390 MACARTNEY. as a fellow-commoner in Trinity College, Dublin, where he took his degrees in 1759. Shortly after this, he tra velled with the sons of the late Lord Holland. This, perhaps, was his introduction at court. His education had been liberal, and he had improved the advantages which he possessed from a fortunate train of circumstances. He had an aspiring mind, and excellent talents, and was ambitious of some public employment. His own wishes were seconded by the zeal of his friends, and he was, in 1764, appointed envoy extraordinary to the empress of Russia. The occasion of this mission, and of the appoint ment of this young man, was the great importance of the commercial and political relations between Great Britain and the empire of Russia; and it was necessary, at that period, to counteract the influence of France at the Rus sian court. The character and policy of that court required to be particularly studied : and hence the embassy from this country included an office that required much pene tration, vigilance, and discretion, as well as insinuating manners, and an agreeable address. These qualifications were thought by the most discerning judges, to be united in Mr. Macartney. The principal business of his mission was to negociate a commercial treaty, for the benefit of the merchants trading to Russia. Of the interests of the Russian trade he was well informed. His address surmounted every difficulty of access to the empress and her ministers; he knew how to seize the proper moment for negociation, and he had coolness and patience to conquer every obstacle which might be opposed to his views by the artifices of others. He in a short time pro cured the Russian court to agree to a treaty satisfactory to the wishes of the British merchants at Petersburgh, and suitable to the instructions which he had received at home. An address from the merchants of the British factory at St. Petersburgh, the honour of the knighthood of the Polish order of the White Eagle, conferred by a monarch who was himself at once a man of fashion, taste, and pleasure, and a man of political talents; and his elevation
