i8 REMINISCENCES OF 



order to obtain a passport. The kind head of the 

 firm with which my uncle was connected instructed 

 me where to go to obtain this indispensable docu- 

 ment. Following his direction, I found myself face 

 to face with the French officials, who speedily 

 informed me no passport could be granted to a lad 

 like me, unless some older person was with me 

 when making the application. 



I told them I could not wait, that I was leaving 

 London by the steamer which sailed in an hour 

 or two, but all in vain ; they were inexorable, 

 and I had to make my way back to Cheapside, and 

 inform my new friend of the failure of my mission. 

 He then kindly accompanied me to the Passport 

 'Office, where my eyes, nose, mouth, and eyebrows 

 were duly described on the stamped document 

 which I then received. But meanwhile the steamer 

 had sailed. I well remember my kind companion 

 bringing me back to Cheapside, by a way which 

 enabled me to see the celebrated Covent Garden 

 Market, but on reaching his warehouse the important 

 question arose, what was to be done? No other 

 packet sailed from London to Calais until the suc- 

 ceeding Friday. Meanwhile the merchant recom- 

 mended me to take up my quarters at the well- 

 known coaching house, the " Cross Keys " in Wood 

 Street, just opposite the end of his own warehouse. 

 1 took possession of a poor but inexpensive attic 

 and proceeded to review the situation. I soon 

 arrived at the conclusion that my slender stock of 



