The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-12-18
Carriers Lctters.-Our readers will

a rule prescribed TO ourselves by hint
from the editors of the N. Y ork States
man, in copying single letter from is
senior editor--but it relates to Aviguon
aud Naucluse--it speaks of Laura and
Petrarch--Our female readers would
not excuse an omission of such a chance
Of gratifying their TASTE u. s. Gdz.
Opposite the Papal Palace in Aving-
non, stands another large pile of bnild-
ngs, once used as the mint of the Rom
ish Corct. Its front is richly ornament
ted, and in architectural beauty far sur
passes the former residence ofthe Pom
tiils. Not far hence, once stood the
Church of ST. Clair, in which Petrarch
first saw Laura at her devotions, and be-
come captive to her charms. The
chapel was demolished many years
since, and shop erected on its settle,
where tape and calicocs are now most
, unpoetically vended.
Another memorial ofthe two immor-
tai lovers has been better preserved. In
a garden near the Church OF the Corde-
liers is the tomb of Laura, where il is
said her ashes really repose. Tho hal
low ed grond is marked by five little py-
ramids OF cypress, shading in a most pic
turesque manner a section of white
marble pillar rising beneath their boughs,
and resting upon neat bul unadorned
and uninscribed pedestal Much taste
is displayed in the elegant simplicity of
the monument. By singular and un-
premeditated coincidence, the waters OF
Vaucluse, drawn from the Sorgia, and
conducted through Avignou for mechan-
ical purposes, murmur by the tomb, as il
anxious to lull the sleep of beauty and
pay back the debt of gratitude for their
fame. Unsettled as are the claims OF
Laura, in the first place to any thing, be-
yond a poetlcal existence; and in the
second place, to those qualities which
enttle her to remembrance and respect
yet Petrarch has impaired such an in
terest to the real or fictitious mistress OF
his affections, that the mind is irresista-
bly, led to pay homage, perhaps to the
| shadow of shade. Our attachment to
her dust was almost as great as that OF
the poet to her living charms and we
fingered about the tomb till the approach
of twilight, plucking twigs of cypress, as
relics from the little shrine.
II was our wish to visit the museum al
| Avignon, which is said 10 contain many
local antiquities and curiosities as also
the Hospital and Lunatc Asylum; but
in consequence oftbe great festival, eve
ny body was engaged abroad, and the
public institutions closed. A walk,
therefore, across the bridge ofthe Rhone,
into Languedoc, distance of nearly a
mile, and an attendance of few hours
at the playhouse in the evening, con-
Guided the occupations and amusements
of the day. The Theatre is new, and
one of the finest we have seen in France.
There was a large well dressed, d gen.
teel audience, although there seemed To
be nothing attractive in the talents of
the company or the merits Of the play.
From the numerous circle of ladies', a
person might have selected several faces
| to which the Lover of Laura would not
perhaps have disdained the tribute of n
sonnet. A little circumstance occurred
in the course of the evening, illustrative
of the poltenes of the French. One
of US left an umbrella in the box, not
thinking of it until the rain reminded us
of Our loss. On returning to look for
it in the crowd, we found that French
gentleman, Notwithstanding the impede
ment of a lady under his arm, had been
at the trouble of delivering the article
for safe keeping to the man at the bar
of the coffee room, who promotly re-
stored it. Much politenesS and afabil-
ity were also manifested towards us by
party of ladies and gentlemen at the
public table of the Hotel, to whom the
American name seemed a recommended
ton, and who lavished their praises up
on the land of Washington and Frank
lin. La Fayette has rivetted the chain
of friendship, which binds the liberal
party IN France TO the republicans OF the
United States.
The eighth of FEBRUARY is entered in
my calendar as one oftbe happiest days
of my life for it was passed in visiting
the Nave of Vaucluse, a retreat render
ed interesting by whatever is beautiful
in nature, elegantin letters, and roman
tic in love. Petrarcl used to say, that
he was almost angry to find any thing so
enchanting out of Italy; since it had
tendency to weaken his attachment to
his native country. | can SO far unite
in the sentiment as to say, that could
the charms of any foreign scenery shake
the constancy of my affection for my
native shores, the rocks, solitudes, and
waters, the bloom and verdure, the Sc
eusion and rural quiet of this little val
ley, scarcely surpassed by that which
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