ordered fituation of her mind, had nearly proved fatal. By degrees, however, with the help of an excellent con ftitution, the recovered, and being once more emerged in the polite world, the refumed her gaiety, and had the fortitude to defpife her faithlefs lover.

It was about this period that our hero returned from the Mediterranean, when Mifs C-was in the meri dian of her charms, and the general toaft of all the fine fellows of the time. Capt. Hnow paid his addreffes to her which the liftened to, and being fenfible that it was a very advantageous match, the yielded to his intreaties. A marriage enfued, which was, however, kept as fecret as poffible: the reafon then af figned for that privacy was, that if it were divulged the must give up her post of maid of honour, which the ftill held. Though this does not seem a cogent reafon, it was admitted amongst her particular acquaintance.

Mr. and Mrs. H— did not long remain together; a rupture almost immediately enfued, and they were feparated ere the honey moon was accomplified. The cenforious public, who by this time had penetrated the secret, reafoned varioufly upon this occafion, and as ufual the cenfure fell by turns, as intereft or partiality prevailed, on the husband or the wife. Capt. H~~ being appointed to a fhip, foon after went abroad, and left his confort to roam at large free, and unrestrained in the wilds of love.

Being now a feme couverte, she thought herleif authorized to be decouverte upon many occations, and in this refpect the particularly fignalized herself at a jubilee mafquerade, at Ranelagh, where the appeared in the character of Iphigenia. She copied her drefs from a picture of the facrifice of Iphighenia, in the poffeffion of Sir Henry Cheere, which The obtained permiffion to view. The upper part of her body to her wait was covered only with a thin gauze, and a fingle petticoat very thort was drawn up on one fide, whereby the difplayed a well turned leg to the greateli advantage. She was particularly noticed On this occafion by the late duke of Cumberland, who archly faid, "he alsay thought Mifs C had a warm conftitution, but was never till now av nced of the great ardency of feelings." It is indeed aftonifh> thus apparelled all night the

avoided a violent cold, which is often caught by the moft athletic conftitutions, when far lefs wantonly courted. The next day the received a very fevere rebuke from a great princefs, who was upon the point of ftriking her off the lifts of maids of honour, which she would have done, had not the P. ftrongly folicited in her favour.

This ridiculous appearance, to call it by no harfher name, brought many farcafms upon her, as well in private as public: the news paper fatyrifts made very free with her, and the print-fhops exhibited her, in this dress, to the public. The tea tables pronounced this step as the teft of her conduct, and accordingly itamped the title of demi-rep upon her.

When once a woman undergoes this fentence, the moft referved conduct will not rescue her from flander, and the flighteft indifcretion will be conftrued into criminality. We need not, therefore, be furprized to find that many intrigues were allotted her, of which probably fhe was innocent, though her conduct gave fome grounds for fufpicion. However, one foon after manifefted itself, that erased every doubt. This connexion was with the late D of Kwho had lately loft a much admired miftrefs in madame La T-e. This lady was the wife of a Farmer General, and one of the riches financiers in France; he had married her intirely for love, he indeed doated upon her, and fhe lived in the magnificence and fplendor of a princefs; but there was an union of hearts ftill wanting, which gratitude could not create, to make her happy. This union, however, the found in his grace, and the readily agreed to decamp with him to England. In confequence of this excurfion, a criminal process was inftituted aga nit the parties, and his G. was fentenced to be hung in effigy. Dear as the D. paid for this intrigue, it no way diminifhed his fondness for madame La Te, and they were judged for feveral years the molt faithful lovers in the environs of St. James's.

or Mrs,

Having fettled Mifs C————— Hwith the Dof K-, we must enquire after our hero. He was now in the Mediterranean, and heard of his wife's exploits, with the greatest philofophic indifference: he wifhed the duke joy of his coqueft, and drank Mifs Cas an accomplished demirep. We can not fuppofe that in a foil fo fruitful as

K. 2

Italy

Italy for beauty, he did not tafte of the lufcious banquets that were every where fpread before him. A fucceffion oftemporary miftreffes occafionally amufed him, without his making any lafting connexion either at Leghorn or Genoa. His attention was chiefly engaged in the fervice of his country, which he had much at heart, and in which he difplayed great maritime knowledge, and uncommon bravery. Upon his return to England, finding Mifs C- completely happy in the poffeffion of the D-of Khe did not disturb their tranquility, but meeting with a very agreeable companion in Mifs L, he furnished a fmall retreat for her near Richmond, where he paffed the moments of his amorous dalli

ance.

Mifs C, whofe ambition was unlimited, finding the influence the had over her paramour, refolved to avail herself of it, and to grafp a ducal coronet. There feemed one infurmountable obstacle in the way, which was her former marriage; but the thought to obviate this by deftroying the register of it, which fhe did with the affiftance of an old nurse, who was the only living witness of her nuptials. Notwithstanding this manoeuvre, the duke's pride could not make him yield to give his hand to a woman, whofe character was very problematical before his acquaintance with her, and who had convinced him of the probability of her yielding to a lover, without the intervention of a priest. Piqued at this refufal, she went abroad, and vifited feveral courts in Germany; particularly Drefden, where the remained fome time, and received great attentions, and civility. The duke till now was unacquainted with the extent of her influence; he grew melancholy, company was irkfome to him, books he could not enjoy; in fine, every thing had loft its relifh but his dear Mifs C- -. He wrote to her a penitential letter, and offered her a carte blanche. Her diffembled refentment, but real policy, was fo great that fhe did not immediately return, in order to rivet the chains of her captive still more permanently.

It was neceflary, however, before the celebration of their nuptials, notwithftanding the demolition of the register, and the only evidence being properly fecured, that another party fhould be alfo filenced, left he fhould lay his claim to the fair fat dutchefs, and convict her

of bigamy. Overtures were according ly made and liftened to, and it is affured the fum of nine thoufand guineas was ftipulated as a valuable confideration for hufh money.

In the mean while our hero formed an acquaintance with the celebrated Mrs. N -bt, whofe exploits in the republic of Gallantry have made fome noife eaft and west of Temple bar. This lady, whofe origin may be traced to a wheelbarrow, was taken notice of by a celebrated Mercury belonging to the Bedford arms Tavern, and he had rhetoric fufficient, with the auxiliary of a fecond-hand filk fack to perfuade her to enroll in his lift. She had not long been muttered, ere fhe made acquaintance with Mr. N- -bt a worthy young gentleman, then in part. nerfhip in the banking business. She doubtlefs had many female attractions, which now being properly tutored by an avaricious mother, the foon levied heavy contributions on Mr. N-t, who being of an eafy docile temper, gave into all the little fnares that were laid for him. Indeed, he was wrapt up in a kind of enthusiastic phrenzy for her, and has been known in the height of the most important business, to wait booted in his fhop with eager expectation for his horse, to fly to his charmer at fome spot of rendezvous. Finding him so tractable, the refolved to push her point to the ultimate extreme-in a word, the refused her company, unless he would comply with her most honourable terms, MATRIMONY!

We shudder at the words, and yet fo complete was her dominion over him, that he complied, and in a short time she became really Mrs. Nt. Her ambition thus dilated, and in a great degree gratified, the refolved upon making herself entirely independant, and to this end fhe obtained a fettlement from him. The neceffary draft for this purpofe from the house, alarmed the partnerfhip, and it was agreed by the rest to strike him off the Firm.

In the mean while, however, he had purchased for her a neat villa by Norwood, (where she still refides) and where he was her conftant companion, when the most urgent business did not detain him in town. Here, like Antony, he for a woman loft the world and himself. Diftrefs brought him to recollection, and despair drove him to distraction. Sorry

не

Italy for beauty, he did not taste of the lufcious banquets that were every where fpread before him. A fucceffion oftemporary miftreffes occafionally amufed him, without his making any lafting connexion either at Leghorn or Genoa. His attention was chiefly engaged in the fervice of his country, which he had much at heart, and in which he difplayed great maritime knowledge, and uncommon bravery. Upon his return to England, finding Mifs C- completely happy in the poffeffion of the D-of Khe did not disturb their tranquility, but meeting with a very agreeable companion in Mifs L- he furnished a small retreat for her near Richmond, where he paffed the moments of his amorous dalli

ance.

Mifs C, whofe ambition was unlimited, finding the influence fhe had over her paramour, refolved to avail herself of it, and to grafp a ducal coronet. There feemed one infurmountable obftacle in the way, which was her former marriage; but the thought to obviate this by deftroy ing the register of it, which fhe did with the affiftance of an old nurse, who was the only living witness of her nuptials. Notwithstanding this manoeuvre, the duke's pride could not make him yield to give his hand to a woman, whose character was very problematical before his acquaintance with her, and who had convinced him of the probability of her yielding to a lover, without the intervention of a priest. Piqued at this refufal, fhe went abroad, and visited feveral courts in Germany; particularly Drefden, where the remained fome time, and received great attentions, and civility. The duke till now was unacquainted with the extent of her influence; he grew melancholy, company was irkfome to him, books he could not enjoy; in fine, every thing had loft its relith but his dear Mifs CHe wrote to her a penitential letter, and offered her a carte blanche. Her diffembled refentment, but real policy, was fo great that she did not immediately return, in order to rivet the chains of her captive still more permanently.

It was neceflary, however,, before the celebration of their nuptials, notwithftanding the demolition of the regifter, and the only evidence being properly fecured, that another party fhould be also filenced, lest he should lay his claim to the fair fat dutchefs, and convict her

of bigamy. Overtures were accordingly made and liftened to, and it is affured the fum of nine thoufand guineas was ftipulated as a valuable confideration for hufh money.

In the mean while our hero formed an acquaintance with the celebrated Mrs. Nbt, whofe exploits in the republic of Gallantry have made fome noise east and west of Temple bar. This lady, whofe origin may be traced to a wheelbarrow, was taken notice of by a celebrated Mercury belonging to the Bedford arms Tavern, and he had rhetoric fufficient, with the auxiliary of a fecond-hand filk fack to perfuade her to enroll in his lift. She had not long been muttered, ere she made acquaintance with Mr. N- -bt a worthy young gentleman, then in partnerfhip in the banking business. She doubtlefs had many female attractions, which now being properly tutored by an avaricious mother, the foon levied heavy contributions on Mr. N——————t, who being of an eafy docile temper, gave into all the little fnares that were laid for him. Indeed, he was wrapt up in a kind of enthusiastic phrenzy for her, and has been known in the height of the most important business, to wait booted in his fhop with eager expectation for his horfe, to fly to his charmer at fome fpot of rendezvous. Finding him fo tractable, the resolved to push her point to the ultimate extreme-in a word, the refused her company, unless he would comply with her most honourable terms, MATRIMONY!

We fhudder at the words, and yet fo complete was her dominion over him, that he complied, and in a fhort time she became really Mrs. N -t. Her ambition thus dilated, and in a great degree gratified, the refolved upon making herself entirely independant, and to this end fhe obtained a fettlement from him. The neceffary draft for this purpofe from the house, alarmed the partnership, and it was agreed by the rest to strike him off the Firm.

In the mean while, however, he had purchased for her a neat villa by Norwood, (where fhe ftill refides) and where he was her conftant companion, when the most urgent business did not detain him in town. Here, like Antony, he for a woman loft the world and himself. Distress brought him to recollection, and defpair drove him to distraction. Sorry

we