lution looked at first so well, and captivated so

many ardent spirits, that they never could afterwards get rid of the bias the mind took in the moment of enthusiasm.

The old marquis, who was not a favourite at court, had as much bias towards liberty and equality as a man of sense, and of thirty thousand a-year, could be well supposed to have; but the sons had not the actual enjoyment of the fortune, and they had not the experience of the father, so that they viewed the grand triumph of the disciples of Voltaire and Rousseau with more admiration.

The late marquis carried his democracy to a wild extreme, that at one time endangered his person; but the present marquis, although a younger man, was more moderate and prudent, and never, at any time deviated from what was fair and right; for whether a man happens to be in error or not, as to his way of thinking, it is fair and right for him to maintain his opinion, provided it does not go the length to injure the state, or to unhinge society.

EARL OF LAUDERDALE.

THIS nobleman has exerted his abilities as a writer, an orator, and a member of the diplomatic corps. He attacked repeatedly the finances of the country, with more passion, less good humour, and în a less amusing manner than Thomas Paine. His speeches have greatly resembled his writings; and, as to his diplomatic abilities, he was greatly outdone by Lord Yarmouth, a young nobleman chosen from amongst the English prisoners in France, (by a sort of chance), as a fit person to commence a negotiation with this country.

To continue such an ambulant ambassador, and employ him in a formal manner, as the representative of the king of England, by no means suited the great and important business intended to be transacted. The noble earl was therefore chosen with a suit of secretaries and messengers. The servants in his train resembled in small the train of Buonaparte, when he went to make discoveries, and to conquer Egypt; yet with all his mental and physical means, he retrograded every day, and staid at last three

months in Paris, when there was not the least ap

pearance of success.

Lord L. wrote a book, in which there is considerable merit, which he termed an answer to Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations. The book would be very well if it had another title, as it happens not to be an answer to that great writer.

Lord L. was one of the early friends who were displeased and disappointed when the Prince Regent preferred the interests of his country to his private feelings; and having quitted Carlton-House, has taken up his abode at a residence he calls Dunbar-house, from whence he carries on an active correspondence with the issuers of silver tokens, to ascertain their weight, quality, and quantity, as Sir John Sinclair used to do, to collect anecdotes about the longevity of men, and the strength of rams*; and as Mr. Horne Tooke named his

• Whoever was the author of the proverb that "Comparisons are odious", we cannot help observing that they are very useful, and very natural-sometimes they are unavoidable. Philosophers who treat of concatenation of ideas, were certainly not altogether wrong-Gog and Magog-Castor and Pollux-Pylades and Orestes-have been from time immemorial considered as connected; that is, think of the one, and the other always occurs. The pope, the devil, and the

profound researches into the etymology of words, Diversions at Parley, to show how a man of learning sports with studies that are sufficient to overcome common capacities, so we advise Lord L. to collect his information relative to eighteen-penny pieces, into one volume, and call it Diversions at Dunbar. The alliteration is greatly in favour of the title, and it will be quite as appropriate.

When Mr. Fox and his friends came into office, in 1806, the great project was to send Lord L. tọ India, as governor-general: but that gave the directors a fit of the fever so strong, that the treasury was obliged to yield to Leadenhall-street for once. And such was the dread of his lordship's mission, that all those who were interested in India affairs rose in a mass against the appointment: and amongst those of the early friends of the prince, none was so much mortified as the noble earl, whose actions and writings for a number of years

pretender, were associated by the whigs of the last century-Pitt and Cobourg in latter times-Erskine and the trial by jury-and consequently Yarmouth and Lauderdale, are always associated. See the article Yarmouth.

COUNT DE LIEVEN, .

RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR.

THOUGH the immense empire of all the Russias is, in the general mass of its population, far behind some other nations in Europe in knowledge and civilization, yet the nobles are, on the contrary, before the most part of European nobility in the acquirements of the mind.

If Russia does not enjoy all the advantages of some nations that are more advanced, she likewise is free from many of the inconveniences which they labour under*.

No nation has had such a succession of able

There is a very marked difference between the character of the Russian nation and of most others. It seems to be the only nation that makes an effort to advance either in arts or civilization, and where the effort seems general. Frederick the Great, indeed, gave a temporary energy to Prussia; but the effort died with him. Sweden and Denmark have long been stationary. Poland sinks, and Austria does not make any exertion.