side whereof there's a large Guard-House, the Front of which forms a Gallery supported by Pillars of grayish Marble, which is dug in this Country. The rest of this Seat has very much the air of the Castle of Versailles, only 'tis not so large or lofty. In the two Wings of this Building, there are two Stair-Cases which lead to the Apartments. 'Tis plain that this Structure was design'd entirely by an Italian; because, according to the Fashion of that Country, the Apartments consist of a great number of Rooms all upon one Floor too, but without any Closets or Conveniencies. The outside of this Structure is the oddest thing in the World. It consists of numberless Ornaments, which 'tis impossible to distinguish: And I think it no Injustice to the Castle of Bensberg, to say, 'tis a noble fine House full of Imperfections.
After having given you an Account of the Elector's several Buildings, I fancy, Madame, that some short Memoirs of his Family will not be disagreeable to you. To be sure you are not ignorant, that the Succession of the Neubourg Family to the Dignity of Elector Palatine, is owing only to the Extinction of the Protestant Palatine Family, the last of which was the Elector Charles, who left but one Sister, married to Monsieur Philip of France, Duke of Orleans, Brother to Lewis XIV. Philip-William Duke of Neubourg, the Father of him whom I have had the Honor of mentioning to you, was the first Elector of this Branch. This Prince, who had a numerous Family, match'd them to the chief Crowns of Europe, and he had no less than four Princes and five Princesses.
The eldest of the Princes was the Elector John-William of Neubourg, who married to his first
Wife an Archduchess of Austria, Sister to the Emperor Leopold, by whom he had no Issue. He married to his second Wife Anne-Mary-Louisa of Medicis, Daughter to Cosmo III. Great Duke of Tuscany; but having no more Issue by this Match than by the former, he took the Hereditary Prince of Sultzbach to his Court, where he was brought up as the Heir of his Family, in case that himself and the Princes his Brothers died without Male Issue. This young Prince was then look'd upon as the Electoral Prince, and receiv'd all the Honors as such. The Person who had the Care of his Education was the Baron de Seckingen; and it may be said, that he did his utmost to make a great Prince of him.
The second was Charles-Lewis, now the Elector.
The third Francis-Lewis de Neubourg, Elector of Triers and Grand Master of the Teutonic Order.
The fourth Alexander-Sigismond, Bishop of Augsbourg.
The Princesses were all married. The eldest, whose Name was Eleonora-Magdalena-Theresa of Neubourg, married the Emperor Leopold, Father to the present Emperor, and died Jan. 19, 1719, aged 74.
The second was married to the King of Portugal.
The third, nam'd Mary-Anne of Neubourg, was married to Charles II. King of Spain.