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six times in the course of the war。 They were fitted out at a very small expence; and used to run over in the night to the coast of England; where they hovered as English fishing smacks; until they kidnapped some coaster; with which they made the best of their way across the Channel。 If they fell in with a British cruiser; they surrendered without resistance: the captain was soon exchanged; and the loss of the proprietor was not great: if they brought their prize safe into harbour; the advantage was considerable。 In time of peace the merchants of Boulogne deal in wine brandies; and oil; imported from the South; and export fish; with the manufactures of France; to Portugal; and other countries; but the trade is not great。 Here are two or three considerable houses of wine merchants from Britain; who deal in Bourdeaux wine; with which they supply London and other parts of England; Scotland; and Ireland。 The fishery of mackarel and herring is so considerable on this coast; that it is said to yield annually eight or nine hundred thousand livres; about thirty…five thousand pounds sterling。
The shop…keepers here drive a considerable traffic with the English smugglers; whose cutters are almost the only vessels one sees in the harbour of Boulogne; if we except about a dozen of those flat…bottomed boats; which raised such alarms in England; in the course of the war。 Indeed they seem to be good for nothing else; and perhaps they were built for this purpose only。 The smugglers from the coast of Kent and Sussex pay English gold for great quantities of French brandy; tea; coffee; and small wine; which they run from this country。 They likewise buy glass trinkets; toys; and coloured prints; which sell in England; for no other reason; but that they come from France; as they may be had as cheap; and much better finished; of our own manufacture。 They likewise take off ribbons; laces; linen; and cambrics; though this branch of trade is chiefly in the hands of traders that come from London and make their purchases at Dunkirk; where they pay no duties。 It is certainly worth while for any traveller to lay in a stock of linen either at Dunkirk or Boulogne; the difference of the price at these two places is not great。 Even here I have made a provision of shirts for one half of the money they would have cost in London。 Undoubtedly the practice of smuggling is very detrimental to the fair trader; and carries considerable sums of money out of the kingdom; to enrich our rivals and enemies。 The custom…house officers are very watchful; and make a great number of seizures: nevertheless; the smugglers find their account in continuing this contraband commerce; and are said to indemnify themselves; if they save one cargo out of three。 After all; the best way to prevent smuggling; is to lower the duties upon the commodities which are thus introduced。 I have been told; that the revenue upon tea has encreased ever since the duty upon it was diminished。 By the bye; the tea smuggled on the coast of Sussex is most execrable stuff。 While I stayed at Hastings; for the conveniency of bathing; I must have changed my breakfast; if I had not luckily brought tea with me from London: yet we have as good tea at Boulogne for nine livres a pound; as that which sells at fourteen shillings at London。
The bourgeois of this place seem to live at their ease; probably in consequence of their trade with the English。 Their houses consist of the ground…floor; one story above; and garrets。 In those which are well furnished; you see pier…glasses and marble slabs; but the chairs are either paultry things; made with straw bottoms; which cost about a shilling a…piece; or old…fashioned; high…backed seats of needle…work; stuffed; very clumsy and incommodious。 The tables are square fir boards; that stand on edge in a corner; except when they are used; and then they are set upon cross legs that open and shut occasionally。 The king of France dines off a board of this kind。 Here is plenty of table…linen however。 The poorest tradesman in Boulogne has a napkin on every cover; and silver forks with four prongs; which are used with the right hand; there being very little occasion for knives; for the meat is boiled or roasted to rags。 The French beds are so high; that sometimes one is obliged to mount them by the help of steps; and this is also the case in Flanders。 They very seldom use feather…beds; but they lie upon a paillasse; or bag of straw; over which are laid two; and sometimes three mattrasses。 Their testers are high and old…fashioned; and their curtains generally of thin bays; red; or green; laced with taudry yellow; in imitation of gold。 In some houses; however; one meets with furniture of stamped linen; but there is no such thing as a carpet to be seen; and the floors are in a very dirty condition。 They have not even the implements of cleanliness in this country。 Every chamber is furnished with an armoire; or clothes…press; and a chest of drawers; of very clumsy workmanship。 Every thing shews a deficiency in the mechanic arts。 There is not a door; nor a window; that shuts close。 The hinges; locks; and latches; are of iron; coarsely made; and ill contrived。 The very chimnies are built so open; that they admit both rain and sun; and all of them smoke intolerably。 If there is no cleanliness among these people; much less shall we find delicacy; which is the cleanliness of the mind。 Indeed they are utter strangers to what we call common decency; and I could give you some high…flavoured instances; at which even a native of Edinburgh would stop his nose。 There are certain mortifying views of human nature; which undoubtedly ought to be concealed as much as possible; in order to prevent giving offence: and nothing can be more absurd; than to plead the difference of custom in different countries; in defence of these usages which cannot fail giving disgust to the organs and senses of all mankind。 Will custom exempt from the imputation of gross indecency a French lady; who shifts her frowsy smock in presence of a male visitant; and talks to him of her lavement; her medecine; and her bidet! An Italian signora makes no scruple of telling you; she is such a day to begin a course of physic for the pox。 The celebrated reformer of the Italian comedy introduces a child befouling itself; on the stage; OE; NO TI SENTI? BISOGNA DESFASSARLO; (fa cenno che sentesi mal odore)。 I have known a lady handed to the house of office by her admirer; who stood at the door; and entertained her with bons mots all the time she was within。 But I should be glad to know; whether it is possible for a fine lady to speak and act in this manner; without exciting ideas to her own disadvantage in the mind of every man who has any imagination left; and enjoys the entire use of his senses; howsoever she may be authorised by the customs of her country? There is nothing so vile or repugnant to nature; but you may plead prescription for it; in the customs of some nation or other。 A Parisian likes mortified flesh: a native of Legiboli will not taste his fish till it is quite putrefied: the civilized inhabitants of Kamschatka get d