MR. SIDNEY TO THE DUKE OF YORK.
I was not less desirous when I was in England of doing your highness all the service that lay in my power in England, than I am here, but I knew
Versailles. Voltaire, speaking of his conduct there, says, "Il avoit la vivacité d'un François et la fierté d'un Espagnol. II se plaisoit à choquer dans toutes les occasions la hauteur imperieuse du Roi, et opposat une inflexibilité républicaine au ton de superiorité que les ministres de France commencoient à prendre." Wicquefort ranks him among the most learned men of his day, as well as among the most illustrious of ambassadors. He must have been a very remarkable Dutchman, judging from the character drawn of him by Burnet. "The last of these (Van Beuning) was so well known both in France and England, and had so great credit in his own town, that he deserves to be more particularly set out. He was a man of great notions, but talked perpetually, so that it was not possible to convince him in discourse at least, for he heard nobody speak but himself. He had a wonderful vivacity, but too much levity in his thoughts. His temper was inconstant, firm and positive for a while, but apt to change from a giddiness of mind, rather than from any falsehood of his nature. He broke twice with the Prince after he came into a confidence with him. He employed me to reconcile him to him for the third time, but the Prince said he could not trust him any more. He had great knowledge in all sciences, and had such a copiousness of invention, with such a pleasantness as well as variety of conversation, that I have often compared him with the Duke of Buckingham, only he was virtuous and devout, much in the enthusiastical way. In the end of his days, he set himself wholly to mind the East India trade, but that was an employment not so well suited to his natural
