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.