Or a Franklin on these matters than all the opinions
of all the theologians and churchmen that ever sat in council from the
Council of Nicsea to the present day. This silenced him effectually. Such
is the absurd line of conduct pursued by the Catholic priests of the
present day in France. Instead of reforming the discipline and dogmas of
their church and adapting it to the enlightened ideas of the present age,
they are sedulously employd in preaching intolerant doctrines, and reviving
absurd legends, and pretended miracles, which have been long ago consigned
to contempt and oblivion by all rational Catholics; and by this they hope
to re-establish the ecclesiastical power in its former glory and
preponderance. Vain hope! By the American and French Revolutions a great
light is gone up to the Gentiles. Catholicism is on its last legs, and
they might as soon attempt to replace our old friend and school
acquaintance Jupiter on the throne of heaven, as to re-establish the Papal
power in its pristine splendour; to borrow the language of the Pilgrim's
Progress, the Giant Pope will be soon as dead as the Giant Pagan.
On arrival at Lyons we put up at the Hotel du Parc, where I found cheaper
and better entertainment than at the Hotel du Nord.
My friend young Wardle has fallen in love with a very beautiful cafetiere
at Lyons', and spends a great part of his time in the cafe, at which this
nymph administers, and looks at her, sighs, looks and sighs again. It is
not probable however that he will succeed in his suit, for she has been
courted by very many others and no one has succeeded. She remains constant
to her good man, and the breath of calumny has never ventured to assail
her. I met one day at Lyons with my old friend W - - s of Strassburg, who
was a Lieutenant in the 25th Regiment in the French service and served in
the battle of Waterloo.[105] He is now here and being on demi-solde,
employs himself in a mercantile house here as principal commis. He dined
with us and we passed a most pleasant day together.
I arrived on the 20th April at Lausanne.
* * * * *
After remaining some weeks, at Lausanne on my return from Clermont, I
determind on making a pedestrian trip as far as Bern and Neufchatel
previous to returning into Italy, which it is my intention to do in
September. I sent on my portmanteau accordingly to Payerne near Avenches,
intending to pay a visit and pass three days with my friend, the Revd. Mr.
J[omini],[106] the rector of the parish there, from whom I had received a
pressing invitation. I was acquainted at Lausanne with his daughter, Mme
C - - , and was much pleased in her society.
