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I shall annex a statement of the proceedings of the Mission at Avignon, during the Lent of 1819, copied and abridged from a short pamphlet, written by a M. Fransoy, a lawyer of that city; which being published by a layman on the spot where the events in question recently took place, possesses the most probable claim to accuracy and impartiality.
"They all come, señor," he announced. "Pig tief say Fransoy rob him and he go casser office window." He turned and waved his hand threateningly as a big man in ragged white clothes came into the light. "Fuera, puerco ladron!" The man took off a large palm-leaf hat and flourished it with ironical courtesy. "Here is gran escandolo, señores. La belle chose, verdad!
Whatever the interests and prejudices of M. Fransoy may be, it is improbable that he would have risked his professional and private reputation, by misrepresenting recent occurrences on the spot where they took place; and certainly his narrative places the Mission in a new point of view, both as to its conduct, its reception, and its effects.
There is, it is true, something extravagant and bordering on stage effect, in many of the ceremonies performed, and expressions used, as recorded by the pen of M. Fransoy. An Englishman, however, is not always a fair judge of the best means of influencing the mind of a Frenchman, more particularly a south-eastern one.