The Duke of Somerset is to marry Ly. Charlotte Hamilton;[90] his mother withholds her consent. She is much older than the Duke. Her superior coquetry has obtained the palm, for his love began with her younger sister, Lady Susan.
A circumstance, half ridiculous, half distressing, embarrassed me last Saturday at Lansdown House. I met an old lover whom I had not set eyes on for 14 years; the last time I beheld him was when he solicited an interview to propose marriage. His mode of making the overture was singular at least. He began by approaching his chair close to mine, and followed this close-quartering with an endearing embrace round my waist; he then complimented me upon my love of literature, and said, ‘I love books as much as you do, and we may fairly hope to have a very literary little family.’ Tho’ barely fifteen years old, the ridicule of the man’s proceeding struck me so much that I could scarcely contain my laughter, and my mother did for me that which my own timidity prevented, for he immediately received his final congé. He used to write verses upon me, and sent me a copy, with a dog, the turn of which was that as I was afraid of thieves this cur would protect me until I ‘a bolder guardian took,’ meaning his precious self.
A FORMER SUITOR
22nd April, 1800.—Ld. Thurlow yesterday in the House of Lords, with every expression of contempt, animadverting upon the folly of the Bills now brought before Parliament, the one for protecting bull baiting, the marriage of a divorced woman with the culprit, etc., addressed himself sarcastically to Lord Auckland, and said, ‘And pray, my Lord, why do you not bring in a Bill against ingratitude,’ alluding to Ld. A.’s desertion of Ld. North.[91] The reproof was coarse and uncalled for. The Union was debated last night in both Houses. Mr. Grey, in spite of secession, attended and made a very able speech.
The above story of Ld. Thurlow’s sarcasm is murdered. The sting lies in the absurdity of attempting to correct moral vices by law, which makes the sneer wittier.
Ly. Ann’s change from poverty and dependence to stately grandeur reminds me of the pretty Epître des Vous et des Tu, in which Voltaire sketches the delights of his youthful mistress, contrasted with the dull pomp she was surrounded by after a splendid alliance:—
Philis, qu’est devenu ce temps
Où dans un fiacre promenée
Sans laquais, sans ajustements,
De tes grâces seules ornée, etc.