Chevalier de Grammont: this profusion gave him concern, and as he often used to go and sup with him without ceremony, one day finding only Saint Evremond there, and a supper fit for half a dozen guests, who had been invited in form: "You must not, said

he, addressing himself to the Chevalier de "Grammont, be obliged to me for this visit: "I come from the king's coucher, where all "the discourse was about you; and I can "assure you that the manner, in which the "king spoke of you, could not afford you so "much pleasure as I myself felt upon the "occasion. You know very well, that he "has long since offered you his good offices "with the king of France; and for my own

part, continued he, smiling, you know very "well that I would solicit him so to do, if "it was not through fear of losing you as

66

soon as your peace is made; but, thanks

"to Miss Hamilton, you are in no great haste:

however, I am ordered by the king my "master, to acquaint you, that while you "remain here, until you are restored to the "favour of your sovereign, he presents you

"with a pension of fifteen hundred Jaco"bus's: It is indeed a trifle, considering "the figure the Chevalier de Grammont "makes among us; but it will assist him, "said he, embracing him, to give us some"times a supper.

The Chevalier de Grammont received, as he ought, the offer of a favour he did not think proper to accept: "I acknowledge, said he, "the king's bounty in this proposal, but I

am still more sensible of Lord Falmouth's "generosity in it; and I request him to as

sure his Majesty of my perfect gratitude: "The king my master will not suffer me to

want, when he thinks fit to recal me; and "while I continue here, I will let you see "that I have wherewithal to give my Eng"lish friends now and then a supper.

At these words, he called for his strong box, and shewed him seven or eight thousand guineas in solid gold. Lord Falmouth, willing to improve to the Chevalier's advantage the refusal of so advantageous an offer, gave Monsieur de Comminge, then ambassador at the English court, an account of it;

nor did Monsieur de Comminge fail to represent properly the merit of such a refusal to the French court.

Hyde park, every one knows, is the promenade of London: nothing was so much in fashion, during the fine weather, as that promenade, which was the rendezvous of magnificence and beauty: every one, therefore, who had either sparkling eyes, or a splendid equipage, constantly repaired thither; and the king seemed pleased with the place.

Coaches with glasses were then a late invention: the ladies were afraid of being shut up in them they greatly preferred the pleasure of shewing almost their whole persons, to the conveniencies of modern coaches: that which was made for the king not being remarkable for its elegance, the Chevalier de Grammont was of opinion, that something ingenious might be invented, which should partake of the ancient fashion, and likewise prove preferable to the modern; he therefore sent away Termes privately with all the necessary instructions to Paris: the Duke of Guise was likewise charged with this com

mission; and the courier, having by the favour of Providence escaped the quick-sand, in a month's time brought safely over to England the most elegant and magnificent calash that had ever been seen, which the Chevalier presented to the king.

The Chevalier de Grammont had given orders, that fifteen hundred louis should be expended upon it; but the Duke of Guise, who was his friend, to oblige him, laid out two thousand. All the court was in admiration at the magnificence of the present; and the king, charmed with the Chevalier's attention to every thing which could afford him pleasure, failed not to acknowledge it: he would not, however, accept a present of so much value, but upon condition that the Chevalier should not refuse another from him.

The queen, imagining that so splendid a carriage might prove fortunate for her, wished to appear in it first, with the Duchess of York. Lady Castlemaine, who had seen them in it, thinking that it set off a fine figure to greater advantage than any other, desired the king to lend her this wonderful calash to ap

pear in it, the first fine day in Hyde-park: Miss Stewart had the same wish, and requested to have it on the same day. As it was impossible to reconcile these two goddesses, whose former union was turned into mortal hatred, the king was very much plexed.

per

Lady Castlemaine was with child, and threatened to miscarry, if her rival was preferred: Miss Stewart threatened, that she never would be with child, if her request was not granted: this menace prevailed, and Lady Castlemaine's rage was so great, that she had almost kept her word; and it was believed that this triumph cost her rival some of her innocence.

The queen dowager, who, though she had no share in these broils, had no objection to them, and as usual being diverted with this circumstance, she took occasion to joke with the Chevalier de Grammont, for having thrown this bone of contention among such competitors; and did not fail to give him, in the presence of the whole court, those praises which so magnificent a present deserved: