[92] The Empress Catherine wrote to Grimm: “Joseph II. killed himself with his endless audiences; they are, to say the least, useless, and waste a great deal of time. I used to tell him so. He was acquainted with everything, except the disposition of the Flemish people when the rebellion broke out. I witnessed his astonishment when the first news arrived; he came to consult me, and was disposed to treat the affair as a trifling matter; but I took the liberty of advising him to pay it the most serious attention.” Joseph II. died on 20th February 1790. [93] Prince Charles was extremely modest. His father wrote to Madame de Coigny: “I do not underrate my courage, which may be brilliant enough, but it is not unalloyed; there is a certain amount of humbug about it; I perform too much for the public. How infinitely I prefer the courage of my dear, good Charles, who never looks to see if he is being looked at.” [94] A Turkish expression, indicating the act of beheading the dead on the field of battle. [95] The Comte de Chinon, Armand-Emmanuel-Sophie-Septimanie Duplessis, Duc de Richelieu, grandson of the Marshal, born the 25th September 1766, died the 16th May 1822. At the age of fourteen he married Mademoiselle de Rochechouart, but had no children by her. The Duke emigrated in 1790, went to Vienna, where he was received with distinction, and from thence to Saint Petersburg, where he was equally well received. “He possessed,” says the Prince de Ligne, “rare beauty, and a character of extreme gentleness. Though he did not inherit his grandfather’s superior talents, he had nevertheless a sound judgment, many natural virtues, and an ardent love of justice; he was less dissipated than his youthful companions, although fond of ladies’ society, and born to please.” The Duc de Richelieu was President of the Privy Council under the Restoration. [96] The Marquis del Gallo, Neapolitan ambassador at Vienna, gave this ball in honour of the betrothal of the King of Naples’s two daughters with two Archdukes, sons of the Emperor Leopold. [97] “His son, ah! brave young fellow! is wounded.” [98] The 30th September 1790. [99] The Comte de Browne took back Brussels from the Belgian patriots with a few companies of grenadiers and a handful of hussars. By dint of care, firmness, and gold, which he distributed in handfuls, he so completely re-established order and security in the town that it became more quiet, more submissive, and more prosperous than it ever had been. (_Unpublished Memoirs of the Prince de Ligne._) [100] This phrase shows that the Count had not sent Hélène the Prince’s letter, in which he offered her one of his residences as a retreat. [101] The Bishop of Wilna’s steward. [102] A halfpenny.