3809.1 Account of Thomas Major’s Confinement in the Bastille. 549 
* by maintaining their rights, properties, 
suaud interests, 
~ When I was brought before the go- 
veruor, he desired [ would sign that book, 
putting one tome. I desired Trl read 
what [ was tu sign; he replied, by all 
means, it was the book of discharge, and 
his voucher, that £ had taken out with 
me, whet I bad brought in. T then 
reacily signed it.. Thaaking nm for bis 
civilities, and taking my leave, [ followed 
my keeper. fle brought me through the 
wooden palisades, and great gates, to the 
outer court, where was my friend, Mon- 
sieur Gravelot, waiting for me in a 
hackney-coach. It was he, who had 
brought the order for my discharge, and 
he had also a safe conduct, or protec- 
tion, for my continuance in. France, viz. 
“ By the king’s order.— ) 
“€ flis majesty, taking into his royal 
consideration, the humble request of the 
Sieur Major, an Englishman, that his 
majesty may graciously be pleased’ to 
grant to him leave, to continue his abode 
at Paris, in order to improve and perfect 
himself in the art of engraving. —His: 
Majesty, therefore, has granted hin a 
safe-suard, and security tor his person, 
during the space of one year, in which 
time he shall have fuli liberty to live in 
the kingdom, without any lett or mo. 
Jestation. His majesty, orders all his 
officers, justices uf the peace, and all his 
subjects in general, whom itmay concern, 
to allow him the enjoying all the benefits 
and advantages of this safe-guard; 
neither offering, or a lowing to be vifered, 
to him, any lett, obstruction, or moles- 
tation, under prerence of the war, or any 
Other whatsoever; but, on the contrary, 
every help or assistance he may happen 
to stand in need of. ; 
“Given at our court, at Fontainebleau, 
the 20h of October, 1746. 
cage PO a Louis. Dervoren.” 
After the expiration of this protection, 
T had another granted me for a year, by- 
Brulart, who was then minister 
of state tor foreign affairs. Dated Fon- 
tainebleau, Octuber 28; 1747. These 
passports were given gratis. 
[ may truly say, when T saw Mr: 
Gravelot, that onr joy at meeting was 
affecting and reciprocal: 95 a sincere 
friend, and having wduced me to come 
to France, he had been vreatly hart and 
concerwed for nie at this accident. With 
an afiectionate embrace, the silent tear 
started from his eye, and trickled down 
his check: conscious of the violence his’. 
country had done me, by the infringement 
2 
> 
of my liberty, and the breach of hosp 
tality to @ stranver. From a national 
parttality (which, according to Cardinal 
Bentivoglio, is a second orginal sin) he 
had frequently extolled the pre-eminence 
of his country above others; of ail 
foibles in a sensible man the most. exe 
cusable; fur there is an honest prejudice 
in favour of our country, when directed 
to a proper end, that is highly commend- 
able, and to be applauded and che 
rished, 
_ Soon after, I arrived at my lodgings, 
and was met with open arms by my old 
landlord and his wife, whose assiduity 
and care presently restored me to my 
former health, and tranquillityof mind: 
though the cencera, that'a thinking man 
feels at a real misfortune, cannot easily 
be effaced; for the ideas of past suferings 
will come to remembrance: the wound 
was healed, but the scar remained. [{ 
received the congratulations of my 
fiiends, who caine to see me, thanking 
Providence it had been 110 worse. 
After my release, my relations ear 
nestly solicited my return home; but Mr. 
Lawrence, in the most friendly and 
affectionate manner, dissuaded me from 
such thoughts; saying, [ had not-yet ob- 
tained iny wish, of perfecting myself in 
the arts; I ought not to abandon the op» 
portunity which [then had, especially as 
no danger could possibly happen to me, 
having the king’s safe-guard or protection 
to preserve me from accidents, and that 
he would assist me by every means in his 
power. ‘Phis kiud advize, coinciding. 
entirely with my own inglinations, de- 
termined me to remain in France, uli I 
obtained the object of my wishes. 
Soon after my release, Il. waited on the 
Marguis D’Argenson,* minister of state: 
for foreign affurs, (in company with 
Monsieur D’Anville) to retara him my 
thanks for restoring me to my hberty. 
He mace an obliging apology, saying, he 
was sorry so unlucky a circumstance had 
happened to me; that it was an affair of 
state which requvved it, on Prince Charles's 
account, meaning the Pretender, and 
boped they should not lose ine on that. _ 
store. IT conld learn no other reason for 
my imprisonment (during my stay in 
< ‘Complaints had formerly bern mads, by 
some or the prisoners, who had been released, 
(against the Marquis D’Argenson, ministe® 
vo! state), of their iil-treatment. He ex- 
cused himself, py saying, they had ell the ne. 
cesssries and indulgencies that could be given ; 
but the wantof liberty made them insesisible 
to every kiaduess, 
; France, 
