He
was the very picture of your reverence - one would swear you were
brothers. Poor Baudouin! he died of a fall - rest his soul! I
would willingly pay for a couple of masses to pray him out of
purgatory."
Among other public edifices at Boulogne, there is an hospital, or
workhouse, which seems to be established upon a very good
foundation. It maintains several hundreds of poor people, who are
kept constantly at work, according to their age and abilities, in
making thread, all sorts of lace, a kind of catgut, and in
knitting stockings. It is under the direction of the bishop; and
the see is at present filled by a prelate of great piety and
benevolence, though a little inclining to bigotry and fanaticism.
The churches in this town are but indifferently built, and poorly
ornamented. There is not one picture in the place worth looking
at, nor indeed does there seem to be the least taste for the
liberal arts.
In my next, I shall endeavour to satisfy you in the other
articles you desire to know. Mean-while, I am ever - Yours.
LETTER IV
BOULOGNE, September 1, 1763.
SIR, - I am infinitely obliged to D. H - for the favourable manner
in which he has mentioned me to the earl of H - I have at last
recovered my books, by virtue of a particular order to the
director of the douane, procured by the application of the
English resident to the French ministry.
