June 6, 7, 8. Nantes.  Ancenis.  Angers.  Tours.  Ascending the Loire from Nantes, the road, as far as Angers, leads over the hills, which are gray, oftener below than above mediocrity, and in corn, pasture, vines, some maize, flax, and hemp.  There are no waste lands.  About the limits of Bretagne and Anjou, which are between Loriottiere and St. George, the lands change for the better.  Here and there, we get views of the plains on the Loire, of some extent, and good appearance, in corn and pasture.  After passing Angers, the road is raised out of the reach of inundations, so as at the same time to ward them off from the interior plains.  It passes generally along the river side; but sometimes leads through the plains, which, after we pass Angers, become extensive and good, in corn, pasture, some maize, hemp, flax, pease, and beans; many willows, also poplars and walnuts.  The flax is near ripe.  Sweet-briar in general bloom.  Some broom here still, on which the cattle and sheep browse in winter and spring, when they have no other green food; and the hogs eat the blossoms and pods, in spring and summer.  This blossom, though disagreeable when smelt in a small quantity, is of delicious fragrance when there is a whole field of it.  There are some considerable vineyards in the river plains, just before we reach Les Trois Volets (which is at the one hundred and thirty-sixth milestone), and after that, where the hills on the left come into view, they are mostly in vines.  Their soil is clayey and stony, a little reddish, and of southern aspect.  The hills on the other side of the river, looking to the north, are not in vines.  There is very good wine made on these hills; not equal indeed to the Bordeaux of best quality, but to that of good quality, and like it.  It is a great article of exportation from Anjou and Touraine, and probably is sold abroad, under the name of Bordeaux.  They are now mowing the first crop of hay.  All along both hills of the Loire, is a mass of white stone, not durable, growing black with time, and so soft, that the people cut their houses out of the solid, with all the partitions, chimnies, doors, &c.  The hill sides resemble cony burrows, full of inhabitants.  The borders of the Loire are almost a continued village.  There are many chateaux:  many cattle, sheep, and horses; some asses.

Tours is at the one hundred and nineteenth mile-stone.  Being desirous of inquiring here into a fact stated by Voltaire, in his Questions Encylopediques, article Coquilles, relative to the growth of shells unconnected with animal bodies at the Chateau of Monsieur de la Sauvagiere, near Tours, I called on Monsieur Gentil, premier secretaire de l’ntendance, to whom the Intendant had written on my behalf, at the request of the Marquis de Chastellux.