394

[394. Letters Historical and galant. Vol. 6]

But 'tis time to take Count Tarouca and his August Assembly from Table. He conducted them into a Hall where
Coffea was ready; and after every one had drank some, they entred another, which was extravagantly illuminated, and richly
furnished, in which a kind of an amphitheatre had been erected, where all the Ministers placed themselves to see the
play of the Wife, both Judge adn Jury. This day being an Entertainment for Gentlemen, the Ladies were not expec-
ted, and consequently no seats prepared for them. However the Dutchess of St. Pierre would see the Play, and you may
think was very well received. She carried with her Mrs. Dalwich and Mrs. de Bergomi; and the Count of Tarouca
would have the Authress of the Quintessence to be a spectatrix of this Scene. Except those, the Company was Com-
posed of Gentlemen. They were very well pleased with the Play. The Actors exceeded themselves, and did Wonders.
To the Play was added a little Comical Italian Entertainment called Harlequin stunned. There was Dancing
between the Acts, and this day concluded very agreeably. All the Street was illuminated with thick Flambeaux, fixd
at Equall Distances on the Breastwall of the Canal where the Count de Tarouca's House is, and made the Street as
Light as at Noon day. The whole Canal was thus illuminated from one End to the other to the Right and left of
the Count's Palace, and as far as you could see on both sides. The Illumination Continued all that Night and
the next; for the next day the Feast began again, and was given that Day to the Ladies: above two hundred
were invited to it, and tho several others came out of Curiosity, the Count received them all with the same Politeness.
All the Ladies were enchantingly Magnificent, and the Gentlemen were not Inferior to them. A Number of Ben-
ches in the form of an Amphitheatre had been fixed under the Balcony where the Musick was, and this Am
phitheatre was for the Spectators. The Count de Tarouca whose Prudence made him prevent and avoid all
Incidents that might happen, begg'd a young Danish Lord, Son to the Late Mr. Vanstucke who dyed some years
ago at the Hague, where he was Envoy of the King of Denmark, to take any Lady he pleased, and Open
the Ball, before the Company began to seat themselves. This Young Gentleman took Mademoiselle d'Engelbrecht,
Daughter to one of the King of Sweden's Ministers: so the Ball began, and every body danced afterwards, without
observing Rank or Precedence. This Wise precaution prevented all Accidents that might have happened in Point of
Ceremony: so every thing passed in an easy way, and with a Liberty that makes Pleasure valuable. They Danced
till five in the Mornign, and the Ball was interrupted only by a magnificent Supper, which was served about Mid-
night in another Hall, where the Count conducted the Ladies he had invited; And all the rest of the Assembly went
in by turns and refresh'd themselves. Besides this, In the Hall where the Ball was, they were continually serving
all sorts of hot and Cold Liquors, with Basons of Comfits, and every thing you could desire. You may believe
the Company retired greatly satisfied. The Street was illuminated as it was the Night before, and nothing was
omitted that COuld Contribute to the Satisfaction or benefit of the Publick.

The third Day, an Entertainment was Made at the House of Don Louis D'acunha, Second Plenipotentiary
of the King of Portugal, who gave a Masquerade, which was the prettiest thing in the World. The Success of it was
doubted at first, for in this Country they did not know what a Masquerade was, and the oldest persons said they
never saw one at Utrecht before that Day. So that they were forced not only invent the disguises, but afterwards to
make the Workmen Comprehend them, who knew nothing of the Matter; which made it more difficult that it would
have been at Paris, where you may get people bred up to that business, and Mask'd habits enough in the Broker
Shops. However you would have thought that they had always had nothing else but Masquerades here, the
Masques were in such taste and so enchantingly Magnificent. They produced no Confusion nor Disorder, and all
pass'd with the greatest Ease and Pleasure imaginable. Our Charming Dutchess de St. Pierre shone in a Sehramouchette
habit. Our French Gentlemen did Wonders; tho the Strangers did not succeed less well. There was a Masquerade
of six red Children, some English and others Germans or Danes, which was the Comicalest Sight in the World.
The Countess of Denhof was no less admired in her Spanish dress, than she was in her own the Night before at the
Count de Tarouca's. They danced in several different Apartments; In others they played at Bassette, and