of

and is surrounded with walls. This is a commercial town, and has a population 12,000 persons; it is a grand dépôt of madder, and manufactures spirits of wine and aquafortis. A market is held here every Friday, which is equal to a fair, in point of number of people, and abundance of commodities. The objects of curiosity are a noble aqueduct, built after the antique, in the midst of the most enchanting scenery; the remains of a triumphal arch, in the lodge of the prison; the episcopal palace, the front of the cathedral, the grand hospital, of which the façade and principal staircase are very fine; and the public library. Besides many rare and valuable books, the library possesses a collection of Roman medals, 6000 in number, many of them very curious, and a series of original drawings. Among the MSS. are the two folio volumes of genuine Troubadour Poems. Petrarch came to settle at Carpentras in the year 1314, and three years afterwards Clement IV. visited this place, with a great number of cardinals. But when this train had left it, Petrarch gave himself up to study, and learned in five years as much grammar, rhetoric, and logic, as can be taught in schools to those of his age,

The Hôtel du Midi, is one of the most agreeable in this part of the country; and is remarkable for civil treatment and moderate charges.

Another delightful excursion may be made to Cavaillon, a small town about twelve

miles distant. Here the traveller will conceive himself transported into the most beautiful garden, justly entitled to the appellation of the Eden of Provence. Finer vegetables, more lovely clusters of trees, richer vineyards and olive hills, are nowhere to be found. Artichokes, peaches, and wintermelons, sent as far as Paris, are the most in request fron Cavaillon; and the inhabitants have the reputation of being the best gardeners in Provence. Not far from this place is l'Isle, one of the most beautiful countries that can be imagined, round which the waters of the Sorgue gently ripple. In fact, the whole country between Cavaillon and Avignon, by its excellent system of irrigation, its charming plantations of trees, and its luxuriant vegetation, completely captivates the observer.

Cavaillon is situated on the right bank of the Duronne, and is remarkable for some antiquities, of which the principal is a triumphal arch, in the buildings of the bishop's palace. The Hotel-de-Ville is the only fine modern building. The hermitage, at the top of some lofty rocks, deserves a visit. Population, 4500. Of Cavaillon, Petrarch says, «< it is spoken of as an ancient city in some authentic memoirs about fifty years before. Christ, at the time that Julius Cæsar conquered Britain. It was formerly built on the mountain, and was a Roman colony, as appears from the medals of Lepidus.

An excursion to Beaumes and Malaucènes

will introduce the traveller to two small, but healthy towns, very agreeably situated, and celebrated for their pleasant temperature. Beaumes is completely sheltered from the mistraou, and therefore extremely mild: Malaucènes, on the contrary, is much exposed to the bise, and therefore cool even in summer. If, therefore, the invalid inhabit Beaumes in the winter, and 'Malaucènes in the summer, he will enjoy a constant spring temperature; and this is quite practicable, as the two towns are not more than seven or eight miles distant from each other.

CHAPTER III.

Route from Avignon to Nice.-Description of Aix, Marseilles and Toulon.-Excursion to Hyeres.-Description of Nice.-Return to Brignolles.-Excursion to Digne.-Return

to Aix.

THE following is the high road to Nice, from Avignon, passing through Aix, but omitting Marseilles and Toulon; those who deviate for the sake of visiting these two great cities, will find the distances expressed in a note to the Itinerary.

No. IX. From AVIGNON to NICE 35 posts, about 197 English miles.

All the way from Avignon, as far as the plain which reaches the Durance, the road is bordered with poplars and willows: the fields are well cultivated with rye and wheat, and there is an abundance of beautiful mulberry-trees. After crossing the Durance over a handsome wooden bridge, of a prodigious length, which unites elegance with solidity, and is a masterpiece of its kind, we enter the department of the Bouches-du-Rhone, and go along the bank to the left, where there is a canal, which has been made to give a free passage to the waters of the river at the time of the inundations, and to preserve the surrounding fields from their ravages. The prospect extends to the north over a pleasant plain, near four leagues, terminated by the chalky rocks, out

From Aix to Marseilles, four posts (22 miles); from Marseilles to Toulon 7 posts, more than 41 miles; from Toulon to Luc, where we again join the high road to Nice, 6 posts, or about 36 miles.

(1) INNS.-L'Hôtel du Cours, des Princes, the White Mule. (2) Hôtel d'York, des Etrangers.

T.

of which issues the spring of Vaucluse. From Noves, the place which gave birth to Laura, the road crosses a country tolerably well cultivated, which produces corn and wine; the sides are bordered with rivulets and shaded by willows, poplars, and fig-trees; the grounds resemble gardens; but little labour is used in the cultivation of the soil; they turn up the earth with a large spade, and harrow it with a heavy rake. There are no trees, except in a small park which belongs to an individual: the houses stand in the middle of the fields without any shade. After passing Saint Andiol, two miles from Orgon, the earth becomes sandy and unfruitful. To the southeast there is a chain of barren rocks, which extends as far as the Durance : it is on these heights that the small town of Orgon is situated.

A short distance from Orgon is the Pierrepercée, or perforated rock: it is a mountain through which they have conducted the canal. This opening is twenty-five feet wide: the vault or arch is supported by hewn stones, and on the two sides are foot-paths for the men and animals which draw the boats. At

Lambesc, the country has a delightful appearance; between the vineyards and the corn-fields are a number of olive trees; and this place produces abundantly that valuable oil which is called oil of Aix. The town is handsome, and in the principal streets are many well-built houses; the church is in good preservation, and the two fountains are worthy