She was willing to do everything in order, and therefore began with her cousin Muskerry, on account of her rank.  Her two darling foibles were dress and dancing.  Magnificence of dress was intolerable with her figure; and though her dancing was still more insupportable, she never missed a ball at court:  and the queen had so much complaisance for the public, as always to make her dance; but it was impossible to give her a part in an entertainment so important and splendid as this masquerade:  however, she was dying with impatience for the orders she expected.

It was in consequence of this impatience, of which Miss Hamilton was informed, that she founded the design of diverting herself at the expense of this silly woman.  The queen sent notes to those whom she appointed to be present, and described the manner in which they were to be dressed.  Miss Hamilton wrote a note exactly in the same manner to Lady Muskerry, with directions for her to be dressed in the Babylonian fashion.

She assembled her counsel to advise about the means of sending it:  this cabinet was composed of one of her brothers and a sister, who were glad to divert themselves at the expense of those who deserved it.  After having consulted some time, they at last resolved upon a mode of conveying it into her own hands.  Lord Muskerry was just going out, when she received it:  he was a man of honour, rather serious, very severe, and a mortal enemy to ridicule.  His wife’s deformity was not so intolerable to him, as the ridiculous figure she made upon all occasions.  He thought that he was safe in the present case, not believing that the queen would spoil her masquerade by naming Lady Muskerry as one of the dancers nevertheless, as he was acquainted with the passion his wife had to expose herself in public, by her dress and dancing, he had just been advising her very seriously to content herself with being a spectator of this entertainment, even though the queen should have the cruelty to engage her in it:  he then took the liberty to show her what little similarity there was between her figure, and that of persons to whom dancing and magnificence in dress were allowable.  His sermon concluded at last, by an express prohibition to solicit a place at this entertainment, which they had no thoughts of giving her; but far from taking his advice in good part, she imagined that he was the only person who had prevented the queen from doing her an honour she so ardently desired; and as soon as he was gone out, her design was to go and throw herself at her Majesty’s feet to demand justice.  She was in this very disposition when she received the billet:  three times did she kiss it; and without regarding her husband’s injunctions, she immediately got into her coach in order to get information of the merchants who traded to the Levant, in what manner the ladies of quality dressed in Babylon.

The plot laid for Miss Blague was of a different kind:  she had such faith in her charms, and was so confident of their effects, that she could believe anything.  Brisacier, whom she looked upon as desperately smitten, had wit, which he set off with common-place talk, and with little sonnets:  he sung out of tune most methodically, and was continually exerting one or other of these happy talents:  the Duke of Buckingham did all he could to spoil him, by the praises he bestowed both upon his voice and upon his wit.