sweating under the Load. This was a rare way to thrive, when a Man carry’d his whole Estate thus in his Pocket! By this Means did the Duke Regent provide for the immense Charges of the War with _Spain_, which was carry’d on with Vigour; and soon after the taking of _Fontarabia_, the _French_ Army laid Siege to _St. Sebastian_, which held but Twenty-five Days, when both the Town and Castle surrender’d. As long as the War continued with Success in _Spain_ I never left soliciting at the Royal Palace, but always in vain. I spent most of my Time in the Regent’s Antichamber, and now-and-then went for Recreation to the House of _Madame de R----_, whom I have not had the Honour of mentioning to you for a good while, but my Passion was now grown cool, so that all those Visits were but a melancholy Relief in the Situation that I then stood in. My Friends made me reflect seriously on the small Hopes I ought to entertain of succeeding at the Court of _France_. The _Abbe de Asfeld_ perceiving the Anxiety I was under, took the Advantage of it to drive me, as I may term it, from a Place where I lost my Time, and spent the little Money I had to no Purpose; therefore I left _Paris_ once more, and travelled by the Way of _Metz_, to avoid the troublesome Questions of the King’s Lieutenant at _Toul_. * * * * * I pass’d thro’ St. MENEHOULT, which is a Town in _Champagne_, built in a Morass, between Two Eminencies. A little after I was there, it had the Misfortune to be burnt. I was told, that the Jews of _Metz_ offer’d to rebuild it intirely, on condition they might be permitted to have a Synagogue there. * * * * * From _St. Menehoult_ I went to VERDUN, an Episcopal City, whose Bishops take the Titles of Counts of _Verdun_, and Princes of the Holy Empire. This Diocese makes Part of the Three Bishopricks yielded to _France_ by _Lorrain_. The Cathedral is dedicated to our Lady. In this Church there’s a Well, which is preserv’d there for a Supply of Water in case of Fire, because the Place being on a very high Ground, it would be difficult to bring Water to it. * * * * * From _Verdun_ I went to METZ, where I made some Stay. This is a very large Town, at the Conflux of the _Moselle_ and the _Seille_. It was heretofore the Capital of _Austrasia_, and afterwards reckon’d as an imperial City till 1552, that the Constable of _Montmorency_ made a Conquest of it for _Henry_ II. King of _France_. The Emperor _Charles_ V. try’d in vain to retake it, when the Duke of _Guise_, who commanded in the Place, acquir’d great Reputation in the Defence of it, and oblig’d him to raise the Siege, at which the Emperor was so mortify’d, that he resign’d his Dominions, and retir’d to a Cloyster. _Metz_, _Toul_ and _Verdun_ were confirm’d to _France_ in 1559, by the Treaty of _Chateau-Cambresis_, and this Cession was afterwards confirm’d by the Peace of _Munster_ in 1648.