whilst our courier was bargaining for a boat to ferry us over to Laveno, the elements were busily employed in "concocting" a bourasque, nowhere so suddenly "got up" as upon these northern lakes of Italy.

In heaps on heaps, the doubling vapour sails,

Along the loaded sky;

And mountains whistle to the murm'ring floods :

when down came a sheet of hail-up got the waters-the awnings of the boat flapped; men were seen rushing to secure their boats; the women to their stalls, to protect their wares-fruits were consigned to their baskets; fluttering and gaudy laces and ribbons were snatched from the frames; a "dorsal" box, belonging to an itinerant vendor of pinchbeck wares, was capsized; the colonnades soon became flooded; the shores, from the town and the mountain, poured forth positive rivers; a boat broke away, and a couple of stout fellows rushed to the quay, and proceeded in chase: by this time the rain descended in such torrents, as absolutely to prevent our seeing any objects at above one hundred yards' distance, when suddenly a boat appeared through the flood, driven in by stress of weather, landed its cargo-a priest, accompanied by a very pretty girl (his niece, in all probability) and another companion; and, as at least one-half of the population of Palanza were collected under the arches of the colonnade, there was a roar of laughter as the unfortunate curé stepped forth from the dripping awning of the boat, and handed the fair creature out: wherever we went we heard jokes against the clergy, and were repeatedly told how many too many there were; certainly, the whole country seemed to swarm with them. As to Varallo, it was a place in the odour of sanctity, and it was the pilgrimage month; but never did I see so many clericos in any part of the globe, not excepting the Eternal City itself. It is rather painful, however, to hear the disparaging way in which they are everywhere spoken of-as drones and idlers

Nati consumere fruges.

In a moment all observation was withdrawn from the curé, and the pretty face of his companion, by a loud shout; in an instant the floor of the piazza was covered with rats, which, driven from their habitations by the Hood, commenced soon after running about in all directions, and a grand chase was only terminated with the death of every rat. The sun bursting forth, and we embarked for Laveno.

As we approached the shore, sundry signals from our boat were responded to from the balconies of our friend's villa, which overlooked the lake; and, as the boat touched the Lombard-Venetian territory, our friend was there to receive us. With fairy children (there are none like English children), and their beautiful mother (there are none like English women)-and in this instance, beating the Italians with their own weapons-blue eyes and black hair, and as to complexion, where can that of our lovely country-women be equalled?

Laveno is nearly opposite to Baveno; Intra is the largest town lying between it and Pallanza. From our friend's villa, where we remained for some time, there was a magnificent view over the lake; to the right the view extended nearly to the head of the lake, having the abrupt promontory of the Orfano jutting into the lake; and the view closed by the rugged peaks of the Alps. In front lay the pretty village of Intra, its Feb.-VOL. LXXIX. NO. CCCXIV.

white belfries and campanile coming out in relief against the olive-clad hill, which backs the straight lines of the buildings-so peculiar a feature in all Italian landscapes; beyond, and a little to the right, the snowpeaks of the Sempione, while directly to the rear, the sublime outline of the whole of the upper Monte Rosa and the Weisshorn cut the clear blue sky; more to the left, the Isolas Bella and Madre floated fairy-like, as it were, upon the deep purple, but transparent shadows, thrown by the intermediate and second-rate mountains, intervening between the lake and the mighty Rosa; but which in their sinuosities exhibited character purely Italian, and lovely. Quite to the left the brazen effigy of St. Carlo could be traced, marking the spot under which was placed Arona; and the long line of the smoke from the "vapore," which daily stole its course up the lake, served to connect the castle of Angiera with the lovely landscape.

The villa was an immense one-halls, terraces, balustrades looking far over the lake to the Alps; enjoyed, too, with the English manner of living-such a luxury after the dirt of the inns of Piedmont. Our host was a first-rate sportsman, and had contrived to kill some of the laketrout, which run to a great size, up to 20 lbs.; this he effected entirely by "trolling," using small fish for bait. Pike and perch, the latter never of any great size, found their way into his basket. He had had a punt constructed à la Hawker, with the intention of astonishing the innumerable flocks of wild ducks of every kind, which make their appearance on the Maggiore Lake in November, and remain there for the greater part of the winter. The inhabitants described the flight-shooting, at Angiera, as excellent; night and morning the fowl pour over those heights, when going to, and returning from their feeding-grounds amongst the marshes and lagunes along the line of the Po.

Our friend had the whole of his English shooting paraphernalia with him: every contrivance to kill game, from an air-gun with which he practised on the lemons hanging from the wall, during the time of making his toilet, to a staunchion gun for the annoyance of the wild-fowl on the lake.

A small house in rear of the villa had served an artist for the exercise of his ingenuity, in the orders given him by the proprietor of the villa to paint it (in fresco), to represent an old English baronial castle. The artist, however, had no sketch to go by, whereby he could get an idea of what the style of architecture of that time was like. Ingenuity, however, came to his assistance. He went to Arona, and attended the opera of "Lucia di Lammermore," at the time represented in the theatre of that place. There he found all he required; and taking it for granted that all he saw represented by the scenery must be correct, he made his sketches from them, and painted the little house in the garden tale quale. Any one who has witnessed the dreadful attempts at Highland costume and scenery as produced at the small theatres in Italy, when the operas of "Lucia" or "I Prigione d'Edinborgo" are given, can better conceive than I can describe the sort of nondescript architecture he contrived to depict for a Casa Inglese.

SECRET HISTORY OF THE COURT, MINISTRY, AND TIMES OF GEORGE IV.

WITH ANECDOTES OF REIGNING DYNASTIES, ARISTOCRACIES, AND PUBLIC MEN, INCLUDING RUSSIAN CZARS, AUSTRIAN EMPERORS, FRENCH KINGS, ROYAL DUKES, SECRET SERVICES, &c. &c.

BY AN OLD DIPLOMATIST.

CHAP. II.

London, 11th of March, 1816.-I was at a concert spirituel a few evenings since at the Dowager Marchioness of L-'s. I should here tell you that my object in introducing this lady is only a preparatory step. At her house many of the leading Opposition meet, and there discuss their intended operations.

It may not be amiss to tell you that "Jealousy's rankling tooth" hurts not the Honourable GW-: he amuses himself with a little figurante from the opera, whilst his wife regularly attends her devotions at House, when the gallant marquis is in town, and his wife either at her toilette or in bed. Conjugal infidelity, by the middle ranks, though fraught with uneasiness, in the fashionable world is considered a mere trifle of ton. It gives a spirit to, and diffuses brilliancy around, a character. "And are we really to see the regent in town once more?" say the tailors, milliners, and wig-makers. "Yes, indeed,” said Lord P, who, by the bye, has been appointed purveyor of perfumes, washes, and other cosmetics, to royalty. Next to the Duke of Chis lordship is allowed to be the finest Adonis breathing, by all the fraternity of his own lady-like complexion. Such are the triflings of fashion. Another trifle is the attachment of the Marchioness of HScottish chief, but n'importe ;

to a poor

"Yet shall he mount Beyond the limits of a vulgar fate.”

Political vagaries of the minister. Some country gentlemen who have shown a disposition to render themselves amiable in the eyes of the minister, lately waited upon Lord Castlereagh, with whom they had a conversation respecting the income-tax.

66

'My lord," said one of them, "I receive no rent, am I to pay the income-tax?"

"Certainly!" answered his lordship.

My lord, my tenants cannot pay their rents, must they pay the income-tax upon one-third of the amount of the rents?"

"Certainly!" answered his lordship.

The country gentleman smiled at his own "ignorant impatience," having hitherto supposed that ex nihilo nil fit, and that, to pay money, it was necessary to have some.

The prosperous first lord of the treasury was always fond of military exploits. Once he proposed marching to Paris : now he regularly attends the military chapel at Whitehall to contemplate the eagles "which his valour won;" and he is also meditating a battle which promises to be

more serious than the Battle of Waterloo-a complete attack upon all the property of England.

The two Tierneys.-When the bulletins of Dr. Tierney came forward at Brighton, it was often a sort of joke to ask George Tierney, in town, "How all was going on at the Pavilion ?" His answer was, in general, "Not favourable."

Being a Whig "legion," their respective names were apt to be confounded. But at present there cannot be any mistake as to the persons or their different modes of cure. George Tierney's remedies seem perfectly adapted to the constitution-very strong and simple, including moderate habits, and not to allow any of those doses of laudanum which some of his servants are administering to royalty.

When asked "Which of the Tierneys ?" "The Not Favourable!' was the reply.

In

I dined yesterday with a particular friend of mine, chairman of the excise in a sister kingdom, who is come to London to set aside Lord George Seymour, who has long expected to fill the chair here; but ministers have had nous enough to see that talent must take the reins. fact, the returns to government are sunk so considerably, that the duties paid scarcely reimburse the expense of collecting them. Illicit distillation, and smuggling, have rendered the receipts almost an absolute nonentity. The treasury clerks say there will be a deficit of five millions upon the aggregate, and therefore the income-tax must be carried, or they may shut up shop.

The Opposition are in the greatest distress of mind respecting the fate of Sir R. Wilson and the others; they think C-▬▬ is the prime mover of the machine against them, and therefore consider his life (Sir R. W.'s) in danger. Although they rightly estimate his character as to intellect, there is a strong attachment. They ascribe the death of Whitbread to the false intelligence he sent him from the continent. Pray send me your opinion of this case. K. stands but badly with the party; they say such men as he and W. have rendered them contemptible. True enough, God knows! The Opposition add they are wholly without information from the other side of the water. Lord Grey came to town on Wednesday last.

There is another bit of secret history attached to Leach's promotion. Yarmouth has lent the Prince Regent his acceptances for 100,000l. How are these to be paid? By a speedy award in the Court of Chancery on the Queensberry property.

Among the new books in the press is the Livre Rouge for 1816; an extraordinary Red Book it will prove to be!

Rumour assigns various places for the Princess Charlotte and her husband-some demur has arisen about concluding the contract with Lord Harcourt.

It is said that the Prince Regent will not believe the reports relative to the distress of the country and calls it "a vulgar clamour," swears he will have money, for money he wants- -a new palace at Brighton and another in Pall Mall, or "d-m me if I don't turn you all out." It is said the minister calculates on a majority of thirty on the income-tax on the first division. "It will then be seen whether they will press so odious a measure against the sense of the people." (Vide G. Tierney's observations to Curran, the Irish M. P.)

I received two letters (double and one treble) at noon on Saturday; they were both instantly forwarded, i. e. personally delivered. Planta I did not see; he was gone on horseback, I believe, to Brighton, a cabinet council being held there on Saturday. The information you send me is highly interesting, and had the P. been in existence it would have been very useful. Fail not to tell me your opinion of the sentence upon Sir R. W. I have several engines at work relative to the operations of Orleans, K., the ministry, and the Opposition. Every hint is continually in remembrance. Accept my best wishes, and rely on my exertions.

K. says "Capper's Kalender" is not yet published. "Boyle's Court Guide" comes out in April. I have sent you a copy of the trial—“ Baldwin versus Webster.' I shall feel flattered by receiving any other important commissions-rely on my fidelity. It would not be proper for me to ask you the bearing of those I have already delivered. I hope you have received the Chron. regularly. I have written to Leicestershire for the song. The latter is not in print, nor has it been. In my next you shall receive another bit of secret history relative to our premier.

Again!!! Let me have an answer to the following queries. Firstly, did the police rip up the floor in Sir R. Wilson's chamber, and there find letters from Lord G? Secondly; the points of conspiracy which are distinct from Lavalette's case. Thirdly; what other documents are there, proofs, I mean, to make the charge capital?

Royalty once more! The Regent has borrowed of old Coutts 100,000%.; Alexander Davison has lent, out of the receipts of the Barrack department, 85,000l. These sums, if there be any truth in arithmetic, when added to

-'s bills, make 285,000l., again add the 75,000l. allowed for the then increased prices in the necessaries of life (two years since) and the sum will be greater. Now, pray what has become of this money? Also recollect our prosperous ministers want 150,000l. more! In the words of Plautus I bid you adieu.

"Nam ego illum periisse duco cui quidem periit pudor."*

London, March 12th, 1816. The Dutch Ambassador, Baron Fagal, gave an entertainment yesterday to the Duc de Chartres, Marquis D'Osmond, and a proportion of the cabinet-it was a select party. No day is yet named for the drawingroom, expressly to be held for the purpose of introducing the Duchess of Cumberland; but Leopold will publicly be the ostensible object of it. Every moment reminds me of what has been lost by the stoppage of the P----, a thousand a year at least. You shall not many days have to regret the want of a hat. I will see G. this evening respecting it. You surprise me much by saying you have not seen Mr. K—— Smith, I should suppose is a fictitious name; no such person is known to me. Forget not to send me the charges against Sir R. W--. K. has not yet sent off his pamphlet; he has not discovered a proper source for conveyance; they are now, I understand, to go by way of Brussels, and as a blind the titlepage is illuminated with a fleur-de-lis. Hobhouse's book sells surprisingly well; it is even sought for with avidity. I sent you a double letter on Tuesday, and a single on Wednesday last; on Friday another, I trust they have come to hand. The town is very dull. The women in high life have no routs, balls, concerts, nor even card parties; the theatre and the opera

Plautus-Bacchides, iii., 3.