DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

( 38 ) the fumes of the wine, he had to be borne in the arms of his servants to his carriage, too drunk to articulate the curses which rose to his lips. It is needless to dwell on the miserable con- sequences of this ill-starred marriage. Disparity of years, and uncongeniality of taste and disposition, caused this incongruous couple to lead for some years a wretched life ; quarrels ensued which formed a topic for all the scandal-mongers of Europe. At last driven to desperation the Princess sought refuge in a convent, from which she shortly afterwards eloped with Count Alfieri, an Italian noble and a poet of genius. Eventually she obtained a divorce from her hus- band ; and it is painful to record that Charles stipu- lated as a condition to his assent, that he should retain the entire dowry which France had given at the time of the marriage. The subsequent career of the Countess of Albany must be reluctantly dismissed from our attention. Charles in his solitude sent for his daughter, whom he created Duchess of Albany, but her influence was of no avail in checking his intemperance. The priva- tions and fatigue of the campaign of ’45 and the anxieties of later days had impaired a constitution which continuous excesses irretrievably ruined. With his weakened intellect he turned for solace to the prophecies of astrologers. A casket full of gold