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UNIVERSITY  OF   PITTSBURGH 


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~     MEMORiW.  US«"^''^'' 
UNIVERSITY  tf  ru  1^ 


THE 


MEMOIRS 

O  F 

Mrs.   Sophia  Baddeley, 

Late  of  Drury  Lane  Theatre. 

B  Y 

MRsr   ELIZABETH    STEELE. 

fc— ■■  ■—  ■— I  ..        .      -.  ■  -  ■■—  ■  --■■    I  —  ■ 

IN    SIX    VOLUMES. 

Vol.  III. 


LONDON: 

Printed  for  the  Author,  at  the  Literarg  IPteCjj, 

No.  14,  Red  Lion-Jlreet ,  ChrkenvjdU 

Sold  by  all  the  Bookfellers. 

M.DCC.LXXXVII. 


THE 

MEMOIRS 


O  F 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley. 


WE  now  began  to  think  of  the  maf^ 
querade  j  and  we  fettled  it  that 
Mrs.  Baddeley  Ihould  go  in  the  chara6ter 
of  Juliet,  and  I  in  that  of  the  Nurfe.  Her 
drefs  made  up  upon  this  occafion,  was 
a  rich  white  fattin,  beautifully  pucker'd 
with  a  veil  of  fine  gauze,  trimmed  all 
round  with  a  broad  rich  point-lace. 
Vol.  III.  B  which 


2  The  Memoirs  of 

which  had  a  pretty  efFedt.  Upon  the 
whole  it  was  fo  elegant,  that  I  can  ven- 
ture to  fay,  fo  beautiful  a  Juliet,  was 
never  before  feen.  I  had  a  full  pink 
fattin  petticoat,  trimnaed  with  a  deep 
point,  a  black  filk  gown  tied  back,  and 
large  pinners  of  old  point-lace  on  my 
head,  quite  in  chara6ler.  The  point  I 
borrowed,  through  the  favour  of  Mr, 
Garrick.  Before  we  entered  the  Ball- 
room, I  begged  the  favour  of  Mrs. 
Baddeley  not  to  Unmafk,  and  for  fome 
time  fhe  obliged  me.  Our  dreffes  were 
much  admired,  but  no  fooner  had  fhe 
her  mafk  off,  than  fhe  attracted  the  at- 
tention of  the  whole  room;  even  the 
ladies  that  night,  could  not  help  faying 
many  things  in  her  praife.  I  never  took 

off 


Mrs,  Sophia  Baddeley.         3 

oi?  my  mafic,  but  it  was  fufficiently 
known  who  I  was,  being  in  company 
with  her.  This  was  a  bal)  given  by  a 
fubfcription  of  the  nobility  j  it  was 
fpleodid  and  fuperb  to  the  utmoft  -,  and 
the  attention  univerfally  fhewn  us  by 
men  of  the  firll  rank,  in  bringing  us  rcr- 
frefhments,  &c.  w^ls  exceedingly  flatter^ 
ing,  but  abfolutely  troublefome.  At  this 
mafquerade  none  were  admitted  but  by 
tickets,  given  away  privately  by  the 
fubfcribers.  Every  perfon  almoft  of 
rank  and  fortune  then  in  town  was 
prefent,  and  as  all  vied  with  each  othecj  ^ 
in  fplendor  of  drefs,  it  was  the  moft 
brilliant  aflembly  of  the  kind  that  ever 
was  feen.  The  confequence  of  Mrs. 
Baddeley  being  at  the  mafquerade,  was, 
B  2  that 


4  The  Memoirs  of 

that  the  next  day,  our  knocker  was  go- 
ing from  morning  till  evening  -,  but  as 
we  gave  orders  to  be  denied  to  all,  we 
had  only  their  names  to  read.  Among 
the  many  that  called  to  pay  their  re- 
fpedls  were,  the  Dukes  of  Northum- 
berland, Ancafter,  and  Queenfberry  j 
Lords  Harrington,  Lincoln,  Clanbra- 
zil,  Winchelfea,  Falmouth,  Pigotj  Mr. 
R.  Conway,  &c.  and  the  news -papers 
did  not  omit  to  mention  many  others. 

Having  been  engaged  to  dine  this 
day  with  Mr.  Cafwell ;  and  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley  having,  or  affe6ting  to  have,  a  fick 
head-ach,  I  was  obliged  to  apologize, 
and  excufe  ourfelves.  I  fay  affe5fing  to 
have,  for  Doctor  Eliot,  who  attended 

her 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.  5 

her  that  morning,  advifed  her,  as  flie 
faid,  to  take  an  airing,  and  I  believe 
fhe  pretended  to  be  un-well,  in  or- 
der to  keep  an  appointment  Ihe  had 
made  with  Mr.  Storer  the  night  before^ 
at  the  mafquerade,  whilft  I  was  dancing 
with  Mr.  Conway  j  for,  when  we  entered 
Hyde-Park,  Mr.  Storer  came  up  to  the 
coach  on  foot,  faying,  he  had  been 
rambling  in  the  air  all  the  morning. 
She  alked  hina  into  the  carriage,  and  he 
came  in,  rode  once  or  twice  round  the 
Park  with  us,  and  on  our  return  home, 
we  fet  him  down  in  Piccadilly.  • 

Mrs.  Baddeley  never  omitted  to  go 
to  every  public   place  of  refort,    fre- 
quented by  the  nobility  and  people  of 
B  3  fafhion. 


6  The  Memoirs  of 

falhion,  and  her  admiflion  was  never 
oppofed  but  once,  of  which  I  will  give 
my  reader  the  particulars. 

When  the  Pantheon  was  firft  opened 
with  concerts,  &c.  the  proprietors  wifh- 
ed  to  exclude  every  perfon,  but  thofe  of 
rank  and  fortune ;  and  by  no  means  to 
admit  any  women  of  flight  chara6ter, 
or  any  of  the  players.  Mrs.  Baddeley 
being  then  on  the  ftage,  and  of  fome 
confequence  among  them  -,  fhe  was  with 
fome  others,  pointed  out  as  an  impro- 
per perfon  to  be  admitted.  This  get- 
ting to  the  ears  of  Mr.  William 
Hanger,  Mr.  R.  Conway,  and  fome 
few  more  of  her  friends,  they  met  at 
Almack's  on  the  occalion,  and  twenty 

of 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.  7 

of  the  nobility  agreed  to  attend  at  the  Pan- 
theon, at  the  door  Ihe  defigned  to  enter 
at,  determining  that  nothing  fhould  pre- 
vent her  admittance.  They  accordingly 
requefted  of  us  to  go  ■  the  firfl  evening 
it  was  opened,  in  chairs ;  for  as  an  extra 
number  of  conftables  were  ordered  to 
attend,  and  as  chairs  were  admitted  un- 
der the  Portico,  it  would  be  better  in 
cafe  of  a  riot,  than  to  expofe  our 
carriage  and  horfes.  to  the  infolence  of 
a  mob.  I  was  to  get  out  of  my  chair 
firft,  and  Mrs.  Baddeley  was  to  follow. 
When  we  reached  the  place,  I  believe 
there  were  fifty  gentlemen  in  waiting, 
ready  to  prote6l  us  j  with  fwords  by 
their  fides :  and  when  I  got  out,  I 
paiTed  the  conftables  uninterrupted,  but 

as 


8  The  Memoirs  oof 

as.foon  as  Mrs.  Baddeley  got  out  of  her 
chair,  all  the  conftables  ftaves  were 
crofTed  ;  and,  pulling  of  their  hats,  they 
with  their  civility,  faid,  their  orders  were 
to  admit  no  players.  At  this  inftant, 
every  gentleman  there  prefent,  the 
greateft  part  of  whom  were  noblemen, 
■drew  their  fwords,  and  declared  one 
and  ail,  that  if  they  did  not  inftantly 
make  way,  and  let  her  pafs,  they  would 
run  them  through.  Way  was  imme- 
diately made,  and  Mrs.  Baddeley  and  I 
were  handed  in,  without  any  interrup- 
tion. But  the  matter  ended  not  here, 
for  the  gentlemen  would  not  Iheath 
their  fwords,  nor  fuffer  the  mufic  to 
play,  till  the  managers  came  to  afk 
Mrs.  Baddeley's  pardon,  for  the  infult 

ihewn 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.  ^ 

ihewn  her.  The  kdies  then  began  to- 
enquire  into  the  caufe  of  this  diflur- 
bance,  and  the  Duchefs  of  Argyle,  now 
Duchefs  of  Hamilton  came  forward ; 
and  was  pleafed  to  fay,  fhe  was  much 
fiirprized  at  fo  grofs  an  infult  being- 
otfered  to  Mrs.  Baddeley,  who  was  an- 
ornament  to  any  place,  Ihe  was  feen  in  ; 
and  it  gave  her  a  particular  pleafure  to 
fee  her  in  public  at  all  times.  Lady 
Hertford  joined  in  the  fame  opinion. 
At  laft  the  managers  "were  glad  to  make 
their  appearance,  and  not  only  z(k 
Mrs.  Baddeley's  pardon,  but  the  par- 
don of  all  the  gentlemen  who  flood  forth 
in  her  behalf,  and  received  a  fevere  re- 
primand for  their  condud.  So  that  the 
ladies  of  the  Theatres,  and  many  others, 

have 


JO  The  Memoirs  of 

have  to  thank  Mrs.  Baddeley  for  theif 
prefent  admiflion.  Mrs.  Baddeley,  with 
a  becoming  modefty,  returned  her  grate- 
ful thanks  to  thofe  ladies  of  fafhion,  who 
politely  chaftized  the  managers  for  their 
behaviour,  then  wifhing  to  apologize 
for  the  orders  they  had  given,  but  they 
were  not  fuffered  to  fay  a  word  in  their 
defence.  Mrs.  Abington,  (v/ho  waited 
the  event  of  Mrs.  Baddeley's  reception, 
and  to  whom  we  immedia.tely  fetit  an 
account  of  what  had  happened),  pre- 
fently  made  her  appearance,  and  the 
evening  was  no  longer  interrupted. 

Lord  Melbourne  coming  to  acquaint 
us  that  he  Ihould  leave  town  the  next 
day,  for  a  week,  defired  Mrs.  Baddeley 

would 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        ii 

would  get  well  In  his  abfencCj  and  told 
me,  on  his  return  he  would  look  into 
fome  accounts  I  mentioned  to  him.  Mrs. 
Baddeley  v/as  not  a  little  pleafed  he  was 
going,  as  Ihe  called  fuch  times  her  holi- 
days J  and  as  foon  as  he  was  gone,  fhe 
cried,  "  Now  the  devil  take  the  dodlors ! 
"  I'll  not  fee  one  of  them,  but  go  and 
"  fee  Hampton-Court,  and  Windfor  j 
"  which  I  have  not  feen  for  fome  years  j 
'^  and  I  will  take  as  much  pleafure,  as 
'^  the  week  will  afford."  Of  courfe, 
we  ordered  the  coach  and  four,  and  the 
next  morning  at  ten  fet  off  for  Hamp- 
ton. But,  before  we  went,  fhe  con- 
trived to  let  Captain  Fawkner  know, 
that  flie  would  call  at  Richmond ;  for 
when  we  came  to  Kew-bridge,  Ihe  faid, 

flie 


3^  The  Memoirs  of 

flie  longed  for  fome  maids  of  honour  at 
Richmond,  (which  were  cheefe- cakes, 
there  fold  under  that  name,)  "  It  is 
*'  not  much  out  of  our  way,  do  let's 
*'  go  ?"  We  went,  and  who  Ihould  we 
fee  at  the  Paflry-cook's,  but  the  Cap- 
tain ;  which  {he  declared  to  me  was  ac- 
cidental but  I  did  not  believe  it,  as  one 
of  our  maids,  had  fet  off  that  morning 
at  fix  o'clock  J  under  the  idea  of  a  holi- 
day; and  I  am  firmly  convinced,  Ihe 
was  difpatched  to  him.  We  ftaid  and 
dined  at  the  Caftle,  and  being  obliged 
to  write  back  to  town,  for  fomething  I 
had  forgot.  Captain  Fawkner  and  Mrs. 
Baddeley  walked  into  the  garden ;  which 
I  was  forry  for  afterwards.  We  conti- 
nued all  night,  and  Mrs.  Baddeley  ilept 

with 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        rj 

with  me.  Next  morning  Captain  Fawk- 
ner  breakfafted  with  us,  and  after  break- 
faft  we  purfued  our  journey  alone,  to 
Hampton-court  -,  and  thence  to  Wind- 
for,  where  we  dined.  Before  dinner 
we  went  to  fee  the  Caftle,  and  on  en- 
tering it,  a  young  gentleman  accofted  us, 
whofe  name  was  Captain  Pigot;  he 
begged  to  efcort  Mrs.  Baddeley  through 
the  apartments.  Tliis  gentleman  ac- 
companied us  to  the  inn,  and  left  us« 
Having  enquired  of  our  people,  whe- 
ther we  had  any  company ;  and  finding 
lis  alone,  he  fent  his  compliments,  and 
begged  the  favour,  we  would  admit 
him  to  dine  with  us.  Mrs,  Baddeley 
faid,  "  Let  him  j  he  is  a  civil  young  man; 
**  I  know  he  is  a  relation  of  Lord  Pigot's." 
Vol.  III.  C  I  con- 


14        /  The  Memoirs  of 

I  confented,  and  we  fent  him  word, 
we  Ihould  be  happy  in  his  company. 
He  was  a  man  of  very  engaging  man- 
ners, was  very  warm  in  his  praifes  of 
Mrs.  Baddeley,  and  faid,  he  fhould 
blefs  the  hour  he  was  fo  fortunate 
as  to  be  at  the  Caftle,  and  record 
itj  ^s  the  happieft  of  his  life.  It  being 
too  late  to  think  of  returning  to  town, 
we  ordered  a  bed,  and  determined  to 
flay  all  night.  Cards  were  propofed, 
but  as  there  were  but  three,  I  recol- 
ledled  having  an  old  fchool-fellow  mar- 
ried in  this  town,  whom  I  propofed  to 
invite,  to  make  up  a  party  at  whifl; 
Captain  Pigot  offered  to  wait  on  her, 
with  our  compliments  i  we  confented, 
and  he  brought  her  to  us  j  fhe  flaid  fup- 

^  per. 


Mr3.  Sophia  Baddeley.        i$ 

per,  and  invited  us  to  breakfaft  the  next 
morning,  and  Captain  Pigot  alfo.  This 
lady  and  her  hufband,  Mr.  Herbert, 
lived  on  their  fortune,  in  an  elegant 
ftile,  and  very  politely  received  and 
entertained  both  us  and  our  horfes^ 
which  they  infifted  Ihbuld  be  brought 
from  the  inn,  having  prevailed  on  us  to 
ftay  a  day  or  two  with  them.  The 
Captain  was  each  day  of  the  party. 
The  next  morning  we  went  for  an  air^' 
ing  to  Salt-hill,  where  we  met  Mr. 
Damer,  and  a  party  of  his  friends.  On 
our  return,  Mr.  Herbert  having  invited 
fome  neighbours,  muficaily  inclined, 
we  had  a  concert  j  and  Mrs.  Baddeley's 
Jmging  was  a  treat  to  them.  We  ftaid 
at  Mr.  Herbert's  two  days,  and  on  our 
C  2  taking 


j6  The  Memoirs  of 

taking  leave  of  him,  gave  him  and  his 
lady  an  invitation  to  London,  which 
they  promifed  tp  accept  the  firft  oppor- 
tunity. 

Before  we  had  got  two  miles  from 
Windfor,  in  our  way  to  town.  Captain 
Pigot  overtook  us,  faid  he  was  going 
to  London,  and  begged  to  accompany 
us,  which  we  declined,  under  a  pretence 
of  not  going  there  that  day,  intending 
to  fpend  the  evening  with  a  friend  upon 
the  road  i  but,  told  him,  we  fliould  be 
happy  to  fee  him  in  town.  Our  carriage 
and  livery  being  fo  well  known  by  our 
friends,  we  feldom  went  any  where,  but 
we  were  accofted  by  fome  one  or  other. 
In  our  way  on,  at  Colnbrook,  as  we 

Hopped 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley,        17 

flopped  to  water  our  horfes,  a  Mr. 
St.  Alban,  a  young  gentleman^  whom 
Mrs.  Baddeley  knew,  when  fhe  lived 
with  her  father,  afked  her  how  Ihe  did : 
fhe  feemed  happy  to  renew  her  old  ac- 
quaintance, and  on  his  afking  us  to 
alight  and  take-  fome  refrelhment,  we 
confented.  This  young  man  was  going 
to  Oxford;  and  faying,  he  fhould  ftop 
at  Henley  to  dine,  Mrs.  Baddeley 
afked  him  if  it  was  a  pleafant  place,  and 
how  he  meant  to  go  ?  He  replied,  it  was 
a  delightful  place,  and  he  was  going  to 
hire  a  chaife  to. carry  him.  Now  as 
Henley  was  but  eighteen  miles  from 
Colnbrookj  fhe  faid,  as  fhe  was  out  upon 
a  frolick,  if  it  was  agreeable  to  me,  fhe 
C  3  would 


i8  The  Memoirs  of 

would  accompany  him  there,  and  fave 
him  the  expence  of  a  chaife.  Mr. 
St.  Alban  was  much  delighted  with  this, 
and  urging  me  not  to  oppofe,  I  agreed 
to  go.  We  went  there  and  dined,  and 
after  dinner,  going  to  fee  a  grotto,  in 
Lady  Aylefbury's  garden,  faid  to  be 
the  workmanfhip  of  her  own  hands ;  on 
our  return,  we  met  with  Mr.  John 
Hanger,  then  down  on  a  vifit  to  his  fa- 
ther. He  had  heard  of  our  being  at  the 
Red  Lion  at  Henley,  and  came  pur- 
pofely  to  fee  Mrs.  Baddeley,  who  re- 
ceived him  very  cooly.  He  addreffed 
himfelf  to  Mr.  St.  Alban,  who  was  a 
llranger  to  him,  and  begged  leave  to 
dine  with  us.  The  young  gentleman 
did  not  know  wliat  to  fay  upon  the  oc- 

cafion. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        19 

cafion,  but  replied,  "  With  great  plea- 
•'  fure,  if  it  is  agreeable  to  the  la- 
**  dies."  Indeed  it  was  far  from  being 
agreeable  to  me,  though  I  faid  nothing; 
and  Mrs.  Baddeley  did  not  feem  to  like 
it,  though  fhe  did  not  oppofe  it.  He 
xJined  with  us,  and  feemed  to  envy  Mr. 
St.  Alban,  to  whom  Mrs.  Baddeley  paid 
great  attention,  in  order  to  mortify  Mr. 
'Hanger.  When  dinner  was  over,  Mr, 
Hanger  requefted  leave  to  afk  me  a 
queftion  alone.  I  laughed,  and  faid,  as 
1  had  no  fecrets,  he  might  aflc  the  quef- 
tion in  company.  I  was  perfwaded  it 
■was  only  to  afk  me,  who  Mr.  St.  Alban 
was,  and  therefore  I  would  not, gratify 
iiim.  He  then  took  out  his  pencil,  and 
wrote,  "  Who  is  this  gentleman,"  on  a 
^  -  .  piece 


20       .      The  Memoirs  of 

piece  of  paper  -,  on  which  I  replyed, 
with  the  ufe  of  the  fame  pencil,  "  A  man. 
"  of  great  fortune,  whom  Mrs.  Baddeley 
"  is  very  fond  of."  On  reading  this, 
he  threv/  it  into  the  fire,  and  flapped  his 
head,  faying,  it  ached  very  much. 
■Mrs.  Baddeley  fmiled,  and  looked  at 
me.  The.  gentleman,  1  believe,  thought 
him  a  little  out  of  his  mind,  and  flared 
at  him  much.  At  this,  Mrs.  Baddeley 
moved,  and  drew  her  chair,  nearer  to 
her  friend.  Mr.  Hanger,  who  could 
bear  this  no  longer,  flew  forward,  and 
fat  down  near  her,  and  faid,  if  his  life 
was  at  flake,  he  mufl  tell  that  gentle- 
man, that  his  love  and  affe6lion  for 
Mrs.  Baddeley,  had  a  right  to  her  at- 
tention, and  he  could  not  fuffer  himfclf 

to 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        21 

to  be  thus  treated.  The  young  gentle- 
man feemed  thunder-ftrutk.  But  Mrs. 
Baddeley  winking  at  him,  and  he  con- 
ceiving Mr.  Hanger  was  out  of  his 
mind,  and  taking  this  wink  as  a.  con- 
firmation of  the  fadt,  got  up  and  hand- 
ed him  a  glafs  of  water^  with  "  Pleai^ 
f f  to  drink  this^  Sir,  it  will  do  you 
"  good."  "  No,  Sir,"  retorts  he,  aii- 
^grily,  "  I  fliall  not  drink  it,  I  am  -not 
-**  accuftomed  to  water.  It  is  you  that 
"  makes  me  wretched."  "  Me,  Sir  ?" 
faid  the  young  gentleman,  "  On  what 
**  account  ?"  "  Becaufe,"  replied  he, 
*'  Mrs.  Baddeley  fhews  fo  much  atten- 
"  tion  to  you,  and  fo  little  to  me."  We 
laiighed  immoderately,  and  Mr.  St.  Al- 
ban  returned,  that  he  was  certainly  hap- 

py 


(2.2       •      The  Memoirs  of 

py  in  Mrs.  Baddeky's  notice,  whom  he 
had  known  from  her  childhood  j  and 
had  he  an  empire  to  give,  he  v/ould  lay 
it-  at  her  feet.     This  made-  Mr.  Hanger 

■  almoft  diilra6ted.      Mrs.  Baddeley  told 

■  him,  fhe  blufhed  for  him,  and  was  quite 
afhamed  for  his  behaviour,  and  requeft- 
ied  he^  would  not -ofFend  a  gentleman, 

•whom  fhe  confidered  as  her  friend,  and 
for  whom,  fhe  -had  the  higheft  efteem. 
"  O  God !"  fays  he,  "  my.  dear  Bad- 
"  deley,  fay  no  more  of  that,  I  Ihall 
■•«  go  diflrkdted  1"  On  this,  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley became  more  ferious,  and  thus 
addreffed  him.  "  Mr.  Hanger,  how 
"  can  you  make  yourfelf  fo  ridiculous? 
-*'  Have  you  not, '  by  your  cruel  con- 
*'  du^,  brought  on  me  more   trouble 

"  than 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        2j  . 

*f  than^evqr  I  had  in  my  life?  Is  it 
*^  your  ftudy  to  make  my  life  wretched  ? 
*5  If  it  is,  you  fhall  find  yourfelf  difap- 
*^  pointed."  To  this  Mr.  St.  Alban 
faid,  with  a  becoming  fpirit,  "  Sir,  if 
*'  you  do  not  immediately  defift  from  a 
*'  converfation  that  I  find  gives  Mrs. 
*^  Baddeley  pain,  you  muft  anfwer  it 
*'  to  mcy  for  I  am  determined  to  protect 
*'  her  j"  and,  then  turning  to  Mrs. 
Baddeley,  faid,  "  Mind  him  not,  my 
**  dear  angel,  you  have  nothing  to  fear 
"  whilft  I  am  prefe-nt."  Mr.  Hanger 
then  went  to  the  other  part  of  the  room, 
and  pretended  to  weep;  convinced  it 
was  the  only  way  to  afi^e6t  her,  whom 
he  wifhed  to  afFeiSt  -,  but,  fhe  took  no 
notice  of  it.     Mr.  St.  Alban  then  took 

Mrs. 


24  The  Memoirs  of 

Mrs.  Baddeley   by  the   hand,    and  fhe 
apologized  to  him  for  the  trouble  Ihe 
h-ad  occafioned,  faying,  it  was  an  unhap- 
pinefs  to  her,  to  think  Ihe  had  been  the 
means   of  bringing   a   perfon  into   his 
company,  that  had  made  fo  much  dif- 
turbance.     He  replied,  "  My  dear  ma- 
**  dam,  the   happinefs    of  being   with' 
"  you,  compenfates  for  every  thing;  nor 
*^  do  I  regard  any  attempts  to  interrupt 
<*  it."     ''  Sir,"  fays  Mr.  Hanger,  glow- 
ing with   anger,  "  I  am  of  the  fame 
*^  opinion,  and  we  will  then  fee  who'  is^ 
*^  to  be  the  happy  man  immediately.'*- 
I  thought  it  now  necefTary  to  interfere, 
and  taking  hold  of  Mr.  St.  Alban,  told' 
him,  that  Mr.  Hanger  was,  at  times,  a 
mad-man,  and  that  he  was  now  in  one- 

of 


Mrs>  Sophia  Baddecey.        25 

of  his  mad  fits,  and  begged  him  not  to 
take  any  notice  of  his  condiift,  for  that 
the  fit  would  fbon  be  over,  and) all 
would  be  well.  **  I  thought,  indeed," 
faid  Mr.  St.  Alban,  "  from  the  firft,  chat 
"  he  was  out  of  his  mind,  and  as  fuch, 
"  it  will  be  beft  to  get  him  away,  or  go 
*'  away  ourfelves."  Thinking  it  beft  to 
go  ourfelves,  I  propofed  it  to  Mrs. 
Baddeley,  to  proceed  on  our  journey,  on 
which  poor  Gaby  cried  out,  ".  Gracious 
*'  God !  Where  are  you  going  ?"  "  On 
«  a  vifit,"  replied  Mrs.  Baddeley,  "  to 
^'  our  friends."  The  bill  was  accord- 
ingly called  for,  and  paid  by  Mr.  St.  Al- 
ban, and  when  Mr.  Hanger  found  our  de- 
termination was  to  leave  him,  he  begged 
and  prayed  Mrs.  Baddeley  would  let 
Vol,  III.  D  him 


tS  The  Memoirs  of 

him  only  exchange  ten  words  with  her 
alone,  and  he  fhould  be  fatisfied.  "  Not 
"  one,"  fays  fhe,  "  but  in  the  prefence 
"  of  my  friends.  It  is  of  no  ufe,"  con- 
tinued fhe,  "  to  follow  and  purfue  me 
-"  as  you  doi  for  I  am  refolved  never 
**  more  to  fee  you,  except  it  be  in  pub- 
*'  lie,  where  I  cannot  avoid  it." 

Though  I  can  feel  for  the  unhappy 
fituation  of  any  one,  yet  my  refentment 
at  Mr.  Hanger's  condudb,  prevented 
my  feeling  for  him.  I  told  him,  that 
he  had  better  leave  us,  for  if  his  father 
heard  of  this  vifit,  it  would  incur  his 
difpleafure.  His  reply  was,  that  he 
cared  not  for  his  father  on  this  occafion, 
nor  any  thing  elfe,  where  it  interfered 

fo 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       tj 

fo  much  with  his  happinefs.  Our  car- 
riage being  then  at  the  door,  we  ap- 
proached it,  and  he  followed  us  to  it, 
with  feenaing  anxiety,  and  begged  to 
know  how  far  we  were  going.  Mrs. 
Baddeley  told  hirn  to  Oxford ;  and  the 
coachman  was  ordered  to  take  us  on  in 
that  road.  Thus  did  we  get  rid  of  him. 
We  went  on  with  Mr.  St.  Alban,  as  far 
as  Nettlebed,  and  in  our  way,  I  opened 
the  whole  myftery  to  him,  I  told  him, 
Mr.  Hanger  was  not  mad ;  but,  that  I 
faid  fo,  merely  to  put  a  ftop  to  his 
quarrelling.  We  ftaid  at  Nettlebed  that 
night,  fpent  the  evening  very  agreeably, 
and  the  next  morning  parted.  Mr, 
St.  Alban  went  on  to  Oxford,  and  we,  on 
our  return  to  London. 

D  2  Before 


a8  The  Memoirs  of 

Before  we  fet  off,  the  landlord  afked 
us,  if  we  knew  any  family  that  wanted 
a  pretty  country  houfe.  He  had  one  to 
let  well  furnifhedj  with  a  ftable  and 
coach-houfe,  a  good  garden,  orchard 
and  dairy,  fituated  on  a  common,  de- 
lightfully pleafant,  on  an  eminence, 
within  three  miles  of  Henley;  in  a  good 
neighbourhood,  where  firing  might  be 
had  out  of  an  adjoining  wood,  for  the 
cutting,  and  where  the  fruit,  &c.  paid 
the  rent,  which  was  only  twenty  pounds. 
His  account  pleafed  us,  and  as  it  was 
not  much  out  of  our  way,  we  went  to 
fee  iti  and  as  my  family  was  growing 
up,  for  I  was  a  married  wom.an,  though 
I  did  not  live  with  my  hufband,  and 
the  place  took  my  fancy  j  I  engaged  k 

for 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       29 

for  one  year,  gave  the  man  three  gui- 
neas as  earneft,  and  placed  a  poor  wo- 
man in  it,  whom  he  recommended,  'till 
fuch  time  as  I  fent  my  family  down.  I 
told  Mrs.  Baddeley  that  I  would,  if  pof- 
fible,  prevail  on  Mr.  Steele  to  go  down 
with  my  children  and  live  in  it;  for 
though  Mr.  Steele  and  I  lived  apart,  we 
were  on  good  terms. 

Left  we  Ihould  meet  with  Mr.  Hanger 
again,  at  the  Red  Lion  at  Henley,  we 
ordered  the  coachman  to  pafs  the  houfe 
as  quick  as  he  could,  which  he  did,  and 
we  faw  no  more  of  him.  At  the  foot  of 
Henley  hill,  we  met  Captain  Stanhope, 
fecond  fon  of  the  late  Lord  Harrington, 
who  was  quartered  at  Henley,  and  a 
D  3  Captain 


30  The  Memoirs  of 

-Captain  Hodges,  -who  politely  came  up 
•to  the  carriage,  and  walked  up  the  hill 
along  fide  of  it,  converfing  with  us  all 
the  way.  When  we  came  to  Maiden- 
-bridge,  we  flopped  fome  little  time, 
and  in  the  interim  came  up  two  poft- 
chaifes  and  four.  In  the  firfb  was  the 
Earl  of  Peterborough,  with  a  gentle- 
man J  in  the  latter,  Mr.  Dillon  and  a 
lady.  Lord  Peterborough,  hearing  we 
■were  in  the  houfe,  came  in  and  paid  his 
refpecSts  to  us,  faying,  he  was  going  to 
Bath ;  Ihould  have  been  happy  to  have 
ftaid  and  dined  with  us,  if  he  was  not 
on  a  poft-hafte  journey  to  fee  a  fick 
friend. 

Between 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        31 

Between  Maidenhead  and  Londonj 
having  fent  our  fervant  on  before  us  to 
Hanmmerfmith,  we  were  a  little  alarmed 
on  the  road  by  a  foot-pad,  who  would 
have  ftopp,ed  the  chaife,  but  I  ordered 
the  drivers  to  whip  the  horfes  -,  they 
galloped,  and  we  foon  out -run  him. 

Though  we  had  been  abfent  from 
town  four  days,  we  got  home  before 
Lord  Melbourne's  return.  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley determined  not  to  tell  him  of  this 
journey,  but  to  fay,  Ihe  had  ftaid  at 
home  all  the  time,  and  nurfed  herfelf. 
I  believe  the  air  was  of  fervice  to  her, 
for  fhe  had  no  head-ach  whilll  fhe  was 
out.  I  prepared  the  accounts  againft 
his  Lordlhip  called  for  them  :  he  came 

in 


32  The  Memoirs  of 

in  the  evening,  but  never  mentioned 
them,  which  I  was  forry  for,  as  I  was  in 
want  of  cafli  to  difcharge  fome  of  Mrs. 
Baddeley's  debts,  which  five  or  fix  of 
her  creditors  were  very  importunate  to 
have  done.  Mr.  Law,  the  linen-draper, 
in  Coventry-ftreet,  Hay-market,  was 
one;  who  had  prevailed  on  Mrs.  Badde- 
ley's  good  nature,  to  lay  out  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety  pounds  with  him.  His 
bill  was  but  of  three  months  Handing, 
and  I  had  paid  him  eighty  pounds  in 
the  time;  I  .told  him,  therefore,  as 
Mrs.  Baddeley  had  not  been  long  upon 
his  books,  he  mufl  indulge  her  a  few 
days  longer,  and  then  it  jfhould  be  paid. 
He  was  very  infolent  on  the  occafion  ; 
and,  as  I  did  not  know  from  his  beha- 
/  viour. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        35 

viourj  what  he  might  do;  to  prevent 
any  trouble  to  her,  as  I  had  not  twenty 
pounds  of  her  nnoney,  I  gave  hinn  a  draft 
on  my  own  cafh,  for  the  amount,  and 
told  him,  he  Ihould  never  have  it  in  his 
power  to  behave  fo  again  :  for  I  would 
take  care  that  Mrs.  Baddeley  Ihould  never 
lay  out  another  ihilling  with  him.  I 
told  Mrs.  Baddeley  of  his  behaviour,  but 
did  not  fay  I  had  paid  him,  as  I  thought 
a  fear  of  being  arrefted,  might,  in  future, 
be  a  check  on  fuch  extravagances.  She 
feemed  very  uneafy,  faid,  fhe  would  not 
be  fo  foolilh  another  time,  and  hoped 
my  Lord  would  come  that  evening,  that 
money  might  be  had  to  pay  him.  "  I 
wilh,"  continued  Ihe,  "  I  could  prevail  on 
"  youj  my  dear  Mrs.  Steele,  to  lend  me 

«  as 


^4  The  Memoirs  of 

*'  as  much,  as  I  am  afraid  he  will  ufe  me 
"  ill".  Seeing  her  unhappy,  I  produced 
his  receipt,  and  Ihe  blelTed  me  a  thou- 
fand  times,  and  hoped  flie  fhould  have 
gn  opportunity  to  return  my  kindnefs. 
I  replied,  the  beft  return  flie  could 
make,  was  to  confult  me  in  future, 
when  Die  wiihed  to  lay  out  any  large 
fum  of  money,  and  that  this  would  tend 
to  ber  happinefs  as  well  as  mine :  for  as 
her  debts  amounted  to  upwards  of  two 
thoufand  pounds,  I  had  my  doubts  whe- 
ther Lord  Melbourne  would  difcharge 
them  as  fhe  wifhed.  She  then  begged 
I  would  not  acquaint  his  Lordfhip  of 
the  whole,  left  it  fliould  alarm  him^ 
and  declared,  that  if  a  thoufand  people 
were  to  come   in   future  to  fhew  her 

things. 


Mrs,  Sophia  Baddeley.       35 

things,  fhe  would  fee  none  of  them; 
and  feemed  very  unhappy  at  her  fitua- 
tion.  "  It  is  in  vain,"  faid  I,  "  to  talk 
"  of  it  now,  as  the  mifchief  is  done  ;  all 
*'  you  have  to  do,  is  to  be  more  pru- 
*'  dent  in  future,  and  I  will  contrive, 
*'  fome  way  or  other,  to  get  you  out  of 
''  the  difficulty."  She  then  began  to 
be  a  little  more  at  her  eafe,  and  parti- 
cularly when  his  Lordfhip  came,  and  Ihe 
faw  him  put  fome  money  into  my  hand, 
faying,  "  That  muft  do,  Mrs.  Steele, 
*'  for  the  prefent."  Lord  Melbourne, 
having  told  her  he  had  given  me  fome 
calh  i  he  was  no  fooner  gone,  than  Ihe 
flew  to  me  to  know  how  much  I  had  re- 
ceived; and,  on  my  faying,  four  hun- 
dred pounds,  Ihe  exclaimed,    "  Good 

«  Godl 


^6  The  Memoirs  of 

*'  God !  No  more !  Why  did  not  you 
"  prefs  him  for  a  larger  fum  ?"  On 
my  telling  her  what  his  Lordfhip  faid, 
when  he  gave  it,  namely,  *'  That  muft 
*^  do  for  the  prefent,"  Ihe  faw,  as 
well  as  myfelf,  the  impropriety  there 
Avould  be,  in  afking  him  for  a  further 
fum.  *'  And  how  we  are  to  manage," 
fays  I,  "  God  only  knows;  for  your 
*'  note  of  fix  hundred  pounds,  for  the 
*'  necklace,  will  be  brought  to-morrow 
*^  for  payment."  "  Take  the  neck- 
lace," fays  flie,  "  and  pledge  it  for  as 
*'  much  as  you  can  get,  and  let  the  note 
"  be  paid,  or  I  Ihall  be  frightened  out 
"  of  my  wits.'*  Accordingly  I  took  the 
neck-lace  to  Mr.  Trip,  a  pawn-broker, 
in  St,  Martin'S'lane,  a  man  whom  I  had 

known 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        37 

known  from  my  childhood,  and  could 
only  get  two  hundred  and  ten  pounds 
jypon  it ;  "  Well,"  fays  fhe,  "  tliat, 
"  with  the  four  hundred  pounds  you 
•"  have,  will  pay  my  draft,  and  we  mufb 
"  fee  and  get  forae  more  money  how  we 
^f  can."  The  note  was  brought,  and 
was  paid.  I  advifed  her,  when  Lord 
Melbourne  next  came,  to  tell  him  her- 
felf  of  the  debts  that  ftie  owed  j  but. 
Hie  declared  ilie  would  fooner  die  than 
fay  one  word  to  him  on  the  fubjed.  I 
knew  no  other  way  than  advancing  her 
the  money  myfelf  j  but,  having  done 
that  before,  and  his  Lx)rdfhip  not  keep- 
ing his  promife  to  repay  me,  it  was  not 
in  my  power  to  pay  all  thefe  debts,  as  I 
wiflied  :  however,  I  knew  the  worft ;  I 
Vol.  III.  E  had 


38  The  Memoirs  of 

had  enough  to  quiet  them  all,  if  they 
became  troublefome,  and  I  told  her  I 
would  part  with  all  I  had,  rather  than 
ihe  fhould  be  unhappy. 

I  don't  know  the  reafon,  but  Lord 
Melbourne  was  not  fo  lavilli  now  of  his 
money,  as  he  had  been.  His  own  ex- 
pences  might  oceafion  itj  but,  be  that 
as  it  would,  the  truth  is,  he  never  men- 
tioned the  article  of  money  again,  for 
three-weeks,  and  when  he  did,  it  was 
only  that  he  would  let  me  have  fome 
ihortly.  I  then  told  his  Lordihip,  I 
hoped  he  would.  "  Why  ?"  fays  he, 
*'  Mrs.  Steele,  can  you  want  money  ?" 
1  replied,  "  I  did,"  and  on  his  afldng 
iiow  much  ?   I  made  no  anfwer,  and  his 

Lordfhip 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddelev.        39 

Lordfhip  faid,  I  Ihould  have  fome  next 
week.  I  was  quite  out  of  fpirits  on  the  oc- 
cafion,  but  Mrs.  Baddeley  faid,  "  Don't 
*'  make  yourfelf  uneafy,  I  can  find 
"  a  way  to  pay  thefe  debts,  if  you  will 
"  agree  to  iti"  and  on  enquiring  how; 
file  faid,  "  ?Iis  Grace  the  Duke  of  Nor- 
"  thumberland  had  made  her  great  of- 
"  fers,  and  it  was  only  her  confenting 
"  to  his  wiHies,  and  fhe  fliouid  be  out 
"  of  all  this  trouble."  I  told  her,  I 
would  never  confent  to  her  paying  her 
debts  that  way  j  as  it  was  doing  more 
evil,  and  running  head-long  into  perdi- 
tion ^  that  if  her  mind  was  that  way 
turned,  I  never  would  forgive  her.  She 
then  alked  me  how  fhe  Ihould  a6t  j  I 
told  her,  a  little  time,  with  prudence, 
E  '2  would 


40  The  Memoirs  of 

would  put  an  end  to  this  difficulty  j  thac 
I  would  part  with  the  lall  Iliilling  to 
help  her  i  and  as  her  creditors  were  not 
very  troublefome,  I  hoped  to  bring 
things  round.  Though  my  heart  felt 
much  at  this  time,  I  carried  it  off  as 
well  as  I  could,  that  I  might  not  add  to 
her  uneafincfs.  It  had  a  good  effeft, 
and  kept  her  for  a  little  time  within 
bounds  i  yet  occafionally  flie  would  want 
this  thing,  and  the  other,  which  in  fa6t 
ihe  had  no  occafion  for,  and  which  I 
put  a  Hop  to,  by  reminding  her  of  her 
prefent  embarralTment. 

The  Duke  of  Northumberland,  as  if 
he  had  private  intelligence  of  our  necef- 
lity,   fent  again  to  renew  his  former  of- 
fers» 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       41 

fers.  The  fame  gentleman,  who  ap- 
plied to  Mrs.  Baddeley  in  Hyde-park, 
now  came  to  Grafton-flreet,  and  beg- 
ged to  fee  her,  in  order  to  deliver  a 
note  he  had  brought  from  Northumber- 
land-houfe  into  her  own  hands.  This 
furprized  her,  and  Ihe  faid,  "  What 
«  Ihall  I  do  ?.  I  had  better  fee  him."— 
"  By  no  means,"  fays  I,  For,  knowing 
her  fentiments,  I  dreaded  the  confe- 
qt^-snce ;  fo  I  went  down  and  told  him 
Mrs.  Baddeley  was  much  indifpofed, 
and  could  not  do  herfelf  the  pleafure  of 
waiting  on  him;  but  if  he  would  intruft 
me  with  the  note,  I  would  certainly  de- 
liver it,  and  an  anfwer  fliould  be  fent. 
His  reply  was,  the  contents  of  the  note 
could  not  be  anfwered  without  his  hav- 
E  3  ing 


4^  The  Memoirs  of 

ing  an  interview,  as  his  Grace  did  not 
choofe  to  write  ail  he  had,  in  com- 
mand, to  inform  her  of  j  and  that  if 
I  would  name  the  time  when  he  could 
fee  Mrs.  Baddeley,  he  woiild  wait  on 
her  at  that  time.  Now,  fo  anxious  was 
flie  in  this  bufinefs,  that  fhe  came  to 
liften  to  what  the  gentleman  faid ;  and 
on  hearing  him  fay,  he  would  come  at 
fome  other  time,  Ihe  fent  her  fervant  tO' 
beg  to  fpeak  to  me,  and  I  defired  tVe 
gentleman  would  wait  till  my  return, 
which  he  readily  agreed"  to.  On  my  en- 
tering her  room,  fhe  faid,  "  Mrs.  Steele, 
"  don't  let  him  goj  fure  you  mufl  be 
''  mad  \  At  a  time  when  we  are  fo  much 
*'  involved.  This  is  a  fine  opportunity 
**  to  extricate  myfelf  out  of  every  dif- 

"  ficulty. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        43 

"  ficulty.  For  his  Grace  is  a  liberal 
**  and  a  generous  man."  "  Yes,"  re- 
plied I,  "  and  what  reward  does  he 
*'  require  ? — Such  a  one,  that  if  you 
"  agree  to,  I  will  not  put  up  with.  I 
"  have  already  fuffered  much  by  your 
"  imprudence  in  this  way,  and  I  am 
"  convinced  his  Grace  will  never  beflow 
"  his  bounty,  where  he  cannot  be  grati- 
"  fied  in  return."  This  flie  declared 
he  never  Ihould.  All  Ilie  wifhcd,  was 
to  fee  the  note  and  the  gentleman  j  ac- 
cordingly, in  oppofition  to  me,  he  was 
defired  to  walk  up  to  tlie  drawing- 
room  i  and,  as  I  was  much  difpleafed,  I 
left  them  to  themfelves.  She  faw  him, 
and  when  he  was  gone,  began  to  ac- 
quaint me  with  the  refult  of  his  vifit, 

which 


jpf  The  Memoirs  of 

which,  at  firft,  I  would  neither  hear  nor 
liften  to  i  but  on  further  intreaties  I  com- 
plied. She  firft  gave  me  the  note,  and 
begged  me  to  read  itj  it's  contents 
were  as  follow : 

"  The  Duke  of  Northumberland 
**  prefents  his  compliments  to  Mrs, 
**  Baddeley-j  and  has  fent  a  gentleman" 
*^  to  communicate  fomething  of  confe- 
*^  quence  to  her. 

"  JVednefday  morningy 
"  eleven  o'clock.*' 

She  then  told  me  that  his  Grace  had 
offered  her  his  proteftion  for  life,  with 
the  payment  of  all  her  debts,  if  fhe 
owed  any  j  with  any  fum  of  money  Hie 

might 


MRSr  Sophia  Baddelev.        45^ 

might  name  J  provided  fhe  would 
live  with  him,  and  fee  no  other  perfon 
whatever :  that  Ihe  might  either  live  in 
his  houfe,  or  any  other  fhe  liked,  on 
condition  fhe  admitted  no  other  vifitor 
than  him  j  that  he  would  allow  her 
fifteen  hundred  pounds  a  year,  and  if 
fhe  was  faithful  to  him,  would  think  of 
a  fettlement.  She  faid,  that  after  hear- 
ing this  gentleman  out,  fhe  gave  him  to 
underftand,  that  her  fituation  was  fuchj. 
as  put  it  out  of  her  power  to  comply 
with  his  Grace's  wifhes ;  that  fhe  had  at 
prefent  a  noble  benefad;or,  to  whom  fhe 
was  bound  in  gratitude  to  live  with* 
and  that  if  his  Grace's  offers  were  tea 
times  as  great,  as  he  had  now  menti- 
oned^ flae  could  not  accept  them.    The 

gentlemaa 


46-  The  Memoirs  of 

gentleman  fpoke  much  in  praife  of  his 
noble  friend,  and  faid  his  bounty  would 
not  be  bounded  by  what  he  had  faid, 
but  fhe  would  find  him  liberal  in  the 
extremes  "  on  which  I  replied,"  con- 
tinued fhe,  "  that  his  Grace  did  not 
"  propofe  a  fettlement,  until  he  faw  the 
*'  propriety  of  my  conduct,  which  is 
**  far  from  a  liberal  offer."  This  he 
returned,  would  be  no  obftacle  to  his 
Grace,  if  my  anfwer  was  fatisfadoiy  j 
for  that  his  Grace's  efleem  and  regard 
for  me  was  fiich,  as  would  make  him 
happy  to  gratify  me.  However,  fays 
Ihe,  I  gave  him  no  hopes,  confidering 
with  myfelf  how  much  more  noble 
Lord  Melbourne's  bounty  had  been  to. 
mC;,  than  his  Grace's  propofals  amounted 

to« 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       47 

to.  *'  And  though,"  adds  ihe,  "  my  im- 
"  prudence  urged  me  to  fee  this  gentle- 
**  man,  to  learn  how  far  I  could  extricate 
■"  myfelf  from  my  prefent  embarraflTmenr, 
*'  I  affure  you  I  gave  him  a  denial."  I  told 
her  I  thought  jfhe  a(fted  right  j  and  Ihe 
thought  fo  too,  as  Ihe  would  not  offend 
me,  fhe  faid,  for  the  world.  "  Offending 
me,"  replied  I,  "  is  nonfenfe.  Lord 
**  Melbourne's  generofity  fhould  not  be 
*^  abufed,  and  though  his  unfortunate 
"  attachment  to  you,  (for  he  being  a 
*<  married  man,  I  call  it  unfortunate)  has 
**  been  winked  at  by  me,  as  it  took  place 
**  when  I  could  not  avoid  it;  fo  has  it 
*'  continued  under  the  fame  neceffityj  but 
"  there  is  no  reafon  why  you  fhould  add 
■"  fin  to  fin,  and  fill  up  the  meafure  of 

*f  your 


4S  The  Memoirs  of 

^  '^  your  iniquities."  "  Good  God,"  fald  T, 
10  myfelf ;  "  the  Duchefs  of  Northum- 
*'  bcrland  is  ftill  living. — How  wicked  is 
"  this  fafhionable  world ! — To  me  all  this 
'^  is  dreadful. — But  like  all  other  bad 
*'  things,  they  become  familiar  at  laft; 
"  and  we  think  nothing  of  them. — Lord 
*'  Melbourne  never  comes  to  this  houfe 
*'  but  I  feel  myfelf  hurt,  on  account  of 
''  his  Lady ;  and  the  impropriety  of  his 
^i  vifits,  are  quite  fufficient  without  the 
*'  addition  of  any  more.  Befides,"  conti- 
nues I,  "  you  fee  how  much  more  liberal 
"  Lord  Melbourne  has  been,  than  any 
"  propofals  made  by  the  Duke  of  Nor- 
•^  thumberland.  Was  you  to  accept  his 
^*  Grace's  offer,  you  muft  have  purfued 

*'  a  very 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        49 

'•^  a  very  different  condud  or  his  year- 
*'  ly  allowance  would  not  laft  you  three 
"  months." 

The  Duke,  h  owever,  did  not  end  his 
application  here;  for  in  the  evening  this 
gentleman  returned,  and  Lord  Mel- 
bourne being  then  with  her,  I  told  him, 
as  he  had  received  his  anfwer  in  the 
morning,  that  any  thing  he  had  further  to 
fay  upon  the  fubjefl,  could  not  be  of  any 
confequence.  He  affured  me  it  was, 
and  as  fuch  he  miift  acquaint  her  with 
it,  or  he  might  gain  his  Grace's  difplea- 
fure  J  and  that  as  Mrs.  Baddeley  had 
fkid,  flie  would  fee  him  whenever  he 
called,  he  preffed  me  to  let  her  know 
it.  I  told  him  flie  was  then  engaged 
Vol..  III.  F  with 


5©  The  Memoirs  of 

with  her  friend,  and  to  fee  her  was  im- 
poflible.  "  That  friend's  name,"  replied 
the  gentleman,  "  fhe  has  made  me  ac- 
"  quaintedwithi"  of  courfe,  hefuppofed 
L-ord  Melbourne  was  with  her  :  to  this 
I  faid,  "  it  is  of  little  confequence, 
•'  who  is  with  her^"  (for  I  was  hurt, 
Ihe  fhould  have  mentioned  his  name), 
<*  you  cannot  fee  her."  I  was  con- 
vinced, however,  that  fhe  had  deceived 
me,  in  refpedt  to  what  paflTed  between 
this  gentleman  and  her  in  the  morning. 
I  would  have  changed  the  fubjedl,  but 
he  kept  up  to  his  text,  faid,  it  would  be 
Mrs.  Baddeley's  intereft  to  fee  him,  and 
as  Ihe  was  engaged  now,  he  would  call 
on  her  the  next  day,  and  was  fure  he 
ihould  be  admitted  to  her,  if  fhe  was 

acquainted 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       51 

acquainted  with  his  being  there,  I  told 
him  fhe  fhould  be  informed  of  it,  and  he 
took  his  leave.  Lord  Melbourne  food 
went,  and  then  Mrs.  Baddeley  faid, 
"  Has  any  one  been  here? — My  dear 
"  Mrs.  Steele,  has  the  Duke  fent 
**  again  ?"  "  Did  you  expefb  him/*  re- 
turned I,  "  to  fend  again  after  yoiif 
«*  denial  ?"  "  No,"  fays  Ihe,  «  biit 
♦*  perfons  of  his  rank  and  fortune,  never 
<'  drop  a  purfuit  fo  eafily.'*  I  told  her, 
I  hoped  fhe  had  not  given  him  the  name 
of  her  friend.  Her  reply  was,  that  he 
himfelf  had  mentioned  it,  and  fhe  did 
not  contradifl  it.  "  I  am  forry,"  re- 
plied I,  "  for  this;  you  fhould  have 
"  denied  it."  That  would  have  been  of 
little  ufe,  fhe  faid,  for  through  Mr, 
F  1  Hanger, 


5i  The  Memoirs  of 

Hanger,  and  one  perfon  or  the  other,  it 
was  very  well  known.  I  then  told  her, 
this  gentleman  from  the  Duke,  had 
been  with  me  again,  and  I  was  at  a  lofs 
to  know  what  he  could  want  now.  With 
this  fhe  was  highly  pleafed,  and  faid, 
"  You  did  not,  I  hope,  fay,  that  I  would 
"  not  fee  him  ?  Will  he  be  here  again  ?" 
**  O  fie  Sophy,'^  fays  I,  "  if  you  had  told 
*'  him  in  the  morning,  as  you  declared 
*'  to  me  you  hadj  you  would  not  want  to 
"  fee  him  again."  She  replied,  fhe  only 
wifhed  to  hear  what  new  offers  he  had  to 
makci  and  on  my  faying,  he  would  be  with 
her  again  to-morrow  j  fhe  faid,  fhe  mufl 
and  would  fee  him;  that  it  fhould  be  for 
the  lafl  time,  for  when  fhe  had  heard 
all  he  had  to  offer,  fhe  would  forbid  his 

coming 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       ^j 

coming  any  more.  The  Gentleman 
came  again  the  next  morning,  and  was 
ihewn  up  into  the  drawing-room;  he 
was  with  Mrs.  Baddeley  near  two  hours, 
and  on  his  leaving  her,  I  heard  her  fay 
in  a  low  voice,  "  God  blefs  you ;  let  me 
"  fee  you  to-morrow."  She  ran  to  me 
full  of  his  Grace's  offers,  and  his  new 
propofals,  which  were  as  follow. — That 
his  Grace  wilhed  her  not  to  be  ungrateful 
to  her  prefent  benefador,  who,  he  found, 
had  aded  fo  nobly  by  her. — "  Stop," 
faid  I,  "  how  came  he  to  know  how  no- 
**  bly  he  had  a6ted  ?"  She  replied, 
"  I  have  told  him,  not  mentioning  his 
"  name." — I  let  her  go  on. — That  his 
Grace  propofed  calling  to  fee  her  twice 
a  \yeek,  and  that  at  times  when  he 
F  3  found 


54  The  Memoirs  of 

found  Lord  Melbourne  was  not  with 
her  J  that  on  his  firft  vifit  to  tea,  he 
would  give  her  five  hundred  pounds, 
and  would  then  tell  her  himfelf  his 
whole  mind  on  the  fubjefl  j  that  his 
Grace  would  difcharge  all  her  debts  and 
be  her  friend  for  life  :  that  the  gentle- 
man mentioned  a  Mifs  Afh,  whom  his 
Grace  had  been  kind  to  for  many  years; 
that  his  liberality  and  bounty  to  her, 
was  not  to  be  defcribed ;  that  he  was  a 
man  not  like  the  falhionable  world  in 
.general,  but  fteady  in  his  attachments, 
imlefs  he  had  caufe  to  the  contrary ;  and 
that  he  would  do  any  thing  for  her,  llie 
might  defire  of  him. — I  liftened  to  this 
with  all  the  patience  I  was  miftrefs  of, 
and  file  ran  on  with   his   promiies   fo 

much 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        '^^ 

much,  thatut  would  tire  my  reader  to 
relate  it.  In  fhort,  fhe  told  me,  fhe  gave 
the  gentleman  this  anfweri  that  ftie  would 
confider  of  his  propofals,  and  give  him 
her  determination  the  next  day.  "  And 
why,"  fays  I,  "  did  you  not  give  him  a 
"  pofitive  denial  then  ?"  "  Becaufe," 
returned  Ihe,  "  I  wifhed  to  confult  you 
"  firft."  I  told  her  fhe  knew  my  fen- 
timents  on  the  fubjeft,  and  fhe  might 
afTure  herfelf,  they  would  not  alter,  if 
the  Duke  had  offered  her  his  whole 
fortune.  "  Well,"  fays  fhe,  "  fuppofe 
"  we  admit  him  to  drink  tea  ?"  "  That 
"  would  only  lead  on  to  further  evils," 
replied  I,  "  and  I  am  determined  he 
"  fhall  not  come."—"  Good  God," 
fays  flie,    "  I  can   have   five   hundred 

"  pounds 


56  The  Memoirs  of 

"  pounds  for  nothing." — "  Certainly," 
replied  I,  laughing  at  her,  "  for  no- 
"  *'  thing ! —  Mankind  are  too  fond  of 
■"  their  money  to  bellow  it,  but  in  re- 
'^  turn  for  favours  received."  *'  Surely 
"  my  dear  Steele,"  fays  fhe,  "  you  are 
'*  not  ferious;  I  have  partly  promifed 
5'  to  receive  him  at  tea  to-morrow." — - 
At  this  I  loft  my  temper,  and  faid, 
"  you  may  a6t  as  you  pleafe,  but  you 
"  muft  invite  him  to  fome  other  houfe ; 
"  for  he  certainly  Ihall  not  come  here  : 
"  if  he  does,  as  foon  as  he  enters  the 
**  houfe  I  will  affront  him,  and  I  would 
"  do  the  fame,  if  he  was  King  of  Eng- 
"  land."  She  was  much  difpleafed  at 
this,  faid,  "  I  might  fuffer  her  to  get 
**  out  of  her  embarralTments,  before  I 

**  put 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       57 

"  put  her  under  fuch  reftraint."  I  re- 
plied, "  her  embarralTments  were  owing 
"  to  her  own  folly,  and  now  fhe  wiihed 
^*  to  commit  greater,  in  hopes  of  get- 
"  ting  out  of  them  ;  that  if  fhe  had  pa- 
"  tience.  Lord  Melbourne  would  pay 
*^  the  whole,  and  fhe  had  nothing  to  do 
"  but  to  a<St  differently  in  future."  She 
then  faid,  "  if  I  would  not  fuffer  his 
"  Grace  to  come  there,  fhe  would  meet 
"  him  at  fome  other  place."  "  If  this  be 
"  your  determination,"  replied  I,  "you 
"  fhall  abide  by  the  confequence,  for  I 
"  v/ill  never  countenance  fuch  condu<5t." 
In  fhort,  I  could  do  nothing  with  her ; 
fhe  was  fully  bent  on  feeing  the  Duke, 
but  took  great  pains  to  convince  me  of 
the  innocence   of  her  intentions,    and 

urge 


58  The  Memoirs  of 

urge  me  to  a  compliance  j  but  I  was  re- 
folute,  and  would  not  confcnt. 

The  next  morning  this  gentleman 
came  again,  and  fhe  watched  his  corn-* 
ing,  thinking  I  might  fend  him  away 
without  her  feeing  him  -,  fhe  faw  him, 
and  what  palled  between  them,  I  did 
not  know  at  the  time,  for  fhe  ordered 
the  coach,  and  they  went  off  together. 
She  was  gone  four  hours  and  more,  and 
on  her  return,  after  begging  my  pardon, 
|he  requefted  me  to  liften  to  what  Ihe 
had  to  fays  for  as  fhe  had  been  doing  no 
ill,  I  might  attend  to  her  with  propri- 
ety, and  fhe  would  tell  me  with  truth, 
every  thing  that  palled. — On  my  faying 
I  would   hear  nothing    from   her,    fhe 

vowed 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        59 

vowed  flie  would  take  another  bottle 
of  laudanum,  which  fhe  had  in  her 
pocket.  Knowing  Ihe  had  done  fo  in 
the  affair  of  Mr.  Hanger,  I  was  alarm- 
ed, and  thinking,  whilft  Ihe  was  out,  jfhe 
might  have  provided  fome,  I  judged  it 
befl  to  hear  her.  She  then  told  me,  as  I 
was  fo  refolute  as  not  to  admit  of  the 
Duke's  coming  to  the  houfe,  fhe  ac- 
quainted the  gentleman  with  it,  and  he 
prevailed  on  her  to  go  with  him,  as  far  as 
Northumberland-ftreet,  that  he  might 
acquaint  his  Grace  with  the  caufe  that 
fhe  could  not  fee  him  at  home,  fay- 
ing he  would  not  detain  her  there  ten 
minutes.  She  went  to  Northumber- 
land-ftreet, where  the  coach  flopped  and 
waited  his  return,  when  he  begged  the 

fa '/our 


6o  The  Memoirs  of 

favour  of  her  to  go  with  him  into  Privy- 
garden,  juft  by  Lord  Pembroke's,  where 
he  would  acquaint  her  with  what  his 
Grace  had  faid.  She  fijppofed  this  was  to 
prevent  any  of  the  Duke's  fervants  fee- 
ing her.  When  he  returned,  he  got  into 
the  coach,  but  did  not  fay  more,  than 
that  his  Grace  was  very  much  hurt,  at 
my  refufing  him  to  come  to  my  houfe. 
On  reaching  Privy-garden  he  directed 
the  coachman  where  to  flop,  faying,  that 
place  was  the  leafl  noticed.  In  a  few 
minutes  came  the  Duke,  wrapped  up  in 
a  great  coat,  with  a  handkerchief  up  to 
his  face,  and,  getting  into  the  coach, 
ordered  the  gentleman  to  go  home,  and 
wait  for  him.  He,  in  a  very  polite  man- 
nerj  begged  her  pardon,  flie  faidj  for  the 

intrufion. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddel£y.        ^i 

jritrufion,  but  finding  the  lady,  at  whofe 
h-oufe  fhe  was  at,  averfe  to  his  feeing  her 
there,  he  was  willing  to  embrace  that 
opportunity,  to  declare  his  fentiments, 
and  faid,  "Will  you  permit  your  coach- 
"  man  to  drive  on,  for  a  ride,  to  Chelfea, 
"  through  the  King's  road  -,*'  and  begged 
the  lilk  curtains  might  be  let  down. 
That  fhe  ordered  her  coachman  to  drive 
the  road  the  Duke  wiihed,  and  that  in 
the  way,  he  faid  a  thoufand  civil  things 
to  her  ;  and  that  Ihe  thought  him  a  very 
good  man ;  this  was  her  expreffion. 
That  telling  his  Grace,  (lie  had  a  houfe 
at  Hammerfmith,  he  wiihed  to  fee  it; 
that  accordingly  they  went  and  conti- 
nued there  about  an  hour  and  a  half; 
that  he  prefled  for  favours,  but  had  not 
Vol.  III.  G  a  wifh 


6'2  The  Memoirs  of 

a  wifh  for  more  than  was  really  confiflent 
for  her  to  grant.  That  he  offered  her 
every  thing  her  heart  could  wifh,  and 
faid,  how  forry  he  was,  I  was  fo  much 
averfe  to  his  happincfs  j  that  he  wifhed 
to  know  how  he  had  offended  me^  that 
flie  told  his  Grace,  I  had  no  other  mo- 
tive for  my  refufal,  than  the  impropriety 
of  her  condudti  that  I  wiflied  her  to 
avoid  all  men  in  general,  but  that  fince 
I  had  imprudently  entered  into  a  con- 
nexion with  one  man,  it  would  be  a 
breach  of  faith,  and  the  highefl  ingrati- 
tude, to  liflen  to  the  propofals  of  any 
other  y  that  his  Grace  faid,  if  thefe  were 
my  motives,  he  honoured  me  for  them, 
and  could  not  be  angry  with  me ;  that 
was  he  the  happy  Lord  that  enjoyed  her 

favours. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       6^ 

favours.,  how  much  Ihould  he  value  me : 
on  this,  he  took  out  a  glove,  and  beg- 
ged her  to  afli  me  to  try  it  on ;  and  if 
I  liked  it,  to  keep  it  and  remember, 
that  it  was  a  prefent  from  him.  She 
gave  me  this  glove,  it  was  a  new  one, 
and  I  threw  it  down,  faying,  I  would 
not  accept  it.  She  faid  do,  pray  take  it, 
there  is  fomething  in  it,  but  which  fhe 
iiad  not  looked  at.  Finding  I  would 
not  take  it  up,  Ihe  {looped  for  it,  and 
pulled  out  from  it  three  bank-notes  of 
one  hundred  pounds  each.—-"  They  are," 
fays  I,  "  the  price  of  your  infamy,  and 
"  you  may  keep  them  yourfelf  j  I  will 
"  have  nothing  to  do  with  tliem  -,  you 
"  are  the  proper  perfon  to  enjoy  them^ 
"  if  they  will  afford  you  any  enjoy- 
G  2  "  ment.'* 


6>f  The  Memoirs  of 

"  ment."  She  fald,  if  I  did  not  take 
them,  flie  would  throw  them  into  the 
firci  and,  on  my  refufing  them,  adlually 
did,  and  it  was  at  the  rifk  of  my  hands, 
that  I  refcued  them  from  the  flames.  I 
then  put  them  into  a  drawer,  and  lock- 
ed it,  faying,  it  was  not  times  to  deftroy 
fuch  a  fum  i  fhe  declared  her  innocence 
with  the  Duke  -,  confefTed  fhe  had  given 
him  hopes  of  favours,  and  faid,  Alc 
might  have  had  from  him,  any  fum  Ihe 
thought  proper  to  accept  i  that  fhe  re- 
fufed  all  his  offers,  but  had  promifed  to 
meet  him  again  on  Thurfday  at  Ham- 
merfinith-houfe,  and  was  determined  Ihe 
would^ 

When 


Mrs,  Sophia  Baddeley.        65 

When  flie  had  done,  I  fent  ofF  a  fer- 
vant  for  one  of  her  milliners,  to  whom 
ihe  owed  near  fix  hundred  pounds. 
Price,  of  Taviflock-ftreet,  and  paid  him 
the  three  hundred  pounds,  which  fhe 
faid  his  Grace  fent  me  as  a  prefent  in 
the  glove,  and  gave  her  his  receipt, 
telling  her  I  was  happy  fo  far  in  con- 
vincing her,  that  the  money  was  pro- 
perly applied  to  her  own  ufe,  as  it  was 
fhe  that  deferved  it,  and  not  me.  At 
this,  fhe  exclaimed,  "  Oh  !  Mrs.  Steele, 
*'  what  a  good  heart  you  have  !  Shall  I 
c<  gygj.  ijyg  |.Q  make  you  amends  ?"  I 
replied,  there  were  none  due  or  expe<5b- 
ed  J  that  I  had  not  a  fhadow  of  claim  to 
the  money,  nor  would  I  on  the  fcore  it 
was  given,  take  a  prefent  from  any  majji 
G  3  that 


66  The  Memoirs  of 

that  I  defpifed  fuch  meannclTcSj  and  that 
if  I  received  a  hundred  thoiifand  pounds 
in  a  fimilar  way,  I  would  either  return 
it,  or  apply  it  to  her  ufe.  She  folemnly 
aflured  me  his  Grace  gave  it  with  no 
improper  view,  and  did  it,  in  fo  delicate 
a  way,  that  any  woman  rrtight  have  ac- 
cepted it  J  that  he  begged  pardon  for 
fending  fo  trifling  a  thing  as  a  glove ; 
but,  that  as  it  was  one  he  had  worn,  and 
as  (he  would  not  permit  him  to  prefent 
her  his  hand,  he  hoped  ilie  would  accept 
his  glove  as  it's  reprefentative. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Foote  brought 
out  a  new  piece,  at  the  little  Theatre  in 
the  Hay-market,  called,  the  Maid  of 
Bath,    alluding  to    Mifs  Linley,   now 

Mrs. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       67 

Mrs.  Sheridan :  and,  prior  to  it's  firft 
appearance,  he  called  on  us,  and  re- 
quefted  we  would  accept  of  a  box  for 
the  night,  which  Ihould  be  at  our  fer- 
vice,  for  us  and  our  friends ;  and  hoped 
we  would  make  a  point  of  being  there^ 
in  order  to  grace  (as  he  was  pleafed  to 
fay)  his  Theatre.  The  box  referved  for 
us  was  next  to  the  ftage-box,  that  com- 
manded a  fight  of  the  whole  houfe,  and 
we  went.  Mr.  Foote  performed  in  this 
play  himfelf,  it  went  off  with  eclat, 
and  was  well  received  by  a  crowded 
houfe.  About  the  middle  of  the  piece, 
where  Mr.  Foote  enlarged  much  on  the 
beauty  of  the  Maid  of  Bath,  he  added, 
*'  Not  even  the  beauty  of  the  nine 
"  Mufes,  nor  even  that  of  the  divine 

Bad- 


68  The  Memoirs  of 

*'  Baddeley  herfelf,  who  there  fits, 
(pointing  to  the  box  where  we  fat,) 
*'  could  exceed  that  of  the  Maid  of 
*'  Bath."  This  drew  a  thunder  of  ap- 
plaufe  from  all  parts  of  the  houfe  j  he 
was  encored,  and  Mr.  Foote  repeated 
the  words  three  times.  Every  eye  was 
on  Mrs.  Baddeley,  and  I  do  not  recolleft 
ever  feeing  her  fo  confufed  before.  She 
rofe  from  her  feat,  and  curtefied  to  the 
audience,  and  it  was  near  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  before  Ihe  could  difcontinue  her 
obedience,  the  plaudits  lading  fo  long. 
This  trick  of  Mr.  Foote's,  put  her  fo 
much  to  the  blufii,  that  the  colour  did 
not  leave  her  face  the  whole  evening. 
Mrs.  Baddeley 's  face,  was  not,  accord- 
ing -to  the  falhion  of  modern  beauties, 

made 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       6^ 

made  up  by  art,  for  fhe  never  ufed  any 
rouge  but  on  the  ftagej  which  all  the 
performers,  men  and  women,  are  obliged 
to  do,  owing  to  the  livid  palenefs  which 
the  lights  in.  front  caft  upon  the  face- 
Having  occafion  to  go  out  to  fee  a 
daughter  of  mine,  who  was  then  at  fcliool, 
fick,  Mrs.  Baddeley  complained  of  a 
head-ach,  and  faid,  Ihe  would  lie  down  j 
defiring  me  to  call  at  her  milliner's  and 
other  places,  for  neceffaries  which  fhe 
wanted.  I  was  alfo  obliged  to  flay  longer 
than  I  intended,  as  finding  my  child  ill,  I 
fetched  Dodor  Eliot  to  attend  her.  On 
my  return  home,  I  went  up  flairs,  gently, 
expe<5ling  to  find  Mrs.  Baddeley  alleep; 
but,  hearing  a  noife  above,  I  liftened, 

and 


7o  The  Memoirs  of 

and  heard  her  laugh  immoderately, 
which  fhe  always  did  at  any  mifchief 
that  was  going  forward.  On  entering 
xhe  room,  I  told  her  I  was  happy  to 
find  her  head-ach  gone,  and  wifhed  to 
know  what  made  her  fo  chearful,  that 
I  might  partake  of  it.  At  this  fhe 
layghed  the  more,  and  faid,  "  My  dear 
"  Steele,  as  you  llaid  fo  long,  I  was  com- 
"  ing  after  you  in  a  chair,  and  have  or- 
"  dered  my  fervant  to  fetch  one ;  do  fend 
"  down  and  prevent  it."  Mrs,  Baddeley 
then  went  to  the  glafs,  and  bad  her  maid 
ftand  by  her  -,  then  viewing  herfelf,  flie 
faid  to  her  maid,  *'  I  cannot  think  why 
"  the  world  fhould  fo  much  admire  my 
"  fifler;  to  be  fure  fhe's  handfomej 
*'  but  my  face  is  as  handfome  as  her's, 

"  and 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        71 

*'  and  more  fo  -,  is  it  not  Fanny  ?"  The 
maid  replied,  "  Yes,  Mifs,  indeed  you 
**  are  much  handfomer  than  her  Lady- 
"  iKip  i"  and  then  Mrs.  Baddeley 
'  laughed  again.  "  Well,"  faid  I,  "  pro- 
**  ceed,  I  hear  you  with  pleafure."  She 
went  up  to  the  glafs  again,  ftrutting 
and  viewing  herfelf  as  before,  and  fay- 
ing, "  Well,  the  world  can  but  admire 
**  me ;  and  if  I  am  not  fo  tall  as  my 
"  filler,  they  can  only  fay,  there  goes  a 
**  Lump  of  Beauty."  On  my  enquir- 
ing into  all  this  nonfenfe,  Ihe  faid,  a 
gentleman  had  been  with  her  in  my  ab- 
fence,  and  had  told  her  this  little  flory  of 
Lady  Archer's  fifter.  The  lady  that  is 
always  feen  with  Lady  Archer  is  her  fifter. 
They  are  the  daughters  of  Mr«  Weft,  who 

lived 


7-2  The  Memoirs  of 

lived  in  the  great  hoiife  in  King-flreet, 
Govent-garden,  now  known  by  the  name 
of  Lowe's  Hotel.  "  The  gentleman, 
"  who  has  been  here,"  faid  fhe,  "  has 
*^been  entertaining  me  with  the  manner 
"  -in  which  he  entered  into  .high  lifej  fay- 
"  ing,  this  Mifs  Weft,  who  called  herfelf 
"  the  Lump  of  Beauty j  in  the  manner  I 
**  have  reprefented  it  before  the  glafs,  fell 
"  in  love  with  him ;  that  till  this  accident 
*V  happened,  he  had  no  expeftations,  but 
"  to  wear  a  pen  behind  his  ear  all  his  life," 
"  Who  is  this  gentleman,"  faid  I,  inter- 
rupting her  ? — "  Hear  his  hiftory  firft," 
fays  fhe,  "  and  then  I'll  tell  you. — That 
■'^'  he  was  the  fccond  fon  of  a;  Weft-India 
"  merchant,  living  in,  or  near,  Golden- 
"  fquare  s  that  he  was  placed  at  a  count- 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        73 

■**  ing-houfe  in  the  city,  and  had  been 
*'  there  fome  timej  that  accident  made 
*'  him  acquainted  with  this  Lump  of 
^^  Beauty,  who  introduced  him  to  her 
^^  fifter.  Lady  Archer,  and  her  hufband. 
"  This  introduction  into  high  life  un- 
'*'  fettled  his  mind  to  the  counting-houfe^ 
5<  according  to  his  own  declaration,  and 
•'^  made  him  pine  for  better  company 
"  than  his  fituation  in  life  entitled  him 
/'  to  ;  that  he  then  began  to  ftudy 
**  drefs  and  fafhionable  manners,  and^, 
"  being  a  perfonable  man  and  well  edu- 
^'  cated,  through  Lord  Archer's  family, 
*^  he  got  introduced  to  other  perfons  of 
"  rank,  fupporting  ■  his  expences  by 
*^  play,  at  which  he  was  very  fortunate." 
^^  Why  don't  you  tell  me  his  name  ?'* 
Vol.  Ill,  H  faid 


74  The  Memoirs  or 

faid  Ij  with  impatience.  "  Softly,"  re- 
turned fhe,  "  and  you  fliall  know  it. — 
"  This  gentleman,  who  has  juft  been 
*'  here  in  your  abfence,  waited  on  th>s 
"  Lump  of  Beauty  for  fome  time,  and, 
"  through  her,  becamie  a  member  of 
"  the  ladies  club,  and  was  admitted  at 
"  Almack's,  at  Boodle's,  at  Gooflrey's, 
"  and  all  the  gg,ming-houfes  in  town  j 
"  where  he  had  fuch  a  run  of  luck,  as 
"  to  enable  him  to  keep  a  vis-a-vis, 
**  and  live  as  a  man  of  fortune." — 
*'  Well,  then/*  returned  I,  "  at  beft, 
"  you  can  only  call  him  a  gambler,  and 
"  he  may  in  one  night  be  as  wretched, 
"  as  he  is  now  happy."  "  Oh,"  replies 
ilie,  "  he  Jias  wit  at  will  to  dired  him, 
*'  and  has  been  prudent,  and  taken  care 

*^  of 


Mr?»  Sophia  Baddeley.       75 

**  of  his  money.  This  gentleman/* 
iays  fhe,  "  as  he  was  palTing  the  end  of 
"  Grafton-ftreet,  feeing  you  go  out 
"  without  me,  came  in  and  told  my 
"  maid,  for  John  was  out,  that  he  muft 
"  fee  me,  on  very  particular  bufincfs. 
"  The  girl  faid,  I  was  ill,  but  afked  him 
**  in,  and  faid  flie  would  go  and  ac- 
"  quaint  me.  He  followed  her  up  flily, 
"  and  came  into  my  room."  "  And 
**  who  was  this  infolent  man  ?"  fays  I, 
with  a  degree  of  warmth..  "  Only," 
fays  fhe,  curtefying  and  laughing, 
"  Mr.  Thomas  Storer."  Vexed  beyond 
meafure,  and  to  be  laughed  at,  I  re- 
plied, "  Had  I  known  his  name  fooner, 
^  I  Ihould  not  have  attended  to  his  hif- 
"  tory."  «  Was  you  up  ?"  "  No," 
H  2  fays 


7&  The  Memoirs  gf 

fays  fhe,  "  and  I  had  enough  to  do  t<y 
"  keep  him  from  me.  But  Fanny  went 
'*  down  ftairSj  and  called  Betty  the 
"  laundry-maid,  who  would  put  on  her 
"  cap  before  Ihe  would  appear,  fhe 
'^  faid,  before  any  gentleman  i  and  then,, 
*'  when  her  cap  was  on,  and  Sufan  the 
*f  kitchen-maid  had  been  up  into  the 
"  garret,  to  put  on  a  clean  apron,  they- 
^*  all  met,  and  fettling  the  matter  be- 
**  tween  themfelves,  came  at  laft  into 
"  my  room,  and  with  great  difficulty 
"  got  him  away  into  another  room."— 
"  Why,"  fays  I,  "  they  were  a  long 
i'  time  about  it.  Why  did  you  not 
*'  ring  the  bell  ?"  "  Oh,"  fays  Ihe, 
laughing,  "  the  wicked  man  had  me  too 
"  faft  in  his  arms  for  that;  however, 

i'  he 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       77 

**  he  left  me  at  laft,  and  I  got  up.  H^ 
'^  then  apologized  for  coming  on  me 
"  fo  abruptly,  and  did  it  in  fuch  a 
**  winning  way,  that  I  could  not  for 
"  my  foul  be  angry,  but  gave  him  a 
"  kifs  and  forgave  him."  I  loft  all  pa- 
tience with  her  on  this  recital,  and  told 
her,  that  her  expofing  herfelf  to  her  fer- 
vants  was  worfe  than  all.  She  told  me^ 
fhe  could  no  way  help  it.  I  was  very 
angry  with  her,  but  it  anfwered  no 
purpofe.  Thus,  was  Hie  laughing  at 
me  the  whole  time  i  for  Fanny  had  beeit 
privy  to  this  meeting,  and  the  noife  I 
heard  on  going  up-ftairs,  was  no  other 
than  his  flying  out  of  her  chamber  j  and, 
during  the  time  Ihe  was  relating  his  hif- 
tory,  he  flipped  off.  She  was  at  this 
H  3  time 


78   ,     .     The  Memoirs  of 

time  in  fo  tittering  a  mood,  and  fo  full 
of  her  fun,  calling  herfelf  the  Lump  of 
Beauty,  that  I  found  it  was  no  time  to 
talk  to  her;  but,  determined  to  discharge 
Fanny,  and  tell  iier  my  mind,  at  a  more 
feafonable  opportunity.  She  then  faid, 
llie  had  feen  another  gentleman,  and 
ihe  was  afraid  Mr.  Storer  had  heard 
what  he  faid.  This  was  the  Duke 
of  Northumberland's  friend,  that  cam.e 
with  a  moft  polite  meflage  from  his 
Grace,  requefting  the  favour  of  a  m.eet- 
ing  at  Hammerfmith  that  evening,  at 
fix.  She  afked  me  to  accompany  her> 
and  on  my  faying  I  would  not,  replied, 
Ihe  would  then  go  by  herfelf.  I  told 
her,  I  was  unhappy  at  feeing  it;  fhe 
replied,  that  her  ^mentions  were  inno- 
cent, 


Mrs,  Sophia  Baddelev.        7^ 

cent,  and  that  Ihe  fliould  go  for  the  laft 
time,  merely  to  acquaint  his  GracCj 
fhe  could  admit  of  his  yifits  no  longer  ; 
*^  For,"  continues  fhe,  "  a  man  of  his 
"  rank  and  fituation  in  life  fbould  be 
*^  treated  with  refpedt ;"  that  he  was  a 
gentleman  of  too  good  a  character  to 
put  an  improper  conftru6lion  on  her 
meeting  him  -,  that  no  harm  could  arife 
from  a  referved  interview ;  that  he  could 
not  eaf  her  (thefe  were  her  words)  and 
that  as  he  had  always  behaved  with  the 
greateft  politenefs  and  attention  to  her, 
fhe  would  not  be  wanting  in  civility  on 
her  part.  I  told  her,  fhe  was  miftrefs 
of  her  own  a6lions  j  that  I  wilhed  not 
to  exercife  any  authority  over  her  -,  that 
what  I  faid  was  out  of  pure  friendfhip 

and 


8a  The  Memoirs  of 

and  regard,  and  that  as  I  found  my 
friendly  advice  was  not  taken,  I  Ihould 
in  future  not  attempt  to  give  it ;  that 
ihe  feemed  totally  to.  forget  her  bene- 
^<51:or  Lord  Melbourne,  and  the  in- 
jury flie  had  already  done  his  Lady ;  and 
was  now  feeking  for  an  opportunity  of 
diflurbing  the  peace  of  another  family.. 

In  the  afternoon  fhe  ordered  the  coacfr. 
and  went  to  Hammerfmith  alone.  In 
her  abfence  came  Lord  Melbourne,  I 
told  him  Mrs.  Baddeley  was  out. 
*'  Out!"  exclaimed  he,  "  And  without 
"  you ! — How  is  this  ?"  I  told  his 
Lordlhip  I  was  not  very  well,  and  could 
not  go  with  heri — *''  Where  is  fhe 
gone?"     fays   he. — To   Hammerfmith 

I  told 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       8i 

I  told  him  for  a  ride,  and  to  give  Ibme 
directions  about  the  houfe. — He  replied, 
he  had  left  his  lady  at  the  play-houfe, 
and  muft  return  to  her  immediately; 
and  therefore  after  a  little  converfation 
left  me» 

Mrs.  Baddeley  did  not  come  home 
till  twelve  o'clock,  and  when  fhe  came, 
was  in  high  glee  and  fpirits ;  begged  my 
pardon  for  being  fo  long  abfent,  but 
faid  flie  could  not  avoid  it,  and  that  I 
fnould  not  be  difpleafed  when  I  heard  alL 
"  I  have  never"  continued  fhe,  "  experi- 
**  enced  fo  much,  as  Iince  I  left  you." — I 
told  her  I  was  not  in  fpirits  to  attend  to 
her,  andwilliedtogotobed.  She  was  the 
fame  way  difpofed,  and  we  went  up  to- 

gether^ 


Si  The  Memoirs  of 

gethcr.  "  Now,"  fays  fhe,  "  my  ever 
"  dear,  dear  Mrs.  Steele,  let  me  tell  you 
*'  all  that  has  paft," — and  on  my  faying 
to-morrow  would  be  time  enough,  fhc 
replied,  "  if  you  do  not  hear  me  now^ 
"  I  Ihall  not  be  able  to  fleep.'.'  My 
filence  giving  confent,  Ihe  began  with 
faying,  the  Duke  was  at  Hammerfmith 
before  her,  that  he  handed  her  from  her 
earriage. — that  they  drank  tea, — and 
that,  dui'ing  tea, — he  launched  forth  a 
great  deal  in  herpraife^  and  exprefled 
liis  love  and  eHeem  for  her,  in  the  warm- 
ed terms,  and  that  he  ran  on  two.  hours, 
xifing  all  the  arguments  he  was  mafcer 
^f,  to  gain  Iier  compliance  with  his 
wilhes,  but  that  fhe  was  not  to  be  won  j 
that  he  offered  her  any  part  of  his  for- 
tune j. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddelev.       '83 

tune ;  that  when  he  found  words  would 
not  avail,    he  took  her   in   his   armsj 
•vowed  he  loved  no  woman  on  earth-  but 
her ;  that  if  Hie  perfilled  in  her  non- 
compliance,    he    muft — -and   there    he 
Hoped. — Muft  ? — What  ?  faid  fhe, — «  I 
"  muft,"  returned  he, — "  be  unhappy  j" 
that  he    held  her  faft  in  his  arms    an 
-hour,    and  that  fhe  begged  him  repeat- 
edly to  let  her  go — and  he  v;ould  not, 
"  How  then,"    faid  llie,     "  my   dear 
"  friend,  dixi  I  wifti  to  be  with  you  ! 
''  I  Clever  tiH  that  moment,  was  fenfible 
"  of  my  imprudence,     and  how  little 
**  dependence  there  is  in  any  mans  for 
■**  I  was  then  aware  of  his  determina- 
"  tion,    and   his    offers  I   difregarded, 
«  as  drofs."      "In    Ihort,"    faid    flie, 

"  much 


84  The  Memoius  of 

^'  much  againft  my  will,  he  led  me  to 
*'  my  chamber ;  I  found  my  refolution 
*'  give  way,  and  I  did,  what  I  now  re- 
'**  pent  of."  She  cried  much,  as  Ihe  * 
;gave  me  this  relation,  and  faid,  he 
^ould  have  given  her  bank-notes,  to  a 
;great  amount,  but  that  fhc  was  fo  an- 
^ry  with  herfelf,  for  what  llie  had  done, 
and  his  improper  treatment  of  her,  that 
ihe  would  not  take  them ; — that  he  faid, 
•vhe  would  inclofe  them  in  a  letter,  and 
fend  tliem  to  her  next  day. — "  I  am 
^'  now  glad,"  replied  I,  "  that  you  fee 
**  for  once  the  impropriety  of  your  con- 
•^^  du6L  Had  you  taken  my  advice,  you 
*'  would  not  have  put  yourfelf  in  his 
^*  power,  and,  confequently,  would  not 
'*  have  met  with  the  ill  ufage  you  men- 

"  tion. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        85 

^^  tion,  and  which  you  richly  deferve.— 
^'  You  fee  how  far  mankind  is  to  be  rely- 
"  ed  on ;  be  they  of  what  rank  they  will ! 
"  But,  with  all  the  ill  treatment,  you  fay 
**  you  now  met  with,  and  the  tears  it  has 
*^  coft  you,  I  find  you  returned  home  full 
"  of  fpirits,  as  ifnothing  had  happened." 
Thefe  were  affedled  fpirits,  flie  faid,  left 
i  would  not  give  her  a  patient  hearing, 
and  that  the  fervants  might  not  make 
remarks. — She  then  begged  I  would 
forgive  her,  faying,  fhe  would  nevei: 
a6l  in  oppofition  to  my  advice  in  future ; 
and  I  promifed  fo  to  do,  on  condition 
jhe  would  difcharge  her  maid,  for  being 
inftrumental  to  Mr.  Storer's  feeing  her 
in  the  morning,  for  that  I  was  perfwaded 
Vol.  IIL  I  fhe 


86  The  Memoirs  of 

fhe  had  taken  money  of  him,  to  admit 
him.  She  believed  it  herfelf,  and  thought 
fhe  went  to  Mr.  Storer's  lodgings,  and 
gave  him  intelligence  of  my  being  out  j 
for  Mr.  Storer  lived  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, and  ihe  was  feen  to  go  out.  She 
was  of  courfe  difcharged.  It  came  out 
afterwards  from  Mr.  Storer  himfelf,  that 
ihe  adually  did  as  we  apprehended. 

The  next  morning  Sir  Thomas  Mills 
called  (this  gentleman  is  the  natural 
fon  of  Lord  Mansfield) ;  invited  him- 
felf to  tea,  and  faid,  with  "our  leave  he 
would  bring  an  old  friend  with  him^ 
Admiral  Spry.  The  gentleman  alfo 
from  the  Duke  of  Northumberland  call- 
ed^ 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       87 

ed,  and  begged  to  fee  Mrs.  Baddeley, 
faying,  he  had  a  letter  only  to  deliver 
into  her  hands,  which  required  no  an- 
fwer,  and  that  he  would  not  detain  her 
a  minute.  She  with  a  feeming  reluc- 
tance faw  him,  and  on  his  delivering 
the  letter,  he  bowed  and  left  her.  .  Re- 
turning Ihe  gave  me  the  letter,  which 
I  opened  J  it  contained  three  bank- 
notes, to  the  amount  of  five  hundred 
pounds,  and  was  as  follows : 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  Baddeley, 

"  Inclofed  is   a   trifle   which  I 

^*  beg  your  acceptance  of.      By  your 

"  accepting  of  this,  I  fhall  be  able  to 

"  direft  fome  more  of  the  fame  fort  to 

I  2  "  your 


F8  The  Memoirs  of 

"  your   hand,    and  to   explain   myfclf 
"  more  fully. 

«  Refpeafully  Your's* 
y  Friday  jnorning" 

This  note  was  written  by  the  Duke 
nlmfclf,  but  without  a  name.  Mrs, 
Baddeley  obferved  upon  thisj  that  tlus 
fum  was  firft  fent  by  way  of  introduc- 
tion, to  fee  how  it  would  be  received* 
"  And  if  the  fum  of  five  hundred  pounds 
"  was  not  at  this  time,  of  great  ufe  to 
**  me,"  fays  Ihe,  "  I  would  fend  it  back  j 
"  but  as  it  is,  Mrs.  Steele,  put  it  into 
"  your  pocket :  I  fuppofe  I  Ihall  heas 
**  from  him  again  in  a  day  or  two.'* 


In 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        89 

In  the  afternoon  came  Sir  Thomas 
Mills,  with  Admiral  Spry,  who  invited 
us  to  the  Naval  review,  at  Portfmouth. 
We  were  juft  going  to  cards,  when  Lord 
Melbourne  knocked  at  the  door,  which 
obliged  Mrs.  Baddeley  to  leave  them, 
faying,  fhe  hoped  they  would  excufe  the 
neceffity,  and  Ihould  be  happy  to  fee 
them  at  any  other  time.  Mrs.  Badde- 
ley having  retired,  they  foon  took  their 
leave,  the  Admiral  faying,  he  fhould 
expert  us  at  Portfmouth. 

I  began  now  to  think  of  difpofing  of 
the  Duke's  money,  and  propofed  the 
next  day  to  divide  it  among  thofe  who 
moil  wanted  it.  Mrs.  Baddeley  faid, 
his  Lordlhip  promifed,  in  a  few  days,  to 
I  3  fettle 


go  The  Memoirs  of 

fettle  accounts  with  me.  She  faid,  he 
made  many  enquiries  about  what  fhe 
was  doing  at  Hammerfmith  -,  but  that 
fhe  excufed  herfelf  veiy  well,  faying, 
flie  had  taken  my  daughter  with  her, 
then  about  ten  years  of  age,  "  How's 
"  that  ?"  returns  his  Lordihip,  "  Mrs. 
"  Steele  faid,  you  was  alone  ?"  "  Oh,'* 
**  replied  fhe,  fhe  does  not  confider  the 
^'  child  as  any  one."  He  then  enquired 
after  the  child,  and  faid,  when  his  fon 
was  a  man,  he  Ihould  marry  her,  and  fhe 
would  then  be  a  lami^.  His  Lordfhip's 
name  being  Lamb. 

As  I  made  it  a  rule,  when  we  had  any 
money  to  fpare,  to  fend  for  the  tradef- 
men,  in  whofe  debt  we  were,   and  pay 

them 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       91 

them  part  of  their  bills,  if  not  the  whole ; 
it  was  a  means  of  keeping  them  quiet. 
The  Duke's  five  hundred  pounds  was 
wholly  difpofed  of  this  way.  Mr. 
Storer  called,  but  no  admittance.  We 
then  propofed  an  airing,  and,  getting 
into  the  coach,  Mr.  George  Hobart 
came  up,  and  offered  to  accompany  us. 
We  went  towards  Turnham-green,  where 
he  requefled  we  would  do  him  the  ho- 
nour to  dine  with  him.  A  dinner  was 
ordered  at  the ,  Pack-horfe,  and  we 
had  every  thing  the  houfe  aiforded.  Mr. 
Hobart's  polite  attention  on  all  occa- 
fions,  commanded  our  refpedj  for 
though  Mrs.  Baddeley  would  not  re- 
ceive his  addreffes,  he  always  noticed 
her  as  a  gentlewoman,   and  was  at  all 

times 


92  The  Memoirs  or 

times  ready  to  oblige  her.  On  our  re- 
turn home,  we  found  the  gentleman 
from  the  Duke  of  Northumberland  had 
called,  and  propofed  calling  the  next 
day.  "This,"  faid,  Mrs.  Baddeley, 
"  is  with  more  money  to  me."  Two  let- 
ters were  alfo  brought ;  one  from  Mr, 
Johnfon,  and  one  from  Lord  Melbourne, 

Admiral  Spry  called  to  acquaint  us 
that  the  time  for  the  review  was  fixed ; 
that  it  would  continue  three  days,  and 
advifed  us  to  write  down,  and  order 
beds  j  as  when  the  people  at  Portfmouth 
came  to  know  it,  we  fhould  not  be  able 
to  procure  them  under  ten  guineas  a 
night.  The  Admiral  told  us,  that,  if 
wepleafed,  we  might  be  all  day  on  board 

his 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       9J 

his  fliip ',  except  the  day  his  Majefly 
propofed  him  the  honour  of  dining  with 
him.  The  Admiral  was  a  plain  man, 
but  one  of  a  princely  charadler,  and  an 
ornament  to  the  navy ;  we  accepted  his 
invitation,  and,  when  we  came  to  Portf- 
mouth,  we  were  to  let  him  loiow,  and 
he  would  fetch  us  in  his  barge. 

At  ten  o'clock,  according  to  appoint- 
ment, the  gentleman  called  again  from 
the  Duke  of  Northumberland,  and  re- 
quefted  to  fee  Mrs.  Baddeley,  as  he 
had  a  letter  to  deliver  into  her  own 
hands,  and  wilhed  to  fee  me  likewife. 
Mrs.  Baddeley  urged  me  to  fee  him» 
faying,  Ihe  had  told  the  Duke  how  I 
had    difpofed    of   die    three    hundred 

pounds. 


94  The  Memoirs  or 

pounds  he  fent  me,  and  fhewed  him  the 
receipt  for  the  fame;  which  fhe  took 
in  her  pocket  purpofely,  that  he  might 
not  think  me  under  an  obligation  1 
would  not  acknowledge :  at  this,  his 
Grace  faid,  my  heart  was  as  noble  as 
my  mind,  and  that  I  was  an  ornament  to 
my  fex.  Therefore  if  I  rpfufed  any 
thing  now  fent,  it  would  be  folly ;  he 
having  no  occafion  to  bribe  me,  for  that 
the  Duke  being  now  fully  acquainted 
with  her  fentiments,  nothing  further  dif- 
honourable  would  ever  pafs  between 
them.  I  went  down  to  the  gentleman, 
not  forgetting  her  words  in  my  wayj 
and  faid,  "  Sir,  my  fervant  informed 
"  me,  you  have  a  wifh  to  fee  tne." 
"  Pardon  me,"  replied  he,    "  it  is   by 

«  his 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddelev.        95 

*'  his  Grace  of  Northumberland's  order, 
"  that  I  am,  with  his  compliments  to 
"  prefent  you  with  this."  I  afked.  If 
it  required  an  anfwer  ?  He  faid 
no ;  on  which  I  put  it  in  my  pocket, 
and  left  him,  faying,  Mrs.  Baddeley 
would  wait  on  him  prefently.  She  beg- 
ged to  know  what  palled,  and  I  gave 
her  the  letter ;  Ihe  opened  it,  and  it 
contained  four  bank-notes  of  one  hun- 
dred pounds  each,  with  a  flip  of  paper, 
on  which  was  written.  A  reward  for  a 
mile  dijpofttion.  Mrs.  Baddeley  returned 
it  to  me,  and  then  went  down  to  the 
gentleman,  with  whom  Ihe  had  much 
converfation,  continuing  with  him  more 
than  an  hour ;  he  gave  her  a  packet 
fealed  up,  which  Ihe  did  not  open  till 

after 


'gS  The  Memoirs  of 

after  he  was  gone ;  fhe  then  flew  up  to 
me,  and  gave  it  me  to  open,  faying, 
there  was  no  letter,  for  what  the  Dnke 
had  to  fay,  he  did  not  choofe  to  com- 
mit to  writing.     The  packet  contained, 
as  before,  five  hundred  pounds  in  bank- 
notes;   which  made   her  very   happy: 
flie  then  told  me  what  the  gentleman 
had  faid  to  her,  namely,  that  his  Grace, 
being  fearful  ihe  fhould  refufe  the  letter, 
he  was  diredled,   if  fhe  did,  to  give   it 
to  her,  to  prefent  me  with  it ;  that  the 
Duke  fent  his  kind  love  to  her,  that  he 
was  and  ever  fhould  remain  in  the  mind 
lie  had  before  expreffed  himfelfi  that 
as  fhe  had  fo  often  told  him,   fhe  could 
not  receive   his  vilits,    in  her  prefent 
fituationj  he  only  requefted,  that  if  time 

fhould 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        97 

ihould  alter  it,  and  fhe  would  acquaint 
him  with  the  fame,  ftie  would  meet  with 
all  his  promifes,  whenever  fhe  chofe  to 
command  them ;  that  he  would,  on  all 
occafions,  fhew  himfelf  her  friend,  and 
the  only  favour  Ihe  could  beftow  on 
him,  in  the  prefent  ftate  of  things,  was 
to  put  it  in  his  power  to  convince  her 
of  it,  otherwife  than  by  words,  and  to 
accept  the  fmall  token  he  had  fent,  in 
teftimony  of  it. 

«  This  money,"  faid  Mrs.  Badde- 
ley, "  will  make  us  happy  at  Portf- 
«  mouth."  «  Yes,"  returned  I,  "  It 
•^  will  make  our  minds  happy,  for  I  beg 
"  it  may  be  paid  where  it  is  due."  She 
put  a  negative  upon  this,  faying,  "  The 
Vol.  Ill,  K  ^'  people 


98  The  Memoirs  of 

*'  people  muft  wait  till  money  comes 
"  from  Lord  Melbourne,  for  his  Lord- 
"  fhip  has  not  been  very  bountiful  of 
"  late  J  therefore,  till  more  comes,  I 
"  will  not  part  with  ibis."  I  told  her, 
fhe  might  command  the  money  he  fent 
to  me,  but  jfhe  declared,  on  her  honour 
and  foul,  I  fliould  not  part  with  a  fliil- 
ling  of  it  on  her  account ;  that  it  was 
my  own,  and  three  hundred  pounds  to 
it,  (alluding  to  the  firft  tliree  his  Grace 
fent  me)  if  I  had  what  was  my  right. 
All  Ihe  wifhed,  was,  that  I  would  give 
her  a  keep- fake,  which  Ihe  would  pre- 
ferve  in  memory  of  me,  as  long  as  fhe 
lived.  I  promifed  her  I  would,  and  as 
Ihe  had  no  bracelets,  I  bought  her  a 
pair  of  enamelled  lockets,'fet  round  with 

brilliants, 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        99 

brilliants,  with  fmall  pearls  to  go  round 
the  wrift,  which  coft  me  one  hundred 
and  thirty  pounds,  and  which  fhe  did 
me  the  favour  to  accept.  She  conftantly 
wore  them,  and  did  me  the  credit  to  fay, 
upon  all  occafions,  they  were  a  prefent 
from  me. 

In  point  of  money-matters  now,  we 
were  tolerably  eafy  ;  but,  my  fears  were, 
that  whilft  this  fum  was  in  the  houfe, 
fome  new  thing  would  occur,  that  would 
not  be  pleafing.  One  of  the  players 
came  the  next  day,  and  gave  us  an  ac- 
count of  an  adtor  of  fome  merit,  being 
in  diftrefs,  locked  up  in  a  fpunging- 
houfe,  for  a  debt  of  twenty-five  poundsj 
that  Mr.  Garrick  had  been  applied  to, 
K  2  *       and 


100  The  Memoirs  of 

and  would  not  advance  him  a  penny  i 

that  he  had  a  good  wife^  and  a  family 

of  children  -,  that^  as  he  had  not  money 

to   defray   the   expences   of  the   houfe 

where  he  was,  he  muft  go  to  jail  that 

night,   if  he  could  not  find  a  friend  to 

aflift  him ;   and,  that   at  his  defire,  he 

took  the  liberty  to  call  on  Mrs.  Bad- 

deley.      She  looked   wifhfuUy  at  me, 

anxious   I  knew  to  relieve  him,   if  it 

met  with  my  approbation :    I  told  her, 

as  this  perfon  had  a  family,  if  fhe  would 

pay  half  the  debt,  I  would  pay  the  other, 

•'  No,"  returns  flie,    **  permit  me,    I 

"  will  pay  the  whole.    Let  us  order  the 

"  coach,  and  go  and  relieve  him."    We 

accordingly  went,  difcharged   the  debt 

^nd  cofts,  and  took  him  home   to  his 

wife. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      ioi 

wife,  who  did  not  exped  to  fee  him : 
and,  to  exprefs  the  gratitude  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  the  fatisfaftion  we  felt,  would 
require  an  abler  pen  than  mine.  He 
was  defirous  of  giving  us  his  note  for 
the  money,  but  we  refufed  it,  faying, 
we  begged  his  acceptance  of  it ;  and 
Mrs.  Baddeley  giving  one  of  the  chil- 
dren two  guineas,  we  left  them  to  the 
enjoyment  of  each  other.  We  had  fcarce 
reached  home,  before  Lord  Palmerfton 
called,  and  alking  where  we  had  been, 
we  told  him,  to  relieve  a  diftreffed  fa- 
mily, and  mentioned  fome  of  the  par- 
ticulars. His  LordHiip  feemed  defi- 
rous of  knowing  how  far  he  could  be 
of  ufe  to  the  man,  and  who  he  was,  as 
he  fhould  be  happy  to  fend  him  a  few 
K  3  guineas. 


!02  The  Memoirs  of 

guineas.  I  begged  to  be  ^xcufed  men- 
tioning his  name,  as  he  was  a  player, 
and  it  might  tend  only  to  expoie  him, 
without  any  good  end;  but,  that  if  his 
Lordfliip  thought  proper  to  fend  him 
any  thing,  I  would  convey  his  favour, 
and  the  family  fhould  acknowledge  it. 
He  gave  me  five  guineas,  but  begged  I 
would  not  fay  from  whom  it  came. 

Sir  Thomas  Mills  nov/  called,  to  ac- 
quaint us,  from  Admiral  Spry,  that  we 
mull  fet  off  the  day  after  to-morrow  for 
Portfmouth  ;  he  advifed  us  to  take  our 
own  horfes,  and  to  lie  at  Guilford  the 
firft  night ;  and,  on  our  arrival  at  Portf- 
mouth, to  fend  immediately  to  the  Ad- 
miral. 

As 


Mrs,  Sophia  Baddeley.      103 

As  Lord  Melbourne  was  out  of  towni 
and  would  continue  fo  for  fome  time^ 
we  began  to  prepare  for  the  journey, 
and  in  order  to  make  the  beft  appear- 
ance we  couldi  we  equipped  ourfelves 
accordingly,  both  for  our  perfons  and 
our  equipage.  Do6tor  Arne  came  the 
next  morning  to  breakfaft,  to  whom  we 
never  were  denied,  and  enquiring  of  him, 
what  brought  him  out  fo  early,  he  faid, 
to  look  for  money,  and  afked,  if  we 
could  favour  him  with  the  loan  of  twenty 
pounds.  The  money  was  lent  him,  by 
Mrs.  Baddeley,  and  he  gave  his. note  for 
the  fame,  payable,  either  to  her  or  to  me. 
Mrs.  Baddeley,  as  foon  as  (he  received 
it,  threw  it  into  the  fire,  faying,  "  Now, 
**  Doftor,   your   note  is   paid.      Your 

"  accep- 


104  The  Memoirs  of 

"  acceptance  of  twenty  pounds^  is  a 
"  fufficient  recompence  to  me  i  for,  in 
"  my  firfl  outfet  in  life,  when  I  was  not 
"  able  to  pay  you,  how  kindly  did  you 
'*  and  your  fon  give  me  many  a  lef- 
*'  fon.  This  is  a  circumftance  I  Ihall 
"  never  forget,  and  I  hope  to  be  able 
<^  to  fliew  my  further  gratitude  in  a  lit- 
'*  tie  time."  Dr.  Arne  was  not  a  little 
pleafed,  flattered,  and  thankful.  When 
he  was  gone,  fhe  alked  me,  whether  I 
thought  fhe  a6led  right  3  I  told  her,  I 
fhould  have  done  the  fame,  had  I  been 
under  fimilar  obligations.  But  fhe  mull 
not  think  of  parting  with  any  more 
money  at  prefent. 

I  had 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddelev.      105 

I  had  many  things  to  adjuft  abroad  5 
but,  being  afraid  to  leave  her,  I  pro- 
pofed  fending  for  the  hair-dreffer,  who  I 
knew  would  engage  her  three  hours,  and 
put  a  book  into  her  hands.  She  ap- 
proved of  this,  for  flie  was  fond  of  read- 
ing, and  few  women  read  better ;  and 
the  man  was  fent  for. 

Before  the  man  had  finilhed  her  hair, 
I  returned.  She  allied  me,  if  1  had 
bought  her  the  tickets  fhe  wilhed  in  the 
I rifli  lottery.  I  told  her,  I  had  bought 
three  j  «  Then,  pray,  Mrs.  Steele,"  faid 
fhe,  "  give  them  to  the  hair-drefler  to 
*'  try  his  fortune."  I  did  as  Ihe  defir- 
edi  he  was  thankful,  and  faid,  as  they 

were 


io6  The  Memoirs  of 

were  a  prefent  of  her's,   he  was  fure 
they  would  be  lucky. 

We  had  a  vifit  now  from  Doftor  Hayes, 
of  Marlborough-llreetj  the  phyfician, 
with  whom  Mrs.  Baddeley  once  lived. 
She  was  happy  to  fee  him,  and  he  ftayed 
tea.  He  talked  of  old  times,  and  from 
thence  he  paffed  to  prefent  ones ;  faid, 
he  had  purchafed  fome  Ihares  in  the 
Pantheon,  which  broughi  on  the  flory 
related  before  of  her  having  been  refufed 
admittance.  He  was  happy,  he  faid, 
to  find  the  nobility  took  fo  adtive  a  part 
in  her  favour,  and  declared  the  mana- 
gers were  terribly  frightened  for  the 
confequences.      He  then  told  her,  fhe 

was 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      107 

was  ftill  as  dear  to  him  as  ever ;  but,  as 
I  did  not  quit  the  room,  he  had  no  op- 
portunity of  faying  more,  and  after  tea 
he  left  us.  At  nine  o'clock,  Mr.  Dib- 
den,  the  player,  came  to  afk  a  favour 
of  her,  which  fhe  readily  complied  with. 
He  ilaid  fupper,  told  us  a  ftrange  flory 
of  Mr.  Bickerftaff,  the  author,  and  of 
Mrs.  Wrighten's  being  engaged  at  the 
Theatre,  and  faid,  fhe  had  powers,  and 
a  good  voice ;  but,  he  was  of  opinions 
would  never  do  for  the  ftage.  Here  he 
prophefied  ill,  for  Mrs.  Wrighten  is,  at 
this  day,  an  able  performer,  and  a  cre- 
dit to  the  Theatre. 

We  next  morning  fet  off  for  Portf- 
mouth,  having  fent  our  maid  in  the  ftage 

the 


io8  The  Memoirs  of 

the  day  before ;  wc  flopped  and  lay  at 
Guilford  the  firft  night,  and  reached 
Portfmouth  the  next  evening,  where  wc 
found  all  things  prepared  for  our  recep- 
tion. Sir  Thomas  Mills  called  on  us 
as  foon  as  we  arrived  j  he  told  us,  the 
Admiral  was  on  board  the  Barfleur,  and 
that  we  muft  fend  our  fervant  to  him, 
to  let  him  know  we  were  arrived.  We 
did  {o,  and  the  Admiral  returned  his 
compliments,  andfaid,  he  would  wait  on 
us  as  foon  as  poflible,  which  he  did,  and 
drank  tea  with  us.  Thefe  gentlemen, 
the  next  morning,  walked  round  the 
town  with  us,  for  the  review  was  not  to 
be  till  the  next  day :  we  were  well  dreff- 
ed,  and  met  here  many  of  our  friends, 
and  were  accofted  by  all.     Sir  Thomas 

was 


Mrs.  SoVhia  Baddeley.      109- 

^as  not  a  little  proud  of  the  company- 
he  was  in.  As  we  got  into  the  barge 
to  go  on  board,  fix  feilors  in  company- 
bowed  to  the  Admiral,  and,  one  of 
them,  with  an  oath,  faid,  the  whole 
fleet  could  not  fliow  fo  fine  a  fight  as 
that  lady,  meaning  Mrs.'Baddeley;  and, 
another  fwore,  if  he  was  George  the 
Third,  Hie  fliould  be  his  qiieeril  "  Bravo, 
*^  Jack,"  faid  Admiral  Spry,  and  gave  the 
fellow  a  guinea  to  drink  her  health.  As 
foon  as  we  were  feated  in  the  barge,  the 
Admiral  was  faluted  by  a'  difcharge  of 
guns.  When  we  came'  atong  fide  the 
Barfleur,  the  Ihip  was  manned  to  re- 
ceive us,  arid  the  Captaih,  whom  I  knew 
from  his  childhood,  was  as  happy  to  fee 
us  as  can  be  expreffed.  We  were  con- 
Vol.  III.  L  du6ted 


no  The  Memoirs  of 

dufbed  into  die  Admiral's  apartments,, 
and  chocolate,  with  various  forts  of 
cakes  and  preferves  were  brought  before 
us.  We  were  then  fhewn  the  Ihip,  and 
being  very  tall,  and  not  {looping  fuffi- 
ciently,  I  received  a  flight  blow  in  pafTing 
the  hammocks  which  hung  over  our 
heads.  The  Admiral  immediately  or- 
dered them  all  down,  and  not  to  be 
hung  up  again  in  the  day-time,  till 
the  review  was  over.  I  was  not  much 
hurt,  but  his  orders  were  obeyed  -,  in  ten 
minutes  not  a  hammock  was  to  be  feen. 
We  ftaid  dinner,  and  the  table  was 
richly  and  elegantly  ferved,  equal  to 
any  nobleman's  I  ever  faw,  except  the 
Duke  of  Queenfberry's,  which  ex- 
ceeds all  defcription  for  elegance,  neat- 

nefs. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      hi 

nefs,  fplendor,  and  profufion.  Our 
dinner  confifted  of  three  courfes,  and  a 
defert  fit  for  the  King,  with  ices,  creams, 
jellies,  fyllabubs,  pines,  and  fruit  of  all 
kinds,  with  the  moll  coftly  wines.  Mrs. 
Baddeley  was  fo  charmed  with  the  re- 
ception and  entertainment  Ihe  met  with, 
that  IKc  did  nut  know  how  to  exprefs 
herfelf.  She  fung,  and  being  alked  a 
fecond  time,  fung. 

How  little  do  the  landfmen  know. 

What  we  poor  failors  feel ; 
When  waves  do  mount,  and  winds  do  blow ; 

But  we  have  hearts  of  fteel. 

No  danger  can  affright  us. 

No  enemy  can  flout  j 
We'll  make  the  Monfieurs  right  us  j 

So,  put  the  can  about. 

La  This 


H.2  The  Memoirs  of     - 

J    1  X  I      ■ 

This  fong,  and  her  manner  of  Tinging 
jt,  delighted  the  whole  company.  The 
Admiral  confidered  it  as  a  compliment 
ipaid  .him,  and  ordered  his  Secretary  to 
remember  and  get  it,  that  it  might  be 
fyng  in  memory  of  Mrs.  Baddeley, 
when  they  were  many  leagues  fron^i 
thence.  She  was  rcquefted  to  fing  it 
againj  and,  with  the  variations  Ihe  threw 
in  it,  the  emphafis  fhe  laid  on  particu- 
lar words,  and  the  adion  fhe  made  ufe 
of  throughout,  Ihe  put  the  whole  com- 
pany in  raptures.  After  dinner,  tea  and 
coffee  was  ferved  in  filver  equipage.  A 
band  of  mufic  was  now  introduced,  and 
many  fine  pieces  they  played  s  and,  on 
our  wiihing  to  go  on  fhore,  the  Admiral 
requefted  of  Mrs.  Baddeley  one  favour, 

which 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      113 

which  was,  before  our  departure,  to  fing 
the  feaman's  fong  again,  and  upon  deck, 
acconnpaniedwith  themufiCi  fhe  compli- 
ed as  before,  with  an  additional  flow  of 
fpirits,  and  the  whole  fhip's  crew  joined 
in  chorus.  When  fhe  had  done,  I  re- 
quefted  her,  on  my  part,  to  clofe  the 
whole  with,  God  fave  the  King,  The 
Admiral  was  delighted,  faid  all  his  men 
Ihould  join  her,  and  it  was  fung,  and 
chorufed  by  the  crew,  with  a  thunder  of 
applaufe  from  every  part  of  the  fhip ; 
and,  I  received  the  thanks  of  every  one 
prefent.  Every  man,  by  the  Admiral's 
order,  drank  his  Majefty's  health,  with 
three  cheers.  The  fhip  was  then  manned 
again,  every  one  to  his  flation.  Sir 
Thomas  Mills  and  the  Admiral  accom- 
L  3  panied 


114  The  Memoirs  of 

nied  us  on  Ihore  j  and,  we  could  do  "no 
lefsj  than  exprefs  our  gratitude  at  this 
hofpitable  and  polite  entertainment.-— 
Admiral  Spry  told  us,  the  King  was  to 
dine  on  board  the  Barfleur  the  next 
day,  and  of  courfe  he  could  not  have  the 
honour  to  attend  us ;  but,  the  day  after, 
he  claimed  our  promife  of  being  on 
board  again,  and  recommended  us  to  be 
in  time  the  next  day,  to  fecure  a  good 
place  on  land,  to  fee  the  review  i  then 
leaving  us  to  the  care  of  Sir  Thomas 
Mills,  he  took  his  leave,  faying,  his 
attendance  on  board  was  neceffary,  to 
fee  all  was  in  order  for  his  Majefty's  re- 
ception. More  than  twenty  of  the  no- 
bility had  called  at  our  lodgings,  and 
left    their   names.      His   Majefty,    we 

under- 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      115 

underftood  was  now  come,  for  guns 
y^ere  firing,  the  bells  were  ringing,  an^ 
ih^  hpufes  were  illuminated,  and  every  de- 
monltration  of  joy  ihewn  in  all  parts  of 
town.  We  ordered  our  coach^  and  rode 
through  it.  After  riding  about  an  hour 
and  a  half  about  the  town  (Sir  Tho- 
mas with  us),  and  delighted  with  the 
gratitude  of  all  ranks  of  people  to  his 
Majefty,  we  returned  home  to  fupper  j 
and  Sir  Thomas,  promifing  to  be  with  us 
early,  took  his  leave  and  with-drew. 

We  ordered  the  carriage  by  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  as  Sir  Thomas 
faid  his  Majefty  would  be  very  early, 
looking  about  the  fortifications,  batte- 
ries, &c.  before  he  went  on  board ;  we 

were 


ii6  The  Memoirs  of 

were  up  at  fix,  and  by  eight  were  full- 
drelTed  for  the  day,  at  which  hour  Sir 
Thomas  came.  We  rode  about,  ac- 
companying his  Majefty  in  his  circuit; 
where  he  was  attended  by  thoiifands  of 
all  ranks,  who  feemed  to  contend  with 
each  other  in  their  praife  and  congratu- 
lations. We  thought  nothing  wanting 
to  complete  the  fcene,  but  the  prefence 
of  her  Majefty,  (who  was  not  at  Portf- 
mouth  upon  this  occafion),  to  fhare  in 
the  general  joy  of  the  thoufands  who 
came  here  from  all  parts  of  the  world, 
I  do  not  mean  to  give  my  readers  an 
account  of  this  review,  which  has  been 
retailed  at  large,  in  all  the  public  prints  j 
I  Ihall  only  fay,  that  the  fplendor  of  the 
fight  exceeded  any  defcription  of  mine. 

In 


Mrs.  Soi?hia  Baddeley.      il7 

In  the  evening  we  went  to  the  play, 
attended  by  Sir  Thomas,  and  fent  to 
the  Admiral  to  folicit  his  company. 
He  returned  wordj  that  he  would  cer- 
tainly be  there,  but  he  feared  it  would 
be  late  firft.  The  houfe  was  crowded, 
and  the  piece  performed  was,  Romeo 
find  Juliet y  with  a  Harlequin  entertainr 
^Tient.  Wroughton  performed  RomeOj 
.and  the  play  was  tolerably  well  per- 
formed, till  an  interruption  took  place 
in  the  gallery.  In  that  part  of  the  play 
whe];e  Juliet  exclaims,  "  Romeo,  Ro- 
meo!  Wherefore  art  thou  Romeo?" 
"  Look  a-head  my  dear  girl,"  fays  a 
/ailor  above,  "  and  you'll  foon  ;find  him. 
"  Was  I  near  him,  I'd  kick  him  to  hell, 
"  for  not  coming  to  fo  fweet  a  crea- 

"  ture." 


n8  The  Memoirs  of 

*'  ture."  This  made  the  whole  houfe 
laugh  fo  immoderately,  as  to  ftop  the 
performance  for  fome  time.  The  fel- 
low went  on,  and  others  joined  him. 
"  That  Roman,"  (as  they  called  him) 
"  will  be  foon  fore  and  aft  with  the  dear 
"  girl,  I'll  warrant  him."  "When  the 
entertainment  began,  In  came  the  Admi- 
ral, apologizing  for  being  fo  late,  as  he 
had  but  juft  left  his  fhip.  He  told  us  he 
Ihould  have  many  of  his  choiceft  friends 
with  him  the  next  day,  who  promifed 
themfelves  great  pleafure  in  our  com- 
pany. When  Harlequin  made  his  ap- 
pearance, the  failors  began  again.  One 
fald,  if  that  dapper-patched  dog,  who 
he  believed  flole  his  jacket  from  the 
dreinng  of  the  fhips,   had   been  with 

Mr. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      119. 

Mr.  Roman,  he  would  have  paid 
him  well  with  his  rapper,  he'd  war- 
rant. For  the  poor  pretty  girl's  fake, 
he  wifhed  he'd  come  again.  This 
fet  the  houfe  again  in  a  roar,  and  when 
he  faid  the  doghadflole  his  jacket  from 
the  fhips  filks.  Lord  Townfhend,  who 
was  prefent,  laughed  heartily,  and  wrote 
it  down  with  a  pencil.  Sir  Thomas  and 
the  Admiral  fupped  with  us. 

The  next  morning  we  were  up  at  fix, 
and  we  drefled  ourfelves  to  the  greateft 
advantage.  Mrs.  Baddeley  put  on  all 
her  jewels,  and  her  rich  diamond  neck- 
lace, on  which  I  had  borrowed,  two  hun- 
dred pounds,  but  foon  after  redeemed. 
Admiral  Spry,  and  Sir  Thomas  Mills 

found 


lao  The  Memoirs  of 

found  us  ready  when  they  called.  They 
conduced  us  on  board,  as  before,  and 
we  were  received  in  the  fame  manner. 
During  breakfaft,  a  band  of  mufic  play- 
ed, and  when  breakfaft  was  over,  the 
fignals  were  difplayed,  as  when  his  Ma- 
jefty  was  prefent.  We  faw  the  whole 
with  great  pleafure.  and  eafe  to  ourfelves, 
and  in  much  greater  perfection  than  the 
day  before.  The  King  was  on  board 
another  fhip  -,  the  day  was  a  fine  one, 
and  the  fight  beyond  defcription.  Dur- 
ing the  fpedlacle,  we  were  a  little  fur- 
prized  by  the  violent  fcream  of  a  young 
voice  on  board,  but  could  not  learn  the 
occafion,  the  attention  of  all  prefent 
being  fixed  on  the  bufinefs  of  the  day. 
Chocolate  and  cakes  were  handed  round 

to 


% 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      121; 

to  all  the  company,  and  the  whole  end- 
ed fome  little  time  before  dinner i  whea 
the  mufic  flruck  up,  God  fave  the  King f 
and  Mrs.  Baddeley,  and  the  v/hole  Ihip's 
crew  joined  in  chorus.  When  dinner 
was  announced,  we  went  into  the  cabin, 
t-o  the  number  of  eighteen.  The  firft 
courfe  confifled  of  twenty  one  difhes.,  was 
ferved  up  in  plate ;  the  reft  of  the  diflies 
ferved  in  beautiful  china,  belides  a  de-^' 
fert.  Every  thing  in  feafon  was  before 
us  ;  and  there  were  fix  Admirals  of  the- 
party.  Admiral  Spry  was  happy  and 
merry,  and  when  dinner  was  over, 
bad  the  mufic  ftrike  up.  Calling  on 
Mrs.  Baddeley  for,  a  fentiment,  fhe  took 
a  glafs  of  champaigne,  and  gave,  "  May 
"  every  engagement  at  fea,  be  attended 
Vol.  III.  M  «  with 


122  The  Memoirs  of 

'-'  with  the  lofs  of  as  few  lives,  as  that 
•*  of  this  day  j  but  may  we  be  ever  vic- 
*<*'  torious  over  the  French! 

This  fentiment  pleafed ;  it  went  round, 
and  was  written  down  by  a  gentleman 
prefent.  I  was  then  called  upon  for 
mine,  and  gave,  "  May  there  never  be 
*■*  greater  caufe  for  engagements,  than 
*^'  the  caufe  of  this  day  j  and  may  all 
"  belonging  to  his  Majefty's  navy,  enjoy 
**  1  the  blefling  of  peace !"  This  was  alfo 
penned  down.  After  every  fentiment 
we  had  a  fong.  Admiral  Spry  fung 
Heart  of  Oak,  &c.  and  was  chorufed. 
When  it  came  to  Mrs.  Baddeley's  turn  to 
iing,  Ihe  begged  their  choice,  and  was 

rcquefted 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     laj 

|-equefted  to  fing,  ^^ Where  little foQlijh fluh 
"  tering  thing^'  &c.  from  the  Padlofk.-^ 
She  did,  and  when  Ihe  came  to  that 
part. 

Where  little  wanton  would  you  he 
Half  Jo  happy  as  with  me  ? 
a  gentleman  prefent,  cried  out  ajoud, 
**  No  where,  by  G-r-di"  which  made 
her  and  the  reft  laugh  fo  much,  that  Ihe 
could  not  go  on  for  fome  time.  "  No 
"  more  of  your  declarations,  Captaini" 
faid  the  Admiral,  "  let's  have  the  fong,** 
"  Flefh  and  blood,"  returned  he,  "  will 
,f5  Ipeak."  This  caufed  a  frefh  laugh  j 
however,  having  finifh^d  her  fong,  a 
fentiment  was  given,  and  Ihe  called  for 
another.  After  a  little  time  was  fpent 
in  finging,  fome  propofed  cards,  and 
M  2  others 


124  The  Memoirs  of 

others  a  dance;  and  Mrs.  Baddeley 
•was  afked  to  dance  a  minuet.  But  fhe, 
who  was  accomplifhed  in  every  thing 
elfe,  was  but  an  indifferent  dancer,  and 
declining,  I  was  applied  to.  The  young 
gentleman  who  alked  me,  being  from 
the  North,  I  enquired  whether  he  could 
dance  a  Scotch  reel.  He  replied,  "  yes  j" 
we  therefore  propofed  to  finifh  the  mi- 
nuet with  a  real.  My  partner  danced 
exceedingly  well,  and  of  courfe  we  made 
no  bad  figure. — All  prefent  were  de- 
lighted. The  Admiral  then  returned 
me  thanks,  faying,  he  was  aihamed  to 
intrude,  but  as  he  was  fure  a  perfon 
who  danced  a  reel  fo  well,  could  alfo 
dance  a  hornpipe;  requefted,  if  I  could, 
to  oblige  him  with  one.     I  did,  and  to 

the 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      I2| 

the  tune  of  Nancy  Dawfon,  which 
charmed  them  all.  From  this  we- pro- 
ceeded to  country  dances,  and  danced 
till  tea-time.  After  tea  we  had  more 
finging.  In  fhort,  our  day  was  moft 
agreeably  fpenti  but  juft  before  we 
thought  of  going,  a  ftory  came  out,  that 
damped  our  fpirits.  "  If  you  remember, 
*'  ladies,"  faid  Captain  Knight,  (who  was 
Captain  of  Admiral  Spry's  Ship,)  "  you 
"  afked  in  the  time  of  the.  engagement^ 
"  what  occafioned'  a  fcream  you  heard  : 
"  I  have  juft  been  told  that  melancholy^ 
*'  tale  by  the  Surgeon.  A  pretty  boy  on 
"  board  belonging  to  one  of  the  Lieute- 
"  nants,  had  done  fome  trifling  thing 
"  .to  offend  his  matter  -,  who  running  after 
"  him,  in  order  to  chaftife  him,  the  poor 
M  3  "  boy 


116  The  Memoirs  of 

'*  boy,  in  order  to  efcape,  made  an  attempt 
"  to  jump  a-crofs  the  copper,  in  which, 
"  meat  for  the  crew  was  boiling,  in  hopes 
"  to  get  behind  it:  bur,  in  his  hurry,  he 
"  fell  into  it,  and  was  taken  out  with  all 
"  the  flefh  burnt  from  the  foles  of  his 
"  feet,  and  part  of  his  body.  Such  a  fight 
"  has  never  been  feen  on  board  before. 
^'  In  this  miferable  ftate,  the  poor  lad  was 
"  wrapped  in  an  oiled  flieet,  for  his  face 
"  was  equally  fcalded,  and  taken  to  the 
"  Hofpital,  where  he  lived  in  torture  till 
**  within  this  half  hour.'*     This  threw  a 
cloud  on  all  our  merriment,   and  as  it 
grew  late,  we  begged  leave  to  go  a-lhore. 
The   barge   was    accordingly   ordered, 
and   the   Admiral,    apologizing  to   the 
company  for  leaving  them,  in  order  to 

efcort 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddelev.      127 

efcort  the  ladies  and  his  friends  on 
ftiore,  accompanied  us  there  and  re- 
turned. 

The  next  day  Admiral  Spry,  and  Sir 
Thomas  Mills,  breakfafted  with  us,  and 
after    breakfaft  we   walked   round   the 
town :  in  our  walk  we  met  with  Captain 
Fawkner,  with  his  brother  Everard.  He 
noticed  us,    and  bowed,   and  after  he 
had  pafTed  us,  followed  us  up  and  down, 
gazing  occafionally  at  Mrs.  Baddeley, 
and  Ilie  at  him,  but  did  not  offer  to  join 
us.     Finding  this,  I  complained  of  be- 
ing weary,  and  wifhed  to  return  home ; 
however,  as  Ihe  pafTed  Captain  Fawk- 
ner, Ihe  faid  aloud  to  the  Admiral,  that 
he  might  hear,    "  I  have  taken  places 
"  in  the  boxes  to-night  for  us  all ;  and 

"  we 


12^  The  Memoirs  of 

"  we  will  go  to  the  play."  After  ac- 
companying the  Admiral  to  his  boat> 
we  returned  home  with  Sir  Thomas  j 
but  he,  being  engaged  to  dinner,  took 
his  leave  for  half  an  hour  to  drefsj  fay- 
ing, he  would  attend  us  during  the  re- 
view, and  to  the  play  in  the  evening. 
Mrs.  Baddeley  was  pleafed  at  this; 
as  it  gave  her  an  opportunity  of  feeing 
Captain  Fawkner,  who  made  his  ap- 
pearance as  foon  as  Sir  Thomas  Mills 
had  turned  his  back.  He  flew  to  her, 
kifTed  her  hand  with  rapture,  and  faid^ 
"  Cannot  I  fee  you  to-day  ?"  She 
told  him  not,  as  the  party  flie  came 
down  with,  would  be  with  her  the  whole 
day,  and  accompany  her  to  the  play  at 
night.     Captain  Fawkner  faid  he  fhoul4 

be 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      129 

be  at  the  play,  and  took  his  leave.  No 
fooner  had  Sir  Thomas  left  us  to  go  to 
dinner,  but  Captain  Fawkner,  who  cer- 
tainly muft  have  watched  his  going  and 
coming,  came  to  us,  and  dined  with 
us.  He  folicited  he  might  fee  her  the 
next  day,  if  it  was  but  for  ten  minutes ; 
and,  Ihe  promifed  to  let  him  know,  if 
pofTible,  whether  Ihe  could  fee  him. 
When  they  parted,  they  looked  at  each 
other  like  lovers,  unwilling  to  feparate  j 
and  when  I  told  her  that  I  noticed  it, 
Ihe  faid,  he  was  fo  good,  fo  handfome, 
fo  fweet,  that  an  angel  muft  love  fuch 
a  man. 

Before  the  Theatre  was  opened,  the 
Admiral  and  Sir  Thomas  called,   and 

took 


IJO  The  Memoirs  of 

took  us  the  diftance  of  five  miles  on  the 
London  road,  to  drink  tea  with  a  friend, 
whofe  family  confilted  of  him,  his  lady, 
and  three  daughters,  women  grown. 
They  prefied  us  to  (lay  the  evening,  but 
the  play  was  our  excufe,  and  we  came 
away,  promifing  to  dine  with  them  m 
pur  way  to  town.  Entering  the  boji  at 
the  Theatre,  we  found  Captain  Fawk- 
ner.  Mrs.  Baddeley  fat  down  as  near 
to  him  as  fhe  could  5  but,  it  was  not 
noticed  by  our  company,  as  they  had 
no  fufpicion.  Prefently  came  in  Cap- 
tain Fawkner's  brother,  who  fat  down 
by  him.  Mrs.  Baddeley's  attention  was 
engroffed  by  him  who  fat  near  her,  and 
fhe  took  no  notice  of  the  play.  She 
propofed  on  our  return  to  fet  off  for 

London 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      ijt 

London  the  day  but  one  after,  as  fhe  de  - 
figned  fhortly  to  go  to  Oxford  to  fee  Lord 
North  inflalled  Chancellor.  "  How  came 
"  you,"  faid  I,  "  to  think  of  this ;  and 
"  who  is  to  be  of  your  party?"  She  told 
me,  Lord  Palmerflon  and  Mr.  Montagu, 
fon  of  Lord  Sandwich,  who  was  then,  with 
many  others,  to  have  a  Doftor's  degree. 
This  being  fettled.  Admiral  Spry  faid, 
he  would  acquaint  his  friend  to-morrow 
morning,  and  would  accompany  us 
there  the  next  day  to  dinner  j  and,  that 
tb-morrbw,  before  dinner,  he  would  at- 
tend us  to  Gofport,  to  fhew  us  the  place. 
In  the  morning,  Ihe  went  and  invited 
Captain  Fawkner  to  breakfaft,  much 
againft  my  inclination.  She  ufed  va- 
rious means,  and  tried  feveral  ways  to 

get 


lj!j  The  Memoirs  of 

get  me  to  leave  them  -,  but,  being  de- 
termined to  the  contrary,  all  her  plans 
were  inefFedual.  At  laft  the  pencil 
went  to  work,  and  they  were  rude 
enough  to  write  and  anfwer  each  other 
before  me ;  but,  I  took  no  notice  of  it. 
The  time  drew  near  now,  when  we  ex- 
pefted  Sir  Thomas  and  the  Admiral  to 
call  and  accompany  us  to  Gofport ; 
but,  Ihe  complained  of  a  head-ach,  and 
faid  fhe  could  not  go.  Accordingly 
Ihe  took  her  leave  of  Captain  Fawkner, 
and  we  excufed  ourfelves  with  the  Ad- 
miral. This  gave  me  an  opportunity 
to  prepare  for  our  journey.  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley  continued  ill  till  fix,  when  I  went 
to  her,  and  llie  then,  brought  as  it  were 
to  refledion,  laughed,    and   threw   her 

arms 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      133 

arms  round  my  neck,  and  thanked  me 
for  my  conduft  to  her  in  the  morning, 
in  not  leaving  her  alone  with  Mr, 
Fawknen 

One  o'clock  next  day  was  the  hour 
fixed  for  our  leaving  Portfmouth,  in 
order  to  dine  with  Admiral  Spry's  friend. 
Mrs.  Baddeley,  however,  was  up  and 
drelfed  by  nine,  when  Captain  Fawk- 
ner  called  upon  her  again,  to  enquire 
how  fhe  did,  and  hoped  he  did  not  in- 
trude J  his  pencil  told  him  not :  for  he 
called  on  her  by  appointment  yeflerday. 
The  few  hours  Ihe  had  to  fpare,  palTed 
away  in  fighs  and  looks ;  for,  as  I  never 
left  them,  they  had  no  opportunity  of 
exchanging  words,  but  in  general  con- 
VoL.  Ill,  '        N  verfation. 


IJ4  The  Memoirs  of 

verfation.  The  coachman  coming  to 
the  door,  he  took  his  leave.  In  a  few 
minutes  came  our  friends,  and  we  let  off 
to  dinner,  as  engaged,  and  where  we 
were  elegantly  entertained  j  and  the 
whole  family  being  mufical,  we  had  a 
concert  after  it.  When  Mrs.  Baddeley 
fung,  the  old  lady,  who  was  unacquaint- 
ed with  her  fituation  in  life,  was  fo 
charmed  with  it,  that  flie  faid,  it  was  a 
misfortune  to  all  lovers  of  mufic,  tliat 
fhe  was  independent  j  or  fhe  might 
ojtherv/ife  make  a  fortune  in  London, 
at  the  Theatres.  At  this,  we  could 
fcarce  keep  our  countenances.  They 
preffed  us  to  flay  all  night,  the  old  lady, 
faying,  flie  was  determined  to  have  an 
angel   with  her  one  night  (for  fo  fhe 

called 


Mrs.  Sophia  BaddeIey.      135 

called  Mrs.  BaddeIey),  we  ftaid,  and  the 
next  morning  they  perfwaded  us  to  ac- 
company them  to  feveral  gentlemens 
feats  in  the  neighbourhood,  which  they 
fhould  take  a  pleafure,  they  faid,  in  fhew- 
ing  us.  Saying,  in  my  ride,  that  I  was 
born  in  Weftminfter,  the  old  lady  afked 
me,  if  I  knew  any  thing  of  the  widow 
of  Mr.  Hughes,  late  flater  to  his  Majefty, 
and  whether  fhe  v/as  living  j  telling  me 
jfhe  was  a  near  relation  of  her's ;  that 
they  were  brought  up  at  the  fame  fchool, 
and  that  fhe  was  a  very  valuable  woman. 
«  Yes,  Madam,"  faid  I,  "  that  lady  is 
"  living."  "  Before  you  go  then,'* 
returned  fhe,  "  I  will  trouble  you  with  a 
"  line."  "  I  will  deliver  it,"  faid  I, 
"  with  pleafure,  for  I  have  the  honour 
N  2  *'  to 


136  The  Memoirs  of 

"  to  be  one  of  that  lady's  daughters." 
At  this,  fhe  caught  me  round  the  neck, 
ilied  tears  of  joy,  and  kifled  me.  On 
our  return  to  her  houfe,  fhe  made  me, 
if  poffible,  more  welcome  than  before> 
and  there  was  no  quitting  it.  She 
made  us  flay  with  her  four  days,  and 
promifed  on  our  departure  to  bring  her 
family  to  town,  and  come  and  fpend  a 
week  with  us.  During  our  flay,  we 
had  the  Admiral  and  Sir  Thomas  Mills 
with  us  every  day,  and  the  Admiral  was 
delighted,  that  he  was  fo  fortunate  as 
to  bring  us  together.  We  preferved 
our  acquaintance  with  this  lady  till  fhe 
died,  which  was  fome  years  after. 

On 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      137 

On  our  leaving  this  family,  we  made 
the  bell  of  our  way  to  town,  and  reach- 
ed it  next  morning  at  two  o'clock.  We 
there  found  letters  and  meflages  in 
plenty;  but  were  too  tired  to  read 
them,  or  hear  more  than  that  we  muft 
fet  out  for  Oxford  in  two  days.  Lord 
Palmerfton  had  called  more  than  ten 
times,  and  was  fearful  we  Ihould  not  re- 
turn in  time,  and  begged  we  would  let 
him  know  as  foon  as  we  arrived. 

We  did  not  rife  the  next  day  till 
;iOon,  when  we  fent  to  Lord  Palmer- 
fton, who  came  immediately  ^  faid,  we 
muft  fend  to  Oxford  to  provide  beds, 
for  there  was  {o  much  company  going, 
that  beds,  would,  be  let  for  five  guineas  a 
N3      '  nighti 


13B  The  Memoirs  of 

night  i  that  Mrs.  Sheridan  was  to  fing 
there,  and  that  what  we  fhould  fee^ 
would  be  very  different  from  the  fpefba' 
cle  at  Portfmouth,  yet  would  equally 
entertain  us ;  and,  that  we  nnufl  {ct  o& 
the  day  but  one  after,  with  our  own 
liorfes,  for  all  the  horfes  on  the  road 
were  befpoke^  and  if  we  did  not  fend  off 
that  night,  it  would  be  ten  to  one,  whe- 
ther we  fhould  get  a  bed.  We,  there- 
fore, fent  off  one  of  our  fervants  ex- 
prefs,  and  gave  him  orders  to  procure 
us  a  lodging :  his  Lordlhip  requefted  a 
corner  in  our  carriage,  and  we  could 
r>ot  refufe  him. 

If  there  was  any  further  connexion 
between   Lord  Palmerfton    and    Mrs, 

Bad- 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      139 

Baddeley,  than  what  I  was  acquaint- 
ed withj  it  was  between  themfelvesj 
ihe  never  acquainted  me  with  it :  and, 
as  fhe  was  too  communicative  at 
times,  for  her  own  happinefs,  I  fhould 
fuppofe  fhe  would  have  acquainted  me 
with  this,  as  jflie  did  with  her  other  fe- 
crets.  All  I  know  is,  that  his  Lord- 
ihip's  behaviour  to  her  was  always  con-» 
fiflent  with  the  friend  and  gentleman  j 
and  his  politenefs  at  our  houfe,  did  him, 
in  my  fight,  great  honour.  He  was 
not,  however,  fparing  of  his  commen- 
dations of  her  i  and,  as  he  was  then  an 
unmarried  man,  he  might  be  permitted 
to  pafs  his  compliments  as  he  thought 
proper. 

Deter* 


I4'0  The  Memoirs  of 

Determined  to  make  the  beft  ap- 
pearance at  Oxford,  as  we  had  done  at 
Portfmouth,  Mrs.  Baddeley  had  fome 
new  eloaths  made  up  for  the  occafion^; 
with  a  great  deal  of  falhionable  milli*' 
nery.  She  faid  her  diamond  necklaces 
would  make  a  beautiful  band  round  her 
bofom ;  all  fhe  wanted  was  a  bow  for  her 
breafl,  and  one  for  each  fleeve,  which 
Ihe  faid  fhe  could  hire  of  Mr.  Bellas,  the 
jeweller,  in  Pall-mall,  for  about  four- 
teen pounds,  and  hoped  I  would  ap- 
prove of  it.  I  oppofed  it  with  fayingi 
that  put  the  expence  of  it  out  of  the 
queftion,  the  imprudence  fhould  be  fuf- 
ficient  to  prevent  her ;  that  nature  had 
been  bountiful  to  her  -,  that  Ihe  wanted  no 
fuch  additional  ornaments  j  and  that  fhe 

would 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      141 

would  be  as  much  if  not  more,  admired 
without  them.  I  told"" her  that  vanity  and 
extravagance  was  pointed  at  more  than 
fhe  thought  of;  that  a  lefs  expenfive 
drefs  would  be  confideredas  the  produce 
ofherownprofeflional  induftryi  but,  de- 
corated with  diamonds,  as  fhe  propofed, 
the  world  would  only  fneer  at  her,  and 
cry.  "  Look  at  Mrs.  Baddeley  I  Take 
"  notice  of  her  diamonds  1  See  what  .a 
"  quantity  fhe  has  I"  "  And  how  did  fhe 
**  get  them  ?"  fays  another.  "  They  are 
"  only  the  rewards  of  proflitution.'* 
"  And  what  then  ?"  returns  fhe,  angrily. 
"  I  care  not  for  any  of  their  remarks ; 
*'  I  will  have  the  bows,  and  nothing, 
"  ihall  prevent  it.  My  perfon  is  my 
**  own,   and  I   will   do    with   it  as    I 

"  pLeafej 


142  The  Memoirs  op 

"  pleafe ;"  and,  growing  flill  more  en- 
raged at  the  dread  of  a  difappointment, 
jQie  continued,  "  Nay,  I  will  do  more 
"  than  ever  I  have  done  yet ;  for  I  will 
"  not  be  debarred  from  Jceing  who  I 
"  pleafe,  and  doing  with  them  what  I 
"  pleafe — I  will  have  twenty  times  the 
"  quantity  of  diamonds  I  have." — ^At 
this,  fhe  burft  out  into  tears  of  rage, 
and  fent  her  fervant  off  for  the  dia« 
mends  fhe  wanted.  I  let  her  go  on  un- 
interrupted J  and,  when  fhe  had  finifh- 
ed,  fhe  ran  out  and  bolted  herfelf  up  m 
another  room.  In  fhort,  I  never  faw  her 
in  fuch  a  pafTion  before,  and,  found  from 
this,  that  I  could  only  keep  her  within 
bounds,  by  foft-reafoning,  perfwafion, 
and  giving  way  to  her  folly  in  many 
*•  things^ 


Mrs,  Sophia  Baddelev.      143 

things.  When  Mr.  Bellas  canae  with 
the  diannonds,  and  flie  had  agreed  with 
him  for  the  hire,  Ihe  brought  them  up, 
and  laid  thein  down  before  me,  with  a 
degree  of  triumph,  faying,  *'  Now  I 
"  have  began,  I  am  determined  to  go 
"  on ; — I  will  fend  for  Mr.  Fawkner, 
"  and  Mr.  Storer,  and  every  one  I 
"  think  proper^  and,  I  will  do  with 
"  them  as  I  pleafe."  This  declared, 
and  ftudied  oppofition  to  every  thing 
I  thought  right,  I  muft  own  nettled 
me,  and  I  replied,  with  firmnefs,  "  Doy 
"  — fend  for  them, — purfue  your  own 
*'  deftruftion; — but  it  muft  be  alone, 
"  and  not  with  me,  I  moft  folemnly 
"  affure  you.  I  have  long  been  a  flave 
*'  to  your  folly,  but  I  will  now  end  it  5 

"  fee 


144  The  Memoirs  of 

*^  fee  then  who  you  will,  and  a6b  as  you 
*^  think  proper;  but,  as  I  have  too 
*^  much  regard  for  you  to  fee  it,  I  will 
*'  fludy  my  own  happinefs,  and  leave 
**  you,  till  time  brings  you  to  reflec- 
"  tion.  Put  none  of  mj  things  up  for 
■*'  Oxford,  for  I  will  not  go ;  and  as  this 
*'  houfe  feems  to  fuit  you,  I  will  let  it 
*^  to  you  i  for,  I  am  refolved  to  leave 
**  you  this  day  i  determined  you  (hall 
**  have  it  no  longer  in  your  power  to 
^'  treat  me  with  fuch  unkindnefs,  when 
•*'  my  condu6t  and  advice  to  you  me- 
*'  rits  your  beft  thanks  and  gratitude. 
*'  I  will  go  this  inflant  to  my  motlier's, 
**  where  I  will  dine  and  I  will  deep  at  my 
"  filler's ;  and,  to-morrow,  if  you  will 
^"^  come  to  a  fettlementj  I  will  give  you 

"  kvcn 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      145 

*'  feven  years  to  pay  me  what  you  owe 
*'  me  i  and,  to  convince  you,  I  do  not 
'*  part  in  enmity,  I  will  accommodate 
*'  you  with  any  money  you  may  now 
"  want;  and  any  fervice  I  cart  do  you, 
"  at  a  diftance,  you  may  command." 
At  this,  I  took  my  hat  to  put  it  on; 
when  (lie  flew  to  me,  took  me  fall  into 
her  arms,  and  cried,  and  fobbed  fo 
much,  that  it  made  my  heart  ach :  fhe 
then  fell  on  her  knees,  begged  my  par- 
don, and  declared,  if  I  left  her,  fhe 
would  ftab  herfelf  the  next  minute. — I 
told  her,  cooly,  that  I  had  made  up 
my  mind  upon  the  occafion,  and  would 
ever  be  her  friend  through  life ;  but, 
that  her  declarations  had  really  Ihocked 
me,  and  that  I  could  not  continue  with 
Vol.  III.  O  her 


14^  The  Memoirs  of 

her  under  them,  and  begged  fhe  would 
not  hold  me.  She  was  In  fuch  an  agi- 
tation that  alarmed  mej  faid,  fhe  fhoiild 
die,  if  I  did  not  relieve  her  mind,  by 
promifing  not  to  leave  her.  To  quiet 
her,  I,  at  laft,  faid,  that  I  would  not. 
She  then  blefled  me  a  thoufand  times. 
Hill  holding  me  in  her  arms ;  and,  when 
I  found  her  agitation  a  little  over,  I 
faid,  "  Now,  if  you  pleafe,  we  will 
"  have  a  little  ferious  converfation." 
She  replied,  "  I  can  hear  nothing  till 
^*  you  again  promife  not  to  leave  me. 
**  Do  this  J  be  friends  j  ahd  I  will  fub- 
**  mit  to  any  thing."  I  then  promifed 
I  would  not  leave  her  for  the  prefent. — 
"  That  word  prefent,  my  dear,  dear 
"  Steele,"  faid  Ihe,  « I  do  not  like.— 

«  Give 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     147 

"  Give  me  your  hand."  I  did.  "  Now," 
continued  Ihe,  "  forgive  my  vile  tern- 

*  per,  and  I  will  never  more  offend 

*  you.  I  know  too  well  your  good 
'  wifhes  for  me,  and  therefore  entreat 

*  you  to  pafs   over  in  oblivion,  what 

*  has  happened  to  day;  and  I  will  never 
'  give  you    caufe  to  complain  of  me 

*  again.     There  is  not  a  fervant  in  this 

*  houfe  that  is  not  wretched  on  account 

*  of  this  quarrel,  for  they  value  you 
^  much  more  than  me  5  and,  I  am  con- 

*  vinced,  when  they  know  we  are 
^  friends,  they  will  be  as  happy  as  be- 
'  fore."     Thus  was  her  foolilh  obfti- 

nacy,  for  the  time,  got  the  betcer  of  i— 
we  kiffed  each  other,  and  all  was  to  be 
forgotten, 

0  2  We 


14?  The  Memoirs  of 

We  then  began  to  pack  up  our  things/ 
for  our  journey :  (this  was  in  the  year 
177a),  and  when  flie  put  up  her  dia- 
monds, fhe  threw  them  into  her  box, 
with  a,  "  Curfe  on  thefe  baubles  !— I  wiih 
*'  the  devil  had  them  all  before  I  faw 
**  them  1"  I  took  no  notice  of  this,  but 
went  on  till  we  had  finifhed  j  and  gave 
orders  for  the  carriage.  Sec.  to  be  ready 
the  next  morning  at  fix  o'clock. 


'O 


Lord  Palmerfton  being  with  us  at  fix, 
we  fet  out  together  j  reached  Oxford  ia 
the  evening,  and  found  our  fervant  had 
provided  us  a  good  lodging,  at  the  ex- 
pence  of  five  guineas  for  one  week.  His 
ILiOrdfhip  promifed  to  condu<5t  us  to  the 
Theatre,    the    next    day,    but  wiflied 

before 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     149 

before  he  left  us,  to  fpeak  to  Mrs. 
Baddeley  in  private,  having  a  fecret  to 
communicate,  which  refpe6ted  her  only, 
and  which  could  be  intruded  only  to 
her  private  ear.  I  accordingly  left  the 
room,  and  his  fecret,  as  fhe  afterwards 
told  me,  was  only  to  requeft  the  grant 
of  that  favour,  flie  had  often  fo  impru- 
dently granted  to  others  -,  and  his  beha- 
viour, fhe  faid,  was  fo  ungentleman- 
like,  that  Ihe  was  fure  the  whole  houfe 
muft  have  known  it,  and  Ihe  was  fear- 
ful it  would  get  all  over  Oxford.  How- 
ever, fays  fhe,  as  I  promifed  his  Lord- 
fliip,  upon  his  apologizing,  that  I  would 
not  acquaint  you  with  it  j  I  hope  you 
will  not  notice  it.  I  promifed  her,  I 
would  not,  but  that  after  we  left  Ox- 
O  3  ford 


150  The  Memoirs  of 

ford,  I  Iliould  admit  no  more  of  his  vl- 
fits.  Till  this  tranfaftion  I  entertained 
the  higheft  opinion  of  his  Lordlhip,  and 
thought  him  a  good  man ;  but,  I  find  I 
am  fubjedl  to  the  weaknefs,  common  to 
my  fexj  namely,,  to  think  better  of 
mankind  than  they  deferve. 

•  His  Lordfhip  attended  us  to  the  The- 
atre next  morning ;  and  procured  us  very 
good  feats.  It  was  prefently  full ;  and 
all  the  company  being  full-drelTed,  it 
had  a  very  fplendid  appearance.  Lord 
Palmerflon  now  left  us,  to  attend  Lord 
North,  who  foon  entered  the  Theatre 
robed,  and  in  tliis  drefs  fo  much  refem- 
bled  the  King,  that,  had  they  been  toge- 
ther, few  would  have  known  them  apart. 

The 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddelev.      151 

The  fame  reafon  that  I  did  not  lay  be- 
fore my  readers,  the  ceremonies,  and  all 
the  particulars  of  the  fpeftacle  at  Portf- 
mouth,  held  good  with  refpe(5l  to  that 
at  Oxford  J  that  the  whole  has  been 
already  given  to  the  public  throu  gh  the 
news-papers.  All  I  Ihall  obferve  is,  that 
we  were  well  entertained  for  three  days, 
and  that  Lord  North  had  as  much  at- 
tention and  refpedt  paid  him,  on  the 
occafion,  by  perfons  of  all  ranks,  as  was 
Ihewn  to  his  Majefty  in  his  vifit  to  Portf- 
mouth  ;  and  his  Lordfhip  in  return,  ex- 
prefled  every  mark  of  gratitude  in  his 
power. 

An  odd  circumflance  occurred  at  the 
Tiieatre,  that  fhev/s  how  neceflary  it  is 

to 


152  The  Memoirs  op 

to  be  guarded  in  our  converfatlon  in 
public,  with  perfons  we  are  unacquaint- 
ed with.  When  Mrs.  Sheridan  had 
fung  one  of  her  beft  fongs,  a  lady  who 
fat  next  me,  alked  me  whether  I  did 
not  think  (he  fung  well;  I  replied,. 
**  wonderfully ;  that  I  had  heard  much 
"  of  her,  but  had  never  feen  her  be- 
fore." She  then  faid,  "  Mrs.  Sheridan 
*'  is  the  firft  Englilh  finger  of  the 
*'  age."  I  begged  leave  to  differ  with 
her  in  that,  as  I  was  partial  to  Mrs. 
Baddeley.  At  this  inilant.  Lord  Pal- 
merfton,  who  was  behind,  had  joined 
us,  and  who  had  heard  our  converlation, 
tapped  me  on  the  fhoulder,  and  whif- 
pered,  that  the  perfon  I  was  talking  to, 
was  Mrs.  Linley,  Mrs.  Sheridan's  mo- 
ther. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      55 j 

ther.  I  was  In  myfelf  forry  for  what  I 
had  faidj  but  when  I  confidered  the  va- 
nity of  the  old  lady,  I  thought  Ihe  de- 
ferved  the  reply. 

Lord  Palmerfton  accompanied  us,  dur- 
ing our  ftay  at  Oxford,  round  the  Col- 
leges, and  other  places,  except  the  laft 
day,  when  his  engagements  would  not 
permit  him.  On  this  lall  day,  Mrs. 
Baddeley  wifhed  to  fee  a  certain  library 
again.  Whilfl:  there,  we  faw  feveral 
Oxonians  j  one  of  whom  fixed  his  eyes 
on  Mrs.  Baddeley  the  whole  time  j  fhe 
alfo  was  particularly  ftruck  with  him, 
and  faid  to  me  in  a  whifper,  "  l^ook, 
"  Mrs.  Steele,  what  a  beauty  of  a  man ! 
"  He  is  even  handfomer  than  Captain 

«  FawknerT* 


154  The  Memoirs  or 

"  Fawkner !"  On  her  faying  this,  I 
was  for  going  away,  but  fhe  would  not, 
continuing  to  gaze  at  him,  under  a  pre- 
tence of  viewing  the  library.  Prefently 
came  in  Mr.  Montagu,  a  fon  of  Lord 
Sandwich,  who  faid  he  had  been' hunting 
us  thefe  two  hours,  as  he  wifhed  to  pay 
his  refpedls  to  us,  and  fliew  us  the  Col- 
leges. We  walked  round  the  place 
again,  with  Mr.  Montagu,  and  this 
young  Oxonian  followed  us  every  where, 
till  we  reached  our  lodgings,  where  Mr, 
Montagu  left  us  with  faying,  he  fhould 
take  the  liberty  of  calling  on  us  in  Lon- 
don. When  he  was  gone,  Mrs.  Baddeley 
obferved,  that  of  all  the  handfome  men, 
Ihe  ever  faw  in  her  life,  this  young  Ox- 
onian was   the  moft   beautiful.     And 

alked 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddelev.     155 

afked  me  if  I  took  notice  of  him. 
**  Hang  him,"  faid  I,  "  I  did  not  look 
"  at  him."  "  Not  look  at  him !"  re- 
turned fhe,  "  I  wifh  you  had,  for  I 
"  fliall  never  forget  him!"  Prefently 
came  a  footman  with  a  letter,  requefting 
leave  to  deliver  it  into  Mrs.  Baddeley's 
own  hand.  He  was  ordered  up  and  deli- 
vering it,  begged  an  anfwer.  Her  reply 
was,  "  If  it  requires  an  anfwer,  I  will 
"  fend  one."  This  letter  was  from  the 
Oxonian  j  and  was  as  follows  : 

"  Dear  Madam, 

"  Par4on  me  for  declaring  I  am 
**  fo  much  enapnoured  with  your  beauty, 
**  that  I  know  not  how  to  exprefs  my 
**  heart  farther,  than  that  I  am  the  mofl: 

"  wretched 


J5^  The  Memoirs  of 

*'  wretched  of  all  men  on  earth,  fup- 
"  pofing  myfelf  not  worthy  your  no- 
*'  tke ;  yet  I  am  emboldened  to  afk 
"  permifTionj  to  fhew  you  the  College, 
**  the  honourable  gentleman  omitted 
"  this  day  to  do.  If  I  am  indulged  in 
**  this  requeft,  I  Ihall  think  it  the  hap- 
"  pieft  day  of  my  life.  Your  anfwer  by 
**  my  fervant,  will  be  efteemed  an  ob- 
**  ligation,  to  one  who  fubfcribes  him- 
"  felf     your  obedient,  humble  fervant. 

«  Jofeph  Gill. 
"  'To  Mrs,  Baddeleyr 

Though  Mrs.  Baddeley  wilhed  to 
fend  an  anfwer,  none  was  fent  j  for,  if 
poflible,  fhe  was  more  than  happy  at 
the  receipt  of  his  letter,  and  read  it  over 

and 


Mrs,  Sophia  Baddeley.      157 

tnd  over  again, — "  Burn  his  nonfenfe," 
faid  I.  Prefently  came  the  fervant  again, 
with  his  mafter's  complinients,  begging 
the  favour  of  an  anfwer.  I  fent  word 
down,  that  the  letter  required  none. 
He  then  faid  that  he  had  a  note  to  leave; 
our  fervant  brought  it  up.  This  letter 
was  fimilar  to  the  other,  Mrs.  Badde- 
ley faying  Ihe  muft  give  fome  anfwer, 
ordered  the  fervant  to  come  up.  He 
came,  and  ihe  faid,  "  Young  man,  make 
"  my  compliments  to  your  m after,  and 
"  tell  him,  I  faw  every  part  of  the  Col- 
**  lege  I  wifhed  to  fee,  the  firft  day  I 
"  came  to  Oxford  J  but,  no.twithftanding 
"  this,  I  am  much  obliged  to  him  for 
"  his  politenefs  on  the  occafion."  The 
fervant  bowed  .and  went,  "  Well",  faid 
Vol.  III.  P  ihe. 


158  The  Memoirs  of 

Ihe,  to  me,  "  I  Ihall  never  hear  any 
"  more  of  him ;  fo  don't  make  yourfelf 
"  uneafy.'*  I  then  propofed  going  to 
town  the  next  dayj  but  fhe  wiflied  to 
fee  Blenheim,  before  flie  wentj  and 
feeing  this  gentleman  pafs  by,  as  I  found 
afterwards,  (he  would  go  out  and  buy 
fome  gloves.  We  were  no  fooner  in 
the  fliop,  than  in  he  comes  to  buy 
gloves  alfo.  He  fpoke  to  her,  hoped 
fhe  was  well,  and  reddened  like  fire; 
fhe  coloured  likewife.  He  hoped,  he 
faid,  fhe  would  pardon  the  liberty  he 
took,  in  writing  to  her  j  not  knowing 
fhe  had  feen  the  College,  till  his  fervant 
brought  him  back  an  anfwer.  When 
we  left  the  fhop,  he  handed  us  down  the 
iteps,  and  requefted  Mrs.  Baddeley  to 

indulge 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      r^^ 

indulge  him  with  a  minute  or  two's  con- 
vei-fation  j  fhe  told  him  fhe  could  not, 
that  fhe  was  near  home,  where  he  could 
not  be  admitted  i  and  then  afked  him 
how  far  it  was  to  Blenheim  -,  as  fhe  de- 
figned  going  there  the  next  day.  After 
telling  us,  he  reludlantly  took  his  leave, 
fighing. — When  we  returned  to  our 
lodgings,  fhe  remarked,  that  he  was  a 
well-bred  young  gentleman,  and  was 
much  handfomer  when  near  than  wherr 
at  a  diflance;  and  that  fhe  would,  if 
j3ie  dared,  without  offending  me,  have 
invited  him  to  tea. — I  told  her  I  faw 
through  her  defign  in  afking  how  far  it 
was  to  Blenheim,  and  would  lay  ten  gui- 
neas he  would  be  there.  She  afTured  me. 
P  2  flie 


i6o  The  Memoirs  of 

Ihe  had  no  view  in  what  Ihe  aiked  him, 
and  was  fure  he  would  not  be  there. 

Lord  Palmerfton  called  in  the  even- 
ing, and  would  have  attended  us  to 
town  i  but,  on  faying  we  meant  to  go  to 
Blenheim,  he  was  forry  it  was  out  of 
his  power  to  wait  on  us  there,  as  bufi- 
nefs  of  confequence  called  him  away, 
and  if  fhe  was  determined  not  to  go,  he 
would  leave  Oxford  immediately.  On 
afking  him  whether  it  was  not  danger- 
ous travelling  by  night,  he  faid  no, 
he  never  carried  much  money  with  him^ 
and  therefore  was  regardlefs :  then  put- 
ting a  piece  of  paper  on  the  table,  he  faid, 
her  horfes  and  fervants  would  coft  her 
fomething  to  townj  and  he  begged  he 
might  leave  that,  to  enable  her  men  to  pay 

the 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      i6i 

the  turnpikes.  He  then  took  his  leave 
and  departed.  When  he  was  gone,  we 
looked  at  the  paper,  and  found  it  a  fifty 
pound  bank-note.  Mrs.  Baddeley  ob- 
ferved,  that  it  was  a  poor  prefent,  but 
every  little  was  of  fervice. 

We  went  to  Blenheim  the  next  day, 
the  feat  of  the  Duke  of  Marlborough ; 
and  as  I  expected,  we  there  met  with 
Mr.  Gill.  He  was  well-drelTed,  and 
came  up  and  paid  his  refpe6ts  to  us  j 
hoped  we  would  pardon  the  liberty  he 
took  in  coming  there,  but  as  he  heard 
us  fay  we  meant  to  fee  that  .place,  he 
would  not  mifs  the  opportunity  of  mak- 
ing his  bow  to  us,  if  he  found  us  difen- 
gaged  j  and,  thank  God,  he  had  that  hap- 
P  3  pinefs. 


r6i  The  Memoirs  of 

pinefs.  I  faw  Ihe  was  pleafed ;  ftie  told 
him  he  was  very  polite,  and  he  accom- 
panied us  round  the  place ;  and  I  took 
notice  that  fhe  prolonged  the  time  of 
viewing  it,  as  much  as  fhe  could.  She 
afked  him,  if  there  was  any  other  place 
near  there  worth  feeing;  he  told  her 
Lord  Abington  had  a  feat  within  five 
miles;  if  fhe  would  permit  him,  he 
would  attend  her  there.  Accordingly  fhe 
confented,  faid  her  fervant  might  take 
his  horfe,  and  he  might,  if  he  pleafed, 
get  into  the  coach ;  he  was  as  happy  at 
this,  as  a  man  could  be ;  and  fhe  feemed 
not  lefs  fo.  He  began  prefently  to  talk 
of  love,  but  Mrs.  Baddeley,  firfl  looking 
at  hitfJi  and  next  at  mej  put  a  flop  to  it  5 
though  her  eyes  and  his  both  talked  to 

each 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     163 

each  other.  This  young  gentleman,  was 
about  one  or  two  and  twenty  years  of 
age,  fenfible  and  clever ;  and  it  was  not 
to  be  wondered  at,  that  he  Ihould  be 
fmitten  with  her  beauty,  which  had  al- 
ready attraded  hundreds. 

When  we  reached  this  houfe  we  was 
upon  the  road  to  fee,  and  which  was  a 
very  long  five  miles  to  it ;  it  was  not 
worth  viewing.  However,  Ihe  did  not 
think  fo,  nor  would  have  thought  fo, 
had  it  been  a  Cottage  only,  as  it  gave 
her  more  of  his  company.  As  foon 
as  we  faw  the  houfe,  it  was  neceifary  to 
bait  the  horfes.  The  coachman  was  or- 
dered to  ilop  at  the  beft  inn  he  could  find', 
and  it  was  fettled  that  we  fhould  dine. 

After 


i64  The  Memoirs  of 

After  dinner  and  coffee,  we  pfopofed 
returning  to  Oxford  -,  but,  the  coach- 
man faid,  the  horfes  were  not  well,  for 
two  of  them  would  not  eat  their  corn  ;• 
and,  that  they  fliould  be  blooded.  Mr. 
Gill  went  out  to  look  at  them,  and  was 
of  the  fame  opinion,  and  thought,  if 
they  were  bled,  and  a  warm  mafh  given 
them,  they  would  be  fit  to  travel  the 
next  day.  This  ficknefs  of  the  horfes, 
I  have  reafon  to  believe,  was  all  a  pre- 
tence, and  fettled  between  Mr.  Gill  and. 
the  coachman  -,  for,  Mrs.  Baddeley  faid,, 
when  Mr.  Gill  went  into  the  liable,. 
"  If  I  could  get  a  divorce  from  Mr. 
"  Baddeley,  and  this  young  man  would 
"  marry  me,  I  would  take  him  for  life,, 
"  and  live  contented  in  any  fituation  he 

"  could 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      165 

"  could  place  me  ini  fo  as  you^  my  dear 
"  Steele,  would  promife  to  be  with 
"  me."  I  told  her,  it  would  be  the 
fummit  of  my  wifhes  to  fee  her  the  wife 
of  a  man  who  would  make  her  happy. 
At  Mr.  Gill's  return,  we  found  there 
was  no  getting  further  that  night ;  and, 
therefore,  determined  to  ftay  till  next 
morning,  and  he  continued  with  us. 
We  pafTed  the  evening  chearfully  j  Mrs^ . 
Baddeley  fung,  and  delighted  him  be- 
yond meafure,  and  the  time  flipped  away 
fall.  At  fupper-time  he  took  his  leave, 
and  promifed  to  be  with  us  the  next 
morning  at  breakfaft.  When  he  was 
gone,  fhe  ran  on  wildly  of  his  pretty 
behaviour,  his  infinuating  addrefs,  and 
his    engaging    manners  j    and,    marry 

him 


l66  The  Memoirs  of 

him  Ihe  fwore  fhe  would,  if  it  was  pof^ 
fible,  and  leave  all .  mankind  for  him. 
She  told  me,  that  whilft  I  was  writing: 
to  my  hufband,  flie  had  learned  from- 
him,  that  he  was  the  fecond  fon  of  a 
gentleman  at  Reading,  who  had  an  in- 
dependant  fortune  of  one  thoufand 
pounds  a  year  j  that  he  was  brought  up 
for  a  clergyman,  having  a  living  pro- 
mifed  him,  which  he  could  live  happy 
on,  with  what  his  father  could  afford  to 
give  him ;  "  So,"  continued  fhe,  "  you*. 
"  fee  hov/  inquifitive  I  have  been  j  and, 
"  as  he  has  declared  that  he  loves  me, 
"  if  I  can  any  ways  obtain  a  divorce,  I 
"  will  marry  him,  for  I  love  him  beyond 
"  -defcription."  "  Obferve,  now,"  faid 
I,  "  how  childifhly  you  a^t,    and  Iiova 

"  eafily 


Mrs,  Sophia  Baddeley.      167. 

*'  eafily  you  are  to  be  led  afide."  "  No- 
^'  thing,"  replied  fhcj  "  could  make 
"  me  fwerve  from  him.  If  I  married 
"  him  I  would  be  faithful  to  himj  and, 
"  depend  upon  it,  I  v/ill  never  fuffer 
"  him  to  take  a  liberty  with  me,  unlefs 
*'  he  djes  marry  me.  And  what  can 
«  I  do  better  ?"  "  Many  things,"  re- 
turned I,  "  as  I  have  often  repeated." — 
"  Yes,"  faid  ihe,  "  follow  my  profef- 
**  fion- — I  hate  my  profeffion  ;  but,  had 
"  I  this  angel  of  a  man,  if  he  thought 
"  proper,  I  would  purfue  this  profellion 
"  to  help  him."  '  "  Stuff,"  faid  I, 
"  you  are  as  changeable  as  the  wind, 
'^  and  I  am  convinced,  would  be  tired 
"  of  him  in  a  week."  However,  I  fell 
in  with  her,  and  thought,   if  her  plan 

could 


i68  The  Memoirs  or 

could  be  brought  about,  it  might  not 
be  a  bad  one ;  and,  on  niy  faying  fo, 
ihe  cried,  "  My  dear  Steele,  if  you  can 
"  alTifl:  me  in  this,  God  will  blefs  you 
"  for  it,  and  fo  fhall  I  j  as  I  Ihould  then 
"  fit  down  contented  and  happy  for  the 
*'  remainder  of  my  life,  and  would  def- 
^'  pife  every  difTipated  man  of  falhionl 
"  for,  with  all  their  money,  all  their 
**  fplendor,  and  all  their  fancied  hap- 
*'  pinefs,  their  life  is  a  wretched  one, 
*^  and  their  round  of  diffipation  a  tire- 
"  fome  labour.  And  as  to  one,  in  my 
"  unfortunate  fituation,  there  is  no  liv- 
*'  ing  with  them,  without  following 
"  their  follies  ;.and  if  one  does  not  make 
"  an  appearance  equal  with  them,  they 
"  think  nothing  of  us  j    and,    if  one 

does. 


Mrj.  Sophia  BAobELEY.      169 

*^  doesy  it  is  called  extravagance."  She 
then  begged  I  would  not  prevent  her 
feeing  Mr.  Gill;  for  fhe  had  no  other 
view  in  it,  than  to  get  him  for  a  huf- 
band.  I  allied  her  how  llie  could  ob- 
tain a  divorce  J  flie  replied.  By  fuing 
Mr.  Baddeley  for  living  in  adultery. 
She  had  been  told  fhe  could  do  this, 
and  llie  would  make  the  attempt. 

In  the  morningj  hearing  a  horfe  come 
into  the  yard  full  fpeed,  llie  jumped  out 
of  bed,  and  faid,  fhe  was  fure  it  was 
Mr.  Gill  i  and  the  chamber-maid  enter- 
ing the  room  fhortly  after,  faid,  the 
gentleman  was  come,  and  breakfaft  was 
ready.  On  our  coming  down,  after 
Vol.  III.  Q^  th^ 


lyo  The  Memoirs  of 

the  proper  compliments  had  pafTed,  we 
enquired  how  our  horfes  were,  and  were 
told  not  much  better,  and  that  a  farrier 
jfhould  be  fent  for.  A  farrier  came, 
and  faid,  they  had  received  a  violent 
chill,  and  had  caught  cold,  and  if  they 
were  taken  out  of  the  warm  liable  that 
day,  they  would  die  j  but,  that  the  next 
day,  with  care,  they  might  be  able  to 
proceed  on  their  journey.  I  ftill  thought 
this  was  a  fcheme  of  Mr.  Gill's,  or  in- 
deed for  the  good  of  the  houfe,  and  of 
courfe  went  into  the  ftable  myfelf  i  and, 
as  far  as  I  could  judge,  they  were  ill  j 
for  they  trembled  exceedingly :  fo,  it 
was  agreed  then,  to  ftay  the  event  of 
the  morrow.  I  called,  however,  for  the 
bill,   left  the  young  gentleman  (for  I 

found 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      171 

found  he  had  ordered  it)  fhould  pay  It. 
I  told  the  landlady,  if  he  afked  any 
thing  about  it,  to  fay  it  was  difcharged 
by  the  ladies.  Telling  Mrs.  Baddeley 
what  I  had  done,  (he  thanked  me,  fay- 
ing, Ihe  would  not  fuffer  him  to  pay 
any  thing.  Mr.  Gill  prefently  came  in, 
and  faid,  "  Ladies,  I  am  fo  nrmch 
"  afhamed  of  myfelf,  that  I  fcarce  know 
*'  how  to  fee  you.  I  went  juft  now  to 
**  pay  the  bill,  and  found  you  had  done 
•*  it;  prdy  oblige  me,  by  permitting 
"  me  to  return  you  the  money."  Mrs, 
Baddeley,  faid,  "  Not  a  word.  Sir, 
**  more  of  that,  if  you  pleafe  j  I  confi- 
"  der  you  as  a  vifitor,  and,  it  is  a  rule 
*'  with  me,  never  to  accept  a  favour  of 
"  this  kind,  even  from  my  bed  friend." 
CL2  He 


172  The  Memoirs  of 

He  bowedj    and   begged   pardon,    and 

hoped  he  had  given  no  offence.       We 

then    put    on    our    hats    for    a    walk 

round  the  village,    and  feeing  a   poor 

jnan  with  a  harp,  Mrs.  Baddeley  orders 

€d  hinri  to  the  inn ;    found   he  played 

well,  and   knew  almoil  every  fong  fhe 

could  fing ;  of  courfe  the  morning  was 

fpent  delightfully,  for  fhe  fung  a  variety, 

jie   accompanying   her,  and  kept   him 

upwards  of  two  hours ;  then  giving  him 

five  Ihillings,  fhe  bad  him  go  into  the 

kitchen  and  eat  fomething.     The  poor 

man,  at  the  fight  of  the  five  fhillings, 

cried  with  joy,  faying,  his  wife  was  that 

day  delivered  of  a  child  on  the  road, 

and  he  had  it  now  in  his  power  to  give 

her  fome  comfort.   On  being  afked  how 

far 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      173 

far  fhe  was  off,  he  faid,  three  miles,  de- 
fcribing  the  place,  where  a  poor  cot- 
tager had  taken  her  in.  On  this,  Mr. 
Gill  and  I  gave  him  half  a  crown  each ; 
and,  Mrs.  Baddeley  faid,  "  Inftead  of 
"  Haying  to  eat  your  dinner,  take  a 
"  bottle  of  brandy  for  your  wife,  and 
*^  make  all  the  hafte  to  her  you  can." 
The  poor  man  fell  on  his  knees  and 
blefled  us.  Mrs.  Baddeley,  from  the 
various  impofitions  Ihe  had  met  with, 
doubted  the  truth  of  this  man's  ftory, 
and  Mr.  Gill  being  of  the  fame  way  of 
thinking,  faid,  if  Ihe  chofe  to  enquire 
further  into  it,  her  man  might  take  his 
horfe  and  go  there  j  for,  as  I  talked  of 
going  to  fee  her,  Ihould  the  fellow  have 
told  a  lie,  I  fhould  have  faved  myfelf  the 
0^3  trou- 


-174  The  Memoirs  of 

.trouble  of  a  journey.  The  coachman  wss 
difpatched,  and  found  the  woman,  who 
had  been  delivered  that  morning,  laid 
with  her  infant  on  fome  clean  ftraw,  with 
a  few  things  only  to  cover  her  i  he  faid, 
ihe  was  a  pretty  woman,  looked  very 
ill,  and  afked  his  charity ;  that,  he  gave 
her  two  fhillings,  faying,  his  heart  ached 
at  the  fight  i  that  he  overtook  her  huf- 
hand  on  the  road,  walking  as  faft  as  he 
could  J  but,  that  he  pafied  him,  and 
took  no  notice  of  him.  On  hearing 
this  tale,  we  fent  for  the  miftrefs  of  the 
houfe,  told  her  the  ftory,  and  begged 
fhe  would  inform  us  where  we  could  get 
her  a  bed.  She  replied,  that  her  hoftler 
had  a  bed,  a  couple  of  blankets,  and  a 
rug,    to  difpofe  of,  and  that  a  guinea 

would 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      17^ 

would  purchafe  them ;  and,  as  we  were 
fo  well  difpofed,  fhe  would  fend  her  a 
pair  of  old  Iheets.  Hearing  there  was  a 
bedftead  in  the  cottage,  the  bed  wa£ 
bought,  and  fent  off  inftantly  in  a  cart. 
The  landlady  fent  one  of  her  maids 
with  it,  and  alfo  the  warming-pan,  and 
ordered  her  to  fee  the  poor  woman  com- 
fortably put  to  bed.  Whilft  we  were 
at  dinner,  the  maid  returned,  telling  us 
how  happy  we  had  made  the  whole  fa- 
mily, and  that  a  thoufand  bleffings  were 
returned  us  ;  and,  that  our  fervant,  un- 
known to  us,  had  taken  her  a  bottle  of 
gin,  which  he  paid  for  out  of  his  own 
pocket.  The  miftrefs  faid,  fhe  had 
looked  out  a  few  old  things  of  a  fort, 
for  the  woman  and  her  child,  which  fhe 

would 


.176  The  Memoirs  of 

would  fend  her  j  that  fhe  mentioned  her 
fituation  and  diftrefs  to  fome  ladies  in 
the  houfe,  who,  among  them,  had  given 
her  to  the  amount  of  a  guinea  j  and, 
that  an  out-rider  to  a  tradefman,  in 
London,  then  in  the  kitchen,  had  paid 
her  for  two  gallons  of  caudle,  which  Ihe 
was  alfo  to  fend  her. 

As  we  were  going  to  tea,  the  poor 
harper  returned,  and  began  playing 
without  the  houfe,  but  in  our  hearing; 
and  fung,  as  he  played,  the  following 
fong. 

It  is  not  wealth,  it  is  not  birth. 

Can  value  to  the  Soul  convey : 
Minds  pofTefs  fuperior  wealth. 

Which  Time,  nor  Chance,  can  take  away, 

&c. 

When 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      177 

"When  he  had  done,  he  came  in  and 
returned  us  fo  many  thanks,  that  rather 
diltreffed  us,  it  being  a  bleffing  to  a 
generous  mind  to  do  good  unnoticed, 
and  unrewarded,  but  by  the  adlions 
done.  He  played  a  good  while,  and 
we  bad  him  come  again  in  the  morning. 
When  he  went,  he  took  home  a  variety 
of  things  which  the  miftrefs  of  the  houfe 
had  looked  up  for  him  j  and.  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley  gave  her  fervant  half  a  guinea  as 
a  reward  for  his  humanity.  Mr.  Gill, 
in  the  evening,  faid,  he  had  a  little  bu- 
finefs  to  execute  for  his  father,  about  four 
miles  off,  and  hoped  we  would  excufe 
him  for  an  hour.  He  went,  and  his 
bufinefs  was  to  fee  this  poor  woman ; 
and    order    her    hufband    to    call    on 

hm 


178  The  Memoirs  of 

him  at  Oxford  the  next  morning  at  fix, 
for  it  was  but  five  miles  from  this  place, 
and  he  would  give  him  fome  clothes ', 
and,  that  when  his  wife  was  able  to 
travel,  to  bring  her  to  Oxford,  and  take 
a  lodging  for  her  j  and  he  would,  among 
his  friends,  provide  for  him,  and  find 
fome  employ  for  her  j  and,  giving  her  a 
guinea,  he  left  her.  He  was  foon  back, 
but  took  no  notice  to  us  where  he  had 
been.  Thus  was  a  humane  a6l  done, 
and,  perhaps,  a  poor  creature's  life 
faved  at  a  little  expence  3  and  how 
many  fuch  like  a«5ls  might  be  done,  to 
ferve  our  fellow-creatures,  if  fo  much 
money  was  not  badly  diflipated  ! 

Mrs. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      179 

Mrs.  Baddeley  was  very  chearful  the 
whole  day;  faid,  (he  did  not  intend 
that  Mr.  Baddeley  fhould  be  long  her 
mafter,  for  fhe  would  foon  get  rid  of 
him.  "  How  ?"  faid  Mr.  Gill,  "  By  a 
.«  piftol  ?"  "  No,"  returned  fhe,  "  I 
"  will  fue  for  a  divorce."  "That  done," 
replied  he,  "  was  I  poflefled  of  ten 
"  thoufand  pounds  a  year,  I  would  lay 
'^  it  all  at  your  feet  j"  faying,  that  he 
fhould  be  happy  to  marry  her,  if  fhe 
was  not  pofTelTed  of  a  fhilling.  "  But," 
continued  he,  "  this  is  a  hopelefs  wifhj 
**  for,  as  there  are  fo  many  great  men 
*'  your  admirers,  I  fhould  fland  but  Jit- 
"  tie  chance."  Mrs.  Baddeley  fmiled, 
and  faid,  fhe  thought  him  a  good  young 
manj  and  wifhed  him  to  continue  io^ 

'  and 


i8o  The  Memoirs"  of 

and  to  turn  his  thoughts  to  fome  woman 
more  worthy  of  him.  It  now  growing 
late,  Ihe  bad  him  think  of  returning  to 
Oxford,  as  fhe  fhould  foon  be  going  to 
bed.  He  then  ordered  his  horfe,  and 
took  his  leave,  faying  he  would  be  with 
us  again  at  nine  to  breakfaft.  When 
he  was  gone,  fhe  was  inceffant  in  his 
praifesj  and  faid,  fhe  would  move  hea- 
ven and  earth  to  get  divorced,  and  marry 
him  J  for,  Ihe  found  llie  loved  hini  more 
than  ftie  could  exprefs. 

Morning  came,  and  Mr.  Gill  at  his 
appointed  time.  During  breakfaft  the 
harper  came  again.  Mrs.  Baddeley  went 
out  to  him,  and  on  her  return  faid, 
there  was  a  gentleman  now  in  the  yard, 

playing 


Mrs,  Sophia  Baddeley.      iSf 

playing  on  the  harp;  I  went  out  and 
found  it  to  be  the  poor  man,  very  well 
clothed  J  and  on  my  alking  to  whom  he 
was  obliged  for  them,  he  faid  the  gen- 
tleman that  was  with  us,  and  then  told 
us  what  he  had  further  done,  as  I  have 
before  related ;  we  gave  the  man  a  gui- 
nea more,  and  fent  him  off. 

Finding  our  horfes  able  to  travel,  we 
went  for  Oxford;  where,  difcharging 
our  lodging,  we  continued  our  road  for 
London,  defigning  to  flop  at  the  houle 
I  took  near  Henley,  to  fee  my  family 
who  was  then  in  it.  Mr.  Gill  begged 
£0  accompany  us,  and  we  took  him  in  the 
coach.  We' reached  the  place  by  dark, 
and  continued  there  three  days,  and  Mr, 
Vol.  III.  R  Gill 


1^2  The  Memoirs  of 

Gill  with  us.  I  Ihall  not  fay  what  hap- 
pened under  my  roof,  at  this  place,  for 
I  mean,  fome  time  or  other,  to  write  my 
own  hiftory  j  which  has  been  full  of  ad- 
ventures, though  not  of  amours,  and  will 
entertain  the  public  greatly.  I  fhall  not 
fay,  therefore,  too  much  of  myfelf  here. 

On  our  departure,  from  this  place, 
Mr.  Gill  would  have  accompanied  us 
to  town  J  but  Mrs.  Baddeley  objefted  to 
it,  and  faid,  in  her  fituation,  it  would 
be  improper.  He  then  requefled  leave 
to  wait  on  us  in  town,  which  ihe  con- 
fenting  to,  he  took  his  leave,  and  we  pur- 
fued  our  way  to  Salt-hill]  where  we 
met  with  Mr.  John  Damcr.  He  in- 
filled on  our  dining  with  him,  which  we 

agreed 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      183 

agreed  to,  provided  he  would  let  us  fend 
the  coach  to  Windfor  to  fetch  the  lad^, 
^t  whofe  houfe  we  had  all  been,  the 
laft  time  we  faw  him.  He  confented, 
and  flie  foon  joined  us.  A  very  ele- 
gant and  expenfive  dinner  we  had ;  when 
over,  flie  preffed  us  to  go  home  with  her, 
and  Qeep  there  s  and  afked  Mr.  Damer  to 
be  of  the  party  j  but  he  politely  declin- 
ed, as  he  was  obliged,  he  faid,  to  go  back 
to  town  on  bufinefs ;  for  he  had  left  no 
orders  with  his  clerks,  and  his  fhop- 
men  would  not  know  how  to  a6l  with- 
out him.  **  I  did  not  underftand,  fir,'* 
faid  fhe,  "  that  you  was  in  bufinefs : 
•  "  in  what  profefTion  pray  ?"  He  faid, 
he  was  a  linen-draper.  We  looked 
grave. — She  then  requefted  his  addrefs, 
R  2  faying 


1 84  The  Memoirs  of 

faying  fhe  would  be  a  cuftomer  to  him. 
Pen  and  ink  was  accordingly  called  for, 
and  he  wrote  down  "  George  Number, 
**  at  St.  Merry-afk,  linen-draper,"  faying, 
he  fhould  be  proud  of  her  orders,  andlhe 
fliouldbe  wellferved. — "  Oh,"  fays  the 
lady,  "  I  know  St.  Mary  Axe  very  well." 
This  paft  i  and  after  tea,  we  took  ouf 
leave  of  Mr.  Damer  and  accompanied 
our  friend  to  Windfor.  In  our  way 
there,  fhe  obferved  that  linen-drapers 
muft  get  a  vaft  profit  on  their  goods,  to 
enable  them  to  live  in  fuch  a  ftile,  for  fhe 
was  fure  the  dinner  did  not  cofl  lefs  than 
ten  pounds.  "  Indeed,"  faid  fhe,  "  by 
*'  his  manner  and  polite  attention,  I  took 
**  him  for  a  nobleman,  till  he  gave  me 
*'  his  diredions. — Nay",  continued  fhe, 

«  he 


Mrs*  Sophia  Baddeley.      185 

"  he  was  extravagant,  for  though  we 
"  drank  but  two  bottles  of  wine,  I  faw 
"  fix  opened.  This  is  the  way  inn-keep- 
"  ers  get  rich  !"  We  could  no  longer 
refrain  from  laughing,  and  told  her  that 
the  gentleman  had  been  joking  with  her  j 
that  he  was  the  honourable  John  Damer, 
•  ddeft  fon  of  Lord  Milton. — "  How  ftu- 
*'  pid",  faid  our  friend,  "  muft  I  have 
"  been  then !  For  I  recolle<5b  well  now, 
*'  when  he  was-at  our  houfe,  that  you  told 
*'  me  he  was  a  nobleman's  fon,  and  as  to 
"  his  direftion  at  St.  Merry  Aik,  I  only 
*'  conceived  him  untaught,  and  that  he 
"  did  not  know  how  to  fpell,  of  courfe 
"  took  it  for  St.  Mary  Axe,  near  Cheap- 
**  fide.  How  will  he  laugh  at  my  igno- 
**  ranee  \  I  never  was  fo  taken  in,  in  my 
R  3  «  life. 


i86  The  Memoirs  of 

"  life.  How  will  you  divert  yourfelves  at 
"  my  expence,  when  you  meet  him  again  ? 
"  No"  faid  I,  "  he  will  think  no  more 
"  of  it,  it  is  his  ufual  fun."  For,  when- 
ever he  came  to  our  houfe,  not  found  us 
at  home,  and  faw  a  ftrange  fervant,  he 
always  left  the  name  of  fome  tradefman, 
and  faid  he  brought  a  bill  for  payment.. 

We  flept  that  night  at  Windfor,  and 
on  our  return  to  London,  met  with  a 
parcel  of  Gipfies,  who  afked  to  tell  our 
fortune.  We  flopped  the  coach,  and  a 
woman  who  undertook  it,  ran  on  with 
a  parcel  of  nonfenfe,  that  is  not  worth 
repeating  j  however,  it  made  us  laugh, 
and  kept  up  our  fpirits,  till  we  got  home, 
where  we  heard  Lord  Melbourne  had 

been 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     187 

been  twice,  wondering  what  had  become 
of-  us  i  Lord  Palmerfton,  once  j  Mr, 
Conway,  three  times ;  Mr.  MontagiT> 
Lord  Clanbrafil,  the  Marquis  of  Car- 
marthenj  the  Duke  of  Northumberland's 
gentleman.  Lord  Pigot,  Sir  Thomas 
Mills,  Admiral  Spry,  and  many  others^ 

Lord  Melbourne  was  very  inquifitivei 
and  feemed  much  hurt  that  Mrs.  Badde- 
ley  could  give  no  better  account  of  her 
journey.  Who  went  with  her  to  Ox- 
ford ?  Where  did  fhe  go  from  Oxford  ? 
And,  many  other  queftions.  She  told 
his  Lordfhip  that  Ihe  fpent  her  time 
with  my  family,  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Henley  and  the  like.  «  Well,"  faid 
he,  "  I  muft  leave  you  again ;  for  Sir 

"  Matthew 


t88  The  Memoirs  of 

*^  Matthew  Featherftone,  my  Lady's 
•''  father,  is  ill,  and  at  my  houfe  at 
*^  Brocket-hall,  and  I  muft  go  down  to 
*'  him."  He  foon  after  left  us,  and 
Mrs.  Baddeley  was  happy  he  was  gone. 

■  Having  fome  money  of  Mrs.  Badde- 
ley's  in  my  pofleffion,  left  fhe  fhould 
be  tempted  by  any  new  whim  to  lay  it 
out  improperly}  1  thought  it  beft  to 
pay  it  away,  where  it  was  owing,  and 
propofed  fettling  with  the  builder,  for 
the  additions  he  had  made  to  Hammer- 
fmith  houfe,  which  Mrs.  Baddeley  de- 
figned  to  pay.  And  when  I  looked  over 
the  bills,  I  was  amazed^  they  came  to 
feven  hundred  and  fifty-nine  pounds, 
eleven  (hillings,  and  eight-pence.     My 

furprize 


Mrs-.  Sophia  Baddeley.      189 

furprize  at  this,  made  me  fly  to  her  to 
tell  her  of  it.  She  received  the  intelli- 
gence with  great  unconcern  j  faid,  we 
had  a  leafe  of  it,  and  that  it  was  now  a 
good  houfe,  and  I  mull  fet  it  down  to 
the  article  of  her  extravagance:  but, 
that  I  muft  not  pay  away  the  money  I 
had,  till  fhe  got  more ;  for.  Lord  Mel- 
bourne's expence  about  his  houfe  ia 
Piccadilly,  had  occafioned  his  not  being 
fo  bountiful  to  her  as  he  had  been^ 
"  However,"  added  fhe, "  if  he  does  not 
"  think  of  usfoon,youmuft  remind  him^  * 
I  replied,  that  I  ihould  not,  as  he  had  not 
kept  his  word  with  me,  though  he  had 
been  bountiful  to  her.  His  Lordfhip 
promifed  to  pay  my  rent,  and  had  not 
done  even  that.  Mrs,  Baddeley  faid,  fhe 

would 


t^o  The  Memoirs  of 

would  pay  the  rent  herfelf.  I  told  her, 
in  future,  when  Ihe  wijlhed  any  thing 
from  Lord  Melbourne,  the  beft  way 
would  be  to  write  a  line,  and  I  would 
give  it  him.  To  this  fhe  acquiefced, 
and  I  then  told  her,  I  would  call  in  all 
the  bills  where  any  thing  was  owing, 
and  try  if  we  could  not  get  them  paid. 
Expences  for  houfe-keeping,  and  other 
daily  expences,  were  paid  weekly. 

On  calling  in  the  bills,  I  found  them 
as  follow,  and  the  whole  to  have  been 
run  up  in  the  courfe  of  three  years. 

Mlfs  Brace,  milliner,  by  ballance  1 20  o  o 
Mrs.  Bowen,  ditto        -  -  218  18  10 


Carried  over       338  i8  10 
Brought 


Mrs,  Sophia  Baddeley.      191 

Brought  over     338  18  10 

Mrs.  Titherfon,  ditto        -         -         180  11  o 

Mr.  Priccj  ditto,  by  ballance  of  700I.  230  o  o 
Mr.  King,  mercei',   by   ballance  of 

more  than  1200I.         -            -        290    o  o 

Mr.  Titterfon,  woollen-draper         -      40   10  o 

Mr.  Burnell,  filver-lace  man         -         30  10  o 

Mr.  Campbell,  coach-maker  -  200  19  o 
Mr.Dyford-,    and  Mr.  Clark,   flioe- 

makors             -             -              -         20  14  o 

Mr.  Rolfon,  hatter        -            -           29  10  o 

Mr.  Evans,  linen-draper            -         140     o  o 

Mr.  Iling,  hoop-maker                ►             8   10  o 

Mr.  Tutt,  trimming-broker          -         18  12  o 

Mr.  JefFerey's,  jeweller,  by  ballance  180  12  o 

Mrs.  Whitelock,  mantua-maker     -       10  14  o 

Mrs.  Humphries,  holier  and  glover  20  1 1  o 
Perfumers  bills             -                 -          30  19 


o 


Builders  bills  »  -  759  1 1     8 

Carried  over    2531     2    6 
Brought 


192  The  Memoirs  of 


^• 

/. 

J. 

Brought  over 

2531 

2 

6 

Stable  rent 

18 

0 

0 

Cornfaftor,  In  ballance 

48 

0 

0 

Hay  and  ftraw 

10 

0 

0 

Farriers  bills  in  ballance 

10 

0 

0 

Flcwerift  in  ditto             -             • 

18 

0 

0 

China-man  in  ditto 

10 

10 

0 

flambeaux  for  one  year 

^0 

iz 

0 

£.  2666    4    6 

Thefe  bills  were  only  in  ballance  of 
more  than  eight  thoufand  pounds,  in- 
curred in  the  time,  without  any  expences 
of  houfe-keeping,  furniture,  and  the 
principal  part  of  her  diamonds,  wages, 
journeys,  expences  at  public  places,  and 
horfes.  Though  Lord  Melbourne  did 
not  enable  me  to  pay  the  above,  Mrs. 
Badddey  did  not  abate  in  her  expences  j 

but 


Mr?.  Sophia  Ba£)deley.      193 

but  rather  encreafed  them  for  fome  time, 
till  a  Hop  was  put  to  it,  which  the  rea- 
der will  hereafter  be  informed  of.  My 
mind  was  very  uneafy  on  account  of  this 
great  fum  owirfg ;  for,  till  I  had  called 
the  bills  together,  I  was  not  aware  of 
their  amount.  On  my  IhcA^ing  them  to 
Mrs.  Baddeley,  flie  laughed,  and  faid, 
they  were  only  a  milk-fcore  to  Lord 
Melbourne  -,  but,  I  told  her,  it  was  my 
©pinion  he  would  never  pay  them.  *^  If 
"  he  won't,"  returned  flie,  "  I  will  pay 
"  them  myfelf." 

She  now  began  to  think  of  her  di- 
A'-orce,  and  I  advifed  her  to  confult  Mr. 
Dunning,  late  Lord  Afhburton.  She 
-went  to  his  houfe,  and  had  his  opinion. 
Vol.  III.  S  but 


J94  The  Memoirs  of 

but  he  would  take  nothing  from  her. 
He  told  her  he  had  doubts  of  her  fuc^- 
cefs,  for  reafons  flie  mufl  excufe  his 
giving  j  but,  there  was  a  chance,  if  Ihe 
had  a  mind  to  try  it  3  and,  if  fhe  would 
fend  an  able  attorney  to  him,  he  would 
dire6t  him  how  to  afb,  and  give  her  all 
the  affiftance  in  his  power.  She  ac- 
eordingly  applied  to  an  attorney,  faid, 
no  money  ihould  be  wanting  j  and  he 
promifed  to  fee  Mr.  Dunning,  and  to 
let  her  know  the  refult. 

In  the  evening,  we  went  to  the  play, 
and  Mr.  Storer  came  into  the  box,  and 
fat  by  us  the  whole  evening.  What  was 
the  caufe  I  know  not,  but  Ihe '  was  not 
fo  attentive  to  him  as  fhe  ufed  to  be, 

left 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      195 

Jeft  the  houfe  before  the  entertainment 
began  ]  and,  when  he  handed  her  to  the 
carriage,  and  would  have  accompanied 
her  home,  fhe  pleaded  an  engagement, 
and  parted  with  him.  Going  home,  Ihe 
told  me  Die  would  have  (laid  the  enter- 
tainment, but,  finding  the  people  of 
fafhion  noticing  Mr.  Storer,  (lie  thought 
it  better  to  retire.  On  our  return  home, 
we  found  Baron  Diede,  the  Danifh 
ambaflador,  had  called.  This  gentle- 
man, among  others,  though  I  have  not 
named  him  before,  was  one  of  Mrs. 
Baddeley's  admirers.  She  received  a 
letter  this  evening  from  Mr.  Gill,  fay-^ 
ing,  he  was  impatient  to  hear  of  her 
fuing  for  a  divorce,  as  he  Ihould  be 
frantic  till  it  was  obtained.  "  Now," 
S  2  faid 


1^6  The  Memoirs  of 

laid  ijie,  "  I  hate  all  mankind,  for  I 
"  look  round,  and  round,  and  find  no 
"  face  like  his." 

Next  morning  her  attorney  waited  on 
her,  faid  he  had  feen  Mr.  Dunning  i 
that  there  was  a  probability  of  fuccefs 
in  the  attempt,  but  he  could  not  fay 
more  to  ber  on  the  occafioa.  She  then 
left  the  room,  and  he  told  me,  that 
Mr.  Dunning  was  of  opinion,  as  Mrs. 
Baddeley  was  fo  well  known  to  have 
committed  adultery  herfelf,  the  court 
would  not  take  that  notice  of  her 
complaint,  fo  as  to  avail  her  in  fuch 
a  manner  as  to  dilTolve  her  marriage; 
but,  Ihould  they  not  take  her  condu(5b 
into  confideration,  £he  would  fucceed  j 

"  there- 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      197 

**  therefore,"  faid  he,  "  it  depends  on 
"  chance.  So,  that  if  Mrs.  Baddeley 
"  makes  the  attempt,  and  her  plea  falls  to 
"  the  ground,  fhe  muft  not  blame  me." 
I  promifed  to  confult  her,  and  he  was 
to  call  again  the  next  day. 

Baron  Diede  now  called  again,  he 
was  a  polite  little  man,  we  faw  him ;  and 
as  he  had  fome  friends  to  dine  with  him 
next  day,  hoped  we  would  do  him  the 
honour  to  be  of  the  party.  We  accept- 
ed the  invitation  and  he  left  us. 

Not  recollefting  this  gentleman,    fhe 

told  me  we  had  frequently  met  him  at 

houfes  where  we  dined,  and  he  had  been 

at  our  houfe  more  than  once.   "  He  has 

S  J  "  frequently 


-198  The  Memoirs  of 

;*'  frequently  been  at  our  lodgings,"  faid 
■fhe,  "when  I  lived  with  Mr.  Hanger; 
"  and  he  came  once  here  when  Mr. 
*'  Thurlow  was  with  us,  now  Lord 
."  Chancellor."  "  I  recolka  it  now,"  faid 
I  "  well."  "  Yes,"  replied  IKe,  «  and 
*'  you  mufl;  recolledl  that  Mr.  Thurlow 
"  was  with  us  an  hour  and  a  half,  and 
"  in  all  that  time,  did  not  exchange 
"  twenty  words.  He  was  cried  up  as 
"  a  fenfible  man  3  but  I  could  only 
"  judge  of  his  fenfe  by  his  filence.  And 
"  he  could  not  be  a  great  admirer  of  th£ 
*'  ladies."  "  Remember,"  faid  I,  "  a 
'*  clofe  mouth  makes  a  wife  head.  Be- 
"  fides,  being  introduced  by  Mr,  Hanger 
•'  to  his  favourite  lady,  it  would  have 
**  been  forward  and  impertinent  in  him, 

to 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      199 

"  to  have  engrofTed  the  converfation,  or 
"  have  made  his  friend  uncafy  by  any 
"  fludied  attention  to  you  j  and  I  wifh 
"  men  of  rank  would  all  follow  his  ex.- 
"  ample;  there  would  not  be  then  fo  mar. 
"  ny  trifling  and  treacherous  charafters." 

Mrs.  Baddeley  was  now  applied  to  by 
a  man,  who  had  formerly  been  her 
fervant,  to  procure  him  a  protedion 
from  arreft,  from  fome  one  of  the  am- 
bafladors.  Wilhing  always  to  ferve  the 
unfortunate,  fhe  cried  out,  "  There  is  old 
"  Count  Haflang  will  do  it  for  me,  (who 
was  the  Bavarian  Minifler.)  "  if  I  aik 
"  him ;  for  he  is  f  j11  of  his  compliments 
"  ,me,  at  all  public  places.  I  will  write 
"  a  line  to  hinn."     I  encouraged  her  to 

this 


ioo  The  Memoirs  of 

this,  and  flie  gave  the  man  a  letter, 
to  take  to  him.  He  prefently  re- 
turned and  faid,  the  Count  fent  for  him 
up,  and  told  him,  he  would,  with  plea- 
fure,  comply  with  Mrs.  Baddeley's  re- 
queft,  and  he  might  call  for  it  the  next 
day  J  and, "  pray  friend,"  faid  he,  "  make 
"  my  compliments  to  her,  and  tell  her 
'*  I  will  wait  on  her  as  foon  as  pofTible." 
*'  Nay"  faid  the  poor  man,  half  wild  with 
joy,  "  he  will  be  here,  I  fuppofe,  in  a  few 
*'  minutes,  for  his  chariot  and  three  foot- 
"  men  were  waiting  at  the  door.  In 
*'  hopes  of  being  here  before  him,"  faid 
ht,  "  I  ran  over  an  old  woman  in  Bond- 
**  ftreet,  and  threw  down  her  barrow  of 
•^  fruit  in  the  ftreet.  She  cried  out,  *  Stop 
•  thief,  *ftop  thief i'  and  I  have  been  pur- 

«  fued 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddel£y.      2ai 

"  fued  to  your  very  door."  We  could 
not  help  laughing  at  the  incident,  but  fent 
our  fervant  to  find  the  woman,  and  gave 
her  a  couple  of  fliillings  to  malce  her 
amends.  She  abufed  the  poor  man 
much,  but  our  fervant  faying  he  was 
running  for  a  midwife,  and  had  fent  that 
money  to  make  good  her  lofsj  from 
curfes,  fhe  proceeded  to  bleffings,  and 
he  who  was,  in  her  opinion,  a  few  mi- 
nutes before,  the  vileft  dog,  was  now 
the  beft  of  men  :  fo  great  a  change  in 
our  way  of  thinking,  will  a  little  moneys 
feafonably  given,  occafion. 

Whilft  we  were  in  converfation  with 
this  man.  Count  Haflang's  carriage 
ftopped  at  the  door.     He  came  in  and 

brought 


202  The  Memoirs  of 

brought  the  proteflion  with  him ;  for,  a^ 
he  protefted  fo  many,  I  believe  he  kept 
them  ready  written;  and  it  required 
only  to  fill  up  the  blanks  to  ferve  par- 
ticular purpofes.  It  mufl  have  been  fo, 
for  he  was  with  us  almoft  as  foon  as  the 
man.  Prefcnting  the  paper  to  Mrs, 
Baddeley,  he  told  her  he  was  happy  it 
was  in  his  power  to  oblige  her,  and  he 
blefTed  the  occafion  that  gave  him  an 
opportunity  of  paying  his  refpe6ts  to 
her  J  for  he  long  wifhed  to  fay  how 
much  fhe  was  in  his  efteem.  She,  going 
to  take  her  cat  from  the  fopha,  that  the 
Count  might  not  fit  down  on  it,  he 
took  her  by  the  hand,  and  begged  the 
favour  of  a  falute,  which  Ihe  a  little  an- 
grily refufed,  and  in  order  to  get  her 

hand 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      203 

hand  from  him,  gave  it  a  fudden  jerk, 
by  which  the  Baron  loft  his  equilibrium, 
and  his  foot  being  entangled  in  the  train 
of  her  facque,  fell  all  along  upon  the 
floor,  crying  out  he  had  hurt  his  back. 
I  was  ready  to  fink  with  laughing ;  Mrs. 
Baddeley  ran  out  of  the  parlour,  and  I 
was  doing  all  in  my  power  to  get  the 
old  gentleman  up.  She  returned  and 
faid,  ihe  had  been  to  fetch  her  man  to 
affift  him ;  but  fhe  had,  in  fa6t,  been  out 
of  the  room  to  laugh.  As  neither  of  us 
had  ftrength  to  lift  him  up,  and  he  was 
unable  to  rife  of  himfelf,  we  were  oblig- 
ed to  call  the  maids.  We  at  laft  got 
him  into  a  chair,  apologizing  for  the 
accident,  and  hoped  he  was  not  hurt. 
He  faid  a  little  on  his  back  3  we  called 

for 


204  The  Memoirs  of 

for  fome  rum  to  bathe  it,  but  he  de- 
clined our  good  offices,  and  faid  he 
would  go  home,  and  fend  for  his  do6lor, 
and  he  had  no  doubt  he  fhould  foon  get 
well  i  when  he  would  do  himfelf  the 
honour  of  paying  us  a  fecond  vifit.  He 
then  hobbled  to  his  carriage,  and  or- 
dered himfelf  to  be  driven  gently  home. 
When  he  was  gone,  we  fell  into  fuch  an 
immoderate  fit  of  laugliter,  at  the  acci- 
dent of  the  Baron,  and  his  newly  pro- 
tected fervant,  whofe  hands  and  clothes 
were  befmeared  with  dirt,  by  his  fall 
with  the  old  woman,  that  our  maids 
laughed  as  heartily  as  we  did.  The 
girls  declared  the  Count  had  llays  on  j 
of  courfe  was  more  frightened  than  hurt. 
When  the  poor  man  had  walhed  off  the 

dirt 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      205 

dirt,  we  fent  for  him  up,  and  gave  him 
his  prote6tion,  which  he  received  with 
gratitude,  and  a  look  of  heartfelt  eafe, 
that  fmoothed  a  brow,  furrowed  before 
with  anxiety.  "  I  will  now"  faid  he, 
*'  go  and  Ihow  my  face  at  home,  which 
".  I  have  not  been  able  to  do,  in  a 
"  week-day,  for  fome  time,"  "  But, 
*'  don't  run,"  faid  I,  "  as  you  did  here, 
"  for,  if  you  do  more  mifchief  in  your 
*'  way,  you  will  get  into  jail  in  Ipite  of 
^'^  your  protection." 

We  fent  fome  time  after  to  Count 
Haflang'5,  to  enquire  how  he  did,  and 
found  he  was  gone  to  bed  j  he  returned 
his  kind  compliments,  and  faid  he  was 
Vol.  III.  T  poorly. 


2o6  The  Memoirs  of 

poorly.  The  favour,  however,  Mrs. 
Baddeley  afked  of  him,  did  not  end 
here  J  for,  as  foon  as  he  was  able  to  go 
abroad,  though  we  were  conftantly  . de- 
nied to  him,  he  was  with  us  every  day 
for  a  month  together.  We  now  receiv- 
ed the  following  letter  from  Lord  Mel- 
bourne, 

"  My  Love, 

"  I  fear  I  cannot  fee  you  to- 
"  night.  I  am  jud  come  to  town  to 
"  attend  Lady  Melbourne  to  her  fa- 
*^  ther,  who  is  come  to  town  not  well, 
"  and  I  fear  it  will  make  it  iwo  late  to  be 
."  able  to  call  on  my  dear  love;  if  I  do 

"  not^ 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      207 

"  •not,  I  will  be  with  you  to-morrow,  if 
**  I  can,  before  you  are  up. 
"  Your's  ever, 

"  Melbourne." 
To  Mrs,  Baddeley, 

According  to  our  engagenaent,  we 
dined  with  Baron  Diede.  The  com-» 
pany  "confifted  of  all  the  foreign  minif- 
ters,  and  the  late  Lord  Falmouth. 
When  we  fat  down  to  dinner,  one  of  the 
gentlemen  enquired  where  Count  Haf- 
lang  was,  that  he  was  not  of  the  party. 
The  Baron  replied,  that  he  had  that  day 
received  a  letter  from  him,  faying,  he 
was  confined  to  his  bed,  from  a  fall  he 
had  received,  and  had  fo  much  hurt  his 
back,  that  he  could  not  turn  himfelf. 
T  2  I  dared 


2o8  The  Memoirs  of 

1  4ared  not  look  at  Mrs.  Baddeleyj  cer- 
tain, if  I  had;,  that  wc  could  not  have 
avoided  laughing.  Lord  Falmouth, 
faid,  he  had  feen  him  that  morning, 
and  he  was  very  ill,  and  on  being  afked 
how  he  met  with  the  accident,  replied, 
his  foot  flipped  in  getting  into  his  cha- 
riot. The  dinner  was  fplendid  and  ele-» 
gant,  and  a  band  of  foft  mufic,  in  the 
next  room,  playing  the  whole  time. 
When  dinner  was  over,  we  retired  to 
the  mufic,  and  Mrs.  Baddeley  fung 
inany  fongs.  Cards  were  then  intro-* 
(Juced,  fopper  fucceeded,  and  thus  the 
evening  clofed.  This  meeting  intro^ 
duced  Mrs.  Baddeley  to  all  the  diplo- 
matic body,  who  were  afterwards  our 
vifitants,  and  very  polite  to  her.     As 

to 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      209 

to  Lord  Falmouth,  who  was  an  admirer 
of  the  ladies,  he  was  frequently  at  our 
houfe.  In  our  way  home,  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley declared  ihe  had  bitten  her  cheeks 
till  they  were  fore,  to  prevent  her  from 
laughing.  On  our  return,  we  found 
cards  from  many,  from  Sir  Francis 
Molineux,  and  particularly  the  Duke 
of  Manchefter,  the  latter  of  whom  was 
always  ready  to  oblige  Mrs.  Baddeley  in 
any  thing  (he  alked,  and  fhe  frequently 
applied  to  him  in  behalf  of  her  friends, 
who  wanted  afliftance  in  different  ways  ;- 
for,  never  in  her  life,  did  fhe  refufe  a 
good  office  to  thofe  who  folicited  her, 
where  it  was  in  her  power  to  do  it.  We. 
fent  daily  to  enquire  how  Count  Haf- 
lang  did,  and  was  unhappy  to  find>. 
T  3  this 


aio  The  Memoirs  of 

this  fall  had  confined  him  to  his  houfe 
near  three  weeks. 

Lord  Melbourne  returned  from  the 
country  J  came  to  fee  his  dear  love, 
and  ftaid  two  hours ;  faid  to  me^  he  fup- 
pofed  I  was  a  bankrupt  -,  that  he  had  no 
money  about  him,  but  would  r-eturn  in 
the  evening  and  bring  me  fome.  We 
now  took  an  airing  into  Hyde -park, 
and  there  faw  a  pretty  girl,  well-drefTed, 
fitting  on  the  grafs,  near  the  ring.  I 
bad  Mrs.  Baddeley  take  notice  of  her. 
She  feemed  to  be  about  feventeen  years 
of  age,  very  unhappy,  and  to  be  the 
daughter  of  fome  reputable  tradefman. 
"  Let  us  go  out,"  faid  Mrs.  Baddeley, 
"  and  walk  by  her  i"  we  did,  and  I  afked 

her. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddi^^ey.      2h 

her,  if  Ihe  was  ill.  "  Yes,  ladies,"  return- 
ed fhe,  "  I  am  very  ill,  and  wilH  myfelf 
«  dead."  "  For  what  reafon  ?"  faid 
Mrs.  Baddeley.  She  then  burfl  into 
tears,  and  cried  bitterly.  We  fat  down 
on  the  grafs  by  her,  and  begged  Ihe 
would  tell  us  what  made  her  unhappy, 
and  we  would  be  friends  to  her  if  we 
could  ',  and  Ihe  might  aiTure  herfelf,  if 
her  tale  required  fecrecy,  it  fhould  go 
no  further.  Our  coach  and  fervants 
were  then  at  a  diftance.  She  told  us 
her  name  was  Harriot  Brown,  that 
fhe  was  the  daughter  of  an  eminent 
linen-draper,  in  the  city ;  that  her  fa- 
ther had  three  fervant-men,  one  of 
whom  Ihe  unfortunately  fell  in  love 
with;  that  he  kept  her  company  two 

years 


it  2  Yhe  Memoirs  of 

years,  in  a  virtuous  way,  "  For  I 
"  meant*'  faid  ftie,  "  to  nnarry  him. 
"  This  came  to  my  father's  ears,  and 
**  he  got  him  preffed  and  fent  to  fea ; 
"  and,  on  my  faying  I  would  follow 
**  him,  if  I  knew  where  to  find  him,  he, 
"  in  a  great  paflion,  turned  me  out  of 
"  his  houfe.  I  was  fo  unhappy  at  this, 
"  that  I  did  not  care  what  became  of 
"  me. — I  have  now  been  from  my  dear 
"  father  three  days,  and  nothing  but 
"  water  have  I  had ;  and  this  park  has 
"  been  my  refuge.  At  night  I  get  to 
•'  that  flable,  and  that  I  may  not  be 
'*  feen  there,  I  am  out  before  day- 
**  break.  I  am  fo  wretched,  that  I 
«'  have  thought  feveral  times  of  putting 
"  an  end  to  my  lifcj    but,  fomething 

«'  forbad 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     21$ 

*'  forbad  it."  At  the  recital  of  this 
ftory,  our  hearts  yearned  for  her ;  and, 
we  told  her,  if  fhe  would  go  home  with 
ns,  we  would  undertake  to  fet  all  things 
to  rights  again.  She  replied,  "  Oh, 
*'  no,  dear  ladies,  I  am  only  fit  to 
*'  wander  life  away  in  fome  defart  i  for, 
*'  to  me  it  is  not  worth  the  holding.'* 
We  determined,  however,  to  take  her 
home  with  us,  give  her  fome  refrefh- 
ment,  put  her  into  a  comfortable  bed, 
and  not  leave  her  till  we  could  fee  her 
father ;  and,  if  he  would  not  receive 
her,  endeavour  to  do  fomething  for 
her  J  and  this  we  promifed  upon  our 
words  and  honour  :  fhe,  therefore, 
agreed  to  go  with  usj  the  coach  was 
called,  and  we  got  in.      She  was  very 

thankful. 


214  The  Memoirs  of 

thankful,  and  faid.  Providence  furely 
had  fent  us  to  her  prote6lion.  Her 
diftrefs  brought  tears  into  our  own  eyes-i 
we  made  much  of  her,  and  when  we 
reached  home,  we  ordered  a  fire  in  the 
bed-'chamber  we  defigned  for  her,  gave 
her  fome  refrefhment,  and  attended  her 
to  bed,  where  we  fat  down  by  her,  and 
told  her,  we  were  certain  her  father 
mufl  be  diftraded  about  her.  She  faid, 
her  mother  was  at  Margate,  for  the  be- 
nefit of  fea-bathing  j  that,  did  fhe  know 
Ihe  was  turned  out  of  doors,  Ihe  would 
not  live  a  day  j  and  then  llie  burft  into 
tears  again,  and  we  fympathifed  with 
her.  I  begged  Mrs.  Baddeley  to  con- 
tinue with  her,  and  I  would  go  to  her 

father* 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      215 

father.  She  faid,  her  father  was  a 
paffionate  man,  and  would  probably 
affront  me.  I  told  her,  I  fhould  not 
mind  that,  provided  I  could  bring  about 
a  reconciliation ;  but,  that  I  perfwaded 
myfelf,  he  would  be  happy  to  fee  me, 
for  the  relief  I  fhould  bring  him,  in  tel- 
lins:  him  fhe  was  fafe. 


END  OF  THE  THIRD  VOLUME. 


'  ERRATUM 

In  this  Volume. 

•     Page  4B,  laft  line,  for  jou  muji  -haiie  fur/ued, 
read,  jou  tnuji  pirjue. 


THE 


MEMOIRS 


O  F 


Mrs.   Sophia  Baddeley, 

Late  of  Drury  Lane  Theatre, 

B  Y 

Mrs.    ELIZABETH     STEELE. 
IN    SIX    VOLUMES, 

Vol.  IV. 


LONDON: 

Printed  for  the  Author,  at  the  Hitetarg  )Prcf0, 

No.  14,  Red  Lion-Jireet,  Clerkonvell, 

Sold  by  all  the  Bookfellers. 

M.DCC.LXXXVII. 


THE 


MEMOIRS 


O  F 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley. 


THE 

MEMOIRS 


O  F 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley. 


I  Set  off  to  her  father's  with  all  the  ex- 
pedition I  could  make,  our  carriage 
being  then  at  the  door,  confidering  in 
the  way  how  I  fhould  explain  matters. 
When  I  reached  his  houfe,  I  went 
into  the  warehoufe,  and  enquired  for  him. 
The  warehoufe-man  faid,  he  was  at 
home,  but  could  not  be  fpoke  to  on  any 
Vol.  IV.  A  3  bufinefsj- 


6  -    The  Memoirs  of 

bufinefs  i  but  if  I  would  give  him  my 
commands,  he  would  execute  them  the 
fame  as  if  his  mafter  was  prefent.  I 
begged  to  know  if  Mrs.  Buown  could  be 
fpoke  to.  He  faid  flie  was  at  Margate. 
1  then  afl<:ed  for  Mifs.  "  Ah,"  faid  he, 
*^  ma'am,"  fhaking  his  head,  "  I  wiili 
"  Mifs  was  in  the  way  ! — I  perceive  you 
"  know  the  family. — Have  you  heard 
"  any  thing  of  Mifs  Brown's  being  from 
"  home  ?"  Wifhing  to  hear  all  I  could, 
I  afked  how  long  Ihe  had  been,  abfent. — 
"  Three  days,"  returned  he,  "  and  no 
"  one  that  we  know  has  ken.  her.  '  My 
"  mafter  can  hear  nothing  of  her,  and 
"  is  almofl  diftra6ted :  for  he  raves  at 
*'  times  like  a  mad-man,  and  defpairs 
"  of  ever  feeing  her  again  3  of  courfe 

ma'am 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        7 

*'  ma'am  you  will  now  judge  how  unfit 
"  he  is  to  be  fpoke  with  on  bufinefs." 
''  I  am  forry,"  replied  I,  "  to  hear  all 
**  this,  but  muft  fee  him  notwithfland- 
'^  ing  J  and  the  fooner  the  better ;  there- 
*'  fore,  pray  fhew  me  to  him,  and  I  will 
"  take  upon  me  to  fay,  he  will  not  be 
"  difpleafed  with  you."  I,  at  lad,  pre- 
vailed with  him,  and  he  fhewed  me  up 
to  a  large  room,  where  fat  a  decent 
creditable  perfon,  having  his  night- cap 
and  morning  gown  on,  with  a  handker- 
chief up  to  his  face,  and  in  a  melan- 
choly pofture.  He  rofe  from  his  feat, 
and  requefted  me  to  fit  down. — I  beg- 
ged pardon  for  my  intrufion  3  but,  hav- 
ing fomething  to  communicate,  which  I 
flattered  myfelf  would  give  him  com- 
fort. 


t  The  Memoirs  of 

fort,  was  the  caufe  of  it.  "  Alas,  ma- 
*^  dam,"  faid  he,  "  I  have  need  of  that, 
*^  for  you  fee,  before  you,  as  miferable 
''  a  man  as  breathes. — Pray  tell  me 
■**  good  lady,  do  you  know  any  thing 
«  of  my  loft  child  ?"  "  I  do  fir,"  re- 
turned I,  "  and  have  to  tell  you  flie  is 
"  well."  "  God  be  praifed  then  !"  ex- 
claimed he;  "  I  am  happy. — This,  ma- 
"  dam,  is  real  comfort. — Where  is  fhe  ? 
"  Am  I  in  my  fenfes  or  not !"  He  ran 
•about  the  room  half  wild,  and  then  fat 
down  to  thank  me  for  the  information, 
and  begged  I  would  tell  him  all  I  knew 
about  her,  and  where  he  could  go  and 
fetch  her  home  -,  faying,  fhe  was  an 
only  child,  and  tenderly  did  he  bring  her 
up  j    that  he  had  been  working  many 

years 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.         ^ 

years  for  her  j  that  all  he  had  fhe  would 
one  day  enjoy;  and  that  of  courfe  he 
wifhed  her  well  fettled  in  life,  and  to  be 
the  wife  of  fome  man  of  credit  and  re- 
putation; inftead  of  which,  Ih-e  had 
fruftrated  all  his  hopes,  by  falling  in 
love  with  one  of  his  fliop-men,  whom 
file  had  agreed  to  marry  privately.  "  Be- 
"  ing  informed  of  this,  faid  he,  I  was 
"  offended ;  and  in  heat  of  anger,  from 
"  fome  words  fhe  made  ufe  of,  bid  her 
*'  get  out  of  my  houfe,  and  never  let  me 
*'  fee  her  more.  She,  foolilh  girl," 
"  ralhly  took  me  at  my  word,  and  went 
'«  away,  and  though  I  have  fearched  all 
"  London  after  her,  could  hear  nothing 
"  of  her.  This,  madam,  was  the  caufe 
*^  of  my  unhappinefs.    My  haftinefs  has 

"  beea 


lo  The  Memoirs  of 

**  been  it's  own  punifhment  j  for  like  ^ 
*  "  too  fond  father," — (here  he  burft  into 
tears,  and  I  could  not  but  do  the  fame), 
"  like  a  too  fond  father — I  feel  I  love 
"  her,  in  fpite  of  her  perverfenefs."— 
^'  Come  then,  fir,"  faid  I,  "  with  me, 
"  and  I  will  bring  you  to  her. — I  have 
"  a  coach  at  the  door  at  your  fervice.'* 
He  put  on  his  coat,  and  was  ready  in 
five  minutes ;  telling  his  fervant  he 
ihould  return  in  an  hour  or  twot  When 
he  faw  the  carriage  and  the  fervants,  he 
begged  my  ladyfhip's  pardon,  and  apo* 
logized  for  his  want  of  refpe6l:  I  told 
him  that  I  was  not -honoured  with  a  ti* 
tie,  but  neverthelefs  was  happy  I  had 
it  in  my  pov/er  to  make  him  fo. — "  For 
^'  God's  fake,   my  dear  madam,"  fiiid 

he. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       li 

he,  "  where  did  you  meet  with  my 
"  daughter  ?"  For  he  could  now  talk 
to  me  with  compofure  -,  and  was  quite 
another  man.  I  told  him,  when  he  faw 
her,  he  fhould  know  the  whole,  and 
begged  him,  till  then,  to  reft  eafy  ;  for 
that  he  would  foon  be  with  her.  When 
we  reached  home,  he  was  conduced 
up  to  his  daughter,  who  was  then  in 
bed.  He  flew  to  her,  took  her  in  his 
arms,  kifTed  her,  and  cried  over  her : 
and  this  meeting  is  better  conceived 
than  deicribed.  She  hung  round  his 
neck,  wept  bitterly  j  and,  as  well  as  Ihe 
could  utter  her  words,  craved  her  fa- 
ther's pardon,  and  his  blefTing,  to 
an  unworthy  daughter.  "  Yes,  my 
**  dear  child,"  returned  he,   "  with  all 

"  your 


12  The  Me^moirs  of 

'^  your  faultSj  and  all  your  indifcretions, 
"  I  feel  I  am  ftill  your  father,  and  can- 
"  not  but  forgive  you.  My  rafhnefs 
"  proceeded  from  the  warmth  of  my 
"  affeflion  to  you;.  and  if  you  muft 
*^  throw  yourfelf  av/ay,  I  fear  I  muft 
"  fubmit  to  it."  "  Dear  fir,"  returned 
llie,  "  talk  not  in  that  ftrain,  I  will  en- 
**  deavour  to  think  better  j  and,  if  pof- 
'*  fible,  deferve  the  love  you  have  this 
*'  day  fhewn  me."  This  affedting  in- 
terview brought  tears  from  us  all  j  but 
they  were  foon  changed  into  joy.  Din- 
ner had  been  waiting  fome  time.  The 
young  lady  rofe,  and  drefTed  herfelf; 
and  fhe  and  her  father  dined  with  us. 
After  dinner,  Mifs  retired  for  a  few  mi- 
nutes,   and  we  told  Mr.  Brown  every 

thing 


Mrs.  Sophia  Badd£ley.       13 

thing  that  pafTed,  and  he  would  have 
fallen  on  his  knees  to  thank  us,  if  we 
•had  not  prevented  him.  When  Mifs 
returned,  he  took  her  again  into  his 
arms,  and  wept  over  her  with  joy.  She 
then  fell  on  her  knees,  thanked  him  for 
his  tendernefs  to  her,  who  fo  little  de- 
ferved  it,  and  hoped,  that  he  would 
conceal  the  ftory  from  her  dear  mother, 
left  it  fliould  make  her  as  unhappy  as 
it  had  done  him.  Mr.  Brown,  now  wifli- 
ing  to  return  home,  our  coach  was  or- 
dered J  and  with  a  thoufand  thanks  and 
bleffings  on  us  both,  the  young  lady 
faying,  fhe  owed  her  life  to  us,  and 
her  father  declaring  we  had  reftored  all 
he  held  dear  on  earth,  this  afFedlionate 
couple  took  their  leave  j  and  the  felf- 
VoL.  lY,  B  grati- 


t4  The  Memoirs  of 

gratification  this  fcene  afforded,  en- 
creafed  our  defire  of  doing  further  goodj 
and  made  us  fearch  for  occafions.-— 
There  is  fcarce  a  perfon  living,  but  has, 
at  times,  opportunities  of  relieving  the 
diftrefled,  and  gladdening  the  afHifted  ; 
and,  I  am  perfwaded,  if  men  "vvere  but 
confcious  of  the  fecret  pleafure  it  affords, 
independent  of  the  reward  religion  pro- 
naifes,  they  would  never  (lip  the  happy 
moment  j  and,  it  is  but  juftice,  due  to 
Mr.  Brown  and  his  family,  to  fay,  that 
they  fhewed  us  their  friendfhip  on  all 
occafions,  and  he  was  grateful  to  the 
hour  of  his  death.  Mifs  afterwards  mar- 
ried a  tradefman  in  good  circumflances, 
with  the  approbation  of  her  father,  but 
died  in  child-bed. 

This 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       15 

This  event  had  brought  on  fuch  a 
felf-complacency  in  Mrs.  Baddeley  and 
myfeif,  as  made  us  wifh  to  employ  the 
evening  uninterrupted,  in  our  own  re- 
fiedions  j  but.  Lord  Melbourne  came 
and  difcompofed  us.  He  came  in  hafte, 
he  faid,  juft  to  keep  his  word,  and  bring 
us  fome  money ;  that  he  left  his  com- 
pany at  the  play-houfe,  and  muft  inftant- 
ly  return.  This  faid,  he  gave  me  a 
paper  rolled  up,  faying,  I  muft  do  with 
that  as  well  as  I  could  for  the  prefent, 
and  in  a  few  days  I  Ihould  have  more. 
When  he  was  gone,  I  gave  it  to  Mrs. 
Baddeley,  and  fhe  opened  it:  finding  it 
contained  only  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds,  fhe  exclaimed,  "  Here's  a  fall- 
«  ing  off,  indeed  !"  —  «  You  muft 
B  2  "now," 


i6  The  Memoirs  of 

"  now,"  faid  I,  "  be  more  prudent,  or 
"  how  will  your  debts  be  paid  ?  Let 
"  us  put  an  end  to  fome  of  our  ex- 
''  pences,  let  us  keep  fewer  fervants.'* 
"  O,  God,"  returned  ihe,  "  then  we 
*'  fhall  have  nothing  decent  about  us.— « 
"  I  cannot  confent  to  this." — "  Well, 
"  then,"  faid  I,  "  be  lefs  expenfive  in 
"  your  drefs.  Confine  it  to  five  hun- 
"  dred  pounds  a  year."  "  Chrill,'*  ex- 
claimed fhe,  "  that  is  not  enough  for 
"  millinary !"  "  It  does  not  fignify," 
returned  I,  "  flop  you  muft,  or  ruin 
"  will  enfue."  "  I  cannot,"  faid  fhe, 
**  nor  will  I  be  abridged  in  my  drefs.— 
**  One  may  as  well  be  dead  as  not  in 
"  the  fafhion,  and  I  am  determined  I 
"  will  follow  them  all." — I  told  her,  if 

ihe 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley,       17 

ihe  thought  of  marrying,  flie  muft  find 
a  way  to  get  out  of  debt,  or  the  Lord 
have  mercy  on  the  poor  man  who  was 
to  be  her  hufband,  for  he  would  foon 
be  in  a  jail.  "  That  indeed,"  returned 
ihe,  mull  be  well  confidered,  for  I 
"  would  not  injure  Mr.  Gill  for  the 
"  world.  Poor,  dear  young  fellow  !— < 
"  I  know  money  will  procure  any  thing, 
"  and,  if  it  cofts  me  a  thoufand  pounds, 
"  I  will  have  a  divorce ;  but,  be  aflur- 
*^  ed,  my  dear  Steele,  let  that  take 
*^  place  when  it  will,  I  never  will  think 
"  of  marrying,  till  I  am  entirely  free 
"  from  debt."  «  Then,"  faid  I,  «  the 
*'  way  to  begin,  is  to  pay  away ,  what 
'*  we  have,  as  far  as  it  will  go ;  for, 
*<  every  bill  we  pay,  will  make  the  debt 
B  3  «  lefs.*' 


l8  The  Memoirs  of 

«  lefs.'*     «  No,"  replied  fhe,  «  I  won't 
*'  fuffer  a  fhilling  to  be  paid,  till  I  get 
"  more  money.     I  think  it  is  proper  I 
"  Ihould    have    fome    money    in    my 
"  pocket;  give  me  fifty  pounds,  and  I 
*'  will  handfale  my  new  purfe  for  luck, 
"  and  you  fhall  fee  how  careful  I  will 
"  be  of  it.'*      This  ferved  only  to  gra- 
tify every    idle,   extravagant   thought; 
for,  in  the  morning,  I  was  called  from 
breakfaft  to  a  Mrs.  Millidge,   a  dancer 
of  Drury-lane  Theatre,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Baddeley  had  fome  time  before  agreed 
to  take  a  fet  of  Worlidge's  gems ;  and, 
whilft  I  was   paying  her,    and  talking 
to  her  about  theatrical  matters,   which 
might  detain  me  about  three-quarters 
-oi  an  hour,    ihe  had  purchafed   eight 

white 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       19 

white  mice,  with  red  eyes;  a  handfome 
fquirrel  cage  to  keep  them  in ;  a  filver 
collar  and  bell  for  her  cat,  and  new 
cages  for  all  her  birds.  I  hated  mice. 
She  faid,  they  coll  her  but  two  pounds 
twelve  fliillings,  and  if  I  difliked  them, 
ihe  would  give  them  to  my  fifter.  In 
Ihort,  in  four  days,  of  her  fifty  pounds, 
llie  had  not  a  fhilling  left ;  and,  when 
I  reprefented  to  her  the  madnefs  of  thus 
fquandering  her  money,  and  particularly 
at  a  time  it  was  fo  much  wanted,  and 
without  having  any  thing  to  flisw  for  it', 
fhe  acknowleged  the  truth  of  it,  threw 
me  her  empty  purfe,  and  faid,  I  might 
keep  it  for  her  folly. 

Lord 


so  The  Memoirs  of 

Lord  Falmouth  now  paid  us  a  vifit, 
and  told  us.  Count  Haflang  had  paid 
dear  for  his  frolick,  (for  he  had  been 
fTiade  acquainted  with  the  circumftance) 
faying,  he  had  no  reft  fince  it  happened, 
for  the  pain  in  his  back,  which  was  alfo 
attended  with  a  pain  of  mindj  for  he 
was  at  the  fame  time  defperately  in  love 
with  Mrs.  Baddeley,  and  begged  of  him 
to  declare  itj  "  and,  indeed,"  faid  his 
Lordfhip,  to  Mrs.  Baddeley,  "  he  has 
*^  employed  a  very  improper  advocate, 
**  for  I  am  over  head  and  ears  in  love 
*'  with  you  myfelf."  Mrs.  Baddeley 
fmiled,  and  faid,  he  was  paying  his 
lady  a  very  poor  compliment,  to  leave 
fo  amiable  a  woman,  to  place  his  affec- 
tions upon  her.     "  I  am  not  alone  in 

*'  opinion," 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       21 

**  opinion,"  returned  his  Lordfhip,  "  for 
**  you  are  fo  engaging,  and  bewitching 
"  a  creature,  that  half  the  worid  is  in 
"  love  with  you."  Mrs.  Baddeley  rea- 
foned  fo  fenfibly  with  him  on  this  fub- 
je6l,  that  his  Lordfhip  candidly  con- 
felTed  he  thought  himfelf  at  liberty  to 
rove  as  he  pleafed ;  and  told  her  the 
following  flory,  which  he  aflured  her  to 
be  a  fad. 

«  When  firft  I  faw  Lady  Falmouth,*' 
faid  he,  "  fhe  was  a  pretty  girl,  and 
"  being  then  young  myfelf,  I  made 
"  propofals  to  her  to  live  with  mc,  but 
"  did  not  think  of  her  as  a  wife.  She 
*'  would  not  liften  to  me  in  this  re- 
'*  fpe(5t,    but   I  omitted    no  fteps    to 

"  bring 


22  The  Memoirs  or 

"  bring  her  over  to  my  wilhes,  and 
"  at  laft  fucceeded.  However,  like  the 
"  reft  of  otir  ungrateful  fex,  a  little 
"  time  weaned  my  affedions,  and  Ihe 
^*  became  indifferent  to  me,  though  her 
*'  affe6lion  for  me  did  not  abate.  I 
*'  muft  own  myfelf  in  fault,  and,  per- 
"  haps,  fhould  have  relented,  but  fhe 
*'  afterwards  played  me  a  trick,  which 
"  I  never  have  forgiven,  nor  ever  will, 
"  She  was  taken  ill  of  a  fever,  and  was 
*'  apparently  fo  bad  as  to  be  thought  in 
*'  danger.  Every  neceflary  afliftance 
^'  Ihe  had,  at  my  requeft,  and  fhe  got 
^'  better  :  Ihe  then  applied  to  her  phyfi- 
*'  cian,  brought  him  over  to  her  intereft, 
'*  and  perfwaded  him  to  fay,  and  tell 
•^  me,  that  there  was  no  hopes  of  her 

"  recovery} 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       c^ 

**  recovery ;  that  her    fever    was  en- 
**  creafed  by  her  unhappinefs  of  mind, 
*'  confcious  of  having  lived  with  me  in 
**  fin,  flie  could  not  die  in  peace,  un- 
**  lefs  I  would  condefcend  to  fend  her 
<*  to  the  grave  an  honeft  woman.    This 
^'  circumftance  had  fuch  an  efFedl  with 
**  me,  as  to  make  me  rather  unhappy 
*^  alfo  i  and,  I  was  induced  by  her  in- 
*^  treaties,  the  perfwafions  of  her  phyfi- 
*'  cian,  and  the  affurances  I  had  from 
*'  him,  that  fhe  could  not  recover  -,  to 
"  fend  for  a  licence  and  clergyman,  and 
*'  marry  her.      The  ceremony  was  no 
'^  fooner  over,   than  fhe  vifibly  grew 
"  better,  had  the  impudence  to  tell  her 
^*  nurfe,  that  fhe  affeded  this  illnefs  to 
*'  anfwer  the  purpofe  fhe  wifhed  j  and, 

"  the 


^4  The  Memoirs  of 

"  the  next  day,  when  I  returned  home 
"  to  dinner,  I  found  her  in  full  health, 
"  and  at  the  head  of  my  table.  She 
"  now  told  me  flie  was  a  happy  woman, 
*'  and  from  that  time  made  me  know 
*'  that  Ihe  was  my  wife.  The  decep- 
*'  tion  fh-e  made  ufe  of,  I  would  never 
*'  forgive,  and  her  Ladyfhip  and  I  have 
"  never  lived  happily  fince."  "  If  your 
"  Lordlhip/'  replied  Mrs.  Baddeley, 
**  would  not  be  offended  with  me,  I 
*^  would  give  you  my  fentiments  on  this 
«  fubjed."  He  fhould  be  glad,  he 
faid,  to  hear  them.  "  Now,  my  Lord," 
returned  fhe,  *'  if  the  deceitful  trick 
'^  your  lady  played,  is,  as  you  acknow- 
*^  ledge,  the  caufe  of  your  prefent  un- 
^^  happinefs,  how  much  caufe  had  fhe 

"to 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       25 

"  to  be  angry  with  you,  for  violating 
"  her  honour,  under  the  fpecious  pre- 
"  tence  of  love  andaffeflion;  when  you 
"  could  think  proper  to  defert  her,  and 
"  almoft  occafion  her  death  ?  And, 
*^  becaufe  flie  thought  proper  to  fecure 
"  you  to  herfelf,  by  an  artifice,  that  any 
"  honeft  wonnan  would  glory  in,  you 
"  now  tell  me  you  defpife  her.  For 
"  fhame,  my  Lord  ! — Never  mention 
"  this  flory  again  for  your  own  fake. 
"  Your  lady  certainly  deferves  you,  and 
"  you  cannot  do  enough  to  convince 
«  her  of  it." — "  I  am  forry,'*  faid  his 
Lordfhip,  ."  that  you  and  I  differ  in 
"  opinion,  therefore  we  will  talk  no 
"  more  of  it."  Mrs.  Baddeley  then 
went  to  her  harpfichord,  and  his  Lord- 
VoL.  IV,  C  Hiip 


a6  The  Memoirs  of 

ihip  finding  no  attention  was  paid  by 
her  to  his  declarationsj  foon  made  his 
bow  and  left  her. 

We  next  ordered  our  carriage,  and 
went  to  Hammerfmith  -,  -where,  a  young 
gentleman  called  on  us,  fuid  his  name 
was  Colonel  Harcourt,  and  wifhed  to 
know,  as  we  were  fo  little  at  that  houfe, 
whether  we  were  difpofed  to  let  it,  fay- 
ing, he  would  give  us  what  rent  we 
pleafed.  This  was  only  a  pretence  for 
introducing  himfelf  to  Mrs.  Baddeley, 
in  order  to  declare  an  attachment  which 
hundreds  had  done  before  j  but,  he  was 
foon  given  to  undej*ftand,  that  her  affec- 
tions were  fixed  and  immoveable  j  and, 
on  my  reminding  her,  tiiat  flie  was  to  be 

in 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       27 

in  town  at  a  certain  hour,  he  politely 
took  his  leave.  Stopping,  in  our  way 
home,  at  a  fhop  in  Kenfington  -,  we  met 
Mr.  Thomas  Stanley;  this  gentleman 
was  a  Major  in  the  79th  regiment,  and 
died  at  Jamaica.  He  was  the  brother  of 
the  prefent  Lord  Derby.  He  allied  us  to 
walk  into  Kenfington-gardens  j  but,  on 
our  declining  it,  faid  he  had  feen  Mrs. 
Baddeley  the  other  day  at  her  window, 
in  Grafton-ftreet,  wilhed  for  an  opportu- 
nity to  fpeak  to  her,  but  dared  not,  and 
hoped  flie  would  permit  him  to  wait  on 
ker  at  fome  future  time.  She  replied, 
he  might  calls  if  h&  pleafed,  but  as  fhe 
was  feldom  at  home,  he  would  probably 
not  meet  with  her. 

C2  On 


a8  The  Memoirs  of 

On  our  return  home  we  found  the 
following  card  from  Lord  Falmouth. 

"  Lord  Falmouth  prefents  his  com- 
"  pliments  to  Mrs.  Baddeley,  and  if  flie 
"  is  not  engaged  this  evening,  will  do 
•'  himfelf  the  honour  to  wait  on  her* 
'■       **  Sf.  James' s-Jquare, 

"  ^hurjdayy  three  o'clock,''* 

To  which  fhe  returned  as  follows. 

"  Mrs.  Baddeley's  compliments  wait 
"  on  Lord  Falmouth,  informs  him  Ihe 
"  is  engaged  this  evening,  but  will  be 
"  happy  to  fee  his  Lordlhip  at  any 
"  other  time. 

"  Grafton-flreetf 
"  Thurfdayj  five  o'clock,** 

Baron 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       29 

Baron  Diede  called,  was  admitted  and 
drank  tea  with  us ;  his  vifit  was  to  make 
a  propofal   to  Mrs.   Baddeley,    to  go 
abroad  with   him,    faying,    fhe  Ihould 
ihare  his  fortune;  but  to  this  applica- 
tion flie  was  alfo  deaf;  and  declaring 
file  was  engaged,  he  requefted  he  might 
then   be  admitted  into  the  lift  of  her 
friends,  and  be  permitted  to  call  on  her 
OGcalionally.     Mrs.   Baddeley's   anfwer 
was,  that  his  polite  behav^iour  to  her  at 
all  times,  commanded  her  refpeft,  and 
file  fiiould  be  proud  of  the  honour  of 
claiTing   him   among   thofe  whom  fiie 
moft  efteemed.  It  was  now  nine  o'clock, 
but  notwithftanding  this,  Mr.  Storer  call- 
ed, drefied  more  like  a  dancing  mafter 
than  any  thing  elfe ;  having  red  heels  to 
C  3  his 


30  The  Memoirs  of 

his  fhoes.  He  danced,  and  fung,  and 
junnped  about  the  room ;  and  faid,  he 
was  a  happy  fellow  to  catch  us  at  home 
difengagedi  and  hoped  Mrs.  Baddeley 
was  out  of  leading  firings  j  alluding  to 
■my  oppofition  to  his  feeing  her.  "  Yes," 
returned  I  to  him,  "  ihe  can  go  with- 
"  out  being  led  by  you."  He  replied, 
he  did  not  mean  to  offend  me.  "  But 
"  fir,"  returned  I,  "  I  mean  to  offend 
"  ycUy  and  muff  tell  you,  that  your 
"  coming  here  is  not  at  all  agreeable 
"  to  me." — "  I  cannot  help  it  ma'am," 
faid  he,  humming  a  tune ;  "  I  muft 
'^  come  where  Mrs.  Baddeley  is,  for  I 
"  will  fee  her  as  often  as  I  chufe." — 
"  Indeed  you  will  not,"  faid  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley, "  for  I  do  affure  you,  fuch  beha- 

"  viour 


^ 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      31 

<*  viour  to  Mrs.  Steele,  is  an  affront  to 
«  me."    "  I  beg  Mrs.  Steele's  pardon," 
returned  he,   "  I  never  wifli  to  fay  a 
"  rude  thing  to  her^  if  fhe  does  not  be- 
**  gin  with  me."     "  Madam,"    conti- 
nued he,    addrefling    himfelf    to    me, 
**  Mrs.  Baddeley  and  I  are  better  ac- 
"  quainted  than  you  fuppofe." — I  told 
him  I  did  not  underfland  him,  nor  did 
I  wifh  to  do  iti  and  hoped  he  would  not 
put  me  under  the  necefllty  of  behaving 
to  him  in  a  manner  I  v/as  not  difpofed 
to  do.     He  begged  my  pardon,    faid, 
it  was  true  that  he  was  in  my  houfe, 
but  that  notwithftanding,  he  would  take 
no  denial  to  fee  his  dear  angel,    for  fee 
her  he  mull  and  would,  at  the  rilk  of  his 
life.     At  this,  he  contemptuoufly  danc- 
ed 


J2  The  Memoirs  of 

ed  round  the  room,  and  hummed  a  tune 
like  an  opera  dancer.  Upon  my  fay- 
ing he  kept  us  at  home,  he  replied, 
«  Do  I  ?-~Then  I'll  take  myfelf  off, 
*'  which  is  what  you  wifh ; — fo  good 
"  night,  my  dear  Mrs.  Baddeley!" — 
and  to  me,  "  good  night,  fweet  nurfe  1" 
and  off  he  went-  When  he  was  gone, 
I  alked  Mrs.  Baddeley  what  he  meant 
by  faying,  he  and  fhe  was  better  ac- 
quainted than  I  fuppofed.  She  replied, 
he  was  a  villain  for  that  j  fine  could  ex- 
plain it,  but  was  too  much  alhamed  of 
his  behaviour  to  her  to  mention  it.  In 
ihort,  I  found  what  he  faid  to  be  too 
true,  and  told  her  we  muft  not  fuffer 
him  to  come  any  more  to  our  houfe. 

The 


oyi 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddelev.      33 

The  next  morning  we  went  to  a  fale 
of  pictures,  at  Chriftie's,  in  Pall-mall. 
The  room  was  crowded  with  perfons  of 
diftinftion.  Mr.  Thomas  Stanley  joined 
ws,  and  continued  with  us  all  the  time 
we  were  there,  and  feeing  Mrs.Baddeley 
admire  a  pidbure  of  a  mifer,  he  bought 
it,  and  made  her  a  prefent  of  it.  Sir 
Cecil  Biihop,  alfo  obferving  her  to  notice 
two  pictures  of  fruit,  pnrchafed  them, 
and  fent  them  home  to  her.  On  leav- 
ing the  room,  Mr.  Stanley  handed  her 
to  her  carriage.  On  our  return  hcKiie, 
we  found  Admiral  Spry,  who  came  to 
dine  with  us  uninvited.  He  acquainted 
us  with  an  odd  accident  that  happened 
in  his  way  to  our  houfe.  "  Whenever 
**  I  fee  any  barbarity  ufed  to  horfes,  I 

*'  always 


^4  The  Memoirs  op 

"  always  make  a  point,"  faid  he,  "  of 
"  putting  a  flop  to  it.  As  I  came 
**  through  Bond-ftreet,  a  dray-man  was 
"  beating  his  horfes  unmercifully,  fo 
*'  that  the  lookers  on  faid,  it  was  a 
"  ihame ;  this  did  not  check  him,  but 
"  he  went  to  the  fore-horfe,  and  kick- 
"  ed  him,  and  beat  him  about  the  head 
"  with  all  his  ftrength.  Three  women 
"  Handing  by  me,  I  faid,  I  would  give 
"  a  guinea,  if  any  one  would  take  his 
"  whip  from  him,  and  give  it  him  well, 
**  One  of  the  women  replied,    '  Give 

*  us,  your  honour,  but  half  the  money, 

*  and  we  will  warm  him  to  your  fatis- 
'  faction.'  I  promifed  them  I  would, 
**  and  one  of  the  women  went  up  to  him, 
**  fnatched  the  whip  from  him,  and  whilil 

«  the 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      3^ 

'*  the  other  two  held  him,  laced  him 
"  fo  foundly  on  the  legs,  and  back,  till 
•*  he  cried  out  for  mercy.  *  Mercy,  you 

*  dog!*   faid  (he,  *  Shew  mercy  to  your 

*  horfes,  and  then  you  would  not  de- 

*  ferve  fuch  corredlion  !*  In  fliort,  the 
'*  more  he  cried,  the  more  Ihe  whip- 
*^  ped  him,  till  I  interfered,  and  faid  he 
**  had  had  enough  of  it.  The  men  who 
*^  flood  by,  took  the  part  of  the  women, 
*'  and  broke  his  whip  to  pieces.  I  gave 
*^  the  women  the  guinea  with  pleafure  5 
"  for  every  perfon  prefent  feemed  to  en- 
*'  joy  the  man's  punilhment;  and  I  bc- 
"  lieve  he  will  remember  this  day  as 
'^  long  as  he  lives." 

The 


36  The  Memoirs  op 

The  Admiral  told  us  he  was  going  to 
the  Mediterranean  J  faid,  he  fhould  be 
gone  fix  weeks,  and  if  we  were  difpofed 
for  a  trip  to  fea  in  fine  weather,  he 
fhould  be  glad  of  our  connpany.  He 
left  us,  with  faying,  Mrs.  Baddeley  was 
an  errant  thief,  and  it  was  a  fin  in  her 
to  rob  an  old  man  of  his  heart,  when  he 
did  not  know  how  foon  he  might  be  at- 
tacked by  the  enemy,  and  fhould  be  in 
want  of  it.  We  went  to  the  play; 
brought  Lord  Melbourne  home  with  us, 
and  when  we  reached  Grafton-llreet, 
found  the  cook  had  fired  the  kitchen- 
chimney,  and  the  houfe  ,  full  of  all 
forts  of  rabble.  They  had  extinguiflied 
the  fire,  but  at  our  lofs  of  a  filver  can- 
dleftick.      And  during   this   confufion. 

Lord 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       37 

Lord  Lytelton,  who  was  going  by,  got 
out  of  his  carriage  to  offer  his  afliftance, 
but  Mrs.  Baddeley  was  inattentive  to  all 
but  her  cats;  and  her  favourite  one 
having,  I  apprehended,  run  up  a  chim- 
ney ;  for  it  was  fo  black,  that  fhe  fpoiled 
a  beautiful  white  fattin  petticoat  llie 
had  on,  by  taking  it  in  her  lap.    > 

Lord  Melbourne,  faying  he  fhould  go 
into  the  country,  for  a  week  s  we  pro- 
pofed  to  go  down  to  my  houfe  near 
Henley  i  and  Mrs.  Baddeley  wrote  to 
Mr.  Gill  to  meet  her  there.  Mr.  Stan- 
ley called  the  next  morning,  was  warm 
in  his  addrelTes  to  her,  and  a6led  fo  un- 
gentleman-like,  that  Die  reprimanded 
him  in  a  manner  that  did  her  credit. 
Vol.  IV.  D  He 


3^  The  Memoirs  of 

He  begged  her  pardon,  and  they  part- 
ed friends. 


We  were  vifited,  at  this  time,  by  moft 
of  the  foreign  minifters ;  but,  the  Nea- 
politan ambaffador,  in  1773,  was  an 
eternal  plague  to  us  -,  he  was  ever  at  the 
door,  and  would  take  no  denial,  nor 
could  we  affront  him,  fay  what  we  would. 
At  this  gentleman  we  had  many  a 
laugh  j  for,  when  he  was  with  us,  at 
every  rap  at  the  door,  he  would  have 
run  into  a  dull-hole,  rather  than  be 
feen.  One  day,  having  a  mind  to  make 
ourfelves  merry  at  his  expence,  we  or- 
dered our  fervant  to  rap  loud  at  the 
door,  and  fay  Lord  March  was  come. 
The  ambaflador  was  for  fecreting  himfelf^ 

ran 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      39 

ran  into  the  back  parlour,  and  we  put 
him  into  a  clofet,  where,  we  locked  him 
in,  and  it  was  fo  fmail,  that  he  could 
not  turn  himfelf  within.  In  this  fitua- 
tion  we  kept  him  half  an  hour;  Bad- 
deley and  I  laughing  till  our  fides  ached. 
When  we  thought  we  had  confined  him 
long  enough  j  the  outer  door  was  fhut 
to  hard,  as  if  his  Lordihip  was  gone, 
and  we  let  his  Excellency  out,  who 
faid,  he  was  happy  to  be  hid  in  any 
place,  but  that  the  cupboard  was  fo 
fmall,  that  he  could  not  ftir  one  way  or 
the  other.  I  afked  him  what  reafon  he 
had  for  hiding  himfelf  at  all ;  that  we 
were  not  accultomed  to  fuch  doings, 
nor  fhould  I  have  confented  to  it,  but 
to  fee  how  far  his  alarm  would  carry 
D  a  him. 


40  The  Memoirs  or 

him.  That  no  gentleman,  who  honour- 
ed Mrs.  Baddeley  with  his  vifits,  was 
afhamed  to  be  feen  with  her.  Indeed,. 
they  are  happy  to  be  with  her,  and 
"would  be  much  oftener  than  they  are,  if 
llie  was  not  denied  to  them.  "If  you  will 
*/  give  me  leave.  Sir,"  faid  I, "  to  pafs  my 
"  conjectures  on  your  conduft,  without 
"  offence,  I  would  tell  you.  Sir,  that 
*^  either  you  live  with  fome  favourite 
"  lady,  whom  you  are  fearful  may  hear 
"  of  your  frequent  vifits  here;  or,  you 
"  are  like  thofe,  who  might  wifh  to  be 
"  fhut  up,  that  while  fuch  and  fuch  are 
"  prefent,  you  was  fecreted,  to  lead 
"  them  to  think  you  are  indulged  with 
"  favours  never  beftowed  ;  but,  that 
"  this    clofet  affair  may  lofe  it's   ef- 

«  fed. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      41 

**  fed,  pleafe  to  take  notice.  Sir,  that 
*'  no  one  was  here  j  that,  as  you  wifh- 
"  ed  to  be  hid,  I  did  not  oppofe  it  for 
*'  the  laugh's  fake^  and  as  it  was  done 
*'  by  your  own  requefl,  you  mufl;  par- 
'*  don  the  frolick."     «  And  fo  then,'* 
replied  he,   "  Mrs.  Baddeley  and  you 
"  have  been  diverting  yourfelves  at  my 
*'  expence?    Well,  I   give  you  credit 
*'  for  the  thought,  and  depend  on  it, 
"  one  time  or  other,  it  Ihall  not  go  un- 
*'  rewarded.— Why  did  not  you  keep 
**  me  there  longer  ?    I  Ihould  not  have 
*'  been  angry,  and  believe  me,  what- 
*'  ever  you  may  think,  I  am  not  the 
**  man  who  would  betray  the  confidence 
**  a  lady   might  repofe  in  me."      In 
fhort,  though   I  perceived  him  a  little 
D  3  hurt. 


42  The  Memoirs  ok 

hurt,  he  carried  it  off  with  great  good 
humour,  and  politely  took  his  leave. 
This  was  high  glee  to  Mrs.  Baddelej^, 
who,  for  a  long  time  after,  would  occa- 
fionally  play  the  part  of  the  Neapolitan 
ambaffador,  and  hide  herlelf  in  the 
clofet.  We  had  fcarce  got  out  of  this 
mirth,  before  Lord  Melbourne  came, 
to  take  his  leave.  We  told  him  what 
had  paffed,  and  he  laughed  heartily, 
and  when  he  went,  faid,  "  Be  fure, 
**  Steele,  keep  off  all  the  d — ned  dogs 
"  till  my  return,  and  put  the  ambaffador 
"  under  lock  and  key." 

"  Now,"  faid  Mrs.  Baddeley,  "  he 
"  is  gone  for  eight  days,  and  not  a 
"  word  about  money  :  well,  I  mull  be 

"  contented 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       43 

'  contented  till  I  fee  his  will,  wlii:ch  I 

^  hope  will  not  be  long  firil.     Next, 

^  for  our  journey  to  Henley,  and  a  fight 

*  of  Mr.  Gill;  though,  between  you 
'  and  I,  Steele,  (laughing)  I  do  not 
^  think  fo  much  of  him  as  I  did."   "  It 

*  is  well/'  replied  I,  "  that  yo"u  do  not, 

*  for  you  may  yet  be  difappointed ; 
'  and,  as  this  is  the  cafe,  we  may  as 

*  well  defer  our  journey."     No,"  re- 
turned fhe,  "  not  for  worlds ;  I  would 

'  not  mifs  the  opportunity  of  feeing  the 
^  dear  creature  on  any  account,  for 
'  have  him  I  will,  as  foon  as  my  debts 
'  are  paid  j    and  I  will  be  candid,    and 

*  tell  him  the  true  caufe  why  it  is  fo 

*  likely  to  be  deferred." 

This 


44  The  Memoirs  of 

This  night  we  were  for  the  opera, 
but  prefently  came  a  perfon,  who  afked 
to  fee  Mrs.  Baddeley,  and  whofe  name 
was  Le  Due,  and  whom  we  recollefted 
to  be  the  King's  Taylor,  at  Paris,  of 
whom  we  purchafed  the  trimmings.  He 
had,  he  faid,  fomething  of  confeqiience 
to  impart,  and  of  courfe  was  admitted. 
He  was  dreffed  like  a  nobleman  -,  and, 
on  being  requefted  to  fit  down,  did  not 
immediately  feat  himfelf,  as  an  Englilh 
taylor  would  have  done,  but  politely 
declined,  faying,  the  honour  was  too 
great  for  men  in  his  lituation  to  think 
of.  She  infifted  on  his  fitting,  and 
afked  him,  what  fafhions  he  had  brought 
with  him;  he  faid,  he  had  brought 
none  with  him,  at  prefent,  but  was  going 

back 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       45 

back  to  Paris  immediately,  and  fhould 
return  in  a  fortnight,  and  bring  plenty 
with  himj  but,  that  his  bufmefs  was 
now  of  another  nature,  which  he  hoped 
Mrs.  Baddeley  would  paidon  him,  if  it 
did  not  meet  with  her  approbation. 
"  This  lady,  I  prefume,"  faid  he,  ad- 
dreffing  himfelf  to  Mrs.  Baddeley,  and 
alluding  to  me,  "  is  your  friend  ?" — On 
her  faying,  I  was,  and  all  he  had  to 
fay,  might  be  faid  before  me^  he  con- 
tinued, "  His  Majefly  of  France,  Ma^ 
"  dam,  has  a  great  defire  to  fee  you  $ 
"  and,  I  am  commiflioned,  to  propofe 
"  your  coming  over  to  Paris,  with  the 
"  utmofl  expedition,  where  he  will  pro- 
*'  vide  for  you  for  life,  in  a  ftate  be- 
"  coming  a  lady  under  his  protedion  j 

«  andj,. 


46  The  Memoirs  of 

"  and,  if  you  think  proper  to  comply 
"  with  this  requeft  of  his,  and  agree  to 
"  fet  off  for  Paris  in  a  day  or  two,  I 
"  have  orders  to  let  you  have  any  fum 
"  of  money  you  want,  and  to  deliver 
"  you  a  letter.  In  this  cafe,  I  can  take 
"  upon  me  to  fay,  you  will  be  a  happy 
"  lady  J  for  he  is  a  good  king,  and  the 
*'  beft  of  friends,  where  his  fancy 
"  leads."  Mrs.  Baddeley,  replied, 
*'  His  Majefly  of  France  might  have 
"  fpared  himfelf  this  trouble,  and  I  can 
"  give  him  my  anfwer  immediately,  if 
**  you  are  commiffioned  to  carry  it." 
He  faid  he  was.  "  Then,  pleafe  Sir, 
"  make  my  refpe<5tful  compliments  to 
**  his  Majefly  of  France,  and  tell  him, 
"  I  thank  him  for  the  honour  of  his  in- 

"  vitation. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       47 

*'  vitation,  but  as  I  have  feen  enough 
*'  of  his  country,  and  am  fufficiently 
*'  fatisfied  with  my  own,  I  lliall  not 
"  think  of  leaving  it.'*  On  this,  ihe 
rofe  from  her  feat,  and  left  him,  with 
"  Good  morning  to  you,  Mr.  Le  Due — 
*'  When  you  come  to  England  again,  to 
**  convince  you  I  am  not  offended  with 
"  you,  for  a<Sting  in  obedience  to  your 
"  orders,  if  you  bring  with  you  any 
"  fafliions  I  may  like,  I  will  be  a  cuf- 
"  tomer."  He  then  faid  to  me,  "  What 
"  a  pity  it  is  that  Mrs.  Baddeley  fhould 
*'  ftand  fo  much  in  her  own  light,  and 
"  be  fo  blind  to  her  interefts"  for  Ihe 
would  be  as  great  in  Paris,  as  the 
Queen  herfelf,  and  hoped  fhe  would 
alter  her  opinion  3  that  he  had  unlimited 

orders. 


4^8  -  The  Memoirs  of 

orders,  to  give  her  every  thing  Ihe  afk< 
td ;  that,  he  was  unwilling  to  go  back 
with  fuch  an  anfwer,  but  that  he  was 
reftridted  to  a  day,  and  naufl  return. 
When  he  was  gone,  fhe  afked  me  what 
i  thought  of  it;  "  Indeed,"  returned 
I,  "  I  know  not  what  to  think,  I  am 
"^'  fo  furprized."  "  The  duce  take  me," 
faid  fhe,  "  if  I  would  live  in  France 
*'  to  be  Queen  of  it ;  I  hate  the  French, 
'^  and  would  rather  be  a  menial  fer- 
"  vant  in  England,  than  the  French 
"  King's  miftrefs.  Let  him  go  back, 
^'  and  tell  his  Royal  Mafter  what  I  faid. 
*'  Bat  only  think  of  it.— When  we  faw 
*'  him  dine  in  public,  I  obferved  that 
•**  he  looked  much  at  me,  but  little 
^'  fuppofed  he  noticed  me  fo  much  as 

"  to 


Mrs;  Sophia  BaddeLey.       4} 

**  to  fend  after  me,  and  now  it  is  full  a 
"  year  fince !  Well,  I  need  not  de* 
"  fpair  of  friends  I  find,  when  I  make 
"  them,  go  where  I  will !"  She  was 
not  a  little  vain,  however,  of  this  invi-> 
tation,  and  did  not  omit  to  tell  it  to  ali 
her  acquaintance* 

We  went  to  the  opera,  and  dnink 
tea  in  our  own  box,  when  the  late  Lord 
Harrington  came  and  begged  a  feat  in 
one  corner,  to  impart  fomething  to  Mrs. 
Baddeley,  of  importance  j  this  was  to 
fay  how  much  he  admired  her,  and  how 
wretched  he  was,  not  to  be  noticed  by 
her.  Her  reply  was,  that  he  certainly 
was  a  little  out  of  his  mind.  He  aflur- 
ed  her  he  was  very  much  fo.  "  Then," 
returned  ihe,  "  it  is  dangerous  fitting  fo 
YoL,  IV,  E  "  near 


5Ci  The  Memoirs  of 

«  near  you."  "  No,"  faid  he,  "  the 
*^  nearer  I  fit  to  you,  the  fooner  I  fhall 
"  be  cured."  "  Come  then,"  faid  Mrs. 
Baddeley,  "  fit  forward,  clofe  by  me, 
"  and  then  your  lady  will  fee  you,  and 
*'  when  you  go  home,  will  give  you 
"  a  trimming,  for  you  certainly  deferve 
**  it."  It  was  with  difficulty  fhe  could 
get  him  away,  and  when  he  was  gone, 
we  had  all  the  foreign  minifters,  one 
after  the  other,  and  many  other  noble- 
men. When  the  opera  was  over,  Mrs. 
Baddeley  was  handed  to  her  carriage  by 
the  Duke  of  Manchefter,  and  I,  by  Lord 
ClaAbrazil,  who,  whifpered  to  me,  that 
he  wifhed  to  fee  Mrs.  Baddeley,  to  tell 
her  fomething  of  her  Gaby.  In  our  way 
home,  the  coach  ran  foul  of  a  broad- 
wheeled 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       5t 

wheeled  waggon  with  eight  horfes,  and 
was  overturned;  but  we  received  no 
hurt  i  only  it  occafioned  a  Itoppage  of 
carriages,  and  it  being  prefently  known 
whofe  carriage  it  was  that  was  overfet, 
it  was  not  a  little  flattering,  to  find  a 
crowd  of  nobility  on  foot,  furrounding 
us,  and  kindly  enquiring  how  we  were» 
We  were  handed  into  the  firft  coach  that 
came  up,  by  fome  gentlemen  who  po-* 
litely  kt  us  down  at  home.  Our  car- 
riage was  much  damaged  5  and  our 
knocker  went  till  near  two  in  the  morn-* 
ing,  with  enquiries  refpeding  us. 

Next  morning  we  got  into  the  phae-* 

ton,  and  fet  off  for  Henley  j  v/e  flopped 

at  Salt-hill,  and  faying  to  Mrs.  Partridge, 

E  2  at 


5i  The  Memoirs  of 

at  the  Wind-mill,  we  Ihould  be  back 
there  the  Saturday  following,  went  on 
to  my  houfe  near  Henley,  where  Mr, 
Gill  met  us.  He  was  elegantly  dreffed, 
and  it  did  not  efcape  Mrs.  Baddeley's 
notice.  Poor  man,  his  joy  was  fo  great 
that  he  could  neither  eat  nor  drink.  Af- 
ter dinner  v>e  walked  into  Kingwood, 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  diftant, 
to  fee  the  Gypfies,  of  which  there  were 
upwards  of  a  hundred  differently  em-, 
ployed ;  fome  cooking,  others  wafhing, 
others  at  dinner,  &c.  They  wifhed  to 
tell  our  fortunes,  but  we  declined;  how* 
ever,  we  gave  them  ten  fhillings  among 
«5,  and  got  their  bleffing. 

Mr. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       53 

Mr.  Gill  was  very  eager  to  know 
what  fteps  Mrs.  Baddeley  had  taken, 
refpe(5ling  her  divorce,  and  whether  flie 
had  procured  any  advice ;  fhe  told  him 
every  thing  fhe  had  done,  and  the 
doubts  Mr.  Dunning  had  upon  the  oc^. 
cafion  ',  "  But/'  faid  fhe,  "  there  is  ano- 
"  ther  bar,  that  was  a  divorce  to  take 
"  place  immediately,  would  interrupt  a 
"  marriage  for  the  prefent."  She  was 
near  three  thoufand  pounds  in  debt,  and 
till  that  was  difcharged,  fhe  would  give 
her  hand  to  no  onej  for  the  incum- 
brance of  herfelf  was  quite  fufficient, 
without  adding  to  it  that  of  her  debts. 
He,  with  all  the  ardour  of  a  lover,  beg* 
ged  her  not  to  think  of  her  debts,  for  h^ 
would  prefer  a  jail  with  her,  rather  than  a 
E  3  palace 


^4  The  Memoirs  Of 

palace  without  her.  "  This"  continued 
he,  "  fliall  not  retard  the  bufinefs  a  day. 
**  Had  I  it  in  my  power,  I  would  dif- 
"  charge  them  inftantly ;  but  that  will 
"  never  be,  whilft  my  father  lives. 
"  However,  when  your  creditors  know 
*'  it  will  be  one  day  in  my  power  to  pay 
"  them,  I  fhould  fuppofe  they  would 
"  wait  that  day  with  patience."  She 
thanked  him,  but  faid,  by  the  time  a 
divorce  could  take  place,  flie  fhould  be 
able  to  pay  them  herfelf ;  he  muft  there- 
fore reft  himfelf  fatisfied  for  the  prefent. 
He  feemed  to  acquiefce  in  all  fhe  faid  j 
but  begged  leave  to  extort  from  her  a 
promife  never  to  give  her  hand  to  any 
other  perfon,  but  to  marry  him,  as  foon 
as  Ihe  was  at  liberty.     This  (he  folemn- 

ly 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       55 

ly  promifed,  and  he  was  as  happy  as  he 
could  be. 


We  flayed  till  the  Saturday,  and  then 
{ct  off  for  London ;  and,  on  calling  at 
Salt-hill,  we  found  Mr.  Darner,  whom 
Mrs.  Partridge  had  acquainted  of  our 
defigning  to  be  there.  With  him  we 
dined ;  but  after  dinner,  Mrs.  Baddeley 
being  taken  ill,  with  her  old  complaint, 
a  fick  head-ach,  he  politely  offered  her 
the  ufe  of  his  carriage  3  faying,  he  would 
ride  in  the  phaeton.  She  told  him  the 
horfes  were  rather  ungovernable,  and  as 
no  one  could  drive  them  fo  well  as  me, 
it  would  be  better  for  him,  and  her  to 
ride  in  the  chaife,  and  Mrs,  Steele  might 
drive  along  fide  of  it.    This  was  fettled, 

and 


5^  The  Memoirs  of 

and  thus  we  came  to  Lx)ndon.  Mr.  Da- 
rner fo  pleaded  his  caufe  with  her,  in 
this  tete-a-tete,  that  fhe  noticed  him 
afterwards  more  than  Ihe  had  done  be- 
fore. On  our  return,  we  found  let- 
ters from  Lord  Melbourne,  and  Lord 
Falmouth  ;  with  a  card  from  Baron 
Diede,  to  dine  with  him  as  that  day  j 
and  one  from  Mr.  Stanley,  inviting  him- 
felf  to  tea.  The  Maid  told  us  that 
among  the  numbers  that  had  called,  and 
left  their  names,  was  a  Mr.  Scott,  a 
filk-mercer,  for  five  hundred  pounds, 
which  Mrs.  Baddeley  owed  him;  and 
which  he  was  very  angry  about,  and 
faid  he  (hould  call  no  more.  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley faid,  (he  owed  no  fuch  fum  fof 
^Iks,  nor  did  Ihe  recoUeft  the  name  of 

Scott  i 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       57 

Scott  J  and  feemed  a  little  uneafy.  The 
girl  replied,  fhe  was  certain  Ilie  was 
right;  for  that  he  talked  with  her  a 
good  while  on  the  fubje6t,  and  afked 
her,  whether  (he  did  not  think  it  wrong, 
that  he  fliould  be  obliged  to  come  fo  of- 
ten after  his  money.  "  Why,"  faid  Mrs. 
Baddeley,  "Did  you  ever  fee  him  be- 
"  fore  ?'*  '  O  yes,  ma'am,'  returned 
the  girl,    '  I  have  feen  the  man  often 

*  here,  he  came  the  day  that  Sally 
'  firft  came  3  and  if  you  remember  took 
'  up  the  cat,  and  faid  he  would  burn 

*  It.*  "OGoodnefs,"  faid  I,  "I  now 
**  know  who  it  is ;  it  is  no  other  than 
"  Damer,  in  one  of  his  funny  moods.— 
"  Did  he  write  his  name  on  the  flate  V' 
'  Yes,*    replied  the  girl^    and  fetched 

it. 


J8  The  Memoirs  of 

it,  and  as  foon  as  we  faw  it,  we  knew 
his  hand- writing.  "  I  am  glad"  faid  Mrs. 
Baddeley,  "  it  is  no  worfe,  for  I  began 
«*  to  be  frightened." 

"We  fupped  alone  this  evening,  and 
Mrs,  Baddeley,  though  flie  was  relieved 
from  the  head-ach,  was  very  low  fpirit- 
€d ;  fhe  cried  and  hung  round  my  neck, 
land  begged  me  to  fwear  I  would  never 
part  with  her,  if  death  did  not  oblige 
«ie.  As  I  had  given  her  no  caufe  fot 
this  uneafmefs,  I  wondered  the  more  at 
it;  and  told  her,  I  had  no  defign  to 
leave  her.  "  If  you  do,"  faid  fhe,  "  I 
*'  fhall  be  lofl:  for  ever,  and  fliall,  like 
""  Jane  Shore,  come  to  your  houfe  and 
f  beg  my  bread  of  you."     I  in  treated 

her 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       59 

her  to  tell  me  the  occafion  of  this  un- 
cafinefs  j  for  that  fhe  diftrefled  me  exr 
ceedingly. — "  When  you  was  from  me 
"  in  the  phaeton,"  faid  fhe,  "  I  thought 
''  my  heart  would  have  broke  j  I  looked 
"  at  you  often,  and  thought  I  was  with- 
*'  out  all  I  valued  upon  earth ;  and  a 
"  thoufand  foolifh  thoughts  came  into 
"  my  head;  that  fome  reafons  might 
"  in  a  little  time  take  you  from  me  5 
"  and  then  I  fhould  be  an  out-caft,  and 
*^  miferable."  I  took  this  opportunity 
to  reafon  with  her,  and  affured  her  if 
ihe  would  be  her  own  friend,  and  never 
give  me  caufe,  I  never  would  leave  her, 
whilft  either  fhe  or  I  lived.  That  I 
had  fufFered,  in  my  mind,  a  great  deal 
on  her  account  j  but,  that  as  I  loved  her 


6o  The  Memoirs  of 

as  my  fifler,  I  fhoiild  never  think  of 
living  from  her,  if  her  mifcondudl  did 
not  force  me  j  for  let  her  fituation  be 
what  it  wouldj  nothing  fliould  drive  me 
from  her,  but  her  imprudence.  She 
thanked  me  a  thoufand  times,  and  faid, 
it  Ihould  be  the  fludy  of  her  life  to 
pleafe  me,  and  to  make  me  happy. 
This  quieted  her,  and  I  perfwaded  her 
to  go  to  bed. 

The  next  morning  fhe  was  in  better 
fpiritSj  and  an  anecdote  or  two,  told  her 
by  her  hair-drefTcr,  made  her  laugh  ex- 
ceedingly. Among  others,  he  told  us 
that  Mrs.  Barry,  of  Drury-lane  Thea- 
tre, was  very  ill ;  but  that  he  had  fcen 
her  three  days    before   beat  her   hair- 

drcfler. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       6i 

drefler,  kick  him  down  flairs^  and  tum- 
ble him  from  the  top  to  the  bottom  i 
and  on  being  afked  for  what  reafon,  re- 
plied, only  for  catching  hold  of  her  ear, 
i-n  a  hiirry  with  the  hot  pinching  irons, 
inftead  of  her  curl,  and  that  the  man 
avowed  he'd  drefs  her  no  more,  for  he 
was  afraid  of  her.  "  Where  did  this  hap- 
"  pen  ?"  faid  I.  At  the  theatre,  he  repli- 
ed, and  as  he  was  coming  out  of  Mrs. 
Abington's  room,  he  was  an  eye  witnefs 
to  it.  But  fcandal  is  the  life  of  the  green- 
room, and  this  ftory,  I  have  no  doubt,  was 
food  to  the  dealers  in  it  for  a  month.  Be- 
fore my  hair  was  drelTed,  came  old  Lord 
Harrington,  and  as  Mrs.  Baddeley  de- 
clared Ihe  would  not  fee  him,  but  in  my 
company,  I  was  forced  to  put  on  a  morn- 
VoL.  IV.  F  ing 


6a  The  Memoirs  of 

ing  cap,  and  go  down  with  her.  He 
told  her,  it  was  an  age  fince  he  faw  her 
at  the  Opera,  and  was  happy  he  was 
not  difappointed  in  having  it  in  his 
power  to  offer  her  any  fervice  Ihe 
might  Hand  in  need  of.  She  thanked 
him,  and  faid,  at  prefent  fhe  was  not 
in  need  of  any.  He  then  proceeded  to 
declare  flie  was,  in  his  opinion,  the  fineft 
woman  he  ever  beheld ;  wifhed  his 
fortune  would  enable  him  to  lay  thou- 
fands  at  her  feet ;  and,  if  fhe  would  per- 
mit him  to  pay  his  refpefts  to  her,  once 
a  week,  fhe  might  command  his  purfe  ; 
and,  as  a  proof  of  his  intentions,  if  fhe 
would  accept  of  thofe  three  hundred 
pounds,  (holding  up  bank-notes  to  the 
amount),    it  was  much  at  her  fervice. 

«  My 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       6j 

'^  My  Lord,"  returned  Ihe,  "  I  per- 
"  fedly  underftand  you ;  and  the  ternns 
"  on  which  you  offer  your  bounty,  are 
"  fuch,  that  I  can  no  way  accept  it; 
**  even  if  I  wanted  money,  which  in  fa6t 
"  I  do  not ;  and  I  muft  beg  the  favour 
"  you  will  never  offend  my  ears  again, 
"  with  a  repetition  of  the  fame  kind." 
-He  then  began  to  explain  away  his 
words,  by  faying,  he  had  advanced  no- 
thing that  might  give  any  lady  offence. 
He  only  willied,  by  permiffion,  to  call 
on  her  once  %  weekj  it  being  his  greatcft 
delight  to  fet  with  an  agreeable  woman 
like  her  j  and  hear  her  fing,  and  pafs 
away  a  few  hours  in  converfation ;  that 
he  meant  nothing  indelicate ;  that  he 
was  not  a  boy,  nor  like  the  gay  world 
F  2  in 


^4  The  Memoirs  of 

in  diflipationi  that  he  was  fond  of  pleaf- 
ing  fociety  j  and  was  obliged  to  feek  for 
that  abroad,  which  he  could  not  nnect 
with  at  homej  that  he  was  far  from 
knowing  what  domellic  happinefs  was^; 
and  therefore,  coveted  the  company 
of  a  female  friend,  where  he  found 
one  to  his  liking :  that  his  fortune  was 
not  a  fplendid  one,  but  that  neverthe- 
iefs,  he  had  it  in  his  power  to  take  care 
of  any  lady,  who  was  not  unwilling  to 
repofe  a  confidence  in  him  i  and,  as  thefe 
were  his  real  fentiments,  he  did  not  fee 
how  they  could  give  offence,  his  wiih 
being  only  to  vifit  her,  on  the  fcore  of 
friendfhip  j  and  that  on  fuch  days,  as 
might  be  agreeable  to  herfelf  j  without 
interfering  with  any  of  her  engage- 
ments. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       6$ 

ments.  Mrs.  Baddeley  replied,  that 
admitting  his  vifits  were  meant  only  in 
the  light  he  was  pleafed  to  reprefent 
thel-n,  her  connexions  were  fuch,  that  his 
frequent  vifits,  might  give  caufe  of 
uneafinefs,  where  flic  fliould  be  unhap- 
py to  do  it.  However,  he  wifhed  her 
to  turn  it  in  her  mind,  and  give  him 
an  anfwer  fome  few  days  after.  She 
promifed  this,  and  he  put  up  his  bank- 
notes, faying,  he  would  do  himfelf  the 
honour  to  wait  on  her  again,  in  the 
eourfe  of  a  week,  to  know  the  refult  of 
her  determinations.  His  chair  was  call- 
ed, and  he  left  us. 

He  was  no  fooner  gone,  than  my  fer- 

vant  brought  in  word,  that  a  gentleman 

F  3  wanted 


66  The  Memoirs  of 

wanted  to  fee  Mrs.  Baddeley.  "  Whc 
**  he  is/'  faid  the  fellow,  "  I  don't  know, 
"  for  he  would  not  give  me  his  name." 
"  Go  then,  and  tell  him,"  faid  I,  "  that 
*'  unlefs  he  fends  in  his  name,  he  can 
"  fee  neither  of  us ;  nor  even  then,  un- 
^^  lefs  he  is  known  to  us."  The  {et- 
vant  delivered  thismeffagej  and,  on  the 
perfon'a  faying,  he  was  not  known  to  the 
ladies  by  nanne  -,  nor  could  he  tell  his 
bufinefs  but  to  Mrs.  Baddeley  ;  he  told 
him,  he  could  not  fee  her ;  at  this  he 
grew  warm,  and  threatened  to  cane  my 
fcrvant  for  his  infolence.  Words  arofe, 
and  John  got  him  out,  and  fliut  the 
door  in  his  face» 

The 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddelev.       67 

'   The  perfon  went  away,  and  foon  af- 
ter feat  the  following  letter.. 

"  Honoured  Madam> 

"  I  was  fent  by  a  gentleman  of 
*"^  fortune,  to  tell  you  how  much  he 
**  loved  you.— I  am  his  head  fervant; 
"  and  did  not  deferve  the  impudence 
"  your  man  did  fhew  me.  I  wait  there* 
"  fore  for  your  fpeedy  anfwer  to  this, 
**'  that  I  may  conae  and  deliver  my  or* 
"  ders  i  and  am,  for  my  mafter, 

"  Your  humble  fervant, 

"  Peter  Fowlei*. 
**  Feathers  'Tavern^ 
-'^^'Bond-Jlnet:.' 

:;^Xp.Mrs.  Baddcley. 

To 


6Z  The  Memoirs  of 

To  this  letter,  Mrs.  Baddeley  faid, 
there  was  no  other  anfwer  than  to  tell 
the  man,  who  wrote  it,  that  he  was  an 
impudent  fellow.  This  was  delivered, 
and  we  heard  no  more  of  him.  In  the 
interim  came  Mr.  William  Fawkner  j 
but  Mrs.  Baddeley  not  feeming  fo  hap- 
py to  fee  him  as  fhe  ufed,  he  enquir- 
ed the  caufe  of  it,  and  hoped  he  had 
not  given  offence ;  faying,  her  coolnefs 
made  him  exceedingly  unhappy.  He 
took  hold  of  her  hand,  but  fhe  with- 
drew it.  At  this  he  exclaimed,  "  Good 
"  God,  my  dear  Mrs.  Baddeley  !  What 
"  have  I  done  ?  How  wretched  you  make 
"  me  !"  She  told  him,  Ihe  fliould  always 
be  happy  to  fee  him,  as  the  reft  of  her 
friends,  and  would  not  have  him  think 

more 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       69 

more  of  her  than  as  an  acquaintance  i 
Ihe  had  well  confidered  the  confequence 
of  her  own  condu(5l,  faw  it  was  highly  im- 
proper, and  therefore  determined^  in  fu- 
ture, to  have  no  further  intercourfe  with 
him,  than  as  a  friend  i  in  which  light 
ihe  fhould  ever  confider  him,  and  value 
him.  He  endeavoured  to  expoftul^ej 
but  fhe  would  not  hear.  He  told  her,,' 
let  her  determinations  be  what  they 
would,  fhe  would  ever  be  dear  to  his 
remembrance  j.  but,  that  it  would  lay  him 
under  the  neccffity  of  difcontinulng  his 
vifits,  as  he  could  never  bear  up  under 
the  mortification  the  fight  of  her  would 
occafion.:  for,  it  would  renew  the  re- 
collection of  his  pad  happinefs  ^  and, 
that     recoUedion    would,    make    him 

wretched.. 


yo  T»E  .Memoirs  of 

wretched.  He  could  only  therefore, 
with  heart-felt  fprrow,  at  his  difmiflion, 
return  her  ten  thoufand  thanks,  for  the 
indulgences  ihe  hajdbeftowed  upon  him. 
In  fhort,  as  he  had  noc  po\\'er  to  fay 
.  more,  fhe  muft  pardon  liis  leaving  her. 
With  this  he  bowed,  and  went  out  of  the 
houfe  in  a  minute. 

,  *'  -W-ell  now,  my  dear  Steele,"   faid 

:flie,  "  you  fee  I  can  keep  my  refplution. 

.*'  I  did  this,  and  •  wjll  do  more  to  -con- 

*'!  vince    you,  how  much  I   value  yoii 

"  and  your- advice.     Did  not  this  come 

'"  on  you   unexpedledly  ?     Could  you 

*'  fuppofe   I   could  do  this   to   a   man 

,  *'  whom  I   own  I  Ipved ;  and  to  whom 

*'  I  was  fo  attached,  that  I  would  have 

"  taken 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        71 

"  taken  him  for  life  ?  Many  an  hour 
"  have  I  been  happy  in  his  coinpany, 
"  and  the  more  fo,  as  it  was  unknown 
"  to  you.  But  that's  now  over,  as 
"  lliall  more  of  my  imprudence  fhortly 
"  be."  I  was  happy  at  this,  and  told 
her,  it  was  in  her  own  power  yet,  to 
be  one  of  the  moll  comfortable  wo- 
men upon  earth.  "  I  believe  fo," 
returned  fhe,  "  and  I  am  refolved  I'll 
"  try  for  it."  I  faid,  fhe  might  ftill 
have  an  engagement  at  Drury-lane. 
"  No,"  replied  fhe,  "  I  will  never  have 
"  any  thing  more  to  do  with  the  flage, 
"  for  it  has  been  my  dellrudion."  Dur- 
ing this  converfation,  came  Count  Haf- 
lang ;  we  enquired  kindly  how  he  did, 
and  Mrs.  Baddeley  exprefTed  much  un- 

happinefs 


7x2  The  Memoirs  of 

happinefs  at  the  accident,  that  fo  long 
confined  him.  He  begged  no  apology 
might  be  made,  faying,  the  fault  was 
his  own  i  he  had  fuffered  a  good  deal, 
but  was  now  pretty  well  recovered, 
and  the  fight  of  her  fo  enlivened  him, 
that  he  felt  not  the  leaft  pain  any  where, 
but  in  his  heart.  Mrs.  Baddcley  told 
him,  he  could  not  pofllbly  feel  any 
there ;  fOr  he  muft  certainly  long  fince 
have  bellowed  it  on  fome  worthy  obje<5t. 
On  the  contrary,  he  affured  her  it  was 
undifpofed  of,  till  he  faw  her ;  and,  that 
he  muft  finally  confefs,  he  was  fo  im- 
prefTed  with  her  beauty,  that  he  could 
have  no  reft.  "  You  are  then^"  re- 
returned  ftie,  "  juft  as  I  am,  for  I  have 
"  but  little  reft  nriyfelf."   Is  there  then," 

faid 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       73 

faid  he,    "  fome  fprightly  rival  in  my 

"  way  ?"    "  Many,"  replied  fhe,  "  but 

"  men,  now,  are  the  leaft  of  my  thoughts; 

"  and,  I  intend  to  put  up  a  paper  at 

"  my  door,  to  acquaint  all  my  friends, 

"  that  do  me  the  honour  to  call  on  me, 

'*  that  a  prohibition  is  laid  in  the  houfe 

**  on  the  name  of  Love,  or  any  thing 

*'  bordering  on  it."    For  fhe  was  not 

without  the  man  of  her  heart,  and  to 

him  alone    all  her    favours  were  due. 

The  old  gentleman,  ftill  went  on,  that 

it  might  be  prefumption  in  him,  at  his 

time  of  life,  to  think  of  fo  beautiful  a 

creature  j  but,  that  he  was  not  without 

his  feelings.     She  endeavoured  to  turn 

the  converfation,   by  afking  what  news 

abroad  ?     "  None,"  faid  he,  "  of  con- 

VoL.  IV.  G     .        « fequence," 


74  The  Memoirs  of 

"  fequence,  but,  that  the  men  are 
«  all  mad,  like  myfelf."  "Ifthatbethc 
cafe,"  Ihe  replied,  "  I'll  fee  none  of 
**  them  ;  it  is  dangerous  to  be  with 
"  them  J  and  fo,  as  I  am  going  out,  and 
"  mull  drefs,  I  will  wifli  you  good 
"  morning."  With  this  ihe  left  him  j 
and,  as  I  pleaded  the  fame  excufe,  he 
foon  went  away,  faying,  he  fhould  not 
give  up  his  wiihes,  whatever  might  be 
his  difappointments. — Count  Haflang, 
was  upwards  of  feventy  years  of  age ; 
and,  to  hear  fuch  an  old  fool  talk  of 
love,  was  furfeiting.  But  the  men,  I 
find  are  all  alike,  young  and  old,  and 
will  purfue  their  inclinations,  however 
ridiculous  it  may  appear ;  and,  to  their 
illicit    amours    they  will   facrifice   the 

name 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley,       75 

name  of  love,  and  talk  of  afFedion, 
when  they  have  not  the  leaft  fpark  of 
it.  Mrs.  Baddeley,  I  will  admit,,  was  not 
blind  to  the  follies  of  many,  that  paid 
court  to  her  j  and  if,  at  times,  Ihe  gave 
way  to  imprudence,  the  good-natured 
reader  will,  I  truft,  make  fome  little  al- 
lowance, when  he  has  been  told  of  her 
youth,  her  beauty,  and  perfonal  accom- 
plifhmentsj  and  the  great  admiration 
file  always  had  j  enough,  as  I  have  before 
obferved,  to  make  any  woman  vain,  o£ 
ten  times  the  underftanding,  efpecially 
in  an  age  of  diflipation,  when  re- 
ferves  are  too  much  laid  afide.  It  is 
an  eafy  thing,  for  a  woman  to  fit  down 
and  cenfure  the  condudl  of  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley ;  but,  I  will  venture  to  fay,  not 
G  2  one 


76        •      The  Memoirs  of 

one  in  ten,  in  her  fituation,  could  have 
withftood  the  tennptations  fhe  met  with. 
I  do  not  advance  this  as  an  excufe  for 
her  errors ;  but,  I  would  have  my  female 
readers  to  confidef  the  many  attradions 
ihe  withftood,  and  the  many  temptations 
fhe  avoided  -,  how  much  her  vanity 
was  fwelled,  and  her  ambition  heighten- 
ed, by  the  homage  and  adoration  paid 
her  J  and  then  condemn  her,  if  they 
pleafe.  She  was  made  like  other  mor- 
tals, of  human  materials  j  and,  if  fhe  fell 
a  facrifice  to  vanity,  let  it  be  kindly 
attributed  to  the  frailty  of  her  fex. 
Many  were  the  applications  to  Mrs. 
Baddeley  for  her  favours,  even  from 
men  in  fecond  life,  who  made  her  offers 
that  would  have  tended  to  the  ruin  of 

themfelves 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       77 

themfelves  and  families>  but  fhe  lif- 
tened  to  none  of  them ;  and,  was  I  ta 
relate  the  whole,  it  would  fill  a  dozen 
volumes,  and  anfwer  no  purpofe,  but 
to  make  families  unhappy.  I  have  not 
mentioned  any,  but  thofe  wh.o  are  ge- 
nerally known,  nor  do  I  mean  it  j  fuchi 
will  pafs  unobferved,.  and  unnoticed,  nor 
(hall  my  pen  difturb  their  peaceful  mo- 
ments. I  will  advert  then  to  Lord  Fal- 
mouth, who  came  to  try  the  effeft  of 
gold,  and  fee  whether  it  had  more  in- 
fluence than  perfwafion.  Mrs.  Badde-' 
ley  admitted  him,  and  a  repetition  of 
his  former  declarations  took  place,  which 
(he  told  him,  as  Ihe  had  done  before, 
were  difagreeable  to  her.  He  then  took 
out  of  his  coat  pocket  a  large  purfe, 
G  J  full 


78  The  Memoirs  of 

full  of  gold ;  faid,  it  contained  five  hun- 
dred guineas,  and  was  at  her  fervice, 
and  more  if  fhe  would  accept  its  that, 
he  prefented  her  that  trifle  to  purchafe 
fomething  for  his  fake ;  and  which,  to 
my  great  furprize,  and  the  firft  time  I 
ever  faw  her  accept  a  favour  from  a 
perfon  to  whom  fhe  had  not  bellowed  a 
onci  I  fay,  to  my  great  furprize,  llie 
took  up  the  purfe,  put  it  into  her  pocket, 
thanked  him,  and  faid,  fhe  fhould  not 
fail  to  lay  out  the  contents  as  he  defir- 
ed.  His  Lordfhip  told  her,  fhe  was 
welcome  to  it,  and  as  much  more,  if  fhe 
would  do  him  the  favour  to  accept  it. 
"  No,  my  Lord,"  returned  flie,  "  the 
*'  prefent  you  have  made  me,  is  more 
"  than  I  expe6ted,  nor  would  I  have 

"  taken 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      79 

"  taken  it,  but  with  an  intent  to  pur- 
"  chafe  fome thing  in  memory  of  fo 
"  good  a  friend."  "  You  muft  not," 
faid  he,  "  call  me  by  that  cool  name; 
"  for  I  abfolutely  love  you."  She 
hoped  he  did,  and  wifhed  all  the  world 
would,  as  fhe  would  never  do  any  thing 
to  incur  their  hatred.  She  was  in  high 
fpirits,  and  he  begged  her  to  be  a  little 
ferious ;  but  llie  told  him,  it  was  one  of 
her  mirthful  days,  and  her  friends  would 
be  happy  to  find  it,  for  fhe  was  going 
out  to  dinner.  On  this  he  took  his 
leave,  begging  fhe  would  fix  a  day  when 
he  might  have  the  honour  of  calling  on 
her  again.  ;  Mrs.  Baddeley  faid,  when- 
ever it  was  agreeable  to  him.  He  then 
bowed  and  left  her. 

She 


8a  The  Memctirs  op 

She  was  quite  overjoyed  with  this  five 
hundred  guineas,  and  faid,  "  This  time 
'*  I  think  I  have  afted  right ;  for  I  am 
'*  {o  tormented  with  thefie  old  gentle- 
**  meHj  that  I  am  determined  to  take 
**  all  they  will  give  me,  by  way  of  re- 
*'  compence,  but  never  meet  their 
"  wifhes  otherwife  than  b^  thanking 
"  them.  Here,  take  the  purfe,  Steele, 
♦*  and  pay  away  the  contents  to  whom 
**  you  pleafe,  or  keep  it  in  part  of  what 
"  I  owe  yotc,"  I  told  her,  my  account 
with  her  ftiould  be  the  laft  thought  of^. 
and  that  we  would  confider  the  bell  ufe 
to  apply  it  to.  *'  To  prevent  being 
'<"  troubled  with  Lord  Falmouth's  vifits- 
**  in  future,"  faid  Mrs.  Baddeley,  "  I  wilt 
•*  give  orders  to  be  denied  3  nor  will  I 

«  fee 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       8i 

"  fee  old  Count  Haflang,  for  I  hate 
"  him  monftroufly ;  he  always  looks  a& 
"  if  he  had  a  flake  run  down  his  back." 
The  fervant  had  his  orders  j  for,  fince 
dining  out  was  an  excufe,  we  meant  ta 
fpend  the  day  alone.  Lord  Winchelfea 
and  Mr.  Storer  called,  and  we  were 
denied  to  both;  but,  in  the  evening, 
we  faw  a  Mr.  P.  who  tendered  us  his 
fervices,  faid,  he  had  a  quantity  of 
French  wineSy  very  fine  and  good,  which 
he  had  run,  and  could  afford  to  fell  at 
half  the  price  we  paid  for  them  at  pre- 
fent.  He  was  clever  and  fenfible,  and 
feemed  not  only  the  man  of  bufinefs, 
but  the  gentleman.  This  man  was  a 
furveyor  as  well  as  a  merchant,  and  em- 
ployed  a  relation  of  mine,    who  was 

tinder 


M  The  Memoirs  of 

under  many  obligations  to  him.  Mrs, 
Baddeley  told  him,  flie  would  be  a 
cuflomer  to  him,  gave  him  an  order, 
and  told  him  to  fend  in  fuch  as  he  could 
recommend  j  for,  as  fome  of  the  nobi- 
lity did  her  the  honour  occafionally 
to  dine  with  her,  it  might  be  a  re- 
commendation to  him.  I  do  not  con- 
ceal this  perfon's  name  from  motives  of 
delicacy,  but  from  policy,  as  he  will 
appear  in  a  very  different  light  here- 
after; he  was  a  man  little  known  to  the 
world,  and  as  fuch,  his  name  is  of  littk 
confequence. 

A  man,  whom  we  had  employed  to 
build  a  wafh-houfe  for  us,  having  charg. 
cd    us    forty-eight    pounds,    when    he 

agreed 


Mks.  Sophia  Baddeley.       S^ 

agreed  to  do  the  job  for  tv/enty  pounds, 
we  told  Mr.  P.  of  it.  He  faid,  thofe 
kind  of  people  generally  impofed 
upon  ladies  i  bur,  if  we  would  give 
him  the  bill,  and  autkorife  him  to  fet- 
tle it,  we  fliould  have  juftice  done  us ; 
*'  And,  as  I  do  not  want  for  money," 
continued  he,  '^  and  have  fome  at  your 
**  command  to  pay  this  man,  or  twenty 
*'  fuch,  I  will  do  it  with  pleafure." 
We  thanked  him,  and  he  ftaid  tea  and 
fupper.  Mrs.  Baddeley,  whofe  great 
fault  was  that  of  being  too  communica- 
tive, made  this  man  acquainted  with 
her  fituation  as  to  debts,  and  he  very 
ofRcioufly  told  her,  in  a  friendly  way, 
that  he  had  fome  thoufands  in  his  bank- 
er's   hands,    and  he  would    fettle  the 

whole. 


84  The  Memoirs  of 

-whole,  and  fhe  might  repay  him  in  fuch 
fums  as  flie  could  conveniently  fpare  ; 
for  he  fhould  be  happy  to  be  of  fervice 
to  us.  Mrs.  Baddeley  then  defired  me 
to  fhow  Mr.  P.  the  lift  of  what  ftie 
owed  i  I  did,  and  his  anfwer  was,  "  I 
"  beg  you  will  not  think  of  paying  one 
*'  Ihilling  of  thefe  debts  yourfelf,  but 
'^  refer  them  to  me,  and  I  will  fettle 
''  with  them  all.'*  She  told  him,  Ihe 
was  obliged  to  him;  and,  as  a  proof 
•how  much  fhe  wifhed  to  convince  him, 
that  fhe  would  let  him  have  the  money 
.as  faft  as  fhe  could  fpare  it,  flie  begged 
of  me  to  give  him-  the  five  hundred 
guineas  in  the  houfe.  He  declined 
taking  it,  but  fhe  infifted  fo  much  on 
it,  that  he  could  not  refufe  it.   He  then 

took 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      8^ 

took  out  his  pocket-book,  and  gave 
her  fome  cheques  of  Mr.  Couts,  the 
banker,  and  bad  her  draw,  when  ftie 
wanted  calh,  and  he  would  take  care 
Ihe  Ihould  be  fupplied ;  and,  the  next 
day,  he  would  fet  about  fettling  her  af- 
fairs, and  he  hoped  to  her  fatisfadtion  j 
as  he  thought  he  fhould  be  able  to  fave 
her  many  pounds,  and  not  lefTen  us  in 
their  opinion,  but  keep  us  our  confe-f 
quence.  I  was  not  a  little  pleafed  with 
this,  as  tradefmen  are  apt  to  take  ad- 
vantages of  wonfien,  be  they  ever  {o 
clever,  or  ever  fo  much  upon  their 
guard.  This  was  ever  my  opinion,  and 
I  am  ftill  more  confirmed  in  it,  fince  I 
have  read  a  work,  put  into  my  hands, 
which  I  had  occafional  recourfe  to,  by 
Vol,  IV,  H  way 


$S  The  Memoirs  of 

way  of  relief,  -whilil  I  was  writing  thefc 
memoirs  i  and,  in  juftice  to  the  naerits 
of  that  work,  I  will  own,  that  had  it 
been  publifhed  years  ago,  and  fallen 
into  my  bands,  it  would  have  faved  me 
hundreds  of  pounds.  The  reader,  per- 
haps, will  not  be  difpleafed  with  me,  if 
I  tell  him  the  name  of  this  book.  It  is 
called  Modfm  Times  i  or,  the  Adventures 
ef  Gabriel  Out c aft ^  and  is  a  novel  in 
three  volumes,  written  in  imitation  of 
Gil  Bias.  As  the  title  announces,  that 
it  has  been  confiderably  improved,  and 
enlarged,  fince  it  was  firft  publifhed,  it 
may  not  be  unnecelTary  to  fay,  that  what 
I  read  was  it's  third  edition,  and  laugh- 
ed through  it,  from  one  end  to  the 
ether.   The  author,  whoever  he  is,  muft 

be 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      87 

be  a  man  of  infinite  humour  and  inge- 
nuity, and  have  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  life  J  aSj  under  a  well-told  train  of  ad- 
ventures, he  fets  before  his  readers  the 
arts,  deceptions,  and  villainies  of  the 
world,  in  all  profeffions  i  and  thus  in- 
flru6ts,  whilft  he  entertains  j  and  a  peru- 
fal  of  it  will  be  ufeful  to  hundreds,  who 
may  never  through  life,  fee,  or  know, 
half  they  will  learn  in  thefe  volumes. 
But  to  return. 

Putting  a  mark  on  thofe  bills,  which 
I  wilhed  Ihould  be  firft  paid,  I  gave 
Mr.  P.  the  lift  of  her  debts,  and  alfo 
the  bills  for  repairing  and  improving 
Hammerfmith  houfe,  which  he  faid  was 
a  great  impofition,  and  he  would  fee  u4 
"  H  2  righted. 


88  The  Memoirs  of 

righted,  Mrs.  Baddeley  and  I,  gave 
•Mr.  P.  full  power  to  aft  for  us  -,  and  he, 
the  next  day,  paid  more  than  the  five 
hundred  guineas  he  received,  for  he 
brought  receipts  to  the  amount  of  fix 
hundred  and  fixty  pounds;  and  made  the 
man,  who  charged  forty-eight  pounds, 
take  thirty  pounds,  and  brought  us  his 
receipt  in  full.  This  gave  us  great  plea- 
fore,  as  the  man  told  me,  he  would  not 
abate  a  fingle  fhilling  of  his  demands 

Mr.  P.  was  now  much  in  our  eftecmi 
for  he  feemed  highly  to  deferve  it,  and 
frequently  fent  us  valuable  little  pre- 
fents  i  and,  once  a  day,  called  regularly 
to  fee  what  we  wanted,  and  how  he 
could  ferve  us,      All  we  drew  on  Mc» 

Couts 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       8;^ 

Couts  for,  was  pun6lually  paid,  though 
we  did  not  draw  for  much.  Mrs.  Bad-- 
deley  made  him  a  confident  in  all  hen 
affairs ;  told  him  that  Ihe  was  obliged  toi 
Lord  Melbourne  for  what  Ihe  had,  and 
enumerated  what  he  had  don  e  for  her,, 
and  what  expectations  fhe  had  from  liim,, 
and  how  much  Ihe  was  in  my  debt.  la 
Ihort,  as  flie  kept  no  fecret  from  him> 
he  had  reafon  to  believe  he  fhould  be 
repaid  all  he  advanced,,  and  being  of  a; 
friendly  turn,  was  as  happy,  in  appear- 
ance, in  doing  us  this  kindnefs,  as  we 
could  be  to  receive  it.  We  will  now 
leave  him,  for  the  prefent  i  what  I  have- 
faid  being  neceffary  for  the  illucidation 
of  wliat  happened  afterwards..  » 

H  3  Going 


90  The  Memoirs  of 

Going  through  Hyde-park,  in  our 
way  to  Hammerfmith,  we  met  with  Mr^ 
Stanley,  who,  faying  he  had  lamed  his- 
horfe,  and  fent  him  home  by  his  fervant^ 
and  wifhed  we  would  give  him  a  caft 
to  Kenfington,  we  took  him  into  the 
coach  J  when  he  faid  a  thoufand  civil 
things  to  Mrs.  Baddeley,  and  fell  on  his 
knees  to  her,  as  men  will  do,  to  ob- 
tain what  they  want.  She  told  him,, 
that  condu6t  might  have  it's  efFeft  with- 
girls  under  twenty,  but  not  with  her ; 
and  begged  him  to  rife,  and  not  teaze 
her  in  a  manner  fo  difagreeable  to  her  ; 
but,  nothing  could  prevent  him,  and 
he  continued  his  nonfenfe  till  we  reach- 
ed Kenfington  gate,  where  we  fat  hini 
down. 

Oo 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      91 

On  our  arrival,  at  our  houfe  at  Ham- 
merfmith,  we  were  told,  a  man  had 
called  to  fpeak  with  Mrs.  Baddeleyj 
that  his  name  was  Freelove,  and  his  bu^ 
finefs  information  for  her  good  3  that,  he 
lived  at  Chifwick,  and  if  Ihe  wifhed  to 
fee  him,  he  would  wait  on  her  on  being 
fent  for.  This  odd  meflage  excited 
our  curiofity,  and  we  fent  for  him. 
When  he  came,  he  begged  the  door 
might  be  Ihut,  as  his  bufinefs  was  not 
to  be  known  by  fervants.  The  door 
being  fhut,  he  told  Mrs.  Baddeley, 
that  he  had  a  brother,  who  lived  in 
Berkeley-ftreet,  Piccadilly,  and,  who 
kept  a  houfe  there  for  the  reception  of 
the  nobility  i  and,  who  had  been  after 
her  many  times,  at  the  defire  of  a  noble 

duke. 


9^  The  Memoirs  of 

duke,  who  had  offers  to  make  Her^, 
which  he  prefumed  fhe  would  not  re- 
.  fufe ;  "  But,  madam,"  faid  he,  "  as  I 
'^  am  unacquaiated  with  fuch  bufinefs,, 
*'  I  mufl:  leave  it  to  you  to  aib  as  you 
*'  pleafe.  This  is  my  information,  and 
*'  if  you  wifh  to  have  it,  I  can  tell  you 
«f  the  duke's  name."  "  No,"  faid  Mrs,. 
Baddcley,  "  I  do  not  wilh  to  hear  it/*" 
"  O,  pray  let  us  have  his  name  j"  faid 
I.  «  Who  is  the  duke  ?"  «  No  lefs  a. 
"  man,"  replied  he,  "  than  the  Duke 
'^  of  Devonlhire."  «  Now,"  faid  Mrs., 
Baddeley,  "  I  am  acquainted  with  the 
«'  bufinefs  j  I  wilh  you  had  kept  your. 
"  information  to  yourfelf,  for  I  fliall* 
**  neither  fee  your  brother,  nor  his 
**  Grace."     The  man   replied,  he   did' 

tliis. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       93 

this  to  ferve  her,  and  fince  he  found  it 
had  offended  her,  he  fhould  be  off  j  ac- 
cordingly he  tripped  away  without  fur- 
ther ceremony,  or  even  fhutting  the 
door  after  him^ 

Mrs.  Baddeley  was  fo  difpleafed,  at 
the  manner  in  which  his  Grace  fent  to 
her,  and  the  perfon  he  employed  in  the 
bufinefs,  that  flie  was  half-inclined  to 
write  to  him  and  affront  him ;  but,  as 
I  told  her  he  was  a  foolifh  young  man, 
and  the  beft  way  would  be  to  take  no 
notice  of  it,  fhe  gave  it  up,  with  faying, 
flie  would  only  give  him^me  of  her 
contemptuous  looks  when  next  flie  met 
him  in  public.  Mrs.  Baddeley  was  pof- 
fefled  of  a  handfome  pair  of  piflols, 

thefe 


94  The  Memoirs  of 

thefe  were  at  Hammerfmith,  and  fhe 
propofed  taking  them  honne  as  a  prefent ' 
to  Mr.  P.  and  afked  her  fervant  if  they 
were  charged,  he  told  her  not  5  and,  in 
Gur  way  home,  fhe  having  one,  and  I 
the  other,  began  to  triflle  with  each 
ether ;  fhe  laid,  flie  would  llioot  me  5 
and  I  told  her  I  would  do  the  fanme,  and 
we  prefented  the  piflols  at  each  other, 
and  Ihould  probably  have  done  one 
another  a  mifchief,  if  an  accident  had 
not  prevented  it.  Turning  out  of  the 
great  road,  in  order  to  pay  my  fifter  a 
vifit,  who  lived  in  the  King's  Road, 
Chclfea  i  three  ill-looking  fellows  came 
up,  and  two  of  them  ordered  the  coach-s. 
man  to  flopj  I  put  out  the  piftol,  and 
fold  one  of  the  men,  if  he  came  near  the 

coachjk 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.        95 

coach,  he  was  a  dead  man;  and,  put- 
ting my  finger  accidentally  to  the  trig- 
,gcr,  the  piilol  went  off,  and  frightened 
the  horfes  fo  much,  that  they  galloped 
away,  and  it  was  fome  time  before  the 
coachman  could  ftop   them.      It  faved 
OJS  from   being  robbed,  but  frightened 
me  and  Mrs.  Baddeley  fo  much,  that 
ive  were  not  ourfelves  for  fome  time ; 
•and  the  more  fo,  when  we  recollefled, 
we  had  prefented  them  at  each  other, 
:and  it  was  a  providence  they  did  not  go 
off  then ;  for,  had  I  pulled  the  trigger 
then,  I  (liould  certainly  have  killed  her, 
and,  had  I  done  it,  I  never  could  have 
furvived  her.     It  has  been  a  warning  to 
me,  and  ever  will,  not  to  handle  fire- 


arms again. 


We 


96  The  Memoirs  of 

We  flopped  at  my  filler's  -,  llie  faid 
Lord  Grofvenor  had  called  on  her  the 
day  before^  and  kindly  afked  after  us ; 
faid,  he  had  been  to  the  fchool  where 
his  children  were  at,  and  gave  orders 
that  Lady  Grofvenor  might  not  fee 
them.  This  llie  faid  was  an  ad  of 
cruelty  in  him,  as  the  children  were 
her's ;  and,  that  having  given  thefe  or- 
ders before.  Lady  Grofvenor,  with  all 
the  affection  of  a  parent,  had  drelTed 
herfelf  like  a  fervant,  and  abfolutely 
hired  herfelf  in  that  capacity,  to  the 
miftrefs  of  the  fchool,  in  order  to  get  a 
fight  of  them.  She  faid,  fhe  did  not 
know  the  truth  of  this,  but,  that  it  was 
the  common  report  of  that  neiglibour- 
hood.  Lord  Grofvenor,  the  next  morn- 
ing* 


^RS.  Sophia  Baddeley.       97 

ing,  called  on  us,  but  did  not  fee  Mrs. 
Baddeley ;  he  honeflly  confefTed  to  me, 
that  he  thought  her  a  fine  wonaan,  but 
<iid  not  fee  that  beauty  in  her,  wherein 
others  thought  fo  much  of.  His  vifits 
at  our  houfe  were  but  few,  but,  they 
were  friendly.  It  was  from  him  we  had 
always  tickets  for  the  malked  balls,  and 
Mr Sv  Baddeley  never  thought  of  apply- 
ing any  where  elfe. 

As  Mr.  P.  will  cut  no  fmall  fio-ure  in 
this  work,  I  muft  not  omit  to  make  my 
readers  acquainted  with  his  merits,  as  I 
go  on.  He  called  himfelf  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley's  agent  j  looked  over  the  bills  for 
repairing  Hammerfmith  houfe,  being  a 
furveyor  by  profefTion,  curtailed  them 
Vol.  IV,  I  all, 


98  The  Memoirs  of 

all,  and  fettled  them,  as  he  did  every 
other  debt  fhe  owed  -,  by  paying  feme 
in  full,  others  in  partj  and,  giving  others 
his  notes,  payable  at  a  diftant  time,  for 
his  paper  would  pafs  like  bank-notes.  By 
this  kindnefs,  I  was  much  relieved  from 
a  heavy  charge  j  and,  though  I  was  as 
keen  as  I  could  be,  I  found  by  Mr.  P. 
that  I  was  not  adequate  to  the  tafk  I 
undertook;  for  he  made  them  make 
confiderable  abatements  in  all  their  bills : 
fo  that  for  a  length  of  time  after  this, 
I  never  paid  five  pounds,  but  referred 
them  all  to  him.  He  kept  a  regular 
book,  and  produced  proper  vouchers, 
for  all  he  paid  and  received  ;  and,  fre- 
quently offered  to  pay  her  bills,  when 
he  had  not  cafh  of  her's.     Thus  was 

he 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       99 

he  a  ufeful  friend,  and  faved  her  many 
pounds  J  I  may  fay  hundreds.  I  had 
now  fome  little  money  by  me,  and  his 
hinting  one  day,  that  he  had  3  draft 
payable  the  next,  and  was  not  quite 
prepared  for  it,  I  told  him,  I  had  four 
hundred  pounds  of  my  own  money, 
then  in  the  houfe,  and  the  loan  of  it 
was  much  at  his  fervice;  at  leaft,  he  might 
take  it  as  money  of  Mrs.  Baddeley's, 
and  apply  it  for  her  ufe,  as  he  thought 
proper.  He  thanked  me,  took  it,  and 
gave  me  his  receipt  for  the  fame. 

At  a  mafked  ball,  at  Mrs.  Cornelly's, 

in  Soho-fquare,  for  which  Lord  Grof- 

venor  fent  us  tickets;  and,  \^hilfl:  he  was 

with  us,  unmafkedi  a  well-drefTed  cham- 

I  2  ber-maid 


100  The  Memoirs  of 

ber-maid,  with  a  broom  and  duft-iliovel, 
in  true  charafter,  came  up  often,  and 
fwept  round  us ;  fhe  ftruck  Lord  Grofve- 
nor  fa  much;,  that  he  was  defirous  of 
finding  out  who  fhe  was ;  having  told  him, 
in  a  tone  of  voice  not  her  own,  that  he 
knew  her ;  he  followed  her  about,  but 
could  not  learn  who  fhe  was.  When  he 
returned  to  us,  Ihe  came  up  again,  beg- 
ged pardon  for  being  fo  troublefome  j 
but,  feeing  fo  much  dirt  about  us,  her 
lady  would  difcharge  her,  if  ihe  did  not 
clear  it  away.  "  Well,  young  woman," 
faid  his  Lordlliip,  "  fhall  I  have  a  few 
"  minutes  chat  with  you  ?'* — "  Yes, 
-«*  Sir,"  Ihe  replied,  «  if  you  pleafe."— 
Off  went  Lord  Grofvenor  again,  with 
this  mafk,  to  find  out,  if  pofhble,  who 

ihe 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     ioi 

ihe  wasi  he  ftaid  the  beft  part  of  an 
hour  with  her,  and  returned,  faying,  he 
could  not  for  his  life  find  her  out ;  but, 
he  was  certain,  Ihe  was  fome  woman  of 
falhion,  for  Ihe  knew  a  good  deal  of 
'him.  Mrs.  Baddeley  advifed  him  to  go 
again  to  her.  Away  he  went,  and  a 
-gentleman,  whom  we  found  afterwards 
to  be  Lord  Pembroke,  prefently  came 
and  told  us,  that  Lord  Grofvenor  was 
tete-a-tete  with  his  own  wife,  and  did 
not  know  its  for,  that  the  chamber- 
maid was  no  other  than  Lady  Grofve- 
nor. This  was  buzzed  round  the  room, 
and  his  Lordfhip  was  pointed  at  by  a 
number  of  his  friends.  Mr.  Darner, 
faid,  it  was  a  pity,  and  he  would  ge 
-find  tell  him  i  as  the  eye  of  every  one 
I  3  was 


502  The  Memoirs  -of 

was  upon  him.  He  went  up  to  him, 
and  whifpered  him  in  his  ear,  that  he 
was  talking  to  his  Lady  j  his  Lordlhip 
having  fat  down  by  her,  and  being  then 
in  warm  converfation  with  her.  In- 
ibrmed  of  this,  he  jumped  up  inftantly^ 
and  came  to  us  in  great  agitation,  fay- 
ing, he  would  rather  have  given  a  thou- 
fand  guineas,  than  fuch  a  thing  Ihould 
have  happened  J  but,  that  fhe  difguif- 
ed  her  voice  fo  much,  and  played  her 
part  fo  well,  that  he  had  not  the  leaft 
conception  who  Ihe  was>.  We  took  the 
opportunity  to  -beg  he  would  be  recon- 
ciled to  her  J  for,  that  many  ladies  had 
been  guilty  of  more  imprudence  than 
her,  and,  yet  it  had  been  over-looked. 
His  Lordfhip  fwore  .he  never  would, 

J_.ady 


.  "Mils.  Sophia  Baddeley.     103 

Lady  Grofvenor  did  not  give  up  her 
purfuit  of  him  J  for  fhe  followed  him 
all  the  night,  and  often  faid  to  me, 
*'  Pray  perfwade  that  gentleman  to  look 
"  on  me  ;  I  wifh  him  to  be  friends  with 
**  mej"  but  he  did  all  in  his  power  to 
■avoid  her  j  and,  finding  he  could  not, 
begged  of  us  to  go  home  fooner  than 
we  intendeds  for  his  Lordfhip  was  in 
our  party.  Lady  Grofvenor  followed 
us  out  of  the  houfe,  and  faid  to  tne,  in 
my  ear,  *'  I  wifh  I  was  in  your  place  i'* 
I  replied,  I  wifhed  fhe  was ;  then,  tak- 
ing me  by  the  hand,  fhe  faid,  "  God 
'**  blefs  you  j"  and  continued  with  -us, 
till  we  were  all  in  the  carriage.  True, 
faid  I  to  myfelf,  as  foon  as  we  parted ; 
^oor  creature,   I  wifh  wixh  all  my  heart 

ihe 


I04  The  Memoirs  of 

ihe  had  been  with  us,  and  partook  of 
fome  of  his  Lordfliip's  fmiles ;  and  hap- 
py fhoiild  I  have  been,  had  I  been  able 
to  prevail  in  her  favour  j  but  his  anger 
and  refentment  was  fuch,  that  he  would 
Jiot  hear  a  word  we  had  to  fay. 

A  Captain  Crawford,  of  the  Guards-, 
•an  intimate  friend  of  Captain  Fawkner, 
and  a  polite  handfome  young  man, 
■whom  indeed  we  had  feen  before  3  came 
to  pay  Mrs.  Baddeley  a  vifit,  having 
heard,  I  prefume,  of  what  had  palled 
between  her  and  Captain  Fawkner, 
Though,  when  I  fay  handfome^  I  do  not 
mean  to  fay  that  Mrs.  Baddeley  never  be- 
•flowed  her  attention  or  favours  volunta- 
rily, but  to  handfome  men.  The  plcafure 

fhe 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     105 

(he  took  in  the  company  of  Mr.  Fitzt- 
patrick,  Mr..  Hare,  and  Lord  George 
Gordon,  is  a  proof  to  the  contrary  i  for 
to  thefe  gentlemen,  fhe  was  particularly 
civil,  and  when  they  omitted  to  call 
upon  her  for  fome  time,  has  taken  pains 
to  fee  them  -,  by  going  to  public  places 
on  purpofe.  Captain  Crawford  afked  her 
when  fhe  had  feen  Captain  Fawkner, 
but  faid  no  more  refpeding  him,  his 
bufinefs  being  to  introduce  himfelf  to 
her  favour;  and  he  ufed  all  the  lan- 
guage, and  thofe  fond  arguments  which 
men,in  love  ufe  to  captivate  their  mif- 
trefTes.  She  fat  lilent  till  he  had  done, 
and  then,  thus  addreffed  him.  "  I  pre- 
*'  fume,  fir,  you  have  been  in{lru6ted  by 
*^  yaur  friend,  how  to  proceed  with  mej 

"  for 


lo6  The  Memoirs  of 

'^  for  the  language  you  have  adopted, 
"  as  that  of  Captain  Fawkner's,  and 
^'  calls  for  the  fame  anfwer."  "  Far  be 
"  it  from  me,  madam,"  replied  he,  "  to 
"  ufe  any  man's  language  but  my  own, 
*'  I  have  not  lived  till  this  time,  to  need 
**  in(lru6lions  to  convey  my  real  fenti- 
^'  ments.  The  heart  naturally  fpeaks 
"  for  itfelf.— Till  now  I  have  been  con- 
*■*■  tented  in  my  fituation^  but,  fince  I 
*'  have  beheld  your  lovely  perfon,  and 
**  your  charms,  I  have  wilhed  myfelf  a 
"  monarch  for  your  fake."  "  And, 
"  I  doubt  not,"  faid  Mrs.  Baddeley, 
laughing,  "  for  your  own."  He  told 
her  it  was  no  laughing  matter,  for  his 
feelings  would  not  admit  of  trifling. 
"  Certainly  not,"  faid  Ihe,  "  I  do  not 

"  mean 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     107 

*'  mean  to  trifle  with  them,  but  to  tell 
*'  you  ferioufly  what  I  think.  I  have 
*^  let  you  run  on/'  (for  he  had  faid  a 
thoufand  fulfome  things  to  her,  before 
Ihe  interrupted  him,)  "  to  fee  how  far 
*'  your  folly  would  carry  you.  Can  you 
"  fuppofe,  fir,  that  I  will  attend  to  an 
*'  idle  tale  which  you  tell  to  every  wo- 
**  man  you  meet  ?  And  do  you  think  me 
"  fool  enough  to  give  my  company  to 
"  every  one  who"  may  pleafe  to  compli- 
"  ment  me  as  you  have  done  ?  If  you 
'*  think  fo,  you  think  wrong.  As  Mr. 
"  Fawkner's  friend,  I  fhall  be  glad  to 
"  fee  you  at  any  time  ^  but,  to  talk  to 
*'  me  in  the  manner  you  have  now,  I 
"  fhail  ever  confider  as  impertinent. 
*'  Talk  not  therefore  of  trifling;  I  give 

"  you 


io8  The  Memoirs  of 

"  you  my  honour,  you  never  fhall  be 
*^  trifled  with  by  me ;  for,  I  will  always 
*'  fpeak  my  mind  to  you,  as  I  have  at 
*^  prefent."  He  feemed  much  hurt,  and 
aflced  her,  if  fhe  took  a  pleafure  in  ridi- 
culing her  admirers  ?  "  Yes,"  fhe  re- 
plied, "  when  my  admirers  a61;  with  im- 
"  propriety,  as  you  have  donej  for 
"  though  I  acknowledge  my  impru- 
"  dence,  in  fome  refpecfls  -,  I  have  always 
'^  conduced  myfelf  fo,  in  the  company 
*'  of  thofe  with  whom  I  am  acquainted, 
"  as  not  to  warrant  fuch  unbecoming  be- 
*'  haviour  from  any  gentleman.  I  am 
"  like  many  others  of  my  fex,  not  without 
"  my  attachment,  and  where  my  faith 
"  is  pledged;  and  therefore  I  expedl, 
"  after  this  candid  declaration,  that  you 

"  will 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     109 

*^  will  never  trouble  me  on  this  head 
"  again."  He  begged  her  pardon,  for 
any  thing  that  might  efcape  him,  to 
give  offence  j  yet,  let  her  be  as  angry 
as  Ihe  would,  he  muft  and  would  love 
-her  through  life  -,  but,  if  pofiible,  he 
would  obey  her  commands ;  and  not 
offend  again  in  the  fame  way,  though 
the  talk  would  be  difficult.  He  hoped 
therefore,  flie  would  clafs  him  among 
her  friends,  and  permit  him  occafionaily 
to  pay  his  refpe6bs  to  her.  She  replied, 
fhe  lliould  be  happy  to  fee  him,  as.  Ihe 
did  her  other  friends,  when  they  were 
pleafed  to  honour  her  with  their  oc- 
cafional  vifits. 

Vol.  IV.  K  When 


no  The  Memoirs  of 

When  Captain  Crawford  left  hep,  fhe 
told  me,  fhe  was  certain  Mr.  Fawkner 
had  fet  him  on^  to  fee  if  he  could  pre- 
vail with  herj  to  liften  to  entreaties  of  a 
fimilar  nature  with  his  own;  fo  that 
he  might  report  the  reception  he  rnet 
with,  which  fhe  fuppofed  he  was  gone  to 
do.  "  I  begin  now,"  added  fhe,  "  to  be 
"  forry  for  what  I  faid  to,  and  promifed, 
,  "  Mr.  Gill;  for  fuch  is  my  difpofition, 
"  that,  like  a  child,  I  am  fond  of  new 
''  faces,  and  foon  tired  of  them.  The 
"  young  gentleman,  I  believe,  loves  me 
"  to  adoration,  but  I  will  not  be  his 
*'  wife  notwithstanding ;  nor  will  I  be 
"  the  wife  of  any  man  3  for  I  can  never 
"  fubmit  to  the  controul  of  a  hufband, 
<*  or  put  it  in  his  power  to  fay  I  have 

"  been 


Mrs,  Sophia  Baddeley.     hi 

"  been  imprudent  in  life.  I  value  and 
<*  efteem  Mr.  Gill  j  but  I  am  refolved 
"  not  to  marry  him-  I  know,  my  dear 
*'  Steele,  you  will  call  me  whimfieal  and 
■"  capricious i  I  own  I  am  fo,  and  would 
**  have  married  him,  when  firll  I  faw 
■"  him,  had  I  been  at  liberty :  but  my 
"  mind  is  now  totally  altered,  and  I 
"  fhall  think  no  more  of  it.  You  fee 
"  what  a  changeling  I  am."  "  Yes,'* 
returned  I,  "  I  fee  it  well  enough,  and 
"  knew  it  would  come  to  this;  how- 
"  ever,  I  am  not  forry  for  it.  It  may 
■*'  be  a  wife  determination,  and  the  bet- 
"  ter,  as  it  takes  place  without  my  ad- 
«  vice."  «  If,"  replied  flie,  "  I  could 
"  give  my  hand  for  life  to  any  man,  I 
^*  would  to  him ;  for  I  love  and  efteem 
K  2  "  him 


112  The  Memoirs  of 

"  him  more  than  any  man  on  earth  -,  1 
*'  fhall  therefore  break  with  him  by  de- 
"  grees,  as  I  would  not  hurt  him." 

Lord  Melbourne  came  this  evening, 
and  whilft  he  was  with  us,  came  Sir 
Francis  Molineux,  Ufher  of  the  Black 
Rod,  who  fat  an  hour  with  me,  and  was 
forry  he  found  Mrs.  Baddeley  engaged. 
This  gentleman  had  no  fooner  left  us, 
than  the  houfe  was  difturbed,  by  a  noife 
below,  among  the  fervants.  One  of  the 
maids,  having  opened  the  two  pair  of 
ftairs  window,  and  threw  out  one  of  the 
cats,  whom  Ihe  found  lying  upon  her 
cap,  the  footman,  knowing  how  fond 
his  miftrefs  was  of  cats,  quarrelled  with 
her,   and  put  her  all  along  upon  the 

kitchen 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     113 

kitchen  fire.  The  girl  was  not  much 
hurt,  except  burning  of  her  cloaths,  hut 
Ihe  was  frightened  into  fuch  ftrong  fit?, 
that  it  required  three  to  hold  her;  and  I 
was  obliged  to  fend  for  the  apothecary, 
to  get  her  out  of  them.  It  was  at  laft 
efi'eded,  but  they  returned,  and  conti- 
nued with  her  near  three  hours.  Had 
Mrs.  Baddeley  known  it,  {he  would 
have  difcharged  the  nnaidj  but,  as  I 
thought  the  man  was  equally,  if  not 
more  cruel,  I  advifed  them  to  be  friends, 
and  the  quarrel  was  made  up.  His 
Lordfhip  ftaid  till  one  in  the  morning, 
and  then  went  away. 

When  he  was  gone,  Mrs.  Baddeley 

told  me,  fhe  had  fuch  things  to  acquaint 

K  3  me 


114  The  Memoirs  ok 

me  with,  as  would  furprife  me ;  that 
his  Lordlhip  had  faid,  he  had  laid  out 
fuch  large  fums  of  money,  upon  his 
houfe  and  other  things,  that  he  found 
himfelf  pinched  -,  for  though  his  fortune 
was  large,  his  ready  money  was  nearly 
cxhaufted  j  of  courfe,  he  fhould  not  be 
able  to  advance  her  money,  to  difcharge 
her  debts  for  fome  little  time  5  but,  that 
he  would  take  particular  care,  Ihe  Ihould 
have  plenty  for  her  immediate  occa- 
fions ;  and  that  fhortly,  he  would  not 
only  pay  all  ihe  owed,  but  would  dif- 
charge her  debt  to  me  too.  I  afked 
her  why  fhe  had  not  told  him  of  Mr. 
Pj  fhe  replied,  Jhe  had,  and  that  his 
Lordlhip  was  well  pleafed  with  it^  and 
faid,  it  happened  fortunately,  as  it  would 

keep 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     115 

keep  things  to  rights,  till  fuch  time  as 
he  eould  do  as  he  wilhed ;  and  faid,  the 
next  time  he  came,  he  would  bring  her 
fome  money.  She  faid,  his  Lordihip 
told  her,  that  fince  he  came  of  age,  he 
had  expended  upwards  of  two  hundred 
thoufand  pounds  in  neat  cafh. 

I  replied,  "  Then  you  mufl  be  frugal, 
*'  and  live  within  bounds,  and  all  will 
"  be  welli  for,  I  fuppofe  his  Lordfhip 
"  will  take  care,  in  a  little  time,  to  dif- 
"  incumber  you."  She  faid,  Ihe  had  no 
doubt  of  it,  and  would  follow  my  ad- 
vice. 

There  was  fcarce  a  day  paffed,  but 
fomething  new  occurred.     This  morn- 
ing 


ii6  The  Memoirs  of 

ing  came  three  men  to  the  door,  that 
played  on  different  inftruments.  One 
of  them  was  a  young  man,  about  twenty 
years  of  age,  who  fung  fweetly.  Mrs. 
iBaddeley  was  ib  ftruck  with  his  figure, 
his  voice,  and  manner,  thatfhe  ordered 
them  into  the  houfe,  and  bad  her  fer- 
vants  give  them  fomething  to  eat  -,  they 
were  taken  into  the  back-parlour,  and 
fed;  and  afterwards  Mrs.  Baddeley  went 
to  them,  and  they  continued  playing 
and  finging  three  hours  j  and  every  fong 
the  young  man  fung,  drew  from  her 
frefh  applaufe.  When  fhe  meant  to  dif- 
mifs  them,  (he  afl<:ed  me  what  flie  fhould 
give  themj  I  told  her  three  (hillings 
would  be  enough,  but  if  Ihe  thought 
-  not,    Ihe   might  give  them  five.     She 

faid 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     117 

faid,  five  fhillings,  in  her  opinion,  would 
not  fatisfy  them  j  but,  as  I  had  no  more 
filver,  fhe  took  it,  and  gave  it  to  the 
young  man,  who  bowed  gracefully,  and 
faid  he  was  much  obliged  to  her.  As 
they  were  going  away,  the  young  man 
{topped  to  let  his  comrades  go  on,  and 
when  they  were  gone,  he  returned  into 
the  room,  begged  Mrs.  Baddeley's  par- 
don for  the  liberty ;  but  faid,  the  men 
were  already  paid,  and  as  he  was  fulR- 
ciently  rewarded  by  the  honour  of  fing- 
ing  to  her,  he  begged  leave  to  return 
the  five  fhillings  fhe  kindly  gave  him. 
Mrs.  Baddeley  refufed  to  take  it  back, 
and  he  then  gave  it  to  her  fervant.  We 
looked  at  the  young  man,  with  amaze- 
ment, and  did  not  know  what  to  make 

of 


IiS  The  Memoirs  of 

of  him;  he  feemed  to  have  the  manner 
of  a  gentleman;  and,  on  leaving  her, 
begged  her  permilTion  to  come  again ; 
flie  took  his  addrefs,  and,  faid  he  might 
•depend  on  her  fending  for  him,  at  fome 
^other  time,  but  not  on  the  fame  terms  i 
for,  unlefs  he  would  permit  her  to  pay 
him,  fhe  would  not  think  of  it:  he 
bowed  and  went.  Mrs.  Baddeley  was  of 
opinion,  he  had  been  well  educated,  and 
being  reduced,  hired  thefe  men  to  go 
about  with  him ;  and,  that  lie  gave  John 
the  money,  not  thinking  himfelf  fuffi- 
ciently  paid  for  the  time  he  was  detain- 
ed. John,  our  fervant,  faid  he  was  no 
ftreet-finger ;  for,  whilft  he  was  at  break- 
faft,  he  tied  up  his  ftockings,  and  he  ob- 
ferved  that  he  had  fine  filk  garters,  and 


MRSr  Sophia  Baddeley.      119; 

■white  filk  ftockings,  under  his  worfted 
ones ;  and,  he  was  fure  it  was  fome  fro- 
lick.  I  afked  him  why  he  did  not  men- 
tion this  to  us  before  j  his  anfwer  was, 
he  did  not  think  of  it.  "  Befides,  ma- 
dam," added  John,  "  under  his  old  waift- 
"  coat,  he  had  a  fine  fhirt,  and  'twas  as 
*^  white  as  fnow."  Thefe  circumflan- 
ces  led  us  to  fend  where  he  gave  us 
the  direcSlion,  in  order  to  learn  who  he 
was ;  but,  we  were  difappointed,  for  no 
fuch  perfon  lived  in  that  place,  nor  did 
they  ever  hear  of  fuch  a  one.  This 
confirmed  John's  fuppolitions,  and  we 
never  heard  any  thing  of  him,  till  we 
went  to  a  maflced  ball,  at  the  Pantheon, 
fome  time  after  j  where  we  found  him 
in  nearly  the  fame  drefs   he  had  on  at 

our 


lao  The  Memoirs  of 

our  houfe,  and  with  the  fame  inftru- 
mentSj  on  which  he  played  ;  and  fung 
many  of  the  fame  fongs  we  heard  be- 
fore. "We  took  all  the  pains  we  could 
to  find  him  out,  but  was  not  able,  nor 
did  we  ever. 

No  fooner  were  thefe  men  gone,  on 
the  day  I  mentioned,  but  we  had  a 
morning  vifit  from  the  Duke  of  Man- 
chefter,  whom  Mrs.  Baddeley  received; 
he  called  with  a  trifling  favour  which  fhe 
aflced  him  for,  and  ftaid  but  a  fhort 
time.  As  the  door  was  opened  for  the 
Duke  of  Manchefter,  Mr.  John  Han- 
ger entered  it,  without  ceremony,  and 
eame  into  the  parlour  where  we  were 
fitting  J  he  faid,  he  juft  run  in,  to  aflc 

Mrs. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      lai 

Mrs.  Baddeley  how  fhe  did,  and  feated 
himfelf  by  her ;  and,  on  her  making  no 
anfwer,  he  enquired  the  reafon.-      She 
looked  angry  at  him,  and  faid,  ihe^  did  " 
not  approve  of  fuch  liberties,  entering 
the  houfe  in  the  manner  he  did.  "  There 
"  was  "a  lime,"  replied  he,   "  when  -Ii'i 
"  might  do   this    without   offence. "-i-'* 
"  Yes,"  returned  fhe,  "  and  pretty  re-* 
"  turns  you  made   me."      *^  My  dear 
"  Baddeley,"  cried   he,    "  upbraid  me 
"  no  more   v/ith   my   mifcondu6t  ;— I 
<'  cannot  live,  unlefs  you  love  me." — 
"  Love  you  ?"   returned  Ihe,  *f  I  once 
"  loved  you,  'tis  true,  and  to  my  for- 
<'  raW:;   but  I  never  will  be  that  fool' 
^^  again."      "How  fhall  I  make  you 
"  amends,"  faid  he,  "  for  what  is  paft  ?" 
Vol.  IV.  L  "  Will 


122  The  Memoirs  of 

"  Will  you  do  it,"  replied  flie,  «  if  I 
**  tell  you  ?"  «  I  will/*  faid  he,  «  if 
"  it  is  in  my  power." — "  Then,  take 
"  notice,"  retorted  ihe,  riling  from  her 
feat,  with  her  heart  full  of  refentment— 
yet  feeling  a  little  of  her  old  affeftion, 
fhe  paufed,  and  faid,  "  I  have  a  favour 
*'  to  beg  of  you,  which,  by  granting, 
"  you  will  confer  on  me  a  lafting  obli- 
"  gation."  Be  what  it  would,  he  alTur- 
ed  her,  he  would  grant  it.  "  How- 
"  ever  hard  then  my  conditions  may  be 
<'  deemed,"  returned  Ihe,  "  they  are, 
**  that  you  will  never  come  into  any 
^'  houfe  where  I  am,  take  notice  of 
i'  me  in  public,  or  even  write  to  me 
^'  again  i  I  am  new  happily  fituated, 
<f  and  have  refolved  never  to  receive 

"  more 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      123 

"  more  of  your  vifits."  "  This  fen- 
"  tence,"  faid  Mr.  Hanger,  "  my  dear 
"  Baddeley,  is  fo  fevere,  that  I  cannot 
*'  comply  with  it.  I  will  give  up  my 
"life  firftj  and,  as  to  Lord  Mel- 
**  bourne,  d — m  him,  he  had  better 
"  mind  his  wife  at  home,  than  put  him- 
"  felf  in  the  way  of  my  happinefs ;  and, 
"  I  am  determined,  one  day  or  other, 
**  to  make  him  anfwer  to  me  for  it." — 
"  Don't  talk  fo  idly,  young  man,"  faid 
Mrs.  Baddeley,  **  you  know  not  who  is 
*'  the  caufe  of  it ;  therefore,  ftifle  your 
"  refentment,  till  you  meet  with  the 
''  right  perfon."  «  I  would  to  God,'* 
faid  Mr.  Hanger,  ^^  I  knew  who  it  was. 
"  Lord  Melbourne  I  know  is  a  con- 
"  ftant  vifitor  at  this  houfe,"— I  could 
L  2  not 


124  The  Memoirs  of- 

not  hold  my  temper,  or  tongue  any  lon- 
ger, and  faid,  "  What  is  it  to  yon.  Sir, 
*'  who  vifits  us  ?     7'our  vifits,   I  muft 
"  tell  you  again,  are  exceedingly  difa- 
sc  greeable;    and,    I   mull  requeft  you 
"  will  come  here  no  more."     "  It  fig- 
.ffinifiest  little.  Madam,"  faid  he  to  me, 
"  what  you  fay  j  for  let  Mrs.  Baddeley 
"  be  where  Jhe  will  j  I  mufl,  and  wrll 
"  fee  her,  as  I  have  often  faid,  even  at 
"  the  rifk  of  my  life."      "Pray,.  Sir," 
faid  Mrs.  Baddeley,  taking  up  the.caufe 
-  again,  "  let  me  have  no   rudenefs  to 
"  Mrs.'  Steele.  .  She  is  the  bell  friend  I 
^'i  have, i  and  affronting  her,  is  affront- 
*V  ing  ^pie.      She   ha&  my  interell  too 
./•'much  at  heart  to  fee  me  the  dupe  of 
""  any  man.     I  have  had  time  for  re- 

«  fledion. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     125 

"  flefbion,  and  your  pad  condud  makes 
"  me  fhudder.  Have  you  not  often 
?'  beat  me  in  my  bed,  till  my  fhoulders 
*'  and  arms  have  been  black  for  a 
"  month  ?  And  did  your  cruelty  end 
"  here  ?  No  ;  when  I  took  the  liberty 
*'  to  give  you  fome  advice,  which  you 
"  then  flood  much  in  need  of;  did  you 

<c  not But  I  will  not  repeat  it.^ — 

"  The  more  I  think  of  it,  the  more  I 
"  defpife  you  !"-— 

This  charge  of  her's  I  knew  to  be  a 
fadli  he  has  often  beat  her  in  fuch  a 
manner,  that  I  have  feeii  his  cruel 
marks,  and  have  wept  over  them.— 
Many  of  her  friends,  now  living,  will 
teftify  the  fame;  and,  I  would  have 
L  3  horfe- 


126  The  Memoirs  of 

horfe-whipped  him  for  it,  if  Ihe  had 
not  prevented  me.  He  heard  her  out 
with  patience  j  and,  then  told  her,  he 
acknowledged  his  ill  behaviour,  and  was 
ready  to  atone  for  all  his  paft  faults> 
and,  therefore,  ought  to  be  forgiven  j 
that  flie  was  ftill  dear  to  him  j  that,  life 
without  her,  would  be  a  burthen,  and^ 
that  he  fhould  go  diftradted.  I  gave 
her  a  wink  to  go  out  of  the  room,  which 
flie  did,  faying,  fhe  muft  go  and  drefs^ 
being  engaged  to  go  out,  "  So,  good 
"  morning  to  you." — She  left  him;  he^ 
tried  to  bring  her  back,  with  all  the 
endearing  words  he  was  mailer  of,  but, 
to  no  purpofe;  he  then  bit  his  nails, 
and  walked  about  the  room  like  one 
crazed :    he  would  have  talked,  but,  I 

leaving 


Mr'S.  Sophia  Baddeley.     127 

leaving  him  with  the  fame  pretence,  he 
thought  proper  to  leave  the  houfe  j 
faying,  as  he  went,  he  Ihould  be  with  us 
again  the  next  day.  I  went  up  to  her, 
and  found  her  in  great  agitation,  crying 
out,  Ihe  was  nrtiferable,  and  apprehen- 
Hve,  from  his  revengeful  looks,  that  he 
would  do  her  a  mifchief.  She  wilhed 
earneftly,  that  fhe  had  never  {ten  him, 
for,  that  her  health  was  not  what  it  was 
before  fhe  fwallowed  the  poifon  j  and, 
that  the  fear  of  him  difturbed  her  daily. 
She  gave  all  her  fervants  orders  never 
to  admit  him,  faying,  fhe  would  dif- 
charge  the  firft  who  did  j  and,  they  all 
promifing  to  obey  her  directions,  fhe 
grew  more  eafy. 

When 


128  The  Memoirs  of 

When  Lord  Melbourne  came,  which 
he  did  that  evening,  at  eleven,  faying^ 
he  had  been  at  the  play  with  his  dear 
Betfy;  (for  he  has  often  declared  he 
fcarce  knew  which  he  loved  the  beft,  his 
wife,  or  Mrs.  Baddeley)  I  fay,  when  his 
Lordfhip  came,  fhe  told  him,  Mr, 
Hanger  had  been  with  her,  and  how 
fhe  had  treated  him ;  for,  Ihe  thought  it 
beft  to  mention  it  herfelf,  left  he  ftiould 
hear  it  from  fome  other  quarter,  and  be 
difpleafed.  Lord  Melbourne  acknow- 
ledged himfelf  much  obliged  to  her  for 
this  information,  which  put  him  at  his 
eafe;  for,  he  afiured  her,  Mr.  Hanger 
had,  one  day  at  Almack's,  told  Lord 
Stanley,  now  Earl  of  Derby,  in  his 
hearing,    that  Mrs.   Baddeley    was    as 

hand- 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     129 

handlbme  as  an  angel  i  that,  he  had 
been  at  romps  with  her  all  the  morning, 
and  he  was  as  happy  as  a  prince.  And 
when  Mrs.  Baddeley  told  him  the  orders 
fhe  had  given,  not  to  admit  him  again, 
he  gave  her  twenty  kiffes,  and  bleffed 
her  fweet  face.  He  brought  her  no 
money,  however,  but  faid  he  would  the 
next  day,. 

She  obferved  to  me,  when  Lord 
Melbourne  was  gone,  that  Hanger  had 
faid  this  in  his  Lordfhip's  hearing,  to 
create  uneafinefs  and  words  between  him 
and  her,  and  called  him  a  villain  for  fo 
doing  J  and,  told  me,  fhe  never  fhould 
forget  his  wicked  intentions.  Dr.  Arne 
now  came  in  to  give  her  a  leflbn,  and  he 

was 


ijo  The  Memoirs  of 

was  followed  foon  after  by  Mr.  Darner, 
who  was  {o  pleafed  with  Mrs.  Badde- 
ley's  performances,  that  he  thought 
proper  to  reward  her  mailer,  by  a  hand- 
ful of  gold.  Both  he  and  Doctor  Arne 
fupped  with  us  j  and,  the  do6lor  liking 
the  wine,  Mrs.  Baddeley  ordered  the 
feat  of  his  carriage  to  be  filled  with  it,, 
unknown  to  him.  Mr.  Darner  enter- 
tained us  with  the  converfation  he  had 
with  our  maid,  when  we  were  in  the 
country,  under  the  name  of  Scott,  the 
mercers  he  told  her,  he  had  been  a 
hundred  times  after  his  money,  and 
pretended  to  be  d — n'd  angry ;  the  girl 
begged  his  pardon  for  difbelieving  him, 
and  faid,  that  her  miftrefs  never  fuffered 
a  perfon  to  call  twice,  if  Ihe  knew  it  > 

thati 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     131 

that  Ihe  had  lived  with  her  two  years, 
and  never  heard  fuch  a  thing  of  her  be- 
fore. She  faid,  if  he  called  when  the 
ladies  were  at  home,  he  would  have  his 
money,  (thumping  her  hand  upon  the 
table,  with  violence,)  and  it  was  as  fure  as 
the  Bank  of  England  J  "  For,  thank  God, 
<f  we  have  no  duns  here."  "  In  Ihort," 
faid  he,  "  I  had  a  long  chat  with  the 
**  woman,  and  gave  her  a  fhilling  at 
*'  parting ;  as,  fhe  promifed  to  Hand  my 
**  friend,  and  get  me  my  money  as  foon 
*'  as  you  came  to  town." 

We  were  no  fooner  alone,  than  our 
fervant,  John,  came  into  the  parlour, 
and  requefted  we  would  give  him  a  pa- 
tient hearing,  and  not  be   angry  with 

him. 


132  The  Memoirs  of 

him.  We  bad  him  fpeak  freely,  and 
he  began  with  faying,  he  was  mightily 
in  love  with  Mrs.  Bridget,  Madam's 
waiting-maid,  meaning  Mrs.  Baddeley's^ 
and,  he  never  could  be  happy,  unlefs 
he  could  have  our  confent  to  marry 
her,  for  fhe  was  the  woman  of  his  heart, 
and  he  could  not  live  without  her. 
"  And  how  do  you  propofe,"  faid  Mrs, 
Baddeley,  "  to  maintain  her  ?"  By  his 
induftryj  he  faid,  and  her  fervice. — 
"  What  then,"  returned  Ihe,  "  you 
"  mean  to  continue  with  me .?"  "  1£ 
"  you  will  give  us  leave,  that  is  our  de- 
"  fign;  and  ihe  fliall  wait  on  you  as  fhe 
"  does  at  prefent.  I  hope,  therefore, 
"  you  will  confent  to  our  marriage." — 
"  But   I   muft  firft  know,"  faid  Mrs. 

Baddeley, 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     133 

Baddeley,  "  whether  fhe  is  difpofed  to 
**  have  you."  He  replied^  fhe  was,  and 
if  fhe  would  permit  him,  he  would  fend 
her  into  the  parlour.  She  was  accord- 
ingly fent  for ;  and,  on  being  afked  if 
Ihe  had  any  love  for  John,  fhe  anfwered 
in  the  affirmative.  "  Why,  what  a  Hy 
"  wench  you  arci"  faid  her  miflrefs, 
"  and  do  you  wifh  to  marry  liim  ?'* 
She  replied,  yes  ;  and  fhould  not  be 
happy  unlefs  fhe  did.  "  Well,  then," 
faid  Mrs.  Baddeley,  "  you  fhall  not 
"  want  my  confent  j  and,  if  Mrs. 
"  Steele  will  give  you  furniture  for  a 
"  room,  I  will  do  all  the  reft,  and  give 
"  you  a  wedding-dinner  j  fo,  you  may 
"  marry  as  foon  as  you  pleafe."  She 
curtefyed,  and  went  away  happy,  to 
Vol.  IV.  M  ac^ 


134  The  Memoirs  op 

acquaint  John  with  what  we  had  faid. 
The  wedding  was  foon  folemnized.  I 
gave  them  the  complete  furniture  of  one 
room)  and,  on  the  day  of  marriage,  they 
and  their  fellow-fervants  had  a  good 
dinner,  at  our  expence,  uninterrupted  -, 
with  as  much  wine,  rum  and  brandy, 
as  they  could  drink.  She  lived  with  us 
till  ftie  was  ready  to  lie  in,  and  then  Ihe 
left  us.  But  fhe  always  found  a  friend 
in  Mrs.  Baddeley,  who  was  liberal  to 
a  faulty  for  fhe  was  feldom  well,  and 
Mrs.  Baddeley  paid  a  great  deal  of 
money  for  phyficians,  apothecaries,  and 
nurfes,  to  attend  herj  but,  like  moft 
low-bred  people,  her  hufband,  from 
growing  ungrateful,  grew  impertinent, 
and  we  got  rid  of  him  too. 

She 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     135 

She  now  ordered  the  coach  to  go  to 
her  milliner's  -,  and,  though  I  went  with 
her,  to  prevent  any  extravagance  taking 
place  5  fhe  found  means  to  lay  out  thirty 
pounds  for  gauze  and  blonds ;  and,  paff- 
ing  by  Mr.  King's,  the  mercer,  would 
go  in  to  fee  what  new  French  filks  he 
had  i  he  produced  many ;  and,  on  her 
laying,  Ihe  could  not  afford  tQ  buy  any, ' 
he  faid  he  would  make  her  a  prefent  of 
what  Ihe  wifhed ;  or,  he  would  give  her 
feven  years  credit;  for,  Mrs,  Baddeley 
was  a  favourite  of  his,  and  he  no  left 
fo  of  Mrs.  Baddeley.  In  Ihort,  be-  , 
tween  them,  flie  brought  away  two 
dreffes,  one  at  eighteen  Ihillings  a  yard, 
and  the  other  at  a  guinea.  Going  home, 
our  horfes  became  unruly,  and  we  were 
M  ^  obliged 


1^6  The  Mimoirs  op 

obliged  to  alight ;  and,  as  we  walked 
through  Coventry-flreet,  were  over- 
taken by  Sir  Cecil  Biihop.  When  we 
came  to  the  great  ehina-Ihop  there,  flie 
went  in  and  purchafed  as  much  china 
as  came  to  thirteen  pounds  nine  Iliil- 
lings,  which  Sir  Cecil,  with  great  gal- 
lantry, infifted  on  paying  for  j  and,  as 
our  coach  followed  us,  we  got  in,  and 
Sir  Cecil  politely  took  his  leave.-— 
«*  This,"  faid  Mrs.  Baddeley,  «  is  the 
**  confequence  of  going  abroad ;  had  I 
"  ftaid  at  home,  I  fhould  not  have  had 
"  this  china."  «  True,"  faid  I,  "  but 
*'  had  you  ftaid  at  home,  you  would 
**  not  have  been  feventy  pounds  more 
**  in  debt  than  you  was  yefterday.'*  On 
our  return  home,  we  found  Lord  Har- 


ringtoa 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     137 

rington  had  called,  and  our  man  not 
being  with  us,  the  maid  opened  the  door; 
his  Lordfhip  gave  her  half  a  guinea,  and 
begged  fhe  would  not  fail  to  tell  her 
miftrefs,  that  he  would  be  there  again 
in  two  hours ;  having  made  a  little  pur- 
chafe,  which  he  Ihould  beg  her  accep- 
tance of.  Mrs.  Baddeley  determined, 
therefore,  to  fee  him,  to  take,  as  fhe 
did  from  Lord  Falmouth,  what  he  had 
to  prefent  her  with ;  and,  meaning  that 
this  viflt  Ihould  be  his  laft.  He  pre- 
fently  came,  and  faid,  a  bauble  had 
ftruck  his  fancy  as  he  palTed  St.  James's- 
flreet,  which  he  begged  Ihe  would  do. 
him  the  honour  to  accept,  and  wear  in 
remembrance  of  him.  This  was  a  beau- 
tiful diamond  hoop-ring,  {et  in  a  pecu- 
M  3  liar 


138  The  Memoirs  of 

liar  manner,  that  added  to  it's  brilliancy; 
he  requefted  permifTion  to  put  it  on, 
and  placed  it  on  the  fourth  finger  of  her 
left  hand  J  faying,  he  wilhed  himfelf 
and  her,  fo  circumilanced  in  life,  that 
he  could  put  it  on  in  an  honourable 
way  i  but,  as  fate  put  a  bar  be- 
tween them,  he  could  only  alTure  herj 
that  he  prefented  it  with  as  much  fince- 
rity,  and  put  it  on  her  finger  with  more 
love  and  affeftion,  than  he  did  Lady 
Harrington's,  on  his  wedding-day.  Slie 
could  not  but  thank  him  for  his  genteel 
mode  of  making  her  a  prefent,  which 
fhe  much  admired  j  but,  thought  him 
no  way  juflifiable  in  making  fuch  decla- 
rations, whiift  fo  amiable  a  lady,-  as  he 
had,  was  living.      "  My  friends,   my 

"  Lord, 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     139- 

**  Lord,"  faid  flie,  "  feem  to  have  taken 
*'  up  a  wrong  opinion  of  me ;  I  am  not 
"  infenfible  of  my  indifcretions,  and  I 
"  blujQi  to  own  them ;  but,  I  am  not 
"  confcious  there  is  any  thing  in  my 
"  condu6b,  that  will  juftify  attempts  on 
"  my  fidelity.  Though  the  law  forbids 
"  me  to  marry,  I  have  a  friend,  to 
"  whom  I  owe  infinite  obligations, 
'^  who  indulges  me  in  every  thing  my 
*'  heart  can  wifh,  and  to  whom  a  breach 
"  of  faith  would  be  unpardonable.  He, 
"  like  a  real  gentleman,  does  not  de- 
'^  prive  me  of  the  pleafure  of  feeing  my 
"  friends ;  and,  under  this  predicament, 
"  were  I  to  fee  them  in  any  other  light 
^^  than  SLS  friends  J  it  would  be  the  height. 
*'  of  ingratitude.     "Whi:lft^yoiir  Lord- 

"  Ihip 


140  The  Memoirs  of 

**  Ihip  thinks  proper  to  confider  me  in 
"  that  light,  I  fhall  be  proud  of  the 
"  honour  of  your  company,  whenever 
"  it  may  be  agreeable  to  you  j  but,  to 
"  admit  of  your  vifits  in  any  other  cha- 
"  ra6ler,  will  be  doing  an  injury  to 
"  your  Lordfhip,  to  myfelf,  and  to 
"  many."  Lord  Harrington,  with  all 
the  fenfibility  of  a  generous  mind,  com- 
mended her  i  faid,  he  had  attended  to 
her  with  pleafure  j  that,  her  fentiments 
were  noble,  and  did  her  great  honour, 
and,  that  he  fhould  value  her  for  them ; 
and,  he  had  only  to  lament,  that  he 
was  not  that  happy  man,  that  was  nearer 
to  her  perfonj  for,  though  his  perfon 
and  age,  gave  him  no  right  to  claim 
the  attention  of  fo  beautiful,  and  amiable 

a  woman 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     141 

a  woman  as  her,  yet,  as  various  things 
occurred  in  life,  that  might  give  a  turn 
to  her  fentiments,  and  fituations  ;  he 
hoped,  as  fhe  might  ever  command  both 
him  and  his  fortune,  let  that  turn  take 
place  when  it  would,  fhe  would  bellow 
a  favourable  thought  upon  him. 

"When  his  Lordfhip  was  gone,  Ihe  ad- 
mired his  prefent,  faid  Ihe  wanted  fuch 
a  ring,  and  afked  me  if  I  thought  Ihe 
afted  right}  faying,  Ihe  was  determined 
to  ad  fo,  by  every  married  man  that  ad- 
drefled  her ;  and,  was  unhappy  at  Lord 
Melbourne's  being  married;  more  on  ac- 
count of  his  Lady,  than  herfelf ;  for, 
whenever  he  was  with  her,  it  took  off 
all  the  pleafure  Ihe  would  otherwife 

have 


142  The  Memoirs  of 

have  in  his  company  j  "  But,"  faid  fhe,. 
**  the  misfortune  is,  I  am  fo  deep  in 
"  the  mire,  that  1  ftick  faft."  I  then 
took  the  opportunity  to  try  again,  if  I 
Gould  not  draw  her  into  a  more  honeft 
Gourfe  of  life  3  and  even  offered  her,  on 
conditions  Ihe  would  return  to,  and  live 
by,  her  profeffion,  to  give  her  a  full  dif- 
charge  from  any  demands  I  had  upon 
her  i  and  would  endeavour,  if  fhe  dif- 
Jiked  a  public  life,  to  {&t  her  up  in  fome 
bufinefs,  that  might  fupport  her  in  ere- 
dit.  As  to  the  ftage,  Ihe  faid,  it  was 
io  much  her  deteftation,  that  ihe  would 
fooner  meet  her  death,  than  engage  on 
it  again  5  and  as  to  bufinefs,  Ihe  was  to- 
tally unfit  for  it.  In  lliort,  Ihe  could 
not  think  of  altering  her  fituation,  bad 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddfley.     143 

as  it  was,  till  ftie  conld  not  help  it ;  fhe 
now  was  happy  in  her  circumftances,  and 
would  endeavour  to  continue  fo. 

There  was  now  to  be  a  Ridotto,  at 
the  Opera-houfe,  and,  the  ladies  were 
to  appear  in  fancied  drelTes,  without 
mafks  J  we,  therefore,  began  to  prepare 
for  iti  and,  fhe  refolved  to  make  up  the 
filk  fhe  bought  that  day  of  Mr.  King, 
for  that  purpofe  i  and  an  elegant  drefs 
was  made  of  it.  It  was  a  lilac-ground, 
with  beautiful  flowers,  fcattered  down 
it.  The  fleeves  were  puckered  gauze  j 
worn  with  a  veil,  richly  trimmed  with 
point-lace,  which  flowed  in  a  manner 
that  confiderably  added  to  it's  beauty. 
The  houfe  was  crowded  with  perfons  of 

the 


144  The  Memoirs  of 

the  firft  rank,  and  the  ladies  fpared  no  ex- 
pence  to  vie  with  each  other  in  fplendor 
of  appearance  j  but  yet  I  naufl  fay,  no  drefs 
pleafed  me  fo  much  as  Mrs.  Baddeley's^ 
nor,  was  any  fo  much  admired.  Lord 
and  Lady  Melbourne  were  there,  arm  in 
arm,  and  walked  together  the  whole 
evening  3  but,  his  Lordlhip  did  not  omit 
to  give  Mrs.  Baddeley  many  pleafant 
looks ;  and,  even  Lady  Melbourne  be- 
llowed a  fmile  upon  her.  We  flaid  till 
five  in  the  morning ;  and  were  handed 
to  our  coach  by  Mr.  Moncagu,  and 
Lord  Clanbrazil. 

On  our  return  home,  Mrs.  Baddeley 
found  herfelf  not  well ;  and  conceived, 
for  the  firft  time  in  her  life,  fhe  was  in 

the 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      145 

the  way  of  many  a  married  woman ;  but, 
wiflied  it  might  be  kept  a  fecret,  till 
Lord  Melbourne  found  it  out  himfelfj 
but  this  never  happened;  for,  owing  to 
a  fright,  in  lofing  a  favourite  cat,  which 
flie  had  fome  reafon  to  think  was  killed 
by  a  dog,   Ihe  was  taken  ill,  and  mif- 
carried.     But  we  contrived  it  fo,  that 
no  one  knew  it.     It  confined  her  to  the 
houfe  a  fortnight.     During  this   time 
fhe  took  an  opportunity,  by  means  of  a 
friend,  to  give  Mr.  Gill  to  underftand, 
(which  he  was  to  break  to  him  by  de- 
grees,) that  (he  had  totally  altered  her 
mind  about    marrying ;    that,    if   fhe 
gave  her  hand  to  any  one,  it  fhould  be 
to  him  J  yet,  according  to  her  prefent 
way  of  thinking,  fhe  would  difpofe  of  it 
Vol.  IV.  N  to 


146  The  Memoirs  of 

to  no  one.  During  this  illnefs,  Lord 
Melbourne  was  frequently  with  her, 
but  never  flaid  long  j  he  told  her,  among 
other  things,  that  his  dear  Betfy  admir- 
ed her  drefs,  at  the  Ridotto,  and  faid 
many  civil  things  of  her;  and,  he  could 
have  kifTed  her  dear  feet  for  it.  She 
replied,  that  her  Ladyfhip's  attention  to 
her,  was  more  than  Ihe  deferved  j  but, 
the  fault  was  not  her's  j  the  blame  refted 
with  his  Lordfhip. — *'  Yes/'  returned 
he, 

"  Blame  on,  blame  on,  and  be  forgiven ; 
**  And,   by    repentance,   make  a  holiday   in 
Heaven : 

"  No  more  of  this. — Here  Mrs.  Steele, 
"  is  fomething  to  pay  the  doflor."  I 
took  it,  and  offered  it  to  Mrs.  Baddeley, 

who 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      147 

who  bad  me  put  it  in  my  pocket.  When 
he  was  gone,  we  looked  at  the  m.oney, 
and  found  it  to  be  two  hundred  pounds. 
I  told  her  this  would  help;  not 
much,  fhe  faid,  for  it  was  time  Mr. 
P.  had  fome  more  money.  Mr.  P. 
came  in  the  evening,  and  I  gave 
him  this  money,  and  took  his  receipt. 
He  faid  if  I  wanted  it,  I  might  keep 
it,  in  part  of  the  four  hundred  pounds 
I  lent  him,  but  that  it  came  in  good 
time,  for  he  had  many  calls  upon  him  j 
I  declined  it  j  therefore,  he  put  it  in  his 
pocket.  Mrs.  Baddeley  fent  for  him 
up-ftairs,  was  very  lavifh  in  her  com- 
pliments to  him,  and  thanks  ;  and  beg- 
ged him  to  put  her  in  a  way  how  Ihe 
might  be  of  fervice  to  him,  in  return  j 
N  2  that 


y 


148  The  Memoirs  of 

that  fhe  might  fhew  her  gratitude  other- 
wife  than  by  words.  He  replied,  that  the 
pleafure  of  being  of  ufe  to  her  and  me, 
was  an  ample  recompence,  and  that  he  had 
no  view  in  what  he  did  but  to  ferve  us. 

When  he  was  gone,  Mrs.  Baddeley 
faidj  flie  was  fure  that  Mr.  P.  was  in 
love  with  me ,  and,  that  all  his  fer  vices 
to  her  was  on  that  fcore  \  that  llie  had 
obferved  him  every  time  he  came,  and 
that  his  eyes  were  riveted  on  me,  and 
bad  me  remark  her  words  \  for  I  fhould 
foon  know  it  5  and  though  I  fmiled  at 
the  affertion,  yet,  I  determined  never  to 
fee  him  more,  but  in  the  prefence  of  a 
third  perfon,   that  he  might  have  no 

opportunity 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     149 

opportunity,  if  it  was  fo,  of  declaring 
himfelf. 


Nothing  occurred,  in  the  courfe  of  her 
illnefs,  worth  notice,  (as  the  knocker 
was  muffled,  and  Hie  was  denied  to 
every  one  but  Lord  Melbourne)  ex- 
cept a  circumftance,  refpedling  Mr. 
Dibden,  of  Drury-lane  Theatre;  which, 
though  it  does  him  little  credit,  I  fhall 
relate;  to  jfhew  the  unthankfulnefs  of  the 
world,  and  what  little  encouragement 
there  is  to  do  any  one  a  good  office. 
Jie  is  now  living;  and  I  dare  him  to 
Gontradi<5l  it.  He  had  been  under  ob- 
ligations to  Mrs.  Baddeley  before,  but 
came  now  to  requeft  the  loan  of  twenty 
pounds.  Having  given  Mr.  P.  all  we 
N  3  had 


150  The  Memoirs  of 

had  to  fpare,  fhe  found  herfelf  obliged 
to  tell  him,  that  fhe  was  not  at  that  mo- 
ment miftrefs  of  fuch  a  fum  j  or,  fhe 
would  lend  it  him  with  pleafure.  He  then 
faid,  he  was  undone,  for  he  had  an  exe- 
cution in  his  houfe ;  and,  if  he  did  not 
pay  the  money  that  day,  all  would  be 
carried  off  and  fold.  He  afked  her  if 
fhe  would  accept  a  draft  for  him,  at  fix 
weeks ;  faying,  he  fhould  be  in  cafh  at 
that  time,  and  would  take  it  up  him- 
felf.  She  faid,  fhe  had  never  done  fuch 
a  thing ;  but,  if  it  would  ferve  him ;  on 
condition  that  he  would  keep  his  wor4, 
and  pay  it  when  due,  fhe  would  fo  far 
oblige  him ;  but,  that  he  mufl  not  dif- 
appoint  her,  as  fhe  had  fo  many  debts 
of  her  own  to  pay,   that  fhe  could  not 

think 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     151 

think  of  taking  up  that  bill.  He  pro- 
mired  he  would  provide  for  itj  drew 
the  bill,  and  Ihe  accepted  it.  He  pafTed 
tliis  draft  away;  it  became  due,  without 
Mr.  Dibden's  taking  any  notice  of  it,  or 
even  calling  upon,  or  fending  to  us 
upon  the  fubje6t.  Of  courfe  it  was 
brought  to  our  houfe  for  payment.  I 
told  the  bringer,  Mr.  Griffiths,  who 
kept  the  Two  Brewers,  in  Brewer- 
ftreet;  that  Mrs.  Baddeley  was  out  of 
town,  and  that  I  could  fay  nothing  to 
it,  Mr.  Dibden  having  only  borrowed 
her  acceptance,  and  promifed  to  honour 
the  draft  himfelf.  He  alked  when  flie 
would  be  in  town ;  I  faid  in  fourteen  days. 
He  then  replied,  he  would  wait  that  four- 
teen days  with  pleafure,  if  I  would  indorfe 

it. 


i^a  The  Memoirs  of 

it,  but  not  eKe-,  and,  that  in  the  courfe 
of  that  time,  I  might  find  Mr.  Dibden 
and  get  it  paid.  As  Mrs.  Baddeley  had 
accepted  the  bill,  I  thought  my  name 
of  little  confequence,  and  accordingly 
indorfed  it.  About  three  hours  after- 
wards,  as  I  was  going  down  the  fleps 
from  my  door,  a  well-dreiTed  man  ac- 
cofted  me;  faid,  he  had  fome  bufinefs 
with  me,  and  wifhed  me  to  return  into 
the  houfe,  and  he  would  then  acquaint 
me  with  it.-  I  objeded  to  this,  and 
begged  he  would  tell  me  his  bufinefi 
there  ;  he  replied,  he  had  a  writ  againll 
me,  but  did  not  wifh  any  one  to  know 
it  J  and  therefore,  begged  me  to  return 
witliin  the  houfe.  This  alarmed  me, 
and  we  went  in.     He  then  told  me,  it 

was 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     153 

was  a  trick  that  had  been  played  me  i 
and,  that  it  was  for  the  twenty  pound 
draft,  I  had  that  day  indorfcd.  He  faid, 
his  name  was  Steele,  that  he  was  a  She- 
riff's Officer,  and  lived  in  King-flreet, 
Weftminfter;  and  added,  that  he  faw 
the  villainy  of  the  proceeding,  and  would 
fliew  me  all  the  indulgence  he  could. 
"  Name  your  time.  Madam,"  faid  he, 
"  bail  it,  or  pay  it,  it  is  the  fame,  and 
"  I  will  go  immediately."  I  thanked 
him,  gave  him  a  guinea  for  his  civility, 
faid,  I  would  advife  with,  fome  friend 
on  the  occafion,  and  begged  him  to  call 
the  next  day.  I  applied  to  an  Attorney, 
who  advifed  me  to  bail  it,  and  fland 
trial ;  and,  as  I  was  a  married  woman, 
he  would  plead  my  coverture,  and  make 

them 


154  The  Memoirs  of 

them  pay  the  cofts,  for  their  villainy. 
"  Send  the  officer  to  me  Madam/'  faid 
he,  "  and  I  will  undertake  for  you."  I 
fent  for  the  officer,  and  he  told  me  there 
were  fome  difagreeable  circumftances 
attending  it,  which  I  was  not  apprized  of. 
"  There  is  a  name,"  faid  he,  "  on  the  bill, 
"  and  the  perfon  does  not  exift,  and 
"  ihould  you  bail  it,  it  will  enrage  Grif- 
**  fiths,  and  perhaps  lead  him  to  give  Mr. 
*,*  Dibden  trouble."  I  told  him,  Mr.  Dib- 
den  was,  in  my  opinion,  a  very  refpefta- 
ble  man,  and  above  committing  any  im- 
proper adtion:  he  replied,  he  was  of  the 
fame  opinion,  and  advifed,  if  I  had  any 
regard  for  him,  to  fend  for  Griffiths,  and 
pay  him  the  money  j  in  which  cafe,  the 
draft  would  be  in  my  own  poffeffion,  and 

I  might 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     155 

1  might  do  what  I  pleafed  with  it.  I 
told  him,  I  had  a  regard  for  Mr.  Dib- 
derij  and  his  charader,  and  would  fooner 
pay  the  money,  than  he  fhould  have  any 
trouble.  Griffiths  was  fent  for,  he  pro- 
duced the  draft,  feemed  unwilling  to 
part  with  it^  but,  I  fnatched  it  out  of 
his  hand,  paid  him  the  money  and  the 
cofls,  and  bid  him  get  out  of  my  houfe. 
He  was  very  impudent,  threatened  to 
profecute  me,  but  on  the  officer's  faying, 
as  I  paid  the  money,  I  had  a  right  to  the 
billj  he  could  not  help  himfelf.  He 
fwore  however,  he  would  profecute  me, 
but  the  officer  only  laughed  at  him ; 
faid,  he  was  well  matched,  and  it  was 
only  trick  for  trick. 

When 


156  The  Memoirs  ok 

When  they  were  gone,  I  wrote  to 
Mr.  Dibden,  but  could  get  no  anfwer^ 
I  then  went  to  Chelfea  after  him  j  but 
he  was  never  to  be  {cen.  Chance  how- 
ever threw  him  in  my  way,  about  fix 
weeks  afterwards  5  and,  on  my  afking 
him  why  he  never  called  j  he  pleaded 
bufinefs,  and  a  new  piece  coming  out 
at  the  theatre,  that  engaged  all  his 
time.  Telling  him,  that  I  had  been  ar- 
refled  for  his  note,  and  that  I  wiflied  he 
would  give  me  the  money,  as  I  paid  it 
out  of  my  own  pocket  J  he  replied,  he 
was  out  of  cafhi  but,  on  my  informing 
him,  what  his  friend  Griffiths  had  faid, 
refpeding  a  falfe  indorfement,  on  the 
back  of  the  bill,  and  that  I  fhould  not 
have  paid  it,  but  for  his  fake,  and  to 

fave 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     157 

fave  him  from  any  difagreeable  confe- 
quences.  He  flew  in  a  violent  pafTion; 
fwore  at  me ;  abufed  me  in  the  grofTeft 
terms,  and  declared  he  would  never 
pay  me;  that  he  was  glad  I  was  ar- 
retted i  Mrs.  Baddeley  got  her  money 
eafy  enough;  and,  it  was  no  great  thing, 
if  Ihe  had  paid  fo  fmall  a  fum  for  him. 
I  then  loft  all  patience;  told  him  he 
was  an  ungrateful  fellow ;  that,  had  dif" 
trejs  been  his  excufe,  I  Ihould  have  for- 
given it,  pitied  him,  and  would  have 
waited  till  it  had  fyited  him  to  repay 
me;  but,  to  be-  fo  abufed  and  ferved, 
for  the  pains  I  took  to  befriend  him, 
was  the  moft  ungrateful  return  that  I 
ever  met  with  ;  and,  that  I  would  im- 
mediately fue  him  for  the  money. 
Vol.  IV.  O  He 


i£S  The  Memoirs  of 

He  turned  upon  his  heels,  faid,  I  might 
be  d — n'd,  and  left  me;  and,  to  this 
hour,  have  I  never  received  a  Ihilling 
of  it. 

.  To  come  back  to  the  fubjed  of  thefe 
memoirs.  On  our  return  one  day  from 
an  airing,  we  were  told  that  a  Mr.  Pi- 
got  had  called,  and  faid,  he  wilhed  to 
fee  Mrs.  Baddeley,  on  a  matter  of  fome 
moment,  and  would  call  again  the  next 
day.  This  was  the  Captain  Pigot,  whom 
we  met  with  at  Windfor  i  and,  conceiv- 
ing he  had  fome  melTage  to  deliver, 
from  our  friend  there,  when  he  came, 
he  was  admitted.  But,  his  matter  of 
moment,  was  only  to  tell  Mrs.  Badde- 
ley, that  he  had  no  peace,  night  or  day, 

fince 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     159 

fince  he  faw  her ;  and,  that  he  could  not 
refrain  from  ennbracing  the  firft  oppor- 
tunity of  declaring  how  much  he  loved 
her  J  and,  how  unhappy  he  fhould  be,  if 
fhe  would  not  admit  of  his  vifits. — She 
only  laughed  at  his  folly ;  faid,  fhe  could 
not  fuppofe  him  idle  enough  to  con- 
ceive, that  his  vifits  would  be  accepta- 
ble to  her,  in  the  light  he  wifhed  them 
to  be  confidered  j  and,  made  ufe  of  the 
fame  arguments  flie  had  frequently  held 
out  to  others,  in  a  fimilar  predicament. 
But,  no  reafon  could  divert  him  from  his 
purpofe,  unlefs  fhe  would  promife  to 
fee  him  when  he  called.  She,  with  a 
great  deal  of  good  fenfe,  told  him  her 
fituation  made  it  imprudent  in  her  to 
receive  him  j  and,  as  her  engagements, 
O  2  and 


i6o  The  Memoirs  of 

and  amufements  feldom  left  her  Ave 
minutes  to  fpare,  fhe  could  not  think  of 
it.  But,  he  was  too  inriportunate,  to  be 
put  off  by  this,  and  Ihe  could  not  other- 
wife  get  rid  of  him,  than  by  affuring 
him,  jfhe  ihould  be  happy  to  fee  him 
occafionally,  among  the  reft  of  her 
friends  j  but,  if  his  vifits  were  too  fre- 
quent, he  mufi  not  be  difpleafed,  if  fhe 
was  fometimes  denied.  He  dwelt  long 
on  the  painful  life  he  fhould  live ;  that, 
the  world  without  her,  would  be  hate- 
ful to  him,  and  fo  on  5  but,  fhe  would 
liften  to  none  of  it,  and  was  forced  to 
leave  him  abruptly,  on  a  pretence  of 
going  out. 

After 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     i6i 

After  he  had  left  her^  Mrs.  Baddeley 
feemed  to  exprefs  a  forrow  for  the  young 
man  ;  as  it  hurt  her  to  give  pain  to  aay 
one  J  but,  at  the  fame  time,  faid,  it  was  a 
very  difagreeable  thing,  to  be  always 
importuned  on  a  fubje<5b  fhe  could 
not  attend  to. — "  You  know,  my  dear 
"  Steele,"  faid  fhe,  "  it  is  out  of  my 
"  power  to  receive  fuch  vifits  as  his, 
"  and  therefore  I  gave  him  a  proper 
"  anfwer  j  for,  he  had  better  feel  his  dif- 
"  appointment  now,  than,  after  having 
"  received  fome  encouragement  from 
"  me,  to  meet  with  it  hereafter.  In- 
"  deed,"  continued  fhe,  "  though  it  is 
"  pleafing  to  be  admired  and  thought 
"  well  of  i  it  is  to  the  lafl  degree  irkfome, 
"  to  be  deprived  of  that  rational  conver- 
O  3  fation. 


i62  The  Memoirs  of 

*^  fation,  which  makes  the  company  of 
'^  gentlemen  fo  agreeable,   and  to  have 
*'  one's  ears  filled  with  declarations  of 
*^  love,  and  a  parcel  of  nonfenfe,  that 
"  I  am  not  in  a  fituation  to  liften  to.    I 
"  declare  to  you,  my  dear  friend,  I  of- 
"  ten  wilh  I  was  a  hermit,  and  lived  in 
*'  a  cave  unnoticed  by  the  world."    In- 
deed,  Mrs.  Baddeley's  romantic  turn, 
frequently  led  her   to   wifh   herfelf  in 
fome  fequeftered  retreat,  and  fhe  feldom, 
when  in  the  country,  pafled  a  neat  cot- 
tage,   but  fhe  would   remark,    that   it 
looked  like  a  happy  place;  and  fay,  fhe 
believed  the  inhabitants  were  far  more 
at  eafe,    than  thofe   that  walked   in  a 
more  exalted  fphere  of  life.    They  know 
no  ambition  -,  nor,  have  they  a  thought 

above 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     163 

above  their  prefent  fituation.  But,  thefe 
refledtions  feldom  continued  -,  a  few 
hours  longer,  and  nothing  was  upper- 
moft  but  drefs  and  preparation,  for 
the  amufements  of  the  rrietropolis, 
operas,  plays,  mafquerades,  Vauxhall, 
and  Ranelagh.  Our  life  was  fuch  a 
continued  fcene  of  buftle  and  difTipa- 
tion,  that  I  wonder  how  fhe  looked  fo 
well.  Often,  in  funnmer  time,  have  we 
returned  from  a  place  of  amufement, 
at  three  in  the  morning  j  and,  without 
going  to  reft,  have  changed  our  drefs, 
and  gone  off  in  our  phaeton,  ten  or 
twelve  miles  to  breakfaft^  and,  have 
kept  this  up  for  five  or  fix  days  toge- 
ther, without  any  deep.  In  the  morn- 
ing, to  an  exhibition,  or  auction ;  this 

followed 


164  The  Memoirs  of 

followed  by  an  airing,  into  Hyde-park; 
after  that,  to  drefs,.  then  to  the  play ; 
from  thence,  before  the  entertainment 
was  over,  away  to  Ranelagh,  return 
perhaps  at  two;  and,  after  fupper  and  a 
little  chat,  the  horfes  ordered,  and  to 
Epfom,  OF  fome  other  place  again  to 
breakfaft ;  and,  thus  would  fhe  run  on 
for  many  days  together,  and  never  fay 
flie  was  tired.! — Whenever  we  have  been 
travelling,  let  our  journey  be  ever  fo 
long,  Ihe  would  travel  night  and  day.j 
always  with  four  horfes,  and  as  faft  as 
the  drivers  could  make  them  go ;  for, 
file  never  had  any  fear  of  robbers,  or  of 
accidents.  In  this  way,  fhe  fpent  a  great 
deal  of  money ;  fhe  was  liberal  to  the 
drivers,  gave  them  four  fliillings,  where 

others 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     165 

others  gave  them  only  two ;  and,  to  all 
the  fervants  on  the  road,  was  equally- 
bountiful;  fo,  that  they  flew  at  her  com- 
mand, and  fhe  was  worfhiped  where- 
ever  Ihe  went.  The  horfes  on  the  road, 
were  always  on  a  full  gallop,  and  this 
Ihe  called  going  like  herfelf. 

I  recoUedt,  one  day,  Mrs,  Baddeley 
making  an  appointment  with  two  per- 
fons  in  trade,  with  whom  Ihe  dealt  very 
largely,  to  meet  them  at  Stains- bridge, 
at  twelve,  and  dine  with  them.  The  read- 
er will  excufe  my  not  mentioning  their 
names,  as  each  of  them  has  a  family, 
and  it  might  not  only  create  uneafinefs, 
but  tend  to  injure  them  in  the  opinion 
of  their  creditors  3  for,  though  no  harm 

was 


i66  The  Memoirs  ov 

was  meant  in  this  meeting,  yet  the 
world  is  apt  to  mifconftrue  things,  and  I 
am  not  at  prefent  difpofed  to  give  it  an 
opportunity  of  fo  doing.  But,  they  were 
difappointed  in  the  pleafure  they  defign- 
ed  themielves.  She  wifhed  to  go  to  my 
houfe  near  Henley,  the  day  before,  and 
fo  crofs  the  country  to  Stains-bridge, 
the  next  day,  which  was  about  twenty- 
one  miles  diftant.  We  travelled  in  her 
phaeton  i  and^,  though  we  left  Henley 
at  feyen  in  the  morning,  we  could  not 
reach  Stains-bridge  by  dinners  for,  as 
we  took  no  fervant  with  us,  (being  on  an 
expedition  fhe  was  unwilling  Ihould  be 
known,  in  the  fallnonable  circle ;)  we 
mififed  our  way  -,  and,  when  we  thought 
of  being    at    Stains-bridge,   we  found 

ourfelves 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      167 

ourfelves  at    Hertford-bridge,    in    the 
Salifbury    road.      The    difappointment 
was  mortifying;   but,  as  we  found  our 
horfes  weary,  we  had  no  alternative,  but 
to  hire  a  poft-  chaife  and  four,  and  leave 
our  carriage  to   follow  us.     When  we 
reached  Stains-bridge,  it  was  dark,   and 
Gur  friends  were  juft  gone.      A  fplendid 
dinner  had  been  ordered  for  our  enter- 
tainment 3  and,  the  landlord  told  us,  the 
gentlemen   faid,    they  were  fure    fome 
miftake  or   accident  had  happened,  or 
we  fhould  have  been   there  at  the  time 
appointed.     They  came  down  in  a  poft- 
chaife  and   four,  and  returned   in  one. 
We  ftaid  at  the  Bufli  Inn  all  night;  and, 
in  the  morning,    one  of  thefe  perfons, 
finding,  on  an  enquiry  in  Grafton-ftreet, 

that 


i68  The  Memoirs  of 

that  we  had  left  town  for  Henley,  the 
day  before  we  propofed  to  meet  3  con- 
cluded, we   fhould  be  at  Stains-bridge 
fome  part  of  the  day  before,  and  that  he 
ihouldhear  ofus  there;  he,  accordingly, 
was  at  the  Bufh  Inn  by  eight  o'clock. 
This  friend  was  not  a  little  pleafed  that 
he  enjoyed,  by  accident,  Mrs.  Baddeley's 
company  alone.  He  ordered  every  thing 
the  houfe  afforded  for  breakfaft,  and  the 
fame  for  dinner;  for,  Mrs.  Baddeley  being 
under  fome  obligations  to  him,  could  not 
refufe  flaying.  This  man,  like  her  fafhion- 
able  admirers,  poured  out  his  whole  foul 
before  her ;  and,  if  Ihe  would  but  have 
liflened  to  him,  would  have  given  her  a 
receipt  for  five  hundred  pounds,  which  fhe 
owed  to  him  and  his  partners,  without 

any 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      169 

any  regard  to  his  family,  property,  or 
connexions.  Her  refufing  to  accept  this, 
or  liften  to  his  propofals,  put  him  out 
of  humour,  and  led  him  to  fay,  though 
he  was  not  a  Lord,  he  was  no  defpifa- 
ble  charafter ;  and,  he  could  aflure  her, 
he  had  the  confidence  of  the  firft  Lady 
in  this  kingdom,  and  did  not  a  little 
pride  himfelf  upon  the  occafion. 

Mts.  Baddeley  was  piqued  at  this, 
and  began  to  redden ,  as  fhe  always  did 
when  Ihe  was  vexed  j  and  I  wilhed  her 
to  fay  fomething  proper  to  him  upon 
the  fubjedt.  She  at  laft  told  him,  Ihe 
did  not  come  there  to  take  a  dinner 
with  him,  but  in  a  friendly  manner, 
and  could  not  fuppofe  he  would  have 
Vol.  IV.  P  had 


170  The  Memoirs  of 

had  a  thought  of  what  he  had  been 
pleafedtofayi  that  his  words,  "  Though 
"  he  was  not  a  Lord,"  conveyed  a  dou- 
ble meaning,  the  explanation  of  which 
fhe  was  at  no  lofs  to  comprehend.  "  I 
"  am  fenfible,"  added  llie,  "  that  you 
"  are  no  Lord,  and  that  I  am  no  Ladyj 
"  but,  be  what  you  will.  Sir,  I  will 
"  never  place  my  confidence  in  you,  or 
*'  give  you  an  opportunitj'^  to  boaft  of 
**  what  the  firft  Lady  in  the  kingdom 
"  thinks  proper  to  do  with  you.  I 
"  have  various  reafons  for  my  refolu- 
"  tions  i  but,  as  I  mean  not  to  offend 
"  you,  fhall  keep  them  to  myfelf :  per- 
*'  mit  me,  however,  to  fay,  that  as  I 
"  have  it  in  my  power  to  pay  every  juft 
"  debt  I  owe,  without  difcharging  it  in 

«  the 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      171 

*'  the  way  you  intimate,  you  may  re- 
"  ferve  your  offers  for  thofe  unhappy 
"  women,  who  are  not  in  fo  fortunate 
^'^  a  fituation.  You  have  a  wife  and 
"  children,  referve  your  benevolence  for 
"  them,  and  leave  me  and  my  follies 
"  to  myfelf.  I  hold  myfelf  obliged  to 
"  you  for  this  invitation,  and  had  you 
"  afted  as  a  friend  would  have  don^^ 
"  Ihould  have  fpent  my  time  agreeably 
"  in  your  company;  as  it  is,  I  blame  my- 
**  felf  for  accepting  it ;  and,  had  I  (laid 
^*  at  home,  I  Ihould  have  given  no  of- 
"  fence,  nor  received  any  infult/'-^ 
"  Mrs.  Baddeley,"  returned  he,  «  if  I 
'*  have  faid  a  word  that  can  be  deemed 
*^  an  infult,  I  beg  your  pardon ;  for,  I 
"  meant  no  fuch  thing.  I  too  well 
P  2  «  know 


lyi  The  Memoirs  of 

^'  know  the  favour  you  have  done  me, 
"  by  coming  to  this  houfe ;  and,  beg  all 
"  that  is  pall,  may  be  buried  in  obli- 
"  vion  i  nor,  ftiall  I  be  happy,  till  you 
**  tell  me  you  have  forgot  it."  She  re- 
plied, it  was  not  in  her  difpofition  to 
bear  malice  i  and,  as  he  had  atoned 
for  the  affront,  by  his  apology,  Ihe 
would  think  no  more  of  it.  Our  horfes 
were  then  ordered,  and  we  paid  our  bill; 
he  offered  to  do  it,  but  Mrs.  Baddeley 
would  not  fuffer  it.  When  our  horfes 
were  ready,  we  took  our  leave  and  left 
him. 

Mrs.  Baddeley  was  more  angry  with 
herfelf  for  this  excurfion,  than  ever  I 
faw  her  before.     The  trouble  we  had  to 

keep 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     17;^ 

keep  our  apppintment,  and  the  infult 
offered,  fo  vexed  her,  that  Ihe  could 
not  forgive  herfelf.  "  How  do  I  def- 
"  pife  myfelf,"  faid  (he,  "  for  my 
"  folly!  After  my  refufing  his  re- 
*'  ceipt,  to  be  reflected  on  in  the  fpite- 
^*  ful  manner  he  did ! — But,  I  deferve 
"  it  for  accepting  his  invitation.  From 
"  perfons  of  fafhion,  except  fome  few 
"  of  them,  one  never  hears  an  unpolite 
"  expreffion,  nor  any  thing  that  can 
"  offend  the  moft  rigid  chaftity.  Their 
"  elegance,  their  manner,  their  deport- 
"  ment,  is  captivating;  but,  thefe  up- 
"  ftart  fhop -keepers  are  all  rudenefs  and 
"  vulgarity  j  I  hate  them  every  where, 
"  but  behind  their  counters." 

P  3  Among 


174  The  Memoirs  of 

Among  the  reft  of  thofe  diflipated 
married  men,  who  courted  the  favour  of 
Mrs.  Baddeley,  at  the  expence  of  their 
domeftic  happinefs ;  there  v/as  one,  tho* 
iefs  in  rank  than  many  of  her  admirers, 
wasnotlefs  confpicuousinlife.  This  gen- 
tleman's name,  I  muft  alfo  keep  fecret, 
out  of  regard  to  his  wife,  now  living, 
who  had  a  particular  friendfliip  for  Mrs. 
Baddeley;  and  who,  notwithftanding the 
indifcretion  of  her  hufband,  was  known 
to  live  happy  with  him,  either  not  fee- 
ing, or  wifhing  not  to  fee,  his  failings* 
Often  have  I  heard  her  fay,  how  happy 
Ihe  was  in  her  hufband,  who  was  no 
way  given  to  any  attachment  foreign  to 
that  he  had  fworn  at  the  altar ,  and, 
declaring  at  the  fame  time,  that  if  he 

was. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddelev.     175 

was,  (he  would  not  live  another  hour 
with  him.     This  gentleman  was  a  mer- 
chant in  the  city,  well  known  on  the 
Royal  Exchange,  and  was  rich.  Though 
accounted  a  mifer,  he  was  lavifh  in  his 
bounty  to  Mrs.  Baddeley,  whom  he  firft 
faw  at  Ranelagh,    and,   where   an    ac- 
quaintance firft    took    place,    between 
her  and  this  merchant's  wife  -,  and,  which 
Ihe  was  defirous  of  cultivating,  in  hopes 
of  introducing  herfelf  into  the  fociety 
of  fome  ladies.     The  merchant  came 
the  next  day,  to  afk  how  fhe  did  j  faid, 
he  had  not  acquainted  his  wife  with  his 
coming,  as  it  would  have  been  a  mor- 
tification to  her,  not  to  have  come  with 
him ;  and,  noticing  fome  china  jars  in 
one  of  the  rooms,  faid  he  had  a  couple, 

that 


t7^  The  Memoirs  of 

that  he  thought  would  match  them  5 
and,  if  (he  would  do  him  the  favour  to 
accept  them,  he  would  fend  them  to 
her.  She  did  not  fee  his  view  in  this; 
but,  they  were  given  as  an  introdu6lion 
to  her  favour.  She  accepted  the  jars; 
and  very  large  and  valuable  ones  they 
were.  Lord  Melbourne  came  in  foon 
after  they  were  brought,  and  being  made 
acquainted  with  their  hiftory,  faid,  it 
was  kind  in  the  merchant,  and  advifed 
her  to  keep  up  his  acquaintance,  as  it 
would  be  a  refpeftable  family  to  pafs  an 
occafional  evening  with.  Lord  Mel- 
bourne was  fcarcely  gone,  but  a  card 
was  brought  from  the  Merchant's  Lady, 
inviting  herfelf  to  tea  that  evening.  She 
came  in  her  own  carriage,  with  fervants 

/  in 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     177 

in  rich  liveries  j  and,  as  we  fent  for 
Dr.  Arne,  and  Mrs.  Baddeley  fungj  Ihe 
was,  as  fhe  was  pleafed  to  fay,  enchan- 
tingly  entertained.  Her  huflDand  came 
at  nine  o'clock  to  condu6l  her  home ; 
was  more  referved  than  in  the  morning, 
and  did  not  drop  a  word  of  the  jars. 
The  next  morning  he  came  again,  to 
know  if  fhe  had  received  them,  and  if 
they  had  met  her  approbation.  She 
thanked  him,  but  was  forry  Ihe  had  de- 
privedliis  Lady  of  them.  "  Oh,"  faid 
he,  "  fhe  knew  nothing  of  them,  and 
"  of  courfe  will  not  mifs  them."  This 
opened  our  eyes  a  little  j  and,  when  he 
told  us,  how  happy  he  was  in  this  ac- 
cidental acquaintance,  and  how  much 
he  felt  himfelf  attached  to  Mrs.  Badde- 

leyj 


178  The  Memoirs  of 

ley  i  for,  as  all  the  world  adored  her,  it 
was  no  wonder  he  Ihould  do  fo  too  :  in 
ihort,  when  he  confefTed  he  loved  her, 
and  was  not  afhamed  to  own  it,  Mrs, 
Baddeley's  prudence  took  the  alarm; 
"  Oh,  fie.  Sir  !"  faid  fhe,  "  this  de- 
"  claration  to  me  is  a  misfortune ;  for, 
"  out  of  refpeft  to  your  Lady,  it  will 
"  be  out  of  my  power  to  fee  you,  even 
*'  on  the  terms  I  was  proud  to  receive 
"  you  before/* — "  Madam,"  returned 
he,  "  I  love  my  wife  no  lefs  for  my 
"  affedlion  to  you.'*  "  That's  not  pof- 
«  fible,"  returned  Mrs.  Baddeley,  "  nor 
"  will  I  hear  of  fuch  profelTions  again ; 
"  for,  they  are  not  only  difagreeable  to 
"  me,  but  they  hurt  me."  "  Say  not 
"  fo,  my  dear  Mrs.  Baddeley,"  faid  he, 

«  for^ 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     179 

"  for  I  muft,  and  will  love  you  j  and, 
"  here  make  you  a  tender  of  any  thing 
*'  in  my  power  to  add  to  your  happi- 
*'  nefs.  I  have  a  fortune^  which  is  no 
*'  defpifable  one,  and  any  part  of  it  you 
*'  may  command."  **  Yes,  Sir,"  re- 
turned fhe,  "  but  you  have  a  wife,  and 
"  five  children  to  partake  of  it. — In 
"  Ihort,  Sir,  I  tremble  at  your  difpoii- 
"  tion,  and  am  forry  you  are  afting  to 
"  the  injury  of  an  amiable  family,  and 
"  feeking  to  difturb  both  your  wife's 
"  peace,  and  mine."  "  No,  my  dear 
"  Madam,"  returned  he,  "  believe  me, 
"  I  have  no  fuch  thought  j  but,  in  fadt, 
"  I  am  not  fufEciently  mafter  of  myfelf 
"  to  withftand  your  attradions,  and  I 
**  feel  no  remorfe  in  telling  you  foj 

"  and 


i8o  The  Memoirs  of 

■*'  and,  as  a  token  of  my  efteem,  I  have 
"  brought  with  me  a  fmall  prefent, 
*'  which  I  ihall  beg  you  to  accept  of, 
"  on  condition  you  promife  to  admit 
"  me,  when  opportunity  fuitSj"  and, 
taking  out  a  handful  of  bank-notes,  he 
faid,  ''  here.  Madam,  are  a  thoufand 
"  pounds  at  your  fervice,  and  as  much 
*'  more  when  you  pleafe  to  have  it,  on 
"  the  terms  I  have  mentioned."  Mrs. 
Baddeley  told  him,  that  money  was  no 
objed  to  her,  nor  would  it  tempt  her 
contrary  to  her  natural  inclinations ; 
therefore,  begged  him  to  put  his  notes 
into  his  book  again,  and  never  offend  her 
more,  by  any  further  declarations  of  his 
folly  i  for,  that  Ihe  loved  his  wife,  for 
her  refpedtful  attention  to  her,   and  if 

his 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     i8i 

his  whole  fortune  was  laid  down,  fhe 
would  not  injure  her  in  his  affe6tion,  or 
his  pocket  -,  and,  as  this  was  her  ferious 
declaration,  fhe  hoped,  as  a  gentleman, 
he  would  ceafe  frona  propofing  terms  Co 
difhonourable  to  his  lady,  and  fo  pain- 
ful to  herfelf;  that,  fhe  wiflied  for  a 
continuance  of  his  friendfhip,  but  muft " 
decline  it,  unwilling  as  fhe  was,  if  fhe ' 
was  any  more  talked  to  on  this  fubje£t» 
"  All  your  preaching,"  faid  he,  "  my 
**  dear  Mrs.  Baddeley,  is  to  little  pur- 
"  pofe.  I  feel  myfeif  fo  wretched,  out 
"  of  your  company,  and  fb  happy  in  it  5 
**  that  I  muft  find  my  way  to  you,  ia 
*'  fpite  of  every  obflacle  j  and,  if  you 
''  refufe  to  fee  me,  it  will  make  me  mi* 
"  ferable.'*  She  replied,  fhe  ever  had 
Vol.  IV,  Q^  awifh 


i8a  The  Memoirs  of 

^  wifh  to  make  all  her  friends  happy, 
except,  when  they  required  of  her,  what 
both  prudence  and  juftice  forbad  j  "  I 
"  thank  my  God,-*  exclaimed  fhe, 
*'  among  all  the  fins  I  have  to  anfv/er 
**-  for,  I;  never  betrayed  a  confidence, 
*'  nor  had  connexions  with  the  hufband 
**  of  any  female  friend  j  nor,  fliall  any 
*'  thing  on  earth  tempt  me  to  it." — He 
cxpoftulated  with  her  a  great  deal,  made 
large  offers,  and  would  have  given  her 
any  fum  of  money  fhe  would  name; 
and,  went  fo  far  as  to  tender  her  fifteen 
hundred  pounds.  This,  to  do  Mrs. 
Baddeley  juftice,  had  no  weight  with 
her,  for  money  was  not  her  idol;  fo 
ihe  had  enough  for  her  ufe,  Ihe  never 
coveted  more,  and  was  hurt,  when  it  was 

mentioned 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     183 

mentioned,  even  by  her  beft  friends; 
for,  fhe  had  a  wifh,  at  all  times,  to  have 
the  man  of  her  heart  under  fuck  obli- 
gations to  her,  and  not  be  under  fuch  to 
him.  But  here  the  cafe  was  different. 
Though  various  attempts  were  made  by 
this  Merchant  to  feduce  her  to  compli- 
ance, fhe  oppofcd  them  all  s  but  never 
betrayed  them  to  his  wife,  with  whom 
Ihe  was  on  the  moft  intimate  footing ; 
and,  the  gentleman,  though  he  met 
with  a  repulfe  fo  repugnant  to  his  wifh- 
cs,  could  not  but  confefs,  he  admired 
her  more  for  her  difpofition  than  her 
beauty  j  acknowledged  that  her  fenti- 
mentS'Were  noble  and  generous,  and 
declared,  that  through  life,  he  ihould 
revere,  honour,  and  love  her»  Here 
0^2  the 


104  The  Memoirs  of 

the  matter  ended.  No  more  was  ever 
mentioned  on  the  fubjedt  on  either  fide. 
Mrs.  Baddeley  preferved  his  friendfhip, 
and  that  of  his  wife's,  till  the  day  I  part- 
ed with  her,  and  probably  to  the  end  of 
her  life.  Thus  would  men  often,  to 
gratify  a  momentary  pleafure,  facrifice 
a  wife,  a  family,  and  fortune  i  and,  thus 
would  a  few  hours  ferious  reafoning, 
bring  fuch  a  man  back  to  a  proper  way 
of  thinking.  Would  the  female  fex  take 
a  leflbn  from  this  example  of  Mrs.  Bad* 
deley,  and  check  their  feducers  in,  that 
riot  of  their  paflions,  when  reafon  is 
overcome  -,  and  lay  before  them,  as  fhe 
did,  the  rafhnefs  and  extravagance  of 
their  purfuit,  and  the  fatal  confequences 
that  await  itj  how  greatly  would  they 

merit 


Mris.  Sophia  Baddeley.     185 

merit  the  commendations  of  the  virtu- 
ous i  how  high  would  they  ftand  in  the 
efteem  of  the  world  5  and,  how  exalted 
in  their  own  refieftions  I  In  faving 
themfelves,  they  would  often  refcue  a 
wretched  family  from  deftruftion;  and 
children,  perhaps  unborn,  would  be 
bound  to  blefs  their  memory. 

And  yet,  when  Mrs.  Baddeley  refuf- 
td  this  money,  fhe  was  very  much  in 
want  of  it ;  for.  Lord  Melbourne,  at  this 
time  kept  his  purfe-ftrings  fo  clofe,  that 
Ihe  was  often  obliged  to  write  to  him 
for  fmall  fums  j  as  the  following  letter 
will  fhew. 

0^3  "  My 


i86    .       The  Memoirs  OP 

*'  My  Dear  Love, 

"  I  am  exceedingly  diftrefled  for 
^'  twenty  pounds,  and  if  I  have  it  not 
*'  to  day,  it  will  really  be  of  bad  con- 
*^  fequences. — I  think,  I  am  fully  as  de- 
•*  ferving  as  fome  folks  you  are  fo  atten- 
"  tive  to.  I  dare  fay  you  know  who  I 
*^  mean. — ^And  I  am  fure,  I  have  no 
*'  right  to  queftion  you,  but,  am  forry 
*'  to  think,  you  ftand  in  need  to  be  con- 
*'  ftantly  put  in  mind  of  your  old 
"  friends. 

"  God  blefs  you  ! 
*'  I  am,  moft  invariably  your's, 

*'  Sophia  Baddeley/* 
Ito  the  Right  Honourable 
Lord  Melbourne. 

Being 


Mrs.  Sophia-  Baddeley.    187 

Being  induced  one  evening,  to  go  to 
a,  puppet- fliew,  called  the  Fantociniy  we 
met  with  the  Duke  of  Ancafter,  who 
fat  down  by  Mrs.  Baddeley,  and  faid 
many  civil  things  to  her;  but  dared 
at  her  fo  much,  during  the  whole  exhi- 
bition j  that  Ihe  grew  uneafy,  fearing  ic 
would  be  noticed,  and  get  into  the  news- 
papers ;  than  which  flie  dreaded  nothing 
more.  "When  we  left  the  place,  Ihe  re- 
marked to  me,  that  fhe  was  fure,  fhe 
fhould  fee  the  Duke,  or  hear  fome- 
thing  from  him,  before  it  was  long]  for 
he  flared  fo  much  at  her,  that  fhe  was 
almofl  out  of  countenance.  Her  words 
foon  came  to  pafs;  for,  before  ten  the 
next  morning,  his  Grace  came  to  Graf- 
ton-ftreet  3  muffled  up  in  a  great  coat, 

fo 


i8S  The  Memoirs  of 

fo  as  not  to  be  known.  Being  deflred 
to  fend  up  his  nanme,  he  faid,  it  was  of 
no  confequence,  that  he  was  with  us  lafl: 
night,  at  the  Fantociniy  and  if  that  was 
mentioned,  Mrs.  Baddeley  would  know 
who  it  was.  He  was  admitted,  and  we 
went  into  the  parlour  to  him.  The 
Duke  addrelTed  himfelf  to  Mrs.  Badde- 
deley  -,  hoped  fhe  was  well  which  he 
could  not  fay,  was  the  cafe  with  him  j 
as  he  had  been  much  diflurbed  all  nighty 
wifhing  for  the  morning,  that  he  might 
have  an  opportunity,  of  waiting  on  her, 
in  order  to  fay,  that  he  never  yet  faw 
her  at  any  public  place,  but  fhe  made 
him  happy  for  the  time  j  but,  that  this 
pleafure  always  ended  in  pain.  "For,'^ 
faid  his  Grace,  "  you  are  fuch  a  wonder 

"of 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     1S9 

^'  of  nature,  that  no  man  can  gaze  on 
**  you  unwounded. — You  are  in  this  re- 
"  fped  like  the  Bafilifk^  whofe  eyes 
"  kill  thofe  whom  they  fix  on."  Mrs. 
Baddeley  replied,  "  Your  Grace  has  faid 
"  fufficient  to  raife  my  vanity  j  but, 
,^*,  confcious  of  my  own  imperfedions, 
"  I  Ihall  fet  it  down  to  flattery."  "  No," 
returned  the  Duke,  "  kt  it  down  as  it 
"  is }  to  fincerity. — You  are  abfolutely 
**  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  age."  She 
admitted  this,  but  that  it  was  for  her  im»- 
prudence."  "  Not  fo,  on  my  honour,*' 
returned  he,  "  I  mean  for  your  per- 
*'  fonal  attrafbions  j  and,  how  happy  muft 
"  the  man  be,  polTefled  of  fuch  a  wo- 
^'  man  !"  Mrs.  Baddeley  replied.  As 
*'  your    Grace,    has   been    pleafed   to 

"  pay^ 


tgo        The    MEMoms  or 

"  pay  me  fuch  a  compliment  j  permit 
"  me  in  return  to  fay,  how  happy 
"  muft  the  Duchefs  of  Ancafler  be,  in- 
**  fuch  a  hufband  as  your  Grace ;  pro- 
*'  vided,  you  would  think  of  no  other 
**  woman  1"  "  I  do  not,"  returned  the 
Duke,  "except  it  be  of  you,  and,  it  is 
*'  not  in  my  power  to  avoid  it.  My 
**  declarations  have  been  frequent  ta 
•*■  you  on  this  head  5  but,  as  you  Jiever 
*'  noticed  them,  I  muft  own,  I  grew 
**  weary  in  the  purfuit  3  but,  the  acci- 
*^  dental  interview  of  laft  night,  has  re- 
*'  newed  all  my  former  wilhes,  and,  I 
^^  could  no  longer  refift  the  inclination 
'"  of  telling  you  fo ;  and  could  I  have 
*'  the  fatisfadion  to  find  you  meet  my 
**  wifhes,  you  fhould  be  as  happy  as  my 

"  fortune 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      191 

**■  fortune  and  my  attention  could 
*^  make  you."  Mrs.  Baddeley  heard 
Jiis  Grace  out  patiently,  and,  when  he 
paufed,  fhe  made  him  this  reply. 
*^  When  I  confider  your  Grace's  rank 
"  in  life,  I  hold  myfelf  in  duty  bound, 
*^  to  thank  you  for  the  honour  of  your 
**  notice ;  but,  when  I  refleft  on  the  na- 
*^  ture  of  that  notice,  that  condefcention 
**  which  brought  your  Grace  here,  and 
"  the  impropriety  of  the  vifit ;  my  heart 
*'  fhudders  at  the  confequence.  I  own 
"  myfelf  to  be,  a  weak,  foolilh  woman, 
•*  given  up  to  the  pleafures  of  the  worlcj, 
*'  and,  I  confefs,  that  to  fupport  that  dif- 
*'  pofition,  and  my  inclinations,  J  have 
*'  done  things,  which  I  ought  not  to 
*'  have  doncj  but  I  truft,  I  have  not 

"  gone 


i^i  ^The  Memoirs  of 

"  gone  fuch  lengths  in  wickednefs,  as  to 
**  difturb  the  peace  of  families.  In  my 
**  prefent  fituation,  I  want  for  nothing, 
"  but,  the  fole  afFedion  of  the  man,  I 
'*  am  under  obligations  to.  This  in- 
"  deedj  I^am  not  entitled  toj  and,  if  I 
"  have  err'd  with  him,  it  Ihall  be  the 
*'  laft  fault  of  the  kind  I  will  commit, 
*^  The  uneafinefs  I  have  felt,  on  that 
*'  -account,  has  been  fufficient  caufe  for 
*'  reflexion  j  and,  has  made  me  deter- 
*'  mine,  that  I  never  will  liilen  to  the 
*'  propofals  of  any  married  man  again. 
*'  Your  Grace,  will,  I  truft,  therefore 
**  pardon  me  for  faying,  I  muft,  and  ' 
"  will  decline,  hearing  any  thing  that 
"  may  tend  to  your  diflionour,  as  well 
f/  as  piy  own,     I  have  as  high  a  re- 

«  fped 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     t^j 

*'  fped  for  your  Grace,  as  any  one  can 
*'  have ;  and,  Ihould  be  unhappy  to  of- 
*'  fend  you ;  nay,  was  your  Grace  to 
"  lay  any  commands  on  me,  in  an  ho- 
*'  nourable  way,  I  would  rifk  my  life 
"  to  obey  them;  but,  in  the  prefent 
"  flate  of  things,  I  muft  decline  them, 
"  and  hope  I  fhall  not  difpleafe,  by  fb 
«  doing."  "  Indeed,  Mrs.  Baddeley/' 
returned  the  Duke,  "  you  do  not  dif- 
"  pleafe  me  j  I  have  liftened  to  you 
"  with  real  pleafure,  and  think  myfelf 
*^  highly  indebted  to  you ;  little  did  I 
*'  exped  to  be  fo  politely  admonifhecf, 
''  as  you  have  done  it ;  and  be  aflured, 
'^  as  far  as  I  can  follow  your  advice, 
"  I  will  ftridtly  adhere  to  it  j  and,  in  re- 
"  turn,  you  will,  at  all  times,  find  me 
"  happy  to  ferve  you,  or  oblige  you. 
Vol.  IV.  R  *'  Should 


.Ip4  The  Memoirs  or 

*f  Should  you  ever  Hand  in  need  of  a 
^'  friend,  (as  we  all  fometinne  or  other 
'^'  do,)  be  afTured  you  will  find  one  in 
■*'  me,  and  I  hope  you  will  not  omit  ap- 
**  plying  to  me,  on  every  little  occur- 
*^  rence,  where  I  can  be  of  fervice. 
"  I  find  you  full  of  fenfibility,  and  no- 
"  ble  fentiment,  beyond  the  power  of 
*'  temptation,  and  free  from  avarice  j 
*'  as  fuch,  you  deferve  my  applaufe,  and 
**  that  of  every  thinking  perfon^  and, 
**  depend  on  it,  as  a  man  of  honour,  I 
-**  will  never  diftrefs  you,  by  a  repeti- 
**  tion  of  this,  bufmcfs  J  but,  adore  you 
**  in  filence  and  contemplation. 

When  his  Grace  left  us,  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley,  as  ufual,  alked  me,  how  I  ap- 
proved of  her  condufl,  and  whether  I 

did 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     19J 

^dnot  think  fhe  adedwith  propriety! 
I  told  her  I  did,  and  that  it  had  a  very 
proper  effe£b  upon  the  Duke.  She  then 
a^ktd  me,  whether  fhe  appeared  grace- 
ful in  the  delivery  of  her  fentiments;  for 
flie  faw  him  watch  every  motion  of 
her's.  «  That/*  replied  I,  "  I  did  not  at- 
"  tend  to  J  but,  your  expreffions  were 
"  fuch  as  became  you.'*  "  Well  then,'* 
faid  fhe,  "  Steele,  you  fee  I  can  now 
^  withftand  temptations /*  "  Yes,"  re- 
turned I,  "  and  had  you  done  fo,  from 
*'  the  commencement  of  our  acquain- 
^'  tancci  how  happy  a  woman  would 
"  you  have  been  ;  and  how  comforta- 
*'  bly  fhould  you  and  I  have  fat  down 
"  and  enjoyed  ourfelves!"  "What's 
«  pafV,"  faid  Mrs.  Baddeley,  «  muft  be 
**  forgot  i  you  perceive  I  mend  daily.  I 
R  2  "  now 


n^C  The  Memoirs  of 

**■  now  fee  into  the  folly  of  mankind,  and 
"  cannot  but  obferve,  how  much  more 
**  they  refpefl  the  woman,  who  checks 
*^  their  inclinations,  and  puts  a  negative 
*'  to  what  they  folicits  than  Ihe  who 
"  falls  in  with  their  wifhes,  and  gratifys 
"  them  by  compliance.  I  will  endea- 
**  vour,  therefore,  to  fecure  their  friend- 
"  Ihip,  by  my  prudence  i  and  a.6t  with 
"  the  referve  you  wifh  me."  Scarce  had 
ihe  uttered  thefe  words,  before  Lord 
Melbourne  came  in,  and  faid,  he  was 
come  to  {lay  with  her  a  few  hours.  He 
told  her,  he  was  going  to  Bath,  at  leaft, 
lie  fuppofed  he  j(hould ;  for,  his  dear 
Betfy  had  talked  of  it,  and  if  he  went, 
he  fhould  be  gone  three  weeks.  "  If 
*'  you  do,"  faid  Mrs.  Baddeley,  "  I  will, 

"  in 


MrS^  Sophia  Baddeley.     ig^ 

^  in  your  abfence,  make  an  excurfion 
'^  into  the  country."  With  this  he  feem- 
ed  pleafed.  Whiift  his  Lordfhip  was 
with  her  above,  Mr.  P.  came  to  tell 
me,  that  having  agreed  for  the  purchafe 
of  an  eftate,  he  was  in  want  of  money ; 
and  afked  me,  if  I  could  help  him  to 
any  j  on  my  faying,  I  could  not  at  pre- 
fent,  he  turned  it  off  with,  he  v/ould' 
endeavour  to  fhift  without  my  afliflance. 
He  then  told  me,  how  much  trouble  he 
had  taken,  in  Mrs.  Baddeley's  affkirs; 
what  fums  he  had  paid  for  her,  befides 
tht  draft  he  had  accepted  on  her  ac-^ 
count,  and  that  he  was  confiderably  in 
advance  j  all  which,  he  was  pleafed  ta 
fay,  was  to  oblige  me ;  for,  that  Mrs. 
Baddeley  was  not  any  thing  to  him, 
nor  would  he  accept  any  favour  from 
R  3  her 


i«^S  The  Memoirs  of 

her  in  return  -,  his  view  being  to  fervc 
me,  as  he  was  convinced  her  affairs 
muft  have  a  great  deal  embarrafled  me ; 
that,  he  advanced  the  money,  upon  my 
credit,  knowing  that  it  was  fafe  in  my 
hands,  and  that  he  Ihould  look  to  me, 
and  me  only,  when  it  fuited  for  a  re- 
imburfement.  All  this  I  looked  over ; 
as  it  ferved  her,  I  was  fatisfyed,  be  it 
on  whofe  account  it  might.  He  then 
enquired,  whether  Lord  Melbourne  had 
been  more  liberal  to  her  lately  -,  I  told 
him  not;  but,  that  hisLordfhip  promif- 
cd  to  difcharge  the  whole  of  her  debts, 
and  had  been  informed  of  his  kindnefs 
to  her  J  and  begged,  if  he  was  in  want 
of  the  money,  he  would  fay  fo,  and  I 
would  alk  Lord  Melbourne  for  it.  He 
replied,  "  By  no  means  j  I  will  wait  his 

"  convenience." 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddelev.     199 

*^  convenience."  He  then  told  me,  he 
had  that  day  paid  one  hundred  and  feven- 
ty  pounds  for  Mrs.  Baddeleyi  and  alfo 
paid  my  landlord,  one  hundred  pounds, 
for  half  a  year's  rent,  on  my  account, 
and  placed  it  againft  the  four  hundred 
pounds  I  had  lent  him,  and  gave  me 
the  receipt,  taken  in  my  name.  Mr.  P. 
went  away  foon  after  this  -,  and  Lord 
Melbourne  came  down  to  me,  and  as  he 
went  out,  faid,  he  had  not  forgot  mej 
that,  I  fliould  have  money  from  hina 
foon,  and  begged  me  to  go  up  to  Mrs^ 
Baddeley,  who  was  ill,  with  her  old 
complaint,  a  head-ach.  I  went  up  to 
her,  and  found  her  head-ach  was  a  pre- 
tence to  quiet  Lord  Melbourne,  who, 
from  being  in  high  fpirits,  was  as  noify 
as  he  could  be.  On  telling  her  the  coa- 

verfation 


200  The  Memoirs  of 

verfation  that  pafTed,  between  me  and- 
Mr.  P»  and  faying,  he  had  paid  one 
hundred  pounds  for  rent,  which  he 
charged  to  my  feparate  account  j  fhe 
faid.  Lord  Melbourne  might  be  afham- 
ed  of  himfelf,  for  not  keeping  his  word 
with  me,  (alluding  to  his  promife  of 
paying  the  rent  of  Grafton-ftreet  houfe), 
but  that  fhould  he  not  do  it,  llie  would^ 
fome  time  or  other.  I  told  her,  that  un- 
his  Lordfhip  did,  Jbe  never  Ihoulds  and 
turned  the  fubjed. 

As  his  Lordlhip  meant  to  be  abfent 
from  town,  three  weeks,  Mrs.  Badde- 
"ley  feemed  refolved,  on  an  excurfion. 
Many  places  were  thought  of  j  but,  at 
laft  it  was  determined  between  us,  to  go 
to  Margate.   The  next  day,  however,  we 

went 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.       aof 

went  to  Ranelagh,  where  Colonel  Lut- 
terel,    now    Lord   Carhampton,     took 
fome  pains  to  introduce  himfelf  to  Mrs. 
Baddeley's  notice.     Thofe  who  are  ho- 
noured with  the  acquaintance  of   this 
Nobleman,    muft  allow  him  to  be  a 
man  of  refined  fentiments,  highly  po- 
liflied,    and    a    complete    Gentleman* 
Mrs.  Baddcley,  was  much  taken  with 
his  addrefs,  and  engaging  manners ;  and, 
he  drank  tea  with  us.     In  the  courfe  of 
converfation,  he  told  us,  he  fhould  fet 
off  in  a  few  days,  for  Luttrell's-town, 
near  Dublin,  the  place  of  his  refidence, 
where  Lord  Townfhend  then  was  j  and, 
how  happy  he  lliould  think  himfelf,  if 
Mrs.  Baddeley  would  take  a  trip  to  fee 
him  i  that,  he  would  Ihew  her  Ireland, 
all  over,   if  fhe  wifhed  to  fee  it,   and 

affured 


^2  The  Memoirs  of 

aflured  her,  his  fituation  was  fo  delight- 
fulj  that  it  would  give  her  great  plea- 
fure.  He  continued  in  our  company 
the  whole  evening,  and  feenaed  not  a: 
little  pleafedj  that  he  was  envioufly  no- 
ticed by  his  friends.  When  we  thought 
proper  to  go  home,  he  politely  attend- 
ed us  to  our  carriage,  hoped  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley  would  accept  his  invitation,  and 
faid,  he  would  call  on  her  the  next 
(day. 

Mrs.  Baddeley  was  delighted  with  this 
new  acquaintance,  thought  the  Colonel 
a  very  fenfible  well-bred  manj  but, 
what  took  with  her  moft,  was,  that  he 
did  not,  like  the  reft  of  her  noble  friends, 
make  her  fick  with  a  heap  of  nonfenfe 
about  lovcj  beauty^  attractions,  and  the 

like; 


Mr«.  Sophia  Baddeley.     20J 

like  J  but,  his  converfation  was   manly, 
fenfible,  and  chearful,  and  fhe  hoped  fhe 
Ihould  fee  him  the  next  day.     She  faid, 
ihe  fhould  be  delighted  to  fee  Ireland; 
and,  as  foon  as  fhe  could  arrange  her 
afFairjs  with  Mr.  P.  and  Lord  Melbourne 
gave  her  money  to  pay  him,  fhe  would 
abfolutely  take   a  trip  there  -,    for,  fhe 
could  go  there  and  back  in  a  month, 
allowing  herfelf  three  weeks  in  the  place, 
I  faid  a  great  deal  in  oppofition  to  this 
fcheme,  and  told  her,  that  the  impro- 
priety ought  to  forbid  it.      She  replied, 
the  Colonel  was   a  gentleman  of  too 
much  honour  and   fenfibility,  to  urge 
her  to  any  thing  againfl  her  inclinations* 
But  the  world,  I  told  her,  would  con- 
demn her,    though  fhe  might  not  de- 
ferve  it.     She  faid]  if  fhe  was  to  fludy 

to 


204  The  Memoirs  of 

to  pleafe  the  world,  fhe  fhould  have 
enough  to  do.  I  then  urged  her  to 
ftudy  her  own  interefl,  and  aflced  her 
whether  fhe  thought  Lord  Melbourne 
would  approve  of  it.  She  did  not  mean, 
Ihe  faid,  to  tell  him  any  thing  about  it ; 
fhe  fhould  fay,  fhe  was  going  to  fome 
other  place  -,  that  Ihe  would  change  her 
name,  and  hide  herfelf  from  all  who 
knew  her.  In  Ihort,  fhe  was  determin- 
ed to  go  there,  before  a  month  was  over 
herJiead. 

Next  morning,  Colonel  Lutterel 
came,  and  went  with  us  to  fee  a  rela- 
tion of  mine  at  Chelfea,  where  we  ftaid 
dinner ;  and,  in  the  courfe  of  the  day 
Luttrel's  town  was  again  mentioned, 
when  Mrs.  Baddeley  faid,    "  I  intend  to 

f'fee 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     205 

^^  fee  that  fweet  place  Ihortly  j"  and,  the 
lady  we  were  v/ith,  faying,  fhe  ihould 
like  to  fee  it  alfo,  the  Colonel  gave  her 
a  friendly  invitation  to  come  over  with 
Mrs.  Baddeley  j  for,  fhe  was  a  chearful 
woman,  and  pleafed  the  Colonel  much. 
She  faid,  her  hufband  was  going  to 
Portfmouth  for  two  months,  and  as  fhe 
might  go  in  his  abfence,  begged  not  a 
word  of  it  might  be  dropped  to  him,  he 
being  out  of  the  room  when  the  matter 
was  talked  of. '  This  determined  Mrs, 
Baddeley  at  once,  and  the  Colonel  pref- 
fing  them  to  promife  him,  they  alTured 
him  he  Ihould  fee  them  there  before 
the  expiration  of  a  month.  The  Co- 
lonel then  entertained  them  with  the 
amufements  and  delights  of  the  place, 
romantic  country  of  Wales,  through 
Vol.  IV,  S  which 


'ao6  The  Memoirs  of 

which  they  would  travel  j  the  charming 
mountains  they  would  have  to  pafs  over; 
the  harps  they  would  hear  at  every 
door ;  in  fhort,  he  gave  them  fo  pleaf- 
ing  an  account  of  what  they  would  fee, 
hear,  and  meet  with,  that  they  were 
both  in  raptures.  We  fpent  the  even- 
ing with  our  friends,  and  being  afked  to 
breakfaft  with  them,  the  next  morning, 
and  the  Colonel  accepting  the  invita- 
tion, we  called  on  him  in  our  way  there, 
and  took  him  in  our  carriage.  We 
breakfafted  in  a  tent  upon  a  lawn,  and 
our  friends  having  provided  a  band, 
who  played  fome  foft  mufic  3  we 
fancied  ourfelvcs  in  Elyfium.  When 
we  took  our  leave,  the  invitation  to 
Ireland  was  renewed,  and  as  cordially 
accepted.      The    Colonel    would    faia 

have 


Mrs.  Sophia.  Baddeley.     2.07. 

have  had  me  go  with  therrij  but  I  refuf- 
ed ;  as  I  thought  it  would  be  neceflary 
to  be  in  the  way,  to  give  anfwers  to  any 
enquiries  that  might  be  made.  Mrs» 
Baddeiey  preiTed  me  to  accompany  her^ 
laying,  Ihe  fhouLd  not  be  happy  without 
me ;  but,  as  I  promifed  to  come  and 
fetch  her  back^  flie  was  pretty  eafy,  and 
fufFered  me  to  ftay^  The  Colonel  was 
foon  let  into  the  whole  of  Mrs.  Badde- 
ky's  fituation  -,  faw  the  propriety  of 
my  flaying  in  London  to  keep  Mr.  P» 
eafy  j  he  faid,  he  was  forry  he  v/as  fo 
€ircumftanced,  that  he  could  not  pay 
|ier  debts  himfclf;  (and  as  he  was  a 
man  without  deception,  fne  believed 
him)  but,  that  her  abfence  miight  fpur 
I^ord  Melbourne  on  to  do  it  j  and  hoped, 
that  when  all  v/as  quiet,  I  would  come 
S  2  over 


io8  The  Memoirs  of 

over  to  them  :  and,  it  was  fettled,  that 
no  one  Ihould  know  where  fhe  went, 
nor  even  our  own  fervants,  except  her 
man  and  maid,  whom  fhe  would  take 
with  her,  and  my  daughter,  a  child 
about  nine  years  of  age  -,  for,  fhe  would 
not  go  without  her,  being  part,  fhe  was 
pleafed  to  fay,  of  myfelf.. 

The  next  day  we  all  dined  with  Co- 
lonel Lutterel,  at  his  houfe,  in  Curzon- 
ilreet.  May-fair,  and  went  to  the  play 
in  the  evening ;  and  he  feemed  proud  of 
being  in  Mrs.  Baddeley's  company,  and 
to  be  there  noticed  by  all  his  acquain* 
tance. 

The  journey  was  now  fettled,  and  the 
mode  of  travelling  fixed  on  -,  but,  where 

was 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     209 

was  the  money  to  defray  the  expences  ? 
This  I  propofed  to  lend  Mrs.  Baddeley, 
and  faid,  I  would  let  her  have  two  hun- 
dred pounds.  Finding  now  no  ob- 
flacle,  Ihe  was  quite  wild  with  plea- 
fure  i  went  to  her  fellow-traveller,  and 
fettled  the  matter  with  her,  who  was 
equally  as  eager  as  herfelf.  We  all 
dined  with  the  Colonel,  and  the  next 
morningj  before  his  departure  for  Ire- 
land, he  breakfafted  with  us,  and  took 
his  leave. 

This  friend  of  mine  continued  with 
us  four  days,  and  was  joined  by  the  fa- 
mily from  Windfor,  where  we  had  been 
well  entertained.  During  the  time  they 
ftaid,  we  took  every  means  of  fhewing 
them  what  was  worth  feeing  in  London; 
S3  and. 


12IO  The  Memoirs  of 

and,  on  their  return,  they  had  our  horfes 
and  carrige  as  far  as  Hounflow. 

Mrs.  Baddeley  began  now  to  prepare 
for  her  journey.  She  ordered  a  new 
riding-habit,  white,  with  a  pale  blue 
filk  waiftcoat,  trimmed  with  filver  lace, 
ipangles,  and  filver  frogs,  as  was  then 
the  falhion ;  with  as  elegant  a  hat  as 
could  be  made.  She  had  a  variety  of 
new  clothes  made  up  for  the  occafion, 
and  was  ready  in  a  week;  but.  Lord 
Melbourne,  in  all  this  time,  did  not 
give  her  a  guinea.  She  now  waited  hn- 
patiently  for  his  going  to  Bath.  That 
journey  was,  however,  put  off;  but,  as 
good  luck  would  have  it,  he  came  and 
told  her,  that  he  was  going  out  of  town 
for  fourteen  days  5  and,  on  his  return, 

would 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     otf 

would  make  her  happy.    It  was,  in  con- 
fequence  of  this,  planned,  that  fhe  fhould 
go  as  foon  as  he  went ;  and,  on  his  re- 
turn, he  was  to  be  told,  that  fhe  was 
with   a  relation  of  mine  near   Henley. 
Before  Ihe  fet  off,  I  gave  her  my  advice; 
told  her,    ihe  was  going  to  the  houfe 
of  a  gay  man,  an  admirer  of  the  wo- 
men s    and  I  feared   he  would  expeft, 
what  Ihe,  with  prudence,  fhould  refufe. 
She  bad  me  not  to  be  uneafy,  that  he 
had  never  yet  faid,  or  offered  any  thing 
that  could  offend  the  chafleft  ear ;   and, 
that  fhe  had  that  confidence  in  his  in- 
tegrity, that  fhe  could  trufl  herfelf  with 
him   in  any  place.      "  In  fhort,"  faid 
fhe,  "  let  him  make  what  advances  he 
**  will,  I  now  fee  the  way  to  be  refpeft- 
y  ed,  is  to  be  refer ved  -,  and,  I  am  de- 

"  termined 


ai2  The  Memoirs  of 

"  termincd  to  fecure  his  efteem  by  fucli 
"  condua." 

We  began  to  talk  of  her  going  to  my 
houfe  at  Henley,  as  a  blind  to  our  fcr- 
vants,  and  they  all  believed  it  was  fo 
defignedi  and,  my  friend's  hufband 
going  to  Portfmouth  the  next  day,  where 
he  had  an  office  under  government,  Ihe 
would  be  ready  at  any  time.  This  we 
heard  on  the  Thurfday,  and  it  was 
agreed  that  they  fhould  fet  off  the  Sun- 
day following.  In  the  interim  came 
Mr.  John  Hanger,  to  tell  us  of  the 
death  of  his  father  ;  this  was  in  the 
year  1773;  but,  Mrs.  Baddeley  plead- 
ed illnefs,  and  would  not  fee  him.  I 
faw  him,  and  perfwaded  myfelf,  as  he 
was  now  come  to  the  title  and  eftate,  ha 

would 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     21J 

would  have  it  in  his  power  to  Jhew 
Mrs.  Baddeley  fome  gratitude  for  all 
that  was  paft,  and  told  him  fo  ^  but,  he 
only  laughed,  and  turned  upon  his  heel, 
with  "  A  good  morning  to  you,  Mrs. 
«  Steele."  When  I  told  Mrs.  Badde- 
ley of  this,  {he  faid,  "  I  don't  believe 
"  I  fhall  be  any  thing  the  better  for 
**  him  or  his  title.  His  vanity  is  raif- 
*'  ed,  I  dare  fay,  but,  I  cannot  com- 
*^  pliment  him,  when  I  confider  his 
"  treatment  of  me.  If  he  pofiefTed  a 
*'  good  heart,  he  would  now  come,  and 
*'  tell  me  he  would  atone  for  all  his  pafl 
*'  behaviour,  and  do  me  juftice;  but, 
**  he  is  a  ftranger  to  every  thing  that 
"  is  right,  and  thinks  of  no  one  but 
f'  himfelf." 

Every 


ai4         The     Memoirs  of 

Every  thing   was    now   left    in    my, 
charge,  not  only  refpefting  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley,  but  every  thing  belonging  to  my 
friend.      On   Saturday   night,   flie   left 
town  in  the  phaeton,  took  her  man  and 
her  maid  with  her,  but  they  were  not 
let  into  the  fecret,  till  they  were  at  fomc 
diftance  from  town.     They  went  in  thes 
ftage  before  them.     We  drove  to  myj 
friend's   houfe    at   Chelfea>    where  the 
phaeton  was  to  be  put  up,  till  their  re** 
turn,  and  the  next  morning  they  fet  off 
in   a  poll- coach  and  four  for  Chefter^ 
I  went  with  them  as  far  as  St.  Alban's^?. 
where  we  parted  -,  and,  I  thought  Mrs^i 
Baddeley  would  have  broke  her  heart  $ 
fhe  fobbed  and  cried  like   a  child,  and 
I  never  thought  Ihe  loved  me  till  thenj. 
In  fhortj  our  parting  was  an  afFeding 

fcene,. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      215 

'fcene,    for   there   was   not    a   dry   eye 
•among  us.     She  promifed  to  write  to 
',me  daily,  and  kept  her  word^  her  let- 
vters  were  diredted,  to  be  left  at  the  poft- 
tjffice,  till  called  for,    and  I   thus  tra- 
velled with  her;  for,   Ihe  was  very  mi- 
nute in  all  the  accounts  fhe  gave  me. 
She   palTed  for  the   Honourable   Mrs, 
Steele.      In    five   days,    they   reached 
■  Holy-head,  and  hired  a  packet,  to  car- 
ry them  to  Dublin. 

She  had  not  been  abfent  two  days, 
before  Mr.  P.  called,  and  enquired  if  I 
had  any  money  for  him,  and  where  MrSo 
Baddeley  was  gone.  I  told  him,  fhe 
'  was  gone  to  my  houfe  in  Oxfordlhire, 
for  a  few  days  ;  and,  that  as  to  money, 
I  was  as  bare,  as  when  he  called  laft. 

He 


ai6  The  Memoirs  of 

He  then  enquired  where  Lord  Mel- 
bourne was  J  and,  on  my  faying,  he 
was  gone  out  of  town,  for  a  fortnight, 
feemed  much  difappointed  -,  and  faid, 
feveral  drafts,  he  had  accepted  on  Mrs. 
Baddeley's  account,  would  be  due  in  a 
day  or  two,  and  he  did  not  know  what 
he  fhould  do.  I  told  him.  Lord  Mel- 
baurne  had  promifed  us  money  on  his 
return,  and  hoped,  that  would  be  time 
enough  j  he  replied,  if  I  could  not  help 
Jiim  to  any  fooner,  it  muft  be  time 
enough  J  but,  that  it  would  put  him  to 
fome  inconveniencies ;  and,  on  his  Lord- 
fhip's  return,  fhould  he  not  give  me 
any  voluntarily,  I  muft  afk  him  for 
fome.  I  told  him,  I  was  under  no  ap- 
prehenfions,  refpe6ting  his  bounty,  for 
I  had  no  doubt,  but  he  would  do    as 

he 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      217 

he  always  had  done.     He  feemed  fatis- 
;fied  with  thisj  and  left  me. 

During  Mrs.  Baddeley's  abfence, 
moft  of  her  friends  called,  to  enquire 
after  her,  and  among  the  reft  Lord  Co- 
leraine,  who  was  a  troublefome  vifitant, 
whenever  he  came.  He  was  more  like  a 
mad-man,  than  any  thing  elfe ;  vowing, 
he  would  never  forgive  me,  if  I  did  not 
tell  him  where  Mrs.  Baddeley  wasj  that, 
fee  her  he  muft,  and  would  find  her,  if 
llie  was  above  ground  j  for,  that  he  was 
wretched,  and  miferable  without  her. 
I  told  him  fhe  was  not  far  off,  but 
where  fhe  wiOied  to  fee  no  onej  and 
that  I  was  fure,  if  chance  threw  him  in 
her  way,  ihe  would  not  fpeak  to  him ; 
as  fhe  never  could  forget  the  injuries 
Vol.  IV.  T  fhe 


2.i8  The  Memoirs  of 

fhe  had  received  from  him.  He  re- 
plied, if  I  would  not  tell  him,  he  would 
try  if  he  could  not  find  her  outj  for,  he 
would  fpare  no  expencej  and  would 
hunt  her  to  the  world's  end.  He  flrove 
to  bribe  my  fervants,  but  it  was  to  no 
purpofe  J  for  we  had  afted  fo,  that,  they 
were  as  much  ftrangers  to  the  place  where 
fhe  was,  as  his  Lordfhip.  He  enquired 
at  every  inn  in  town,  to  know  whether 
any  horfes  had  been  fent  for  to  our 
houfej  went  down  to  my  houfe  near 
Henley,  where  he  had  fome  fufpicion 
he  ihould  find  her,  and  made  all  the 
enquiries,  in  that  neighbourhood,  he 
could.  He  then  came  back  again  to 
me,  told  me  where  he  had  been,  and 
the  pains  he  had  taken  to  find  her  j  I 
afked  his  Lordfhip,  from  whom  he  had 

his 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley,     219 

his  information,  that  fhe  was  in  Oxford- 
fhire;  he  told  me,  he  had  been  made 
acquainted  that  Ihe  was  there,  but,  I 
found  it  was  not  true^  fhe  had  been  there, 
I  told  him,  but  was  now  gone  down  ta 
bathe  in  the  fea.  He  no  fooner  heard 
this,  than  off  he  flew  to  Brighthelmftone, 
and  not  finding  her  there,  was  back 
with  me  the  next  day,  faying,  where  he 
had  been,  and  offered  me  five  hundred 
pounds  in  bank-notes,  for  my  own  ufe, 
if  I  would  tell  him  where  he  could  find 
her.  I  told  his  Lordfhip  that  a  bribe 
had  no  weight  with  me  j  that  I  would 
not  tell  him,  and  therefore,  begged  he 
would  teaze  me  no  more*  He  cried, 
and  fv/ore,  and  raved  like  a  mad-man, 
on  which  I  left  him  to  himfelf,  and  he 
foon  went  away,  and  I  faw  no  more 
T  2  of 


2.10  The  Memoirs  of 

of  him  for  three  days.  In  this  time  he 
travelled^  night  and  day  to  Margate, 
Ramfgate,  Southam.pton,  Weymouth, 
and  I  know  not  where,  in  fear ch  of  her^ 
He  then  returned  to  me,  informed  me 
of  his  ill  fuccefsj  and  entreated  me  as 
before,  and  offered  me  a  thoufand 
pounds.  I  then  found  myfelf  under,  the 
neceflity  of  declaring,  by  all  that  was. 
good  and  facred,  that  I  would  never 
tell  him  i  and  requefted,  he  would  come 
no  more  to  my  houfe,  for  that  I  would 
not  be  fo  troubled  3  it  being  her  wiili 
not  to  fee  him^  and  that  Ihe  had  fe^- 
creted  herfelf,  for  that  very  purpofe.  I 
afked  him,  as  he  was  now  fo  much 
in  cafh,  whether,  on  condition  of  my 
telling  him  where  fhe  was,  he  would  pay 
all  her  debts,  which  amounted  to  near 

four 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     221 

four  thoufand  pounds,    including  what 
Ihe  owed  me.     He  replied,  he  had  not 
money  enough,  or  he  would.     "  How 
much  then,"    returned  I,    "  will   you 
"  pay  towards  them  ?  "  "  Tell  me,"  faid 
his  Lordlhip,  "  firft  where  fhe  is,  and 
"  you  fhall  then  know."     1  told  him, 
if  he  would  give  me  his  bond,  to  pay 
three   thoufand    pounds,    I  would    tell 
him,     and   that    he    fhould  have    fix 
months  allowed  him  to  pay  two  thou- 
fand pounds  of  the  money.     He  would 
do  no  fuch  things ''  Then  why,"  return- 
ed I,  "  did  you  offer  me  fuch  a  fum, 
**  and  will  not  do  as  you  ought,    by 
*'  Mrs.  Baddeley,    whom  you  profefs 
**  fo  much  to  love  I     The    thoufand 
**  pounds  you  offered  me,  I  will  give  to 
*'  her  i  and,  if  you  will  add  two  thou- 

r  3 


222  The  Memoirs  of 

"  fand  pounds  more  to  it,  you  Ihall 
"  know  where  fKe  is,  but  on  no  other 
"  terms.  Now,  if  your  Lordfhip  va- 
"  lues  her,  as  you  pretend  to  do,  you 
"  would  chearfully  embrace  the  propo- 
"  fal ;  but,  periTiit ,  me  to  fay,  at  the 
**  fame  time,  that  unlefs  you  agree  to 
"  it  this  day,  an  offer  of  ten  times  the 
"  fum  to-morrow  fhali  not  open  ray 
"  lips."  He  faid,  I  fliould  have  tlie 
thoufand  pounds  he  offered  ^  but  he 
could  give  no  more^  At  this  I  told 
him,  I  would  not  accept  a  Ihilling  of 
him  on  that  fcore  j  but,  if  he  would  pay 
me  the  money  he  owed  me,  I  would 
take  it,  and  thank  him.  This  he  would 
not  do.  I  then  gave  him  to  underfland,  . 
that  what  I  had  faid,  refpeding  her 
debtSj   was  merely  to  try  how  far  his 

value 


Mas.  Sophia  Badbelev.     223 

value  for  her  wou^d  extend  3  that  in  fa6t 
Ihe  was  not  in  want  of  his  afTiftance ; 
but,  that  I  faw  plainly,  if  ihe  had  been, 
he  would  be  the  lait  perfon,  that  would 
Hand  forth,  to  relieve,  her  j  that  I  re- 
quefted,  I  might. never  fee  him  agair^^ 
and  that .  if  he  called  a  hundred  times, 
I  would  always  be  denied ; ,  at  this  he 
took,  himfelf  away,,  angrily,  faying, 
he  fhould  call  and  try,  whether  he  could 
not  fee  me,  notwithftanding  what  I  .was 
pleafed  to  fay  to  the  contrary^  He  now, . 
fome  way  or  other,  found  his  way  to  the 
lady's  houfe.  at  Chelfea,  and,  by  bribing  ■ 
th.e  fervants,  got  intelligence,  -  that  Ihe 
_  was  in  Oxfordfliires  though  this  he  con- 
tradi6ted,  faying, .  he  had  .  been  there, 
and  could  here  nothing  of  her.  The 
fervants^   who  fuppofed  (he  was  there 

with 


224  The  Memoirs  or 

with  their  miftrefs,  afTured  his  Lordlhip, 
that  they  went  together,  and  that  they 
muft  be  there.     He  then  enquired  for 
their  mafter,    and    learned,  he  was  at 
Portfmouth^    Now  fhe  had  written  two 
letters,  left  them  with  me  for  her  huf- 
band,  one  to  be  fent  each  week,  during 
her  abfence :  one  af  thefe  letters  I  had  fent 
the  day  before.     His  Lordlhip  followed 
this  letter  the  next  day  to  Portfmouth^ 
and  told  the  lady's  hufband,  that  he  wa& 
come  in  fearch  of  Mrs.  Baddeley,  who 
He  was  informed,  was  gone  off  to  fome 
diftance  from  London,    with  his  wife. 
"  That  is  impoffible,"  faid  the  Gentle- 
man, "  for  I  received  a  letter  from  her 
**  this  day  dated  Chelfea."     Lord  Cole- 
raine,  affured  him,  fhe  was  not  there,  and, 
if  the  letter  was  fent  him,  he  was  impofed 

upon  y 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddelxy.       225 

Upon  5  for,  that  he  was  at  his.  hoiife  the 
day  before,  and  that  fhe  had  been  gone 
fome  days.  "  Where  is  Mrs.  Steele  ?'/ 
faid  the  Gentleman.  "  In  Grafton- 
"  ftreet,"  returned  his  Lordlhip,.  "  and 
"  as  obftinate  as  the  devil  j  deternained 
**  not  to  tell  me  where  fhe  is  -,  but,  by 
**  a  fee  to  a  man  who  afTifled  her 
"  coachman,  I  learned  your  lady 
"  was  gone  oiF  with  her."  "  Depend 
"  upon  it,  my  Lord,"  returned  the 
Gentleman,  "  you  will  find  Mrs.  Bad- 
*'  deley  fecreted  at  my  houfe."  Lord 
Coleraine  then,  offered  him  five  hun- 
dred guineas,  if  he  would  go  to  town 
with  him,  and  convince  him  of  it. 
His  reply  was,  "  As  the  ftores  of 
"  Portfmouth-yard  are.  wholly  under 
"  my  care,  and  I  am  obliged  to  attend 

"  the 


226  The  Memoirs  of 

"  the  delivery  of  them,  I  cannot  go 
*'  for  fofne  days,  but  I  will  write  to 
*'  my  wife,  and  I  dare  fay  fhall  have 
*'  an  anfwer  from  herj  and,  as  your 
*'  Lordlliip  feems  fo  unhappy,  you  fhall  • 
"  know  from  me  what  fhe  fays  upon 
"  the  occafion."  This  being  agreed  on, 
his  Lordfhip  returned  to  town. 

Finding,  by  my  fervants,  that  Lord 
Coleraine  meant  to  go  to  Portfmouth, 
in  fearch  of  her  s  I  thought  it  prudent> 
for  my  friend's  fake,  to  go  there  alfo  i 
I  accordingly  went,  and  requefted  that 
if  Lord  Coleraine,  or  any  perfon  from 
him,  fliould  enquire  about  Mrs.  Bad- 
deley,  not  to  fay,  that  fhe  was  at  his 
houfe  at  Chelfea  j  when  fhe,  in  fad,  was 
gone  to  be  fecreted  from  him.     The 

Gentleman 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley,     227 

Gentleman  afl<:ed  why  he  was  not  made 
acquainted  with  this  before  j  and,  then 
told  me  of  Lord  Coleraine's  being  with 
him,  and  what  he  had  promifed,  in  con- 
fequence  of  it.  "  He  would  have  per- 
"  fwaded  me,"  faid  he,  "  that  my  wife 
"  was  gone  off,  to  fome  place  or  other, 
*'  but  he  could  not  learn  where  i  and,  I 
"  was  juft  going  to  write,  to  enquire  into 
"  the  m.atteri  for,  had  fhe  dared  to  have 
"  done  fuch  a  thing,  without  my  know- 
*^  ledge,  I  never  would  forgive  her." 
"  Oh,"  replied  I,  "  makeyourfelf  eafy, 
"  for,  I  know  your  wife  well,  and  am 
*'  convinced  fhe  would  not  think  of 
"  fuch  a  thing.  You  mufl  therefore, 
**  keep  this  affair  a  fecret«"  He  affured 
me  he  would.  I  urged  him  to  accom- 
pany me  to  town,   knowing  he  could 

not. 


2.28  The  Memoirs  of 

not,  which  he  excufed  himfelf  from  do- 
ing, being  tied  by  the  leg,  he  faid,  for 
a  month  to  come.  Glad  was"!  to  hear 
this,  though  I  pretended  the  contrary; 
For,  this  Gentleman  was  a  Dane,  and  of 
a  jealous  difpofition,  though  he  had  very 
little  caufe  for  it ;  and,  I  fhould  have 
been  forry,  had  he  known  his  wife  was 
from  home.  He  defired  me  to  leave 
his  Lordlhip  to  him,  and  he  would 
match  him  j  for  if  he  came  again,  he 
would  fay,  they  were  gone  to  Tun- 
bridge-wells.  For,  "  I  aflure  you,  my 
"  dear  Mrs.  Steele,"  faid  he,  "  though 
"  I  did  not  give  much  credit  to  his 
**  Lordlhip's  tale,  it  made  me  rather 
"  uneafy  s  as,  when  a  man  is  fo  far 
*^  diftant  from  home,  there  is  no  know- 
'^  ing  what  may  happen.'*     I  llaid  at 

Portf- 


* 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     229 

Portfmouth  that  night,  fpent  the"  evening 
with  him  J  and  in  the  nnorning,  at  part- 
ing, he  wifhed  me  to  tell  his  wife,  to 
fend  him  down  ten  pounds,  by  the  coach, 
the  next  day.  Having  ten  pounds  in 
my  pocket  to  fpare,  I  begged  him  to 
take  it,  and  I  would  receive  it  of  his 
wife  in  town.  This  1  did  to  prevent  a 
difcovery;  he  took  it  kind,  and  we 
parted.  In  my  way  home,  I  called  at 
my  friend's  houfe,  at  Chelfea,  and  found 
from  the  fervants,  that  Lord  Coleraine 
had  been  there  and  infilled  on  feeing 
Mrs.  Baddeley,  who  he  knew  was  in  that 
houfe;  for,  he  had  been  at  Portfmouth, 
and  their  mafter  had  told  him  fo  ]  that, 
he  ran  up-ftairs,  and  finding  the  rooms 
locked,  would  not  believe  but  Ihe 
was  there  with  their  miftrefs,  and  that 
Vol.  IV.  U  he 


230  The  Memoirs  of 

he  faid,  he  would  be   there  again.     I 
told  them,    at  their    peril,    not  to  let 
him   in   any  morej    for   whoever  did,- 
Ihould   be  difcharged.      They   afTiired 
me,  one  and  all,  that  they  would  obey 
my  diredions,  and  fhould  not  have  fuf- 
fered  him,  to  go  up-ftairs  as  he  did,  if 
he  had  not  been  a  Lord,  and  thought 
he  muft  not  be  affronted.     "  You  have 
*'  nothing    more    to    fay,"    replied   I, 
"  ftiould  he  call  again,    but,  that  your 
*'  miftrefs  isYrom  home  j  and,  has  given 
**  ftrifb  orders  not  to  admit  him  j  and, 
«  fhould  he  afk  for  Mrs.  Baddeley,  to  tell 
"  him,  Ihe   is  not  at  your  houfe  but 
**  gone,  as  fhe  is  determined  not  to  fee 
*'  him  5  and  then  come  and  acquaint  me, 
*'  with  the  refult."  On  my  return  home, 
I  found  he  had  been  there,  told  the  fer- 

vants. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.     231 

vants,  he  had  been  at  my  houfe,  near 
Henley,  and,  at  Portfmouth,  and  had 
learned,  Mrs.  Baddeley  was  at  Chelfea; 
that  he  had  a  meffage  to  deliver  to  me 
from  Portfmouth,  and  muft  fee  me. 

I  fent  to  the  Poft-ofHce,  and  received 
two  letters  from  Mrs.  Baddeley,  from 
LuttrelFs  town,  in  Ireland,  faying,  Ihe 
was  fafe  arrived  at  the  feat  of  Colonel 
Lutterelh  that  the  reception  fhe  met 
with,  was  greater  even  than  fhe  expell- 
ed ;  and,  that  the  Colonel's  behaviour, 
and  attention  was  fo  engaging,  that  fhe 
liked  him  prodigioufly]  that  a  Colonel 
■Smith  was  there  alfo  on  a  vifit;  that 
the  manfion  was  an  elegant  one,  fuperb- 
ly  furnifhed  j  that  the  Park,  in  which 
it  Itood,  was  a  noble,  and  extenfive 
U  2  one  ; 


aja  The  Memoirs  of 

one  J  that,  fhe  wanted  only  my  compa'- 
ny,  to  complete  her  happinefs ;  and  that 
the  whole  party  wifhed  to  fee  me,  as 
Toon  as  pofiible. 

"Whilft  I  was  reading  thefe  letterS:,:^ 
my  maid  came  up  and  faid.  Lord  Cble- 
raine's  fervant  was  below,  having  a 
meffage  to  deliver  me  from  his  mafter. 
This  man  brought  Lord  Coleraine's  com- 
pliments to  me,  and  informed  me,  that 
hi^  mafter  was  convinced  Mrs.  Badde- 
ley  was  fecreted  at  Chelfea,  and  that  he 
was  determined  to  fee  her,  if  he  loft  his 
life  in  the  attempt;  that,  he  was  there 
not  an  hour  ago,  and  found  the  doors 
all  locked,  by  order  of  the  lady  of  the 
houfe,  and  no  admittance  for  him  -,  and, 

that" 


Mrs,  Sophia  Baddeley.     q.23 

that  he  was  informed  Mrs.  Baddeley 
was  gone,  which  he  knew  to  be  falfe. 
I  told  the  fervant  that  his  mafter  fhould 
beware  molefting  people  in  their  own 
houfes  i  that,  the  lady  had  applied  to 
her  attorney  in  confequence  of  his  beha- 
viour, and  I  had  no  doubt,  but  an  adion 
would  be  brought  againft  him.  The 
fervant,  who  was  a  complete  Irifhman, 
fwore  by  Jafus,  that  he  believed  his  maif- 
ter  was  mad  for  Mrs.  Baddeley ;  that, 
he  would  not  let  them  reft  day  or  night, 
but  was  every  where  flinging  about  after 
her,  and  the  devil-a-bit  of  eafe  could  they 
get  j  that  his  Lord  was  now  fure  fhe 
was  at  Chelfea,  and  it  was  a  pity  that 
where  there  was  fo  much  love,  there 
lliould  be  fo  little  fatisfadion  j  that, 
for  fartain,  according  to  what  he  could 
U  3  larn. 


aj4  The  Memoirs  ok 

larn,  he  did  deferve  to  feel  a  little  bit 
of  uneafinefs  for  his  tricks  -,  but  yet,  God 
blefs  him,  there  was  no  neceffity  for  kill- 
ing the  poor  gentleman  out  right.  "Tell 
*'  your  Lord  from  me,"  replied  I,  "  that 
**  Mrs.  Baddeley,  determined  not  to  fee 
"  him,  is  gone  to  fome  other  place ; 
"  and  if  he  perfifts — "  "  Do,  dear 
"  lady,"  returned  the  man,  '^  put  what 
^*  you  have  to  fay  on  a  piece  of  paper> 
**  for  I  dare  as  well  eat  my  tongue  as 
*'  tell  him."  This  I  refuled  to  do,  and 
he  went  off  with  "  Your  farvant,  good 
"  lady.  If  you  had  fent  a  kinder  mef- 
**  fage  to  my  maifter,  you  would  not 
"  have  repented  it." 

As  foon  as  he  was  gone,  I  fat  down 
and  wrote   to   Mrs.    Baddeley,     every 

thing 


Mrs.  Sophia  BaddEley.     2J$' 

thing  about  Lord  Coleralne,  excepting 
what  related  to  her  friend's  hufband  j 
requefling  diredions  howto-a-dt,  faying, 
llie  muft  not'  expe£t  me,  till  Ihad  feen 
JLord  Melbourne,,  and  could  (ome  way 
or  other  fettle  matters  witli.Mr.  P.  I 
took  this  letter  to  Lombard -ftreet,  and 
dire6ted  it,  under  cover,  to  Colonel 
Lutterell.  Whilft  I  was  gone,  Mr.  P. 
called,  and  left  word,  he  had  fomething 
of  confequence  to  inform  me  of,  and 
would  call  again  in  the  evening.  I  fup- 
pofed  it  was  about  money  matters  ;  but?, 
when  he  came,  found  myfelf  deceived. 
Lord  Coleraine  had  hunted  him  out^ 
told  him  a  long  tale  of  Mrs.  Baddeley, 
that  Ihe  was  gone  off,  and  no  one  knew 
where,  and  afked  him  if  he  knew  where 
Ihe  was>  he  told  his  Lordfliip,  fhe  was 

at 


236  The  Memoirs  op 

at  my  houfe  near  Henley,  which  Lord 
Colerainc  contradidted,  faying,  he  had 
been  there.  "  And  now,"  with  a  very 
ferious  face,  faid  he,  "  it  is  time,  Mrs. 
"  Steele,  I  fhould  afk  you  where  ftie 
"  really  is."  I  replied,  "  Safe  enough 
"  from  Lord  Coleraine,  who  fhe  is  de- 
"  termined  not  to  fee,  and  I  commend 
"  her  for  itj  for,  I  made  a  propofal  to- 
*'  him,  that  if  he  would  pay  her  debts, 
"  I  would  acquaint  him  where  {he  was> 
*'  and,  if  he  had  fuch  a  wifh  to  fee  her, 
"  as  he  feems  to  have,  I  doubted  not 
*'  but  that  he  would  embrace  the  terms, 
•*  This  he  refufed,  and  I  then  turned  it 
«'  off,  and  faid,  '  I  made  the  propofal 
*  only  to  try  him.'  I  am  convinced, 
"  Sir,"  continued  I,  "  that  he  muft 
"  have  fome  ill  dcfign,  or  he  would 
4  **  advance 


Mr'?.  Sophia  Baddeley.     237 

"  advance  fome  money  for  her,  when 
**  he  could  offer  me  a  thoufand  pounds 
"  to  tell  him  where  flie  was."  Mr.  P. 
replied,  that,  confidering  the  treatment 
flie  had  received  from  him,  he  ought  to 
advance  her  fome  moneys  ancU  that  I 
did  right  to  keep  him  in  the  darks  buif, 
there  was  no  reafon  why  I  fhould  keep 
him  fo.  I  told  him,  I  had  no  reafon  to 
conceal  it  from  him,  only,  that  Ihe  was 
removing  fb  from  place  to  place,  to 
ekide  Lord  Coleraine,  thiit  flie  fcarce 
knew  where  fhe  was  herfclf.  Mr.  E. 
commended  her  for  this,  but,  owned  his 
Lordiliip's  account  had  furprized  him, 
though  he  was  now  fatisfied,  and  would 
fay  no  more  on  the  fubjedj  only  wifli- 
ed  Lord  Melboui-ne  would,,  according 
to  promife,  let  her  have  fome  money., 

iwhen 


238        The    Memoirs  of 

when  he  came  to  town,  or  he  fhould  be 
greatly  inconvenienced.  I  told  him, 
there  was  but  little  doubt  of  it,  and  he 
feemed  contented;  but,  I  now  plainly 
faw  I  had  fufficient  to  encounter,  and 
was  far  from  being  happy,  having  a 
thoufand  things  to  perplex  me,  and  no 
one  to  advife  with,  or  open  my  mind 
to ;  for,  I  don't  know  any  one  comfort 
fo  great,  as  to  have  a  friend  to  unbofom 
one's  felf  to,  in  difficulties,  though  that 
friend  can  afford  no  affiftance.  I  was 
daily  called  on  by  Mrs.  Baddeley's 
friends  of  fafhion,  but,  thefe  were  not 
fuch  perfons  as  I  could  talk  with  on 
our  private  concerns. 

The  next  poft  brought  me  a  long  and 

affedionate  letter  from  Mrs.  Baddeley; 

■^  containing. 


Mrs.  Sophia  Baddeley.      23^ 

containing,  to  my  great  furprize,  a  re- 
jblution,  on  her  part,  to  flay  and  end 
her  days  where  fhe  was,  and  waiting 
only  my  anfwer  on  the  fubjeit,  to  deter- 
mine her ;  that,  Ihe  was  more  happy 
than  Ihe  could  exprefs,  but  mufl  have 
me  with  her ;  for  a  palace  would  be  a 
dungeon  without  me  j  that  Colonel 
Lutterell  faid  he  Ihould  be  proud  to 
have  me  with  her  j  that,  I  had  only  to 
iay  the  word,  and  all  things  would  be 
made  eafy  to  me.  "  I  will  then,"  faid 
Ihe,  "  give  up  all  my  friends  in  London, 
"  and  ihall  have  nothing  to  do  with 
**  married  men^  for  the  Colonel  is  a 
**  fmgle  one :  with  him  I  have  done, 
"  what  cannot  be  undone,  and,  I  do 
"  not  repent  it  i  for,  he  is  poffefTed  of 
"  a  good  heart,  and   I  love  him  well 

"  enough 


140  The  Memoirs  of 

■'^'  enough  to  live  happy  with  him  for 
"  life.  Was  I  a  princefs,  he  could  not 
*^  pay  me  more  refpe6t  than  he  does ; 
**  for,  I  have  not  a  wifli  or  a  thought, 
"  but  he  fludies  to  gratify;  and,  as  I 
"  am  determined  to  be  grateful  on  my 
:«*  part,  nothing  fhall  take  me  from 
"  him.,  unlefs  you  tell  me  you  will  not 
"  live  in  this  country;  fo,  fend  me 
"  your  dear  anfwer,  and  I  will  then 
"  tell  you  fome  news  that  will  pleafe 
'^  you." 


END  OF  THE  FOURTH  VOLUME, 


&^^^Sfe^