Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

fter of ingratitude, and confequently a peft to fociety *.

I hear I am indebted to the falfhoods you have propagated relative to me, for being traduced in a wretched performance which made its appear ance whilft I was in Ireland. It was faid to be written by a being that calls himself a fea officer. But I can fcarcely fuppofe, that any person who denominates himself a gentleman, would write fuch vile ftuff of a woman he never was acquainted with, and who never injured him. I rather think it was fome poor fcribbler you had hired for that purpose.

But to return to Jermyn-ftreet-When you was convinced that there was no poffibility of your being admitted more, you did not stop at any falfhood to blacken and depriciate me. At the time my affairs rendered it neceffary for me to go abroad, you again pretended a return of affection. You offered me your houfe in Dorfetfhire; and when that was abfolutely refused,

*Private intelligence to those who may not know it.-Mr. Fox entrufted the gentleman with a conversation he had with his Royal Mafter, under an injunction of fecrefy. And he imprudently divulged it, to the prejudice of his noble benefactor. Which not only occafioned thofe fine lines in Churchill, but a poem entitled “ In"gratitude."

you

you once more bound yourself to compromise my debts in a year; though you were fenfible I had been enabled, by the prefents I had received, and Mr. Calcraft's affiduous friendship, to leffen them confiderably.

When you found that I refused to fee my children, if you was to accompany them, which you offered to do the approaching fummer, your abuse began again; and you sent me an annuity, conditionally, upon my living abroad, together with two hundred pounds. As to the. general release, I could have no objection to fign it, having no demand. But as I allowed seven hundred pounds for the annuity, you could not have any right to profcribe my refiding in England; particularly as you well knew I fhould never trouble you.

I must now congratulate you upon a manœuvre, which seems to fhow that you aspired to be thought an idiot. But this, indeed, you may do, to impofe upon those who are fhocked at your unparalleled ingratitude, which is reprobated even by your dependents, and those who formerly kept you company. It appears, that you would rather have the imputation of folly, than of complete knavery; or elfe you would not have de

[blocks in formation]

fired your intimate, Mr. Singlefpeech, to ask the honourable Mr.

not his.

whether the children were

O, thou head of the Wrongheads! couldft thou be fo fimple as to imagine, that had this been really the cafe, he would have divulged it? I muft, however, affure you, to my no fmall mortification, and their disgrace, that they are, bong fide, your own. And give me credit for the declaration, when I fay, that I would have preferred the most abject being to your wretched self; who, in my opinion, are a compound of every vice, vulgarity, and meannefs. But as your patriotic principles coincide with thofe of Mr. T'otherfide, this miftake, upon recollection, is not to be wondered at.

You have long made me fuffer, in filence, the lofs of the good opinion of the world, and the averted eye of cold contempt; but thefe, important, as they are, cannot compare to the poignant torment of my mind. The deviation from virtue, even with a beloved object, is attended with fevere reflection and remorfe. How much

Mr. H.•———— never spoke in parliament but once. ever, he spoke remarkably well.

Then, how

more

more so must my fenfations be, when, having been fo many years the dupe of your artifices, I feel myself reduced to felf-contempt, from being connected with a perfon who has been always the object of my diflike, but is, now of my averfion?

I had like to have forgot the obligation I lie under to you for breaking open my cabinet, which I had ordered to be fent to my mother's. As you chofe to keep the piece of furniture, you imagined the contents of it ought likewife to be your's. But being certain you could fee nothing in it that could give you pleafure, I am inclinable to forgive you. I must fay, however, that to prefume to look into the confidential letters of any perfon, without permiffion, would fhock any one who poffeffed the leaft degree of rectitude or propriety. But I forgot I was addreffing you, who are infenfible to both.

The ufe you made of this circumftance, which I have already mentioned, and have: but lately acquired a knowledge of, does you infinite honour. And at the fame time, the continued esteem and lafting friendship of the noble Earl, redound to mine. To mortify you ftill more, these are likely to continue, in defpite of all your machinations. 1 take

K 5

I take this opportunity to declare, that I never received a prefent from Lord Harrington, but of one fifty pounds; which I believe was intended as a return for the toys I purchased for Lord Petersham.

But leaft this declaration fhould be fuppofed to carry with it a defire to be reftored to Lady Harrington's good graces, I muft beg leave to say, that I have already declined many invitations to Harrington-house, from her Ladyfhip herself; who thought fit to employ, upon the occafion, a nobleman she concluded I could not refufe. This was no less a perfonage than Comte Haflang. But though I feel every fenfation of gratitude for her Ladyfhip, yet no inducement will ever prevail upon me to affociate with any person, be their distinction ever so high, who can harbour for a moment a fufpicion of that fincerity I make my boaft. As fuch a condefcenfion would. leffen me more, if poffible, in my own opinion.

As I make no doubt but her Ladyfhip will read this; and as I have reafon to be affured of her. partiality for me; if you are admitted into her house at this time, I think you inay bid adieu to an entrée at that refidence. I had every refpect for the noble Earl at the Stable-yard; but it was

fo

« AnteriorContinuar »