[211]. Mrs. Orbell Oakes, the beautiful Betty Plampin of former flirtations, is ‘the friend’ henceforth constantly alluded to.
[212]. Isaac Milner, 1751-1820, son of a poor weaver (brother of the no less remarkable Joseph Milner), Dean of Carlisle, and Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge.
[213]. John Russell, sixth Duke, ‘the great Duke of Bedford,’ who did so much for agriculture, and in 1830 rebuilt Covent Garden Market at a cost of 40,000l. Died 1839.
[214]. J. Overton, officer in the Excise; made telescopes, and had a private press, where he printed books, mostly theological. Died 1838. See Annual Register for that year.
[215]. L. W. Otto, Count of Morlay, was a German diplomatist in the French service, and lived 1752-1817. See Didot, Biographie Universelle.
[216]. This was not, perhaps, impossible. See the following note from the Daily News Paris correspondent three or four years ago:
‘An account of Napoleon I.’s visit to Breda in 1810 is now appearing, for the first time, in the Débats, and is deeply interesting. It will be seen that Napoleon I. at the zenith of his power was on the point of becoming a Protestant.
‘The Emperor, after receiving several Deputies, went up to the Catholic Vicar, who had written a speech, and proceeded to read it. The Emperor, without replying, asked where were the Protestant ministers. Then M. Ten Oever, in his robes, followed by the entire Protestant clergy, was presented by the Prince de Wagram, and read an address. The Emperor remarked with satisfaction that the Protestant ministers wore their robes. Then, turning to the Roman Catholic clergy, he asked, “How is it that you are not wearing your frocks? What! I come to a Department [Holland had been annexed to France] where the majority are Catholics, who were formerly oppressed, and who have received more liberty from the King, my brother, and myself, and your first act is to show me disrespect! I have always found my Protestants faithful subjects. I have six thousand at Paris and eight hundred thousand in my empire, and I have no cause for complaint against a single one. Fools that you are! If the Concordat had not been accepted by the Pope, I should have turned Protestant, and thirty million Frenchmen would have followed my example. [The italics are my own.] You have calumniated Protestants, representing them as men teaching principles contrary to the rights of sovereigns. I have no better subjects. They serve in my palace in Paris. It was not Luther, nor Calvin, but the German princes who declined to submit to your fanatical yoke. The English were quite right to part company with you. You would like to set up scaffolds and stakes, but I will prevent you. All authority comes from God.”’
[217]. D. Bogue, D.D., On the Divine Authority of the New Testament, 1801.
[218]. Bishop of Cloyne, Alciphron; or, the Minute Philosopher, 1732.