Soon afterward, the city of Toulouse was thrown into a high state of consternation, in consequence of the assassination of the Duc de Berri; the imaginations of the inhabitants recurred to the sanguinary scenes of the French revolution, in which this town had no small share, and anticipated a return of its horrors. After this event, the following invitation was addressed to the various English residents:
“Eglise reformée de Toulouse. Nos tres chers frères en Jesus Christ.
Vous avez tous gémis sur l’horrible attentat commis sur la personne de S. A. R. Monseigneur Le Duc de Berri, attentat qui a privé la France et l’auguste famille des Bourbons, de leur espoir le plus précieux; nous vous invitons à vous rendre vendredi 24 de ce mois, à onze heure du matin, dans le temple, pour exprimer, devant Dieu, la vive douleur que nous en èprouvons.
Les Membres du Consistoire.
CHABRAND, President, &c. &c. &c.”
Toulouse, le 22 Mars, 1820.
This city abounds with beggars, many of them objects of real charity; as it is impossible that persons with limited incomes, can afford a sous for each, it is not unusual to give them one, and take change out of it.
The winter proved unusually severe; from the middle of November to the end of December, it continued wet; from this time to the latter part of February, it was excessively cold; and at the end of January, the ground was covered with snow for a fortnight together. For an uninterrupted week, during some part of the twenty-four hours, Fahrenheit’s thermometer stood at from 9° to 11° below Zero. The Garonne for the first time for thirty years, was frozen over, the ice being found to the thickness of nine inches. The end of March, and beginning of April, however, became so fine and warm in the middle of the day, as to make walking irksome.
I now began to contemplate breaking up my winter quarters, in order to proceed to Montpellier. On inquiry, I found two modes of conveyance to this place, one by the Grand Canal de Languedoc, the other by diligence; and having made my arrangements for being conveyed by the latter, I prepared, on the 13th of April, to bid adieu to Toulouse.
I must not, however, leave this city, without paying a due tribute of respect to the worthy family with whom I have been resident, whose innumerable acts of kindness, and attention to a whimsical invalid, will ever claim his gratitude.