78 
TRAVELS 
trate our prefent fubject, and fets that mixture of courtly forma¬ 
lity and royal condefcenfion, of which we have been fpeaking in 
a ftrong light, may perhaps not be thought unworthy of being 
mentioned in this place. In the reign of the late king, the coun- 
tefs of Kaggyneck, wife of the Auftrian ambaflador at Stockholm, 
being entitled by her birth to be faluted on the cheek by the em- 
prefs of Germany, and the princefles of the Imperial family, would 
not fubmit to any other ceremonial at the court of Stockholm. 
Inftead of this, to kifs the hand of the queen and princeffes of 
Sweden, Ihe held beneath her dignity: for this reafon, till thefe 
important points fhould be adjufted, her prefentation at court was 
deferred. But the countefs, -who was young and fprightly, 
thought that fhe might at lead: enjoy the amufement of the 
affembly, efpecially at a time when it was expected to be very 
much crowded, every one being defirous of feeing the queen, who 
had but lately come abroad after the birth of the prince royal. 
She was introduced to the alfembly by her hufband. That die 
might have a better view of the room, die was placed in one of 
the balconies; and whether from chance or defign very near the 
one ufually occupied by the queen. The king had no fooner en¬ 
tered the room, than he wasftruck with the fight of the Countefs 
of Kaggyneck.; and confidered her appearance, and the place die 
had chofen, as a fort of defiance to the rules of the court. He 
therefore commanded Mr. Plommenvelt, who was mailer of the 
ceremonies, to tell Count Kaggyneck that it was not proper for 
his lady, in the prefent circumftances, to be in the fame room with 
the 
