Descriptive List - University College Cork Library

673 1830
fellow passengers called on Bennet to take charge “I hauled down the square
sail, handed the gaff topsail, double reefed the main sail, reefed the foresail,
struck the top mast & lowered the yard on deck…..we had not been for half an
hour before the fog cleared up and we found ourselves close in with the land
at the same time it came to blow one of the most tremendous squalls I ever
witnessed”. Eventually they reached Bordeaux safely and were inspected by
the Police and Custom House officials “the latter put a man on Board and
received from the passengers 10 franks for not opening the packages”. Money
he considers well spent as it avoided what could be a tedious delay. He also
had some caustic comments on the ship owners who hired such a sub standard
crew. He stayed at Maguires Inn which he would not recommend but notes the
“numerous and splendid” Hotels of Bordeaux, and the types of
accommodation and meals on offer. He cautions travellers to agree rates with
hotels up front and to do the same when hiring portes or carriages. Bordeaux
he declares is the most expensive town in France “first from its being resorted
by so many strangers, particularly English who often times have more money
than wits”. He describes the layout and aspect of Bordeaux and the style of
architecture prevalent.
On the 1 Nov he departed for Langon in a steamboat “The steam boat is small
and not at all fitted up in the comfortable way ours are….. Charge in the first
Cabbin is four franks and two in the second the passengers are in General of
that description and make use of that kind of language in conversation that I
should advise Females not to travel in them.” On the 2 Nov they crossed river
to St Macau and from their took a cabriolle to Toureins “We hired this for
thirty franks and we found on our way that the person from whom we hired it
put 10 franks in his pocket and gave twenty to the fellow who brought us,
such is the system of robbery carried on in this country against strangers but
now particularly against the English”. He advises travellers to be wary of
entering into political discussions, but records a converstaion with some
young French men concerning the trial of Queen Caroline of England. The
French frown on her behaviour “…our Elizabeth Catherine of Russia and
others they said were accused of Irregularities but never of lower than
themselves from their elevated situations to associate with Clowns”. The
journal tails off after a description of the sights of Toulouse.
Patent appointing Valentine Bennet, High Sherriff, Kings County.
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