King James ii.’s Journal.—­Macpherson’s State Papers, vol. i.  In the same collection is a curious letter from the King to Lord Clarendon, giving his opinion of the queen after having seen her.]

It was in the height of the rejoicings they were making for this new queen, in all the splendour of a brilliant court, that the Chevalier de Grammont arrived to contribute to its magnificence and diversions.

Accustomed as he was to the grandeur of the court of France, he was surprised at the politeness and splendour of the court of England.  The king was inferior to none, either in shape or air; his wit was pleasant; his disposition easy and affable; his soul, susceptible of opposite impressions, was compassionate to the unhappy, inflexible to the wicked, and tender even to excess; he showed great abilities in urgent affairs, but was incapable of application to any that were not so:  his heart was often the dupe, but oftener the slave, of his engagements.

The character of the Duke of York was entirely different he had the reputation of undaunted courage, an inviolable attachment for his word, great economy in his affairs, hauteur, application, arrogance, each in their turn:  a scrupulous observer of the rules of duty and the laws of justice; he was accounted a faithful friend, and an implacable enemy.

[James, Duke of York, afterwards King James ii.  He was born 15th October, 1633; succeeded his brother 6th February, 1684-5; abdicated the crown in 1688; and died 6th September, 1701.  Bishop Burnet’s character of him appears not very far from the truth.—­“He was,” says this writer, “very brave in his youth; and so much magnified by Monsieur Turenne, that till his marriage lessened him, he really clouded the king, and passed for the superior genius.  He was naturally candid and sincere, and a firm friend, till affairs and his religion wore out all his first principles and inclinations he had a great desire to understand affairs:  and in order to that he kept a constant journal of all that passed, of which he showed me a great deal.  The Duke of Buckingham gave me once a short but severe character of the two brothers.  It was the more severe, because it was true:  the king, (he said,) could see things if he would:  and the duke would see things if he could.  He had no true judgment, and was soon determined by those whom he trusted:  but he was obstinate against all other advices.  He was bred with high notions of kingly authority, and laid it down for a maxim, that all who opposed the king were rebels in their hearts.  He was perpetually in one amour or other, without being very nice in his choice:  upon which the king once said, he believed his brother had his mistress given him by his priests for penance.  He was naturally eager and revengeful:  and was against the taking off any, that set up in an opposition to the measures of the court, and who by that means grew popular in the house