The Town of Blanckenbourg is small, and the Houses ill built, and inconvenient. The Duke has done all in his power to engage the Inhabitants to build; he has offer'd them Materials gratis, and has moreover endeavour'd to inspire them with a Taste for the Arts; but all without Success.
I never in my whole Life, saw People more indolent and clownish than those of Blanckenbourg, and the neighbouring Towns. They are so bigotted to old Customs, that they say, My Father liv'd so, and so will I; My Father did not do this, nor will I. I cannot conceive how People, so dull as they are, and so strongly attach'd to the Institutions of their
Forefathers, came to give into Luther's Reformation.[47]
Blanckenbourg is a petty County, which Duke Anthony-Ulric yielded in his Life-time to his second Son, to make him some sort of Compensation for the Right of Primogeniture, which he had newly introduc'd into his Family, to that Son's prejudice: For the Princes of Brunswic had for a long time been us'd to a Partition of Lands in their Families. The Hanover Branch was the first that abolish'd that Custom, pernicious to great Families. Duke Anthony-Ulric was only restrain'd from it by Pr. Lewis his second Son, whom he lov'd more than his eldest; and not caring to leave him without Dominions, to the Discretion of a Brother, he gave him Possession of this State in his Life-time; because he was of Opinion, that after his Death, his Will wou'd have the Fate of not being executed by his Successor, according to the Custom introduc'd among Sovereigns. With them 'tis a Right of Regale, but for us to do so, is a Crime.
As the County of Blanckenbourg does not give Admittance into the College of Princes at the Dyet of the Empire, so it does not give the Rank of a Sovereign Prince to the Person in possession of it. The Duke, in order to procure himself both these Privileges, made a Treaty with the Elector of Hanover, whereby he got that Prince to yield him the Vote and Seat which he enjoy'd in the Dyet for his Dutchy of Grubenhagen: And the Duke, on his part, engaged never to vote at the Dyet but in conformity to the Sentiments of the Elector. After his Decease, or if he happens to succeed his Brother,
the Vote and Session for Grubenhagen revert to the Elector[48].
This, Sir, is all that I can say to you at present. Their Highnesses being to set out in a few days for Oetingen, where they use to go every Summer, I propose to go forthwith to Leipsic and Dresden: And at the latter Place I hope to hear from you.
I am, &c.
