YlS THE RURAL SOCRATES. 



wbo, though living by commerce, which necefl^rlly 

 mixes them. wit!i the world, yet i>y their rule of noc 

 marrying out of their family, have preferved their lan- 

 guage and manners, and a prudent turn on which their 

 profperity is founded. 



But as an example Hill more approaching the plan 

 and courfc of life of the worthy Kliyogg, I wifh to 

 inform him, that Pincou a cultivator in Auvergne, had 

 the fame idea with himlelf on this llibje^l, more than a 

 century ago ; and that having married his four chil- 

 dren, he enjoined them to form themfelves into a tribe, 

 and to maintain inviolably the facred band of family 

 imion, of community of property, and of integrity. — 

 This worthy inflitution has lb much profpered, that 

 the Pincous have not only a principal feat of refidencc 

 in the mountains, where are to be found all the conve- 

 niences of life, v» ith hofpitality, and even handfome 

 apartments ^ov flrangers of the very firll quality ; but 

 many villages of which they are foie inhabitants ; and 

 to whic; 'hey furnifli the curates, lawyers, and other 

 correfpo iCiing charoders. The necefiary arts of life 

 are exercifed in this tribe, for the fupply of their own 

 community in the firfi infhince; what is raifed beyond 

 being fold at markets and fairs, where every thing com- 

 ing from them carries with it its own credentials. — 

 Thefe ai'e p^irticulars which I learn only by report ; 

 having in a journey, which I made this fnmmer, palled 

 within eight leagues of this remarkable eftablhhment, 

 without knov.'ing it. I fhould however have turned 

 back in order to fee it, and to obtain the whole particu- 

 lars ; had not my eftates in Limoufm been only thirty 

 leagues from the fpot, foas to permit my doing it at a 

 future time.* 



With relpe6t to the family which you mention in the 

 Upper Provence t, I am of that country, and yet never 



heard 



• More will be faiJoftlils family n 

 ^ See p. ^. 



