, who is never satisfied until the completion of his wishes, could
confine himself within the bounds of moderation and reason: he used all
his endeavours to determine her to put in execution the projects she had
formed at Peckham: Mrs. Wetenhall, on the other hand, was much pleased
with him. This is the Hamilton who served in the French army with
distinction; he was both agreeable and handsome. All imaginable
opportunities conspired to favour the establishment of an intimacy,
whose commencement had been so brisk, that in all probability it would
not languish for a conclusion; but the more he pressed her to it, the
more her resolution began to fail, and regard for some scruples, which
she had not well weighed, kept her in suspense: there was reason to
believe that a little perseverance would have removed these obstacles;
yet this at the present time was not attempted. Hamilton, not able to
conceive what could prevent her from completing his happiness, since in
his opinion the first and greatest difficulties of an amour were already
overcome, with respect to the public, resolved to abandon her to
her irresolutions, instead of endeavouring to conquer them by a more
vigorous attack. It was not consistent with reason, to desist from an
enterprise, where so many prospects of success presented themselves, for
such inconsiderable obstacles; but he suffered himself to be intoxicated
with chimeras and visions, which unseasonably cooled the vigour of his
pursuit, and led him astray in another unprofitable undertaking.

[I apprehend he is the same George Hamilton already described, who
married Miss Jennings, and not the author of this work, as Lord
Orford supposes. In a letter from Arlington to Sir William
Godolphin, dated September 7, 1671, it is said, "the Conde de Molina
complains to us of certain levies Sir George Hamilton hath made in
Ireland. The king hath always told him he had no express license
for it; and I have told the Conde he must not find it strange that a
gentleman who had been bred the king's page abroad, and losing his
employment at home, for being a Roman Catholic, should have some
more than ordinary connivance towards the making his fortune abroad
by the countenance of his friends and relations in Ireland: and yet
take the matter in the worst sense he could give, it would not
amount to the breach of any article betwixt the king my master and
the court of Spain."--Arlingto