14.01.2013 Views

The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral - Electric Scotland

The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral - Electric Scotland

The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral - Electric Scotland

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

320<br />

THE FAMILY OF BURNETT OF LEYS.<br />

and expressed the most tender Affection for him. This is, in my Opinion, an<br />

excellent Sign <strong>of</strong> a good Disposition. He loves his Uncle Pollux, and has great<br />

Confidence in his parts and Abilities, but he does not much frequent him, nor<br />

communicate his Sentiments to him, thinking it imprudent and dangerous,<br />

considering the Variance and Misunderstanding which subsists between the Two<br />

Brothers.<br />

As Beglin is the Person who must be the best acquainted <strong>with</strong> the Prince's<br />

Character I could have wished to have transmitted to you his Sentiments upon<br />

the Temper and Disposition <strong>of</strong> His Royal Highness, for that purpose I employed<br />

Sulzer, who made several visits to Beglin, <strong>with</strong>out having ever had the good<br />

Fortune to find him alone; besides Sulzer tells me he is very delicate and<br />

scrupulous in entering upon that Subject even <strong>with</strong> his most intimate Friends.<br />

I know <strong>of</strong> nothing now <strong>with</strong> regard to the Intrigues <strong>of</strong> Pollux, his Way <strong>of</strong> Life<br />

and his Connections are the same as when you left the Country. By his appear-<br />

ing this year at the Head <strong>of</strong> his Regiment <strong>with</strong> the Pike in his hand, the late<br />

Difference is, in outward appearance, made up, but you are too well acquainted<br />

<strong>with</strong> the Characters and Tempers <strong>of</strong> the Men ever to imagine there will be a<br />

perfect Reconciliation between them. I have Reason to believe that no Variance,<br />

no Misunderstanding that ever happened between them gave so much Pain and<br />

Concern <strong>of</strong> Mind to Pollux as the last. He said he was in the wrong, and he<br />

repented <strong>of</strong> the Rash Measure he had taken. His Situation was undoubtedly the<br />

most disagreeable. He spent the Summer at his Country Seat <strong>with</strong>out hardly<br />

seeing a Soul but his own people, for every Body was afraid to frequent him, and<br />

when he came to Town he observed <strong>with</strong> the utmost Mortification a Backwardness<br />

and Timidity in his firmest Friends <strong>of</strong> being seen conversing <strong>with</strong> him. He<br />

therefore tried every Means, and made Advances to ingratiate himself, and to<br />

regain "the good Will <strong>of</strong> his Brother, which I am sure at another Time his Pride<br />

could never have brooked. It was all in vain, no step he could take, no<br />

Humiliation whatever produced the least Effect, or procured him one favourable<br />

Look. Castor was resolved not to be Friends <strong>with</strong> him till he put himself,<br />

publickly, at the Head <strong>of</strong> his Regiment <strong>with</strong> the Pike in his hand, as he looked on<br />

his Compliance <strong>with</strong> this as a publick act <strong>of</strong> Submission and an Acknowledgement<br />

<strong>of</strong> his Fault. This Pollux did at the last Review, upon which Castor immediately<br />

accosted him, and spoke to him in the most friendly and gracious Terms, so the<br />

Peace was made, how sincere it is you can best judge, but I wish for the Sake <strong>of</strong><br />

both it may be lasting, at least in outward Appearance. I am sorry to say that<br />

Pollux is gone for Six Weeks to use the Baths at Carlsbaadt, not so much to be<br />

out <strong>of</strong> the way at the celebrating <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> Prince <strong>of</strong> Prussia's Marriage (though that<br />

may be one reason), as on account <strong>of</strong> his Health, which is greatly broken and

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!