n. In fact, they have no harbours in the Channel, while we
have the finest in the world; a peculiar dispensation of Providence,
because it knew that we should want them, and France would not. In
France, what are called ports are all alike,--nasty, narrow holes, only
to be entered at certain times of tide and certain winds; made up of
basins and backwaters, custom-houses, and cabarets; just fit for
smugglers to run into, and nothing more; and, therefore they are used
for very little else.

Now, in the dog-hole called Saint Malo there is some pretty land,
although a great deficiency of marine scenery. But never mind that.
Stay at home, and don't go abroad to drink sour wine, because they call
it Bordeaux, and eat villainous trash, so disguised by cooking that you
cannot possibly tell which of the birds of the air, or beasts of the
field, or fishes of the sea, you are cramming down your throat. "If all
is right, there is no occasion for disguise," is an old saying; so
depend upon it that there is something wrong, and that you are eating
offal, under a grand French name. They eat everything in France, and
would serve you up the head of a monkey who has died of the smallpox, as
_singe a la petite verole_--that is, if you did not understand French;
if you did, they would call it, _tete d'amour a l'Ethiopique_, and then
you would be even more puzzled. As for their wine, there is no disguise
in that; it's half vinegar. No, no! Stay at home; you can live just as
cheaply, if you choose; and then you will have good meat, good
vegetables, good ale, good beer, and a good glass of grog; and, what is
of more importance, you will be in good company. Live with your
friends, and don't make a fool of yourself.

I would not have condescended to have noticed this place, had it not
been that I wish you to observe a vessel which is lying along the
pier-wharf, with a plank from the shore to her gunwale. It is low
water, and she is aground, and the plank dips down at such an angle that
it is a work of danger to go either in or out of her. You observe that
there is nothing very remarkable in her. She is a cutter, and a good
sea-boat, and sails well before the wind. She is short for her breadth
of beam, and is not armed. Smugglers do not arm now--the service is too
dangerous; they effect their purpose by cunning, not by force.
Nevertheless, it requires that smugglers should be good seamen, smart
active fellows, and keen-witted, or