MEMOIRS OF THE Baron de Pollnitz. Vol. III.

To Madame de ——

The Family I am descended from was originally of Thuringia. My Grandfather, after having turn'd Protestant, came and settled in the Electorate of Brandenburg, where he was kindly receiv'd, and advanc'd to the chief Employments by the Elector Frederic-William, who made him Master of the Horse, Minister of State, Chamberlain, Major-General, Colonel of his Guards, and Commandant at Berlin. His Brother who came along with him had also a share of his Favor; for he was made Colonel of a Regiment of Horse, Lieutenant-General, and Governor of Lipstadt. They both married, but the only one that left Male Issue was my Grandfather, who by Eleonora of Nassau, Daughter to Prince Maurice of Orange, had two Sons, and two Daughters. This however prov'd a very unsuitable Match; for my Grandmother was imperious, frugal, and jealous, whereas her Husband was extravagant, and an Admirer of the Fair Sex: which Tempers so opposite to each other created a Misunderstanding between them, that amounted almost to a staunch Hatred. Yet my Grandfather, some time before he died, settled all his Estate upon her, repented of the Vexation he had given her, and he thought this Generosity of his would have made her easy, but it only render'd her the more impatient to be a Widow, insomuch that she had not the Complaisance to conceal it from him; and the very last Words he liv'd to hear her pronounce, were neither comforting nor Christian.

Soon after the Death of my Grandfather my Uncle died, who was my Father's own Brother. The only Issue he left was a Daughter, who was chief Maid of Honour to the Queen Sophia Charlotte, whose Bounties to her render'd her a Person of no small Note in Germany.

My Father married the Daughter of Baron D—— by whom he had my Brother in 1690. I was born thirteen Months after him, viz. the 25th of February 1692, at Issouin, a Village in the Electorate of Cologn, where my Father then lay with his Regiment in Winter-Quarters. The Electoress was my God-mother, and I was christen'd Charles-Lewis. Before I was full two years of Age I had the misfortune to lose my Father, who died at Maestricht, and left my Mother a Widow with three Children, and a very little Estate to maintain us. My Grandmother, who, as I had said before, had all my Grandfather's Estate, was so extremely penurious, that she had not the heart to part with any of it to my Mother, whose Situation would have been very melancholy had it not been for the Generosity of the King (at that time only Elector). This Prince sent for her back to Berlin, and gave her a Pension; and in a little time after, my Relations help'd her to another Husband, viz. M. de M—— Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who tho' he died at the end of ten Months left her so warm a Widow, that me might very well pass for one of the best Fortunes at Court; and then she threw up her Pension, rather than keep it to the prejudice of other Persons that stood more in need of it, which she thought was an Abuse of the Elector's Bounty.

My Mother's Fondness for me would not suffer her to part with me, so that I was brought up under her Wing, and at a Court which was at that time the most splendid in Germany.

Frederic-William, when he died, left five Princes, viz. the Elector, whom he had by Louisa-Henrietta of Nassau Princess of Orange; and the Margraves Charles, Philip, Albert, and Christian, by Dorothy Princess of Holstein, Dowager of the Duke of Zell. These Princes, at an Age more proper for Pleasure than Business, studied how to be most agreeable. Being frank and generous they adorn'd the Court, even more by their personal Qualities than by their Magnificence; and the Elector himself contributed to the splendor of it, by giving frequent Feasts, tho' he was reproach'd with being too much addicted to them, too scrupulous in the Ceremonies he requir'd to be observ'd at them, and more expensive in them than elegant. Nevertheless, this is what strikes Foreigners more than any thing; and 'tis Entertainments of this kind that give a Court its fullest Lustre. The true Ornament of ours was the Electoress, Daughter of Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover, and Sister to George I. King of England. Our Elector, after burying his first Wife the Princess of Hesse, marry'd his second on the 28th of September 1684, when he was only the Electoral Prince. The latter Princess, from what Lineage soever Heaven had sent her, had Qualities that would have procur'd her respect: Her Beauty was regular, and tho' she was but little in stature, her Air was majestic. She spoke all the Languages of Europe that are in present use, with ease, and was so good as to converse with all Foreigners in their own Tongue. She understood History, Natural Philosophy, and Divinity; but with Knowledge so extensive, she was extremely careful to avoid the reputation of being Learned. As fond as she was of Reading, she was not an enemy to Pleasures. She lov'd Music, Dancing, and Plays; and by her command, Comedies were often represented, in which sometimes she did not disdain to be an Actress. Her regard for all who excell'd in any Art drew them to her Court, in which Politeness bore sway, as much as in any other Court of Europe. Of all things in the world she had nothing near so much at heart as the Education of her Son the Electoral Prince, whom she lov'd tenderly, and omitted nothing to inspire him with all the Ideas that might hereafter render him as exalted in Sentiments as he was to be in Power: And the young Prince on his part seem'd to make a suitable return for the Princess's care of him.

While the Court was thus addicted to Pleasures and Feastings, they gave themselves little or no trouble about the Affairs of Government; so that Dankelman the Prime Minister bore the weight of all. He had then the Elector's intire Confidence, and so absolute an ascendant over his mind, that he was suppos'd to be perfectly secure against the disgraces to which Favorites are commonly expos'd. The Favor he stood in, was owing to the most important Service that 'tis possible for a Subject to render to his Sovereign: For one day when this Prince (as yet only the Prince Electoral) was drinking Coffee with his Mother-in-law the Electoress, he was taken so ill on a sudden that he was oblig'd to retire to his Apartment, where he was seiz'd with Convulsions which threaten'd his Life. It happen'd that Dankelman then the Secretary of his Dispatches was the only Person at hand, to relieve him: He open'd a Box in which there were certain Antidotes, and having given him several Doses, for want of a Surgeon and a Lancet he open'd a Vein with a Penknife; and his management was attended with such good success, that the Prince, after having had a hearty Vomit, found himself quite out of danger.

An Event of this nature could not but make a great Noise: The Vulgar especially, who are fond of nothing so much as what is extraordinary, thought that the Prince's Indisposition did not proceed from a natural Cause, but imagin'd that the Electoress's tenderness for the Margraves her Sons was reason good enough to suspect that she wanted to get rid of the Prince her Son-in-law, which was to be sure the shortest way to let them into the Succession. The Electoral Prince's retreat to the Court of the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel seemed to give a Sanction also to a Suspicion of that sort. But be this as it will, the Prince stay'd there several years, during which he married the Landgrave's Sister, by whom he had only one Daughter, who marry'd in 1700, to the Hereditary Prince of Hesse, now King of Sweden.

Dankelman was artful enough to make his advantage of this happy Incident of having sav'd his Master's Life: He stuck closer to him than ever; and that grateful Prince, as soon he came to the Electoral Dignity, made him his prime Minister, and confer'd all the marks of Friendship on him, that 'tis possible for any Subject to aspire to; insomuch that Dankelman giving the Elector to understand one day, that he fear'd his Favour would be of no long duration, this Prince was so good-natur'd, or so weak, as to fortify him as far as was in the power of the most solemn Oaths[1]. Dankelman was so credulous as to trust to those Protestations; and forgetting that the most solid Friendship of Princes cannot be proof against their Inconstancy or Caprice, he thought himself above the reach of Fate, and behav'd like a Man that had nothing to fear. But the little care he took to gain People's Love, and the ever-odious Titles of Minister and Favourite, made him soon hated by the whole Court. The Elector himself began by degrees to be out of conceit with him; for their Tempers were incompatible; the Minister being Covetous, and the Prince a Man of Pomp and Expence; and he was so perpetually teaz'd with the Remonstrances of Dankelman, that he hated him in his heart long before he durst make it appear. The Minister too much elated with his Favour, and not so careful to please his Master as to censure his Actions, thought himself able to preserve the same ascendant over him, or at least, did not think the Elector would ever offer to ruin him; which Confidence of his hinder'd him from parrying the Thrusts that were made at him in secret; so that he was arrested at midnight in his own House, and carry'd to Spandaw in one of the Elector's Coaches, under a Guard of twenty Men.

His being so suddenly disgrac'd was matter of surprize to every body, but of concern to few. 'Twas observ'd that on the very day wherein Dankelman was arrested, the Elector spoke to him so kindly in presence of the whole Court, that those of the nicest penetration little thought his Fall to be so near. Indeed, every body had long before endeavour'd, or wish'd for an opportunity to trip up his heels; and the natural Inconstancy of the Elector to his Favorites, and this Minister's want of complaisance to the Elector, made it very probable that he would quickly be tumbled from that Summit of Favor, on which he thought himself so sure of keeping his Hold; there wanted only a more specious pretext to remove a Man from Court, who had all along seem'd to aim at nothing but the welfare of the Government; and such a one naturally presented itself in the affair of the Duchy of Limbourg.

This Duchy had been mortgag'd by Spain, as Security for considerable Sums which were owing by that Crown to the Elector, who in consequence put his Troops to quarter there for the Winter. The Dutch, to whom Spain was a Debtor in like manner, would gladly also have had that Duchy made over to them, as Security for their Debt; which not being to be done without the evacuation of our Troops, the matter was propos'd to Dankelman, who, whether he was surpriz'd, or brib'd, gave his consent to it. This was imputed to him as a Crime of State the more heinous, because Spain being at that time ready to conclude a Peace with France, in pursuance of the Treaty of Ryswic, was very indifferent as to complying with the Demands of the Elector. To this the Minister fell a Sacrifice, but by good luck for him he had remitted several Sums to Foreign Countries, so that his disgrace was the lighter; which moreover had this singularity in it, that neither of his three Brothers nor any of his Creatures had a share in it, but were all continued in their Employments; and all the alteration that happen'd, was, that the Count de Barfous, then a Veldt-Marshal, performed for some time the Functions of the Prime Minister.

In the mean time another Idol of Fortune rose upon the ruin of Dankelman. This was John Casimir de Kolbe, a Gentleman originally of the Palatinate: His first appearance at Court was in the time of Frederic-William the Great, in the retinue of the Princess-Palatine de Simmeren, Sister of the first Electoress, who having desir'd the Elector to give Kolbe some Employment; he made him a Privy-Counsellor, but gave him liberty to attend the Princess as much as ever, who was so good to him that she was reproach'd with caring for no body else. He went with her into the Palatinate, where that Princess died soon after, and then Kolbe return'd to Court, where he was a meer Stranger, without Relations, Acquaintance or Protection; and 'twas a long time before any the least notice was taken of him. But after the death of Frederic-William, he made his Court to Frederic his Son who succeeded him, and to Dankelman his Minister. Being always humble, and a Flatterer into the bargain, he quickly gain'd their Friendship by his Assiduity, and by his study'd Affectation not to meddle or make in any Affairs. Dankelman, as crafty a Man as he was, did not perceive the Snare, but contributed most of all to his Favor, thinking all the while that he was promoting a Creature from whom he had nothing to fear. But Kolbe no sooner perceiv'd the Elector's Coldness to his Minister than he resolv'd to make his Advantage of it. He did not alter his Measures immediately, but seeming to have as little Concern in Affairs as ever, his only Aim was to feed and propagate the ill Humors which the Elector was often in with his Favorite. This Prince was inconstant, suspicious and choleric; and when those three Passions were stirr'd up and managed, he was to be persuaded to any thing. Kolbe who for a long time had made his Temper his only Study, plainly perceiv'd his Foible, artfully wrought upon it, and in the sequel made it subservient to the Accomplishment of his Designs. He soon attain'd to the highest Degree of Favor; the Elector made him his Great Chamberlain and First Minister; all the Court was oblig'd to truckle to him; and as it always happens in the Changes of Government, the Minister in Disgrace was regretted. Indeed Kolbe did not want for personal Qualities enough to make him belov'd; but the worst on't was, they were eclips'd by an astonishing Fondness for his Wife, to whom he was so blindly complaisant, that all the good People at Court despis'd and hated him.

This Lady has play'd so extraordinary a Part in the World, that I can't avoid giving you some Account of her Origin and Character. Her Father, one Rickers, was a Bargeman at Emmerick, a Town in the Duchy of Cleves, where for better Subsistance he kept a sort of Tavern. He had two Daughters, who pass'd for fine Women, that brought a good deal of Company to his House, and in a Journey which the Elector made to Cleves, Bidekan his Valet de Chambre fell in love with the eldest, the Lady I am speaking of, marry'd her and took her with him to Berlin, where she fell so passionately in love with Kolbe, that after having been his Mistress in her Husband's Life-time, he was hardly cold in his Grave but she became his Wife. The Wedding was kept at the House of one Commesser, another of the Elector's Valets de Chambre, where that Prince was present, with seven or eight Persons in his Company; and from that very Juncture he began to shew such great Marks of Complaisance to the Lady, that several People thought she ow'd them to something more than to the Friendship he had for his Favorite. Nevertheless I am very well persuaded they were mistaken; and I remember, that when I was Gentleman of the Bed-chamber to the Elector, he said to me in one of his ill Humors with his Favorite and his Wife (and in these sort of Pets he was not capable of dissembling) I know the Notion that prevails of my being under certain Tyes to Kolbe's Lady, but there is nothing in it; and the Wrong is greater to me than to her. For really was it not enough for a Woman of such mean Extraction, Parts and Beauty too, to be the Wife of a Minister, but she must also be ambitious to be the Mistress of a Sovereign? Yet it must be confess'd, that whether it was meer Humor, or a weak Attachment to the Favorite, the Elector heap'd Wealth and Honors upon this Lady, insomuch that nothing would serve him but she must be admitted to the Electoress's Circle, who at that time indeed obstinately refus'd it; for who is there would not have been disgusted to have seen the Daughter of Rickers the Bargeman mixing with Ladies of Quality that had a Right to be in the Circle? However, some time after, the Electoress was oblig'd to wave all the Pleas of Decorum, for the sake of the Need she stood in of the Great Chamberlain; and his Wife had the Honor of the Circle.

The same Year that Kolbe was declared Prime Minister, the Emperor made him a Count of the Empire. He then chang'd his Name for that of Count de Wartemberg, which was the Name of a ruinous Castle that he had in the Palatinate. His Lady, when she became a Countess, had a mind that her Children by her first Marriage should be promoted to the Dignity of Barons; and they were accordingly call'd Barons of Asbach. But these new Titles of the Count and Barons compleatly turn'd the Head of Madame de Wartemberg, and she was every day guilty of Extravagancies which were disgusting and ridiculous.

Such, Madame, was the State of our Court in my early years. It began to shew its Superiority over almost all the Courts of Germany, by the Influence it had upon the Affairs of Europe: But that which added new Lustre to it, was the erecting the Duchy of Prussia into a Kingdom. The first Hint of this was given by France to Frederic-William; but that Elector, whether it was owing to some Obstacles that he foresaw, or to the little Advantage he thought to reap from it, was not willing to put the Project in execution. His Son too perhaps would have miscarried in it, had it not been for the Situation of Affairs in Europe, on account of the Spanish Succession. Kolbe, whom I shall hereafter call the Count of Wartemberg, had all the Honour of this Event, because it happen'd in his Ministry. I had some Particulars, Madame, from his own Mouth, which I think important enough to have a place in these Memoirs. The Affair is moreover so weighty of it self that I shall trace it from its very beginning.

Great Events commonly have their Source in Trifles. This was owing to nothing more than the Refusal of the Prince of Orange, who was King of England, to give an Arm-Chair to the Elector in a Conference betwixt those two Princes at the Hague in 1695. The Elector cou'd not bear that the Prince of Orange, who had always been his Inferior, shou'd carry it to him in such a lofty manner, after Fortune had rais'd him to the Throne of England; and from that time he resolved to be a King too.

Dankelman the then Prime Minister, who cou'd not foresee the Situation that Europe was in some Years after, would fain have diverted the Elector from a Project which he thought a perfect Chimæra; he put him in mind of the Difficulties Frederic-William met with in it, and of the Reasons he had to refuse the Offers which France made to him on that head; he shew'd him that the same Reasons were still subsisting, and reinforc'd by yet greater Difficulties; and that it was Madness to attempt a Thing, the Success whereof was neither certain nor advantageous, his Rank being so near a-kin to Royalty, that he would be never the better for the Title. But the Elector had the refusal of the Arm-chair too much at heart to hearken to any Reasons that could be brought against his Design, and sent Dankelman, his Minister's Brother, to Vienna, to impart to the Emperor the Scheme which he had form'd to erect Prussia into a Kingdom.

Prussia, which is a Province detach'd from Poland, formerly belong'd to the Lithuanians, from whom it was conquer'd by the Teutonic Order. Albert Margrave of Brandenburg, the Grand Master of the said Order, who had marry'd Dorothy, Daughter of Frederic I. King of Denmark, took it from those Knights in 1511, and made himself Master of it. This engag'd him in a War with Sigismond I. King of Poland, his Uncle by the Mother's side, who had Pretensions upon the said Province; which War continu'd five Years, till it was concluded by a Treaty, whereby it was stipulated, That the Eastern Prussia shou'd remain hereditary with the Title of a Duchy to Albert, who, together with his Descendants shou'd perform Allegiance and Homage for it to the King and Republic of Poland, to which it was to revert on the failure of Issue Male in the Family of Albert.

The Emperor Charles V. oppos'd this Transaction, by pretending that Prussia was a Fief of the Empire; and that therefore Sigismond had no Right to dispose of it. The Imperial Decree which was pass'd upon this Occasion, had however no Effect, by reason of the Wars which the Emperor was at that time engag'd in, and Albert remain'd in peaceable Possession of Prussia. He was succeeded by his only Son Albert-Frederic, who receiv'd the Investiture of it from the King of Poland, for himself and his Cousin-Germans in 1569. This Prince dying without Issue, John Sigismond Elector of Brandenburg succeeded him, and again receiv'd the Investiture of it from the King of Poland, for himself and his three Brothers. Since that time the Duchy of Prussia has always been in the Brandenburg Family from Father to Son; but the Elector Frederic-William the Great, having made War upon Charles-Gustavus King of Sweden, in favour of the Crown and Republic of Poland, the Sovereignty of Prussia was, in Acknowledgment thereof, yielded to him, for himself and all his Male Descendants, by the Treaty of Bydgost in 1659.

By virtue of this Treaty, the Elector claim'd that Prussia depended on no other Power; and that he held it immediately by Divine Right; and upon this Plea he thought himself authoriz'd to be declar'd King. But before he took this Step, it was necessary to secure the Consent of a Part, at least, of the Princes of the Empire. As the Emperor's Consent was not only the most important, but the most difficult to obtain, the whole stress of the Negociation lay almost at the Court of Vienna.

When Dankelman arriv'd there, he did not find the Court in a Temper to grant it. The august Title of a King conferr'd upon an Elector, was at first thought to be prejudicial to the Imperial Authority, and it was look'd upon as exposing of that Dignity, to acquiesce in the Elector's Demand before they had at least felt the Pulses of the Generality of the Princes of Europe, and especially those of the Empire. 'Twas but reasonable to imagine the Pope would oppose it strenuously upon the score of the Protestant Religion, which by the Elector's Advancement might gather fresh Strength. All Kings in general were interested not to suffer an Instance which had a seeming Tendency to authorize every Prince to take the same Step, on the single Pretence of being possess'd of a Bit of Land, and holding it of no Power but God. But the Persons from whom the greatest Objections were expected, were the Electors; and indeed they had reason to fear, 1. That when the Elector of Brandenburg came to be a King, he wou'd no longer look upon them as his Equals, but wou'd claim certain Distinctions from them in the Empire and in the Dyets. 2. That he would withdraw the Dominions of his Electorate from the Obedience of the Empire, and from the Laws to which all the other Electors were subject. This Article was of the utmost consequence to them, especially with regard to the Contingent they are oblig'd to furnish towards Wars which concern the Empire, and which are the more burthensome, the fewer Heads they fall upon.

These being then the Notions of the Court of Vienna, Dankelman had no great Hopes of succeeding in his Negociation. Nevertheless the Court always took care to keep fair with the Elector, whom they look'd upon as an Ally that was well worth preserving; and perhaps they flatter'd themselves they should get more by Promises and Expectations than by granting him his Demand.

The Death of John Sobieski King of Poland, which happen'd on the 17th of June 1696, was another Inducement to the Emperor to pursue the same Politics. The Elector of Brandenburg by having Prussia in his Neighbourhood, might be of great Weight in the Election of a new King of Poland; and the Emperor who had a Design to advance the Margrave Lewis of Baden to the Throne, pretended to enter into the Views of the Elector, that this Prince might afterwards fall in with his at the Dyet of Election. For this end the Emperor's Ministers gave Dankelman to understand, that the first thing to be done was to clear the Difficulties which the several Powers of Europe might raise against the Elector's Project; and that the Congress of Ryswic, at which all the Ministers were to be present, was the most favourable Opportunity.

Hereupon Dankelman was recall'd from the Court of Vienna, and sent to Ryswic as Plenipotentiary from the Elector, jointly with M. de Schmettau. The Elector for his part set out for Konigsberg, the Capital of Prussia, that he might be nearer at hand to favor the Election of the Margrave Lewis of Baden. Mean time he was strenuously sollicited in favor of Alexander and Constantine Princes of Poland, who for that reason came themselves to Berlin; but the Elector was far from breaking the secret Engagements which he had made with the Emperor: Therefore he answer'd the Solicitations of those two Princes in a very ambiguous manner, by engaging himself to nothing, and only telling them that he was going into Prussia that he might be the better inform'd of every thing that pass'd at the Dyet of Election.

The Necessity which the Elector stood in of Poland to succeed in his Views, laid him under an indispensible Obligation to concern himself in that Election. He fully expected that the Right which the said Republic claim'd to Prussia wou'd induce it to oppose his Designs with Vigor; and besides, under the Pretext of interesting himself in the Election of a King, he might form a Party that hereafter would be capable to serve him; therefore, as soon as he arriv'd at Konigsberg, he dispatch'd a Messenger to the Cardinal Radziowsky Primate of Poland, to acquaint him of his Arrival, and sent M. Dorerbeck Great Cup-bearer of Prussia as his Ambassador to the Dyet of Election, with Orders to support the Interests of the Margrave Lewis of Baden, but in the mean time to do nothing that might disoblige the Poles.

The Margrave Lewis of Baden was soon out of the Question; for the two strongest Parties oblig'd him to retire, as well as the other Competitors for the Crown. These two Parties were the one for Frederic-Augustus Elector of Saxony, and the other for the Prince of Conti. The Cardinal Primate favor'd the latter, and France seem'd to have his Election very much at heart; yet Frederic-Augustus's Party carried it, and he was proclaim'd King.

The Cardinal Primate was still obstinate for the Prince of Conti, and actually sent one of his near Relations to the Elector to sollicit him in his Favor; but the Elector, who thought the Elector of Saxony's Party the most substantial and the most powerful, did not scruple to own him for King, and return'd for Answer to the Cardinal, That he advis'd him, as the Chief Pastor of Poland, to maintain Peace in his Flock, and to submit to the Elector of Saxony. Nevertheless the Primate stood out stiffly, and form'd a Party in Poland, considerable enough to give the new King Uneasiness. The Elector still persevering in his Views to make himself necessary to Poland, return'd next year to Konigsberg, in hopes of appeasing the Disturbances rais'd there by the two different Parties. Kolbe, who was not yet Count of Wartemberg, but only Great Chamberlain, made a Journey to Warsaw for this purpose, on the part of the Elector, and complimented the King on his Accession to the Crown. The King in his Turn sent the Count de Bilinsky Great Chamberlain of the Crown to the Elector, to compliment him on his Arrival at Konigsberg, and there to negociate an Interview betwixt them. The Elector wish'd for it too heartily to refuse it, and Fredericshoss, one of his Pleasure-houses, was chose for the place of Meeting. There every thing pass'd, as is common upon those Occasions; a great deal of Business was talk'd of, and referred to the Ministers for Conclusion. The two Princes made each other magnificent Presents, and exchang'd all the Tokens of the sincerest Friendship. This Union seem'd still increasing by the Sale which the King of Poland made this year to the Elector of the Fee for protecting the Abbey-Town of Quedlimbourg, which no Elector of Saxony would ever part with before, whatsoever Instances were made to them by the Family of Brandenburg. The Elector had less Reason than any of his Predecessors to hope for Success in this Affair. Poland, besides the Pleas of Interest, had others of Resentment; and this Prince's Conduct in the affair of Elbing bid fair to set the King and the Elector at variance. The Dispute was about a Demand of 400,000 Crowns which the Elector made upon Poland, for the Expences of the War, which his Father, Frederic-William the Great, had carry'd on in favor of the Republic against Charles XI. King of Sweden. The King of Poland in the Interview at Fredericshoff had promis'd to persuade the Republic to pay that Sum. The Elector whose Patience was worn out in Expectation of the Performance, notwithstanding the many Reasons he had to keep fair with Poland, caused the City of Elbing, which had been mortgag'd to him for that Sum, to be invested. And M. de Brantz, my Uncle, who was Lieutenant-General, was sent upon this Expedition, at the Head of a Body of 12000 Men.

The Poles no sooner heard of it but they made a very great Clamor, and the King complain'd loudly of the Elector's Proceeding, who being, said he, his Cousin, his Friend, and Ally, ought to have had more Regard for him. 'Twas at least after this manner that he express'd himself in the Circular Letters, which he wrote to assemble the Nobility of Poland. But the Elector went on still his own way, and the City of Elbing was taken before the Poles had so much as a Thought of defending it. As soon as the King of Poland was told of it, he ordered the Elector's Resident to depart the City of Thorn in 24 Hours, and the Kingdom without Delay. M. de Reitwitz, Envoy of Poland to the Elector, fearing the same Treatment, was absent from Court for a Fortnight; but return'd then, causing his Appearance to be notify'd to the Ministers, not as Envoy from the King of Poland, but as Envoy from the Elector of Saxony. By this piece of Management 'tis plain that the King of Poland did not take the Affair of Elbing so much to heart as he seem'd to do; and some time after the Matter was accommodated; the Elector consenting to lose one fourth of the Debt, and the Poles promising to pay the rest at the Expiration of three Months, and depositing their King's Crown for Security. The Elector on his part restor'd Elbing on condition nevertheless, that he should have it again at the three Month's end, if the 300,000 Crowns were not then paid. This Affair has ever since remain'd in statu quo: The Poles are still Debtors for that Sum, and the Elector contents himself with detaining the Crown, which is still at Berlin, in the Gallery over the great Stables, where 'tis kept in a Case, seal'd with the Seal of the Kingdom of Poland.

Mean time the Peace of Ryswic was just sign'd, and sooner than expected, by reason France receded from several Pretensions; which every body knows she was induc'd to do from the View she had at that time to the Spanish Succession, and to that end it was absolutely necessary for her to make a Peace with that Power and to disarm the Allies. Consequently Messieurs Dankelman and Schmettau had no time to push the Negociation of the Affair of Prussia any farther; nevertheless they acted with the Dutch to some purpose.

The Elector had sent Bartholdi to Vienna in the place of Dankelman, and M. Blaspiel to Dusseldorff to the Elector Palatine, whom he thought proper to treat with extraordinary Regard, as well upon his own Account, as with relation to the Empress his Sister who had a very great Ascendant over the Emperor.

Bartholdi when he arriv'd at Vienna found the Court in the very same Disposition as it was in the time of Dankelman. There was a great shew of Good-will, but no Advance made; for the Emperor's Ministers were never at a loss for a Reason to defer coming to the Point. The Republic of Poland furnish'd very cogent ones too, by the Protestations it made against every Step taken towards erecting Prussia into a Kingdom, on pretence that it formerly belong'd to the Republic, and that the Poles only suffer'd it to fall to the House of Brandenburg, on condition of its reverting to them on the Failure of Issue Male in that Family. The Emperor said he could not help having Regard to those Protestations, the Alliance which he had been in for a long time with the Republic being become much firmer since the raising the Siege of Vienna, when John Sobiesky at the Head of the Poles so effectually reliev'd it. Bartholdi being dishearten'd with all these Delays, began to despair of the Success of the Negociation. He flatter'd himself for a while that the languishing State of Charles II. King of Spain, which presag'd his approaching Death, and the cruel War between the Houses of Austria and Bourbon, on account of the Spanish Succession, would promote the Success of his Master's Designs; and that the State Policy which at that Juncture oblig'd the Emperor to strengthen himself with Allies, would make him chuse to retain in his Party a Prince so powerful and so necessary to his Interests as the Elector. But Bartholdi was deceiv'd; and whether the Court of Vienna flatter'd itself that the Elector wou'd never venture to take the part of France, or whether they thought it more nearly concern'd them to humor the Powers that oppos'd the Elector's Views, they had always some fresh Pretence or other to trump up.

Bartholdi cou'd not avoid giving an Account to the Elector his Master of what he thought of these continual Delays, and he told him there was no manner of Reason to hope that the Emperor would recognize him for King before he was sure of the Consent of the Pope, and of all the Princes of the Empire; that it was easy to see this was only a civil Excuse that the Emperor made use of for his Refusal, rather than to make him his Enemy; and that the Case was really so desperate, that he knew of but one Stratagem to make use of before he retir'd; and that was that he shou'd write with his own Hand to the Prince of ——, who, said Bartholdi, was the only Person in the World to induce the Emperor to be more favorable. His Dispatch was written in a Cypher, and the Secretary who decypher'd it, thought he met with the Name of the Emperor's Confessor, instead of that of the Prince of ----. The Elector approv'd of his Minister's Hint, and wrote immediately to the Confessor, who happen'd to be a Jesuit. This Reverend Father was overjoy'd to find himself courted by one of the greatest Protestant Princes, and promising himself that he should reap considerable Advantages for his Society, from the Success of a Negociation which the Elector had so much at heart, and in which two of his most able Ministers had already miscarried, he made no scruple to undertake it.

As soon as he began to meddle with it, it assum'd a new Face; the Court of Rome made but a faint Opposition to it: That of Vienna being alarmed at the News they received from the Count de Harrach their Ambassador at Madrid, of the bad State of the King of Spain's Health, and of the Spaniards Byass for the Duke of Anjou, became more tractable; and the very Reasons that Bartholdi urg'd in vain, began to be relish'd when they were represented by the Confessor. This Jesuit convinc'd the Emperor, that as he was resolv'd to dispute the Succession to the Crown of Spain with France, such an Ally as the Elector would give great Weight to either of the two Parties that he fell in with. The Confessor's Arguments were applauded by some, and faintly rejected by others; so that the Father, by craftily taking advantage of the Good-Will of the latter, and of the Lethargy of the former, brought the Affair of Prussia in less than two Month's Time to the Point of a happy Conclusion.

While such effectual Endeavors were us'd for the Elector at the Court of Vienna, his Interest was as successfully manag'd with the King of England. The Electoress, together with her Mother the Electoress of Hanover, went to pay him a Visit at Aix la Chapelle; and in that Interview, these two Princesses prevail'd on King William of England to recognize the Elector of Brandenburg for King of Prussia, and to call the House of Hanover to the Succession of the Crown of England.

One particular Circumstance in this Journey that prov'd of such Service to the Elector's Designs, and which many People look'd upon as a politic Action, is, that it would not have been undertaken, had it not been for the extreme Fondness of Madame de Wartemberg to be admitted in the Electoress's Circle. This Princess upon the Intelligence she receiv'd that her Mother the Electoress of Hanover was going to Aix la Chapelle, was very desirous to go with her, but she cou'd not hope to obtain the Elector's Consent to it, nor to have Money enough with her to bear her Expences, if the Count de Wartemberg oppos'd it; and therefore she charg'd Madamoiselle de Pollnitz my Cousin to speak to him about it. The Count de Wartemberg promis'd not only to obtain the Elector's Consent, but also to give the Electoress an Order at large to take up any Sums of Money that she should want, provided that Princess would on her part only acknowledge the Favor, by granting his Wife the Honor of Admittance to her Circle. The Electoress had this Journey so much at heart, because she knew it wou'd give her the Pleasure of seeing a Mother whom she tenderly lov'd, as well as a Freedom, for some time at least, from the Constraint she was oblig'd to live in at Berlin, that she consented to the Count's Demand. Madame de Wartemberg was admitted to the Circle, and all the Mortification the Electoress gave her, was always to talk to her in French, which being a Language she did not understand, plainly shew'd the Obscurity of the Countess's Birth; for at that Time all Persons of any Rank or Figure convers'd in that Language commonly at our Court. The Electoress's Condescension upon this Occasion is the only thing for which she was to blame; for 'twas a Precedent which gave others Authority to desire the same Favor; and to this may be said to be owing the unequal Matches which several of the Nobility made afterwards.

The Count de Wartemberg, in order to obtain the Elector's Consent, gave him to understand that the Princess his Consort cou'd do more than any body to prevail with the King of England to recognize him for King. This was touching him in the most sensible part; and therefore he made no Scruple to let the Electoress go, who went and met her Mother at Aix la Chapelle, and from thence they set out afterwards for Brussels. There they stay'd a few days, in order to disguise the Motives of their Journey, and from thence they went to Loo, where the King of England was. They each obtain'd of the Prince what they went to ask him; the House of Hanover was soon after call'd to the Succession of the Crown of England, and the King gave his Promise, that as soon as the Emperor had own'd the Elector King of Prussia, he wou'd be one of the first to follow his Example.

As soon as the News reach'd Vienna that the King of England had promis'd to recognize the Elector of Brandenburg King of Prussia, the remaining Difficulties were soon got over; the Protestations of the Republic of Poland were superseded, and the Emperor declar'd at length that he own'd Prussia for a Kingdom, and the Elector of Brandenburg for King; on condition however,

1. That the Elector should never withdraw from the Empire the Provinces of his Dominions thereon depending.

2. That in the Emperor's Presence he should require no other Distinctions than those which he actually enjoy'd now.

3. That his Imperial Majesty when he wrote to him should only give him the Title of your Royal Dilection.

4. That nevertheless his Ministers at Vienna should be treated on a Par with those of Crown'd Heads.

5. That the Elector should maintain six thousand Men in Italy at his own expence, in case the Emperor should be oblig'd to go to War for the Spanish Succession.

6. That those Troops should remain there as long as the War continu'd.

Thus, Madame, after tedious delays the Court of Vienna consented at last to the Success of this great Event, which after all ow'd its cause to the refusal of an Arm-chair, and its issue to the mistake of a Secretary. Nevertheless it did not fail to cost the Elector six Millions, of which the Jesuits of Vienna had 200,000 Crowns to their share.

This agreeable News was scarce arriv'd at Berlin when they heard of the Death of the King of Spain, which happen'd the 1st of November, 1700. His Death was notify'd to the Elector by M. Desalleurs, Envoy of France to our Court, as was also the Will whereby the Duke of Anjou was call'd to the Succession of all the late King's Dominions. The Elector had entered into such Engagements with the Emperor, that he could not own him; for which reason the King of France recall'd M. Desalleurs, and likewise refus'd to acknowledge the Elector for King, who in his turn recall'd M. Spanheim, and sent him to England with the Title of Ambassador.

The Elector was so urgent to be crown'd, that he hasten'd to Konigsberg, the capital City of Prussia, without staying for the fine Season of the Year; having fix'd on the 17th of December for his Departure thither with the whole Court. My Mother would also have been one of the Company, but she was too far gone with Child. She was now marry'd to her third Husband, who was the Count de Wesen; and the Nuptials were perform'd at Konigsberg in 1698, when the Elector was there about the Election of the King of Poland. This was a Match, in the making of which, neither Love nor Interest had the least share: M. de Wesen, tho' come of a very good Family in the Duchy of Zell, was Heir but to a very small Estate, and that he was obliged to divide with a great many Brothers; and my Mother before he marry'd her had never so much as spoke to him, nor had she seen him but while he was in the Office of Chief Steward. The Elector himself made the Match at the solicitation of Madame de Wartemberg who had a very great kindness for M. Wesen formerly, and perhaps had so still, and by helping him to a rich Widow, she was willing to make him a recompence for the Respect he had paid to her. There was no necessity of using powerful Arguments with the Elector, to engage him to bring this Match about. It was his Foible to make Matches, and were they good or bad, provided he saw the Weddings, 'twas all alike to him. Consequently, as soon as Madame de Wartemberg had proposed this Marriage to him, he promis'd to mention it himself to my Mother; nay, more than that, he came to her House and made the Proposal. My Mother desir'd to be excus'd, saying to his Highness, that she had been already married twice, that she had two Sons by her first Husband, and that she did not care to hazard their Interests and her own Peace by engaging herself in Matrimony a third time. The Elector made her answer, that he would have it so, and that her Children, so far from Losers, should be Gainers by it, because he would take care of them. He added that he would allow her twenty-four Hours time to consider of it, and then he left her, forbidding her to stir to the Door, and promising to come and see her again next day, in order to have her Answer. He then went into my Grandmother's Chamber, and said so many fine things to her, in favor of the Son-in-Law he had in his eye for her, that she was for it by all means.

My Mother continued very wavering till next day, when the Elector return'd as he had promis'd: And as 'tis not an easy matter to resist the Orders of one's Sovereign, my Mother, tho' still against a new Engagement in her heart, seemed however to consent to the Marriage, which in a few days after was celebrated, and honour'd with the presence of the Elector, who had the goodness to assure my Brother and me that it should not be the worse for us. Mean time all my Relations exclaim'd against my Mother, and when she return'd to Berlin not a Soul of them went to see her. My Grandmother by my Father's side was loudest in her Complaint; for her great Age and the Honour she had of attending the late Electoress, Mother to the Elector, made her take the freedom to tell that Prince her mind. She was in a passion with him even to a degree of Childishness, telling him that it griev'd her to the heart that she was not strong enough to twist the neck of the Man that he had given to her Daughter-in-Law for a Husband. The Elector to pacify her, promis'd her that he would be such a friend to M. de Wesen, that this Marriage instead of being a prejudice should be an advantage to us. And as soon as he had left her, he declared him Marshal of his Court.

This Office obliging my Father-in-law to follow the Prince in his Travels, he left my Mother at Berlin, and carry'd me with him to Konigsberg, to shew me the Ceremony of the Elector's Coronation.

His Court was so numerous that upon the Road from Berlin to Konigsberg, which is reckon'd fourscore German Miles, there were no less than thirty thousand Hackney-Horses, besides those belonging to the Stables of the King and Princes. The King, who was excessively fond of Ceremony, omitted nothing that could be an addition to the splendor of his Coronation. This Ceremony cost him immense Sums of Money, and convinc'd Foreigners who came thither from a curiosity to see it, that our Court was inferior to few others for Magnificence.

Tho' one would think the preparations for such a solemn Festival must take up a tedious deal of time, yet the King's Impatience hurry'd them so fast that every thing was ready by the eighteenth of January, about a Fortnight after the Arrival of the Court. The Proclamation for erecting Prussia into a Kingdom was made two Days before the King's Coronation, with the sound of the Cannon, and all the Bells of the City, by four Heralds at Arms in Mantles of blue Velvet with the Royal Arms thereon embroider'd, and riding upon Horses richly accouter'd, the Housings being of Silver-Brocade, sprinkled with Eagles and Coronets of Gold. They went with a very numerous Train to the chief Quarters of the City, and there made Proclamation in these terms:

Whereas it has pleased the Divine Providence to erect this Sovereign Duchy of Prussia into a Kingdom, and to set up for our King the most High and most Potent Prince Frederic I. our gracious Sovereign; we have thought fit to give notice thereof to the People of this Kingdom, that they may say as we do, "Long live Frederic, our most Merciful and most Gracious King! Long live Sophia-Charlotte, our most Gracious Queen."

The King to render the Ceremony of his Coronation still more august, instituted the Day before[2] the Order of the Black Eagle, the Badges of which are an Orange Ribband with a Cross hanging to it enamell'd with Blue, in form of the Cross of Malta: In a Star of Silver which is embroider'd upon the Coat, there is a black Eagle which gripes in one Claw a Crown, and in the other a Scepter; and round the 'Scutcheon are these words, SUUM CUIQUE, (i. e. to every one his own.) The principal Statutes of this Order are, 1. That the Number of the Knights shall not exceed thirty, exclusive of the Princes of the Royal Family, and Sovereign Princes. 2. That the Knights shall prove their Nobility by sixteen Descents. 3. That they shall promise to be just, chaste, and to protect and support Widows and Orphans, according to their motto, Suum cuique.

Tho' it was contrary to custom, to install the Knights before the Coronation, the King was not so scrupulous as to conform to it, foreseeing that the Ceremony of his Coronation receiv'd a new Lustre from this Foundation. Nevertheless the Knights and Officers of the Order had then no other Badges but the Ribband and Star embroider'd on their Clothes; and 'twas not till two Years after that the King gave to the new Knights, for days of Ceremony, a Dress consisting of a Vest of Cloth of Gold, with another over it of Sky-blue Velvet, reaching down to the Mid-leg, with a Lining of Straw-color, and ty'd under the Cravat with yellow Ribbands, the Tassels of which hang down to the Knees. Their Sash is of Straw-color'd Velvet, embroider'd with Gold. Their Mantle is also of Straw-color'd Velvet, lin'd with Gold-Mohair, and over it is a Collar of Gold enamell'd with blue, forming these two Letters F. R. to signify Fredericus Rex: This is call'd the Grand Collar of the Order. The Knights wear black Velvet Caps on their Heads, with white Plumes of Feathers. The King's Habit differs not from that of the Knights; but the Habits of the Grand Master of the Ceremonies, the Secretary, and the Treasurer, differ in that they only wear over their common Clothes full Gowns of Straw-color'd Velvet, with an Orange-color'd Lining, and upon them the Cross of the Order, fasten'd only by an Orange-color'd Ribband that hangs to their Neck.

The King at the first Promotion, or rather on the day that he instituted the Order, created the full number of Knights, prescribed by the Statutes. He also gave the Ribband of the Order to the Electoral Prince his Son, and to his two Brothers the Margraves Christian and Albert. The Margrave Philip staying behind at Berlin to govern in the King's Absence, the Ribband was sent to him by a Gentleman of the Bed-chamber.

On the Coronation-day, about nine in the Morning the King was dressed by the great Chamberlain, attended by all the Officers of the Bed-chamber. His Coat was Scarlet embroider'd with Gold, and brilliant Diamonds were his Buttons. Over that, he had a Royal Mantle of Crimson-Velvet, lin'd and turn'd up with Ermin, which was fasten'd to his Breast by a Clasp of three Diamonds. As soon as the King was dressed he went into a Hall in his Apartment, where a Throne had been erected, on each side of which, there lay on two Tables of Silver the Royal Ornaments that were to serve the King and Queen. The King being seated on his Throne, ordered they should be brought to him, and they were accordingly presented to him on the Knee. Having the Crown in his Hand, he put it himself on his Head, and then taking the Sceptre in his right Hand and the Royal Globe in his left, in that posture he receiv'd the first Homages of the Prince Royal and of the Margraves, who bent one Knee before him. After this the King arose and went to the Queen's Apartment, preceded by the Knights of the Order, the two Margraves, the Prince Royal, and the Noblemen that carried the Regalia design'd for the Queen.

Her Majesty was dress'd in a Purple Gown, and a Royal Mantle like the King's. She was dress'd in her own Nut-brown Hair without any Powder, which in conjunction with the Lustre of the Diamonds gave her an Air still more noble and majestic. As soon as she perceiv'd the King, who met her at the entrance of his Chamber, she fell on her knees, in which situation the King embrac'd her, and with his own Hands set the Crown upon her Head. She took the Scepter and Globe from the hands of the Lords who carried them, and the King raising her up she follow'd him into his Apartment, where she also receiv'd the Homage of the Prince Royal and the Margraves, in the same manner as they had perform'd them to the King.

Their Majesties went afterwards to Church with all the Pomp and Magnificence, (I dare to say it) of the ancient Kings of Asia. The King walk'd under a Canopy of Silver-Brocade embroider'd with Gold borne by ten Prussian Lords of the first Quality, and at some distance came the Queen under another Canopy like to that of the King. The Grand Chamberlain held up the Train of the King's Mantle, and the Queen's was born by the Duchess of Holstein, and the Ladies Stingland and Bulau, the one Lady of Honour to the Queen, and the other having the first Reversion of that Office. The Duke of Holstein officiated as Great Master of her Houshold; and the Princess of Holstein walk'd at the head of the Court-Ladies. Their Majesties were receiv'd by the two Bishops that were to perform the Ceremony of the Coronation, who were dress'd in purple Velvet, after the English mode, and had for their Assistants six Ministers, three of them Calvinists and three Lutherans. They conducted the King and Queen to their Thrones which had been erected on the two sides of the Altar, the King's on the Right, and the Queen's on the Left. Tho' there is no Altar in the Calvinist Churches, the King had one, and had actually made a present of a magnificent Crucifix to be plac'd upon it, in order to shew how much he wish'd the Union of the two Protestant Churches.

The Prince Royal seated himself a little behind the King towards the Right on a Folding-chair, with his Governor the Count de Dobna behind him: The Margraves also sate in two Folding-chairs on both sides of the Queen. The Duke and Duchess of Holstein, and the Ladies Stingland and Bulau, sate upon Stools immediately behind the Queen. The Princess of Holstein was also placed upon a Stool, but a little farther off. On both sides of the Altar two Galleries were erected, the one for the Duchess of Courland the King's Sister, the young Duke her Son, and the three Princesses her Daughters-in-Law, the other for the Ambassadors and Foreign Ministers.

When the King was to receive the sacred Unction, he went and kneel'd at the foot of the Altar, gave the Globe and Sceptre to the Lords who had before carried them, took off his Crown with his own hands, which he plac'd on a Cushion like to that on which he kneel'd, and then receiv'd three Unctions, one on the Forehead, and the two others on his Wrists. The Great Chamberlain dried up the Oil with Cotton and Linnen, which one of the Ministers presented to him on a Plate of Gold. After this the King took his Crown again which no other hand had touch'd, and plac'd it himself on his head; and having also taken the Sceptre and Globe again, he went and replac'd himself on his Throne. The same Ceremonies were observ'd at the Anointing of the Queen, with this difference only, that she all the while kept the Crown on her Head, and that Madame Stingland, her Lady of Honour, dried up the Oil.

This done, the two Bishops with the six Ministers pay'd the first Homage to both the King and Queen. The Bishop at Consecration said to the King, May Blessing and Prosperity attend Frederic King of Prussia! May the Lord, the God of our King say the same! May he continue his Presence with him as he has done hitherto, to the end that his Royal Throne may aggrandize his Power from day to day.

The same Bishop said to the Queen, May Blessing and Prosperity attend Sophia-Charlotta Queen of Prussia! May the Lord our God preserve her for a Token of his Blessing to her People, and may she from this time forward see Prosperity and Salvation spread ever her Royal Family, and over her Children, in the Peace of Israel!

While the Music as it were repeated these same words, the Prince Royal and the Margraves went and paid their Homage also to the King and Queen, kneeling on the last Step of their Throne and kissing their Hands. The Homage of the other Nobility only consisted in their making a profound Obeysance without stirring out of their places.

The Bishop who had perform'd the Consecration, turning about to the People, said with a loud Voice, Fear God and honour your King and your Queen, for their Power cometh from the Lord who hath created Heaven and Earth. May the same Lord vouchsafe to be their Guide and Guardian! May he cover them with his Shadow, that the Heat of the Sun and the Rays of the Moon, may never hurt their Sight! May the Lord keep them from all Evil? save their Souls, and go in and out before them with Blessing, till Time Shall be no more. After some other Prayers, the King renew'd the Edicts against Duels, and swore to observe them upon the Holy Gospels. And therewith ended this long Ceremony.

The King had all the reason in the World to be pleased with it, by reason of the exactness with which every one perform'd his Function, which was a thing hardly to have been expected in a Ceremony that was quite new to the Performers; but they so well knew his delicacy in every matter of Ceremony, and the Emulation they had to please him in this Taste was such, that the most consummate Experience could not have acquitted itself better.

The Queen herself was the only Person that got a reprimand, and that was by her taking some Snuff. Her Throne being over-against the King's, she watch'd a long time for an opportunity, and when she thought his Majesty did not observe her she stole out her Snuff-Box. The King happening to turn his Eyes towards her the very same moment, she would fain have conceal'd it, but his Majesty's Countenance was so fix'd on her that she was convinc'd he perceiv'd it; and indeed this Prince who was upon this occasion not to be trifled with, immediately order'd one of his Gentlemen who was behind him to go and ask the Queen in his Name, Whether she remember'd the Place where she was, and the Rank she held there.

The King and Queen going out of the Church caus'd Gold and Silver Medals to the value of ten thousand Crowns to be scatter'd among the People, which had on one side their Effigies with these words, FREDERICUS ET SOPHIA-CHARLOTTA, REX ET REGINA; and on the reverse a Crown with these words, PRIMA MEÆ GENTIS.

The Ceremonies at the Royal Feast which follow'd, were not much short of those at the Coronation. It was kept in the great Hall of the Palace, to which the King and Queen repair'd almost with the same Train, and in the same order as they had observ'd going to Church.

When they were seated at Table, their Majesties return'd their Sceptres and Globes into the hands of the Lords who had the Honour of carrying them before. These Lords then plac'd themselves at each side of the Table, and remain'd there during the whole Feast. The Prince Royal, the two Margraves and the Duchess of Courland the King's Sister, were the only Persons that had the honour of dining with their Majesties. Of all the Ceremonies that were observ'd there, the two following are what I have no where seen but in Germany. As soon as the King and Queen had taken their Seats at Table, the two Grand Marshals went out of the Hall into the Courtyard of the Palace, and from thence rode on horseback to the great Stables attended by Kettle-drums, Trumpets, and a great many Officers of the King's Kitchen. There they found a whole Ox roasting on a Spit and stuff'd with all sorts of Wild-fowl, of which they cut off a piece and carry'd it in a Gold Dish to their Majesties Table.

After this, the Great Cup-Bearer went with the like Train to the same Stables, where there were two Fountains of Wine running from the Beaks of two Eagles. Of this he fill'd a gold Goblet, and went and presented it to the King. His Majesty having taken it and return'd it to him, he presented it afterwards to the Queen, who return'd it to him in like manner; and then he carry'd it to the great Beaufet, which was set up at the other end of the Room over-against the King's Table. As often as the King or Queen drank, nine Cannon were fired; six when the Prince Royal drank, and three whenever the Margraves and the Duchess of Courland drank.

This Repast held a very long time, yet none of the Courtiers sate down to Table till their Majesties were retir'd to their Apartments. About nine o'clock at Night all the Bells in the City were rung, and the Noise of the Cannon added to that of the Kettle-drums and Trumpets, serv'd as a signal for the Bonfires that were lighted in all the Cross-streets. The Burghers illuminated the Fronts of their Houses. Some of the most substantial had also erected Triumphal Arches before their Houses, with Emblems and Devices; others let Wine run for the Populace, and in short there was no Burgher but strove to signalize their Joy some way or other.

Their Majesties being desirous to honour the public Rejoicings with their presence, went into the Streets about ten o'clock in a magnificent Coach, accompanied by all their Courtiers on horseback. When they came before the Town-House they were harangu'd by the chief Burgo-Master, who presented them with a Collation in Panniers of Silver, after which they pass'd by the House of the Duke of Holstein Governour of Konigsberg. The Front of the House represented the Temple of Glory; the Duke's Gentlemen represented the Priests of the Temple, and threw Amber and Incense into the Coals which were upon the Altar; the Duke's Children, who were eight in number, were dressed like Shepherds and Shepherdesses, and as the King and Queen pass'd by, the eldest presented them with a Basket of Flowers, and pronounc'd some Verses to them in the German Language, expressing the Vows which all the People made for the duration of their Prosperity. Their Majesties, after stopping some time before this House, return'd to the Palace.

Throughout all the King's Dominions there were the like Demonstrations of Joy, and the Coronation-day was celebrated every where like a Sunday. The King and Queen spent the whole Carnival at Konigsberg, where they receiv'd the Count de Tobianski the Great Cup-bearer of Poland, who came as Ambassador from the King his Master, to congratulate their Majesties on their Coronation. It must be observed in the mean time, that the Republic of Poland never recogniz'd the King of Prussia's Royalty, tho' two of its Kings, viz. the Elector of Saxony, and King Stanislaus four years after recogniz'd him by their Ambassadors.

The departure of the Court for Berlin was fix'd for the eighth of March. As the King had not yet made his entry at Konigsberg, the Citizens entreated him to permit them to accompany him as far as the limits of their Territory, which was granted them. Then several triumphal Arches were erected, all the Streets were hung with Tapestry, and the King set out from Konigsberg attended by all the City Companies. His Majesty rode on horseback, supported by two Equerries on foot. His Clothes were of Crimson-Velvet lin'd with Ermin and embroider'd with Gold, and the Buttons were of Diamonds. He had on his Hat a Loop and a Hat-band of Diamonds. His Horse was most richly accouter'd: The Bit, Stirrups, and all the Ornaments of the Bridle, were of massy Gold; the Housing of Crimson-Velvet, all cover'd with Gold Embroidery and Diamonds. The Queen's Coach was also of extraordinary Magnificence. Her Majesty sate in it accompanied only by the Duchess of Courland, who sate over-against her.

In short, they went out of Konigsberg with all the Pomp and Apparatus that us'd to attend Public Entrys. When their Majesties were got a quarter of a League out of the Town, they alighted and went into their Travelling-Coaches, and there they received the last Compliments which were paid by the Echevins bare-headed and kneeling. Then the King and Queen return'd into the City through another Gate, and staid in their Palace till next day that they set out for Berlin.

The Court was oblig'd to go by the way of Dantzic, because of the sudden Thaw of the Weissel, which render'd it impassable. The Magistrates of Dantzic immediately sent out Deputies to their Majesties, to intreat them to permit their City to make a public Entry for them; but the King thank'd them, and was not willing they should be at any expence. Nevertheless at the Entrance of the Territory of Dantzic two Burgo-Masters, four Counsellors, and the Syndic of the Town, at the head of the Youth on horseback, went and paid their Majesties a Compliment. He that spoke was the chief Burgo-Master, who pray'd their Majesties to suffer the City to defray their Expences, while they stay'd in their Territory. The King and Queen alighted at a House erected on purpose for their Reception, which was of Wood, and represented the Temple of Glory. There their Majesties found a magnificent Collation and a very fine Concert of Music. In other Rooms several Tables were set up for the Gentlemen of his Retinue. The King and Queen having spent the Night there, pass'd thro' Dantzic next day, and went over the Weissel, which at that part of it was still frozen. Yet as there was cause to apprehend that it was not froze hard enough to be pass'd with safety, the Magistrates, to prevent any Accident, had cover'd the Ice with Straw, Beams and Planks; and twenty-four young Men and as many Lasses, dressed like Sailors in Jackets of Velvet and Sattin, assisted the King and Queen in their passage; during which, the Girls presented them with Fish, Fruit, Sweet-Meats and Flowers, and the young Sailors play'd to them on several Instruments of Music. When their Majesties had passed the River, they dismiss'd the Deputies of the City, and made them each a Present of a Gold Chain and Medal, on which were their Effigies. On the seventeenth of March the King arriv'd at Potzdam[3], and the Queen at Lutzelbourg. The King who had a Design to make a solemn Entry at Berlin, stay'd at Potzdam till the sixth of May, to give time for making the necessary Preparations to receive him, and for the finishing one of the Fronts of his Palace, which he wish'd might be compleated by that day.

Towards the latter end of April the King set out from Potzdam for Schonhausen, where the Queen met him some days after, and there their Majesties prepared to make their Entry into Berlin.

This Ceremony was perform'd with all the Pomp and Magnificence possible. The City had caus'd seven Triumphal Arches to be erected; the Description of one of those Arches may suffice to give an Idea of the Taste of our Court for Entertainments of this kind. This Arch, which was at the Bars entring the Suburb, seem'd to have been built by Gardeners. It was one entire Green-house with Pillars and Pilasters, adorn'd with Flowers. Pomona and Flora were seen to support the Pictures of the King and Queen. The Spring, attended by the Zephyrs, presented them with Fruits and Flowers, and a Row of Orange-Trees and Laurels in gilded Boxes lin'd the Way from that Arch to St. George's Gate, which has ever since that Day been call'd the Royal Gate, because their Majesties enter'd thro' it into the Town.

Next day after their Entry the Deputies of the Provinces presented the King with Free Gifts on his joyful Arrival, and the Margrave Philip Grand Master of the Artillery, caus'd a Fire-work to be play'd off, which represented the King's Return to Berlin, by that of Jason, after the Conquest of the Golden Fleece.

After some other Festivals of this nature, occasion'd by the public Joy, the Court separated, when the King set out for Oranjebourg[4], and the Queen to Lutzelbourg. The Prince Royal staid at Berlin to finish his Exercises. Care had been taken to form a numerous Court for him, of all young Gentlemen of his own Age, of whom this young Prince had form'd two Companies, of which himself commanded the first, and the Duke of Courland the second. I was of this second Company, and we went sometimes to perform our Military Exercises at Lutzelbourg before the Queen, who lov'd to see the Prince her Son display the first Fruits of his Military Genius. We also acted some Comedies before her; for the Princess aim'd to inspire the Prince her Son with a delicate Taste, even in Pleasures.

'Twas at this time that a Storm arose at Court against the Count de Wartemberg Great Chamberlain, and lately declar'd Prime Minister, which threaten'd his Ruin; but it spent itself upon those only who had rais'd it. The principal Authors of the Cabal were the Count de Lottum, M. ——, and the Grand Marshal, who had been for a long time the Great Chamberlain's sworn Enemy. The Count de Wesen, my Father-in-law, was pitch'd upon by these Gentlemen to raise the first Prejudices in the King's Mind against this Minister. I have had the Honor to acquaint you, Madame, that the Countess de Wartemberg always wish'd well to M. de Wesen of which the advantagious Match she had procur'd for him was a very convincing Proof. One would have thought therefore after such great Service, that he ought in Gratitude to have devoted himself entirely to the Fortune of the Count her Husband. But my Father-in-law puff'd up by the Choice which the Count's Enemies had made of him, forgot his Duty and his Interest, and accepted a Commission for the undertaking of which he had in truth all the necessary Temerity, but not that Judgment nor that Favor, which was absolutely requisite for conducting so ticklish an Affair.

The King had a real Love for M. de Wartemberg, yet he sometimes made him feel his ill Humors. The Prince seem'd one day to be so angry with him, and spoke of him to my Father-in-law with so much Resentment, that the latter thought he had now a fair Opportunity to ruin the Count. He said to the King, that the whole Court was surpriz'd at his extraordinary Kindness to a Minister who every day abus'd his Name in the Oppression of the People, and in the Commission of a thousand Acts of Injustice against his faithful Servants; that his Rapines were excessive; and that his Wife's Extravagance was so great, that he could shew by the Accounts of the Comptrollers of the Kitchen, that the Great Chamberlain's Table cost more than his Majesty's. I know very well, added M. de Wesen, that if the Prime Minister should hear of what I have now had the Honor to say to your Majesty, I am undone; but if I held my peace, I thought I should be wanting in my Duty; and what I have asserted I am ready to prove.

The King heard what he said very attentively, and my Father-in-law was so vain as to think he had made Impression enough upon him to strike M. de Wartemberg quite out of his Favor; but this shallow Statesman, my Father-in-law, did not consider that a Prince who complains of his Favorite is not always dispos'd to receive the ill Impressions that others are ready to give of him. Whether the King therefore thought after this manner, or whether he was shock'd at the Ingratitude of M. de Wesen, who ow'd his Fortune to M. de Wartemberg, he told the Minister the Conversation that had pass'd, but assur'd him that he did not give Credit to the Report; and that if he pleas'd he would take a Revenge on the Man that had made it.

The crafty Minister affected at that time an Air of Moderation, which cost him the less Pains because he was an excellent Comedian. He said to the King that he thought himself sufficiently reveng'd, by the little Heed his Majesty gave to the scandalous Tales which his Enemies gave out against him, and he desir'd his Majesty to pardon those who had offer'd to abuse his Goodness, for the sake of oppressing him. Thus did he for a while conceal the keenest Resentment under the Mask of the most forgiving Temper; being resolv'd in his Heart to ruin those who had employ'd M. de Wesen, tho' they were protected by the Queen, but especially to make their Tool feel all the Weight of his Vengeance.

A Journey which the King took to Goltz, one of his Hunting-Seats, near the Fortress of Custrin, gave him a good Opportunity for it. Being alone with the King in the same Coach, he put him so much out of conceit with M. de Wesen, that when he arriv'd at Goltz, all that came to wait on him, as he alighted out of the Coach, perceiv'd he was in an ill Humor. Contrary to his usual custom, he spoke to no body, only he order'd my Father-in-law to give his Attendance. When he had sat down, he scarce touch'd the Bread, but he found fault with it, and complained of it to M. de Wesen, as the Person who had the Direction of what came to his Table. M. de Wesen said to the King, That 'twas true the Bread was not as it us'd to be, because the Carriage of the Pantry broke down by the way, and the Baker came too late to Town to provide more. The King not well pleas'd with this Answer, said, he was weary of being ill serv'd, and that he expected every one shou'd do their Duty. At the same time he threw his Napkin on the Ground. M. de Wesen fetch'd another, and offer'd it to the King, but he would not take it, and order'd him to be gone that Moment out of his Presence. Two Hours after, M. de Wesen was arrested by an Exempt of the Life-Guards, who conducted him in his Coach under a Guard to Custrin, the Capital of the New Marquisate, situate upon the Oder. There my Father-in-law was kept as a State-Criminal, and the Minister sent Orders to the Aulic Counsellor to go to my Mother's House, and clap a Seal upon her Husband's Effects. She was at that time in the Country, and my Brother happen'd to be at Church with our Governor, so that I was alone in the House when those Gentlemen came to execute their Order. After they had shew'd it to me, they ask'd me which was my Father-in-law's Apartment, that they might not be oblig'd to put the Seal upon every thing. I made no scruple to shew it to them, and as they withdrew they left me a Writing which was an Order to my Mother not to come to Court, nor to sollicite her Husband's Liberty. I sent immediately For my Governor, that he might go with this disagreeable News to my Mother, whose Surprize was as great as her Sorrow; for as she had an entire Love for her Husband, so she knew nothing of his Intrigues against the Minister, to whom she thought he was all along devoted. As the King's Order tied up her Hands, and hinder'd her from coming to Court, I was charg'd to do what I could there, to obtain my Father-in-law's Liberty.

One day as the Queen made an Entertainment at Lutzelbourg for the King, I presented a Petition to him, in my Mother's Name, intreating him to remove the Seal from her Effects, and the Guard from her House; and that his Majesty would be pleas'd to appoint Commissioners to try her Husband; to the end, that if guilty, he might be punish'd, or if innocent, that he might be set at liberty. My Youth, and the Tears which I shed at the Delivery of this Petition, melted the King's Heart, who told me, That he would do what my Mother desir'd, for her sake only; that he sympathiz'd in her Affliction; but that her Husband had so justly provok'd him, that he could not avoid making him sensible of his Indignation: That withal, he was very glad to see me so good-natur'd, as to sollicite in favor of a Man who he knew had not dealt well either by my Brother or me, notwithstanding the Injunction he laid upon him, when he match'd him to my Mother. I made him answer, that I had no reason to complain of my Father-in-law; and that tho' I had, my Mother's extreme Concern of Mind for what had happen'd, wou'd be a sufficient Motive for me to sollicite his Liberty. I commend you said the King, for these Principles. Go and tell your Mother that she shall be made easy, and be assur'd that I will take care of you. Those were the very Expressions of the King, who, when I stoop'd to embrace his Knees, encourag'd me also by clapping his Hand upon my Shoulder. As soon as he was gone, the Queen sent for me into her Closet, to give her an Account of this Conversation. I found her resting on a Couch, attended by none but Madamoiselle de Pollnitz my Cousin, who sat on the Ground at her Feet. When the Queen had enquir'd after my Mother's Health, she order'd me to assure her of her Esteem and Friendship; and when I had repeated to her what the King had said to me, she made Answer, That she was very glad the King was so well inclin'd to me. Cultivate his good Disposition, said she, make it your Study to merit his Favor. As for me, I will do every thing in my power to preserve you in it; and you may always be sure of my Protection.

So gracious a Reception both from the King and Queen gave me great Hopes; and I return'd to Berlin, not doubting but the Promises he had made to me wou'd soon be perform'd; yet 'twas not without tedious Sollicitations from my Mother's Friends that she obtain'd her Husband's Liberty, after seven Months Confinement, besides paying a Fine for him of ten thousand Crowns. The Revenge which the Minister took upon those who had made my Father-in-law their Agent, was not so much talk'd of; for he contented himself with banishing them to their respective Estates or Governments, and disposing of their Offices among his most obsequious Creatures. One of these was the Count de Witgenstein, upon whom he confer'd the Office of the Grand Marshal. He was a Person of a good Family, but neither he nor his Ancestors had ever done any Service to the State; and all his Merit was an entire Devotion to the Prime Minister, to whom he was more a Slave than a Friend. As long as the Count de Wartemberg continu'd in Favor, he kept his ground at Court; but the Fall of that Minister was attended with his. The Disgrace of my Father-in-law did not fail likewise to create a great deal of Trouble in my Family. My Mother follow'd him to his Estate in the Duchy of Zell, and I was sent with my Brother under the Conduct of a Governor to Lunebourg, there to finish my Studies.

All Europe was at this time in motion, and had taken part in the Quarrel between the Houses of Austria and Bourbon, on account of the Succession to the Monarchy of Spain. Philip of Anjou was already in possession of it, by virtue of Charles II's last Will and Testament; and in pursuance of the Right he had to it by his Grandmother Mary Theresa of Austria. The Emperor founded his Claim upon the Renunciation made by that Princess when she was married to Lewis XIV. The greatest part of Europe, which the exorbitant Power of France had begun to alarm, sided with the Emperor, who quitted his Rights in favor of the Archduke his Son. Besides the common Interest which it seem'd to be of all Europe to hinder two such Monarchies as France and Spain from being govern'd by one Prince, several Potentates had their particular Reasons, for laying hold of this opportunity, to make war with France.

The Court of England was alarm'd at the Proceeding of Lewis XIV. who had just recogniz'd the Son of James II. lately deceas'd at St. Germains, for King of England, by the Name of James III. in prejudice of King William, who had been recogniz'd by the Treaty of Ryswic.

The Dutch govern'd themselves by the Views of King William, who was all along their Stadtholder: And they could not forget the War in 1672, the Wounds of which were still bleeding.

The King of Prussia, besides his Interest in common with the other Electors, to hinder France from becoming too powerful, for fear lest hereafter the said Court should saddle them with whom it pleas'd for an Emperor, had Engagements subsisting with the Court of Vienna and the King of England. And in consequence of those Engagements he furnish'd the Emperor with 6000 Men, and gave Orders for a Levy in his Dominions of 20,000 Men, which King William had demanded of him, and which were during the whole War in the Pay of the United Provinces.

France had no Allies but the Electors of Bavaria and Cologn, who suffer'd themselves to be prevail'd on by the Promises of France; the chief of which was, That she would not make an end of the War till she had caus'd the Elector of Bavaria to be declar'd King of Swabia.

The Duke of Savoy was proof against the Advantages offered him by France: And notwithstanding the Marriage of his two Daughters to the Duke of Burgundy and the Duke of Anjou, King of Spain, he was the most zealous Ally against those two Crowns. He foresaw too very plainly, that as long as those two Powers were united, such was the Situation of his Dominions, that they wou'd hem him in between them; and therefore when the Duchess his Mother, who was a thorow French Woman, ask'd him, What would become of his Daughters, if he dethron'd the King of Spain, and ruin'd France, he reply'd to her, And if I do not, what will become of my Son?

These, Madame, were in general the various Motions that affected Europe when King William of England died: Nor did this Accident occasion any Alteration; for the Princess Anne Stuart, who succeeded him by the Name of Queen Anne, pursued the same Views as her Predecessor, and the War of the Allies against France was carried on with the same Vigor.

By the Death of the King of England, who was the last Prince of the Orange Branch, our King was Heir to all his personal Estate; yet his Right was contested by the Prince of Nassau-Friesland, who, tho' not so nearly related as the King, had the Advantage of Kindred by the Male Line, and had a Will of King William in his Favor, which intitled him to his Succession. As the States-General of the United Provinces were the Executors of this Will, the King immediately communicated his Pretensions to them, as he did also to Queen Anne, by M. de Spanheim his Ambassador at London. He founded his Right upon a Will of Frederic-Henry Prince of Orange, King William's Grandfather, who had a Son and three Daughters, the eldest of whom married to the Elector of Brandenburg the King's Father; the second to the Prince de Simmeren, a younger Prince of the present reigning Palatine Family, who dying without Issue, left his Right of Succession to the Electorate, to the Branch of Neuburg; and the third was married to the Prince of Anhalt-Dessau.

The Will of Frederic-Henry call'd the Male Descendants to his Succession; and on Failure of them the three Princesses his Daughters; by virtue of which, the King who descended from the eldest, claimed to be the lawful Heir, notwithstanding the Testament of King William, who could not dispose of an Estate which was intail'd. The King, for the better Manifestation of his Rights, set out for the Hague, accompanied by the Margrave Albert, his Brother, who left him at Wesel in order to join the Army at Keiserswaert[5].

At Wesel[6] the King receiv'd Messieurs de Lintelo, Slingenlandt, and Tour, Deputies from the States-General, to whom he paid the same Honors as to Sovereigns, and receiv'd them standing, with only an Arm-Chair behind him. They gave him an Account of the last Will and Testament of King William, which they had caus'd to be open'd in the Presence of M. Schmettau his Ambassador, Mr. Stanhope the Envoy Extraordinary of England, the Envoys of the Princesses of Anhalt and Nassau-Friesland, the Envoy of the Prince of Nassau-Siegen, the Commissioners of the States appointed for that purpose, and the Counsellors of the Domains of the late King William. They added that they had found in this Will, that the Prince of Nassau, hereditary Governor of Friesland, was call'd to the Succession as universal Heir, and they exhorted the King to own him as such. But notwithstanding all this, he enter'd his solemn Protest against the Will, and then set out for the Hague.

The King at his arrival alighted at the Palace of the Old Court, which was part of the Inheritance of the King of England, and of which he had already taken Possession, as well as of Honslaerdyke, another Palace of the late King of England. The Dutch wou'd fain have secur'd the Succession to the Prince of Nassau-Friesland, but they could not easily do this, without embroiling themselves with the King. Therefore they chose to temporize, and came to no Conclusion while the King staid in Holland, during which they endeavor'd to amuse him by procuring him all the Pleasures that their Country afforded; but the Grand Affair of the Succession to the King of England engross'd all his Thoughts, and he went away very much dissatisfy'd with the Conduct of the States-General at this Juncture.

As soon as he return'd to Berlin, he sent for my Brother and me from Lunenburg, for fear lest my Mother, who was a Lutheran, should persuade us to embrace that Religion. Next year he establish'd an Academy, into which he gave Orders for our Entrance. The View of this Establishment was to educate the young Nobility of the Court, in a manner suitable to their Extraction. The King had the Nomination of those that were to be admitted into this Academy, and Care had been taken to furnish it with the best Masters in all the Arts and Sciences. The Expence of the Students there were very moderate, the King having taken upon him to pay the Extraordinaries. This illustrious School, which was then call'd, The Academy of Princes, has lost very much of its former Splendor.

I found the Court of Berlin in the same State as when I left it. The Count de Wartemberg was still in the highest Favor; and the Count de Barfous, the only Man who had presum'd for some time to make head against the Minister, had at length been oblig'd to retire to his Estate; but what made his Banishment from Court the more tolerable to him, was a Pension which the King allow'd him of 20,000 Crowns. His Post of Velt-Marshal was given to M. de Wartensleben, Lieutenant-General of the Emperor's Troops, and General of those of the Duke of Saxe Gotha. This was also a Creature of the Prime Minister; yet he had Honor and Honesty enough to oppose him on Occasions, where he thought the Welfare of the State was concern'd. The Count de Lottum, who had been involv'd in the Disgrace of my Father-in-law, and whose Office of Grand Marshal had been conferr'd on the Count de Witgenstein, retain'd a certain Air of Favor in his Disgrace, as did also the Count de Barfous. The King had given him the Government of Wesel, to which he retir'd; and as he could not avoid doing justice to his Merit and Fidelity, he gave him the Command of the Troops design'd for the Netherlands. He was charg'd with the Blockade of Rhinberg, a Place in the Electorate of Cologn, which the French then possess'd, under color of being that Elector's auxiliary Forces. The Town surrendring in a little time, he undertook the Blockade of Guelders, which made a part of the Spanish Netherlands, and was yielded to us by the Peace of Utrecht. The taking of these two important Places in the midst of Winter, and the Behaviour of the Count de Lottum, who notwithstanding the Severity of the Season, and the Treatment he had received from Court, took all the Care possible for the Preservation of the King's Troops, made him so much extoll'd at Court, as was mortifying to the Prime Minister.

France endeavor'd to repair the Loss of these two Places by seizing the Principality of Orange, which we were not near enough to defend, and he put the Prince of Conti in immediate Possession of it, who had some claim to it through the Chalons Family, of which he call'd himself Heir. But he soon after yielded the said Principality and his Pretensions, to Lewis XIV. who likewise caus'd an Edict to be publish'd there, by which it was put to the choice of all the Inhabitants to turn Catholics, or to sell their Effects and retire out of the Kingdom within the space of three Months. The Generality of those who were not willing to change their Religion, retir'd to our Court, and among others, the Members of the Parliament. The King reliev'd them as far as he could, and caus'd Collections to be made in all the Churches of his Dominions, the Money of which was distributed to those who had the most pressing Occasion for it.

Soon after the Loss of Orange, the Margrave Albert married the Princess of Courland. That Prince in 1696, had succeeded the late Margrave Charles, his Father, in the Grand Mastership[7] of the Order of St. John. This Order is the same as that of Maltha, and is only separated from it since Luther. The Commanderies, subject to the Elector of Brandenburg, which became Protestant, put themselves under the Elector's Protection, and chose a Grand Master, or rather the Elector chose one for them. The Choice has always fallen upon a younger Prince of the Family, who is not engag'd by it to any Vow, more than the Knights, who are only obliged to prove their Nobility, to which the Sovereign very often objects.

The Princess of Courland was the eldest of the three Daughters that the Duke of Courland had by his first Lady. He married to his second Wife the King's Sister, and some time after he died. The Duchess his Widow, who had been oblig'd to abandon Courland, which the Swedes, the Poles and the Muscovites equally harass'd, came to Konigsberg, to be present at the Coronation of the King her Brother, who gave her that Protection she expected. Here it was, that the Year before she had married the Margrave of Brandenburg Bareith, the King's Cousin; and when she went with her Husband into his Dominions, she left the eldest of her Daughters-in-law with the Queen, in hopes of her marrying the Margrave Albert: And the Queen, who was fond of this Princess, ordered it so, that she obtain'd the King's Consent to the Marriage, which was celebrated some time after at Lutzelbourg.

Much about this time we had a new Ceremony in our Climates. This[8] was the Erection of a Statue which the King caus'd to be set up in honor of his Father Frederic-William the Great. 'Tis perfectly like that of Lewis XIV. in the Square of Vendôme at Paris. The Pedestal and Base are of white Marble. This Statue was set up July 12, 1703; and the King in order to do the more Honor to the Elector his Father, caus'd the Ceremony to be perform'd with a magnificent Apparatus, in presence of the whole Court, and all the Benches of Justice.