taken when young, in France. While her charms were gaining ground in the king's heart, the Countess of Castlemaine amused herself in the gratification of all her caprices.

Mrs. Hyde 70 was one of the first of the beauties who were prejudiced with a blind prepossession in favour of Jermyn : she had just married a man whom she loved: by this marriage she became sister-in-law to the duchess, brilliant by her own native lustre, and full of pleasantry and wit. However, she was of opinion, that so long as she was not talked of on account of Jermyn, all her other advantages would avail nothing for her glory it was, therefore, to receive this finishing stroke, that she resolved to throw herself into his arms.

:

She was of a middle size, had a skin of a dazzling whiteness, fine hands, and a foot surprisingly beautiful, even in England long custom had given such a languishing tenderness to her looks, that she never opened her eyes but like a Chinese; and, when she ogled, one would have thought she was doing something else..

Jermyn accepted of her at first; but, being soon puzzled what to do with her, he thought it best to sacrifice her to Lady Castlemaine. The sacrifice was far from being displeasing to her: it was much to her glory to have carried off Jermyn from so many competitors; but this was of no consequence in the end.

Jacob Hall, the famous rope-dancer,71 was at that time in vogue in London: his strength and agility charmed the public, even to a wish to know what he was in private; for he appeared, in his tumbling dress, to be quite of a different make, and to have limbs very different from the fortunate Jermyn. The tumbler did not deceive Lady Castlemaine's expectations, if report may be believed; and as was intimated

than of the countess; but she despised all these rumours, and only appeared still more handsome.

While satire thus found employment at her cost, there were continual contests for the favours of another beauty, who was not much more niggardly in that way than herself: this was the Countess of Shrewsbury.

The Earl of Arran, who had been one of her first admirers, was not one of the last to desert her: this beauty, less famous for her conquests, than for the misfortunes she occasioned, placed her greatest merits in being more capricious than any other. As no person could boast of being the only one in her favour; so no person could complain of having been ill received.

Jermyn was displeased that she had made no advances to him, without considering that she had no leisure for it: his pride was offended; but the attempt which he made to take er from the rest of her lovers was very ill advised.

Thomas Howard, brother to the Earl of Carlisle,72 was one of them: there was not a braver, nor a more genteel man, in England; and though he was of a modest demeanour, and his nanners appeared gentle and pacific, no person was more spirited, nor more passionate. Lady Shrewsbury, inconsiderately returning the first ogles of the invincible Jermyn, did not at all make herself more agreeable to Howard: that, however, she paid little attention to; yet, as she designed to keep fair with him, she consented to accept an entertainment which he had often proposed, and which she durst no longer refuse. A place of amusement, called Spring Garden,73 was ixed upon for the scene of this entertainment.

As soon as the party was settled, Jermyn was privately nformed of it. Howard had a company in the regiment of

well on the bagpipes: this soldier was therefore at the entertainment. Jermyn was at the garden, as by chance; and, puffed up with his former successes, he trusted to his victorious air for accomplishing this last enterprise: he no sooner appeared on the walks, than her ladyship shewed herself upon the balcony.

I know not how she stood affected to her hero; but Howard did not fancy him much: this did not prevent his coming up stairs, upon the first sign she made to him; and not content with acting the petty tyrant, at an entertainment not made for himself, no sooner had he gained the soft looks of the fair one, than he exhausted all his common place, and all his stock of low irony, in railing at the entertainment, and ridiculing the music.

Howard possessed but little raillery, and still less patience : three times was the banquet on the point of being stained with blood; but three times did he suppress his natural impetuosity, in order to satisfy his resentment elsewhere with greater freedom.

Jermyn, without paying the least attention to his ill-humour, pursued his point, continued talking to Lady Shrewsbury, and did not leave her until the repast was ended.

He went to bed, proud of this triumph, and was waked next morning by a challenge: he took, for his second, Giles Rawlings, a man of intrigue, and a deep player. Howard took Dillon, who was dexterous and brave, much of a gentleman, and, unfortunately, an intimate friend to Rawlings.

In this duel fortune did not side with the votaries of love: poor Rawlings was left stone dead; and Jermyn, having received three wounds, was carried to his uncle's, with very little signs of life.

ng to their several interests, the Chevalier de Grammont was nformed by Jones, his friend, his confidant, and his rival, hat there was another gentleman very attentive to Mrs. Midleton. This was Montagu,74 no very dangerous rival on account of his person, but very much to be feared for his assiduity, the acuteness of his wit, and for some other talents, vhich are of importance, when a man is once permitted to isplay them.

There needed not half so much to bring into action all he Chevalier's vivacity, in point of competition: vexation wakened in him whatever expedients the desire of revenge, nalice, and experience could suggest, for troubling the designs f a rival, and tormenting a mistress. His first intention was o return her letters, and demand his presents, before he began o teaze her; but, rejecting this project, as too weak a revenge or the injustice done him, he was upon the point of conspiring he destruction of poor Mrs. Middleton, when, by accident, he net with Miss Hamilton. From this moment ended all his esentment against Mrs. Middleton, and all his attachment to Miss Warmestre: no longer was he inconstant: no longer vere his wishes fluctuating: this object fixed them all; and, f all his former habits, none remained, except uneasiness and ealousy.

Here his first care was to please; but he very plainly saw, hat to succeed, he must act quite in a different manner to hat which he had been accustomed to.

The family of the Hamiltons, being very numerous, lived a large and commodious house near the court: the Duke f Ormond's family was continually with them; and here ersons of the greatest distinction in London constantly met : he Chevalier de Grammont was here received in a manner