^:T. 28.] JOURNAL. 169 



Delessert l accompanying a magnificent present, no 

 less than a copy of three volumes of the " Icones Se- 

 lectae." An invitation for Saturday evening from M. 

 and Mme. Delessert came with it. I am already en- 

 gaged to dinner, at half past six, for the same day. 



JOURNAL. 



Saturday morning, half past seven. [After an ac- 

 count of a visit to Versailles, he goes on :] Now bid- 

 ding adieu to all this most interesting ground, I took 

 up my march, on foot and alone, for St. Germain, 

 distant about four miles. From the heights of Lou- 

 veciennes I obtained the first view of the Seine and 

 the lovely and broad valley through which it winds. 

 Here I passed the remains of an elevated and striking 

 aqueduct which conveyed water to a royal chateau 

 which formerly stood in the neighborhood, and also, 

 I believe, to the village of Marly, through which I 

 passed a little farther on. Then descending rapidly, 

 I reached again the banks of the Seine, the terrace 

 of St. Germain being directly before me. It was 

 now three o'clock. The steep hill was to be ascended 

 by a winding road, and being somewhat leg-weary, 

 I stopped a passing countryman's cart ; the lad who 

 was driving readily gave me a seat by his side, and 

 thus I rode into St. Germain. The lad was quite in- 

 telligent, and answered all my questions (when he 

 understood me) very readily. He set me down close 

 by the chateau. I gave him ten sous for his trouble, 

 and we parted on good terms with each other. The 

 chateau of St. Germain, which was a chief royal resi- 

 dence before Versailles was built, is more interesting 



1 Baron Benjamin Delessert, 1773-1 S4T; a French financier and 

 philanthropist. Associated with De Candolle in the publication of 

 the Icones Selectee. 



