mixed, like the Jews (by the way, another class of some consequence at this time of day, in this commercial state); and I found that, to be a complete citizen of the world, much more was wanting than could be supplied at Tattersall's, or the clubs in St. James's-street.

I, however, as it was, got at a good deal of life, and by degrees came pretty well to know, and be known by, many lords and gentlemen of this era. In time, too, I broke ground with some of the most eminent of the class I have mentioned as tabood to all the rest. Those, however, I observed were the happiest who, though thought ordinary by the others, were content with their lot, and had little desire to quit it, though to be admitted within the magic circle of fashionable life, or even to be initiated in the mysteries of that bona dea-Exclusiveness.

One of the high priests of this goddess had now become an interesting object of my study, for it must be owned he was unique as to character, manners, and the good fortune that seemed always to attend him; so much so, that it would be an affront to the Lord Petronius not to let him have a chapter to himself.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE LORD PETRONIUS AND HIS CONTRAST.

There is a nobleman of the court at door, would speak to you.

SHAKSPEARE.-1 Henry IV.

Wilt thou dine with me, Apemantus?

No! I eat not Lords.-Timon of Athens.

THE Lord Petronius was one of my patron's brother ministers, and was so much a man (as I have called others) sui generis, and had acquired a sort of reputation with so little right to it, that he became the object of my study. He was not without parts, nor, as far as letters were concerned, had education been thrown away upon him. But he was the least of a man of business, and the most of a man of idleness, that ever sauntered on the political scene. I say sauntered, because, with fondness enough for office, and particularly its emoluments (wholly, however, with a view to gratify his voluptuousness and indolent disposition), he seemed to have little notion that to know any thing, or do any thing, but pocket his salary,

distribute his patronage, and live an easy court life, was the businessof a minister.

Though, from a total want of energy, the Lord Petronius was any thing but an Alcibiades,—and, in this, did not resemble even the famous Roman courtier whose name he bore,-yet, in most other things, he approached near to the latter person, as described by Tacitus. For, like him, " he was a voluptuary, who gave himself up to sleep all day, and spent the night in pleasures; and as other men made themselves famous for their industry, he gained his fame from idleness. Yet he was not considered a mere prodigal, but a man who knew how to spend his estate with a delicate palate. All his words were the more agreeable because they manifested a sort of unaffected freedom, and appeared to be spoken with a kind of pleasing neglect."

So far the Roman, according to the historian of Rome. But the English lord, though a minister, added to this a philosophic indifference to all political reputation, and the thousand faults proved upon him, provided his place was not touched, gave him no care. For public opinion he had, indeed, from mere dissoluteness (not superiority of mind), the most entire contempt. He treated all men not in office, or not in Parliament (and even many who were), as Coriolanus did the mob

* Petronius Arbiter.

And yet, for the sake of popularity, as a means of power, Lord Petronius pretended to be the friend of these men whom in his heart he despised.

In his private life the same epicureanism was his distinguishing feature; nil admirari, together with a marked gallantry, and a fastidiousness, amounting to a disdainful coldness, towards his inferiors, placed him at the head of fashion, and went far (strange to say) to maintain him in his political power, whence, but for this, a total want of discretion, in not concealing his contempt for the business he was obliged to do, and the persons with whom he was obliged to do it, would have long ago dislodged him.

Being the focus of extensive connexions, all of them courtiers and deities of fashion, and himself what is called a complete woman's man, he became a favourite in the highest circles, and had the address to be continued long on the list of the ministry.

Lord Castleton could well have spared him if he had chosen to go; but he chose to stay, and was too highly connected to be removed. As my patron, therefore, sometimes in confidence remarked to me, he was one of those whom one meets with in the world, of whom we say (in our sleeve) -Nec tecum possum vivere, nec sine te.

He certainly was the first man (unless it was Sir Christopher Hatton)* who had acquired and maintained a seat in the Cabinet from being an exquisite.

Indolent, however, and supercilious as Lord Petronius was, both as a man and a minister, he was forced sometimes to submit to bitter rebuffs, and bear lecturing from people he affected to despise, when talking of them with persons of his own class. For he was fond of appearing to be above being influenced by any consideration for those he called the canaille; that is, all who were not of his own clique, or at least who moved not in a certain sphere, much more subalterns or men in trade.

He once, however, received a most abrupt and unceremonious lesson from a rough political cynic of the lower order, who had no pretensions to dandyism himself, and did not like it the more because in the person of a minister. On the contrary, he had a sort of malevolent pleasure in telling coxcombs, high or low, what he thought of them. A paper detailing a little secret history was published by the cynic, as I have called him (and as Lord Petronius certainly thought him), which, as it was amusing, I have preserved.

A deputation, it seems from a considerable set of manufacturers, consisting of the rough, uncombed

* First promoted by Elizabeth for his fine dancing, afterwards made Chancellor.