He took just so much part in parliamentary and diplomatic business as sufficed to show that he wanted nothing but inclination to rival Danby and Sunderland, and turned away to pursuits which pleased him better.

Like many other men who, with great natural abilities, are constitutionally and habitually indolent, he became an intellectual voluptuary, and a master of all those pleasing branches of knowledge which can be acquired without severe application.
He was allowed to be the best judge of painting, of sculpture, of architecture, of acting, that the court could show.

On questions of polite learning his decisions were regarded at all the coffeehouses as without appeal.

More than one clever play which had failed on the first representation was supported by his single authority against the whole clamour of the pit, and came forth successful from the second trial.
The delicacy of his taste in French composition was extolled by Saint Evremond and La Fontaine.

Such a patron of letters England had never seen.