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Mons。 Ly seasoned the severity of his political apothegms with intermediate sallies of mirth and gallantry。 He ogled the venerable gentlewoman his commere； who sat by him。 He looked； sighed； and languished； sung tender songs； and kissed the old lady's hand with all the ardour of a youthful admirer。 I unfortunately congratulated him on having such a pretty young gentleman to his son。 He answered； sighing； that the boy had talents； but did not put them to a proper use〃Long before I attained his age （said he） I had finished my rhetoric。〃 Captain B； who had eaten himself black in the face； and； with the napkin under his chin； was no bad representation of Sancho Panza in the suds； with the dishclout about his neck； when the duke's scullions insisted upon shaving him； this sea…wit； turning to the boy； with a waggish leer； 〃I suppose （said he） you don't understand the figure of amplification so well as Monsieur your father。〃 At that instant； one of the nieces； who knew her uncle to be very ticklish； touched him under the short ribs； on which the little man attempted to spring up； but lost the centre of gravity。 He overturned his own plate in the lap of the person that sat next to him； and falling obliquely upon his own chair； both tumbled down upon the floor together； to the great discomposure of the whole company； for the poor man would have been actually strangled； had not his nephew loosed his stock with great expedition。 Matters being once more adjusted； and the captain condoled on his disaster； Mons。 Ly took it in his head to read his son a lecture upon filial obedience。 This was mingled with some sharp reproof； which the boy took so ill that he retired。 The old lady observed that he had been too severe： her daughter…in…law； who was very pretty； said her brother had given him too much reason； hinting； at the same time； that he was addicted to some terrible vices； upon which several individuals repeated the interjection； ah！ ah！ 〃Yes （said Mons。 Ly； with a rueful aspect） the boy has a pernicious turn for gaming： in one afternoon he lost； at billiards； such a sum as gives me horror to think of it。〃 〃Fifty sols in one afternoon；〃 （cried the sister）。 〃Fifty sols！ （exclaimed the mother…in…law； with marks of astonishment） that's too muchthat's too much！he's to blame he's to blame！ but youth； you know； Mons。 Lyah！ vive la jeunesse！〃〃et l'amour！〃 cried the father； wiping his eyes； squeezing her hand； and looking tenderly upon her。 Mr。 B took this opportunity to bring in the young gentleman； who was admitted into favour； and received a second exhortation。 Thus harmony was restored； and the entertainment concluded with fruit； coffee； and liqueurs。
When a bourgeois of Boulogne takes the air； he goes in a one…horse chaise； which is here called cabriolet； and hires it for half…a…crown a day。 There are also travelling chaises； which hold four persons； two seated with their faces to the horses； and two behind their backs； but those vehicles are all very ill made； and extremely inconvenient。 The way of riding most used in this place is on assback。 You will see every day； in the skirts of the town； a great number of females thus mounted； with the feet on either side occasionally； according as the wind blows； so that sometimes the right and sometimes the left hand guides the beast： but in other parts of France； as well as in Italy； the ladies sit on horseback with their legs astride； and are provided with drawers for that purpose。
When I said the French people were kept in good humour by the fopperies of their religion； I did not mean that there were no gloomy spirits among them。 There will be fanatics in religion； while there are people of a saturnine disposition； and melancholy turn of mind。 The character of a devotee； which is hardly known in England； is very common here。 You see them walking to and from church at all hours； in their hoods and long camblet cloaks； with a slow pace； demure aspect； and downcast eye。 Those who are poor become very troublesome to the monks； with their scruples and cases of conscience： you may see them on their knees； at the confessional； every hour in the day。 The rich devotee has her favourite confessor； whom she consults and regales in private； at her own house； and this spiritual director generally governs the whole family。 For my part I never knew a fanatic that was not an hypocrite at bottom。 Their pretensions to superior sanctity； and an absolute conquest over all the passions； which human reason was never yet able to subdue； introduce a habit of dissimulation； which； like all other habits； is confirmed by use； till at length they become adepts in the art and science of hypocrisy。 Enthusiasm and hypocrisy are by no means incompatible。 The wildest fanatics I ever knew； were real sensualists in their way of living； and cunning cheats in their dealings with mankind。
Among the lower class of people at Boulogne； those who take the lead； are the sea…faring men； who live in one quarter； divided into classes； and registered for the service of the king。 They are hardy and raw…boned； exercise the trade of fishermen and boatmen； and propagate like rabbits。 They have put themselves under the protection of a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary； which is kept in one of their churches； and every year carried in procession。 According to the legend； this image was carried off； with other pillage； by the English； when they took Boulogne； in the reign of Henry VIII。 The lady； rather than reside in England； where she found a great many heretics； trusted herself alone in an open boat； and crossed the sea to the road of Boulogne； where she was seen waiting for a pilot。 Accordingly a boat put off to her assistance； and brought her safe into the harbour： since which time she has continued to patronize the watermen of Boulogne。 At present she is very black and very ugly； besides being cruelly mutilated in different parts of her body； which I suppose have been amputated； and converted into tobacco…stoppers； but once a year she is dressed in very rich attire； and carried in procession； with a silver boat； provided at the expence of the sailors。 That vanity which characterises the French extends even to the canaille。 The lowest creature among them is sure to have her ear…rings and golden cross hanging about her neck。 Indeed this last is an implement of superstition as well as of dress； without which no female appears。 The common people here； as in all countries where they live poorly and dirtily； are hard…featured； and of very brown； or rather tawny complexions。 As they seldom eat meat； their juices are destitute of that animal oil which gives a plumpness and smoothness to the skin； and defends those fine capillaries from the injuries of the weather； which would otherwise coalesce； or be shrunk up； so as to impede the circulation on the external surface of the body。 As for the dirt； it undoubtedly blocks up the pores of the skin； and disorders the perspiration； consequently must contribute to the scurvy； itch； and other cutaneous distempers。
In the quarter of the matelots at Boulogne。 there is a number of poor Canadi