Chapter XXIX: Letter LIV: SIR, London, May 4, 1733 (3)

_Flumineis Rhodanus qua se fugat incitus undis, Quaque pigro dubitat flumine mitis Arar, Lugdunum jacet, antiquo novus orbis in orbe, Lugdunumque vetus orbis in orbe novo. Quod nolis, alibi quaras; hic quare quod optas: Aut hic, aut nusquam, vincre vota potes. Lugduni quodcunque potest dare mundus habebis: Plura petas, hac urbs & tibi plura dabit._

i. e.

_Where +Rhone+ impetuous rolls, and where the slow And gentle +Sâon+ with milder Streams does flow, There +Lyons+ stands; where we united find, What scatter'd thro' the World delights the Mind; And if you still seek more with greedy eye, +Lyons+ can ev'n more Wonders still supply._

[38] Her Amours with M. _de Lauzun_ have made a great Noise.

[39] This Misfortune came upon the Duke and Duchess of _Maine_, merely from a Suspicion which the Regent entertain'd, that the Duke had a Hand in the pretended Conspiracy of the Prince of _Cellamare_, the Ambassador of _Spain_; which, they said, was to remove the Duke of _Orleans_ from the Regency, and to vest it in the King of _Spain_, who wou'd have put the Duke of _Maine_ in his Place, according to _Lewis_ XIVth's last Will. The bare Suspicion however amounted to fix the Guilt upon this Prince, and all that belong'd to him. It were to be wish'd, that some Eye-witness of what was then transacted at Court, and in _Bretagne_, wou'd give the Public an exact Account of it.

[40] The Friar, who in the other Orders is a Prior, is call'd a Minister in this Order, which it better known in _France_ by the Name of the _Mathurias_.

[41] In all Appearance, the _Latin_ Name _Lutetia_ comes from _Leucothecia_, which signifies _white Town_, a Name that _Strabo_ gives to this City, the Houses of which were plaister'd. By Abbreviation it was call'd _Lutetia_. As to the Name _Paris_, 'tis certain, that it comes from _Para-Isis_, near _Isis_, a well-known Goddess, who had several Temples in this Canton; where she was so particularly worshipp'd, that from her Name the Inhabitants were call'd _Para-Isians_, the Neighbours of _Isis_. They, who have carefully examin'd the Gate of the _Carmelites_ Church, and the Building of its Chapel, will own, that it was formerly the Temple of this Goddess; whose Statue, in Iron, holding a Handful of Ears of Corn, is still on the Front of the Building.

[42] The Author does not say _whither_ nor _from whence_ those Sheep are stray'd. All those Sheep feed in the same Pasture, or at least, there are but few of 'em that feed in the Pastures to which M. _de Vintimille_ could wish to bring the others. Some Slanderers don't scruple to say, that this _good_ Prelate gives himself more Uneasiness about the _Excellency of the Dishes_ at his Table, than the Goodness of the Pasture for his Sheep: For he has been seen to give the same Welcome to the _Jesuits_, and the _Fathers of the Oratory_, to the _Capuchins_ and the _Benedictins_, &c. For the Sake of such of our Readers as have a Taste for _French_ Poetry, we insert the following _Epigram_; which was made upon this Prelate's Mandate in Favour of the Constitution:

_Le Public est un Sot, d'être scandalisé Du Mandement que +Vintimille+ Vient de repandre dans la Ville, Me disoit ce Matin un Docteur avisé! Il est, dit il, d'Usage indispensable, Pour qu'un Saint soit canonisé, D'entendre l'Avocat du Diable._

[43] This is a Thing in Question; and the Negative seems to be plainly proved by the Opinions of the Counsellors of the Parlement, all Men of unexceptionable Character, who voted for putting the Reverend Father to Death.

[44] He is now Archbishop of _Sens_, and very well known for the famous Story of _Maria Aliacoque_, a celebrated Saint of his own making.

[45] The Count _de Gergy_ died in 1733 in his Embassy, and was succeeded by the Count _de Froulay_.

[46] As the Parson of St. _Sulpice_ stretches his Invention to the utmost, how to allure the Multitude, in 1734 he out-did all that he had ever done before, so that his Procession was more like the March of an Army than any thing else, because of the many Trumpets, Kettle-drums, Hunting-horns, _&c._ which made the Air echo with their Flourishes. It may by Degrees come to be like the Processions at _Cambray_, _Antwerp_, _Brussels_, and other Towns of the _Netherlands_; where, to the Scandal of the Christian Religion, we see the Revival of all the Impertinencies of the Pagan.

[47] The Mode of _Bagnolette_, _i. e._ Bathing-tubs, came from this Village, to which the Country-women carry them.

[48] _Philippa Elisabeth_ of _Orleans_. She died of the Small-pox _May_ 21, 1734. unmarried, and universally lamented.

[49] _Louisa Diana_ of _Orleans_. She was married in 1732. to _Lewis_ of _Bourbon_, Prince of _Conti_, by whom she had a Son, born _Sept._ 1, 1734. while the Prince was in the King's Army upon the _Rhine_.

[50] It should have been observ'd in the Article of _Turin_, that this Queen died the second of _January_, 1735, O. S. and the King has since marry'd the eldest Sister of the present Duke of _Lorain_.

[51] He is married since 1732, to _Louisa-Diana_ of _Orleans_, youngest Daughter of the late Regent.

[52] The Origin of the Fable is this. _Mehemed Ben Aschen_, or the Son of _Aschen_, Admiral of _Sale_, was deputed from the King of _Morocco_, but I know not in what Year, to the Court of _France_. When this Corsair was at _Paris_, he heard great Talk of the Princess of _Conti_'s Beauty, and of the particular Affection which the King had for her: In order to ingratiate himself with the _French_, he gave out, that the Emperor his Master having seen the Picture of that Princess among other Effects which belong'd to a Christian who was taken into Slavery, he thought her the most beautiful of her Sex; and that his _Moorish_ Majesty said, That if he had such a Lady in his Seraglio, he should never desire any other. _Mehemed_'s Story was presently carried far and near, but it was told quite different from the Truth; for it was reported in a very little time, that he was come to demand the Princess in Marriage for _Muley Ismael_ his Master. As there seem'd to be something mysterious in the Picture, a Messenger was sent in all Haste to the Ambassador's Lodgings, to know the Name of the Slave from whom it was taken; but his _Mahometan_ Excellency so prevaricated, that his Answer was far from being satisfactory. Nevertheless, his pretended Demand of this Princess was so much the Subject of Conversation among the _French_ for several Months, that according to the Custom of this People, they at length made a Sonnet upon it, which follows.

To the Tune of _Je ne suis né ni Roi ni Prince_.

_Votre beauté, grande Princesse, Porte les traits dont l'Amour blesse, Jusques aux plus sauvages dieux: L'Afrique avec vous capitule, Et les conquétes de vos yeux Vont plus loin que celles d'Hercule._

_S'il est bien vrai qu'il vous adore, Que je plains ce pauvre Roi Maure, D'être sensible à vos appas! En vain envers vous il s'explique; La France ne donnera pas Son Ange au Diable de l'Afrique._

Which may be thus English'd,

_Your Beauty, Great Princess, Carries Love's killing Shafts To Nations the most savage; +Afric+ with you capitulates, And the Conquests of your Eyes Even those of +Hercules+ surmount._

_If it be true that he adores you, How do I pity the poor Negro King, Who is so smitten with your Charms! In vain he makes his Passion known to you; For sure +France+ will never give Her Angel to the Devil of +Africa+._

[53] 'Tis a Letter _from a Gentleman retir'd from the World, to a Friend of his_, wherein he celebrates the happy Innocence, and the Freedom of his tranquil Retreat, in a Style that cannot but be pleasing to the Admirers of _French_ Poetry; and for their Sakes we insert the Original, with only an _English_ Paraphrase in the Margin.

Je vois regner sur ce rivage The Author begins with expressing L'Innocence et la Liberté. his Surprise at the Concurrence Que d'Objects dans ce paisage, of Objects of different Qualities Malgre leur contrarieté, in his Retirement; such as M'étonnent par leur Assémbláge! Abundance with Frugality, Abondante frugalité, Authority with Indulgence, Riches Autorité sans Esclaváge with Sobriety, Richesses sans Libertinagé, Charges, Noblesse, sans fuerté. Honours with Humility: And having Mon choix est fait, ce voisinage therefore fix'd on this Spot for Détermine ma volonté. his Residence, he implores the Bienfaisante Divinité, Sanction of the Divine Providence Ajoutez y votre suffrage. to his Choice.

Disciple de l'Adversité, Here he says, that having been Je viens faire dans le village train'd-up in the School of Le volontaire apprentissage Adversity, he prefers a voluntary D'une tardive obscurité. Obscurity in the Village; that he Aussi bien, de mon plus bel âge has experienc'd the Instability of J'apperçois l'instabilité. Youth; that he has seen the Return J'ai deja, de compte arrêté, of 40 Springs, which he regrets Quarante fois vu le feuillage that he has so ill improv'd; and Par le Zéphyr ressuscité. promises to make a better Use of Du Printems j'ai mal profité: the Summer of his Life. J'en ai regret; et de l'Eté Je veux faire un meilleur usage.

J'apporte dans mon Hermitage, He says he brings to his Hermitage Un coeur des longtems rebuté a Heart which has been for a long Du prompt et funeste esclavage, Time the fatal Slave of foolish Fruit de la folle vanité. Vanity; but that now he is become Paisan sans rusticité, a Peasant without Clownishness, a Hermite sans patelinage, Hermit without Bigotry; and that Mon but est la tranquillité. Tranquillity being his Aim, he Je veux pour unique partage, desires no other Portion in Life La paix d'un coeur qui se dégage but the Peace of his Mind, Des filets de la Volupté. disentangled from the Snares of Pleasure.

L'incorruptible probité, Here he declares, that De mes Ayeux noble Heritage, incorruptible Probity, the noble A la Cour ne m'a point quitté. Inheritance he deriv'd from his Libre et franc, sans être sauvage, Ancestors, did not forsake him at Du Courtisan fourbe et volage Court, where being frank and free, L'exemple ne m'a point gâté, without being rude, the Example of L'infatigable activité, the crafty giddy Courtier had not tainted him. He observes the good Effect of his former Miscarriage; that it has made him active and indefatigable; and he hopes Reste d'un utile naufrage, from henceforwards to be happy in Mes Etudes, mon Jardinage, his Studies, in his Garden, and Un Repas sans art appreté, in a plain Diet dress'd by his D'une Epouse oeconome et sage frugal prudent Wife, whose good La belle humeur, le bon ménage, Nature is equal to her [OE]conomy. Vont faire ma félicité.

C'est dans ce Port, qu'en sureté In this Port, says he, my Vessel Ma Barque ne craint point l'orage. dreads no Storm. Let who will defy Qu'un autre à son tour emporté, the Rage of the Winds, while he Au gré de sa cupidité, coasts along the Shore, I laugh at Sur le sein de l'humide plage, his Presumption, and wish him a Des Vents ose affronter la rage; good Voyage; but reserve my Je ris de sa témerité, Courage for a more important Et lui souhaite un bon voyage. Passage, and approach with Je réserve ma fermeté Boldness to the Gates of Eternity. Pour un plus important passage; Et je m'approche avec courage, Des portes de l'Eternité.

Je sai que la mortalité The Poet concludes with a Du Genre humain est l'appanage: Reflection, that since Mortality Pourquoi seul serois-je excepté? is intail'd upon all Mankind, why La vie est un pelerinage: should he alone think to be De son cours la rapidité, exempted? And he says, that since Loin de m'alarmer, me soulage. Life is but a Pilgrimage, the De sa fin, quand je l'envisage, Rapidity of its Race, instead of L'infallible necessité alarming, comforts him; and that Ne me sauroit faire d'outrage. the infallible Necessity of his Brulez de l'Or empaqueté, Death, when he seriously considers Il n'en perit que l'embalage: the Matter, is no more an Injury C'est tour. Un si leger dommage to him, than the burning of a Bale Devroit-il être regreté? of Gold is to the Metal, which remains intire, tho' the Case that contains it is consum'd; which, he adds, is too trifling a Loss to be regarded.

[54] The King gave this young Duke, when he was but nine Years old, the Reversion of the Post of Great Admiral, for a New-Year's Gift, on the first of _January_ 1734. He is handsome, well-set, all Life and Spirit, and gives very fair Hopes of being a great Man.

[55] As soon as he arrived, the Place _de Vendosme_, or the Square of _Lewis le Grand_, where M. _Daguesseau_ liv'd, was set apart for the Stock-jobbing Trade, which was before carried on in the Street _Quinquempoix_; and one Morning, a Paper was found at the Chancellor's Door, with these Words, _Et homo factus est, & habitabit cum nobis_.

[56] He is actually join'd in the Administration with the Cardinal _de Fleury_, who was very glad to nominate a Person for his Coadjutor.

[57] He died some time ago at _Paris_, very much lamented by all that knew him.

[58] The present Archbishop of _Ambrun_, famous for his Zeal for the Constitution, for the Persecution of the Bishop of _Senez_, and for his little Council at _Ambrun_.

[59] He died at _Maestricht_ in the Year 1734, a Cornet in the Regiment of the Prince of _Orange-Friseland_. But Mr. _Law_ has left an amiable Daughter, who has had a fine Education, and married to Lord _Wallingford_, Son to the Earl of _Banbury_.

[60] These Verses are not in the first Edition of these Memoirs, but are added, by the Bookseller, to the second.

[61] _James Nompar_ of _Caument_, Duke _de la Force_, an assiduous humble Servant of Mr. _Law_, and who, by his Management, during the _Missisippi_ Scheme, drew a great many Pasquinades upon himself, of which this is not the severest.

[62] The Abbé _Terrasson_, who wrote in Favour of the Scheme.

[63] _Law_ had three Cocks for his Arms.

[64] As these Lines will not admit of a Version to the Satisfaction of an _English_ Reader, 'tis sufficient to acquaint him, that they are a Satire upon the Humour which prevail'd at that Time, among People of all Ranks, from the Duke to his Scullion, to be Adventurers in Mr. _Law_'s Scheme; a Madness which was contemporary, and equally mischievous with the Delusion that was so predominant in our own Country, in that fatal Year of 1720, when so many People were, as we may term it, cast away in the _South-Sea_, and the lesser Whirlpools, call'd _Bubbles_, of which there was almost an infinite Number.

[65] This, with the Calculation annexed to it, is an Addition by the Editor, to the second Edition, which was not in the first Edition of these Memoirs.

[66] There was a Label affixed to the Gate of the _Palais_ Royal, with these Words, _Esurientes implevit bonis, & Divites dimisit inanes_, i. e. The Hungry he hath fill'd with good Things, but the Rich he hath sent empty away.

[67] He was of the _Lorain_ Family, and was succeeded in his Office of Master of the Horse by his Son Prince _Charles_.

[68] The King of _France_ having declar'd War against the Emperor in 1733, in Conjunction with the Kings of _Spain_ and _Sardinia_, his Majesty gave the Marshal _de Villars_ the Command of his Army in _Italy_; to which Country he repair'd after the Conquest of the _Milanese_ had been very far advanc'd. He took _Pizzighitone_; but the Imperial Army being at length form'd, the Count _de Merci_, who commanded it, having taken the Field with it on a sudden, by passing the _Po_, made so many Motions, that the old Marshal, being forc'd to be _every-where_, according to his old Phrase, fell sick upon it, and was oblig'd to leave the Army. Some do not stick to say, that he had Orders for it from Court, where his Conduct was not approv'd: Be this as it will, his Distemper growing worse upon his Arrival at _Turin_, he died there the 17th of _June_ 1734, in the 84th Year of his Age, in the same Room, as 'tis said, where he was born, his Father the Marquis _de Villars_ being then there by Order of the King. In 1702 he married _Joanna-Angelica Roque de Varengeville_, whose Father was the King's Ambassador at _Venice_. The Family of _Villars_ is originally of _Lyons_, and first began to be distinguish'd in the Person of _Claude de Villars_, Lord of _Chapelle_, and _Masclas_, second Son to _Francis de Villars_, born about _Ann._ 1516. The Marshal was to the last a Man of uncommon Gaiety and Gallantry; for whether Fighting or Dancing, he appear'd with the same Vivacity and good Humour, and seem'd an Enemy to none except the Jesuits. What did not consist with such a Temper, was his Love of Money; and he inrich'd himself too much by the Spoils of War, and the Contributions he used to raise for Safe-guards, _&c._ But as for his Soldier-like Character, this one Story of him may suffice; In 1702 the Marshal order'd his Army to pass the _Rhine_ at _Haguenau_, the same Night that he invited several Gentlemen and ladies to a Ball, where he danc'd till two o'Clock in the Morning, and then mounted his Horse unobserv'd, and follow'd his Army; with which he surprised the Prince of _Baden_, and fought a Battle by the Time the Ball was broke up; for which Action the King gave him the Marshal's Batoon. The Conquests of _Milan_ and other Places in _Italy_, which he made in 1733, were accompany'd also with Dancing and Balls; but Age and Infirmities, at last, made a Conquest of him. His Memory and his Judgment so fail'd him, that he became troublesome to the Army; but his fighting Humour still prevail'd, and he would have endanger'd all, had not the King of Sardinia prevail'd on the King of _France_ to recall him. However, the King of _Sardinia_ took Leave of him in the Field with great Civility, and at his Arrival at _Turin_, where he fell ill of a Dysentery, accompany'd with a Fever, of which he died, he was receiv'd very graciously by the late Queen, who presented him with a Diamond Sword, valued at 300 Pistoles.

The following Sonnet was presented to the Marshal, when he set out for _Italy_.

_Villars, tes grands Exploits qui sauverent la France, Dans les Siecles futurs t'immortaliseront. La Paix fut le doux fruit de ta haute prudence; Mais de nouveaux Lauriers doivent ceindre ton front._

_Le Pere de ton Roi, l'Espagne & le Piémont, Sur toi seul aujourd'hui fondent leurs Esperances. Arme ton bras vainquer, cours venger leur affront; L'Allemand pourra-i-il soutenir ta présence?_

_Les grands Coeurs en tout tems conservent leur valeur, L'Age respecte en eux leur prémiere vigueur, Ils savent s'affranchir des Loix de la Nature:_

_Semblables aux Lauriers que leur main va cueillir, Qui des ans, des saisons ne craiguent point l'injure, Les Héros ont le droit le ne jamais vieillir._

i. e.

_+Villars+, thy great Exploits, which sav'd all +France+, In future Ages will immortalise thee. The Peace was the kind Product of thy great Wisdom; But new Laurels are still to deck thy Brow._

_The Father of thy King, +Spain+, and +Piedmont+ too, Upon thee alone do now found all their Hopes. Haste with thy conqu'ring Arm their Quarrel to avenge; Will +Germany+ be able to withstand thy Presence?_

_Great Souls always retain their Valour; To their former Vigour Age itself pays a Respect; They can shake off the Yoke of Nature's Laws._

_Like to the Laurels gather'd by their Hands, Which are Proof against the Injuries of Years and Seasons, Heroes never stoop to old Age._

[69] By Mrs. _Arabella Churchill_, Sister to the late Duke of _Marlborough_.

[70] The King, having appointed the Marshal _de Villars_ to command in _Italy_, thought fit to send the Marshal _de Berwic_ to oppose Prince _Eugene_, whom the Emperor had nominated for the Command on the _Rhine_. He began the Siege of _Philipsburg_; but on the first of _June_, O. S. 1734, as he went to take a View of the Trenches, he was kill'd with a Cannon Ball between his two Grandsons. He is succeeded in all his Titles by his Son the Duke _de Liria_, now Duke of _Berwic_, _&c._ who has been lately at the Court of _Naples_.

It will be doing no Dishonour to the Marshal, to say he made War his Trade, which he studied with an unwearied Application; and as he never wanted Courage, so none had more military Knowledge. Having consider'd War as a Science, he left little to Chance, or even Bravery; but depended upon Skill and Discipline, which was the Thing that gain'd him the Battle of _Almanza_. As he was so regular and mechanical a Warrior, he was himself the Life and Soul of his Army, not as he was belov'd, but as he was much fear'd by his Soldiers, whom he never spar'd, and least of all, his own Countrymen, that came to serve in _France_. He was reserved even to his General Officers, rarely consulting them, nor so much as communicating the Orders he had receiv'd, or the Designs he had projected, but as they had their own Parts to execute in them. Tho' he was the best regular General of his Time, yet he was the least enterprizing one. He was never a great Favourite at the Court of _France_, which is something to be wonder'd at, considering the Use he was made of upon every Occasion; for as a Soldier of Fortune, he had no Obligations but for his Appointments; and yet attach'd himself to _France_ preferably to any other Nation. As he was bred up in the War against the _English_, his Enmity to them became a second Nature, which is suppos'd to be the Reason that he never did one of that Nation any Service, beside those of his own Family. As the Marshal took care to be obey'd by the Officers and Soldiers of the Armies he commanded, he was always obsequious himself to the Orders of the Court, of which there needs no other Proof, than the Instance above-mention'd; when he appear'd in Arms against _Spain_ with Alacrity, after he had receiv'd the highest Honours from King _Philip_.

He had the Title of Duke of _Berwic_, and likewise the Garter conferr'd on him by King _James_. He was born in 1671, so that when he died, he was sixty-three Years of Age.

[71] The Family of _Estrées_, originally of _Picardy_, was in Possession of the Dignities of the Crown before _Gabriella_; for her Grandfather was Great Master of the Artillery of _France_.

[72] This is the common Name in _Italy_ for Interpreters or Expounders of Antiquities.

[73] Here should have been added, _of the Poet_ Paul Scarron. She was the Daughter of _Constans d'Aubigny_, Baron of _Surincan_, and of _Joan de Cardillac_. _Charles d'Aubigny_, Governor of _Berry_, and Knight of the King's Orders, who died in 1703, was her Brother. Her Grandfather was _Theodore Agrippa d'Aubigny_, Admiral of _Bretagne_ and _Guienne_, celebrated for his Zeal for the Protestant Religion, and Author of a _History of his own Time_, of the _Confession_ of _Saney_, and of the Baron _de Faneste_. Every body knows, that the Attachment of his Widow _Scarron_ to Madame _de Montespan_, made her Way to _Lewis_ XIV. who was so pleas'd with her Humour, that she continued in the highest Favour till that Monarch's Death; and enjoy'd a Pension of 50,000 Livres, which was punctually paid her by _Lewis_ XV. every Year as long as she liv'd. After her Death, the Duke de _Noailles_ became Marquis _de Maintenon_ in Right of his Wife.

[74] This alludes to a Joke of the President _de Harlai_, who when he was accosted by the Comedians, in the Name of their _Troop_, which that worthy Gentleman never car'd for, especially since _Tartuffe_, and the Comedians saying to him, _My Lord, the_ Company _of Comedians_, &c. The President made Answer, _Gentlemen_, the Troop _of the Parliament_, &c.

[75] The Author refers here to the Works directed by Mr. BENSON, one of the present Auditors of the Imprest (for which see p. 67. of the First Volume of these Memoirs).

[76] The Bottle called the Holy Phial, is kept at _Rheims_, in the Tomb of St. _Remy_, in the Church of that Name. It has not been filled since the Coronation of _Clovis_, when 'tis said this Phial was brought from Heaven, with the Oil with which that first Christian King of _France_ was consecrated; and the Frier who shews it at _Rheims_, says very seriously, That when the King is sick, it dries away; so that when he dies, there is not a Drop left in the Bottle; but that as soon as his Successor is proclaimed, it fills again of its own Accord. I tell you no more than what I heard with my own Ears, and tho' I could not help smiling at it, the Frier was not angry. The Liquefaction of this Oil is altogether as miraculous as that of St. _Januarius_'s Blood at _Naples_.

[77] The Abbé _de Vayrac_ was of a good Family in _Guienne_, and had all the Vivacity natural to that Province, which stood him in the stead of Wit; but it was of the abusive Kind. If ever an Author was a Plagiary, he was. He published a _State_ of _Spain_, and a _State_ of the Empire; which last brought him under an ignominious Sentence of the Court of _Vienna_. He had also composed a History of _Portugal_, which he could not obtain a Licence for Printing, because it appear'd that he had paid greater Compliments in it to the _Portuguese_, than to the _French_. He died in the Beginning of the Year 1733, as he returned from a Journey he had made to _Holland_.

[78] In 1643.

[79] This famous Counsellor was restor'd not long after, at the pressing Instances of his Brethren, and has merited the Elogiums of the Minister himself, as well as of all _France_.

[80] _Pucelage_ is the _French_ Word for _Virginity_.

[81] Neither was he included in the Promotion of the four Marshals of _France_, which the King made in 1734, tho' he had served with great Bravery ever since the Beginning of the last War between _France_ and _Germany_.

[82] This Minister pleases them to Perfection. They all like his Behaviour, and the Diligence with which he dispatches Business. In a Word, he is beloved and adored.

[83] In _November_ 1736, she was delivered of a Son.

[84] Prince _Christian_ II. Son of the Prince _de la Tour_. He resigned his Canonship of Cologn, on purpose to serve in the Emperor's Army.

[85] The Marshal _de Zumjungen_ dy'd the 25th of _August_ 1732. The Count _de Wurmbrand_ commanded till another was appointed.

[86] _Gand_ signifies _Ghent_ in the _German_, and _Glove_ in the _English_.

[87] He is the Great Great Grandson of Prince _Maurice_, by the Lady _de Malines_.

[88] The Emperor lately appointed him to relieve the Count _de Sastago_, Viceroy of _Sicily_, at the Time that Don _Carlos_, King of _Naples_, went to make a Descent upon _Sicily_, with twenty thousand Men, under the Command of the Count _de Montemar_, Duke of _Bitonto_.

[89] M. _d'Amerongen_, who is descended of one of the best Families in the Province of _Utrecht_, having lost his elder Brother, who was in the Regency, has quitted his Service to succeed him in the Government.

[90] It was burnt quite to the Ground in the Beginning of the Year 1734.

[91] VOL. I. LETTER V.

[92] He succeeded _Francis Lewis_ of _Neubourg_, Elector of _Mentz_, who was chose Grand Master the 12th of _July_ 1694, In the Room of his Brother, _Lewis Anthony_ of _Neubourg_; and he is the fourteenth Grand Master since the Defection of _Prussia_, formerly the Seat of this Order, which has existed ever since the Year 1190; when it was instituted in the Holy Land, by _Henry_ King of _Jerusalem_. A Duke of _Masovia_, having invited to his House _Herman de Salsza_, the fourth Grand Master of the new Order, chose in 1210, he gave him, and his Knights, Lands upon the Frontiers of _Prussia_; the Inhabitants whereof being _Pagans_, did great Mischief to his Subjects, and he promised to leave them all the Lands that they conquered from those People, which the Emperor and the Pope confirmed. Before the Year 1250, they took _Prussia_, _Courland_, and a Part of _Livonia_; and put all the _Pagans_ to Death that refused to turn Christian. The _Teutonic_ Knights, being driven out of the Holy Land, by the taking of _Acre_, went and established the principal House of their Order at _Marpurg_, in the Beginning of the fourteenth Century; from whence they transferred it to _Marienbourg_ in _Prussia_. The Order made such a rapid Progress, that in the Beginning of the following Century, it was in a Condition to oppose _Jagellon_, King of _Poland_, with an Army of eighty-three thousand Men; which that Prince, _Anno_ 1410, cut in Pieces. After that time the Order was scarce ever at Peace, but was always at Variance, either with the _Poles_, or the _Lithuanians_, or with the _Russians_, or with its own Subjects; till it was obliged to make a dishonourable Peace in 1446, with _Casimir_ King of _Poland_. The Grand Masters, from that Time to 1510, when _Albert_ of _Brandenbourg_ was chose Grand Master, could not repair their Losses. The latter having embraced the Protestant Religion, made a Bargain in 1515, with the King of _Poland_, and yielded all _Russia_ to him, on Condition of holding of him in Fee, what was afterwards called _Ducal Prussia_, or _Brandenbourg Prussia_, which now forms the Kingdom of _Prussia_; and the rest was incorporated with _Poland_, and forms the Palatinates of _Culm_, _Marienbourg_, _&c._ Thus were the _Teutonic_ Knights obliged to retire to _Germany_, where their Order is shared into twelve Provinces, each of which has its particular Commandeurs; and their oldest Commandeur is called the Provincial Commandeur. These twelve Commandeurs depend on the Grand Master, and have a Right to chuse him. The Grand Master's Residence is at _Marien-shal_ in Franconia, and his Revenue about twenty thousand Crowns. 'Tis said, the Order does not yet despair, that some Day or other, it will be able to recover its lost Dominions.

[93] He is dead.

[94] He was Grand Master of the _Teutonic_ Order, Bishop of _Strasbourg_, _Halberstadt_, _Passau_, _Olenitz_ and _Breslaw_; Abbot of _Hirchsfeldt_, _Murbach_ and _Luders_.

[95] Nevertheless, he was disgrac'd in 1733, for a very trifling Cause, which made the Count _de la Lippe_, also, lose all his Employments; and his own Disgrace has been attended with that of his whole Family, and with great Alterations at the Elector's Court, where the Count _de Hohen-Zollern_ is now Grand Master of the Houshold, and First Minister; and the Baron _de Hornstein_ Great Chamberlain.

[96] He was scarce twenty-eight Years of Age.

[97] The Baron _de Roll_ has succeeded him in his Place.

[98] The Count, who is a Lover of the Sciences, intends to make a _Lycaum_ of his Castle, and a little _Athens_ of his Town. He begins by forming a numerous Library, and longs to get the Learned about him. But the main Point is to make a good Choice of them; and the first Choice which the Count has made of a Man who has already engrossed his Favour, does not promise well for the future.

[99] He died in 1734.

[100] On the Road, two Leagues from _Cleves_, there's the Palace of _Meiland_, where the King of _Prussia_ resided at the Beginning of the Illness which he contracted in 1734, as he returned from the Imperial Army on the _Rhine_.

[101] The Name of this Prelate was _Barkman Wuytiers_. He died in 1733, at no very great Age, with the Character of a Man of the strictest Virtue. The Court of _Rome_, and the _Jesuits_, conceiv'd great Hopes after his Death. The latter, after having been banished out of the United Provinces by very severe Laws; employed the Mediation of a certain Court to succeed in their Design of getting an Apostolical Vicar accepted in the Place of the Archbishop of _Utrecht_; but this Design, which was look'd upon as dangerous to the Liberty of the Republic, miscarry'd, and the Deceased was succeeded by _Theodore van der Kroon_.

[102] What is said throughout this Article, of their Manner of living, must be understood only of the common People, and not of Persons of any distinguished Rank, nor even of the Merchants.

[103] As there is no Dignity superior to that of the Burgomaster, they who attain to it succeed one another in the several Functions, without passing to other Employments: They are the Members of the Council, who are sent to the College of Counsellor-Deputies, or who fill the Posts of Treasurers, _&c._ But the Burgomasters are they who go to the Assemblies of the States of the Province, with the Pensionary or Syndic of the City, who is the Spokesman.

[104] He is since dead.

[105] This Minister was succeeded in 1734, by the Count _d'Uhlefeld_, Son to the Lady who has the chief Direction of the Houshold to the Archduchess, Governess of the _Austrian Netherlands_. He is come to a Post which was so well fill'd before, in a very difficult Juncture, which has given him an Opportunity to discover the great Talents he has for Negotiation. As his Family is one of the best regulated, so it may be said to be one of the most magnificent. The Count _de Sinzendorff_ died suddenly about the End of _September, 1734_, at the Seat of the Count _d'Asperen_, at the very Instant when he was preparing to return to _Vienna_.

[106] These Differences were indeed adjusted during the Time that M. _de Masch_ resided here with a Ministerial Character; but he had no Hand in the Accommodation, it being negotiated only by M. _Luiscius_ the King's Resident, and M. _Duncan_, the Prince of _Orange_'s Privy-Counsellor, or Major-Domo.

[107] Upon the Death of the King of _Poland_, he was confirmed by the new Elector of _Saxony_.

[108] M. _Preys_. He has resided at the _Hague_ for several Years, and was here during the Time of the Ambassador _Palmquist_, whom he Succeeded. He is a Minister of consummate Knowledge in Affairs, and is consulted by others of a more modern Standing, both with Pleasure and Profit.

[109] M. _Greys_ has for several Years had the Care, as Envoy Extraordinary, of the King of Denmark's Interests with the States General. He was bred up to be a Minister at the Altar, but had more Inclination to be a Minister of the Cabinet, in which he succeeded, and is very much esteem'd, but sees very little Company.

[110] This able Minister died in _December, 1736_.

[111] M. _de Keppel_ married the Widow of the late Count _de Welderen_, one of the greatest Men of this Republic, who left three Sons and five Daughters, that are the Ornament of the Nobility of _Guelderland_, and the Darlings of the _Hague_, where Foreigners have an easy and agreeable Access to this Lady's House. M. _de Keppel_, one of the finest Gentlemen of his Time, and one of the bravest Officers of the State, died in 1733, leaving only one Son, who is an Officer in the Horse Guards.

[112] The good Lady died of the Small Pox in 1735 in a very advanced Age. Tho' she had made a Profession of Devotion for a certain time, she had not intirely lost her Taste for Gallantry, in which she certainly out-stripped the Lady _Mazarine_; for she declared herself, that it would be more easy to number the Shells upon the Shore at _Scheveling_, than her Adventures of Gallantry. She never missed her Aim but at one Man, and that was King _Augustus_. She did all she could to engage his Caresses, if not his Affection, but without Success; and every body knows the Adventure of my Lord _Raby_, who having an Amour with the Countess at _Berlin_, surprised her with King _Augustus_ striving to get loose from her close Embraces. Nor is this a Wonder; for tho' the King of _Poland_ did not want Gallantry, yet he was for a Woman of some Politeness, of which the Countess had no Share; for being the Daughter of a Waterman at _Emmeris_, she had not the completed Education. She had Beauty indeed, but was in every other respect a coarse Lady. Nevertheless, during her Residence at the _Hague_, the Youth who had nothing else to employ their Time, constantly reported to her House, and among these she had always some favourite Spark. Every body knows her Intrigues with the famous Count _de F----_; and her Last Will and Testament has render'd several others immortal. You will be surprised to know the End of this Woman, who had been so much talked of, who had regaled so many People in her Time, and to whom every body had easy Access. She dies, is immediately removed out of her Chamber, and put into a Coffin in the Entry of her House, which is sealed up, and she is interred without one of her ungrateful Favourites vouchsafing to attend her Funeral, or indeed any body but the Bearers, and a few Neighbours, who were insulted by the Mob.

[113] The Issue of this Dispute betwixt the Jew and the Anabaptist has been, that the latter has lost the Day, the Comedians being gone. The victorious Jew has hit upon an Expedient to metamorphose his future Opera into a public Concert, which he gives every _Monday_ in the Afternoon, where one sees all the People of Fashion of both Sexes; and there they sing Opera Acts, and the finest _French_ Cantatas.

[114] Of the latter, there died a Baron in _December_, 1736, who was one of the principal Men, and held the greatest Offices of any in the Republic, next to the Grand Pensionary _Slingeland_, whom he survived but a few Days.

[115] M. _de Wassenaar-Twickel_, a Name which he derives from a fine Estate in the Province of _Over-Yssel_, of which he is Deputy.

[116] _William Charles Henry Friso_, Prince of _Orange_, was married _March_ 14. 1734. to the Princess Royal of _Great Britain_.

[117] The Count _d'Auverquerque_ died Velt-Marshal of the Republic, about the End of the Campaign of 1708.

[118] As the History of this extraordinary Man came to the Hands of the Bookseller since the Publication of the first Edition, he thought he should do a Pleasure to the Public, by inserting it in this.

[119] He was executed in _July_, 1734.

[120] Or the _Palace of Orange_ in the Wood at the _Hague_. It was yielded to the Prince of _Orange_ by his Treaty of Partition with the King of _Prussia_.

[121] _Margaret_, Daughter of _Florence_ IV. Count of _Holland_. She was Countess of _Henneberg_.

[122] This belongs also to the Prince of _Orange_.

[123] This is an ignominious Punishment inflicted Abroad for such heinous Offences at deserve neither Banishment, nor Whipping, nor Death. The Criminal who suffers it, stands in a Shirt, with a Rope about the Neck, holding a burning Taper in one Hand, attended by the Executioner, and other inferior Officers of Justice, and in this Posture begs Pardon of the King, of Justice, and the Public, for the Offence committed.

[124] This most Excellent Princess departed this Life the 20th of _Nov._ 1737, to the infinite Regret of the King and Kingdom.

[125] His Governor is the Hon. _Stephen Poyntz_, Esq; and his Preceptor in the learned Languages _Jenkin Thomas Philips_, Esq; formerly Secretary to the Commissioners for the Fifty New Churches, and since preferr'd to be his Majesty's Historiographer.

[126] Her Royal Highness, as is well known, is since married to the Prince of _Orange_.

TRANSCRIBER'S AMENDMENTS

Transcriber's Note: Blank pages have been deleted. On pages that remain, some unnecessary page numbers may have been deleted when they fall in the middle of lists. Some illustrations may have been moved. Footnotes are now immediately preceding this note. We have rendered consistent on a per-word-pair basis the hyphenation or spacing of such pairs when repeated in the same grammatical context. We have corrected inconsistencies in the application of accents to the same word when repeated in the same grammatical context. Paragraph formatting has been made consistent. The publisher's inadvertent omissions of important punctuation have been corrected. A table of contents has been added. 'OE' and 'oe' have replaced the respective ligatures.

The following list indicates any additional changes. The page number represents that of the original publication and applies in this etext except for footnotes since they have been moved.

Page Change

7 the Condu ctof[Conduct of] the Popes,
8 not a Man spoke a Work[Word].
9 in a Posture of Astonish mentat[Astonishment at] the Appearance
17 proclaimed Pope on _Wedcesday[Wednesday]_ the 12th
20 After this, th y[they] went all, both Cardinals and Prelates
87 {footnote} _Sebastian_ was Grandon[Grandson] of _John_ III.
110 intituled[intitled] Captain of the Appeals;
122 chief Lackeys of the Cardinals rideing[riding]
202 the famous Story of _Maria Aliacoque[Alacoque]_, a celebrated
208 as she allighted[alighted] from the Coach,
222 Assistance from the King his Maste[Master]:
225 {footnote} Et lui southaite[souhaite] un bon voyage.
229 intent upon carrrying[carrying] his Point,
232 Count _Sinzendorf's[Sinzendorff's]_ coming from _Vienna_
244 a Madness which was co-temporary[contemporary],
264 After her Death, the Duke de _Noalies[Noailles]_ became
292 General of the Coriers[Couriers], Posts and Relays
294 about their Master's Preeminency[Pre-eminency].
309 and lives very handsomly[handsomely],
309 but lives handsomly[handsomely] upon what he has
313 The Inhabitants have a livid unwholsome[unwholesome] Complexion.
351 His Disbursments[Disbursements] seem to me to be very moderate
359 _Paul Veronese_, _Tintoret_, _Corregio[Correggio]_,
376 are commonly employed as Tresurers[Treasurers] of the City,
389 and the _Amsterdamers[Amsterdammers]_ themselves cannot
419 a young Man of an unblamable[unblameable] Behaviour;
425 of the _Franche Comte[Comté]_. The Republic
443 that of being sollicited[solicited] by the Person in Disgrace
Index _Churchil[Churchill], Arabella_, 257.
Index Womens Houses, and the great Emoluments of Gameing[Gaming],
Index _Hagendorp[Hogendorp]_, M. 413.
Index _Lewid'ors[Lewis d'Ors]_, worn in a Lady's Ears for Pendants
Index _Peyronie[Peyrome]_, _la_, Surgeon, 292.
Index _Popes_, the Days on which he[the] Cardinals kiss
Index _Rochebone[Rochebonne]_, M. Archbishop of _Lyons_, 174, 176.
Index _Terasson[Terrasson]_, Abbé, 243.
Index _Tintorit[Tintoret]_, Painter, 359.
Index _Tourlane[Touraine], la_, 216.
Index _Walpot[Walpol]_, Baron _de_, 350.
Index His Conduct in the _Cevennios[Cevennois]_ and in
Index _Wassienaurs[Wassenaars]_, of _Holland_, 412.
Index _William_ l. Pr. of _Orange_'s Assasination[Assassination], 425.
Index Disputes adjusted relateing[relating] to his Succession,

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