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RIESBECK’§ TRAVELS THROUGH GERMANY, 9
The whole extent of the country does not contain more than two hundred German
or two hundred and fixty-fix French fquare miles. In this circuit there are about fae
hundred and fixty thoufand inhabitants ; that is, about two thoufand eight hundred to
every German {quare mile. Excepting thofe parts of Germany which are in the neigh-
bourhood of fome capital cities, and fome diftri€ts of Italy, and the Netherlands, there
is certainly no country in Europe fo populous in proportion to its extent, as this is, It
is however fo fruitful as to be able to {upport as many more inhabitants. ;
The income of the duke amounts to three millions of florins *, or about 300,0001.
per annum. I know that many printed calculations make the fum fmaller. But as
there are few parts of Germany in which the taxes are not eftimated at five florins per
head, and in fome they pay much more, why fhould it not be fo in Wirtemberg, which
is one of the largeft territories in Germany, and in which the fubje& is not more
fpared?
After the eleCtors, the duke is beyond comparifon the greateft prince in Germany
- though the landgrave of Hefle Caffel, who has not above two thirds of the fubjects or
yearly income, is of more confequence in the empire, on account of his conneétion with
England.
The government of this dukedom is not fo fimple and unmixed, as that of the terri-
tory of Baden. Here are fwarms of counfellors, fecretaries, proétors, and advocates
of which more than half might be fpared; but the nature of the government alae
them to enjoy their appointments in idlenefs. Many of them, it is true, belong to the
{tates, whofe duty it is to limit the authority of the prince; but notwith{tanding the many
reductions in the houfehold itfelf, it is fill much too large for the duke’s circumftances.
The duke’s army confifted formerly of fourteen thoufand men; and if his debts were
paid, and the other expences moderated, fuch an eftablifhment might always be fup-
ported, as the population and revenues of the country appear to allowit. At the time
of the change, however, they were reduced to about five thoufand men, and thofe feem
to be none of the beft troops. !
Stutgart contains about twenty thoufand inhabitants, and fince the duke is returned
the population has been conftantly on the increafe. During the conteft, in which Stut.
art took a very violent part, he removed to Louifburg. Stutgart was inftantly fenfible
of her lofs by it; fhe made every poflible effort to obtain his return, but all in vain: but
after a reconciliation between the prince and the ftates, the with of the Stutgarders was
at laft accomplifhed. 3
The city is well built: the inhabitants are a handfome, {tout people. The women
are tall and flender, with fair and ruddy complexions. The natural riches, the eafe
with which a maintenance is to be procured, either at court or in the country, caufe them
to live exceedingly well. What would provide for twelve of our people, feems here to
be only the portion of fix. The Stutgarder is fo attached to his home, that if you
remove him but thirty miles from it, he is immediately feized with the maladie du pais.
Though the country throughout is proteftant, and the Duke alone a catholic, there
{till prevails a great deal of fuperftition and bigotry. ‘The clergy are members of the
ftates, have a jurifdiction of their own, and are very wealthy.
The affection of the Wirtembergers towards their prince is remarkable. Even when
the duke feemed to have no other care than how he fhould load them with new taxes,
he did not forfeit their attachment. ‘The curfes of the people fell on his fervants, and
the crew of proje€tors who led him aftray. But fince thefe have been banifhed, he is
become the idol of his fubje€ts; and he deferves to be fo. Farewell.
* "A German florin is two fhillings of Englifh money,
VOL, VI. c : LETTER
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