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Cairo。 But Fizes was right after all in his swan…prescription； for poor Smollett's cure was anything but a radical one。 His health soon collapsed under the dreary round of incessant labour at Chelsea。 His literary faculty was still maturing and developing。 His genius was mellowing； and a later work might have eclipsed Clinker。 But it was not to be。 He had a severe relapse in the winter。 In 1770 he had once more to take refuge from overwork on the sunny coast he had done so much to popularize among his countrymen； and it was near Leghorn that he died on 17th September 1771。
ANNO AETATIS 51。 EHEV！ QVAM PROCVL A PATRIA！ PROPE LIBVRNI PORTVM； IN ITALIA JACET SEPVLTVS。
THOMAS SECCOMBE。 ACTON； May 1907。
LETTER I
BOULOGNE SUR MER； June 23； 1763。
DEAR SIR；You laid your commands upon me at parting； to communicate from time to time the observations I should make in the course of my travels and it was an injunction I received with pleasure。 In gratifying your curiosity； I shall find some amusement to beguile the tedious hours； which； without some such employment； would be rendered insupportable by distemper and disquiet。
You knew； and pitied my situation； traduced by malice； persecuted by faction； abandoned by false patrons； and overwhelmed by the sense of a domestic calamity； which it was not in the power of fortune to repair。
You know with what eagerness I fled from my country as a scene of illiberal dispute； and incredible infatuation； where a few worthless incendiaries had； by dint of perfidious calumnies and atrocious abuse； kindled up a flame which threatened all the horrors of civil dissension。
I packed up my little family in a hired coach； and attended by my trusty servant； who had lived with me a dozen of years； and now refused to leave me； took the road to Dover； in my way to the South of France； where I hoped the mildness of the climate would prove favourable to the weak state of my lungs。
You advised me to have recourse again to the Bath waters； from the use of which I had received great benefit the preceding winter： but I had many inducements to leave England。 My wife earnestly begged I would convey her from a country where every object served to nourish her grief： I was in hopes that a succession of new scenes would engage her attention； and gradually call off her mind from a series of painful reflections； and I imagined the change of air； and a journey of near a thousand miles； would have a happy effect upon my own constitution。 But； as the summer was already advanced； and the heat too excessive for travelling in warm climates； I proposed staying at Boulogne till the beginning of autumn； and in the mean time to bathe in the sea； with a view to strengthen and prepare my body for the fatigues of such a long journey。
A man who travels with a family of five persons； must lay his account with a number of mortifications； and some of these I have already happily overcome。 Though I was well acquainted with the road to Dover； and made allowances accordingly； I could not help being chagrined at the bad accommodation and impudent imposition to which I was exposed。 These I found the more disagreeable； as we were detained a day extraordinary on the road； in consequence of my wife's being indisposed。
I need not tell you this is the worst road in England with respect to the conveniences of travelling； and must certainly impress foreigners with an unfavourable opinion of the nation in general。 The chambers are in general cold and comfortless； the beds paultry； the cookery execrable； the wine poison； the attendance bad； the publicans insolent； and the bills extortion； there is not a drop of tolerable malt liquor to be had from London to Dover。
Every landlord and every waiter harangued upon the knavery of a publican in Canterbury； who had charged the French ambassador forty pounds for a supper that was not worth forty shillings。 They talked much of honesty and conscience； but when they produced their own bills； they appeared to be all of the same family and complexion。 If it was a reproach upon the English nation； that an innkeeper should pillage strangers at that rate； it is a greater scandal； that the same fellow should be able to keep his house still open。 I own； I think it would be for the honour of the kingdom to reform the abuses of this road； and in particular to improve the avenue to London by the way of Kent…Street； which is a most disgraceful entrance to such an opulent city。 A foreigner； in passing through this beggarly and ruinous suburb； conceives such an idea of misery and meanness； as all the wealth and magnificence of London and Westminster are afterwards unable to destroy。 A friend of mine； who brought a Parisian from Dover in his own post…chaise； contrived to enter Southwark after it was dark； that his friend might not perceive the nakedness of this quarter。 The stranger was much pleased with the great number of shops full of merchandize； lighted up to the best advantage。 He was astonished at the display of riches in Lombard…Street and Cheapside。 The badness of the pavement made him find the streets twice as long as they were。 They alighted in Upper Brook…Street by Grosvenor…Square； and when his conductor told him they were then about the middle of London； the Frenchman declared； with marks of infinite surprize； that London was very near as long as Paris。
On my arrival at Dover I payed off my coachman； who went away with a heavy heart。 He wanted much to cross the sea； and endeavoured to persuade me to carry the coach and horses to the other side。 If I had been resolved to set out immediately for the South； perhaps I should have taken his advice。 If I had retained him at the rate of twenty guineas per month； which was the price he demanded； and begun my journey without hesitation； I should travel more agreeably than I can expect to do in the carriages of this country； and the difference of the expence would be a mere trifle。 I would advise every man who travels through France to bring his own vehicle along with him； or at least to purchase one at Calais or Boulogne； where second…hand berlins and chaises may be generally had at reasonable rates。 I have been offered a very good berlin for thirty guineas： but before I make the purchase； I must be better informed touching the different methods of travelling in this country。
Dover is commonly termed a den of thieves； and I am afraid it is not altogether without reason； it has acquired this appellation。 The people are said to live by piracy in time of war； and by smuggling and fleecing strangers in time of peace： but I will do them the justice to say； they make no distinction between foreigners and natives。 Without all doubt a man cannot be much worse lodged and worse treated in any part of Europe； nor will he in any other place meet with more flagrant instances of fraud； imposition； and brutality。 One would imagine they had formed a general conspiracy against all those who either go to； or return from the continent。 About five years ago； in my passage from Flushing to Dover； the master of the packet…boat brought…to all of a sudden off