I cannot
bear a croud of company such as pours in upon us unexpectedly at
all hours; and I foresee, that in staying at Montpellier, I
should be led into an expence, which I can ill afford. I have
therefore forwarded the letter I received from general P - n, to
Mr. B - d, our consul at Nice, signifying my intention of going
thither, and explaining the kind of accommodation I would choose
to have at that place.
The day after our arrival, I procured tolerable lodgings in the
High Street, for which I pay fifty sols, something more than two
shillings per day; and I am furnished with two meals a day by a
traiteur for ten livres: but he finds neither the wine nor the
dessert; and indeed we are but indifferently served. Those
families who reside here find their account in keeping house.
Every traveller who comes to this, or any other, town in France
with a design to stay longer than a day or two, ought to write
beforehand to his correspondent to procure furnished lodgings, to
which he may be driven immediately, without being under the
necessity of lying in an execrable inn; for all the inns of this
country are execrable.
My baggage is not yet arrived by the canal of Languedoc; but that
gives me no disturbance, as it is consigned to the care of Mr.
Ray, an English merchant and banker of this place; a gentleman of
great probity and worth, from whom I have received repeated marks
of uncommon friendship and hospitality.
