_July 9th._--Hot, beautiful day. A haziness in the atmosphere--the effect of this great heat--makes the distance quite _dreamy_. After so many bivouacs and cottage-beds, the delicious sensation with which I took possession of my voluptuous couch last night is not to be set forth in words, any more than the puzzled astonishment with which I gazed around on awaking this morning. It was some time ere I could clearly recollect where I was--surrounded by everything rich, beautiful, and luxurious. From my bed, too, I could see the meadows below, the silver current of the Seine, and the vine-clad hills beyond. It was impossible to jump up in my usual abrupt manner immediately on waking. I was loath to bring so much pleasure to a conclusion, convinced as I was that it must be less keen to-morrow; so I lay on until hunger reminded me that there were other duties to attend to--other pleasures to be enjoyed. I have now completed the inspection of my domain, and a right lovely one it is. Let me try and preserve a _souvenir_ of it. Architectural pretension the house has none--its charm consisting in the elegant and luxurious fitting-up of its interior, together with the exterior accessories by which it is surrounded. A neat (not small) house of two storeys, with dormitories under the usual very high roof characterising most French houses, seated on the very brink of the rather steep _coteau_, and thus overlooking the meadows, the Seine, the country beyond; and having in the foreground, and immediately below it, the fine massed foliage of the noble trees in the park occupied by Major M’Donald’s troop. From the village you enter by a _grande porte cochère_ into a neat gravelled courtyard--having the house in front, offices on the left, and a range of excellent light airy stables, and one or two coach-houses on the right. The lower floor of the _corps de logis_ consists of a suite of handsomely-furnished saloons, in one of which is a billiard-table--a most delightful solace in such a situation. The end room, having a large window opening to the floor upon a flight of steps leading down to a pretty terrace, is ornamented with some good statues. The corresponding rooms up-stairs are all fitted up as bed-rooms. The opposite side of the house from the court looks upon a charming garden presenting every variety of parterre and shrubbery, among which wind cool and shady walks; whilst the innumerable flowers of the parterres fill the air with their perfume; and the sparkling waters of a fountain continually playing under the windows impart a refreshing coolness and throw an air of romance over the whole. A broad terrace, overshadowed by linden-trees and acacias, runs along the edge of the _coteau_ from the end of the house, as above mentioned, to the extremity of the grounds, commanding a charming prospect through its whole length, but particularly from its termination, where, from a picturesque little _kiosk_ seated on an