16 TRAVELS THROUGH 



was alfo defirous of feeing the romantic 

 fituation of the village of Techempfal in the 

 Lake, and the little town of Dieuze. Lea- 

 ving Metz, I patted a part of the forefr, 

 which is fandy and very wild. Near the 

 river Nid the country improves, and feme 

 cultivation appears, with a very fine range 

 of meadows on the banks of the ftream, 

 which had a countenance that proved the 

 fertility of the foil : in thefe meadows were 

 ibme very fine cattle, much finer than I had 

 ieen fince I entered France. The hanging 

 grounds on the fide of thefe meadows are 

 very well cultivated under corn and vine- 

 yards ; but the wine is bad, and the profit 

 of an acre of vineyard does not exceed 

 2!. 38. 6d. One circumftance relative to them 

 in this neighbourhood is obfervable; they 

 are the property of peafants, who pofTefs a 

 few acres, upon which they maintain their 

 families, though very poorly. It is a cul- 

 ture in which the wife, fons, daughters, 

 brothers, fiflers, nephews, and nieces, are 

 all employed, in weeding, cleaning, dig- 

 ging, pruning, gathering, picking, pail- 

 ing, &c. and all are able to live, though in 

 poverty. This gives the ground the ap- 

 pearance 



