:... Benda, George.. Fell, Rev. John.......... Loudon, Field-Marfhal de... . 199 178 NECROLOGY. THEODORE-STEPHEN, KING OF CORSICA; BARON OF NEWHOFF AND STEIN; GRANDEE OF SPAIN; PEER OF FRANCE; BARON OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, &c. &c. &c. THE misfortunes of men, either exalted by birth, or eminent on account of station, have always excited a generous compaffion; and if the fall from a throne be estimated by the laws which regulate defcending bodies, the percuffion must be truly dreadful. The fate of Dionyfius II. banished from his native country, and reduced to the humble fituation of a schoolmaster at Corinth, is familiar to every claffical mind, in consequence of its being one of the most fingular incidents in ancient history; but his personal liberty was still secured "to the tyrant of Syracuse," and, according to the greatest of the Roman orators, his favourite propenfity was amply gratified in his new employment, by being fuffered to exchange the ferula for the fceptre, and domineer over children, when he could no longer exercise his injuftice towards men. In our own times, however, a ftill more difaftrous event took place in the perfon of Theodore I.; a legitimate king, whofe title to a crown was founded on the fame bafis as that on which the illuftrious houfe of Brunfwick laid claim to the t throne of these realms. This prince spent the latter part of his existence in the deepeft diftrefs: he was condemned to live and to die in exile; he was expofed to wretchedness, and even to want; he was confined, for a paltry debt, within one of the jails of the metropolis of a nation famed for its munificence; he expired in a miserable lodging, and was buried by the compaffionating hand of charity! In fimilar cafes, fome friendly court, fome sovereign in alliance, fome royal bofom replete with fympathy, has ufually held out fuccour and affiftance to unfortunate kings. James II. was indebted to the generofity of Louis XIV. for a princely retreat on the banks of the Seine. Stanislaus Leczinfky had a royal palace affigned him in the capital of Lorraine. Stanislaus Auguftus lately uttered his laft figh amidst the trophies of barbarian fplendour, in the capital of Ruffia. One relative. of Louis XVI. at this moment receives fupport and protection from the emperor Paul; and another enjoys fecurity at least, in the ancient refidence of the Scottish fovereigns. But no brother-monarch took pity on the unhappy king of Corfica: his neceffities were provided for, his eyes were clofed, and his memory is now attempted to be refcued from oblivion, by ple beian hands. Theodore-Stephen, Baron de Newhoff and de Stein, and afterwards King of Corfica, derived his origin from an illustrious family in Weftphalia. His father, Anthony Baron de Newhoff and de Stein, ranked high among the nobility of the county of La Marck*, but he had excited the hatred of his relations by condefcending to marry the amiable daughter of a rich merchant of Vifieu. This connexion, between rank on one fide and worth and beauty on the other, alfo drew down upon him, the fcorn and indignation of a haughty nobility, who boafted of the ❤ Memoires pour fervir a l'histoire de Corze, p. 89.. purity of their blood, which they never contaminated by plebeian alliances. Deeming it prudent to emigrate, he quitted Germany, and repaired to France, where he had the good fortune to be protected by the duchefs of Orleans, to whom he happened to be known. In confequence of fo powerful a recommendation, he was admitted into the fervice of the court, and at length obtained a place of fome confideration in Lorraine. While he refided at Metz his beloved wife produced a boy and a girl: the first of these, the subject of the prefent memoir, called Theodore-Stephen, was born in or about 1696*;. the fecond was called Elizabeth. The baron died at a period when his offspring were too young to regret the lofs of fo good a father; and of his widow, who probably followed him foon after to the grave, we have no further account. The duchefs of Orleans compaffionating the fituation of thefe orphans, fent for and brought them up at her court. Young Newhoff was appointed page to the duke-regent; and his fifter, who became maid of honour to her highnefs, was afterwards married to the count de Trevoux. The boy, at an early period of life, manifefted a paffionate attachment to military glory. As he grew up he applied himfelf, with great ardour, to the study of history; but his favourite author was Plutarch. The lives of the illuftrious Greeks and Romans afforded him the moft lively pleasure, and he read them so often that he at laft got them by heart. The continual perufal of fo many brilliant actions made fuch a deep impreffion, that he was infpired with an irrefiftible defire to imitate them: in fhort, they operated like the trophies of Miltiades on the youthful mind of Themiftocles. The romantic exploits of Charles XII. of Sweden had filled Europe with the praises of that monarch, and became the principal fubject of converfation during the period to which we now allude. Young Newhoff, burning to participate in the glory of this prince, left France and entered into his fervice. The time of Theodore's birth is not precifely afcertained; the above date is given on the authority of the late Lord Orford. See "the works of Horatio Walpole,” edit. 1798, vol. i. p. 156. |