The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume III / Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &C. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts.

by Freiherr von Karl Ludwig Pöllnitz

Immediately after the Ceremony of the Election was over, I set out for Zell, where I had the Misfortune to find my self Motherless as well as Fatherless. My Mother having died there during my stay at Francfort, whose Death grieved me very much, and the more because 'twas the first Incident I had met with in all my Life to give me a serious Concern: But now perhaps, that I am more us'd to Disappointments, such News would not make so much Impression upon me as it did then.

I stay'd some time at Zell to settle several Affairs with my Brother relating to my Mother's Succession, till I had a Letter acquainting me that the Ceremony of the Emperor's Coronation was fix'd for the 22d of December, and thereupon I set out immediately again for Francfort.

I travell'd thro' Hanover, which I have already had the Honor to mention to you, and from Hanover I went to Cassel, which Town is the common Residence of the Landgrave of Hesse, and divided into two Parts by the River Fulde. The New Town is very well built with pretty Houses, and the Streets are very even and spacious. The Landgrave's Palace which is old is encompass'd with Ramparts, part of which on that side next to the Country forms a Terras planted with Orange-Trees, which in Winter are cover'd by a boarded House. The Name of the present Landgrave is Charles, who was born the 3d of August 1654, and has had seven Children by Mary-Amelia of Courland.

1. Prince Frederic, born the 28th of August 1676, who became King of Sweden by his Marriage with Eleonora Princess of Sweden, who succeeded Charles XII. He had to his first Wife Louisa-Dorothea-Sophia only Daughter of the King of Prussia, at which time he was Stadtholder of Cleves, and had a Regiment of Foot in his Majesty's Service.

2. The Princess Sophia-Charlotta Duchess-Dowager of Mecklemburg-Swerin, who lives still in Mecklemburg, from whence she often goes to the Court of her Father.

3. Prince William, who is a Lieutenant-General of the Dutch Forces, and Governor of Maestricht. He marry'd Wilhelmina of Saxe-Zeits.

4. The Princess Mary-Louisa, Dowager of the Prince of Nassau-Friesland drown'd in his Passage at the Moerdyke.

5. The Prince Maximilian, marry'd to a Princess of Hesse-Darmstad.

6. The Prince George, a General Officer in the Service of Prussia, Colonel of a Regiment of