Laurence Sterne - The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Chap. 3.93) lyrics

 All which being considered, and that d**h 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.   (Vid. Book of French post-roads, page 36. edition of 1762.)   de Montreuil a Nampont- poste et demi   de Nampont a Bernay —- poste   de Bernay a Nouvion —- poste   de Nouvion a Abbeville poste   —but the carders and spinners were all gone to bed.