THE IDLER IN FRANCE

By MARGUERITE GARDINER, THE COUNTESS OF BLESSINGTON

1841.






CHAPTER I.


NISMES.

I have omitted to notice the route to this place, having formerly
described the greater portion of it. I remarked a considerable
improvement in the different towns we passed through: the people look
cleaner, and an air of business has replaced the stagnation that used
to prevail, except in Marseilles and Toulon, which were always busy
cities.

Nismes surpasses my expectations, although they had been greatly
excited, and amply repays the long _détour_ we have made to visit it.

When I look round on the objects of antiquity that meet my eye on every
side, and above all on the Amphitheatre and _Maison Carrée_, I am
forced to admit that Italy has nothing to equal the two last: for if
the Coliseum may be said to surpass the amphitheatre in dimensions, the