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quently in tatters. In strolling about, we were accosted by a Jacobin monk, who informed us, that there are in this town fifteen religious houses, male and female communauté's, besides one convent of Jesuits; who, though consisting of no more than fourteen or fifteen in number, have a yearly revenue of thirty thousand livres (Piedmontefe). He added, that, to his knowledge, they had many concealed resources, but that they conducted themselves and their affairs with the utmost secrecy and circumspection, not chusing to converse or associate with any of the other religious orders. This man complained much of the rise and dearness of provisions. The measure of corn, which sold for four livres in 1767, cannot now be purchased under nine; and every other article of the necessaries of life have gradually risen, to the double of their former prices. – France used to supply Savoy with a considerable quantity of corn; but as this traffic is now prohibited, they are in constant apprehension of a scarcity. There may indeed be some resource in their buck-wheat, which produces two crops, the second later than every other sort of grain.
Several families of noblesse reside at Chamberry; and during the carnival they have a comedie and masked balls. The ladies here wear no rouge, excepting one old Marquise, who, I suppose, is a Frenchwoman. – Our host boasts much of a certain fish called lavaret, for which this river is famous; but he has not yet been able to procure us one of these delicacies.
