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he knew that love and pleasure had entire possession of a master, whom he himself governed in defiance of the chancellor; thus, he was continually giving entertainments at his house and luxury and elegance seemed to rival each other in those nocturnal feasts, which always Cad to other enjoyments. The two Miss Brooks, his relations, were always of those parties: they were both formed by nature to excite love in others, as well as to be susceptible of it themselves; they were just what the king wanted. The Earl, from this commencement, was beginning to entertain a good opinion of his project, but Lady Castlemaine, who had recently gained entire possession of the king's heart, was not in a humour, at that time, to share it with another, as she did very indiscreetly afterwards, with Miss Stewart.

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Pub July 1. 1808. by John White. Fleet St & John Scott Strand.

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From the Original in the Coll" of the Earl of Chesterfield.

Pub July 1.1808. by John White Fleet St & John Scott. Strand.

As soon, therefore, as she received intimation of these secret practices, under pretence of attending the king in his parties, she entirely disconcerted them; so that the earl was obliged to lay aside his projects, and Miss Brook to discontinue her advances. The king did not even dare to think any more on this subject; but his brother was pleased to look after what he neglected; and Miss Brook accepted the offer of his heart, until it might please heaven to dispose of her otherwise, which happened soon after in the following manner.

Sir John Denham, loaded with wealth as well as years, had passed his youth in the midst of those pleasures which people at that age indulge in without scruple. He was one of the brightest geniuses England ever produced for wit and humour: satirical

and free in his poems, he spared neither frigid writers, nor jealous husbands, nor even their wives. Every part of his works abounded with the most happy turns of expression, and the most entertaining stories; but his most delicate and spirited raillery turned generally against matrimony; and, as if he wished to confirm, by his own example, the truth of what he had written in his youth, he married, at the age of seventy-nine, this Miss Brook of whom we are speaking, who was only eighteen.

The Duke of York had rather neglected her for some time before; but the circumstance of so unequal a matchrekindled his ardour, She, on her part, suffered him to entertain hopes of an approaching bliss, which a thousand considerations had opposed her. granting him before her marriage.

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