The splendour of the great King's personal merit threw even the splendour of his fortunes into the shade.

The language which His Most Christian Majesty held about English politics was, on the whole, highly satisfactory.

Yet in one thing this accomplished prince and his able and experienced ministers were strangely mistaken.

They were all possessed with the absurd notion that the Prince of Orange was a great man.

No pains had been spared to undeceive them; but they were under an incurable delusion.