JOURNAL 



The strait that separates England, so fortunately for her, 

 from the rest of the world, must be crossed many times before 

 a traveller ceases to be surprised at the sudden and universal 

 change that surrounds him on landing at Calais. The scene, 

 the people, the language, every object is new; and in those 

 circumstances in which there is most resemblance, a dis- 

 criminating eye finds little difficulty in discovering marks of 

 distinctions. 



The noble improvement of a salt marsh, worked by Monsieur 

 Mouron of this town, occasioned my acquaintance some time 

 ago with that gentleman; and I had found him too well in- 

 formed, upon various important objects, not to renew it with 

 pleasure. I spent an agreeable and instructive evening at his 

 house. — 165 miles. 



11th. Nine hours rolling at anchor had so fatigued my mare 

 that I thought it necessary for her to rest one day; but this 

 morning I left Calais. For a few miles the country resembles 

 parts of Norfolk and Suffolk; gentle hills, with some enclosures 

 around the houses in the vales, and a distant range of wood. 

 The country is the same to Boulogne. Towards that town, I 

 was pleased to find many seats belonging to people who reside 

 there. How often are false ideas concei\^ed from reading and 

 report ! I imagined that nobody but farmers and labourers in 

 France lived in the country; and the first ride I take in that 

 kingdom shows me a score of country seats. The road excellent. 



Boulogne is not an ugly town; and from the ramparts of the 

 upper part the view is beautiful, though low water in the river 

 would not let me see it to advantage. It is well known that 

 this place has long been the resort of great numbers of persons 

 from England, whose misfortunes in trade, or extravagance in 

 life, have made a residence abroad more agreeable than at home. 

 It is easy to suppose that they here find a level of society that 

 tempts them to herd in the same place. Certainly it is not 



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