Your Letter, my dearest afforded me inexpressible
satisfaction, I thought, from the Style,
it appeared, that your Spirits were better than
usual. consequently that you were in better
Health -- I imagine you have received my 2d letter
which I directed to your Brother -- was you not surprised
at the Language? I did it out of a
Frolic to amuse you -- I did not my dear
enclose the letter, as I imagined from
the post-mark &c. he would be aware it was
for you -- I did not doubt you had informed
him you expected one from the Continent &c &c
-- I told you in my last that the Town itself
of Aix had little to recommend it to the curiosity
of Strangers. during our Stay there however
-- I was Spectator to a curious Event
-- it was the Reception of a Student of Louvain
-- who was received with the highest honours --
upon having gained the Prize in the Schools of
Philosophy -- out of 6000 scholars there are
40 examined every year & the one who gains the
Prize is received in the City or Town where he
was born with every demonstration of Joy --
it happened this year that a Native of this
Town -- a Wine Merchant Son is the
person who has got the Prize -- it is 140 years
since a person born at Aix has gain one --
& then it was an Ancestor of this young
Mans. Lady Dartrey & I went in the Coach.
through the principal Streets of the Town, --
(to see the preparations) which were ornamented with Triumphal Arches

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some of Evergreens -- decorated with a vast quantity
of Flowers, Glass, ribbons coloured & white Egg shells
-- embroidered Flags -- with inscriptions in Latin
& German -- others of Paintings with Lamps
& tin ornaments &c. &c. we drove through 30 Arches
-- & on each Side of the Streets through which the Primus
passed were planted Trees at about 4 feet distance
from each other, interspersed with flowering
Shrubs & flowers -- about 4 o'clock the Bells
began to ring & the Guns were fired, when he
came to the gates of the City on Horseback -- upon
a fine white horse / a Crown of Bay upon his
hat & his Hair curled & hanging down his Back
tied with Ribbons -- he had his Scholars Gown
on, & a branch of Laurel in his right hand
the Students -- of Louvaine -- Aix la Chapell
&c. attended on Horseback & rode two & two
-- There were drums Trumpets & two bands
of Music went before the Primus -- who
appeared to receive his Honours with a due propriety
of behaviour -- with a great air of modesty
-- & yet no mauvaise honte. every Window
was filled, & every body bowed as he passed
which he returned -- after the Procession -- he
went to the Cathedral where the Te Deum
was sung -- & supped at the Hotel de Ville --
at the expense of the Town. For that day he
would take place of any person of the highest
rank -- & every Town he passes through makes him
a present -- the whole amounting to 200L. & he
may choose whatever Benefice falls within 7

---

years in the Town of Louvaine -- The feastings
& rejoicings lasted several days -- the day after
His public entry we were invited to the Ball he
gave at the Jesuits College -- & I had the Honour
of dancing with the Primus -- The Streets at
Night were Illuminated in a very pretty manner
by Festoons of Coloured Lamps in the Arches --
& upon every Tree there was a little lamp. --
-- I hope my Dear Clara this long account will not
appear tedious -- but answer my intention -- that of
affording you some amusement -- with that view
I will relate another little Aix anecdote -- Lord Dartrey & I
walked out one Morning & ascended a high Hill near
the Town from which there is a very Noble Prospect
      -- when we had climbed about half
      way we found a Cottage & barn
      a poor Woman who lives in the cottage and seems entirely unconnected with
      the World -- came out and brought us C --- 
and without being asked went & milked her  ------ 
for us -- whilst we were sitting & waiting for
Milk. we saw a poor Young woman, with a little Sick
Child in her Arms, & two other Children following  ------ 
one with Beads & a bottle of holy Water -- the other carry --- 
two small Candles she went into the Cottage, & came
out soon again with the Candles lighted -- She thereafter
went to the door of the large Barn -- which had the
appearance of an Old Ruin of a Church -- & made
a sign for us to follow her, which we did & to our great
surprise found a place fill with Straw & Wheat
like a Granary which we got through with difficulty --
at the End of this -- with no division from the Straw &c
but its being Swept back -- was a Chapel -- filled
with Crucifixes & wretched Pictures more fit to
inspire dread than devotion -- a large Altar & two
small ones -- a Pulpit, confessional Chair -- on one Side
a Sepulchre with the Figure of Christ lying down

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dressed in Mourning -- with Mary & two Saints standing
behind him all in mourning -- all miserable decorated -- the
poor woman & her Children kneeled down before this Sepulchre
-- after having put up the lighted Candles on each side -- &
seemed to offer up her prayers with a devotion that was quite
affecting -- the tears flowed fast down her cheeks -- & she prayed in Silence
over the Sick Child she held in her arms -- all this was without the
least appearance of superstition or Parade it is impossible to
describe justly such a Sort of Scene to any one that was not

▼

present -- but I assure you  ------  dear I felt it a most
edifying one -- we gave the poor unhappy Creature
some small Money which she seemed to
receive as a Blessing from God -- we left her & went through
the Church & found some remains of Gothic Architecture
-- Pillars &c. & in a open Vault a prodigious
large Stone Tomb we did not venture in to satisfy
our Curiosity any farther -- I have sent to Brussells for
Your letter from hence but can hear nothing of it -- am
surprised I have not got it -- as all letters was ordered to be
forwarded to us here -- pray my dear write me some long
letters & direct to the City of London at Dover -- to be
left till called for -- English direction -- Adieu my Dear

                             S

T Litchfield
      at
      Northampton
      Angleterre

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