of Lugdunum, in the beginning of Nero's reign, was entirely burnt. The Emperor gave a large fum of money to repair fo public a disaster. In remembrance of such a benefit, this colony could never be induced to defert their benefactor, no, not even when all the reft of the colonies had unanimously, and indeed justly, forfaken him. Lugdunenfis colonia, says Tacitus, pertinaci pro Nerone fide*. Is not so steady an inftance of gratitude much to their honour?

I do not recollect that Domitian is faid to have given any benefactions towards the repair of Lugdunum.

Thofe of Tra

jan are highly extolled. The Forum vetus Trajani is recorded as one of the many noble works of that emperor. It remained entire to the reign of Charles the Bald. It was on a hill, which lies above the prefent city, and where many pieces of antiquity are still vifible. On the fame hill

*The colony of Lugdunum had an obstinate "attachment to Nero."

is a church dedicated to the virgin Mary, and to our famous English faint, Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury. Becket, you may remember, is faid to have refided at Lyons, and though the faints in general are in their wane, at least in this part of the world, yet our English Thomas maintains his ground with some degree of veneration and fplendor in the Celtic Gaul; or my landlord, Monf. le Blanc, deceives and flatters me. I muft take his word, being disappointed of feeing the place. For the derivation of the word Lugdunum I refer you to Strabo, Plutarch, and fuch other antiquarians, as you please to confult. Studies of that fort are more trifling than improving, more fabulous than hiftorical. Sunt magni nominis umbræ.

From the time of the firft foundation of this city, it has been famous for its trade and manufactures. It is fituated to maintain its commerce to the end of the world,

I have faid too much perhaps of the ancient Lugdunum, and too little of the modern Lyons; but alas! my accounts of both must be very imperfect. I have neither books nor companions to instruct me. My travelling fervant babbles all languages, but speaks none. My landlord is a barber, qui frise bien la tête, and confequently understands how to adorn the outside, but cannot improve, the infide of any head whatever. I go from hence this afternoon, and hope to pierce through the Alps without the help of vinegar. The first opportunity that occurs fhall bring another letter to you, in which I will be more explicit than I have been hitherto, in describing the second city of France in its present glory.

I am ever yours.

CORKE

LETTER

[21]

LETTER III,

WE

Chamberry, October 6th, 1754.

E are now, dear fir, in the capital of Savoy, the dirtieft capital in Europe, nay, I believe, in the whole world; but I am in honour bound to return with you to Lyons, before we ramble together through the ftreets of Chamberry.

The chief traffic of Lyons confists in the richest gold and filver filks. Much of it, if not the whole, is manufactured in or near the city. The raw filk is chiefly brought from Piedmont. In our road to Chamberry we met many mules, heavily laden with this commodity. Ít is a merchandise, that has long proved fatal to Great Britain. Our exceffive British vanity, in an infatiable thirst of French

C 3

French filks, has forced away great wealth from our island. On the other hand, it must be true English obstinacy to fay, that the filks of Spital-fields are equal to the Soyerie Lionnefe: but it may be affirmed, that if we really loved our country better than ourselves, or endeavoured to make the general prosperity preferable to the ornaments of individuals, millions of our money must have circulated at home, that now fluctuate throughout the continent; and feldom find their way back again to England. Lewis XIV, never acted more impoliticly towards the state, nor more fervilely towards the church, than when he drove fuch numbers of Proteftants out of France, as weakened the manufactures of his own kingdoms, and improved the manufactures of his neighbours. Cardinal Fleury, who, without the title, was actual king of France during many years, faw the errors of the preceding reign, in not giving fufficient attention

and