T RAV

5PART J.JOURNEY T HROUGH .FRAN C-E.TUE spring of '1785, ensuing the notification of the diplomatie appointtnent,being the date of rendezvons on the shore of Africa,scopein.pointp:f' time was given for visiting as much of the Spanish peninsulaasconldhe taken in one route.The predominant idea in regardto Spain at home itlthat daywas, that the country presented nothingto he learned. Still, however, it possessed aninterest even in the ohscuritywhich pervaded it; while France, 80 much the them;e of generalçbservation, was posted through with the haste and indifference whichusually prevail upon matters which it is conceived may be taken np atany tirile that suits convenience; a procedure too often productive ofunavailing regret.lt i8 by noting alone that the traveller can turn his activity to anyprofit.Indeed he rarely sets out prepared; hisplan is adopted on theimpulse or convenience of the moment, and few study for the purpo8eof qualifying themselves for the undertaking; such scientific men astravel usually confining their investigations tooue line.l'he generaloutlines of a miscellaneous knowledge form the best hasis for thefoundation of a sto~k, the accumul~tion of which depends uponinquiry.As to France and flanders, if ever a subject were exhau&ted of viatorlalnovelty, this i8 the case with regardto these cOllntries; yet sOllle