y
day, with a great application to business, and a head well turned
that way, having only some clerks, to whom he dictates such letters
as he does not write with his own hand. In some days after, my
friend and I went to take the evening air, in the stately park
called Villa Ludovici, there we met, face to face, on a sudden, with
the Pretender, his Princess, and court; we were so very close before
we understood who they were, that we could not retreat with decency,
common civility obliged us to stand side-ways in the alley, as
others did, to let them pass by. The Pretender was easily
distinguished by his star and garter, as well as by his air of
greatness, which discovered a majesty superior to the rest. I felt
at that instant of his approach, a strange convulsion in body and
mind, such as I never was sensible of before, whether aversion, awe,
or respect occasioned it, I can't tell: I remarked his eyes fixed on
me, which, I confess, I could not bear--I was perfectly stunned, and
not aware of myself, when, pursuant to what the standers-by did, I
made him a salute; he returned it with a smile, which changed the
sedateness of his first aspect into a very graceful countenance; as
he passed by I observed him to be a well-sized, clean-limbed man. I
had but one glimpse of the Princess, which left me a great desire of
seeing her again; however, my friend and I turned off into another
alley, to reason at leisure on our several observations: there we
met Dr. Cooper, and, after making some turns with him, the same
company came again in our way. I was grown somewhat bolder, and
resolved to let them pass as before, in order to take a full view of
the Princess: she is of a middling stature, well-shaped, and has
lovely features: wit, vivacity, and mildness of temper, are painted
in her look. When they came to us, the Pretender stood, and spoke a
word to the Doctor, then looking at us, he asked him whether we were
English gentlemen; he asked us how long we had been in town, and
whether we had any acquaintance in it, then told us he had a house,
where English gentlemen would be very welcome. The Princess, who
stood by, addressing herself to the Doctor in the prettiest English
I think I ever heard, said, 'Pray, Doctor, if these gentlemen be
lovers of music, invite them to my concert, to-night; I charge