CHRONIC LE. 19 
Channel, he had the mortification 
to see his fiddles seized by the 
officers of the customs. It was 
in vain he protested that they 
were not articles of commerce, 
but instruments for his own use ; 
and that if he meant to make mo- 
ney by them, it was at least not 
by their sale. The fiscal agents 
were deaf; the fiddles must pay 
duty. To fix the amount, their 
value must be estimated; and 
Mr. Boucher was desired to set 
his own value on the fiddles ; he 
fell into the snare, and fixed a 
very moderate price. Then, in 
virtue of custom-house regula- 
tions unknown to our travelling 
musician, they offered him fifteen 
per cent more than the valuation, 
and declared they would keep the 
instruments. Our artist was in 
despair ; he complained, he pray- 
ed, he threatened, but all in vain, 
there was only one resource,— 
that of going to London to claim 
the interference of the French 
Ambassador ; but to do this he 
must part from his dear fiddles, 
the instruments of his glory and 
his fortune. He wished at least 
to bid them a last adieu, and, 
taking up one of them, he brought 
from it such melodious but dole- 
ful sounds as corresponded with 
his feelings. The Custom-house 
officers attracted by the notes, 
formed a group around him, 
which gradually increased, so that 
the office could no longer contain 
the collected auditors. Theybegged 
the musician to pass into a large 
lobby, to which he willingly as- 
sented. There mounted on a 
step of the staircase, he performed 
several pieceswhichcharmedeven_ 
fiscal ears. Animated by his suc 
cess, the artist surpassed even 
himself, and the enthusiasm of 
the audience was at its height 
when they heard God save the 
King executed withthe most bril- 
liant variations: How repay so 
much talent and complaisance ? 
Every thing was forgotten ; even 
the regulations of the Custom- 
house. ‘Sir,’ said the chief of 
the customs to the French vir- 
tuoso, “ take back your fiddles ; 
you may boast of a finer, because 
a more difficult triumph than that 
of Orpheus. He melted only the 
infernal deities, but you have 
made the douaniers of Dover 
relent.” 
MARCH. 
4. The following report was 
exhibited, at St. James’s Palace:— 
“‘ Windsor Castle, March 4 
« The King continues in goo 
health, and any deviation from a 
state of perfect composure which 
had been observed in his Majesty 
during the month of January, has 
entirely subsided for more than 
a fortnight past.” 
6. Riotous Proceedings on ac- 
count of the Corn Bill.—About the 
usual hour of the meeting of par- 
liament, there were assembled in 
different parts, from George- 
street to Abingdon-street, various 
groups of persons, not numerous 
at first, all declaiming against 
the Corn Bill, and inveighing 
against such of the members as 
had been most active in support 
ofit. There had previously been 
agreat number of persons in the 
lobby and avenues of the house, 
and constables had been posted in 
them, to prevent too great a pres- 
sure and disturbance. 
C2 
