MEMOIRS OF THE Baron de Pollnitz. Vol. III. (continued 2)

The following Year 1704 was happy to the Allies, by their Victories at Donawert and Hochstet. The Troops that the King had sent into Franconia and Bavaria, to the Emperor and the City of Nuremberg[9], which call'd for Help against the Bavarians, contributed not a little to the obtaining of those Victories. The King received the News of it by an Express that was dispatch'd to him from the Prince of Anhalt, under whose Command those Succours acted. This Express was follow'd some Days after by a second, charg'd with a Letter from Prince Eugene of Savoy, who therein gave a sublime Encomium on the Valor of the Prussian Troops. I have been an Eye-witness, said he in his Letter, particularly with regard to the Infantry of the Right Wing, that all the Officers as well as the common Soldiers fought with the most intrepid Courage, and for several Hours check'd the Efforts of the Enemy, who at length not being able to resist their Bravery, and the continual Fire which they made, were put into such a Confusion, that they were oblig'd to fly with Precipitation, and to abandon the Field of Battle to us. The Prince attributes this vigorous Action of the Prussian Soldiers to the most exemplary Courage and Valor of the Prince of Anhalt their Commander. 'Tis but Justice, continu'd Prince Eugene, to give the Prince of Anhalt the Praise he has so well deserved. He hazarded his Person upon all Occasions, and not intimidated by the Danger to which he expos'd it, I always saw him at the Head of his Troops, leading them on to Battle, and encouraging them by his own Example; so that it may be said to his Honor, that he contributed the greatest Share to that Victory. This was a Panegyric the more pleasing to the Subject of it, because it proceeded from the Mouth of a Prince, who was too great a Master of Courage to be mistaken.

After the Campaign was over, my Lord Marlborough came to Berlin, where he receiv'd all the Marks of Esteem from the King, which he could possibly have desired. Every Point that he negociated for the Operations of the Campaign was granted him, and he went away from Court highly satisfied. As soon as he was gone the Prince Royal set out for Hanover, from whence he went to Holland; and he intended to pass over to England, but an Event which happen'd to the Grief of him and the whole Court, oblig'd him to return to Berlin.

This was the unexpected Death of the Queen, on the 1st of February 1705, after a few days Illness. This Princess us'd for some time past to go to Hanover, to make a Visit to the Electoress her Mother, of whom, as I have already had the Honor to acquaint you, she was extremely fond. The Day that she was to set out for this Journey she found herself indispos'd, but did not discover it, for fear lest the King should not permit her to go. Her Illness continu'd during the whole Journey, and When she came to Hanover, what with the fatigue of receiving Visits from the Ladies of the Court, and her dancing at a Ball the same day, she grew much worse. She came from the Ball with a Soreness in her Throat, which prov'd so violent that the Physicians and Surgeons soon despair'd of curing her. The Queen, tho' in the Flower of her Age, was not at all terrify'd when she saw Death approaching her. She wrote a very tender Letter to the King, in which she thanked him for the Love he had always manifested to her, and recommended her Domestics to him. Her Brother the Duke Ernest Augustus was so deeply concern'd to see her in such a condition, that she did what she could to comfort him: There is nothing so natural, said she to him, as Death; 'tis unavoidable, and tho' I am young enough to hope to live a few Years longer, yet I am not loth to die.

M. de la Bergerie the Minister of the French Church, who assisted her in her last Moments, was so surpriz'd at her courage and calmness, that he was more attentive to hear her than to exhort her. I have, said she, for twenty Years seriously study'd my Religion, and have read the Books that treat of it with too much application to be in any doubt as to my Principles. You cannot mention any thing to me but what I have read, and what you can say to me will certainly add nothing to my Opinion. Then turning towards my Cousin, who was on the other side of her Bed, Alas! said she, what a deal of needless Ceremony is now going to be us'd about this Body of mine! At the same time almost, she stretch'd out her Hand to Duke Ernest her Brother, and said to him, Dear Brother, I am choak'd; and that Moment she expir'd.

A Courier was immediately dispatch'd to the Prince Royal, who was at the Hague, and M. de Bulau the Steward of the Queen's Houshold carried the News to the King, who was so surpriz'd at it, that he fainted away several times. When he came to himself he shew'd marks of the sincerest Affliction, and seem'd fully sensible what a loss he had sustain'd. Indeed this Princess truly deserv'd his Lamentation, as well as the Sorrow of the whole State; and I for my part with my whole Family lost a solid and sincere Protectress.

The King's Grief was such, that it had no Interval, but in his application to pay those Honours to the Queen, that were due to her Rank. He was willing to signalize it by the magnificence of a Funeral Pomp, and for this purpose he himself issued the necessary Orders. The Elector of Hanover (afterwards King of England) omitted nothing on his part to shew his Sorrow for the loss of so dear a Sister. Her Body was laid for several days upon a sumptuous Bed of State; her Ladies and the Officers of her Houshold who had waited on her to Hanover encompass'd it, and the Elector's Guards and Officers stay'd with the Queen's Corpse, and pay'd the same Attendance as if she had been living. When every thing was ready to carry the Corpse to Berlin, the Elector caus'd it to be convey'd by all his Guards even to the Frontiers of the Duchy of Zell, where it was receiv'd by M. de Bulau the Grand Marshal of the Court, who conducted it to the Territories of Brandenburg; and there it was receiv'd by the Count de Witgenstein, who accompany'd it as far as Berlin, where I remember it arriv'd about ten o'clock at Night in a terrible Shower of Rain. The King accompany'd by the Prince Royal and the Margraves in long Mourning-Cloaks and by the Ladies of the Court in deep Mourning-Veils, receiv'd the Queen's Corpse at its being taken out of the Funeral-Chariot, and accompany'd it into the Old Chapel where a magnificent Cataphalque was erected for depositing it.

It represented a Temple of an Oval Form, whose Roof was supported by Pillars of the Corinthian Order, between each of which were plac'd Statues that represented the Queen's Vertues. In the middle of the Cataphalque just in the Upright there was a Glory, in which there was the Queen's Cypher form'd by Stars. All the Statues, that were silver'd, added to the Lustres, Branches and Chandeliers, made a noble Contrast with the Black that cover'd the Walls and the Roof. There the Queen's Corpse was repos'd till every thing was ready for her Interment. I will not here enter into the detail of that Ceremony, which was one of the most magnificent. What I observ'd extraordinary in it was, that 'twas the King's pleasure that the Parliament of Orange, of which the greatest part were Refugees at Court, should appear there in their Scarlet Robes.

The Queen's Death occasion'd no alteration in Affairs; for she meddled with the Government very little, and left all the care of it to the King and his Ministers: But in matters of Pleasure she was not so unconcern'd; and she understood them so well, that she was soon miss'd. The Courtiers sustain'd a Lose that was irreparable; for this Princess, who knew every body, was perfectly acquainted with every one's Birth and Merit, and took a delight to distinguish them. Being lofty, but at the same time polite, she knew better than any body in the World what it was to keep a Court; and being virtuous without meanness, she could tell (which is no easy matter) how to prescribe just Bounds to that Air of Gallantry, which alone is capable of rendering a Court agreeable, and preserving Politeness in it.

The only Princess capable of supplying her place was the Margravine Philippa, who then held the first Rank at Court. She was the Daughter of the Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, and of the Princess of Orange. She was good-natur'd and merry, and fond of Pleasures, but understood the delicacy of them. She might sometimes have made us forget the loss of the Queen, if the austere and perhaps jealous Humor of her Husband the Margrave Philip had not inclin'd that Prince to prefer his Residence at his House at Schwedt to the Court.

Soon after the Queen, died the Emperor Leopold; which was an Event that affected us not so much as the other, but concern'd the rest of Europe more. It was presently imagin'd that the Views to the Succession of Spain would have suffer'd some alteration by this Prince's Death; for the Emperor Joseph who succeeded his Father having no Son, the Archduke his Brother who disputed the Crown of Spain with the Duke of Anjou was his only Heir, and might one day or other by his Death become Master of the Empire, and of the Dominions of the House of Austria. Therefore they who dreaded to see the two Crowns united upon one Head, had as much and more reason to fear the Archduke's making himself Master of Spain; the Duke of Anjou who was already in possession of that Crown, being at that time very remote from that of France, by reason of the great number of Princes that had a prior Right to his. Nevertheless the Powers of Europe were not mov'd by these Reflections, and the War was continu'd on the side of the Allies with considerable Success.

The King of Sweden might, if he had pleased, have stopp'd the progress of it, and immortaliz'd his Name by rendring himself the Arbiter of a Quarrel, which divided Europe; for the Prosperity of his Arms had render'd him the Terror of all the Powers in the North. He had in the Year 1704 depriv'd the Elector of Saxony of the Crown of Poland, by causing King Stanislaus Leszinski the Palatine of Posen, to be proclaim'd King of Poland; and he was already in the middle of Saxony where he committed universal Ravage, and when he might have turn'd the Balance which way he pleas'd, the wrong Advice of his Favorite, corrupted by my Lord Marlborough, was the cause of the Misfortunes into which that Prince was afterwards precipitated.

Our Court has had a sufficient share in these different Events; but perhaps, Madame, 'tis so little known at your's as to deserve your Curiosity: but I will only tell you of what I think most important.

The Swedes and Poles had scarce laid down their Arms when the Differences between the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein gave them a fresh occasion to take them up again. In the Conferences that were begun at Pinneberg in 1696, there were hopes that those Princes would soon be reconcil'd; but they only patch'd up a Peace which could not last long, because of the Umbrage the King of Denmark took at the Duke of Holstein's strict Alliance with Sweden; and they quarrel'd again about the limits of their Dominions. The Danes were the Aggressors, and they demanded a reinforcement of four thousand Men of the King of Poland. This Prince, who naturally took part with those that declar'd against Sweden, was pleas'd well enough with the Danes Demand, and as there was an absolute necessity of passing those Troops over the Lands of the King, (at that time Elector) he sent the Count de Flemming, now his Prime Minister, to our Court, in order to sollicite their passage. Of a great many Arguments that were alledg'd against it, the most specious were, 'That the Mediators being still actually employ'd in procuring a just and equitable Accommodation, it was the duty of a Mediator to hinder the Rupture, rather than contribute to it by favoring this passage: That the Court of Prussia was Guarantee for the King of Sweden and the Duke of Holstein, that neither of those two Princes should begin the War against the King of Denmark; and that consequently as War was not declar'd against that Prince, his Danish Majesty had no need of Foreign Assistance; and that finally by giving passage to those Troops the Duke of Holstein would have just reason to accuse the Mediation of Partiality.' Nevertheless, after all these fine reasons, the four thousand Men had their Passage, either from surprise or the connivance of the Court. The King of Poland on his part, in order to make a considerable Diversion in favor of the King of Denmark, brought Troops from Livonia and besieg'd Riga, which then belong'd to the Swedes. This Conduct of the King of Poland, was, Madame, as the fatal Signal and the Primum Mobile of that tragical War, which tho' so glorious for the King of Sweden in the beginning, ended in the ruin not only of his Kingdom, but also of Poland and Saxony. And the greatest Gainer by it was the Czar.

The Danes while they waited for the Succours they had demanded from Poland, besieg'd the Fortress of Tonningen in the Duchy of Sleswic. The King of Sweden and the Duke of Holstein, before they oppos'd this Enterprize, preferr'd their Complaints to the Dyet of the Empire, and then prepar'd for driving the Danes out of the Country. The Elector of Hanover and the Duke of Zell join'd those two Princes, and the latter marching to the Relief of Tonningen had the Honor of obliging the Besiegers to abandon it, upon the report only of his Approach. This Prince therefore having nothing to do towards Tonningen, went with his Troops and rejoin'd the Elector of Hanover. They met the four thousand Men whom the King of Poland was sending to the Assistance of the Danes, but only took their Baggage and Arms, and then left them at liberty to return home.

The King of Sweden, on his part, push'd on the War against the Poles. That great Prince whom extraordinary Undertakings never startled, having already ravag'd a part of Poland, design'd a bold stroke, which was no less than dethroning the lawful King of that Country, and setting up another in his room. He had cast his eyes upon James of Poland, Son of King John Sobieski; but the King of Poland parry'd this blow, by causing the Prince James and his Brother Prince Constantine, to be carried away from an Estate of theirs near Breslau to Saxony, where they were strictly guarded like Prisoners at the Castle of Leipsic. The Confinement of these Princes did indeed hinder either of them from being elected King; but the King of Sweden still persisted in his design of dethroning the King of Poland, on purpose to be reveng'd of that Prince for being so rash as to be the first that declar'd War against him. He caused the Election to fall upon Stanislaus Leczinski the Palatine of Posen. The Bishop of Posen officiated as Cardinal Primate in this Ceremony, and proclaim'd the new King. The King of Sweden wrote to all the Princes with whom he was at peace, to acquaint them of this new Election, and to exhort them to recognize it. The Letter he wrote to our King had no Influence over him; for he made answer, that he had recogniz'd one King of Poland already, and that as long as he liv'd he would acknowledge no other. He wrote at the same time to the King of Poland, to demand the Liberty of the two Princes. The Emperor, to whom the eldest had the Honour of being Brother-in-law, seconded the King's Demand; but the Solicitations of both had no consequence, and the Princes were not releas'd till a long time after.

The following Year the King undertook to procure a Peace between the Kings of Sweden and Poland; but as the view of such Reconciliation was to re-establish the Prince of Saxony upon the Throne of Poland, the King of Sweden would hearken to no Proposal of Peace, unless the dethron'd King would solemnly renounce the Crown. Mean time his Swedish Majesty, in order to mollify his Refusal of the King's Mediation, sent an Ambassador-Extraordinary to him to recognize him as King of Prussia. This Ambassador was the first that ever made a public Entry at Berlin, and 'twas one of the most splendid that cou'd be, tho' all the Equipages were in Mourning by reason of the Death of the Queen.

Thus did this crafty King, by amusing those he had a mind to keep fair with, always push at his own ends. He continu'd to ravage Poland, and drove the King from thence into his Electorate of Saxony. There the Swedish Soldiers took up their Winter-Quarters, and committed such Outrages as one would not have expected from a Nation so fruitful in Heroes. The Swedish Prince signaliz'd his Entrance into Saxony by a glorious Action, which was procuring the Liberty of the two Polish Princes, who had for two Years been detain'd Prisoners with very great Severity and as little Reason. He afterwards march'd through all Saxony with the haughtiness of a Conqueror who comes to prescribe Laws to those whom he has reduc'd to his Obedience. As for King Stanislaus whom he had caus'd to be crown'd King of Poland at Warsaw, he led him about, with him as it were in Triumph. As this new King advanc'd towards the Territories of the Electorate of Brandenburg, to meet the Queen his Wife who was coming from Stetin, our Court caus'd all the Honours to be paid to him that were due to the Royal Dignity, without recognizing him all the while for King. This Complaisance of our Court won the King of Sweden's Heart. Mean time the Neighbourhood of this great Monarch, who, where-ever he march'd, carried Fire and Sword with him, gave vast uneasiness, and the Joy was as great when he manifested a Design to turn his Arms against the Muscovites, which he was put upon to do by the English. They had for some time past suspected him to be supported under-hand by France, and they thought the best way to embroil him with that Crown was to engage him in a War with the Czar. The Person commission'd to negociate this Affair was my Lord Marlborough, who went to the King of Sweden, and soon put his Negociation in a hopeful way to succeed. He found about the King a Minister so sordid, that he was not proof against an Offer of three hundred thousand Crowns, to betray his Master into a War which could not but be fatal to him; whereas, if he had pleas'd, he might have acquir'd immortal Glory in the midst of Saxony, by rendring himself the Umpire of two of the most potent Families in Europe, then contending for the Crown of Spain. This Minister knowing his Master's ambitious Temper, propos'd no less to him than dethroning the Czar. The young Monarch full of Zeal and Courage did not imagine how impossible it was to dethrone a Prince who was retir'd behind Provinces quite deserted, and where the Snow lay so deep that 'twas difficult to distinguish whether they walk'd upon Land or Rivers. He march'd out of the Electorate of Saxony at the Head of his Troops about the end of the Year 1707. Never had People juster Reasons for giving public Marks of their Joy, than the Saxons had to see the Swedish Monarch turn his Back to them. His Troops had committed excessive Outrages in the Electorate; all the flat Country of Saxony was intirely ruin'd, and, except some great Towns such as Leipsic, where they generously enough spent part of the Money they had extorted from the poor Saxon Peasant, there was not a Hamlet but was laid waste to such a degree, that there were no hopes of its being restor'd to its original Condition one while.

Yet if the Misfortunes of an Enemy can in any measure compensate the Losses he has occasion'd, the Saxons had all the reason in the World to be pleas'd in the Sequel. The Swedish Troops gave way every where to the Muscovites, who flush'd with former Victories, beat them to nothing.

The greatest Loss the King of Sweden sustain'd was near Pultowa. This Prince, who was more ambitious than prudent, being got too far into Muscovy, did not perceive his error till it was too late to retrieve it. The Czar had the Precaution, as he retir'd a little before into his own Dominions, to burn above forty Leagues of Country thro' which the King of Sweden was to pass to him; so that this Prince soon found himself in a very sad situation, not being able to stay in a place where there was no manner of Provision, and forc'd to engage with an Army well intrench'd and far superior to his own. But there was no avoiding it, and a Battle was fought the 8th of July 1709, when the Swedes were all either cut in pieces or taken Prisoners by the Muscovites. The King who was oblig'd by a Wound in his Heel to be carry'd in a Litter had like to have been kill'd, for one Cannon-Ball kill'd one of his Horses, and a second demolish'd his Litter. The whole Army was in pain for the King's Life; but the Officers who were near his Person snatch'd him out of danger, and advis'd him to provide for his safety. This Prince was very loth to comply with such a resolution, but finding himself oblig'd to yield to Force, retir'd to Bender, a little Town at the entrance of Moldavia, which belongs to the Turkish Empire. The King of Sweden was no sooner safe, but the Remains of his Army with their Generals at their head submitted to the Conqueror. This, Madame, was the Success of the Battle of Pultowa; a Battle glorious to the Muscovites, but so fatal to the King of Sweden that he could never recover it: For after this Defeat this young Hero was always expos'd to the most cruel Reverses of that very Fortune, which in his early Years seem'd to delight in heaping Favors on him.

Mean time the two Families in competition for the Crown of Spain had not yet sheath'd their Swords. The King of Sweden was even yet in the Electorate of Saxony when the French lost the famous Battle of Ramellies, which procur'd the Allies the greatest part of the Spanish Netherlands. The Troops in Italy also distinguish'd themselves, and particularly the Prussians, who had so great a share in the raising of the Siege of Turin, that the Duke of Savoy wrote a Letter to the King, in which he extolled the Valor of the Prussian Generals and Soldiers. "Yesterday, said he, the Enemy's Army was intirely put to the rout in their own Lines before this place (Turin), in which your Majesty's Troops had the greatest share, and I can never enough commend their Bravery, nor the notable Valour of the Prince of Anhalt, who led them on, &c." This Letter was dated the 8th of September, 1706.

The Prince of Anhalt too sent an Express with the same News to the King, and gave a great Character of the Troops under his Command. "As your Majesty's Troops, said he, in his Letter, were the first that enter'd the Enemy's Trenches, so they have suffer'd very much, and especially the Grenadiers. I may say that your Majesty's Forces have behav'd so well, that they are intitled to universal Praise and Admiration, &c." Then he enter'd into the Detail of the Losses sustain'd by the French, which were indeed very considerable. 'Twas upon this occasion that the Marshal de Marsin was wounded and taken Prisoner, and besides forty-five Pieces of heavy Cannon and one hundred and forty lesser that were taken from them, they lost a great Convoy of two thousand Mules and one thousand Horses, which was guarded by the Regiment of Dragoons of Chatillon.

The raising of this Siege, and the Reputation the Prussian Troops thereby acquired was very acceptable News to the King, and while the Court was rejoicing for this, there arriv'd other Advices which gave them no less pleasure; and that was the raising of the Siege of Barcelona. This City had been besieg'd for some time by the Marshal de Tesse; but King Charles who defended it made so stout a Resistance and such destructive Sallies upon the French Army, that the latter was oblig'd to retire. The King was inform'd of it by an Express from King Charles.

So many Successes one after another rais'd the hopes of the Allies prodigiously. The Terror the French Arms had for a long time impress'd upon their Minds soon wore off, and nothing was heard every where but shouts of Joy, to see so haughty a Nation at last humbled. Our Court was more rejoic'd than any other at this great News, and every one envy'd the Fortune of the Prussian Soldiers, when they saw that the Duke of Savoy and the Prince of Anhalt themselves, gave them the highest Encomia.

At this happy Juncture was celebrated the Marriage of the Prince Royal, which had been concluded at Hanover, a Journey the King made thither with the Prince his Son. This young Prince had for a long time such a veneration for the Princess the Elector's Daughter, as 'twas possible for the most accomplish'd Merit to inspire him with, and of all the Princesses in the World she was like to be the most acceptable to her Subjects; she represented to us the Idea of the late Queen, and as she was her Niece and design'd to succeed to her Dominions, she seem'd also to have inherited all the great Qualities that made the former ador'd at our Court. The Electoral Prince of Hanover married her at Hanover by Proxy, in presence of the Count de Finck the King's Ambassador. The Princess set out from thence some days after with a Train becoming her present and her future Dignity. The Elector her Father had given her the most magnificent Suits of Apparel and Jewels that could be got for Money, and they were purchas'd at Paris by a Man sent on purpose. The Duchess of Orleans was desirous to chuse and give Directions for the Clothes, and she afterwards shewed them to Lewis XIV. who thought them so rich that he said it were to be wish'd for the sake of the Mercers of Paris, that there were more Princesses that could afford to make such Purchases.

'Twas Novemb. 27, 1706, that this Princess made her public Entry at Berlin. The King met her about half a League out of Town. As soon as her Royal Highness perceiv'd the King's Coach she alighted, as the King did also from his and went to meet her. After having embraced the Princess he presented the Prince Royal to her, together with his Brothers and the two Princesses. Then the King took Coach again, where the Princess plac'd herself on the King's left hand; and the two Margraves sate over-against them; the Prince-Royal and the King's three Brothers being mounted on Horseback. The Entry was one of the most magnificent that was ever seen. All the Troops then at Berlin were under Arms, as well as all the City-Militia, and drawn up in a Line from the Out-parts of the Town quite to the Palace. The next day after the Princess's Arrival, there was a sumptuous Feast, at which the Prince Royal and the Princess had Arm-Chairs, but for that day only; for the next day their Royal Hignesses sate in upright Chairs at the two ends of the Table.

Our Court was then as splendid as in the time of the late Queen. There was a continual Round of Pleasures, and every day was remarkable for Feasts, Balls, Comedies, &c. These Rejoicings had lasted a good while, when all on a sudden we had a most terrible Alarm. The King fell dangerously ill, and his Physicians began to despair of his Recovery. But God, who always considers the Wants of his People, did us the favor to restore him to us for a while longer. Upon his Recovery he receiv'd the Compliments of the whole Court, and the Congratulations of the Princes his Allies, who acknowledg'd as well as his Subjects how necessary his Preservation was to the Common Cause.

Not long after the King's Recovery, I saw the young Count de Metternich arrive at Berlin, who came to bring the King Advice, That the Swissers had at length recogniz'd his Majesty for Sovereign Prince of Neufchâtel, preferably to the other Princes his Competitors. The Count de Metternich, who was the King's Ambassador in Swisserland, had the good Fortune to carry this Point, notwithstanding the Menaces of France, who asserted the Interests of several of her Subjects, at the Head of whom was the Prince of Conti. Madame de Nemours, the Sovereign of Neufchâtel, was no sooner dead, but each of the Claimants put in their Plea of Right to this Sovereignty. As soon as the News of her Death was confirm'd, the King sent Orders to M. de Metternich, his Ambassador-Extraordinary and his Plenipotentiary in Swisserland, to repair to Neufchâtel and take care of his Interests. He went thither accordingly on the 30th of June, and caus'd a Memorial to be distributed at his Arrival, containing the King's Right to the said Principality. The French Competitors on their part distributed another, to establish their own Rights, and invalidate the Pretensions of the King. There happen'd to be Disputes between the Prince of Conti and the Prussian Ambassador about Precedency. M. de Puisieux the Ambassador of France, as it was his Duty to do, maintain'd the Interests of the Prince of Conti, and presented to the Council of Neufchâtel a Memorial so haughty and menacing, as if it had come from victorious France in the Time when she was flush'd with Conquests. He said in this Memorial, "That the King his Master cannot look with Indifference upon the Conduct at Neufchâtel, in presuming to be so disrespectful to the Princes of his Family; that it wou'd be the wisest way for the Gentlemen of the Council speedily to take Measures to prevent this Pretension of the Prussian Minister from being carried any further, a Pretension, said he, which has no Foundation, but in Malice or Ignorance; because even tho' the new Title, which the Elector of Brandenburg has assum'd for some years, were universally recogniz'd, yet this very Pretension of his Ambassador's would be always chimerical." Here M. de Puisieux gave them Warning, "That if they did not soon alter their Conduct, the King of France wou'd take Measures very opposite to the pacific and kind Sentiments which he had entertain'd since the Affair of Neufchâtel was first in agitation." Such, Madame, was the Strain in which the French Minister talk'd. This Memorial was follow'd by several others, which went to the very bottom of the Affair; and M. de Puisieux, in order to engage the Council of Neufchâtel to favour the French Claimants, still continued to talk in such a high Stile, as prejudiced every body against the Side that he espous'd. You may judge of this Ambassador's manner of Negociation, by the last Memorial which he presented towards the close of October 1707. After having establish'd the Right of the French Competitors with continual Invectives, he concluded thus; If it happens contrary to my Expectation, that your Answer is not conformable to what I demand,—I have fresh Orders from his Majesty to assure you, that nothing will be capable to hinder the Effects of his Indignation, or to screen you from that just Vengeance which he proposes to take. Then, as if he affected to speak in a softer Strain, he said to them with an Air of Protection, "That he hop'd while he staid at Neufchâtel, to find favourable Inclinations for the entire Performance of what he wish'd for." 'Tis the only thing you can do (these are the last Words of his Memorial) to merit the Continuance of his Majesty's Good-will. I wish for my own part, that you wou'd furnish me with Opportunities to help maintain you in it. But all these Menaces of the French Ambassador came to nothing, and only procur'd him sharp Answers from the Ambassadors of Prussia, England, and Holland; for things went on in the same Course in the Council of Neufchâtel, and the whole Affair was determined to the Satisfaction of the King, who was proclaim'd Sovereign thereof on the 3d of November 1707.

As soon as the King had been recogniz'd in that Sovereignty, the Count de Metternich sent his Son to his Majesty with the Sentence of the three Estates, declaring the King lawful Heir of the said Principality, by Louisa of Nassau his Mother, the eldest Daughter of Prince Frederic-Henry, Son of William of Nassau call'd the Belgic, to whom there had been a Transfer of the Rights of the House of Chalons, to which the Sovereignty and Domaine of Neufchâtel originally belong'd.

The News of the Acquisition of this Sovereignty cou'd not but be very acceptable to the King, who gave the young Count a most favorable Reception, made him noble Presents, and amongst others, gave him the Key of Chamberlain.

Not many days after, viz. Nov. 23, 1707, the Court had a fresh Subject of Joy, by the Princess Royal's safe Delivery of a Prince, whom the King immediately declared Prince of Orange, and made him at the same time a Knight of the Grand Order. His Majesty after this dispatch'd Couriers to his Ambassadors at the Courts of the Princes his Allies to acquaint them of the Birth of his Grandson. M. de Spanheim the Ambassador in England received Orders to desire the Queen to be God-mother to the young Prince;, and M. de Schmettau Ambassador in Holland, and M. de Metternich Ambassador in Swisserland, were charged to invite the States with whom they resided to be God-fathers. Besides these Powers, the King and the Elector of Hanover were God-fathers, and the Electoress of Hanover was God-mother. The Baptism was performed with great Magnificence on the 3d of December in the Church of the Dome. The Joy at Court for the Birth of this Prince was of no long Duration; for in a few Months after, he died: but the Sorrow for the Loss of him was alleviated, by the Hopes that the Prince Royal had Youth and Health enough to give us soon more Heirs. The Incident that was most alarming, was the weakly Condition of the King, who recover'd but slowly from his Grand Ailment; so that his Physicians advis'd him to make use of the Waters ofCarlsbadt in Bohemia; and at the beginning of the fine Season, his Majesty went thither accordingly.

The King's Departure being resolv'd on, I begg'd his Majesty's leave, to make the Campaign in Flanders in quality of a Voluntier. I set out from Berlin with the Gens d'Arms, in which my Brother was a Cornet, and we join'd the Army near Louvain. The Count de Lottum receiv'd me as a Voluntier; and I had the Pleasure to be near him all the Campaign. Not many days after I had reached the Army, the Electoral Prince of Hanover, (now George II. King of England) arrived in the Camp of my Lord Marlborough, and did that General the Honor to serve with him as a Voluntier. The young Prince distinguish'd himself very much in this Campaign, and gave the English sufficient Proof that he was worthy hereafter of wearing their Crown. 'Twas in this Campaign that the famous Battel of Audenarde was fought, in which the French were again obliged to yield to the Efforts of the Allies. It must be said however, in their favor, that they were forc'd to fight without Artillery; for they had but four Pieces of Cannon, the rest of their Ordnance and Baggage not being yet arriv'd. The Action was very hot on both sides; they fought for several Hours with exceeding Obstinacy, and always with a considerable Loss on the part of the Enemy; whose Infantry was not only put to the rout, but a great many Squadrons of the French King's Houshold Troops; which advanc'd to support the Foot; were cut in pieces; whereupon the Confusion was so great, and the fire so furious in several places at once, that 'twas almost impossible to distinguish the Allies from the Enemy; therefore Orders were given to fire no more till next Morning, but to let the Enemy escape, rather than run the risque of putting our own Army in confusion.

The Night being come, the French scarce made any more Resistance but retir'd by the way that goes from Audenarde to Ghent, thro' the Village of Heusden. This very Evening as I was standing with some Officers of the Guards, at a small distance from the Prussian Guards, I perceiv'd a Trooper riding full speed towards us, who, when he arriv'd said, Gentlemen, the Duke de Vendosme orders you to retire towards Ghent. I cannot express to you how much he was surpriz'd when we told him for Answer, That he was a Prisoner. Kill me, said he, upon the spot, I don't desire to out-live what has happened to me. We comforted him as well as we cou'd, and carried him to the Count de Lottum's Quarters, to whom he made himself known for M. Duplanti, Aid de Camp to the Duke de Vendosme. What led him into the mistake was the Habit of the Prussian Guards, which is not very different from that of the French.

The Battle of Audenarde was the more glorious for the Allies, because it was a Victory gain'd over the Duke of Burgundy who commanded the Army of France, and had with him the Duke of Berry his Brother, and the Chevalier de St. George; but they say this Battle was quite against the Opinion of the Duke de Vendosme, whose Advice was not hearken'd to, and the Cabals which the Duke of Burgundy gave into, hinder'd the Designs of that famous General from being follow'd, and were the Cause of the Loss of the Battle.

Next day about ten o'clock at Night the Count de Lottum was detach'd from the Grand Army with forty Squadrons and thirty Battalions, and without any Resistance took possession, of the Lines towards Ypres, which were immediately demolish'd. The 19th of that Month was celebrated by the Army as a Day of Thanksgiving for the Victory they had gain'd; upon which all the Cannon were fir'd, and there was a triple Salvo of all the small Arms.

On the 26th, my Lord Marlborough, who only waited for a Convoy of the heavy Artillery to begin the Siege of Lisle, sent a Detachment to Brussels, where there was a considerable Train, which came partly from Sas van Ghent and Maestricht. This March was cover'd by 22,000 Men of Prince Eugene's Army, which he himself commanded in Person. This great Convoy arriving safe before Lisle, the Town was invested the 13th of August. As it was one of the most considerable Sieges that had been undertaken for a long time; and as 'twas natural to expect a vigorous Resistance, on the part of the Marshal de Boufflers who commanded in the Place, there came Voluntiers from all Quarters to the Camp of the Besiegers. Two great Princes, both able Generals, thought fit to be present at this Siege, viz. the King of Poland and the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, who were at the opening of the Trenches, which was on the 22d at Night.

Some Days after, the Enemy approach'd so near to us, that it was believed they had an Inclination to engage. Our Generals were therefore at the head of the Army as soon as the Day broke. Prince Eugene join'd my Lord Marlborough with twenty-six Battalions and seventy-six Squadrons of his Army which form'd the Siege; and the Army being drawn up in three Lines, of which the two foremost consisted of the Cavalry; they remain'd in this Posture till about ten o' clock in the Forenoon, when 'twas visible that the Enemy had no mind to come to a Battle, and that they only meant to disturb us; for which Reason the Generals caus'd Entrenchments to be cast up, which were finish'd next Day, and the Detachment which Prince Eugene brought, was sent back again, excepting some Squadrons that staid.

There was then so little Apprehension of an Attack, that most of the Generals quitted the Grand Army to assist in the storming of the Counterscarp, which happen'd on the 5th of September at Night. Our Men earned it, tho' with very great Loss on our side, and made Lodgments on it. When this Attack was over, we set out to return to the Grand Army; but to our misfortune the Guide that had conducted us, was run away; and as it was not then more than one or two o'clock in the Morning, we were in a very great Perplexity, and fell exactly into the Road that led to the Centre of the Enemy's Camp. I was on horseback, perhaps a hundred Yards from the Count de Lottum who was in his Coach, when all on a sudden I heard some body call out, Who goes there? I confess to you, Madame that I was somewhat surpriz'd, but I comforted my self with the Thought, that it was perhaps a Centinel of some Walloon Regiment of the Spanish Troops, so that I answer'd, Officers. We were got in the midst of Hedges and Trees, which hinder'd me of the Benefit of a little Moonlight, by which I might perhaps have discover'd with whom we had to do; and therefore I still went on: but I was no sooner out of the Thicket, than I found my self near enough to a Body of Horse, to discern that 'twas impossible it shou'd belong to us, because it was too near the Place, and because it fronted us. I presently saw our Danger; I turn'd back as gently as I cou'd possibly to the Count de Lottum, and told him what I had observ'd. M. de K—— his first Adjutant call'd me a Simpleton. Kraut the second Adjutant treated me in much the same Stile; and in short I had like to have been dismissed for a Fool; only the Count de Lottum thought it was Wisdom to run no hazard, and therefore he order'd his Coachman to turn about, and the Officer of the Ordnance was detach'd to see whether I was mistaken. The Truth of the Fact being by him confirm'd, the Adjutants were almost frighten'd out of their Wits, made a thousand Apologies, and promis'd to make me any sort of amends, if we were but so fortunate as to escape the Danger which threaten'd us. At last we were delivered out of it, I don't well know how; for had the Enemy advanc'd ever so little, we were sure of being left dead on the Spot.

Thus, Madame, have I given you what pass'd most remarkable since the Storm of the Counterscarp. On the 11th, some Motion was made on the part of the Enemy, who even advanc'd almost up to our Trenches; but we were in a Posture to receive them. Their Army lay all Night under Arms, and next Morning at Daybreak drew up in Order of Battle, but contrary to our Expectation nothing came of it; for the Princes of France, the Chevalier de St. George, the Duke de Vendosme, and several General Officers contented themselves with taking a View of our Camp; but as they advanc'd somewhat too near to our Intrenchments, we were oblig'd to be a little rude to such great Princes, and to let fly some Cannon-Ball among them, whereupon they thought fit to retire.

My Lord Duke heard the same Day, that M. de Chamillard, Secretary at War, was arriv'd from Versailles in the Army of France, to be present at a Council which was to be held there. It was therein resolv'd, That we should not be attack'd, and that their only Business should be to cut off our Convoys from Brussels. To execute this Project they posted themselves behind the Scheld, from whence they indeed did very much incommode us. We had no Passage left now but from Ostend, by which General Webb brought us a considerable Convoy. M. de la Motte, a Lieutenant-General of the French Army endeavor'd to hinder its Passage; he had also the Advantage of the Ground. Nevertheless he was defeated near Wynendale. To this Convoy may be ascrib'd the Conquest of Lisle, which was at length oblig'd to surrender on the 28th of October, and the Marshal de Boufflers retir'd into the Citadel; yet as brave as the Garison was that march'd into it with him, he could not hold it out long. Thus the Allies gain'd some considerable Advantage or other every day. Never did they make a more glorious Campaign; for besides the taking of Lisle and its Citadel, they had also the Glory in this same Campaign of raising the Siege which the Elector of Bavaria had laid to Brussels, and of reducing Ghent and Bruges.

I forgot to tell you, that during the Siege of Lisle, we had like to have lost Prince Eugene. This Prince receiv'd a Packet one day by the Post, and having broke it open, he saw a greasy Paper, which gave him a mistrust; but he only threw it upon the Ground, and a Person that gathered it up being taken ill, it induc'd them to make an Experiment upon a Dog, which when they had rubb'd it about his Nose, died that Instant. Thus was God pleas'd to preserve this Hero from the basest of Treasons.

I wish'd I could have been at the taking of Lisle, but was oblig'd to quit the Army some time before, M. Dankelman my Tutor having receiv'd the King's Orders to send me to Berlin, where his Majesty design'd to give me a Place at Court; and as he had Thoughts of marrying again, he propos'd to prefer me to an Employment under the new Queen.

The King's Marriage was talk'd of at the Waters of Carelsbadt. I have had the honor to acquaint you, Madame, that the Physicians not knowing what Remedy to prescribe, for curing him of the Faintness, which was the Relic of his great illness in 1707, had at all adventures order'd the Waters of Carelsbadt, and the King was perfectly recover'd by them. The Recovery of his Health reviv'd the Pleasures of the Court. The voluptuous Courtier, who had not yet forgot what the Presence of an amiable Queen is capable of doing, began to form Vows, that the King might make a Choice as good as the first: nay, the matter was carried farther; it was mention'd to his Majesty, who was told withal, that nothing was more necessary, than to think immediately of a second Marriage; and that the Prince Royal having no Children, there was Danger of his Majesty's leaving no Issue. In short, every body voted so heartily for a Marriage, that the King, who also was desirous of it, declar'd he wou'd marry again. The only difficulty was to know, who should be the Princess that was to be advanc'd to the Throne; and then arose several Parties, who had each very different Views.

The Great Chamberlain was for the Princess of Nassau-Friesland, a Marriage with whom, he imagin'd, would put an end to all the Disputes about King William's Succession. The King approv'd of the Proposal, and sent the Baron de Schalifer to negociate the Treaty. You would not believe perhaps, Madame, that the very Mother of this Princess caus'd it to miscarry, from a Jealousy of her Daughter's Grandeur. Her Pretext was, that she had before vainly flatter'd herself with the Hopes of marrying her Daughter to the Prince Royal; that she had been bubbled then; and that it would be the same thing now. The Assurances that the Baron gave her to the contrary, and the Advantages he shew'd her would accrue to her Family from this Match, were all to no purpose; she remain'd inflexible; and told him in plain Terms, that she could not bear to think of seeing her Daughter so much above her. The Baron having made some other Attempts, this jealous Mother prevail'd on her Daughter to refuse the greatest Offer she could ever hope for. A great many of the Courtiers were not sorry to see this Match broke off. They had been jealous for a long time of the great Credit of the Prince of Anhalt, who being Uncle to the Princess in question, 'twas natural to presume, that she would grow more powerful than before, besides the being more united than ever to the Great Chamberlain, to whom the Prince would be oblig'd for this Marriage.

Then the Princess of Hesse was propos'd, and the Princess of Culmbach. The former had the Negative put upon her the very Moment that she was mention'd, and that by the King himself. The latter was known to the King, who had seen her at Hall, as he return'd from Carelsbadt. His Majesty thought very well of her, and had even seem'd inclinable to determine in her favor, when, opposite Cabals were set at work, which quite frustrated the Proposal.

The Duchess of Zeitz, the King's Sister, who married a Duke of Meckelbourg to her first Husband, proposed the Princess of Meckelbourg to the King. His Majesty, who had still perhaps the Princess of Culmbach in his Thoughts, did not seem at first to relish this Proposal; nevertheless upon the Instances made to him by the Duchess his Sister, he promised her to see the Princess of Meckelbourg before he determin'd in favor of any other Person. This he did accordingly, some time after he return'd to Berlin, when he went to Schwerin, the Capital City of Meckelbourg, on pretence of endeavoring to accommodate the Differences between the Duke and the Nobility. There it was that the King saw the Princess; she pleas'd him, and besides he had heard so much in her Praise, that at length he determin'd to have her; and as soon as he return'd to Oranienbourg, he declared his Marriage.

This News did not create so much Joy at our Court as I imagin'd it wou'd; and the Courtiers began to reflect seriously, upon what they had seem'd to wish for with Impatience. They call'd to mind the Time of the late Queen. Moreover, the Age and Health of the Prince and Princess Royal gave them ground enough to hope, that the Brandenburg Family would not want Heirs. In fine, the Character of Mother-in-law, ever hated, gave Apprehension that there wou'd soon be a Division in the Royal Family. For my own part, I verily believe, Madame, that what most of all disgusted the Courtiers, in the Choice which the King had now made, was, that the Queen was a devout Lady, a Quality not very likely to make that Air of Gallantry prevail at Court, which captivates the Heart of the Courtier.

The King had no sooner declar'd his Intention to marry again, but there was a Multitude of Sollicitors to be of the Queen's Houshold. One Bassompierre put himself upon the List, and he desir'd the King wou'd make him the Queen's Chamberlain. The King made him answer, that he would put no Officers about the Queen, except such as should be agreeable to her; but that he would favor him so far, as to put him in the number of those that shou'd be propos'd to the Queen as soon as she arriv'd. Bassompierre thought that by making previous Application to the Queen, he should not fail of being admitted, and therefore he set out Post to meet her. He told her Majesty that the King had sent him to be her Chamberlain. The Queen believ'd him, admitted him in that quality, and also gave him a Letter to carry to the King, with which he return'd to Berlin. He told the King, that the Queen had appointed him her Chamberlain. His Majesty easily imagin'd that the Queen had been surpriz'd; and being justly angry with Bassompierre, forbad him the Court. This Bassompierre had a Brother who came to Berlin the same time as he did: These two Gentlemen said they were of that honest Family of Bassompierre, of which there are some still in Lorrain: And by that Name they went, Anno 1707, in the Army in Flanders. The eldest said he had been a Colonel in France, and that his Brother was a Captain in the same Regiment. They pretended that they left their Country, the eldest for having fought a Duel, and the youngest for being his Second. The King had receiv'd them kindly, and given them Pensions, with a Promise to prefer them to the Army the first Opportunity that should offer. These two Brothers were at Court in a very agreeable Situation, and wou'd, no doubt, have long enjoy'd it, when the eldest attempted to be the Queen's Chamberlain; in which perhaps too he would have succeeded, if his Eagerness for it had not made him take that Step, by which he incurr'd his Majesty's Indignation. He was very much astonish'd at the Order which was signify'd to him, not to be seen any more at Court; and at length fearing he shou'd be found out to be what he really was, he retir'd, and went with his Brother to Saxony, where they were both admitted into the King of Poland's Horse-Guards; but they did not enjoy that Shelter long: for the Electoress of Hanover having heard of their Intrigue at Berlin, wrote to a great Lady in France, and desir'd her to inform her who those Bassompierres were. The Lady, who knew nothing at all of 'em, naturally mistrusted that they were Fortune-Hunters; but for better Information she enquir'd of M. d'Argenson, Lieutenant of the Police, who upon the Description given him of those Gentlemen, discover'd they were a couple of Sparks, whose Duel of Honor wou'd have been rewarded with the Brand of the Flower de Lis and the Galleys, if they could have been apprehended in France. Upon this Discovery Messieurs de Bassompierre were banish'd out of Poland, and what became of them afterwards I cannot tell.

Mean time all the necessary Preparations were making at Berlin for the Reception of the Queen, who was preparing on her part for her public Entry. The Duke of Meckelbourg married the Princess his Sister by Proxy from the King. Next day the new Queen set out from Schwerin, in company with the Duchess her Mother, the Duke her Brother, and the Duchess of Meckelbourg her Sister-in law. This Train went with her to the very Frontier of Meckelbourg, which borders upon the Electorate of Brandenburg, and there the Queen found M. d'Erlach, Marshal of the Court, who receiv'd her in the King's Name, and offer'd her his House. This Princess, after having taken leave of her Family, took Coach and arriv'd at Oranienburg the 24th of November. The King went and met her about half a League from that House. As soon as she perceiv'd his Majesty, she alighted out of her Coach and fell on her Knees. The King took her up and embrac'd her, and after presenting the whole Royal Family to her they went to the Castle. The King conducted the Queen to her Apartment, where she always eat alone, to the very Day of the Celebration of the Marriage. The 27th she made her Entry at Berlin, where she was receiv'd with all possible Magnificence, and next Day their Majesties were married in the Church of the Dome. The 29th, the King and Queen receiv'd the Compliments of all the Deputies, Courts of Justice and Foreign Ministers; and on the same day there was a great Entertainment which their Majesties honor'd with their Presence. I was not willing, Madame, to tire you with a tedious Detail of all the Ceremonies: I have already had the Honor to acquaint you, that the King spar'd for nothing that might contribute to the Magnificence of the Feast, which lasted several days, and was more sumptuous every day than other. What I thought remarkable, was a Battle of wild Beasts, at which their Majesties were present on the 17th of December, when the Queen kill'd a Bear from her Gallery, with a shot from a Hand-Gun.

The Arrival of the new Queen created no great Change at Court, and except the first Rank which she had of the Ladies every thing continued in the same state. The Princess-Royal kept her Court at her own Lodgings twice a Week, that is to say, on those Days when there was no Circle at the Queen's; for upon the Drawing-Room Days she went to her Majesty's Apartment, as did most of the Princesses, and they stay'd there to sup. Her Majesty likewise granted the same Honor to several other Ladies, to whom she gave an Invitation by a Gentleman when they were in the Circle.

'Twas at the time of the King's Marriage that I lost my Father-in-law: I was very much concern'd for his Death, especially on account of the Trouble it gave my Mother, who could never get over it as long as she liv'd. The very day that the News of it was brought to me, the King declar'd me a Gentleman of his Bed-chamber. I have had the Honor to tell you, Madame, that I was taken out of the Army in hopes of being plac'd near the Queen, but when I came to Court I found all her Houshold settled, and my Name not in the List. I spoke of this to the Grand Marshal, who bid me not be vexed, for that he would shortly get me a Post about the King, and that was the Office of Gentleman of the Bed-chamber, to which I was nominated some time after, i. e. about the latter end of the Year 1708.

You know, Madame, and one can hardly forget the prodigious cold Weather we had the Winter following. It began on the Feast of Epiphany, 1709, and was universal all over Europe. The Corn and Vines suffer'd so much by it that there was a scarcity which lasted long enough to starve a number of poor People, who cou'd not get Bread, it was so excessive dear. Never was there a more melancholy Year; and there was such a poor melancholy Court all the while, that it seem'd as if the severe cold Weather had chill'd our Spirits. But when the fine Weather return'd they began to revive, and every one prepar'd to set out for the Army. The Prince Royal went to make the Campaign in Flanders as a Voluntier, and M. d'Arnheim departed to rejoin the Troops of which he had the Command in Piedmont. This Campaign was very glorious to the Allies, but 'twas a very bloody one. The famous Battle of Malplaquet was one of those Victories which procured us Laurels cover'd with Funeral Scutcheons, and two more such Victories would have ruin'd the Infantry of the Allies. The Prince Royal was Witness of the Bravery of our Troops, which distinguish'd themselves in this Campaign, wherein they had been great Sufferers. The Enemy on their part besides the Battle lost also Mons and Tournay.

I could have wish'd to have made this Campaign, but when I ask'd the King's Leave to go, his Majesty refus'd me, saying, that he design'd me for some other Business than that of Arms. This Answer pleas'd me to the Life, and as I was young and by consequence apt enough to be vain, I was so simple as to believe my self for a while in the highest Favor. But I was soon convinc'd of my mistake. What serv'd to open my Eyes was this. The Post of Gentleman of the Bed-chamber, with which the King had honor'd me, made it my duty to attend the King's Coach on horseback as often as his Majesty went abroad; but being one day so much out of order that 'twas impossible for me to ride a Horse, as ill luck would have it, the King happen'd to go that very day from[10]Charlottenbourg to Berlin, and perceiv'd that I was not upon Duty. This incens'd him so much against me, that when I attended to receive his Hat and Cane upon his Return, he said the harshest things that cou'd be to me, the least of which was, that if I ever fail'd in my Duty again, he would deprive me of the Honor of serving him. Guess, Madame, how much I was mortify'd at such a Reprimand given in presence of eight or ten Persons that were in the King's Chamber. Indeed I had much ado to brook it, and at first dash I really had a Thought of resigning my Post. I spoke of it to the Count de Witgenstein, who pacify'd me a little by giving me to understand, that if I did not abate of my Fire I had nothing to do but to renounce all Advancement in the Service of my King, a Service always preferable to any Fortunes that can be made at the Court of any Foreign Prince. He promis'd to set me right in the King's Opinion, and he kept his Word; for two or three Days afterwards as the King return'd to Charlottenbourg, when I happen'd to be all alone in his Chamber with the Chamberlain in waiting, his Majesty did me the Honor to ask me, If I was still in a Pet? I return'd no other Answer but a profound Obeisance. The King said to me a second time, I ask you if you are out of humor because I chid you t'other day? I made Answer with all the Respect possible, That indeed I was vex'd to my heart that I had given his Majesty any Cause to be out of Temper with me; that no body was more ambitious than I was of serving him faithfully; and that tho' I had the Misfortune lately to be wanting in my Duty, it was owing to a very sad Indisposition. But, said the King, you should have let me know it then, and I should not have reprimanded you. After all, I did so only to try you, for in the main I was not so angry as I seem'd to be. Jackel the King's Jester, who was present at this Conversation, took up the Discourse and said to the King, But, good Sir, the Indisposition he talks of, is of his own making; for the true Cause is, he has no Saddle-Horses, and the reason of this, is because he has not wherewithal to feed them. Why then, said the King, I will give him wherewithal: The Great Chamberlain, said he to me, shall dispatch you a Warrant for that purpose; go to him. I then advanc'd to kiss the King's Robe, but he drew back, and as I was stooping he laid his Hand upon my Head, and said to me, You are young, be good, and I will take care of you. In a few days after, I had my Warrant dispatch'd to send for Forage to Michlenhoff, where the like was distributed to other Courtiers who had obtain'd the same Favor.

At the same time the Duke of Meckelbourg the Queen's Brother came to Berlin, where he had a magnificent Reception, yet he was not very well pleas'd with his Journey; for this Prince expected, as he was a Sovereign, to have Precedency of the Margraves the King's Brothers, which was deny'd him. He eat in private with the King, but the Margraves were not present, and he stay'd at Court but three or four days, during which he was lodg'd at the Palace and serv'd by the King's Officers.

As for our new Queen she became so devout in a little time after her Marriage, that every body was surpriz'd, and the Courtiers very much disgusted. Nothing was talk'd of in her presence but Religion, and in the Morning her Anti-chamber was frequented by Ministers, by Dr. Francke whom she had sent for on purpose from Hall, and by Borst her Confessor. It look'd as if one was in the Anti-chamber of some Governess of a Convent, rather than in the Palace of a great Queen. Under pretence of Prayers for Deliverance from the Plague which infected some of our Provinces, there was nothing to be heard in her Apartments but Litanies. The King did not like all this Cant; for tho' he had a great deal of Religion, he did not love Bigotry. He made the Queen sensible that her manner of living was not suitable to one that sate upon a Throne, and got her content to the Removal of those Persons from about her who had exhorted her to embrace the Party of the Pietists. Francke was sent back to Hall to the great College which the Queen had newly founded for Orphans, and whereof that Doctor had the Direction. Then there was only Borst her Majesty's Confessor left at Court, and he was advis'd not to give himself so much Trouble about the Queen's Salvation. This Princess was so zealous for her Religion, that she did not believe those who profess'd a contrary one could be saved. I remember that one day as she was talking about Religion to the King, she told him that she was very much grieved to find him a Calvinist, and by that means out of the Road to Salvation. The King who seem'd in an amaze at the Compliment, said to her, What, do you think then that I shall be damn'd? And what will you say then when you speak of me after Death? For you could not say der SEELIGE Konig, (an Expression us'd in the German Tongue, speaking of a Person deceas'd, and which signifies, the King is sav'd.) The Queen was a little puzzled how to reply, but after a few Moments Reflection she said, I will say, der liebe verstorbene Konig, which signifies the Dear King deceas'd. This Answer made the King uneasy, who return'd soon after to his Apartment. I was that day in Waiting, and by consequence in his Majesty's Apartment with some of the Court-Nobility, when the King told us with a deal of Concern upon his Mind of the Conversation he had with the Queen, which affected him the more, because at that time he thought very seriously of the Union of the Protestant Churches.

Mean time the Pestilence, which had discover'd it self in some of our Provinces, frighten'd us very much. The King upon this occasion acted like a true Father of his People, by sending Money and Provisions to those that were afflicted with it, and by causing a Day of solemn Fasting and Prayers to be celebrated in all the Churches of his Dominions to beg of God that he wou'd please to avert this Scourge from our Country. Moreover he caused Lazarets or Pest-Houses to be erected at the Gates of all the Towns where those who came from any suspected Place were to perform Quarantain. As the whole time was now spent in Sermons and Prayers for removing the Pestilence, the detail of which would not be very pleasing, I think it will not be amiss here to tell you how the Service was perform'd before the King and Queen. I will begin by giving you some Account of[11]Berlin, and of his Majesty's[12]Palace.

The City of Berlin[13] wou'd not have been what it is at this day, had it not been for the French Protestants. They had been kindly receiv'd by the Elector Frederic-William: And the King, every whit as generous as his Father, prolong'd and even augmented the Franchises granted to the French, and in order to convince those Exiles that he was dispos'd to be a Father to them, he had a mind that they should be no longer distinguish'd from his natural-born Subjects; but caus'd Churches to be built for them of which he maintain'd the Ministers, gave them a very fine College for the Education of their Children, and also chose a Company of Musketeers out of them in which none but French were admitted.

These Refugees were so sensible of the King's Goodness to them, that they had an Emulation to shew their Gratitude to him by making Trade to flourish. They were equally zealous for the embellishing and aggrandizing of the City, and caus'd a great many Houses to be built there which were both neat and commodious. They added to the City all that Quarter call'd the New Town, which is certainly the most beautiful part of Berlin. Of the Streets which run in a strait Line, the principal is adorn'd with six Rows of Lime-Trees that form as many Walks, the middlemost of which is lin'd with a Balustrade to keep off Coaches and Carriages. These Walks terminate in a Wood, thro' which there's an Avenue of a League, which leads to Charlottenbourg, a Royal Palace.

At the Entrance of the New Town there's the Arsenal[14], a Structure which may pass for one of the finest in Europe: 'Tis a Quadrangle with a large Square in the middle. The four outward Fronts are almost exactly alike. The principal is divided into three Buildings, of which that in the middle projects a little forwards. The Grand Floor consists of Arches charged with Rustics, which support Pilasters of the Ionic Order. The part which projects from the middle is adorn'd with four Columns, and has a large Pediment at the end of it. The grand or principal Gate is in the middle. On the two sides there are four great fine Statues representing the Cardinal Virtues on Pedestals. These seem to look towards the King's Picture, which is represented in a great Medal of Brass gilt in the coping of the Gate. Over this Picture, there's his Majesty's Cypher in the middle of a Cartridge crown'd, supported by Fame and Victory. The Cartridge is fill'd up with an Entablature upon which there's a Latin Inscription in Letters of Gold, to the Honor of the King. Finally, over this Entablature there's a great Pediment in Basso-Relievo perfectly beautiful, representing a Mars which seems to rest upon a Trophy, and to look upon a couple of Slaves chain'd at his Feet. The whole is compleated by a Balustrade which rests upon the Pedestals that support the Trophies. This stately Edifice is encompass'd with Spurs of Iron in the form of Cannon, upon which there's the King's Cypher gilt; and these Spurs serve for a Support to the Iron Chains which are hung in Festoons from one to the other.

The Inside of this Structure is as magnificent as the Outside. Two Rows of Pillars support the lowermost Arch-Roof and form three Walks, of which the middlemost is the narrowest, but the only one that serves for the Passage; those on the sides being full of noble Brass-Guns. The King had a Design to have a Cannon of a hundred Pounder plac'd at each Corner; but there is only one finish'd which is call'd Asia, a terrible Machine fitter to adorn an Arsenal than for any other use. The Ascent to it is by a Step, because they were oblig'd to build the Carriage in proportion to the piece that it bears. This Cannon is adorn'd all over with Eagles and Crowns; and the King's-Arms are represented on it under a Royal Pavilion, as are also those of the Margrave Philip the King's Brother, as Grand Master of the Artillery. This is all that is remarkable on the side of the New Town.

The King's Palace is also very magnificent; and the whole is so majestic, that it appears at the first sight to be the Residence of some great Monarch. Yet there's one fault in it, which is, that Uniformity has not been nicely observ'd in it, because it has been carry'd on by Fits and Girds, and every Architect has followed his particular Plan.

This Palace consists of four large Buildings, which forms in the middle a Court that is not so broad as 'tis long. The first Thing in the main Front is a great high Portico with two Gates Arch-wise on the two sides. The Proportions of the Columns and the Height of the Portico were copy'd from Constantine's Triumphal Arch at Rome. On the two sides of the Portico there are twelve great Transom Windows encompass'd with Ornaments. The Fronts that are on the side of the Court are much more magnificent than the outer ones, but then they are more irregular. The Inside of the Palace is not executed much better. Two Grand Stair-Cases lead to the Guard-Room, the one on the Right and the other on the Left of the Entry. The Stair-Case on the Left-hand is of a particular Contrivance, being in form of a Glacis without any Step, so that a Coach may go up to it. The Guard-Room is long but narrow, and has no Light but what comes from the Windows on the Cupola over the Stair-Case. The Entry is in the middle. There is a Turning on the Left to enter into the King's Apartment, which shews at first sight three Chambers in a Row. The third of these Rooms separates the least Apartment from the greatest, of which the former is on the Right and the latter on the Left. I will only speak to you of the last, which is the most magnificent. In turning therefore to the Left one perceives a long Suite of Apartments, which form a magnificent Point of View. The Furniture is surprizingly rich; nor is any thing to be seen, look which way you will, but Gold, Silver, Marble, Brass, Painting, Glass, China, &c. in a word, every thing that can be wish'd for, that is rich and elegant. At the end of this Suite of Apartments there is a long Gallery, the Cieling of which, like that of Versailles, represents the principal Actions of the King, and the sides are adorn'd with Pictures done by the most famous Hands, the Frames of which are of Brass gilt.

At the end of this Gallery there was formerly a great Amber-Cabinet, with divers Compartiments in Basso-Relievo, which perhaps had not its Fellow in the World; but the King being desirous to make the Czar a Present worthy of his Acceptance, gave him this Cabinet and a Yatcht that cost eighty thousand Crowns.

Were I to enter into the detail of the Beauties and Magnificence one meets with at every step in this Palace, I should never have done; I believe it may be sufficient to say that the King, as far as possible, imitated the Inside of the Palace of Versailles. This great Prince took Lewis XIV. for a Model, and after his Example was intent on building magnificent Structures and establishing different Manufactures, whereby the Poor might earn their Living, and get for a reasonable Price those Commodities which heretofore they used to import from Foreign Countries, at a very great Expence. Thus, Madame, have I given you an account of almost all the greatest Remarkables at Berlin. I shall now let you know after what manner their Majesties are every day attended.[15]

I begin with the King's Levee. His Majesty commonly rose between five and six o'clock in the Morning, (I mean at the time that I have the Honour to speak to you of;) tho' formerly he rose at three or four o'clock. As soon as the King awak'd, the Page of the Back-Stairs who had watch'd with him went and gave notice of it to the Valets de Chambre and the Yeomen of the Wardrobe, who presently came in, undrew the Bed-Curtains, and open'd the Window-Shutters, after which they went out and declar'd that the King was stirring. Then the Chamberlain in waiting, the Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber, and the Officers upon Guard came in and made a very low Bow. The next that enter'd were the Physicians, to whom his Majesty gave an account how he had rested. Then the Pages of the Back-Stairs brought a great Silver Table with Coffee upon it, which was presented to the King by the first Valet de Chambre in waiting upon a Gold Salver, and the Page presented it about to all the Persons of Quality that were at the Levee. Every body was oblig'd to drink two Cups, or else they run the risk of being reprimanded. After drinking of the Coffee the Table was carry'd away, and the King convers'd half an hour or more with those that were present: Then he veil'd his Bonnet and all the Company retir'd. The Valets de Chambre and the Grooms of the Wardrobe stay'd to dress the King, which when they had done, his Majesty retir'd into his Closet, where was a Desk for Prayer, and there he commonly stay'd an Hour, while they made his Bed. After this he return'd into his Chamber, and then the Prime Minister came in to give him an account of his Dispatches, which lasted till ten o'clock or thereabouts. After this the King went to Council, where he stay'd a little above an Hour. This Council consisted of the Prince Royal, the Margrave Philip Brother to the King, and the Ministers. When the Council broke up the King went into his Closet, and there gave out his Orders. Then two Kettle-Drummers plac'd in opposite Balconies that look'd into the lesser Court, gave notice by the Sound of their Kettle-Drums to the Officers of the Kitchen and Buttery to get everything ready for the King's Service. As soon as the Cloth was laid, the Kettle-Drums were sounded a second time. During this, the King accompany'd by the Prince Royal and the Margraves his Brothers, pass'd thro' the Guard-Room into the Queen's Apartment, where were all the Princesses. A few moments after, the Kettle-Drums and twenty-four Trumpets divided into two Bodies, gave notice for serving up Dinner. At the same time, two of the Life-Guards and six of the Guard of Hundred Swissers took possession of the Room where the King was to eat. The two Life-Guard Men posted themselves behind the Arm-Chair of the King and Queen, and the six Swissers encompass'd the Table three on each side with their Halberds in their hands. When Dinner was serv'd up, the Great Chamberlain with his Staff in hand went and acquainted the King of it, who immediately enter'd the Hall, follow'd by the Queen, who was led by the Prince Royal; as were the Princess Royal and the Margravines by the Margraves. At their entrance into the Hall, the King gave his Hat and Cane, and the Queen her Gloves and Fan, to the Chamberlains in waiting. Then two Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber held out a great Silver gilt Bason for them to wash in, and when they had wash'd, the two Chamberlains gave them the Napkins. The two Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber always offer'd the Bason in like manner to the Princes and Princesses to wash in, but they wou'd not accept it.

When their Majesties had wash'd, the Grand Marshal who stood about the middle of the Table opposite to the King gave a Rap with his Staff; at the same time making a profound Obeisance; then a Page that stood by him did the like, and after saying a short Grace their Majesties seated themselves in their Arm-Chairs, and their Royal Highnesses in other Chairs, with only Backs. Then the Carver approaching the Table tasted the Provision, and therewith serv'd their Majesties, and the Princes according to their Rank. When their Majesties call'd for Liquor the Chamberlain gave the hint to a Page, and he did the same to a Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber upon Duty, who then went to the Side-board and fetch'd Wine and Water in two Bottles upon a Salver of Gold. The Chamberlain tasted both, and then presented both to their Majesties. The King always drank the Queen's Health, and the Queen in like manner drank the King's. This done, their Majesties dismiss'd the Court by making a Salute to the Grand Marshal. Then the Court retir'd, and none stay'd but the Waiters. Before their Majesties rose from Table the Prime Minister as well as the Master of the Horse approach'd, with the Grand Master of the Wardrobe and the Captain of the Guards, to receive the King's Orders, in case his Majesty was willing to ride out. When the Dessart was ready to be serv'd, notice was brought to the Grand Marshal or to him that bore the Staff in his absence, who then return'd to the King's Table. When his Majesty rose from Table the Chamberlain brought him Water to wash his Mouth, and the Queen's Chamberlain and their Royal Highnesses Gentlemen attended the Queen and Princesses with the same. After this the King led the Queen into her own Apartment, where he stay'd a little time, then return'd to his own, and rested himself for an hour in his Closet.

When the King was awaked, the Chamberlain and the Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber enter'd his Majesty's Closet, where sometimes the Queen paid him a Visit, and at other times the Prime Minister came and talk'd with him about Business. In the Summer-time the King went abroad for the Air, or the Pleasure of Fishing or Hunting, especially the Heron, in which he took great delight. About six o'clock in the Evening his Majesty went to the Queen's Apartment, and stay'd there about an Hour, after which he return'd to his own, to that call'd la Tabagie or the Tobacco-Room, because there he smoak'd his Pipe, and several of the Nobility had the Honour of smoaking there with him. The King never supp'd unless it was in extraordinary cases, but amus'd himself with a Game at Chess. When he had done playing he conversed very familiarly with the Chamberlain, the Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber, and some privileg'd Courtiers; and when he had a mind to put an end to the Conversation, he gave his Orders to the Grand Master of the Wardrobe what Clothes to equip him with next day, and then every body retir'd, and the Valets de Chambre and the Grooms of the Wardrobe went and put his Majesty to bed. This, Madame, was the manner how the Service was perform'd at our Court. Never was there any Interruption in the Hours prescrib'd for his Majesty's Exercises, unless he labor'd under some Ailment. I thought that this Detail, tho' perhaps a little tedious, wou'd not be quite so unpleasant as the Recital of all the Litanies and other Prayers, in which the Queen was constant for the remainder of the Year.

In the beginning of the Year following, that is to say the 19th of January 1710, the Count de Lottum presented the King with eleven Pieces of Cannon, and several Colors and Standards that fell to his Majesty's share in the distribution that was made of those that were taken from the French, during the Campaign.

At the same time we lost the Duke of Courland for ever. This young Prince was the King's Nephew by his Mother, who was his Majesty's Sister by the same Father, but not by the same Mother. He was but an Infant when he lost his Father the Duke of Courland, whose death was to him the greatest of all Misfortunes, because of the Misunderstanding which the Guardianship of this young Prince created between those who aspir'd to it. The Duchess his Mother asserted that she was the rightful Guardian of the Prince, her Son. His Uncle also pretended 'twas his Right. In short, the Nobility of Courland disputed it with them both. During these Domestic Troubles, the several Parties, not watchful of their Neighbours Motions, quickly found they had powerful Enemies to cope with. The Saxons being the nearest, were the most forward to take possession of their Country. The Muscovites were soon at their heels, and in concert with the Saxons rush'd upon what they thought most convenient. But they were both soon oblig'd to abandon that Duchy to the King of Sweden, who came at the head of his Troops, and without much difficulty sent them going. But after all, Fortune being weary of seconding the Arms of the Swedish Monarch, he was oblig'd not long after his Entrance into Courland, to yield the said Duchy to the Muscovites, who remain'd the sole Possessors of it.

All these Troubles had oblig'd the Duchess, with the Prince her Son, to retire. She came to Berlin where she was present at the King's Coronation, and afterwards, as I have already had the Honor to tell you, she marry'd the Margrave of Brandenburg Bareith. This Princess followed the Margrave her Husband into his Dominions, and took the Duke of Courland her Son along with her. There did this young Prince stay with the Margrave his Father-in-law, till after the King of Sweden's Defeat at Pultowa by the Muscovite Army. When the latter were become Masters of Courland, the Duke flatter'd himself that he should be able to prevail on the Czar to restore him to his Dominions: nor was he deceiv'd in his Expectation; for the Czar was very ready to consent to it, on condition nevertheless that he should marry his Niece, the Daughter of the late Czar, his Brother. The Match was truly illustrious, for the Princess was both the Daughter and Niece of a potent Monarch; but her Education had been very different from that of the young Prince, and there was all the Reason in the World to think, that they would not like one another long. The Duke for his part could have wish'd to be restor'd to his Duchy upon other Terms; but at length, thinking he could not do better than to accept of those, and to put himself again at the head of his Subjects, who had for several Years wish'd for his Presence; he set out for the Czar's Court, and there married the Princess. This Marriage, which was concluded with some Reluctance on the part of the young Duke, seem'd to portend him none but unhappy Days; and in short, he was scarce married, but he fell dangerously sick, and in a few days after died, which Illness they said was owing to his having been forc'd to drink to excess on his Wedding-Day. This occasion'd a general Desolation throughout the Duchy of Courland, the poor People having entertain'd some Hopes that the Presence of their lawful Sovereign would make them forget the Evils they had suffer'd by several years continual Wars.

Towards the Conclusion of this Year, the famous Count de Wartemberg, Prime Minister and Great Chamberlain was disgrac'd; which, tho' it had been long wish'd for, was surprizing to all Mankind, who thought the Credit of that Minister too well establish'd, the chief Places of the Kingdom being in the hands of his Creatures, from whose Gratitude there was nothing that he might not promise himself; besides, they did not think any Person would be so daring, as to cast the first Stone; the then recent Instance of the Count de Wesen being a sufficient Warning to deter any Persons from entring into so dangerous a Combination. Nevertheless there were two Persons at Court who were not terrify'd by the Peril, to which an Enterprize of this nature expos'd them. The Name of both these Courtiers was Kamcke, and being Cousins into the bargain, they were only distinguish'd by the Appellations of Great and Little.

The Great Kamcke had been successively Page to the King, Page of the Bed-chamber, afterwards a declar'd Favorite, and at last Great Master of the Wardrobe, which Post he held at the time of the Prime Minister's Disgrace. The Favor with which the King honor'd him, was what made him esteem'd more than any thing else; for setting that aside, he was not remarkable for either the Virtues or the Vices which contribute almost in the same measure to the forming of Great Men. He was reckoned a Man of fine Parts, because he was fortunate enough to gain, and to preserve the King's Favor; and he had the Reputation of being good-natur'd, because having a place in which he might have done a great deal of Mischief, he did none at all. 'Tis true too on the other hand, that he did no body any Service; the Lethargy of his Temperament not permitting him to put himself upon those Motions, which are equally necessary to serve a Friend, and to ruin an Enemy.

The Little Kamcke, his Cousin, was of a Temper quite different. He was not only a Person of a piercing sparkling Wit, but had all the Politeness of the most elegant Courtier. Being ambitious and vain, but always with Temper; he was cut out for those delicate Undertakings to which the Success alone gives a Sanction; and what is seldom to be found in so young a Man, he had all the Management and Dissimulation necessary for Execution. The Count de Wartemberg had always hated him; for he suspected him to have had a hand in those Ballads which M——, afterwards the King of Poland's Minister, had made upon the whole Court, and in which the Count and Countess were very ill treated; but Little Kamcke, who never despair'd of his Success, still continued to make his court to the King, without seeming to take the least Notice of the Minister's Ill-will. His assiduous Attendance was at length rewarded; the King begun by granting him the Honor of playing with him every Night at Chess; which was a Favor this young Courtier so artfully improv'd, that in a little time after, his Majesty made him a Minister of State. The Count de Wartemberg was mortify'd in two Respects by the Advancement of Little Kamcke; for he did not expect such a Favor to be convey'd by any Canal but himself; and besides it was granted to a crafty Enemy, whose rising Credit might well give him Umbrage. Kamcke for his own part believing that he was only obliged to his own Merit for his Preferment, had even less regard for the Prime Minister than before. They star'd upon one another at first, without venturing to make an Attack; but by degrees they came to high Words; and at length Kamcke being puff'd up with his Favor; and being moreover supported by all good Men, he vow'd the Destruction of the Prime Minister, and his Creature, the Grand Marshal. He was so cunning as to engage his Cousin Kamcke in the Scheme, because the latter being Great Master of the Wardrobe, cou'd give the Prime Minister the fatal Blow with more Ease than any other Person; and he succeeded happily; for he aggravated to his Majesty the Complaints of the People, and the Murmurings of the whole Court. The Queen too being prejudic'd by the Kamcke spoke sharply against the King, who at last consented to the removal of a Minister, whom till then he had thought he could not be without.

This great Scene was open'd by the Disgrace of the Count de Witgenstein, the Grand Marshal of the Court, and the Prime Minister's Creature, who was arrested in his House on the 27th of December at 10 o'clock at Night, by a Lieutenant of the Guards and ten Grenadiers. Next day, about 9 in the Forenoon, M. de Gersdorf, Colonel of the Regiment of Guards, accompanied by Stoffius, Treasurer of the Order of the Black Eagle, came from the King to demand his Ribban. He presently restor'd it, assuring them that he was wrongfully maltreated; but that nevertheless he did not complain of the King, and that they were only his Enemies who had impos'd upon his Majesty's Goodness to ruin him. Not long after an Officer of the Guards came in and told him, that he had Orders to carry him to Spandau. He made answer, that he was ready to go wherever the King commanded him; only he desir'd Leave to write to his Mother-in-law, who was the Queen's Lady of Honor. The Officer told him, that he was forbid to let him speak or write to any Person whatsoever; and then he took him with him into a Coach that was attended by 12 Life-Guard Men.

The Noise of his Confinement being presently spread throughout the Town, a Multitude of People gather'd in a trice before his House, every one crying out against the Grand Marshal, calling him the People's Blood-sucker, and the Author of all their Taxes. When they saw him put into a Coach to be carried to Spandau[16], their Shouts, were doubled; but the Grand Marshal, without being shock'd, let down the Glasses of his Coach, and told the furious Rabble, that he had been a faithful Servant to his King, and that he had never done any thing in his Administration that could be laid to his Charge; but the Clamours of the People hinder'd him from being heard, and he went out of Town, laden with Curses.

The Hatred that was manifested against him, came from a Source which always touches the People in the most sensible part; he was suspected to have had a hand in the Creation of several Taxes; and to have been the Projector of the Insurance-Office from Fire. The Establishment of this Office was very well design'd; for it undertook to indemnify private Persons for the Loss they might have sustain'd by Fire; and for this purpose, every one was tax'd in a certain Sum of Money, that there might always be a Fund sufficient to answer the Losses by Fires. Frauds were soon committed in the Management of the Moneys that seem'd to be appropriated for a very good Use; and by degrees that Establishment, which was erected for the Relief of the People in their extreme Necessities, serv'd only to oppress them.