'Tis pity that Germany is so soon like to lose a Princess who does her Country so much Honour: The Margravine is in so declining a Condition
that there's no hopes of her Recovery. The Physicians have actually told her so; but the Princess, far from being terrify'd at the sad Tidings, receiv'd it like a Christian Heroine: God gave me my Life, said she to her Physicians, he will take it from me when he pleases, his Will be done. She continues to live in the way she always did; and the Approach of Death, which she sees advancing to her with slow Pace, gives her no Trouble nor Tremor; but submitting to the Decrees of Providence, she waits with Resignation for that awful Moment which often makes the stoutest Hearts tremble.
The young Margrave is actually at Paris, so that I cou'd have given you no manner of Account of this Prince, if I had not had the Honour to see him two Years ago. He was born the 12th of May, 1712. He is a handsome, comely, lively Man, has an extraordinary Memory, and if Age matures his Understanding, bids fair to be one day a Prince of a sublime Genius. His Governour was M. de Bremer, a Gentleman of Livonia; and his Præceptor M. Neukirch[82], celebrated for several Essays in Poetry.
Notwithstanding the Reform which Madame the Margravine made in her Court when she came to the Regency, 'tis still very numerous. The Count de Castel is the first Man at this Court, and has the Title of Lord Steward. His Lady commonly attends Madame the Margravine, and does the Offices of Lady of Honour without affecting the Title. M. de Bremer, the Baron de Seckendorf, and the Baron de Zochau, are Privy Counsellors; and the Baron de Kinsberg is Marshal of the Court. As to the Troops the Margravine Regent only keeps up
such a number as is necessary to furnish her Quota to the Empire, and to guard her Person.
The Margraviate of Anspach is very much interspersed with Woods, which makes it a fine Country for Hunting. 'Tis said that it brings in 500000 Crowns every Year to its Sovereign. The Principal Towns are Anspach and Schwabach, in which Manufactures are erected that do great Prejudice to the City of Nuremberg.
I think I ought not to omit acquainting you with two things which are fondly believ'd by the common People, and which the Landlord of the House where I quarter'd affirm'd to me to be Facts. The one is, that there are no Rats in all the Country of Anspach, since one of the Family of the Rat-killing St. Hubert pass'd that way. The other is of the same Tenor, and admitted for a certain Truth by every Subject in the Dominions of the House of Brandenbourg, viz. When any one of this Family dies, whether Prince or Princess, a Woman in White always appears just before in the Palace. I know not whether you ever heard any thing concerning this Prophetess of Ill Luck. Be that as it will, the Story which is told of her is this:
Joachim II. Elector of Brandenbourg, having a mind to enlarge his Palace at Berlin, wanted to buy in several Houses; but an old Woman, the Owner of one of those Houses, resolv'd not to sell it to him upon any Terms. The Elector finding her so obstinate sent her the Purchase-Money and turn'd her out of it; upon which the old Woman swore in a Rage that she wou'd be an eternal Plague to Joachim and his Posterity. They pretend that the good Lady keeps her Word, and that she haunts all the Palaces of the Brandenbourg Family. Yet I never heard any body at Berlin say they had ever seen her there, tho' that is the Place where she ought naturally to have taken up her head Quarters.
My Landlord added to these fine Stories that the Margravine would not die yet a while, because the Woman in White had not yet appear'd to any body at Court.
I am, &c.