a little astonished at being addressed as Her Royal Highness. She then
discovered that the individual into whose affections she had insinuated
herself was the son of the King, the Duke of York, who had not long
before united himself to a lady, for whom she had been mistaken.

Mrs. Mary Anne Clarke was soon reconciled to the thought of being the
wife of a prince by the left hand, particularly as she found herself
assiduously courted by persons of the highest rank, and more especially
by military men. A large house in a fashionable street was taken for
her, and an establishment on a magnificent scale gave her an opportunity
of surrounding herself with persons of a sphere far beyond anything
she could in her younger days have dreamt of; her father having been
in an honourable trade, and her husband being only a captain in a marching
regiment. The duke, delighted to see his fair friend so well received,
constantly honoured her dinner-table with his presence, and willingly
gratified any wish that she expressed; and he must have known (and for
this he was afterwards highly censured) that her style of living was
upon a scale of great expense, and that he himself contributed little
towards it. The consequence was that the hospitable lady eventually
became embarrassed, and knew not which way to turn to meet her outlay.
It was suggested to her that she might obtain from the duke commissions
in the army, which she could easily dispose of at a good price. Individuals
quickly came forward, ready to purchase anything that came within her
grasp, which she extended not only to the army, but, as it afterwards
appeared, to the Church; for there were reverend personages who availed
themselves of her assistance, and thus obtained patronage, by which
they advanced their worldly interests very rapidly.


MRS. MARY ANNE CLARKE AND COL. WARDLE