Historical and authentic account of the ancient and noble family of Keith, Earls Marichal of Scotland

115
Russian, Swedish, and Latin, and was able
to read the Greek authors. His ordinary
Conversation was in French, in which lan-
guage he expressed himself perfectly well, and
with great precision, being one that did not
Speak much. He had seen all the courts of
Europe great and small, from that at Avig-
non, to the residence of the Khan of Tat t.iry ;
and accomodated himself to every place, as if
it had been his native country. General,
Minister, Courtier, Philosopher; all these
characters, however different in themselves,
were in him united- The most profound
scholars have been known to leave his com-
pany quite in ecastasy, and scarcely believing
their own ears.
But, beyond all contradiction, he chiefly-
excelled in military affairs; When we take
a review of his life, we are confounded with
•the great variety of his brave exploits, and
are scarce able to follow him through that
number of places where he acquired renown.
But that which ought to -render his memory
forever precious is,that he was a hero extreme-
ly humane; never omitting to do any thing
in his power, that might soften and alleviate
(he calamities of war, lesson the number of
its miseries, and, in some measure, relieve
those whom it had rendered wretched.
He shunned all frivolous amusements, and
knew always how to employ himself in a man-
ner becoming his dignity. He was still the
>