DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51519#0373
MISS JENNINGS.
319
Hamilton, who had the blood of half the nobility in her veins; but
the spirit of this daughter of a country squire was an unheard-of
assumption. “ Que faire pour apprivoiser une impertinente vertu
qui ne voulait point entendre raison ?” He next tried the effect
of billets-doux ; and finding- there was no other way to ensure their
reception, he became his own Mercury. Day after day he con-
trived to insinuate into the fair lady’s pocket, or into her muff,
notes in the usual style,—prodigal of oaths, vows, promises. As
etiquette did not allow Miss Jennings to fling them back in his
highness’s face, she affected perfect unconsciousness, and only
waiting till he turned away, carelessly drew out her handkerchief,
or shook her muff, and, lo ! a shower of royal billets-doux ; which
fell around her for the edification of whoever might choose to pick
them up.* The gentlemen wondered ; the ladies tittered j the
poor duchess,f who, in her adventitious elevation, sighed, and “ was
no duchess at her heart,” could not but forgive an impertinence
which avenged her. The duke, angry and disconcerted, but too
cold and proud to persist in a suit which only rendered him ridi-
culous, carried his “ lourds hommages ” to the feet of Miss
Churchill, and found that she at least was inclined cc to listen to
reason.”
The fame of Miss Jennings now spread from St. James’s to
Whitehall pf so much beauty, so much vivacity, and so much dis-
cretion, appeared incomprehensible. The King himself was piqued
to enter the lists, merely, as he said, to convince himself that it
was to the unskilful tactics of the gentleman, not to the virtue of
the lady, that this marvel was to be attributed. He set himself,
* Miss Jennings here recalls to mind a story told, I believe, by Madame de
Sevigne. One of the French princes of the blood having addressed a pretty
hourgeoise rather disrespectfully, she replied with indignation, “ Pour Dieu !
Monseigneur, votre Altesse a la bonte d’etre trop insolente!”
t Anne Hyde.
t At this time St. James’s Palace was the residence of the Duke and Duchess
of York : the King held his court at Whitehall.
319
Hamilton, who had the blood of half the nobility in her veins; but
the spirit of this daughter of a country squire was an unheard-of
assumption. “ Que faire pour apprivoiser une impertinente vertu
qui ne voulait point entendre raison ?” He next tried the effect
of billets-doux ; and finding- there was no other way to ensure their
reception, he became his own Mercury. Day after day he con-
trived to insinuate into the fair lady’s pocket, or into her muff,
notes in the usual style,—prodigal of oaths, vows, promises. As
etiquette did not allow Miss Jennings to fling them back in his
highness’s face, she affected perfect unconsciousness, and only
waiting till he turned away, carelessly drew out her handkerchief,
or shook her muff, and, lo ! a shower of royal billets-doux ; which
fell around her for the edification of whoever might choose to pick
them up.* The gentlemen wondered ; the ladies tittered j the
poor duchess,f who, in her adventitious elevation, sighed, and “ was
no duchess at her heart,” could not but forgive an impertinence
which avenged her. The duke, angry and disconcerted, but too
cold and proud to persist in a suit which only rendered him ridi-
culous, carried his “ lourds hommages ” to the feet of Miss
Churchill, and found that she at least was inclined cc to listen to
reason.”
The fame of Miss Jennings now spread from St. James’s to
Whitehall pf so much beauty, so much vivacity, and so much dis-
cretion, appeared incomprehensible. The King himself was piqued
to enter the lists, merely, as he said, to convince himself that it
was to the unskilful tactics of the gentleman, not to the virtue of
the lady, that this marvel was to be attributed. He set himself,
* Miss Jennings here recalls to mind a story told, I believe, by Madame de
Sevigne. One of the French princes of the blood having addressed a pretty
hourgeoise rather disrespectfully, she replied with indignation, “ Pour Dieu !
Monseigneur, votre Altesse a la bonte d’etre trop insolente!”
t Anne Hyde.
t At this time St. James’s Palace was the residence of the Duke and Duchess
of York : the King held his court at Whitehall.