; and though he appeared there as
an enemy, they suffered him to return to the trenches without firing
one shot at him.

This siege was ended, and the duke received no other hurt, than a
wound in his foot by the bursting of a grenade, and when nothing more
was to be done in the camp, he went to court, where he was held in the
utmost respect by the principal nobility. The King likewise, as a
mark of his favour, was pleased to give him a commission of Colonel
Agregate (that was the term) to one of the Irish regiments, called
Hibernia, and commanded by the marquis de Castelar.

Could the duke have been satisfied with that state of life, and
regulated his expences according to his income, he had it then in his
power to live, if not affluently, at least easily. But in a short time
he was for changing the scene of action; he grew weary of Madrid, and
set his heart on Rome. In consequence of this resolution, he wrote a
letter to the Chevalier de St. George, full of respect and submission,
expressing a desire of visiting his court; but the Chevalier returned
for answer, that he thought it more advisable for his grace to draw
near England, than make a tour to Rome, that he might be able to
accommodate matters with the government at home, and take some care
of his personal estate. The Chevalier very prudently judged, that so
wretched an oeconomist as the duke, would be too great a burden to a
person, whose finances were not in a much better condition than his
own. Be that as it may, the duke seemed resolved to follow his advice,
and accordingly set out for France, in company with his duchess, and
attended by two or three servants, arrived at Paris in May 1728. He
sent a letter to Mr. Walpole then embassador there, to let him know
he designed to visit him. That gentleman returned the duke a civil
answer, importing, 'that he should be glad to see his grace at his own
time, if he intended it a public visit; if a private one, they would
agree upon an hour, that should be most convenient.' The duke declared
that he would come publicly, which he did next day, and his discourse
with that minister was suitable to the usual gaiety of his temper; for
though he spoke of returning home, it was in such an undetermined way,
that Mr. Walpole could not guess his real intentions. He received the
duke however with his usual complaisance, and with a respect agreeable
to his quality, but was not a little surprized, when, at parting, his
grace told