Page:Memoirs of the Lady Hester Stanhope.djvu/67

 mutiny at the Nore. "Why," interrupted Lady Hester, "what could Mr. Pitt do? He was afraid, doctor; he did not know how sincere such people might be in their offers: they might be only coming over to his side to get the secrets of the cabinet, and then turn king's evidence. It required a great deal of caution to know how to deal with such clever men."

Where Sir Nathaniel relates the history of the Burrell family, she spoke highly of all the daughters, but especially of Mrs. Bennett, and considered that the author was wrong in saying that all but Mrs. Bennett were not handsome.

Of the D. of H. she observed, that he never lived with the duchess. He was in love with Lady, and used to disguise himself as a one-legged soldier—as a beggar—assuming a hundred masquerades, sleeping in outhouses, &c. He would have married her, but he could not, for he had got one wife already. That was the woman F. M**** married. Oh, doctor, there was a man!" (meaning the Duke of H) "perfect from top to toe, with not a single flaw in his person."

Lady Hester was so delighted with Sir Nathaniel's Memoirs that she said, more than once, "How I wish I had known that man! I would have made him a duke. What an excellent judgment he has, and how well he knew everybody! But how was I to find out