158 Literary and Philosophical Society. 



with their general in the front. The whole was made up 

 of a kind of clay which the place affords, was ingeniously 

 contrived, and the light that was thrown upon it gave it a 

 very pretty effect. 



' On the other side of this hall, was a long table set out 

 with cold tongues, bread and butter, and some of the best 

 Burgundy I ever drank. Now everything was hilarity and 

 mirth ; our fears were entirely dispelled, and the danger 

 we dreaded the moment before was no longer thought of. 

 In short, we were all in good spirits again, and proceeded 

 on our journey about two miles farther, when our guides 

 judged it prudent for us to ascend, as we were then got to 

 the steps which lead up to the town. We here found our- 

 selves safe, at the Val de Grace, near to the English 

 Benedictine convent, without the least accident having 

 happened to any one of the party. We imagined 

 we had walked about two French leagues, and were absent 

 from the surface of the earth betwixt four and five hours. 



' After we had thanked the inspectors and guides for 

 their very great civility, politeness, and attention, we took 

 our leave, to visit the English Benedictine convent, in 

 whose courtyard, and within a few yards of their house, 

 the roof of the subterraneous passage had given way, and 

 fallen in to the depth of one hundred and ninety-three feet. 



'Though there was some little danger attending our 

 rash expedition (as some people were pleased to term it) yet 

 it was most exceedingly agreeable, and so perfectly a 

 nouvelle scene, that we were all highly delighted, and 

 thought ourselves amply repaid for our trouble. 



' I regretted much that I did not take a thermometer 

 and barometer down with me, that I might have had an 

 opportunity of making some remarks on the temperature 



