MORDAUNT.
SKETCHES
OF
LIFE, CHARACTERS, AND MANNERS,
IN
VARIOUS COUNTRIES ;
MEMOIRS
OF
A FRENCH LADY OF QUALITY.
BY THE
AUTHOR OF ZELUCO X EDWARD.
69G3 ?
VOL. 1L
Ficta voluptatis causa sint proxima veris.
HOR.
LONDON :
PRINTED FOR G. G. AND J. ROBINSON, PATERNOSTER -ROW
BY s. HAMILTON, FALCOX-COURT, FLEET-sno:£T-
— ^B»—
1800.
PR
y.
CONTENTS
OF
THE SECOND VOLUME
MEMOIRS OF A FRENCH LADY OF QUALITY.
PACE
.LETTER XXXV. Maternal Agkc&m 1 45
XXXVI. Self-Charity • 155
XXXVII. Advice 164-
XXXVIII. Soothing 169
XXXIX. The Art of Pleasing 176
XL, Candour 179
XLI. Marriage from Compassion 190
XLII. A Protectress 199
XLIII. Lady Mango •• - • • 203
XLIV. Worldly Wisdom 216
XLV. Widow Demure 226
XLVI. Fawning 244
XLVII. Delicacy 24-9
XLVIII. Truth's Simplicity 233
XLIX. The Polite Apothecary and Rude
Preacher 274
L. Spite 281
LI. A Profound Remark on the Prorerbs of
Solomon 286
LII. Unfashionable Conduct of a Lady of Qua- lity 290
LIII. Gaiety 296
LIV. Affection • • • 308
LV. Offensive Insinuations 312
PACE
LETTER LVI. A* Italian Lady .................. 305
LVII. Rage — A wicked Suggestion ........ 337
LVIII. Mistaken Kindness .............. 348
LIX. Sound Judgment •• ......... . ...... 354
LX. Shrewdness ...... ...... ............ 353
LXI. Flattery • • . ....................... 368-
LXII. The Beggar ........ . .......... • • • 37 1
LXIII. Different f^iews of the Same Object • • 382 LXIV. Adventure at a Cottage ....-....-....• 38S
LXV. Habit— Lord Cardon ....... ....... 399*
MORDAUNT*
The STORY of Madame la MARQUISE de ',
as narrated by herself to Miss CLIFFORD;
JV1 Y father was a man of birth and of con- fiderable fortune* moft of which he had fpent in the fervice before he married my mother ; but he then enjoyed court favour, a, govern- ment, and other lucrative offices. I lie was forty years of age, and me only- twenty. Hep fortune was more ample than his had ever been ; yet he had fo liberal and magnificent a turn of mind, that, when he died> my mo- ther's fortune, of which he could draw only the rents, was all he left as a provifion for his family.
Three years before his death I had been boarded in a convent, contrary to the inclina-
VOL. II. £
2 MORDAUNT.
tion of my mother, who would rather-that I had been educated at home under her own eye : but my father gave frequent entertain- ments, was proud of my mother's accom- plimments,and feared that her attention to my education would often prevent her from ap- pearing in thofe affemblies, of which he con- fidered her as the greateft ornament. My mother yielded with regret a point which flic thought very material.
The convent in which I was boarded, and where I remained three years, had a high re- putation. Thofe nuns, to which the educa- tion of the boarders is peculiarly intruded, execute the tafk, for the moft part, in a con- fcientious manner, and to the beft of their- undemanding. The impreffion they make on the young mind very often remains through life. This impreffion has an oppofite effect, according to the character of thofe on which it is made. Some it renders fuperftitious ; others, foon after they are introduced into fo- ciety, on hearing fome of the notions and
MORDAUNT. S
practices they learned at the convent turned into ridicule, are apt to become irreligious. On me the impreffion was of the firft kind \ for, at the time I was removed from the convent, I had a great inclination to become a nun.
[Here I could not help interrupting the marchionefs with a fudden exclamation—
" Good heaven ! to become a nun/'
" Yes, my dear," refumed {he, fmiling : " and if at that age you had lived as long in the fame fociety, for fome of the nuns were ex- tremely amiable as well as pious, I make no doubt but you would have had the fame in- clination."]
Secluded from the ordinary occupations of life, it is not furprifmg that they mould place almoft the whole of goodnefs in the perform- ance of religious ceremonies and devout con- templations. Some particular ceremonies may
even be amufing to the fancy of a child; and /
at any rate was, I thought, an eafy purchafe for that eternal happinefs to be fecured by per- forming them, and which I was intruded
B 2
4? M.ORDAUNT.
would be endangered by living more at large* in the world.
: An incident of a peculiar nature, however, induced my mother to infill with my father that I mould be removed from the convent fooner than Ihe had agreed to : after which the compa- ny and coaverfation of my mother gradually diminished my prejudice in favour of the convent, and I loft all delire to be a nun : but while me endeavoured to efface every trace of childiih fuperftition.from my mind, me- took equal pains to imprint fentiments of rational piety in their ftead. She defcribed fuperfti- tion to me as a weaknefs, which me thought,, However, had not fo pernicious an effect on. the female character as infidelity; me told me that the moft profligate women me had ever known .were ihofe who were, or affected to b«, iniidols i fupea-fthioa,.- therefore, me con- tfemne.dylbat impiety filled her with horror.
again interrupted the .marchionefs's nar- rative, faying> " that> if me had no. objection,. Ihadfome curioiity to kaow what the inci-
MORDAUNT
•dent was which determined htr -mother to re- move her from the con vent Tdoner. than ilie
i
had before agreed to :" but thinking that me ^efitated a little, I immediately. added,'-" that ii it was of a fecrqt nature, or if, for .any other realbn, me had the fmalleir. fcruple. to com- municate it, I begged fhe would forgive me, and proceed.0
" Secret nature — no—it is rather of a ridi- culous nature," anfwered the marchionefs- : •'* but, fuch as it is, fmce you wifb to know it, you fhall be indulged."]
You can hardly form a notion, my dear Mifs Clifford, (continued the marchionefs,) of the ftrange incongruous ideas that may be united in the brain of young perforis by .cer- tain imprefTions, and by the ambiguity of words. In the convent in which 1 was, a young relation of mine was alfo a boarder—- about fifteen years of age, of a lively imagi- nation, and confidered as a little* faint, on ac- count of the animation of her geftures in per- forming the ufual ceremonies of devotion,
B 3
6 MORDAUNT.
and the fervour of her expreffions, when fhe fpoke on religious fubjeds.
Sermons were occafionally preached in the chapel adjoining to the convent. A tall, handfome ecclefiaftic, of a majeftic appear- ance, preached an eloquent fermon on the love we owe to God. This fermon, and the preacher, feemed to make a deep imprellion on die -young lady: me was more thoughtful than ufual, and fometimes feemed quite loft in meditation. She told me one day, that though me had always loved God, me was now fenfible that fhe never had, in the degree that fhe ought, until me heard the comely ecclefiaftic's fermon. She- owned, that her former love approached to coldnefs, when compared with what fhe now felt ; that for- merly fhe feldom had thought of him, ex- cept when fhe was at her prayers, and fome- times not even then j but now he entirely occupied her thoughts by day and night.
This young lady's mother had been for a confiderable time in a diflant province of
MORDAUNT. 7
France. The daughter had always men- tioned her to me in the moft affectionate terms, regretting the caufes which kept her fo long abfent, and looking forward to her return as a fource of happinefs.
My mother called one day at the convent, and informed the young lady, that her mo- ther, finding that me would be detained ftill a confiderable time in the country, and being impatient to fee her, was to fend a perfon to Paris, to accompany the young lady to the province ; — that me might there- fore prepare for her departure within a few days.
So far from manifefling any appearance of joy, as my mother expected, the young lady feemed rather afflicted at the news.
" What ! are you not happy at the thoughts of returning fo foon to Langue- doc ?" faid my mother.
" No," replied fhe ; " I would rather re- main where I am."
" Are you not impatient to fee your mo- B 4
% -MORDAUNT,
ther ?— I thought you had been exceedingly fond of your mother."
" So I am very fond of her-— exceedingly fond of her, that is certain : but do not irria-. gine that I love her as I love God, for I do love him. Gracious Heaven I" cried me, clafping her hands and turning up her eyes, "how I do love him !" M$v
My mother, on farther inquiry, having difcovered the date and occafion of this vio-r . lent paffion, thought proper to remove me -from the convent that very evening, and' to, fend the young lady to her parents, at Lan- guedoc, a few days after.
-Though my mother was folicitous to lower •that fpeeies of exultation on certain fubjects, which my fancy had acquired in the nun- nery, yet fhe was fenfible that every attempt of that fort was to be managed with deli- cacy ; for, as /he afterwards informed me, £he had heard a girl of twelve years of age, who after the death of her parents had been 'boarded in a convent, tell her guardian, a
MORDAUNT, 9
of piety and literature, on his explaining fome religious article differently from the fenfe in which fhe underftood it, ** that in all rpoints which concerned her falvation fhe would adhere to her own opinion -, in other matters, of lefs importance, me would en- deavour to mow due deference to his." .
If my mother had abruptly oppofed cer- tain notions which I carried with me from :the convent, and have iince renounced, I am :by no means certain that I mould not have made fome fuch anfwer as that of this felf- Sufficient girl ; and if my opinion had been violently attacked, my prejudice in its favour would probably have increafed by mere dint pf defending it.
[Having again apologifed to the marchio- nefs for -my .interruption, and thanked her for her complaifance, {he proceeded in her narrative.]
The ftyle in. which my mother lived, after the death of my father, might have been called retired, when compared with what it
JO MORDAUNT.
had t>een before : yet fhe flill cultivated a fe- led: circle of acquaintance. As fhe was paf- fionately fond of mufic, (he went fometimes to the opera, and attended private concerts Aill oftener : fhe alfo carried me with her, on a few occafions, to what is properly called the Theatre Frangaife. During my father's life-time fhe attended the court affiduoufly ; after his death fhe very feldom went, unlefs on public occafions; though fhe continued to fee the princefs Elizabeth as often as that virtuous princefs, who had a great efteem for my mother, fignified a defire that fhe fhould go to Verfailles.
As I was an only child, and heirefs to my mother's fortune, it will not furprife you that I had lovers. Several gentlemen afked her per- miffion to pay me their addreffes : none of them interefted me ; and fhe put an end to their fuits, one after another, without ex- prefling either approbation or difapprobation of my indifference. She wifhed to obferve how I was myfelf inclined, without interfer-
MORDAUNT. 11
ing before it was necefTary. At laft, a man of higher name, and more illuftrioufly con- netted than any who had addrefied me hi- therto, declared his paffion for me : he was handfome, genteel in his perfon, and related to a young lady for whom I had conceived a friendfhip. Though I heard his declaration with more fatisfadtion than I had liftened to any language of the fame kind before, yet I Jeemed to treat it as common-place compli- ment ; and when he was about to enforce it with new proteftations, he was interrupted by fome company that joined us.
I do not know why I did not inform my mother of this ; perhaps I thought it more becoming that he fhould fpeak to her in the firft place j perhaps I was a little afraid me might not approve : the truth is, I did not mention it when I had an opportunity ; and the omiffion did not proceed from forgetful- nefs.
When he repeated his former declaration to me, I anfwered, " that I never liftened
12 MORDAUNT.
to language bf that nature from 'any man • without the approbation of my mother."
He foon found an opportunity of explain- ing himfelf to her. She was better ac- quainted with this perfon's character than I was, and did not at all approve of his pro- poial. She faid to him, however, "that much WQuld depend on myfelf, and that fhe would talk to me on the fubjecV'
Having conftrued what j, laft faid to him jas an acquiefcence, lie told my mother that he had already obtained my confent, and now only needed hers.
At this my mother exprefTed furprife, and repeated, that me would fpeak with me.
The only time J ever faw any thing like referve, in my dear mother's behaviour to- wards me, or any exprefiion but that of fond-* nefs in her eyes, when direded to me, was when I firil met her after her interview with this man, who I mall call by the name of Count -, not wifhing to diftinguiih him more particularly, out of regard to his family,
MORDAUNT. IIS
I had been out in the carriage with a lady, his relation, when he had called on my mo- ther. We returned together to dinner.
Other company came after dinner ; fo that me had no opportunity of fpeaking with me' till all had withdrawn.
The alteration in my mother's manner af- fe&ed me fo much, that the lady faid — * " What can be the matter with you, my dear ; you were all cheerfulnefs while w& we're abroad, and now you feem quite for- sowful!" I anfwered — " I was not very well;" .but begged fhe would take no notice of it, left it fliould make my mother uneafy.
As foon as the company were gone, my mother withdrew to her own apartment. I followed t .my bed-chamber was adjoining to hers. She difmifTed her maid as well ' as mine, who attended to undrefs us, faying flic would ring when me needed them. , Buriling into tears as foon as they \7ere gone — " Ah ! my dear mother, I fear yoi> are diipleafed with me."
14 MORDAtTNT.
" Indeed, Adelaide," faid (he, " lam."
" Though convinced, from your beha- viour, that I have done fomething wrong, yet 1 am unconfcious what 'it is."
" Do you pretend not to be fenfible," re- fumed {he, " that I have reafon to be of- fended ?"
** I pretend nothing," replied I ; " I be- lieve I limit have acted improperly, but I am not fenfible in what ; pray inform me, that I may undo it directly."
" Can you perceive no impropriety in af- fcnting to the addreifes of the Count, with- out confulting me ?"
" I aflented to nothing. On the contrary, I told him, " That I could liften to no man's addrefles without your approbation."
" Even that was a kind of implication," faid flie, " that you would be pleafed with his addrefTes if I mould approve."
" Was it not alfa an implication, my dear- eft madam, that I fhould never more lifbn to them if you Ihould not approve ?"
MORDAUNT. 15
" He might not fee that fo clearly," me replied.
" He mall find it, however," faid I.
" The Count told me that he had obtained your confent," continued my mother.
" In that he told a falfehood," faid I; " for my anfwer was what I have already mentioned, and nothing elfe."
" You muft be fenfible," refumed my mother, '* that your happinefs, my dear, is the object neareft my heart."
" I am fully perfuaded of it,*' I anfwered.
" Do you really wilh, then, that I fhould confent to your being the wife of this man?"
*' I mall never wiili that you mould con- fent to what you do not approve."
" The birth of the Count, his fplendid connexions, his external appearance, per- haps, may have influenced you a little in his favour."
« If ever thofe circum fiances had any in- fluence with me in his favour, they now weigh againft him."
36 MORDAUNT*
" How fo ?"
" Becaufe," replied I, " as it is evident you do not approve of him, I am convinced that you have fome objection which outweighs all thofe advantages."
" Indeed, my dear, I have," faid me with fervour ; " and my objection is, that I have the ftrongeft reafon for thinking that he has? a wicked heart. Heaven forbid, that alt the rank, that all the riches, or any thing elfe which this world can beitow, mould ever prevail on me to ally my child with tice !"
She afterwards told me, that fhe was in- formed of the real character of the Comity partly from thofe who had known him from his childhood, and partly from certain adven-* turcs of his, which me had accidentally come to the knowledge of, though unknown to the public, and of which he himfelf was ignorant that me was acquainted. She allured me that he was devoid of principle, haughty, over- bearing, and addicted to mean company, from
ItfORDAUNTV 17
a love of that adulation which fuch only can beftow.
Of the haughtinefs of the Count I had a pretty ftrong proof the following day, when he called and found me alone.
I fignifie'd' to him» in the moft polite terms I could,' that I declined the propofal he had done me the honour to make. ',».
«' What !" laid he, " your mother difap- p roves of me, -then ?" .w\Kcn ' ;U*d
" I have not mentioned my mother, fir," fakl I; " but I have informed you of my^ own fentiments.^ Jiiifitr,-
" I plainly perceive^" faid he, frowning, " that this comes from your mother."
" Yet," replied I, piqued at his infolent manner, "" I cannot fee any thing wonderful or unnatural in fuppoiing it to come entirely from myfelf."
My mother entered the room at this mo- ment
" I under ftood," faid he, " madam, that
VOL. II. C
18 MORDAUNT.
the propofal I made to you* would depend oft your daughter's own decifion/'
" I am happy to find," faidfhe, " that my daughter and I think in the fame way."
" You will permit me, madam," laid he, *.? to have fome fmall doubt on that head."
'* Pray, fir, on what is your doubt founded?"
" On this, madam 3 that it is more pro- bable that I may not hit the fancy of an old Woman than of a young one.'*
Having pronounced this infolent fpeech,
he withdrew, with an air of arrogance.
This behaviour bears more refemblance-to the mariners of the rudeft people of Europe4, than to what might be expected from a man of rank, in a country diftinguimed for por- litenefs, before all traces of politenefs, a* well as of humanity, were banimed from the nation. I have heard it remarked, however, by fome who have had opportunities of com- paring the characters of the various nations of Europe, that themgh Frenchmen were more
MOR DAUNT. 19
polite than their neighbours by art, yet they were lefs fo by nature* owing to an im- petuofity of temperament, which, on the fhadow of provocation, makes them forget reftraints of every kind, and hurries into im- prudcncies and difficulties, from which even fubmiflion and adulation cannot extricate them. The Count furnimed an example of this. A few days after his infolence to my mother, he wrote her a penitential letter, ac- knowledging the impertinence of his be- haviour, begging her pardon in the humblefl manner, and expreffing his hopes that me would allow him to renew his addrefles, and to endeavour to efface the bad impreffion which his foolim and infolent conduct muil have made on me.
He alfo prevailed on fome of his relations to plead his caufe with my mother; and though he had every reafon to believe that, after what had pafied, all would be without fuccefs, yet, when he found that we perfe- vered in the fentiments already exprefled, he
c *
'2O MO R DAUNT.
ftormed and raged as if it had,been a fre-fh in- jury.
i Soon after this, monlieur le marquis deM
was introduced into the fociety my mother moft frequented. I had many opportunities of meeting and converfmg with him. He was endowed with every thing which could ren- der him attractive to woman, except fortune t that was precifelv what I laid the leaft flrefs upon. It is not furpriiing, therefore, that he made ^a flrong impreffion on my heart; and it v is with the utmoft fatisfaction that I per- ceived, in fpite of the pains he took to con- ceal it, that I had ' made v the lame on his. Orr his part, however, he had no fufpicion of my. partiality for him,.'.': As I am certain, tliat in other matters monfieur de M — •- — rhas more penetration .than I can 'boaft,. I conclude .that, in this, particular buiinefs of love,- women are generally:'quicker-iighted than men. What confirms me in tliis opinion is, that my mo- ther difcovered not only his pailion for me> but alfo, -my partiality for him, long before
he had an}7 idea of it himfelf. In confe- quence of this obfervation, without relying on the favourable notion {he had of him, me .made minute inquiry, from thofe who had been acquainted with him from his infancy, concerning his difpofition, temper, particular habits, and propensities ; and, having re- ceived fatisfactory information on thofe points, {he fuddenly faid to me, one forenoon, when I was in a kind of reverie — <f Pray, Adelaide, what do you think of moniieur de M — — ?"
As monfieur de M was the very man
I was thinking of, the abruptnefs of this queftion made me ftart, and afterwards bluih, as if I had been detected in a crime ; for I knew that he Was a younger brother, and had little or no fortune ; and.I was by no means convinced that my Ljcd.cr would put as lit- tle ftrefs on that article as I did. Indeed I - had been fo much accuifomed to' hear rnyfslf vfpoken of as an heirefs, and entitled to marry a man of fortune as well as birth, that I laid my account with being univerfelly cenfured,
c-3
22 MORDAUKT.
if I ever mould difpofe of my hand other- wife.
Seeing my furprife and confufion at the queftion, my mother refumed — " I mould not have thought that you would have been at any lofs to have anfwered my queftion, be- caufe every body thinks favourably of mon- fieur de M — — -, and none more fo than my- felf. I ihould be furprifed, indeed, my dear, to find you of a different opinion.*'
In the confufion into which my mother's queftion had thrown me, 1 did not perceive the playful humour {he was in j and I was fimple enough to begin to affure her, with earneftnefs, that I had no reafon to think more unfavourably of the gentleman than {he and the reft of the world did."
" Well, rry dear," laid my mother, fmiU ing, <• I am glad to find that you are not fin-» gular in this inilance : but have you any rea-» fon to believe that he thinks very favourably of you?"
Though I had not the leail doubt on the
MORDAUNT. 2S
TubjecT:, this question embarraffed me almofl as much as the former. I anfwered, after hefitation, " that he never had made any declaration of that nature to me."
" That is not exactly an anfwer to my queftion," rejoined my mother ; " however, I mall take it for granted that you have ob- fcrved, as clearly as I have done, that al- though he has made no declaration in words, yet he entertains the fentiments of efleem and love for you/'
I did not know what to make of my mo- ther's difcourfe : my heart fluttered, and my mind was bewildered between hope and fear.
" But you know," refumed me, " that
monfieur de M is a younger brother,
that he has no fortune."
This obfervation came like a piece of ice to my breaft. I was filent.
" Do not you know, my dear, that mon-
fieur de M has no fortune ?" repeated me.
c 4
24- MO'RPAUNi.
" But you feem to think," replied I, af- fuming courage, <c that he has every other good quality.*'.
" They wdu!d not he fufficient to fcreen you from a thoufand mortifications and diftreffes ; unlefs," added my mother, feeing me turn pale, te unlefs you had that neceffary article, in which alone he is deficient j but, as you are fufficiently provided in that, if you have as high an opinion of him as I have, you {hall have my confent to liften to his addreffes, and to give him the anfwer your heart dic- tates.''
tn/:j threw myfelf into my mother's arm's with all 'the rapture of filial fondnefs and grati-
[Here I coujd not -help interrupting the marchionefs with the exclamation? — *' What
«f
^ delightful woman has your mother been !"]
" Ah ! Mifs Clifford, ihe was an angel,"
cried me — " My guardian angel, afTuredly.—
But, heavenly powers ! where was hers, when.
MORDAUNT. 25
t-~— p O let me not think on that dreadful fcene !"
The marchionefs continued fhedding tears, and unable to proceed for a considerable time. I did not interrupt her. She at length dried her eyes, faying, " Why do I lament the fate of one in heaven ?" And, after another paufe, during which fhe feemed loft in reflection, fhe exclaimed, " O what mifery has my poor country endured ! France is a real purgatory. What many of the inhabitants have fuffered in this wflrld will be confidered, I hope, as expiatory in the next." Then, fixing me, me added — " But the Engliih do not believe in purgatory ?"
ft Some of them do,'' I anfwered, "others do not."
" Why do they not all believe it ?" re fumed fhe. Me I am -furprifed, my dear Mifs Clif- ford, that you do not. — What reafon have you for doubting it ?"
" Nay, my dear madam," replied I : " it
26 MORDAUNT.
rather falls on you to declare what reafon you have for believing it."
€t What reafon ! — what reafon ! You can- not imagine," refumed fhe, " that I am deep read in controverfyj but I think it a fufficient reafon for my believing the doctrine of pur- gatory, that the vaft majority of the moft fe- rious and refpectable people whom I have known fince my infancy, and with whom I have converfed in the courfe of my life, be- lieve it."
" Is that a good reafon ?" faid I.
" Upon my word I think fo, for an igno- rant perfon like me/' replied me.
<* Why then are you furprifed that I do not believe the doctrine of purgatory, my dear marchionefs ?"
" How do you mean? I do not underfbind you," faid me.
" I declare,*' refumed I, " that I am not more deeply read in controverfy than you;
but that the vaft majority of the moft ferious
'
MORDAtJNT. 27
and refpeftable people whom I have known fince my infancy, and with whom I have converfed, do not believe the doctrine of pur- gatory."
" Well," replied me, foiling, " I per- ceive you think that you have brought the foundation of our faiths to a level -, but you forget that our church, which afferts the doc- trine in queftion, is by far the moft ancient."
" Forgive me, I do not forget that," faid I : " but I alfo remember to have heard cer- tain members of our church obferve, that to cjfert is one thing, and to prove is another."
" Does your church," rejoined the mar- chionefs, " affert nothing but what it proves ?"
I was relieved from anfwering this queftion by the maid entering with tea : and, after me withdrew, the marchionefs, inftead of repeat- ing it, obferved, " that we had been led, me did not know how, into a very fingular dif- cuffion for two women."
" We have at lead difcovered," refumed I, 4* the origin of moft people's religious belief,
23
as well as our own ; that, however different or oppofite they may be, they proceed from the fame caufe, and therefore ought not to be a fource of hatred or perfecution."
The marchionefs agreed very readily to the inference; but infifted, that " though the foundation was generally laid in the fame manner, yet the ground on which fome reli- gions flood, and the materials of which they were compofed, might be more folid and more genuine than thofe of others -, and that which had ilood the longeil, in fpite of a thoufand florms and tempefts, was, in her opinion, the moil fecure."
To this I made no anfwer j but I begged the marchionefs to refume her narrative, which {he did in the following terms.]
Soon after the fcene between my mother and me, which I have already described, mon^
iieur de M • paid his addrefles, and the
ceremony of our marriage followed at no
great diflance of time.
. The happinefs which we enjoyed, during
the fhort period in which we lived together, I imagine, has been feldom equalled, and ne- ver furpaffed, in this world. One fource of enjoyment to us both was to be witnefles to the fatisfa&ion of my mother, who, delighted with the manner in which me faw us live to- gether, thanked Heaven every day, that, in her daughter's marriage, me had paid more attention to the character than the fortune of her huftand. — '< Ah ! my Adelaide,3' would (he fometimes fay, on contemplating the mu- tual efleem zind affection, that exifted between us, '* what a; poor compenfation would any quantity '.of additional wealth be to you for having miffed the felicity you now enjoy !"
The . happy period 1 fpeak of was imme- diately previous- to the revolution,' Moniieur de M-4 — .is a man of benevolence, a lover of juftice>.:Un4 one who feels a ftrong fentiment of indignation at every act. of oppreilion. He was fenfible of certain abufes in government; and often regretted the fuiFerings of the poor, particularly the peafantry, who were more
3O MORDAUNT,
expofed than others to oppreffion, and whole comforts, when they tafte them, depended, in his opinion, more on the generofity of their lords than on the protection of the laws. Notwithstanding the rank to which he was born, and that his expectations in life had been founded on court-favour, he iaw the begin- nings of the re volution, with fatisfadtion, from the hopes that fuch reformation would be adopted as would equally tend to the fafety of the monarchy and the happinefs of the peo- ple. He foon, however, began to be alarmed at the violence of fome of the popular lead- ers, and was every day more mocked at their proceedings. In the progrefs of events, many of his friends, and fome of his relations, emi- grated : they wrote, urging him to the fame meafure. It was even ftated, that his not joining thofe of his countrymen, who were aflembling at Coblentz, would be conitrued into difloyalty or timidity.
He fpoke to me on the fubjecl:. For my part, I had never thought on politics or go-
MORDAUNT. 31
verriment in my life; they were topics I abhorred at that particular time more than ever, becaufe of the everlafting difcuflions I had for fome time heard, in all companies, upon them. When iny hufband approved of the revolution I adopted his fentiments, be- caufe they were his, being fully perfuaded that he was a better judge than I. When he changed his opinion I changed mine, for the fame reafon I had before adopted it. Subfe- quent events have well confirmed m& in my new way of thinking.
Seeing the king and the royal family aban- doned by the greater part of the nobility, who had fled from France, and willing to believe- that fomething might be ftill done, within the kingdom, in fupport of the monarchy, my hufband was unwilling to emigrate. He re- ceived many reproaching letters from his re- lations on that account. As if the lofs of rank and fortune, with the neceffity of feek- ing refuge and protection from ftrangers, was not calamity enough to the emigrants from
32 MORDAUETV
my unhappy country, they augment the bit- ttrnefs of their own condition by reciprocal animofities. The declared enemies of the emigrants have not treated the whole clafs with lefs candor than the different defcrip- . tions of them have done each other.
Unable any longer to reM the felicitations of fame of his friends, my hufband determined, to withdraw from France, and join the army> under the command of the prince of Conde. I had obferved him for fome days uncom-: monly thoughtful ; but as I knew that . he concealed nothing from me that he did not think improper tp be communicated, though I was extremely uneafy on account of "his prefent referve, I abftained from, all inquiries, and betrayed no fymptom of curiofity to know what he feemed inclined to keep me igno- rant of.
He at lail faid to me one day, after a pretty long iilence, and after feveral fighs which he endeavoured .in vain to fupprefs — " When you married a foldier, my dear Adelaide, you
MOHDAUNT. 33
no doubt laid your account with occafional reparation, when the voice of honour, or the duties of his profeffion, called him from you."
I took hold of his hand, but was unable to fpeak.
He then proceeded to acquaint me with the refolution he had formed ; that it was in confequence of the advice of his friends, and of very ferious reflection on his own part, that in fighting, under the banners of the prince of Conde, in the prefent caufe, he thought he was ferving not only his king, but his country.
I will not attempt to defcribe what pafled from this time until his departure: I mufl only inform you that my mother was in ill health at that period ; fo that it would have been cruel in me to have feparated myfelf from her had it been my inclination.
It is alfo neceffary that I mould inform you that the Count was a relation of the archbifhop of Sens ; that, during the agitations in France, for fome time before the revolution actually
VOL. II. D
34
began, and particularly while the archbifhop was prime-minifter, the Count was one of the moft furious againrt any kind of conceffion on the part of government, or the leaft redfefs of any of the grievances complained of: at that time he expected power and eminent fitua-» tions, from a confirmation of the old fyftem, with all its abufes. He declared that nothing ought to be granted to the canaille -, and he confidered nine-tenths of the nation as c a- nallle.
After the archbimop was obliged to quit the helm, the Count began to change his lan- guage. This alteration was more and more remarkable in the progrefs of the revolution, until at laft the change was fo complete, that thofe whom he had formerly ftigmatiled as canaille he now diftinguifhed by the title ofpeu- ple fouverain. He altered his drefs as well as his language, and afTumed in both the ftyle of the fans-culottes ; became a declaimer in the Ja- cobihe fociety, and cultivated the acquaint- ance of one Collot d'Herbois, who, from a
MORDAUNT. 35
defpicable comedian * now affected the tone of a difinterefted patriot, and has fince render- ed his obfcure name infamous by crimes of the deeper! die. By this fellow the Count was introduced to the good graces of Robe- fpierre.
Though every kind of profligacy might be expected in a character fuch as I have repfe- fented the Count's, yet you, my dear Mifs Clifford, who, are of a country where, as I have been told, nothing of the fame nature ever takes place, muft be furprifed at fuch barefaced apofracy in politics. Though an efiential change of circumftances certainly will juftify an alteration of conduct, yet, in his va- riations, if a man always veers to the party iri power, his real motive will be clearly feen ; and, in England, fuch a man would be de- fpifed, however elevated the fituation in which he might be placed. It was not fo at this time in France : to fuch a height had this fpecies of profligacy attained, that no incon- liftency of this nature was thought difgrace-
D 2
°%6 MORDAUNT.
ful ; and fome of the meaneffc of mankind were praifed and applauded, while in power, without any regard to the bafenefs by which they attained it.
The Count had formerly maintained that the po\ver of the crown was too fmall, and ought ta be enlarged -f yet, when he faw it attenuated to a mere fhadow, and unable to fupport its own dignity, or reward its defend- ers, he joined the ruffian crew who wifhed to annihilate it altogether. There is no doubt of his having been privy to the arrangements made for the attack on the Tuileries on the I Oth of Auguft 17 9 Q y and there is great rea- fon to believe that he was not ignorant of what was intended at the beginning of Sep- tember following.
A fhort time previous to that execrable pe- riod, a bufmefs of importance rendered it ne- cefTary for my mother to go to Havre. Her eftate is at no great diftance from that town. As a lady of her acquaintance and her ileward were to accompany her, and as me intended to
MORDAUNT. 37
flay only a few weeks, {he pofitively infifted on my remaining with an intimate friend of hers, a mod amiable woman, the countefs of
B , who invited me to refide with her at
Autieul, a village near Paris, until her re- turn.
At Havre my mother heard the firft detail of tranfa&ions, the horror of which it was not in the power of rumour to exaggerate. She was of uncommon fenfibility, and fubject to nervous complaints ; me was feized with re- peated fits of a convulfive nature ; even when me had recovered from thefe, her mind con- tinued unufually agitated. Hearing of an Englifh vefTel about to fail, without acquaint- ing any other perfon, attended by her maid only, (he took her paflage; and the countefs
of B -knew nothing of her departure till
fhe received a letter from the maid, dated Portfmouth. My mother herfelf was unable to write. She was for fome time attended by a phyiician there. An Englim nobleman, of tile higheft rank, whofe country refidence is
P 3
33 MORDAUNT,
at no great diftance from Portfmouth, and who had been acquainted with her at Paris, hearing of the condition (he was in, came to that place, and carried hr to his own houfe, where, all ppffible care being taken of her, me entirely recovered. In the mean time the mod uhjuft decrees were propofed in the fu- rious convention againft emigrants. My mo- ther's friends, particularly the princefs of P '
and the countefs of B— , wrote preffing
letters for her to return before a certain day, otherwife, by a fevere decree which had now pafied, her eftate would be forfeited — She refolved to return accordingly : but being again taken ill at Portfmouth, me was con- fined to her bed a confiderable time, and the day fixed for the return of the emigrants elapfed before me arrived in France.
When it was firft proppfed in the conven- tion that my mother's name mould be erafed from the lift of emigrants, a violent outcry was raifed againft it by that party called the Mountain : no explanation was liftened to ; it
MORDAVNT. 59
was reprobated as an attempt of lhameful partiality to a perfon of quality, which none but ariftocrats and royalifts could make.
Pains, however, were taken privately to explain the circumftances of the cafe to cer- tain leading men of the Gironde party -, one of whom renewed the propofal, when the convention were in a lefs malignant humour. He began by faying, that " he wifhed to make a motion, which, if it was not carried, would materially injure many worthy patriots and virtuous fans-culottes, who were in fimi- lar or lefs favourable circumflances than thole of the perfon in whofe behalf he was about to implore the juftice of the convention; for he knew that they were no refpecters of per- fons in the diftribution of juftice; but, in conformity to the motto of egalite, which they had adopted, would ufe the fame weight and meafure to all defcriptions of people."
After a few circuitous flourishes of this kind, before he difcovered his object, he re- capitulated the circumftances of my mother's
D 4
40 MGRDAUNT.
cafe, and did not name her until the whole affembly was convinced that me had been prevented by illnefs alone from arriving in France before the day appointed, by the de- cree, for the return of thofe French who happened to be out of their native country. There was a loud cry in favour of what was demanded : no member of the Mountain ven- tured to oppofe ; and it was as unanimoufly decreed to erafe her name from the lift of emigrants, as it had, a few days before, been decreed- to infert it.
My mother remained in pofTefiion of her eflate.
Though I hated the republican principles of the Girondifls, yet I never put them on a footing with the fanguinary faction denomi- nated the Mountain. Ever after this period my mother felt a ftrong fenfe of obligation to certain leaders of the ^former party : among thofe attached to which were fome men of great eloquence and very confiderable talents, and two of the rnoft extraordinary women
MORDAUNT. 11
that France has produced fince the days of Joan d'Arc.
In the moft dreadful fituations, furrounded by all that could appal or deprefs the human mind, ancient or modern annals exhibit no- thing furpafling the firmnefs and heroic eleva- tion pf foul with which madame Roland and the aftonifhing Charlotte Corde met death.
The united energy of Robefpierre and Danton had overturned the party of the Gi- ronde ; and thofe two traitors were at the head of the atrocious gang who domineered over my unhappy country. Each wiflied to be the fupreme ruler ; which neither could be, without the death of the other ; of courie, each meditated the deilruclion of his affociate. Their reciprocal enmity became more and more apparent -, and men began to arrange themfelves under thofe two chiefs, in expec- tation of the conteil which foon after took place.
Camille Defmoulins, whofe name you mufr, have heard, as one of the eariiefl promoters
42 MQRDAUNT.
pf the commotions in Paris, was an acquaint- ance of the Count. Defmoulins was alib a writer in favour of the revolution : a vein of pleafantry runs through his works, which might have been agreeable on any other fub- ject ; but all kind of jocularity appears hi- deous, amidrl fcenes of atrocity and murder. The Count had been confined above a month, pn account of ill health, to a villa belonging to him in the neighbourhood of Paris.
Defmoulins vifited him oftener than ufual, becaufe he was then in low fpirits, and de- prived of other entertainment, Defmoulins was particularly attached, at this time, to the faction of Pan ton. He convinced the Count that Robefpierre had difgufted the moft powerful friends of the republic ; that he was lofing his popularity daily 3 that he would be removed foonj and that Danton would be all- powerful.
With fuch impreffions, the Count became extremely vexed that he mould be confidered as the partifan of a man fo near his fall ; and
MORDAUNT. 4(T
equally anxious to declare himfelf the friend of one rifmg to fupreme power, he wifhed to have the merit of declaring for the latter be- fore that event mould take place ; for which purpofe he wrote the following epiftle, which he intended to give to Defmoulins at his next yiiit, that he might deliver it to Dantpn.
" CITIZEN DANTON, " I HAVE for fome time viewed, with the utmoft concern, the dangers to which the re- public is expofed, by the execrable conduct of a madman. I know no perfon fo able to fecure to the nation all the advantages ex- pected from the revolution as he who planned the victory on the glorious 1 Oth of Auguft, and the decifive tranfaclions in the beginning of September following. Your patriotifm, and the energy of your character, fix the hopes of all enlightened Frenchmen on you : from you they expect a termination of the prefent diforders, and of the power of a fu- rious tyrant. The fooner you adopt meafures
44 MORDAUNT.
for thofe purpofes the better ; for, while that monfter lives, neither your own life, nor that of any of your friends, can be fafe : — I beg you will count me among the moft fincere. of that .honourable clafs. I am infinitely concerned that ill health renders it impomble for me to give you thefe afTurances by word of mouth, and aflifbing perfonally in whatever you may think proper to undertake. In the mean while depend on all my influence, and
believe me to be your devoted friend, &c."
« »»
The Count expected Camille Defrnoulins the morning after he had written the above ; his old intimate, Collot d'Herbois, called that very evening ; he had been abfent from Pa- ris on fome of his horrid expeditions. See- ing a letter on the table in the Count's hand, addreffed to Danton, he ftarted.
" What is the matter?" faid the Count. • " Do you ccrrefpond with that man ?" fai$ d'Herbois.
MORDAUNT. 45
" It is the nrft letter I ever wrote to him," replied the Count.
Collot d'Herbois then told him, that he began his correfpondence at rather an un- lucky time ; and hinted, that if the letter was not of very great importance, he had bed delay fending it, be-caufe he might foon have reafon to wifh that he were not known to have any particular connection with Danton.
The Count owned that the letter was of the utmoft importance ; and, to convince him, broke up the cover and read the con- tents.
D'Herbois then afTured him, " that he had been drawn into an error, which might have had fatal confequences to him ; and that Ro- befpierre was furer of maintaining his power now than ever."
On which the Count obferved, " that, in fuch flippery times, the moft cautious people were at a lofs to know with what party, or what man, to fix themfelves ; that, for his
46 WORD AUNT.
own part, he had always had as much refpecl; for Robefpierre as for Danton ; and that, aft- er what he had juft heard, he could not help having a great deal more : that the letter he had intended for Danton would do for Robef- pierre— that he would not need to change a iingle fentence, but merely put it under & new cover, with a new addrefs ; and he beg- ged of his friend to deliver it the very next day : only it would be firft of all necefiary t6 erafe the name Danton at the top, and.fub- ftitute that of Robefpierre."
Collot d'Herbois objected to the erafure, faying, '* it would have an aukward appear- ance if obferved, and might create fufpicion :" he therefore prevailed on the Count to write the letter anew, and to addrefs it to Citizen Maximilian Robefpierre ^ and not fimply to Citi- zen Robefpierre. " Great men," added Collot d'Herbois, " are fubject to weakneiTes as well as little men 3 and Robefpierre himfelf, though entirely free from many of the weaknefles of humanity, certainly does feel fomething flat-
JViORDAUNT". 4^
tering to his ear, and which he thinks fuit- able to his character, in the name Maximi- lian > and therefore likes to have it always precede his iirname Robefpierre, which I be- lieve he intends, at a proper time, to drop altogether.''
" Will not that have an ariftoeratic ap- pearance ?" faid the Count.
" Why, perhaps it may,'1 replied Colloe d'Herbois, with a grin, for his ftern features did not admit a fmile ; " perhaps it may have: that appearance ; for nothing is fo like aft ariftocrat, as a democrat, when he comes into power ; as nothing is liker a democrat than an ariftocrat thrown out of power : but this is only external appearance ; the heart is al- ways the fame. For example, my dear Count, you are precifely.the fame man you were when your relation, the archbifhop of Sens, was prime-miniiter."
Without making any reply to this ironical compliment, the Count finished the new edition of the letter, as Collot d'Herbois had
48 M OR DAUNT.
dire&ed : he then (lepped for two minutes into another room, and at his return looked for the original letter, that he might burn it. This his friend informed him he had already done during his abfence ; afTuring him, at the fame time, that he would deliver the new one to Robefpierre the next morning.
All the circumftances of this important in- terview between thofe two loving friends, with many others refpecting the Count, I learned afterwards from a perfon from whom he concealed nothing : for though many trans- actions of this man's life were of a nature to require fecrecy, yet he was incapable of it. To him it was like an abfolute neceflary of life to have fome man or woman into whofe cars he might pour whatever was dangerous to utter in public, and painful for him to re- tain.
Soon after this the prediction of Ccllot d'Herbois was verified -, the furious Dantort was enfnared, imprifoned, and put to death, by the man whofe life he had faved, when he
MORDAUNT. 49
«
was accufed, and about to be profecuted by the Gironde.
Robefpierre, from this period, was all- powerful : the dreadful ufe he made of his power all the world knows. My mother and I lived in great privacy, hardly ever going out of the' houfe, and receiving few or no company. Melancholy and dejected through the day, our fhort {lumbers interrupted in the night by the found of the drum and alarm- bell j afraid to afk the news in the morning, left we mould hear of the arreftment of fome friend or relation, and mocked with the ac- counts we daily received of frefh vidims of cruelty, me determined, at length, to withdraw from Paris, and endeavour to find tranquillity in a diitant province of France.
She applied for paffports with this inten- tion: every thing was prepared for our jour- ney. The paffports were poftponed, on I do not remember what preten.ce. We were at laft affured that they would be delivered
VOL. II. E
SO MORtJAITNf.
the following morning, and on that afTurarice went to bed in more compofure of mind than tlfuaL
About two hours before our common houf of fifing, we were alarmed -by a loud knock- ing at the gate of the hotel. Two muni- cipal officers were admitted, and a party of national guards remained in the court.
As foon as my mother was dreffed, and could go into the room in which the two of- ficers waited, one of them prefented an order for feiiing her papers, and carrying her to one of thofe houfes of confinement, of which there were many at that time in Paris, and all over France,
The number of my mother's friends and ac- quaintance who were in this fituation had fug- gefted precaution, and prevented her from be- ing entirely unprepared for this cruel incident : me had nothing to dread, therefore, with re- gard to the examination of her papers. The officer informed her, that me was ordered into confinement only as a perfon fufpected ;
MORDAUNT. 51
that the order did not extend to me. This in- telligence adted on her as a cordial : it evi- dently raifed her fpirits, and removed great part of her alarm. The daily executions, and other Shocking occurrences, had produced an extra- ordinary change on my mother's constitution: it had familiarifed her with the idea of death, and greatly diminished that nervous fenfibi- lity to which me had formerly been fubject. Her own perfonal danger affected her little ; but, whatever threatened me, flill gave her alarm.
I begged of the officer that I might be my mother's companion in prifon : the man at firft objected.
I funk on my knees, feifed his hand, and intreated that I might not be feparated from my mother.
She was hurt at this ; and faid, with the tone of indignation—" Rife, my daughter ; though we are unfortunate, let us not be abjecV'
I repeated my requeft to the officer, the
52 MORDAUNT.
tears ftreaming, from my eyes. The man was moved; and at lail faid — " That if it was alfo my mother's defire, he would take it upon him to indulge us."
Without paying attention to what my mo- ther had faid, I preiTed the man's hand to my lips with a heart overflowing with grati- tude.
Notwithflanding her having at firft deter- mined otherwife, feeing the flate of my mind, me joined in the requeft, and we were con- ducted to the place deftined for our confine- ment.
[I will not hurt your fenfibility, my dear mifs Clifford, by a defcription of this houfe of forrow, or of any of the many affecting fcenes I witneffed there ; but I will give you fome account of a kind of examination which took place about three months after my mo- ther was confined, becaufe it proves how completely me was cured of her conflitu* tional timidity, by a continued contemplation of certain objects, the leaft glance of which
MORDAVNT. 53
would formerly have thrown her into con- vulfions.]
We were at breakfaft, one morning, when my mother was fummoned to appear before three commiffioners, who had arrived at the place of our confinement, authorifed to exa- mine the prifoners, and report to a com- mittee.
I became pale, and was ready to faint.— " What is there alarming in this, my dear ?" faid my mother ; " it is what we have long expe&ed, and even wifhed. What I had moft to fear was, left the circumftances of my cafe would never have been examined into."
At my earned requeft, I was permitted to accompany my mother. We were condudted into a large room, where the three com- miflioners fat at the head of a table. I was a good deal furprifed when I recognifed, in one of them, the perfon who had taught me to dance. This tended to. diminish my terror ;
E 3
54- MORDAtTNT.
for, although I had heard that the man had become a furious patriot, and knew that he was much of a coxcomb, yet I alfo knew that he had a very benevolent heart.
He that was the chief of this commiffion, with lefs levity, had all the abfurdity of the dancing-mafter, and was the complete dupe of the hypocrify and of the falfehoods at this time propagated by Robefpierre.
The man began the examination by ex- preffing concern at the caufe of my mother's confinement.
She thanked him, adding, " that fhe was concerned at the effecl:, but that {he had not yet been informed of the caufe."
" I thought you had been told, citizen,'* replied he, " that you were under fufpicion of being a fufpedled perfon,"
" I was fo, citizen" replied me ; " but I never have been to!4 what I am under thg fufpicion of being fufpeded of."
« To be fufpe&ed is fufHcient," faid he >
MORDAUNT." 55
" and all who are in that predicament are un- der confinement as much as you \ fo you have no reafon to complain."
" I mould have been glad to hear that I was the only innocent perfon in France in this fituation," replied my mother j " fo that what you have told me can be no alleviation of my fufferings."
" Your confinement will not be of long duration," faid the dancing-mafter.
" I indulged that hope when I was fir ft arrefled," me replied ; " but I now have been detained here three months, without any crime having been alleged againft me."
" You were erafed from the lift of emi^ grants by the Girondifts," faid the corn.r miflioner.
" I could not have been erafed by any other," replied me, " as they were the per-* fons in power at that time."
" Your connexion with that faction, however, creates fufpicion againft you."
*' I had no connection with them; nor E 4
56 MORDAUNT.
did I ever fee any of them until I was fum- moned to appear before one of their com- mittees.5'
" I know that to be exa&ly fo," faid the dancing-mafter ; «« and I have good reafon for believing that me had a fincere hatred againft Briflbt, Genfonnet, Kerfaint, and the other members of that committee, previous to the time they ftruck her from the lift of emi- grants ; but you very well know, brother, that it is difficult to retain hatred againft thofe who do you a good office, even al^ though they mould be bad men."
ft I know no fuch thing, brother," replied the chief commiflioner — " No aft of kind- nefs to myfelf or friends would prevent me from abhorring thofe who performed a&s of public mifchief.'1
" I can aflure you," refumed my mother, '* that no perfon could more iincerely abhor the public mifchief performed by the Girond- iAs than I did."
Your having been erafed by them, how-
K
MORDAUNT. 57
ever, was unlucky, and will be of no fervice to you now," faid the chief commiffioner.
" It ought at leaft to do me no harm," faid me.
" The Girondifts were all traitors, " re- fumed the commiffioner.
" I am forry for it," faid my mother.
" What ! forry for the Girondifts."
" I am forry they were traitors."
" You have reafon, citizen," faid the firft commiffioner; " for it is a very dangerous thing, citizen, to have had traitors for your friends."
" It ought not ; fince it is clear that I had no mare in their treafon."
f( Do you not know that thofe traitors, the Girondifts, intended to reftore monarchy ?"
" No," replied fhe •> "I really do not know it. "
'« No !" exclaimed he—" Why all France knows it."
" Since that was their intention," rejoined
58 MORDAUNT.
my mother, " dethroning the king feems to have been a round-about way of going to their objea."
" They were forced into that meafure," laid he, " and can claim little merit from it."
" Very little, indeed," added my mother.
" But their defign was afterwards apparent, by the various attempts they made to fave the tyrant."
" Tyrant !" exclaimed my mother, throw^ ing her eyes upwards.
" Yes," re-echoed the.commiffioner, " a bloody tyrant ! who gave politive orders to the Swifs to flaughter the innocent citizens on the 10th of Auguft."
" The fame Girondifls, " continued he, " were equally difpofed to have faved the life of the queen, who was of a more bloody and tyrannical difpofition, if poilible, than Capet himfelf."
" They were both very bloody-minded tyrants, that is clear," rejoined the other corn^
MORDAUNT. 59
miffioner, who had not before fpoken, £hak- ing his head and looking to his brother.
" And the princefs Elizabeth!" exclaimed my mother — " fhe was alfo a bloody-minded tyrant— Was me not?"
The commiffioner flared.
f( Or, what was her crime ?" refumed my mother, with an animation of look approach- ing to wildnefs.
The commiffioner looked firft at one, then at the other, of his brethren.
He who had fpoken lafl faid that *' Eliza- beth was certainly fufpected of being an enemy to the revolution."
" She certainly was," added the chief com- miffioner." And then looking to the danc- ing mafter, he added — " Did not you tell me, brother, that one who attended in the Temple informed you that he had overheard her praying very fervently, and that her prayers were anti-revolutionary ?"
*' Jt was you that faid they were anti- revolutionary," replied the dancing-mailer.—
(JO MORDAUNT.
" I only told you that the man had faid (he was overheard praying for the reformation of the king's enemies."
The two commiflioners looked at each other without fpeaking.
The perfon who fat at the bottom of the table, and acted as clerk, had formerly been a prieft, and had diftinguimed himfelf as a cafuift : he now opened his mouth for the firft time, and faid, with a folemn tone, " By re~ formation me meant dejlruttion"
" Ay, me certainly meant definition," rejoined the firft commiffioner.
" And if the prayer mould ever be grant- ed," refumed the clerk, " it is more likely to be according to the meaning than the expre£» fion of the petition."
" Moft afiuredly," faid the chief com- mimoner.
" And you will be pleafed to obferve," added the clerk, " that fuch prayers being granted, according to the meaning of the pe- titioner, involves the deftruclion of the repub-^
MORDAUtfT. 61
lie: its beft defenders would, according to her prayer, be cut off like the great Marat ; for, by the king's enemies, (he muft have un- doubtedly meant Robefpierre, and many other patriots, all per-feclly known to him to whom the prayers were addreffed."
" Moft affuredly," repeated the commif- lioner.
" It follows, therefore, as a neceflary con* fequence, that the princefs Elizabeth's prayers were anti-revolutionary," continued the ca- fuift, " and might have been the caufe of overfetting the revolution : and to overfet the revolution.1 by dint of prayers is juft as trea- fonable as by any other means : for, when the revolution is overfet, where is the differ- ente ?"
" None ! none !" exclaimed the commif- fioner.
" That being the cafe," faid the clerJc, *' it is clear that the princefs Elizabeth was a bloody-minded tyrant, and merited death."
" Ah ! the monfter," faid my mother.
62 MORDAUNT*
The dancing-matter was the only one of the,commiflioners who heard this expreffion, which was almoft drowned by a profound figh, and by my mother's burfting into tears as me uttered it.
This man understood fome of her anfwers better than his brethren, and had been uneafy during the examination, left me mould fay fomething that would increafe the danger of her Situation : to prevent which he rofe, fay- ing " that the prifoner feemed indifpofed, and that he imagined no other queftions needed be put to her." The other commiffioners acquiefced. My mother and I withdrew. When we were alone me gave vent to the in- dignation me had with difficulty fuppreffed during the examination.
My mother became folicitous left the con- ftant confinement mould affecl: my health : and as my unwillingnefs to leave her hinder- ed me from availing myfelf of the permiflion I had of going abroad fo often as I might, me contrived to give me little commi(lions,which
MORDAtTNT. 63
required to be executed at a confiderable di- ftance, that I might derive benefit from the frefh air and the exercife. One day me found a pretext for fending me as far as the village bf Pafly, with a meffage to a lady who lived in the houfe which your countryman, the celebrated Dr. Franklin, had formerly inha* bited.
During my abfence, the Count, for the firft time fince her confinement, called on my mother. He affefted great concern, and ex- prefled the moft ardent wifh to have it in his power to ferve her ; hinted that her greateft danger proceeded from an idea that me had been intimately conne&ed with, and favoured by, the Gironde party j that he had been ufing all his influence with the committee of Public Safety to prevent the effect of that idea ; and that he was not without hopes of fucceeding. She heard him with coldnefs, and exprefled her thanks with referve, becaufe me was ill able to diflemble, and ftrongly fu- fpefted his profeffions of good-will.
64 MQRDAUNf.
He then faid, " that, independent of heif connection with an odious faction, another circumftance prejudiced her caufe ilill more in the minds of the men at prefent in powers and, he was very forry to add, might, if not removed, endanger her life ; and that was her daughter's being the wife, not only of an emigrant, but of one who ferved under the prince of Conde."
" It feems quite unnecefTary to remind me of thofe circumffonces," faid my mother, '* fince they cannot be altered.
" If I were not perfuaded that your influ- ence could alter them," refumed he, " my tendernefs for you would have prevented my mentioning them." He then proceeded to inform her, " that it was, by the laws of the republic, abfolutely impomblc for my hufband ever to return to France without the imme- diate lofs of his life ; and that it was equally impofllble for me to leave France without forfeiting the fucceffion to her eftate : that thofe two impoffibilities rendered a divorce
MORDAUNT. 65
highly expedient ; that divorces had been at no preceding period ib eafily obtained as at prefent ; and," added he, " to give you the moft convincing proof, not only of my being able to obtain your acquittal and free- dom, but alfo of the fincerity of my friend- fhip to you, notwithftanding my being fenfi-* ble that it was by your influence alone that what I am going to propofe failed formerly, yet I now declare, that I am ftill willing to unite my family with yours by efpoufmg your daughter, as foon as a divorce can be procur- ed from her prefent hufband."
" And you expeft," faid my mother, her eyes flaming with indignation, " you expedt that I (hall influence my daughter to agree to fuch an execrable plan ?" - " If you do not prefer remaining in pri- fon, and the forfeiture of your fortune,'* anfwered he.
" Know, wretch," replied {he, " that I would prefer the guillotine !"
VOL. ji. F
C# MORDAtfST.
" Perhaps you may in that be indulged* tnadam," replied he, and ruflied out of the toom.
After this my mother defpaired of obtain- ing her liberty, and did all me could to per- fuade me to leave her to her fate. " They Are determined, my dear child,'* faid me, N*' to murder me, on fome pretext or other $ perhaps, without troubling themfelves about a pretext, they will take my life, that my eftate may be confifcated. You cannot pre- vent their cruelty ; but it will be a great confolation to me to know that you are beyond their power ; I beg, therefore, that you will adopt the plan I have formed for your efcape out of this land of horror. If, contrary to my expectation, my life mould be fpared, I will find means of informing you, and we will meet when it can be done without danger : but it is a very great aggravation of my mi- fery to know that you remain in the pbwer of fuch barbarians."
MORftAUNTi $7
Thefe, and other arguments to the fame purpofe, though often urged, did not prevail. I fhould have confidered it as facrilegious, and that it would put me on a footing with the barbarians me execrated, to abandon my mother in fuch circumftances.
The name of the dancing- matter who had afted as commiffioner was Vilotte. In his youth he had been diflinguimed for expert- nefs in the practical .part of his profeflion : being now fomewhat advanced in life, he va- lued himfelf moft on the theoretical, in which alone, he faid, true genius coniifted. He had invented feveral ballets that were much ad- mired. Had he confined his genius to his own profeflion it would have been better for him : but, a little after the commencement of Dur miferable revolution, he turned it to poli- tics. He faid " that fortune had committed zfaux-pas in making him a dancing-mafter; and hoped, as many others did, t^at the revo- lution would raife him to the fituation he thought he deferved." He had formerly had
? 2
68 MORDAUNT.
the higheft refpecl: for counts, marquifes, and dukes, by whofe protection he had acquired a comfortable independence : he now began to think that the greater part of them were de- void of talents, and unfit for the offices they held ; and, what was ftill a greater miflake, he believed that he himfelf pofTefled the capa- city in which they were deficient. He be- came an admirer of that canting enthufiafl Robefpierre -, he attended clubs, ftudied po- litical pamphlets, and declaimed againfl the abufes of government, at the meetings of his fe&ion.
Moft of Vilotte's old protectors laughed at his extravagances. My mother, who had known inftances of his benevolence, was fcx vexed at the thought of a well-difpofed man rendering himfelf ridiculous, that me fent for him, told him what me had heard, and gave him fome good advice. Previous to this, Vilotte, who always fpoke of my mother as the perfon who had firft introduced him into genteel bufmefs, and as his principal benefac-
MORDAUNTV 69-
tor,-t>ften called at our hotel. But, after this piece of advice, we faw no more of him, until we were fummoned before him in the quality of a commiffioner.
It then appeared, that though my mother had given him credit for a little more undef- ftanding than he pQlTefTed, me had a juft opi- nion of his difpofition. All the political mad- nefs of his head did not fupprefs the worth of his heart. In the calamitous flate we now were, he had many opportunities of proving the fincerity with which he had been attached to our family, and how defirous he was of being of fervice to us.
He found various pretexts of vifiting the houfe of our confinement. The (ivowed ob- je<5t of his vifits regarded fome other bufinefs ; but he never left the houfe without feeing my mother or me. By him we were afcertained of what we had always fufpedled, that my mother's arreil proceeded from the Count, though he took pains to make it be believed that it originated elfewhere. But in general
7O MOR DAUNT.
the news Vilotte brought to us was of a con- folatory nature. He affiduouily endeavoured to raife my mother's fpirits, by hopes of be- ing in a fhort time fet at liberty -3 and he ne- glecled nothing that was in his power to make good the hopes he raifed. He informed my mother that (he had lefs reafon than ever to dread the Count's malice, becaufe the chan- nel of his intereft with Robefpierre wat through Collot d'Herbois, who was at that time abfent from Paris.
This friend of the Count was one of the moft infamous of that infamous band who domineered at this time in France, and ren- dered that country odious through Europe. The rich and flou riming town of Lyons has particular reafon to execrate this Collot d'Her- bois, and his fellow commiffioner Couthon. I have feen both thefe mifcreants. No two- men could be more unlike in perfon and countenance, none more congenial in rancour and cruelty.
The former had the look of mild ingenuity.
MORDAUNT. 71
The found of his voice was plaintive. He had loft the ufe of one half of his body by a paralytic ftroke. From the expreffion of his countenance, from the modulation of his voice, from that fympathy with affliction which people in high profperity and vigorous health . are too often devoid of, and which fellow- fufferers are fuppofed to have in an eminent degree, Couthon was the man, among ten thoufand, to whom a perfon under the pref- fure of misfortunes would have applied for re- lief: the moft robuft favage that ever was habituated to flau§iiter, the moil callous in- quifitor that ever queftioned men under the agonies of torture, was not more blood- thirfly and more unrelenting than Couthon,
There was nothing that could miflead the judgment in the outward appearance of Collot d'Herbois — all his deceit lay in his heart. His countenance was frightful. Children fliut their eyes, and fcreamed at the fight of this man. His head fuilained a frightful exube~
O A
ranee of buihy hair, black as tar, and ftifT as
? 4
72 MORDAUNT.
the briflles of a hog j his complexion was " cadavarous ; his features haggard ; his eyes fanguine : he looked very much like a villain and murderer; and he was a much greater villain and murderer than he looked like.
It is wonderful that one mould have ever thought of being an actor who difgraced the profeffion by his looks, by his character, and by his want of talent. It has been faid, that Jiis rancour againft the citizens of Lyons ori- ginated from their having had the good tafte to hifs him as often as he appeared on their ilage. Be that as it may, the barbarities ex- crciied on the inhabitants of that devoted city by Couthon and Collot d'Herbois are un- paralleled in the records of tyranny : their thirft of carnage rendered them impatient of the flownefs of guillotines ; they projected mines of gunpowder to blow up prifoners by whole houfefuls -, they pointed cannon, load- ed with grape-mot, to tear in pieces multi- tudes of — — .
[I afk pardcn, my dear Mifs Clifford, I per-
MORDAUNT. 73
ceive that I diftrefs you. Familiarifed as I have been to fcenes of oppreflion and cruelty, I forget that I am fpeaking to an Englifh woman j an inhabitant of that happy country where no fuch fcenes exilt, where the power of the crown is limited by the conftitution, where law alone is fupreme, and, with a commanding voice, tells the monarch as well as the people, Thus far jhalt thou go, and no farther. Such is the account that my hufband has often ^ ^n me of Great-Britain. I am pleafed to believe that it is juft ; and, from fentiments of general benevolence, as well as in gratitude for the generous reception which fo many of my unfortunate countrymen have met with in this iiland, I do moft fincerely wifh it may long continue.
I have been led ailray by the mention of thofe two monfters. They had returned from their bloody expedition a confiderable time before my mother's examination ; and at that particular time Collot d'Herbois had again left Paris.
741 MORDAUNT.
I now return to my narrative.]
Our friend Vilotte was a native of Arras, a great admirer of Robefpiere as a patriot and orator, and proud of him as a townfman. R©befpierre's patriotifm and eloquence were well fuited for impofing on that depth of un- derftanding which poor Vilotte poffefled. Robefpierre mowed fome attention to him in return for his admiration \ and on this I reliH for my mother's freedom, and I laboured to infpire her with the fame hope. You will be, perhaps, furprifed at this, considering the fri- volous character of Vilotte ; but you cannot conceive, my dear, from what a very unpro- mifing foil fprigs of hope will moot up in the breafts of the unhappy : befides, Vilotte was not now a frivolous character in our eyes ; he had mown attachment when our other friends had fhrunk away ; and this attachment re- niained unloofehed by the fpirit of party, which raged fo univerfally, which is often lo fatal to friendship, and from which VilottQ himfelf was far from being free.
MORDAUNT. 75
This worthy creature's hopes became ftronger every day, of which he did not fail to inform my mother : at laft (lie was convinced that me was to be fet at liberty within four or five days at fartheft. She wrote to feveral of her friends and relations, that they might expert to fee her in her own hotel very foon.
While we were in this ftate of mind, Vi- lotte called one morning at the houfe of our confinement. My mother and I were fitting together — I heard the found of his foot as he advanced through the paffage. In that dif- mal abode we were accuftomed to few founds but thofe of forrow : it was no wonder, then, that I could with certainty diilinguifh one which had always been the forerunner of comfort. — " Oh ! my dear mother," faid I, fpringing from my feat, " here comes Vilotte ! he brings the order for your- freedom." — (t Let us receive it with thankfulnefs and mo- deration, my child, if he does," faid me.
When Vilotte entered, he had a kind of {mile on his countenance -, but it did not
76 MORDAUNT.
feem natural : the good creature flrove to maintain a cheerful look while he informed us, that " he was certain that my mother would obtain her liberty very foon, though not fo foon as he had expected ; that Robefpierre had been indifpofed, which had occafioned delay ; that he was fo much occupied, fince his recovery, that it was difficult to obtain accefs to him;" but Vilotte added, '* that he had received a meiTage from him, import- ing that my mother would be fet at liberty in a fhort time, • though the precife day was not yet fixed."
In fpite of all thefe palliatives, this was a fevere difappointmfent to both my mother and me : Vilotte perceived it in our counte- nances ; for neither of us fpoke. He re*. peated every thing which he thought would afford us comfort ; faying, " we might rely on the alTurance Robefpiefre had fent him ; that Robefpierre was too great a patriot not to be fincere ; that none but courtiers were infmcere : he was therefore convinced that
MORDAUNT. 77
Tie mould have the happinefs of bringing us good news at his next vifit."
My mother faid — " That what gave her mod uneafinefs was, that no particular time had been ever fixed ; that if me were allured of obtaining her freedom on a certain day, it .would be a great comfort, though the day were diftant."
Vilotte anfvvered — :" That though he was determined not to return until the day of her freedom was decided on, ftill he was con-.- vinced he mould wait on her foon."
Thofe who have longed, with impatient ex- pectation, for fome event on which they ima- gine their happinefs depends j who have been convinced that the expected event will not be prolonged beyond a particular day, and when that day arrived have been difappointed, will have fome idea of our anguifli : but unlefs they have been (hut up for months in a prifon, and pined from morning to night for frelh air, free exereife, the verdure of the fields, and the faces of fricncfc, ' they will not have a full
78 MOftbAtJKT.
notion of what we felt on this occafion. 1 really thought nothing could be more vexa- tious : yet I affected to bear it cheerily, that it might fit the more lightly on the mind of my mother. I plainly perceived that me af- fumed the fame behaviour, and for a fimilar reafon : in thefe mutual attempts, perhaps, neither deceived the other ; yet our efforts to -feem more cheerful than we were enabled us to fupport the difappointment better than we mould otherwife have done.
Five or fix days after this, Vilotte paid us another vifit : we were fitting together, and heard him approaching as before. My mo^ ther and I looked at each other the moment we diftinguimed his tread $ but neither of us fpoke. I heard her figh as he was entering, the room. Neither of us turned our eyes on Jiim for a few feconds ; but when we did, hitf face feemed gay, his fmiles were uncon- ftrained. He announced, with an air of com- plete conviction, that he was now certain that my mother's freedom was determined
MORDAUKT. 79
On : his friend had feen Robefpierre ; and the order for that purpofe would be given in due form, on a particular day, which he named, and which was at the diftance of three Weeks.
In this interval, a friend of my father, who had borrowed from him a confiderable fum of money, found means to let my mother4 know, that he would immediately pay a cer- tain portion of the debt into the hands of any perfon whom (he mould authorife to receive it. This perfon lived at the diftance of above three hundred miles from Paris, which at this dreadful period he was unwilling to en- ter. My mother had much occafion for the money, and thought nobody fo fit to receive it as myfelf.
An eld iervant of my father, of the name of St. Jean, who had been eflabiifhed in a ihop by his afliflance, and was one of the na- tional guards, was engaged to conduct my maid and me on this expedition. As foon as the necetfary palTports were obtained, the
#6 MORDAUNT.
majd and I fet out in a poft-chaife, and the
man attended on horfeback. My . father's
i
friend received me with the greateft kind- riefs, and paid me the money. By a flight indifpofition, I was under the neceflity of re- maining feveral days at his houfe longer than I intended. As foon as I was able, I returned in the fame manner I had fet out. During the whole of this journey, my thoughts were engrofled with anticipations of the happinefa I mould enjoy on the day of my dear mother's enlargement. My greateft vexation, in my late indiipofition, proceeded from the fear of not being able to reach Paris before it mould take place^ I now rejoiced in the ex- pectation of arriving there on that very morning.
Not choofing to drive through Paris/ on my arrival, I quitted the pofl-chaife at the barrier, intending to walk to the houfe of th© man who had accompanied me, whofe wife had formerly been my maid. Our way was through the Place of Louis XV. A great
MORDAUNT. 81
crowd was aflembled ; and we were informed, that it was to fee the execution of fome per- fons condemned by the bloody tribunal then fitting. I turned with precipitation ; and, by a circuit, avoided a place which was almoft the daily fcene of fuch affecting fpeclacles.
In my way to the houfe above mentioned, I called at a mop to purchafe fome confec- tions which I knew my mother was fond of. While I fat in the inner room, till the things I ordered were ready, two perfons entered the mop : one of them faid, " that madame de — — had died with the utmoft ferenity."
I did not perfectly hear the name the man pronounced ; but, indiftinct as it Was, it darted inftantaneous terror to my heart. He proceeded to fay, " that he had come directly from the Place of the Revolution, and that he had feen her guillotined."
" Who did you fay ?" alked the woman of the mop.
He anfwered, with an audible and diflinct
VOL. II. G
82
voice, " I already told you, madame de >•• , the widow of governor de — ."
At the mention of my father's name, my maid, who was prefent, uttered a ihriek* and I loft all recollection.
The following day, when I began to re- cover from that ftate of ftupefaction into* which the dreadful news had thrown me, I found myfelf in b^l, in the houfe of a widow who lived near the confectioner, in whofe mop I had been firil taken ill.
I had caufe to regret the infenfibility from which I awoke to a full fenfe of my mifery.
The ftate I continued in, for fome time after the return of myxecollection,. \ wfli not attempt to defcribe.
When I was able to Men to a detail of the circumftances which preceded the dreadful event, I was told, " That only a few days be- fore my arrival at Paris, and when my mo- ther flill relied on repeated aflurances of her being to be fet at liberty oa the day appoint-
MORDAUNT. 83
ed> a frefli accufation had been made againft .. her, of her having emigrated to England in June 1792 ; that file had not returned to France on or previous to the day fixed by the decree of the convention ; that me had been, on falfe pretexts, ftruck out of the lift of emigrants, by a committee of federalifts and traitors ; and, finally, that fhe corre- fponded with, and had fent money to, her fon-in-law, who actually ferved in the army of Conde.
<c On this accufation me had been hurried before the revolutionary tribunal ; had under- gone the form of a trial, where thofe circum- flances were fworn to ; had been infulted, in grofs terms, by the wretch who prefided over that court of alTaifins ; and afterwards dragged to the fcaffold, where (he had fuf- fered with the refignation of a faint, with another lady of rank, who was executed at the fame time, by a miftake in the name, which thofe murderers would not take the G 2
84 MORDAUNT.
trouble to inveftigate, though a different vic- tim was intended."
[Why mould I afflict your fympathifing breaft, my dear young lady, with an enu- meration of my forrows ?— •
I muft not omit to inform you, however, that I received an anonymous letter foon aft- er ; the purport of which was, to acquaint me, that the Count was my mother's fecret accufer, and that it was by his influence fhe had been put to death. I am well aware that letters of this kind are generally the ofF- fpring of cowardice, in conj unction with ma- lice : it would have made no imprefllon on my mind, therefore, if I had not had reafon to fufpect the fame from other fources of in- telligence.]
Several weeks after this dreadful event, I was told, one morning, that a gentleman vviihed to fee me. As he announced himfelf an old friend of my family, you may con- ceive how very much I was furprifed when
MORDAUNT. 85
the Count entered the room. I could not help fcreaming as foon as I faw him.
He begged that I would be compofed, af- furing me of his fympathy.
I cried, " that I wimed for none of his fym- pathy— that I could have no fympathy with him."
He declared, in the moft foothing tone, " that he was ready to render me every fervicc in his power ;" adding, " that it was in his power, he hoped, to be of moft effential fer- vice to me."
" Can you reftore my mother?" ex- claimed I.
He ftarted, became pale, and remained for fome moments filent : then, recovering him- felf, he faid — " That he mofl lincerely la- mented the fate of my mother ; that he, as- well as her other friends, had entertained hopes that fhe was to be fet at liberty, at the very time that the fad event took place : — that (he had enemies unknown to him."
" They are not unknown to me," cried I -t G 3
86 MORDAUNT.
and I was going to utter all that rage and dc« fpair prompted, when the miftrefs of the houfe entered the room. The Count rofe j and having recommended me, in very af- fectionate terms, to her care, he with-; drew.
La Brune was the name of the woman into whofe houfe I had been carried, from the
4B
mop where I was firft taken ill. Her huf? band had received obligations from my fa- ther, for which me had retained fentiments of gratitude ; and, after her hufband's death, me let lodgings. She had behaved with all tendernefs- to me, from the moment I hac} entered her houfe.
When the Count was gone, me informed me, that he had been accidentally paffing when I was carried from the confectioner's to her houfe ; that he had frequently called, during my illnefs, to inquire how I was, and had recommended that all ppffible care fhould be taken of me.
" The monfter I1' exclaimed I ; "it was
MORDAUNT. 87
owing to him that my mother was ac- cufed."
The woman was mocked at hearing this, and expreffed the utmoft indignation at fuch perfidy ; but, on inquiring into my reafons for believing it, me endeavoured to mow me that they did not by any means amount to certainty.
On various occafions, afterwards, this wo- man took pains to perfuade me that there was little probability of the Count's having been guilty of the wickednefs I fufpected him of. One day, in particular, after de- ploring the helplefs fituation in which I was, me repeated the defire he had expreffed of ferving me ; and concluded, that for thofe, and various other reafons, I ought to receive his future vifits with more complaifance.
" I expert no more of his vifits," faid I ; " but, in cafe of his calling again, I beg you may fhut the door againft him."
Madame' la Brune told me, " that me durft not venture to provoke a man of the Count's G 4
88 MORDAUNT.
influence ; that if me did, it would no longer be in her power to ferve me, which fhe had the moft fincere defire to do. She begged I would reflect on rny forlorn fituation : that I was not free from danger, not only on account of my being the wife of an emigrant, but of one who was in arms againft the republic. She reprefented how very much I flood in need of that protection, without which every body was in danger of being carried before the revolutionary tribunal. " Innocence, my dear lady," added me, " is not always a fecu- rity."
" No/' anfwered I ; " nothing but guilt is; and for that reafon I defire no fecurity."
On my uttering this, which I did with cmphafis, I was furprifed to fee madame la Brune change colour, and burft into tears.
The Count was introduced at that very jnftant,
Madame la Brune rofe ; and, as me went out of the room, looked at me in a very $ffe<Jting manner.
MORDAUNT. 8D
- I had already been moved by her tears : I conceived this look to be a requeft that I fhould not provoke him, left it mould bring her to trouble : this reflection prevented me from withdrawing with her. I remained in the room, with the determination of behav- ing to him with calmnefs and civility.
He renewed his offers of fervice and ex- preffions of concern. I bowed, without an- fwering. He introduced fome general and indifferent fubjecl: of converfation — I joined in it with conftrained calmnefs. He at laft took his leave, with a repetition of his hopes to be able to ferve me.
At one time, I had fome fufpicion that madame la Brune afted in concert with the Count ; that perhaps I had been carried to her houfe by his direction . In this I did her injuftice : me knew nothing of him, pre- vious to his inquiries about me. She. was afterwards informed, that he was a friend of Coilot d'Herbois, and had influence with Robefpierre. The woman was of a com-
9O MORDAUNT.
paffionate difpofkion, and had the moft fin- cere defire of being ufeful to me. She thought the Count's protection was powerful, and was concerned at feeing me rejed: it : me thought the dangers of the times juftified certain means of procuring fafety, which were not juflifiable at other periods. She herfelf had a prote&or, in a man who was a member of the military committee, and highly confidered by Robefpierre. Unable to make great facrirkes for virtue, (he re~ fpe&ed thofe who could, and was extremely fufceptible of remorfe. This was the fource of her blufties at an.expreflion of mine above mentioned.
In ibme converfations I afterwards had with this woman, I became fully convinced of her good-will towards me : this was alfo confirmed by the whole of her behaviour.
She fpoke with gratitude of my father, with tendernefi of my mother, and with horror of fome who had the government at prefent in France ; but begged that 1 would,
MORDAUNT. 91
in appearance at leaft, moderate my diflikc of the Count, until I mould find myfelf more out of his power.
I had long before been abandoned by all thofe who, without any fentiment of friend-* mip, had been in the habit of calling them- felves my friends. After the death of my mother, the terror of being fufpected kept many from me who had a real affection for me, and would willingly have fubjected thern- felves to confiderable inconveniences, but not to danger, on my account.
[This, my dear young lady, is the utmoft we need expect from the generality of thofe who are called friends ; though, amidft the . multitude of crimes that the revolution has given birth, inftances of virtue, heroifm, and exalted friendmip, nave appeared, which do honour to my country and to human nature.]
The Count continued his viljts : they be- came more frequent : his profeffions of friendmip were more and more warm. When
J>2 MORDAUNT.
he feemed inclined, however, to make any particular declaration, I always eluded the fubjed:. He could not conceive that any thing could prevent me, in my prefent fitua- tion, from embracing an offer of marriage from him, except fome religious fcruple. He fufpecled that I might think a divorce, however legal, could not diffolve the obliga- tion of marriage, which is a facrament.
I might have had fuch fcruples, even al- though I had loved the Count ; but, in truth, I difliked the man to that degree, that the idea of being his wife filled me with as much horror as that of being his miflrefs could poflibly do.
The Count was fully perfuaded, however, that all my hefitation (for he thought me he- fitating) proceeded from my doubts of the efficacy of the divorce, in giving me a right to marry a fecond hulband during the life of my firft.
To remove thofe doubts from my
MORDAUNT. 95
he fell on a fingular expedient, which it will be requilite to develope a little circumftan- tially.
The Count was acquainted with a mon- fieur and madame Cochon, whofe hiftory is fomewhat curious : — Mr. Cochon's parents were in opulent circumftances : they intended him for the military profeffion ; and did all in their power, by giving him a fuitable edu- cation, to render him fit for it. They never had any doubt of its being agreeable to his own inclination ; for he had, from his early youth, affected the military drefs, even in the fierceft ftyle. But there were two circum- iiances, in the life of a foldier, to both of which young Cochon had an utter averfion ; namely, danger and fatigue. When his pa- rents told him, therefore, that it was time for him to choofe a profeflion, to their furprife, he informed them he preferred the eccle- fiaftical.
Though furprifed, his relations were not very averfe to his choice ; for fome of them
94 MORDAUNT*
had fuch influence as might foori procure him church-preferment. In due time, there- fore, he became a priefL > This took place a little before the com- mencement of the revolution ; but he found, foon after, that the profeflion he had adopted, for no reafon but to enjoy eafe and avoid dan- ger, expofed him to perfecution, and more danger than he had fhrunk from.
His regret for this miftake was exceffive : lie thought the beft way of repairing it was, to renounce the priefthood -, which he did accordingly ; giving, for his reafon, that his confcience would no longer permit him to affift in carrying on a farce, contrived, from the beginning, to delude and cheat the peo- ple. And to prove that he was in earneft, and that he might ingratiate himfelf ftill more with the promoters of the new opi- nions, he determined to marry. The perfon he felected for this honour was a rich wi- dow : her maiden name was Soupire. She had, from her youth, been of a ftudious dif-
MORDAUNT. 95
position ; and, by the time me had arrived at her twentieth year, (lie was very deep- read in romances, particularly thofe of a refined fentimental nature. The lady herfelf was exquifitely fentimental -t continually fighing for fomething. or other. The tear offenftbility^ to ufe a favourite expreffion of her own, was continually trembling in her eye.
Her own perfonal diftrefTes, me thanked heaven, me was able to fupport as became a Chriftianj but {he acknowledged, that the misfortunes of her friends me could not en- dure with equal firmnefs and refignation.
With regard to the poor, me lamented that her own narrow circumftances did not permit her to bellow on them much pecu- niary relief; but me was bountiful in good wifhes, and in the allotment which me thought ought to be made for them by the rich. She often avowed, that the pleafure of giving was far more exquifite than that of receiving.
Nothing furprifed her fo much, as that the
96 MO&DAUNT.
great, who indulge in other luxuries, mould have fo little tafte for that moil exq^ifite of all luxuries, relieving the wants of others.
A young man of fome fortune, and of a benevolent difpofition, who had been a little attracted by this lady's looks, which were en- gaging, was fo charmed with her fentiments, that he propofed marriage to her. This pro- pofal was fo very convenient to her, that me waved that timid reluctance, and all thofe de- licate fcruples, which it was in this lady's character to have difplayed, had me not been afraid that the lover might have changed his mind during the exhibition.
The young man, in whofe favour me had thus overcome her delicacy, was intimately connected in friendship with fome of the leaders of the Gironde party. They were ar- reiled a mort time after his marriage. When the violence againft them came to its height, he was advifed to withdraw from Paris, and keep himfelf concealed. He followed this advice, and afterwards efcaped to Germany;
MOftDAUNT. 97
from whence he wrote preffing letters to his wife, begging that me would join him as foon as me could. She was taking meafures for that purpofe -, for ihe did not know what elfe to do ; and had often declared, that to be ab- fent from the hufband ihe loved was worfe than death. The night before {he was to have fet out, a wealthy citizen of Paris, and the friend of Robefpierre, made love to her.— Though me acknowledged that me was proud of the good opinion of fo diftinguimed a pa- triot, yet me alfo expatiated on her virtue, and the duty me owed her hufband, notwith- {landing his political errors. The patriotic citizen reprefented that her virtue needed be no obftacle to his happinefs, becaufe he could, with the greateft eafe, procure for her a di- vorce from her hufband, who was an emi- grant, and already dead in law. This ar- gument was enforced by an offer of an ample jointure, and a confidcrable fum of ready mo- ney, at her own difpofal.
The patriotic citizen prevailed ; and, after
VOL. II. H
93 MORDAUNT.
the divorce had been obtained, and the contract of marriage drawn out, fealed, and figned, in due form, he became the lady's lawful hufband.
He did not furvive his happinefs long ; the man died in confequence of excefs at an en- tertainment given by Robefpierre's brother to a felect party of his friends. The Count's ac- quaintance, citizen Cochon, had ingratiated himfelf fo much with all that party, by abjur- ing the priefthood and ridiculing Chriftianity, that he had been invited to this entertainment. He faw the man carried fpeechlefs from the feail, and conceived great hopes of his death -t for, having before been flruck with the figure of his wife, and informed of her circumftances, he thought an alliance with her would anfwer
all his views.
»
Some fhort time after the death of the huf- band, therefore, moniieur Cochon paid a vifit to the afflicted widow. He told her, " that, as he had loft one of his moll valued friends> he came to mingle his tears with hers, which,
MORDAUNT. 99
perhaps, would afford fome degree of confola-« tion to both." She exprelfed no averfion to the experiment^ and they met pretty frequently, to mingle their tears accordingly. She acknow> ledged to him that this ceremony afforded fome alleviation to her forrow, particularly as, though monfieur Cochon was a much ftouter man, yet (he found a confiderable refemblance in his features to thofe of her deceafed huf- band. On that hint, monfieur Cochon fpoke, and declared his paffion with fuch a warmth of eloquence as might have melted a harder heart than this lady's feems to have been.
All thofe particulars I learned from madame la Brune, who was a relation of mademoifelle Soupire, had kept up a certain degree of inti- macy with her through all her variations, and underftood her character perfectly.
In the account I have given of this woman, (continued the marchionefs) , I have ufed, as often as I could recollect them, the very phrafes of madame la Brune, who never fpoke
H 2
10O WORD AUNT.
of her coufm without turning her affedlatidrt into ridicule.
\ The Count had been acquainted with ma-* dame Cochon when me was mademoifelle Soupire. At one time he was thought to be rather fond of her. Difgufted by her affected airs of fenfibility, he had abftained from vi- fiting her. He had known her a warm and voluble friend of the Gironde party, while it was in power. He had known her its bitter enemy, and the mofl eloquent of Robelpierre's admirers, when the Gironde party was over- fet : he was fully convinced that me was equally prepared to be the advocate and ad- mirer of whoever mould overturn the govern- ment of Robefpierrer and bring him to the guillotine. With whatever indulgence or par- tiality the Count might view this difpofition in himfelf (for it was precifely his own)> yet it appeared to him hideous in another ; and he had the mofl confummate contempt for madarne Cochon. He imagined, however^
MORDAUNT, 101
that me was a likely perfon to remove all my icrtiples with refpecl to my fueing for a di- vorce and marrying again — " As this lady, who pafTed for a woman of refined delicacy, had fo far yielded to the voice of reafon and prudence as to fue for a divorce from the man me had married from love, and had afterwards taken a fecond hufband, during the life of the firft, notwithstanding her love for him, and then a third, who had been a priefl, in the middle of her mourning for the death of the fecond, what hefitation could remain .with me after fo bright and finking an example ?"
The Count, therefore, cultivated the ac- quaintance of monfieur Cochon more than ever ; renewed his attentions to his lady, who had always retained a certain degree of regard for him, and on whom he foon prevailed to promote his views with all her power. She vifited her relation madame la Brune very ^ffiduoufly, and took much pains to be pn ar* intimate footing with me.
I was not long in perceiving her aim and H 3
102 MORDAUNT.
fufpe&ing her motive. It was not in my* power to avoid feeing this woman j but I concealed my fufpicions of her. I allowed her, with little interruption, to expatiate on the good qualities of the Count ; his intimate connection and great influence with the men in power j and on my good fortune, in hav- ing fo valuable a friend. She drew his por- trait in the moft mining colours, and varnifh- ed it with all her art, to render it ftill more agreeable. This had a different effeft from what me intended j the varnifh corroded the artificial tints, and left the likenefs aH its na-f tural difgufling appearance of corruption.
She was deceived by my filence and paffive attention : me informed the Count that the moment for being liflened to by me with fa^ vour was arrived.
At his next vifit he found madame laBrune \vith me. She feifed a pretext for leaving us ; he began the old fubjecl: of his ardent defire pf ferving me — his extreme forrow for my Jielplefs fitua^ion, On my faiptly thanking
MORDAUNT. 103
him, he faid, " that endeavours were making for reftoring to me my eftate, and threw out fbme infinuations of his own influence with thofe on whom that meafure depended ; that the greatefl obilacle was my being con- tfdered as the wife of an emigrant ; that he, however, had a prior claim, having declared his paffion before my hufband paid his court to me. He hinted the great facility which there was with refpeft to divorces ; and that, though he found it difficult to obtain the re* iteration of an eftate to a perfon who was eonfidered merely as his friend, yet he was perfuaded it would not be refufed to his -wife."
I froze at the word. I am convinced I be- came pale. How he conftrued my appearance I know not ; but he dropped on one knee, feifed my hand, and renewed his requelt in direct terms. At his touch I fhuddered — All caution forfook me — I drew my hand haflily from him, with an exclamation of averfion. He ftarted up with fury, and, in a me- H 4
104- MORDAUNT.
nacing voice, admoniihed me not to provoke him too far.
" The worft you can do," faid I, " wretch, cannot furpafs your perfidy to my mother."
He left the room quite furious.
Madame la Brune entered. — She had over-.
/
heard all that paiTed.^-^She lamented the dan- ger I was in, and, blamed my rafhnefs.
« To fcreen myfelf from danger," faid I, ** would you have me plunge into guilt ancl
infamy ?"
\
She burft into tears, and remained filerit.
J was forry for the uneafinefs I gave this good-natured woman, and faid every thing I could think of that could be foothing to her.
Vilotte, the dancing-mailer, called on me a few days after this fcene. He feemed greatly fgitated. He informed me, "that he had juft learned that an accufation was to be brought againft me ; that he underflood. it originated in the Count. He advifed me to deftroy any letters I might have from my hufband, or any paper whatever, that would ftrengthen fufpi-
MORDAUNT. t05
cion of my correfponding with emigrants." — > He added, " that I was to be arrefted the fol- lowing day, and confined in a houfe belong- ing to a creature of the Count, where I would be entirely in his power."
This laft circumftance terrified me more than all the reft. I propofed leaving my lodgings dire&ly, and trying to find refuge and concealment in the houfe of a poor woman, whole diftreffes I had occaficnally relieved, and with whom I was not known to be ac- quainted,
Vilotte approved of this ; but defired me to delay till the dufk of the evening, when he would himfelf conducl me ; and, in the mean while, begged that I would take the precau- tion he had mentioned.
When I informed madame la Brune of this, fhe mowed the ftrongeft marks of forrow, and, afterwards, of indignation ; me poured forth execrations againfr. the Count : at laft, after a minute's paufe, me faid, " Perhaps I pay ftill be able to fave you from the power
1O6 MORDAUNT.
of this villain.** She ordered a coach to be called, afTured me that ihe would return in a (hort time, and hurried into it without farther explanation.
I had no paper that could be thought dan- gerous, but feveral that I did not wiih thofe wretches to perufe : thefe I immediately threw Into the fire, and then employed myfelf in packing up what necefTaries could be con- veniently carried to the houfe where I in- tended to go,
Madame la Brune returned two hours be- fore the time when I expe&ed Vilotte. — I heard her finging a gay air as me came up ftairs. She knew the ilate of anxiety in which I was, and wifhed to announce to me, as foon as poflible, that there was no* thing alarming in the news me brought. As . me opened the door of my room — " You have nothing to fear, my dear madam," cried ihe ;. " you may remain here in perfed fe-r curity."
She then informed ine, that " ihe had been
MORDAUNT. 107
with her friend and protestor of the mi- litary committee ; had related to him my fiory, which he was in part previoufly ac- quainted with, and had fully convinced him ©f the Count's intention to gratify private malice and revenge, under the pretext of public zeal; that while me was enforcing this with all the warmth which her regard for me prompted, a fervant had entered, and informed him that Collot d'Herbois waited in another room ; that her friend had directly withdrawn, defiring her to wait his return ; that, when he did return, he had affured her that he had taken effectual mea- fures for my fafety, deliring her to inform me that I was in no danger of being arrefled, and had nothing to dread from the enmity of the Count."
When Vilotte arrived, I informed him of thefe circumstances, at which he exprefied great fatisfadtion, faying, " that though he had not the honour of knowing the deputy in
108 MORDAUNT.
queflion, he was well acquainted with his high reputation ; and that the affurances he fcad given madame la Brune were completely to be relied upon. "
I remained, accordingly, at her houfe, un- diflurbed by fear of being arrefled, or by any more vifits from the Count.
I afterwards came to the knowledge of the means by which my fecurity was ob- tained.
The Count had cultivated an intimacy with St. Jufte, a member of the convention, and a great favourite of Robefpierre. He was a young man of great intrepidity and conlider- able talents. After having faid that he was 3. favourite of Robefpierre, it is unneceflary to add that this St. Jufte was a moil confum- mate villain.
He had recommended citizen R — - (for that was the name the Count had aflumed) in fo particular a manner, that he alfo was confi- dered, at this time, as a kind of favourite of
MORDAtTNT. 100
Robefpierre. The Count was fo vain of this honour, that he neglected his old friend, C011ot d'Herbois,; and a coldnefs had taken place between them. The latter was piqued at the Count's neglect ; and lie harbour- ed befides fome degree of jealoufy, on account of his growing favour with the dictator. This was the ftate of Collot d'Herbois' mind when he called on madame la Brune's friend, as -has been mentioned. The latter was acquainted with the Count's ancient intimacy with Cot- lot d'Herbois, but knew nothing of the new coldnefs. D'Herbois' bufinefs was to requeft a fituation for a relation of his, who was an engineer. Immediately after granting this requeil, madame la Brune's friend told the other that the Count had conceived ill-will againft an unfortunate woman, in whom he was interefted, had a plan for having her ar- reited and confined, on pretences that were ^wnfoanded, and begged, asr'he himfelf was un- acquainted with the Count, that d'Herbois
110 MORDAUNt.
would prevail on him to drop all thoughts of that nature.
*e You may depend upon it," faid d'Her- bois, " that it mail be done — I'll go to him immediately."
" You are fure of perfuading him ? for I am a good deal interefted in the bufinefs/' re* fumed the other*
" Abfolutely fure," replied d'Herbois.
He immediately waited on the Count, told him he was forry to underfland that he had intentions of accufing me, and defired he would give up all thoughts of it, and leave me in tranquillity.
The Count exprefled furprife at his inter- ference, faid there was great ground for the accufation, and refufed to comply with his requeft.
Collot d'Herbois faid, with an air of me- nace, " I would advife you not to pum that matter any farther."
The Count, with heat, told him " that he
SlO&DAUNf. Ill
would mention it to Robefpierre himfelf that very day : adding, " How will you anfwer to him for interfering in favour of a perfon under fuch a load of fufpicion as that lady is ?"
" How will you anfwer to him," replied d'Herbois, " for the letter you wrote to Dan- ton a little before his arrefl and execution ?"
" That letter was burnt," replied the Count.
" When I told you fo," rejoined Collot d'Herbois, with an ironical grin, " I did not recolledt that I had, from mere abfence of 'mind \ flipped it into my pocket inftead of the fire : I was furprifed, therefore, to find it among my papers this morning."
The face of the Count, red-hot with rage the inftant before, became cold and pale at this annunciation -, he perceived that his life was in the power of a man he had neglected and braved, and with whofe vindictive tem- per he was well acquainted. This reflection, after he had ftood a moment motionlefs, be- gan to £hake his whole frame ; when he at-
112 MORDAUNT.
tempted to fpeak, his teeth chattered in fitch a manner that he could not articulate a fyllable,
After having for fome time enjoyed his terror, " I fee," faid Collot d'Herbois, « that you are a little difcompofed at this intelli- gence j you may reft allured, however, that your friend Robefpierre mall not fee your kjud epLftle to bis friend Danton, until I hear that the lady in queftion is arrefted, of that you make fome attempt to difhirb her."
When the Count had recovered himfelf, he aflured d'Herbois " that he might have ob-* tained what he required of him by a fingle word ; but that he had been impelled to af- fe& reludlance merely by the abrupt and pe- remptory manner in which the requeft had been made ; that he muft be fenfible that there was no man on earth for whom he had fo great an efteern ; that, as for the lady, me might rely on never being difturbed by him 5 that very probably the reports he had heard of her correfponding with emigrants were
MORDAUNT. 113
falfe ; and that, if fo, he would be very happy to do her all the fervice in his power ; and that Collot d'Herbois might rely on his conducing himfelf in that bufmefs, as in every thing elfe, conformably to the friend- fliip he had long felt for him."
D'Herbois anfwered with declarations of friendship equally firicere ; but, in the fpirit of his original profeffion, as a buffoon, he could not refrain from embracing the Count a little too much a la pant alone 9 which con- vinced the Count that the other intended the reverfe of what he faid : that' idea engrofTed his thoughts, — the guillotine was conftantly before his eyes -, and, as Robefpierre was the perfon from whofe immediate man- date he dreaded death, he thought of no- thing, from that moment, but how to over- turn his power ; and, having difcovered that fome other of Robefpierre's old friends, wretches who had been his accomplices in fo many murders, were, from a fufpicion of his intention to murder them alfo, VOL. ii. \
114 MORDAUNT.
now his enemies, the Count joined in their plots.
Their confpifaey was hurried into execu* tion by the intemperance of Robefpierre him- felf. This man had fo long fported with the lives of his countrymen, without meeting with refinance, that he loft all prudence or fenfe of danger ; and, after having been obeyed im- plicitly in the murder of many thoufands of innocent people, he loft his own life by threat- ening that of a few execrable villains.
While the conteft continued, the Count kept aloof. As foon as it was known that Robefpierre, Couthon, St. Jufte, and Hen- riot, were maflacred, he appeared in the front rank of the vidlors, and was among the very loudeft declaimers againft the cruelties of Robe- fpierre, whom he now reprefented as the great- eft monfter that ever the earth had produced. Barrere and Collot d'Herbois attempted to play the fame game, but with lefs fuccefs. Tallien unmafked the firft ; and the Count was inde- fatigable in his endeavours to fend the fecond
MORDAUNT. 115
to the fcafFold. This man, however, who had deferved the wheel in a thoufand in- fiances, efcaped with banifhmcnt.
A few days after Robefpierre had been dragged expiring to the fcaffold, amidft the execrations of a multitude who worfhipped him two days before, I received a vilit from madame Cochon. In the days of Roland and the Girondifts, this woman had always fpoken of Robefpierre as a madman : after their de- ftrudion me acknowledged that me had mif- taken his character, for (he then faw that he was a moft difinterefted patriot, and the only man in France who had fufficient ener- gy for conducting the republic though the rocks, quickfands, and hurricanes of the re- volution. Madame Cochon thought herfelf wonderfully eloquent, and dealt much in hack- neyed metaphor. At this vifit I found that ihe had refumed her original opinion of Robe- fpierre, with the addition of his being the moft mifchievous and cruel of madmen. With a view to acquire favour with thofe who had
I 2
116 MORDAUST.
deftroyed him, and gain importance, me gave •out that thej following memorandum was in- fcribed in his pocket-book -.—Madame Cocbon, jiee Soupire. Guillotine. IB »*? •tff^When fhe repeated this affertion to me, in khe prefence of madame la Brune, who was convinced of its falfehood, the latter could hot help faying—'* It is a great pity that the pocket-book, which does you fo much ho- nour, could never be found. 'Vtrw
" Ah !" cried madame Cochon, a little too fiasftifyf ^ he burnt it before his execution."
" It is wonderful, then," replied madame •fo Brune, " how you came to know that fuch a memorandum had ever been in it."
w It is by no means wonderful," faid the incorrigible hypocrite, " ilnce Providence has ordained, that plans of murder, as well as murder itfelf, are often brought to light in a miraculous manner ; and I do aflure you> my friend, that I was doomed to death by that monfter Robefpierre !" She faid this in a doleful voice, and feemed ready to cry.
MORDAUNT. 117
*' Let not the tear of fenjibility tremble in your eye," rejoined madame la Brune : " but recoiled that it was the monfter himfelf, and not you, that was guillotined. — Do not cry, my dear madam, your head is ftill upon your moulders/'
I have obferved, my dear Mifs Clifford, (continued the marchionefs, ) that vain pec*- pie are exceedingly blind to the ridicule they excite. This woman was a very great hypo- crite y me had all the defire poffible to de- ceive, but her vanity put it out of her pow- er. It was obvious that madame la Brune fneered at her : yet me continued to flou- rifh about her fenfibility a confiderable time before me touched on the real buiinefs for which me had come : at laft, however, me fpoke about the Count. — t( She was exceed- ingly forry that any mifunderftanding had taken place between him and me : to her knowledge he had the moft imcere refped: and friendship for me j wiihed to be of ufe to me ; and then expatiated on . the need that
i 3
118 MORDAUNT*
every one, particularly a young woman in my fituation, had of protection ;" and finifhed by faying *< that the Count was intimately con* nected with thofe who had overturned Robe- fpierre ; that he had been acquainted with all their plans, and was likely to continue in truft and favour with them : and, even on the fuppofition that they, like others, mould be turned out of power (me added), that he pof- fefled fuch addrefs, and fuch an accommodate ing verfatility of conduct, that fhe knew no man who flood a fairer chance of acquiring the favour of their fucceflbrs, however oppofite their fyftem might be to the meafures he now fupported ; that the friendship and protection of fuch a man was of great advantage at any time, but particularly at the prefent moment." Having urged thofe confiderations at fome length, me took her leave, in the hopes, no doubt, that they would have the effect fhe in- tended. She affured me, as me was going, that me would have the pleafure of waiting on me again very foon.
MORDAUNT. 119
I afterwards was informed, on better au- thority than madame Cochon's, that the Count really was in confiderable credit with thofe in power, but that madame la Brune's friend was under confinement. On this, my dread of being perfecuted by the malice, or, what I dreaded ftill more, by the love of the Count, returned in full force.
I began, therefore, to arrange matters for changing my lodging ; but I concealed my purpofe from madame la Brune, not from any want of confidence in her, but that £he might be enabled to declare, with truth, that fhe knew not of my going, nor where I was.
Madame la Brune fufpe&ed my intention, and complained of me for harbouring it. I acknowledged my having refumed my for- mer plan of concealing myfelf with the old woman, and that I had not mentioned it to her, on purpofe to fave her from being fu- fpeded by the Count of _gny previous know- ledge of my leaving her houfe ,- for I knew that /he had given him reafon to expeft that
14
120 MORDAUNT.
(he would inform him, in cafe I mould ever think of taking that ftep.
She faid, <* that me was convinced of the prudence of my immediately trying to conceal myfelf ; but fhe queftioned my being able to remain long fo at the old woman's, where I mould alfo be miferably accommo- dated. She therefore advifed me to leave Paris." She owned, " that the Count had ex- acled of her that me ihould give him notice in cafe I thought of quitting her houfe ; but that he had no right to make fuch an exac- tion ; that he could not have made it for any honeft purpofe ; and therefore fhe would pay no regard to it. As for the Count's fufpe<ft- ing me of afllfting you to efcape," faid fhe, " that he will do at any rate ; for villains are always fufpicious: but, thank heaven!" added {he, f< they are to be deceived as well as other people ; and I have no fcruple in deceiving them •, being perfuaded, that an over- deli- cacy in that point gives them an advantage over honefl people which they have no right
MORDAUNT. 121
to. After you are gone, therefore, I fhall have circumftances arranged, and a ftory pre- pared, that will tend to remove his fufpi- cions of me more effectually than if I had really known nothing of the matter> and been unprepared to deceive him, as he de- ferves to be."
I did not think madame la Brune's reafon- ing unexceptionable, more than her conduct in other refpects -, for it was impoffible not to fee that me was the miftrefs of the deputy with whom me had fo much influence. What fur- prifed me was, to find that, notwithstanding this latitude of reafoning and behaviour, fhe was fcrupuloufly obfervant of certain religious ce- remonies, of far lefs importance ; an inftance of which I will mention, becaufe it is a ftrong proof of the inconfiftency of fentiment on religious fubjects, even in characters by no means devoid of fagacity in other mat- ters.
One evening that I patted with her alone, after a good deal of converfation, in which
122 MORDAUNT.
me exprefled a full belief in all the dcxftrines of* tlie church, I could not help faying, " With fo firm a belief in all thofe things, how can you maintain the conduit you do in a certain point ?" She anfwered, with the moil per- fect ndivett, and feemingly unconfcious of faying any thing fingular — " Becaufe, to believe cofts me nothing ; but to change my conduit, in the article you allude to, would coft me a great deal."
The whole of her conduct towards me, however, was uniformly generous and friend- ly; and appeared the more fo, beeaufe, at the very time that me was expoiing herfelf to danger, and taking fo much trouble on my account, fhe was under great concern and dread for the fafety of her own protector.
I determined to follow her advice in leav^ ing Paris ; and, after much reflection, could think of no place where I could be more fe- cure than in the houfe of that perfon who had pa.id up the debt due to my father. The dorneftic who had formerly attended me cm
MORDAUNT.
the journey was at this time with one of the armies. I fent, therefore, for my never-fail- ing friend Vilotte ; informed him of my pur- pofe; and he readily agreed to accompany my maid and me to the place of our deftina- tion. By his means we procured pafTports, under falfe names, and accomplimed the jour- ney happily, though not without a variety of dangers and rifks, which I mall omit to enu- merate. I was received in the kindeft man- ner by my friend and his family. After having remained unmolefted with them a coniiderable time, I received a letter from madame la Brune, in which me informed me, " that madame Cochon had called two days after my departure ; had been furprifed and irritated, on hearing that I had abruptly left the houfe without giving her notice ; that the Count himfelf had called the day after ; that he had raged like a fury ; accufed her of being acceflary to. my efcape, and had abufed her in very grofs terms ; that this had fur- nifhed her with a pretext for refufing to an-
124 MORDAUNT.
fwer any of his queftions, by fome of which j(he would have been very much embarrafled : that he had afterwards tried coaxing and bribing, to prevail on her to acquaint him with the place of my concealment : that me had not altogether feemed deaf to thefe ar^ guments ; but, after having convinced him that me had known nothing of my going away, and had with all diligence been en- deavouring to difcover where I was, me had given him a cue for rinding me out, — which Cue," added me, " will direft bis refearches far enough from the place you are in."
About a fortnight after this, I received a fecond letter from madame la Brune, to ac- quaint me, that me had jull learnt, from the Count himfelf, " that he had heard of my former journey •> had fome fufpicion where I actually was, and propofed to fend certain agents to difcover whether his fufpicions were well founded : that me, on her part, had done every thing me could to turn him from his purpofe j but, as me was ngt cer~
MORDAUNT. 125
tain of Having fucceeded, me gave me this notice^ that I might be on my guard."
This alarmed me fo much, that I flept out of my friend's houfe the night on which I got the letter. By the very next poft I received another, in which madame la Brune informed me, " that me had waited on the Count the day after their laft conversation, and had told him, that, in confequence of having written to a friend at Line,, to give her information of the arrival of any perfon at that town who anfwered to the defcription me had given of me, me had received an account of fuch a perfon having juft arrived there : that, on this information, the Count, as me wifhed, had immediately fet out for Lifle." Madame la Brune added — " On his arrival there, he will be told, that the perfon he is in fearch of had gone to St. Omer's fome hours before his arrival : he will of courfe proceed to St. Omer's; and, when he gets there, he will find that nobody knows w^at is become of the fugitive." She concludes, " that me
126 MORDAtWT.
gives me this information j that I may have time to make the arrangements necefiary for remov- ing entirely from my prefent place of conceal- ment, and finding another, where I could re- main in fecurity j for fhe was perfuaded, that as foon as the Count mould return to Paris, he would refume his former fufpicion, and fet out for the place where I then was." jfn In confequence of this information, I re- folved to go to Geneva. By the means of the excellent man with whom I had lodged, I performed this journey, and was received, with my maid, into the houfe of a watch- maker, with whom my friend had long dealt, and to whom he had been of material fervice in the way of his buiinefs. His family con- fifted of his wife and two young children.
With this family I lived in the moft pri- vate manner : they were worthy people. As I was pleafed with their converfation, and was provided with whatever books I re- quired, I feldom wimed to go abroad ; but my kind landlady, being afraid that too much
MORDAtfNT. 127
confinement would injure my health, pre- vailed on me fometimes to take a walk with her. As we crofled the Plain-palais one day together, I faw, at fome little diftance, two men in French uniforms, one of whom ftruck me as having a refemblance to a fel- low whom I remembered to have feen at- tending the Count. I turned back imme- diately, begging my companion to attend me home as faft as poffible. Being near the gate -which opens to Plain-palais, we foon entered the town, and hurried home with all expedition. I informed my landlord and his wife of the caufe of my alarm : they en- deavoured to encourage me with the hope that I had not been noticed by this fel- low, or that he might not be the perfon I took him for : thofe hopes were diminimed that fame evening ; when my landlord was informed, that a French foldier had been in- quiring, at the mop oppolite to his houfe, " Who the lady was who lived with him ?•— How long (he had been at Geneva ? — When
12S MORDAUNT.
me intended to leave it ?— and other parti-*
culars."
This account terrified me exceedingly, be- caufe of the dread and fubjedion in which the inhabitants of the once free and happy city of Geneva were held by the tyranny of France. When I demanded of my landlord, 5* Whether I could depend on the magiftrates for protection, in cafe any attempt were made againft my liberty, through the influence of France," he faid — " It would he beft not to riik it."
This man, though in other refpedls a man of fenfe and worth, had been a favourer of our revolution. He thought the French re- public would, from fympathy, fupport the independence of Geneva. I knew his fen-* timents ; and therefore repeated, with fur- prife — '• Rifle it ! Does the independence of Geneva run any rifk from the republic of France ? Can it countenance any attempt againft general or individual liberty ?"
He fhook his head, and made an anfwer
MORDAUNT. 129
flattering, my dear mifs Clifford, to your country. — " I am now convinced," faid he, " that power in republics, as well as in mon- archies, has always a tendency to .be op- preilive; and that liberty, as well in mon- archies as in republics, has a tendency to be turbulent : power and liberty, therefore, are feldom on good terms in either. I do not recollect any inftance of their being com- bined, and limited fo as to produce the ge- neral happinefs of the people, in any re- public, nor in any monarchy, except that of Great-Britain, ilnce the revolution in that *country in the year 1GSS."
He then told me, " that he had a friend, advanced in life, who had been fo difgufted with the difTenfions and tumults of which Geneva had been the icene fince our revolu- tion, that he had taken a fmall houfe, in a very retired and romantic fgot near the vil- lage of Clufe, where he lived with his fifter, a lady who had long before been difguiled with mankind in general j not, indeed, on
VOL. II. K
130 , MORDAUNT,
Account of a revolution in the ftate, but in the affedtions of one man, who had proved faithlefs to her :" adding, " that they hardly ever faw or correfponded with any perfon, except when he himfelf paid them a vffi't, or had occafion to write to the brother/' To this perfon's houfe my landlord offered to conduct me, affuring me of a welcome. I agreed to the propofal with eagernefs. We fet out the following day j an4, at my arrival, I received from this gentleman and his lifter the welcome I had been promifed.
Before I left Geneva, I had written to my
»
hufband, who was fHll with the prince of Conde, expreffing my delire of pafling to Germany, as foon as I could know where he wifhed me to refide ; and defiling him to ad- drefs to me, under cover, to my landlord at Geneva, who would deliver his letters, or tranfmit them to me, wherever I might be.
While I waited with impatience for an an- fwer to this letter, I received one from ma- dame la Brune, in which (he informed me,
MORDAUNT. . 131
4t that before the Count returned from his ex- pedition to Lifle and St. Omer's, fhe had pre- pared a very plaufible ftory to amufe him, and remove any fufpicion which might, naturally enough, have arifen in his mind, of her hav- ing intentionally deceived him ; that, though fhe had never feen a man fo vexed as he was at his difappointment, and at the thoughts of having for ever loft me, me had appeared to be as vexed as him ; that fhe was not quite certain, however, of having entirely re- moved his fufpicions ; that his paffion for me was as violent as ever ; that he talked much of the happy lituation in which it was in his power, as well as inclination, to place me ; that he would forget all the trouble I had given him, and enable me to live in opulence, un- controlled, and entirely according to my own taile." Madame la Brune obferved, " that his infilling fo much on thefe topics looked a little as if he ftill fufpected that fhe knew where I was, and would inform me of all he
faid."
K 2
132 JMORDAUNT.
[This woman you muft perceive, my dear, is exceedingly mrewd and cunning ; but, though I muft ever think on her with grati- tude, and mould be happy to render, her any proper fervice, I mould like her better if me had lefs cunning, and more true wif- dom : cunning is very apt to grow into knavery, whereas wifdom tends to make* peo- ple honeft.]
The moil interefting part of her epiftle was the poftfcript, which acquainted me with her having juft learnt that the Count had left Paris, and that he was gone to Chambery, where a certain perfon who had been long looked on as a creature of his
a$ed as a commiflloner.
%
This intelligence alarmed me fo much, that I immediately fent a peafant with a letter to try friend the watchmaker at Geneva, beg- ging -his advice, and informing him that I hud heard this commiffioner fpoken of as a man devoid of principle, and devoted to the Count ; fo that, if he fhould by apy accident
MORDAUNT. 133
difcover where I was, I might, by the au- thority of the former, be arrefted on the flighted pretext, and fall into the power of the latter.
The worthy Genevois faw my danger in the fame light I did myfelf, and he was as eager to relieve me from it as if he had been my father. His anfwer was, " that the fafefl place, in his opinion, that I could retire to was Vevay ; that he would write to a trufty per- fon of his acquaintance, who lived there, to be ready to receive and accommodate me im- mediately on my arrival $" and he defired me to meet him early in the morning of the day, after receiving his letter, at a certain village, from whence he would conduct me to the Lake of Geneva, where a boat would be ready to carry my maid and me acrofs to Vevay.
It afterwards appeared, however, that all my fufpicions, from the time I had feen the fellow in the Plain-palais, had been well founded : he was one of the ruffians whom the Count maintained, and always had at his K 3
134-' MORDAUNT.
Command. This fellow had been fent by the Count from Chambery to Geneva, for the ex- prefs purpofe of getting fome accounts con- cerning me : he had remarked my fuddenly turning from "him, and haftening within the gate ; and had afterwards made inquiries, which confirmed him in the notion that I was the perfon he was in fearch of. He had given this information to the Count, who had diredly come to Geneva, in the hopes of carrying me off by fome means or other from that city, on his arrival there •> and, finding that I had left it, he had taken pains to difcdver where I had gone/ in which he fucceeded •> and, finally, had applied to the commiffioner, who, fub- fervient to all his views, had given an order for arrefting me, on the pretext of my carry- ing on a correfpondence with the enemies of France.
After every thing was arranged for our departure, according to the directions of my friend the Genevois, while I was converfing after fupper with my worthy hod and his
MORDAUNT, 135
filler, in the expectation of fetting out next morning, a fervant, entering the room abruptly, told us, " that the houfe was fur- rounded by a party of French foldiers." You may conceive what a thunder-ilroke this was to me. My landlord, whofe natural fleadi- nefs of temper was fortified by the ftudy and practice of philofophy, feeing the ftate in which I was> faid, " Fifty to one it is a mif- take, founded on falfe information j they hap- pen daily." — " The perfon who commands the party is placing fentinels around the houfe ; he feems a civil man," faid the fer- vant to his matter, " and he defired me to tell you, fir, that you need not be alarmed, for he has orders not to injure you in the leaft."
" I am glad that the party is under com- mand," replied our landlord aloud : " in that
cafe, as we are all innocent, none of us need 4^
be alarmed."
•
As the officer was entering, I turned my back to the door, from the dread that he K 4
136 MORDAUNT.
might be accompanied by the Count. Ad- darling my landlord, he faid, " I am forry, fir, that my duty obliges me to difturb you in the leaft ; but my orders reach not you ; they only regard a lady who lives in your houfe."
I cannot defcribe how I was affected, when, ftruck with the voice of this officer, I turned fuddenly, and recognifed the very perfon who had accompanied me on my jour- ney from, and return to, Paris, when I went for the money.
He feemed as much aftonifhed as I was. " Good Heaven !" faid I, " St. Jean, zrzyou come to arreft me ?"
" To arreft you!" exclaimed he, with the accent of horror, fhaking his head. He then paufed, looked around, mut the d©or, and repeated, " Arreft you I my dear madam, never, never, never."
" Who then are you come to arreft ?" faid I.
" My dear lady," replied he, " let me reco- ver my fenfes/'" a^nd, after looking firft my
MORDAUNT. 137
landlord, and then his fitter, ftedfaftly in the face, he faid to me — "Am I fafe to fpeak?"
** I will anfwer for this gentleman and lady as for mylelf, St. Jean," faid I.
" Will you?" replied the good fellow; " then I will fpeak freely. — In cafe you fhould efcape from this, do you know of any place in which you could be con- cealed ?"
" I was preparing to fet out for fuch a place when you arrived," faid L
*' Would, to Heaven I had fallen and broken my leg when I was haflening hither," faid he.
•*' I believe you had beft inform this good man of the whole of your fcheme," faid our landlord, addreffing me.
I did fo direclly.
St. Jean liftened with attention ; and when lihad finimed, — " It will do," faid he, rifing with an air of fatisfaftion. He then defired to be excufed, faying he had ibme difpo- fitions to make ; but would return in a fhort time.
MORDAUNT.
<e Are you absolutely certain of this fidelity?" faid the fifter, as foon as he left the* room.
*' As much as of any man alive/' faid L
" That may be/' faid the lifter with a profound figh ; " but no man alive is to be trufted."
I recollected what the Genevois had told me, that this lady had in her youth been de- ceived by a man 5 and I had perceived that a long courfe of intervening years had not pluckt the rooted forrow from her breaft.
*' Do you not perceive, my dear fifter," faid our landlord, " that the time for diftruft is paft; we are in the man's power j the leaft appear- ance of diftruft now would only irritate/'
St. Jean returned. We were furprifed to fee him accompanied by the footman and the two maids, the only fervants belonging to the houfe. We were alarmed when he de- fired that they (hould be fhut up in a room, , and the key delivered to him.
MORDAUNT. 139
i
This extraordinary requefl was Immediate- ly complied with, After which, St. Jean, (hutting the door, addreffed us as follows, in a low voice.
" You have acquainted me with the plan formed for the marchionefs's efcape previous to my unlucky arrival. I will now inform you of the meafures I mall take for its being ftill carried into execution. The orders I have received are general, and fimply to arreft a lady living with this gentleman : — little did I imagine that this lady, the daughter of my benefactor, was the perfon. I will run any rifk to fecure her efcape from the danger with which fhe is threatened ; but I hope it may 1>e effected without much. J have informed the party under my command, that the lady we were in fearch of is in this houfe ; that it would be fooliih to think of moving her un- til the morning. I have placed fentinels be- fore and behind the houfe. At one o'clock precifely there will be a foldier at the back- door, whom I believe I might truft ; but it
24O MORDAUNT.
is unnecefTary, for I fliall myfelf walk around the houfe at that hour, on the pretence of ob- ferving whether the fentinels do their duty. I fhall then bring the man at the back-door to the front of the houfe, and there amufe him and his companion with repeated and minute orders, until the marchionefs and her maid {hall have full time to withdraw by the back-door, and to get at a diftance from the hoiffe, fo as to arrive at the place where the perfon you mentioned attends to accompany them acrofs the Lake. On the morning,*' continued St. Jean, " I fhall be under the necefluy of conducting this lady," pointing to our landlord's fitter, "to a fmall town between this and Chambery, where the per- fon who brought me the commiflioner's or- 4ers waits my arrival. He will no doubt be out of humour when he fees the miftake ; but he muft impute it to the want of precifion in the orders he gave me, and he muft of courfe releafe the lady directly. "
MORDAUNT. 141
The fifter did not feem very fond of this part of St. Jean's plan ; but when the brother declared his intention to accompany her, ob- ferving, at the fame time, that it would af- ford her fatisfadtion the reft of her life to re- flecl;, that, by a fmall piece of inconvenience, (he had been the means of faving a perfon (he efteemed from very great diftrefs, perhaps from death, me agreed.
I could not help expreffing a fear, hgw- ever, left St. Jean fhould be fufpected of having cormived at my efcape ; " for, after all," faid I, "'the foldiers who are here will declare that there were tivo ladies."
" The foldiers, my dear madam," faid St. Jean, " can declare no fuch matter ; they did not know that there was fo much as one lady here until I informed them, after I went laft out of this room. That they may not be made acquainted that there are two is the reafon of my having ufed the precaution of locking up the only perfons who can give them that in- formation."
142 MORDAUNT.
We all admired the prudence and addre s of St. Jean. After fome consultation, it was thought expedient to liberate the man-fer- vant, whofe filence and discretion his mailer declared he could rely on; and who was highly ufeful, at the appointed hour, in con- ducting my maid and me to the place, where we found the punctual Genevois in waiting. This worthy man had arranged every thing to my wifh ; and he never quitted us, until he had feen us eftablimed fafely at Vevay.
I foon after had the pleafure of hearing from him, that our hoft and his lifter had both been fet at liberty a fhort time after the party had conducted them to the town from , whence they fet out; that St. Jean had mowed that he had adhered literally to his orders, and that no blame was attached to him. But I was informed, at the fame time, of what gave me much inquietude, though I had all along fufpedted it in part, that the
Count was in Savoy ; that the order for ar- f. '
retting me originated in him ; that he re-
MORDAUNT. 143
snained convinced that the information he had received was true j but that he had been perfuaded by St. Jean, that I mufl have left the houfe before his arrival with the party ; that St. Jean had been ordered to Italy ; and that the Count continued his refearches for me with redoubled afliduity.
All this intelligence my friend the Gene- vois had received from St. Jean, before he fet out on his march. " I mould have directly left Vevay, had I not expected every day to hear from my hufband, or had I known where I could be in more fafety,
A fhort time after this I was again on the point of falling into the power of my perfe-t cutor. From that fupreme mifery I was faved by the generous interpofition and intrepidity of one who, for reafons with which I am unacquainted, wimes not to be mentioned. When I mail know that thofe reafons no longer exift, I fhall acquaint you with the particulars.
The behaviour of all the Englifh with
144 MORDAUlfT.
whom I have had any communication, fince my arrival here, confirms the opinion I have long entertained of your nation : and one ac- quaintance in particular, which I have made in London, I mail ever conlider, my dear mifs Clifford, as one of the molt happy incidents of my life.
MORDAUNT.
LETTER XXXV.
The COUNTESS DOWAGER of DEANPORT to JAMES GRINDILL, Efq.
DEAR SIR, Lon3on.
1 ALWAYS thought Mordaunt of a generous > difpofition ; but as he is, at the fame time,
both a younger brother and a man of famion,
-
I never could have imagined that he would have been either able or willing to have ad- vanced fuch a fum as would enable you to clear off your debts, and leave Munich in a creditable manner. Men of pleafure feldom have cam fufficient to anfwer their own pur- pofes ; and I hardly ever knevv any of them, except mere novices, at their firft arTecfting that character, who were willing to accommodate a friend with money* whatever his urgency might be. But Mordaunt of late has, I un- derftand, been more a foldier than a man of pleafnre.
I am happy it was in my power to VOL. ii. • L
146
remove the chief obftacles that exifted in this country to your return.
Your old friend, Brumton, flood out more obftinately than any of your creditors. He had heard that your relation in Wales was in an ill flate of health ; and was convinced that, by his death, you would be very foon in a condi- tion to pay him the whole debt. Varnim, my attorney, is a precious fellow : he found means to perfuade Brumton that your relation was out of danger, and that it was a very doubtful matter who would be his heir when he died; on which that affectionate old friend, lofing the hope of receiving his whole debt, came, into the fame terms as your other cre- ditors.
When he mall hear, however, that the Welchman has not only relapfed, but alfo that he is attended by a phyfician of your re- commending, he will coniider you as in pof- feffion of the eftate, and curfe the hour on which he agreed to the compofition.
As I had been for fome time extremely
MORDAUNT. 147
impatient for your arrival in London, you may imagine what a difappointment it was to me when I understood that, immediately on land- ing, you were under the neceffity of fetting out for Wales. I am fenfible, however, of the propriety of that meafure, and (ball now acquaint you with the circumftances that made me peculiarly defirous of feeing you in town.
In one of your letters from the continent there is a hint which mows that you had fome idea of my having a fcheme to promote a marriage between my fon and Mifs Moyfton. I do not give you credit for a vaft deal of pe- netration on that account. You muft natu- rally have imagined that I could have no other defign the moment you heard that I cultivat- ed an acquaintance with her and her aunt. On what other account could I have fubmit- ted to the penance of vifiting and being vi- fited by fuch women ? You can have no no- tion of their vulgarity.
Knowing that they were engaged with 'a L a
148
party to go to the play, I feized the opportunity"" of fending them an invitation to my box at the opera the fame night, The niece had the good fenfe and good mariners to remain with* her party -, but the hideous aunt aftually broke her engagement, and came to my box. I was under the neceffity of fitting next her the whole night, in the view of a crowded . audience. You have feen the woman, and- know the Gothic ftyle in which fhe drefles. I declare that Azor was the leaft frightful monfter of the two. You who ' know my averfion to be feeh in public with any one of an unfafhionable appearance, and have been witnefs to my flirinking from my own rela- tions and old companions for no other reaforv may have an idea of what I fuffered from the oftentatious familiarity of this woman >. for me continued fmiling, and nodding, and whifpering to me, during the whole perform- ance. The truth is, that while me feemed to- be delighted with her fituation, and eager to- catch the eyes of the fpedtators, I was in*
WORD AUNT, 149
agonies ; yet I endeavoured to fupport my fpirits with the thought, that, through my fufferings, my fon might obtain for his wife the greateft heirefs in England. Little do children ccnfider what a tender and affedion- ate mother is capable of enduring for the laft> ing good of her offspring !
While I perfevered in my attentions to thefe two women, I often fpoke to them of my fon, who at this time was vifking his Deflate in Ireland : I defcribed him, you may believe, in the moil flattering colours, taking particular care to fuit my defcription to what J conceived to be the tafte of the niece. One day, being alone with the aunt, I determined to open my views to her ; but while in pre- paration for what I. intended, I was enlarging on my ion's fine qualities, the old lady anti- cipated my purpofe, exclaiming — " What a charming match would fuch an accomplifh- cd young nobleman make for my niece !"
I received the hint gracioufly, but with becoming dignity. «•" -My fmcere fr-iendihip
L 3
150 MORDAITKT.
for her, the high opinion I had formed of her , amiable niece's character, were great induce- ments, and would remove many obftacles." As I had not the aflurance to pay the leaft
compliment to the young lady's beauty, I
t
thought it necefTary to dwell the more on her good fenfe, her charming humour, and amia- ble manners, though I Strongly fufpect that her understanding, temper, and beauty, are much on a level. The aunt affured me that I had a juft notion of her niece's character 5 that me had a great deal more wit than me was willing to difplay, and a tafte for magni-* ficence, which would render her an ornament to the nobility.
In a Short time we came to an understanding on the fubject, for which I, had brought about; the meeting; and the buiinefs was fettled, as jfar as depended on the aunt and me.
I foon difcovered that the niece was as im- patient to be a countefs as the aunt was to be more intimately connected with me.
When my fon arrived from Ireland, I made
MORDAUNT. 151
frequent mention of Mifs Moyfton in his pre- fence. This naturally turned the difcourfe on her fortune ; and I took care that fome per- ibn in the company was fure to make the ob- fervation — that me was the greatefl heirefs in the ifland. I was in hopes that this would have excited a defire in my fon to be intro- duced to the youpg lady ; but I difcovered that his mind was at that time engrofled with the thoughts of purchafing a mare which had ftruck his fancy, and he could attend to no- thing elfe. As foon as I underflood that he had fucceeded in obtaining the mare, I again introduced the fubjecl: of Mifs Moyfton, and gave him a pretty circumftantial detail of her fortune, having previoufly informed myfelf of the various forms in which her immenfe pro- perty is fecured. I concluded the narrative with the phrafe appropriated for women about to be married, ' that me had every qualifica- tion requilite for rendering the marriage fta,te
152 MORDAUNT.
" She is very Lundfome, of courfe," faid be.
I anfwered, " that I was fure that great beauty could not be reckoned among thofc requifites by a man of his difcernment, as he muft be acquainted with fo many inftances of its having a contrary effecV'
To this obfervation he deemed to aflent, by the habitual bow which he gives for an an- fwer when he has no other ready.
I prevailed on him to accompany me to the aunt's liGuie, where he was prefented to both ladies : but I blamed myfelf, as foon as Mifs Mpyilon made her appearance, for not having delayed the prefentation until the evening 3 becaufe me certainly is one of thofe young ladies who mow to greateft advantage by can- dle-light.
I mud do my fon the juftice to confefs, that, though the fmile which he had prepar- ed for Mifs Moyfton was converted into fome- what of a flare when the young lady appeared^
MORDAUNT. 153
yet he foon recovered from his furprize, and, o:: the whole, conducted himfelf fully as well, durin6 thib firft vifit, as I had expected.
AJ i»c G' . linued the fame behaviour when he met them at my houfe, and fometimes vifited them at their own, I flattered myfelf that every thing was in good train for the ac- compufliment of my wiflies. But fome- thing like backwardnefs, on the part of my fon, has appeared iince ; of which I will give you an account in my next ; for I am now obliged to drefs for lady Faro's af- fembly, from which I would not, on any ao* count, be abfent this particular night, as I have had a foreboding, ever fince I rofe this morning, that I fhall be a very confjderable winner.
You will laugh at my foreboding, and im- pute it to fuperftition ; though 1 really never am fuperflitious, unlefs when I am in an ill flate of health. My foreboding, at prelent, is founded on what you have often told me is the only juft bafis for betting, namely, caku-
MORDAUNT.
la f ion. I have been a conftant lofer thefe four laft nights ; and, as it is at leaft ten to one againft any perfon lofing five nights run- ning, it is clearly the fame odds in favour of my winning to-night.
Adieu !
E. DEANPORT.
MOUDAUNT. 155
LETTER XXXVI.
The Countefs of DEANPORT to the Same.
London.
1 AM forry to begin by informing you, that, in fpite of the odds againft loling five nights running, I loft again laft night. There is fomething unnatural in this 5 it looks like en- chantment. You may fay what you pleafe, but I am convinced there is a great deal in feats. I am determined to be more attentive to this point in future.
I mentioned in my laft that fome degree of hefitation refpecting the object I am fo much fet on had appeared on the part of my fon. He abftained of a fudden from vi- fiting Mifs Moyfton ; and when flic came to vifit me was generally engaged elfewhere. When I fpoke to him of the impropriety and imprudence of this conduct, he pretended that }t was entirely accidental ; that he really had
WOK DAUNT.
been engroiled with bufiaefs of importance of late. I afked, " what bufinefs could pof- •fibly be of fo much importance to him as that of fecuring his domeftic happinefs for ever, by uniting himfelf to Mifs Moyfton /' add- ing, " that after a very careful inquiry re- fpedting the fortunes of all the heireffes in England, J could allure him that me was the belt wife he eoukf get by fifty thoufand pounds at leaft."
He replied, " that the abatement which
a
ought to be made on account of her looks, and othert articles, would reduce her fortune to a level with that of fome other heireiies." In .reply to this, .*-' I defired him to recoi- led; of how very little importance the beauty of a wife was to a hufband -3 and cited fpmc of his own acquaintance, who, having been touched with the looks of girls without for- tune, had made what are called love-mar- riages ; and who, in the fpace of a few months, were as completely indifferent about their wives' beauty as any man could be who
MORDACTST.
had married a woman of fortune without any regard to her looks." To this he made no anfwer \ though, from his countenance, I thought my remark made fome impreffion on him. -^-Whether it proceeds from indo- lence or vacancy (for I need not attempt to conceal from you that lord Deanport has not a great variety of ideas), he feldem en- gages in an argument ; and often, when he is- entirely of a different opinion from thofe who endeavour to perfuade him to any meafurey he fays nothing againft it : fo that many have1 imagined they had brought him round t& their way of thinking, becaufe he remained filent, which he did merely to avoid the fa- tigue of reafoning.
On the prefent occafion, however^ I thought him a little aftedled by what I faid ; and, with a view to gain him entirely, I added, " That unqueilionably his fortune was very confiderable j that his Englim e- ftate, in particular, had been greatly im- proved by the pains I, had beftowed on it
158 MORDAtTNT.
during his minority ; but that he ftill owed a great fum : that, by a marriage with Mifs Moyfton he would be freed at once from that burden, be in poffeffion of a large fum of ready money, and a vaft additional for- tune in land, which, by an acceffion of in- fluence with adminiftration, would enable him to provide for his friends and depen- dants at no expenfe to himfelf." I alfo hinted, " that the additional thoufand pounds which he had added to my jointure, before fo ihamefully fmall, would no longer be felt; but that he would even be able to double it, and ft ill have more than twice as much to fpend as he could afford at pre- fent."
You have had but too many proofs that lord Deanport knows nothing of true generofity : what I have heard you remark, my d^ar iir, is certainly juft, that he takes after the con- tracted character of his father. I hardly ever knew him perform one generous action from the genuine movement of jiis own heart :
MORDAUNT.
every thing of that nature he ever did was prompted by me, or fome other peribn j even the addition that he made to my jointure was obtained by the repeated fuggeftions of thole whom I employed for that purpofe ; and he granted it at laft more to relieve himfelf from importunity than from any inclination to oblige.
After throwing put the hint above men- tioned, I told my fon, " that I had heard (which I really have) that lord Sordid, foil
of — — had of late paid particular
attention to Mifs Moyfton."
This roufed him more than any thing I had hitherto fuggefted. " Do you imagine," laid he, with a tone of contempt, " that I have reafon to dread lord Sordid as a rival?"
I told him, " that he certainly had not, provided he paid nearly the fame attention to the lady which that lord did."
" Lefs attention will do," faid he, and left me with an air of great felf-fufficiency.
160 MORDAtltf T.
His want of due attention to the lady i§ my only fear ; for, in point of perfon and countenance, my fon lias much .the advantage of lord Sordid, as indeed he has of moft young men of fafhion. I do not recoiled: one who, in thofe articles, can be thought his fuperior, except Mordaunt j and he derives his fuperi- ority more from that graceful franknefs and captivating eafe of manner, which all the others attempt, but none have caught, than to the exclufive beauty of his face and figure. My fon, on the contrary, to -a fupercilious addrefs joins a repulfive look ; thefe, with his natural indolence, being oppofed to lord Sordid's fawning affiduity, alarmed me fb much, that I took pains to imprefs both Mifs Moyfton and her aunt with an unfa- vourable idea of lord Sordid. I reprefented him as the Have (of avarice, and commented at large on that pafiion as the rnofl deb?.iing for himfelf, and the moft tormenting to a wife, that a huiband could have. " It i$
M OR DAUNT. 161
more teazing to a wife," added I, " than even jealoufy ; for that may be lulled, or the effects of it eluded, by a woman of addrefs ; but all the cunning of Hermes, and all the foporific power of his pipe, are not fufficient to divert the attention, or ihut the watchful eyes, of a mifer."
Here the aunt obferved, " that though (he was not acquainted with Hermes, yet me was fully convinced that nothing could be more mortifying to a woman of fpirit than to have a mifer for her hufband."
This poor woman, I underfland, was not a little controlled* in her expenfes during the life of her hufband ; which made her enter very feelingly into my abufe of lord Sordid : indeed I could hardly exaggerate, it is almofl impoffible to reprefent him as more a mifer than he is. Additional fortune would not prevail on him to augment his expenfe in a (ingle article ; it would, in reality, inftead of increafing his enjoyment, render him
VOL. II, M
miferable, by increafing his dread of lofing it* The lofs of fifty pounds gives more pain to a mifer than the gain of a thoufand affords pleafure.
Yet, though all the world plainly fees that avarice is this noble lord's predominant paf- fion, he himfelf is fo little fenfible of it, that he is as ready to condemn in others the immoderate love of money as either you or I.
Indeed, I have often had occafion to ob- ferve, that the blindnefs of mankind to their own perfonal failings is truly aftoniming.
As I fee many advantages from my fon's marriage with Mifs Moyfton, I am impa- tient to have it concluded before he becomes fufficiently acquainted with her to take fo ftrong a difguft as would be quite -infur- mountable. I therefore beg, my dear fir, that you will write to him on this intereft- ing fubjedt : you always had a great deal of influence with him. State the advan-
MORDAUNT. 163
tages of the match in the ftrongeft point of view, and banter him on the weaknefs of permitting any reluctance he may feel rcfpecting the young lady's perfon to weigh at all in his mind againft an object of fo much greater importance.
I remain, very truly, yours,
E. DEANPORT.
M 2
MORDAUNT.
.
-*#** ; ifa«gif|tt<;.. LETT£R xxxvrr.
COUNTESS O/"DEANPORT to the Same.
1 WILL tell you, frankly, that you have dif- appointed my expectations, in your letter to* my fbn. I fee the reafon of it : you had & favour to afk. You know my fon's averlion to be importuned, particularly on a fubjedfe which you think is difagreeable j aad there-- fore you almoft entirely elude the topic I re- commended to you, left your infifting on that might indifpofe him from granting the other z but you muft be blind indeed, if you are not fenfible that,. In promoting my fon's marriage with mifs Moyfton, you greatly promote your own interefl. When he (hall be in pof~ feflion of her forcuner and the extensive in- fluence attending it, you know enough of the* unconquerable indolence of his character not
MORDAUNT. 165
to be certain that all this influence would naturally fall into other hands. Into whofc hands do you think it would fall ? and for whom would that perfon ufc it ?
The very firft effect of it would be, to re- compenfe you for your late disappointment, by placing you in parliament. I am fenfible that a feat would be highly convenient for you at prefent : indeed, it is the only protec- tion which feveral very worthy gentlemen of my acquaintance have againft the infolence of tradefmen.
But, over and above that fecurity, I am perfuaded, that when you are in parliament, and known to have influence with my fon, your next application to the minifter will not be followed by the fame cold neglect that your laft was.
Your not being a fpeaker does not account for it : very few of his adherents are of ufc to him in debate ; and, were it not for the immenfe power of his own eloquence, and the ingenuity ef two or three others, his
M3
166 MORDAUNT.
meafures would often remain undefended. Yet fo much wealth has been accumulated by fomc of the pooreft of his retainers, and fuch rank obtained by fome of the loweft, that it might be imagined a revolution had taken place in this country as well as in France. It is ge- nerally allowed, however, that the minifter himfelf remains, in point of rank and for- tune, nearly wheie he was before he came into power.
Since I have been led into a fubjecl: fo dif- ferent from the ufual topics of our corre- fpondence, I will indulge myfelf in a few thoughts, which are fuggefted by the occa- fion. I have often wondered that, with the ambition you pofTefs, you have never cul- tivated a talent for public-fpeaking ; lince nothing is fo likely to raife a .man to fuch elevated fituations, in this country, as that fingle faculty. You muft be feniible, that it is next to impoffible for any man, however otherwife accomplished, to hold the place of prime -minifter without it; whereas, if he
MORDAUNT. 167
pofleffes that in a very eminent degree, every other requisite is taken for granted.
I am perfuaded that it is not yet too late for one of your natural quicknefs and ingenuity : during the refidence you are at prefent obliged to make in the country, you could not em- ploy the time better than in compofing fpeeches, and pronouncing them before a mirror -y by which you will acquire becom- ing gefticulation, and accuflom yourfelf to retain a feries of arguments and illuftrations in your memory. You will do well to pre- pare harangues for both fides j becaufe there is no knowing which party may be upper- moft by the time you mall obtain your feat. And, after you have chofen your fide, and mown under whofe banner you mean to fight, though it will be expected that you mould make fome kind of declaration regarding your future conduct, it will be worth your while to make yourfelf matter of as many equivocal phrafes as tfre Englifti language admits, and
M 4
163 MORDAUNT.
to ufe general expreffions ;- that in cafe of your finding it for your intereft to adopt op. pofite meafurcs, you may have Uttle diffi- culty in explaining away the obvious fenfc of your former declarations.
From a neglect of this neceflary precau* tion, feveral perfons of my acquaintance, in other re (peels of difKnguimed prudence, have found themfelves in a very awkward fitua- tion.
I have been carried infenfibly from my fub-* je£t -, and now, when I intended to refume, I am interrupted :~^it is the aunt herfelf : ihe is in the drawing-room. She never vi- fited me before without being accompanied with her niece. I muft finifli here, or mifs, the poft. I fhall write again to-morrow, PO write to my fon till you receive my
i next.
Adieu \
%. D.
P. S. ^)nly write a fhort linej to tell me how old Phillips is.
LETTER XXXVIII.
The Same to the Same.
London.
A HE vifit, by which my letter of yefterday was interrupted, adds to my former folici^ tude that you mould write in the inoft im- preffive terms to my fon. I hope you arc fufficiently convinced that the plan I am fo anxious for, befides gratifying me, will great^ ly conduce to your own intereii as well at as that of lord Deanport.
I will now inform you of the caufe of th* aunt's vifit. I no fooner entered the room than I perceived fomething had difturhed the unmeaning fimper that was wont to dwell among her round and rofy features. She told me, after a good deal of embarrafTment and awkward circumlocution, <f that fhe was ex- tremely forry to be obliged to fpeak on fuch a fubjecl; 5 but that it was impoffible not to
170 MORDAT7NT.
be hurt at the coldnefs of lord Deanport's behaviour towards her niece, which had ap- peared fo very evident at an affembly the pre- ceding evening; that it muft have ftruck every body ; for his lordfhip had hardly fpoken to her during the whole evening, though {he had kept herfelf difengaged from caflmo, the game fhe moft delights in, on purpofe tOx converfe with him."
I affured her, " that, if I could have any idea of indifference for her niece on the part of my fon, it would give me the moft fenfi- ble uneafinefs, becaufe I was certain he ne- ver could meet with another young lady of equal worth $ that I knew he was of the fame way of thinking $ but that he was of an inat- tentive turn of mind, and often had an air of indifference to the people he loved moft j that, in mart, it was mere habit."
She obferved, a little fulkily, " that it was; a very bad habit."
I acknowledged it -, but added, in extenua-
MORDAUNT. 171
1
tion, " that it was a habit which people of high rank were apt to contract without in- tention. You muft have obferved, my dear madam," faid I, " how peculiarly we arc liable to be abfent and inattentive : I am convinced it muft have occurred to yourfelf fometimes to have fallen into a kind of reve- rie, during which you hardly knew your inti- mate friends or acquaintance."
Flattered with the clafs I had placed her in, her features relaxed fomewhat of their fullennefs, and me faid, " that, admitting there was juftice in what I urged, frill it feemed ftrange that a man fliould behave with more coldnefs to the woman he loved {ban to others."
Endeavouring to remove the force of this obfervation, I began to hint at the effect of very refpe&ful love, which fometimes pro- duced a timidity and an appearance of cold- nefs.— She interrupted me with impatience indignation, faying " that me had heard
172 MORDAUNT.
of exceffive love and refpecl: having been urged as an apology for the greateft infult a woman could receive ; but that, in her opi- nion, men who were pofTefled of that kind of refpect had no bufmefs to marry."
I was alarmed at the air of contempt with which me pronounced this, and haftened to remove the unfavourable impreffions that I had accidentally given.
" My dear madam," faid I, " did you never hear of men who, after being very warm lovers during the whole of their courtfhip, proved very cold hufbands ?"
She anfwered, in a very feeling accent, 9*. : that {he not only had heard of fuch falfe deceivers, but had known fome of them."
" Well j and no doubt you mufl alfo have known or heard of men who, after having been very cold and inattentive lovers, became mofl warm and affectionate hufbands."
After a paufe, fhe declared me never had.
" This furprifes me," refumed I. " But
AfORDAUNT. 173
I can aflure you that lord Deanport will be as ftrong a proof of the fad as a thou- fand inftances ; becaufe he has, from his infancy, had a kind of carelefs, negligent manner, to thofe he loves beft. I myfelf, for example, have often experienced it, though, at bottom, he is the moft afFeclionate and moil dutiful of fons j and to people, on the other hand, for whom he has no real regard, and never wifhes to fee in private, he is always very attentive in public. But you rmift re- member that it is in mere external behaviour, and in trifling matters, that he difplays this attention ; for, in effentials, he has no connec- tion with them : and therefore, my dear ma- dam," concluded I, " you may rely upon it, that, in the fame degree that my fon is ne- gligent in matters of mere etiquette, he will be amduous in things of importance j and though you may think Mm rather a carelefs lover, your niece will find him an affectionate and dutiful hufband -, for I know that it is both in his power and nature to be fo."
174 MORbAUNI'.
This feemed to fatisfy her; and we parted as good friends as ever. I have fpoken to my fon on the fubject; but he is fo very indolent, and fo very apt to fail, in every refolution he makes, and every engagement he comes un- der, if he has not either fome internal ftimu- lant to excite him, or fome external monitor to advife him, that I earneflly beg you will put the importance of this whole bufmefs, in as flrorlg a point of view as you can, in your very next letter to him ; for, in fpite of all my infinuations againft lord Sordid, if he and his relations continue their attentions to the niece, and my fon perfeveres in his negleft of her, there is reafon to dread the event*
Yours, as ufual,
E. DEAN PORT.
I expected you would rally me on my notion, that fortune at play often depends on feats. You are fo polite as to tell me that this
MORDAUNT. 175
is one of the few points in which I betray fe- minine weaknefs ; but all the mafculine rea- foning in the world will not prevent me from believing what I have often feen confirmed by experience, though I cannot account for it.
•
' • < *
? i ttn ' i JUlJ
MORDAtTNf.
LETTER XXX IX.
Sams to the Same*.
Londan,
1 HOPE you have got the fhort note I fent you immediately after your laft to lord Deanport was received. I had only time tor inform you how infinitely I was fatisfied with it : it was indeed a mailer-piece. If you could acquire the fame art and energy in public-fpeaking, and took care at the fame time to ply that art and energy on the right fide, there is no fituation to which you would not have well-founded pretenfions.
Your letter had the happiefl effect. How could it fail? You touched every organ of fen- fibility in his frame — you ftruclt every chord which could roufe his natural languor, and vibrate emotion to his heart : his interefl, vanity, ambition, jealoufy, were addrefied in their turn.
The pi<flure you drew of the triumph
MORDAUNT. 177
of lord Sordid, and the magnificence he would be enabled to difplay on his marriage with mifs Moyfton, determined my fon to thwart him, by an immediate renewal of his own afiiduities. He came and informed me of his determination. I cautioned him to do this in a manner confident with the account I had lately given of him, which I knew had been faithfully repeated to the niece.
The aunt and niece were equally delighted with the whole of his behaviour. They now thought that the careleiTnefs which had mock- ed them before, and which they believed they ftill perceived in his addrefs, was on the whole graceful. The young lady's delight was increafed by the fplendor of our liveries, and the tafte of my fon-'s drefs on the birth- day. His renown as a minuet- dancer you are no Granger to. It would be difficult to decide whether mifs Moyflon was moft pleafed with the charms of his face, of his embroidery, or of his dancing ; but (lie feemed quite in rap- tures with the united effecl of the three. As
VOL. II. N
ITS MORDAUNT.
he is now a little familiarifed to the coarfe- nefs of her features and, the vulgarity of her manners, the impreffion they at firft made on him begins to diminim, while that de- rived from a contemplation of her wealth finks deeper every day. I have good hopes that the whole bufmefs will be happily terminated within a very fhort time. I regret much that you cannot quit your poft, were it but for a few days. ; I mould like to have a little con- verfation with you before I fpeak to the aunt on the fubjeft of fettlements. On this in- terefting fubjedt I am not fond of writing.
E. DEANPORT.
MORDAUNT. 179
LETTER XL.
The Same to the Same.
Londorj,
1 AM fenfible of the wifdom of what you fuggeft, in your laft, refpeding the fettle- ments. UnqueiKonably, the more of the ready money mifs Moyfton mall keep at her own difpofal, after marriage, the better will it be for herfe.lf, and the more convenient for me. I am convinced, with you, that I mall find it eafier to deal with her than with my fon on certain points.
It is long lince you made it clear to me, from the indolence, the everlafting ennui, and the total want of refources in his own mind, that he muft always be under the ma- nagement of another, moft probably of one woman after another. It is evident, how-/ ever, that mifs Moyfton will never be of the number : me wants that degree of beauty, » N Q
ISO MORDAUNT.
and of compliance to his favourite taftes, without which every other accomplimment and virtue a woman can poflefs would be unfupportable to him. I am fufficiently aware, that it will be difficult for me long to retain that portion of influence with him that would be agreeable to myfelf, or ufeful to my friends : on which account I was the more impatient to have the ceremony over as foon as poflible ; being pretty fure, that, at the prefent moment, certain arrangements, highly expedient for me, would be complied with, and rendered irrevocable ; whereas, from the experience I have already had of my fon's difpofition, he might, at a future period, be lefs obliging.
When every circumftance feemed con- ducive to the fpeedy fulfilment of my wifhes, a new and unexpected incident gave me in- quietude, and was the caufe of my postponing writing to you for fo long a time.
I had hopes that it might prove an ill- founded alarm, and I wiflied to fpare you-
MOR DAUNT. 18 J
an uneafmefs you could not remove ; but, as you exprefs as much pain on account of my long illence as you will fufTer from knowing the caufe of it, I muft inform you, that lord Deanport is captivated with a new face, to fuch a degree, that he again relaxes in his at- tentions to mifs Moyfton. It muit be ad- jnitted, indeed, that if great beauty in a wife could impart as lafting and folid happinefs to a hufband as great fortune, my fon would act wifely in preferring this interloper ; for {hie furpafles mifs Moyfton as much -in the al- lurements of face and perfon as the latter does her in thofe of fortune. But he has al- ready given proofs, which I need not men- tion to you, that mere beauty never could fix him above a month ; whereas his attach- ment to money feems to increafe with his years : andbefides, putting beauty entirely out of the .queftion on the one part, and fortune on the other, mifs Moyfton would be a much more commodious wife for -my fon than this new charmer. The former, poor creature,
N 3
182 MORDAUNT.
as foon as fhe finds herfelf entirely negle&ed by her hufbandj a's mofl afTuredly (he will be, if Deanport proves to bd her man, will di- rectly fall to pouting, crying, and upbraiding, until, finding them of no efFecl:, me will, lfet laft, fink into tamenefs and fubmifiion, and become a Have for life, with the title of countefs : whereas, from what I have al- ready feen of the other, I ftrongly fufpecl: that ihe is infinitely more likely to govern his lordfhip than to be governed by him. •1 The name of the damfel in queftien is 'Clifford : me is daughter of Northumberland Clifford, whom you muft remember. He lived fome time abroad after the death of his %ife : he took this girl with him, and, I un- derftand, returned about two years ago, and Toon after died. He was cried up by fome people as a man of llrong fenfe, and even what they call genius. I was a little ao- quainted with him before his marriage.; but I could not bear his wife, and fo I dropped both. The girl refides at prefwit with Mr.
MORPAUNT. 183
Darnley, who is married to her aunt. What does not tend to remove any prejudice I may have againft this mifs, is her being a favou- rite of that ftately prop of ftale virginity, lady Diana Franklin, who, of all thofe whom I hate, is the perfon I hate the moft. This is placing her ladyfhip at the head of a pretty numerous band.
When I perceived that lord Deanport was more than ufually attentive to Mifs Clifford, I thought it requifite to inform myfelf a little of her temper and difpofition, and with that view drew her into converfationtwo or three times> at the afTemblies where I occafionally met her : but obferving that MifsMoyfton could not bear to fee me fpeak to her, I faw it would not be fafe to continue fo long as to enable me to form a judgment of her character, though I could not help being {truck with her manner, which, it muft be conferled, is at once eafy and dig- nified, and as cruelly contrafhed with poor Mifs Moyfton's vulgar and conftrained addrefs
N 4-
184 MORDAUNT.
as the fweet countenance of the one is with the four afpect of the other.
Knowing that Mrs. Demure, the rich, handfome widow, vifited Mrs. Darnley, Mifs Clifford's aunt, and having obferved that flie made greatly up to the young lady, I thought I might learn fomething of her character and difpofition from the widow : I therefore called on her, in the hope of obtaining the information I wifhed. On my mentioning Mifs Clifford, ihe inftantly fet off on a full canter of panegyric — " Oh ! me was the moff delightful, moil amiable, befUnatured young woman ihe had ever known," with many acccmplimrnents which me was enumerating j when I flopped her in the middle of her ca- reer, by obferving, " that no -woman in Lon- don feemed to be fo much the object of ad- miration as her friend." She changed colour at this remark ; and, after drawing her breath a little longer than ufual, faid— " Mifs Clif- ford, unquestionably, is very much admired."
MORDAUNT. 185
" Nay," faid I, " I only mean by the men ; for I know that the women in general prefer others."
" And pray," faid Mrs. Demure, " whe- ther does your ladyfhip think men or women the bell judges?"
** The women, without doubt," anfwer- ed I. '
" I am completely of your lady/hip's opi- nion," faid {he.
" I mean," refumed I, " that women are infinitely the bed judges of every thing that is truly worthy of admiration, of every qua- lity that a woman of a well-formed mind can be folicitous about ; in (hort, of every thing except mere external beauty : of that, to be fure, my dear madam, the men are the beii judges j and they, with one voice, give it in favour of your beloved friend, Mifs Clifford."
" I did not know," faid me, with a face which had fuddenly changed from pale to crimfon, " that thev were To unanimous."
186 M6RDAUNT.
" O yes !" cried I, (for I love to torment envious people) — " O yes, my dear, quite unanimous, as to face and fhape. — I heard,"
continued I,." the duke of , and you
know that nobody iludies female beauty more minutely than his grace — Well, I heard him declare, that nothing had appeared equal in beauty to Mifs Clifford fince the reign of the Gunnings."
" The duke," faid me, checking a iigh and forcing a fmile, " is an admirer of the beauties of the laft age, or of foreign .coun- tries.—It is fufficient for Mifs Clifford to have lived fome years in Italy and France to obtain his admiration."
I faid " I was ignorant that his grace gave fo great a preference to foreigners."
" Did you not know," faid me, " that he is in love with the whole French emigration ? did you not, know that thefe French women are attempting to give the ton in London as much as they ever did at Paris ? and as for
MORDAUKT. 187
my friend, Mifs Clifford, me has more the air of an emigrant than of an English wo- man."
I owned I had not obferved it ; but me afierted that it was moft apparent ; adding, " that me not only had acquired the air, but likewife the fentiments and manners, of the French ladies, which," continued me, " are far more^m- and eajy than thofe of our coun- trywomen, and, probably, more to" the tafle of the men, whom your ladyfhip thinks the beft judges of beauty."
I was pleafed to hear an infinuation of this nature? becaufe lord Deanport, with that equity which diftinguifhes your fex, while he allows himfelf the utmoft latitude, is wonder- fully rigid in his notions refpeding the con- duel: of women. His delicacy in that point is carried to a height that you could hardly have conceived in a man who has fo very little in his behaviour towards them.
With all the inclination in the world to believe Mrs. Demure's infinuations juft, I con-
188 MORDAUNT.
fefs I have fome doubts on that head : becaufe I know the widow to be as malicious as a monkey, and as envious as an old maid j and, in the fecond place, becaufe I recoiled: a very judicious obfervation of yours, when.
Mils -, then in the bioom of her beauty,
was given as the author of a certain report to rny difadvantage — ' The infmuatizm of one hand* fome -woman,' you faid, ' again/} another ofju-* parlor beauty, are never to be believed*
I will, however, make inquiries concerning mademoifelle Clifford, from thofe whofe tef- timony is more to be depended on than Mrs. Dernure's. She is too handfome not to have been expofed to many attacks, and particu- larly to thofe of fcandal -, yet, unlefs it be the hints above mentioned, I have heard nothing to her, difadvantage. I plainly perceive that both the aunt and niece are alarmed j and, I fear, with too much reafon. How provoking, after all the trouble I have taken, if this though tlefs young man mould throw himfelf away at lail ! I am much at a lofs how to
MORDAUtfT. 189
proceed, and heartily wifh you could come to town, were it but for a week, I have things to confult you on which I cannot trull on paper. You will come, I am fure, if you poffibly can.
E. DEANPORT.
19O MORDAUNT.
;
LETTER XLI.
.{foil-
Ol ' *! r, 7 P j7 o
Frc/» /#* caw* /<? the Same.
fdf]
1 CANNOT help obferving, my good fir, that your letters have been wonderfully laconic of late : your laft was in the mercantile flyle, precifely confined to the needful. In your prefent confinement you muft have much time on your hands: pray correct in your next letter the fault of which I complain.
I am flill uneafy on account of this Mifs Clifford ; it is evident that my fon becomes every day more attached to her : what will furprize you, however, me feems to be in- different about him. This, in all probabi- lity, proceeds from affectation : if fo, mifs is a little out in her politics ; me would have fucceeded better with lord Deanport by af- fecting to be in love with him. This ftrata- gerh would fail indeed with a woman fo very
MORDAUNT. 19 i
plaih in her appearance as Mifs Moyfton, or any other who did not, to a certain degree, pleafe his fancy $ but I am convinced, from what I have obferved in his difpo.fition, that a woman who pleafed him, though ever fo little at firft, and who would infallibly lofe him by apparent indifference, might gradu- ally draw him on to matrimony merely by af- fecting an irrefiftable paflion for him. You could hardly have an idea how many women of my acquaintance have obtained very com- fortable marriages, by making men, who would not otherwife have ever thought of them, be- lieve that they fecretly languimed for them. A large mare of vanity, with a moderate por- tion of good nature, difpofes a man. to fall into this fnare. You lords of the creation have in general- a far greater proportion of
the firft than of the fecond : yet I know a
j
remarkable inftance in which there appeared an equal {hare of both. A man of fortune, a relation of my huiband, arrived at the age of fifty without the fmalleft inclination to many.
192 MORDAUNT.'
He had been long acquainted with a maiden lady, about ten years younger than himfelf, with a confiderable fortune, but with a dif- agreeable countenance, and a difpofition re- fembling her face. The man thought no more of propofing marriage to her than to the Dutch pug (lie always had in her lap.
By the failure of a houfe in the city ihe loft three- fourths of her fortune. A female acquaintance of hers happened to lament this misfortune to my hufband's relation -, adding, as an aggravation, that, as (he had now loft all her money, her old friends would no longer admit her into their loo-parties, and the poor woman would not know what to do with her^ felf : fhe concluded by affuring him that this unfortunate lady had long harboured a fecret fondnefs for him.
My huiband's relation made propofals of
' marriage to the lady, and of courfe married
her next day.
My hufoand was greatly aftonifhed, and a little provoked, at this ftep of his relation.
" Did you marry her for her fortune?" faid my lord, ironically, to the hufbarid.
" Certainly not," anfwered he.
k< Was it for the fake of her beauty?'' added my lord.
" No \ I cannot fay it was," replied the
other.
" Did you marry her for the fake of her
fweet temper ?"
" Not in the leaft," anfwered the other.
" In the devil's name, for whofe fake did you marry fuch a woman ?" exclaimed my lord I
" I married her for God's fake/' anfwered the hufband, with refignatiori.
My fon, it is true^ is in little danger of acting from the fame motive ; but he is af- furedly fond of mifs Clifford 3 and Were Hie to {how a partiality for him, I ihould trem- ble for the cortfequehce.
I underftand that me rides uncommorily well • that; in the north, me ufed fometimes to hunt. It is furprifing that fuch excurjfion^ have not given fife to fome flories that would be worth communicating to my fon i
VOL. ii. 0
194 MORDAUNT.
perhaps fome fuch may exift, though con- fined to Northumberland; if fo, I am in a fair way of hearing of them. I have learnt that a certain Mr. Prodtor had for many years the management of Clifford's eftate, and
lived in great intimacy with his family. The
• man, however, I am told, is rather on ill
terms with young Clifford, and of courfe will not be difpofed to conceal any thing he knows to the difadvantage of the family. This man is in opulent circumftances, a wi- dower, about the age of fifty, and has the reputation of being a very prudent man. You will probably fufpect the truth of the lail article, when I inform you that he lately made a propofal of marriage to a blooming lafs of twenty-two. You muft remember Peggy Almond, the handfome girl you have feen with me in Yorkfliire. As me has lit- tle or no fortune, her aunt, and other rela- tions, were all eager for her accepting fo' ad- vantageous an offer ; and, the girl herfelf having more love for his fortune than aver- fion againfr, his perfon, the match would have
MORDAUNT. 195,
taken place, had I not interfered. I cer- tainly was of more ufe to Mr. Proctor, on this occafion, than all his prudence 5 for I perfuaded the girl to decline the offer ; re- prefenting him as a morofe, vulgar old man, who would coop her up in a gloomy houfe in Northumberland, and prevent her from ever feeing London, or fafhionable life, any more. My reafon was, that if the man had really been fo mad as to marry her, I mould have loft her company, which I find rather an amufing refource when I go to the feat in Yorkfhire. I, underftanding that he is foon to be at York, when of courfe he will vifit the aunt, with whom Peggy lives, I have written to her to draw from him all the infor- mation me can refpedting the Clifford family, and particularly the private hiflory of made- moifelle. That me may do this with the more zeal, I have given her reafon to hope that I may fend for her foon to the capital. You cannot have an idea of the power of this bribe on the mind of a girl deep-read in
o 2
i9& MORDAUNT.
plays and novels, who is conflrained to live in the country, and is intoxicated with admiration of the amufements of the town. If Mr; Proctor had Offered to carry her, for two or three months every feafon, to London, me would have accepted his hand, in fpite of all I eould have faid or done. Indeed, it was by alluring her that I would take her thither with me laft feafon that I prevailed on her to reject his fuit; which I no fooner knew me had done, than I wrote a moft affectionate epiftle, in which I ftated to her an infur- mountable reafon for leaving her behind; and poor Peggy was obliged to return to her aunt at York, difappointed of a hufband j and, what me felt as feverely, difappointed of a journey to London.-
Though this girl is a real refource to me in the country, I have not the leafl need of her in town, and have therefore always found pretexts for leaving her behind. On the prefent occafion, however, I thought it ex- pedient to throw out the old lure to her,
MORDAUNT. 197
whiqh, whether I may find it convenient to verify her expectations or not, will render her happy in the mean time ; for I am con- vinced (he thinks and dreams of nothing but London ever fince (he received my laft letter.
You fhall know, in good time, the effect of her inquiries concerning mifs Clifford. In the mean time I endeavour, by every means in my power, to keep mifs Moyfton and her aunt in good-humour : the latter is the mod troublefome of the two. She infifts on mak- ing me acquainted with her mofl intimate friends and relations, all of whom me cha- radterifes as the befl kind of people in the world, and perfectly genteel; and all of whom I find of the moft difgufting vulgarity. The unconfcionable woman infifted on my ac- companying her to lady Mango's route, to which I had previoufly determined not to go, having already found it a fervice, not only of great fatigue, but alfo of fome danger.
o 3
198 MORDAUNT.
But, you will fay, " Who is lady Man- go ?"
That is a queflion which requires an an- fwer at fome length. — If I find leifure, you fhall have it ; for this woman's hiftory is fin- gular enough.
E. DEAN?ORT,
MORDAUNT.
LETTER XLII.
The Countefs of DEANPORT to Mifs ALMOND,
YORK. MY DEAR PEGGY. London.
JL o u were witnefs to the pain I felt on our reparation : — the fame cruel circumftances which prevented me from bringing you with me to town have alfo prevented my anfwer- ing any of the kind letters I have received from you fince my arrival. You cannot imagine how I have been worried with bu- finefs ; but it is now almoft over, and I am in fome hopes that I may {till have it in my power to fend for you before the end of the feafon. I hope your aunt, to whom I beg you will prefent my affectionate compli- ments, will be prevailed on to part with you. We mall return together to York- fhire -y and, after you are tired with the amufements of the town, I anticipate the rural felicity we (hall enjoy at Willow-Bank, o 4
'200 MORE All NT.
In one of your letters you inform me, that it is univerially believed in Yorkfhire that lord Deanport is immediately to be mar- ried to Mifs Moyfton ; and in your laft you fay that you have juft heard of his having fallen in love with Mifs Clifford of Northum- berland j which, it was thought, would break the intended match. You have too much good fenfe, my dear, to believe all the idle ftories that are circulated ; and I hope you have a better opinion of my fon's underftanding, than to imagine that he would act contrary to rea- fon and propriety. Mifs Moyfton is a virtu- ous young lady, worthy of the hand of the i^rft nobleman of this kingdom. As for the Mifs Clifford you mention, I know little or riothing about her -, but I will own to you, as a friend, that you have excited my curiofity to know fomewhat of that damfel. They tell me me has been a good deal abroad, and has much the appearance of a French woman. I mould like to know on what account me went abroad fo unexpectedly, what rumours
HOR DAUNT. 201
were excited in the country on that head, and how me fpent her time in Northumber- land after her return : I hear me ufed to hunt a good deal. Of thefe and other particulars concerning her, you may procure me a cir- cumflantial account from your old friend Mr. Proctor, who lived on an intimate footing with Mils Clifford's father, and had the ma- nagement of his affairs when he was abroad. I approved of your refufing Mr. Proctor, not- withftanding his fuppofed wealth ; becaufe he is a retired kind of man, and lives not in that fphere of life in which you are formed for mining. I am glad, however, to hear that he ftill continues the victim of your eyes ; becaufe he may have it in his power to be ufeful to you in various ways.
I hear he is foon to be at York ; and will no doubt be frequently at your aunt's during his flay. You will then find opportunities of getting the information I want.
I dare fay that you will manage the bufi- nefs with your ufual addrefs, and without
202 MORDAUNT.
letting it be known that I am the perfon for whom you make the inquiries. You mall know at meeting on what account I am de- firous of having this information ; for which I am the more impatient, becaufe the fooner it comes the fooner will it be in my power to fend for you.
I remain yours affectionately,
E. D,
MORDAUNT. 203
LETTER XLIII.
The Countefs of DEANPORT to JAMES GRINDILL, Efy.
London.
]L<ADY Faro was feized with a violent indi- geftion, after fupping very heartily on capon fluffed with truffles. This terrified her to fuch a degree, that fhe has changed the night of her affembly from Sunday to Monday. She is IliU very ill, but I fmcerely hope fhe will re- cover ; for it would be very hard were fhe to make her efcape before I had one other chance for the money fhe won from me laft week.
Meanwhile, as none of my acquaintance who have card parties on Sunday are as yet come to town, I mall employ this evening in endeavouring to amufe myfelf and you with the hiftory I promifed. Lady Mango is the offspring of a refpedtable grocer in the city, who, having a variety of daughters, thought
it a prudent fpeculation to fend the hand- ibmefr, and moil troublefome of them, on a matrimonial venture tp Bengal; where fhe had the good luck to hit the fancy. of Mr. Mango, juit after he had made an immenfe fortune by fomc very advantageous contracts. He paid affiduous court to the girl, made her iplendid offers, and was in hopes of bringing the intrigue to a happy conclufion without marriage; but, profiting by the experience fhe had had previous to her leaving London, me rejected all terms in which that ceremony was not an article. After a hard ftruggle between his prudence and his paffion, the latter ob- tained the victory, and Mr. Mango was mar- ried to Mifs Figgs.
He was one of thofe men who put a great importance on whatever contributes, even in the fmalleft degree, to their own eafe; and little or none to what conduces, even in the greateft degree, to the eafe of others. This difpofi- tion is by no means very uncommon ; but Mr. Mango poffefled it in rather a greater
SIORDAUNT. 205
degree than uiual. In him, however, this did not proceed from any pofitive cruelty of temper ; but merely from an indolence of mind, which prevented him from ever think- ing of any body's fenfations but his own. In the Eaft Indies, where men of his fortune travel in palanquins, have (laves to fan the flies from them while they repofe, and are furrounded by the moft obfequious depen- dants, this kind of indulgence of felf, and forgetfulnefs of others, may be carried greater lengths without a check than in England. Mr. Mango was obliged to his wife for in- ftruding him, that another perfon in his own family, befides himfelf, had a will of their own ; and that it would tend to his tranquil- lity to follow that peribn's will inftead of his own. This me accomplimed without the af- fiftance of genius ; and without any talent whatever, except obftinacy ; for in all other refpe&s me was a weak woman. She made it a rule to inlift, with unremitting perfever- ance, on every meafure {he propofed, until it
20G MORDAUNt.
was adopted : and, by adhering to this fimple rule, all her. meafures were fooner or later adopted ; for, what point will not a man give up, rather than hear an eternal harping on the fame firing ?
After Mrs, Mango had obtained the great object of her voyage to the Eaft Indies, her next was to prevail on her hufband to return to England; where the fplendor in which me propofed to live was more flattering to her imagination than the luxuries at her com- mand where me was. Mr. Mango informed her, " that the fituation of his affairs required that his family mould remain another year in the Eafl Indies ;" and me informed him, " that it would be better for him and his family to return that very feafon to Eng- land." She repeated this every day, and every hour of the day, for a month : after which the whole family embarked.
On their paffage home, the wife was ob- ferved to be in good fpirits, even when the weather was bad ; whereas the hufband
MORDAUNT. 207
complained of ficknefs, even when the wea- ther was good : and a little before they ar- rived at Portfmouth, he acknowledged to one of the paffengers, that his laft contrast was the moft unfortunate one he had ever made.
He had hardly any acquaintance in London ; and he was not much flattered by that of his wife's relations. Mr. and Mrs. Mango were, therefore, feldom together -, and he appeared rather low-fpirited for fome time after their arrival : yet, when me afked him how he liked London, he had the politenefs to an- fwer, " that, on the whole, he preferred it to living aboard a fhip."
By habit, London became lefs difagreeable to him ; and as he faw little of his wife, and had formed fome new acquaintance whofe fociety amufed him, he began to get the bet- ter of his deje&ion, when his fpoufe opened on him a new fource of vexation, which lafl- ed all his life.
Mr. Mango's Chriftian-name vvas Jeremiah.
208 MORDAUNf.
When a boy at fchool, his comrades, for fome whimfical reafon, when they wifhed to teaze him, ufed to call him Sir 'Jeremiah. Nothing provoked him fo much ; and he held in utter abhorrence the appellation ever after. He never figned Jeremiah, but always J. Mango. His correfpondents were inflrudted to addrefs their letters to him in the fame manner. If he received one with Jeremiah at full length; it put him out of humour the whole day.
Moft unfortunately for this gentleman, the hu(band of one of his wife's acquaintance was knighted; and his fpoufe, of courfe, infteadof Mrs. Lotion, was called lady Lotion. This was a great mortification to Mrs. Mango, who .confide' red herfelf as the fuperior of this acquaintance, becaufe her hufband was richer^ and becaufe, as fhe afferted, me was fprung from a more ancient and honourable family of grocers than the other.
Mr. Mango having come home one day in a gayer humour than ufual to dinner, — after a
MORDAUNT. 2O9
little preface, his fpoufe faid, " that his friends were fufprifed that he did not apply to be created a knight."
The poor man turned pale in an inftant, and burft into a cold fweat : he well knew the eonfequence of having that dignity con- ferred on him would be to have the detefted name of Sir Jeremiah founded in his ears for the reft of his life. He had often thanked his ftars that this idea had never entered his wife's head, and had once cautioned one of his friends never to mention, in her prefence, the name of a relation of his, who made a continual difplay of a foreign badge upon his breaft, and had Sir pronounced before his name. The fame friend told me, that Mr. Mango, in the ful- nefs of his heart, on this afFeding fubject, had expreffed himfelf, with fome variation, in the words of Othello :
— ' " " It has pleafed hearen To try me with affli&ion, To deep me in marriage to the very lips, To give to captivity me and myutmoft hope*; VOL. II.
210 MORDAUKT.
Yet ftill I find, in fome place of my foul, A drop of comfort. — I am not yet A fixed figure for the time of fcorn To point his flow untnoving finger at "-
" For," continued he, in a lefs emphatic tone, " though I hear frequently of wives teazing their hufbands to apply to be made knights, yet that curfed fantafy has never oc- curred to mine -, and I hope Co flip quietly out of the world without being branded with the
horrid appellation of Sir Jeremiah."
. . . , ^ ,
Such being Mr. Mango s fentiments, it is
eafy to imagine how much he muft have been ihocked at what his wife faid. He made no immediate reply, having fome faint hope that it was a tranfient idea which me might never refume. But when Mrs. Mango repeated what £he riad faid, he meekly reprefented to her the horror he felt at the thought of hav- ing the odious name of Sir Jeremiah continu- ally refounded in his ears, and earneftly beg- ged that me would not infift on a meafure
MORDAUNT. 211
tyhich would fubject him to fuch a mortifica- tion.
To this Mrs. Mango replied, " that he was to blame in disliking the name of Jere- miah ; that, though not a royal name, like thofe of David, and Solomon, and Rehoboam, and others, yet it was a fcripture-name as much as any of them, and the name of a great prophet ; that, although the French, revolu- tion had decreafed the number of kings, and increafed that of prophets, yet a great prophet was as great a rarity as a great king, and in a mort time, perhaps, would be a greater ; that the appellation of Sir Jeremiah, therefore, was at leaft as refpe&able as that of Sir any thing elfe. She alfo reprefented that every alderman, contractor, apothecary, phylician, and broker in London, who had fcraped to- gether one half of his fortune, applied to be created a baronet or knight j that the differ- ence was nothing to her j and, as he had no children, was as little to him; but that it was
P 2
212 MOHDAVNT*
indifpenfably neceffary that he fJiould be the one or the other."
Mr. Mango was too well acquainted with the perfevering temper of his wife to have any hope, after this declaration, of prevailing on her to renounce her whim. He well knew that the fame reprefentation, in more acrimo- nious terms, would be made to him at break- faft, dinner, and fupper, as well as in bed> until the point was carried : he therefore thought it bell to conteft the matter no longer ; but, making a virtue of necefiity, ap- plied to a friend who had fome fmall in- tereft at court, and he was foon after created a knight, and was, to his forrow, denominat- ed Sir Jeremiah 5 and his wife, to her great fa- tisfadtion, became lady Mango.
After this, me gave entertainments more unmercifully than ever : me invited all the Weft as well as the Eaft Indies to her routs and aflemblies, at which me glitters
with gold and jewels, like the queen of Sheba
.
MORDAUNTj
at Bartholomew-fair, and never fails to gather fuch a crowd, that her company are as well fqueezed as at any affembly or rout within the bills of mortality. I was prefent at one in very hot weather, when feveral women fainted ; and a corpulent lady, dreffed in black with a mafs of white plumage on her head, happening to enter at the inftant, Mr. Tra- vers, who flood by me, faid, " Thank hea- ven ! here comes a hearfe to carry off the dead bodies.'*
But poor Mr. Mango did not long furvive the name of Sir Jeremiah : it gave a knell to his heart, and a kind of hectic fufFufed his cheek as often as he heard it pronounced. He .dwindled and died at no diftant date after .he received the honour of knighthood.
Though his fate was evident feveral weeks before it took place, Mrs. Mango wrould ne-> ver admit that he was in any danger, nor ever altered her own way of living. She told her company, that he delighted in feeing every body merry around him, i but, when
P 3
214 MORDAtTNT.
{he was told tKat her hufband was a&ually "dead, me made as great a difplay of furprize and forrow as if, in the midft of perfect health, he had dropped down in an apo- plexy.
Her forrow, however, became real, when his laft will was examined. She knew that he had made one will, by which me was left a large fum ; but me did not know that he tiad afterwards made another, cancelling the firft, and leaving the whole of his fortune among his relations ; fo that me has nothing
.but the jointure granted by her contract of
• marriage. ffot, however, is fufficiently
ample to enable her to indulge her only paffion, by giving frequent entertainments, in all of which me is fure to appear as ridi- culous, though not fo magnificently drefled, as in the days of her hufband. The Moy- ftons allure me that I am a very great favou- rite of lady Mango.— I cultivate her partly as a fubject of laughter, but chiefly becaufe me is admired by the Moyflons. The outlines
MQRDAUNT. 215
of the foregoing portrait I had from the aunt. The colouring you will, at firft fight, perceive to be that of
Your humble fervant,
E. DEANPORT-
p 4
MORDAUNT.
LETTER XLIV.
JAMES GRINDILL, Efy. to the COUNTESS of DEANPORT.
Phillipshall.
JN o THING could be. more deftrudive of all your lady (hip's projects, with regard to lord Deanport, than his attachment to mifs Clif- ford. I faw her firft as I pafled through *> Laufanne, where me then refided with her father. She was even then univerfally ad- mired, not only on account of her beauty, but alfo for the acutenefs of her underftand- ing. I was afterwards informed, that a yourig Englishman, of immenfe fortune, had fallen in love with her, propofed marriage, and offered fettlements, which few peers could, with lefs inconvenience, have made good. Her refufal of this gentleman was the more furprifing, becaufe he was of a character which women in general wifh molt, to find inv a hufband ; handfome, liberal, and of fo
MORDAUNT. 217
pliant a temper, that (he could not have failed to have had the entire difpofal of him and his fortune. What do you think was the girl's objection ? She difcovered, that, notwithftanding- his having had an univerfity* education, he had not the leaft tafte for read- ing j of courfe, was rather ignorant ; and, in her opinion, forfooth, greatly beneath the in- tellectual ftandard which me thought indif- penfable ; and me viewed him with a kind of companion, bordering on contempt. The mod furprifmg part of the ftory is, that the father, inftead of combating the childifh and romantic notions of his daughter, rather en- couraged them. Thus this man of ftrong fenfe and genius loft an opportunity of mar- rying his daughter ad van tageoufly ; which a man of common fenfe, without a particle of genius, would have feized.
This very fingular prejudice of the girl in favour of pedants, I prefume, did not laft long ; for in France and Italy me was diftin- guifhed for the graces and accompliminents
218 MORDA'UNT.
peculiar to her fex •> feemed to know the full value of even her external charms, and to have the fame tafte with other beauties, for admi- ration on their account.
There can be no doubt of her having fe- verely repented the egregious folly of her conduct at Laufanne, which indeed nothing but youth and inexperience could render at all excufable. The more fenfibly {he feels for her error, the more anxious will me be to repair it, when a fimilar opportunity oc- curs.
As for her airs of indifference refpecting lord Deanport, they proceed, I am -convinced, from coquetry, and are intended to fan his flame up to the marrying point ; for, though naturally of a lively temper, yet I underfland that fhe is of a very different character from her brother, who is one of the moft ram, headflrong young fellows alive, everlaflingly in one fcrape or another.
But, though fhe may deferve the cha- ra&er of being far more circumfpect than
MORDAUNT. 219
him, it is by no means improbable that, during her refidence abroad, or lince her re- turn, me may have been fufficiently un- guarded in her conduct to leave room for conftructions which would have a flrong ef- fect on the fufpicious mind of lord Deanport : but this muft be managed with great de- licacy j any attempt to prejudice him againft her, without being fuccefsful, would rivet him more to her than ever. Nobody knows, better than your ladymip, how eafy it is for a woman to convince her lover of her inno- cence, and to turn his rage againft her ac- cufers. Whatever accounts you may re- ceive from mifs Almond, therefore, I dare fay you will be cautious refpecting the man- ner and terms in which they are communi- cated to your fon.
Your ladyfhip may think the idea whim- fical -, but I cannot help being of opinion, that your fon might be cured of his partiality for this lady by infinuations of a different na- ture. You muft have obferved, that he ne-
220 MOR DAUNT.
ver could endure the company of perfons gf diftinguimed genius ; and, though nobody can be more fond of the reputation of wit, or more ready to difplay every fpark of thai kind that occurs to his imagination, yet he hates the fame difpofition in thofe who are more fuccefsful than himfelf. He can bear no rival near tbe throne : he fhuns all com- panies in which he is not coafidered as fu-*> preme, not only in rank, but repartee. He finds little difficulty with refpect to die firft ; but, when he adheres rigorouOy to the laft article, his fociety is confined to admiring dependants, lifteners, and others, whom your ladyfhip ufed to exprefs uneafinefs at feeing him connected with. This prejudice againft the fociety of men of talents or genius he has in a ftill ftronger degree againft women of the fame defcription. He cannot bear the company of a female who has the leaft pre- tenfion of that kind : and I am very much miftaken, if all the paflion he feels for mifs Clifford could maintain its ground againfl the
MORBAUNT. 221
diflike he has to women of diflinguimcd wit and underftanding, which he cannot always fupprefs, even to his neareft relations. I am not abfolutely convinced that you yourfelf are, on all occafions, an exception.
In my humble opinion, therefore, you have a better chance of breaking his connec- tion with mifs Clifford by reprefenting her to him as a woman of fpirit, highly accom- plifhed and intelligent, than by insinuations to the prejudice of her character in any re- fpect ; beiides, her whole conduct and con- verfation will tend to confirm your reprefen- tations refpecling the firft, and to deftroy the credit of die fecond.
I underffond, indeed, that though mifs Clifford really pofieiTes a good deal of wit, (he is not fo apt to exhibit it in mixed com- pany' as moil people of wit are : it may be neceffary, therefore, to engage fome of your female acquaintance to provoke her, in the prefence of his lordmip, by an attack on
222 MORDAUNT.
fome of her abfent friends ; this will certainly throw her off her guard, and {he will de- fend them with a fpirit which will £how her in her true colours : or>T if you ihould not have an opportunity for this, it would an- fwer the fame purpofe to invent a few ton-mots (an eafy tafk for your ladymip), and have them repeated to your fon as the happy effufions of mifs Clifford's wit.
I have heard of the Mr. Proctor you men^ tion : he is a weak man. He rejected very tempting offers for his intereft at an election, though he had no other connection with the candidate he fupported than his having been the friend of Clifford, the father : this feems next to idiotifm; for Mr. Clifford was, at that time, dead.
However his love to mifs Almond, and hatred to young Clifford, may prompt him to difclofe circumflances, refpecting his fitter, which may promote your ladyfhip's fcheme, I muft repeat, that you cannot be too cau-
4 _
MORDAUNT.
tious of avoiding any inlinuations againfl the young lady, whofe falfehood is likely to be difcovered to your fon.
I am extremely concerned that I cannot leave this place at prefent. Befides his bo- dily difeafe, my poor coufm is in fo very weak a ftate of mind, that he could be fwayed to any thing by thofe around him ; and I can truft none of them. I do not believe that any deed he could execute, in his pre- fent ftate, would be valid in law ; but I am not certain that it would not ; and ftill lefs what he might be induced to do if I were abfent : I am refolved, therefore, not to quit my port till all is over. There is no know- ing how long he may linger, for the doctors cannot perfuade him to take any of their pre- fcriptions.
I hope lord Deanport is fully fenflble of the obligations he lies under to your ladyfhip for the great attention you have always paid to his intereft, and that he will mow his gratitude in the moil fubitantial manner as foon as his marriage with mifs Moyfton is
MORDAUNT.
concluded ; but I do believe that, or fome other event of the fame nature, muil pre- vioufly take place. He may, I imagine, be prevailed on to part with what he feels fu- perfluous ; but I queftion greatly whether any fenfe of obligation will make him yield to another what he thinks in the fmalleft degree necefTary to himfelf.
I admire the portrait prodigioufly that your ladyfhip was fo obliging as to fend me, efpe- dally the colouring, which, in my opinion, is exquifite. It is long fmce I knew that you were a very ingenious artift, but I was unacquainted with your chief excellence be- fore. There is one other ufe, however, which you might make of lady Mango and her Eaft-India friends, befideo that of turning them into ridicule : they generally play deep, and forne of them very inattentively. I dare fwear your ladyfhip would win from mofl of them, in whatever feat you were placed. I remain your ladylhip's moft obedient and faithful fervant,
J. GRINDILL.
MORDAUNT; 225
P. S. Your ladyfhip is fo admirable a painter, that I mould be highly obliged for a fketch of the fair widow Demure, from your pencil. You feem to think me better acquainted with her than I am.
isa .
nwi v
LETTER XLV. -EADY BEAUFORT /<> JAMES GRINDILL, Eft**-
.
London.
A WILL not be fo uncandid as to difpute the Validity of your reafons for remaining fixed to your poft. I mould never forgive myfelf, if, in confequence of your yielding to my folicitation, your coulin were influenced by thofe around him to make fettlements pre- judicial to your intereil. Whilft I regret your abfence, therefore, I cannot help ap.- proving of your perfeverance.
You mall have the fketch you defire, of the widow Demure : — though fhe tries to conceal fome of her ftrongeft features, I think I have caught them all.
I beg you to take notice of my goodnefs, in complying with your requeit, at the very inftant when you refufe mine.
Mrs* Demure's father had a large eftate in
MORDAUNT. 227
one of our Welt-India iflands : her mother was a native of that country. When they quitted it, to eftablifh themfelves in Eng- land, their family coniifted of two fons and a daughter; fo that, although the father was rich, this daughter had but a moderate por-» tion.
The Chriftian-names of Mary, Ann, Eli- zabeth, &c. which it was anciently the cuf- tom in this ifland for parents to beftow upon their daughters, began, fbme years ago, to be changed for Maria, Anna, Eliza. Thofe, with other royal, imperial, and poetical names, came afterwards fo much in fafhion, that Carolinas, Charlottas, Auguftas, Julias* and Sophias, are now to be found in every alley of London ; and particularly, as I have been told, in the environs of Covent-garden and Drury-lane. This being the cafe, it was not furprifmg that the mode was tranfported to our Weft-India iflands.
The name of Mrs. Demure's father was Bkck ; and the Chriftian name of her grand-
228 MORDAUNT.
mother, from whom he looked for a legacy, Grizzel. The old lady expected that the child mould be named after her -, and both the parents agreed that it would be dangerous to difoblige her : they told her, however, that they wimed to add two other very de- lightful names j and the old lady had the eomplaifance to fay—*' That me had no ob- jection to their giving their daughter as many names as they pleafed, provided hers was one of them." They had already prepared the two names which they thought beft calcu- lated to correct the vilifying impreffion of Grizzel. Mrs. Demure's maiden-name, there- fore, was Angelina Celeflina Grizzel Black.
She was only nine years old when me came to England. At twelve or thirteen, when Engliih females are generally confidered as children, Angelina CelefUna had much the appearance of a woman* She was already beautiful. The advance of time promifed perfection to the riling beauties of .her per- fon, and opened frefh charms in her counte-
MORDAUNT. 229
nance. The efFecT: of time, on the charms of the mother, was direcHy the reverfe.-— She did not perceive this in her looking- glafs ; but me became fenfible of it in a manner ftill more mortifying, by an evident diminution in the attentions of the men, which began to turn from herfelf to her daughter; and the beauties of the one feemed to bloom in proportion as thofe of the other withered. The mother, at laft, confidered her daughter in the light of a thief, who ftole from her thofe goods on which me put the higheft value; and me felt an averiion from her accordingly.
With all the ftrefs which fome people put on what they call natural affection, this does not feem to me at all extraordinary j for what is more natural than to hate thofe whom we fee enjoying what we have loft. I have heard the mother condemned, on that account, by men who had an abhorrence to the fight of their own nearefl relations, for
o ^
MORDAUNT.
no other reafon than becaufe- they were heirs- to their eftates : as if it were not more pro- voking to fee another enjoying what yott- have been deprived of, during your life, than merely to know that he is to poffefs it after your death. And I {hall leave it to any beautiful woman to judge, whether it would not both mortify and provoke her more, to fee her beauty, than to fee her eftate, transferred to another. Yet men are afto- nimed that Mrs.. Demure's mother mould have a prejudice againfl her own daughter ! It mufl be confefled, Mr. Grindill, that of al] the inconfiftent animals on earth, men afe the moft fo. Your whole fex is a compoii- tion of vanity, caprice, and contradiction, I will not deny, however, that there are ex- ceptions.
But to return to the hiftory of mifs An- gelina Celeftina Grizzel Black.
Her father was an extravagant, thought- lefs man, but extremely indulgent to his
WORD AUNT. 2BI
daughter. The mother had never loved her hulband, and now difliked him more than ever, on account of that indulgence : me be- came daily more peevifh and morofe to her hufband, and treated her daughter with aug^ menting feverity. Young Angelina's difpo- iition did not improve by the example of that mutual deteftation which exifted between her father and mother. She coaxed and laughed at the one, dreaded and hated the other, and tried to deceive both. The extravagance of the fons ruined the father's affairs, and brought him to his grave. Narrow crrcum-^ fiances increafed the malignant tempers of the mother and daughter, who now lived in a (late of moil acrimonious difcord with each other. The former was fometimes overheard pouring reproaches of a lingular nature upon her daughter. Some people imputed thefe entirety to the intemperance of the woman ; but it is not likely that a mother would ac- cufe a daughter without foundation. The
232 MORDAUNT,
young lady, no doubt, heard of the rumours which thofe accufations gave rife to, for me became at once wonderfully circumfpeft, hy- pocritical, and prudifh.
Having feen the diftrefs which the ruinous ftate of her father's affairs had thrown his fa- mily into, (he grew fo fond of money (a. difpofition £he had never before manifefted), that, in her opinion, life was not worth hold- ing without a great deal of it. To fecure fo effential an article, therefore, and to be re- lieved from the vexations of her mother, {he accepted the hand of Mr, Demure, a man extremely rich, and extremely infirm, of the fame character and tjie fame age with her fa- ther, and of an appearance more difagree- able than men ufually are at any age. He was generally confined one half of the year with the gout. She difplayed a great 4eal of care and fympathy about this poor man, nurfed him in his confinement, warmed his flannels, fmoothed his pillow •, an4 ma.de
MORDAUNT. 23S
believe, at laft, that me really had fome af- fe&ion for him. — What is fo extravagant and inconfiftent, that handfome women, aflifled by men's vanity and felf-love, cannot make them believe ?
Some of thofe who were witnefles to her behaviour were fo impofed on by the tender and fympathifing manner in which fhe per- formed thofe difgufting offices, that they adopted the opinion of her hulband : as if it were not infinitely more likely, that a young woman mould acl: the part of a hypo- crite, which is fo natural, and which the prejudices of men has rendered fo neceffary to young women, than that (he mould have an affection for an infirm man.
Befides, Mrs. Demure, from particular circumftances, had been even more habitu- ated to diffimulation than young women ufu- ally are. She had been under the neceflity of concealing her feelings from an earlier date than common. She had ferved a
2 15 4- MORDAUNT.
long apprenticeship to hypocrify and tion.
After me took the intrepid flep of marry- ing fuch a man as Mr. Demure, it was in- cumbent on her to overcome her difguft, however ilrong it might be, and feem to love him : it was equally incumbent on her to perfevere till his death : had me relaxed in her carerles, he might have ferved her as Sir Jeremiah Mango did his lady.
Still fome people were aftonUhed that •even thofe confiderations could prevail on a woman, fo formed for pleafure, to fubmit to fo long a deprivation ; for the man held out a full half year after her marriage ; which, no doubt, was a longer period than me had calculated on.
But this difficulty is removed, by fup- pofing that me fubmitted to no fuch thing ; which is my fixed opinion.
On the death of her hufband, Mrs. De- mure had too much fagacity to over-acl: the
.
MORDAUNT. 235
part of the forrowful widow in the ridiculous manner lady Mango had done. She knew very well that every perfon of common fenfe was perfuaded that (he internally re- joiced at the event ; me therefore exhibited no greater figns of affliction than decency re- quired. It is true that fhe continued her weeds longer than was abfolutely neceflary ; but that was becaufe fhe had been told that Mr. Mordaunt had faid ihe never had looked fo beautiful and interefting as in them.
Her partiality for him was difcovered, or ftrongly fufpected : though me had de- ceived her hufband, fhe could not conceal it from her fharp-fighted rivals. She hoped, however, to overcome his well-known aver- fion to marriage ; but he gave no hint of any change of fentiment in that article. She tried what coldnefs would do ; and affected a referve, of which me had never before made him fenfible : he bore this with equanimity, and turned his attentions to other women : — * this fhe could not endure; and therefore
236 MORDAUNT.
drew him back, by a difplay of all ber for- mer partiality. About this juncture, as I am fully perfuaded, he was indulged in the ftrong~ eft pofftble proofs of her kindnefs. At no very diftant period after this, however, a complete rupture feems to have taken place between them. Some imputed this to Mordaunt's ufual inconftancy j others thought it was, in a great meafure, owing to an occurrence which made fome noife at that time.
Mrs. Demure had a negro-maid, of the name of Phillis, who, from her childhood, had been attached to her perfon, and had al- ways given every proof of affection to hef miftrefs. The girl once forgot to execute fome order which her miftrefs had iflued: the neglect was of no importance ; but it was difcovered when the lady happened to be in a very ill humour. She threatened to have the girl punifhed with all the feverity that is ufed in the Weft-India iflands. The girl hinted, that the law of England ftood in the way of fuch an outrage. Mrs. Demure bc«
MORDAUNT. £37
came inftantly fenfible, that what the girl infmuated was true. She faid nothing more on the fubjed ; and appeared to have for- gotten the affair, and to be reconciled to her maid.
About two months after, however, Phil- lis was decoyed on-board a {hip juft ready to fail for the Weft Indies, with directions that fhe fhould be delivered to the manager of her brother's eftate, who was inftructed to turn her among the field-negroes.
So far from being fenfible that (he had be- haved cruelly, Mrs. Demure boafted of this, as an ingenious and proper manner of punifh- ing the faucinefs of a flave.
People's opinions were divided on the fub- jeft. The Weft- India merchants, and thofe concerned in the flave-trade, who certainly ought to be the beft judges, thought that Mrs. Demure ferved Phillis right: others were of a different way of thinking. Every body allows that Phillis is a fweet- tempered, obliging girl ; but, after all, (he was a flave ;
MORDAUNT.
and if Haves are treated with what they call humanity, how are we to have fugar ?
People ought to allow themfelves to reflect ferioufly on confequences before they decide in matters of this kind.
I have been afTured, however, that Mr. Mordaunt was fhocked when he heard of this tranfaction ; for, though he is by no means a weak man in other refpects, he is exceeding- ly compaffionate, and rather romantic in his ideas. Whether this was the chief caufe of his breach with Mrs. Demure cannot be af- certained : but what gives fome weight tQ that notion is, that he wrote to a friend in, the Weft Indies to purchafe Phillis as foon as poflible, and fend her back to England by the firft opportunity ; which was done accord- ingly. The girl is now free and happy, in f he family of Mr. Mordaunt's friend, colonel Sommers.
When Mrs. Demure came to the know- ledge of this, it redoubled the wrath me had already conceived againft Mr. Mordaunt. Her
MQRDAUNT. 239
ufual caution and difTimulation are apt to for- fake her at the bare mention of his name; the; leaft allufion to their ever having been friends difturbs her. I fometimes touch on the ten- der part on purpofe; and me winces immedi- ately. At my infUgation, lady Blunt has prelTed upon it more roughly, which never fails to fet her a fretting, to the fatisfadioa of all who know her. This tends" to confirm all that is whifpered ; but, as I am folicitous to have fuch confirmation of this as would iatisfy others, I have frequently endeavoured to draw it from Mcrdaunt. I never expected that I could bring him to a direct avowal j but I had fome hopes that he would deny it, as is ufual enough with certain fine gentle- men, in fuch manner as would leave no doubt of its truth. In this, however, I was difappointed. I tried to tempt him by in* forming him of a ftrong inftance of Mrs. Demure's malice againft himfelf. Even this had no effect ; and, if I had nothing to form a judgment from but the words and beha*
240 MORDAtWT.
viour of Mr. Mordaunt, I mould be under the neceffity of concluding that my fufpi- cions are groundlefs.
I underftand that it is a principle of his, that no inftance of rage or malice on the part of a woman can juftify a man for betraying the confidence me once placed in him. I believe Mrs. Demure knows this, which, emboldens her to ufe the freedom me does with his character.
I will now acquaint you with the parti- cular reafon I have for hating this woman. After me had loft all hope of fubduing Mor- daunt's averfion to marriage, me turned her eyes on Lord Deanport. I was a little fur- prifed at the very obfequious manner in which, of a fudden, me paid her court to me, till I difcovered that my fon was as obfequi- oufly paying his court to her : the one ex- plained the other. I was ferioufly alarmed, though this occurred before I thought of Mifs Moyfton. I knew Mrs. Demure to be a moft deceitful, intriguing, ambitious, and
MORDAUNT. 241
interefled woman, a character which, above all others, I abhor. I was convinced that, from the moment me mould become his wife, I mould have no influence over him ; that he would be loft to me as much as if he were in his grave. Belides> what renders the idea of fuch a marriage prepofterous, independent of every other circumftance, is her being fo much older than my fon ; though me had the impudence to affert that they were nearly of the fame age : as if it were poflible that any body could believe that I am as much older than her as I muft admit myfelf to be older than lord Deanport. You cannot be furprifed that I determined to break his con- nection with a woman capable of fuch a grofs calumny.
I do not aflert that his paffion for Mrs* Demure was as violent as that which he felt for Mifs Clifford ; but flill I found that I had undertaken a difficult tafk. It is eafter to pre- judice men againft plain-looking women, of the very bell character, than to alienate them
VOL. ii. R
'242 MORDAUNT.
from beautiful women whofc characters arc equivocal, or even pofi lively bad. The ftory of the negro girl, which had frozen the paf- fion of Mr. Mordaunt, had little or no effect on lord Deanport.
After various attempts to difentangle him from the fnares of Mrs. Demure, I at laft hit
*I ViXSl IO JjB^j
on a device which fucceeded.
1 fr!3£rOflJ ' 4?A ~f>
It was not Mrs. Demure's difpofition, nor any thing refpecting her mind, that bewitch- ed my fon : though it would have been eafy, it would have been fuperfluous, to have at- tacked her moral qualities. Her beauty, and the high idea he had of her perfonal charms, were the only fpells by which £he bound him to her. My aim, therefore, was to weaken or difTolve thefe ; for which purpofe I had it diftantly infinuated to my fon, that, in fpite of her apparent health, me was tainted with, a certain hereditary diftemper, for which I knew he had the greatefl horror. I adopted this expedient with the lefs fcruple, bgcaufe, for any thing I know to the contrary, the in-
MORDAUtff. 24-5
finuatibn may be true : — be that as it may, it entirely cured my fon of his love.
From this fketch you will form a pretty juft idea of my fweet friend Mrs. Demure. You may obferve the influence of a little flattery ; the praife you beftowed on my por- trait of lady Mango tempted me to this lafi: talk, though I really have more important bufmefs on my hands.
I expedt to hear from Mifs Almond every hour. In the expectation of feeing you foon in London, in confequence of the Welfh- man's fetting out on a longer journey,
I remain yours,
E. DEANPORT.
R 2
244- MORDAUNT,
LETTER XL VI.
Mifs ALMOND to the COTJNT£SS of DEAS*ORT.
York.
J\.s the favour and protection with which your ladyfhip honours me form the chief hap- pinefs of my life, the frem proof of your confidence, which appears in your hft letter,- affords me heart-felt pleafure.
Your ladyfhip does me no more than juf- tice in thinking that I would not readily be- lieve your fon would adl: with fo much im- propriety as to forfake a young lady of fuch fniuing virtues as mifs Moyfton poffefles, for one who has, perhaps, little elfe but perfonal charms to boaft of.
It would be aftonifhing, indeed^if a noble- man, fo accomplifhed, and, permit me to fay,, though I know you hate flattery, but this is not flattery, one who owes his beft accom- plifhments to the beft of mothers — I fay it
MORDAUNT. 254
would be aftonifhing if he fhould aft unlike a man of quality in the important point of marriage. He ought to remember that he has to fupport the dignity of his anceftors ; for he is not like the new-made lords, who, they fay, have hardly any anceftors at all : whereas every body knows that few men in England, or even Wales, have more anceftors than his lordfhip.
My lord Deanport has made the tour of Europe, and feen a great deal of the world , but, by making only the tour of Yorkmire, he might have learned to make a good bar- gain, and have difcovered that nothing fup- ports the dignity of an ancient family fo much as money. — I once faw mifs Moyfton at the play-houfe in York, when Othello was adled. To be fure that young lady's countenance cannot be called exceedingly beautiful y but I hope his lordfhip will view her vifage in her vaft fortune, juft asDefdemona fays me view- ed the black vifage of her lover in his mind.
J have delivered yourladymip's affectionate R 3
246 J&IORDAUNT.
compliments to my aunt, who deflres me to return the fame to you ; and I am fure me underfbands politenefs too well to refufe your requeft, that I mould wait on you this feafoa in London, where I can enjoy as much rural felicity as in the country ; fo that your lady- fliip will not need to leave it for Willow-Ban^ fooner than is quite convenient. Indeed, I
muft confefs that my aunt could part with
j f •
me now more eafily than at any other time, becaufe .me has jufr. began a very long ro- mance, and likewife expects a vifit from her
,.'---' * - M
fifter-inrlaw, who will flay with her at leaft
•J
three weeks ; and, over and above, me has juft received a prefent, which never fails tq comfort her when fhe is nervous or in low fpirits.
As for Mr. Prodtor, whofe proposals yqur ladyfhip took fo much pains to prevail on me to refufe, on account of his age and being morofe, and living in Northumberland, 1 own I have fuffered a good deal of ill-humour from my relations on that account. They
MORDAUNT. 247
are continually telling me of young women like myfelf, who, notwithftanding their being married to men older than Mr. Pro&or, are the mothers of feveral children ; that, fo far from being morofe, he is a cheerful, good- natured man, with whom I could do what I pleafed, and might eafily perfuade to livs a good part of the year in London. I am determined, however, never to repent having followed your lady/hip's counfel, though he mould never renew the fame propofal, which furprifes me a little that he never has ; but I am fully convinced that your ladyfhip will never allow me to be a lofer by having fol- lowed your advice.
My aunt informed me yefterday that me un- derftood that Mr. Proctor's journey to York was delayed; and therefore I mall not have an op- portunity of fpeaking to him on the fubjecl: your ladyfhip mentions : but, that I may mow my obedience to your commands, and do all in my power to procure you the information you require, I wrote to him directly, and
R 4
24$ MORDAUNT.
have no doubt of his anfwering my letter ipeedily.
Had it not been to oblige your ladymip, I mould have fcrupled to have written to any man that is not a near relation, and far lefs to him, particularly as he has never repeated his propofal, which feveral of my relations think, in politenefs, he ought to do ; becaufe a lover that takes the firft refufal, they fay, is no lover at all. But as for that, he may do as he pleafes ; for I am quite certain, as I faid be- fore, that your ladymip is too generous to allow me to be a lofer by following your ad- vice, being all from one who is, arid ever will be,
Your lady/hip's
V
Moft faithful, moft obedient, and moft obliged, humble fervant,
MARGARET ALMOND.
MORDAUNT. 249
LETTER XLVII.
Mfs ALMOND to DANIEL PROCTOR, Efq, SIR, York.
JVlv aunt defires me to return you thanks for the potted fhrimps you were fo good as to fend, as well as for the fix bottles of cherry-brandy that came by the fame coach.
I am obliged to you for the favourable opinion you ftill retain of me, as exprefled in your letter to* my aunt. I can afTure you that my declining your propofal did not pro- ceed from any objection to your perfbn, or even to your age ; for, I mult confefs, I net ver was an approver of thofc giddy women who have a tafte for hufbands that are too young.
My hefitation refpecling your propofal of marriage arofe entirely from a kind of deli* pacy, which, as I am fometimes nervous, produces a dread of matrimony, that I can-
550 MORDAUNT.
not, all at once, overcome. From the friend- (hip you Hill expreis for me, I dare fay it will afford you pleafure to know that I have lefs of this nervous complaint fmce I took fteel-pills, by the advice of young Dr. Iron- fides, who has great fkill in women's com- plaints : he is the Ton of your acquaintance, the old doctor, who has left off practice. But, to prove to you that you poiTefs a great deal of my confidence and efteem, J will inform ' you, that a perfon of high rank in the State has applied to me for as many circumftances as I can collect refpecting the family of the late Mr. CJiiFord of Northumberland, againfl fome of whom, particularly the daughter, it is eafy to perceive that my friend has re- ceived unfavourable impreffions. As you were long acquainted with that whole family, and, I have heard, have been ungratefully ufed by them, I thought you the propereft perfon I could apply to for fuch an account of her as will be agreeable to my friend, whom I have it much at heart to oblige.
MORDAUNT. 251
Mifs Clifford is faid to have fomething the appearance and air of a French woman ; but that may be her misfortune more than her fault ; for, no doubt, me would rather look like an Englifh woman, if me could; though, it muffc be owned, the French drefs the neateft.
It is alfo faid, that in Northumberland {he ufed to go a-hunting with men, and that her father carried her abroad very fuddenly, which occafioned various rumours through the country. I hope you will be able, foon, to fend a fatisfactory anfwer, as to the above particulars, to,
Sir,
Your moft obedient fervant,
M. ALMOND.
P. S. We hear you intend to live, for the future, one half of the year, at leaft, in Lon- don ; which gives great pleafure to my aunt, and many of your friends at York, becaufe they will have the pleafure of feeing you as
252 MORDAUNT*
you go and return.- — It is alfo reported, that mifs Proftor is juft going to be married, and, therefore, to leave your houfe for that of her hufband. This muft give great fatisfa&ion to her as well as her hufband -y for I hear fhe is very pretty. So I give you joy, with all my heart, and hope you will let me know if the report be truef
v
JKORDAUNf; 253
LETTER XLVIII.
Mr. PROCTOR to Mifs ALMOND. Miss ALMOND. Morpeth,
1 AM glad that the mrirhps and brandy ar- rived fafe. The laft time I had the pleafure of dining with you, I remember your having praifed a difh of the former, which made me order fome to be potted for you. And, as your worthy aunt complained of a pain in her ftomach, which obliged her to take a glafs- of cherry- brandy before fhe could venture to tafte the port after dinner, I prefumed to fend a few bottles for her particular ufe. This ex- plains the reafon of my choofing thefe two ar- ticles, which otherwife might feem unfuitable prefents to ladies.
As to the requefts conveyed in your letter, now lying on the deik before me, I allure you that you cannot be more earneft to oblige any perfon, however high in point of rank, or of
254 MORDAtWT.
whatever importance in the State, than I am to fulfil your defire ; for which reafon, that I may fulfil it in the circumftantial manner you require, I mail poftpone all other bufi- nefs until I mail have finimed this letter, which I forefee will be pretty long. I be- gin this tafk the more willingly, becaufe it will remove the prejudices of your corre- fpondent againft a worthy family ; and few can be more worthy than that of my late honoured friend Mr. Clifford, with the ex- ceptions however that /hall be hereafter ex- cepted.
To avoid prolixity, without farther preface, for brevity's fake, I muft acquaint you that Mr. Clifford was a gentleman of a refpectable family and good eftate in Northumberland.
Soon after he returned from his travels he marsied lady Horatia Fitzherbert, a young woman of quality, with a very moderate fortune ; but, were I to enumerate all the good qualities of this admirable lady, my let- ter would extend to a very great length indeed ;
MORDAUNT* 255
and therefore, for brevity's fake, as a worthy old friend of mine ufed to fay, and I faid before, I {hall only allure you that the was univerfally acknowledged to be the moil accomplimed woman in all Northumberland, which is the largeft county in England except Yorkfhire. For the fpace of ten years after their mar- riage, Mr. Clifford and lady Horatia fpent a few months every year in London, and the reft in the country. At the end of that pe- riod, their family coniifted of a fon of nine years of age, and a daughter of fix, for whofe education Mr. Clifford and his lady refolved to live entirely at London ; a refolution which occafioned much forrow in the neigh- bourhood they quitted. I was then entrufted with the management of Mr. Clifford's affairs, and had always opportunities of feeing him when I went to London ; which was as fel- dom as I could, becaufe I greatly prefer Mor- peth } not from any foolifh partiality to my native city, or becaufe there are not agree- able fociety to be met with in London, but
256 MORDAUNT.
merely on account of the other being on the whole the pleafantefl place of the two.
Mr. Clifford's fon was put to Weftminfter- ichool : the daughter received the inilrudtion that was thought neceflary unddr the eye of her mother ; and the progrefs me made in various accomplimments, in the fpace of two years, are laid to be wonderful. At that pe- riod lady Horatia died. This affected her huiband fo much, that, leaving his fon at Weftminfler-fchool, he retired with his daughter to his houfe in Northumberland, and never entirely recovered his fpirits after-* wards. So far from refuming that ftyle of hofpitality in which he had lived formerly* and for which his family had long been di-^ ftinguimed in the county, he now entertain-* ed only a very few friends, and thofe but feldom.
It has been faid, that men who are pa£-
»
fionately fond of hunting have no great relilh for books ; but Mr. Clifford had a very great reiifh for both: from which you will obferve,-
MORDAUrfT. 257
my dear young lady, that there is no rule without an exception. But it muft be ac- knowledged, that, for a coniiderable time after the death of his lady, Mr. Clifford eti^ tirely left off hunting, and fpent moft of his time in his library ; and his chie^pleafure was to obferve the improvement of his daugh- ter's underftanding, who, young as fhe then was^ fpent feveral hours every day in reading to her father, and in converling with him on what fhe had read : by which means fhe ac- quired atafte for fome parts of literature that are feldom cultivated by women. Now, it is generally faid, that this renders women pe- dantic and difputatious in company : but here again I muft repeat, that there is no rule without an exception j for Mifs Horatia Clif- ford is extremely modeft and unprefuming in company, which is what cannot bs faid of fome very ignorant ladies of my acquaintance. Among other accomplishments, mifs Clif- ford was at great pains to acquire that of play- ing on the harp, an inftrument of which her
VOL. II. S
258 MORDAUNT*
father was exceedingly fond, and which me accompanied with her voice, which was won- derfully fweet. She generally chofe plaintive and mournful airs. In this, I confefs, I think fhe judged wrong, as merry tunes would have been m<»e likely to cheer up his heart; where- as moil of thofe me played and fung to him were fo very fad, that they would have made the moft cheerfully-difpofed people melan- choly. This was the more furpriiing, becaufe the young lady is naturally of a cheerful tem- per, with a great deal of vivacity ; but I fu- fpefl that me preferred mournful airs not fo much from her own tafte as to humour her father's melancholy.
I remember once, that when fhe was in the middle of one of thofe forrowful tunes, the very tears burft from my eyes before I knew wrhere I was. I never was fo much amamed in my life, and I endeavoured to conceal it . as much as I could ; but whether mifs Clif- ford perceived it or not I am uncertain ; for it is fo contrary to the difpofition of that
MORDAVNT. 259
i
young lady to hurt any perfon, or to put them in the leaft out of countenance, that, I am fure, ihe would have feemed not to have obferved this inftance of my weajoiefs, even although it had ftruck her.
A little before his fon left Weflminfter- fchool for the univerlity, Mr. Clifford put him under the particular care of one of his friends, and then fet out with his daugh- ter for Switzerland. This did not happen fuddenly, as has been reprefented to you, nor yet unexpectedly ; for he talked of it a full year before they went. I remember of no conjectures or rumours upon the occalion, unlefs the forrow of all who knew them, and the lamentations of the poor, are thought fuch.
After pafling two years in Switzerland, and making the tour of all the cantons, Mr. Clifford proceeded with his daughter to Italy; where, I believe, they ftaid nine months, and returned through France to England about the time that young Mr. Clifford left the
s 2
260 MORDAUNT.
univerfity, and foon aftec. went on his travels to France and other foreign countries. You fay it is reported that Mifs Clifford looks very like a French woman $ as for my own part, .1 can neither confirm nor refute this report, having never had any perfonal experience of French women. Indeed I never faw any, knowing them to be fuch, except one who danced on the tight-rope at Sadlers- Wells when I was lafl in London. She was, to be fure, remarkably nimble; but as for her tafte in drefs (begging pardon for differing in opinion from you), I muft confefs I did not much ad- mire it. I therefore think you are much in the right in chociing to look like an Englifli woman : as for my own part, I cannot con- ceive any human creature more beautiful than mifs Clifford was after fhe returned to Eng- land.— You will pleafe to remember, my dear mifs Almond, that the prefent company are always excepted.
I ought to have mentioned before, that the fedentary manner of life which Mr. Clifford
MO R DAUNT.
adopted, immediately after the death of his
•
lady, had fo much affected his health, that he was directed to ride fevcral hours every day; and, as he could not bear to be de- prived of the company of his daughter, fhc generally accompanied him : by which means fhe became an expert and fearlefs rider; which, when her father perceived, he refumed what had formerly been his favourite diverlion, and his daughter fometimes accompanied him when he went out with the hounds. This I do fup- pofe is the only foundation for the report that has reached your ears of her going a- hunting with men, and which I fufpect to have been propagated by evil-difpofed perfons ; for how can we otherwife account for the plural men being adopted inftead of the fingu- lar man, and the omitting to mention that the man was her father ?
I cannot help remarking, my dear mifs, that you make no inquiry concerning the pe- cuniary circumllances in which Mr. Clifford left his family. This I fufpect to be an omif-
s 3
262 MORDAUNT.
iion on your part, which I will now fupply, to prevent your being put to the trouble of writing another letter for information on that effential article. Mr. Clifford was poflefTed of a landed eftate of near three thoufand pounds a year, and of a confiderable fum in the public funds. Twenty thoufand pounds of which was intended for his daughter's portion, and all the reft of his fortune for his fon.
I am forry to add that the fon behaved very imprudently (for he is the exception alluded to at the beginning of this letter) . Notwith- ftanding the generous allowance he had from his father, this thoughtlefs young man con- tradled much debt before he had been full two years abroad.
Mr. Clifford defired him to give in a lift of all his debts, which were immediately paid. This exhaufted all that Mr. Clifford had in the funds, except the twenty thou-, fand pounds which he had by will deftined for his daughter's portion, and which he had
MORDAUNT. 26S
determined mould not be affefted by the fon's extravagance.
This young man from his childhood had given ijgns of a head-ftrong impetuous dif- pofition, and he was naturally endowed with uncommon Strength and agility of body. The firit often engaged him in quarrels with his companions at Weftminfter-fchool ; and the fecond obtained him the victory very fre- quently, when, in ftrift juftice, he deferved to have been beaten. And perhaps this was the origin, or laid the foundation, of that proud and haughty temper which he has fince ma-
nifefted in various inftances, which I could
\
recapitulate if it were neceflary. But hypo- crify and deceit formed no part of this young man's character ; therefore, his having got a phyfician to write a falfe ftatement of his health to his father, and his having pretended that the air of Naples was requifite for a dif- order in his breaft, when he really was paff- ing the carnival at Venice, furprifed every body : but it was afterwards known that
s 4
264- MORDAUNT.
thofe devices were the fuggeftions of a cer- tain lady, who mall be namelefs, who was at Venice at that time, and whom I havp heard called a woman of eafy virtue, in my opinion by a mifnomer ; for 1 itrongly fufpect that, notwithstanding her rank, me was in reality a woman of no virtue at all. It alfb appear- ed that he had given a falfe ftatement of his debts, for he actually owed five thoufand pounds about a year after all was fuppofed to have been cleared.
Mr. Clifford was mocked at his fon's ex- travagance, and frill more at this deceit ; and, on account of thofe and other instances of his fon's ill-conduct, 'he threatened to difin- lierit him, and leave his whole fortune to his daughter, with the exception of a -moderate annuity, to be placed in the hands of trufiees, for the young man's ufe. This would have
taken place, had it not been for the repeated
i felicitations of mifs Clifford ; by which fhe
prevailed on hei" father to pay all the debts, by taking up a mortgage of five thoufand
MORDAUNT. 265
pounds, part of what had been fecured for her own patrimony. Without the knowledge of his daughter, however, he made a new will, and burdened his eftate with this five thoufand pounds, as a debt due to her at his death.
The ill-conduct of his fon greatly affected not only the fpirits, but alfo the health of Mr. Clifford, which declined viiibly, in fpite pf the medical (kill of thofe who attended him. Mifs Clifford, being greatly alarmed, propofed that he mould go to London, and put himfelf under the care of the moil cele- brated phyficians there. The practitioners in the North thought this improper, becaufe of the fatigue of the journey, which, they faid, would be attended with great danger : and they alfo hinted, that he would receive no benefit from the prefcriptions of the London doctors. Mr. ClirTord himfelf was averfe to the journey ; but, perceiving that it would afford fatisfadtion to his daughter, he refolved to fet out. I accompanied them to the me-
266 . WORD AUNT.
tropolis. — So far from being the worfe for the journey, he grew evidently better all the time we were on the road. But though the north- ern practitioners were miftaken in thinking that the journey would do barm, they were right in their other prognoftic, that the pre- icriptkms of the London phyficians would do no good. Indeed it is a very fingular circum- fiance, in this cafe, that the patient mould have mended as foori as he was taken from the care of the doctors in the .country, and that he mould have grown worfe foon after he was put under the care of thofe of the town. This feems altogether unaccountable. — Mr. Clifford died about a month after his arrival in London. One of thofe practitioners who attended him in Northumberland has fince alTured me that he would infallibly have re- covered if hfe had remained in the country under his care. I concealed this very care- fully from Mifs Clifford, as it would have augmented her grief, which was already ex- ceffive, I was at one time apprehenfive that
MORDAUNT. 267
It would have thrown her into the fame com- plaint of which her father died.
I really believe me was faved from this by the friendly and affedlionate behaviour of lady Diana Franklin, a woman of extraordinary good fenfe, who was the only perfon mifs Clifford could bear to converfe with for a confiderable time after her father's death. Lady Diana had been the intimate companion of her mother, had always lived in great friendfhip with her father, and loved the young lady herfelf with the affection of a mother.
She has a very pleafant houfe, within twenty miles of London, to which me carried mifs Clifford, and where they remained for feveral months without feeing any company, except mifs Juliet Fortefcue, an intimate friend and fchool-companion of mifs Clifford. This young lady was a very confiderable heirefs ; and ihe has fince beftowed her hand and fortune more wifely than many heireffes do, being now the wife of colonel Sommers, a brave
268 MORDAUNT.
officer, with whom me lives moft happily at jhereftate in the bifhopric of Durham.
Lady Diana Franklin is not only a woman of extraordinary good fenfe, which I told you before ; but, which I did not tell you before, fhe is alfo of a very cheerful and fociable dif- pofition, notwithstanding that me is an old maid : for, as I have already remarked more than once, there is no rule without an excep- tion.
As fhe ftill is a very agreeable-looking woman, and was very handfome in her youth, it feems furpriimg that fhe has remained un- married ; yet I have known other women of that defcription who never had an offer of marriage in their life : but lady Diana had a very ample patrimony befides ; and I confefs I never knew a woman of this defcription who had not a great many.
Though your inquiries are confined to the Clifford family, yet, as J have mentioned this worthy lady, L will add another circumftance concerning her, which, I dare fay, you will
MORDAUNT.
think interefting, notwithftanding that it oc- curred many years ago. At the age of twenty- two,* lady Diana was actually betrothed to a young man of rank and of very great expec- tation ; he was feized with a fever, of which he died on the very day that had been fixed for their marriage.
One of your tender difpofition, my dear mifs Almond, will naturally fympathife with a woman, though a flranger, on fo fevere a misfortune. It is faid that, in the violence of her affliction, me determined never to marry. This is not fo extraordinary as that {he mould have adhered to her refolution, notwithftanding her having been often foli- cited to depart from it. She did not, how- ever, remain very long in abfolute retirement, but returned to the fociety of thofe whofe friendfhip me had formerly cultivated ; for, as lady Horatia once told me, " though her friend lady Diana's heart was, by this cruel event, for ever fhut againft love, it was flill open to.friendfhip." — She lived, accordingly,
27O MORDAtTNT.
Ill the mofl intimate friendship with lady Ho- ratia and Mr. Clifford until their death ; after which, all the tender attachment me had for the parents was devolved on the daughter ; and her parental folicitude to prevent the young lady from becoming a prey to conti- nued forrow was crowned with fuccefs. She was gradually brought to bear company, and to join in converfation. I do not take upon me to afTert, however, that time did not aflift the endeavours pf lady Diana in alleviating the forrow of mifs Clifford ; for time is a great deftroyer of grief, as well as of other things, as I inyfelf experienced fince the death of my wife-.
What may feem to you very fingular is, that, although this young lady is generally cheerful, and fometimes in very high fpirits, yet me can feldom refrain from tears, and always is feized with a fit of melancholy, when the name of her father is mentioned. There are people who infmuate that this proceeds from affedation, becaufe me is able to re-
MORDAUNT.
fume her natural gaiety foon after ; but thole people certainly miftake her character, which is above affectation : and I fhould think they alfo miftake human-nature in general j for is not the life of man a tragi-comedy ? At leafi it is ftill fo in England -, though I am told, indeed, that in France it has been of late a continued tragedy.
Young Mr. Clifford returned to England when he heard of his father's death ; at which, from what I have hinted already, perhaps you may imagine he would feel little concern: but in that you would do him wrong; for though this young man had been inconfider- ate and headftrong enough to difoblige and vex his father when alive, he was not har- dened enough not to feel forrow and remorfe, therefore, after his death.
Though his forrow was fharp, however, it
, was not lafting : the company he imprudently
kept effaced it too foon, and he returned to
foreign countries, where he now is. It is to
272 MORDAUfJf.
«
be hoped that he will reform, for he is young.
Having now, with as little prolixity as the nature of the cafe would admit, anfwcrcd your inquiries in a manner which, I make no doubt, will be fatisfaclory both to yourfelf and your noble correfpondcnt, I mall, for brevity's fake, 'onty add, that I am glad that you have experienced fo much benefit from young Dr. Ironfide's pills. As for my own part, I have had an oppofite experience, be- ing now convinced that my own fbate of health is not fo vigorous as 1 thought it, though as much fo as moft men of my age.
Of this, however, you may always rely, that you will find me difpofed to render every fervice in my power, not only to my old acquaintance your aunt, but alfo to yourfelf. I beg you will make my affectionate re- fpefts to her. I hope the rednefs in her nofe, with a tendency to purple, for v/hich {he was taking the infufion of white poppy
MORDAUNTi 278
flowers, has the defired effect. My anxiety for my old friend induced me to take the opi- nion of a very experienced practitioner of this place ; and he aflured me, that, if it did no good, it could do nd harm ; which is more than can be faid for fome medicines much vaunted*
I (hall now, for brevity's fake, fmifh this long epiftle ; being,
My dear young lady> With due efteem,
Your well-wifher, and moft obedient humble fervant,
DANIEL PROCTOR.
P. S. There is tio foundation for the report ef my intending to remove from my own quiet habitation near Morpeth to fuch a tu- multuous town as London; and there is as lit- tle for the report of my daughter's marriage. It will be time enough for her to think of a hufband when me comes to be a little nearer your age, which, if I am to judge by looks, (he ftill wants two, or perhaps three, years of,
VOL. II, T
274 MORDA-UNT.
LETTER XLIX. Mifs ALMOND to DANIEL PROCTOR, -Efq.
SIR, York.
1 AM forry you have given yourfelf the trou- ble of writing fo very long a letter ; all I wiflied any information about might have been mentioned in a few lines : but I fuppofe you were fond of an opportunity of enlarging upon the wonderful qualities of this fame mifs Clifford,, whom you feem to be in love with, though fuch a thing is fcarcely cre- dible to thole who know of the- declarations you made when you were lail at York. I cannot conceive what you faw in my lookb that could lead you into fo grois a miftake with reipect to my age : but though 1 mufl confefs that I am much younger than you think, I hope I mould have more ienfe,,atany age, than to play old mournful tunes upon a harp to my father -when he was in .affliction, which could
MORDAUNT. 275
only ferve to increafe his grief; and far lefs could I return immediately to gaiety after fhedding tears, which you fay mifs Clifford . did, as if her father's death had been a tragi- comedy.
I am glad to hear that you are inclined to believe that Eu^lifh women are the hand- fomefl in this world (indeed the curate of Willow-Bank once told me that there was no reaibn to doubt of their being the fame in the next), which makes your partiality for this mifs Clifford the more furprifing, becaufe me feems, even from your own account, more like a foreigner than an Englifli woman.
As I hinted, in my letter to you, that the perfon for whom I was defirous of getting an account of the Clifford family had reajbn t6 be prejudiced againfl them, and was a perfon of quality, I could not imagine that you would have fent a long letter of the nature of your laft ; for you muft have obferved that people of quality never liften to long letters ; indeed they cannot bear to be informed of any
T 2
276 MORDAUNT.
thing, long or Ihort, that is not agreeable to their wifhes.
I firft remarked this at the houfe of a fine London lady, a near relation of lord Dean- port, who was allowed to die quietly, be- caufe, to have infinuated that me was in danger, or to have propofed a drug that was difagreeable to her tafte, would have
alarmed and difturbed her. Two of the
.
chamber-maids recovered from the fame dif-
*
eafe, by taking the bark, and being Wittered -t
<ks
for the apothecary, who was all fmiles and fimpers when he fpoke to the poor dying lady, and never gave her any thing but pa- latable draughts, told them, with a grave countenance, and in plain words, that no- thing but blifters, and large dofes of bark, could fave them.
I have remarked, alfo, that the curate at Willow-Bank, who in winter preaches to the country-people about preparing for death, never touches on that fubject in fummer, when my lady is pr,efent, becaufe nothing is
MORDAUNT. 277
fo offeniive to her ladymip as reminding her of death, except it be mentioning hell, which fhe fays her nerves cannot bear.
Indeed I was witnefs myfelf to ths truth of this ; for her ladymip once carried me, for a frolic, to hear a methodift-preacher : unluck- ily, the man preached about the rich man and Lazarus, which terrified her to fuch a de- gree, that me was carried out in violent hy- flerics : and though, formerly, fhe made it a rule to go to church once every feafon, to fhow a good example to the ignorant vulgar, yet, after that accident, fhe never ventured to hear any preacher whatever, except the curate of Willow-Bank, on whofe difcretion ihe can rely, becaufe his only hope of pre- ferment is in her ladymip. And I once heard my lady herfelf fay, " that, notwithstanding his being only a country-curate, he might be a London bifhop, for knowledge of the world."
Now, perhaps, you will fay, like Juba in the play of Cato— " If knowledge of the T 3
273 MfiRDAUNT.
world makes man a villain, may Juba ever remain in ignorance." — But, although fuch fentiments do very well in tragedies, tjiey are not to be acted upon in real life : befides, Juba being only a black, is not a very fit example for whites, efpecially Chriftians,
J own I fee no villainy in having a know* ledge of this world, and making the moil of it while we are in it, though it may be pro- per to acl: otfrerwife in the next ; for, as I have heard you yourfelf obferve — " When we are at Rome, we muft do as Rome does."
You fee, Sir, I do not forget the reflec- tions I have heard you make, having always had a very high opinion of your fenfe an 4 judgment j which made me fo fond of your company when I faw you laft at York, and makes me regret that we have never feen you fince : but I fuppofe you can think of no- body, now, but mifs Clifford ; though I own that fhe, nor no other woman, can be more Concerned than I any to hear that you are in
MORPA.UNT.
a weaker flate of health than when we faw you here. My aunt thinks that your being of that opinion proceeds entirely from low fpirits, owing to too much folitude ; and that, if you faw more fociety, whether it were in London or York, or even at your own houfe near Morpeth, you would be more healthful and happier. Though your daugh- ter is, I am told, a very beautiful young la- dy, and alfo very fenfible, yet perhaps fome cheerful companion would render both your lives more agreeable ; but of that you are the beft judge — My aunt defires me to return you her thanks for the attention you had to her, in confulting the doctor on her com- plaint.
The infufion of the flowers of white pop- pies has had no great effect as yet ; but me is refolved to continue, becaufe, (lie fay;, it iiands to reafon that thofe flowers mould do good, on account of their whitenefs : but I fear their colour is coniiderably altered be-- fore they come to her nofe.
T 4
280 MORDAUNT.
With my kindeft compliments to mifs Proftor, though unknown but by charader,
I am, Sir,
Your moft obedient and obliged fervant,
MARGARET ALMOND.
I |hall be very glad to hear from you when you have leifure : but you need not give
».
yourfelf the trouble of faying any thing far- ther of the Clifford family, becaufe the noble- man who applied to me has now received all
the information me wanted.
i. i • •
-
MORDAtfNT.
.
LETTER L.
flfifs ALMOND to the COUNTESS of DEANPORT.
MY LADY, York.
JL HAD the honour of informing your lady- fhip, in my laft letter, that I had, without delaying a lingle moment, written to Mr. Pro&or. It was natural for your ladyihip to think that his refentment againft young Mr. Clifford would have enraged him againft the whole family, and inclined him to divulge every thing he knew or fofpected to their difad vantage : but he is an odd kind of a par- ticular man, who knows no more of the world, particularly the genteel, than a child. Though he ferved an apprenticeship to an attorney, he has the charafter never to have taken the advantage of any body -> which makes it fo unaccountable how he is in fuch good circumftances. He feems to have no refentment; or elfe the favours he received
282
from Clifford, the father, makes him forget the injuries of the fon, and renders him un- willing to fay any thing againft him, and ftill lefs his fitter : yet, in fpite of all his pains to fet her off to advantage in his letter to me, it is eafy to fee that the character you have re- ceived of her is pretty exact. There is. no doubt that me both looks and acts like a French woman ; and you know how fome of them act. Mr. Proctor acknowledges that ihe lived feveral years abroad among foreign- ers and emigrants, and underflands all their languages •, and, I dare fay, is a member of the Blue- flocking- club of learned women* whom your ladymip hates, though ihe may wear white blockings above her blue.
Mr. Proctor alfo owns, that mifs Clifford was addicted to go a-hunting with men in the day-time, and playing on the harp to them at night. What me did befides he does not mention.
He pretends to be ignorant of the reafon of her father's taking her abroad fo fuddenly,
MORDAUNT. 283
and does not divulge the nature of the ru- mours that were fpread over the neighbour- hood on that occafion.
But he acknowledges that mifs Clifford lives in intimacy with lady Diana Franklin, which mud be the fame with her that your ladyship hates fo much, and who I take to be one of the moft cenforious old maids liv- ing -y both on that account, and from what I heard counfellor Banter fay, at the laft York affizes, in a large company of ladies, at a tea-drinking, (among whom was a Londoner, on her return from Scotland, where ihe had fled from her parents to be married to a very genteel officer of dragoons — I believe he was quarter-mafter), — fo, fomebody faying fomething to the praife of lady Diana, the new-married lady obferved that fhe was an old maid, and of courfe very cenforious. " Very cenforious, indeed, madam," replied the counfellor ; " her whole life and conduct is a libel on many of her own fex !"
This was thought, by fome of the com-
284 MORDAUNT.
pany, too fevere 5. but, after what I have heard your ladyfhip fay of her, is, I am con- vinced, no more than me deferves.
This is all the intelligence I could procure from Mr. Proctor, which I hope your lady- fiiip will think fatisfadtory, as it may he de- pended on. But I am certain, that if I was in London, I could procure flill more -y and therefore I have informed my aunt, that me would probably receive a letter from your ladyfhip, defiling that I might fet out very fbon. For my own part, I mould not be in the lead afraid of going in the mail-coach, as it goes fo quick ; and my heavy trunk might come afterwards in the waggon.— In the hope of having the honour of another letter from your ladymip foon,
lam,
Your lady (hip's moft obedient, faithful, and obliged humble fervant,
MARGARET ALMOND.
MORDAUNf. 28.3
P. S. I have taken particular care that your ladyihip cannot be fufpefted of having let me on thofe inquiries, for I wrote to Mr. Proctor that they were not for a lady, but for a noble-man.
26S
MORDAtWf.
LETTER LI.
The Conntefs 6f DEANPORT to JAMES GRINDILL, Efq.
London.
1 HAVE had no need to avail myfelf of your precautions againft communicating Peggy Al- mond's difcoveriefc refpecting mifs Clifford too abruptly to my ion. She difcovered nothing but what was either of fo innocent, or fo ge- neral, a nature, that no ufe could be made of it. I have therefore abftained from all infi- nuations againft what is called — her virtue. But, in confequence of your obfervations refpedting my fon's prejudice againft clever women, or women of fuperior underftand- ing, which I know to be well founded, I once thought of culling a few witticifms from Joe Miller, and repeating them to lord Deanport as repartees of mifs Clifford; but recollecting that his lordfhip'was better acquainted with that book than with moil
MORDAUNT. 287
others, I judged it would be fafer to draw from a fountain into which he never dipped ; and, after having fpoken of mifs Clifford as a lady of uncommon erudition and fagacity, I actually repeated two of the proverbs of Solomon as obfervations of hers. This had not the effect I expected ; he faw nothing alarmingly faga- cious in either, and faid, " If mifs Clifford can make no wifer obfervations than thofe, me runs no rifle of being drowned for a witch."
Difappointed in- this; I remarked " that I had heard me was a young woman of rather an imperious temper ; that I was not fuffi- ciently acquainted with her to decide, but I owned that me had, on fome oecaiions, a great deal of fire in her looks."
To this he coolly replied, " That fhe had certainly an animated countenance, and he believed (he was a young lady of fpirit."
I was fo provoked by this anfwer, that I rejoined, with warmth, " If fpirit be what you admire in her, (he will mow you enough
288 MORDAUNT,
of it— I am told me is a complete termagant How fhe may accommodate herfelf to her lovers I know not -, but I am aflured that her obftinate temper broke her father's heart." fa
To this he made no reply ; but, after a few minutes of mufing, introduced another fubject, and in a fhort time left me.
I hope what I threw out was the caufe of his mufing. I mail take care to furnifti him
with more feeds of reflection of the fame kincf;
i
and I have a notion that the lady herfelf will alfo fupply him with fome*
I have obferved, with pleafure, that fhd does not behave with that degree of atten- tion to him that would, I believe, fecure her conqueft. I am happy that her fupreme ad- vifer, lady Diana Franklin, is abfent ; becaufe, were fhe in London, fhe would ad vife the young lady to adopt a plan of conduct that would be more likely to fucceed. Where do you think her ladymip is ? —You never can devife, therefore I'll tell you. — But I am interrupt- ed, and muft poftpone the information*
MORDAUNT. 289
This coufin of yours drags on a mofl un- reafonable length. How can the man have the confcience to live fo long ? What are his phyficians about ? Thofe countiy doctors have not half the difpatch of their brethren in the capital.
Yours,
E. DEANPORT.
VOL. II. U
200 MORDAUNT.
LETTER LII.
Ihe Same to the Same.
London,
1 WAS interrupted when I was juft about to inform you where lady Diana Franklin (to the great grief of the blue -{locking tribe, thofe admirers of madame de Sevigne and her aflb- ciates, who attempt to fubftitute converfation to cards) is at prefent — Why, in Devonfhire. Devonfhire at this feafon of the year ! And whom do you think fhe has gone to vifit in Devonfhire ? Some grateful young officer^ you will guefs, promoted by her interefr, and whofe regiment is quartered in that county. You may have hit on the real motive of her
I Sj » '._ ;
journey for ought I know — but the avowed one is to fee Mrs. Denham. Perhaps you have forgot Mrs. Denham, for fhe has not been heard of thefe feveral years j, but you muft remember the fprightly Charlotte Brigh-
MORDAUNT. 291
ton, whom you have fo often feen at my af- femblies, when her beauty and vivacity drew half the young fellows in town after her.
I believe you were at Spa when the cata- ftrophe of Charlotte's romance took place, and therefore may never have heard it. After rejecting two offers of marriage, both highly advantageous.; one by a Mr. — Mr. — I cannot recollect the man's name — an aukward-looking creature.- — He has been made a peer fince — I cannot recoiled: his title neither — no matter. The other propofal was from a perfon whofe fortune gave him a claim to the fame honour. He offered immenfe fettlements — to no pur- pofe — the giddy girl refufed them both.
What made her folly the more to be la- mented, and mufl have filled her with re- morfe for refufing the latter, is, that the man died about nine months after. Some people attempt to excufe her, by aflerting that me was in love with Tom DenharrI when thofe two men paid her their addreflcs. I leave
U 2
292 MORDAUNT.
you to determine the weight of fuch an apology.
She afterwards married Tom, who was, to be fure, one of the beft-natured, gay, thought- lefs young fellows in the world, but with a very moderate fortune -, one half of which was mort- gageji before Charlotte was acquainted with him ; the remainder, with all his wife's patri- mony, he fpent, it mufl be confefled, entirely like a gentleman, and in the beft company. When it was fpent, however, he and his wife feemed, for fome time, as deflitute of friends as if they had kept the worft.
An old companion of his, who had fome intereft with the minifter, procured him at laft a fituation in the Eaft Indies. It was ex- pedted he would have opportunities of pil- laging a competency for his poor wife and children. But though few people could fpend a fortune with a better grace than Tom, it is doubtful whether he had any talents for ac- quiring one : the experiment, however, was
MORDAUNT. 293
not fairly made j for he died, poor fellow, foon after his arrival in India, fo that he had not time to do that juftice to his family that was expelled, however well-difpofed he might have been.
His widow, with two children, lived fome time in London after the accounts of his death arrived. Hitherto I had vifited her oc- cafionally j but rumours were circulated to her prejudice: as me had always been rather n> attentive to appearances, they gained ftrength, I have been allured, without foundation : but as I had not leifure to afcertain the truth, I thought it prudent to leave off vifiting her. Others followed my example; and fhe would, moft probably, have been forfaken by all her female acquaintance, had not the virgin Diana arrived precifely at that time from abroad. Though fhe had feen lefs of Mrs. Denham, after her marriage, than any of her former companions — for the rapid rate at which her hufband and fhe drove through life ill-fuited the flow and folemn ftep of a Veftal— - yet, on u 3
294 MORDAUNT.
finding Charlotte likely to be abandoned by others, {he clung to her through Iheer vanity, and that crofihefs which prompts her in what me calls effentiah, to brave the opinion of the world. She pretended that ihe had in- veiligated the fcandalous reports; and not only to have found them falfe, but alfo that- Mrs. Denham, having derived prudence from her misfortunes, had conducted herfelf in a moil exemplary manner, devoting her whole, attention to the education of her children: on which ihe was viiited and received as before by a few of her old acquaintance ; but her circumilances kept the greater part from her as completely as if all that had been faid of her was true. Unable, however, to maintain her family in London, ihe retired with her children to Devonihire, and has hardly ever been thought of iince, till lady Diana, hear-* ing that (he was in a declining ftate of health, fet out lately to viiit her ; and there I hope ihe will remain; for I underftand ihe has more influence with mifs Clifford than any
MORDAUNT. 295
body elfe, and, if fhe were in London, would afTuredly engage her protege to adopt a con- duct more likely than that fhe follows at pre- fent to fecure the heart of my fon. To tell you the truth, I rely more on the marked coldnefs and indifference which the girl fhows for him than on all I have hitherto been able to contrive for the purpofe of giving him a thorough diflike to her.
In the mean time, you cannot figure how I am harafled by the murmurs of the aunt on account of Deanport's coldnefs to mifs Moyfton -, for fhe is more enraged than the young lady herfelf. I am alfo vexed by the new proofs I daily receive of his growing paflion for mifs Clifford. — Would to heaven you were here ! I never flood in need of your fage counfels fo much.
E. DEANPORT.
u 4
296 MORDAUNT.
LETTER LIII. Mifs HORATIA CLIFFORD to Mrs. SOMMERS.
London.
Y ou are ferioufly hurt, then, my dear, be- caufe I have never faid a word of lord Dean- port's attentions to me, of which, it feems, fome more communicative correfpondent has favoured you with fo many particulars. You confider it as an inftance of unkind referve to a friend, whofe confidence in me has been unbounded. I dare fwear you fufpe&ed, that in this feafon, fo fertile in peerages, I was endeavouring, while the fun fhone, to fecure, for my own ufe, part of the harveft ; and that, having fucceeded, I meant to be fud- denly announced to you as countefs of Dean- port, to dazzle your eyes with the brilliancy of my coronet, and mortify your heart with the idea of an old companion raifed to a fituation fo far above you.
-
MORDAUNT. 297
Ah ! Juliet, how could you fufpeft me of fuch malice ? Had I been capable of it, I fhould have deferved all that your friend mifs fuffered, by being made a duchefs.
Now, in anfwer to your accufation,
" I will a round unvarniflied tale deliver, Of what referve, deceit, or mighty plot (For fuch proceedings I am charged withal), J have been guilty.'' .
I
The firft time I ever faw lord Deanport was at the duchefs of — — 's afTembly. I was fitting between my aunt and Mrs. De- mure, when her grace prefented him to me : he remained with us till we left the room. As he was an acquaintance of Mrs. Demure, I placed this piece of attention to her ac- count. I afterwards met him at other afTem- blies : he fometimes came into my aunt's box at the opera. I faw nothing particular in this, nor did I perceive any thing remarkable in his lordmip's addrefs, except an affectation to whifper, which I difcouraged by a look of furprife, and by always anfwering aloud. Mori people, who are uncommonly hand-
298 MORDAITNT.
£>me and genteel, are thought conceited ; fometimes, no doubt, unjuftly : but there certainly i$ nothing in lord Deanport's man- ner-that tends to remove fuch a fufpicion.
There is fomewhat of conftraint that could not have been expeded in a man of his rank who has travelled ; this is accom- panied with a {lately kind of obfequioufnefs, ' a protecting bow, often repeated, which
o
feems to proceed from pride, and that fpe- cies of pride that fprings from high birth,, without the confcioufnefs of any other fupe- riority : for, when a perfon is alib corifcious of being fuperior, or even equal to the com- pany in other refpedts, it generally produces more eafe, and le& referve. jfHis lordfhip, however, cultivated an ac- quaintance with Mr. Darnley and my aunt : I faw him of courfe. His vifits becoming more affiduous, me one day told me, with an air of great fatisfaftion, that I had certainly made a conqueft of the young peer. I was by no means fo much convinced of this as me feemed to be 3 and it would not have afforded
MORDAUNT. 299
me ib much fatisfaclion if I had. I confen I did not think it worth while to mention tuis notion of my aunt in my letters to you; but pray, my dear, if they are not already burnt, will you take the trouble to look over them again, and fee if, trifling as they are, they do -not treat of fubjeds of juft as much im- portance ?
Yet, fince you {how a partiality for this, I will give you a little more of it. I could not help remarking, that the noble lord's mother, the countefs of Deanport, to whom, I believe, I was hardly known till very lately, feemed to view me with an evil eye : this I mould have borne without complaining. I knew that people are fometimes offended without reafon : I alfo knew that people of rank are as fubjecl: to this weaknefs as the loweft vulgar ; but I did not know that they could manifeft it in the fame manner : — lady Deanport made this clear to me. — My uncle's relation, Mrs. Courtney, had carried me to lady A— — 's afiembly. Towards the end of
50O MORDAUNT.
the night, after me had ordered up the car* riage, fhe recollected fomething (he wifhed to mention to her ladyfhip, and went, for that purpofe, into another room, leaving me feated oppofite to mifs Moyfton, the great heirefs, and her aunt. In that inftant, lady Deanport came, and feated herfelf between them ; then, fixing her eyes on me, fhe whifpered them in a very fignificant manner. They turned their eyes alfo upon me, titter- ing, and fometimes laughing aloud. The company had left the fide of the room in which I fat, fo that I was in a very aukward iituation, the eyes of every body being di- rected towards me, by the rudenefs of thefe three women. Had they addrefled any dif- courfe to me, perhaps I might have made fome retort ; but I could neither object to their laughing, nor their looking at me. Old general Randal, who was playing at whift, obferving my diflrefs, laid down his cards, came to me, faid he believed Mrs. Courtney waited for me', and led me into another
MORDAUNT. 301
room, where me was talking with the du- chefs of D— — . " Your young friend was impatient to fee you, madam," faid he, to Mrs. Ccurtney : then, addreffing the duchefs, he added — " Your grace has been accuftomed to find great beauty an objeft of envy : had you been in the next room, you would have feen it, fon the firft time, the objecT: of laugh- ter."—-This behaviour of the general is more in the ftyle of the old than the new court. But you will allow, that what applied to her grace was more than mere compliment ; par*- ticularly when, on the duchefs's accofting me, with her ufual condefcenfion, he added — '* No one ever experienced a happier transition from malice to benevolence than the lady your grace takes by the hand."
I was at a lofs to find out in what I had offended thofe women, particularly the Moy- flons, with whom I am not acquainted.
Mrs. Demure (1 believe you are acquainted with that lady) called on my aunt the fol- lowing day. My aunt being abroad, ihe
302 MORDAUNT.
ftayed great part of the forenoon with me* She is at once confidered as the friend of lady Deanport and of the Moyftons. I hinted to her what had happened at the affembly. She fmiled, and faid — " 1 could eafily give you the key to that cabinet of feerets, my dear, if it were proper."
" If it is not proper, I beg not to be en- trufted with it," I replied.
Finding that I preflcd her no farther—- "-Come," refumed fhe, " I believe I may fafely truft you. My friend, lady Deanport, is one of the moft prudent women on the face of the earth, and one of the moft attentive of mothers. She naturally wifhes her fon to ob- tain a great fortune by marriage, becaufe fhe conliders his intereft to be alfo hers, and 'has been ufing all her add re fs to promote one be- tween her fon and mifs Moyfton: but the young lady and her aunt having taken of- fence at the attention her fon ihows you, her ladyihip is alarmed, left it ihould prove an obftacle to a fcheme her heart is greatly fet
MORDAtTNT. $03
on ; on which account (he is irritated, and difpofed to mortify you. This is certainly beneath a woman of her rank ; indeed of even a plebeian, of any degree of elevation of foul. But the beft of people have their weakneffes j and, I muft confefs, my friend is not entirely exempt from them." She aft- erwards repeated fome very fpiteful things that me had heard lady Deanport fay of me ; begging me, at the fame time, not to mind them. She then added fome expreffions, equally malicious, which me had heard her Utter, concerning lady Diana. This, I do aflure you, provoked me more than the other ; and I refolved to vex the malicious woman in the only way in my power — " You ought not, my dear mifs Clifford," laid Mrs. Demure, " to be provoked at my friend, lady Deanport : it is not from ill-will againft you, or lady Diana, that me fpeaks fo ; it is merely becaufe me fears that you will feduce the heart of her fon from mifs
304 MORDAUNT.
Moyfton : me cannot bear the lofs of all that great fortune. She experts, if her fon were in pofTeffion of it, that fhe herfelf would be much more eafy in her own circumftances. My friend is fond of money — very fond of money : it is her greateft fault : — fhe has it in common with many worthy people. She is alfo exceedingly fond of play ; and, though in other refpecls a fhrewd fenfible woman, fuperftitious to child ifhnefs on that fubject. Indeed, the whims that very acute people are influenced by, in gaming, are hardly cre- dible. I mufl do my friend the juftice to fay, however, that me is not in the leaft fu- perftitious in religious matters, except when me is in ill health. Her enemies accufe her of being avaricious, and extremely fond of money -, but that is, in a great meafure, ow- ing to her often lofing at play. I am per- fuaded, that if me were always to win, fhe would be more generous : but what can a woman do who frequently lofes more than
MORDAUNT. 305
X
ilie can pay ? Her fon cannot always fupply her, which makes her fo fet on his marriage with mifs Moyfton."
This eloquent and friendly harangue had no effect in turning me, from the refolution I had formed; and which I found an oppor- tunity of putting in practice, very foon after, at the duchefs'a, where lord Deanport ac- cofted me, in the prefence of his mother and her two accomplices. I liltened to the douceurs he ' whifpered in my ear with an air of far more complaifance than I had ever before mown. They endeavoured to conceal their vexation by writhings and conftramed fmiles, — fuch as a perfon on the rack, if he thought himfelf obliged to fmile, might ex- hibit. I hope I was more fuccefsful in my fmiles -, though, I confefs, they were forced alfo ; but I was determined to look as pleafed as poffible.
After I • had teazed the three ladies fuf- ticiently, I told my aunt that I felt myfelf a
VOL. IT. x
306 MORDAtJNT:
little indifpofed ; which was really the cafe i for you have no idea how fatiguing it is to be continually conftraining one's features in- to a fimper when they have all the inclina- tion in the world to be indulged in a yawn. My aunt withdrew immediately.- My lord attended us to the carriage -f and, as he was leading me paft her ladyfhip and the heirefs, I could not help enjoying the rage that was apparent on the countenance of the one, and the mortification in that of the ether.
The marchionefs is flill at Richmond. Her friends will not part with her. I drove there yefterday, in the intention to wheedle her from them : but what chance has an Englim woman to get the better of the French in the art of wheedling ? They pre- vailed on her to ftay, in fpite of all my fkill. She promifes, however, to come to London - after her return from Bath, where the lady 'ifttends to carry her.
MORDAUNT. 3P7
Lady Diana is in good health xand fpirits. Poor Mrs. Denham, me informs me, is fome- what better.
Adieu ! my fweet friend. Do not forget to prefent my love-— I mean my refpedls, to
your huiband,
H. CLIFFORD.
308 MORDAUNT,
LETTER LIV.
. SOMMERS to Mijs H. CLIFFORD.
Afhwood,
1 SHOULD be ferioufly difpleafed, indeed, my dear Horatia,' if you could fufpect that fee- ing a coronet on your head would raife the leaft particle of envy in my heart. Have I not been fenfible of your fuperiority, in almoft every accomplimment, without any fentiment but that of increaling affection ? The woman who, having fome pretenfions to beauty, per- ceives that another is considered in every com- pany as handfomer than herfelf, and yet retains the warmeft friendship for that other, is af- furedly incapable of repining at any other fpe- cies of fuperiority me may have. I can never love you better," my dear, than I do at pre- fent, when you are only a plain fpinfter : but you may rely upon it I mould not love you bfs though you were jaifed to the rank of
MORDAUNT. 309
duchefs to-morrow. I wim you to be my equal, my dear, in nothing but in happinefs ; and th.it, becaufe I believe no woman can be happier than I am.
I am much obliged to you for your " round unvarnimed tale," which has amufed me very much ; and, in return, I will give you a piece of advice. People do not remain long in debt when they can pay their creditors in this man- ner. Befides, I am entitled to give you ad- vice : — am I not a full year older than you ? and am I not a married woman? Liften, there- fore, to the voice of a matron ; for " Wifdom dwelleth with Age."
I would not have you put implicit faith in the information you received from Mrs. De- mure. Can you put confidence in a perfon who, calling herfelf lady Deanport's friend, fpoke of her in the ftyle me did ^
. Her ladymip rnay love money too well ; but I have heard that Mrs. Demure is hypo- critical and revengeful, which are worfe faults. She once mowed a difpofhion to form an in-
x 3
310 MORDAUNT.
timacy with me ; but my hufband gave me a hint not to encourage it. I believe he knows more of her hiftory than he choofes to communicate. I mall never afk him a qiieftion on that, or any other fubjec~t he is difpofed to avoid.
But I wifh, my dear Horatia, that you would forego the refolution of tormenting lady Deanport. What was reprefented to you was probably exaggerated, perhaps en- tirely without foundation -> and, at any rate, declaring yourfelf her enemy will make her more actively yours, and juftifies her in fome degree for being fo, and can do no good. Be- fides, my dear, I cannot approve of the means you have ufed to vex her. In my humble opi- nion, you ought to be open with the young lord. Since you are determined not to have him, you ought to tell him fo at once. No woman can be more decifive than you when you pleafe. A young woman may be for- given for not faying aye to the man me loves, when he firft propofes marriage to her 3 b.ut
MORPAUNT. 311
there is no excufe for not faying no, in the moft unequivocal manner, to him me is de- termined to reject, mould he make the fame propofal. On reflection, I am certain you will be of my opinion, and will aft ac- cordingly.
My hufband fends you his refpeftful love.
J remain, dear Horatia,
ever moil affectionately yours,
JULIET SOMMERS,
x4
312 MORDAUNT.
LETTER LV.
Mifs HORATIA CLIFFORD to Mrs. SOMMERS.
London.
W ITHOUT waiting for an anfwer to a let- ter I wrote to you two days fince, as my aunt is engaged for the evening, I will endeavour to amufe*you, my dear, with a curious con- verfation, which I overheard laft night at Mrs. Courtney's.
She generally keeps one room entirely clear of card- tables, where they who decline play- ing may converfe, without difturbing or be- ing difturbed by the players.
When my aunt's party was made up, I went into that room with lady Blunt, a young lady, her niece, whom me wifhed to make me acquainted with. — Mrs, Demure foon after feated herfelf by me, with two other ladies; and feveral gentlemen flood around us.
MORDAUNT. 313
Your hufband's friend, Mr. Mordaunt, was
mentioned..
' " I understand," faid fir George Topley,
" that he .is at his brother's ia Hampfhire,
. \
and expected in town foon."
" When he comes, George," faid lady Blunt, " you will do well to retire to the country."
" Why fo ?" the baronet alked.
" Becaufe," replied (he, " copies appear to di fad vantage when placed near the ori- ginal."
This remark raifed a laugh, in which its rudenefs would have prevented me from joining, had not the baronet himfelf laughed • as much as any body, without making any other reply, except faying — " All the world knows that your ladyflrip is a wit ;" and then laughed more heartily than before.
" There is no great wit, George," rejoin- ed lady Blunt, " in remarking what is ob- vious to all the town : but, in my opinion, you had better choofe another model 3 for
3H- MORDAUNT.
there are people, and good judges too, who think M*. Mordaunt inimitable." As fhe pronounced this, me fixed Mrs. Demure, who affected to take no notice, till lady Blunt added — " Do not you think fo, madam ? You know the gentleman."
• " Know him!" faid Mrs. Demure, with affected indifference, but evident emotion-— " a man who is every- where muft be, jn fome degree, known to every-body ; but I know very little of the man, and only as a common acquaintance."
'* Nay, now, my dear madam, I own you furprife me," faid lady Blunt -y (( for I could have fworn that any woman who knew him at all would have thought him rather an un- common acquaintance."
" I do not understand what your ladymip means by an uncommon acquaintance," rejoin- ed Mrs. Demure, a little fharply.
" I mean," faid lady Blunt, " an acquaint- ance with one of the moft accomplimed men in England."
MORDAUNT. 315
Mr. Clement, the clergyman, thinking the dialogue was in danger of becoming too warm, and with the fole view, as I am convinced, to prevent that, and give it a pleafanter turn, faid — " Your ladymip needed not have con- fined yourfelf to England; you might have added Scotland, and even the town of Berwick- upon-ffweed" Then obferving a Mr. Mac- donald, who had rifen from one of the card- tables, and joined our circle, he added — tf I hope the addition might have been made without offence to any of the company."
" As you feem to dired: this to me, fir," faid the Scot, " I muft inform you that I am neither apt to take offence where it is not in- tended, nor to pafs it over when it is."
" In the prefent cafe," replied Mr. Cle- ment, " you muft be fenfible that none coujd be intended."
" Without accurately examining what fould be," refumed the other, " 1 am willing to take it for granted thatTione was intended •, and J am the more difpofed fo to do on account
S16 MORDAUNT.
of your being a clergyman ; for I honour the profeffion, chiefly, indeed, becaufe my own father belonged to it."
" You are extremely obliging, fir," faid Mr. Clement, bowing.
" It is always my intention to be obliging, fir/' replied MacdonaTd*. — ," But to return to the original afiertidn made by her ladyfhip ; namely, ' that Mr. Mordaunt was one of the moil accomplifhed men in England,' to which you faid that fhe might have added Scotland, (as for Berwick- upon-Tweed I leave it out of the argument, as a-neutral), — I muft ob- Terve that the afiertion might be juil (imply as her ladymip made it, without its being equally fo conjoined to your appendage."
The precife manner in which this was pro- nounced, as well as the terms, feemed to put
'
all the company jn a gay humour.- — Mr. Cle- ment replied, with a fmile, *' that it po'ffibly might be fo."
" I only fpeak of poffibility, fir. To fay the thing is probable, though that may be
MORDAUNT. 317
my own private opinion, would not be civil in this company :, but I muft add, that I have heard the gentleman in queftion fpoken of by the gallant colonel Sommers, under whom I ferved, in fuch terms as convince me that he is a very accomplished, as well as a very brave man.1'
" I have heard Mr. Mordaunt accufed of being a very romantic character," faid lady Blunt's niece.
Her ladylhip has this young lady much with her to prevent her from being witnefs to the difcord that exiils between her father and mother. — She is, I am told, a great reader of romances, particularly the ancient.
" Mr. Mordaunt being of a romantic cha- racter, iny dear, will appear no heinous accu- fation in your eyes/' anfwered the aunt: — " .Like the heroes of romance, he is always in love ; and, like them too, he never mar- ries : but he has not the lead refemblance to the preux Chevaliers in conftancy — he is ra-
518 MORDAUNTi
ther addicted to change, to the great afHie-* tion of fome diftreffed damfels."
As me faid this, fhe glanced at Mrs. De- mure, who feemed again a little difconcerted. "But the heroes of romance," refumed the young lady, " do marry at the end."
'* Yes, my dear ,"faid lady Blunt, " as you juflly obferve, at the end ; for> when the man marries, he is no longer a hero, and his mif- trefs flill lefs a heroine ; they become plam hufband and wife* juft like your papa and mamma."
" Gracious me !" exclaimed the young lady, fpreading her hands, and cafting up her eyes.
" Though Mordaunt's romance is not like- ly to come to fo humiliating a conclufion," refumed lady Blunt, " it was very near being cut mort in Italy, when he.ferved in the Au- ftrian armies oppofed to Buonaparte, where, I am told, he expofed himfelf to many dangers." " He had no more bufinefs to join the Auftrians," faid fir George Topley, '* than
MORDATJNT.
the knights you were talking of had to go to the Holy-Land."
" There is, furely, a difference between the cafes," reiumed Mr. Macdonald : " for though volunteering in the Auftrian army is, perhaps, one of thofe things in which you would not like to imitate Mr. Mordaunt ; yet, as he happened to be in Italy at a time when the French were carrying every thing before them, he might naturally think that, in joining our allies againft them, he was ferving his country : not but I am of opinion that he would have judged better in coming home, and engaging in the militia, or in fome vo- lunteer corps, as you, fir, no doubt, did."
" Indeed I did not," faid fir George ; be- caufe, in fpite of all the vapouring of the French about invading England, I was con- vinced they would never attempt it, and ful- ly perfuaded of their being all funk or taken by our fleets if they did."
" What might have had fome effedt alfo,
320 MORDAUNT.
my dear fir George, in preventing your ad- opting the meafures the gentleman men- ,tions, " added lady Blunt, " was your be- ing very deeply engaged in jfeveral horfe- races in different and diilant parts of the country."
With the fame good-natured intention that had before induced him to interpofe, Mr. Clement faid — " From all I have heard of Mr. Mordaunt, he is, certainly, a very gallant man -y but, perhaps, like the preux chevaliers that have been mentioned, he is ibmetimes fond of danger for danger's fake."
" I humbly beg your- pardon for differing from a gentleman of your cloth," refumed Mr. Macdonald. — " I muft fay I take Mr. Mordaunt to have too much good fenfe to love danger merely for danger's fake. But I can conceive, that when a great degree of in- trepidity is united to an ardent defire of di- fMndlion, that a man may be fond of prefent- ing himfelf to hazardous fituations, which he
MORDAUNT. 321
might, without dishonour, have avoided j and this forms the difference between an officer who barely does his duty, that he may avoid reproach, and another who is actuated by . zeal for the fervice, and an ardent paflion for honefl and well-merited fame. Mr. Mor- daunt having gone a volunteer into the Au- flrian fervice, on motives which would have weighed with few, thought it would be un- becoming the character of an Englishman to keep aloof from danger, and therefore offered himfelf, on a variety of perilous oc- cafions, in confequence of which he drew the admiration of the army, and obtain- ed the praifes of the general. But, pre- vious to this, he was advantageoufly known to many Auflrian officers of diftinction, by a very fingular adventure he had at Vienna with an Italian lady, who followed him from Rome to that capital."
Lady Blunt expreffed a defire to know all the circumftances of this adventure -, but Mr, VOL. ir. y
322 MORDAUNT.
Macdonald faid, " that he had heard it men- tioned only in general terms by colonel Som- mers, who had declared that his friend had difplayed great intrepidity and prefence of mind on the occafion, without communicating the particulars."
" Perhaps, " faid lady Blunt, " Mrs. Demure can favour us with the particu- lars ?"
" I do not conceive," replied that lady, with a look of refentment, " how your la- dyfhip comes to imagine that I mould be acquainted with the gentleman's adven- tures."
" I merely thought it poflible, my dear madam," faid lady Blunt ; " and had not the leaft idea that my fuppofition could have of- fended you."
" Offended me!" replied Mrs. Demure, forcing a fmile : — " your ladyfhip never was more miftaken in your life, if you ima- gine that the fuppofition offends me — though
MORDAUNT. 323
I muft acknowledge itfiirprifes me a good deal."
" There are people," rejoined lady Blunt, *' who are very much offended when they are furprifed."
Mrs. Courtney joined us at that inftant, and prefTed lady Blunt to a card-party, which put an end to the altercation. But I have fome curiofity to know the circumftances of the adventure to which Mr. Macdonald alluded — Your hufband undoubtedly knows the whole. He muft be a Singular kind of man, this friend of the colonel. — Pray, my dear, invite your hufband to tell you the particulars ; and at your convenience tranfmit them to me — the fooner the better. What a long and circum- ftantial epiftle this is ! — I hope your next will be in the fame ftyle.
Lady Diana informs me that poor Mrs. Denham is fUll in too feeble a ftatc of health to be left. Her eldeft fon has obtained a commiffion in the army through her influ-
Y 2
324 MORDAUNT.
ence. The young man is to join his regi- ment diredly. The marchionefs has fet out for Bath.
Farewell !
H. CLIFFORD,
I hope the Vienna adventure will be the fubje(5l of your next.
MORDAUNT, 32*.
LETTER LrVI.
Mrs. SOMMERS to Mlfs HORATIA CLIFFORD. MY DEAR HORATIA. Aihwood.
W HEN I received your laft letter, my huf- band was going to a county-meeting, and not to return till the following day. I fpoke to him on the fubjecl: you deiired. He imme- diately took from his bureau a paper, which he faid was a narrative of that affair. I had previoufly been informed that he was at Rome when Mr. Mordaunt firjft formed an acquaintance with the Italian lady in quef- tion. That gentleman was then only about twenty years of age. His graceful appear- ance and addrefs produced the fame effeft in Italy that they had previoufly done in France and Germany. He was very much diftinguifhed by the ladies. This one in par- ticular ufed all her art, and me was miftrefs ,of a great deal, to captivate him. She fuc-
Y 3
326 MO'RDAUNT.
ceeded in fu-ch a degree as to alarm all his friends, particularly my hufband, who was his greatefl intimr.te. She was graced with a title, was of a majeftic perfon, and beauti- ful. 1 have heard, however, that, on certain occalions> fomething a little too mafciiline ap- peared m the expreffive features of her coun- tenance. She poffeffed many accomplimmentsr and all the powers of fedudtion. Though me affected to he paffionately enamoured of Mr. Mordaunt, yet me maintained a referve of behaviour with him, which it was pretty generally believed me had not always pre- ferved with other men. She was involved in debt, was five years older than Mr. Mor- daunt. Her aim was to entice him into mar- riage. She would have gained her point, had not my hufband, who is alfo older by two years than his friend, at the rifk of mortally offending him, prevented. He fucceeded in opening Mr. Mordaunt's eyes with regard to the character of the woman, and in convinc- ing him of the folly of marrying a woman,
MORDAUNT. 327
who had nothing but beauty, and a few fhowy accomplimments, to recommend her. Bat, even after my hufband was convinced of all this, he flill dreaded the lady's powers in cafe of an interview. He prevailed on his friend to leave Rome without informing her of his intention. The two friends pafTed with rapidity to Venice j from whence, after a fhort flay, they proceeded to Vienna, where they intended to fpend the fummer.
But my hufband at that time having only the rank of captain in the army, and hearing that there were fome new levies to be made, and a chance of actual fervice, returned fuddenly to England, leaving Mr. Mprdaunt at Vienna.
This much of the flory, my dear Horatia, I knew before; the written narrative delivered to me by my hufband begins at this period.
On giving it to me, he faid, "Having heard
indiflinftly of this affair, I wrote to Mordaunt
for the particulars ; but whether it proceeded
from a diilike to what fo many people are
y 4
328 MORDAUNT.
fond of, namely, being the hero of his owrt tale, or from a natural impatience of temper, which hurried him into new fcenes where hfe expected new enjoyment, and deprived him of both leifure and inclination to writing, I never received any thing but a few general exprefiions in his letters to me on the fubject. The narrative I now' give you," my hufband continued, " was fent to me by a friend of Mordaunt's and mine, who remained with him at Vienna after I left it, and had been informed of all the particulars. This adven- ture, with fome others he has fince met with, have given my friend an unlucky prejudice againit marriage. Had he been as fortu- nate as I have been in female acquaintance," added the colonel, " he would at this moment be convinced that matrimony is the happiefl ofallftates."
s
There, my dear Horatia, is a gallant huf- band for you ! As foon as he left me I began, to copy the narrative, as follows :
MORDAUNT. 329
[As the Comteflina was perfuaded that cap- tain Sommers had always oppofed her views on his friend, and that it was through his influence that Mr. Mordaunt had quitted Rome fo abruptly, me no fooner heard of the captain's having returned to England, than fhe determined on a journey to Vienna, in the view of regaining the hold fhe for- merly had on the affections of Mr. Mordaunt. To this me combined a plan of intimida- tion, in cafe the other mould fail in accom- pliihing her end.
With thefe views me made the journey from Rome to Vienna, accompanied by a tall, fierce-looking, Neapolitan officer, whom me called, her brother.
Mr. Mordaunt was more furprifed than diipleafed when he heard of her arrival.
Though he was fully convinced that her oftentatious tendernefs was all art and dif- Emulation, and, of courfe, he was in a great meadire cured of the affection and enthu- admiration he had at one time enter-
33O MORDAUNT,
tained, me ftiil interested him to a confider- able degree.
When they met, after complaining, with ' a pathetic accent, of his abrupt departure from Rome, ilie faid, " that a few days after he difappeared her brother had arrived from Sicily: his fcheme being to proceed to Ger- many, on purpofe to improve in his profef- fion by viewing the difcipline of the German armies, he had perfuaded her to accompany him as far as Vienna, where me intended to remain while he (houid vifit the Auflrian and Pruffian garrifons ; and, on his return to Vi- enna, her brother and fhe propofed to go back to Rome together,"
The brother thanked Mr, Mordaunt, in the politeft terms, for the attentions which, he underftood, he had paid to his fifter at Rome j expreffed a high admiration of the Englifh nation, and great fatisfaction in the thought of his filler having fo accomplished a cavalier to accompany her to the public places while me remained at Vienna.''
MORDAUNT.
Mr. Mordaunt was not without fufpicion. that there was fome fecret defign under all this -, but, as he found pleafure in the lady's company, and was fufficiently determined againft her principal object, he continued to vifit them.
The lady appeared as alluring, and rather more complying than ever. One evening, which Mr. Mordaunt pafTed with the brother and fifter, me let fall, as if accidentally, that her brother was to affifl at a review of fome regiments of Hungarian cavalry that was to take place the following morning. " Very true," faid the brother : " and I hope you will accompany me," added he, addreffing Mor- daunt ; " but it will be rather too early for my filter."
Mr. Mordaunt was juft going to agree to the propofal, when he felt his foot gently prefled ' by that of the lady. So ftrong a hint could not be mifunderflood : he faid, " that he recolleded a buflnefs which would
332 AIORDAUNT.
put it out of his power to be at the re- view."
The next day he vifited the lady. — They were furprifed by the brother, and another fe- rocious-looking fellow in an officer's uniform.
The lady fhrieked, and then exhibited a fainting-fit pretty naturally.
The ftranger in the uniform faid, with feeming emotion — " Alas ! fignor, your fif- ter is dead."
The Neapolitan's countenance, which be- fore expreffed rage, now affurned the ap- pearance of defpair. Mordaunt, collecting his prefence of mind, was attentive to all their movements. *
The lady, flowly opening her eyes, looked around with an air of amazement, as if fhe had forgot what had pafled. — " Where am I?" exclaimed fhe, in a folemn tragic voice. '* Good heavens ! my deareft brother, is it you!" continued me, with an affeded look, of wildnefs.
MORDAUNT. 333
This being over-a&ed, convinced Mr. Mordaunt of what he had fufpected from the beginning.
(c Yes, wretched woman ! it is your bro- ther," exclaimed the Neapolitan ; " in what a fituation have I found you ! Have you dif- graced your noble family ? have you fullied the purity of your illuftrious blood?" Then, ob- ferving a fmile on Mr. Mordaunt's countenance, he added, with a furious look, " What ! does your undoer fmile at the ruin he has produced!"
Mordaunt burft into laughter,.
This kindled the Neapolitan's rage more fiercely. After a flourim of oaths, he ex- patiated on the crime of feducing a woman.
Mr. Mordaunt coolly faid — " Seduction is certainly a crime, whether the feduced be man or woman."
The Neapolitan, raifihg his voice, de- clared— " that his fitter's honour could not be repaired otherwife than by marriage."
Mordaunt replied — f that he had no ob-
334 MORDAUNT.
jedion to her repairing it that way, or any other, that would anfwer the end."
" It is well, fignor," faid the Neapolitan, in a gentle tone, being deceived by what Mordaunt had faid. «' I could not doubt of your acting like a man of honour."
" You fhall have lefs reafon to doubt it now than ever," refumed Mordaunt. " You fhall find that I am neither to be deceived by an infamous confpiracy, nor bullied by a couple of bravos."
The Neapolitan looked at his companion, who feemed confounded at the refolute be- haviour and words of Mordaunt.
Perceiving the Neapolitan to put his hand to the hilt of his fword, Mordaunt, who, at
X
the firft alarm, had fprung from the couch and feized his own fword, which he held undrawn in his hand, addreffed the two men in thefe words : — " If you intend afTaffina- tion, you may perhaps fucceed ; but not be- fore I fhall have had the fatisfaclion of killing
MORDAUNT. 335
the firft of you who makes the attempt ; and I am convinced that my friends have intereft enough to get the other broken on the wheel."
Having faid this, he moved to the door, and withdrew, without interruption, from the Italians, who were overawed and con- founded to fuch a degree, that they remained filent and motionlefs for fome minutes after he had left the room. The woman was the firft that recovered the ufe of her tongue, which me employed, until me was out of breath, in vain execrations, and in abufe of her two companions, as poltroons, particularly the ftranger in the uniform. This man was a 'Dalmatian, whom they had picked up at Venice, and who^n they dropped at the fame city on their return to Rome.
I afterwards met this very Dalmatian at Venice $ and, without much difficulty, pre- vailed on him to tell me all he knew of the ftory ; without which, I mould not have
336 MORDAUKT.
been acquainted with fome of the particulars above enumerated.]
After copying this long paper, you will not expect that I mould add much from myfelf : I cannot help, however, exprefilng a wiih, my dear, that you may follow the coun- fel I gave at the end of my laft. — Adieu ! my deareft Horatia : believe me ever yours,
JULIET SOMM.ERS,
MORDAtJMTk 337
LETTER LVII.
The Countefs of DEANPORT to JAMES GRINDILL, Efq.
London.
1 AM more provoked at this girl Clifford than ever. She behaved in the mofl infolent man- ner poffible at an aflembly, fince the lad time I wrote. I fat by mifs Moyfton and her aunt : — my fon entered,— I endeavoured to catch his eye, and draw him to them ; but the moment he faw mifs Clifford, regardlefs of my beckon- ing, he made up to her. As I had reafon to think me was not very much pleafed with me at that time, I had fome hopes that, from fpite againft me, me would have behaved coldly at leaft to him j but, on the contrary, me receiv- ed his affiduities with the moft flattering com- placency : me feemed to attend to none of the young fellows who furrounded her but him. She certainly perceived me make figns
VOL. II. Z
338 MORUAUST.
to him to approach us. As often as he ed ready to comply, me addrefled herfelf with fuch fmiling earneftnefs to him that he could not quit her. She evidently enjoyed the gri- maces of the aunt, the mortified looks of mifs Moyfton, and the rage which, I fear, was but too apparent in my countenance. You •cannot conceive with what a triumphant air me pail us, as he led her to her carriage. If I ever forgive her the look me threw on me, I hope me will immediately after marry my fon, and govern him as me pleafes for life.
It is ^lear that me has'confulted her oracle ;, and the entire change of her conduct towards Deanport is in confequence of the refponfe of the Great Diana. From" the hatred which I bear to that goddefs I cannot doubt of hers to me ; for it is not likely that an old maid mould have more good nature than other wo- men. I confider the Veftal, therefore, as the firft mover of the late infulty and fhali a& accordingly
:rt- :\r'^f-ttt.
MORDAUKT. 339
It is in vain to attempt to turn my Ton from his prefent purfuit, efpecially as long as the object of it encourages the chace ; but it is not impoffible to give it a termination very different from what the damfel herfelf, or her chafte inftructrefs, dreams of. In the mean time, I mail endeavour to cajole the Moyftons, and keep them in as good humour as I can.
The very day after Mifs Clifford had en- joyed her triumph, though my breafl was ftill glowing with refentment, I met Deanport at breakfaft with a gay countenance.
I wifhed to put him in good humour, which, by the way, is no eafy tafk, particularly at breakfaft. I don't know whether you have obferved it ; but people who are naturally ill-humoured (how it more at breakfafl th<m at any other time. Befides, he knew I had fome reafon to be difpleafed with him ; cf courfe he looked rather fulky at me. I took no notice of that, and proceeded to converfe in the moil eafy and cheerful ftylc on indif- ferent fubjeds. When I faw that the gloom
Zo •*!
340 MORDAUNT.
_
on his countenance was difperfed, — " Apro- pos !" faid I, " you go on triumphantly in your afrair with that girl."
He flared, and afked, " What girl ?" " Why, the Clifford," anfwered I. " Every body remarks that you have already turned her head, and may do with her what you pleafe."
" Lord I" faid he, his eyes fparklins: with
, J
vanity, " what idle conjectures people make !
Mifs Clifford behaves to me only with com-
j
inon politenefs."
" Nay, Deanport," faid I, "I have no defign to penetrate into what you, as a man of honour, ought to keep iecret -y nor do I vvi(]i to be your confidant in fuch affairs. I have no particular affection, it is true, for the girl, yet I am forry to fee attentions paid to her which lead to her ruin -, though, accord- ing to the nnjuft notions of the world of gal- lantry, they may add to your reputation. I
wi'ih you no freih laurels at fuch expenfe."
j .., r
" I do not believe,;i -faid he, " that any 77 *
thins: of that nature is fufpeded." °. *
" What elfe, my dear Deanport," faid I, *' can be fufpedted ? Nobody thinks fo mean- ly of you as to fufpect you have any ferious views on fuch a girl ; and you are blamed for perfevering in your attentions to her, becaufe it may prevent fome man, more fuitable to her rank, from paying his addrefTes to her. You are accufed of acting the part of the boys in the fable of the frogs : what was fport to the former was death to the latter. The more reafon there is, therefore, from the levity of this girl's character, and your reputation as a man of gallantry, to imagine that you may carry your point with her, I am the more fo- licitous that you mould give up the purfuit. You may depend upon it, my dear Deanport, that fuch an inftance of felf-denial would af- "ford you more folid and permanent comfort than your fuccefs can poffibly do. But, if thefe reflections mould fail in 'deciding you entirely to abandon your defigns on this gir!, I hope a proper regard for your own interelt will induce you to fufpend them at leafl.
z 3
S42 MORDAUNT.
Your attentions to mifs Clifford alarm mifs Moyflon ; and, if continued, may provoke her to that degree, that me may throw her- felf into the arms of lord Sordid, or fome other j for, depend upon it, me may choofe a hufband from the whole unmarried peers of the realm. It will afford you endiefs re- morfe, mould a tranfient phantafy, which will be over in a few months, preclude you from the means of gratifying every wiih of your heart during your whole life."
It was evident, from the attention he paid to this harangue, that fome part made a ftrong impreffion. He hinted, " that I was in an error with refpect to mifs Clif- ford; that, notwithstanding her natural vi- vacity, he knew no woman whofe con- verfation and manner gave lefs encourage- ment to any attempt of the' nature I had al- luded to."
With a fmile, expreffive of companion and contempt, I faid " I was extremely happy that he was of that way of Chinking, becaufe
MOR DAUNT. 3.43
it would prevent him from making any fuch attempt, and of courfe from ever feeling the remorfe which would ultimately attend his being undeceived." — To this he made no an- fwer, and we feparated.
If he was ever fo filly as to have matri- mony in his head, I am pretty certain that I have fhaken his purpofe. He will now, at leaft, make an eflay to carry his point on ealier terms. I confefs I have no very fan- guine hopes of his fuccefs. The girl feems to have firmnefs as well as pride, and a com- fortable degree of refpeft for herfelf : all thefe are againfl my fon. If me had lefs fenfe and fpirit, I mould have better hopes ; however, there is no knowing what may happen : any woman may be caught napping. But if, from her own pride, and the admoni- tions of the chafte Diana, me mould be on her guard, in that cafe, depend upon it, the young lady will give herfelf high airs of in- dignation : her purity, no doubt, will be z 4
344 MORDAUNT.
wonderfully offended ; and me may chance to fay or do fome thing that will wound his lord- fhip's vanity : and I mould not .be furprifed, if, in his wrath againft mifs Clifford, he made propofals of marriage to mifs Moyflon. — You fmile at the folly of a man propofing marriage to a woman about whom he is indifferent, on purpofe to vex the woman he loves. Abfurd as it feems, I have known more than one of the wife lords of the creation commit this very folly. And as my fon's conduct is as often regulated by caprice as that of any of his brethren, why mould I think him fecure from the fame folly ?
But, fhould it happen otherwife in the prefent inftance, mould he bear the rebuff \yith patience, flill it will occafion a tempo- rary breach, that will require time, and the art of the chafte Diana, to repair.
But do . you know, that, after having put; this attempt into his head, I am by no means flear that I ought to wiih him fuccefs (andf
MORDAUNT. 345
to my knowledge, he has been fuccefsful \vith women higher born than this Clifford) ? For, though it would gratify my hatred againft her prefent directrefs, as well as that I feel againft the infolent gipfy herfelf, to fee her my fon's miftrefs, me might even then retain too great afcendency over him. In fhort, I am not abfolutely certain that (he might not perfuade him, after all, to make her his wife. — What fay you ?
I heartily wifh that this coufm of yours
would conclude the bufinefs one way or
the other. I fympathife with you very iln-
cerely. I know what horrible conftraint it
t is to attend $ dying relation^ from whom one
has expectations, during a tedious illnefs > — to
'
be obliged to wear the moil melancholy
afpec~t, to fpeak in a fympathifing accent, to raife his head, to fmooth his pillow — Ah ! how difgufting ! I went through the whole naufeous procefs in the very flower of my youth, in the laft illnefs of my grandfather j
346 MORDAUNT.
and, after all, the ungrateful dotard leTt bis whole fortune to my brother, who never handed him a cup of water- gruel !
Farewell !
S. DEANPORT.
P. S. I had almoft forgot to inform you, that your old acquaintance, Mr. Townly, is a good deal with my fon at prefent. Townly has long lived a painful life, to maintain the reputation of a man of pleafure -, and though now unfit for. the pradice, he is thought to be profoundly fkilled in the theory of gal- lantry. As my fon has been accuftomed, from his childhood, to confider him in that view, and at the top of fafhion, what he fuggefts would have great weight with his Jordmip. I do not choofe to commit myfelf fo far as to give any hint to Townly, but you may.
Send me your notions, at large, on all I have written.
MORDAUNT. 347
On reflection, I have refolved on a corn-* plete alteration in my behaviour to mifs Clif- ford. I intend to make up to her with every appearance of efteem ; as much, if I am able to affume it, as I feel of real refentment.— - Do not you think this proper ? It will faci- litate the views of my fon, put the nymph, off her guard, and difpofe her tg receive his advances with more indulgence.
348 MORDAUNT.
•
LETTER LVIII. Mrs. DARNLEY to Lady DIANA FRANKLIN.
London.
1 CANNOT deny myfelf the pleafure of in- forming your ladyfhip that young lord Dean- port has of late fhown fo much attention to my niece Horatia, that 1 am convinced he means to make her a propofal of mar- riage.
Independent of his rank and fortune, he is handfome, extremely polite, and was pretty
4k
generally allowed to have danced the fecond heft minuet at the laft birth-day ball. He never fpeaks in parliament, not being of a talkative difpofition : befides, I am told that all fpeaking there is confidered now as fuper- fluous. His lordfhip has no great tafte for politics — partly, I believe, becaufe it has of late been the prevailing tafte of the vulgar.
MORDAUNT.
There is a report that he is fpeedily to be ap- pointed to an important office ; but whe- ther in the cabinet or houfehold is not cer- tain.
Your ladyihip muft be fenfible of the many advantages of fuch a match to the dear girl in whofe welfare I know you take fo fincere an intereft \ but you will be furprifed and con- cerned to hear, that, with all her underftand- ing, (lie herfelf feems to be lefs moved by thofe advantages than her beft friends could wifh \ though of late, indeed, me behaves with more refped; to the young nobleman than (he did at firfl : but in a private conver- fation I had with ber laft night, me betrayed fo great a difregard of his endowments, and a blindnefs to the other advantages of fuch a connection, as diftrefTes me extremely. Your ladyfhip knows that Horatia refufed a man of ftill greater fortune than his lordmip when me was abroad with her father. He was only a commoner, indeed, though rich enough to
35O MORDAUNT.
have made three peers. But it was not on ac- count of his not being a peer that me refufed him. I have reafon to believe it was merely becaufe me thought rather meanly of his un- derftanding ; though, in other points, an ex?? ceeding refpectable man.
As my dear brother never blamed his daugh* ter for this, I mall not take on me to condemn her : but this I muft fay, that if feveral wo- men of my acquaintance, who are very com- fortably married, had pofTeiled a particle of the fame fcruple, they would never have been united to their prefent hufbands. So Horatia ought not to allow a prejudice of this nature
to have too much weight.
i As your ladyfhip has more influence with
her than any body, I thought it right to ac- quaint you with what I conceive to be lord Deanport's intention, that you may prevent her from falling into an error iimilar to the former, if the former was an error $ becaufe it, would be more inexcufable now, when fhe
.3 OJ -'
MORDAUNT. 351
is of a riper age, and ought to have acquired more wifdom.
I have not fpoken on this fubject to my hulband, becaufe I cannot fay that lord Dean- port has directly made a propofal of marriage to my niece ; but I have a thoufand reafons for believing that it is her fault, and not his. Thofe reafons I am not fond of Hating cir- cumftantially to my hufband, becaufe men in general do not fully comprehend fuch mat- ters,, and no man in particular lefs than Mr. Darnley, though, in mod other things, he has a very clear judgment.
I am convinced, from your ladyfhip's ac- knowledged good fenfe, and from the friend- fhip you have always mown my niece, that you will not delay to warn her againft the folly and danger of keeping a perfon of lord Deanport's rank long in fufpenfe, particularly as I have reafon to believe that his mother wifhes him to court the rich mifs Moyilon, who, in conjunction with her ladyfhip, is doing all in her power to eagage his affec-
552 MORDAUNT.
tions. — The countefs, I know, is reckoned a proud and defigning woman; and, notwith- ftanding her polite behaviour in your pre- fence, I dare fay you are not ignorant of her real fentiments refpecting you. But, when Horatia is married, fhe will certainly have more influence with her hulband than the countefs can be fuppofed to have ; and me will then, no doubt, be proud to live on a good footing with your lady {hip.
I am extremely glad to hear that Mrs. Denham is better. — I beg you will prefent my befl compliments to her.
L remain,
Your ladyihip's mofl obedient humble fervant,
E. DARNLEY.
Do you not think that Horatia would be uling your ladyihip and her other friends very
MORDAUNT. 553
ill, if £hc were to give lord Deanport, or any other man who may pay his addrefles to her, a refufal, without informing them, and tak- ing their advice. If that is your ladyfhip's opinion, I dare .fay you will think it right to exprefs it in your letter to her.
VOL. II. 2 A
354 MORDAUNT.
LETTER LIX.
Lady DIANA FRANKLIN to Mifs DARNLEY, MY DEAE MADAM.
As the perfon you mention has not hitherto made any propofal to our young friend, it would be improper for me to write or fpeak to her on the fubjecl:. Indeed, I mould take no notice of it to her, though I were here- after to be informed that he had actually made propofals, unlefs me herfelf afked my opinion
or advice. From what I know of the cha-
~flu ,63'
racier and difpofition of your niece, I am
perfuaded that me will not give her hand to any man, without informing Mr. Darnley and you, and endeavouring to obtain your appro- bation. This, I think, ought to fatisfy all her relations and friends ; efpecially, as me really never has given any proof of caprice, or want of difcernment, in her likings or
c&flikings. As for the gentleman to whom
o . o
MORDAUNT. 355
you allude, whom {he refufed to marry when me was only feventeen, the debafmg taftes which he has fmce difplayed, and the wretch- ed figure he makes in life, mould prevent cither herfelf or her friends from regretting her rejection of him. AfTuredly, my dear madam, you have not been informed of his prefent ftyle of life : and you have too much penetration not to have obferved that the moft affluent fortune would be no compenfation to a woman of Horatia's turn of mind, for hav- ing a ridiculous, an ignorant, or even a well- meaning weak man, to her hufband, She never will marry, I am fully perfuaded, un- til me is afked by a man whom me highly efleems, independent of his fortune, his rank, and his difpolition. She muft have a man of underflanding for her hufband.
You hint that I have reafon to complain of lady Deanport's fentiment of me. While me refrains from injurious actions I mall re- main indifferent about her fentiments.
If ever Horatia mould confult me DJI the
556 MORDAUNT.
the fubjecT: of your letter, you may reft fa^ tisfied that my advice mall be given without any confideration of that lady's prejudice a- gainft me.
Mrs. Denham Is better, but not fo well as to allow me to think of leaving her. She has fupported a fevere and tedious illnefs with re-* fignation and fortitude ; and has given proofs of a moil amiable,— and, what is more, of a Chriftian, difpofition. She will have reafon to fay, " it is good for me that I have been affiiaed."
I remain, my dear madam, with refpe£tfu$
compliments to Mr. Darnley, i
Your moft obedient,
humble fervant,
DIANA FRANKLIN,
In anfWer to the question in your poftcript, I think no young woman ought to give her confent to a propofai of marriage without cpnfulting her friends. But, if me is deter^
MORDAtJNT. 357
mined to refiife the propofal, (he a&s with delicacy to the man in concealing it ; becaufe no man likes to have it known that he has been rejected* She alfo ads with delicacy to her own relations ; becaufe, though they mould think her objections frivolous, (he might feel them to beinfurmountable.
A $
MORDAUNT.
LETTER LX.
.
JAMES GRINDILL, Efq. to the COUNTESS (/ DEANPORT.
\
•%>uth Wales.
JL ENTER warmly in£o your ladyfhip's refent- ment againft mifs Clifford.
Your having appeared in good humour' the morning after the fcene at the affembly was neceffary for retaining your influence with lord Deanport, and for giving weight to the inuendos you threw out. Had you feemed difpleafecf, or permitted any upbraid- ing expreffion to fall from you, on account ©f his attachment to mifs Clifford, the effect would have been to have made him pay his court to her more afliduoufly than ever. Your ladyfhip muft have obferved that no* thing is fo apt to make fome people adhere to whatever whim they take into their head than oppofmg it. Argument, however ftrong,
MORDAUNT. 359
inftead of convincing, irritates : and, even when convinced that the meafure they are inclined to is pernicious, the pleafure of croffing the difapprovers, though they may be their beft friends, overcomes, in the minds of people of this character, every confideraflon of decorum, or even of in- terefl. But why do I mention this to your ladyfhip, who underftands character fo well ; and who, I am fure, will never be fo much off your guard as, from heat or want of tem- per, to provoke a perfon it is fo much your intereft to manage ? The motive to which you imputed all his attentions, and the hints that they would be fuccefsful, flattered his vanity without mowing difapprobation of his tafte, and will> probably, ftimulate him to what he might not otherwife have had har- dihood fufficient to undertake. Notwith- ftanding the cautions in my laft againll any rough attack on the lady's character, the in- genious manner in which you conducted it, I imagine, will anfwer one or the other of the 3 A 4
360 MORDAUNT.
purpofes you propofed. I alfo approve of your abflaining, on that occafion, from all praifes of the lady's wit or underftanding, be- caufe they might have given him a fufpicion of your having a perfonal malignity againft the girl, and of having fome private view in making her peculiarly odious to him. Pane- gyricks of that infidious nature may be found expedient on fome future occaiion however -9 and, I am convinced, will not fail of the in- tended effect. The difcernment with which you have perceived, and the fagacity with which you intend to repair the fmall miftake you committed in mowing refentment againft mifs Clifford, is rrioft admirable. I have not the leaft doubt that your former behaviour has piqued the damfel, and that me has • given herfelf the airs you mention, merely to vex you, and in revenge for your preferring mifs Moyfton. Whether the late change ia mifs Clifford's behaviour to your fon pro- ceeds from her being more ftruck than for- merly with his lordfhip's appearance, or from.
MORDAUNT. 361
refentment or caprice, it is laudable in your ladyfhip to render the circumftance fubfer- vient to your own views, which are thofe of a prudent mother, anxious for the permanent happinefs of her fon.
Mifs Moyfton and mifs Clifford are as dif- ferent in character as in appearance ; yet the difference in one material part of their cha- racter, very probably, has depended, in a great meafure, on the difference in their ap- pearance. A large proportion of prudes are to be found among-women decidedly ugly; whereas, in general, the handfome, or, which forms- a- greater number, thofe who think themfelves fo, have a tendency to coquetry. We might expect it would be fo, even though we had not obferved that the truth of the remark is confirmed by experience. The confcioufnefs of beauty naturally infpires gay- ity, and a defire of exciting admiration by -a difplay of perfonal charms. The confcicui- nefs of a total -want of perfonal charms is apt to infpire difcontent, envy, and cenforicuf-
362 MORDAUNT.
nefs. From this may have fprung that mo- rofenefs and prudery which is remarked in mifs Moyfton ; as well as the gaiety, verfa- tility, and occafional coquetry, of mifs Clif- ford's behaviour. But, though different in thofe refpedts, each of thofe ladies is poffeffed of attractions for a young nobleman like lord Deanport. What alone is defirable in the one, unqueflionably, is her fortune, which cannot be obtained otherwife than by mar- riage; but what attracts him in the , other may be enjoyed without that degrading ceremony. I wifh him fuccefs in both. But if he is to fail in one of his objects, it had better be in that to which he is prompted by a tranlient inclination, than in the other, which is founded in a paffion for money ; a paffion of which his lordfhip has already given indications, and which ge- nerally flrengthens with age.
Your ladyfhip, with admirable penetra- tion into the fecret fources of human con- duct, expreffes a fear that the pride you ob-
MORDAUNT. 363
ferve in mifs Clifford's character will prove a defence againft his lordfhip's attempts ; but what I imagine will contribute to the fame effect, is that fpecies of pride which belongs to his own character, which is too vifible in his manner, and hurts the felf-love of others. There is a certain loftinefs in his addrefs, even to women, which gives the impreffion that he is prepoffeffed with the notion that his notice does them honour. There is reafon to dread that this will be a bar to his fuccefs with mifs Clifford, who, with lefs ftatelinefs, has the prefumption, I fufpect, of being as proud as his lordfhip. It may, however, have the effect which your lady (hip alfo fore- 4ees, of making her repulfe him with an ar- rogance which will convert his love into hatred. There is no knowing how it may affect her. No experience of your charming fex, my dear lady Deanport, can enable one to decide how any individual woman will act, on particular emergencies ; as no experience of ours can make it certain how any indj-
364 MORDAUNT*
vidual man, who is under the influence o£ love, will be affected by the fcorn or caprice of the woman he loves.
Your ladyfhip juftly remarks, that any woman may be caught napping; but it is alfo true, that fome women have a greater difpo- lition to be drowfy than others : and thofe who are endowed with that pride, which you fufpect to belong to the character of mifs Clifford, are the moft wakeful.
I own I do not much dread a danger, which you feem to apprehend might be the confe- quence of his victory ; namely, that, after
being his miftrefs, me might perfuade him i
to make her his wife, and retain an afcen- dency over him that would annihilate all your ladyfhip's influence. I beg leave to re- mind you of what you have often com- plained, in your fon's difpofition, that, though eager to obtain whatever flakes his fancy, and miferable if "he muTes it, yet, when ob- tained, and in -his pofleffion, it directly be- gins to loie its charms, and foon becomes in-
MORDAUNT. 365
fipid. You may reft affured that this verfa- tility is never more fudden than in the con- nection of men of that difpofition with wo- men. Favours are £ud to be the food of love ; yet, in my opinion, it often dies of that aliment. But I imagine that, on this occa- lion, your ladyfhip confounds the conduct of fuch men in their youth with what is often their, fate in the decline of life. If at that period they chance to be bachelors, they are apt to be the flaves of mercenary miftrefles, who rule them with a rod of iron. In youth they are ever in fearch of variety ; in age they are governed by habit. — I confefs, that if lord Deanport was verging towards old age, or if his conftitution was fo broken by ex- cels, that he had anticipated its imbecillities, J mould have the fame apprehenfions with, your ladyfhip, and think it probable that any woman who could accommodate herfelf to his caprices, and bear occafional fits of ill- ufage, would have the management of him,
and finally prevail on him to marry her : but
± j
from a woman of mifs Clifford's character
366 MORDAUNT.
nothing of that kind is to be dreaded, either in his prefent fbte of health, or in that above fuppofed ; becaufe, in the firft cafe, {he would foon lofe all hold of him from his natural ficklenefs, and, in the fecond, me would not bear to live with him, even were he to offer her marriage.
You will obferve, that my beft hopes are founded on this damfel's giving herfelf fuch airs as will wound his lordmip's vanity, and occafion, at leaft, a temporary breach between them, which your ladyfhip may then render irreparable.
I have the pleafure to inform you, that ap- pearances in this quarter of the world arc more favourable than ever ; and I am in full hope that this tedious bufinefs is very near a conclufion : after which, you may depend on my abridging all ceremonies here, that I may have the happinefs of waiting on your lady- fhip as foon as poffible.
I remain, your faithful and obedient fetvant,
J. GIUNDIU,,
MORDAUNT. 367
P. S. I {hall write to Townly by this
very poft, in the flyle your ladyfhip wilhes : — >
it may be of fervice. He is wonderfully
flattered by being thought an adept in the
fcience of gallantry. He will boaft to my
lord of his own fuccefles -, and perhaps fti-
mulate him to an attempt, which, whatever
way it ends, mufl be favourable to your
views.
3,65 MORJ)AUNT.
LETTER LXI. JAMES GRINDILL, 2^. /O&OBERTTOWNLY,
You, my dearTownly, have, through life, iacrificed what is called bufinefe, and every other objedT:, to the purfuit of pleafure ; and no man alive is fuppofed to have been more fuccefsful in the chace. — However ambitious I may have been to imitate you, I am, at pre- fent, as you may have learned /rom lord
Deanport, reduced to the neceifity of facri- >
ficing the pleafure of being with thofe I love in town to the painful occupation of attend- ing a dying relation in Wales. -
It is to be hoped that my penance draws near a clofe, In the mean time, I am going to write to you confidentially on a fubjecl:, in which,, from your friendmip to the earl of Deanport, I am perfuaded, you will feel your- felf as much interefled as I am.
MORDAITNT.
The relations of that young nobleman, as I am informed, are extremely uneafy on account of his attachment to a mifs Clifford of Nor- thumberland. How, indeed, can they be otherwife, confidering the number of young men of rank and fortune who have thrown themielves away of late on girls who have nei- ther; in fome inftances, not even beauty ; or, at leaft, not more than may be purchafed for a few guineas. The girl, I underflan4> is artful, and is uiing every means in her power to draw his lordihip into a marriage : — nothing can be more equitable, therefore, than to make her the dupe of her own artifices. And who is fo able to inftrucl: him how to elude the fnares laid for him, or to entrap the enfnarer, as yourfelf? Who can boaft more knowledge of the world ? Who has applied his talents more fuccefsfully to that half of it which it is moft pleafant to ftudy, and moft- difficult to under- hand ? Though I could not help partaking of the uneafinefs which the young lord's rela- tions feel on the prefent occaiion, yet, on my
VOL. ii. 2 B
370 MORDAUNT.
part, it has been a good deal alleviated, fince I was informed that you were fo much with his lordfhip of late. I have no doubt of your having fufficient influence to prevail on him either to renounce his prefent purfuit altoge^ ther, or to attempt bringing it to an iffue on ealier terms than thofe deligning perfons who have drawn him into it expedt.
I hope foon to hear of the goo'd effe&s of your fage advice -y and remain.
My dear fir, Your fincere friend and fervant,
J. GRINDJLL,
MORDAUNT. 371
LETTER LXII. } HORATIA CLIFFORD to Mrs. SOMMERS.
London.
1 HAVE many thanks to return you, my dear- eft Juliet, for the trouble you took in gratify- ing my idle curiolity to know the particulars of Mr. Mordaunt's adventure. Whatever regards fo intimate a friend of your hufband muft intereft me in fome degree : but if I Jiad forefeen that my requell would have fub- jetted you to the tafk of copying fo long a narrative, I, perhaps, mould not have made it, though the circumftances are in themfelves interefting. What a mocking creature, with all her beauty, mufl that Italian woman be ! What an horrid idea, to endeavour to terrify a man into marriage ! But it appears that Mr. Mordaunt is not a man to be terrified. — Don't you think there is fomething very ftriking in
that gentleman's chara&er ? 2 B Q
372 MORDAUNT.
With regard to Mrs. Demure, fimilar re- flections with thofe you fuggeft, on what (he faid of. lady Deanport, occurred to myfelf ; and therefore I would have laid little ftrefs on her tefHmony if it had not been confirmed by that of others, of whofe candour I had a better opinion.
I ftrpngly fufpeft that me is fond of de- traction, and that there is little reality in the fenfibility which (he is fo fond of profeffing.
I believe I formerly informed you, that I had remarked that me was apt to betray ill humour as oftt-n as Mr. Mordaunt's name was mentioned.— I don't know what tempted me, this very morning, to afk her if me was much acquainted with that gentleman. She replied, with peculiar acrimony of voice and counter- nance, " that me would be forry to be much acquainted with fuch a profligate."
Thotigh I had fome inclination to know on what her opinion was founded, I was dif- couraged by her manner of receiving the iirft from putting another queftion. Beiides, I
MORDAUNT. C73
was convinced that, if the gentleman deferv- ed the character (he gave him, he would not have been the chofen friend of colonel Som- mers.
My aunt, however, is delighted with the refined and noble fentiments of which Mrs. Demure makes a frequent difplay — though (he could not help being fomewhat mocked at what occurred yefterday. Mrs. Demure hap- pening to call as my aunt and I were ftepping into the coach to go to Kenfington- gardens, Ihe went with us. After walking for fome time, we went into one of thofe covered feats, or boxes, near the palace. My aunt fpoke with high efteem of a nobleman lately de- ceafed. She enumerated many of his good qualities. —
" What I admired above all, in your friend," faid Mrs. Demure, with a very theatrical air, " was, that
" He had a tear for pity, and a hand , Open as day for melting charity."
2 B 3
574 MORDAUNT.
She had no fooner pronounced this, than a pale emaciated man, who had, perhaps, heard her, prefented himfelf at the open fide of the box, and implored her charity.
What made her lofe her temper I cannot imagine > for nothing in the poor maa's ap- pearance-and manner was calculated to ex- cite any fentiment but that of companion. Mrs. Demure, however, turned on him with anger, called him an idle intruding vagabond,
and. added, " that me thanked God me knew
*
how to beflow her money better than on lazy fellows like him !"— The man bowed with a look of resignation, and, without making any other reply, withdrew. hrMrs. Demure then refumed her eulogium en the deceafed nobleman, which £he con- cluded by laying, with a plaintive tone of voice, " me was much afraid that few mert alive could be compared to him for genuine benevolence of heart."
My aunt flepped for a minute out of the
MORDAUNT. 375
box.— I afterwards difcovered that it was to fend her footman with a guinea to the poor man.
I wifhed to have had fome difcourfe this morning with my aunt on Mrs. Demure's conduct on that occafion : me only faid " me Was perfuaded that her friend had miftaken the poor man's character," and then changed the fubject, which is her conftant practice, when me has nothing advantageous to fay of the perfon fpoken of.
I wiih, however, my aunt may not be more miftaken in Mrs; Demure's character than that lady was in the man's. — What could be a furer indication of character than what I have juft related. — At the very inftant, when me feemed enraptured with fentiments of benevolence, an occafion prefents itfelf for putting them in practice : me not only (lirinks from it, but is enraged at the miferable ob- ject who furnimed her with the opportunity ihe appeared to be fo defirous of.
2 B 4
376 MORDAUNT.
For the fake of fome people of my ac- quaintance, I mould be forry to think that all whom I have obferved to be fond of ex- prefiing heroic and difinterefted fentiments are deiicient in the practice of benevolence j but I acknowledge that I am a little fufpi- cious of thofe who are orofufe of fuch de-
A
clarations.
The fears you exprefs in your laft, left my openly braving the countefs of Deanport mould expofe me to her vengeance, are wor- thy of your friendship, and of a piece with that forgiving mildnefs of difpofition which I have long admired in you, my fweet friend, without always being able to imitate it. In the prefent inftance, however, I have follow- ed your counfel. 1 have No ; let me
not try to deceive you in the moil trifling particular — let me not hang out falfe colours to my friend — let her regard me juft as I am. If I thought any part of your affedion was derived from your believing me to be polTerT- cd of qualities I have not, it would abate in
MORDAUNT. 377
fome degree the pleafure I have in reflecting on your friendship. I mould fay, It is not me that Juliet loves and efteems, it is a better woman. In aflerting a truth, I was on the point of leading you to believe a falfehood : it is true that I have done exadly what you ad- vifed ; but it was not in compliance with your advice, as I was leading you to believe, for I had begun to do fo for other reafons, before I received your letter.
I accompanied my aunt, a few nights fince, to the ambafTadrefs's. Lady Deanport was there. You will naturally believe, that all I wifhed was, that me might take no notice of me. You cannot conceive my furprifc, when, after addreffing Mrs. Darnley in the ufual terms of politenefs, me fpoke to me in the moft obliging manner. I anfwered her at firft a little drily ; but me continued with fuch an eafy air, and in fo affable a ftyle, that it was impoffible for me to preferve the coldnefs I had affumed. You know, my dear, that, however Strong my refentment may be,
373 MORDAtTNT.
it never could refirt the firfl fymptoms of re-» pentance in the perfon who had raifed it. The countefs fpoke in fo conciliating a tone, that I really thought {he was fenfible me had be- haved to me improperly, and was felicitous that I mould forget it. She inquired when I had heard from my friend lady Diana. This was near rekindling my refentment. It brought what Mrs. Demure had told me back to my recollection ; but, before I had time to give any anfwer, fhe added fo many obliging ex- prefilons concerning lady Diana, that I be- gan to think Mrs. Demure's reprefentations muft have been founded on miftake : my coldnefs difTolved, and I met her lady/hip's advances, not only with a conciliating coun- tenance, but with real good- will. My lord joined us while we were converting in this cordial manner. He feemed delighted to find his mother and me on fuch terms. My behaviour to him was more frank than it had ever been ; more fo even than his to me j for when he attempts to be frank he has the
MOR DAUNT. 579
air of condefcending : befides, it is difficult to keep up a converfation with him, becaufe what one is to fay depends upon what was laft faid -, but he is exceedingly apt to give a iimper for an anfwer; and then, if one has not the talent of lady Voluble, whofe difcourfe admits no commas, colons, nor Hops of any kind, one muft of courfe be a little at a lofs ; for far am I from being able to interpret the meaning of all his limpers or fmiles, if you pleafe, that I fome times cannot decide whe- ther the moil expreffive of them mean yes tor no.
With regard to your advice, ' that I mould give him an unequivocal anfwer,' you may depend upon it he /hall have it ; but he muft firft put the quefHon, which he has never yet done -, and which, now that my refent- ment againft lady Deanport is diffipated, I fincerely hope he never intends to do.
I am better pleafed to be on a good foot- ing than a bad with lady Deanport ; and I feel fome fenfe of obligation to her fon for
38O MORDAUNT.
the civilities he fhows to me ; but I do not witfi to be connected with either by any other link than that of general acquaintance. What gives me uneafmefs, and really mortifies me a good deal, is to perceive that my aunt Darnley is mightily elated by the attentions of this noble peer. My aunt, you know, is one of the moft benevolent of women -, me loves me with the affedion of a mother : her partiality to me convinces her that I would make a good figure as a peerefs ; my partiality to myfelf, you may fuppofe, inclines me to the fame opinion. She ardently wifhes that I may marry a peer. Perhaps I wifh the fame, though not fo ardent- ly. She would prefer a duke, but would be for my accepting of an earl, if he ihould make the offer at prefent, — becaufe delays are dan- gerous. Unfortunately, not fo much as u baron has, as yet, had that complaifance ; and the noble earl, on whom her hopes are now fixed, is not to my tafte. In cafe he really has the intention, which I evidently fee me fuppofes, I mould dread fome difagreeable
MORDAUNT. 381
fcene between my aunt and me on that ac- count, were it not for my uncle, who, with equal benevolence, is of a different charac- ter, and, I am certain, would approve of my preferring a commoner, with a moderate for- tune, to a peer with the moft opulent, pro- vided I efteemed the former moft. I do not know that you are thoroughly acquainted with Mr. Darnley, my dear. He is a man that — But I am interrupted. In "my next I ihall give you a pretty diftinc~t notion of what fort of a man my uncle is. Farewell !.
PI. CLIFFORD,
382 MORDAUNT.
LETTER LXIII. Mtfs HORATIA CLIFFORD to Mrs. SOMMERS.
London.
W HEN I was interrupted, I was going to tell you, my dear Juliet, that Mr. Darnley is a man whom few things can much elate or deprefs — whofe blood and judgment fire well co-mingled: he has taken Fortune's buffets and rewards with equal thanks. He feems to have been formed by Nature for a Stoic philofopfter. No confideration will make him deviate from what he thinks the line of integrity. In other matters he is yielding to the humours of others, parti- cularly to thofe of my aunt.
At her felicitation, he lives eight months every year -in town, and only four at his eftate in Oxfordshire. He faid nothing could He more reafonable ; becaufe, though his li-
MORDAUNT. 383
x
brary was in his country-houfe, yet he could have the ufe of any book he pleafed while he was at London j whereas, his wife could not have aflemblies, and operas, and plays, which were to her what books were to him, in the fame perfection in the country as in. London. He had, originally, a very good eftate -, which he has not diminifhed, nor ever had a wifh to augment.
He was forty years of age when he married my aunt, who was about ten years younger. He once told me-^-" That he had been, in fome degree, attracted by her beauty, more by her cheerful and accommodating temper, and moft of all by 'his friendmip for my fa- ther and mother. I was more ambitious to be connected with them," added he, " than with any duke or duchefs in England. I cer- tainly love you for your own fake, my dear Horatia; but, I believe, in my conference, ftill more for theirs. You will be a good woman indeed, my dear, if you mould ever t>e thought equal to your mother."
384 MORDAUNT.
^Though he uttered this with fervour, his eyes w^re dry : that was not the cafe with mine. — " I did not mean," refumed he, " to diftrefs you, but to give you pleafure. Is it not an honour, and ought it not to afford you pleafure, to be the offspring of two of the ' worthier!: people in England ? We fee peo- ple proud of their birth and titles, even when thofe titles were obtained without merit -, but you, my dear, have a legitimate claim to the pride of birth. You mult, however, always keep in your mind, that if the daughter of fuch a father and mother as you can boaft has only an ordinary (hare of merit, me will be thought to have degenerated/.'
I cannot defcribe how I was affe&ed by this difcourfe of Mr. Darnley. In fpite of the fadnefs which the recollection of the lofs of my parents always occafions, to. hear them praifed was delightful, — it was the joy of grief ~ple nf ant like the flower offering, is hen it foftens the branches cf the oak, and the young leaf lifts its green head*.
* O-fTian.
MORDAUNT. 385
I Will conclude this rambling letter with an anecdote at once chara&eriftic of both my uncle and aunt. She, you know, my dear, is of a very hofpitable difpofition ; (he loves to give frequent entertainments, and is pe- culiarly gratified by having people of rank at her table. But, though me annually exhaufts the fum which he, with more regard to her tafte than his own, moft liberally allows for houfehold expenfes, yet me endeavours not to exceed it. A perfon who pofleffed a con- fiderable annuity from my uncle died lately. My aunt, willing to add a little more fplen- dor to their prefent eftablifhment, before me would make the propofal, obferved to my uncle, one day at breakfaft, that this annuity made fuch an augmentation of their income, as would enable him, without inconveniency, to increafe their expenfes, unlefs he chofe rather to lay it up.
" I have no intention to lay it up, my dear," laid he.
VOL. ii. 2 c
GS6 MOR DAUNT.
" Indeed," replied fhe, « I fhould thinfc it hardly worth while."
" I am glad you are of my opinion, my dear ; and £hall now inform you, that I have deftined one half of that annuity to the main- tenance and education of the orphan children of our late curate in the country, and the other half to that diftant relation of yours who was ftruck with the pdfy; unlefs/' continued he, " you have thought of fome more ufeful way of employing it."
A very deep blufh fpread over my aunt's countenance : me threw her eyes on the ground ; and, after a paufe, me faid — " In- deed, rriy- dear, I can think of no way of beftowing it that is half fo good : I fhould now be extremely forry to fee it employed otherwife. But, alas ! few in the world have fo much generous reflection and benevolence as you."
" 'That remark is by much too fevere on the world, my dear," faid my uncle >
MORDAUNT. 3$7
*f but, as we are of one mind refpedting the difpofal of the annuity, I (hall go and give directions accordingly."
You fee, my dear Juliet, that I endeavour to repay you, in quantity at leaft, for the narrative you fent me. I fuppofe you will foon have a vilit from the hero of that tale. The marchionefs's friends at Richmond will on no account part with her. I am con- vinced they will not be able to keep her an hour, however, after me hears of lady Diana's arrival in London.
Adieu ! my dearefl Juliet.
H. CLIFFORD.
26 2
>3S MORDAUNT;
LETTER LXIV. The Honourable JOHN MORDAUNT to Colonel
SOMMERS. DEAR SOMMERS, Wlnchefter.
JL RAVERS. and I fet out from London far Hampshire this morning. We were detained here by fome bufinefs I had with a perfon whom I found waiting for me at the inn.
Travers is gone to bed. -As I do not find 0
myfelf fo difpofed, I will recount a little in-
J A
cident ,that occurred on the road, and which
1
has never been entirely out of my thoughts
fmce. For aught I know it Is that, and 0
that only, which keeps off all difpofition to ileep : my account of it will perhaps have a contrary effect on you.
We rode on horfeback the two firft ports ; and, as the weather was fine, fometimes de- viated, on purpofe to have a more command- ing view of the country.— The real view of
MORDAUNT. 389"
landfcapes is as pleating as rhoft verbal defcriptions of them are fatiguing.
As we returned to the road, after one of thefe fhort excurfions, we obferved a poft- chaifc, with a woman, fomething in the ftyle of a lady's maid in it, before the door of a cottage. Juft as we came up, a lady came out of the cottage, ftepped into the chaife, the door of which her footman ihut, mounted his horfe, and defired the ppftillion to drive on.
I had two views of this lady's face — one
»
as me went from the cottage-door to the chaife $ the other after fhe was in it, when me put her head a moment from the window, looking at Travers and me.
In the courfe of my life I never beheld fo charming a countenance. Nothing could equal the lovelinefs of her face, except the elegance and fymmetry of her perfon. I never was fo forcibly ftruck with the light- ning of mere perfonal beauty : but it was not 2 c 3
390 MORDAUNT.
merely perfonal, for, in the two mort views I had, I could perceive that
"Her eyes {hot fenfe, diftin& and clear As any mufe's tongue could fpeak *."
*KA.n Phcebi foror ? an Nympharum fanguinis una ?" faid Travers, as he followed the chaife with his eyes -, then, turning to a young fellow, in a failor's drefs, who flood near the door of the cottage—*' I'll give you a milling, my lad," laid he, " if you'll tell me who the lady is who went lafl into the chaife ?"
" I would give half a crown myfelf to know who (he is," anfwered the failor.
" I honour your generofity as well as your tafle, my honefl fellow," cried Travers ; " and you'll oblige me by accepting this half-guinea, to drink the woman's health you admire fo much."
*' Thank your honour," replied the failor, *f All the information I can give you con- cerning the lady who has juft fet fail is, that I am fure {he is an Englifh woman." * Prior.
MORDAUNT. 391
4< How can you be fure even -of that ?'* faid Travers.
" Becaufe all your foreign women, were they ever fo handfome, have fomething of an
outlandifh look, which this lady has hot," re-
>> plied the failor.
<e You have feen a great many foreign wo- men, perhaps," refumed Travers.
" I have failed round the world," anfwer- ed he.
" You muft, then, have had great oppor- tunities. — And, pray, where did you fee the handfomeft?"
" Why, pleafe your honour, taking them all in all," rejoined the failor, " 1 do not know but tl?.e handfomeft women I ever faw, that is to fay, out of England, was during a voyage up the Mediterranean, where I chanc- ed to get a glimpfe of fome Greek girls be- longing to an old Turk."
" To an old Turk ?" faid Travers.
" Yes, very old, pleafe your honour. One might have thought he had no more ufe for
2 c 4
392 MORDAUNT.
|b many girls than a dog has for a fide-pocket, as the faying is. But the fight I had of them had like to have coil: me very dear." yfci" Thofe Greek girls came neareft in beauty to the lady who is juft gone, you think?" faid Travers.
" No, pleaie your honour— Nell Smith, of Liverpool, comes neareft in the article of face, which is all I can fpeak to in refpect of Nell.1'
" You think, then, that Nell Smith her- felf is not quite fo handfome as that lady ?"
** I cannot in confcience fay me is," re- plied the failor ; " though, for my own part, I would prefer Nell, for old acquaintance fake."
" There is encouragement to matrimony," exclaimed Travers, addreffing me.
" Let us ftep into the cottage," faid I, difmounting.
Travers did the fame j and having defired the faiior to deliver his compliments to Nell Smith, he followed me.
MORDAUNT. 393
We found a woman fuckling an infant, and two girls, one about eight years old, and the other about three, coarfely but neatly drefled.
On inquiring of the woman who the lady
was, (he anfwered, with fervour, " The lady
' i
is an angel!'
" This much I knew before. > But I wiih to know her name, and the family me be- longs to, " faid I, flipping a guinea into her hand.
" It is not in my power, fir, to fatisfy you in any of thofe matters," replied the poor woman, offering me the guinea back again ; which having refufed to take, I faid, " It feems a little particular that you mould not know the name of a lady who vifits you."
She then informed me " that her hufband was a labouring man, who worked at a place about a mile from the cottage ; that, fome weeks ago, me had occafion to fend her eldeft daughter to him three hours before the ufual time of his return home 5 that the youngeft
394 MORDAUNT.
falling a crying to be allowed to accompany her filter, and the weather being fair, {he had confented; but when the children arrived at the place where he ufually was at work, their father was gone elfewhere, and they were ob- liged to return. On their way home an unex- peded rain had fallen ; the children were drenched to the fkin j and the youngeft not being able to walk the whole way, the eldeft carried her till /he was ready to fink with fa* ^tigue. The lady was pafling in her carriage at that moment : moved with companion at the light of the children, fhe had Hopped her carriage, and taken them into it." By the elder child's direction, the poftillion drove to the cottage. The mother had not gone in fearch of them," becaufe me nevei doubted their having found their father, and being under his care. The poor woman added, " that the lady had entered the cottage, feen the children put to bed with as much care as if me had been their mother, had given
MORDAUNT. 395
her money to buy them clothes— -Oh! gentlemen, " continued me, with fervour, " the lady you are inquiring after is, indeed, an angel, if ever there was one on earth, though my huiband will not allow me to fay fo."
" Why will he not allow you ?" " He fays there are no angels but thofe which come from heaven ; and this lady has never been there as yet."
" Your hufband is a very religious man ?" " Yes, that he is j but he is a very honeft man alfo."
" You do not think him the worfe for his religion, then ?"
" Not a bit — it rather does him good. It made him contented, even when things were at the worft with us. The fame crofs acci- dents which fet others a -curling makes him fay his prayers. When I told him that the la- dy's happening to pafs jufl when the children were on the road was a very lucky accident,
396 MORDAUNT.
he faid " there was no accident -in it; fbrit was all owing to Providence -y and therefore I ought to be thankful to God."
" Well, what had you to anfwer to that ?"
I anfwered, '* I was thankful to God, whe- ther it 'was owing to accident or to Provi- dence. But, after all, I thought myfelf chiefly obliged to the lady."
" What is the lady's name ?" faid I.
" I afked that ofteher than once,'' faid the woman ; " but the fervants had orders not to tell it : but I difcovered where me lived."
" I am glad of that," replied L— " Where does ilie live ?"
" I am next to certain, " aniwered the woman, « that fhe lives in London— for"
" What part of London ?"
*' Nay, that," rejoined fhe,. " I never could learn.'*
As it was now too late to think of overtak- ing the chaife, I continued my. inquiries, and was informed that the lady had promifed to
place the eldeft girl, of whom (he focmed particularly fond, at a fchool in the neigh- bourhood, and to continue to affift the family in other refpefts.
The poor woman, obferving that this in- formation made me more anxious to know who the lady was, faid, « I am fure your ho- nour will not be long in finding her out; for I have already told you that me lives in Lon- don: and, from what I have heard, there are not a great many fuch women there ; and what there are muft, no doubt, be of the firft-
rate quality."
With this I was obliged to be fatisfied, and fo took leave of the cottage, which I poflibly may revifit on my return to London.— Tra- vers and I had a good deal of converfation on this incognita as we proceeded on our jour- ney ; and after I had firiifhed my bufinefs with the perfon who waited for me here, we re- fumed the fame after fupper, till he became drowfy and went to bed. I feized the pen,
398 MORDAUNT.
and have given you this important narra- tive.
To-morrow we ihall be at my brother's by his hour of breakfaft.
Adieu !
i MORDAUNT.
MORDAUNTi
LETTER LXV.
Hon. JOHN MORDAUNT to Col SOMMERS.
Rofe- Mount.
HERE! have been thefe three days ; and, though I have no information to give you on the main point, I feel myfelf difpofed to write
to you.
Habit is faid to be a fecond nature. I ufed to think myfelf an exception to that maxim ; yet my long practice of fcribbling from Ve- vay has rendered letter-writing a pleafure, which I formerly confidered as a tafk. In proof of this effect of habit I could alfo name fome of our acquaintance who married for conveniency, without one particle of love, and, of courfe, began their- conjugal career in a ftate of indifference towards their yoke- mate ; but, by the habit of dragging t he fame weight together, both acquired a kim d of af- fection for each other, which gradu; illy in-
40O MORDAUKT.
crcafed, and now they are never happy a* funder.
Thefe obfervations, you will prefume, will naturally incline me to break my refolution againft marrying, and liften to my brother's advice. So perhaps they might, if I could not name a greater number of couples of our acquaintance who married for love, and love alone, grew lick of each other within a few months, found their. mutual complaint to in- creafe the more they were together, and ne- ver were tolerably eafy unlefs they were a- funder.
What is the meaning of this contrariety ? Is it .poffible to believe that habit operates fo fantaflically as to reconcile us only to what we diflike, and to render us averfe to what we are fond of ? No, — this idea is too whim- iical to be juft. Tour experience, my dear Sommers, and that of your Juliet, will re- fute it.
Thodfe in the firft predicament, who marry in fpito of diflike or indifference, are generally
40!
men whofe leading paflion is avarice, who think domeflie difguft and difquiet do not overbalance the pleasures which money can procure ; or phlegmatic indolent women, in- capable of a lively paffion, who, being fen- fible of no fuch great difference between one man and another as a difference of fortune makes, facrifice the man they prefer in all other refpedts, if he is deficient in fortune, to him they contemn ot are entirely indif- ferent about, if he be well provided in that article : and it frequently happens, that their original contempt of their hufband mellows into indifference; and indifference, by dint of habit, and by the continued affectation of love, produces at laft a fpecies of liking bor^ dering on good-will : juft, by way of ex- ample, as thofe who cannot afford claret take to port, or perhaps porter ; which, though unpalatable at firft, becomes lefs and lefs fo by dint of patience and perfeverance, and at kit tolerably fuits their tafle.
VOL. II. 2D
402 MORDAUNT.
. Thofe, on the oth?r hand, who, defpifing mil -other .configurations, marry from love, and fepar-ate foon after from hatred, may be com pared to people who are fo fond of claret, that, without thinking of the price, indulge in ex- cels which' create 'difguft and remorfe. :.„ Notwithstanding the experience I have had ^that habit can overcome diflike in the inftance of letter- writing, and notwithflanding that, in the foregoing illuftrations, the latter produces . the moft difmal cataftrophe, I am fo framed, :±liat if. I ever fhould venture ,on matrimony at .iail^I am convinced I would choofe to rifk the •.; of the claret-drinkers.' That my brother has a particular lady in •his. eye, "to Avhom hs wiilies me united, I fufpecl: ; that I do not know the woman, to whom. I fliould not think it a great misfor- tune to be fo united, is certain. If I were pbliged at this moment to make a choice, .1 do not know that I fhould not fix, at all rifks, on. the lady of. the cottage, mentioned in my
MORDAUNT. 403:.
Lift. Can any thing be a Wronger proof of- the flight impreffion which all my female ac- quaintance have made on me ? The truth is, none of them ever occupy my thoughts ; whereas, that incognita has feldom been ab- fent from my mind fmce I law her. I don't know that I have not before feen women of equal beauty ; but I am fure I never beheld fb intelligent a countenance, or one fo pecu- liarly to my tafte. On my foul, it is fmgu- lar that me mould engrofs me fo much. I mall furely forget her within a day or two. I had but a mere glance of the woman. Were I to allow the tranlient apparition to teaze me much longer, I mould deferve, as Benedict fays, " to have my eyes pickt out, and to have my perfon hung up for the fign of blind Cupid."
Lord Cardon arrived here the day after Travers and I. I believe you are not ac- quainted with that agreeable old..pe.er. To** give you fome notion of him, as well as -of.
2D 1J
404 MORDAUNT,
my kinfman governor Flint, fhall be the fub» ject of this letter.
To an excellent underftanding lord Cardon joins the mofl cheerful difpofition, and the happieft talent of pleafing. Some people think that he has rather more wit and hu- mour than is confident with the dignity o* the peerage. Lord Gelid once told me fo, and lamented it greatly, bccaufe he acknow^ ledged, "that, in fome other refpe&s, lordCar- don was much of a nobleman."
With all his pleafantry, and air of care- IdTnefs, few men pay more ferious attention to the calls of humanity. He often make5 the firfh fubfervient to the purpofes of the lafl ; and has often drawn thofe, whom com- panion could not have moved, into acts of be- jieficence for the joke's fake. He once pre^ yaile4 on lord Gelid, the moft unfeeling of mankind, to perform an act of charity from, pure fympathy. Having applied for an of- fice in his lordlhif's gift, for a perfon whom.
WORD At NT. 405
he reprefented to be in peculiarly h?.:v
cumftantces, and menticr.-.r.
children to maintain,— lord Gelid zoftyQ&fa
(t that it was no hardship for a ^a::
tain his own children,"
Seeing that this ilatement had no efi lord Cardon tried another, which he thought might create more Sympathy.
M I arn of your lordflnp's opinion/' replied he, " that it is no hardship for a man to main- tain his own children ; but I hope you will admit that it is a confiderable hardmip for a man to be obliged to maintain children that are not his own."
" Not his own • V* exclaimed lord Gelid : is Whofe children are they then ?"
<f Alas ! my lord," replied lord Cardon, " what augments the hardmip of this man's cafe is, that the queilion you put is what .none but his wife can anfwer. All that the worthy man himfelf is phyfically certain cf is, that the children are not his."
There was fomething in this
406 MORDAUNT.
which awakened the feelings of lord Gelid fo uncommonly, that he granted the favour demanded.
Since his arrival here, lord Cardon has alfo, in a manner peculiar to himfelf, prevailed on my brother to promife to ferve a perfon againft whom he had been a good deal prejudiced.
You have heard the ftory of Mrs. — .
After that affair was firfl talked of, and when k was thought that no part of her fortune would be recovered, many who had called themfelves her friends, and had profited by her extravagance, abandoned her entirely,
.
without examining whether (he was fo much to blame as was faid, or not.
Lord Cardon for fome time feemed to be her only advocate j and yefterday, at break- iaft, he endeavoured to intereft my brother in her cafe, which is foon to be brought before the Houfe of Peers.
My brother expreifed fome furprife at his taking fo warm a part in a perfon who had behaved fo very imprudently,
MORDAUNT. 407
" Had me always behaved with prudence, my lord," faid lord Cardon, " fhe would not have flood in need of any body to take her part. But, I am convinced, that advantage has been taken of her imprudent conduct, to give a much worfe reprefentation of her than me deferves. At all events, my lord, the imprudence of her conduct has nothing to do with the juflice of her claim. It is your at- tention to her cafe only that I folicit your lordfhip for : from me me has a right to ex- peel: all the fupport in my power ; I lie un- der a very important obligation to that lady."
"I cannot conceive," faid my brother, " how your lordfhip can lie under an im- portant obligation to fo frivolous a woman !"
" You will be ftill more at a lofs," re- joined lord Cardon, " when I aflure you that the obligation under which (he laid me is increafed, inftead of being diminimed* by the frivolity of the unfortunate lady's cha- rafter. In fhort, my lord," continued he, " though no traces of it remain now, Mrs. • was, about twenty years ago, a very
40$ MO R DAUNT.
beautiful woman j and at that time I was (and I fear fome traces of it remain flill) a very giddy fellow 5 fo much fo, that I ac- tually made a propofal 'of marriage to the lady in queftion, which fhe had the good- nefs to reject. This was an obligation of fuch importance, as, without being the mod ungrateful of men, I never can forget."
" Now that I am acquainted with the very ciTential obligation which your lordmip lies
under to Mrs. , you may rely upon it,"
anfwered my brother, " that I fhall take pains to underftand her cafe •> and, if I think me has juftice on her fide, I will join your lordmip in doing her all the fervice in my power."
I am fumrnoned to dinner; but if it rains to-morrow as inceflantly as it has done to-day, I mall give you a little more of lord Cardon. Farewell !
OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
by S. Hamillcn, Falcon-court, Fleet-ltreet, Louden.
PR cMoore, John.,
3605 Mordaunt
M5M6
v.2
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