ch a day the assembly
shall be at their house in honour of the feast of the count or
countess--_such a one_. These days are called days of Gala, and all
the friends or relations of the lady, whose saint it is, are obliged
to appear in their best clothes, and all their jewels. The mistress
of the house takes no particular notice of any body, nor returns any
body's visit; and, whoever pleases, may go, without the formality of
being presented. The company are entertained with ice in several
forms, winter and summer; afterwards they divide into several parties
of ombre, piquet, or conversation, all games of hazard being forbid.

I SAW t'other day the Gala for Count Altheim, the emperor's
favourite, and never in my life saw so many fine clothes ill-fancied.
They embroider the richest gold stuffs; and provided they can make
their clothes expensive enough, that is all the taste they shew in
them. On other days, the general dress is a scarf, and what you
please under it.

BUT now I am speaking of Vienna, I am sure you expect I should say
something of the convents; they are of all sorts and sizes, but I am
best pleased with that of St Lawrence, where the ease and neatness
they seem to live with, appears to be much more edifying than those
stricter orders, where perpetual penance and nastiness must breed
discontent and wretchedness. The Nuns are all of quality. I think
there are to the number of fifty. They have each of them a little
cell perfectly clean, the walls of which are covered with pictures
more or less fine, according to their quality. A long white stone
gallery runs by all of them, furnished With the pictures of exemplary
sisters; the chapel is extremely neat and richly adorned. But I
could not forbear laughing at their shewing me a wooden head of our
Saviour, which, they assured me, spoke during the siege of Vienna;
and, as a proof of it, bid me mark his mouth, which had been open
ever since. Nothing can be more becoming than the dress of these
Nuns. It is a white robe, the sleeves of which are turned up with
fine white callico (sic), and their head-dress the same, excepting a
small veil of black crape that falls behind. They have a lower sort
of serving Nuns, that wait on them as their chambermaids. They
receive all visits of women, and play at ombre in their chambers,
with permission of their abbess, which is very easy to be obtained.
I never saw an old woman so good-natured; she is near fourscore, an