To me however she constantly renewed her
entreaties for a furtherance of her former wishes on the subject; in
consequence of which I declined the gracious offers of his Majesty,
who was at this time particularly desirous that I should take a more
active part in public measures, and accept a situation in the new
ministry which would formerly have placed the utmost bounds to my
ambition. I was now however only waiting a favourable opportunity,
to retire altogether to the happy fire-side, where I trusted to dream
away the evening of my days in the society of my own family.
"In this position of our affairs, it chanced that we were both in
attendance on the Queen at Kew; where one evening a chosen few,
distinguished by her Majesty's favour, formed a select circle.
The conversation turned upon music, and the Queen who had been
describing with national partiality the beauty of the hymns sung by
the Portuguese mariners, suddenly addressing me, observed that since
she left her native country she had heard no vocal music which had
given her pleasure except from the lips of Miss Marchmont: 'I
cannot' said she kindly smiling, 'as you may perceive, forget the
name of one whose society I prized so highly; but if 'Lady Greville'
will pardon my inadvertence, and oblige me by singing one of those
airs with which she was wont formerly to charm me to sleep when I
suffered either mental or bodily affliction, I will in turn forgive
_you_, my lord, for robbing me of the attendance of my friend.
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