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A N 
 
 AUTHENTIC DETAIL 
 
 O F 
 
 PARTICULARS 
 
 RELATIVE TO THE LATE 
 
 DUCHESS OF KINGSTON. 
 
 A NEW E D I T I O N* 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for G. K EARS LEY, at Johnson*s Head, 
 
 No. 46, Fleet Street. 
 
 MDCCLXXXVIII. 
 
 Price Three Shillings and Six Pence. 
 ENTERED AT STATIONER'S HALL. 
 
Prefatory Obfervations. 
 
 The demifeof the DUCHESS 
 OF KINGSTON being authenti- 
 cated in England, the public prints 
 contained various anecdotes refped:- 
 ing that lady, which were either 
 wholly conjectural, or partially un- 
 true. Obferving this, the Author 
 of the following DETAIL tranf- 
 mitted to the prefs fome particulars, 
 which he knew to be facts ; intend- 
 ing them only as contributing, for 
 a time, to diurnal amufement. He 
 was folicited, however, to coUedl, 
 and print them, in a different 
 form y with a continuation, and 
 
 fuch 
 
[ ii ] 
 
 fuch anecdotes as he could furnifli 
 from authenticity. The publica- 
 tion, in this fliape, is now fiib- 
 mitted to the world — The time ne- 
 cellary to obtain, and bring from 
 Paris, an attefted copy of the 
 WILL of the Duchefs, is humbly 
 offered as an apology ; and its be- 
 ing fo truly an original, will, it is 
 hoped, abundantly atone for the 
 procraftination. 
 
 The rapid /die of the fir ft imprejfion, is a ftror.g 
 frefuniptive -proof, that ibe fa6is winch are here 
 Jubmitted to the Public, have afforded no inconfi- 
 der able flo are of entertainment. 
 
 ME- 
 
M E M O I R S, 
 
 &c. &c* 
 
 /xS the deaths of thofe who have eminently 
 figured on the llage of Being, always occafion 
 pofthumous animadverlion, the demife of fo 
 extraordinary a character as the late Duchess 
 of Kingston will, there is not a doubt, give 
 rife to a variety of details refpedting her life 
 and condudt. This is an age when the pryiug 
 eye of curiofity penetrates the privacy of every 
 diftinguiihcd pcrfon ; neither the living nor the 
 dead efcape. The moft trivial purfuits of the 
 one, and the former table-talk of the other, are 
 expofed and narrated, with all the pomp of 
 importance, by fome officious hand, engaged 
 to furnilh anecdote for the v^^orld. The author 
 of the fubfequent account profefleth a departure 
 B from 
 
[ ^ ] 
 
 from the cuflomary mode of detailing puerHltle* 
 of thought, exprcffion, or habit. Such pueri- 
 Jitics arc but too prevalent, even where intel- 
 led:ual greatnefs moft abounds ; and it furcly 
 is becoming the office of candour to veil, ra- 
 ther than exemplify, the weaknefles of oui 
 nature. 
 
 Elizabeth Chudleigh was well defcendcd, 
 from an ancient family, fituated in Uevonfhire. 
 One of her male anceflors had a naval com- 
 mand in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and 
 gallantly acquitted himfclf in the memorable 
 defeat of the Spanifh Armada. She was born 
 in the year 1720, and her father was a Colonel 
 in the arn:iy, and had a poft in Chelfea college; 
 but, dying when ihe was at an early age, his 
 Te\\£t had the care of a daughter devolved on 
 her, with little more than the ufual penfion al- 
 lotted the widow of an officer, for their mutual 
 fubfiftence. Thus narrowed in fortune, Mrs. 
 Chudleigh prudently availed herfelf of the beft 
 fubftitutc for money — good connexions. Thefe 
 tiie rank, fituation, and habits of her hufband, 
 had placed within her power. She hired an 
 houfe fit, at that lefs refined period of time, for 
 a fafhionable to vn refidcncc ; and ffie accom- 
 modated an inmate, for the purpofe of addiijg 
 to the fcantir^fs of her income. Her daughter 
 
 Eliza- 
 
r 3 ] 
 
 Elizabeth was foon diftinguifhed for a bril- 
 liancy of repartee, and for other qualities highly 
 recommendatory, bccaufe extremely pleafing. 
 An opportunity for the difplay of them, to 
 every advantage the poflefibr could reafonably 
 delire, offered at a moment when fortune was 
 benignantly difpofed. The father ofourpre- 
 fent Sovereign had his court at Leicefter Houfe. 
 Mr. PuLTENEY, who thcn blazed as a meteor 
 in the hcmifphere of oppofition, was honoured 
 with the particular regard of the Prince of 
 Wales. Mifs Chudleigh was introduced to 
 Mr. Pueteney; and he obtained her, at the 
 age of about cigliteen, the appointment of a 
 Maid of Honour to the Princcfs of Wales. Mr. 
 Pulteney did more than thus place her in an 
 elevated ftation ; he endeavoured to cultivate 
 her underftanding. To him Mifs Chudleigh 
 read ; and with him, when fcparated by dif- 
 tance, llie literally corrciponded. Some im- 
 provement (he obtained by this advantage, but 
 the extreme viv^acity of her nature prevented 
 any confiderable acquirements. Her maxim, 
 on every fubjccft, was, according to her own 
 expreflion, to be " Ihort, clear, and furprifing." 
 A voluminous author was, confequently, her 
 averfion ; and a prolix ftory, however intereft- 
 ii>g, difgufted her, merely from the circum- 
 ilance of prolixity. With fuch a pupil, Mr. 
 
 B 2 PuLTE- 
 
[ 4 ] 
 
 Pl'LTENey could laugh, and, in dcfpair of 
 his literary inftriKftion making any deep im- 
 prcflion on the mind of his adopted fair one, he 
 changed the fcene, and endeavoured to initiate 
 her in the fcience of ceconomy, inftead of 
 books. The value of a penny he had fludied 
 to a nicety; one of his praftical theorems was, 
 that a man with the price of a pot of porter in 
 his pocket, fhould purchafe only a pint, how- 
 ever extreme his thirlt. This was the GREAT 
 William Pulteney, who, like orher patriots, 
 without principle, degenerated into a Peer, 
 without honour, and died without the veftige 
 of regard for his memory being found in any 
 breaft that exifled at the time of his depar- 
 ture. 
 
 The Nation to which Mifs Chudleich was 
 advanpcd, combined with many pcrfonal attrac- 
 tions, produced a number of admirers ; fomc 
 of aftual, others of expcd:ant titles. Among 
 the fornier, was his Grace the Duke of Ha- 
 milton, whpm Mifs Gunning had afterwards 
 the good fortune to qbtain for a conlort. The 
 Duke was paffionately fond of Mifs Chudleigh, 
 and the ardour with which he prelTed his fuit, 
 attained the end he then wiflied to accomplifh, 
 which was, a folemp engagement on the part of 
 Mifs Chudleigh, that on his return from 
 
 making 
 
[ 5 ] 
 
 making a tonr, for which he was preparing, 
 (he would become his wife. There were rea- 
 fons why this event ihould not immediqtely 
 take place ; that tlic engagement would be fol- 
 fillcJ at the ipecified tiaiCj borh parties cOn- 
 fidered as a moral certainty. A mutual pledge 
 was given and accv pted 3 the Duke commenced 
 his propoled tour, and the parting condition 
 was, that Iiefhould write by every opportunity. 
 Mils Chudleigii, of courfe, was reciprocally 
 bcunden to anfvver his Grace's Ovidian epilHes. 
 Thus the arrangement of fortune feemed to 
 have united a p:/ir, who polTibly might have 
 experienced much happincfs in the union ; for 
 between the Duke of Hamilton and MifsChud- 
 leigh, there was a fmiilarity of difpofition. 
 They were not, however, to be joined. Dif- 
 truft was to tahe place of unbounded confidence ; 
 and they were mutually to be diffatisfied with 
 .^•ach other, without cither being culpable. 
 MLfs Chudlcigh had an aunt whofe name was 
 Hanmer ; at her houfe Captain Hervey, the 
 late Earl of Briftol, vifitcd. To this gentle- 
 man Mrs. Hanmcr became fo exceedingly par- 
 tial, that flie favoured his views on her niece, 
 and engaged her efforis to cffccft, if poflible, a 
 matrimonial connedtion. There were two dif- 
 ficulties which would have been infurmountable, 
 if not.oppofed by the fertile genius of a female. 
 
 Mifs 
 
[ 6 ] 
 
 Mifs Chudleigh diilikcd Captain Hervcj', and 
 {he was betrothed to the Duke ot" Hamilton. 
 To render the laft nugatory, the letters of his 
 Grace were intercepted by Mrs. Hanmer, and 
 his fuppofed filence giving offence to her niece, 
 {he worked fo fuccefsfuUy on her pride, as to 
 induce her to abandon all thoughts of the lo- 
 ver, whofe paflion ftie had cheriflied with de- 
 light. A condud the reverfe of that imputed 
 to the Duke, was obferved by Captain Hervey. 
 He was all which affiduity could didtate, or at- 
 tention perform. He had daily acccfs to Mifs 
 Chudleigh, and each interview was artfully im- 
 proved by the aunt, to the promotion of her 
 own views. The letters of his Grace of Ha- 
 milton, which regularly arrived, were as regu- 
 larly fuppreffed ; until piqued beyond longer 
 endurance, Mifs Chudleigh was prevailed on 
 to accept the hand of Captain Hervey, and, by 
 a private marriage, to enfure a participation of 
 his future honours and fortune. The cere- 
 mony was performed in a private chapel adjoin- 
 ing the country manfion of Mr. Merrill. The 
 only furviving witnefs is a woman confiderably 
 advanced in years, who was a fervanc in the 
 
 family *'. 
 
 On 
 
 * This mariiage was folcmnized in the year 1744, at 
 Lainfton, in the county of Southampton ; aparifh in which 
 
 there 
 
L 7 } 
 
 On a review of life, everj^ reflcding mind 
 may eafily trace the predominant good, or evil 
 experienced, to fome wilful error, or injudici- 
 ous miftakc, which operated as a determinate 
 caufe, and gave the colour to our fate. This 
 was the cafe with Mifs Chudleigh ; for, the 
 hour in which fhe became united with Captain 
 Hervey, proved to her the origin of every fub- 
 fcquent unhappinefs. There is a compliment 
 to the dead, txadtcd by ufage j conformably to 
 which, we treat their names with reverence, 
 whofe deeds deferve the fevereft reproach. On 
 this principle it can only be faid, that the con- 
 nubial rites were attended with confcquences, 
 injurious to health, as well as unprodudlive of 
 fecundity ; and that, from the night following 
 the day ©n which the marriage was folemnized, 
 Mifs Chudleigh refolved never to have farther 
 connc<ftion with her hufband. To prevail on 
 him not to claim her as his wife, required all 
 
 there was only the houfe of Mr. Merrill. The certificate 
 runs as follows ; 
 
 " Marriages, Births, and Burials, in the parifli of Lain - 
 *' Oon. 2d of Auguft, Mrs. Sufanna Merrill, rcUa of 
 " John Men ill, Elq. buried. 4thof Auguft, 1744, mar- 
 " ried, the Honourable Auguftus Hervey, Efquire, in the 
 " parifli of Lainllo'i, to Mifs Elizabeth Chudleigh, daugh- 
 " ter of Colorw Thoinas ChuMe-gl\ late of Chclfca College, 
 ■" deceafcd. By me, Thomas Amis. ^' 
 
 the 
 
[ s 1 
 
 the art of which flie was miilrefs. The bed 
 difl'uafivc argument ivas, the lofs of her fitu- 
 ation as Maid of Honour, (houkl the marriage 
 be publicly known. The finances of Captain 
 Hervey not enabling him, at the time, toconi- 
 penfate fuch a lofs, moll probably operated as 
 a prudential motive for his yielding to the en- 
 treaties of his wife. He did fo yield ; but in 
 a manner which, at times, indicated a ftrong 
 defire to play the tyrant. In fad:, as the de- 
 parted Duchess frequently expreffed the fitu- 
 ation of her feelings, ** Her mifery coirimcnced 
 **• from the arrival of Captain Hervey in Eng- 
 " land, and the greatcfl joy flic experienced 
 *' was the intelligence of his departure.'* 
 Hence, whilft the faip in which he was to fail, 
 remained at Spithead, or in the Downs, Ihe 
 was tremblingly alive with apprchenfion that 
 the deftination might be countermanded. A 
 fair wind out of the Channel, was the foother 
 of her mind ; and flic was always extremely 
 inquiiitive as to the duration of the voyage, or 
 cruize ; as well as the probable intervening ac- 
 cidents which might flill longer retard it. Such 
 were fomc of the immediate confequcnces of an 
 union, brought about by artifice, effected claa- 
 deftincly, and originating, in the one party, 
 from pique, in the other, from a more repre- 
 henfible paflion. The remote confequences of 
 
 thi^s 
 
t 9 J 
 
 this moft unfortunate aflimilation of body, not 
 mind, will necclTarily appear in the fubfequent 
 detail. Let it be hoped, for the happinefs of 
 the more amiable fex, that the cafe of Mifs 
 Chudleigh, in one fcnfe, is not applicable to 
 many of them. To her^ matrimony was the 
 beginning of forrows. 
 
 Mifs CHUDLErcH, now Mrs. Hervey, a 
 maid in appearance, a wife in difguife, feemed 
 to thofe who judge from externals only, to be 
 in an enviable fituation. Of the higher circles 
 flie was the attra<flive center ; of gayer life the 
 invigorating fpirit. Her royal miftrefs not only 
 fmiled on, but actually approved her. A few 
 friendiliips fhe cemented, and conquefts Ihe 
 made in fuch abundance, that, like Ctcfar in a 
 triumph, (he had a train of captives at her 
 heels. Yet, with all this difplay of happinefs, 
 (he wanted that, without which there is nbt 
 happinefs on earth — peace of mind. Her huf- 
 band, quieted for a time, grew obflreperous as 
 flie became more the objeft of admiration. He 
 felt his right, and was determined to aflert it. 
 She endeavoured, by letter, to negociate him 
 into peace ; but her efforts fucceeded not. He 
 demanded a private interview ; and enforcing 
 his demands by threats of expofure in cafe of 
 refufal, Ihe complied through compulfion. 
 C The 
 
[ .0 ] 
 
 The meeting was at the apartment of Captain; 
 Hervcy ; a black Icivant only in the houfc. 
 On entering the room vvh^re he lit, the full 
 thing done was to prevent her retreat by lock- 
 ing the door. \V'hat palled may be better 
 imagined than exprellcd. The bofoni of a 
 ^vifc, burning with indignant rage i'or pad in^ 
 hirics fuftaine^l in her health, yet obliged to 
 i'mathcr the iiame of refentment, and affumc 
 the mildnefs of complacency. On the other 
 hand, an hufband, feeling himfelf the Lord 
 i^aratnount over a dcfcncelels woman, whofc 
 hopes he had blafLed, v^'hole pcrfon he had de- 
 filed. This, as the Diichef?, when fpeaking of 
 it, with tears i\\ her eyes, ufed to fay> was " an 
 affignarion with a vengeance*" It ended, like 
 every interview which Hie had with Captain 
 }Iervcv,. fatally fur her. Me would not pcr- 
 ini'" her to retire withaut contenting to that 
 commcrc(?, delc<ftablc; only when kindred fouls 
 melt into each other with the foft embrace. 
 The fruit of ih^s meeting was^ the addition of 
 ahoy 10 the human race. Crefar Hawkins be- 
 .oame the profeflional confidant on this occa- 
 fion. Mifs Chudleigh removed to Chclfea for 
 a chuDge of air, and returned to Leicefler- 
 houP", perfectly recovered from her indifpo- 
 fition. The infant loon funk into the arms 
 
 of 
 
[ " ] 
 
 •of Death, kivlng only the talc of his exlitence 
 10 be related *. 
 
 While thcfe and a variety of other circum- 
 ftances were pafling between Mifs Chndlcigh 
 and her hufl^and, the Duke of Haiiiilton ar- 
 rived from his travels. He l<)fl not a moment 
 in paying homage to the idol or his affrdiions, 
 and in having the myftcry of all his letters bc- 
 
 * The following' is the evidence which Cafar HcnvUns 
 gave, on the Trial of the Duchci's of Kingdon, relative to 
 the birth of the child, and the marriage of Mifs Chudlci^h 
 tv'ith Mr, Har--cy. 
 
 ^cjlioti. Do you, or do you not, know, thnt a chili was 
 •the fruit of that marriage ? 
 
 Co-far Ha-.vkins, Y'cs, I do« 
 
 ^icfllsn. Can you tell their LcrSfliips ahout what time 
 tthc child was born, anii where,? 
 
 A/fwcr. About the rime I cannot tell. 
 
 ^/ifilon. Inform their Lordfliips about v/hat time this 
 might be ? 
 
 Anfvjer. I fliould fuppofe about thirty years ago. 
 
 ^cflion. Where was this child born ? 
 Anfwer, At Chelfea, near to Chclfea College. 
 
 ^leflion. Was this marriage (with INIr. Harvey) and 
 the birth of that child, at tbat time kept ij. i^i^t ? 
 AnfMcr. I was told (o. 
 
 $jtefiion. Do you know \j'haf js i:nce become of that 
 ^hild ? 
 
 r'lnfiver. I believe it died a little time afterwards. 
 
 C 2 ing 
 
C .2 ] 
 
 ing unanfwered, explained. Flighty, as in 
 other rcfpefts he was, to Mifs Chudleigh his 
 conftancy remained uniliakcn. The interview 
 devellopecl the whole, and placed Mrs. Han- 
 mer in her true light, that of the authprels of 
 mifchief. But as the palliation of part .evil, the 
 Duke inade a generous tender of his hand* 
 where his heart was already centered. The re- 
 jection of this offer, which it was impoflible 
 to accept, and almoft as impoflible to explain 
 the reafon why it was rcjcdted, occafioned emo- 
 tions in the Ddkc, v/hich the heart can feel 
 better than the pen explain. Still more ; Mifs 
 Chudleigh was compelled to prohibit his vifits. 
 The fequel of his conduct is known. His 
 Grace and a noble Earl agreed to club their 
 follies, to keep each other in countenance, and 
 they both married two Hibernian Miiles, who, 
 in the hour of good fortune, had luckily brought 
 their flock in trade to a market, where beauty 
 frequently fetches an excellent price. 
 
 The Duke of Hamilton, thus refufed by Mifs 
 Chudleigh ; the late Duke of Ancafler, and fe- 
 ycral other nobles experienced a fimilar fate. 
 This afloniflied the falhionable world, and the 
 mother of Mils Chudleigh, who was a total 
 granger to the private marriage of her daughter, 
 Reprehended her folly in proper terms. At once 
 
 to 
 
[ >3 ] 
 
 to be freed, at Icafl for a time, from the cmbar- 
 falTments which environed her, Mi.s Chudleigh 
 determined on travel as the mean. She embarked 
 for the Continc- .L. Chofe the circle of Germany 
 for her tour. She refided feme time at Berlin, 
 then went to Drefden ; and, as fhe afpired to 
 the acquaintan.c of crowned heads, fhe was gra- 
 tified by the larc King of Pruflia, who not only 
 converfed, but correfpondcd with her. It is not 
 by this meant that there was any thing more in 
 his letters than what the politenefs of a gentle- 
 man d'lftated to a lady, in fpirit and enterprize 
 above the level of her fcx. The epillles of Fre- 
 deric, which confifted of about four lines, writ- 
 ten in a fcarccly legible hand, ferved Mifs Chud- 
 leigh to gratify her vanity by talking about. But^ 
 in the fuleftrcfs of Saxony flie found a friend, 
 whofe affedtion for her continued to the latefl: 
 period of life. The liledtrefs was a woman 
 of fenfe, honour, virtue and religion. Her 
 letters were replete with kindnefs. While her 
 hand dillributcd prefents to Mifs Chudleigh out 
 of the trcafury of abundance, her heart was inte. 
 relied tor her happinefs. This Ihe evinced; pend- 
 ing the profccution for bigamy, for at that time 
 alerter from theElcdrcfs to the Duchefs, con- 
 tained the following pallage : — ** You have long 
 " experienced my love ; my revenue, my pro- 
 ." tediion; my every thing you may command- 
 
 *' Come, 
 
[ H ] 
 
 *'Come, then, my dear life, to an afylum of 
 ** peace. Quit a country, where, if you are 
 ** bequeathed a cloak, fome pretender may ftart 
 " up, and ruin you by law to prove it your 
 " property. Let mc have you at Drefden." 
 This paflage is literally rendered from tKe 
 French. 
 
 Mifs Chudleigh returning from the Conti- 
 nent, Lord Howe, who fignalized himfelf iu 
 America the war before laft, became herfuitor. 
 Matrimony was out of the queftion ; but, an 
 intimacy fubfifting, the world then talked, as 
 the world now talks, a great deal of nonfenfe 
 in a mod abfurd ftyle. This garrulity, how- 
 ever, neither leffened the confequence of Mifs 
 Ghudleigh, nor interrupted her amufements. 
 She ran the career of pleafure, enlivened the 
 Court circles, each year became more ingra- 
 tiated with the miftrefs whom fhe ferved ; led 
 falliions ; played whifl; with Lord Chcllerfield ; 
 rioted with Lady Harrington and Mifs Aflic ; 
 figured at a mafquerade, and laughed at the 
 lover whom Ihe chofe not to favour with her 
 fmiles, with all the confounding grace of a 
 woman of quality. The reflc<ftion put off, 
 however, for the day, too frequently intruded 
 an unwelcome vifitor at night. Captain Her- 
 vcy^, tlic hufband, like a perturbed f])iritj was 
 
 eternally 
 
eternally croffing the path trodden by his wife. 
 Was Ihe in the rooms at Bath ; he was fure to 
 be there. At a rour, ridotto, or ball, there 
 was this fell deftroj'er of peace, embittering 
 every pleafure, and blighting the fruit of hap- 
 pinefs by the pellilcntial malignancy of his pre- 
 fence. As a proof of his difpofition to annoy, 
 he menaced his wife with an intimation that he 
 xvould difclofe the marriage to the Princcfs of 
 Wales. In this Mifs Chudleigh anticipated 
 him, by being the firfl relater of the circum- 
 ftance. Her royal miftrefs heard and pitied her. 
 She continued her patronage to the hour of her 
 death. At lafl z ftratngcm was either fuggelled, 
 or it occurred to Mifs Chudleigh, at once to 
 deprive Captain Hcrvey of the power to claim 
 her as his wife. The clergyman who married 
 them was dead. The regiftcr book was in care- 
 lefs hands. An handfome compliment was paid 
 for the infpcdlion, and, while theperfon in whofe 
 cuftody it was, liftencd to an amufmg flory, 
 Mifs Chudleigh tore out a part of the regiller. 
 Thus imagining the bufinefs accornplifhed, flie, 
 for a time, bid defiance to her hufband, whofe 
 taftc for the fofrer fex yielding to a paflion of 
 an oppofite nature, occafioned Mifs Chudlcioh 
 a ceiianon of -inquietude. Her better fate in- 
 fluenced the heart of a man in her favour, who 
 
 wa§ 
 
[ i6 3 
 
 •was the exemplar of amiabilit}'. This was the 
 late Duke of Kingfton. 
 
 The life, an outline of which is now fub- 
 mitting to the public judgment, was of fuch a 
 fingular commixture of propenfities, as to af- 
 ford abundant matter for improving reflexion. 
 That there is in the human breaft a ruling 
 paflion, by which the will is influenced, and 
 confequcntly the judgment finally determined, 
 muft be evident to every inquiiitive mind. This 
 paflion it is, which, fcrving as the fpring of 
 a<9:ion, gives rife to a condu»ft perfeftly regu- 
 lar, or wholly eccentric, as the producing caufe 
 is more or lefs bounded by fome higher motive. 
 Hence the neccflity there is for fome fuperin- 
 duced principle, as a check to the ruling paf- 
 fion, whatever it be. Where this is wanting, 
 all is confufion ; errors engender fubftantial ills, 
 and that portion of our exiftence contracftcd 
 within the narrow fpan of time, is doomed to 
 unhappinefs. 
 
 The fubjedt of thefe anecdotes was among the 
 too many eminent inflances of this. Settled prin- 
 ciples flic had none. Not that her deficiency arofe 
 fo much from vicioulncfs, as from ignorance. 
 Her mind, to borrow Mr. Locke's figure, was 
 a mere tabula rafa, a blank as to every thing 
 
 beyond 
 
C ■? ] 
 
 beyond mortality. All with her centered in felf 
 and fcnfluion. Her ruling paffion was dif- 
 played in the acquirement of any fpecics of 
 property, the pofleflion of which gratified va- 
 nity. This fhe hoarded with the gripe of a 
 mifer, or dlllipatcd with the profufion of a 
 fpcndthrift, when flattered by knavery or arti- 
 fice into a mood of extravagance. The dia- 
 monds fhe had amalled were her travelling com- 
 panions ; antl Ihe was always ready to defend 
 them, with a brace of piftols, at the hazard 
 of her life. To her jewel box her orifons were 
 as regularly paid, as a devotee is found con- 
 flant to her matins. She latterly flumberedover 
 abundance, nor was fhe ever awake to that elo- 
 rious feeling with aduatcs natures truly noble, 
 and teaches them to confider a fuperflux of 
 wealth as the donation of heaven, granted in 
 truil for the relief of indigence, the foorhing 
 of calamity, or the reward of merit. That the 
 late Duchefs of Kingfton had early in life the 
 power of being the diftributor of much good, 
 is certain ; to obtain the means was her princi- 
 objed", to negledl the end, her general ha- 
 bit. Her cunning, for of wifdom fhe pofTcircd 
 not a ray, was folely directed to gain. For- 
 tunately for fociety, cunning is more frequently 
 defeated than fuccefsful. ' This was fo remark- 
 ably experienced by our heroine, that a rela- 
 li) lation 
 
[ i8 3 
 
 lation of the cafe may ferve as a moral leflbu to 
 the world — Thus, then, runs the ftory : 
 
 In the natural courfc of events, Captain Her- 
 vey fucceeded to the Earldom of Briflol. With 
 rank there was fortune, and both were moft in- 
 viting objefts to a mind fordid and vain. When 
 a fucceffion to the family honours and revenue be- 
 came highly probable, a fliort period before it 
 took place, Mifs Chudleigh went to the houfe of 
 Mr. Merrill, in whofe chapel fhe was married. 
 H^r oftenfible reafon was a jaunt out of town — 
 Her real defign was to procure, if pofiible, the 
 infertion of her marriage with Captain Her- 
 vey in the book which, to deftroy the written 
 evidence of that marriage, fhe had formerly mu- 
 tilated. With this vie wlliecondefcended toevery 
 artifice, and dealt out promifes with a liberal 
 hand. The officiating clerk, who like Scrub, in 
 the play, was a perfon of various avocations, was 
 to be promoted to the extent of his willies. The 
 book was managed by the Lady to her content, 
 and flie returned to London fecretly exulting in 
 the excellence and fuccefs of her machination. 
 She did, it is true, fucceed, but it was in laying 
 the ground-work of that very evidence, which, 
 in (jonj unction with oral tefliniony, operated 
 afterwards to her convidtion and difgrace. 
 Here was cunning, defpicable cunning, en- 
 velloping the pofleffor in a net of her own ta- 
 
 bricaciiio-. 
 
[ -9 ] 
 
 bricating. No wonder, when her hour of de- 
 gradation arrived, that fhe fell unpitied. 
 
 Thus conditioned was Mifs Chudleigh, 
 when the Duke of Kingston became her ad- 
 mirer. Rc-married, as it were, by her own 
 flratagcm, the participation of ducal honours 
 became legally impoffiblc. The chains of wed- 
 lock, which the lady had been fo induflrious 
 in fhaking off, or putting on, as fcemed moft 
 promotive of her avarice, were how galling to 
 an excefs. Every advice Vv^as taken, without 
 the means of liberation being in the power of 
 human device to fuggefl. To acquiefce in that 
 which could not be remedied, fcemed the der- 
 nier refort. The Duke of Kingston's attach- 
 ment was ardent, and truly fincere. He min- 
 gled the friend with the lover ; nor was there 
 an endearing title under Heaven he would not 
 have affumed, could but the afTumption have 
 advanced the happinefs of Mifs Chudleigh. 
 For a fcries of years they cohabited, yet with 
 fuch obfcrvance of external decorum, that al- 
 though their intimacy was a moral, it was not 
 an evidenced certainty. That the felicity of the 
 Duke was in any means promoted by this union, 
 cannot be aflerted confiftcnt with truth. The 
 parties were diametrically oppofite characters. 
 The Duke was mild, gracious, unaffuming* ,• ■! 
 D 2 
 
C ^0 1 
 
 biiiliful in the extreme. He had every grace 
 requifite in a man of rank. Oflcntation he fo 
 much dctefted, that it was his cuftom, in per- 
 ambulating the ftrects, to fold back the front 
 of his coat, fo as to hide the flat; and when- 
 ever by accident it was difcovered, the difclo- 
 fure caufed an involuntary blufli. His Lady 
 pofleflcd very different qualities. In vociferat- 
 ing anger fhe could fairly boaft an alliance with 
 Juno. Oflentatious fhe was to an cxcefs, and 
 fo little fublimed were her feelings, that the 
 groffeil; flattery was an animating cordial to her 
 fplrits. It revived her when more rational fuc- 
 cours failed of effect. Thus contrarily gifted 
 and difpofed, the Duke and Mifs Chudleigh 
 were frequently on difcordant terms ; but fhe 
 had a ftrong hold of his mind, and the ufe flic 
 made of it was, finally to ruin hcrfclf. The 
 Earl of Briftol, by time and attachments, had 
 grown fo weary of his connubial ftate, as to be 
 cordially defirous of a change. At firfl, when 
 founded on the fubjecft of a divorce, he had 
 
 nfcd this expreffion, " I will fee the at the 
 
 " devil, before her vanity fhall be gratified by 
 '* being a Duchtfs." Afterwards, however, 
 there bcino; a lad\ to whom he wiflied to offer 
 his hand, he fo altered his tone, as toexprefs a 
 rcadinefs to confent to any pofliblc means of an- 
 nihilating the union fubfifl in g between him and 
 
 Mifs 
 
C ^i 3 
 
 Mifs Chudleigh. The civilians were confuked 
 — a iatftitation fuit was inftituted. The evi- 
 dence who could prove the marriage was kept 
 back. 
 
 Lord Briflol failing, as it was defigned he 
 Ihould fail, in fubftantiating the marriage, a fen- 
 tence of the court, pronouncing the nullity of 
 the claim, concluded the bufinefs. The objed; 
 now to be obtained was, legal opinion as to the 
 operative power of fuch a fentence ; and the ci- 
 vilians, highly tenacious of the rights of their 
 own courts, adjudged the decree not liable to 
 be difturbed by the interference of any extrinlic 
 court of judicature. Under convicftion of per- 
 feft fafety, the marriage between his Grace of 
 Kingfton, and Mifs Chudleigh, was publicly 
 folemnizcd*. The favours were worn by the 
 
 high eft 
 
 • The marriage ceremony was performed on the 8th daj 
 of March, 1769, in the church of Saint Margaret, Weft- 
 minftar. The following is a copy of the regiftcr : 
 
 *' No. 92. Marriages in March 1769. The Moft No- 
 " bie Evelyn PurrepfiKt, Duke of Kingflon, a Bachelor, 
 " and the Honouralk EUzaheth Chudleigh, of Knightlbridgc, 
 '* in Suint Margaret's, Weilminfter, a Sp'mjlcr^ were mar- 
 '• iicd by fpecial licence of the Archbifhop of Canterbury, 
 
 •* thi» 
 
r ^2. J 
 
 bighcft pcrfonagcs m the kingdom*; and, 
 during the life of the Duke, not any attempt 
 was made to difpute the legality of the proce- 
 dure. The fortune was not entailed ; his 
 Grace had, therefore, the option to bequeath 
 it as feemed bcfl to his inclination. The heirs 
 iince, were then expeftants ; their claims relied 
 on hope, not certainty. The Duchefs, for fo 
 Ihe is now to be ftyled, figured without appre- 
 
 *' this 8th of March, 1769, by mc, Samuel Harper^ of the 
 •' Britifli Mufeum. 
 
 ** This marriage was folemnized benvccn us, 
 
 " KINGSTON. 
 
 *' ELIZABETH CHUDLEIGH. 
 
 *' hi the prcfa:ce of ' 
 
 « MAS HAM, 
 
 " WILLIAM YEO, 
 
 «' A. K. F. GILBERT, 
 
 " JAMES LAROCHE, ]\ir.. 
 
 *' ALICE YEO, 
 
 " J. ROSS MACKYE, 
 
 « E. R. A. LAROCHE, 
 
 " ARTHUR COLLIER, 
 
 *' C. ?.IASHAM." 
 
 * Their prefcnt Majeftics wore favours on the occii- 
 fion. 
 
 henfion 
 
C 23 ] 
 
 henfion of control. She was ralfed to the pin- 
 nacle of her fate, and for a very few years 
 did Ihe enjoy that to which the chicanery of 
 her life had been directed to accomplilh, the 
 parade of title without that honour v.-hich only 
 can ennoble. To impede her in the career of 
 enjoyment, and finally put an end to all her 
 greatnefs, the Duke of Kingston died. His 
 will, excluding from every benefit an elder, 
 and preferring a younger nephew as his heir in 
 rail, gave rife to a profecution of the Duchefs, 
 which ended in the beggary of her profecutor, 
 and the exile of herfelf. 
 
 The demife of the DuKi: of Kingston was 
 not unexpedled by thofe who obferve the feve- 
 ral premonitions of the King of Terrors. A 
 paralytic ftroke is among the harbingers of 
 mortal diffolution, which is fure to be followed 
 by the event announced. The Duke lingered 
 but a fliort time, and that time was employed 
 by his confort in journeying his Grace about, 
 under the futile idea, by change cf air and 
 fituation, of retarding the irreverfibic decree of 
 Omnipotence. At lail:, when real danger feem- 
 ed to threaten, even in the opinion of the 
 Duchefs, flie difpatched one of her Avifteft- 
 footed meffengers to her Iblicitor, the late Mr. 
 Field, of the Temple, requiring his immediate 
 
 attendance. 
 
[ ^4 j 
 
 attendance. He obeyed the lunimons, and ar- 
 riving at the houfe, the Duchefs privately im- 
 parted her tvifhes, which were, that he would 
 procure the Duke to execute, and be himfelf jl 
 fubfcribing witnefs, to a will, made without 
 his knowledge, and more to the tafte of the 
 Duchefs, than the one completed. The diffe- 
 rence between thefe two \fills was this : The 
 Duke had bequeathed the income of his eftates 
 to his relid:, during her life, and exprefsly un- 
 der condition of her continuing in a ftate of 
 widowhood. Whether his Grace, in thus rc- 
 ftraining her, did it in order to prevent the 
 diflionour of his memory, by the introdudlion 
 of an improper fuccefTor ; or, whether he adlcd 
 froma confcioufnefs of her extreme liability^witli 
 all her manoeuvring, to be impofcd on, njuft be 
 left to conjedturc. Perfedtly latisfied, however, 
 zs the Duchefs pretended to be with whatever 
 appeared to be the inclination of her dearcit 
 Lord, fhe could cot refift the feeming oppor- 
 tunity of carrying her fecrct wifhcs into efied:. 
 She did not relifh the Temple of Hymen being 
 Ihut againfl her. Earneflly, therefore, did fhe 
 prefs Mr. Field to have her own will immedi- 
 ately executed, which left her at perfcd: liberty 
 to give her hand to the conqueror of her hearr. 
 She was only, by fomc years, on the wrongs 
 fide of fift^ ; and the celebrated Ninon de rKn- 
 
 (iosj 
 
t ^i ] 
 
 clos, bloomed at threefcore, and captivated at 
 feventy. Here was an example which every 
 amorous grandmother might have in view; and 
 extremely cruel would it be to rellrid: ladies, 
 ancient only in years, from matrimony, as the 
 mean to keep their blood within the bounds of 
 decorum. The Duchefs, in her anxiety to have 
 the reftraint fhaken off, had nearly deprived 
 hcrfelf of every benefit derivable from the de- 
 mife of the Duke. When Mr.. Field was in- 
 troduced to his Grace, his intelledls were per- 
 ceptibly affedled. He kneiv the friends who 
 approached him, and a tranfient knowledge of 
 their pcrfons was the only indication of mental 
 exertion which feemed to be left him. Field 
 very properly remonftrated on the impropriety 
 of introducing a will, for execution, to a man 
 in fuch a ftatc. His remonftrance occafioncd 
 a fevcre reprchenfion from the Duchefs, who 
 reminded him, that he ought only to obey the 
 inflru(ftions of his employer. Feeling, how- 
 ever, for his profeffional charadter, hepofitive- 
 Jy refufed either to tender the v^ill, or be in 
 any manner concerned in endeavouring to pro- 
 cure the execution. With this refufal, he 
 quitted the houfc, the Duchefs beholding him 
 with an indignant eye, as the annoyer of her 
 fcheme, when, in fad:, by not complying with 
 it, he proved her temporal Saviour; for, had 
 E the 
 
[ ^6 ] 
 
 the will Ihe propofed, been executed, it would 
 mofl indubitably have been fet afidc. The heirs 
 uould, confequcntl)', have excluded the rclidt 
 from every thing, except that to which the 
 right of dower entitled her; and, the lady in 
 this, as in other rcfpc(fts, would have been 
 ruined by her own Aratagcm. 
 
 Soon after the fruflration of this attempt, the 
 Duke of Kingston yielded to the ftroke of 
 fate. His will divulged, the funeral rites per- 
 formed, and all other obfequial matters being 
 properly adjufted, the Duchefs embarked for 
 the Continent, propofing Rome for her tempo- 
 rary refidence. Ganganelli at that time 
 filled the Papal See. From the moderation of 
 his principles, the confequent tolerant fpirit 
 which he, on every occafion, difplayed, and 
 the m.arked attention he beftowcd on the Eng- 
 lifh, he acquired the title of the Protellant 
 Pope. To fuch a character, the Duchefs was 
 a welcome vifitor. Ganganelli treated her with 
 the utmofl civility, gave her, as a Sovereign 
 Prince, many privileges, and flic was lodged 
 in the palace of one of the Cardinals. Her 
 vanity thus gratified, her Grace, in return, treat- 
 ed the Romans with a public fpeclacle. She 
 had built an elegant plcafurc yacht ; a gentle- 
 man, who had lerved In the navy, was the 
 
 commander; 
 
[ ^7 1 
 
 commander j under her orders, he failed for 
 Italy, and the vellel, at confiderable trouble 
 and fome expcnce, was conveyed up the Ti- 
 ber. The fight of an Englifli yacht there was 
 uncommon. It drew the people in crouds to 
 the fhorc, and the applaufc ran general through 
 the city. This feemed to be the a^ra of fcfti- 
 vity and happinefs ; but while the bark floated 
 triumphantly on the undulations of the Tiber, 
 a bufinefs was tranfiKfting in England which put 
 an end to all momentary blifs. Mrs. Cra- 
 DOCK, a woman now living, who, in the ca- 
 pacity of a domeftic, had been prefent during 
 the ceremony of marriage between Mifs Chud- 
 LEiGH and Lord Bristol, found herfelf fo 
 reduced in circumftances, that fhc applied to 
 Mr. Field for pecuniary relief. He faw her, 
 and mofl injudicioufly refufcd her every fuccour. 
 In vain flie urged her diftrefs, and the abfencc 
 of the Duchefs, who was the only perfon on 
 whofe munificence ftie had the jufleft claim. 
 Field was deaf to her entreaties : fhe then 
 told him what was in her power to difcover. 
 To many circumllanccs which fne related, he 
 was an entire ftranger, and he afFcclcd to dif- 
 credit the rcfl. Mrs. Cradock ended the 
 interview with a menace, that fhe would make 
 the relations of the Duke of Kingston ac- 
 quainted, with every important particular.-r- 
 E 2 Field 
 
Field fet her at defiance, and, thus expofcd to 
 penurj', fhe was exafperatcd to vengeance, and 
 inftantly fet about the work of ruin. 
 
 His Grace of Kingston had borne to his 
 grave, a marked difllke of one of his nephews. 
 His private rcafon was well known to his confi- 
 dential friends. Mr. Evelyn Meadows had 
 been in, and went out of, ihe Navy. Let it 
 fufiice to fay, that the Duke chofe him not for 
 his heir. He was one of the fons of Lady 
 Frances Pierrepont, filler of the Duke of 
 Kingston, confequcntly his nephew — but his 
 Grace liked him not. The gentleman ex- 
 cluded his prefumptive heirfliip, joyfully re- 
 ceived the information that a method of doing 
 himfelf fubdantial juRice yet remained. He 
 fiiw Mrs. Cradock — heard the detail of evi- 
 dence which flic offered — and, perfedlly fatis- 
 fied as to every iota of the relation being true, 
 he, afliHed by legal friends, had a Bill of In- 
 didtment for Bigamy preferred againft the fup- 
 pofed widow of the Duke of Kingston. 
 The Bill was found * — Mr. Field ha J notice 
 
 of 
 
 * The following is a Copy of the Bill of ludidment. 
 M'ddlefex. 
 
 *' The Jurors of our Sovereign Lord the now King, 
 " prcfcnt, that Elizabeth the wife of Augvftus-John Hcr- 
 
C '-9 3 
 
 of the procedure, and the Duchefs was pro- 
 perly advifcd to return inftantly to England, 
 and appear to the Indi6:mcnt, to prevent an 
 outlawr}'. The huclligcnce appeared like a 
 
 too- 
 
 *' iry, late of the pnrifh of Saint George, Hanover Square, 
 *' in the county of Middlcfex, Elijuire, on the cigh'.r day 
 *• of JMarch, in the ninth year of the reign of our Sovereign 
 *' Lord George the Third, now King of Great Britain, and 
 *' fo forth, being ^/v« married^ and then the wife of the 
 *' faid Augufus-Jchn Hern'cy, with force of arms, at the faid 
 *• parifli of Saint George, Hanover Square, in the (aid 
 *' county of Middlcfex, felonior.fly did marry and take to 
 " hufb.aid, Ki'c'yn Picrrcpont^ Duke of Kingfton, (the faid 
 '* Augiijius-John Hervcy^ her fonner bujhand^ being then 
 " alive) againll the fonn of the ftatute in fuch cafe made 
 *' and provided, and againll the peace of our faid Lord the 
 *' King, his crown and dignity ; and the faid Jurors, for 
 ♦' our faid Sovereign Lord the now King, upon their oath 
 •' aforefaid, farther prefcnt, that the (aid Elizabeth, here- 
 *' tofore, (to wit) on the fourth day of Auguft, in the 
 ** eighteenth year of the reign of our late Sovereign Lord 
 '' George the Second, late King of Great Britain, and fo 
 *' forth, at the parifli of hahijion, in the county of South- 
 " ampton, by the name of Elizabeth ChiuUeigh^ did marry 
 " the faid AuguJlus-'John Hervey, and him the faid Angujlus- 
 •' JoJm Hervey then and there had for her hulband. And 
 '• that the faid Elizabeth, being married, and the wife of the 
 *' faid Augufius-Jobn Hervcy, afterwards, (to -ivitj en the 
 *' eighth day of March, in the ninth year of the reign of 
 *' our faid Sovereign Lord George the Third, now King of 
 *' Great Britain, and fo forth, with force and arms, in the 
 " faid parifli of Saint George, Hanover S:/,iarc, in the faid 
 
 *' county 
 
[ 30 J 
 
 too-powerful e}c<f{:rical fhock — her nature wkh 
 diliicultv fuftaincd it. On recovering the little 
 of her judgement which was left^ fhe drove to 
 the houfe of j\Ir. Je>;kins, a gentleman who 
 has acquired a large property by fmall means, 
 commencing with the purchafe of the little 
 finger of a mutilated ftatue, and ending in 
 what he now i?, the banker to all the Britifh 
 travellers who vifit the tutelary reiidence of 
 Saint IVtcr, 
 
 To bafi?c art by art, and defeat, by policy, 
 that which true wifdom could not oppofe witK 
 1^ probability of fucccfs, is the cuflom of every 
 hackneyed pra<Sitioner in the world. It is 
 
 *' counfy of Midcilefe", felonloully did marry, and take to 
 ♦* hulband^ the friid Evelyn Picirepont, Duke of Kingfton, 
 *' (the faid A:ig:Jiiii-'j,Qhfi. Hiri-iyy htr f'ormrr hufband, bcinc; 
 *' then alive) againft the form of the flvitute in fiich c;i(c 
 *' made and provided, raid :i<jainft the peace of our faid So- 
 •* Vficigu Loid the now Kin^,s liis crown and dignity. 
 
 ^' o/ T.' 
 " True Bin. 
 
 ** Aagajilne Grccnlaml^ 
 
 " Attn Cradocky 
 
 " a.rriJiophcr Dixon, 
 
 '- 7hvmas DoJdy 
 
 ** Samuel Harper , 
 
 '* Jfkn Fozartr 
 
 ii-.vern in tht Court, 
 
 owing 
 
[ 31 ] 
 
 ©wing to their excellence in this r\flcm, that 
 the fons of earth are lb much wiler, in their 
 fcveral generations, than the children of light. 
 The Duchcfs of Kingflon was merely a woman 
 of cunning, trulling folely to her machina- 
 tions for fuccefs. Hence the barometer of her 
 happinefs rofe, or was deprefl'cd, as her multi- 
 farious manoeuvres produced what her chime- 
 rical fancy termed good or evil. The flighted 
 check in the career of vanity ; the lead failure 
 in the accompliflimcnt of any vain-glorious 
 projed:, occafioned a figh. What then mult 
 the profpedl of being compelled to bid farevvcl 
 to all her grcDtKefs, have eftcded ! Thofe Icaft 
 accullomcd to refka:, are the moii depreflcd 
 by reflecflion. The attack made on the honours 
 ot the Duchcfs, iliuck alfo at her principles 
 and charadcr. She knew, end flic felt, that if 
 the whole of her condudl fliould be bared to 
 the light, a confummate degree of moral turpi- 
 tude would appear. As to the marriage with 
 his Grace of Kingrton, the folcmn opinions of 
 the Civilians might be urged in extenuation; 
 but thofc opinions were obtained by partial 
 fads only appearing to them. The KARL of 
 BRISTOL had boafled of a nu-rriagc. The 
 Lady whom he had denominated his wife, put 
 him to the proof of the marriage ; and with 
 perfed fufcty fhc might do ihij., when Ihe had 
 
 taken 
 
[ V- ] 
 
 taken previous care to prevent the only witnefs 
 who could prove the fa(5l, from giving tefti- 
 mony in the caufc. Here was fraud; and, if 
 Lord Briftol acquicfced in it, there was collu- 
 fion. Another thing — There was certainly ex- 
 treme turpitude in the fadt of deilroying the re- 
 gifter of the marriage with the noble Earl, at 
 one time ; and there was the utmoft fordidnefs 
 in endeavouring to rcftore fonicthing like it, 
 when likely to anfvver a felfifli purpofc. All 
 thcfc circumrtances of evil - doing afforded 
 miferable thenies for rcflcdlion ; and the period 
 was no'.v arrived, when reflection came with 
 vengeance at her heels : but alternative there 
 was none. An immediate return to England 
 was the only meafurc to be adopted ; and this 
 the opponents of theDuchcfs had endeavoured 
 to prevent, by a fpccics of artful policy, cx- 
 inflly fuitcd to the Lady with whom they had to 
 deal. Mr. JENKINS was then a banker. 
 TheDuchcfs had placed fccurities in his hands, 
 anfwerable for the fums flife might occafionally 
 require. Lie was perfedly fecure in any ad- 
 vance he might make; yet, apprized that the 
 Duchefs would call on him for money to de- 
 fray the cxpcnce of her journey to England, 
 he avoided feeing her. On the firit announce* 
 ment of his not being at home, it was paffcd 
 over as a mere unfortunate incident; but on 
 
 the 
 
[ 33 J 
 
 ihc vlins being rcp;.^arL'd, and the denials being 
 as frequent, the conducl: was juftly imputed to 
 defion. The fchcme wns lodci.iv rhe return of 
 
 o 
 
 the Duchefs, fo as tl^at an outlawrv mi2;hc be 
 obtained, which, in the eye of imagination, 
 appeared the probable method of acquiring the 
 cftates of the late Duke. This was folly, bc- 
 caufe the will of his Grace, in his own hand 
 writing, was fo guarded as not to be attacked 
 with the remoteft pciiibilit}" of fuecefs. Such, 
 however, was the idea; and from whatever 
 prclV.mcable motive it oiiginated, MR. JEN- 
 KINS allured ly coincided with the plan. 
 Aware of this, the Duchefs w::s inccliant in her 
 applications; and finding all her cff'orts to fee 
 MR. JENKINS fail, n\e pocketed a brace of 
 piftols, returned to his hojfe, a.nd receiving 
 the ufual anfwer that he u-as nor at home, flie 
 fat on the ftcps of lii^ door, and declared her 
 determined refoiution there to remain until he 
 returned, were it fora wc-k, month, or year. 
 She knew that bufincfs would crompcl his re- 
 turn ; 9^^L]y finding it irnjvi-atfticable any longer 
 fo elude an interview, MR.. JENKINS ap- 
 peared. As the Duchefs podcired that blelled 
 gift of utterance, for which ladies of fpirit ?.rc 
 fometimes fo eminently famous, it may b: 
 ftij)pou'd, iliac the convcrfarion with rhc banker 
 V was, 
 
[ .u ] 
 
 was not of the mildcfl: kind. IMoney was de-. 
 niandcd, not afkcd. A lliilc picvaiication en- 
 Tucd ; but the produdlion of a pillol fcrvcd as 
 the niofl powerful mode of rcafon'mg : the ne- 
 ccfTary was obtanied, and the Duchefs inllai.tly 
 quitted Rome. 
 
 We are now to behold the objcdt of our fuc- 
 cindt detail, in a light pitiable in the extreme. 
 About to combat a profceution, the event of 
 which, the monitor wiihin mud inform the 
 culprit, would be faiiil ; a feries of reflfcSions, 
 and each accoi7ip:init.d by a cenfure, crouding 
 on the mind, and putting the perturbed fpirits 
 on the rack of painful fenlation ; attended only 
 by domcitics, and wanting the confolation of a 
 friend, each pace was a nearer approach to 
 misery, and every hour only the anticipation of 
 future woe. This was enough to overpower 
 nature-, nor will it be deemed furprifing, that, 
 under fuch opprcflive circumflances, the health 
 of the Duchefs iliould be violently attacked. 
 Her iourncy was retarded before flic reached 
 the Alps. A fever fecmcd to feizc on 
 her vitals. From that fne recovered, to live 
 ^.flonlfliment of her attendants. An abfeefs 
 ihcn formed in her fide, which rendering it im- 
 poiTible for licr to cndv^-c the motion of a car- 
 riage, 
 
r 35 ] 
 
 riage, a kind of litter was provided, in \v!iich 
 ihc gently travelled. In this fituation, nature 
 was relieved by the breaking of the abfcefs ; 
 and, after a rcdioufly painful journey, the 
 Duchcfs reached Calais. At that place flie 
 made a paufc, and there it was that her appic- 
 hcnfion got ihc better of her reafon. In idea 
 flie was fettered, and incarcerated in ihe word 
 cell of the woill prifon in London. She was 
 totally ignorant of the bailable nature of her 
 offence, and by confequence cxpcd:cd the iit- 
 moft to be imagined. COLONEL WEST, a 
 brother of the late Lord Delawar^ whom the 
 Duchefs had known in England, became her 
 principal aflbciate ; but he was not lawyer fuffi* 
 cient to fatisfy her doubts. 
 
 By the means of former connections, and 
 through a benevolence in his own nature, the 
 ^ARL of MANSFIELD had a private inter- 
 courfe with the Duchefs. Without mention- 
 ing the place of meeting, fuHice it to obfervc, 
 that this venerable Peer, who, having nearly 
 finifhed his courfe, is now fubliming in fpirit 
 preparatory to the fruition of coclellial happi- 
 ncfs, condudled himfelf in a manner, which 
 Oid honour to his heart and characfler. Her 
 fpirits footl'ied, and her futile apprchenfions rc- 
 F 2 moved 
 
[ 3^ ] 
 
 niovft-l by the interview, the Duchefsembarkcrc! 
 lor Dover, landed, drove poll to KingHon 
 Houfe, nnd found friends difplaying both zeal 
 and ak^.crit:y in her caufe. 
 
 The prefent DUKE of NEWCASTT.E was 
 
 neadilv devoted to her wclfar.-. The DUKFS 
 of ANCASTER and l^OKTLAND tcilified 
 their fincere good wiflies * ; LORD MOUNT- 
 STUAPvT fliewed, in numerous inllances, his 
 kindnels ; and there were not wanting a circle 
 of other diftinguifned pcrfonages, who, repro- 
 bating the profecution as originating in merce- 
 nary and vindictive motives, conceived them- 
 felvcs to be juftified in protecting, as far as in 
 their pouer lay, the object ptrrecutcd. The 
 
 - Lord BAllRINGTON alfo preferved, to the laft hour 
 ot IvvT liJe, a truly fincere attachment for the Duchefs. On 
 hiv triu!, he was called as an cvideiu'e, and the ijuefHons 
 put to Lim, being intended to extort what hadpalfcd in pri- 
 vate convcrfation, his Lordfliip, witli a great degree ot 
 iirninc.'s, declined giving r.ny r.nfwcr. The Peers withdrew, 
 and on rrtorning, delivered it as their opinion, thr.t the 
 N.'ble Lord was bonnden to anfwer the ciucfiior.s. lie 
 fiiP, however, rcfiifcd ; and, to get rid of the bnfinefs, the 
 
 ..eftions which had been propoled, were foftentd, and his 
 further tc'.iniony was difpenfed with. The Dud.cp and 
 Lonl r>.vr:n^iou conftai.tl) ccrrcf])ondi.d. 
 
 iirft 
 
L 37 ] 
 
 firft mcafurc tnken was to have the Dachcrs 
 balled. This was done before Lord Mansfield, 
 his Grace of Ncv/cafllc, Lord Mountlluart, 
 Mr. GLOVEF.*, and other charafters of rank 
 attending. This difagrecable matter adjufted, 
 the manner of adjufling it was fuch as to fo- 
 lace the mind, and prepared it for a greater 
 encounter. It is in the conftitution of fublit- 
 nary things, that the endurance of evils is the 
 
 * r imps Glover, Kfq, a Lincolnfliire gentleman, inde- 
 pendent in fortune, and in foul. His word, given even on 
 cccafions the mole triviid, is veracity itfelf. I'rofelTions ha, 
 makes not j unlcfs they arc fiiggeik^d by the feelings of his 
 licart. To duplicity his nature is fo infinitely avcvfc, that 
 on the flightell appearance of it, his indignation is aroufcd ; 
 not meaning to trifle with others, he will not fufFer the moft 
 exalted charadtcrs to trifle with him. Of this he gave a fig- 
 iial inflancc, when the late Marquis of Rockingham, being 
 the ^linillcr, betrayed an inclination to difpcnfc with a pro- 
 inifc he had given Mr. G!on.-cr, to place a lad in the Charter 
 Iloufc. The Marqias played the Courtier, fori^ettiiiT tlve 
 nature of the man with whom he had to dcaU After Icve- 
 lal attempts to evade, Mr, Glover brought the matter to 
 iiuie, by requefting a Peer to tell the Marquis, who was 
 his friend, " That if he did not immediately perform his 
 *' promife, he \\ow\il pull his Jhn over lis ears, and that at a 
 *' pullic tneeting in his ozv/i county" This language foon 
 fettled the matter; and the lad whom il/r. Gbr/er had pa- 
 tronized', filled the vacancy at the Charter Houfe. Mr. 
 Glover was ;in iniimato friend of the Duke of Kingllon. 
 
 lot 
 
[ 3S ] 
 
 lot of mortality ; and it Is in tlie benignant ot* 
 der of Heaven, that the vvoril evils fliould be 
 endurable, by happening fo progrcflively, as 
 that our natures are tempered, by gradation, to 
 the infecilit}' of their condition. 
 
 The pro'ccution, and confequent trial of the 
 Duchefs, becoming ol'j.ifrs of magnitude, the 
 public curiofity and expectation were pro- 
 portionably excited. The Duchefs had, through 
 lite, dirtinguiflied hcrfelf as a mofl: eccentric 
 character. Her turn of mind was original, and 
 many of her actions were without a parallel. 
 Even when flie moved in the fphere of amufe. 
 ment, it was in a ll:yle peculiarly her own. If 
 others invited admiration by a partial difplay 
 of their charms, at a mafquerade, flie at once 
 threw ofl' the veil, and fet cenfure at defiance. 
 Thus at a midnight afTem.bh', where Bacchus 
 revelled, and the altars of Venus were encircled 
 by the vot;:rics of Love, the Duchefs, then de- 
 nominated MifsChudleigh, appeared almoft in 
 the unadorned fimplicity of primitive nature. 
 Whether to demonflrate how nearly ihe was 
 allied to her anceftrefs, Eve, before the fall j 
 or, whether from a religious veneration of the 
 cuftoms which prevailed in Eden ; whatever 
 was licr motive, certain it is, that fhe was every 
 
 thing 
 
[ 39 ] 
 
 thing but naked *; and yet, like onr firft parents, 
 flie was not afDamtd. Thus erratic in her na- 
 ture, the dilemma into which fhe was thrown 
 by the pending profccution, was Icarccly more 
 than might be cxpcdted to happen to fuch a 
 charadlcr. She had, in a manner, invited the 
 difgrace, by ncgleAing the means of prevent- 
 ing it. Mrs. Cradock, the only cxiAing evi- 
 dence againa her, had perfonally Iblicited a 
 maintenance for the remaining \cars of her 
 Hie. On a certain annual Hipend being fettled 
 on her, Hie had voluntarily o^'fred to retire to 
 
 her native village, and never more intrude. 
 
 This ofTer was rejected by the Duchcfs, who 
 v.'ould only confent to allow her twenty pounds 
 a year, on condition of her fcqucfkring hcrfelf 
 in fomc place near the Veake of Berhyjkire. 
 This the Duchefs confuiercd as a moll liberal 
 offer ; and, fl^e exprefied her aftonifhment that 
 the " Old devil," as fne ufcd to call her, fliould 
 have had the affurance to reject it. To her cofl 
 in purle, and to her agony in mind, it was re. 
 jedcd wiih the i;tmoft {"corn, and fne who wa5 
 
 • This nlludes to her appearance in the charade:- of 
 IPHIGEXIA, at a Jiibillee Ball, in the yenr 1744. An 
 «xai^ ddincarion of her diels, is given in the Frontifpicce 
 ef this Derail. 
 
 rcfiifcd 
 
C 40 J 
 
 refufcd a paltry pittance, except on conJIiion 
 ot baallhment tor life, might atteiwartls have 
 received thoufands to abrcond. Tlicimpulfcof 
 fear would produce what the feelings of huma- 
 ricy never could call forth. 
 
 From the nioment in which the recognizances 
 for the appeaiance of the Duchcfs were entered 
 iiito, a fcenc of law difciofed itfclf. Books of 
 cafes were purchafed in abundance, precedents 
 were blotted with ink, the pages doubled down, 
 and pins ihick in the feveral notes of reterence, 
 Jnftead of travelling like a Jew pedlar, with a 
 diamond box at Iter back, Taylor's Ele-' 
 7nents of Civil Lainii Coke's Lijli/uh's, fonie hif- 
 rory of the Privileges of Peers to be doubly 
 married, or a volume of the State Trials, gar- 
 liifncd the coach in which the D'jchefs drove 
 from his Grace of Newcaflle to Mr. Arm- 
 strong, the Sheriff's officer. By the gentle- 
 ilien of the robe, as it may be naturally fuppof- 
 cd, the Duchcfs was furroundcd, and (o cha-» 
 ritably were they difpofed, that they gave her 
 every confolation fhe could wifli. The civili- 
 ans were armed at all points to prove, that a 
 fentence of their courts was an effe(^ual bar to 
 the admiffion of evidence. Like Fate, an ec- 
 cl^liaftical decree was irrevocable. The com- 
 mon 
 
[ 4t ] 
 
 mon lawyers, on the other hand, fmiled, or 
 
 afflded to fmile, at the idea of a convidion. 
 
 It was a mere phantom conjured up in the hour 
 
 of dlfmay for the purpofe of affrighting. Under 
 
 thefe afTuranccs, the Duchcfs was as quiet as 
 
 the rroublcfome monitor in her bofom would 
 
 give pcrmifTion. When a gentle hint of pof- 
 
 fible danger was fuggcrtcd by any of the difm- 
 
 tcrefted few, the mercenary many inftantly 
 
 foothcd all into peace. Reconciled, therefore, 
 
 in (omc meafjre, to the encounter, the repofc 
 
 of the Duchefs was, on a fudden, interrupted 
 
 by an adverfary from a different quarter. This 
 
 was no lefs celebrated a pcrfonage than the 
 
 late Samuel Foote. The circumftance was as 
 
 follows : 
 
 Mr. Foote, as a cotemporary, and mixing, 
 as he did, in the firft circles of falhion, was 
 perfedly acquainted with the leading tranfac- 
 tions of the Duchefs 's life. Befide this, he had 
 received much private information from (omc 
 perfon who had lived in the houfe with her. 
 The fufpicion, at the time, fell on a Mifs 
 PENROSE, a young lady who had experienced 
 fo many gracious promifcs from the Duchefs, 
 that flic only found it ncceflary to provide for 
 herfclf until they were accompliOied. VVho- 
 G evei 
 
[ 4^ ] 
 
 ever furnished the intelligence, it certaini}'' 
 was of the moil private kind, and, poflcfling 
 it, FooTE refolved to make fomcthing of what 
 he thus knew. As, in the opinion of Man- 
 DEViLLE, private vices are public benefits, fo 
 Foots deemed the crimes and follies of indi- 
 viduals convertible into advantage by the amal- 
 gamy of wit. On this principle, he proceed- 
 ed with the Duchefs of Kingfton. He had 
 written a piece, entitled, " A Trip to Calais'* 
 The fcenes were humorous, the character of 
 the Duchefs was moft admirably drawn, and 
 the effect was accomplilhed ; which was, that 
 Ihe fhould fee, and be aihamcd of, herfelf. The 
 real defign of Foote was, to obtain a confiderablc 
 fum of money from the Duchefs, for fupprefs- 
 ing the piece. With this view he contrived to 
 have it communicated to her Grace, by an in- 
 different perfon, that the Haymarket theatre 
 would open with the entertainment in which 
 Ihe was, as the phrafe is, taken off to the life. 
 This was intended to alarm, and it did effectu- 
 ally alarm her. She fent for Mr. Foote. He 
 attended, with the piece in his pocket. She 
 defired him to read a part of it. He obeyed ; 
 and proceeding in the charat^cr of Lad y Kitty 
 Crocodile, his auditorefs could no longer for- 
 bear. She arofe, in a violent paffion, and ex- 
 claimed. 
 
C 43 ] 
 
 jclaimed, " This is fcandalous, Mr. Foote ! 
 •** Why, what a wretch you have made me !'* 
 ** You ! (replied the humourifl) " this Is not 
 •* defignefi for your Grace; it is not you !'* 
 After a few turns about the room, the Duchefs 
 calmed her turbulence, and affumlng a fmilc, 
 entreated it as a favour that Mr. Foote would 
 leave the piece for herpcrufal, engaging at the 
 fame time to return it on the eniuing morning. 
 He readily complied. The carriage was or- 
 dered, and he took his leave. Left thus to 
 confidcr her own pidure, lb much did herGracc 
 diflike it, that Ihe determined, if poffible, to 
 prevent the expofurc of it to public view. As 
 the artift had no objedion to felling it, fhc in- 
 clined to be the purchafcr. This was the next 
 morning made known to Foote, who was 
 queftioncd as to the fum which would fatisfy 
 him for fupprefling the piece. Proportionino- 
 his expectations to her power of gratifying 
 them, he demanded Two Thousand Pounds, 
 apd to be paid a certain fum, in compenfatlon 
 for a lofs which, he pretended, would be fuf- 
 tainedby the fcenes defigned for the "Trip 
 io Calais," being appropriated to other ufes. 
 The enormity of this demand daggered the 
 Puchefs. By meflages flie intimated her ex- 
 treme furprize, and a wifh that the requeft 
 G 2 were 
 
C 4^^ ] 
 
 were moderated within the boundary of reafon. 
 Imagining that fhe muft at laft comply, Foore 
 would not abate one guinea. She offered h ni 
 fourteen then fixteen hundred pounds , and had 
 aftually a draft on Meffis. Drummond, for that 
 fum, for his acceptance. This yielding, only 
 induced Foote to think he fhould finally fuc- 
 ceed, until by grafping at too much, he over-; 
 Hood his market, and loft every thing. 
 
 The demand made by Foote on the Duchtgss, 
 might, at anytime except the particular jundture 
 in which it was urged, have pafTed among the 
 other indifferent events of the hour, as wholly un- 
 meriting the public notice. There are innumer- 
 able incidents which flart up, like bubbles on the 
 water, and are daily carried down the flream of 
 time, without even exciting obfervation, much 
 lefs interefling our attention. Self, or what a 
 man of worth confidereth as his other felf, a 
 friend, mufl be engaged, before we are ftimur 
 lated to take an acflive part in any pending bu- 
 finefs of whatever nature. It was thus in the 
 cafe now relating. Thofe, long connecfted with 
 the Duchcfs, and in eflablifhed habits of inti- 
 macy, felt the attack made on her, as direfted 
 by a ruffi.m hand, at a mornent when (he vvas, 
 of all moments of her life, the Icaft able to 
 
 make 
 
[ 45 ] 
 
 make any refillance. A bill of indictment had 
 been found. At the hazard of her life h^d Hie 
 journeyed, from Rome to London, to abide 
 the confequences of a mofl ferious profecution. 
 During her abfence, every rriethod had been 
 adopted by her, opponents, to degrade her in 
 the public opinion; and, now, that Ihe had 
 come fairly forward to meet her fate, it was 
 no more than a common principle of equity 
 that, pending the fuit cgainft her, all fliould be 
 quiefccnt. Every alien attack was criminal 
 barbarity. To prejudice was to bias ; and, the 
 confcquencc of the Public, and of Judges as 
 component parts of ihat public, being biaffed 
 againft a culprit, had been fatally experienced 
 in a variety of inftances. — There was another 
 unanfvverable plea in bar to any wanton or ma- 
 licious attack. This was the Sex of the party 
 profecuted. For women, men fliould ever feel, 
 and feeling, Ihould ever be their advocates. 
 With all their faults they are the folacers of 
 life ; and, when virtue is blended with their 
 charms, they become irrefirtiblc. It was vain> 
 however, altogether vain, to fuppofe that Foote 
 could be foftened, by what would melt down, 
 as it WTre, the feelings of others, in the mould 
 of compaffion. Mr. Foote abounded in wit 
 and mimicry, and, both united, fpared nei- 
 ther 
 
I 46 J 
 
 ther age, fcx, nor condition. Inflead of a pif- 
 tol, he had a libel in his hand; this he prefented 
 to the bofom of a female, and threatened to di- 
 re(5t the contents to her heart, unlefs ihe deli- 
 vered to him Two Thousand Pounds. The 
 critical period in which this attempt was made, 
 as before intimated, was fuch as to interefl every 
 friend of the Duchefs, in her behalf. His 
 Grace the Duke of Newcastle was confulted. 
 The Chamberlain of the Houfhold was apprized 
 of the circumftance ; and, his prohibitory in- 
 terference was earneftly folicited. He fent for 
 the manufcript copy of the " ^rip to Calais,^* 
 pcrufed and cenfured it. This occaiioned a 
 remonftrating letter * from Fqote, to the Earl 
 
 of 
 
 * Lette* from Mr, Foote to the Barl of Hertford, 
 *' My Lord, 
 " I did intend trbubHn^ your Lordfliip with an earlier 
 *' addrefs, but the day after I received your prohibitory man- 
 " date, I had the honour of a vifit from Lord Mountftuart» 
 *' to whofe interposition I find I am indebted for your firft 
 " commands, relative to the Trip to Calais, by Mr. Chet- 
 *' wynd, and your final rejection of it by Colonel Keen. 
 
 *' Lord Mountftuart has, I prefume, told your Lordfliip, 
 *' that he read with me thofc fcenes to which your Lord- 
 *' fliip objefted, that he found them coUcftcd from gener^t^ 
 " nature, and applicable to none but thofe who, through 
 " confcioufnefs, were compelled to a felf-application. To 
 <' fuch minds, my Lord, the Whole Duty of Man, next to 
 
 " the 
 
C 47 3 
 
 of Hextford, at that time in office. Befide 
 thefe, and other powerful aids, the Duchefs 
 
 called 
 
 ** idxe Sacred Writings, it the fcvercft fatire that ever was 
 *' wrote ; and to the fame mark, if Comedy dirc£ls not her 
 *' aim, her arrows are fhot in the air ; for by what touches 
 *♦ no man, no man will be mended. Lord Mountftuart 
 " dcfired that I would fuffer him to take the play with him, 
 *' and let him leave it with the Duchefs of Kingfton : he 
 " had my confent, my Lord, and at the fame time an af- 
 *• furance, that I was willing to make any alteration that 
 *' her Grace would fuggeft. Her Grace (aw the play, and, 
 " in confequcnce, I faw her Grace ; with the rcfult of that 
 *' interview, I (hall not, at this time, trouble your Lord* 
 *' Ihip. It may, perhaps, be neceflar}' to obferve, that her 
 " Grace could not difcern, which your Lordfhip, I dare 
 *' fay, will readily believe, a fingle trait in the charafter o£ 
 *• Lady Kitty Crocodile, that refcmbled herfelf. 
 
 " After this reprefcntation, your Lordfhip, will, I doubt 
 *' not, permit me to enjoy the fruits of my labour ; nor 
 *' will you think it reafonable, becaufe a capricious indivi- 
 *' dual has taken it into her head, that I have pinned her 
 ♦' ruffles away, that I fhould be puniflied by a poniaid 
 " ftuck deep in my heart : your Lordlhip has too much 
 *' candour and jufticc to be the inftrument of fo violent and 
 " ill.direAcd a blow. 
 
 *' Your Lordfliip*s determination is not only of the 
 *♦ greatcft importance to me now, but muft inevitably de- 
 *' cide my fate for the future, as, after this defeat, it will 
 ** be impoffible for me to mufter up courage enough to 
 ♦' face Folly againi between the mul'e and the magiftrate 
 
 ** there 
 
[ 48 ] 
 
 calkd in jurifprudential advice. The Sages of 
 the Robe were confulted, and their opinions 
 were, " That the Piece was a malicious libel, 
 " and that fliould itbe reprefented, a Ihort-hand 
 ** writer ought to employed by the Duchtfs to 
 *' attcndonthe night of reprercntation, to minute 
 *' each offcnfive paffage, as the ground- work 
 " of a profecution." This advice was followed, 
 becaufe confonant with the ideas of thcDuchefs, 
 
 " there is a natural confederacy ; what the lafl cannot 
 *' punifti the firft often corrc(fts ; but when flie finds her- 
 *' felf not only deferted by her ancient ally, but fees him 
 '* armed in the defence of her foe, flie has nothing left but 
 ** a fpeedy retreat : Adieu then, my Lord, to the flage. 
 " Valeat res ludicra, to which, I hope, I may with jufiice 
 " add, plaudite, as, during my continuance in the fcrvice 
 " of the Public, I never profited by flattering their paflions, 
 *' or falling in with their humours, as upon all occafionSj 
 *' I have exerted my little powers (as indeed I thought it 
 *' my duty) in cxpoHng follies, how much focver the fa- 
 t' vourites of the day ; and pernicious prejudices, however 
 *' protected and popular. This, my Lord, has been done, 
 *' if thofe may be believed who have the bell right to know, 
 " fomctimes with fuccefs ; let me add too, that in doir.g 
 *' this I never loft my credit with the Public, becaufe they 
 ^ knew that I proceeded upon principle ; that I difdained 
 " being either the echo or the inftrument of any nviti, how- 
 *' ever exalted his llation, and that I never received reward 
 *' or proteftion from any other hands than their own. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, 6cc. 
 
 ♦• SAMUEL FOOTE/' 
 who. 
 
C 49 J 
 
 who, by this time^had bcccmc a very great Law^ 
 ycrefs. Blanchard was the pcrfon felcdled in 
 preference to Guryev, and his admifllon fee to 
 one of the fide boxes, being properly guaranteed, 
 a compleat entrapment was fuppofed to be laid 
 for FooTE. Whether he received private inti- 
 mation of the fcheme, or whether he found his 
 attempt on the purfc of the Duchcfs, excite the 
 difpleafurc of thofe whofe favours were of confe- 
 qiience to him ; whatever caufed the intimida- 
 tion, intimidated he began to be. The proof 
 which he gave of it was, a denial that he ever 
 had made fo exorbitant a demand as Two 
 Thousand Pouisds for the fuppreffion of the 
 piece. This denial much contributed to his in- 
 jury, becaufe the Rev. M;;. Fostiir, * a clergy. 
 
 man 
 
 * Mr. Foster had, in the early part of life, been fe- 
 Ictftcd by old TtJivaie^ JFortley Moittagt:e, the hufband of the 
 late celebrated LaJy Mary, and the father of the prcfent 
 Lady Bute, to fiiperintend the education of that very eccen- 
 tric character, the late Edivard U'ortky Montague. Foster 
 was perfedly qualified for the ftation of a private tutor, but 
 his pupil was fo exceedingly difpofcd to lly off, as it were, 
 inatangcnt, as to render it utterly impoffible to fixhisatten- 
 tion to any thing worthy purfuit. After thrice runningaway, 
 and being difcovered by his father's 'valet, crying flounders 
 about the ftreets of Dcptfjrd, he was lent to the Weft-Indies, 
 whither Fofter accompanied him. On their return to Eng- 
 land, a good-natured flratagem wr.s praftifed to obtain a 
 temporary fupply of money from old JNIontague, and at the 
 H f;im.(i 
 
[ 50 ] 
 
 man of rcrpe<5tabiHty, confidcrably advanced 
 in years, and who had through life mingled 
 with the great world, came voluntarily forward, 
 and made an affidavit of the following fadls ; 
 ** That in confequence of the threat to perform 
 ** the 'Trip to Calais, he waited on Mr. Foote, 
 '* and remonftrated with him on the extreme 
 *• barbarity of fuch an attack, at fuch a par- 
 ^' ticular juncflure. That Mr. Foote had only 
 <* agreed to fupprefs the piece, on his receiv- 
 
 iame time to give him a favourable opinion of his fon's at" 
 tention to a particular fpecies of erudition. The flratagem 
 was this : " Foster writ a book which he entitled, *' Tle^ 
 "■ Rife ami Fall of the Roman RcptMcs:' To this he fob-, 
 joined the name of E-divard Worthy Mon^ayue, jtm. Efq, 
 Old AVortley, feeing the book advertifed, fent for his fon, 
 and gave him a Bank Note of one hundred pounds^ promifing 
 him a fimilar prefent for every new edition v/hich the book 
 iliould pafs through. It wa^ well received by the Public, 
 and, therefore a fecond edition occafioncd a fecond fupply. 
 It is now in libraries with the name of fVortleyMontaguef pre- 
 fixed as the author, although he did not write a line of it. 
 Mr. Fosier was afterwards Chaplain to the celebrated ^/r 
 William Wytidhatn : he then went to Pcterjhurgh, in the fuite 
 of the Englilli Anibafiador. Many years afterwards, he be- 
 came acquainted with the Duke ofKingfton, and, on the 
 demife of his Grace, the Duchefs appointed him her do- 
 meiiic Chaplain. He accompanied her on her firll vilit ta 
 Feterlburgh, and the Emprcfs, who had known him before, 
 gave him an appointment in the academy, annexing a ftipcnd 
 out of her prlvv purfe. This appointment he held a fliort 
 jime, and died in the ei ghty -fix th year of his age. 
 
 *' ing 
 
t SI ] 
 
 *^ ing from the Duchefs the fum of 'Two ThoU-^ 
 *' fand Pouriih." This affidavit was fo complete 
 a refutation of the denial, as not to leave it in 
 the power of ingenuity to retort, and n-ith the 
 Public, the teflimony of Mr. Fofler had every 
 defired cffed:. 
 
 Thus defeated in point of faft, Foote found 
 liimfelf baffled alfo in point of defign. The 
 Chamberlain would not permit the piece to be 
 reprefented. Foote tried the force of his con- 
 nexions ; but it was the effort of weaknefs 
 againft inflexibility. Fiere the utmoft which 
 his humour could do, was to fupport a laugh 
 at the expence of his purfe. He was to be 
 merry in fadncfs — for fadnefs the lofs of fixteen 
 hundred pounds mufl privately have occafioned. 
 &3 little did Foote relifh the deprivation of 
 this fum, that he opened a new negociation with 
 the Duchefs, caufing it to be intimated to her, 
 '■'- That it was in his power to piiblijh, if not to 
 " perform; but that were his expcnces reim- 
 " burfed, (and the fum which her Grace had 
 *' formerly offered him, would do the buiinefs) 
 *' he would defifl." This intiniation being 
 communicated to the Duchefs, fhe did in this, 
 as in too many cafes, afk the opinion of her 
 friends, with a fecret determinaiion to follow 
 her own. Foote finding thit fhe began to 
 H 2 .yield, 
 
t 5^ ] 
 
 3'Iekl, prefTed his defire incefiantly ; and ihe 
 had actually provided bills to the amount of 
 lixteen hundred pounds, which fhe would have 
 given Foote, but for the following circumftance ; 
 Tlje Earl of Peterborough, Doctor Isaac 
 ScHOMBERG, the Rcv. Mr. Foster, and Mr. 
 Field the Solicitor, were alternately confultcd, 
 and they feverally reprobated the demand as a 
 fcandalous impofition, with which it would be 
 weaknefs to comply. Doctor Schomberg, 
 in particular, declared, " That although he 
 *' had been for many years intimate with Foote, 
 " and had fpent fonie of the pleafanteft hours 
 *' of his life in his company, yet he would tell 
 *' him to his face, as a man, that he defcrved 
 '' to be run through the body for fuch an at- 
 " tempt. It v;as more ignoble than the con- 
 " dud: of an highwayman.'* This pointed 
 language, did:ated, as every utterance from 
 the lips of Isaac Schomberg was, by the feel- 
 ings of an honourable heart, had confiderablc 
 effedt ; but ftill the Duchcfs dreaded the pen, 
 almoft as much as the perfonified hun.iour of 
 Foote ; and of the powers of literary defence 
 flie was herfelf entirely dcftitute. In this junc- 
 ture of alarm, the Reverend Mr. Jackson, who 
 was at that time Editor of a political paper in 
 Ibme eflimation with the oppofitionills to the 
 ruinous meafures of Lord Northy being afked 
 
 htg 
 
C 53 ] 
 
 his opinion of tlie demand made b}?^ Foote, re- 
 turned this anfwer : " Inftead of complying 
 *' with it, your Grace lliould obtain complete 
 *^ evidence of the menace and demand, and 
 ^' then confult your Coiinfel whether a profc- 
 *' cution will not lie for endeavouring to extort 
 *' money by threats. Your Grace muft re- 
 *' member the attack on the firft Duke ofMarl- 
 *' borough y who was endeavoured to be menaced 
 " into compliance by a llrangcr, who had form- 
 ** ed a defign either on his purfe or his inte- 
 " reft." This anfwer ftruck the Earl of Pe- 
 TERBORouGri, and Mr. FosTER, very forcibly, 
 as in perfed: coincidence with their own opi- 
 nions. His Grace the Duke of Ancaster alfo 
 accorded in idea. Mr. Jackson was then fo- 
 licited to wait on Mr. Foote; Mr. Fofter, the 
 proper Chaplain of theDuchefs, profefling him- 
 felf to be too far advanced in years to enter the 
 field of literary combat. Mr. Jackson con- 
 fented to be the champion, on the fubfequent 
 condition, " That the Duchefs would give her 
 ** honour never to retraft her determination not 
 *' to let Foote extort from her a fingle guinea." 
 Subfcribing to this condition, Mr. Jackson 
 waited on Mr. Foote, at his houfe in Suffolk- 
 ftrcet, adjoining the Hay.Tiarket Theatre. Af- 
 ter the ufual ceremonies, Mr. Jackfon told him, 
 '^ That he came as a friend of the Duchefs of 
 
 ** Kingfton, 
 
C .<+ J 
 
 *' l^ingfl-on, and wiflicd to be favoured with jl 
 *' categorical anlvvcr to this queftion, whether 
 " Mr. Foote meant topubliHi the piece which 
 ** the Chamberlain had refufed to licenfe, called 
 ** J Trip to Calais?^* Mr. Foote was about to 
 enter into a long detail refpefting the vafl ex- 
 pcnce which had been incurred, when Mr* 
 Jackfon interrupted him thus : " If, Sir, you 
 *' mean, by informing me of the expence, to 
 " intimate an expedtation that the whole, or 
 " any part of it, flioulil be defrayed by the 
 " Duchefs, I fairly tell you that you will find 
 *' yourfelf miflaken ; Ihe will not give you 
 " onesfuinea." Foote endeavoured to turn this 
 off by a laugh, and inflead of replying to the 
 poinr, he begged Mr. Jackfon would hear him 
 read the letter which he had written to the Earl 
 of Hertford, complaining of the hardihip of 
 prohibiting ihe reprefentation of a piece, merely 
 becaufe fome lady of quality might fuppofe her- 
 fclf ridiculed for pmiing her ruffles awry ; and 
 although there was point, wit, and brilliancy 
 in it, yet it was not an a^nfwer to the queflion, 
 Mr. Jackfon, therefore, finally repeated it, 
 when Mr. Foote iaid, *' O, I Ihall certainly 
 *^ publifli the piece, unlefs the Duchefs will 
 " confider the heavy lofs which I fhall fuftain. 
 ** But why the devil does Jfaac Schomherg inter- 
 ** fere ? We fhould hunt down thefe reps of 
 
 " quality 
 
[ 55 3 
 
 " quality In couples. Befides, Lady Kitty 
 '^ Crocodile will fuit nine, out often, widows 
 ^' of fafhlon in the kingdom. Their damned 
 ** tears are like a fljower mjunpine, rcfrefliing 
 " their weeds, and making their faces look the 
 ** brighter." Mr. Jacklon, on this, wiflied 
 Mr. Foote a good morning, and was about to 
 retire, when Foote put his hand on his fiiouU 
 der, and faid, " What ! and fo I am to be at- 
 " tacked if I publifli The Trip to Cildis" Mr. 
 Jackfon replied, " The publication will be ao 
 " attack from you, Mr. Foote, the effecl of 
 ** which, I, as the friend of thfDiichefs, will 
 *' do my utmoll to prevent." Here the inter- 
 view ended. 
 
 Foote, however, ftill wiflicd to have matters 
 compromifed, and a meeting to take place. To 
 accomplifli this, he addrelfed a letter to the 
 Duchefs, which began by iUting, " That a 
 '* Member of the Privy Council, and a friend 
 *' of her Grace, (by whom he meant the Duks 
 ** of Newcafile) had converfed with him on the 
 <* fubjed: of the difpute between them; and 
 *' that for himftlf he was ready to have every 
 *' thing adjured." This letter gave the Du- 
 chefs a triumph. There was conceffion in every 
 line. She fent for Mr. Jackfon. Thanked hiin 
 tenthoufand times for his interference. De- 
 clared 
 
L 56 ] 
 
 clared that he had faved her fixteen lufitired 
 found <. She fheued him the letter which fhc 
 had received from Foote, and defircd him, in 
 her name, toanfvver it, and publifli both. This 
 he declined, alledging, that a newfpaper con- 
 troverfy would degrade her. She, ho.vcver, 
 thought otherwife ; and the town was amufed 
 by the following correfpondence paffing betweca 
 the Diichefs, and her mimic antagonill : 
 
 " To bcr Grace the Duchefs ef Kingflon, 
 
 " Madam, 
 *' A Member of the Privy Council, and a 
 friend of your Grace's, he has begged mc 
 not to mention his name, but I fuppofe your 
 Grace will eafily guefs him, has jufl left me ; 
 he has explained to me, what I did not con- 
 ceive, that the publication of the fcenes in 
 ** the Trip to Calais, at this juncfture, with the 
 " dedication and preface, might be of infinite 
 *' ill confcqucnce to your affairs. 
 
 *' I really. Madam, wifh you no ill, and 
 '* fliould be forry to do you an injury, 
 
 *' I therefore give up to that confideration, 
 ** what neither your Grace's offers, nor the 
 ** threats of your agents could obtain ; the 
 ** fcenes lliall not be publiflied, nor Ihall any 
 
 thine: 
 
C 57 3 
 
 ** tiling appear at my theatre, or from me, 
 *' that can hurt you ; 
 
 " Provided the attacks made on me in the 
 " nevvfpapcrs, does not make it neccflary for 
 *' mc toa<tt in defence of mylclf. 
 
 " Your Grace will therefore fee theneccfiity 
 " of giving proper dirc<ftions. 
 
 *' I have the honour to be, 
 " Your Grace's 
 
 " Moft devoted fcrvant, 
 
 " SAM. FOOTE." 
 
 North Endy 
 
 Sunday, Aug. 13th, 1775. 
 
 (COP Y.-) 
 
 * This letter is printed exa6^1y froni the manufcrjpt. 
 
 To Mr. FOOT E. 
 
 « S I R, 
 
 " I was at dinner when I received your ill- 
 
 ** judged letter. As there is lictleconfideration 
 
 ** required, I Ihall facrifice a moment to an- 
 
 * f»s'er it. 
 
 J "A Mem- 
 
C 58 3 
 
 ^' A Member of your Privy Council can ne^ 
 " ver hope to be of a lady's cabinet. 
 
 <* I know too well what is due to my own 
 ** dignity, to enter into a compromife with 
 '* an extortionable affaffin of private reputation. 
 '* If I before abhorred you for your {lander, 
 .'^ I now defpife you for your conceflions ; it is 
 " a proof of the illiberality of your fatire,when 
 *' you can publifli or fupprefs it as beft fuits the 
 ♦* needy convenience of your purfe. You fir fl: 
 ** had the cowardly bafenefs to draw the fvvord, 
 " and, if I fheath it, until I make you crouch 
 " like the fubfervient vafTal as you are, then is 
 ^* there not fpirit in an injured woman, rjor 
 ** meannefs in a flanderous buffoon, 
 
 ** To a man my fex alone would have fcreen- 
 " ed me from attack — but J am writing to the 
 ** defcendant of a Merry Andrew, and profti- 
 " tutc the term of manhood, by applying it to 
 *' Mr. Foote. 
 
 *' Cloathed in my innocence as in a coat of 
 *' mail, I am proof againfl an hoft of foes ; and 
 *^ confcious of never having intentionally of- 
 '* fended a fingle individual, I doubt not but a 
 •* brave and generous people will protect me 
 " from the ni^levoknce of a theatrical affaffin. 
 
 : « You 
 
C 5S> ] 
 
 '* You fhall have caufe to remember, that 
 ** though I would have given liberally for the 
 ** relief of your neceflirics, I fcorn to be bullied 
 ** into a purchafe of your filence. 
 
 " There is fomething, however, in your pity 
 
 " at which my nature revolts. To make me 
 
 ** an offer of pity, at once betrays your info- 
 
 ** lence and your vanity. I will keep the pity 
 
 " you fend until the morning before you are 
 
 " turned off, when I will return it by a Cupid, 
 
 " with a box of lip falve, and a choir of cho- 
 
 *' riders Ihall chaunt a ftave to your requiem. 
 
 " E. KINGSTON. 
 *' Kingjion-Houfe, 
 
 " Sunday y i T^th Auguji, 
 
 " P. S. You would have received this fooner^ 
 
 " but the fervant has been a long time writing 
 
 " it." 
 
 (COPY.) 
 
 To the DUCHESS of KINGSTON. 
 
 " Madam, 
 
 *• Though I have neither time nor inclination 
 " to anfwer the illiberal attacks of your agents, 
 " yet a public correfpondence with your Grace 
 '* is too great an honour for me to decline. I 
 " cjin't help thinking but it would have been 
 I 2 *' prudent 
 
[ 6° ] 
 
 *' prudent in your Grace to have anfwered my 
 " letter before dinner, or at Icaft pollponed if 
 ** to the cool hour of the morrHDg ; you would 
 ** then have found that I had voiluntarily grant- 
 ** ed that requell which you had endeavoured,. 
 " by fo many diffLrcnt v^'nys, to obtain. 
 
 *' Lord Mountfluart, for whofe amiable q\ia^ 
 " lities I have the higheft refpeft, and whofe 
 " name your agents firft unnecefi^rily produced 
 " to the public, muft recollecl, when 1 had 
 " the honour ta meet him at Kingfton Houfe, 
 *' by your Grace's appointment, that inftead of 
 " begging relief from your charity, I rcjeffled 
 " your fplendid offers to fupprefs the Trip to 
 '' Calais, with the contempt they defcrved. In- 
 " deed, Madam, the humanity of ray royal 
 *' and benevolent Mafter, and the public pro- 
 *' tedtion, have placed me much above the 
 " reach of your bounty. 
 
 '' R'Jt why, Aladam, put on your «out of 
 " mail againft me ? I have no hollile intentions* 
 *" Folly, not vice, is the game I purfue. In- 
 " thofe fcenes which vou fo unaccountably 
 ^^ apply to yourfclf, you muft obferve, that 
 *' there is not the flio-hteft hint at the little in- 
 
 o 
 
 " cidents of your life, which have excited the 
 "v curiofuy of ths Grand Inquclt for the county 
 
 " of 
 
C 6' J 
 
 " of Middlefcx. I am happy, Madam, how- 
 " ever, to hear, that your robe of innocence 
 *' Is in fuch perfect repair ; I was afraid it might 
 '* have been a little the worfe for the wearing ; 
 " may it hold out to keep you warm the nexr 
 " winter. 
 
 ** The progenitors your Grace has done me 
 " the honour to give me, arc, I prefume, mere- 
 ^' ly metaphorical perfons, and to be conlidered 
 •* as the authors of my mufc, and not of my 
 " manhood : a Merry Andrew and a Proftitute 
 *' are no bad poetical parents, efpeclally for a 
 '* writer of plays ; the firft to give the humour 
 *' and mirth, the laft to furnifh the graces and 
 " powers of attradtion. Proftitutcs and players 
 " too mufl live by pleafing the public ; nor 
 " but your Grace may have heard of ladies-, 
 *' who, by private praftice, have accumulated 
 " amazing great fortunes. If )ou mean that 
 *' I really owe my birth to that pleafant connec- 
 " tion, your Grace Is grofsly deceived. My 
 " father was, in truth, a very ufcful Magillrate 
 " and refpedlablc country gentleman, as the 
 *' whole counrv of Cornwall will tell vou. Mv 
 *' mother, the daughter of Sir Edward Gooderc, 
 ** Bart, who rcprefentcd the county of Here- 
 " ford ; her fortune was large, and her morals 
 " irreproachable, till your Grace condefcended 
 
 " to 
 
r 62 ] 
 
 ** to (lain them ; Ihc was upwards of fourfcore 
 " years old when fhe died*, and, what will fur- 
 ** prize 3'our Grace, was never married but once 
 ** in her life. I am obliged to your Grace for 
 ** your intended prefent on the day, as you po- 
 " litely exprefs it, when I am to be turned off. 
 •' But where will your Grace get the Cupid to 
 ** bring me the lip-falve ? That family, I am 
 " afraid, has long quitted your fervice. 
 
 *' Prav, Madam, Is not Jackfon the name of 
 " your female confidential fecrerary ? and is 
 *' not flie generally clothed in black petticoats 
 " made out of your weeds ? 
 
 *' So mourned the dame of Ephefus her love." 
 
 *' I fancy your Grace took the hint when you 
 ** laft refided at Rome ; you heard there, I 
 *' fuppofe, of a certain Joan, who was once 
 " elected a Pope, and, in humble imitation. 
 
 * This mother^ whom i\rr. Foote thus affedts to revere, 
 he fuffercd to remain a prifoncr for debt, within the rules of 
 the King's Bench, and that at a time when he was in the 
 zenith of his fame, lolled at his eafc in an equipage, and, 
 like the rich. man defcribed in the Gofpel, " fared fumptu- 
 " cufly every day." His liberal allowance for her fupport 
 in confinement, was, tivcnty pounds a year ! This is a fact ; 
 let the public make the comment. 
 
 " have 
 
C 63 3 
 
 *' have converted a pious Parfon into a cham* 
 ** bermai '. The fcheme is new in this coun- 
 *' try, and has doubtlefs its particular plea- 
 ** furcs. That you may never want the benefit 
 " of the clergy in every emergence, is the 
 *^ fincerc wifli of 
 
 " Your Grace's 
 
 ** Moft devoted, and 
 
 *' obliged humble fervant, 
 *' SAMUEL FOOTE." 
 
 This farce carrying on with Foote, ferved t« 
 turn, for a time, the current of thought into a 
 different channel; but, it becoming neceflarr, 
 in the progrcfs of events, to adopt fomefcrious 
 meafures, either with a view to evade, or meet 
 the pending profecution, the Duchefs openly 
 affedted a moft earneft defire to have the trial, if 
 poffible, accelerated. Secretly, however, flic 
 was employed in trying every ftratagem, in the 
 power of art to devifc, to elude the mesfures 
 taken againft her. A very favourable opportu- 
 nity offered, which, had fhe embraced it, her 
 purpofc would have been accompliihed. The 
 critical moment thus prefented itfelf. It be- 
 came a matter of debate, in the Houfe of Peers, 
 whether the trial of her Grace lliould, or Ihould 
 
 not. 
 
[ 64 ] 
 
 not, be carried on in Wedmindcr Hall. The 
 cxpcnce, to be incurred by the nation, was, 
 by leveral Peers, confidered as inducing a bur- 
 den wholly unnecellliry. Lord Maksfui^d 
 endeavoured to avail himfelf of this objetHon, 
 in favour of the Duchefs, whom it was his 
 private wiih to have faved from the expofure 
 of a trial, and the ignominy of what he well 
 knew muft follow, a convid:ion. Hi^ Lord-r 
 lliip thus delivered his fentiments : ** But the 
 " arguments about the place of trial, fuggeft 
 ** to my mind a queflion as to the propriety of 
 ** any trial at all. Cut bono? What utility is 
 *' to be obtained, fuppofe a convidtion be the 
 " refult ? The lady makes your Lordfliips a cur- 
 *' tefyy and you return a /'ffw." This language, 
 although vehemently oppofcd by the ChanceU 
 lor Bathurst, yet confiderabiy damped the 
 ardor of the profecutors. 1 he tendency of the 
 obfervation was extremely perceptible; and, 
 aware of the private influence which Lord 
 Mansfield had at the time, it was apprehended 
 that he might fo exert it, as to defeat, by fome 
 means or other, the purpofe aimed at. Here, 
 then, was the critical inftant in which the Du- 
 chefs might have extricated herfelf. An hint 
 was privately conveyed to her, that the fum of 
 T£N THOUSAND POUNDS would fatisfy every ex- 
 pe<flation, and put an end to the profecution. 
 
 Thi;? 
 
[ 6i ] 
 
 This hint was improved into an authoritative 
 propofal. The Duchcfs was entreated by her 
 friends to embrace the mcafure, but through a 
 fatal confidence, either in her legal advifers, 
 her own manrcuvrings, or a commixture of 
 both, fhe rejected the propofal with an air of in- 
 fult. This was folly in the extreme ; and yet 
 it was defcrving pity, bccaufe it was folly mif- 
 guided. From Dr. CoLLiEK, the Civilian, to 
 Mr. Wallace, the Counfel, the language uni- 
 formly held was, " That the Duchefs had not 
 " any thing to fear." The late Serjeant 
 Davy, whoatfirfl laid, that " the cafe lay in 
 ** a 7iut/ljell^ and that her Grace would inevi- 
 *" tably be convldtcd/' on being introduced to 
 Kingflon Houfe, afforded the following very 
 remarkable inilance of tergiverlation. The 
 Serjeant dined with theDuchrfson a day when 
 fhc received a letter from her Counfel, Mr. 
 Wallace, then at Bath. The contents reviv- 
 ing her fpirlts, Ihe communicated them to tb.c 
 companv, with the following confolatory ob- 
 fervation ; " My heart is now at refl ; Mr. 
 " Wallace wishes for the trial, that he may 
 ** give me jov of a triumph." Serjeant Davy, 
 on thiSjfaid, " If Wallace knows your Grace's 
 " cafe as well as I do, he will, I am confident, 
 ** agree with me in opinion. I will forfeit my 
 " right hand cis (i man^ and my reputation as a 
 K *' Lazvycr 
 
[ 66 ] 
 
 " Lawyer, if your Grace has not lejs than no- 
 " thing to fear." The Earl of Peterborough, 
 after dinner, took Mr. Jackson, who happened 
 to be of the party, afide, and facetioully alked 
 him, " Whether he knew the caufe of the 
 *^ learned Serjeant's fudden converfion ?" Mr. 
 Jackson pointed to an order for -a. fide of ve- 
 nifon, and fome excellent Madeira, which were 
 to be fent to the Serjeant's villa ; and he added, 
 *' That a twenty-pound note for every vift, v^ere 
 *' arguments fufficient to profelyte an accom- 
 ** modating mind." 
 
 Under all thefe alTurances of fafety, the 
 Duchefs afTumed an indifference about the bu- 
 fiaefs, which but ill accorded with her fituation. 
 She talked of the abfolute necefiity oi fetting 
 out for Rome ; affedied to have fome material 
 bufinefs to tranfact with his Holinefs the Pope; 
 and {ne took, in confequence, every meafure in 
 her power to accelerate the trial, as if the re- 
 gular pace of judice were not fwift enough to 
 overtak'^ her. She did not, however, abandon 
 her manoeuvring. On the contrary, at the mo- 
 ment in which ftie had claimed her privilege as 
 a Peerefs, and petitioned for a fpeedy trial, flie 
 was bufied in a fcheme to get hold of the prin- 
 cipal evidence, Mrs. Cradock, and prevail on 
 her to quit the kingdom. A near re4ation of 
 
 this 
 
[ 6? ] 
 
 this woman was a deliverer of penny-poft letters. 
 He was fpoken to, and he engaged to let the 
 Duchefs have an interview with Mrs. Cra- 
 DOCK ; but her Grace was to be difguifed, and 
 to reveal hcrlclf only after fome converfation. 
 The flratagem was adopted. The Duchess 
 changed her fex in appearance, and waited, at 
 the appointed hour and place, without feeing 
 either Mrs. Cradock, or the perfon who had 
 promifed to efFed: the meeting. The fadt is 
 that every minutia of this bufinefs had been 
 communicated to the profccutors, who inftrudt- 
 ed the letter-carrier to pretend an acquiefcence 
 in the fchemc. Thus, baffled in a projedt which 
 had a plaulible afpcdt of fuccefs, the only mea- 
 fure left was the belt poffible arrangement of 
 matters preparatory for the trial. On x.\\c fif- 
 teenth day of April, 1776, the bufinefs came on 
 in Weftminiler Hall. It was of five days * con- 
 
 * On the fourth of thefe days, the late Lady Harrington^ 
 of amorous memory, being among other Peerefles, in her 
 box, was prefented by Mr. Evelyn Meadows, the real pro- 
 fecutor of the Duchefs, with {Qvcitjloivers. Lady Harrington 
 thanked him for the compliment, and, in return faid, " / 
 hope in God I J}?all he able to prefait you JJjortly ivith " the 
 Laurel." The fame Lady, on the firft dav of the trial, 
 when the Duchefs appeared at the bar, made ufe of this eja« 
 culaion : " The Devil confound her ! Ho-.v Iraxen the -xvretch 
 " looks l"" This, from Lady Harrington, was truly lu- 
 dicrous. 
 
 K 2 tinuance. 
 
C 63 ] 
 
 tinuance, and the principal objccl argued \vn5, 
 the admiffion, or not, of a fcnicnce of the Spi- 
 ritual Court, in a fuit for jactitation of marriage, 
 fo as to flop the proof or a marriage, in an in. 
 didment for polygamy *. The judges deciding 
 againft the admiflion ot .*iich a fentence, in bar 
 
 to 
 
 * This wns the polr.r on which reflcd the whole of the 
 cafe. The fentence of the PLcclcfiafiical Court, w;is the 
 only thing which could be otfcrcd, on the part of the Du- 
 chefs, as a pica in bar to evidence. It it were adn-iilllbie in 
 this Ihape, there remained a doubt, howfarfuch a fentence 
 ought to be of anv validity, provided it had been collufivcly 
 obtained. To have both thcfe particulars rcfolvtd into a 
 certainty, the two following f[ucftions were fubhiitttd to the 
 Judges, for their opinion : 
 
 Flrji. '• AVhether a fentence of the Spiritual Court, 
 *' againil: a marriage, in a fuic for jactitation of marriage, 
 *' is concluflvc evidence fo as to ilop the Counfel for the 
 
 "' Crown from proving the faid marriage, in an indictment 
 
 *' for polygamy r" 
 
 Second. " Whether, admitting fuch kntence to be con- 
 *' ckifive upon fuch irJlcrment, the Counfel for the Crown 
 *' may be admitted to avoid the effect of fuch fentence, by 
 *' proving the fame to have been obtained by fravid, or 
 " collufionr" 
 
 The dcciCon ot the Judge:., on both tucfcquefiions, was 
 fubftantlally as foUoweth. To the Jirji point propovmded, 
 the anfwer was, " That the ground of the judicial powers 
 " poflcfled by the Eccledal'.icai Courts, is merely ot a fpi- 
 
 " riiu;'.l 
 
[ 69 3 
 
 to evidence, the faft of the two marriages was 
 moil clearly proved, and a convidtion, of courfe, 
 
 followed. 
 
 ** ritual conficleratlon, pro correSlione morum^ et pro falute 
 *' ani/n/V ; for the correJlion of morals, and for the falvatior: 
 *' of the foal. But the j^neat objctft of temporal jurifdiction 
 *' is, the public peace, and crimes againrt the public peace 
 *' are wholly, and in all their parts, of tcinpcral cogui- 
 *' zancc — alone. The temporal courts alone can expound 
 *' the law, and judge of the crimes, and its proofs ; in do- 
 ** ing fo, they mull fee with their own eyes, and try bv 
 " their own rules, that is, by the Common Law of the 
 *' land. Bcfide^, a fentence in a caufe of jactitation, has 
 *' only a negative, and a y?/^///f<v/ effect. It pronounceth, 
 *' that the party boaOing of a marriage, has failed in his 
 *♦ proof, and that the libcllent is free from all matrimonial 
 *' contrac% as far as ret appears ; leaving it open to new 
 *' proofs of the fame marriage, in the fame caufe, or to any 
 " proofs of that or any other marriage, in another caulc ; 
 " and if fuch fentence is no plea to a new fuit there, and 
 *' doth not conclude the Court which pronounceth, it can- 
 *' not conclude a Court, which receives the fentence, from 
 *' iOl"S Jn^^^ "^^^' pi'oofs to make out that, or any other mar- 
 *' riage. So that, admitting the fentence in its full extent 
 *' and import, it only proves, that // ti/ti vot \et appear that 
 *' the parties were married, and not that they v.'ere not mar- 
 *' riedatall: and by the rule laid down by Lord Chief 
 ♦• Juftice Holt, fuch fentence can be no proof of any thing 
 *' to be inferred by argument from it j and, therctorc, i^ 
 ** is not to be inferred, that there was no marriage, at any 
 " time or place, becaufe the Court had not then fuffijient 
 " evidence to prove a marriage at a particular time and 
 " .place. That fentence and this judgment may (land well 
 
 " together, 
 
C 7° ] 
 
 followed *. The Duchefs was on her trial at- 
 tended by Mrs. EgE'Rton, whole hnfband was 
 
 of 
 
 " together, and both proportions be equally true : It may be 
 •* true, that the Spiritual Court had not then fufficient proof of 
 *' the marriage rpeclficd ; and, that your Lordfliips may fwwi 
 ** unfortunately, find fufficient proof of feme marriage.*' 
 
 To the yj'cow^ point propounded, the Judges re ftcd their 
 opinion on the fubfequent, among other forcible reafons. 
 ** Bur, if the fentence vveredirefi:, and decifive on the point, 
 *' and as it flands, to be admitted as conclufive evidence on 
 *' the Court, and not to be impeached from within ; yet» 
 ** like all other a6ls of the higheft judicial authority, it is 
 *' impeachable from without ; although it be not permitted 
 *' to fhew that the Court was 7::ijlaken^ it may be fliewn that 
 *' they were ?nijlcd. Fraud i&an extrinfic collateral acl, which 
 " vitiates the moft folcmn proceedings of Courts of Juflice. 
 *' Lord Coh fays, it avoids all judicial afts, ccclefiallical or 
 *' temporal. Collujion, being a matter extrinfic of the caufe, 
 ** may be imputed by a fl^ranger, and tried by a Jury, and 
 *' determined by the Courts of Temporal Jurifdi(ftion. 
 *' We (the 'Judges) are, therefore, unanimoufly of opinion : 
 
 i<V?_y?, " That a fentence in the Spiritual Court againll a 
 *' marriage, in a fuit of jaditation of marriage, is ?iot con- 
 *' clujivc ei'idence, fo as to ftop the Counfel for the Crown 
 *' proving the marriage, in an indiftmcnt for polygamy. 
 
 ** But, fccondly^ admitting fuch fentence to he concUifive 
 *' upon fuch indidment, the Counfel for the Crown may be 
 *' admitted to avoid the effcft of fuch fentence, by proving 
 *' the fame to have been obtained ly fraud or colltijion.^' 
 
 * The Duchefs being called to the bar, and informed of 
 her convif^ion, by the Lord High Stevjard^ ftie delivered a 
 
 paper. 
 
[ 71 3 
 
 '©f the Bridgewater family; Mrs. Barring- 
 ton, widow of General Barrington, a brother 
 of the Peer of that name ; the late Doftor 
 Isaac Schomberg, and the prefent Do(flor 
 Warren. One extraordinary method the 
 Duchefs took to fuflain her fpirits ; which was, 
 to lofe a certain quantity of blood almoft every 
 
 paper, praying the benefit of the peerage, according to the 
 Statutes. On which, the prefent Chancellor, then Attorney 
 General, difplayed his commanding powers, in a fpeech re- 
 plete with legal learning, and directed to demonflrate, "That 
 «' a i^ffrf/}, convi :ea ;i-. the pri Toner had been, could, on 
 *' no other grcunJs, avoid Judgment of Death, but by claim- 
 *' ing the benefits.of the Statute of the Third and Fourth of 
 *' William and Mary ; which left her in a condition to be 
 *' hiirnt in the hand, or imprifoned.'' This occafioned the 
 following quelHon to be fubmitted to the Judges : 
 
 *' Whether a Peercfs convicted by her Peers, of a cler- 
 *' gyable feloi •^ , is by law entitled to the benefit of the 
 <* Statutes, fo as to excufe her from capital punifiiment, 
 *' without being burin in the hand, or being liable to any 
 *' imprifonment r" 
 
 The Lord Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer, having 
 conferred with the reft of the Judges prefent, delivered their 
 unanimous opinion upon the faid quefiion, alligning alfo 
 his reafons. The opinion was, " That a Peerefs conviacd 
 " of a clergyable felony, praying the benefit of the Statute, 
 " the frji of Edvjard Vlth, is not only excufed from capi- 
 " tal puniiliment, but ought to be immediately difcharged, 
 *' nynthout lelng burnt in the hand, or Halle to any imprifm- 
 <'. mentj'^ 
 
 time 
 
[ 7^ ] 
 
 time in which flie was ordered to \vithdia\v from 
 the bar. 
 
 The Iblemn bufinefs being concluded, the 
 profccutors had a plan in embryo to confine the 
 Conntefs of Bristol (for fo, after conviction, 
 flie in reality was) to this country ; and to have 
 her deprived of her perfonal property. A writ of 
 " Ne exeat regnd'^ was preparing, of which the 
 Lady received private notice, and being advifcd 
 inflantaneoufly to leave the kingdom, fhc 
 caufed her carriage to be driven about the moft 
 public flreets of the metropolis ; invited 'a felecl 
 party to dine at Kingilon Houfe, the better to 
 cover her defign ; while, in an hired pofb-chaife, 
 Ihe travelled to Dover. Mr. Harding, the 
 Captain of her yacht, was there, and he con- 
 veyed her in the firft open boat that could be pro- 
 cured, to Calais. The Hotel (T Angle I err e^ was 
 chofen as the place of refidence, and, on her 
 Grace entering the Court-yard, Monf. Dessein 
 received her with more complaifance than cor- 
 dialit)' ; for, in France, the conviction was un- 
 derftood to have deprived her of all her pof- 
 fellions, real and perfonal. Dessein, there- 
 fore, indicated his pity of her fate by a figni- 
 ficant fliruf of his fliouklcrs. He was " hlo-hly 
 ** honoured in the choice fhe had made of his 
 " hotel ; but, Men D'leii ! — How unfortunate it 
 
 *' was. 
 
[ 73 ] 
 
 *' was, that he could not accommodate her with 
 '* a fuite of rooms ! Had he only been appril'ed 
 *' of her intention to do him the favour ! Now, 
 ^ a fingle apartment was all the accommoda- 
 *' tion in his power.'* 
 
 She was fati2:ucd in body and mind. Reft, 
 therefore, even in a room on the attic (lory, 
 would have been the moft welcome folaccr in 
 the bounty of Heaven to beftow. 
 
 While the Duchess, for fo llie mufl: be fllll' 
 (lyled for the fake of uniformity in the narrrv-^^ 
 tive, was retired, Dessein contrived meaift'tcf 
 inv<;Iligate the ftare of her finances, and bein^ 
 informed that flie was ftlll in the receipt of her 
 (cftates, he, the morning after her arrival, 
 brightened up his features, and vvas rhe hap- 
 pielt being on earth to acquaint her, that ** the 
 ** company who had occupied apai tments fuita- 
 " ble in every refpect pour Madame la DucheJJe^ 
 " were gone to Paris, and confequently, they 
 ** were devoted to her ufe, if Ihc fliould fo 
 ** pleafc." This obeijance anfvvered Dessein's 
 purpofe. She remained at his hotel\or\^ enough 
 to lend him a thoufand pounds, when, being her 
 debtor, he complained of her parfimonv, and 
 compelled her, by difrefpettful treatment, to 
 feek another abode. The money lent Dessein 
 is not wholly repaid at this hour. The only 
 accommodation which the Duchess could ever 
 L obtaia 
 
C 74 ] 
 
 obtain was, to take the demand out In fire-wood. 
 If zpunhc excufable, this was a burning Ihame 
 in Moniieur Dessein. 
 
 As YoRicK jiiftly obferveth, " They manage 
 ^* thefe things better in France" The politeJTe 
 of our Gallic neighbours is certainly a mofl 
 powertul aid to their projects. Monfieur Des- 
 SEiN has that happy compofure of features, 
 bows fo refpedifuUy, and is, apparently, fo 
 much the devoted humble fervant of every 
 tipdy, that i? is not furpriiiing he fhould have 
 vormed himfelf into the general favour of 
 Englifh travellers. The Duchefs, with all her 
 pretenfions to the gift of penetrating chara<fters, 
 was grofbly duped by the keeper of her Hotel; 
 yet was the impofuion fo fmoothly effefted, 
 that Dessein and her Grace never rencountered 
 each other without partv.g the deareft friends 
 in the world ; ihe, with a gracious inclination 
 of her head, only r^queftlng it as a favour that 
 more fire-wood mij^at be fent in to lefTen her 
 demand ; and he, with a femi-clrcular bow of 
 his body afluring her that a Magazine was at her 
 command. Th'.s reciprocity of deceit was 
 pradtifed when :ver Calais became the occafional 
 or the flationLiy refidence, of the Duchefs ; 
 3.{id it being forefeen that fuch refidence would 
 be frequent, an habitation, affording fome de- 
 gree of comfort^ was fought for, and obtained. 
 
 MonG 
 
[ 75 ] 
 
 Monf. CocovE * had formerly held^ com- 
 manding pod at Calais ; he was in conftitution, 
 habits, and appearance, an Englifhman. The 
 habits of our country he had acquired by re- 
 fiding fome time among us, and, during that 
 refidence, he had mixed with the firft circles. 
 The old Marquis of Gran by had been his 
 intimate friend and aflbciate. When the Du- 
 chefs fled to Calais, Cocove was fequeflered at 
 a little paternal feat within a few miles ; re- 
 ftridted to that, as his place of reiidence, con- 
 formable to the ufage of France with refpedt to 
 perfons of landed property who are involved. 
 Cocove had an houfe in Calais, which his 
 wife and family, amounting to three fons, and 
 four daughters, occupied. The Duchefs 
 treated for the purchafe of this houfe, and it 
 was agreed to be fold her for one thoufand 
 
 * This Gentleman was for many years, President of 
 Calais ; and, the only fault ever imputed to him, in that 
 honourable ftatlon, was, too great a partiality for the EnyJijh, 
 If there were to be a favour extended to any individual of our 
 nation, the Prejident of Calais was fure to accompany that 
 favour by fome aft of liberality originating from hirafelf. 
 Monsieur Cocove died at his country feat, which is 
 fituated at a little diftance from Calais^ between that place 
 and 8t. 0?ner ; leaving a widow who had been the left of 
 <ivi'V£s, and an amiable progeny who only contended in a 
 virtuous ftruggle, who mofl fliould promote the happinefs 
 of the l>ef of mothers. This lady is fince dead. The offV 
 f^ing arc living, and univerfally admired for their amiabi- 
 litiej of mind and pcrfon. 
 
 L 1 pounds 
 
[ 76 ] 
 
 pounds, with permifTion to the fi^mil}' to oc^ 
 Clip}' one iide of the quadrangle. The Duchefs 
 took pollellion ; and, as her ordinary cufloni 
 was, fhe began to pull the greateft part of the 
 old manfion about her cars , threw out a room 
 with a bow window, which proiedled over the 
 priviei belonging to the foldiers' barracks; and 
 that her vifitors might only indulge a (landing 
 pofture, this faloon, as Ihe called it, was lefc 
 without a chair. The Co cow "e family next en^ 
 gaged her attention, and before flie had fcen the 
 half of them, fhe promifcd to make them all 
 haj->py. The girls Hie aflonifhcd with a fight 
 of her diamonds, end her wardrobe ; with the 
 boys flie converfed about the heroic deeds oi: 
 her great-grandfather, throwing in occafionat 
 bints, that " commiffions in the army vvould be 
 " comfortable things, and particularly in the 
 ** French fervice, which was lo highly ho- 
 *' nourable under the reigning Monarch, for 
 '* whom flic had a prodigious regard. She 
 " loved the King of France, and ilic was very 
 *' confident he had a regard for her." Sans 
 ** double, Madame la Duchjfs ; Ic Rci cnnnus 
 " Men.'* " Yes — your King knows I love 
 *' him. T have given a proof of it in. pre- 
 '' ferring to fpend my fortune in his country, 
 *' although wy dear frimd, the King of Prujfia, 
 ^' has given me the warmefl invitation to reiidc 
 '' at Berlin.'* This iincere vencriition for the 
 
 Gallic 
 
C 77 3 
 
 Gallic Monarch wouU], with equal fincerlty, 
 have been transferred to the Cham of Tartary, 
 if his dominion had been the chofen place of 
 refuge. 
 
 As it was the lot of the Duchefs to be per- 
 petually on the remove, fome incidents had 
 happened at Rome, of which fhe received ad- 
 vice, which rendered it neceflary for her once 
 more to vifit that renowned city. In the Pub- 
 lic Bank flie had depofited her plate for fafety, 
 when fhe let out for England ; and in her pa- 
 lace flie had left a renegade Spanifh Friar, and 
 an Englifh girl, whom flie had carried to Ita- 
 ly, on her lall expedition. The girl was hand- 
 fome, and had a fenfe of prudence, aided by 
 that prejudice againft foreigners, which the 
 lower orders of this, and of mofl other coun- 
 tries, poffefs. A Cardinal, who, for the ho- 
 nour of the Holy See, fliall be namelefs, had 
 frequently laid afide the pomp and fandtitv of 
 Spirituals, betraying a tho7-n in xXiq feftj^ fciled by 
 Si. Paul the " Mejjenger of Sat an ^' with the buf- 
 fetings of which his Eminence vi2L9> well acquaint- 
 ed. His vlfits to the palace of the Duchefs 
 were frequent ; the pretence always was, a fome- 
 thing particular to communicate to her Grace, 
 and a confequent inquifitivenefs about her re- 
 turn. The Friar, however, fmoked the Car- 
 dinal, and the Cardinal, in return, wa-s jea- 
 lous 
 
C 78 3 
 
 lous of the Friar. The poor girl, who under- 
 ftood not a lyllable of any other language thair 
 that of her country, found herfelf extremely 
 cmbarraffed. The Friar knew Englilh enough 
 for an ordinary converfation, and, in the true 
 ilyle of a ghoflly advifer, he cautioned the girl 
 againft the defigns of the Cardinal. Whether 
 from real diflike, or from the not being able to 
 have a verbal intercourfe, the overtures of the 
 Cardinal were rejefted, and whenever he came 
 to the palace, Ihe left him, if his Eminence fo 
 pleafed, to make love to the Friar. Thus get- 
 ting rid of a rival, the Friar plied his arts fo 
 fuccefsfully, as to occafion one bed to be the 
 only neceffary convenience for the two inmates 
 of the palace to fleep in. Having accomplifh- 
 ed this end, the Friar deemed it a pity that 
 fuch of the moveables as were eafily portable, 
 Ihould remain in an ufelefs ftate ; converted 
 into cafli, they might circulate to the benefit 
 of fociety. Under an impreffion fo charitable to 
 the world, he walked off with what he could 
 carry, befide difpofing of quantities of articles 
 to different purchafers. The poor girl was only 
 left with a confolation, that what ihe had read 
 in the Bible about " Increaje and multiply" was 
 likely to be fulfilled by her. It was of thefe 
 tranfaiftions the Duchefs was informed by let- 
 ters. The necefTity of her immediate journey- 
 ing to Rome was urgent, and Ihe fet out as. 
 
 foon 
 
t 79 ] 
 
 foon as fhe could expedite the neceflary pre- 
 parations. 
 
 During her travel, an illnefs excepted, not 
 any particular occurrence happened. On her 
 arrival being known, Cardinal Albani waited 
 on her, to whom Ihe communicated the par- 
 ticulars of the behaviour of the Friar, prudent- 
 ly referving the circumllance of the attack 
 made by one of the Cardinal's brotherhood, on 
 the chaftity of the girl. Her fituation was not 
 the prefent object of thought. The quellion 
 was, how the property embezzled by the Friar 
 could be re-obtaincd } The girl fobbed, Ihed 
 tears in abundance, on her knees intreated for- 
 givenefs ; but, with all this fubmiffive peni- 
 tence, Ihe could fcarcely obtain the attention of 
 a moment. " You muilhave known tbc Friar 
 " broke open the efcrutore. Where are the 
 ♦* candlcflicks ? What ! is all the linen gone.> 
 ** By the living God he has flripped the palace V* 
 The girl, whofe thriving fituation wholly cn» 
 grofled her thoughts, {till prefled her fuk.— » 
 *' Indeed, your Grace, I did not confent— r 
 ** I was fall afleep when the Friar came 
 
 ^' into my room. He took hold " — " I 
 
 « wiih he had hold of you this moment, and 
 ** that you were both in the gallies. What is 
 f* all your nonfenfe to my property? Could not 
 f' you play the fool together, without ftripping 
 
 " me? 
 
[ 8o ] 
 
 ^ me ? The diamond buckle of my dear LorJ 
 " Duke ! The devil confound the villain ! Go 
 *' along, like a hufley as you are. Stay — I'll 
 " have you f)uniflied, unlefs you find the raf- 
 ^* cally Friar." Here a mcflage of condolancc 
 from his Holinefs vyas notifi-ed, and the mcffcn- 
 ger being ordered in, the ftylc was thus varied 
 — '* What I have loft; is of confiderablc value j 
 ** but, to take advantage of a poor innocent 
 ^* young creature, is more diftrefsful to me 
 '* than the trifles he has taken. My deareji 
 ** hord left me an ample fortune, and I^^lfh to 
 " make others happy with it. This 'iinfortur 
 *' nate girl I took from a child, and meant to 
 " have provided for her as a mother. I for- 
 ** give her, poor thing ! My moH humble and 
 *' dutiful refpetfls to his Holinefs. Helas I 
 *' [rty;^/>] when I think on my troubles, they 
 *^ almoft over»vhclm me. With my dear Duke 
 ** [/£'<7rj] every happinefs was buried. But God 
 *' is all-fufficient. His Holinefs knows not 
 '* how I have been pcrfc-cutcJ ; but 1 forgive 
 '^ my perfccutors. Poor Bellifarius ! how un- 
 " generoufly was he treated ! 1 often thought 
 ** of him during my pcrfccution." The mcf- 
 fenger retiring, the inqucft:as to what were loft, 
 and the probability of recovery, were inftantly 
 reiiimed ; until all hope of re-obtaining the va- 
 luables becoming vifionary, to get the plate 
 out of the public bank, and tranfport it fafely 
 
 froi-u 
 
C 8i 3 
 
 from Italy, was the fole objed: of ncgociation, 
 in which the Duchcfs proving fuccefsful, Ihc 
 returned to Calais, and the robbery of the Friar 
 became one of her ordinary tales. 
 
 On the return of the Duchefs from Rome, 
 the expeditious communication between Calais 
 and England afforded the earlieft intelligence 
 Ihe could wilh relative to the proceedings of 
 her opponents. Their buiincfs was now, if 
 poffible, to fet afide the will of the Duke of 
 Kingflon. There was not a probability of their 
 fucceeding in the attempt, but flill the attempt 
 was to be made. This kept alive the appre- 
 henfion of danger in the mind of the Duchefs ; 
 and fo long as that apprehenfion fubfiflcd, it was 
 neccflary, in policy, to affcdt a particular regard 
 for certain pcrfons in England, who had the ap- 
 parent power of rendering a fervicc. The late 
 Sir George Have was at that time Dean of 
 the Arches. Not more from the eminence of 
 kisfituation than from the fplendor of his abi- 
 lities, his rank was high in the public elleem. 
 Doftor Isaac Schomberg had been a cotempo- 
 rary with Sir George at Merchant Taylor's fe- 
 minary. Through life they loved each other. 
 The opinion of Sir George, as to the impeach- 
 ability of the Duke of Kingfton's will, was fre- 
 quently wanted; and through the intermedi- 
 ation of Dodtor Schomberg, this was obtained. 
 M Sir 
 
[ S2 J 
 
 Sir George Hayc from the firll ridiculed the 
 attempt to fet afide the will as a futility. Schom- 
 bcrg, however, defirous of obtaining the fulleft 
 confirmation of the cafe, prefTed Sir George to 
 didtate a few lines on the fubjedl:, in a letter 
 which he propofcd to fend to the Duchefs.— 
 '* Well, Ifaac, (faid Sir George) I will. Let 
 " the Duchcfs dcfire her common lawyers to at- 
 " tack the ro^^ of G;ir^//^r." Schomberg, on 
 this, caufcd every confolatory aflurance to be 
 tranfmittcd to the Duchefs. She received it, 
 and profeffcd every feeling which gratitude 
 could infpire. '^ Dodtor Schomberg was an 
 '' honourable charadier ! too honourable for 
 *^ this world ! The counterpart of her dear 
 " Lord in noblenefs of foul ! She wiflicd fhc 
 ** could make him happy !" As a fplend id re- 
 turn for his real anxiety to have her mind at 
 eafc, this was the gracious manner of her pro- 
 cedure : 
 
 One morninG; Dottor Schomberg was wait- 
 cd on at his apartments in Conduit-llrect, and 
 a prefent from the Duchefs of Kingfton was 
 delivered him. This prefent was a ring, bril- 
 liantly encircled, the flone a deep blue, and 
 the words " Pour rjmilie," on the flone. The 
 intrinfic value was never once confidered by 
 Schomberg, it was the prefumeable tribute of 
 gratitude which affected his mind. He wore 
 
 the 
 
[ »3 ] 
 
 the ring, and, in almoft every company, pro- 
 claimed the donor. But a iliort portion of time 
 elapfed, before one of the brilliants in the 
 word ** Jmitie" fell out, as if the very men- 
 tion of friendJJjip by the Duchefs, were fuffi- 
 cient to render the term fragile ; to have a 
 fubftitute replaced, a Jeweller was fcnt for. 
 When he came, he looked firil: at the ring, 
 then at Docflor Schombcrg, and, on being 
 afked, *' When he could do what was ne- 
 " ceffary ?" the Jeweller anfwered, I hope 
 " you will not be offended, Sir, but it is 
 " really not worth your while to have any 
 " thing done j the middle Hone is a compofi- 
 " tion, and the whole did not cofl more, in 
 " Paris, than fix and thirty fJnllings /" <' Is 
 " that the cafe," faid the Doftor, " then I will 
 " foon difpofe of it." He firft trampled the 
 contemptible bauble under his feet, then flung 
 it out of the window, faying, " There goes No- 
 *' hilityr 
 
 Previous to her trial, the Duchess had 
 formed a defign to vifit Peterfburgh. A fliip 
 had been built for her, containing every fplen- 
 did accommodation. There was a drawing- 
 room, a dining- parlour, kitchen, and other 
 conveniences. This fhip attracted, as may be 
 fuppofcd, general obfervation ; and the Ruffian 
 A'mbaliador being given to underftand that the 
 M 2 whole 
 
[ H 1 
 
 whole had been intended as a conveyance of thq 
 Duchefs, on a vifit to (o auguft a iovereign a? 
 the Emprefs of Ruffia, the politefle of Courts 
 compelled an acknowledgment, on his part, 
 that the complioient would be gracioufly re- 
 ceived. But there was fomething more than 
 the mere compliment of a vifit. Her Grace had 
 fome pidures, of aonfiderable value, which 
 devolved to her on the demife of the Duke, 
 Thefe flie had offered as a prefent to the Em- 
 prefs, who had deigned to accept them. The 
 ihipping them for Peterfburgh, that they 
 might be conveyed from where they ought to 
 have remained, to whither they Ihould not 
 have been fent, had occafioned as many con- 
 ferences betw-een the Duchefs and the Ruffian 
 Amballador, as would hove been requifite to 
 adjuft the differences of Europe, At lafl, how- 
 ever, a cargo of pidlures, and other valuable 
 articles, cleared the river, and arrived fafe at 
 Peterfburgh. The Emprefs difpofed of then> 
 as accorded with her fancy, and her AmbalTa- 
 dor was charged, in her name, to notify her 
 pleafure. The Duchefs, in this, was a copyifl 
 of the Eallern cuftoms. Her prefence was ac- 
 companied by a prefent, the better to enfure a 
 favourable reception. 
 
 To convey her Grace to Peterfburgh, the 
 ihip which had been built for the purpofe, was 
 
 ordered 
 
C 85 3 
 
 ordered to Calais. It arrived there, and Hatid- 
 i^'G, the commander of her yacht, was confi- 
 dered as the Captain. In that capacity he fuper- 
 intended the preparations, and did every thing 
 requifite in a man of honefty. An obltrudion, 
 however, arofe, and that of a ferlous nature : 
 the American war fubfided. Under what co- 
 lours fliould the Duchcfs fail, fo ns to be the 
 furcft of pvotedlion ? Cunningham, * an Ame- 
 rican marine adventurer, had juft taken one of 
 the Plolland packets. Dod:or Franklin, then 
 at Paris, was furroundcd by a fwarm of his 
 countrymen, who only wilhed for commiffions 
 |:o rove about the Channel. The intention of 
 the Duchcfs to embark, could not be fccretcd, 
 nor the time of her failing. The capture of her 
 iliip, was coniidercd as an cnterprize worthy 
 adoption. Ic was fuppofcd, that anv fum de- 
 manded, would be paid for her ranfom. Ap- 
 prifed that fuch idea prevailed, the Duchcfs ap- 
 plied, by letter, to the French Minirtcr, foli- 
 f^iting protection under the colours of France. 
 
 * This man was merely nn Innrumenr. Tlie project of 
 capturing the Packet, was fiiggeftcd by a Mr. Carmichacly 
 an American affiftant to Doctor FrafiU/n, and afterwards 
 " Charges cks Afin'res,'^ {\-om the United States, at Madrid, 
 The packet which Cunningham was dirc.'^ed to take, had 
 a quantity of fpecic on board. Cttunitigha/n, by an Irifh 
 bUmdcr, let that packet cfcapp, and captured anorher which 
 had only a cargoc of palTbngcrs. Thus the objccl was de- 
 feated. 
 
 Her 
 
[ S6 J 
 
 Hjr rcquefl being granted, Captain Harding 
 was informed of her intentions to hoift the 
 French flag, and have her fliip manned by 
 French failors. He had ferved in the Britifh 
 navy, had diftinguiflied himfelf in adlion, and 
 could not relifli the mcafure. The Duchefs 
 foothed him, and he complied with relucftance: 
 French failors were then procured, but no fooner 
 were they engaged for the voyage, than they 
 threw an obftacle in the way. They would only 
 be commanded by a French captain. There 
 was not an alternative. One Le Fevrc offered, 
 and was accepted ; but his acceptance and nO" 
 mination rendered the fituation of Harding 
 too mortifying to be endured ; in confequence 
 of which he refigned his employ under the 
 Duchefs, quitted Calais, for Dover, where hi^ 
 family relided, and did not long furvive, what 
 he felt as an infult, confidering the fidelity with 
 which he had difcharged his duty to the Du- 
 chefs. He It was who had been cntrufted to 
 convey her perfonal property, of the greateft 
 value, out of Ensiland, and afterwards from 
 Rome ', his final reward was, to have the majter 
 of •^fipying boat appointed his Captain. 
 
 On her propofed voyage to Petcrfburgh, the 
 Duchefs was to be accompanied by feveral 
 pcrfons, bcfides domeftic:), who were collec- 
 tively to form a falte proper for an exalted per- 
 
 fonage. 
 
fonage, about to vifit a fovereign power. The 
 arrangement of this fuite depending, of courfe, 
 on the will of the Duchefs, a whimfical affeni- 
 blagc of charaders were blended. The Cap- 
 tain and Sailors of the fhip being Frenchmen 
 and Roman Catholics, a Chaplain of their lan- 
 guage and pcrfuarion was required, to per- 
 form the pio'i offices nccelFary for the welfare 
 of their fouls. To be fupplied in this particu- 
 lar, the Duchefs difpatched a letter to Paris, 
 foliciting a Lady to recommend an Ecclcfiaftic^ 
 proper for the purpofe. Among the different 
 orders it was not a difficult matter to meet 
 with a Pricf!: of the Order of Necejity ; and, it 
 being probable that fuch an one only would em- 
 bark on fo fingular an expedition, the choice 
 fell on Monfieur L'Abbe Seciiand *. Highly 
 flattered by his appointment, a mefTenger was 
 difpatched to Calais, with information that the 
 
 * This gentleman, after fcrambling his way, as it were, 
 from Peterfburgh to France, foon afterwards came to London, 
 and now refides in the vicinity. His claim on the Duchefs, 
 like that of moll other pcrfons who had the meritorious pre- 
 tenfion of relying en her promifes, is not yet fettled, and 
 moft probably it never will. When prcflcd to adjuft it, flic 
 always alTertcd that flie had paid him ; but, he put the mat- 
 ter fairly to ifllie, by faying, that if ftie could produce a 
 voucher for the payment of a fingley^a.f, he would abandon 
 his demand. This flic was not able to dco. 
 
 Ahhe 
 
[ S8 ] 
 
 Ahhe would fct out for that place Immediatel)''.^ 
 7'he Duclicfs, to whom a new face, and a novel 
 adventure, afforded great delight, received the 
 glad tidings with a jovful countenance; im- 
 parting to every vilitor the elevated ideas flie 
 had formed of a perfon, whom Jhe had 'never 
 feen, and, for whofc tranfcendcnt abilities flic 
 vouched, in a moll authoritative Hiylc, without 
 being morally certain that his mental endow- 
 ments exceeded thofe of a common mechanic. 
 At 1 aft, Monficur r Abbe arrived; for the fake 
 of convenience, not much troubled with bag- 
 gage, x\\Q Diligence being his carriage, and a 
 violin his travelling companion. As this gen- 
 tleman had the care of the fouls of the Captain 
 and mariners committed to his charge, to Mr. 
 Fofter was entrufted the direction of the Duchefs 
 in fpirituals. Two women, as attendants, a 
 coachman at Jea, and a footman in a cab'uin^ com- 
 pleated the marine fuite, with which the Duchefs 
 failed for Peterfburgh. To fay that fhe was 
 grofsly flattered on undertaking the expedition, 
 would only be faying, that ihe was fuppofcd to 
 abound in wealth ; for where is the rich without 
 a flatterer ? The voyage of the Duchefs was 
 compared to the cxpcditLon of Cleopatra ; a 
 Marc Anthony only was wanting to render the 
 comparifon perfe(5t. 
 
 Favotircd 
 
[ 89 ]' 
 
 t^avoured by a wind which blsw as the wifhes 
 ©f the Duchefs inclined, flie arrived at Elfinsur 
 in twelve days' from the time of her leaving Ca- 
 lais ; and, delaying as little as circumflances 
 would permit, on her paffiige, flie loon reached 
 Peteriburgh. Her arrival being announced, 
 her reception was certainly favourable*, the 
 
 Emprefs 
 
 ^- This favourable reception was caiifcd by tarloiu con- 
 comuant circumftanccs. To be received, if polfible, by 
 ibmc crowned Head, was an obicft defirablc, as the only 
 mcansof relieving the Duchefs from the marked diigrace 
 which her trial and convidion had aftlxcd on her. The 
 Court of Riiffia was chofcn as the moll: dlftant; as the Icfs 
 likely to have the real charafter of the lady bared to infpec- 
 tion ; and where confidcrablc prefents oi pi^urcs would be 
 more acceptable to the Sovereign, in proportion as the arts 
 were in a lefs advanced ftate of perfection. Accordingly, 
 not only the Emprefs, but perfonagcs of the grcatclt in- 
 fluence, were complimented by the Duchefs. One inibnce, 
 and an anecdote accompanying itj will excmpliiy the views 
 and liberality of the donor. 
 
 Count Chcnticboff vi-i?. reprefcntcd to the Duchefs as an ex- 
 alted character, to whom llie ought, in policy, to pay her 
 particular (tevoirs. She felt the force of the icprefcntntion, 
 and fent him t--J:o piaurcs. As little fkilled in painting, as 
 in mulic, flie was a total ftranger to the value of thefe pieces. 
 They happened to be origlnah^ by Raphael, and Claude 
 Lonaiu The Count was foon apprized of this ♦ and on 
 the arrival of the Duchefs at Petcrfburgh, be w.iitcd otf 
 lier Grace ; profeflbd his thankfulnefs for the prefent, 
 N ^ 
 
£ 90 ] 
 
 Emprefs difpenfed with public forms, the in- 
 terview between her Majefty and the Duchefe 
 being at the country palace, appropriated to 
 the purpofes of feclufion. The novelty of an 
 Englifli lady, braving the billows of the Baltic, 
 and defying, as it were, the boiflerous elements 
 of the North, to pay a compliment to the reign- 
 ing Sovereignefs, excited admiration in many, 
 curiofity in all. This very curiofity and admi- 
 ration were fufficient for the Duchefs ; gratify - 
 
 at the fame time afllning the Duchefs, " That the plc» 
 " tures were eftimated at a value, in Ruffian money, 
 *' amounting to ten thou/and pounds Englifli." The Du- 
 chefs, who the moment before he let this fecret efcape 
 from his lips, had arranged her features with afmilc of com- 
 placency, inftantly changed colour, and could, with the ut- 
 moft difficulty, veil her chagrin. She told the C(?a»/, that 
 " fhc had other pidLires, which flie fliouid confider as an ho- 
 *' nour were he to accept them. That the two paintings in 
 ** his pofleffion, were particularly the favourites of her de- 
 ** farted Lord ; but that the Count was extremely gracious 
 *' in permitting them to occupy a fpace in his palace, until 
 *' her manfion was preperly prepared for decoration." This 
 manoeuvre did not fucceed. The Count has the pictures at 
 this moment ; and the Duchefs, in her •iwV/, has adually in- 
 troduced an hijiory of the 7nanner\x\ which they became pof- 
 feffed by Coimt Chernichoff ; referring, at the fime time, to 
 the teftimony of a Mr. Moreau, in proof of the paintings 
 having been only committed to the care of the Count, i>t 
 truft. Here is a tralt^ and a lingular one it is, fufficient to 
 mark the character of the heroine, whefe narrative is the 
 fubje6t of thefe pages. 
 
r 9t ] 
 
 ing 'her vanity, they compenfated her toils* 
 Still more. The Emprefs affigned a manfion 
 for her refidelice. Her lliip was commanded 
 under the Government care ; and an hurricane 
 arifing which occafioned it to fuffer confiderablc 
 damage, it was repaired by exprefs order of the 
 Emprefs, Here was happinefs, if happinefs 
 for a mind at variance with itfelf, could be 
 found on earth. Yet, this marked favour of 
 the Emprefs could not entirely fatisfy the Du- 
 chefs. She was, and flie felt herfclf to be an 
 alien. The Englifh Ambaffador could only be 
 complaifant to her in private *. She, therefore, 
 began to inquire, whether poffeflion might not 
 entitle her to command that refpedl, for which, 
 at prefent, fhe was merely an clccmofynary debtor. 
 There are ladies at the Court of Petcrfburgh, 
 who wear the piclure of the Emprefs^ as the en- 
 
 ♦ At rhat tunc Sir James Harris ; who, becaufe only ex- 
 ternally civil, the Duchefs affccfcd to contemn, for the par- 
 fimonious manner in which he entertained the factory. Lady 
 //rtrm did not, ofcourfe, elcape an oblique cenfurc, when 
 opportunity of cafiing it occurrred. Sir Jav.cs^ at th<^ 
 Court of Peterlburgh, was in high cuimation. That, as an 
 able reprefcntative of Sovereign power, and a profound po- 
 litician, he merited eftccm, his late conducl^, as Ambaflador 
 to the United States of Holland, hath abundantly evidenced. 
 By being ennobled, he hath only obtained the honours ks 
 deferved, 
 
 N 2. fins 
 
 fi> 
 
[ 9^ 3 
 
 fign of an orckr. The DuchcTs was flattered, 
 that landed property only was wanting to intro- 
 duce her as one of this order. The Emprcfs 
 was her friend ; what other intereft could fhe 
 defire ? The hint was fufficicnt. She purchafed 
 ancftate near Peterfburgh, for about twelve thou-, 
 fand pounds ; gave it the name of Chudleigh, and, 
 having executed her part of the agreement, 
 which always was to pay, and leave others to. 
 enjoy, fhe pufhed her intereft to be honoured 
 with the order. The anfwcr to her application 
 for ever blaO.ed her hopes. It was an invariable 
 rule that foreigners could not be admitted.— ^ 
 "What was to be done with the eflate ? Befidc 
 catching fifh, and cutting down wood, it pro- 
 mifed not to turn to any advantageous account. 
 The Duchefs, however, ever difpofed to be 
 mifled when flattered by following her own in- 
 clination, was induced to believe, that ^ fortune^ 
 which flic did not want, might be obtained by 
 a means v.hich flie had not occafion tcufe, which 
 was, the eredliou of works/<5r niaking brandy. 
 This was a whimfical tranfition* of ideas, and 
 fuch as could not eafily be reconciled by an or- 
 dinary mind. A diftiller of fpirits, inftcad of 
 the wearer of a pendent order of the picture of 
 an Emprefs ! 
 
 This 
 
[ 93 ] 
 
 This difappointmentin ambition, and, afinaj 
 diflike of the diflillery projed:, occafioncd a re-. 
 folution to return to Calais. Difputes in the 
 houfehold had alfo arifen, which caufed this 
 refolution to be more determined than ordinary. 
 The falary of Mr. Foster, a miferable pittance 
 for a man of learning, being only one kiwdrcd 
 founds a year, was in arrears. Years and merit 
 pleaded in vain. A trifle was the fiibje<fl of 
 difpute, and the Emprefs being informed of it, 
 offered poor FOSTER a retreat for life, and 
 he quitted the Diichefs with this farcafm, ia 
 the Spartan flyle, " / am old, not mean,"" SF^" 
 CHAND next broke forth with vehemence. 
 He had received more promifes than there are 
 numbers in the lottery, and not one of them 
 had produced a prize. His falary was in ar- 
 ^•ears, and payment was formally demanded; 
 agents on both fides interfered, but without ef- 
 fefting any thing. The Abbe, therefore, was 
 left to feck his redrefs in France, and to get 
 thither as well as his fortunate ftars would aflift 
 him. 
 
 The Duchcfs, quitting Peterfburgh, left an 
 pnglifli journeyman carpenter--, whom flie had 
 
 made 
 
 ''^ This man was picked up, like moft of the inferior or- 
 etcrsof her houfeholii. by that fpecics of accident which al- 
 ways 
 
f 94 3 
 
 luade the ftevvard of her houfehold, to tranfa^ 
 her affairs. At her brandy-makiu^ eflate, in the 
 country, another charader, of fimilar defcrip- 
 tion, as to lovvnefs, was ftati ned ; and on her 
 route to Calais, flie picked up a travelling Co- 
 lonel in the Imperial fervice, who only wanted 
 to get to his wife and children in Vienna ; but 
 not being in hafte to fee them, took a French 
 leave of the Duchefs, borrowing one of her 
 watches, merely that he might not be at a lofs 
 as to the hour of the day, and taking a couple 
 of rings, the brilliancy of which would remind 
 him of the charms cf the real owner. 
 
 Returning once more to Calais, a confider- 
 able portion of time was cngroffed by the Du- 
 chefs, in relating to her admiring auditors each 
 particular concerning the very gracious manner 
 in which the Emprefs had deigned to receive 
 her. A prefent from her Imperial Majefty, of 
 ^n eftate fituated on the Neva*, ''\w:xs enlarged 
 
 on 
 
 ways recommended vagabonds to her notice. By trade ar; 
 ordinary carpenter ; by hec ridiculous whim converted into 
 the managing ftevvard of a palace, and, in her abfe nee from 
 Peterlburgh, entruftcd with the care of perfonal property, 
 of immenfc value, 
 
 * This eftate Includes a trad of land of confiderable va* 
 luc J and, it was the more peculiarly calculated for the Du- 
 
 V:hefs, 
 
E 95 ] 
 
 orr with all the circumlocutory eloquence, of 
 which the relator was capable. The purchafe* 
 alfo of the eflate near Peterfburgh, which 
 abounded in vajfals not daring to approach the 
 upper petticoat of their miflrefs, without firll 
 killing the fringe, in a pollure of genuflcd:ion, 
 afforded a fubjed: for afloniflimcnt to thofe who 
 defpifcd all compulfory fubjedtion. Yet com- 
 plaifance was due, and, in confequence, the 
 tale of vanity was never interrupted. The Em- 
 prefs was admitted to be the dear eft fi tend v^'honi 
 the Duchefs had experienced. She was allowed 
 even to love her, better than any favourite who 
 might be fclefled, as the objed: of regard, by 
 a Sovereignefs, lefs a model of felf-denying vir- 
 tue, than her Imperial Majefty of Ruflia. Not 
 a fcruple of faith was abated, in the credence 
 given to every fentence which the Duchefs ad- 
 vanced refpeding her intimacy with the Eiu- 
 prefs. One thing is certain ; At an entertain- 
 ment given by the Duchefs to the Emprefs, one 
 hundred and forty of her own domeflics attended, 
 
 chefs, as it conferred a kind of fovcrcignty on her over the 
 poor inhabitants, who are confidered as abfolute propcitVy 
 ▼cfied in the territorial proprietor. 
 
 * This eflate coft the Duchefs about t-;veni^-fli'e thoufaud 
 ^op.ndi Englilh money. 
 
 ancJ 
 
[ S6 3 
 
 and the whole fervice was of plate. The pre^ 
 fence of fo auguft a perfonage, and the manner 
 of her reception, are unqucftionable proofs of 
 benignity on one part^ oflentation on the 
 other. 
 
 The will of his Grace of Kingllon receiving 
 ever)'' confirmation which the Courts of Juftice 
 could give * ; to diflipate, rather than properly 
 
 expendj 
 
 * This will was executed on the^/-6day of jfuly, I'jjOi 
 The following are the extracls which relate to the Duchefs : 
 *' I do, by this ray will, ratify and confirm a fettlcment, 
 *' which I made of the annual fum, or yearly rent charge^ 
 *' di four thojif and pounds^ on ;;/y iiv'/t' Elizabeth Duchefs of 
 *' Kiiigflon ; and that the faid fum fliall be unto, and to the 
 *' life of the laid Elizabeth, Duchefs of Kingfton, my 
 *' WIFE, and her afligns, for and during the term of her na- 
 *' tural life, hi cafe fx' Jo lor.g coiitlnues my -ivIdoiVf and uH' 
 *' marriedy and no longer. And my faid wife lliall be per- 
 " mitted, during her =ivido'Mhood, to receive and take the 
 *' whole yearly rents, and profits, of all the manors, lands, 
 *' and hereditaments, before devifed, in full fatisfadtion, re- 
 *' compence, and dilcharge of, and for fo much of the faid 
 *' annual fum, or yearly rent charge of fo.ir thoufandpotcjuhi 
 *' as fhall grow due during her widowhood ; hut in cafe rfiy 
 *^ faid xvife Jhall determine her vj'doivhood during her life, 
 *' then I give and devife the fame to Charles Meadovjs^ fe- 
 ** cond fon of Philip Meadovjs. 
 
 *' ALSO, I give and bequeath to my faid wife, Eliza' 
 " leth Duchefs of Ki;:gJlon^ z\\n\y furrtitHTCy piclures, plaie^ 
 
 *' jtivelsj 
 
[ 97 ] 
 
 Cl^peild, the income of his cilates, appeared to 
 be the ruling principle of life. The houfe at 
 Calais was not fufEcient for the pnrpofe of in- 
 viting perplexities ; a manfion, at a j)lace 
 called Alont Marthe *, near Paris, was pitched 
 on, and the purchafe of it negociated in as 
 iliort a time as the Duchefs could defire. There 
 were only a few obuacles to enjoyment, which 
 were not confidered until the purchafe was com- 
 pleted. The houfe was in fo ruinous a condi- 
 tion, as to be in momentary--dangcr of falling. 
 The land was more like the field of the lloth- 
 
 *' je'joeh, china^ arrears of rent, and all other my efccis and 
 " pcrjonal eJlatCy ofwhat nature or kind foevcr, for her ovjti 
 *' proper ufe ahfolutely^ and a?, and for her oivii goods ^ chat* 
 " tch^ ajid effcSls^ for evermore.''* 
 
 This exprefs reftriftion, as to a continuance in a flatc of 
 "xndo^-.Khood^ although highly difpleafing to the Duchefs, was 
 yet her abfolute fulvation ; for, fo open was flie to the grolleit 
 adulation, that any foreign Knight of the Fof^ plyi"S her 
 well with flattery, might have led her a willing captive to 
 the altar of Hymen. She endeavoured to fecrctc the clr- 
 cumftance of her inability to marry, always affecting the 
 §:reateft diflikeof the connubial flate. 
 
 * The fituation of thi? houfe is extremely pleafant, being 
 to Paris what Hawpfeadis to London; The Duchefs was 
 to have paid for the houfe about nine thoufand poiuuh in the 
 whole. 
 
 O ful, 
 
[ 9S ] 
 
 fill, than the vineyard of the hiduftrlous. All 
 thcfe apparent evils became realized to the op- 
 tics of the Duchefs, only after fhe had poffefled 
 her wilhes, and found them, as moll of her 
 wifhes were, produ(ftive of trouble. A lawfuit 
 with the owner of the eftate was the confe- 
 quence of the agreement. The Duchefs went 
 again to Peterfburgh, and returned to France, 
 before it finiihed ; and it was the manner in 
 which this fuit was adjudicated, which proved 
 the ultimate caufc of her death. 
 
 Btfide this purchafe in France, another was 
 made by the Duchefs, the fcalc of which was 
 truly grand. The brother of the French Mo- 
 narch was the owner of a domain, according, 
 in every refpeft, with his dignity. This was 
 the territory oi Saint JJJife, pleafantly diftanced 
 from Paris, abounding with game of every dif- 
 ferent fpecies, and rich in all the poflible lux- 
 uriant adornment of nature. The manfion was 
 fit for the brother of a King. It afforded three 
 hundred beds. The value of fuch an eftate was 
 too confiderable to be expected in one payment; 
 flic, therefore, agreed to difcharge the whole 
 of the fum demanded, which w^s fifty -five thou- 
 /and pound Si by inftallmcnts. It is fomctimes 
 eafier to agree, than fulfil. The Duchefs found 
 this to be her cafe in the prefent inftance. How 
 
 was 
 
C 99 ] 
 
 was it pofTible to give the half of a plumb, with-: 
 out the value of a cherry- ftone in pofleflion ? 
 Sixteen thouf and pounds were the utnioft amount 
 of the annual rents of the Duchefs. Ready mo- 
 ney ilie had none j it was a commodity in which 
 Ihe feldom abounded. To expedient recourfe 
 was had to make good the firft inllallment, cafh 
 was borrowed of Mejfrs. Dnimmond^ and a few 
 valuables were lodged as fecurities for the debt ; 
 by this means one payment was made good*. 
 
 If it be afked, for whom this cflate, thus 
 purchafed under every inconvenience, was ac- 
 tually intended ? The proper anfwer returned 
 would be, that to the career of vanity there is 
 not an end ; and, whether that paflion be gra- 
 tified by the expenditure, or the hoard of mo- 
 ney, is matter of total indifference, the fordid- 
 nefs of the paflion continuing the fame. It be- 
 ing neccflTary, however, to aflign a little portion 
 of reafon for a great degree of extravagance, 
 the recent reconciliation which had taken place 
 between the Duchefs and the nephew of her 
 ** deareft 'Duke^' afforded a plea. The purchafe, 
 
 * 7":w«/y^rf /^(^///Tt.v.'/^owWi' have been ncflually paid, in 
 part ot the purchafc money, for this territory. The fecond 
 inftahnentis, at this moment, due. The annual incomt of 
 Saint Airifc, is cftimated at near three thouf aud pounds. 
 
 O 2 «n 
 
[ 1^3 ] 
 
 on the p:\rt of the Duchefs, was a good onc.-<« 
 There were not only game, but rabbits in plen-. 
 ty, and finding them to be of a fuperior qua- 
 lity and flavour, the Duchefs, during the firfl 
 week of her poffefiion, had as many killed and 
 fold, as brought her three hundred guineas. Thus, 
 at Peterfburgh, flie was a difliller of brandy *j 
 at Paris, a rabbit merchant. 
 
 Thus proceeding from enterprize to enter^ 
 prize, the hour arrived in which the Duchefa 
 would not be permitted a longer refidentof our 
 lower world. She was at dinner when her fer-t 
 vants received the intelligence of a fentence 
 refpecting the houfe near Paris, having been 
 awarded againft her. The fudden communica- 
 tion of the news caufcd an agitation of her whole- 
 frame. She flew into a violent paffion, and, in 
 the agitation of her mind and body, fhe burlt 
 
 ^ V.y pennhrion of the Emprefs, one of the Ruffian eftates; 
 purchafed by the Duchefs was called Chudkigh ; and about 
 ten miles from this place, flic built an ///«, for the rcccptioa 
 and accommodation of flrangers. Here, a liquor, which 
 the Ruffians c'aW.ivat'keq^, was fold. It is made from ^«;7ry, 
 mixed with certain //^«/i, and, when diftilled, the fumes of 
 it are of the moft intoxicating kind. The projccb of the 
 Duchefs was, to have made the liquor on her own cftate, and 
 to have fupplied the Inn with it, The ituffian names of her 
 terrltoiy arc, Willa and Acqff, 
 
 ar^ 
 
[ lol ] 
 
 an internal blood-veflel ; even this, however, 
 fhc appeared to have furmounted, until a few 
 days afterwards, on the morning of the 26th of 
 Augnft ; when, about to rife from her bed, a 
 fervant who had long been with her, endea- 
 voured at difTuafion. The Duchefs addrcfled 
 her thus : " I am not very well, but I will rife." 
 On a remonftrance being attempted, fhe faid, 
 *' At your peril difobey me ; I will get up, and 
 *' walk about the room. Ring for the Sccre- 
 ^* tary to afiifl me." She was obeyed, drefTed, 
 and the Secretary entered the chamber. The 
 puchefs then walked about ; complained of 
 thirft, and faid, " I could drink a glafs of my 
 ** fine Madeira, and eat a Dice of toafted 
 ♦' bread. I fhall be quite well afterwards; 
 ^' but let It be a large glafs of wine." The at- 
 tendant reluctantly brought, and the Duchefs 
 drank the wine. She then faid, " I am per- 
 ♦* fedtly recovered ; I knew the Madeira would 
 ** do me good. My heart feels oddl}^ I will 
 ♦' have another glafs." The fervant here ob- 
 ferved, that fuch a quantity of wine, drank in 
 the morning, might intoxicate rather than be- 
 nefit. The Duchefs perfiftcd in her orders, and 
 the fecond glafs of Madeira being produced, 
 ihe drank that alfo, and pronounced hcrfclf to 
 be charmingly indeed. She then walked a little 
 gbout the room, and afterwards faid, " I will 
 
 " lay 
 
[ 102 ] 
 
 " lay on the couch. I can flecp, and after a 
 " flecp, I ihall be entirely recovered." She fat 
 on the couch, a female having hold of each 
 hand. In this fituation, fhe foon appeared to 
 have fallen into a found fleep, until the woman 
 found her hands colder than ordinary ; an af- 
 fright enfued ; other domellics were rang for, 
 and the Duchefs was found to have expired, as 
 the wearied labourer finks into the arms of reft. 
 
 Thus died ELIZABETH CHUDLEIGH, 
 aftually Countefs of Briflol, and, by the cur- 
 tefy of foreign nations, flyled DUCHESS of 
 KINGSTON. She was a woman, the leading 
 features of whofe charafter are more difcover- 
 able from a review of her conduft, than from 
 any delineation in the power of the pen to give. 
 If Ihc might be allov;ed to know herfelf, her 
 own dcfcription of the mutability of her nature, 
 ihould pafs for the truth. Her words were 
 thefe : " I fhould dcceft myfelf, if I were tzvtf 
 *' hours in the fame temper." What flie faid, Ihc 
 verified ; for Ihe was alternately changing from 
 humour to humour. This inftability it was 
 which, in the early part of life, occafioned her 
 to be furrounded more with admirers, than 
 friends ; and from the hour of her convidion, 
 to the moment of her death, flie had not one 
 friend attached to her from a principle of cor- 
 dial 
 
C 103 3 
 
 dial eftecm. The Emprefs of Ruflia was muck 
 difpofed to favour her ; but, after the novelty 
 of the meeting was over, there was even too 
 much of famenefs in the interviews with her 
 Majefl'/, to be endured. Thofe to whom the 
 Duchefs fliewed any thing like fteadinefs, were 
 companions of her own felc6lion, and llie was 
 ever fure to err moft grofsly in her choice. Her 
 benefits, and her fricndfhips, were beftowcd on 
 the unworthy. Of the latter affertion, the fol- 
 lowing anecdote is a proof : 
 
 In one of her peregrinations, the Duchefs 
 met withaperfon, habited as a pilgrim. His 
 figure was a good one. In his eye there was pe- 
 netration, and in the whole of his countenance 
 there was marked expreffion. He was much 
 inclined to cultivate an intimacy with the Du- 
 chefs ; but he rather chofe to correfpond, than 
 converfe with her. This arofe from a confci- 
 oufnefs of a brilliancy of ftyle of which he was 
 mailer ; and, inflantly perceiving how open to 
 ■ flattery the lady was, he thought it could be 
 more delicately conveyed in an epiflolary way. 
 He carried his point. Left her Grace, when 
 Ihe (Irongly folicitcd him to remain with her. 
 The correfpondence commenced. The letters 
 teemed vvith profeflions of admiration of fo ii- 
 luftrious a character as the Duchefs. She was 
 
 more 
 
[ 104 ] 
 
 more than woman ! The wonder of the nee I 
 and delerving celebrity to the end of time ! 
 This incenfe was the more acceptable, becaufe 
 offered by a total flranger. Her Grace became 
 enamoured with the pi/grim^ and, as there was 
 fomething of m.y fiery in his manner and garbj 
 llie was folicitous to have the whole explained. 
 This favour, however, was denied, and the only 
 thing Vvhich Ihe could obtain was, an appoint- 
 ment to meet her at a future time. The cor- 
 refpondence, in the interim, continued ; and 
 the letters were in the fame adulatory vein. The 
 appointed time arrived ; and the Duchefs, in- 
 flead of a Pilgrim, met an y^l>h\ It then be- 
 came neceffary to throw the veil a little afide. 
 The flranger gave an account of himfelf, and 
 thus ran his flory : That he was by birth an 
 Albanian Prince. That he had travelled through 
 Europe, under different difguifes, and had only 
 formed attachments with the mofl exalted per* 
 fonages. At Berlin, Prince Henry of Prufiia 
 had honoured him with his intimacy ; at Rome, 
 moft of the Cardinals were his familiars ; their 
 Neapolitan Majeflies particularly efteem.ed him; 
 and with the Emperor of Germany, he was 
 moft intimate ! This flylc was the very thing. 
 It operated like a charm. The name of the 
 flranger was required ; and he announced his 
 travelling one to be *' WORT A." Who 
 
 IForta 
 
[ 105 ] 
 
 li>^orta really was, the Duchefs never In- 
 quiied. She took, it on trurt that he was a very 
 great man ; and as for hi*- honefty, it was a 
 quality entirely out of the qucftion. The dia- 
 mond box was exhibited to WORTA, and he 
 admired as the Duchefs dirtdlcd. A ring of 
 value was prefented him, and he being a/)mr(r, 
 it was deemed very gracious in him to accept 
 it. At laft, the objedt in view was difclofed. 
 WORTA having fatisfied himfelf with the vi- 
 fits he had made to the different Courts of the 
 reigning Powers, propofed returning to his own 
 country ; and could his bed be honoured with a 
 partner like the Duchefs, a fcene of connubial 
 felicity would be completed. To this language 
 the Duchefs liftened with infinite pleafure ; 
 and, had there not been an infurmountable ob- 
 ftacle, fhe actually would have given her hand 
 and fortune to an adventurer. This WORTA 
 very lately committed feveral forgeries m Hol- 
 land, and being apprehended, he difpatched 
 himfelf by a dofe of poifon*. 
 
 As 
 
 * WORTA, whoever he might be, was entitled to praife, 
 as a man of talents. During the contert between Great Bri- 
 tain and America, he wrote feveral little pieces, in fupport 
 ©f what he termed " The honourable caufe oi ks fauvres 
 P " j^meri' 
 
[ io6 ] 
 
 As a contraft of this inftance of impofture, 
 and credulity, there was a real Prince, who 
 made the Duchefs an offer of his hand, and 
 that after an attachment which had fubfifted 
 twenty years. On a vifit to the Court of Sax- 
 ony, the Duchefs firfl met PRINCE RADZI- 
 VIL; an illuftrious pcrfonage, who had pre- 
 tenfions to the Crown of Poland *. This high 
 characfter lived in a ftyle of dignified fplendor, 
 which excited the admiration of thofe who knew 
 not the amount of hisimmenfc revenues. The 
 Duchefs, ftruck with the grandeur of his flatc, 
 pradlifcd every ingratiating art which might at- 
 
 " yimericanef.''' Bcfidc this fubjc.*!', there is a fmnll traCl 
 by WORTA, entitled, " L'Horofcnpe PoUthjue:' In this 
 he extols the chnraftcr of Prince Henry of Fruffi:', whom 
 he %les his dear and intimate friend. There is alfo another 
 fmall produdion, containing a feleftion of Poetic Pieces, 
 profeffedly tranflated from a Turkilh author, but really 
 written by WoRTA. His language, in profc, is energetic 
 in the extreme ; in poetry, it is mclliiluous, and full of 
 tendcrnefs. He had certainly llrong feelings, and a very 
 fupcrior underftanding. To each of his publications, there 
 is an engraving of himfcif prefixed, which is encircled b/ 
 liars, and rays, from a fmall rcprefcnted fun, darting on the 
 topof his head. He was, altogether, a moll extraordinary 
 charadler. 
 
 * This ilkiilrious Pole is now living, and aboiit fixty- 
 five years of ag.*. 
 
 tradt 
 
[ loy ] 
 
 tradt elleem. In this, fhe proved (o fuccefsful, 
 as to en"-age the heart of the Prince in her fa- 
 vour. This \v:is all fhe wanted; for, the con- 
 feqiiences of the engagement were, magnificent 
 pvefents, and a correfpondcnce carried on, dur- 
 ing a fucceffion of years. When the Duchefs 
 was about to make a fecond vifit to Peterfburgh, 
 propofing to travel thither by land, fke figni- 
 fied, in a letter to Prince Radzivtl, her 
 intention of taking his dominions in her route. 
 The Prince, the force of whofe affedtion had 
 not been abated by time, received the determi- 
 nation as an announcement of his approaching 
 happinefs. The place of meeting was fixed, 
 ;ind, as there was fomething fingularly roman- 
 tic in the ftvle in which the interview w\ns con- 
 ducted, adefcription of it, as detailed by a lo- 
 rci^n eentlcman, who was of the party, may 
 not prove unentertaining to the reader. 
 
 BERGE, a village in a duchy belonging to 
 Prince Radzivil, was affigned for the ren- 
 dezvous. It is fituated about forty m.iles from 
 Riga. The Duchefs being there arrived, was 
 waited on by an officer in the retinue of the 
 Prince, who was commiffioned to inform her 
 Grace, that his mafler propofed to difpcnfe 
 with the ceremonials of rank, and vifit her as a 
 friend. The next morning was the time fpeci- 
 P 2 fied 
 
[ loS ] 
 
 iied for this vlfit taking place. In the interim, 
 the Duchefs was entreated to permit herfelt to 
 be efcorted to an hotel, ten miks diftant, whi- 
 ther the Prince had difpatched his own cooks, 
 and other attendants, to wait on her Grace. 
 The next morning, the vifity without ceremony, 
 took place, and thus was it conducted. Prince 
 RADZIVIL came with forty carriages, each 
 drawn by fix horfcs ; and the diffeiFent vehicles 
 contained his nieces, the ladies of his principa- 
 lity, and other illufirious characters. In addi- 
 tion to thefe, there were fix hundred horfcs led 
 in train, a thoufand dogs, and feveral boars ; a 
 guard of Hufiars completed the fuitc. Such 
 an affemblage, in a country furrounded by 
 wood, gave an air of romance to the interview, 
 which was fiill more heightened by the manner 
 in which the Prince contrived to amufe his 
 female gueit. He made two feafts, and they 
 were ordered in the following ftyle. The Prince 
 had caufed a village to be ercdted, confifting 
 of forty houfes, all of wood, and fancifully 
 decorated with leaves and branches. Thefe 
 houfes formed a circle ; in the middle of which, 
 three fpacious rooms were eredted, one for the 
 Prince, a fecond for his fuite, and the third for 
 the repaft. Entering the village, in the way 
 to the rooms, all the houfes were fhut, and 
 the inhabitants appeared to have retired to reft. 
 
 The 
 
( ^/u^if<yO I 
 
 [ 109 J 
 
 The entertainment, at the rooms, opened with 
 fplendid fireworks, on an adjoining piece of wa- 
 ter, and two veflels encountered each other in 
 a mock engagement. The feaft fucceeded. — 
 Every thing was ferved on plate, and fumptu- 
 ous were the dillies. The Duchefs, who was 
 fafcinated by a reception fo fuperb, entered 
 with all the exhilaration of fpirits into the fefli- 
 vitv of the evening ; and amufed the companv 
 with the following fong : 
 
 ♦' DANS mon petit icdult, 
 
 ^' Je vis a mon aife, 
 *' Je nai qu'une fable, ct un lit, 
 
 " Un verre, et une clialfe. 
 
 *' Mais je m'en fert chaquejour, 
 " Pour careiTer tour a tour, 
 *' Ma pcinte et ma mle au guet, 
 " INIa pcinte ctmamie." 
 
 The feafl: being ended, Prince Radzivil 
 conducted the Duchefs to the village, the 
 houfes of which were fhut before, and on a fud- 
 dcn they were converted into forty open fhops, 
 brilliantly decorated, and containing the richeft 
 commodities of different kinds. From thefe 
 ihops the Prince feledted a variety of articles, 
 and prefented them to the Duchefs, A mag- 
 nificent topaz, rings, boxes, trinkets of all 
 
 defcrip^ 
 \ 
 
[ no ] 
 
 defcriptions, compofed the gifts *. The com. 
 pany then returned to the rooms, which were 
 thrown into one, and a ball was opened by 
 Prince Radzivil and the Duchcfs. The minuets 
 and dances being concluded, the Company 
 quitted the ball-room, and in an inftant it was 
 in a blaze ; combuflible matter having been 
 previoufly difpofed throughout every part of the 
 building. The people of the village were feen 
 dancing round the fire. This entertainment, 
 which is unexaggerated in the defcription, was 
 fuppofed to have cofl Prince Radzivil, at a 
 poderate computation, jive thoujand pounds. 
 
 His Highnefs ended not here. At a coun- 
 try feat, ten miles from TV^/Vf/jf/z/j, his favourite 
 town, he gave a fecond feaft to the Duchefs. 
 This feait was followed by a boar hunt ; for 
 the purpofe of which, his dogs had been 
 brought. The hunt was in a wood, at night. 
 A regiment of Huffars, with lighted torches 
 in their hands, formed a circle \ within which 
 were huntfmen, alfo with torches. The boar, 
 thus furrounded by fire, was intimidated, and, 
 after the ufual fport, he fell a victim to l\is 
 
 "^ The Duchefi;, thro'.igh life, had been accuflomed to 
 receive prcfents ; and, a great part of her perfonal property 
 Was acfiuircd in this niaiincr. 
 
 purfuers. 
 
[ ,11 3 
 
 purfuers. At this hunt attended a numerous 
 part}^ of the Polifh nobility. During fourteen 
 days, the time of the Duchefs's continuance 
 with Prince Radzivil, flie dined and flept in 
 different houfcs belongino- to the Prince. As 
 the retinue moved from place to place, they, on 
 every third or fourth day, met a camp, formed 
 of the Prince's own guard. Travelling at 
 night from Nlceiffuis, the roads were illumi- 
 nated ; guards accompanied as efcorts, and, orr 
 the arrival of the Duchefs, at the different 
 towns belonging to the duchy of the Prince, 
 the Magiflrates waited on her wiih their gratu- 
 lations, and the cannon were fired. Here was 
 tranfporting fatisfad:ion ! and yet, fuch was 
 the oddity of the Duchefs-, fo unique was fhe 
 hi characfter, mind, and feeling, that, at the 
 moment of her being complimented with ^feu 
 de joye, flie only thus expreffed her fentiments 
 of the princely treatment ; " He may fire as 
 ** much as he pleafes, but he fliall not hit my 
 " mark !" Thefc were her own words ; the 
 commentary on them is obvious. 
 
 Befide this extraordinary difplay of mag- 
 nificence, the Duchefs, during her refidence in 
 Poland, had alfo the honour to be entertained 
 by one of the firll: characters in the theatre of 
 
 the 
 
[ .12 ] 
 
 the world. This was COUNT OGINSKi *; of 
 whom the late King of Pruffia had lb exalted an 
 opinion, that he difpatched a letter to him, with 
 the following fuperfcribed orders : " This is 
 *' to be forwarded to the Ornarnertt of Human 
 " Nature!" Such a compliment, from a So- 
 vereign who was not eafily miftakcn in charac- 
 ters, muft have been highly flattering. But it 
 did not exceed the merits of the Count ; he 
 was great, in every fenfe of the word. Bcfide 
 being the munificent rewarder of talents, and 
 the univerfal fuccourer of the difkreffed, his 
 accomplifhmcnts were of the moft endearing 
 kind. At a concert which he gave the Duchefs^ 
 he performed on fix different inflruments. His 
 eflablifhment for mufical entertainments cod 
 him Jifly thou/and ducats a year; about twenty- 
 five thoufand pounds of our money. He had a 
 theatre, in which plays. In the French, German, 
 and Polifh languages, were adted. Horfes he 
 bad from the remotefl countries ; one, which 
 he fhewed the Duchefs, was brought him from 
 Jerufalem. With Louis the XVih he had 
 lived on terms of intimacy, refiding nine years 
 at the Court of France. He painted inimita- 
 bly; and, among other articles, the Duchefs 
 
 * Count Oginjhi is now alive, and unlvcrfally revered. 
 
 faw 
 
[ "3 3 
 
 ■fiivv a piece of his execution, which originated 
 from the following incident : Louis the XVth 
 and the Count were walking in a garden, and 
 the French Monarch broke off a branch of an 
 apple-tree, in high bloffom, and throwing ic 
 at the Count, he faid, ** Oginski, you mufb 
 " paint that for me." The Count obeyed ; and 
 the demife of the King happening before the 
 pl(flure was finiflicd, it remained in the poffcf- 
 fion of the Count. At the manfion of this 
 Nobleman, the Duchefs continued a few days ; 
 and Prince Radzivil accompanying her 
 there, an emulation feemed to prevail who moft 
 fhould fhewhcra marked attention*. She was, 
 
 however. 
 
 " For the imcoramon kindnefs fl)cwn the Duchefs by 
 Frincc Radzivil^ flic />v/<;/^v/ the greateft gratitude. A pa-« 
 triarchal age ot thnnkfulnefs would not be long enough to 
 difcharge the obligation ! At Peterfburgh, an opportunity 
 occurred of making a partial return for the favours received. 
 It was as follows : 
 
 A favourite tiicce of Prince RaJzivH married an officer in 
 the RuHian fcrvicc, with whom Ihe had fallen in love. To 
 obtain his promotion in the army, the happy pair (for the 
 happinefs of reciprocal aflfedlion was their lot) went to Pe- 
 terfburgh, andc ther the hulband lofl, at play, about fcvcn 
 choufand pounds, one thoufand of which he paid ; but, 
 CL diflreffed 
 
[ -H ] 
 
 however, fhacklcd, as it were, in mind. There 
 was famcnefs even in princely fplendor j and 
 famcnefs to her was ever difgulling. An Aven- 
 turier, like WORT A, could have fticceeded, 
 where a Prince like RADZIVIL failed of his 
 point*. The one was a fixed, the other an ec- 
 centric charadter ; and cccentricit)^, in every 
 variation of form or adlion, accorded moil: for- 
 cibly wath her feelings. 
 
 dillrcfled for the remainder of the fum, the niece of 
 Pt-ince Radzi-'il folicitcd the Duchcfs for a loan to the 
 amount ; which flie abfolutely refufed, pleading diftrefs ; 
 although flie abounded in money, and was In high credit. 
 
 * In fo heterogeneous a chara6ler r^ that of the lady who 
 is the fubjeft of this detail, it is difficult to difcriminate the 
 propcnlitics, and pronovmce how far they are influenced by 
 any genuine motive, or paiTion. The Duchcfs had an ap- 
 parent attachment to a Polifti Bilhop, the B'iJl?op ofH'lItia, 
 She alfo, when at Rome, difcovcred fomething more than 
 friendfliip for the Ptitrlarch of Jcrufalem, The Bilhop of 
 Wilna firfl faw the Duchefs at Rome. He is a moft amiable 
 charatter ; but perhaps it was more the vanity of inconfillen- 
 cy, than any real aftedtion, which adtuated the Duchefs in 
 her apparent tendernefs. To contemn the oiFers of Prince 
 Radxl'vil^ whom (lie actually might have married, and have 
 had the lofs of her fortune abundantly compenfatcd, and to 
 dchre an union where it could not be obtained, was that 
 Ipecies of contrariety, which diftinguilhed this lady through 
 life. Perhaps, flie is the firfl Englifhwom.m who ever went 
 t^'JerufLilc/i for a lover ! 
 
 The 
 
, [ "5 ] 
 
 The aftuating influence of this eccentricity 
 it was, which too generally contaminated the 
 benefits of the Dnchefs, bv mifdircdtinn; them 
 to the mofl worthlefs objefts. Thus, in the 
 enumeration of her purfe-leechcs, we find 
 that human blood-fucker, MAJOR SEM- 
 PLF, whom flie liberated from Calais pri- 
 fon, and it was termed, by the undifccrning, an 
 adt of gcnerofity. But, the fa(ft is, that the 
 Duchefs, hearing of the confinement of the 
 man, declared, in a moment, that fhe would 
 contrive to have him rcleafed, and the method 
 fhe propofcd was, to bribe the prifon guards, 
 faw the iron bars of the window of his room, 
 and thus effedt an efcape. This ftratagem bufied 
 the Duchefs for a week. The creditors of 
 SEf4PLE all the time fuppofing that her Grace 
 was calculating the amount of their demands, 
 in order to difchargc them. The projed: of an 
 efcape being defeated, the Duchefs found her- 
 felf to be fo embarralfed in the bufinefs, that 
 Ihe was compelled to do fomething to gratify 
 the cxpeftations which her officious interference 
 had railed. A trifle was divided among the 
 creditors, and Mr. Semple was fhipped for 
 England, to profecute his depredations on the 
 honcft part of the community. 
 
 ^2 Or 
 
C '"5 J 
 
 C;t the qualities of the Duchefs of Kingdon, 
 a kind of mafculine courage feemed the mod 
 predominant. She had always a brace of loaded 
 piftols by the fide of her bed, and her in- 
 
 junflions to her female domcftics were, never 
 to enter her chamber unjefs the bdl rang, as, by 
 fudden furpiize flie might be induced to fire 
 at them. This fhe mod unqucftionably would 
 have done. lo her travelling carriage there 
 were fire-arms, and once, on her route to Pe- 
 terfburgh, fhe difcharged a cafe of piftols at a 
 party fuppofed to have inimical defigns. This 
 heroifm, fo uncommon in the female breaft, 
 was inherited by the Duchefs, for, her mother, 
 
 ,who once refided at Chelfea, walked thither 
 each evening from London, with a brace of 
 piftols in her^pocket, as the means of her de- 
 fence. 
 
 It was this kind of courage, rather than real 
 magnanimity, which lupported the Duchefs 
 under the extreme of fufferance. Pending her 
 trial in the Houfe of Peers, her ferocity of fpi- 
 rit broke forth whenever Ihe withdrew from the 
 bar; and, the moment when her convi<ftion 
 Vx'as announced, the idea of keeping pofteffion 
 of her property ky force, occurred to her mind. 
 Scarcely had the Chancellor concluded his in- 
 formation of her having been adjudged guilty 
 
 by 
 
C "7 ] 
 
 by her Peers, than ihe turned to Mr. Glover, 
 and faid, " You hear that I am convitfled ; 
 *' there are hlunderbujfes -and pijlois at Knigfton 
 " Houfe, go there direcftly, turn all the Icr- 
 " vants out of doors, and keep pofljffion of the 
 " houle, for me, ^j/^r^:^." Thus a convidion, 
 under which others would have funk, but little 
 affected the mind of the Lady who is the fab- 
 je<ft of this detail ; her title, more than her 
 character, engroffed her attention. Her do- 
 domeftics were flruck with the abfurdity of 
 continuing the ftile after her convidion, which 
 they had ufcd before that event. They ac- 
 coidingly requefted to be informed, how her 
 Grace chofe to be defignated by them ? Her 
 anfwer was ; " Call me Duchess (/Kingston, 
 *' to be fur e,'* 
 
 As in life, fo in death, this lady was eccen- 
 tric. The day before her demife fhe ate a brace 
 of partridges, and fome other game; fhc ex- 
 pired having fcarcely fvvallowed two large bum- 
 pers of Madeira. Except an attack at Pe- 
 terfburgh, when an epidemic difeafe prevailed, 
 and the fever with which flie was feized on her 
 return from Rome to meet her trial, fhe ex- 
 perienced not an illnefs of a day. The me- 
 thod Ihe took to preferve health, was that of 
 braving every element. The fevereft cold 
 
 neither 
 
C "8 ] 
 
 neither impeded her joLirney, nor difcompofed 
 her feelings. Fires, in her apartments, were 
 rather in conformity to eftabliflicd iifigc, than 
 as nccciTarics for herfelf ; and, as a proof of her 
 exemption from all medical rule, flie almoft 
 totally reverfcd order in every thing. Late 
 fhe retired to reft ; early fhe arofe. For a flight 
 indication of the gout, flie inftantly plunged 
 her feet in cold water ; and phlebotomy, whe- 
 ther proper or not, v/as the univerfal recipe to 
 which, on every indication of malady, ftie rc- 
 fortcd. 
 
 Living, as did the Duchefs in the early pf- 
 riod of her life, within the Court circle, her 
 exterior manners had a polifh, and her aftions, 
 when fhe chofe it, a grace. When the funfliine 
 of good humour exhilarated her fpirits, there 
 was brilliancy in every thing fhe did; but, as 
 fhe could be fafcinating, the rcverfe was too 
 much in her power, and too frequently in her 
 inclination. Viewed fuperficlally, and, by a 
 tranlient acquaintance, Ihe appeared irrcfiiVibly 
 attra<flive ; an intimacy diflblvcd the charm, 
 and even her moft partial admirers could only 
 feel a pity, that the powers of eminently pleaf- 
 ing, Ihould not be united with internal worth. 
 This deficiency it was which rendered her pro- 
 niifes not to be relied on. They were merely 
 
 thrown 
 
[ ti9 ] 
 
 thrown out as lures, without any ferious inten- 
 tion of ever performing them. Hence, her 
 friends, as flie termed them, were changed like 
 her garments ; and the only permanent attach- 
 ments flic had, were to thofe whom flie feldom 
 faw. It fcrvcd her for an amufcmcnt, on a 
 journey, to dictate letters to former acquaint- 
 ances, and whether they lived in Saxony, Pruf- 
 fia, Poland, Peterfburgh, Italy, or England, 
 they were all complimented as being the exclu- 
 sive engrofters of her efteem. On her trial 
 ending, flic inllantly didtated two letters, the 
 one to his Pruflian Majefty, the other to the 
 Emprefs of RufTia. In both thefecpiftles, the 
 Sovereigns to whom they were addrcflcd, were 
 her ** dearc ft friends^ on whom alone JJ.e relied, 
 " under God, for confolatlon in her affliciions. Shg 
 '' was overwhelmed, ltkepoorT)AY\T),by troubles t 
 ** but there were Princes gracioujly inclined alfo, 
 " ///^<? DAVID, to Juccour the. opprejed ! This 
 was to excite pity. FREDERIC, in return, 
 offered Berlin ■^'^ an afjlum, and intimation was 
 given, by the Prpffian Miniltcr, " That her 
 " property, if rranfmittcd to the capital of his 
 " matter's dominions, would be pcrfed:ly fe- 
 ** cure." Probably flie thought that this would 
 be too literally the cafe; for, after receiving 
 the intimation, and exprefling her very grateful 
 i'enfc of the favour, flie thus cxprefled herfelf 
 
 to 
 
C 120 ] 
 
 to nn Englifli friend, " 7'he King of Trujfia is 
 *' devilijhly clever, hut IJlodlnot trufi him'' For 
 her Imperial Majefty, the Duchefs affedcd the 
 greatcft predikdion. M flic really had any, 
 famenefs of fex, and other according principles, 
 might be the caufc. 
 
 Profufe as the Duchefs was in promifes, they 
 naturally occafioncd her to be furrounded with 
 expectants. Thcfe fhe always difgufted by dil- 
 appointing them, and they either became ene- 
 mies, or indifferents. Thofe whom Ihe adlu- 
 ally benefited, could not cordially efteem her, 
 there being too frequently fomelhing intermin- 
 gled with the favours conferred, to render it 
 more than fufpicious that they were not the genu- 
 ine emanations of a liberal mind. The brother of 
 Sir George Shuckburgh her Grace had adopted. 
 The naval line he chofe to purfue. Becoming a 
 Lieutenant, it fell to his lot, by what is termed 
 the " fortune of war," to be taken a prifoner in 
 theadtion with PAUL JONES. The confine- 
 ment, and other circumftances, confpiring, oc- 
 cafioned an illnefs, which terminated in a 
 dropfy. Recovering fufficicntly to undertake 
 the journey, he paid the Duchefs a vifit at Ca- 
 lais. She received him very cordially •, intro- 
 duced him to the French officers as a prodigy 
 of courage ; took care to have it known that he 
 
 was 
 
[ 121 ] 
 
 was a younger brother, without any fortune, 
 and whofe dependence was on her onl)'. f'is 
 ilhiefs was next deplored, and the means of an 
 effedual recovery were deliberated on. The 
 air near Calais was thought more falutary than 
 that in the town ; the Duchefs, therefore, pro- 
 pofed it to Mr. SHUCKBURGH to have an 
 apartment prepared for his immediate reception. 
 He confented, and was conveyed to the houfe 
 which her Grace had feleded for his accommo- 
 dation. The reader will judge of his feelings, 
 when he is informed, that the carriage abfo- 
 lutely flopped at an HOSPITAL ! and thede- 
 fignated apartment was a fmall room, the walls 
 of which were plallered. A female nurfe was 
 to have been the only attendant ; and the Du- 
 chefs, who had a peculiar turn for amplifica- 
 tion, enumerated the advantages of the fuu- 
 ation to each of her vifitants. Mr. Shuckburgh 
 was fo affcdcd, that it became his only 'Confide- 
 ration how he might frame fome plaufible ex- 
 cufc to return to England. He effected his pur- 
 pofe by getting a friend to write to him, and 
 prefs it as a matter of moment to his proftflional 
 intercfl, to prefent himfelf, as foon as poflibic, 
 at the Admiralty, 
 
 This mode of providing for the cure of an 
 
 invalid was not more fingular than the manner 
 
 K which 
 
I J22 3 
 
 T\'hich the Duclicfs took to promote the forlimc^ 
 of her friends in health. I'wo initances, out 
 of a thoufand choice ones, fliall fuffice. 
 
 The eldeft fon of the Prefident COCOVfi 
 had been feledtcd by the Duchefs to accompany 
 her to Home. He had borne a commiffion in 
 the guards of the French Monarch. On the 
 journey to and from Rome he was every thibgj 
 that refpedful attention could didtatc. The 
 Duchefs profeffed the greatell fcnfibility of his 
 kindnefs, called him her fon, and prcniijed to. 
 advance his. fortune. He afterwards accompa-. 
 nied her Grace to Peteriburgh, and, at the ex- 
 piration.;of feven years attendance, the Duchefjj 
 one morning thus addrefTed him : " COCOVE, 
 ^' my fortune I only prize as it gives me the 
 ■ " o\)^o:\.u\-\\ty oi making others happy. I loveym 
 " as a fon, and I will put twenty thoufand pounds 
 *^ in your pocket ! That, I think, lliould con- 
 '' tent you."— Mr. COCOVE replied, "It 
 " moft afluredly would ;" and he only wiflied 
 to knoXv the means of acquiring fuch a fum. 
 The Duchefs explained herfelf thus : " I wiU 
 .*' write to Vergennes, my friend, and get hitn 
 *' to obtain for you a conliderable grant of 
 ** land between Calais and Dunkirk. It is a 
 ** foil fit for the growth of Scotch firs. I will 
 f* be at the expcnce of planting, and, in afbout 
 
[ 123 ] 
 
 *' thirty or forty years, the plantation wiil pro- 
 ^^ duce a fortune." Here was generofity with 
 a vengeance ! Hope was firft artfully vaifed by 
 the hand of flattery, then unfeelingly deprelTed 
 by that of difappointment. 
 
 The fifter of the gentleman thus treated is 
 the fecond inftance intended to be adduced. 
 She was married, and had a numerous offspring. 
 The Duchefs rcquefted this lady to be of her 
 party to Peteifburgh, which was confidcred by 
 her Grace merely as an excurfion from London 
 fo Hampton Court. The hufband hcfi rated, 
 for he loved his children ; the wife required a 
 little time to confidcr, for ihe dreaded the in- 
 clemency of the northcVn elements. At laft 
 feelings yielded to promifes, and the invitation 
 Was accepted. The Duchefs, and her female 
 friend, as fhe then termed her, fet out for Pe- 
 terfburgh. Arriving there, the duftllity of 
 difpofuion and engaging manners, before af- 
 fumed, were all laid aiide, and nature appeared 
 in her genuine colours. Under a pretence of 
 guarding the honour of the lady, the Duchefs, 
 as the confervator of her connubial chaility, 
 had her locked up for forty-one days, and 
 would have prolonged her incarceration, had 
 fhe not contrived the means of efcaping to the 
 Fccnch Ambafliulor, from whom llie obtained 
 R 2 money 
 
C JZ4 3 
 
 money to defray the expence of her return to** 
 her native country. This lady only accompa- 
 nied the Duchefs on the faith of her promifes 
 to make her and her family happy during the 
 remainder of their lives. It was thus with al- 
 moft every perfon to whom flie flood engaged 
 by any fokmn pledge of her honour. Is it 
 furprifing that flie fliould have lived and died 
 without friends to folacc or lament her ? • 
 
 Some of the habits of the Duchefs have been 
 before alluded to. They v^-ere all, when a pur- 
 pole was not to be anfwered, under the didtatioa 
 of the moment of feeling. That which would 
 have flartled others- gratified, rather than in- 
 commoded, her Grace. What appetite re- 
 quired flie indulged, and vain were contrary re- 
 nionflrnnccs. la the little of difeafe which fhe 
 experienced, the recommendation of phyficians 
 was difregarded. Sir Clifton Wintringham once 
 flroBgly requefled the Duchefs to live a little 
 more abftemioully. It was in the afternoon, 
 and llie patiently endured him. The evening 
 paffed with a fymptomatic fever, and, at" three 
 o'cl©ck .in the morning after his advice, ihe 
 Called him a fool, faid, " The flomach was 
 *^ made to be filled," and ordered a capon to be 
 roaflcd for her fupper. Previous to her trial 
 Ihe fwallowed flrong emetics, for the purpofe of 
 
 realizing. 
 
[ 125 3 
 
 realizing an illnefs which flie had afltimed ; 
 when the purpofe was anfvvered, Ihc ate hear- 
 tily, and laughed at the deception. 
 
 External delicacy, is fiippofed to be pecu- 
 liarly annexed, as an habit, to a certain rank 
 in life. TheDuchefs was indifputably entitled 
 to elevated rank ; but, many of her habits were 
 iuch as would caufe the vulgar to blufli, from 
 their not having been initiated in the myflcries 
 of falliionable breeding. If at table, and wiih 
 company, the Duchefs happened accidentallv to 
 fwallow a tainted oyfterj with the utmort cool- 
 nefs ihe called for a receiver, threw it off" her 
 ftomach, and pioufly thanked her Mikcr for 
 being fo much better. 
 
 Her idea, like that of DOCTOR LAST, wu«; 
 to get rid of an enemy by every pofiible eva- 
 cuation. Even time, place, or convenience, 
 were not confidered, if the enemy were preffing. 
 An inftance of this occurred at Pctcrfburgh ; 
 which gave rife to lampoons in every houfe in 
 that capital. The Duchefs Hopped, one morn- 
 incr at the fhop of a cabinet-maker, to look, 
 as was her cuilom, at the various articles he 
 had for fide. In a particular apartment there 
 was a piece of furniture, commodious tor the 
 purpofe her grace wanted. She fent the mailer 
 of the iliop on a frivolous commiflion, and paid 
 
 her 
 
[ '^6 ] 
 
 hjCr deVQirs as nature directed: on his returnj 
 all things were, as he left them, in a covered 
 flare, and the Duchefs retired with a promife to 
 honor him with her favors at a future time. 
 It was the feafon of fummer when exhalations 
 are powerful ; and the cabinet-maker had the 
 lenfe of fmelling in pcrfedlon. He traced the 
 efft<5t to the proper caufe, and he waited on the 
 Duchefs to inform her, that Ihe had fo da- 
 maged the piece of furniture as to induce hira 
 to hope fhe would purchafe it. This fhc re- 
 iufed, and the refufal induced him, out of re- 
 venge, to difcover the circumflance. It cir* 
 culated through Peterfburgh, and reached the 
 ears of the Emprefs, who laughed moll heartily 
 at the tranfadlion ; of which thevDuchefs be- 
 ing apprifed, fhe fcnt for the cabinet-maker, and 
 paid him the price which he demanded for the 
 utenlil. 
 
 Habits, manners, and principles, compofc 
 the fum of life, and render the fubjed: of them 
 ellimable or obnoxious. In w'hat point of 
 view the Duchefs of Kingflon was lately beheld, 
 and is now confidered, may be known by her 
 living almoll friendlefs, and dying unregretted. 
 The rights of fcpulrure are withheld her; for 
 fhe, at this moment lieth an outcail fufpended be- 
 tween Earth and Heaven. Not a relative anxious 
 
 for 
 
[ 127 ] 
 
 for her honourable interment ; not an execu- 
 tor difintercfted enough to have her remains 
 oblivioned by the duft ; not a tear Ihed on ac- 
 count of her departure, nor an heart affe<5ted bv 
 her lofs. The few inquiries made, are direct- 
 ed folely to the nature of her will ,• and the 
 ftruggle is, not about the refpccft to her memo- 
 ry, but the divifion of her property. That it 
 was imnicnfe, notwithftanding artful reports to 
 the contrary, the bcqucfts, in the form of tef- 
 tamcntal papers, will evince. Thofc teftamcn* 
 tal papers, with fome elucidatory notes, are here 
 Subjoined. The reader, in perufing them, if 
 a female, fliould not bedazzled by an inventory 
 of fplendld property ; Ihe ihould rather be taught 
 to difdainpoffcffions, improperly acquired, whcm 
 flie perceives a charadtcr^ like the DUCHESS 
 OF KINGSTON, through life abounding, yet 
 poor amidft. abundance ; and, although con- 
 stantly in the purfuit of happinefs, to the laft 
 deftitute of that internal peace, which virtue 
 snd religion only can impart. 
 
 PriiiUd 
 
[ 1^8 3 
 
 Frinled llierally and verbally from the Or'tgrnaU 
 TRANSLATED from the French. 
 
 i<^ Piece TESTAMENT of her Grace (her 
 f-Highnefs) the Duchefs of Kingfton 
 made the 7'."^ day of Ofto'. 1786. 
 
 Within the cover is written 
 
 Lai7d called the or the * 
 
 j^nd Piece THIS is the laft will and teflamcnt 
 of me the mod noble Elizabeth Du- 
 chefs of Kingfton in England Coun- 
 ters ot Warth h\ the Elc(5Vorate of 
 "Bavaria and Puchefs of Kingfton in 
 Ruffia daughter of the late Colonel 
 Thomas Chudlcigh of Hall in the 
 parifh of Harford in the county of 
 Devon and of his wife Harriet daugh- 
 ter of Chudieigh Efq. of 
 Chalmingtqn in the county of Dor** 
 
 * What is meant by this prefatory fcntence, is impofliblt 
 to conje»Sture. Nor can it beotlierwife reconciled, than by 
 remarking, that as the whole of the will is a jumble of in-* 
 conftftencics, the introduction is of 9 piece with the reft. 
 
 fet ; 
 
[ 1^9 3 
 
 let : which I make in manner follow* 
 ing 
 
 Vizt 
 
 I give leave and bequeath all that houfe 
 and land fitiiate at Knightforidge in the 
 parifh of Saint Margaret Wcftminfter call- 
 ed Kingfton Houfe together with the 
 Gardens and all the Fields purchafed of 
 Mr. Swinhoe with all the appurtenances 
 A* unto 
 
 his heirs and afligns for the perpetual ufc 
 of the faid A his heirs 
 
 and afligns and all that piece of land and 
 field called Dairy Fields which Is held on 
 a long leafe of Mr. Swinhoe whereof there 
 are already thirty years expired unto the 
 faid A his executors adml- 
 
 niftrators and afligns for all the remainder 
 of the term yet to come and unexpired 
 and all other lands and tenements lituatc 
 near the faid houfe and the eftate thereun- 
 to belonging and not otherwife difpofed 
 of by this prefent aft unto the faid A 
 
 * This bequeft to Mr. " A," is a very handfome one, 
 and it is a pity that alphahetical gentleman, as well as his 
 near tclation, Mr. " B," fliould have fo eflentially ill treat- 
 ed the Duchefs, as to induce her, as flie afterwards doth, ^o 
 transfer her bounty to perfons more defcrvinj^. 
 
 S his 
 
his adminiftrators and affigns he 
 ind they paying out of the revenue there- 
 of to Margaret Cramont daughter of Cap- 
 tain Cramont formerly one of Aid de 
 Camp of Genei>al Oglethorpe an annual 
 rent of one hundred pounds during her 
 life with which I hereby charge the faid 
 houfe land and eftate and I give her the 
 fame power of entry and feifin in cafe of 
 non-payment for fix months as h cufto- 
 mary with refpedl to common rent charges 
 bequeathed on real eftates ; the firft fix 
 months payment to be made on the firft 
 quarter day on which rents are ufually paid 
 which fliall happen immediately after my 
 deceafe. 
 
 I give leave and bequeath the two fields 
 
 or pieces of land fituate between the land 
 
 called the Duke of Rutland's land and the 
 
 ^ garden belonging to Klngfton Houfe unto 
 
 his heirs and afiigns for 
 the perpetual ufc of the faid B his 
 
 heirs and affigiis 
 
 I give leave and bequeath all the field 
 or piece of land one part whereof is a 
 kitchen garden fituate between Kingdon 
 Houfe and a houfe or farm and land now 
 
 ufed 
 
[ >3i ] 
 
 ufed as a boarding-fchool unto 
 
 his beirs and affigns for the perpetual ufe 
 
 of the faid L his heirs and 
 
 affigns And I give and bequeath all the 
 
 furniture pictures china houfchold linen 
 
 fire-arms kitchen and garden copper utcn- 
 
 lils and other things belonging to the faid 
 
 houfe kitchen garden llables coach-houfes 
 
 and other buildings unto the faid 
 
 his executors adminiflrators and affigns 
 
 unto whom I have given the faid houfe. 
 
 I give leave and bequeath all that ca- 
 pital houfe hen-houfcs farm and domain 
 ground and other lands meadows and paf- 
 ture grounds called Hall fituate in the 
 
 to 
 
 pariffi of Harford in the county of Devon 
 and all thofe houfes lands and farms with 
 their appurtenances called Luks Landford 
 Barn and Dards Tenements in the faid pa- 
 rish of Harford, containing one hundred 
 and twenty acres of land or thereabouts 
 with their appurtenances and dependencies 
 and the ruined cottage and meadow called 
 Oddacombe Meadow containing one 
 acres of land and two other cottages 
 houfes places and gardens with their de- 
 pendencies formerly in the poflelTion of 
 . Johjn Worth or his tenant, one other cot- 
 S 2 tage 
 
C «3i ] 
 
 lage garden and incloHire in the poffeflipii 
 of Thomas Pearce and likewile one moiety 
 of the Lordlliip of Harford and a moiety 
 of the right of patronage of the pariih 
 church of Harford and of theMarlh called 
 Harford Marfli and all the other Eftates 
 now in my pofleffion in the county of 
 Devon with all the appurtenances and ap- 
 pendages (fubje(fl to an annual payment 
 of fifty pounds from me to Mrs. Mafon 
 during her life who has lived in my 
 houfe called Hall in different circumflan- 
 ces and has received the faid rent-charge 
 for feveral years and which is Hill paid to 
 her and for which I charge my eftates in 
 the county of Devon and give to her the 
 fame power to be paid in the fame man- 
 ner as I have dired:ed for the rent-charge 
 herein abqve given to Margaret Cramond) 
 unto Sir George Shuckburgh Baronet Sir 
 Richard Heron and George Payne of 
 Brooklands in the county of Surry Efq, 
 their heirs and affigns with power to trans- 
 fer the fame to the ufe of 
 during his life and after his deceafe to the 
 ufe of the firft fecond and other fons fuc- 
 ceffively of the faid in the 
 
 male line and In default of male heirs of 
 ^he faid C or in cafe of there t)eing 
 
 any 
 
C 133 3 
 
 aoy they ihould happen to die before the 
 age of twenty one years then to the ufc 
 P of during his life and after 
 
 his deceafe to the ufe of the firft fecond 
 or any other fon of the faid P fuc- 
 
 ceflively in the male line and in default 
 of male ifTuc of the faid P or in 
 
 cafe there Ihould be any and that they 
 fhould happen to die before the age of 
 twenty one years then to the ufe of the j 
 Revd. John Penrofe Clerk of Fieldbo- 
 rough in the county of Nottingham dur- 
 ing his life and after his deceafe for the 
 ufe of the firft fecond and every other 
 . male child of the faid John Penrofe fuc- 
 cefiively and in default of male ifllic of the 
 faid John Penrofe or in cafe there fhould 
 be any and that they fhould happen to die 
 before the age of twenty-one years then 
 to the ufe of the Revd. John Doniflhornc 
 of Corkney in the faid county of Not- 
 tingham his heirs and affigns and I do 
 hereby order that all and every perfon or 
 perfons unto whom I have bequeathed my 
 faid eflates in the county of Devon * fliall 
 be obliged to take the furname and arms 
 
 * Thcfe faideftatcs in the county of Devon amount, in 
 the annual income, to about one hundred pounds a year, 
 
 ef 
 
C '34 ] 
 
 of Chudleigh as foon as they fliall have 
 taken pofleffion thereof and in default of 
 conforming themfelves thereto, the perfon 
 remaining neareft iliall be at liberty to 
 take pofllflion of the fa^d eftate and to 
 enjoy the fame as if the perfon refnfing 
 was dead I do alfo order that truftecs be 
 appointed in fuch place as fliall be thought 
 neceffary to prefeive the contingent remain- 
 der, Vv'ith power to the peribn in poflef- 
 fion or the guardians of the children who 
 fliall have a right to the eftate when they 
 ihall have attained the age of twenty one 
 years to leafe the fame And I hereby 
 give and bequeath all the furniture plate 
 pj(fturc5 china looking glafTes lincn^^ fire 
 arms carriages waggons honfehold uten- 
 fils garden tools horfes horned cattle an- 
 nuity and all other things belonging to 
 the houfes park land gardens bath^ 
 and appurtenances at Thortfby Holm 
 Pierepoint and all the other houfcSf 
 lately belonging to his Grace the Duke 
 of Kingfton deceafed in the county of 
 Nottingham or any other part of Eng- 
 land (the county of Middlefex only ex- 
 cepted) unto the fiiki Sir George Shuck- 
 burgh Sir Richard Heron and George 
 Paine their executors adniiniftrators and 
 
 afignsi 
 
t 135 ] 
 
 afiigns on condition of having them Va* 
 lued and eftimated by two indifferent per* 
 fons of the greateft fkill and experience 
 according to their different forts and qua- 
 lities and to offer them firft to Charles 
 Meadows of Efq. if he will 
 
 make a purchafe thereof at the price of 
 the valuation and pay the amount thereof 
 in five equal annual portions but if he 
 refufcs to accept of it, it Ihall then be 
 publicly fold by the faid truftees, their 
 executors adminiftrators and aflip-ns, and 
 the monies arifing therefrom Ihall be re- 
 ceived and retained by them ; and if the 
 furniture and other things produce the fum 
 of fifteen thoufand pounds or more this 
 fum of fifteen thoufand pounds fhall be 
 paid to Evelin Philip Meadows Efquire "-- 
 of Chaillot near Paris and the furplus be 
 advanced by the faid Sir George Shuck- 
 
 * Thefe are the chattels bequeathed her by his Grace of 
 Kingfton, which, as her perfonal property, will, of courfe, 
 occiifion a conteft on the part of the next of kin. The pre- 
 tenfions of Evelyn Mea^<Kyu to this beqiieii, arc, to fuch a 
 charader as the Duchefs, the bcft founded imaginable. He 
 Jifgraced her by a profecution, which finally exiled her. 
 UiktChai'les rht Second, file provided for encmifs ; leaving 
 her friends to confolc tbemfelves with the lore of her good 
 qualities. 
 
 burgh 
 
[ 136 3 
 
 burgh Sir Richard Heron and George 
 Payne their executors adminiftrators and 
 afligns on Government fecurity the inte« 
 reft to be paid to the faid Evelin Philip 
 Meadows during his life and after his do*- 
 ceafe the principal Ihall be divided equally 
 among his children with benefit of furvi- 
 vorlhip until twenty one years and the 
 provifion for their maintenance fhall be 
 taken in the ufual manner out of the in- 
 terefts of the faid fecuritics but if the faid 
 Evelyn Philip Meadows fhould not leave 
 any children it fhall be paid and applied to 
 the benefit of the children of the faid 
 Charles Meadows, his eldeft fon excepted, 
 equally with benefit of furvivorlhip and the 
 ufual adminiftration for the maintenance 
 of them as ordered with rdfpeft to the 
 children of the faid Evelyn Philip Mea- 
 dows. But if the whole docs not pro- 
 duce fifteen thoufand pounds then the total 
 Ihall be paid to the faid Evelyn Philip 
 Meadows and if it Ihould fo happen thaC 
 the faid Evelyn Philip Meadov;s fiiould die 
 before me, then the faid produce fliall be 
 paid unto and divided amongft his children 
 if more than one with the ufual provifion 
 for their maintenance as herein before meri- 
 tioned and if he leaves only one child the 
 
 faid 
 
[ 137 ] 
 
 faid produce fhall be s^ivcn to fnch child 
 and if he fhould die wiiiiout: heirs it fliall 
 then be paid to the children of the faid 
 Charles Me.ido a's, his cldeft fon excepted, 
 in the fame manner as to thofe of the faid 
 Evelyn Philip Meadows. And I alfo give 
 and bequeath unto faid Charles Meadows 
 all the communion plate which belonged 
 to the chapel of Thcrefby and which 
 were taken away with the other vcffcls end 
 fcnt by inijlake to St. Peteifburgh in Ruf- 
 fia *, and my gold defert plate with the 
 cafe of knives forks and fpoons of gold 
 and four 2:olden fait cellars all eno-raved 
 with the arms of Kingfton and alfo 
 one large fait cellar called Queen Eliza- 
 beth's fait cellar together v/ith all my other 
 gold and gilt plate whatfoever, either for 
 ufe or ornanicnt and likewife the following 
 plate viz. one large ciflern with ornaments 
 
 * To flrip a chapel of the Communion plate, and pre- 
 tend that the facramcntal veficls could be fcnt from Not- 
 tinghajnjhirc to Ri^Jjia ky mistake, is addinjj a lie xofacrl- 
 lege. If it were poffible that the Commun:on plate were fent 
 to Pcterfough, hy mijiakc, how came it not to be returned 
 when the viijlake was difcovcred ? It is faockinj; toconllder 
 to what length the htjl of avarice can impel the human 
 mind. A chapel may be rohhcil^ and the impiety of the 
 deed may be tei mcd a mijlnkt 
 
 T weighing 
 
[ -33 3 
 
 weighing 3606 ouiices two large filver 
 vcflcls to put wine in with rhcir pedellals 
 and npp:irtcnance«? one large cover one 
 middle niece weighing 6320Z. 5dvvts. two 
 large lureens with covers weighing 1 34; oz* 
 5d vts. ond their dllhes; two tureens with 
 handles weighing 592 oz. lodt. — Two 
 corner tureens weighing together 650 oz. 
 i^dt. two foup dilhi^s weighing 171 oz, 
 1 9 dr. four ice pails weighing together 
 25? oz. 13 dt. two larg'^ cups 'velghing to- 
 gether 26^6 oz. 5dt. two cups weighing 
 158CZ. lodt. fix cups weighing together 
 27S0Z. 8dt. lix cups weighing together 
 1 38 07. 8dt. two cups weighing 44 oz. 
 I4dt. two cups weighing 710Z. 16 dt. 
 four cups weighing 70 oz. i6dt. eight 
 cups plain round weighing 2340Z. 6dt, 
 eight deep round cups weighing 1840Z. 
 four corner cups weighing 760Z. 4dt. fix 
 faucc boats weighing 1280Z. I9dt. five 
 dozen of plain plates weighing 14410Z. 
 14 dt. and fix dozen of wrought plates 
 weighing 1437 oz. ijdt. * — And I alfogivc 
 
 * This fpcclfication of valuable articles is aftoniflilng ; 
 and ftill more alloniftung is the current language oi one, at 
 leaft, of the Executors, that the Duchefs died impoverlflicd. 
 How far a mixture oifflf-intcreji may caufe fuch reports to 
 be propagated, is matter of corvfideration for the relatives. 
 
 him 
 
[ 139 ] 
 
 him my nine dozen of Moco handle knives 
 and forks mounted in gold which 1 bought 
 at Rome and likewife the whole length por- 
 trates of the late Duke of Kingfton and of 
 the prefent Duchefs of Kingfton to be put 
 up at Thorefby which as well as all the 
 plates lliall be reputed as an heir loom of 
 the faid houfe ; and I alfo give him the 
 fcveral pieces of cannon and the fhips and 
 veficl on Thorclby Lake all the copper 
 fountains locks bolts bars bells — and all 
 other furniture in and about the houfes 
 gardens ilables and houfes thereunto be- 
 longing to be reputed as appendages of 
 the faid houfe and I give and bequeath 
 to Mrs. Meadows wife of the fai5 Charles 
 Meadows all my gold fiilagree work plate 
 toilette furniture together with all the an- 
 cient enamelled ornaments thereto belong- 
 ing and all the cabinets and other pieces of 
 japan ware all the gold and gilt plate and 
 japan ware, are now at St. Peterfburg, 
 alfo my pearl necklace confilling of 
 of pearls with two drop pearls in the ihape 
 of pears ftiung at the two ends of the 
 necklace and which belonged heretofore to 
 the family of Kingfton And I order that 
 all the plate and the pearl necklace here- 
 above mentioned and given to Mr. and 
 T 2 Mrs, 
 
[ I40 ] 
 
 ^Irs. Chaiks McaJows as aforelaid {\v\\\ be 
 carried and placed at Tl-.OTcll)y and that 
 rlny fiiall enjoy the Tame tor c\cr together 
 with the houfe as an heir loom. 
 
 I give leave and bequeath my boufe 
 fituate at Monrmartre or in any other place 
 at or near Paris in the kingdom of France 
 with the gardens and appurtenances unto 
 Meffrs. Girardot and Haller bankcis at 
 Paris on condition of their felling the fame 
 and paying i;ut of the money ariftng therc- 
 fiom to the Abbe Fillatree now at the 
 Prince Cardinal of Rohan's one thoufand 
 Louis-d'ors unto the laid Mr. Haller fix 
 hundred Louis-d'ors to purchafe a pair of 
 diamond flioe buckles to Madam de Grofa 
 at Paris one thoufand Louis-d'ors to Mr, 
 I'Ekoufe of Paris five hundred Louis-d'ors 
 to Mr. Bucket de Moyceque of Calais 
 iVcond fon of the late Prefidcnt Cocove * 
 one thoufand Louis-d'ors and to pay to my 
 truftees five hundred Louis-d'ors to be 
 placed out at intercll and pay ihe income 
 to Madamoifelle Cafferierc a young lady 
 of Calais — Silkr of the late Mr. Caiicricre 
 
 * The eldcil: fon, who travelled with the Duchefs to 
 ilonir, Pctcrfburgh, r.nd other places, ii comaicndcd by her 
 good.vviflies, to the care of Heaven. 
 
 of 
 
of the Cuftom-houfe during her life and 
 after her deceafe to pay the principal to 
 the laid Mr. Beckct de Moyceque of 
 Calais to jnirchafe an annual rent of one 
 hundr<?d Louis d'ors for ever for the bene- 
 fit of the two fchoolsat Calais for the edu- 
 cation of all the children which fliall be 
 brought there for inllruclion according to 
 the rules of thofe fchools newly eftabliflied 
 and the rent to be paid one half each to 
 each of the faid fchools, the receipts of 
 the fix brothers of the boys fchool and of 
 the fix fiflcrs of the girls fchool fhall be a 
 fufiicient difcharge and to employ * a fuf- 
 ficient fum for building a prifon for the 
 prifoners of war and thofe for debt in order 
 to keep them feparate from the crimi- 
 nals; and if there fhould remain any mo- 
 ney over and above thefe difpofals they 
 fhall employ a fufficient quantity for the 
 building of a water mill in a -j- convenient 
 
 place 
 
 * This idea of crci1;ing a feparate pi i Ton for the debtors, 
 \\ as fuggcitcd to the Duchefs by Major Sc/iiple, who flatcd It 
 to have been his principal fufTcrance, to have had /.ns Jlcii/z^s 
 tvo.'.nJiJf by being liable to mix with rogues. 
 
 ■f This jocular mode of converting' the il/i-rjw of Calais 
 into a Miller, is altogether lb fuitablc to the genius of the 
 
 TfJa(orf 
 
[ 142 ] 
 
 place in the town of Calais for the ufc and 
 benefit of the public (as at cerrair* times 
 when the wind fails the poor are liable to 
 be without bread) which fhall grind gratis 
 for the poor on Mondays Wednefdays and 
 Fridays under the infpedlion and dire(ftion 
 of the mayor of the town, and iaftly the 
 remainder to be emplo3ed by Mr. Hailcr 
 in brilliants for Mademoifelle Hougherot, 
 none of the diamonds to be under the 
 weight of one carat. I will that all the 
 plate aud other elfcdts (the pictures ex- 
 cepted) which are in the houfe at Paris be 
 fold by my executors the money ariling 
 therefrom to be placed out in government 
 or other good fccurities and the inteveft 
 thereof to be paid to Mrs. Doniflhorne 
 wife of the aforementioned Reverend John 
 Donifthorne during her life and after her 
 death the capital to be divid'ed among her 
 vhildrcn in fuch manner and at fuch times 
 as flic fliall dircdt by deed or teftament in 
 default of which dilpofal on her part it 
 ihall be divided among them in equal por- 
 tions to be paid to them when they fliall 
 have refpeftively attamed the twenty firfl: 
 
 Tejiator^ as not, perhaps, to occur to the mind of any other 
 perfon in the univcrfe. There is an air of lunacy pervades 
 the whole of the will. 
 
 year 
 
C '43 ] 
 
 year of iheir age with the ufual power fot 
 their maintenance and benefit of furvivor- 
 ihip if any of them die before attaining the 
 age of twenty one years but if flic leaves 
 no iliue then to fuch perfons and in fuch 
 manner as ihe fliall dheCi in the laid deeds 
 or teftamcnt And I give leave and be- 
 queath my hotel and the garden adjacent 
 together with the flables dependencies and 
 appurtenances fituate at Calais in the faid 
 kingdom of France to the government 
 of the faid kingdom to be employed to 
 make the refident of the commandant of 
 the faid town of Calais for the time be- 
 ing to be delivered after the furniture and 
 fixtures fhall be taken out together with 
 the wines and liquors which are in the 
 cellar * which are to be left for the ufc of 
 
 the firfl commandant who fliall refide there 
 
 I give and bequeath the pidures in the 
 gallery of the faid hotel painted by Mio-- 
 nard to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and 
 Commonalty of the Citv of London be£2:ine 
 
 * This cellar is in excllent condition as to what it coi> 
 tains, for there are abom fcrtji thoujlmd Lotties of different 
 forts of wine in it. The prefent cominiindant, having pafi'ei 
 his grand climacteric, is not qualified to enjoy the plea- 
 furcs of th.e cellar, but, flioiud it fall to the lot of a ban. 
 rlvantf it would prove a raofl acceptable bequcft. 
 
 their 
 
C 144 ] 
 
 rhcir acceptance thereof and that they 
 would place them hi the Egyptian hall of 
 the Manfion houfe which the Lord Mayor 
 of the fald City for the time being inha- 
 bits *. I give and bequeath the remainder 
 of the pivftures and the furniture of the 
 faid hotel (the plate and houfchold linen 
 excepted) unto the faidSir George Shuck- 
 burg Sir l^ichard Heron and George Payne 
 their executors adminiflrators and, afiigns 
 to be fold by au<Sion at the beginning of 
 the mcnth of May in the year next after 
 my deceafe, and to regulate the accounts 
 of Mr. Speake my maitrc d'hotel in that 
 town under the infpcction of Mr. John 
 Williams my maitre d'hotel at the hotel 
 of Kingilon and pay him the balance if 
 any be due to him alfo to pa\' to each of 
 my EngliHi doineftics who fliall be in my 
 fervice at the hour of my deceafe the fum 
 of twenty pounds each to pay the expcnces 
 of their pafiageand journey And I order 
 hereby that the reft of the monies arifing 
 
 * There arc fixtccji of thefe picturca, and very valuable 
 thcv are; but whether they may ever come into the pof- 
 fcirion of the Corporation of London, is, at prcfenr, a little 
 problematical. The relations of the Duchefs may think it 
 quite as well to convert them into cafli, as to have them or- 
 rament the Hall t© which the Duchefs, in a moment of 
 fdly, configned them. 
 
 from 
 
C M5 ] 
 
 from the faid fale fliall be equally divided 
 b}^ the faid Sir George Shuckburgii Sir 
 Richard Heron ani George Payne their 
 executors adminiftrators and alligns among 
 the children of the fifters of the late Sir 
 John Chudleigh with the ufual powers 
 for their maintenance and benefit of furvi- 
 vorfhip in cafe any of them Ihould die be- 
 fore having received the legacies And I 
 hereby order that the plate the filver urn 
 excepted which ihall be in my faid hotel at 
 the day of my deceafe ihall be fent to my 
 houfe at Knightlbridge called Kingflon 
 Houfe for the ufe and behoof of the faid 
 A — his executors adminiftrators and 
 afligns unto whom I have left the faid 
 houfe And I give apd bequeath all the 
 houfehold linen to Madomoifelle Charles 
 Meadows. I give and bequeath to Mr. 
 Fry Dr. of Medicine at Rome who at- 
 tended me during my abode in that City 
 all my houfehold linen the furniture pic- 
 tures plate linen china and all the other 
 goods and cffccfls vvhatfoever belonging to 
 me in the pofTcfhon and cuflody of the 
 Abbeis of the Convent of * of ihc 
 
 ♦ The property in the cuflody of this nainelefs Ahhefsy 
 added to the other poireflions at Ro7nc^ are eftimatcd at /luo 
 ^ipoufand poutuis value, 
 
 U faid 
 
C ^4^ ] 
 
 faid Doflor Fr\' and of Mr. Oilanderd Treat 
 furer of the Jefuits her paying two hundred 
 ducats to the faid Mr. Orlanderd, or if he 
 Ihould be dead at the day of my deceafe 
 to his widow if fhe is alive and I order that 
 a catalogue be m.ide of the printed mufic 
 and books in the hands of the faid perfons. 
 at Rome and that the faid pointed mufic 
 and the books together with a copy of the 
 faid catalogue fhall be delivered to the 
 Ruffian Minifter then at this place for the 
 life of General FolToikie nt St. Peterfburgh 
 if living, but if he is dead for the ufe of 
 his fon — I give leave and bequeath my 
 land called Chiidleigh in the diftridt of 
 Motlic in the Baifiian empire, together 
 with the houfe in which I rcfide and all 
 Qther houfes and buildings thereto belonging 
 and all the forefls mines quarries dependcn- 
 
 ; cies and appurtenances and all the furni-, 
 ture plate houfchold linen china looking 
 ghiffes and other things iu and about the faitl 
 houfe flablesgardensandouthoufcswith the 
 horfes peafants, annual and perpetual rents 
 
 E. and other things belonging to the faid land 
 unto his heirs and affigns for ever for which 
 he fhall pay within twelve months after my 
 ^eceafe the fum of thirty thoufand roubles 
 to Mr. Muers my apothecary living there 
 
 in 
 
[ H7 i 
 
 Jn one of my lioufcs, and one tenth of the 
 produce of all the mines whatfoever t6 
 ftich perfon or perfons in favot of vvhoin ic 
 ftiall pleafe her Imperuil Majefly gracloufiy' 
 to difpofe of the fame to be by them had 
 and received for their own proper ufe and I 
 order that my four mufical Haves* and their 
 wives bought of Mr. Douglas at Revel 
 ihall have their liberty fix years after my 
 deceafe and that there fliall be paid to each 
 of them thirty fix roubles per annum to be 
 paid out of the faid land for the fervices 
 they are to render to the perfon or perfons 
 to whom my land is bequethed and unto 
 their wives the funi of eighteen roubles 
 per annum eachi 
 
 I give leave and bequeath In like man- 
 ner the piece of land at SchuiTelbourg a 
 gracious gift made to me by her Imperial 
 iVIajefty the Emprefs of all the Ruflias fi- 
 tuate on the banks of the Neva and ad- 
 
 * Even in this rfianumiilion tlicrc h difcovered a latent 
 principle of tyranny ; for the flares arc to be liberated for 
 Jix years, and be aftenvards in bondage during the remainder 
 of their lives. As was faid of Herod, that " it were better 
 *' to be his hogs^ thun his children,''* fo would the condition 
 of a coal-hcavcr liave been preferable to that of her Grace 
 of KjingfioiCi *♦ Mit/ical Ptrformcfi.'^ 
 
 U 4 joining 
 
C "48 ) 
 
 Joining to the land of Prince Potcmkin 
 F unto and his heirs for ever 
 
 And I give leave and bequeath all the 
 land purchafed of General Ifmoifoff in the 
 year 1785 called Cafterbaback on the road 
 of Czarfco Zello with the houfes gardens 
 G and dependencies unto 
 
 and his heirs for ever. And I give leave 
 and bequeath my large houfe and other 
 houfes gardens and land at St. Peterlburg 
 bought of the faid General IfmoilofF, 
 H unto and his heirs for 
 
 ever I give to the Countefs of Gramont 
 my large black enamelled ring fet round 
 with brilliants and having a large oval 
 brilliant in the middle and I give to the 
 Countefs dt Bofle my cornucopia fet with 
 brilliants one pair of ear-rings of eme- 
 ralds round pear faihion, my large eme- 
 rald ring fet round with brilliants and an 
 emerald crofs and ribbon attached to it fet 
 round with brilliants and Itkewife all my 
 emeralds. I give and bequeath my two 
 fine mufic luflres at the houfe at St. Pe- 
 terlburg where I rcfide my fine organ 
 mounted with engraved glafs and precious 
 ftones fet in gold and filtagree work with 
 two tables of Oriental alabarter to the 
 Prince of as a fmall teftimony 
 
 of 
 
[ 149 ] 
 
 of my remembrance and of his attention 
 to me And I give -and bequeath all my 
 organs (except the above mentioned) and 
 all my forte puanos and mulical inftruments 
 of every kind all my mufic and the books 
 of my library at St. Peterfburg together 
 with all my globes tclcfcopes and all other 
 optical inftruments and all my clothes ia 
 the faid houfe trimmed or lined with fur 
 and all other furs made up or not made up 
 in all the houfes whatfoever which I have 
 
 I in RuITia unto 
 
 And I give and bequeath all my china and 
 looking- gla/Tes whatfoever belonging to 
 the faid houfes at St. Peterfburg either or- 
 namental or ufeful (the mirrors belonging 
 to the houfes excepted) and all the houi:- 
 hold linen that ihall be found therein to 
 the faid Charles Meadows and I give all 
 the carpets of the faid houfe the coach- 
 horfes the kitchen furniture in and about 
 the faid houfe at St. Peterfburg unto my 
 executors as making part of my own pro- 
 per eftate I give and bequeath likewife 
 all the remainder of the furniture that 
 fhall be found in the faid houfe at St. Pe- 
 
 JC terfburg unto the laid unto 
 
 whom I have given the faid houfe I give 
 
 . and bequeath as an ad; of jullice to the faid 
 
 Charles. 
 
[ 150 ] 
 
 Charles Meadows to be reputed an heir- 
 loom of Thorcfby the two pidtures which 
 are in the poffefiion of the Count de * 
 
 through the mifunderflood in- 
 terpretation of a letter which he received 
 and which he maintains to have been pre- 
 fcntcd to him viz. one of the faid pid:ures 
 known and atrcftcd by Carlo Marriott for 
 an original of Raphael the Holy Family 
 and the other a Claude Lorrain It is faid 
 in the faid letter that thefe two pictures 
 were much efteemed and admired by the 
 late Duke of Kingfton I fet a great va- 
 lue on them and 1 trufled them to his care, 
 the expreflion in French was '' Je votis le 
 " covfie"" (I truil them to vou) this cir- 
 cumftancecan be attefted by Major Moreau 
 at that time my fccretary who w^rote that 
 letter figned by me, they have been de- 
 manded and refufed feveral times and par- 
 ticularly once by my painter Mr. Le Sure 
 who prefentcd the rcqueft in writing 
 figned by me 
 
 I give and bequeath to 
 the model of a fleeping figure the original 
 whereof is now at Rome which was or is 
 
 ♦ The Nobleman here ;^lwded to, Is Count Chemkhoff:^ 
 
 thpughc 
 
r 151 J 
 
 t-boiightto havebccn feenatthe faid Comptc 
 de havino: been brouMit 
 
 from Thorefby in Nottinghamfliire by 
 Moictt my gardener, who lliippcd it on 
 board a Hiip which brought him and the 
 figure to St. Pctcrfburg where he hinifclf 
 jLlelivered it ^d where he I'avv it often and 
 for a long time in the court yard of the 
 faid Count before the houfe and during 
 rnany months W the faid Count's garden 
 in a cafe without a cover, I have kept his 
 atteftation thereof copy whereof I annexed 
 to this prefent aft I order my executors 
 and truftees to offer all the plclurcs of my 
 houfe at St. Pctcrfburg to her Imperial Ma- 
 jefty if fhe will accept of them, and pay 
 for them unto my faid executors the fum 
 of one hundred thoufand roubles * and if 
 her Majcfly docs not accept of them my 
 executors lliall be bound to offer them to 
 the King of Spain and in cafe he fhould 
 jiot accept of them they (hall then caufe 
 them to be fent to England to be publicly 
 fold there. 
 
 I direft and requcfl the faid Sir George 
 : ^huckburgh Sir Richard Heron and George 
 
 f About twcnty-frjc thouf.iuJ paunils JliiUns;' 
 
 Payne 
 
[ 15^ ] 
 
 Payne to offer and lay at the feet of her 
 Imperial Majefly my pair of pearl ear- 
 rings with my aigrette containing five red 
 pearls and one large red pearl fufpcnded 
 from an Imperial crown of brilliants only 
 worthy to be offered as the rareft jewel in 
 the known world and the acknowledgment 
 of a heart full of gratitude for the particu- 
 lar friendlliip with which her Imperial Ma- 
 jtfly has always diftinguifhed mc 
 
 I give and bequeath to his Holinefs th« 
 Pope a miniature pifture reprefenting the 
 Holy Family by Raphael in a gold fnuff- 
 box incrufted with pebbles found in Sax- 
 ony as an acknowledgement of his graci- 
 ous protecftion and of the honour and fa-» 
 vour he was pleafed to fhew me by pre- 
 ferving a very confidcfablc property con- 
 fifting of plate jewels and other things of 
 value which were under his Holinefs's care 
 during three years that my perfecution 
 lafked which were well prefcrved and re- 
 {lored to, mc undamaged and without ex- 
 pences 
 
 I give and bequeath unto the Britiih 
 Mufeum in Montague Houfe Great Ruf- 
 fel-ilreet Bloomfbury London my two 
 
 large 
 
C 'S3 ] 
 
 }ai'ge pearls fct round with brilliants which 
 ^re fuppoled to weigh 47 grains more than 
 thofe pledged by the Dutch in England in 
 the reign of the Houfe of Stuart which 
 were eftimated too high to be purchafed 
 and alfo the fnuft^-box which appears to be 
 chryflal and which is only Scotch pebble 
 fet round with diamonds and ferved as a 
 cafe to a watch of Mary Queen of Scot- 
 land and was given by her to a friend on 
 the fcaffold in her lad moments that it 
 may remain among the curiofitjes in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 I give and bequeath to the Right Ho- 
 nourable the Countefs of Salifbury my pair 
 pf ear rings of white pearls in the form of 
 pears fct with brilliants which anciently 
 belonged to the Countefs of Salifbury in 
 the time of the reign of Edward who in- 
 itituted the Order of* ihe Garter and pur- 
 chafed by me of Mr. Matthew Lamb 
 trufcec of one of the Houfe of Salifbury* 
 
 I give and bequeath my large diamond 
 ring coniifting of one ftone weighing 
 twenty-feven grains to the Earl of Hillf- 
 borough Baron in England as a fmall tefti- 
 mony of my acknowledgment for the con- 
 X coniUnt 
 
C '54 ] 
 
 flant friendlhip which he fhevved mc dur-* 
 ing the time of my troubles and perfccu- 
 tions, 
 
 I give and bequeath my large diamond 
 button which I wore in my hat and a dia- 
 mond loop to be purchafed by my execu- 
 tors and worn therewith the diamonds to 
 be of pne carat each of the flril quality 
 Englifli cut for his Grace the Duke of 
 Newcaftle. 
 
 I give and bequeath the fellow buttor\ 
 to his Grace the Duke of Portland with 
 a fimilar hoou to be purchafed. 
 
 I give and bequeath to the Right Ho- 
 nourable Lord Vifcount Harrington one 
 thoufand pounds for a folitaire ring. 
 
 I give and bequeath to the Right Ho- 
 nourable Admiral Harrington my frigate 
 with all her fails apparel anchors and 
 other things tjiercto belonging to be de- 
 livered to him after making her vovan;c 
 from Ruffia to tranfport to England fucl^ 
 neceffary equipage and other things ^s my 
 fsxecutars fliall want to tranfport there and 
 JR cafe the frigite fhall be by them de- 
 
 niandcd 
 
£ Hi ] 
 
 tnanded for that purpofe ; but this voyngc- 
 ihall be made within fifteen months after 
 my deceafe. 
 
 I give and bequeath to the Honourable 
 Air. Daines Barrington of the Inner Tem- 
 ple London my antique cameo ring with 
 the head of Cicero and every thing that 
 may be found in my cabinet of natural 
 hiftory, and fundry loofe parcels found ia 
 the rivers in different parts of the world 
 and which are in a cryftal box to appear- 
 ance but is a Scotch pebble fet with dia- 
 monds* 
 
 I give and bequeath to the Right Revd. 
 Shute Barrington Bilhop of Salilbury * 
 
 I give and bequeath to the faid Sir 
 George Shuckburgh Baronet my diamond 
 Ihoe buckles. 
 
 I give and bequeath to Sir Richard 
 Heron to be held and reputed as an heir- 
 
 ^ As the blanks In this hocus pocus medley, which Mr. 
 Payne^ one of the executors, has the kindnefs to call a av;7/, 
 is not filled up, the BiHiop of Salilbury mul^be content with 
 the geod wjflies of \i\i departed friend. 
 
 X 2 loom 
 
• C '56 1 
 
 loom to him and his family my large paii' 
 of diamond ear-rings brilliants confiiling 
 of a finglc ftonc each. 
 
 I give and bequeath to my coiifin Mr> 
 Harry Oxendon who married Mils Peggy 
 Chudleigh the youngcil: daughter of my 
 uncle Sir George Chudleigh Bart, of the 
 county of Devon to be held and reputed 
 as heir-looms my fct of brilliants and to- 
 pazes coniifting of a necklace one pair of 
 ear-rings one ring one pair of fhoe buckles 
 in yellow topazes all fct round with bril' 
 liants which (the llioe buckles excepted) 
 were given to me as a prefent by the Elec- 
 trefs Dowager of Saxony and a large pearl 
 in form of a pea fet round with brilliants 
 and alfo a pair of fhapcs embroidered in 
 brilliants for wom.en's Ihoes and eight rare 
 diamonds w'hich fervcd as trimming for a 
 Tobe with the four foliages of brilliants- 
 dependent thereto to make a pair of 
 buckles and I give him the fum of three 
 hundred and tv/-enty pounds to purchafe' 
 thirty-two brilliants to make the large 
 fide of the buckles. 
 
 I give and bequeath to Mr. Chichefter 
 fon of my toufin Mr, John Chichefter and 
 
 of 
 
C 157 3 
 
 bf Mary Chudleigh His wife and one of 
 the daughters of Sir George Chudleigh to 
 become and be reputed as heir-looms the 
 tV7enry-three diamonds * 
 
 t give and bequeath to my coufin Mr. 
 Prideaux who married Mifs Mary Chud- 
 leigh daughter of Sir George Chudleigh 
 my large diamond breall knot which I 
 ufuaily wore in my hat which I delire 
 may become and be reputed as an heir- 
 loom. I hereby order my executors to 
 lay out two thoufimd pounds in the pur- 
 chafe of an annuity for Elizabeth Chud- 
 leigh filler of the late Sir John Chudleigh 
 to be paid to her and I give her a legacy 
 of three hundred pounds. 
 
 I alfo give and bequeath to Mifs Diana 
 Chudleigh one hundred pounds for a ring. 
 
 I give and bequeath to Mrs. Strong my 
 coufin who lives near Wrexham in the 
 
 * Among the number of diamonds which thc-Duchefa 
 bequeathed, it «-iU be rather difficult for the executors to af- 
 certairi which were the t-zvc;itj-d^rye flic intendod for Mr. 
 LhUheJlcr, Left to the choice of others, they may not be of 
 the J]'-Jf v:atii\ 
 
 county 
 
tounty of Wales the fum of fwe hundreci 
 pounds and all my rubles Tet with bril- 
 liants eight brilliant robe buttons my pearl 
 necklace compofed ot fix lovvs ray fap- 
 phires and yellow brillianrs confiiling of* 
 one pair of ear-rings two faphires for but- 
 tons two fmall flowers in form of daifics a 
 butterfly a faphire ring fet with brilliants 
 and a faphire pear fet with brilliants to hang 
 it the neck a folitaire ring yellow diamond 
 a hoop ring all which diamonds and pre- 
 cious ftones I define may be looked upon 
 and reputed as heir-looms. 
 
 I give and bequeath to my Coufin Mifs 
 Elizabeth Chudleigh third daughter of 
 George Chudleigh of the 
 County of Devon the brilliant loops which 
 I ufually wore to the fleeves of my gown 
 and a knot of brilliants with which I ge- 
 nerally tie my morning gown and my large 
 brilliant ring during their life and after their 
 death I give them to fome one of theif 
 lifters children to difpofe of them. 
 
 I give and bequeth to my relation Mrsj 
 Standard formerly Mifs Malbn the fum of 
 five hundred pounds and alfo a large filver 
 table engraved with the arms of Chudleigh 
 
 SI largQ 
 
C 1.-9 ] 
 
 a large filver coffee pot and a iilvcr tc^ 
 fervice in the form of an urn whicb 15 at 
 Calais as hair looms. 
 
 I give and bequeath to Mr. Jeffery Chalut 
 jde Vcrin Farmer General in France all my 
 piftures which ihall be found in or about 
 Paris and the fum of one thoufand Loui? 
 d'ors to purchafe a ring in my remem- 
 br-ance, 
 
 I give and bequeath to Mrs. Payne wife 
 pf the aforementioned George Payne my 
 gold watch and chain let with fmall bril- 
 liants and my large ufual ring which fhe 
 will pleafe to wear for my fake and to be 
 given after my deceafe to the eldeft daugh- 
 ter if fhe pieafes, 
 
 I give and bequeath to the virtuous and 
 honorable Mr. Komonfki of St. Peterfburs:: 
 at the Chancery of Prince Potemkin in 
 confideration of his refpcetful attachment 
 and of the care he took of me .during my 
 voyage from St. Pcterfourg to France 
 when he was fcnt with me by her moft 
 gracious Imperial Majefty the fum of fifty 
 thoufand roubles which legacy I order to 
 Repaid to him the year after my deceafe, 
 
 I give. 
 
[ i6o ] 
 
 I give and bequeath to Mrs, Ana Ha7 
 rnilton a rent ot two hundred ppunds per 
 annum during her life to be paid gut of 
 my perfpnal estate. 
 
 . I give and bequeath to my old and. faith- 
 ful fcrvant John Williams the fiunaf fouv 
 thoufand pounds and to his wife who has 
 been with me a g:eat number of years the 
 fuiTj of five hundred pounds and to their 
 fon and daughter the fum of three thou- 
 fand pounds each and I dciire the faid Sir 
 John Shuckburgh Sir Richard Herp^i and 
 George Payne their E:uecutors Adminillra- 
 lors and Alngns to employ the fum of one, 
 hundred thoufand iivres in the purchafe 
 of an annuity on the heads of Speake and 
 his v;ife now my domeftics in my houfe at 
 Calais and on the head of the furvivors to 
 be paid to the faid Speake. and his wife 
 
 during their lives by moieties the moiety 
 payable to the wife fhall be for her feparate 
 ufe and hei^ receipt fhall be a fuijicicjit dif- 
 t barge and after the death of cither of 
 them the remainder Iball be paid to the 
 furvivor during life. I alfo de£re the faid 
 Sir George Schuckburgh Sir Richard Heroic 
 and George Payne their Executors Admi- 
 niilrators and Afllgns to employ the like 
 
 fum 
 
fum of one hundred thoiifand livres on go. 
 vernment or good fecurities and to pay the 
 interefl: or dividend to Anthony Seymour 
 my domeftic now living in my houfc at 
 St. Peterfburg during his life and after his 
 death to his wife during her life and after 
 the deceafe of the furvivor to transfer the 
 funds or fccurity in which this fum fliall be 
 placed to their child my god-fon Evelyn 
 Seymour when he fhail have attained the 
 age of .twenty one years. And the intcrcft 
 on dividend fhall be applied in the mean 
 time for his maintenance and education 
 but if the faid Evclyi> Seymour fhould 
 happen to die before the age of twenty 
 one years then I give it to the next child of 
 the faid Anthony Seymour and of his wife 
 payable in the fame manner as directed for 
 Evelyn Seymour and fo on in fucceffion 
 vvhilfl: there is a child of the faid Anthony 
 Seymour and his wife and I give to the iaid 
 Anthony Seymour or to his wife. If he 
 fliall die before me to be paid in cafe they or 
 the furvivor fhall render up my property of 
 Saint Peterfburgh unto my Executors and 
 with their confent the fum of two hundred 
 pounds and I order that their wages fhall 
 continue to be paid to them until they Ihall 
 be difcharged by my Executors And I 
 Y give 
 
[ ^6z ] 
 
 give to my fervant John Lilly five hundred 
 pounds and I defire the fald Sir George 
 Shuckburgh Sii Richard Heron and George 
 Payne their Executors Adminiftrators and 
 Affigns to employ the fum of one hundred 
 thouland iivres to purchafc an annuity on 
 the heads of the faid John Lilly and his 
 wife and on that of the furvivor and to 
 pay it to the faid John Lilly during his life 
 and after his death to his wife during her 
 life. I order that this annuity be paid into 
 the hands of the faid John Lilly and his 
 wife foleiy on their refpeftlve receipts to 
 ferve as a difcharge and if either of therri 
 ihould fell or alllgn this annuity it fhall then 
 ceafe and Ihall be no longer payable to 
 them but fhall then lapfe and become part 
 of my perfonal eiiate. I delire my faici 
 Executors to advance the fum of fix hun- 
 dred pounds to be employed in the pur- 
 chafe of an anyiUity for the life of Alexan- 
 der Berry my coachman and to pay it into 
 his own hands during his life and his fim- 
 ple receipt fhall be a difcharge, and if he 
 fells or affigns it this annuity fhall ceafe 
 and lapfe to become part of my perfonal 
 eftate And I defire my faid Executors to 
 purchafe an annuity of fifty pounds per 
 ^nnum with a part of my eftate during the 
 
 lif^ 
 
[ i63 ] 
 
 life of Mr. Angel who lives with me as 
 interpreter and to pay it him during his 
 life. 
 
 I give and bequeath to Mr. Campbell 
 fon of Campbell Efq of 
 
 Wales by his deceafed wife formerly Mifs 
 Meadows daughter of Philip Meadows 
 Efq Deputy Ranger of Richmond Park in 
 the County of Surry the fum of five thou- 
 fand pounds And I give and bequeath to 
 Mrs. Egerton of S:lifbury in the County 
 of Wilts widow a rent of fifty pounds per 
 annum and after her death this rent fhall 
 be paid to her brother 
 IJndfey, if living and I require and order 
 order my Executors to purchafe an annuity 
 of fifty pounds per annum for the faid 
 Mrs. Egerton and Mr. Lindfey if tliey fhall 
 be living at the time of my deceafe and to 
 pay it half yearly to them or him as above 
 but if one of them only fhall be alive the 
 fame annuity for the life of the party then 
 living fhall be paid half yearly to him or 
 heras the cafe may be And I hereby defire 
 my Executors to call on Mr. Samuel Cox * 
 
 * The fum which Mr. Cox owed the Dachefs, was tii^o 
 tlojifajul pounds. She aflillcd him with the money in a man- 
 'ncr dut did her credit. 
 
 y 2 jeweller 
 
[ .64 ] 
 
 jeweller of Shoe Lane London and require 
 him to pay what he is indebted to me as 
 foonashis circumftanccs willpermitwithout 
 deranging himfelf leaving it to his known" 
 honor and confcicnce to pay it without be- 
 ing compelled by any lecurity which he 
 may have given me and which may be 
 found in my pofleffion at my deceafe, and 
 in cafe the faid Charles Cox fhould die be- 
 fore he has paid it I make no doubt but 
 his fon or his reprefentative will honor the 
 faid debt and when it fliall be paid 1 order 
 that it fliali be divided in equal fhares a- 
 mong the children of the faid Mrs. Strong* 
 With refpcdt to all the refidue of my 
 eftate after payment of my debts funeral 
 expences and legacies and all charges and 
 expences for the execution af my true wilf 
 I order the laid Sir George Schuckburgh 
 Sir Richard Heron and George Payne their 
 Executors Adminiftrators and Afligns to 
 apply this capital and employ it on good 
 feeurity and to employ the interefls or di- 
 vidends thereof if they amount to a fuf- 
 ficient fum on 8:overnment or jrood fccu- 
 rity in fuch manner that it be for the life 
 of the faid Mr. Charles Meadows and 
 General Meadows and at the deceafe of 
 one of them one half of the interefls fliall 
 
 be 
 
[ '65 3 
 
 lie employed for the widow of the firll 
 dying during her life and at the deceafe of 
 the other the other half fhall be for the 
 widow of the furvivor of the faid Charles 
 Meadows and General Meadows and after 
 the deceafe of one of the faid two wi- 
 dows — One half of the principal lliall be 
 paid transferred and afligned over to the 
 faid Mr. Campbell fon of the faid Mr. 
 Campbell and of his wife formerly Mifs 
 Meadows and after the deceafe of the 
 other widow the principal of the other half 
 fhall be transferred and afligned over to 
 the faid Mr. Campbell. 
 
 And I hereby revoke all wills by me 
 heretofore made and I conflitute the faid 
 Sir George Shuckburgh, Sir Richard He- 
 ron and George Payne my teftamentary 
 Agents and Executors and give to each- of 
 them one thoufand pounds for the trouble 
 they may have. And I order that in cafe 
 the faid George Payne fliould go from 
 France to Ruflia to take the pofTeflion and 
 direction of my edate that over and above 
 all the charges and expences he may be put 
 to and o\cr and above the faid legacy 
 of one thoufand pounds he Ihall be paid 
 9T lliall retail*, the fum of two thoufand 
 
 pounds 
 
C >66 3 
 
 pounds for his trouble in making that 
 voyaga — InWitnefs whereof I have figned 
 my name on the firit fifteen fhcets of 
 paper of the fixteen fheets of which 
 this tellament of my will is compofed and 
 ' on the fixteenth (heet I have figned my 
 name and affixed my feul of arms this 
 26th day of Oftober in the year of our 
 Lord 1786. 
 
 (Signed) E. Kingfton Warth. 
 
 Signed fealed publiflicd and de- (L. S.) 
 clared by the faid Elizabeth Duchefs 
 of Kingfton Cou'ntefs of Warth the 
 teflatrix in the prefence of us 
 "whofe names are hereunder written 
 and who have all figned our names 
 in witnefs thereof in her prefence 
 and in the prefence of each other. 
 
 Signed John Gregfon, watchiliakcr to the 
 
 King at Paris. 
 Verbecq jeweller rue St. Honore' at 
 
 Paris. 
 Arthaud fecretary to the Duchefs of 
 
 Kingllon. 
 
[ «67 3 
 
 3d Piece CODICIL which I defire may be 
 annexed and looked upon and confi- 
 dered as making part of my lafl will 
 and teflament and which I make in 
 manner following viz. on a flip of 
 paper annexed with a pin — I give to 
 my Maitre d'Hotel Mr. John Pickia 
 the fum of five hundred pounds. 
 
 E. KINGSTON WARTH. 
 
 4j.£h Piece A 
 B 
 
 C. Chudleigh Haynes fpn of the 
 Reverend Mr. Haynes Curate of St. 
 Mary's Church in the faid tqwn of 
 Nottingharn. 
 
 D Strong eldeft fon of the 
 
 Reverend Mr. Strong and of his 
 wife Ann filler of the late John Chud7 
 leigh of Chalm/ington in the county 
 of Dorfet. 
 
 F 
 G 
 H 
 I 
 
 ^ Evelyn Philip Meadows 
 
 Th? 
 
L '68 ] 
 
 The enamel crofs with its ftring. 
 Not to forget to fend to Chudleioh 
 at Peterlburg the cafe of China. 
 
 On the back is written 
 
 Alphabetical Table containing the 
 Letters and the Names to which they 
 refer. 
 
 When her Grace (her Highnefs) 
 wifnes to fill up the blanks conform- 
 able to the letters, flie will then 
 pleafe to write the names againfl the 
 letters, which will afterwards ferve 
 her to find thofe ihp wifhes to put 
 in the faid blanks, 
 
 ^th Piece. MODEL of CODICI L. 
 
 I defire that a codicil may be an- 
 nexed and taken and regarded and 
 making part of my lafl will and tefta- 
 ment, and I make it in manner fol- 
 lowing, viz. 
 
 I give to John Barnard of Pall 
 Mall London Efq. my diamond ring 
 which I had given by my will to Mr. 
 Alexander Rofs, who is fince dead. 
 
 E. KINGSTON WARTH, 
 
 this ifl January, 1787. 
 
 I give 
 
[ i6g ] 
 
 I give TO Mrs. La Touche of Paris 
 the pearl car-rings and necklace which 
 I ui'uaily wear. 
 
 E. KINGSTON WARTH 
 the loth May 1787. 
 
 I give to Mrs. Johnfon of Chiid- 
 leigh in the county of Devon one 
 ihoufand pounds. 
 
 E. KINGSTON WARTH 
 
 the 21 ft Auguft 1 78 7. 
 
 I defire to be buried in the follow- 
 iag manner, viz. to be embalmed, 
 and if I die in Ruflia, I moft humbly 
 befcech her Imperial Majefty to per- 
 mit that I may be privately buried 
 in fuch place and in fuch manner as ic 
 ihall pleafe her Majefty to order, wifh- 
 ing and defiring that it may be in the 
 fame province where flie herfelf may 
 will my body to repofe, when my 
 heart has been with her this long time, 
 but if I ihould die near England I de'» 
 fire that my body be tranfpqrted with- 
 out pomp and buried in the Church 
 of Chudleigh, where I will that a 
 Z handfome 
 
[ I70 ] 
 
 hand Tome monument be made and 
 erected, for which purpofe I order 
 my teftamentary executors to lay out 
 the fum of five hundred pounds. 
 
 If the plate and the other efFecHs 
 given to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mea- 
 dows as heirs fhall appear and be de- 
 livered entirely I dcfire Mr. Meadows 
 to pay lool. to Mr. Superieur, her 
 Grace (her Hlghnefs) has a legacy to 
 infcrt for Mr. Pickin. 
 
 ATTESTATION to add to the 
 Codicil in cafe there iliould be a gift 
 of land. 
 
 This Codicil was figned publifhed 
 and declared by the tellatrix her 
 Grace (her Hlghnefs) theDuchcfs of 
 Kingfton in prefence of us who in her 
 prefence and in the prefence of each 
 other have figned our names as wit- 
 nefles attefling the fame. 
 
 CLAUSE of REVOCATION 
 
 A and B having behaved eflentially 
 
 ill to me, I revoke the legacies which 
 
 ^ I gave 
 
[ ^7' ] 
 
 I gave them by my will and I give 
 and transfer thofe legacies (or fuch as 
 your Grace (your Highnefs) pleafcs 
 to grant) to C and D. 
 
 On the back is written 
 
 MODFX of CODICIL. 
 
 N. B. The v/hole of the gifts by 
 codicil ought to be written in her 
 Grace's (her Highnefs's) own hand 
 and not by any other perfon and like- 
 wife the orders, fuch as thofe of her 
 funeral, if it Ihall be her Grace's in- 
 tention that they be inferted in the 
 codicil, they ought to be fo done with 
 her own hand. 
 
 If her Grace (her Highnefs) fhall 
 make a fpecific legacy, a.s of a ring 
 breaft-knot or any other of her per- 
 fonal effcfts, or of a fum of money, 
 if it be written with her own hand 
 there is no need of witneiTes, if any 
 other perfon writes the legacy her 
 Grace will (ign it and there muft be 
 two witnclfcs. 
 
 Z2 If 
 
[ I/^ ] 
 
 If Hie gives any land there mnft be 
 three witnefles, and the attcflatlon 
 muft be couched in the terms of the 
 above model. 
 
 6ih Piece. Letter to Mr. John Chichtfler 
 
 S I R 
 
 IT is now feveral years fince I had 
 the honor to fee you at the time of 
 your voyage to Italy I was in hopes 
 of having that pleafure again as be- 
 ing fo near when you v^'as at Calais 
 Let me have the pleifure of feeing 
 ^ou at Calais if your affairs will per- 
 mit or at Paris where I now am — . 
 Mr. Werlam whom I have feen at 
 Paris has given me the moil agree-, 
 able news of your health. Is your 
 fon alive ? and in what part of the 
 world ? I lliould feel a great pleafure 
 in meeting with him to fhew all the 
 regard due to him as your fon. If 
 you determine to do me the honor to 
 come and fee me at Calais, 'tis a long 
 way be land and fliort by feaby mak- 
 ing the Streights ; if you make the 
 journey by land, I wifh you would 
 iend for onr coufms the fillers of the 
 
 lato 
 
*1». C ^73 ] 
 
 late John Chudleigh to Chalmington 
 near Dorcheiler and fpcak to them 
 there are two of them who live in 
 that county in a fmall retreat, the fe- 
 cond hiis inherited a legacy of 2o,oool. 
 left her by a relation (he lives in tran- 
 quillity in that ancient family feat, 
 whfre fhe takes a pleafure in educat- 
 ing the children of her deceafed filler 
 who married Haynes a clergyman to 
 vvhoni 1 have given benefices amount- 
 ing to 6 or yool, per annum, and 
 who has fince been married to a M'fs 
 Tempeft who has had a brother dead 
 lately — This event has caufed a large 
 inheritance to fall to the children of 
 the fecond marriage ; added to the 
 defire of feeing you is that of fpeak- 
 ing with you on family affairs as like- 
 wife with Mr. Prideaux, whom I 
 don't know where to feek for. 
 
 Sketch of the letter to the Pope * 
 
 * A moft curious interlinearlon in a will ! It is a pity, 
 that her Grace {her Highncfs) had not fiilcd up this '' Sketch 
 ** ofahttertohisHolinefs,^'' 
 
 Copjr 
 
I -74 ] 
 
 Copy of the Tranfiatlons made b)' 
 Hainj Tranflator and Interpreter in 
 execution of an ordinance of the 
 26th Augurt laft, by us collared on 
 requefl: as fct forth in our ordinance 
 of the 5th Sept. infi. and found con- 
 formable to the originals ofthef;iid 
 tranflations at Paris in our Hotjl this 
 9:h September 1788. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 ANGRAND with PARAPHE. 
 
 The originals of the faid tcftameni ^:a- 
 dlcils and their covers in the Englilh lan- 
 guage after having been unfeakdby Monf, 
 Denis P'rancois Angrand D'AUeray Knight 
 Count de Maillis Lord of Bazochcs Conde 
 Sr. Libiere and other )")laces Lord Patron 
 of Vangizard Ics Paris King's Counfellors 
 in his Councils Honorary in his Court of 
 Parliament ancient Attorney General of his 
 Majcfly in his great Council Lieutenant 
 Civil of the City Vifcountrv and Fiovoft- 
 fliip of Paris and Counfellor of State in 
 his Hotel, r.nd a copy of the tranflation 
 which was nv-ulc theieof by the faid Mr. 
 Hainj King's Interpreter in the Hotel and 
 by virtue of the ordinance of the laid Lieu- 
 tenant 
 
C "75 ] 
 
 tenant Civil the whole compofing feveii 
 pieces with the tranflation of the P^nglifh 
 papers were committed by the faid Lieu- 
 tenant Civil to the faid Mr. Rouen one ol' 
 ihe King's Couniellors Notary at the Cha- 
 talct of Paris here undcrfigned according 
 to the verbal procefs of the opening tranf- 
 lation and commiflion of the faid tcftamcnt 
 codicils the letters bearing date the com- 
 mencement of the 26ch of Auguft 1788 
 the day of the death of the Duchefs of 
 Kingfton and clofed the 9th of this pre- 
 fent month of September — The faid tcfla- 
 mcnt codicils and letters comptroUed and 
 examined at Paris by Lezan this 13th of 
 the faid month of September of the laid 
 year 178S all remaining in the potlellion 
 of the faid Mr. Rouen, Notary. 
 
 Sixteen words erafed as nul|. 
 
 (L.5.) ROUEN. 
 
 Sealed the day and 
 year afore faid 
 
 Paulimuie.. 
 
 EXPLA- 
 
no 
 
 EXPLANATION of the WILL. 
 
 THAT {o incongrous a piece as the one novv 
 offered to the public, Ihould ever have been ex- 
 ecuted in the prefcnt form, muft appear matter 
 of aftonifhment to every reader v\ ho confidereth, 
 that in France, as in England, there is an eftab- 
 liflied ufagc, the conformity to which, can alone 
 give validity to a teftament. The furprize will 
 ceafe, on an explanation of the fadts. 
 
 Two profcfuonal Engllfh gentlemen were fpe- 
 cially commilTioned to repair to Paris, for the 
 purpofe of taking the tnjitu^ions of the Duchefs 
 of Klngfton, relative to the teftamentary difpo- 
 fal of her property. The compliment allowed 
 them was two hundred pounds each. On their 
 arrival at Paris, that which might have been 
 done in one month, was prolonged to three, the 
 bufinefs being occafionally, and by ftarts, en- 
 tered into. As far as an Englilh will would 
 operate, the gentlemen were perfedlly compe- 
 tent to the tailL alTigncd ihem ; but, there was 
 French ufage to be confidered ; for, the Duchefs 
 had been denizened as a Frenchwoman, by let- 
 ters 
 
[ J77 -] 
 
 ters patent fo recognizing her. Some affiftance 
 was therefore called in, and that not of the 
 ablefl kind. Such, however, as it was, the 
 Duchefs accepted it ; and, the different direc- 
 tions given her Grace, as to the mode of her 
 devifing perfonal, or landed property, were 
 laid down by the French advifers. That they 
 were ignoble characters, is moft evident, from 
 the fullome ftrain of compliment to which they 
 have defcended. To give a lady, who was 
 merely a Duchefs by curtefy, the title of 
 ^' HIGHNESS," evinced a degradation of 
 fpirit, equal to any fubfervient crouching. The 
 Englifh affiftants fupplied, as before fuggefted, 
 the outline of ^ will, conformable to Englifh 
 Jaw. The blanks were left to be filled up, by 
 the Duchefs, at a future period ; and the fcvc- 
 ral viilials were fo many helps to her memory. 
 The concluding parts of this will, as it hath 
 been called, are memorandums of fomething to 
 be done, preparatory to the execution of a will 
 in every refpefl legal ; and, that fuch a will 
 was in contemplation, is evident, from Mr. 
 Beardfworth having been employed to attend 
 the return of the Duchefs to Calais, where fhe 
 was to have executed a regular refbmient. He 
 did attend, in expedtation of her arrival, until 
 he received the advice of her death. Had flie 
 A a lived. 
 
t >73 ] 
 
 lived, a French, a Ruflian, nnd an Englifh 
 will, would have been completed. Dying as 
 ihe did, an Anglo-Franco tcflament appears, like 
 a common place book, or the repofitory of re- 
 veries, to difpla}^ her whimficality ta the world,, 
 under her proper fignaturer 
 
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 Igftiium cut Jit, cut mens ci-vinior, alque os 
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 ART OF BOXING. 
 
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 COUNTESS of STRATHMORE and ANDREW ROBIN. 
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