to Holland, where he courted the good opinion of that economical people, by losing immense sums at play." But it was not in Holland alone that he indulged in this pernicious vice; from his youth it had been a blot on his character, and on his return to London, he persisted in renewing his almost nightly visits to White's and other places. On one occasion, in the rooms at Bath, a young nobleman happening to stand near him, whose fortune had hitherto escaped the harpies of the gaming-table," Beware of these scoundrels," whispered Lord Chesterfield; "it is by flight alone that you can preserve your purse.” The young nobleman took his advice and quitted the room, but returning a short time afterwards, beheld his monitor engaged at play with those same "scoundrels," whom he had himself warned him so strenuously to shun.

Lord Chesterfield's unfortunate propensity for the gaming-table is not only bitterly lamented by him in several of his letters, but, on more than one occasion, seems to have materially interfered with his brilliant prospects in life. It is said to have been on account of this unhappy failing that, when he became a suitor for the hand of Mademoiselle Schulemberg, the presumed daughter of George the First, that monarch positively refused his consent to the match, and, indeed, withheld his permission to the day of his death. Again, the indulgence of the same propensity is said, in the reign of George the Second, to have indirectly occasioned his loss of influence at

Court. "The Queen," says Walpole, "had an obscure window at St. James's that looked into a dark passage, lighted only by a single lamp at night, which looked upon Mrs. Howard's apartment. Lord Chesterfield, one twelfth-night at court, had won so large a sum of money, that he thought it imprudent to carry it home in the dark, and deposited it with the mistress. Thence the Queen inferred great intimacy; and thenceforwards Lord Chesterfield could obtain no favour from court; and, finding himself desperate, went into opposition." The sum won by Lord Chesterfield on this particular night is said to have been fifteen thousand pounds.

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In October 1729, Lord Chesterfield returned to England from the Hague. He immediately waited on the prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole, who seems to have been somewhat jealous of his influence with the King, and who could not refrain from displaying it at their interview. Well, my Lord," he observed, “I find you are come to be Secretary of State." Lord Chesterfield told him he had no such pretensions; but, he added, "I claim the Garter, not on account of my late services, but agreeably with the King's promise to me when he was Prince of Wales : besides I am a man of pleasure, and the blue riband would add two inches to my size." The King kept his word, and on the 18th of June following, Lord Chesterfield was installed a Knight of the Garter, at Windsor, at the same time as the young Duke of Cumberland; George the

Second being present at the ceremony, and defraying the expense of the installation. About the same period, the appointment was conferred on him of High Steward of the household.

In August following, he repaired to his duties at the Hague; but returned in 1732, on the ground of impaired health, and commenced taking an active part in the debates of the House of Lords. From this period, in consequence of the freedom of speech in which he indulged in Parliament, his favour at Court was of short duration. By degrees, he seceded from Sir Robert Walpole and his party; and subsequently, in consequence of opposing the progress of the Excise Bill in the Upper House, was dismissed in 1732 from all his offices by the King.

On the 5th of September, 1733, about six years after the death of George the First, Lord Chesterfield received the hand of Melesina de Schulenberg; a lady who was acknowledged in society as the niece of the Duchess of Kendal, but who, there is every reason to believe, was the daughter of that lady by her royal lover. Lady Chesterfield, on the 10th of April, 1722, had been created by George the First Baroness of Aldborough and Countess of Walsingham. On her marriage, however, she assumed the title of her husband.

For several years after his dismissal from office, Lord Chesterfield continued in constant opposition to the Court. However, in 1744, he was re-appointed to his former post of Ambassador at the Hague; and, subsequently, on the 3rd of

January, 1745, was constituted Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. It was his fortune to fill this high office during the celebrated rebellion which took place in that year. By his vigilant conduct, his sensible precautions, and the personal popularity which he had obtained by showing himself a friend of toleration and the enemy of persecution, he maintained the whole of Ireland in perfect tranquillity, and obtained the applause of all parties but those whose intrigues he circumvented. Even Walpole admits that he was the most popular governor Ireland ever had.

An anecdote is related of Lord Chesterfield by his friend and correspondent Dr. Chevenix, Bishop of Waterford, which admirably illustrates his wit and presence of mind during the heat of the Rebellion: "The vice-treasurer, Mr. Gardner, a man of a good character and a considerable fortune, waited upon him one morning, and in a great fright told him that he was assured upon good authority that the people in the Province of Connaught were actually rising. Upon which Lord Chesterfield took out his watch, and with great composure answered him,

"It is nine o'clock, and certainly time for them to rise; I therefore believe your news to be true." The same story is related, though with some trifling difference, by Horace Walpole.

Another anecdote is recorded of Lord Chesterfield at this period, that when a fussy Protestant gentleman came to complain to him that he had suddenly discovered his coachman to be a Roman

Catholic, and that he secretly attended mass ;"Does he, indeed?" said Lord Chesterfield with a suppressed smile;-"well, I will take care that he shall never carry me there." It has been affirmed, as a proof of Lord Chesterfield's extraordinary influence in Ireland, and the excellence of his administration, that during the whole period he was in that country, no single instance occurred of a person being seen drunk in the street. This story, however, seems rather too wonderful to admit of implicit credit.

In April, 1746, Lord Chesterfield resigned the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland, and in November following, was appointed principal Secretary of State. During the time that he had filled the former situation, no faro-table, or high gaming of any kind, had been permitted at the viceregal palace. Now, also, that he was appointed to the high post of Secretary of State, his sense of propriety so far prevailed over the ruling passion of his life, that he neither gambled himself, nor allowed play in his house. Even his panegyrist, Dr. Maty, however, admits that on the very evening on which he quitted office, he paid a visit to White's, and renewed those pernicious practices which had been interrupted for about four years. "From this period," says Walpole, "he lived at White's; gaming and pronouncing witticisms among the boys of quality."

Lord Orford, who misses no opportunity of placing the character and conduct of Lord Chesterfield in a ridiculous or contemptible light, re