“H------ desires me to inclose you these two letters: one I know is an introduction to Guizot; the other, I suppose, to be ‘Ein empfehlungs Brief’ to the ‘Gräfin.’ Take care to say as little as possible to the one, and to have, in Irish parlance, as little as possible ‘to say’ to the other. At Paris you want no guidance; and at Vienna, the Abbé Discot is your man. Coloredo is out of favour for the moment; but he can afford to wait, and, waiting, to win. Be assiduous in your visits at B------y’s; and when the Countess affects ignorance, let us always hear from you.
This is a very rose-coloured and rose-odoured document:--
“I have to make two thousand excuses; one each for two indiscretions, I believed I had your box at the Opera for last evening; and I also fancied--think of my absurdity!-- that the bouquet of camélias left there was meant for me. Pray forgive me; or, rather, ask the fair lady who came in at the ballet to forgive me. I never can think of the incident without shame and self-reproach; _du reste_, it has given me the opportunity of knowing that your taste in beauty equals your judgment in flowers.
“Sir H------ bids me say, that he expects you on Wednesday. We dine earlier, as the Admiral goes on board in the evening.”
This was an absurd incident; and, trivially as it is touched on here, made of that same Lady Collyton a very dangerous enemy to me.
This is not a specimen of calligraphy, certainly:--
“If you promise neither to talk of the Catholic Question, the Kildare Place Society, nor the ‘Glorious Revolution of 1688.’ P------ will have no objection to meet you at dinner. Hammond, you’ve heard, I suppose, has lost his election; he polled more voters than there were freeholders registered on the books: this was proving too much, and he must pay the penalty. Y------ is in, and will remain if he can; but there is a hitch in it--‘as the man who lent him his qualification is in gaol at Bruges.’ Write and say if you accept the conditions.
There are some memorials of a very different kind--they are bound up together; and well may they, they form an episode quite apart from all the events before or after them! I dare not open them; for, although years have passed away, the wounds would bleed afresh if only breathed on! This was the last I ever received from her. I have no need to open it--I know every line by heart!--almost prophetic, too!