Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ALFRED DE ROSANN; OR, THE ADVENTURES OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN. BY G. W. M. REYNOLDS, Author of “ Pickwick Abroad,” &c., &c. CHAPTER I. THE EMIGRANTS. ‘Towarps the close of the year 1793, when the horrors of the French Revolution expelled so many noble emigrants from their unhappy country to seek an asylum on the hospitable shores of England, whose sons are ever ready to afford shelter and protection to the political sufferers of other climes, a post-chaise drove up to the door of a hotel in Leicester Square, and a foreigner of commanding aspect, and aristocratic mien, descended the steps of the vehicle, crying involun- tarily, “‘ thank God! we are at length safe in the metropolis of Eng- Jand!” He then assisted a lady to alight from the carriage, which she did with difficulty, for in her arms she carried a sleeping babe that had scarcely breathed the air of this world eight or ten months. The landlord received the strangers with obsequious bows, for they were evidently of high rank—if manners and appearance form a criterion to judge of the position of individuals in the wide circle of soviety— although they merely gave as their names Monsieur and Madame d’Estelle, without any titular appendage. Of one thing, however, they made no secret: too much rejoiced at having escaped the persecutions awaiting them in their own country, the illustrious foreigners did not scruple to confess that they were emigrants from the distracted ter- ritory of France, whose ambitious rulers had changed the principles of a glorious revolution into the hateful tyranny of murderous despots. But they had not left their native clime as beggars on the face of the earth: they were aware that many of their unfortunate fellow-country- men had already put the charitable disposition of the compassionate lish to a repeated test; and they had wisely provided themselves with that which now-a-days has become ‘‘ the one thing needful.” . M. d’Estelle, and his affectionate wife, who insisted upon sharing the adversity as well as the prosperity of her husband, resided about a week at the hotel in Leicester Square; whence they removed to a comfortable lodging which they hired in the Haymarket, There | B COMRnIClooo SS (GO)