Works she had undertaken were finished. However, her Husband King Frederic I. caused them to be carried on, and made considerable Additions to them; and in order to perpetuate the Queen's Name, which was Sophia-Charlotte, he caused Lutzenbourg to be called Charlottenbourg. This Castle is one of the most considerable Structures in Germany; the Apartments are grand and splendid, and the Furniture very rich. There's a Cabinet adorn'd with the choicest Porcellane, ranged in such order as is surprising: In another Cabinet there are Lustres, a Tea-Table with Dishes, a Coffee-Pot, and the whole Equipage in short of solid Gold. The Chapel is one of the most superb that can be; every side being adorn'd with Gold and Painting. The Orangery is one of the most magnificent in Europe; not only with regard to the Beauty and Number of its Trees, but the Greatness of the Building in which they are kept all the Winter.
I could tell you of several more Houses which the late King had in the Neighbourhood of Berlin; but as they were suffer'd to run to ruin after he died, I think I had better entertain you with the Characters of the prime Nobility at this Court.
The Count de Wartensleben is the oldest Marshal. He is by Birth a Westphalian, and pass'd his early days in the Service of France. He was Commander in chief of the Troops of the Duke of Saxe-Gotha, when King Frederic I. called him to his Service. The Count de Wartemberg, who was at that time the Chief Minister, wanted a Person to be at the head of the Troops, who should be intirely devoted to himself: This was an Obedience he did not expect to find in the Counts de Lottum, Dhona, and Denhoff, nor in the other Generals whose long Services and Birth might make them aspire to this military Dignity. He believed the fittest Person to be his Tool would be a Foreigner that should be
oblig'd to him for his Fortune: Therefore he caus'd the Marshal's Batoon to be given to the Count de Wartensleben, who answer'd to a tittle the Intention of the Minister his Benefactor. 'Tis true, that he never seconded his Revenge, but neither did he oppose it. He did the Business of his Office, and meddled not with the Intrigues of the Court. It may be said of him, that he never deviated from the Path of Equity, and in Justice to him it must be own'd that he always did good, when it was in his power. Since the Death of the late King, his Authority and Interest are very much lessened. Besides, he is too far advanc'd in years to concern himself with almost any Business at all.
The General whose Power is most rever'd, is the Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau. In consideration of his high Birth, and the Rank of Sovereign which he holds in the Empire, I ought to have nam'd him first; only the Count de Wartensleben is the oldest Marshal.
The Prince of Anhalt is Marshal, Governour of the City of Magdebourg, Colonel of a Regiment of Foot, and Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle. This Prince, who is a Person of a good Stature and noble Presence, happy Features and a lively Aspect, was born with all the Qualifications of a General and a Soldier, being vigilant, laborious, indefatigable, equally patient of Heat and Cold, Want and Abundance; Brave even to Intrepidity, and possibly never equalled in this respect, unless we except Charles XII. King of Sweden: Being a Man of unexampled Rigour in Military Discipline, he will be obey'd; but then he rewards his Soldiers when they do their Duty, and sometimes makes himself familiar with them: A warm and constant Friend, but an implacable Enemy when he thinks himself not well us'd; haughty to his Equals, civil and courteous to his Inferiors. In his Youth, he was a Wine-Bibber, and a Deboshee;
but it has been observ'd, that neither Wine nor Women can detain him, when he is in the pursuit of Glory. He is a religious Observer of his Promises, and never makes any but after mature Reflection. He is an Enemy to the Pomp and Constraint of the Lives of Great Men; an Œconomist, perhaps more than becomes his Dignity; and is an absolute Master in his Family and his Government, having poor, but dutiful Subjects, and well-regulated Finances.
The Care of the Prince of Anhalt's Education was committed to M. de Chalisac, a Native of Guienne. This Gentleman found an ungovernable Temper in the young Prince which he had much ado to manage. The Prince happen'd very early to have a liking for Madamoiselle de Fohsen, (whom he afterwards marry'd) which being not at all pleasing to his Mother, (who was born Princess of Orange) she thought the best way to cure him of his Fondness for her, would be to send him abroad; and therefore appointed M. de Chalisac to travel with him to Italy, and accordingly they made that Tour.
Chalisac, who was my particular Friend, and whose Memory I honour, told me that this Prince's extraordinary Vivacity and Intemperance, had often made his Heart ake; but that whenever he happen'd to run astray, he was sure to reclaim him by setting the Motives of Honour and Ambition in his View. To this purpose he related what happen'd when they were at Venice, viz. that the Prince came home one Morning very much in Liquor, after having spent the whole Night in a Debauch; and M. de Chalisac reproving him, perhaps a little too sharply, as the young Prince thought, he ran and snatch'd up a Pistol, and returning with it to his Governour, said, You Dog, I must kill you. M. de Chalisac, without appearing
surpriz'd, looking sternly at the Prince, made him answer; Shoot me if you think fit; but think how worthy a Figure you'll make in History, when it shall be recorded that a Prince of Anhalt, a Prince of a Family that has given Emperors to Germany, murder'd his Tutor. These Words spoke with an Air of Authority made such an Impression on the young Prince, that he laid down his Pistol saying, You are indeed in the right; I should have committed a villainous Action.