FRANCE. 235 



which was repeated in the afternoon ; but, 

 before I give an account of them, I (hall 

 relate, as concifely as I can, the courfe of 

 life which fixed M. de la Place in this re- 

 mote retirement, fo far from the placx- of 

 his birth and connections, which was Nor- 

 mandy. He gave me thefe particulars with 

 great cafe and good humour, in feveral con- 

 verfations I had with him. I lhall give the 

 relation in the firft perfon, and in his own 

 words : 



" Till you know me better, Sir, you will 

 not eafily conceive the pleafure with which 

 I reflecT: on my prefent fituation in lifej 

 though the fimplicity of my way of living 

 may feem, at firfl fight, to banim almoft 

 every thing which the world calls enjoy- 

 ment, yet to me, who, from much expe- 

 rience, know the frail materials of which 

 that enjoyment is formed, my fatisfaction 

 increafes with reflection ; and I am every 

 hour convinced more (Irongly, ih it men in 

 the career of the world, in courts, cities, 

 camps, ccc. are far enough from having 

 *./hat they are plcafed to call fuch clear and 

 indifputable ideas of propriety, impropriety, 

 and happinefs. My father was a man of 



ccnfiderable 



