* * * This Country (i. e. _Germany_) goes by the Name of the _Roman_ Empire; but this is merely titular, for the _Roman_ Monarchy has been extinct for several Ages. The Language, which the _Germans_ use, is with much Difficulty to be understood, because the natural Order of the Words is inverted; for what goes first in other Languages, comes last in this, so that you may be oblig’d to read to the End of a Page before you can comprehend the Meaning of it. The Form of Government is strange. The _Germans_ think they have a King, and yet in Reality they have none. _Germany_ is said to be one Empire, and yet it is divided into many separate Principalities, each of which has the Sovereign Power within itself, so that they often make War upon one another, and have most certainly a Right so to do. The Empire is said to be _always August_, though it is sometimes very much diminish’d; _Holy_, tho’ without any _Holiness_; _Invincible_, though often expos’d to the Depredations of its Neighbours. Nor are the Rights and Privileges of this Nation less wonderful, since many have Rights, which they are prohibited from making any Use of. Infinite are the Comments which have been publish’d upon the State of the _German_ Empire, but so intricate is the Subject, that in Spite of all their Labours they are at every Turn as much at a Loss as ever concerning it; for * * * * * * * * The Capital of this Kingdom (_France_) which is very large, is call’d _Paris_. It may in some Sense be styl’d the Capital of _Europe_: For it exercises a Kind of Jurisdiction over all other _European_ Nations. For Example, it prescribes Rules to them about their Eating, and about the Fashion of their Cloaths; so that let any Fashion be as ridiculous and as inconvenient as it will, all other Nations are oblig’d to follow it, whenever the _Parisians_ are pleas’d to lead the Way. How or what Time they acquir’d this Right, I could never learn. Their Authority, however, did not, as I understood, extend to other Things, for the rest of the _European_ Nations are often at War with the _French_, and sometimes force them to accept of Peace upon very severe Terms; but the Servitude they are under with regard to Dress, and the Manner of Eating is perpetual; so that whatever Fashion is invented at _Paris_, the rest of _Europe_ are strictly oblig’d to come into it. The _Parisians_ very much resemble the _Martinians_ in Quickness of Apprehension, the Love of Novelty, and a Fertility of Invention.