I N T R O D U C T I O N .
THE South of France prefents a large and exteofive field for obfervation, abounds in rich
fcenery, and contains many beautiful and magnificent remains of antiquity; in exploring
which, the Author of this Work frequently employed his pencil: and, flattering hirafelf
that his labours may, in part at leaft, be acceptable to the Englifh nadon, he has undertaken
a feledtion of fuch Views as appeared to him moil interefting; in which number he
includes thofe of its three principal harbours, viz. Toulon, Marfeilles, and Antibes.
It was originally his intention to have entered into a more extenfive and minute defcription
of thofe remains of ancient greatneis which are fcattered with fnch profiifion over
various parts of Provence and Langaedoc; and, moreover, to have exliibited fome account
of the form of government, and the manners of the inhabitants: but, confidering the ftrange
feries of events which have happened to that imfortunate country fince he took his defigns
and wrote liis obfcrvations, he is obliged to contraft his original plan, and, for the prefent,
to fatisfy himfelf with fubmitting his work to a generous and impartial Public in the following
abridged ilate.
It will confift of Four Numbers, each containing Three Views, with Defcriptions of the
moil: remarkable things in that delightful country, as far at leaft as the fize of the work
will properly allow.
• Thinking it, however, expei^ent that a work of this kind ihould contain fome idea of
the divifion of this part of France, he purpofes prefacing it with a few general obfervalions,
begiruiing witli an account of Provence.
PROVENCE is bounded on the nortli by Dauphiny; on the fouth by the Mediterranean;
on the eaft by tlie county of Nice; and on the weft by the Rhone, which feparates it from
Languedoc.
It extends nearly one hundred and thirty-fix miles from eall to weft, and one hundred
and five from north to fouth.
Before the revolution of 1789 that country was governed partly by the Etats, compofed
of Clergy and Noblefle, and partly by the Parliament held at Aix, the capital of Provence;
but, fince that epoch, it is now divided into t\vo departments, viz. theVar, and theBouches
du Rhone.
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