| Citation |
VGW(PA.739.069
5-12 Oct 1739:31 (167)
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, tender'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 dressed, (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, kissed the King again: His
Majesty is a handsome man, you know, and they are so used 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 l'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.
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