last constrain'd to deliver 'em all to the Marquess 'T was stipulated by the Treaty with the Divan of Tripoli that all the French that were to be found in their Squadron or on board any Ship that had come out of their Port that Year shou'd be set at liberty that Captain Courcillier's Ship which had been taken under French Colours and was at that time in the Port of Chio with 16 Guns mounted shou'd be restor'd with her Men Arms and Ammunition That the Ship call'd Europe taken under the Colours of Majorca and then in the Port of Chio shou'd remain under the Authority and Protection of the Captain Basha till it shou'd be decided whether she ought to be reckon'd a French Vessel That no Tripolin Ships shou'd search any Vessel Trading under French Colours nor injure or molest the Persons Ships or Goods of those who shou'd produce a Pass-port from the Admiral of France That all Strangers who shou'd be found on board any Vessel bearing French Colours shou'd remain free and unmolested both with respect to their Persons and Goods and likewise Frenchmen who shou'd happen to be embark'd on Vessels under strange Colours tho' Enemies to that State That neither French Slaves nor Prizes taken by the Enemies of that Kingdom shou'd be permitted to be sold in the Ports of the Kingdom of Tripoli that a French Consul shou'd be settl'd there and that no Prize shouâ—d be taken within ten Miles of the Coast of France Colbert was not unmindful of James Desmarets de Vauburgh Brother to the Intendant and Abbot of that Name for to recompense the care he took to ease him in the Discharge of his Ministry he bought for him one of the Places of Master of Requests vacant by the Death of Peter Forcoal Desmarets was by his Uncle's Interest admitted to the Exercise of that Office tho' he was not above 25 Years old as he had already been receiv'd into the Parliament as the Age of 22. He marry'd afterwards the Daughter of de Voisin another Master of Requests who had successively executed the Offices of Intendant of Picardy Normandy and Tourain The Ceremony of the Marriage was perform'd in St. Bennet's Church and the Feast of the Wedding was kept in the House of Daniel Voisin the Bride's Uncle who had been Provost of the Merchants Vousy the Intendant's Fourth Brother was first Lieutenant then Captain of a Ship and was now made Captain of the Guard There were two other Brothers one of whom di'd in Candie and the other perish'd at Sea And of the Three Sisters Two are Nuns at Nôtre-Dame de Soissons and the other was marry'd to Andrew Jubert de Bouville Master of the Requests who was since made Intendant of Limosin but by reason of his indiscreet Zeal in the Defence of the Lieutenant-General of Limoges who was accus'd of Bribery and Exaction was suspected by the whole Province to have shar'd the Booty with him whom he protected On the 16th of December 1681. the King came to Paris and visited the Orchard or Nursery of Fruit-Trees for the Use of the Royal Houses from whence he went to the Louvre where he saw his Cabinet of Pictures and from thence to his Library in the Street Vivienne where the Coadjutor of Rohan shew'd him the most curious Books and the Cabinet of Ancient and Modern Medals and engrav'd Agats His Majesty went also to the Academy of Sciences the Chymical Laboratory and the Rolling-Press for Prints and expressed a great deal of Satisfaction at the Sight of so many Marks of Colbert's Diligence in ordering all things that were committed to his Care At the same the Marquess de Seignelay went to Dunkirk to be present at the Tryal of some newly-invented Machines the Success of which gave a fair Prospect of great Advantages in time of War The Frigat call'd Echole was set apart by his Order for the Instruction of the young Officers of his Majesty's Ships and the Marine Guards and disarm'd by the Chevaler le Bret of Flacourt who had commanded her and cruis'd six Weeks on the Coast about Rochefort And the same Officer was made Captain of the Marine Guards on that side The Terrour which the King's Galleys had spread over all the Mediterranean occasion'd an Embassy to his Majesty from Mula Ismael King of Morocco and Brother of Muley Axid who was called King of Tafilet That Country is of a considerable Extent being part of the ancient Numidia at present call'd Biledulgerit and is situated between Fez and the Mediterranean The above-mention'd King of Tafilet who was one of the greatest Conquerours in Afric as he was one day managing his Horse struck his Head against the Branch of a Fig-Tree and receiv'd a mortal Blow of which he died some days after tho' others say he was poison'd by one of his Concubines But whatever was the occasion of his Death 't is certain that when he felt it approaching he deliver'd his Sword as the Badge of Royalty to his Brother Mula Ismael telling him that his two Sons the Eldest of whom was but 4 and the other 3 Years old were incapable of sustaining the Weight of a Crown and that he foresaw that all the Countries he had conquer'd wou'd revolt after his Death Nor was he mistaken in his Prediction for the People took Arms and Mula at the Head of the Negro's and some other Troops was oblig'd to re-conquer the Kingdoms of Fez and Morocco the Principalities of Tetuan Salley and Arcassa and a Part of the Kingdom of Sus. His Subjects are compos'd of several Nations of which I shall only name some of the most remarkable The Cities are inhabited by the Moors who are the Posterity of the ancient Saracens The Barbarians live in houses conver'd with Stubble on the vast Mountains of Atlas which cross the whole Country The Alarbs or Arabs possess the Plains and are divided into Tribes The Head or Oldest Man of a Family is the Commander and is call'd the Checq or Captain They pass their whole Life in Tents made of Wooll and Goat's Hair and the Plains are strew'd with their Adoüards which are a sort of Hamlets consisting of 40 or 50 Tents set up together in a round Figure and some of the most numerous Tribes inhabit 50 Adoüards To all the Conquests I have already mention'd Mula Ismael added that of Mammora on the Ocean which he took from the Spaniards and of Tangier the Metropolis of Mauritania Tingitana which the English were forc'd to abandon He is of the Race of Mahomet surnam'd Cherif whose Name he bears in his Signet in the Arabic Tongue together with that of the Saviour of the World whom the Moors call Cydy Nayssa but only acknowledge that he was a great Prophet In the same Signet is the Name of GOD and of Mahomet the Author of their Religion for all other Coats of Arms are forbidden by their Law which expresly prohibits all sorts of Figures They pretend to be the only
she was closing with the Menaçante to board her that he cover'd the whole Vessel with Small-shot consisting of broken Pieces of Iron kill'd and wounded a great number of her Men and so shatter'd her that she bore away as fast as she cou'd without once tacking about And she was even in so great a Disorder that if the Bomb-Vessels cou'd have follow'd her she might have been easily taken She had not yet enter'd the Port when the Bombs began to flie at the Town which very much surpriz'd the Enemy who concluded that their Galley had at least brought off two of the Bomb-Vessels They left off shooting till their Galley was got into the Harbour but assoon as they saw her safe they began to shoot from their Batteries and fir'd five or six hundred Cannon-shot This Night there were almost eighty Bombs thrown into the City with no less Success than before In the coming off du Herbier receiv'd a Cannon-shot in his Poop which burst one of his Guns kill'd six Men and wounded two but in the whole Action there were only fourteen Men kill'd besides some that were wounded The next Day being the 4th of September the Algerines sent to the Admiral to desire a Peace The Missionary le Vacher was entrusted with that Commission who before the Rupture executed the Office of Consul of the French Nation in that City He deliver'd his Message from the Divan who had order'd him to desire a Cessation and that some Person might be sent to treat of the Conditions of a Peace To which the Marquess du Quêne made answer That if they had any Proposals to make he wou'd hear 'em on board his Ship and that he was resolv'd to continue the Bombarding and all other acts of Hostility against 'em 'till they grew tamer and were willing to submit to reasonable Conditions Le Vacher added that the Bombs had ruin'd above one hundred Houses and kill'd above seven hundred Men that several others were buried under the Ruines and that the Shore was cover'd with dead Bodies which were order'd to be laid there by the Dey Baba Hassan least if they were brought into the City the sight of 'em shou'd cause an Insurrection The same Day in the Evening about seventy Bombs were thrown in which were almost all levell'd at the Harbour with a design to burn the Ships One of the Bombs sunk a Bark and another falling between two Vessels broke off a part of their Keels But the Season of the Year being far advanc'd the Marquess du Quêne return'd to Toulon leaving Lery with the Ships commanded by St. Aubin Bellile and Bellefontaine to cruise before Algiers and curb the Insolency of the Pyrates Nor did they alone disturb the Commerce of those Infidels for a Vessel call'd the Regle which they had seiz'd near Maromas was retaken by Forant Commander of one of his Majesty's Ships They had sold her to two Jews who mann'd her with Dutch Seamen and sent her to Holland to be laden with War-like Ammunition and other Furniture for Ships In her Return she joyn'd in Company with a Fleet of thirty Dutch Merchant Ships under the Convoy of three Men of War and arriv'd in sight of Alicant about the begining of November 1682. Forant and S. Aubin who were cruising in those parts had notice of her Arrival and sent their Pinnaces to discover her with some Seamen of S. Malo who found her ridingat Anchor between the Forts of Alicant and the Fleet. The Night between the 18 and 19th of the same Month they mann'd their two Pinnaces and sent 'em under the command of Pallieres and Sainte Maure with Orders to seize on the Vessel which they executed very happily and without Noise and tow'd her out thro' a Fleet of above fifty Vessels of divers Nations The Commanders of the Dutch Men of War sent to expostulate with Forant complaining that he had seiz'd on a Ship that carry'd the Colours of the Republick and was under their protection But he reply'd that the Vessel belong'd to the Jews of Algiers that she was bound thither and had neither a Protection nor Bill of Lading These Reasons were unanswerable and the Commanders permitted the Ship to be carry'd off Colbert who neglected nothing that might tend to the promoting of Trade being inform'd that that there were very fine Horses in the Isles of Antilles communicated that Advice to Coulon Master of an Academy in the Rue Ferou in the Fauxbourg S. Germain who in compliance with so advantageous a Proposal sent his Kinsmen Pair and du Cornet two of his Majesty's Grooms to the Islands of Bonaire Curassol and Roubes from whence they brought Horses of an admirable Beauty and surprizing Fleetness Gabaret Commander of a Squadron was sent to the Antilles with three Ships the Furious Pearl and Tempest under the command of the Chevalier d' Arbouville d' Amblimont and Machaut This Squadron sail'd from the River Charante on the 8th of May 1682 and anchor'd in the Road of Rochel at the Point call'd Chef de Bois from whence they set sail on the 25th for Martinico where after forty Days sailing they arriv'd on the 5th of July and anchor'd at Fort-Royal to salute the Marquess of Blenac General of the Isles The Pearl sailing close by the Shore to get the Advantage of the Wind touch'd on certain Rocks from which she got clear by the help of her Anchors but tho' she felt no dammage at present she was afterwards sensible of the ill Effects of that Accident Next Day they weigh'd Anchor steering towards Fort S. Peter where they arriv'd betimes This is a considerable Place with respect to its Inhabitants but inferiour in strength to Fort-Royal Martinico is the chief of all the American Islands that are inhabited by the French 'T is all over Mountainous and full of Wood but extremely fertil in Sugar-Canes from which the Inhabitants draw their principal Revenue It produces good Melons and a most pleasant kind of Fruit call'd Anana besides several other sorts of Fruit as Gogaves Potato's Banana's and Figs which are different from those of France The Squadron sail'd from hence on the 15th of July and arriv'd on the 17th at Granada an Island Inhabited by the French and the Wild Natives abounding with Sugar-Canes Tobacco and Tortoises and defended by a Fort of no great strength from whence they continu'd their Course with a fore-wind to the Lee-ward for the Land stretches Westerly and the Eastern Winds reign perpetually in those Seas and had so quick a Passage that on the 24th they descry'd Cape de la Velle in New-Spain and afterwards discover'd at a great distance Mount St. Martha call'd in that Country Sierra Neuada or the Snowy Hill which is the highest Mountain in the World It lies in the Torrid-Zone in the 303 Degree of Longitude and 8 of Latitude containing about thirty or forty Leagues in circumference 'T is sixty Leagues from the Sea and yet may be distinctly perceived
de Lauzun the Chevalier de la Fare the Count du Luc Bourse Ville and the Chevalier de Tancour The Fleet arriv'd before Genoa on the 17th of May and the ten Bomb-Vessels which carry'd two Mortars each were drawn up in a Line at the distance of Cannon-Shot from the Walls stretching from the Watch-Tower on the Left to the Fauxbourg de Bisagno on the Right The Men of War made another Line behind the Bomb-Vessels at the distance of 200 Toises with the Galleys divided into two Squadrons The Day after their Arrival the Senate deputed six of their Body to offer Proposals by way of Excuse to the Marquess de Seignelay which he rejected because there was no mention made of giving Satisfaction to his Majesty And they were even so little inclinable to an Accommodation that after the Deputies were return'd they began to fire at the French Fleet which was a sufficient Provocation to oblige the Marquess de Seignelay to begin the Bombardment with the Success of ruining several Palaces and other Buildings in the Prado The 20th some of the Bomb-Vessels were order'd to stand in nearer the Harbour to play upon those parts of the City that had not yet receiv'd any Damage and one of the Bombs that were thrown in after that Motion fell upon a Palace at a great distance whither several Ladies of Quality had retir'd nor was the Havock they made in the Port less considerable where several Barks were shatter'd to pieces The French Bombs wou'd have quickly frighted the Genoese into a Complyance with his Majesty's Desires if they had not been animated by the Spaniards whom they had receiv'd into the City And therefore the Marquess de Seignelay seeing that they persisted in their Obstinacy resolv'd to make a Descent in order to destroy the fine Palaces in the Fauxbourg of S. Pietro d' Arena To execute this Design 1500 Men were detach'd from the Men of War and 2000 from the Galleys under the Command of the Duke de Mortemar and the Chevalier de Tourville And at the same time a false Attack was made with 700 Men towards Bisagno by the Marquess d' Amfreville who executed his Commission with a great deal of Vigour tho' in the beginning of the Engagement he receiv'd a Wound in the Thigh which was very troublesome to him for a long time after They who were appointed to carry on the true Attack in the first place made themselves Masters of a Fort that might have cut off their Retreat and afterwards drove the Enemy from House to House possessing themselves of the same Posts which they abandon'd And after they had almost wholly ruin'd that Fauxbourg they retir'd on board the Ships having lost the Chevalier de Lery and four or five inferiour Officers The 29th of the same Month the Fleet set sail and arrived at Toulon on the first of June The Pope offer'd his Mediation for a Treaty of Peace which was concluded on the 12th of February 1685 on the Terms propos'd by his Majesty For to obtain an entire Cessation of all Hostilities the Genoese submitted to and afterwards punctually perform'd these Conditions That the Doge accompany'd with four Senators shou'd come in Person to give Satisfaction to his Majesty and at their return re-enter into the Possession and Exercises of their Offices That the Republick shou'd dismiss all the Spanish Troops reduce the Galleys to their ancient Number restore or make good all that they had taken from the French and pay 100000 Crowns to the Count de Fiesque The Marquess de Seignelay was so pleas'd with the happy Success of this Expedition that 't was almost the only Subject of his Discourse and he caus'd his Picture to be drawn as he stood in the Reale-Galley with a General 's Batoon in his Hand The first Office of State that he perform'd after his Return was the giving Audience to the Ambassadors of Siam For that Prince being inform'd that his first Ambassadors to France were unfortunately lost at Sea made choice of two Officers of his Houshold to undertake that Voyage in the same Quality and to settle a free Trade and Commerce between his Subjects and the French East-India Company And the Confidence he repos'd in the Apostolical Missionaries that were in his Dominions made him desire the Bishop of Metellopolis to appoint one of these Fathers to accompany his Ambassadors in their Voyage to Siam In complyance with so just a Desire that Prelate made choice of Vachet an old Missionary of Cochin-China who with the two Ambassadors Okoane Pichey Vallite and Khonne Pichise or Aiti six other Siamese and an Interpreter of the same Nation embark'd on an English Vessel January 13. 1684. which brought 'em to England from whence they pass'd to Calice where they were receiv'd by the Marquess de Seignelay's Order and conducted to Paris at the King's Charge Afterwards the Marquess sent two Coaches to bring 'em to the Audience he had granted 'em and receiv'd 'em in his Closet The Ambassadors at their Entry bowed thrice with their Faces to the Ground and their Hands joyn'd and lifted up to the Crown of their Head after the Fashion of their Country Then they sate down on a piece of Tapestry and having repeated the principal Articles of their Commission regulated some of the Articles with him after which they had Audience of the Marquess de Croissy with whom they concluded the Treaty The Marquess de Seignelay who succeeded his Father in the Management of Affairs relating to Trade procur'd an Order of Council bearing date January 6 1685 by which his Majesty not only confirms the Licence granted to the Senega-Company to Trade on the Coast of Afric from Cape-Blanc to the River of Sierra-Leona but expresly prohibits all other Persons whatsoever to drive any Trade or Traffick in those Parts under the pain of forfeiting their Ships and Commodities and paying a Fine of 3000 Livres Revoking nevertheless the Privilege granted to the same Company to engross the whole Trade of the Coast of Guinea to the Cape of Good Hope and giving free leave and permission to all his Majesty's Subjects to Trade on any part of the Coast between the Cape and the River of Sierra-Leona In February the Marquess de Blainville purchas'd the Office of Great Master of the Ceremonies of the Marquess de Rodes and took the usual Oath before Julius-Henry then Duke d' Enguien and now Prince of Condé Great Master of the King's Houshold About the same time the King call'd a Meeting of the Clergy at St. Germain en Laye to conclude on the most proper Methods for the utter extirpation of Calvinism out of his Dominions His Majesty sent Lewis Boucherat at present Chancellor of France and Claude Pelletier with the Marquess de Seignelay to communicate his Design to the Prelates and other Members of that Assembly and on the 14th of July the Clergy sent Deputies to acquaint his Majesty with their Resolutions who were conducted to their
Arabic Characters The King of Morocco receiv'd it smiling and smelling the Case as he open'd it after he had admir'd the Embroidery he ask'd whether they dress'd Leather with Amber-grise and the Ambassador answer'd That he was wholly ignorant of those Matters Then the King call'd two English Renegado's his Secretaries and order'd 'em to read and interpret the French Letter which he heard with a great deal of Pleasure expressing his Satisfaction by the Motions of his Head and spent some time in considering his Majesty's Subscription and the Seal which was in a distinct Paper cut all around into the Figure of a Sun and enclos'd in the Letter After which he said that he knew very well that the King was descended in a right Line from Heraclius and that never any Emperour before him had advanc'd the Glory of the French Monarchy to so great a Heighth The Ambassador answer'd That he was not ignorant of his Majesty's Royal Descent and that from Aly who marry'd the Daughter of the Prophet all his Predecessors were the Off-spring of Kings The King reply'd That he was not of the Royal Family but of the Race of the Prophet adding that he sent into France Agy-Aly Manino who was of one of the greatest Families in the West without mentioning Agy Mehemed Thummin who pass'd for the Ambassador The Count of S. Amand was inform'd that in the King of Morocco's Letter to his Majesty the Name of Mehemed Thummin was put instead of Aly Manino by the Interest of his Patron the Alcayd Timur who is the most powerful Subject in the Kingdom The Ambassadour in Answer to the King 's last Compliment assur'd his Majesty that Mehemed Thummin was universally admir'd in France for his Politeness and Skill in the Management of State-Affairs Then they brought some Dates that were newly gather'd and the King invited the Ambassador to eat and after they had done eating he mounted his Horse telling the Ambassador that he was going to run with Lances and desiring him to keep his Eye upon him These Exercises lasted about two Hours tho' it rain'd all the while after which he gave Orders to retire Not long after the Presents were brought to him consisting of two Fusees very finely wrought two Cases of Pistols two large Pendulums for a Closet two dozen of Watches twelve Pieces of Gold Brocard as many Pieces of very fine English Cloth and some Bottles embroider'd with Gold of the same Leather with the Letter Case which was brought from Constantinople He admir'd above all a Cannon six Foot long which was not mounted and kissing the ground said He perceiv'd by those Presents that the French were Men for they call all other Nations Gyon that is a Nation less than Men. The Letter-Case was put into a Jubira or little Bag of Mo-hair and order'd to be safely preserv'd The rest of the Day was spent in Discourses concerning the Ratification of the Peace and the Alcayd Aly who was appointed Commissioner for that Purpose with Aly Manino and Mehemed Thummin went to the Ambassador's Tent and confer'd with him till Two in the Morning But they were so far from coming to any Conclusion that they tore all that they had done alledging that the Ambassador's Proposals did not tend to a Peace On the 12th the Alcayd Aly with his two Associates return'd to the Tent and after they had spent two Hours in a private Conference took horse to attend the King and know his Pleasure Three hours after Aly Manino brought back word that his Majesty was resolv'd to grant all that the Ambassadour shou'd desire and even more if it was possible The next day the Alcayd Aly return'd with Aly Manino and concluded the Treaty with the Ambassador who two hours after went to receive his Audience of Leave He found the King on Horse-back engag'd in his usual Exercises which lasted till Night after which his Majesty sent word to the Ambassador that 't was the Hour of Prayer and that he wou'd speak with him at his coming out and assoon as he came forth he sent the Alcayd Lucas who had been Ambassador in England to acquaint him that he had granted all his Proposals The Ambassador reply'd that he had nothing more to desire of his Majesty and that he esteem'd himself too happy in being an Eye-witness of so firm a Peace concluded between two such potent Emperours after which the Alcayd Lucas return'd with that Answer to the King who order'd him to bring the Count of S. Amand before him He found his Majesty standing in the midst of his Camp who receiv'd him in a very kind and friendly Manner and after the Ambassador had thank'd him for the favourable Treatment he had receiv'd in his Dominions that Monarch charg'd him to salute the Emperour of France in his Name and to give him the Salutation of Peace which is esteem'd a very eloquent Phrase in that Country to express a sincere Affection nor do they ever use it in speaking to Christians The King of Morocco is of a middle Stature neither too great nor too small his Air is courteous and inspires Respect his Gate lofty and his Mouth somewhat little he has black Hair sparkling Eyes and a Hawk-Nose He had on his Head a red Cap wrapt about with a Muslin Turbant a Dara of a sort of very White Wooll with another about it of Yellow Damask The Habit he wore consisted of a Cafetan of Nut-colour'd Cloth a wide and sleeveless Coat of Gold and Silk and under that a Haique of white Muslin girt round his Body like a Cloth with a Shirt of Mail to secure him against private Attempts a Piece of Caution that may be excus'd in one that has been three or four times in danger of Assassination a green Wast-Coat and then a Shirt with Sleeves like those of a Surplice His Boots or rather Buskins were of red Leather plaited all over and his Spurrs of Iron gilt with a Prick as long as a Bodkin He had about 200 Horses who were not very beautiful but they were of a large Size and seem'd to be very good His Army consisted of between 40 and 50000 Men encamp'd as they fight without any Order on Mount Atlas Sometimes he puts himself at the Head of 10000 Horse to enure 'em to War for they are only a sort of undisciplin'd Militia His usual Guard was then compos'd of 7000 Negro's and 300 Renegado's cloath'd in Red and Green besides 200 Pages both Moors and Blacks who are his Slaves The Ambassador in his Return was conducted by Bengaraya Son to the King of Talmenin who provided much better Entertainment for him on the Road than Mehemed Thummin did in his Journey to the Court tho' he was treated with all possible Civility in France It happen'd by the way that one of the Ambassador's Servants was slightly wounded by a Barbarian with a Fire-Lock charg'd with Hail-shot Immediately Bengaraya without speaking a word laid his Hand on his Horse
Principal Members of the Divan and Military Officers were so mov'd by these Remonstrances that they agreed unanimously to follow his Advice And in pursuance of that Resolution they deputed a particular Friend of Baba-Hassan whom they sent with an Interpreter in a Pinnace with a white Flag and oblig'd the Missionary le Vacher to accompany him They arriv'd about nine in the Morning at the Admiral 's Vessel who without suffering 'em to come on board order'd 'em to retire behind the Ship where they might deliver their Proposals and receive an Answer from the Deck But being inform'd by le Vacher of the Secret of the Message he permitted the Deputy and his Interpreter to come on board and answer'd 'em in Writing to prevent both Mistakes and Misrepresentations that he wou'd not hearken to any Proposals of Peace till they had freely discharg'd and set at liberty all their French Slaves and even those of other Nations whom they had taken on board French Ships At last after several Comings and Goings 141 Slaves were brought on board the Admiral among whom was Beaujeu a Captain of one of his Majesty's Ships who was taken in a small Vessel and sold for 11200 Piasters and the Deputy who accompany'd 'em assur'd the Admiral that there was Orders given to gather together all the French Slaves and those that were taken under the Banner of France and to restore 'em without delay He demanded also in Baba-Hassan's Name the liberty of the Reys and other Algerines that were taken by de Lery in his way to Algiers but cou'd not obtain a favourable Answer On the 30th of June and 1st of July he brought 276 Slaves more and after several earnest Solicitations obtain'd the liberty of the Reys The remaining Slaves were also freed and brought on board before the 5th and among the rest four Women one of Marseilles and three of Messina Thus his Majesty humbl'd the Insolence of those haughty Pyrates who imagin'd themselves to be secur'd from the danger of being attack'd in their Port after the unsuccessful Attempt of the Emperour Charles V. The Joy with which Colbert receiv'd the News of the happy Success of his Majesty's Arms at Sea and his desire to outstrip the Marquess of Louvois who for a long time had been the Object of his Jealousie made him strive with so much eagerness to discharge the Duties of so many several Offices that at last he sunk under that perpetual and insupportable Load of Cares and the fatal violence of his last Disease occasion'd by a Stone in the Kidneys which put an end to his Life on the 6th of September 1683 at the Age of Sixty four Years He was assisted at his Death by Cornoüaille Vicar of St. Eustachius and that celebrated Preacher Father Bourdaloüe the Jesuit And the Ceremony of his Interrment was perform'd in the Night under a Guard of the Soldiers of the Watch to prevent the Fury of his implacable Enemies the Inhabitants of Paris His Children erected a stately Monument to his Memory in the Church of St. Eustachius where his Bust of White Marble is to be seen of very curious Workmanship His Death was made the Subject of many Verses of which those that follow are agreeable to the Account of his Birth in the beginning of this History Colbert's dead I 'm sure he 's dead I saw his breathless Body laid On a Bed of mournful State With all the solemn Pomp of Fate I softly walk'd and often stood And long the pleasing Object view'd Each Room Death's Sable Liv'ry wore And all the Marks of Sorrow bore Splendid Sorrow reign'd o'er all Sorrow cover'd every Wall At last I spy'd a Fellow grinning And heard him whisper out his meaning Pray Sir what makes you look so sullen D' ye grudge the waste of so much Woollen Cou'd less be done good Mr. Gaper In honour of old Dad the Draper The Manuscripts and most curious Pieces of that numerous Collection of Books which he left were taken out of Cardinal Mazarin's Library who entrusted him with the Administration of that part of his Goods for he sent only the most common Pieces to the College of the Four Nations contrary to the Will of his Benefactor who left his Library for the Use and Instruction of the Students of that College His Offices were divided after his Death That of Comptroller-General of the Finances was given to Claude le Pelletier Counsellour of State who had formerly been Counsellour in the Parliament President of the Court of Inquests Provost of the Merchants and was afterwards made Counsellour of State in Ordinary He had also been Tutor to the Children of John-Baptist Gaston Duke of Orleans and acquir'd a great deal of Honour by his wise Management of that Trust He was an exact and judicious Person and a good Judge but his unacquaintedness with the Affairs of the Finances made him so slow in dispatching 'em that no less skilful a Successor than Pontchartrain cou'd have prevented the ill consequences of his Remissness The Office of Superintendant of the Buildings was bestow'd on Michael-Francis le Tellier Marquess of Louvois Minister and Secretary of State with the Protectorship of the Academy of Painting tho' Julius-Armand Colbert Marquess of Blainville Son of the Deceas'd had obtain'd the Reversion of the Office of Superintendant So that of all his Places only the Offices of Secretary of State and of Commander and Great Treasurer of his Majesty's Orders remain'd in the Family which were given to the Marquess of Seignelay whose Character was perfectly opposite to that of his Father For the Son's Magnificence was as remarkable as his Father's Frugality His Table was sumptuous and his Furniture splendid and rich He had a Closet set round with Looking-Glasses and another Wainscotted with Calamba-Wood which was brought by his Orders from Siam He bought of Alvarez a Collection of Italian Pictures and Statues to the value of 300000 Livres part of which he paid in Pass-ports and in the Ships that he lent him He was Master of a great deal of Learning and Politeness but never any Man exceeded him in Vanity and he was an immoderate lover of Pleasures He was twice Marry'd first with Mary Margaret Marchioness of Alegre whose Fortune amounted to above 60000 Livres Yearly Revenue and after her Death with Katharin Teresa de Matignen Daughter of the Count de Thorigny his Majesty's Lieutenant-General in Normandy and of Frances de le Luthumiere The Marchioness of Alegre cou'd not easily be persuaded to Marry a Husband of so mean birth but Colbert had gain'd the Marquesses d' Alegre and d' Urfé the Uncles and Guardians of that rich Heiress In consideration of this Match the Bishoprick of Limoges was bestow'd on the Count de Sommerive the Son of the latter and the Father obtain'd recommendatory Letters to the principal Officers in the Parliament of Bourdeaux where he had an important Suit depending against his Nephew the Count de Mailly about the Inheritance of
the mean time they laded one of the King's Ships with â—orn and since they cou'd not restore seven of the Frenchmen that were ask'd of 'em whom they had sold in several parts of the Levant from whence they cou'd not possibly bring 'em back they deliver'd thirty Strangers instead of the twenty French Slaves that were demanded of 'em with eleven young Ship-Boys of Provence whom they had forc'd to renounce Christianity which they had never before granted by any Treaty whatsoever The Duke de Mortemar at his Arrival found five Venetian Men of War and Fly-Boats that were come to Land the Garison and Inhabitants of Navarrens and Modon which were surrenderd on Articles to the Generalissimo Morosini The Commander of this Squadron had retain'd some Women under pretext that they were willing to embrace the Christian Faith and the Dey of Tripoli on the Complaints made to him by the Husbands and Relations of those Women had by way of Reprizal seiz'd on the whole Crew of a Pinnace belonging to the Venetians But the Difference was accommodated by the Duke's Mediation the Women being restor'd to the Turks and the Mariners of the Pinnace to the Venetians After which the Duke wrote to the Dey of Tunis who sent in the Vessel call'd the Granade the rest of the Slaves that were taken under the Banner of France The next Year the Dey Divan and Soldiery of Tripoli sent to France Khelyt Aga the Bassa's Deputy and Hector Aga a Naval Officer to present to his Majesty by way of Tribute two Dromedaries six of the finest Horses in the Country and some Ostriches These Envoys arriv'd at Toulon on the 3d. of May 1687 where they were receiv'd by Vauvre Intendant of the Marine and maintain'd at the King's Charge with their eight Attentendants during the forty Days they remain'd in that Place to repose themselves and those Animals who had suffer'd very much in the Voyage At last they set forward by an Order from the Court accompany'd by de Magrie a Marine Officer in the Toulon Division and Antonio Boyer a Native of Malta to perform the Office of an Interpreter on the Road. On the 10th of August they came to Charenton and de Magna went immediately to inform the Marquess de Seignelay of their Arrival The 22d they were brought to Versailles and introduc'd to his Majesty's Presence by the Marquess After they had made their Compliment in Turkish which was interpreted by Dipy they presented the Animals to the King after which a Moor about eighteen Years old of a very large Stature both for height and thickness mounted one of the Dromedaries harness'd after the Mode of the Country and galloping about the Court he rais'd himself with wonderful agility on the Back of that Animal and having made several whirling Turns fell back into his former Posture Some Days after the Ambassadors went to see the Marquess de Seignelay's House where they were regal'd by his Officers tho' they had receiv'd neither Orders for the Entertainment nor so much as Notice of their coming At their departure the Marquess gave each of 'em in the King's Name a Gold Chain and Medal with his Majesty's Picture In October 1689 the Marquess de Seignelay was made Minister of State but he did not long enjoy that Dignity for he dy'd the next Year three Months after the Dauphiness as his Father deceas'd some Days after the Queen His Death was believ'd to be occasion'd by his Debauches and especially by the Excesses he committed with Women He was extremely in Love with one of his Mistresses but did not take care to raise her Fortune tho' it was not suitable to her Birth When she was inform'd that there was no hope of his Recovery and that he suffer'd no Ladies to be brought into his Presence she disguis'd her self in the Habit of a Courier and pretending that she had a Pacquet concerning some important Affair to deliver to the Marquess She was introduc'd into his Chamber where she discover'd her self to him and told him that hearing he was about to undertake a long Journey she cou'd not forbear bidding him adieu before his departure and withal intreated him to remember her Condition He easily understood her meaning but having more pressing Debts to pay sent her away with a Promise that he would think of her The Abbot de Fenelon gave him notice of his approaching Death and he was so much the more surpriz'd with so unwelcom a Message that two Days before he had spent eight Hours in doing Business with his Commissaries His Body being open'd there were found twelve small and very hard Glands in his Breast and the Rudiments of some others in his Kindneys his Lungs were found sticking to his Sides all his Blood was congeal'd and his Stomach so hard that they cou'd not open it without some difficulty The Inventory of his Estate amounted to 1700000 Livres and might have been much greater if his Expences had been less extravagant He left five Boys of whom the eldest call'd the Marquess de Loure being then about seven or eight Years old some time after obtain'd the Reversion of the Office of Master of the Wardrobe at present in the possession of the Marquess de la Sale Lewis Phelippeaux Count of Pontchartrain was made Minister and Secretary of State in room of the Marquess de Seignelay He had already pass'd thro' the Offices of Counsellor in the Court of Requests in the Parliament of Paris Master of Requests First President in the Parliament of Bretaign and Intendant of the Finances and was then as he is still Comptroller-General of the Finances The Marquess de Louvois had the Titles of Governour of the Fortifications of Maritime places and of the ancient Fortifications Great Master of the Races and Director of the Cloth-Manufactory And the Office of Commander and Great Treasurer of the King's Orders formerly in the possession of the Marquess de Seigdelay was given to his Uncle the Marquess de Croissy Minister and Secretary of State Of all Colbert's Sons at present there are only two remaining James Nicholas Archbishop of Rohan and Lewis formerly Abbot of Bonport and Prior of Nogent le Rotru who after the Death of his Brother Charles Count de Sceaux who was kill'd in Flanders at the Head of the Regiment of Champaign left a Religious for a Military Life and was made Commander of the same Regiment which the Marquess de Blanville had commanded before him The END THE TABLE OF THE CONTENTS COlberts's Character Page 1 His Birth and Education 3 His Advancement to the Service of le Tellier Secretary of State ibid. An Instance of his Exactness and Fidelity to his Master 4 Cardinal Mazarin receives him into his Service 5 His Marriage and Mistresses 6 7 He is made Intendant of the Finances 9 An Account of the Proceedings against Fouquet Superintendant of the Finances 10 c. Fouquet's Kindness to the Burlesque Gazettier 18 Colbert's Avarice ibid. Pelisson