Laurence Sterne — The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy Gentleman Chap. 3.93

       &nbspAll which being considered, and that Death moreover might be much nearer me than I imagined—I wish I was at Abbeville, quoth I, were it only to see how they card and spin—so off we set.        &nbsp (Vid. Book of French post-roads, page 36. edition of 1762.)        &nbsp de Montreuil a Nampont- poste et demi        &nbsp de Nampont a Bernay —- poste        &nbsp de Bernay a Nouvion —- poste        &nbsp de Nouvion a Abbeville poste        &nbsp —but the carders and spinners were all gone to bed.