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_.