Buttresses, with which the Palace is encompass'd, and the Gardens wou'd have had a gentle Descent; and for a very little Expence there might have been a fine Piece of Water at one end, betwixt them and a Coppice, which is a Walk for Pheasants.
The City of Ludwigsbourg is as irregular as the Palace; and its Scituation, which is very disadvantageous, will always render it a very incommodious Town, because of the unevenness of the Ground. Most of the Houses are of Timber, and slightly built; for those who build them do it with an Ill-will, either out of Necessity, or to please the Duke who seems to be fond of building. This Prince has ruin'd Stutgard, and will never make a good Town of Ludwigsbourg; for if the Court was absent from it but one Year, 'twou'd be one of the meanest Villages in Wirtemberg. This Town is in no respect very agreeable. The Nobility here don't seem very fond of Strangers, and there are no Entertainments but what are made by the Duke. No body here, not even the Prime Minister keeps a Table; and all the Expence of the Courtiers is in their Dress, and their Horses. Yet there is not a Prince of the Empire who gives handsomer Salaries, except the Electors; so that the Case is the very reverse here to what it is at almost all other Courts, for here People grow rich, whereas elsewhere they are beggar'd. I have known Persons that came to this Court in mean Circumstances, and in a few Years got Estates. The Duke is by nature generous and beneficent, and wou'd be more so if his Liberality was not curb'd. He has given several Gentlemen Materials for building gratis; and the Houses were no sooner up but he purchas'd them, and paid as dear for 'em as if he had not contributed a Shilling towards raising them. I have been assur'd that his most Serene Highness's Revenues amounted to four Millions of Florins. 'Tis certain that he is
Master of one of the finest Countries in all Germany; a Country which has plenty of every thing, but Money is scarce by reason of the Fertility of the neighbouring Provinces, viz. the Palatinate, Bavaria, Franconia, and Alsace. The People are desirous of a War upon the Upper Rhine, in hopes of putting off their Commodities.
The Lutheran is the only Religion tolerated in the Duchy of Wirtemberg, tho' the Duke has permitted Frisoni the Director of his Buildings to erect a Chapel for the Use of the Catholic Workmen whom he has sent for from Italy to build the Palace; which Chapel however is design'd to be demolish'd as soon as the Works are finish'd: But I am rather inclin'd to think that the Court itself will one day have a Catholic Chapel; for if the hereditary Prince shou'd happen to die without Male-Issue, Wirtemberg will fall to the Share of Prince Alexander, (Cousin-german to the Duke) who has embraced our Religion; and who having Children by the Princess of Tour and Taxis whom he marry'd at Brussels, sees them brought up in the Catholic Faith.
I kiss your hand, and am, &c.
POSTSCRIPT.
Since I wrote the above, the Countess de Wurben is fallen under Disgrace, which I have been told happen'd by this means.
The Duke's Carriage to his Mistress had been cold for some time, when the King of Prussia came to Ludwigsbourg and exhorted him to be reconcil'd to his Wife, in order to get Heirs. The Duke cou'd not persuade himself to take the Duchess again; but however the King's Representations prevail'd so far, as to put him quite out of conceit with his Mistress. He just kept up a bare Acquaintance with her, and that was all; which she
perceiv'd, and made no scruple to try the most extraordinary Methods to maintain herself in Favour. The Duke having been blooded in her Presence, she secreted a Napkin stain'd with his Blood. What Use she propos'd to make of it I know not, but she carry'd it to her Apartment. The Duke's Valets de Chambre missing the Napkin acquainted their Master of it. M. de Roder, a Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber, and a Favourite of his Highness, said that no body cou'd possibly take it but the Countess, and that to be sure she did it for no good. The Duke order'd M. de Roder to go to the Countess's Apartment and enquire into the Fact. Roder ask'd for the Napkin. The Countess deny'd her having it; but Roder affirm'd he saw her take it, upon which she was in a Passion with him, and told him she wou'd make him repent of his Ill-manners to her. Roder made answer, that all the Airs she gave herself were out of season, that her Reign was over, and that he wou'd oblige her to return the Napkin. The Countess not us'd to be talk'd to at such a rate, was frighten'd, and restor'd the fatal Napkin, which completed her Ruin. The Duke, when inform'd by his Favourite of what had pass'd, sent an Order to the Countess not to stir from her Apartment: And this Prince setting out soon after for Berlin, charged the hereditary Prince his Son to command Madamoiselle de Wurben to retire to her Estate. The Countess obey'd, and being indulg'd to carry what she had a mind to along with her, retir'd to a Territory of hers depending immediately on the Empire, not many Leagues from Ludwigsbourg. There it was that she heard of the Duke's Reconciliation with the Duchess, upon the Duke's return from Berlin. This News extremely shock'd her, because she always flatter'd herself that the Prince wou'd return to her: And perceiving now that she had no Hopes of being restor'd
to Favour by the power of her own Charms, she had a mind to try what she cou'd do by I know not what Charm in the Magic Art. To carry her Point she was under a necessity of having a little of the Duke's Blood; and she wrote to his Valet de Chambre, promising him great Rewards if he cou'd procure her some. What does the Domestic but carry the Letter to the Duke? who immediately gave Orders to Colonel Streithorst to arrest the Countess, and carry her to some Place of Security. The Colonel taking a Detachment of Soldiers along with him, contriv'd it so that he came to the Countess's Seat at Night, and immediately surrounding the House, knock'd at the Gate, but no body making answer he thunder'd so hard at the Gate, that at length Madame de Sultman the Countess's Sister put her Head out at the Window, and ask'd who it was that dar'd to make such a Noise. Streithorst told her his Name, and said he came thither by Order of the Duke. Madame de Sultman made answer that the Countess was not well, and cou'd not be spoke with. The Colonel, who knew the contrary, said, that if they did not let him in he wou'd break open the Doors; upon which they thought fit to open them. During this the Countess was got to Bed; and Streithorst entring her Chamber found her there with her Sister and her two Brothers-in-law, the General N—— and Sultman, who was formerly at Berlin Equerry to the Countess of Wartenberg, and afterwards Privy-Counsellor to the Duke of Wirtemberg. The Colonel having signify'd his Order to the Countess, she affected to be in a dying Condition; but said that if she was able enough to get up she did not intend it, she being at home, and in a free House of the Circle of Swabia, from whence she did not think the Duke had Authority to remove her. The Colonel threaten'd that his Grenadiers shou'd pull her out of Bed; and the Lady seeing that she must obey,