SIR,Hamburgh, June 20, 1729.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure, than the Approbation with which you are pleased to honour the Account I sent you of the Court of Prussia; which I esteem as an infinite Reward for the little trouble it cost me. You must not imagine that I can ever be weary of writing to you; I can never do any thing more agreeable to myself, than to contribute to your Amusement; and shall think myself exceeding happy, if I can succeed.
I set out from Berlin upon the 10th of June, and in less than four Hours came to Oranjebourg, a royal Seat, which King Frederic I. caused to be built, and to which he gave the Name of Oranjebourg, to perpetuate the Memory of his Mother, who was born Princess of Orange. This Prince, great in every Action, spar'd no Cost to render this House worthy of his magnificent Taste. The Situation of this Place is very charming, in the midst of fine large Meadows, with Canals cut in them after the manner of Holland. The Apartments of the Palace
are grand, tho' the rich Furniture it had formerly has been removed to Berlin. The present King not taking a fancy to it, all runs to ruin; the Gardens, which were the finest in Germany, are not kept in order; the great Vessels of Porcellane; which were not to be match'd in Europe, the late King having procur'd the choicest Rarities of that Ware, that were in the Magazines of Holland; all these fine things, I say, are pass'd into the hands of the King of Poland, at Dresden. The Gallery and the Salon of Oranjebourg, which were furnish'd with them, and which were reckoned among the Beauties of Germany, are of no account now but for the Richness of their Cielings.
From Oranjebourg, I went and lay at Ferbellin, a Town which is only remarkable for a Victory gain'd here by the Elector Frederic-William over the Swedes. The latter enter'd his Dominions, while he was engag'd with his Army in defence of the Empire then attack'd by the French on the Upper Rhine. The Elector being inform'd of the Invasion of his own Country by the Swedes, came away from the Rhine with his Troops, and by one of the bravest Marches that ever any General made, deliver'd it from the Enemy. He surprized them in Ratenau, a Town in the Marquisate of Brandenbourg, the Garrison of which he made Prisoners; and then continuing his March, he came up with the Swedes near Ferbellin, at a time when the latter thought him still upon the Rhine, and gain'd a compleat Victory. A venerable old Gentleman, who was very near the Elector's Person at this Battle, told me, that before the Engagement began, the Prince being at the head of his Army, took out his Pistols, fir'd them in the Air, and lifting up his Eyes to Heaven, said, 'Tis to thy Glory, Great God, that I discharge my Arms; defend my Cause, thou knowest it to be just; punish my Enemies.
Then drawing his Sword, and turning about to his Soldiers, My Comrades, said he, I desire no other Defence, nor no other Weapons, but the Protection of God, your Courage, and my Sword. Follow me therefore, my Friends, do as I do, and be assur'd of Victory.
In this Battle, Forbenius, the Elector's Gentleman of the Horse, perceiving that a white Steed which his Master rode, made his Person a very plain Mark for his Enemy, so that they had singled him out to fire at, desir'd the Prince to change Horses with him. The Elector, who had a great Soul, above all Fear, refus'd at first to do so, but upon the repeated Instances of Forbenius, he consented to it; and the Moment that the Gentleman mounted the Horse which the Elector quitted, a Cannon-Shot kill'd him dead upon the Place, so quick, that he expir'd without the Comfort of knowing that he had thereby preserved the Life of his Master.
HAMBURGH, a Hanse-Town in the Circle of Lower Saxony, is, without dispute, one of the richest and most considerable Towns in all the Empire of Germany. It depends solely upon its Magistrates, who are chose by the Burgers themselves. Its Liberty has been often contested by the Kings of Denmark, who as Dukes of Holstein, pretend that Hamburgh is built upon their Territory, and that therefore they ought to be the Sovereigns of it. The Electors of Brandenbourg, and the Princes of the House of Brunswic, always opposed the Incroachments of the Danes; nor will they suffer any Power whatsoever to oppress the City of Hamburgh, because, if it were possible, they would be glad to annex it to their own Domains. The City being exposed to these Attacks, has taken all the Measures possible to be in a condition to defend its Liberty. 'Tis very well fortified, maintains a good
Garrison, and has an Arsenal provided with all Necessaries.
The Commerce of Hamburgh is considerable, tho' 'tis very much lessen'd since Frederic IV. King of Denmark, prohibited the Importation of Merchandize from Hamburgh to his Dominions[19].