THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 305 



tunity afforded me of recording the never- 

 failing urbanity and kindness of the French 

 landed proprietors. I owe them all a 

 heavy debt of gratitude, for I have ex- 

 perienced such civility and attention from 

 them that I could never have expected, 

 and which I might have looked for in 

 vain in my own country. 



I here tender them my heartfelt thanks, 

 as well as to the warm-hearted hospitable 

 inhabitants of Quimper, Rennes, and 

 Guimgamp. 



My countrymen in general are un- 

 sociable animals ; and this feeling, coupled 

 with a certain degree of shyness and a 

 national reserve, conveys an impression 

 on the minds of the French people that an 

 Englishman is too proud to mix familiarly 

 with them and partake of their amuse- 

 ments. To the absence of all these freez- 

 ing peculiarities in my disposition and 

 habits, I believe I am indebted for the 



