There can't be a better-natur'd Man than Charles-Philip of Newbourg, Elector Palatine. He is the best of Masters, and the most affable of Princes. He is reckoned extremely handsome, and one of the chief Dancers in his time; and he has a noble Aspect. His Behaviour and Conversation engage one to love him, and to pay one's court to him out of pure Inclination. He formerly was fond of Pomp and Pleasure, but since the loss of his only Daughter and his Son-in-law, who died within a few Years one of another, he seems to be no longer taken with what was heretofore his Amusement. The Elector has been twice marry'd, viz. first to Louisa-Charlotte Princess of Radzeville, and secondly to Theresa Lubomirski, both Polish Ladies. The former left him a Daughter that was marry'd to Joseph-Charles Prince Palatine of Sultzbach, but died in 1728; as did her Husband the Year following. This Princess had such Beauty and Merit, that she was the Comfort of her Father and the Admiration of her Acquaintance. She left three young Princesses, whom the Elector causes to be educated at his Court, where they are now all that he has to delight him; but then they incessantly renew to him the sorrowful Remembrance of a Daughter who was extremely dear to him.
The Death of that Princess has been a very great Affliction to the Elector, and chang'd the Face of the Palatine Court. Indeed as to Affability, and to the Goodness of his Temper, he is still the same Elector, but he has no longer that Gaiety of Humour which his Daughter's Company rais'd in him; for she had a thousand different Amusements for him, and Pleasures and Merriment every where accompany'd her. The Elector eats always in private, except on Holidays, and when there's any foreign Prince at his Court. After he has been in public at Mass, he commonly stops in one of his Apartments to chat with the Courtiers, or to play at Billiards till Dinner-time. After Dinner he goes to Bed, and lies there two Hours; then he rises, and after having caus'd himself to be dress'd, he gives Audience to his Ministers, and to such private Persons as want to talk with him. He is very attentive to those who speak to him, and answers them with Good-nature and Kindness. He seldom refuses what is in his power to grant; and when Reasons force him to a denial, 'tis visible that he is uneasy, and he refuses in so civil a manner, that People go away at least comforted, if not contented. At six o'clock in the Evening the whole Court meets in his Electoral Highness's Apartment, where there is Play till nine o'clock, and then the Elector retires, makes a very slight Supper, and goes to Bed in good time.
Tho' the Elector dines in private there's always a Table sumptuously serv'd for the hereditary Prince of Sultzbach, Brother to him who was the Elector's Son-in-law. This passes for the Elector's Table, is spread for eighteen Guests, and is serv'd by Pages.
The Prince de Sultzbach is look'd upon as the Elector's Heir, because 'tis not supposed that the Elector's Brother, the Elector of Mentz, would
be willing to quit the first Electorate of the Empire, and the great Benefices which he possesses, to become Elector Palatine, if he should happen to survive his Brother[133]. The Bishop of Augsbourg, the Elector's second Brother, being a Priest, cannot succeed. The Prince de Sultzbach's Father is still living; but being as old as the Elector, he is not like to survive him very long[134]. The Prince John-Christian of Sultzbach was born in 1700. He is the Widower of the Princess de la Tour of Auvergne, who brought him for her Portion the Sovereignty of Bergopzoom; and left him a Son, who is educated at Brussels with his Great-Grandmother the Duchess Dowager of Aremberg. The Prince John-Christian is tall and extremely corpulent, insomuch that 'tis well if he has not the Dropsy. He spent the first Days of his Youth at the Court of Lorrain in France, and in the Netherlands, by which Travels he acquired a great deal of Politeness. He was lately betrothed to Eleonora-Philippina of Hesse-Rhinfelds, Sister to the Princess of Piedmont[135], and to the Duchess of Bourbon. This Princess is every day expected from Turin, to which Place she accompanied her Sister. Their Highnesses will then go and keep their Court at Heidelberg[136].
The Principal Noblemen of the Palatine Court are the following:
Francis-George Count of Manderscheldt-Blanckenheim[137], the Steward of the Houshold, Prime Minister, and Knight of the Order of St. Hubert. He is of illustrious Extraction; is a Man of Integrity and very great Probity, incapable of doing an ill thing, but not at all engaging in his Deportment; for he is reserved, with an Air of Haughtiness, which is a Defect that he was born with, and endeavours to conquer, but cannot. When one knows him intimately he proves a good Friend, and capable of doing one Service. He has very great Pensions from the Elector, and is the oldest of his Family, which being pretty numerous, he does not live in a very grand manner.
The Baron de Sickingen is Great Chamberlain, Minister of State, and Knight of the Order of St. Hubert. He is a Gentleman of a fine Presence, of an easy and engaging Access, with profound Learning, and Sentiments suitable to his Birth. He was Governor of the late Prince de Sultzbach, Son-in-law to the Elector; and he imprinted such Ideas of Men and Things in the Mind of that young Prince, as gave great hopes that his Government would be happy if ever he attain'd to it. M. de Sickingen was afterward the Elector's Envoy Extraordinary to the Imperial Court; and I knew him at Vienna where he was exceedingly beloved. At his return he succeeded his Brother in the Office of Great Chamberlain, which he exercises with the Approbation of the whole Court.