The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz Volume I Part 13

LETTER XII.

_SIR_, _Vienna, Nov. 30, 1729._

The Court of VIENNA consists of so many Princes and n.o.blemen, that it cannot be deny'd to be the greatest and most magnificent Court in _Europe_. Nevertheless Ceremonies, and the _Etiquette_, a Name by which they call ancient Usages, give it an Air of Constraint that is to be seen no where else. There's a universal Out-cry against the latter, and even the Emperor sometimes seems to be disturb'd at it, yet 'tis observ'd as strictly as if it was an Article of Religion, and nothing cou'd set it aside but an Oec.u.menical Council.

Notwithstanding this, a Foreigner of Quality (for such he must be here) finds Advantages at this Court which he does not meet with either at _Paris_ or _London_, I mean Opportunities of making Acquaintance. After a Person has been to wait on their Imperial Majesties he need only be introduc'd into one single Family to be soon made known to all the rest, with this Advantage too, that go where you will, they speak the _German_, _French_, _Italian_, and _Spanish_ Languages; whereas a Foreigner at _Paris_ is under a Necessity of speaking _French_, and at _London_ _English_; but a Man may shift very well at _Vienna_ without the _High-Dutch_ or _German_ Language.

The Ministers and great Lords of the Court are Civil, Courteous, and of easy Access, especially to such as want no Favour of 'em, and come to _Vienna_ only for Curiosity or Business. The Way of these Gentlemen is to return no Visits: but they invite People to their Tables, which being always well fill'd, a Man soon gets a great deal of Acquaintance.

'Tis a very easy matter to be admitted to kiss the Hands of their Imperial Majesties, and even to obtain a private Audience of 'em; for there needs nothing more than to give in your Name to the Emperor's Great Chamberlain and the Empress's Great Master of the Houshold. When you kiss their Hands you bend one Knee to the Ground, and the Time for it is generally when their Majesties pa.s.s by to Dinner. But private Audiences are attended with more Ceremonies. The Great Chamberlain having appointed the Hour of meeting in his Antichamber, which is commonly five o'clock in the Evening, he repairs thither at that Time, and introduces to the Audience; and if he be absent, 'tis done by the Chamberlain in Waiting. The Ceremony observ'd is this: The Emperor stands up under a Canopy, leaning with his Back against a Table, and an Arm-Chair by his Side, A Screen of red Velvet with Gold Fringe is plac'd at the Entrance of the Room, so that the Emperor is not perceiv'd at the opening of the Door. Behind this Screen near the Door, stands the Great Chamberlain. As soon as the Person comes in sight of the Emperor he bends the Knee, which he repeats as he advances a little farther, and again when he comes near to his Imperial Majesty. To these Genuflexions the Emperor gives a Nod of the Head, hearkens very attentively to the Person who addresses him, and returns a succinct and gracious Answer. Then the Person kneeling with one Knee on the Ground kisses his Majesty's Hand, after which he retires, going backwards and making three Genuflexions as he did at Entrance. The same Ceremonies are observ'd at an Audience of the Empress, who gives it standing just as the Emperor does, with this Difference only that the Emperor is all alone, and the Empress is attended with one of her Ladies of Honour, who nevertheless stands off at such a Distance that she can't hear what is said.

The Emperor commonly eats with the Empress and the Arch-d.u.c.h.esses. But there are particular Days, such as the Installation of the Knights of the _Golden Fleece_, when the Empress herself is not allow'd to sit down at Table with his Imperial Majesty. The Dinner is commonly in the Emperor's Apartment, and the Supper at the Empress's. At Dinner two Chamberlains hold the Ewer for their Majesties to wash, and the Steward, or in his absence the Great Chamberlain presents them the Napkin, which is done after the manner of _Spain_, with one Knee on the Ground. The Number of Dishes at the Emperor's Table is forty eight, and the same at the Empress's; but tho' their Majesties eat together they are each serv'd by their own Officers and Cooks. They commonly drink both together at the first Time; and till they have drank, the Amba.s.sadors, Courtiers, and Ladies all wait at Dinner. After the Emperor has drank, the Steward, the Master of the Horse, the Great Chamberlain, and the Captain of the Guards receive his Orders: The Lady of Honour in Waiting and the Empress's Steward receive her Orders in like manner. None remain in the Room but the Officers necessary for the Service, and some curious People who are not us'd to see Sovereigns eat. On Sundays, Saints Days, and Days of _Gala_, which is the Name they give here to Days of Festival and Ceremony, the Dinner is attended with Music. I forgot to acquaint you that the Emperor is always cover'd at Table, and that when he puts his Hat on the Amba.s.sadors put on theirs.

At Supper the Lady of Honour who is in waiting presents the Napkin, and the Ladies of the Bed-Chamber not only carve and hand the Victuals, but taste both the Meat and the Wine. The Pages carry the Dishes and Plates, and fetch the Wine from the Beaufet which they give to the Ladies, and they to their Majesties. During the Supper as well as at Dinner all the Gentlemen and Ladies stand up, so that here neither Princes nor Princesses have any Distinction shew'd them, but all Ranks are levell'd and confounded, and no body sits down in presence of the Sovereign.

On the Days of _Gala_ the Court is extremely gay, and nothing is to be seen but Gold and Diamonds. The Days of this kind that are celebrated with most Splendor are those of St. _Charles_ and St. _Elizabeth_, the Name Days of the Emperor and Empress. The Emperor, who commonly dresses very plain, is cover'd all over with Diamonds upon St. _Elizabeth_'s Day. And as for the Empress, her Apparel is commonly rich, and so loaded with Jewels upon St. _Charles_'s Day that she can scarce stand under it. Except on these Days of _Gala_ the Court dresses very plain. 'Tis true that these Days are very frequent, and that consequently plain Clothes are not very much wore, for if it be a Holiday, or the Birth-Day of some Minister, or if some Lady of Distinction sends but for a Surgeon to bleed her, 'tis enough to put the whole City in _Gala_. These _Gala's_ may be divided into three Cla.s.ses; the _Court Gala_ which is universal both for the n.o.bles and Plebeians; the _Grand Gala_ which is kept in the City is for the Festival of some Minister; and the third and last is the _Little Gala_, which is when the Ladies are let blood. A Husband makes a _Gala_ here for his Wife, the Wife for her Husband, the Children for their Parents, and Brothers and Sisters for one another; so that to be sure two Thirds of _Vienna_ are always in _Gala_; which made a _French_ Jester say, 'twould take up a great deal of Brimstone to cure the _Austrians_ of the _Gale_[93].

However, they take care not to appear in this domestic _Gala_ before the Emperor and Empress, because it would be reckon'd a Disrespect to them.

On the great Festival-Days the Emperor goes with a grand Retinue to St.

_Stephen_'s Cathedral: He takes up one whole Side of the Coach, and the Empress sits fronting him. Their Majesties are preceded by the Chamberlains and Knights of the _Golden Fleece_ on horseback: The Pages and Footmen walk bare-headed immediately after the Coach of the Master of the Horse, and their Imperial Majesties Coach is guarded on each side by a File of Archers, and attended by the Coaches of the Arch-d.u.c.h.esses and the Ladies. Then the Horse-Guards appear with their Kettle-Drums and Trumpets, and the March is clos'd by the Pope's _Nuncio_ and the Amba.s.sadors with their Train, which consists of three magnificent Coaches and six Horses each.

On _Corpus Christi_ Day the Emperor accompanies the Holy Sacrament, when the Streets thro' which the Procession pa.s.ses are cover'd with Planks.

Their Imperial Majesties repair in the Morning with great Attendance to St. _Stephen_'s Cathedral, and after a.s.sisting at Divine Service join in the Procession. The Emperor is immediately follow'd by the Empress, who is accompany'd by all the Ladies in rich Dresses, which renders this one of the most magnificent Processions in the World.

The same Honours and Respects are paid to the Empress Dowager as to the Empress Regent. She has her separate Houshold, and her own Guards. She has an Apartment in the Palace, but commonly lives in a Convent of her own founding in one of the Suburbs, and does not come to Town except on the great Festivals or for some extraordinary Function. You know, without doubt, that the Empress Dowagers can never quit Mourning; their Apartments must be always hung with Black, and their Coaches and Liveries are of the same Colour: Nor can they be present at any Play, Ball, or Concert. In short by losing their Husbands they must renounce the Pleasures of this Life. These severe Obligations on a Widow are fully discharg'd by the Empress Dowager. Being retir'd to a Convent where she is almost continually prostrate before the Altars in Prayer and Supplication, she makes her Mansion a Place of Piety and Peace, and never appears in public but when Conveniency requires. This Princess was always an Example of the most uncommon Virtue. In the Life-time of her Husband the Emperor _Joseph_, she lov'd Pleasures and Grandeur; but when she became a Widow she renounc'd all, and only employ'd herself in Works of Piety, and in the Education of the two Arch-d.u.c.h.esses her Daughters, whom she has now the Comfort of seeing marry'd to two powerful Princes of the Empire[94].

There's not a Person that draws near her Imperial Majesty but admires her eminent Qualities. I have not yet had the Honour this Journey of casting my self at her Feet, but the first Time I was here I had the Advantage of paying my Duty to her at _Schonborn_, where she then pa.s.s'd the Summer. I was receiv'd by her with such Proofs of her Kindness as charm'd me, and which I shall always remember with Pleasure and Respect. This Princess is the Daughter of _John-Frederic_ Duke of _Brunswic-Hanover_ and of _Henrietta-Benedictine_ Princess Palatine. After the Death of the Duke her Father, who left no Son, she went with the d.u.c.h.ess of _Brunswic_ to _France_, where this Princess was very glad to retire to her Sister the Princess of _Conde_. The Empress who was then the Princess _Amelia_, spent some Years in _France_, where she learned the Language and Politeness of that Nation to perfection, and in short acquir'd that Merit and Virtue for which she is now so much admir'd, and which perhaps have contributed equally with her ill.u.s.trious Extraction to gain her possession of the first Throne in Christendom. The Marriage of her elder Sister to _Renaud d'Este_ Duke of _Modena_ obliging the Dutchess of _Brunswic_ to leave _France_, and go and settle at _Modena_, the Princess _Amelia_ follow'd her also into _Italy_. She had no reason to be sorry for her leaving _France_, and rejecting the Addresses of a _French_ n.o.bleman who had presum'd to court her, for not long after her Arrival at _Modena_ she was marry'd to the King of the _Romans_, afterwards the Emperor _Joseph_.

This Empress is not only endow'd with the Christian but all the Moral Virtues, and there are few Princesses of a more generous Soul, of greater Courage, or of a Genius more sublime, more refin'd, or more adorn'd. There was a Time when she might be rank'd among the most beautiful Princesses of _Europe_: she still retains all the Marks of it; and therewith preserves such a majestic Air that whenever I behold her it revives the profound Veneration I have for her sacred Person.

The Emperor _Charles_ VI. is of a middling Stature, and in good Plight of Body: He is of a swarthy hale Complection, has a brisk Eye, and thick Lips, for which last his Family in general have been remarkable. This Monarch is the second Son of the Emperor _Leopold_ by _Eleonora_ of _Newbourg_, and the fifteenth Emperor[95] of his Family. Being design'd when a Minor for Successor to _Charles_ II. King of _Spain_, he had a grave Education suitable to the People whom he was one day to govern. This made him contract an Air of Seriousness, which, to those who have not the Honour of Access to him, favours of Severity; yet he is affable and very humane. He hears those with Attention that speak to him, and his Answers are full of Good-nature. When he attain'd to an Age hardly ripe enough for the Crown of _Spain_, he met with various Fortune in that Kingdom; but he supported himself in every Event with an heroic Magnanimity, being always submissive to the Will of that Providence which he knew was the Master of the Fortune of Kings. The Adversitys with which it pleas'd G.o.d to try his Patience by the Siege of _Barcelona_ which he carry'd on in Person, and by the Loss of the Battle of _Villa Viciosa_, only serv'd to confirm his Constancy, and his natural Integrity, a Principle which renders him even more venerable than the Splendor of his Crowns and the vast Extent of his Power. Heaven, which always rewards Virtue, has granted this Monarch one of the best and most fortunate Reigns that any Emperor has had since _Germany_ has been the Seat of Empire. He wants nothing to crown his Happiness but a Male Heir, which is so much the Desire of the People, as well as of the Emperor and the most virtuous Empress the World ever saw, that G.o.d grant he may have one.

This Princess is descended from the august House of _Brunswic_, to which _Europe_ is at this Time oblig'd for two Empresses[96], one King[97], and a Queen[98]. She is the Daughter of _Lewis Rodolph_ Duke of _Brunswic-Blankenbourg_[99] by _Christiana-Louisa_ Princess of _Oetingen_, of whom I gave you an Account in my Letter from _Blankenbourg_. The Character of this august Princess for her Affability and Goodness is so well known in the World that 'tis needless to speak of it here. You know likewise how beautiful and handsome she was when she was marry'd to the Emperor. And notwithstanding the Pimples in her Face and her present Corpulency she may still be reckon'd in the number of the beautiful Princesses. Such an Air of Modesty, Mildness, and Majesty, accompanies every thing she does, as inspires those that approach her with equal Courage and Respect. Her Duty is her Law, and her princ.i.p.al Care is to please the Emperor, whose Wisdom she knows to be sufficient to govern his Dominions, and to him she therefore leaves all Affairs. Indeed she is very earnest with him to get Favours for those who pet.i.tion her, which she thinks a Happiness to obtain, and she bestows them in such manner as is very affecting to the Receivers. This Princess is charitable, generous, and magnificent. She maintains her Dignity without Conceit, and supports her solid Piety without Ostentation. She was educated in the _Lutheran_ Religion, but abjur'd it at _Bamberg_ when she came thither in her Way to be marry'd to the Emperor, then King of _Spain_, and is now a good Catholic, yet without any Hatred to the Protestants; being convinc'd that the Love of one's Neighbour is one of the Duties which G.o.d most strictly enjoins upon Mankind, and that Charitableness and good Examples are the best Means to reconcile those to the Church who are separated from it.

In the same sublime Sentiments of Virtue does the Empress educate the Archd.u.c.h.esses her Daughters, and those young Princesses are like to make worthy Proficients. The eldest Archd.u.c.h.ess _Mary Theresa_ is brought up in the agreeable Prospect of being one day Mistress of the vast Dominions possessed by the Emperor[100]. This young Princess has very much of the Air of the Empress her Mother; and if Heaven designs her for the Sovereignty of the Empire, G.o.d grant she may also resemble her in her Virtues!

The Emperor has three Sisters. The eldest is the Archd.u.c.h.ess _Mary Elizabeth_ Governess of the (_Austrian_) _Netherlands_; the second is _Mary-Anne_ Queen of _Portugal_; and the third is the Archd.u.c.h.ess _Mary Magdalen_, who 'tis said is intended to be Governess of _Tirol_. The intire August House of _Austria_ consists at present of the sacred Person of the Emperor and of eight Princesses[101], of whom three are married; and G.o.d grant it may be augmented by the Birth of a Prince; for without setting up here for a zealous Subject, I don't think that the Houses of _Austria_ and _Bourbon_ ought ever to be extinct, both of them having made the Fortunes of an infinite Number of Gentlemen.

The Emperor's ordinary Pastime (when he has a Desire to unbend his Mind from Affairs of State, to which he applies with all the Earnestness of a Monarch that loves his People) is Hunting, or Shooting at a Mark; and the Empress is generally a Sharer in his Diversions. His Imperial Majesty goes sometimes also to the Riding-House, where he exercises himself in Riding: At other times Music is his Amus.e.m.e.nt, which the Monarch not only performs by Book, but is also a Composer; and some Years ago an Opera was acted here of his composing. All the Actors as well as the Dancers and the Musicians of the Orchestre were Persons of Quality. The Emperor himself made one, and the two eldest Archd.u.c.h.esses his Daughters danced. The Spectators were the Empress Regent and the Empress Dowager, and every Actor had the Liberty of carrying two of his Kindred or intimate Friends.

Tho' their Imperial Majesties are very fond of Music they have seldom more than two Operas in a Year, _viz._ on the Days of St. _Charles_ and St.

_Elizabeth_, and sometimes the same Operas are play'd again during the Carnival. At this time, which is devoted to Mirth, there is a Ball at Court, and on the Flesh-days there is commonly a great Masquerade representing a Country-Wedding. In the Palace there is a very magnificent Theatre, which indeed is almost the only thing there that is worth seeing, for the Imperial Palace is so wretched a Mansion that few Monarchs are lodged worse than the Emperor. The Furniture too is old-fashion'd and not very rich, which is somewhat unaccountable, because the Wardrobes are full of costly Pieces of Tapestry, stately Pictures, and other fine Goods which probably they are restrained from making use of by the _Etiquette_. The Emperor's Pleasure-Houses are no better than his Palace in the City. The Castle of the _Favorita_ which is in one of the Suburbs, is a great Building full of Turnings and Windings like the Street which it looks into, and has more of the Appearance of a great Convent of _Capuchin_ Fryars than of the Dwelling of a Prince who is the Head of so many Sovereigns. The Gardens are as mean as the House, and only considerable for their Extent. _Laxembourg_ is still very much inferior to the _Favorita_; but the Court is there no more than a Month or six Weeks, during the Hunting of the Heron. The Ministers that are obliged to attend the Emperor thither have Houses there, which though not very grand, are commodious. When a Person goes to _Laxembourg_ to pay a Visit to the Court he is under a Necessity of returning to _Vienna_ for a Bed, which is a very great Inconveniency.

The Emperor _Joseph_ had begun a very fine House at _Schonborn_ about a League from _Vienna_, but did not live to finish it; and the Empress _Amelia_ to whom the Emperor gave it, instead of carrying on the Works which her Husband had begun, lets it run to ruin; which is great pity, for if that Building had been finish'd the Emperor wou'd not have had a _Versailles_, but he wou'd at least have had a Mansion-House suitable to his Dignity. 'Tis said that a new Palace is going to be built for the Emperor; which, if true, 'twere to be wish'd that better Architects may be employ'd in it than those who have had the Direction of the new Stables and of St. _Charles_'s Church, which are Buildings lately erected with very great Expence, but without any Taste. The Stables are a Range of Buildings of a vast Length, divided into seven Pavilions which appear at first sight to be so many different Houses. The middlemost Pavilion which is design'd to lodge the Master of the Horse is much higher than the other six, which sink gradually on the two sides. Nor are the inner Rooms better contriv'd; for the Horses stand all in one Row, and the Stable is so narrow withal, that one is every Minute in danger from the Horses Heels; which is purely owing to the Indiscretion of the Architect, who having ground enough and to spare might for the same Expence have made something grand and n.o.ble.

Whether the same Architect that built the Stables had the Direction likewise of St. _Charles_'s Church, is what I know not; but if they are two different Men their Head-pieces are very much alike. This Church would perhaps have been admir'd in the Days of the _Goths_, but in so refined an Age as the present, one cannot look on it without being sorry for the Sums of Money laid out in it.

This bad Taste as to Buildings prevails too much at _Vienna_, not but that there are Hotels and even Palaces in which the Rules of Architecture are observ'd, but then the Builders are got into such a way of ornamenting and charging their Houses with Sculpture as is altogether contrary to the n.o.ble Simplicity of the ancient Architecture. The Palace of Prince _Eugene_ of _Savoy_ is stately, but situate in a narrow Street with a very little Court before it. The Stair-case is very well contriv'd were it not too much confin'd. The Apartments of the first Story are as well laid out as the Ground wou'd admit of. We enter first into a s.p.a.cious Salon adorn'd with great Pictures representing the chief Victories of Prince _Eugene_ over the _French_ and the _Turks_. In the two Rooms next to this are very rich Hangings wherein the Maker _Devos_ at _Brussels_ has very correctly delineated the whole Military Science. The Bed-chamber beyond that has a Set of Furniture of green Velvet richly embroider'd with Gold and Silk. In the same Room there is a l.u.s.tre of Rock Crystal which is said to have cost 40,000 Florins. All the other Furniture is extraordinary magnificent, and wou'd be cry'd up at _Paris_ it self, where it must be allow'd a Taste for fine Furniture prevails more than any where.

The Palace of _Lichtenstein_ is bigger than that of _Savoy_, and not less magnificent. 'Tis worth seeing were it only for its Paintings. I pa.s.s over the Hotels of _Schwartzenberg_, _Daun_, _Diedrichstein_, _Harrach_, and several other n.o.ble Edifices, lest my Letter shou'd swell into a Volume.

The Palaces of the Suburbs are infinitely more grand than those of the City, and they have both Court-yards and Gardens. The most n.o.ble are the Palaces of _Trautsheim_, _Rofrano_, _Schwartzenberg_, _Altheim_, and _Eugene_ of _Savoy_. This last especially is a superb Structure with magnificent Gardens, a fine Orangery, and a Menagery stor'd with the most uncommon Creatures that the four Parts of the World can furnish. 'Tis in this fine great House that Prince _Eugene_ pa.s.ses the beautiful Season of the Year. There is not so fine a Sight as an a.s.sembly at this Prince's House, for not only the outer Court, in which there's a fine Piece of Water, but the Gardens are illuminated by an infinite Number of Lanthorns made in form of a Bowl of extraordinary white Gla.s.s, which cast a very great Light and make a glorious appearance. The a.s.sembles at this Prince's House are always very numerous; for his Birth, Employments and Interest, draw a great Court to him.

Prince _Eugene_ is of a middling Stature, and well made. His Air is extremely serious, and his Deportment grave and reserv'd; but notwithstanding that Reservedness he is a hearty Friend to his Adherents.

He is a thorough Judge of Merit, and loves to distinguish it. He is perfectly genteel and civil, very polite to the Ladies, respectful and submissive to his Lord and Master, but without Flattery or Servility. He is generous and n.o.ble in every thing excepting his Apparel. He is an Enemy to Ostentation, Ceremonies, and Constraint. In his youthful Days he lov'd Pleasures, but he abandon'd them as soon as he was animated with a Thirst for Glory. He was born in _France_, but left that Kingdom in 1683, out of disgust that he was no more taken notice of, and came to _Vienna_ just before the _Turks_ laid siege to it. He made the Campaign as a Volunteer, and distinguish'd himself in such a manner that the Emperor _Leopold_ gave him in _December_ following that Regiment of Dragoons which still goes by his Name. When the Siege of _Vienna_ was rais'd, he serv'd in _Hungary_ under Duke _Charles_ of _Lorrain_, and _Maximilian-Emanuel_ Elector of _Bavaria_. The first time that he obtain'd the Command of the Imperial Army was in 1697, when he began with the Victory at _Zenta_ whereby 22,000 _Turks_ lost their Lives; a Loss which they could not recover, and which put them upon suing for the Peace that was granted to them at _Carlowitz_ in 1699. The Prince afterwards commanded in _Italy_, _Germany_, _Flanders_, and lastly in _Hungary_; and wherever he went Conquest attended him. To give you a Detail of his Achievements would be to antic.i.p.ate the _History_ which is to immortalize them, and to which you will not take it ill if I refer you. As to the Dignities and great Employments of this Prince, he is Chief Counsellor of the Council of Conferences; President of the Aulic Council of War; Commander in Chief or Lieutenant-General of the Armies of the Emperor and Empire; his Imperial Majesty's Vicar-General in _Italy_; Colonel of a Regiment of Dragoons; and Knight of the Golden Fleece. All his Employments may be worth about 300,000 Florins a year to him. Besides this, he has a considerable Estate in _Hungary_ and in the Neighbourhood of _Vienna_, which brings him in about 100,000 Florins _per Ann._ more. He holds those Lands by the Emperor's Bounty who gave them to him as a Reward for his important Services.[102]

The Marshal Count _Guido Staremberg_ is one of those Gentlemen also who deserve particular respect for their Virtue. He is descended of a Family which has given great Generals and wise Ministers to the Emperors of the _Austrian_ Family, and has supported the Glory of his Ancestors in a signal manner; _Hungary_, _Italy_, and _Spain_, have been Witnesses of Bravery and consummate Wisdom in the Art of commanding Armies, and have admir'd him the more because they saw him always gaining Victories with Armies ill paid, dest.i.tute of all Necessaries, and very much inferior to his Enemies. This General enter'd very young into the Service in quality of an Ensign, and advanc'd himself by degrees. He was made Lieutenant-Colonel a little before the _Turks_ Undertaking against _Vienna_, and while it was besieg'd, serv'd as Adjutant to his Cousin _Ernest-Rudiger_ Count _de Staremberg_, the Defender of _Vienna_. This Count _Guido_, after having been a few years in the Service, was preferr'd to the Regiment of Foot of which he is still Colonel. When he was very young he was made Great _Commander_ of the _Teutonic_ Order. I do not mention his Exploits to you, because they are so much celebrated by Fame that you cannot but know them. This General, tho' very much advanc'd in years, retains all his juvenile Ardor, and wou'd still be very capable of commanding.

Having mention'd two of the Emperor's greatest Generals you will not be sorry, I fancy, if I shou'd give you some Account also of his chief Ministers. They are five in Number, and are call'd _Counsellors of the Conferences_. Prince _Eugene_ of _Savoy_ is the first Counsellor, but without the t.i.tle of Prime Minister, that being a Dignity not known at the Imperial Court.

The Count _Lewis de Zinzendorf_, Chancellor of the Court, and Knight of the _Golden Fleece_, is the second Counsellor of the Conference. He is a n.o.bleman descended of a Family which has been for a long time eminent in _Austria_. His Mother was a Princess of _Holstein_, who married to her second Husband the Marshal Count _de Rabutin_ Governor of _Transylvania_, but died a few years ago in a very advanc'd Age. I had the honour to know her the last time I was here; her House being the Rendezvous of all People of Rank. Count _Zinzendorf_ was in the Ministry in the Reign of _Leopold_.

He was that Emperor's Minister Plenipotentiary in _France_, while the Marshal _de Villars_ was at _Vienna_ with the same Character from _Lewis_ XIV. At the Death of the Emperor _Joseph_, the Count _de Zinzendorf_ was that Prince's Amba.s.sador to the States-General, in which Character he was confirmed by the Empress _Eleonora_ who was Regent during the Absence of King _Charles_. He repaired from the _Hague_ to _Frankfort_ to a.s.sist at the Coronation of _Charles_ VI. and officiated at the Ceremony as Vicar to the Great Treasurer of the Empire, a Dignity which is Hereditary in his Family. At the Congress of _Utrecht_ which was open'd not long after, the Count _de Zinzendorf_ a.s.sisted as the Emperor's first Amba.s.sador. He afterwards went to the unsuccessful Congress of _Soissons_, and from thence to _Versailles_, where he succeeded so well with the Cardinal _de Fleury_, that he kept him tight in those pacific Sentiments which the Enemies of his Tranquillity, if not of his Glory, aim'd to make him give up. The Count is now return'd hither, and almost the only Man that acts in the Province of foreign Affairs. His Interest is very great, for besides the Esteem which the Emperor has for his Person and Services, he is related to all the most distinguished Persons at Court, and strictly attached to the Interest of Prince _Eugene_ of _Savoy_, of whose Integrity and disinterested Zeal for the Emperor he is very sensible. The Count _de Zinzendorf_ is pretty tall and has a happy engaging Aspect. His Deportment is n.o.ble. He is pretty reserv'd, but civil. He is very polite to Strangers, and his House is open to them. He keeps the n.o.blest and most elegant Table at _Vienna_. He is magnificent in every thing he does, and all his Actions favour of the Man of Quality. He is Father of a numerous Family. The second of his Sons is a Cardinal and Bishop in _Hungary_[103].

Another is Knight of _Malta_, and Lieutenant-Colonel. As these are the two with whom I am best acquainted, so they are the only ones I shall mention.

I know not whether 'tis possible for a Man to be more sprightly than they both are. The Chevalier has more Mettle and Life than a _Gascon_: He is very blunt in his witty Sallies, but the variety of them pleases, and their novelty and justness are surprizing.

The Count _Gundacker de Staremberg_, President of the Chamber of Finances, and Knight of the Golden Fleece, is the third Counsellor of the Conferences. His Integrity is very much cry'd up, and he has manag'd the Finances in such a manner as to guard against the Public Hatred.

The Count _de Schonborn_, Bishop of _Bamberg_ and _Wurtzbourg_, Vice-Chancellor of the Empire, is the fourth Counsellor of the Conferences[104]. You know, Sir, that the _Schonborn_ Family has given us several worthy Gentlemen; but I may venture to say, with all due Regard to the Memory of those great Men, and without flattering the Vice-Chancellor, that of all the Family he has the greatest Capacity for Business, the most generous Temper, and the most engaging and most civil Behaviour. As this Prelate has not his Equal at _Vienna_ for Grandeur and Riches, so he has not his Fellow for Magnificence. The Emperor has a singular Esteem for him. The Vice-Chancellor has the Chancery of the Empire under him, and no body above him but the Emperor, and the Elector of _Mentz_, who is the Great Chancellor of the Empire.

The Count _de Konigseck_, Vice-President of the Aulic Council of War, is the fifth Counsellor of the Conferences. This n.o.bleman, whose Extraction is from a Family of Distinction in the Empire, is one of the tallest and handsomest Men at Court: He is the Emperor's Amba.s.sador Extraordinary at the Court of _Spain_. His Family has for a long time past been attach'd to the House of _Austria_. He studied at _Besancon_, and was design'd for the Church; but he quitted the Band, took to Arms, and enter'd into the Service of the Emperor _Leopold_; in which he had not been many Years before he had a Regiment of Foot, and the Emperor _Joseph_ made him his Chamberlain. He also gave him the Government of _Mantua_, from whence he was recall'd by _Charles_ VI. and sent to take possession of the _Netherlands_ in the Name of the Emperor, to whom they were evacuated for that purpose by the Maritime Powers. The Count _de Konigseck_, during his Administration of the _Netherlands_, concluded the Barrier Treaty with the States-General. At _Brussels_ he married Madamoiselle _de Lanoi la Motterie_, a young Lady of a good Family, and distinguish'd Merit. When he left the _Netherlands_ he went Amba.s.sador from the Emperor to the Court of _France_, where he gain'd great Esteem, especially from the Duke of _Orleans_, the Regent; a Prince who was an excellent Judge of Merit, and very sparing of his Applause. After three Years stay at _Paris_, the Count return'd to _Vienna_. He attended the Archd.u.c.h.ess, Wife to the Electoral Prince of _Saxony_, in quality of Steward, to _Dresden_; and at his return went to the Government of _Transilvania_. But the Emperor recall'd him from this Post and sent him his Amba.s.sador Extraordinary to _Spain_; where the Count is as much esteem'd as he was at _Paris_. 'Tis said that he is in entire Favour with their Catholic Majesties; nevertheless he makes such earnest Application to be recall'd, that 'tis said he will obtain his Request, and that his Nephew[105], who is the Emperor's Minister Plenipotentiary to the States-General, is already nominated to relieve him[106].

In the Council of Conferences the most important Affairs of the Empire are taken into Consideration, and the Emperor is always present.

Besides the five Ministers whom I have now mention'd to you, there are several others whose Interest is more circ.u.mscrib'd. Every Kingdom subject to the Emperor has its Minister and particular Chancery.

Count _Badiani_ directs the Affairs of _Hungary_, in quality of its Vice-Chancellor.

The Affairs of _Bohemia_ are in the Province of Count _Kinski_, the Chancellor of that Kingdom, who has a Vice-Chancellor under him, with a great many a.s.sessors and Counsellors.

The Council of _Spain_ consists of a President, Vice-President, and Counsellors. Its Authority extends over all the Kingdoms that were formerly subject to _Spain_, but yielded to the Emperor by the Peace. The Count _de Monte-Santo_, a Grandee of _Spain_, Brother to the Count _de Cinfuentes_, Constable of _Castile_, is President of this Council[107]; in which Office he succeeded the Archbishop of _Valentia_, who quitted his See to follow the Emperor whom he had acknowledg'd for his Sovereign in _Spain_.

Of all the Tribunals at _Vienna_ the _Aulic Council_ is the most venerable; because 'tis the Parliament of the Empire. It is compos'd of a President, _viz._ the Count _de Wurmbrandt_; a Vice-President, who is the Count _de Metsch_; and of eighteen Counsellors, among whom there must be six Protestants, and of these one must be a _Calvinist_. This Tribunal judges of all Civil Causes between the Princes and private Men of the Empire. Its Authority terminates with the Emperor's Life; and 'tis on this account only that the supreme Tribunal of _Wetzlar_, which subsists even during the Vacancy of the Imperial Throne, challenges Precedence of the Aulic Council. 'Tis a Mistake to think, as many Foreigners do, that the Aulic Council takes Cognizance of Affairs of State; for its sole Business is to do Justice: It registers no Edict unless it be its own Sentences[108]; and is much more limited than the Parliaments of _France_, which have at least the Privilege of losing Time in Remonstrances.

I perceive too that I am in a fair way to make you lose a great deal, if I don't put an end to my Legend; which therefore I now do, and refer the rest of the Remarks that I have to entertain you with to another Post.

_I kiss your Hand, and am_, &c.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

LETTER XIII.

_SIR_, _Vienna, Decem. 10, 1729._