The life which folks lead at Paris becomes daily more scandalous; I really tremble for the city every time it thunders.  Three ladies of quality have just committed a monstrous imprudence.  They have been running after the Turkish Ambassador; they made his son drunk and kept him with them three days; if they go on in this way even the Capuchins will not be safe from them.  The Turks must needs have a very becoming notion of the conduct of ladies of quality in a Christian country.  The young Turk is said to have told Madame de Polignac, who was one of the three ladies, “Madame, your reputation has reached Constantinople, and I see that report has only done you justice.”  The Ambassador, it is said, is very much enraged with his son, and has enjoined him to keep his adventure profoundly a secret, because he would risk the top of his head on his return to Constantinople if it were known that he had associated with Christian women.  It is to be feared that the young man will get safely out of France.  Madame de Polignac has fleeced all the young men of quality here.  I do not know how her relations and those of her husband choose to suffer her to lead so libertine a life.  But all shame is extinct in France, and everything is turned topsy-turvy.

It is very unfortunate that noblemen like the Elector-Palatine John William should suffer themselves to be governed by the priesthood; nothing but evil can result from it.  He would do much better if he would follow the advice of able statesmen, and throw his priest into the Necker.  I would advise him to do so, and I think I should advise him well.

I cannot conceive why the Duke Maximilian (brother of George I. of England)

[Prince Maximilian of Hanover, the second brother of George I., had, after the death of his brother, Frederick Augustus, certain rights over the Bishopric of Osnaburgh; love and his monks caused him to embrace the catholic faith.]

changed his religion, for he had very little faith in general; none of his relations solicited him to do so, and he was induced by no personal interest.

I have heard a story of this Prince, which does him little honour.  I have been told that he complained to the Emperor of his mother, who bred him tenderly, but who had not sent him eight thousand crowns which he had asked her for.  This is abominable, and he can hope for happiness neither in this nor in the next world; I can never forgive him for it.  The first idea of this must have originated with Father Wolff, who has also excited him against Prince Edward Augustus.—­[Maximilian contested the Bishopric of Osnaburgh with his younger brother.]—­What angers me most with this cursed monk is, that he will not suffer Duke Maximilian to have a single nobleman about him; he will only allow him to be approached by beggars like himself.

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