The Sun.
London, England, 1827-11-13 00:00:00

MARSEILLES, OCT. 26.

In a late letter I described the state of the
country on the route from Toulouse to Mar-
seilles, as far as Arles, and there is not much
worth notice after that place. Twelve miles from
Arles is Saint Renny, which, though merely a
village, has such an. excellent inn, that I would
recommend every lover of good cheer to give it
a trial. The country abounds in the most de-
licious fruit, the melons produced are of a pecu-
liar quality, being, when ripe, perfectly green,
and cannot be excelled in flavour. There is a
triumphal arch and several other remains of Ro-
man edifices which are worth looking at. A
silk-mill has been established, but the manufac-
tory is very inconsiderable.

Nine riles fiirther is Orgon„ arnikiliinay be as
.welr to know that though forrolley * deltas
tolerable hotel, one has lately been established
by the Postmaster, which is conducted in very'
good style. The canal, for watering the surround-
ing territory, which has been cut completely
through the base of a lofty mountain, is a piece
of workmanship of no ordinary kind; but it
would seem that the jobbing system is , quite as
well known in France as in England, for how-
ever one may admire the talent displayed in this
instance, it is almost thrown away, as several
landed proprietors assured me that the canal
might have been turned in another direction with
more advantage, and without the labour and ex-
pence incurred. Thus, as is the case with most
French schemes, utility was the last thing taken
into consideration, and the work was principally
undertaken as a novelty, and to put money into
the pocket of the engineer.
This year's crop of grain at Orgon was very
indifferent, and the produce only a third of the
average. The present price of oats is 2s. for a
measure of ten quarts ; wheat, 4s. 2d. for a mea-
sure containing about 60 lbs. The breed of silk-
worms is becoming a very important and lucra-
tive branch of commerce at Orgon, and a good
deal is also done in linen and stuffs; its olives
also are celebrated. Much is said in favour of
the climate in this direction, and except when the
wind called the Mistral prevails, cold is quite un-
known. Such is the violence of this wind, that
a short time since one of the diligences, which
weighed at least as much as four of our stage
coaches laden, was, precipitated from a consider-
able height. Such accidents are by no means
uncommon, and it happens frequently in this
part of the country that the coaches are delayed
till the wind subsides.

I have had frequent occasion to notice the
indisposition of the priesthood, both in France
arid Spain, to the spread of knowledge; and here
I find that the French language is literally pro-
scribed by them, foithe prayers and exhortations
are always said either . in Latin or the Patois of
the country, and thus it is little understood.
As no books exist in the latter language, •it is
not very necessary to know how to read. The
peasantry by this means have no oracle but the
village curate, no doctrine, religious or political,
to digest but that which is thought fit for them.
114 several towns in the direction of Orgon, there
are perhaps only two or three residents who un-
derstand the French language—,-a fact which,
though seeming strange, is most certainly true.
Thirty-five miles from Orgon is Aix ; about
half way is the village of Lambesc, a very poor,
desolate place, affording nothing, at least to the
traveller. The road, however, is very romantic
and beautiful. Though almost every where else
people 'are in high spirits at the abundant vin-
tage
this year, at Lambesc it was scarcely ever
worse ; the wine made there is always very bad.
I was told that the harvest has been very indif-
ferent. Lambesc was at one period a place of
Some importance, and the assemblies of the pro-
vince were held there..

Aix is a place much resorted to by the Eng-
lish, from its boasted climate, and the luxurious
produce of its territory. It is a handsome town,
and from its situation is a healthy, economical,
and agreeable place of residence.
The inn to
which those called stylish people usually go is
the Hotel des Princes, but at the Hotel du
Cours the accommodations are perhaps quite as
good, and the charges much less.
Marseilles is twenty-four miles from Aix, and
there is not, perhaps, a more beautiful road in
any part of France. Though there are always
thany English here, the number is at present
greater than for some years past, and it is, diffi-
ctilt to get lodged in the hoteLL in any direction;
to steam-packet which sailed yesterday for
Maples was literally crowded Arith our country!