The Duchy of Wirtemberg was formerly confiscated to the use of Ferdinand I. Brother to the Emperor Charles V. but 'twas afterwards restor'd to the Princes of this Name, on condition of their holding it dependent on the House of Austria. This Feudal Subjection was annull'd in 1631, in the time of Frederic Duke of Wirtemberg, on condition that upon the Failure of Issue Male, the Duchy should devolve to the House of Austria. In pursuance of these Treaties the Princes of that Family bear the Title and Arms of the Family of Wirtemberg.
While I staid at this Court that Disorder which I had been teaz'd with for several Years became at last so serious an Affair, that instead of proceeding to Vienna, to which I at first purpos'd to go, I set out for Strasbourg, in hopes of finding skilful Surgeons there to make the necessary Operation upon me. Several offer'd to
take me in hand, but the King's Lieutenant assur'd me, that my best way wou'd be to employ the Person that was Surgeon to the Great Hospital. I did so, but can't say I had much reason to like him. He may, for aught I know, be an able Surgeon, but sure I am that he is a very dangerous Physician. He thought fit to give me Drugs (to prepare me, he said, to support the Operation) which had like to have sent me into the other World: But by good Luck I perceiv'd his Ignorance before he had time to kill me. I took no more of his Remedies; and when I found my self well enough recover'd to bear the Fatigues of a Journey, I resolv'd to go to Paris, which I take to be the Nursery of the most experienc'd Surgeons. I stop'd a few days at Saverne, where there was a very great Company at the House of the Cardinal de Rohan, to whom I had the Honor of paying my Compliments; and he receiv'd me with that Air of Politeness and Grandeur, for which we know this Prince is distinguish'd.
From Saverne I went to Luneville, and in all the Way found no considerable Place but Phaltzbourg, which was formerly a Part of Lorrain, and had the Title of a Principality. 'Tis now a Place very regularly fortify'd, and serves to guard the Road into Lorrain, which France secur'd to her self by the Treaty of Ryswic.
The Court of Lorrain commonly resides at Luneville, since the Beginning of the late War, when the French put a Garison into Nancy, of which they continu'd Masters till the Treaty of Baden. This City, which heretofore was inconsiderable, is now worth seeing. The Duke of Lorrain has added a great many Buildings to it, which are a great Ornament to it; and therefore
the Duke and Duchess chuse to reside here, preferably to any other Place. As to the Duchess, she has a particular Reason for being so fond of Luneville, it being the City assign'd her for her Jointure.
The Castle, which is very fine, has nothing noble without, but the Inside is most magnificent. The Entrance and Front very much resemble those of Versailles towards Paris. As to the Front towards the Garden I can say nothing of it, because that side of the Palace was not finish'd when I went thither. The Apartments of their Royal Highnesses are spacious, and richly furnish'd. The first Anti-chamber is a very large Saloon of curious Structure. 'Tis wainscotted and adorn'd with the Pictures of the Lorrain Family. In one, the Duke's Father is represented making a triumphant Entry in a Chariot drawn by four white Horses, with Fame flying before it, Peace and Victory offering him Crowns of Laurel, and the additional Trophy of Turks in Chains trampled under his Horses Feet. The Whole together forms a magnificent Painting; and I was told there are Tapestries in the Duke's Wardrobe, which are a Copy of it, but I did not see them.
This Saloon separates their Royal Highnesses Apartments from the Chapel, which for the Contrivance of it very much resembles that of Versailles. It stands on the Right of the Entry into the Saloon, and the Apartments are on the Left. The Prince's Apartment looks over Luneville, and over the Courts belonging to the Kitchen, and the Princess's is situate on the Garden-side. The Princess's is much larger than the Duke's; and when I saw it, 'twas richly furnish'd, adorn'd with noble Gilding, Glasses
and Paintings by the best Masters; but this Part of the Palace has since been intirely consum'd by Fire, tho' I am assur'd the Whole is re-built as well as before, and that the Apartments are every whit as well furnish'd. So much for the Palace: I will now give you a short Account of their Royal Highnesses, and their August Family, as it stood in 1718, when I had the Honor to see it.
Leopold Duke of Lorrain and Bar was the Head of the Family, and the Sovereign of the Country. He married Mademoiselle of France, Elizabeth-Charlotte of Orleans, Daughter of Philip of France, Duke of Orleans, Brother of Lewis XIV. By which Marriage they had three Princes and three Princesses. The eldest Prince, who was stil'd Duke of Bar, died in 1723, at a Time when he was in Expectation of great Fortune. His Brother, who is Heir to that Expectancy, is actually bred up at Vienna, where the Emperor takes particular Care of his Education.