244 Si. Omcr. [MARCH, 



good deal of what may be called society at St. Omer ; but the English 

 are not invited (I might almost say permitted) to mix in it, partly, no 

 doubt, from the difference of the national manners in regard to hours, 

 &c., but chiefly, I am persuaded, from the natural antipathy that the 

 French people have to the English. It is not too strong an expression 

 to call their dislike a natural antipathy, because it arises infinitely less 

 from political circumstances than from the physical constitution of the 

 two people. 



" Crabbed age and youth 



Cannot live together," 



says the song ; and the genius of the English character and that of the 

 French differ as much from each other as age differs from youth, and in 

 much the same manner. In fact, the English, after they have reached 

 the age of maturity, are never young ; and the French, after they have 

 reached that age, are never old. You should observe the period to 

 which I limit the development of this grand characteristic : for, until 

 they do reach the period of maturity (as it is called) the French are old ; 

 their children are little men and women, and themselves great boys and 

 girls. Not only are the English at St. Omer not invited into French 

 society, but no respect is paid to their pride, no favour shewn to their 

 prejudices, and no concessions made to their habits, even by those of the 

 inhabitants who hope to get money by them. There is not a place 

 where they can see an English book or newspaper, except at a little 

 beggarly cafe, kept by an Englishmen, where they are charged sixpence 

 for the sight of a paper, said to be published in London three times a 

 week, and (un)known by the name of the Whitehall Evening Post. 

 Even in the (so called) furnished apartments that are provided for 

 them, they are expected to sit upon rush-bottomed chairs, with their 

 feet upon the bare floors, even in the depth of winter, and to make 

 their fires of wood upon the brick hearth, though coals are in more plenty 

 than in London. In short, the only compliment the Englishman will 

 meet with to his national vanity at St. Omer, is in the articles of mince- 

 pies and blacking ! These important items, in the economy of human 

 life, he may get under an English name at least : all else he must be 

 content to take as thoroughly French as an obstinate adherence to old 

 habits can keep it. 



Finally, in regard to English matters at St. Omer, there is an English 

 chapel, and three tolerable English schools two for males, and one for 

 females. By far the best of the boys' schools is that situated in the 

 Petite Place, and kept by a Reverend B. A. of Cambridge. But what 

 an English boy is to gain by being educated at an English school in 

 France is more than I can divine. The terms alone (moderate as they 

 are, compared with many of the schools in England) are quite enough 

 to exclude all French children ; and it is the constant association with 

 native companions, teachers of every kind, &c., that forms the sole 

 advantage of educating a boy in a foreign country. I will admit, if you 

 please, that to speak with perfection a second living language is, without 

 exception, the greatest adventitious advantage that any one can possess ; 

 and that it is worth purchasing by an Englishman, even at the price of 

 being brought up in France or Germany for example. But that there 

 is any chance whatever of his acquiring this advantage at an English 

 school in either of those countries it were ridiculous to suppose. In fact, 



