_Grammont's Marriage_ (Vol. viii., p. 461.).--In one of the notes to
Grammont, originally, I believe, introduced by Sir W. Scott in his edition,
but which appears at p. 415. of Bohn's reprint, we are told on the
authority of the _Biographia Gallica_, vol. i. p. 202.:
"The famous Count Grammont was thought to be the original of _The
Forced Marriage_. This nobleman, during his stay at the court of
England, had made love to Miss Hamilton, but was coming away from
France without bringing matters to a proper conclusion. The young
lady's brothers pursued him, and came up with him near Dover, in order
to exchange some pistol shot with him. They called out, 'Count
Grammont, have you forgot nothing at London?' 'Excuse me,' answered the
Court guessing their errand, 'I forgot to marry your sister; so lead
on, and let us finish that affair.'"
My object in this communication is to supply an omission in MR. STEINMAN'S
very interesting Notes, who does not show, as he might have done, how the
letters of M. de Comminges prove the truth of this story. For, from the
passage quoted by MR. STEINMAN from the letter to the king, dated Dec.
20-24, 1663, it is evident that the count was about on that day to leave
England "without bringing matters to a proper conclusion;" while that he
married the lady within a day or {550} two of that date may fairly be
inferred from the announcement on Aug. 29-Sept. 8, 1664, that "Madame la
Comtesse de Grammont accoucha hier au soir d'un fils." MR. STEINMAN'S
omission was probably intentional; I have supplied it in the hope that the
date and place of the marriage may now be ascertained, and for the purpose
of expressing my hope that we shall soon be favoured by MR. STEINMAN'S
return to this subject.
HORACE WALPOLE, Jun.
_Life_ (Vol. vii., p. 429.).--Let me give A. C. the testimony of two poets
and a philosopher in support of the "general feeling" about the renewal of
life, which will surely bear down the authority of three writers mentioned
by him.
Cowper's notion may be gathered from the couplet:
"So numerous are the follies that annoy
The mind and heart of every sprightly boy."
Kirke White must have had a similar idea:
"There are who think that childhood does not share
With age the cup, the bitter cup, of care;
Alas! they know not this unhappy truth,
That every age and rank is born to ruth."
The next four lines may also be attentively considered. I quote from his
"Childhood," one of his earliest productions by the way--but what
production of his was not early?
Still more decidedly, however, on the point speaks Cicero (_de Senectute_):
"Si quis Deus mihi largiatur ut ea hac aetate repuerescam, et in cunis
vagiam, _valde recusem_."
The following passage is also at A. C.'s service, provided you can find
space for it, and there are "no questions asked" as to its whereabouts:
"I have heard them say that our childhood's hours are the happiest time
of our earthly race; and they speak with regret of their summer bowers,
and the mirth they knew in the butterfly chase; and they sorrow to
think that those days are past, when their young hearts bounded with
lightsome glee, when, by none of the clouds of care o'ercast, the sun
of their joy shone cheerily. But, oh! they surely forget that the boy
may have grief of his own that strikes deep in his heart; that an angry
frown, or a broken toy, may inflict for a time a cureless smart; and
that little pain is as great to him as a weightier woe to an older
mind. Aye! the harsh reproof, or unfavoured whim, may be sharp as a
pang of a graver kind. Then, how dim-sighted and thoughtless are those,
who would they were frolicsome children and free; they should rather
rejoice to have fled from the woes that hung o'er them once so heavily.
In misfortune's rude shocks the practised art of _the man_ may
perchance disclose relief; but _the child_, in his innocence of heart,
will bow 'neath the stroke of a trifling grief."