196 TRAVELS THROUGH 



ccs, &c. they were to be efteemed but as 



curious fpeculations. 



The i8th, I took my leave of this gentle- 

 man, who had received me with the utmoffc 

 kindnefs, and on every occafion exprefled 

 the moft fincere defire of obliging me in 

 every particular. I took the road for Mon- 

 lins, which is atthediftance of about twenty- 

 feven miles. In my way I had to enquire 

 for a gentleman of the name of Rocquelou, 

 who, the Abbe Morault allured me, would 

 afford much ufeful information concerning 

 the culture of wafte lands in Nivernois. I 

 turned afide, from the road, to him, and 

 found his habitation in the midft of a heath, 

 part of which he had improved. Upon 

 reading the letter I brought from Nevers, 

 he made me promife him to fpend that 

 evening at his houfe, which I readily agreed 

 to. I found a great appearance of poverty 

 in every thing throughout his houfe, and 

 prefently discovered that there was fome- 

 thing very fingular in the manners and car- 

 riage of M. Rocquelou. He was married, 

 andfurroundedby a numerous family, which 

 feemed to take from him almoft all that 

 hillarity, which is the diftinguilhing charac- 



teriilic 



