constitutes the greatest blot in Kaunitz's political character, and will probably be still more reprobated by posterity than by the present

age.

numerous

"His pleasures, at a period of life so advanced, can neither be very nor extremely varied. He is fond of music, and likes theatrical entertainments, though he seldom attends them. I have seen him delighted with the Ombres ⚫ Chinoises,' when exhibited in a private room, before a select compauy At cards he never plays; but during the greater part of every evening, he amuses himself at billiards in his own drawing-room. One of his passions through life has been architecture, practical as well as theoretical; and it is pretended, that he has not a little impaired his fortune by indulging this propeusity. Certainly he has thrown away immense sums; I am told, near a million of florins, or full a hundred thousand pounds, between his house in the suburbs of Vienna, and his seat at Austerlitz in Moravia. Neither of them are yet completed, and he is perpetually pulling down, altering and repairing. If there is not great exaggeration in these assertions, they will explain the reason, why, after such a long possession of power, he has amassed little wealth for his family. Indeed, it would be difficult otherwise to account for it, since he is not generous; at least not from constitution, though he knows how to affect liberality on proper occasions.

"Prince Kaunitz is a good catholic, but has not any tincture of bigotry or superstition. I believe, he rarely, if ever confesses: I know that he never attends, nor hears mass performed, except on Sundays; and then only for ten minutes, not publicly, but in his own

house. Superior to the temptation or love of gold, he is not less exempt from any spirit of vengeance. The natural elevation of his mind raises him above court-cabal, and little ministerial intrigue. Ao enemy to every species of constraint, the freedom which he exercises himself he extends to those about him; yet the consciousness of his dignity never forsakes him for a moment. I have seen him in his own drawing room as unconcerned, and as attentive to every point of his game at billiards, while the emperor stood on one side of him, and the archduke Maximilian on the other, as though they had been both private individuals of no consequence. He is an actor, and he never appeared to me to play his part so well as on those occasions. Towards men of genius, artists, and persons distinguished in every line of letters • or of science, he is affable and polite to a high degree. Gluck not only dines frequently at his table, but I have known the prince address his discourse to him during the whole repast, in a manner the most flattering, while he has not condescended to notice the first nobility of Vienna seated near him. In this part of his character,he stands widely opposed to the Austrian men of rank, who retain many of the feudal prejudices of their ancestors, and rarely open their houses to men of merit or talents, unconnected with the advantages of birth.

"If flexibility is not to be reckoned among the qualities of prince Kaunitz, as little likewise is dissimulation. It forms an instance, rare in the history of the world, and more peculiarly of courts, that a man of such a cast, though his abilities may be ever so eminent, should have attained to power, and have preserved it for so many years. B 4

Far

Far from concealing his sentiments, even on points the most delicate, as well as personal, he has always expressed himself with boldness. Nothing is better known than his disJike, I might almost say his aversion, for the present emperor, when he was successively archduke and king of the Romans, before his father's death. The prince never mentioned his character, conduct, or understanding, except with marks of disapprobation. Even after Joseph's accession to the imperial dignity, he did not alter his language. The ⚫ emperor,' said he more than once, • fears me, and I dislike him.' As a protector of the fine arts, and particularly of music, Kaunitz was deep ly hurt at the Ordonnance' which produced the ruin of the Italian opera. The spirit of innovation and reform, characteristic of all Joseph's regulations, by no means suited the taste of the minister. Je ne vois,' said he, que des défenses <de tous côtés. At that time his imperial majesty never visited nor conversed with him: on the contrary, he held prince Kaunitz in detestation.

·

Insensibly, however, their mutual alienation has not only ceased,

but has been succeeded by apparent attachment, esteem, and confidence. Those sentiments can scarcely be carried to a higher pitch of recipracal deference and respect, than at the present moment. How far views of policy or interests on either side have conduced to operate sa total a change, it is impossible to ascertain. Joseph, who is unques, tionably a master of dissimulation, may only wait for the proper moment in which to manifest his real sentiments; but people here are universally convinced, that no reconciliation was ever more complete. He seems to be never satisfied with giving the prince the most flattering testimonies of consideration and personal regard. During the course of the two last winters, not content with presenting himself at the drawing-room of the first minister, as one of the company, Joseph has often visited him in his bedchamber, in order to converse with him at more ease, on every subject of public import. These interviews have been conducted without ceremony or attendants, and frequently without any previous intimation on the part of the emperor."

"T

HE earl of Sandwich was rather to be considered as an able and intelligent speaker, than a brilliant and eloquent orator. In his early parliamentary career, he displayed uncommon knowledge of the sort of composition adapted to

make an impression on a popular assembly; and from a happy choice of words, and a judicious arrangement of his argument, he seldom spoke without producing a sensible effect on the mind of every impartial auditor. In the latter part of his po

litical

litical life, and especially during the American war, his harangues were less remarkable for their grace and ornament, than for sound sense, and the valuable and appropriate information which they communicated. His speeches therefore were regarded as the lessons of experience and wisdom. He was never ambitious of obtruding himself upon the house. He had a peculiar delicacy of forbearance, arising from a sense of propriety; which, if more generally practised, would tend very much to expedite the public business by compressing the debates, now usually drawn out to an immeasureable and tiresome length, within more reasonable bounds. If, after having prepared himself on any important question, when he rose in the house any other lord, first caught the chancellor's eye, he sat down with the most accommodating patience; and, if the lord, who spoke before him, anticipated the sentiments which he meant to offer, he either did not speak at all, or only spoke to such points as had not been adverted to by the preceding speaker. Whenever therefore he rose, the house was assured that he had something material to communicate he was accordingly lis tened to with attention, and seldom sat down without furnishing their lordships with facts at once important and interesting; of which no other peer was so perfectly master as himself. During the period of the American war he was frequently attacked in both houses for his official conduct or imputed malversation. When any such attempts were made in the house of peers, he heard his accusers with patience, and with equal temper as firmness refuted their allegations, exposing their fallacy or their falsehood. Qu all such occasions, he

met his opponents fairly and openly, in some instances concurring in their motions for papers, which his adversaries imagined would prove him a negligent minister; in others resisting their object, by showing the inexpediency or the impolicy of complying with their requests. In the parliamentary contest, to which the unfortunate events of the American wargave rise, he is to be found more than once rising in reply to the late earl of Chatham, whose extraordinary powers of eloquence inspired sufficient awe to silence and intimidate even lords of acknowledged ability. Lord Sandwich in such cases never suffered himself to be dazzled by the splendour of oratorical talents; or ever spoke without affording proof that his reply was necessary and adequate. In fact, his lordship never rose without first satisfying himself that the speaker he meant to reply to was in error; and that a plain statement of the facts in question would dissipate the delusion, and afford conviction to the house. By this judicious conduct his lordship secured the respect of those whom he addressed, and commanded at all times an attentive hearing.

"it now only remains to give some traits of lord Sandwich's pri vate character. The editor could dwell with fondness and enlarge with pleasure on this part of his subject; but he must content himself with delineating some of the principal features; and he writes with the greater ease and freedom, as he can from his own personal knowledge vouch for the truth of every thing which he asserts.

"The earl of Sandwich was one of the few noblemen who spend a considerable portion of their time at their country seats; where he usually resided whenever he could gain

a vacation from the duties of office, and attendance on parliament. His house was at all times open for the reception of his friends and neigh. bours, and distinguished for the generous, truly hospitable, and liberal entertainment which it afforded; the noble host himself always making the most pleasing part of it, inspiring, by the easy politeness of his address, his affability and engaging manners, and the charms of his conversation; universal cheerfulness and good humour amongst his guests. equally endearing himself to all ranks and conditions. The mind of lord Sandwich was uncommonly active, and never rested from exertion. In the intervals therefore of his political engagements he was ever planning rational and elegant amusements at Hinchinbrook; wh ch were the delight and admiration of the numer ous company who resorted thither, from all parts, to partake of them.

"Theatrical exhibitions at times made a part, performed by his reJatives, friends, and neighbours, in a very superior style, with great taste and splendor. They were attended by crowded audiences; and many of those, who composed them, were admitted to a gratification, which they valued more highly, at his lordship's social board. What very much recommended these en tertainments, and rendered them peculiarly grateful to all visitants, were the perfect regularity and decorum very scrupulously preserved throughout.

"But the most remarkable, and attractive of public notice, were the musical performances, conducted with extraordinary magnificence. A very respectable friend, a scientific master of the art, who bore a distinguished part in the direction and execution of them, has favour

ed me with an account of their rise, progress, and perfection, which cannot but be acceptable to the icader. It is, therefore, by permission, here transcribed in his own

words.

"Among other qualifications for which the earl of Sandwich was eminently distinguished, his love for music deserves to be particularly mentioned. It may with truth be asserted, that though he set up no pretensions to reputation, either as a theorist, or as a performer, yet very few persons have ever existed to whom the cause of sound and sublime harmony has been so much indebted. Without being a bigot to any particular style of music, and capable of receiving pleasure from all, yet his natural discernment enabled him instantly to distinguish real excellence from mere ostentation and trick; and his good sense never suffered him to encourage a sacrifice of the head to the hand.

"It was his custom, when he was in the country, to devote one evening in the week to music; which was chiefly of the vocal kind, occasionally improved by the aid of a few instruments, the best that could be collected in the neighbourhood, Twice in the year, (at Christmas, and at the Cambridge Commencement,) he used to avail himself of the assistance of a few academical friends; by which means he was enabled to furnish out a tolerable concerto. On these occasions he sometimes introduced a selection from the music in Macbeth and the Tempest with good effect. From such a small beginning did his active genius, by methods peculiarly his own, in the short space of about a year and a half, contrive to assemble, principally from the towns and villages in the neighbourhood, an orchestra of between 60 and 70 performers,