text:  The abuses of government the wrong distribution of patronage the effects of clandestine influence the solicitations and intrigues of male and female favourites the treachery of confidants the petty jealousies and insignificant struggles of place-hunters are the same or nearly so in every country; and it requires no great acuteness to detect or courage to expose their consequences--the name of Choiseul or Uzeda or Buckingham or Bruhl or Kaunitz may be applied to such descriptions with equal probability and equal justice