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s former prescription； but if I had any doubts I might come to his house； and he would resolve them。
I wrapt up twelve livres in the following note； and sent it to his house。
〃C'est ne pas sans raison que monsieur F jouit d'une si grande reputation。 Je n'ai plus de doutes； graces a Dieu et a monsieur Fe。 〃 〃It is not without reason that monsieur Fizes enjoys such a large share of reputation。 I have no doubts remaining； thank Heaven and monsieur Fizes。〃
To this I received for answer。 〃Monsieur n'a plus de doutes： j'en suis charme。 Receu douze livres。 F； &c。〃 〃Sir； you have no doubts remaining； I am very glad of it。 Received twelve livres。 Fizes； &c。〃
Instead of keeping his promise to the valet； he put the money in his pocket； and the fellow returned in a rage； exclaiming that he was un gros cheval de carosse； a great coach…horse。
I shall make no other comment upon the medicines； and the regimen which this great Doctor prescribed； but that he certainly mistook the case： that upon the supposition I actually laboured under a purulent discharge from the lungs； his remedies savour strongly of the old woman； and that there is a total blank with respect to the article of exercise； which you know is so essential in all pulmonary disorders。 But after having perused my remarks upon his first prescription； he could not possibly suppose that I had tubercules； and was spitting up pus； therefore his persisting in recommending the same medicines he had prescribed on that supposition； was a flagrant absurdity。If； for example； there was no vomica in the lungs； and the business was to attenuate the lymph； what could be more preposterous than to advise the chalk of Briancon； coral； antihecticum poterii； and the balm of Canada？ As for the turtle…soupe； it is a good restorative and balsamic； but； I apprehend； will tend to thicken rather than attenuate the phlegm。 He mentions not a syllable of the air； though it is universally allowed； that the climate of Montpellier is pernicious to ulcerated lungs； and here I cannot help recounting a small adventure which our doctor had with a son of Mr。 Od； merchant in the city of London。 I had it from Mrs。 Ste who was on the spot。 The young gentleman； being consumptive； consulted Mr。 F； who continued visiting and prescribing for him a whole month。 At length； perceiving that he grew daily worse； 〃Doctor （said he） I take your prescriptions punctually； but； instead of being the better for them； I have now not an hour's remission from the fever in the four…and…twenty。I cannot conceive the meaning of it。〃 F； who perceived he had not long to live； told him the reason was very plain： the air of Montpellier was too sharp for his lungs； which required a softer climate。 〃Then you're a sordid villain （cried the young man） for allowing me to stay here till my constitution is irretrievable。〃 He set out immediately for Tholouse； and in a few weeks died in the neighbourhood of that city。
I observe that the physicians in this country pay no regard to the state of the solids in chronical disorders； that exercise and the cold bath are never prescribed； that they seem to think the scurvy is entirely an English disease； and that； in all appearance； they often confound the symptoms of it； with those of the venereal distemper。 Perhaps I may be more particular on this subject in a subsequent letter。 In the mean time； I am ever； Dear Sir； Yours sincerely。
LETTER XII
NICE； December 6； 1763。
DEAR SIR；The inhabitants of Montpellier are sociable； gay； and good…tempered。 They have a spirit of commerce； and have erected several considerable manufactures； in the neighbourhood of the city。 People assemble every day to take the air on the esplanade； where there is a very good walk； just without the gate of the citadel： but； on the other side of the town； there is another still more agreeable； called the peirou； from whence there is a prospect of the Mediterranean on one side； and of the Cevennes on the other。 Here is a good equestrian statue of Louis XIV； fronting one gate of the city； which is built in form of a triumphal arch； in honour of the same monarch。 Immediately under the pierou is the physic garden； and near it an arcade just finished for an aqueduct； to convey a stream of water to the upper parts of the city。 Perhaps I should have thought this a neat piece of work； if I had not seen the Pont du Garde： but； after having viewed the Roman arches； I could not look upon this but with pity and contempt。 It is a wonder how the architect could be so fantastically modern； having such a noble model； as it were； before his eyes。
There are many protestants at this place； as well as at Nismes； and they are no longer molested on the score of religion。 They have their conventicles in the country； where they assemble privately for worship。 These are well known； and detachments are sent out every Sunday to intercept them； but the officer has always private directions to take another route。 Whether this indulgence comes from the wisdom and lenity of the government； or is purchased with money of the commanding officer； I cannot determine： but certain it is； the laws of France punish capitally every protestant minister convicted of having performed the functions of his ministry in this kingdom； and one was hanged about two years ago； in the neighbourhood of Montauban。
The markets in Montpellier are well supplied with fish； poultry； butcher's meat； and game； at reasonable rates。 The wine of the country is strong and harsh； and never drank； but when mixed with water。 Burgundy is dear； and so is the sweet wine of Frontignan； though made in the neighbourhood of Cette。 You know it is famous all over Europe； and so are the liqueurs； or drams of various sorts； compounded and distilled at Montpellier。 Cette is the sea…port； about four leagues from that city： but the canal of Languedoc comes up within a mile of it； and is indeed a great curiosity： a work in all respects worthy of a Colbert； under whose auspices it was finished。 When I find such a general tribute of respect and veneration paid to the memory of that great man； I am astonished to see so few monuments of public utility left by other ministers。 One would imagine； that even the desire of praise would prompt a much greater number to exert themselves for the glory and advantage of their country； yet in my opinion； the French have been ungrateful to Colbert； in the same proportion as they have over…rated the character of his master。 Through all France one meets with statues and triumphal arches erected to Louis XIV； in consequence of his victories； by which； likewise； he acquired the title of Louis le Grand。 But how were those victories obtained？ Not by any personal merit of Louis。 It was Colbert who improved his finances； and enabled him to pay his army。 It was Louvois that provided all the necessaries of war。 It was a Conde； a Turenne； a Luxemburg； a Vendome； who fought his battles； and his first conquests； for which he was deified by the pen of adulation； were obtained almost without bloodshed； over weak； dispirited； divided； and defenceless nations。 It was Colbert th