 tho' a provincial, was polite in his way, and not only granted my
request, but invited me to lodge at his own house. I accordingly gave him my
company at supper, but did not choose to sleep in his quarters, because he
appeared to be what the French call un vieux debauchè.
    Next day, he sent a trumpet to the general, with a detail of my misfortune,
in hopes of retrieving what I had lost; but, notwithstanding all possible
search, I was fain to put up with my damage, which, in linen, laces, cloaths and
baubles, amounted to upwards of seven hundred pounds: a loss which never
deprived me of one moment's rest; for though I lodged at a miserable inn, and
lay in a paultry bed, I slept as sound as if nothing extraordinary had happened,
after I had written to London and Paris, directing that the payment of my bills
of credit might be stopp'd. Indeed, I know but of two misfortunes in life,
capable of depressing my spirits, namely, the loss of health and friends; all
others may be prevented, or endured. The articles of that calamity, which I
chiefly regretted, were a picture of lord W--m, and some inimitable letters from
Mr. B--.
    From Mechlin I proceeded to Brussels, where being known, I got credit for
some necessaries, and borrowed twenty guineas, to defray the expence of my
journey to Paris. Having consulted with my friends, about the safest method of
travelling through Flanders, I was persuaded to take places in the public
Voiture; and accordingly departed, not without fears of finding one part of the
country as much infested with robbers as another. Nor were these apprehensions
assuaged by the conversation of my fellow-travellers, who being of the lower
sort of people, that delight in exaggerating dangers, entertained me all the
way, with an account of all the robberies and murders which had been committed
on that road, with many additional circumstances of their own invention.
    After having been two days exposed to this comfortable conversation, among
very disagreeable company, which is certainly one of the most disagreeable
situations in life, I arrived at Lisle, where, thinking the dangerous part of
the journey was now past, I hired a post-chaise, and in two days more reached
Paris, without any farther molestation.
    Upon my arrival in this capital, I was immediately visited by my old
acquaintances, who hearing my disaster, offered me their cloaths, and insisted
upon my wearing them, until I could be otherwise
