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to polish it into the language which they now call their own： The Spaniards and French； likewise； improved it into their respective tongues。 From its great affinity to the Latin； it was called Romance； a name which the Spaniards still give to their own language。 As the first legends of knight…errantry were written in Provencal； all subsequent performances of the same kind； have derived from it the name of romance； and as those annals of chivalry contained extravagant adventures of knights； giants； and necromancers； every improbable story or fiction is to this day called a romance。 Mr。 Walpole； in his Catalogue of royal and noble Authors； has produced two sonnets in the antient Provencal； written by our king Richard I。 surnamed Coeur de Lion； and Voltaire； in his Historical Tracts； has favoured the world with some specimens of the same language。 The Patois of Nice； must； without doubt； have undergone changes and corruptions in the course of so many ages； especially as no pains have been taken to preserve its original purity； either in orthography or pronunciation。 It is neglected； as the language of the vulgar： and scarce any…body here knows either its origin or constitution。 I have in vain endeavoured to procure some pieces in the antient Provencal； that I might compare them with the modern Patois： but I can find no person to give me the least information on the subject。 The shades of ignorance； sloth； and stupidity； are impenetrable。 Almost every word of the Patois may still be found in the Italian； Spanish； and French languages； with a small change in the pronunciation。 Cavallo； signifying a horse in Italian and Spanish is called cavao； maison； the French word for a house； is changed into maion； aqua； which means water in Spanish； the Nissards call daigua。 To express； what a slop is here！ they say acco fa lac aqui； which is a sentence composed of two Italian words； one French； and one Spanish。 This is nearly the proportion in which these three languages will be found mingled in the Patois of Nice； which； with some variation； extends over all Provence； Languedoc； and Gascony。 I will now treat you with two or three stanzas of a canzon； or hymn； in this language； to the Virgin Mary； which was lately printed at Nice。
1
Vierge； maire de Dieu； Nuostro buono avocado； Embel car uvostre sieu； En Fenestro adourado； Jeu vous saludi； E demandi en socours； E sense autre preludi； Canti lous uvostre honours。
Virgin； mother of God； our good advocate； With your dear son； In Fenestro adored； I salute you； And ask his assistance； And without further prelude； I sing your honours。
＇Fenestro is the name of a place in this neighbourhood； where there is a supposed miraculous sanctuary； or chapel； of the Virgin Mary。＇
2。
Qu'ario de Paradis！ Que maesta divine！ Salamon es d'advis； Giugiar de uvostro mino； Vous dis plus bello： E lou dis ben soven De toutoi lei femello； E non s'engano ren。
What air of Paradise！ What majesty divine！ Solomon is of opinion； To judge of your appearance； Says you are the fairest And it is often said Of all females； And we are not all deceived。
3。
Qu'ario de Paradis！ Que maesta divine！ La bellezzo eblovis； La bonta l'ueigl raffino。 Sias couronado； Tenes lou monde en man Sus del trono assettado； Riges lou avostre enfan。
What air of Paradise！ What majesty divine！ The beauty dazzles； The goodness purifies the eye： You are crowned： You hold the world in your hand： Seated on the throne； You support your child。
You see I have not chosen this canzon for the beauty and elegance of thought and expression； but give it you as the only printed specimen I could find of the modern Provencal。 If you have any curiosity to be further acquainted with the Patois； I will endeavour to procure you satisfaction。 Meanwhile； I am； in plain English；Dear Sir； Ever yours。
LETTER XXII
NICE； November 10； 1764。
DEAR SIR；I had once thoughts of writing a complete natural history of this town and county： but I found myself altogether unequal to the task。 I have neither health； strength； nor opportunity to make proper collections of the mineral； vegetable； and animal productions。 I am not much conversant with these branches of natural philosophy。 I have no books to direct my inquiries。 I can find no person capable of giving me the least information or assistance； and I am strangely puzzled by the barbarous names they give to many different species； the descriptions of which I have read under other appelations； and which； as I have never seen them before； I cannot pretend to distinguish by the eye。 You must therefore be contented with such imperfect intelligence as my opportunities can afford。
The useful arts practised at Nice； are these； gardening and agriculture； with their consequences； the making of wine； oil； and cordage； the rearing of silk…worms； with the subsequent management and manufacture of that production； and the fishing； which I have already described。
Nothing can be more unpromising than the natural soil of this territory； except in a very few narrow bottoms； where there is a stiff clay； which when carefully watered； yields tolerable pasturage。 In every other part； the soil consists of a light sand mingled with pebbles； which serves well enough for the culture of vines and olives： but the ground laid out for kitchen herbs； as well as for other fruit must be manured with great care and attention。 They have no black cattle to afford such compost as our farmers use in England。 The dung of mules and asses； which are their only beasts of burthen； is of very little value for this purpose； and the natural sterility of their ground requires something highly impregnated with nitre and volatile salts。 They have recourse therefore to pigeons' dung and ordure； which fully answer their expectations。 Every peasant opens； at one corner of his wall； a public house of office for the reception of passengers； and in the town of Nice； every tenement is provided with one of these receptacles； the contents of which are carefully preserved for sale。 The peasant comes with his asses and casks to carry it off before day； and pays for it according to its quality； which he examines and investigates； by the taste and flavour。 The jakes of a protestant family； who eat gras every day； bears a much higher price than the privy of a good catholic who lives maigre one half of the year。 The vaults belonging to the convent of Minims are not worth emptying。
The ground here is not delved with spades as in England； but laboured with a broad； sharp hough； having a short horizontal handle； and the climate is so hot and dry in the summer； that the plants must be watered every morning and evening； especially where it is not shaded by trees。 It is surprising to see how the productions of the earth are crouded together。 One would imagine they would rob one another of nourishment； and moreover be stifled for want of air； and doubtless this is in some measure the case。 Olive and other fruit trees are planted in rows very close to each other。 These are connected by vines； and the interstices； between the rows； are