somewhat petulantly, "Tell your mistress I shall not come, and, fellow,
do you in future say '_tism_."

Among the party assembled on this occasion was the favoured son of
Esculapius, Sir W---- K----, the secret of whose elevation to the
highest confidence of royalty is one of those mysteries of the age which
it is in vain to attempt to unravel, and which, perhaps, cannot be known
to more than two persons in existence: great and irresistible, however,
must that influence be, whether moral or physical, which could obtain
such dominion over the mind as to throw into the shade the claims of
rank and courtly _lions_, and place an humble disciple of Esculapius on
the very summit of royal favour. Of his gentlemanly and amusing talents
in society every one must speak in terms of the highest praise, and
equally flattering are the reports of his medical skill; but many are
the fleeting causes and conjectures assigned for his supremacy--reports
which may not be written here, lest I assist in the courtly prattle of
misrepresentation. Sir W---- was, I believe, the executor of an old
and highly-favoured confidential secretary; might not _certain
circumstances_ arising out of that trust have paved the way to his
elevation? If the intense merits of the individual have raised him to
the dazzling ~301~~height, the world cannot value them too highly, and
sufficiently extol the discrimination of the first sovereign and first
gentleman of the age who could discover and reward desert with such
distinguished honour. But if his elevation is the result of any
sacrifice of principle, or of any courtly intrigue to remove a once
equally fortunate rival, and pave his path with gold, there are few who
would envy the favoured minion: against such suspicion, however, we have
the evidence of a life of honour, and the general estimation of society.
Of his predecessor, and the causes for his removal, I have heard some
curious anecdotes, but these you shall have when we meet. A very good
story is in circulation here among the court circle relative to the
eccentric Lady C---- L----, and a young marchioness, who, spite of the
remonstrances of her friends and the general good taste of the ladies
in that particular, recently selected an old man for a husband, in
preference to a choice of at least twenty young and titled, dashing
_roues_: the whim and caprice of the former is notorious, while the life
and animation of the little marchioness renders her the bri