expressed his wish to know that lady.*

"On my arrival the prince would not see me. My agonies were now indescribable. I consulted with Lord Malden, and the Duke of Dorset, whose honourable mind and truly disinterested friendship for me had, on many occasions, been exemplified towards me, They were both at a loss to divine any cause of this sudden change in the prince's feelings. The Prince of Wales had hitherto assiduously sought opportunities to distinguish me more publicly than was prudent in his royal highness's situation. This was in the month of August: on the fourth of the preceding June, I went by his desire into the chamberlain's box at the birthnight ball; the distressing observation

*The person here alluded to was Mrs. Armsted, afterwards the wife of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox.

of the circle was drawn towards the part of the box in which I sat by the marked and injudicious attentions of his royal highness. I had not been arrived many minutes before I witnessed a singular species of fashionable. coquetry. Previous to his royal highness beginning his minuet, I perceived a woman of high rank select from the bouquet which she wore two rose-buds, which she gave to the prince, as he afterwards informed me, 'emblematical of herself and him.' I observed his royal highness immdiately beckon to a nobleman who has since formed a part of his establishment, and looking most earnestly at me, whispered a few words, at the same time presenting to him his newly acquired trophy. In a few moments Lord C. entered the chamberlain's box, and, giving the rose-buds into my hands, informed me that he was commissioned by the prince

to do so. I placed them in my bosom, and, I confess, felt proud of the power by which I thus publicly mortified an exalted rival. His royal highness now avowedly distinguished me at all public places of entertainment, at the king's huut near Windsor, at the reviews, and at the theatres. The prince only seemed happy in evincing his affection towards me."

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Of the causes which led to the alienation of the affections of the prince from his lovely and accomplished friend, she has not left in her narrative clue to form a right judgment. My good-natured friends," proceeds she," now carefully informed me of the multitude of secret enemies who were employed in estranging the prince's mind from me. So fascinating, so illustrious a lover could not fail to excite the envy of my own sex. Women of all descriptions were emulous

of attracting his royal bighness's attention. Alas! I had neither rank nor power to oppose such adversaries. Every engine of female malice was set in motion to destroy my repose, and every petty calumny was repeated with tenfold embellishments. Tales of the most infamous and glaring falsehood were invented, and I was again assailed by pamphlets, by paragraphs, and caricatures, and all the artillery of slander, while the only being to whom I then looked up for protection was so situated as to be unable to afford it.

"Thus perplexed, I wrote to you, my friend, and implored your advice. But you were far away; your de lighted soul was absorbed in cherishing the plant of human liberty, which has since blossomed with independent splendour over your happy provinces. Eagerly did I wait for the arrival of the packet, but no answer was return

ed. In the anguish of my soul, I once more addressed the Prince of Wales. I complained, perhaps too vehemently, of his injustice; of the calumnies which had been by my enemies fabricated against me, of the falsehood of which he was but too sensible. I conjured him to render me justice. He did so; he wrote me a most eloquent letter, disclaiming the causes alleged by a calumniating world, and fully acquitted me of the charges which had been propagated to destroy me.'

After some weeks, passed in much wretchedness of mind, Mrs. Robinson had an interview with the Prince of Wales, which for a moment promised a renewal of their intercourse. As this interview was the last that took place between them with any view of reviving their connection, we shall give the account of it in Mrs. Robinson's own words. "After much hesitation,"