n-money, which my generous
husband would no longer pay, I was reduced to great difficulty and
distress. The duchess d'Aremberg, Lord G--, and many other persons of
distinction, interceded in my behalf with his Majesty, who was then
abroad; but he refused to interpose between man and wife. The countess
of Calemberg wrote a letter to my father, in which she represented my
uncomfortable situation, and undertook to answer for my conduct, in case
he would allow me a small annuity, on which I could live independent
of Lord --, who, by all accounts, was a wretch with whom I could never
enjoy the least happiness or quiet, otherwise she would be the first
to advise me to an accommodation. She gave him to understand, that her
character was neither doubtful nor obscure; and that, if my conduct
there had not been irreproachable, she should not have taken me under
her protection. That, as I proposed to board in a convent, a small
sum would answer my occasions; but, if that should be denied, I would
actually go to service, or take some other desperate step, to avoid the
man who was my bane and aversion.

"To this kind remonstrance my father answered that his fortune would not
allow him to assist me; he had now a young family; and that I ought,
at all events, to return to my husband. By this time, such was the
extremity of my circumstances, that I was forced to pawn my clothes, and
every trifling trinket in my possession, and even to descend so far as
to solicit Mr. S-- for a loan of fifty pounds, which he refused. Thus
was I deserted in my distress by two persons, to whom, in the season
of my affluence, my purse had been always open. Nothing so effectually
subdues a spirit unused to supplicate, as want. Repulsed in this manner,
I had recourse to Lord B--, who was also, it seems, unable to relieve my
necessities. This mortification I deserved at his hands, though he had
once put it in my power to be above all such paltry applications; and I
should not have been compelled to the disagreeable task of troubling my
friends, had not I voluntarily resigned what he formerly gave me. As to
the other gentleman to whom I addressed myself on this occasion, I
think he might have shown more regard to my situation, not only for
the reasons already mentioned, but because he knew me too well to be
ignorant of what I must have suffered in condescending to make such a
request.

"Several officers, who guessed my adversity, generously offered to
supply