The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz Volume I Part 14

There are some other Articles which I cannot but add to those I have already given you from _Vienna_. The Police of this City is administer'd by a Stadtholder. The Person that now fills that Post is the Count _de Kehvenhuller_; who is also a Minister of State, and Knight of the Golden Fleece. His Functions are the same with those of the Lieutenant of the Police at _Paris_, and nothing makes the Difference but the t.i.tle; only it must be observ'd that the Stadtholder is always a Person of n.o.ble Extraction, and a Gentleman of the Army, whereas the Lieutenant of the Police at _Paris_ is often of mean Extraction, but always a Gentleman of the long Robe.

The Governour of _Vienna_ had seldom any other t.i.tle than _Colonel of the City_. The present Governour is the Marshal Count _de Daun_, the same that defended _Turin_, who was six Years Viceroy of _Naples_, six Months Governour of the _Netherlands_, and afterwards four Years Governour of _Milan_[109]. His Lieutenant-Colonel, who is the Count _Maximilian de Staremberg_, Lieutenant-General of the Emperor's Forces, and Colonel of a Regiment of Foot, commands in his absence, and has the Direction of the Fortifications, the a.r.s.enal, and the Garison. This Garison consists of a Regiment of Foot, compos'd of veteran Soldiers, or the Burghers and Artificers of _Vienna_, from whence this Regiment never stirs. The Employments in this Corps are very lucrative; but as they don't lie in the Road to the Temple of Honour, they are not much solicited by Persons of any considerable Extraction. Yet this Regiment, as little esteem'd as it is, perform'd very good Services during the Siege of _Vienna_ by _Kara Mustapha_, Grand Vizier to _Mahomet_ IV. It acted then under _Ernest-Rudiger_ Count _de Staremberg_, who was Commandant in the City; and both the General and his Garison acquir'd very great Glory by the Resistance which they made. But perhaps with all their Bravery they cou'd not have prevented the Place from being taken, had it not been for the Avarice of the Grand Vizier, who hoped to be Master himself of the vast Treasures that he knew were in the City, and was therefore against storming the Town, for fear lest if it were carry'd by that means, the Soldiers would have shar'd the Plunder.

The Siege of _Vienna_ being foreign to my purpose, I shall say nothing of it. You know that it was raised by the a.s.sistance that was brought to it by the brave _John Sobieski_ King of _Poland_; who defeated the _Turks_ on the 12th of _September_, 1683, and return'd home laden with Glory and Booty, having made himself Master of all the Grand Vizier's Equipage. Upon this occasion he said a pleasant thing in a Letter which he wrote to the Queen his Wife, who had not a very implicit Faith in the Maxims of _Seneca_ on the Contempt of Riches; 'You shan't say when I come home, as the _Tartary_ Women do to their Husbands when they return from the Army without Booty, _You are not a Man for me, because you come empty-handed_; for the Grand Vizier has made me sole Heir of all he had.'

You need not be told that this was the second time the _Turks_ were forc'd to raise the Siege of _Vienna_; for _Soliman_ the Sultan besieg'd it in the Reign of _Charles_ V. but with no better Success than _Kara Mustapha_.

'Tis true that the Disappointment he met with was not so fatal in its Consequence to the Sultan as the other was to the Vizier of _Mahomet_ IV.

who was strangled at _Belgrade_ when _Mahomet_ was there: And the Head of this Minister is still to be seen in the a.r.s.enal at _Vienna_. The Translation of this _Turkish_ Relique hither from _Belgrade_ was pretty extraordinary. Some Years after _Kara Mustapha_ had been strangled, when the _Germans_ took _Belgrade_, the Soldiers being inform'd where the Grand Vizier was buried, open'd his Tomb in hopes of Treasure, but found nothing except the Body in its Shirt, on which there were several _Arabic_ Characters, and an Alcoran. The Governour being told of it, remember'd that this very Grand Vizier, when he laid Siege to _Raab_, which he was oblig'd to raise, said, That if he took the Town he wou'd have the Head of its Bishop cut off, who was then the Count _Leopold de Collonitz_, and send it to the Sultan, to be reveng'd of that Prelate for taking Money out of the Convents, and encouraging the Garison therewith to make a vigorous Resistance. The Governour of _Belgrade_ remembring, I say, the Menaces of the Grand Vizier, thought it wou'd be a very agreeable Present to the Count _de Collonitz_, now a Cardinal[110], to send him the Vizier's Head and Body too, together with the Shirt and Alcoran; and he put up the whole very neatly in a Crystal Shrine, adorn'd with Silver Plates, and sent it accordingly to his Eminence; who not thinking this odd Present a proper Relique to be deposited in his Chapel, gave it to the a.r.s.enal here at _Vienna_, where I have both seen the Mussulman and felt him. I wou'd fain have pluck'd some of the Hairs of his Mustachio, but the Guardian of the precious Treasure watch'd my Fingers too narrowly. They say that a piece of the Halter by which a Man hangs himself is lucky, and why mayn't there be the same Virtue in the Mustachio of the Grand Vizier? Be it so or not, 'twill always deserve an honourable Station in some Cabinet of Rarities.

Since the Siege of _Vienna_ this City is much inlarg'd. Its Fortifications are so augmented too that if the _Turks_ should ever be prompted by their ill Fate to besiege it again, they wou'd find a stouter Resistance, and a greater number of their Mustachios sindged than they imagine.

The Emperor has lately given new l.u.s.tre to his Capital, by prevailing with Pope _Benedict_ XIII. to erect it into an Archbishopric. Several Bishops, particularly the Archbishop of _Pa.s.saw_, have dismember'd their Dioceses to aggrandise its Jurisdiction. The Cardinal _de Collonitz_ is the Person who at present enjoys this Dignity, which gives him the Character and Rank of a Prince.

The _Roman_ Catholic is the only Religion exercis'd in _Vienna_, and in all _Austria_; but the Ministers of the Protestant Crown'd Heads have the Liberty here, as well as elsewhere, of keeping a Chapel. When the holy Sacrament or the Viatic.u.m is carried to any sick Person, 'tis always attended by Guards who oblige all People that meet it to kneel. I have seen the Emperor, when the Viatic.u.m was pa.s.sing by, alight out of his Coach and accompany it to Church. This Prince, and indeed all those of his Family, always paid a very great Devotion to the holy Sacrament of the Altar. Of this _Philip_ IV. King of _Spain_ gave a very edifying Proof; for this Monarch going the very day that the King his Father died, from the Palace of _Madrid_ to the Monastery of St. _Jeronimo del Pa.s.so_ in a close Coach, that he might be _incog._ alighted out of it to accompany the Viatic.u.m which they were carrying to a sick Man; whereupon the Conde Duke _d'Olivarez_ told him, That the King his Father was so lately dead that he ought not to have been seen in public. _My Lord_, said the King, _this Custom cannot excuse me from paying that Worship to G.o.d which I owe him_.

It may be said of the august House of _Austria_, That as few Princes equal them in Piety, so there are few that equal them in Birth. There may be Families that have been longer grac'd with the Diadem; but of these there are very few that have such great Alliances. There is no King, and not many Sovereign Princes but what are related to them; and there are very few Kingdoms to which the House of _Austria_ has not given Queens. 'Tis now 300 Years that it has been Mistress of the Empire; and since _Albert_ II. it has given thirteen Emperors to _Europe_ successively. One of the Princesses of _Austria_ had so many great Relations that I cannot help mentioning her. This was the Empress _Mary_, Wife to the Emperor _Maximilian_, Son to _Ferdinand_ I. This Princess was Sister to _Philip_ II. King of _Spain_, and the Daughter, the Wife, the Daughter-in-law, and the Mother of five Emperors; the Grand-daughter, the Daughter, the Sister, and the Aunt of four Kings of _Spain_; and the Mother-in-law of two Kings, _viz._ _Charles_ IX. King of _France_, and _Philip_ II. King of _Spain_. A modern Author says, that the Origin and Kindred of this Princess infinitely surpa.s.sed those of _Agrippina_, who, according to the Report of _Tacitus_, was the Daughter of _Germanicus_, the Sister of _Caligula_, the Wife of _Claudius_, and the Mother of _Nero_. But when I consider how perfect a Master you are, both of History and Genealogy, I ought to beg your pardon for my Impertinence in troubling you with these Instances.

What remains for me now, is to communicate some Remarks to you which I have made upon the _Austrians_ in general. I shall begin with the Women, whom I shall paint to you, as _Burrhus_ says, with the Freedom of a Soldier, who is not the best Limner.

The Women here, as in all other Countries, are either handsome or ugly. In general they are rather handsome than pretty, for they are dull Beauties.

They are all tall and well shap'd; they walk well, but when they curt'sy, do it in such an aukward manner, that one would think their Backs were in danger of breaking. In their Dress they affect Finery rather than a good Fancy. Two or three excepted, there's none that lay on the Red, much less the White, and Patches are very little worn; in a word, they have nothing about them that denotes Coquettry. As to their Humour, they are reckon'd frank, tho' not easily made familiar; they are naturally vain, and like all our _German_ Women, pretty reserv'd, and not so fond of Gallantry as they are of Gaming, Luxury, and Magnificence. Such is their Indolence that they concern themselves no more about their Houshold Affairs than if they were Strangers. They know no Books but their Prayer-Books, are extremely credulous, and give into all the Externals of Religion: This makes their Conversation sometimes insipid; and unless now and then a Love-Story falls in, Rain and Fair-Weather are their general Topics. They have at least as great a Conceit of _Vienna_ as the _Parisians_ have of _Paris_; for out of _Vienna_ they think there's no Salvation. But all these little Defects are repair'd by an uncommon Greatness of Soul, and Generosity. They are hearty Friends, and warm Protectors of those whose Interests they espouse. When they are in love, their Pa.s.sion is sincere; and instead of ruining their Lovers, there are some who have made the Fortunes of those to whom they have taken a Fancy. Upon this Head I have been told, that in the Reign of the Emperor _Joseph_, when Gallantry was more in vogue than 'tis now, there was a Lady, who being in love with a Gentleman, and having a mind to make his Fortune without the Censure of the Public, thought fit in an a.s.sembly where her Spark cut at Ba.s.set, to punt against him. She set a Bett, without telling a Soul how much she stak'd. Her Husband coming into the Room where they were at play, she rose up, took the Marks that were against her, threw them on the Ground, and said to the Banker, loud enough to be heard by her Husband, _I owe you, +Sir+, 40000 Florins_. The Husband in a very great Surprize ask'd what was the matter? _I have been such a Fool_, said she, pointing to the Banker, _as to lose 40000 Florins to +Monsieur N----+. You have reason to chide me; but however my Debt must be paid_. The Husband indeed grumbled very much, and said he wou'd not pay.

_What!_ reply'd the Wife, _won't you pay the Gentleman? It shall fare the worse with you if you don't, for I am resolv'd to pay him in some Coin or other_. The Husband perceiving his Wife so resolute, and that if he did not deposite the Money it wou'd subject him to the Loss of what was more precious, chose rather to part with the Cash; and indeed he had no reason to repent of it, for the Lady's Heart was so won by it, that she renounc'd the Sight of her Lover from that Moment, and made a very sober Wife.

This, Sir, is all I have to give you concerning the Temper of the Women.

Let me tell you also how they spend their Time. They rise late. As soon almost as their Eyes are open, they call for Chocolate, and send to their Husbands to know who they have invited to Dinner, and whether there is room for any more Guests. If the Lady does not like the Company, she sends notice to some Lady of her Acquaintance that she intends to dine with her; but if there be room at home, as a polite Husband always takes care to leave some at the Disposal of his Wife, she sends an Invitation to whom she pleases. After this she dresses and goes to Ma.s.s; for here the Ladies are all so devout that there's none but what hears at least one Ma.s.s in a day. There they read in five or six different Prayer-Books, kiss all the Pictures that are at the head of the Prayers, and very devoutly toss their Beads. After the Office is over, they commonly chat a quarter of an Hour in the Church. Then they go abroad and make some friendly Visits, or else go home to receive them. At these Visits, they hear all the News in _Vienna_. During this they have all a little Box of _Indian_ Lack upon their Knees, in which they thread Gold till Dinner-time. When that's over, they drink Coffee or play at _Quinze_ till Night, when they go to Court. From the Empress's Apartment they adjourn to the a.s.sembly, where they divert themselves at _Piquet_, or at _Quadrille_; and then retire, undress themselves, go to Supper, and thence to Bed, well pleased to think with what Indolence and Idleness they have spent the Day.

The Women of the second Cla.s.s, in which I include the Gentlewomen that have no t.i.tles of Honour, _viz._ the Wives of the a.s.sessors, Referendaries and Agents of the Court, discover such an Air of Plenty and Prosperity as is remarkably surprizing. Their Houses are richly furnished, and their Tables well served. If a Referendary has a mind to a nice bit, no body must offer to take it; and the best of every thing is what they are sure to lay hands on. Belly Cheer is one of those things which the _Austrians_ generally think of most: They require a great many Dishes, and those well-cramm'd. They are so very much accustom'd to this Profusion of Eatables that I have known some young People in _Austria_ affirm they don't know what good Eating is in _France_, because they don't serve up a couple of Loins of Veal in one Dish. Different sorts of Wines are what they are also very much us'd to, which certainly is very expensive because foreign Wines pay considerable Duties; yet nothing less will serve them than eight or ten sorts of Wine, and I have been at Houses where there have been no less than eighteen. They place a Note upon every Plate expressing the several sorts of Wine at the Beaufet.

The Burghers and common sort of People mimick the n.o.bility as far as their Purses will afford; and it may be said that no Nation in the World is so extravagant as this.

The _Austrians_ are naturally proud and haughty, and expect all Mankind should stoop to them. As their Sovereign is in the first Rank among the Christian Princes, so they think theirs to be the chief Nation in the World. Nothing is more vain nor more insupportable than a young _Austrian_, whose Father is in any Rank at Court. They are intoxicated with Pride and Presumption; and as they know themselves to be rich, and their Fathers to be great Lords, they think they may despise all the World, and lay aside that courteous and polite Behaviour which would so well become their Birth. Yet what I here observe to you concerning the young People is not so universally true as not to admit of great Exceptions, which is the Case of every thing a.s.serted in the general.

The Court is not without Ladies who are much to be valued. The Empress Regent honours with her Confidence Madame the Countess _de Fuchs_, whose Husband was Minister of State to the Emperor, and his Plenipotentiary at _Hambourg_, where he died. This Countess is Sister to the Count _de Molard_, Steward of the Emperor's Kitchens. She is a very polite Lady, and is so far from being envy'd for being a Favourite that all Persons of Distinction agree she deserves it, because she supports it with Modesty, and makes no other Use of it but to do good.

Madamoiselle _de Klenck_ has a very great share in the Favour of the Empress Dowager, which I take to be a Reward due to her long Services, and to her Merit. She is chief Maid of Honour to that Princess, and has been engag'd to her ever since she has been at _Vienna_. If the Character of a thorough Gentlewoman may be attributed to any of the s.e.x, Madamoiselle _de Klenck_ deserves it more than any other, it being impossible for a Person to have more Integrity, and more Generosity.

The Countess Dowager of _Altheim_, of the _Pignatelli_ Family, in regard to whose Rank I ought to have mention'd her first, if I observ'd a very strict Order in my Writings, is a Native of _Spain_. The Count _d'Altheim_ married her at _Barcelona_. Her Beauty was the more admir'd in _Spain_ because she was fair. This Lady has a n.o.ble Air, and has a Genius capable for Affairs of the greatest Consequence. Their Imperial Majesties pay her great Distinction, and all the Courtiers honour and respect her, so that now in her Widowhood she continues in good Credit, and almost as much Authority as she had when that great Favourite her Husband was living.

The Gentry of _Austria_, and of all the Emperor's Hereditary Dominions, are so fond of the t.i.tle of Count, that the Gentlemen buy and sollicit it as eagerly as if it was a great Estate. 'Tis well for them that the Dispatch of their Patents does not cost much; for the greatest Privilege which this brings them is all a Chimaera. These Counts may be said to hold the same Rank among the ancient Counts of the Empire as the King's Secretaries in _France_ do among the Gentlemen of good Families.

As for Gentlemen, they are so common here that there are scarce any others to be seen. All the Agents of the Court, and all the Referendaries procure themselves a t.i.tle, tho' I know not why; for neither they nor their Wives dare to rank themselves among the Prime n.o.bility. This Madness of theirs to be en.o.bled is so common, and so easy to be gratified, that I have known a Man, who was formerly Messenger to the Emperor _Joseph_, purchase the t.i.tle of Baron; and his Children begin to mix with the _Grand Monde_.

These, Sir, were all the Remarks that I made upon the _Austrians_. I must give you a few Particulars concerning the Emperor's Person. I have already said something to you of his Character: What follows is to shew you how grateful he is, and how friendly, Virtues which are the more to be esteem'd in him because they are not the most familiar to great Men.

The Emperor shows all possible Marks of Grat.i.tude to those _Spaniards_ who adher'd to him while he was at _Barcelona_. He has loaded them with Wealth and Honours; and if it's possible for one's native Country to be forgot, he has put them in a Situation to forget theirs. This particular Goodness of the Emperor extends to all that followed his Fortunes in _Spain_; whom he distinguishes upon all Occasions, and does them good preferably to his other Subjects. As to Friendship, no Monarch ever had more for any Favourite than _Charles_ had for the late Count _d'Altheim_, his Master of the Horse. This n.o.bleman was the Emperor's Page, when he was only Arch-Duke; and he attended that Prince to _Spain_, where his Care, his Services, his a.s.siduity, and above all his Honesty and his Integrity, won him the intire Confidence of the young Monarch. When this Prince became Emperor he rewarded the Count with Honours, Wealth, and Dignities. He lov'd him as long as he liv'd, and his Memory is still dear to him. As soon as he died, the Emperor declar'd himself Guardian to his Children, gave Orders in what manner they shou'd be brought up, and now treats them much more like his own Children than his Subjects. But what wou'd you say of the Emperor's tender Love for the Empress? Some time ago this Princess being dangerously ill, the Emperor not only sent for his Physicians, and conjur'd them to employ all their Art to save her Life, but promised them Rewards suitable to that Service, and actually watched with her several Nights to see her take the Remedies they prescrib'd. Does not a Conjugal-Love so perfect, deserve to be rewarded by the Birth of an Archduke? Adieu, Sir. If I were Emperor, you shou'd be my Count _d'Altheim_; but in the Condition I am in, you are the Person whom I honour most of all Mankind; and am, &c.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

LETTER XIV.

_SIR_, _Munich, Jan. 5, 1730._

As I came hither from _Vienna_, I stay'd two Days at LINTZ, the Capital of _Upper Austria_. This City lies on the _Danube_, over which there is a wooden Bridge. 'Tis a little Town, but well built, and has fine Churches.

Its Inhabitants are thriving, and they drive a great Trade in Linnen-Cloth. 'Tis the Residence of a great many Persons of Quality, and of the Regency of the Province, of which the Count _de Thirheim_ is the Chief. This n.o.bleman lodges in the Imperial Palace, which stands upon an Eminence, and commands the City. The Building is commodious enough, but not so magnificent. The Emperor _Leopold_ stay'd here during the Siege of _Vienna_; till not thinking himself safe in it he retir'd to _Pa.s.saw_. The Neighbourhood of _Lintz_ is very agreeable. All the way hither from _Vienna_ the _Danube_ is lin'd on both sides with Vineyards; but from _Lintz_ to this Place, instead of Vines, there are Plantations of Hops.

MUNICH, in the _German_ Tongue _Munchen_, stands in the middle of a large Plain, and in the Center of _Bavaria_, of which it is the Capital City.

The Walls of it are washed by the River _Iser_; 'tis a small Town, but better built than fortified, for within these few Years several fine Houses have been rais'd in it. The Elector's Palace is one of the biggest Piles of Building in _Europe_, but it wants a great deal of being so handsome a Structure as _Misson_ and several other Authors have represented it; for its Magnificence consists princ.i.p.ally in its Bulk. The chief Front, which looks towards a very narrow Street, has the Resemblance of a fair Convent; to which the Image of the Virgin _Mary_ over the great Gate contributes not a little. That for which 'tis held in most Esteem is the great Apartment which is call'd the _Emperor's_ Apartment. The Connoisseurs in Painting admire the Pictures in the great Hall, which represent both Sacred and Prophane History, and are performed by the Hand of _Candi_. The Chimney-piece in the same Room is very much esteem'd: Among other fine Figures with which it is adorn'd, there's a Statue of Porphyry that represents _Virtue_ holding a Spear in the Right Hand, and in the Left a gilt Palm-Branch. In 1632, when _Gustavus Adolphus_ King of _Sweden_ made himself Master of _Munich_, he thought this so beautiful a Room that he was sorry he could not get it transported to _Stockholm_. In the Reign of _Ferdinand Mary_, Grandfather to the present Elector, great part of the Palace of _Munich_ was reduc'd to Ashes, which Accident was, 'tis said, the Occasion of that Prince's Death; for being at _Straubingen_ when he received the sad News of the Fire, he took Horse immediately and rode with such Fury to _Munich_ that he receiv'd a Fall which in a little time prov'd his Death.

The present Elector _Charles-Albert-Cajetan_ has embellish'd the Palace with a new Apartment, which, tho' not so big as the Emperor's, exceeds it in Magnificence. 'Tis adorn'd with n.o.ble Pictures, antique Busts, and Vases plac'd upon[111] Tables of very great Value; and among other Things there's the Picture of the Virgin done by St. _Luke_.

There's a secret Pa.s.sage from the Palace thro' little Galleries to all the Churches and Convents in the Town. The nearest Church is that of the _Theatins_, which together with their Monastery was built by _Maria-Adelaide_ of _Savoy_ Wife to _Ferdinand-Mary_. The Fryars of this Convent must be twenty seven in number, and all Men of Quality. They subsist by charitable Donations; but dare not ask Alms, and must wait for such Provisions as Providence shall please to send them. When they have suffer'd extreme Want at any Time for three Days together, they are permitted to ring a Bell as a Token of their Distress; but it has been observ'd that this never happen'd above twice since their first Establishment, because the Electors are too charitable to let them want.

The Tomb of the Princes of _Bavaria_ is in the Church of these honest Fryars.

The Church of our Lady is the parochial Church of _Munich_. In it is the stately Tomb of the Emperor _Lewis_ of _Bavaria_ who died of Poison. 'Tis adorn'd with a great many fine Figures of Bra.s.s and Marble. In this Church the Elector on the 24th of _April_ last inst.i.tuted the Order of St.

_George_, by Authority of Pope _Benedict_ XIII. The Ceremony was perform'd with a vast deal of Pomp, and the Elector of _Cologn_ officiated at the High Ma.s.s. The Promotion consisted of three Grand Priors, six Grand Crosses, a Commander, and six Knights. Some time after this first Promotion the Elector made a second, in which he appointed one Grand Cross, and nine Knights. 'Tis said there will speedily be a third Promotion of eight more Knights, the whole Number being to consist of forty[112].

The Elector intends to annex Commanderies to his Order. They who are admitted into it must give Proofs of their Extraction from sixteen Descents; and this is so strictly observ'd that his most Serene Electoral Highness, as Grand Master of the Order, has renounc'd all Power of granting any Dispensation from it. According to the Statutes of this Order all the Knights are oblig'd to be Catholics, to defend the Faith and the Church, to protect Widows and Orphans, and to practise all the Christian Virtues. The Badge of the Order is a large Sky-blue Ribbon border'd about the breadth of an Inch with a black and white Stripe; and at the end of the Ribbon hangs a Cross enamell'd with blue, in the middle of which there is a St. _George_.

The Church and Convent of the Reverend Fathers the Jesuits are two very magnificent Structures. The Roof of the Church which is one single Nave is a Work of Skill and Ingenuity, wherein the Apertures are contriv'd with very great Art; for which reason, the Curious look upon this Fabric as a Master-piece of Architecture.

The Church of the Reverend Fathers of St. _Austin_, tho' but of a moderate Size, contains Beauties that are not always to be met with in greater Fabrics. The Pictures with which it is adorn'd are highly esteem'd, and good Judges agree there are few that can parallel them.

Tho' the Houses of _Munich_ are all very well built, there are few that can be call'd Hotels or Palaces. The Count _Piosas_ a _Piedmontese_ has caus'd one to be built of late Years which is a considerable Structure with regard to the true Proportions of its Outside, and to the ingenious Distribution of the Apartments, which have fine Decorations and good Furniture.

The Court of _Bavaria_ observes most of the Customs of the Court of _Vienna_ in matters of Ceremony, but as for the rest, their Way of living is different; here being more Freedom, and more Diversion.

The Elector _Charles-Albert_ delights in Pleasures and bodily Exercise, and acquits himself therein with a Grace. He is a comely Personage, and has a grave, n.o.ble, and majestic Air, so that he is taken for a proud Man; yet few Princes are more gracious and more civil to Strangers, and to his Subjects also he is easy of Access. He was full of Life and Spirit when he was a Prince, and now that he is a Sovereign is become sedate and moderate. He is genteel, talks _French_, _Italian_, and _Latin_ well, is Master of History, and perfectly acquainted with the Interest of Princes in general, and that of his own Family in particular. He sticks to Business, and above all seems to be very earnest in redressing his Finances which he found in great Disorder when he acceded to the Electorate. The Elector was born the 6th of _August_, 1697. He is Son of _Maximilian-Emanuel_ famous for his Victories and for his Disgrace, and of _Theresa-Cunegunda-Sobieski_, Daughter of _John Sobieski_ King of _Poland_. When _Charles_ came into the World he had a Brother living who was born of the Arch-d.u.c.h.ess _Mary-Maximilian_, _Emanuel_'s first Wife.

This young Prince who all _Europe_ expected wou'd be the Successor of _Charles_ II. King of _Spain_, dying at _Brussels_ the 6th of _February_, 1699, _Charles_ thereby became the Electoral Prince: He was bred up at _Munich_ with four of his Brothers, but both he and his Brothers surrender'd Prisoners to the Emperor _Joseph_ after the Battle of _Hochstet_, which subjected all _Bavaria_ to his Imperial Majesty. That Monarch had the young Princes remov'd to _Gratz_, where he caus'd them to be treated in a manner not so suitable to their high Birth as to their decay'd Fortune. When _Joseph_ died, his Successor _Charles_ VI. used the Princes with less Severity, caus'd them to be honourably attended, and sent them Masters to instruct them; and upon the Peace of _Rastadt_ which reinstated the Elector _Maximilian-Emanuel_ in his Dominions, the Princes his Children were restor'd to him. They finish'd their Studies at _Munich_, after which the Elector sent the four eldest to _Rome_, where the second, whose Name was Duke _Philip_, died not long after he had been chose Bishop of _Munster_ and _Paderborn_. _Charles_ returning from _Italy_ went to _Vienna_, made the Campaign of _Belgrade_, and some Years after that, he marry'd _Mary-Amelia-Anne_ of _Austria_, the late Emperor _Joseph_'s second Daughter. In 1725, _Charles_ and his three Brothers were at _Fontainbleau_, at the Marriage of _Lewis_ XV. and next Year he succeeded his Father who died at _Munich_ lamented as he was ador'd by his Courtiers.

The Electoress who is a little Woman, very much resembles the Empress her Mother, and has more Vivacity than is common to the Princes of the House of _Austria_. She prefers Hunting to all other Pleasures, and there are few Days but she partakes of that Diversion with the Elector, who, as well as the Princes his Brothers, is fond of it.

The Elector has by his Marriage two[113] Princes and two Princesses. The eldest of the Sons who has the t.i.tle of the Electoral Prince is call'd _Maximilian-Joseph_, and was born the 28th of _March_, 1727. His most serene Electoral Highness's three Brothers are Duke _Ferdinand_, the Elector of _Cologn_, and the Bishop of _Freisingen_ and _Ratisbon_. Of these Princes Duke _Ferdinand_ is the only one who resides at _Munich_.

His most serene Highness is a Lieutenant-General, and has a Regiment of Cuira.s.siers in the Emperor's Service. He is also a Knight of the _Golden Fleece_, and Grand Prior of the Order of St. _George_. He marry'd _Mary-Ann-Caroline_ of _Newbourg_, by whom he has two Sons and one Daughter. I have already told you that he was educated with the Elector his Brother, with whom he made the Campaign of _Belgrade_, travell'd several times to _Italy_, and last of all to _France_, where those Princes were admir'd for their Splendor, their Politeness, their good Taste, and their fine Understanding. One shan't find a Man more affable than Duke _Ferdinand_ who is even ador'd at _Munich_, and is dearly belov'd by the Elector his Brother. The d.u.c.h.ess his Wife who is the best-natur'd Princess in the World makes grand Entertainments, and is particularly civil to Strangers.

The Bishop of _Freisingen_ and _Ratisbon_ spends more of his Time at _Munich_ than in his Diocese. He is a Prince of great Penetration, Spirit and Vivacity, is generous, liberal, and charitable, extremely civil, and 'tis impossible to be acquainted with him without adding Love to that Respect and Veneration which are due to his Birth and Character. He enter'd very young into Orders, and was consecrated Bishop by his Brother the Elector of _Cologn_. 'Twas thought at first that he wou'd have made but an indifferent Ecclesiastic, but he has demonstrated that he knows how to reconcile the Gravity of a Prelate with the Magnanimity of a Temporal Prince.

The Court of _Bavaria_ is without dispute the most gallant, and the politest in _Germany_. We have a _French_ Comedy here together with b.a.l.l.s and Gaming every Day, and a Concert of Music three Times a Week, at which all the Company is mask'd; and after the Concert there's Gaming and Dancing. These public a.s.semblies, at which the Elector and the whole Court are present, bring in a great Revenue to the Elector's _Valets de Chambre_; for besides the Money which every one pays at Entrance, they are also paid for the Cards, and are concern'd in almost all the Banks; so that those Domestics have almost all the Cash of the n.o.bility, with whom they don't scruple neither to rank themselves. Besides these noisy Pleasures we have others that are more tranquil, I mean those of civil Society. Of this kind there's more here than in the other Towns of _Germany_; but more still among the Foreigners that are in the Elector's Service than among the _Bavarians_; for these are generally proud, tho'

'tis certainly more owing to their Opinion that it gives them a good Air to be so than to their Temper; and they actually become more sociable when they are made sensible that their grand Airs are not astonishing.

The t.i.tle of Count is as common here as at _Vienna_, and the _Bavarian_ Counts have no greater Privileges than those of _Austria_, for they are as much Subjects as the meanest Gentlemen. I find that those in Places, and who bear any Rank at Court are much more polite than others. The Counts _de Thirheim_, _Torring_, and _Preising_ who have the chief Employments are so civil that I believe there's few Foreigners but will give them their Encomium.

The Elector has a very large Houshold, and a number of great Officers.

I'll mention some of them to you.