[Footnote 94:  Vol. i. p. 245.]

[Footnote 95:  Vol. i. p. 247.  This charge against Canning is repeated at Vol. iii. p. 186, 187, and again at Vol. iv. p. 193.]

North.—­Has England produced no honest men of eminence, Mr. Landor?

Landor.—­Very few; I can, however, name two—­Archbishop Boulter and Philip Savage. [96] I am not certain that I should ever have thought of recording their merits, if their connexion with my own family had not often reminded me of them; we do not always bear in mind very retentively what is due to others, unless there is something at home to stimulate the recollection.  Boulter, Primate of Ireland, saved that kingdom from pestilence and famine in 1729 by supplying the poor with bread, medicines, attendance, and every possible comfort and accommodation.  Again, in 1740 and 1741, no fewer than 250,000 persons were fed, twice a-day, principally at his expense.  Boulter was certainly the most disinterested, the most humane, the most beneficent, and after this it is little to say, the most enlightened and learned man that ever guided the counsels of a kingdom.[97] Mr. Philip Savage, Chancellor of the Exchequer, married his wife’s sister, of his own name, but very distantly related.  This minister was so irreproachable, that even Swift could find no fault with him. [97] He kept a groom in livery, and two saddle-horses.

[Footnote 96:  Also Vol. iii. p. 92.]

[Footnote 97:  Vol. iii. p. 91, 92, note.]

North.—­Is it possible?  And these great men were of your family, Mr. Landor!

Landor.—­I have told you so, sir—­Philip was one of my Savage ancestors, [98] and he and Boulter married sisters, who were also Savages.

[Footnote 98:  Vol. iii. p. 92, note.]

North.—­You have lived a good while in Italy?  You like the Italians, I believe?

Landor.—­I despise and abominate the Italians; and I have taken some pains to show it in various ways.  During my long residence at Florence I was the only Englishman there, I believe, who never went to court, leaving it to my hatter, who was a very honest man, and my breeches-maker, who never failed to fit me. [99] The Italians were always—­far exceeding all other nations—­parsimonious and avaricious, the Tuscans beyond all other Italians, the Florentines beyond all other Tuscans. [100]

[Footnote 99:  Vol. i. p. 185.]

[Footnote 100:  Vol. i. p. 219.]

North.—­But even Saul was softened by music:  surely that of Italy must have sometimes soothed you?

Landor.—­Opera was, among the Romans, labour, as operae pretium, &c.  It now signifies the most contemptible of performances, the vilest office of the feet and tongue. [101]

[Footnote 101:  Vol. i. p. 212.]

North.—­But the sculptors, the painters, the architects of Italy?  You smile disdainfully, Mr. Landor!