Am, &c.
LETTER IV.
SIR,Blanckenbourg, July 30, 1729.
I was six Hours travelling from Hanover to Brunswic, the Capital of the Dutchy of that Name, which is a very great City, with Houses for the most part of Timber. It was formerly a Free and Imperial City, and one of the Hanse-Towns; but falling under the Sovereignty of the Princes of the House of Brunswic, they reduced it to a level with the other Towns of their Dominions. It belongs to the Duke of Brunswic-Lunenbourg Wolfembuttle. The Duke Anthony-Ulric began to fortify it; and his Son Augustus-William, the present Duke[36], perfected
what remained unfinished at his Father's Death, and made Brunswic a Place which cannot be besieged without a numerous Army: But then on the other hand, it would require such an Army to garison it as the Duke could not furnish without the help of his Neighbours, and which besides, wou'd not perhaps be extraordinary convenient for him to introduce. The said Duke has caused a new Palace to be built, which is large and magnificent, and the Furniture is rich, new, and excellently well chosen. Among the rest, there are very fine Pictures, and a Cabinet full of Curiosities.
The Duke of Blanckenbourg, Brother to the Duke of Wolfembuttle, has a particular Palace, where he resides in the Fair-time, but it did not appear to me to be a House of any consequence.
The Fairs of Brunswic contribute very much to make it a rich and famous City, there being two held every Year, and a considerable Trade carried on at both.
There is very good Diversion during these Fairs; for then all the Ducal Family is generally at Brunswic; to which foreign Princes come often, and there is always a great Concourse of the Nobility. The Duke sends every Morning to invite the Quality of both Sexes, who at Noon repair to the Palace. The Grand Marshal, for avoiding all Disputes about Precedency, causes the Ladies to be match'd with the Gentlemen by the drawing of Tickets; and sometimes it happens that a Dutchess