3052. FONTAINBLEAU, Description.—
This is a village of about 5000 inhabitants
when the Court is not here, and 20.000 inhabitants
when they are; occupying a valley
through which runs a brook, and on each side
of it a ridge of small mountains most of which
are naked rock. The King comes here, in the
fall always, to hunt. His court attend him, as
do also the foreign diplomatic corps. But as
this is not indispensably required, and my finances
do not admit the expense of a continued
residence here. I propose to come occasionally
to attend the King's levees, returning again to
Paris, distant forty miles.—
To Rev. James Madison.
Ford ed., vii, 33.
(P.
1785)
