656 
Villette alone; 
had turned devotee, having ‘died in No- 
vember, 1718, the public conduct of the 
two lovers trom that mument became 
less embarrassing. 
near Nogent sur Seine, and afterwards 
condueted her to the waters of Aix-la- 
Chapelle, where it was generally believed 
that they were married in May, 1720. 
Tt was also asserted, that Madame de 
Willette at the same time abjured the 
catholic teligic but the Abbe Alari, 
and all those intimate inthe family, were 
fully persuaded that no abjuration had 
taken place, and that no marriage had 
ever been compléted: it was convenient 
however to- keep up appearances, al- 
though they never avowed their union 
until the month of July,1722. 
“The viscount loved the country, and 
Marcilly would have proved a most agree- 
able residence; yet in 1719, he purchased 
the iittle ‘estate of la Source, near Or- 
Jeans, and converted it into an enchant- 
ing abode, There he spent many happy 
days in the arms of philosophy, the 
muses, and voluptuousness, assigning to 
his pleasures that portion of time which 
he had never refused them, reserving for 
study the hours formerly devoted to 
business; and re-uniting around him 
a society selected from men of letters, 
men of the world, and the mast amiable’ 
of the other sex. . Voltaire, who formed 
one of the party, declares he was en- 
chanted with his visits: ‘I have found,” 
said he, ‘in this illustrious Enolishinan. 
ali the erudition of his cduntry, mingled 
with all the politeness of our own. If 
never heard any one pronounce our lan- 
guage with more energy and propriety. 
This man, who has been all his life en- 
gaged in’ pleasures and business, . has 
nevertheless found means to learn, and 
to retain every thing -He is as wellnc- 
quainted wi ith the history of the Egyp- 
tians as Of the English. He is equally 
‘familiar with Virgil and Milton, and he 
loves French, T[talian, aod English 
poetry; but he loves them differently, 
because he perfec'ly discerns the dif 
ferent Lenius of each.” | 
Meanwhile, the mind of viscount 
Bolingbroke was continually + busied 
about the means of returning. to his 
native country. The earl ef Stanhope, 
one of his most bitter enemies, was now 
“Alead, (1721): but’ sirsRobert Walpole., 
wae stil’ in credit; the earl of Sunder- 
land, and the duke of Marloorough, who 
were his friends, did not long survive; 
Side 
Ons 
Retrospect of French Literature Biography) 
and his own lady, who. 
He first accom. 
panied this lady to her estate at Marcilly,. 
Y 
while the duchess Dowager, who pro= 
fessed a particular esteem. for the man. 
‘“ who alone was worthy to praise her 
husband,” no longer enjoyed any credit. 
As means were about to be recurred 
to’in London for repealing the bill of 
attainder, Madame de Villette was sent 
thither, and under the name of lady 
Bolingbroke acted in concert with lord 
Harcourt. 
ever would have proved ineffectual, but 
for the patronage of the duchess of Kene 
dal, who is said to have: sold his lord- 
ship’s pardov at. an enormous price! 
Be this as it may, he arrived at Calais > 
8, four days after , 
on the 1th of May, 172 
it: had passed the great seal: but on 
learning that it extended only to his life, 
and that he was deprived of the peerage 
and his estates, he immediately repaired 
to Aix-la~-Chapeile. 
In 1725, iord Bolingbroke at length 
re-visiied his native country; and an act 
of parliament was soon aver passed for 
the purpose of restoring his property ta 
him; but the enmity, and it has been 
added, the jealousy of Walpole, pre- 
vented the restoration of his dignities. 
The conduct of the minister. on this oc- 
casion excited the bitterest animosity 
on the part of Bolingbroke, who soon 
became one of the most violent, as well 
as most furmidable, of his political foes. 
As his father was still alive, and in pos- 
session of the principal estates, the 
viscount resolved to settle at * Dawley,” 
near Uxbridge, and there resigned hin’? 
self to the enjoyment of country amuse- 
ments, and the company of the learned, 
such as Swift and: Pope. He also con- 
nected himself openly with the Oppo- 
sition, and published many able letters 
in the Craftsman, besides a variety of 
pampblets, pails occasioned a great 
sensation. On the demise of George 
it was supposed that a change in the ad-_ 
ministration would have taken places 
but Walpole was enabled to obtain a 
greater share of credit under that than 
the preceding reign. The viscount, 
who was. not discouraged by this unex~. 
_pected circumstance, immediately formed | 
a strict union with William Pulteney, 
afterwards eari-of Bath, and then at the — 
head of a most powerful party. 
' Notwithstanding this, in 1785 he re- 
turned to France, and as he had sold. 
the estate of la Source, he now hired the 
castle of Chanteloup, which was after 
wards embeilished by the celebrated 
duke de Choiseul, while an exile like 
himself. Here, as usual, he’ resigned 
aS ah himsel€ 
\ - 
All their solicitations hows . 
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