The English Spy, page 160 by Bernard Blackmantle
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e ship with his former associate, whom he soon after completely abandoned, settling 500L. a year upon her for the support of herself and daughter; his two sons, James and George, he provided with writerships in the company's service, and sent to India. James died young, and George returned to England in a few years, worth 180,000 pounds.--He lingered in a very infirm state of health, the effects of the climate and Mrs. M-, alias Madame Haut Gout; and at his death, being a bachelor, he left the present countess, his sister who lived with him, the whole of his property. There are various tales circulated in the fashionable world relative to the origin and family of the count, who has certainly been a most fortunate man: he is chiefly indebted for success with the countess to his skill as an amateur on the flute, rather than to his paternal estates. The patron of foreigners, he takes an active part in the affairs of the Opera-house.--Poor Tori having given some offence in this quarter, was by his influence kept out of an engagement; but it would appear he received some amends, by the following extract from a fashionable paper of the day.
A certain fashionable------l, who was thought to be au comble de bonheur, has lately been much tormented with that green-eyed monster, Jealousy, in the shape of an opera singer. Plutôt mourir que changer, was thought to be the motto of the pretty round-faced English------------s; but, alas! like the original, it was written on the sands of disappointment, and was scarcely read by the admiring husband, before his joy was dashed by the prophetic wave, and the inscription erased by a favoured son of Apollo. L'oreille est le chemin du cour: so thought the ------l, and forbade the ----------s to hold converse with Monsieur T.; but les femmes peuvent tout, parce-qu'elles gouvernent ceux qui gouvernent tous. A meeting took place in Grosvenor-square, and, amid the interchange of doux yeux, the ---------l arrived: a desperate scuffle ensued; t