The Trade of Nuremberg is very much fallen off; for besides that the Toys and Knick-knacks which were formerly made in this City are much out of fashion, especially in Germany, the Manufactures which the Margraves of Bareith and Anspach have settled in their Dominions do considerable Prejudice to Nuremberg.
The Inhabitants of this City may be, (at least I think 'em so) the honestest People in the World, but they are the most horrible Complimenters that I know. I cou'd not set my Foot in a Shop, but the Master, the Mistress, the Children and the Apprentices waited on me into the very Street, than king me for the Honour I had done them. My Landlord too, who saw me go in and out twenty times a day, receiv'd me always with great Ceremony, and ask'd me how I did. And when I went out he pray'd me not to leave his House long in Contempt, without honouring it with my Presence.
Nuremberg is the richest and most potent Imperial City next to Hambourg. The Domain of Nuremberg is even much larger than that of Hambourg, but the latter bears the Bell for Wealth. 'Tis said that Nuremberg has seven other Towns in its Territory, with 480 Villages and Parishes. Yet for
all this 'tis not a rich City; for the Patricians pocket all the Money, and the Citizens are poor.
Next Day after my Arrival at Nuremberg I set out for Christian-Erlangen, a Town in the Margraviate of Brandenbourg-Bareith, which owes its flourishing State to a Colony of French People who fled out of France on account of their Religion.
Forty Years ago Erlangen was but a little Village in the middle of a Forest of Fir-Trees. The Margrave Christian giving shelter to the French who left their Country after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantz, assign'd them Erlangen to settle in. When they cut down the Woods they built the Town, to which they gave the Name of Christian-Erlangen, in Memory of Christian their Benefactor. All the Streets are in a strait Line. The French have set up all sorts of Manufactures here, and have made it one of the prettiest Towns of Germany. Madame[83] Elizabeth-Sophia of Brandenbourg, second Daughter of the Elector Frederic-William, and third Wife of the Margrave Christian Founder of Erlangen, caus'd a very handsome Palace to be built in the great Square of this City, to which there are noble Gardens. 'Tis at present occupy'd by Sophia of Saxe-Weissenfels, Widow of the last Margrave of Bareith. This Princess was to have dwelt at Neustadt, which was settled on her for her Dowry; but as 'tis a lonesome, melancholy, scoundrel Place, the Margrave Regent was willing she should live at Erlangen. The Margravine Dowager was one of the most beautiful Princesses in the World, of which she still preserves the fair Remains, and none can have an Air more grand. She lives
at Erlangen with all the Dignity becoming her Rank. Foreigners are very well received at her Court, and particularly by the Princess herself, who for Politeness has few Equals.
From Christian-Erlangen I went in less than a Day to Bamberg, tho' I stay'd two or three Hours at Forcheim a Place in the Bishoprick of Bamberg, whose Buildings appear'd to me to be old and out of repair.
The Bishoprick of Bamberg is the first Bishoprick of the Empire. The Bishop is Suffragan to no Archbishop. He depends only as to Spirituals upon the Holy See, and receives the Pall as an Archbishop. He has moreover this Distinction, that the Electors are his great Officers as they are those of the Empire, and he has the Privilege of summoning them to come and do the Duties of their Offices on the Day of his Installation. I have not heard that any Bishop ever made use of this mighty Prerogative, for the Retinue which those great Officers would bring along with them might be a Charge to him. The great Privileges which this Prelate enjoys are counter-balanc'd by one Mortification; for if the Electors happen to chuse an Emperor who has no Dominions, the Bishop of Bamberg would be oblig'd to yield him his Episcopal City and Palace. 'Tis said that the Emperor has the same Right to Rome, and that if he should chuse that ancient City of the World for his Residence, the Pope wou'd be oblig'd to yield him the Palace of the Vatican and to retire to that of St. John de Lateran. But I really think that the Holy Father and the Bishop of Bamberg will not be so soon turn'd out.
The late Elector of Mentz, Lotharius-Francis de Schonborn, who was also Bishop of Bamberg, embellish'd the City with a new Episcopal Palace, a great and stately Building that stands on an Eminence,