"I have visited Paris, the capital of the whole kingdom of France.

I entered it in the same state of mind that was felt by Apuleias when he visited Hypata, a city of Thessaly, celebrated for its magic, of which such wonderful things were related, looking again and again at every object, in solicitous suspense, to know whether all that he had heard of the far-famed place was true or false.

Here I pass a great deal of time in observation, and, as the day is too short for my curiosity, I add the night.

At last, it seems to me that, by long exploring, I have enabled myself to distinguish between the true and the false in what is related about Paris.

But, as the subject would be too tedious for this occasion, I shall defer entering fully into particulars till I can do so _viva voce_.