increased, and thus the fair originated.—­We are compelled to hasten, or we would have stopped to have witnessed the ceremonies, and joined the festivities on the occasion.  Already more than one field is covered with temporary buildings, each distinguished by a flag, bearing the name and trade of the occupant; already, too, the mountebanks and showmen have taken their stand for the amusement of the company, and the relaxation of the traders; and, what is a necessary consequence of such assemblages, you cannot stir without being pestered with crowds of boys, proffering their services to transport your wares.

The church of Guibray, like the others of Falaise, offers specimens of Norman architecture, strangely altered and half concealed by modern innovations.  In the first syllable of the name of the place, you will observe the French word for misletoe, and may thence infer, and probably not without reason, the antiquity of the station; the latter syllable, albeit in England sheep are not wont to bray, is supposed by the pious to have reference to the bleating of the lamb, which led to the discovery of the miraculous image.—­Etymology is a wide district in a pleasant country, strangely intersected by many and deceitful paths.  He that ventures upon the exploring of it, requires the utmost caution, and the constant control of sober reason:  woe will be sure to betide the unfortunate wight, who, in such a situation, gives the reins to fancy, and suffers imagination to usurp the place of judgment, without reflecting, as has been observed by the poet on a somewhat similar occasion, that

   “Tis more to curb than urge the generous steed,
    Restrain his fury, than provoke his speed.”

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 94:  The outline of the castle is egg-shaped; and the following are its dimensions, in French measure, according to M. Langevin.—­Length, 720 feet; mean width, 420; quantity of ground contained within the walls, two acres and a perch.]

[Footnote 95:  Recherches Historiques sur Falaise, p.  XIX. and XXIX.]

LETTER XXX.  ROCK AND CHAPEL OF ST. ADRIEN—­PONT-DE-L’ARCHE—­PRIORY OF THE TWO LOVERS—­ABBEY OF BONPORT—­LOUVIERS—­GAILLON—­VERNON.

(Mantes, August, 1818)

The last letter which I wrote to you, was dated from Falaise.  Look in the map and you will see that you now receive one from a point completely opposite.  In four days we have passed from one of the most western towns of the province, to a place situated beyond its eastern frontier; and in four more, we may almost hope to be with you again.  In this hasty journey we travelled through a district which has not yet become the subject of description to you; and though we travelled with less comfort of mind, than in the early part of our tour, I am yet enabled to send you a few details respecting it.