The History of Henry Esmond, Esq., a Colonel in the Service of Her Majesty Queen Anne

eless adventurer, and the other the greatest duke in Scotland, with pretensions even to a still higher title. My Lord Duke of Hamilton had, indeed, every merit belo

reat favorite of Charles the Second, who made him a lord of his bedchamber, and afterwards appointed him ambassador to the French ki

firmly to King James, being of the small company that never quitted that unfortunate monarch till his departure out of England; and then it wa

this noble enemy so little malice, that when his mother, the Duchess of Hamilton, of her own right, resigned her claim on her husband's death, the Earl was, by patent signed at Loo, 1690, created Duke of Hamilton, Marquis of Clydesdale, and Earl of Arran, with precedency from the original creation. His Grace took the oaths and his seat in the Scottish parliament in 1700: was famous there for his patriotism and eloquence, especially in the debates about the Union Bill, which Duke Hamilton opposed with all his strength, though he would not go the length of the Scottish gentry, who were for resisting it by

bestowed on him by King James the Second, his Grace was now promoted to the honor of the Garter-a distinction so great and illustrious, that no subject hath ever borne them hitherto together. When this objection wa

s his Grace was appointed Ambassador-Extraordinary to France, and his equipages, plate, and liveries commanded, of the most sumptuous kind, not only for his Excellency the Ambassador, but

Lord Gerard, by which marriage great estates came into the Hamilton family; and ou

ducal coach and six came and whisked his charmer away out of his reach, and placed her in a higher sphere. As you have seen the nymph in the opera-machine go up to the clouds at the end of the piece where Mars, Bacchus, Apollo, and all the divine company of Olympians are seated, and quaver out her last song as a goddess: so

's lodging with a face perfectly radiant with good-humor, and as jolly and careless as when they had sailed from Southampton ten years before for Vigo. "This bankruptcy," says Tom, "has been hanging over my head these three years; the thought hath prevented my sleeping, and I have looked at poor Polly's head on t'other pillow, and then towards my razor on the table, and thought to put an end to myself, an

n this love transaction, determined to put a cheerful face on his bankruptcy. Perhaps Beatrix was a little offended at his gayety. "Is this the w

g after the grapes on the wall," says he, "and lost my temper because they were beyond my reach; was there any wonder? They're

would have sealed the wall, sir, and seized them! A man

hey drop into his mouth," say

down on your knees, and so humble, you might have fared better with me? A woman of my spirit, cousin, is to be won by gallantry, and not by sighs and rueful faces. All the time you are worshipping and singing hymns to me, I know very well I am no goddess, and grow weary of the incense. So would you have been weary of the goddess too-when she was called Mrs. Esmond, and got out of humor because she had not pin-money enough, and was forced to go about in an old gown. Eh! cousin, a goddess in a mob-cap, that has to make her husband's gruel, ceases to be divine-I am sure of it. I should have been sulky and scolded; and of all the proud wret

ld, Beatrix," s

ht; and I like diamonds, and a new gown every week; and people to say-'That's the Duchess-How well her Grace looks-Make way for Madame l'Ambassadrice d'Angleterre-Call her Excellency's people'-that's what I like. And as for you, you want a woman to bring your slippers and cap, and to sit at your feet, and cry, 'O caro! O bravo!' whilst you read your Shakespeares and Miltons and stuff. Mamma would have been the wife for you, h

ht?" says Esmond, who never admired this fair crea

e them only a month to be angry; at the end of that time they shall love me every one, and so shall Lord Arran, and so shall all his Grace's Scots vassals and followers in the Highlands. I'm bent on it; and when I take a thing in my head, 'tis done. His Gra

with a sigh. "You'll be Beatrix till you are my Lady Duchess-w

ouched my heart; but he has my gratitude, obedience, admiration-I have told him that, and no more; and with that his noble heart is content. I have told him all-even the story o

, my dear,"

went away, and engaged with my Lord Ashburnham, that I might hear no more of you, that's the truth. You are too good for me, somehow. I could not make you happy, and should break my heart in trying, and not being able to love you. But if you had asked me when we gave you the sword, you might have had me, sir, and we both should have been miserable by this time. I talked with that silly lord all night just to vex you and mamma,

cept when mamma is by, as his Grace is with us; for he does not half l

th her sweet anxious face, and Esmond going up kissed her hand respectfully). "My dear lady may hear, too, the last words, which are no secrets, and are only a parting benediction accompanying a present for your marriage from an old gentleman your guardian; for I feel as if I was the guardian of all the family, and an old old fellow that is fit to be the grandfather of you al

ue; and the next minute the necklace was where Belinda's cross is in Mr. Pope's admir

air neck which they surrounded, Beatrix was running back with her arms extended, and was perhaps for paying her cousin with a price, that he would have

kissed the hand of each lady in his most ceremonious manner. He had come in his c

s Beatrix, advancing to him, and s

his Grace. "Hm! t

ent on my marria

asks the Duke. "The

m our cousin Henry"-cry b

hought that my Lord Castlewood had no brother: and

Colonel's hand very bravely,-"who was left guardian to us by our father,

but from her husband, madam," says the Duke-"m

ke," says Lady Castlewood, with an air of great dignity. "She is my daughter yet:

I know of no kinsman: and I do not choose

says Colo

r visits to this house are too frequent, and that I choose no presents for t

th the best right to that name of any man in the worl

d as if Lady Castlewood was ma

st, the truest, the bravest, the dearest of benefactors. He would have saved my husband's life fro

him offence, and thank him for his kindness to your ladyship's family. My Lord Mohun and I are connected, you know, by marriage-

istress, with a heightened color and a trembling voice. "The title we bear is his, if he would claim it. 'Tis we who have no right to our name: not he that's too great for it. He sacrificed his name at my dying lord's bedside-sacrificed it to my orphan children; gave up rank and honor because he loved us so nobly. His father was Viscount of Castlewood and Marquis of Esmond before him; and he is his father's lawful son and true heir, and we

knew nothing of it; nor did my lady till a year ago. And I have as good a

not to Beatrix. I should have spoken with you this very day in private, my lord, had not your words brought about this sudden explan

which you know already-lauding up to the skies her kinsman's behavior. On his side Mr. Esmond explained the reasons that seemed quite sufficiently

hatever name you are known" (so his Grace was pleased to say); "and in return for the splendid present you make my wife, your kinswoman, I hope you will please to command any service that James Douglas can perform. I shall never be easy until I

lcome," says Beatrix, stepping up to him; and, as Esmond ki

but said never a word: Beatrix made him a proud c

llency go for Paris?

ll not be ready till then. The Queen intends the embassy should be very grand-and I have law business to settle. That ill-omened Mohun