night-gown when he goes to bed, and his slippers when he gets up. I am likewise loaded with his Majesty's sword when he goes to undress himself. I am even sometimes the bearer of his chamber pot He is so well pleased with my services, that he has frequently the goodness to call me up a full couple of hours before I would wish to leave my bed. The Queen finds all this extremely diverting, and condescends to smile at the ridiculous scenes I exhibit: yet she has not the same confidence in me she had in the chambermaids of her own country. I am not half so much in her good graces. Why? for the life of me, I cannot conceive. I am sure they were not so handy in taking off her shoes and stockings, and washing her feet.*"

Before age had subdued the attractions of her person, D'Ursini was cast in a mould of voluptuousness and desire. She was above the middle size, of a brown complexion; her bosom exuberantly full, her blue eyes large, and full of fire.

The character of her mind was violent and imperious; hurrying forward to its objects without much regard to difficulties or obstacles, or a very scrupulous attention to the choice of means;-all this concealed under the appearance of gentleness and sweetness.

In the various events of a doubtful war, the royal

* Mem. de Noailles, vol. ii. pp. 171-173.

couple whom she directed, had more than once occasion to borrow constancy and resolution from her. Her spirit, not easily broken or dismayed, imparted vigour to theirs.

Few women were better qualified to shine in the private circles of life;-her diversified experience had given her great insight into the characters of men; she possessed, in a supreme degree, what has been called the knowledge of the world, that nice perception, that exquisite feeling, which, in the mixed assemblage of society, discerns at once what is proper for every one, and assigns to every one what his sensibility demands.

The most courtly polish was diffused over her Her conversation was of inexhaustible

manners.

variety and fertility.

Chastity, it must be owned, was not her distinguishing virtue. A man of the name of D'Aubigni triumphed over the politician, and found her the fond woman, willing to purchase pleasure by any sacrifice. A dissembler in every thing else, here she was open and even impudent. This was evinced on a remarkable occasion.

The French ambassador, in a dispatch directed to Lewis XIV. giving him a picture of the Spanish court, had occasion, of course, to speak of D'Ursini:-"There is a stout young fellow," said he, "of the name of D'Aubigni, one of her household, who certainly goes to bed to her. But I make no doubt they are privately married."

"Pour mariée!

non;" was her marginal annotation, when she intercepted the dispatch, which she allowed, with this commentary, to go forward to its destination.

But if in this instance her passions overcame her discretion, in another she consulted entirely the public good. She had the merit of recommending Orri to the place of minister of finance, and supporting him in the reforms he judged it necessary to introduce. By his solid and laborious science, the revenue was considerably increased, and relieved from a heavy burthen of debt.

A view of the court of Philip would be indeed imperfect, which excluded his confessor. Père D'Aubenton had followed him from France in this capacity.

Though the King was sufficiently disposed to pay implicit obedience to his confessor, yet so galling was the yoke D'Aubenton maintained over him, that he more than once testified his impatience. D'Aubenton was an instrument employed by those, who wished to supplant the ascendant of the Queen and D'Ursini. The latter was aware of this, and only waited for a favourable opportunity to effect the dismissal of the confessor.

Such was the court of Spain, at the arrival of Alberoni. He immediately laid down for himself the plan of conduct he was to pursue; to examine every part of the scene with attention, discover the leading weaknesses of the principal actors, and manage them to his own advantage.

Many of the provinces were in rebellion, more or less decided. He was thought a proper person to be sent to the best disposed among them, to intrigue with the disaffected, bribe some, and intimidate others. He discharged this commission with dexterity, and had no small success as a spy and clandestine agent.

Vendome and D'Ursini were soon at variance. She was ambitious of an unlimited influence, and he was little disposed to submit to her controul in any thing.

When he went, therefore, to take the command of the army, he left Alberoni to watch any intrigues which might be set on foot against him in his absence, trusting entirely to his zeal in counteracting them.

But zealous gratitude was no part of Alberoni's character. He remained at Madrid, observing

the cautious management of one, who never on any occasion thinks of thwarting or offending power, whose eye is perpetually intent on all the tremblings of the balance, and who is at all times ready to throw himself into the scale that shall appear to preponderate.

This ambiguous conduct, however, escaped the notice of his benefactor; for, a little before his death, he procured him a pension of four thousand ducats on the Archbishopric of Valencia.

His death happened in 1712.

Alberoni was now without the advantages a

powerful protection might be supposed to afford him; but felt himself withal, more at liberty. He might pursue his ambitious speculations without fetter or restraint.

The Queen Maria-Louisa died two years after: and his aptitude for speculations of this kind had an opportunity of showing itself.

The propensity which impelled the King to a second marriage, was of a nature not to be resisted. It became necessary to provide him with a wife as soon as possible: but who this wife should be, was a matter of infinite moment to all whose hopes and fears were directed towards the court;-to none so much as to D'Ursini.

Her mind delivered itself over to the most anxious meditation. In the critical situation in which she stood, her fall, she foresaw, would be the consequence of a false step; hence the doubts and waverings which distracted her.

A glance of hope shot across her at one time to ascend herself the royal bed. She was past the age of inspiring love:-but a less fastidious passion, she knew, animated Philip.

She contrived to have her bed-room near his; she was perpetually going into the latter, under pretence of discharging her duty as governess to his children; she employed every art to inflame him during the painful celibacy he endured: but pride, which mixed strongly with the workings of his gloomy mind, rendered all these arts ineffectual.