304 



A UDUBON 



starched. She took her seat on top of the coach and 

 soared aloft, like a Frigate Pelican over the seas. We 

 started at eight and were soon out of London, The pure 

 air of the country animated my spirits, and all were gay. 

 We passed over Black Heath, through Hartford and 

 Canterbury, the first a poor, dirty-looking place, the latter 

 quite the contrary. The majestic cathedral rose above 

 every other object, like one of God's monuments made to 

 teach us His glory. The country more hilly, on an average, 

 than any part of this island I have yet seen, but the land 

 very poor. We saw the Thames several times, and the sea 

 at a great distance. The river Medway, which we crossed 

 at Rochester, is influenced by the tides as far as that town. 

 About six miles from this little seaport we suddenly saw 

 Dover Castle, which with the sea and the undulating land- 

 scape made a pretty picture. As soon as we arrived we 

 all went to see the cliffs that rise almost perpendicularly 

 along the shore, the walks crowded with persons come to 

 see the regatta to-morrow. 



Paris, September 4- I arrived here this morning at 

 seven o'clock, and I assure thee, my Lucy, that I and all 

 my companions were pleased to get rid of the diligence, 

 and the shocking dust that tormented us during our whole 

 journey. We left Dover at one, on Tuesday, 2d ; the wind 

 blew sharply, and I felt that before long the sea would 

 have evil effects on me, as it always has. We proceeded 

 towards Calais at a good rate, going along the shores of 

 England until opposite the French port, for which we 

 then made direct, and landed after three and a half hours' 

 beating against wind and water. As soon as we landed 

 we left our luggage and passports with a Commissionaire, 

 and went to dine at H6tel Robart, where we had been 

 recommended. Our still sickly bodies were glad to rest, 

 and there our passports were returned to us. I was much 

 tickled to read that my complexion was copper red ; as the 

 Monsieur at the office had never seen me, I suppose the 



