G.R.C.

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ANECDOTE GALLERY.

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RECORDS OF MY LIFE.

By the author of “Monsieur TONSON.”

Angelica Kauffman.

The person of this lady, by all accounts, was highly interesting, and her manners and accomplishments were peculiarly attractive.  It is said that Sir Joshua Reynolds, who was thoroughly acquainted with human nature, and never likely to be deceived in his estimate of individuals, was so much attached to her that he solicited her hand.  It appeared, however, that she refused him as she was attached to the late Sir Nathaniel Holland, then Mr. Dance, an eminent painter, whose portrait of Garrick in the character of Richard the Third is the best and most spirited representation of that unrivalled actor that ever appeared, though all the most distinguished artists of the time employed themselves on the same admirable subject.  The correspondence that had taken place between Mrs. Kauffman and Mr. Dance became known, and was thought to be of a very interesting description, insomuch that his Majesty George the Third, who generally heard of anything worthy of attention, requested Mr. Dance would permit him to peruse the letters that had passed between them during their courtship.  What put a period to an intercourse which, being founded upon mutual attachment, held forth so favourable a prospect of mutual happiness, has never been developed, and is only matter of conjecture.  Mrs. Kauffman, after the termination of this promising courtship, went abroad, and was unfortunately deluded into a marriage with a common footman, in Germany, who had assumed a title and appeared to be a person of high rank and affluence.  Mrs. Kauffman, it is said, by the intervention of friends had recourse to legal authorities, was enabled to separate from the impostor, but did not return to this country, and died a few years after, having never recovered her spirits after the shock of so degrading an alliance.  It is not a little surprising that a lady so intelligent and accomplished should have been the victim of such a deception.

Highwaymen.—­Jemmy Maclaine.

Mr. Donaldson told me that once having betted twenty pounds on a horse at Newmarket, he won, but at the end of the race could not find the person who had lost.  Returning to London the next day, his post-chaise was stopped by a highwayman, whom he immediately recognised as the loser of the day before.  He addressed the highwayman as follows:  “Sir, I will give you all I have about me if you will pay me the twenty pounds which I won of you yesterday at Newmarket.”  The man instantly spurred his horse, and was off in a moment.  It is somewhat strange that, soon after Mr. Donaldson landed in Jamaica, he saw the same man in a coffee-house.  He approached him, and in a whisper reminded him of his loss at Newmarket; the man rushed out of the room, and, according to report went to the Blue Mountains, and was never heard of again.