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79 RIESBECK’S TRAVELS THROUGH GERMANS.
dead amounted to ten thoufand, that is about half the number of thofe who die at Paris.
Now if you make allowance for ftrangers, of whofe deaths you can have no accurate
account, and multiply the fum by thirty-fix, you will have the true account of the po-
ulation.
I was affured by a man of confequence, who was in the way of getting at good infor-
mation, that a very little time ago, the population was eftimated at three hundred and
eighty-five thoufand, ftrangers included. ‘This reckoning will appear accurate; for we
muft confider that the air and water are much better here than they are at Paris, where
the numbers are allowed to be feven hundred thoufand, of whom twenty-one thoufand
die every year. Doubtlefs Vienna has as many inhabitants in it as Naples; and thofe
two towns are the moft populous in the world, after Conftantinople, London, and Paris.
Whoever is a little acquainted with other large cities will fee, in a moment, that Vienna
mutt contain above two hundred thoufand people.
I am not yet fufficiently acquainted with the manners, cuftoms, and amufements of
the inhabitants of this place, to be able to give you any certain information about them.
All I can fay is, that to judge by external appearances, the great appear uncommonly
fond of magnificence. 1 was fhewn the Prince of Lichtenftein, mounted on a very fine
horfe, and attended by at leaft eight perfons, fome of whom were dreffed like huffars,
and feemed to be a kind of body guard. He is fuppofed to be like the Emperor, in
manners, geftures, and face; and fome think that he attempts to copy him in externals,
As to my part, I own that in the glimpfe I had of them both, I could not difcover the
refemblance; and there is one thing in which they certainly differ, for the Emperor un-
doubtedly does not like to go out with fo numerous a train of followers. 1 faw him
taking the air: he was in a cabriolet, and had a fingle footman behind him. He affeéts
fimplicity and popularity almoft in the extreme.
In the fhort time I have been here, I have feen more fplendid equipages and horfes
than there are in all Paris. Our fafhions prevail here univerfally. Dreffed dolls are
regularly fent from Paris for the purpofe of teaching the women how to put on their
gowns and drefs their heads. Even the men from time to time, get memoranda from
Paris, and lay them before their taylors and hair-dreffers. I heard a lady telling another
vefterday at the play, with an air of the profoundeft wifdom, that the Queen of France
had worn the fame kind of head drefs as fhe had then on, four weeks ago at the theatre.
All the women I have hitherto feen are painted up to the eyes and ears like the French
ones. ‘The knowing ones tell you, that the eyes acquire a kind of fire by this means,
which gives an inexpreffible animation to the whole look; but I believe I have often
told you and Nannette, that I am barbarian enough to wifh to wipe away all the red off
a lady’s cheeks with a wifp of ftraw and coarfe fand, even though the eyes fhould lofe
all their luftre by it. After all, the rouge of the ladies here, like that of our Parifian
dames, feems to have become a neceffary evil, to hide the yellownefs of their fkin.
I faw feveral of them who had every reafon to cry out, La verole mon Dieu, m’a rougé
fufqu aux os.
LETTER XX.
Vienna.
OUR new philofophers are unanimous in declaring againtt large focieties ; as for my
own nart, I take things as they are, and am contented with what I find, whenever an al-
teration appears dangerous or impoffible. It is very true that when you look on the
dark fide of them only, great cities feem a difgrace to humanity; but put_one of thefe
philofophers to the proof, and let him tell you how London, Paris, or Vienna, are to 7
3 made
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