and even seemed to compliment himself upon his supposed sagacity on the occasion.  But to proceed.  The ball went through his heart, as I understood.  The second of the deceased on seeing his friend a reeking corpse at his feet, became mad and outrageous ... and was for fighting the survivor immediately!  Upon which, the lad of mettle and courage replied, that he would not fight a man without a second—­“But go,” said he, (drawing his watch coolly from his fob).  I will give you twenty minutes to come back again with your second.”  He waited, with his watch in his hand, and by the dead body of his antagonist, for the return of the Frenchman; but on the expiration of the time, his own second conjured him to consult his safety and depart; for that, from henceforth, his life was in jeopardy.  He left the ground; obtained his passport, and quitted the town instantly ...  The dead body of his antagonist was then placed on a bier:  and his funeral was attended by several hundreds of his companions—­who, armed with muskets and swords, threatened destruction to the civil and military authorities if they presumed to interfere.  All this has necessarily increased the ill-blood which is admitted to exist between the English and French ... but the affair is now beginning to blow over.[105]

A truce to such topics.  It is now time to furnish you with some details relating to your favourite subjects of ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES and BIBLIOGRAPHY.  The former shall take precedence.  First of the streets; secondly of the houses; and thirdly of the public buildings; ecclesiastical and civil.

To begin with the STREETS.  Those of St. Pierre, Notre Dame, and St. Jean are the principal for bustle and business.  The first two form one continuous line, leading to the abbey of St. Stephen, and afford in fact a very interesting stroll to the observer of men and manners.  The shops are inferior to those of Rouen, but a great shew of business is discernible in them.  The street beyond the abbey, and those called Guilbert, and des Chanoines, leading towards the river, are considered among the genteelest.  Ducarel pronounced the houses of Caen “mean in general, though usually built of stone;” but I do not agree with him in this conclusion.  The open parts about the Lycee and the Abbey of St. Stephen, together with the Place Royale, where the library is situated, form very agreeable spaces for the promenade of the ladies and the exercise of the National Guard.  The Courts are full of architectural curiosities, but mostly of the time of Francis I. Of domestic architecture, those houses, with elaborate carvings in wood, beneath a pointed roof, are doubtless of the greatest antiquity.  There are a great number of these; and some very much older than others.