AN ALTERCATION. 47 



of the battle, were offering the peasants five francs for a 

 drink of water." 



ST DIE — MORN AMID THE MOUNTAINS. 



"Sept. 10.— We halted for the night at St Die. Here 

 there was for a time a slight interruption of that calm 

 and placid state of things which to me is so inseparable 

 from enjoyment. A French officer, who was now pretty 

 far advanced in intoxication, had, it seems, engaged a 

 chaise to carry him from St Die, at a certain hour, to a 

 certain place. When that hour arrived, the vehicle came 

 to the door as was meet, but the officer, who had indulged 

 pretty freely during supper, felt himself so comfortable in 

 his situation that he determined to remain where he was, 

 and accordingly ordered the postilion to return in the 

 morning. Now, by the laws of posting in this country, it 

 is ordained, that he who orders a chaise to the door for 

 the purpose of undertaking any journey, must either 

 adhere to his intention or defray one half of the charges 

 which would have been incurred in the event of the pro- 

 posed journey being completed. But the gentleman in 

 question refused to do either, and swore by his sabre that 

 he should pass the night at St Die. This, of course, led 

 to much altercation on both sides, which, while it lasted, 

 was quite sufficient to interrupt all comfort. The rnaitre- 

 des-postes was at length sent for, and confirmed the position 



