Testimonies to Posterity of the Elector Maximilian-Emanuel's grand and happy Taste.
Of all the Elector's Houses Nymphenbourg is that where the Court resides most. It is as well a Hunting-House as a Pleasure-House, by reason of a Park in the Neighbourhood which is eight Leagues in compass, and cut out into a great number of fine long Roads. Here the Elector comes to rouze the Stag; and there is a little Park adjoining to the Gardens, which, as well as the adjacent Fields, abounds with Pheasants, Partridges, and all other Game of that sort.
When the Court is at Nymphenbourg the Electress has a Drawing-Room there three times a Week where there is Gaming, and when that is over the Ladies sup with their Electoral Highnesses, who sometimes admit Gentlemen of their Court to their Table, but commonly all Foreigners. They who prefer taking the Air to Gaming, find open Calashes every Evening drawn by two Horses, at the bottom of the Steps on the side of the Garden: A Gentleman drives the Calash, two Ladies ride in it, and a Gentleman stands behind. And such as prefer the Water find very neat Gondolas finely gilt upon the Canal at their Service; so that there is no want of any thing to add to the Pleasures of all sorts in this inchanting Place.
Were I to enumerate to you all the various Pleasures of this Court I should never have done. For the present I shall confine myself to these already mentioned. I am resolved to set out in three or four days for Stutgard. I shall lie at Augsbourg, and at Ulm. A Frost which has held for a Month without ceasing has made the Roads so hard that I hope I shall roll along finely. I expect to hear from you at Stutgard. Pray take care that I be not disappointed, and believe that I am very sincerely, &c.
LETTER XV.
SIR,Stutgard, Jan. 14, 1730.
There is nothing remarkable between Munich and Augsbourg except it be the fine Abbey of Furstenfeldt, which is in possession of the Bernardin Fryars. It was founded by Lewis the Severe Duke of Bavaria to attone for his Wickedness in putting Joan of Brabant his Wife unjustly to death. The History of Bavaria relates the Fact thus: Joan was a very beautiful Princess. Her Husband who was doatingly fond of her being obliged to take a Journey, put her under the Guard of one of his Aunts. While he was gone Joan wrote frequently to her Husband, and sometimes to his Prime Minister and Favourite. One day she put her Letters into the hands of a Domestic, charging him to deliver them as they were directed; but the Man made a Mistake, and gave the Letter which was for the Duke to his Favourite, and that which was for the Minister to the Duke. Lewis thought that his Wife's Style was too obliging to a Subject, and was even mad with Jealousy. He first kill'd his Favourite, and then taking horse posted to Donawert where his Wife was. He came to the Castle in the Night-time, murder'd the Porter with his own hand, put his Aunt and all with whom he had left his Wife in charge to Death; and then like another Herod, caused the unfortunate Joan to be beheaded. The Night after this barbarous Action, the Heirs of