As I had left the Court at Brunswic I did not stay many Hours at Wolfembuttle, but came to lie here at Blanckenbourg, where I have all that Heart can wish for.
The Duke is as affable and as civil a Prince as any in the World. In his Youth he visited the principal Courts of Europe, where he contracted a great Politeness, and a solid Taste of Elegancy. He loves the Belles Lettres, protects the Arts and Sciences, and looks out for Men of Ability to serve him. He is magnificent, generous, a good Prince, and a kind Master. He was at one and the same time, the Father of an Empress, and the Grandfather of an Emperor. As a Father, he has a considerable Pension from the Emperor of Germany; and as a Grandfather, he has been honour'd with the Order of St. Andrew of Muscovy, founded by Peter the Great, which is a blue Ribbon, with St. Andrew's Cross appendant to it enamell'd with blue. This Prince is also a Commander of Suplenbourg, a Commandery of the Order of St. John, annexed to the House of Brunswic. He has had three Daughters by his Wife Elizabeth-Christina of Oetingen.
The Dutchess, tho' advanc'd in Years, retains an Air of Grandeur and Majesty which strikes the Beholders, and her Features discover the Marks of
that shining Beauty which she had in her Youth. But what renders this Princess more venerable than even her Birth, is her solid Piety, her just Discernment, her lively Imagination, her noble and easy manner of expressing herself, and her Principles of Humanity, accompany'd with a Generosity free from all Ostentation.
I had the honour to pay my Duty to her at Brunswic, some Years ago, when she receiv'd me with such Tokens of Goodness as rejoic'd my very Heart; and upon all Occasions since, she has been pleas'd to give me fresh Proofs of it. As I can be of no service to this Princess in any Case, nor so happy as to be able to contribute to her Glory, 'tis my Ambition to make every one, and you, Sir, in particular, sensible of the Respect and Attachment with which I am devoted to her, and of the grateful Sense I have of the Benevolence with which she has honour'd me.
The Courtiers of Blanckenbourg are, like their Master, very polite. M. de Munchausen is the chief of the Duke's Council, and was formerly in the Service of the Duke of Wolfembuttle. He is a Gentleman of great Learning, Labour, and Vigilance, and has a distinct and noble Manner of Delivery. He is heartily attach'd to his Master; and the Courtiers seem'd to me to have an Esteem and Affection for him. Men of solid Judgment, and who have been more conversant with this Minister than I, have assured me that he is one of the greatest Genius's at this present, in Germany[45].
M. de Sporck is the Grand Marshal, which Employment he acquits himself in with very great Politeness and Care. He is come of a good Family, his
Father being Minister of State, and Director of the Dutchies of Zell and Lunenbourg. M. de Polentz[46] does the Honours of the Court under him, in quality of Great Cup-Bearer. As he had his Education at Court, he is vastly polite; and Foreigners cannot but be pleas'd with his good Behaviour.
The Duke and Dutchess delight to see Foreigners at their Court, whom they load with Civilities, and will have them always to dine and sup with their Highnesses. After Dinner, they take the Air, or make Visits; and in the Evening there's an Assembly in the Dutchess's Apartment, where they play, then sup, and afterwards every one retires. We have had a Comedy twice or thrice, which is acted by the young People of the Family, who perform their Parts very well; especially in the Tragedies of Corneille and Racine, translated into High-Dutch.
The Pleasures of the Carnival are more gay, at which time the Duke makes Entertainments: There's a Ball, a Masquerade, and Comedy at Court, every Day; and for the time there's so great a Concourse of Strangers here from the neighbouring Towns, that sometimes 'tis impossible to get a Lodging.