70 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
published by his nephew in 1830, entitled “Reminiscences of Henry Angelo,”
we are made acquainted with the fact of his having an elder brother of the same
profession, and who resided principally in London.
In these reminiscences Angelo the younger speaks very highly of his father,
Dorninico Angelo Malevolti Tremamondo-not only was he the best “ master
of equitation,” but one of the most “scientific swordsmen of the day‘;’’ and so
well proportioned in lith and limb, as to be equally fitted for a “ gallant in love
or a hero in war.”
Angelo the elder was a native of Leghorn. His father, being a wealthy merchant
there, intended him for the counting-house, but the ledger had no charms
for the handsome Tremamondo, who determined to push his fortune by other
means. He accordingly visited various parts of the Continent, and soon found
his way to Paris, at that time, if not now, the gayest and most polite city in the
world ; and so effectually did Tremamondo cultivate every external accomplishment,
that he became proverbially one of the most elegant men of the age,
‘( the gayest of the gay.”
Not long before he left Paris, a public fencing-match took place at a celebrated
hotel, at which were present the most renowned professors and amateurs
of the science. Tremamondo was persuaded by the Duc de Nivernois’ to try
his skill. No sooner had he entered the lists than a celebrated English beauty,
Miss Margaret Woffington, the well-known actress, presented him with a bouquet
of roses, which, as we are told, he placed on his breast with the most
exquisite gallantry, and, addressing the other knights of the sword, exclaimed,
(( This will I protect against all opposers.” Tremamondo fenced with the best
of them, but none could disturb a single leaf of his bouquet.
While in Paris, Tremamondo had formed an acquaintance with a French
officer, who boasted much of his fencing abilities. Motives of jealousy induced
him to waylay our hero one night, who happened to be only armed with a couteazc
de chasse, a small sword usually worn in undress. Tremamondo, acting on the
defensive for some time, at last made a home-thrust at the officer, who fell,
and there was every reason to think he was mortally wounded. The officer
was taken home. Next day Tremamondo visited him, and, although he
found him in bed gasping, he did not think there was enough of alteration in
the officer’s countenance for so serious an injury. He immediately suspected
there had been deception, and, throwing the bed-clothes suddenly off, discovered
the officer’s cotte de maille. The officer, ashamed at his cowardly conduct, and
dreading the stigma, implored secrecy and for,w’ veness.
Shortly after our hero’s arrival in London, he married Miss Masters, whose
father had commanded the Chester man-of-war. About the year 1758 he was
engaged by the Princess Dowager of Wales “to teach the young princes the
The Duc de Nivernois was afterwards ambassador in England from the Court of France. Hume
the historian, in a letter dated the 6th October 1763, to Dr. Blair, respecting Ossian’s Poems, mentions
the Duc as desirous of obtaining some proofs of their authenticity, which he proposed to lay before
the Acadhie de Belles Lettres at Paris.
