Folio 77v. Stepney to Colt. In reply to Colt's request for a 'character' of Dr Johan...

Folio 77v. Stepney to Colt. In reply to Colt's request for a 'character' of Dr Johan Ham, the new States's envoy to Dresden, just transferred to Berlin (see preceding entry), gives a somewhat sarcastic account of the man. Ham is 'something of an amphibious nature betwixt a resident and an envoy, a creature of my Lord Portland's and raised from a Dr of Physick to be one of the states for the city of Arnhem where his father kept a tavern or something like it'. He is 'a little antick in his gestures and his face is like a weather glass which receives various impressions from good or bad news so that one needs not read his letters to guess how things stand', 'very diligent and generally very well informed of affaires'; has been employed at the court of Berlin for twelve years, 'at first as secretary to Mr Amerongen, father to the present count Athlone and by talking of the virtues of tea to the late Elector when he was laid up with the gout, crept into his favour and at last into a sort of ministry in which he has since continued'. Believes he had the allowance of an envoy sometime before he, Stepney, left Berlin. He had credentials, 'but was afraid to shew them for fear a new caracter shou'd put him to charges which his soul abhors'. His own expenses were greater than Ham's, though his salary was not. 'I would give a ducat to see him produce his equipage or make his court to Neidsch[ütz], at these things he is as awkward as a dogg in a tennis court: but for chimistry and business he is a true drudge'.

Date and Place: 1693 Mar 1/11 Vienna