REMARKS ON THE CHARACTERS OF THE COURT OF QUEEN ANNE. [The Original Characters are printed in Roman; Swift's DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH. A TALL handsome man for his age, with a very obliging address; of a wonderful presence of mind, so as hardly ever to be discomposed; of a very clear head, and sound judgment; every way capable of being a great man, if the great success of his arms, and the heaps of favours thrown upon him by his sovereign, do not raise his thoughts above the rest of the nobility, and consequently draw upon him the envy of the people of England. He is turned of 50 years of age. Detestably covetous. DUKE OF ORMOND. With all the qualities of a great man, except that of a statesman, hating business. He is about 40 years of age. Fairly enough writ. DUKE OF SHREWSBURY. Never was a greater mixture of honour, virtue, [none,] and good sense, in any one person, than in him: a great man, attended with a sweetness of behaviour and easiness of conversation, which charms all who come near him; nothing of the stiffness of a statesman, yet the capacity and knowledge of a piercing wit. He speaks French and Italian as well as his native language: and although but one eye, yet he has a most charming countenance, and is the most generally beloved by the ladies of any gentleman in his time. He is turned of 40 years old. DUKE OF SOMERSET Is of a middle stature, well shaped, a very black complexion, a lover of music and poetry; of good judgment, [not a grain; hardly common sense ;] but, by reason of a great hesitation in his speech, wants expression. He is about 42 years old. DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE Has been the finest and handsomest gentleman of his time; loves the ladies, and plays; keeps a noble house and equipage; is tall, well made, and of a princely behaviour of nice honour in every thing, but the paying his tradesmen. Past 60 years old. A very poor understanding. DUKE OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. He is a nobleman of learning, and good natural parts, but of no principles; violent for the high church, yet seldom goes to it; very proud, insolent, and covetous; and takes all advantages. This character is the truest of any. EARL OF NOTTINGHAM. He has the exterior air of business, and application enough to make him very capable; in his habit and manners very formal; a tall, thin, very black man, like a Spaniard or Jew; about 50 years old. He fell in with the whigs; was an endless talker. EARL OF ROMNEY. He was the great wheel on which the revolution rolled. He had not a wheel to turn a mouse. Of great honour and honesty, with a moderate capacity. None at all. DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. He has one only daughter, who will be the richest heiress in Europe. Now countess of Oxford; cheated by her father. DUKE OF RICHMOND. He is a gentleman good natured to a fault; very well bred, and has many valuable things in him; is an enemy to business; very credulous; well shaped, black complexion, much like king Charles; not 30 years old. A shallow coxcomb. DUKE OF BOLTON. Does not make any figure at court. Nor any where else. A great booby. *See Vol. VI. p. 270. DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND He is a man of honour, nice in paying his debts; and, living well with his neighbours in the country, does not much care for the conversation of men of quality, or business: is a tall, black man, like his father the king; about 40 years old. He was a most worthy person, very good natured, and had very good sense. DUKE OF GRAFTON. Grandson to king Charles II.; a very pretty gentleman; has been abroad in the world; zealous for the constitution of his country; a tall, black man, about 25 years old. Almost a slobberer, without one good quality. SIR NATHAN WRIGHTE, LORD KEEPER, Is son of a clergyman; * good common lawyer, a slow chancellor, and no civilian. Chance, more than choice, brought him the seals. Very covetous. JOHN, [Ralph,] DUKE OF MONTAGU. Since the queen's accession to the throne, he has been created a duke, and is near 60 years old. As arrant a knave as any in his time. MARQUIS OF HARRINGTON. One of the best beloved gentlemen, by the country party, in England. A very poor understanding. * His father was rector of Thurcaston, in Leicestershire. LORD SOMERS. Of a creditable family in the city of Worcester. Very mean; his father was a noted rogue. He is believed to have been the best chancellor that ever sat in the chair. I allow him to have possessed all excellent qualifications except virtue; he had violent passions, and hardly subdued them by his great prudence. LORD HALIFAX. He is a great encourager of learning and learned men, is the patron of the muses, of very agree able conversation; a short fair man, not 40 years old. His encouragements were only good words and good dinners. I never heard him say one good thing, or seem to taste what was said by another. EARL OF DORSET. One of the finest gentlemen in England in the reign of king Charles II., of great learning, [small, or none], extremely witty, and has been the author of some of the finest poems in the English language; especially satire; the Mæcenas and prince of our English poets; one of the pleasantest companions in the world, when he likes his company, [not of late years, but a very dull one.] He is very fat, troubled with the spleen, and turned of 50 years old. EARL RIVERS. He was one of the greatest rakes in England in his younger days; but always a lover of the constitution of his country; is a gentleman of very good sense, and very cunning; brave in his person, a lover of play, and understands it perfectly well; has a very good estate, and improves it |