of Ireland, as injurious to his Grace’s authority.  The Duke resented this behaviour with great spirit.  As there certainly was a great difference between them, both as to their birth and rank, and to their credit, it had been prudent in Talbot to have had recourse to apologies and submission; but such conduct appeared to him base, and unworthy for a man of his importance to submit to:  he accordingly acted with haughtiness and insolence; but he was soon convinced of his error; for, having inconsiderately launched out into some arrogant expressions, which it neither became him to utter nor the Duke of Ormond to forgive, he was sent prisoner to the Tower, from whence he could not be released until he had made all necessary submissions to his Grace:  he therefore employed all his friends for that purpose, and was obliged to yield more to get out of this scrape than would have been necessary to have avoided it.  By this imprudent conduct he lost all hopes of marrying into a family, which, after such a proceeding, was not likely to listen to any proposal from him.

[A very exact account of this transaction is given by Lord Clarendon, by which it appears, that Talbot was committed to the Tower for threatening to assassinate the Duke of Ormond.  —­Continuation of Clarendon, p. 362.]

It was with great difficulty and mortification that he was obliged to suppress a passion which had made far greater progress in his heart than this quarrel had done good to his affairs.  This being the case, he was of opinion that his presence was necessary in Ireland, and that he was better out of the way of Miss Hamilton, to remove those impressions which still troubled his repose:  his departure, therefore, soon followed this resolution.

Talbot played deep, and was tolerably forgetful:  the Chevalier de Grammont won three or four hundred guineas of him the very evening on which he was sent to the Tower.  That accident had made him forget his usual punctuality in paying the next morning whatever he had lost over-night; and this debt had so far escaped his memory, that it never once occurred to him after he was enlarged.  The Chevalier de Grammont, who saw him at his departure, without taking the least notice of the money he owed him, wished him a good journey; and, having met him at court, as he came to take his leave of the king:  “Talbot,” said he, “if my services can be of any use to you during your absence, you have but to command them:  you know old Russell has left his nephew as his resident with Miss Hamilton:  if you please, I will act for you in the same capacity.  Adieu, God bless you:  be sure not to fall sick upon the road; but if you should, pray remember me in your will.”  Talbot, who, upon this compliment, immediately recollected the money he owed the Chevalier, burst out a-laughing, and embracing him:  “My dear Chevalier,” said he, “I am so much obliged to you for your offer, that I resign you my mistress, and will send