The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume IV: Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &C. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts.Pöllnitz, Karl Ludwig, Freiherr von
History
The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume IV: Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &C. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts.
Pöllnitz, Karl Ludwig, Freiherr von
Europe -- Description and travel; Saxony (Germany) -- Court and courtiers
On the Drawing-Room Days (which were Three Times a Week) Things were
order’d otherwise. The Ladies went to the Electoress’s Apartment, or to
the Orangery, according to the Place where the Drawing-Room was appointed.
When it was kept at the Electoress’s Apartment, the Ladies went thither in
the Court Dress, whereas at the Orangery they might appear in a Mantua.
The Elector and the Princes were also there: His Electoral Highness
convers’d awhile with the Ladies; after which they sat down to Play, and
every one chose what Game or Partner they lik’d best. When the Play was
over, the Company went into another Room, where there was a great Table
well serv’d, at which, after the Elector, the Princes and the Ladies had
taken their Places, if there was Room, they admitted Gentlemen to sit down
with them, either Foreigners, or even such as were in the Elector’s
Service. At this Table no Rank was observ’d, and the very Princes sat down
where they could get Places.
When the Court was at _Nymphenbourg_, the Elector’s Pleasure-house, the
Diversions were much the same as at the Orangery, except that they took
the Air more; and that the Ladies might enjoy this Pleasure to greater
Perfection, there was always a Number of Calashes, each drawn by a Pair of
Horses, which carry’d Two Ladies, and was drove by some Gentleman, while
One or Two others stood behind them. Those who prefer’d taking the Air by
Water, might easily be accommodated, there being for that Purpose upon the
Canal Gondolas and Gondoliers after the _Venetian_ manner, which were
always ready for Hire.
On _Sundays_, Holidays and Days of Rejoicing, the Elector din’d in public,
with the Princes and Princesses of his Family, during which the
Chamberlains waited, and at Night there was a Concert. The Ladies in their
Court Dress met in the Apartment of the Electoress or the Duchess, and
accompany’d those Princesses to the Opera, after which they return’d to
the same Apartment; where, till Supper-time, they play’d; upon those Days
the Ladies din’d with the Elector: Sometimes too, they carry’d Services
for Three or Four Persons, and laid them upon the Gaming Tables, which was
very convenient for those who were not willing to separate Company: After
Supper there was commonly a Ball.
During the Summer, the Elector never fail’d to repair every _Thursday_
Evening to the Orangery, to hold a Drawing-Room, after which he went and
lay at _Nymphenbourg_, from whence he return’d upon _Saturdays_, to hold
Councils on _Sundays_ in the Morning; and in the Afternoon he went to some
Pleasure-house.
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