"THE KING OF NAPLES (The North American Review,
Jan. 1816)
Ferdinand 4th is in his fifty-sixth year; in his
person he is tall and straight, rather thin than
corpulent, his face is very long, his hair and
eyebrows white, and his countenance on the whole far
from comely, but lighted up by an expression of good
nature and benignity that pleases more and lasts
longer than symmetry of features. His manners are
easy, his conversation affable, and his whole
deportment (princes will pardon me if I presume to
mention it as a compliment) that of a thorough
gentleman.
With regard to mental endowments, nature seems to
have placed him on a level with the great majority of
mankind, that is, in a state of mediocrity, and
without either defect or excellency; a state the best
adapted to sovereign power, because the least likely
to abuse it. If one degree below it, a monarch becomes
the tool of every designing knave near his person,
whether valet or minister ; if only one degree above
it, he becomes restless and unintentionally
mischievous, like the Emperour Joseph; and if cursed
with genius, he turns out like Frederick, a conquerour
and a despot. But the good sense which Ferdinand
derived from nature required the advantages of
cultivation to develop and direct it; and of these
advantages he was unfortunately deprived, in part
perhaps by the early absence of his father, and in
part by the negligence or design, first of his tutors,
and afterwards, of his courtiers.
Being raised to the throne in the eighth year of his
age, and shortly after left by his father under the
direction of a regency, he cannot be supposed to be
inclined, nor they capable of compelling him, to
application. The result has been as usual, a great
propensity to active exercises, and an aversion to
studious pursuits. The ignorance which follows from
these habits is such as to extend to articles, known
among us to every person above daily labour, and it
not unfrequently shews itself in conversation, and
betrays his majesty into mistakes that sometimes
startle even well-trained courtiers. Thus, mention
being accidentally made in his presence of the great
power of the Turks some centuries ago, he observed,
that it was no wonder, as all the world were Turks
before the birth of our Saviour.
Upon another occasion, when the cruel execution of
Louis 16th, then recent, happening to be the subject
of conversation, one of the courtiers remarked, that
it was the second crime of that kind that stained the
annals of modern Europe; the King asked with surprise,
where such a deed had been perpetrated before; the
courtier replying, in England. Ferdinand asked with a
look of disbelief, what King of England was ever put
to death by his people? The other of course answering,
Charles 1st; his Majesty exclaimed, with some degree
of warmth and indignation, ‘ No, Sir, it is
impossible, you are misinformed ; the English are too
loyal and too brave a people to be guilty of such an
atrocious crime.’ He added ‘depend upon it, Sir, it is
a mere tale trumped up by the Jacobins at Paris to
excuse their own guilt by the example of so great a
nation; it may do very well to deceive their own
people, but will not I hope, dupe us.’ "
