanity, by those who live upon our vitals. 



But let us pursue our journey. When we arrived at the entrance 

 of the celebrated valley which stretches for about nine miles towards 

 the Seine, a scene opened upon us which is worth a journey from Eng- 

 land to contemplate. It may, indeed, be called " the happy valley ; " 

 for here the industry of the mechanic and manufacturer is aided by 

 nature in a degree scarcely found in any other part of the world. 

 A stream, small but beautiful in its windings, puts in motion innu- 

 merable mills, where spinning and all the operations of the loom are 

 in full activity. It is here that French taste has blended convenience 

 with rural beauty ; and the workshops and bleaching-fields are so 

 contrived as to give the air of palaces to edifices in which the 

 labours of thousands of workmen contribute to the welfare of their 

 country. The sound of cheerful labour strikes the ear on every 

 side, and a long line of vehicles of all classes announce the near 

 approach to a populous and commercial city. 



On leaving this interesting valley, and ascending the hill at its 

 western extremity, we obtain the first view of the steeples of Rouen; 

 the Seine winding on the right hand, through rich and romantic 

 vales, and bearing on its lucid bosom vessels of all classes and nations ; 

 some striving against the stream with favouring wind, to gain the 

 port, and others descending gaily to brave the dangers of the ocean; 

 whilst in the distance a steam-boat, spreading its murky smoke 

 around, and pursuing its course against the current, seemed to mock 

 the labours of those dependent for their progress on the caprice of the 

 elements. A striking emblem of human pursuits and human cha- 

 racter ! The steady laborious man plods through life with much 

 difficulty, and often in vain attempts to stem the tide which sets 

 against him. With all the prudence of experience, he tacks and 

 veers, trims his sails, and anxiously watches to take advantage of 

 every favourable breeze : but all his pains, perhaps, are unavailing, 

 whilst some favourite of fortune, some steam-headed wight, vapours 

 by him with exultation, and reaches his destination amid the plaudits 

 of an unreflecting throng, from whom are concealed the paddles, 

 without which he would lie a mere log on the waters. 



Another half-hour brought us to Rouen. We passed the quais, 

 where all our rattle and " circumstance" scarcely attracted a single 

 glance from the multitudes employed about the shipping; and, after 



