XX XIV 



one finds no disappointment." When that " univer- 

 sally esteemed and beloved man/' the Prince de Ligne, 

 declares, " Je voudrois echauffer tout 1'univers de mon 

 gout pour les jardins. II me semble qu'il est impos- 

 sible, qu'un mechant puisse 1'avoir. II n'est point de 

 vertus que Je ne suppose a celui qui aime a parler et 

 a faire des jardins. Peres de famille, inspirez la jar- 

 dinomanie a vos enfans.* When a taste for garden- 

 ing (as Mr. Cobbet observes) " is much more inno- 

 cent, more pleasant, more free from temptation to 

 cost, than any other ; so pleasant in itself ! It is con- 



frora garden to garden, but still returning to Lord Cobham's, with 

 fresh satisfaction. I should be sorry to see my Lady Scudamore's, 

 till it has had the full advantage of Lord Bathurst's improvements." 



* A biographer thus speaks of the Prince de Ligne : " Quand 

 les rois se reunirent a Vienne en 1814, ils se firent tous un devoir de 

 1'accuellier avec distinction, et furent enchante* de la vivacite* de son 

 esprit, et de son intarissable gaiete, qui malgre ses infirmite's et son 

 grand age, ne Favoit pasencore abandonne. Ses saillies, et ses bon 

 mots etoient comme autrefois reputes pour tous." His generous 

 heart thus speaks of the abused and unfortunate Marie Antoinette : 

 " The breath of calumny has not even respected the memory of 

 the loveliest and best of women, of whose spotless heart and irre- 

 proachable conduct, no one can bear stronger evidence than I. Her 

 soul was as pure as her face was fair ; yet neither virtue nor beauty 

 could save the victim of sanguinary liberty." In relating this (says 

 his biographer), his voice faultered, and his eyes were suffused with 

 tears. He thus briefly states, with his usual humour and vivacity, 

 his conversation with Voltaire as to the garden at Ferney : 



P. de L. Monsieur, Monsieur, cela doit vous coupe beaucoup, 

 quel charmant jardin ! 



Volt. Oh ! mon ( jardinier est un bete : c'est moi meme qui ait 

 fait tout. 



P. de L. Je le croi. 



