Meux 155 



nothing but lawn and scattered trees when viewed from the 

 chateau. The road might be hidden by a judicious use of plant- 

 ing. The road to Columiers is admirably formed of broken 

 stone, like gravel, by the Marquis of Montesquieu, partly at his 

 own expense. Before I finish with this nobleman, let me observe 

 that he is commonly esteemed the second family in France, and 

 by some who admit his pretensions, even the first; he claims 

 from the house of Armagnac, which was undoubtedly from 

 Charlemagne : the present ICing of France, when he signed some 

 paper relative to this family that seemed to admit the claim, 

 or refer to it, .remarked that it was declaring one of his subjects 

 to be a better gentleman than himself. But the house of Mont 

 morenci, of which family are the Dukes of Luxembourg and 

 'Laval, and the Prince of Robec, is generally admitted to be the 

 first. Monsieur de Montesquieu is a deputy in the states, one 

 of the qiiarante in the French academy, having written several 

 pieces : he is also chief minister to Monsieur the king's brother, 

 an office that is worth 100,000 lixTes a year (£4375). Dine with 

 Monsieur and Madame Dumee; conversation here, as in every 

 other town of the country, seems more occupied by the dearness 

 of wheat than on any other circumstance ; yesterday was market- 

 day, and a riot ensued of the populace, in spite of the troops 

 that were drawn up as usual to protect the corn: it rises to 

 46 livres (40s. 3d.) the septier or half-quarter, — and some is sold 

 yet higher. To Meaux. — 32 miles. 



yd. Meaux was by no means in my direct road; but its 

 district. Brie, is so highly celebrated for fertility, that it was an 

 object not to omit. I was provided with letters for M. Bernier, 

 a considerable farmer, at Chaucaunin, near Meaux; and for 

 M. Gibert, of Neuf Moutier, a considerable cultivator, whose 

 • father and himself had between them made a fortune by agri- 

 culture. The former gentleman was not at home ; by the latter 

 I was received with great hospitality; and I found in him the 

 strongest desire to give me every information I wished. Monsieur 

 Gibert has built a very handsome and commodious house, with 

 farming-offices, on the most ample and solid scale. I was pleased 

 to find his wealth, which is not inconsiderable, to have arisen 

 all from the plough. He did not forget to let me know that 

 he was noble, and exempted from all tailles, and that he had 

 the honours of the chase, his father having purchased the charge 

 of Secretaire du Roi : but he very wisely lives en fermier. His 

 wife made ready the table for dinner, and his bailiff, with the 

 female domestic, who has the charge of the dairy, etc., both 



