[96] Alluding to some coke-ovens for which Conway obtained a patent.
[97] Mr. Pitt says, in a letter to Mr. Wilberforce, on the 8th of April, “Westminster goes on well, in spite of the Duchess of Devonshire and the other women of the people; but when the poll will close is uncertain.” At the close of it, on the 17th of May, the numbers were, for Hood, 6,694; Fox, 6,223; Wray, 5,998. Walpole, whose delicate health at this time confined him almost entirely to his house, went in a sedan-chair to give his vote for Mr. Fox.
[98] The Lady Caroline Petersham of the frolic at Vauxhall, related in a former chapter. Conway in his youth had been enamoured of her.
[99] At this time commencing her career as an actress.
[100] Cole died 16th December, 1782.
[101] See page 226.
[102] Lord Strafford died 10th March, 1791.
[103] Very shortly after this visit, Miss Burney was appointed one of the Keepers of the Queen’s Robes in the room of Madame Haggerdorn, who retired.
[104] Born in 1745, at Stapleton, near Bristol, where her father had the care of the Charity School. Early in life, she joined her sisters in establishing a school for young ladies, which had great success. In 1773 she published a pastoral drama, called “The Search after Happiness,” and in 1774 a tragedy founded on the story of Regulus. These works led to her introduction into London society. Her tragedy “Percy” was produced at Covent Garden on the 10th of December, 1777, and ran nineteen nights. About this time also she wrote “The Fatal Falsehood,” and “Sacred Dramas.” In 1786, when she was forty years of age, she withdrew from London, and settled at Cowslip Green, near her native place, in which district she spent the remainder of her life, devoting herself to works of charity, and the composition of religious books.
[105] That is, voted that the charge relating to the spoliation of the Begums of Oude contained matter for impeachment.