and uncle to the reigning empress, who is, I believe, the most beautiful princess upon earth.  She is now with child, which is all the consolation of the imperial court, for the loss of the archduke.  I took my leave of her the day before I left Vienna, and she began to speak to me with so much grief and tenderness, of the death of that young prince, I had much ado to withhold my tears.  You know that I am not at all partial to people for their titles; but I own, that I love that charming princess, (if I may use so familiar an expression) and if I had not, I should have been very much moved at the tragical end of an only son, born, after being so long desired, and at length killed by want of good management, weaning him in the beginning of the winter.  Adieu, dear lady R——­; continue to write to me, and believe none of your goodness is lost upon Your, &c.

LET.  XIX.

TO THE COUNTESS OF ——.

Blankenburg, OCT. 17.  O. S. 1716.

I RECEIVED your’s, dear sister, the very day I left Hanover.  You may easily imagine I was then in too great a hurry to answer it; but you see I take the first opportunity of doing myself that pleasure.  I came here the 15th, very late at night, after a terrible journey, in the worst roads and weather that ever poor traveller suffered.  I have taken this little fatigue merely to oblige the reigning empress, and carry a message from her imperial majesty to the duchess of Blankenburg, her mother, who is a princess of great address and good-breeding, and may be still called a fine woman.  It was so late when I came to this town, I did not think it proper to disturb the duke and duchess with the news of my arrival; so I took up my quarters in a miserable inn:  but as soon as I had sent my compliments to their highnesses, they immediately sent me their own coach and six horses, which had however enough to do to draw us up the very high hill on which the castle is situated.  The duchess is extremely obliging to me, and this little court is not without its diversions.  The duke taillys (sic) at basset every night; and the duchess tells me, she is so well pleased with my company, that it makes her play less than she used to do.  I should find it very difficult to steal time to write, if she was not now at church, where I cannot wait on her, not understanding the language enough to pay my devotions in it.  You will not forgive me, if I do not say something of Hanover; I cannot tell you that the town is either large or magnificent.  The opera house, which was built by the late elector, is much finer than that of Vienna.  I was very sorry that the ill weather did not permit me to see Hernhausen in all its beauty; but in spite of the snow, I thought the gardens very fine.  I was particularly surprised at the vast number of orange trees, much larger than any I have ever seen in England, though this climate is certainly colder.  But I had more reason to wonder that night at the king’s table,