Our Court was then as splendid as in the time of the late Queen. There was a continual Round of Pleasures, and every day was remarkable for Feasts, Balls, Comedies, _&c._ These Rejoicings had lasted a good while, when all on a sudden we had a most terrible Alarm. The King fell dangerously ill, and his Physicians began to despair of his Recovery. But God, who always considers the Wants of his People, did us the favor to restore him to us for a while longer. Upon his Recovery he receiv’d the Compliments of the whole Court, and the Congratulations of the Princes his Allies, who acknowledg’d as well as his Subjects how necessary his Preservation was to the Common Cause. Not long after the King’s Recovery, I saw the young Count _de Metternich_ arrive at _Berlin_, who came to bring the King Advice, That the _Swissers_ had at length recogniz’d his Majesty for Sovereign Prince of _Neufchâtel_, preferably to the other Princes his Competitors. The Count _de Metternich_, who was the King’s Ambassador in _Swisserland_, had the good Fortune to carry this Point, notwithstanding the Menaces of _France_, who asserted the Interests of several of her Subjects, at the Head of whom was the Prince of _Conti_. Madame _de Nemours_, the Sovereign of _Neufchâtel_, was no sooner dead, but each of the Claimants put in their Plea of Right to this Sovereignty. As soon as the News of her Death was confirm’d, the King sent Orders to M. _de Metternich_, his Ambassador-Extraordinary and his Plenipotentiary in _Swisserland_, to repair to _Neufchâtel_ and take care of his Interests. He went thither accordingly on the 30th of _June_, and caus’d a Memorial to be distributed at his Arrival, containing the King’s Right to the said Principality. The _French_ Competitors on their part distributed another, to establish their own Rights, and invalidate the Pretensions of the King. There happen’d to be Disputes between the Prince of _Conti_ and the _Prussian_ Ambassador about Precedency. M. _de Puisieux_ the Ambassador of _France_, as it was his Duty to do, maintain’d the Interests of the Prince of _Conti_, and presented to the Council of _Neufchâtel_ a Memorial so haughty and menacing, as if it had come from victorious _France_ in the Time when she was flush’d with Conquests. He said in this Memorial, “That the King his Master cannot look with Indifference upon the Conduct at _Neufchâtel_, in presuming to be so disrespectful to the Princes of his Family; that it wou’d be the wisest way for the Gentlemen of the Council speedily to take Measures to prevent this Pretension of the _Prussian_ Minister from being carried any further, a Pretension, _said he_, which has no Foundation, but in Malice or Ignorance; because even tho’ the new Title, which the Elector of _Brandenburg_ has assum’d for some years, were universally recogniz’d, yet this very Pretension of his Ambassador’s would be always chimerical.” Here M. _de Puisieux_ gave them Warning, “That if they did not soon alter their