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regret, that much of this industry, and this superabundant harvest, goes to make what? poison! brandy! It is first converted into wine, then sold, and re-converted into brandy, one of the deadly agents which sin has brought into the world.

"There are several circumstances here, which forcibly remind me of Scripture history, as the cultivation of the country; the fig-tree, the olive, and the vine; the number of mules, the value of water, and the willows in rows by the water courses.

"But I think what pleases me most, is the shepherds; instead of driving their flocks, as with us, we see them walking before and leading them, as our Saviour says, 'When the good shepherd putteth forth his sheep, he goeth before them and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice; and a stranger will they not follow, for they know not the voice of strangers.'

"The passage of a flock of sheep along the road is announced, not by the barking of dogs, but by the tinkling of bells, which are suspended from their necks. The goats and cows have bells also; these are a common kind, but the horses and mules are honoured with a dozen or twenty good little bells, made of bell metal, which are continually jingling as they go along.

"Second Month 17th. Bid farewell to my kind friends at Congenies this evening, and came on to Sommieres, in order to take the diligence to Montpelier, at four o'clock to-morrow morning. Nothing could well exceed the kindness that Louis Majolier and family have shown to me, an entire stranger, during my sojourn among them. There are some valuable friends at Congenies."

After visiting Montpelier, he proceeded to Cetti, a small seaport, where he took the steamer for Marseilles, then to Nice, Genoa, and Leghorn, to Florence, from

whence, in a letter to his parents, dated Third Month, 1839, he describes the fatigue and oppressiveness to invalids, of the sort of conveyances used in these countries: then adds, "I do not think I derive much, if any, benefit; and, therefore, whilst inclination would lead me by way of Venice, Milan, Geneva, Mount Gothard, and Paris, my judgment seems to say that the primary object of my journey requires that I should re-pass the Straits of Gibraltar.

"I came by the mail from Nice to Genoa, and the carriage appeared to be lighter than our coaches; with only six passengers and four horses, we were twenty-nine hours in coming 140 miles. They are however, taking considerable pains to improve the road; making tunnels and embankments along the sea-shore, which, when finished, will afford an excellent level. The horses are certainly rather inferior, and the stages much too long. The other day, by a veturina, a kind of post-chaise, we travelled with the same pair of horses, for about six hours-from half-past six in the morning until after twelve at noon. When this is the case the speed cannot be rapid.

"The main roads in France are maintained by the government, and are excellent; the bye-roads are bad, but are very numerous, almost one to every property. I averaged, by diligence, four and a-third mile per hour, at rather less than one and a half-penny per mile. A franc goes rather farther than one shilling with us, in current expenditure.

"The aspect of the south of France is very hilly and rocky. Rain seldom falls, but they have heavy dews in summer; a powerful sun, but cold dry air in wintersometimes freezing. The labourers are an athletic, cheerful race of men. They can earn 7s. 6d. per week, for seven and a-half hours' per day labour; after this is over-time. Women and boys earn sixpence per day. Their food is a fair proportion of meat, bread, vegetables,

wine, oil, and

where the sanguinary battle was fought. The next object of interest was the old Spanish town of Tariffa. We could discern the inhabitants.

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6th. First day. I endeavoured to spend the day in a devotional manner, and have been mercifully favoured to experience a little of the light of His countenance, whom to know is life eternal. Have been instructed this evening by reading "William Law on the Spirit of Prayer." Gave a few tracts to the men, but have deeply to lament that I can do so little for them; sunk as they appear to be in forgetfulness of God. May He graciously turn their hearts to the one way of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

"First Month 14th. Put into the harbour of Toulon, to wait for a fair wind. We have come past Marseilles, to which place we were bound, but could not make the port. -15th. I have been twice on shore to-day. My

first impressions of France are very favourable.

"17th. I am learning the language rapidly, and can ask for any thing I want: but on other subjects I am rather at a loss.

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20th. This is the first Sabbath I have spent in France, and I must confess myself shocked at the total want of the religious observance of it. Business as usual in the morning, and vanity fair, music, and foolery in the afternoon."

The following extracts from one of his letters, on reaching Marseilles, will be perused with interest:—

"Marseilles, Second Month, 1839.

"Here I am arrived at Marseilles at last. I landed at Toulon, and came here by diligence. In coming across the Gulph of Lyons, the wind drove us too much to the eastward, and we could not make our port: and as the nights

were very stormy, and the wind continued from the west, and north-west, the captain put into Toulon, to wait a favourable change, where he remained three or four days.

"I was desirous of seeing the city, and of landing there; but felt a good deal of hesitation, as I did not know how far I might be able to make myself understood; and I had no letters of introduction to persons there, which might have materially smoothed the way for me. After considering the matter, I took courage, and resolved to venture, and cast myself amongst strangers, speaking to them a strange language, and being alone. I did so; and succeeded beyond my most sanguine expectation; and think I never enjoyed myself so much as the first week I was in France. Every thing was new and interesting to me. The only drawback seemed to be, that I had too much pleasure. I was too much interested; too many ideas crowded upon my imagination; and for a few nights I slept badly. The change was so great from the ship, where we could see nothing but the blue sky over our heads, and the sun pursuing his daily course, and the blue waters under our feet, varied only by the ripple or spray made by the motion of the vessel; and, perhaps, once a-day, a sail in the horizon -and, with the aid of the glass, and straining our eyes a little, we could make out the important fact of whether she was a schooner or a brig. Here we could scarcely catch a new idea, or improve an old one, that had not been resolved in the mind twenty times before.

"To be suddenly transplanted from such a situation, and landed in a foreign country, where all was new: the houses, the streets, the people, the language, the shops, the ships, the cafes, the fields, the mules, the goats, the bells, the priests, the soldiers, the sailors, the rocks, the plants, nay, every thing was new and strange. The effect was, as it were, electrical; and ideas crowded upon the mind so much

faster than they could be digested, that it kept up a continued excitement, and high state of enjoyment; seeing as much in an hour, as would reasonably supply subjects for contemplation for half a-day; it was quite impossible to arrange all the thoughts in the day time, and par consequence, they encroached upon the night. It reminded me of a clock that has lost its pendulum, or a watch its balance,—it ticks so much faster than it ought to do.

"As this was the case, I found it necessary to avoid too much of it. By this and other precautions, and the lapse of a little time, I begin now to resume my usual tone, and have had the enjoyment of several good nights' rest.

"From Toulon I went to Hyeres, distant about twelve miles; a place often recommended for invalids. Immediately behind the town is a hill, up which I climbed, to have a view. It is little more than one solid rock, with a small portion of soil upon it. Notwithstanding the paucity of soil, it is cultivated to the very top; chiefly for the more hardy vegetables, such as beans and corn. Where too stony for crops, it is overgrown by wild plants; and would be a rich treat for the botanist, &c. From the hill, the prospect is most delightful. There is the sea, with the Hyere islands at the distance of a few leagues, and vessels of various sizes passing along, seen for a considerable extent of coast. The town immediately underneath, with the champaign or level country stretching out, and planted with the orange, the vine, the fig, and the olive. On the other side again, there are hills beyond hills, beautifully clothed with verdure, and planted with various kinds of firs and other trees, of which I know not the names; altogether, it is one of the most interesting spots that I ever visited, and afforded me great pleasure; and had I not been obliged to come here for my letters, I should certainly have stayed there some time.

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