the Duchess of Oldenburg was in England, to make her marry the Duke of C

; and for that reason, it is supposed, he kept a strict watch over her; which was very ridiculous ; but he thought that if she had gone into general society, she would have heard many things which might have given her more insight into matters than he wished her to have. The Regent literally took possession of the Duchess, and never permitted her to go any where or accept of any invitations, but those of royalties; saying it was not etiquette. Why then did His Royal Highness for so many years do otherwise himself? His people and his carriages attended her in all her expeditions, in order that she might see every thing that was worth seeing in London. Lady W said she thought the

Duchess of Oldenburgh's figure quite beautiful, and her manners perfect; and that Princess Charlotte had remarked, that she had never had an idea of what manner ought to be in a royal person till she had known the Duchess of Oldenburgh. I told Lady W that I knew the

* Other political reasons were assigned for the espionage maintained over the Russian Princess; but there are too many persons who might be offended by them, for these reasons to be detailed.

true reason of the Regent's tyranny over the Duchess of Oldenburgh, was to prevent the possibility of her visiting the poor Princess of Wales when she was in London. She could not go in the Prince's carriage to Connaught House; it would have been a breach of etiquette. I cannot say I think it speaks well for the Grand Duchess's nobleness or independence of mind, that she did not dare to order another carriage to convey her to the Princess of Wales. But she was

evidently glad of the excuse.

Friday, 4th of December.

I went to see a collection of pictures which were to be sold. They were indifferent enough. I mistook the lady for the maid; but she was very good-natured; made a great many apologies for being en déshabille; and invited me to her società whenever I chose to come. She appeared better informed than Italian women are in general. I admired also the good humour with which she forgave my rude blunder. How differently an English woman would have taken the matter. She would most likely have been exceedingly affronted and indignant.

I received a letter from the poor Princess to-day.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM HER ROYAL

HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF WALES.

"Pour le plan que vous m'annoncez, comme décidé de votre part, de me joindre au mois de il me paraît absolument impossible, car vers ce temps, je serais en Grèce, où probablement je passerai mon hiver. Au reste, j'ai pris comme il fallait mon parti, de me choisir une autre dame, au lieu de Lady Charlotte Campbell; une dame Milanese-une Comtesse Angelina Oldi-, Vénitienne* et son époux ; qui par des malheurs de politiques et de finance, a été réduite à chercher une occupation. Elle est jeune, douce, bonne, et d'une très bonne santé. J'ai fait aussi des connaissances très intéressantes pendant mon Voyage (illegible) (illegible) l'Abbé Mezofanti, bibliothécaire à Bologna, qui m'a promis de m'accompagner en Grèce; il possède le grand talent de parler quarante-quatre différentes langues, mortes et vivantes, en perfection, comme on m'assure. Au mois de je me propose de me mettre en route et de m'embarquer à Gène, qu'ainsi mon retour vers l'Italie est très in

*One must suppose Her Royal Highness meant née Vénitienne, or vice versa, as she could not be both a Milanese and a Venetian.

certaine, et pour une période très éloignée; au reste, personne n'est mieux informée que vous-même des différents devoirs que vous avez journellement à rendre, de sorte que ce serait injuste à vousmême, et pour ainsi dire, pour moi de vous engager à me suivre dans mes différentes poursuites ―et puis les arts et les sciences que j'aime si avidement à cultiver, n'ayant plus d'autre but dans ce bas monde que de voyager ainsi-c'est ma seule consolation ayant trouvé parmi les êtres vivans si peu de satisfaction et d'attachement, que les morts, et leur immortalité, me doivent tenir lieu de ce que ce monde ingrat m'a si injustement privé. Rendez-moi, au reste, la justice de me croire pour la vie votre sincère amie.

"C. P."

P.S." Le Maréchal Bellegrade et le Marquis de Ghisilien, m'ont choisi cette dame, la Contessa Oldi."

I who am well acquainted with the Princess, know in what a wounded spirit she wrote the above melancholy, yet absurd letter. She is evidently much piqued at Lady Charlotte Campbell's having refused to continue in Her Royal Highness's service. But what a choice she has made for her new attendants! Nothing new

-S,

can be said or written on this painful subject; but I feel sincerely sorry for the poor woman. In the evening I went to the Duchess of Dwhere people were all laughing at the Duchess of Gs ignorance of the French language. She is reported to have said to the box-keeper at a theatre not long ago at Paris, "Ne laissez aucun Anglais entrer dans ma boite." It is also said her Grace wished Beauharnais to marry her daughter, Lady Georgina. What an odd wish for a great English lady to form for her child! When I heard them all laughing at the Duchess last night, I could not help thinking how mean people are; since, if they had been invited to a party at her house, they would have flocked to it with eagerness, just as they used to do in England, though it was the fashion to quiz her

assemblies.

Sir Joseph Cy was wont to ask, "Are you going to Scotch collops to night?" Yet he was the first to go thither. Lady observed

when the Duchess of

was under discus

sion, "Well, let those laugh that win." The Duchess has married all her daughters greatly, and she is one of the most powerful women of her time.*

*Since that period, another of the Duchess of daughters has made a great alliance, and like her sisters, it is