1791' TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. 1 7^ 



fail to difcover that they have embezzled and drank to 

 cxcefs their Limnel wines. 



Nifmes. 



14th May 1787, we arrived at A^y//«^j-, at the hotel 

 de Lottviere, where our entertainment was good, and 

 teafonable. — For a fufficient defcription of the precious 

 remains of Roman tafle, and grandeur which are to 

 be feen here I refer to Smolett's little tefty book of 

 travels, vol. 2. letter loth. — Nifmes has increafed pro- 

 digioufly of late years in manufadtures, and confequent- 



ly in population They reckon fixty or feventy. — I 



I have reafon to believe there are fifty thoufand inhabi- 

 tants. 



A filk flocking manufa£ture is their capital branch, 

 in which they are generally allowed to excel, both for 

 quality and cheapnefs. — They have alfo a confiderable 

 cotton manufa£l;ure. I bought fome cotton handker- 

 chiefs, on which fine pieces of mofaic work are very 

 well ftamped. — They have feveral thoufand flocking 

 frames, but many of them are at prefent unemployed, 

 which they attribute to a late ordinance of the king of 

 Spain, prohibiting the importation of filk manufadlures 

 from France. — All manufa6lures are liable to fuch oc- 

 cafional vicilTitudes ; but if well eflabliflied and regu- 

 lated, they recover their ground, or find new channels 

 of circulation. 



I think the climate here is milder than at Montpclier. 

 — One half of the people are proteftants. — They have 

 three very refpeclable minifters, who perform divine 

 worlliip in a delightful fituaiion near the romantic rock 

 which fronts the fine fountains, and curious old Roman 

 baths. On folcmu occafions they alfemble to the num- 

 ber of twenty to thirty thoufand people, 'who arc 

 watched by military troops, but unmolefted, as they 

 are always decent and innolFenfive, never tumultu- 

 ary. There was fuch a numerous meeting, very 

 lately, when our Duke of Cumberland was one of the 

 audience. An honeft burghtrfs in relating the circum- 



