made, and like the King his Father is adroit in all bodily Exercises. He
loves Pleasure, but 'tis with Moderation, and is heartily attach'd to the
Religion which he has embrac'd. He is stiff and reserved, without being
haughty, which is a Temper that he derives from the late Queen his
Mother[56], whom he very much resembles. To such as have the Honour of
Access to him, and of being known to him, he is gracious, familiar and
very civil. His Royal Highness has been admit'd for his good Qualities in
a great part of _Europe_, particularly in _Germany_, _France_, and
_Italy_, where he has spent several Years. No Son can have more respect to
a Parent than he has for the King his Father, whose Will and Pleasure he
never oppos'd in any one Instance; and whose Person he has always honour'd
even in his Ministers. Of all Pleasures he seems to bestow most Time in
Hunting; nevertheless he makes it only as an Amusement without being
passionately fond of it. His Royal Highness's Confident is _Solckofski_ or
_Sulkowski_[57], a _Polish_ Gentleman who was once his Page; and by thus
making him his Favourite, for which he cannot but be applauded, he shews
that he is capable of distinguishing true Merit. I had frequently the
Honour of making my Compliments to this Prince while he was at _Paris_,
and this is now the second time that I have had the same favour at
_Dresden_, where I find he is the same gracious Personage as ever. The
last time that I had the Honour of being introduc'd to him he talk'd a
great deal to me about _Paris_, and when he dismiss'd me, he said he was
sorry to think that _Dresden_ would not afford me so many Pleasures as
_Paris_.
The same Day that I waited on the Prince, I was introduced to the Princess
his Royal Highness's Consort, who is the late Emperor _Joseph_'s eldest
Daughter. The Voice of the People is unanimous in the Character of this
Princess. All Mankind agrees that she has not her superior for
Good-nature, Piety, Charity, Modesty, and in a word for all, the Virtue of
the Soul: To please her Husband, and to give her Children an Education
suitable to their Birth, is her principal Endeavour. 'Tis rare to find a
happier Couple than their Royal Highnesses; for Marriage, which generally
cools the warmest Passions, seems on the contrary to have animated their
reciprocal Affection to such a degree that they are a Pattern for the
Imitation of their Court.
Their Royal Highnesses Children are so young that I shall say but little
of them[58]. Their eldest Son very much resembles the Pictures that I have
seen of the Emperor _Joseph_ when he was a Child. This young Prince seems
to me to be of a very delicate Constitution, and has so great a Weakness
in his Knees that he can scarce stand: The Physicians say it will go off
as he grows up, but their Promises are no Gospel for me.
The two Princes of the Blood, who commonly reside at _Dresden_, are
_John-Adolphus_ of _Saxe-Weissenfels_[59], a Prince of uncommon Merit,
whose Sentiments and Actions are no disparagement to his Birth; and
_Maurice-William_ of _Saxe-Zeits_, the last of his Branch. He was
persuaded by his Uncle the late Cardinal _de Saxe-Zeits_ to abjure the
_Lutheran_ Religion and to embrace the ecclesiastical State: He is Bishop
of _Konigsgratz_ in _Bohemia_, Provost of _Alten Ottingen_ in _Bavaria_,
and a Canon of _Cologne_, _Liege_, and _Aichstedt_, and is descended from
such a Family that it may be presum'd, he will some day or other, be
advanc'd to the Purple[60].
N. B. _What follows, is a more particular Account of the Electoral
Family of +Saxony+, translated from the Baron's State of it; which
is prefix'd to the second Edition of these +Memoirs+._
_Augustus_ III. King of _Poland_ Great Duke of _Lithuania_ and Elector of
_Saxony_, was born the seventh of _October_ 1696. He is the only Son of
_Augustus_ II. the last King of _Poland_ and of _Eberhardina_ of
_Brandenbourg-Bareith_. His Grandmother, _Anne_ Princess Royal of
_Denmark_, Widow of _John George_ the third Elector of _Saxony_, took care
of him in his Infancy, and impress'd him with those Sentiments of Piety,
Humanity, and Justice, which render him at this day the Darling of his
People, and the Pattern of Kings.
At a proper Age, the King his Father took him out of the hands of the
Women, and committed him to the Care of Monsieur _de Miltitz_, a Gentleman
of a good Family; whom Learning, good Behaviour and solid Virtue render'd
worthy of such an Employment.
The Prince, who always found Charms in Virtue, was sensible of the Merit
of his Governor: He lov'd him, was inseparable from him, and receiv'd his
Advice with a Docility, which, at his tender Age, was a presage he wou'd
be possess'd of that Fund of Wisdom which now renders him worthy of his
Throne.
While the young Prince was under the Conduct of the Women, God was pleas'd
to touch the Heart of the late King his Father: That Monarch, who happen'd
to be born a _Lutheran_, was converted to the _Roman_ Catholick Religion,
and not long after elected King of _Poland_; and his Majesty being
convinc'd of the Purity of the Religion which he had embrac'd, was
inclin'd to make a Convert also of the Prince his Son. Nevertheless, such
was the Respect the King had for her Royal Highness his Mother, that he
was loth that august Princess shou'd be an Eye-witness of the young
Prince's renouncing a Religion which she had taught him, and to which she
was strenuously attach'd: He resolv'd therefore to remove him, and sent
him to _Francfort_ to be present at the Coronation of the Emperor
_Charles_ VI. His Companion in this Journey, was M. _de Miltitz_; but as
this Gentleman's Attachment to _Luther_'s Doctrine made the King
apprehensive that he wou'd thwart his Views, he recall'd him, and
appointed the Count _de Costa_, and the Baron _de Hagen_, to be his Son's
Governors.
The Count who was a _Polander_ and Palatine of _Livonia_, was not only of
noble Birth, but a Gentleman of solid Piety, profound Learning, great
Probity, and as much respected for his Principles as belov'd for his good
Behaviour and Politeness.
The Baron _de Hagen_ was of a Family of some Distinction in the Electorate
of _Triers_: He was Ambassador from the King at the Emperor's Election,
and at his Coronation at _Francfort_: His Behaviour was more grave than
the Count _de Costa_'s, but he was not inferior to the Count for Learning,
Integrity, and good Sense.
Under the Conduct of these two Gentlemen, the Prince set out to visit a
part of _Germany_ and _Italy_, where he embrac'd the _Roman_ Catholick
Religion; his Profession of which, was however for a long time as private
as it is now exemplary; for he did not declare his alteration of Religion
'till after the Death of her most Serene Highness his Grandmother, who
died the first of _July_ 1717. During this the Prince made the Tour of
_France_, where, tho' he travell'd under the Name of the Count _de
Misnia_, _Lewis_ XIV. caus'd all the Honours to be paid to him which were
due to the Son of a great King.
The Court of _France_ was charm'd with that Politeness, that noble
Modesty, and that Fund of Wisdom which accompany'd this Prince's Actions
and Conversation: They admir'd him and were sorry for his Departure. He
travell'd a second time to _Italy_, where he acquired that fine Taste of
Men and Things and that Knowledge of Architecture, Painting, and other
curious Arts, which is so useful for great Princes. _Germany_, upon the
return of this Prince, bless'd itself for having given him birth, and
offer'd up Prayers that all its Princes might be like him. His Royal
Highness stay'd a considerable while at _Vienna_, where he maintain'd the
Reputation he had acquir'd in the several Countries he had seen. He
returned at length to _Saxony_, where there was an universal Joy for his
Arrival. The _Saxons_ were charm'd to see the Prince that was design'd by
Heaven to be their Sovereign, so worthy of that Command. One day or other,
they said, we shall lose the most righteous of Kings, and the best of
Masters, but we shall find restor'd in his Son, his heroic Stature, his
majestic Air, his Magnanimity, the same Temper for Goodness, Equity and
Generosity; the Spirit of the great _Augustus_ will be always present with
us; and all our Loss will be that of his Personal Appearance.
Not long after the Prince's Return to _Dresden_, _Augustus Christopher_
Count _de Wackerbarth_[61] treated at _Vienna_ for the Marriage of his
Royal Highness to the most serene Archdutchess _Maria Josepha_, eldest
Daughter of the late Emperor _Joseph_. The Count _de Flemming_, Prime
Minister and Velt-Marshal of _Saxony_, solemnly demanded the most serene
Archdutchess in Marriage; and the Prince repair'd to _Vienna_ to espouse
her. The Ceremony was perform'd in the Chapel of _la Favorita_, with all
the Pomp suitable to so great a Match. Some Days after this, their Royal
Highnesses set out for _Dresden_, where they were receiv'd with an
unparallell'd Magnificence. _Augustus_ II. the most splendid of Kings, and
a Prince who had the best Fancy for ordering of Entertainments, outdid
himself; he thought nothing too good for celebrating the Nuptials of his
so worthy a Son, with a Princess whose Ancestors were all Emperors.
The Rejoicings having lasted forty Days, the King set out for his Kingdom,
leaving the Prince Regent, as he always did whenever he went from his
Electorate.
In 1726, the Prince himself took a Journey to _Poland_, to which Country
he had once before accompanied the King his Father in 1711, but then made
no long stay. There he won the Hearts of the chief Nobility, who from that
moment thought him worthy of succeeding one day to their Governor, the
Great _Augustus_. They were pleased to see, that he honour'd their
Countryman, the Count _Sulkowski_, with his Confidence, and they thought
it a happy Omen for their Nation, blessing their Stars, that the Prince
distinguished Virtue in one born among themselves.
His Royal Highness being convinced that of all the Sums laid out by
Princes, there are none less liable to censure than what they expend in
Buildings, undertook that of _Wermsdorf_, which he afterwards call'd
_Hubertsbourg_; and he finish'd that great Work in a little time, by the
assistance of the King his Father: For, in short, it would have been
impossible for his Royal Highness to have defray'd all the Expence of it
himself. It was already very wonderful to see with what Prudence he
directed his Finances. His Revenue being settled, his Expence was suitable
to his Rank; he had a numerous Houshold, his Hunting Equipage was
sumptuous, yet he did good to all that made their Necessity known to him;
his Charities were truly Royal, every body was paid; the Noblemen and the
Tradesmen receiv'd their Pensions and Salaries punctually; and his
Accounts were so regularly kept and discharged by the Count _Sulkowski_,
that the Prince was never in debt.
The Prince commonly spent the Season for hunting the Stag at
_Hubertsbourg_, and employ'd the remainder of his time at _Dresden_, in
all manner of Exercises, being admired in every Action, for the Grace,
Strength, and Dexterity with which he perform'd it, as well as for the
Sobriety and Regularity of his Manners; for he kept as regular Hours
then, as he does now.
_Augustus_ III. never knew what it was to be idle or vicious. Such is his
Chastity and Fidelity to his august Spouse, that he never gave her the
least Reason so much as to suspect his Honour. He games only for
amusement, and never plays so high that the loss of the Stake can put
those out of temper who have the Honour to be of his Party. But of all the
Virtues of _Augustus_ III. there is none, most certainly, which has made
him more the Favourite of Heaven, than the inviolable Respect he always
manifested for the King his Father, who tenderly lov'd him; and never was
a Son, Heir to so powerful a Dominion, more affected for the loss of a
Father, than he was when he heard of the death of his. His Affliction was
impress'd deeply in his Countenance, when he receiv'd the homage of his
capital City, at his first appearance in publick; and to this very day, he
is ready to melt in tears at the sight of any Object that calls him to
mind; for which reason the People of _Dresden_, rather than renew his
Sorrow, forbear the mention of a King whom _Europe_ has plac'd in the Rank
of its greatest Men.
Prince FREDERIC-AUGUSTUS, when he became Elector, did not alter his
Manners, but retain'd the same Piety, the same Regularity. He kept most of
the Servants of the late King his Father, and settled Pensions on those
whom he thought fit to dismiss. His first Care, when he came to the
Electorate, was to provide himself with Ministers, whose Candor and
Sincerity were above Envy it self. For this purpose, he call'd to his
Cabinet-Council, the Count _de Gabaleon-Wackerbarth-Salmour_, M. _de
Baudissin_, the Count _Sulkowski_, and M. _de Bruhl_; to the two last of
whom he committed the Direction of Affairs.
All _Saxony_ applauded this Choice, and doubted not of being very happy
under the Reign of a Prince, who was capable of forming so true a Judgment
of Persons for his Ministers. But what the _Saxons_ saw with extraordinary
Satisfaction, was the sure Proof the King gave of his Gratitude and Esteem
for Virtue, in recalling M. _de Miltitz_, heretofore his Governor, who for
some Years past was retired to his Estate. This Gentleman wou'd fain have
been excus'd from returning to Court, alledging his great Age, and his
being a Stranger to Business; when his Majesty sent him word, that he
requir'd no more at his hands than what his Health wou'd permit; that he
knew his Probity, his Love for his Country, and his Attachment to himself;
that therefore he was willing he shou'd be near his Person, and assist him
with his Advice, which he knew wou'd be solid, by what he gave him when he
had the charge of his Education. In this manner FREDERIC-AUGUSTUS, by the
display of his Gratitude, an uncommon Virtue (especially among Princes)
encourag'd his Courtiers to do what might also give them a Title to it.
These great Qualities procur'd him the Suffrages of the most judicious
Part of the Republic of _Poland_ which chose him for King. His Majesty
having sent the Count _de Gabaleon-Wackerbarth-Salmour_, and M.
_Baudissin_ to _Warsaw_, with the Character of Plenipotentiaries, to take
care of his Interests, these Ministers found the _Polish_ Lords very much
divided: Foreign Gold, with the Intrigues, Cabals, and ensnaring Promises
of a Minister who was lavish of it; all these had corrupted a great number
of them, and others were oppress'd, and must undoubtedly have submitted to
Violence, if they had not had a very great share of Courage and Love to
their Country. God, who never abandons the Virtuous, was their Support and
their Protector, as well as the Shield of the Plenipotentiaries, whose
sacred Character could not guard them from all manner of Outrage. And tho'
the Blood of the _Jagellons_, which flows in this Prince's Veins, tho' his
being the Son of one of the greatest Kings that _Poland_ ever had, as well
as his own Dignity of a Sovereign, ought to have procured him the Respect
of all the _Poles_, yet every Person and Thing belonging to him at
_Warsaw_, was maltreated. Such was, at that time, the unhappy Fate of
_Poland_; Oppression and Tyranny having succeeded the glorious, mild, and
peaceful Reign of _Augustus_ II.
Mean time, those generous Noblemen who had so bravely stood up in the
defence of the Liberties and Honour of their Country, after having tried
all their Efforts to reclaim their wandering Brethren, found they could
not succeed, and therefore broke up; after which, they met in the very
same Place where _Henry de Valois_ had been elected, and there they chose
and proclaim'd AUGUSTUS Elector of _Saxony_, King of _Poland_. They then
sent a Deputation to his Majesty, to intreat him to come immediately, with
the Queen his Consort, to take possession of the Throne. The King comply'd
with their Intreaty, and set out from _Dresden_, after having return'd
solemn Thanks to God, the sovereign Disposer of Crowns, and of the Fortune
of Kings.
In a few days the Queen followed the King, and overtook him at
_Tarnovitz_, where their Majesties received the grand Deputation from
_Poland_; and after giving them Audience, proceeded in their Journey
towards _Cracow_. There the King made his Royal Entry on the 14th of
_January_ 1734, and on the 17th of that Month, their Majesties were
consecrated and crowned by _Lipsky_ the Bishop of that See.
Some time after this august Ceremony, which, in _Poland_, is absolutely
necessary and essential for a King Elect, the Queen return'd to _Saxony_;
but the King staid at _Cracow_, where he held a Diet, in which he made
several Regulations for restoring the Tranquillity of the Kingdom. When
the Diet was ended, his Majesty march'd towards _Dantzic_, which the
_Russians_, his Allies, had invested, in order to drive out the Primate
and his Adherents, who were retir'd thither.
But after a March of several Days, which the Severity of the Weather
render'd very painful, his Majesty yielded to the Instances that were made
to him from _Saxony_, to assist in Person at the opening of the Assembly
of States which he was under a necessity of calling; and he returned to
_Dresden_, where his Arrival caus'd an inexpressible Joy. Mean time the
Army, under the Command of the Prince of _Saxe-Weissenfels_ continued its
March towards _Dantzic_.
The King was accompanied by a great number of _Polish_ Noblemen, who
finding themselves unable to oppose the Rage of the Primate's Party in
their several Countries, came to seek shelter in _Saxony_, where his
Majesty receiv'd them, and still entertains them, in a manner which cannot
but convince them of his Gratitude, and give them greater Hopes of what
Favours they may expect, when the Tranquillity of _Poland_ is restor'd.
The King, after his Return from _Cracow_, summon'd the States of his
Electorate, and open'd the Assembly with the usual Ceremonies. He was
seated on his Throne, accompanied by the chief Lords of his Court, as well
the _Polish_ as _Saxons_. M. _de Miltitz_, his Privy Counsellor, sat on
the Right-hand of the Throne; and, in the King's Name, made a Speech to
the States, wherein he declared to them that his Majesty intended to make
no Innovation in the Affairs of Religion, but to let his Protestant
Subjects enjoy their Privileges, as they had been granted and confirm'd to
them by the late King. Then they told him the Motives which had engag'd
the King to call them together, and demanded the necessary Subsidies for
defraying the extraordinary Expences which his Majesty had been
necessarily involved in thro' the Calamities of the Time. M. _de Hesler_,
Administrator of the Office of hereditary Marshal of _Saxony_, return'd an
Answer in the Name of the States, and spoke with a Dignity, and all the
Decorum due to so august an Assembly. He assur'd the King of the
respectful and inviolable Fidelity and Attachment of his Subjects to his
sacred Person. And in truth, 'tis impossible for a People to be better
affected to their Sovereign, and more disposed to contribute to every
thing that is capable of augmenting his Glory.
The King's voluntary Declaration to his States that he would make no
Innovation in the Affairs of Religion, won the Hearts of his Subjects to
such a degree, that there is not a _Saxon_ who would make any scruple to
sacrifice his Life and Fortune for his Service. And the said Declaration
does equal Honour to the Justice of the Monarch, and the Wisdom of his
Ministers.
While the King was employ'd with his States in securing the Happiness and
Tranquility of _Saxony_, his Majesty received Advice, that his Army, after
having join'd the _Russians_, had obliged the _Dantzickers_ to surrender,
and that the _Polish_ Lords of the contrary Party petition'd for leave to
remove to some Place where they might pay him their homage. The King, in
imitation of the great Emperor whose Name he bears, after having made a
Conquest, thought, like him, of nothing more than to make those happy whom
the Fortune of War had submitted to his Arms. His Majesty did not take
any advantage of his Victory, but forgetting past Offences, repair'd to
the Abbey of _Oliva_, near _Dantzic_, where he receiv'd the Submission of
the _Dantzickers_, and the Allegiance of the Lords that were the Primate's
Adherents. By his Modesty and Goodness, he charm'd the Vanquished, and
convinc'd them of their Obligation to pay him that Esteem which before
perhaps they did not think was their Duty to grant to him. The Greatness
of his Soul, which inclines him to sympathize with the Misfortunes of the
Unhappy, hinder'd him from entering _Dantzic_, the desolate State of that
City being so afflicting a Scene to him, that he cou'd not bear to see it.
The _Dantzickers_, by their submission, were become his Subjects; their
present Misfortunes, and their past Mistakes, affected him to such a
degree, that he was fearful of being put in mind of them, and refus'd to
appear among them, crown'd with those Laurels which he had reap'd by their
defeat. So much Modesty, worthy of the most glorious Triumph, gain'd him
the Prayers of the People, in which his Majesty saw more Charms, than he
wou'd have found in Trophies, and the most stately Triumphal Arches.
The King having provided for the pressing Necessities of his Kingdom,
return'd to his Electorate, where the States continued their Deliberations
ever since his Absence. Now that his Majesty is return'd, the Care of the
State is almost his constant Employment. His Recreations are either taking
the Air on horseback, Hunting, the _Italian_ Opera, or else going to
Concerts, which the Queen, who is a great Lover of Music, causes to be
perform'd in her own Apartment. Their Majesties generally dine together,
and admit the Nobility of both Sexes to their Table.
There, the King observes that Temperance which so much becomes sovereign
Princes. All his Hours, as has been already observ'd, are regulated; and
all his Actions accompanied with Devotion, good Order, and Equity. Never
did King better discharge that sacred Character; being always firm and
tranquil, Danger cou'd never affright him. He accepted the Crown, tho' he
saw he cou'd never fix it on his Head without infinite Pains, Peril, and
Cares. The Advantage he had gain'd over his Enemies did not seem to have
flush'd him; he was sorry he had not been able to reclaim them by gentle
Methods, and ascribes the happy Success of his Arms solely to Providence.
Thus have I given you a very imperfect Account of the Virtues and Actions
of a King, which plainly denote that the perfect honest Man (a Title not
unworthy even of the sacred Majesty of Kings) forms his Character. As for
his Stature, 'tis such as, one wou'd think, those ought to have who are
born to command. He has a robust and vigorous Constitution, a sound
Judgment, a happy Memory, a generous and beneficent Soul, the necessary
Constituents of the Hero and the Christian. His Conduct is regulated by a
great Attachment to the Principles of Religion. His Aim and his
Application are to render his Subjects happy; and he only longs for Peace
that they may taste the Fruits of it.