xr. 28.] TO THE MISSES TORREY. 155 
taken from us and provisional ones given, which per- 
mitted us to go on to Paris, and for which we each had 
to pay two francs; we were then allowed to go toa 
hotel and get our breakfast, a privilege which most of 
us were not slow to avail ourselves of. I made a hearty 
meal of cold roast beef, café au lait, excellent bread, 
and delicious butter. The two last I have found ever 
since I have been in France. I gave my keys to the 
comiissionaire of the hotel to get my luggage through 
the custom-house, and, my vilkée being taken in the 
diligence for Paris at two o’clock, having nothing 
hie: to do, I went to the custom-house to see the exam- 
ination of the luggage. Lazy custom-house officers 
and gendarmes were lounging about, while heavy carts 
loaded with baggage were drawn up from the boat by 
women ! —and this while it was raining hard, and the 
poor creatures were without hats or bonnets, and 
had only a handkerchief or a bit of cloth tied over 
their heads. So much for this self-styled most refined 
and polite nation! I noticed the poor things when 
their task was done and they were waiting to convey 
the trunks, ete., from the custom-house to the various 
hotels. Some were chatting in groups, apparently quite 
content with their lot; a few were sleeping, and many, 
with the characteristic industry of their sex, produced 
their knitting-work from their pockets and were busily 
employed at a more appropriate and feminine employ- 
ment. I was amused at the strictness with which three 
exceedingly unpleasant-looking fellows searched all our 
baggage, that of the ladies not less than that of the 
men. Little parcels were opened, dirty linen was over- 
hauled and most minutely inspected ; the whole scene 
would have made a fit subject for the pencil of Ho- 
garth. My traveling-bag was examined from top to 
