The English Spy, page 149 by Bernard Blackmantle
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headed as follows,-- Lady B------n to be Lady A------r P-t,--by exchange--Lady P-t to be Duchess of A------e,--by promotion--Lady Charlotte W--y to be Lady P-t, vice Lady P-t, promoted.
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To see thee, cruel Lady J-,{20} Regret the golden Ball. Tis useless now:--"the fox and grapes" Remember, and avoid the apes Which wait an old maid's fall. Gay lady H-----e's twinkling star{21}
20 It is not long since that, inspired by love or ambition, a wealthy commoner sought the promise of the fair hand of Lady J-, nor was the consent of her noble father (influenced by certain weighty reasons*) wanting to complete the anticipated happiness of the suitor.--All the preliminary forms were arranged,--jointure and pin money liberally fixed,--some legal objections as to a covenant of forfeiture overcame, a suitable establishment provided. The happy day was fixed, when--"mark inconstant fickle woman"--the evening previous to completion (to the surprise of all the town), she changed her mind; she had reconsidered the subject!--The man was wealthy, and attractive in person; but then-- insupportable objection--he was a mere plebeian, a common esquire, and his name was odious,--Lady J- B-1,--she could never endure it: the degrading thought produced a fainting fit,--the recovery a positive refusal,--the circumstance a week's amusement to the fashionable world. Reflection and disappointment succeeded, and a revival was more than once spoken of; but the recent marriage of the bachelor put an end to all conjecture, and the poor lady was for some time left to bewail in secret her single destiny. Who can say, when a lady has the golden ball at her foot, where she may kick it? Circumstances which have occurred since the above was written prove that the lady has anticipated our advice.
21 Her ladyship's crimson vis-à-vis and her tall footman are both highly attractive--there are no seats in the vehicle--the fair owner reclines on a splendid crimson velvet divan or cushion. She must now be considered a be