This Great Consumption Of Wood Is
Owing To The Large Fires Used In Roasting Pieces Of Beef, And
Joints, In The English Manner.
The roasts of this country seldom
exceed two or three pounds of meat; and their other plats are
made over stove holes.
But it is now high time to conduct you
from the kitchen, where you have been too long detained by - Your
humble servant.
P.S. - I have mentioned the prices of almost all the articles in
house-keeping, as they are paid by the English: but exclusive of
butcher's meat, I am certain the natives do not pay so much by
thirty per cent. Their imposition on us, is not only a proof of
their own villany and hatred, but a scandal on their government;
which ought to interfere in favour of the subjects of a nation,
to which they are so much bound in point of policy, as well as
gratitude.
LETTER XX
NICE, October 22, 1764.
SIR, - As I have nothing else to do, but to satisfy my own
curiosity, and that of my friends, I obey your injunctions with
pleasure; though not without some apprehension that my inquiries
will afford you very little entertainment. The place where I am
is of very little importance or consequence as a state or
community; neither is there any thing curious or interesting in
the character or oeconomy of its inhabitants.
There are some few merchants in Nice, said to be in good
circumstances. I know one of them, who deals to a considerable
extent, and goes twice a year to London to attend the sales of
the East-India company. He buys up a very large quantity of
muslins, and other Indian goods, and freights a ship in the river
to transport them to Villa Franca. Some of these are sent to
Swisserland; but, I believe, the greater part is smuggled into
France, by virtue of counterfeit stamps, which are here used
without any ceremony. Indeed, the chief commerce of this place is
a contraband traffick carried on to the disadvantage of France;
and I am told, that the farmers of the Levant company in that
kingdom find their account in conniving at it. Certain it is, a
great quantity of merchandize is brought hither every week by
mules from Turin and other parts in Piedmont, and afterwards
conveyed to the other side of the Var, either by land or water.
The mules of Piedmont are exceeding strong and hardy. One of them
will carry a burthen of near six hundred weight. They are easily
nourished, and require no other respite from their labour, but
the night's repose. They are the only carriage that can be used
in crossing the mountains, being very sure-footed: and it is
observed that in choosing their steps, they always march upon the
brink of the precipice. You must let them take their own way,
otherwise you will be in danger of losing your life; for they are
obstinate, even to desperation.
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