dy to start the next morning, by three or four o'clock, to
travel post to Stuttgart: from whence he was not to return
_without_ bringing the VIRGILS, in the same carriage which would
convey him and the Decameronic volumes. Charles Rohfritsch immediately
prepared to set out on his journey. He left Manheim at three in the
morning; travelled without intermission to Stuttgart,--perhaps
fourscore or ninety miles from Manheim--put up at his old quarters
_zum Waldhorn_ (see p. 17, ante.) waited upon M. Le Bret with a
letter, and the morocco tomes--RECEIVED THE VIRGILS--and prepared for
his return to Manheim--which place he reached by two on the following
morning. I had told him that, at whatever hour he arrived, he was to
make his way to my chamber. He did as he was desired. "LES
VOILA!"--exclaimed he, on placing the two volumes hastily upon the
table.--"Ma foi, Monsieur, c'est ceci une drole d'affaire; il y a je
ne scai pas combien de lieues que j'ai traverse pour deux anciens
livres qui ne valent pas a mes yeux le tiers d'un Napoleon!" I readily
forgave him all this saucy heresy--and almost hugged the volumes ...
on finding them upon my table. They were my constant travelling
companions through France to Calais; and when I shewed the _Adam
Virgil_ to M. Van Praet, at Paris--"Enfin (remarked he, as he turned
over the broad-margined and loud-crackling leaves) voila un livre dont
j'ai beaucoup entendu parler, mais que je n'ai jamais vu!" These words
sounded as sweet melody to mine ears. But I will unfeignedly declare,
that the joy which crowned the whole, was, when I delivered _both_ the
books ... into the hands of their present NOBLE OWNER: with whom they
will doubtless find their FINAL RESTING PLACE. [Such was my
bibliographical history--eleven years ago. Since that period NO copy
of EITHER edition has found its way into England. "Terque quaterque
beatus!"]

LETTER III.

DEPARTURE FROM STUTTGART. ULM. AUGSBOURG. THE PICTURE GALLERY AT AUGSBOURG.

_Augsbourg, Hotel des Trois Negres, Aug. 9, 1818._

MY DEAR FRIEND;

I have indeed been an active, as well as fortunate traveller, since I last
addressed you; and I sit down to compose rather a long despatch, which,
upon the whole, will be probably interesting; and which, moreover, is
penned in one of the noblest hotels in Europe. The more I see of Germany