y appearance at Bath, without the company of Lord B--, occasioned a
general surprise, and encouraged the men to pester me with addresses,
every new admirer endeavouring to advance his suit by demonstrating the
unkind and disrespectful behaviour of his lordship. Indeed, this was
the most effectual string they could touch. My pride and resentment were
alarmed, I was weak enough to listen to one man, who had like to have
insinuated himself into my inclinations. He was tall and large-boned,
with white hair, inclining to what is called sandy, and had the
reputation of being handsome, though I think he scarce deserved that
epithet. He possessed a large fortune, loved mischief, and stuck
at nothing for the accomplishment of his designs, one of his chief
pleasures being that of setting any two lovers at variance. He employed
his address upon me with great assiduity, and knew so well how to
manage my resentment, that I was pleased with his manner, heard his vows
without disgust, and, in a word, promised to deliberate with myself upon
his proposals, and give him an account of my determination in writing.

"Thus resolved, I went to Lord B--, in Wiltshire, whither I was followed
by this pretender to my heart, who visited us on the footing of an
acquaintance; but when I reflected on what I had done, I condemned my
own conduct as indiscreet, though nothing decisive had passed between
us, and began to hate him in proportion to the self-conviction I felt,
perceiving that I had involved myself in a difficulty from which I
should not be easily disengaged. For the present, however, I found means
to postpone my declaration. He admitted my excuse, and I returned to
London with Lord B--, who was again summoned to the field by his former
challenger.

"H--d--n, governor, counsellor, and steward to this little hero, came to
Lord B-- with a verbal message, importing that his lordship had changed
his mind about going to Flanders, but expected to meet him, on such
a day and hour, in the burying-ground near Red Lion-square. Lord B--
accepted the challenge, and gave me an account of what had passed; but
he had been anticipated by the messenger, who had already tried to alarm
my fears from the consideration of the consequence, that I might take
some measures to prevent their meeting. I perceived his drift, and told
him plainly, that Lord ---- had no intention to risk his person, though
he endeavoured with all his might to persuade me, that his princi