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Francis, poor as I am, continued I, pointing at my portmanteau, full chearfully should it have been open'd to you, for the ransom of the unfortunate The monk made me a bow but of all others, refumed I, the unfortunate of our own countty, furely, have the first rights; and I have left thousands in distress upon our own shore The monk gave a cordial wave with his head as much as to say: No doubt, there is mifery enough in every corner of the world, as well as within our convent - But we distinguish, said I, laying my hand upon the fleeve of his tunick, in return for his appeal -- we distinguish, my good Father! betwixt those who wish only to eat the bread of their own labour and those who eat the bread of other people's, and have no other plan in life, but to get through it in floth and ignorance, for the love of God.

-

-

The poor Franciscan made no reply: a hectic of a moment pass'd across his cheek, but could Nature seemed to have had done not tarry with her resentinents in him; he shewed none but letting his staff fall within his arm, he press'd both his hands with refignation upon his breast, and retired.

THE

--

THE MONK.

CALAIS.

My heart sinote me the moment he shut the door Psha! faid I with an air of carelessness, three feveral times - but it would not do: every ungracious syllable I had utter'd, crouded back into my imagination: I reflected, I had no right over the poor Franciscan, but to deny him; and that the punishment of that was enough to the disappointed without the addition of unkind language - I confider'd his grey hairs

his courteous figure seem'd to reenter and gently ask me what injury he had done me? and why I could use him thus I would have given twenty livres for an advocate I have behaved very ill, said I within myself; but I have only just set out upon my travels; and shall learn better manners as I get along.

THE

THE DESOBLIGEANT.

CALAIS.

When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage however, that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making a bargain. Now there being no travelling through France and Italy without a chaise and nature generally prompting us to the thing we are fittest for, I walk'd out into the coach yard to buy or hire something of that kind to my purpose: an old * Desobligeant in the furtheft corner of the court, hit my fancy at first fight, so I instantly got into it, and finding it in tolerable harmony with my feelings, I ordered the waiter to call Monfieur Deffein the master of the hôtel

2

I

but Monfieur Deffein being gone to vespers, and not caring to face the Franciscan whom I faw on the opposite side of the court, in conference with a lady just arrived at the inn drew the taffeta curtain betwixt us, and being determined to write my journey, I took out my pen and ink, and wrote the preface to it in the Defobligeant.

*

A chaise, so called in France, from its holding but one person,

PREPREFACE Y

IN THE

DESOBLIGEANT.

It must have been observed by many a peripatetic philosopher, That nature has set up by her own unquestionable authority certain boundaries and fences to circumscribe the discontent of man: she has effected her purpose in te quieteft and easiest manner by laying him under almost infuperable obligations to work out his ease, and to fuftain his fufferings at home. It is there only that she has provided him with the most suitable objects to partake of his happiness, and bear a part of that burden which in all countries and ages, has ever been too heavy for one pair of shoulders. 'Tis true we are endued with an imperfect power of spreading our happiness fometimes beyond her limits, but 'tis so ordered, that from the want of languages, connections, and dependencies, and from the difference in education, customs and habits, we lie under so many impediments in communicating our fensations out of our own sphere, as often ainount to a total impoffibіtу, веро

It will always follow from hence, that the balance of fentimental commerce is always againft the expatriated adventurer: he must buy what he has little occafion for at their own price his conversation will feldom be taken in exchange for theirs without a large discount and this, by the by, eternally driving him into the hands of more equitable brokers for fuch converfation as he can find, it requires no great fpirit of divination to guess at his party

wordb

This brings me to my point; and naturally leads me (if the fee faw of this Defobligeant will but let ine get on) into the efficient as well as the final causes of travelling

Your idle people that leave their native country and go abroad for fome reason or reasons which may be derived froin one of these general

Infirmity of body

vale Imbecility of mind, torus savlairendr

Irévitable neceffity.

The first two include all those who travel by

land or by water, lobouring with pride, curiofity, vanity or spieen, fubdivided and combined in infinitum.

The