Ætat. 66 1775. very large, but not cramped with iron. The flat on the top is very extensive; but on the insulated part there is no parapet. Though it was broad enough, I did not care to go upon it. Maps were printing in one of the rooms. "We walked to a small convent of the Fathers of the Oratory. In the reading-desk of the refectory lay the lives of the Saints. "Oct. 11. Wednesday. We went to see Hótel de Chatlois, a house not very large, but very elegant. One of the rooms was gilt to a degree that I never saw before. The upper part for servants and their masters was pretty. "Thence we went to Mr. Monville's, a house divided into small apartments, furnished with effeminate and minute elegance.-Porphyry. "Thence we went to St. Roque's church, which is very large; the lower part of the pillars incrusted with marble.-Three chapels behind the high altar; -the last a mass of low arches.-Altars, I believe all round. "We passed through Place de Vendôme, a fine square, about as big as Hanover-square.—Inhabited by the high families.-Lewis XIV. on horse-back in the middle. "Monville is the son of a farmer-general. In the house of Chatlois is a room furnished with japan, fitted up in Europe. "We dined with Boccage, the Marquis Blanchetti, and his lady.-The sweetmeats taken by the Marchioness Blanchetti, after observing that they were dear. Mr. Le Roy, Count Manucci, the Abbé, the Prior, and Father Wilson, who staid with me, till I took him home in the coach. "Bathiani is gone. "The French have no laws for the maintenance of their poor.-Monk not necessarily a priest.. Benedictines rise at four;-are at church an hour and half; at church again half an hour before, half an hour after, dinner; and again from half an hour after seven to eight. They may sleep eight hours. -Bodily labour wanted in monasteries. "The poor taken to hospitals, and miserably kept.-Monks in the convent fifteen-accounted poor." "Oct. 12. Thursday. We went to the Gobelins. -Tapestry makes a good picture ;-imitates flesh exactly. One piece with a gold ground;—the birds not exactly coloured.-Thence we went to the King's cabinet ;-very neat, not, perhaps, perfect.-Gold ore.-Candles of the candle-tree.-Seeds.-Woods. Thence to Gagnier's house, where I saw rooms nine, furnished with a profusion of wealth and elegance which I never had seen before.-Vases.-Pictures.The dragon china. The lustre said to be of crystal, and to have cost, 3,500l.-The whole furniture said to have cost 125,000l.-Damask hangings covered with pictures.-Porphyry.-This house struck me.Then we waited on the ladies to Monville's.-Captain Irwin with us. Spain. County towns all beggars. At Dijon he could not find the way to Orleans. Cross roads of France very bad.-Five soldiers.-Woman.-Soldiers escaped.The Colonel would not lose five men for the death of one woman. The magistrate cannot seize a soldier but *The rest of this paragraph appears to be a minute of what was told by Captain Irwin. 1775. Etat. 66. Etat. 66. 1775. by the Colonel's permission.-Good inn at Nismes.Moors of Barbary fond of Englishmen.-Gibraltar eminently healthy ;-it has beef from Barbary.There is a large garden.-Soldiers sometimes fall from the rock. "Oct. 13. Friday. I staid at home all day, only went to find the prior, who was not at home.-I read something in Canus.5-Nec admiror, nec multum laudo. "Oct. 14. Saturday. We went to the house of Mr. Argenson, which was almost wainscotted with looking-glasses, and covered with gold.-The ladies' closet wainscotted with large squares of glass over painted paper. They always place mirrours to reflect their rooms. "Then we went to Julien's, the Treasurer of the Clergy -30,000l. a year. The house has no very large room, but is set with mirrours, and covered with gold.-Books of wood here, and in another library. "At D********'s I looked into the books in the lady's closet, and, in contempt, shewed them to Mr. T-Prince Titi; Bibl. des Fées, and other books.She was offended, and shut up, as we heard afterwards, her apartment. "Then we went to Julien Le Roy, the King's watch-maker, a man of character in his business, who shewed a small clock made to find the longitude. A decent man. "Afterwards we saw the Palais Marchand, and !s Melchior Canus, a celebrated Spanish Dominican, who died on the Sellette.This building has the old Gothick 1775. passages, and a great appearance of antiquity.-Etat. 66. Three hundred prisoners sometimes in the gaol. "Much disturbed; hope no ill will be. "In the afternoon I visted Mr. Freron the journalist. He spoke Latin very scantily, but seemed to understand me.-His house not splendid, but of commodious size.-His family, wife, son, and daughter, not elevated but decent.-I was pleased with my réception. He is to translate my books, which I am to send him with notes. "Oct. 15. Sunday. At Choisi, a royal palace on the banks of the Seine, about 7 m. from Paris. -The terrace noble along the river.-The rooms numerous and grand, but not discriminated from other palaces.-The chapel beautiful, but small.— China globes.-Inlaid tables.-Labyrinth.-Sinking table.-Toilet tables. "Oct. 16. Monday. The Palais Royal very grand, large, and lofty.-A very great collection of pictures. -Three of Raphael.-Two Holy Family.-One small piece of M. Angelo.-One room of Rubens. -I thought the pictures of Raphael fine. "The Thuilleries.-Statues.-Venus.-Æn. and Anchises in his arms.-Nilus.-Many more. The walks not open to mean persons.-Chairs at night hired for two sous a piece.-Pont tournant. "Austin Nuns.-Grate.-Mrs. Fermor, Abbess. -She knew Pope, and thought him disagreeable.Mrs. has many books ;-has seen life.-Their frontlet disagreeable.-Their hood.-Their life easy. This passage, which so many think superstitious, reminds me of Archbishop Laud's Diary. Eat. 66. 1775. -Rise about five; hour and half in' chapel.-Dine at ten.-Another hour and half at chapel; half an hour about three, and half an hour more at seven : -four hours in chapel.-A large garden.--Thirteen pensioners.Teacher complained. "At the Boulevards saw nothing, yet was glad to be there. Rope-dancing and farce.-Egg dance. "N. [Note.] Near Paris, whether on week-days or Sundays, the roads empty. "Oct. 17. Tuesday. At the Palais Marchand I bought A snuff-box, Table book Scissars 3 p [pair] 24 L. 6 15 18 63-2 12 6 "We heard the lawyers plead.-N. As many killed at Paris as there are days in the year.-Chambre de question.Tournelle at the Palais Marchand. -An old venerable building, "The Palais Bourbon, belonging to the Prince of Condé. Only one small wing shewn ;-lofty ; splendid;-gold and glass.—The battles of the great Condé are painted in one of the rooms. The present Prince a grandsire at thirty-nine. "The sight of palaces, and other great buildings, leaves no very distinct images, unless to those who talk of them. As I entered, my wife was in my mind: she would have been pleased. Having now nobody to please, I am little pleased. 7 His tender affection for his departed wife, of which there are many evidences in his "Prayers and Meditations," appears very feelingly in this passage. |