JOHN JAMES IIEIDEGGAR. 
365 
ever procured by their knowledge or learning, and which, as he had 
acquired honourably, he bestowed liberally. 
Though he never composed any work himself, yet the commonwealth 
of learning is greatly obliged to him for several, the publication of 
which was owing to him, such as the Latin poems of Henry de Setti- 
melio, the Hodaeporicon of Ambrose Camaldula, the Dialogue of Be- 
nedict Aretin, and many others. A collection of letLers, addressed to 
him by literary men, was printed at Florence in 1725, but it is said to 
be incomplete. 
John James Heideggar. 
This very singular adventurer was the son of a clergyman, and a 
native of Zurich in Switzerland, where he married, but left his coun- 
try in consequence of an intrigue. Having had an opportunity of 
visiting the principal cities in Europe, he acquired a taste for elegant 
and refined pleasures, which by degrees qualified him for the manage- 
ment of public amusements. In 1708, when he was nearly 50 years 
old, he came to England on a negociation, from the Swiss at Zurich ; 
but failing in his embassy, he was entered as a private in the guards, 
for protection. By his sprightly engaging conversation and insinuat- 
ing address, he soon became a favourite with our young people of 
fashion, from whom he obtaihed the appellation of the Swiss count, 
by which name he is noticed in the Tatler. He had the address to pro- 
cure a subscription, with which, in 1709, he was enabled to furnish 
out the opera of Thomyris, which was written in English, and performed 
in the Queen’s theatre in the Haymarket with such success, that he 
gained, by this performance alone, five hundred guineas. The judi- 
cious remarks he made on several defects in the conduct of our 
operas in general, and the hints he threw out for improving those 
entertainments, soon established his character as a theatrical critic. 
Appeals were made to his judgment ; and some very magnificent and 
elegant decorations, introduced upon the stage in consequence of his 
advice, gave such satisfaction to George II. who was fond of operas, 
that his majesty was pleased from that time to countenance him, and 
he soon obtained the chief management of the opera-house, in the Hay- 
market. He then undertook to improve another species of diversion, 
pot less agreeable tp the king, — ^the masquerades ; and over these he 
always presided at the King’s theatre. He was likewise appointed 
master of the revels. The nobility now caressed him so muchi and 
hud such an opinion of his taste, that all splendid and elegant enter- 
tainments, given by them upon particular occasions, and alL private 
assemblies by subscription, were submitted to his direction, for which 
he was liberally rewarded. 
From the emoluments of these several employments, he gained a 
regular and considerable income ; amounting, it is said, insomeyear^ 
to five thousand pounds, which he spent with much liberality, parti- 
cularly in the maintenance of perhaps too luj^urious a table; so that 
it may be said he raised an income, but never a fortune. His charity 
was so great, that after a successful masquerade, he has been known 
to give away several hundred pounds at a time. ** You know poor 
