VOL. III. To Madame de ---- The Family I am descended from was originally of _Thuringia_. My Grandfather, after having turn’d Protestant, came and settled in the Electorate of _Brandenburg_, where he was kindly receiv’d, and advanc’d to the chief Employments by the Elector _Frederic-William_, who made him Master of the Horse, Minister of State, Chamberlain, Major-General, Colonel of his Guards, and Commandant at _Berlin_. His Brother who came along with him had also a share of his Favor; for he was made Colonel of a Regiment of Horse, Lieutenant-General, and Governor of _Lipstadt_. They both married, but the only one that left Male Issue was my Grandfather, who by _Eleonora_ of _Nassau_, Daughter to Prince _Maurice_ of _Orange_, had two Sons, and two Daughters. This however prov’d a very unsuitable Match; for my Grandmother was imperious, frugal, and jealous, whereas her Husband was extravagant, and an Admirer of the Fair Sex: which Tempers so opposite to each other created a Misunderstanding between them, that amounted almost to a staunch Hatred. Yet my Grandfather, some time before he died, settled all his Estate upon her, repented of the Vexation he had given her, and he thought this Generosity of his would have made her easy, but it only render’d her the more impatient to be a Widow, insomuch that she had not the Complaisance to conceal it from him; and the very last Words he liv’d to hear her pronounce, were neither comforting nor Christian. Soon after the Death of my Grandfather my Uncle died, who was my Father’s own Brother. The only Issue he left was a Daughter, who was chief Maid of Honour to the Queen _Sophia Charlotte_, whose Bounties to her render’d her a Person of no small Note in _Germany_.