The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

“THE STEAM PACKET. 8) CHAPTER IX. THE LUMINARIES ENJOY A MOST SUMPTUOUS REPAST AT DUNKIRK.— A PUBLIC EXECUTION AT MOUNT CASSEL. Dunxirx is a large and well-built town. The streets are wide, nicely paved, and remarkably clean. There is an aristocratic appearance about NES ok 3) many of the houses, the architecture ASS S werd a» —, of which is generally antique, which GU. Fe A eS ' gives an air of wealth and import- ea |\se WE ge ance to the place—although for rez] f RI /IENY neither need it be indebted to any : : auxiliary show, as it possesses in reality both those elements of pros- perity. The harbour is extensive and commodious, Dunkirk enjoying a most flourishing maritime trade with the ports of Belgium, and serving as a vent for the northern com- merce of France. The inhabitants speak both French and Flemish— the upper classes usually adopting the former language, and the lower classes the tongue which may be properly called their own. Not- withstanding great activity invariably exists upon the port and in its immediate vicinity, Dunkirk is what is denominated “ a dull town,” the streets being indifferently filled with passengers, and few loungers appearing in the market-place—that rendezvous of all idlers on the Con- tinent. In the neighbourhood of this town there are some beautiful walks; and the entrance by the Saint Omers road is very picturesque. The Luminaries landed with about the same precipitation which they had manifested in their debarkation at Margate; but Mr. Pifpaf was taken somewhat aback, when he found himself confronted by a military-looking person in a green uniform, and sporting a huge pair of mustaches. But fortunately Captain Pentonville was there to re- assure his respected leader, by acquainting him that the military gen- tleman was merely a custom-house officer. Mr. Smale, overhearing this announcement, inquired whether he should not be smoothing matters a little by claiming a species of connexion with the French functionary, on the ground of himself being an English one in the same line: to this, however, Captain Pentonville returned no answer— Gomichbooks (E(0)