The Virginia Gazette

'Tis almost impossible to express the great Solemnity with which their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales were received into this opulent City; the Joy was universal, and all received them as one Man. Horses were so scarce, as not one to be got for Money; and the Country People came in great Throngs, for some Miles round. The Coach in which their Royal Highnesses were in, mov'd heavily along, by the great Number of People that hung and throng'd about it; the whole Area and Avenues to the Hall, the Windows of all the Houses and Scaffolding being fill'd with different Ranks of People; the Guns on the Key, Gib, Wapping, and on board the Ships, firing during the whole Time; so that no Bells could be heard.

The Corporation ascending the Steps of the Hall, which is a spacious Building of Free-stone, waited on its Area to receive their Royal Guests, who were also no sooner ascended, but were exceedingly pleas'd to see such a vast Croud of People, and to hear their Shouts of Joy; in which the Mayor, Recorder, and the other Gentlemen, bore a Part, ending with three loud Huzza's; the Prince and Princess at the same Time looking over the Balustrades.

Entering the Hall, nothing could appear more sumptuous and splendid, the Assembly being rang'd in such a regular Order; the Quantity of Plate; the Entertainment, consisting of all Manner of Delicacies, so accurately set forth, as gave their Royal Highnesses and the whole Company the utmost Satisfaction.

There was not one Plate, Knife, or Fork, laid for any Person at the first Course, but the Prince and Princess, which signal Instance of Respect, his Highness immediately alter'd, by desiring the Plates, &c. to be plac'd in their proper Order for the whole Company.

The Rev. Mr. Becher, Rector of St. Stephen's, and Son to Mr. Alderman Becher, had the Honour of saying Grace; and his Highness was pleas'd to constitute him one of his Chaplains in Ordinary.

The Prince was in one Apartment, and the Princess in another: Five Aldermen's Sons waited on his Royal Highness; on his Right Hand sat Mr. Mayor; on his Left the Rev. Dr. Ayscough, the Prince's Clerk of the Closet, the Right Hon. the Lord Baltimore, Lord Gage; and with them, Sir Thomas Lumley Saunderson, Sir William Irby, Bart. the Hon. Mr. Pitt, the Hon. Mr. Lyttelton, the whole Corporation, and many Gentlemen of the City.

Five Aldermen's Sons also waited on her Highness; on her Right Hand sat Mrs. Mayoress; on her Left her Grace the Duchess of Ancaster; and with them, Lady Baltimore, Lady Archibald Hamilton, Lady Frances Saunderson, Lady Susanna Kekke, and the Ladies of Honour; Mr. Serjeant Foster's (the Recorder's) Lady, and Mr. Alderman Rich's Lady; and the Lady of Nath. Day, Esq; our late Mayor, at the Head of the General Assembly of Ladies.

The first Course consisted of upwards of 100 Dishes; the second of about the same Number; and the third was an elegant Dessert, most curiously raised upon a Frame prepared for that Purpose: which remained entire to itself, 'til the two first Courses were over, in beautiful Figures. Several of the Persons of Quality much admir'd the Health of his Majesty was cheerfully drank in Sack and Sugar out of a very antient Gold Cup belonging to the Corporation; and which has been in Use Time out of Mind, when a Health is toasted to a Crown'd Head. The Person who drinks, and the next Person drank to, and the third Person, are all obliged to stand while the Health is drank; to which Formality the Prince condescended, and drank the King's Health out aloud; and was so well pleased with the antient Cup, and the good old Custom, that he was pleased to say, he believed the Princess would like to drink out of it in the same Manner; Mr. Mayor immediately thereupon, carrying the Cup to her, the same Formality was observed by her Highness, the Ladies at her Table, and the whole Company.

Most of the Service was in Plate, the Princess's in particular; and not a Footman suffer'd to enter either of the Apartments.

The Princess talk'd freely with the Ladies, in good English, whose Affability and agreeable Condescension has imbib'd a lasting Respect in the Breast of all those that were present.

The Prince has also attained a general Esteem, every Person applauding his Good-Nature and Generosity; was very free in his Conversation with the Mayor, and other Merchants, admired the Beauty and Spaciousness of the Key; the Number of Shipping, the fine Edifices, Streets, and Polity of the City; and above all, the peculiar Industry and Extensiveness in their Mercantile Traffick abroad, which his Highness express'd to be the only Spring of Riches, and Glory of this Nation.

After the Prince and Princess returned from the Ball to their Lodgings about 12 o'Clock, Mr. Henry Combe had provided an elegant private Supper for their Highnesses, and the Lords and Ladies that attended them which was serv'd at different Tables.

His Highness was pleased to present Mrs. Mayoress with a Blood-stone repeating Watch of most curious Workmanship, having several Brilliant Diamonds, and finely enamelled.

To young Mr. Combe, only Son of Henry Combe, Esq where their Highnesses lodg'd, a Gold Box, ornamented round with 25 Brilliant Diamonds.

With Mr. Mayor, in order to discharge poor Debtors in Newgate, the Sum of 100 l. And to the Officers, Servants, Ringers, &c. a considerable Sum.

As the Corporation were determined to spare no Cost or Pains in the Manner and Elegancy of entertaining their Royal Highnesses, to no particular Sum was limited, as usual in other Cities; but all Things were got ready for their further Entertainment, had their Royal Highnesses thought proper to continue longer among us; which the Prince in the kindest Expressions excus'd himself from to Mr. Mayor.

On Monday Sir Abraham Elton, Bart. John Combe, and Giles Bailey, Esqs, our present Sheriffs, and Henry Combe, Esq; set out for the Bath, with a Compliment from the City, to enquire after their Highnesses Health. and to humbly thank them for the Honour they had done this City with their Royal Presence; being introduced by his Grace the Duke of Queensberry, Lord in waiting His Highness was pleas'd to receive them very graciously.
and in a particular Manner express'd the grateful Sense he retain'd for his and the Princess's kind Reception at Bristol: and were in a splendid Manner entertain'd at Dinner by his Grace the Duke of Queensberry, the Lord Baltimore, Sir Thomas Saunders, Sir W. Irby, the Hon. Mr. Pitt, the Hon. Mr. Lyttleton, the Hon. Mr. Bloodworth, the Hon. Mr. Scott, and the Rev. Dr. Ayscough; Mr. Nash being present; and Sir Thomas Saunders had the Care of the Entertainment.

The Prince was pleased to send down his Compliments to the Deputies, with a very large Glass full of Wine, cover'd; and to acquaint them that he was drinking Prosperity to the City of Bristol, and desired them to pledge him; which, he said, would have look'd more graceful out of the great Gold Cup he drank the King's Health in at Bristol; but as he had not a Gold Cup, he hop'd they would accept of the Glass. After pledging his Highness, the Health of the King, Prince and Princess, and all the Royal Family, went merrily round.

Young Master Combe had also the Honour of making his Compliment to the Prince, to thank him for his Present of the Diamond Box, and assur'd his Highness that he would keep it for his Sake during his whole Life.

His Highness smil'd at his pretty Behaviour, and intimated that he intended him a much greater Present another Day.