For This Intrusion, The Court Of France Made An Apology
To The King Of Sardinia, In Whose Territories He Was Taken.
Mandrin being conveyed to Valencia, his native place, was for
some time permitted to go abroad, under a strong guard, with
chains upon his legs; and here he conversed freely with all sorts
of people, flattering himself with the hopes of a pardon, in
which, however, he was disappointed.
An order came from court to
bring him to his trial, when he was found guilty, and condemned
to be broke on the wheel. Joseph said he drank a bottle of wine
with him the night before his execution. He bore his fate with
great resolution, observing that if the letter which he had
written to the King had been delivered, he certainly should have
obtained his Majesty's pardon. His executioner was one of his own
gang, who was pardoned on condition of performing this office.
You know, that criminals broke upon the wheel are first
strangled, unless the sentence imports, that they shall be broke
alive. As Mandrin had not been guilty of cruelty in the course of
his delinquency, he was indulged with this favour. Speaking to
the executioner, whom he had formerly commanded, "Joseph (dit
il), je ne veux pas que tu me touche, jusqu'a ce que je sois roid
mort," "Joseph," said he, "thou shalt not touch me till I am
quite dead." - Our driver had no sooner pronounced these words,
than I was struck with a suspicion, that he himself was the
executioner of his friend Mandrin. On that suspicion, I
exclaimed, "Ah! ah! Joseph!" The fellow blushed up to the eyes,
and said, Oui, son nom etoit Joseph aussi bien que le mien, "Yes,
he was called Joseph, as I am." I did not think proper to
prosecute the inquiry; but did not much relish the nature of
Joseph's connexions. The truth is, he had very much the looks of
a ruffian; though, I must own, his behaviour was very obliging
and submissive.
On the fifth day of our journey, in the morning, we passed the
famous bridge at St. Esprit, which to be sure is a great
curiosity, from its length, and the number of its arches: but
these arches are too small: the passage above is too narrow; and
the whole appears to be too slight, considering the force and
impetuosity of the river. It is not comparable to the bridge at
Westminster, either for beauty or solidity. Here we entered
Languedoc, and were stopped to have our baggage examined; but the
searcher, being tipped with a three-livre piece, allowed it to
pass. Before we leave Dauphine, I must observe, that I was not a
little surprized to see figs and chestnuts growing in the open
fields, at the discretion of every passenger. It was this day I
saw the famous Pont du Garde; but as I cannot possibly include,
in this letter, a description of that beautiful bridge, and of
the other antiquities belonging to Nismes, I will defer it till
the next opportunity, being, in the mean time, with equal truth
and affection, - Dear Sir, Your obliged humble Servant.
LETTER X
MONTPELLIER, November 10, 1763.
DEAR SIR, - By the Pont St. Esprit we entered the province of
Languedoc, and breakfasted at Bagniole, which is a little paltry
town; from whence, however, there is an excellent road through a
mountain, made at a great expence, and extending about four
leagues. About five in the afternoon, I had the first glimpse of
the famous Pont du Garde, which stands on the right hand, about
the distance of a league from the post-road to Nismes, and about
three leagues from that city. I would not willingly pass for a
false enthusiast in taste; but I cannot help observing, that from
the first distant view of this noble monument, till we came near
enough to see it perfectly, I felt the strongest emotions of
impatience that I had ever known; and obliged our driver to put
his mules to the full gallop, in the apprehension that it would
be dark before we reached the place. I expected to find the
building, in some measure, ruinous; but was agreeably
disappointed, to see it look as fresh as the bridge at
Westminster. The climate is either so pure and dry, or the free-stone,
with which it is built, so hard, that the very angles of
them remain as acute as if they had been cut last year. Indeed,
some large stones have dropped out of the arches; but the whole
is admirably preserved, and presents the eye with a piece of
architecture, so unaffectedly elegant, so simple, and majestic,
that I will defy the most phlegmatic and stupid spectator to
behold it without admiration. It was raised in the Augustan age,
by the Roman colony of Nismes, to convey a stream of water
between two mountains, for the use of that city. It stands over
the river Gardon, which is a beautiful pastoral stream, brawling
among rocks, which form a number of pretty natural cascades, and
overshadowed on each side with trees and shrubs, which greatly
add to the rural beauties of the scene. It rises in the Cevennes,
and the sand of it produces gold, as we learn from Mr. Reaumur,
in his essay on this subject, inserted in the French Memoirs, for
the year 1718. If I lived at Nismes, or Avignon (which last city
is within four short leagues of it) I should take pleasure in
forming parties to come hither, in summer, to dine under one of
the arches of the Pont du Garde, on a cold collation.
This work consists of three bridges, or tire of arches, one above
another; the first of six, the second of eleven, and the third of
thirty-six. The height, comprehending the aqueduct on the top,
amounts to 174 feet three inches: the length between the two
mountains, which it unites, extends to 723.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 49 of 141
Words from 48820 to 49821
of 143308
