Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/413

 The Eve of the French Revolution 375 ineligible residence for persons, particularly families that cannot afford to keep a coach, — a convenience which is as dear as at London. The fiacres — hackney coaches — are much worse than at that city; and chairs there are none, for they would be driven down in the streets. To this cir- cumstance also it is owing that all persons of small or moderate fortune are forced to dress in black, with black stockings. After a stay of three months, Young finds himself in the southern confines of the kingdom. [August 11. ~ Take the road to Lourdes, where is a castle Young's on a rock, garrisoned for the mere purpose of keeping state im P r psions prisoners sent hither by lettres de cachet. Seven or eight are known to be here at present ; thirty have been here at a time; and many for life, — torn by the relentless hand of jealous tyranny from the bosom of domestic comfort ; from wives, children, friends, and hurried for crimes unknown to themselves — more probably for virtues — to languish in this detested abode of misery, and die of despair. O lib- erty ! liberty! And yet this is the mildest government of any considerable country in Europe, our own excepted. The dispensations of Providence seem to have permitted the human race to exist only as the prey of tyrants, as it has made pigeons for the prey of hawks. . . . _The I2th.~ Pau is a considerable town, that has a par- liament and a linen manufacture ; but it is more famous for being the birthplace of Henry IV. I viewed the castle, and was shown, as all travelers are, the room in which that amiable prince was born, and the cradle- — the shell of a tortoise — in which he was nursed. What an effect on pos- terity have great and distinguished talents ! This is a con- siderable town, but I question whether anything would ever carry a stranger to it but its possessing the cradle of a favorite character. Take the road to Moneng [Monein] and come presently to a scene which was so new to me in France that I could