_ has no inscription, but is left blank, except that it
has in the corner "AEtatis suae 12."

The _two small medallions_ have, one of them, the Prince's plume,
with _Ich dien_; the other, the Order of the Garter, with _Honi
soit qui mal y pense_.

These differences are remarkable, and as I have found no account of
them, and understand the print is rare and dear, I send to you for
information about them.

In my "royal copy, with the French royal arms," the impression of
the head seems much finer than the other, which has the English
emblems in the medallions. Perhaps they were subsequently inserted;
but why, then, was "Cognoscunt mei me," taken out and the tablet
left blank? Was it intended perhaps to insert his royal titles, and
if so, why were they omitted, when the English arms were
substituted for the allegorical medallions? I know, when you are
among your prints, these inquiries, however minute, are interesting
to you.

I know no news except the Spanish and Portuguese finale to their
revolutions, which, inasmuch as they were both military and not
civil revolutions, I could not wish success to, though I feel as
adverse to the French dictation and invasion as any Spaniard could
do. Love to your dear wife.

Ever most affectionately yours,

T. G.

Miss Poyntz has just refused Lord Apsley; who the deuce will she
marry?

Mr. Canning had by this time made good his position at Court, by coming
to an understanding with the most influential channel of Court favour.
The Scottish preacher, Irving, the Spurgeon of his day, indicated her
presence among his fashionable audience by a very delicate piece of
flattery. "All the world here," writes the indignant Lord Chancellor,
"is running on Sundays to the Caledonian Chapel in Hatton Garden, where
they bear a Presbyterian orator from Scotland preaching, as some ladies
term it, _charming_ matter, though downright nonsense. To the shame of
the King's Ministers be it said, that many of them have gone to this
schism-shop with itching ears. Lauderdale told me that when Lady ----
is there, the preacher never speaks of an heavenly mansion, but an
heavenly _Pavilion_. For other ears mansion is sufficient."[121]

[121] Twiss's "Life of Lord Eldon," vol. ii. p. 86.

"The appointment of Lord Albert Conyngham in the Foreign Office," we
are assured by the same writer, "has, by