f
chestnuts, they will be able to export a greater quantity of them.

[Footnote 154: About the year 1750 potatoes were not commonly known in
Kidderminster, as I know from an anecdote recorded by my
grandfather.--ED.]

M. de Marboeuf made merry upon the reports which had been circulated,
that I was no less than a minister from the British court. The "Avignon
Gazette" brought us one day information that the English were going to
establish Un Bureau de Commerce in Corsica. "O Sir," said he, "the
secret is out. I see now the motive of your destination to these parts.
It is you who are to establish this Bureau de Commerce."

Idle as these rumours were, it is a fact that, when I was at Genoa,
Signor Gherardi, one of their secretaries of state, very seriously told
me, "Monsieur, vous m'avez fait trembler quoique je ne vous ai jamais
vu. Sir, you have made me tremble although I never saw you before." And
when I smiled and assured him that I was just a simple traveller, he
shook his head; but said, he had very authentick information concerning
me. He then told me with great gravity, "That while I travelled in
Corsica, I was drest in scarlet and gold; but when I payed my respects
to the Supreme Council at Corte, I appeared in a full suit of black."
These important truths I fairly owned to him, and he seemed to exult
over me.

I was more and more obliged to M. de Marboeuf. When I was allowed by my
physician, to go to his Excellency's table where we had always a large
company, and every thing in great magnificence, he was so careful of
me, that he would not suffer me to eat any thing, or taste a glass of
wine, more than was prescribed for me. He used to say, "I am here both
physician and commander in chief; so you must submit." He very politely
prest me to make some stay with him, saying, "We have taken care of you
when sick, I think we have a claim to you for a while, when in health."
His kindness followed me after I left him. It procured me an agreeable
reception from M. Michel, the French charge d'affaires at Genoa; and was
the occasion of my being honoured with great civilities at Paris, by M.
L'Abbe de Marboeuf conseiller d'etat, brother of the Count, and
possessing similar virtues in private life.

I quitted Corsica with reluctance, when I thought of the illustrious
Paoli. I wrote to him from Bastia, informing him of my illness, which I
said, was owing to his having made me a man of so much consequence, that
instead of