The Duke's Troops consist of a Battalion of 700 Men, a Squadron of 180 Troopers, and a Company of Cadets on horseback. His Infantry consists of pick'd Men. Since the famous Bernard de Weimar who was Pensioner to Lewis XIII. King of France, no Duke of Weimar had so many Troops, and really they must be chargeable to the Duke whose Revenues 'tis said don't exceed 400000 Crowns. This Prince has made a Treaty with the King of Poland, whereby he engages to assist the King with his Battalion whenever his Majesty thinks it necessary for his Service; in which Case the King promises to give that Battalion the same Pay as he does his own Troops. Mean time the Duke is obliged to clothe them all according to the Pattern which is sent to him from Dresden; and indeed their Clothes are very rich, especially those of the Officers and Cadets, which are so bedaub'd with Gold and Silver Lace, that a Foreigner who comes to Weimar cannot but admire it.
The Duke's Family is very numerous, for besides the Prince his Son and the three Princesses his Daughters, he has a Sister, and a Mother-in-law, who is a Princess of Hesse-Hombourg: Mean time he
has a numerous Court, and may boast that some of them are Persons of very great Merit.
The Gentleman who is at the Head of Affairs is the Baron de Reinbabe, who has the Title of President of the Council of State. He is a Person of a good Family, in Silesia, has very great Abilities, and withal so much Good-nature and Modesty as are seldom to be met with. When he was young he travell'd very much abroad, where he learnt what was valuable in every Country that he came to. He speaks several Languages well, is a great Historian, a learned Civilian, and a good Poet. Notwithstanding the Business that goes thro' his Hands, and his Care of a numerous Family, he is always almost at his Studies, and never better pleas'd than when he is in his Library; yet he is no Enemy to Pleasures, but enjoys them without abandoning himself to them, and takes them as they fall in his way without pursuing 'em. To finish his Character I will add what was said of him by a Prince who knew him intimately: If Probity was intirely lost in the rest of Mankind, said he to me, I think I shou'd be sure to find it again in the Baron de Reinbabe.
The Baron de Schmiedel is Marshal of the Court and Director of the military Chest. He is a Person of great Piety, whose Aspect is not indeed the most engaging, yet a very good Man to have to do with. He is a sincere Friend, loves to do a kind Thing, is exact in the Duties of his Offices, an Enemy to Vice, and very much attach'd to the Interests of his Master, tho' he does not always please him because he has not the Talent of Dissimulation so necessary at Courts.
The Baron de Studenitz a Silesian is a Privy-Counsellor, and President of the Chamber. He was formerly in the Service of the Duke of Saxe-Barbi, and afterwards he enter'd into that of the Duke of Saxe-Hilburgshausen, whose Finances he
directed for several Years, in which he acquired a Reputation, and came to Weimar where he was continued in the same Employment. He is a Gentleman of very great Learning and Integrity, and having travell'd a long time in his Youth, very well knows how to carry himself.
M. de Hering is of a noble Family in the Country of Anhalt-Cothen. He is the Duke's Aulic Counsellor, a Gentleman of Worth, and both Learned and Polite. He is on the point of leaving this Court, which will be a Loss to the Duke that he will not easily repair.
M. de Bruhl the Duke's Master of the Horse and Favourite, is a Saxon. His Birth, good Qualities, and especially his sweet Temper render him very worthy of a Sovereign's Favour. Yet I doubt whether, notwithstanding so much Merit, he has a firm Footing in the Duke's Friendship; he has too much Candor, too much Sincerity, and is too zealous to do Services; and perhaps also too much attach'd to the Interests and Honour of his Master: for tho' these Qualities have the Appearance of Virtues, yet they are sometimes Errors in the Eyes of Princes.
Thus, Sir, have I given you the Names of the most distinguish'd Persons at the Court of Weimar. I set out to-morrow for Gotha. I hope for a Line from you at Wurtzbourg, and don't propose to write again to you till I know whether you are living or dead.