YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AUTOBIOGRAPHY MISS CORNELIA KNIGHT, LADY COMPANION TO THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES. WITH EXTRACTS FROM HER JOURNALS AND ANECDOTE BOOKS. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. IL THIRD EDITION. LONDON: W. H. ALLEN AND CO., 7, LEADENHALL STEEET. MDGCCLXI. CONTENTS TO VOL. II. CHAPTER I. PACtK Miss Knight's Narrative of Events attending the Rupture of the Orange-Marriage — Dismissal of the Household of the Princess Charlotte — Letter to the Regent — Miss Knight's Pension . 1 CHAPTER II. The Princess's Birthday — Suspected Intrigues — Letter to the Queen — The Year 1815 — Journal continued . . . .26 CHAPTER III. Preparations for War — The Queen's Levee — Treatment of the Princess Charlotte — Napoleon and the Bourbons — Rumours from the Seat of War— The Battle of Waterloo . . .52 CHAPTER IV. Rejoicings for Waterloo — The Marriage of the Duke of Cumber land—Prince Leopold — Marriage Rumours — Marriage of the Princess Charlotte— How it was brought about— Later Revela tions — Character of the Princess Charlotte . . . .71 VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. PAGE France revisited— Chantilly— Parisian Society — The Court of the Bourbons — The Prince de Con de" — Marshal Marmont— The French Stage— Invitation from the Princess Charlotte . . 92 CHAPTER VI. Return to England— Meeting with the Princess Charlotte— France under the Bourbons— Parisian Society Ill CHAPTER VII. Society in Paris — Journey to Homburg — The Landgrave and the Landgravine — the Dowager Queen of Wiirtemberg — Christmas at Louisburg 133 CHAPTER VIII. Departure from Louisburg — Paris— Coronation of Charles X. — London — The Princess Charlotte's Monument — Anecdotes of Charles X. — Return to Germany 148 CHAPTER IX. Paris and London— Deatli of the Queen-Dowager of Wiirtemberg — Homburg — The Landgrave aud Landgravine — Life at a Ger man Court— Return to Louisburg— Baden .... 165 CHAPTER X. Genoa — The Pallavicini Family — Character of the Genoese— Re turn to England — The Royal Family at Brighton — London — Gloomy Retrospect— Anecdotes 183 CHAPTER XI. Anecdotes — Talleyrand — Charles Albert — Massena— Ferdinand of Spain— Lord Wellesley— Alfieri— Charles X.— Death of Miss Knight 202 CONTEXTS. Vll EXTRACTS FROM MISS KNIGHT'S JOURNALS. Rome and Naples, 1781—1798. PAGE Consecration of a Catholic Bishop— The Grand-Duke Paul of Russia— Princess Dashkoff — Pfcre Jacquier — Joseph II. of Aus tria — Gustavus of Sweden — Alfieri — The Countess of Albany — The Piozzis — General Acton— Arrival of Admiral Nelson . . 214 Windsok, 1805—1812. Miss Knight's Settlement at Windsor — Gaieties at Court — Lord St. Vincent — Rejoicings at Windsor — Death of Princess Amelia — State of the King's Health — Princess Amelia's Funeral — Pro gress of the King's Malady — -The Regency Act — Conduct of the Regent . 260 EXTRACTS FROM MISS KNIGHT'S ANECDOTE BOOKS. James Boswell — Madame Piozzi — Lord Nelson — The Queen of Naples— Sir Thomas Troubridge— The Bronte" Estate — Admiral Barrington — Cardinal de Bernis — Italian Anecdotes — The Prin cess Dashkoff — Louis Philippe — The Emperor Joseph II. — Miss Knight's last Records — Her Religious Faith .... 285 APPENDIX. Exclusion of the Princess of Wales from the Queen's Drawing- Room . . . 343 Death of the Princess Charlotte 349 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. CHAPTER I. miss knight's narrative op events attending the rupture op thb orange-marriage — dismissal op the household op the princes!) charlotte— letter to the regent— miss knight's pension. [The following additional narrative of the trans actions related at the close of the first volume, was drawn up by Miss Knight for the perusal of a female friend :] Princess Charlotte having had a long discussion with respect to residence in Holland, of which all the papers were preserved by her Royal Highness, it was at length granted by the Regent's confidential servants that' an article should be inserted in the marriage contract to prevent her being taken or kept out of England against her own consent and that of the Regent — at least, this was the meaning of the words. The Prince of Orange had always appeared to prefer an establishment in England to one in Hol land, and had always said that when his father's VOL. II. b I AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. consent to the insertion of such an article came, he would look out for a house, and take one, in case one was not provided by Government. This consent came, and the article was prepared ; but the Regent wished Princess Charlotte even then to waive it as a compliment to the House of Orange, but her Royal Highness persisted in claiming the article. Nearly a fortnight passed after everything appeared to be arranged, and her Royal Highness, seeing the Prince of Orange daily in presence of Miss Knight, often asked him what preparations were making with respect to a house, establish ment, &c. He always answered that nothing had been said to him, appeared to be ignorant, and did not then talk of taking a house himself. While the Prince of Orange was at Oxford, a letter came from one of Princess Charlotte's aunts, Who is very intimate with the Regent, to say that she understood he meant, as soon as the Emperor and King of Prussia were gone, to write over for the Oranges and have the marriage celebrated as soon as possible. This alarmed Princess Charlotte, and she said she resolved to enter into a clear ex planation with the young Prince to avoid disputes afterwards. The morning after he returned from Oxford this explanation took place, and it appeared evident to Miss K., who was present, that they thought it could not go on ; that the duties of the Prince of RUPTURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. 3 Orange called him to Holland, and Princess Char lotte's to remain in England, and that neither of them chose to give way ; that in that respect the affair stood nearly as at the setting out in December, and that no preparations were made for a residence in England. They, however, parted, agreeing to think it over till night, when Princess Charlotte promised to write to the Prince of Orange. No letter came from him during this interval, and about eleven at night her Royal Highness wrote him a letter break ing off the marriage, and desiring he would inform the Regent of it. This letter went on Thursday (I think the 16th of June) ; all Friday no answer. On Saturday her Royal Highness received a note from a friend who had been dancing at a ball the night before with the Prince of Orange, and who said he had told her he had not informed the Regent of the breaking off the marriage, and did not intend to inform him. Princess Charlotte immediately wrote an affectionate and respectful letter to her father telling him this circumstance, and her horror at the delay. About three came the answer from the Prince of Orange, which was literally as follows, her Royal Highness having allowed me to copy it : 8, Clifford-street, June 18, 1814. I found the night before last your letter, and have lost no time to acquaint my family with its contents, but I can not comply with your wish by doing the same with regard to the Regent, finding it much more natural that you should B 2 4 AUTOBIOGRAFHY OF MISS KNIGHT. do it yourself ; and it is, besides, much too delicate a matter for me to say anything to him on the subject. Hoping that you shall never feel any cause to repent of the step you have taken, I remain, Yours sincerely, (Signed) William, Hereditary Prince of Orange. Her Royal Highness sent the original of this letter to the Regent, with the copy of a note she ordered Miss Knight to write that day, after the receipt of his letter to the Prince of Orange, to ask for her portrait and letters. The portrait and some of the letters were a little while after sent back to Miss Knight by the Prince's aide-de-camp, and the packet of letters sealed by the same. Some time elapsed, and no further notice was taken; no communication from Carlton House (except a short note on the 18th from the Prince to Princess Charlotte expressing his concern), no visit from any of the family. The Duchess of Leeds sent in her resignation. In the beginning of July the Bishop of Salisbury had a conference with Princess Charlotte, which she mentioned to Miss Knight, who was not present at it. Her Royal Highness said it was to induce her to write a submissive letter to the Regent express ing her concern for having offended him, and holding out the hope that in three or four months she might be induced to renew the treaty with the Prince of Orange. Her Royal Highness added, that BISHOP OF SALISBUPvY'S STATEMENT. 5 the Bishop had said, if she did not write this letter, arrangements very disagreeable to herself would take place. Miss Knight wrote to the Bishop desiring to know what these arrangements were, saying, as she wished nothing more than a reconciliation between Princess Charlotte and her father, she begged to know what arguments she might use to enforce the step he dictated, only observing she did not flatter him with a hope that Princess Charlotte would marry the Prince of Orange, or any one who had a right to sovereignty. Of the Bishop's answer the following is an ex tract : [N.B. — The Bishop was at the time in the habit of seeing the Chancellor, and, I believe, also Lord Liverpool.] " Having heard from three different quarters that the Regent was most severely wounded and deeply afflicted by his daughter's conduct, and that an arrangement was making for the Princess Charlotte which might not be according to her wishes ; having also a hint given to me that probably a dutiful, re spectful, and affectionate letter from the daughter to the father might soften the Prince's mind, and tend to lessen the rigour of any measure he might have in contemplation, J felt it incumbent on me to state all this to the Princess, and I did most strenuously recommend to her Royal Highness to 6 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. write such a letter. I did also go further, and ventured to tell her, that as the intended match with the Prince of Orange had been so highly ac ceptable, and so much desired by the whole nation, so the breaking it off had been the cause of universal regret and displeasure. I told her, also, that there was still a sanguine hope entertained that her Royal Highness might see her objections in a different point of view, and that when the affairs of Holland were completely settled, and its Prince had his time more at his own command, that then her Royal Highness might be induced to change her opinion, and give herself to the wishes of her father and her country. " With respect to the arrangement, which I understand is at this time in contemplation, I know nothing but that an arrangement is making," &c. &c. About this time Baillie, Clive, and Keate had given a paper expressing their advice that her Royal Highness should go to the sea-side for two or three months in the autumn. Princess Charlotte therefore wrote to request this favour of her father, and at the same time expressed the most poignant grief for his displeasure, and the most anxious wish to be restored to his favour. This letter was sent on the 9th. Various rumours in the mean while reached Warwick House of new ladies, amongst whom Lady Ilchester and Mrs. Campbell, being ap pointed, of confinement at Carlton House, &c. diner, and saw some fine sketches, taken by Sir Robert in Spain and Sicily. In the evening we looked over prints, and the Prince, the Duchess of Kent, and Princess Feodore, sang. The Duchess of Coburg has two young ladies with her as maids of honour. 12th. — Left Claremont after breakfast, and went to Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square, where I found Lady Downshire, Lady Mary Hill, and Lord Au gustus. 22nd. — Arrived at Windsor, and stayed there till the 1st of October. On the 25th, I went to see the monument erected by subscription to the late Princess Charlotte. Matthew Wyatt was charged with the execution of it, though he was brought up 152 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. to painting, not to sculpture. Mr. O'RehTy, the surgeon and apothecary, has the key, as his Majesty is not on good terms with the canons. It is not to be open to the pubhc until the King has seen it. The chapel in which it is placed is the first to the left of the end door which fronts the choir. It has painted glass, representing, I think, St. Peter and St. Paul, and the light which falls on the , monument from the left is of a gold colour, and that from the right purple, or rather lilac. The figure of the Princess, covered with a sheet, is re presented as on her death-bed, but appears convul sive. Four veiled mourners are at the corners. Above the hd is another figure of the Princess, as rising to heaven and drawing aside a curtain. It is certainly a resemblance, but too large. There is an angel on each side, one of whom holds the child. [On the 14th December, Miss Knight was once more in Paris. She herself says that Monsieur — at this time Charles X. — once observed to her: " Vous aimez maintenant vivre en France ; mais je me rappelle que vous m'aviez dit en Angleterre que vous n'aimeriez pas d'y aller," " Naturellement, Monseigneur," she rephed ; "la France n'&ait pas alors chez elle." He smiled, and said, "Mais 1' Angle terre a etc" toujours chez elle, et toujours les hvres ouverts pour vous." Though not very appropriate; another anecdote of Monsieur related by Miss Knight may be here introduced. " I recollect," she says, " being one evening at the Tuileries (I SOCIETY IN PARIS. 153 believe it was the first time I went to Monsieur's ; it was in 1816), and while we were standing round in the usual circle, a lady, rather, advanced in years, seemed anxiously looking for the moment when her turn should come to be spoken to by Monsieur. She caught his eye while there were still one or two between them, and he bowed and smiled. When he came up to her he spoke kindly, and addressed her by her name. " Ah, Monseigneur !" she cried, apparently much agitated, "ily a si longtemps que je n'ai pas eu l'honneur de voir votre Altesse Roy ale, et pourtant elle se souvient de moi ! Les annees changent tout " Monsieur interrupted her, and said, " Les annees ! Quant aux dernieres vingt- cinq il ne faut plus les compter."] [1826.] January 11th. — Went with Mrs. Lutwyche to the "reception" at the Palais Royal. All Paris there in full dress, and the room very hot. The young Duke de Chartres, who is little more than fifteen, appeared in full uniform of Hussars, and went round with his father, mother, and aunt. He looked "remarkably handsome and elegant. It is said that Duke Mathieu de Montmorency is ap pointed governor to the Duke de Bordeaux. There have been riots* at St. Petersburg, on account of * These riots were speedily sup- Emperor Nicholas, who ascended the pressed by the resolute daring of the throne December 26, 1825. 154 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. the refusal of the Grand-Duke Constantine to ascend the throne. 26th. — In the evening to the Duchess of Orleans', where a small party had been invited to meet the Dauphin, who, dined there. Cards, backgamm©jh books of prints, &c. February 1st. — At the Duchess de Narhonne's, where there was a large party to hear Mdlle. Delphine Gay* recite verses of her own composi tion. Her mother was with her, and I understand they are rather rich people in the class of employes. They were much dressed. The poetess is pretty, and when she recites has expression in her eyes and tone, but her voice is harsh. She recited a pas sage from a poem of her own on the restoration to life of the widow's son, and afterwards another fragment on the triumphant entry of King Alfred. It seems she has recited some of her verses hefore the French Academy. 27th. — At the Duchess de Narbonne's, where many ladies and gentlemen were assembled to hear M. de St. Priest,f a very young man; read a tragedy * Married in 1831 to M. Emile de and of Mathieu de Montmorency, and Girardin. Mademoiselle Delphine Gay other subjects, furnished themes for was born at Aix-la-ChapeUe about the this accomplished poetess. After her year 1800, and in 1822 competed for marriage she frequently ^contributed the prize offered by the Academy for feuilletons to the Presse under the the best poem " Sur le DeVouement name of Vicomte Delaunay, and also des Meoecins Francais et des Soeurs de published some novels of considerable Sainte CamUle pendant l'Epideniie de merit. Her last literary work was the Barcelone." Had she conformed to the popular drama, " La Joie fait Peur." conditions, she would have gained the f Count Alexis de Saint Priest, prize ; as it was, it was read aloud by author of several tragedies, and also M. Alexandre Duval, and created a of historical works of more than ave- great sensation. The consecration of rage merit. Charles X., the deaths of General Foy SOCIETY IN PARIS. 155 he has written, entitled " Clotilde." Clotaire and Sigebert, the two sons of Clovis, are at variance, and their mother, Clotilde, endeavours to reconcile them, but, according to history, it finishes most horribly. There are many fine lines in the play, and also interesting situations. March 19th. — At the Ambassador's Chapel. Bishop Luscombe preached. He was consecrated by the Bishops of the Episcopal Church of Scot land, and is on the Continent to exercise his func tions as a prelate without any particular diocese : watching over the flock of travelling Enghsh. He is said to be a very respectable man, and his sermon was good. April 12th. — Celebration of the anniversary of the King's entrance into Paris in 1814. There was a review in the Champ de Mars, but the wind and rain were unfavourable to it. I dined with Madame de Labedoyere, and in the evening accompanied Lady Mary Hill to the Duchess of Hamilton's. The Duchess sang dehghtfully, as also did the Countess Aponyi, the wife of the Austrian Minister. The Countess is an excellent musician, and sings with great taste. 30th. — At the Ambassador's Chapel. Mr. Sidney Smith preached on the immortality of the soul, as announced by the dissatisfaction felt here, the desire to be remembered after death, &c. &c. • May 3rd. — To-day the King and Queen go in procession to several churches, for the Jubilee, and 156 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. they lay the first stone of the monument to be erected to Louis XVI. i on the spot where he was executed. The gendarmes would not allow carriages to pass, so I was obliged, after making an attempt, to come home again. I heard in the evening that the ceremony was very fine and imposing. The Nuncio says that it was more so than the coronation at Rheims. After the performance of an expiatory service, the first stone of the monument was laid by the King himself, in the presence of all the Royal Family — except the Dauphiness — a deputation of Peers and Deputies, the Great Officers of State, Courts of Justice, Ambassadors, &c. &c. The Place Louis Quinze is now to be called Place Louis Seize. 7th. — Went to chapel. In the evening to the Tuileries, with the Marquise de Vaudreuil. There were many ladies present, as all the Royal per sonages received, and they are soon going into the country. The King looked remarkably well, and appeared very cheerful. Amongst other things, speaking to me of activity, &c, he said (what is very true, and exemplified in himself), "line faut pas se laisser aller." It is a long way through the subterranean, the court, the theatre, and the gallery of the chapel, to the Duchess de Berri's apartments. She had a hat on. June 11th. — Called upon Prince Leopold of Saxe- Coburg. Went afterwards to the Bois de Boulogne PARIS. 157 » by a new road, called the " Champs Elysees," in compliment to the King. Young trees are planted on each side, and it will be very pretty when they are grown larger ; in the mean while, it shortens the distance. August 4th. — Dined at Bishop Luscombe's. Sir Sidney Smith there. After a residence of many years in France since the peace, he seems to think of going to England, having taken leave of the King at St. Cloud. Lord Guilford has lent him a house near Walmer Castle, but he is going first to Dieppe. 15th. — This is Assumption Day, as it is tradi tionally called in Roman Catholic countries, from a belief that on this day the Virgin Mary was taken up to heaven. A great procession of the King and his family takes place, in observance of a vow made by Louis XIII., by which he placed himself, his family, and kingdom, under the protection of the Virgin. To-day also closes the Jubilee, and the King has given a silver statue of the Virgin and infant Saviour to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. September 23rd. — Arrived at Mayence. The melancholy appearance of that once flourishing city is really painful to behold. The inhabitants say that they would be totally ruined were it not for the money spent by the military. But the taxes they have to pay to their present master, the Grand- Duke of Hesse Darmstadt, and the impediments to 158 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. , commerce and manufacture, with the departure of so many noble famihes resident there during the time of their Electors, reduce them ,to a state of great misery. So much for the benefits arising from revolutionary changes and extinction of ecclesias tical power ! They say they were better off under the French than under the Grand-Duke, but no thing to be compared to their ancient Electoral go vernment, and as the French were the cause of that being overthrown, they naturally date their misfor tunes from that period. The military had given some fetes during the summer, and there was to be music and illuminations on the following day, Sun day, the 24th. That morning -I left Mayence, to see the lovely banks of the Rhine, which we followed as far as Coblentz, by an excellent road. The old castles and ruined monasteries, the beautiful trees and rocks, render the journey very interesting. At Bingen, about fifteen miles from Mayence, we entered the Prussian territory. The postmasters give a receipt at every stage. A printed paper was also given to me for my baggage, and all seemed to be done with civility and regularity. Under Bingen, on a rock in the Rhine, are the ruins of the Mice Tower, so called from the story of Hatto, the Bishop of Mayence, who was said to have been eaten up by those animals. There is a legend be longing to each of the old ruined castles and monas teries. The banks of the river are covered with THE RHINE. 159 vines, raised in rows one above the other. At St. Goar there was formerly a very large monastery. The place appears more comfortable than many others, and the situation is picturesque. I paid thirteen posts to Coblentz, but the distance is not so much, as I went in ten hours. At one place, where the road passed under high rocks very near the river, and had others of a similar description in view on the opposite side, the postilion stopped and blew his horn for some minutes in a very agreeable manner, which was perfectly answered by the echo. 25th. — In the morning oppressively hot. Walked down to the banks of the Rhine, where I witnessed the departure of the " coche d'eau" for Mayence : two horses, with very long ropes, were to drag it up the river. In the afternoon I went in a caleche, with a very intelligent driver, to see the fortress on the other side of the Rhine, which the King of Prussia is building on the ruins of Ehrenbreitstein. The works are very fine. They were begun in 1816, and will require four years more to finish them. The rock appears almost perpendicular, yet I went up in the carriage with great ease and safety, as it is remarkably well made and a perfect zig-zag. I saw the cannons, barracks, magazines, &c. Eight thousand men, with provisions and ammunition, are to be provided here, and the fortress is to be called Frederick William, after its founder. The view is very extensive from the platform at the top. The 160 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. Moselle, throwing itself into the Rhine, the town of Coblentz, the bridge of boats, and the circumjacent country, were at my feet, and the four forts oppo site were pointed out by my conductor, named Francis, Alexander, Constantine, and Wellington. The town, however, appeared enveloped in a pitchy cloud. A heavy thunderstorm was coming on, and I foohshly hoped to get back before it should break over our heads. I therefore hurried away, and, though the hood and apron of the caleche were put up, my maid and I were wet to the skin by the time we reached the hotel — the wind blowing torrents of rain into the carriage. 26th. — Returned to Mayence. The prospects appeared, if possible, more beautiful than before. It is not the lovely, enchanting style of beauty which Italian scenery presents, but it is wild and romantic. It is the theatre of the mythology of the middle ages. 30th. — Went to Homburg, and found the Land grave in the court — he had seen me drive in. He took me to the Landgravine, and nothing could be more kind and cordial than their reception of me. October 21st. — We dined early, that we might go at half-past one to the Feldberg, the highest moun tain in this part of the country — in ancient times the Taunus. The weather was beautiful. The Landgrave and his aide-de-camp, M. Herman, were the vanguard; next came the Landgravine and LOUISBURG. 161 Princess Augusta of Solms ; then Miss Cooper and myself; and lastly, the two maids of honour, Mdlles. de Stein and de Haller : all in droskies with four horses, which ran up the mountain like grey hounds. The road passed through woods till very near the summit, which is covered with luxuriant grass and fragments of rock. The Landgrave had sent thirty men the day before to repair the road. There is a mass of rock with grottoes in it, which is called the Rock of Brunehilda. The view from the summit is very extensive, embracing the Rhine and the Maine, with the towns, cities, and villages on their banks, Falkenstein, Konigstein, and other mountains, with the ruins of castles and fortifica tions on other parts of the Taunus, inferior in height to the Feldberg, which is two thousand six hundred and' six feet above the surface of the sea. The air felt sharp and pure. We partook of coffee and cakes here. Warm punch was also served ; for the grottoes in Brunehilda's rock served as a kitchen, as well as for stables for the horses — a table, chairs, &c, having been previously sent up. We returned home with a fine sunset. November 11th. — Arrived at the Castle of Louis burg about six in the evening. Found the Queen- Dowager and all her society most kind and friendly. 19th. — Went to Stuttgard, in consequence of an invitation to dine with the King and Queen. Dressed at the H6tel du Roi d' Angleterre. At a VOL. II. m 162 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. quarter-past four Baroness Seckendorff, the young Queen's first lady, came for me, and took me to the palace. She introduced me to the Queen in her Majesty's private apartments, which are very elegant. The Queen seated me on a sofa by her side, and the King soon afterwards came in and sat down. They were both very gracious and conversible. At five they withdrew, and we went down to the apart ments below, where we found the gentlemen and ladies of the Court, and the Prince and Princess of Hohenlohe (Ehringen, which last is a first cousin of his Majesty. Soon afterwards the King and Queen came in, and we went to dinner. The King placed the Princess of (Ehringen on his right hand, and made me sit beside him on his left. He talked to me all dinner-time, chiefly about the domestic events of our Royal Family in 1814, when I was with the late Princess Charlotte. After dinner we returned to the drawing-room, where coffee was served; and the King and Queen, after a very gracious leave- taking, quitted the room and went to the theatre. Madame de Seckendorff and the Queen's Cham berlain took me through the palace to the Queen- Dowager's box, and five minutes later the King and Queen entered their private box ; the rest of the Royal Family occupying the great box in the centre of the house. Between the opera and the ballet the King and Queen joined the Royal Family, and also spoke to Lady Erskine in the adjoining LOUISBURG. 163 box. I returned to Louisburg after the ballet,' arriving there a Httle past eleven. December 1st. — This day the Constituent Assem bly, or States of Wiirtemberg, meet. It is held every third year. The King opens the meeting, and the Prince of Hohenlohe (Ehringen is the Pre sident. No ladies are admitted as spectators. 15th. — At dinner the Prince of Wallerstein ; de scended by the female side from the Wiirtemberg family. This young man is Regent of the httle States belonging to his family, his eldest brother having renounced his rights on marrying a gar dener's daughter, with whom he retired to a castle to enjoy rural felicity. The second brother, who is now Prince, is in the Austrian service, and on gar rison duty in Bohemia, and has entrusted the Re gency to this Prince, who is the third son. 20th. — After dinner I went up-stairs to see a fine suite of apartments above those of the late King, called the Crown Prince's. This castle is an im mense building. Were it inhabited at all in pro portion to its size, it would be very cheerful, for all the apartments are light and spacious. The hang ings and furniture of those of the Crown Prince are of damask, and there is much gilding. The pic tures are not good, but in some of the rooms very numerous. 24th. — In the evening the Queen made her Christ mas presents to her ladies and gentlemen. There M 2 164 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. was a table also for me, covered with pretty things, including a gold chain, a cross, and earrings, a silver cup and saucer, a silver tower for heating water, three gowns,* &c. 31st. — The year was finished very cordially in the castle, and very noisily out of doors ; for not withstanding all the edicts against it, gunpowder announces the termination of the old year and the commencement of the new one, to the great annoy ance of the peaceable inhabitants. In the town there was a ball, and in the castle " pictures" were represented by the principal dancers at the theatre. * It is amusing to contrast the bred fussiness displayed by Miss Bur- well-bred kindliness of feeling with ney, when Queen Charlotte presumed which Miss Knight accepts the dresses to send her a gown by the hands of presented lo her by the Queen-Dow- Madame Schwellenburg. ager of Wiirtemberg, with the under- PARIS. 1 65 CHAPTER IX. PARIS AND LONDON— DEATH Or THE QUEEN-DOWAGER OP WURTEMBERG— HOMBURG— THE LANDGRAVE AND LANDGRAVINE — LIFE AT A GERMAN COURT— RETURN TO LOUISBURG— BADEN. JOURNAL CONTINUED — 1827. January 1 1th. — In the afternoon Lord Erskine brought the Queen-Dowager letters from Mr. Can ning and Count Munster, announcing the death of ' the Duke of York at half-past nine in the evening of the 5th. They came by a messenger despatched by Mr. Canning, by order of his Majesty. April 30th. — Arrived at Paris. The National Guard are dismissed, in consequence of their riotous behaviour last night, crying out " A bas les Minis- tres !" It is said many ill-intentioned persons made up uniforms and mixed with them, for the purpose of creating confusion. May 14th. — In the evening went with the Vis countess de Vaudreuil to visit the Duke and Duchess 166 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. de Riviere at the Tuileries, in the apartments for merly occupied by the King when he was Monsieur. The httle Duke de Bordeaux was there, M. de Ri viere being his governor. He appeared very hvely and good natured. He is not very tall for his age, but has an elegant and well-proportioned figure. He seems to possess quickness and intelligence. His Royal Highness had with him two sub-pre ceptors and a young companion — the son of the Duke — three years and a half older than himself. The " salon" is, as before, furnished with stools, and with only one arm-chair for the King. August 1st. — Went to St. Ouen to visit the Countess du Cayla and her daughter, the Princess de Craon. Their house is in the midst of very ex tensive grounds and gardens. It appears like a pavilion ; but on entering we found an elegant staircase, carpeted as in England, and well propor tioned rooms elegantly furnished. On the first floor we saw a " salon" and two handsome bed- ' rooms, with a Gothic " cabinet" in the best style of that species of architecture. On the ground floor an exceUent dining-room, billiard-room, "salon," and " cabinet de bain," aU fitted up in good taste, the locks good, and the doors shutting well. In the "salon" is an inscription by Louis XVIIL, to the effect that here began a new era in the hberties of France. It was here that he met the Allied Sovereigns and Ministers in 1814, and gave the A CANINE MONUMENT. 167 Charter. He afterwards with great secrecy rebuilt the house, or, rather,, erected this very beautiful villa, and made all the plans himself. He then presented it to Madame du Cayla,. as a residence for her life ; and the present King allows her two thousand five hundred hvres a year to keep up the place. The floors are very handsome,, and almost all the furniture is of French wood. 8th. — Went with the Bishop of Tulle to Athis,. a place belonging to the Baroness de Crussol, about four leagues from Paris, on the road to Fontaine bleau. The grounds are well laid out, with fine trees;, and the house is large and commodious, very nice,, and in good order. The poor lady herself, who is very civil and good natured, has nearly lost her mental faculties ; but a friend of her late husband manages everything for her. In the grounds is a Gothic chapel, as also the Temple of Flora, and a rustic building, all of which are Avell placed. There is likewise the tomb of a dog,. with his image at the tops.. It seems that when this- place belonged to the Duchess de Roquelaure, in the reign of Louis XIV., Mademoiselle de Scudery had a dog named Badine,. who died while she wast staying here. At that time the philosophers wanted to introduce the doctrine that animals are only ma chines. The epitaph engraved on the tomb alludes to this : . 168 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. Ci-gtt la celebre Badine, Qui n'eut ni bcaute, ni bonte, Mais dont l'esprit a demonte' Le systeme de la machine. In the house are several good apartments : that in which the Countess d' Alton sleeps was the chamber of Marshal ViUars. The views from the house are very extensive. 9th. — News by the telegraph of the death of Mr. Canning, who expired yesterday, at the Duke of Devonshire's viUa at Chiswick. 13th. — Six Indians arrived, four men and two women, with an interpreter and his son, and a French colonel, from Havre de Grace. They come from the banks of the river Missouri, in America. The gate and opposite side of the street are thronged with people trying to stare at them. 16th. — This morning the Indian chief and the two women came to my apartment with the house keeper and the porter. He appeared grave in his manners, but offered his hand, as did also the women. The latter seemed very cheerful. Their colour is bronze. I thought there was a natural gracefulness in the figure of the chief, and in his. manner of holding his drapery. His arms were bare, with sUver armlets on them; but his white mantle was wrapped about him. Their hair is black and long, but, according to the Indian custom, consisting of only one lock at the top of the head. COUNTESS ESTERHAZY. 169 It is said they brought with them furs of value, which they sold at Havre. September 16th. — Dined at Prince Castelcicala's, to meet the Countess Esterhazy and her two daugh ters. The Austrian Ambassador, Count Apponyi, with the Countess and his nephew, and Monseigneur Acton, also dined there. The Countess Esterhazy is the most intimate friend of the Dauphiness. When the latter went to Vienna from her prison at Paris, a lady was placed about her who had a niece very handsome and agreeable. At first the Dauphiness, accustomed to the mournful and appalling solitude of the Temple, could not appreciate the society of this young lady, but by degrees the cheerfulness and attentions of her companion made their way into her heart, and ever since that time she has loved her most sincerely. On the day on which the Princess gave her hand to the Duke d'Angou leme, her young friend was united to Count Ester hazy; and since her return to France she has ex acted that every second year the Countess should visit her and pass some time with her. Her Royal Highness then takes her about to see everything that is interesting, lodges her in the Park of St. Cloud, and bestows upon her every mark of real affection. The Count and Countess have passed five winters in Rome on account of his health ; but they are now going to Hungary. 170 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. [1828.] January 24th. — Went to the banker's. Great pre parations in the court-yard for the forthcoming mar riage of MademoiseUe Lafitte with the Prince dela Moskwa, son of the late Marshal Ney. The young lady, it is said, wanted to marry her father's head clerk, but M. Lafitte had not sufficient love for hberty and equahty to aUow this. It is curious to observe how fond of titles are aU these people who profess "liberal" principles. February 5th. — This morning the opening of the Chambers took place at the Louvre, and the King made a good speech, which was applauded, and he was welcomed, and accompanied at his departure by cries of "Vive le Roi!" Speaking of the battle of Navarino,, he caUed it impre'vue; but aUuded to the glory of the French arms,, and of their union with those of their allies. I remarked, on hearing the speech read, that his Majesty placed the King of England before the Emperor of Russia.* Eccle siastical affairs and pubhc instruction are to be se parate. It is said a very wealthy and sensible man is appointed to be at the head of pubhc instruction — a lawyer, but of good religious and moral prin- ciples.f * In conformity with diplomatic rino an " untoward accident." It was usage, Russia ' being the youngest fought on the 20th October, 1827. member of the great European family. f M. de Vatimesnil, one of the' six The Duke of Wellington, it will be Advocates -General of the Court of remembered, called the battle of Nava- Cassation. THE DUCHESS OF ST. ALBANS' FETE. 171 21st. — Dined at Lady Downshire's. Sir Thomas FeUowes there. He has been in England since the battle of Navarino, and is returning to Toulon to rejoin the squadron. This evening he saw the King, who spoke, as indeed he always does, most cordially of England. [On the 12th of April Miss Knight returned to England, and expressed much astonishment at the improvements in London since her former visit.] June 16th. — In the evening at Princess Sophia's. Sir J. C. came in, and gave a droU account of the magnificent breakfast given to-day by the Duchess of St. Albans, at her villa near town. Almost aU the best musical performers of our nation were there, besides the Tyrolese singers and others. A silver bread-basket of vast dimensions was handed about, and an inscription on it was read aloud, announcing the happiness of the Duke and Duchess in this, the first year of their married Hfe, and their intention of claiming the flitch of bacon at Dunmow six years hence : for which purpose they had prepared this basket. The Dukes of Cumberland and Sussex, and Prince Leopold, were there. July 10th. — Dined at Lord Stafford's. Miss Eden, Mr. and Mrs. Mason, Mr. Wilkie, the celebrated painter, just returned from Italy and Spain, Mr. and Mrs. Calcott, he a painter, and she the Mrs. Graham who was governess to the children' of the Emperor of Brazil, were of the party. Saw some 172 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. good views of Edinburgh, Stirhng, and other parts of Scotland, by Lady Stafford. We were" received in the gallery where the Flemish pictures are hung, and dined in the other, furnished with such noble paintings, as also is the drawing-room — magnificent treasures ! The four great landscapes in the room last named are to me dehghtful. 29th. — Went early to Princess Augusta at Frog- more. The garden is much improved, and in great beauty just now. Dear Princess Augusta makes aU happy around her. [On the 13th of August, Miss Knight again left England for Paris, where she remained until the 2nd of October. On that day she started for Ger many, and on her arrival at Frankfort, eight days afterwards, received the melancholy news of the death of the Queen-Dowager of Wiirtemberg, "who expired on Monday, the 6th, at a quarter before two — a dreadful loss to the country where she hved, and to aU who knew her." On the fohVwing day, October 11, Miss Knight reached Homburg, and was, as usual, kindly greeted by the Landgrave and Landgravine.] November 7th. — M. MoUer, architect of the Grand-Duke of Hesse Darmstadt, dined here, and he caUed upon me in the afternoon. He told me that the Cathedral of Worms is of, what they call in Germany, Byzantine architecture. There is a dif ference, he says, between that and the Saxon ; for LIFE AT HOMBURG. 173 our Saxon buildings in England are, in fact, imita tions of the Roman, whereas the Byzantine came from Constantinople, where the Roman was inter mixed with the Oriental, whence came the cupolas, minarets, &c. He also mentioned that at Vienna were preserved many records of the articles they used to receive there from Constantinople, which was in its time the arbiter of taste. In return, the Germans sent to that city slaves in great numbers, and these were the Slavi, or people of the Russian States, whom the Germans made prisoners, and sold to the Greek Emperors. M. MoUer seems to be a man of great reading and observation in his own line of study. The Cathedral of Mayence, he added, is of the Byzantine order. 26th. — This morning one of the Landgrave's officers, who is much employed by him, and dines at the table every day, was married to the daughter of the Landgrave's Master of the Horse. He had been ennobled by the Emperor of Austria at the request of the Landgravine,' because if the young lady had not married an " edelman," or noble, she would have lost the portion given to her by a Chapter to which she belongs. The Emperor signed the letters of nobility, as a compliment, on the Landgravine's birthday. The wedding took place at the house of the lady's father. After the cere mony, her parents, according to the custom of the country, surrounded the bride, and tied a handker- 174 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. chief over her eyes. They then took off her gar land of myrtle and placed it on the head of the young lady nearest to her, who happened to be her own sister. This is supposed to prognosticate which is the young person who will be the soonest married. One day very much resembles another. This is the ordinary routine. At seven the drum beats a reveU : a few minutes afterwards the stoves are lighted. At half-past eight the servant brings hot water, and at nine, coffee, boned milk, a small white loaf, a piece of brown bread, a slice of butter, a salt-ceUar, and in a saucer ten smaU lumps of sugar. At half-past eleven a message from the Landgravine to know how I have slept, and if I should hke to go out with her at a quarter or half- past twelve. At which hour, if tolerably fine, we go out in a drosky, and afterwards walk, returning home by a quarter before two, when the trumpet sounds for dress. At two, it sounds again to serve up dinner. I then go through a long passage, down twenty-five steps and up twenty-five steps, which lead me to another long passage, and that to the drawing-room, where I find two or three or more guests. The door opens, and the gentleman esteemed the most considerable gives me his arm. We walk into the dining-room, and stand stiU till the other door is thrown open, when the grand maitre d'h6tel, with a white wand and hat in LIFE AT HOMBURG. 175 hand, enters, preceding the Landgrave and Land gravine, foUowed by the aide-de-camp of the former and the maids of honour of the latter. AU sit down to table, the Landgrave having made me a sign to sit down beside him on his left hand. On his right is the Landgravine, and next to her one of his brothers — except when Princess Louise, their sister-in-law, dines at table, for then she sits be tween the Landgrave and Landgravine. Three or four times in the week the band plays during dinner, after which the brother gives his arm to the Landgravine, and the Landgrave his to me. During aU these movements the ladies curtsey and the gentlemen bow down to the ground. We walk into the drawing-room ; the Landgrave and his brother stand at one window ; the Landgravine and the ladies Sit near another ; the gentlemen stand at the other end of the room, unless any one happens to be addressed by the Landgrave. Coffee is served ; after which the Landgrave and Land gravine leave the room, making bows and curtseys, which are answered by profound bows from aU present. A maid of honour throws a shawl over the Landgravine's shoulders and walks after her, first turning to salute the company. The aide-de camp does the same, and foUows the Landgrave, after which everybody retires. The drum beats soon after as a salute to the Landgrave and Land gravine as they drive out in a drosky, returning 176 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. before six. About half-past six the Landgravine sends for me. A servant with a lantern lights me down stairs to her apartment, and I sit with her in her boudoir tiU eight o'clock strikes. The servant then hghts me through the passages and up the twenty-five steps, and I arrive at the drawing- room, where I find a maid of honour at the tea- table, and, about a quarter of an hour later, the door flies open, and the Landgrave and Land gravine enter. The former takes his tea, and then desires the card parties to be formed ; he playing at one table and the Landgravine at another. At a quarter before nine the other door opens, and Prince Ferdinand, the Landgrave's youngest bro ther, comes in, and bows to the company. He walks up and down and looks at the players, at a little distance ; then sits down, and then walks again. I sit at the corner of the Landgravine's table. A few minutes after, the drum beats for some time. At half- past nine the aide-de-camp and a captain, who is always in waiting, come in with low bows, and almost immediately afterwards a servant enters, goes up to the grand maltre, and announces supper. He is probably playing at the Landgrave's table, but, as soon as the game will permit, he rises, takes his white wand and hat from the chair on which he had deposited them, and comes up to the Landgravine's table, where he stands till he catches her eye. He then announces LIFE AT HOMBURG. * 177 supper, makes a bow, and retires. As soon as the parties break up, all go to supper, as before to dinner. The Landgrave and Landgravine retire as soon as it is over ; so do the company ; and a crowd of servants and kitchen-maids rush in to put out the Ughts and carry away the plates and dishes. The guard is reUeved every two hours : at one, three, five, &c. At eleven at night a man blows a horn eleven times, once at one, and three times at three. On Sundays we dine at three. The Princes and officers all in fuU-dress uniforms, and com pany, to the number of thirty to thirty-five, aU full dressed. On Mondays and Thursdays, the days for hunting, we dine at half-past two. In the latter part of December the Landgravine received a letter from the Duchess of Gloucester, teUing her that, on the 21st, the King received the little Queen, or Princess, of Portugal, Donna Maria da Gloria, at Windsor Castle, the apartments of which were fitted up with great elegance and mag nificence. The Duchess was there with the Duke, and the Duke and Duchess of Clarence, the Duke of WeUington, &c. &c. AU thought the little Princess remarkably like poor Princess Charlotte, though on a smaUer scale. She is nine years and a half old, very fair, with blue eyes. She was dressed Uke a young person of eighteen, and had fine jewels, with her father's portrait. She break fasted with the King, and behaved very properly. VOL. II. n 178 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. [Miss Knight left Homburg on the 13th of Ja nuary, and proceeded to Louisburg, where she found the ladies and gentlemen of the Court still grieving over the loss of the late Queen-Dowager. The Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg died, almost suddenly, on the 3rd of March foUowing.] Stuttgard, Jan. 23rd. — Received a message from the King and Queen, asking me to dine with them and meet the Enghsh Minister. At a quarter be fore five I went to the palace, and at five we dined. Princess Pauline was there, and the usual persons of the household, but no other company, except Mr. and Mrs. Desbrowe. The Queen seemed much affected, and shed tears in speaking of the late • Queen-Dowager. The King spoke of her with the highest esteem and the deepest gratitude. He said that during the fourteen years which had elapsed since the death of his father, he had never in one instance had reason to complain of his stepmother, but, on the contrary, had always experienced from her the kindest and most judicious conduct to wards himself and his famUy. Princess Pauline was very civU and very gay, for she is much pleased with the idea of her approaching marriage with the Duke of Nassau. February 25th. — Went to a baU at Court in the state apartments, which are magnificent, and really elegant ; the music good, and the rooms perfectly weU Ughted. It was Princess Pauline's birthday. MARRIAGE OF PRINCESS PAULINE. 179 The Duke of Nassau was there, and, it seems, made her some fine presents on the occasion. He is about thirty-six, not handsome, and rather short ; but ap parently very good-natured, and not ill-looking. He was with the Duke of WeUington at the battle of Waterloo. Prince Augustus was at the baU. He goes into the army in about three months. I came away before supper, but saw the tables set out in a very handsome style. AprU 21st. — The Duke of Nassau arrived with his grand chamberlain and two aides-de-camp. AU are to be lodged at the palace. The apartments — which, I think, are those of the late Queen- Dowager — are dressed out with young trees, flowers, &c. The King and Queen have invited me to the wedding, the dinner, and the Polonaise baU for Thursday, but I have excused myself, from being stiU weak.* 23rd. — This day the Duke of Nassau was married to Princess Pauline. The bride's jewels are valued at 300,000 florins. May 25th. — Dined with the King and Queen. There was no company, but some of their house hold. They were very gracious, and I took leave of them with feeUngs of sincere gratitude. Baden, June 7th. — The weather improved, and the country in great beauty. The theatre opens * During the greater part of March, Miss Knight had been confined to her room by severe illness. N 2 180 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. this evening with the opera of " Tancredi." Nine hundred and ninety-three strangers already arrived, though the " season" has not yet commenced. Many new houses have been built since I was here in 1824. 8th.- — Walked in the afternoon up the hills, where the scenery is very pleasing, and the grass ornamented with wUd flowers. I went into the garden of the Grand-Duchess, whose house stands on a little eminence. Baden is composed of various hills, which render its situation very picturesque, and the running rivulets from Uttle cascades, added to the magnificent oaks which enrich the scenery, form altogether a very interesting picture. The shape of the hills does not compose so good a back ground as might be wished, but the houses, though not of regular architecture, are pretty and fanciful. Most of them have terraces, or balconies, with flowers, and they are interspersed among the high trees on the hills and hillocks. July 1st. — Baden appears to fiU daily. The Grand-Duchess Stephanie arrived this evening. It seems she was a niece of Count Beauharnais, the first husband of Josdphine, and that Lady Bath (the wife of Sir James Pulteney) took compassion on her, and had her educated in the south of France. She was forced to go to Paris by Bona parte, who also compeUed her to marry the Grand- Duke of Baden, against her inchnation and Ms. BADEN. 181 Lady Bath left her 1000Z. in her will, which Bona parte would not allow her to accept. The execu tors, however, placed it in the funds, and she has since received it, with the accumulated interest, settUng both on her youngest daughter. She had two sons, who died, and has now three daughters. She usually resides at Mannheim, but went this spring to Paris to consult an oculist, and was well received by the King, Dauphin, Dauphiness, &c. &c. August 21. — The Russians are supposed to be by this time in possession of Constantinople. By the last accounts they were within a few leagues of that capital.* I remember my mother used to say, " Russia wants to drive the only honest man out of Europe." [In the beginning of September, Miss Knight quitted Baden and traveUed by way of Zurich, Lucerne, Berne, Friburg, Geneva, Mont Cenis, and Susa, to Turin. In that city she remained only a few days, and then continued her route to Genoa, where she passed the ensuing winter. She here met an old Roman acquaintance, Signor Gagliassi, who, after visiting her one day, composed the fol lowing lines of doubtful gaUantry : Salve, cui Noctis dedit Anglica patria nomen ! Noctis, quam propriam docta Minerva vocat. Salve, quam vidi Romse, Arcada ! inter euntem, Et nunc in Liguri laetor adesse solo. * Diebitch's army had melted "like Treaty of Adrianople saved the rem- snow at the glance of the Lord" by nants of the Russian forces rather than the time he reached Adrianople. The Constantinople. 182 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. Salve, qua? pulchram ducens, viridemque senectam, JE,vo et consilio fcemina Nestor eris 1 Accipe, quam scribo curru properante, salutem ; Vota tibi rediens fervidiora feram. This " epigramma" Miss Knight copied out and sent to a friend, accompanied by the foUowing verses : Gagliassi seems to think it strange That I still breathe the air of life, And still abroad delight to range — He says I might be Nestor's wife. The compliment has made you stare, And, I confess, has made me smile ; But, could I Nestor's wisdom share, Such union might be worth the while. As Greece is all the fashion now, To Pylos I my course might steer, And, should old Nestor make his bow, There keep a Court and give good cheer. But Night, dark Night, is not my name; I spring not from Minerva's race ; From Chivalry my lineage came ; Romance alone in me you trace. GENOA. 183 CHAPTER X. GENOA — THE PALLAVICINI FAMILY — CHARACTER OP THE GENOESE— RETURN TO ENGLAND—THE ROYAL FAMILY AT BRIGHTON — LONDON —GLOOMY RE TROSPECT — ANECDOTES. JOURNAL CONTINUED 1830. Genoa, January 1st. — The accounts of the wea ther from aU quarters very extraordinary. In London terrible fogs ; at Paris the Seine frozen over ; at Turin and at MUan more snow than has ever been known before ; and here, a greater suc cession of north-east and north-west winds than can be remembered for sixty years. 23rd. — The Prince of the Peace was at the Opera last night with his wife.* He is on his way to * " It has been asserted" (says Lord apartment of the favourite, and sur- Holland in his " Foreign Reminis- prised him when supping t@te-a-t6te cences," p. 87) "that his (Manuel with Mademoiselle Tudo (the daughter Godoy's) marriage with the daughter of an artillery officer), a lady of ex- of the Infant Don Luis originated in traordinary beauty, to whom he was a malicious trait of jealousy of the clandestinely married, though some Queen. The story goes, that she say by a contract which the laws brought the King unexpectedly to the would consider as invalid ; that the 184 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. Paris, where, not long ago, or at least in the neigh bourhood of Paris, died the Lady of the House of Bourbon, whom he married, and it was reported that he had another wife. M. de B said that in Spain he was assured that the Prince had not been married to this other lady, but that he had now married her. I remember meeting a son of theirs at the house of a Spanish lady, at Paris, a few years ago ; and at Rome I heard that, in com pany with the King and Queen of Spain, the Prince of Peace, with his daughter by the Lady of the House of Bourbon, were arrived in Italy. The governor of this place, the Marquis d'Hyene, has been greatly beloved wherever he has com manded. At one place the good people wished to pay him particular attention, and, among other decorations for his reception, had a transparency representing a hyaena surrounded by httle Cupids caressing it. To explain the meaning of this, they Bang was partly shocked and partly heinous and troublesome sin of bigamy. diverted at the discovery ; that he I do not vouch for the truth of the shortly afterwards, at the suggestion tale. Well-informed persons believed of the Queen, with a view of provid- it, and related it to me. It is certain ing, without the peril of a deadly sin, that the ostensible marriage with the for the incontinence of his favourite, Princess, which took place in 1797, insisted on matrimony, and conde- never interrupted his connexion with scended to offer his young and recently the Tudo. During his prosperity, she acknowledged cousin for a bride ; that was generaUy lodged in a royal palace, the Prince of the Peace, not daring to or in an adjoining apartment. After acknowledge his union with the Tudo, his exile and adversity, she followed and still less to decline the royal him to Rome, and has always been alliance without alleging some such treated by him, his friends, and even insurmountable bar, prevailed on the the Royal Family, as a personage in wife of his affections to suppress the some sort legitimately entitled to the truth, and allowed Charles, in his zeal society, tenderness, and protection of to rescue him from more venial and the Prince of Peace." ordinary vices, to involve him in the THE PALLAVICINI FAMILY. 185 said to the Marquis d'Hyene : " Noi siamo gU amorini, e la bestia e 1'ecceUenza vostra." In the memoirs of the PaUavicini family, it ap pears that a nobleman* of that name went to Eng land on a mission from the Pope to receive money due to the Holy See, and that, after getting pos session of it, he became a Protestant, and appro priated the money to his own use. His wife was with him, and after his death she married a son of Cromwell, and returned with her second husband to Genoa, where they inhabited the villa still be longing to the PaUavicini famUy, caUed La Pes- chiera. If this be true, it must have happened during the short reign of James II. , for, otherwise, what hope could the Pontiff have of getting money from England ? It seems odd, however, that he should have sent a secular, and a married one, too ; * Signor Horatio PaUavicini quitted of Lords. He died in 1600, leaving his native country and settled in the his second wife, daughter of Egidius Netherlands, where he married a wo- Hooftman of Antwerp, in possession man of low extraction. On her death, of immense wealth. In the following he crossed over into England, and was year she married Sir Oliver Cromwell, appointed by Queen Mary collector of uncle and godfather of the Protector. the papal taxes gathered in the king- Two sons and a daughter by her for- dom. At Mary's decease he happened mer husband, Sir Horatio PaUavicini, to have thus a large sum of money in married two daughters and a son of his possession, and accordingly turned her second husband by his former Protestant. His talents and know- wife. It does not appear that Lady ledge of continental languages ren- Cromwell ever visited Genoa at all. dered him very useful to Queen Eliza- Her son Oliver may have done so, as beth, who conferred upon him the he was certainly a student at Padua. honour of knighthood. In the follow- He was killed by the fall of some ing year he fitted out and commanded buildings at Rome. There is no men- a ship against the Spanish Armada, tion of any other member of the family and his portrait was placed among going to Italy. See the Rev. Mark those of the patriots who distinguished Noble's " Memoirs of the Protectoral themselves on that occasion in the House of Cromwell." tapestry that hung in the old House 186 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. but that might have been to avoid exciting sus picion. I remember that when I was at Genoa, many years ago, with my mother, we were told that a son of Cromwell had Uved in a vUla over the Zerbino, a Uttle way out of the gate. This answers to the PaUavicini viUa. Genoa is sadly altered and degraded. Many of its finest buildings are falling to decay, and the grass grows luxuriantly in their court-yards. And yet trade flourishes more than ever. The principal nobility and merchants are stiU very rich, and the King of Sardinia does aU in his power to render it a flourishing seaport and an agreeable residence. But it is more difficult to make the Genoese amuse themselves than it is to make them get money—' the former implies spending it. There is great inequality of fortune — great riches and great poverty. AprU 27. — This day was celebrated, outside the gates, the feast of a saint held in great veneration by the common people. On the eve there were Uluminations and fireworks, and the church was crowded with people either from devotion or for the sake of amusement. They say that this saint was once upon a time servant to a baker, and used to take a great many loaves every morning for the poor. The baker missed his bread, and suspected his servant. He watched her, and saw her go out with her apron filled. On stopping her, he was THE GENOESE. • 187 much surprised, for he saw nothing but flowers. This is celebrated as a miracle. When Lord Exmouth was at Genoa, he took everything he could take, even to the brass rings which received the chain of the port. How dif ferent was this from the conduct of Lord Nelson and Sir Thomas Troubridge when in the Mediter ranean ! They came to rescue nations, and not to plunder them. It is said to be a custom here, that when a man is displeased with another, as a token of resent ment and defiance, he lets his whiskers grow. Per haps this may be the reason why the King ex pressed his dissatisfaction with a young nobleman who aUowed his whiskers to grow, though he was not in the army. The young man cut them off, but is so displeased that he wiU not go to Court. The Marchesa Durezzo says, that of the lower classes in Genoa the most courteous and good natured are the saUors, whom I have always heard spoken of as the best seamen of the Mediterranean. There is a harshness in the lower orders, and a stiffness in the higher classes of the Genoese, which one does not meet with in other ItaUans. But they have understanding and acuteness, and I be Ueve that, in reality, they have the affectionate heart peculiar to their common country — but you must get at it. [At the end of May, Miss Knight resumed her 188 • AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. wanderings, halting, however, at Turin until the middle of July. She thence proceeded to Milan and across the Simplon to Geneva. Passing on by way of Neufchatel, she again entered France, and arrived at Dijon on the 12th of August, under which date occurs the foUowing entry : " The town was obhged to iUuminate last night in honour of the new King, Louis Philippe, being proclaimed ' Roi des Francais.' The people display no enthu siasm, and aU is quiet in this district. Several officers have resigned their commissions. On the road I met some wounded Swiss and others of that corps, and also of the Royal Guards, both of which corps are now suppressed, and the men dismissed to their respective homes." Three days later, Miss Knight arrived in Paris, and on the 9th of Sep tember at Dover. " On the road from Paris to Calais," she remarks, " I perceived no signs of gaiety or enthusiasm. A person disposed to criti cise the nation would, perhaps, divide it into three classes — knaves, dupes, and people intimidated by their recoUection of the horrid scenes of the former revolution. Certain it is that the prosperity of France was great, and yearly increasing, and now all has become precarious, thanks to designing am bition and infamous journals. I am sick of the subject, and what I did not write while in the country from prudence, I now avoid writing from disgust." In the foUowing October, Miss Knight BRIGHTON 189 took apartments at Brighton, where she was pre sented to WiUiam IV. and Queen Adelaide, and in vited to an evening party on the 21st, at which " tableaux were represented by an actor from the theatre. The King and Queen were very civil to everybody." She was again invited on the 27th of December, when "the PaviUon was lighted up and as hot as possible. I cannot admire the dragons and other Oriental fancies, having been spoiled for such things by being early accustomed to the dig nified simplicity of classic taste. Besides the two Princesses, the Duke of Sussex was there, and some of the new Ministers, Lord Grey, Sir James Gra ham, Lord HoUand, and Lord Durham." The last entry of the year runs in these words : "A whale was caught near this place two days ago. It is sixty-five feet in length. It was almost dead, and had a harpoon in its body." On the 28th of De cember, Miss Knight takes a gloomy retrospective view of the events of the previous twelve months. "This miserable year," she writes, "is almost at its close. On the 26th of June, died George IV., who was succeeded by WiUiam Duke of Clarence. On the 29th of July, Charles X. lost, his throne — the Dauphin as weU as himself renouncing aU right to it. The Duke of Orleans was crowned by four marshals in a very smaU assembly of the repre sentatives of the nation, and without any reUgious ceremony. No etiquette, no distinctions, aUowed. 190 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. Popular tumults in France and England. The King and Queen of England deterred from dining in the City owing to a communication from the Lord Mayor, advising them of intended riots and the cutting of the gas-pipes. The Duke of Wel lington left in a minority, and obhged to resign : Lord Grey and his party forming the new adminis* tration. The revolt of Belgium; disturbances in many parts of Germany ; the Duke of Brunswick expelled in favour of his brother ; the Grand-Duke Constantine and the Russians driven out of Poland ; fires in many counties in England to destroy the haystacks and corn-ricks !" [1831.] Mrs. Fitzherbert, when WiUiam IV. visited her after his brother's death, showed him the papers which proved her marriage with the late King, first by a Roman Cathohc priest, and immediately afterwards by a clergyman of the Church of Eng land. The King desired her to put on widow's weeds. Mrs. Fitzherbert also showed these papers to the Duke of WeUington, then Prime Minister. She is constantly invited to the Queen's parties, and is treated with much respect. January 8. — Dined at General Egerton's, and went in the evening with him and Mrs. E. to a great party at the Pavihon. The Prince of Orange was there. He came yesterday, and is to stay till THE ROYAL FAMILY. 191 the 10th. He has been some time in England, and brought a letter to the King from his father, requesting his Majesty to be kind to him, as he himself had forgiven him. There was dancing, and some musicians from Bohemia played and sang. February 14. — The King after dinner drank to the memory of the Earl of St. Vincent, and of aU the brave officers and men who fought on that day and are now no more, and to the health of those who survive. London, March 6. — The son of Murat Uves in this (Dover) street. He arrived lately from America, where he is naturalised, and practises at the bar. He often visits his cousin Lady Dudley Stuart, the daughter of Lucien Bonaparte. The Prince of Orange, I hear, is frequently at their parties. Murat was at Lord Grey's last night. April 17. — Dined with the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland, at their apartments in St. James's Palace. The Landgravine Avas also there. The apartments are handsome. On the ground floor a waiting-room, library, and dining-room; and up stairs, a large and superb drawing-room ; excellent bed-chamber, dressing-room, &c. There are several portraits — George III., Queen Charlotte, Mr. Pitt, two sons of the Duchess, a bust of Goethe, &c. The dinner was very good, and weU served : aU in the most proper style. The Duchess has exceUent 192 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. manners , and Prince George, who came in at the dessert, with two young companions, is reaUy a de lightful boy. December 31. — This year has been one of the most painful to the feehngs of those who have been accustomed to the principles of social order and morality, that I can remember. The French revo lution in the last century cannot be recaUed to mind without horror, as every period of it was marked by the most atrocious crimes, and a total contempt of morahty and religion. But the in sidious duphcity, the want of faith, and perversion of reason, which have brought about and coloured the progress of that of 1830, threaten Europe with a total disorganisation of political and moral prin ciple. Alarm of every description is prevailing. The ties of blood and of aUiance are forgotten ; and whUe it is pretended that everything is being done for the maintenance of peace, no security is given for the preservation of internal tranquUlity. France is stiU under the government of Louis Philippe and his Minister, Casimir Perier ; Belgium, under that of Leopold. Poland is reoccupied by Russia. Italy, notwithstanding the efforts made to revolu tionise her, is stiU quiet, except, perhaps, in the three Legations, and they are kept in awe by Austria. [At the end of this lamentation, Miss Knight re cords various anecdotes she had picked up in the THE BOURBON FAMILY. 193 course of the year, a few of which are worth ex tracting.] April 19. — Prince de Talleyrand wrote the other day to Louis PhiUppe, who had been intriguing to get the throne of Belgium for his second son, the Duke de Nemours : "II faut que votre Majeste" se rappeUe qu'avant de pouvoir mettre le pied en Brabant, il faut avoir le pied en Europe." The Duke of Orleans was always making unjust complaints of Louis XVIII. , and one day went so far as to say to M. de B. that it was very unwise to treat him in that manner, for, added he, " Je compte pour beaucoup en France." M. de B. an swered: " Cela n'est pas possible, monseigneur, car vous n'etes ni brave, ni gen^reux ;" and, turn ing his back on him, left the room. The Duke from that time overwhelmed M. de B. with civilities and flatteries. Charles X. says that his conscience acquits him of having had anything in view contrary to the good of his people, whose lives he wished to spare, and whom he was only anxious to save from the artifices of faction. He was made to believe that there would be twenty-nine thousand troops in Paris, and that aU would pass over quietly. The Dauphiness still speaks with tender affection of her native country, notwithstanding aU she has suffered there. She said the other day to a lady : " On VOL. ii. o 194 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. nous calomnie crueUement ; mais croyez-vous que l'histoire nous rendra justice ?" The Grand-Duchess Helena is now (July) at Sidmouth, and her father, Prince Paul of Wiirtem berg, is with her. An Irish famUy were presented to her amongst others, when she said to them: " What are you doing here ? You ought to be in your own country, and spending your money there." Don Pedro, Duke of Braganza, ex-Emperor of BrazU, told a lady of very high rank, who repeated it to me, that the misfortune of the present age was that none of the sovereigns had a head to manage affairs. One of the French papers says, that in the recent elections M. B., a Royahst, has been chosen, at which it manifests great surprise, but adds, that the department for which he had been elected had not attained that degree of civilisation which excludes the idea of legitimacy. From the weU-known opinions professed by the journal in question, it cannot be suspected of jesting on the subject Somebody having said in conversation that Mi nisters had advised his Majesty to dismiss his household troops, a gentleman answered: "In that case he should begin by dismissing the Greys." It is said Prince Leopold has been forced to ANECDOTES. 195 accept the crown of Belgium. The expression is, " a pistol has been held to his throat, and another to that of the King of HoUand, to make the one accept and the other resign, to avoid bringing England and HoUand into collision." We are not, however, obliged to beUeve this., Louis PhiUppe has long had great influence over Prince Leopold. The King (WiUiam IV.) said the other day, in speaking of Don Pedro : " To be sure, we are both sovereigns — at least, he was one : but there is a great difference between us for aU that ; for I am an honest man, and he is a thief." A Frenchman, lately arrived in London, was asked if he had caught the influenza : " Ah 1 non," he replied ; " je l'ai prise en grippe." Lady Talbot, of Malahide is turned of ninety. She is of a very ancient and distinguished family in Ireland, and, in gratitude for certain favours bestowed, came over to the Coronation, and went also to the foUowing Drawing-room. I met one evening one of her sons, who is an Admiral, with his niece, her grand-daughter, and they said she was not in the least fatigued. It has been discovered that four persons were sent from Paris to take the life of the Duke de Bordeaux. Three of them went in separate stage coaches to Edinburgh, but they have been forced to return, and additional sentinels have been placed at Holyrood. The child now does not walk out o2 196 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. with a. servant as before, but only goes out in a carriage. The fourth assassin does not seem to have been found out. A stranger happening to be in Paris soon after the revolution of July, 1830, was stopped by a young chimney-sweeper, who asked him if he had seen the King, of the French. The other replied in the negative. "Would you like to see him?" continued the chimney-sweeper. " Only give me a piece of five francs and you shaU see him." The stranger agreed to do so, and they went away to gether to the Palais Royal. As soon as they were in sight of the balcony the boy began to call out, " Louis PhUippe ! Louis Philippe !" in which cry he was joined by the rabble near him. The King of the French came out to make his obeisance, and the gentleman gave a five-franc piece to the sweeper. " Now," said the boy, " if you have a mind to hear him sing, only promise me five more, and you shaU be satisfied." The stranger assented, and his Majesty, at the command of the mob, joined in the Marseillaise Hymn, with aU the appro priate grimaces. At the time when Louis PhiUppe was shaking hands with everybody in the street, he held out his hand to a man, who said, " Stop a httle." Thrust ing both hands in the mud he offered them to the King, saying, " Now they are fit for you." ANECDOTES. 197 Thirty years ago Louis PhUippe remarked : " Je n'aurai de paix que quand je serai Roi de France." Since the shameful business of the lawsuit re specting the late Duke of Bourbon's wUl, they caU Louis PhUippe "Louis Filou." Le peuple ! c'est le peuple qu'on loue et qu'on blame : Helas ! le bon peuple n'a ni raison ni tort : Corps sain et vigoureux, dont un heros est 1'ftm.e, Ou machine du traitre agissant a ressort. The young Duke de Bordeaux, while playing at baU, was accosted by a Frenchman with many compliments, who told him he would certainly be king. " La place est prise," answered the boy. The man kept teasing him, and at last said : " Mais j'ai envie d'assassiner celui qui a pris cette place." "Et moi," repUed the young Duke, "je le de- fendrai." This was said with an air of noble contempt, and he would not Usten to anything more the man had to say. The Countess de N. says she knows from cer tain authority that Casimir Perier in his ravings, during the last few days of his life, fancied himself Charles X., and that he was constantly ordering to the block the traitor Perier. The Duke de B., who Uved so many years on the most intimate terms with Louis XVIIL, de clares, that the Memoirs published in his Majesty's name were never written by him, for he burnt aU his papers a short time before his death. He thinks 198 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. they were revised by the Duke Decazes, but written by a M. Capefigue, of Marseilles. [During the year 1832, Miss Knight divided her time between Brighton, Tunbridge Wells, London, Tottenham Park, Cheltenham, and Oxford. At the close of the year she was again at Brighton. She sums up as foUows the events of the preceding twelve months : " What an eventful year ! The dreadful ravages of the cholera in many places, especiaUy in London and Paris, have carried off many weU-known persons. Charles X. and his suite left Scotland, attended by the blessings and regrets of the inhabitants. He is now at Prague. The Duchess de Berri a prisoner in the castle of Blois. The citadel of Antwerp, bravely defended by General Chassd, compeUed at length to surren der to Marshal Gerard. The combined fleets of France and England, meanwhUe, unable to ap proach the coast on account of the weather. Af fairs not yet settled. Prince Otho, of Bavaria, now King of Greece, conveyed to the Piraeus on board an Enghsh ship of war !"] [1833.] [The greater part of the year 1833 was passed by Miss Knight in London, but the only entry in her Diary worthy of notice is the foUowing one :] June 14th. — Dined at Lady Charleville's, to meet Lady Charlotte Bury, Miss Porter, Mr. Dis- ANECDOTES. , 193 raeli, Lord Oxmantown, Mr. Campbell, and others. In the evening more company came. The manners of Miss Porter appeared to me as pleasing and un assuming as her novels are natural and entertain ing, no less than weU principled. Mr. CampbeU, author of " The Pleasures of Hope," &c, is grown very large, and appears to be in iU-health. Mr. Disraeli is an author, and the son of an author. He talked much of the government of Syria, Egypt, &c. Among those who came in the evening was Lady Morgan, but I had no opportunity of hearing her converse, as I came away early. [A few anecdotes are inserted at the close of the year, from which the foUowing are selected. The "local habitation," assigned to the oft-quoted grace on rabbits, is on the authority of the Princess Au gusta.] The Duke of Richmond, great-uncle of the pre sent one (recently deceased), was very fond of hares and rabbits, especiaUy the latter, and used to have them constantly served at table, dressed in various ways. His chaplain in ordinary, who used to sit near the lower end, was not a Uttle tired of them, more especiaUy as by the time they came to him they were often quite cold. So, being asked to say grace, he recited : " Rabbits young, and rabbits old, Rabbits hot, and rabbits cold, Rabbits tender,- rabbits tough, Thanks to Heav'n, we've had rabbits enough." 200 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. Sir Herbert Taylor says that " The Enghsh are never so happy as when they are discontented; the Irish never in such good humour as when they are breaking heads ; and the Scotch never so much at home as when they are living upon others." Count de M., when Minister at Stockholm, was staying at the house of the Count d'Uglas, after the Countess and his young daughter, who was in a bad state of health, had left him on their way to Paris. One morning he told the Count and Countess d'Uglas that he had passed a very uncom fortable night, for that he had continuaUy seen a kneeUng figure, sometimes on one, sometimes on the other side of his bed, and that, though the back was turned to him, it perfectly resembled his daughter. The impression was so strong upon his mind that he sketched the figure, which, in fact, did resemble hers. On comparing dates, it after wards appeared that his daughter had died at that very time.* An old woman, who died a few years ago in Ireland, had a nephew, a lawyer, to whom she left by wiU aU she possessed. She happened to have a favourite cat, who never left her, and even re mained by the corpse after her death. After the will was read in the adjoining room, on opening the door the cat sprang at the lawyer, seized him by the throat, and was with difficulty prevented * This story is told on the authority of the Countess d'Uglas. ANECDOTES. 201 from strangUng him. This man died about eighteen months after this scene, and on his death-bed con fessed that he had murdered his aunt to get pos session of her money. Lord Nelson, writing to the Admiralty for sup pUes at a time when his squadron stood in great need of them (in the year 1799, I think), said : " We must have them from home, for Spain would not, Naples and SicUy could not, and Sardinia ought not, to supply them." 202 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. CHAPTER XI. ANECDOTES — TALLEYRAND— CHAELES ALBEBT — MASSENA — FEEDINAND OP SPAIN — LOKD WEIAESLEY — ALEIEHI— CHARLES X.— DEATH 01 MISS KNIGHT. [In July, 1834, Miss Knight again crossed the Channel, and renewed her acquaintance with many of her old friends in Paris, which she left for Nice in the last week in October. Here she remained untU the latter part of July, 1835, when she pro ceeded to Turin. Some of the anecdotes recorded in her journal, during this period of her life, though not aU new, are worth preserving.] The young King of Naples [the late monarch], while reviewing his cavalry the other day (Septem ber, 1834), was displeased at the manner in which they performed their manoeuvres, and, to punish them, led them to the bank of a river, into which he plunged, swam his horse across, and made them do the same, to their great astonishment. A man, who squints very much, was talking to TALLEYRAND. 203 M. de TaUeyrand about public affairs, and wound xip by saying : " Enfin, Prince, tout va de travers." To which the other repUed : " Oui, monsieur, comme vous voyez." It is said that in a late debate which terminated in the resignation of several of the Ministers, Lord Stanley handed over to Sir James Graham a scrap of paper, on which he had written with a pencil : "Johnny will upset the' coach" — meaning, of course, Lord John RusseU. Some one having remarked to TaUeyrand, when he was Uving on his estate in banishment from the Court during the later years of Bonaparte's reign, that he must find the life he led " bien monotone," the Prince replied : " Monsieur, le monotone fut le berceau de la vie." Sir Edward Sugden, a celebrated lawyer who has lately come into Parhament, having heard that he ¦had been turned into ridicule for being the son of a hairdresser, made answer : " So I am, and I am come into the House to give a dressing to the Whigs." Sir Walter Scott told Mr. Howard, of Corby, that the only verses David Hume ever wrote were made at an inn in that neighbourhood. They were as foUows : Chickens in eggs at brealtfast sprawl ; Godless boys God's glory squall; Scotchmen's heads adorn the wall j Corby's walks atone for all. 204 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. These lines were probably written soon after the affair of '45, and I suppose the " Scotchmen's heads" were exposed on the walls of Carhsle. Mr. Howard was one day at a great dinner party which the late Duke of Norfolk gave to several of his neighbours. He sat at the bottom of the table, the Duke being at the head, and one of the gentle men who sat near the Duke caUed out to him and said : " Mr. Howard, wUl you drink a glass of wine with me? There was a connexion between our famihes." " With a great deal of pleasure, sir," rephed Mr. H, "though I don't know exactly what the connexion is ; but in this county there have been several marriages between neighbours." "Why, sir," resumed the gentleman, "your an cestor, Lord William Howard, hung up twenty* three out of twenty-seven of my family, and you must own that was a tie" This reminded me of an anecdote I heard at Brighton. General Dal- rymple, who was between ninety and a hundred years of age, was introduced by the King to Lord Errol as an old friend. " Ah ! my Lord," said the General, " the last of your famUy I have seen was Lord Kilmarnock's head on Temple-bar." An Enghsh lady at Paris, who was obhged to have an arm taken off, six months afterwards mar ried the surgeon who performed the operation. On which a French gentleman remarked : " EUe lui a donn£ la main pour lui avoir coupd le bras." • CHARLES ALBERT. 205 The King of Sardinia (Charles Albert) is very kind and obhging to the French Royahsts who are at Turin. The Duke de F , with whom he is connected, has an employment about the Court — he had been severely wounded, and lost a leg in the affair of the Three Days. The King heard that the Duke was anxious to visit the King and Royal Family at Prague, but that his finances were not favourable to so long a journey. His Majesty, therefore, thought of an expedient which would enable the Duke to gratify his loyalty, without his feehngs being wounded. " Duke," he said, " would you do me the favour to choose some horses for me (at such a place) in Bohemia; and as your best way wiU be through Prague, of course you wiU pay your respects to the Royal Family there." As the journey was on the King's service, the Duke could feel no reluctance about having his expenses paid. The Countess de B. told me the other day that her mother was once remarking to Cardinal Costa, a very clever man, that she could not help feeUng indignant at the conduct of certain Ministers as being without good faith or probity. "Ah, ma chere dame," he repUed, " quand U s'agit de la poUtique, il faut se rappeler que ce ne sont pas des gens baptises." Massena was a native of the county of Nice ; when he was here after the Restoration he told a 20G AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. story of what happened to him once when he had the command of the French army in Spain. Early in the morning of an expected battle he walked through the camp, disguised by a soldier's cloak,. that he might judge of the disposition of his men. He heard three of them talking together about the forthcoming engagement. One said : " Ah ! I hope I shaU get a pair or two of stockings, for mine are worn out." Another wished for the acquisition of a couple of shirts, as his own were in rags. Turn ing to the third, they said: "And what do you want? You say nothing." The young man an swered : " What do I care about stockings and shirts ? I want to do something that wiU get me the cross of the Legion of Honour, and then I may rise like our general to be an officer and a marshal of France, for he began like myself as a ' pauvre gredin.' " Many stories are told respecting the death of Ferdinand (of Spain) and his wiU. Some say that he had signed a codicU revoking his disposal of the crown, and restoring Don Carlos to his rights ; but that the Queen, on her return from hunting, find ing him dead, and having been told of the codicil, sought for it in his secretaire and in the drawers of a table where he kept papers. Being unable to find the secret place in which it was deposited, she or dered the two pieces of furniture to be burned. Others go stUl further, and pretend that, had she LORD WELLESLEY. 207 been brought to bed of a son, Ferdinand would have Uved a little longer, &c. &c. It must, however, be remembered, that where great personages are concerned, and party spirit prevails, there are many inventions. The character of Don Carlos is cer tainly that of an honest man, even by the account of his enemies. I recoUect hearing the late Duke of Gloucester say that Mina told him that, although he was not himself of the party of Don Carlos, he believed him to be the honestest man of the famUy. I forget who told me the foUowing anecdote of the Marquis of WeUesley, when Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. He was at table with a party of Irish gentlemen who were chiefly Orangemen, and in the dining-room hung a painting of the battle of the Boyne, which in that country is usually caUed the Victory of Boyne Waters, The company wish ing him to pronounce an opinion, invited him to change his seat. "Surely, my Lord," said one, " you would not turn your back on Boyne Waters?" Lord WeUesley answered, pointing to a bottle of claret that stood before him : " Oh, I never look at water when I can get wine." Count Alfieri, one morning, as he was sitting with the Countess of Albany, was informed that Napoleon had just issued orders for several chU dren of the first famUies of Florence, as of other great cities of Italy, to be sent to Paris to serve as 208 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. his pages, and afterwards enter the army. One asked, " What could be done ?" Another, "How could it be avoided ?" A third remarked, " If they go, their principles wiU be perverted, and they wiU be estranged from their country ; and if they are not sent, their parents wiU be persecuted, ruined, imprisoned. What is to be done with them?" Alfieri suddenly exclaimed, with great energy, " AmmazzarU !"* [At Turin Miss Knight remained throughout the entire year 1836, the pohtical events of which she sums up in a few lines. " This year," she writes, " has been fruitful in events. Spain and Portugal in commotion, and now three parties in the former. In France an attempt to assassinate Louis Philippe ; and young Louis Napoleon Bonaparte arrested at Strasburg, for his mad attempt to gain the throne — a plot supposed to have an extensive ramification. Death of Charles X., at Goritz. Loss of the French at Constantine. Great pohtical disputes in England, and violent party spirit. A dreadful hurricane felt there, in HoUand, and some other countries. Great inundations in France." There are several- miscellaneous anecdotes, however, recorded in her journal, which are not without interest.] At a baU given by Count M., at Vienna, the French Ambassador, M. de St. Aulaire, expressed to the Countess his great admiration of a coronet * " Massacre them !" TURIN. 209 of diamonds she had on her head. " Ah ! queUe belle couronne, Madame la Comtesse ! " "Au moins," she repUed, " elle n'est pas votee." It has been remarked that during the long series of Princes of the House of Savoy, neither assassina tions, nor family quarrels of any political conse quence, nor acts of unjust usurpation, have stained the annals of their history; an observation that could not be justly applied to any other royal family now possessed of European thrones, or to any other list of European sovereigns. The far greater number of these Princes of Savoy have been good monarchs, and many of them distin guished for their bravery and military talent. It is said that Tasso conceived his beautiful idea of the Garden of Armida from the views in the neighbourhood of Turin, and particularly from the spot where stands the "vigna," or viUa, of Sir Augustus Foster. The garden which is said to have inspired him with the original conception is supposed to have been what is now caUed the Old Park. Tasso was on a visit to the Duke of Savoy. A celebrated surgeon, named Livois, who was in the French army, took compassion on a dog whose leg had been fractured by a shot during the siege of some place or another. He set the bones, and cured him. Some time afterwards he found wait ing at his door the same dog, with a companion VOL. II. p 210 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. who had a broken leg, and whom he evidently wished to introduce to him. The surgeon cured this second dog also, and mentioned the circum stance to the Countess du C, who repeated it to me. Charles X., who expired at Goritz, in Styria, in the night between the 5th and 6th of November, 1836, had entered upon the eightieth year of his age in the preceding month. He was active and cheerful to the moment at which he was seized by the fatal malady which closed his mortal existence in less than thirty hours. During this time he suffered greatly, but died tranquU and resigned, forgiving his enemies, those who had injured him, and those who had been misled. He had visited the Princess of B. and his nephews, the sons of Don Carlos, on his way to Goritz, where he was about to establish himself with his famuy. The 4th of November, St. Charles's day and his own fete, he had celebrated with a few friends, and he had been received with great cordiahty by the in habitants of Goritz. It has always appeared to me that Charles X, was the true model of a gentleman. He was agree able, unaffected, and amiable in the best sense of the word, and an affectionate and faithful friend. His look came from the heart, and what he said, however gratifying, could not be suspected of flat tery. If in his youth he was gay, his conduct in THE ISLAND OF SARDINIA. 211 mature age was respectable, without prejudice or ostentation. His piety was sincere and fervent; and, without presumption, I think we may venture to say that he has made a blessed exchange. The Duchess of Hamilton told me that he said to her at. Holyrood, speaking of the Revolution of 1830 : " I meant weU ; therefore I lay my head down peace ably to rest." A banker having observed that one of the ladies- whom we caU " exclusives" always bowed most graciously to him when she took money at his bank, but did not return his bow when he passed her in the street, one day, when he met her, took out a gold piece of twenty francs, and presenting it to her, said : " C'est un peu cher, mais je serais bien aise d'avoir un bon salut." In the island of Sardinia there are many persons who Uve in the mountains, chiefly in the open air, for they have no habitations, but sometimes seek refuge in caves. They are remarkably brave, ac tive, and revengeful, bearing animosity against those with whom they are at variance from father to son. They are caUed banditti, and are punish able by the laws of the Piedmontese Government when they can be caught, but they do not attack traveUers, nor commit any robberies. Some of them, it seems, Uved not very far from the castle of the Marquis de B., and between eight and nine one evening, while he was at table, his butler whis- p 2 212 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS KNIGHT. pered to him that one of their chiefs, whose name he knew, wished to speak to him. He ordered him to be shown into his own room, and then went to him. He was a man between forty and fifty years of age, but his hair, including a long beard, was already quite grey. He was armed with pistols, dagger, and musket, and had with him a dog, as had also each of his companions. These were four in number, and one of them, a young man of twenty -one, remarkably handsome. The chief pressed the hand of the Marquis, and said that he trusted to his honour, and was sure he would not betray him, but that he wished to ask him to ob tain, if possible, their pardon. The Marquis could not promise this, but assured him he should not be betrayed. "If he were," cried one of his com panions, " we would defend him to the last, and even die with him." The Marquis gave orders to his butler to invite them to supper, which they readUy accepted. They sat down, each with his dog by his side, but, before they would touch any thing, the chief said to the butler, " I must beg you to begin ; not that I expect any treachery here, but some of our companions were poisoned at a supper. Pray excuse me." The butler complied ; and when they had finished 'their meal they retired, with many thanks. At a short distance from the castle a large party of this tribe were posted on a slight eminence to protect their friends. When the Mar- DEATH OF MISS KNIGHT. 213 quis left the castle he saw them there, and they cried out to him, " Buon viaggio !" This happened in June, 1836. The Sardinian gentlemen and ladies speak Itahan, but they have also a dialect which, of course, is that of the common people : it is said to be a mix ture of Spanish and Arabic. In their persons they mostly resemble the Spaniards. The country is picturesque, but roads and inns are stiU wanting. It appears to be the intention of the Piedmontese Government to render Sardinia simUar to the States of Italy, but it wiU require much time to ascertain the incUnations of aU classes for the new mode of existence. [On the 14th of June, 1837, Miss Knight took leave of her numerous friends in Turin, and set out for Paris, where she arrived on the 22nd — " longse finis chartseque viasque." Her wanderings and her journals were ahke approaching their ter mination. The last entry in her Diary was made on the 4th of December, and refers merely to the visits she made that day. Two days afterwards she was taken iU, and on the 17th of December, 1837, she closed her long and weU-regulated hfe, in the 81st year of her age.J EXTRACTS FROM MISS MIGHT'S JOURNAL. [The foUowing passages are extracted from Miss Knight's Diaries. They illustrate the Autobiogra phical Memoir in the first volume. The narrative would have been impeded by their insertion there; but they are of sufficient interest to form a welcome addition to the more continuous story of Miss Knight's life.] Rome— 1781. December 30. — At eight in the morning we went to the church of St. Louis to see the consecration of Monseigneur l'Abbe de Bernis as Bishop of Apol- lonia. A httle before nine the Cardinal, the Abb£, and Monsignore de Bayane arrived, the organ play ing as they entered, and soon after they went to the door to receive the Pope, whom they foUowed into the church, the organ playing, and the choir singing " Ecce Sacerdos Magnus." The Pope, the Cardinal, and the new Bishop then went and prayed CONSECRATION OF A CATHOLIC BISHOP. 215 at the altar in the chapel of St. Louis ; after which they walked up into the choir, where the Pope again prayed at the great altar. The Bishop was then presented to him and kissed his feet, and the Pope embraced him. The Cardinal de Bernis stood beside a smaU altar prepared for the Bishop on his left hand, and by his side were Monsignori Onesti, Doria, Stacy, Bayane, and other prelates, who now proceeded to dress the Pope. Cardinal de Bernis brought him the napkin to wipe his hands, and took it again from him. In the mean while the two assisting Bishops (the Archbishop of Athens, the Pope's almoner, and the Bishop of Carpentras) had the new Bishop dressed, whose robes were very fine, white and gold, with white buskins, having a cross embroidered on them, &c. &c. He was then again presented to the Pope, and seated in a chair opposite to his HoUness, who read to him the Articles of Faith and the duties of a Bishop. After every interrogative, he had to answer and make a genuflexion. After this, the Pope anointed his hands and the tonsure at the top of his head, for which purpose a bandage was tied round his head, and another over his hands fastened round the neck — he himself kneeling aU the time. The Pope afterwards put the cross on him, the mantle, and the ring (a very beautiful one); when he prostrated himself before the great altar and made his pro fession of faith and his vows as a Bishop. He then 216 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. rose, and the Pope gave him his benediction, put a gold mitre on his head, and, placing the crosier in his hand, seated him in his own chair before the great altar, himself standing beside him, and the Bishops, who never quitted him, standing on the other side. Those wore mitres of white cloth, which alone are permitted to be worn in the Pope's presence except by a new Bishop. Monseigneur de Bernis now rose, made a reverence to the Pope, and asked permission to give his benediction, which his Hohness granted, teUing him only to go on the other side, that it might not faU upon him (the Pope). He then came down the church, giving the benediction, with his Bishops on each hand, and returned again to his chair at the great altar, the canons of the church singing the " Te Deum." The Pope next gave him the Kiss of Peace, which went round to the two other Bishops ; after which he was seated opposite the Pope, who dehvered a discourse (caUed a homUy) thirty-five minutes in length. In this he made comphments to the Car dinal de Bernis and the Bishop, who both rose and bowed in acknowledgment. He also gave a geo graphical description of ApoUonia, and said it was probably so caUed from there having been a temple there dedicated to ApoUo. He remarked how la mentable it was that it should be in the hands of infidels, but he did not intend to send the Bishop there, but only to Alby, which he must consider CONSECRATION OF A CATHOLIC BISHOP. 217 as another ApoUonia. When he named St. Peter and St. Paul, he beat his breast, and sighed most vehemently. As soon as he had finished, the Car dinal went up and thanked him, and the Bishop did the same, adding that he hoped to acquit him self of his duty in the manner he desired. The Pope replied that he had no doubt about it ; gave a general benediction, and went to a chapel, where he said another mass. In the mean time aU the prelates, &c, congratulated the Cardinal and Mon seigneur, after which his Eminence embraced his nephew in the most affectionate manner. The Pope having now finished his mass, the Cardinal accompanied him out, and shut the door of his car riage, while the Bishops, &c, kneeled down, and the ceremony thus terminated. In one of the tribunes over the choir were three Cardinals, and in the opposite one the Pope's niece and the foreign Ministers. The organ gaUery was aUottedfor the French, English, and other strangers, but it was too far removed for them to see much. Most of the French and English gentlemen stood beside the balustrade of the choir, and we were in a grated tribune erected for the purpose, with the Princess Rezzonico, the Duchess of Lanti, Marchesa Castighoni, a MUanese, and other ladies. The Pope ranted Uke a country comedian in the part of Othello. Cardinal de Bernis acted his part with his usual dignity, sense, and goodness, and Monseigneur 218 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. de Bernis went through his fatiguing office with the decency of a good Christian and the propriety of a man of fashion, without affectation, negligence, or bigotry — extremes which appear to me very difficult to avoid in the midst of such a mockery of religion. The Maggiordomb, at the Pope's ex pense, gave a grand dinner on the occasion, to which he invited the Cardinals of the palace, the Senator, the Ministers connected with France, and the principal Roman Princes, to meet the Cardinal and Monseigneur. The latter presented twelve crowns for a dinner to the Canons of St. Louis, three sequins each to the under people of the church, a crown to the sweepers, and half-a-crown to the domestics, besides five sous each to aU the poor who were present. Rome— 1782. On the morning of the 6th of January, Mon seigneur de Bernis went to St. Peter's, where he stood amongst the other Bishops tiU the Pope called him to the foot of the throne. This cere mony is styled making the " Vescovi assistenti al Soglio," who are always seated on the steps of the Pope's throne, and assist him on pubhc occasions. This honour entitles Monseigneur to the privilege of making three Prothonotaries and eight Knights of the Golden Spurs. He intends to give one of these golden spurs to Belcour, his valet-de-chambre, and THE GRAND-DUKE PAUL. 219 the others to some of the Cardinal's people. Cour- nau, his Eminence's maitre d'h6tel, already pos sesses this distinction. Monseigneur de Bernis is hkewise entitled, in virtue of this dignity, to send every morning to the palace for his bread and his wine, which he gives to his valet-de-chambre. The buUs for this ceremony cost him 150 crowns. The Grand-Duke Paul and his Duchess arrived at Rome under the names of Count and Countess of the North, and with them one of her brothers, a Prince of Wiirtemberg. Madame de Beckersdorff and two maids of honour were also with them, and the first seemed to be her intimate friend, and a very pleasing person. The Grand-Duke, though not taU, had a good figure, but his face was Cal- muck. His manners were good, and he talked agreeably to those who were introduced to him. The Grand-Duchess was, Uke most of her famUy, very handsome. She was taU, her figure majestic, and her features and complexion very fine. Her manners were dignified and gracious. We were introduced to them at a concert given by the Car dinal de Bernis for the birth of the Dauphin. Princess D.,* who had been staying some time at * The Princess Dashkoff, who had son of her sister, the Countess Woron- been the chief instigator of the con- zow, the mistress of the unfortunate spiracy against Peter III. The ribbon monarch ; both of them being the worn by the Princess was torn, it is daughters of Chancellor Woronzow. said by her own hands, from the per- 220 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. Rome with her son and married daughter, came to the f6te dressed in black. She was considered by the Grand-Duke and Duchess as a spy on their pro ceedings; and, at aU events, the part which she was supposed to have taken in the imprisonment and death of the Grand-Duke's father must have rendered the sight of her very painful to them. Unmindful of this, she seated herself at the concert as near as possible to the Grand-Duke, just behind him to the right. He was greatly annoyed, and, turning towards her, said : " Madame, on ne vient pas habille en noir a la fete d'un souverain." Prin cess D. gave as an excuse the assurance that, as she was about to leave Rome, aU her other dresses were packed up. The Grand-Duke rephed : "On peut toujours rester a la maison." The Princess was a short, fat, middle-aged woman, with a very red face and harsh countenance ; and the broad red riband and star, which she wore in the way such decorations are worn by men, added to her formidable appearance. It is said she was only eighteen years of age when the death of the Emperor Peter took place, and that, seated at a table with two pistols before her, she waited for the news with the intention, if it proved contrary to her wishes, of killing the messenger with one and herself with the other.* Pistols, we were told, she * The murder of the Czar did not must have been the tidings of the take place for some days after his de- success of the conspiracy that the thronement. If there be any truth in Princess was so anxiously expecting. this story, which is questionable, it PRINCESS DASHKOFF. 221 always carried about with her ; and, notwithstand ing the services she had rendered to the Empress Catherine, and the strange mascuUne honours con ferred upon her in return — such as this decoration, and her being made President of the Academy of Sciences — it is evident that her absence was more agreeable to her Imperial mistress than her presence would be, for she was many years in England, Scotland, and Italy. She would not aUow her daughter to hve with her husband, and she used to lock up her son, who must have been turned of twenty, every night. How unlike to her amiable and exceUent brother. It is said that she had a sister who was gentleness itself. One would wish to think that Princess Dashkoff was in some measure misrepresented. I recollect saying something to her son, with whom I was a Uttle acquainted, about the maids of honour attending on the Grand- Duchess, and I naturally expressed myself in the terms, " the ladies of the Grand-Duchess." The young man, who just before had been talking to me with the civility usuaUy shown to a young woman, suddenly reddened, and looked quite savage. " Madame," said he, " the Grand-Duchess has no ladies ; she has no right to have any. They are the ladies of our august sovereign who aUows them to attend upon the Grand-Duchess in her travels." Does not this put one in mind of a re mark made by Bonaparte: "Pour peu qu'on y gratte on trouve le Tartare?" 222 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. We paid our respects to the Grand-Duke and Duchess, as did aU the company at Rome, at their own apartments. They seemed much pleased with all they saw, and with the society. After Princess D. left, they were perfectly at their ease. There was at that time no Russian Ambassador, or Minis ter, at Rome. I afterwards heard that they were not so comfortable at Naples. A taUor at Rome made a coat for the Grand- Duke. When he brought it home the sleeves were found to be too long. " I suppose," said the Prince, " you have heard that kings have long arms ; but mine as yet are only rags." He and the Grand- Duchess appeared to be very domestic, and hked to talk of their chUdren. I remember the Grand- Duchess showing us portraits of some of them en silhouette. Her dress was very magnificent at Cardinal de Bernis' fete. It was white, trimmed with the most valuable sables, over which hung large pearls in garlands, fastened with diamond knots of great size and splendour. On the 1st of March we went to Cardinal de Bernis'. On account of the fetes given by him in honour of the birth of the Dauphin, torches and guards were placed at the corners of aU the streets leading to his house. The front and both sides of his palace were illuminated with four immense A FETE AT CARDINAL DE BERNIS'. 223 wax-lights in each window, which made a most briUiant appearance. AU the carriages went in by the back way, none being permitted to pass in front of the palace, as opposite to it and before the church of St. Marcel an elegant amphitheatre had been erected for music, for the amusement of the populace ; the decorations were very pleasing, and had a delightful effect from the windows. The rooms were all decorated in a festal manner, with a great deal of gilding and many looking-glasses ; the gallery with trophies on a gold ground, and the ceiling with fleurs-de-lys and dolphins. At the end of the gaUery, within the columns, was an amphitheatre for the musicians, who were aU in uniform. An infinite number of lights, perfectly weU arranged, were scattered about, and two rows of seats were placed round both rooms for the company. As we were going up-stairs we met the cardinal, attended by his gentlemen, servants, &c, with eight torches and eight candles, going to re ceive the Grand-Duke and Duchess, for whom chairs had been placed across the gallery between the columns. The Princess of Palestrine, who did the honours of the Cardinal's house, seated herself beside them for a short time, but after a while gave her place to the Pope's niece. The Cardinal stood behind the Grand-Duchess, as also did Monseigneur de Bernis. The Prince of Wiirtemberg would not sit down, but stood beside the Cardinal. The 224 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. lady who accompanies the Grand-Duchess, with the two maids of honour, were placed near, but there was an immense crowd. Immediately after wards began the cantata, which lasted an hour. The poetry of it — in honour of the Dauphin — was composed by a secretary of the Pope's nephew, and the music by a Maestro di CapeUa of the Pope. The Grand-Duke and Duchess were very attentive, and after refreshments had been offered to them, which they dechned, they went and sat down in the next room, whither most of the company fol lowed them. Soon after we were seated the Car dinal brought the Grand-Duke up to us, and pre sented us in the most affectionate manner. He then presented the Duchess BobadiUa and another lady who sat beside us, but the Grand-Duke im mediately returned to us and entered into conver sation, untU he was caUed off by two letters being brought to him by express. He talked to us in the most polite and attentive manner, and ex pressed a desire for us to visit Russia. Upon our mentioning that we were acquainted with Admiral Knowles, he inquired with great affection after Miss Knowles and Sir Charles, and said he had much regretted the Admiral's departure. When we told him that the son was a captain in the navy, he remarked that the post of captain in the English navy was a most respectable rank, with many other things that showed equaUy his sense A FETE AT CARDINAL DE BERNIS'. 225 and good-breeding. He speaks French perfectly weU. They went away soon afterwards, when we returned into the gaUery and heard some very good music, and did not get home tiU past twelve. On the foUowing night there was, if possible, more company than on the previous one, and everything stiU more in gala. The Grand-Duke and Duchess came early, and were placed as before, only they made the Princess of Palestrine sit between them, and, when she went into the next room, the Car dinal de Bernis. They were exceedingly pleased, and made themselves very agreeable. The cantata was written by the same author as the other, but the music was by Cimarosa, and infinitely finer. They stayed to hear two other pieces of music, and then passed into the other room, where they re mained tiU near ten. The Grand-Duchess was elegantly dressed, and looked exceedingly weU: the Grand-Duke wore a plain coat with superb diamond buttons. I sat by the lady who accom panies the Duchess, and found her very agreeable : she is a German. The music lasted tUl after eleven, and was very fine. The palace and the street in front of it, with the orchestra opposite, were as light as day. The Academy of France was also Ughted up, and had an orchestra in the same manner. On the Sunday before, aU the money sent by the King of France to pay for this fete was given away by the Cardinal in doweries— vol. 11. Q 226 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. fifty crowns each to one hundred and fifty brides in Rome, and twenty-five crowns each to two hundred at Albano. The Bishop of ApoUonia administered the Sacrament, and handed the orders to them to receive the money at once, instead of waiting tUl they were married, as is usuaUy the case. At a httle after six on the next day we went to pay our respects to the Grand- Duke and Duchess, and found there the Princess Doria, the Princess Santa Croce, and another lady, with the German lady, the friend of the Duchess. The Cardinal de Bernis and several other gentle men were also there. We. went immediately into the next room, where the Grand-Duchess received us at the door, the Grand-Duke standing behind her. She told my mother that she had saluted her the night before, and had curtseyed twice, add ing, very pohtely, that as her husband had made our acquaintance, she also much wished to do so. She then had chairs placed round, and desired us aU to be seated. She chatted much about Rome, and told Cardinal de Bernis that she would never leave it were it not for her chUdren. The Grand- Duke came and talked to us for some time with the greatest good-humour and affability. The Duchess was very desirous that the gentlemen likewise should sit down, and told a gentleman who accom panies them, and whom she caUs " Mon General," to set them the example. When we took our leave, she assured my mother that she should he THE GRAND-DUKE PAUL. 227 always very happy to see us ; that her husband was so pleased with making our acquaintance, that she was hkewise very anxious for it, &c. &c. In short, nothing could be more flattering and atten tive than their reception of us. They appear very much attached to one another.* The Duchess's figure is certainly very fine, and improves upon one, while the Grand-Duke is so genteel and pleas ing in his manners, that his person seems to me at present far from disagreeable. On the 14th we went to take leave of the Count and Countess of the North. They received us with the greatest goodness. The Count told me he re gretted infinitely that we had not met oftener; that our visit then, though it made him happy, was rather a pain than a pleasure ; that it was not their fault they had not seen us every day, but as there were so many things to see they usuaUy re turned home too late to receive company, and could not make an exception to a general rule, or they would have received us at any time ; that he * At a later period, Paul was by no blackamoor near them, as a contrast means remarkable for his conjugal to their dignity and grace. The sin- fidelity. Of his personal appearance gularity which he affects in his dress, the following mention is made in Mas- and the severity of his manners, add son's " Memoires Secretes," quoted by greatly to his deformity. Without Mr. Kelly in his " History of Russia," excepting even the Kalmuks and the vol. ii. p. 154 : " It is said that the Kirghaz, Paul is the ugliest man in people of Paris, crowding to see Paul, his extensive dominions ; and he him- then a youth, cried, ' My God, how self considers his countenance as so ugly he is !' and that he had the good shocking, that he dares not impress it sense to laugh at it. He is not im- upon his coin." Miss Knight herself proved since he is grown old, bald, and describes the Grand-Duke, rn one wrinkled. The Empress appears by his place, as "the ugliest man I ever side like one of those beautiful women saw;" but this was before he had who are painted with a little deformed spoken to her. q2. 228 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. had inquired whether we were at the concert at Princess Doria's, and would have come to us, hut the devU of etiquette prevented him. He pressed exceedingly that we should go to St. Petersburg, saying his house and the whole city should be at our disposal. I then ventured to say that, if we were not so happy as to travel so far, my mother hoped that the Count and Countess of the North would permit us to take the hberty of requesting their interest with the Grand-Duke and Duchess for any of our EngUsh sea officers who, if there was a peace in our distracted country, might be ambitious of serving in Russia. He replied that they had some credit with those personages, and nothing would make him happier than to be of service to us, or to any of our friends; that my mother and I had only to write to him and men tion how far they were in our esteem, and he would treat them accordingly, as he was sure my mother knew the Navy too weU, and was too nice to recommend any who were not deserving. " Be Ueve me," he added, " upon my lionour I wish nothing more than to be useful to you. I beg you wiU be assured of my sincerity, and I hope you wiU soon put it to the proof. But if it should be ten or twenty years' hence, you may be equally sure of it, for I could not forget you even if I were inchned to do so ; and I am certain that if I were not in the world, the Countess would do the same. I think power is never so agreeable as when it can THE GRAND-DUCHESS. 229 make one useful to one's friends, and, as such, I desire you wiU ever consider us." He repeatedly urged us to go to St. Petersburg; and upon my remarking how difficult it was to travel in time of war, he said, war had nothing to do with our going there, because even if there was a war in Russia, it could not be one disagreeable to us. He added, that when he was master of himself there was nothing he would not do for us, but, as it was, he could be of some use to us in St. Peters burg. The Countess was also excessively kind to us, and pressed us strongly to go to Russia, and, indeed, said the most obhging and flattering things. She bade me draw everything at Rome as fast as possible, and meet them at St. Petersburg — with many more of the kindest expressions. She said it gave her great pain to go away just as she was beginning to make acquaintances, and that she should have wished to have cultivated a friendship with Cardinal de Bernis and with us ; that she had but smaU hopes of meeting him again, but would always retain a regard for him. As for us, she said she would not give up the idea of again seeing us, and that she should quit us with tears in her eyes, adding the most affectionate expressions of kind ness. The persons who accompany the Count and Countess are aU perfectly weU chosen. The maids of honour are both weU behaved and good natured, and the General's lady is very amiable. 230 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. The Pope mentioned one night at supper that the "barcarole" that brought him from Venice had since gained three hundred crowns, at half a baioccho from each person, by letting people kiss the place where he was seated, adding : " Quanto mi place di vedere la fede di questi buoni Vene- ziani !" He also said that one of his gloves having faUen from his hand was instantly cut into a thou sand pieces for reUcs. The Pope having lately found an obehsk, has had it removed to Monte CavaUo, where it is to be placed between the two statues. The expense and trouble were no shght matter. The other day the foUowing inscription was placed on it: "Fac ut lapides isti panes fiant." Infinite pains were taken to discover the author and have him punished, and on the foUowing morning was written beneath the other : " The author is St. Luke, chap. iv. 3." The Pope stayed two nights and a day at Cesena, and ordered his bed to be placed in the room in which he was born. His people were so httle used to travelling, that they forgot the chocolatercup; and, after much searching in the town where they happened to be, they told the Pope there was not one to be got fit for bis use. " WeU, then," said he, " give me the chocolate in a pipkin." When the THE PRINCESS DASHKOFF. 231 Pope wanted to change his Unen, the vaUse in which it was packed happened to be two hours behind on the road. The baggage-cart broke down, and, it seems, caused the oddest confusion ever beheld, mitres and chaUces tumbling about amongst pots and pans. It resembled the furniture of a play house, and a gentleman remarked that the Pope was a good actor, and was now removing his theatre to Vienna. He is a stroUing player, then, said an other. Some one expressing a certain curiosity as to the sort of honours the Emperor would show the Pope at Vienna, a bystander replied : "He wUl probably dispense with Lent, and give his HoUness a masked baU." Princess Dashkoff being with other strangers in the gaUery of the Senate-house at Venice, where it is not permitted to open the door after the sitting commences, insisted upon going out, exclaiming aloud, " Ces perruques m'ennuient." She made so much noise that the senators sent up to desire her to be quiet, but she only repeated that " she would go out." Upon this, one of the senators said: " Gentlemen, shaU we have a baUot to see whether this mad woman shaU go out or not ?" It was then put to the vote and carried in the affirmative, and, the door being opened, the Princess went out by herself. 232 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. There is a negro woman at Rome much pro tected by the Queen of Portugal. She is dressed in red, and goes about with a Madonna in a box, ask ing alms for founding a monastery in Portugal for negro girls under the protection of the father and mother of St. Joachim. She went to the Pope to ask his permission, and mentioned the saints who were to be the patrons of her order. The Pope an swered, that he had no doubt but what the father and mother of St. Joachim were good people, but they were not on his list. A Cardinal's cook in time of Lent having made up aU his " maigre" dishes with the gravy and fat of meat, went to confession, and, among other sins, mentioned this one. The confessor, however, re fused to give him absolution until he promised that he would no longer make his master violate Lent. Faithful to his promise, the cook changed his sauces, whereupon the Cardinal complained bitterly that his dinners were not so good as formerly, and the cook was caUed up, and obliged to teU his story. The Cardinal inquired the name of his confessor, and having sent for him, remonstrated with him for meddling with the private government of his family. The friar rephed, that the cook's salvation was in danger if he had continued to give his master gras instead of maigre. " WeU," exclaimed the Cardinal, THE GRAND-DUKE PAUL. 233 " and do you think it reasonable that, to save the soul of such a low feUow as that, you should expose my Eminence to the discomfort of fasting !"* During the time the affair of the Jesuits was in agitation, whenever Cardinal Marefoschi went to visit Cardinal de Bernis, a valet-de-chambre in the house of the latter, and who was also a spy, used to hang a white handkerchief out at the top of a chim ney, to mark the commencement and termination of the visit, as a signal to the Jesuits at the Roman CoUege, who looked out from the top of their church for it. On Wednesday morning, February 27th (1782), the Pope set out for Vienna at half-past nine in the morning. The Grand-Duke and Duchess of Russia, who have been every day to St. Peter's to see him, were there between six and seven waiting to take leave of his Holiness. They had some conversation with him, and the Grand-Duke attended him to his carriage. Monsignore Marcucci, Vicegerent and Patriarch of Constantinople, and Monsignore Con- tesini, Archbishop of Athens, both men of very low extraction, accompanied him, besides some inferior persons of his household. The streets were lined with people, far beyond Ponte MoUe. Many Roman * Told on the authority of the Abbe" Gabriel. 234 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. gentlemen rode on horseback before him for several mUes. The Pope threw himself almost out of the carriage in order to. bestow his benedictions upon the people, who kept crying aloud : " Santo Padre, la benedizione prima di partire ;" and others, "Buon viaggio." It is said that the Minister of Portugal, when he went with his lady and chUd to take leave of the Pope, left upon the table a schedule for sixty thousand crowns, by the Queen's command. The Venetians are to send twelve senators, among whom, it is supposed, wUl be the Doge, with four hundred men, to meet him on the frontiers and ac company him through their States. The King of Sardinia intends to wait upon his Holiness in person. The Pope's nephew, Don Lewis, attended him to the coach, and held his hand for half a minute after he was in. He was in the most violent distress, and shed tears for three or four hours. His wife was at the ViUa Papa Giulia to take leave of his Holiness, and was likewise much affected. The Pope told her to take care, of herseU and go to her husband. The Count and Countess of the North (Grand- Duke and Duchess of Russia), when they were at Naples, refused the Palace Giustiniani which the King had fitted up for their reception, but they dined at Court, and went to the balls and theatre. The King got up a hunt for them, to which they pro- THE GRAND-DUKE PAUL. 235 mised to go, but afterwards sent word to dechne it. The King, however, went, and did not return to Caserta tUl the day before their departure. On their journey to Psestum, the King had engaged them to stop at one of his country-houses, to which he himself went the day before so as to be ready to receive them. After he was gone, they sent him word that they could not stop there. The Queen caUed for them in her carriage to take them to a balcony to see a horse-race, that had been got up on purpose for them, and to which they had agreed to go — and, after aU, they would not. Whenever her Majesty caUed for them, she had to wait half an hour at' their door. When they went away, the people hissed them. They were very affable, how ever, and good natured with artists. They caUed on Mr. Jenkins, to ch /Dse statues for the Empress, went aU over his house, and stayed near two hours. The Duchess bought a beautiful Faun, a Faustina, in the shape of Venus, and a Genius. They were also at the studio of Mr. Hewetson, where they saw a fine monument which he is going to send to Ire land. They were much pleased with a smaU statue of Cleopatra in marble, which they purchased, and the Duchess sat to him for her bust. As they passed through Milan, the Archduke and Duchess made a " Festino" for them. As there was not nobility enough in the town, and as the lower sort of people had never been admitted to their en- 236 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. tertainments, they made experiment of a "Fes- tino," and let the latter come, and they behaved themselves very becomingly. Amongst other masks were two nuns and two friars, who walked about and conducted themselves quietly and weU. After they had stayed about two hours, to the great sur prise of the company, an officer was sent to them to say, that if they had remained long enough for their own pleasure, their departure would be agree able to the company. They immediately went down stairs, foUowed by an infinite number of the curious, who saw them enter a carriage, the coachman and servants of which were masked, and who were ordered to drive to the Capucin convent, outside such a gate. They drove off in a violent hurry, and in a moment were out of sight, leaving the spectators in as much astonishment as uncertainty. It is generaUy supposed that it was a plan con certed to test the feelings of the people with regard to the Emperor's projected abolition of convents. The Prince of Solms was exceedingly pleased with a young lady who was in the year of her no vitiate and about to become a nun. He fancied that his attentions were beginning to shake her resolution, and though the day of profession was near at hand, he fancied that she would prefer him to a cloister. One day, after he had paid her a long visit at the grate, and had no great reason to com- MIRACLES. 237 plain of her cruelty, she begged of him, as a parti cular favour, a lock of his hair. The Prince, con firmed in his flattering iUusions by this request, immediately cut one off for her. At his next visit he found her particularly lively and agreeable. " May I presume," he said, " to hope that you have given up aU idea of a convent life, and have cast a favourable look upon myself?" " So great is my affection for you," repUed the lady, "that I have just finished making a wig for the Infant Jesus out of your hair, and if you come to my profession to morrow you will see it on the altar." [1783.] One day in April, 1783, a Frenchman, who had subsisted on charity, died in his thirty-third year, and was carried to the Madonna de'. Monte to be buried. His corpse was exposed there for several days before interment, and many miracles are told and believed as having been performed by him both before and after his death. His limbs were flexible, and he appeared asleep. Some say they smelt a perfume; others, a stink; others, again, nothing whatever. As they were lowering the body into the grave it nearly feU, when it put out one hand and supported itself on the bier, and this more than once — as the story runs. A dumb person recovered his speech, a lame person the use of his limbs, &c. The Abbe" Marotti says that he has dined with a gentleman who was cured of a toothache by the 238 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. touch of a rosary that had been near the body; that the young Duke de Rignano was so frightened at hearing the dumb man speak, that he ran out of the church ; and much more nonsense to the same effect. It is certain that the church has since been constantly crowded with people, and amongst them some persons of distinction, in whose presence a vein was opened, but no blood appeared. The man used to spend his whole time in praying, and was so dirty that millions of vermin crawled about him, none of which he would suffer to be killed, saying they had as much right to Uve as himself. There was found upon him a certificate from La Trappe, saying that he had been there, but that the dis cipline was so severe he had been obhged to quit it — adding, that his sanctity was so exemplary he would edify any place he went to. The stories told of him, such as his predicting the hour of his death, the cure of the butcher's wife in whose house he died, &c, are too tedious and ridiculous to repeat. Prince Altieri, who is blind, has been twice to the Madonna de' Monti, in the hope that the sup posed saint would restore his sight, but without effect. He has promised, that if this miracle be wrought in his favour, he wiU immediately erect a chapel to the saint. Abbe Marotti says he is perfectly weU acquainted MIRACLES. 239 with the priest who was his confessor at the Roman CoUege, and who quotes two instances in which the " servo di Dio," as they caU the dead man, divined his thoughts. The ContestabUe Colonna's mother was carried the other day to the Madonna de' Monti, in the hope that the saint would cure her madness. The church is now shut up — some say on account of the robberies, &c, committed there; others, because they are setting up a tombstone to the saint. The Princess Santa Croce assured us that she had never experienced greater consolation than in contemplating his dead body, and declared that it was many years since any such miracles have been performed. A Bostonian has abjured Protestantism at the Santo Uffizio, being convinced, according to his own report, by these miracles. His instructor was an ex- Jesuit, and it is probable that the true motive for his conversion was want of money, as he appears very shabbUy dressed. The Duchess of GaUicano has given her infant the name of Benedetto, in honour of the new saint, whose name was Benoit Labre\ One of the best informed, and one of the most delightful persons in every respect whom I ever knew, was the Pere Jacquier, a Minime of the French convent, the " Trinite" du Mont." His name was weU known in England, as he and his 240 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. friend, Pere le Sueur, were the best commentators on Newton. His coUeague had been dead a few years, and Pere Jacquier was himself rather ad vanced in hfe, but his faculties were perfect, and he was as active in person as in mind. He was a native of Champagne, and became a monk when very young, there being no regulations at that time to prevent such early professions. He used to say that it was not by the desire of his parents, but that it was aU arranged by an elder sister. His genius was both sound and versatile, and his ac quirements very extensive. His proficiency in every branch of mathematics scarcely exceeded his taste for polite Uterature, the classical purity of his Greek and Latin compositions, and the correctness of his critical observations. He was also an excel lent historian, and weU versed in many modern languages. He was fond of society, and his man ners were not only pohshed in the highest degree, but the beneficence of his disposition, and the sensi bility of his heart, rendered them so peculiarly at tractive, that he gained a new friend whenever he made a new acquaintance. His feehngs were ex tremely acute, and the affection of those whom he loved and esteemed was the only treasure he was solicitous to keep. Never was there a more chari table man. He gave away aU he had, and was, besides, ever ready to assist with his advice and influence all who apphed to him. PERE JACQUIER. 241 In his youth he had been engaged in busy scenes with Cardinal Alberoni, and had lived with Voltaire, and Madame du Chatelet, and, indeed, with aU the wits and phUosophers then in fashion. He was also employed in the education of the Prince, afterwards Duke, of Parma. The friend ship that existed between him and Pere le Sueur was extraordinary. They agreed perfectly, because they had the same general views and the same goodness of principle, with diametricaUy opposite dispositions. Le Sueur had aU the judgment, patience, and exactness necessary for the great work they had in hand, and Jacquier aU the genius, fire, and penetration. In this social inter course this opposition of qualities kept them from interfering with each other's way of Ufe, and the loss of such a friend as Le Sueur was never re paired to the survivor. I did not know Pere Jacquier tiU some years after this trying event, which, I beUeve, threw him more than ever into general society. As I have already remarked, he was then an old man, but his imagination was as vivid, and his heart as warm, as ever. < Strangers, pohticians, men of letters, men of fashion, were aU alike desirous to become ac quainted with Pere Jacquier. There was no pe dantry, no vanity, in his mode of conversing, but if he thought himself neglected he was very un happy; not offended, but like a chUd whom its VOL. II. R 242 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. parents have left at home. On this account Car dinal de Bernis used to say of him: "Le Pere Jacquier a i'esprit d'un homme, et le cceur d'un enfant." We used to see him almost every day, and he was so good as to take much pains with me in my studies. It so happened that an English naval officer came to Rome with a friend for a few weeks, and my mother was anxious that they should see everything most worthy of notice. This often engaged us so that we were not always at home at the hours Pere Jacquier used to caU. My mother found out that he was much vexed, and ordered me to write a note to him, to say that we had two friends who were very desirous to make his acquaintance, and would perhaps have some favour to ask of him. This set aU right imme diately : he became very intimate with them, and paid them every possible attention. He was a thoroughly good Christian, but by no means a bigot, and bis intimacy with the phnosophers made some people suspect his religious principles. But, for my part, I never heard a word from him which could be thought reprehensible by the severest moralist or most scrupulous Christian ; and when some secret enemy wrote to the Bishop of his diocese, to complain of his frequenting the society of Voltaire and Madame du Chatelet, that prelate- answered, " he wished those personages were always in such good company." In fact, Pere Jacquier PERE JACQUIER. 243 had seen enough of the phUosophers to be able to estimate them at their just value. His heart was too warm to sympathise with their cold selfishness and hypocritical phUanthropy, and his mind too enlightened to adopt the errors of their systematic infideUty. He would say it is impossible to inves tigate the earth and the skies without adoring the Creator, or to feel the weakness of our nature with out being a Christian. Pope GanganeUi would have secularised Pere Jacquier, but he declined it. He admitted that, if he had to begin Ufe again, he would not be a monk, hut it was now too late to make a change without necessity. He was very well satisfied, he said, with his present situation, which did not deprive him of the pleasure of seeing his friends : any alteration, therefore, would only make people talk to no pur pose. Besides his pension as professor at Rome, he had one from the Duke of Parma, but he gave everything away, and very often had no money left before the end of the quarter. I think it was in the beginning of February, and the weather rather colder than usual, that he came in one morn ing and complained of not being weU. My mother remarked his dress, and said : " Why, . you have got on your summer clothing already, and must have caught cold." He went home, and was laid up for some days, and we afterwards learned that a poor person having asked him for money when he R 2 244 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. had none to give, he had put on his summer dress and bestowed his winter one upon the mendicant. Another day he came to us with a very pretty little watch in his hand, which he had won in a • lottery. He was dehghted with his prize, and begged me to accept of it, but my mother said : "Pere Jacquier, I wiU teU you what to do with the watch. Take it to the man of whom you hire a carriage when you want one. I know you are exact in payment" (for that he was). " Let it be valued, and you wiU then have the pleasure of visiting your friends, whether it rain, or shine, for a long while." He smUed and did as she advised, for he never Uked to hire a carriage unless he could pay for it at once. His conversation was fuU of anecdotes, which he related in the most clear and succinct manner. He was in correspondence with sensible and learned men of aU countries, for he had no prejudices, but great discernment of character, and, though he Uked to know every one who had a name in the world, he soon made the proper distinctions. One day, as we were looking at different portraits in a villa, the Chevalier de P., who was with us, ob served one of Pere Jacquier, and wrote under it the foUowing lines, which are truly characteristic: ¦¦•' Sage et prdfond calculateur ! Heureux disciple d'TJranie! Ses amis parlent de son coeur, Et l'univers de son genie. JOSEPH II. OF AUSTRIA. 245 There was a lady then at Rome who passed for being remarkably sensible and well informed ; but one of her most intimate associates was a young man, who was thought the reverse of aU that. I was told that Pere Jacquier said to her : " Take . care of what you are doing. I beUeve your con- , duct to be very correct ; but when a man or a woman of great abilities is constantly seen with one of the other sex who has not those advantages, the -world is UI natured enough to suppose that the .intimacy is not of the mind."* The Emperor Joseph II. was at that time .(1783) making many " reforms," or " innovations," as they were respectively designated by those who approved or disapproved of them. The Pope thought it expedient to take a journey to Vienna and converse with him on the subject, with a view, if possible, to stop his going too far. The Romans,, who have a great talent for satire, criticised this project, and, Uke other nations, talked not too loyaUy of his proceedings. They particularly noticed the number of prelates he took with him. He has left us, they said, no one but Monsignore Resta and Monsignore Testa, the only two Cardi nals who remained at Rome. It was also sug gested that, as the Grand-Duke of Russia caUed * Pere Jacquier died at Rome in 1787. 246 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. himself " le Comte du Nord," the Pope ought to leave his card as " l'Abbe du Midi" The Pope, however, was received most courteously and re- spectfuUy by the Emperor, his family, and his subjects. He did not stay long, and when he came back he said that he was perfectly satisfied; that Joseph II. might have some odd ideas ; but that, on the whole, he was a sensible, weU-meaning man, a good Christian, and one who wished to promote the happiness of his people. That Pius VI. was a great sovereign cannot be doubted. His draining the Pontine Marshes, his works at Terracina, which his unfortunate fate left unfinished, aU he did for the arts, showed what he was. But these great undertakings could not be carried on without expense, and he was often straitened for money. And when these works were commenced how could he foresee the fatal storm that was rising? Had he not reason to beheve that what he was doing would eventuaUy enrich his country? His noble demeanour in adversity must have sUenced those who were always finding fault with him in his prosperity, as it furnished an incontrovertible proof of the greatness of his mind. Joseph II. returned his visit, and found at Rome Gustavus III., King of Sweden. A greater con trast could not be imagined than the appearance of those two monarchs. The Emperor, in a plain uniform, attended by an aide-de-camp in an equally GUSTAVUS OF SWEDEN. 247 simple' mUitary dress, and the King of Sweden, with his numerous suite of courtiers in velvets, satins, and embroidery, went to aU the great parties; but no fetes were given to them, at the Emperor's particular request. There was something in the manner of Gus tavus III. very disadvantageous to him. He chatted much, but always began by a siUy sort of laugh, which made one doubt his having the understanding or information which he reaUy pos sessed. The gentlemen who were with him wore white handkerchiefs tied round one arm, in remem brance of what had been the signal for his parti sans in the change of constitution by which he had so greatly offended many of the nobles of his country. It was supposed that these innovations had been suggested to him by M. de Vergennes, and by others, during his stay at Paris. He was apparently very partial to France, and he not only spoke, but wrote, the language perfectly, for I have read some very pretty French comedies composed by him in very good taste ; and also a drama, en titled " Gustavus Vasa," in Swedish, which he was supposed to have written. In this was introduced a scene in imitation of that where Richard III. sees the ghosts of the persons whose death he had caused. Here it is Christian, King of Denmark, who is said to have committed such cruelties in Sweden, and who was conquered by Gustavus 248 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT, Vasa and the brave Dalecarlians. One of the songs, for it is an opera, may be thus translated : Noble shades ! great sires arise ! Sweden's heroes ! knights, of yore ! If her welfare still ye prize, Give to Freedom life once more. Say, shall tyrants — say, shall slaves, Trample o'er your sacred graves ? No ! your ghosts to war's alarms Let e'en thraldom's name excite ! Stretch, vindictive, forth your arms From the breast of endless Night ! Count de Fersen, who was so weU known after wards for his attempts to save the unfortunate Marie Antoinette,* and Count de Stael, who mar ried MademoiseUe Necker, were of the King's suite. It is weU known that Gustavus was warmly hostile to the French revolution, which he was preparing to oppose in the most active manner when he was assassinated. TraveUers of aU nations were to be met at Rome, and, what is usuaUy caUed the best society not being very extensive, it was more easy to form ac quaintances, and even intimacies, than in most other great cities. We knew almost aU the Eng Ush, .and many of the foreigners. Amongst the latter was a Knight of Malta, the Commander de Dolomieu. He was a man of good family, from Dauphiny, and very agreeable in society. He had studied mineralogy and chemistry with great suc- * At the time of the Eight to Varennes. THE COMMANDER DE DOLOMIEU. 249 cess,, and had written a highly esteemed work on the great earthquake in Calabria. [At a subsequent period, after the restoration of the King of the Two Sicilies to Naples, in 1799, Miss Knight was in a position to render the Com mander de Dolomieu a very important service. The foUowing mention is made of him in a memoran dum which appears to have formed part of a narra tive of events subsequent to Bonaparte's Egyptian campaign : "I received one day a letter from Mes sina, signed by a merchant, I beUeve an English Quaker, enclosing one from the Commander de Dolomieu, who had long been our intimate friend, and with whose family we were much acquainted. He had, with other men of science, accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte into Egypt, but on his return had been obUged by bad weather to put into Mes sina, where he was thrown into a dungeon. He described his condition as most miserable, and no doubt it was so in every respect.* " The Commander de D. was a man of abiUty and warm feeling. He was the second son of a noble family in France, and, according to the custom of those times, belonged to the Order of Malta. His elder brother offended his father by his imprudence and impropriety of conduct. When the Marquis was in ,a state of health so precarious that little * Through Miss Knight's influence His family showed her the most grate- with Sir William Hamilton he was fid attentions when, in after years, she shortly afterwards restored to liberty, much frequented Paris. 250 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. hope was entertained of his Ufe, these two sons were sent for by their mother. The eldest was at Paris, but put off his journey from day to day. The second was with the Maltese gaUeys at Lisbon, but obtained leave of absence, and instantly has tened to the famUy chateau, near Lyons. On his arrival his father told him that he meant to make him his heir, and only leave to his elder brother an annual income, enough for his maintenance but not for the support of his extravagance. The ChevaUer de D. did aU he could to persuade his father not to disinherit his elder brother ; but find ing his efforts were fruitless, he went off to Lyons, and there, in a Chapter of his Order, pronounced the irrevocable vows which put it out of his power to receive the inheritance. After this noble, but what many wiU, think romantic, act of Uberahty, he went back to Malta, where for some time he held one of the highest employments, and enjoyed the confidence of the Grand-Master. He had reason to believe that about that time the Empress Cathe rine was endeavouring to make a secret treaty with the Neapohtan Government, for the purpose of be coming Patroness, or perhaps Mistress, of the island of Malta. When that island was given by the Emperor Charles V. to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, after the loss of Rhodes, he stipulated that he was to receive from them, as their liege lord, a falcon every year. That devolved to his ALFIERI. 251 descendants, the Kings of Naples, and the Com mander de D. was persuaded that it would be transferred to the Empress of Russia if the plot succeeded. That it did not was attributed to his influence with the Grand-Master, and, consequently, he was not in good odour at Naples. He had also enemies among his brother knights, and as he was instrumental in the surrender of Malta to Bona parte, though he is said to have acted from a good motive, this enmity was not a Uttle increased. His chemical and mineralogical studies naturaUy threw him into the society of the phUosophers, and at the beginning of the Revolution he belonged to the Constitutional party, but he was nevertheless one of those who joined the Swiss Guards in defence of Louis XV. at the TuUeries."] I ought before this to have mentioned the cele brated dramatist, Count Alfieri. One of his tragedies, the " Antigone," had been represented on a stage erected at the Spanish Ambassador's, where several plays were performed during the month of October, and where, notwithstanding its being the season of " vUleggiatura," there was much good company. The Prince and Princess RospigUosi, her brother the Duke di Ceri, his young Duchess, and his secretary, were the principal actors; but in the "Antigone" Alfieri himself acted Creon; the Duke di Ciro, Hemon; the Duchess, Creusa; and Prin cess RospigUosi, Antigone. They aU played their 252 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. -parts with skiU and propriety. The Duchess di Ciro had been taught by Princess Giustiniani, her mother, who had been very partial to this amuse ment, in which she also exceUed. In the " Barber of SeviUe," Prince RospigUosi, who in society appeared to be rather a grave man, was a truly comic Figaro. The Countess of Albany was then at Rome, and Uved at the Chancery, in the apartments of her brother-in-law, the Cardinal of York. This lady, as is well known, was a Prin cess of Stolberg, and great-grand-daughter by the mother's side of Thomas Earl of Aylesbury,* who died at Brussels. She had been married to the Pretender eight or ten years, and Uved with him at Florence, tiU one day she took refuge in a convent, on account, she said, of the ill-treatment she re ceived from him when he was intoxicated. She afterwards came to Rome, where, as I have said, she was lodged at the Chancery. She had a lady residing with her, a Chanoinesse. The Countess was present at the performance of the " Antigone," but she did not in general go out to parties. Morn ing visits, however, she paid, in which and in her walks she was always attended by the Countess de M. But the romantic attachment of Count Alfieri, of which no mystery was made — indeed, the verses he composed and the whole of his con duct sufficiently declared it — induced Cardinal * This is explained elsewhere. ALFIERI. 253 York, on his return from a visit to his brother, who had been very UI at Florence, to apply to the Pope for the dismissal of the Count from Rome. Pius made answer that, according to the laws and cus toms of the State, he had no right to dismiss a stranger who was committing no offence against the country ; and that aU he could do would be to write to the Countess of Albany, and request her to persuade her friend, for the sake of her own cha racter, to leave Rome. He did so, and the Countess answered, that Count Alfieri never came to visit her but at the hour when her doors were open to aU her acquaintance ; she would beg of him, how ever, to comply with the request suggested by his Holiness. Count Alfieri remained a few days longer, and then went off at noon in a handsome equipage to visit Paris, London, 6zc. There was something very extraordinary, but very fine, in the character of Alfieri. He was introduced to us, and he asked my mother for letters to England, which she was happy to give him. I think I never knew two persons more unlike than Alfieri and the Countess of Albany, in appear ance, in manner, and even in sentiments. She must, no doubt, have been very pretty in early youth. She had fine eyes and teeth, but her figure was not graceful. There was nothing of the ideal beauty about her which one would have imagined as the object of Alfieri's dreams of bUss ; but she 254 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. must have been very much admired, for aU tra- veUers, as I have been told, used to caU her the Queen of Hearts. Married at twenty to a man of fifty, and in a pohtical, or rather, I should say, historical situation so pecuhar, she was perhaps more noticed than she otherwise would have been. To us she was very kind and attentive, invited us to visit her, and never in any way neglected us. She wrote plain, sensible letters, and was not devoid of intelligence. Although I never heard her saying anything which could offend reUgious or moral principles, I have been told that she was very scep tical with respect to the former. Naples — 1785. The Bishop of CasteUamare, who was more than eighty years of age, stiU mounted his horse. He was very good-natured and cheerful, and enjoyed exceUent health, which he attributed to his practice of fumigating his apartments with perfumed gums. He had been for many hours buried under the ruins of the house he inhabited in Calabria, at the time of the great earthquake. The solidity of a beam saved him from being crushed when the roof feU in. He is the only person whom I can recol lect of our Roman or Neapohtan acquaintance who ever endeavoured to bring me over to the Roman Cathohc reUgion. I begged him not to talk to me on the subject ; but he persisted in doing so. At THE PIOZZIS. 255 last I said, with the impertinent famUiarity which his goodnature encouraged: "WeU, you shaU say what you please if for every half hour of this advice you wUl send me a basket of curious specimens of lava and minerals for a friend of mine, who is making a fine coUeetion." The good Bishop took the hint, sent me several baskets of curious speci mens of minerals, and never uttered another word on the subject of conversion. I am sorry to add, that soon after we left Naples, being made " CappeUano Maggiore," or high almoner to the King, who had a great regard for him, he was obhged to give up his usual mode of Ufe, and did not long survive his honours. Mr. and Mrs. Piozzi passed the winter at Naples and gave Uttle concerts. He played with great taste on the pianoforte, and used to carry about a miniature one in his carriage. Mrs. Piozzi read to my mother part of a manuscript, which she after wards pubUshed, respecting Dr. Johnson ; but as she was angry with him on account of his disap proval of her second marriage, she occasionaUy mentioned him in a manner that displeased my mother, who always preserved a high veneration for his memory. BrUUant and gay as Naples then was, I did not like it so weU as Rome, nor indeed so weU as I hked it at two subsequent visits. However, we had no reason to complain of the time we passed in this 256 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. capital, the Parthenope of old, and stiU in a great measure retaining its ancient character. Balls were given at what was caUed the " Accademia de' Nobili," something in the style of Almack's. There was also another " Accademia" for persons of the second class, as there was a considerable num ber of opulent merchants from different countries visiting Naples. The King and Queen made their appearance at each at least once a year, and the foreign Ministers also went to both from time to time. Sir WiUiam Hamilton had a very fine coUeetion of Etruscan vases and some good pictures. From his house, and more particularly from a boudoir on the upper floor, he used to enjoy a magnificent view of the bay, reflected on the mirrors which covered the entire side of the room opposite to the semicircular window. The bay, by moonhght, ap peared to great advantage, and sometimes the full moon seemed to emerge from the crater of Mount Vesuvius. On other nights it was curious to see the Ughted boats employed in the tunny fishery. The various kinds of sheU-fish which are found, here are not to be told. The sailors of the country pretend that everything which exists on land has its feUow in the sea. Sea-oranges and sea-lemons I have seen and sketched ; and one day, as we were in a boat, we saw a Uttle nautUus saUing and row ing beside us. GENERAL ACTON. 257 The King of Naples had gone to Leghorn, I forget on what occasion, but his Uttle squadron sailed in not long after our arrival, in very good style. He was accompanied by an English frigate, commanded by Captain Blankett, an old friend of my mother, with whom she had constantly corre sponded since our departure from England, and whose letters were very entertaining. Through him we were first made known to General Acton, who was then, and for many years afterwards, everything at Naples. He was Commander-in- Chief by land and sea, Minister, confidential friend of the King and Queen, and in his pohtics much attached to Austria and England. He was of a very ancient English Roman Catholic family, but, I think, was born in France or Flanders. His elder brother was in the Austrian service. He himself had been a midshipman in our navy, but as in those days young men of his reUgion could not hold commissions, he went into the Tuscan service, in which he obtained the command of a frigate. When the Court of Naples wanted to put its navy on a better footing, he was summoned thither for that purpose. We were introduced to the Queen by her " Ca- meriera Maggiore," from whose apartment we walked through many passages of the palace, pre ceded by one of her footmen, carrying a lantern, for it was evening. We found her Maiesty stand- VOL. n. s 258 JOURNALS OE MISS KNIGHT. ing by a marble table between two windows. She asked us a few indifferent questions, and then dis missed us to receive others. From that time we were invited to everything that was" going forward, but the amusements were chiefly hunting-parties ; no offence, however, was taken at sending excuses. Naples— 1798. September 3. — The joy expressed by the Neapo- Utans [at the victory of the NUe] is very great. The King, when he heard it, was at table; he rose and kissed the Queen and chUdren, and said, " Now, children, you are safe." It happened to be a gala for the birth of a Princess of Tuscany : the Queen told aU the ladies, &c, that Sicily was safe. 22nd. — In the evening, went out with Sir Wil liam and Lady Hamilton, music, &c, to meet Admiral Nelson, who in the Vanguard, with the Thalia frigate (Captain Newhouse), was seen coming in. We went on board, about a league out at sea, and saUed in with him : soon after us, the King came on board, and stayed tUl the anchor was dropped. He embraced the Admiral with the greatest warmth, and said he wished he could have been in the engagement, and served under his orders ; and that he likewise wished he could have been in England when the news of the victory ar rived there. He went down to see the ship, and arrival of nelson. 259 was dehghted to perceive the care taken of a wounded man, who had two to serve him, and one reading to him. He asked to see the hat which saved the Admiral's Ufe, when he was wounded in the head with a spUnter. The Queen was taken with a fit of the ague when she was coming on board with the Princesses. Commodore Caraccioli came soon after the King, and many of the Neapo litan nobUity, bands of music, &c. It happened to be the anniversary of our King's coronation. The Admiral came on shore with us, and said, it was the first time he had been out of his ship for six months, except once on board the Lord St. Vincent. The Russian Ambassador and aU the Legation came out to meet him. When we landed at the Health Office, the applauses and the crowd of people were beyond description. Admiral Nelson is Uttle, and not remarkable in his person either way; but he has great animation of countenance, and activity in his appearance : his manners are unaffectedly simple and modest. He lodges at Sir WiUiam Hamilton's, who has given him the upper apartment. The whole city is mad with joy In the evening, went t<5 visit the Admiral, at Sir William HamUton's, where there was a grand iUumination. The Nea politans have written up " Vittoria" and "Viva Nelson" at every corner of the streets. November 5. — Appeared in sight Admiral Nelson, in the Vanguard, with the Minotaur, Captain Louis, s 2 260 journals of miss knight. from Malta, and they were aU day coming in ; but the Admiral came on shore at four o'clock, and went immediately to Caserta, where he was scarce arrived when the Hereditary Princess was brought to bed of a daughter, and the bells were ringing, guns firing, &c. Next morning, the 6th, the Ad miral presented to the King the French colours taken at Gozo, teUing his Majesty that he had six teen thousand subjects more than before. December 15. — The night before last came in two Portuguese ships, and the Alcmene (Captain Hope), with a Turkish Ambassador, interpreters, &c, bringing the diamond aigrette, &c, for Lord Nelson. This Court is in the greatest consterna tion, and does not trust any of its subjects. We were desired by Lord Nelson and the Hamiltons to pack up our things, previous to an embarkation, which seems inevitable. The Queen and Princesses are to go with Lord Nelson. Windsor— 1805. [In the Autobiographical Memoir, it is stated that Miss Knight became a resident at Windsor in December of this year. From the foUowing extracts from her Journal, however, it would ap pear that her residence commenced in June.] June 22. — In the afternoon went to Windsor. Stopped on the way at Hounslow for want of' horses, on account of the Ascot Races. The road WINDSOR, 261 from Staines to Windsor very pretty, with neat country houses. On my arrival at a house in Park-street, near the entrance of Windsor, which belongs to the Queen, I found very comfortable apartments neatly fitted up^ and a present of two pieces of India mushn, two of Enghsh, and one of Chambery, from her Majesty. Sunday, 23rd. — In the evening went to Lady Aylesbury's apartments at the Castle, and with her, at half-past eight, to the Queen's drawing-room. The King, Queen, and Princesses there. Music in the ante-room. Came away at a Uttle before eleven, when the Royal Family went to supper. 26th. — In consequence of the Queen's invitation, went at half-past six in the evening to Frogmore, with Miss Goldsworthy. The volunteers had dined there. Besides their Majesties, the Royal Family, and their suite, some of the neighbouring gentle men and ladies were invited, and Dr. GoodaU with his Etonians. In a barn fitted up with festoons of evergreens and flowers, two German " petites pieces" were extremely well acted by a company of httle children. After which, an automaton danced on the rope, and a species of phantasmagoria was represented, consisting of dancing figures, which formed groups and separated in an ingenious man ner. AU finished before ten. December 22. — Great joy about the Emperor of Russia's conduct.* His birthday to-morrow. Prin- * In inducing the King of Prussia to join the Allies against France. 262 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. cess EUzabeth ate something to resemble a taUow- candle, made of apple and burnt almond. Windsor— 1808. June 4. — The King's birthday. Went to Lady Charlotte Finch's. The Queen, and the Princesses, the Prince of Wales, and almost aU the Royal Dukes, came there, as also Uttle Princess Char lotte, who is very graceful and amiable. The Duchess of Brunswick had been to visit the King, and came afterwards (before the company arrived) to see the apartments. She was dressed whoUy in white crape, and looked weU, but much older than the King. Her voice is loud. 9th. — In the morning went with the Queen and Princess Elizabeth to Frogmore. Two Spanish noblemen* arrived in town to ask assistance against the French. Catalonia and the Asturias in arms. The King much pleased, but would not leave the novels that were being read to him. August 10. — Went at half-past ten in the morn ing with Princess Ehzabeth to her cottage at Old Windsor, and helped to arrange things there till between one and two, when we dressed for the company, who were beginning to arrive. The Queen and the Princesses, with the Princess Sophia of Gloucester, came about half-past two. The day was fine, and the grounds looked very pretty. The * The Viscount de Materosa and Don Diego de la Vega. ADMIRAL RUSSELL. 263 Queen and Royal FamUy dined in the house : the rest of the company in two tents, in one of which Lady IsabeUa Thynne presided, and in the other, Lady George Murray. The bands of the Oxford Blues and the Staffordshire Militia played. After dinner, when the chUdren came, there were three booths, at which they and all the company had fairings; and then the chUdren danced upon the lawn. It was altogether a very pretty fete, and the Queen seemed much pleased, as, indeed, did everybody. She went away at seven, or a Uttle before, as the King was expected to return from Town about that time. The rest of the company stayed nearly an hour longer. In the evening I went to the Queen's party at the Castle. October 7. — At Rochetts, Admiral RusseU came. He asked for a fortnight's leave, but was dismissed civilly from his command with great praises. He said that, at all events, they would have teased him out of it. He hoisted the Royal standard for the Queen of France, but it was not approved.* He asked Lord St. Vincent whether he had done right, who answered : " You could not do too much for a woman." He is an honest, brave officer, and goes by the name of Paddy RusseU. He came in fuU uniform. Lord and Lady St. Vincent are very * As the ship conveying the Queen the illustrious visitors with a royal of France and the Duchess d'Angou- salute." Her Majesty landed at Har- lfime and suite passed Admiral Rus- wich on the 29th August. Bell's fleet, " the gallant veteran saluted 264 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. good to the poor. They have made gates instead of stUes through aU the grounds for the convenience of the people who come to church. [1809.] June 24. — Went to the Queen's party to hear Mrs. Bates sing. She was a Miss Harrop, a poor girl with a very fine voice, and was patronised by the Dudley Ward family. She married, when young, a Mr. Bates, commissioner of the VictuaUing Department, whose widow she now is. She was considered the finest singer of Handel's music ever known ; and even now, though turned of fifty, she preserves her voice most finely. Bartleman sang some duets with her exceedingly weU, and Wesley played. 25th. — In the evening at the Queen's party. Wesley, who is a Methodist, but plays on the organ finely, cannot, of course, be admitted into the choir. He presented a petition to the King this morning, who gave him 100?. September 23. — The King was not at chapel this morning. Mr. Perceval, Lord Liverpool, and the Duke of York were with him, probably settling the new Administration. He heard, but not from Ministers, of the duel between Lord Castlereagh and Mr. Canning on the evening of the day it happened (the 22nd), but was not affected, though he thought it very siUy and wrong. REJOICINGS AT WINDSOR. 265 October 25. — Accession-day. The morning was ushered in by the discharge of cannon, ringing of bells, &c. Went early to chapel, the company chiefly in Garter blue. Afterwards to Mrs. Duval's, to see the "feu de joie," and the troops march past —horse artUlery, Blues, Stafford, Windsor, and Clewer volunteers. An ox was roasted whole, and two sheep, in a place caUed Bachelor's Acre. The Queen, the Princesses, and the Royal Dukes went to see it, and tasted the beef and pudding. In the evening I went to the Castle, where there was the usual party: we were all dressed in white satin. At nine, I accompanied Princess Elizabeth, Princess Charlotte of Wales, and Lady CaroUne Damer to Frogmore. The Queen, the Prince of Wales, and most of the Royal Dukes came a little after ten, when the fireworks, &c, took place. Things were not weU managed in the gardens, but the supper and aU the arrangements in the house were very pleasant. The Queen was much overcome by the feehngs of the day, and the accounts from Princess AmeUa have not been good for some time past. The King appeared in good spirits. The town was very orderly, though fuU of people. There were two iUuminated arches and several transparencies. ¦26th. — Went to the barracks of the Staffordshire MiUtia to see the men at dinner. Their wives and chUdren were also entertained at tables in the middle of the room — the men on each side. Tasted 266 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. their pudding. Many ladies and most of the officers were there. A buU was baited this morning, and a baU this evening at the Town HaU. The com pany of the town and the chief attendants at the Castle were in the upper rooms at Frogmore last night with Madame Beckersdorff. Thirteen hun dred tickets were issued for the gardens. The Queen's party was about ninety, consisting, for the most part, of the ladies and gentlemen of the neigh bourhood who visit their Majesties at the Castle, or those who are in the habit of spending a few days with them. The Archbishop of Canterbury was at chapel in the morning. The Queen desired I would write an inscription* for the Uluminated bunding, and I gave the foUowing one : " Britannia, grateful to Providence, celebrates the fiftieth year of a reign sacred to piety and virtue." November 7. — Princess Ameha returned from Weymouth about three, in the Prince of Wales's carriage, in which a cot had been slung by Sir H. Neale. The Duke of Clarence, Princess Mary, and Lady George Murray with her. The Duke of Cam bridge rode in before them. She is in a sad state of weakness and suffering. [1810.] October 30. — BuUetins given out of the King's Ulness, which it is, however, hoped wiU be more * In the Annual Register for 1809, Royal Highness the Princess Eliza- this inscription . is ascribed to her heth. DEATH OF PRINCESS AMELIA. 267 favourable than formerly, as he submits to what- ' ever is ordered. Mr. Perceval and the Chan ceUor came down, but could not see him : they saw the Queen. He is attended by Sir H. HaUord and Dr. BailUe ; and Messrs. Dundas and Battis- combe. November 2. — ParUament met yesterday, and only adjourned for a fortnight, as Ministers could not obtain a signature from the King. I went to the Queen at eleven ; about twelve, dear Princess AmeUa expired, after a confinement of a year and eight months, and the most dreadful sufferings, of which her exemplary piety alone afforded any alle viation. Mr. Charles Digby often read prayers by her side, and she received the Sacrament three times within the last month. The Prince of Wales and aU his brothers have been here constantly for the last three weeks. 3rd. — Went to inquire after the King ; the buUe- tin says he had a better night, but no diminution of feyer. 4th. — In the morning went to Princess Augusta — and also on the 7th. Passed the week in caUing on Lady Ilchester, Lady Ely, and at home. Sir Henry and Lady Halford in the Lane. Received a letter from the Vice-Chamberlain (Lord Dartmouth being dead) to invite me to the funeral in the name of her Majesty. Princess Augusta had before told me that the King had named me to be at it on ac count of dear Princess AmeUa's regard for me. 268 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. On the Wednesday evening, November 7th, sat up with Lady George Murray to watch the remains of dear Princess Ameha in the room adjoining. The King continues very UI, and Francis Wilhs was sent for, in addition to the physicians, three days since. 10th. — Sir H. Halford seems to think the King better. His lucid intervals are more frequent and longer. 11th. — Sir H. Halford says the King was quite rational this morning, and aware of the death of Princess Amelia. He shed tears, and mentioned a letter he had sent to her, and asked for the answer. Ministers have been very crueUy impatient, and their desire of getting his signature for proroguing the House occasioned sad scenes with the physi cians, who boldly withstood them. They could not, however, prevent their sending down Willis, which wiU be a great affliction to the King when he knows it, which he now must. He had made the Queen and all the famUy swear he should never see the WiUises more. 13th. — At four, went by the Queen's desire to dine at the Castle with the ladies, as did Lady Hal ford. The Queen and Royal Family dined by themselves. Between six and seven we went in three carriages to the cloisters. Lady Chesterfield, chief mourner, with Ladies Ilchester and Maccles field, her supporters, and Lady Halford, train- PRINCESS AMELIA'S FUNERAL. 269 bearer, in the first. In the second, Ladies Ely, Cranley, IsabeUa Thynne, and George Murray, supporters of the pall ; in the third, Mrs. Egerton, Mrs. Feilding, and myself. (Miss Townshend was not weU enough to come.) Lady Albinia Cum berland, as senior lady of the Princesses, went to Augusta Lodge with Miss Goldsworthy and Mrs. WiUiams, and Mrs. Adams went in the carriage with them, following the Prince and the Duke of Cambridge, the executors, to attend the hearse to the church. We went to Dr. Heath's, where the equerries and grooms of the bedchamber were to wait for being called. The Princes and chief mourners were in the Garter-room. They were in black veils and gloves, we in long white crape veils and gloves, the Blues and Staffords on duty ; the Blues holding torches every fifth man. Madame and MademoiseUe Beckersdorff, Miss Planta, and MademoiseUe MontmeUin also walked in the pro cession, and the housekeepers and dressers ; the soldiers were in ranks, through which we passed. The service chanted. The church looked awfuUy fine, and the choir where the first part of the ser vice was performed stiU and subUme. The Dean, who had just lost his brother (Lord Dartmouth, Lord Chamberlain), performed the service. The anthem, chosen by the King, was part of the 16 th Psalm, from the ninth verse to the end. It used to be sung by the Royal FamUy. The body was 270 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. buried in a vault dug behind the altar. The whole was very fine, and respectfuUy attended to by the spectators. I felt an elevation of mind, which sup ported me, and a sincere trust that the dear sufferer is now happy. We got home about half-past ten. A great number of gentlemen and noblemen at tached to the Court, and aU the Ministers, attended. 14th. — Was sent for by Princess Elizabeth to go to the Queen, who was calm and tolerably weU ; afterwards went to Princess Elizabeth's and to Dr. HaUam's. The King was asleep last night during the funeral ; he afterwards sent a kind- message to the Queen and Princesses, and said he was resigned, but has cried much, and continues sq to do. This morning he wished to settle everything for the pay ment of the people at Augusta Lodge. Lady and Miss Halford, Mrs. and Miss BailUe, dined with me. Sir Henry and Dr. B. drank tea — they are in al most constant attendance on the King, and sit up in their turn. 16th. — Parhament met yesterday, and was pro rogued for a fortnight longer. The physicians were previously examined by Ministers. The King was at that time better, but in the evening had much fever ; this evening he is again rather better. 22nd. — The King has been very UI for several days, and has scarcely any sleep. 26th. — The King not so weU last night ; much the same this morning. ILLNESS OF THE KING. 271 29th. — The physicians were examined at the Cockpit, by an open meeting of Privy CounciUors, yesterday and to-day. 30th.— Walked in the court. Sir Henry Halford. He, and Lady and Miss Halford, dined with me. Yesterday the majority for an adjournment of a fortnight was more than a hundred in the House of Commons ; not so considerable in that of the Lords. The Dukes of York and Cambridge voted for Government ; Clarence and Sussex against ; Kent and Cumberland stayed away. December 6th. — Iii the morning the King not so weU as he has been for the last four or five days. 7th. — The King very UI, but rather better than yesterday. 8th. — The King continues very ill. 14th. — Went to the Queen, and to Princess Augusta. Both Houses of Parhament met yester day, and Ministers, having stated that the King was not yet weU enough for business, proposed a committee of twenty-one in each House, for ex amining the physicians on the 14th and 15th; their reports to be printed on Monday, the 17th, and the House to meet on the 19th for debate. 25th. — Christmas-day. A most dreadfully tem pestuous night. The King was very ill in the evening — a violent attack — and I beUeve in dan ger. The Prince and Duke of Cumberland came 272 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. in the night. AU the Princes are here. The King's fever is greatly abated; but he was in serious danger last night ; his pulse was at 125. 26th. — In the morning went to Frogmore with the Queen, Princess Elizabeth, and Lady Ayles bury ; afterwards with the Queen at the Castle, and with Lady A. The King much the same as before his late attack. 27th. — The Regency wiU be proposed in the House of Lords. The amendment for an address lost by 26 : 100 against 74. The Dukes of York and Sussex spoke in favour of the amendment. Lord GrenvUle for the bUl, but against the con duct of Ministers, accusing them of high treason. [1811.] January 2nd. — Yesterday Ministers were left in a minority by 13, on the question of the house hold, the amendment conferring part of the pa tronage on the Prince of Wales, the rest on the Queen, with the care of his Majesty's person. Evening at Miss Goldsworthy's and Lady Ayles bury's. 3rd. — Ministry yesterday left in a minority of 3, on the restrictions they intended to impose on the Regent. Lord Porchester proposed the amend ment. 5th. — The Peers sat tUl five this morning. Op position carried every question except the right of granting peerages. Majorities of 3. PROGRESS OF THE KING'S MALADY. 273 18th. — The King walked on the terrace yester day with WiUis and Heberden, and was joined by Baillie. The fact is, WiUis told him he might go, and he was delighted; Heberden con sented through weakness ; and the key of a tower staircase was procured before the page (Bolt) could refuse it. Sir H. Halford was in Town, and Baillie did not know it, until, coming into the apartment soon after, he missed his patient, and went down to him. The Queen did not know it tUl the evening. The effect was hurtful, as the irritation increased in consequence of the walks not being continued, which, considering the cold and damp of the north terrace (the only one not overlooked), and other inconveniences, it was impossible to aUow. It was probably a manoeuvre of WiUis to please Ministers (and perhaps ordered by them), to make people suppose the King better, and to get more votes on the Regency BUI question, which came on that day; and they hqd a majority of 27. 25th. — The ChanceUor and Mr. Perceval could not see the King yesterday, though the ChanceUor had declared he would see him, as he would not put the Great Seal to the BiU without it; but though the physicians all declared he might, they would not either of them; probably not being satis fied with what they heard of his Majesty's state ; they say they will to-morrow ; in the mean while a debate of importance wiU have taken place. Lord VOL. II. T 274 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. Moira carried (by two) the adjournment against proxies on Wednesday. ; his speech was uncom monly animated, and he very severely reprehended the Ministers, said the ChanceUor had come as a champion, but in rusty armour, caUed them a nest of scorpions, and said the nation was not so stulti fied by the oppressions of late years as not to take notice of their proceedings. 26th. — The ChanceUor and Mr. Perceval saw the King this .morning, and the Great Seal is to be put tp the Regency BUI, as they can now have no doubt of the unfortunate state of his mind. 30th. — Mr. Perceval saw the King this morning, and told him of the Regency, which he bore very weU; indeed, he continues in high spirits — some delusions. February 1. — The King saw Lord Liverpool and another of the Ministers this morning, and they say he had no delusions — talked over the Regency — very happy. The Prince sent & kind and dutiful message to the King by Sir H. Hal ford, saying he should be happy to give .up power to him again, &c. 3rd. — The Prince does not change the adminis tration ; at least tiU he sees whether the .King re covers in a short time. 5th. — The Prince made known to the Ministers that he only kept them as his father's servants. It is said the King is reaUy recovering. PROGRESS OF THE KING'S MALADY. 275 9th. — The King saw the Queen yesterday and to-day, is much better, and walks on the terrace. Llth. — The King told the Queen the first day he ;saw her, that never son had made greater sacri fices to a father than the Prince had to him. 12th. — The Prince Regent saw the King this morning. 13th. — The Queen held her first CouncU to-day, and the physicians were examined. April llth. — Saw the Queen and Princess Au gusta. The King much the same. 17th. — The. Queen's CouncU, who come every Wednesday and Saturday, made a good' report of the King to-day. 20th. — This morning the King was thought to be much better ; and in the afternoon, whUe he was walking with the Dukes of York and Kent, they thought him so far weU, that it was found necessary to acquaint the Queen's CouncU, that no new arrangement might be made. 23rd. — Went with the Queen and the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary to Frogmore, and went round the fields. The Duke of Sussex came at one. 27th. — The King walks on the terrace twice a day, but his mind is stUl subject to many delusions, and it is a sad time for aU the fannly. 20th.— The King rode out to-day for the first time since his illness. 30th.— The King was not out this morning, and t2 276 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. none of his famUy have seen him. The physicians were aU here yesterday, and the' Queen's CouncU. July 13. — I went every evening this week (ex cept this) to Frogmore with the Queen and the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary. The King has been very UI the whole week, and continues so. 14th.— A bad bulletin, and the most attached seem hopeless of the King's recovery. 15th. — The King has been dangerously UI aU to day, and has taken no nourishment — his mind more distracted than ever, and his fever very high. WiUis was up with him aU last night, and Sir Henry Halford stays. I was at Lady Ilchester's in the evening. , 16th. — The King took three jelhes, and had a Uttle sleep this morning. The account in the even ing was the same, and that no new symptoms had appeared. 17th. — I was with the Queen, the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary, the Dukes of Cambridge and Cumberland, at Frogmore. The King a httle, but very little, better ; aU the physicians remain. Great alarm in London. 18th. — The Prince came to Windsor for a short time, and had a conversation with the Queen. There seems to be no amendment. 19th. — The Prince wUl not give away anything vacant by death or resignation. The Ministers complain that Government cannot go on without PROGRESS OF THE KING'S MALADY. 277 it. He teUs them he reserves them for the King to* fiU up on his recovery, and that it was their fault that these difficulties occurred, from the restraints they laid. He has sent Tucker to get money from his Duchy of Cornwall, that he may not be obhged to Ministers. 29th. — During the last week nothing very mate rial has taken place. The King has been as iU as ever, and takes so Uttle nourishment that it is scarcely possible he can recover any strength — his mind as much deranged as ever. I have been almost every evening with the Queen and Princesses Eliza beth and Mary at Frogmore. Yesterday the King was taken up, and put on his flannel gown; he took four basins of milk ; and he was thought to be not so weak as was apprehended. August 5. — The last week passed nearly Uke the former. I went several evenings with the Queen and Princesses Mary and Elizabeth to Frogmore. The Queen read Thomson's "Seasons;" but on Thursday the Queen's Council came unexpectedly to propose calling in more physicians, or, at least, that a consultation might be held. The Prince came down several times. The King had another paroxysm, and is stUl in a dreadful state of mind, and wUl take nothing now but water and biscuit. A consultation was held yesterday at Sir Henry Halford's. John Willis, Munro, and Simmons were th.e additional members. Simmons, however, would 278 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. not give his opinion, as he said he could not, with out having seen the patient.. He came, from Oxfords- shire, through Windsor; for that purpose ;, but it was not permitted, as the other two; J. WiUis-. and Munro, had not seen his Majesty. 7th. — Yesterday, Sir Henry Halford caUed and told me that when Lords Aylesbury, Winchilsea, and the Archbishop of Canterbury came to propose John Willis, the Queen,, by the advice of the Prince, to whom she sent at Sir Henry's request, answered that she and aU the family had taken a solemn oath by which they promised the King that they never would admit J. Willis to attend him again, and that from the information given in 1804, during his Majesty's Last Ulness, the Privy Council had declared that the King's objections were not without a foundation, in consequence of which the then Ministers (Lord Sidmouth's Admi nistration) had sent Simmons,, a new person. Her Majesty, however, to. prove that, she had no per sonal prejudice against J. Willis, and did, not wish to exclude any advice whick might ba supposed beneficial to the King, consented that a. consulta tion might be held, at which J. Willis,, with the addition of Drs. Simmons and Munro, might be present. This was held at Sir H. Halford's, and last night the answers were given. Princess Mary told me this morning they only recommended acting as circumstances might require,, and sug- VISITS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. 279 gested nothing new. The King was dreadfuUy UI last night; and WiUis even said they never at tended one so ill except a gentleman who died within forty-eight hours after. Yesterday, amidst much incoherent matter, he said, on a sudden: " The King is dying ;" but then went on to other ravings. This was told me last night by Miss Goldsworthy. He is grown exceedingly thin, and scarcely takes any nourishment. , 14th. — The King has been nearly in the same state in which he was a week ago. He takes more nourishment, but his mind is in as bad a state as ever ; and the worse the more food he takes. The Queen's Council answered that for the present they would not insist on J. WilUs being admitted. They seem to have a notion of a right to more than giving advice. The Prince spent his birthday (the 12th) here. He came the day before, and stayed tUl the 13th. He rode out with Princesses Sophia and Augusta in the morning, and afterwards came to Frogmore, where the Queen was with Princesses Elizabeth and Mary, and the Duke of Clarence ; and I was with her. The Duke of Cumberland came with the Prince. We sat long at luncheon, and the Prince was very attentive. The Duchess of York came to dinner, and aU the Dukes were there,' except the Duke of Sussex, who is iU. I was with Princess Sophia one evening, and twice with Princess Augusta. It seems the King has 280 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. made no wiU, but it is thought he has made two or three memorandums. The Prince has informed his sisters that he means, in case of the King's death, to have their incomes increased, and to give them apartments at St. James's, as also to keep a table for them. I went almost every morning to Frogmore with the Queen and Princesses EUzabeth and Mary. The Queen read Rogers's " Pleasures of Memory" and Cowper's " Task," and planted Uttle oaks and ge raniums. 19th. — The King's bodUy health seems to be im proved, but his mind remains in as bad a state as ever. The Queen's CouncU (which seems to be very despoticaUy inclined) insisted on bark being given him. The Prince spent the Duke of York's birthday here, as did aU the famUy. Was every morning with the Queen, except Saturday and Sunday, and she read Cowper's " Task." 26th. — The King is certainly rather better ; for he sleeps, takes nourishment, is not always so vio lent, and sometimes talks a Uttle rationaUy, at least within the last three days. Great apprehensions have been entertained for the Duke of Sussex ; and, though better, he is thought to be in a very bad way. All the famUy met to spend the Duke of Clarence's birthday (the 21st) here. I was with the Queen and Princesses Mary and EUzabeth most mornings at Frogmore. The Queen read Cowper STATE OF THE KING'S HEALTH. 281 and Cicero's " Letters," and took me with her in the Uttle carriage, drawn by a pony. September 3.— There seems to be little if any difference in the state of the King. On Saturday the Queen's CouncU presented a petition, signed by aU but Lord WinchUsea and the Bishop of York, requesting that her Majesty would send for Sim mons. Her reply was that she had promised the King he should neither have Simmons nor Willis. Lord WinchUsea wanted John WilUs. I was every morning with the Queen and Princesses EUzabeth and Mary at Frogmore, except Saturday and Sun day. The Queen read Cicero's " Epistles." I was also with Princesses Augusta and Sophia. 9th. — StUl the same uncomfortable state, and certainly no amendment. I was with the Queen and Princesses as usual. Yesterday, the 8th, was the fiftieth anniversary of the Queen's wedding-day. The Duke and Duchess of York, Duke of Clarence, and Duke of Kent, dined with her. The Prince was prevented by business: he is just returned from Lord Hert ford's. 16th. — Heberden and the other physicians quar relling ; the former thinking the King better. It does not appear that there is any improvement. I was not out much with the Queen this week. Looked over a manuscript of EngUsh history for Princess Elizabeth. Went to Princess Augusta, &c. 282 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. Nothing very remarkable, happened? here im the last three months of 1811. The King rather re covered his bodily health, but. his. mind remained the same. No. one aUowed to speak to him but John Willis. The Queen began to have smaU parties in her own drawing-room, consisting of the ladies and gentlemen in waiting, on. the week-days; on the Sundays only her lady of the bedchamber and myself. On Christmas: evening the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Walsingham. The Prince feU down at Oatlands, and hurt his foot and hand, which confined him a long whUe, and he took too much laudanum. [1812.] On the I8th of February the Regency Act ex pired, and the Prince of Wales became unfettered by Parliament, but continued the same Ministers in office, and only wrote a letter to the Duke of York, desiring he would offer to Lord Grey to join this Administration, and to communicate the same to Lord Grenville. They refused to join, and those of his former friends to whom the vacant Garters were offered, refused them, as they did aU places and honours. Lord Cholmondeley alone accepted a place. Lord Hertford was made Chamberlain ; and his son, Lord Yarmouth, Vice-Chamberlain. Scandal very busy about the Prince and Lady THE ROYAL FAMILY. 283 Hertford. Ten thousand pounds a year was added by ParUament to the Queen's income, and. 30007. to each, of the Princesses, on which they were to have, an estabUshment. of their own. They ap pointed one lady each : Princess Augusta, Miss C. Onslow, getting for her the title of Lady ; Princess EUzabeth, the Dowager Lady Rosslyn; Princess Mary, Lady IsabeUa Thynne ; and Princess Sophia, Lady Mary Powlett. They at the same time an nounced to the Queen their intention of some times making visits to their brothers. They also . took servants, and ordered carriages for themselves. The Queen began to see a little more company, but only those belonging to her, or very intimate friends. I asked leave to go to Town, and into Essex and Suffolk for seven weeks, to return for the Queen's birthday. I went on Monday, the 30th of March, and stayed a week in Town, four days with Lady Nepean, at Fulham, and on the 10th went to Lord St. Vincent's, at Rochetts, where I dined and slept that night. The next day I went on to Harwich (dining at Colchester), and stayed two days at Mrs. Deane's, at Harwich. I went from thence on the 14th to Dr. Norgate's, at Ashfield, in Suffolk, and stayed a week there. On the 21st I went to Bury, where I dined at Miss Norgate's, and from thence came to Halsted, and slept at Mrs. Urquhart's. Next day arrived at 284 JOURNALS OF MISS KNIGHT. Rochetts, and stayed there tiU the 9th of May, when I came to Town. On the llth, Bellingham shot Mr. Perceval. I returned to Windsor on the 18th, and on the foUowing evening was at the Queen's party. Princess Charlotte of Wales, the Duchess of York, and Princess Sophia of Glouces ter there. ANECDOTES. [The foUowing anecdotes are selected from a large number, recorded by Miss Knight mostly at the end of her journals. They were either written from her own personal knowledge, or picked up by her in society, and set down at the time in her note-books. They are of unequal interest, and if not aU new, are, at aU events, authentic] Mr. BosweU being asked by Burke why he put so many absurdities into his Life of Dr. John son, replied : " You, sir, have been guUty of greater absurdities." The other defied him to point them out. " Do you remember," asked BosweU, " when you said in Parhament, ' We have the best of Kings and the most grateful people ?' " Burke re pUed, " You have reason." BosweU was asked by the King how he would ever get through his work on Dr. Johnson. " Sire," said he, " I have a more difficult task than 286 ANECDOTES. that — how to caU the unfortunate grandson of James IL, whose adventures in Scotland I propose to narrate." " Why," repUed the King, " caU him the unfortunate grandson of James II."* Mrs. Piozzi says she has been punished, like a vagabond, by hard labour and a month's confine ment ; and nine times in her life she has suffered the same fate. Lord Nelson says, that when he was seventeen years of age, he won 300?. at a gaming-table ; but he was so shocked on reflecting that, had , he lost them, he should not have known how to pay them, that from that time to this he has never played again. — — — — — — — — — i When Admiral Nelson's arm was cut off, the surgeon asked if he should not embalm it, to send it to England to be buried; but he said, "Throw it into the hammock with the brave feUow that was kiUed beside me" — a common«6eaman. As we were going in the Admiral's barge the other day, looking at the ships and talking of the victory (of the NUe), Sir WiUiam HamUton could * The anecdotes relating to BosweU were given to Miss Knight by Mrs. Piozzi. NELSON. 287 not be pacified for the French caUing it a drawn battle: "Nay, it was a drawn battle," said the Admiral, " for they drew the blanks and we the prizes." The Queen of Naples desired to have a portrait of Nelson. Little Prince Leopold said he would get a copy, and stand continually opposite to it, saying, " Dear Nelson, teach me to become Uke you." Captain Troubridge wrote to condole with Cap tain Darby, of the Bellerophon, for his wounds and the number of people killed in his ship ; but added, that had his sufferings been fifty times as much, he had rather have been in his place than have borne the anguish he felt from running aground and being kept out of the action ; that he had found great difficulty in keeping from shooting himself; and that he even then frequently shed tears. Captain Darby and Captain Gould, who was present when he. received the letter, both wept. The estate of Bront^, near Mount Etna, so caUed from one of the Cyclops, was given by the King to Lord Nelson. It is a Dukedom, with estates valued at between two and three thousand pounds sterling per annum. His Majesty also presented him with a sword set with diamonds which had belonged to 288 ANECDOTES. his father, the King of Spain, accompanied by a letter, saying, that as this was the sword with which his father had conquered Naples, it ought to belong to Lord Nelson, who had recovered that kingdom. Every officer who came in with good news received a present from the Queen, of greater or less value, according to the circumstances and his rank in our service. She also gave some very valuable jewels to Lady HamUton. The Order of St. Ferdinand was instituted by the King for the recovery of his Itahan States, and crosses were bestowed upon our officers, and upon the Neapolitan Ministers, and others attached to the Court who had foUowed the Royal FamUy to Palermo. A Neapolitan one day remarked that this Order had not been conferred on a single Sicilian. A gentleman of the island being present, and thinking this was said in an invidious manner, replied, " His Majesty is per fectly right to give his new Order to the few Nea politans who have remained faithful. Had he given it to us, it must have been to every inhabi tant of the island, for aU have been true to him." The Sicilians certainly did show great loyalty, and were dehghted with the presence of their sovereign, but it must also be remembered that they had a deep-rooted and hereditary dislike to the French. They always spoke with pride of the Sicilian Ves pers, and would at anytime have been ready to repeat them. SimUar feeUngs prevaUed in Sar- THE MAD PRINCE. - 289 dinia and Malta, without any historical motive, but there is an independence in the character of islanders which is not easUy overcome, unless biased by commercial speculations. The Turkish squadron, commanded by Cadir Bey, came to Palermo (1799), with two .other ships of the line beside his own, under the orders of a Vice and a Rear- Admiral, and a frigate called the Eagle of the Sea, the Captain of which was a young man related to the Grand Seignior, whom the Turks caUed " the mad Prince," because he was very romantic. I recoUect that one day, whUe walking in the garden, he happened to see my httle dog, which he took up in his arms, and re cited some verses to it, apparently with great affec tion. There was a Greek, who kept a coffee-house at Palermo, and served as interpreter to the Turkish officers, but he could not exactly translate these verses, and aU I could learn was that they were " extempore." He then told me that the Prince had desired him to say that one day, as he was riding along the shore of the Bosphorus, a spirited horse threw him into the sea, when a dog jumped in after and saved him ; for which reason he had imposed on himself the duty of paying a compli ment in verse to those animals whenever he found a proper opportunity for so doing. A beautiful VOL. II. u 290 ANECDOTES. fete was given at the palace for the recovery of the kingdom of Naples, in the name of Prince Leo pold, who was then about nine years of age. His tutor and the Queen made aU the arrangements, and the former composed a very pretty cantata on the occasion. The Turkish Admiral went in the carriage with us; the Vice and Rear- Admirals, with .the Captain of the Eagle of the Sea, in another, but we could not persuade the latter to put on a caftan Uke the others. He insisted on going in his short dress and trousers, with bare arms and ankles, declaring that it was disrespectful to appear before the Queen in " a great coat ;" just as we should think it wrong to wear a shawl in the presence of their Majesties. His turban was adorned with fine jewels. His dress was of purple sUk, richly em broidered with silver, and his shppers of the same colour, which exclusively belongs to members of the imperial family. His linen was remarkably fine, and beautifuUy washed; his trousers were equaUy recherche', and without doubt he was the model of a Constantinopohtan dandy. After the performance of the concert there was a magnificent firework, representing the blowing up of L1 Orient at the battle of the NUe. The Turks were dehghted with this comphment to our navy, but the Russians did not appear equaUy well pleased. The gardens were beautifuUy Uluminated. ADMIRAL BARRINGTON. 291 The Honourable Samuel Barrington, the younger son of an Irish Peer, was sent into the Navy in his extreme youth, and at an early age was made a post-captain. He was one of those very few per sons who have many friends and scarcely one enemy. He was not briUiant in understanding, and his appearance was plain, but his heart was exceUent. He loved his friends, was charitable and humane to an extensive circle, and constantly kind and Uberal to his famUy. He was a good officer, and of the right school. Not ambitious, neither was he eager after fame. He wished to do his duty, and he did it weU. If he had ambition in any the shghtest degree, it was to get on in the service without making use of the powerful interest of his brother, who was for many years in the Ministry ; and for this purpose he en deavoured to have his ship better manned, to get under weigh sooner, be sooner out of dock, &c. &c, than other people. It is not impossible that his rank in Ufe was often of service to him on these occasions, but it was not his intention to avaU him self of that advantage. He was a father to his officers and seamen, and was so generaUy Uked in the Navy, that it was remarked that no company of sea-officers ever met without drinking his health. When he was an Admiral he never desired to be a commander-in-chief, for he did not Uke responsi bility, and he was envious of no man. He spent u 2 292 ANECDOTES. his fortune in hospitaUty and acts of charity, avoid ing aU ostentation, not only because he had no taste for it, but because he would not hurt the feehngs of his brother officers by living in a man ner which those of more Umited incomes could not have imitated without distressing themselves.^ He was never violent in politics, and hatred seemed banished from his nature. I beheve Admiral Barrington to have been a sincere Christian. His conduct at Santa Lucia, both in taking the island and afterwards in defending it agamst the infinitely superior force of D'Estaing, was greatly applauded. In answer to the haughty letter in which the French commander exhorted him to give up a place which he could not defend against such inequahty of force, he only returned him his letter, crossed over with two long scratches of his pen, and defeated him completely. Admiral Barrington was desired by my mother to be her executor and my guardian, with the two Admirals Drake, in case she died before I was of age. But though he survived my mother, her Ufe was mercifuUy spared to me for many years after that period ; and he died before my return to England, after a long Ulness, which kept him chiefly at Bath during the last years of his ex istence. * This is also stated in the Autobiography, vol. i. page 19. MAGDALENS IN EVERY STAGE. 293 I remember a young officer of the French Navy saying one day : "I should like to be an English Peer until I reached thirty-five. I would then be a Marshal of France tiU fifty, and afterwards come to Rome, be a Cardinal, and never die." The same officer, looking at the fine picture of the "Mag dalen," by Guido, exclaimed : " Oh, what a lovely picture ! I have always liked Magdalens in every stage of their existence." Signor Balbi was surprised to find that there was no Burgundy left in his ceUar, when he wanted to place some before a party of friends who were dining with him at his country villa. " Ah !" said he, "it must have been that Englishman, Lord Fortrose, who has been staying here some days with my wife, that has drunk it. Ah ! I never thought of my wine." The Bishop of Parma said, that in that cUmate they had " nove mesi d'inverno, e tre d'inferno." It often happened in Genoa that, when any one was building, or repairing his house, his opposite neighbour, if he thought it so high as to be incon venient to himself, or disagreeable for any other 294 ANECDOTES. reason, had it fired at with musket-shot, or at least pelted with stones. This occurred, whilst we were there, to the house of Signor Negroni. The Archbishop of Genoa hearing an Abbe say that the earth moved round the sun, told him he was astonished at his impiety in flatly contradicting the Scriptures, which say, "Terra autem stat." Madame de Stael, daughter of M. Necker, being at a baU with a lady, daughter of the late M. de Guichen, Lieutenant-General of the Marine, for whom she was in mourning, kept tormenting the latter to dance. The lady replied that she could not dance while she was in mourning for her father ; but Madame de Stael stiU importuned her, untU she said : " Consider, madam, if you had had the misfortune to lose your father, could you think of dancing so soon?" " Oh !" returned the other, with a. haughty air, " there is such a difference be tween fathers and fathers." " True, madam," re pUed her companion, "there is a great difference. My father served his king and his country during sixty years — yours in a fortnight has ruined both." Two Frenchmen of the lowest order, talking of the present condition of their country as they were LOUIS XI. AND THE GENOESE. 295 crossing the Rh6ne, one of them said it was de lightful to be equal to the nobility and gentry. "True," replied the other, " it would have been pleasant to have been upon an equality with them while they were something; but now we have brought them down and ruined them, I do not see what we have gained by being equal to them." The Princess of Monaco stayed here a few days after the Prince's departure, in the hope that the revolution aimed at by the aristocratic party would take place. When she received an express from the Prince, she wept bitterly whUe she read his letter, and then immediately ordered post-horses and set off, exclaiming : " Adieu, mon palais 1 adieu, mes honneurs ! Je ne suis plus rien." The Corsicans having lately heard that they were to be restored to Genoa, represented to the Govern ment that, rather than be given to their former masters, they begged that France would bestow/ them on the person to whom Louis XI. formerly gave the Genoese. During the reign of that monarch the Genoese sent Ambassadors to his Court, with instructions to place the repubhc under the protec tion of France. " Les Genois," said they, " se don- nent a votre Majeste." " Et moi," answered the King; " je les donne au diable." 296 ANECDOTES. A Venetian, being asked by a German where his countrymen got their lion with wings, replied: " We caught him in the same forest where you found your two-headed eagle." Linnasus hated Buffon. He used to say that Buffon's eloquence would mislead the world so as to make it believe his Ues. One day, being at dinner with the mother of the present King of Sweden (Gustavus III.), at her country-house at Drottningholm, he saw a portrait of himself and one of Buffon in the room. He rose from table, and begged she would take away one or the other, for he would not have his portrait in such com pany. When very old, he used to go out herbo rising with several hundred students of the Uni versity of Upsal. He had a trumpet with him, by which the signal was given to caU his scholars around him when he found any plant particularly , .curious. They also brought to him all that they had collected, which he classified and explained to them, sitting down upon the grass. He was simple in his habits and behaviour. He could, speak French very weU, but would not, because he hated the nation. He also spoke German, and a little Eng Ush. He was much beloved. When the funeral service was performed over him, the man who had been gardener for twenty years of the botanical BARON WRANGEL. 297 nursery he had established, came and strewed his grave with boughs of cypress— which Linnseus had introduced into Sweden — and with the most cu rious exotics in the garden. The Piedmontese caUed all the Genoese " Baccia- cini," that being a common name at Genoa. When they met any of the inhabitants of that city in the streets of Turin, they plagued them by caUing out : " Bacciacini, dom, dom, dom" — imitating the sound of the great beU for assembUng the Consi- glietto. An Italian at Vienna was teUing a lady how long he had been travelUng, and pronouncing French according to the manner of his nation, he said : " J'ai 6*te un dne a Paris et un dne a Rome." " Mon cher Abbe," repUed the lady, " U parait que vous avez ete un ane partout." M. Lagesward said, in the presence of Baron de Wrangel, that the latter had the reputation in Sweden of being very fickle in point of gaUantry. " Why, no, indeed, my dear friend," answered the Baron ; "I have reaUy been very constant ; but consider, when a man has been making love near sixty-five years, how many mistresses he must ne cessarily have had." 298 ANECDOTES. Signor Michel Angelo Cambiaso, who was long a prelate" in Rome, said that in that city two things are eternal — the women and the friendships. A few years since a Russian lady of high rank — who had escaped from her own country, either on account of her being acquainted with some circum stances relative to the death of the late Emperor (Peter III.), or because she had some right to the crown by inheritance — stayed a few months in Italy, and the Grand-Duke of Tuscany told "her he would answer for her safety so long as she re mained at Florence, but that he would not advise her to trust to any Russian. Count Orloff, how ever, became intimately acquainted with her, and paid great court to her, tiU at last he persuaded her to partake of an entertainment on board the Russian fleet, at that time anchored off Leghorn. Notwithstanding the advice of many persons, she went on board, and has-never since been heard of. It is supposed that she was thrown into the sea. Count Orloff despatched a messenger to his im perial accomphce as soon as he had secured his prisoner.* * This anecdote is related on the assisted Count Alexis Orloff in luring authority of Baron Wrangel, and is her on board the Russian fleet. But also mentioned in Wraxall's "Me- Mr. Kelly states that she was "an moirs of his own Time." - It was said adventurer who called herself Countess that this " Russian lady of high rank" Tarakanoff: he allured her on board was a daughter of the Empress Eliza- his ship and sent her to Petersburg." beth by Alexis Ragumofsky, and that —History of Russia, vol. ii. p. 57. the English Consul, Mr. John Dick, ANCIENT POLITENESS. 299 When Lord Bruce and Mr. Brand were at Paris, arms and liveries had been aboUshed about three weeks. The people came and stared at the coro net on Lord Brace's carriage, and at the motto, "Fuimus." LuckUy, said Mr. B., none of the Dames de la HaUe understood Latin. The popu lace looked at the Ambassadress's footmen in Uvery as the most extraordinary sight in the world, though so short a time had elapsed since they had been accustomed to see everybody's servants dressed after that fashion. Mr. B. going to make a visit at Cambridge to Prince WiUiam, son of the Duke of Gloucester, saw a fiddle on the table, and, taking it up, asked the tutor if his Royal Highness played. " Not much," said the other ; " only God save his uncle, and such Uttle things." Signor Stefano Lassagna said the war of '46 spoiled aU the etiquette of Genoese society. For merly the gentlemen behaved much more poUtely to the ladies, and he himself remembered the time when Prince Doria walked beside the chair of Madame Morando with his hat off, in a great faU of snow, though he had his own chair foUowing behind. A general reform having been instituted at Genoa 300 ANECDOTES. in the signs of inns and taverns, no saints or foreign sovereigns were to be aUowed. The man who kept the " Santa Marta" being ordered to take down that sign, put up " Albergo Imperiale" in its stead. He was then told that the Emperor did not rule in Genoa, and so he next stuck up the arms of the republic, with the motto "Libertas," and he calls his inn " La Liberta." Prince Chigi, who was condemned to perpetual imprisonment for attempting, to poison Cardinal Carandini, resided at Genoa, and went by his own name. He paid a visit to, Signor Bernardo Pal- lavicini, brother of the Doge, and was lodged at the " Santa Marta" (La Liberta). His servants cooked for him in his own apartments. Mr. Devon- port, who had rooms near his, complained of the noise of scraping pots and dishes, and was answered by the people of the house that they had made the same objections, but had been told that the Prince had hired the rooms and would cook as he pleased. Signora Marina Spinola having arranged to marry her daughter to the son of Signor Dominico Serra, said she did not mention the circumstance to her tiU all was settled, because the young man is agreeable ; but had he been ugly, she would have told her at once, to accustom her to the idea. One AN ITALIAN MARRIAGE. 301 Sunday the bridegroom went with his father and mother and aU their family, even to nephews and nieces, to visit the bride, Signora Spinola having also invited her relations to be present on the occa sion. The visitors arrived about half-past five, when the young lady was to kiss the hand of her future mother-in-law, which the latter was to en deavour to prevent : however, she succeeded very dexterously in doing it. Signora Serra went away early, but left the sposo, teUing Signora Spinola that he would stay tiU she sent him away. This puzzled Signora Spinola, but she arranged the matter with Signor Cheeco Viale, who, at haH-past seven, told the young man it was time to walk home. AU the time of the visit the latter sat on a sofa beside the young lady, talking to her on indif ferent subjects. The next day Signora Spinola, her husband, and a friend, went to return the visit of Signora Serra, when the latter requested her to charge herself with the care of providing the mar riage outfit — which is always furnished by the parents of the bridegroom — excusing herself on the plea of iU health and the absence of her daughter. She added, that she intended to spend as much as she had done for the daughter of Prince Doria, who was married to another of her sons. Signora Spinola at first demurred to spending another per son's money, but finally accepted the commission. In the contract it was to be inserted that the marriage 302 ANECDOTES. should take place before September, and the Serra fomUy wished it to be in June. The young man was to be dispensed from the ancient custom of watch ing to meet the young lady whenever she went out with her mother, and he was to be allowed now and then to visit at the house. They were to Uve with Signora Spinola for a year and a half, or two years, untU a house could be fitted up for them. The King and Queen of Naples were wonder- fuUy pleased with Rome, though they had taken a prejudice against it. They were magnificently treated at the Pontine Marshes at the Pope's ex pense. The carriage of the gold plate, provisions, &c, alone cost 150 crowns, and the dinner itself not less than 600 crowns. When General Acton met the King on the frontier, he asked if his Majesty would take any refreshment, but the King dechned, saying that he had eaten enough for three days. At Rome they invented a conversation, supposed to have taken place between the Pope, the King and Queen of Naples, General Acton, and the Queen's Confessor. The Pope says, " lo con- cedo tutto ;" the King, " lo voglo tutto quel che vuole la Regina^" the Queen, " lo vogho tutto ;" Acton, " lo rubo tutto ;" the Confessor, " lo as- solvo tutto ;" and the DevU, in a corner of the picture, " lo porto via tutti." MARRIAGE OF COUNT ONESTI. 303 The marriage contract of Signora Costanza Fal- conieri and Count Onesti was signed on Thursday, the 31st of May. There were twenty-four Cardi nals present, chiefly creations of this Pope, the four prelates in the principal charges that lead to the red hat — that is, the Governor, the Maggiordomo, the Auditore della Camera, and the Treasurer, but as the latter was already a Cardinal, he could not sign the contract, and therefore deputed Monsignor Doria to do so in his place. Twenty-two o'clock (six p.m.) was the hour, and Signora Mobiha had the candles lighted, that the ceremony might be more imposing. * * * Early on the morning of Monday, June 4, the sposa, accompanied by her mother and grandmother, &c. &c, went to the Vati can, where the Pope said mass in the Chapel Ses- tina. After hearing a second mass, he married his nephew and the young lady, making an exhorta tion twenty-two minutes in length. He began by giving good advice to the sposa, and then ad dressed the sposo, and afterwards himself, . saying that it was in that place (the Sestine Chapel) he was first married to the Church, and lamenting the many errors he had committed since he was Pope, notwithstanding his most ardent desires for the good of the Church. There were no ladies present but those of the famUy, many of whom were of aU conditions. After the ceremony they went down to the Maggiordomo's apartments, where a coUa- 304 ANECDOTES. tion had been prepared, and then proceeded to the church of San MarceUo, in the Corso, to pay their devotions in the chapel of the Beata Giulia Fal- conieri, an ancestor of the family, and a consider able saint. They next made their devotions at the Uttle church of the Bergamaschi, in the Piazza Co- lonna, and thence repaired to the house of the sposo, Palazzo Braschi, where they aU remained an hour and a half, and afterwards dined at the Pa lazzo Falconieri. The Senatress told the sposa she gave her joy on her wedding, and also on the presents she had received. " I had not so many when I married the Pope's nephew ; but then," added she, "J did not want them." An Abb£, standing at Count Braschi Onesti's door when they came home from the marriage, exclaimed : " What a fine breed of horses he has brought with him from Cesena !" They were so enraged at this speech that they had him arrested and sent to prison. The Prince Borghese presented Count Onesti with a pair of fine horses. Some said that the latter asked for them, and others that he offered to buy them, but that the Prince answered they were for his own use. However, he understood the Count's meaning, and sent them off to the Maggior- domo. Francis Joachim de Pierre de Bernis was of an old family of gentle- blood, whose hereditary estate THE ABBE DE BERNIS. 305 was near Pont St. Esprit, in Languedoc. He had great taste and talent for Anacreontic poetry. His compositions were Uvely and elegant, but rather too highly coloured, and by no means instructive for youthful readers. It was, no doubt, the error of the times and of the nation. He was of a short stature, and I do not think that either his features or person could ever have been remarkable for beauty, and yet he was universaUy known in his youth as "le joli petit abbe," and "l'aimable abbe\" His mind was very Uberal, and his temper generous and disinterested, but he seems to have been always somewhat too indiscriminate, or too tolerant, in the choice of his acquaintance. His circumstances were Umited, so that during his early years he was often subjected to great pecu niary embarrassments ; but he was always cheerful, always the gentleman, and always well received. He estabUshed the necessary proofs of ancestry for becoming a Canon of the Noble Chapter of St. Jean de Lion, of which he wore the cross to the last day of his life, with more pleasure than any other of his numerous decorations, for the consciousness of birth made his other honours sit easy on him. He gained the favour of Madame de Pompadour by his verses and the charms of his society, for no one ever said more amiable things in fewer words, or more to the purpose. She was not, however, his only friend, or the' sole cause of his promotion, as it has been often VOL. II. x 306 ANECDOTES. reported. A memoir he wrote on the dispute be tween the Jesuits and ParUament pleased the King (Louis XV.), and, besides, he was generaUy popular, and had great and powerful protectors, through whom he was sent Minister to Venice. WhUe he was there, the husband of the beautiful Princess de Rohan died. The Princess and he had long been attached to each other, and he knew that she would propose to marry him, but he felt that he would be regarded as too much her inferior with respect to rank and fortune to make a grace ful figure in the world. He therefore took priest's orders when he heard that the Prince was so UI that the next courier might bring tidings of his death. This does not sound weU ; but |it did not forfeit him the friendship of the Princess, for, when ' she died, she left him her whole fortune, which he nobly gave up to the Rohans, merely reserving for himself a ring, on which was a Moor's head, and this he wore untU his death in remembrance of her. At his return from Venice he was made Prime Minister, but was soon displaced by the Choiseul party, when he was created a Cardinal, but exiled to one of his abbeys ; subsequently he was aUowed to Uve at his archbishopric of Alby. Restored to some degree of favour when Louis XVI. ascended the throne, he was appointed Minister Plenipoten tiary of His Most Christian Majesty at the Court of Rome, whither he had gone for the Conclave of DE BERNIS. 307 GanganeUi. There he shone with the greatest splendour. His revenues were enormous, and he expended them most generously. Indeed, his Ube- rahty to his own countrymen, his hospitaUty to the natives and to travellers, his charity to the poor,, •and his beneficence to his own famUy, were only limited by his income. He never wished to save,, but could not bear the idea of debt. His house- and table were sumptuous, his conversation Uvely and animated, his manners poUshed, his expres sions guarded, and his behaviour dignified and correct. We had letters of recommendation to Cardinal de Bernis when we first went to Rome, and were intimately acquainted with him and his family, particularly with his amiable niece, the Mar chioness du Puy-Montbrun, and his- adopted ne phew and coadjutor, M. de Bernis, who was after wards his successor. The Cardinal was dismissed from his post at Rome, on refusing to take the oath exacted by the Revolutionists, and deprived of his benefices in France. He had a pension, however, from Spain, and received into his house at Rome, where he continued to reside, Mesdames Adelaide and Victoire, the sisters of Louis XVI. He bore his change of fortune with dignity and temper, and died about eighteen months before the French took possession of Rome. He left behind him a poem on reUgion, which he gave orders to have printed x2 308 ANECDOTES. after his death ; and Memoirs of the most active period of his life, intended only for the gratification of his own family, with positive instructions that they should never be made pubhc. The foUowing Unes were written by a lady of Alby, to be placed beneath two smaU medallions, representing the Cardinal and his nephew, the coadjutor : Alby ! tes deux prelats au temple de Memoire Attesteront du ciel la plus rare faveur j Quand il eut fait l'un pour la gloire, II fit l'autre pour ton bonheur. When the Cardinal de Bernis was to receive the red hat, he knew that eight days afterwards he would be exUed from the Court. He was then Prime Minister. The morning he was to go to the King he got up at two, and wrote tUl eight, when he went to the palace and received the hat, and ad dressed complimentary discourses to aU the Royal Family. He then returned to his own house, and had five tables set out for company, consisting of aU the Ministers and clergy. After dinner the King sent for him to the CouncU, which he left late at night, and went home and wrote tUl two in the morning. The pomp with which he was surrounded was immensely magnificent— aU the royal carriages attending him. The Duke of Fitzjames, who was standing with him at the entrance of his house, re- CARDINAL DE BERNIS. ' 309 marked: "Quel beau jour pour vous, Monsei gneur !" " C'est plutot un beau parapluie," replied the Cardinal ; but the Duke being ignorant of his approaching downfal did not understand him. The Cardinal said, he remarked, while he was pro nouncing his discourses, that the courtiers were endeavouring to find expressions that they could lay hold of, to bring up against him afterwards. Eight days later he was exiled to his abbey of Visurenne, where for the space of one year he was not permitted to see any one but the members of his own family. During the two foUowing years he was allowed to see company, and then sent to his archbishopric of Alby. The greatest demon strations of joy, such as the ringing of beUs, the firing of guns, troops drawn up to salute, &c, were exhibited aU along his journey through Languedoc. While at Visurenne he used to dress in grey, lined with red, with a white hat and a red riband round it, hke a shepherd. After the Cardinal de Bernis was recaUed from exile he went to Paris, and happened to be in com pany with the Duchess de Grammont, sister of M. de Choiseul, who was then Minister. She took occasion to introduce the subject of exile, and said it must be the most disagreeable thing in the world. "Madam," replied the Cardinal, "it is the most 310 ANECDOTES. disagreeable thing possible when you are expecting it, but the most agreeable when it is over." The Venetian Ambassador wrote the other day to the Vicegerent (substitute of the Cardinal- Vicar), requesting him to make inquiries about a young couple who had run away from Venice, and who, the Senate informed him, were concealed in Rome. The Vicegerent sent back the Ambassador's letter with these words at the bottom of it : "Si burla di me U Signore Ambasciadore" (Monsieur l'Ambassa- deur se moque de moi). The latter again wrote to the Vicegerent, and more urgently than before, but received only the same answer. Whereupon he caUed in person upon the prelate, who told him that the young couple were in the palace at Venice. The Count d'Artois carried his Uttle son, the Duke d'Angouleme, to see the young Dauphin. The child, expecting to see something extraordi nary, looked disappointed, and exclaimed: "Mon papa, comme U est petit !" " Tu le trouveras un jour beaucoup trop grand," repUed the Count. The Pere Procureur of the Order of Doctrinaires came to make us a visit, and said that he was try ing to get the founder of his order canonised, pro vided it did not cost too much. He had already A CANDIDATE FOR CANONISATION. 311 expended six hundred crowns on the congregations before whom the question . has to be laid. These are composed of prelates, heads of orders, and car dinals ; but he beUeves the last do not receive any thing. Every congregation costs a hundred and fifty crowns in chocolate ; the lawyer gets twenty more for his carriage and other expenses ; and the rest goes in mancias to the servants. The Prelate Promoter of the Faith is usually styled " Awocato del Diavolo," his business being to raise objections to the proposed saint. The present candidate for canonisation is of an ancient famUy of Avignon. His brother was a " chef d'escadre," and he himself was in the army of Henri IV. At that time he used to make verses to the ladies, and was a man of the world; but he afterwards turned abbe, and founded an order for the instruction of chUdren. His name was Cesar de Busse. They are now try ing to prove his virtues to "an heroic degree," and afterwards they will come to his miracles, without which he cannot be beatified. It is somewhat dif ficult to find proofs of these, but they hope to suc ceed, provided the order in France find money enough ; but there seems to be some reluctance to spend much for these purposes. Connected with this, the Pere Procureur related to us an anecdote of one of the Boromeo family, who told his son he need not give himself so much trouble, for they would never try to make a saint of him, as his uncle's canonisation had already ruined them. The feast 312.' ANECDOTES. of a beatified saint is not observed by the Church in general, but only by his own order. When Marshal Richeheu went to Bordeaux he was tired out with harangues from aU sorts of people. At last they told him that the Gardien of the Capucins wanted to address him, but the Mar shal vowed he would hear no more. Being pre vailed on, however, by the people about him not to mortify the poor man, he said he would receive him provided his discourse were brief. The Capucin, then entering, said : " Monsieur le Marechal, nous vous souhaitons autant de bien dans l'autre monde que vous en avez eu dans celui-ci." When Marshal ViUars was going to give battle to the allied army, he looked at his troops, whose uni forms had become very shabby, and said to them, pointing to the new regimentals of the enemy: " HabiUez-vous, mes amis." The harlequin at the Comddie Itahenne at Paris caUed for a seat, and they brought him a chair. " Non, non," said he, " ce siege n'est pas assez long. Je voudrais m'appuyer. Donnez-moi un autre si^ge : donnez-moi un siege comme celui de Port-Mahon." BACKING ONE'S OPINIONS. 313 A Neapolitan Prince, being on his death-bed, sent for his confessor, and, after making a long confession, he said there was one thing he had omitted because he had not courage to teU it. After much difficulty and many exhortations, the friar prevaUed upon him to impart the secret. " Father," said he, " I can never hope to be saved, for I have fought a duel." The confessor reproved him in suitable terms, but added, that his repent ance would ensure his pardon. " Oh, father !" ex claimed the Prince, " there were aggravating cir cumstances. The dispute was occasioned by my saying that. Tasso was superior to Ariosto, and we fought three times on that account." " It was very improper, to be sure," replied the friar, "to have risked your own Ufe and that of a feUow-creature for so slight a reason, but you may hope to be for given." " It is impossible, father," persisted the Prince, " for though I disputed so vehemently, I have never read a Une of either Tasso or Ariosto." When the Archduke Maximilian was at Paris, he went to see the Cabinet du Roi. M. de Buffon was there to receive him, and presented his Im perial Highness with a copy of his works, elegantly bound ; but the Archduke said, he could not think of robbing him. He went hkewise to the Ecole MiUtaire, where the young gentlemen were going 314 , ANECDOTES. to be put through their exercises for his amuse ment, but he said he did not wish to fatigue them. The Parisians caUed him the "Archi-bete d'Au- triche." When Pope Lambertini went to see the Opera House fitted, up for the cantata which the Duke de Nivernois gave on the birth of the present King of France (Louis XVI.), the prelate who was in attendance wanted to take, off the " stola," think ing that it was not decent so sacred a habit should appear in a theatre, but the Pope prevented him, caUing him a " minchione" (a blockhead). Some body wrote over the door, " Indulgenza pleniaria." When the Bishop of Derry was at Rome, he re fused to help a French gentleman at Cardinal de Bernis' table to some oUves, saying he " would not give the olive to France." The Marquis de Fortia repUed, " And yet it is the duty of your profession to do so, mUord." On the road from Naples to Rome the Cavaliere Lascaris was much annoyed at the slow pace the postilion went. He caUed out to him several times to go quicker, but the man always excused himself by abusing the Pope for keeping such bad roads. On reaching the end of the stage the Cavalier POPE GANGANELLI. 315 caned him handsomely; and, that the people around might not take the postilion's part, he went on saying what a rascal he was to abuse his sovereign, such a good prince,, too, &c. &c. The other then protested that he did not mean the present Pope, he meant Pope Rezzonico. " Worse and worse," cried the CavaUer, "for he was a saint. I must beat you aU the more." When the Duke of Areas was sent by the King of Spain to congratulate the King and Queen of Naples on the birth of their eldest child, Ganga- nelh\ who was then Pope, knew that the Duke had received instructions from his sovereign to press for the extinction of the Order of Jesuits. He resolved, therefore, to give the envoy no opportu nity of addressing him on the subject. The Spanish Ambassador at Rome mentioned to the Pope's con fidant, Padre Bontempi, that he hoped his HoU- ness would treat the Duke with distinguished civiUty, as he was charged with a special mission. To which the Padre repUed, that he could assure him the Duke should be received in a manner that would fuUy content him. When he arrived, the Pope was staying at the Castle Gandolpho, and he sent the Maestro di Camera and the Maggiordomo to receive the Duke at the door, the greatest com- phment that can be shown even to a sovereign. 316 ANECDOTES. The Pope was standing when he entered the room, and when he was about to kneel to kiss the feet of his Holiness, the latter prevented him, took him in his arms and embraced him, and seated him on a sofa beside himself. As the Duke made some dif ficulty about this, he said, " Do not look upon me as the Pope, but as a friar." He then conversed with the envoy on various subjects, and kept up the conyersation for half an hour, without aUow ing him the slightest opportunity to speak upon his real business. Padre Bontempi, according to previous arrangement, having made a sign that it was dinner-time, the Pope said that he had already observed that he was only a friar, and he Uved Uke one, dining at twelve o'clock, but the Maggior- domo would take care of him (the Ambassador), though probably he would not fare so weU as at the court of other sovereigns. He then rose, ac companied the Duke to the door, and as he was going out, said, " Remember me to Carluccio" (so he caUed the King of Spain), " and teU him that I am a man of honour, and wUl keep my promise to him, but he must give me time enough." The Ambassador then took his leave, enchanted with his reception. As Mr. Hewetson was putting up a bust in the Pantheon one day, three persons who had taken refuge in the church offered to help him. One of USES OF THE CHURCH. 317 them said he had done nothing wrong, but the cor poral of the sbirri owed him a grudge ; and another declared that he was an honest man, he had never stolen anything, he had only kUled a man. When any one here is taken up for a crime, the judge asks him his name, and some have been cunning enough to reply, " Chiesa" (Church). The judge then says, " I have taken an oath that I would never attempt anything against the Church, and therefore, as that is your name, you must go be fore the tribunal of Ecclesiastical Immunities." The man is accordingly sent there, and soon afterwards returned to the judge, with a message, teUing him that he may do what he pleases, he will not offend the Church. But if the prisoner persists in saying that his name is Chiesa, the judge wiU have no thing to do with him, and again refers him to the tribunal, and so the affair drags on for ever. No man, besides, is ever condemned to death unless he confesses his crime, but the torture is apphed to extort the confession. One poor wretch made a Ukeness of the gaUows, and stuck it on his foot, that he might remember in the midst of his suffer ings that it was worse to be hanged. Many out laws are Uving at Ostia, but aU for homicide and assassination. They would think it a disgrace to their society to aUow a robber to Uve amongst them. 318 ANECDOTES. The foUowing was one of the addresses to the young Dauphin: "Monseigneur, votre naissance fait notre joie, votre education fera nos esperances, et vos vertiis feront notre bonheur." The Uttle Prince Santa Croce, about five or six years of age, had got little Prince Giustiniani down, and kicked him most unmercifuUy. The latter took refuge in a corner, but the other or dered him to come out, that he might kick him again : " If you do not," he added, " I'U give you a coltellata" (a stab). As some officers of the Guards were showing off their troops to General Elliot, with their fine feathers, pink stocks, &c. &c, he said they only wanted one thing, which he had seen in Italy, and thought would be a great improvement to them. Upon being asked what this was, repUed, " An um brella ;" which the Pope's soldiers always carried. Cardinal de Bernis said that Count Alfieri was very prodigal of reflections, but very covetous of words. The ChevaUer du TheU remarked to us, in speaking of a Minister who was giving fetes on SEARCHING FOR A SCAPEGOAT. 319 some pubUc occasion, "On s'ennuie a les preparer, on se ruine a les faire, on est critique quand on les a faites." The expense of Monseigneur de Bernis' bi shopric, including expedition of buUs, presents, &c, amounted to about 480 Roman crowns. The Pope would not take the price of the bulls, as he was entitled to do. The King of Prussia caUed the Emperor Joseph II. the Quixote of the North. The Marquis CastigUoni, as he was going to Naples, scolded his wife because the cook's carriage had broken down, which, he said, was owing to her not having gone to mass in the morning be fore they set out. He afterwards said it was the fault of the " femme de chambre," whom he abused dreadfully, but a few hours after desired the Mar chioness to give her two sequins. A Jew of Pisa being very UI, ordered two Jew attendants to caU in a curate to baptise him, for that his conscience would not aUow him to die in peace without he became a Christian. He said he heard them in the next room agree that they had better kUl him than let him change his reUgion. 320 ANECDOTES. Upon that he desired so earnestly to be baptised, that an angel, dressed in white, came down and christened him ; and from that moment he grew better. On his recovery he informed the Arch bishop of Pisa of the miracle, and the Archbishop wrote to Rome to know if the man ought to be christened a second time. A Congregation was accordingly appointed, at the head of which was the Vicegerent, Monseigneur Contesini, and the Bishop of Carpentras went to Cardinal de Bernis, to inquire if he thought that baptism by an angel was canonical. The Cardinal repUed, as gravely as he could, that perhaps it would be better to re- christen the Jew, conditionally ; and that as he had never heard of any one being baptised by an angel, he could not say whether it was canonical. He then asked them if they were certain that the angel had reaUy appeared ; and they answered that there could be no doubt about it, for the man had told it himself. The Duke de Chartres buUt some houses round the gardens of the Palais Royal, with shops under them, in order to get money by letting them. He was talking to the King of the beauty of one of his gardens, describing the summer-houses, canals, &c. : " Y a-t-U des boutiques aussi?" asked his Majesty. The people were so enraged at seeing the trees cut down and the beauty of the gardens spoUed to POPE LAMBERTINI. 321 buUd these houses, that they hissed the Duke as he passed, and to escape the populace he ran through a coffee-house and got away. Some one remarking his blue ribbon, caUed out, " Est-ce la premiere fois qu'on a vu fuir le Saint-Esprit?" that being the name of the ship he commanded in the engage ment with Admiral Keppel. A caricature was printed of a man picking up rags in the dirt, and beneath it was written, "M. le Due de Chartres, qui cherche des loques a terre" (locataires). One day, while talking to a lady, he described a friend of hers by various iU-natured signs, to which she repUed, " Je vois bien, Monseigneur, que vous vous entendez mieux aux signalements qu'aux signaux." The Duchess de Chabot told me nothing struck her more disagreeably than to see, at the end of a sentence of death, the King's signature foUowing the words, " Tel est notre bon plaisir." Pope Lambertini having heard that Ghezzi, the painter, had drawn caricatures of him and of aU the Sacred CoUege, insisted on seeing his book. The painter, in great terror, was obliged to comply ; but the Pope was so much pleased with his talent that he gave him an employment of twelve crowns a month, and kept the book. Whenever a Cardinal VOL. II. t 322 ANECDOTES. came to see him he would show him his portrait, and if it caused any displeasure, he would say: " Do not be angry — here is my Ukeness also." The same Pope was told that a person had taken the Uberty to publish a book of his " bons mots," and was urged to punish the feUow. He repUed that he would certainly do so, and would inflict a very severe punishment, for, said he, "I wUl have a new edition printed with great additions, and then nobody wiU buy the book he has been at the ex pense of publishing. Princess Dashkoff being at Cardinal de Bernis' in carnival time, boasted that she would not fear to face forty cannons, and yet started when the petards were fired to give the signal for the race. She was asked if she felt cold, and she answered that her imagination was colder than her person. The Grand-Duke Paul of Russia told the young Prince Dashkoff that he had already given him half of his friendship on his mother's account, and would give him the other half when he knew him better. He agreed with the Princess to forget past times, and to think only of the present. When he was in St. Peter's, he said that such a church gave a higher idea of the Divinity than any other temple he had ever entered. He thought the columns were not perfectly proper for the support of so noble an edi fice, but he was too much struck with the general DEGENERATE ROME. 323 effect of the buUding to examine its detaUs. The city of Rome, he remarked, offered the most august, and, at the same time, the most humUiating spec tacle in the world, as it showed to what a height men could attain, and also how low they could descend. Mr. Bagnall remarked, that, on meeting the Senator on the first day of carnival in his state coach surrounded by his guards, and with pieces of silk carried before him, it seemed to him as if the Romans wished to perpetuate the memory of their disgrace, and show how far they had sunk from their former position. If Cato could return on earth, what, he asked, would be his idea on encoun tering Prince Rezzonico as the representative of the Roman Senate, and Princess Santa Croce as the representative of the Roman matrons — particularly at Carnival time ? Countess Kaunitz, at Vienna, cheated intolerably at cards. As she was walking one day with Lord Finlater, a beggar asked alms of her, and she de sired his Lordship to give the man a sequin. Lord F. demurred to such a large sum, but the lady in sisted on his showing his generosity. "Ah! je vois, madame," said he, " que c'est un cousin de Pam." t2 324 ANECDOTES. • When the Prince of Hepenstein was at Paris, he was one day at Madame de Barri's toUette, sur rounded with courtiers. She was saying how much she wished to have a Uttle tiger, and every one was recommending how it should be fed. Some said with biscuits, others with macaroons, tUl the Prince, tired of aU this nonsense, suggested : " Give him, madam, a courtier a day." Princess Dashkoff said she thought the Pohsh nation the most servile in the world tiU she saw the Italians. Cardinal Zelada said that, when he was in the Conclave, another Cardinal sent him an artichoke, which he presented to another Cardinal, who passed it on to a third, untU it came back to Cardinal Zelada. After this had happened six times the latter terminated its travels by throwing it out of the window, but not before it had cost him twenty- five crowns. For it is customary when a Cardinal makes a present to. a- " confrere," to give at least two sequins to the secretary of the donor, or to some other member of his household. Of the innumerable friars secularised by the Emperor Joseph II., only two hundred have proved fit to be employed as parish priests. The nuns of SAINT OR NO SAINT. 325 the convents destroyed by his Majesty had permis sion to enter other convents if they voluntarily chose to continue a monastic life. Scarcely any of the German nuns have confined themselves a second time, and only one in Lombardy, who has come to Rome for that purpose. The Pope has aUowed her a few days to see the city. The King of Spain has been very anxious of late for the canonisation of a lady who died about a hundred and fifty years ago. Two miracles are necessary for this purpose, and only one could be proved to have been performed during her lifetime. It was therefore proposed to supply the other by the fact of her body having remained uncorrupted for such a length of time. Accordingly the tomb was opened, in order to ascertain whether the body had been preserved naturaUy or by being em balmed. Unfortunately, it crumbled into dust as soon as it was exposed to the air, which was held to be decisive against her sanctity. The King, however, was so determined to have his way, that he caused a second congregation to be convened, but the result has been as unfavourable to his wishes as before. , It is said of the Duke de Chartres (afterwards Duke of Orleans, commonly known as Philippe 326 ANECDOTES. Egalitiej, that he was "paresseux sur mer, poltron sur terre, pohsson partout." Two instances of the cruelty practised in con vents came under the Countess de Chateau Dau phin's personal knowledge. One was of a friar belonging to one of the mendicant orders at Turin, who was chained under the ceUar-stairs for ten years, fed upon bread and water, and kept in a most shocking state. The other was of a friar who was confined for twenty-five years in a room of a convent near her country house, where he was de prived of the sight of a single human being — his food being passed to him through a hole. Through the Count's influence he was at length set at hberty, and permitted to walk about the convent. The Emperor Joseph II. is caUed every morning before six, and rises immediately, though he may have been sound asleep just before. WhUe dressmg he reads papers, and by seven he receives the CouncU of State ; after which the Archduke Maxi milian, if in Vienna, makes him a visit of a few minutes, and they go together to church. The Emperor then proceeds to his ChanceUerie, where he dictates to several secretaries, keeping them fuUy employed until twelve or one, when he holds JOSEPH II. 327 a levee. About half-past one, or two, he drives a caleche and pair to one of the gates of the town, where a horse is awaiting him. He mounts and rides round to see fortifications, buUdings, gardens, &c, and, afrer using violent exercise, returns home about half-past four, when the signal for the Guards to salute him is also the signal to serve up the dinner. WhUe this is being done, which usuaUy occupies seven minutes, the Emperor dresses him self — he is always in uniform — and he remains less than half an hour at table. He eats of the simplest dishes, and of not more than two or three, talking aU the time to architects, directors of his gardens, &c. , After dinner he walks about the room for a short time, when he returns to the ChanceUerie, and works assiduously tUl ten or eleven. He then visits at one of about a dozen houses, to which he goes by turns, almost aU of them belonging to widows of general officers, and the greater part Pro testants. They are aU elderly women, with the ex ception of two— the Princess of Lichtenstein, wife of the General who is his personal friend; and an other lady, whose husband hkewise is particularly intimate with his Majesty, and works nearly as hard. About midnight the Emperor returns to the palace, and as he passes through his apart ments sits down to the harpsichord for a quarter of an hour, his valet de chambre accompanying him on the violin. He both plays and sings, and the 328 ANECDOTES. music is changed every night. He then goes to bed. Such is his usual Ufe at Vienna, but when he is with his troops he surpasses them aU in activity. Rain, tempests, long and fatiguing marches, are alike disregarded. M. de Chevert, who died a Ueutenant-general of the French army, being about to take a fortress by assault, gave the foUowing instructions to a soldier : " Tu monteras 1'echeUe ; la sentineUe te criera ' Qui est la ?' tu ne repondras rien ; U te criera une autre fois ; tu ne diras rien ; U te tirera, il te manquera ; tu le tueras et moi je serai derriere toi." The soldier took his commander's word, did as he was bid, and everything happened precisely as M. de Chevert had stated. A son of Count Sambuca, Prime Minister of the King of Naples, not long since had a person assassi nated. His father sent him off to SicUy, and it is probable that no further notice wiU be taken of the murder. Another son of the same Minister, as he was going to a conversazione at Rome, observed that Cardinal Visconti's carriage was in front of him, and immediately ordered his coachman to drive past it. The man excused himself by saying that it was not customary to pass a Cardinal ; but Signor Sambuca insisted, and gained his point. Cardinal Visconti, when he alighted, unaware of the A FRANK CONFESSION. S29 real state of the case, and being, besides, a very civil man, told the other that he was exceedingly sorry for the dispute between their coachmen, but that it was impossible to answer for the behaviour of those people. " You are mistaken, Sir," replied the NeapoUtan, " I ordered my man to pass you ; ' voi altri CardinaU ci volete soverchiare in tutto.' "* However, he was soon afterwards recaUed to Naples by his father. It was mentioned lately at a conversazione of the second class that some one had been murdered by a servant. An Abb^, who was one of the guests, being accompanied by his servant on his way home, was asked by the man if he knew whose servant it was, and he repUed in the negative. " Why, it was I, Sir," said the fellow — " I kUled the man myself." The poor Abbe" was so much frightened at the in telligence that he ordered him to take himself off, with his Uvery and lantern. In Italy, they caU people who hurt their health by painting, tight-lacing, &c, "martiri del dia- volo." Prince Borghese gave a baU about a fortnight after his sister's death; whereupon it was written over his door next morning : " Dignum sororis * " You cardinals want to give us the go-by in everything." 330 ANECDOTES. funus." His mother has been dead about a month, and he is not yet in mourning. Next month he proposes to give dances at his vUla twice a week. Lord Lucan said that the Ambassador from Malta spoke amazingly good French for an African. Cardinal Hertzan, Minister of the Empire, having taken a palace through the interest of the Empress Queen (Maria Theresa), wanted to turn out the keeper of a coffee-house who lived in the palace. The man went to consult a Friar FeUce to know how he could manage to resist the Cardinal. The friar told him that he saw no human means whereby he could avoid his loss, but that God Almighty would perhaps prevent it. The Cardinal being after wards in danger of losing great part of his income through the death of the Empress Queen, Friar FeUce passed for a saint. Prince Doria gave to the (newly-made) Cardinal Altimari a fine carriage, with a pair of beauti ful horses. Prince Borghese sent his taUor and his merchant to the same Cardinal, desiring him to order as many suits for himself, and as many liveries for his servants, as he thought proper. A woman of the second order, the widow of an " ex- peditionnaire," likewise presented him with one THE CAVAL1ERE SERVENTE. 331 thousand crowns in papetti, to give away as " man- cia" ("pour boire" — drinking-money), and de frayed all his briefs, &c, for his new bishopric. The Romans caUed Signora Giuha Falconieri, " Papa GiuUa." The Pope's nephews being at the Opera with that lady, it was said, " Tutti U San- tissimi erano ad AUberti." At La VaUe, a guardian was introduced on the stage, who advised his ward to keep good company, and to receive the nobility at her house, but to have nothing to do with painters. Monsignor Fer- retti, cavaUere servente to the. Baroness G., told her of this, and advised her to take the hint with regard to a painter who is GontinuaUy at her house. Upon this a friend of hers went to the Governor and com plained that the comedians of La VaUe had insulted Madame G. Signor Pisani, a Venetian, having had great flirta tions with a woman of the second order at Rome, was told that he would not dare to continue them when her cavaUere servente was present. He therefore went and sat down upon the lady's knees, and the cavaUere servente gave him three boxes on the ear, which he took very quietly — merely remarking that he was unfortunate in not having his pistols in his pocket. He afterwards complained of the affront to 332 ANECDOTES. the Venetian Ambassador, but a. Roman lady said to him that she wondered how he dared to enter the company of ladies after an affair of that kind. The Viscount de la Rochefoucault remarked that in Rome a man who gives a blow is -generaUy con sidered " un brutal," and that he who receives it is pitied. The cavaUere servente was said to be the gentleman of I forget what Prince ; whUe Signor Pisani belonged to the illustrious famUy which gave so many heroes to the repubhc of Venice. An ItaUan Countess was about to be in terred one day, when an order arrived from the Secretary of State for the body to be opened,, on suspicion of her death having been caused by poison. On examination it was found to be so, and it was supposed that she was poisoned by a ser vant who was bribed by her relations ; for the de ceased had been a great devotee, and it was feared that, if she made a wiU, she would leave aU her money to the Church. The Elector-Palatine, after talking some time to the Princess Santa Croce, went to pay his compli ments to some other lady. Whereupon Signora MobiUa Falconieri, the mother of the Princess, flew into a violent passion, and told her daughter she wondered how she could submit to such an A LIFE FOR A LIFE. 333 affront. When she was young, she would never have permitted a gentleman to leave her to speak to any one else. The foUowing story was circulated in Rome, but it was denied by Prince Chigi. WhUe the Prince was hunting on one of his estates, about twenty miles from Rome, a wild boar made great ravages on the lands of a poor man, his vassal. The latter complained several times, but always in vain, and at last one day shot the boar himself. The Prince's gamekeeper, who saw him do this, raised his gun, fired, and kUled the poor feUow on the spot. His widow presented a memorial to the Prince, beg ging redress of her wrongs, but he sent it back to her, with this answer, " Ci rimedia in cinghiale" (Give me redress in the matter of the wUd boar). She then came to Rome and appealed to the Pope, who ordered the gamekeeper to be imprisoned, and the Prince to pay the woman fifteen crowns a month as long as she Uved. When the Constable de Bourbon's troops sacked Rome, they carried away with them a large quan tity of papers, among which were several notes showing where people had buried their money and plate. Many of the French afterwards returned, and by means of this information found much 334 ANECDOTES. hidden property. This circumstance may have given rise to the common behef of the Itahans that the French are magicians. At one time devout plays representing Paradise, Purgatory, and HeU, were acted in the theatre of Chaumont, a smaU town in Champagne. But by an unfortunate accident Paradise feU into Purga tory, and Purgatory into HeU, since which no more representations have been given, and the affair is known as "La Diablerie de Chaumont." A Polish Prince having said something imperti nent to a lady at Rome, she answered : " AUez- vous-en; vous etes un bel enfant." "Madame," he replied, " vous n'etes ni l'un ni l'autre." This happened some years ago. Pope Rezzonico wanted to establish a feast in a Uttle village, on the canonisation of St. Barbarigo, a relative of his famUy. As the villagers did not choose to go to the expense of a new picture, they stuck a portrait of the new saint with wax over a painting of St. Charles Borromee. But the candles being Ughted and the church growing warm, the wax melted in the middle of the service, and the temporary saint tumbled down, leaving St. Charles PAPAL FALLIBILITY. 335 triumphant. On which some of the people ex claimed, " A miracle !" and declared that the Pope had wanted to impose a saint upon them, but the miracle proved that he was not a true saint. When Cardinal Cornaro was Governor, a message was brought to him whUe attending the Pope at a function, stating that, in a quarrel between his coachman and another, Prince Borghese had cut to pieces the harness belonging to the lat ter. The Pope asked what was the matter, and Monseigneur Cornaro being taken by surprise, told the whole affair, and was ordered by his HoUness to confine the Prince to his own house. This was done ; but the accusation was soon proved to be entirely false, and to have been got up to injure the Governor with the Prince, who 'only a few days before had sent him a pair of horses as a present. No apology was made to the Prince; only Cardinal Giraud was sent to him to say that Sovereigns might sometimes make mistakes, but their mistakes were not to be caUed in question. The Abbess of the monastery of San Cesimato told ns, after making many apologies for fear of scandalising Pere Jacquier, who was with us, that she had dreamt that morning that the three years for her being abbess had terminated, and that aU 336 ANECDOTES. the nuns came to desire her to continue in that office. Upon which she was in such a passion that she wished them aU at the devU, and so loud that the whole dormitory heard her. She was very Uvely, and said that she took the veU at the age of fifteen, when she was so thin that everybody thought her in a consumption. She is now upwards of sixty, and blessed with quite sufficient " en bon point." The coachman of Monseigneur Gregori, who was about to be made a Cardinal, wounded his wife in a quarrel, and the poor woman was carried to an hospital. He insisted upon going in to see her — a thing never permitted in the part of the building aUotted to women. Having a knife in his hand he tried to get in by force, but one of the people of the house picked up a big stone and frightened him away, at the same time caUing to the sbirri to take him up. They were afraid, however, to do so when they heard that he was Monseigneur Gregori's coachman, untU the directors of the hos pital told them that they would be answerable. They then carried him off to the prison at the Governo. Monseigneur Gregori sent immediately to the Governor, to say that he was going out and wanted his coachman, but the Governor returned for answer that he, too, wanted him. SPINELLI. 337 Count ScuteUari being with the Pope, his HoU ness, to give more weight to an assertion, said, " Da galantuomo e vero." The Count assured his HoUness that he need not have used so strong an expression, as he was obhged to beUeve him on half a word. When the Governor (SpinelU) was very ill, a physician was sent for from Naples, who had been recommended as the head of the profession in that city. He said he wanted a man who was not afraid to deal with the Roman doctors. When he came they began, as usual, to give him an account of all the bleedings, &c, with which they had treated their patient. The NeapoUtan, without waiting to hear the end of their story, ran up, caught Mon seigneur SpinelU by the hand, and exclaimed, " Sei vive ancora !" The physicians, disconcerted at the expression, left the case in his hands, and the Governor has himself told us that he believes he owes his life entirely to this man. The Prin cess of Palestrine went to see him one day when he was at the worst, and as she was going out his people asked her what she thought of his state: "Why," said she, "he appears tome beyond all hope of recovery ; but he is SpinelU, and till you give him the last blow on the nose, like the cats he will escape." VOL. II. z 338 ANECDOTES. The learned and exceUent Abbate Cunich was a native of Ragusa, and entered at an early age into the order of Jesuits; after the extinction of which he was Professor of the Greek language at the Roman CoUege for a long series of years. His translation of Homer's IUad into Latin verse is esteemed as one of the most faithful, and, at the same time, one of the finest, versions as to style and purity of language which it is possible to imagine. He also translated many beautiful Greek epigrams from the Anthologia with equal success, and com posed several himself, remarkable for their elegance, and chiefly encomiastic. The purity of mind, sanc tity of manners, and innocent cheerfulness which were conspicuous in the character of Cunich, ren dered him universaUy beloved and respected. He had warm feeUngs, and naturaUy great quickness of temper; but the deep sense of religion which in fluenced his Ufe and behaviour gave him great power of self-government, which was further strengthened by his unaffected humility and singu lar moderation. At the advanced period of life when I knew him, his form and features were stiU beautiful, and his imagination as active and poetical as it could have been at twenty-five. He died, as far as I recoUect, in 1796, of a long and painful Ul ness, which he had concealed and borne with the greatest patience and resignation, not being confined to his room tiU within a very short time of his THE ABBATE CUNICH. 339 death. His affections, being by his profession con fined to friendships, were, in their warmth and sin cerity, more Uke those of ancient than of modern times ; and he was so disinterested that, although he counted amongst his friends many persons of high rank and considerable influence, he never soli cited, or even wished, for riches or distinctions. He associated only with worthy characters, and, not having the desire of celebrity, rather withdrew from the world than encouraged the advances of new acquaintances who admired his talents. But this retirement from the world in general was not owing to any dislike of it. He was singularly can did, charitable in his opinion of others, and reaUy, I beUeve, imagined that others possessed the same virtues, or, perhaps, greater than those which his serenity of mind must have made him conscious of possessing. The Abbe" Boscovich was also a native of Ragusa, a smaU repubUc in Dalmatia, on the shores of the Adriatic, celebrated for the industry of its inhabitants, and for the singularity of its political situation. I never yet knew a Ragusan who did not possess genius and learning. Boscovich was a great mathematician, and a man of probity. He had a remarkable talent for making extempore Latin verses. His epigram on the planets is de servedly admired, as it scatters flowers on a subject z2 340 ANECDOTES. which did not appear susceptible of them. " As in the order of succession in their orbits round the Sun,- our Earth," says he, " is between Mars and Venus, no wonder that love and war govern the world." At the extinction of the order of Jesuits, Bosco vich took refuge in France, and was much beloved there. A place was created on purpose for him, the " Inspection of the Optics for the Marine." He was intimate with many of the first famUies of France, but no sycophant. At an advanced age he took the resolution of paying a visit to his own country to see his mother, who was stUl aUve and in the enjoyment of her faculties. His voluminous works he printed at Bassano, in the Venetian States. He became chUdish at last, but fortunately died before the French Revolution, which would have deprived him of many comforts. [Among the last of the memoranda coUected by Miss Knight is one bearing the initial letters C. S., which purports to describe the characteristic fea tures of the last three reigns :] "The reign of George the Third was that of public and private virtue. The reign of George the Fourth was that of national fame and glory. The reign of WiUiam the Fourth was that of domestic kindness and happiness. We humbly RELIGIOUS FAITH. 341 advise our young Queen to take the first for her model, in which we trust that she will be re warded by the two others." On this hint Miss Knight composed the foUowing verses, dated July, 1837, and therefore within six months of her death : Of George the Third the long and arduous sway, The reign of worth and virtue we may name. With George the Fourth we see our isle display The brilliant scenes of victory and fame. Affection's kind, domestic joys we view In our late William's short, benignant reign. 0 may our Queen her Grandsire's steps pursue, And love and glory as reward obtain ! Possessing in all British hearts the place Her noble ancestors so justly won ; And may the honours of the Brunswick race Resplendent shine coeval with the sun ! On the back of a card, on which Queen Char lotte had copied a short sacred poem, Miss Knight has written : — " Copied by the Queen, and given by her toE. C. K, December 10, 1805. God Almighty grant, through the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ, that my sins may be forgiven, and that His will may be the dearest wish of my heart, with gratitude (how ever imperfect) for the blessings He has deigned to be stow on me /" APPENDIX. EXCLUSION OP THE PBINCESS OP WALES FEOM THE QUEEN'S DEATTDTG BOOM— DEATH OP THE PBINCESS CHABLOTTE. APPENDIX [The following is the correspondence relative to the ex clusion of the Princess of Wales from the Queen's Drawing- room, to which reference is made at the end of the first and commencement of this volume :] LETTER OF THE PRINCESS OP WALES TO THE PRINCE REGENT. u Sir, — I am once more reluctantly compelled to address your Royal Highness, and to enclose, for your inspection, copies of a note which I have had the honour to receive from the Queen, and of the answer which I have thought it my duty to return to her Majesty. It would be in vain for me to inquire into the reasons of the alarming declara tion made by your Royal Highness, that you have taken the fixed and unalterable determination never to meet me, upon any occasion, either in pubhc or private. Of these, your Royal Highness is pleased to state yourself to be the only judge. You will perceive by my answer to her Ma jesty, that I have only been restrained by motives of per sonal consideration towards her Majesty, from exercising my right of appearing before her Majesty at the pubhc drawing-rooms to be held in the ensuing month. " But, Sir, lest it should be by possibility supposed that the words of your Royal Highness can convey any insinua tion from which I shrink, I am bound to demand of your 344 APPENDIX. Royal Highness, what circumstances can justify the pro ceedings you have thus thought fit to adopt % " I owe it to myself to my daughter, and to the nation, to which I am deeply indebted for the vindication of my honour, to remind your Royal Highness of what you know : that after open persecution and mysterious inquiries, upon undefined charges, the malice of my enemies fell entirely upon themselves; and that I was restored by the King, with the advice of his Ministers, to the full enjoyment of my rank in his court, upon my complete acquittal. Since his Majesty's lamented illness, I have demanded, in the face of Parhament and the country, to be proved guilty or to be treated as innocent. I have been declared inno cent ; I will not submit to be treated as guilty. " Sir, your Royal Highness may possibly refuse to read this letter. But the world must know that I have written • it : and they will see my real motives for foregoing, in this instance, the rights of my rank. Occasions, however, may arise (one, I trust, is far distant) when I must appear in public, and your Royal Highness must be present also. Can your Royal Highness have contemplated the full ex tent of your declaration ? Has your Royal Highness for gotten the approaching marriage of our daughter, and the possibility of our coronation % " I waive my rights in a case where I am not absolutely bound to assert them, in order to relieve the Queen, as far as I can, from the painful situation in which she is placed by your Royal Highness ; not from any consciousness of blame, not from any doubt of the existence of those rights, or of my own worthiness to enjoy them. " Sir, the time you have selected for this proceeding is calculated to make it peculiarly galling. Many illustrious strangers are already arrived in England ; among others, as I am informed, the illustrious heir of the House of Orange, who has announced himself to me as my future son-in-law. From their society I am unjustly excluded. Others are expected of rank equal to your own, to rejoice with your THE PRINCESS OF WALES. 345 Royal Highness in the peace of Europe. My daughter will, for the first time, appear in the splendour and pub licity becoming the approaching nuptials of the presump tive Heiress of this Empire. This season your Royal Highness has chosen, for treating me with fresh and un provoked indignity: and of all his Majesty's subjects, I alone am prevented by your Royal Highness from appear ing in my place to partake of the general joy, and am deprived of the indulgence in those feelings of pride and affection permitted to every mother but me. " I am, Sir, " Your Royal Highness's "Faithful wife, "Caroline P. " Connaught House, May 26, 1814." (Enclosures.) THE QUEEN TO THE PRINCESS OP WALES. " Windsor Castle, May 23, 1814. " The Queen considers it to be her duty to lose no time in acquainting the Princess of Wales, that she has received a communication from her son, the Prince Regent, in which he states, that her Majesty's intention of holding two drawing-rooms in the ensuing month having been noti fied to the public, he must declare that he considers that his own presence at her court cannot be dispensed with ; and that he desires it may be distinctly understood, for reasons of which he alone can be the judge, to be his fixed and unalterable determination not to meet the Prin cess of Wales upon any occasion, either in public or private. " The Queen is thus placed under the painful necessity of intimating to the Princess of Wales the impossibility of her Majesty's receiving her Royal Highness at her draw ing-rooms. " Charlotte R." 346 APPENDIX. ANSWER OP THE PRINCESS OP WALES TO THE QUEEN. "Madam, — I have received the letter which your Ma jesty has done me the honour to address to me, prohibiting my appearance at the pubhc drawing-rooms which will be held by your Majesty in the ensuing month, with great surprise and regret. " I will not presume to discuss with your Majesty topics which must be as painful to your Majesty as to myself. " Your Majesty is well acquainted with the affectionate regard with which the King was so kind as to honour me up to the period of his Majesty's indisposition, which no one of his Majesty's subjects has so much cause to lament as myself : and that his Majesty was ¦ graciously pleased to bestow upon me the most unequivocal and gratifying proof of his attachment and approbation, by his public reception of me at his court at a season of severe and unmerited affliction, when his protection was most necessary to me. There I have since uninterruptedly paid my respects to your Majesty. I am now without appeal or protection. But I cannot so far forget my duty to the King, and to myself, as to surrender my right to appear at any pubhc drawing-room to be held by your Majesty. " That I may not, however, add to the difficulty and un easiness of your Majesty's situation, I yield in the present instance to the will of his Royal Highness the Prince Re gent, announced to me by your Majesty, and shall not present myself at the drawing-rooms of the next month. " It would be presumptuous in me to attempt to inquire of your Majesty the reasons of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent for this harsh proceeding, of which his Royal Highness can alone be the judge. I am unconscious of offence ; and in that reflection I must endeavour to find consolation for all the mortifications I experience ; even for this, the last, the most unexpected, and the most severe ; THE PRINCESS OF WALES. 347 the prohibition given to me alone, to appear before your Majesty, to offer my congratulations upon the happy ter mination of those calamities with which Europe has been so long afflicted, in the presence of the iUustrious per sonages who will in all probability be assembled at your Majesty's court, with whom I am so closely connected by birth and marriage. " I beseech your Majesty to do me an act of justice, to which, in the present circumstances, your Majesty is the only person competent, by acquainting those illustrious strangers with the motives of personal consideration to wards your Majesty which alone induce me to abstain from the exercise of my right to appear before your Majesty : and that I do now, as I have done at all times, defy the malice of my enemies to fix upon me the shadow of any one imputation which could render me unworthy of their society or regard. " Your Majesty will, I am sure, not be displeased that I should relieve myself from a suspicion of disrespect towards your Majesty, by making pubhc the cause of my absence from court at a time when the duties of my station would otherwise peculiarly demand my attendance. " I have the honour to be, " Your Majesty's most obedient " Daughter-in-law and servant, "P. Caroline. " Connaught House, May 24, 1814." THE QUEEN TO THE PRINCESS OP WALES. " Windsor Castle, May 25, 1814. " The Queen has received, this afternoon, the Princess of Wales's letter of yesterday, in reply to the communica tion which she was desired by the Prince Regent to make to her; and she is sensible of the disposition expressed by 348 APPENDIX. her Royal Highness, not to discuss with her topics which must be painful to both. " The Queen considers it incumbent upon her to send a copy of the Princess of Wales's letter to the Prince Re gent; and her Majesty could have felt no hesitation in communicating to the illustrious strangers who may pos sibly be present at her court, the circumstances which will prevent the Princess of Wales from appearing there, if her Royal Highness had not rendered a compliance with her wish to this effect unnecessary, by intimating her inten tion of making pubhc the cause of her absence. " Charlotte R." THE ANSWER OP THE PRINCESS OP WALES TO THE QUEEN. " The Princess of Wales has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of a note from the Queen, dated yesterday; and begs permission to return her best thanks to her Majesty, for her gracious condescension in the willingness expressed by her Majesty to have communicated to the illustrious strangers, who will in all probability be present at her Majesty's court, the reasons which have induced her Royal Highness not to be present. " Such communication^ as it appears to her Royal High ness, cannot be the less necessary on account of any pub licity which it may be in the power of her Royal Highness to give to her motives ; and the Princess of Wales, there fore, entreats the active good ofiices of her Majesty, upon an occasion wherein the Princess of Wales feels it so essen tial to her that she should not be misunderstood. "Caroline, P. " Connaught Place, May 26." THE QUEEN TO THE PRINCESS OP WALES. " The Queen cannot omit to acknowledge the receipt of the Princess of Wales's note, of yesterday, although it does DEATH OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE. 349 not appear to her Majesty to require any other reply than that conveyed to her Royal Highness's preceding letter. " Charlotte, R." DEATH OP THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE. [The following details of the Princess's death are taken from a letter, addressed by Mr. H. F. Cooke to Mr. Thomas Raikes (under date November 6, 1817), and pub lished in the interesting volume entitled " Correspondence of Thomas Raikes with the Duke of Wellington and other Distinguished Contemporaries."] "The Princess Charlotte's death has baused a general gloom throughout the country. The particulars of this truly melancholy event will be made known to you through the papers, with all the accuracy of official report. " There are some few circumstances as attending the death of this interesting woman that may not find their way abroad ; for example, the courage with which she suffered, and the resignation which she displayed in death. " The faculty of mind never abandoned her. She asked, about an hour previous to death, whether there was any danger : the difficulty of breathing from about that time prevented her speaking much. When, Baillie and Croft administered brandy, hot wine, sal-volatile, &c, she said, ' You make me drunk. Pray leave me quiet. I find it affects my head.' And shortly after this, raising herself in the bed, she heaved a deep sigh, fell back, and expired. "The act of dying was not painful. There certainly must have been, spasm, but I have not heard that it was at the heart. Neither do I believe the family conceived that she was in danger, even an hour before she died. It is a blow which the nation really appears to feel acutely, as much as it is possible to suppose the fate of any one not materially connected with one could be felt. 350 APPENDIX. " The Regent is terribly shook by this blow ; so unex pected that he was completely overset when he was told of it. " He had left Sudboum upon hearing of the protracted labour, but was in London informed that the child was dead and she remarkably well." THE END.