I Was Much Pleased With Marseilles, Which Is Indeed A Noble City,
Large, Populous, And Flourishing.
The streets of what is called
the new Town are open, airy and spacious; the houses well built,
and even magnificent.
The harbour is an oval basin, surrounded on
every side either by the buildings or the land, so that the
shipping lies perfectly secure; and here is generally an
incredible number of vessels. On the city side, there is a semi-circular
quay of free-stone, which extends thirteen hundred
paces; and the space between this and the houses that front it,
is continually filled with a surprising crowd of people. The
gallies, to the number of eight or nine, are moored with their
sterns to one part of the wharf, and the slaves are permitted to
work for their own benefit at their respective occupations, in
little shops or booths, which they rent for a trifle. There you
see tradesmen of all kinds sitting at work, chained by one foot,
shoe-makers, taylors, silversmiths, watch and clock-makers,
barbers, stocking-weavers, jewellers, pattern-drawers,
scriveners, booksellers, cutlers, and all manner of shop-keepers.
They pay about two sols a day to the king for this indulgence;
live well and look jolly; and can afford to sell their goods and
labour much cheaper than other dealers and tradesmen. At night,
however, they are obliged to lie aboard. Notwithstanding the
great face of business at Marseilles, their trade is greatly on
the decline; and their merchants are failing every day.
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