LET. XIII.

TO MR ----.

_Vienna, Oct_. O. S. 1716.

I DESERVE not all the reproaches you make me. If I have some time
without answering your letter, it is not, that I don't know how many
thanks are due to you for it; or that I am stupid enough to prefer
any amusements to the pleasure of hearing from you; but after the
professions of esteem you have so obligingly made me, I cannot help
delaying, as long as I can, shewing you that you are mistaken. If
you are sincere, when you say you expect to be extremely entertained
by my letters, I ought to be mortified at the disappointment that I
am sure you will receive when you hear from me; though I have done my
best endeavours to find out something worth writing to you. I have
seen every thing that was to be seen with a very, diligent curiosity.
Here are some fine villas, particularly the late prince of
Litchtenstein's (sic); but the statues are all modern, and the
pictures not of the first hands. 'Tis true, the emperor has some of
great value. I was yesterday to see the repository, which they call
his Treasure, where they seem to have been more diligent in amassing
a great quantity of things, than in the choice of them. I spent
above five hours there, and yet there were very few things that
stopped me long to consider them. But the number is prodigious,
being a very long gallery filled on both sides, and five large rooms.
There is a vast quantity of paintings, amongst which are many fine
miniatures; but the most valuable pictures, are a few of Corregio
(sic), those of Titian being at the Favorita.

THE cabinet of jewels did not appear to me so rich as I expected to
see it. They shewed me here a cup, about the size of a tea dish, of
one entire emerald, which they had so particular a respect for, that
only the emperor has the liberty of touching it. There is a large
cabinet full of curiosities of clock-work, only one of which I
thought worth observing, that was a craw-fish, with all the motions
so natural, that it was hard to distinguish it from the life.

THE next cabinet was a large collection of agates, some of them
extremely beautiful, and of an uncommon size, and several vases of
Lapis Lazuli. I was surprised to see the cabinet of medals so poorly
furnished; I did not remark one of any value, and they are kept in a
most ridiculous disorder. As to the antiques, very few of them
deserve that name. Upon my saying they were modern, I could not
forbear laugh