(eBook PDF) A Handbook of Statistical Analyses using R 3rd Edition pdf download
(eBook PDF) A Handbook of Statistical Analyses using R 3rd Edition pdf download
https://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-a-handbook-of-
statistical-analyses-using-r-3rd-edition/
http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-time-series-a-data-
analysis-approach-using-r/
http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-handbook-of-statistical-
analysis-and-data-mining-applications-2nd-edition/
https://ebooksecure.com/download/handbook-of-statistical-
analysis-and-data-mining-applications-ebook-pdf/
http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-applied-survival-
analysis-using-r-use-r-1st-ed-2016-edition/
Handbook of Dialysis Therapy 6th Edition Allen R.
Nissenson - eBook PDF
https://ebooksecure.com/download/handbook-of-dialysis-therapy-
ebook-pdf/
http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-a-research-primer-for-
technical-communication-methods-exemplars-and-analyses/
http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-music-research-a-
handbook-3rd-edition/
http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-practice-of-computing-
using-python-the-3rd-edition/
Contents
Contents of Audio CD xi
Preface xiii
18 Liquids 147
9 Central Vowels 71
Symbols for the Mid‐Central Vowels in Stressed
Syllables 71 19 Glides 157
Symbols for the Mid‐Central Vowels in Unstressed A Focus on Pronunciation 162
Syllables 74
Pronunciation Variation of Central Vowels 75 20 Term Review and Practice 164
v
vi Contents
22 Stress 194
Glossary 235
Vowels in Stressed and Unstressed Syllables 194
Two‐Syllable Words 195
Stress Changes with the Addition of Prefixes and Answer Key 237
Suffixes 197
How to Decide which Syllable has the Primary
Stress? 200 Index 263
Reduction of Vowels to Schwa in Unstressed
Syllables 214
Noticing Vowel Alternations with Changes in Stress
Patterns 216
The Impact of Morphophonemic Changes on Stress and
Vowel/Consonant Changes 218
List of Exercises
Chapter Exercise Name Chapter Exercise Name
2 2-A Finding Consonant Sequences and 6-K Writing Words in Phonetic Symbols:
Digraphs 20 Words with /æ/ 51
3-C Counting Sounds: Find the Errors 27 7-C Writing Words in Phonetic Symbols:
Words with /u/ 53
4 4-A Sorting Words by Number of 7-D Decoding Phonetic Symbols: Words
Syllables 30 with /ʊ/ 54
4-B Manipulating Onsets and Codas 31 7-E Writing Words in Phonetic Symbols:
4-C Counting Sounds in Words 32 Words with /ʊ/ 54
4-D Making More Comparisons: Number 7-F Decoding Phonetic Symbols: Words
of Sounds in Words 33 with /o/ 55
4-E Reversing Sounds in Words 34 7-G Writing Words in Phonetic Symbols:
Words with /o/ 55
4-F Sorting Words by Number of
Sounds 34 7-H Decoding Phonetic Symbols: Words
with /ɔ/ 56
4-G Applying Terms: Finding Words 35
7-I Writing Words in Phonetic Symbols:
4-H Applying Syllable Terms: What’s on
Words with /ɔ/ 56
the Line? 36
7-J Decoding Phonetic Symbols: Words
4-I Syllable Talk: Matching Terms with
with /ɑ/ 57
Definitions 36
7-K Writing Words in Phonetic Symbols:
4-J True‐False 36
Words with /ɑ/ 57
4-K Identify the Term 37
8 8-A Common Bonds 61
5 5-A Tuning into the Vowel Sounds in 8-B Identify the Vowel 61
Words 40
8-C Working with the Vowel
6 6-A Sorting by Vowel Sound 46 Quadrilateral 62
6-B Decoding Phonetic Symbols: Words 8-D Identifying the Vowel
with /i/ 47 Changes 63
vii
viii List of Exercises
18-H Decoding Phonetic Symbols: Words 21-C Select the Correct Transcriptions 187
with Sequences 154 21-D Transcription Practice: Velar
18-I Writing Words in Phonetic Symbols: Nasal 187
Words with Sequences 155 21-E Transcribing Words with Bound
Morphemes /s/, /z/, /əz/ or /t/,
19 19-A Common Bonds 157 /d/, /əd/ 188
19-B Decoding Phonetic Symbols 157 21-F Transcription Practice: Velar Nasals
19-C Writing Words with Phonetic and Bound Morphemes 190
Symbols 158 21-G Transcription Practice: Glides 191
19-D Solving Word Equations 158 21-H Determining the Correct
19-E Writing Word Equations 159 Transcription 191
19-F State the Change 160 21-I Judge the Transcription 192
19-G Creating Minimal Pairs (Onset) with 21-J Decode Symbols: What’s the
Sonorants and Obstruents 161 Word? 193
x List of Exercises
xi
This page intentionally left blank
Preface
About This Workbook etc., we give minimal attention to the particular sounds in
the overall message because our ability to process speech
If 10 professors who taught the undergraduate phonetics and print is very rapid and automatic. This automaticity,
courses at their respective universities came together, each however, can disrupt adult students from attending to the
of them would approach the acquisition of phonetics and sound system of their language as they are faced with the
subsequent transcription skills differently. I recall my own task of learning a symbol system that is based solely on
phonetics course, taken more than 30 years ago, taught what sounds are heard. Since becoming competent in lit-
by a professor in broadcasting (although I was majoring eracy, we have learned to bypass the auditory channel and
in communication disorders). We spent 50 minutes, three solely focus our attention on the visual forms of words.
times per week, transcribing words spoken by the profes- Van Riper and Smith (1979) refer to this as being “eye-
sor. Pianissimo is one such word that has not left my mem- minded” rather than “ear-minded.” For adult students,
ory bank! who are about to learn about the English sound system and
My background in language and phonology, and my acquire a new symbol system (IPA), attention needs to shift
research in phonological awareness and early literacy back to the auditory and kinesthetic characteristics of those
skills, have informed the way I teach my own phonetics sounds (i.e., return to being ear-minded). Learning to apply
course. I treat learning the International Phonetic Alphabet the IPA when transcribing speech will eventually require a
(IPA) in much the same way as children learn to read. balance of being both ear-minded and eye minded.
Awareness of sounds needs to be addressed prior to learn- I have learned a great deal from my students over the
ing which symbols are used to represent those sounds. past 15 years. My students have taught me that they need
Additionally, conventions of the written symbol system repeated exposure to the symbols in order to use them
need attention. Because the foundation for the IPA is accurately and efficiently. Some students encounter diffi-
sounds, it is imperative that the nuances in the pronuncia- culty isolating sounds and matching them to a new sym-
tion of sounds also are emphasized. bol. Without a solid foundation, these students encounter
The primary focus of this workbook is to prepare difficulty with subsequent transcription skills and clinical
students to be able to transcribe speech phonetically by application remains problematic. Other students seem to
increasing their awareness and knowledge about the be able to match sounds to the IPA symbols with ease, yet
English sound system, their knowledge of how individual they do not always have a solid understanding of articu-
sounds are formed, and their understanding of how sounds latory phonetics for efficient and effective application in
combine to form words. This workbook presents an active clinical situations. In order to be able to accurately tran-
learning tool for individuals studying articulatory phonet- scribe the speech of others, students need to learn about
ics and English pronunciation skills. Its goal is to provide how sounds are formed, how those sounds change in dif-
a “sound” foundation from which transcription skills can ferent contexts, what symbols represent those sounds, and
develop. This workbook is not the “typical” phonetics what rules guide the use of those symbols.
workbook. Using this workbook will provide students with Because of these issues, this workbook is based on a
a sufficient foundation needed to learn to attend to sounds “meta” approach to learning. Meta skills require that con-
in words so that learning and applying a new symbol sys- scious attention be given to a specific entity apart from
tem will be a successful experience for them. Because one understanding the meaning. To be meta requires knowl-
of its goals is to provide a sound foundation from which edge to become explicit, rather than implicit. Becoming
transcription can build, this workbook slows down the explicitly aware of the phonological structure of our lan-
learning process so that students have an opportunity to guage is a cognitive task and one that requires focused
develop the skills and strategies they need before they are attention, active learning, a great deal of practice, and a fair
required to use them. amount of reflection. Additionally, increasing awareness
In order to learn and use the IPA for transcribing of the orthographic system is needed in order to effectively
speech, students must attend to the sound structure of the shift our attention to the sounds on which that system is
language. Becoming aware of the sounds of English pho- based. The content in this workbook is presented in such a
nology can be challenging because a typical student has not way that students have to think about sounds in an explicit
paid attention to individual sounds since mastering reading manner. Information is presented in order to create cogni-
and spelling. Although we hear language on a daily basis in tive dissonance in students so that they are encouraged to
the form of conversation, television programs, music, etc., make sense from what is presented to them. My goal is to
and encounter print on a daily basis by reading, texting, have the individuals who use this workbook think about
xiii
xiv Preface
the sounds of the English language as they never have in perception. This unit lays the foundation for the informa-
the past. My primary aim throughout this workbook is to tion and exercises that will be introduced in Units 2 and 3.
design exercises for students to become reacquainted with The focus then moves to the production of individual
the English sound system through discovery. As they com- sounds (articulatory phonetics) and the IPA symbols that
plete the exercises, I would like for them to experience represent them. The second unit focuses on the vowel sys-
“ah-ha” moments as they make sense of the phonological tem of the English language. Vowels are presented first
system of English. because, in my experience, students are challenged more
by vowels than consonants. Because the symbols for 16
consonant sounds are the same in the IPA and the Roman
Explanation of Organizational alphabet, students can immediately be exposed to the vowel
Framework symbols in the context of words. Unit 2 provides exercises
for the learner to focus on the specific characteristics that
The overall presentation of information is deliberate, help to distinguish vowels from each other. It details the
explicit, and systematic to promote successful learning. individual vowels in the vowel system: 14 monophthongs
The first challenge it presents to students is to think about (Chapters 6, 7, and 9), diphthongs (Chapter 10), and rhotic/
sounds in the face of orthography (Unit 1). It then intro- controlled-r diphthongs and triphthongs (Chapter 11).
duces the vowels (Unit 2) and consonants (Unit 3) of the Understanding the specific vowel characteristics within
English phonology system. Pronunciation information, the context of the vowel quadrilateral is emphasized in the
including allophonic, dialectal, and accent variations, are exercises presented in Chapter 8 so that students under-
included within each of these units. Lastly, the topics of stand the classification of monophthongs and come to
broad transcription and word stress are introduced (Unit view the vowel quadrilateral as a useful tool in future clini-
4). Most published texts provide these three levels (i.e., cal decision making.
awareness, IPA symbols and articulatory phonetics infor- Unit 3 concentrates on the 25 consonant sounds in
mation, transcription) simultaneously, despite the fact that the English language. How consonants are classified is
most students do not learn these skills in that way. Most addressed first, and the introduction of voicing, place,
instructors supplement existing phonetics workbooks with and manner of articulation is introduced through expe-
additional practice material to insure student learning. It is riential sorting exercises (Chapter 13). The six manner
the aim of this workbook to systematically lead students classes serve as the organizational framework when indi-
through each level separately so they are able to learn new vidual sounds are described and detailed (Chapters 14–19).
information on a firmer foundation. Each chapter presents the sounds within a specific man-
The chapters within each unit lay the foundation, ner class, along with their characteristics. Once students
provide the pertinent content, and then provide ample learn the characteristics of each sound, they will be able to
practice for students to adequately learn the specifics compare and contrast sounds with each other. For speech–
and meet the established goals. The exercises build upon language pathology students, this will serve as a foundation
each other so that each student can learn solidly by taking for understanding development, phonological patterns and
from what they have previously learned and applying the processes, and articulation errors. Included in each chapter
knowledge to new material. This systematic approach to in this unit is pronunciation information (in the form of
learning provides a layering of information to scaffold stu- allowable differences) that will help students understand
dent learning. Along with a variety of practice exercises, their own and others’ sound production in words. This will
questions are posed to students to encourage them to think be followed by exercises to practice the information for
about their sound system and reflect upon specific areas. consonant singletons. Students will be asked to (1) “read”
The final chapter in each unit provides a review of terms phonetic symbols to create a familiar word, (2) translate
(Units 1–3), a focus on pronunciation (Units 2 and 3), and the sounds in a word into phonetic symbols, (3) use an
additional practice that elaborates and extends previous “equation” of phonetic information to make words, and
exercises. (4) write a phonetic equation for presented words. The
The first unit focuses on phonological awareness (i.e., consonant sounds in each manner class will then be intro-
awareness of syllables, onsets, rimes, and sounds) as well duced in the context of consonant sequences. Two familiar
as orthographic knowledge (i.e., knowledge about how exercises (reading phonetic symbols to make words and
spoken language is represented in print) and introduces writing a word in phonetic symbols) will assist students in
students to basic terminology. It briefly presents the con- focusing on the consonant sounds in sequences. Additional
cepts of phonology, phonemes, allophones, coarticulation, exercises are included in the final chapter to provide addi-
assimilation, dialects, and accents and alerts students to tional exposure to sounds that are frequently problematic
the impact these concepts may have on pronunciation and for students.
Preface xv
1
CHAPTER
Thinking About the
English Phonology System:
1 Syllables and Sounds
P
honology refers to the sound system of a language. The phonological sys-
tem of a language consists of (1) the group of specific sounds used in that
language, (2) the permissible variations of those sounds when produced,
and (3) the particular rules for combining those sounds.
Two groups of sounds make up a phonology system: consonants and vowels.
Consonants are speech sounds produced as a result of air moving through the
vocal tract encountering some constriction or obstruction. The articulators (i.e.,
lips, front teeth, lower jaw, tongue, or the velum) close the vocal tract in some
way by interfering with, obstructing, or modifying the outgoing breath stream to
produce these types of sounds. As a result, consonants are referred to as closed
sounds. The consonants in a word can be by themselves (singleton) or in a series
(sequence). An example of a word with consonant singletons is bat; an example
of a word with consonant sequences is stops. When consonants are in a sequence,
each consonant sound retains its identity during pronunciation. Sequences can
occur within a syllable (cluster) or across syllables. Both sequences in the earlier
example of stops can be referred to as a cluster; however, the sequences in the
words basket and husband fall across syllables.
Vowels are speech sounds produced as a result of air moving through a rela-
tively open vocal tract. Although movement of the articulators (i.e., lips, tongue,
and jaw) changes the shape of the mouth, producing different vowel sounds, the
breath stream remains unimpeded. Vowels contain the most acoustic energy and
therefore are perceived as stronger sounds (as compared with consonants).
Consonants and vowels serve different functions in our sound system. Both con-
tribute to the clearness and intelligibility of speech. Because they are the most prom-
inent, vowels carry the intonation and prosody of our language. Consonants act as
dividing units, assisting in creating boundaries in words. Think about talking while
yawning or saying something with a pen in your mouth. Depending on the context,
the listener may still understand your message because of the intonation. What is
lacking, however, is the finer distinctions and clarity made by the consonants.
The Syllable
A syllable is a unit of pronunciation consisting of a vowel sound alone or a vowel
sound with the consonants that precede or follow it. There is only one vowel sound
in a syllable. When adjacent vowels are produced as separate sounds, separate
syllables are formed (e.g., helium, rodeo). An exception to this definition is when
a consonant can serve as the nucleus of a syllable. Only three consonants (i.e., m,
n, and l) can serve this role. This special circumstance will be explained in Unit 4.
2
Thinking About the English Phonology System: Syllables and Sounds 3
Parts of a Syllable
Vowels
Vowels are essential to syllable formation. A syllable must contain a vowel sound.
Each vowel serves as the nucleus of the syllable. Because a vowel sound has the
strongest acoustic energy, they are often referred to as the peak of the syllable.
Vowel = peak/nucleus
Return to your answers. The number of syllables = the number of vowel sounds you hear in each word.
Think of 20 more words. Say each word aloud and count the number of syllables in each.
SOMETHING TO There are many words that may be pronounced with different syllable
CONSIDER counts. Consider the following words: every, boundary, usually. Can you
say them two different ways? Think of other words that can be pronounced
Pronunciation with different syllable counts.
Variance
Consonants
Because the vowel sound is the nucleus of the syllable, consonants are described by
their relationship to the vowel. Prevocalic consonants (singleton or sequence) are
those consonants that come before the vowel. Postvocalic consonants (singleton or
sequence) are those consonants that come after the vowel. These two terms refer to
4 Chapter 1
the consonant placement within a syllable. When the word (rather than the syllable)
is the unit of pronunciation, the term intervocalic may be included. Intervocalic
consonants (singletons or sequences) are those consonants that are between vowels
in a word with two or more syllables.
F O OT N OT E S :
[81] A lawyer, it seems, would establish prescription even against
conscience!
[82] I say, power: Lord Hardwicke and Lord Anson were out of
place—but were they out of power? Without hinting how soon
they remounted to formal power, let it be remembered that at
that moment, they commanded the House of Lords, and had a
vast majority in the House of Commons.
[83] As some of them said in plain terms that they were satisfied
with the sentence, in how many contradictions were they
involved! By the very wording of the sentence, which expressed
dissatisfaction; by the letter that accompanied it; by Admiral
Smith’s letter to Sir R. Lyttelton, which said that they were all
willing to appear before the Privy Council or the Parliament to
explain their reasons!
[84] [The following extract from our Author’s Private
Correspondence in MS. corroborates the account given in the
text, and as it contains some further particulars, may be
acceptable to the reader.—E.]
“March 17, 1757.—Admiral Byng’s tragedy was completed on
Monday—a perfect tragedy—for there were variety of incidents,
villainy, murder, and a hero. His sufferings, persecutions,
aspersions, disturbances, nay, the revolutions of his fate, had not
in the least unhinged his mind; his whole behaviour was natural
and firm. A few days before, one of his friends standing by him,
said, ‘Which of us is tallest?’ He replied, ‘Why this ceremony? I
know what it means; let the man come and measure me for my
coffin.’ He said, that being acquitted of cowardice, and being
persuaded, on the coolest reflection, that he had acted for the
best, and should act so again, he was not unwilling to suffer. He
desired to be shot on the quarter-deck, not where common
malefactors are:—came out at twelve—sat down in a chair, for he
would not kneel, and refused to have his face covered, that his
countenance might show whether he feared death; but being told
that it might frighten his executioners, he submitted; gave the
signal at once; received one shot through the head, another
through the heart, and fell.”
[85] Many years after that tragedy was acted, I received a most
authentic and shocking confirmation of the justice of my
suspicions. October 21, 1783, being with her Royal Highness
Princess Amelia at her villa at Gunnersbury, among many
interesting anecdotes which I have set down in another place,
she told me, that while Admiral Byng’s affair was depending, the
Duchess of Newcastle sent Lady Sophia Egerton to her the
Princess, to beg her to be for the execution of Admiral Byng.
“They thought,” added the Princess, “that unless he was put to
death, Lord Anson could not be at the head of the Admiralty.
Indeed,” continued the Princess, “I was already for it; the officers
would never have fought, if he had not been executed.” I replied,
that I thought his death most unjust, and the sentence a most
absurd contradiction.
Lady Sophia Egerton was wife of a clergyman, afterwards Bishop
of Durham. What a complication of horrors! women employed on
a job for blood!
[As the author calls this accidental conversation at Gunnersbury,
“a most authentic confirmation of his suspicions,” the Editor was
not at liberty to omit any part of the story; though the reader will
probably think with him, that more importance is ascribed to
mere gossip than it deserves.—E.]
[86] [The Duke of Cumberland.—E.]
[87] Indeed there was so little intended by the inquiries, that
Legge himself, one of the new tribunes of the people, said, “Both
sides will be trying which shall fling most dust in the eyes of the
nation.”
[88] Townshend had been author of the first political caricatura
card, with portraits of Newcastle and Fox.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX.
A.
(Vide page 147.)
These Armenian letters are apparently written in humble imitation
of the Persian, but greatly inferior to them; they are calculated solely
for the meridian of Ireland, and contain little else besides a few
severe strictures on the politics and government of that kingdom,
with a particular account of the late divisions there, and the persons
chiefly concerned in them. As these are topics, which, however well
treated, would scarce afford our readers any entertainment, an
extract from this part of the performance would be unnecessary. The
affairs of England are, however, now and then, introduced, and
treated in these letters with the same freedom as those of Ireland.
The following characters of two or three of our most celebrated
orators are not ill drawn.
“When I was last in England,” says our Armenian, “curiosity led me
to hear the Judicial, Parliamentary, and Ecclesiastical eloquence of
that kingdom, in all which there are men very eminent. Among the
foremost was a native of North Britain; he excelled in order and
ornament, yet his ornaments were never studied, they flowed from
his matter, and with such ease, that, though no man could speak
more elegantly, it seemed that he could not speak less so. He was
quick in distinguishing, of memory so tenacious that he could range
the testimonies of thirty persons in different cells, and immediately
call them forth with the same ease as if he took them from paper. As
a judicial speaker, he seemed but little inferior in subtlety and
elegance to the celebrated Greeks; in decency he was superior; in
his narrations plain; in ranging his arguments, concealing his
weakness, and displaying his strength, he had no rival; he concluded
always strongly, sometimes with his best argument; with a short and
weighty enumeration, when many arguments had been lightly
dispersed through his oration; he could mix raillery, but seemed to
avoid it, and hasten to serious arguments, as if he blamed himself
for using others. His voice was clear and musical, to some it was too
acute.”
“Charles Townshend, a young man, was at the same time in
Parliamentary debate nervous, copious, and vehement; in order not
most exact, but in sentiment strong, in expression animated; his
figures were glaring, and his illustrations grand; a tide of matter and
words bore his hearers with him, even when he digressed; and
though there was something in his eloquence which calm judgment
might prune, there was nothing which a warmed audience would not
admire.”
“There is an Ecclesiastic,[89] who was Preacher to an Academy of
Law, whom I have heard with delight. He was grave, dignified, and
elegant; his subjects, whether of things human or divine, he treated
with becoming majesty. Thou hast seen him, Aza; he is a great and
a good man, and true eloquence comes from such only; look
through all experience, virtue produces eloquence, and adversity
calls forth virtue.”
B.
[In a note to page 41 a reference is made to the correspondence of
Mr. Fox with Lord Hartington, as printed in the Appendix to Lord
Waldegrave’s Memoirs. The part, however, of the
correspondence which is at variance with the statement in Lord
Oxford’s text is not to be found in the extracts there printed;
and it is therefore here subjoined, with some additional extracts
from unpublished letters of the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Fox,
illustrative of the views of parties at that time.]
Extract of a Letter from Mr. Fox (Secretary at War) to the Marquis of Hartington
(Lord Lieutenant of Ireland), August 10, 1755.
... We have made a treaty with Hesse and another with Russia, to
be followed with other subsidies, or these will be useless; and if
followed by other subsidies, how can we find money to pay or place
to assemble these troops? And, perhaps, I may add, members to
vote them? For the Duke of Devonshire is so determinately against
them, that I believe he will think it his duty to declare his opinion,
and how far that may operate (most people, I find, being in their
own minds of the same opinion) there is no saying. Legge did not
sign the order for the Hessian money at the Treasury, and, I believe,
makes no scruple of declaring his opinion. I have been more
cautious in giving, I may say, in forming mine; but have, by not
signing it at the Cockpit, kept myself at liberty. Pitt’s and Egmont’s
opinions, in this regard, I don’t know.
C.
(Vide page 234.)
[As our author derived his information on Northern and German
Courts, especially Dresden, from Sir Charles Hanbury Williams,
of whose letters from abroad he speaks (p. 205, vol. i.) in terms
of such high commendation, and has already given extracts in
the Appendix, vol. i., a short account of that lively writer’s
Embassies, taken in substance from the same author’s MS.
notes, together with a farther specimen of his correspondence
concerning the Court of Saxony, will not be misplaced here; at
least they will afford some entertainment to the reader.]
Sir Charles Hanbury Williams was appointed envoy to Dresden in
1747, was commissioned in July, 1749, along with Mr. Anstis, Garter
at Arms, to carry the Blue Riband to the Margrave of Anspach; and
on Mr. Fox waving, at the request of the King, his pretensions to the
Treasurership of the Navy, was, with a view of gratifying that
gentleman, who was his intimate friend, named Envoy Extraordinary
at Berlin. He set out for that Court in May, 1750, and passed through
Hanover when the King was there. From thence he was sent to the
King of Poland, who was holding the Diet at Warsaw, to engage his
vote for the Archduke Joseph to be King of the Romans. On this
progress he wrote a celebrated letter to the Duke of Newcastle at
Hanover, which was sent over to England and much admired, as his
ministerial letters generally were. About this time he met the
Ministers of the two Empresses of Germany and Russia; reconciled
these two Princesses, and set out for Berlin, where he was very
coldly received, and soon grew so offensive to the King, that he was,
as he had predicted, recalled at his request, and sent back to
Dresden in February, 1751. Sir Charles had detected the Saxon
Minister at Berlin, in betraying his master’s and Russia’s secrets to
the Court of Prussia; and had also exposed an artifice of the King of
Prussia in making a Tartar, sent to release a countryman who had
enlisted in the Prussian Army, pass for a Deputy or Minister for the
disaffected in Russian Tartary. These circumstances, and his satirical
tongue, and yet more[91] satirical pen, combined to exasperate the
King of Prussia. It was, he said in his private letters, “in vain to
contend with so mighty a Prince, and he became the sacrifice.”
However, in 1753, he was sent to Vienna to demand the assistance
of that Court in case Prussia should proceed to extremities after
stopping the Silesian loan; and in his triple capacity of Minister,
Courtier, and Poet, he composed the following distich on the
Empress-Queen:
“Oh Regina orbis prima et pulcherrima! ridens
Es Venus, incedens Juno, Minerva loquens.”
The general style of his poetry was far from being so
complimentary; and that of his prose, though not so well known,
and often too licentious for publication, was to the full as easy, lively,
and humorous as his verse. After returning to England he was again
appointed to Dresden, and attended the King of Poland to Warsaw,
in 1754, where, upon espousing very warmly the interests of the
Poniatowskys in an affair called the disposition of the Ostrog, he
came to an open rupture with Count Bruhl. He shortly afterwards
concluded a subsidiary treaty with Russia, and was named
Ambassador to Petersburg in 1755. He returned to England in 1758,
and died in 1759.
The following letter was written on his first arrival at Dresden, and
before any quarrel with Count Bruhl. Though addressed to a private
friend, it seems nearly a duplicate of his public dispatch. It is no
unfavourable specimen of his correspondence, but is perhaps less
enlivened by anecdote, as well as less disfigured by indecencies,
than many of his epistolary compositions from Germany.
Dear Sir,
The short time that I have been abroad, would, in any
other Court, have hardly been sufficient to have formed a
judgment, or given a description of it; but this, where I am, is
so easy to be understood, that an understanding as mean as
mine may see into it as clearly in a month’s time as in ten
years.
The King’s absolute and avowed hatred to all business, and
his known love for idleness and low pleasures, such as
operas, plays, masquerades, tilts and tournaments, balls,
hunting, and shooting, prevent both him and his country from
making that figure in Europe which this noble Electorate
ought to do, and often has done. As to the King himself, he is
very polite and well-bred, and his natural abilities far from
bad ones. I have very often (much oftener than any Minister
here) the honour of conversing with him, and I must say, that
he talks better, and makes juster judgments on affairs than
any other person I have met with in this Court: but he wont
dwell long upon politics. ’Tis visible that he soon grows
uneasy, and then you must change the discourse to the last
stag that he hunted, the last opera that was acted, or the last
picture that he has bought. Immediately, you perceive that
his countenance clears up, and he talks on with pleasure.
From these subjects ’tis easy to lead him back to any other
you please, always taking care to observe his countenance,
which is a very speaking one. He is seldom seen, when at
Dresden, but at dinner. He always dines with company, and
his buffoons make a great noise, and fight with one another
during the whole repast, which is quite over by two o’clock;
and then his Majesty retires to his own apartments, undresses
totally, and then puts on his night-gown, in which he sits the
rest of the day. Nobody must come to him at that time but
Count Bruhl, Father Guerini, and the buffoon. He has had a
great loss in the Electress of Bavaria being married, for she
often came to him in the afternoon, and they have been
surprised together in very indecent postures. The Queen
knew this, and was furious about it. She complained of it to
her Confessor; but the good Jesuit told her, that since things
were so, it was much better that the King’s affections should
remain in his own family, than be fixed upon a stranger, who
might be a Lutheran, and do prejudice to their holy religion;
and by this these holy casuists appeased her angry Majesty.
The whole Court is now gaping to see who will succeed the
Electress, for his Majesty’s constitution requires somebody
besides the Queen. The King is excessively fond of hunting,
and ’tis reckoned that the game of all sorts (which is strictly
preserved for him) do 50,000l. per annum of damage to this
country. I have myself seen fifty stags a feeding in one corn-
field; and to take care of all his game and forests, there are
no less than 4000 persons in constant pay.
The expenses of this Court of every sort are in proportion
with that of the chase. After this, Sir, you will not be surprised
when I tell you, that the debts of this Electorate (all incurred
since this King came into possession of it) are near four
millions sterling, and that their credit is quite ruined; but the
King will not hear of the expenses of the Court being
lessened. He has no idea of the state of his country; but as
he finds himself easy, he thinks and wishes his people to be
so too. He is not beloved nor respected. His never heading his
Army, and his precipitate flight from Dresden at the King of
Prussia’s approach, did him more injury in the minds of the
Saxons, than he will ever be able to retrieve.
Her Majesty the Queen is very devout, but not a bit the
better for her devotions: she does nothing but commit small
sins, and beg forgiveness for them. She is ugly beyond
painting, and malicious beyond expression. Her violent hatred
to the Empress-Queen, and her great love to all her enemies,
make me rejoice that she has not the least influence at this
Court. She has much impotent aversion to Count Bruhl: he
hates her Majesty in return, but then he makes her feel his
power. She meddles much in the lowest things, such as
disgracing or restoring a buffoon to favour; disposing the
parts of an opera, and giving the preference to such and such
a dancer; and even this she never does by merit, but he or
she that comes oftenest to mass has the best parts and the
first rank. The Italians are much favoured here. They are
divided into two parties, one of which is headed by Father
Guerini, who first placed the colony here; the other, which is
the most powerful, has the Faustina for its leader; and the
two chiefs have by turns vented their complaints against each
other to me, till I could hardly keep my countenance. But to
return to her Majesty: I look upon her to be thoroughly in the
French interests. She is not at all beloved, nor does she
deserve it, for she does no good to anybody but converts,
and very little to them.
I am next to speak of the Electoral Prince. You know, Sir,
his person is bad, and his backbone so disjointed, that he
cannot stand without two people to support him. The
weakness of his body has hurt his mind. His parts, if he ever
had any, are much decayed; but he is civil, good, and well-
tempered. His education has been extremely bad; he knows
nothing. He asked ’tother day at table, whether, though
England were an island, one could not go there by land?
Judge of the rest by this. When he walks, supported or rather
dragged along by two people, his knees almost touch his
stomach; and the Duchess of Courland (who is our good
friend at this Court) told me that she saw him in bed on his
wedding-night, and that he lay in the same posture there; so
that she did not comprehend how matters could be
accomplished. The Court, however, swear that (the marriage
was then consummated). He is at present wholly devoted to
his new bride, about whom I must say a little, having the
happiness, by her permission, to see her very often.
She is far from being handsome or well made; but then she
is infinitely agreeable in her manner, and very well-bred. She
talks much, and is very entertaining. When she first came,
she had flattered herself with hopes of succeeding the
Electress, and attacked the King the first night, but without
success. He seemed rather disgusted with her advances, and
since that time she has not recovered the ground she then
lost. All[92] this I have also from the Duchess of Courland.
Before she came here she was reckoned to meddle much in
politics, and to be in the French interests. She denies all this
herself, and declares against women’s meddling in state
affairs; but I will venture to prophesy, that if ever the Prince
Electoral should outlive his father, she will govern this country
most absolutely. Hitherto she is much liked and admired by all
who come near her, for her address is very engaging, and not
at all like the Queen’s.
The King has four younger sons, and three unmarried
daughters. As to the Princesses I can say nothing of them,
but that they are very young and very plain.
Prince Xavier is next to the Prince Royal, and has always
been the Queen’s favourite, and she tried every way to
persuade the Prince Electoral to go into orders that this Prince
might succeed his father. His person is good, and I believe his
natural parts are so too, but his education has been very
unfortunate. He is sixteen years of age, and has hitherto been
taught nothing but bodily exercises; and they do not seem to
think in this country that a Prince wants any accomplishments
who can dance, fence, ride at the ring, and shoot at the
mark. This Prince has not yet learned common good
manners, and is almost a stranger to common decency. The
French Ambassador and I dined with him the other day, and
the whole time we were at table he talked to the Pages
behind him, and what he said to them was in German.
Monsieur des Issarts was quite out of humour at the
treatment he met with: I was only sorry for the Prince. But to
end his character, those who are best acquainted with him tell
me he is very proud and very malicious. ’Tis publicly known
that he hates his elder brother; but his pride is much abated,
and his spirits much sunk since the Electoral Prince’s
marriage, which was a thing that he had been taught to
believe never would happen. Still he flatters himself with the
hope that if the King his father should die, he should succeed
him in the Throne of Poland.
Prince Charles is next; he is a fine youth about thirteen; his
person is good, and he has great quickness of parts; but as
he labours under the misfortune of having the same wretched
education as his brothers have had, ’tis impossible to say how
he will turn out; and here I must observe, that the scarcity of
men of ability is so great in this country, that out of four
governors employed in the education of these Princes, there
is not one who is a Saxon.
The two other Princes, Albert and Clement, are both so
young, that I can say nothing about them.
Having now, Sir, gone through the Royal Family, I shall
speak of their fine country, which I believe produces more to
its sovereign than any other district of land of the same size
in Europe. The last grant of the Diet of Saxony was between
eight and nine millions of dollars (each dollar exactly three
shillings and sixpence English money) per annum for nine
years; yet ’tis likely that the whole may be anticipated and
spent in five, and then the King calls a new Diet, and gets
fresh supplies, so that ’tis not possible to say exactly what the
King’s revenues are; but everybody must see that they are
very large, and how the people will continue such payments
begins to be a question. It is certain this country grows daily
poorer, which is very visible by the decay of Leipsick fair.
Everybody agrees that the last Easter fair was not half so
good as it used to be; and this fair is the touchstone of the
trade and money in this Electorate. The loss and expenses
their own bad politics have drawn them into during this war
have been very great; and the visit the King of Prussia made
to Dresden was very expensive to this country; but above all,
the visible decay of their linens and tinned iron manufactures
(which England has been wise enough not to want any longer
in such great quantities from foreign countries,) is a blow that
is felt more severely than can be expressed. The Stier Bills,
which are the funds here, and which always used to bear a
premium, are now at 5 and 6 per cent. discount, and ’tis very
difficult to negotiate them even at that price, though they
carry 5 per cent. interest. I have been offered some, whose
principal is due at Michaelmas, 1748, at 7 per cent. discount.
This being so, you see that their credit is exhausted, and that
they would hardly be able to borrow under 10 per cent.; and
yet they must take up money, or their Army will mutiny, for
their officers are most of ’em twelve or fifteen months in
arrear. In the midst of all these difficulties the Court has
squandered away above 200,000l. sterling at the late double
marriages; given 100,000l. sterling for the Duke of Modena’s
gallery of pictures; and Count Bruhl alone cannot spend so
little as 60,000l. sterling a year. The pensions also that the
King gives in Poland exceed the revenues he receives from
thence by full 50,000l. per annum.
It is now necessary I should say something of the person to
whom the King commits the entire care of this country. Count
Bruhl is originally of a good family, but as he was a Page to
the late King, so he had the education of a Page. His natural
parts, without being very good, are certainly better than any
other person’s I have hitherto conversed with at this Court.
He was employed by the late King in high employments, but
never touched the zenith of power till after the fall of
Monsieur Sulkowsky, who was his predecessor in the present
King’s favour. Sulkowsky lost it by absenting himself from the
King’s person to make campaigns in Hungary and upon the
Rhine. As Count Bruhl profited by this false step of Sulkowsky,
he is resolved no person shall ever have such an advantage
over him. He is never absent from the King’s person, and he
pays the closest attention to every thing his Majesty says or
does, though he himself is naturally very idle. His every day is
passed in the following manner: he rises before six in the
morning, then Father Guerini comes to him to talk upon
business, and to read over whatever letters they receive, and
then they send such of them as they please to the Privy
Council; but if anybody comes in, business is laid aside, and
he is very ready to talk upon indifferent matters. Afterwards
he dresses, which takes up above an hour, and he is obliged
to be with the King before nine. He stays with him till his
Majesty goes to mass, which he does exactly at eleven; and
then Count Bruhl goes to the Countess Moyenska, where he
stays till twelve; from thence he goes either to dinner with
the King, or to his own house, with a few of the lowest and
worst people of this Court.
After dinner he undresses and goes to sleep till five, when
Father Guerini comes and sits with him while he dresses, and
at six he goes again to the King, with whom he stays till after
seven; from thence he goes to some assembly, where he
plays at cards very deep, the Countess Moyenska being
always of the party, who plays very well, and wins
considerable sums of the Count; rather before ten he sits
down to supper, and from thence he goes to bed about
twelve.
Now as everything of the kind, from the highest affairs of
state down to operas and hunting, are all in Count Bruhl’s
immediate care, I leave you to judge how his post is
executed, by the time he takes to do business in. His
expenses are immense. He keeps three hundred servants and
as many horses. His house is in extreme bad taste and
extravagance. He has, at least, a dozen country seats, where
he is always building and altering, but which he never sees. It
is said, and I believe it, that he takes money for everything
the King disposes of in Poland, where they frequently have
very great employments to bestow. Everybody here reckons
that he is not sincere, but for my own part I have as yet no
great reason to think so. He is very communicative to me,
and very patient to hear whatever I have to say. He is
certainly not an ill-natured man, having never done a hard or
cruel thing to any person that I heard of since he has been in
power. He is very vain, and a little flattery is absolutely
necessary for those who intend being well with him; and my
notion of the duty of a Foreign Minister is, that after serving
his master to the utmost of his power and ability, he ought to
make himself as agreeable as possible at the Court he is sent
to. From this way of thinking, I have endeavoured to cultivate
the King of Poland and his Minister as much as possible,
because a time may come when my being well with this Court
may be of some small service to the King my master.
Count Bruhl is polite, civil, and very ready to oblige, and,
after the first ceremonies are over, without any forms. If he
has any principle in politics, ’tis certainly favourable to the
House of Austria. That, indeed, is not much, but it is more
than any other person has that belongs to this Court, and
whenever he falls we shall fall into worse hands. He has been
very negligent of support at Court, having never, during his
long Administration, made himself one friend of any great
consequence. The clamours now against him are very high,
for the two reasons of the fall of the Stier Bills, and the non-
payment of the Army. The man that heads these complaints,
and whom ’tis possible his Majesty may remember to have
seen at Hanover, is one Count Linard, a Saxon, whom I take
to be thoroughly in the French interests. He has but moderate
parts, and very little literature, but in Saxon learning he is
very deep. He rides, shoots, and dances better than anybody
here, and by these accomplishments he has got himself into a
good degree of the King’s favour, and flatters himself that
whenever the Minister falls, he is the man that is to succeed
him. I know he has been contriving to get a body of officers
to throw themselves at the King’s feet to complain of Count
Bruhl, and to demand their pay. By means of a spy that I had
at Court I discovered this affair, and told Count Bruhl of it. He
owned things were as I said, and added, that he did not
expect nor deserve such usage from Count Linard; but two
days afterwards he told me that my information was very
true, and that he had taken such measures upon it as would
perfectly secure him. I have since had the misfortune to lose
my spy, who is fled for having got a woman with child, he
being a married man, and adultery in this country is punished
with death.
The next person I shall speak of is father Guerini, a Jesuit,
who is more in the King’s favour than in any credit. He has
been long in the service, and is now kept, like an old horse,
for what he has formerly done. He is Count Bruhl’s absolute
creature, and has his confidence. He is perpetually with the
King and Queen, and constantly employed in making up some
quarrel among the singers and dancers. If he ever had any
parts, they were gone before I came; but he is a good, trifling
old man, and, though a priest, has no ambition. He has twice
refused a Cardinal’s hat; and the last time, which was not
above half a year ago, the King pressed him to it very much,
but in vain. I go to him very often; for he often comes out
with things that he is trusted with, and which I am sure he
ought not to tell.