The Virginia Gazette

Bath, Oct. 20. Last Tuesday about 4 o'Clock in the Afternoon, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales made their Entry into this City, in a travelling Machine drawn by Six brown Horses, attended by the Lords and Ladies of the Household, in several Coaches, and by a considerable Number of Gentlemen on Horseback from the Town.

Mr. Nash, the generous Sir Clement, or Master of the Ceremonies, in his Chariot and Six, first enter'd North Gate, and gave the Mayor, Aldermen, Recorder, and Sheriffs, Notice of their Approach who waited their Arrival, in their proper Habits; their Royal Highnesses no sooner came within the Gate, but Mr. Serjeant Eyre the Recorder, first complimented his Royal Highness, in the Name of the whole City, with a congratulatory Speech, to which his Highness gave great Attention, and bow'd several Times, in Token of his great Satisfaction, which at the Conclusion he confirmed with an Answer of Esteem, and his kind Thanks to the whole Body, and presented the Recorder with a Paper. The Recorder then went round to the other Side of the Machine, and complimented her Royal Highness in the same Manner; the Populace immediately after began their welcome Shouts, Huzzaing all thro' the Town (the Windows, Balconies, and Shops, being crowded with the Nobility and Gentry,) 'til the Royal Pair alighted at their Lodgings in Barton Square, being attended thither by all the Corporation, walking bareheaded before them, who had all the Honour of kissing their Royal Hands.

In the Evening the Town was finely illuminated, especially the Town-Hall, the Great Square, Orange Grove, the Two Great Ball-Rooms, and all the Houses adjacent, several striving to outvie in the ornamental placing their Wax-Candles, both for Number and the various Figures of Erection, within side and without, which gave a delightful View. We may now strictly say, we have Rare Doings at Bath.

In the Midst of the Illuminations and Rejoicings, their Royal Highnesses came in their Chairs to Mrs. Hay's Great Room, and Grac'd the Ball with their Royal Presence, which was throng'd with the Nobility and Gentry.

The next Morning after Eleven o'Clock, the Prince walk'd for some Time in Orange Grove, and was soon follow'd by the Princess; they visited Mrs. Hay's fine Walks, Mr. Bertrand's Toy-Shop, Mrs. Lovelace's Great Room, and her Royal Highness from thence went to the Abbey-Church, and several other Places, attended by Several of the Nobility, Mr. Nash, and Crowds of People. Their Royal Highnesses are exceedingly well pleased with their Reception, the Prospect, Situation, and Neatness of the Place; as are the Inhabitants in an extraordinary Manner with their Royal Guests.

We have abundance of Company, who are all in Raptures at the winning Behaviour of the Prince, who studies to render himself the Delight of Mankind; as does the Princess, who converses in good English with the Ladies, without Distinction; her Royal Highness having made herself almost Mistress of our Language, the more to endear herself to the People of England.

You know, their Royal Highnesses are not, at present, permitted to be attended with Guards, those Outrides of Royalty; but there is no manner of Occasion for that superfluous Piece of Grandeur, their Royal Highnesses being amongst Loyal Citizens, who are ever proud of shewing the utmost Regard to any of his Majesty's Royal House, and who would lose the last Drop of their Blood, rather than they should suffer the least Insult.