a pitched battle by the English and French--but that they should have
been so quickly followed up by the allies, as not to be able to shut
their gates and man their walls, is to me inconceivable. Why, the
Russians retreat like the wind, and have a thousand ruses at command, in
order to retard an enemy. So at least I thought, but it is plain that I
know nothing about them, nor indeed much of my own countrymen; I should
never have thought that English soldiers could have marched fast enough
to overtake Russians, more especially with such a being to command them,
as ---, whom I, and indeed almost every one else have always considered a
dead weight on the English service. I suppose, however, that both they
and their commander were spurred on by the active French."

Presently the old church clerk made his appearance with a glass in one
hand, and a brown jug of ale in the other.

"Here," said he, filling the glass, "is some of the real Llangollen ale.
I got it from the little inn, the Eagle, over the way, which was always
celebrated for its ale. They stared at me when I went in and asked for a
pint of ale, as they knew that for twenty years I have drunk no liquor
whatever, owing to the state of my stomach, which will not allow me to
drink anything stronger than water and tea. I told them, however, it was
for a gentleman, a friend of mine, whom I wished to treat in honour of
the fall of Sebastopol."

I would fain have excused myself, but the old gentleman insisted on my
drinking.

"Well," said I, taking the glass, "thank God that our gloomy forebodings
are not likely to be realised. Oes y byd i'r glod Frythoneg! May
Britain's glory last as long as the world!"

Then, looking for a moment at the ale, which was of a dark-brown colour,
I put the glass to my lips and drank.

"Ah!" said the old church clerk, "I see you like it, for you have emptied
the glass at a draught."

"It is good ale," said I.

"Good," said the old gentleman rather hastily, "good; did you ever taste
any so good in your life?"

"Why, as to that," said I, "I hardly know what to say; I have drunk some
very good ale in my day. However, I'll trouble you for another glass."

"Oh ho, you will," said the old gentleman; "that's enough; if you did not
think it first-rate, you would not ask for more. This," said he, as he
filled the glass again, "is genuine malt and hop liquor, brewed in a way
only known, they say, to some few people in this place.