The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-04

not likely to be much known to our readers we
will extract paragraph or two from the chap.
tiers referring to Prince Kaunitz He was con.
sidered the greatest man in Vienna in the times
of Maria Theresa. Kaunitz has been called the
Richelieu of Austria but he performed that
character in less sanguinary style than the
French original. He did everything by diplo.
macy, and was the oracle of all the political in
trigues of the eighteenth century. Down to the
breaking out of the Revolution in France, he
used to be called the Driver Of the European
Coach" We do not propose to enter into an
account of his diplomatic manHuvrings, but
simply to take note of some of the main person.
al features which marked his individuality, and
gave Its peculiar piquancy to his character.
"Kaunitz," says DR.. Vehse, "was one of the
most singular men who have ever lived. Sprung
from an original Slavonic race, he rose ike a
meteor in the official sky of Austria. In him
! the ponderous but sterling and steady Austro-
German character was, in a most peculiar and
original manner, blended with the mercurial
versatility of the French man Of the world. y
lie was, BESIDES the most remarkable
mixture of great and petty qualities. Just as
in an almost fabulous degree he had all the
toibles of gallantry and vanity, he also was
eminently possessed of the very sort of routine
and diplomatic skill that was best fitted for the
u.
OF his life, he paid particular attention to his
toilet, which was at all times to him an affair
OF paramount importance. He was always
dressed in good taste, and, on particular occa-
slons, even with magnifcence; but he did not
much concern himself about conforming to the
prescribed regulations of costume. From the
very beginning of his being in power" writes
Baron Furst /" Kaunitz placed himself above
! the Court etiquette. With the Spanish costume
he wore white (instead of red stockings, and
made his appearance with bag to his wig
and with large muf. Although he had been
told to comply with existing customs, he would
not always do so. He was everywhere, except
when at Court, accompanied by large bull
dog" his wig was a remarkable article of the
tie description, with profusion of curls, which
10 cover every wrinkle on his forehead, ran
across 1t in a zigzag line. He seems to have
been the inventor of the fantastic art of powder
ing, practiced also by the famous Prince do
Ligne, who used to walk to and fro through
a double line of servants, each of whom had
different shade Of hair powder, white, blue
yellow, and pink, to throw at his wig, which
after this operation, exhibited what was con
: sidered to be the perfection of evenness anC
!, coloring."
Kaunitz was exact and methodical in all hi.
doings. " In the morning and evening of every
day, he arranged his writing-table with the
strictest symmetry, putting pens and pencils
, piece by piece, parallel TO each other; also
whilst debating to his secretary, he would fire.
quently wipe the dust from the vases, picture
frames, and chests, in his room. Every evening
he noted down on paper all that he intended
to do on the following day. Every
morning he awoke at nine o'clock, and began
to work with his secretaries from eleven tc
twelve; remaining all the while in bed, as his
chamber was also his principal room of bust
ness. Even Joseph, when Emperor, came tc
him there. kaunitz very rarely read or wrote
anything himself, but had always some one tc
read to him, and dictated everything. Whilst
listening or speaking, he sat stiff and immova
. BILE. Equally stiff and erect was his gait. even
in his eightieth year. His manner Of salntne
was also very characteristic: it was scarcely
more than nod, his friends being at the same
time acknowledged with paternal smile, and
all the rest with the air of protector. He
always spoke slowly and deliberately, looking
as Charles used to do, either upwards or fix
eddy before him. He never, under any circum
stances, betrayed, either by his gait or by his
speech, any inward emotion, however strongly
he might feel it. Many who lived with him for
years have stated that like Louis XIV, he had
never been seen to laugh"
Though covered in, as it were, with an out
ward show of French foppery and afectaton
this extraordinary man had in him most sub
stantial groundwork of sterling German earnest
ness and solidity. He hated all supericiality
in business, and performed we'll and carefully
whatsoever he undertook He not only was
capable of thoroughgoing and intense exertion
but the whole of his life was devoted in reality
to deep thought and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
work; and all his domestic arrangements, his
daily diet, and tender care for his health, were
merely intended as means for maintaining in
him that ease and freedom of mind which he
conceived to be necessary for his graver pur.
poses"
Some curioustraits are given us otthe Princes
domestic habits, which may be noticed on &C.
count OF their singularity. He kept a very
great house in Vienna, but the company which
he entertained were not allowed to interrupt
his daily routine, or any way interfere with his
personal comfort. Gle every day kept an open
table, covers being laid in the earlier part OF
his career for twelve, afterwards for sixteen or
eighteen guests. But as he used to send his
invitations only on the same day, and very late,
at an hour when most people had accepted else,
where, 1t would sometimes happen that only a
few persons sat down with him. X
The table was most exquisitely supplied but
the guests, according 10 the statement Of the
tnghsh tourist Swinburne, were expected not
to touch certain particular dishes Of the dessert
which were reserved for the Princes own use
Swinburne asserts that, when he once neglected
the warning which had been given on that
score, kaunitz sulked with him for several
days. If the Prince accepted an in.
vitation in any other house, his host, whatever
| might be his rank, had to allow kauntzs cook
to supply the principal dishes of his master,
who, IN tara respect, went 80 =iaE as to have the
wine, the bread, and even the water, sent to
him from his own house. Every one submitted
to these conditions, as otherwise Kaunitz would
not come at all. This peculiarly was not ex.
actly owing to a dread of being noisaned, but
to his anxious care for ala health, as be WAS
always fesriIl lest he should eat anything that
| might disorder his stomach. After the meal
whether at home or dining out, Kaunit., would
take from his pocket his fsmous apparatus for
cleansing his .aouth, and, with the greatest uu.
CONCERN, use it before the whole company for
at least quarter of an hour, during which op.
Grafton he made all sorts of disagreeable noises.
| This apparatus consisted of a complete and
most varied set of instruments; as, for instance,
several small looking glasses, to examine the
teeth back and 'front.' small linen rags, brushes,
and other contrivances. Once, when he was
| preparing to DO yl,s at the table of the French
ambassador, Baron Rreteuil, the latter said to
( his guests Lecons nous, le Prince rem etre
| seu.' The Prince, who was then left alone.
used his instruments in solitude but from tina.
| time he never dined out again
1t is singrlas tang respecting Kaunitz, that
he never enjoyed fresh air he was of opinion
that 1t did not agree with him. His rooms and