The King went in Cavalcade to the Place where the Princess landed, some Hours before her Arrival, and was attended by the Nobility of his Court, all richly dres’d. The King especially
was attir’d most sumptuously, in shorn Velvet of a purple Colour, adorn’d with Diamonds, to the Value of Two Millions of Crowns: He caus’d his Standard to be carry’d before him by a Polander, arm’d cap-a-pie. As soon as he came to the Landing-Place, he made a Review of the Train that was to compose the Entry, and retir’d afterwards to a magnificent Tent, lin’d with yellow Velvet, adorn’d with Silver Lace, to wait the Arrival of the Princess.
As soon as the Bucentaure came near enough to be seen from Land, she made a triple Discharge of all her Artillery, which were answer’d by the Cannon of Five Yatchts that were at Anchor on the Elbe, over-against the King’s Tent, and from the Batteries on Shore.
During this the King went to the Ships, over a Bridge erected for that Purpose, and cover’d with green Tapistry, sprinkled with Flowers. The Bucentaure dropping her Anchor, the Princess made ready to meet the King: When she came near him, she would fain have kiss’d his Hand, but the Monarch embrac’d her tenderly, and conducted her to his Tent, where he had some Conversation with the Prince and Princess, and then left them to return to Dresden.
The Prince and Princess sate down to Table, and a grand Breakfast was serv’d up; then the Boards of the Tent were struck down, that their Highnesses might see the Troops and Equipage march by that were to compose their Retinue at their Entry into Dresden: All this lasted about Two Hours; then came a stately Coach drawn by Eight Horses, being the Equipage that was for the Princess, who sate in it alone, while the Prince her Husband rode on Horseback, and
they made their Entry with all the Pomp and Magnificence possible.
I own to you, Madame, that I was so charmed with the Disposition that was observ’d in this Procession, and especially with the Richness and Elegancy of the Habiliments, that I cannot resist the Temptation I feel to give you the Particulars, but must submit to it, tho’ I run the Risque perhaps of being thought too tedious.
The Cavalcade was open’d by the King’s Harbinger on Horseback, in the Saxon Livery, which was yellow Cloth, with broad Lace of blue Velvet, mix’d with Silver Lace.
Then came 2 Post Masters.
The Baron de Mordax, Post Master General, preceded by his Domestics on Foot.