Monarch. When this Prince became Emperor he rewarded the Count with Honours, Wealth, and Dignities. He lov'd him as long as he liv'd, and his Memory is still dear to him. As soon as he died, the Emperor declar'd himself Guardian to his Children, gave Orders in what manner they shou'd be brought up, and now treats them much more like his own Children than his Subjects. But what wou'd you say of the Emperor's tender Love for the Empress? Some time ago this Princess being dangerously ill, the Emperor not only sent for his Physicians, and conjur'd them to employ all their Art to save her Life, but promised them Rewards suitable to that Service, and actually watched with her several Nights to see her take the Remedies they prescrib'd. Does not a Conjugal-Love so perfect, deserve to be rewarded by the Birth of an Archduke? Adieu, Sir. If I were Emperor, you shou'd be my Count d'Altheim; but in the Condition I am in, you are the Person whom I honour most of all Mankind; and am, &c.
LETTER XIV.
SIR,Munich, Jan. 5, 1730.
As I came hither from Vienna, I stay'd two Days at Lintz, the Capital of Upper Austria. This City lies on the Danube, over which there is a wooden Bridge. 'Tis a little Town, but well built, and has fine Churches. Its Inhabitants are thriving, and they drive a great Trade in Linnen-Cloth. 'Tis the Residence of a great many Persons of Quality, and of the Regency of the Province, of which the Count de Thirheim is the Chief. This Nobleman lodges in the Imperial Palace, which stands upon an Eminence, and commands the City. The Building is commodious enough, but not so magnificent. The Emperor Leopold stay'd here during the Siege of Vienna; till not thinking himself safe in it he retir'd to Passaw. The Neighbourhood of Lintz is very agreeable. All the way hither from Vienna the Danube is lin'd on both sides with Vineyards; but from Lintz to this Place, instead of Vines, there are Plantations of Hops.
Munich, in the German Tongue Munchen, stands in the middle of a large Plain, and in the Center of Bavaria, of which it is the Capital City. The Walls of it are washed by the River Iser; 'tis a small Town, but better built than fortified, for within these few Years several fine Houses have been
rais'd in it. The Elector's Palace is one of the biggest Piles of Building in Europe, but it wants a great deal of being so handsome a Structure as Misson and several other Authors have represented it; for its Magnificence consists principally in its Bulk. The chief Front, which looks towards a very narrow Street, has the Resemblance of a fair Convent; to which the Image of the Virgin Mary over the great Gate contributes not a little. That for which 'tis held in most Esteem is the great Apartment which is call'd the Emperor's Apartment. The Connoisseurs in Painting admire the Pictures in the great Hall, which represent both Sacred and Prophane History, and are performed by the Hand of Candi. The Chimney-piece in the same Room is very much esteem'd: Among other fine Figures with which it is adorn'd, there's a Statue of Porphyry that represents Virtue holding a Spear in the Right Hand, and in the Left a gilt Palm-Branch. In 1632, when Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden made himself Master of Munich, he thought this so beautiful a Room that he was sorry he could not get it transported to Stockholm. In the Reign of Ferdinand Mary, Grandfather to the present Elector, great part of the Palace of Munich was reduc'd to Ashes, which Accident was, 'tis said, the Occasion of that Prince's Death; for being at Straubingen when he received the sad News of the Fire, he took Horse immediately and rode with such Fury to Munich that he receiv'd a Fall which in a little time prov'd his Death.