Page:Protestant Exiles from France Agnew vol 2.djvu/179

  De Laulan, whom she served as an interpreter), she fell a-weeping. Mademoiselle De Laulan said several things to comfort her. The girl took up a New Testament to read a chapter or two, and she read the second chapter of St. Mark. Filled with indignation at the incredulity of the Jews on the occasion of the miraculous cure of the paralytic, she exclaimed, ‘I am sure I should believe if such a thing were to happen to me, and should run fast enough.’ She had scarcely finished these words when her leg stretched out, the bone of her thigh went into its natural place with some noise, her foot and leg grew straight, her pain ceased, and she walked with ease. Ever since that time she has felt nothing of it, and continues in perfect strength, only she limps a little, but so little that it is almost imperceptible. Might not Providence order it so, that this remnant of an infirmity might serve her for a memorial of her deliverance?”

Mr Misson held a high position in literary society. I find the following reminiscence of Mm in the Literary Journal, April to June 1731:—

“Mr Misson, who gave us an account of his travels into Italy, told me that as he was walking one day with Dr Grabe at Oxford, near Christ College, he proposed to him a theological difficulty; whereupon Dr Grabe lifted up his hands towards heaven, and cried out, ''May God enlighten us! may God enlighten us! ‘Sir!’ said Mr Misson, ‘that is no answer to my question.’ What would you have me say? replied the Doctor, may God enlighten us''.”

Among Des Maizeaux’s Correspondence, I have found an autograph letter, of which the following is a translation:—

“A thousand pardons, sir, for all the trouble that I give you, and for the liberty which I still take to ask the continuance of your obliging attentions. I believe that the advertisement will be of fourfold more advantage to the booksellers, because all the good that is spoken of the book will be the occasion of reviving the desire of seeing it. A second edition might be made much better, but I must not speak of that yet. You will observe, sir, some few alterations from the original, which I return to you, and I think that you will not disapprove of them. The least that the booksellers can do is to put this advertisement in the Post-Man and in the Post-Boy [dans les Post-Man-et-Boy]; but it seems to me that it should appear twice in each of those journals.

“When you have an hour to throw away [à confisquer], and your route is in the environs of Porter Street, you are very strenuously entreated not to refuse a little charitable visit to your old friend, who is more lonely than ever, being kept within his den [la grotte] by the importunate remains of a terrible malady, not to speak of the cold air, and the rich mud [des boues], and the famous smoke of London (the subject, by-the-bye, of a poem by Mr Evelyn, which I should not be displeased to see). I hope, or I flatter myself, sir, that you in no wise doubt that I am, with truth, your very humble and very obedient servant, but here I repeat it, according to the good and laudable custom.

“

“Monday, 5th day of the year 1718-9.”

He was about seventy-two years of age when he died. The Chronological Diary appended to the Historical Register for 1722 notes:— “January 12, Died, Maximilian Misson, Esq., author of the Voyage to Italy, in four volumes.” According to the new style, Messrs Haag exactly concur by writing January 23. As a conclusion to this chapter I quote a few remarks on him and his volumes of Travels from Harris’s Collection.

“There are very few volumes of Travels that have maintained their credit so well.” The years 1687, 1688, apply to the whole thread of the work, though additions and corrections, belonging to later dates, have been interwoven. In the author’s lifetime his observations as to Italy were attacked by several writers, “against whom he defended himself with equal spirit and success: and whenever he found himself in the wrong, he took care immediately to correct it.” The principal critics, however, were Romanists, who complained that he looked at things with less of an observing than of a Protestant eye. “In the reign of James II., when the Papists thought themselves secure of reviving their religion in England, it is no wonder at all that men, firmly attached to the Protestant cause, should likewise shew their zeal; and it was still the more excusable in Mr Misson, as he had been very lately banished out of his native country on the score of religion.” But even his chief opponent, Father Labat, admits that the greater part of Misson’s book is worthy of special approbation. Once “he had the misfortune to be taken by a French Privateer and carried to Dunkirk, where he suffered a severe imprisonment, chiefly on the score of his being a Protestant. But his friends having applied themselves to the King of France on his behalf, he was immediately set at liberty, which contributed not a little to confirm that high spirit of loyalty with which he had been possessed, and of which he has left abundant testimonies in his Works, by defending (as much as in his power lay) the character of Louis XIV.; for, though he could not prevail upon