But, on all these subjects, I shall soon be able to make you au fait, as I intend to study them, con amore, and give you the benefit of my observation. Adieu, chère amie; dites mille choses pour moi au marquis. Votre CAROLine. THE MARQUESS OF NOTTINGHAM TO I LEFT the Delawards with regret, and arrived here, three days ago. I found all London, by which I mean the clubs and society, raving of the beauty of Lady Annandale, qui fait fureur. I attended the drawing-room yesterday, and saw her presented. Every eye was upon her, and every tongue loud in her praise; that is, every male tongue; for the ladies wondered what induced people to make such a fuss about her- they saw nothing so very wonderful in her. Miss Montressor was also presented; and, had she not been near Lady Annandale, would have been admired, for she looked extremely well. To the generality of persons she must appear a very handsome woman. Her figure is graceful and symmetrical, and her features peculiarly regular and distingué: but the expression of her countenance is to me extremely disagreeable; for it has that hardness which belongs exclusively to persons whose thoughts have never risen above the passions and feelings of the worldly minded and calculating; a character quite the reverse of what I like to see in a female face. Miss Montressor seems perfectly aware of the value of all the advantages she possesses in her present position, and determined to avail herself to the utmost of them. She affects to treat Lady Annandale as a spoiled child over whom she has unbounded influence, and Annandale, as a chosen friend. From the good understanding that seems to subsist between Lady Annandale and her, I conclude that she has contrived to exculpate herself from the charge made against her honour. To effect this was easy, with so unexperienced a person as Lady Annandale, who would be likely to redouble her kindness towards her, if led to believe her unjustly accused. Her intimacy with the Comtesse Hohenlinden offers an excuse for drawing that lady perpetually to Lady Annandale's, whom she votes her amie de cœur, a title to which Annandale is much better entitled. Last night there was a brilliant reception at Delafield House; and again, Lady Annandale shone the brightest star of the evening. I had no idea of the beauty of this lovely creature until I saw her on this occasion; for, in the country, during the three days I passed be neath the same roof with her, she was so triste and abstracted, her eyes so dimmed by tears, and her cheeks so pale, that, though I was conscious that she was beautiful in spite of all these counteracting circumstances, still I was not prepared for the blaze of loveliness which she presented on the evening to which I am. now referring. She displays a degree of kindness, indeed I might say cordiality, towards me, that is very agreeable, and would be extremely flattering if I could attribute even a portion of it to any implied sense of my own merit; but I know I owe it to the favourable opinion the Delawards are so kind as to entertain of me, and the good-natured commendations of Lord and Lady Vernon, who overrate the attention I paid them in the country. Annandale has solicited me to conduct his wife through the routs and soirées when we meet, while he divides his attentions between the Comtesse Hohenlinden, and Miss Montressor. He is elated at the sensation Lady Annandale has created; and more than ever a slave to that artificial world, to which the possession of a treasure such as that he owns ought to render him utterly indifferent. I was interrupted yesterday before I had time to finish this dull epistle; and now resume my pen to add a few lines. I dined yesterday at Annandale's, with only a few persons of haut ton; consisting of ladies whose reputation are more fashionable than respectable, and of men whose morality is of that stamp which renders them the last persons a sensible person would select as his guests at a table where so young and lovely a woman presided. The Comtesse Hohenlinden came in the evening, followed by some of her adorers, whose attentions to her were marked rather |