When I Bathed In The Summer, I Paid Thirty Sols,
Equal To Eighteen-Pence, For Being Carried To And From The
Bathing Place, Which Was A Mile From My Own House.
Now I am speaking of bathing, it may not be amiss to inform you
that though there is a
Fine open beach, extending several miles
to the westward of Nice, those who cannot swim ought to bathe
with great precaution, as the sea is very deep, and the descent
very abrupt from within a yard or two of the water's edge. The
people here were much surprised when I began to bathe in the
beginning of May. They thought it very strange, that a man
seemingly consumptive should plunge into the sea, especially when
the weather was so cold; and some of the doctors prognosticated
immediate death. But, when it was perceived that I grew better in
consequence of the bath, some of the Swiss officers tried the
same experiment, and in a few days, our example was followed by
several inhabitants of Nice. There is, however, no convenience
for this operation, from the benefit of which the fair sex must
be intirely excluded, unless they lay aside all regard to
decorum; for the shore is always lined with fishing-boats, and
crouded with people. If a lady should be at the expence of having
a tent pitched on the beach where she might put on and of her
bathing-dress, she could not pretend to go into the sea without
proper attendants; nor could she possibly plunge headlong into
the water, which is the most effectual, and least dangerous way
of bathing. All that she can do is to have the sea-water brought
into her house, and make use of a bathing-tub, which may be made
according to her own, or physician's direction.
What further I have to say of this climate and country, you shall
have in my next; and then you will be released from a subject,
which I am afraid has been but too circumstantially handled by -
Sir, Your very humble servant.
LETTER XXIV
NICE, January 4, 1765.
DEAR SIR., - The constitution of this climate may be pretty well
ascertained, from the inclosed register of the weather, which I
kept with all possible care and attention. From a perusal of it,
you will see that there is less rain and wind at Nice, than in
any other part of the world that I know; and such is the serenity
of the air, that you see nothing above your head for several
months together, but a charming blue expanse, without cloud or
speck. Whatever clouds may be formed by evaporation of the sea,
they seldom or never hover over this small territory; but, in all
probability, are attracted by the mountains that surround it, and
there fall in rain or snow: as for those that gather from other
quarters, I suppose their progress hitherward is obstructed by
those very Alps, which rise one over another, to an extent of
many leagues.
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