those exquisite sketches of truly old English scenery-the old town of Windsor, reposing beneath the shadow of its regal castle, the quiet sunshiny street, with its graceful market-cross, the ancient houses with their quaint carving, and their picturesque gabels shooting up into the clear sky, and the distance closed in by the lordly towers of old Westminster palace, or some noble conventual church, rich with pinnacle, spire, and foliaged cross surmounting all. And well pleased have we been with those portions of the literary illustrations which Mr. Knight has written-the introductory and supplementary notices. We like his enthusiastic admiration of our great poet, and the earnestness with which he vindicates him from every attack; above all, the fine discrimination which these notices display, and the truly poetical feeling which they breathe throughout. We look forward with interest to Mr. Knight's promised life of Shakspere, and the publication of his poems, which will complete this work; we shall then return to the subject, and, in connexion with his poems, contemplate the imaginative dramas of Shakspere.

Art. V. The Courts of Europe at the close of the last Century, by the late HENRY SWINBURNE, ESQ., Author of 'Travels in Spain, Italy,' &c. Edited by CHARLES WHITE, ESQ., Author of 'The Belgic Revolution," &c. In two Vols. London: Colburn, 1841.

MR.

R. SWINBURNE was the youngest son of a numerous and very ancient Catholic family, resident in the county of Northumberland. He was born in May, 1752, and completed his studies at the monastic seminary, at Lacelle, in France. His mind was richly cultivated, his information was varied and extensive, and his attainments, in ancient and modern languages, were of a much higher grade than is common amongst our gentry. His circumstances, in the early part of life, were independent but not wealthy, and his taste for travelling was evinced by a visit which he paid to the most celebrated cities of Italy and France. In the French capital he was introduced to the lady whom he subsequently married, whose manners and highlycultivated mind, added to much personal beauty, contributed largely to the happiness of his life. For a short time the young couple resided at Hamsterley, in the county of Durham, but their manners and habits not harmonizing with those of their provincial neighbours, they resolved to proceed to Italy, after visiting the south of France. Though not contemplated in his ori

ginal plan, Spain was included in Mr. Swinburne's journeyings, and furnished materials for one of the two works which secured him a high place amongst the intelligent travellers of his day. The letters comprised in the volumes now before us, most of which were addressed to his brother, Sir Edward Swinburne, were written during these travels, and possess in consequence all the freshness and vivacity which mark the epistolary communications of an acute and well-informed observer. They are written from most of the principal capitals of Europe, and abound in interesting anecdotes, illustrative of the character of the chief actors in European politics, in the latter part of the last century. Their style is chaste, vivacious, and graphic, indicative at once of a cultivated intellect, and of a susceptible and benevolent heart, less ornate and elaborate than those of Walpole, yet infinitely preferable as indicative of the character of the writer. A few extracts will best serve to acquaint our readers with the nature of the work. The following, from Paris, under date of April 30th, 1774, furnishes a sketch of Louis the Fifteenth and his family, from which an insight may be gained into the circumstances which were rapidly hastening the tragedy which followed.

'On Tuesday I set out for Versailles early, pursuant to the directions I had previously received from Lord Stormont, our ambassador: and having nothing but mere curiosity to gratify, with no fear of disappointment, I made a tolerable day of it. The Duke of Dorset was the only Englishman presented with me. We met in the Salle des Ambassadeurs, and there made acquaintance. After a little waiting, the ambassador escorted us to the prime minister's levee (the Duc d'Aiguillon). If he said anything to me, it was so little and so low, that I do not recollect a word of it.

In his antechamber the envoys of Europe were assembled, decorated with ribbons of all colours, and crosses and keys of all metals. Among the rest the famous Aranda, late president of Castile; but now, to the astonishment of everybody, ambassador to the court of France, by his own request. He was the king of Spain's right hand when he planned the expulsion and destruction of the Jesuits, and his coming here seems to forebode some mischievous designs hatching in Spain against the peace of Europe, perhaps of England; yet some think Aranda only chose the journey, to take off the shock of an approaching disgrace.

About eleven, the introductors gave notice of the king's levee being ready, and so, in company of a German baron, we trudged up stairs, and surprised his most Christian majesty in his waistcoat for none but the family ambassadors may see him in buff.

After staring at us, talking about the opera with some few of the crowds of courtiers, and saying about one minute's prayer with his cardinal, he drew towards us, who were ranged near the door in rank and file. All he said was, Est-il fils du vieux Duc de Dorset, que j'ai connu autrefois?' and so marched off. However, as they talked much

to others who stood near us, I can describe them better from this view than from the subsequent one.

The Dauphin is very awkwardly made, and uncouth in his motions. His face resembles his grandfather's, but he is not near so handsome, though he has by no means a bad countenance. His nose is very prominent, his eyes are grey, and his complexion is sallow. He seemed cheerful and chatty, and I think his aspect bespeaks a good-natured The second brother is a pretty figure, and so is the third, only his mouth is rather wide, and drawn up in the middle to the top of the gums.

man.

They are not yet quite formed as to legs and strength, and have all a good deal of that restless motion, first upon one leg and then upon another, which is also remarkable in some members of the English royal family.

The questions they ask seem very frivolous and puerile. I believe they find their time hang very heavy on their hands, for they ran with great glee to tickle one of the king's valets de chambre, as he was carrying out the king's dirty clothes.

Our next trot was to the Dauphin, who said nothing. The same silence reigned at the levee of his brothers, as to our share at least. The Comtesse de Provence is a little dumpy woman, and but a plain piece of goods; her sister, the Comtesse d'Artois, is rather prettier, having a fine skin and tolerable eyes, but her nose is immense, and her toes are turned in. Poor thing! she seemed quite frightened, and could hardly speak.'-vol. i. pp. 8, 11.

Mr. Swinburne was the last person presented to the Grand Monarque. Louis took to his bed on the following day, and died shortly afterwards, through the unskilful treatment of his disorder. The awful farce, usual on such occasions, was acted over in the case of the dying monarch. A life of licentiousness was closed by a verbal profession of repentance, and state priests were present to administer the pledges of absolution and eternal peace. The natives,' says Mr. Swinburne, seemed in great spirits at this death-bed repentance, but whether they 'gave credit to such a thorough change, is what I cannot pretend to assume. The viaticum was carried to him with all the pomp imaginable.' We pass over the letters written from Spain and Naples, in which many traits of national manners are depicted, and some royal portraits are sketched, with an unflattering but truthful pencil. Proceeding to Vienna we are introduced to Maria Theresa, and her son Joseph the Second, whom we must take leave to introduce to our readers, simply premising that our extracts are taken from several letters, and are designed to exhibit not a full-length portraiture, but distinct points in the characters of these illustrious personages. To those who are acquainted with the part the Empress and her son acted in European politics, these extracts will not be without deep interest.

The Duchesse de Noailles has left Rome to return to Paris, having finished her journey, undertaken for the purpose of speaking to the pope on the subject of the Jesuits. Mr. Jenkins tells me he has seen a letter from their principal at Vienna to Ricci, (the general of the Jesuits,) who had great confidence in the justice and piety of Marie Therese, and thought she would prove a buckler to the order in their distress, and resist the attempts of the French cabinet for its destruction. His correspondent answered his hopes thus: Depend not upon her, for if every drop of blood of the Jesuits were demanded, and necessary for the marriage of her daughters, she would without hesitation spill it!'

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The empress has such an internal fever and heat of blood, that she cannot bear to have the window closed at any season of the year. Sometimes the wind is so strong during the night, that it throws down the chairs in her room, blows the curtains against her face, and awakens her. Her son, the emperor, is extremely chilly, notwithstanding all her children were brought up in so hardy a manner, that their attendants were almost starved. The emperor still sleeps upon a bed of skins.

The empress is generous even to prodigality, and would be miserable if she knew of any one in want that it was not in her power to relieve. The Duke of Saxony, and his wife the Archduchess Christina, drain her prodigiously. The emperor calls him his dear brotherin-law,

Our friend Madame d'Ulsfield has given us many particulars of the empress's life. The day of her appearing before the Hungarian nobles, they were in a large hall, where a balustrade was put up to keep off the crowd. She came in deep mourning, with her infant son in her arms, and began a Latin speech, but as she pronounced the first words of it,-viz. Afflicto rerum stalu,' the tears suffocated her, and impeded her utterance. The whole assembly with one movement rose, and, with their fingers upraised, called out, Moriemur pro regina Theresa.'

When Francis died, she was given to understand, from caballing courtiers, which equally exist in all countries, that Joseph would probably seize the reins of empire; and being now emperor (having been elected king of the Romans previous to his father's death), would not consent to be subservient to his mother. She therefore felt uneasy and uncomfortable; but he soon put an end to her fears, for, the first time they met, he threw himself at her feet, saying, 'Je serai toujours votre fidèle Joseph, le plus devoué de vos sujets!

The empress is loved by the people, as well as admired. When she lay dangerously ill of the small-pox, Joseph met an old marshal on the stairs, coming from the anteroom of her apartment, where he had been to inquire how she was. He was in a flood of tears, on having learnt that her recovery was despaired of. Am I then such a tyrant,' said the emperor, 'that you dread being governed by me?' No, sir,' said the soldier; but we know what we lose.'

The most earnest wish of their mother was obtained when she succeeded in making her youngest daughter queen of France. The

Archduchess Antoinette was at fourteen extremely pious, and wellinclined in every respect; and when the marriage was arranged, Maria Theresa, whose religion did not prevent her giving way to superstitious propensities, visited a nun of a neighbouring convent, who was considered able to see into the future. She expressed her anxiety for the soul of her pious, good child, now about to be separated from her for the rest of her life, and going to so depraved a court as that of Louis Quinze. The answer she received was this: Elle aura de grands revers, et puis elle redeviendra pieuse.' Struck by the thought of her good child ceasing to be pious, which was implied by these words, the empress burst into tears, and was with difficulty restored to calmness. She, however, was not sufficiently credulous, or provident, for the happiness of her young daughter, to put an end on that account to the negotiations for the archduchess's marriage.

The empress is extremely imposed upon by hypocrites of all sorts. Many an officer has gone to her chapel, and made all the grimaces of a bigot and zealot, which has attracted her notice, and procured him promotion; after which he has never appeared there again. She gives money to all the soldiers that do duty about the palace, and on extraordinary occasions to the officers, and throws about ducats among the poor people when she drives about the streets. She was formerly very rigorous, and as bad as an inquisitor, having ladies and gentlemen carried off for the least irregularity of conduct; which, as King Croquignolet says of the fillips, exacted for his nose, fatiguoient beaucoup le pauvre peuple.' However, at present, her fervour has abated considerably. Her affairs are wretchedly managed, without intelligence or ceremony. She gives of late much money to priests to distribute in alms, and of course the poor get little or nothing in comparison of what they had when she herself bestowed her charity, without the medium it now passes through.'-Ib. pp. 229, 341, 349, 353.

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Of the emperor we meet with the following notices, which are strictly in keeping with the estimate we have formed of his character from other sources.

'We again met the emperor at Madame de Berghausen's, where he was extremely merry and talkative; ridiculed the story of the king of Poland's assassination, and talked of Mrs. Macauley and her hatred of kings. He said he understood she had fainted away whenever they were named, and asked if she put three stars whenever she was obliged to mention one in her history. He spoke with horror of lettres de cachet, and arbitrary unformal condemnations; and I make no doubt, from all he seems to think, and from what others say of him, that his accession to power will be the means of bringing liberty and happiness throughout his dominions, at least if he has moderation and head enough to begin with prudence; but that is still a problem. Of his intentions there is no doubt,-of his success a great deal. He will have much to cope with. The friars and priests detest and abuse him, and there is a strong party of them. They give out that he has no friendship, constancy, or warmth of heart, and that he is totally incapable of a generous feeling in short, they know not how to speak ill

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