only the Two Eldeft, for the Third was born fome Years after my Journey to Vienna.

She that is firft in Rank, next to the Empress and the Archducheffes her Daughters, was the Emprefs, Dowager of the Emperor Leopold, Eleonora Magdalena Therefa of Newbourg: She was the Mirrour of the whole Court for Piety; for fhe spent most of her Time in Prayers at the Altars, or else in beftowing Charities, which were always very great. The Greatness of her Birth

feem'd to make her uneafy, and fhe was vex'd to fee the Honours which her Rank and Merit had entail'd upon her; fhe dy'd in a very advanc'd Age: She had feveral Princes and Princeffes by the Emperor Leopold, as 1. Jofeph-Jacob, who dy'd Emperor at Vienna, the 17th of April 1711. 2. Charles, the prefent Emperor, and Three Archducheffes; the one marry'd to the King of Portugal; another, Governefs of the Netherlands; and the Third, who refides at the Court of Vienna.

The Emprefs Dowager of the Emperor Jofeph refides alfo at the Court of Vienna, and her Name is Wilhelmina-Amelia: She is the Daughter of the late Duke of Hanover, Uncle to the King of England. After the Death of her Father, who left no Male Iffue, this Princefs went and ftay'd fome time in France, and her Sifter having marry'd the Prince of Modena, fhe accompany'd her into that Country, where fhe ftay'd till her Marriage, which was concluded at Modena with the Emperor Jofeph, then King of the Romans; for whom the Duke her Brother-in-Law marry'd her as Proxy: She went afterwards to Vienna, where fhe was the Admiration of the whole Court, not only for the Luftre of her Perfon, but for the other Qualities with which Nature has endow'd

her

her: She took Care to cultivate her Mind with much Reading, and efpecially by the Study of the Languages, to which fhe gave great Application with Succefs, and fhe understands French and Italian as well as her native Language. This Princefs had feveral Children by the Emperor her Husband, of whom there are but Two Princeffes living; the one call'd Maria-Jofepha, marry'd to the Electoral Prince of Suxony, now King of Poland; and the other call'd Maria - Amelia, marry'd to the Electoral Prince, now the Elector, of Bavaria.

Thefe, Madame, were the Perfons of whom the Imperial Family then confifted: I had the Honour in a few Days after my Arrival to kiss the Hands of all this auguft Family, and was afterwards introduc'd to the Minifters; fo that in a very little time I was known by the whole Court, and was fo happy, as to acquire fome Friends of Distinction, who gave me Marks of their good Will, without putting me to the Trouble of dancing Attendance, and defir'd Prince Eugene to give me an Employment: I had the Honour to wait on that Prince with particular Letters of Recommendation, that I brought from the Elector Palatine. The Prince, who receiv'd me very kindly, told me, that he could not infure me a Place, because the Colonels difpos'd of all the Employments in their Regiments; but that he would oblige me to the utmost of his Power; and indeed fome time after, he was fo good as to fpeak for me to the Count Max- of S- who gave me a Company in his Regiment, which was then in Sicily. I was mightily charm'd with this Prefent, and imagin'd that Fortune was at length weary of having fo long thwarted me: Yet when I began to think coolly

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of the Matter, I had fome Reflections which made me relapfe into my former Melancholy : I was not in Cafh, and I faw that I could not avoid being at a confiderable Expence. Befides, I had contracted fome dribbling Debts, which I wanted to clear before I left Vienna: My Equipage was fo much out of Repair, that it would coft fome Money to remount it; and finally, there was a Neceffity for my going to Sicily; all which Things were not to be done with a trifling Expence Upon this Occafion I receiv'd fresh Proofs of the Affection of my Friends, who all interested themselves for me effectually: Madamofeille de K, Maid of Honour to the Emprefs Dowager, procur'd me a Gratuity from her Imperial Majefty; and the Countefs of W

at whofe House I was every Day, advanc'd me a Thousand Ducats, faying, That I fhould pay her when I was able, or rather, when I was preferr'd to be a Lieutenant-General. She accompany'd her Generofity too with fome Advice, that was truly wife and chriftian, and feem'd to come rather from the Lips of a Mother than a Friend. ThisLady was heartily glad that I had chang❜d my Religion, and was the more willing to affift me in making an End of my Affairs, for Fear that 1 fhould be overcome by the Temptation of turning Proteftant again, for the Sake of getting Employment in my own Country.

You fee, Madame, by what I have just had the Honour to mention to you, that I was now in a Condition to quit Vienna with Credit, and indeed my Stay there was no longer than to be a Spectator of Two great Solemnities, of which I am next to give you a Defcription: The first was the Entry of a Turkish Ambaffador, and the fecond the Marriage of the Archduchefs MariaJofepha

Jofepha with the Electoral Prince of Saxony; upa on both which Occafions the Imperial Court made the fullest Display of its Magnificence.

As to the Entry of the Ambaffador, I may venture to fay, it was only magnificent on the Part of the Imperial Court, for in Truth the Mahometan's whole Train and Equipage were very in confiderable. This Ambaffador's Name was Ibrahim Bafha; he had 600 Men in his Retinue, but they were all very fhabbily rigg'd. Till the Day of his Entry he ftay'd in a Camp, which he had caus'd to be form'd Two Leagues from Vienna; I went thither with fome Friends to fee him He receiv'd us with very great Civility, and made us a Prefent of Coffee and Sweetmeats. During this Collation I took a minute View of the Infide of his Tent, which was really ftately, and the largest that I ever faw: On the Ground there was a noble Carpet fpread, and over that a Sort of Foot-cloth of Crimson Sattin, embroider'd with Gold, on which fate the Ambaffador, with rich Cushions about him of the fame: On this fame Foot-cloth, at the Ambaffador's Right Hand fate the Secretary of the Embaffy: Round the Ambaffador there was about a Score of Turks tolerably well drefs'd, and among them Three or Four clever likely young Fellows; in particular I obferv'd a Moor there, that was the handfomeft Man I ever faw: His Drefs was richer than the Garb of the other Turks, and, as I was told, he was the Ambaffador's fpecial Favourite. After we had talk'd awhile with him, and were taking our Leave of him, he was fo civil as to offer to fhew us his Camp, which we with Pleafure accepted, and fet out accordingly with a Person that the Ambaffador gave us for our Guide.

This Camp took up more Space of Ground than would have ferv'd for 2000 Men. The Tents were a great way from one another, and plac'd without any Order. Their Horfes, Oxen and Camels were all ftow'd bigledy pigledy. But the Ambaffador's particular Equipage was in a Sort of Park, inclos'd by Toils like those that are us'd in Hunting: Every thing was to the laft Degree flovenly, the inferior Domestics especially were the most disagreeable Gentry I ever faw; they had not Cloaths to their Backs, but what were in Rags and Tatters; and the chief Domeftics were but little better rigg'd; feveral of them however were mighty civil to us, and defirous to regale us in their Tents.

Some Days after this our Vifit, the Ambaffador made his Entry with great Ceremony; the Marshal of the Court went and met him Half a League out of Vienna, at the Head of the Magiftrates of the City, thofe made free by the Court, all the Trading Companies and Gentlemen, all well mounted and richly drefs'd: The Ambaffador was dragg'd along by a Pair of wretched Horfes in one of his own Coaches, which was a little low Chariot, made almoft like the cover'd Waggons of Holland, except that instead of Wax Cloth and Leather, it was cover'd with a red. Cloth. When the Ambaffador and the Marshal of the Court came near to one another, they both alighted, and after mutual Compliments mounted their Horfes There were carry'd before the Ambaffador Three Horfe-Tails and the Standard of Mahomet, which is a great Pair of Colours of green Taffeta, ali fprinkled with Crefcents of Gold: He who carry'd it was on Horfeback, and that the End of the Colours might not trail the Ground, a Man that was on Foot held

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