The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a private Letter from an English Gentleman at Paris.

A Deputation of Fish Women attended the King Yesterday, with their Congratulations upon Peace being proclaim'd between this Court and the Courts of Spain and Vienna; and whatever Notions you may have on your Side the Water of the Matter, I assure you, they made a very elegant Appearance, and the whole Affair was conducted with great Ceremony and Magnificence on the Behalf of the Court and the Courtezans; many of whom, as with you, are here look'd upon to be no better.

I should tell you, that for Time immemorial, the Fish Women of Paris has claim'd it as their Priviledge, or Perquisite I should rather call it, thus to address his Majesty upon all Occasions of publick Joy; and finding the Sweets of doing so, there is very little Reason to expect they will readily quit their Claim to a Custom, render'd agreeable to them by the Reception and Entertainment they are sure to meet with; and otherwise profitable at the same Time.

The Affair is thus: Twelve, in the Name of the whole Body, come up with the Address, one of which always reads it; the Hour being appointed to receive them, the King and the whole Court appeared very splendidly dress'd, (and the good Wives, I assure you, were gayly bedeck'd;) they are introduc'd in Form, and I think, with very little less Ceremony than an Embassador from any crown'd Head in Europe; their Congratulations over, his Majesty comes forward and kisses them all; two or three of which, this Time, they say, in their Surprize, or Over-Joy, kiss'd the King again: His Majesty is a handsome Man, you know, and they are so us'd to kissing, that 'tis not much to be wonder'd at if they did; but this by the bye: They are next introduc'd to the Queen, and then to the rest of the Royal Family, to whom they pay their Compliments; after which, Joy takes Place, not thro' the Court only, but seemingly thro' the whole City: The King presents them with a Purse of Louis d'Ors; and they and their Friends are for three Days together entertain'd at the King's Expence; where they live merrily enough, you need not doubt; upon the third Day they go in the same Form as they came to Court, which, I should have told you, was always in Coaches, to our Metropolitan Church, where the King's own Band of Musick attends them by Order, where they sing Te Deum, and close the Scene.

Their Speech to the King being already in Print, it follows in the Words of the Translator; and is, of its kind, an admirable one.

SIRE,

Like good French-Women, I and my Companions conceive all the Joy imaginable in what increases your Majesty's Glory. Now as the Peace which you have been pleased to make, manifests to the whole World the Greatness of your Heart, and your Love for your People, we were not willing to be the last of your Subjects to harangue you on this Occasion, and therefore we come in a Body to make you our Compliments of Thanks. If we were to rack our Brains to address you in the Stile of the florid Speech-makers, we should have us'd other Terms But. Sire, we have no Notion of the Delicacy of Language, when we speak to you, 'tis with honest Hearts; we boast of nothing more; and in this Point, we will challenge the proudest to out-do us, or in the Sacrifice of our Lives for your Majesty; were it necessary. We redouble our Prayers to God, and St. Genevieve, our good Patroness, that he may preserve you in good Health, and keep you from every Disease; for we earnestly desire that your Reign may be the longest that ever was; that the Dauphin may be like you in every Thing; that the Lord may give him an august Spouse with his own Hand, and bless his Marriage by granting you Grand Children and Great Grand Children. We hope, if God give us Life, to see all those Prodigies shortly, which will render your Court the most splendid in the World. These, Sire, are the Prayers which are offer'd daily for your Majesty, and for our august Queen, by

Your most humble, most obedient, most respectful Servants, and mean Subjects,

The FISH-WOMEN of Paris.