Meufe and Rhint were under mortgage* and . that, to clear, off his incumbrances, he has de-manded my daughter in marriage. Before I confent to this union, I wilh to know how he' means to fettle his eftates, and that my daugh-ter's children, ihould flie have Tons or daugh-ters, may fucceed to the inheritance of Guel-dres, notwithstanding any other marriage take place in cafe of her death. On this point I am, determined, and I mull likewife have this fuc-ceffion affurèd by himfelf, his relations, and all WHO may have any claims thereto, as well as by the nobility and principal'towns in the country/ Thus did Bertaldo form the' anfwer he was.to give the commillioners from the count de Guel-dres. On the morrow, at a proper hour, Bertaldo fignified to the count's friends he was prepared with his anfwer. They were well pleafed on „ hearing this, and repaired to the hôtel of Ber-taldo, where every thing difplayed his riches. He met them in the hall, and., after fome agree-able conversation, conducted them to an apart-ment fitted up in a manner becoming a king, where fome of his friends were affembled. * When the door was clofed, Bertaldo defired xthem to declare the caufe of their vifit to him, and he would give them his anfwer.' Upon this, the dean of Cologne, confia to the count de Gueldres, and a valiant clerk, explained fo elo-quently the object of their embaffy, it was a pleafure to hear him. Of his fpeech I need not make any further mention, for the fubject of it has been told, and it related folely to the ad-vantages 53