Letters from Italy in the Years 1754 and 1755

cany, but without any particular denomination, or title. The request was granted; and, when the prince de Craon found himself indulged in it, he acquainted the princefs his wife with what he had done. "You have ruined us "then," exclaimed the princess, with fome emotion; "I know Richecourt; "I know his ambition; I know his "cunning. While you were his fupe"rior, he was your friend. When he "be comes your equal, he will be your "enemy. Many months will not pass "after his arrival, ere we are little bet "ter than his flaves." Richecourt arrived, and the prediction of the princess was fulfilled. By a fuperiority of genius, and an addrefs more adapted to manage and turn the weighty and intricate wheels of government, the aspiring count Richecourt arofe to the highest eminence of authority, in the fame degree that the loft prince de Craon funk into difregard and contempt. Unable to fupport daily infults, the natural confequence of so ab

ject

ject a fituation, the prince defired to be recalled, and be permitted to end his days in Lorrain. The emperor allowed him to return, and refolved to change the fingle regency into a triumvirate council of state; the particulars of which are inferted in one of my former letters*.

The prince de Craon had contracted great debts in Tuscany.

He had lived

far beyond his income. Before he could quit the Florentine dominions, he was obliged to fell his plate, and the jewels of the princefs, his wife. Old and poor, the melancholy pair returned to Lorrain. He died a few months after his arrival: She furvived him but

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

ETTER I. p. 3. St. Hubert.] Hubert was fond of hunting, and pursued it even during the time of divine fervice, at which he scarce ever attended. It was in this diverfion that God won him to himself; for (as it is related in the history of his life) he saw a ftag appear before him having a crucifix twisted in his horns, and he heard a voice which threatened him with the eternal punishments of hell, if he was not converted. This miracle is faid to have happened in the forest of Ardennes. Moreri.

"Enthufiaftic minds and heated imaginations hear voices and fee vifions. We may charitably fuppofe that St. Hubert really thought the mira cle performed."

Ibid. p. 6. St. Remi.] "St. Remigius was archbishop of Rheims. An anchorite foretold his birth to his mother, whose age was deemed long paft child-bearing. He was a man of letters for thofe times. He is mentioned as fuch by Apollinaris Sidonius. See Moreri, from whom Collier, in his dictionary, differs fome hundred years in point of chronology. The point at prefent is no longer material. Saints are going down hill very faft."

Ibid. p. 10. Flumineis Rhodanus, &c.] This epigram is written in letters of gold, over the great gate of the Town-Houfe. There are four other lines, viz.

Quod nolis alibi quæras, hic quære quod optes,
Aut hic, aut nufquam, vincere vota potes.
Lugduni, quodcunque poteft dare mundus, habebis,
Plura petas, hac urbs et tibi plura dabit.
Here no difgufts, all pleafures, you may meet,
And here, or no where, every wish complete.

Lyons

264 ADDITIONAL NOTES.

Lyons affords whate'er the world can give, And more, if more you afk, at Lyons you'll receive.

Mr. Wright juftly obferves, that, "if the city of Lyons had not a Sannazarius to celebrate her "praises, the feems to have had as good a "friend, though a worse poet," in the author of the above.

LETTER II. p. 15. Tacitus, &c.] "See the latter end of the ivth book of his history."

Ibid. P. 16. The speech of the emperor Claudius.] This fpeech is inferted, with a tranflation of it, in Les Antiquités de la ville de Lyon, tome i. chap. vii. p. 226.” It is also printed by Mr. Spon.

Ibid. p. 17. imminutæ mentis.] Etiam de Claudio agitanti, quod is compofitâ ætate bonarum artium cupiens erat, imminuta mens ejus obftitit. Annal. Lib. VI.

"Thinking of Claudius, as he was of mature "and settled years, and defirous of instruction, "his mean understanding was an objection."

"Claudius was only cenfor when he spoke this memorable oration before the fenate of Rome.”

LETTER XI. p. 118. Mr. Addifon's Travels.] In another letter, mentioning these Travels, his lordship fays, "I read them long ago; they difap"pointed me then: they difappoint me ftill. The "ftyle is ftiff, difagreeable, and tame. They were written in his early days. I wish he had polished them in his lateft. He was the glory "of our English writers; but there are fpecks in "the fun."