Thus, Madame, have I given you what I saw most remarkable in the Electorate of Saxony: I own to you, I lik’d the Country very much, and the Civilities that I had the Honour to receive from the King, made me wish one while for a Place in his Service; but I made no Attempt for it, and very seriously bethought myself of my Journey to Sicily.
When I left Dresden, I took the Road to Munich, to which I made very great Haste, because I was so teiz’d with my old Ailment, for which La Peronie had me under Cure at Paris, that I did not care to delay, putting myself into the Hands of a Surgeon: The Person, who undertook me, was no less a Man than the Elector’s own Surgeon; who indeed gave me Ease for a few Days, but afterwards I was tormented worse than ever. However, I took the Opportunity of the easy Intervals I enjoy’d from the Surgeon’s Remedies to pay my Compliments to the Princes: I accompany’d them in Hunting and other Parties of Pleasure, as if I had been in perfect Health: The Count de Charolois, who was still at the Court of Bavaria, made an Agreement with the Princes of Bavaria, to ride Post to Saltzbourg, to see an Italian Opera, which the Archbishop gave there every Year to celebrate his Birth-Day: The Bavarian Princes set out first, and lodged in a paltry Cabaret in the Suburbs, because they had a Mind to be incog. The Count de Charolois set out from Munich at 8 o’Clock at Night, with only one Gentleman and myself: We rode all Night, and next Day at 5 in the Evening arriv’d at Saltzbourg: We alighted at the same Cabaret where the Bavarian Princes were, and went all together to the Opera: It was begun before we came, for which I was not a little sorry, because it was a Piece that was well worth seeing from the Beginning to the End of it: I assure you, Madame, that I never saw any thing so extraordinary: The Theatre, the Actors, the Performance were all to the utmost Degree ridiculous! The Opera Room was so low, that the Actors almost touch’d the Ceiling with their Heads: The Singing and Dancing
were something comical: What most diverted me were the Interludes, which were executed by the Archbishop’s Pages. They consisted of Three Entries: The first was of Shepherds, who were known by their Dress; and they had not only Crooks in their Hands, but Sheep appear’d every now-and-then upon the Scene: The second Entry was of Huntsmen, who had all Hunting Horns; and while these danc’d, some, who mov’d the Machine, made the Skins of Hares stuff’d with Straw skip up and down the Stage: The third was of Fishermen, who carry’d Lines, to which were fasten’d Trouts; others appear’d with Nets full of live Fish, which made a very odd Shew, and was certainly the only one of the Kind: I must not forget to tell you, that, during the Performance, such Complaisance was shewn to all the Spectators, that they were presented with great Silver Goblets full of Wine or Beer to refresh them: The Princes diverted themselves very much with this Piece, and ’twas a long rime before they could get the Archbishop’s Opera out of their Heads: For my Part, I can scarce forbear Laughing to this Day, whenever I think on’t.
Notwithstanding all that the Princes could do to be incog. they were known, and the Archbishop, who was inform’d of their Arrival upon the very Day, immediately sent one of his Gentlemen to invite them to Supper, desiring at the same time to be excus’d for not waiting on them in Person, which he assur’d them he should have done, if he had not been made acquainted, that they were willing to be incog. The Bavarian Princes were ready enough to accept of the Archbishop’s Supper; and for my own Part, I had so little Hopes of finding any thing that was good
in that pitiful Cabaret where we were, that I should have been glad with all my Heart to have been at the Archbishop’s Table. But the Count de Charolois would by no means accept of the Invitation, and out of Complaisance to him, the Bavarian Princes refus’d it likewise; however, they paid the Archbishop a Visit, and the Count de Charolois went along with them by the Name of the Count de Dammartin; I had also the Honour to accompany them: The Archbishop receiv’d the Princes without any Ceremony, according to their Desire, and they stood all the time of the Visit, which was very short. The Princes return’d to the Inn, where we had a Supper, serv’d up exactly in the Gout of our Opera. Mean time, we had not eaten any thing for 24 Hours; and to refresh us, the first Dish that was brought in was Lobsters and a Sallad, and the next a Leveret, which was not dress’d enough, and therefore we sent it to the Kitchen to be turn’d into a Ragou; but ’tis probable, that our Cook had not Experience enough to make Ragous; for he only put our Leveret in a large Kettle of Water, and boil’d it to a Jelly; and in this Condition it was serv’d up: This insipid Dish was follow’d by a Couple of Ducks and Four Thrushes. Notwithstanding the Scantiness of this Repast, they did not rise from Table till late at Night, and then the Princes of Bavaria went to Bed, but as for the Count de Charolois, he would stay in the Place no longer than he had supp’d, and I had the Honour to go off with him. We return’d to Munich, but went by the way of Alten-Ottingen, in order to see the Treasure that is kept in the Vestry of the miraculous Chapel of the Virgin: This Treasure, which contain’d very fine Things, was inrich’d with
Abundance of noble Presents, made by most of the Sovereigns in Europe. From thence we set out for Munich, where we arriv’d after a Ramble of Three Days and as many Nights, in which we could boast of having travell’d near 40 German Leagues, to see the most scoundrel Opera that could ever be imagin’d.
The Fatigue of this Journey made my Disorder much worse: The Surgeons at Munich even refus’d to take me in hand, and all my Friends advis’d me to make a Tour to Paris, where the most able Professors in Arts of all Sorts are more easy to be found. I was very loth to take their Advice, for ’twas high time for me to think of going to my Regiment, and I was afraid, that by a longer Delay I should suffer: At the same time I was so horribly plagued by my Distemper, that I resolv’d to go to Paris. But, before I set out, I wrote to the Count de S——, to tell him the Condition I was in, tho’ I assur’d him that I would stay no longer at Paris than was necessary for my Cure. Whether my Declaration was relish’d or not I can’t tell; all that I know for certain is, that I receiv’d no Answer. I was sorry to leave Munich, and no doubt, Madame, you are surpriz’d to find me going for Paris, as it were in spite of my Will, and I assure you, that I made Reflections upon my Indifference for this City, in which I always found so many things to charm me, tho’ I was fully sensible, that the Miscarriage I had in all my Undertakings was the thing that made me heartily weary of staying in it.
This therefore was the first time that I may say I set out for Paris with Regret: I went thither by the way of Strasbourg, and when I arriv’d
I put myself again into the Hands of la Peronie, who in less than a Month’s Time made me sound! During that Space I notify’d my Arrival to some particular Friends, who kept me Company till I was perfectly cur’d. They told me surprizing News, of which I had already been informed by several Letters; but ’twas all so improbable, I never could believe it to be true. Millions was the Word in every body’s Mouth, and he that was but a Lackey one Day, was the next a Lord. ’Twas sufficient only to be seen in the famous Street of Quinquempoix, and unless you were quite forsaken by your Guardian Angel, you were sure of going off of the Place with immense Wealth. I was advis’d to do as others did, and to try if Fortune was still resolv’d to frown upon me: A great many Persons were nam’d to me that had actually got Millions, who came first into the Street with almost nothing in their Pockets; that was my Case exactly: But the Hopes of good Luck made me resolve to try my Fortune, as soon as I was able to stir abroad: And thither I actually went, and put myself in the Rank with those who sacrific’d to Fortune: I had the best Luck in the World at first setting out, and without knowing how or which way, found myself possess’d in a little time of a considerable Sum, such that I am even asham’d to tell you how much it amounted to, since you would absolutely pronounce me a Madman, for not knowing when I had enough; but in short I began so well, that I thought it would be cowardly to stop, and therefore I push’d on; but was quickly sensible that I had committed a gross Blunder in not drawing back; for my Millions vanish’d almost in the same manner as they came, and without knowing why or wherefore, I found my Purse