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Travels in France 



ces Messieurs du tiers etat, et vous viavourez qiCil ny a rien id qui 

 puisse me donner une haute idee du caractere de ces Messieurs Id. 



Monsieur, cela m' est fort egal. 



Je donfjerai a mon retour en Angleterre le detail de mon voyage 

 au publique, et assureinent Monsieur je noublirai pas denregistrer 

 ce trait de votre politesse, il vous fait tant d'honneur. et a ceux 

 pour qui vous agissez. 



Monsieur je regarde tout cela avec la derniere indifference. 



My gentleman's manner was more offensive than his words ; he 

 walked backward and forward among his parchments with an 

 air veritablement d'un commis de bureau. — These passports are 

 new things from new men, in new power, and show that they do 

 not bear their new honours too meekly. Thus it is impossible 

 for me, without running my head against a wall, to go see the 

 Salins, or to Arbois, where I have a letter from M. de Broussonet, 

 but I must take my chance and get to Dijon as fast as I can, 

 where the president de Virly knows me, having spent some days 

 at Bradfield, unless indeed being a president and a nobleman 

 he has got knocked on the head by the tiers etat. At night to 

 the play; miserable performers; the theatre, which has not 

 been built many years, is heavy; the arch that parts the stage 

 from the house is like the entrance of a cavern, and the line of 

 the amphitheatre that of a wounded eel; I do not like the air 

 and manners of the people here — and I would see Besan9on 

 swallowed up by an earthquake before I would live in it. The 

 music, and bawling, and squeaking of VEpreuve Villageoise of 

 Gretry, which is wretched, had no power to put me in better 

 humour. I will not take leave of this place, to which I never 

 desire to come again, without saying that they have a fine 

 promenade; and that Monsieur Arthaud, the arpenteur, to 

 whom I applied for information, without any letter of recom- 

 mendation, was liberal and polite, and answered my inquiries 

 satisfactorily. 



2^th. To Orechamp the country is bold and rocky, with fine 

 woods, and yet it is not agreeable ; it is like many men that have 

 estimable points in their characters and yet we cannot love 

 them. Poorly cultivated too. Coming out of St. Vete, a 

 pretty riant landskip of the river doubling through the vale, 

 enlivened by a village and some scattered houses: the most 

 pleasing view I have seen in Franche Compte. — 23 miles. 



2,0th. The mayor of Dole is made of as good stuff as the 

 notary of Besan9on; he would give no passport ; but as he accom- 

 panied his refusal with neither airs nor graces, I let him pass. 



