OF THE FOREST. 9

that beautiful river, which, as is well known,
rises near Saint Seine in Burgundy, and
mingles itself with the sea below the city of
Rouen.

It is a region rich in orchards and vine-
yards, in fragrant meadow lands, and thymy
downs: to the north thereof lies a forest,
extending itself for several leagues over a
space most beautifully diversified with hill
and dale, and affording within its deep re-
cesses such a great variety of cool grottos,
waterfalls, and natural bowers as I have
seldom seen in any other part of the world.
There is the sweet village, each little dwell-
ing of which has its thatched roof, its rural
porch, and its gay flower garden, We had
our chateau also, which, being built of grey
stone, and having a commanding site, af-
forded a pleasing object to the road which
runs from Paris to Rouen on the other side
of the Seine ; its fanes and turrets at that
time being exalted above the neighbouring
woods, though, as I now understand, they
are levelled to the dust: and near the
chateau was the Tour de Tourterelle, which