s of Austria confine the woman's portion to
two thousand florins (about two hundred pounds English), and whatever
they have beside, remains in their own possession and disposal.
Thus, here are many ladies much richer than their husbands, who are
however obliged to allow them pin-money agreeable to their quality;
and I attribute to this considerable branch of prerogative, the
liberty that they take upon other occasions. I am sure, you, that
know my laziness, and extreme indifference on this subject, will pity
me, entangled amongst all these ceremonies, which are a wonderful
burden to me, though I am the envy of the whole town, having, by
their own customs, the pass before them all. They indeed, so
revenge, upon the poor envoys, this great respect shewn to
ambassadors, that (with all my indifference) I should be very uneasy
to suffer it. Upon days of ceremony they have no entrance at court,
and on other days must content themselves with walking after every
soul, and being the very last taken notice of. But I must write a
volume to let you know all the ceremonies, and I have already said
too much on so dull a subject, which however employs the whole care
of the people here. I need not, after this, tell you how agreeably
time slides away with me; you know as well as I do the taste of,
Your's, &c. &c.

LET. XII.

TO THE LADY X----.

_Vienna, Oct_. 1. O. S. 1716.

YOU desire me, madam, to send you some accounts of the customs here,
and at the same time a description of Vienna. I am always willing to
obey your commands; but you must, upon this occasion, take the will
for the deed. If I should undertake to tell you all the particulars,
in which the manners here differ from ours, I must write a whole
quire of the dullest stuff that ever was read, or printed without
being read. Their dress agrees with the French or English in no one
article, but wearing petticoats. They have many fashions peculiar to
themselves; they think it indecent for a widow ever to wear green or
rose colour, but all the other gayest colours at her own discretion.
The assemblies here are the only regular diversion, the operas being
always at court, and commonly on some particular occasion. Madam
Rabutin has the assembly constantly every night at her house; and the
other ladies, whenever they have a mind to display the magnificence
of their apartments, or oblige a friend by complimenting them on the
day of their saint, they declare, that on su