The sun., 1896-07-05
The FACET Papers.


The Paeet Papers.
We reviewed some timo ago the recollections
of Sir Augustus b. Paget, formerly the British
Ambassador in Vienna. It is his fathers dip
lomatic correspondence which is now published
under the nsmo OF The Pdoct Pdpera Longmans
Green q Col. The author of these letters, Sir
ARTHUR PAoET, was the third son Of Henry
Paget, who succeeded to tho barony Of Pagot in
1899. and was created Earl of Uxbridgo in
1884. sir Arthur was born in l77l and died in
1910. He was educated at Westminster School
and Christ Church College, Oxford, and, at the
age OF 10, he went abroad with tho view of
learning foreign languages and studying foreign
politics, and otherwise preparing himself for
the diplomatic profession. Whether he became
proficient IN the German language his son 10
unable to say, but that he acquired mastery of
French 10 abundsntly proved by his correspond
ence. Late In 1901 he was temporarily
employed at Berlin, and townrd the close OF
the following year no was appointed Secretary
of Legation at st. Petersburg. Thence he was
transferred In 1704 as Secretary OF Legation to
Berlin. where he acted for several months rs
charge d'affares during tho absence Of Lord
Malmesbury. Here he remained till tho begin
ming Of the year 1T05, when he went back to
England and entered Parliament as member
for Angesey. In 1908 he WAS appointed Min
lister P!enpotentiary TO the Elector OF Bavaria
and the Diet of Ratisbon. He remained In
Munich until 1900, when he was sent upon
mission to Palermo. lie resided there until
May. 1901, when he went to Vienna where he
stayed until 1900. having witnessed the men,
orable campaign which ended at Austerlitz He
was made Privy Councillor in January, 1904.
and received the 0rdor OF tho Bath in June OF
the same year. After leaving Vienna, Sir Arthur
D... l..r
the Dardanelles to induce the Turks to break
Off their alliance with Napoleon, and to
conclude peace with Great Britain and Russia.
With this embassy. which proved abortive. his
diplomatic career came to an end. He married,
in 1909. q daughter of the Earl of Westmoreland.
and passed tho remainder of his life. with tho
exception OF the last two years, when he had re-
moved TO London. In tho country. engaged DUR
ing the earlier period OF his retirement in agri-
cultural pursuits. but later on chiefly in yacht
ing, having bought some land and built house
on tho banks of the Southampton Water. He
was man Of unusual ability. but this WINS
not the only cause OF his success in diplomacy
Something was duo to tho sp)endor OF his modo
Of life. His son tells us that he has been as
founded, in looking through his fathers pers,
at the accounts Of the latter's expenditures
abroad: ~ remember to have heard that, at
Vienna, he had no less than thirty car
riages and proportionate number OF
horses in his stable. together with
household mounted on an equal scale Of ex-
travagance. SO that he acquired the sobriquet OF
Tho Emperor" Wherever he went he seems
to have enjoyed an INNER Sc and universal popu-
larity. not confined TO one sex alone and to
have acquired tho esteem, respect, friendship
and even affection Of nearly every one with whom
he was brought into contact, whether in official
or private life. Among the eminent personases
his correspondence with whom is to be
found in these two volumes. are various mem
bers Of the royal family. especially the Prince
Of Wales tafterward George lV.l. the Queen
OF Naples. Louis XvIII.. Lords Grenvile. Har-
rowby, Hawkesbury. Malmesbury. st. Helens,
Wellesley. Whitworth. and G. Leveson Cover
tafterward first Earl OF GranTlle). Admirals
Lords Keith and Colllngwood. Mr. Fox Mr..
Canning. Sir Charles Arbuthnot. Gen. Sir John
Moore, Counts Haugwitz, Cobentzl. Stadion,
and Pozzo di Borgo.
As here published, these letters represent
simply q contribution to tho materials of his.
tory. No attempt has been made to construct
consecutive narrative by filling up the gaps In
the correspondence with information derived
from other sources. Tho compiler's Aim was
not to write history. but, through their letters,
to give some insight into the characters of some
OF those who were engaged In making history at o
very important Juncture In the world affairs