December xxviii.
His Excellency proceeds in his way to Osnaburg; but I continue still at Hanover, with an intention to take post for Hamburg, and dine this day with Mr. Cresset. The day following in the afternoon I visit the library and cabinet of Abbot Gerhardus, otherwise called Molanus. His cabinet consists of a vast collection of modern coins, particularly those of Germany, among which he has intire sets of the houses of Brunswick and Saxony. He has likewise a rich and numerous collection of medals of all the European kingdoms, stampt upon the most celebrated occasions; and many of them are gold, some of which weigh an hundred ducats, and others but little less. Those of Sweden seemed to me the noblest both for the work and device, particularly one of Gustavus Adolphus, upon marching his army over the frozen Baltick, with this inscription: NATURA HOC DEBVIT VNI. Another of Charles the eleventh, with the reverse of the North star, and inscribed: NESCIT OCCASVM. Those of the house of Hanover are likewise curious, particularly one of the Princess Dowager, stampt by her about fourteen years since; the reverse a sun setting without a cloud, and the words: Senza turbarmi al fin m’accosto. Another of the young Prince George Augustus, the reverse a fountain springing up in a strong perpendicular column of water, with this legend: VIS INSITA DVCIT IN ALTVM. Besides these he has a good collection of antient medals; the most remarkable of which were Julianus the first; and Antinous of the first size, if genuine, the reverse a sheep.
By eleven a clock this night I depart in the post waggon for Zell, and in the way make these observations on Hanover, and the persons I saw there. The town is moderately large, fair, and compact, seated on the Leine, and reasonably well fortified. The palace of the Prince is old, and mean in outward appearance, but within beautiful and splendid. The clergy here is but meanly esteemed, and more meanly provided for; except that Abbot Gerhardus has an income (the sole remainder of church lands not sequestered) to the yearly value of eight hundred pounds sterling. By this preferment he is superintendent of the whole clergy in the territories of the Duke of Brunswick Hanover, and is by the same incapable of marrying. The Elector is a sage, discreet, just, and sober Prince. The Princess his mother is courteous, affable, condescending, and prudent; well versed in the Dutch, English, French, and Italian languages; and gay and vigorous to a miracle at the age of seventy two. The young Prince is brisk, affable, and ingenious. The Princess, daughter to the Elector, comely, ingenious, lively, and her courteous behaviour charms all, who converse with her. Mr. Cresset, who has long resided as Envoy to this court, and those of Zell, Brunswick, and Wolfembutel, is a wise and pious gentleman, has a family well governed, and lives much to the honour of himself and his country.