T'f
the Fiftec lently diftinguifhed fot the correétnefs of his drawings, and beauty of
his colouring.
Once more quitting Nice, in order to make an excurfion towards the north-weft
part of the count}', I crofTcd the Paglion, and continued the liigh road to the Var and
Provence, when I came to a Imall village at about half a mile from the town, which ufed
to be chiefly inliabitcd by the Engliih ; who, preferring that iituation, had felefted this fpot
for their rcfidence, and named it New borough. This village was previouily called La
Croix de Marble, from the crofs which ftands on a high pedeftal with fteps, at the entrance
of it. This monument may be deemed curious, from its having been erecfted on the place
where the conference was held between Chai-les the Fifth, emperor of Germany, Francis
theFlrft, of France, and pope Paul the Second, in order, if pofliblc, to terminate their
difputes.
Charles came feconded by a powerful fleet, Francis by a numerous army, and the Pontiff
with a vail ihare of eloquence ; which, however, proved ineffcilual, for he could only
procure a truce of ten years, -without being able to reconcile them, or adjuft their original
quarrel.
From Newborough I proceeded to Petit St. Laiffent, where I would recommend travellers
in general who go to Nice, not to omit vifiting the delightful and charming valley of
Fontaine du Temple, which is fituated on the right fide of the road, at a mile and a half
from the above village, as I really deem it one of the moft curious in the neighbourhood
of Nice. It takes its name from two abundant fountains which guih out of the middle of
a ftupendous rock. This water was, according to all appearances, fonnerly conduced to
Cemenelion by feveral aqueduds built by the Romans, of which there are many fragments
ilill extant, but at prefent ferves to turn a number of com, oil, and paper-mills ; though,
by the by, the paper of Nice is dreadfully coarfe and bad.
This inchanting valley merits the attention of both naturalift and painter, for it doubtlefs
contains a fund of amufcment to amateurs in thofe fciences. The former will immediately
difcover a curious and ftupendous mountain fonned of a kind of tufa, or fandy ftone,
refembling tliat of Puzzoli, near Naples.
In the innumerable fragments which are difperfed at the foot of this mountain, I col-
Icfted feveral picces of ftones of a dark grey colour, very like the bafaltcs I had found in
the neighbourhood of Vefuviiis. This circumflancc, added to its fb-udure, furprifed me