The Main Body of the House contains grand Lodgings for the Master of the Horse, and the Officers under him. Over the Stables are great Rooms where they keep a deal of fine Furniture, both for the Horse and Mule; magnificent Sleds, with convenient Harness, adorn'd with Bells of Silver, or Silver gilt; a great number of fine Arms; the rich Accoutrements of the Horse which serv'd Frederic I. on the Day of his public Entry; all the Ornaments of the Bridle, the Breast-Leather, and Crupper, as well as the Bits and Stirrups, being of Gold adorn'd with Brilliants.
Over the Riding-House is the great Theatre, where, in the late King's time, Interludes and Comedies us'd to be acted before the whole Court; but the Opera of Roxana and Alexander was the last that was acted on it. It was play'd in 1708, upon the Marriage of King Frederic I. with Sophia of Mecklemberg. In 1706, an Interlude was acted there, on account of the Arrival of the Princess Royal, now Queen; intitled, Beauty triumphing over Heroes; at which the Markgraves Frederic-Albert and Christian-Lewis, the late King's Brothers, danc'd, with all the young Courtiers.
As we go farther down the great Street, we come to the Fish-Market, where is the Hotel of the City of Cologne, and Dorffling's Hotel occupied by the Count de Finck. This Family is oblig'd for its Rise to the Marshal Dorffling, who from an Apprentice
to a Taylor rais'd himself by his Valour and Merit to the highest Posts in the Army. The Story goes, that when he had serv'd his Apprenticeship at Tangermunde, having a mind to go to Berlin, he came to a part of the Country where he cou'd not proceed without crossing the Elbe, but not having wherewithal to pay his Passage, the Ferry-Men refus'd to carry him over; which so vex'd him, that he threw his Knapsack into the River in a Pet, curs'd the Trade of a Taylor, and went back to Tangermunde, where he listed himself a Soldier. There being a War at that time all over Germany, it was no difficult matter for the young Warrior to find an Opportunity to shew his Courage; and he signaliz'd it in such a manner, that his Officers, who were all in love with him, strove to advance him, and therefore made him known to the Elector Frederic-William. This Prince who lov'd, rewarded, and was a good Judge of Valour, did not depend upon what Fame reported of him; but in order to see his Officers and Soldiers fight with his own Eyes, conducted them himself to the Enemy, and very soon took notice of Dorffling. He saw him at every part of the Field where there was Honour to be won: He saw he was a sensible industrious Fellow, that he hated Parties and Cabals, and that he had that Germanic Probity which was the distinguish'd Virtue of our Forefathers, but which we now content ourselves with admiring. The Elector observing such a Stock of Virtue in Dorffling, thought him deserving of his Favour, advanc'd him to the tip-top Employments, and made him very rich. Envy, which is as old as the World itself, and which like that, never stands still, made several of the Courtiers jealous of the Fortune or rather the Merit of Dorffling, and there were some who did not stick to say, that if the Marshal came to be ever so great a Nobleman, he wou'd always retain the Air of a Taylor. This
being carry'd to Dorffling, True enough, said he, I was a Taylor, and I have cut out Cloth; but now, said he, clapping his Hand to the Hilt of his Sword, I have an Instrument in my Hand, with which I'll cut off the Ears of any Man that slanders me.
This brave Fellow liv'd to a great Age, and left a Son who was one of the King of Prussia's Lieutenant-Generals, and Colonel of a Regiment of Dragoons, but died without Issue. He had not quite the Vivacity of his Father, but he had his Honour and Integrity.
Going out of the Fish-market, as we turn to the right, one perceives the Lutheran Church of St. Peter[2], which is a considerable Structure; and then we come into that call'd the Fryars Street, the Houses of which are all well built. In this Street stands the Palace where the Aulic Council meets, which in France they call the Parlement; 'tis here that all Civil Causes are try'd, and from thence there lies an Appeal to the King's Council.
Beyond the Palace there is a Square, on the Right side of which there's a Church with a Cupola which belongs to the Calvinists, and is look'd upon as the Cathedral of Berlin: For you know that the late King made two Bishops, one in Prussia and the other at Berlin, and they were the Prelates that crown'd him. They are since dead, and the present King lets their Sees lie vacant. In this Church is the Tomb of the Royal Family. There's a great Row of Buildings over against it, which consists of several uniform Houses belonging to Merchants,
and supported by stately Arches with Shops under them, where are sold all sorts of Goods. Turning round by that Piazza, brings one to a second Branch of the River, which divides the Ward of Coln from that of Werder. This River, which has three wooden Bridges over it, is confin'd in a Canal lin'd with Freestone, and form'd by two fine Kays.
The most considerable Edifices in the Ward of Werder are the Royal Custom-House, so commodiously situate that Boats can come up close to it: The French School, and their Church, which is serv'd by able Ministers; some of whom, as the late M. Lenfant (Author of the celebrated History of the Council of Constance, &c. and Chaplain to the King of Prussia) M. de Beausobre and M. Jacquelot, &c. have acquir'd a Reputation in the Republic of Letters. The Royal Hunting-House is a large magnificent Structure for lodging the great Huntsman and all his inferior Officers: There too is the great Dog-Kennel and the Magazines for all the Hunting Equipage. Near this place is the Hotel or Palace for Ambassadors, where are likewise entertain'd such Foreign Princes as are not of a Rank high enough to be accommodated in the King's Palace. This Hotel belong'd formerly to the Baron de Danckelman, Prime Minister to King Frederic when he was only Elector, and being built by the said Minister at a time when he was such a Favourite that he did almost what he pleas'd, he spar'd no Cost to render it a Mansion worthy of his high Station. I was assur'd by Persons of Credit then alive, that after it was built, the late King had a Desire to see it, upon which occasion M. de Danckelman made a great Entertainment for him; and that while the Queen and the whole Court were dancing, the King retir'd into his Minister's Closet, to have a private Conference with him; and looking very earnestly on a certain Picture