CHAP. LXIV. A View of Paris, the Metropolis of France, and of the Trade, Weights, Measures, Coyns, Customs, exchan∣ges, and Commodities there Vend∣ed.
PAris is the Principal city of France, and is accounted 10 Miles in Circumference, being Situate on either side the River Sein; that River Gliding smoothly through it, thereby rendering it more Commodious for Traffick; tho through the Sloath of the Inhabitants it is not improved to the ad∣vantage it might be, yet here are found Commodities of the growth of the whole Kingdom, as likewise of most Nations tho in no abundance.
The Commodities exported hence are Linnens, Paper, Cards, Combs, Stuffs, Thread, Plushes, &c. for which they re∣ceive Page 204 English Cloath, Stockings, Lead, Tinn, Bays, old Shooes, Silks of Italy, and some Indian Commodities. The Inhabi∣tants are for the most part Gentry, and therefore not addicted to Manufa∣cture.
The Weights of Paris are the Quintal, which is accounted 100 pound Gross, but found to make 100 pound of London Suttle 2 per cent. more or less, and is of Lyons Weight of 16 Ounces 116 pound, and Venetian Sottle 144 pound, 100 Sottle in Venice making Sottle of Paris Weight but 62 •/2 pound of 15 Ounces to the pound, the Cargo or great Quintal of Paris is 300 pound of Troy Weight, yet makes in Florence 487 pound. The Concave Mea∣sures for Wine is the Cistern, which con∣tains 8 Pints or a French Gallon, 96 of which are accounted a Tun.
The Measures of length are two, one for Linnen, and the other for Silks, and are much about the length of the vantaged and unvantaged Aulns, but seldom used in Gross, by Reason in this City Silks, Stuffs, &c. are sold by Weight, which to the buyer is advantageous by Reason he cannot be imposed on with slight Silks, and Stuffs, but that what it wants in goodness will be made out in Measure.
Page 205This City is the chief Standard of Coyn for the whole Kingdom; therefore in this I shall give a particular account of most French Coyns currant; first the Denire, 2 of which make a Double, and twelve a Sold, and 20 Solds a Liver, by some cal∣led a Frank, and in these three, viz. Solds, Deniers, and Livers, the accounts of that Kingdom are for the most part kept. There are Peices of 8 Solds, each Piece being the 1/• part of a Silver French Crown, 64 Sold's being accounted a French Crown, and 4 Sold's which is of 3 Livors Turnois Pieces of 21 Solds, 4 Deniers being the 1/8 part of the said Crown commonly called Testons, and the ½ and ¼ thereof, and as the Quar∣ter Crowns were at first raised from 15 Solds to 16, and thereby the 60 Solds to 64; so in the like proportion, were the Testons raised; the Golden Coyns are the Crown of 3 Livers or 60 Solds, the Crown of the Sun being 3 Livers 16 Sold or 76 Solds, and the Pistol, each Liver being ac∣counted 12 pence Sterling; there are like∣wise Crowns of 6 Shillings Sterling, but these monies, as indeed most Forrain Coyns, do rise and fall according to the Plenty and Scarcity of Silver and Gold, or more pro∣perly at the pleasure of the Prince whose proper Coyns they are. As for the Ex∣changes Page 206 I shall refer them till I come to Treat in General of the nature of Ex∣changes.
