| Citation |
PG-P.739.021
13-20 Sep 1739:32,41 (562)
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 which, as with you, are here look'd upon to do no
better.
I should tell you, that for time immemorial, the fish
women of Paris have claim'd it as their privilege, 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 appear 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 ambassador 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. .
. [7 lines, They are] for three days together entertain'd
at the King's expense; where they live merrily enough you
need not doubt; upon the third day they go in the same form
as they came to the 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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