amiable family. But of Mr.

Jones I can think anything and I beg you will do me the justice to believe that my feelings are not selfish. Why indeed, should I expect to escape their infamous calumnies? Truth, however, will force its way, and justice exterminate that nest of vipers. I wanted nothing from Mr. Crompton's generosity; but I had a claim on his justice, his honour.

"During the two representations of the Inconstant, I represented to him the state Mr. Dwyer was in, and implored him, out of respect to the audience, if not in pity to my terrors, to change the play. As to the libel on Mr. Dwyer, charged to me by Mr. Gold, I never, directly or indirectly, by words or by writing, demeaned myself by interfering in the most remote degree with so wretched a concern. I knew no editor, I read no newspapers, while in Dublin. The charge is false and libellous on me, published, I presume, through Mr. Gold's assistance. Under that view of the case, he will feel himself rather unpleasantly circumstanced should I call upon him either to prove or disavow his assertions. To be introduced any way into such a business, shocks and grieves me:

he might have pleaded for his companions without calumniating me; but, for the present, I shall drop an irksome subject, which has already given me more than ordinary uneasiness.

Yours, &c.,

"DORA JORDAN."

The calumniated lady seriously turned her thoughts in consequence to an action for defamation; but the peculiarity of her situation rendered that the very last thing that a sound adviser would recommend. To be sure, a generous nature like hers would feel itself prompted to shew her sons that they had no ground, for a moment, to impute to their mother what malignity had charged upon her. Her eldest son had been distinguishing himself in the Peninsular war, and his spirited and ardent mind was not, she thought, to be insulted in his parent, while he was applauded by his country.

But the complexion of juries was changeable— judges sometimes fastidious-counsel frequently scurrilous and brutal, and making a scripture of their briefs, pursuing their instructions to an ex

tent that confounds all evidence, tortures and disfigures all fact, and looking at their success for their client as the sole object of him who paid the fee-placard their coarse dexterity to secure retainers; and, like the professors of another black art, are contented to set to mercenary sale the immortal part of the profession, its devotion to

JUSTICE.

While she, therefore, was wisely decided against this sort of warfare, one of a different kind ere long excited all her sensibility-the great battle of Talavera. Her comforter, too, was at Brighton; but his attention to her feelings was amiably on the alert to relieve them.

"Bushy, Thursday, August 17th, 1809.

“I am very vain, but still I have judgment enough not to be fond of doing that which I know I do very ill. Still I feel pleasure in writing to you, who so kindly enter into all my feelings. You may easily guess what they were last Monday night, when I heard the account of the battle of Talavera. Five thousand killed! the Duke at Brighton! I went to bed, but not to sleep.

"The Duke set out at five o'clock on the Tuesday, to be the first to relieve me from my misery. I am mentally relieved; but it has torn my nerves to pieces. I have five boys, and must look forward to a life of constant anxiety and suspense. I am at present very ill.-Excuse this hasty scrawl, and believe me,

"Your ever obliged,

"DORA JORDAN."

254

CHAPTER XXIV.

Attachments of the Princes-Prince of Wales-Duke of York -Duke of Clarence-The picture of the felicity of BushyIts interruption-The scene at Cheltenham-And Mrs. Jordan's letters on the separation-The result in a generous provision for Mrs. Jordan and the children.

BEFORE I can possibly touch upon any disagreement between the Royal Duke and Mrs. Jordan, it seems necessary to look at the position of some other members of his illustrious house, and enquire how far it was calculated to fulfil the wishes of their venerable parent, their condition in the state, or the reasonable expectations of the public. As I consider the union of the Prince of Wales with his cousin, the Princess Caroline of Brunswick, to have disposed for ever of the question as to Mrs. Fitzherbert, nothing beyond an idle curiosity can exist, to know whether, with benevolent intention, in any form, a ceremony of marriage, known at the time, by both, to be invalid, passed between the parties. I always considered Horne Tooke's pam