ion, being
a much stouter man than myself did not fare so well, as his right shoulder
received a severe contusion. The noble man-of-war captain inside had his
face much cut with the bottles of wine that were in the pockets of the
vehicle, and he would have made an excellent phantasmagoria. His nephew
had one of his legs very much injured. Here we were in a most pitiable
condition, not knowing what to do, as we could not move our travelling
machine without assistance. As we were scratching our wise heads, and
looking at each other with forlorn faces, a party of French soldiers
approached, and for a five-franc piece they assisted us in righting the
carriage and catching the horses, which had been stopped at the bottom of
the hill. On an examination of our cart we found that, fortunately for us,
the traverse pin of the fore-wheels had jumped out, which freed them and
the horses, and occasioned our turning turtle. Had not this taken place,
we most likely should have gone over the precipice. We, after some
sailor-like contrivances, got under weigh. As we were grown wiser by this
mishap, we took care to lock the hinder wheels when going down hill in
future. We reached Clermont in the dusk of the evening, and glad I was to
turn into a bed replete with hoppers, crawlers, and wisdom, for it was
very hard. Being much fatigued, I slept soundly, notwithstanding my
numerous biting companions.

After a most suffering, cold, and uncomfortable journey of six days we
reached Blois. A number of our soldiers and sailors perished with cold on
the road. We assisted some few of them with money and something to eat.
Poor fellows! some were so worn out that they threw themselves down on the
stubble in the fields, where the severe frost soon put an end to their
sufferings. The day we quitted Verdun the retreating French army from
Moscow, with numerous waggons full of their frostbitten and wounded men,
entered it. That and the allied army advancing on the French borders were
the cause of our being sent away with so much speed. When this division of
the enemy's army marched through Verdun for the purpose of conquering
Russia, it was the general remark amongst the English that the appearance
of the men and their appointments could not be better in any country; but
to see them return in the extreme of wretchedness and suffering was truly
pitiable. Oh, Bonaparte! I charge thee fling away ambition; it is,
unfortunately for the world, thy besetting sin