A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume One | Page 9

of the Roman Classics:--and as the reader will
find, in the ensuing pages, that I have been sometime past labouring
under the frightful, but popular, mania of AUTOGRAPHS, I subjoin
with no small satisfaction a fac-simile of the Autograph of this
enthusiastic and most diligent Bibliographer.
[Autograph: Votre tres humble et obéissant serviteur, G. Peignot]
[8] See page xviii.--ante.

[9] M. Licquet goes on to afford an exemplification of this precipitancy
of conjecture, in my having construed the word _Allemagne_--a village
near to Caen--by that of Germany. I refer the reader to p. 168 post, to
shew with what perfect frankness I have admitted and corrected this
"_hippopotamos_" error.
[10] More especially at pages 82, 100, 367.
[11] "Sharp" as they may be, they are softened, in some measure, by
the admission of my bitterest annotator, M. Crapelet, that "I speak and
understand the French language well." vol. ii. p. 253. It is painful and
unusual with me to have recourse to such apparently
self-complimentary language; but when an adversary drives one into a
corner, and will not allow of fair space and fair play, one must fight
with feet as well as with hands ... "manibus pedibusque" ...
[12] This hiatus must not be filled by the Author: ... "haud equidem tali
me dignor honore."
[13] See vol. ii. p. 210-11.
[14] See vol. i. p. 186, vol. ii. pp. 49, 296, 392. The other fresh plates
are, Portrait of the Author, frontispiece; Bird's-eye views of the
_Monasteries of St. Peter's, Salzburg, and of Molk:_ vol. iii. pp. 195,
248, 381, Black Eagle Inn, Munich, p. 156. But the Reader will be
pleased to examine the _List of Plates prefixed_--in a preceding page.
[15] Among these distinguished Literati, I here enrol with peculiar
satisfaction the names of the MARQUIS DE CHATEAUGIRON and
Mons. DURAND DE LANCON. No opportunity having occurred in
the subsequent pages to incorporate fac-similes of the Autographs of
these distinguished Bibliophiles, they are annexed in the present place.
[Autographs: M. de Chateaugiron, D. de Lancon]
[16] It is more than a negative consolation to me, to have lived to see
the day, that, although comparatively impoverished, others have been
enriched by my labours. When I noticed a complete set of my

lucubrations on LARGE PAPER, valued at 250l. in a bookseller's
catalogue, (Mr. Pickering's) and afterwards learnt that this set had
found a PURCHASER, I had reason to think that I had "deserved well"
of the Literature of my country: and I resolved to live "mihi carior" in
consequence.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL
Antiquarian
AND
PICTURESQUE TOUR.

The Notes peculiar to THIS EDITION are distinguished by being
inserted between brackets: as thus:--[]
*** The Index is placed at the end of the First Volume, for the purpose
of equalising the size of the Volumes.
[Illustration]

LETTER I.
PASSAGE TO DIEPPE.
_Dieppe, April 20, 1818_.
At length then, my dear Friend, the long projected "_Bibliographical,
Antiquarian_,[17] and _Picturesque Tour"_ is carried into execution;
and the Tourist is safely landed on the shores of Normandy. "Vous
voilà donc, Monsieur à Dieppe!"--exclaimed the landlord of the Grand
Hôtel d'Angleterre--as I made my way through a vociferating crowd of
old and young, of both sexes, with cards of addresses in their hands;

entreating me to take up my abode at their respective hotels.... But I
know your love of method, and that you will be angry with me if I do
not "begin at the beginning."
It was surely on one of the finest of all fine days that I left my home, on
the 14th of this present month, for the land of castles, churches, and
ancient chivalry. The wind from the south-east was blowing pretty
smartly at the time; but the sky was without a cloud, and I could not but
look upon the brilliancy of every external object as a favourable omen
of the progress and termination of my tour. Adverse winds, or the
indolence or unwillingness of the Captain, detained us at Brighton two
whole days--instead of sailing, as we were led to expect, on the day
following our arrival. We were to form the first ship's company which
had visited France this season. On approaching our gallant little bark,
the Nancy,[18] commanded by Captain BLABER, the anchor was
weighed, and hoisting sail, we stood out to sea. The day began to
improve upon us. The gloomy appearances of the morning gradually
brightened up. A host of black clouds rolled heavily away. The sun at
length shone in his full meridian splendour, and the ocean sparkled as
we cut through its emerald waves. As I supposed us to near the French
coast, I strained my eyes to obtain an early glimpse of something in the
shape of cliff or jettie. But the wind continued determinedly in the
south east: