The spas of Germany. With a supplement, i.e. 'The spas revisited' / [A.B. Granville].

  • Augustus Granville
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The spas of Germany. With a supplement, i.e. 'The spas revisited' / [A.B. Granville]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ing into every particle of our pacotille, which none but a German douanier knows how to perform,—we gladly submitted to the ceremony, and saved the few florins with which, in former times, we should have felt disposed to purchase exemption. This arrangement; truly, is a new and no mean source of comfort to the traveller who makes Germany the object of his excursions, and who, two or three years ago, would have been called upon at every town, and at every post almost, to produce his keys, and devaliser the contents of his portmanteau. But I am anticipating observations which I have set aside for another opportunity, when I shall have acquired a little more insight into this remark- able system of mercantile conspiracy against England,—as some people are pleased to consider it. To us simple travellers, the thing works delightfully; and beyond this, what cares more a voyageur en poste,—who, by necessity, becomes egotistical ? The gay blue jacket turned up with scarlet, and its hundred little silver buttons, were now changed for one of sober yellow, with red cuffs; and the heavy jack-boots, as insignia of office, gave way to a more old-fashioned and significant token of posti- lion-dignity—the twisted horn, dangling with tufty tassels behind the back of our driver. And what a driver! He had to take us to Bischofsheim, the first stage, on the great chaussee leading to Rastadt and Frankfort, and from which a cross-road branches off* to Baden-Baden. Caring more for his cattle than for his passengers, he leisurely paced the distance of one post in about two hours; stopping to take breath midway ! The sun vertical, the thermometer in the shade of the carriage at 8*2°, and out of it at 106°; day of the month 13th of August; road flat, narrow, sandy, and particularly devoid of interest. This was a discouraging beginning of an intended long journey into the heart of Germany. Hoping for better things, however, I applied myself (and my readers, if they travel the same road, will be wise to do the same,) to get a lesson by heart on the posting-tariff*; for the change in this respect, from the coun- try we left, to that we have just entered, is abrupt; and also on the relative value of every species of thin base coin which was put into my hand, in exchange for the solid and glittering pieces of five francs I had brought with me.* * As one of the objects of the present volume is to acquaint the reader with everything which may prove useful, and is essential, connected with the mode of
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