ain, when it should be finished; but
he assured his lordship it was not necessary; upon which they went
upon the following frolic together. The first thing to be done, was to
hire a coach and four horses; the next to find out the music belonging
to the Opera, six or eight of which his grace engaged at a set price:
The young lord could not imagine in what this would end; till they
returned to St. Germains, which was at five the next morning when the
duke marching directly with his troop to the castle, ordered them to
strike upon the stairs. Then the plot broke out into execution, being
no more than to serenade some young ladies, near whose apartments they
then were.

'This piece of extravagant gallantry being over, the duke persuaded
the young lord to go about a mile off, to Poissy, where an English
gentleman 'of their acquaintance lived: His lordship consenting, the
duke took with him a pair of trumpets, and a kettle-drum, to give
the music a more martial air: But to this the Opera music made an
objection at first, because as they should be wanted that night
in their posts, they should forfeit half a louis d' or each, for
non-appearance. Half a louis d' or! says his grace, follow the duke
of Wharton, and all your forfeitures shall be paid. They did so, and
entered Poissy in such a musical manner, that they alarmed the whole
town, and their friend did not know whether he had best keep his
house, or fly for it; but the affair was soon explained, and the
musical troop was entertained by the gentleman their friend, in a very
handsome manner. This frolic being now finished, there was one thing
more absolutely necessary, viz. to discharge the reckoning, upon which
occasion the duke in a very laconic manner addressed himself to the
young lord.' My lord, says he, 'I have not one livre in my pocket,
wherefore I must desire you to pay these fellows, and I'll do as
much for you whenever I am able. Upon this his lordship with great
chearfulness, paid all demands, amounting to 25 louis d' ors.'

It may seem a strange observation, but it is certainly true, that the
brute creation differs not more from the rational in many respects,
than a man from himself: That by suffering passions to usurp the
dominion of the soul, human nature is stript of its dignity, debased
to the beasts that perish, and still rendered more ignominious by the
complications of guilt. We have already seen the duke of Wharton set
up as the idol of an admiring pe