The Town itself is inconsiderable; it stands between Hills on an Arm of the Sea, where it forms a Lake, and washes the Walls of the Duke’s Castle, which is in very bad Repair, and quite unfurnish’d: And there’s a Garden to it, which is in as bad Order as the Building: This Town is so populous all the Fair-time, that ’tis difficult to get a Lodging: The Gentry meet every Evening at a House, where is Variety of Play, and very often there are Parties made for Supper, which is generally follow’d with a Ball: There is moreover a German Comedy, which, tho’ detestable, is well frequented.
After the Fair was over, I went and pass’d Two Days with a Friend of mine at an Estate of his Three Leagues from Kiel: Then I return’d to Hambourg, where I stay’d till Easter, and having receiv’d News from Berlin, that no Purchaser could be found who was willing to give so much Money for my Estate as I demanded; I resolv’d to go thither, in order to make some Settlement about it with my Brother; I kept there incog. as well as I could, for I made myself known to only Two or Three Friends besides my Steward: When my Business was done I set out from Berlin with my Brother, in order to go to his House at Zell; where I intended to stay till the proper Season for taking the Waters at Carelsbadt.
When that time came, I departed from Zell: I stay’d some time at Blankenberg, where the Empress’s Father and Mother then resided: This is no considerable Town: There is a Castle, which, by its Situation upon a very high Hill, is mightily inconvenient for the Duke’s Domestics, who all live in the Town: ’Tis an old
Building, which the Father of the present Duke has caus’d to be repair’d and fitted up, as well as possible in the modern Taste: The Apartments are small, the only large one being a very beautiful Saloon, the Walls whereof are adorn’d with Pilasters, and Pictures between them of the Princes and Princesses, Parents to the Duke and Duchess: And at the End of the Saloon are Chimneys, over which are the Pictures of the Duke and Duchess themselves at full Length.
To this Castle is a very fine Park adjoining, in which the Duchess has a Menagery, or rather, a Farm-house, where she has a great Number of Cows that she sent for from Swisserland, in a Stable which is kept extraordinary clean.
The Duke and Duchess were so kind to me, that I long’d to be in their Service: I had no longer any Thoughts of being a Clergyman, and was then at entire Liberty to make serious Reflections upon all the Projects that had enter’d into my Head: Having then a Fancy to serve the Duke of Blankenberg, I took my Measures for that End almost as soon as I had thought of it: The Privy Counsellor undertook to speak for me, and at first he had a very favourable Answer, but at last it far’d with me in this Attempt, as it had in all the rest; I receiv’d a great many Compliments, and yet was deny’d.
After having stay’d awhile at Blankenberg, I took Leave of the Duke and Duchess: The Princess was so good as to accept of a Couple of very pretty Dogs I had brought with me; and me made me a Present of a Gold Medal worth 25 Ducats, stamp’d with the Effigy of the Duke her Husband, very much like him.
From Blankenberg I went to Barbi[35], where I had the Honour of waiting upon the Duke of Saxony, who commonly resides there: This Prince was heretofore in the Service of the late King of Prussia, when he was only Elector: He had left the Service a long time, and retir’d to his Town of Barbi, where he has erected a noble Castle, the Apartments of which are perfectly well furnish’d: There’s a superb Saloon, with a Chamber of Audience on one Side of it, and a Closet, that are both worth seeing; all the Furniture being of crimson Velvet embroider’d with Gold, of admirable Workmanship.
From Barbi I proceeded to Carelsbadt by the way of Leipsick: I was soon weary of using the Waters, because the Season was so far advanc’d, that most of the Water-Drinkers were gone: Having therefore nothing to write to you of any of the Acquaintance which is commonly made at Places of this nature, I shall only treat of Carelsbadt itself: ’Tis a very dirty Place, and inhabited only by Artificers, who work in old Iron: The Waters taken here are of Two Kinds, and they are distinguish’d by the Names of the Sproudel and the Muhlbadt: The Sproudel-Water is extremely hot, and gushes out of the Ground with a most vehement Stream, as big as a Man about the Waist: Its Waters are not only hot, but scalding hot, which is the more surprizing, because the Fountain from whence they flow, is on the Side of a River very rapid, and very cold: Yet, in the midst of this River, one sees mineral Waters, which smoak as if they were boiling in a Caldron.