on each side the River Soan, over which there are several Bridges. on the south side of the City is the famous River Rhoan menshoned by many Historians and Poets. this afternoon I passed the Street that is bounded on one side by this River, and saw its windings a considerable way. On the north side of the City the Hills are very high and bound it. we assended in going on this high ground a flight of Stone Steps, the number about 120. those Steps lead from [one] of the Streets. when we had got to the Top of the Steps we still assen[d]ed till we reach the Summit, where there is several [buildings] one of them a Church. But such a prospect my eyes never before beheld; such an extended Country so rich and beautifull! and at the utmost reach of sight could see the Alps riseing like Clouds above the other Hills, we could see from this the Mountains of Savoy and Switserland very Distinktly, and the City of Lyons right under our feet with the two beautyfull Rivers one on the Side the other running through the midst of it. Brother Harry can convey a very perfect Idea of our rout by my maps. I design staying in this City only two Days to rest and see what there is to be seen, and than with Diligence go on. I believe you must think we have not loitered on the road when we have go[ne] so far in so short a time, but we want to get on as fast as we can, and the sooner will be the return that I trust will put me in possession of my Dear Family. I am very Ancious for you, my Dear, and our lovely Children, for I know not what state you are in, in Boston; but I pray God to preserve you and them. I beg you will not be uneasey for me, for I take all imaginable care of my self and find it an happy event the having a companion. by this everything goes on easy. We shall I trust soon be at the utmost distance from those I so tenderly [love] that I propose, after a few months tarry there, every remove will

1

bring us nearer together. O my Angel! had it been convenient for you to have been with me, how happy should I have been! I am ancious to know how my Dear Mother does, and [whether] she is easey or not. I know she must be ancious for me, but I hope it does not make her unhappy. do give my tenderest Love and duty to her. I wrote to her to you and Brother Harry from Paris, which I hope you will duly receive. you must continue to Direct to Brother Jackey 1 at the New England Coffee House my Letters, and he will forward them to me. Give my Duty and Love to our Hond. Papa, and to all my friends remember me in such a way as you shall judge proper. I hope you meet with no dificulty in the settlement of those Accts I left in your hands. I shall be much distresed if you are put to any dificulty of that kind. do write by every oppertunity. I am impation to know how things go in Boston. if my Brother wrote by the Vessell that brought your welcom Letter to me, it is lost. I have never seen it. give my blessing to my Dear Babys, and a thousand Kisses. tell my Dear Betsey not to forget he[r] Papa. I finish this 16 tho I began it 15 of Sepr. it give[s] you one Days later inteligence. But I must bid you Adieu, my Dear life. I shall write to you from Marsells as soon as I arrive there if the[re] be any oppertunity; if not do not be ancious. I shall watch every oppertunity. in the mean time may the good God keep you and your little one[s] in continual Peace, and beleive [me] your Most Affectionate Husband,

1 Jonathan Clarke.

JOHN S. COPLEY.2

2 The omissions in this letter, indicated by brackets, are due to the writer's haste, not to defects in the manuscript.

Copley to Henry Pelham

MY DEAR BROTHER,

MARSEILLES, 25 Sepr., 1774.

From this place I write you, altho I have so lately sent you a long Letter, for I assure you I dont know a greater pleasure than writing to my friends. But I should if it was possable fill my letters with matter that diffiered, so that each should contain somthing percular to itself. for I consider those I write to you not only yours but belonging to our Dear Mama, and my Dear Sukey; but it is dificult, as we take only a cursory vew of those places through which we pass. however I shall as much as possable avoid repetitions. I arrived at this place yesterday afternoon, and now begin to see the end of my long but most pleasing Tour, big with pleasure of various kind and instruction. You must think we have made great Dispatch to reach this place not less than eight hund. and fifty miles from London in four weeks, and made a week's stay at Paris, two Days at Lyons, and four Days and an half at Avignon; but I assure you there is no more Dificulty in traviling th[r]ough this Country than in your going to Cambridge; nor is there any dangers attending it but those to which human nature is exposed at all times and in every place. my last Letter was Dated at Lyons. from thence went to Avignon and reached it in 2 Days and an 2. we went down (in a kind of Vessel) the River Rhone carried by the currant, which although rapped is for the most part like a Glass. the River is not wider than that of Cambridge full of winding, many small Islands in it, and on its borders many Vilages and the most romantic Country on each side that you can conceive. Quite from Lyons to Avignon there is one continued range of hills which are very high, and in many places

there is ruined monestrys, Towers, Castels, etc., which give such an effect that it exceeds all Discription. those kind of Boats or Vesells is continually Stoping boath to Land and take in passingers. it is so safe and so easy a mode of conveyance that people go in them, if it is not more than two or three miles they want to go. there is certain places where they Stop to Dine, and there is allways an eligant Diner provided of three Coarses, consisting of Fish, Fowls, Beef, Mutton, small Birds, etc.; and after this a Desert of Grapes, Peaches, Almons, Wallnuts, figgs, Cakes, Chese, etc., and as Genteely served as you can Imagin. the forks are all Silver and at every plate a Napkin neetly folded and lying on it. these Napkins are never brought a second time, no more is the Table Cloath. I must do the French the jus[tice] to say in their Table Linen they are very nice. I suppose you will wonder if I tell you I never wish to live more eligant than I do at those Houses. the Linen of their Beds is also very clean, their plates are a kind of earthan but quite white, and I think very Clever: their bread is very good; and to every plate a Roal is laid; and a Tumbler set with a silver Fork and spoon; and you would wonder to see with what ease the Cumpany is tended and how very genteel every thing is. however it is to be observed we have lived in the first manner that France affoards. there is a Vast variety of made Dishes brought besides the above mentioned. their suppers are just the same that their Diners are. Through the agreable windings of the Rhone we passed till we arrived at Avignon, where we had a little English Colony which was compossed of Gentlemen and Ladys to the number of fifteen, and at the play we made no small Figure. we spent 4 Days in this place very happily indeed, in this English assosiation. Avignon is a very pretty place, and I beleive may contain as many Inhabitants as Bos

ton. it is in the Pope's Dominions and divided from the French Kings only by the Rhone, which is very narrow as I before menshoned. there is on the other side of the Rhone, two Convents, one of Benedictines situated very high and commands a very noble prospect, the other at a little distance in a small Vilage of which I have forgot the name. it is surprisingly rich in painting, Guilding, etc. it is very Clean throughout and Eligent. from Avignon we came in a Chaise to this Seaport, which is a very fine one. yesterday as soon as we arrived, we weited on Mr. Burbeck the British Consul, Who treated us with the greatest politeness Imaginable, Kept us to Tea, called on us this morning, carried us throughout the Town, which he thinks contains an hund. Thousand Souls. I prefer this place to any I have seen sence I left London. the Harbour is a very fine one, secured from the Ocean every way; the Buildings very good. We were at the play the last Eveng. and have been this also, but I sit up to write, as the Consul will send this Letter for me, and must have [it] by 9 oClock in the morning. he intends carrying us to the Concert to morrow Evening, and the next Day we set out for Antebes in a Chaise which we have taken for that purpose. Allow me before I conclude to intreat you to get the Languages. it is of the greatest consiquence to you Imaginable. I have lost a vast pleasure in not having the french but am surprised to find I have got so many words in so short a time. was I to stay 3 Months I should be able to speak a little. I can now ask for many things, but I shall soon be in the midst of Italian. as I have now trespassed on the las[t] page I shall be oblige[d] to inclose it in Sukeys and I shall not put a Covour, because there is nothing but what your Sister may see and I shall save some postage. this I know you will excuse. pray give my Effectionate Duty to our ever Dear and