Greater than the Great Alexander, who reduc'd the fuperb Palace of Darius to a Heap of Afhes. The only Thing that made the Swedish Monarch uneafy was, that he could not carry to Sweden the fine Chimney-piece in the great Hall, that I mention'd to you.

I will next treat of the Princes that compofe the Auguft Family of Bavaria, which is one of the most Illuftrious in Europe. The Elector's Name was Maximilian Emanuel Mary: No Man could have a grander Air, or a better Shape than this Prince had; and with thofe external Qualities, he had others, without which the former are of little or no Value. He was generous, af fable, compaffionate, and in Confequence ador'd by his Subjects: He knew how to fupport his Dignity with Grandeur: His Expence was great, but well-judg'd: He marry'd to his first Wife the Archduchefs, Daughter to the Emperor Leopold, by whom he had a Son, who was fnatch'd from him by Death, when the young Prince was become Heir to one of the chief Crowns in the World, after the Death of Charles II. King of Spain, by Right of Succeffion from his Grandmother, who was the Daughter of Philip IV.

After the Death of the Electorefs, the Elector marry'd a Princefs of Poland, viz. Therefa Cunegonda Sobieski, Daughter to King John Sobieski. This Princefs lives fo retir'd, that, excepting her own Family, fhe fees no body but Two or Three Ladies and her Confeffor. She refides most commonly at Taco, a Seat given her by the Elector. When the Princefs is at Munich, fhe employs herself in Works of Charity, one while vifiting fick Women, at other Times the feveral Convents; and in thefe Vifits fhe never fails to leave Marks of her Bounty.

The

The Elector has had feveral Children by her: The First is the Electoral Prince, whofe Name is Albert Cajetan: This Prince gave Proof in the War in Hungary, and at the Siege of Belgrade, that he would be the Heir of the great Qualities of the Elector his Father, as well as of his Dominions: He acquir'd a high Reputation at Vienna, and every body was charm'd with the grand Prefence and Talents of this Prince, whofe Deportment to all that came to him could not be exceeded for Civility. He talk'd Latin, French and Italian with as much Eafe as his native Language.

The Duke Ferdinand is the Elector's Second Son, tho' he was firft marry'd to a Princefs of Neubourg, a Niece of the Elector Palatine. This Duke is the handfomeft of the Elector's Sons; he is perfectly well-fhap'd, and has the finest Head of Hair that can be feen; in fhort, he is a very amiable Prince: He loves Pleafure, but is not a Slave to it; his favourite Sport is Hunting, which he follows commonly with the Princes his Brothers.

Duke Clement is the Elector's Third Son, and he who has hitherto been Fortune's greatest Favourite. When I went to Munich, this Prince had been newly elected Bifhop of Munster and Paderborn, in the Room of the Duke his Brother, who dy'd at Rome a little after his Election to the Bishoprick. Duke Clement was already Bishop of Ratisbon, when he was chofe Bishop of Munster and Paderborn; but he refign'd Ratifbon to Duke Theodore, the laft of the Bavarian Princes. Thefe Four Princes, and a Princefs, who turn'd Nun at the Time that I was at Munich, are the Elector's whole Family, and the only Princes of the Houfe of Bavaria.

You know, Madame, that the Electoral Dignity pafs'd to this Family after the Difgrace of Frederic Elector Palatine, King of Bohemia, who having been put under the Ban of the Empire, was turn'd out of the Upper Palatinate, which was given to the Bavarian Family, as a Reward for the Attachment they had fhewn to the House of Austria, and for the Expences they were at in the War. At the Treaty of Weftphalia this Grant was confirm'd to the Bavarian Family, and the Son of the unfortunate Frederic recover'd his Dignity of Elector, with this Difference, that whereas before he was the firft Elector, he was now become the laft. The Dukes of Bavaria remain'd in Poffeffion of the Upper Palatinate, and of the Dignity of firft Elector. There's

none of 'em all that came up to the Elector Maximilian Emanuel, and never was the Court of Munich fo fplendid and numerous, as in his Time: The Ceremonial obferv'd there is very much the fame with that of the Imperial Court.

As to the Amufements at the Court of Bavaria, they pafs'd their Time much after this manner: The Elector, who was an early Rifer, went to Mafs about 10 o'Clock, and afterwards held a Council, if it happen'd to be Council-Day, or otherwife his Electoral Highnefs play'd at Paffage till Dinner time. Then he return'd to his own Apartment, where he din'd privately, and during that Time, no body was admitted, except the Princes, the Officers in Waiting, and the Chamberlains. The Princes alfo din'd by themfelves, tho' they often admitted Gentlemen to eat with them. The Electorefs, the Princefs and the Duchefs had alfo their feparate Tables ferv'd by the Elector's Officers, which occafion'd an amazing Expence, as did alfo the Hunting

Equipages

Equipages; for the Elector went one Way, the Electoral Prince another, and Duke Ferdinand another, fo that there were near 400 Horfes running here and there every Day. When they return'd from the Chace, the Princes went and pafs'd the Evening with the Duchefs, where they found a great Affembly of Ladies; the Elector also went thither fometimes, and played at Pharao, or fome other Game. Towards Suppertime he retir❜d to his Apartment, where he fupp'd with the Ladies. The Princes went and fupp'd with the Electoral Prince, and the Duchefs fupp'd at her own Houfe with the Gentlemen and Ladies.

On the Drawing Room Days (which were Three Times a Week) Things were order'd otherwife. The Ladies went to the Electorefs's Apartment, or to the Orangery, according to the Place where the Drawing Room was appointed. When it was kept at the Electorefs's Apartment, the Ladies went thither in the Court Drefs, whereas at the Orangery they might appear in a Mantua. The Elector and the Princes were alfo there: His Electoral Highnefs convers'd awhile with the Ladies; after which they fat down to Play, and every one chofe what Game or Partner they lik'd best. When the Play was over, the Company went into another Room, where there was a great Table well ferv'd, at which, after the Elector, the Princes and the Ladies had taken their Places, if there was Room, they admitted Gentlemen to fit down with them, either Foreigners, or even fuch as were in the Elector's Service. At this Table no Rank was obferv'd, and the very Princes fat down where they could get Places, D 3

When

When the Court was at Nymphenbourg, the Elector's Pleafure - houfe, the Diverfions were much the fame as at the Orangery, except that they took the Air more; and that the Ladies might enjoy this Pleasure to greater Perfection, there was always a Number of Calafhes, each drawn by a Pair of Horfes, which carry'd Two Ladies, and was drove by fome Gentleman, while One or Two others ftood behind them. Those who prefer'd taking the Air by Water, might eafily be accommodated, there being for that Purpose upon the Canal Gondolas and Gondoliers after the Venetian manner, which were always ready for Hire.

On Sundays, Holidays and Days of Rejoicing, the Elector din'd in public, with the Princes and Princeffes of his Family, during which the Chamberlains waited, and at Night there was a Concert. The Ladies in their Court Dress met in the Apartment of the Electoress or the Duchefs, and accompany'd thofe Princeffes to the Opera, after which they return'd to the fame Apartment; where, till Supper - time, they play'd; upon thofe Days the Ladies din'd with the Elector: Sometimes too they carry'd Services for Three or Four Perfons, and laid them upon the Gaming Tables, which was very convenient for those who were not willing to feparate Company After Supper there was commonly a Ball.

During the Summer, the Elector never failed to repair every Thursday Evening to the Orangery, to hold a Drawing Room, after which he went and lay at Nymphenbourg, from whence he return'd upon Saturdays, to hold Councils on Sundays in the Morning; and in the Afternoon he went to fome Pleafure-house.