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Lady Montagu to Lady Pomfret-House of Lords stormed by a mob of Ladies.

politics, and which are of so mysterious a nature, one ought to have some of the gifts of Lilly or Patridge to be able to write about them; and I leave all these dissertations to those distinguished mortals who are endowed with the talent of divination ; though I am at present the only one of my sex who seems to be of that opinion, the ladies having shown their zeal and appetite for knowledge in a most glorious manner. At the last warm debate in the House of Lords, it was unanimously resolved that there should be no crowd of unnecessary auditors; consequently the fair sex were excluded, and the gallery destined to the sole use of the House of Commons. Notwithstanding which determination, a tribe of dames resolved to show on this occasion that neither men nor laws could resist them. These heroines

The following passage occurs in one of Curran's letters from Paris, in 1814: "We agreed to go to La Chambre des Députes. One of the members chanced to have heard of my name, was extremely courteous, lamented that I should be a mere auditor, but he would take care that I should be placed according to my high worthiness. We were accordingly placed aux premières tribunes. The question was to be of the liberty of the press and a previous censorship. The baron had some difficulty in working us forward, and said how happy he was in succeeding. I assured him I was greatly delighted by the difficulty, as it marked the just point of solicitude of the public. The chamber is very handsome. The president faces the assembly. Before him is a Tribune, which the orator ascends and reads his speech with his back to the president. We waited anxiously. I thought I shared in the throb of a public heart. We observed some bustle. The seats of the interior, reserved for the members, became crowded to excess by ladies, admitted I know not how. The order for strangers to retire was read, the ladies would not stir. The president could find no remedy, and adjourned the House to next day. I was rather disgusted. The baron asked me what we would have done in England. I said we had too much respect for our ladies to permit them to remain. He shook his head. I did not understand what he 'meant; but does not this prove what I said a day or two ago to be true; that women here have only a mock respect? If real, would they have dreamed of such a silly termagancy?"-H.

Lady Montagu to Lady Pomfret-House of Lords stormed by a mob of Ladies.

were Lady Huntingdon, the Duchess of Queensbury, the Duchess of Ancaster, Lady Westmoreland, Lady Cobham, Lady Charlotte Edwin, Lady Archibald Hamilton and her daughter, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Pendarvis, and Lady Francis Saunderson. I am thus particular in their names, since I look upon them to be the boldest assertors, and most resigned sufferers for liberty, I ever read of. They presented themselves at the door at nine o'clock in the morning, where Sir William Saunderson respectfully informed them that the Chancellor had made an order against their admitttance. The Duchess of Queensbury, as head of the squadron, pished at the ill-breeding of a mere lawyer, and desired him to let them up the stairs privately. After some modest refusals, he swore by G- he would not let them in. Her Grace, with a noble warmth, answered by G- they would come in, in spite of the Chancellor and the whole House. This being reported, the peers resolved to starve them out; an order was made that the doors should not be opened till they had raised their siege. These amazons now showed themselves qualified for the duty even of foot soldiers; they stood there till five in the afternoon, without either sustenance or intermission, every now and then playing vollies of thumps, kicks, and raps against the door, with so much violence that the speakers in the House were scarce heard. When the Lords were not to be conquered by this, the two Duchesses (very well apprised of the use of stratagems in war) commanded a dead silence of half an hour; and the Chancellor, who thought this a certain proof of their absence (the Commons also being very impatient to enter), gave order for the opening of the door; upon which they all rushed in, pushed aside their competitors, and placed themselves in the front rows of the gallery. They stayed there till after

Lady Russell to Lord Russell-Family News.

eleven, when the House rose, and during the debate gave applause, and showed marks of dislike, not only by smiles and winks (which have always been allowed in these cases), but by noisy laughs and apparent contempts; which is supposed the true reason why poor Lord Hervey spoke miserably. I beg your pardon, dear madam, for this long relation; but it is impossible to be short on so copious a subject; and you must own this action to be very well worthy of record, and I think not to be paralleled in any history, ancient or modern.

Yours, &c.,

XI.-FAMILY NEWS.

Lady Russell to Lord Russell.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, 1678.

After a toilsome day, there is some refreshment to be telling our story to our best friends. I have seen your girl well laid in bed, and ourselves have made our suppers upon biscuits, a bottle of white wine, and another of beer, and mingled my uncle's whey with nutmeg and sugar. None are disposing to bed, not so much as complaining of weariness. Beds and things are all very well here; our want is yourself and good weather. But now I have told you our present condition; to say a little of the past, I do really think, if I could have imagined the illness of the journey, it would have discouraged me; it is not to be expressed how bad the way is from Seven Oaks; but our horses did exceeding well, and Spencer very diligent, often off his horse to lay hold of the coach. I have not much more to say this night; I hope the quilt is remembered; and Frances must remember to send more biscuits, either when you come or

Lady Russell to Lord Russell-Message of Love.

soon after. I long to hear from you, my dearest soul, and truly think your absence already an age. I have no mind to my gold plate; here is no table to set it on ; but if that does not come, I desire you would bid Betty Forster send the silver glass I use every day. In discretion, I haste to bed, longing for Monday, I assure you. R. RUSSELL.

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From your

Past ten o'clock.--Lady Margaret says we are not glutted with company yet; you will let Northumberland know we are well; and Allie.

XII.-MESSAGE OF LOVE.

Lady Russell to Lord Russell.

STRATTON, 1681--Thursday morning.

A messenger bringing things from Ailesford this morning, gives me the opportunity of sending this by post. If he will leave it at Frimley, it will let you know we are all well; if he does not, it may let such know it as do not care, but satisfy no one's curiosity on any other point; for having said thus much, I am ready to conclude, with this one secret, first, that as thy precious self is the most endearing husband, I believe, in the world, so I am the most grateful wife, and my heart most gladly passionate in its returns. Now you have all for this time,

From your

R. RUSSELL.

Boy is asleep, girls singing abed. Lord Marquis sent a compliment yesterday, that he heard one of the girls had the measles; and if I would remove the rest, he would leave his house at an hour's warning. I hope you deliver my service to Mr. James.

For the Lord Russell, to be left at Frimley.

Joseph Spence to his Mother-Andrey, an Adept or Alchemist.

XIII.-ANDREY, AN ADEPT, OR ALCHEMIST--CURIOUS ANECDOTE OF GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS.

Joseph Spence to his Mother.

TURIN, August 25, 1740.

DEAR MOTHER: If the history of Florio was too melancholy for you (as I fear it was), I am now going to give you an account of some people that may be too mysterious for you, such as some persons will scarce believe ever were, or ever will be in the world; however, one of them I have very lately met with ; and I must give you an account of him whilst 'tis fresh in my memory.

Have you ever heard of the people called adepts? They are a set of philosophers superior to whatever appeared among the Greeks and Romans. The three great points they drive at is to be free from poverty, distempers, and death; and if you will believe them, they have found out one secret that is capable of freeing them from all three. There are never more than twelve of these men in the whole world at a time; and we have the happiness of having one of the twelve at this time at Turin. I am very well acquainted with him; and have often talked with him of their secrets, as far as he is allowed to talk to a common mortal, of them.

His name is Andrey, a Frenchman, of a genteel air, but with a certain gravity in his face that I never saw in any Frenchman before. The first time I was in company with him, as I found he had been a great traveller, I asked him whether he had ever been in England, and how he liked the country? He said that he had, and that he liked it more than any country he had ever been in. The last time I was in England, added he, there were eleven philosophers there. I told him I hoped there

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