The Merry Past 



— Marksman and Music — both infamously bad ; and 

 these, it was thought, would make an excellent 

 addition to the French one, and gain favour in the 

 master's eyes, so, after a hunt dinner, to which the 

 French deputation had been invited, as well as 

 Monsieur Saurange (celebrated as being not only 

 the most bibulous postmaster, but the most bibulous 

 man in France), they were, after their great value 

 and excellent qualities had been duly impressed upon 

 the minds of the Frenchmen, marched off to their 

 kennel. 



A day of two after this the Boulogne hounds had 

 an excellent run from a covert belonging to this jovial 

 individual, who was the esquire of the place, three 

 or four miles south of Samer, to a place called Dare, 

 near the forest of Condet, at which several French 

 were present ; and, being highly delighted, proposed 

 a union of the two packs (having no regard to differ- 

 ence of speed) on the following day. 



Accordingly in the morning there was a general 

 muster in the "Place"; and, about an hour before 

 the English thought of turning out, the French, in 

 military order, had marched past on foot, all armed 

 with guns, carbines, and other engines of destruction. 

 Some of them played on immense French horns. 

 This crowd was accompanied by the full pack of 

 hounds, who joined in producing a most Babelish 

 noise. 



A large covert about five miles south-east of Samer 

 was fixed upon as the place of rendezvous ; but, 

 owing to some mistake, and the immense size of the 



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