QassIIK 5 3 Bookj-ii^jSi- THE ROYAL ECLIPSE; OR, DELICATE FACTS Exhibiting the Secret Memoirs of Squire George and his Wife. WITH NOTES* By DIOGENES. Mark, •' How a plain tale shall set him down ! Skakspeare. THIRD EDITION. LONDON: Printed by B. N. SHURY, Berwick Street, Soho, FOR J. F. HUGHES, W1GMORE STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, 1807. V A 2.2-31 4*2. <*W *&>«. i$gS PREFACE. " Example corrupts, and cor- " ruption, in no sphere of life, " resists seduction. It reigns " triumphant in the palaces of " Princes: how unjust then is A 3 VI PREFACE. " it to act, as if we supposed it " had no influence among those " who are without rags to de- " fend their bodies from the •' cold, or a hovel where to " thrust their wretched heads. " Truth, however, ought not " to be too bold: lawyers give " their own translations to M words, and by forced ap- " plications, andridiculous in- PREFACE. VII " nuendos, establish the guilt " and perhaps transport the in- " nocent convict to Botany " Bay. " Do the laws of Britain really " authorize these penalties? — " Are such the merciful laws of f* English liberty? — Is our boast- " ed constitution so delicately " woven, as to reject the least " investigation? Is it just, or A 4 • •• V1U PREFACE. % lawful, that men professing ft peaceable principles, and who " quietly discuss them, be seized, " imprisoned, and possibly con- r * demned, for exercising these ?.' powers?" Yet extraordinary inquiries into the freedom of the press, have natarally excited extraor- dinary alarm, as the following anecdote may serve to evince. PREFACE. IX In one of the numbers of a periodical publication — then much in vogue — a story is re- lated of a Game Cock, and this cock is represented as a gre tyrant among the feathered rac By a strange perversion ,. ideas, this game cock is said to have signified our M G ■ S- — , and the publisher* was * Mr. Eaton, PREFACE. prosecuted for the libel. On the trial, however, the jury dif- fered in opinion with the Attor- ney-General, and acquitted the prisoner. Thus, it would appear, by the deliberate judgment of twelve well-chosen men, that H — M — was not, at that period, to be considered as a Game Cock. PREFACE. Xl Conscience is a monitor that knows no distinction of persons. If conscience, therefore, should awaken remorse in the minds of any personages whatever — be the crime on their own head — I only hold up the mirror. MOTTO. Some followers of mine own, At lower end o 5 the hall, hurPd up their caps, And some ten voices cry'd — God save King Richard! And thus I took the vantage of those few™ Ci Thanks, gentle citizens, my friends"— quoth I— a This general applause, and cheerful shout, u Argues your wisdom, and your love to " Richard." Shakspeare. THE ROYAL ECLIPSE; DELICATE FACTS. u WHEN men are agreed as to the " merit or demerit of others — the de- " gree of admiration in which they " hold the one> and of aversion with " which they regard the other, will de- B 2 ROYAL ECLIPSE. " pend, in great measure, on the force " and vivacity of their imagination. cc Men, whose minds are strong and " ardent, will, naturally, express them- €C selves with warmth; and if the mat - " ter appear, to them, enormous, they " will express themselves with intem- w perance, in order to prevent the re- cc petition of what they conceive to be u crime ) and crime, perhaps, of very " dangerous tendency/ * But — - cc I do not wish to talk with 6C asperity of crowned heads. On the ROYAL ECLIPSE. " contrary, it is very much my wish to " respect them. That, however, can " no longer be done, than while they " respect themselves. " To talk of homage to crowns and " coronets, when they only decorate " crimes, or imbecility, is an affront to " the understanding; and implies great " ignorance, or great servility. " My loyalty is not of that stamp.— " It is limited like my faith, and reason " must mark the boundary. b 2 4 ROYAL ECLIPSE. " In all the great moral duties of life, " a perfect concordance should prevail. " If one man claims exemption — ano- " ther has an equal right to dispen- * c satiom " To prevent this irregularity, and u its consequences. Princes should be " curbed as well as Peasants. " I have no objection to make every " reasonable allowance for follies, that u ^re inoffensive or unimportant. But " the vice that, impudently, braves pub- u lie justice, and exacts homage from ROYAL ECLIPSE. 5 iQ virtue — that gigantic vice, which, " from the proud and insulting pre- " eminence of rank, has the audacity to 6f set morality at defiance, and is as in- " corrigible in its nature, as it is mis- u chievous in its consequences — that " description of vice, I will ever main- " tain, ought to be felled, to the ground, " with the club of Hercules. cc What shall we court, fawn, " and attend — gentleman-usher like — " upon vice in embroidery, while we " loath, detest, and consign to the B 3 P ROYAL ECLIPSE, u gibbet, without pity or remorse, u the vice that we behold in rags ? " Shall the unhappy female driven u by NECESSITY — -not CONSTITUTION— u to the bitter and humiliating re- " sources of prostitution, skulk in holes u and corners, afraid of the beadle and u his lash, while the dignified prosti- " tute — more fortunate, yet infinitely " more atrocious— confident of protec- " tion, and honored where she ought to « be spurned, TRIUMPHS in her turpi- " tude, and insults virtue with impu- " nity? - ROYAL ECLIPSE, 7 H Oh, shameless — ruinous — incon- u sistency 1 — Subversive of all morals, " and not to be defended even by those u who practice, or applaud, it, " If, in defiance of decorum, duty, " and public opinion, the titled harlot " will play the wanton — -let the rank " that she, unworthily, holds in society, u be deemed an aggravation of her in- " famy. " But, of what avail, just Heaven ! " are truth, argument, and eloquence " combined, against the more powerful b 4 8 ROYAL ECLIPSE, " counteractions of self-interest, habit, " and the vitiated manners of the a times! 5 ' I am led to retrace these remarks*, in the language of that able, though rigid commentator, Mr. Wm. Miles, and hold them up, in all the majesty of truth, to the nnimpassioned contemplation of the world at large— not with a view to party calumny — for I will " nought ex- tenuate ; nor ought set down in malice"— but with a view to common justice. * Applying to the conduct of a certain Coun- tess. ROYAL ECLIPSE. V Many are the opinions as to the ad- vantages and disadvantages of Royal descent; but it is scarcely possible to resist, by argument, this position: " that the blessings of domestic happiness — open to the free enjoyment of all the meanest classes of society — are privi- leges — if not wholly denied, at least partially distributable — among the sons and daughters of Royalty." Their bond of union is not cemented by the approbation of the heart; but fettered by the cold maxims of state policy. Inclination, even, is not per- B.5 10 ROYAL ECLIPSE, mittedto assert its claims; and whether the object be a powerful alliance in sup- port of the dignity of the crown; or, a forced alliance to remove personal in- conveniency, policy alike commands and confirms the mock pageantry of the splendid ceremony— thereby pledging*, to each other, persons with minds, cus- toms., manners, prejudices, and delica- cies, as foreign to each other 5 as the countries which respectively may have given them birth. But however this sort of subject may have afforded materials to the needy ROYAL ECLIPSE^ 1 I pamphleteer — or, however the fashion- able world may arrogate to itself to de- . cide between man and wife — I launch my bark — not in pursuit of notoriety, hut fact. I disclaim all intention of pro- posing " to pry into the arcana of a Royal bedchamber." — I seek not to un- veil the failings of any illustrious person- age—to canvass motives which confine them to obscurity — or to analyze facts I cannot establish. I wish to confine my strictures to my own sphere in life — to develope the frailties of an untitled fire- side — to judge my peers by their deme- rits, and censure them accordingly, b 6 12 ROYAL ECLIPSE, To the tale, In a delightful park, beautifully situ- ated in the county of B -, stands the manor and appendages of the ancient family of the Roys. The building is Gothic, descriptive, at once, of the magnificent taste of former times, and the high lineage of its pris- tine lords. George Roy, Esq. the present tenant, ROYAL ECLIPSE. F3 is the happy father of a large family of bovs and girls: the latter of whom are equally admired, in every circle, for the beauty of their persons, and the virtues which adorn them. Of the sons, one has been brought up to the navy;: and the remainder to the army; all excepting Squire George ? — -the heir apparent of the family ho- nors — long since grown to manhood} but a scape-grace from his cradle. I could relate a thousand pranks of the young gentleman; who, from his 14 ROYAL ECLIPSE. first lisp, disregarded the admonition of his parents- — mocked his tutors— spurn- ed at restraint— and displayed the inde- pendence of his disposition in wild and mischievous ebullitions of unbridled fancy- Increasing years gave increasing im- petus to his daring spirit, and the mad pranks of the spoiled boy were merely changed, by time, into the gay achieve- ments of the polished man. Wit, women, and wine, were among the first objects of his idolatry j but ROYAL ECLIPSE. 15 fashion soon after exposing, to him, the charms of the gaming-table and the de- lights of the race course, he readily en- grafted these elegant pursuits on his code of studies. Thousands heaped on thousands were eagerly swallowed in this vortex of dis- sipation; till, at length, the embarrassed state of his finances called aloud for help. Let it not, however, be supposed, that the foibles of } outh are inseparable from the vices of the heart. Squire George 2 16 ROYAL ECLIPSE, 6C with all his imperfections on his head J r was elegant, accomplished, brave, gene- rous, munificent — the envy of the men —the idol of the women — the terror of the worthless — the friend of the dis- tressed—the patron of neglected ta- lent. At this period of difficulty, the old ! gentleman— -not with the severity of a parent ; but with the mild remonstran- ces of a friend — besought his son tt* give up his profligate companions, and conduct himself in a manner more ho- norable to his family, and creditable to ROYAL ECLIPSE. l7 himself: and, in a further hope, that the virtuous endearments of a wife, might serve to domesticate his charac- ter, the good old gentleman promised him to pay the whole of his debts, if he would consent to marry his cousin, a very beautiful young lady, in the bloom of life. George receded, at first, from this unexpected stipulation; but finding he could not, otherwise, prevail on his fa- ther to discharge his tradesmen's bills, and liquidate his debts of honor, he con^ sented to the terms proposed. 18 ROYAL ECLIPSE. Nothing could exceed the splendors of the wedding-day. The family was popular in the county, and the joy of their neighbours, on this occasion, was manifested in bonfires, illuminations, marrow-bones and cleavers, and other rustic rejoicings. It happened, unfortunately, that Mrs. George had been educated abroad, and imbibed all the levity, and flippancy of manners, which are characteristic of fo- reign customs, not untinctured with a certain want of delicacy \ to the possession of which English minds are invariably wedded. ROYAL ECLIPSE* 39 It is well known as .the novelty of beauty wears off in the new-made bride, she steps, progressively, from the stilts of divinity, and appears the unadorned emblem of earthly imperfections; the dying embers of the hymeneal torch too suddenly expire ? when unfanned by those chaste refinements, which can, alone, im- prove upon, or heighten, the pure en- joyments of love. Satiety is often fol- lowed by disgust, and it is an alarming fact, that the infidelity of the husband will beget the infidelity of the wife. At all events, twelve months had 20 ROYAL ECLIPSE, scarcely made their evolution, ere the apostate husband returned to the wel- come arms of a former mistress, leaving his young wife to the cheerless comforts, of a solitary bed. There is one blessing in wedded love, however, which, with minds of sensi- bility, proves a valuable resource against the horrors of seclusion. Mrs. George was the mother of a daughter, whose dawning beauties and seraphic smile might have counteracted the malignancy of her fate — but, alas! the peculiar feel- ings of the lady were not susceptible of ROYAL ECLIPSE. 21 attachment to a daughter — She hated girls; but concealed her unnatural pre- judice under the hypocritical semblance of maternal tenderness. Of the father she soon became equally- indifferent — Pride rapidly usurped the claims of affection, and whatever of sensibility might have been in her na- ture, yielded to the voice of vengeance. Mrs. George now sought every op- portunity to expose her husband's de- linquency. She appealed publicly to her uncle—his father— for redress. She 22 ROYAL ECLIPSE. drove through the most frequented parts of the neighbourhood in an open landau, with her xhild, to excite com- passion — pretending a tenderness for the infant, she was incapable of feeling. She frequented the theatre, and subscrip- tion balls to make her party strong against her husband, and studied every opportunity, otherwise, to load him with obloquy. Two parties were immediately formed in the county. A few were staunch to their old bottle companion, but the many espoused the cause of the de* ROYAL ECLIPSE. 23 serted bride; insomuch, that public huzzaings would often greet her appear- ance abroad. The old gentleman, anxious to restore, if possible, his son to his niece, saw with infinite displeasure that she had adopted the mode of all others least calculated to promote their reunion. He remon- strated therefore, and engaged, on her promising to observe a more moderate conduct, to mediate a reconciliation. In this laudable pursuit, however, he was foiled by the inconsistency of the 24 ROYAL ECLIPSE. lady 5 who made — and unmade — stipu- lations, in proportion as she fancied she was regaining power; till at length, the young squire refused to be, any longer, the plaything of a woman's caprices, and determined to renounce her for ever. Separate establishments, and separate maintenances followed. Mrs. George retired to the neighbourhood of Lon- don, where her uncle provided her with a very charming lodge ; and her income was settled at a rate proportioned to her rank in society. ROYAL ECLIPSE. 23 Meanwhile the unfettered squire rov- ed from flower to flower in the garden of beauty, sipping passing sweets, and leaving to her undisturbed enjoyments, his ladv and her friends. About this time, however, an acci- dent happened which contributed not only to lessen Mrs. George in the good opinion of her husband, but even to alienate the regard of his family, 'which, hitherto, had never forsaken her. A parcel of letters, written in the ful- ness — perhaps malignancy — of her heart, 26 ^ ROYAL ECLIPSE. were by some accident intercepted, and conveyed to the manor-house, which proved the talents of the fair writer to be of rather a dangerous tendency. Her friends, however, glossed over the offence, and with peculiar address re- moved the censure to the squire, on the score of his intriguing with the attend- ant to whom Mrs. George had commit- ted the parcel, and as an abettor of a breach of confidence between a servant and her mistress. Thus the tide of obloquy still pur- sued the young squire, and his neg- ROYAL ECLIPSE. 27 lectof suffering innocence continued to be the. theme of general reprehen- sion, while the fair recluse — in the re- pose of triumph — devoted herself — as it was said — to works of fancy, and other elegant domestic pursuits. " To espouse the Gause of suffering innocence— when we know it to be such « — ever has been, an* i ever will be — I trust, the proud distinction of a Briton. Mrs. George found friends every where, at the expense of th ustice and reputa- tion of her husband. The public prints teemed, daily, with praises of her virtue^ c2 28 ROYAL ECLIPSE. and were, equally, lavish in their abuse of the squire, " But it is a mistaken privilege in " society, sanctioned by custom imme- a n it ia), for parties to interfere in all w public family disputes, although it is, < c in truth, both indelicate and impro- u per for any persons whatever — ex- " cept by blood very nearly connected " — to interfere, at all. Nay, even to a talk of it, is reprehensible. " Family matters among people of u sense and discretion are always con- ROYAL ECLIPSE. 29 a sidered, as it were, forbidden conver- " sation. There are good reasons for " such forbearance, and not the least of " all is, that it must be useless, because " the truth never can be come at upon " such subjects. u In the case before us 9 many people " have chosen to canvas the conduct of " the squire with unbounded severity; " although it was impossible — from cir- " cumstances— that they should so com- " pletely have dived into the real springs of the actions of the parties as to say the real cause of the separation. c3 GC cc SO ROYAL ECLIPSE. * c Perhaps, there may be faults on u both sides— perhaps there is scarcely # any on either ; but the natural dispo- * c - sition of the parties may be so diffe- u rent as to preclude a possibility of ^ their living together in that peace u and harmony which they both would u wish. 44 But whatever be the case, I am " sure all the world will agree with me * that it is not right to prejudge either £C party. " One may lament the circumstances, ROYAL ECLII. 31 Ki but to throw odium, either on the " squire, or his wife, merely because " scandal would provoke it, is a con-. " duct, I am sure, every man of honor " or honesty must feel very disgrace- " ful." In the mean time, the infant Char- lotte, displaying uncommon capacity, was removed from the nursery, and placed under the immediate guardian- ship of proper tutors to embellish her person and understanding as the ex- pectant heiress to the family fortunes, c 4 32 ROYAL ECLIPSE, Deprived of the beloved society of- this interesting companion, Mrs. George be- came, some time after, the fond patroness of a pretty curly-headed boy, whom— as she stated-— she had taken from his poor parents to console her for the loss of her little darling* Charity is said to cover a multitude of sins ; but in this instance, it seemed rather to uncover a multitude of of- fences. Certain whisperings aroused certain conjectures — they engendered suspicion ROYAL ECLIPSE* 33 — inquiry followed — and in process of time, conviction bid fair to develope the parentage of the little William. Affairs now assumed a different as- pect. In the neighbourhood of the lodge lived a veteran soldier — not a veteran in years, but service — a veteran, whom it is to be hoped this country will not ea- sily forget ; and whom it is impossible Buonaparte should ever cease to re- member. c 5 '«* ; 34 ROYAL ECLIPSE* Laurelled by his King, he sought re- pose in the arms of beauty, from the toilsome campaigns he had suffered abroad. The object of the gallant soldier's choice, however, was not so remarkable for her personal, as her mental^ endow- ments ; although" the former are, by no means, free from captivation. The new wedded pair chose their residence in the neighbourhood of the widowed Mrs, George, and the ladies soon became extremely intimate. ROYAL ECLIPSE. 35 Among the many who hastened to congratulate Colonel Randolph on his marriage, was his old friend Captain Smythe of the navy : -these gentlemen had often been companions in the heat of battle, and as nothing associates two noble hearts more firmly than an equal participation of danger, they loved each other as brothers. Mrs. Randolph received the Captain with the freedom of an old acquaintance, and introduced him to her friend Mrs. George, where he was likewise received on an intimate footing. c 6 36 ROYAL ECLIPSE. But the captain, though bred to the sea and a rough sailor in the storm, possessed all the politeness of a well-bred gentleman in the drawing-room. He was either the votary of love or war as occasion presented itself, and soon dis- tinguished Mrs. George as the object of his pointed gallantry. Another twelve-month passed, during which period the Captain made frequent excursions to his friend's cottage — where he domesticated as he pleased* Mrs. Randolph became the happy mother of a girl, and he proposed him- ROYAL ECLIPSE. 37 self as godfather to the infant who was named— in compliment — Smythe Randolph, At length Mrs, Randolph, understand- ing from her servants that the Captain never slept at home, mentioned it, with expressions of surprise, to the Colonel. iC And pray, my dear, what is that "to you" — he replied good-humor edly— " Smythe is my other self, and by G — d " he shall do just as he pleases in my If house/ 9 38 ROYAL ECLIPSE. This reproof was quite sufficient to silence Mrs. Randolph, but the more secretly the Captain endeavoured to conduct himself, the more he awakened the curiosity of the servants, till it be- came the common topic of the kitchen — " That Captain Smythe left the cot- ^ tage every night when he supposed " all the family at rest — muffled in his 4i boat cloak, and, protected by a con- cc cealed hanger^ took his course across €6 t\ the Park," Suddenly, Mrs, George almost drop- ROYAL ECLIPSE. 38 ped her visits at the cottage, and was much less frequent than usual in her invitations to the Park. „■ One day, the Colonel was strangely- alarmed with the receipt of an anony- mous letter, written in a female cha- racter, and disclosing, as if in friendship to him, that an intrigue was on foot between his wife and Captain Smythe. He flew to the chamber of the latter, with the libel in his hand, and present- ing the superscription, demanded of the Captain if he knew the writing. 40 ROYAL ECLIPSE. " Perfectly' 5 — was the reply— a And the seal ?" u Both are Mrs. George Roy's. 9 ' " Then read the contents/' It is not easy to describe the horror and indignation which filled his mind on the occasion ; but turning to his friend, and stifling his resentment, he endeavoured, calmly, to say, " We will not, for all this, Randolph, a cut each other's throats." ROYAL ECLIPSE. 41 " No' 5 — replied the Colonel grasping the hand that was offered to him — " We u will not — rbut this is a most diabolical " plot. We are known, to have bled " together, and to be irascible to a fault " in points of honor Oh, Smythe, " had I not known you as I do, to w r hat " a fatal error might this cursed scroll " have led me! 5 ' " And your wife"— interrupted the Captain — w has she no claims on your " confidence ? — Fye, my friend, be more " just to her merit on every occasion, " and never yield a degenerate weak- 42 ROYAL ECLIPSE.. ^ ness to your passions at the instigation €C of an)r masked assassin of your fatfira " peace and honor. Let us coolly in- " vestigate this business." . Without detailing particulars, it may suffice to state, that the two friends became assured in their suspicion — Mrs. George was the author of the letter. It has been remarked by writers of celebrity, that the vices of man are slow and progressive — those of woman rapid and decisive. And this observatioa ROYAL ECLIPSE. 43 rather attaches to the laws of society, than to any peculiar atrocity supposed to inhabit the female bosom. By usage, one false step in woman is irretrievable. This barbarous ordi- nance, therefore, begets future crimes. A girl, betrayed by the sensibilities of her nature into a forgetfulness of what she owes to the world, no longer hesi- tates in the indulgence of her passions ; which, in proportion as they have been pent up — rush, like a torrent that has forced its dam, disdaining opposition : — she hates the virtue that rejects her — 44 ROYAL ECLIPSR. and nature, thenceforward, only obeys its very worst impulse. While man is ever encouraged in error by the sex he would betray; villainy is called gallantry ; and the lips of beauty and innocence are not supposed to be de- filed, when they soften the Immoralities of a rake of fashion by declaring, " that a reformed libertine always makes the best husband." Vanity still goes farther —each admiring Miss fancies she posses- ses that secret of reformation, and risks her eternal happiness in this world on the capricious die* ROYAL ECLIPSE. 45 Love and jealousy, we are told by sentimentalists, are twin sisters. — Mrs. George was a pupil of that persuasion, and construed the intimately virtuous intercourse subsisting between the Cap- tain and Mrs. Randolph into a confirma- tion of their guilt. She knew, perhaps, to parly with her lover on the occasion, would be to expect a useless torrent of words — she, therefore, determined to strike ; but the envenomed weapon re- coiled upon herself. Acts of ostentatious charity had, hitherto, established Mrs, George's re- 46 ROYAL ECLIPSE. putation ? as the paragon of all earthly goodness. Her servants were remark- able for preserving their places; and had she been less beloved, it might have been observed — by village gossips — that they were remarkably profuse and elegant in their expenses- — be that as it may, the Colonel was pleased to give a new turn to the village conversation by openly avowing his opinion of the lady's depravity. It was a bold effort. ..... all the world declaimed loudly against him as a monster. • . . the women almost hooted ROYAL ECLIPSE. 47 him, and shunned his amiable wife for the virtues they should have worshipped. The question became serious.- — The manor of Roy field had descended from father to son in regular succession — though not, exclusively, entailed on issue male : it was too considerable to be trifled with. The infant Charlotte had been considered the rightful heiress of these proud domains, and Squire George trembled with an honest pride, when he was told that a bastard son, born in marriage, might, by law, super- sede her claim. A thousand passing 2 48 ROYAL ECLIPSE. tales augmented his apprehensions on this head Mrs. George was described to be im* moderately fond of the boy William- — the little cottager had the parade and attendance of a count 'attached to his nursery; and when the carriage was ordered to air the pretty pet abroad* every care was taken, " that the winds " of Heaven should not s too rudely^ " wanton o'er his cheek," These and other circumstances buz- zed by report, occasioned the family to ROYAL ECLIPSE. 49 assemble, in debate, on the importance of the future inheritance to be establish- ed in the manor and appendages. And here let me excite the admira- tion of the reader, by declaring, that although the young squire would have been pleased to have rid himself of a supernumerary wife — he refused to be a party in these family consultations, re- solving that the establishment of her guilt or innocence should not be weighed down by one atom of personal feeling or resentment. D 5Q ROYAL ECLIPSE. It would be hazardous to attempt detailing what exactly passed on this occasion, because it was never published; but I do not hesitate to aver, that the enquiry tended to criminate the lady. In saying that the particulars were never published, I am not altogether correct. A pamphlet issued from the press, which had been prepared by a gentleman employed, professionally, in the investigation; but the love of gain- even in a lawyer — yielded to prudence, and he suppressed, almost as soon as he published — the Delicate Enquiry. ROYAL ECLIPSE. 5! He who has been admitted to a secret, will always find some dear friend or other, to whose confidence he anxiously imparts the trust : hence the grounds on which I aver as follows* . * Possibly I may be called a plagiarist here., as I confess there are passages in a novel lately published, entitled The Infidel Mother, which bear strong resemblance to my statement. But what have I to do with the fictions of a Novelist ? - — if they are fictions? — I speak on the broad basis of personal conviction. I will not, however, dismiss this article without remarking, that J have read the Infidel Mother, and recommend it, as the boldest and best written satire on the times of any extant. D 2 52 ROYAL ECLIPSE. That, Mrs. George had notorious conveniences — purposely erected — to favor intrigue ; and that her* finances * I have heard it asserted— and I believe with truth — that a certain lady now living in separa- tion from her husband, finds a regularly paid income of 4,2501. per quarter, inadequate to the expences of retirement — 25,0001. have since been given to her by a relation, in discharge of her incumbrances.— -She has raised 80001. on certain manorial rights — and tradesmen still cry aloud for 80,0001. It would appear that something like secret service money must have produced this mischief, as the lady does not game. ROYAL ECLIPSE. 53 were considerably impaired in bribing her domestics to secrecy. That a certain officer of his Majesty's navy was the reputed father of the darling William, by his chaste patroness. That a certain miniature painter had been detected one evening locked up^ in the eating parlor with her, when the hours flew swiftly on the soft pinions of love, and the enraptured pair forgot that it was supper time. As to Captain Smythe, it came out, d 3 54 ROYAL ECLIPSE. that the lady had cast off all reserve with him — kissing him 9 as he took leave^ in her carriage— adjusting his frill in the drawing room- — patting his cheek— and other innocent liberties 5 at which English Modesty would certainly blush j but which are. perhaps ^ very reconciieable with the indulgences of foreign customs* It is worthv of remark *W d^il&l ths fashionable sepakation* originally * This is an almost indefinable term, and unlimited in its nature. Scandal*— I do not say truth— affirmed last winter., that the gay lord ROYAL ECLIPSE*. 55 existing between Squire George and his wife — when they politely visited each B coming home rather unopportunely, caught his lady in the arms of Lord F his near relation. With polite non-chalance, the Cornuto, turning to his friend, said: u My dear F it will not do either of us any good to shoot the other ; but you must still pay for peeping. — Give me 10,0001, and we are better friends than ever." Lord F — — swore he was an honest fellow, and promised. On cooler reflection, however, he thought the D 4 56 ROYAL ECLIPSE. other, occasionally, at their meals ; and as politely retired to separate beds, the price of the indulgence altogether unreasonably and remonstrated, " Then give me 8,00.01."— said the noble lord. " Too much, by God V*~ -replied the other- shaking his head* u They comf ounded^ and four thousand pounds was paid by Lord F to Lord B— - by virtue of which, said Lord B ■ ■ hath vested In said Lord F all his rights of cuisage and* ROYAL ECLIPSE. 57 brutal Squire, as he one day caressed his lovely infant — of whom he was dotingly fond — took occasion to find fault with the exuberant curls that floated o'er her jambage which the said Lord F enjoys ad libitum. This elegant arrangement does not prevent the civil attentions of Lord and Lady B to each other, when they meet in company. Her Ladyship still heads his Lordship's table — occupies a seat, sometimes, in his barouche, and at other times in his landaulet, when his Lord- ship divides his elegant attention between his four blood bays, and her high mettled Ladyship. 3D 5 58 ROYAL ECLIPSE. shoulders, and committed a rape upon the auburn locks. This was set down by Mrs. George as a direct insult to her, who wished every body to believe she took infinite pleasure in studying to improve her daughter's beauty. At another time — when the chief re- sidence of Mrs. George was removed to the lodge, and she only occupied her apartment at the squire's, occasionally, the latter, on her driving into the court yard one morning, sent for an uphol- sterer to take down her bed. ROYAL ECLIPSE. 59 This was a new brutality , that drew fresh odium on the squire, who good- humoredly suffered malice to expend itself in invective, without even trou- bling the world with his motives. But it has since appeared, when the lady's levity subjected her conduct to inquiry, that she had compelled him to the act, by the situation in which she stood with the boy William j and that he was forbidden in future — by counsel learned in the law — to suffer his wife to sleep in the same house with him; and the more so, a& Mrs* George contrived d 6 60 ROYAL ECLIPSE. to lure the squire into her apartment, one night, when he was too much in- toxicated to be aware of the folly he committed. Whatever might have been the pri- vate wishes of the family in thus calling a meeting of its relatives to confxrm, or disannul, the reports in circulation, so seriously implicating the virtue of Mrs* George — it was found impossible to give concealment to that meeting; and as the particulars were — -as I have stated —withheld from the public— Gossip ^agerly supplied the deficit. ROYAL ECLIPSE. 61 Reports, rumors, and fairy tales, all calculated to inflame the public mind against the young squire, were most in- geniously fabricated throughout the neighbourhood; stating — among other things — that he, the squire, with the aid and abetment of his friends, inti- mates, and dependants, did scanda- lously and maliciously enter into and contrive a most gross, vile, and scanda- lous conspiracy, tending to vilify, and to distort, by fiction, the innocent liber- ties which Mrs. George had indulged during her retirement — the which were found to be perfectly correct, and corre- 62 ROYAL ECLIPSE. spondent with her mode of education — as well as to establish, ultimately — by- perjury and subornation of perjury- high crimes and misdemeanors against the lady. With the reflecting mind, however, the squire will always be absolved both from malice and conspiracy. His situa- tion was extremely delicate — he felt it to be so — and was therefore neuter* . The fact is, that previously to the fa- mily communication, no one had posi- tively said — " Mrs. George Roy has .been ROYAL ECLIPSE. 63 " guilty of such, or such, a crimeP — It was only report j but report of so seri- ous a tendency, that the honor of the squire, and the rights of succession, demanded an explanation. Among the few, however, who ven- tured to defend the squire — and every body knows where there are women y there will be contradiction — I select the following conversation — " Surely," exclaimed Mrs. M- ? * you cannot mean to defend her * cause?" 64 ROYAL ECLIPSE. a All I have to say on the subject,"' replied the lady, " is, that deserted as " she is, and bereft of every domestic *' bliss, it is impossible to contemplate cc her misfortunes without emotions of " pity." " Pray, my dear Madam," rejoined Mrs. M — , " does the desertion of cc a wife justify her becoming a liber- « tine?" u By no means; but can you believe €C the lady in question to be guilty P answered Mrs, . ROYAL ECLIPSE. 65 tc Believe it !" vociferated Mrs. M — ; " is there not a child: and is there not " a letter wherein she informs Mrs. " that no person but herself knew " she had been in a certain situation V 9 " Such authority Mrs. — — thought " conclusive, and there for that day the " conversation ended; but in less than " a fortnight afterwards Mrs. M- '" repeated her visit, and being asked " how the business proceeded, exclaim- " id, M Don't ask me; I know so * c much that it is dangerous to speak" 66 ROYAL ECLIPSE. f* For Heaven's sake/' cried Mrs. ■■, " tell me no family secrets, for " if you do I shall certainly betray them* " All I wish to know is, what will pro- bably be the end of the affair. " cc " It will all end very well," replied Mrs. M with a degree of non-cha- lance almost incredible. * Did you not tell me of a child and " a letter ? — How can it be very well?" was the natural question of Mrs. ROYAL ECL1PGE. 67 Now — let us consider the point dis- passionately. If the reports circulated by Colonel Randolph had proved base, scurrilous, or defamatory, was not the law open to redress the injured lady, and would not a jury have marked the infamous de- tractor by the excess of its damages? The world would also have shunnerl him as a pest to society. Is it then the fault of the squire, if the Colonel is pure? — No one can with truth aver, that the squire took any 68 ROYAL ECLIfSE. means to shield him from punishment. On the contrary, when it was proposed to inquire into the nature of the charges supposed to exist against Mrs. George — one of the squire's brothers was deputed by his father to wait upon the lady— to explain with all possible delicacy the na- ture of the inquiry, which had as much for its object as possible, the restoration of her fame. Mrs, George conducted herself, at this visit, with a degree of candor, that seemed to offer assurance of her innocence: and so far from resisting the wishes of the ROYAL ECLIPSE. 69 family to examine her servants, she nobly exclaimed — " From this moment, I discharge all my household." There was magic in these sounds, that operated like a charm upon the ear of all her neighbours. " They knew her " to be innocent — now, nobody could " doubt it — what a triumph over the " vile squire !" All, therefore, that a busy meddling neighbourhood could do, wh^i they 70 ROYAL ECLIPSE. found their darling hopes to be disap- pointed, was to hurt the squire's Feelings — and there, I fear, they too well suc- ceeded. But what was the result of all this clamor? Nothing — The Colonel maintains his rank in society — the lady retired to her lodge — and the squire continued his amusements without troubling his head about his wife — neither acquitting nor condemning her. ROYAL ECLIPSE/ 71 This mystery gave offence to every body — for what can be a greater crime than to excite curiosity, and then leave the persons so excited to the pleasures of s us pence? Meanwhile the little William became an object — if possible— of increased in- terest with his tender-hearted patroness, who would kiss him rapturously, as they gambolled together, on the carpet, and assure him, he would some day or other make a great noise in Westmin- ster Hall. 72 ROYAL ECLIPSE. Charlotte had now attained her ele- venth year, and was the admiration of every body. Her proficiency in music, dancing, and drawing, was the theme of universal panegyric; but her studies were, by no means, confined to these outward, though elegant, accomplish* ments. Her mind was richly stored with literature, and the Graces seemed to have marked her for their own. She was a great favorite with all the family; but particularly so, with her grand- father. The squire was proud in the pos- ROYAL ECLIPSE. 73 session of this beauteous treasure; and his family, more urgently than ever, sought how they could best preserve her birthright from future perplexities. Another family meeting was con- vened, and the ablest law opinions taken as to the steps they should—in duty to this lovely child — pursue. The scandal-mongers now panted with renewed hopes of coming at the Whole secret j and pending the momen- tous disclosure, they amused themselves with throwing as much odium as they 74 ROYAL ECLIPSE. could upon the squire — by any means, no matter how — provided they were new; but whether false, or true, was an object beneath their obliging consider- ation. It may appear surprising that no satis- factory information had hitherto been obtained from the servants employed about the person of Mrs. George ; who must have known how things went on ; but if Mrs. George paid them better for holding their tongues, than others of- fered to pay them for tattling, that sur- prize is easily removed. ROYAL ECLIPSE. *75 But — as it will be seen — there were engines at work as well to restore, as to preserve the lady's reputation; and it was contrived, by the following means, to smuggle her, once more, into the apparent protection of the family. Several meetings had taken place re- specting Mrs, George's conduct, when the squire was, one morning, very sud- denly informed, by the secretary, that the lawyers had given their final opinion on the case, and begging to know when he would be at leisure to receive the proceedings. e 2 76 ROYAL ECLIPSE. The squire was at his town residence, and replied — f* Immediately." On delivery of the papers, the secre- tary pressed to know, when he might have the honor to call for the squire's decision. " That 5 ' — »said the squire — " cannot * 6 be so readily determined." The secretary bowed, and took leave. The urgency of this demand will ap- pear to have been founded in good po- ROYAL ECLIPSE. 7/ licy, and that Mrs. George had found the ivay to make the secretary her friend. An annual family festival was soon to take place, at which it was the custom of the manor to throw open its doors to all visitors :< — Mrs. George had em- ployed every possible female artifice to force herself into this party, confiding in the popularity she still maintained in the neighbourhood, and feeling assured, if her presence were, once, so sanctioned by the family, she might snap her fingers at the squire, and set him and his law* yers at defiance. e 3 78 ROYAL ECLIPSE. The old gentleman was bending to- ward his grave, and had been worried^ by false representations of her inno- cence, into a promise to receive his daughter-in-law, provided his son con- sented. To effect this consent was, therefore, the object of her mysterious agency- — In short, the consent was forged! "Whatever the motives of the squire in persisting to withhold from the pub- lic an official detail of the pro's and con's established by these two several meetings, they were, at all events, at- tended with one evil consequence. ROYAL ECLIPSE. 79 As partial circumstances were confi- dentially whispered — the world, previ- ously determined to favor Mrs. George, treated them all as scandal; whereas, the publication of an official document must have silenced even the tongue of male- volence. Knowing what I do, and writing what I have written, I certainly may venture this assertion, although I am persuaded, for the reasons already as- signed, there are many persons who will be pleased to doubt every sentence I have penned. s 4 80 ROYAL ECLIPSE. The best reason, perhaps, to be given in favor of the squire's silence is, that, as he very properly took no part in the proceedings, he was not bounden to come forward, and say — u I acquit my wife of all the foolish " rumors which foolish people have ut- " tered to her prejudice — her honor is " unimpeachable" And yet, I am persuaded, from the many noble, generous, and disinterested traits which have formed prominent features in the squire's character, even in, ROYAL ECLIPSE. 81 his most dissolute moments, that had he been satisfied of his wife's innocence — had he felt that she had erred from education — not principle — he would have been the first to have proclaimed her GUILTLESS. If then she were guilty — it may be asked — -why not sue for a divorce ? As the mere historiographer of a sin- gular event in private life — not ac- quainted even with the parties, but relying on the goodness of my infor- mation — I do not presume to look into e 5 82 ROYAL ECLIPSE. the mind of the squire, or assume the privilege of disclosing his private thoughts : but, I may assert, worldly ob- servation daily teaches us, that a husband may be convinced of the infamy of his wife; and yet not be able to bring such evidence into courts a $ 'would incontrovertibly fix the indelible stain upon the culprit # . And I * Within these few months, the lovely Lady II was detected in a very aukward situation by one of the Rangers of Hyde Park; and though the discovery was productive of a very handsome douceur to the green-coated gentle, man — he could not rest till he had communicated his good fortune to some of his good friends. It 2 ROYAL ECLIPSE. 83 fancy it needs no ghost to warn us all, that the husband who goes into court — was a morceau pour la bonne douche, and soon became the topic of fashionable chit-chat — with — J c Who could have believed it?"— " So inno- u cently demure in her deportment." — u And u then, so unfashionably in love, as she always u appeared, with her Lord." — Ci It cannot be u true, and we will desire his Lordship not to " make himself uneasy by listening to such scan- 's dalous tattle." In this amiable resolution, care was taken that Lord H should hear the anecdote, embel- lished as it was by circulation, His Lordship E 6 84 royal Eclipse. as the accuser of his wife — and retires without having accomplished his pur- pose, exposes himself to the pity of his friends- — the scurrility of the lampoon- er — and the ridicule of the world. To resume my narrative. A few days after Mr. Secretary* had flew to the Ranger, arid by threats and bribery, learnt enough to satisfy his own mind of the fact. But as the proof was not enough for Doctors* Commons — he was prudently silent, and laughed at the story as a good joke. * Not the Secretary of the H- D . ROYAL ECLIPSE. 85 — for reasens best known to himself- — forged the representation made by him to the old gentleman ; and a few days prior to the festival already mentioned; the younger branches of the family were all engaged to meet in private celebra- tion of the birth-day of Mrs. Frederick — his second brother's wife — where, for the first time, it was intimated to the squire, that Mrs. George would, cer- tainly, be of their party on the Thurs- day following. The means by which this licence was procured, were also related to him* , ; 86 ROYAL ECLIPSE. With a smile of ineffable complacency, lie replied, " Well then, be it so— this imperti- " nent puppy of a secretary deserves " chastisement for attempting, by false- * When Madame cle Pompadour's influence was on the decline, and every female ingenuity was at work to regain her power, a successful artifice introduced her to the presence of her royal lover ; who, however, received her very coolly. Elated, notwithstanding, at the ad- vantages she might take of this temporary con- descension, by throwing dust into the Parisians' :>, she resolved on appearing in state at the ian Opera, on the same evening. A message , therefore, sent to the manager, to signify her intention, and desiring to know at which * door she would be received, (she having been , F 5 106 ROYAL ECLIPSE. the same fashionable publication , new subject for his sublime admiration. accustomed to enter at the king's door ; ) when she appeared with her suite. The manager requested time ere he could re- ply — and having, in the mean while, applied, officially, to know how he should act, sent in answer, that Madame de Pompadour ^ as the #c- fctiozeledged mistress of the king, would find pro- per attendants, at any door to which she might be pleased to present herself. Discomfited by this unexpectedly cooi reply, the lady w r ent, privately , to the Opera. I should add, that her spirit for intrigue was 2 ROYAL ECLIPSE. 107 He dwells, most feelingly , on the uni- versal rapture which the lady's presence communicated to every individual bo- som. — He describes the public marks of cordial approbation that greeted her so well known, and the popularity she still un- worthily preserved, was so much dreaded, that the manager concealed the knowledge of the fa- voritrfs intention, and changed the most popular entertainments, which had been advertised for the evening, into a paltry opera, to which he hoped no one would take the trouble to come— and this, evidently, to avoid any public tumult f?om party influence, or hireling cabal. f6 108 ROYAL ECLIPSE. arrival — the impressive return made by Mrs. George— who was much affect- ed with their goodness in oppressing her with such flattering marks of general esteem — so unanimously bestowed ! - — and concludes with assuring us 9 " that " although her dress was ornamented " with a rich display of brilliant orna- " Hients, the lustre of restored £C honor beamed round her person ft with a splendor exceeding all the " pomp of outward decoration, and " wholly eclipsing the dazzling blaze " of her jewels." ROYAL ECLIPSE. .109 What a pity it is, that Mrs. George could not — likewise — get herself smug- gled, by hook or by crook, to the en- tertainment given in B — shire in honor of Mrs. Roy's birth-day !— It would have made so pretty a paragraph, and would, I have no doubt, have been in- serted, as gratuitously, as all the former puffing paragraphs so industri- ously and so loudly trumpeting forth her praise, " Is the squire dead to all feeling 55 -^ it may be asked — " or above all praise — - " that he so supinely bears these indirect 110 ROYAL ECLIPSE* cc censures on himself, and forbears*,, u when chastisement, more direct, is " levelled at him by the united malig- " nancies of a host of anonymous u writers?' 5 To which I reply — Neither! — Content in the conscious rectitude of his conduct, he disdains either to purchase the praise, or avert the scurrillity of any venal scribbler r he leaves to time the developement of circumstances, which, by the bye, have • ROYAL ECLIPSE. Ill been as mysteriously withheld from public adjudication by either party. An official copy of the whole pro- ceedings was sent to Mrs. George — not very respectfully indeed, as the lawyer, whose office it was, most ungallantly, despatched a livery servant with the sealed packet ; when, it is believed, the lady thought it would have become him to have presented it in person. The packet, however, was delivered — Give me leave then — dispassionate reader! — for to none other do I ad- 112 ROYAL ECLIPSE, dress niyself— to ask this simple ques- tion— Is there any law, usage, or custom, in Great Britain — so blessed in its con- stitution ! — to prevent a female — of whatever rank — whose conduct has be- come the subject of legal inquiry, from laying before the public the official re- sult of that inquiry ? I believe not— and when such is fa- vourable to the party supposed to be ag- grieved, I rather think I may venture to assert— she would publish it. ROYAL ECLIPSE. 113 Economy is no ap fogy for with- holding it, as any b< :>kseller would do well to give a thousand guineas — perhaps two — for such a manuscript. I shall transcribe a brief detail of Mrs. George's sufferings, since her marriage, from the pen of a partial friend. " It appeared as if our Squire was in " a state of second dotage. If he re- cc ally had been drawn in to marry Mrs. " F # , he had been guilty of a * I have not noticed this supposed marriage 214 KOYAL ECLIPSE. " most egregious piece either of du- " plicity or folly, as he must have been " very well aware that the marriage was " contrary to the established law *. u Although Joan may be as good as a my Lady in the dark, yet every Joan " is not a lady in the face of open day. in my Memoir. — If the squire bad an attach* ment before marriage, the greater the compli- ment to his wife, for whom he broke it, and the higher his claim on her future good conduct* * Thetody was a catholic. HOYAL ECLIPSE. 115 " If after having married Mrs, F — ~, " he gave his hand to another lady, he u was guilty of a very great crime, for " which he had no excuse to allege, but " that of having forfeited his own word " of honor. " If, as appeared to be the case from " subsequent events, the separation be- " tween himself and Mrs. F was " preconcerted, with a view only to re- u lieve him from his difficulties, and u then to renew their intimacy, it was * a most cruel and indecent deception. * Let the reader turn his eye, which- 116 BOYAL ECLIPSE. " ever way he will, he must see folly " and dishonor, if not deception and " cruelty. " It might have been expected that " the unfortunate Mrs, George had suf- - c fered enough, by having been^ thus a publicly, cast off by her husband. a But — no !• — her enemies appeared w resolved to crush her, or to drive her cc away. A new conspiracy, from an- " other quarter, or a continuation of that which had separated her from % conjugal endearment, was still to be EOYAL ECLIPSE. 117 " played off against her, by those who " were constantly about her person, " and whose faces were covered with " smiles and affabilities : u O Conspiracy, u Sham'st tliou to show thy dang'rous brow by night, u When evils are most free ? O then, by day f< Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough ** To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none. Conspiracy: u Hide it in smiles and affabilities : u For if thou put thy native semblance on, 6< Not Erebus itself were dim enough ** To hide thee from detection." Shakspeare. 118 ROYAL ECLIPSE. cc She was to be deprived of every " friend, of all esteem and respect, in " a distant country, and subject to de- cc rision and ridicule. The most scan- " dalous reports were spread abroad to u prejudice her person * and manners, " which could only have originated " with female tongues — who those cc were, we know not ; but people will * I have heard of ladies clearing their com- plexions, by means of issues ; but do not exact- ly understand the author's meaning, unless he alludes to the characteristic filth of foreign habits. KOYA-L ECLIPSE. 119 iC surmise, and the galled ox will " wince. " The persecuted Mrs. George find- M ing herself thus deserted by her pro- u per protector, without any reason * ; " surrounded by supplanting and slan- " dering enemies, almost wholly un- " acquainted with the sympathetic and " feeling hearts of the public, and " afraid to trust any one — sought to " confide her sorrows to the bosom of " her parents, or some other relations * 1 presume the author means assigned reason* 120 ROYAL ECLIPSE. c< \ or friends whom she had left in those u distant parts whence she came. " This was natural — and more deli- " cate* than if she had made her com- " plaints nearer home. A packet of " letters to her friends was confided to ? the hands of a person who was going " that way ; and for whom she enter- " tained, and, in all probability, had " no reason to entertain, any suspicion " of dishonorable conduct. * The reader must admit this to have been the ucmQ oi delicacy. ROYAL ECLIPSE. 121 " The packet, however, by a train " of artifices, which must have been " the result of long experience in the " winding passages of intrigue, an£ of " premeditated design, was got out of " the hands of the person with whom u it was intrusted, and in contempt of " every thing like honor, honesty, or " good faith, violated. " It was discovered, that the intend- " ed victim of this confederacy, in that " bitterness of anguish and agony of " mind which she must have experi- 4< enced, and which, in the strongest G 122 ROYAL ECLIPSE. C4 minds, will often create suspicion '"_ when there is not the least occasion ■" for it, had written some things w 7 hich 6C must be displeasing to the family. u As the correspondence could only " have been intercepted by an enemy, " and for the most inimical purposes, '" the malignant fiend contrived, with '" the same subtlety through which the " packet had been gotten possession of, cc to lay the contents before the family,