. . c 6 3 > 



and I wilh I could promife myfelf widi the fame 

 certainty, or at leaft probability, every other quali- 

 fication neceflary to acquit myfelf, as 1 ought, of 

 the commiflion, wkh which I have been entrufted. 

 But would you believe it, Madam, I thought I 

 mould have loft my life about half way between 

 Paris and Rochefort. Perhaps you ftill remember 

 what you have often heard me fay, that our rivers in 

 France were no more than rivulets, compared with 

 thofe of America : I can allure you, the Loire was 1 

 very near taking a fevere revenge on me for this 

 outrage and affront done to the dignity of that 

 river. 



I had taken boat at Orleans with four or five 

 officers belonging to Conti's regiment of infantry. 

 On the fixteenth, being over-againft Langets 9 and 

 being unable to advance any farther, on account of 

 a ftrong wind blowing directly in our teeth, we 

 wanted to gain that village, to make fure of 

 good lodgings, in cafe of being obliged to pals 

 the night there. For this purpofe, it was neceftary 

 to crofs the river, which we accordingly propofed 

 to our boatmen, who Ihowed great reluctance to 

 undertake it ; but being young people, and we in- 

 filling on it, they durft not contradict us. We had 

 hardly got to the middle of the channel, when we 

 could have wifhed to have been back again ; but it 

 was now too late, and what troubled me moll of 

 all, it was I who propofed the advice we fo heartily 

 repented of. We were really in great danger, which 

 was evident from the countenances of our conduc- 

 tors ; however, they were not dilcouraged, and 

 managed fo well, that they extricated us out of this 

 difficulty. 



The 



