FRANCE. 249 



to view a fmaU eftate, that is certainly your 

 own property ; determine, before you fee 

 it, to take pofiefiion of the old chateau, if 

 there is one, in order to make it your reft- 

 dence ; confine yourfelf to the country, and 

 let the culture of a good farm fupply you 

 here with employment, and even amufe- 

 ment, which a plantation in Martinique af- 

 forded ; I {hall have no objection to a re- 

 clufe life; and you will at lead gain that in- 

 dependence and freedom from anxiety, the 

 want of which have hitherto deftroyed your 

 peace." This was an idea fo home to my 

 fituation, and flruck fo forceably on every 

 prudential motive, that I embraced it in- 

 ftantaneoufly. I replied, " If my dear 

 Cecilia can condefcend to live in the utmoft 

 retirement, furely I can." Upon her aflu- 

 ring me the plan would, of all others, be 

 the mod agreeable to her, we determined 

 upon it, and that we would not change our 

 minds, though the place to which we were 

 going (houkl prove ever fo remote from fo- 

 ciety, and the houfe as difagreeable as it 

 might. Fortified with a refolution that 

 really had the appearance of annihilating 

 that miferablc anxiety, which, had it con- 

 tinued, 



