overcome by Champagne--Curran and Canning on the wine--Henderson's praise of Sillery--Tom Moore's summer fête inspired by Pink Champagne--Scott's Muse dips her wing in Champagne--Byron's sparkling metaphors--A joint-stock poem in praise of Pink Champagne--The wheels of social life in England oiled by Champagne--It flows at public banquets and inaugurations--Plays its part in the City, on the Turf, and in the theatrical world--Imparts a charm to the dinners of Belgravia and the suppers of Bohemia--Champagne the ladies' wine _par excellence_--Its influence as a matrimonial agent--'O the wildfire wine of France!' 83 /Part II./ I. /The Champagne Vinelands--The Vineyards of the River./ The vinelands in the neighbourhood of Epernay--Viticultural area of the Champagne--A visit to the vineyards of 'golden plants'--The Dizy vineyards--Antiquity of the Ay vineyards--St. Tresain and the wine-growers of Ay--The Ay vintage of 1871--The Mareuil vineyards and their produce--Avernay; its vineyards, wines, and ancient abbey--The vineyards of Mutigny and Cumières--Damery and 'la belle hôtesse' of Henri Quatre--Adrienne Lecouvreur and the Maréchal de Saxe's matrimonial schemes--Pilgrimage to Hautvillers--Remains of the Royal Abbey of St. Peter--The ancient church--Its quaint decorations and monuments--The view from the heights of Hautvillers--The abbey vineyards and wine-cellars in the days of Dom Perignon--The vinelands of the Côte d'Epernay--Pierry and its vineyard cellars--The Moussy, Vinay, and Ablois St. Martin vineyards--The Côte d'Avize--Chavot, Monthelon, Grauves, and Cuis--The vineyards of Cramant and Avize, and their light delicate white wines--The Oger and Le Mesnil vineyards--Vertus and its picturesque ancient remains--Its vineyards planted with Burgundy grapes from Beaune--The red wine of Vertus a favourite beverage of William III. of England 117 II. /The Champagne Vinelands--The Vineyards of the Mountain./