The Virginia Gazette

AN ANECDOTE relating to the present Emperor of Germany, contained in an Extract of a Letter from Vienna, June 7.

I INFORMED you, some Time since, of the singular Disposition of our young Emperor, and that, though born to Empire, and possessing the highest Dignity in Europe; his happier Moments always are those wherein he can lose the Emperor for the Man; and yet it is necessary to remark that when he must assume the Sovereign, and the Pomp attending regal Greatness, he appears as nobly easy in his State as if the Carriage attending Grandeur and supreme Authority had been his only Study. His darling Passion seems to be the making little Excursions incognito, and for the most Part alone. These are almost ever consequent of some particular Good, either to the State in general, by his discovering and remedying some ill established or ill conducted Matter of Police or Government, or else to some Individual. To enumerate all of these, that have come to my Knowledge, would employ much more Time than I can spare in writing, or you, perhaps, in reading. Let one or two Anecdotes of this Kind serve for the Whole. Passing one Night along a Street, on one Side of which runs a Wall that terminates one of his Gardens, he perceived a young Female who seemed to be crying to herself. He asked her what gave her so much Uneasiness. To this she made no Reply, but sobbed on. He repeated his Question. She answered, that it would be of little Signification to tell, for he could be of no Service to her. "My Dress may not promise much Ability (returned the Emperor, who made, in Disguise, but rather a shabby Appearance) but perhaps it may, nevertheless, be in my Power to remove those Tears from your Eyes." The Emperor still pressing to be informed, the young Woman reluctantly acquainted him that her Mother was in the greatest Distress, and very ill; and that she (the Daughter) was then going to raise Money on her only remaining Clothes (those she had on her excepted) for their present Subsistence. He inquired after her Family, and she informed him that her Father was an Officer, and died in the Service. He asked her if they had no Pension; she told him no. "Why have you not preferred a Memorial to the Emperor?" The Girl answered, that several had been delivered to a great Man belonging to the Court, to be presented by him to the Emperor, but they had availed Nothing. "Do you think the Emperor received them." She said there was no Doubt of that, "but (continued she) they say the Emperor is a Miser." He told her he had some Interest at Court, and desired she would come with a Memorial in the Morning, at ten o'Clock, to such a Part of the Palace, and inquire for such a Person; that he would be there, and would recommend her Mother's Cause in such a Manner as, he doubted not, would be attended with Success. The Girl hesitated at the Proposal. "I will not deceive you (he returned) go, Child, Home to your Mother; spare your Clothes; take this (giving her three Gold Ducats) buy yourselves Food; and be sure do not disappoint me at ten Tomorrow."

They parted; the young Woman, all amazed, ran Home, and recounted her Story. The Mother wept on the Neck of the Daughter; the Daughter, drowned in Tears, hung on that of the Mother. The Emperor had given the proper Orders, in the Morning, for the Reception of the young Woman. She not coming to her Time appointed, he made several impatient Inquiries, from that Hour to near eleven, to know if she was not yet come. Her Stay at Home was owing to a Delicacy, and a Fear that she could not account for. Indeed, Somebody had suggested to her (on hearing the Description of the Person who had so generously assisted her, and knowing it was the Report that the Emperor sometimes amused himself in Excursions of this Kind) that, perhaps, it might be the Emperor himself. By the Persuasion of her Friends, however, at Length, she overcame her Difficulties; and, as the Clock was striking eleven, she made her Appearance at the Gate of the Palace where she had been directed to. There was a Person ready to receive her. She told him her Business. "The Emperor, Madam, has been waiting impatiently for you this Hour." The Apprehension now becoming a Certainty, and there attended with Tears (on Account of her having made so free with the Character of the Prince on the preceding Night) at the Name of Emperor she was very near fainting; but presently recovering, her being arrived was announced, and she was directed to be introduced. Her Sovereignty was dressed with more than common Elegance and Richness, purposely for the greater Contrast to his Appearance the Night before. She fell on her Knees; she lost all Utterance. He condescendingly stooped to raise her up; bid her be comforted; he asked for her Memorial; he read it. He made a Point of knowing to whom her former Memorials were delivered, that he might inform himself of the Reason he had never received them; and then, end prevent (such Offences to himself and his Subjects (these were his Words) for the future. "I shall make particular Inquiries into the Truth of your Memorial (said the amiable young Monarch) if I find
the Assertions are just, and your Distresses as represented, tell your Mother I shall order a Pension, for herself and Family, of one hundred Ducats." This was too much for her; she fell at his Feet, he raised her a second Time. She began with drawing her Handkerchief at a Distance, as it captivating. "Be at ease (exclaimed the Prince) receive this Packet (containing two Hundred Louis) it is but just you should, because you told me I am a Miser; let that at least wipe out the contrary."