Among many arguments that he made use of was that most silly one, which has been so often sported by the Catholic theologians, viz.: that it is much safer to be a Catholic than a Protestant, inasmuch as the Catholics do not allow that any person can be saved out of the pale of their church, whereas the Protestants do allow that a Catholic may be saved. I answered him that this very argument made more against Catholicism than any other, and that this intolerant spirit would ever prevent me (even had such an idea entered into my head) of embracing such a religion. I then told him that, once for all, I did not wish to enter into any theological disputes; that I had fully made up my mind on these subjects; and that I would rather take the opinion of a Voltaire or a Franklin on these matters than all the opinions of all the theologians and churchmen that ever sat in council from the Council of Nicsea to the present day. This silenced him effectually. Such is the absurd line of conduct pursued by the Catholic priests of the present day in France. Instead of reforming the discipline and dogmas of their church and adapting it to the enlightened ideas of the present age, they are sedulously employd in preaching intolerant doctrines, and reviving absurd legends, and pretended miracles, which have been long ago consigned to contempt and oblivion by all rational Catholics; and by this they hope to re-establish the ecclesiastical power in its former glory and preponderance. Vain hope! By the American and French Revolutions a great light is gone up to the _Gentiles_. Catholicism is on its last legs, and they might as soon attempt to replace our old friend and school acquaintance Jupiter on the throne of heaven, as to re-establish the Papal power in its pristine splendour; to borrow the language of the _Pilgrim's Progress_, the Giant _Pope_ will be soon as dead as the Giant _Pagan_. On arrival at Lyons we put up at the _Hôtel du Parc_, where I found cheaper and better entertainment than at the _Hôtel du Nord_. My friend young Wardle has fallen in love with a very beautiful _cafetière_ at Lyons', and spends a great part of his time in the _café_, at which this nymph administers, and looks at her, _sighs, looks and sighs again_. It is not probable however that he will succeed in his suit, for she has been courted by very many others and no one has succeeded. She remains constant to her _good man_, and the breath of calumny has never ventured to assail her. I met one day at Lyons with my old friend W----s of Strassburg, who was a Lieutenant in the 25th Regiment in the French service and served in the battle of Waterloo.[105] He is now here and being on _demi-solde_, employs himself in a mercantile house here as principal commis. He dined with us and we passed a most pleasant day together. I arrived on the 20th April at Lausanne. * * * * *