5T H E
l i f eOF T H E
COUNT CAGLIOSTRO;CONTAINING
An authentic Relation of the uncommon Incidents that befel him during his Refidence in England in the Years 1776 and 1777.
His Arrival in France; his Commitment to the Baf- tile— His Trial, Acquittal, and Baniihment.
His Return to England in 1786 ; particular Anecdotes of him till 1787: and, laftly, a Detail of the Cir- cumftances which occaiioned his Departure for Switzerland.
D E D I C A T E D T O
MADAME L A COMTESSE DE CAGLIOSTRO.
T H E S E C O N D E D I T I O N .
L O N D O N :
P R I N T E D FOR T H E A U T H O R }
A N D S O L D B Y T . H O O K H A M , B O N D - S T R E E T }
AND MAY BK HAD OP ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN SNGLAKD*
1787.
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MADAME LA COMTESSE DE CAGLIOSTRO.M a d a m e ,
T h e p le a fu r e w h ic h e v e r y fu f -
o e p t ib le m in d m u ff e x p e r ie n c e in
i h e v in d ic a t io n o f a n in ju r e d c h a
r a c t e r , I c o n f id e r , in t h e p r e fe n t
in f ta n c e , m u c h h e ig h t e n e d b y t h e
o p p o r t u n i t y i t o ffers m e o f a d d re fs -
in g a la d y n o t le fs d ii t in g u iih e d b y
a m ia b le q u a lit ie s t h a n u n d e fe r v e d
m is fo rtu n e s .
*• T h e c u p o f f e l i c i t y , p u r e a n d
u n m ix e d ,” fa y s a n e le g a n t a u t h o r ,
« is
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[ Vi ]
•* is b y n o m e a n s a d r a u g h t f o r
“ m o r ta l m a n :** Y e t p e r m it m e ,
M a d a m e , t o la m e n t t h a t in g r a t i tu d e
a n d c a lu m n y h a s fo f a t a l ly im b it -
te r e d y o u r s . T h e u n it e d liv e s o f
y o u r f e l f a n d t h e C o u n t i l lu ftr a te ,
I c o n fe fs , a m e la n c h o ly t r u t h , t h a t
n e ith e r v ir tu e n o r t h e m o ft r ig id
c ir c u m fp e d t io n o f m a n n e rs w i l l
a lw a y s ih ie ld th e poffefT or fr o m t h e
m a c h in a tio n s o f v ic e . E n v y t o o
fr e q u e n t ly tre a d s o n th e h e e ls o f
• f c i e n c e ; a n d d e tr a c t io n w i l l e v e r
p o in t h e r e n v e n o m e d i h a f t t o w a r d
t h e w o r t h y p a r t o f m a n k in d . Y e t ,
t h o u g h fe v e r e t h e tr ia ls w e a re
d o o m e d in th is t r a n li to r y f ta te to
e n c o u n te r , I a m fe n iib le y o u w i l l
jo in
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[ vii ]t ■ •
jo in fine in c o n fid e r in g V ir tu e it s
ow n reco m p en fe .
A p r in c ip a l p a r t o f t h e e v e n ts ,
w h ic h c o m p o fe t h e n a r r a t iv e I
n o w t a k e th e l ib e r t y o f o ffe r in g
fo r yO U r p e r u fa l , a r e e x tr a c te d
fr o m L a L e t t r e d e C om te C a g lio jir o
a u P e u p le < F A n g lo is , a n d o t h e r o f
h is M e m o ir s . I f la t te r m y f e l f th e
w o r k w i l l m e e t w i t h y o u r a p p r o
b a t io n , as y o u w i l l fin d i t c o n ta in s
a n im p a r t ia l d e ta il o f th e m o ft r e
m a r k a b le e v e n ts o f th e C o u n t ’s
l i f e . • H a p p y d id I p o fle fs e lo
q u e n c e ; t o fu b d u e t h o fe p re ju d ic e s
w h i c h , b y t h e fo u lefi: m h r c p r e fe n t-
a t io n s o f f a & s , b u t to o g e n e r a l ly ,
w it h
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[ v i ï r ]
w i t h r e g a r d t o t h é C o u n t C a g l i *
o ftr o , r e ig n in t h e m in d s o f th é
p u b l ic . B u t , w h i l e I la m e n t m y
in a b i l i t y , I h a v e th is o o n fo la t io n ,
t h a t tr u th s a 9 th e p o e t fa y s o f
b e a u t y ,
“ Needs iiot the foreign aid of ornament,“ But is when unadorn’d adorn’d the moft.”
W i t h th e fin c e r e ft h o p e th a t y o u
m a y lo fe th e r e m e m b r a n c e o f p a ft
fo r r o w s in a n u n in te r r u p te d ferie«
o f fu tu r e h a p p in e fs , I t a k e th e
l ib e r t y o f fu b fc r ib in g m y fe l f ,
M A D A M E , .
W i t h a l l d u e R e f p e é t ,
Y o u r m o ft o b e d ie n t
H u m b le S e r v a n t ,
L U C I A .
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f i ]fé"
P R E F A C E .
I H A V E been encouraged to venture on
the publication o f the Count de Caglioftro’s
Life, by the information I have obtained
from feveral perfons, whofe unblemiihed in
tegrity, and intimate connexion with that ex
traordinary character, render their authority
undoubted. In thofe incidents I have ex
tracted from the various accounts published
o f M r. Caglioftro, I have been particularly
cautious to prefent m y readers with fuch.
b fads
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fads only as are interefting and authentic.
But before I enter on this talk, it may not
be improper to take a curfory view o f thofe
charges brought againft the Count by the
Editor o f the Courier de l’Europe. There ’
cannot furely be a being againft whom our
indignation more juftly rifes than the man
who, under the fpecious guife o f public
ipirit, gratifies a private pique or pecuniary
demand by deliberately Mailing the repu
tation o f another.
Tor the honour o f humanity I would fain,
with the reader, believe this portrait to be
the child only o f 'imagination, Hid not
the many calumnious paragraphs published
in the Courier de TEufope, at the expenfe
o f the Count Cagtioftro, prove it to be
** un fils infortune de la nature
* The Author flatters herfelf ihe will not be cen- fured for adopting this favourite phrafe, rendered for feme time paft ‘fo eminently VoriQ>7cudds in almolfc every page of that paper.
But
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[ Hi ]
But let me afk the reader, can there be any
confidence placed in the aflertions o f a man
who, iron* his own accounts, ereits a new
opinion on every vague report ? ,
M r. D e Morande at firft profefles himfelf
an enemy to the Count Caglioftro, merely
from the prejudices o f report. A gain $ from
the flattering teftimonies o f approbation la
vished on him by the difcerning people o f
Paris, on his acquittal from an injurious
charge, he becomes his warm advocate,
and publifhes on the occafion, but without
refle&ion he fays, a letter of high panegyric
in the Courier de l ’Eufope. Soon after this he '
Humbles on another opinion j or, as FalftafF
fays, ** opinion lay in his way, and he found it.”
But perfectly convinced of, as he allures us,
the fallacy o f his former affirmations, this in
genious cenfor fuffers the public to remain
three months in error, becaufe, he fays, it
would have appeared ridiculous immediately
b 2 to
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[ ** 3to W e contradicted his own affermons * . And
why fo, M r. Editor ? Is it not the greateft
proof o f a liberal mind to acknowledge an
error on the moment of its difcovery ? But
i f we may be allowed to account for this
filence, from what follows we ihall believe
it to originate from an intended négociation
with M r. Caglioftro.
M r. Swinton, formerly a proprietor o f the
Courier de l’Europe, at whofe houfe the
Count, on his arrival in town, vifited,
had more than once congratulated him on
the encomiums occaiionally beftowed o n
him in the above paper; and obferving
the infinite advantage his reputation would
acquire from thefe paragraphs, ventured
clearly to point out to him the means that
would enfure their continuance. M r. Cagli
oftro, however, difregarding this advice, the
* See the Courier cte l’Europe, No. 20, page 156.
Editor
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Editor aíéribed his infeníibility to the ill ad-
drefs o f his negotiator, and in a few days
renewed his fuit to the Count in propria. perfona-y elated with the hopes o f obtaining
a card blanche for the fuppreffion o f that
abufe which, on all occafions, he has fo per
fectly at command. But h o l d t h i s vi-
fit, we are allured by M r. D é Morande, was
the effeCt o f mere curiofity! T h e Count not
reflecting, perhaps, that our Editor owned a
paper o f extenflve circulation, in which he
could exercife the happy art which Gay
afcribes to the lawyers, who, he tells us,
“ twift •words and meanings as they pleafe,”
treated his propofals and ridiculous menaces
with that contempt they will ever experi-
epee from an honed and ingenuous mind: and
from that moment M r. De Morande became
|iis implacable and avowed enemy. His re-
fentment might, however, have fpent itfelf
in a few defamatory paragraphs, had not
jntereft added a new fpur to his malignity.
1>3 T h e
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T h e reader is» without doubt, acquainted
with the fuit commenced by M r. Caglioftrq
againft the governor o f the Battile, and
others, for the iniquitous plunder of hi$
property; he will not, therefore, iuppofe
that the defendants, while a caufe o f
fuch importance was depending, would
omit cither expenfe or trouble to invalidate
the affertions o f their adverfary. T h e abili
ties o f M r. D c Morande were perfeétly o f a
nature to admit him on the lift o f defamatory
Scribblers employed to circulate reports to
the difadvantage o f M r. Caglioftro, with the
view o f proving his pretentions a mere chi
mera.«
By the moft illiberal fuggeftions, the
blackeft calumnies, and total perverfion o f
fails, the Editor o f the Courier de I’Europe
has endeavoured to effedl th is} nay, he has
more than once had fo little policy as to
draw openly the above conclution from his
OWQ,. '■ *•
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L v.H ]
own libels: but it m uil be confeffed that
he frequently defeat? his owp purpose by too
great an eagernefs to injure the reputation of
M r. Caglioftro. Nor is this furprifing when
we remember that the tnoft baneful creatures
often carry about them an antidote to their
own venqm.
M r. D e Morande had yet another incen
tive in this bufinefs: “ There are fecrets in
all trades,” fays the old adage. T h e Editof■ 1 . • . '• > ! V _ - . a. J w. _ i
o f a newfpaper, therefore, who is acquainted
with his bufinefs, will be fenfible that nothing
will further the circulation of his paper more
than a paper wary in which, at all events, he
will certainty engage. T h e talents o f M r.
D e Morande in this line had, it is true, for
fome time remained dormant j haying
more than pnee nearly involved him in
difagrepable confequenc.es: for the explana
tion of which, I muff entreat my readers
to call a retrofpeft on his affair with the
b 4 Reverend
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[ viii ]
Reverend M r. Bates, Madame the Chevalier
de Eon, M . le Comte de Ldrague, & c. & c.
However, as he probably concludes there is
lefs danger o f a perfonal affault in attacking, a
philofopher, he has ventured to exert his moil:
ftrenuous efforts to provoke M r. Caglioftro
to enter the lifts with him in his own way.
But a contemptuous Jtlence is the only return
he has been able to obtain, unlefs it is when
the Count ludicroufly invites him to come
and be potfoned with a pig o f bis dreffing * . It is really to be lamented that ib much
induftry has not met with its due reward!
' M r. D e Morande attacks the Count on the
variety o f names and titles he has aflumed
in his travels although o f this information
he would probably have remained ignorant,
had not the Count him felf candidly particu
larized them in his M em oir: yet this M e-
See the Public Advertifer, Sept. 3, 1786.
moir
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[ ix ]
moir is conftantly reprobated by M r. D e
Morande as an intire fid ion : why then does
he place the leaft confidence in any part of
it ? But I forget; this gentleman is a per-
fed adept in extrading black from "white;
although from the various experiments he
has made on himfelf, he has never yet
been able to tranfmute the former into the
latter. T o return, however, from this di-
greffion: a charge o f this nature cannot
poflibly injure M r. Caglioftro in the opinion
o f any difcerning individual j while he conr
tinues to fupport thoie names with honour,
which are io particularly the objed o f our
Editor’s refentment, he can not furely incur
cenfure for making ufe o f that privilege
which is equally the right o f every traveller
who is defirous o f remaining incognito.
M r. D e Morande boldly invites thofe per
fons whole abilities and rank in life he is
confcious place them at too great a diftancc
to regard the interrogatories o f a newfpaper
' fcribblcr,
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[ * }
fcribbler, to confirm or cdntradid his infa
mous aflertions with regard to M r. Caglioftro.
But, in fome inftances, where a public
refutation is more to be dreaded, he con-
duds himfelf with a greater degree o f cau
tio n :— when he afcribes his generofity to
interefted motives — when he limits his ex-
tenfive benevolence to fo narrow a compafs
s two or three inftances, he is fenfible that
the voice o f a grateful people might rife to
confute him. H e contents himfelf therefore
with requeuing, that each individual who has
known the Count will interrogate tbemjelves only on his condud * . From which it is to
be inferred, that thofe who have not had
the honour o f knowing Mr. Caglioftro are
intirely to reft their faith on tliat inexhaufti-
ble fountain o f truth— the Editor o f the
Courier de 1’Europe I
H ow repeatedly has he invoked all the
Courts o f Germany to difavow the diftin-
* See the Courier de l’Europe, No. 23, page 182.
r guiihed
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I W ]
guiihed reception with which they have
honoured the Count Caglioftro. T h e Cou
rier d e l’Europe, he fays, is read in all thoie
courts, yet his invocation is unnoticed,
How repeatedly has he called on thoie
illuftrious perfons, by whom the Count pro-
fefles himfejf to have been honoured and re
ceived, to contradict his aflertions ? H e has
defcriptively published their names, with
fuch vile comments on the conduit o f M r.
Caglioftro, as muft naturally have induced
them, had not the aflertions o f the latter
been well-founded, to have difclaimed any
knowledge o f a character fo infamous j yet
all the calumnious addrefles o f M r. D e
Morande has not been able to obtain one
well-attefted refutation. Constrained at
length to admit that the Count has been re
ceived and carreflcd by feveral o f thofe dif
- tinguiilied perfons, he qualifies this reluCtant
conviction with the fuggeftion, that they
refpeSled
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[ XU ]
refpeSled him only becaufe they did not know him.
W ith all due reverence to the abilities o f M r.
D e Morande it is to be prefumed, that among
io large a number o f illuftrious perfons, there
might be fome few as good judges o f merit,
and perfons o f as perfect difcernment, as
the Editor of the Courier de l’Europej and
yet it is a bold fuppoiition when we con
template the ailonhhing powers o f that great
m an!
M r. De Morande modeftly aiks the public,
W hether the man who by Jalfe pretences cheats the world o f their opinion, is not more
culpable than he who enters the fhop o f a
tradefman and defrauds him p f his pro**
perty ? .
Purfuinghis example, I will aik, W hether
the man who alternately fabricates fiippo-
iitious
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I
I [ *iii ]fitious crimes in one nation, with the view
o f prejudicing the other againft an injured and innocent chara&er, ihould not be con-
fidered anobjedt o f univerfal deteftation ?
In N o . 22, page 175, o f the Courier dc
l’Europe, we arc informed, that M r. Cagli-
oftro, after being conftrained to put o ff the
uniform o f a Spaniih Colonel, was ignomi-
nioufly expelled Peterfburgh. For this
calumnyt the falfehood o f which has been
too clearly proved by the Baron de Corbe-
ron, charge d’affaires o f France and Ruffia,
during the refidence o f M r. Caglioftro atPeterfburgh, and miniiler plenipotentiary,to need further refutation, the Editor has
had recourfe to the Memoirs o f Madame de■ %
la Mottej and, it is probable, from the evi
dence contained in that calumnious work,
that M r. D e Morande has the audacity to
queftion, or at lead to pretend to queftion,
the juft ice o f that acquittal, io folemnly
awarded
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awarded to M r. Caglioftro, by the parlia
ment o f Paris.
M r. D e Morande is at infinite pains to per-
fuade us ‘ that the Count refided in London
in 1772, under the name o f Balfamo, in
extremé poverty, from which he was re
lieved by Sir Edward Hales. T hat Baro
net profeflés, indeed, to recollect an Italian o f that nam e; but as M r. D e Morande
pofitively allures us the Count is a Calabrois, a Neapolitan, or a Sicilian, we can defire no
better argument to prove the fallacy o f his
information.
Another grand proof which he advances,
to biafs the opinion o f his readers on this
fubjett, is, the pretended refemblance which
exifts between the figriature of Jofepb Balfamo and Jofepb Cagliojiro: the Editor o f the
Courier de ¡’Europe is, however, the only
perlón who pretends to difcover this refem-
, blance j
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[ *v ]
. M ance; and it ittuft be confefled, admitting
his opinion juft, the adcidental fimrlitude o f
a hand-writing does not afford fufficiènt
grounds for the aflertion.
Again; he would induce, or rather fe-
dùce, us to believe that the Count was, in
the fame year, under the above name, igno-
minioufly expelled Paris ; and that his lady
was at the fame time confined in la
Pelagie. -
Every ofie who is acquainted with the ■ po
lice o f Paris muft inftantly perceive the falfe-
hood o f this charge. A vagabond is no
fooner expelled that city than a minute de-
icription o f his perfon is put into the hands
o f every officer o f the police, and circulated
indifcriminately throughout Paris; by which
means all poffibility of a clandeftihe return
is cut off. I f then, as the Editor would in-
finuate, M r. Caglioftro had fuiflèred this dif
a grace
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. [ xvi ]
grace in the year 1772, with thefe pre
cautions, it would not have been poffible
for him to have pad fix days at Paris in
178 1, which was actually the cafe; to
have frequented, during that time, the houfes
o f the principal merchants there, and have
efcaped the vigilance o f the officers o f
the police.
But admitting this to be poffible in 1785,
when,with the Cardinal de Rohan, he was in*
nocently involved in the affair o f Madame de
la Motte, his conduct then at leaft muff have
undergone the minuteft examination : when
a circumftance o f this nature, i f true, would
certainly have been brought forward to pub
lic obfervation.
Again; had MadameCaglioftro been con- '
fined in la Pelagie under the name o f Laurence Felictaniy as M r. D e Morande would
infer, Felicinai would certainly have been
the laft name ihe would have adopted when
interrogated
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[ xvii ]
. interrogated on that fubjeit by the lieutenant
general o f the police; N or will it be fup-
pofed that the Count would have employed
that fund o f cunning, o f which we are
taught to believe him mailer, to Co little ad
vantage as to have mentioned her by a name
already infcribed in red letters throughout
Paris— a name which might probably recall
to the remembrance of the police his former
mildemeanors. Y et in his Memoir, written
five months before his trial, he has men-
honed her by the name o f Seraphina Feli-
ciani.
In fpeaking o f this Memoir, I cannot fcr-
bear recalling to the remembrance .of the
reader the folemn appeal which the Count
therein makes to many illuilrious and diilin-
guiihed characters: a s appeal, which being
. made during his confinement in die BaftUe,
could only have been defeated by an innate
c fenfe
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XVU1 ]V
fenfc o f the moil perfect reditude o f c'on-
dud. “ Let them,” fays he, “ declare whe-
« ther I have ever been guilty o f an ad ion
*« difgraceful to a man o f honour: let them
«* fey whether 1 have at any time fued for a
** favour, or courted the protedion o f thole
«« fovereigns who were delirous o f feeing m e:
“ let them declare whether I have at any
" time, or in any place, done more than
«* cure the fick gratis, and affift the indigent.”
T h e world is, alas! but too ready to exult
over the misfortunes o f others. I f the Count
had been the impoftor which Mr.DeMorande
aflerts, or had been guilty o f thofe iniquitous
pradices o f which he allures the public he
can furnilh incontejlible proofs .* on an ap
peal like this, would not fome one among
thofe who had been the dupe o f his decep
tion have Hood forth to draw alide the veil
that concealed his impoilares ?
2 '
W ould
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[ xix ]
W ould not the vigilance o f the intriguing
D e la Motte, the jealous friends o f the Car
dinal de Rohan, have procured thofe incon- tejltble proofs o f which the Editor o f the
Courier de l’Europe ipeaks with fuch confi
dence ; yet their accufations, unfupported by
a ihadow o f truth, were rejcded by the
French minifters} and the reputation o f
M r. Caglioftro, like gold proved in the fur
nace, became more pure by the feverity o f
the trial it had endured.
But, perhaps, we are to believe that the dis
covery o f thefe enormous crimes, theie un
heard o f impoftures, which have efcaped the
penetration o f higher powers, were referved
for the microfcopic eye o f the immaculate
Editor o f the Courier de l’Europe!
Is it likewife given to M r. D e Morande to
penetrate the moil: Secret thoughts o f man ?
c 2 Or,
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( XX ]
Or, by what authority does he pretend to fay
that M r. Caglioftro never dijlributed to the poor h it with the view of obtaining vouchers fo r bis liberality, or o f tricking the rich out o f tbeit good opinion ?
I f he can fupport this afiertion, by proving,
as he pretends, that the Count has received
prelents a tboufand times more confderable than the films: he has dijlributed^ why does he not
refer to the individuals by whom he has
been enriched? W h y does he not publish
their names and places o f abode in his Cou
rier de l’Europe ? But M r. D e Morande is
too politic an artift to expofe his colouring
to minute investigation. H is performances
appear to tnoft advantage when viewed afar
off. General references and initial letters
give play to the imagination o f the reader,
and are therefore bed calculated for his
purpofe.
M r.
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f xxi ]
M r. D e Morande objedls to the evidence o f
the apothecary to whom the Count appeals
for the quantity o f medicines diftributed at
his expenfe to the poor o f Straiburgh, be—
caufe, he fays, the nature o f their profeffion
obliges thefe gentlemen to accord with the
peri'ons by whom they are fupported.
In this inftance it is but juft to pardon the
fufpicious incredulity o f our E d ito r; we are
but too apt to judge the motives o f others
by our own feelings: and M r.D e Morande,
being confcious that a golden key will
equally unlock his repoiitories o f abufe or
panegyric, readily conceives that a like in-
ftrument will be equally fuccefsful with
others. However, it being evident from
many o f our Editor’s paragraphs, that he ha$
long iince revived the lyftem laid down in
old times by the Vicar o f Bray j he never
holds an opinion fo fait but he can relinquish
it when it becomes an impediment to his in*
c 3 . tereft:
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[ x * ii' ]
tereft: being therefore at a lofs for a credita
ble witnefs, he has furmounted his fcruples,
and would willingly admit the evidence o f
an apothecary at Knightfbridge, though he
itill finds it impofiible to admit one from
Strafburgh. M r. Jackfon, we are inform
ed, was applied to by the Count, on his ar
rival in England, for the purpofe o f vending
his Egyptian pills, at the rate o f thirty-fix
{hillings a box, the contents o f which did
not amount to more than eight-pence. H ow
ever, this gentleman’s confciencey as Laun-
celot fays, “ hanging about the neck o f his
heart,” would not fuffer him to engage in ib
grofs an impofition.— Thus far the Courier
de l’Europe. But as this anecdote has re
ceived additions and variations from the fer
tile pen o f M r. De Morande, I rauft entreat
the reader to fufpend his judgment till I have
reduced it to its primitive fimplicity. M r.
Jackfon being recommended to the Count,
by M r. Swinton, as a proper perfon to fupply
him
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[ XX“ i ]
him with drugs, and to aflift him in the
preparation of his medicines, the latter went
one day to his ihop, and having purchafed
thofe drugs he had occafion for, took them
h o m el and adding to them other materials,
known only to himfelf,* compofed a certain
quantity o f pafte, which he fent back for
M r. Jackion to make into pills. M r. Jack
ion having followed thefe directions, returned
them to the Count, who faid to him with
a fmile, “ You don’t know, perhaps, that
“ thefe pills were fold in Paris at thirty-fix
“ (hillings a box ?” T o this M r. Jackfon re
plied, That i f they were in fuch repute at
Paris, it was a pity the Engliih people ihbuld
not be permitted to purchafe them likewife.
On this obfervation, the Count made M r.
Jackfon underftand that he had not, nor did
he ever intend to fell them i that what he
alluded to, were the apothecaries he em
ployed j who, as he had been informed, had
taken that advantage.
/
g 4 M r.
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[ xxiv ]
M r. Jackfon not underftanding any lan
guage but the Engliih, and the Count finding
the danger o f trailing to an interpreter, whole
leaft error might prove o f fatal confequences
to his patients, employed, in a ihort time
after, a perfon with whom he could con-
verfe without the aid o f onej which giving
offence to M r. Jackfon, broke off all
further connexion between «the Count
and him.
O n the above circumffances M r. D e
Morande has founded the affertion, that M r.
Caglioftro applied to the above gentleman
to vend his pills at thirty-fix ihiliings per
box, the falfehood o f which was proved by
M r. Jackfon himfelf, who, in the pre
fence o f his fhopman, confefied that the
Count had never applied to him,, for any
fuch purpofe, and that he had not given
M r. D é Morande authority fpr what he had
afferted.
T h e
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[ x xv ]
T h e ridiculous ftory o f the Count’s being
the fon to one Cicho, a coachman at Naples,
formerly in the fervice o f M r. Chriftiplu;
o f his being bred to the profeflion o f a hair-
drefier, becoming valet de chambre, and
afterwards a mountebank doctor, is o f a
nature too low and abfurd to merit any
ferious confederation. But as thefe anecdotes,
with many others equally exalted in their
kind, derive their exiftence from, the fertile
brain of M r. Sachy, one o f the principal
pillars that fupports our Editor’s magazine
o f calumnies: it may not be improper to
prefent the reader with a few traits o f this
gentleman’s cha» after.
During the refidence of M r. Caglioftro
at Straiburgh he was addrefied by Sachy,
who having pleaded the moil extreme po
verty, fblicited to be taken into his fervice.
T h e Count touched with his apparent miiery,
plothpd h im ; and as he profeflied having
fem e
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[ xxvi ] .
ibme little knowledge in chirurgy todk
him to aflift him in the attendance o f his
patients. H e had not purfued his new oc
cupations more than eight days, when the
Count was informed by an honed citizen
o f Straiburgh, that Sacky was a ipy employed
by the faculty to injure his reputation ; for
which purpofe he had already extorted mo
ney from feveral o f his patients, under the
pretext that it was by the Count’s order
he did fo. '
Sacky at this moment entering the apart
ment, the citizen repeated his accufations;i
and his confuiion evidently evincing his
guilt, M r. Caglioftro inftantly difcharged
him. Enraged at the mifcarriage o f his
ichemes, he now threatened to aflaffinate
the perfon who had revealed his duplicity j
which coming to the ears o f the Marquis
de la Salle, commander at Straiburgh, to
prevent any difagreeable confequences, he
baniilied him from the city.
"" ’ A ihort
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' [ xxvii ]
A ihort time after the Count received a
letter, wherein Sacky demanded th.e payment
o f an hundred and fifty louis, for the eight
days he had paffed in his fervice, declaring,
that i f he refufed to comply with this re-
queft, he would defame him in a libel.
T h is epiftle, however, being infufficient to
terrify the Count into compliance, Sacky,
in conjunction with M r. Rochebourn, a
French advocate, who has with much dif
ficulty faved himfelf from the gallies, to
which he was condemned, compofed the
libel, which M r. De Morande, in his Courier
de l’Europe, dignifies with the title pf
Memoir.
In 1783-— 4, during the time the Count
gave public audiences at Bourdeaux, Sacky
again endeavoured to injure his reputation,
by publiihing the fame libel there; for which
the chiefs o f the city were on the point o f 1
impriibning him, had not this meafure been
generoufly
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[ xxviii ]
gencroufly oppofed by the Count. From
this time the talents o f M r. Sacky feem
to have remained inadive till the moment
o f M r. Caglioftro’s imprifonment in the
Baftile, when, under the aufpices of M a
dame de la Motte’s advocate, he published
a new edition o f his libel, which was fup-
prefled by the parliament o f Paris, as con
taining injurious calumnies.
Exiled from France,” fays the Count,
“ and defpoiled o f my effeds, my neceflary
“ reclamations have procured me new ene
** nemies. Sachy, their worthy agent, has
“ followed me to England, and not content
“ with publiihing a third edition of his libel,
“ has dared to make oath that I am indebted
“ to him an hundred and fifty guineas, for
“ which fum he has adually arrefted me.”
Such is the man who inherits the
, confidence of the Editor o f the Courier
de 1’Europe.T h e
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[ xxix ]
T h e following letters, which were written
by the French minifters during the refi-
dence o f the Count Caglioilro at Straf-
burgh on account o f feveral libels publiflied
againil, him in that city, will, I hope, ef
fectually eradicate any unfavourable im
preffions they may have oocaiioned in die
bread o f the reader:
L E T T E R I.
Written by M m ffur Le Compte De Vergermes, Secretary o f State fo r Foreign Affairs, to
. Monfieur Gerrard, Prater ( f Strajburgh.
. VerfaiHes, 13th March, 1783.'
C o m p t e D e Caglioftro, Mdsfieur,
js not perfohally known to me j but com
mon report, ever fince he fettled at Straf-
burgh, is fo very much in his favour* that
humanity requires that he fhould find there
both regard and tranquillity. His being a
ftranger, and the good wbioh he is laid to
have done, is a double title which authotifes
me
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i XXX ]
me to recommend him to you, and to thtf
magiftrates over whom you preiide. Moniieur
Caglioftro only afks for peace and fecurity:
theie are infured to him by the ,law& o f hof-
pitality; and, acquainted as I am with your
natural diipoiition, I am fully perfuaded
you will eagerly maintain him in the enjoy*
ment o f both, as well as all other advantages
which he may perfonally deferve.
I have the honour, & c.
(Sighed) De V e r g e n n e s .
L E T T E R II.
From the Marquis De Mirominil, Keeper o f the Seal, to the fame,
Varfáflles, March 15, 1783.S I R , *
T H E Compte D e Caglioftro
has zealoufly employed his time fince he
has fettled in Straiburgh in relieving the
poor and neceflltousj and, to m y knowledge,
that
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[ xxxi ]
that foreigner has, in feveral inftances, aded
with that humanity which makes him wor
thy o f a peculiar prote&ion. I beg you
w ill, as far as concerns you and the m agis
trates whofe chief you are, procure him all
that fupport and tranquillity which every
ftranger ought to enjoy within his majefty’s
dominions j efpecially when he makes him-
felf ufeful to the nation.
I am, & c.
(Signed) M ir o m in il ,
L E T T E R III.
From the Marquis De Segur to the Marquis De la Salle, Commander at Strajburgh.
T h E good condud which l am
well allured Compte Caglioftro has fupported
in Straiburgh; the very laudable employ he
makes in that city of his, knowledge and
abilities ; and the repeated proofs o f his
humanity
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[ xxxil ]
humanity there to the individuals labouring
under various complaints, who had recourfc
to him, entitle that foreigner to the prote&ion
o f government. T h e king gives you charge
to fee not only that he be not mokfted at
Straiburgh, whenever he thinks fit to return
' to that city, but even that he may be treated
with that regard which he deferves, for the
good he does to the diilrefled.
(Signed) Segur.
I w ill not now detain m y readers with a
diflertation on what M r. D e Morande calls
** the affair o f a London Necklace,” but for
die explanation refer them to the enfuing
narrative, In which I will “ nothing extenuate, ** nor Jet tkvm aught in malice.*
L I F E
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( 1 )
JL I F E , & c .
T h e Count Caglioftro informs us, in
his celebrated M em oir, that he cannot
ipeak pofitively as to the place o f his
nativity, nor to the parents who gave
him birth .
* Some authors are of opinion that he is the off*- fpring of the grand matter of Malta by a Turkilh lady, made captive by a Maltefe galley. Others, that he is the only furviving fon of that prince, who, about thirty-five years ago, fwayed the precarious fceptre of Trebifondj at which period, a revolution taking place, the reigning prince was mailacred by his feditious fubjeds; and his infant fon, the Count Caglioftro, conveyed by a trutty friend to Medina, where the cherif had the unprejudiced generality to have him educated in the faith of his Chriftian parents.A H e
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H e fpent his early years at Medina in
Arabia, under the auipices o f a governor,
with whom he redded in the palace o f the
m ufti Salahaym.
Althotas, who difcovered toward his
pupil all the tender folicitude o f pa
rental affedtion, with jo y perceived the
early inclination he difcovered to the
fciences; among which botany and phyiic
were thoie in which he particularly de
lighted. By his inftroOions he became
acquainted with the Eaftern languages, and
by him was taught the duties we owe to
G od, to mankind, and to ourfelves. .
Althotas informed him , that his parents
were Chriftians o f diitinguUhed b irth ; and
that he was left an orphan at the age^of
three m onths; but their names, and the
place o f his nativity, was a fecret, over
which he caft an impenetrable veil.
2 It
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i
( 3 }
I t being the couniel o f Althotas to refpedt
every where religion and the laws, they
conform ed' outwardly to the Mahometan
mode o f worship; “ but,” fays the Count, 1
“ the true religion was imprinted on our
fe hearts.” M r. Caglioftro informs us, that
he was in the twelfth year o f his age when
the frequent difcouries o f his governor on
the antiquities o f E gypt, & c . awakened
in his hreaft a defire o f travelling ib irre*
fiftible, that the pleafures o f Medina and
the amufements o f his youth were no
longer objeds o f his attention: his imagi
nation was continually anticipating that
period, when Althotas informed him they
Were to enter on their travels. T h e long-
wiihed for hour at length arrived; and all
things being prepared for their departure,
they bid farewell to the m ufti, and began
their journey toward M ecca.
A 2 O n
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t 4 1On their arrival at that city, the €ount
having changed the fimple habit he had
till then worn, for one more fplendid, was,
on thé third day after his arrival, by A l-
thotas, prefented to the chcrif * . ** A t the
** light o f this prince,” fays the Count,
«* I experienced a fudden emotion, which
** it is not in the power o f words to exp refs;
** my eyes dropped the m oil delicious tears
“ I ever ihed : and, while he honoured me
** with the tenderell carefles, his I. per
« ceived were likewife fuffufed.”
A t M ecca he relided three years ; during
which time the attachment o f the cherif
toward him feemed hourly to encreafe.
H e would at times gaze on him with the
m oll fixed attention ; then railing his cyesr
• He is the iovereign of Mecca, and is always chofen from among the defendants of Mahomet.
to
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( 5 )
to heaven, his countenance would betray
the m oil lively picture o f pity and com»
miferation.
T h is ambiguity o f conduit naturally
exerted the curiofity o f the C ount; - but
he dared not to demand an explanation o f
Jjis governor, who, on fuch occafions,
never failed to rebuke him with the utmoil
feverity; “ as if,” fays he, “ it had been
** a crime in me to wiih for information
* concerning my birth.”
T h e Count’s inclination for travel itill reigning predominant, he prepared to
leave M ecca. T h e cherif faw him depart
w ith a regret that indicated the tendered
affc&ion: he preifed him to his bolom
w ith more than ufual w arm th; and con*
eluded their lail interview with this re*
markable fentence, “ Adieut thou nature s unfortunate chiW \
A 3 Afc
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[ 6 ]
M r. Caglioftro had now the fatisfa&ion
o f vifiting E gypt j and by procuring the
intimacy o f the minifters o f the ieveral
temples o f that ancient city, was admitted
to places into which the foot o f the com
mon traveller had never before penetrated.
Having continued his travels, during
three years, through the principal cities
o f Africa and Afia, he arrived in the year
1766 at the ifland o f M alta. It was here,
for the firil time, he affumed the European
drefs, and with it the title o f Count D e
Caglioftro, having till this period retained
the name o f Acharat, N or was it without
Angular, aftoniihment, that be perceived
his governor adopt the clerical habit, and
with it the infignia o f the order o f M alta.
T h e grand: mailer, Pinto, prefen ted them
with apartments in his palace, and treated
the Count with the moft Unking marks
o f diilin&ion. H e allured.him o f a. very
rapid
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rapid preferment, would he conform to their religious order; but his prevailing taile
for travel, and for phyfic, made him refolve
on a life o f more aiti ve virtue. T h e Count
informs us, that he has every reafon to
fufpe& the grand mailer was no franger
to his birth, though he was ever averle to
entering on a fubjeft ib particularly in*
tereiling to his young friend.
“ It was ih the ifland o f Malta,” fays
the Count, ** that I had the misfortune. *• of lofing my beft friend and mailer, the w venerable Àlthotàs, thè wiieil and m od
M learned o f mankind !” This melancholy event deeply affe&ed him j and, to divert his grief, he obtained permiffion o f
thè grand mailer to quit the iiland, and
purfue his travels over Europe. Accompa
nied by the Chevalier D ’Aquino o f the
noble houfe o f Caramanica, he made the
tour o f Sicily ; and, after being introducedA 4 by
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( 8 )
by his friend to the nobility o f that country, they pafied through the idands o f the
Archipelago; and, again eroding the M er
ditcrrancan, arrived at Naples.
A t this city, o f which the Chevalier was
a native, the Count parted with his companion, and proceeded unaccompanied to
Rom e, provided with a letter o f credit op
the banking houfe o f Sieur Belloqa. In
the capital o f the Chriflian world he re- folved to remain incognito. Chance, however, in a ihort time, difeovered him to
(¡ordinal Urjina, who, yrith the moil Battering attention, introduced him to ieveral Cardinal? and Roman princes: among
others, to Cardinal Ganganelli, w{io became
pfterwarda Pppe Clement the X lV Ih. H e
had likewife, he tells us, the honour o f
conferring repeatedly with Pope R ez#o-
pica, whp then filled the papal chair.
to
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( 9 )
Ini77°> twenty-fecond year o f his age, he became acquainted with Seraphina F eli-
ciani, a young lady, to whom he was iooti after united^ by the moil indifibluble ties. Having travelled with his fair companion, during fix years, into different parts o f
Europe; at the end o f that time he
turned his thoughts toward England, the
favourite iile o f compierce and o f liberty;
and, in the month o f July, 1776, for the
fipil rime, vifited London. —- PofieJTed oq.
his arrival, in plate, jew els, and ipecie,
to the amount o f three thoufand pounds;
he hired apartments in W hitcomb-Street, where he dedicated a large portion o f his
time to his favourite ilucjies, chymiftry
and phyfic.
It happened that at this time a poor Portuguefe occupied an apartment in the
pime houie; her name was Blavary: fhe
yras perfectly acquainted with the French
and
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and Portugeufe languages» and though re
duced by fortune, her manners and conver~
iation ieemed to befpeak her well born.
T h e compailion o f the Count and his
lady were eafily awakened; ftrangers them -
felves in a country in which they knew
neither the language nor the cuftoms, they
readily iympathifed with one whofe fitu-
ation appeared to be in a degree fimilar:
and, at the interceffion o f the woman o f
the houfe, the Portuguefe was admitted
into the fervice o f Madame Caglioltro as interpreter and companion.
M r.Vitellini was foon after recommended
to the Count in the former o f thefe capacities: he was bred up among the Jefuits j but, at their expuliion, being mailer o f
the Latin, French, and Italian, he came
to London as profeifor o f languages. W ith a ilrong propenfity to the gaming houfe and
. chymiftrjr,
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( II- )
chymiftry, on the knowledge o f which tail he particularly piqued himfelf, it w ill
naturally be concluded that his finances
were not in the mod flourishing condition ; they were, indeed, at the lovveft ebb, when he was relieved by the generofity o f the
Count, who clothed1 and took him into
his fervice.
Vitellini carefully ingratiated him felf w ith
his patron j he was frequently witnefs to his
experiments in chymiftry; fome o f which,
being entirely new to him, in the height o f
enthufiaitn, u he had the weakmfs, and 'in*
"diftretion” fays the Count, “ to hold me
** forth to his acquaintance, and in all public .«* places, as an extraordinary man, a ttue
“ adept, whofe fortune was immenfe, and K who pofteffed the grand fecret o f tfani-
“ muting metals,” &c. This report was fuf-
ficient? to excite the curiofity Of the public: M r.: Caglioftro was in a very Short tim e
furrounded
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furrounded by different ranks o f people, whom an idle curiofity, or the hope o f
reaping advantage from that wealth o r
knowledge pourtrayed in fuch lively colours
by Vitellini» drew together. H e now
found him felf expofed to the infults o f
ipcn o f whom he was entirely ignorant: among others, Pergolezzi, an Italian, en*
raged at being excluded from the ibciety
p f the fuppofed adept, w ith an affurance
unparalleled, apprifèd the Count, through
Vitellini* that if he longer continued to
n fu fe him admittance, he would entirely
blafl his reputation, by circulating a report
through London* that he was ignorant and
neceffitous, o f obfcure birth, and had he* fpr? refided in England, ■ .
- T h e reader w ill fuppofe that this for
midable menace did not contribute to erafe
any unfavourable ideas the Count might
previoufly have foriped o f its author : op
the
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( - 13 >
the contrary, he was now lefs than ever de-
firous o f an interview; and in return, Per- golezzi gratified his revenge by inventing a
ridiculous hiftory at the expenfe o f his ad-
verfary. Madame Blavary, the Portuguele, appeared to entertain the fame opinion concerning the Count as V itellini; ibe was
perfuaded he poilefied the grand cymic art, and refolved to exert her abilities in order to participate the fruits o f it. T o effe<51: this, ihe thought it expedient to obtain the
aififtance o f one Scot, a man well known
from the ambiguity o f his chara&er, and
the pliability of his principles, which lait
he is ever ready to convert to the intereft of the prefent moment.
T his Proteus it was agreed ihould per- fonate a Scotch nobleman, whom Madame
Blavary was at a convenient opportunity to introduce to the Count. But before the
project was ripe for execution, ihe wasfeized
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( »4 )
feized with a fevere Cckncfs, in which ihe
again experienced the generality and hu
manity o f her benefactors. By the Count
and Madame Caglioftro ihe was provided
w ith a commodious apartment at a finall
diilance from their abode, in which they
daily vifited, and fupplied her with every
neceflary comfort.
T his conduCt did not, however, make
the leaft impreilion on the Portugcfe,
or divert the treacherous delign ihe had
formed. She difpatched a melTenger one
day ta inform the Count “ that Lord Scot,
“ o f whom ihe had before fpoken to
“ him , was arrived in town, and pro
“ pofed to him felf the honour o f an intro- “ duCtion that afternoon.” .
L ittle iuipeCting the treachery o f -a w o
man on whom they were daily exerciiing
aCts o f kindnefs, the Count and his Ladywere
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( *5 )
were eafily made the dupes o f this artifice
the pretended Lord Scot was at the appointed time received with that civility and refpedt due to his fuppofed rank. His ap«. pearance, indeed, did not altogether cor-
refpond with his pretenfions: but his infi-
nuating addrefs, and the fpecious apology he made for appearing in his travelling habit, quickly difperfed any ideas whichm ight ariie to his difadvantage on that ac-r
* ■
count. In this vifit Lord Scot exerted his
powers o f plpafing with fuch fuccefs that,
from that time, he became a conftant gueit
at the table o f the Count.
A few days after his introdu&jon, the
Count happening to remark the lofs attendant on the exchange o f foreign coins,
mentioned fome Portugueie pieces ; for
which he had received feven fhillings lefs
than their true value. Scot exclaimed that v
it was a grofs impofition, and offered toprocure
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procure thé exalt worth from his banker •
for which purpofe the Count put into his
poffeffion twelve pieces.
T w o days elapfed, during which Lord
Scot did not make his appearance: on the
third he returned apparently much cha
grined and agitated. T he Count inquired
into the caufe o f this alteration ; to which
Scot replied, that he had unfortunately loft the Portuguefe coins through a hole in his
pocket. Lamenting with many expreffions
o f concern, that his fituation was at pre
lent fuch as put it entirely out o f bis power
to replace them.
T h e inconûftency o f this tale m ail cer~
tainly have awakened the fuipicion o f any
one lefs credulous, or more acquainted with
die deceptions praltifed by iharpers to im -
pofc on the Unwary, than the Count. H e
however, not in the.leaft doubting the veracity
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rarity o f my Lord, entreated him to think
no more o f an affair fo trivial ¡ and gave
him an invitation to dine with him the
next day. It is natural to imagine the
Portuguefe pieces equipped Scot in a manner more fuitable to his aifumed rank. H e
appeared in a fplendid habit— his baggage
was arrived— and he talked largely o f introducing his lady, whom he hourly expelled from Scotland. In a few days Lady Scot was accordingly prefented to Madame
Caglioftro.
T he fabulous recital o f her misfortunes, and the extreme poverty which appeared
beneath the face o f affeded grandeur, excited the companion o f that lady. s She
fupplied her with money, clothes, and
every other neceifary o f which ihe evidently
Hood in need.
B The
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c .« )T he Count, likewife, not deter
red by the affair o f the Portuguefe pieces, had the generality to lend to her
and Scot two hundred pounds on their
fimple note of hand.
T h e lottery was at this time on the
point o f commencing. T h e daily dif-
courfes o f Scot on that fubjeCt, who, like
Vitellina, was addi&ed to all games o f chance, brought to the remembranct o f
Mr. Caglioftro a manufcript which he had
in his pofleffion. It contained many curious cabaliffic operations, by the aid o f
which, among other fecrets, the author fet
forth the poftibility o f calculating numbers
for lotteries. •
** I had ever,” fays M r. Caglioftro, ** coniidered this as a vague and enthufi-
“ aftic idea, but had long contracted the
** habit o f fufpcnding my judgment on** thofe
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( 19 - ) '
“ thofe things I had not particularly made
** the objed o f my fpeculations.”
H e was refolved, he tells us, to prove
the truth or falfehood o f this aflertion; and
by adhering to the rules propofed in the
manufcript, for the 6th o f November, pre- dided the N o. 20. On this Scot riiked a
trifle, and w o n : but by N o. 25, which
was calculated for the enfuing day, he
gained upwards o f a hundred guineas.
T he nnmbers 55 and 57 were announced
with eqnal fuccefs for the 18th o f the fame
month 1 the profits o f which day were
equally divided between Viteliini and the pretended Lady Scot.
“ Judge o f my aftoniihment,” fays the Count, “ at perceiving the exadnefs o f
“ thole calculations I had believed a merec h im e r a !’*
B z The
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( * ° )
The poflibility of fuch calculations I muft entirely fubmit to the determination of the reader; but was this uncommon fuc- cefs the effett of human ikUl or of entire chance ? The Count, from a point of delicacy, thought proper to refill: the repeated felicitations of Scot, 6cc. by refolutely re- fufing to predict other numbers. Scot exerted every effort to flrengthen his intereft with the Count. He prefented Madame Caglioftro with the trimming of a cloak worth four or five guineas; in return for which, as he would not mortify him by a xefufal, the Count pjefented him on the fame day with a gold box value twenty-five
guineas; and to free hiinielf from ■ farther importunity, ordered his fervant. to deny him both to Scot and Mifs Fry , which was the real name of his pretended lady.
The latter, however, in a few daysgained admiffion to Madame Caglioftro. 6 She
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(- ¿1 )i
She informed'her, in broken accents, accompanied with tears, that ihe was for ever ruined: Scot, the iaid, - to whom ihe had the weaknefs to be attached, having decamped with the profits arifing from the lottery, leaving her; with his three children, entirely7 deftitute. This imaginary tale produced the intended confequences. Madame Caglibilfo, touched with the pretended roifery o f her fituation, generoufly interceded with the Count in her behalf, who, atherrequeft, fent her a guinea, and, for.the enfuing day, the chance of number 8 . Fluihed with her former fuccefs, ihe now believed the calculations of her benefa&or invariable, and having procured caih on ber effects, ihe boldly riiked a confiderable fum on the above number: fate was again propitious, on the 7 th of December the number 8 emerged from the wheel of fortune. This extraordinary chance, on which the Count did not rifle a Angle
B 3 guinea,
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L 22 1guinea, returned to Scot and Mifs Fry, whofe difference was entirely fabulous, the
full fum o f fifteen hundred guineas.
T he lady, in the firil moment o f exultation, would have'fubmit ted to M f. CagU-
oftro the entire difpofal o f her new-iscquired
fortune: but* in the prefence of Vitellini,
he refufed to have any concern in it.“ Keep it, my good woman,” faid be, “ it “ is wholly your own. I f you. would follow - ** my advice, retire into the country with
** your three children, and live oh the intereft o f it— If I have obliged you, the only return I defire is, that you will never more
“ re-enter my doors.” She then endeavoured
to force on Madame Caglioilro an ivory
box, containing feveral bank notes, which
was likewife rejected by that lady.
T his golden fhower did not, however, fatisfy the avarice o f Mifs F r y ,. who ilill
fighed
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( *3 )
fighed for more numbers. She had, on
the commencement o f the lottery, agreed
to divide the lodes and the gains o f each
day with Vitellini; but perceiving the
fuccefs that conftantly awaited the calculated numbers, ibe found means to rid
herfelf o f an unprofitable incumbrance, by di.flolving the partnerihip.
‘ r
It was to his refentment, on this account, that ihe attributed the decline o f
her intereft with Mr. Caglioftro: Ihe con-
fidered it neceflary,. therefore, to foften
his difpleafure, and, by the moil prevailing o f all arguments, gold, fo far fuc-
ceeded in her endeavours, as entirely to
bring him over to her intereft *. She con-, fulted with him on the moft effectual means
* She gave him twenty guineas; but foon repenting of her liberality, made a debt of it, and threw him into Newgate ; from which prifon he was, after fom$ months, liberated by the generofity of the Count.
B 4 o f
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( 24 )
o f procuring other calculated numbers from
(he Count; but Vitellini being at a lofs
how to advife her in this bufinefs, (he began to think it the bed: expedient to enfure
the good offices o f Madame Caglioftro, and
the more firmly to engage that Lady in her
caufc, (he determined, if poffible, to bind
her by an obligation. T he difficulty was
in what manner to confer it, Madame Caglioftro having refufed the bank notes
(he had lately offered. After ruminating on
various fchemes, (he went to a pawn-bro
ker’s, in Princes-Street, where (he purchased a diamond necklace, value ninety four
pounds; and, having procured a fmall gold box divided into ttvo apertures, in one o f
them (he put the necklace, and in the other a
medicinal fnuff. Thus prepared, (he awaited the moment in which Madame Caglioftro was alone j and having introduced herfelf, opened that part o f the box which
contained the fnuff, and entreated her totake
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( 25 )
take a pinch, allegihg that it was extremely good for the eyes. T he Countefs praifed
the odour o f the fnuffj and Mifs Fry availed
herfelf o f this opportunity to entreat her acceptance o f the box that contained it.
For fome time it was ftrenuoufly refuted; but at length overcome by repeated foli-
citations, and ignorant till the ¿nfuing day
o f its more valuable contents, ihe yielded
to the entreaties o f this artful woman.
In January, 1777, the Count changed
his refidence to apartments in SuiFolk-
Street. This circumftance did not, how
ever, retard Mifs Fry in the protecution o f her defigns: (he was apprifed o f his re
moval by Vitellini, and hired an apartment for herfelf in the fame houfe. Here it was impoifible to avoid her : (he pretended
that her journey into the country was de
layed from want o f ready caih, having, (he
faid, fecured her money in fuch a manner,
as
/
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( * 6 )
as put it out o f her power to withdraw the
principal. She, therefore, entreated the
Count to extricate her from this embarraiT-
ment, by giving her numbers for the
French lottery. In anfwer to this requeft, M r. Caglioftro replied, that her fuccefs had
proceeded more from chance than calculation y but that was it effe&ed by the one
or the other, he was refolved to have no further concern in any thing o f that nature.
However, in confideration o f thepreient Ihe had impofed on Madame Caglioftro, and with the hopes o f being entirely rid
o f her, he gave her, by the hands o f that lady» fourteen Portuguefe pieces, value
fifty- pounds, and the next day ioquiredthe time ihe had fixed for her departure.
. • ' < *She replied, that the caih ihe had received
from the Countefs was infufficient to de
fray the expenfes o f her journey y and that ihe was thep going into the city, with the
hopes
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( *7 )
hopes o f procuring the payment pf four
hundred pounds, a debt, ihe faid, for fame
time due to her. A t her return, which,
was ppt till the evening, ihe informed
Madame Caglioftro, that ihe had beep disappointed o f the caih ihe expected, and
with tears, requeued her to engage the
Count in giving her numbers for the French
This laft effort, like the former, proving
unfuccefsful, determined her on the exe
cution, .of a long premeditated icheme j a
Scheme the m oil diabolic that ever entered into the heart o f .ingratitude 1. .
T he principal characters to be concerned
jn it were the pretended Lord Scot, M r, Reynolds, an attorney,who, notwithstanding
his expertnefs in the pettifogging finefle o f
the low law, could not preierve him felf
from an ignominious exhibition in the pil
lory.
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( 2& )lory. One Mitchell, of the fame profeffion, whofe character being lefs notorious than the above, it was thought prudent Mifs Fry, to avoid fufpicion, ihould nominate her attorney, and to this honourable group we may add Broad, the pretended fervant of the lady. *
Every thing being properly arranged, they procured an a&ion at the fuit of Mifs Fry, for one hundred'and ninety pounds,-' againfi the Count Caglioftro; which, ont the evening of the 7 th of February, was ferved on him by a iherifFs officer who then lived in Warwick Court, Holborn.
In the mean while Reynolds having lm-s pofed on the Count, by faying he was the Iheriff of London, who; bad authority for what he did, accompanied by Scot and
Broad,
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( *9 )Broad, entered an adjacent chamber, * and broke open a clofet, where the credulous Vitellini had allured them the manulcript by which the Count predicted the numbers, with a gold box containing a powder he made ufe of in the tranfmutation of metals, were depofited. With this imaginary treasure, they took pofieilion of feveral papers, among others the note of hand for the two hundred pounds the Count had lent to Scot and Mifs Fry. Mr. Caglioftro was then conduced to the houfe of the iherifFs officer, where he paffed the night. The next day, being defirous of regaining his liberty, he depofited in the hands of the above jewels to the amount of three or four hundred pounds j but Saunders, after alluring him every thing would be fafe in his poflef-
* The connivance of Saunders, the iheriiPs officer, who arrefted him, at this impoiition, clearly demon- ftrates that he likewife was concerned in the con- fpiracy.
fion,
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( 3° )fion, defired to have likewife the box and the necklace which Mifs Fty had prefented to Madame Caglioftro: thefe being deli« vered to him, he fuffered the Count to return to his own refidence.
The calm which fucceeded was but of ffiort continuance. Incredible as theie tranfa&ions may appear in a country renowned for freedom, he was on the pfe- ceeding night apprehended by virtue of a warrant taken out againft him by Mifs Fry; in which ihe charged both him and Madame Caglioftro with the praSHce o f w itch
cra ft. In this enlighted age, we ftiould have thought «ourfelves authoriied in fup- pofing that a charge of this nature would have been treated with the contempt it merited, fu ftice M ilk t had, however, the weaknefs, or the complaifance, on the Ample affidavit of the lady, to grant a warrant for the apprehending the Count and Madame Caglioftro on the above pre-
2 text.
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' ( 3* )text. The conftable, with the affiftance of fome guineas, was prevailed on to dif- penfe with their attendance till the juftice ihould require it the next day.
In the morning the Count received a vifit from Mr. Reynolds ; he paid him high compliments on the knowledge he fup- pofed him to poflefs} and by many arguments endeavoüred to perfuade him to divulge to him and Scot the manner in which he made ufe of the manufeript and the powder they had taken from him. ,
Scot, who during this converfation had concealed himfelf without the door, perceiving that the eloquence of Reynolds did not produce the defired effeét, rallied precipitately into the apartment, and, prefent- ing a piftol to the bread: of Mr. Caglioftro, threatened to difeharge it at that inftant, unlefs he confented to reveal the fecrets they
demanded.
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( 32 )demanded. Reynolds however condefcended to interpofe, and having di&rmed him, with great compofure began to renew his former entreaties.
The Count replied that folicitations and threats were equally in vain, that the ob- jefts they had unjuftly deprived him of, were totally ufelefs to any one but him- felf ; and that if they would difcharge the afiion, and return the box and the manuscript, he would think no more of the note of hand they had robbed him of, and would give up to them the effects deposited in the hands of Saunders. Seeing there was no better alternative, they accepted this pro- pofition, and immediately repaired to the houfe of the iherifFs officer, in order to appoint a meeting to conclude the affair, but Saunders perceiving there was no hopes of his lharing the booty with them, and being unwilling to lofe fight of a prize fo
confiderà ble,
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( 33 )considerable, previouily advifcd the Count not to compromife the matter* but to make oath, when, purfuant to the warrant, he Should appear before the j u (lice, of die things they had robbed himof, by which their «¿lion müft neceflarily fall to the ground» The Count had experienced too much ill treatment not to profit by this feafonable advice; he followed the diredions of Saunders, by which means four warrants were immediately granted for thé apprehending of Scot, Reynolds, Mifs Fry, and Broad. The lady was, however, the only one taken into cullody. She appeared before the Juftice, accompanied by two coun- fellors, Mr. Low and Mr. Delamain, whofc eloquence foon extricated her out of this difagreeable predicament. For, not- withftanding the bill of two hundred pounds was feen in her pofleifion, yet as ihe did not perfonally enter the apartment at the time =2= c of
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( 3+ )of the robbery, thefc was not fufficient proof to commit her.
In the months of February and March the Count was continually haraffed with pretended a&ions, alternately at the requell of Scot and Mifs Fry, by whom they were fabricated, merely with the view of troubling his repofe, and extorting money from him, as he was ufually conllrained to free him* felf at the expenfe of fome guineas.
Mr. Saunders, the IherifFs officer, ex- preffed great concern at thefe perfections; though the remedy he propofed was not entirely difinterefted: he advifed the Count to take an apartment in his houfe, where only, he allured him, his perfon would be fafe. However this propofal might have been received hy an Englilhman, we mull not be furprifed if it operated differently on a foreigner unacquainted with the cuf-
toms
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( 35 )toms and manners of the country. Saunders at that time kept a carriage, and appeared to the Count, in every refpeit, a man
i ‘of property and character. Defirous therefore of .purchafing tranquillity, he, without heiltation, confented to his propofal *.
During the refidence of Mr. Caglioftro in the houfe of this iherifFs officer, he daily defrayed the expenfes of the diilrefled pri- ioners confined there, and frequently releafed thofe whole debts were of fmall amount.
It was here he became acquainted with* If we place confidence in the Editor of the Courier
de l’Europe, we fha.ll believe that'Mr. Caglioftro was, from poverty, conftrained to take up his abode in the houfe of this fheriiPs officer; but the falfrhood of the afiertion is evidently proved by its abfurdity. Thofe perfons at leaft who have, at any period of their lives, unfortunately had connexions with people of the above defcription, will readily agree, that it is not to them poverty muft fly for a retreat. - -
C 2 M r.
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( 36 )Mr. Piiddle, an attorney, equally known by the depravity of his heart, and the ftrength of his abilities} he was in traduced to the Count bÿ Saunders, as a proper perfon to tr an fait his bufinefs with regard to Mifs Fry, &c. And as Mr. Priddle vaunted his talents ai»d probity with his ufual addrefs, the Count thought he could not do better than employ him.
At the end of fix weeks Mr. Cagli- oftro quitted his temporary abode} nor was it without fenfible regret that Saunders faw himfelf deprived of io beneficial a ledger. But on the 24th of May he had the pteafure of reconduding him to his houfe, Mifs Fry having on that day taken out a writ againfi: him for two hundred pounds.
The Count, however, took the neceiTary precautions to regain his liberty, by pro' viding
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( 37 )vfcJing bail for his appearance; when he was permitted once more to return to his apartments.
On the 27th of June the caufe wherein Mifs Fry Was plaintiff, and Mr. Cagli- oftro defendant, was to be tried in the court of King’s Bench; but Lord Mansfield perceiving the intricacy and confufion which encompaffed the &£ts, propofed to the counfel; Mr. Wallace for the Count, and Mr; Dunning for Mifs Fry, to have the affair decided by arbitration, and recommended Mr. Howarth for the arbitrator.
This being agreed to on the 4th of July, . 1777» the parties, their lawyers and wit- nefles, Were to adjourn before him; but how great was the furprize and indignation of Mr. Caglioftro, when Mr. ’Priddle, whom he had employed as his attorney, refuted to appear with him before the ar
bitrator:
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( 38 )bitrator: felicitations were of no avail, and the Count, unacquainted as he was with the Engliih language, and with the forms of judicature, was con drained to defend his caulc through Vitellini, who, it is needlefs to remind the reader, was a foreigner like* wife, and fecretly attached to the intereft of his adveriarie .
The firft object that came under the inipeltion of Mr. Howarth, was the writ of February the feventh, 1777, wherein Mifs Fry averted, that, the Count was indebted to her the fum of; one hundred and ninety pounds for money lent.
This demand was, however, fet afide by Mr. Howarth, as the deponent could notbring any fatisfaftory proof of its legality.
; • . . . . rThe warrant of the ninth of the fame
month, in which the charged the Countand
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( 39 )and Madame Caglioftro with the practice o f
\witchcraft *, was too ridiculous to require the ferious attention of Mr. Howarth. The laft writ againft the Count, of the 24th of May, was for two hundred pounds, which Mifs Fry pretended to have paid for a quantity of fequins purchafed for his ufe. The entire falfehood of this atteilation was rendered confpicuous by the prevarication of the deponent and her witnefs.
/Mr. Howarth demanded in what man
ner ihe obtained the fequins ? Mifs Fry referred him to Broad, her witnefs; who replied, that “ he bought them for her of a 4t merchant, whofe name he could not re“ collett.”
Mr. Howarth then faid, ** there muft
* As the Count had thrown in an appeal from this warrant into the court of King’s Bench, it came under the inveftigation of Mr. Howarth.
C 4 ** have
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( 4° )“ have been a large quantity of fequins to ** have amounted to two hundred pounds; •* and that he did not believe any mer** chant could have in referve fo great a ** number.”
• Broad replied, that “ it was not one
1• merchant who furnifhed him with the ,e whole, but that he believed he had been “ with fo u r jcore to complete the number.”
He was then dciired to declare the name, er place of abode, of any one of the four feore, but without effeft.
Mils Fry now endeavoured to difentangle her evidence, by faying that ** the four hun** dred fequins were brought to her by a ** Jew, of whqfe name ihe likewife was ** ignorant.”
This palpable, con tradition of all thather
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( 4 * )
tier witnefs had before advanced; the entire filcnce on the lour hundred (equins in the former writ; her path before the juft ice of peace; and, above all, the abfurdity of her atteftation, too clearly demonftrated her perjury to be miftaken by the arbitrator, who feverely reprimanded both her and her witnefs.
Confuted on thefe points, Ihe now laid claim to the necklace, and the gold box (he prelented to Madame Caglioftro.
The Count being aiked by Mr. Howarth, What he had to fay againft; this new preten fion ? replied that, “ he was conictoiis *.* he had a right to retain the two obje<3s f* in queftion, not only bccaufe Mifs Fry ** had abiolutely given them to his Lady, ** but becaufe (he was indebted to him for “ money lent to their double and triple ** value ;” but added, “ that he did not
** wi(h
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( 4* ) .“ wifh to exert the power he confidered ** himfelf in this cafe veiled with, but was “ ready to reflore them, as he had former“ ly offered to do. .
Mr. Howarth’s final judgment on this caufe was as follows: he decreed the necklace and the box to be returned to Mifs Fry, and condemned the Count to all ex- penfes of the fuit, which were to be paid, and the box and necklace returned« on the 17th of November following. .
<l The injuitice of this fentence,” fays the Count, “ rendered me unjuil myfelf; “ I attributed to the whole nation the “ faults of a few individuals, and deter** mined to leave a place in which I dif- “ covered neither laws, juflice, nor hof“ pitality.”
Was it not for the eflablifhed and un-blemifhed
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( 43 )blemiihed reputation of the arbitrator, we mu ft certainly agree with the Count, in confidering the judgment awarded him a . partial one ; but when we remember that Mr. Caglioftro, from the abfence of his attorney, was conftrained to reft a confider- able part of his juftification on Vitellini, whofe imperfed accent, and uncouth delivery, was not calculated to reprefent advan tageoufly, fads in themfelves highly romantic; and that falfehood, fupported by the eloquence of a Dunning, too frequently conceals her natural deformity, we ihall ceafe to wonder at the decree of Mr« Howarth. Nor do I mean by this to reded on .the difcernment of that gentleman; the higheft human underftanding is not always exempt from error!
A few days after the arbitration, Mr. Badioli, one of the Count’s bail, called on him, and propofed that they ihould
take
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( 44 )take an airing together, which being agreed to, they fet out. In their way they alighted at a judge’s chambers,where Mr. Badioli faid he had bufinefs to fettle: they then again entered the coach, which in a fhort time flopped before an edifice of which the Count was ignorant. However, his companion entering, he followed his example; when Mr. Badioli making a flight apology, defired him to wait there a few minutes while he tranfaded fome bufinefs not far, from thence; faying which, he left him. Minutes and hours elapfed, but no Mr. Badioli appeared. The Count then endeavoured to return through the doof' at which they entered, but found himfelt repulfed, though he was ignorant of the caufe. He remained till evening in the greatefl agitation of mind, roving from place bo place, when he attraded the ob- fervation of a foreigner, who having heard his flory, and made the necefiary inquiries,
2 informed
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< 45 )
informed him he was a prifoner in the King’s Bench.
The reader "will eafily imagine the af- toniihment of Mr. Caglipftro at this information, which was indeed but too true. Mr. Badioli repenting of the engagement he had entered into, had taken this method of furrendering the Count, in order to dif- charge himfelf and the other bail.
If the fituation of Mr. Cagliftro was dif- treffing, what muft not have been that of his lady? Two days had elapfed, nor had ihe been able to obtain any information concerning him j on the third her anxiety was relieved by Mr. O’Reilly, who being accidentally introduced to the Count, at his requeft, went immediately to inform her of what had happened. Nor did this gentleman’s good offices reft here ; touched with the recital of the Count’s perfecu-tions,
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( 4« )tions, he refolved to exert his efforts to procure his enlargement. But this could not be effe&ed till his adverfaries coniented to accept of other bail, which they could refufe, till the end of the vacation. Mr. O’Reilly, however, with the affiftance of Mr. Sheridan, a young couniellor, fur- mounted this obffacle, by expoiing to Lord Mansfield the villany of his perfecutors; who not only detained his pcrfon, but his property likevvife, which flill remained in the hands pf the fheriiTs officer. In con- ieqnence of which, that great magiftrate lent an order to compel Mifs Fry’s attorney to accept the bail offered.
The Count was preparing to leave the King’s Bench, when Mr. Crifp, the under marfhal of that prifon, informed him, that one Aylett had lodged a detainer againft him, by the name of Melifa Caglioffro, otherwife Jofeph Balfamo, for a debt of
ten
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( 47 )ten pounds and upward; The Count« in the utmoft furprife, declared he was entirely ignorant of the perion at whoiè fuit the detainer was lodged; and defirous of regaining his liberty, offered to give * bail.
* Mr. Aylett pretends that this fum was due to him from one Jofcph Balfamo, by whom he was employed in the year 1772 to recover a debt of a Dr. Benemore. Mr. Aylett fays, he had not feen his client from that time till 1777, when, being one day in Weftminfter Hall, he perceived aperfon whom he immediately recognized to be the faid Jofegh Balfamo: but inftead of accofting him, and making his demand, as every one will naturally expe&, he fays he was at infinite pains to find out the place of his abode; and at length, with much difficulty, learnt that the perfon
* he had feen was in the King’s Bench prifon, at the fuit of a Mrs. Fry ; and that his name was Cagliojlro. Upon this information, without firft obtaining an interview to make his demand, and afcertain the identity of the man he arrefted, he lays a detainer againfl: the Count, by adding the name of Jofeph Balfamo to that of Caglioftro. The ambiguous manner in which this affair was conduced, cannot but awaken in the mind of the unprejudiced reader, afufpicion that Aylett was kept by Mifs Fry and her party as a coup de referee% to bring forward when occafion ihould render it necef* fary ; nor does thé chara£ter of this attorney perfuade us to relinquifli the idea ; as the poet fays, ‘
“ A loft good name is ne'er regain'd.” Mr.
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( 4* )
Mr. Crifp told him, that lie could hot accept bail without the confent of Mr. Aylett; but at the fame time faid, if he would depoik in his hands thirty pounds to indemnify him, he would agree to his enlargement. The Count affected; but not having fufficient cafh about him, defired Mr. O’Reilly to open his trunk, which was packed for his departure, and deliver plate to that amount to Mr. Crifp, which he would redeem the next day.
Mr. O’Reilly complied, and the follow-* ing is the exaft copy of the acknowledgment given by the under marihal, on the receipt of it.
September 24, 1777.
«« Received from Mr. Peter Reilly two 4* foup ladles, two candlefticks, two fait ** cellars, two pepper caftors, fix forks, fix ** table fpoons, nine knife handles ,with
“ blades
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( 49 )“ b l a d e s , a p a i r o f f n u i f e r s a n d ( l a n d , a l l
« * o f f i l v e r , w h i c h a r e t o r e m a i n w i t h m e
" a s a f e c u r i t y t o i n d e m n i f y m e i n a c a u f e
* * o f a c t i o n a g a i n f t J o f e p h C a g l i o f t r o , n o w
* * i n m y c u f t o d y a t t h e f u i t o f A y l e t t ,
“ a t t o r n e y a t l a w ; a n d I p r o m i f e , t h a t w h e n
* ( t h e f a i d a d i o n ( h a l l b e d i f c h a r g e d , o r b a i l
“ p u t i n a n d j u f t i f i e d f o a s t o d i f c h a r g e m e ,
“ o r t h e m a r i h a l o f t h e K i n g ’ s B e n c h , f r o m
“ a n y a d i o n , f o r e f c a p e o r o t h e r w i f e , f r o m
u t h e f a i d A y l e t t , o n a c c o u n t o f t h e f a i d
* * c a u f e , t h e n t o d e l i v e r t o M r . R e i l l y , o r
“ h i s o r d e r , o r r e p r e f e n t a t i v e , t h e f a i d a r t i -
“ c l e s f o d e p o f i t e d w i t h m e , o n p a y m e n t
“ o f a l l f e e s . B u t i n c a f e t h e a & i o n i s n o t
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c o n v e y i n g t h e t h i r t y p o u n d s t o M r . C r i l p ;
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l u f i o n b e t w e e n P r i d d l e , S a u n d e r s , a n d M i l s
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a n d t h e b o x w e r e r e t u r n e d t o f W i f s F r y ;
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( 52 )h i m t o B r u f l e l s , w h e r e h e a w a i t e d t o r e
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( 55 )T h e C o u n t , h a v i n g l e f t i n f t r u & i o n s w i t h
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e n t r e a t i e s o f t h e C a r d i n a l , w i t h w h o m h e
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b e o u t o f d a n g e r . T h e C o u n t , t h e r e f o r e ,
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f a y s h e , • * * t o r e a p t h e g l o r y o f a c u r e
* c t h a t c o u l d n o t b e a f e r i b e d t o m e . ”
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( 56 )“ f i d e n c e . ” T h e C a r d i n a l a c c o m p a n i e d
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w h e r e h e r e f u m e d h i s u f u a l o c c u p a t i o n s :
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t h e a t t e n d a n t o n d e e d s o f v i r t u e . T h e
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t h e m a n o f f o u r t e e n h u n d r e d y e a r s o l d , & c .
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( 58 )f r i e n d i h i p c o u l d u r g e , “ h e a r r i v e d , ” h e
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m o n i e s . ”
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p r i e d i h e , “ m e t h i n k s I f e e t h e q u e e n . ”
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p f t h e Q u e e n . * * A i k t h e l a d y , ” f a i d t h e
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f * c o n f e q u e n c e s w o u l d e n f u e . ” “ I c o r n *
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4 t w o m a n . ” T h e C a r d i n a l e n d e a v o u r e d
t o i m p r e f s h i m w i t h m o r e f a v o u r a b l e i d e a s ,
b y . a l l u r i n g h i m t h a t i h e w a s a v e r y h o n e f t
c r e a t u r e , b u t i n d i f t r e f l e d c i r c u m f t a n c e s .
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b e b e t t e r p r o v i d e d f o r . S o o n a f t e r f h i s t h e
p a r d i n a l f e t o u t f o r S a v e r n e , w h e r e h e c o n * -
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t u r n t o P a r i s h i s v i f i t s b e c a m e m o r e f r e
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t h a t f e e w a s t h o u g h t f u l a n d c h a g r i n e d .
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l e n g t h t h e - C a r d i n a l o n e d a y f a i d t o h i m ,
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t f t o M a d a m e d e l a M o t t e . ” H e t h e n , f o r t h e
f i r f t t i m e , r e l a t e d t o h i m w h a t h a d p a i T e d
b e t w e e n t h e m c o n c e r n i n g t h e n e c k l a c e ;
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h i m t h e p r e c e d i o g e v e n i n g , h a d f l e d f o r
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w a s b u t o n e w a y l e f t b y w h i c h h e c o u l d
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l a y i n g t h e w h o l e m a t t e r b e f o r e t h e K i n g
a n d h i s M i n i f t e r s . T h e C a r d i n a l r e p l y i n g ,
t h a t a f t e p o f t h i s n a t u r e w o u l d d o v i o l e n c e
to h i s f e e l i n g s — “ I n t h i s c a f e , ” l a i d t h e
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t h e 1 9 t h o f A u g u f t , c o n v e y e d t o t h e B a f t i l e .
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t h e f a m e f a t e . T o w h i c h h e r e p l i e d , t h a t ,
b e i n g c o n f c i o u s o f h i s i n n o c e n c e , h e w a s
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t h i s f o r t i t u d e j f o r , o n t h e 2 3 d o f A u g u f t ,
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( 76 )C a g l i o f t r o ? O n t h i s a c c o u n t h e w a s m a d e
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t h e C o u n t h i m f e l f .
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r o r s — t h e B a r t i l e . *
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t o b e c o u n t e r f e i t e d . T h e C o m m i f l a r y p e r
i l l e d i n h i s r e f o l u t i o n j a n d “ M y w i f e / '
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k e y s r e m a i n e d i n t h e b u r e a u a u d d r a w e r s :
t h e r o o m d o o r o n l y w a s l o c k e d .
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i n t o a c o a c h , a n d c a r r i e d t o t h e B a i l i l e j
t o w h i c h p l a c e t h e b a n d b o x , t h o u g h b y
n o m e a n s a r e g u l a r p r o c e e d i n g , w a s c o n *
v e y e d l i k e w i f e ; a n d , w i t h t h e k e y s o f t h e
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T h e t w o f o l l o w i n g d a y s M r . C a g l i o f t f o
u n d e r w e n t a m i n i f t e r i a l e x a m i n a t i o n ; w h e n
t h e L i e u t e n a n t o f t h e p o l i c e p r o p o f e d t h a t
t h e b o x t h o u l d b e o p e n e d i n h i s p r e f e n c e :
b u t t h i s w a s o p p o f e d b y t h e g o v e r n o r o f t h e
B a f t i l e a s u n n e c e i T a r y .
T h e C o u n t f r e q u e n t l y i n t e r r o g a t e d h i «
j a i l e r s c o n c e r n i n g M a d a m e C a g l j o f t r o »
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p r i f o n e r i n t h e B a f t i l e t o r e m a i n i g n o r a n t
o f e v e r y t h i n g t r a n f a d l e d a b r o a d , t h e y
w o u l d i o l e m n l y a f f i r m , t h a t ( h e w a s n o t
i n c o n f i n e m e n t . .
T h e C o u n t , h o w e v e r , a t l e n g t h o b t a i n e d
p e r m i f f i o n t o w r i t e t o h e r ; b u t , i n o r d e r
t o k e e p h i m f t i l l i n d a r k n e f s , t h e y d e v i l e d
t h e f o l l o w i n g f c h e m e :
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r e c e i v e h i s l e t t e r s , o n l y o n c o n d i t i o n t h a t
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( 8o )file f i i o u l d a n f w e r t h e m u n d e r t h e d i & i o n o f
o n e o f t h e p r i n c i p a l o f f i c e r s , a l w a y s i n f o r m
i n g t h e C o u n t t h a t i h e w a s a t h o m e u n - *
m o l e f t e d , a n d t a k i n g f u c h f t e p s a s w o u l d *
i n a i h o r t t i m e , r e f t o r e h i m t o f r e e d o m .
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t h e p a i n o f k n o w i n g t h a t h e r f i t u a t i o n w a s
e q u a l l y m e l a n c h o l y w i t h h i s n o w . “ I f , ” f a y s ;
t h e C o u n t , “ I w a n t e d c l o t h e s o r l i n e n , I
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* * w i f e . ”
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< 8i )t h e f a m e d a y h e e n t e r e d i t . H e w a s l i k e *
w i f e t h e n p e r m i t t e d t o f e e c o u n f e l , a n d i n *
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l e n t t o h i s a t t o r n e y o f t h e c a i h a n d p a p e r s
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t h r e e R o m a n a n d V e n e t i a n f e q u i n s .
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c e r t i f i c a t e s a n d o t h e r p a p e r s . T h e
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l e t t e r , t r a n s f e r r e d h i s t r u i l t o M r . T h o m a s
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C o u n t a s a p r o p e r p e r f o n t o n e g o t i a t e h i s
a f i a i r s o n h i s a r r i v a l .
T h i s g e n t l e m a n w a s f o r m e r l y a p r o p r i
e t o r o f t h e C o u r i e r d e l ’ E u r o p e , a n d i t i l l
r e c e i v e s a n e m o l u m e n t f r o m i t . H e w a s
m a n y y e a r s w e l l k n o w n a s a W i n e - m e r
c h a n t , b u t a t p r e f e n t k e e p s a n u r f e r y o f f o
r e i g n p l a n t s , i n S l o n e - S t r e e t , K n i g h t i b r i d g e .
M r .
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( 95 )M r * d e V i n e a c c o m p a n i e d t h e C o u n t a s
f a r a s B o l o g n e , ■ w h e r e h e l e f t h i t n a n d
M a d a m e C a g l i o f t r o t o p u r f u e t h e i r j o u r n e y
t o E n g l a n d . O n t h e a r r i v a l , a g r e e a b l e t o
t h e a d v i c e o f M r . d e V i n e , t h e C o u n t w e n t ,
i m m e d i a t e l y t o M r . S w i n t o n , w h o h i r e d
l o d g i n g s f o r h i m ; a n d , f o m e t i m e a f t e r , a
h o u f e a d j o i n i n g t o h i s o w n . M r . S w i n -
t o n , w h o h a d h e a r d o f t h e C o u n t ’ s r e p u t e
d u r i n g h i s r e f i d e n c e a t S t r a f b u r g h , n o w
t h o u g h t h i s f o r t u n e m a d e * H i s p l a n w a s ,
t o c o m m e n c e a p o t h e c a r y , a n d t o v e n d t h e
m e d i c i n e s p r e f e r i b e d b y M r . C a g l i o f t r o . H e
b e g a n b y e a r n e f t l y f o l i c i t i n g h i m t o g i v e
p u b l i c a u d i e n c e s , a s h e h a d d o n e a t S t r a f -
b u r g h a n d B o u r d e a u x . T h e C o u n t r e a d i l y
a l i e n t e d ; a n d a c c o r d i n g l y a d m i n i f t e r e d h i s
a d v i c e , a n d d i f t r i b u t e d m e d i c i n e s g r a t i s , t o
a l l w h o a p p l i e d t o h i m . B u t w h e n M r .
S w i n t o n p r o p o f e d o p e n i n g a d r u g g i f t ’ s ( h o p ,
h e d e c l i n e d t h e p r o p o f i t i o n , j u f t l y f e a r i n g
t h e w o r l d m i g h t f t i f p e d h e h a d p a r t o f t h e
e m o l u m e n t s .
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( 96 )e m o l u m e n t s . N 6 t l o n g a f t e r h i s a r r i v a l
i n E n g l a n d o n e o f h i s p r e t e n d e d f r i e n d s
f e n t h i m a n i n f l a m m a t o r y l e t t e r , r e f l e c t
i n g o n t h e f i r f t M i n i i l e r o f S t a t e , t h e
Q u e e n , a n d t h e l a w s e x i f l i n g i n F r a n c e ;
r e q u e f l i n g h i m t o p u t h i s n a m e t o i t , a n d g e t
i t p u b l i i h e d i n E n g l a n d . T h e C o u n t , i r r i
t a t e d p e r h a p s b y n i n e m o n t h s u n m e r i t e d
i m p r i f o n m e n t , a n d b y a n e x i l e e q u a l l y u n
j u f t , i m p r u d e n t l y c o m p l i e d w i t h t h i s r e -
q u e f t , a n d c i r c u l a t e d t h e a b o v e l e t t e r *
t h r o u g h L o n d o n , n o t w i t h f t a n d i n g t h e p e r -
f u a f i o n s o f M r . O ’ R e i l l y t o t h e c o n t r a r y ,
w i t h w h o m h e h a d r e n e w e d h i s f o r m e r i n * *
t i m a c y .
O n t h e t w e n t i e t h o f A u g u f t , 1 7 8 6 , M .
d ’ A r r a g o n , S e c r e t a r y t o t h e F r e n c h A m b a f -
* T h is was frd h m atter fo r the E d ito r o f the C o u rie r
de l ’Europe to proceed upon, w ho d id n o t fu ffe r fo fa
vourable a circum ftance to pafs unnoticed. •
fadoiV
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f a d o r , w a i t e d o n t h e C o u n t t o i n f o r m h i m
t h a t h i s M o i l C h r i f t i a n M a j e f t y g a v e h i m
p e r m i f f i o n t o r e t u r n t o h i s d o m i n i o n s a t p l e a -
f u r e . T h e C o u n t i n q u i r e d , W h e t h e r M r .
B a r t h e l e m v h a d r e c e i v e d t h o f e o r d e r s f r o m *
h i s M a j e f t y ? T h e f e c r e t a r y r e p l i e d t h a t ,
i f h e w o u l d t a k e t h e t r o u b l e o f g o i n g t o
t h e H o t e l d e F r a n c e b e t w e e n t h e h o u r s o f
e l e v e n a n d t w e l v e t h e n e x t d a y , t h e A m -
b a f t a d o r w o u l d g i v e h i m a l l t h e f a t i s f a f t i o n
h e r e q u i r e d .
M . B e r g e r e t d e F r o u v i l l e , a n d L o r d
G e o r g e G o r d o n , w h o h a d a b o u t t h i s t i m e
b e e n i n t r o d u c e d t o t h e C o u n t b y M r . S w i n -
t o n , h a p p e n e d t o b e w i t h h i m w h e n M .
d ’ A r r o g a n a r r i v e d . O n b e i n g m a d e a c
q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e p u r p o r t o f h i s v i f i t , t h e y
o b f e r v e d t o t h e C o u n t , t h a t , a s i t w a s p o f f i -
b l e t h e r e m i g h t b e t r e a c h e r y i n t h e a f f a i r ,
h e c o u l d n o t w i t h p r u d e n c e g o t o t h e A m -
b a f l a d o r a l o n e . M r . C a g l i o f t r o a c q u i e f c i n g
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< 98 )i n t h i s o p i n i o n , L o r d G e o r g e G o r d o n a n d
M . d e F r o u v i l l e o f f e r e d t h e i r f e r v i c e s t o
a c c o m p a n y h i m t h e n e x t d a y . T h e A m -
b a f f a d o r , f u r p r i f e d a t t h e i n t r u i i o n o f t w o
G r a n g e r s , r e q u e f t e d t h e i r a b f e n c e w h i l e
h e d e l i v e r e d h i s b u f i n e f s t o t h e C o u n t
C a g l i o f t r o : b u t L o r d G e o r g e G o r d o n ,
p r o m p t n o d o u b t b y z e a l f o r a f o r e i g n e r
u n d e r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f E n g l i f h l a w s , a b -
f o l u t e l y i n f i f t e d o n b e i n g p r e f e n t d u r i n g
t h e i r i n t e r v i e w .
M r . B a r t h é l é m y i n f o r m e d t h e C o u n t ,
t h a t h e h a d o r d e r s t o g i v e h i m p e r m i f l i o n
t o r e t u r n t o F r a n c e ; a n d p r o d u c e d a l e t t e r
f r o m t h e B a r o n B r e t e u i l i n w h i c h t h e y
w e r e c o n t a i n e d . M r . C a g l i o f t r o e x p r e i f e d
h i s a f t o n i i h m e n t t h a t a f i m p l e l e t t e r o f t h e
B a r o n B r e t e u i l f h o u l d b e a b l e t o r e v o k e
t h e lettre de cachet, b y w h i c h h e h a d b e e n
e x i l e d . O n t h i s M r . B a r t h é l é m y f a i d h e
h a d e x e c u t e d h i s o r d e r s , a n d c o u l d n o t
e n t e r
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( 99 )e n t e r i n t o a n y f a r t h e r d e t a i l . T h e C o u n t
t h e n d e f i r e d h e w o u l d l e t h i m h a v e t h e
B a r o n ’ s l e t t e r , o r a t l e a f t a c o p y o f i t : b o t h
w h i c h w e r e r e f u f e d . “ T h e r e w a s c e r
* * t a i n l y , ” f a y s M r * C a g l i o f t r o , “ n o t h i n g
“ u n r e a f o n a b l e i n w h a t I f a i d t o M r . B a r - *
“ t h e l e m y ; I c o u l d n o t w i t h p r u d e n c e ^ r e
“ t u r n t o F r a n c e , w i t h o u t h a v i n g i n m y p o f -
“ f e f f i o n a lettre de cactyé r e v o e a t i v e o f t h e
* * f i r f t . H o w c o u l d I h a v e a n f w e r e d t h e
u G o v e r n o r o f B o l o g n e , o r o f C a l a i s , w h e n
“ t h e y h a d d e m a n d e d b y w h a t a u t h o r i t y . 1
* * l a n d e d a t F r a n c e , a f t e r t h e p r o h i b i t i o n o f
u n o t r e - e n t e r i n g i t o n p a i n o f d i f o b e -
“ d i e n c e ? W o u l d t h e y n o t h a v e p e r f o r m e d
< c t h e i r d u t y i n f o r c i n g m e t o r e - e m b a r k ,
* * o r i n m a k i n g m e t h e i r p r i f o n e r , t i l l M .
“ l e B a r o n d e B r e t e u i l i h o u l d c o n f i r m t h e
* * n e w s u p o n t h e f a i t h o f w h i c h I h a d
“ q u i t t e d E n g l a n d ? ”
- G t T h e
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( IOO )T h e C o u n t a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t M r . B a r
t h é l é m y , t h o u g h h e d i d n o t a p p e a r f a t i s f i e d
w i t h t h e i n t r u i i o n o f L o r d G e o r g e G o r d o n ,
c o n d u c e d h i m f e l f w i t h g r e a t p r o p r i e t y .
B u t L o r d G e o r g e , n o t t h i n k i n g h i m f e l f
t r e a t e d w i t h t h a t r e f p e f t h e c o n c e i v e d d u e t a
h i s r a n k , t h e n e x t d a y p u b l i f h e d i n t h e
G a z e t t e e r a l e t t e r r e f l e c t i n g o n t h e A m b a f l â -
d o r , t h e Q u e e n o f F r a n c e , & c . I n c o n f e
r e n c e o f w h i c h t h e C o u r t o f F r a n c e c o m
m e n c e d t h e p r o c e f s a g a i n f t h r m w h i c h h a s
o c c a f i o n e d h i s l a t e d e p a r t u r e f r o m E n g l a n d .
E v e r y f i n c e r e w e l l - w i l h e r t o t h e C o u n t
m a i l l a m e n t h i s i n t i m a c y w i t h a n o b l e m a n
w h o f e i l l f a t e d e n t h u f i a f m h a s j u f t l y r e n
d e r e d h i m a n o b j e d t o f u n i v e r f a l c e n f u r e .
T h e f r i e n d i h i p o f L o r d G e o r g e G o r d o n ,
t h o u g h p r o b a b l y w e l l m e a n t , e i f e n d a i l y
i n j u r e d M r . C a g l i o i l r o i n t h e o p i n i o n o f
b o t h n a t i o n s . S o t r u e i t i s , t h a t o u r c h a
r a c t e r i s i n g e n e r a l d a m p e d f r o m t h o f e
w i t h w h o m w e a f l o c i a f e ,
. 4 )0Ut
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( IQ I )
About a month after the Count’s interview with Mr. Barth elemy the latter waited on him with a lettre de cachett
in due form, confirming his Majefty’s former recall, • but with this difference, that it permitted him to remain in France no longer than the judgment o f his procefs
againfl Sieur Launay amd CommiJJary Chefnon.
Mr. Cagljoftro did not avail himfelf of this permiflion. ** It is natural, ’ fays he, ** for the man who has, without caufe, been nine months immured in the Baftile, and
“ on his difeharge received for damages a
“ letter of exile, to ftartle at fhadows, and “ to perceive a fnare in every thing that “ furrounds him. The intentions of his *' Majefty are undoubtedly juft; but «* the conditions expreifed in the lettre
«* de cachit are fufficient to alarm me. “ My procefs judged — my letter of recall ** are no longer a protect ion to my perfon,
G 3 whih
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- ( 102 )f ‘ w h i c h t h e ‘ n e x t h o u r b e c o m e s l i a b l e t o
“ a n a r r e f t , ”
M r . O ’ R e i l l y , t o w h o f e g o o d ' o f f i c e s - t h e
C o u n t h a d b e e n f o p a r t i c u l a r l y i n d e b t e d i n
t h e y e a r 1 7 7 7 , w a s n o w f r e q u e n t l y w i t h
h i m , ' t o t h e g r e a t d i f f a t i s f a i l i o n o f M r ,
S w i n t o n , w h o , w i t h t h e u t m o f t a f f i d u i t y ,
e n d e a v o u r e d t o p r e c l u d e a l l a p p r o a c h e s t h a t
m i g h t e n a b l e t h e C o u n t t o d i f c o v e r t h e d u r
p l i c i t y o f h i s c o n d u i t . T o b r e a k o f f t h i s
c o n n e x i o n , a n d d e f t r o y t h a t c o n f i d e n c e M r .
C a g l i o f t r o p l a c e d i n h i s f r i e n d , h e r e p r e -
f e n t e d t o h i m t h a t M r . O ’ R e i l l y ’ s a f f a i r s
b e i n g e m b a r r a f f e d , i t w a s p r o b a b l e h e h a d
p a i d h i s o w n d e b t s w i t h t h e m o n e y h e
h a d r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e C o u n t t o f u r n i i h h i s
h o u f e j a n d t h a t t h e b i l l s m i g h t b e b r o u g h t
t o h i m f o r p a y m e n t . T h i s i n f i n u a t i o n p r o
d u c e d a c o o l n e f s o n t h e p a r t o f t h e C o u n t
t o w a r d s M r . 0 ?R e i l l y , w h i c h t h e l a t t e r
r e l e n t i n g ^ w i t h d r e w h i q f e l f f r o m S l o n e -
S t r e e t ,
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( io3 )S t r e e t , a n d f o r a t i m e r e t i r e d i n t o t h e
c o u n t r y .
M r . S w i n t o n , h a v i n g f u c c e e d e d t h u s f a r
i n h i s d e f i g n , r e d o u b l e d h i s a f f i d u i t y t o
w a r d t h e C o u n t , a n d r e n e w e d h i s f o r m e r
p r o p o f a l s o f o p e n i n g a d r u g g i f t ’ s i h o p , a n d
b e c o m i n g h i s a p o t h e c a r y ; b u t , p e r c e i v i n g
h e w a s t o t a l l y a v e r f e t o t h e f c h e m e , h e
f e n t a n o t e t o h i m b y h i s d a u g h t e r t o t h i s
p u r p o r t :
* * T h a t , h a v i n g a n u m e r o u s f a m i l y , i t
“ w a s n e c e f i a r y t h e y i h o u l d e a t : t h a t h e
“ w a s i e n f i b l e t h r o u g h t h e C o u n t ’ s m e a n s
* * m a n y p e r f o n s h a d b e e n e n r i c h e d : a n d
* * t h a t , i f h e w o u l d p u t h i m i n t h e w a y o f
“ g e t t i n g m o n e y a l f o , h e ( M r . S w i n t o n )
* * w o u l d b e h i s f r i e n d , a n d t h e C o u r i e r d e
“ i ’ E u r o p e h i s p a n e g y r i f t ; i f n o t — m
O 4 T h i s
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( io4 )This billet, far from accompliihing the
ends for which it was defigned, io much difgufted the Count as to break off all cor- refpondence between him and its author.Mr. Swinton, not content with injuring
Mr. O'Reilly in the opinion of his friend, took the advantage of his abfence to circulate a report that he had abfconded with feven hundred pounds of the Count’s money. This coming to the ears of Mr,‘ O’Reilly, he went immediately to inquire of Mr. Caglioilro—Whether or not he had given authority for fo infamous a calumny? He difclaimed all knowledge of it j and aferibed his former coolnefs toward a friend, of whofe fidelity »he had repeated proofs, to the infinuations of Swinton and Mr. de Frouville. Among the numerous impofitions pradlfed on the Count, there is not one more deferves obfervation than the following: Soon
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( io5 )S o o n a f t e r h i s a r r i v a l i n E n g l a n d h e
w a s a p p l i e d t o b y M r . J a m e s , o f S e r j e a n t * «
I n n , t h e a t t o r n e y h e h a d f o r m e r l y e m
p l o y e d : h e i n f o r m e d h i m t h a t , o n l o o k
i n g o v e r h i s a c c o u n t s o f t h e y e a r 1 7 7 7 ,
h e h a d d i f c o v e r e d a m i i l a k e , b y w h i c h t h e
C o u n t w a s ( t i l l i n d e b t e d t o h i m t e n p o u n d s .
I t c e r t a i n l y a p p e a r s i l r a n g e t h a t M r . J a m e s
i h o u l d f u f f e r n i n e y e a r s t o e l a p f e a n d n o t
h a v e m a d e t h i s d e m a n d o n M r . O ’ R e i l l y ,
w h o m t h e C o u n t h a d e m p o w e r e d b y l e t t e r
o f a t t o r n e y t o t r a n f a d a n y b u f i n e f s r e l a t i v e
t o h i m i n h i s a b f e n c e . M r . C a g l i o f t r o ,
h o w e v e r , r e l y i n g o n t h e h o n o u r o f M r .
J a m e s , g e n e r o u f l y p a i d h i s d e m a n d . T h i s
t r a n f a d i o n c o m i n g t o t h e k n o w l e d g e o f
M r . P r i d d l e , w h o m t h e C o u n t h a d e m
p l o y e d p r e v i o u s t o h i s e n g a g e m e n t w i t h M r ,
J a m e s , i t p r o b a b l y e n c o u r a g e d h i m t o m a k e
a d e m a n d e q u a l l y i l l e g a l ,
A c c o r d i n g l y ,
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( i o 6 )
A c c o r d i n g l y , w i t h o u t d e l i v e r i n g a b i l l ,
a s i s u f u a l o n f u c h o c c a s i o n s , h e t o o k o u t
a w r i t a g a i n f t M r . C a g l i o t t r o f o r i i x t y
p o u n d s , d u e , a s h e p r e t e n d e d , f o r b u i i n e f s
t r a n f a d e d i n t h e y e a r 1 7 7 7 . T h e C o u n t
i m m e d i a t e l y a c q u a i n t e d M r . J a m e s w i t h
t h i s d e m a n d , w h o a f l u r e d h i m t h a t t h e
a d i o n w o u l d n o t ( l a n d g o o d . M r . J a m e s
h a d , o n f e t t l i n g t h e C o u n t ’ s a f f a i r s i n t h e
y e a r 1 7 7 7 , t h r e e t i m e s f u m m o n e d M r .
P r i d d l e t o p r o d u c e h i s b i l l , t h a t i t m i g h t
b e t a x e d b e f o r e t h e M a t t e r o f t h e K i n g ’ s
B e n c h O f f i c e ; b u t h e n o t a p p e a r i n g t Q
g i v e i n a n y , a n d h a v i n g r e c e i v e d o f t h e
C o u n t d i f f e r e n t f u m s t o t h e a m o u n t o f
e i g h t y p o u n d s , w h i c h w a s d e c l a r e d b y
t h e M a t t e r a n d M r . J a m e s t o b e m o r e
t h a n t h e b u i i n e f s d o n e c o u l d p o f f i b l y
c o m e t o , i t w a s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t h e
c o u l d h a v e n o f u r t h e r c l a i m : f o r p r o o f o f
w h i c h , M r . J a m e s m a d e a n a f f i d a v i t o f
b i s a t t e n d a n c e d u r i n g t h e t i m e s r e q u i r e d
b y
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( i°7 )b y l a w , a n d o f P r i d d l e ’ s n o n - a p p e a r a n c e .
I n c o n f e q u e n c e o f t h i s , M r . J a c k f o n , t h e
a t t o r n e y e m p l o y e d b y t h e C o u n t ’ s b a i l t o
d e f e n d t h e a & i o n , a p p l i e d t o M r . J a m e s
f o r t h e a f f i d a v i t a n d o t h e r p a p e r s r e l a t i v e t o
t h e a f f a i r : b u t M r . J a m e s , p r o b a b l y o f f e n d
e d a t n o t b e i n g h i m f e l f e m p l o y e d i n t h e b u -
f i n e f s , r e f u f e d t o d e l i v e r t h e m u p o r t o l e n d
a n y a f f i f l a n c e . U p o n t h i s M r . O ’ R e i l l y , b y
w h o m h e h a d b e e n r e c o m m e n d e d t o t h e
C o u n t , w e n t t o h i m t o d e m a n d a n e x
p l a n a t i o n o f h i s c o n d u i t . H e t h e n f a i d
t h a t w h e n h e I h o u l d b e p a i d t h e i n t e r e f t o f
t h e t e n p o u n d s , ( f o r w h i c h h e w a s i n f a i t
f o l e l y i n d e b t e d t o t h e g e n e r o f i t y o f t h e
C o u n t , ) h e w o u l d d e l i v e r u p t h $ a f f i d a v i t ,
& c . M r . C a g l i o i t r o , w e a r i e d o u t w i t h r e
p e a t e d i m p o f i t i o n s , r e f u f e d t o c o m p l y w i t h
t h i s u n r e a f o n a b l e r e q u e i t . T h e C o u r t w a s
t h e r e f o r e m o v e d f o r P r i d d l e t o i h e w c a u f e
h o w h i s d e m a n d w a s i n c u r r e d ; a n d h i s
b i l l r e f e r r e d t o t h e M a i l e r ; b u t M r . J a m e s
r e f u t i n g
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( 108 )fefufing to apear againft Priddlc, or to deliver up the proofs of the illegality of his demand, the Mailer was obliged to allow his claim j and the Count, inftead of the former demand of fixty now paid an hundred and eighty pounds, including the coils and charges of the two attorniesj one hundred of which was paid to Mr. Priddle a few days before his commitment to Newgate, in conference of his late fentence.
Immediately after this, Mr. Cauld Sacky, having been informed that (wearing to a debt was, in England, fufficient to receive it, arrived in London with the view of profiting by this knowledge : being provided with an interpreter by the Count’s good friend Mr. De Morand, he proceeded to the King’s Bench Office, where he made oath that Jofeph Caglioftro owed this deponent an hundred and fifty pounds for
y v o r k i
3
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( *<>9 )w o r k , l a b o u r % d i l i g e n c e , a n d a t t e n d a n c e m
b i s p a t i e n t s a t S t r a j b u r g b . S a c k y , a s I
h a v e m e n t i o n e d i n t h e p r e f a c e , b e i n g t a k e n
i n t o t h e C o u n t ’ s f e r v i c e f o l e l y f r o m a m o
t i v e o f c h a r i t y , a n d r e m a i n i n g w i t h h i m
o n l y e i g h t d a y s , c o u l d n o t p o f f i b l y h a v e
a n y l e g a l d e m a n d o n h i m ; n e v e r t h e l e f s h e
w a s o b l i g e d t o g i v e b a i l t o t h e a c t i o n .
I c a n n o t d e p a r t f r o m t h i s f u b j e f t w i t h o u t
o b f e r v i n g t h e v e r y h o n o u r a b l e p a r t M r .
S w i n t o n t o o k i n t h i s a f f a i r . H e f u l l e r e d
t h e b a i l i f f s t o r e m a i n i n a m b u f c a d e i n h i s
h o u f e , f o r t h e g r e a t e r c o n v e n i e n c e o f f e i z -
i n g M r . C a g l i o f t r o ’ s p e r f o n . I t i s n o w t i m e
t o p r o c e e d t o t h e c i r c u m f t a n c e t h a t m a d e
t h e C o u n t f i n a l l y r e f o l v e t o l e a v e E n g l a n d .
M r . d e V i n e , w h o m I h a v e b e f o r e m e n
t i o n e d a s e m p l o y e d b y t h e F r e n c h C o u r t
t o o b f e r v e a n d g i v e a n a c c o u n t o f h i s m i
n u t e d a & i o n , i n a f e w m o n t h s f o l l o w e d h i m
t o E n g l a n d : h e w a s r e c e i v e d b y t h e u n f u f -
p i c i o u s
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( n o )
p i c i o u s C o u n t w i t h a l l t h e g e n e r o u s
w a r m t h o f d i i i n t e r e f t e d f r i e n d l h i p , h o i p i t a -
b l y e n t e r t a i n e d , a n d l o d g e d i n h i s h o u f e .
M s . d e V i n e b e i n g n o w t h e i n i e p a r a b l e
c o m p a n i o n o f t h e C o u n t t o o k e v e r y o p p o r t u
n i t y o f f p e a k i n g d i f r e l p e & f u l l y o f t h e Q u e e n
o f F r a n c e , a n d o t h e r d i f t i n g u i f h e d c h a r a s t e r s
o f t h a t k i n g d o m , i n o r d e r t o m a k e h i m i e l f
m a i l e r o f h i s f e n t i m e n t s . T h i s f n a r e
w a s t o o w e l l l a i d f o r M r . C a g l i o f t r o t o
c i c a p e , w h o r e a d i l y f e l l i n t o i t , n o t w i t h -
H a n d i n g h e w a s f e n i i b l e t h a t M r . d e V i n e
w a s t h e b r o t h e r o f a l a d y e m p l o y e d i n t h e
Q u e e n ’ s h o u f e h o l d ; a c i r c u m i l a n c e w h i c h
o u g h t c e r t a i n l y t o h a v e p u t h i m o n h i s
g u a r d . H e c o n t i n u e d , h o w e v e r , t o u t t e r
h i s f e n t i m e n t s w i t h h i s u f u a l f r a n k -
n e f s , t i l l h e r e c e i v e d a l e t t e r c a u t i o n i n g
h i m t o b e w a r e o f d e V i n e , w h o l e d e i i g n ,
i t a c q u a i n t e d h i m , w a s t o t r e p a n h i m i n t o
F r a n c e . T h o u g h u n w i l l i n g t o g i v e c r e d i t
t o
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\
( I I I )
t o t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n , w h i c h f o h i g h l y a £ -
p e r f e d t h e c h a r a c t e r o f a m a n i n w h o l e
f a v o u r h e w a s f t r o n g l y p r e p o f T e f i e d , t h e
C o u n t r e f o l v e d t o b e m o r e c i r c u m f p e f t m
h i s c o n d u d t t o w a r d h i m , t i l l h e h a d d i f -
c o v e r e d t h e t r u t h o r f a l s e h o o d o f t h e c h a r g e .
A b o u t t h i s t i m e h e r e c e i v e d i n v i t a t i o n s
f r o m i e v e r a l o f h i s f r i e n d s t o p a f s f o m e
t i m e i n S w i t z e r l a n d . I n o r d e r t o d i i c o v e r
t h e i n t e n t i o n s o f d e V i n e , h e i h e w e d h i m
t h e l e t t e r s ; a n d , t e l l i n g h i m h e i n t e n d e d
t o a c c e p t t h e i n v i t a t i o n s t h e y c o n t a i n e d ,
a i k e d h i m w h a t r o u t h e w o u l d a d v i f e h i m
t o t a k e ? “ T h r o u g h F r a n c e , w i t h o u t
“ d o u b t , ” r e p l i e d d e V i n e ; “ i t i s m u c h
* * t h e i h o r t e f t a n d t h e b e f t w a y . ” * * B u t , ”
f a i d t h e C o u n t , “ d o y o u t h i n k I c a n
“ w i t h f a f e t y v j e n t u r e t h r o u g h F r a n c e ? ”
“ O h ! ” r e t u r n e d t h e o t h e r , “ I a m c o n f i -
“ d e n t o f i t ; I w i l l a c c o m p a n y y o u , a n d
* • a m c e r t a i n w e m a y p a f s t o g e t h e r
“ u n n o t i c e d . ” t
T h i s
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( )T h is propofal was enough to convince
the Count that he had foftered a ierpent
that was preparing to fting him to the heart.
He. upbraided de Vine with the bafenefs o f
his deiigns$ and, declaring that he would
not deep another night under the fame
roof with fuch a traitor, left his houfe
and went to that o f M r. de Loutherburg
o f Ham erfm ith, wherp he remained in
iecret till he departed from England.
M r. de Vine, finding all hopes o f fucceis
in his enterprife now at an end, with every
mark o f chagrin and difappointment foon
after fet o ff for Bologne. But, before his
departure, the following minute inventory
o f the jewels M r. Caglioftro brought with
him on his arrival in England, (the copy o f
w hich was alone in thp pofleffion o f de
Vine,) appeared in the Courier de l ’Europe,
and furniihed the Editor with an opportu
nity o f acquainting his readers, that the
man who left England poilefled o f thefe
valuables
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( lf3 )Valuables could fuffer a wife to remain deftitute o f every neceflary but thofe ibe
received from the benign hand o f charity*
T H E I N V E N T O R Y *
A gold repeater enamelled in blue,
w ith ilars o f gold, and enriched by
two circlets o f diamonds. Its chain
three rows o f fmall diamonds terminated by three large ones, and four bril
liant pendants j from two o f which hang a
d u ller o f diamonds, from the third a key
fet with diamonds, and from the fourth a
feal mounted in the fame— T h e faid
watch in a fealikin * cafe*A fmall
* On this watch, the chain of which was valued at one thoufand five hundred pounds, the Count employed Mr. Swinton'to procure him five hundred pounds till he received remittances. Mr. Swinton complied, and obtained the fum required of a pawnbroker in Prince^Street, on his agreeing to take % hundred pounds worth of plate and plated goods.
This is a cirqumftance which Mr, De MorandeH ' has
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( i *4 )
A finall green fealfkin cafe, containing £jc
t in g s } the firfl confifting o f five diamond»,
furrounded w ith fmaller;T ie fecond o f tw o, mounted in the
form o f a heart, and encircled likew ife
w ith diamonds;T h e third reprefents a garter and buckle,
in fmall diamonds— [T h efe belong ‘to Ma
dame C aglioftro.]
T h e three others are hoop rings, tw o o f
diamonds, and the third o f garnets;A pair o f ear-rings, nine diamonds ia
tach , in a green fealfkin cafe ;T h e portrait o f M r. Caglioftro, a me
dallion, fet w ith diamonds, in a cafe o f
ditto;
has been at great pains to illuiirate: though the Count's want of ready caih is a fad that muft rea- fonably have been expe&ed from the great lolSes he had fuftained in Paris, and the repeated iapofitioaa praftifed on him in England*Th*
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I
( *> j )
*rhe figure o f a dove, in French, le S i. E/prit, compoied o f diamonds, and fuf-
pended by three rows o f fine pearl ;
A necklace o f fmall pearl;
A pair o f earrings o f fmall brilliants;
D itto o f hair, furrounded by diamonds;
\Thefefour laß articles in a green cafe.\A pair Of black filk bracelets, with dia
mond bu ckles; ■
A large hoop ring o f diamonds, irt a gold
hox, apelle joum i\A du ller ring, confiiling o f one large
diamond, furrounded with others;
D itto o f rofe; .
A pearl necklace, part o f it Unftrung;
and contained in a fmall gold fnuff'-box*
the ground grey enamel, in a cafe o f
green fealikin;
A n oval gold-coloür fnüif-box; on it
are engraven the implements o f gardenings
in a cafe o f ditto;
H a A fquare
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( I I * . ) -■
A fquare box o f gold, the ground waved
with green, with a picture in medallion,
camazen gris ;
A fwcetmeat box o f gold, in a red
{kin cafe;
A fnuff-box in the form o f a bathing-
tub, the ground grey, enamelled with
Üowers, in a cafe o f íéalíkin ;
A paint box, treble gilt, w ith a medallion
rcprefenting an hôtel, in a cafe o f ditto ;
D itto in gold, the ground blue, with a
medallion furrounded with fmall brilliants,
in a cafe o f ditto ;
A fmall gold box, embellifhed w ith
ftars, and filled with carmine, in a -c a fe
o f ditto;
A fmall Japan inkftand, inlaid with
gold, in a cafe o f ditto ;
A fnuff-box o f elk horn, in the fo r m ,
o f a ihoe, inlaid with gold, upon which is
engraven Greek characters ;. A white
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( X I7 )
A white ihell fweetmeat box, inlaid
with gold, in a ihagreen cafe j
A fweetmeat box of rock-cryftal, >
mounted in g o ld ;
A toilet box o f old Japan, with its bod
kin and furniture in gold j
A n ivory memorandum book, inlaid
with go ld j on it are two medallions,
w ith the portraits o f children j
A fmall gold etui;A gold-colour, box, filled w ith aloes, in
a fealikin cafe ;T w o knives, the blade o f the one gold,
and o f the other ft eel, the handles ivory,
injaid with green, in a cafe o f ditto;
A knife, the handle mother o f p ^ rl,
the ferrule and blade o f gold, in a cafe
o f ditto; ^
D itto, with a fecret ipring, the handle
o f ivory, ftudded and papped with gold j -
A punch-ladle o f yellow metal, the
Randle o f ebony
A pair o f buckles, a la Artois, in pafte,
H 3 F i? i
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( it» )Five gold bracelet Aiders, with me*
dallions o f different devices;
Three gold medallions, one o f which is
furrounded with fine pearls, and held by
a chain o f gold, the other by a chain o f
granite ;
A cover o f fine vermilion ¿lone, in a.
£rin cafe;
A fmall fpoon o f the fam e;
A portrait o f Madame Caglioitro, not
mounted, in a black cafcj
A n egg cup, and a tea ftrainer, o f fiiver.
A fmall gold watch in a double cafe,
ornamented with ¿hell, its chain compoied
o f two rows o f gold, with a medallion, and
fix trinkets o f the fame j
A pair o f women’s ¿hoe-buckles, edged
with diamonds} .
A knife in the form o f a poniard, on the
handle o f which is tied a ribbon o f rofe-
eolour and fiiver;
A pair o f pearl drop earrings, in a black
A cryftal
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V ( 1*9 )A cryftal flaik, its ftopper, w ith tw o
m edallions, o f go ld jA pair o f lcifiars, w ith gold tops, in a
fealfldn cafe.
• I t certainly appears ft ran go that the
Government o f France ihould think the1ruin o f an individual an objedt worth ib
m uch ferious attention; but the fate o f
M . de la F ete, ion to the Queen o f France's
Chamberlain, w ill eaiily reconcile us to d ie
truth, and convince us that there is no
danger fo great as that o f interfering in the
aftairs o f a jealous and politic nation. T he
unfortunate young man I fpeak of, was ft»
indiicreet as fo write a political pamphlet entitled * T he D evil in the H oly W ater j’
in confequence o f which he was obliged to efcapc the refentment o f the French
M inifters, by taking refuge in England j
where having, by his conduit, difobliged
h is father alfo, he was conftrained to ren*
H 4 daf
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( 12o )der his literary talents the means o f his fub-
fiftence. Various ftratagems were employed
$0 trepan him, but without fuccefs, till an
agreeable French woman was thrown in.
his way. M r de la Fête ibón became
enamoured o f her ; and ihe; being inftrufted
in her part, exprefled np other objection
to his addreifes than that o f living in
England on fo fmall a ftipend as two hun
dred pounds a year, which was the fortune
ihe pretended to have. However, to re*
move this obftacle, ihe told him that ihe
eould procure him an employment under
the Editor o f the Courier de l’Europe, on
condition o f his living in France, w hich,
ihe added, he m ight do with great fafety
by changing his nanpe.
T h is propofal was readily accepted by the
infatuated M . de la Fête, who was willing
to obtain the objedt o f his delires on any
ferms whatever : he fet o ff with her for
Bologne i
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\
( 121 )B ologne; but no fooner had he landed
than he was feized and dragged top rifon ;
fince which tim e he has not let eyes on his dulcinea, or his pretended employer.
But to return to the C oun t— Finding
him felf furrounded hy enemies, and, with
regard to the adtions o f Priddle and Sacky,
being told that the like circumftance might
happen daily without redrefs, he juftly
conceived his perfon to be unfafe in
E ngland; for which reafon he fet out for
Switzerland in M ay,' 1787.
O n his departure he left Madame C a-
glioftro in a houie elegantly furniihed,
poflefled o f cafli to pay every ju ft demand,
and o f jewels to a confiderabie am ount:
though the Courier de l ’Europe informs
us that ihe was left in great diftreis,
dependant on the bounty o f M r, de L o u -
therbourg. T h is is one added to the
many
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( *23 )/many proofs o f M r. D e Moi&ndç’s igno*
tance in what relates to the Cog#*,, and o f
the little confidence w e are to> place in the
information contained in his paper.
A fter the Count’s departure Madame Caglioftro entirely refigned herfclf to the
guidance o f M r. and M rs. de Loutherbourg,
w ho unfortunately received information that Priddle pretended to have another demand» which, would empower him to fe ize on
the Count’s effects. W hether or not M r.
Priddle really intended to attempt any
other manoeuvre, it is im pofiible to determ ine. M r. de Loutherbourg however
communicated his intelligence to M adams
Cagliofiro, who, by his advice, immediately
fold o ff her furniture, and took up her
abode in his hoiife.
She remained there till the beginning
wi laft June, w hen having received letters
. from
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C 123 )from the Couut inform ing her that he was
fettled in a houfe, (he pnrchafed a genteel car*
riage, and fet off, accompanied by M r. and
M rs. de Loutherbourg, for 'Switzerland*«
where it is to be hoped (he w ill, w ith the
Count, enjoy that tranquillity the E ngliih
nation would fo amply have afforded them
had they, in dead o f conneding themfelves
wholly with foreigners, formed their fri’end-
fhips with perfons o f chara&er acquainted
with its eftabliihed laws and cuftoms, *
* Madame Caglioftro, before Ihe left England, paid every juft demand on the Count, notwithftanding the aftertionsof the Marquis de Lanfegneux, and Mr. Bell, fbe magnetizing Doctor, to the contrary ; who,. mean
nd fervile as they were in their attendance on Mr* Caglioftro, during his refidence in Slone-Street, have, fljice his departure, made it their bufinefs' to fabricate and circulate reports to his disadvantage. But we ceafe to wonder at this, on a recollection that the Editor of the Courier de 1’Europe, that grand machine by which thefe leffer engines are fet in motion, is re- folved that no part of the world lhall ihield the Count £ag!ioftfo from his fcurrility.
engines
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( «24 )
Jfaving now traced this extraordinary
man through a life chequered with gran
deur and adveriity, I w ill endeavour to give
the reader a general idea o f his perfon and
character.
T h e Count de Caglioftro is below the
middle ftature, inclined to corpulency } his
face is a round o va l; his complexion and
eyes dark, the latter uncommonly pene
trating. In his addrefs we are not fenfible
o f that indifcribable grace which engages
the affe&ions before we confult the under-
ftanding. O n the contrary, there is in his
manner a felf-importance w hich, at firft
fight, rather difgufts than allures, and
obliges us to withhold our regard till, on a
more intimate acquaintance, we yield it the
tribute to our reafon. T hough naturally
(Itldious and contemplative, his converfa-
tion
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( >25 )tion is fprightly; abounding with judt*
cious remarks and pleafant anecdotes; yet,
with an underftanding in the higheft degree
perfpicuous and enlarged, he is ever ren
dered the dupe of, the fycophant and the
flatterer.
M r. Caglioftro’s heart and purfe are
ever open to the fupplications o f diftreis j
but there is in his mode o f bellowing a pompofity which frequently renders that
liberality afcribed to oflentation, which is,
in reality* the effect o f a truly compaf-
flonate and beneficent heart.
Far from being fchooled in the icience
o f deception, he poffeffes a noble franknefe
w hich does honour to human nature; a difpofition open and unreferved even to a a fault. In his attachments he is warm
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{ 126 ;)and fteady; and, thoagh eallly provoked id
choler, it is a ftorm which, like thofe o f
fummcr, quickly pafs over.
Brutality toward his lady is one off thole
falfe charges brought againft him by his
enemies— a weak and Unmanly one indeed!
** By what authority," fays the Count, “ does
M r. D e Morande dare to interrogate me
** on m y private life ? W h o has appointed
“ him m y domeftic ccnfor ? W as I in
“ deed lb unjuft, ib very bale, as to treat
“ with unkindnefs the virtuous companion
“ o f my misfortunes, ftill it would be h e i
** part only to complain ,* while ihe is
** lilent there is not a man, be he
** magiftrate or monarch, who has a right
** to draw afide the veil with w hich her
“ indulgent tenderness would cover m y
** imperfections.”
^ • To
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(127 )T o conclude— In the Count Cagti-
oftro we perceive eminent virtues break
forth amidft a cloud o f human frailties*
H is character, like m oil others, is a com
pound o f light and ihade; we ihall find
many more uniform, but few that pofleft
a greater degree o f univerfal benevolence*
T H E E N D i
Page547ft
.. E R R A T A;Line$ fir hi*, read the Count's.9 f it who profcflèd, reed who did not profefc
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