No 121 of the series of full length authentic portraits

Dobbs and Co Court Magazine, II, Carey street London

THE COURT, LADY'S MAGAZINE,

MONTHLY CRITIC AND MUSEUM.

A Family Journal

OF ORIGINAL TALES, REVIEWS OF LITERATURE, THE FINE ARTS, MUSIC, DRAMA, FASHIONS, &c. &c.

UNDER THE DISTINGUISHED PATRONAGE OF

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF KENT.

Embellished with an Authentic full-length colored Portrait (No. 121, of this series),

OF

MARIA BEATRIX, ELEONOR A,

2ND WIFE OF KING JAMES II.

MARIA ANGEL,

"THE BEAUTY OF ST. JAMES'S."

By the Author of " Margaret Fairbairn," "The House of Death," "Mary Sinclair," &c.

CHAPTER I.

LORD BROMPTON, reclining in a fauteuil, was sipping his chocolate in his chastelyfurnished chambers, in the Albany,-surrounded by all those little domestic felicities upon which gentlemen, who have attained their grand climacteric without incumbrance, are wont to plume themselves as their own peculiar inheritance. Though half a century had given considerable latitude and expansion to his once elastic frame, and though potential art had been summoned to renew the hyperion curls of youth, yet within the magic circle of those luxuriant whiskers, which still garnished his ruddy countenance, there beamed an expression of gallantry and unfailing bonhommie, that prompted mothers and chaperons, as judicious trustees of maiden susceptibility, to regard him with watchful suspicion, informed as they were of those mighty conquests' of early days, upon which his lordship would not unfrequently expatiate with true poetical fervor and pride.

U COURT MAGAZINE)-JUNE, 1843.

His lordship had been a widower for some years, and rejoiced in an only sonAlgernon by name-who, in addition to a faultless figure, generous disposition and elegant manners, laid claim to his mother's blue eyes, and (we are quoting his lordship's own words) all his father's most enviable characteristics.

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Algernon, my child;" said Lord Brompton, laying down a volume of Waller's Poems, as his dear son entered his chambers, “Al-I have been dreaming of you

all night."

"Indeed, sir ?" said Algernon," then I am afraid your slumbers were not of that refreshing nature which your medical attendant could desire."

"Talk not to me of medical attendant, my dear boy, or I shall be very angry," replied his lordship, taking off his crimson-velvet cap, and adjusting an elaborately curled wig, "I have been thinking, Al., that it is high time that you should abandon the unmeaning frivolities of single life, and it has been my constant study and anxious care for some months past to discover for you an eligible alliance." "You alarm me, sir!" cried Algernon, laughing, "the shock is so sudden-so unexpected."

"Of all the responsible duties," resumed his lordship without noticing the interruption," that devolve upon a tender and reflecting parent, that of choosing a wife for a son, in whom we see our own image and our sweetest sentiments reflected, is the most embarrassing-many fathers, we know, shirk this responsibility, altogether; but I, with an ardent, parental solicitude, that you are almost unworthy of, you dog-I hav'nt forgotten your criticism on Cowley-"

"But, my dear sir-you'll allow"

"Don't interrupt-I have selected for you a wife who is pretty, witty and wise— what more can you desire to make your home a paradise ?”

Nothing, sir! unless perhaps," and Algernon looked pensively into the crown of his hat, “it would be as well for security's sake that the paradise should be surrounded by a little bit of a bank."

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"You're a mercenary," said his lordship, taking up a small, agate snuff-box, why, when I was at your age I'd have married a peasant girl with a spinning wheel or a couple of milk pails for her dowry, provided I could have got nobody else to have had me."

"Very true, sir! but I trust my situation is not quise so unbearable as that already."

"Well, I don't know!" rejoined his lordship, although you take after your parent, in some respects, I rejoice to say, yet, in many delicate and nicely-shaded traits of character-in all that relates to what may be termed the diplomacy of the heart,' the likeness is woefully deficient-I am by no means sure that I shall not avail myself of the opportunity offered."

"O pray, sir," cried Algernon, with affected earnestness, "do not think for one moment that I am insensible to your unprecedented regard for my connubial welfare."

"Unprecedented, sir!" exclaimed his lordship, with animation, "havn't I given you bed and board?-havn't I endowed you with grace and understanding? and

shall I-your natural guardian-leave you to your own unguided judgment and thoughtless precipitation, to play at blind-man's-buff for a wife ?-No!"

"That's very excellent philosophy, sir!" said Algernon, tapping the heel of his boot, "but might I be permitted, if it be not asking too much, to see the lady in question-before any further steps are taken-or, adopting the oriental custom, is the veil not to be withdrawn till I have accepted her tender of obedience ?"

"You ought to have more confidence in your father's discrimination," replied his lordship, spreading some marmalade on his toast. "I am not a Sir Anthony Absolute, who would peremptorily insist upon your going down on your knees and falling into raptures before a red-haired girl with a long neck-no, my son, I have too great a regard for the honor of our ancient and good-looking family-my father, it is true, left me entirely to my own resources, but, then, I was a younger son, and a very discreet one, I may add, too—you are my only born, and a wild and thoughtless dog; therefore it is that I interest myself so much to see you established as the son-in-law of a respectable robe-maker."

"A robe-maker!" exclaimed Algernon, laughingly, "may I expect to be taken into partnership, sir ?"

"Don't jest with a parent-it's wicked: I'll tell you how it came to pass-yesterday forenoon I was walking down Pall-Mall when, as accident would have it, my coat came in contact with some scaffolding, and a slight rent was the consequence; to have due reparations made I stepped into Mr. Angel's the robe-maker's in St. James's-street, where I was received by a remarkably sensible, pretty and obliging young female, who, in reply to my enquiries, informed me that she was Mr. Angel's daughter-whether she be or not is immaterial."

"Have you any reason to doubt it, sir?

"Attention, sir! Instantly procuring needle and thread, she repaired the fissure with wonderful neatness and celerity—a more beautiful hand I never saw in my life -excepting, perhaps, that of Nelly Robinson, who was a celebrated toast when I was at Oxford."

"Were you kind enough to mention my name, sir," enquired the wondering Algernon.

"No," replied his lordship, "I never once gave you a thought. Her engaging manners and pertinent replies quite charmed me."

"It's greatly to be deplored, sir, that fortune should not have been more liberal to one, upon whom nature has bestowed so much."

"Fortune! you dog. Listen to me. I have been told by a highly respectable authority, privately and confidentially, as a secret worth knowing, that she has a relative, an uncle, or something of that sort, worth about a plum. Now, if she be not a lady, already, she is likely, at some future period, to have all the essential qualifications for one. And now I have put you in possession of this important information, let your motto be that of the ancient Orators' Action-actionaction,' and, by so doing, shew yourself worthy of your parentage."

So saying, his lordship turned to the table and resumed his gastronomic functions which had been suspended for some time in the warmth of debate.