and improved in their persons, and (I am told) in their French. I was very much struck with the difference of objects and customs when I reflected how small a space divides one nation from the other, like true English. We saw all we could, and I thought of my dear Lord Harcourt, though not with him, in their churches. I own (though I blame myself at the same time for it) I was disgusted with all the pomp and magnificence of them, when I saw the priests 'playing such fantastic tricks before high Heaven as (I think) must make the angels weep'; and the people gabbling over their prayers, even in the act of gaping, to have it over as quick as might be. Alas! said I to myself, in the pitifulness, and perhaps vanity, of my heart, how sorry I am for these poor deluded people, and how much more worthy the Deity ('who does prefer before all temples the upright heart and pure') are the sublime and simple forms of our religion. Indeed, my dear Madam, I am better satisfied with the ideas and feelings that have been excited in my heart in your garden at Nuneham, than ever I have been in those fine gewgaw places, and believe Mr. Haggitt, by his plain and sensible sermons, has done more good than a legion of these priests would do if they were to live to the age of Methusalem. I am willing to own that all this may be prejudice, and that we may not mean better than our neighbours; but fire shall not burn my opinion out of me, and so God mend all. Now, to turn to our great selves. We took our little folks to Lisle; it is a very fine town, and, though I know nothing of the language, the acting was so really good that it gave me very great pleasure. The language of true genius, like that of Nature, is intelligible to all. We stayed there a few days, and
