hotel in the Rue de Clichy - gave charming soirees, at which were gathered
the elite of Paris society. Among these were Edward Montague, Charles
Standish, Hervey Aston, Arthur Upton, "Kangaroo" Cook, Benjamin Constant,
Dupin, Casimir Perier, as well as the chief Orleanists. On one occasion,
I recollect seeing there George Canning and the celebrated Madame de
Stael. Cornwall, the eldest son of the Bishop of Worcester, had, from
some unaccountable cause, a misunderstanding with Madame de Stael, who
appeared very excited, and said to Lady Oxford, in a loud voice, "Notre
ami, M. Cornewal, est grosso, rosso, e furioso." It should be observed
that the gentleman thus characterized was red-haired, and hasty in temper.
All who heard this denunciation were astounded at the lady's manner,
for she looked daggers at the object of her sarcasm.
Fox, the secretary of the embassy, was an excellent man, but odd, indolent,
and careless in the extreme; he was seldom seen in the daytime, unless
it was either at the embassy in a state of negligee, or in bed. At
night he used to go to the Salon des Etrangers; and, if he possessed
a Napoleon, it was sure to be thrown away at hazard, or rouge et noir.
On one occasion, however, fortune favoured him in a most extraordinary
manner. The late Henry Baring having recommended him to take the dice-box,
Fox replied, "I will do so for the last time, for all my money is thrown
away upon this infernal table." Fox staked all he had in his pockets;
he threw in eleven times, breaking the bank, and taking home for his
share 60,000 francs. After this, several days passed without any tidings
being heard of him; but upon my calling at the embassy to get my passport
vised, I went into his room, and saw it filled with Cashmere shawls,
silk, Chantilly veils, bonnets, gloves, shoes, and other articles of
ladies' dress. On my asking the purpose of all this millinery, Fox
replied, in a good-natured way, "Why, my dear Gronow, it was the only
means to prevent those rascals at the salon winning back my money."