The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-09-25

Itirrly HeVntcu In The interest OF the
minister, but "at the same time neg
lcCted no Opportunity tn render him
self indi>pe sable to The amusemcnts.
and as il were. existcnceof his Prince.
A very short time was sufficient 10
teach the Gun ing Courticr all the
aCCesses IN the heart Of the sovereign
and not one of those little artiiircs
was neglected, which the noble pride
and Gle, alton of the minister had
at all times despised. Aware that
man is never more in want of lea
der or companion that in the walks
of vice, NJ. led the Prince in all the
various designations, which. from
motives, Of shame reqiIircdthc great
est secrecy and the tewest witnesses.
Thus. by debasing the Prince, he
pushed himself into familiarity and
he gained nc acss tn his heart before
Ii. suspected the possibility of such
an event filled With his owl, mpor-
lance, il did not enter his thoughts
that man like MArtiucngp. could
ever become his rival and as h.
did not envy him an employment, Of
which he himself had long been Ii
red. and which in his heart he dcs-
pissed, the change which had tax en-
place entirely escaped his obscrva-
ton. Every step which Marti en-
go advanced in the favour If his
sovereign. served onl Y to increase
his ambition. which aspircd tn high.
er things. The apparent subui
sion. which he thought suitable to
his purpose to continue his utter
course with his benelactors, became
in the same degree irksome To him.
as his vanity incrcdsed-the more
so. as the favour Of the Prince had
produced 40 changein Il - treatment
Of the Connt--on the co .trary, Il.
seemed frequently to check. inten-
tionally, the Counts upstart pride.
Completely tired of wearing the
mask. Count NJ. formed a plan to
rid himself OF his rival by his ruin,
which was gradually maturrd u der
the veil Of inpf netrahle disslmula.
ton. Although the Kings friend
ship for Ct. had cooled. his indeia-
tigable services had become more
necessary and important. as the
King. in order to pursue more I'M
disturbed his amusrmcnts, bad, for
some time, laid the burthen of gov
eminent on the shoulders Of his min
ister. Thus Count NJ. did not dare
to attack his rival in the open field ;
but what means he made use of To
attain his end,haye always remained
secret tn the public. The most
plausible of the many reports, was
this-that Count Nj. laid before the
King an Intercepted trearherous COR
rcspondence, between G. and TO-
reign court, either genuine or for
ged. Count NJ. succeeded so we'll in
his designs, that one cannot avoid
shuddering at the result. The Prince
was enraged without investigating
the truth Of the accusation, or with
out trial, he concluded to punish q.
as the most ungrateful of traitors,
and, lest he should escape his ven-
geance. concerted all necessary
measures with such secrecy, that.
exclusive of Count, NJ. no other in
dividual knew what was to happen /;
and least of all G.. who had not even
the slightest suspicion that storm
was gathering over his head. From
the rank Of an ensign, he had adj
yanced within a few years to the CO.
lonelcy of the Guards. and this was
but a modest name for the prime
minister. When the decisive mo-
ment had arrived, G. az usual, at
tended the morning parade OF his re-
giment. This was the place where
he received the adulation ct the high
est, and lowest, and where in one
short hour, he enjoyed that gratlfi-
cation of vanity, for which he chose
to submit to the most indefatigabie
labours, during the rest of the day.
1t was there alone that Inc was ac-
cessibIp, and the first men of the
country endeavoured to court his IA
your, by the most devoted submis-
sion and ilattery and as all favours
seemed to pass through his hands,
the King himself, when he occasion
ally attended, appeared to be but Sc
cond to his Vizier. On this account
the King or his adviser, had in all
probability chosen this spot for the
scene of his degradation. Ignorant
of what was TO happen, q. entered
as usual the circle of those who ap-
peared to be waiting his commands.