Aix, The Capital Of Provence, Is A Large City, Watered By The
Small River Are.
It was a Roman colony, said to be founded by
Caius Sextus Calvinus, above a century before the birth of
Christ.
From the source of mineral water here found, added to the
consul's name, it was called Aquae Sextiae. It was here that
Marius, the conqueror of the Teutones, fixed his headquarters,
and embellished the place with temples, aqueducts, and thermae,
of which, however, nothing now remains. The city, as it now
stands, is well built, though the streets in general are narrow,
and kept in a very dirty condition. But it has a noble cours
planted with double rows of tall trees, and adorned with three or
four fine fountains, the middlemost of which discharges hot water
supplied from the source of the baths. On each side there is a
row of elegant houses, inhabited chiefly by the noblesse, of
which there is here a considerable number. The parliament, which
is held at Aix, brings hither a great resort of people; and as
many of the inhabitants are persons of fashion, they are well
bred, gay, and sociable. The duc de Villars, who is governor of
the province, resides on the spot, and keeps an open assembly,
where strangers are admitted without reserve, and made very
welcome, if they will engage in play, which is the sole
occupation of the whole company. Some of our English people
complain, that when they were presented to him, they met with a
very cold reception. The French, as well as other foreigners,
have no idea of a man of family and fashion, without the title of
duke, count, marquis, or lord, and where an English gentleman is
introduced by the simple expression of monsieur tel, Mr.
Suchathing, they think he is some plebeian, unworthy of any
particular attention.
Aix is situated in a bottom, almost surrounded by hills, which,
however, do not screen it from the Bize, or north wind, that
blows extremely sharp in the winter and spring, rendering the air
almost insupportably cold, and very dangerous to those who have
some kinds of pulmonary complaints, such as tubercules,
abscesses, or spitting of blood. Lord H - , who passed part of
last winter in this place, afflicted with some of these symptoms,
grew worse every day while he continued at Aix: but, he no sooner
removed to Marseilles, than all his complaints abated; such a
difference there is in the air of these two places, though the
distance between them does not exceed ten or twelve miles. But
the air of Marseilles, though much more mild than that of Aix in
the winter is not near so warm as the climate of Nice, where we
find in plenty such flowers, fruit, and vegetables, even in the
severest season, as will not grow and ripen, either at Marseilles
or Toulon.
If the air of Aix is disagreeably cold in the winter, it is
rendered quite insufferable in the summer, from excessive heat,
occasioned by the reflexion from the rocks and mountains, which
at the same time obstruct the circulation of air:
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