Berlin is divided into five Wards exclusive of the Suburbs, which are very extensive. I will run thro' these Wards in the Order of their Situation: But before I do this, I propose to shew you what is most remarkable in the Suburbs; where the Houses are generally of Timber, but so well plaister'd that they seem to be of Stone; and the Streets are broad, lightsome and strait.
In the Suburb of Spandau the Queen has a delightful House and Gardens. The House is called Monbijou; a very proper Name for it, because 'tis really a Jewel. 'Tis a Pavilion, the Apartments of which are laid out with Art, and furnish'd with great Judgment and Elegance. The Gardens are charming, and lie finely open to the River. This House was built by the Countess de Wartemberg, Wife to the Prime Minister of King Frederic I. As her Husband's Power and Favour were at that time so great, that he did whatever he pleas'd, all the
King's Workmen and Architects us'd the utmost Diligence to serve her well. But she did not enjoy this fine House long; for it was scarce compleated when the King removed the Count from all his Employments, and banish'd him to Francfort on the Maine. However, he settled a Pension upon him and his Lady of 24000 Crowns, and the Countess by way of Acknowledgement gave the King this House, which of all the immense Treasure that she had amass'd, was the only Piece that she cou'd not carry with her. The King gave this House to the Princess Royal now Queen, who has added great Embellishments to it, and brought it to its present State of Perfection.
In the Suburbs of Stralau is the House and Gardens of Belvedere, belonging to the King. Rollé Superintendant of the Finances to the Elector Frederic-William, caus'd this Garden to be made, in which he laid out considerable Sums; and as this Minister was at other very great Expences, it so impair'd his Fortune, that he was oblig'd to throw up all and retir'd to Holland; and being very much in debt to the Elector, his Garden was forfeited to that Prince, who made a Present of it to M. de Fuchs, one of his Ministers. King Frederic I. purchas'd it of the latter, and after having embellished it, made a Present of it to the Queen his third Wife; but that Princess's ill state of Health obliging her to retire to Mecklenbourg her Native Country, Belvedere became neglected.
Near this Royal House is the magnificent Gardens of Craut, who from a Boy behind the Counter rais'd himself by his Industry to the Post of Pay-master General of the Army, and at length to that of Minister of State. He was to have been call'd to account in his last stage of Life, but he cunningly diverted that Storm by feigning himself Lunatic; and dying, he left an immense Estate, part of which
fell to the King by way of Restitution, and the rest to his Nephew, who makes a grand Figure at Paris.
I enter'd Berlin thro' that call'd the Gate Royale, which has had that Name ever since the Day that Frederic I. made his Entry there, after his Coronation at Koningsberg in Prussia. This Gate is defended by a Half-Moon, and two Bastions fac'd with Brick, and fronts that call'd the Street Royale; one of the longest and most frequented in all the City. There are very fine Houses in it, particularly that of M. de Catsch, a Minister of State, that of Grumkau, and the Post-House, which last Building was begun by order of the late King, for his Favourite the Count de Wartemberg, who was hereditary Post-Master.
Thro' the Street Royale there run fine, spacious and beautiful Streets. The first is call'd la Rue du Cloitre, in which we see the Royal Manufactory. Frederic I. who bought it of the Heirs of the Marshal de Flemming, established an Academy of Nobles there; so that, on the Payment of three hundred Crowns, they had Lodging, Provision, and Instruction in every thing that it's natural a Man of Quality shou'd know. This Establishment existed a few Years, but sunk at last meerly thro' the Neglect of Persons whose Business 'twas to take care of it. The present King has chang'd this Fabrick into a Work-house, and allowed Lodgings in it for several Woollen Manufacturers.
Adjoining to the Royal Manufactory, there are public Warehouses, which were established and built by the late King; and being destroyed by Fire, the present King caus'd them to be rebuilt. Opposite to the Warehouses stands the House of M. de Creutz, Minister of State; which has fine Apartments, and is very neatly furnish'd. Higher in the same Street there's the House of M. Duvaine,
a French Man by Birth, and Lieutenant-General of his Prussian Majesty's Forces: And contiguous to his House, which makes a fine Appearance, is the Calvinists new Church, a Structure rais'd after the Model of Grunberg, an Architect who had before acquir'd a Reputation, which did not suffer by his Contrivance of this great Fabrick: The Front of it is magnificent, but the inside plain, as are all the Churches of the Calvinists, which you know don't admit of Images. The subterranean Places or Catacombs, for interring those that worship here, are worth seeing. Several Persons have been interr'd there of great Note, particularly Casimir de Colbe, Count de Wartemberg, Prime Minister, Great Chamberlain, Master of the Horse, Post-Master-General, Protector of all the Academies in the Dominions of the King of Prussia, and Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle. Being banish'd in 1711, to Francfort upon the Maine, where he died the Year following, he ordered that his Corpse shou'd be carry'd to Berlin; and his Will was accordingly fulfill'd. He was so dear to King Frederic I. that he was very loth to part with him; but was, as it were, compell'd to it by a Cabal, who oppos'd his Ministerial Authority; tho' he was provok'd at the Insolence of Wartemberg's Wife, and at his mean Submission to her. The King made an Offer to him afterwards, by the Count Christophle de Dohna, (who was then his Ambassador at Francfort, for the Election of the Emperor,) to come and resume his Employments, on condition that he wou'd not bring his Wife with him; but Wartemberg refus'd, saying, he was engag'd in honour not to forsake her. Perhaps he was very glad of this Excuse for not returning, because he had once experienc'd the Vicissitude of Fortune, and knew well that he had been too powerful a Man not to be hated. King Frederic I. who was desirous