i. 130% J 
[ Sept. 1; 
MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. 
« —— 
I 
MEMOIRS OF GENERAL ACTON. 
OHN ACTON was born at Befangon, 
in Franche-Comté. His father was 
an Irifn gentleman, in the fervice of the 
French, 
early age, to ferve in the navy, where, 
having made an apprenticefhip, he entered 
into the fervice: of the Grand Duke of 
Tuicany. He at firft obtained the com- 
mand of a frigate, and was afterwards 
preferred to that of a fhip of the line. 
This was bis condition, when early in 
the year 1779 he wis appointed Miniiter 
of Marine to his Sicilian Majefty. \ Two 
things ee are to be noticed of him before 
this period, which prevented his name 
from finking into obicurit A fo- 
reign power, of the firit geinkS had, ever 
fince a remarkable event in 1769, .pro- 
j-Sted the idea of acquiring, in the Coun- 
cils of his Sicilian Majeity, as well as in 
the internal adminiftration of the two 
kingdoms, a Ji pnb ae which might 
be a counter poil e to the inveterate in@ 
fluence of other courts conneéted by the 
family compact. This {cheme’ was al- 
ways fylkematica lly cbnduGed, and the 
firft teps towards it were an attempt to 
take into the Council of State a young 
perfon, who by his age was unqualified 
to partake in {tate affairs. The attempt 
was baffled, whilf the venerable old Mi- 
nifter Tanucci held the reins cf govern- 
ment. 
te of the neceffity of his difmiffal in 
order to attain the'r obje&t;_ this refpecta- 
ble man was aétually, by their influence, 
removed from the Miniftry, a: the end of 
the year 1776, He was replaced by the 
Marquis of Sambuca, a Sicilian Noble- 
man, formerly Ambaflador at the Court 
of Vienna, and wholly dependent upon 
the foreign Court rai was the pro- 
moter of the changes. a his done, the 
young perfon obtained a fhare in the State, 
Council.’ The next fteps towards the de- 
fired objets were, fome changes in the 
organization of the Councils ~ of State. 
This venerable body, conifiiing cf mer 
who had paffed shrough the moit eminen 
places in the civil and military depart- 
ments, ufually attended his Majefy on 
ftated days, in every week, to aftit at tne 
feveral reports of the Minifters, and to 
give their votes occafionally. It was re- 
faived, under the appearance of ep 
chofe refpeftable men the trouble of af 
duous attendance, that their iiaks 
fuquid be required only when the Court 
4 5 
He was fent to Toulon at an 
The interefted parties were fenfi- 
might be in the metropolis; and that the 
Minifters only fhould attend to the ftate 
affairs, in the country-feats and in the 
hunting-matches. Soon aft:r another re~ 
{olution was taken, that the attendance 
even of the Minifters fhould be difpenfed 
with, and they promifed to fend their re- 
fpective budgets to the firft Minifter, who 
ufually and indifpenfably accompanied 
their Majefties wherever they chofe to live. 
This was evidently calculated to render 
the Marquis Sambuca fole organ of fove- 
reignty, fole adminiftrator of public 
affairs,-and the fole difpenfer of every 
favour and bounty. It is a juftice due to 
this minifter to fay, that, although he was 
‘entirely devoted to the perfon who had 
been, and fil] was, his protector, and 
howfecver great may have been his ambi- 
tien and cupidity, he never appeared to 
Icfe fight of his own dignity, and ‘of a 
proper patriotic fpirit. He was obfe- 
quious to the will of the above perfon to 
a certain degree; beyond it he never exe 
pofed himfelf to cenfure. It was obvions: 
that no one could fo well anfwer the artful 
purpofe as a foreigner bereft of the feel- 
ings of country, and who might treat the 
kingdoms of the Two Sicilies as conquer- 
ed countries ; ; and as it would have been 
improper to difmifs the Marquis of Sam- 
buca too foon, as well as others of his col- 
lengues, who were fupported by the una- 
nimous voice of public opinion, a new 
minifterial department was created, The 
Minitiry of War and Navy was previoufly 
one only, but it was re! folved that they 
fhould now be feparated, and that, in 
order to render the Two Sicilies a naval 
power, a Fiag-officer of diftinétion, Mr. 
Acton, fhould be called from abroad. 
‘The appointment took place in January 
1779, and was the fubjeét of converfation 
all over the two kingdoms. The lower 
claifes flattered themic!lves. that the new 
eftablifhment would tend to create a pow- 
erful navy, and give to the Monarchy of 
the Two Sicilies a due degree of afcen- 
dancy in Eurepean politics; fome threw 
out the moft viclent cenfures on the Ca- 
binet for having taken an ob{cure perfon, 
as they faid, from the fervice of a pett 
Prince, rather than fome diftinguifhed 
Englifh or French Admiral ; others {coffed 
at the fncongruity of Government, in 
thinking ef a navy before endeavouring 
to creaie and fettle a commerce, and 
efiablifhing fome colonies to proteét it. 
It was, however, not long before that the- 
Chevalier Ottero had been the Minifter’of | 
War 
