'The Life and Correspondence of Major-General Sir John Malcolm, G.C.B., late envoy to Persia, and governor of Bombay; from unpublished letters and journals. In two volumes. Vol. II.' [‎136] (153/654)

136
AFTER WATERLOO.
from a city in the very attractions of which there was in
his eyes something painful—almost revolting. Though
he spoke with gratitude of the kindnesses he had re
ceived from individuals, he could not bring himself at
that time to admire the French as a nation. But lie
said that his visit had not been without its uses. He
had seen some grand historical sights. He had neglected
no opportunity of adding to his stock of information re
garding the institutions of the country, and he had sedu
lously cultivated an acquaintance with its language.
Every morning he had a master for some time in his
rooms, before he commenced the strenuous idleness of
the day, and he talked freely with the natives of all
classes without the least mauvaise honte. Their advice
regarding the best means of improving his colloquial
knowledge of the language was simply, JParlez toujours;
and "you know," he said, "that is quite in my way."
Early in November, Malcolm paid another visit to
Loid Buckinghamshire, at Nocton, to the vicinity of
which place he travelled inside a stage-coach with some
fellow-passengers, of whom he gave a lively account in a
letter to his wife. The "parlez toujours''' maxim was
as w art] iy of acceptation in England as in France, and
Malcolm was never a sulky traveller. His companions
weie an obese dame, the proprietress of the coach, an
elderly clergyman, and his daughter. The parson was
named Partridge, " a descendant," wrote Malcolm, " I
believe, of the original Partridge in Tom Jones': With
the young lady he conversed freely on the poetry and
romances of the day; brought Scott's "Waterloo,"
w rich had just been published, out of his pocket; quoted
ilarmion and the "Lady of the Lake;" but was
beaten at his own weapons by the damsel, who fairly
quoted him down. After a long conversation, she asked
him if he had ever seen a u Symbolical History of Eng-