An ACCOUNT of Mrs. FITZHERBERT.

[With an ELEGANT ENCRAVING of Her.]

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mation concerning such persons as may 1780. He had been a spectator of the de. at any time become the objects of publick vaftations made at Lord Mansfield's house attention, we shall, for the entertainment of in Bloomsbury-square, and heated himself cur readers in the prefent month, leave both extremely; in which state returning home, the great and the learned, to pay our respects he imprudently went into a cold bath, which to a lady, whose fame is, in a great measure, produced a fever chat killed him. Mrs. Fitzowing to her personal accomplishments ; - herbert roon afterwards went abroad, but whose calents are spoken of in terms of high having lately been noticed hy a Great Personadmiration ; and who may hereafter furnish age, she has appeared in the gay world with materials for a few pages in the works of the remarkable iplendour and diflinction. In English historian.

what character she is to be considered, wheThe caprices of youth, the influence of ther as wife or widow, conjecture alone can beauty, the charms of wit, or the neglect of' be exerted. Many vague and improbable prudential rules, when opposed to an irre- rumours have been circulated, many improliftible and all-fubduing paffion, are themes babilities confidently aflerted. With much upon which we might Jilate for several pages. falsehood there is likely to be some small The considerations arising from such subjects portion of truth ; but in what degree as we will, however, hardly escape the observation' presume not to be at present fully acquainted of even the most absent reader. In the walks with, we hall not venture to misleal our of private life, we fee a great portion of the readers with the reveries of credulity or the unhappiness of mankind flow from these hardiness of misinformation. If it should sources. In publick life, they have over- appear that the Publick are interested in turned empires, deluged kingdoms with the domestic concerns of any person's private blood, and entailed misery on millions of the life, we doubt nut but the wisdom of the human species.

great council of the nation will be properly Mrs. Fitzberbert is the daughter of Walter' employed in investigating truth and filencing Smith, Esq; formerly of Tonge Castle, in falsehood, in order for the prevention of fue Shropshire, and niece of Sir Edward Smith of ture mischief. Should it, however, he found Acton Barnell in the same county, of Lord that it noways imports the community at large, Sefton, and of Mrs. Errington of the Stable we shall not hesitate to pronounce any further Yard St. James's. She was born in October inquisition to be both unnecessary, but impera 1755, and married, first, John Weld, Esq; tinent; and under that impresiion shall of Lulworth Castle, in the county of Dorset, until another opportunity (if any such thall a widower ; who dying, the united herself offer) postpone any further confiderations on in marriage with Fitzherbert, Esq; the present subject. of Swinnerton, in Staffordshire, a gentleman

An ACCOUNT of the Celebrated COMTE DE CAGLIOSTRO. A MONG the great variety of personages “ My infant years were paffed in the city

of different ranks and sexes involved of Medina, in Arabia, where I was brought , that hitherto mysterious business of the up by the name of Acharat, which name I famous necklace ; that extraordinary charac. have constantly borne during my travels in ter the celebrated . Comte de Cagliostro, Africa and Asia. I had apartments in the who has so long perplexed the inquisitive and palace of the Mufti Salahaym. I perfectly curious part of mankind, claims immediate recollect that I had four persons immediately attention. We fhail therefore, to gratify our about me; a governor, between fifty and readers' curiosity, give the following account fixty years of age, named Althotas, and three of him, extracted from a memorial published servants; a white one, who was my valet-deat Paris in his behalf, and fnce printed in the chambre, and two blacks, one of whom Hague Gazette. It may not, however, be was constantly with me night and day. amiss previously to mention one or two of the “ My governor always cold me, that. I many conjectures that have arisen concerning was left an orphan at three months old; that his origin, and in their turns obtained belief. my parents were Christians, and nobly de

One of these supposes him to be the son of fcended ; but their names, and the place of the late Grand Master of Malta, Pinto, by a my nativity, he inviolably concealed from me, lady of distinction, who about 37 years ago Some words which he accidentally let drop, was captured with several other young ladies bas made me suspect that I was born at Malin a Turkish pleasure-boat by a Maltese gal. ta ; but this circumstance I have never been ley, and on her arrival at Malta had an intrigue able to ascertain. with the Grand Master. Soon after, by the me- “ Althotas, whose name excites in me diation of the French court, the ladies re- the tenderest emotion, treated me with all covered their liberty, and returned to their the affection and care of a father ; he took a parents, where this unfortunate fair-one was pleasure in cultivating the disposition I disa delivered of a son ; which fo enraged her fa. covered for the sciences. He, I may with ther, that he would have destroyed the child, truth affirm, knew them all, from the moft had the not found means to have him con- abstruse to those of mere amusement. La veyed away to a place of safety, and herself botany and physicI made the greatest progress. soon after died either by poison or of a bro- “ He taught me to worship God, to lose ken heart.

and affilt my neighbours, and to respect aniAnother suppofition, which carries rather versally religion and the laws. nore the appearance of truth with it, is, “ We both dressed like muffulmen, and that the Comte is descended from the Im- conformed outwardly to the Mahomedan wur. perial family of COMNENES, who long reigned thip; but the true religion was engraven in independent over the Chriftian empire of

our hearts. Trebilond, but at length became tributary to “ The Mufti visited me often, alsvays the Turks. The Comte, it is said, was treated me with great kindness, and feemed orn in the capital of that empire, and is the to entertain a high regarul for my governor. only survivmg son of the Prince who about the latter taught me most of the languages of 35 years ago twayed that precarious sceptre. the East. At that period, the Comte being nearly three “ I was now in my twelfth year, and be years old, a revolution took place, in which came desirous of travelling. The wish to be. the reigning Prince was massacred by the in- hold the wonders he frequently conversed surgents, and this his fon, faved by some trusty with me of, grew fu strong upon me, that friend, was carried to Medina, where the Medina, and the amusements of my age, Cherif took him under his protection, and grew insipid and tasteless. with unparalleled generosity had him brought “ Althotas at length informed me, that up in the religion of bis parents.---This we were going to begin our travels; a caramuch for conjecture : let us now hear what van was prepared, and, after taking leave of the party bimtelf says.

the Mufti, who was pleased to express his “ As to the place of my nativity, or who regret at parting with us in the most obliging were the parents that gave me birth, I con- terms, we set out. not speak positively. From a variety of cir- « On our arrival at Mecca, we alighted cumstances, I have entertained lume doubts, at the palace of the Cherif, who is the fove. and the reader will probably join in my suf- reign of Mecca, and of all Arabia, and always picions on that head. But I repeai it, that one of the descendants of Mahoget. I here all my researches have only tended to give changed my dress for a more splendid one me some exalted, but at the fame time vague than I had hitherto worn. On the third day and incertain notions concerning m; ta. after our arrival, I was introduced by my. mily.

governor to the Cherif, who received me i the most affectionate manner. On seeing this " I next spent three years in visiting the prince, my whole frame was inexpressibly principal places in Asia and Africa. agitated; the most delicious tears I ever Thed “ In 1766, I arrived, accompanied by gułhed from my eyes; and I observed that he my governor and three servants, at the with difficulty restrained his. This is a pe- Idand of Rhodes, where I embarked on riod of my life which I can never reflect on board a French Tip bound to Malta, without being most sensibly affected,

“ Notwithstanding the general rule for all " I remained at Mecca three years, during vessels coming from the Levant to perform which time not a day passed without my be- quarantine, I obtained Icave to go on shore ing admitted to the presence of the Cherif. the second day, and was lodged in the palace

“My gratitude increased every hour with of the grand-master, Pinto, in apartments his attachment. I frequently observed his eyes contiguous to the Laboratory. rivetted upon me; and then turned up to “ The Grand-master, in the first instance, Heaven, highly expressive of pity and tender- requested the Chevalier D'Aquino, of the ness. On my return:l was constantly thought- princely house of Caramanico, to accompany ful, a prey to fruitless curiosity. I was afraid and new me every thing remarkable on the to question my governor, who always treated inland. me, on such occasions, with great severity,

“ Here I first affumed the European dress, as though it had been criminal in me to wish and the name of Count Cagliostro, and faw, to discover my parents, and the place of my without surprise, my governor Althotas apbirth.

pear in the habit and insignia of the order of “At night I used to talk with the Black Malta *. who Depe in my chamber, but could never “ The Chevalier D'Aquino introduced me get him to betray his trust. If I mentioned to the chiefs, or Grand Croix of the order, my parents, he became filent as the grave. and among others to the Bailli de Ronan, the One night when I was more importunate present Grand-Master, Little did I then than usual, he told me, " that if ever I left imagine that, in the course of twenty years, a Mecca I should be exposed to the greatest I mould be dragged to the Bastile for being * dangers, and, above all, cautioned me honoured with the friendship of a Prince of « against Trebifond.”

that name! * My desire of travelling, however, was “ I have every reason to suppose that the fuperior to my apprehensions. I grew tired Grand Master was not unacquainted with of the dull uniformity of my life at the court my real origin. He often mentioned the of the Cherif.

Cherif and the City Trebifond to me, but « One day when I was alone, the Prince would never enter into particulars on that entered my apartment ; so great a favour subject. amazed me. He clasped me to his bosom “ He treated me always with the utmost with unusual tenderness, exhorted me never attention, and promised me the most rapid to cease adoring the Almighty, assuring me rise if I would take the vows of the orthat, if I perfifted in serving him faithfully, der ; but my taste for travelling, and my atI should be ultimately happy, and know my cachment to the practice of physic, made me destiny.-Then bedewing my face with his reject these offers, not less generous than hotears, he said, “ Adieu, thou unfortunate nourable. * child of nature !" — These words, and the “ It was at Malta that I had the misfor. affecting manner in which they were spoken, tune to lose my best friend, my master, the will ever remain indelibly impressed on my wisest and most learned of men, the venerable mind.

Althotas. In luis last moments, grasping my “ I never saw this prince afterwards. hand, he with difficulty said, “ My friend, A caravan was expressly provided for me, experience will soon convince you of the and I bid an eternal adieu to Mecca.

truth of what I have constantly taught « I began my travels by visiting Egypt, you." and its famous pyramids, which exhibit to “ The place where I had lost a friend a fuperficial observer nothing more than enor. who had been to me like a father, foon be. mous masses of marble and granite. I çul- came insupportable ; I requested, therefore, tivated the acquaintance of the Ministers of of the Grand Master, that he would permic the different temples, who admitted me into me to quit the Illanıl, in order to make the places unvisited by, and unknown to com- cour of Europe. He consented with remon travellers.

luctance, but made me promise to return to The Maltele Ambaff.ulor at Verl.iilles has fince the above publication, by order of the Grand Master, declared the above allertion, and that of the dispensation of quarantine, to be zese and grooudleis.

Malca,

Malta. · The Chevalier D'Aquino ivas 10 of Alsace, he was prevailed upon to employ obliging as to accompany me, and fupply mý his medical abilities for the good of the public. wants during our journey,

Here he was libelled, he says, by some ob“ In company with this gentleman I first fcure scribblers ; but the author of a work, vifted Sicily, where he introduced me to the entitled “ Lettres fur la Suisse" (to whom he first people of the country. We next visited tefers the reader), did him justice, and paid the different INands of the Archipelago, and due homage to truth. He then appeals to having again crossed the Mediterranean, ar- the Clergy, Military Officers, the Apothecary rived at Naples, the birth-place of my com- who supplied him with drugs, to the Keepers panion.

of the different Gaols in which he relieved a , u From thence I proceeded alone to Rome, number of poor prisoners, to the Magiftrates, with letters of credit on the banking-house and the public at large, to declare, whether of the Sieur Bellone.

he ever gave offence, or was guilty of any “ I determined to remain here incog. ; action that militated either against the laws, but one morning whilft I was fhut up in my against morality, or religion. apartment, endeavouring to improve myself Some little time after his arrival at Strafin the Italian language, the Secretary of Car- burg, the Cardinal de Rohan signified to him dinal Orfino was announced, who came to that he wished to be acquainted with him. request I would wait on his eminence. I He at first supposed the prince to be actuated accordingly repaired immediately to his pa. by mere curiosity, and therefore declined the lace. The Cardinal received me with the invitation. But being afterwards informed greatest politeness, invited me often to his that he was attacked with an asthma, and table, and procured me the acquaintance of wished to consult him, he immediately went feveral Cardinals and Roman Princes, parti- to the episcopal palace, and gave the Cardjo cnlarly the Cardinals York and Ganganelli, zal his opinion, afterwards Pope Clement XIV. The Pope In the year 1781 the Cardinal honoured Rezzonico, who then filled the Papal Chair, him with a visit, to consult him about the having expressed a desire of seeing me, I had Prince de Soubire, who was afflicted with a the honour of repeated conferences with his mortification, and prevailed upon him to acHoliness.

company him to Paris ; but on his arrival there, “ In the year 1770, in my 2 24 year, for- he refused to visit the Prince till his Physia tune procured me the acquaintance of a young cians Mould declare him past cure; and lady of quality, Serafina Felichiani: she was when the faculty declared him to be on the hardly out of her infancy ; her dawning mending band, persisted in his resolution of charms kindled in my bolom a fame, which not seeing him, “being unwilling to reap sixteen years marriage have only served to the glory of a cure, which could not be ascristrengthen.

bed to me.” -Matchless modesty ! “ Having neither time nor inclination to He staid in Paris thirteen days, employed write a voluminous work, I fall only men- from five in the morning till midnight in tion those persons to whom I have been visiting patients; and then returned to Stralknown in my travels thro' all the kingdoms burg, where the good he did produced mao of Europe. Most of them are till in being. ny libels against him, in which he was styled I challenge their testimony aloud. Let them Antichriíl.-The Wandering Jew. The Man declare whether ever I was guilty of any ac- of 1,400 years old, &c. At length, worn-out tion disgraceful to a man of honour. Let with ill usage, he determined on leaving the them fav if ever I sued for a favour, if ever place, when two letters, one from the I cringed for the protection of these Sove. Comte de Vergennes, the other from the reigns who were desirous of seeing me ; let Marquis de Miromenil, keeper of the Great them, in short, declare, whether at any time, Seal, to the chief magistrate of Strasburg, in or in any place, I had any other object in his behalf, induced him to change his mind. yiew than to cure the sick, and to relieve The tranquility which these ministerial letthe indigent, without fee or reward."

ters procured him was but of short duration, The Comte here gives a list of very re- and he again determined to quit Strasburg, pectable persons with whom he says he was and retire out of the reach of the malevoacquainted at the different Courts of Europe ; lence of envy. An account he at this time and goes on to observe, that, from a desire of received of the Chevalier de Aquino being not being known, he fiequently afsumed dif- dangerously ill at Naples, haftened his deferent names, such as those of Comte Starat, parture for that place, where he arrived onComte Fenix, Marqu:s D'Anna, &c. ly in time to receive the laft farewel of his

He arrived at Stroburgh on the 19th of unfortunate friend, September 1-80, uliere, at the earneft soli To avoid being importuned to resume the citations of the inhabitants and ide nobility practice of physic, he resolved to take a trip

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