To this request his lordship condescended to have an answer sent to me in these terms—
“Lord Stuart de Rothesay presents his compliments to Lady Newborough-Sternberg, and begs her to send him a detailed account of the business. Without this it will not be in his power to be of any service to her.
“The English Embassy, April 22, 1829.”
At once I put together my papers and sent them, with the following letter—
“Lady Newborough-Sternberg presents her compliments to Lord Stuart de Rothesay, and, in accordance with the wish expressed in his kind note, sends him the details of her case, begging him to be good enough to give it his consideration.
“If his Excellency should desire fuller information, Lady N.-S. will ask Mr. Mills to give it to him, etc.”
Unluckily, amongst my papers there was a mention of my most important affair.
The Ambassador, confounding the two, and fearing to compromise himself, sent the whole back to me with this laconic note—
“Milady, in returning the documents sent to me in your letter of yesterday, I beg you to accept the regret I feel that I cannot give you the help you ask by interfering in a dispute between you and his Most Christian Majesty.
“I have the honour to be your Excellency’s most obedient servant,