of all his predecessor's papers; and on the arrival of Mr. Prior in England, he was taken up by

order

ladies too that affected to pry into the affairs of the continent, and who had gained an ascendency over the Regent, so as not to be altogether ignorant of the most secret transactions of state. His excellency, by losing large sums with this lady, and paying her the most particular respect, had insensibly worked upon her affections, but had not reaped the least advantage from her in point of politicks, till an accident happened that brought about, in an instant, what he had long laboured at in vain. Being engaged as her partner in play, the run of ill-luck turned against them, and the duchess at last was obliged to borrow of the earl a thousand louis d'ors. His excellency told her he had yet twice that sum at her service, and pressed her to continue play, which she refused. Next morning early, she sent a message to the earl, desiring instantly to speak with him. It is no unusual thing in France, for ladies. to receive morning visits from gentlemen in bed; neither was the ambassador at all surprised, when he found himself alone in the chamber of one of the princesses of the blood-royal; she spoke of the money she had borrowed with some concern, as a matter she was very unwilling should take air; but his lordship interrupted her by saying, "it was impossible it should, for he had already forgotten it himself, and should never have recollected it again, had not her highness put his memory to the rack by refreshing it."

The duchess made no reply, but entered into a discourse on politicks, in which she discovered to him the project that the court of Sweden was then meditating, in concert with France, for a descent upon England and Scotland, in favour of the house of Stuart, by which timely discovery the whole scheme was defeated, and his excellency acquired the repu tation of an able and active minister.

When

order of the House of Commons, and committed to the charge of a messenger. Afterwards, on the motion of Sir Robert Walpole, he was order

When his lordship was ambassador in Holland, he made frequent entertainments, to which the foreign ministers were constantly invited, not excepting the ambassador of France, with whose nation we were then on the point of breaking. In return the Abbè de Ville, the French ambassador, as constantly invited the English and Austrian ambassadors, upon the like occasions. The abbè was a man of vivacity and fond of punning. Agreeable to this humour, he one day proposed a health in these terms, the Rising Sun, my master, alluding to the device and motto of Louis the XIV. which was pledged by the whole company. It came then to the Baron de Reisback's turn to give a toast, and he, to countenance the abbè, proposed the Moon, in compliment to the Empress Queen, which was greatly applauded. The turn then came to the Earl of Stair, on whom all eyes were fastened, but that nobleman, whose presence of mind never forsook him, drank his master, King William by the name of Joshua, the son of Nun, who made the Sun and Moon stand still.

Lord Chesterfield, who, in this respect was, undoubtedly, a good judge, says, that the Earl of Stair was the most finished gentleman he ever knew. That he was so, appears from this circumstance. Louis XIV. when his lordship was at his court, heard the same character of him, therefore, to try him, he one day invited him to take a ride in his coach. When they came to the coach door, the king stood aside to let his lordship go in first, which be immediately did. Afterwards, the king said, "It is true what I have heard, for this man did not trouble me with ceremony, whereas, one less polite, would have stood bowing, and making a thousand excuses and apologies for refusing what I desired."

dered

ed into close custody, and to be impeached, but was never brought to a trial.

He spent the remainder of his days in retirement, at Down Hall, a small villa in Essex; and though he had filled situations of such consequence in the state, he was under the necessity of publishing his poems by subscription, in one volume folio. He was also engaged in writing history of his own time, which he never completed, being taken off by a lingering fever, September 18, 1721, in the fifty-eighth year of his

age.

*

Prior retained his fellowship of St. John's College to his death, and being asked, when he was ambassador, why he kept so trifling an object, he replied," that every thing he had besides was precarious; that when all failed, that would be bread and cheese at the last; and therefore he did not mean to part with it."

However, it is said, upon good authority, that he kept his chambers and his fellowship for no other purpose than to bestow the comforts of both upon his friend, Thomas Baker, the antiquary who was deprived of his fellowship in that college for refusing to take the oaths to King William.

In Mr. Cole's inanuscripts, in the British Mu

* 1740, this work was printed, as far as Mr. Prior had gone, with some poems in a separate volume.

seum,