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grace, with much good sense and freedom
from affectation. At Geneva, where she
generally passes part of the winter among
her friends, she is distinguished as L a helle
Savoyarde. Besides the family there were
several Genevese ladies, and seven or eight
English ladies and gentlemen, who arrived
a fortnight before us. The interior of the
chateau was much superior to its outward appearance;
a wide flight of stone stairs leads
to a corridor one hundred feet in length,
with apartments on each side ; the second
story is the same. The rooms are lofty
and spacious; and the two saloons preserve
the marks of their former splendour.
At eight o’clock in the morning the bell
summoned the party to a breakfast of tea,
coffee, eggs, and cold meat, in the English
style. We dined at two o’clock, which
was a convenient hour, as we were able to
repose during the hottest part of the day,
and had sufficient time in the afternoon for
excursions on the lake or its banks. The
dinner generally consisted of soup, fish
from the lake, poultry, beef, and veal, with
vegetables and a desert. The wine was from
Mons. B.’s vineyard ; but this part of Savoy
is not celebrated for its vintage. At eight
o’clock we again assembled round the table
for the goûté, or evening repast. It consisted
of tea, coffee, and wine, with cakes,
fruit, cold meat, and eggs. After this the
company returned to the saloon, where the
evening was passed with music, cards, and
chess.
Between breakfast and dinner the company
divided into parties ; some were rowing
or sailing on the lake, or visiting the
objects of curiosity in its neighbourhood,
while others were engaged with their studies
or sketch-books. I frequently employed
myself among the rocks with my hammer,
or walked with Mons. B. over his farm, making
enquiries respecting the agriculture and
state of society in Savoy.
From these subjects Mons. B. would turn
with peculiar pleasure to the metaphysical
speculations of Bonnet, of whose writings
he had been a great admirer in early life.
It was a treat to him to find any one acquainted
with the ingenious theories of this
amiable philosopher* ; these afforded con-
* Bonnet is held in high estimation in his native place
Geneva. The Genevese divines, I believe, generally
prefer his Défense de Chrétianisme to Paley’s Evidences.
It cannot be denied that Paley was greatly indebted to
D 2