You will, no doubt, think it a Phænomenon, to find that a Hebrew, whom in Germany we treat with a sort of Disdain, which perhaps is neither very Generous, nor very Christian, should concern himself in the Spectacles, and presume to force an intire Town to conform to his Taste: But you are to know, Sir, that the Jews are treated in this Government upon quite another Footing than they are elsewhere; and really, as for the Portugueze Jews, they deserve it; for a Texeyra, a Schwartzo, a Dulis, have done such generous Actions as are worthy of the most virtuous Christians. They live like Noblemen, and indeed such you would take them to be. They are admitted into all Assemblies, and even their Wives appear there: They treat and receive all Persons of Distinction at their Houses: They relieve our Poor, contribute to our Churches, and differ in nothing from us, but in frequenting the Synagogue.
The Nobles of the greatest Distinction in the Province, are the Wassenaars, and the Boetselaars.[114] The former are divided into several Branches, whereof that of Obdam is the eldest. The Emperor Charles III. raised this Branch to the Dignity of Count of the Empire. The present Count d’Obdam is Grandson to the famous Admiral of that Name, who delivered Copenhagen, and in Gratitude for whose Services, the King of Denmark conferred the Order of the Elephant upon him, which no Foreigner had been honour’d with before, unless he were a Prince. After this Admiral’s Death, the same Order descended to his Son, who died a Lieutenant-General, and Colonel of a Regiment of Horse in the Service of the Republic. The present Count d’Obdam is Knight of the Order of St. John, and, together with his[115] Brother, is of distinguish’d Rank in this Government. He spent Part of his Youth at the Court of Berlin, where his Father was Envoy Extraordinary. At that Time nobody was so brisk and gay; but he is thoroughly changed, and lives now very much retired, and applies himself wholly to Devotion and Business.
Of the Blood of Nassau Orange, those Princes, Founders of the Republic, there remains no more than one young Prince, besides the Counts d’Auverquerque, Zeist and Laleck, who are by the Left Venter. The Prince is Hereditary Stadtholder of Frieseland, Stadtholder of Groningen, Stadtholder and Captain General of the Province of
Guelderland, and the Country of Drente. He bids fair some Day or other to be a worthy Possessor of the Station of the Princes whose Name he bears[116].
Maurice, Count d’Auverquerque, is the Son of a Peer of Great Britain, who was promoted to that Dignity by King William III.[117] He is a Major General, and Colonel of a Regiment of Dragoons. He is a Nobleman of distinguished Merit, and signalized himself very much in the last War.
M. de Zeist, one of the richest Nobles of this Province, is Deputy of the Province of Utrecht, in which he has a great Estate.
The Count de Laleck is the oldest Lieutenant General of Horse in the Service of the States. He has a Regiment, and is Governor of Menin, one of the Barrier Towns. The three last-mentioned Counts are Cousins, and form three Branches. They are descended from Prince Maurice of Orange, and Anne of Mechlin. My Grandmother was a Daughter of that Prince.
I am still to give you an Account of M. Hogendorp, Receiver General of the State, an Office which in this Country, as well as elsewhere, is liable to Envy, and exposes him that exercises it, to the Censure of the Public. M. Hogendorp has had his Share of both, for several Years: And tho’ his Enemies have not been wanting in any Thing to ruin him, yet he stands his Ground, and the States approve of his Conduct. He lives with as great Magnificence and Splendor almost as any Subject of the Republic.
In one of my former, I gave you an Account of two living Preachers at Amsterdam; and here I