Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 18.djvu/247

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OF THE COURT OF QUEEN ANNE.
233

stroy both. He is a large, bold looked man, strong made, and turned of 50 years old. His characters are miserably wrought, in many things mistaken, and all of them detracting, excepting of those who were friends to the presbyterians. His own true character would take up too much time for me (who knew him well) to describe it[1].


GEORGE STEPNEY, ESQ.,

ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY TO THE EMPEROR.

A gentleman of admirable natural parts, very learned, one of the best poets [scarce of a third rate] now in England, and perhaps equal to any that ever was.


MR. METHUEN,

AMBASSADOR TO THE KING OF PORTUGAL.

A man of intrigue, but very muddy in his conceptions, and not quickly understood in any thing. In his complexion and manners, much of a Spaniard; a tall, black man, 50 years old. A profligate rogue, without religion or morals; but cunning enough, yet without abilities of any kind.


LORD RABY,

ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY TO THE KING OF PRUSSIA.

He is a young gentleman de bon naturel, handsome, of fine understanding [very bad, and cannot spell], and with application, may prove a man of business. He is of low stature [he is tall], well shaped, with a good face, fair complexioned, not 30 years old.

  1. In the valuable library of the marquis of Lansdown, is a copy of Burnet's History, with marginal remarks by Swift.

MR.