Sauve 45 



converse,, and tolerably communicative; but we had more 

 conversation than thirty other persons maintained among 

 themselves. 



2?>th. Early in the morning to the Pont du Card, through 

 a plain covered with vast plantations of olives to the left, but 

 much waste rocky land. At the first view of that celebrated 

 aqueduct. I was rather disappointed, having expected something 

 of greater magnitude; but soon found the error: I was, on 

 examining it more nearly, convinced that it possessed every 

 quality that ought to make a strong impression. It is a stupen- 

 dous work; the magnitude, and the massive solidity of the 

 architecture, which may probably endure two or three thousand 

 years more, united with the undoubted utility of the under- 

 taking to give us a high idea of the spirit of exertion which 

 executed it for the supply of a provincial towTi; the surprise, 

 however, may cease, when we consider the nations enslaved that 

 were the workmen. — ^Returning to Nismes, meet many merchants 

 returning from the fair; each with a child's drum tied to their 

 cloakbag: my own little girl was too much in my head not to 

 love them for this mark of attention to their children; — but 

 why a drum? — Have they not had enough of the military in a 

 kingdom where they are excluded from all the honours, respect, 

 and emolument that can flow from the sword?— I like Nismes 

 much; and if the inhabitants are at all on a par with the ap- 

 pearance of their city, I should prefer it for a residence to most, 

 if not all the towns I have seen in France. The theatre, how- 

 ever, is a capital point, in that Montpellier is said to exceed it. — 

 24 miles. 



29/A. Pass six leagues of a disagreeable country to Sauve. 

 Vines and oHves. The chateau of Monsieur Sabbatier strikes 

 in this wild country; he has enclosed much with dry walls, 

 planted many mulberries and olives, which are young, thriving, 

 and well enclosed, yet the soil is so stony that no earth is visible; 

 some of his walls are four feet thick, and one of them twelve 

 thick and five high, whence it seems he thinks moving the 

 stones a necessary improvement, which I much question. He 

 has built three or four new farmhouses; I suppose he resides 

 on this estate for improving it. I hope he does not serve; that 

 no moonshine pursuit may divert him from a conduct honourable 

 to himself and beneficial to his country. — Leaving Sauve, I 

 was much struck with a large tract of land, seemingly nothing 

 but huge rocks; yet most of it enclosed and planted with the 

 most industrious attention. Every man has an olive, a mulberry, 



