On Christmas-eve it was so warm that I lay in bed with the
window wide open, and the stars blazing in.
Such stars! they are
much brighter than our moon. The Dutchmen held high jinks in the
hall, and danced and made a great noise. On New Year's-eve they
will have another ball, and I shall look in. Christmas-day was the
hottest day - indeed, the only HOT day we have had - and I could not
make it out at all, or fancy you all cold at home.
I wish you were here to see the curious ways and new aspect of
everything. This village, which, as I have said, is very like
Rochefort, but hardly so large, is the chef lieu of a district the
size of one-third of England. A civil commander resides here, a
sort of prefet; and there is an embryo market-place, with a bell
hanging in a brick arch. When a waggon arrives with goods, it
draws up there, they ring the bell, everybody goes to see what is
for sale, and the goods are sold by auction. My host bought
potatoes and brandy the other day, and is looking out for ostrich
feathers for me, out of the men's hats.
The other day, while we sat at dinner, all the bells began to ring
furiously, and Capt. D- jumped up and shouted 'Brand!' (fire),
rushed off for a stout leather hat, and ran down the street.
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