EDUCATION AND THE RIVIERA (1772-81) 331 



climate. Its suburb of St. Raphael is now again frequented by 

 visitors. 



Passing through Toulon, Marseilles, and Aix, the travellers 

 found the roads still bad as far as Nimes, and met with further 

 misadventures from lack of post-horses and broken wheels. In 

 consequence of one of these accidents, they were forced to lodge 

 with a village cure, who had a collection of prints valued at 

 20,000 francs. He had been a captain of dragoons, 'but an un- 

 fortunate affair had forced him to leave the army and take 

 orders ! ' 



At Nimes the interior of the amphitheatre was at that date 

 filled with mean houses. The charming temple of Diana struck 

 Pictet as * assez peu de chose .' Architecture was not our travellers ' 

 strong point the Maison Carree they do not mention. Thence an 

 afternoon's drive brought them to Montpellier, with the object of 

 paying a visit to de Saussure's sister Judith, by whom, as already 

 related, they were entertained and introduced to her circle of dis- 

 tinguished friends. Well satisfied with his sister's situation and 

 surroundings, de Saussure, as usual in a hurry to return to his 

 home, after two days' stay started at midnight for Pont Saint 

 Esprit. Halting at Lyons only long enough to make propitiatory 

 purchases for their female relations, birds for de Saussure's mother 

 and a gown for his wife, the two travellers reached Geneva on the 

 3rd November. 



