1791' TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. 243 



no people on earth are more egregioufly duped — The 

 Catholic belief of miracles and cures performed by re- 

 lics of faints, is not a greater proof of weaknefs in 

 the human underftandin^, than our prevailing credu- 

 lity in the advertifed puffs of infallible rsmedies, for 

 every diftemper — We are, almoft in a conftant fucceflion, 

 miflcd by pretenders to patrio'ifm. In politics, thole 

 who are not the interefled creatures of faction and par- 

 ty, form their opinions from the fuperficial informa- 

 tion of feeble news-mongers, and declamatory pam- 

 phleteers — and we value new books generally according 

 to the dictates of thofe alfuming critics, who call them- 

 ftlves reviewers — and, for the moft part, are neither 

 wife nor impartial iudges. 



On the 20th September, I fct ouf on the road through 

 Burgundy from Paris to Lyons — all night at Effone, 

 only twenty miles, at the Lion d'or — a dear bill ; fix 

 ijvres for lodging, and fix for poor entcrraimenr. 



29th September I psffed Fontainbleau wiri! little ob- 

 fcrv^tion, diftinguifhed only as the King's hunting feat 

 in tlie'mioldle of a n'lld barren country — yet the grapes 

 produced in it are remarkably good — I proceeded no 

 farther that night than to Moret, twenty-fix miles — put 

 up at the Belle Image, which Diitens fays is a good 

 inr. — I found it execrable for entertainment, though my 

 bill was moderate. 



30th .Septe:nber I brcakfafted at the poft-houf*;, Ville- 



neuve My landlady, when I called for a bill, faid, 



ihe knew the cultom of this road was to charge the 

 Enclilh higher than any other travellers-— that fume of 

 them were offended at this practice as an impofition, 

 and others feemed difpleafed at vulgar reckonings — She 

 therefore begged I would pay what I pleafed — or at the 

 fame rate as I thought realonable at any other inn on 

 the road. — I knew not from what motive, but this An- 

 gular fort of difcrction induced me to pay her very li- 

 berally. — I was all niglit at the poll-houfii Villencuve le 

 'ui, well ufed — Advancing foijthvvard, I think 1 alread) 



Hh 2 • 



