THE RURAL SOCRATES. J 89 



Thefc are the mod interefting particulars in ihcfirjl 

 memoir. — The /^rc;?.-/ differs from it in ieveral articles. 

 It is true they were written in different years ; the lirft 

 being dated in 1739, and the fccond being a recent ac- 

 count ; hut this does not lufficientjy explain the varia- 

 tion. — Kow much is it to be wifhed that the Marquis 

 de IVIirabeau, or Tome other friend to human nature, 

 would take the trouble of receiving exa<5l and circum- 

 flantial information on the fpot, of ail that relates to 

 this extraordinary family 1 The public would cfteem it 

 nn invaluable prefent. — In expelling that pleafure, I 

 (liall give the purport of ihtjecond inemoir, 



^ ThcPignous,prop:etors of Saudon, about half a league 

 ' from Thiers in Auvergne, have lived there near th.ree 

 ' hundred years. Their common eftate brings in more 

 ^ than two hundred thoufand franks ; confifting of mea- 

 ' dows, vineyards, arable land, and other heritages. 

 *■ But they have no lordfliips or manors, excepting the 

 ^ fief of Saudon, which is of fmall value. 



' This family has branched into four divifions, who 

 ^ live together within the fame buildings. There are 

 ' never more, nor lefs ; for they keep in the family only 

 ' thofe who are defigned to intermarry and fucceed their 



* parents ; whilil: the refl of the children are fettled in 

 ' the adjacent villages with a fortune of 21I. 17s. 6d, 

 ' The daugliters have alfo a cheft of linen, and fome 



* houfhold furniture of fmall value, fuch as peafants rc- 



* quire ; the Pignous not being in outward appearance, 



* different from their laborers. 



' The maRer is the only man amongfl them who wears 

 ' leathern fhoes. — The women wear them, becaufethey 

 ^ never work in tTie field. There is particular care be- 

 *" flowed on the education of thele. They are maintain- 

 ' ed in a convent at the general expence, till they are of 

 ^ an age to become fettled. If it happens that one 

 ^ branch of the family has only a daughter, who is con- 



V fcquently 



