4 February 1815
adams-john10 Neal Millikan Travel and Touring, International
219

4. III:30. Paris. At a quarter past four in the Morning I took my departure from Gournay-sur-Aronde, and reached Pont Sainte Maxence, the second Stage, just after day-light.— On starting from this Stage, I found a Bridge over the river Oise, which had been blown up last Winter to stop the passage of the Cossacks, and which they are now rebuilding. This was the first and only trace of injury to the Country from the late War, that I perceived on the road. The Bridge is already sufficiently restored for foot-passengers but not for Carriages— I crossed it myself and waited on the South side of it for my Carriage which went over in a ferry boat, about two hundred yards below. I met on the Paris side of the Bridge a Miller, who told me that the Bridge had been blown up to stop the Cossacks— 800 pounds of powder he said had been employed for the purpose. I heard the name of the Cosacks mentioned only one other time upon the road; and that was by a Postilion whose horse was restive and threw him off. He called the horse Sacré Cosaque in Revenge— As I approached Paris the drivers became more alert in their movements— My Carriage was not stop’d at-all for the examination of baggage at the entrance of the City, and at one O’Clock in the afternoon I alighted at the Hotel du Nord Rue de Richelieu, a house which had been recommended to me by Mr Gallatin. I took the only vacant Apartments in the house; which are two small chambers in the second Story, upon the Street. There is a Restaurateur or Cook in the house. I engaged a Valet de Place named Louis, and after having dressed and dined took a Hackney Coach and called at Mr Crawford’s— He and Mr Clay were just gone out to Madame Catalani’s Concert at the Opera house— I then went to the Hotel de l’Empire Rue d’Artois, to see Mr Bayard, and to the Hotel d’Avranches in the same Street to see Mr Russell, but they were both out; upon which I returned to my lodgings.

Itinerary of my Journey from Bruxelles to Paris.

2. Feby: 1815. From Bruxelles to Posts Paid for Horses Fr .. C Postilions. Fr: Ctme. Extra. Fr: Ctme.
Hal 2 15: 3 2:50. Turnpike.
La Genette 1 1/2 9 2:50 3:50 Do: & 1. Fr. Postilion
Soignies 1 1/2 9 2:50 3: Do 1. Do.
Mons 2 12 3:50 2: Do
Boussu 1 1/2 10:50 4:50 2:50 Do.
Quievrain 1 1/4 7:50 4: 2: Do
Valenciennes 1 1/2 9: 5:50 1: Greasing wheels
Bouchain 2 1/4 15: 7:50 4:50 Decouché
Cambray 2 12: 6: 29:50 Do: and opening Gates 2 & Lodging.
3. Feby. Bonavy 1 1/2 9: 4:50
Fins 1 1/2 9: 4:50
Péronne 2 12 6: 7:50 Repairing Carriage
Marché le Pot 1 1/2 9: 4:50
Fonches 1 6: 3:
Roye 1 6: 3: 9: Cording wheels.
Conchy-les-Pots 1 1/2 9: 4:50 :50 Postilions
Cuvilly 1 6: 3:
Gournay-sur-Aronde 1 6: 3: 20:50 Lodgings & do
4. Feby: Bois-de-Lihus 1 1/4 7:50 3:75 50 Postilions
Pont-Sainte-Marence 1 1/2 9: 4:50 4:50 Ferriage. greasing & do:
Senlis 1 1/2 9: 4:50 50 Postilions
31 3/4 196:50 87:75 93:50
220
4 Feby: From Bruxelles to Posts 4. Horses Fr: Ctme. Postilions. Fr: Ct Extra. Fr: Ct:
Senlis. 31 3/4 196:50. 87:75 93:50.
La Chapelle en-Serval 1 6: 3: 1: Postilions
Louvres 1 1/2 9: 4:50 :50 do
Bourget 1 1/2 9: 4:50 :50 do
Paris. 1 1/2 15: 7:50 1: do
37 1/4 235:50 107:25 96:50

The regular payment is 1 1/2 frank by the Post for each horse— The Ordinance allows only 75 Centimes per Post for each Postilion, but the usage is to give them 1 1/2 frank, the same as for a horse, and they are never satisfied with that. It is indeed an universal principle with them to ask for more, whatever you give them. I usually gave them half a frank for the two. The number of beggars that crowd round your Carriage at every Post-house is from 10 to 20. and most of them objects of great wretchedness— The Blacksmith appears with equal regularity in search of his job; examines very closely the Carriage and gives notice of all necessary repairs. The aspect of the Cities and of the Country is precisely what it was 30 years ago.

A A