BRUHL, HEINRICH, Count von Baum, prime-minister of Augustus III., king of Poland, and elector of Saxony, deserves a place in history as a signal example of an unworthy minister and venal statesman. He was born in 1700, at Weissenfels, and in early life entered, as a page, into the service of the duchess of Sachsen-Weissenfels. Ilis winning address and tact gained for him rapid promotion through several offices of state, until, in 1747, he became prime-minister to that idle and unpatriotic ruler, Augustus III. Never was a ruler more slavishly obeyed by a statesman. B. would follow the prince, as he strolled about smoking, without speaking a word for a whole day; or, when his majesty lazily inquired: " Brilhl, have you any money for me ?" "Yes, sire," would be the constant reply; but in order to be able to give this answer as frequently as it was demanded, B. drained the coffers of the state, and burdened the country with debt. He, however, contrived to enrich himself, and to accumulate honors and titles. By Elizabeth of Russia, he was invested with the order of St. Andrew, and by Charles VI. of Austria, he was made a count of the empire. He kept
200 servants, paid his body-guard better than Augustus did his, furnished the costliest table, possessed the finest wardrobe, and, in short, maintained the most splendid estab lishment in the kingdom. " Of all statesmen," said Frederick II., has collected the greatest quantity of fine clothes, watches, lace, boots, shoes, and slippers I" The effect of 13.'s reckless robbery of the national finances to gratify the dissolute Augustus and himself, made itself felt at the outbreak of the seven years' war, when the country could only furnish 17,000 men to oppose Frederick of Prussia, who surprised and cap tured the whole Saxon army in its camp at Pirna. Augustus and B. fled to Warsaw. When peace was concluded, they returned to Dresden, where Augustus died on the 5th Oct., 1763, and was followed by his worthless parasite, 28th October. B.'s palace is still one of the principal buildings in Dresden, and his library of 62,000 vols. forms a chief part of the royal library, Dresden.