The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume IV.Cibber, Theophilus
General
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume IV.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
a heart to approve the treachery.--But to return to the marquis, we
shall mention another of his juvenile fights, as an instance to what
extravagant and unaccountable excesses, the inconstancy of his temper
would sometimes transport him.
A young English surgeon, who went to Paris, to improve himself in
his business, by observing the practice in the celebrated hospitals,
passing by the embassador's house on the 10th of June at night, took
the liberty to break his excellency's windows because there was no
bonfire before his door. Upon this outrage he was seized and committed
prisoner to Fort L'Eveque. This treatment of the young surgeon was
resented by the marquis; but he fought for no other satisfaction
than to break the ambassador's windows a second time. Accordingly his
lordship proposed it to an Irish lieutenant-general, in the service of
France, a gentleman of great honour and of the highest reputation for
abilities in military affairs, desiring his company and assistance
therein. The general could not help smiling at the extravagance of the
proposal, and with a great deal of good-nature advised his lordship
by all means not to make any such attempts; 'but if he was resolutely
bent upon it, he begg'd to be excused from being of the party, for it
was a method of making war to which he had never been accustomed.'
We might here enumerate more frolics of the same kind which he either
projected, or engaged in, but we chuse rather to omit them as they
reflect but little honour on the marquis.--We shall only observe,
that before he left France, an English gentleman of distinction
expostulating with him, for swerving so much from the principles of
his father and his whole family, his lordship answered, 'That he
had pawned his principles to Gordon the Pretender's banker for a
considerable sum; and till he could repay him, he must be a Jacobite,
but that when that was done he would again return to the Whigs.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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