last night, before the king came in. His governor retired on purpose
(as he told me afterwards) that I might make some judgment of his
genius, by hearing him speak without constraint; and I was surprised
at the quickness and politeness that appeared in every thing he said;
joined to a person perfectly agreeable, and the fine fair hair of the
princess.

THIS town is neither large nor handsome; but the palace is capable of
holding a much greater court than that of St James's. The king has
had the goodness to appoint us a lodging in one part of it, without
which we should have been very ill accommodated; for the vast number
of English, crowds the town so much, 'tis very good luck to get one
sorry room in a miserable tavern. I dined to-day with the Portuguese
ambassador, who thinks himself very happy to have two wretched
parlours in an inn. I have now made the tour of Germany, and cannot
help observing a considerable difference between travelling here and
in England. One sees none of those fine seats of noblemen, so common
amongst us, nor any thing like a country gentleman's house, though
they have many situations perfectly fine. But the whole people are
divided into absolute sovereignties, where all the riches and
magnificence are at Court, or into communities of merchants, such as
Nurenburg (sic) and Frankfort, where they live always in town for the
convenience of trade. The king's company of French comedians play
here every night. They are very well dressed, and some of them not
ill actors. His majesty dines and sups constantly in public. The
court is very numerous, and his affability and goodness make it one
of the most agreeable places in the world.

Dear madam, your, &c. &c.