237 



As to her Travels," keen observation, lively imagination, a fund 

 of humour, and a bold appropriation of the labours of her predecessors, 

 have been the sources whence they were derived. In writing her ' ' Yoj^age 

 d'Espagne" she evidently had before her the same mysterious authority 

 of which she made so much larger use, when compiling her ' ' M6moire3 

 de la Cour d'Espagne.'' A few instances will suffice. From p. 6 to 

 p. 9, in Mr. Stirling's book, beginning at ^'Les grands officiers," and end- 

 ing at " del despacho universal," the whole matter is given almost ver- 

 batim in the ''Relation du Yoyage d'Espagne," t. 3, from p. 98 to p. 

 100. A few shorter passages I shall put under their respective heads, 

 quoting Mr. Stirling's book for shortness' sake as Yillaes : — 



ViLLAKS, 



" Depuis plus de cent ans Les Roys 

 d'Espagne tiennent ordinairement leur 

 cour a Madrid." — p. 5. 



" C'est une Ville asses grande, sans mu- 

 railles, situee au milieu de I'Espagne, dans 

 un pais sec et decouvert." — p. 5. 



" Le Palais du Roy est a I'extreniite 

 de la ville vers le Midy: Sa fa(,'ade en 

 d'ordre Dorique, d'une pierre comme de 

 Grez : deux Pavilions de Briques la ter- 

 minent a droite et a gauche : l^es trois 

 autre cotes de ce Palais n'ont ny forme ni 

 raport entre eux." — p. 5. 



" Au dessous du Palais Le Terrain qui 

 va en penchant jusqu'au Manzanares, est 

 ferme de Murailles," &c — p. 6. 



D'AULNOY. 



" II y a plus d'un Siecle que les Rois 

 d'Espagne la choisirent pour y tenir leur 

 cour." — Voyage, t. ii., p. 112. 



" La ville n'est pas entouree de mu- 

 railles : * * * La ville est situee au millieu 

 d'Espagne :* * * tons les Pais est sec, et fort 

 decouvert." — Voyage, t. ii., pp. 112, 113. 



" Le Palais est a I'extremite de la ville 

 vers le Midi. II est bati de pierres fort 

 blanches. Deux Pavilions de brique ter- 

 niiiient la facade : le j-este n'est point regu- 

 lier." — Voyage, t. iii., p. 4. 



" Le terrain, comme je I'ai marqtie, 

 s'etend jusqu' au bord du Man9anares. Tout 

 est enclos de murailles," 8cc. — Voyage, t. iii. 

 p. 6. 



With regard to the other work, her '' Memoires de la Cour d'Espagne," 

 which more nearly concerns us, it may be said in one word, that there 

 is scarcely a sentence in it, from beginning to end, bearing upon politi- 

 cal matters (a few sentimental messages and letters excepted), which 

 cannot be found almost verbatim in the original MS., from which she, as 

 well as the unknown editor of the volume of 1733, took their materials. 

 There is this important difference, however, between the two, that while 

 Madame d'Aulnoy, either to make her book more interesting, or the bet- 

 ter to disguise her theft, or perhaps the task assigned her, has so broken 

 up and rearranged the matter of the original, dividing and reuniting it 

 in such a capricious way, that it requires the utmost patience and perse- 

 verance to follow her through all her windings, the anonj^mous editor 

 of the volume of 1 733 gives his story as he finds it, merely omitting su ch 

 portions as would be likely to give olfence to the French court. This, I 



various colours ; however, this custom looks very odd, and I cannot but think that several 

 among themselves are disgusted at it : when they danced, they must set them down, and 

 let these grunting animals run about the cliamber, where they made a very pleasant har- 

 mony. These ladies danced at my entreaty, the Baron of Castleuau having sent for pipes 

 and tabors." — The Lady's Travels, vol. i., p. 3. 



