Highness. She has been the Duke's sole Favourite for a long time. She is
_Gravenitz_ by Name, and is descended of a noble Family in _Mecklembourg_.
The Duke first fell in love with her when she was but a Girl. She had the
Assurance after she had been some Years in Favour to insist that the Duke
should get a Divorce from the Duchess his Wife, by whom he had a Son, and
marry her. When the Duchess was inform'd of her Rival's Demand she sued
for the Emperor's Protection, and obtain'd it. That Monarch signified to
the Duke that he would do well to remove his Favourite, who was therefore
oblig'd to retire to _Swisserland_. The Duke who could not bear her out of
his sight, followed her thither and stay'd there with her for some time,
but at last being oblig'd to return to his Dominions, and not being able
to take Madamoiselle _de Gravenitz_ to him without reviving the just
Suspicions of the Duchess, he look'd out for a Husband for his Mistress.
The Count _de Wurben_ a Gentleman of a good Family, and in mean
Circumstances, but a very eager Stickler for the Favours of Fortune at any
rate whatsoever, made an offer to marry Madamoiselle _de Gravenitz_. She
was bestowed upon him with a Pension of 24000 Florins, and the Character
of the Duke's Envoy Extraordinary to the Imperial Court. He engag'd never
to make use of the Husband's Prerogative and never to require of his Wife
to leave the Court. Upon this Condition he obtain'd even before he set out
for _Vienna_ the Office of _Landthoffmeister_ or Lord Lieutenant of
_Wirtemberg_, which is the highest Dignity in the Country. When the
Marriage was concluded, Madam _de Wurben_ returned to _Stutgard_, where
she had Lodgings in the Palace. All her Aim was to insult the Duchess, in
hopes of provoking her to commit something so outragious as might embroil
her with the Duke, and make him resolve never to forgive her; but this
Princess equally virtuous and prudent, and always patient, bore all this
Mortification without murmuring. The Mistress, who could not endure to see
her in the Palace, obtain'd an Order from the Duke for her Retirement to
the Estate which was settled on her for her Jointure; but the Duchess
would never comply to it, saying, that if she had not been unfortunate
enough in the Loss of her Husband she would not retire to her Jointure.
This Refusal, how reasonable soever it was, affronted the Duke, who
acquainted the Duchess that he did not look upon her any longer as his
Wife, and gave orders that she should be treated no longer as a Sovereign.
During this, Madam _de Wurben_ became a Widow; whereupon all the Hopes
reviv'd that she had presumed to entertain when a Maid. She persuaded the
Duke to leave _Stutgard_, and to found _Ludwigsbourg_. As soon as this
House was in a Condition to be occupy'd, the Duke and his Mistress came
and liv'd in it. There's no sort of Intrigue which this Favourite has not
try'd to put herself in the Duchess's Rank, but hitherto she has not been
able to succeed. Mean-while she enjoys all the Honours of a Sovereign.
'Tis at her Apartments that the Court is kept. Whenever the Duke plays
'tis there, and there it is he diets. In short she is treated in every
thing upon a par with her Royal Highness. Her Excellency (which is the
only Title given to this imperious Favourite since the Death of her
Husband) is drawing on to fifty Years of Age, and yet carries a mighty
Sway. She employs all the Remedies imaginable to cancel the Injuries which
Time has done to her Complexion, and also to conceal her natural Temper;
for Artifice and Dissimulation are the Compounds of her Character. She is
so eager in amassing of Riches that she makes it her chief Business. While
she pretends a mighty Respect for the Duke, she expects like another
_Astarte_ that every Knee should bend and tremble before her. As she is
the Reservoir of Favour, greater Court is made to her than to the Duke
himself, and Woe be to those that dare to disoblige her! I must own
however that she knows how to behave as well as any Woman in _Germany_,
when she has a mind to shew her Politeness. The worst on't is, that she is
not always so inclin'd; for she has been so long us'd to give herself
great Airs that they are become habitual to her. The principal Offices of
the Court are distributed among her Kindred or Creatures. Her Brother the
Count _de Gravenitz_ is Grand Marshal and Prime Minister. I hardly ever
saw a handsomer Man: I must also do him the justice to declare that he is
as civil as his Sister is haughty. Some Years ago the Duke obtain'd for
him the Dignity of a Count of the Empire, in which Quality he was admitted
also at the Dyet, and he has a Seat there on the Bench of the Counts of
_Swabia_. His Authority is never oppos'd but by his Sister, to whom he
will not always be obedient. 'Tis said their Divisions have sometimes gone
so far that the Favourite has done all in her power to turn out her
Brother, and he has try'd all Ways in his turn to remove his Sister, but
the Duke has always been so good as to reconcile them. The Prime Minister
and his eldest Son are honour'd with the Order of _Prussia_. There is no
Court in _Europe_ where there's such a Variety of Orders and Ribbons. The
Duke bears alternatively the _Danish_ Order of the _Elephant_, the
_Prussian_ Order of the _Black Eagle_, and his own Order which is that of
St. _Hubert_.
The Hereditary Prince has the Order of _Prussia_ and that of the Duke his
Father.
The Prince _Charles-Alexander_ wears the _Fleece_, and the Order of
_Wirtemberg_[120]. Prince _Lewis_ his Brother wears the _Polish_ Order of
the _White Eagle_.
The Baron _de Schunck_ heretofore the Duke's Minister of State, and at
present Great Bailiff of a Bailywic, is Knight of the Order of
_Dannebrog_.
I should never have done were I to give you the Names of all the Knights
of the Order of St. _Hubert_, and the many petty Sovereigns that have been
the Grand Masters.
The Duke's particular or Cabinet-Council is compos'd of the Hereditary
Prince and the Counts _de Gravenitz_, Father and Son, the Baron _de
Schutz_, and M. _de Pollnitz_[121]. There are many other Counsellors of
State, but not being admitted to the Cabinet-Council they are not in so
much Esteem as the others.
His most Serene Highness keeps the Estimate of his Forces to himself. I
think that he has now 4000 Men without reckoning his Life-Guards, which
are two Companies, the finest of all the Guards in _Germany_. One of these
Companies is commanded by the Lieutenant-General Baron _de Phul_, and the
other by a Count of _Witgenstein_. They are dress'd in yellow, and are
only distinguish'd by the Facing of their Clothes and their Bandeliers,
one of which is Black and the other Red. Their Regimental Clothes are
Yellow with Silver Lace. The Duke has also a Company of Cadets on
Horseback, all Gentlemen. They are dress'd in Red, with black Velvet
Facings and Silver Lace. They mount Guard at the Duke's Apartment only.
Two of them always stand Centry before his Highness's Chamber-Door.
The Court of _Wirtemberg_ is one of the most numerous in _Germany_.
There's a Grand Marshal, who as I have told you is the Count _de
Gravenitz_, Brother to the Favourite.
A Marshal of the Court, who is second Son to the Grand Marshal.
A Travelling Marshal, who is Brother-in-law to the Prime Minister.
A Great Cup-bearer, who is the Baron _de Frakenberg_.
A Master of the Horse.
A Great Huntsman.
Four Chamberlains.
A Number of Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber, and Gentlemen of the Court.
Two Captains of the Guards.
A considerable number of Counsellors of State and Aulic Counsellors.
Twenty Pages, all Men of good Families.
And finally a great many Footmen, and Officers of the Kitchen, Pantry, and
Buttery.
The Duke's Stables are the best furnish'd of any in _Europe_. One shall
not see finer Horses, or any that are better manag'd. The Hunting Equipage
is also very magnificent; and I don't know one thing that is wanting. His
Highness keeps a Company of _French_ Comedians to whose Performance every
body is admitted _gratis_. We have often Balls, Masquerades, and Concerts
of Music. There is an Assembly at the Favourite's House every day, where
the Company plays at Piquet, Quadrille, and Pharo; so that here are all
the Pleasures of a great Court. The Duke's Table is serv'd with very great
Cost and Delicacy, and is commonly spread for sixteen Guests. The Duke
sits at the upper end, between her Royal Highness and her Excellency. The
Gentlemen are plac'd according to the Rank which they derive from their
Employments, and the Ladies according to the Offices which are borne by
their Husbands.
There's a Ceremonial observ'd here which is not known in any other Court,
_viz._ the Duke's Ministers give place to no Foreigner, unless he be a
Minister like themselves to some Prince, or unless he be a Count of the
Empire. These have so distinguish'd a Rank at this Court that all who are
not Counts must give place to them. A Count of the Empire, tho' he be a
Cadet in the hundredth Generation, a Lieutenant or an Ensign, as it
sometimes happens, in the Duke's Service, takes place of all Ministers and
great Officers who are not Counts. This is a Regulation which her
Excellency made after her Brother was created a Count, to the end that her
Family might have the more Honour, and that the greater Respect might be
paid to her own Dignity of Countess without a County.
I have told you that the Duke had transferr'd his Residence from
_Stutgard_ to _Ludwigsbourg_, and the reason which made him abandon the
Capital of his Dominions; but why he preferr'd the Situation of his new
Town to a hundred others that he might have chose more agreeable, is what
I cannot account for.
LUDWIGSBOURG is remote from any River, great Roads and Forests. The Duke
at first only built a small Mansion-House with two advanced Wings, so
disposed that the Court lay between the House and the Garden; but he has
since made great Additions to it, and is actually building a large
Mansion between the Court and the Garden, to which the Wings of the former
Building are to be joined. One _Frisoni_, an _Italian_, has the direction
of these Works; in which it appears that he is a much better Mason than an
Architect. The new Building runs so far out that it discovers all the
Effects of it. The Front of the Mansion consists of three Stories,
including the Ground-Floor; but on the Garden side there are only two of a
moderate Height, so that one wou'd take this Building rather for an
Orangerie than for the Palace of a Sovereign. The great Stair-Case is
dark, the Apartments want Light, the Chambers are long and narrow, and
have very few Outlets. However, this single Building was undertaken by
_Frisoni_ for 700000 Florins, exclusive of several sorts of Materials with
which he was furnished.
The old Mansion, which fronts the new, is not near so large, tho' it is
three Stories high every way. The Apartments are small and too
inconvenient to live in, yet no Cost has been spar'd to adorn them;
Carving, Gilding, and Painting being employ'd in them with more Profusion
than Judgment. The Furniture is rich, but of a very odd Fancy. The best
thing in all the Palace is the Chapel, which would every where be reckon'd
a fine noble Structure. But notwithstanding all the Faults which are
observ'd in the Palace, it must be allow'd that whoever lives to see it
finish'd will find it a magnificent Piece of Work. In the Gardens there
are several Terrasses, which rising by degrees one above another, intirely
bound the Prospect of the Palace. 'Tis certain that when the Duke's
Architects saw this Prince resolutely determin'd to build at
_Ludwigsbourg_, they ought at least to have advis'd him to place his
Palace at the very spot where his Gardens end: In this case it would have
stood in the middle of a Plain, the Apartments would not have been cramp'd
by the Buttresses, with which the Palace is encompass'd, and the Gardens
wou'd have had a gentle Descent; and for a very little Expence there might
have been a fine Piece of Water at one end, betwixt them and a Coppice,
which is a Walk for Pheasants.
The City of _Ludwigsbourg_ is as irregular as the Palace; and its
Scituation, which is very disadvantageous, will always render it a very
incommodious Town, because of the unevenness of the Ground. Most of the
Houses are of Timber, and slightly built; for those who build them do it
with an Ill-will, either out of Necessity, or to please the Duke who seems
to be fond of building. This Prince has ruin'd _Stutgard_, and will never
make a good Town of _Ludwigsbourg_; for if the Court was absent from it
but one Year, 'twou'd be one of the meanest Villages in _Wirtemberg_. This
Town is in no respect very agreeable. The Nobility here don't seem very
fond of Strangers, and there are no Entertainments but what are made by
the Duke. No body here, not even the Prime Minister keeps a Table; and all
the Expence of the Courtiers is in their Dress, and their Horses. Yet
there is not a Prince of the Empire who gives handsomer Salaries, except
the Electors; so that the Case is the very reverse here to what it is at
almost all other Courts, for here People grow rich, whereas elsewhere they
are beggar'd. I have known Persons that came to this Court in mean
Circumstances, and in a few Years got Estates. The Duke is by nature
generous and beneficent, and wou'd be more so if his Liberality was not
curb'd. He has given several Gentlemen Materials for building _gratis_;
and the Houses were no sooner up but he purchas'd them, and paid as dear
for 'em as if he had not contributed a Shilling towards raising them. I
have been assur'd that his most Serene Highness's Revenues amounted to
four Millions of Florins. 'Tis certain that he is Master of one of the
finest Countries in all _Germany_; a Country which has plenty of every
thing, but Money is scarce by reason of the Fertility of the neighbouring
Provinces, _viz._ the _Palatinate_, _Bavaria_, _Franconia_, and _Alsace_.
The People are desirous of a War upon the Upper _Rhine_, in hopes of
putting off their Commodities.
The _Lutheran_ is the only Religion tolerated in the Duchy of
_Wirtemberg_, tho' the Duke has permitted _Frisoni_ the Director of his
Buildings to erect a Chapel for the Use of the Catholic Workmen whom he
has sent for from _Italy_ to build the Palace; which Chapel however is
design'd to be demolish'd as soon as the Works are finish'd: But I am
rather inclin'd to think that the Court itself will one day have a
Catholic Chapel; for if the hereditary Prince shou'd happen to die without
Male-Issue, _Wirtemberg_ will fall to the Share of Prince _Alexander_,
(Cousin-german to the Duke) who has embraced our Religion; and who having
Children by the Princess of _Tour_ and _Taxis_ whom he marry'd at
_Brussels_, sees them brought up in the Catholic Faith.
_I kiss your hand, and am_, &c.
_POSTSCRIPT._
Since I wrote the above, the Countess _de Wurben_ is fallen under
Disgrace, which I have been told happen'd by this means.
The Duke's Carriage to his Mistress had been cold for some time, when the
King of _Prussia_ came to _Ludwigsbourg_ and exhorted him to be reconcil'd
to his Wife, in order to get Heirs. The Duke cou'd not persuade himself to
take the Duchess again; but however the King's Representations prevail'd
so far, as to put him quite out of conceit with his Mistress. He just kept
up a bare Acquaintance with her, and that was all; which she perceiv'd,
and made no scruple to try the most extraordinary Methods to maintain
herself in Favour. The Duke having been blooded in her Presence, she
secreted a Napkin stain'd with his Blood. What Use she propos'd to make of
it I know not, but she carry'd it to her Apartment. The Duke's _Valets de
Chambre_ missing the Napkin acquainted their Master of it. M. _de Roder_,
a Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber, and a Favourite of his Highness, said that
no body cou'd possibly take it but the Countess, and that to be sure she
did it for no good. The Duke order'd M. _de Roder_ to go to the Countess's
Apartment and enquire into the Fact. _Roder_ ask'd for the Napkin. The
Countess deny'd her having it; but _Roder_ affirm'd he saw her take it,
upon which she was in a Passion with him, and told him she wou'd make him
repent of his Ill-manners to her. _Roder_ made answer, that all the Airs
she gave herself were out of season, that her Reign was over, and that he
wou'd oblige her to return the Napkin. The Countess not us'd to be talk'd
to at such a rate, was frighten'd, and restor'd the fatal Napkin, which
completed her Ruin. The Duke, when inform'd by his Favourite of what had
pass'd, sent an Order to the Countess not to stir from her Apartment: And
this Prince setting out soon after for _Berlin_, charged the hereditary
Prince his Son to command Madamoiselle _de Wurben_ to retire to her
Estate. The Countess obey'd, and being indulg'd to carry what she had a
mind to along with her, retir'd to a Territory of hers depending
immediately on the Empire, not many Leagues from _Ludwigsbourg_. There it
was that she heard of the Duke's Reconciliation with the Duchess, upon the
Duke's return from _Berlin_. This News extremely shock'd her, because she
always flatter'd herself that the Prince wou'd return to her: And
perceiving now that she had no Hopes of being restor'd to Favour by the
power of her own Charms, she had a mind to try what she cou'd do by I know
not what Charm in the Magic Art. To carry her Point she was under a
necessity of having a little of the Duke's Blood; and she wrote to his
_Valet de Chambre_, promising him great Rewards if he cou'd procure her
some. What does the Domestic but carry the Letter to the Duke? who
immediately gave Orders to Colonel _Streithorst_ to arrest the Countess,
and carry her to some Place of Security. The Colonel taking a Detachment
of Soldiers along with him, contriv'd it so that he came to the Countess's
Seat at Night, and immediately surrounding the House, knock'd at the Gate,
but no body making answer he thunder'd so hard at the Gate, that at length
Madame _de Sultman_ the Countess's Sister put her Head out at the Window,
and ask'd who it was that dar'd to make such a Noise. _Streithorst_ told
her his Name, and said he came thither by Order of the Duke. Madame _de
Sultman_ made answer that the Countess was not well, and cou'd not be
spoke with. The Colonel, who knew the contrary, said, that if they did not
let him in he wou'd break open the Doors; upon which they thought fit to
open them. During this the Countess was got to Bed; and _Streithorst_
entring her Chamber found her there with her Sister and her two
Brothers-in-law, the General _N----_ and _Sultman_, who was formerly at
_Berlin_ Equerry to the Countess of _Wartenberg_, and afterwards
Privy-Counsellor to the Duke of _Wirtemberg_. The Colonel having signify'd
his Order to the Countess, she affected to be in a dying Condition; but
said that if she was able enough to get up she did not intend it, she
being at home, and in a free House of the Circle of _Swabia_, from whence
she did not think the Duke had Authority to remove her. The Colonel
threaten'd that his Grenadiers shou'd pull her out of Bed; and the Lady
seeing that she must obey, thought fit to rise. She fell on her Knees to
_Streithorst_; but the hard-hearted Officer was deaf to her Cries, and
conducted her to a place of Security where she is closely confin'd, and
like to be a Prisoner as long as the Duke lives.
[Illustration]
LETTER XVII.
_SIR_, _Carlsrouhe, Feb. 15, 1730._
I Deny that any Man can be happier than I am at this Juncture. You have
wrote an excellent long Letter to me; you assure me that you are well, and
that you have still an Affection for me; what more is there wanting to
compleat my Joy? I am preparing to make you the best amends I can, and
instead of a Letter to write you a Volume.
I came in one Day from _Ludwigsbourg_ to CARLSROUHE, which is the
Residence of the Margrave of _Baden-Dourlach_. The Name _Carlsrouhe_
signifies _Charles_'s Rest. The present Margrave _Charles_ of
_Baden-Dourlach_ was the very Man that laid both the Plan and Foundation
of this City, and its Castle. Nothing is so pretty as the Disposition of
the whole: I wish I were able to give you an Idea of it. Imagine the
Margrave's House to be at the Entrance of a great Forest, in the Center of
a Star form'd by thirty two Walks, the chief of which behind the Palace is
three _German_ Leagues in length. Two large Wings advance from the main
Body of the House, which deviating from each other in proportion as they
lengthen, the whole together looks like a Theatre. Behind the principal
Building there's a very high Octogon Tower which commands all the Walks.
The Space between the two Wings forms the Court, and then come the Gardens
and Parterres, at the end of which there's a Semi-Circle of Houses of an
equal Height, built Arch-wise, and three Stories high including the
Ground-Floor. Between these Houses there run five Streets, the middlemost
of which fronts the Palace. At the end of the three chief Streets opposite
to the Palace are three Churches; one belonging to the _Lutherans_,
another to the _Calvinists_, and a third to the _Roman_ Catholics; to
which three prevailing Religions of the Empire the Margrave gave equal
Liberty of Conscience when he founded the new Town.
The chief part of the Town lies behind the Houses that front the Palace.
This properly speaking consists but of one Street, which is of a
prodigious Length. All these Houses as well as the Margrave's are of
Timber, so that you are not to look for fine or substantial Buildings at
_Carlsrouhe_; but the Contrivance and Distribution of the whole taken
together is really wonderful. I took the Freedom to tell the Margrave that
I was surpriz'd that he had not at least employ'd Brick in the building of
his Palace, and of the Houses which form the Half-Moon about his Gardens.
'I was wil'ing, _said the Prince_, to make myself a Place of Retirement,
and to build without putting the Burthen on my Subjects. I chose moreover
to have the Comfort of enjoying what I built. If I had us'd Bricks it
wou'd have cost me a great deal more Money; and I cou'd not have finish'd
my Buildings without laying an extraordinary Impost upon my Country. It
wou'd have taken me up abundance of Time too, and perhaps I shou'd never
have had the Satisfaction of seeing an end to my Labours. Another Reason
was, that my Country is so scituate as to be liable to be the Theatre of
Wars, and I am not in a Condition to make this a strong Place, nor cou'd I
encompass it with Walls. Do you think therefore that I shou'd have been
justified in laying out a great deal of Money on a Place to see it burnt
down before my Face, as I did my House at _Dourlach_, and my other Houses
which the _French_ reduc'd to Ashes. I am but a petty Sovereign; I have
built a House according to my Condition, and I had rather it shou'd be
said of me that I have but a mean Habitation, and owe no Money, than that
I have a stately Palace and am over Head and Ears in Debt.'
I have given you this account of what the Margrave said to me, because I
thought it wou'd let you into an Idea of his Character. This Prince, to
whom I was introduc'd on the very day of my Arrival here, took the trouble
himself to shew me his Palace, and all about it. I thought the Apartments
very well laid out, but there is not room enough to lodge the hereditary
Prince, who lives in one of the Houses in the Semi-Circle fronting the
Palace.
The Pheasant-Walk, which joins to the Castle, is the prettiest thing in
the World. 'Tis a very large Inclosure, dispos'd in various Walks planted
with Fir-Trees cut in the shape of a Fan. There's a great Basin in the
Center always full of wild Ducks. 'Tis encompass'd with four Pavilions,
made in the Form of _Turkish_ Tents. Two of the Pavilions are Volarys, and
the two others Summer-Houses, with Window-Curtains of Green Cloth. There
are Sofas and Couches, after the manner of the Eastern Countries. In this
Place of Retirement and Rest the Margrave spends some Hours every Day,
and he is generally accompany'd by some young Ladies whom he teaches
Music; so that they perform agreeable Concerts.
The Margrave was in the right to give his House the Name of _Charles's
Rest_, for he leads the most tranquil Life here that can be. Far from
being infatuated with vain Grandeur, he has the Charms of it, without the
Check and Constraint of it. This Prince is of a very robust Constitution,
and tho' he underwent a vast deal of Fatigue in his Youth, he is as
fresh-colour'd and as vigorous as if he was but forty Years of Age. He
travell'd when he was a young Man into the principal parts of _Europe_;
and during his Father's Life-time was several Years in the Service of
_Sweden_. When he return'd to his Dominions he serv'd in the Army of the
Empire on the Upper _Rhine_, under his Cousin Prince _Lewis_ of _Baden_.
Tho' the Margrave is very fat, yet he uses a great deal of Exercise. He
rises in Summer at five o'Clock in the Morning, and walks in his Gardens
till the Heat of the Weather obliges him to retire within doors; then he
does Business with his Counsellors, or else employs himself in Experiments
of Chymistry, and sometimes he draws. He commonly dines at four o'clock,
and is attended by Waiting-Women, of whom there are no less than
threescore, tho' no more than eight wait upon one Day. These, when the
Margrave goes abroad, attend him on horseback, dress'd like _Hussurs_. The
Generality of these Damsels understand Music and Dancing; they also
perform Operas at the Theatre of the Palace, and are Musicians of the
Chappel. They have all Lodgings in the Palace. After Dinner is over the
Margrave grants Audience to his Subjects; and upon particular Days of the
Week hears all that come. Few Princes render Justice more speedily, and
more punctually. Sometimes he goes a Hunting. He makes very light
Suppers, and retires early to Bed. He delights in Agriculture, and is one
of the greatest Florists living. This Prince is never unemploy'd. There
are few things which he does not know, and very many which he understands
to Perfection. His Conversation is as agreeable as any I know. He speaks
several Languages well. His Behaviour is obliging and courteous. He loves
Foreigners, treats them with Distinction, and loads them with Civilities.
Upon Sundays and Holidays he eats with the Prince his Son, and the
Princess his Daughter-in-law. His Table, which is then spread for sixteen
Guests, is serv'd with more Delicacy than Profusion.