I went from Dusseldorff to Keiserswerdt, formerly a Place of Importance, which held out a destructive Siege, but is now wholly dismantled.
From thence I proceeded to Duisbourg, a Town in the Duchy of Cleves, at the Extremity of a Forest, where they catch wild Horses, which are small, but indefatigable and very serviceable. The City of Duisbourg is only remarkable for its University. The Country betwixt this Town and Wesel, is all a Plain, and a very gravelly Soil, yet produces every thing that’s good.
After having crossed the Rivers of Roer and Lippe in the Ferry-boats, I came to Wesel, a strong Place of the Duchy of Cleves, belonging to the King of Prussia: ’Tis regularly fortify’d, and has a very good Citadel towards the Rhine. The late King of Prussia, Frederic I. was the first that set about fortifying of Wesel; and his Son, King Frederic-William, has caused those Works to be carried on and finished. M. Bot, now a General Officer in Saxony, had the Direction of those Works in the first Place; after which, the Care of them was committed to M. Walrave, a Colonel Engineer. They have both contributed to render Wesel one of the strongest Places in Germany. Nothing in this Town more particularly deserves a Traveller’s Attention, than the Berlin Gate, of which M. Bot drew the Model: I never saw any Thing finer, or more perfect of the Kind. The Arsenal also is worth seeing, and is extremely well furnished with all Necessaries, whether of Ordnance or Ammunition.
In my Way from Wesel to this Town, I came to Santen, formerly a famous City, but now very much decay’d. The Catholic Church is a beautiful Structure, and has a miraculous Image of the most Holy Virgin, to which the Natives pay great Devotion.
’Tis five Leagues from Santen to Cleves, thro’ one continued Range of[100] Walks. The Avenue that leads to Cleves is magnificent. This Town is small, but very pleasant, and well built. The King’s Palace is ancient, yet it has fine Apartments; and among the rest, a magnificent Hall. There’s nothing surely in Nature, completer and finer than a View of these Apartments. Lewis Duke of Burgundy, Grandson to Lewis the Great, coming with his Army to Cleves in 1702, thought the Situation of the Place so charming, that he was heard to say, more than once, That he wish’d Versailles was as well situate.
Cleves is the Seat of the Regency of this Duchy, the President of which is M. de Borck, a Gentleman of Quality and Merit, who acquits himself of his Office with a great Share of Integrity and Application, is very civil, and a Gentleman of a fine Presence.
There are several good Families in this City, particularly those of the Chancellor de Becker, a Gentleman of distinguished Merit, who makes very handsome Entertainments, and lives with great Splendor; and of the Baroness de Blaspiel, a Lady of Birth and Merit. She was Maid of Honour to the Queen of Prussia, who honoured her with her Confidence; and never was a Favourite more worthy of it; for she always preserved the same Respect for her Mistress, and the same Regard for all Mankind. The whole Court of Berlin thought her an Ornament, when it pleased the King to remove her from Court, by banishing M. de Blaspiel, who was one of his Ministers, to his Estate in this Province, where he died,
and having no Children, left his Wife Heiress of a very considerable Estate. I don’t know but this Lady thinks herself as happy in this Retirement, as she was at Court: All the Country respects her; and one time, when the King came hither, his Majesty, together with the Prince Royal, did her the Honour to come and dine with her, and gave her Tokens of the sincerest Esteem. I was formerly very well acquainted with Madame de Blaspiel at Court, and had Opportunity to know the Goodness of her Temper thoroughly, which is what has induced me to give you a more particular Account of her, than of other Persons of Distinction in this City, with whom I was not so well acquainted. Farewel, my dear Friend, I am afraid I shall not see you again so soon as I expected; but whenever that happens, I shall have a great many Facts to tell you, which ’tis not always safe to commit to a Letter. I kiss your Hand, and am, &c.