MEMOIRS OF MR. MATTHIAS D'AMOtJR.
THIS is the autobiography of a gentleman's gentleman; the materials being furnished by MATTHIAS himself, and put to paper by Mr. PAUL RODGERS of Sheffield. The birth of this hero of the second table took place in 1749, at Antwerp, where his youth was spent ; he was trained to politeness at Paris, and to " active life "—by the art of hairdressing—at his native city. Being thus accomplished, he acted as valet to many "noble gentlemen," both foreign and English; made the grand tour of Europe ; visited even the Western Isles ; afterwards entered the service of the old Dutchess of GORDON ; then embarked in business; and has now retired to the otium cum dignitate. In so long a career and in such situations, Mr. D'Amouit has of course seen a goad deal of life; but lie has looked at it with the eye of a groom of the chambers, whose first attention was occupied with standing up for his own rights, and the next with the externals of his calling ; his chronicle for the most part dealing in such reminiscences as the night when the Prince of WALES gave an unconscious blow to the buckle-trade by wearing " ties" in his shoes for the sake of com- fort in dancing Scotch reels, or the freak by which the Dutchess of GORDON stimulated the silk-trade by appearing at court in a tartan silk plaid. Such is the matter of the book : the style is clear, literal, and unaffected. The curiosity, pernaps the value of this Memoir, consists in its perfect reflection of the modes of thought and feeling which characterize a successful and dis- tinguished valet ; and it also gives us glimpses of the manner of life both at the first and second tables of the upper classes towards the latter end of the last century. Here is a sample.
DEBUT AT GORDON CASTLE, IVITII REFLECTIONS.
I may here notice some reflections which I made about this time on my past conduct, and particularly on the causes of my failure in the family of Lord Selkirk. It appeared evident to myself, that I had on some occasions made myself too cheap and familiar ; that on going into a new situation, and espe- cially on my going into the family last named, I had not assumed that import- ance to which may experience and qualifications entitled me. And let people think what they may of those airs of dignity and authority, nothing is of more consequence in situations similar to those iu which I moved: I do not mean that I regretted I had not put on supercilious airs, which become no man, and for which some gentlemen's lackies deserve to be kicked out of all society : I mean, I had failed in maintaining a true sense of the value of those qualifications which I had acquired by such experience as few had had the opportunity of attaining; and such being my views, I resolved, go where I would, to try the effect of a different line of conduct.
In true keeping, then, with the above notion, I accepted the butler's offered generosity in a bottle of champagne. At dinner, 1 was seated on the house- keeper's left hand, and all appeared anxious to manifest towards me every mark of attention. When the dinner was over, the females retired, and the men- servants remained drinking their wine. I was invited to drink, but declined taking more than two or three glasses ; and could not withhold my admiration of their true politeness in allowing me to follow my own inclination. When each had taken a moderate quantity of wine, instruments of music, which hung against the wall, were taken down by the different individuals, and all of a sudden the steward's room was converted into something like a concert-hall. This, as my readers will be aware, was exactly to my own taste ; I was pleased beyond measure. The butler, particularly, was an amateur of the first class ; not merely being a performer but a composer, and actually was himself &Mimi of many excellent Scotch reels.
iTATIbldANLICE RILAIATION.
It may not be unsatisfactory to such as admire splendid talents, like those displayed by Mr. Pitt, to have an instance given bow his great mind could amuse itself by jocularity. As I was one day passing through the rooms after my accustomed avocations, I met with Mr. Pitt and Lady Charlotte Gordon conversing together in the drawing-room. Lady Charlotte having some order to give me, commenced as usual, "Mr. D'Atuour " —. Mr. Pitt pur- posely interrupting her speech by taking the sentence from her lips, added. " Yuu are &sired to bring one of the Shetland ponies up stairs immediately." I smiled, and bowed acquiescence ; but stood a moment or two, to give the lady time to finish what she intended to have said. What Mr. Pitt had proposed, )iowever, in jest, she determined to surprise him with in earnest ; and while they were mutually laughing, she stepped towards toe, and in a low tone of voice, bade me do as he had said. 1 hastened down stairs, being always well pleased to fulfil a good-humoured command, might the groom, got the pony saddled, and had him led up stairs; the easy ascent of which he mounted very gracefully. When I opened the door and ;announced the arrival, (and surely at was the first announcement of the kind ever made,) Mr. Pitt's powerful voice, exercised in abundant laughter, resounded through a great part of the mansion. After parading the pony round, the Prime Minister, to finish the joke, tied a white handkerchief to the bit of the bridle, and led him down stairs with his own hand,—not, however, till the animal had deposited upon the.11oor of the drawing-room an indubitable proof of his having nude himself quite at home.
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