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:
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