the _Golden Fleece_, is the second Counsellor of the Conference. He is a
Nobleman descended of a Family which has been for a long time eminent in
_Austria_. His Mother was a Princess of _Holstein_, who married to her
second Husband the Marshal Count _de Rabutin_ Governor of _Transylvania_,
but died a few years ago in a very advanc'd Age. I had the honour to know
her the last time I was here; her House being the Rendezvous of all People
of Rank. Count _Zinzendorf_ was in the Ministry in the Reign of _Leopold_.
He was that Emperor's Minister Plenipotentiary in _France_, while the
Marshal _de Villars_ was at _Vienna_ with the same Character from _Lewis_
XIV. At the Death of the Emperor _Joseph_, the Count _de Zinzendorf_ was
that Prince's Ambassador to the States-General, in which Character he was
confirmed by the Empress _Eleonora_ who was Regent during the Absence of
King _Charles_. He repaired from the _Hague_ to _Frankfort_ to assist at
the Coronation of _Charles_ VI. and officiated at the Ceremony as Vicar to
the Great Treasurer of the Empire, a Dignity which is Hereditary in his
Family. At the Congress of _Utrecht_ which was open'd not long after, the
Count _de Zinzendorf_ assisted as the Emperor's first Ambassador. He
afterwards went to the unsuccessful Congress of _Soissons_, and from
thence to _Versailles_, where he succeeded so well with the Cardinal _de
Fleury_, that he kept him tight in those pacific Sentiments which the
Enemies of his Tranquillity, if not of his Glory, aim'd to make him give
up. The Count is now return'd hither, and almost the only Man that acts in
the Province of foreign Affairs. His Interest is very great, for besides
the Esteem which the Emperor has for his Person and Services, he is
related to all the most distinguished Persons at Court, and strictly
attached to the Interest of Prince _Eugene_ of _Savoy_, of whose Integrity
and disinterested Zeal for the Emperor he is very sensible. The Count _de
Zinzendorf_ is pretty tall and has a happy engaging Aspect. His Deportment
is noble. He is pretty reserv'd, but civil. He is very polite to
Strangers, and his House is open to them. He keeps the noblest and most
elegant Table at _Vienna_. He is magnificent in every thing he does, and
all his Actions favour of the Man of Quality. He is Father of a numerous
Family. The second of his Sons is a Cardinal and Bishop in _Hungary_[103].
Another is Knight of _Malta_, and Lieutenant-Colonel. As these are the two
with whom I am best acquainted, so they are the only ones I shall mention.
I know not whether 'tis possible for a Man to be more sprightly than they
both are. The Chevalier has more Mettle and Life than a _Gascon_: He is
very blunt in his witty Sallies, but the variety of them pleases, and
their novelty and justness are surprizing.
The Count _Gundacker de Staremberg_, President of the Chamber of Finances,
and Knight of the Golden Fleece, is the third Counsellor of the
Conferences. His Integrity is very much cry'd up, and he has manag'd the
Finances in such a manner as to guard against the Public Hatred.
The Count _de Schonborn_, Bishop of _Bamberg_ and _Wurtzbourg_,
Vice-Chancellor of the Empire, is the fourth Counsellor of the
Conferences[104]. You know, Sir, that the _Schonborn_ Family has given us
several worthy Gentlemen; but I may venture to say, with all due Regard to
the Memory of those great Men, and without flattering the Vice-Chancellor,
that of all the Family he has the greatest Capacity for Business, the most
generous Temper, and the most engaging and most civil Behaviour. As this
Prelate has not his Equal at _Vienna_ for Grandeur and Riches, so he has
not his Fellow for Magnificence. The Emperor has a singular Esteem for
him. The Vice-Chancellor has the Chancery of the Empire under him, and no
body above him but the Emperor, and the Elector of _Mentz_, who is the
Great Chancellor of the Empire.
The Count _de Konigseck_, Vice-President of the Aulic Council of War, is
the fifth Counsellor of the Conferences. This Nobleman, whose Extraction
is from a Family of Distinction in the Empire, is one of the tallest and
handsomest Men at Court: He is the Emperor's Ambassador Extraordinary at
the Court of _Spain_. His Family has for a long time past been attach'd to
the House of _Austria_. He studied at _Besançon_, and was design'd for the
Church; but he quitted the Band, took to Arms, and enter'd into the
Service of the Emperor _Leopold_; in which he had not been many Years
before he had a Regiment of Foot, and the Emperor _Joseph_ made him his
Chamberlain. He also gave him the Government of _Mantua_, from whence he
was recall'd by _Charles_ VI. and sent to take possession of the
_Netherlands_ in the Name of the Emperor, to whom they were evacuated for
that purpose by the Maritime Powers. The Count _de Konigseck_, during his
Administration of the _Netherlands_, concluded the Barrier Treaty with the
States-General. At _Brussels_ he married Madamoiselle _de Lanoi la
Motterie_, a young Lady of a good Family, and distinguish'd Merit. When he
left the _Netherlands_ he went Ambassador from the Emperor to the Court of
_France_, where he gain'd great Esteem, especially from the Duke of
_Orleans_, the Regent; a Prince who was an excellent Judge of Merit, and
very sparing of his Applause. After three Years stay at _Paris_, the Count
return'd to _Vienna_. He attended the Archduchess, Wife to the Electoral
Prince of _Saxony_, in quality of Steward, to _Dresden_; and at his return
went to the Government of _Transilvania_. But the Emperor recall'd him
from this Post and sent him his Ambassador Extraordinary to _Spain_; where
the Count is as much esteem'd as he was at _Paris_. 'Tis said that he is
in entire Favour with their Catholic Majesties; nevertheless he makes such
earnest Application to be recall'd, that 'tis said he will obtain his
Request, and that his Nephew[105], who is the Emperor's Minister
Plenipotentiary to the States-General, is already nominated to relieve
him[106].
In the Council of Conferences the most important Affairs of the Empire are
taken into Consideration, and the Emperor is always present.
Besides the five Ministers whom I have now mention'd to you, there are
several others whose Interest is more circumscrib'd. Every Kingdom subject
to the Emperor has its Minister and particular Chancery.
Count _Badiani_ directs the Affairs of _Hungary_, in quality of its
Vice-Chancellor.
The Affairs of _Bohemia_ are in the Province of Count _Kinski_, the
Chancellor of that Kingdom, who has a Vice-Chancellor under him, with a
great many Assessors and Counsellors.
The Council of _Spain_ consists of a President, Vice-President, and
Counsellors. Its Authority extends over all the Kingdoms that were
formerly subject to _Spain_, but yielded to the Emperor by the Peace. The
Count _de Monte-Santo_, a Grandee of _Spain_, Brother to the Count _de
Cinfuentes_, Constable of _Castile_, is President of this Council[107]; in
which Office he succeeded the Archbishop of _Valentia_, who quitted his
See to follow the Emperor whom he had acknowledg'd for his Sovereign in
_Spain_.
Of all the Tribunals at _Vienna_ the _Aulic Council_ is the most
venerable; because 'tis the Parliament of the Empire. It is compos'd of a
President, _viz._ the Count _de Wurmbrandt_; a Vice-President, who is the
Count _de Metsch_; and of eighteen Counsellors, among whom there must be
six Protestants, and of these one must be a _Calvinist_. This Tribunal
judges of all Civil Causes between the Princes and private Men of the
Empire. Its Authority terminates with the Emperor's Life; and 'tis on this
account only that the supreme Tribunal of _Wetzlar_, which subsists even
during the Vacancy of the Imperial Throne, challenges Precedence of the
Aulic Council. 'Tis a Mistake to think, as many Foreigners do, that the
Aulic Council takes Cognizance of Affairs of State; for its sole Business
is to do Justice: It registers no Edict unless it be its own
Sentences[108]; and is much more limited than the Parliaments of _France_,
which have at least the Privilege of losing Time in Remonstrances.
I perceive too that I am in a fair way to make you lose a great deal, if I
don't put an end to my Legend; which therefore I now do, and refer the
rest of the Remarks that I have to entertain you with to another Post.
_I kiss your Hand, and am_, &c.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
LETTER XIII.
_SIR_, _Vienna, Decem. 10, 1729._
There are some other Articles which I cannot but add to those I have
already given you from _Vienna_. The Police of this City is administer'd
by a Stadtholder. The Person that now fills that Post is the Count _de
Kehvenhuller_; who is also a Minister of State, and Knight of the Golden
Fleece. His Functions are the same with those of the Lieutenant of the
Police at _Paris_, and nothing makes the Difference but the Title; only it
must be observ'd that the Stadtholder is always a Person of noble
Extraction, and a Gentleman of the Army, whereas the Lieutenant of the
Police at _Paris_ is often of mean Extraction, but always a Gentleman of
the long Robe.
The Governour of _Vienna_ had seldom any other Title than _Colonel of the
City_. The present Governour is the Marshal Count _de Daun_, the same that
defended _Turin_, who was six Years Viceroy of _Naples_, six Months
Governour of the _Netherlands_, and afterwards four Years Governour of
_Milan_[109]. His Lieutenant-Colonel, who is the Count _Maximilian de
Staremberg_, Lieutenant-General of the Emperor's Forces, and Colonel of a
Regiment of Foot, commands in his absence, and has the Direction of the
Fortifications, the Arsenal, and the Garison. This Garison consists of a
Regiment of Foot, compos'd of veteran Soldiers, or the Burghers and
Artificers of _Vienna_, from whence this Regiment never stirs. The
Employments in this Corps are very lucrative; but as they don't lie in the
Road to the Temple of Honour, they are not much solicited by Persons of
any considerable Extraction. Yet this Regiment, as little esteem'd as it
is, perform'd very good Services during the Siege of _Vienna_ by _Kara
Mustapha_, Grand Vizier to _Mahomet_ IV. It acted then under
_Ernest-Rudiger_ Count _de Staremberg_, who was Commandant in the City;
and both the General and his Garison acquir'd very great Glory by the
Resistance which they made. But perhaps with all their Bravery they cou'd
not have prevented the Place from being taken, had it not been for the
Avarice of the Grand Vizier, who hoped to be Master himself of the vast
Treasures that he knew were in the City, and was therefore against
storming the Town, for fear lest if it were carry'd by that means, the
Soldiers would have shar'd the Plunder.
The Siege of _Vienna_ being foreign to my purpose, I shall say nothing of
it. You know that it was raised by the Assistance that was brought to it
by the brave _John Sobieski_ King of _Poland_; who defeated the _Turks_ on
the 12th of _September_, 1683, and return'd home laden with Glory and
Booty, having made himself Master of all the Grand Vizier's Equipage. Upon
this occasion he said a pleasant thing in a Letter which he wrote to the
Queen his Wife, who had not a very implicit Faith in the Maxims of
_Seneca_ on the Contempt of Riches; 'You shan't say when I come home, as
the _Tartary_ Women do to their Husbands when they return from the Army
without Booty, _You are not a Man for me, because you come empty-handed_;
for the Grand Vizier has made me sole Heir of all he had.'
You need not be told that this was the second time the _Turks_ were forc'd
to raise the Siege of _Vienna_; for _Soliman_ the Sultan besieg'd it in
the Reign of _Charles_ V. but with no better Success than _Kara Mustapha_.
'Tis true that the Disappointment he met with was not so fatal in its
Consequence to the Sultan as the other was to the Vizier of _Mahomet_ IV.
who was strangled at _Belgrade_ when _Mahomet_ was there: And the Head of
this Minister is still to be seen in the Arsenal at _Vienna_. The
Translation of this _Turkish_ Relique hither from _Belgrade_ was pretty
extraordinary. Some Years after _Kara Mustapha_ had been strangled, when
the _Germans_ took _Belgrade_, the Soldiers being inform'd where the Grand
Vizier was buried, open'd his Tomb in hopes of Treasure, but found nothing
except the Body in its Shirt, on which there were several _Arabic_
Characters, and an Alcoran. The Governour being told of it, remember'd
that this very Grand Vizier, when he laid Siege to _Raab_, which he was
oblig'd to raise, said, That if he took the Town he wou'd have the Head of
its Bishop cut off, who was then the Count _Leopold de Collonitz_, and
send it to the Sultan, to be reveng'd of that Prelate for taking Money out
of the Convents, and encouraging the Garison therewith to make a vigorous
Resistance. The Governour of _Belgrade_ remembring, I say, the Menaces of
the Grand Vizier, thought it wou'd be a very agreeable Present to the
Count _de Collonitz_, now a Cardinal[110], to send him the Vizier's Head
and Body too, together with the Shirt and Alcoran; and he put up the whole
very neatly in a Crystal Shrine, adorn'd with Silver Plates, and sent it
accordingly to his Eminence; who not thinking this odd Present a proper
Relique to be deposited in his Chapel, gave it to the Arsenal here at
_Vienna_, where I have both seen the Mussulman and felt him. I wou'd fain
have pluck'd some of the Hairs of his Mustachio, but the Guardian of the
precious Treasure watch'd my Fingers too narrowly. They say that a piece
of the Halter by which a Man hangs himself is lucky, and why mayn't there
be the same Virtue in the Mustachio of the Grand Vizier? Be it so or not,
'twill always deserve an honourable Station in some Cabinet of Rarities.
Since the Siege of _Vienna_ this City is much inlarg'd. Its Fortifications
are so augmented too that if the _Turks_ should ever be prompted by their
ill Fate to besiege it again, they wou'd find a stouter Resistance, and a
greater number of their Mustachios sindged than they imagine.
The Emperor has lately given new Lustre to his Capital, by prevailing with
Pope _Benedict_ XIII. to erect it into an Archbishopric. Several Bishops,
particularly the Archbishop of _Passaw_, have dismember'd their Dioceses
to aggrandise its Jurisdiction. The Cardinal _de Collonitz_ is the Person
who at present enjoys this Dignity, which gives him the Character and Rank
of a Prince.
The _Roman_ Catholic is the only Religion exercis'd in _Vienna_, and in
all _Austria_; but the Ministers of the Protestant Crown'd Heads have the
Liberty here, as well as elsewhere, of keeping a Chapel. When the holy
Sacrament or the Viaticum is carried to any sick Person, 'tis always
attended by Guards who oblige all People that meet it to kneel. I have
seen the Emperor, when the Viaticum was passing by, alight out of his
Coach and accompany it to Church. This Prince, and indeed all those of his
Family, always paid a very great Devotion to the holy Sacrament of the
Altar. Of this _Philip_ IV. King of _Spain_ gave a very edifying Proof;
for this Monarch going the very day that the King his Father died, from
the Palace of _Madrid_ to the Monastery of St. _Jeronimo del Passo_ in a
close Coach, that he might be _incog._ alighted out of it to accompany
the Viaticum which they were carrying to a sick Man; whereupon the Condé
Duke _d'Olivarez_ told him, That the King his Father was so lately dead
that he ought not to have been seen in public. _My Lord_, said the King,
_this Custom cannot excuse me from paying that Worship to God which I owe
him_.
It may be said of the august House of _Austria_, That as few Princes equal
them in Piety, so there are few that equal them in Birth. There may be
Families that have been longer grac'd with the Diadem; but of these there
are very few that have such great Alliances. There is no King, and not
many Sovereign Princes but what are related to them; and there are very
few Kingdoms to which the House of _Austria_ has not given Queens. 'Tis
now 300 Years that it has been Mistress of the Empire; and since _Albert_
II. it has given thirteen Emperors to _Europe_ successively. One of the
Princesses of _Austria_ had so many great Relations that I cannot help
mentioning her. This was the Empress _Mary_, Wife to the Emperor
_Maximilian_, Son to _Ferdinand_ I. This Princess was Sister to _Philip_
II. King of _Spain_, and the Daughter, the Wife, the Daughter-in-law, and
the Mother of five Emperors; the Grand-daughter, the Daughter, the Sister,
and the Aunt of four Kings of _Spain_; and the Mother-in-law of two Kings,
_viz._ _Charles_ IX. King of _France_, and _Philip_ II. King of _Spain_. A
modern Author says, that the Origin and Kindred of this Princess
infinitely surpassed those of _Agrippina_, who, according to the Report of
_Tacitus_, was the Daughter of _Germanicus_, the Sister of _Caligula_, the
Wife of _Claudius_, and the Mother of _Nero_. But when I consider how
perfect a Master you are, both of History and Genealogy, I ought to beg
your pardon for my Impertinence in troubling you with these Instances.
What remains for me now, is to communicate some Remarks to you which I
have made upon the _Austrians_ in general. I shall begin with the Women,
whom I shall paint to you, as _Burrhus_ says, with the Freedom of a
Soldier, who is not the best Limner.
The Women here, as in all other Countries, are either handsome or ugly. In
general they are rather handsome than pretty, for they are dull Beauties.
They are all tall and well shap'd; they walk well, but when they curt'sy,
do it in such an aukward manner, that one would think their Backs were in
danger of breaking. In their Dress they affect Finery rather than a good
Fancy. Two or three excepted, there's none that lay on the Red, much less
the White, and Patches are very little worn; in a word, they have nothing
about them that denotes Coquettry. As to their Humour, they are reckon'd
frank, tho' not easily made familiar; they are naturally vain, and like
all our _German_ Women, pretty reserv'd, and not so fond of Gallantry as
they are of Gaming, Luxury, and Magnificence. Such is their Indolence that
they concern themselves no more about their Houshold Affairs than if they
were Strangers. They know no Books but their Prayer-Books, are extremely
credulous, and give into all the Externals of Religion: This makes their
Conversation sometimes insipid; and unless now and then a Love-Story falls
in, Rain and Fair-Weather are their general Topics. They have at least as
great a Conceit of _Vienna_ as the _Parisians_ have of _Paris_; for out of
_Vienna_ they think there's no Salvation. But all these little Defects are
repair'd by an uncommon Greatness of Soul, and Generosity. They are hearty
Friends, and warm Protectors of those whose Interests they espouse. When
they are in love, their Passion is sincere; and instead of ruining their
Lovers, there are some who have made the Fortunes of those to whom they
have taken a Fancy. Upon this Head I have been told, that in the Reign of
the Emperor _Joseph_, when Gallantry was more in vogue than 'tis now,
there was a Lady, who being in love with a Gentleman, and having a mind to
make his Fortune without the Censure of the Public, thought fit in an
Assembly where her Spark cut at Basset, to punt against him. She set a
Bett, without telling a Soul how much she stak'd. Her Husband coming into
the Room where they were at play, she rose up, took the Marks that were
against her, threw them on the Ground, and said to the Banker, loud enough
to be heard by her Husband, _I owe you, +Sir+, 40000 Florins_. The Husband
in a very great Surprize ask'd what was the matter? _I have been such a
Fool_, said she, pointing to the Banker, _as to lose 40000 Florins to
+Monsieur N----+. You have reason to chide me; but however my Debt must be
paid_. The Husband indeed grumbled very much, and said he wou'd not pay.
_What!_ reply'd the Wife, _won't you pay the Gentleman? It shall fare the
worse with you if you don't, for I am resolv'd to pay him in some Coin or
other_. The Husband perceiving his Wife so resolute, and that if he did
not deposite the Money it wou'd subject him to the Loss of what was more
precious, chose rather to part with the Cash; and indeed he had no reason
to repent of it, for the Lady's Heart was so won by it, that she renounc'd
the Sight of her Lover from that Moment, and made a very sober Wife.
This, Sir, is all I have to give you concerning the Temper of the Women.
Let me tell you also how they spend their Time. They rise late. As soon
almost as their Eyes are open, they call for Chocolate, and send to their
Husbands to know who they have invited to Dinner, and whether there is
room for any more Guests. If the Lady does not like the Company, she
sends notice to some Lady of her Acquaintance that she intends to dine
with her; but if there be room at home, as a polite Husband always takes
care to leave some at the Disposal of his Wife, she sends an Invitation to
whom she pleases. After this she dresses and goes to Mass; for here the
Ladies are all so devout that there's none but what hears at least one
Mass in a day. There they read in five or six different Prayer-Books, kiss
all the Pictures that are at the head of the Prayers, and very devoutly
toss their Beads. After the Office is over, they commonly chat a quarter
of an Hour in the Church. Then they go abroad and make some friendly
Visits, or else go home to receive them. At these Visits, they hear all
the News in _Vienna_. During this they have all a little Box of _Indian_
Lack upon their Knees, in which they thread Gold till Dinner-time. When
that's over, they drink Coffee or play at _Quinze_ till Night, when they
go to Court. From the Empress's Apartment they adjourn to the Assembly,
where they divert themselves at _Piquet_, or at _Quadrille_; and then
retire, undress themselves, go to Supper, and thence to Bed, well pleased
to think with what Indolence and Idleness they have spent the Day.
The Women of the second Class, in which I include the Gentlewomen that
have no Titles of Honour, _viz._ the Wives of the Assessors, Referendaries
and Agents of the Court, discover such an Air of Plenty and Prosperity as
is remarkably surprizing. Their Houses are richly furnished, and their
Tables well served. If a Referendary has a mind to a nice bit, no body
must offer to take it; and the best of every thing is what they are sure
to lay hands on. Belly Cheer is one of those things which the _Austrians_
generally think of most: They require a great many Dishes, and those
well-cramm'd. They are so very much accustom'd to this Profusion of
Eatables that I have known some young People in _Austria_ affirm they
don't know what good Eating is in _France_, because they don't serve up a
couple of Loins of Veal in one Dish. Different sorts of Wines are what
they are also very much us'd to, which certainly is very expensive because
foreign Wines pay considerable Duties; yet nothing less will serve them
than eight or ten sorts of Wine, and I have been at Houses where there
have been no less than eighteen. They place a Note upon every Plate
expressing the several sorts of Wine at the Beaufet.
The Burghers and common sort of People mimick the Nobility as far as their
Purses will afford; and it may be said that no Nation in the World is so
extravagant as this.
The _Austrians_ are naturally proud and haughty, and expect all Mankind
should stoop to them. As their Sovereign is in the first Rank among the
Christian Princes, so they think theirs to be the chief Nation in the
World. Nothing is more vain nor more insupportable than a young
_Austrian_, whose Father is in any Rank at Court. They are intoxicated
with Pride and Presumption; and as they know themselves to be rich, and
their Fathers to be great Lords, they think they may despise all the
World, and lay aside that courteous and polite Behaviour which would so
well become their Birth. Yet what I here observe to you concerning the
young People is not so universally true as not to admit of great
Exceptions, which is the Case of every thing asserted in the general.
The Court is not without Ladies who are much to be valued. The Empress
Regent honours with her Confidence Madame the Countess _de Fuchs_, whose
Husband was Minister of State to the Emperor, and his Plenipotentiary at
_Hambourg_, where he died. This Countess is Sister to the Count _de
Molard_, Steward of the Emperor's Kitchens. She is a very polite Lady,
and is so far from being envy'd for being a Favourite that all Persons of
Distinction agree she deserves it, because she supports it with Modesty,
and makes no other Use of it but to do good.
Madamoiselle _de Klenck_ has a very great share in the Favour of the
Empress Dowager, which I take to be a Reward due to her long Services, and
to her Merit. She is chief Maid of Honour to that Princess, and has been
engag'd to her ever since she has been at _Vienna_. If the Character of a
thorough Gentlewoman may be attributed to any of the Sex, Madamoiselle _de
Klenck_ deserves it more than any other, it being impossible for a Person
to have more Integrity, and more Generosity.