It was fortunate, that Sir Samuel, whose _naivete_ and rascality are most
amusingly mingled, did not take the "_snake into his bosome_,"
notwithstanding the advice of those "_eminent divines_," whose counsel is
almost ever too celestial, for the practical occasions of the present
world.
The issue of Sir Samuel's fatal plunge into the abyss of matrimony, in
pursuit of "L500 per annum in land and L4000 in ready money," and of all
that befell the Lady Morland, until she lost her title, is recorded, in
the third and last letter to Pepys, in vol. v., page 330.
"19 July, 1688. Sir: I once more begg you to give yourself the trouble of
acquainting His Majesty that upon Munday last, after many hott disputes
between the Doctors of the Civil Law, the sentence of divorce was solemnly
pronounced in open Court against that strumpet"--_Lady Morland_--"for
living in adultery with Sir Gilbert Gerrard, for six months last past; so
that now, unless shee appeal, for which the law allows her 15 days, I am
freed from her for life, and all that I have to do, for the future, will
bee to gett clear of her debts, which she has contracted from the day of
marriage to the time of sentence, which is like to give me no small
trouble, besides the charge, for severall months in the Chancery. And
till I gett cleared of these debts, I shall bee little better than a
prisoner in my own house. Sir, believing it my duty to give His Majesty
this account of myselfe and of my proceedings, and having no other friend
to do it for mee, I hope you will forgive the trouble thus given you, by,
yours, &c.,