My Father married the Daughter of Baron _D----_ by whom he had my Brother in 1690. I was born thirteen Months after him, _viz._ the 25th of _February_ 1692, at _Issouin_, a Village in the Electorate of _Cologn_, where my Father then lay with his Regiment in Winter-Quarters. The Electoress was my God-mother, and I was christen’d _Charles-Lewis_. Before I was full two years of Age I had the misfortune to lose my Father, who died at _Maestricht_, and left my Mother a Widow with three Children, and a very little Estate to maintain us. My Grandmother, who, as I had said before, had all my Grandfather’s Estate, was so extremely penurious, that she had not the heart to part with any of it to my Mother, whose Situation would have been very melancholy had it not been for the Generosity of the King (at that time only Elector). This Prince sent for her back to _Berlin_, and gave her a Pension; and in a little time after, my Relations help’d her to another Husband, _viz. M. de M----_ Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who tho’ he died at the end of ten Months left her so warm a Widow, that me might very well pass for one of the best Fortunes at Court; and then she threw up her Pension, rather than keep it to the prejudice of other Persons that stood more in need of it, which she thought was an Abuse of the Elector’s Bounty. My Mother’s Fondness for me would not suffer her to part with me, so that I was brought up under her Wing, and at a Court which was at that time the most splendid in _Germany_. * * * * *