202 Notes and Recollections of a Tour. 



Dieppe, Sejjtember 5. — We arrived here at midnight, after 

 a good passage of seven hours, and stopped at the Hotel des 

 Bains, a good house kept by an Enghsh landlord, who, as 

 well as his lady, spoke French, Early in the morning, the 

 hotel being near the sea side, we strolled out upon the beach, 

 and afterwards visited the old Cathedral, which is an interest- 

 ing specimen of architecture. The clean appearance of the 

 buildings, as compared with England, at once attracted our 

 notice. 



At 11 o'clock, the diligence departed for Rouen; not hav- 

 ing secured an outside seat, which is always necessary a day 

 or two beforehand, if one is desired, we were compelled to ride 

 inside, with a full compliment of passengers, on one of the 

 warmest days we experienced, so unlike the climate of Eng- 

 land, that, together with the dusty roads, the unfenced lands, 

 and comparatively uncultivated country, it at once seemed 

 like travelling at home. 



The principal objects of interest were the long avenues of 

 trees which formed the entrance to the old chateaus which 

 are scattered along the road ; some manufacturing villages 

 were passed, near which were a few fine gardens laid out in 

 the English style, and, at this season, brilliant with hundreds 

 of dahlias and other autumnal flowering plants. At 4 o'clock, 

 we reached the Hotel d' Albion on the Q,uai d' Havre just in 

 season to dine. 



Rouen. — The town is beautifully situated on the banks of 

 the Seine, and the approach to it is through a broad avenue 

 of majestic elms ; as we came in full view of it, it presented 

 a scene of peculiar beauty. On the bosom of the noble river 

 floated numerous sail of vessels, freighted with merchandise ; 

 to the left, rose the buildings, tier above tier ; and the broad 

 quay had that bustle and liveliness peculiar to a commercial 

 town. 



Our time would not permit us to visit any of the nurseries 

 around Rouen ; there are several of some note, especially that 

 of M. Tougard, who has a fine collection of fruits. We vis- 

 ited the Cathedral, so noted for its architecture : and the Palais 

 du Justice, now undergoing improvements, by which it will be 

 restored to its original beauty. It is in the Gothic style. 

 In the morning, the Suspension Bridge over the Seine, and 



