f trees and
shrubs, to the very base of the hill, not many hundred yards from the
hospital. The architecture of this extensive building is more mixed than
that of its neighbour the _Hospice d'Humanite_, on account of the different
times in which portions of it were added: but, upon the whole, you are
rather struck with its approach to what may be called magnificence of
style. I was indeed pleased with the good order and even good breeding of
its motley inhabitants. Some were strolling quietly, with their arms behind
them, between rows of trees:--others were tranquilly sitting upon benches:
a third group would be in motion within the squares of the building: a
fourth appeared in deep consultation whether the _potage_ of to day were
not inferior to that of the preceding day?--"Que cherchez vous, Monsieur?"
said a fine looking old man, touching, and half taking off, his cocked hat;
"I wish to see the Abbe Turquier,"--rejoined I. "Ah, il vient de
sortir--par ici, Monsieur." "Thank you." "Monsieur je vous souhaite le bon
jour--au plaisir de vous revoir!" And thus I paced through the squares of
this vast building. The "Portier" had a countenance which our Wilkie would
have seized with avidity, and copied with inimitable spirit and fidelity.

[67] Bourgueville describes this river, in the sixteenth century, as being
"aucune fois iaulne, autrefois rouge, verte, bleuee, violee & autres
couleurs, selon qu'vn grand nombre de teinturiers qui sont dessus, la
diuersifient par interualles en faisant leurs maneures." _Antiquitez
de Caen_, p. 36.

[68] _expedition thither_.]--When John Evelyn visited this
neighbourhood, in 1644, "the country so abounded with _wolves_, that a
shepherd, whom he met, told him that one of his companions was
strangled by one of them the day before--and that, in the midst of the
flock! The fields (continues he) are mostly planted with pears and
apples and other cider fruits. It is plentifully furnished with
quarries of stone and slate, and hath iron in abundance." _Memoirs of
the Life and Writings of John Evelyn_, vol. i. p. 50. Edit. 1818. My
friend Mr. J. H. Markland visited Mont St. Catharine the year after
the visit above described. He was of course enchanted with the view;
and told me, that a friend whom he met there, and who had travelled
pretty much in Italy, assured him there was nothing like it on the
banks of either the _Arno_ or the