Bell's COURT AND FASHIONABLE MAGAZINE, For AUGUST, 1807. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ILLUSTRIOUS LADIES. The Twentieth Number. HER GRACE THE DUCHESS OF RICHMOND. terest. CHARLOTTE LENOX, the present || independence at the hazard of his inDuchess of Richmond, is the third daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Gordon. Her Grace was married September 9th,|| 1789, to Colonel Lenox, now Duke of Richmond, by whom she has a very numerous family. Upon the death of the late Duke of Richmond, who died at an advanced period of life, and without legitimate issue, his title and fortune devolved upon his nephew, General Lenox, the present Duke. His Grace represented the county of Sussex in several Parliaments, and had always been warmly attached to the party and politics of Mr. Pitt-in truth, his attachment was of a nature more close and affectionate than political alliances generally are. He maintained his connection with Mr. Pitt at a time when his uncle, the late Duke, was extremely hostile to the conduct of that minister; and though General Lenox was chosen member for the county of Sussex almost solely upon the Richmond interest, he did not on that account hesitate to vote against the opinion of his uncle, or to preserve his Upon the dissolution of the late ministry, when the friends and adherents of Mr. Pitt were again called to the helm of power, the Duke of Richmond was not forgotten. An offer was immediately made to him of the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland. His Grace accepted the office, and his brother-in-law, the Duke of Bedford, was immediately recalled. It may here be remarked, that the recall of his Grace the Duke of Bedford was softened to his feelings as much as possible; and in being thus superseded by a near relation, the dignity might be considered as still continuing in the same family. The Duchess of Richmond accompanied her husband to Dublin a few months since; and is, of course, still in the Irish metropolis. As a public character we have little to say of her Grace. Her conduct is worthy of her rank, and her affability and good humour make her equally beloved and spected. re BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE PRESENT QUEEN Of Spain. the commission of a colonel in the life guards, and orders to repair to Madrid without delay. Almost immediately after the return of Louis f a major general in the army. He had not held that situation long, when he was raised to the rank of a lieutenant-general, and created a Grandee of Spain of the first class, under the title of Duke of Alcadia, the King granting him the royal domains of Alcadia, together with the revenues of the most valuable of the four mili LOUISA MARIA THERESA, Queen of Spain, was born a Princess of Parma on the 9th of December, 1751; she was married to his present Spanish Majesty, Charles IV. on the 4th of Sep- || the elevation of Manuel commenced A new tember, 1765, and is the mother of three sons appointment was created for him, that of adand three daughters, Had her royal consort thejutant-general of the life guards, with the rank character of his ancestor, Louis XIV. his people would have been happy, and the independence of his kingdom respected; he would not then have suffered himself to be ruled by a weak Princess, governed in her turn by a still weaker favourite, the imbecile upstart, the Prince of Peace; whose pernicious influence has brought disgrace on his Sovereign, and ruin on his fel-tary orders. His power soon became so con low-subjects. As this personage is by the impolitic partiality of the Queen become of great consequence in the actual concerns of Europe,ordinary favours from the court. Even the grand some particulars respecting is origin, the progress and the causes that have contributed to his advancement, must necessarily find a proper place in this sketch. Don Manuel Godoy de Alvarez, Prince of Peace, was born on the 8th of March, 1767, at Badajoz, in the province of Estramadura, of very obscure parents. Early in life he was sent to Madrid with his eldest brother Louis, to serve in the King's life guards as common soldiers, his family not having sufficient means to support them as cadets in the army. Don Manuel remained in the guards in obscurity until his brother's banishment. It took place in consequence of information received by the late King, which induced a suspicion that the Queen, then a Princess of Asturias, was particularly attached to him. So much was Charles III. alarmed by the intelligence, that he ordered Louis to be exiled from Madrid for life, and he was allowed but two hours to prepare for his departure. He was strictly enjoined never to approach within twenty five leagues of the court. He obtained, however, a company of the provincial militia in the place of his birth, with a cross of the military order of Alcantara. During his exile, which continued until the King's death in 1788, Louis had many valuable presents sent him by the Princess of Asturias. These presents were conveyed to him by Manuel, who was introduced to the Princess by the Duchess of Alva, under pretence of hearing him play and accompany on the guitar, which he did, as the Spaniards term it, con gracia. On the death of Charles III. the same courier who brought this news into the district where he resided, also brought him his pardon, with siderable, that the proudest Grandees found it necessary to solicit his influence to obtain even council of Castile, with the philosopher and patriot Count D'Aranda at its head, could make no stand against him. At the commencement of the war with the regicides of France in 1795, the pusillanimous opinion of the council of Castile was in favour of defensive operations; that the several passes of the Pyrennean mountains should be strongly guarded, and the army considerably augmented, before a thought should be entertained of sending any force into the French territory. But the Duke of Alcadia thought otherwise, and his opinion prevailed. The council of Castile was dissolved for presuming to resist it, and Count D'Aranda was banished to Saragossa. The war with France had, from its beginning, been badly conducted by Spain, and the critical situation of that country, in the year 1795, compelled the Duke of Alcadia to change his plan, and to think only of the means of repairing the injury the nation had sustained through his rashiness and folly. A peace was called for by the people, as they seemed to believe that it would heal all their wounds. Peace, upon any terms, appeared to the superficial mind of the Duke of Alcadia the best expedient that could be adopted, He, therefore, precipitately conclu led a treaty with regicide France equally disadvantageous and dishonourable. It left the Spanish monarchy at the mercy of the French republic, with a territory abridged, her resources considerably diminished, her army almost broken down, and her spirit nearly exhausted. The popular joy and gratitude, however, was extreme; and the King, instead of punishing an ignorant and presumptuous minister, conferred upou the peacemaker the title of Prince of Peace! The differences with Portugal in 1801 afford-Dot dismiss or disgrace, he removed by advance ed him a safe opportunity to indulge his new-ment into distant provinces, or sent them with born ambition for military honours and exploits. Accordingly, at the commencement of the campaign, he boldly took the command, well informed that the Portuguese had no means of resistance against the forces with which they were assailed by France and Spain at the same time. This generalissimo had never even witnessed an engagement; and, from the nature of his education, could have but a slight idea, if any, of the theory of military tactics. liberal pensions to reside in the country. He observed the same conduct with regard to the offices of the ministers of state; where the most inferior clerks, messengers, and attendants, as well as the chief secretaries, all are indebted to him for their places. Such is his jealousy and precaution, that nobody is admitted to the presence of their Spanish Majesties, who has not previously asked and received his approbation and consent. Like all other ignorant people he is governed by prejudices, and tormented by illiberal and superstitious notions. Every body who is not born a Spaniard he despises; and those who are not members of the Church of Rome, he hates under pretence of pitying them. He thinks that all valour, honour, and virtue, on the other side of the Pyrennean Mountains are artificial; and that all religion, not acknowledging a Roman Pontiff for its visible chief, and the Vicar of Christ upon earth, is not only condemnable and dangerous, but false. He makes no distinction between the faith of the Protestant, or the creed of the Mussulman. In his opinion they are both infidels, and as such, undeserving confidence in this world, and certain of damnation in the next. Perhaps there is not to be found, among the many incapable members of the cabinets of most Princes of Europe, a person inferior in talent, or any mental acquirements, to the Prince of Peace. But the exclusive favour of the Queen, who has procured him the favour of the King, supplies all defects, overlooks all errors, and bestows all advancements. His abilities are the object of universal ridicule among the enlightened men of Spain, and his character is very much despised by the ancient and more respectable part of the nobility. In opposition to their wishes, and to counteract their jealousy, he has made a vast addition of upstarts, like himself, to the noblesse of Spain. No man of learning has ever experienced his patronage, no merit has ever obtained his rewards, and no patriotism his protection. He is entirely surrounded by his own creatures, amongis whom there is not one of reputed or even common capacity. In providing for his relations, however, he has been nearly as extravagant as Napoleon Bonaparte. Every person who can claim the least affinity to him, either direct or indirect, lineal or collateral, is sure of a good place, whatever his abilities may be. The first offices in the country are occupied by his relations. His father, who has scarcely learnt the first elements of education, now fills one of the highest situations in Spain. His elder brother is Viceroy of Mexico and the West Indies, and his younger brother, Diego, who is almost literally an ideot, has been promoted to the rank of a captain-general in the army, with large pensions. It has surprised many that the Prince of Peace, with all his numerous deficiencies, has been able to preserve himself so long in favour at a court, which for centuries has furnished, by the capricious inconstancy of its choice with regard to favourites, materials both for romances and tales, for history, and for the drama. But during the Erst warmth of the friendship of the King, and of the attachment of the Queen, he took care to clear the court, from the first lord in waiting down to the lowest valet, of every person whom he suspected of envy at his elevation, or whose fidelity he doubted. Those he could or dared The confessor of the King and of the Queen also the confessor of the Prince of Peace, who generally every Saturday (but never less than twice a month) eases the burden of his mind before the reverend father, and receives his absolution. All persons who desire to continue in his good graces must imitate his devout example. His nurse, on whom he bestows a pension of four thousand dollars, resides with him at Madrid, as well as in the royal palaces in the country Her sole occupation is to interpret his dreams, she having, when he was a baby, from one of hers, predicted that he should become a great man! His first occupation every morning is to write down what he has dreamt in the night, and to give it to her, that he may have an explication before he goes to bed again. In his day dreams, during his nap after dinner, in the afternoon, he has no confidence nor she any power to comprehend them. He is so jealous of this precious talent, that he was near turning her off for having once gratified the curiosity of the Prin cess of Peace on this interesting subject. His annual revenue, from his numerous places and pensions, and from the many estates given him by royal bounty, amounts to five hundred and fifty thousand dollars, about one hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds. But as he is the master of the royal treasury, no other boundary is set to his expences or cupidity, but his own discretion. He is supposed to have placed |