At
Lisbon three or four days were pleasantly passed, though we were annoyed
sometimes by the crowd of persistent beggars that thronged the streets,
and who, we were told, pursued their calling by license from the
authorities. This was a small matter, however. He who travels should be
proof against such minor annoyances. Then Oporto was visited, and the
Douro valley, the very centre of the port wine industry. A young
Englishman, a wine merchant, accompanied us in our journey through this
sultry valley and was our cicerone. Under his guidance we visited many
famous "wine lodges," sampled wonderful vintages in most generous
glasses, drank old port, green port, tawny port, and I am sure too much
port, and when, at last, we reached the port of Biarritz, where we stayed
for several days, we blessed its lighter wines and refreshing breezes.
After Biarritz Bordeaux detained us for a day or two, and so did Paris,
which we found very attractive and refreshing in early November.
This year also had for me a delightful week's interlude, in the month of
June, in the Committee Rooms at Westminster. A certain Bill was promoted
by an Irish railway company, which we considered an aggressive attempt to
invade our territory, and, of course, we vigorously opposed it.
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