BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 293
parties. His lordship having asked my consent, directed that they might do so. In consequence
. of this permission, they divided themselves into small parties, and walked round the table.
When they came opposite to Lord N[elso]n, or me, the men stooped their heads, and the
women bent their knees (such being the English manner of salutation). This mark of respect
they thought due to Lord N[elso]n for the victory of the Nile ; and to me, for my supposed high
rank. This ceremony took up nearly an hour ; after which the Lord Mayor presented Lord
N[elso]n, in the name of the city, with an elegant cimiter, the hilt of which waa studded with
diamonds, as a testimony of their gratitude for his distinguished services. His lordship having
buckled on the sword, stood up, and made a speech to the Lord Mayor and to the company,
assuring them that, with the weapon he had now been invested, and the protection of the
Almighty, he would chastise and subdue all their enemies.
‘‘ This interesting scene being hished, I thought-it was time to retire, and went up to the
Lord Mayor to take leave. His lordship, however, seized me by the hand, and led me up stairs
to a superb apartment, where we found the Lady Mayoress, and nearly five hundred other ladies,
richly dressed, some of whom were aa beautiful as the Houries of Paradise, waiting our appearance,
before they commenced dancing. As few rooms in the world would have held such an
assemblage of people, if furnished in the usual manner, this apartment was fitted up with long
ranges of seats rising above each other, (resembling the stone steps of a large tank or reservoir
in India), which were continued all round the room, for the use of the spectators, leaving but
a moderate space in the middle for the dancers.
“When we had been seated a short time, twelve or fifteen of the principal young men
present were permitted to enter the circle and to choose their partners. After they had gone
down the dance, they were relieved by an equal number of others ; and in this manner the ball
was kept up till daylight, and the sun had risen ere I reached home.
“ This was one of the most delightful nights I ever passed in my life ; as, independent of
every luxury my heart could wish, I had an opportunity of gazing all the time on the angelic
charms of Miss qomlbe, who sat in that assemblage of beauties, like the bright moon surrounded
with brilliant stars.
“After what I have said, it may be unnecessary to repeat, that the young lady is one of the
greatest beauties in London. One evening I met her, by chance, at a masquerade ; and, as the
weather was warm, she wore only a short veil, which descended no lower than her upper lip,
As our meeting was quite unexpected, she thought she could converse with me without being
known ; but, in answer to her $rst question, I replied, ‘ There is but one woman in London
who possesses such teeth and lips ; therefore Miss C[om]be may save herself the trouble of
attempting to deceive her admirers.’ This speech was overheard by some persons, and became
the subject of conversation in the polite circles next day.”
’
Mr. Comhe held his seat in Parliament till the year 1817. He had for some
time prior suffered greatly in his health by a paralytic disorder, “ which,” says
a correspondent of the Gentleman’s Muguzim, “ though it greatly debilitated
his limbs, left his vigorous mind almost wholly unimpaired ; till, in June 181 7,
the wanton and cruel insult he received, by the resolution of a thinly-attended
Common Hall, had a visible effect on his enfeebled constitution. So unexpected
a return €or long and faithful services he was but ill-prepared to sustain;
and he relinquished, in consequence, his seat in Parliament and all his civic
honours. I am happy to add that he hw left a handsome provision for his
numerous family. The will has been proved by his eldest son, as sole executor ;
and though the personal effects do not exceed 3140,000, there are real estates
sufficient to complete the second plum.”
His
widow survived till 1828.
Mr. Combe died at Cobham Park, Surrey, on the 10th July 1817.