The Court of France was charm'd with that Politeness, that noble Modesty, and that Fund of Wisdom which accompany'd this Prince's Actions and Conversation: They admir'd him and were sorry for his Departure. He travell'd a second time to Italy, where he acquired that fine Taste of Men and Things and that Knowledge of Architecture, Painting, and other curious Arts, which is so useful for great Princes. Germany, upon the return of this Prince, bless'd itself for having given him birth, and offer'd up Prayers that all its Princes might be like him. His Royal Highness stay'd a considerable while at Vienna,
where he maintain'd the Reputation he had acquir'd in the several Countries he had seen. He returned at length to Saxony, where there was an universal Joy for his Arrival. The Saxons were charm'd to see the Prince that was design'd by Heaven to be their Sovereign, so worthy of that Command. One day or other, they said, we shall lose the most righteous of Kings, and the best of Masters, but we shall find restor'd in his Son, his heroic Stature, his majestic Air, his Magnanimity, the same Temper for Goodness, Equity and Generosity; the Spirit of the great Augustus will be always present with us; and all our Loss will be that of his Personal Appearance.
Not long after the Prince's Return to Dresden, Augustus Christopher Count de Wackerbarth[61] treated at Vienna for the Marriage of his Royal Highness to the most serene Archdutchess Maria Josepha, eldest Daughter of the late Emperor Joseph. The Count de Flemming, Prime Minister and Velt-Marshal of Saxony, solemnly demanded the most serene Archdutchess in Marriage; and the Prince repair'd to Vienna to espouse her. The Ceremony was perform'd in the Chapel of la Favorita, with all the Pomp suitable to so great a Match. Some Days after this, their Royal Highnesses set out for Dresden, where they were receiv'd with an unparallell'd Magnificence. Augustus II. the most splendid of Kings, and a Prince who had the best Fancy for ordering of Entertainments, outdid himself; he thought nothing too good for celebrating the Nuptials of his so worthy a Son, with a Princess whose Ancestors were all Emperors.
The Rejoicings having lasted forty Days, the King set out for his Kingdom, leaving the Prince Regent, as he always did whenever he went from his Electorate.
In 1726, the Prince himself took a Journey to Poland, to which Country he had once before accompanied the King his Father in 1711, but then made no long stay. There he won the Hearts of the chief Nobility, who from that moment thought him worthy of succeeding one day to their Governor, the Great Augustus. They were pleased to see, that he honour'd their Countryman, the Count Sulkowski, with his Confidence, and they thought it a happy Omen for their Nation, blessing their Stars, that the Prince distinguished Virtue in one born among themselves.
His Royal Highness being convinced that of all the Sums laid out by Princes, there are none less liable to censure than what they expend in Buildings, undertook that of Wermsdorf, which he afterwards call'd Hubertsbourg; and he finish'd that great Work in a little time, by the assistance of the King his Father: For, in short, it would have been impossible for his Royal Highness to have defray'd all the Expence of it himself. It was already very wonderful to see with what Prudence he directed his Finances. His Revenue being settled, his Expence was suitable to his Rank; he had a numerous Houshold, his Hunting Equipage was sumptuous, yet he did good to all that made their Necessity known to him; his Charities were truly Royal, every body was paid; the Noblemen and the Tradesmen receiv'd their Pensions and Salaries punctually; and his Accounts were so regularly kept and discharged by the Count Sulkowski, that the Prince was never in debt.
The Prince commonly spent the Season for hunting the Stag at Hubertsbourg, and employ'd the remainder of his time at Dresden, in all manner of Exercises, being admired in every Action, for the Grace, Strength, and Dexterity with which he perform'd it, as well as for the Sobriety and Regularity
of his Manners; for he kept as regular Hours then, as he does now.
Augustus III. never knew what it was to be idle or vicious. Such is his Chastity and Fidelity to his august Spouse, that he never gave her the least Reason so much as to suspect his Honour. He games only for amusement, and never plays so high that the loss of the Stake can put those out of temper who have the Honour to be of his Party. But of all the Virtues of Augustus III. there is none, most certainly, which has made him more the Favourite of Heaven, than the inviolable Respect he always manifested for the King his Father, who tenderly lov'd him; and never was a Son, Heir to so powerful a Dominion, more affected for the loss of a Father, than he was when he heard of the death of his. His Affliction was impress'd deeply in his Countenance, when he receiv'd the homage of his capital City, at his first appearance in publick; and to this very day, he is ready to melt in tears at the sight of any Object that calls him to mind; for which reason the People of Dresden, rather than renew his Sorrow, forbear the mention of a King whom Europe has plac'd in the Rank of its greatest Men.