186 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1839, 



I have a room like a large parlor, airy, the two 

 windows looking into a pretty shady garden, a sofa, 

 cushioned chairs, and every convenience you can think 

 of. The town itself has nothing pleasant except its 

 situation, but there are in it two delightful sj)ots, which 

 I sought at once, after having taken my dinner, — the 

 Esplanade, very near me, an elevated plateau planted 

 with trees, from which you have an extensive view of 

 the country around. From this I had my first view 

 of the Mediterranean, distant, I suppose, about eight 

 miles ! At the opposite side of the town is the Place 

 du Peyrou, one of the finest squares in the world, on 

 a fine elevation, descending by bold terraces into the 

 country around, the green fields coming up on one 

 side close to the parapet. The view is beautiful and 

 very extensive, the Mediterranean on one side, the Pic 

 San Loup and the mountains of Cevennes on the 

 other, while toward the south, it is said, the Pyrenees 

 may be seen in very clear weather. From this point 

 I discovered the Botanic Garden, the oldest in Europe 

 and in many respects still the finest. So I descended, 

 sought out Delile the director, who it seems expected 

 me, and expressed his delight in a most exaggerated 

 and truly French manner. I stayed with him until 

 nine o'clock ; returned here, commenced this, but be- 

 ing fatigued soon gave it up and went to bed. 



Monday morning, April 22. — Nearly all of the fore- 

 going has been written this morning ; but I cannot 

 stay longer, as I should be stirring. There are many 

 Protestants in Montpellier, it is said, but I fancy that 

 they are chiefly not very pious, and as I should not 

 understand the language well enough to be benefited, 

 I thought it better to spend the Sabbath by myself. 

 This was my first Sabbath on land in which I have not 



