“I have sent you some game, which I hope to partake with you
to-morrow. Indeed, Madam, you are too cruel to desire to postpone
my happiness till the beginning of the next century. I can die for
the lady I love any day she pleases to command me, but to live 40
years for her is more than I can promise; besides, Madam, I would
have you consider that in all the conquests Love makes, there is on
the male side, constantly a little pride and vanity; do you think
that I have not something of that kind, in the pleasure I propose
to myself of making Mr. Montagu jealous, and of triumphing and
insulting over Dr. Monsey; and can you yourself promise me either
of these forty years hence? In conscience therefore reduce the
horrid period of forty years to twenty at most, and tell me in your
next, come twenty years hence and be happy. But all you promise
in your letter is, that the beginning of next century, perhaps,
you may begin to listen. This cold proceeding, with an impetuous
Lover of fourscore, who is impatient to convince you how much he
loves you and how passionately he is yours for the remainder of the
millenium, whenever it begins,
“BATH.”
From St. James’s on December 14, Dr. Monsey writes a folio letter to
Mrs. Montagu, beginning--
“SERENISSIMA PRINCIPESSA!
“There are no bounds to Pride, because an Earl is fallen in love
with you, you must kiss a King, and just as he is on the brink of
matrimony. How dare you do so audacious a thing, whilst your Hubby
is alive too? Had he broke his neck down a coal pit the matter had
been nothing, but to inflame the heart of a young monarch when
he can reap no benefit from it without breaking the laws of his
Kingdom, or your breaking the Laws of God. Let me tell you, Madam
(if I now may presume to tell you anything), it is a very imprudent
step. Emin has miscarried in Persia, and so now you will let
yourself down to the deluding hopes of being Queen of England. Can
you sleep this night while Majesty lies tumbling and tossing, and
starts at Montagu peeping thro’ his curtains;--My Kingdom for this
Woman, or this Woman for my Kingdom. Have you chosen your ladies
of the bedchamber, pitched upon your coronation, and made me your
chief Physician....”
[Page heading: DR. MONSEY’S DOGGEREL VERSE]
After a long rhodomontade, he falls into doggerel verse, a frequent
habit of his in his letters. As I have not hitherto recorded any verses
of his in this work, I will give this specimen--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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