106 PRÆTERITA-I

ashore; but I grew into the sense of ocean, as the Earth shaker,¹ by the rattling beach, and lisping sand.²

122. I had meant, also in this place, to give a word or two to another poor relative, Nanny Clowsley,³ an entirely cheerful old woman, who lived, with a Dutch clock and some old teacups, in a single room (with small bed in alcove) on the third storey of a gabled house, part of the group of old ones lately pulled down on Chelsea side of Battersea bridge. But I had better keep what I have to say of Chelsea well together, early and late;⁴ only, in speaking of shingle, I must note the use to me of the view out of Nanny Clowsley’s window right down upon the Thames tide, with its tossing wherries at the flow, and stranded barges at ebb.

And now, I must get on, and come to the real first sights of several things.

123. I said that, for our English tours, Mr. Telford usually lent us his chariot.⁵ But for Switzerland, now taking Mary, we needed stronger wheels and more room; and for this, and all following tours abroad, the first preparation and the beginning of delight was the choosing a carriage to our fancy, from the hireable reserve at Mr. Hopkinson’s, of Long Acre.

The poor modern slaves and simpletons who let themselves be dragged like cattle, or felled timber, through the countries they imagine themselves visiting, can have no conception whatever of the complex joys, and ingenious hopes, connected with the choice and arrangement of the travelling carriage in old times. The mechanical questions first, of strength-easy rolling-steady and safe poise of persons and luggage; the general stateliness of effect to be obtained for the abashing of plebeian beholders; the cunning

¹ [See Homer, Iliad, xiii. 34, 65 (and passim), for ‘Enosicqwn as epithet of Poseidon.]

² [The words “but I grew ... lisping sand” were a final revision. The proof has:-

“...; but the shingly beach at Brighton, Hastings, and Sandgate was as familiar to me as their baby’s rattle to other children.”]

³ [She is mentioned again in ii. § 32 (p. 271).]

⁴ [Præterita came to an end, however, before this point was reached.]

⁵ [See above, § 29 (p. 29).]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]