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PONDICHERRY. 
I arrived there by nine, a distance of fifteen miles. The factory- 
house is a chaste piece of architecture, built by my relative, Dia- 
mond Pitt, when this was the chief station of the British on the 
Goromandel coast. It has a noble portico, and had a terrace roof 
that pleased Monsieur Lally so much, that he carried it away to 
Pondicherry. I received here a very polite invitation from the 
Honourable Colonel St. John of the 73d regiment, commanding at 
Pondicherry, to take up my abode at the Government-house. I ar- 
rived there at half after six, and met with a very cordial reception. 
February 4. — The Colonel has a kind of levee for the French 
gentlemen. I was this morning much surprised by a Monsieur De 
Montroche's presenting me with a letter of introduction, from Paris, 
from my friend Doctor Macnab. I was happy to find that he was a 
great favourite of Colonel St. John's. He is of a noble family, and 
was sent out in the civil department. 
February 5. — Colonel Keith gave us a dinner at his country- 
house on the banks of the river opposite the island, which the 
French meant to fortify. In the evening was a dance, at which 
most of the French were present. The manners of the men were 
very bad, but the females excelled as usual, in dancing. Several 
ladies had been divorced three or four times, so that their morals 
cannot be considered as very strict. 
February 6 — Mr. Salt set off by an unfrequented road to the left 
among the hills, the scenery of which is said to be very fine. He 
went first to visit and draw the Seven Pagodas. I was myself 
detained by the scarcity of bearers, a circumstance which I had 
no reason to regret, as it is impossible to be in the society of 
more pleasing people than my host and his charming wife. 
