or embroidery.  All this is made gay by pictures, and vast jars of japan china, and large lustres of rock crystal.  I have already had the honour of being invited to dinner by several of the first people of quality; and I must do them the justice to say, the good taste and magnificence of their tables, very well answered to that of their furniture.  I have been more than once entertained with fifty dishes of meat all served in silver, and well dressed; the desert (sic) proportionable, served in the finest china.  But the variety and richness of their wines, is what appears the most surprising.  The constant way is, to lay a list of their names upon the plates of the guests, along with the napkins; and I have counted several times to the number of eighteen different sorts, all exquisite in their kinds.  I was yesterday at Count Schoonbourn, the vice-chancellor’s garden, where I was invited to dinner.  I must own, I never saw a place so perfectly delightful as the Fauxburg (sic) of Vienna.  It is very large, and almost wholly composed of delicious palaces.  If the emperor found it proper to permit the gates of the town to be laid open, that the Fauxburg might be joined to it, he would have one of the largest and best built cities in Europe.  Count Schoonbourn’s villa is one of the most magnificent; the furniture all rich brocades, so well fancied and fitted up, nothing can look more gay and splendid; not to speak of a gallery, full of rarities of coral, mother of pearl, and, throughout the whole house, a profusion of gilding, carving, fine paintings, the most beautiful porcelain, statues of alabaster and ivory, and vast orange and lemon trees in gilt pots.  The dinner was perfectly fine and well ordered, and made still more agreeable by the good humour of the Count.  I have not yet been at court, being forced to stay for my gown, without which there is no waiting on the empress; though I am not without great impatience to see a beauty that has been the admiration of so many different nations.  When I have had that honour, I will not fail to let you know my real thoughts, always taking a particular pleasure in communicating them to my dear sister.

LETTER VIII

TO MR. P——.

Vienna, Sept.14.  O. S. (sic)

PERHAPS you’ll laugh at me for thanking you very gravely for all the obliging concern you express for me.  ’Tis certain that I may, if I please, take the fine things you say to me for wit and raillery; and, it may be, it would be taking them right.  But I never, in my life, was half so well disposed to take you in earnest as I am at present; and that distance which makes the continuation of your friendship improbable, has very much increased my faith in it.  I find that I have, (as well as the rest of my sex) whatever face I set on’t, a strong disposition to believe in miracles.  Don’t fancy, however, that I am infected by the air of these popish countries; I have, indeed,