LETTER XLVIII.
SIR,Mentz, Aug. 20, 1732.
I have been up the Rhine from Bonn to Mentz, to avoid the disagreeable Passage over the Mountains of Wetteravia. I was not fatigu’d, but then I was pretty much chagrin’d. I landed at Lintz, a little Town in the Electorate of Cologne, on the right Side of the Rhine; and there I drank the excellent Wine of Bleickert, which is made near the Village of Huningen, about a League from this Town. The Liegeois, who know how to brew Wine as well as Beer, buy up a great Quantity of it, which they balderdash after their Manner, and sell for Burgundy. After I had fill’d my Bottles, I continued my Voyage, and arrived at Andernach, a little Town, which is a considerable Gainer by the Floats of great Timber that are brought hither, and sent from hence for Holland. Here is also a great Vent of Stone Jugs and Pitchers, and of the Mineral Water of
Dunchstein, which in the Summer is very much drank with Wine.
A little above Andernach, on the other Side of the River, there’s an abandon’d Seat belonging to the Count de Neuwidt, who lays up his Hunting-Equipage in it. The Vulgar have a Notion, that this House is haunted by the Devil; which is a sort of Superstition that is to be met with, more or less, in all Countries.
The little Town of Neuwidt gives its Name to a County of the Empire, where the Count has a very pretty House. This Nobleman, and his Subjects too, are[98]Calvinists. He married a Daughter of the late Count Alexander de Dhona, who was the King of Prussia’s Governor. She is a Lady highly to be valued for her Virtue, her Understanding, and her Behaviour.
The Rhine, which runs thro’ none but a plain Country from Neuwidt to Bonn, is, above that Place, pent up by Mountains so high, that they give me the frightful Remembrance of the Alps. These terrible Rocks are cultivated to the very Top, and produce excellent Wines. One can hardly take one’s Eyes off of them, there’s such a variegated Prospect of Vineyards, Woods, Towns, Villages, Gentlemen’s Seats, and Cottages.
The only Town of Consequence is Coblentz, in the Electorate of Triers, at the Conflux of the Moselle and the Rhine, in a fine Valley surrounded with noble Hills. The City is fenced with grand Walls and Ramparts. Its two Rivers
are a great Advantage to its Commerce, and to them ’tis obliged for all its Wealth. In this Town there reside several Persons of Quality, such as the Counts de la Leie, and de Metternich, the Barons de Walpol, and d’Oels. The Count de la Leie is a very rich Nobleman, lives high, and is very charitable; so that the Poor look upon him as their Father, and the Convents as their Supporter. He is a Gentleman of sound Piety, very great Politeness, and all his Behaviour is to the last Degree noble. He has an only Son by the Countess de Schonborn, Sister to the Elector of Triers, a young Gentleman of a lovely Presence, and whose Merit infinitely surpasses his Years.