To Colonel Bellville.
YOU never were more mistaken:
you will not have the honor of seeing
me yet in town. My Lord thinks it
infinitely more respectful to his Royal Master
to celebrate this happy event in the
country.
"My congratulations, says he, would
be lost in the crowd of a drawing room;
but here I can diffuse a spirit of loyalty and
joy through half a country, and impress
all around me with the same veneration
and love for the most amiable of Princes
which burns in my own bosom".
Our entertainment yesterday was magnifique,
and in the Gusto Belmonto: there
is a beautiful lake in the park, on the borders
of which, on one side, interspersed
amongst the trees, which form a woody
theatre round it, at a distance of about three
hundred yards, tents were fixed for the
company to dine in, which consisted of all
the gentlemen's families twenty miles round.
Westbrook and his daughter were there,
as my Lord would not shock them by leaving
them only out when the whole neighbourhood
were invited; tho' he observed,
smiling, this was a favor, for these kind
of people were only gentlemen by the
courtesy of England. Streamers of the
gayest colors waved on the tops of the tents,
and glittered in the dancing sun-beams.
The tables were spread with every delicacy
in season, at which we placed ourselves in
parties, without ceremony or distinction, just
as choice or accident directed. On a little
island in the midst of the lake, an excellent
band of music was placed, which played
some of the finest compositions of Handel
during our repast; which ended, we spread
ourselves on the borders of the lake,
where we danced on the verdant green,
till tea and coffee again summoned us to the
tents; and when evening "had in her
sober livery all things clad," a superb
supper, and grand ball in the saloon, finished
our festival.
Nor were the villagers forgot: Tables
were spread for them on the opposite side
of the lake, under the shade of the tallest
trees, and so disposed as to form the most
agreeable points of view to us, as our encampment
must do to them.
I am ill at describing; but the least had a
thousand unspeakable charms.
Poor Harry! How I pity him! His
whole soul was absorbed in the contemplation
of Lady Julia, with whom he danced.
His eyes perpetually followed her; and,
if I mistake not, his will not be the only
heart which aches at parting on Tuesday,
for so long is Harry's going postponed. He
may go, but, like the wounded deer, he
carries the arrow in his breast.
Adio!
Tuesday, August l7th.
