complied, requiring of the dean not to mention his name in any of his writings.

Several foreigners, who have since made a shining figure in the republic of letters, visited England during this period, and formed intimate connections with our earl. Some of the principal were Algarotti, the happy imitator of Fontenelle, Montesquieu, and Voltaire. Voltaire acquired, during his stay in England, a considerable knowledge of the language and of the manners of the nation. It was there that he composed his Letters upon the English Nation, in which he strongly recommends inoculation to his countrymen. He likewise published in English an Essay on Epic Poetry. His tragedy of Brutus was dedicated to Lord Bolingbroke, and that of Zaire to Sir Everard Fawkener. But, above all, he paid his court to Mr Pope, translated several passages of his works, and earnestly wished he would have done him the same honour.

Chesterfield's immoderate attachment to gaming continued. It engaged him every night in the company of people with whom he would have been ashamed to have been seen at any other time. This anecdote is told of him: In one of the rooms at Bath he met a young nobleman just arrived, who had the same failing with himself. He whispered to his friend, (pointing at the same time to some people who stood round them,) Beware of these scoundrels; it is by flight alone that you can preserve your purse. The nobleman believed him, quitted the room, and on his return found the earl engaged at play with those very harpies whom, by his advice, he had just escaped.

CHAP. III.

The prince becomes king, as George II.-Chesterfield (in his 33d year) is made ambassador to Holland-His industry to increase his qualifications, the Hague being then the centre of European diplomacy-Kindness towards him of the Dutch statesmen, particularly Von Slingeland-He joins them in putting down the Altona and Ostend East India Companies; and with their aid stays the feud betwixt the Elector of Hanover (George II.) and the King of Prussia, (father of Frederick)- Visits England, gets only honorary promotion, and returns-Engaged in the negociations with France, Spain, and Austria-Preference for the Dutch-Liking to, and character of the Prince of Orange -In bad health-recalled-Falls into opposition, particularly of the excise scheme-Is dismissed, and affronted at court-Squabbles of the public press thereupon-Its venality -Anecdote shewing his devotion to the public weal.

LORD CHESTERFIELD was three and thirty years of age when the crown of Great Britain devolved upon George II.; a prince in whose family and 1727. favour he had continued thirteen years. The sovereign, at his acces

sion, seemed rather more disposed to forget former offences, than anxious to reward past services. Few changes were made in public offices. He

B

re-admitted several, who, having formerly belonged to his court, had since thought proper to desert it; and it was soon observed that some persons, who had been most in favour with the late king, were likely to enjoy the same influence under the present reign. Courtiers are a kind of fixtures; at least when the courtier and useful public man are combined. It is only in great revolutions they can be removed or dispensed with. Chesterfield's promotion was that of ambassador to Holland. Whatever the minister's views, in sending him to the Hague, may have been, the post itself was equally suited to his taste and abilities, and he appears to have been determined to distinguish himself in this station, that it might be a step to his further elevation.

From the nature of Lord Chesterfield's education, and his studious manner of life, but still much more from his intercourse with most experienced statesmen of different principles, it may be judged, that he had acquired no inconsiderable fund of political knowledge; yet he was diffident of himself, and thought it proper to recur to other helps. We have seen that a course of lectures in civil law had been the principal object of his studies at Cambridge. Immediately upon his arrival at the Hague he applied to Vitriarius, a German, and then a celebrated professor of the university of Leyden; and, at his recommendation, took into his house a gen. tleman who was perfectly well qualified to instruct him in the science both of the civil law and the imperial code. The Germans were at that time supposed to understand the jus publicum and jus gentium better than the learned of other nations.

1728.

Chesterfield was thoroughly sensible, that knowledge alone, however extensive, would avail him but little in his political career, unless adorned with other ministerial accomplishments. He wished to be a man of the world, as well as a man of business; and had strongly imbibed the idea, that labour and pleasure were not incompatible, and that the one contributed to heighten the taste of the other. His first occupation in the morning was to write his dispatches; and, as he left little for his secretary to do, he frequently staid in his room till dinner time, unless business called him out. Sometimes he returned there in the afternoon; but, in general, like those of the famous De Witt, his evenings were spent in assemblies and amusements. These very amusements furnished him with many opportunities, which he never neglected, of studying characters; so that, in the midst of his pleasures, he never lost sight of his main object, which was, to distinguish himself as a man of business. Sometimes his habit of gaming was likely to prevail. He has been known to quit the table at six, yet to be in his cabinet at business by eight in the morning.

At the time Chesterfield arrived at the Hague, which was in summer 1728, it was, and had been, for upwards of a century, the chief place of resort for the diplomatists of Europe. It was the centre of the most important negotiations, from which, as well as the peculiar character of the Dutch themselves, and their government, it was considered that a foreign minis

ter could not be in a better school for exercising his judgment and improving his talents. The premier of Holland bears the title of grand pensionary, which office had been held in succession by Barnevelt, Catz, a port as well as a politician, Fagel, Heinsius, and others. Slingeland, an old and experienced magistrate of one of the principal towns at the time of Chesterfield's embassy, occupied that important place, with whom he contracted a greater intimacy than it is commonly supposed can subsist between the prime minister of one power and the ambassador of another. "Mr Slingeland," says Chesterfield, was the ablest minister, and the greatest man I ever knew. I may justly call him my friend, my master, and my guide, for I 66 was then quite new in business: he instructed me, he loved me, he trust"ed me."

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1729.

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The establishment of a new East India company at Altona, under the protection of the King of Denmark, had been attempted during Chesterfield's embassy at the Hague. Subscriptions for it were solicited even in Holland; and the desire of gain encouraged several monied people to become adventurers in the undertaking. But the policy of the time was to sustain and render more and more rigid every species of monopoly. The word free trade had not then been pronounced. Great Britain, therefore, could not patiently suffer, any more than the United Provinces, such a scheme to be carried into execution. The ambassador's pen was employed in the support of their rights, and a masterly memoir, which he composed on this occasion, in conjunction with one of the deputies of the States, was delivered by him to the Danish minister at the Hague. The opposition was successful. This company, as well as that of Ostend, was soon afterwards entirely abolished.

Chesterfield had a share in a matter seemingly of less consequence, but which nearly concerned George II. as Elector of Hanover, and is likewise characteristic of the times. The King of Prussia had married his sister, but the ties of blood have but a feeble hold on princes. Levies of men were forcibly raised in the Hanoverian dominions by emissaries of the King of Prussia, who, although the parent of the Great Frederick, never could be more in his own person than a crimp and drill corporal. These proceedings occasioned retaliations on the side of Hanover. The two monarchs felt themselves offended as private gentlemen, and, as both possessed personal bravery, the repetition of the scene between Charles V. and Francis I. was talked of. If royal disputes were to be settled in this manner, contentions between crowned heads would be less destructive. In the present case, the delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi, was, for the thousandth time, likely to have been verified. The country of Hanover was threatened with an invasion, which it was but ill prepared to resist. No assistance from England could be obtained; as, by the act of settlement, the kingdom was not to be concerned in the wars of the electorate. Our ambassador's zeal was happily exert ed in preventing the consequences of this dispute. On his application to

the States, a letter was written, in their name, to the King of Prussia, to entreat him to suspend hostilities, and listen to conciliatory terms. To add weight to this letter, several Dutch regiments received orders to march towards Cleves. This step had the desired effect. An arbitration to the Dukes of Saxe Gotha and Wolfenbuttle was proposed and accepted. This did not, however, produce a sincere reconciliation between the brother kings, although it exalted the ambassador greatly in the favour of one of them.

At this time Chesterfield visited England. This was in consequence of an intrigue by Lord Townshend, for turning out the Duke of New1729. castle as Secretary of State. But his Lordship was himself turned out; whereby, in place of being made secretary as proposed, Chesterfield had to return to his post at the Hague, having acquired the office of steward of the household, and the honour of the Garter. The last was an honour he very much coveted, because, as he said to Sir Robert Walpole, "I am a man of pleasure, and the blue ribbon would add two inches to my "size." During his stay he assisted at the council in which the report was made of Colonel Chartres's trial and condemnation at the Old Bailey, for a rape he had not committed. The pardon was voted unanimously.

Business of importance awaited our ambassador in Holland. The emperor was highly displeased that the treaty of Seville had been concluded; and Philip V. was no less so, that it still remained unexecuted. France, since the birth of the dauphin in 1729, had renewed her old connexions with the court of Madrid, and was projecting new schemes against the House of Austria. The maritime powers were accused, not altogether without reason, of having delayed the promised conveyance of the infant into Italy. This secret and important negociation, the details of which are not now

more interesting than those of an old law-suit, was held to do great 1731. honour to the conciliatory talents of Lord Chesterfield, who in this, as well as in several other parts of his ministry, seems to have taken Sir William Temple for a model. It is evident, from what he says of the imperial ambassador, that he considered himself a match for him. "Count "Zinzendorf, the imperial minister, (he writes,) left this place last Sunday morning, saying, that he was going to see some of these provinces, and might possibly go to Spa, but with an air of great mystery, which has "occasioned some speculation here; but for my own part, as I know the “gentleman, I do not believe the mystery is upon account of the journey, "but I believe he rather takes the journey for the sake of the mystery."

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There is reason to believe, that, besides these national concerns, our ambassador employed himself usefully in favour of the House of Orange. He declared to the grand pensionary, that, although he had received no positive orders to that effect, yet he would, to the utmost of his power, promote the views of the family, from a conviction that the interest both of his own country and of the republic required it. Besides that sense of public utility, Chesterfieid seems to have been also swayed by personal liking for the young

Prince of Orange, whose friend and correspondent he always continued to be, and whom he had, at an early period, thus favourably described: "The "Prince of Orange arrived here last night. I went to wait upon him, and as far as I am able to judge from half an hour's conversation only, I think ' he has extreme good parts. He is perfectly well-bred, and civil to every body, and with an ease and freedom that is seldom acquired but by a long "knowledge of the world. His face is handsome-his shape is not so advantageous as could be wished, though not near so bad as I had heard it re"presented. The acclamations of the people are loud and universal. He assumes not the least dignity, but has all the affability and insinuation that is necessary for a person who would raise himself in a popular government. "As I have had the honour of frequently conversing with the prince, I can assure your lordship, as far as I am able to judge, that he has both 46 parts and knowledge, not only much above his age, but equal to any bo'dy's; and without troubling your lordship with particulars, I believe "I may venture to say, that he will equal the greatest of his ancestors in great and good qualities. I hope he will be in good fortune too."

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1732.

To enjoy the fruits of his labours, and to recover his health, which, as well as his fortune, had been greatly impaired, Lord Chesterfield desired to be recalled. His request was granted. His disorder, which was the consequence of a fever, baffled for a long time the efforts of the physicians, and the swelling of his legs could not be dispersed in less than six months. On the recovery of his health, he began to appear as a speaker in the House of Lords. He at first appeared to be on good terms with the minister, and supported his measures. In the debate upon the reduction of the number of troops from 18,000 to 12,000 men, he, in conjunction with the Duke of Argyle, stood up to oppose it. He insisted, that the present number was barely sufficient for the security of the nation, but by no means considerable enough to inspire any fears. He professed that he had too good an opinion of his countrymen, to think they could be enslaved by so small a body; and of the gentlemen of the army, to imagine they would be base enough to concur in such a design. However he may have varied in his opinion as to the numbers of the standing army, he never could be per suaded to approve of a militia to replace it.

Notwithstanding these appearances of harmony and friendship, it was scarcely to be expected that a real or lasting confidence could be established between Walpole and Chesterfield. The former dreaded a rival, the latter could not brook a superior. An opportunity soon offered, which discovered both their dispositions. The excise scheme was proposed by the minister, perhaps with a view to the interest of his country; and in so far as the tobacco trade was concerned, the interest of America was also much insisted on. The scheme was principally disliked, from an apprehension that it might add to ministerial power. It was represented as an infringement upon national liberty, as well as private security and honour. An universal