Lyons 305 



over his door — Laudato ingeniia rura, exiguum colito, which is but 

 a bad apology for no farm at all. I made one or two efforts 

 towards a httle practical conversation; but he flew off from that 

 centre in such eccentric radii of science that the vanity of the 

 attempt was obvious in the moment. A physician present 

 remarked to me that if I wanted to know common practices and 

 products I should apply to common farmers^ indicating, by his 

 air and manner, that such things were beneath the dignity 'of 

 science. Monsieur I'Abbe Rozier is, however, a man of con- 

 siderable knowledge though no farmer; in those pursuits which 

 he has cultivated with inclination he is justly celebrated — and he 

 merits every eulogium for having set on foot the Journal de 

 Physique, which, take it for all and all, is by far the best journal 

 that is to be found in Europe. His house is beautifully situated 

 commanding a noble prospect; his library is furnished with good 

 books; and every appearance about him points out an easy 

 fortune. Waited then on Monsieur de Frossard, a protestant 

 minister, who, with great readiness and liberality, gave me much 

 valuable information; and for my further instruction on points 

 with which he was not equally acquainted introduced me to 

 Monsieur Roland la Platerie, inspector of the Lyons fabrics. 

 This gentleman had notes upon many subjects which afforded an 

 interesting conversation; and as he communicated freely I had 

 the pleasure to find that I should not quit Lyons without a good 

 portion of the knowledge I sought. This gentleman, somewhat 

 advanced in life, has a young and beautiful wife — the lady to 

 whom he addressed his letters written in Italy, and which have 

 been published in five or six volumes. Monsieur Frossard 

 desiring Monsieur de la Platerie to dine with him to meet me, 

 we had a great deal of conversation on agriculture, manufactures, 

 and commerce; and differed but little in our opinions except on 

 the treaty of commerce between England and France, which 

 that gentleman condemned, as I thought, unjustly; and we 

 debated the point. He warmly contended that silk ought to 

 have been included as a benefit to France; I urged that the oSer 

 was made to the French ministry and refused ; and I ventured 

 to say that had it been accepted, the advantage would have been 

 on the side of England instead of France, supposing, according to 

 the vulgar ideas, that the benefit and the balance of trade are the 

 same things. I begged him to give me a reason for believing 

 that France would buy the silk of Piedmont and of China, and 

 work it up to undersell England; while England buys the French 

 cotton and works it into fabrics that undersell those of France 



