LETTER III.
SIR,Hanover, July 5, 1729.
This Letter is to acquaint you of some things that I remark'd in the Road from Hamburgh, and in this City itself; where I have now been these three Days.
I set out from Hamburgh the 22d of June, and went by Water to Harbourg, having sent my Chaise thither the Day before. This Town is a Dependant on the Dutchy of Lunenbourg, and belongs to the Elector of Brunswic-Lunenbourg. It has nothing very remarkable but its Castle, which is a Pentagon, lin'd with a good Cover'd-Way. Madamoiselle d'Olbreuse[27], whom the Duke of Zell marry'd, had the Title of Madame de Harbourg, till she was recogniz'd by the Emperor a Princess of the Empire. For by the Laws of Germany, a Prince of a Sovereign Family can marry none but a Princess, or a Countess. If he weds a private Gentlewoman, he not only marries below himself, but his Wife does not go by his Name; and the Children of such Marriage cannot succeed, unless the Emperor declare the Mother a Princess; as he commonly does in favour of Princes of antient Families.
Between Harbourg and Zell, which is twelve Miles, there is scarce any thing but Heath. The Post-Stages, which are of four Miles, are very ill
serv'd, and the Inns the worst in Germany; all which together render the Road extremely disagreeable.
Zell is a little Town with great Suburbs. All its Buildings are of Timber, except the Churches, the Castle, and the House of Correction, which are of Brick. There is a Trade from hence to Bremen, by the River Aller.
After the Death of George-William, the last Duke of Zell[28], this City, and its Dependency, the Dutchy of Lunenbourg, devolv'd to his Nephew George, Elector of Brunswic-Hanover, afterwards King of Great Britain. This Prince had a Regency at Zell, which judged all Causes, without any Appeal but to the Council of State at Hanover. The President of it at this time, is the Baron de Friesberg, a Person of a good Family in the Country of Hildesheim; who has been a long time the Elector's Envoy at the Diet of Ratisbon, where I knew him, and received a world of Civilities from him. He is esteem'd for the prudent Management of his Office, and his noble manner of living. There are a great many Persons of Quality settled at Zell, who for a trifling Expence enjoy the Pleasures of agreeable Society. They visit and regale one another very much, and are not wanting in Civilities to Foreigners. Monsieur de Schulenbourgh[29], Lieutenant-General of the Hanoverian Horse, and