received.

She wished, as she told Caroline, that some one would write Advice to
Diplomatists, in the manner of Swift's advice to Servants; and she observed
that M. de Tourville, charge d'affaires, &c., might supply anecdotes
illustrative, and might embellish the work with a portrait of a finished
diplomatist. Unfortunately for the public, on the third morning of the
diplomatist's visit, a circumstance occurred, which prevented the farther
development of his character, stopped his flow of anecdote, and snatched
him from the company of his hospitable hosts. In looking over his papers,
in order to show Mr. Percy a complimentary letter from some crowned head,
M. de Tourville discovered that an important packet of papers belonging
to his despatches was missing. He had in the moment of danger and terror
stuffed all his despatches into his great-coat pocket; in getting out of
the boat he had given his coat to Comtois to carry, and, strange to tell,
this charge d'affaires had taken it upon trust, from the assertion of his
valet, that all his papers were safe. He once, indeed, had looked them
over, but so carelessly that he never had missed the packet. His dismay was
great when he discovered his loss. He repeated at least a thousand times
that he was an undone man, unless the packet could be found.--Search was
made for it, in the boat, on the shore, in every probable and improbable
place--but all in vain; and in the midst of the search a messenger came to
announce that the wind was fair, that the ship would sail in one hour, and
that the captain could wait for no man. M. de Tourville was obliged to take
his departure without this precious packet.

Mrs. Percy was the only person in the family who had the humanity to pity
him. He was too little of a soldier for Godfrey's taste, too much of a
courtier for Mr. Percy, too frivolous for Caroline, and too little romantic
for Rosamond.