Knight of the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle, is the Governour of this Town. He is a Gentleman of good Extraction, of Behaviour, Noble, Polite, and Easy; and though he is Father of a numerous Family, he affects to live grand, and keeps a very good Table. One of his Sons is in the Service of Prussia, the others are in that of the King of England. I mention them to you, because they are worthy Gentlemen; and whoever knows them, cannot but esteem them.
Here are a great many French People, Catholick as well as Protestant, of whom the former have a Chapel, and the latter a Church; but the Religion which is predominant, is the Lutheran. The last Dutchess of Zell, of the Family of Olbreuse, being a French Woman, fill'd her Husband's Court and Guards with her own Countrymen; who were even preferr'd before the Natives of Zell. I have been told that these Frenchmen really thought themselves so much at home, that there happen'd to be one day no less than a dozen of 'em at Dinner at the Duke's Table, who all except the Prince were Frenchmen; which one of them observing, said to the Duke, My Lord, this is really very pleasant; there is no Foreigner here but you!
In the Neighbourhood of this Town there's the Castle of Ahlen, where, (about nine Years ago,) the unfortunate Daughter of the last Duke of Zell, by Madamoiselle d'Olbreuse, ended her Days, after she had been retir'd thither about thirty six Years: She had been promised in Marriage to Augustus-William, the hereditary Prince of Brunswic-Lunenbourg-Wolfemhuttle; but her Father the Duke, by the Intrigues of the Princess Sophia, Dutchess of Hanover, marry'd her against her Will, and against the Consent of her Mother, to the hereditary Prince George-Lewis, who was afterwards King of Great Britain, by Right of his Mother, and who died in
the Year 1727, as he came to make the Tour of his hereditary Dominions. She was sixteen Years old at her Marriage with that Prince, who was then twenty-two.
Tho' there's a good deal of Heath between Zell and Hanover, yet the Country is very well cultivated; for the Inhabitants not only make Turfs of the Heath for Fewel, but it serves also for Pasturage, and for Manure. 'Tis about five German Miles from one Town to the other, and I travell'd it in less than five Hours.
Hanover, the Capital of the Electorate of Brunswic-Lunenbourg, is bigger than Zell. The River Leine divides it into the old and new Towns, which are both encompass'd with Ramparts that scarce deserve the Name. There is nothing very extraordinary in the Palace or Castle, which is rather commodious than magnificent; and the Town of Hanover, generally speaking, is but ill built. The most remarkable Structure in it, is the Roman Catholick Church, which was granted to those of that Communion by Ernest-Augustus of Brunswic-Lunenbourg-Hanover; that being one of the Conditions which the Emperor Leopold demanded of him when he honour'd him with the Electoral Dignity. That Prince moreover engag'd to admit of an Apostolical Vicar in his Dominions, and to give him leave to reside at Hanover, as Spiga, who lately died at Francfort[30], did for many Years. Divine Service is perform'd in this Church as regularly as in a Cathedral; and they who officiate in it are Missionaries. The number of Catholicks is very considerable; but few Persons of Quality
are of that Communion, the Nobility being all Lutherans.
When George I. King of Great Britain left his German Dominions to take possession of his Kingdom, he was willing that all Affairs at Hanover shou'd continue on the same footing as they were before he was called to the Throne; and he left behind him Prince Frederic his Grandson, now Prince of Wales; who not only had a Drawing-Room every Day, but the same Attendance as had the Elector before he was King.
His Majesty King George II. has made no Alteration in the Establishment of the King his Father. When he sent for the Prince of Wales to England, he order'd the Courtiers to continue their Assemblies at the Castle; and that his Table shou'd always be serv'd in the same manner as if he himself was at Hanover. His Majesty keeps up the same number of Gentlemen, Pages, Domestics, and Guards; and the same number of Horses, Grooms, &c. in his Stables. There's a French Comedy acted three times a Week at the Palace, to which all People are admitted gratis; and there are frequently Concerts, Balls and Assemblies. The Gentlemen who do the Court-Honours at these Entertainments, and who invite Persons to dine or sup at the King's Table, are either M. de Hardenberg, the Grand Marshal, or, in his absence, the Baron de Gortz[31], Chief Steward of the Houshold; or else M. de Rheden, Captain of the Castle of Hanover.
In the King's absence, the Government is compos'd of a Council of State, whereof M. de Hardenberg is Chief or President; which meets every day in an Apartment of the Castle. To this all the Courts of Justice in the Dominions of Hanover are subject, and accountable. The Council