The dressers are not, at all, in the figure they pretend to in England, being looked upon no otherwise than as downright chambermaids.  I had an audience next day Of the empress mother, a princess of great virtue and goodness, but who picques herself too much on a violent devotion.  She is perpetually performing extraordinary acts of penance, without having ever done any thing to deserve them.  She has the same number of maids of honour, whom she suffers to go in colours; but she herself never quits her mourning; and sure nothing can be more dismal than the mourning here, even for a brother.  There is not the least bit of linen to be seen; all black crape (sic) instead of it.  The neck, ears and side of the face are covered with a plaited piece of the same stuff, and the face that peeps out in the midst of it, looks as if it were pilloried.  The widows wear over and above, a crape forehead cloth; and, in this solemn weed, go to all the public places of diversion without scruple.  The next day I was to wait on the empress Amelia, who is now at her palace of retirement, half a mile from the town.  I had there the pleasure of seeing a diversion wholly new to me, but which is the common amusement of this court.  The empress herself was seated on a little throne at the end of the fine alley in the garden, and on each side of her were ranged two parties of her ladies of quality, headed by two Young archduchesses, all dressed in their hair, full of jewels, with fine light guns in their hands; and at proper distances were placed three oval pictures, which were the marks to be shot at.  The first was that of a CUPID, filling a bumper of Burgundy, and the motto, ’Tis easy to be valiant here.  The second a FORTUNE, holding a garland in her hand, the motto, For her whom Fortune favours.  The third was a SWORD, with a laurel wreath on the point, the motto, Here is no shame to be vanquished.—­Near the empress was a gilded trophy wreathed with flowers, and made of little crooks, on which were hung rich Turkish handkerchiefs, tippets, ribbons, laces, &c. for the small prizes.  The empress gave the first with her own hand, which was a fine ruby ring set round with diamonds, in a gold snuff-box.  There was for the second, a little Cupid set with brilliants, and besides these a set of fine china for the tea-table, enchased in gold, japan trunks, fans, and many gallantries of the same nature.  All the men of quality at Vienna were spectators; but the ladies only had permission to shoot, and the arch-duchess Amelia carried off the first prize.  I was very well pleased with having seen this entertainment, and I do not know but it might make as good a figure as the prize-shooting in the Eneid, if I could write as well as Virgil.  This is the favourite pleasure of the emperor, and there is rarely a week without some feast of this kind, which makes the young ladies skilful enough to defend a fort.  They laughed very much to see me afraid to handle a gun.  My dear sister, you will easily pardon an abrupt conclusion.  I believe, by this time, you are ready to think I shall never conclude at all.