i88 THfe RURAL SOCRATES. 



' If any of the younger branches of the family happen 

 ^ to detach themlelves from it, they receive a proper 

 ' dividend of the public money. It generally happens 

 'that thcfe repent, and are defirons to return; — but 

 ^ this is a hopeJefs wi(h, and againfl the rules of the So- 



* ciety, which allov/s no re-adniiffion to thofe vv-ho once 



* abandon it. — NotwithRanding a great dccreafe by 

 ' ficknefs for fome years pa fl, tliere yet remain eight 

 ^ heads of families. ■ ^ 



* The Pignous make the niofi: laudable ufe of wealth, 



* They are charitable to the poor and hofpitable to 

 ^ firarigers : they are beloved, refpetSled, and admired". 

 '^ — Many noble families, as well as thofe of peafants, 

 ^ have unfuccefsfully attempted to imitate their rule of 

 ^ life. The former have turned the fchcme into parties of 

 ' pleafiire ; and the latter have found it impradicable to 

 ^ arrive at that point of union and profperity which dif- 



* tinguiflics the family of Pignou.— Undoubtedly none 



* of thefe have laid the fame permanent foundation for 



* the happinefs they were in icarth of, in piety, bene- 

 ^ volence, difmtereflcdnefs, fimplicity, and attachment 

 " to buiincG ; qualities, without which it is impoffibre 



* to form a happy fuciety^ or procure peace and comp^- 



* tence. . 



' Several intendaiits of the province have gratified 

 ^ their curiohty in vifiting the Pignous. — M. le Blanc, 

 ' fince fecretar y at war, dined at the caflle, was honor- 

 ' ably entertaicv^d, and infilled on Mafter Pignou's prc- 

 " Tiding at t?bic. Deligh.tcd with their manners and 

 ^ cuitoms, he made a recital of them to Louis XIV. 

 ' Some time after Mafler Pignou being obliged to go to 



* Paris on various butlnefs ; he paid his compliments to 

 ^ M. le Blanc, who prefchtcd him to the King. Louis 



* afla'd him fevcral qucilions, and was fo charmed with 

 ' his replies, that he ordcied that the tax of the Pignous 

 *■ fhould never exceed fix hundred livres ; and made hifn 

 ^ n prcfcT/i to defray ihc crspcncc? of his journey." 



Thefc 



