, of whom some notice has been taken in our account of Grammont,
, of whom some notice
has been taken in our account of Grammont, was of an
ancient Scotch family, but born in Ireland, whence with
his family he passed over to France, as followers of the
fate of Charles the Second. At the Restoration he again
returned to England, but was a second time compelled to
leave this country at the revolution. He was an elegant
and accomplished character, and was for many years the
delight and ornament of the most splendid circles of society, by his wit, his taste, and above all, his writings.
His works have been often published, particularly in 6
vols. 12mo, 1749, and in 3 vols. 8vo, 1805, and consist of
pieces of poetry, fairy-tales, and “Memoirs of the Count
de Grammont,
” all of which are excellent in their kind.
The Fairy Tales were intended as a refined piece of ridicule on the passion for the marvellous, which made the
Arabian Nights Entertainments so eagerly read at their
first appearance. The “Memoirs of Grammont
” will
always excite curiosity, as giving a striking and too faithful detail of the dissolute manners of Charles II. 's court.
Count Hamilton died at St. Germain’s, in 1720, aged seventy-four.