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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of Count Grammont, Volume 7
+by Anthony Hamilton
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Memoirs of Count Grammont, Volume 7
+
+Author: Anthony Hamilton
+
+Release Date: December 4, 2004 [EBook #5415]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COUNT GRAMMONT ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+         MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, VOLUME 7.
+
+             By Anthony Hamilton
+
+        EDITED, WITH NOTES, BY SIR WALTER SCOTT
+
+
+
+
+
+              CHAPTER ELEVENTH.
+
+     RETURN OF THE CHEVALIER GRAMMONT TO FRANCE--HE IS SENT
+     BACK TO ENGLAND--VARIOUS LOVE INTRIGUES AT THIS COURT,
+     AND MARRIAGE OF MOST OF THE HEROES OF THESE MEMOIRS.
+
+
+The nearer the Chevalier de Grammont approached the court of France, the
+more did he regret his absence from that of England.
+
+A thousand different thoughts occupied his mind upon the journey:
+Sometimes he reflected upon the joy and satisfaction his friends and
+relations would experience upon his return; sometimes upon the
+congratulations and embraces of those who, being neither the one nor the
+other, would, nevertheless, overwhelm him with impertinent compliments:
+All these ideas passed quickly through his head; for a man deeply in love
+makes it a scruple of conscience not to suffer any other thoughts to
+dwell upon his mind than those of the object beloved. It was then the
+tender, endearing remembrance of what he had left in London that diverted
+his thoughts from Paris; and it was the torments of absence that
+prevented his feeling those of the bad roads and the bad horses. His
+heart protested to Miss Hamilton, between Montreuil and Abbeville that he
+only tore himself from her with such haste, to return the sooner; after
+which, by a short reflection, comparing the regret he had formerly felt
+upon the same road, in quitting France for England, with that which he
+now experienced, in quitting England for France, he found the last much
+more insupportable than the former.
+
+It is thus that a man in love entertains himself upon the road; or
+rather, it is thus that a trifling writer abuses the patience of his
+reader, either to display his own sentiments, or to lengthen out a
+tedious story; but God forbid that this character should apply to
+ourselves, since we profess to insert nothing in these memoirs, but what
+we have heard from the mouth of him whose actions and sayings we transmit
+to posterity.
+
+Who, except Squire Feraulas, has ever been able to keep a register of all
+the thoughts, sighs, and exclamations, of his illustrious master? For my
+own part, I should never have thought that the attention of the Count de
+Grammont, which is at present so sensible to inconveniences and dangers,
+would have ever permitted him to entertain amorous thoughts upon the
+road, if he did not himself dictate to me what I am now writing.
+
+But let us speak of him at Abbeville. The postmaster was his old
+acquaintance: His hotel was the best provided of any between Calais and
+Paris; and the Chevalier de Grammont, alighting, told Termes he would
+drink a glass of wine during the time they were changing horses. It was
+about noon; and, since the preceding night, when they had landed at
+Calais, until this instant, they had not eat a single mouthful. Termes,
+praising the Lord, that natural feelings had for once prevailed over the
+inhumanity of his usual impatience, confirmed him as much as possible in
+such reasonable sentiments.
+
+Upon their entering the kitchen, where the Chevalier generally paid his
+first visit, they were surprised to see half a dozen spits loaded with
+game at the fire, and every other preparation for a magnificent
+entertainment. The heart of Termes leaped for joy: he gave private
+orders to the hostler to pull the shoes off some of the horses, that he
+might not be forced away from this place before he had satisfied his
+craving appetite.
+
+Soon after, a number of violins and hautboys, attended by all the mob of
+the town, entered the court. The landlord, being asked the reason of
+these great preparations, acquainted the Chevalier de Grammont that
+they were for the wedding of one of the most wealthy gentlemen in the
+neighbourhood with one of the handsomest girls in the whole province;
+that the entertainment was to be at his house; and that, if his lordship
+chose to stop, in a very short time he would see the new-married couple
+arrive from the church, since the music was already come. He was right
+in his conjectures; for these words were scarce out of his mouth, when
+three uncommonly large coaches, loaded with lackeys, as tall as Swiss,
+with most gaudy liveries, all covered with lace, appeared in the court,
+and disembarked the whole wedding company. Never was country
+magnificence more naturally displayed: Rusty tinsel, tarnished lace,
+striped silks, little eyes, and full swelling breasts, appeared on every
+side.
+
+If the first sight of the procession surprised the Chevalier de Grammont,
+faithful Termes was no less astonished at the second. The little that
+was to be seen of the bride's face appeared not without beauty; but no
+judgment could be formed of the remainder: Four dozen of patches, at
+least, and ten ringlets of hair, on each side, most completely concealed
+her from all human eyes; but it was the bridegroom who most particularly
+attracted the Chevalier de Grammont's attention.
+
+He was as ridiculously dressed as the rest of the company, except a coat
+of the greatest magnificence, and of the most exquisite taste. The
+Chevalier de Grammont, walking up to him to examine his dress, began to
+commend the embroidery of his coat. The bridegroom thought himself much
+honoured by this examination, and told him he bought it for one hundred
+and fifty louis, at the time he was paying his addresses to his wife.
+"Then you did not get it made here?" said the Chevalier de Grammont.
+"No," replied the other; "I bought it of a London merchant, who had
+ordered it for an English lord." The Chevalier de Grammont, who now
+began to perceive in what manner the adventure would end, asked him if
+he should recollect the merchant if he saw him again? "Recollect him!"
+replied the other, "I surely ought; for I was obliged to sit up drinking
+with him all night at Calais, as I was endeavouring to beat down the
+price." Termes had vanished out of sight as soon as ever this coat
+appeared, though he little supposed that the cursed bridegroom would
+have any conversation concerning it with his master.
+
+The Chevalier's thoughts were some time wavering between his inclination
+to laugh, and a desire of hanging Master Termes; but the long habit of
+suffering himself to be robbed by his domestics, together with the
+vigilance of the criminal, whom his master could not reproach with having
+slept in his service, inclined him to clemency; and yielding to the
+importunities of the country gentleman, in order to confound his faithful
+servant, he sat down to table, to make the thirty-seventh of the company.
+
+A short time after, he desired one of the waiters to call for a gentleman
+whose name was Termes. He immediately appeared; and as soon as the
+master of the feast saw him, he rose from table, and offering him his
+hand; "Welcome, my friend," said he; "you see that I have taken good care
+of the coat which you sold me with so much reluctance, and that I have
+kept it for a good purpose."
+
+Termes, having put on a face of brass, pretended not to know him, and
+pushed him back with some degree of rudeness. "No, no!" said the other;
+"since I was obliged to sit up with you the whole night, in order to
+strike the bargain, you shall pledge me in the bride's health."
+The Chevalier de Grammont, who saw that Termes was disconcerted,
+notwithstanding his impudence, said to him with a smile: "Come, come, my
+good London merchant, sit down, as you are so civilly invited: we are not
+so crowded at table but that there will be room enough for such an honest
+gentleman as yourself." At these words five-and-thirty of the guests
+were in motion to receive this new visitor: the bride alone, out of an
+idea of decorum, remained seated; and the audacious Termes, having
+swallowed the first shame of this adventure, began to lay about him at
+such a rate, as if it had been his intention to swallow all the wine
+provided for the wedding, if his master had not risen from the table as
+they were taking off four-and-twenty soups, to serve up as many other
+dishes in their stead.
+
+The company were not so unreasonable as to desire a man who was in such
+haste to remain to the end of a wedding dinner; but they all got up when
+he arose from table, and all that he could obtain from the bridegroom was
+that the company should not attend him to the gate of the inn. As for
+Termes, he wished they had not quitted him till the end of their journey,
+so much did he dread being left alone with his master.
+
+They had advanced some distance from Abbeville, and were proceeding on in
+the most profound silence, when Termes, who expected an end to it in a
+short time, was only solicitous in what manner it might happen, whether
+his master would attack him with a torrent of invectives, and certain
+epithets which were most justly his due, or whether, in an insulting,
+ironical manner, he might make use of such commendations as were most
+likely to confound him; but finding, instead of either, that he remained
+in sullen silence, he thought it prudent rather to prevent the speech the
+Chevalier was meditating than to suffer him to think longer about it;
+and, accordingly, arming himself with all his effrontery: "You seem to be
+very angry, Sir," said he, "and I suppose you think you have reason for
+being so; but the devil take me, if you are not mistaken in reality."
+
+"How! traitor! in reality?" said the Chevalier de Grammont. "It is then
+because I have not had thee well thrashed, as thou hast for a long time
+merited." "Look ye, Sir," replied Termes, "you always run into a
+passion, instead of listening to reason! Yes, Sir, I maintain that
+what I did was for your benefit." "And was not the quicksand likewise
+for my service?" said the Chevalier de Grammont. "Have patience,
+if you please," pursued the other: "I know not how that simpleton of
+a bridegroom happened to be at the custom-house when my portmanteau
+was examined at Calais: but these silly cuckolds thrust in their noses
+everywhere. As soon as ever he saw your coat, he fell in love with it.
+I immediately perceived he was a fool; for he fell down upon his knees,
+beseeching me to sell it him. Besides being greatly rumpled in the
+portmanteau, it was all stained in front by the sweat of the horses.
+I wonder how the devil he has managed to get it cleaned; but, faith,
+I am the greatest scoundrel in the world, if you would ever have put it
+on. In a word, it cost you one hundred and forty louis d'ors, and seeing
+he offered me one hundred and fifty for it; 'My master,' said I, 'has no
+occasion for this tinselled bauble to distinguish him at the ball; and,
+although he was pretty full of cash when I left him, how know I in what
+situation he may be upon my return? there is no certainty at play.'
+To be brief, Sir, I got ten louis d'ors for it more than it cost you:
+this you see is all clear profit: I will be accountable to you for it,
+and you know that I am sufficiently substantial to make good such a sum.
+Confess now, do you think you would have appeared to greater advantage at
+the ball, if you had been dressed out in that damned coat, which would
+have made you look just like the village bridegroom to whom we sold it?
+and yet how you stormed at London when you thought it lost; what fine
+stories you told the king about the quicksand; and how churlish you
+looked, when you first began to suppose that this country booby wore it
+at his wedding!"
+
+What could the Chevalier reply to such uncommon impudence? If he
+indulged his resentment, he must either have most severely bastinadoed
+him, or he must have discarded him, as the easiest escape the rogue could
+expect; but he had occasion for him during the remainder of his journey;
+and, as soon as he was at Paris, he had occasion for him for his return.
+
+The Marechal de Grammont had no sooner notice of his arrival than he went
+to him at the hotel; and, the first embraces being over on both sides,
+"Chevalier," said the Marechal, "how many days have you been in coming
+from London hither? for God knows at what a rate you travel on such
+occasions." The Chevalier told him he had been three days upon the road;
+and, to excuse himself for making no more haste, he related to him his
+Abbeville adventure. "It is a very entertaining one," said his brother;
+"but what is yet more entertaining is, that it will be your fault if you
+do not find your coat still at table; for the country gentry are not
+accustomed to rise very soon from a wedding dinner." And then, in a
+very serious tone, told him, "he knew not who had advised him to this
+unexpected return, which might probably ruin all his affairs; but he had
+orders from the king to bid him go back again without appearing at court.
+He told him afterwards that he was very much astonished at his
+impatience, as, till this time, he had conducted himself uncommonly well,
+and was sufficiently acquainted with the king's temper to know that the
+only way to merit his pardon was to wait until it freely came from his
+clemency."
+
+The Chevalier, in justification of his conduct, produced Madame de Saint
+Chaumont's letter, and told the Marechal that he would very willingly
+have spared her the trouble of writing him such kind of news, to occasion
+him so useless a journey. "Still more indiscretion," replied his
+brother; "for pray how long has our sister being either secretary of
+state or minister, that she should be employed by the king to make
+known his majesty's order? Do you wish to know the real state of the
+case? Some time ago the king told Madame--[Henrietta]--how you had
+refused the pension the King of England offered you.
+
+   ["Henrietta, youngest daughter of Charles the First,--born at Exeter
+   16th June, 1644, from whence she was removed to London in 1646, and,
+   with her governess, Lady Dalkeith, soon afterwards conveyed to
+   France. On the restoration, she came over to England with her
+   mother, but returned to France in about six months, and was married
+   to Philip, Duke of Orleans, only brother of Louis XIV. In May,
+   1670, she came again to Dover, on a mission of a political nature,
+   it is supposed, from the French king to her brother, in which she
+   was successful. She died, soon after her return to France,
+   suddenly, not without suspicion of having been poisoned by her
+   husband. King James, in his Diary, says, 'On the 22d of June, the
+   news of the Duchess of Orleans' death arrived. It was suspected
+   that counter-poisons were given her; but when she was opened, in the
+   presence of the English ambassador, the Earl of Ailesbury, an
+   English physician and surgeon, there appeared no grounds of
+   suspicion of any foul play. Yet Bucks tallied openly that she was
+   poisoned; and was so violent as to propose to foreign ministers to
+   make war on France.'--Macpherson's Original Papers, vol i. At the
+   end of Lord Arlington's Letters are five very remarkable ones from a
+   person of quality, who is said to have been actually on the spot,
+   giving a particular relation of her death.]
+
+"He appeared pleased with the manner in which Comminges had related to him
+the circumstances attending it, and said he was pleased with you for it:
+Madame interpreted this as an order for your recall; and Madame de Saint
+Chaumont being very far from possessing that wonderful discretion she
+imagines herself mistress of, she hastened to despatch to you this
+consequential order in her own hand. To conclude, Madame said yesterday,
+when the king was at dinner, that you would very soon be here; and the
+king, as soon as dinner was over, commanded me to send you back as soon
+as you arrived. Here you are; set off again immediately."
+
+This order might have appeared severe to the Chevalier de Grammont at any
+other time; but, in the present state of his heart, he soon resolved upon
+obeying. Nothing gave him uneasiness but the officious advice which had
+obliged him to leave the English court; and being entirely unconcerned
+that he was not allowed to see the French court before his departure, he
+only desired the Marechal to obtain leave for him to stay a few days to
+collect in some play debts which were owing him. This request was
+granted, on condition that he should not remain in Paris.
+
+He chose Vaugirard for his retreat: it was there that he had several
+adventures which he so often related in so humorous and diverting a
+manner, that it would be tedious to repeat them; there it was that he
+administered the sacrament in so solemn a manner, that, as there did not
+remain a sufficient number of Swiss at Versailles to guard the chapel,
+Vardes was obliged to acquaint the king that they were all gone to the
+Chevalier de Grammont, who was administering the sacrament at Vaugirard:
+there likewise happened that wonderful adventure which threw the first
+slur upon the reputation of the great Saucourt, when, having a
+tete-a-tete with the gardener's daughter, the horn, which was agreed upon
+as the signal to prevent surprises, was sounded so often, that the
+frequent alarms cooled the courage of the celebrated Saucourt, and
+rendered useless the assignation that was procured for him with one of
+the prettiest girls in the neighbourhood. It was, likewise, during his
+stay at Vaugirard, that he paid a visit to Mademoiselle de l'Hopital at
+Issy, to inquire into the truth of a report of an amour between her
+and a man of the long robe; and it was there that, on his arriving
+unexpectedly, the President de Maisons was forced to take refuge in a
+closet, with so much precipitation, that half of his robe remained on the
+outside when he shut the door; while the Chevalier de Grammont, who
+observed it, made his visit excessively long, in order to keep the two
+lovers upon the rack.
+
+His business being settled, he set out for England on the wings of love.
+Termes redoubled his vigilance upon the road. The post horses were ready
+in an instant at every stage: the winds and tides favoured his
+impatience; and he reached London with the highest satisfaction. The
+court was both surprised and charmed at his sudden return. No person
+condoled with him upon his late disappointment, which had occasioned him
+to come back, as he testified no manner of uneasiness concerning it
+himself: nor was Miss Hamilton in the least displeased at his readiness
+in obeying the orders of the king his master.
+
+Nothing new had happened in the English court during his short absence;
+but it assumed a different aspect soon after his return: I mean with
+respect to love and pleasure, which were the most serious concerns of the
+court during the greatest part of this gay reign.
+
+The Duke of Monmouth, natural son to Charles the Second, now made his
+first appearance in his father's court.
+
+   [James Duke of Monmouth, was the son of Charles the II., by one Lucy
+   Walters. He was born at Rotterdam, April 9, 1649, and bore the name
+   of James Crofts until the restoration. His education was chiefly at
+   Paris, under the eye of the queen-mother, and the government of
+   Thomas Ross, Esq., who was afterwards secretary to Mr. Coventry
+   during his embassy in Sweden. At the restoration, he was brought to
+   England, and received with joy by his father, who heaped honours and
+   riches upon him, which were not sufficient to satisfy his ambitious
+   views. To exclude his uncle, the Duke of York, from the throne, he
+   was continually intriguing with the opposers of government, and was
+   frequently in disgrace with his sovereign. On the accession of
+   James II. he made an ineffectual attempt to raise a rebellion, was
+   taken prisoner, and beheaded on Tower-hill, 15th July, 1685. Mr.
+   Macpherson has drawn his character in the following terms:
+   "Monmouth, highly beloved by the populace, was a fit instrument to
+   carry forward his (i.e. Shaftesbury's) designs. To a gracefulness
+   which prejudiced mankind in his favour as soon as seen, he joined an
+   affability which gained their love. Constant in his friendships,
+   and just to his word, by nature tender, and an utter enemy to
+   severity and cruelty, active and vigorous in his constitution, he
+   excelled in the manly exercises of the field. He was personally
+   brave. He loved the pomp and the very dangers of war. But with
+   these splendid qualities, he was vain to a degree of folly,
+   versatile in his measures, weak in his understanding. He was
+   ambitious without dignity, busy without consequence, attempting ever
+   to be artful, but always a fool. Thus, taking the applause of the
+   multitude for a certain mark of merit, he was the dupe of his own
+   vanity, and owed all his misfortunes to that weakness."--History of
+   England, vol. i., chap. iii.]
+
+His entrance upon the stage of the world was so brilliant, his ambition
+had occasioned so many considerable events, and the particulars of his
+tragical end are so recent, that it were needless to produce any other
+traits to give a sketch of his character. By the whole tenor of his
+life, he appeared to be rash in his undertakings, irresolute in the
+execution, and dejected in his misfortunes, in which, at least, an
+undaunted resolution ought to equal the greatness of the attempt.
+
+His figure and the exterior graces of his person were such, that nature
+perhaps never formed anything more complete: His face was extremely
+handsome; and yet it was a manly face, neither inanimate nor effeminate;
+each feature having its beauty and peculiar delicacy: He had a wonderful
+genius for every sort of exercise, an engaging aspect, and an air of
+grandeur: in a word, he possessed every personal advantage; but then he
+was greatly deficient in mental accomplishments. He had no sentiments
+but such as others inspired him with; and those who first insinuated
+themselves into his friendship, took care to inspire him with none but
+such as were pernicious. The astonishing beauty of his outward form
+caused universal admiration: those who before were looked upon as
+handsome were now entirely forgotten at court: and all the gay and
+beautiful of the fair sex were at his devotion. He was particularly
+beloved by the king; but the universal terror of husbands and lovers.
+This, however, did not long continue; for nature not having endowed him
+with qualifications to secure the possession of the heart, the fair sex
+soon perceived the defect.
+
+The Duchess of Cleveland was out of humour with the king, because the
+children she had by his majesty were like so many little puppets,
+compared to this new Adonis. She was the more particularly hurt, as she
+might have boasted of being the queen of love, in comparison with the
+duke's mother.
+
+The king, however, laughed at her reproaches, as, for some time, she had
+certainly no right to make any; and, as this piece of jealousy appeared
+to be more ill-founded than any she had formerly affected, no person
+approved of her ridiculous resentment. Not succeeding in this, she
+formed another scheme to give the king uneasiness: Instead of opposing
+his extreme tenderness for his son, she pretended to adopt him, in her
+affection, by a thousand commendations and caresses, which she was daily
+and continually increasing. As these endearments were public, she
+imagined they could not be suspected; but she was too well known for
+her real design to be mistaken. The king was no longer jealous of her;
+but, as the Duke of Monmouth was of an age not to be insensible to the
+attractions of a woman possessing so many charms, he thought it proper to
+withdraw him from this pretended mother-in-law, to preserve his
+innocence, or at least his fame, uncontaminated: it was for this reason,
+therefore, that the king married him so young. An heiress of five
+thousand pounds a-year in Scotland, offered very a-propos: her person was
+full of charms, and her mind possessed all those perfections in which the
+handsome Monmouth was deficient.
+
+   [This was Lady Anne Scott, daughter and sole heir of Francis, Earl
+   of Buccleugh, only son and heir of Walter, Lord Scott, created Earl
+   of Buccleugh in 1619. On their marriage the duke took the surname
+   of Scott, and he and his lady were created Duke and Duchess of
+   Buccleugh, Earl and Countess of Dalkeith, Baron and Baroness of
+   Whitchester and Ashdale in Scotland, by letters patent, dated April
+   20th, 1673. Also, two days after he was installed at Windsor, the
+   king and queen, the Duke of York, and most of the court being
+   present. The next day, being St. George's day, his majesty
+   solemnized it with a royal feast, and entertained the knights
+   companions in St. George's hall in the castle of Windsor. Though
+   there were several children of this marriage, it does not appear to
+   have been a happy one; the duke, without concealment attaching
+   himself to Lady Harriet Wentworth, whom, with his dying breath, he
+   declared he considered as his only wife in the sight of God. The
+   duchess, in May, 1688, took to her second husband Charles, Lord
+   Cornwallis. She died Feb. 6, 1731-32, in the 81st year of her age,
+   and was buried at Dalkeith in Scotland. Our author is not more
+   correct about figures than he avows himself to be in the arrangement
+   of facts and dates: the duchess's fortune was much greater than he
+   has stated it to have been.]
+
+New festivals and entertainments celebrated this marriage. The most
+effectual method to pay court to the king, was to outshine the rest in
+brilliancy and grandeur; and whilst these rejoicings brought forward all
+manner of gallantry and magnificence, they either revived old, or
+established new amours.
+
+The fair Stewart, then in the meridian of her glory, attracted all eyes,
+and commanded universal respect and admiration. The Duchess of Cleveland
+endeavoured to eclipse her at this fate, by a load of jewels, and by all
+the artificial ornaments of dress; but it was in vain: her face looked
+rather thin and pale, from the commencement of a third or fourth
+pregnancy, which the king was still pleased to place to his own account;
+and, as for the rest, her person could in no respect stand in competition
+with the grace and beauty of Miss Stewart.
+
+It was during this last effort of her charms, that she would have been
+queen of England, had the king been as free to give his hand as he was
+to surrender his heart: for it was at this time that the Duke of Richmond
+took it into his head either to marry her, or to die in the attempt.
+
+A few months after the celebration of the Duke of Monmouth's nuptials,
+Killegrew, having nothing better to do; fell in love with Lady
+Shrewsbury; and, as Lady Shrewsbury, by a very extraordinary chance,
+had no engagement at that time, their amour was soon established. No one
+thought of interrupting an intimacy which did not concern any one; but
+Killegrew thought proper to disturb it himself. Not that his happiness
+fell short of his expectation, nor did possession put him out of love
+with a situation so enviable; but he was amazed that he was not envied,
+and offended that his good fortune raised him no rivals.
+
+He possessed a great deal of wit, and still more eloquence, which most
+particularly displayed itself when he was a little elevated with the
+juice of the grape: he then indulged himself in giving luxurious
+descriptions of Lady Shrewsbury's most secret charms and beauties, which
+above half the court were as well acquainted with as himself.
+
+The Duke of Buckingham was one of those who could only judge from outward
+appearances: and appearances, in his opinion, did not seem to promise any
+thing so exquisite as the extravagant praises of Killegrew would infer.
+As this indiscreet lover was a frequent guest at the Duke of Buckingham's
+table, he was continually employing his rhetoric on this subject, and he
+had full opportunity for his harangues; for they generally sat down to
+dinner at four o'clock, and only rose just in time for the play in the
+evening.
+
+The Duke of Buckingham, whose ears were continually deafened with
+descriptions of Lady Shrewsbury's merits, resolved at last to examine
+into the truth of the matter himself. As soon as he had made the
+experiment, he was satisfied; and, though he fancied that fame did
+not exceed the truth, yet this intrigue began in such a manner, that
+it was generally believed its duration would be short, considering, the
+fickleness of both parties, and the vivacity with which they had engaged
+in it: nevertheless, no amour in England ever continued so long.
+
+The imprudent Killegrew, who could not be satisfied without rivals, was
+obliged, in the end, to be satisfied without a mistress. This he bore
+very impatiently; but so far was Lady Shrewsbury from hearkening to, or
+affording any redress for the grievances at first complained of, that she
+pretended even not to know him. His spirit could not brook such
+treatment; and without ever considering that he was the author of his own
+disgrace, he let loose all his abusive eloquence against her ladyship: he
+attacked her with the most bitter invectives from head to foot: he drew
+a frightful picture of her conduct; and turned all her personal charms,
+which he used to extol, into defects. He was privately warned of the
+inconveniences to which these declamations might subject him, but
+despised the advice, and, persisting, he soon had reason to repent it.
+
+As he was returning one evening from the Duke of York's apartments at
+St. James's, three passes with a sword were made at him through his
+chair, one of which went entirely through his arm. Upon this, he was
+sensible of the danger to which his intemperate tongue had exposed him,
+over and above the loss of his mistress. The assassins made their escape
+across the Park, not doubting but they had dispatched him.
+
+Killegrew thought that all complaints would be useless; for what redress
+from justice could he expect for an attempt of which his wounds were his
+only evidence? And, besides, he was convinced that if he began a
+prosecution founded upon appearances and conjectures, the parties
+concerned would take the shortest and most effectual means to put a stop
+to all inquiries upon the subject, and that their second attempt would
+not prove ineffectual. Being desirous, therefore, of deserving mercy
+from those who had endeavoured to assassinate him, he no longer continued
+his satires, and said not a word of the adventure. The Duke of
+Buckingham and Lady Shrewsbury remained for a long period both happy and
+contented. Never before had her constancy been of so long a duration;
+nor had he ever been so submissive and respectful a lover.
+
+This continued until Lord Shrewsbury, who never before had shown the
+least uneasiness at his lady's misconduct, thought proper to resent this:
+it was public enough, indeed, but less dishonourable to her than any of
+her former intrigues. Poor Lord Shrewsbury, too polite a man to make any
+reproaches to his wife, was resolved to have redress for his injured
+honour: he accordingly challenged the Duke of Buckingham; and the Duke
+of Buckingham, as a reparation for his honour, having killed him upon the
+spot, remained a peaceable possessor of this famous Helen. The public
+was at first shocked at the transaction; but the public grows familiar
+with everything by habit, and by degrees both decency, and even virtue
+itself, are rendered tame, and overcome. The queen was at the head of
+those who exclaimed against so public and scandalous a crime, and against
+the impunity of such a wicked act. As the Duchess of Buckingham was a
+short fat body, like her majesty, who never had had any children, and
+whom her husband had abandoned for another; this sort of parallel in
+their situations interested the queen in her favour; but it was all in
+vain: no person paid any attention to them; the licentiousness of the age
+went on uncontrolled, though the queen endeavoured to raise up the
+serious part of the nation, the politicians and devotees, as enemies
+against it.
+
+The fate of this princess was in many cases truly melancholy: The king,
+indeed, paid her every outward attention; but that was all: She easily
+perceived that the respect he entertained for her daily diminished, in
+proportion as the credit of her rivals increased: She saw that the king
+her husband was now totally indifferent about legitimate children, since
+his all-charming mistresses bore him others. As all the happiness of her
+life depended upon that blessing, and as she flattered herself that the
+king would prove kinder to her if Heaven would vouchsafe to grant her
+desires, she had recourse to all the celebrated secrets against
+sterility: pious vows, nine days' prayers, and offerings having been
+tried in all manners, but all to no purpose, she was at last obliged
+to return to natural means.
+
+What would she have given on this occasion for the ring which Archbishop
+Turpin wore on his finger, and which made Charlemagne run after him, in
+the same manner as it had made him run after one of his concubines, from
+whose finger Turpin had taken it after her death! But it is now many
+years since the only talismans for creating love are the charms of the
+person beloved, and foreign enchantments have been looked upon as
+ineffectual. The queen's physicians, men of great prudence, sagacity,
+and wisdom, as they always are, having duly weighed and considered that
+the cold waters of Tunbridge had not succeeded in the preceding year,
+concluded that it would be advisable for her to try the warm baths at
+Bristol--[Probably Bath, D.W.]--This journey was therefore fixed for the
+next season; and in the confidence of its proving effectual, this
+excursion would have afforded her much pleasure, if the most dangerous of
+her rivals had not been one of the first that was appointed to attend the
+court. The Duchess of Cleveland being then near her time, there was no
+uneasiness on her account: the common rules of decency required a little
+attention. The public, it is true, was not either more or less
+acquainted with the circumstances of her situation; by the care which
+she now took to conceal it; but her appearing at court in her present
+condition would have been too great an insult to the queen. Miss
+Stewart, more handsome than ever, was appointed for this excursion, and
+began to make magnificent preparations. The poor queen durst say nothing
+against it; but all hopes of success immediately forsook her. What could
+the baths, or the feeble virtue of the waters, perform against charms
+that entirely counteracted their effects, either through the grief and
+uneasiness they occasioned her, or by their still more powerful
+consequences?
+
+The Chevalier de Grammont, to whom all pleasures were insipid without the
+presence of Miss Hamilton, was yet unable to excuse himself from
+attending the court: the king delighted too much in his sprightly
+conversation to leave him behind; and however pleasing his company might
+have been in the solitude occasioned by the absence of the court, Miss
+Hamilton did not think it right to accept his offer of staying in town,
+because she was obliged to remain there: she, however, granted him the
+permission of writing her an account of any news that might occur upon
+the journey. He failed not to make use of this permission, in such a
+manner as one may imagine: and his own concerns took up so much space
+in his letters, that there was very little room left for other subjects
+during his stay at the baths. As absence from the object of his
+affections rendered this place insupportable, he engaged in everything
+that might dissipate his impatience, until the happy moment of return
+arrived.
+
+He had a great esteem for the elder of the Hamiltons; no less esteem, and
+far more friendship for his brother, whom he made the confidant of his
+passion and attachment for his sister. The Chevalier was also acquainted
+with his first engagements with his cousin Wetenhall; but being ignorant
+of the coldness that had interrupted a commerce so brisk in its
+commencement, he was surprised at the eagerness he showed upon all
+occasions to please Miss Stewart: his assiduity appeared to the Chevalier
+de Grammont to exceed those civilities and attentions that are usually
+paid for the purpose of making court to the favourites of princes.
+He observed him more strictly, and soon perceived that he was deeper in
+love with her than was consistent either with his fortune or his repose.
+As soon as the remarks he made had confirmed him in his suspicions,
+he resolved to use his endeavours to prevent the consequences of an
+engagement pernicious in every respect: but he waited for a proper
+opportunity of speaking to him upon the subject.
+
+In the mean time, the court enjoyed every kind of diversion, in a place
+where amusement is sought with avidity. The game of bowls, which in
+France is the pastime of mechanics and servants only, is quite the
+contrary in England, where it is the exercise of gentlemen, and requires
+both art and address: it is only in use during the fair and dry part of
+the season, and the places where it is practised are charming, delicious
+walks, called bowling-greens, which are little square grass plots, where
+the turf is almost as smooth and level as the cloth of a billiard-table.
+As soon as the heat of the day is over, all the company assemble there:
+they play deep; and spectators are at liberty to make what bets they
+please.
+
+The Chevalier de Grammont, long before initiated in the English games
+and diversions, had been engaged in a horse-race, in which he was indeed
+unsuccessful; but he had the satisfaction of being convinced by
+experience, that an English horse can go twenty miles upon the high road
+in less than an hour. He was more fortunate at cock-fighting; and in the
+bets he made at the bowling-green, the party he betted upon never failed
+to win.
+
+Near all these places of diversion there is usually a sort of inn, or
+house of entertainment, with a bower or arbour, in which are sold all
+sorts of English liquors, such as cider, mead, bottled beer, and Spanish
+wines. Here the rooks meet every evening to drink, smoke, and to try
+their skill upon each other, or, in other words, to endeavour to trick
+one another out of the winnings of the day. These rooks are, properly
+speaking, what we call capons or piqueurs, in France; men who always
+carry money about them, to enable them to lend to losing gamesters, for
+which they receive a gratification, which is nothing for such as play
+deep, as it is only two per cent., and the money to be repaid the next
+day.
+
+These gentlemen are so nice in their calculations, and so particularly
+skilful in all manner of games, that no person would dare to enter the
+lists with them, were they even assured that no unfairness would be
+practised. Besides, they make a vow, to win four or five guineas a day,
+and to be satisfied with that gain; a vow which they seldom or never
+break.
+
+It was in the midst of a company of these rooks, that Hamilton found the
+Chevalier de Grammont, when he called in one evening to get a glass of
+cider. They were playing at hazard; and as he who holds the dice is
+supposed to have the advantage, the rooks did the Chevalier de Grammont
+that honour out of compliment: he had the dice in his hand when Hamilton
+came into the room. The rooks, secure of their odds, were betting
+against him at a high rate, and he took all.
+
+Hamilton could hardly believe his eyes, to see a man of his experience
+and knowledge engaged in so unequal a contest; but it was to no purpose
+that he informed him of his danger, both aloud in French, and in private
+by signs; he still disregarded his warnings, and the dice, that bore
+Caesar and his fortunes, performed a miracle in his favour. The rooks
+were defeated for the first time, but not without bestowing upon him all
+the encomiums and praises of being a very fair and honourable player,
+which they never fail to lavish upon those whom they wish to engage a
+second time; but all their commendations were lost, and their hopes
+deceived: the Chevalier was satisfied with the first experiment.
+
+Hamilton, when the king was at supper, related to him how he found the
+Chevalier de Grammont rashly engaged with the rooks, and in what manner
+he had been providentially preserved. "Indeed, Sir," said the Chevalier
+de Grammont, "the rooks were discomfited for once;" and thereupon related
+the adventure to his majesty in his usual way, attracting the attention
+of all the company, to a circumstance trifling in itself, but rendered
+interesting by his humour.
+
+After supper, Miss Stewart, in whose apartment there was play, called
+Hamilton to her to tell the story. The Chevalier de Grammont, perceiving
+that she attended to him with pleasure, was fully confirmed in the truth
+of his first conjectures; and, having carried Hamilton home with him to
+supper, they began to discourse freely together as usual, "George," said
+the Chevalier de Grammont, "are you in any want of money? I know you
+love play: perhaps it may not be so favourable to you as it is to me. We
+are at a great distance from London. Here are two hundred guineas: take
+them, I beseech you; they will do to play with at Miss Stewart's."
+Hamilton, who little expected this conclusion, was rather disconcerted.
+"How! at Miss Stewart's!" "Yes, in her apartments. Friend George,"
+continued the Chevalier de Grammont, "I have not yet lost my eyes: you
+are in love with her, and, if I am not mistaken, she is not offended at
+it; but tell me how you could resolve to banish poor Wetenhall from your
+heart, and suffer yourself to be infatuated with a girl, who perhaps
+after all is not worth the other, and who besides, whatever favourable
+dispositions she may have for you, will undoubtedly in the end prove your
+ruin. Faith, your brother and you are two pretty fellows, in your
+choice. What! can you find no other beauties in all the court to fall
+in love with, except the king's two mistresses! As for the elder
+brother, I can pardon him he only took Lady Castlemaine after his master
+had done with her, and after Lady Chesterfield had discarded him; but,
+as for you, what the devil do you intend to do with a creature, on whom
+the king seems every day to dote with increasing fondness? Is it because
+that drunken sot Richmond has again come forward, and now declares
+himself one of her professed admirers? You will soon see what he will
+make by it: I have not forgotten what the king said to me upon the
+subject. 'Believe me, my dear friend, there is no playing tricks with
+our masters; I mean, there is no ogling their mistresses.' I myself
+wanted to play the agreeable in France with a little coquette, whom
+the king did not care about, and you know how dearly I paid for it.
+I confess she gives you fair play, but do not trust to her. All the sex
+feel an unspeakable satisfaction at having men in their train, whom they
+care not for, and to use them as their slaves of state, merely to swell
+their equipage. Would it not be a great deal better to pass a week or
+ten days incognito at Peckham, with the philosopher Wetenhall's wife,
+than to have it inserted in the Dutch Gazette.--We hear from Bristol,
+that such a one is banished the court on account of Miss Stewart, and
+that he is going to make a campaign in Guinea on board the fleet that is
+fitting out for the expedition, under the command of Prince Rupert."
+
+Hamilton, who was the more convinced of the truth of this discourse, the
+more he considered it, after musing some time, appeared to wake from a
+dream, and addressing himself with an air of gratitude to the Chevalier
+de Grammont: "Of all the men in the world, my dear friend," said he, "you
+have the most agreeable wit, and at the same time the clearest judgment
+with respect to your friends: what you have told me has opened my eyes.
+I began to suffer myself to be seduced by the most ridiculous illusion
+imaginable, and to be hurried away rather by frivolous appearances than
+any real inclination: to you I owe the obligation of having preserved me
+from destruction at the very brink of a precipice. This is not the only
+kindness you have done me, your favours have been innumerable; and,
+as a proof of my gratitude for this last, I will follow your advice,
+and go into retirement at my cousin Wetenhall's, to eradicate from my
+recollection every trace of those chimeras which lately possessed my
+brain; but so far from going thither incognito, I will take you along
+with me, as soon as the court returns to London. My sister shall
+likewise be of the party; for it is prudent to use all precautions with
+a man who, with a great deal of merit, on such occasions is not over
+scrupulous, if we may credit your philosopher." "Do not pay any
+attention to that pedant," replied the Chevalier de Grammont: "but tell
+me what put it into your head to form a design upon that inanimate
+statue, Miss Stewart?" "How the devil should I know?" said Hamilton:
+"you are acquainted with all her childish amusements. The old Lord
+Carlingford was at her apartment one evening, showing her how to hold a
+lighted wax candle in her mouth, and the grand secret consisted in
+keeping the burning end there a long time without its being extinguished.
+I have, thank God, a pretty large mouth, and, in order to out-do her
+teacher, I took two candles into my mouth at the same time, and walked
+three times round the room without their going out. Every person present
+adjudged me the prize of this illustrious experiment, and Killegrew
+maintained that nothing but a lanthorn could stand in competition with
+me. Upon this she was like to die with laughing; and thus was I admitted
+into the familiarity of her amusements. It is impossible to deny her
+being one of the most charming creatures that ever was: since the court
+has been in the country, I have had an hundred opportunities of seeing
+her, which I had not before. You know that the dishabille of the bath is
+a great convenience for those ladies, who, strictly adhering to all the
+rules of decorum, are yet desirous to display all their charms and
+attractions. Miss Stewart is so fully acquainted with the advantages she
+possesses over all other women, that it is hardly possible to praise any
+lady at court for a well-turned arm, and a fine leg, but she is ever
+ready to dispute the point by demonstration; and I really believe, that,
+with a little address, it would not be difficult to induce her to strip
+naked, without ever reflecting upon what she was doing. After all, a man
+must be very insensible to remain unconcerned and unmoved on such happy
+occasions; and, besides, the good opinion we entertain of ourselves is
+apt to make us think a woman is smitten, as soon as she distinguishes us
+by habitual familiarity, which most commonly signifies nothing. This is
+the truth of the matter with respect to myself: my own presumption, her
+beauty, the brilliant station that sets it off, and a thousand kind
+things she had said to me, prevented me from making serious reflections;
+but then, as some excuse for my folly, I must likewise tell you, that the
+facility I found in making her the tenderest declarations by commending
+her, and her telling me in confidence a thousand things which she ought
+not to have entrusted me with, might have deceived or infatuated any
+other man as well as myself.
+
+"I presented her with one of the prettiest horses in England. You know
+what peculiar grace and elegance distinguish her on horseback. The king,
+who, of all the diversions of the chase, likes none but hawking, because
+it is the most convenient for the ladies, went out the other day to take
+this amusement, attended by all the beauties of his court. His majesty
+having galloped after a falcon, and the whole bright squadron after him,
+the rustling of Miss Stewart's petticoats frightened her horse, which was
+at full speed, endeavouring to come up with mine, that had been his
+companion; so that I was the only witness of a disorder in her clothes,
+which displayed a thousand new beauties to my view. I had the good
+fortune to make such gallant and flattering exclamations upon that
+charming disorder as to prevent her being concerned or out of countenance
+upon it: on the contrary, this subject of my admiration has been
+frequently since the subject of our conversation, and did not seem to
+displease her.
+
+"Old Lord Carlingford, and that mad fellow, Crofts (for I must now make
+you my general confession), those insipid buffoons, were frequently
+telling her some diverting stories, which passed pretty well with the
+help of a few old threadbare jests, or some apish tricks in the recital,
+which made her laugh heartily. As for myself, who know no stories, and
+do not possess the talent of improving them by telling, if I did know
+any, I was often greatly embarrassed when she desired me to tell her one:
+'I do not know one, indeed,' said I, one day, when she was teazing me on
+the subject. 'Invent one, then,' said she. 'That would be still more
+difficult,' replied I; 'but if you will give me leave, madam, I will
+relate to you a very extraordinary dream, which has, however, less
+appearance of truth in it than dreams generally have.' This excited her
+curiosity, which would brook no denial. I therefore began to tell her
+that the most beautiful creature in the world, whom I loved to
+distraction, paid me a visit in my sleep. I then drew her own portrait,
+with a rapturous description of all her beauties; adding, that this
+goddess, who came to visit me with the most favourable intentions, did
+not counteract them by any unreasonable cruelty. This was not sufficient
+to satisfy Miss Stewart's curiosity: I was obliged to relate every
+particular circumstance of the kindness I experienced from this delicate
+phantom; to which she was so very attentive, that she never once appeared
+surprised or disconcerted at the luscious tale. On the contrary, she
+made me repeat the description of the beauty, which I drew as near as
+possible after her own person, and after such charms as I imagined of
+beauties that were unknown to me.
+
+"This is, in fact, the very thing that had almost deprived me of my
+senses: she knew very well that she herself was the person I was
+describing: we were alone, as you may imagine, when I told her this
+story; and my eyes did their utmost to persuade her that it was herself
+whom I drew. I perceived that she was not in the least offended at
+knowing this; nor was her modesty in the least alarmed at the relation of
+a fiction, which I might have concluded in a manner still less discreet,
+if I had thought proper. This patient audience made me plunge headlong
+into the ocean of flattering ideas that presented themselves to my
+imagination. I then no longer thought of the king, nor how passionately
+fond he was of her, nor of the dangers attendant upon such an engagement:
+in short, I know not what the devil I was thinking of; but I am very
+certain that, if you had not been thinking for me, I might have found my
+ruin in the midst of these distracted visions."
+
+Not long after, the court returned to London; and from that time, some
+malevolent star having gained the ascendant, every thing went cross in
+the empire of Love: vexation, suspicions, or jealousies, first entered
+the field, to set all hearts at variance; next, false reports, slander,
+and disputes, completed the ruin of all.
+
+The Duchess of Cleveland had been brought to bed while the court was at
+Bristol; and never before had she recovered from her lying-in with such
+a profusion of charms. This made her believe that she was in a proper
+state to retrieve her ancient rights over the king's heart, if she had an
+opportunity of appearing before him with this increased splendour. Her
+friends being of the same opinion, her equipage was prepared for this
+expedition; but the very evening before the day she had fixed on to set
+out, she saw young Churchill, and was at once seized with a disease,
+which had more than once opposed her projects, and which she could never
+completely get the better of.
+
+   [Churchill--Afterwards the celebrated Duke of Marlborough. He was
+   born midsummer-day, 1650, and died June 16, 1722. Bishop Burnet
+   takes notice of the discovery of this intrigue. "The Duchess of
+   Cleveland finding that she had lost the king, abandoned herself to
+   great disorders; one of which, by the artifice of the Duke of
+   Buckingham, was discovered by the king in person, the party
+   concerned leaping out of the window."--History of his own Times,
+   vol. i. p. 370. This was in 1668. A very particular account of
+   this intrigue is to be seen in the Atalantis of Mrs. Manley, vol.
+   i., p. 30. The same writer, who had lived as companion to the
+   Duchess of Cleveland, says, in the account of her own life, that she
+   was an eye-witness when the duke, who had received thousands from
+   the duchess, refused the common civility of lending her twenty
+   guineas at basset.--The history of Rivella, 4th ed. 1725, p. 33.
+   Lord Chesterfield's character of this noblemen is too remarkable to
+   be omitted.
+
+   "Of all the men that ever I knew in my life, (and I knew him
+   extremely well,) the late Duke of Marlborough possessed the graces
+   in the highest degree, not to say engrossed them: and indeed he got
+   the most by them! for I will venture, (contrary to the custom of
+   profound historians, who always assign deep causes to great events,)
+   to ascribe the better half of the Duke of Marlborough's greatness
+   and riches to those graces. He was eminently illiterate, wrote bad
+   English, and spelled it still worse. He had no share of what is
+   commonly called parts; that is, he had no brightness, nothing
+   shining in his genius. He had, most undoubtedly, an excellent good
+   plain understanding, with sound judgment. But these alone would
+   probably have raised him but something higher than they found him,
+   which was page to King James II.'s queen. There the graces
+   protected and promoted him; for while he was an ensign of the
+   guards, the Duchess of Cleveland, then favourite mistress to King
+   Charles II., struck by those very graces, gave him five thousand
+   pounds; with which he immediately bought an annuity for his life, of
+   five hundred pounds a-year, of my grandfather, Halifax; which was
+   the foundation of his subsequent fortune. His figure was beautiful;
+   but his manner was irresistible by either man or woman. It was by
+   this engaging, graceful manner, that he was enabled, during all his
+   wars, to connect the various and jarring powers of the grand
+   alliance, and to carry them on to the main object of the war,
+   notwithstanding their private and separate views, jealousies, and
+   wrong-headednesses. Whatever court he went to, (and he was often
+   obliged to go himself to some restive and refractory ones,) he as
+   constantly prevailed, and brought them into his measures. The
+   pensionary Heinsius, a venerable old minister, grown grey in
+   business, and who had governed the republic of the United Provinces
+   for more than forty years, was absolutely governed by the Duke of
+   Marlborough, as that republic feels to this day. He was always
+   cool; and nobody ever observed the least variation in his
+   countenance. He could refuse more gracefully than other people
+   could grant; and those who went away from him the most dissatisfied,
+   as to the substance of their business, were yet personally charmed
+   with him, and, in some degree, comforted by his manner. With all
+   his gracefulness, no man living was more conscious of his situation,
+   or maintained his dignity better."--Chest. Letters, letter 136.]
+
+A man who, from an ensign in the guards, was raised to such a fortune,
+must certainly possess an uncommon share of prudence, not to be
+intoxicated with his happiness. Churchill boasted in all places of
+the new favour he had received: the Duchess of Cleveland, who neither
+recommended to him circumspection in his behaviour, nor in his
+conversation, did not seem to be in the least concerned at his
+indiscretion. Thus this intrigue was become a general topic in all
+companies, when the court arrived in London, and occasioned an immense
+number of speculations and reasonings: some said she had already
+presented him with Jermyn's pension, and Jacob Hall's salary, because
+the merits and qualifications of both were united in his person: others
+maintained that he had too indolent an air, and too delicate a shape,
+long to maintain himself in her favour; but all agreed that a man who was
+the favourite of the king's mistress, and brother to the duke's
+favourite, was in a fair way of preferment, and could not fail to make
+his fortune. As a proof, the Duke of York soon after gave him a place in
+his household: this was naturally to be expected; but the king, who did
+not think that Lady Cleveland's kindness to him was a sufficient
+recommendation to his favour, thought proper to forbid him the court.
+
+This good-natured king began now to be rather peevish: nor was it
+altogether without reason: he disturbed no person in their amours, and
+yet others had often the presumption to encroach upon his. Lord Dorset,
+first lord of the bed-chamber, had lately debauched from his service Nell
+Gwyn, the actress. Lady Cleveland, whom he now no longer regarded,
+continued to disgrace him by repeated infidelities with unworthy rivals,
+and almost ruined him by the immense sums she lavished on her gallants;
+but that which most sensibly affected him, was the late coldness and
+threats of Miss Stewart. He long since had offered her all the
+settlements and all the titles she could desire, until he had an
+opportunity more effectually to provide for her, which she had pretended
+only to decline, for fear of the scandal they might occasion, on her
+being raised to a rank which would attract the public notice; but since
+the return of the court, she had given herself other airs: sometimes she
+was for retiring from court, to appease the continual uneasiness her
+presence gave the queen: at other times it was to avoid temptations,
+by which she wished to insinuate that her innocence was still preserved:
+in short, the king's heart was continually distracted by alarms, or
+oppressed by humour and caprice.
+
+As he could not for his life imagine what Miss Stewart wished him to do,
+or what she would be at, he thought upon reforming his establishment of
+mistresses, to try whether jealousy was not the real occasion of her
+uneasiness. It was for this reason that, after having solemnly declared
+he would have nothing more to say to the Duchess of Cleveland, since her
+intrigue with Churchill, he discarded, without any exception, all the
+other mistresses which he had in various parts of the town. The Nell
+Gwyns, the Misses Davis, and the joyous rain of singers and dancers in
+his majesty's theatre, were all dismissed. All these sacrifices were
+ineffectual: Miss Stewart continued to torment, and almost to drive the
+king to distraction; but his majesty soon after found out the real cause
+of this coldness.
+
+This discovery was owing to the officious Duchess of Cleveland, who, ever
+since her disgrace, had railed most bitterly against Miss Stewart as the
+cause of it, and against the king's weakness, who, for an inanimate
+idiot, had treated her with so much indignity. As some of her grace's
+creatures were still in the king's confidence, by their means she was
+informed of the king's uneasiness, and that Miss Stewart's behaviour was
+the occasion of it--and as soon as she had found the opportunity she had
+so long wished for, she went directly into the king's cabinet, through
+the apartment of one of his pages called Chiffinch. This way was not new
+to her.
+
+The king was just returned from visiting Miss Stewart, in a very ill
+humour: the presence of the Duchess of Cleveland surprised him, and did
+not in the least diminish it: she, perceiving this, accosted him in an
+ironical tone, and with a smile of indignation. "I hope," said she,
+"I may be allowed to pay you my homage, although the angelic Stewart has
+forbid you to see me at my own house. I will not make use of reproaches
+and expostulations, which would disgrace myself: still less will I
+endeavour to excuse frailties which nothing can justify, since your
+constancy for me deprives me of all defence, considering I am the only
+person you have honoured with your tenderness, who has made herself
+unworthy of it by ill conduct. I come now, therefore, with no other
+intent than to comfort and to condole with you upon the affliction and
+grief into which the coldness, or new-fashioned chastity of the inhuman
+Stewart have reduced your majesty." These words were attended by a fit
+of laughter, as unnatural and strained as it was insulting and
+immoderate, which completed the king's impatience: he had, indeed,
+expected that some bitter jest would follow this preamble; but he did not
+suppose she would have given herself such blustering airs, considering
+the terms they were then upon; and, as he was preparing to answer her:
+"be not offended," said she, "that I take the liberty of laughing at the
+gross manner in which you are imposed upon: I cannot bear to see that
+such particular affectation should make you the jest of your own court,
+and that you should be ridiculed with such impunity. I know that the
+affected Stuart has sent you away, under pretence of some indisposition,
+or perhaps some scruple of conscience; and I come to acquaint you that
+the Duke of Richmond will soon be with her, if he is not there already.
+I do not desire you to believe what I say, since it might be suggested
+either through resentment or envy: only follow me to her apartment,
+either that, no longer trusting calumny and malice, you may honour her
+with a just preference, if I accuse her falsely; or, if my information be
+true, you may no longer be the dupe of a pretended prude, who makes you
+act so unbecoming and ridiculous a part."
+
+As she ended this speech, she took him by the hand, while he was yet
+undecided, and pulled him away towards her rival's apartments. Chiffinch
+being in her interest, Miss Stewart could have no warning of the visit;
+and Babiani, who owed all to the Duchess of Cleveland, and who served her
+admirably well upon this occasion, came and told her that the Duke of
+Richmond had just gone into Miss Stewart's chamber. It was in the middle
+of a little gallery, which, through a private door, led from the king's
+apartments to those of his mistresses. The Duchess of Cleveland wished
+him good night, as he entered her rival's chamber, and retired, in order
+to wait the success of the adventure, of which Babiani, who attended the
+king, was charged to come and give her an account.
+
+It was near midnight: the king, in his way, met his mistress's
+chamber-maids, who respectfully opposed his entrance, and in a very low
+voice, whispered his majesty that Miss Stewart had been very ill since he
+left her: but that, being gone to bed, she was, God be thanked, in a very
+fine sleep. "That I must see," said the king, pushing her back, who had
+posted herself in his way. He found Miss Stewart in bed, indeed, but far
+from being asleep: the Duke of Richmond was seated at her pillow, and in
+all probability was less inclined to sleep than herself. The perplexity
+of the one party, and the rage of the other, were such as may easily be
+imagined upon such a surprise. The king, who, of all men, was one of the
+most mild and gentle, testified his resentment to the Duke of Richmond in
+such terms as he had never before used. The duke was speechless, and
+almost petrified: he saw his master and his king justly irritated. The
+first transports which rage inspires on such occasions are dangerous.
+Miss Stewart, window was very convenient for a sudden revenge, the Thames
+flowing close beneath it: he cast his eyes upon it; and, seeing those of
+the king more incensed and fired with indignation than he thought his
+nature capable of, he made a profound bow, and retired, without replying
+a single word to the vast torrent of threats and menaces that were poured
+upon him.
+
+Miss Stewart, having a little recovered from her first surprise, instead
+of justifying herself, began to talk in the most extravagant manner, and
+said everything that was most capable to inflame the king's passion and
+resentment; that, if she were not allowed to receive visits from a man of
+the Duke of Richmond's rank, who came with honourable intentions, she was
+a slave in a free country; that she knew of no engagement that could
+prevent her from disposing of her hand as she thought proper; but,
+however, if this was not permitted her in his dominions, she did not
+believe that there was any power on earth that could hinder her from
+going over to France, and throwing herself into a convent, to enjoy there
+that tranquillity which was denied her in his court. The king, sometimes
+furious with anger, sometimes relenting at her tears, and sometimes
+terrified at her menaces, was so greatly agitated, that he knew not how
+to answer, either the nicety of a creature who wanted to act the part of
+Lucretia under his own eye, or the assurance with which she had the
+effrontery to reproach him. In this suspense, love had almost entirely
+vanquished all his resentments, and had nearly induced him to throw
+himself upon his knees, and entreat pardon for the injury he had done
+her, when she desired him to retire, and leave her in repose, at least
+for the remainder of that night, without offending those who had either
+accompanied him, or conducted him to her apartments, by a longer visit.
+This impertinent request provoked and irritated him to the highest
+degree: he went out abruptly, vowing never to see her more, and passed
+the most restless and uneasy night he had ever experienced since his
+restoration.
+
+The next day the Duke of Richmond received orders to quit the court, and
+never more to appear before the king; but it seems he had not waited for
+those orders, having set out early that morning for his country seat.
+
+Miss Stewart, in order to obviate all injurious constructions that might
+be put upon the adventure of the preceding night, went and threw herself
+at the queen's feet; where, acting the new part of an innocent Magdalen,
+she entreated her majesty's forgiveness for all the sorrow and uneasiness
+she might have already occasioned her. She told her majesty that a
+constant and sincere repentance had induced her to contrive all possible
+means for retiring from court: that this reason had inclined her to
+receive the Duke of Richmond's addresses, who had courted her a long
+time; but since this courtship had caused his disgrace, and had likewise
+raised a vast noise and disturbance, which perhaps might be turned to the
+prejudice of her reputation, she conjured her Majesty to take her under
+her protection, and endeavour to obtain the king's permission for her to
+retire into a convent, to remove at once all those vexations and troubles
+her presence had innocently occasioned at court. All this was
+accompanied with a proper deluge of tears.
+
+It is a very agreeable spectacle to see a rival prostrate at our feet,
+entreating pardon, and at the same time justifying her conduct. The
+queen's heart not only relented, but she mingled her own tears with those
+of Miss Stewart. After having raised her up, and most tenderly embraced
+her, she promised her all manner of favour and protection, either in her
+marriage, or in any other course she thought fit to pursue, and parted
+from her with the firm resolution to exert all her interest in her
+support; but, being a person of great judgment, the reflections which
+she afterwards made, induced her to change her opinion!
+
+She knew that the king's disposition was not capable of an obstinate
+constancy. She therefore judged that absence would cure him, or that a
+new engagement would by degrees entirely efface the remembrance of Miss
+Stewart, and that, since she could not avoid having a rival, it was more
+desirable she should be one who had given such eminent proofs of her
+prudence and virtue. Besides, she flattered herself that the king would
+ever think himself eternally obliged to her, for having opposed the
+retreat and marriage of a girl, whom at that time he loved to
+distraction. This fine reasoning determined her conduct. All her
+industry was employed in persuading Miss Stewart to abandon her schemes;
+and what is most extraordinary in this adventure, is, that, after having
+prevailed upon her to think no more either of the Duke of Richmond, or of
+a nunnery, she charged herself with the office of reconciling these two
+lovers.
+
+Indeed it would have been a thousand pities if her negotiation had
+miscarried but she did not suffer this misfortune; for never were the
+king's addresses so eager and passionate as after this peace, nor ever
+better received by the fair Stewart.
+
+His majesty did not long enjoy the sweets of a reconciliation, which
+brought him into the best good humour possible, as we shall see. All
+Europe was in a profound peace, since the treaty of the Pyrenees: Spain
+flattered herself she should be able to recruit, by means of the new
+alliance she had contracted with the most formidable of her neighbours;
+but despaired of being able to support the shattered remains of a
+declining monarchy, when she considered the age and infirmities of her
+prince, or the weakness of his successor: France, on the contrary,
+governed by a king indefatigable in business, young, vigilant, and
+ambitious of glory, wanted nothing but inclination to aggrandize herself.
+
+It was about this time, that the king of France, not willing to disturb
+the tranquillity of Europe, was persuaded to alarm the coasts of Africa,
+by an attempt, which, if it had even been crowned with success, would
+have produced little good; but the king's fortune, ever faithful to his
+glory, has since made it appear, by the miscarriage of the expedition of
+Gigeri, that such projects only as were planned by himself were worthy of
+his attention.
+
+   [Gigeri is about forty leagues from Algiers. Till the year 1664 the
+   French had a factory there; but then attempting to build a fort on
+   the sea-coast, to be a check upon the Arabs, they came down from the
+   mountains, beat the French out of Gigeri, and demolished their fort.
+   Sir Richard Fanshaw, in a letter to the deputy governor of Tangier,
+   dated 2nd December, 1664, N.S., says, "We have certain intelligence
+   that the French have lost Gigheria, with all they had there, and
+   their fleet come back, with the loss of one considerable ship upon
+   the rocks near Marseilles."--Fanshaw's Letters, vol. i. p. 347.]
+
+A short time after, the king of England, having resolved also to explore
+the African coasts, fitted out a squadron for an expedition to Guinea,
+which was to be commanded by Prince Rupert. Those who, from their own
+experience, had some knowledge of the country, related strange and
+wonderful stories of the dangers attendant upon this expedition that they
+would have to fight not only the inhabitants of Guinea, a hellish people,
+whose arrows were poisoned, and who never gave their prisoners better
+quarter than to devour them, but that they must likewise endure heats
+that were insupportable, and rains that were intolerable, every drop of
+which was changed into a serpent: that, if they penetrated farther into
+the country, they would be assaulted by monsters a thousand times more
+hideous and destructive than all the beasts mentioned in the Revelations.
+
+But all these reports were vain and ineffectual: for so far from striking
+terror into those who were appointed to go upon this expedition, it
+rather acted as an incentive to glory, upon those who had no manner of
+business in it. Jermyn appeared among the foremost of those; and,
+without reflecting that the pretence of his indisposition had delayed
+the conclusion of his marriage with Miss Jennings, he asked the duke's
+permission, and the king's consent to serve in it as a volunteer.
+
+Some time before this, the infatuation which had imposed upon the fair
+Jennings in his favour had begun to subside. All that now inclined her
+to this match were the advantages of a settlement. The careless
+indolence of a lover, who faintly paid his addresses to her, as it were
+from custom or habit, disgusted her; and the resolution he had taken,
+without consulting her, appeared so ridiculous in him, and so injurious
+to herself, that, from that moment, she resolved to think no more of him.
+Her eyes being opened by degrees, she saw the fallacy of the splendour,
+which had at first deceived her; and the renowned Jermyn was received
+according to his real merit when he came to acquaint her with his
+heroical project. There appeared so much indifference and ease in the
+raillery with which she complimented him upon his voyage, that he was
+entirely disconcerted, and so much the more so, as he had prepared all
+the arguments he thought capable of consoling her, upon announcing to her
+the fatal news of his departure. She told him, "that nothing could be
+more glorious for him, who had triumphed over the liberty of so many
+persons in Europe, than too and extend his conquests in other parts of
+the world; and that she advised him to bring home with him all the female
+captives he might make in Africa, in order to replace those beauties whom
+his absence would bring to the grave."
+
+Jermyn was highly displeased that she should be capable of raillery in
+the condition he supposed her reduced to; but he soon perceived she was
+in earnest: she told him, that she considered this farewell visit as his
+last, and desired him not to think of making her any more before his
+departure.
+
+Thus far everything went well on her side: Jermyn was not only confounded
+at having received his discharge in so cavalier a manner; but this very
+demonstration of her indifference had revived, and even redoubled, all
+the love and affection he had formerly felt for her. Thus she had both
+the pleasure of despising him, and of seeing him more entangled in the
+chains of love than he had ever been before. This was not sufficient:
+she wished still farther, and very unadvisedly, to strain her resentment.
+
+Ovid's Epistles,--[This is the translation of Ovid's Epistles published
+by Mr. Dryden. The second edition of it was printed in 1681.]--
+translated into English verse by the greatest wits at court, having
+lately been published, she wrote a letter from a shepherdess in despair,
+addressed to the perfidious Jermyn. She took the epistle of Ariadne to
+Theseus for her model. The beginning of this letter contained, word for
+word, the complaints and reproaches of that injured fair to the cruel man
+by whom she had been abandoned. All this was properly adapted to the
+present times and circumstances. It was her design to have closed this
+piece with a description of the toils, perils, and monsters, that awaited
+him in Guinea, for which he quitted a tender mistress, who was plunged
+into the abyss of misery, and was overwhelmed with grief and despair; but
+not having had time to finish it, nor to get that which she had written
+transcribed, in order to send it to him under a feigned name, she
+inconsiderately put this fragment, written in her own hand, into her
+pocket, and, still more giddily, dropped it in the middle of the court.
+Those who took it up, knowing her writing, made several copies of it,
+which were circulated all over the town; but her former conduct had so
+well established the reputation of her virtue, that no person entertained
+the smallest doubt but the circumstances were exactly as we have related
+them. Some time after, the Guinea expedition was laid aside for reasons
+that are universally known, and Miss Jenning's subsequent proceedings
+fully justified her letter; for, notwithstanding all the efforts and
+attentions Jermyn practised to regain her affections, she would never
+more hear of him.
+
+But he was not the only man who experienced the whimsical fatality, that
+seemed to delight in disuniting hearts, in order to engage them soon
+after to different objects. One would have imagined that the God of
+Love, actuated by some new caprice, had placed his empire under the
+dominion of Hymen, and had, at the same time, blind-folded that God, in
+order to cross-match most of the lovers whom we have been speaking of'
+
+The fair Stewart married the Duke of Richmond; the invincible Jermyn, a
+silly country girl; Lord Rochester, a melancholy heiress; the sprightly
+Temple, the serious Lyttleton; Talbot, without knowing why or wherefore,
+took to wife the languishing Boynton; George Hamilton, under more
+favourable auspices, married the lovely Jennings; and the Chevalier de
+Grammont, as the reward of a constancy he had never before known, and
+which he never afterwards practised, found Hymen and Love united in his
+favour, and was at last blessed with the possession of Miss Hamilton.
+
+   [After the deaths of Miss Boynton and of George Hamilton, Talbot
+   married Miss Jennings, and became afterwards Duke of Tyrconnel.]
+
+   ["The famous Count Grammont was thought to be the original of The
+   Forced Marriage. This nobleman, during his stay at the court of
+   England, had made love to Miss Hamilton, but was coming away for
+   France without bringing matters to a proper conclusion. The young
+   lady's brothers pursued him, and came up with him near Dover, in
+   order to exchange some pistol-shot with him: They called out, 'Count
+   Grammont, have you forgot nothing at London?' 'Excuse me,' answered
+   the Count, guessing their errand, 'I forgot to marry your sister; so
+   lead on, and let us finish that affair.' By the pleasantry of the
+   answer, this was the same Grammont who commanded at the siege of a
+   place, the governor of which capitulated after a short defence, and
+   obtained an easy capitulation. The governor then said to Monsieur
+   Grammont, I'll tell you a secret--that the reason of my capitulation
+   was, because I was in want of powder.' Monsieur replied, 'And
+   secret for secret--the reason of my granting you such an easy
+   capitulation was, because I was in want of ball."--Biog. Gallica,
+   vol. i., p. 202.
+
+   Count Grammont and his lady left England in 1669. King Charles in a
+   letter to his sister, the Duchess of Orleans, dated 24th October, in
+   that year, says, "I writt to you yesterday, by the Compte de
+   Grammont, but I beleeve this letter will come sooner to your handes;
+   for he goes by the way of Diep, with his wife and family; and now
+   that I have named her, I cannot chuse but againe desire you to be
+   kinde to her; for, besides the merrit her family has on both sides,
+   she is as good a creature as ever lived. I beleeve she will passe
+   for a handsome woman in France, though she has not yett, since her
+   lying-inn, recovered that good shape she had before, and I am
+   affraide never will."--Dalxymple's Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 26.
+
+   "The Count de Grammont fell dangerously ill in the year 1696; of
+   which the king (Louis XIV.) being informed, and knowing, besides,
+   that he was inclined to libertinism, he was pleased to send the
+   Marquis of Dangeau to see how he did, and to advise him to think of
+   God. Hereupon Count de Grammont, turning towards his wife, who had
+   ever been a very devout lady, told her, Countess, if you don't look
+   to it, Dangeau will juggle you out of my conversion. Madame de
+   l'Enclos having afterwards written to M. de St Evremond that Count
+   de Grammont was recovered, and turned devout,--I have learned,
+   answered he to her, with a great deal of pleasure, that Count de
+   Grammont has recovered his former health, and acquired a new
+   devotion. Hitherto I have been contented with being a plain honest
+   man; but I must do something more; and I only wait for your example
+   to become a devotee. You live in a country where people have
+   wonderful advantages of saving their souls, there vice is almost as
+   opposite to the mode as to virtue; sinning passes for ill-breeding,
+   and shocks decency and good manners, as much as religion, Formerly
+   it was enough to be wicked; now one must be a scoundrel withal, to
+   be damned in France. They who have not regard enough for another
+   life, are led to salvation by the consideration and duties of this."
+  --"But there is enough upon a subject in which the conversion of the
+   Count de Grammont has engaged me: I believe it to be sincere and
+   honest. It well becomes a man who is not young, to forget he has
+   been so."--Life of St. Evremond, by Des Marzeaux, p. 136; and St.
+   Evremond's Works, vol. ii. p. 431.]
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+Busy without consequence
+Entreating pardon, and at the same time justifying her conduct
+Four dozen of patches, at least, and ten ringlets of hair
+He had no sentiments but such as others inspired him with
+Impertinent compliments
+Long habit of suffering himself to be robbed by his domestics
+Offended that his good fortune raised him no rivals
+Public grows familiar with everything by habit
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of Count Grammont, Volume 7
+by Anthony Hamilton
+
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+The Project Gutenberg Ebook Memoirs of Count Grammont, v7, by Hamilton
+#7 in our series by Anthony Hamilton, Edited by Sir Walter Scott
+
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+Title: The Memoirs of Count Grammont, Volume 7.
+
+Author: Anthony Hamilton (Edited by Sir Walter Scott)
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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GRAMMONT, V7, BY HAMILTON ***
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+
+                  MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, VOLUME 7.
+
+                          By Anthony Hamilton
+
+                EDITED, WITH NOTES, BY SIR WALTER SCOTT
+
+
+
+
+
+                            CHAPTER ELEVENTH.
+
+          RETURN OF THE CHEVALIER GRAMMONT TO FRANCE--HE IS SENT
+          BACK TO ENGLAND--VARIOUS LOVE INTRIGUES AT THIS COURT,
+          AND MARRIAGE OF MOST OF THE HEROES OF THESE MEMOIRS.
+
+
+The nearer the Chevalier de Grammont approached the court of France, the
+more did he regret his absence from that of England.
+
+A thousand different thoughts occupied his mind upon the journey:
+Sometimes he reflected upon the joy and satisfaction his friends and
+relations would experience upon his return; sometimes upon the
+congratulations and embraces of those who, being neither the one nor the
+other, would, nevertheless, overwhelm him with impertinent compliments:
+All these ideas passed quickly through his head; for a man deeply in love
+makes it a scruple of conscience not to suffer any other thoughts to
+dwell upon his mind than those of the object beloved.  It was then the
+tender, endearing remembrance of what he had left in London that diverted
+his thoughts from Paris; and it was the torments of absence that
+prevented his feeling those of the bad roads and the bad horses.  His
+heart protested to Miss Hamilton, between Montreuil and Abbeville that he
+only tore himself from her with such haste, to return the sooner; after
+which, by a short reflection, comparing the regret he had formerly felt
+upon the same road, in quitting France for England, with that which he
+now experienced, in quitting England for France, he found the last much
+more insupportable than the former.
+
+It is thus that a man in love entertains himself upon the road; or
+rather, it is thus that a trifling writer abuses the patience of his
+reader, either to display his own sentiments, or to lengthen out a
+tedious story; but God forbid that this character should apply to
+ourselves, since we profess to insert nothing in these memoirs, but what
+we have heard from the mouth of him whose actions and sayings we transmit
+to posterity.
+
+Who, except Squire Feraulas, has ever been able to keep a register of all
+the thoughts, sighs, and exclamations, of his illustrious master?  For my
+own part, I should never have thought that the attention of the Count de
+Grammont, which is at present so sensible to inconveniences and dangers,
+would have ever permitted him to entertain amorous thoughts upon the
+road, if he did not himself dictate to me what I am now writing.
+
+But let us speak of him at Abbeville.  The postmaster was his old
+acquaintance: His hotel was the best provided of any between Calais and
+Paris; and the Chevalier de Grammont, alighting, told Termes he would
+drink a glass of wine during the time they were changing horses.  It was
+about noon; and, since the preceding night, when they had landed at
+Calais, until this instant, they had not eat a single mouthful.  Termes,
+praising the Lord, that natural feelings had for once prevailed over the
+inhumanity of his usual impatience, confirmed him as much as possible in
+such reasonable sentiments.
+
+Upon their entering the kitchen, where the Chevalier generally paid his
+first visit, they were surprised to see half a dozen spits loaded with
+game at the fire, and every other preparation for a magnificent
+entertainment.  The heart of Termes leaped for joy: he gave private
+orders to the hostler to pull the shoes off some of the horses, that he
+might not be forced away from this place before he had satisfied his
+craving appetite.
+
+Soon after, a number of violins and hautboys, attended by all the mob of
+the town, entered the court.  The landlord, being asked the reason of
+these great preparations, acquainted the Chevalier de Grammont that
+they were for the wedding of one of the most wealthy gentlemen in the
+neighbourhood with one of the handsomest girls in the whole province;
+that the entertainment was to be at his house; and that, if his lordship
+chose to stop, in a very short time he would see the new-married couple
+arrive from the church, since the music was already come.  He was right
+in his conjectures; for these words were scarce out of his mouth, when
+three uncommonly large coaches, loaded with lackeys, as tall as Swiss,
+with most gaudy liveries, all covered with lace, appeared in the court,
+and disembarked the whole wedding company.  Never was country
+magnificence more naturally displayed: Rusty tinsel, tarnished lace,
+striped silks, little eyes, and full swelling breasts, appeared on every
+side.
+
+If the first sight of the procession surprised the Chevalier de Grammont,
+faithful Termes was no less astonished at the second.  The little that
+was to be seen of the bride's face appeared not without beauty; but no
+judgment could be formed of the remainder: Four dozen of patches, at
+least, and ten ringlets of hair, on each side, most completely concealed
+her from all human eyes; but it was the bridegroom who most particularly
+attracted the Chevalier de Grammont's attention.
+
+He was as ridiculously dressed as the rest of the company, except a coat
+of the greatest magnificence, and of the most exquisite taste.  The
+Chevalier de Grammont, walking up to him to examine his dress, began to
+commend the embroidery of his coat.  The bridegroom thought himself much
+honoured by this examination, and told him he bought it for one hundred
+and fifty louis, at the time he was paying his addresses to his wife.
+"Then you did not get it made here?"  said the Chevalier de Grammont.
+"No," replied the other; "I bought it of a London merchant, who had
+ordered it for an English lord."  The Chevalier de Grammont, who now
+began to perceive in what manner the adventure would end, asked him if
+he should recollect the merchant if he saw him again?  "Recollect him!"
+replied the other, "I surely ought; for I was obliged to sit up drinking
+with him all night at Calais, as I was endeavouring to beat down the
+price."  Termes had vanished out of sight as soon as ever this coat
+appeared, though he little supposed that the cursed bridegroom would
+have any conversation concerning it with his master.
+
+The Chevalier's thoughts were some time wavering between his inclination
+to laugh, and a desire of hanging Master Termes; but the long habit of
+suffering himself to be robbed by his domestics, together with the
+vigilance of the criminal, whom his master could not reproach with having
+slept in his service, inclined him to clemency; and yielding to the
+importunities of the country gentleman, in order to confound his faithful
+servant, he sat down to table, to make the thirty-seventh of the company.
+
+A short time after, he desired one of the waiters to call for a gentleman
+whose name was Termes.  He immediately appeared; and as soon as the
+master of the feast saw him, he rose from table, and offering him his
+hand; "Welcome, my friend," said he; "you see that I have taken good care
+of the coat which you sold me with so much reluctance, and that I have
+kept it for a good purpose."
+
+Termes, having put on a face of brass, pretended not to know him, and
+pushed him back with some degree of rudeness.  "No, no!"  said the other;
+"since I was obliged to sit up with you the whole night, in order to
+strike the bargain, you shall pledge me in the bride's health."
+The Chevalier de Grammont, who saw that Termes was disconcerted,
+notwithstanding his impudence, said to him with a smile: "Come, come, my
+good London merchant, sit down, as you are so civilly invited: we are not
+so crowded at table but that there will be room enough for such an honest
+gentleman as yourself."  At these words five-and-thirty of the guests
+were in motion to receive this new visitor: the bride alone, out of an
+idea of decorum, remained seated; and the audacious Termes, having
+swallowed the first shame of this adventure, began to lay about him at
+such a rate, as if it had been his intention to swallow all the wine
+provided for the wedding, if his master had not risen from the table as
+they were taking off four-and-twenty soups, to serve up as many other
+dishes in their stead.
+
+The company were not so unreasonable as to desire a man who was in such
+haste to remain to the end of a wedding dinner; but they all got up when
+he arose from table, and all that he could obtain from the bridegroom was
+that the company should not attend him to the gate of the inn.  As for
+Termes, he wished they had not quitted him till the end of their journey,
+so much did he dread being left alone with his master.
+
+They had advanced some distance from Abbeville, and were proceeding on in
+the most profound silence, when Termes, who expected an end to it in a
+short time, was only solicitous in what manner it might happen, whether
+his master would attack him with a torrent of invectives, and certain
+epithets which were most justly his due, or whether, in an insulting,
+ironical manner, he might make use of such commendations as were most
+likely to confound him; but finding, instead of either, that he remained
+in sullen silence, he thought it prudent rather to prevent the speech the
+Chevalier was meditating than to suffer him to think longer about it;
+and, accordingly, arming himself with all his effrontery: "You seem to be
+very angry, Sir," said he, "and I suppose you think you have reason for
+being so; but the devil take me, if you are not mistaken in reality."
+
+"How! traitor! in reality?"  said the Chevalier de Grammont.  "It is then
+because I have not had thee well thrashed, as thou hast for a long time
+merited."  "Look ye, Sir," replied Termes, "you always run into a
+passion, instead of listening to reason!  Yes, Sir, I maintain that
+what I did was for your benefit."  "And was not the quicksand likewise
+for my service?"  said the Chevalier de Grammont.  "Have patience,
+if you please," pursued the other: "I know not how that simpleton of
+a bridegroom happened to be at the custom-house when my portmanteau
+was examined at Calais: but these silly cuckolds thrust in their noses
+everywhere.  As soon as ever he saw your coat, he fell in love with it.
+I immediately perceived he was a fool; for he fell down upon his knees,
+beseeching me to sell it him.  Besides being greatly rumpled in the
+portmanteau, it was all stained in front by the sweat of the horses.
+I wonder how the devil he has managed to get it cleaned; but, faith,
+I am the greatest scoundrel in the world, if you would ever have put it
+on.  In a word, it cost you one hundred and forty louis d'ors, and seeing
+he offered me one hundred and fifty for it; 'My master,' said I, 'has no
+occasion for this tinselled bauble to distinguish him at the ball; and,
+although he was pretty full of cash when I left him, how know I in what
+situation he may be upon my return? there is no certainty at play.'
+To be brief, Sir, I got ten louis d'ors for it more than it cost you:
+this you see is all clear profit: I will be accountable to you for it,
+and you know that I am sufficiently substantial to make good such a sum.
+Confess now, do you think you would have appeared to greater advantage at
+the ball, if you had been dressed out in that damned coat, which would
+have made you look just like the village bridegroom to whom we sold it?
+and yet how you stormed at London when you thought it lost; what fine
+stories you told the king about the quicksand; and how churlish you
+looked, when you first began to suppose that this country booby wore it
+at his wedding!"
+
+What could the Chevalier reply to such uncommon impudence?  If he
+indulged his resentment, he must either have most severely bastinadoed
+him, or he must have discarded him, as the easiest escape the rogue could
+expect; but he had occasion for him during the remainder of his journey;
+and, as soon as he was at Paris, he had occasion for him for his return.
+
+The Marechal de Grammont had no sooner notice of his arrival than he went
+to him at the hotel; and, the first embraces being over on both sides,
+"Chevalier," said the Marechal, "how many days have you been in coming
+from London hither? for God knows at what a rate you travel on such
+occasions."  The Chevalier told him he had been three days upon the road;
+and, to excuse himself for making no more haste, he related to him his
+Abbeville adventure.  "It is a very entertaining one," said his brother;
+"but what is yet more entertaining is, that it will be your fault if you
+do not find your coat still at table; for the country gentry are not
+accustomed to rise very soon from a wedding dinner."  And then, in a
+very serious tone, told him, "he knew not who had advised him to this
+unexpected return, which might probably ruin all his affairs; but he had
+orders from the king to bid him go back again without appearing at court.
+He told him afterwards that he was very much astonished at his
+impatience, as, till this time, he had conducted himself uncommonly well,
+and was sufficiently acquainted with the king's temper to know that the
+only way to merit his pardon was to wait until it freely came from his
+clemency."
+
+The Chevalier, in justification of his conduct, produced Madame de Saint
+Chaumont's letter, and told the Marechal that he would very willingly
+have spared her the trouble of writing him such kind of news, to occasion
+him so useless a journey.  "Still more indiscretion," replied his
+brother; "for pray how long has our sister being either secretary of
+state or minister, that she should be employed by the king to make
+known his majesty's order?  Do you wish to know the real state of the
+case?  Some time ago the king told Madame--[Henrietta]--how you had
+refused the pension the King of England offered you.
+
+     ["Henrietta, youngest daughter of Charles the First,--born at Exeter
+     16th June, 1644, from whence she was removed to London in 1646, and,
+     with her governess, Lady Dalkeith, soon afterwards conveyed to
+     France.  On the restoration, she came over to England with her
+     mother, but returned to France in about six months, and was married
+     to Philip, Duke of Orleans, only brother of Louis XIV.  In May,
+     1670, she came again to Dover, on a mission of a political nature,
+     it is supposed, from the French king to her brother, in which she
+     was successful.  She died, soon after her return to France,
+     suddenly, not without suspicion of having been poisoned by her
+     husband.  King James, in his Diary, says, "On the 22d of June, the
+     news of the Duchess of Orleans' death arrived.  It was suspected
+     that counter-poisons were given her; but when she was opened, in the
+     presence of the English ambassador, the Earl of Ailesbury, an
+     English physician and surgeon, there appeared no grounds of
+     suspicion of any foul play.  Yet Bucks tallied openly that she was
+     poisoned; and was so violent as to propose to foreign ministers to
+     make war on France."--Macpherson's Original Papers, vol  i.  At the
+     end of Lord Arlington's Letters are five very remarkable ones from a
+     person of quality, who is said to have been actually on the spot,
+     giving a particular relation of her death.]
+
+"He appeared pleased with the manner in which Comminges had related to him
+the circumstances attending it, and said he was pleased with you for it:
+Madame interpreted this as an order for your recall; and Madame de Saint
+Chaumont being very far from possessing that wonderful discretion she
+imagines herself mistress of, she hastened to despatch to you this
+consequential order in her own hand.  To conclude, Madame said yesterday,
+when the king was at dinner, that you would very soon be here; and the
+king, as soon as dinner was over, commanded me to send you back as soon
+as you arrived.  Here you are; set off again immediately."
+
+This order might have appeared severe to the Chevalier de Grammont at any
+other time; but, in the present state of his heart, he soon resolved upon
+obeying.  Nothing gave him uneasiness but the officious advice which had
+obliged him to leave the English court; and being entirely unconcerned
+that he was not allowed to see the French court before his departure, he
+only desired the Marechal to obtain leave for him to stay a few days to
+collect in some play debts which were owing him.  This request was
+granted, on condition that he should not remain in Paris.
+
+He chose Vaugirard for his retreat: it was there that he had several
+adventures which he so often related in so humorous and diverting a
+manner, that it would be tedious to repeat them; there it was that he
+administered the sacrament in so solemn a manner, that, as there did not
+remain a sufficient number of Swiss at Versailles to guard the chapel,
+Vardes was obliged to acquaint the king that they were all gone to the
+Chevalier de Grammont, who was administering the sacrament at Vaugirard:
+there likewise happened that wonderful adventure which threw the first
+slur upon the reputation of the great Saucourt, when, having a tete-a-
+tete with the gardener's daughter, the horn, which was agreed upon as the
+signal to prevent surprises, was sounded so often, that the frequent
+alarms cooled the courage of the celebrated Saucourt, and rendered
+useless the assignation that was procured for him with one of the
+prettiest girls in the neighbourhood.  It was, likewise, during his stay
+at Vaugirard, that he paid a visit to Mademoiselle de l'Hopital at Issy,
+to inquire into the truth of a report of an amour between her and a man
+of the long robe; and it was there that, on his arriving unexpectedly,
+the President de Maisons was forced to take refuge in a closet, with so
+much precipitation, that half of his robe remained on the outside when he
+shut the door; while the Chevalier de Grammont, who observed it, made his
+visit excessively long, in order to keep the two lovers upon the rack.
+
+His business being settled, he set out for England on the wings of love.
+Termes redoubled his vigilance upon the road.  The post horses were ready
+in an instant at every stage: the winds and tides favoured his
+impatience; and he reached London with the highest satisfaction.  The
+court was both surprised and charmed at his sudden return.  No person
+condoled with him upon his late disappointment, which had occasioned him
+to come back, as he testified no manner of uneasiness concerning it
+himself: nor was Miss Hamilton in the least displeased at his readiness
+in obeying the orders of the king his master.
+
+Nothing new had happened in the English court during his short absence;
+but it assumed a different aspect soon after his return: I mean with
+respect to love and pleasure, which were the most serious concerns of the
+court during the greatest part of this gay reign.
+
+The Duke of Monmouth, natural son to Charles the Second, now made his
+first appearance in his father's court.
+
+     [James Duke of Monmouth, was the son of Charles the II., by one Lucy
+     Walters.  He was born at Rotterdam, April 9, 1649, and bore the name
+     of James Crofts until the restoration.  His education was chiefly at
+     Paris, under the eye of the queen-mother, and the government of
+     Thomas Ross, Esq., who was afterwards secretary to Mr. Coventry
+     during his embassy in Sweden.  At the restoration, he was brought to
+     England, and received with joy by his father, who heaped honours and
+     riches upon him, which were not sufficient to satisfy his ambitious
+     views.  To exclude his uncle, the Duke of York, from the throne, he
+     was continually intriguing with the opposers of government, and was
+     frequently in disgrace with his sovereign.  On the accession of
+     James II.  he made an ineffectual attempt to raise a rebellion, was
+     taken prisoner, and beheaded on Tower-hill, 15th July, 1685.  Mr.
+     Macpherson has drawn his character in the following terms:
+     "Monmouth, highly beloved by the populace, was a fit instrument to
+     carry forward his (i.e. Shaftesbury's) designs.  To a gracefulness
+     which prejudiced mankind in his favour as soon as seen, he joined an
+     affability which gained their love.  Constant in his friendships,
+     and just to his word, by nature tender, and an utter enemy to
+     severity and cruelty, active and vigorous in his constitution, he
+     excelled in the manly exercises of the field.  He was personally
+     brave.  He loved the pomp and the very dangers of war.  But with
+     these splendid qualities, he was vain to a degree of folly,
+     versatile in his measures, weak in his understanding.  He was
+     ambitious without dignity, busy without consequence, attempting ever
+     to be artful, but always a fool.  Thus, taking the applause of the
+     multitude for a certain mark of merit, he was the dupe of his own
+     vanity, and owed all his misfortunes to that weakness."--History of
+     England, vol. i., chap.  iii.]
+
+His entrance upon the stage of the world was so brilliant, his ambition
+had occasioned so many considerable events, and the particulars of his
+tragical end are so recent, that it were needless to produce any other
+traits to give a sketch of his character.  By the whole tenor of his
+life, he appeared to be rash in his undertakings, irresolute in the
+execution, and dejected in his misfortunes, in which, at least, an
+undaunted resolution ought to equal the greatness of the attempt.
+
+His figure and the exterior graces of his person were such, that nature
+perhaps never formed anything more complete:  His face was extremely
+handsome; and yet it was a manly face, neither inanimate nor effeminate;
+each feature having its beauty and peculiar delicacy: He had a wonderful
+genius for every sort of exercise, an engaging aspect, and an air of
+grandeur: in a word, he possessed every personal advantage; but then he
+was greatly deficient in mental accomplishments.  He had no sentiments
+but such as others inspired him with; and those who first insinuated
+themselves into his friendship, took care to inspire him with none but
+such as were pernicious.  The astonishing beauty of his outward form
+caused universal admiration: those who before were looked upon as
+handsome were now entirely forgotten at court: and all the gay and
+beautiful of the fair sex were at his devotion.  He was particularly
+beloved by the king; but the universal terror of husbands and lovers.
+This, however, did not long continue; for nature not having endowed him
+with qualifications to secure the possession of the heart, the fair sex
+soon perceived the defect.
+
+The Duchess of Cleveland was out of humour with the king, because the
+children she had by his majesty were like so many little puppets,
+compared to this new Adonis.  She was the more particularly hurt, as she
+might have boasted of being the queen of love, in comparison with the
+duke's mother.
+
+The king, however, laughed at her reproaches, as, for some time, she had
+certainly no right to make any; and, as this piece of jealousy appeared
+to be more ill-founded than any she had formerly affected, no person
+approved of her ridiculous resentment.  Not succeeding in this, she
+formed another scheme to give the king uneasiness: Instead of opposing
+his extreme tenderness for his son, she pretended to adopt him, in her
+affection, by a thousand commendations and caresses, which she was daily
+and continually increasing.  As these endearments were public, she
+imagined they could not be suspected; but she was too well known for
+her real design to be mistaken.  The king was no longer jealous of her;
+but, as the Duke of Monmouth was of an age not to be insensible to the
+attractions of a woman possessing so many charms, he thought it proper to
+withdraw him from this pretended mother-in-law, to preserve his
+innocence, or at least his fame, uncontaminated: it was for this reason,
+therefore, that the king married him so young.  An heiress of five
+thousand pounds a-year in Scotland, offered very a-propos: her person was
+full of charms, and her mind possessed all those perfections in which the
+handsome Monmouth was deficient.
+
+     [This was Lady Anne Scott, daughter and sole heir of Francis, Earl
+     of Buccleugh, only son and heir of Walter, Lord Scott, created Earl
+     of Buccleugh in 1619.  On their marriage the duke took the surname
+     of Scott, and he and his lady were created Duke and Duchess of
+     Buccleugh, Earl and Countess of Dalkeith, Baron and Baroness of
+     Whitchester and Ashdale in Scotland, by letters patent, dated April
+     20th, 1673.  Also, two days after he was installed at Windsor, the
+     king and queen, the Duke of York, and most of the court being
+     present.  The next day, being St.  George's day, his majesty
+     solemnized it with a royal feast, and entertained the knights
+     companions in St.  George's hall in the castle of Windsor.  Though
+     there were several children of this marriage, it does not appear to
+     have been a happy one; the duke, without concealment attaching
+     himself to Lady Harriet Wentworth, whom, with his dying breath, he
+     declared he considered as his only wife in the sight of God.  The
+     duchess, in May, 1688, took to her second husband Charles, Lord
+     Cornwallis.  She died Feb. 6, 1731-32, in the 81st year of her age,
+     and was buried at Dalkeith in Scotland.  Our author is not more
+     correct about figures than he avows himself to be in the arrangement
+     of facts and dates: the duchess's fortune was much greater than he
+     has stated it to have been.]
+
+New festivals and entertainments celebrated this marriage.  The most
+effectual method to pay court to the king, was to outshine the rest in
+brilliancy and grandeur; and whilst these rejoicings brought forward all
+manner of gallantry and magnificence, they either revived old, or
+established new amours.
+
+The fair Stewart, then in the meridian of her glory, attracted all eyes,
+and commanded universal respect and admiration.  The Duchess of Cleveland
+endeavoured to eclipse her at this fate, by a load of jewels, and by all
+the artificial ornaments of dress; but it was in vain: her face looked
+rather thin and pale, from the commencement of a third or fourth
+pregnancy, which the king was still pleased to place to his own account;
+and, as for the rest, her person could in no respect stand in competition
+with the grace and beauty of Miss Stewart.
+
+It was during this last effort of her charms, that she would have been
+queen of England, had the king been as free to give his hand as he was
+to surrender his heart: for it was at this time that the Duke of Richmond
+took it into his head either to marry her, or to die in the attempt.
+
+A few months after the celebration of the Duke of Monmouth's nuptials,
+Killegrew,  having nothing better to do; fell in love with Lady
+Shrewsbury; and, as Lady Shrewsbury, by a very extraordinary chance,
+had no engagement at that time, their amour was soon established.  No one
+thought of interrupting an intimacy which did not concern any one; but
+Killegrew thought proper to disturb it himself.  Not that his happiness
+fell short of his expectation, nor did possession put him out of love
+with a situation so enviable; but he was amazed that he was not envied,
+and offended that his good fortune raised him no rivals.
+
+He possessed a great deal of wit, and still more eloquence, which most
+particularly displayed itself when he was a little elevated with the
+juice of the grape: he then indulged himself in giving luxurious
+descriptions of Lady Shrewsbury's most secret charms and beauties, which
+above half the court were as well acquainted with as himself.
+
+The Duke of Buckingham was one of those who could only judge from outward
+appearances: and appearances, in his opinion, did not seem to promise any
+thing so exquisite as the extravagant praises of Killegrew would infer.
+As this indiscreet lover was a frequent guest at the Duke of Buckingham's
+table, he was continually employing his rhetoric on this subject, and he
+had full opportunity for his harangues; for they generally sat down to
+dinner at four o'clock, and only rose just in time for the play in the
+evening.
+
+The Duke of Buckingham, whose ears were continually deafened with
+descriptions of Lady Shrewsbury's merits, resolved at last to examine
+into the truth of the matter himself.  As soon as he had made the
+experiment, he was satisfied; and, though he fancied that fame did
+not exceed the truth, yet this intrigue began in such a manner, that
+it was generally believed its duration would be short, considering, the
+fickleness of both parties, and the vivacity with which they had engaged
+in it: nevertheless, no amour in England ever continued so long.
+
+The imprudent Killegrew, who could not be satisfied without rivals, was
+obliged, in the end, to be satisfied without a mistress.  This he bore
+very impatiently; but so far was Lady Shrewsbury from hearkening to, or
+affording any redress for the grievances at first complained of, that she
+pretended even not to know him.  His spirit could not brook such
+treatment; and without ever considering that he was the author of his own
+disgrace, he let loose all his abusive eloquence against her ladyship: he
+attacked her with the most bitter invectives from head to foot: he drew
+a frightful picture of her conduct; and turned all her personal charms,
+which he used to extol, into defects.  He was privately warned of the
+inconveniences to which these declamations might subject him, but
+despised the advice, and, persisting, he soon had reason to repent it.
+
+As he was returning one evening from the Duke of York's apartments at
+St. James's, three passes with a sword were made at him through his
+chair, one of which went entirely through his arm.  Upon this, he was
+sensible of the danger to which his intemperate tongue had exposed him,
+over and above the loss of his mistress.  The assassins made their escape
+across the Park, not doubting but they had dispatched him.
+
+Killegrew thought that all complaints would be useless; for what redress
+from justice could he expect for an attempt of which his wounds were his
+only evidence?  And, besides, he was convinced that if he began a
+prosecution founded upon appearances and conjectures, the parties
+concerned would take the shortest and most effectual means to put a stop
+to all inquiries upon the subject, and that their second attempt would
+not prove ineffectual.  Being desirous, therefore, of deserving mercy
+from those who had endeavoured to assassinate him, he no longer continued
+his satires, and said not a word of the adventure.  The Duke of
+Buckingham and Lady Shrewsbury remained for a long period both happy and
+contented.  Never before had her constancy been of so long a duration;
+nor had he ever been so submissive and respectful a lover.
+
+This continued until Lord Shrewsbury, who never before had shown the
+least uneasiness at his lady's misconduct, thought proper to resent this:
+it was public enough, indeed, but less dishonourable to her than any of
+her former intrigues.  Poor Lord Shrewsbury, too polite a man to make any
+reproaches to his wife, was resolved to have redress for his injured
+honour: he accordingly challenged the Duke of Buckingham; and the Duke
+of Buckingham, as a reparation for his honour, having killed him upon the
+spot, remained a peaceable possessor of this famous Helen.  The public
+was at first shocked at the transaction; but the public grows familiar
+with everything by habit, and by degrees both decency, and even virtue
+itself, are rendered tame, and overcome.  The queen was at the head of
+those who exclaimed against so public and scandalous a crime, and against
+the impunity of such a wicked act.  As the Duchess of Buckingham  was a
+short fat body, like her majesty, who never had had any children, and
+whom her husband had abandoned for another; this sort of parallel in
+their situations interested the queen in her favour; but it was all in
+vain: no person paid any attention to them; the licentiousness of the age
+went on uncontrolled, though the queen endeavoured to raise up the
+serious part of the nation, the politicians and devotees, as enemies
+against it.
+
+The fate of this princess was in many cases truly melancholy: The king,
+indeed, paid her every outward attention; but that was all: She easily
+perceived that the respect he entertained for her daily diminished, in
+proportion as the credit of her rivals increased: She saw that the king
+her husband was now totally indifferent about legitimate children, since
+his all-charming mistresses bore him others.  As all the happiness of her
+life depended upon that blessing, and as she flattered herself that the
+king would prove kinder to her if Heaven would vouchsafe to grant her
+desires, she had recourse to all the celebrated secrets against
+sterility: pious vows, nine days' prayers, and offerings having been
+tried in all manners, but all to no purpose, she was at last obliged
+to return to natural means.
+
+What would she have given on this occasion for the ring which Archbishop
+Turpin wore on his finger, and which made Charlemagne run after him, in
+the same manner as it had made him run after one of his concubines, from
+whose finger Turpin had taken it after her death!  But it is now many
+years since the only talismans for creating love are the charms of the
+person beloved, and foreign enchantments have been looked upon as
+ineffectual.  The queen's physicians, men of great prudence, sagacity,
+and wisdom, as they always are, having duly weighed and considered that
+the cold waters of Tunbridge had not succeeded in the preceding year,
+concluded that it would be advisable for her to try the warm baths at
+Bristol--[Probably Bath, D.W.]--This journey was therefore fixed for the
+next season; and in the confidence of its proving effectual, this
+excursion would have afforded her much pleasure, if the most dangerous of
+her rivals had not been one of the first that was appointed to attend the
+court.  The Duchess of Cleveland being then near her time, there was no
+uneasiness on her account: the common rules of decency required a little
+attention.  The public, it is true, was not either more or less
+acquainted with the circumstances of her situation; by the care which
+she now took to conceal it; but her appearing at court in her present
+condition would have been too great an insult to the queen.  Miss
+Stewart, more handsome than ever, was appointed for this excursion, and
+began to make magnificent preparations.  The poor queen durst say nothing
+against it; but all hopes of success immediately forsook her.  What could
+the baths, or the feeble virtue of the waters, perform against charms
+that entirely counteracted their effects, either through the grief and
+uneasiness they occasioned her, or by their still more powerful
+consequences?
+
+The Chevalier de Grammont, to whom all pleasures were insipid without the
+presence of Miss Hamilton, was yet unable to excuse himself from
+attending the court: the king delighted too much in his sprightly
+conversation to leave him behind; and however pleasing his company might
+have been in the solitude occasioned by the absence of the court, Miss
+Hamilton did not think it right to accept his offer of staying in town,
+because she was obliged to remain there: she, however, granted him the
+permission of writing her an account of any news that might occur upon
+the journey.  He failed not to make use of this permission, in such a
+manner as one may imagine: and his own concerns took up so much space
+in his letters, that there was very little room left for other subjects
+during his stay at the baths.  As absence from the object of his
+affections rendered this place insupportable, he engaged in everything
+that might dissipate his impatience, until the happy moment of return
+arrived.
+
+He had a great esteem for the elder of the Hamiltons; no less esteem, and
+far more friendship for his brother, whom he made the confidant of his
+passion and attachment for his sister.  The Chevalier was also acquainted
+with his first engagements with his cousin Wetenhall; but being ignorant
+of the coldness that had interrupted a commerce so brisk in its
+commencement, he was surprised at the eagerness he showed upon all
+occasions to please Miss Stewart: his assiduity appeared to the Chevalier
+de Grammont to exceed those civilities and attentions that are usually
+paid for the purpose of making court to the favourites of princes.
+He observed him more strictly, and soon perceived that he was deeper in
+love with her than was consistent either with his fortune or his repose.
+As soon as the remarks he made had confirmed him in his suspicions,
+he resolved to use his endeavours to prevent the consequences of an
+engagement pernicious in every respect: but he waited for a proper
+opportunity of speaking to him upon the subject.
+
+In the mean time, the court enjoyed every kind of diversion, in a place
+where amusement is sought with avidity.  The game of bowls, which in
+France is the pastime of mechanics and servants only, is quite the
+contrary in England, where it is the exercise of gentlemen, and requires
+both art and address: it is only in use during the fair and dry part of
+the season, and the places where it is practised are charming, delicious
+walks, called bowling-greens, which are little square grass plots, where
+the turf is almost as smooth and level as the cloth of a billiard-table.
+As soon as the heat of the day is over, all the company assemble there:
+they play deep; and spectators are at liberty to make what bets they
+please.
+
+The Chevalier de Grammont, long before initiated in the English games
+and diversions, had been engaged in a horse-race, in which he was indeed
+unsuccessful; but he had the satisfaction of being convinced by
+experience, that an English horse can go twenty miles upon the high road
+in less than an hour.  He was more fortunate at cock-fighting; and in the
+bets he made at the bowling-green, the party he betted upon never failed
+to win.
+
+Near all these places of diversion there is usually a sort of inn, or
+house of entertainment, with a bower or arbour, in which are sold all
+sorts of English liquors, such as cider, mead, bottled beer, and Spanish
+wines.  Here the rooks meet every evening to drink, smoke, and to try
+their skill upon each other, or, in other words, to endeavour to trick
+one another out of the winnings of the day.  These rooks are, properly
+speaking, what we call capons or piqueurs, in France; men who always
+carry money about them, to enable them to lend to losing gamesters, for
+which they receive a gratification, which is nothing for such as play
+deep, as it is only two per cent., and the money to be repaid the next
+day.
+
+These gentlemen are so nice in their calculations, and so particularly
+skilful in all manner of games, that no person would dare to enter the
+lists with them, were they even assured that no unfairness would be
+practised.  Besides, they make a vow, to win four or five guineas a day,
+and to be satisfied with that gain; a vow which they seldom or never
+break.
+
+It was in the midst of a company of these rooks, that Hamilton found the
+Chevalier de Grammont, when he called in one evening to get a glass of
+cider.  They were playing at hazard; and as he who holds the dice is
+supposed to have the advantage, the rooks did the Chevalier de Grammont
+that honour out of compliment: he had the dice in his hand when Hamilton
+came into the room.  The rooks, secure of their odds, were betting
+against him at a high rate, and he took all.
+
+Hamilton could hardly believe his eyes, to see a man of his experience
+and knowledge engaged in so unequal a contest; but it was to no purpose
+that he informed him of his danger, both aloud in French, and in private
+by signs; he still disregarded his warnings, and the dice, that bore
+Caesar and his fortunes, performed a miracle in his favour.  The rooks
+were defeated for the first time, but not without bestowing upon him all
+the encomiums and praises of being a very fair and honourable player,
+which they never fail to lavish upon those whom they wish to engage a
+second time; but all their commendations were lost, and their hopes
+deceived: the Chevalier was satisfied with the first experiment.
+
+Hamilton, when the king was at supper, related to him how he found the
+Chevalier de Grammont rashly engaged with the rooks, and in what manner
+he had been providentially preserved.  "Indeed, Sir," said the Chevalier
+de Grammont, "the rooks were discomfited for once;" and thereupon related
+the adventure to his majesty in his usual way, attracting the attention
+of all the company, to a circumstance trifling in itself, but rendered
+interesting by his humour.
+
+After supper, Miss Stewart, in whose apartment there was play, called
+Hamilton to her to tell the story.  The Chevalier de Grammont, perceiving
+that she attended to him with pleasure, was fully confirmed in the truth
+of his first conjectures; and, having carried Hamilton home with him to
+supper, they began to discourse freely together as usual  George," said
+the Chevalier de Grammont, "are you in any want of money?  I know you
+love play: perhaps it may not be so favourable to you as it is to me.  We
+are at a great distance from London.  Here are two hundred guineas: take
+them, I beseech you; they will do to play with at Miss Stewart's."
+Hamilton, who little expected this conclusion, was rather disconcerted.
+"How! at Miss Stewart's!"  "Yes, in her apartments.  Friend George,"
+continued the Chevalier de Grammont, "I have not yet lost my eyes: you
+are in love with her, and, if I am not mistaken, she is not offended at
+it; but tell me how you could resolve to banish poor Wetenhall from your
+heart, and suffer yourself to be infatuated with a girl, who perhaps
+after all is not worth the other, and who besides, whatever favourable
+dispositions she may have for you, will undoubtedly in the end prove your
+ruin.  Faith, your brother and you are two pretty fellows, in your
+choice.  What!  can you find no other beauties in all the court to fall
+in love with, except the king's two mistresses!  As for the elder
+brother, I can pardon him he only took Lady Castlemaine after his master
+had done with her, and after Lady Chesterfield had discarded him; but,
+as for you, what the devil do you intend to do with a creature, on whom
+the king seems every day to dote with increasing fondness?  Is it because
+that drunken sot Richmond has again come forward, and now declares
+himself one of her professed admirers?  You will soon see what he will
+make by it: I have not forgotten what the king said to me upon the
+subject.  "Believe me, my dear friend, there is no playing tricks with
+our masters; I mean, there is no ogling their mistresses.  I myself
+wanted to play the agreeable in France with a little coquette, whom
+the king did not care about, and you know how dearly I paid for it.
+I confess she gives you fair play, but do not trust to her.  All the sex
+feel an unspeakable satisfaction at having men in their train, whom they
+care not for, and to use them as their slaves of state, merely to swell
+their equipage.  Would it not be a great deal better to pass a week or
+ten days incognito at Peckham, with the philosopher Wetenhall's wife,
+than to have it inserted in the Dutch Gazette.--We hear from Bristol,
+that such a one is banished the court on account of Miss Stewart, and
+that he is going to make a campaign in Guinea on board the fleet that is
+fitting out for the expedition, under the command of Prince Rupert."
+
+Hamilton, who was the more convinced of the truth of this discourse, the
+more he considered it, after musing some time, appeared to wake from a
+dream, and addressing himself with an air of gratitude to the Chevalier
+de Grammont: "Of all the men in the world, my dear friend," said he, "you
+have the most agreeable wit, and at the same time the clearest judgment
+with respect to your friends: what you have told me has opened my eyes.
+I began to suffer myself to be seduced by the most ridiculous illusion
+imaginable, and to be hurried away rather by frivolous appearances than
+any real inclination: to you I owe the obligation of having preserved me
+from destruction at the very brink of a precipice.  This is not the only
+kindness you have done me, your favours have been innumerable; and,
+as a proof of my gratitude for this last, I will follow your advice,
+and go into retirement at my cousin Wetenhall's, to eradicate from my
+recollection every trace of those chimeras which lately possessed my
+brain; but so far from going thither incognito, I will take you along
+with me, as soon as the court returns to London.  My sister shall
+likewise be of the party; for it is prudent to use all precautions with
+a man who, with a great deal of merit, on such occasions is not over
+scrupulous, if we may credit your philosopher."  "Do not pay any
+attention to that pedant," replied the Chevalier de Grammont: "but tell
+me what put it into your head to form a design upon that inanimate
+statue, Miss Stewart?"  "How the devil should I know?"  said Hamilton:
+"you are acquainted with all her childish amusements.  The old Lord
+Carlingford was at her apartment one evening, showing her how to hold a
+lighted wax candle in her mouth, and the grand secret consisted in
+keeping the burning end there a long time without its being extinguished.
+I have, thank God, a pretty large mouth, and, in order to out-do her
+teacher, I took two candles into my mouth at the same time, and walked
+three times round the room without their going out.  Every person present
+adjudged me the prize of this illustrious experiment, and Killegrew
+maintained that nothing but a lanthorn could stand in competition with
+me.  Upon this she was like to die with laughing; and thus was I admitted
+into the familiarity of her amusements.  It is impossible to deny her
+being one of the most charming creatures that ever was: since the court
+has been in the country, I have had an hundred opportunities of seeing
+her, which I had not before.  You know that the dishabille of the bath is
+a great convenience for those ladies, who, strictly adhering to all the
+rules of decorum, are yet desirous to display all their charms and
+attractions.  Miss Stewart is so fully acquainted with the advantages she
+possesses over all other women, that it is hardly possible to praise any
+lady at court for a well-turned arm, and a fine leg, but she is ever
+ready to dispute the point by demonstration; and I really believe, that,
+with a little address, it would not be difficult to induce her to strip
+naked, without ever reflecting upon what she was doing.  After all, a man
+must be very insensible to remain unconcerned and unmoved on such happy
+occasions; and, besides, the good opinion we entertain of ourselves is
+apt to make us think a woman is smitten, as soon as she distinguishes us
+by habitual familiarity, which most commonly signifies nothing.  This is
+the truth of the matter with respect to myself: my own presumption, her
+beauty, the brilliant station that sets it off, and a thousand kind
+things she had said to me, prevented me from making serious reflections;
+but then, as some excuse for my folly, I must likewise tell you, that the
+facility I found in making her the tenderest declarations by commending
+her, and her telling me in confidence a thousand things which she ought
+not to have entrusted me with, might have deceived or infatuated any
+other man as well as myself.
+
+"I presented her with one of the prettiest horses in England.  You know
+what peculiar grace and elegance distinguish her on horseback.  The king,
+who, of all the diversions of the chase, likes none but hawking, because
+it is the most convenient for the ladies, went out the other day to take
+this amusement, attended by all the beauties of his court.  His majesty
+having galloped after a falcon, and the whole bright squadron after him,
+the rustling of Miss Stewart's petticoats frightened her horse, which was
+at full speed, endeavouring to come up with mine, that had been his
+companion; so that I was the only witness of a disorder in her clothes,
+which displayed a thousand new beauties to my view.  I had the good
+fortune to make such gallant and flattering exclamations upon that
+charming disorder as to prevent her being concerned or out of countenance
+upon it: on the contrary, this subject of my admiration has been
+frequently since the subject of our conversation, and did not seem to
+displease her.
+
+"Old Lord Carlingford, and that mad fellow, Crofts (for I must now make
+you my general confession), those insipid buffoons, were frequently
+telling her some diverting stories, which passed pretty well with the
+help of a few old threadbare jests, or some apish tricks in the recital,
+which made her laugh heartily.  As for myself, who know no stories, and
+do not possess the talent of improving them by telling, if I did know
+any, I was often greatly embarrassed when she desired me to tell her one:
+'I do not know one, indeed,' said I, one day, when she was teazing me on
+the subject.  'Invent one, then,' said she.  'That would be still more
+difficult,' replied I; 'but if you will give me leave, madam, I will
+relate to you a very extraordinary dream, which has, however, less
+appearance of truth in it than dreams generally have.'  This excited her
+curiosity, which would brook no denial.  I therefore began to tell her
+that the most beautiful creature in the world, whom I loved to
+distraction, paid me a visit in my sleep.  I then drew her own portrait,
+with a rapturous description of all her beauties; adding, that this
+goddess, who came to visit me with the most favourable intentions, did
+not counteract them by any unreasonable cruelty.  This was not sufficient
+to satisfy Miss Stewart's curiosity: I was obliged to relate every
+particular circumstance of the kindness I experienced from this delicate
+phantom; to which she was so very attentive, that she never once appeared
+surprised or disconcerted at the luscious tale.  On the contrary, she
+made me repeat the description of the beauty, which I drew as near as
+possible after her own person, and after such charms as I imagined of
+beauties that were unknown to me.
+
+"This is, in fact, the very thing that had almost deprived me of my
+senses: she knew very well that she herself was the person I was
+describing: we were alone, as you may imagine, when I told her this
+story; and my eyes did their utmost to persuade her that it was herself
+whom I drew.  I perceived that she was not in the least offended at
+knowing this; nor was her modesty in the least alarmed at the relation of
+a fiction, which I might have concluded in a manner still less discreet,
+if I had thought proper.  This patient audience made me plunge headlong
+into the ocean of flattering ideas that presented themselves to my
+imagination.  I then no longer thought of the king, nor how passionately
+fond he was of her, nor of the dangers attendant upon such an engagement:
+in short, I know not what the devil I was thinking of; but I am very
+certain that, if you had not been thinking for me, I might have found my
+ruin in the midst of these distracted visions."
+
+Not long after, the court returned to London; and from that time, some
+malevolent star having gained the ascendant, every thing went cross in
+the empire of Love: vexation, suspicions, or jealousies, first entered
+the field, to set all hearts at variance; next, false reports, slander,
+and disputes, completed the ruin of all.
+
+The Duchess of Cleveland had been brought to bed while the court was at
+Bristol; and never before had she recovered from her lying-in with such
+a profusion of charms.  This made her believe that she was in a proper
+state to retrieve her ancient rights over the king's heart, if she had an
+opportunity of appearing before him with this increased splendour.  Her
+friends being of the same opinion, her equipage was prepared for this
+expedition; but the very evening before the day she had fixed on to set
+out, she saw young Churchill, and was at once seized with a disease,
+which had more than once opposed her projects, and which she could never
+completely get the better of.
+
+     [Churchill--Afterwards the celebrated Duke of Marlborough.  He was
+     born midsummer-day, 1650, and died June 16, 1722.  Bishop Burnet
+     takes notice of the discovery of this intrigue.  "The Duchess of
+     Cleveland finding that she had lost the king, abandoned herself to
+     great disorders; one of which, by the artifice of the Duke of
+     Buckingham, was discovered by the king in person, the party
+     concerned leaping out of the window."--History of his own Times,
+     vol. i.  p. 370.  This was in 1668.  A very particular account of
+     this intrigue is to be seen in the Atalantis of Mrs. Manley, vol.
+     i., p.  30.  The same writer, who had lived as companion to the
+     Duchess of Cleveland, says, in the account of her own life, that she
+     was an eye-witness when the duke, who had received thousands from
+     the duchess, refused the common civility of lending her twenty
+     guineas at basset.--The history of Rivella, 4th ed.  1725, p. 33.
+     Lord Chesterfield's character of this noblemen is too remarkable to
+     be omitted.
+
+     "Of all the men that ever I knew in my life, (and I knew him
+     extremely well,) the late Duke of Marlborough possessed the graces
+     in the highest degree, not to say engrossed them: and indeed he got
+     the most by them!  for I will venture, (contrary to the custom of
+     profound historians, who always assign deep causes to great events,)
+     to ascribe the better half of the Duke of Marlborough's greatness
+     and riches to those graces.  He was eminently illiterate, wrote bad
+     English, and spelled it still worse.  He had no share of what is
+     commonly called parts; that is, he had no brightness, nothing
+     shining in his genius.  He had, most undoubtedly, an excellent good
+     plain understanding, with sound judgment.  But these alone would
+     probably have raised him but something higher than they found him,
+     which was page to King James II.'s queen.  There the graces
+     protected and promoted him; for while he was an ensign of the
+     guards, the Duchess of Cleveland, then favourite mistress to King
+     Charles II., struck by those very graces, gave him five thousand
+     pounds; with which he immediately bought an annuity for his life, of
+     five hundred pounds a-year, of my grandfather, Halifax; which was
+     the foundation of his subsequent fortune.  His figure was beautiful;
+     but his manner was irresistible by either man or woman.  It was by
+     this engaging, graceful manner, that he was enabled, during all his
+     wars, to connect the various and jarring powers of the grand
+     alliance, and to carry them on to the main object of the war,
+     notwithstanding their private and separate views, jealousies, and
+     wrong-headednesses.  Whatever court he went to, (and he was often
+     obliged to go himself to some restive and refractory ones,) he as
+     constantly prevailed, and brought them into his measures.  The
+     pensionary Heinsius, a venerable old minister, grown grey in
+     business, and who had governed the republic of the United Provinces
+     for more than forty years, was absolutely governed by the Duke of
+     Marlborough, as that republic feels to this day.  He was always
+     cool; and nobody ever observed the least variation in his
+     countenance.  He could refuse more gracefully than other people
+     could grant; and those who went away from him the most dissatisfied,
+     as to the substance of their business, were yet personally charmed
+     with him, and, in some degree, comforted by his manner.  With all
+     his gracefulness, no man living was more conscious of his situation,
+     or maintained his dignity better."--Chest.  Letters, letter 136.]
+
+A man who, from an ensign in the guards, was raised to such a fortune,
+must certainly possess an uncommon share of prudence, not to be
+intoxicated with his happiness.  Churchill boasted in all places of
+the new favour he had received: the Duchess of Cleveland, who neither
+recommended to him circumspection in his behaviour, nor in his
+conversation, did not seem to be in the least concerned at his
+indiscretion.  Thus this intrigue was become a general topic in all
+companies, when the court arrived in London, and occasioned an immense
+number of speculations and reasonings: some said she had already
+presented him with Jermyn's pension, and Jacob Hall's salary, because
+the merits and qualifications of both were united in his person: others
+maintained that he had too indolent an air, and too delicate a shape,
+long to maintain himself in her favour; but all agreed that a man who was
+the favourite of the king's mistress, and brother to the duke's
+favourite, was in a fair way of preferment, and could not fail to make
+his fortune.  As a proof, the Duke of York soon after gave him a place in
+his household: this was naturally to be expected; but the king, who did
+not think that Lady Cleveland's kindness to him was a sufficient
+recommendation to his favour, thought proper to forbid him the court.
+
+This good-natured king began now to be rather peevish: nor was it
+altogether without reason: he disturbed no person in their amours, and
+yet others had often the presumption to encroach upon his.  Lord Dorset,
+first lord of the bed-chamber, had lately debauched from his service Nell
+Gwyn, the actress.  Lady Cleveland, whom he now no longer regarded,
+continued to disgrace him by repeated infidelities with unworthy rivals,
+and almost ruined him by the immense sums she lavished on her gallants;
+but that which most sensibly affected him, was the late coldness and
+threats of Miss Stewart.  He long since had offered her all the
+settlements and all the titles she could desire, until he had an
+opportunity more effectually to provide for her, which she had pretended
+only to decline, for fear of the scandal they might occasion, on her
+being raised to a rank which would attract the public notice; but since
+the return of the court, she had given herself other airs: sometimes she
+was for retiring from court, to appease the continual uneasiness her
+presence gave the queen: at other times it was to avoid temptations,
+by which she wished to insinuate that her innocence was still preserved:
+in short, the king's heart was continually distracted by alarms, or
+oppressed by humour and caprice.
+
+As he could not for his life imagine what Miss Stewart wished him to do,
+or what she would be at, he thought upon reforming his establishment of
+mistresses, to try whether jealousy was not the real occasion of her
+uneasiness.  It was for this reason that, after having solemnly declared
+he would have nothing more to say to the Duchess of Cleveland, since her
+intrigue with Churchill, he discarded, without any exception, all the
+other mistresses which he had in various parts of the town.  The Nell
+Gwyns, the Misses Davis, and the joyous rain of singers and dancers in
+his majesty's theatre, were all dismissed.  All these sacrifices were
+ineffectual: Miss Stewart continued to torment, and almost to drive the
+king to distraction; but his majesty soon after found out the real cause
+of this coldness.
+
+This discovery was owing to the officious Duchess of Cleveland, who, ever
+since her disgrace, had railed most bitterly against Miss Stewart as the
+cause of it, and against the king's weakness, who, for an inanimate
+idiot, had treated her with so much indignity.  As some of her grace's
+creatures were still in the king's confidence, by their means she was
+informed of the king's uneasiness, and that Miss Stewart's behaviour was
+the occasion of it--and as soon as she had found the opportunity she had
+so long wished for, she went directly into the king's cabinet, through
+the apartment of one of his pages called Chiffinch.  This way was not new
+to her.
+
+The king was just returned from visiting Miss Stewart, in a very ill
+humour: the presence of the Duchess of Cleveland surprised him, and did
+not in the least diminish it: she, perceiving this, accosted him in an
+ironical tone, and with a smile of indignation.  "I hope," said she,
+"I may be allowed to pay you my homage, although the angelic Stewart has
+forbid you to see me at my own house.  I will not make use of reproaches
+and expostulations, which would disgrace myself: still less will I
+endeavour to excuse frailties which nothing can justify, since your
+constancy for me deprives me of all defence, considering I am the only
+person you have honoured with your tenderness, who has made herself
+unworthy of it by ill conduct.  I come now, therefore, with no other
+intent than to comfort and to condole with you upon the affliction and
+grief into which the coldness, or new-fashioned chastity of the inhuman
+Stewart have reduced your majesty."  These words were attended by a fit
+of laughter, as unnatural and strained as it was insulting and
+immoderate, which completed the king's impatience: he had, indeed,
+expected that some bitter jest would follow this preamble; but he did not
+suppose she would have given herself such blustering airs, considering
+the terms they were then upon; and, as he was preparing to answer her:
+"be not offended," said she, "that I take the liberty of laughing at the
+gross manner in which you are imposed upon: I cannot bear to see that
+such particular affectation should make you the jest of your own court,
+and that you should be ridiculed with such impunity.  I know that the
+affected Stuart has sent you away, under pretence of some indisposition,
+or perhaps some scruple of conscience; and I come to acquaint you that
+the Duke of Richmond will soon be with her, if he is not there already.
+I do not desire you to believe what I say, since it might be suggested
+either through resentment or envy: only follow me to her apartment,
+either that, no longer trusting calumny and malice, you may honour her
+with a just preference, if I accuse her falsely; or, if my information be
+true, you may no longer be the dupe of a pretended prude, who makes you
+act so unbecoming and ridiculous a part."
+
+As she ended this speech, she took him by the hand, while he was yet
+undecided, and pulled him away towards her rival's apartments.  Chiffinch
+being in her interest, Miss Stewart could have no warning of the visit;
+and Babiani, who owed all to the Duchess of Cleveland, and who served her
+admirably well upon this occasion, came and told her that the Duke of
+Richmond had just gone into Miss Stewart's chamber.  It was in the middle
+of a little gallery, which, through a private door, led from the king's
+apartments to those of his mistresses.  The Duchess of Cleveland wished
+him good night, as he entered her rival's chamber, and retired, in order
+to wait the success of the adventure, of which Babiani, who attended the
+king, was charged to come and give her an account.
+
+It was near midnight: the king, in his way, met his mistress's chamber-
+maids, who respectfully opposed his entrance, and in a very low voice,
+whispered his majesty that Miss Stewart had been very ill since he left
+her: but that, being gone to bed, she was, God be thanked, in a very fine
+sleep.  "That I must see," said the king, pushing her back, who had
+posted herself in his way.  He found Miss Stewart in bed, indeed, but far
+from being asleep: the Duke of Richmond was seated at her pillow, and in
+all probability was less inclined to sleep than herself.  The perplexity
+of the one party, and the rage of the other, were such as may easily be
+imagined upon such a surprise.  The king, who, of all men, was one of the
+most mild and gentle, testified his resentment to the Duke of Richmond in
+such terms as he had never before used.  The duke was speechless, and
+almost petrified: he saw his master and his king justly irritated.  The
+first transports which rage inspires on such occasions are dangerous.
+Miss Stewart, window was very convenient for a sudden revenge, the Thames
+flowing close beneath it: he cast his eyes upon it; and, seeing those of
+the king more incensed and fired with indignation than he thought his
+nature capable of, he made a profound bow, and retired, without replying
+a single word to the vast torrent of threats and menaces that were poured
+upon him.
+
+Miss Stewart, having a little recovered from her first surprise, instead
+of justifying herself, began to talk in the most extravagant manner, and
+said everything that was most capable to inflame the king's passion and
+resentment; that, if she were not allowed to receive visits from a man of
+the Duke of Richmond's rank, who came with honourable intentions, she was
+a slave in a free country; that she knew of no engagement that could
+prevent her from disposing of her hand as she thought proper; but,
+however, if this was not permitted her in his dominions, she did not
+believe that there was any power on earth that could hinder her from
+going over to France, and throwing herself into a convent, to enjoy there
+that tranquillity which was denied her in his court.  The king, sometimes
+furious with anger, sometimes relenting at her tears, and sometimes
+terrified at her menaces, was so greatly agitated, that he knew not how
+to answer, either the nicety of a creature who wanted to act the part of
+Lucretia under his own eye, or the assurance with which she had the
+effrontery to reproach him.  In this suspense, love had almost entirely
+vanquished all his resentments, and had nearly induced him to throw
+himself upon his knees, and entreat pardon for the injury he had done
+her, when she desired him to retire, and leave her in repose, at least
+for the remainder of that night, without offending those who had either
+accompanied him, or conducted him to her apartments, by a longer visit.
+This impertinent request provoked and irritated him to the highest
+degree: he went out abruptly, vowing never to see her more, and passed
+the most restless and uneasy night he had ever experienced since his
+restoration.
+
+The next day the Duke of Richmond received orders to quit the court, and
+never more to appear before the king; but it seems he had not waited for
+those orders, having set out early that morning for his country seat.
+
+Miss Stewart, in order to obviate all injurious constructions that might
+be put upon the adventure of the preceding night, went and threw herself
+at the queen's feet; where, acting the new part of an innocent Magdalen,
+she entreated her majesty's forgiveness for all the sorrow and uneasiness
+she might have already occasioned her.  She told her majesty that a
+constant and sincere repentance had induced her to contrive all possible
+means for retiring from court: that this reason had inclined her to
+receive the Duke of Richmond's addresses, who had courted her a long
+time; but since this courtship had caused his disgrace, and had likewise
+raised a vast noise and disturbance, which perhaps might be turned to the
+prejudice of her reputation, she conjured her Majesty to take her under
+her protection, and endeavour to obtain the king's permission for her to
+retire into a convent, to remove at once all those vexations and troubles
+her presence had innocently occasioned at court.  All this was
+accompanied with a proper deluge of tears.
+
+It is a very agreeable spectacle to see a rival prostrate at our feet,
+entreating pardon, and at the same time justifying her conduct.  The
+queen's heart not only relented, but she mingled her own tears with those
+of Miss Stewart.  After having raised her up, and most tenderly embraced
+her, she promised her all manner of favour and protection, either in her
+marriage, or in any other course she thought fit to pursue, and parted
+from her with the firm resolution to exert all her interest in her
+support; but, being a person of great judgment, the reflections which
+she afterwards made, induced her to change her opinion!
+
+She knew that the king's disposition was not capable of an obstinate
+constancy.  She therefore judged that absence would cure him, or that a
+new engagement would by degrees entirely efface the remembrance of Miss
+Stewart, and that, since she could not avoid having a rival, it was more
+desirable she should be one who had given such eminent proofs of her
+prudence and virtue.  Besides, she flattered herself that the king would
+ever think himself eternally obliged to her, for having opposed the
+retreat and marriage of a girl, whom at that time he loved to
+distraction.  This fine reasoning determined her conduct.  All her
+industry was employed in persuading Miss Stewart to abandon her schemes;
+and what is most extraordinary in this adventure, is, that, after having
+prevailed upon her to think no more either of the Duke of Richmond, or of
+a nunnery, she charged herself with the office of reconciling these two
+lovers.
+
+Indeed it would have been a thousand pities if her negotiation had
+miscarried but she did not suffer this misfortune; for never were the
+king's addresses so eager and passionate as after this peace, nor ever
+better received by the fair Stewart.
+
+His majesty did not long enjoy the sweets of a reconciliation, which
+brought him into the best good humour possible, as we shall see.  All
+Europe was in a profound peace, since the treaty of the Pyrenees: Spain
+flattered herself she should be able to recruit, by means of the new
+alliance she had contracted with the most formidable of her neighbours;
+but despaired of being able to support the shattered remains of a
+declining monarchy, when she considered the age and infirmities of her
+prince, or the weakness of his successor: France, on the contrary,
+governed by a king indefatigable in business, young, vigilant, and
+ambitious of glory, wanted nothing but inclination to aggrandize herself.
+
+It was about this time, that the king of France, not willing to disturb
+the tranquillity of Europe, was persuaded to alarm the coasts of Africa,
+by an attempt, which, if it had even been crowned with success, would
+have produced little good; but the king's fortune, ever faithful to his
+glory, has since made it appear, by the miscarriage of the expedition of
+Gigeri, that such projects only as were planned by himself were worthy of
+his attention.
+
+     [Gigeri is about forty leagues from Algiers.  Till the year 1664 the
+     French had a factory there; but then attempting to build a fort on
+     the sea-coast, to be a check upon the Arabs, they came down from the
+     mountains, beat the French out of Gigeri, and demolished their fort.
+     Sir Richard Fanshaw, in a letter to the deputy governor of Tangier,
+     dated 2nd December, 1664, N.S., says, "We have certain intelligence
+     that the French have lost Gigheria, with all they had there, and
+     their fleet come back, with the loss of one considerable ship upon
+     the rocks near Marseilles."--Fanshaw's Letters, vol. i.  p. 347.]
+
+A short time after, the king of England, having resolved also to explore
+the African coasts, fitted out a squadron for an expedition to Guinea,
+which was to be commanded by Prince Rupert.  Those who, from their own
+experience, had some knowledge of the country, related strange and
+wonderful stories of the dangers attendant upon this expedition that they
+would have to fight not only the inhabitants of Guinea, a hellish people,
+whose arrows were poisoned, and who never gave their prisoners better
+quarter than to devour them, but that they must likewise endure heats
+that were insupportable, and rains that were intolerable, every drop of
+which was changed into a serpent: that, if they penetrated farther into
+the country, they would be assaulted by monsters a thousand times more
+hideous and destructive than all the beasts mentioned in the Revelations.
+
+But all these reports were vain and ineffectual: for so far from striking
+terror into those who were appointed to go upon this expedition, it
+rather acted as an incentive to glory, upon those who had no manner of
+business in it.  Jermyn appeared among the foremost of those; and,
+without reflecting that the pretence of his indisposition had delayed
+the conclusion of his marriage with Miss Jennings, he asked the duke's
+permission, and the king's consent to serve in it as a volunteer.
+
+Some time before this, the infatuation which had imposed upon the fair
+Jennings in his favour had begun to subside.  All that now inclined her
+to this match were the advantages of a settlement.  The careless
+indolence of a lover, who faintly paid his addresses to her, as it were
+from custom or habit, disgusted her; and the resolution he had taken,
+without consulting her, appeared so ridiculous in him, and so injurious
+to herself, that, from that moment, she resolved to think no more of him.
+Her eyes being opened by degrees, she saw the fallacy of the splendour,
+which had at first deceived her; and the renowned Jermyn was received
+according to his real merit when he came to acquaint her with his
+heroical project.  There appeared so much indifference and ease in the
+raillery with which she complimented him upon his voyage, that he was
+entirely disconcerted, and so much the more so, as he had prepared all
+the arguments he thought capable of consoling her, upon announcing to her
+the fatal news of his departure.  She told him, "that nothing could be
+more glorious for him, who had triumphed over the liberty of so many
+persons in Europe, than too and extend his conquests in other parts of
+the world; and that she advised him to bring home with him all the female
+captives he might make in Africa, in order to replace those beauties whom
+his absence would bring to the grave."
+
+Jermyn was highly displeased that she should be capable of raillery in
+the condition he supposed her reduced to; but he soon perceived she was
+in earnest: she told him, that she considered this farewell visit as his
+last, and desired him not to think of making her any more before his
+departure.
+
+Thus far everything went well on her side: Jermyn was not only confounded
+at having received his discharge in so cavalier a manner; but this very
+demonstration of her indifference had revived, and even redoubled, all
+the love and affection he had formerly felt for her.  Thus she had both
+the pleasure of despising him, and of seeing him more entangled in the
+chains of love than he had ever been before.  This was not sufficient:
+she wished still farther, and very unadvisedly, to strain her resentment.
+
+Ovid's Epistles,--[This is the translation of Ovid's Epistles published
+by Mr. Dryden.  The second edition of it was printed in 1681.]--
+translated into English verse by the greatest wits at court, having
+lately been published, she wrote a letter from a shepherdess in despair,
+addressed to the perfidious Jermyn.  She took the epistle of Ariadne to
+Theseus for her model.  The beginning of this letter contained, word for
+word, the complaints and reproaches of that injured fair to the cruel man
+by whom she had been abandoned.  All this was properly adapted to the
+present times and circumstances.  It was her design to have closed this
+piece with a description of the toils, perils, and monsters, that awaited
+him in Guinea, for which he quitted a tender mistress, who was plunged
+into the abyss of misery, and was overwhelmed with grief and despair; but
+not having had time to finish it, nor to get that which she had written
+transcribed, in order to send it to him under a feigned name, she
+inconsiderately put this fragment, written in her own hand, into her
+pocket, and, still more giddily, dropped it in the middle of the court.
+Those who took it up, knowing her writing, made several copies of it,
+which were circulated all over the town; but her former conduct had so
+well established the reputation of her virtue, that no person entertained
+the smallest doubt but the circumstances were exactly as we have related
+them.  Some time after, the Guinea expedition was laid aside for reasons
+that are universally known, and Miss Jenning's subsequent proceedings
+fully justified her letter; for, notwithstanding all the efforts and
+attentions Jermyn practised to regain her affections, she would never
+more hear of him.
+
+But he was not the only man who experienced the whimsical fatality, that
+seemed to delight in disuniting hearts, in order to engage them soon
+after to different objects.  One would have imagined that the God of
+Love, actuated by some new caprice, had placed his empire under the
+dominion of Hymen, and had, at the same time, blind-folded that God, in
+order to cross-match most of the lovers whom we have been speaking of'
+
+The fair Stewart married the Duke of Richmond; the invincible Jermyn, a
+silly country girl; Lord Rochester, a melancholy heiress; the sprightly
+Temple, the serious Lyttleton; Talbot, without knowing why or wherefore,
+took to wife the languishing Boynton; George Hamilton, under more
+favourable auspices, married the lovely Jennings; and the Chevalier de
+Grammont, as the reward of a constancy he had never before known, and
+which he never afterwards practised, found Hymen and Love united in his
+favour, and was at last blessed with the possession of Miss Hamilton.
+
+     [After the deaths of Miss Boynton and of George Hamilton, Talbot
+     married Miss Jennings, and became afterwards Duke of Tyrconnel.]
+
+     ["The famous Count Grammont was thought to be the original of The
+     Forced Marriage.  This nobleman, during his stay at the court of
+     England, had made love to Miss Hamilton, but was coming away for
+     France without bringing matters to a proper conclusion.  The young
+     lady's brothers pursued him, and came up with him near Dover, in
+     order to exchange some pistol-shot with him: They called out, 'Count
+     Grammont, have you forgot nothing at London?'  'Excuse me,' answered
+     the Count, guessing their errand, 'I forgot to marry your sister; so
+     lead on, and let us finish that affair.'  By the pleasantry of the
+     answer, this was the same Grammont who commanded at the siege of a
+     place, the governor of which capitulated after a short defence, and
+     obtained an easy capitulation.  The governor then said to Monsieur
+     Grammont, I'll tell you a secret--that the reason of my capitulation
+     was, because I was in want of powder.'  Monsieur replied, 'And
+     secret for secret--the reason of my granting you such an easy
+     capitulation was, because I was in want of ball."--Biog.  Gallica,
+     vol. i., p.  202.
+
+     Count Grammont and his lady left England in 1669.  King Charles in a
+     letter to his sister, the Duchess of Orleans, dated 24th October, in
+     that year, says, "I writt to you yesterday, by the Compte de
+     Grammont, but I beleeve this letter will come sooner to your handes;
+     for he goes by the way of Diep, with his wife and family; and now
+     that I have named her, I cannot chuse but againe desire you to be
+     kinde to her; for, besides the merrit her family has on both sides,
+     she is as good a creature as ever lived.  I beleeve she will passe
+     for a handsome woman in France, though she has not yett, since her
+     lying-inn, recovered that good shape she had before, and I am
+     affraide never will."--Dalxymple's Memoirs, vol. ii.  p. 26.
+
+     "The Count de Grammont fell dangerously ill in the year 1696; of
+     which the king (Louis XIV.) being informed, and knowing, besides,
+     that he was inclined to libertinism, he was pleased to send the
+     Marquis of Dangeau to see how he did, and to advise him to think of
+     God.  Hereupon Count de Grammont, turning towards his wife, who had
+     ever been a very devout lady, told her, Countess, if you don't look
+     to it, Dangeau will juggle you out of my conversion.  Madame de
+     l'Enclos having afterwards written to M. de St Evremond that Count
+     de Grammont was recovered, and turned devout,--I have learned,
+     answered he to her, with a great deal of pleasure, that Count de
+     Grammont has recovered his former health, and acquired a new
+     devotion.  Hitherto I have been contented with being a plain honest
+     man; but I must do something more; and I only wait for your example
+     to become a devotee.  You live in a country where people have
+     wonderful advantages of saving their souls, there vice is almost as
+     opposite to the mode as to virtue; sinning passes for ill-breeding,
+     and shocks decency and good manners, as much as religion, Formerly
+     it was enough to be wicked; now one must be a scoundrel withal, to
+     be damned in France.  They who have not regard enough for another
+     life, are led to salvation by the consideration and duties of this."
+     --"But there is enough upon a subject in which the conversion of the
+     Count de Grammont has engaged me: I believe it to be sincere and
+     honest.  It well becomes a man who is not young, to forget he has
+     been so."--Life of St. Evremond, by Des Marzeaux, p. 136; and St.
+     Evremond's Works, vol. ii.  p. 431.]
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+Busy without consequence
+Entreating pardon, and at the same time justifying her conduct
+Four dozen of patches, at least, and ten ringlets of hair
+He had no sentiments but such as others inspired him with
+Impertinent compliments
+Long habit of suffering himself to be robbed by his domestics
+Offended that his good fortune raised him no rivals
+Public grows familiar with everything by habit
+
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GRAMMONT, V7, BY HAMILTON ***
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+************* This file should be named mcg7w10.txt or mcg7w10.zip ************
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