and they do not only scorn to marry, but even to make love to any woman of a family not as illustrious as their own; and the pedigree is much more considered by them, than either the complexion of features of their mistresses.  Happy are the she’s (sic) that can number amongst their ancestors, counts of the empire; they have neither occasion for beauty, money, nor good conduct to get them husbands.  ’Tis true, as to money, ’tis seldom any advantage to the man they marry; the laws of Austria confine the woman’s portion to two thousand florins (about two hundred pounds English), and whatever they have beside, remains in their own possession and disposal.  Thus, here are many ladies much richer than their husbands, who are however obliged to allow them pin-money agreeable to their quality; and I attribute to this considerable branch of prerogative, the liberty that they take upon other occasions.  I am sure, you, that know my laziness, and extreme indifference on this subject, will pity me, entangled amongst all these ceremonies, which are a wonderful burden to me, though I am the envy of the whole town, having, by their own customs, the pass before them all.  They indeed, so revenge, upon the poor envoys, this great respect shewn to ambassadors, that (with all my indifference) I should be very uneasy to suffer it.  Upon days of ceremony they have no entrance at court, and on other days must content themselves with walking after every soul, and being the very last taken notice of.  But I must write a volume to let you know all the ceremonies, and I have already said too much on so dull a subject, which however employs the whole care of the people here.  I need not, after this, tell you how agreeably time slides away with me; you know as well as I do the taste of, Your’s, &c. &c.

LET.  XII.

TO THE LADY X——.

Vienna, Oct. 1.  O. S. 1716.

YOU desire me, madam, to send you some accounts of the customs here, and at the same time a description of Vienna.  I am always willing to obey your commands; but you must, upon this occasion, take the will for the deed.  If I should undertake to tell you all the particulars, in which the manners here differ from ours, I must write a whole quire of the dullest stuff that ever was read, or printed without being read.  Their dress agrees with the French or English in no one article, but wearing petticoats.  They have many fashions peculiar to themselves; they think it indecent for a widow ever to wear green or rose colour, but all the other gayest colours at her own discretion.  The assemblies here are the only regular diversion, the operas being always at court, and commonly on some particular occasion.  Madam Rabutin has the assembly constantly every night at her house; and the other ladies, whenever they have a mind to display the magnificence of their apartments, or oblige a friend by complimenting them on the day of their saint, they declare, that on such a day the