Chapter IV: Preface: ,

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

_The_ PRESENT STATE OF THE COURT OF SAXONY_, which is added to this Edition, has no need of a Preface to recommend it, the very Title shewing that 'tis what concerns every +Saxon+ especially to be acquainted with._

_All Subjects have a desire to know something of their Sovereign; and private Men in every State have this Curiosity, with respect to their Ministers and Courtiers. These are the Characters which I have ventured to draw, tho' I own, that I don't think I have always hit the Life, for want of that Penetration and Delicacy of Imagination which Nature, to me a Step-Mother, has deny'd me; and also because it would have been necessary for me to have stay'd longer than I did at +Dresden+. Three Months Residence at so great a Court, are hardly sufficient to make a Man acquainted with it, were his Fund of Knowledge even as deep as mine is shallow. Then what a Presumption would it be for me to think I have attained to it!_

_I must not dissemble, that this Book with all its Imperfections, has cost me more trouble in composing than one much larger would have done upon a Subject that had been more familiar to me. There was a necessity for me to make Inquiry into many Particulars, and to get some of my Information from a private hand. I own my Obligation to the Civility of M. +Konig+, the Counsellor of the Court, for the Intelligence I wanted relating to some of the Court-Nobility. If I had been so happy as to have found out but one or two Persons more as active for me as he was, my Work would have been more correct and more extensive. Such as it is, I intreat the Reader to accept it, and to forgive any Errors in it, in consideration that I am the first who has ventured to treat of such a Subject. I own, there is a certain degree of Rashness in the Undertaking, but the noble Motive that has induc'd me to it, seems to plead for my excuse._

_All +Saxony+ knows in general, that 'tis govern'd by a Sovereign, gracious, and vigilant to render it happy. It were needless to set the King's Virtues and Actions before their Eyes, which the People already admire, and pray for him. But as this Great Prince does not want those who envy his Glory, they are the Persons whom I have chose to make asham'd of themselves; and have endeavoured, if possible, to reclaim others whom a fatal blindness keeps at a distance from his Majesty's Person[1]._

_All that ever had the honour of approaching +Augustus III.+ will agree with me that he adorns that Throne, upon which a respectful Nation has plac'd him; and that whatever I have said of this Monarch is short of what might be mention'd. How is it possible to give the true Portraiture of a King born without Vice, by Principle virtuous, and religiously good? To admire him in silence is the only way to please him, which I know too well, not to conform to it; and therefore I have not presum'd to expatiate so far in his Praise as the Sublimity of the Subject demands._

_The same Aversion of the Queen to Praise, has confin'd me within the same bounds. How many Virtues have not I been forc'd to smother? What Thoughts_ _have not I sacrific'd, lest I should offend the noble Modesty of that August Princess, who with a Simplicity attending her Grandeur, makes her Glory to consist in being humble in the midst of Honours?_

_I believe no body will dispute the Truth of what I have advanc'd relating to the_ PRINCE ROYAL_ and _ELECTORAL_, the_ PRINCES HIS BROTHERS_, and the _PRINCESSES HIS SISTERS_. The hopes I have raised of what may be expected from_ THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES_, will surely be confirm'd by Time, and by all those who have access to them._

_The Actions of the Duke +John-Adolphus+ of +Saxe-Weissenfels+ are so well establish'd that I have not thought fit to anticipate History, by which they are to be consecrated: And for the same reason, I have but just touch'd upon the amiable Qualities of his Mind, which are rever'd both by the Court and the Army._

_As to the Princess of +Saxe-Weissenfels+, I frankly own, that as I had not the honour of paying my Court to her, what I have said of her Virtues has no other Authority than the Voice of the Publick, which can never speak enough in her Praise._

_I have been more copious in treating of the Ministers; and what I have said of them is so true, that they who know them not may thereby form a just Idea of what they are._

_I have taken as much notice of the principal Lords and the most distinguish'd Ladies of the Court, as the little time I had for this Work, and the Limits to which I was confin'd, would permit. I flatter myself they will forgive the Freedom with which I use them; and hope I have preserv'd a Decency in my Language which will secure me from Reproach._

ADDENDA to Vol. I.

Pap. 15. M. _Beausobre_, Minister of the Gospel at _Berlin_, and Author of several learned Treatises, died in _May_ 1738.

P. 26. The Princess of _Brandenburg-Schwedt_, fourth Daughter of the King of _Prussia_, was deliver'd of a Daughter in _April_ 1738.

P. 27. The Count _de Truchses-Walbourg_, Major-General in the Service of the King of _Prussia_, died at _Berlin_ in _April_ 1738.

P. 34. In _July_ 1738, his _Prussian_ Majesty, together with the Prince Royal and Prince _William_, made a Tour to _Holland_, and paid a Visit to his most Serene Highness the Prince of _Orange_.

P. 66. His Excellency Baron _Hattorf_, Secretary of State for the Affairs of _Hanover_, died in _August_ 1737.

P. 70. _Christina-Louisa_, Princess of _Oetingen_, died in 1736.

P. 72. _Philippina-Charlotte_, Duchess of _Brunswic-Wolfembuttle_, and third Daughter to the King of _Prussia_, after having had two Sons by Duke _Charles_ her Husband, _viz._ the first born in 1735, and the other, who is called _George-Francis_, in 1736, was deliver'd also of a Daughter in _September_ 1737, who in the Month following was baptiz'd by the Names of _Christina-Sophia-Maria_.

P. 105. M. _de Miltitz_, who was Tutor to the present King _Augustus_ when he was Electoral Prince of _Saxony_, died in _March_ 1738.

P. 113. The Princess Royal of _Poland_ was married in _July_ 1738, to Don _Carlos_ King of _Naples_ and _Sicily_.

P. 130. The Count _de Sulkowski_ in _January_ 1738 fell under some Disgrace, so that his Majesty order'd his Papers to be seal'd up, and excused him from farther Attendance on him, but was willing he should keep the Title and Rank of Minister of the Cabinet, and General of the Foot, with 6000 Crowns Pension.

P. 140. _Adolphus de Bruhl_ was in _January_ 1738 appointed Grand-Master of the Horse, at the _Saxon_ Court, in the room of the Count _de Sulkowski_.

P. 142. The Count _de Moschinski_ died in _September_ 1737.

P. 147. The Count _de Diedrichstein_ died at _Prague_ in _September_ 1737. He was Baron of _Hollenbourg_, _Finckenstein_, _Dahlberg_ and _Landskroon_, Hereditary Great Huntsman of _Styria_, Hereditary Cup-Bearer of _Carinthia_, Knight of the Order of St. _John_ of _Jerusalem_, Grand Prior in _Bohemia_, _Moravia_, _Silesia_, _Carinthia_, _Styria_, _Tirol_, _Austria_ and _Poland_, Bailiff of the aforesaid Order, and Commander of the Commanderies of _Little Oels_, _Furstenfeld_ and _Mosling_, a Privy-Counsellor of the Emperor, and Governour-General of the Kingdom of _Bohemia_.

P. 168. The last Duke of _Saxe-Mersebourg_ mention'd in the Note of that Page, died in _May_ 1738.

P. 182. In _April_ 1738, the Emperor appointed the Prince of _Saxe-Gotha_ Lieutenant Velt-Marshal of his Armies; and in _September_ following he solicited the Diet of _Ratisbon_ for the Post of second Velt-Marshal-General of the Empire, in the Disposal of the Protestant States, vacant by the Death of the Baron _de Wutgenau_.

P. 182. _Augusta_ Princess of _Wales_ was deliver'd of a Princess on the 31st of _July_ 1737, who was baptized after her own Name; and on the 24th of _May_ 1738, she was deliver'd of a Prince who was baptiz'd _George-William Frederic_.

P. 208. The Margravine of _Brandenbourg-Culmbach_, Mother to the Queen of _Denmark_, died at _Copenhagen_ in _August_ 1737, in the 70th Year of her Age, very much lamented.

P. 220. Count _Philip Kinski_ was made Chancellor of _Bohemia_, in _May_ 1738, in the room of the late Count _de Collowrat_.

P. 233. The Archduchess, Wife to the Duke of _Lorrain_, had a Daughter, born _January_ 25, 1737, and another born in _September_ 1738.

P. 264. The eldest Son of the Duke _Ferdinand_ of _Bavaria_, died in _April_ 1738.

P. 266. The Count _Maximilian de Fugger_ died at _Vienna_, in _January_ 1738.

P. 266. The Count _de Thirheim_ died in _January_ 1738, at _Lintz_, the Capital of _Upper Austria_.

P. 285. _Charles-Alexander_ Duke of _Wirtemberg-Stutgard_, died on the 1st of _March_ 1737, and was succeeded by his eldest Son _Eugene-Lewis_ the present Duke, who was born the 30th of _January_ 1728.

P. 298. The Margrave of _Baden-Dourlach_ died the first of _May_ 1738, at _Carelsruhe_, who having no Issue living, is succeeded by _Frederic_ of _Witgenstein_, who is marry'd to the Princess _Augusta-Amelia-Albertina_ of _Nassau-Siegen_. The Deceased was 58 Years and near 11 Months of Age, being born the 17th of _June_ 1679. He was a General in the Emperor's Army, and Great Master of the Artillery in the Circle _of Suabia_. By his Wife, a Daughter of the Duke of _Wirtemberg-Stutgard_, he had four Children, who are all dead. When he laid the Plan and Foundation of the City and Castle of _Carelsruhe_, he gave equal Liberty of Conscience to the Lutherans, Calvinists, and Roman Catholics.

P. 321. The Cardinal _de Schonborn_ died in _August_ 1737.

P. 335. The Baron _de Beveren_, Grand Marshal at the Elector Palatine's Court, died there in _January_ 1738.

P. 357. In _January_ 1738, the Prince of _Hesse-Hombourg_ was married to the Velt-Marshal _Trubetskay_'s Daughter.

P. 362. After the Death of the Count of _Hanau_ without Issue, the Succession was awarded to the Prince of _Darmstad_ as next Heir, on condition of his paying 200000_l._ by way of Compensation to the House of _Cassel_.

ADDENDA to Vol. II.

Pag. 14. Cardinal _Bissi_ died in _August_ 1737.

P. 44. Cardinal _Olivieri_, Secretary of the Pope's Briefs, died at _Rome_ in _February_ 1738.

P. 61. Prince _James Sobieski_ died in _December_ 1737.

P. 136. On the 28th of _June_ 1737, the Great Duke of _Tuscany_ died in the 67th Year of his Age, and was succeeded by _Francis_ Duke of _Lorrain_ (who married the Emperor's Daughter) for whom possession was immediately taken of the Duchy by the _German_ Forces.

_Ferdinand_, Duke of _Courland_, who is mentioned in the same Page, died in 1737; and the Nobility assembling at _Mittau_ elected Count _Biron_, a Native, to succeed him.

P. 150. The Affairs of _Corsica_ are very much alter'd since the first Edition of these Volumes. Baron _Theodore_ having left the Island, and promis'd to return soon with Succours, went to _Amsterdam_, where he was confin'd for Debt; but being soon discharg'd by the Interest of some foreign Power, he proceeded to _Paris_, and thence to _Marseilles_, in order, as he gave out, to put himself again at the Head of the _Corsicans_: But during this the _French_ having undertaken to be Mediators betwixt the _Corsicans_ and _Genoese_, have, with the Approbation of both, sent a General thither with some Troops, and the _Corsicans_ have agreed to send over a dozen of their chief Men to the Court of _France_ as Hostages for their good Behaviour; but since this, _Theodore_ has set his Foot again upon that Island.

P. 257. The Duke of _Liria_, Son and Successor to the late Marshal Duke of _Berwic_, died at _Naples_ in _May_ 1738.

P. 260. The Marshal _d'Estrees_ died the 5th of _December_ 1737.

P. 309. The Marshal _de Wrangel_, Governour of _Brussels_, died in _August_ 1737, in the 87th Year of his Age.

P. 332. The Succession to the Duchies of _Juliers_ and _Berg_, is an Affair which has been very much canvass'd for several Months past, between the Elector Palatine and the Courts of _Prussia_ and _Saxony_. The maritime Powers of _Great Britain_ and _Holland_ have proposed an Accommodation, with regard to the Succession, into which the Elector Palatine is willing to enter; but the Courts of _France_, _Prussia_ and _Saxony_ don't concur with it; and _France_ has guarantee'd the actual Possession of those Duchies to the Prince of _Sultzbach_.

P. 447. On the 20th of _November_ 1737, _Wilhelmina-Carolina_ Queen of _Great Britain_ died of a Mortification in her Bowels; and on the 17th of _December_ following she was privately interr'd in _Westminster-Abbey_.

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MEMOIRS

OF THE

Baron de POLLNITZ.

In SEVERAL LETTERS to Mr. _L. C. D. S._