I used him very cavalierly; upon which he was affronted; sword and pistol next day; but, before I slept, a gentleman was sent to desire everything might be forgot. What a pleasure it must have been to have killed a prime minister !"*

It will have been seen by the foregoing letter that the Duke was weak enough to resume the empty title of Duke of Northumberland, which he had received from the Pretender at Avignon, more than nine years before. Since that period he had accepted the Garter from the hands of the exiled Prince, and now openly wore the insignia of the Order in the Spanish capital. These, and other evidences of his treason, were, of course, immediately communicated to the English government; and, accordingly, he received a letter, under the Privy Seal, commanding him, on his allegiance, to return forthwith, and threatening him with outlawry in the event of his refusal. The summons, however, as well as the threat, seem to have been treated by him with equal indifference. He is said to have been in his coach when the despatch was delivered to him, and to have contemptuously thrown it out of the carriage window into the street. To Lord Inverness he writes, on the 8th of June, 1726, “I had rather carry a musket in an odd-named Muscovite regiment than wallow in riches by the favour of the usurper. I set out infallibly on Tuesday next, and hope to be with you in three weeks, * Hardwicke State Papers, vol. ii. p. 636.

VOL.I II.

U.

wind, weather, Moors and Whigs permitting. I am told, from good hands, that I am to be intercepted by the enemy in my passage. I shall take the best precautions I can to obviate their malice."*

* Lord Mahon's Hist. of England, vol. ii. pp. 21, 22, Appendix.

CHAPTER II.

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a

His letter to his sister, Lady Jane Holt.-His conversion to Catholicism. Letter from Atterbury to the Pretender.— Death of the Duke's wife in 1726. His second marriage, to Miss O'Byrne, Maid of Honour to the Queen of Spain.-He repairs to the Spanish camp at Gibraltar. Enlists as volunteer against his own countrymen.-His gallantry during the siege. Convicted of high treason, and deprived of his estates.-Appointed Lieut.-Colonel of one of the Irish regiments in the Spanish service.-Goes to Italy.-His last interview with the Pretender at Parma.-His curious letter to the English Ambassador at Paris.-The latter's communication to the Duke of Newcastle.-Official reply.-The Duke's poverty. -Relieved by the Pretender, and the widow of James the Second. His extravagance at Rouen. His return to Paris. -Anecdote.-Takes up his residence in a convent.-And affects the penitent and devotee.-His relapse into dissipation. Quits Paris clandestinely, for Spain.-Extract from "Memoirs of the Duke of Wharton."-The Duke's destitute condition. Undertakes a translation of Telemachus.

- And a tragedy on the subject of Mary Queen of Scots.-Attacked by indisposition at Lisbon in 1731.-His wretched death. at a village in Catalonia in 1731.- His widow allowed a small pension by the Spanish Court.

NOTWITHSTANDING the extravagances of the Duke of Wharton, his melancholy career of folly and wickedness was, occasionally, so brightly illumined by gleams, not only of genius, but of

reflection and deep feeling, that we are compelled to take an interest in the wayward libertine in spite of ourselves. The following letter, which he addressed to his sister, Lady Jane Holt, shortly after his arrival at Madrid, will probably be read with interest. It proves, not only that his attachment to the cause of the Pretender had its birth in conscientious motives, but that his miserable career of profligacy and buffoonery had not entirely deadened his better feelings, and that he still respected a sister's opinion, and valued a sister's love. The power and beauty of the language requires no comment.

"DEAR SISTEr,

66

My name has been so often mentioned in the public prints, and consequently become the subject of private conversation, that my personal friends (you particularly) may, with reason, expect to know from myself what steps I have taken, or intend to take; and the true reasons of my present resolution. As to the reasons of my conduct, I do not think it proper to write them directly to you. I must refer you to some papers you will soon see published through all Europe; I will not trust the good manners, or the good-nature of my enemies, by writing anything to you that might expose you to trouble, for it would sharpen the prosecutions begun against me, if you should suffer the least inconvenience from tenderness to me. Whatever relates to myself gives me no uneasiness. Every

virulent vote, every passionate reproach, and every malicious calumny against me, are so many real commendations of my conduct; and while you, and my sister Lucy, are permitted to live quietly and securely, I shall think our family has met with no misfortune, and has, therefore, no claim to the compassion of its truest friends.

66

I know your tender concern and affection for me; and write chiefly to give you comfort, not to receive any from you; for I thank God that I have an easy contented mind, and that I want no comfort. I have some hopes; I have no fears; which is more than some of your Norfolk neighbours can say of themselves.

"I desire your prayers for the success of my wishes and prosperity of our family. I scorn the false pretended compassion of my enemies, and it would grieve me much more to receive the real pity of my friends.

"I shall not wonder if, at first, you should be affected with the warmth of the proceeding against me, and should show some concern at the attempts to strip our family of its title, and to rob them of their estates; but you will soon change your mind, when you consider, that my real honour does not depend on Walpole or his master's pleasure; that a faction may attaint a man without corrupting his blood; and that an estate seized by violence and arbitrary power is not irrevocably lost. The word late is now become the most honourable epithet of the Peerage; it is a higher title than that of Grace; and