LETTER FROM COSTANZA FAjGNIANI 143 



those days (as it would be now) to furnish scandal. 

 This was the adoption of the Fagniani's daughter by 

 Selwyn, a bachelor. What led to this strange pro- 

 ceeding must ever remain in doubt. Nevertheless, 

 Jesse, who was privileged to go over Selwyn's corre- 

 spondence, though refusing as a false affectation of 

 dehcacy to pass over in complete silence the mys- 

 terious reports respecting the true parentage of 

 Selwyn's infantine charge, asserts that, although 

 references occur in the 'most private papers' of 

 Selw3Ti which unquestionably lead to the supposi- 

 tion that either Lord March or Selwyn was — or, 

 rather, that each severally beheved himself to be — 

 the father of the child, yet no certain proofs exist. 

 Further, a letter addressed by Madame Fagniani to 

 Selwyn, July 31st, 1772 (of which Jesse gives a 

 translation) does not express any but the most poUte 

 feelings of friendship for the guardian of her child. 

 Lest I may be misrepresented in alluding to a matter 

 that a faithful record of established facts, incident to 

 my subject, warrants, Madame Fagniani's letter is 

 inserted, in justice to all parties concerned : 



'July 31st, 1772, 



*My very Dear and Eespectable Friend, — I can- 

 not find terms sufficiently expressive to thank you for all 

 your kindness, and more particularly for the pains you take 



