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political matters, and rejoices to fee upon the throne a queen poffeffed of all the charms of her fex, and confining her ambition within the practice of its vir

tues.

"With all her accomplishments, the was not so happy at first as to captivate the inclination and confidence of her fpoufe, then prince of Sweden. Her countenance and manners, at her first arrival in that country, bore too vifible marks of the constraint and feverity of her education under the queen dowager of Denmark, and the reception the met with from the queen of Sweden, her mother-in-law, was not at all encou raging. She had alfo about her perfon fome Danish domeftics, who, to have her entirely in their power, infpired her with continual fear and diffidence, which, naturally caufed a referve and coldness in her behaviour, and totally removed the prince's affection.

"She led a very retired life as prins cefs; but as foon as her husband had mounted the throne, and wished to fee the court more frequented than it had been during the reign of his father, and had fignified his defire to the queen, that he should appear oftener in public, and receive the nobility into her company, the readily obeyed, and aps peared as content as the happiest queen in the world. She was the more a fuf. ferer, as the really loved the king; but thinking herself flighted, pride would not permit her to betray the fecret of her heart. She bore her difgrace with patience and refignation for feveral years, until an accident made her better known to her royal fpoute, and caufed a perfect reconciliation.

"The king had made a voyage into Finland, and fent an exprefs with let ters to the royal family, to let them know of his fafe arrival. As the exprefs had orders to return as foon as poffible, they would all write to the king by the return of the meffenger; and the young duchefs of Sudermania having finished her letter, fhe went to the queen to tell her that the courier grew impatient at waiting, as no one elfe daied to interrupt her majesty while the was writing. The queen had juft finished, and was going to give her letter to her Danish gentlewoman to write it fair, as the ever used to do with all

her letters; but the duchefs fnatched it up and ran away with it, faying the king fhould owe great obligation to her for having, by her means, a letter writ ten by the queen's own hand. She fealed it up with her own letter, and sent it away. The king, who had never feen the queen's hand-writing before, was surprised and highly charmed with the contents. There was a delicacy of fentiment and a gentleness in the expreffions he had never found before in her · letters. He read it aloud to fome of his favourites with great fatisfaction; and after having finished, he asked them, with a fort of triumph, what they thought of the letter? From the tender concern the queen expreffes for my health and welfare,' faid he, I fhould almoft have the vanity to believe that he loved me. A young gentleman prefent had the boldness to afk, if his majefty had never known that before? The king startled at the queftion, and anfwered, with a ferious look, that he had fo many proofs to the contrary, that he never could perfuade himself the had for him any real affection. The gentleman anfwered, that if his ma jefty would permit him to reply, he dared to affert that all fuch ideas were fallacious, and put forth by persons who had an intereft in creating divifions in the royal family; and upon the king's asking him how he could be fo certain of the truth of his affertion, he frankly owned, that he was upon terms of the greateft intimacy with a lady who had a good share in the queen's confidence, and it was by that means he came by his knowledge of her mas jefty's fentiments; and that it now depended upon the king to affsure himself of their reality whenever he pleased. The king, having a great opinion of the character of the gentleman, was almoft perfuaded; and in confequence he wrote a letter to the queen, full of the warmest expreffions of efteem and friendship, affuring her he should think himself happy if at his return he might be convinced of the reality of the fentiments expreffed in her letter: in the mean time, he begged the favour of having another letter written by her own hand, that he might experience again the pleafure which the former had given him. The queen, agreeably

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each other's fentiments: the king conducted the queen to her apartments, and for a long time afterwards he had no other bedchamber than hers. The Danish gentlewoman, being convicted of having altered the queen's letters, was difmiffed from her service, and fent out of the kingdom; the young gentleman who had undertaken the queen's defence, was rewarded by many rich prefents from her majefty; and the king, as well upon that confideration as in refpect to his merit, has fince raifed his fortune in an eminent degree."

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The prince royal of Sweden is allowed to excel all the youths of his age, of whatever rank or nation. He could maintain a converfation with fenators and foreign ambassadors when only feven years old: and within thefe two years he has been examined in the prefence of the deputies of the four or ders, in a manner highly honourable to himself, and flattering to his royal parents.

THE LIFE OF THE LATE JOHN ELWES, ESQ. BY EDWARD TOPHAM, ESQ. 35. RIDGEWAY. NOTHING has hitherto been faid or written of the avarice and meannefs of that race of human beings denominated Mifers, which is not included in the character of Mr. Elwes. Indeed, these authentic Memoirs-" which form an epoch in the eighteenth centuryoutdo all that might be expected from the labours of a fertile imagination, ftriving to debafe mankind, by afcribing to them a vice which cannot naturally gratify the caprices of the prefent moment, nor extend pleasure or comfort to the future one. That drofs which a true philofopher, or, indeed, a rational member of fociety, looks on with in

as we are the various pallions which agitate mankind-to infinuate fufpi

cion.

The failings which afflicted Mr. Elwes, were of family origin, his mother having ftarved herself to death, although left, by her husband, near one hundred thousand pounds. But the uncle of Mr. Elwes, fir Harvey, it feems, was the most perfect picture of penury that ever exifted and as the nephew, in the early years of his life, was not altogether of a faving turn, he found it neceffary to affume, what in more advanced years he practifed in reality, that he might please his uncle, and inherit his poffeffions. As we mean to felect a few particulars relating to Mr. Elwes, it will not be neceffary to detail the life of his uncle; efpecially as the reader will be left to gather the character of fir Harvey, by fuppofing him to be much worse than his nephewand this, indeed, the anecdotes related by the editor, seem to confirın.

"The acquaintances which Mr. Elwes formed at Weftminfter-school, and at Geneva, together with his own large fortune, all confpired to introduce him into whatever fociety he bef liked. He was admitted a member of the club at Arthur's, and various other clubs of that period. And, as fome proof of his notoriety at that time, as a man of deep play-Mr. Elwes, the late lord Robert Bertie, and fome others, are noticed in a fcene in the Adventures of a Guinea, for the frequency of their midnight orgies. Few men, even from his own acknowledgment, had played deeper than himself: and with fuccef more various. I remember hearing him fay; he had once played, two days and a night without intermiffion and the room being a finall one, the party wer nearly up to the knees in cards. H loft fome thousands at that fitting. The late duke of Northumberland was of th

"Mr. Elwes, after fitting up a whole night at play for thoufands, with the molt fashionable and profligate men of the time, amidst fplendid rooms, gilt fophas, wax lights, and waiters attend ant on his call, would walk out about four in the morning, not towards home, but into Smithfield, to meet his own cattle, which were coming to market from Thaydon-hall, a farm of his in Effex! There would this fame man, forgetful of the fcenes he had juft left, stand, in the cold or rain, bartering with a carcafe butcher for a filling! Some times, when the cattle did not arrive at the hour he expected, he would walk on in the mire to meet them; and, more than once, has gone on foot the whole way to his farm without ftopping, which was feventeen miles from London.

"On the death of his uncle, Mr. Elwes then came to refide at Stoke in Suffolk. Bad as was the manfion-house he found here, he left one ftill worfe behind him at Marcham, of which the late colonel Timms, his nephew, ufed to mention the following proof. A few days after he went thither, a great quantity of rain fell in the night-he had not been long in bed before he felt himfelf wet through; and putting his hand out of the clothes, found the rain was dropping through the ceiling upon the bed he got up and moved the bed; but he had not lain long before he found the fame inconvenience. Again he got up, and again the rain came down. At length, after pushing the bed quite round the room, he got into a corner where the ceiling was better fecured, and he slept till morning. When he met his uncle at breakfast, he told him what had happened- Aye! aye!' faid the old man, I don't mind it myself; but to those who do, that's a nice cormer in the rain!"

The editor's account of this gentleman's buntfman is fomewhat interefting. "This famous huntfman might have fixed an epoch in the hiftory of fervants; for, in a morning, getting up at four o'clock, he milked the cows -he then prepared breakfast for Mr. Elwes, or any friends he might have with him then, flipping on a green coat, he hurried into the table, faddled the horses, got the hounds out of the

kennel, and away they went into the field. After the fatigues of hunting, he refreshed himself by rubbing down two or three horfes as quickly as he could; then running into the house to lay the cloth, and wait at dinner; then nurrying again into the stable to feed the horfes-diverfified with an interlude of the cows again to milk, the dogs to feed, and eight hunters to litter down for the night. What may appear extraordinary, the man lived for fome years; though his master used often to call him an idle dog!' and say, 'he wanted to be paid for doing nothing!'

"That Mr. Elwes was not troubled with too much natural affection, the following little anecdote will teftify. One day he had put his eldest boy upon a ladder, to get fome grapes for the table, when, by the ladder flipping, he fell down, and hurt his fide against the end of it. The boy had the precaution to go up into the village to the barber, and get blooded: on his return, he was asked where he had been, and what was the matter with his arm? He told his father that he had got bled.— • Bled! bled!' faid the old gentleman ; but what did you give?'-' A fhilling,' anfwered the boy. 'Pfha!' returned the father, 'you are a blockhead! never part with your blood!`

"All earthly comforts he voluntarily denied himself: he would walk home in the rain in London, sooner than pay a fhilling for a coach: he would fit in wet cloaths, fooner than have a fire to dry them: he would eat his provifions in the laft ftage of putrefaction, fooner than have a fresh joint from the butchers; and he wore a wig for above a fortnight, which I saw him pick up out of a rut in a lane where we were riding. This was the last extremity of laudable economy: for, to all appearance, it was the caft-off wig of fome beggar!

"The extent of his property in houfes foon grew fo great, that he became, from calculation, his own infurer; and he stood to all his loffes by conflagrations. He foon, therefore, became a philofopher upon fire; and I remember well, on a public-house belonging to him, being confumed, that he faid, with great compofure- Well, well, there is no great harm done;

the

the tenant never paid me; and I should not have got quit of hun fo quickly in any other way."

At the age of fixty, Mr. Elwes be came member of parliament for Berkfhire; and he fat in the house twelve years, and might have continued longer, had not his own exceffive avarice in duced his refignation. His political, was as extraordinary, as his private conduct; one day, he voted with lord North, the next with Mr. Fox, to fhew his penetration and independence; but, not as a proof of either, he declared in favour of the ever-memorable coalition.

When, in returning from the House of Commons, Mr. Elwes was not lucky énough to get a gratis lift from a brother member, he conftantly walked home on foot." A circumftance happened to him on one of thefe evenings, - which gave him a whimlical opportu nity of difplaying the difregard of his own perfon. The night was very dark, and hurrying along, he went with fuch violence against the pole of a fedan chair, which he did not fee, that he cut both his legs very deeply. As ufual, he thought not of any affiftance: but colonel Timms, at whofe houfe he then was, in Orchard-street, infifted upon fome one being fent for. Old Elwes at length fubmitted, and an apothecary was called in, who immediately began to expatiate on the bad confequences of breaking the skin-the good fortune of his being fent for-and the peculiar bad appearance of Mr. Elwes's wound.' Very probably,' faid old Elwes, but Mr. I have one thing to fay to you-in my opinion my legs are not much hurt; now you think they arefo I will make this agreement: I will take one leg, and you fhall take the other; you fhall do what you please with your's, and I will do nothing to mine; and I will wager your bill that my leg gets well the first.'

"I have frequently heard him mention, with great triumph, that he beat the apothecary by a fortnight!

"Nearly at the fame time that Mr. Elwes loft his feat, he loft that famous fervant of all work'-compared to whom, Scrub was indolence itfelf. He died, as he was following his mafter, upon a hard trotting horfe, into BerkVOL. II.

fhire, and he died empty and poor; for his yearly wages were not above four pounds; and he had fafted the whole day on which he expired. The life of this extraordinary domeftic, certainly verified a faying which Mr. Elwes often ufed, and the faying was this- If you keep one fervant, your work is done; if you keep two, it is half done; but if you keep three, you may do it yourself.".

Mr. Elwes had been accompanied to Newmarket by Mr. Spurling, of Dyneshall. "When they began their journey home, the evening was grown very. dark and cold, and Mr. Spurling rode on fomewhat quicker; and on going through the turnpike, by the Devil's Ditch, he heard Mr. Elwes calling to him with great eagernefs. On returning before he had paid, Mr. Elwes faid

Here! here! follow me! this is the beft road!' In an inftant he faw Mr. Elwes, as well as the night would permit, climbing his horfe up the preci-, pice of the ditch. Sir,' faid Mr. Spurling, I can never get up there." 'No danger at all!' replied old Elwes

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but if your horfe be not fafe, lead him! At length, with great difficulty, and with one of the horfes falling, they mounted the ditch, and then, with not lefs toil, got down on the other fide. When they were fafe landed on the plain, Mr. Spurling thanked Heaven for their escape. Aye,' faid old Elwes, you mean from the turnpike. Very right; never pay a turnpike if you can avoid it!' In proceeding on their journey, they came to a very nar row road; at which Mr. Elwes, notwithstanding the cold, went as flowly as poffible. On Mr. Spurling withing to quicken their pace, old Elwes obferved that he was letting his horfe feed on fome hay that was hanging on the fides of the hedge- Befides,' added. he, it is nice hay, and you have it for nothing."

In his early days, Mr. Elwes had been a gamefter; and when he quitted parliament, he again indulged in that' kind of recreation. At the Mount Coffee-house he one day loft a large fum, fuppofed, by the editor, to have been three thousand pounds; and yet the travelling provifion of this man, for fifty miles, would not exceed two hard

boiled

boiled eggs, which he constantly carried in his pocket.

When retired to his feat at Stoke, "to fave fire, he would walk about the remains of an old greenhouse, or fit, with a fervant, in the kitchen. During the harveft he would amufe himself with going into the fields to glean the corn, on the grounds of his own tenants; and they used to leave a little more than common, to please the old gentleman, who was as eager after it as any pauper in the parish.

"In the advance of the feafon, his morning employment was to pick up any ftray chips, bones, or other things, to carry to the fire, in his pocket-and he was one day furprifed by a neighbouring gentleman in the act of pulling down, with fome difficulty, a crow's neft, for this purpofe. On the gentleman wondering why he gave himfelf this trouble Oh, Sir,' replied old Elwes, it is really a fhame that these creatures fhould do fo. Do but fee what waste they make! They don't care how extravagant they are!'

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"As no gleam of favourite paffion, or any ray of amufement broke through this gloom of penury, his infatiable defire of faving was now become uniform and fyftematic. He ufed ftill to ride about the country on one of his brood mares-but then he rode her very economically; on the foft turf adjoining the road, without putting himself to the expence of fhoes-as he obferved, The turf was so pleasant to a horfe's foot! And when any gentleman called to pay him a vifit, and the boy who attended in the ftables was profufe enough to put a little hay before his horfe, old Elwes would flily steal back into the ftable, and take the hay very carefully away.

"His hoes he never would fuffer to be cleaned, left they should be worn out the fooner.

"When he went to bed, he would put five or ten guineas into a bureau, and then full of his money, after he had retired to reft, and fometimes in the middle of the night, he would come down to fee if it was there. The irritation of his mind was unceasing. He thought every body was extravagant and when fome one was talking to him one day of the great wealth of

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old Mr. Jennings, and that they had feen him that day in a new carriageAye, aye,' faid old Elwes, he will foon fee the end of his money."

"It will be no exaggeration, to fay that Mr. Jennings is fuppofed, by every man of bufinefs who knows him, to be worth a million.

"The scene of mortification, at which Mr. Elwes was now arrived, was all but a denial of the common neceffaries of life: and, indeed, it might have admitted a doubt, whether or not, if his manors, his fifh-ponds, and fome grounds, in his own hands, had not furnished a fubfiftence, where he had not any thing actually to buy, he would not, rather than have bought any thing, have starved; ftrange as this may appear, it is not exaggerated.-He, one day, during this period, dined upon the remaining part of a moor-hen, which had been brought out of the river by a rat! and at another, eat an undigested part of a pike, which a larger one had fwallowed, but had not finished, and which were taken in this state in a net. At the time this laft circumftance happened, he difcovered a ftrange kind of fatisfaction, for he faid to me aye! this was killing two birds with one ftone !' in the room of all comment-of all moral-let me fay, that, at this time, Mr. Elwes was perhaps worth nearly eight hundred thousand pounds!

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"The fpring of 1786, Mr. Elwes paffed alone, at his folitary house at Stoke; and, had it not been for fome little daily fcheme of avarice, would have paffed it without one confolatory moment. His temper began to give way apace: his thoughts unceasingly ran upon money! money! money!— and he faw no one, but whom he imagined was deceiving and defrauding him.

"As, in the day, he would now allow himself no fire, he went to bed as foon as day clofed, to fave candle, and had began to deny himself even the pleasure of fleeping in sheets.

"The fummer of 1788, Mr. Elwes paffed at his houfe in Welbeck-street, London, and he paffed that fummer without any other fociety than that of two maid fervants, for he had now given up the expence of keeping any male domeftic. His chief employment

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