The _mot_ was a successful one, and nobody was more amused by it than the _spirituelle_ lady of whom it was said.

It was too happy a _mot_ not to have been stolen by divers pilferers of such articles, and adapted to other persons and other occasions.

But it was originally spoken of the time, place, and person here stated to have been the object of it.
Generally, in such societies in foreign capitals, a fruitful source of jealousy and discord is found in the necessary selection of those to be presented at the court of the reigning sovereign.

But this, as far as I remember, was avoided in those halcyon days by the simple expedient of presenting all who desired it.

And that Lord Holland _was_ the right man in the right place as regards this matter the following anecdote will show.
When Mr.Hamilton became British minister at Florence, it was announced that his intention was, for the avoiding of all trouble and jealousy on the subject, to adhere strictly to the proper and recognised rule.