This put me so much out of Temper, that notwithstanding my Passion for Madam _de R----_, and my being so much attach'd to _France_, I determin'd to try once more for an Establishment elsewhere. For this purpose I wrote to the Prince of _H----_, a General Officer in the Emperor's Service, and a Colonel of a Regiment of Foot, who return'd me a very obliging Answer, how glad he should be to admit me into his Regiment; but that there was no Company vacant in it, nor none like to be, unless I could strike a Bargain with a certain old Captain who had a Design to retire, and would gladly part with his Company for 2000 Crowns. To find such a round Sum as 2000 Crowns, in the Situation which I was in then, and to find the Philosopher's Stone, was as easy for me one as the other. I resolv'd, however, to treat with the Captain.
I therefore set out for _Bruges_, where the Prince of _H----_ was in Garison with his Regiment. I met with a Captain, but he was pretty stiff, and would absolutely hear of no Terms but the Money down, or old Plate for Security. The Prince, who really wish'd me well, and perfectly knew the State of my Affairs, wrote to my Cousin to persuade her to consent to my taking up some more Money upon the Estate. I also indited the most moving Letter I could, to melt her; but 'twas all to no purpose: The Answers she return'd were very sarcastical. She set me off to the Life, and she had the Art to persuade the Prince who had wrote to her, that to give me Leave to borrow more Money, was to put a Sword into the Hands of a Mad-man. For my own part I was in a manner convinc'd that she had Reason on her side. I therefore quitted all Thoughts of the Company which I propos'd to buy, and set out for _Paris_.
I was not sorry to leave BRUGES[52], it being one of the saddest Places in the _Netherlands_ for a Man to live in, who is not a Merchant; yet 'tis a very considerable City. 'Tis said to be very ancient, and that it was encompass'd with Walls in the Year 865. It was formerly dependant on the Bishopric of _Tournay_; but since the Reign of _Philip_ II. it has been erected into a Bishop's See, which is now Suffragan to the Archbishopric of _Mechlin_. Its Cathedral, which is dedicated to St. _Donat_, is a very old and a very fine Structure. The other Churches are also of an elegant Model, especially the _Jesuits_ Church and our _Lady_'s. In the latter there's the Tomb of _Charles_ the _Bold_ the last Duke of _Burgundy_ who was kill'd before _Nancy_, from whence his Corpse was translated hither, by order of _Mary_ of _Austria_, his Grandaughter, the Widow of a King of _Hungary_ and Sister to the Emperor _Charles_ V. The Situation of _Bruges_ is very advantagious, it being but three Leagues from the Sea; and for the Ease of its Trade there are several Canals cut in it, on which Vessels pass to and fro as they do in _Holland_; with this Conveniency moreover, that People dine there as elegantly as in the best Tavern. Tho' all these Canals have a Communication with the Sea, yet their Waters are not fast, by reason of the Sluices and other Machines, which they make use of to prevent it. 'Tis natural to suppose, that Fields in which so many Canals are cut, must be fertile; yet the Trade of _Bruges_ is very much dwindled since the flourishing of that of _Amsterdam_, which has engross'd it all to it self.