I 13 ] 
ns. Vrotn this stone all the buildings are created> 
not only in Paris, but in the towns and villages up¬ 
on this route. It cuts, on first coming out of the 
quarry, with almost as much facility as wood, and 
never becomes very hard. Blocks of the most enor¬ 
mous size, are raised for steps, troughs, See. for 
many miles together where the country is elevated. 
This stone is excavated, and the caverns make ve¬ 
ry comfortable cottages. The chimney passes thro^ 
the top, and is the only part of the house, except 
the door and windows, that appears. The earth a- 
bove the house forms a little garden, or makes part 
of a vineyard. I stopped to visit some of these 
houses, or rather caves, which I found neat and 
warm. A pole in the middle, generally propped 
the roof, where the room was large. From this 
country to Paris the vine was generally cultivated, 
nor were any enclosures to be seen, except parks 
or garden walls. At Orleans, I found a large 
manufacture of cotton yarn, worked by ArkwTight’s 
machine. This employed about three hundred 
people, and was capable of employing as many 
more. The motion was given to the works by a 
steam engine. This establishment was originally 
formed b^ the late Duke of Orleans, in company 
wdth a Scottish gentleman, by the name of Forlow, 
who is now the sole proprietor. I received many 
civilities from him while at Orleans, and was shewn 
every part of this extensive manufactory. The 
yarn is principally worked up at Tours into coarse 
cotton cloths. I see no country in which these ma- 
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