in justification or explanation of the original matter.  In consequence, any abridgement of that original matter must have led to constant notice of the minute remarks, and pigmy attacks, of my critical translator:  and the stream of intelligence in the text might have been diverted, or rendered unpalatable, by the observations, in the way of controversy, in the notes.  If M. Licquet considers this avowal as the proclaiming of his triumph, he is welcome to the laurels of a Conqueror; but if he can persuade any COMMON FRIENDS that, in the translation here referred to, he has defeated the original author in one essential position—­or corrected him in one flagrant inaccuracy—­I shall be as prompt to thank him for his labours, as I am now to express my astonishment and pity at his undertaking.  When M. Licquet put forth the brochure in question—­(so splendidly executed in the press of M. Crapelet—­to harmonise, in all respects, with the large paper copies of the original English text) he had but recently occupied the seat of his Predecessor.  I can commend the zeal of the newly-appointed Librarian in Chief; but must be permitted to question alike his judgment and his motives.

One more brief remark in this place.  My translator should seem to commend what is only laudatory, in the original author, respecting his countrymen.  Sensitively alive to the notice of their smallest defects, he has the most unbounded powers of digestion for that of their excellences.  Thus, at the foot of the ABOVE PASSAGE, in the text, Mons. Licquet is pleased to add as follows—­in a note:  “Si M. Dibdin ne s’etait livre qu’a des digressions de cette nature, il aurait trouve en France un chorus universel, un concert de voeux unanimes:”  vol. i. p. 239.  And yet few travellers have experienced a more cordial reception, and maintained a more harmonious intercourse, than HE, who, from the foregoing quotation, is more than indirectly supposed to have provoked opposition and discord!]

LETTER IX.

DEPARTURE FROM ROUEN.  ST. GEORGE DE BOSCHERVILLE.  DUCLAIR.  MARIVAUX.  THE ABBEY OF JUMIEGES.  ARRIVAL AT CAUDEBEC.

May, 1818.

MY DEAR FRIEND.

In spite of all its grotesque beauties and antiquarian attractions, the CITY OF ROUEN must be quitted—­and I am about to pursue my route more in the character of an independent traveller.  No more Diligence, or Conducteur.  I have hired a decent cabriolet, a decent pair of horses, and a yet more promising postilion:  and have already made a delightfully rural migration.  Adieu therefore to dark avenues, gloomy courts, overhanging roofs, narrow streets, cracking whips, the never-ceasing noise of carts and carriages, and never-ending movements of countless masses of population:—­Adieu!—­and in their stead, welcome be the winding road, the fertile meadow, the thickly-planted orchard, and the broad and sweeping Seine!