ards, the Piedmontefe, and Swifs army. Thus Pere Nicolas profited confiderably, at the fame time that he diftreffed the enemy, by depriving them of a great source of provifions: But the poor Priest had a narrow escape of his life; for the Spanish troops got intelligence of his activity, not only in the above inftance, but also of his giving every poffible intelligence of their movements to the Piedmontefe army, by which he had caufed many of their defigus to be totally fruftrated. This conduct fo exafperated them, that they vowed to burn him alive; for which purpose a party of foldiers were ordered to feek for, and to make him their prifoner; but fome of the Lanebourgians, hearing of their intention, explored their way, at the hazard of their lives, through the forest of pines, and over the rocks, notwithstanding the deep fnows, which rendered the way extremely dangerous. They arrived in time to acquaint him with the impending danger, and to contrive means for his escape and concealment, which was effected before the Spanish foldiers could reach his habitation; for they, although they kept the straight road, found it, on account of the drifts of fnow, almost impracticable; and when, after much difficulty, they thought themfelves fecure of their prey, learnt, to their great mortification, he had quite efcaped them. Pere Nicolas dedicates his money entirely to the use of the Lanebourgians, and his other neighbours, in lending it to them, whenever they are in want, in fmall F 2 fmall fums, particularly at the feason for pur chafing cattle. He never takes any intereft, nor ever requires payment till they can with ease return it him, which they rarely fail to do at the enfuing season for difpofing of their corn and cattle. Industry should be encouraged; and it is fcarce credible, of how much use this one man has been, by thus devoting himself and his interefts to the public good. To many people, the sphere he moves in, might appear too low and contemptible, not to require an apology for taking up fo much of their time, &c.; but I know your way of thinking too well, not to be affured of the value you will fet on true greatnefs of mind, though found in the person of an uneducated Savoyard Curé. Here is just arrived a packet of letters ** I can no longer delay fending this long epiftle to the post. You fhall hear from me foon, mean time **** *** From your's, moft fincerely and affectionately. P. S. I am fure you will be glad to learn, that we did not meet with the leaft difficulty from the officers of the Douane*, at the gate; for although we have nothing that can be esteemed contraband, the delay and trouble cuftom houfe officers occafion by the opening of trunks, is fingularly vexatious and inconvenient to travellers; but these let us pafs, without any examination, on our bare * Cuftom-house. word word that we had nothing concealed. We requited them for their civility with a fuitable gra tuity, for which they were extremely thankful. LETTER IX. Turin, O&. 16, 1770. W HEN I wrote laft to you, which was the tenth of this month, I mentioned our having delivered our letters, and of the society they have procured us. However, for people who are determined to stay but a fhort time in a place, and are bent on seeing every thing worthy the curiofity of ftrangers, letters of recommendation, and their confequences, are, on fome accounts, by no means convenient. The frequent dining from home, shortens the mornings; and the afternoon is always confumed between the Corfo, vifits, and the opera. Notwithstanding which we have made good use of our time, and have already feen a great part of what is most curious in Turin and its environs. Garden. I fhall begin with giving you a description of the Royal Garden, and then proceed to the palace. Royal The garden belonging to the King's palace was laid out by Le Notre; fo it is not neceffary to animadvert on the total want of tafte throughout. You are fufficiently acquainted with his genius and talent for the art of planning gardens, by thofe F 3 those you have seen in France, to believe I do him no injuftice in not admiring this garden, whofe infipid uniformity and flatnefs renders it very fatiguing to fee and walk over. There is an infurmountable dulnefs in ftraight walks, with high hedges; formal parterres, compofed of triangles, half moons, stars, and the most ungraceful figures, called here Parterres à l'Angloife, many of which, inftead of being filled with flowers, are composed of brick duft and coal afhes, formed into a kind of mortar, which fills up the borders. Grassplats ill kept; all the walks damp and moffy; one fpot indeed is tolerable, it is well gravelled, has plants of flowers in parterres, and is rather lefs formal than the others. In the middle is a small piece of water; beyond it appears a triumphal arch, of Trelliffe, painted green, which is curioufly and neatly executed; high trees fhew themfelves behind, and from each fide fprings out an open work of the fame kind (of Treliffe) which forms a fweep: thefe objects all together, when viewed from the front of the palace (and it is for that this part of the garden is calculated), has a pretty good effect.-But there is no garden in England that is not in a much better tafte than this, fo much boafted of by the French and Turinefe; not to mention the celebrated gardens of that country, belonging to noblemen's and gentlemen's feats. I do not mean in regard to size, for the garden just named is very large; but the want of tafte, in fubftituting all forts of quadrangular and other other formal figures, which were never to be found in Nature, to beautiful lawns, hollow flopes, wild clumps of trees, natural cafcades, irregular walks, planted with the most beautiful flowering fhrubs, and of which every garden in England has fomething. Even the Palace has much the air of French Palace. architecture, flat and bald: composed of brick and ftone. The entrance is through a fpacious gateway, into a fquare court, furrounded by a piazza, through which you enter the palace by the great ftair-cafe, at the foot of which, in a recess, stands an equestrian statue of Victor Amadeus the First. The horse is of white marble, very heavy and ill executed. Victor is in bronze, and but little better in point of sculpture than hishorfe. The architecture of this ftair-cafe is not beautiful, nor is it kept clean; the odious custom of making use of the corners of the landing-places, which you have heard is a practice in Italy, commences here already; where the stench occafioned by the ftagnation mixed with the smoke of the lamps, which is never cleaned off the walls, makes the entrance of the houses very disgusting.-Lalande pays a just tribute, tom. i. p. 89, to the patience and politeness of Monf. le Comte de Groffo Cavallo, who frequently conducts ftrangers about the palace, from whom we have received many civilities, that I fhall have occafion to mention hereafter.-I have heard the King has been prefent incognito, whilft ftrangers have been viewing the apartments; but F 4 I believe |