George Selwyn : $b His letters and his lifeSelwyn, George Augustus
History
George Selwyn : $b His letters and his life
Selwyn, George Augustus
Selwyn, George Augustus, 1719-1791; Selwyn, George Augustus, 1719-1791 -- Correspondence
I was at Lord Gower's last night; and I saw there the Duke of
Bedford,(193) who, I must own, surprised me by his figure, beyond
measure; his long, lank, black hair, covering his face, shoulders,
back, neck, and everything, disguised him so that I have yet to know
his figure; I can but guess at his person. Why this singularity at
17 years of age? cela n'indique pas un esprit solide.
They saw the astonishment which this exhibition created in me, and
Lord Gower laughed, and said, "You perhaps do not know who it is?"
Indeed I did not. Je define seulement que sa figure n'est pas laide.
His chevelure was like that which I see in a picture of the grand
Conde. If there is anything of that hid under this disguise je lui
passerai cette singularity and yet, if your sons or either of them
should have all which Monsieur le Prince possessed, and Colbert too,
I had rather that they would not be singular. It may divert, but can
never add to the respect which they might otherwise have.
I went with Lord Trentham to the Speaker's, and returned to Lord
G(ower), but had no conversation either with him or the Countess.
When they go to Neasdon, I hope that they will carry me with them.
When George meets me, he accosts me with these words, "Quomodo vale
(sic) my petite sodale;" ou il a peche cette plaisanterie I do not
know. His namesake, Lord G. Germain,(194) is to kiss hands this
morning for the title and peerage of Sackville. Drayton, it seems,
goes to the Beauclerks, if he becomes Duke of Dorset and has that
estate.
My dinner yesterday with Fawkener and Warner at Mr. Crespigni's was
a very agreeable one indeed; la chere plutot bonne quexquise;
excellent vin. You will not forget Warner, I hope, when the
opportunity offers, afin qu'il soit dans le cas d'en tirer de sa
propre cave. We generally close the evening around the fire in the
card room at White's, a forte feu de fraix; Williams, Lord
Ashburnham, Vary, Fawkener, etc.; that is, those who either sup,
game, or sit up. The season of all that is over with me, and I have
little inclination left for either of them. I am quite well, vu mon
age, and as likely to see you again as any other who is a
sexagenaire, et meme davantage. It is the chief part of my Litanie.
I talked of Caroline last night with Lady Ann, till I could ask no
more questions about her. I am glad that her dancing is admired. We
have here Mademoiselle Theodore, who takes Mr. Willis'(?) place till
the season is over. She has half a guinea a lesson, but it is to
stay an hour. There is a good account of Johnson's prices, but he
himself is gone to Lisbon to be married; whether that will be a
prize, is a Scavoir. That of the Duke of Newcastle's(195) (sic) is
already condemned, at least by his Grace, but he nuptie sunt vere
nevertheless. Lord Cornwallis is, I believe, going to inhabit my
house till midsummer. That has been a heavy charge upon my hands,
instead of a profit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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