JOHN JAMES, was the son of a clergyman, and a native of Zurich in Switzerland, where he married, but left his country in consequence of an intrigue. Having had an opportunity of visiting the principal cities of Europe, he acquired a taste for elegant and refined pleasures, as they are called, which, united to a strong inclination for voluptuousness, by degrees qualified him for the management of public amusements. In 1738, when he was near 50 years old, he came to England on a negociation from the Swis at Zurich; but, failing in his embassy, he entered as a private soldier in the guards for protection. By his sprightly engaging conversation and infatuating address, he soon worked himself into the good graces of our young people of fashion; from whom he obtained the appellation of the Swis Count. He had the address to procure a subscription, with which, in 1799, he was enabled to furnish out the opera of "Thomyris," which was written in English, and performed at the queen's theatre in the Haymarket. The music, however, was Italian; that is to say, airs selected from fundry of the foreign operas by Bunoncini, Scarlatti, Stefani, Gafparini, and Albinoni. Heidegger by this performance alone was a gainer of 500 guineas. The judicious remarks he made on several defects in the conduct of our operas in general, and the hints he threw out for improving the entertainments of the royal theatre, soon established his character as a good critic. Appeals were made to his judgment; and some very magnificent and elegant decorations introduced upon the stage in consequence of his advice, gave such satisfaction to George II, who was fond of operas, that, upon being informed to whose genius he was indebted for these improvements, his majesty was pleased from that time to countenance him, and he soon obtained the chief management of the opera-house in the Haymarket. He Heidegger, then set about improving another species of diversion, not less agreeable to the king, which was the masquerades, and over these he always presided at the king's theatre. He was likewise appointed master of the revels. The nobility now cared for him so much, and had such an opinion of his taste, that all splendid and elegant entertainments given by them upon particular occasions, and all private assemblies by subscriptions, were submitted to his direction. From the emoluments of these several employments, he gained a regular considerable income, amounting, it is said, in some years, to 500l. which he spent with much liberality, particularly in the maintenance of a somewhat too luxurious table; so that it may be said he raised an income, but never a fortune. At the same time his charities ought not to pass unnoticed, which were frequent and ample. After a successful masquerade, he has been known to give away several hundred pounds at a time. "You know poor objects of distress better than I do," he would frequently lay to a particular acquaintance; "be so kind as to give away this money for me." This well-known liberality, perhaps, contributed much to his carrying on that diversion with so little opposition as he met with. He died in 1749, at the advanced age of 90 years.
As this person was long the Arbiter Elegantiarum of England, and is alluded to in many publications of his time, some account of him, it was thought, might be here expected: but to add all the anecdotes that have appeared concerning him, would enlarge this article beyond the limits to which it is entitled. One or two of the most remarkable, however, are subjoined in a note (A), as they may afford entertainment to many of our readers.
HEIDENHEIM, a town of Germany, in Swabia, and in the territory of Brentzhall, with a handsome palace or castle, belonging to the house of Wirtemberg. E. Long. 10. 19. N. Lat. 48. 37.