_Containing the Ceremonies at the Births and Burials in this
Country, the manner of administring Justice, and many other
Remarkables._
Our Discourse was interrupted by a Domestic who came in puffing
and blowing, to tell the King that _Mela_ was brought to Bed of a
Male Child. He had been marry'd but two Years to his first Wife,
so that he was Twenty-seven Years of Age, which I mention,
because it must be noted, that the King cannot marry but at
Twenty-five, nor other Men till they are Thirty, whereas the
Females are marrigeable at Twenty. Since that time he had marry'd
two more. He had two Daughters by the first Wife, and one by the
Second. She that had now brought him a Son, and whose Father was
Marshal of one of the neighbouring Cantons, was the Third, and as
she is the lawful Queen, we will distinguish her from the rest by
the Title of Empress, according to the Law of the Country, which
properly gives this Title to none but that Wife of the Sovereign
who brings him a Successor to the Crown. We congratulated the
King on the Birth of this young Prince, and gave him to
understand that we heartily wish'd he might reign happily after
him. He seem'd to be pleas'd at our Compliment, and in order to
convince us of it the more, order'd us to follow him, that we
might be Witnesses of the Ceremony which Custom oblig'd him to
observe for giving a Name to the Infant.
He went out, accompany'd by two of his Brothers, his Cook, whose
Employment is very considerable, and his Steward. The Empress
expected him in a magnificent Bed, as well for the Sculpture, as
other Ornaments with which it was enrich'd. As soon as she saw
him, she sat upright, and Care was taken to cover her Shoulders
with a Mantle of red Goats Hair, fring'd and embroider'd, and
lin'd with Ermin as white as Snow. After she had desired the King
to permit her to kiss his Hand, she express'd her Joy that God
had granted her a Son, because it gave her the Honour of being
Empress of so great a Kingdom. Then a Chaplain stepp'd forwards,
who, according to his Orders, thank'd God in the Name of the
King, Queen, and all the People, for the Favour he had now
granted them; and I can truly say, that his Eloquence, added to
the Submission and Zeal with which he acquitted himself, pierc'd
my very Soul. He expatiated at large upon the Nothingness of Man,
upon the infinite Greatness of the Monarch of the World, upon the
Care which his Providence continually takes of his Creatures,
notwithstanding their Disproportion, and the immense Distance
which separates Beings so different. He shew'd wherein that Care
consisted, and there he took occasion to treat of the Virtues
necessarily requisite for a good King, and how God had given them
one who in every respect deserv'd the sincere Affections of his
People. Then he talk'd concerning the young Prince; whom he had
now granted them, of the Obligations they ow'd him for so many
Benefits, and concluded with a Million of Thanks: So that this
Act of Devotion continu'd at least an Hour. Afterwards the Infant
was presented to the King, who call'd him _Baïol_, i.e. _Benign_.
Then they serv'd up preserv'd Fruits, and Sweetmeats confected
with Honey, which is certainly better than the best Sugar in
_America_. Besides this, we drank most excellent Metheglin, and
other Liquors not a whit inferior to ours, Wine only excepted, of
which they have not a Drop, there being not so much as a Vine
thro' the whole Country, The Ceremony of the Empress's Coronation
was put off till after her Lying-in, which was over at the end of
eighteen Days, but as, like the former, is consisted only of
Thanksgiving, 'tis needless for me to repeat it. Mean time, this
is not only observ'd in the King's Palace, but in all the Cantons
of the Kingdom, the Moment they receive the News.
As to the Method of spreading their News, this is the Place, if I
am not mistaken, where I ought to observe, that every Day from
Twelve at Noon to One o' Clock, each Village sends two Men into
every Road of the neighbouring Cantons, on which Pillars are set
up at equal distance, within the Sound of a Speaking-Trumpet from
one to the other. If therefore any thing happens extraordinary at
Court, that is capable of being express'd in a few Words, as for
Instance, the Death, Marriage, or Sickness of the King, the Birth
of a Prince, _&c._ those who are sent from Court publish it to
their Neighbours, and they to others, so that from the one to the
other it flies with such Speed, that in less than a Hour 'tis
known all over the Kingdom. When there is no News they only say,
_All is well_. In like manner, when the Cantons have any thing to
make known to the Court, their Trumpeters make use of the very
same Methods. If there are any Packets or Letters to carry, there
are Messengers for the Purpose, who set out with them from Court
at Five of the Clock in the Morning, to the neighbouring
Villages, from whence others set out at Six, and carry what they
have to others that start at Seven, and so of the rest. As for
great Burdens they make use of Boats, which go backwards and
forwards very regularly, and without Expence to any one, because
the Children or Domestics of every Family are employ'd in
navigating them by turns.
Soon after the Empress was brought to Bed; the States or Deputies
of the Governors repair'd to Court to exercise Justice, and to
put all things in order. This Assembly continues Twenty-two Days,
and abundance of Business was dispatch'd in it, in most of which
I may say without Vanity, I had indirectly some Share. As these
Gentlemen met only in a Morning, and devoted their Afternoons
partly to Pleasure, and partly to the Consideration of the Points
which were to come before them next Session, the King could not
help coming as usual to spend some Moments in the Evening with
us, not so much to see our Works as to converse with us freely
concerning the Business that was to come upon the Tapis next Day,
as to which, he never fail'd to ask us what would be done in such
a Case in _Europe_.
One Day amongst the rest, he told us, how a young Man of a very
remote Canton, being often ill us'd by his Father, who seem'd to
bear a mortal Hatred to him, took the Opportunity, as they went
out together in a Gondola to catch Fish, to throw him into the
Canal, and seeing him paddling just under Water, he held him down
with the End of his Oar, for fear he should rise, and punish him
for his Rashness. The Father who was quite stunn'd at first,
recovered his Spirits by Degrees, and as he could swim perfectly
well, he div'd to the Bottom, and then rising about two Paces
distance, he struck away with all the Speed he could make to the
other Shore, in order to escape his Son's Fury. While the one was
endeavouring to escape, and the other resolving to pursue him,
and knock out his Brains, an old Pine-Tree planted on the Side of
this Canal, fell in all at once as if the Earth had broke away,
and so entangled the Bay in the Gondola with its Branches, that
it was impossible for him to stir, tho' he was not hurt in any
one Part. The old Man, who was got Ashore by this time, seeing
the Boat under the Tree, and no Sign of his Son, was touch'd with
Pity, and did not doubt but the Fall of the Tree had kill'd him.
He went and knock'd at the first House he came to, and having
rais'd the People out of their Beds, it being then pretty early
in the Morning, he told them, that as he was going to such a
Place with his Boat, a great rotten Tree broke away all on a
sudden, and fell upon him with such Violence, that it had knock'd
him into the Water, and bruis'd his Son to Pieces. At this, all
the People ran to see what was the Matter, and three of them
went in their Wherry to relieve the Lad if he happen'd to be
alive. The Fellow who had not open'd his Lips all the while,
finding himself taken in a manner before he was aware, and that
the Men were busy to separate the Boughs of the Tree that they
might see what was become of him, fell a crying, and said, _O
Father! pray don't kill me, I own I was to blame, and that I
deserve your Hatred with a Vengeance, for 'tis no Thanks to me
that you are not dead at this Instant, but I beg your Pardon a
thousand times_. The more he cry'd out, the more the others
struggled to disintangle him, and the stronger was the poor
Wretch's Opinion that they were come to cut his Throat. _Mercy,
dear Father! Mercy!_ said he again, _it was not I, properly
speaking, but a cursed Fit of Passion which I abhor, that
prompted me to lay my sacrilegious Hands upon your Person. In the
Name of God be pacify'd_. The Father who heard all this, knew not
what Countenance to put on; he would gladly have punish'd his
Child, but he did not care that the People should know the Cause
of it, which was however impossible. Tho' the Gondola was clear
of the Branches of the Tree, and the young Man saw a multitude
who upon the Rumor of his Disaster came to assist him, and who,
to be sure, would not have suffer'd the Father to sacrifice him
on the Spot to his Vengeance, he made so many Shrugs and
Wrigglings, and us'd such Expressions, that he condemn'd himself
in Presence of 100 Witnesses; so that it was not in the Power of
the Father to disculpate him as he would gladly have done.
Several Fathers of Families who were there, apprehensive of what
might be the Consequence, seiz'd the young Fellow, and carry'd
him before a Judge, who, after having sent for the Father, and
examin'd them both first Face to Face, and then separately,
condemn'd the Lad to the Mines for 20 Years. The Father was
dissatisfy'd with the Sentence, because he knew in his Conscience
he had provok'd his Son to Wrath, by his rough Treatment of him,
and therefore he advis'd him privately to appeal to the Governor
of their particular Precinct, and if he should confirm the
Sentence, to appeal at last to the Court itself. The Governor,
_said the King_, to whom the Cause was referr'd, was not willing
to decide it, and for this Reason it is to be argued To-morrow
before me; but in good Truth, I scarce know how to determine it.
What Age is the young Man? _said I_, He is twenty two, _reply'd
the King_. Very well, Sir, _said I_, he would be put to Death in
our Parts, and nothing could save him. But since you are not so
severe here, since the Son detests what he has done, begs Pardon
for it with all his Heart, and since the Father confesses he was
the Cause of putting the Son into such a Passion; 'tis my
Opinion, with Submission to your Majesty, that it would be
sufficient if the Lad was whipp'd with Rods, and sentenc'd to
carry a Label on his Forehead with these Words in large
Characters, REBEL TO HIS FATHER, on Condition however that if he
behave well, he shall be discharg'd from that Ignominy at a
Year's End. Your Advice is excellent, _said the King_, and if I
have any Credit, that shall be the Sentence. As soon as the
Council was assembled, the Offence was mention'd, and every one
gave their several Opinions. Some were for confirming the former
Sentence, others would have it that the young Man ought to make
_Amende honourable_, and have one of his Hands cut off before he
was banish'd. Some were for sending him to the Bottom of the Mine
for his Life; and others were of another Opinion. But when the
King had heard what they all had to say, he propos'd his Opinion
which was approv'd by the Assembly, and executed that very Day.
Both Parties went to Court to express their Obligations for
pronouncing so mild a Sentence. The King who was willing that I
should have the Honour of it, told them, that if they had any
Body to thank, it was I, and no Body else. Accordingly they came
to thank me in the most civil and submissive Manner that could
be, and then they return'd home, where, as I was told afterwards,
they liv'd together in perfect Harmony.
'Tis not to be conceiv'd, how considerable this Trifle made us
appear to the Deputies. _Solomon_'s Award was nothing compar'd to
ours, and if some of them could have had their Wills, we should
have been created extraordinary Members of their Body. By that
time they assembled again, our Clockwork was in a manner
finish'd. Every one had the Curiosity to come and see it, and
thought they could not praise it too much. _La Foret_ was a very
good Engraver, and tho' he knew how to gild, he had acquainted
himself so well with the Custom of the Country to gild with
Copper, which is much finer there than it is in our Parts, that
the minutest Piece had a wonderful Lustre infinitely beyond the
Clock which we had made for our Canton. But it had quite another
Appearance a Year after, when they saw the Clock erected over the
Dome of the King's House with six Sun-Dials round it pointing to
the Hours, which was what we omitted in the former, besides that
the Basin or Bell which was of Pewter and Copper mix'd, was at
least three times bigger, and had a much better Sound. As a
Gratuity for this fine Piece of Work, the King honour'd each of
us with a Governor's Robe, and gave Orders that we should have
the same Regard paid to us as they had. And in short, we were
treated with as much Respect as if we had been Princes. The Cooks
and the Butler took care that nothing was wanting at our Table.
Beer, Cider, Metheglin, and Pηɤς were as plenty with us as
River-Water. The latter is a delicious Tipple, of which one may
drink to Eternity and be never the worse, and 'tis made of an
admirable Fruit, in form like to a _Spanish_ Melon. There's no
sort of Ragoo, Tarts or Pasties but what we had every Day, and as
Partridges, which weigh here at least four Pounds, and the Tɤlη,
those great Hens I have made mention of elsewhere, are very
common here; we had Fowls of one sort or other almost at every
Meal; not to mention the excellent Fish which was infallibly
serv'd up at every Dinner. The King himself also took us Abroad
with him three Days successively, in our Habits of Ceremony which
is the greatest Honour that this Monarch does to his Subjects.
One Morning as we were passing by the West Side of the Temple, a
Lad who went up to see his Father work at the Dome, leaning over
the Gallery to see us pass along, fell down flat upon his
Stomach, and kill'd himself. The King, who would never let me
rest, took Occasion from this unexpected Fall, to start an
Objection to me concerning the Circular Motion of the Earth. It
put a Thought into my Head, _said he_, which never enter'd there
before, _viz._ That if the Earth had its Revolution, as you would
fain persuade me it has; the Boy, if he had fallen ever so quick,
must have pitch'd at a considerable distance from the Wall of
this Structure, whereas, if I am not mistaken, he touch'd it with
one of his Arms. For, in short, the Globe of the Earth is very
large, and supposing it makes one compleat Tour in 24 Hours, its
Parts must needs pass extremely swift. 'Tis easy, Sir, said I, to
solve this Objection. A Terrestrial Degree, you know, contains 60
Miles, by which Number if you only multiply 360 Degrees, the
Circumference of the Earth under the Equator will be 21600
_Italian_ Miles, or 21,600000 Geometrical Paces. Now divide this
Sum by 24 Hours, and the 900000 which will result from that
Operation by 60 Minutes, you will perceive that the Earth must
make an Arch of 15000 Paces in a Minute of an Hour, and
consequently one of 250 Paces in a Second, which is less Time
than a Body can take in falling from the Height of this great
Structure. But, Sir, _continued I_, you ought not to consider the
Air as independent on the Earth, for it turns equally with it, no
more nor no less than the Water of the Sea which is confin'd
within its own Limits, and both the one and the other make a
Part of this great Whole, so that to fall into either, is in this
respect the same Thing. Mean time, there's another Reason
confirm'd by Experience, which tells us, that every Body
defending by its own Motion, or by a Motion which may be deem'd
voluntary, must necessarily pitch upon that very Point to which
it corresponded the first Moment of its Fall. Therefore supposing
I were at the Top-Mast Head of one of the tallest Masts that our
Men of War carry in _Europe_, and should let fall a Bullet of
what Size you please, 'tis certain that it will always keep at
the same Distance from the Mast, 'till it falls upon the Deck, be
the Wind and Tide which carry the Ship ever so rapid, from whence
it follows, that this Body does not fall perpendicularly as it
seems, but necessarily runs thro' a parabolical Line, because
tho' it descends by a single Motion in Appearance, yet it
partakes of two Motions at once, _viz._ the artificial one of the
Ship, which is form'd according to the Plan of the Horizon, and
its natural Motion from Top to Bottom. Which is so true, that if
the Vessel was to stop short, the very Moment that the Bullet was
dropp'd, it would not in that Case fall down perpendicularly by
the Side of the Mast, but a considerable Distance before it. So
it often happens to the Horsemen in our Country, who when they
are galloping at full Speed, perhaps the skittish Beast
frighten'd at some Object makes a sudden Stand which shakes the
Rider, who is still suppos'd to be leaning forwards, out of his
Saddle, and throws him several Paces over his Head. 'Tis for this
Reason also that your clever Sportsmen, tho' perhaps they don't
know why, seldom shoot flying without taking their Aim a little
before the Bird, to the End that the Bullet or Arrow may thereby
acquire a Side Motion, which together with the direct Motion
forms a Curve Line by means of which it certainly hits the Mark.
I understand all this very plain, _said the King_, and there is
nothing extraordinary in it, because the same Thing happens to
Bodies which are punish'd with Violence from any Height, by a
Line parallel to the Horizon; for 'tis evident, that the very
Moment they come out of the Hand that throws them, they fall and
must, as you say, before they come to the Ground, describe a Line
like to those which are form'd by the Section of a Cone which is
parallel to its opposite Side.
You are in the right, Sir, _said I_, but there's something
wonderful in this which to many People appears a Paradox, _viz._
That if you take one of those Pieces of Ordnance so common with
us, I mean a Cannon, levell'd at one of the highest Towers, and
if at the very Instant of discharging it, a Bullet be let fall of
the same Form and Size as that which the Cannon is charg'd with,
notwithstanding the one is shot a Mile off, and the other falls
down limply by a perpendicular Line, yet they will both come to
the Ground at the same Instant. Indeed, _said the King_, that is
surprizing, and I own, I should never have thought it; but I see
very plainly now, that it must needs be so, because tho' the
Bullet is carry'd a great Way, nevertheless its Motion from Top
to Bottom must have its Course, and be every whit as rapid.
Yet these fine Examples don't set me clear enough in the Point of
the Earth's Motion. Pray, how comes it that so violent an
Agitation does not shake it into a Million of Pieces? Well, Sir,
_said I_, take a Confectioner's Vessel made of white Earth; let
it be of a round Form, and the Sides low and perpendicular to the
Bottom. Put into it a Thimblefull or two of clear Water, and in
this Water a small Quantity of the Filings of Copper, fine Sand,
and the Grating of red Wax; and to supply the Place of Glass, of
which you have none in this Country, cover the Vessel with a Lid
very close, then cement it with a little Potter's Clay, and put
it upon an Axis, to which you shall give Motion. When this Vessel
has been turn'd about a little, if you take off the Lid, which
was only plac'd on to hinder the Water from going out during its
Agitation, you will see that all the Parts of the Matter put into
it stick to the Sides of the Vessel. An evident Proof that if the
Heavens turn'd which are here represented by these Sides, the
Earth would necessarily be forc'd to quit its present Situation,
and range itself against their concave Superficies or their
Extremities. And another undeniable Proof which confirms the
former, is, that if the Whirl be stopp'd, so that the Firmament
or the Side of the Ship turns no more, the Water, which continues
its Motion, and by consequence departs in Proportion, from the
Centre of the Vessel which contains it, forces the Particles of
Copper, Sand, and Wax to quit the Sides to which they stuck so
fast, and to approach to the Centre where they form a round Mass,
the lowest Region of which is Copper, the second Sand, and the
last Wax. From hence it appears, that if the subtile Matter which
encompasses the Earth be put in Agitation, 'tis sufficient to
oblige all the Terrestrial Parts to rendezvous in one Globe
towards their Centre: Which likewise shews us by the way, that
'tis impossible for a Stone cast into this subtile Matter, to
rest in it one Moment, but must for the same Reasons abandon the
Aerial Region, and repair to other Bodies of its own Species, in
which properly consists Gravitation.
Really, _said the King_, you have often talk'd to me about
Vortexes, the Alterations which Astronomers observe in the
different Aspects of the Planets, the Motion of the Sun round its
own Centre, the Spots upon the Face of it which are a
Confirmation of that Motion, because as this advances, they
change their Situation, as well as about the Periods which the
other Planets describe either round themselves, or round the Sun;
but I never yet heard any Assertion so bold as what you have just
now advanc'd. I should be glad if you would let me have the
Machine you spoke of, to the end that by examining it nicely, we
may be able to talk of it a little, more particularly: But it
were to be wish'd that the Lid you put upon the Vessel was
transparent, because then one might easily see what pass'd in the
Vessel without taking it off. I will obey your Orders, Sir, _said
I_, and if our Parchment won't do for the Purpose, I will supply
it by a round Hole of an Inch or two in Diameter, which I will
make in the middle of the Lid; for I am of Opinion that the rest
will be sufficient to hinder the Water from spurting out in its
most vehement Agitation.
During this, one of the King's Brothers fell sick, and died. I
thought to have seen some Particularity at his Funeral, but was
very much surpriz'd, that I did not observe the least
Circumstance at it more than at common Interments. They only wrap
up the Corps in a Robe of fine Linen, and then put it on a Bier,
which is carry'd by two Men preceded by four of the nearest
Relations, and attended by two Men and two Women, marry'd or not
marry'd, and by four young Persons of both Sexes who mourn all
the Way, and converse about his good Qualities. When they come to
the End of the Place where the Deceas'd liv'd, they throw him
into a Grave made for the Purpose, which they immediately close
up again, and erect a little Pyramid of Wood upon it, on which
are mark'd the Name and Age of the Person underneath, after which
every one goes Home, and they never talk of him more than if
there had been no such Person in the World, The King's Brother
was bury'd after the same Manner; two of his Brothers (for the
Prince is exempt from it) with his Mother, and one of his Sisters
were the only Persons of the Convoy, besides the Mourners who are
People that attend on these Occasions purely for the sake of a
Meal's Meat. Then it was that I heard that the Brothers and
Sisters of the Kings of this Country are forbid to marry, which
is only permitted to the eldest Son of the Royal Family, and even
he can have but one Wife before he is King.
As to a Wife, I can't avoid telling you here how our Monarch
recover'd one in my Presence worthy to wear a Diadem. He had
form'd a Design a long time to make a Visit to the West Part of
the Kingdom; but as he intended that we should accompany him, and
the Work we had in hand was too exquisite in his Opinion to be
interrupted, there was a Necessity for staying 'till it was
finish'd; then came bad Weather, afterwards the Diet; but when
this was broke up, and the fine Season was advanc'd, the King was
resolv'd to lay hold of it. He made up but a small Equipage, and
only took 10 Persons along with us in his Retinue. He was mounted
on a small but magnificent Chaise with two Wheels drawn by four
white He-Goats, which had each a great black Beard, and Horns of
a prodigious Size. His Train and Baggage were in two Gondolas, in
each of which were four Rowers, and four to relieve them.
I was overjoy'd to be of this Party, because I had never yet
travell'd this Way. Most of the Inhabitants of this Frontier are
employ'd in making Bricks, Potters Ware, and all Sorts of
Porcelane according as the Soil is proper for the different Sorts
of Work. We pass'd thro' no Village but all the People of
Consequence came out to see the King, who sometimes alighted for
the Purpose, and walk'd very slowly that they might have the
better Opportunity of viewing him. One Day as we were at a Place
where there was such a Crowd about him that he could scarce get
out of it, he spy'd a young Woman whose Charms made him fall in
Love with her. He call'd her to him, and having survey'd her
from Head to Foot, and found her more charming near at hand than
at a Distance, he sent for the Father, and ask'd him what Age she
was? The honest Man having already promis'd her to another, and
guessing at the King's intention, knew not what Answer to make,
but after a small Pause, he said to him, Sir, She is not yet
marriageable, and by consequence neither to be sold nor given
away. The Girl being more ambitious of the Title of Queen than of
the Wife of a Carpenter, which was the Craft of the Fellow that
was to have her, said very pertly, 'Tis true, Sir, I am not
marriageable, but I want only two Days to be 20 Years old. Very
well, _reply'd the King_, we will stay, honest Man, 'till the
Term is expir'd, rather than break in upon the Laws; but after
To-morrow, bring your Daughter to Court that I may make her my
Wife, and take care that no Body comes near her. Tho' the old Man
thought it a great Honour to have the King for his Son-in-law,
yet he was sorry that he could not keep his Word with the
Carpenter, which I chose to mention here only to shew the
Simplicity and Sincerity of the People of this Country. Pηo,
which was the Person's Name, was ready at the Time and Place
appointed, and three Days after we arriv'd, he begg'd an
Audience, and presented his Daughter to the King in Presence of
his Chaplain, who return'd Thanks to God for it on the Spot. The
Nuptials lasted three Days, after which Pηo return'd Home with
100 Kalƞ, or Pieces of Copper in his Pocket, as Pay for his
Daughter; but the poor young Woman having never had the
Small-Pox, was seiz'd with it three Months after, and died.
'Tis a prodigious Thing to consider the Multitudes of People
which this plaguy Distemper carries off, there not being one in
ten that escapes. The Generality of the Living never had it, and
be they ever so old, so few are excus'd from it, that they seldom
die of any other Disease. If this were not the Case, the Country
would in all Appearance be exceeding populous, whereas at present
'tis but thinly inhabited, considering the Goodness of the Soil,
and the Purity of the Air.
Not long after this, the King made two or three other Conquests,
so that in four Years after his first Marriage, he had seven
Wives. My Comrade and I were at all those Solemnities, and had
great Share of the Pleasures of them. Wherever we came, we were
sure to be commended upon Account of our Clocks, tho' many People
knew that I had the least Share in them.
That I might not go without my Reward, I told the King, that we
had indeed adorn'd his Palace with a Machine, with which he had
the Goodness to seem pleas'd, but that if he desir'd it, I would
make him another to put up at the Front of the Temple which
should be subject to no Variation, and be regulated by the Course
of the Sun. I am convinc'd, _said the Monarch_, from the little
Knowlege I have of Astronomy, that it would not be impossible to
divide an artificial Day into any equal Parts by the Shade, which
might be form'd from a Body in the Sun-shine, but we have had no
Body here that I know of, who ever apply'd to it. Before I go to
work upon it, _said I_, I must examine which way the Front of
this Edifice stands. That's not necessary, _said the King_, I
know that it declines from East to North 22 Degrees 30 Minutes,
and what is yet more, I know it by Experience. Pardon me, Sir,
_said I_, if I take the Freedom to ask you what Method you took
to be sure of the Fact. I caus'd a Board to be plan'd, _said he_,
perfectly smooth with several Circles drawn upon it by the
Compass; and in the Centre I set up perpendicularly a Stile of
Copper Wire, to the End of which hangs a Button as big as a small
Nut. This square Instrument I place against the Wall of the
Temple, and when the Sun is ascended some Degrees above the
Horizon, I stay till the Shadow of the Button of my Stile falls
upon the Circumference of one of the Circles of the Board, when I
mark that Place by a Point, and then with another Point I mark
the Place on the opposite Side of the Circumference, where the
Shadow falls in the Afternoon. I divide the Arch between these
two Points into two equal Parts by a straight Line which passes
thro' the Centre of the Stile, which Line is the Meridian of the
Place where I make the Operation. There are several Ways, _said
I_, whereby you may easily attain to the same End of which that
you mention is one of the best I know; but I will make you a
vertical Sun-Dial according to the above Declination of the Front
of the Temple. No, _said the King_, as the Point in Question is
only drawing of Lines, you must do me the Pleasure to teach me
the Construction of 'em. I consented willingly to his Demand, so
that we made a Sun-Dial of 8 Foot broad, and 6 in height, and
another horizontal Dial of Copper, which was plac'd on a Pedestal
of Agate of 8 Sides before the King's Palace, and both had the
Signs of the Zodiac upon them. These two Machines supply'd fresh
Matter of Admiration to those who saw them; and I make no doubt
but they were of more Service to them than the others after our
Departure, because not a Man in the Kingdom knew how to keep
them, much less to make them.
_La Foret_ had such a Sense of the Civilities he and I receiv'd
every Day from the whole Court, and was so desirous to shew he
was not ungrateful, that without saying one Word to me he set
about a Pocket-Watch, and had actually finish'd it before I
perceiv'd any thing of the matter. Tho' he work'd much better in
large than in small Things, yet a Watch in a Country where there
never was one before, was a Jewel of inestimable Value. As soon
as he finish'd it, he went to wait on the King, and after having
complimented him on the Obligations we had to him, he took the
Watch out of his Pocket, and intreated his Acceptance of it as a
Token of his sincere Gratitude. The King having view'd it Inside
and Outside, was perfectly astonish'd, admir'd the Beauty and
Usefulness of this little Machine, and protested to him that he
should never desire any thing of him in his Disposal, but it
should be at his Service.