The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz Volume III Part 7

The Citadel or Castle of _Antwerp_ was formerly reckon'd one of the strongest and most regular Citadels in _Europe_; but the Works which _Lewis_ XIV. caus'd to be made in the _Netherlands_, and upon all the Frontiers of the Kingdom, have very much sunk the Reputation of the ancient Fortifications. 'Twas in the Square of this Castle, which was built by Order of the Duke of _Alva_, that he caus'd that famous Statue of Bra.s.s to be erected, which would have been an eternal Monument of his Pride and Cruelty, if it had not been pull'd down and broke to pieces by the Populace, as soon as the Duke quitted the _Netherlands_ by Order of his Master K. _Philip_ II. 'Tis said that while he commanded in this Country, he caus'd above 18000 Persons to be executed by the common Hangman.

Next to the Citadel, I cannot help giving you some Account of the Harbor, which is very beautiful and commodious. Here is a very large Square, where, by the Help of a certain Machine, they easily unload all the Goods.

Another good Conveniency, and what contributes to render this a very trading City, is, that besides the River there are eight great Ca.n.a.ls, by which s.h.i.+ps may enter into the City. Yet notwithstanding all these Conveniencies, the Trade of _Antwerp_, tho' considerable, is not near so flouris.h.i.+ng now, as it was before the Civil Wars, and the new Opinions in Affairs of Religion. 'Tis even astonis.h.i.+ng how this City could hold up its Head again after the Calamities it suffer'd, even from its own Sovereign, whose Troops in 1576, burnt above 600 Houses in _Antwerp_; and while the unfortunate Inhabitants were running, as it were, into the midst of the Flames, to rescue their best Effects, the _Spaniards_ fell upon 'em, and kill'd and drown'd near 10000. This terrible Fire was the total Ruin of _Antwerp_; the Town-House and several n.o.ble Palaces were reduc'd to Ashes; and the immense Riches which they contain'd were carry'd off by Plunderers, who pillag'd for three Days, during which they committed all manner of Outrages. Nevertheless, this unhappy City, which had like to have been buried for ever under its own Ashes, was rais'd to Life again some time after by the Confederates, who remain'd, as it were, its Sovereigns, till 1585, when the Prince of _Parma_ took it from them, after a Siege that lasted near twelve Months, and was one of the most famous Sieges that had ever been known before, as well upon account of the few Troops the Duke of _Parma_ had to carry it on, which in all were but 1200 Men, as for that famous d.y.k.e by which he shut up the Harbor, and for the Bridge which he laid over the _Scheld_.

_Antwerp_ remain'd under the Dominion of the House of _Austria_ from that Time to the Death of _Charles_ II. King of _Spain_, when it was oblig'd to receive a _French_ Garison in the Name of _Philip_ V. whom the Elector of _Bavaria_, Governor of the _Netherlands_, own'd for King of _Spain_. But by the Battle of _Ramellies_, _Antwerp_ and a part of the _Netherlands_ were reduc'd under the Dominion of the Emperor. During the War that was enter'd into for the _Spanish_ Monarchy, a Battle was fought in the Neighbourhood of _Antwerp_, near the Village of _Ekeren_, for which both Parties sung _Te Deum_.

Having set out from _Antwerp_ to pursue my Journey to _Paris_, I pa.s.s'd thro' MECHLIN[36], which is a very fine City, and the See of an Archbishop, whose Revenue is very considerable. The Metropolitan Church is dedicated to St. _Rambaut_. This City is the Seat of a Great Royal Council, which is, as it were, the Parliament of the Country, and was establish'd by _Charles_ Duke of _Burgundy_ in 1473. _Mechlin_ is famous for the Lace made there, which is finer and better than any that is made in the other Towns of the _Netherlands_.

From _Mechlin_ I went to BRUSSELS[37], the Capital of the Duchy of _Brabant_. This City stands on the little River _Senna_, that falls into the _Scheld_ by the Ca.n.a.l of _Vilvorde_, and divides the lower Town by several Ca.n.a.ls that terminate in the said Ca.n.a.l of _Vilvorde_, which is very convenient for their Trade, whereof this City has a considerable Share. There are several Manufactures at _Brussels_, of which that of _Devos_ for Tapistry is worth seeing; that skilful Operator having carried his Art to the utmost degree of Perfection that the Curious can desire.

The common People of _Brussels_ are more polite than in any other City of the _Netherlands_; for most of the n.o.bility of the Country come hither commonly to pa.s.s the Winter; and there are few Families of Note that have not a House here.

The Royal Palace is very large, and the Apartments beautiful, tho' very old. This Palace stands high above the City, being situate upon a Hill, from whence there is a n.o.ble Prospect, which is diversify'd by the Gardens, and the Park that joins to the Palace, wherein there are several very pleasant Walks, adorn'd with fine Grottos and Fountains.

The Town-house is another very fine Building. It stands in a Square, encompa.s.s'd with Grand Houses, built after _Brussels_ was bombarded by the _French_, under the Command of the Marshal _de Villeroy_, when this Quarter of the Town in particular suffer'd very great Damage; but it is since become the more agreeable by the magnificent Houses built where the old ones stood.

I left _Brussels_ to go to Mons the Capital City of _Hainault_, which stands upon a Hill, on the Banks of the little River of _Trouil_, and is one of the strongest Places in the Low-Countries. _Lewis_ XIV. besieg'd it in Person, and took it in 1691. It was restor'd to _Spain_ by the Peace of _Ryswic_, but afterwards at the Death of _Charles_ II. King of _Spain_, it return'd as well as all the Low-Countries under the Dominion of _France_.

But at length after the Battle of _Malplaquet_, it became subject to the House of _Austria_. In this City there's a famous Abbey of Nuns, which is a very honorable Retreat for young Women of Quality, who are Orphans, or don't care to be dependant on their Parents. They wear the Habit of Nuns in the Morning, to be present at the Office; but in the Afternoon they dress like Gentlewomen; and they make no Vow.

From _Mons_ I went to VALENCIENNES[38], which City is a part of the Province of _Hainault_, and the chief Town of _French Flanders_. Its beautiful Fortifications display the same Magnificence that was always observ'd in all the Works erected in the Reign of _Lewis_ XIV. That Monarch besieg'd _Valenciennes_ in Person, in the Year 1677; and after having taken it by Storm, caus'd a strong Citadel to be erected in it at the Expence of the Inhabitants. This City had been besieg'd by the Marshals _Turenne_ and _La Ferte_ in the Year 1656; but Don _John_ of _Austria_, the Governor of the _Netherlands_, accompanied by the Prince of _Conde_, who at that time, bore Arms against the King, made them raise the Siege; and in this Expedition the Marshal _de la Ferte_ was taken Prisoner.

The late Elector of _Cologne_ liv'd at _Valenciennes_ when I was there, the Casualties of the War having oblig'd him to quit his own Dominions. I was introduc'd to that Prince by the Prince _de Tingri_, when his Electoral Highness gave me a favorable Reception, and told me that he knew my Father; but I plainly perceiv'd by what he said, that this Prince would have been as glad to be in his City of _Bonn_, as in a Town of _France_.

I stay'd at _Valenciennes_ three Days, after which I set out for CAMBRAY[39]. This City is the Capital of the _Cambresis_, and one of the strongest Places in _Europe_. They say its Original is very ancient; for some Authors pretend, that _Camber_ King of the _Sicambri_ was the Founder of it. The Kings of _France_ conquer'd it, and were Masters of it a long while. After the Death of _Charles_ the _Bald_, it was for some time a Bone of Contention between the Emperor, the King of _France_, and the Earls of _Flanders_; but the latter seiz'd it, and the Emperors afterwards declar'd it a free City of the Empire. _Francis_ I. King of _France_ granted it a Neutrality; but the Emperor _Charles_ V. made himself Master of it; and afterwards during the Revolutions of the _Netherlands_, it fell under the Dominion of the Duke _d'Alencon_, Brother to _Henry_ III. who restor'd it to the _French_ by a Treaty, which he concluded with _John de Montluc_, whom King _Henry_ IV. afterwards made Prince of _Cambray_. Not long after this, the _Spaniards_ took it by surprize, and kept it till 1677, when Lewis XIV. took it, and it has remain'd ever since in the Possession of _France_, which Crown has considerably augmented its Fortifications.

_Cambray_ has the t.i.tle of an Archbishopric, which was erected in 1559, by Pope _Paul_ II. at the Request of _Philip_ II. King of _Spain_. The Suffragans granted to this Metropolitan were the Bishoprics of _Arras_, _Tournay_, _St. Omer_ and _Namur_, which were anciently Suffragan Sees to the Church of _Rheims_. The Archbishop takes the t.i.tle of _Duke of_ Cambray, _Count of the_ Cambresis, _and Prince of the Holy Empire_. He that was the Archbishop while I was there, was the ill.u.s.trious M. _de Fenelon_, a Prelate as venerable for his Piety, as for the Delicacy of his Pen. The present Archbishop is the natural Son of the late Duke of _Orleans_ the Regent, and was formerly Bishop and Duke of _Laon_. This Prelate fully answers the vast Hopes that were conceiv'd, from his good Qualities in his Non-age. His Predecessor in this Dignity was the famous Cardinal _Dubois_, the Minister of _France_.

I forgot to tell you, that the City of _Cambray_ is also of great Note for the famous League that was concluded between the Pope, the Emperor _Maximilian_, _Lewis_ XII. King of _France_, and _Ferdinand_ King of _Arragon_, against the Republic of _Venice_.

From _Cambray_ I went to ST. QUINTIN, which City is the Capital of the _Vermandois_, and is of Note for the famous Battle of _St. Quintin_, call'd also the Battle of St. _Lawrence_, because 'twas fought on the 10th of _August_, in 1557. After the Truce was broke between _Henry_ II. King of _France_, and _Philip_ II. King of _Spain_, _Philibert-Emanuel_ Duke of _Savoy_, who was Governor of the _Netherlands_, besieg'd the City of _St.

Quintin_, which was dest.i.tute of Troops, and moreover in a very bad Condition. The Admiral _Coligni_ got into it with some Forces, which gave Time to the Constable _de Montmorency_ to pa.s.s the _Somme_ with the _French_ Army under his Command, and throw some Succours into the Town.

This was executed indeed, but with so much Precipitation, that the Men who entered it were scarce five hundred in number. The Constable perceiving the Approach of the _Spaniards_, and his Troops being moreover inc.u.mber'd with their Equipage, endeavored to make his Retreat; but the Duke taking advantage of his Inc.u.mbrance, surpriz'd him between the Villages of _Essigny_ and _Rizerolles_, and charg'd him home before he had Time to put his Men into Order of Battle; and the Constable and his Son were taken Prisoners, with a great many Persons of Distinction. The Number of the Slain was even greater than that of the Prisoners; and among the former was _John_ of _Bourbon_, Duke of _Anguien_, a Prince of the Blood Royal, and above 600 Gentlemen. The _Spaniards_ Loss did not exceed 500 Men.

_Philip_ II. in acknowledgment for this Victory, made that extraordinary Vow, which he afterwards perform'd, to build the Monastery of St.

_Lawrence_ at the _Escurial_; upon which a certain Amba.s.sador of _France_, when he was shew'd that stately Edifice, said, _That +Philip+ must needs be terribly afraid when he made so considerable a Vow_. After the Battle, _St. Quintin_ surrender'd to the _Spaniards_, who kept it till the Treaty of _Chateau-Cambresis_, in 1559.

From _St. Quintin_ I went to COMPIEGNE, a City in the Diocese of _Soissons_, which is situate on the West side of the _Oyse_ and the _Aisne_. The famous Maid of _Orleans_ ow'd the Loss of her Liberty to this City. For that ill.u.s.trious Heroine going to the Relief of _Compiegne_, which the _English_ had resolv'd to besiege, had the Misfortune to fall into their hands, and was carried Prisoner to _Roan_, where they burnt her for a Witch. 'Twas at the Castle of _Compiegne_ that the Cardinal _de Richlieu_ kept the Queen _Mary de Medicis_ a Prisoner, till that Princess found Means to escape, and to retire to _Flanders_. I have had the Honor already to tell you, that this unfortunate Queen died at _Cologn_.

This same Castle was also for some time the Residence of the Elector of _Bavaria_, after he was ejected out of his Dominions by the victorious Arms of the Emperor. The Court his Electoral Highness kept here was so splendid, that it did not look like the Court of a Refugee Prince.

Near _Compiegne_ there's a very large Forest, which renders the Neighbourhood of this City very pleasant. There are fine Roads cut out in this Forest, which render it very convenient for Hunting.

The only considerable Place from _Compiegne_ to _Paris_ is SENLIS; and that purely on account of its being the See of a Bishop: for setting aside its Situation, which is very agreeable, by reason of the Neighbourhood of the beautiful Forest of _Chantilly_, _Senlis_ is a very trifling Place.

Near this City is the Abbey of our _Lady of Victory_, which _Philip Augustus_ caus'd to be built as an Acknowledgment for the Victory he won in Person at _Bouvines_, over the Emperor _Otho_ IV. and his Confederates, on _Sunday July_ 27th, 1215; upon which very Day, his Son too won another Battle over the _English_ in _Anjou_. They say that the two Couriers that were carrying the News of each of the Victories, from the one Army to the other, met at the very Place where now stands the Church of this Abbey.

Betwixt _Senlis_ and _Paris_ there stands the little Town of St. DENYS, famous for the magnificent Abbey which gives Name to it. In this Church are the Tombs of the Kings and Princes of _France_, whose Mausoleums are of rich Workmans.h.i.+p. Here is a Treasure also which contains a great Number of very curious Pieces. The Abbey of St. _Denys_ has also given its Name to the great Plain in which it stands. 'Twas in this Plain that the famous Battle was fought between the Catholics and Hugonots, in the Reign of _Charles_ IX. when the Constable _Montmorency_, who at the Age of 83, commanded the Catholics, was wounded, but gain'd the Victory over the Heretics.

At my leaving _St. Denys_, I had at length the pleasure of seeing what I had a long time pa.s.sionately wish'd for, I mean the famous City of PARIS[40], where I arriv'd about the beginning of the Year 1712. I make no scruple to call it the chief City of the World, as it is the Capital of the chief Kingdom in Christendom. The Extent of its Circ.u.mference, the Beauty of its Buildings, the Mult.i.tude of its Inhabitants, the continual Arrival and the Residence of Foreigners there, the Variety and Plenty of Commodities of all sorts, render it the finest City in the World; and on those Accounts 'tis justly reckon'd as the Ornament, the Soul and the Strength of the _French_ Empire. I was not willing however to make any stay here at first, because of my Impatience to see the famous Castle of VERSAILLES, so much talk'd of at all Foreign Courts.

I had entertain'd so grand an Idea of this Palace, and was so fully persuaded of its being all over Gold and Azure, that at the first Sight the Beauty of it did not strike me. The Entrance to _Versailles_, as one comes from _Paris_, does not set it off at all, tho' the Avenue that leads to it is one of the most magnificent; but when one comes up to the Castle, and turns about towards this Grand Avenue, the two sumptuous Stables on the sides of it form a Prospect, which gives a sublime Idea of the Master of those stately Piles of Building. The Front of the Castle, which looks towards the Gardens is the finest; and on that Side is the superb Gallery, which is the Admiration of all Foreigners. What most surpriz'd me at _Versailles_ is the Inside of the Castle, which if one examines it well, looks like several Castles join'd together. The Royal Family, which was still pretty numerous, was lodg'd there very much at their Ease, each having their Guard-Chamber, an Anti-Chamber, a Presence-Chamber, a Bed-Chamber, and Great Closet and Wardrobes. The chief Officers and Ladies attending the Princesses were also commodiously lodg'd. The greatest part of the Lords of the Court had Lodgings too here, which were indeed pretty much straiten'd for want of room, but very convenient. In short, I was a.s.sur'd, that when _Lewis_ XIV. was at _Versailles_, about 20,000 Persons lay every Night in the Body of this Castle, and the Buildings in the Verge of it, the Apartments and other Lodgings being so well laid out, that all this great Mult.i.tude did not croud one another.

The finest Pieces in the Inside of the Castle are the Gallery and the Saloons that join to it. The Walls are lin'd with Marble. Every Place s.h.i.+nes with the Works of the greatest Masters in Gold and Bra.s.s, and with n.o.ble Pier-Gla.s.ses. I have heard say, that before the War for the _Spanish_ Succession, all the Tables, Chandeliers and Stands, which are now of Marble and gilt Frames, were of Ma.s.sy Silver; but the King converted them into Money to help defray the vast Expences of the Wars he was then engaged in. The Cieling of the Gallery represents in several Pictures the princ.i.p.al Actions of _Lewis_ the XIVth's Life; and is also adorn'd with Cartridges and Gildings, which are remarkable both for their Richness and their Elegance.

The Chapel is perfectly answerable to the Magnificence of the Inside of the Castle. The Critics indeed think 'tis too lofty for its Bigness; and without pretending to much Skill in Architecture, of which what I now say is perhaps a Proof, I should readily subscribe to their Opinion. Indeed a Man ought to be plac'd in the Pew from whence the King hears Ma.s.s, to have a just View of the fine Paintings with which the Cieling is enrich'd; and than which there's nothing to be seen that is finer or better fancy'd. The princ.i.p.al Picture represents G.o.d the Father in all his Glory, as fully as Human Weakness can conceive it. This is a piece of Painting I am never weary of admiring; and I found some new Pleasure every time I look'd on it. The Cieling is supported by n.o.ble Pillars of a white Stone, as beautiful as Marble, which form a Gallery that runs round the Chapel, of an equal height all along with the King's Pew, and the Ballisters are of yellow Copper and Marble. When one looks down from the Pew, the Chapel seems too low, and the Great Altar not high enough. Opposite to the King's Pew, and exactly over the High Altar, there's an Organ-Loft of a very good Contrivance, where the King's Music sits. 'Tis a very good Band; and those who are nice Judges always admire the first Touch they give to their Instruments, the Moment that the King enters the Chapel to hear Ma.s.s.

I own to you, _Madame_, that I thought it one of the finest Sights in the World, to see _Lewis_ XIV. enter the Chapel in all his Grandeur, attended by the Cardinals and the Lords of his Court. The Life-Guards and the Hundred _Swiss_ took up the Gallery and the Bottom of the Chapel, and the Drums beat, and the _Swiss_ Fifes play'd till his Majesty was seated. On Communion or Sermon Days the King went down into the Chapel, and then the Pavement, which is of very fine Marble, was cover'd all over with n.o.ble Tapestry. When the King receiv'd the Sacrament, a Praying-Desk was set for him over-against the High Altar, and then the Hundred _Swissers_ were rang'd in two Rows, and the Courtiers encompa.s.s'd his Majesty. During the Sermon the King's Chair of State was plac'd over-against the Pulpit, and the Princes and Princesses of the Royal Family and Blood were seated in Folding Chairs, on both sides of the King in the same Line. But the Princes and Princesses very seldom a.s.sisted at the King's Ma.s.s; and when they did, they kneel'd leaning on the same Ball.u.s.trade that the King did, but quite off of his Carpet.

The Gardens of _Versailles_ may be rank'd among the modern Wonders; and I don't believe that the so much boasted Gardens of the superb _Semiramis_ were finer. For really, considering the Statues, Vases and Water-works of Marble and Bra.s.s, one wou'd think Pains had been taken to ransac _Greece_ and _Rome_ it self, both ancient and modern, for its most wonderful Productions on purpose to bring them to this charming Place. These Gardens were plann'd by the famous _Le Nautre_. At the end of the Great Walk which fronts the Castle there's a very s.p.a.cious Ca.n.a.l. It forms a Cross to a certain Distance, one side of which leads to the _Menagerie_, and the other to _Trianon_. The _Menagerie_ is a very little House with only a few Rooms, from whence the King may see the rarest Animals of all sorts, which are kept there. As for _Trianon_ and its Gardens, one would not think at the first View that they were made by Man. The Whole is perfectly inchanting, and a Person ever so little captivated with the strange Tales of the Fairies, wou'd not scruple to think this magnificent Structure the Master-piece of those ingenious Work-women. The whole Building, to outward Appearance, seems very small; but when one examines the Inside of it, the Apartments are both s.p.a.cious and commodious. The Outside of this Palace is partly hid by fine Groves; what appears of it is fac'd with white Marble, adorn'd with an Order of Pilasters of red Marble, with Windows in form of Arches between them. _Lewis_ XIV. often retir'd to this charming Solitude, to be shelter'd from the Importunities of the Courtiers; and no body was admitted to him but such Persons as his Majesty appointed.

A little League from _Versailles_ there's _Marly_, another Royal Palace; and which of all the Palaces has the most pleasant Gardens, tho' those of _Versailles_ are by much more sumptuous. The Great Cascade, which is all of Marble of various Colors, makes a stately Appearance. When one is at the Top of this Cascade, and looks toward the Palace, one sees all the Gardens, and a Plain thro' which the River _Seine_ winds itself, having on one side the Castle of _St. Germain en Laye_; and on the other the Castle _de Maisons_, belonging to the President of that Name, which forms an admirable Point of View. _Lewis_ XIV. who was fond of _Marly_, condescended to divest himself there of part of his Grandeur, and did a great many Ladies of Quality the Honor to make them sit down with him at Table. Thus, _Madame_, have I given you a slight Sketch of the famous Palace of _Versailles_, and its Neighbourhood. I did not think it so proper to give you an exact Detail of the Beauties one discovers at every Step in this magnificent Palace. You have undoubtedly seen a good Description of them already, in the Books printed upon that Subject. I shall now add a Word or two of the Princes and Princesses of the Royal Family.

I shall not presume to say any thing of the August Head of this ill.u.s.trious Family, since it wou'd require a more delicate Pen than mine to treat so sublime a Subject with suitable Dignity. All that I shall do my self the Honor to Say to you of _Lewis_ XIV. is, that if a good Mien was to be the Merit for the Crown of _France_, this Great Prince might have put in his Claim for it upon that account, as justly as on the account of his Birth. He was already advanc'd in years in 1712, when I had the Honor to see him; and yet he had a n.o.bler Air than any Man in his Kingdom.

The Duke of _Burgundy_, who became Dauphin of _France_, by the Death of his Father, _Lewis_ XIVth's Son, who was the year before carried off in a very few days by the Small-Pox at his Palace of _Meudon_, was the first Prince in the Kingdom next to the King. His Great Qualities prognosticated that if he liv'd, his Reign wou'd be very happy: Being Devout, without neglecting any of the Duties of a Prince, he had a way of reconciling the Retirement of a Cloyster to the Bustle of a Court; and tho' he had the Great Affair of his Salvation always at heart, yet he thought, and justly too, that his Practice of Piety ought not to exclude his Application to the Affairs of State. He married a Princess, whose great Qualities wou'd have made the _French_ happy, if an untimely Death had not s.n.a.t.c.h'd her away in the Flower of her Age. Her Name was _Mary Adelaide_ of _Savoy_. I can a.s.sure you, _Madame_, that I never saw one that had a more n.o.ble and Majestic Presence than this Princess. And several Ladies that had the Honor of being with her in private a.s.sur'd me, that none could be more sprightly and gay. Her Youth made her fond of Pleasures; but yet she never was forgetful of her Duties. She had an extraordinary Respect and Regard for the King. She went every Evening to Madame _de Maintenon_'s Apartment when the King was there, and after the Council was over, she put every thing in practice that her gay Humor cou'd imagine to divert him.

The Princess had also a particular Esteem for the Dauphin her Husband, and as this Prince never fail'd of being at Ma.s.s, nor at Vespers, or the Evening Prayers, the Dauphiness always went with him, and very readily made her Pleasures give place to her Duties.

I had not been long at the Court of _France_ when this ill.u.s.trious Couple died within a few days of one another. The first who paid that Tribute to Nature was the Dauphiness. This Princess fell sick at _Versailles_, soon after which the Purples discover'd themselves; and at length her Distemper appearing desperate, she was admonish'd to prepare for Death: but this was Advice she could not find in her heart to comply with, it being a hard matter to renounce a voluptuous Life; especially when supported with the Hopes of being e'er long possess'd of one of the first Crowns in the World. This Princess died, as it were, in the Arms of the d.u.c.h.ess of _Orleans_, who by her Desire never left her during all the time of her Illness.

The King, who was very much afflicted for her Death, set out immediately for _Marly_, whither the Dauphin follow'd him. This Prince knowing the Value of the Jewel he had lost, so indulg'd his Grief that he sicken'd almost as soon as he arriv'd at _Marly_, of the same Distemper that had just depriv'd him of his Consort. He received the Sentence of his Death with a Resolution truly Christian; and in the Height of his Distemper was often heard to put up this Pet.i.tion, _My G.o.d! save the King and Government_. The Night he died he had a very great Desire to hear Ma.s.s; and whatever they could say to convince him that the Rules of the Church did not allow it to be celebrated at that Hour, yet he wou'd not take a Denial; so that as soon as the Midnight Bell rung, Ma.s.s was said in his Chamber, at an Altar that was put up at his Bed's feet. After the Elevation of the Host, the Dauphin was very much compos'd, and continu'd praying to G.o.d till his Strength failing him every Minute more and more, he gave up the Ghost. This happen'd on the 18th of _February_ 1712, six Days after the Death of the Dauphiness.

The King had need of all his Stock of Courage to support so many Shocks one after another. The Royal Family was in the utmost Consternation. Those that were about the King wou'd fain have persuaded him to retire elsewhere a little while for Change of Air; but he answered undauntedly, _That he was every where in the Hands of G.o.d_; _and that therefore he would continue where he was_. This great Prince had soon after, another Trial of his Patience, by the News he receiv'd of the Death of the Duke of _Bretagne_, who upon the Decease of his Father had been declar'd the Dauphin. This young Prince died at _Versailles_ the 8th of _March_ 1712, when he was but five Years old. There never was a more sorrowful Scene than to see the Funeral Pomp of this Year, which serv'd at the same time for the Father, Mother and Son.

The only one that remain'd of this August Stock was the Duke of _Anjou_ now _Lewis_ XV. This Prince too, who was but a Child, was such a poor Weakling all along, that no body thought he would live; and he was at this time in such a bad way, that the very Physicians despair'd of his Recovery. Nevertheless he insensibly gathered Strength, and now the _French_ see their young Monarch in a more vigorous State of Health than they could have hoped for in his Childhood: For this I believe they are oblig'd to the great Care which was taken of this young Prince by the d.u.c.h.ess of _Ventadour_, who was charg'd with his Education, in which Post she acquitted herself with all the Zeal that a Person could do, who knew the Value of that precious Deposit which was committed to her trust.

The next to the Throne after this young Prince was the Duke of _Berry_, Brother to the Duke of _Burgundy_. He was of a fair Complexion, and for his Age a little too corpulent. He spent his time chiefly in Hunting, and when the Chace was over he us'd to go to his d.u.c.h.ess's Apartments to game; for this Princess, after the Death of the d.u.c.h.ess of _Burgundy_, kept an a.s.sembly.

The last Prince of the Royal Family was the Duke of _Orleans_, afterwards Regent of the Kingdom; of whom I shall have occasion to say more, when at the death of _Lewis le Grand_ he took on him the Government of the Kingdom during the present Monarch's Minority.

The first People at Court next to the Princes of the Royal Family, were the Princes of the Blood. The chief was the Duke of _Chartres_, now Duke of _Orleans_, by the Death of his Father who was the Regent of _France_ during the Minority of _Lewis_ XV.

The Duke of _Bourbon_, and the Counts _de Charolois_ and _Clermont_ compos'd the _Conde_ Branch. The first of these Princes whom they call only _The Duke_, was a tall portly Man, very free and easy, but had the misfortune to lose one Eye when he was a hunting by some small Shot that scatter'd from the Duke of _Berry_'s Fowling-piece, as he let fly at some Game.

The other two Princes were well-shap'd and very fair, but being as yet very young, they were as well as the Duke of _Chartres_ in the hands of their Governors.

The Prince of _Conti_, Son of him who was formerly decked King of _Poland_, was the only Prince of the second Branch of _Bourbon_.

These, _Madame_, were the Princes that then composed the Court of _France_. I shall now do myself the Honor to give you some account of the Princesses according to their Rank, distinguis.h.i.+ng them as I have done the Princes, by the t.i.tles of Princesses of the Royal Family, and Princesses of the Blood.

The first Princess of the Royal Family was the Dauphiness, whom I have had the Honor to mention to you.

Next to the Dauphiness, the d.u.c.h.ess of _Berry_ was first in Rank. This Princess was the Daughter of the Duke of _Orleans_, afterwards the Regent.

She resembled her Father very much for her Wit, and had she not been a little too bulky she would have been one of the most amiable Princesses of the whole Court. I shall have occasion to let you into this Princess's Character presently.

_Madame_, the second Wife of _Philip_ of _Orleans_, Brother to _Lewis_ XIV. was the third Princess at Court, during the Life of the Dauphiness.

Her Name was _Elizabeth-Charlotte_ of _Bavaria_; being the Daughter of the Elector _Charles-Lewis_ by _Charlotte_ of _Hesse_, and the last of the ill.u.s.trious Branch of the Palatine Family. The Court I constantly pay'd to this Princess, to whom I was moreover well recommended by the Electoress of _Hanover_ Mother to the King of _England_, enables me to tell you some Particulars which will give you a just Notion of her.

This Princess was very affable, yet not very forward to grant her Protection. She talk'd a great deal, and talk'd well. She lov'd especially to speak in her Mother-Tongue, which she had not forgot tho' she had been fifty Years in _France_, for which reason she was overjoy'd to see her Countrymen, and to correspond with them by Letters. She was very punctual in writing to the Electoress of _Hanover_, and to several other Personages in _Germany_; and the Letters she commonly wrote were not little Billets, but took up twenty or thirty Sheets of Paper. Of these I had a sight of several that would have been worth publis.h.i.+ng, and have not seen any thing better writ in the _German_ Tongue. In short, this Princess did nothing but write from Morning till Night. Immediately after she rose, which was always about ten o'clock, she sate down at her Toilet. From thence she went into her Closet, where after having spent some time in Prayer, she took Pen and Ink and wrote till she went to Ma.s.s. After this was ended, she wrote again till Dinner-time, which did not last long, and then she fell to writing again till ten o'clock at Night. About nine o'clock when she received Company in her Closet she was found sitting at a great Table spread with Papers, and there was an _Ombre_ Table just by it, at which the Marshal _de Cleremhault_'s Lady and the other Ladies of the Princess's Houshold used to play. Every now and then the Princess cast an Eye upon the Game, and would give her Advice and write at the same time. At other times she convers'd with those who paid their Court to her. I once saw this Princess napping, and the Moment after start out of her Sleep and write on. This, _Madame_, was the common Life of the Princess when she was at _Versailles_. Sometimes however she went out a hunting with the King, dress'd like an _Amazon_, and sometimes to the Opera. For this Princess was very fond of Plays, so that after the Death of _Lewis_ XIV. when the Court came to settle at _Paris_ she often made the _French_ and _Italian_ Comedians perform at the Theatre of the Royal Palace.

As to Rank, never did any Princess support it better than this. As she was punctual to the last degree in requiring the Honors due to her, so she return'd to every one the Honors that belong'd to them. I heard her once talk very sharply upon this head to the d.u.c.h.ess of _Berry_; and indeed none but she durst have talk'd to that Princess in such a Stile. It happen'd in _Lewis_ XVth's Minority that the d.u.c.h.ess of _Berry_ came to her one Evening in a Scarf. After she had been there about half an Hour she ask'd Madame _de Mouchy_ what o'clock it was; whereupon the Princess ask'd the d.u.c.h.ess of _Berry_ what she said to Madame _de Mouchy_. The d.u.c.h.ess made her Answer, that she was going to the _Tuilleries_, and therefore she ask'd what time of Night it was. _How! to the_ Tuilleries, said Madame; _What are you going to take an Airing by the Light of Flambeaus?_ For, indeed, it was just Night. _No, Madame_, said the d.u.c.h.ess of _Berry_, _I am going to the King_. _To the King!_ reply'd Madame; _Pray excuse me for expressing my Surprize!_ _What, go to the King, +Madame+, in that Dress! I thought you knew your Duty to him better: I beseech you_, Madame, _do no such thing. Render to the King the Respect that you owe him, and then you will have a Right to challenge what is your due from every body else._