f 6 ] 
tification, the menagery, at that time, had no living 
creature in it; the court not refiding there in the 
king’s minority, the famous collection of animals, 
■&c. had been neglected, and all dead or diiperfed. 
The pompous cavalcades, and expofition of re- 
iiques, in the (everal churches and religious houles, 
excited his attention; and the labours of the Iculptor 
and painter, in the public buildings, claimed his ad¬ 
miration. 
During his Hay in France , he made two journies of 
*>ne hundred miles each ; the firft to Chalons in Cham¬ 
pagne, in May 1720 ; the fecond on foot to Orleans and 
Blois, in a dilguiled habit, with a view to elcape. thole 
Ions of rapine, who often make their depredations 011 
travellers. An edict happened at that time to be un¬ 
fortunately iHiied, to lecure vagrants, in order to 
tranlport themlelves to America, as the banks of the 
Mijfifippi wanted population; and our author narrow¬ 
ly elcaped a weftern voyage. 
On his arrival in Britain , Mr. Edwards clofely 
purfued his favourite ftudyof Natural Hillory; apply¬ 
ing himlelf to drawing and colouring liich animals as 
fell 
