here to discharge and take in a new cargo, and started again for
Guernsey on Friday morning.

There was at that period, at St. Malo, a little tavern near the harbour,
which was called the "Jean Auberge."

The construction of the modern quays swept away this house. At this
period, the sea came up as far as the St. Vincent and Dinan gates. St.
Merlan and St. Servan communicated with each other by covered carts and
other vehicles, which passed to and fro among vessels lying high and
dry, avoiding the buoys, the anchors, and cables, and running the risk
now and then of smashing their leathern hoods against the lowered yards,
or the end of a jibboom. Between the tides, the coachmen drove their
horses over those sands, where, six hours afterwards, the winds would be
beating the rolling waves. The four-and-twenty carrying dogs of St.
Malo, who tore to pieces a naval officer in 1770, were accustomed to
prowl about this beach. This excess of zeal on their part led to the
destruction of the pack. Their nocturnal barkings are no longer heard
between the little and the great Talard.

Sieur Clubin was accustomed to stay at the Jean Auberge. The French
office of the Durande was held there.

The custom-house officers and coast-guardmen came to take their meals
and to drink at the Jean Auberge. They had their separate tables. The
custom-house officers of Binic found it convenient for the service to
meet there with their brother officers of St. Malo.

Captains of vessels came there also; but they ate at another table.

Sieur Clubin sat sometimes at one, sometimes at the other table, but
preferred the table of the custom-house men to that of the sea captains.
He was always welcome at either.

The tables were well served. There were strange drinks especially
provided for foreign sailors. A dandy sailor from Bilboa could have been
supplied there with a _helada_. People drank stout there, as at
Greenwich; or brown _gueuse_, as at Antwerp.

Masters of vessels who came from long voyages and privateersmen
sometimes appeared at the captains' table, where they exchanged news.
"How are sugars? That commission is only for small lots.--The brown
kinds, however, are going off. Three thousand bags of East India, and
five hundred hogsheads of Sagua.--Take my word, the opposition will end
by defeating Villele.--What about indigo? Only seven serons of Guatemala
changed hands.--The _Nanino-Julia_ is in the roads; a pretty
three-master from Britt