tanding
the softness of her tears, and the violence of her passions, Miss
Stewart wholly possessed it. During this period the court was variously
entertained: sometimes there were promenades, and at others the court
beauties sallied out on horseback, and to make attacks with their charms
and graces, sometimes successfully, sometimes otherwise, but always to
the best of their abilities at other seasons there were such shows on
the river, as the city of London alone can afford.

The Thames washes the sides of a large though not a magnificent palace
of the kings of Great Britain:--[This was Whitehall, which was burnt
down, except the banqueting-house, 4th January, 1698.]--from the stairs
of this palace the court used to take water, in the summer evenings,
when the heat and dust prevented their walking in the park: an infinite
number of open boats, filled with the court and city beauties, attended
the barges, in which were the Royal Family: collations, music, and
fireworks, completed the scene. The Chevalier de Grammont always made
one of the company, and it was very seldom that he did not add something
of his own invention, agreeably to surprise by some unexpected stroke of
magnificence and gallantry. Sometimes he had complete concerts of vocal
and instrumental music, which he privately brought from Paris, and which
struck up on a sudden in the midst of these parties; sometimes he gave
banquets, which likewise came from France, and which, even in the
midst of London, surpassed the king's collations. These entertainments
sometimes exceeded, as others fell short of his expectations, but they
always cost him an immense deal of money.

Lord Falmouth was one of those who had the greatest friendship and
esteem for the Chevalier de Grammont: this profusion gave him concern,
and as he often used to go and sup with him without ceremony, one day
finding only Saint Evremond there, and a supper fit for half a
dozen guests, who had been invited in form: "You must not," said he,
addressing himself to the Chevalier de Grammont, "be obliged to me for
this visit. I come from the king's 'coucher', where all the discourse
was about you; and I can assure you that the manner in which the king
spoke of you, could not afford you so much pleasure as I myself felt
upon the occasion. You know very well, that he has long since offered
you his good offices with the King of France; and for my own part,"
continued he, smiling, "you know very well that