66 cavalierly, upon which he was affronted; sword and "pistol next day; but, before I slept, a gentleman was "sent to desire every thing might be forgot. What a 'pleasure must it have been to have killed a Prime "Minister!"* 66 Soon after these degrading scenes, a letter was delivered to Wharton, under the Privy Seal of England, commanding him, on his allegiance, to return forthwith, and threatening outlawry in case of his failure. Of this Wharton himself speaks with much unconcern. He writes to James, "I had rather carry a musket in an odd"named Muscovite regiment, than wallow in riches by "the favour of the usurper. I am told, from good "hands, that I am to be intercepted by the enemy on my passage. I shall take the best precautions I can to "obviate their malice. I set out, infallibly, on Tuesday "next, and hope to be with you in three weeks, wind, "weather, and Whigs permitting!"† 66 ... When Wharton first arrived, he had found Ripperda, lately returned from Vienna, created a Duke, and ruling the country as Prime Minister. Great efforts were expected from him for the regeneration of Spain, and the restoration of the Stuarts; but in caprice, fickleness, and folly, Ripperda might be worthily compared even with Wharton himself. Though a Dutchman, he out-bragged the Spaniards themselves. He passed the day in boasting of the mighty things he meant to do. He gave the most opposite assurances in different quarters; and instead of deceiving others, only made them angry, and himself contemptible. According to William Stanhope, the British Minister, "immediately after his landing at Barcelona, "all the officers of the garrison went to wait upon him, "to whom he said, that the Emperor had 150,000 men 'ready to march at an hour's warning, and that Prince Eugene promised, that in case of a war, he would have as many more in six months. He told them that, if the "Hanoverian league should dare to oppose themselves to "the designs of the Emperor and Spain, France would be "pillaged on all sides, the King of Prussia, whom he was 66 66 66 * Letter to Mr. Robinson, April 5. 1726. Hardwicke State Papers, vol. ii. p. 636. Letter, June 8. 1726. Appendix. 66 "pleased always to call by the name of the grand grenadier, would be driven out of his country by the Emperor "in one campaign, as His Majesty would be also in the "same time out of his dominions in Germany, and out of "his English ones by the Pretender; he added, that a "reconciliation between France and Spain should never "be, whilst he had any authority, and only wished to "live till that was brought about; as being assured he "should then die a very old man." 66 66 Yet to Mr. Stanhope himself, he professed the greatest confidence and friendship. "As to the Pretender," he said, "he must own his having talked both here "and at Vienna in his favour, but that in his heart he was as sincerely in His Majesty's interests, as the best subject he had; of which he would give the most "essential proofs upon every occasion; that his talking "in the manner he had done, proceeded from his opinion "of making his court to their Catholic Majesties, but more especially to appear zealous in his religion, which was much suspected in this country, and to avoid passing for a heretic, and falling into the hands of the Inquisition, who he was very sure are very watchful over him, and look upon him as a CHRISTIANO NUEVO. "This was what he said he would not, nor durst not say "to his confessor; but called God to witness in the most 66 66 66 66 66 solemn manner to the exact sincerity of what he thus "affirmed." Yet when Mr. Stanhope observed that all military equipments were proceeding with the utmost despatch, and at a vast expense - -that the Spaniards were adding to the fortifications of Cadiz - that artillery, tents, and magazines were all preparing that a squadron was ordered to put to sea when it was whispered to him by the Queen's Confessor, and other good authorities, that a war with France and England was absolutely resolved upon - he did not hesitate to assure his Government, that Ripperda's solemn protestations deserved no credit whatever. He concluded that all his speeches were designed only to gain time, and amuse the Court of St. James's, until the arrival of the Galleons and Flota, that were expected at Cadiz in June, with an immense quantity of treasure.* Mr. W. Stanhope to Lord Townshend, Madrid, December 27. 1725. Ripperda had evidently taken Alberoni for his model; but altogether wanted both the lofty genius, and the laborious application of that remarkable man. It was soon found, that no reliance could be placed in his assertions, and any folly expected from his character. Rodomontades were his only resource on every occasion. Once at his levee, he boasted that he had six very good friends, God, the Holy Virgin, the Emperor and Empress, and the King and Queen of Spain! * Yet whatever might be Ripperda's degree of favour in such high places, it is clear that he found none among the people. The English ambassador declares, that "he has for "inveterate enemies not only all the other Ministers, "but the whole Spanish nation, to whom he has ren"dered himself odious beyond imagination. . . . . . . . . It "is also certain that the King is extremely agitated and "uneasy, and has daily disputes and quarrels with the "Queen, who does nothing but cry from morning till "night. ..Ripperda has entirely changed his 'way of talking, and is now become as abjectly fearful, as he was before imperiously intrepid."† The Austrian ambassador, Count Konigseck, was still more indignant, finding how much Ripperda had bragged of the resources of the Spanish monarchy, and had promised more than he was able to perform. On the other hand it became no less apparent that the forwardness of Austria had been greatly exaggerated by Ripperda to the Spanish Court, with the view to embolden them and recommend himself. Both parties, soon undeceived, and much disappointed, turned round upon Ripperda, and his own system of falsehood crushed him in its ruins. the 14th of May he was informed that the King dispensed with his services, but granted him a pension of 3000 pistoles. His dismissal was held by the populace with 66 66 On Comentarios de Don Joseph del Campo Raso, vol. i. p. 17. He truly adds, "Semejantes discursos daban de su capacidad la opinion 'mas singular.' 66 † Mr. Stanhope to the Duke of Newcastle, March 25., April 11. 1726. A Spanish historian admits Mr. Stanhope's accurate information, "El incentivo de sus Guineas (o doblones) le hacian penetrar en lo mas interior de las Secretarias de Estado." Campo Raso, vol. i. p. 69. loud acclamations, and muttered threats of tearing him to pieces. Ripperda, bewildered with his fall, and afraid either of mob violence, or of the Royal resentment, adopted the ignominious resolution of taking refuge in the house of the English Minister, who had gone the day before to Aranjuez. On returning home that evening, Mr. Stanhope was not a little surprised to find in his apartments the lately arrogant Prime Minister of Spain imploring his protection. Nay, more, so unmanned was Ripperda by his misfortune, and so grateful when Stanhope consented to shelter him, that he proceeded to disclose the highest secrets of his state. He communicated the particulars of the private agreement at Vienna, declaring that it aimed at nothing less than the total extirpation of the Protestant Religion; and that the King of Spain had said, that for such an object he would willingly sell his very shirt.* It seems probable, however, that Ripperda may have exaggerated these designs with a view to enhance the merit of his disclosures, or to inflame the British nation against the two Courts which had wrought his downfall. All the while that he dictated the secret articles to Mr. Stanhope, we are told that "he appeared to be in "the greatest agonies, and frequently burst into tears." The Spanish Court were both offended and alarmed at Ripperda's flight, foreseeing the probability that he would discover all he knew. They made every exertion to induce Mr. Stanhope to surrender him; but Stanhope steadily refused, and bid them beware how they violated in his person the right of an ambassador and the Law of Nations. Nevertheless, after a few days of argument and altercation, an ALCALDE DE CORTE came to Stanhope at six in the morning with a party of horse-guards, and carried away the Duke by force. Stanhope publicly protested against this Act, and sent home Mr. Keene, the Consul, with an account of it, and of Ripperda's revelations. The affair led to a train of representations and counter-representations between the two Courts, serving only to embitter the quarrel between then. Ripperda was now committed a close prisoner to the Mr. Keene's Memoir for the Duke of Newcastle, June 15, 1726. VOL II H Castle of Segovia; but, after above two years' captivity, fortune again smiled upon this singular man. He seduced the maid-servant, and availed himself of an occasion, when the governor and his wife were both ill, to make his escape with her and with a corporal, whom he had also gained over. The Duke's faithful valet, meanwhile, remained behind; and for some time averted a discovery by the pretence that his master was indisposed. Ripperda, in real fact, was so, being crippled with gout, and having the greatest difficulty in descending the ladder of ropes which was lowered from his window. Nor could he afterwards travel but by very short days' journeys. Nevertheless he safely reached the frontier of Portugal, and proceeding to Oporto, embarked for England under the name of Mendoza. His wife, and some of his children, it appears, still remained in Spain. On landing in England, Ripperda was received by the Government with great attention, but great mystery. They wished to draw full information from him on the treaty of Vienna; they wished to avoid any fresh offence with Spain on his account; they therefore avoided any public interviews with him; but sent an Under Secretary of State to meet him on his way to London, and conduct him privately to the house of Dr. Bland, Head Master of Eton. There he had more than one conference with Townshend, and from thence proceeded with the same secrecy to London. After a little time, however, he flung off the mask, took a large house in Soho Square, and lived with much magnificence. He continued a correspondence with the English Ministers, and nourished a chimerical hope to become one of their principal colleagues; but though treated with regard while the differences with Spain were still pending, these were no sooner adjusted than he began to suffer neglect, and to show disgust. In 1731, he passed over to Holland, and again embraced the Protestant faith, which he had forsaken when he attached himself to the Spaniards. But he had not yet reached the end of his vicissitudes. He became acquainted with one Perez, a Spanish renegade, who acted as a Moorish agent at the Hague, and, by his persuasion, was induced to enter the service of Muley Abdallah, Emperor of Marocco. He renounced, or at |