The March of the Electors of Mentz and Triers to and from the Town-house was very grand. The first was Lotharius-Francis de Schonborn, of the Family of the Counts of Schonborn; and the second was Charles-Joseph de Lorrain, who was of the Lorrain Family, and died in 1715, on the 4th of December. These two Princes rode each in a great Coach, cover'd with black Cloth, attended by all their Houshold and Guards in close Mourning.
The Equipages of the Ambassadors of the absent Electors were very spruce, especially the Equipages of the Ambassadors of Saxony, who had also the Honor to have with them their Master's
Son, who went by the Name of the Count of Lusatia. Besides, the King of Poland had given them his own Equipage, and permitted them to cloath their Domestics in his Livery.
The Ambassadors whom the King (of Prussia) sent in quality of Elector of Brandenburg, appear'd likewise with a Splendor worthy of the Prince whom they represented. They were the Count de Dlona and M. Henning; but the former had the Honors of the Embassy. This Minister appear'd with a Train of 40 Gentlemen of the King's Bed-chamber; he had 5 Coaches drawn by 6 Horses each, 8 Pages, 36 Footmen and 2 Swiss. M. Henning, who was appointed to attend to the Business, had not the Satisfaction to see the Success of these Assemblies; for having in the very first Session spoke with great Zeal for the Interests of his Country, he heated himself to such a degree, that he found himself out of Order when he came home; and that very Night he had a Fit of an Apoplexy of which he died next day. The Count de Metternich was appointed to supply his Place. No body was fitter to serve the King in the Assembly at Francfort than this Nobleman, who had in several Embassies acquir'd a great Knowledge of the Affairs of the Empire; and particularly in the Embassy at Ratisbon, in which he was employ'd a long time.
As soon as the Conferences were open'd, the Foreign Ministers, viz. the Pope's Nuncio, the Envoys of Savoy and of the other Princes of Italy, the Envoy Extraordinary of the States-General, and those of the Princes of the Empire, notify'd their Arrival to the Electoral College, and sent their Credentials to the Chancery, which was
kept at the Palace of the Elector of Mentz, that Prince being by Birth Chancellor of the Empire.
At the beginning of these Conferences there were some Difficulties started, relating to the Pretensions of the Nuncio and Nephew of the then Pope Clement XI. who pretended that the Electors should pay him the first Visit; and that when he return'd it to them, they were bound to give him the Right Hand. The Electors were very much startled at the Nuncio's Demand, and publickly refus'd to subscribe to such Claims; so that no Visit was made on either side, and the Nuncio only saw the Electors in a Garden where they happen'd to meet by Chance. The Nuncio threaten'd he would protest against the Ninth Electorate establish'd in favor of the Family of Brunswic-Hanover, and against the Royal Dignity of Prussia; but he was given to understand, that neither of his Protestations would avail any thing. And the Ambassadors of Prussia sent him word in plain Terms, that if he offered to protest against the Regal Dignity of their Master, the King would not fail to give Order to his Troops that were in Italy, to enter into the Ecclesiastic State, and to live at Discretion therein, as if it were an Enemy's Country. The Nuncio frighted by those Menaces, and thinking he already saw the Prussian Troops in his Holiness's Territories, sent his Secretary forthwith to the Ambassadors to assure them that he wou'd not protest; that he never had a Thought nor Order for it; that his Holiness had all the Respect and Esteem for the King their Master which so great a Prince deserv'd; and that he would be glad to give Proofs of it upon every Occasion.
The Electors of Cologn and Bavaria protested likewise against the Assembly, in case they were refused Admission to the Conferences for the Election; but they were of no more avail than those of the Nuncio. Those Princes sent their Protests by the Post, in form of Letters, directed to the Count de Papenheim Marshal of the Empire, and seal'd with an unknown Seal. The Situation those Electors stood in at that time, did not permit them to cause their Protests to be publish'd with the due Formalities, nevertheless they were soon made public. The Respect and Friendship People had for the illustrious Family of Bavaria, made every body eager to have Copies of 'em, but they signify'd nothing, and the Conferences continu'd.
On the 2d of October the Conferences being ended for that Day, the Magistrates and Heads of the Militia, went in a Body to the Town-house, to take the Oath prescrib'd by the Golden Bull. They there found the Electors, who were at that time in Francfort, and the Ambassadors of the absent Electors, all sitting in Chairs of State, under a great Canopy of black Velvet. After the Oath was read, the Magistrates and the Officers of the Militia took it in presence of the Elector of Mentz, as did also the Citizens and the Garison, but the Ceremony was different; for it was not taken in the Town-house, but without it, in an open Gallery, rais'd in a great Square, and hung with Cloth. There the Chancellors of the two Spiritual Electors and the Magistrates receiv'd the Oath of the Citizens, in presence of the Electors and Ambassadors, who were plac'd at the Windows of the Town-house. The Burghers, who were to the Number of 14 Companies,