Pardon me, Sir, this long Plea, into which I was drawn by a religious Zeal, and for the just Cause of a Prince who challenges both Love and Respect. His Prime Minister is Ferdinand Count de Plettenberg-Nordkirchen, whose Family has been of distinguish’d Rank for a long time in Westphalia, and has given several Princes Bishops of Paderborn and Munster. It had formerly only the Title of a Barony, and M. de Plettenberg is the first Count of it. Soon after he had been promoted to this Dignity, the Emperor nominated him a Member of his Privy Council; and his Imperial and Catholic Majesty, has lately sent him the Order of the Golden Fleece, to reward him for having prevailed on the Elector to guarantee the Pragmatic Sanction: The Count de Plettenberg is adorned, therefore, with all the Dignities which a Lay Nobleman can be ambitious of in Germany: He is Count of the Empire, one of the Emperor’s Privy Counsellors, a Knight of the Golden Fleece, Grand Master of the Elector of Cologne’s Houshold, his Great Chamberlain, and his Prime Minister.
Nor was there ever any Person more deserving of those Employments, the Elector being partly obliged to him for his own[95] Grandeur. ’Twas this Minister, as I have already said, who caused this Prince to be chose, first, Bishop of Paderborn and Munster, and afterwards Bishop of Hildesheim
and Osnabruck: He also contributed very much to his being elected Coadjutor of Cologne; for had it not been for his Representations, the deceased Elector Joseph Clement would, perhaps, have never been prevailed on to accept of a Coadjutor, because he apprehended, that he should not live long after he had taken such a Step: But the Count de Plettenberg dispossessed him of that silly Surmise; and by that Means procured, for his Master, the second Electorate of the Empire. You will naturally imagine, Sir, that such great Services, performed by this Minister, for a Prince to whom he was not a Subject, could not but be attended with great Rewards. They have purchased him the Elector’s intire Confidence, who leaves all Affairs wholly to him. The Count uses his Authority with Moderation, and is civil and courteous. His Behaviour is noble and easy, and his Personage altogether as agreeable. He has none of those Airs of Superiority, which they commonly assume, who in their Grandeur are the Favourites of Fortune. Being advanced to be the First Minister of a great Prince, at an[96] Age when a Person would scarce presume to think himself fit to meddle with State Affairs, he makes Labour itself a Pleasure, and has nothing of that mysterious haughty Air, which only serves to alienate Peoples Hearts; for he is easy of Access, hears attentively those who speak to him, and gives clear Answers without affecting Evasions or Delays. He is generous, liberal and beneficent, vigilant, laborious, and in Love with Business. He rises at Five o’Clock every Day, and employs the Morning, in Business. After this, he keeps a magnificent Table, where, in the midst of an Abundance and Delicacy, there is that Frugality
observed, which is so laudable in those who have Places. After Dinner, he goes into his Closet, where he gives Audience to the Subaltern Ministers, leaving it to the Countess his Spouse, to do the Honours of his House, which is always open to Persons of Distinction and Merit. As he was born to one of the greatest Estates in Germany, so he is one of those Noblemen who live with the greatest Magnificence. His Expences are considerable. His House is richly furnished, and full of excellent Pictures by the most skilful Masters. Yet the Magnificence of his House in Town does not come near to that of his Seat at Nordkirchen, where every Thing is stately, and has the Air of a Prince. Mean time, the Count de Plettenberg adorns it every Day, and is actually making Gardens to it, which will not easily be match’d in Germany. This Minister has an only Son at the University of Leyden, a Youth of great Hopes, who is already actually an Aulic Counsellor of the Emperor, his Chamberlain, and Master of the Horse[97] to the Elector of Cologne; and to whom the Count de Plettenberg, besides his great Estate, will leave his Steps to follow, and his Example to imitate.
There are many other Persons of good Birth and Merit at this Court. The Baron de Nothasst, Lieutenant-General, Chamberlain, and Captain of the Elector’s Guard. M. de Walhot de Goudenau, Marshal of the Court. The Baron de Schourss, and the Marquises Caponi and Trotti, the Elector’s Chamberlains, are distinguished for their Civility to Foreigners. The Baron de Sparr, by Birth a Swede, whose Father died in the Service of France, is Almoner to the Elector, and Dean of Bonn. His Electoral Highness has lately sent him to
Rome, to desire the Holy Father’s Approbation of his Election, as Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. M. de Sparr was Page to the late Elector of Bavaria, in which Post he behaved with an uncommon Sobriety, applied himself to the Study of several Languages, and learnt to speak them with the same Ease as his Mother-Tongue. He made great Progress in Music, History, and Geography, and neglected no Means to render himself one Day or other, useful to the State, and to his Prince. After he had served as Page, he entered into the Military Service, and was made a Major in the Guards, and Chamberlain to the Elector of Bavaria. He proposed to make a Settlement, when God, whose Decrees are impenetrable, inspired him with a Resolution to go into Holy Orders. For this End, he quitted his Employments, and retired to a Seminary, which he only left to take up Priest’s Orders. He said his first Mass in the same Church, and on the same Day, that the Duke Theodore of Bavaria, Bishop of Ratisbon and Freisingen, said his. He went a Year ago to Rome, where he applied himself strenuously to the Study of the Canon Law. I knew him there, and found that he had the Esteem of every body. He has such Sentiments of Piety and Honour, that ’twere to be wished all our Clergy had the like; for then they would do more Service both to God, and the World.
The Elector’s Houshold is very numerous, but he has no more than two Regiments of Foot in his Electorate. The Baron de Nothasst is Commander in chief of those Troops, which, tho’ but a Handful, are sufficient for the Guard of Bonn, Rhinberck, and Keiserswaert, which were fortified heretofore, but have since the Peace been demolished.
In the Absence of the Elector, the Dean of the Chapter of Cologne governs with the Title of
Stadtholder. He is lodged in the Electoral Palace, and is served by the Elector’s Officers. During this Time, Bonn is a very melancholy Place. The Nobility and Gentry have their Assemblies at the House of the Countess de Fugger, where there are many more of the Fair Sex than ours, and the Canonesses of this City make a shining Figure. In such good Company I leave you, and am, &c.