The result of which convinced Mrs. Jordan that her liabilities did not much exceed £2,000, and that the claimants were, one and all, the personal friends of the parties.

"In August, 1815, Mrs. Jordan left England for France, with the intention of remaining away some ten days, the time computed necessary to place matters in that state as to render her person legally secure from arrest. Her affairs were placed in the hands of persons well informed in every particular thereof, as of all other matters connected with her life. Mrs. Jordan was well aware that the creditors were only anxious to have their claims placed in a secure state, and that they were willing to give every accommodation required. She was also aware that her fellow sufferer had given up a considerable portion of his annual income, and she felt that her representative in England could, in one hour's time, settle any doubtful point that might arise during the arrangement. In short, she knew that no impediment existed. Consequently, when she found that month after month elapsed without anything being finally settled, her mind became troubled.

"When Mrs. Jordan left England she took with

her as a companion a lady who had for some years previous been employed in superintending the education of Mrs. Jordan's younger children, and who had for the last twelve months been Mrs. Jordan's constant attendant. This person came to England in January, 1816, to receive and take to Mrs. Jordan her quarter's income, then in Messrs. Coutts's house. From the moment of her arrival in England until she quitted it she pursued a line of conduct toward the daughters of Mrs. Jordan (then residing in Mrs. Jordan's house) that was offensive beyond measure: she peremptorily, and in a most insulting manner, called upon the person concerned with Mrs. Jordan in the affair of the bills and bonds to make oath that Mrs. Jordan was not liable to any claims beyond those of which she already knew; the demand was accompanied with base insinuations. Justly doubting this to be really the wish of Mrs. Jordan, and irritated at the circumstances attending the demand, it was refused; and on the same day this lady returned to France, and there is little doubt but then, for the first time, Mrs. Jordan did become 'apprehensive.'

During her stay in England the lady alluded

to informed two of Mrs. Jordan's daughters that

Mrs. Jordan's future place of residence in France was to be kept a profound secret from them, and that all letters from them to their mother must be sent through a third person, and directed to Mrs. James instead of Mrs. Jordan; thus, from that time, all such communications first passed through the hands of a person who might withdraw Mrs. Jordan's confidence and affection from those most interested in getting her back to England. It is necessary to revert to the verbal refusal given to take the oath demanded, because it has been made a point of much importance as connected with Mrs. Jordan's state of feeling, in consequence of the publication made in the Morning Chronicle of 26th January, 1824, of a letter of Mrs. Jordan's bearing date 16th January, 1816.

"Mrs. Jordan's letter must have been written immediately after the return of the above mentioned lady to France, and there is great reason to think that then only, for the first time, did a feeling of apprehension of further demands awake in Mrs. Jordan's mind, and the fatal step of cutting off the source of communication prevented altogether, or perhaps only delayed, the receipt of a letter, written by the person refusing to take the oath, on the very same day, to say that he was

truly willing to do whatever Mrs. Jordan should herself require, and that the oath should be taken whenever she wrote to say it was her wish.

"There can be no question that the mind of this great woman had been long and grievously oppressed; nor will this be any matter of wonder when a retrospect is taken of her eventful life. Who can deny that, in the greatest flow of her prosperity, she had many bitter memorials that good and ill will mingle in every human condition? The greatest pleasure that acquiring wealth could bestow upon Mrs. Jordan, was its affording her the power of shedding greater happiness around her. Can there be a severer censure on her memory than to think that pecuniary difficulties, even weighty (which hers never were), could for any length of time have depressed a mind, such as hers, in its perfect state?

"I have thrown this statement together in the hope that you will deem it satisfactory, and remain, my dear sir, most sincerely yours."

CHAPTER XIII.

Some Reflections on the Explanation Preceding - Violent Con duct of Mrs. Alsop — The Duke's Displeasure - Mrs. Alsop on the Stage- Her Appearance in Rosalind - Her Supporters - Compared with Her Enchanting Mother— Mrs. Jordan at Boulogne- Col. Frederick Fitzclarence's Generous Letter-The Mother Writes to the Unfortunate - Retires to Versailles and St. Cloud- Her Residence Described -The Author's Comments Her Growing Illness and Anxiety- Her Fancied and Real Death-Burial and Inscription upon Her Grave.

E must leave the explanation of Mrs.

W

Jordan's near relative to its effect.

That people with clashing interests should see things in different lights, cannot surprise. Two families are seldom bound together by one common tie. It was very natural that Mrs. Jordan's daughters, with whom she had been living, should wish to possess her wholly, and there might be an impression elsewhere that her happiness would be better secured by her removal from their influence. With respect to her companion while in France, there seems no reason to question her affection toward the admirable lady;