Orleans — M. du Hamel 67 



contran' to those which prevail at present — until something 

 more is thought requisite for a national husbandry than aca- 

 demies and memoirs. — 35 miles. 



i2ih. In two miles from the park wall regain the high road 

 on the Loire. In discourse with a vigneron, we were informed 

 that it froze this morning hard enough to damage the vines; 

 and I may observe that for four or five days past the weather 

 has been constantly clear, with a bright sun, and so cold a 

 north-east wind as to resemble much our cold clear weather in 

 England in April; we have all our great-coats on the day 

 through. Dine at Clarey, and view the monument of that able 

 but bloody tyrant Louis XI. in white marble; he is represented 

 in a kneeling posture, praying forgiveness I suppose, which 

 doubtless was promised him by his priests for his basenesses and 

 his murders. Reach Orleans. — 30 miles. 



13^/2. Here my companions, wanting to return as soon as 

 possible to Paris, took the direct road thither; but having 

 travelled it before I preferred that by Petivier in the way to 

 Fountainbleau. One motive for mv takinsf this road was its 

 passing by Denainvilliers, the seat of the late celebrated Mon- 

 sieur du Hamel, and where he made those experiments in agri- 

 culture which he has recited in many of his works. At Petivier 

 I was just by, and walked thither for the pleasure of viewing 

 grounds I had read of so often, considering them with a sort 

 of classic reverence. His homme d'affaire, who conducted the 

 farm, being dead, I could not get many particulars to be de- 

 pended upon. Monsieur Fougeroux, the present possessor, was 

 not at home, or I should doubtless have had all the information 

 I wished. I examined the soil, a principal point in all experi- 

 ments when conclusions are to be drawn from them, and I also 

 took notes of the common husbandry. Learning from the 

 labourer who attended me that the drill-ploughs, etc., were yet 

 in being, on a loft in one of the offices, I viewed them with 

 pleasure, and found them, as well as I can remember, very 

 accurately represented in the plates which their ingenious 

 author has given. I was glad to find them laid up in a place 

 out of common traffic, where they may remain safe till some 

 other farming traveller, as enthusiastic as myself, may view the 

 venerable remains of a useful genius. Here is a stove and bath 

 for drying wheat, which he also has described. In an enclosure 

 behind the house is a plantation of various curious exotic trees 

 finely grown, also several rows of ash, elm, and poplar along the 

 roads near the chateau, all planted by Monsieur du Hamel. It 



