him, that he had the king's orders to carry him to Samos. At these dreadful words all the arrogance of the favourite fell from him in a moment, like the fragment of a rock that is broken from the summit: he threw himself at the feet of Hegesippus; he wept, hesitated, faultered, trembled, and embraced the knees of a man upon whom, an hour before, he would have disdained to turn his eye. At the same time his flatterers, who saw that his ruin was complete and irreparable, insulted him with a meanness and cruelty worthy of their adúlation.

FENELON. Telemaque, liv. xia.

My whole expectation now lay in my letter to the great man. I found it no easy matter to gain admittance. However, after bribing the servants with half my worldly fortune, I was at last shown into a spacious apartment, my letter being previously sent up for his lordship's inspection. During this anxious interval, I had full time to look round me. Every thing was grand, and of happy con. trivance; the paintings, the furniture, the gildings petrified me with awe, and raised my idea of the owner. Ah, thought I to myself, how very great must the possessor of all these things be, who carries in his head the business of the state, and whose house displays half the wealth of the kingdom: sure his genius must be unfathomable ! During these awful reflections I heard a step come heavily forward. Ah, this is the great man himself! No,

it

it was only a chambermaid. Another foot was heard soon after. This must be he! No, it was only the grear man's valet de chambre. At last his. lordship actually made his appearance. Are you, cried he, the bearer of this here letter? I answered with a bow. I learn by this, continued, he, as how that-but just at that instant a servant delivered him a card, and without taking further notice he went out of the room, and left me to digest my own happiness at my leisure. I saw no more of him till told by a footman that his lordship was going to his coach at the door. Down I immediately followed, and joined my voice to that of three or four more, who came, like me, to petition for favours. His lordship however went too fast for us, and was gaining his chariot door with large strides, when I hallowed out to know if I was to have any reply. He was by this time got in and muttered an answer, half of which I only heard, the other half was lost in the rattling of his chariot wheels. I stood for some time with my neck stretched out, in the posture of one that was listening to catch the glorious sounds, till looking round me I found myself alone at his lordship's gate.

GOTDSMITH.

Vicar of Wakefield, cb.xx.

My uncle and I went to the duke of N's levee with Mr. Barton, who, being one of the duke's adherents, undertook to be our introducer. The room was pretty well filled with people.

Q 2

Mr.

Barton

Barton was immediately accosted by a person, well stricken in years, tall, and raw-boned, with a hook nose, and an arch leer, that indicated at least as much cunning as sagacity. Our conductor saluted him by the name of captain C-, and afterwards informed us he was a man of shrewd parts, whom the government occasionally employed in secret services. But I have had the history of him more at large from another quarter: he had been, many years ago, concerned in fraudulent practices, as a merchant in France; and being convicted of some of them, was sent to the gallies, from whence he was delivered by the interest of the late duke of Ormond, to whom he had recommended himself in a letter as his namesake and relation. He was in the sequel employed by our ministry as a spy; and, in the war of 1740, traversed all Spain, as well as France, in the disguise of a capuchin, at the extreme hazard of his life, inasmuch as the court of Madrid had actually got scent of him, and given orders to apprehend him at St. Sebastian's, from whence he had fortunately retired but a few hours before the order arrived. This and other hair-breadth escapes he pleaded so effectually as a merit with the English ministry, that they allowed him a comfortable pension, which he now enjoys in his old age. He has still access to all the ministers, and is said to be consulted by them on many subjects, as a man of uncommon understanding and great experience. He is in fact a fellow of some parts and invincible assurance; and

in

in his discourse he assumed such an air of selfsufficiency, as may well impose upon some of the shallow politicians who now labour at the helm of administration. But, if he is not belied, this is not the only imposture of which he is guilty. They say he is at bottom not only a Roman Catholic, but really a priest, and while he pretends to disclose to our state pilots all the springs that move the cabinet of Versailles, he is actually picking up intelligence for the service of the French minister. Be that as it may, captain C― entered into conversation with us in the most familiar manner, and treated the duke's character without any ceremony. "This wiseacre, (said he) is still abed; and, I think, the best thing he can do is to sleep on till Christmas; for, when he gets up, he does nothing but expose his own folly. Since Grenville was turned out, there has been no minister in this nation worth the meal that whitened his periwig. They are so ignorant, they scarce know a crab from a cauliflower; and then they are such dunces, there's no making them comprehend the plainest proposition. In the beginning of the war, this poor half witted creature told me, in a great fright, that thirty thousand French had marched from Arcadia to Cape Breton." "Where did they find transports (said I) ?"

Transports (cried he)! I tell you they marched by land."" By land to the island of Cape Breton!" What is Cape Breton an island ?” "Certainly."-Ha! are you sure of that?"

then taking me

When I pointed it out in the map, he examined it earnestly with his spectacles; in his arms, My dear C

always bring us good news.

(cried he)! you

Egad! I'll go di

rectly, and tell the king that Cape Breton is an island."

He seemed disposed to entertain us with more anecdotes of this nature, at the expence of his grace, when he was interrupted by the arrival of the Algerine ambassador, a venerable Turk, with a long white beard, attended by his dragoman or interpreter, and another officer of his household, who had got no stockings to his legs. Captain C- immediately spoke with an air of authority to a servant in waiting, bidding him go and tell the duke to rise, as there was a great deal of company, and, among others, the ambassador from Algiers.Then turning to us, "This poor Turk (said he), notwithstanding his grey beard, is a green-horn. He has been several years resident at London, and still is ignorant of our political revolutions. This visit is intended for the prime minister of England; but you'll see how this wise duke will receive it as à mark of attachment to his own person."-" Certain it is the duke seemed cager to acknowledge the compliment. A door opened, he suddenly bolted out with a shaving cloth under his chin, his face frothed up to the eyes with soap lather, and running up to the ambassador, grinned hideous in his face. My dear Mahomet (said he), God love your long beard! I hope the dey will make you a

horse