are

the

CHAP. XIX.

the word gay (as in the close of the it puts one (i. e. an author) in mind of Spleen-efpecially if he has any thing

to fay upon it: not that by any analysis or that from any table of intereft or genealogy, there appears much more ground of alliance betwixt them than betwixt light and darkness, or any two of the most unfriendly oppofites in nature-only 'tis an un dercraft of authors to keep up a good understanding amongst words, as politicians do amongst men—not knowing how near they may be under a neceffity of placing them to each other-which point being now gain'd, and that I may place mine exactly to my mind, I write it down here-

SPLEEN.

This, upon leaving Chantilly, I declared to be the best principle in the world to travel speedily upon; but I gave it only as matter of opinion, I ftill continue in the fame fentiments-only I had not then experience enough of its working to add this, that though you do get on at a tearing rate, yet you get on but uneafily to yourfelf at the fame time, for which reafon I here quit it entirely, and for ever, and 'tis heartily at any one's fervice—it has spoiled me the digestion of a good fupper, and brought on a bilious diarrhoea, which has brought me back again

to my first principle on which I fet out and with which I fhall now fcamper it away to the banks of the Garonne

-No ;-I cannot stop a moment to give you the character of the people--their genius-their manners—their customs-their laws—their religion-their government-their manufactures-their commerce-their finances, with all the refources and hidden fprings which fuftain them: qualified as I may be, by spending three days and two nights amongst them, and during all that time, making these things the entire subject of my inquiries and reflections.

Still-ftill I must away-the roads are paved--the posts are short-the days are long-'tis no more than noon-I fhall be at Fontainbleau before the king

-Was he going there? not that I know—

CHAP. XX.

Now I hate to hear a perfon, efpecially if he be a traveller, complain that we do not get on fo faft in France as we do in England; whereas we get on much faster, confideratis, confiderandis; thereby always meaning, that if you weigh their vehicles with the mountains of baggage which you lay both before and behind upon them—and then confider their puny horses, with the very little they give them— 'tis a wonder they get on at all; their fuffering is moft unchriftian, and 'tis evident thereupon to me, that a French poft-horfe would not know what in the

30

CHAP. XIX.

In mentioning the word gay (as in the clofe of the laft chapter) it puts one (i. e. an author) in mind of the word Spleen—especially if he has any thing to fay upon it not that by any analysis or that from any table of intereft or genealogy, there appears much more ground of alliance betwixt them than betwixt light and darkness, or any two of the moft unfriendly oppofites in nature-only 'tis an un dercraft of authors to keep up a good understanding amongst words, as politicians do amongst men-not knowing how near they may be under a neceffity of placing them to each other-which point being now gain'd, and that I may place mine exactly to my mind, I write it down here

SPLEEN.

This, upon leaving Chantilly, I declared to be the best principle in the world to travel speedily upon; but I gave it only as matter of opinion, I ftill continue in the same sentiments-only I had not then experience enough of its working to add this, that though you do get on at a tearing rate, yet you get on but uneafily to yourself at the fame time, for which reason I here quit it entirely, and for ever, and 'tis heartily at any one's fervice-it has spoiled me the digeftion of a good fupper, and brought on a bilious diarrhoea, which has brought me back again

to my first principle on which I fet out - and with which I fhall now fcamper it away to the banks of the Garonne

-No;-I cannot stop a moment to give you the character of the people—their genius-their manners—their customs-their laws-their religion-their government-their manufactures-their commerce-their finances, with all the refources and hidden fprings which fuftain them: qualified as I may be, by spending three days and two nights amongst them, and during all that time, making these things the entire fubject of my inquiries and reflections.

t

Still-ftill I must away-the roads are paved-the posts are short-the days are long-'tis no more than noon-I fhall be at Fontainbleau before the king

-Was he going there? not that I know

CHAP. XX.

Now I hate to hear a perfon, especially if he be a traveller, complain that we do not get on fo faft in France as we do in England; whereas we get on much fafter, confideratis, confiderandis; thereby always meaning, that if you weigh their vehicles with the mountains of baggage which you lay both before and behind upon them—and then confider their puny horses, with the very little they give them— 'tis a wonder they get on at all; their fuffering is most unchristian, and 'tis evident thereupon to me, that a French poft-horse would not know what in the

world to do, was it not for the two words ****** and ******, in which there is as much fuftenance, as if you gave him a peck of corn: now as these words coft nothing, I long from my foul to tell the reader what they are; but here is the queftion they must be told him plainly, and with the most diftinct articulation, or it will anfwer no end-and yet to do it in that plain way-though their reverences may laugh at it in the bed-chamber- -full well, I wot, they will abuse it in the parlour: for which cause, I have been volving and revolving in my fancy fome time, but to no purpose, by what clean device or facete contrivance I might fo modulate them, that whilft I fatisfy that ear which the reader chooses to lend me—I might not diffatisfy the other which he keeps to himself.

-My ink burns my finger to try-and when I have 'twill have a worfé confequence-it will burn (I fear) my paper.

-No :-I dare not

But if you wish to know how the abbess of Andoüillets, and a novice of her convent got over the difficulty (only first wishing myself all imaginable fuccefs)-I'll tell you without the least scruple.

CHAP XXI.

THE abbefs of Andouillets, which if you look into the large fet of provincial maps now publishing at Paris, you will find fituated amongst the hills which vide Burgundy from Savoy, being in danger of an glofis or ftiff joint (the finovia of her knee be