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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16661.txt b/16661.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5e1fd24 --- /dev/null +++ b/16661.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12508 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, George Selwyn: His Letters and His Life, +Edited by E. S. Roscoe and Helen Clergue + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: George Selwyn: His Letters and His Life + + +Editor: E. S. Roscoe and Helen Clergue + +Release Date: September 5, 2005 [eBook #16661] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEORGE SELWYN: HIS LETTERS AND HIS +LIFE*** + + +E-text prepared by Marjorie Fulton + + + +GEORGE SELWYN: HIS LETTERS AND HIS LIFE + +Edited by + +E. S. ROSCOE AND HELEN CLERGUE + +London +T. Fisher Unwin +Paternoster Square + +1899 + + + + + + + +PREFACE + +IN the histories and memoirs of the eighteenth century the name of +George Selwyn often occurs. The letters which he received have +afforded frequent and valuable material to the student of the reign +of George the Third. A large number of these were published by the +late Mr. Jesse in the four volumes entitled "George Selwyn and his +Contemporaries." Except, however, that Selwyn was regarded as the +first humourist of his time, little was known about him, for +scarcely any letters which he wrote had until recently been found. +But in the Fifteenth Report of the Historical Manuscript Commission +there were printed, amongst a mass of other material, more than two +hundred letters from his untiring pen which had been preserved at +Castle Howard. No one who has had an opportunity of examining the +originals can fail to recognise the skill and labour with which the +Castle Howard correspondence of Selwyn--wanting in most instances +the date of the year--was arranged by Mr. Kirk on behalf of the +Commission. + +A correspondence, however, which illustrates vividly phases of an +interesting and important period of English history, appeared to be +deserving of presentation to the public in a separate volume, and +with the explanations necessary to make the allusions in it fully +understood. + +A selection has therefore, in the following pages, been made from +the Castle Howard letters. The aim of the editors has been to choose +those which appeared most interesting and representative, and to +place them in definite groups, supplementing them with such a +narrative, remarks, and notes as would, without enveloping the +correspondence in a quantity of extraneous material, enable the +whole to present the life of Selwyn, and at the same time add +another to the pictures of the age in which he lived. + +The dates of the letters are those ascribed to them by Mr. Kirk. + +The frequently incorrect spelling of proper names has not been +altered. + +The editors desire cordially to thank Lord Carlisle, not only for +the permission to publish this correspondence, but for the kind +assistance which he has given in other ways to the undertaking. + +E. S. R. H. C. + +November, 1899. + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER 1. GEORGE SELWYN: His LIFE, His FRIENDS, AND His AGE + +CHAPTER 2. 1767-1769. THE CORRESPONDENCE COMMENCES .... +Frederick, fifth Earl of Carlisle--Lady Sarah Bunbury--The Duke of +Grafton--Carlisle, Charles Fox, and the Hollands abroad--Current +Events--Card-playing--A dinner at Crawford's--Lady Bolingbroke +--Almack's--The Duke of Bedford--Lord Clive--The Nabobs--Corporation +of Oxford sell the representation of the borough--Madame du Deffand +--Publication of Horace Walpole's "Historic Doubts on Richard the +Third"--Newmarket--London Society--Gambling at the Clubs--A post +promised to Selwyn--Elections--A purchase of wine--Vauxhall. + +CHAPTER 3. 1773-1777; 1779 AND 1780 POLITICS AND SOCIETY. +Fox's debts--Lord Holland--News from London--Interviews with +Fox--The Fire at Holland House--A Visit to Tunbridge--Provision for +Mie Mie--County business and electioneering at Gloucester--Lotteries +--Fox and Carlisle--Highway adventures--London Society--Newmarket +intelligence--An evening in town--Charles Fox and America--Carlisle +declines a court post--money from Fox--Selwyn and gambling--A +Private Bill committee--Selwyn in bad spirits--The Royal Society +--Book-buying--Political affairs--London parks--Gainsborough--The +Duchess of Kingston--Selwyn's private affairs--"The Diaboliad"--A +dinner at the French Ambassador's--Politics and the clubs--In Paris +--Electioneering again. + +CHAPTER 4. 1781. THE DISASTERS IN AMERICA. +A drum at Selwyn's--George, Lord Morpeth--Dr. Warner--Sale of the +Houghton pictures--The House of Commons--Pitt's first speech--Selwyn +unwell--Play at Brooks's--London gaieties--Fox and his new clothes +--Gambling--The bailiffs in Fox's house--"Fish" Crawford--Montem at +Eton--Mie Mie's education--Second speech of Pitt--Lord North--A +Court Ball--Society and politics--The Emperor of Austria +--Conversation with Fox--Personal feelings--American affairs--rd +North and Mr. Robinson--State of politics--London Society. + +CHAPTER 5. 1782. THE FALL OF LORD NORTH. +Fox's political principles--The fifth Duke of Bedford--A little +dinner--A debate in the Commons--The attack on Lord George Germaine +--An evening at Brooks's--Pitt and his friends--Possible changes in +the Cabinet--Faro at White's--A story of the Duke of Richmond--An +Address to the King--A Levee--Play and politics at Brooks's +--Government and the Opposition--Selwyn and his offices--The +position of the King--Fears of change of administration--The King's +objections to Fox--Probable debates--Political prospects--Debates +and divisions--The fate of the King's friends--Illness of Lord +Morpeth--Annoyance of Selwyn at the state of affairs--Fox and +Selwyn--Fall of Lord North--A new Ministry--Official changes--Fox +and Carlisle--Carlisle's position--Morpeth and Mie Mie. + +CHAPTER 6. 1786-1791. THE CLOSING CENTURY. +Political Events--At Richmond--The Duke of Queensberry's villa +--Princess Amelia--The King's illness--The French Revolution +--Proposed visit to Castle Howard--In Gloucestershire--Affairs in +France--The Emigres--Society at Richmond--The French Revolution +--Richmond Theatre--French friends--Christening of Lady Caroline +Campbell's child--Selwyn's bad health--Death. + +INDEX + + + +NOTE ON ILLUSTRATIONS + +Portrait of George Augustus Selwyn at the age of fifty-one: from a +pastelle by Hugh Douglas Hamilton, drawn in 1770. Hamilton, who was +an Irish artist of considerable reputation, was at this time working +in London. After a long visit to Italy he returned to Dublin in 1792 +and was elected a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy. This +drawing is in the possession of the Earl of Carlisle at Castle +Howard, Yorkshire. + +Group of George Augustus Selwyn and Frederick, fifth Earl of +Carlisle: from a picture by Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A. The dog by +the side of Selwyn is his favourite, Raton. Selwyn is dressed in a +pale brown coat and breeches, a red vest trimmed with gold lace, and +light grey stockings; the Earl of Carlisle in a reddish brown coat +and pale yellow vest. He wears the green ribbon and star of the +Order of the Thistle. This picture was probably painted about the +year 1770, and is in the possession of the Earl of Carlisle at +Castle Howard, Yorkshire .... + + + +TABLE OF DATES +1719. Birth. +1739. Matriculated at Hart Hall, Oxford. +1740. Clerk of the Irons and Surveyor of Meltings at the Mint. +1742-3. In Paris; having gone down from Oxford for a time. +1745. Finally left Oxford. +1747. M.P. for Ludgershall. +1751. Death of father and elder brother. +1754. M.P. for Gloucester. +1755. Paymaster of the Works. +1767. Correspondence with fifth Earl of Carlisle commences. +1779. Registrar of the Court of Chancery of Barbadoes. +1780. Loses seat for Gloucester. M.P. for Ludgershall. +1782. Loses office of Paymaster of the Works. +1784. Surveyor-General of Land Revenues of the Crown. +1791. Death. + + + +Health is the first good lent to men; + A gentle disposition then + Next to be rich by no bye ways, + Lastly with friends t'enjoy our days. + +HERRICK + + + + +CHAPTER 1. GEORGE SELWYN--HIS LIFE, HIS FRIENDS, AND HIS AGE + +During the latter half of the eighteenth century no man had more +friends in the select society which comprised those who were of the +first importance in English politics, fashion, or sport, than George +Selwyn. In one particular he was regarded as supreme and +unapproachable; he was the humourist of his time. His ban mots were +collected and repeated with extraordinary zest. They were enjoyed by +Members of Parliament at Westminster, and by fashionable ladies in +the drawing-rooms of St. James's. They were told as things not to be +forgotten in the letters of harassed politicians. "You must have +heard all the particulars of the Duke of Northumberland's +entertainment," wrote Mr. Whateley in 1768 to George Grenville, the +most hardworking of ministers; "perhaps you have not heard George +Selwyn's bon mot."* But as usually happens when a man becomes known +for his humour jokes were fathered on Selwyn, just as half a century +later any number of witticisms were attributed to Sydney Smith which +he had never uttered. It was truly remarked of Selwyn at the time of +his death: "Many good things he did say, there was no doubt, and +many he was capable of saying, but the number of good, bad, and +indifferent things attributed to him as bon mots for the last thirty +years of his life were sufficient to stock a foundling hospital for +wit."* + +* Grenville Correspondence, vol. 11. p. 372. + +* Gentleman's Magazine, 1791, p. 94. + +It is therefore not surprising that Selwyn has been handed down to +posterity as a wit. It is a dismal reputation. Jokes collected in +contemporary memoirs fall flat after a century's keeping; the +essential of their success is spontaneity, appropriateness, the +appreciation even of their teller, often also a knowledge among +those who hear them of the peculiarities of the persons whom they +mock. When we read one of them now, we are almost inclined to wonder +how such a reputation for humour could be gained. Wit is of the +present; preserved for posterity it is as uninteresting as a faded +flower, nor can it recall to us memories sunny or sad. But Selwyn +was a man who while filling a conspicuous place in the fashionable +life of the age was also so intimate with statesmen and politicians, +and so thoroughly lives in his correspondence, that in following his +life we find ourselves one of that singular society which in the +last half of the eighteenth century ruled the British Empire from +St. James's Street. + +Selwyn's life, though passed in a momentous age, was uneventful, but +the course of it must be traced. + +George Augustus Selwyn, second son of Colonel John Selwyn, of +Matson, in Gloucestershire, and of Mary, daughter of General +Farrington, of Kent, was born on the 11th of August, 1719. His +father, aide-de-camp to Marlborough and a friend of Sir Robert +Walpole, was a man of character and ability, well known in the +courts of the first and second Georges. Selwyn, however, probably +inherited his wit and his enjoyment of society from his mother, who +was Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Charlotte. Horace Walpole +writes of her as "Mrs. Selwyn, mother of the famous George, and +herself of much vivacity, and pretty." + +Selwyn's elder brother died in 1751, and grief at his loss seems to +have hastened the death of his father, which occurred in the same +year. + +His sister Albinia married Thomas Townshend, second son of Charles +Viscount Townshend. By this marriage the families of Selwyn and +Walpole were connected. + +The home of the family was at Matson, a village two and a half miles +south-east of Gloucester, on the spurs of the Cotswold hills, +looking over the Severn valley--once called Mattesdone. There is a +good deal of obscurity as to the ownership of the manor in mediaeval +times, but it appears to have been in the possession of what may +popularly speaking be called the family of Mattesdone. The landowner +described himself by the place; "Ego Philippus de Mattesdone" are +the words of an ancient document preserved among the records of the +Monastery of St. Peter at Gloucester.* + +* "Historia et Cartularium Monasterii Sancti Petri Gloucestria," +edited by W. Hart, vol. i. p. 100. + +To come to more recent times, the manor house was built in 1594 by +Sir Ambrose Willoughby. From him the estate was purchased in 1597 by +Jasper Selwyn, Counsellor at Law, of Stonehouse, who was the fourth +in descent from John Selwyn, one of a Sussex family. + +In 1751 the direct entail was broken by Colonel Selwyn, and the +property was re-entailed on the descendants of his daughter, Mrs. +Townshend, though it was left by will to George Selwyn for his life. +On his death it devolved on Thomas, Lord Sydney, and has since +remained in the possession of the Townshend family.** Walpole has +given a description of the place in the days when he used to visit +it. + +** Bigland, "History of Gloucestershire," vol. ii. p. 200. + +"I stayed two days at George Selwyn's house, called Matson, which +lies on Robin Hood's Hill; it is lofty enough for an Alp, yet it is +a mountain of turf to the very top, has wood scattered all over it, +springs that long to be cascades in twenty places of it, and from +the summit of it beats even Sir George Lyttleton's views, by having +the city of Gloucester at its foot, and the Severn widening to the +horizon. His house is small, but neat. King Charles lay here at the +siege, and the Duke of York, with typical fury, hacked and hewed the +window-shutters of his chamber, as a memorandum of his being there. +Here is a good picture of Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in his later +age, . . . and here is the very flower pot and counterfeit +association for which Bishop Sprat is taken up, and the Duke of +Marlborough sent to the Tower. The reservoirs on the hill supply the +city. The late Mr. Selwyn governed the borough by them, and I +believe by some wine too. . . . + +"A little way from the town are the ruins of Lantony Priory; there +remains a pretty old gateway, which G. Selwyn has begged to erect on +the top of his mountain, and it will have a charming effect."* + +* "The Letters of Horace Walpole," vol. ii. p. 354. + +Selwyn's schooldays were passed at Eton with Gray and Walpole. In +1739 he became an undergraduate of Hertford College, Oxford, or Hart +Hall as it was called. It was to Hertford also that later Charles +Fox went, "a college which has in our own day been munificently +re-endowed as a training school of principles and ideas very +different from those ordinarily associated with the name of its +greatest son." Hertford was in the middle of the eighteenth century +a college where the so-called students neither toiled at books nor +at physical exercise. They passed a short and merry time at the +University, fashioned as nearly as might be on the mode of life of a +man about town. In 1740 he was appointed to the vague-sounding +office of Clerk of the Irons and Surveyor of the Meltings in the +Mint, a sinecure which, after the manner of the time, required no +personal attention from the holder. Even in those early days Selwyn, +who went by the sobriquet of "Bosky," had many friends--not only +among college boys, but in London society. "You must judge by what +you feel yourself," wrote Walpole to General Conway, the soldier and +statesman, on the occasion of a severe illness from which Selwyn +suffered in 1741, "of what I feel for Selwyn's recovery, with the +addition of what I have suffered from post to post. But as I find +the whole town have had the same sentiments about him (though I am +sure few so strong as myself), I will not repeat what you have heard +so much. I shall write to him to-night, though he knows, without my +telling him, how very much I love him. To you, my dear Harry, I am +infinitely obliged for the three successive letters you wrote me +about him, which gave me double pleasure, as they showed your +attention for me at a time that you knew I must be so unhappy, and +your friendship for him."* But then came an interval in Selwyn's +academic career--if such it may be called--since he was certainly +in Paris, much in want of money, at the end of 1742 and the +beginning of 1743. It is probable that he had gone down from Oxford +for some irregularity; he ultimately was obliged to leave the +University for the same reason. For though he re-entered his college +in 1744 he only remained there until the following year, when he was +sent down for an irreverent jest after dinner, having taken more to +drink than was good for him. His friends, especially Sir Charles +Hanbury Williams and some in authority at Oxford also, thought that +Selwyn was harshly treated. Whether that were so or not this was the +end of his University career. It was not a promising beginning of a +life, and for some years he was regarded as a good-natured +spendthrift. The death of his elder brother and father however in +1751 produced a sense of responsibility, but even before this date +he had been endeavouring to regain his father's goodwill. "I don't +yet imagine," wrote his friend, Sir William Maynard, shortly before +the death of Colonel J. Selwyn, "you are quite established in his +good opinion, and if his life is but spared one twelvemonth you may +have an opportunity of convincing him you are in earnest in your +promises of a more frugal way of life." As too often happens the son +had not time in his father's lifetime to regain his good opinion. +Certainly Selwyn made no attempt to give up pleasure, though he was +bent on it no doubt with a more frugal mind. He was a man of fashion +and of pleasure, having his headquarters in London, paying visits +now and again to great country houses as Trentham and Croome. To +Bath he went as one goes now to the Riviera. In Paris too he +delighted; when in the autumn of 1762 the Duke of Bedford was in +France negotiating the treaty which is known in history as the Peace +of Paris, it was Selwyn who accompanied the Duchess when she joined +her husband. "She sets out the day after to-morrow," wrote Walpole +on September 8th, "escorted to add gravity to the Embassy by George +Selwyn." After the treaty was completed on February 10th of the +following year, as a memento of his visit the Duke presented Selwyn +with the pen with which this unpopular document was signed.* Indeed +in those days he was constantly in Paris, much to the regret of his +friends at home--"Do come and live among your friends who love and +honour you," wrote Gilly Williams to him in the autumn of 1764, but +in spite of their wishes he stayed on throughout the winter in the +French capital, and when his friend Carlisle went in 1778 to America +as a peace commissioner Selwyn tried to console himself for his +absence by a stay in Paris. "George is now, I imagine, squaring his +elbows and turning out his toes in Paris," wrote Hare to Carlisle in +December of that year. Neither politics nor pleasure could prevent +continual and long visits to France. + +* Horace Walpole to H. S. Conway, Florence, March 25, 1741. + +* Bedford Correspondence, vol. iii. P. 206. + +The charming country estate and house which he had inherited from +his father had little attraction for Selwyn, and to the end of his +life, if he could not be in town, he preferred Castle Howard, or +indeed any house where he would meet with congenial spirits. "This +is the second day," he once wrote to Carlisle, "I am come home to +dine alone, but so it is, and if it goes on so I am determined to +keep a chaplain, for although I do not stand in need of much +society, I do not relish being quite alone at this time of day." + +All this time he was a Member of Parliament. There is a little +village of small red cottages with thatched roofs lying among the +Wiltshire downs between Savernake Forest and Andover. It is called +Ludgershall, and has a quiet out-of-the-world look. In the +eighteenth century it was a pocket borough, returning two Members to +Parliament, and was the property of the Selwyn family. The +representation was as much in their hands as the trees in the +adjoining fields. In 1747 George Selwyn had found it convenient to +enter the House of Commons. In Ludgershall there were no +constituents to take him to task; to be able to go to Westminster +when he wished added to the variety of life. It kept him in touch +with the politicians and statesmen of St. James's Street, and it +made him a marketable quantity--his price was another sinecure, the +place of Paymaster of the Works. But this he did not receive until +he had inherited the family property, which gave him a hold on the +city of Gloucester. For this city he was a Member from 1754 to 1780, +when, losing his seat at the general election, he gladly returned to +his former constituency. The seat at Ludgershall was never in the +nature of a true political representation, and even when Member for +Gloucester Selwyn seems to have attended but little to the House of +Commons. He was one of a legion of sinecures--a true specimen of the +place-man of the age. Possessed of some political influence, he was +able to find in politics a means of increasing his income. It would +be absurd to censure him because he was a sinecurist; he was acting +according to the customs of the time. The man who in the reign of +George III. had the opportunity of obtaining posts which carried +with them salaries and no duties would have been regarded as +Quixotic if he had thrown such opportunities away. In this Selwyn is +thoroughly representative of his time, and his frequent anxiety lest +he should be deprived of his offices is indicative of an +apprehension which was felt by many others. + +Yet, sinecurist as he was, Selwyn often regarded his position as a +hard necessity, especially when he was driven into the country to +look after his constituents. He would then heartily wish himself out +of Parliament: the sorrows of a sinecurist might well be the title +of some of the letters written from Matson. + +Selwyn's was a life devoid of stirring incidents, and from the date +at which his correspondence with Lord Carlisle begins the course of +his days is indicated in his letters. It is sufficient, therefore, +to state that he died at his house in Cleveland Row, St. James's, on +the 25th of January, 1791, still a Member of Parliament, in the +place where his life had been passed and among his innumerable +friends. + +In one sense his life had been solitary, for he was never married; +but an unusual love for the young which was a charming and +remarkable characteristic, singularly opposed to many of his habits, +had been centred on the child whom he called Mie Mie,* the daughter +of an Italian lady, the Marchesa Fagniani, who was for some time in +England with her husband. The origin of Selwyn's interest in the +child is obscure, but the story of his affection is striking and +unusual. + +From a letter written by the Marchesa Fagniani to Selwyn in 1772 it +is evident that Mie Mie, then about a year old, had been with him +for some months, and in 1774 Lord Carlisle congratulates him upon +the certainty of the child's remaining with him. The first mention +of her in these letters occurs under date of July 23, 1774, where we +have a picture of Selwyn, drawn by himself. He is sitting on his +steps, the pretty, foreign-looking child in his arms, pleased at the +attention she attracts. When she was four she was taken to pay +visits with him; but it is difficult at this time to know if he or +the Earl of March had charge of her. + +* Maria Fagniani (1771-1856). She was married in 1792, the year +after Selwyn's death, to the Earl of Yarmouth, afterwards third +Marquis of Hertford. She led a life of pleasure (1802-7), travelling +on the continent with the Marshal Androche. She had three children, +and died at Rue Tailbout, Paris. + +Such interest in a young child naturally occasioned remark in London +society, and the question of her paternity has never been clearly +settled; in the gossip of the time both the Duke of Queensberry and +Selwyn were said to be her father. The characters of the two men, +however, and various points in their correspondence, seem to fix +this relation upon the Duke of Queensberry. Selwyn's interest was +that of a man who though without children had a strong and unusual +affection for the young. He looked forward to the pleasure her +development and education would be to him, and to the solace of her +companionship in old age. She enlisted his sympathy and devotion. +From the first time he saw her he wished to adopt her, and until the +end of his life she was first in his thought, and all his circle +approved of his little friend. + +He soon made provision for her in his will, writing to Lord Carlisle +July 26, 1774, that he must no longer delay in securing her future. +In 1776 he placed her at school. After infinite trouble, Campden +House was chosen, where every day he either saw her or received +communications from the schoolmistress relative to her health, +comfort, and happiness. + +"Mrs. Terry presents her compliments to Mr. Selwyn; has the pleasure +to assure him that dear Mademoiselle Fagniani is as well to-day as +her good friend could possibly wish her to be. She is this minute +engaged in a party at high romps." + +"Mrs. Terry presents her best compliments to Mr. Selwyn; is very +sorry to find that he is so uneasy. The dear child's spirits are not +depressed. She is very lively; ate a good dinner; and behaves just +like other children. She hopes Mr. Selwyn will make no scruple of +coming to-morrow morning, or staying his hour, or more if he likes +it; she will then talk to him about the head; but in the meantime +begs he will not suppose that the dear child suffers by his absence, +or that anything is neglected; for if Mrs. Terry thought Mr. Selwyn +could suppose such a thing, she would wish to resign the charge. She +begs he will come to-morrow." + +Mie Mie was a disturbing element, if also a satisfaction, in +Selwyn's life, for at all times overhanging present pleasure in her +company was the dread of losing her. In August of 1776 the Marchesa +Fagniani and her husband came to England. Selwyn had a fairly +satisfactory interview, in which it was settled that the child +should not leave him for a year. Before the time had expired he was +exhausting every means to procure a longer delay; he even applied to +the Austrian Ambassador that the Governor of Milan should use his +influence with the family; but her return was insisted upon, and in +August of 1777 Mie Mie left England to join her parents in Paris. +The most careful and elaborate arrangements were made by Selwyn for +her safety and comfort while travelling, and a list of the houses +where stops were to be made given to faithful attendants. + +He dreaded however the pain of parting with the child, and when the +day of her departure arrived he absented himself to avoid the +farewell, and his spirits and health suffered from her loss. Two +months later Carlisle writes, "I never thought your attachment +extraordinary. I might, for your sake, have wished it less in the +degree; but what I did think extraordinary was that you would never +permit what was most likely to happen ever to make its appearance in +your perspective. March speaks with great tenderness and real +compassion for your sufferings. Have you been at Lady Holland's? Are +you in my house? Do not stay too long at Frognal; change the scene; +it will do you good. Gratify every caprice of that sort, and write +to me everything that comes into your head. You cannot unload your +heart to any one who will receive its weight more cheerfully than I +shall do." + +But next year we hear of Selwyn at Milan negotiating with Mie Mie's +relatives for her return. His proposals to make settlements on her +met with alternate rebuffs and promises that kept him in a state of +intermingled fear and hope. He was finally put off with the +understanding that she should return to him in the spring; and in +October he turned homeward. + +In the spring it was arranged that the Marchesa Fagniani should +bring Mie Mie to Paris to be left a few weeks in a convent before +Selwyn should claim her. The meeting did not take place without a +last trial of patience for him. He arrived in Paris in April, +expecting to find the little traveller, but he was informed that the +departure from Milan had been delayed for a few days; this was +followed by the news of a change of plans, and that Selwyn must go +to Lyons to meet the child, who would be conducted there by her +mother--a meeting Selwyn had wished to avert. Eventually, early in +May, we read the congratulations of his friends on the restoration +of what had become dearest to him in the world. + +During the month Selwyn spent in Paris, however, waiting for Mie +Mie, who was passing the specified time in the convent, fresh +difficulties were raised, and he began to doubt if he should ever +bring the little girl to England. His health was seriously affected +by the strain, and his friends begged him to give up a pursuit which +was injuring it and taking him from them; but Mie Mie was at last +received from the convent under a vague condition that at some +future time she should return to it; a half promise which neither +side expected would be fulfilled. + +The Rev. Dr. Warner gives us a slight description of Mie Mie. A year +had passed; she is nine years old; he is writing to Selwyn:-- + +"That freshness of complexion I should have great pleasure in +beholding. It must add to her charms, and cannot diminish the +character, sense, and shrewdness which distinguish her physiognomy, +and which she possesses in a great degree, with a happy engrafting +of a high-bred foreign air upon an English stock . . . + +"But how very pleasant to me was your honest and naive confession of +the joy your heart felt at hearing her admired! It is, indeed, most +extraordinary that a certain person who has great taste--would he +had as much nature!--should not see her with very different eyes +from what he does. I can never forget that naive expression of Mme. +de Sevigne, 'Je ne sais comment Von fait de ne pas aimer sa fille?'" + +* The Duke of Queens berry. + +But Selwyn was never quite free from the fear that she should be +taken from him. In January, 1781, he writes to Lord Carlisle:-- + +"From Milan things are well; at least, no menaces from thence of any +sort, and I am assured, by one who is the most intimate friend of +the Emperor's minister there, that he was much more likely to +approve than to disapprove of Mie Mie's being with me, knowing as he +does the turn and character of the mother." + +The relationship from this time was more settled, and as Mie Mie +grew into womanhood she became to Selwyn a delightful and +affectionate companion. + +Selwyn was a universal friend; he was equally at home with +politicians, dilettanti, and children; he was a man of such +consistent good nature, so unaffectedly kind-hearted, that every +one, statesman, gambler, or schoolboy, liked to be in his company. +Yet among Selwyn's many friends and acquaintances two groups are +remarkable. The first was formed of men of his own age--Walpole, +Edgecumbe, Gilly Williams, and Lord March comprise what may be +called the Strawberry Hill group. It was at Walpole's famous villa +that they liked best to meet, and it is by Reynolds that Walpole's +"out-of-town party" has been handed down to us.** They were an odd +coterie--cultivated, artificial, gossiping. None of them ever +married; to do so seemed to have been unfashionable, if not +unpopular; and when we see the results of many marriages among their +friends, they were best, perhaps, as bachelors. They considered +themselves free to act as they pleased; and this freedom became +notorious by the life-long dissipation of March, and by the free +living of Edgecumbe, who died at forty-five after a life misspent at +the gaming-table. That he possessed a bright mind and ingenious wit +is proved by his verses and by the estimate of his friends. The +amusing coat of arms which the friends designed for White's Club was +painted by him, while he was one of the first to recognise the +genius of Reynolds. + +** The group of Selwyn, Edgecumbe, and Williams which was painted +for Horace Walpole in 1781, and subsequently became the property of +the late Lord Taunton, now belongs to his daughter, the Hon. Mrs. +Edward Stanley, and is at Quantock Lodge, Bridgwater. It is a +charming and interesting picture. A replica by Sir J. Reynolds, the +property of Lord Cadogan, is at Chelsea House. + +The other group was of a younger generation, more brilliant and more +modern. They might not inappropriately be called the Fox group, +since his personality was so conspicuous among them. They talked +politics and gambled at Brooks's, they appreciated each other's +brightness, and lost their money with the indifference of true +friends. There was the gallant and charming soldier Fitzpatrick, the +schoolfellow and friend of Fox, the sagacious and versatile but +place-seeking Storer. Hare, who, less well-born, had risen by his +wit and talents to a place among the cleverest men of the time, "the +Hare with many friends," as he was called by the Duchess of Gordon. +Frederick, Earl of Carlisle and Crawford, the "petit Craufurt" of +Mme. du Deffand; and chief of all was Charles Fox, who to Selwyn was +incomprehensible. Selwyn had been his father's friend, and had known +him from childhood. He loved him and liked his companionship; yet +his unrestrained folly at the gambling-table and on the racecourse, +his loose ideas on money matters, and his political opinions, at +times annoyed, irritated, and puzzled him almost beyond endurance. +With the older and the younger group Selwyn was on the same terms of +intimate friendship: now pleasing by his wit, and now helping by his +kindness and common sense. + +Castle Howard was the place, outside London, which most attracted +him. It is even to-day a long way from the metropolis, and one feels +something like surprise that such a lover of the town as Selwyn +could, even to the end of his life, undertake the tiresome journey +to Yorkshire. But in the stately galleries of Vanbrugh's design he +renewed his associations with France. There he was not bored by +country society; in the home circle he had all the company he +needed. He could look out over the rolling uplands and see the +distant wolds, contented to observe and enjoy them from afar amidst +the books and pictures which his host had collected. If he wanted +exercise the spacious gardens were at hand, and the artificial +adornment of temples and statuary pleased a taste highly cultivated +after the fashion of the times. + +In a drawing-room Selwyn was as welcome as in a club, and he could +only be said to be out of place in his own country house, more +especially at the time of an election for Gloucester. The modern +love of landscape, of country life as an aesthetic pleasure, was +unknown to him. Civilisation, refinement, seemed to him to be +confined to London and Paris, to Bath or Tunbridge Wells. "Now sto +per partire, and I ought in point of discretion to set out +to-morrow, but I dare say 'twill be Friday evening before I'll have +the courage to throw myself off the cart. But then go I must; for on +Monday our Assizes begin, and how long I shall stay the Lord knows, +but I hope in God not more than ten days at farthest, for I find my +aversion to that part of the world greater and more insufferable +every day of my life, and indeed have no wish to be absent from home +but to go to Castle Howard, which I hope that I shall not delay many +days after my return from Gloucestershire" (August, 1774). A week +later he had arrived at his home. "The weather is very fine, and +Matson in as great beauty as a place can be in, but the beauties of +it make very little impression upon me; in short, there is nothing +in the eccentric situation in which I am now that can afford me the +least pleasure, and everything I love to see in the world is at a +distance from me" (August 9, 1774). + +To-day such a man as Selwyn Would have had a choice collection of +water colours; he would be ashamed if he could not appreciate the +tone and tenderness of an English landscape. But though a friend of +Reynolds and of Romney, though he commissioned and appreciated +Gainsborough, and valued the masterpieces of the past, in a word, +was essentially a man of culture, yet this phase of modern +refinement was utterly unknown to him. + +As a politician Selwyn, as has already been said, was a sinecurist; +he never took a political interest in affairs of state, and he +looked at events which have become historical from an unpolitical +point of view. But though he writes of parliamentary incidents as a +spectator, there is always in his letters a personal characterisation +which gives them vividness and life. For his long parliamentary +career brought Selwyn continually into contact with many varied +personalities of several political generations. When he entered the +House of Commons Henry Pelham was Prime Minister, and the elder Pitt +had not yet formed that coalition with the Duke of Newcastle which +enabled him to command a majority in the House of Commons and to be +the greatest War Minister of the century. When Selwyn died, still a +Member of Parliament, the younger Pitt was Prime Minister and the +French Revolution had upset that old regime which Selwyn had known +so well. In his time Pelham, Newcastle, Bute, Grenville, Chatham, +Grafton, North, Rockingham, Shelburne, and Portland were successively +heads of administrations: of some of these, and of many who served +under them, Selwyn was a friend. Of the political and personal life +of every one of them he had been an interested spectator. There was +no man of the age who had a longer period of parliamentary +observation and of personal association with the leading politicians +of the time. But this intimacy with political personages never +impressed him with the importance of political office. "You will not +believe it, perhaps," he once wrote to Lady Carlisle when he had +been asked to meet Pitt at dinner, "but a minister of any +description, though served up in his great shell of power, and all +his green fat about him, is to me a dish by no means relishing, and +I never knew but one in my life I could pass an hour with pleasantly, +which was Lord Holland." Cabinet Ministers of the eighteenth century +belonged to a single section of society, which included every one of +note and every one in it knew their faults and their failings; they +were not afraid of offending constituents or of being lectured in +leading articles. Thus their littleness, rather than their +greatness, was apt to impress a daily observer like Selwyn, and to +give to his remarks an aspect of depreciation and of pessimism. + +That Selwyn was a gossip, no one knew better than himself, and he +has incurred the censure of Sir George Trevelyan for repeating +tittle-tattle, as he calls it, about Fox and his gambling. But +posterity desires to see the real Fox, not an ideal statesman--to +see a man as he lived, not only a political figure. Looking back for +more than a century we may very well appreciate to the full Fox's +great qualities and yet be aware of his weaknesses and his vices, in +which he showed the strength of a passionate and virile character in +contact with certain characteristics of the society of the age. +Instead, therefore, of blaming Selwyn for repeating to +correspondents the minor incidents of the time, we ought to be +thankful to him for enabling us to picture so many of the leading +personages of that day as they were. If we look to a period before +or after that of Selwyn, we see an immortal gossip in Pepys, and in +Greville another who will be read after the works of eminent +historians have been put on upper shelves as out of date. The +detailing of the minor facts of life without malice and with +absolute truth enables posterity to form a sound judgment on a past +age. + +Among the amusements of the society in which Selwyn delighted was +one which now seems both morbid and cruel: that of attending the +execution of those condemned to capital punishment. Even to his +friends and immediate successors, no less than to those who have +written of him, the fact that a man so full of kindness, who took +pleasure in the innocent companionship of children, could with +positive eagerness witness the hanging of a thief at Tyburn, has +been a cause of surprise. When one is conversant with the history of +the time the astonishment is ridiculous. The sight of a man on the +gallows no more disturbed the serenity of the most good-natured of +men at the end of the eighteenth century than do the dying flutters +of a partridge the susceptibilities of the most cultured of modern +sportsmen. Selwyn was ever trying to get as much amusement out of +life as possible, and he would have been acting contrary to all the +ideas of the fashionable society of his age if he had sat at home +when a criminal was to die. It was said of Boswell, just as it was +of Selwyn, that he was passionately fond of attending executions. We +need not therefore be surprised that Selwyn did as others of his +time. Gilly Williams was a kind and good-natured man, yet we find +him writing to Selwyn: + +"Harrington's porter was condemned yesterday. Cadogan and I have +already bespoken places at the Braziers, and I hope Parson Digby +will come time enough to be of the party. I presume we shall have +your honour's company, if your stomach is not too squeamish for a +single serving." + +Another friend, Henry St. John, begins a letter to Selwyn by telling +how he and his brother went to see an execution. "We had a full +view of Mr. Waistcott as he went to the gallows with a white cockade +in his hat." Not to be wanting in the ordinary courtesies of the +time, Selwyn's correspondent presently remarks, as one nowadays +would do of a day's grouse-shooting: "I hope you have had good sport +at the Place de Greve, to make up for losing the sight of so +notorious a villain as Lady Harrington's porter. Mais laisons la ce +discours triste, and let us talk of the living and lively world." +Selwyn made his world brighter by his wit and pleasantries, and the +sight of an execution did not depress his spirits. "With his strange +and dismal turn," wrote Walpole, "he has infinite fun and humour in +him."* And the author of a social satire blunted his thrusts at +Selwyn by a long explanatory note which concludes with the remark +that "George is a humane man."* + +* Letters, vol. ii. 315. + +* "The Diaboliad," P. 18. See Chapter 3. + +It was Selwyn's fate--and in every generation we find some one of +whom the same may be said--to have his characteristics or foibles +exaggerated. It occurred to him in regard to witticisms and the +sight of executions; he did not complain of this, for he knew it +would be useless, but he disliked to be regarded as an habitual +jester or as possessing an unnatural taste for horrors.* + +* "George, as soon as the King had spoken to him, withdrew and went +away, the King then knighted the ambitious squire. The King +afterwards expressed his astonishment to the group-in-waiting that +Mr. Selwyn should not stay to see the ceremony, observing that it +looked so like an execution that he took it for granted Mr. Selwyn +would have stayed to see it. George heard of the joke, but did not +like it: he is, on that subject, still very sore." ("Journals and +Correspondence of Lord Auckland," vol. ii. p. 210). + +But another and more widespread habit is often referred to in his +letters. The gambling which Selwyn disapproved, but indulged in for +years, is constantly alluded to in his correspondence. The hold +which this vice had upon nearly every one who regarded himself as +belonging to the best society of London has never been more clearly +and vividly depicted than in Selwyn's letters. It was the protest-- +always varying, always taking new forms, but always present--against +the monotony of life. Fortunes were nightly lost at Brooks's and +White's, and substantial sums were gambled away by ladies of +position and of fashion in the most exclusive drawing-rooms in order +to kill time. Selwyn himself was a sagacious and careful man; but he +was nevertheless a moderate gambler; he always perceived the folly +of it; and yet for a great many years, he was constantly risking +part of by no means a large fortune. The green table was the +Stock Exchange and turf of the time, men and women frequented the +clubs and drawing-rooms where the excitement of gambling could be +enjoyed as they now flock to the race-course or telegraph to their +brokers in Throgmorton Street. The nobleman now enjoys his pleasure +side by side with the publican, and his example is followed by his +servants on the course. Gambling in Selwyn's time was more select--a +small society governed England and gambled in St. James's Street, +while in more democratic days peers, members, and constituents +pursue the same excitement together on the race-course or in the +City. Great as were the sums which were lost at commerce, hazard, or +faro, they were less than the training-stable, the betting-ring, and +the stock-jobber now consume; and the same influences which have +destroyed the Whig oligarchy and the King's friends have changed and +enlarged the manner and the habit of gambling in England. + +Of Selwyn the humourist it would be easy to collect pages of +witticisms. Walpole's letters alone contain dozens of them, and +there is not a memoir of the eighteenth century in which is not to +be found one of "George's" jokes. Though often happy, as when seeing +Mr. Ponsonby, the Speaker of the Irish Parliament, parting freely +with bank-notes at Newmarket, he remarked, "How easily the Speaker +passes the money bills," or, as when Lord Foley crossed the Channel +to avoid his creditors, he drily observed that it was "a passover +not much relished by the Jews," yet their repetition now is +tiresome. + +Manner and appearance assisted his wit, an impassive countenance hid +his humour so that his sallies surprised by their unexpectedness. He +knew how to appropriate opportunity, and saw the humour of a +situation. A reputation for wit is thus gained not only by what is +said, but by the mere indication of the ridiculous. This it is +impossible to reproduce, and the celebrity of Selwyn as a wit must +be allowed to rest on the opinion of his contemporaries. + +"Je suis bien eloignee," wrote Madame du Deffand, in 1767, who, of +those who knew him, has left us the most finished portrait, "de +croire M. Selwyn stupide, mais il est souvent dans les espaces +imaginaires. Rien ne le frappe ni le reveille que le ridicule, mais +il l'attrape en volant; il a de la grace et de la finesse dans ce +qu'il dit mais il ne sais pas causer de suite; il est distrait, +indifferent; il s'ennuierait souvent sans une tres bonne recette +qu'il a contre l'ennui, c'est de s'endormir quand il veut. C'est un +talent que je lui envie bien; si je l'avais, j'en ferais grand +usage. Il est malin sans etre mechant; il est officieux, poli; hors +son milord March, il n'aime rien: on ne saurait former aucune +liaison avec lui, mais on est bien aise de l'encontrer, d'etre avec +lui dans le meme chambre, quoi qu'on n'ait rien a lui dire." * + +* "Correspondance complete de Mme. du Deffand," vol. i. p. 87. + +There is a popular idea that in the eighteenth century England and +France were essentially hostile nations, immemorial enemies, yet at +no time had there been more sympathy between two sections of society +than there existed between the governing and fashionable men and +women of Paris and London; in literature, art, and dress they held +the same opinions. Englishmen braved the Channel and underwent the +fatigue and trouble of the two land journeys with cheerfulness in +order to enjoy the society of St. Germain. They were received not as +strange travellers, but as valued friends. + +Of this francophile feeling of the eighteenth century Selwyn was the +most remarkable example. He was as much at home in the salon of Mme. +du Deffand, or at one of President Henault's famous little dinners, +as in the drawing-room of Holland House or the card-room at +Brooks's. He introduced Walpole and Crawford to French society, +adding to the social and literary connection between Paris and +London during a time when political ties were broken. He was a +favourite, too, with the French Queen.* Under date of February 10, +1764, the Earl of March writes to him from Fontainebleau: "The Queen +asked Madame de Mirepoix--si elle n'avoit pas beaucoup entendu me +dire de Monsieur Selwyn et elle? Elle a repondu, oui, beaucoup, +Madame. J'en suis bien aise, dit la Reine." + +* Maria Leschitinskey, daughter of Stanislaus, King of Poland, and +Queen of Louis XV. + +The correspondence of Mme. du Deffand contains frequent allusions to +the intimacy between the first English and French society of the +period. David Hume, Lord Ossory, Lady Hervey, Lord March, the Duke +of York,* and other well-known English names, are mingled with +Rousseau, Voltaire, d'Alembert, and the Duc and Duchesse de +Choiseul. This oddly assorted company moves in the world of M. de +Maurepas and of the Duc d'Aiguillon, and is seen in the charming +salons of Mme. Geoffrin and Mme. d'Epinay; the beauty of Lady +Pembroke is commented on, the charm of Lady Sarah Bunbury analysed, +Lady Grenville eulogised. + +* Edward, Duke of York (1739-1767), brother of George III., visited +Paris the summer of 1767, on his way to Italy, where he died Sept. +17th. + +There is an irresistible fascination in the study of the men and +women of the eighteenth century of France and England; they, their +manners and customs, have disappeared for ever, but Gainsborough's +gracious women, Sir Joshua Reynolds's charming types, and Romney's +sensitive heads, have in England immortalised the reign of beauty of +this period; in France the elegance and grace of the time are shown +in the canvases of Greuze, Vanloo, and Fragonard, in the cupids and +doves and garlands which adorned the interiors of Mme. de Pompadour. + +It was a time of great intellectual development and progress in both +countries. It was the epoch of the salons, of the philosophers and +encyclopaedists, of a brilliant society whose decadence was hidden +in a garb of seductive gaiety, its egotism and materialism in a +magnificent apparelling of wit and learning. Literary standing in +France at once gave the entree to society of the highest rank and to +circles the most exclusive. David Hume, whose reputation as +philosopher and historian, had been already established there, was +received with enthusiasm when he accompanied Lord Hertford to Paris +as Secretary of Embassy, though his manner, dress, and speech were +awkward and uncouth; but his good-humoured simplicity was accepted +and appreciated as was his learning. He had begun in England a +correspondence with the Comtesse de Boufflers, he was made welcome +too in the salons of Mme. Geoffrin and of Mile, de Lespinasse, and +he soon became intimate with d'Alembert and Turgot. His reception +was no less cordial at court, where the children of the Dauphin met +him, prepared with polite little speeches about his works. He had +such admiration for Rousseau that he brought him to England, +assisting him there in spite of Horace Walpole's ill-natured jest on +the flight of the susceptible French philosopher. + +During Burke's visit to Paris in 1773 he was often present at Mme. +du Deffand's supper parties, who said that although he spoke French +with difficulty he was most agreeable; here and at other salons he +met the encyclopaedists and obtained the insight into French morals +and philosophy which, in his case, strengthened conservative +principles. + +When "Clarissa Harlowe" appeared in Paris, the book created a +sensation and was more talked of there than in England. Diderot +compared Richardson, as the father of the English novel, to Homer, +father of epic poetry. In England men of letters were far less +recognised in society. Walpole remarked, "You know in England we +read their works, but seldom or never take notice of authors. We +think them sufficiently paid if their books sell, and of course +leave them in their colleges and obscurity, by which means we are +not troubled with their vanity and impatience." But Walpole overdrew +the picture, for though literature did not hold the place in London +that it did in Paris, yet wit was never more appreciated, and +learning added to the equipment of the first of the fine gentlemen +of the time. Of this unique state of society and of international +friendliness Selwyn and his friends were the products. We cannot too +clearly realise them as types which can never recur. + +The secret of Selwyn's charm lies in the contrasts of his character; +his versatility and cosmopolitan sympathies attract us now as they +attracted in his lifetime men very different in habits, pursuits, +and mind. + +The first Lord Holland, Horace Walpole, the Duke of Queensberry, +each a type of the society of the eighteenth century; the +unscrupulous politician, the cultivated amateur and man of letters, +the sportsman with half the opera dancers in London in his pay--of +all he was the closest friend. The most intimate of them, the Duke +of Queensberry, led an extravagant and a dissipated life, in +contrast with which Selwyn's was homely and simple. He could leave +the gambling table of the club to play with Mie Mie or a schoolboy +from Eton; while his friends were crippled by dice and cards and +became seekers after political places by which they might live, he +was prudent in his play and neither ruined himself nor others. He +had a self-control and a sound sense, which were not common in his +generation; we see them in the tranquil, contemplative eyes of +Reynolds's portraits, ready in a moment to gleam with humour. By +reason of his unfailing good-nature, he was always at the service of +a friend. Himself without ambition, he watched men, not possessed of +his tact and ability, rise to positions which he had never the least +desire to fill. In an age of great political bitterness and the +strongest personal antagonism he continued the tranquil tenor of his +way, amused and amusing, hardly ever put out except by the illness +or the misfortune of a friend. "George Selwyn died this day +se'night," wrote his friend Storer to Lord Auckland; "a more +good-natured man or a more pleasant one never, I believe, existed. +The loss is not only a private one to his friends, but really a +public one to society in general."* Gaiety of temperament and sound +sense, a quick wit and a kind heart, sincerity and love of society, +culture without pedantry, a capacity to enjoy the world in each +stage of life: these are seldom found united in one individual as +they were in George Selwyn, and he is thus for us perhaps the +pleasantest personality of English society in the eighteenth +century. + +* "Journal and Correspondence of Lord Auckland," vol. ii. p. 383. + + + + +CHAPTER 2. 1767-1769 THE CORRESPONDENCE COMMENCES. + +Frederick, fifth Earl of Carlisle--Lady Sarah Bunbury--The Duke of +Grafton--Carlisle, Charles Fox, and the Hollands abroad--Current +events--Card-playing--A dinner at Crawford's--Lady Bolingbroke +--Almack's--The Duke of Bedford--Lord Clive--The Nabobs--Corporation +of Oxford sell the representation of the borough--Madame du Deffand +--Publication of Horace Walpole's "Historic Doubts on Richard the +Third"--Newmarket--London Society--Gambling at the Clubs--A post +promised to Selwyn--Elections--A purchase of wine--Vauxhall. + +IN the chapter which contains the earliest of Selwyn's letters to +Frederick, Earl of Carlisle,* something must be said of the +correspondence itself. It was begun in 1767, and most of the letters +which Selwyn wrote to Lord and Lady Carlisle from that date to his +death have been preserved at Castle Howard. The collection is in +many respects unique. It records a great number of facts, many no +doubt small and in themselves unimportant, which, however, in the +aggregate form a lifelike picture of English society in the +eighteenth century. The letters are written in the bright and +unaffected manner which Madame de Sevigne, whose style Selwyn so +much admired, had introduced in France. Filled with human interest +and easily expressed, they differ materially from Walpole's letters +in that they are characterised by a greater simplicity, and a less +egotistical tone. They show a keener interest in his correspondent. +There is in them a delightful frankness, an unconventional +freshness. Walpole's correspondence, invaluable as it is, always +bears traces of the preparation which we know that it received. But +Selwyn, with a light touch, wrote the thoughts and impassions of the +moment, never for effect. Walpole was often thinking of posterity, +Selwyn always of his friends, who were numberless and who were in +their time frequently his correspondents. How numerous Selwyn's +letters must have been we know from the number to him which have +been published; but with the exception of those which have +fortunately been preserved at Castle Howard, his appear to have +perished. + +* FREDERICK, FIFTH EARL OF CARLISLE. +1748. Born. +1769. Married Lady Caroline, daughter of Lord Gower. +1777. Treasurer of Household. +1778. Commissioner to America. +1779. Lord of Trade and Plantations. +1780. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. +1782. Lord Steward. +1783. Lord Privy Seal. +1825. Died. + +The frequent French interpolations with which his letters are +interspersed now strike us as affectations. They were, however, a +fashion of the day; nor should we forget that Selwyn spent so much +of his life in Paris that the language came to him as easily as his +own. + +In 1767 Selwyn and Carlisle had not long been friends. "Don't lead +your new favourite Carlisle into a scrape," wrote Gilly Williams to +Selwyn in the previous year. The words were written without serious +intent, but they are noticeable because they are so opposite to the +whole course of the rising friendship. The relations of the two men +were remarkable. + +It has been well said of Selwyn by a statesman of to-day that he was +a good friend, a fact never better exemplified than in his +friendship with Carlisle. In his affairs he took a greater interest +than would be expected of the nearest of relatives, and with this he +united a singularly warm and open-hearted affection not only for +Carlisle but for his family. It lasted to the day of his death. +There was between them, as Pitt said of his relations with +Wilberforce, a tie of affection and friendship--simple and ingenuous +and unbreakable. + +The nobleman who has been referred to simply as Lord Carlisle had +many of the qualities that mark a leader of men. He did not attain, +however, to the eminence as a statesman, man of letters, or in +society which had once been expected of him. + +He succeeded to the earldom when ten years of age, following a +father who had shown no disposition for any activities beyond those +of a respectable country gentleman. His grandfather, Charles, third +Earl of Carlisle, had, however, filled an important place in his +day. His local influence in the North was great, and he' was a man +of sufficient capacity and ambition to become a personage of some +position in politics and at court. + +There was never a time in English history when the possession of an +ancient name and wide estates gave greater opportunities for taking +a large share in public affairs than when the fifth Earl attained +his majority. It was natural, therefore, that a young man who was +recognised by his friends as above the average should be regarded as +a person of unusual political promise. + +In 1775 an offer was made to him of the sinecure post of Lord of the +Bedchamber. He declined it, on the openly declared ground that the +position of an official at Court was such as "damps all views of +ambition which might arise from that quarter." But in 1778 there +came an opportunity of satisfying his public spirit and ambition by +crossing the Atlantic as a peace commissioner to America. + +It is a curious historical fact that this mission appears to have +been partially, if not entirely, originated by Carlisle himself. The +story of its inception and the outlines of its progress are told by +Carlisle in a letter preserved at Castle Howard, which he addressed +to his friend and former tutor, Mr. Ekins. It is doubtful if the +King ever really hoped or intended that Carlisle's mission should +have a successful issue. It ended, as history has told, in absolute +failure. Carlisle returned home with the barren honour of good +intentions. + +The trying work which he had undertaken entitled Carlisle, however, +to posts of importance at home, and he subsequently filled the high +office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, under the administration of +Lord North. When on the resignation of Lord Shelburne, in the year +1783 the memorable and short-lived coalition between Fox and North +was formed, Carlisle became one of the Cabinet as Lord Privy Seal. +With the fall of the Ministry on Fox's India Bill in the same year, +Carlisle's official life ended. No public man who attains to Cabinet +rank can be regarded as a failure, and it may be that he was +satisfied with what he had achieved by the age of five-and-thirty. +With a versatility and serenity rare among those who have once felt +the pleasure and excitement of political power and responsibility, +he turned to literature, and at Castle Howard and Naworth he +produced poems and dramas which, in spite of Byron's sharp attack, +who thus avenged himself for the inattention of his guardian on his +entrance to public life,* though they have had no posthumous fame, +gave him a reputation in his day as a man of letters, which was +probably a higher satisfaction than would have been the rewards of a +political career alone. And it threw him into closer connection with +men of literary and artistic tastes and aims. Of his writings the +poem addressed to Reynolds on his resignation of the Presidency of +the Royal Academy is perhaps that which is best worth recollecting. +Carlisle's cultivated mind made him always a liberal patron, and at +the sale of the celebrated Orleans collection of paintings he bought +the greater part. + +* Carlisle and Byron were not only guardian and ward, but were +nearly related; it is a singular fact that Carlisle declined to +introduce him in the house of Lords. + +Selwyn's letters open with the departure of Lord Carlisle for the +Continent. The young peer was then not quite twenty, but had fallen +desperately in love with Lady Sarah Bunbury. This beautiful and +attractive woman had half London at her feet, including the King. +For obvious constitutional reasons it was impossible for him to +marry her, but day after day the town told how he used to ride to +and fro in front of Holland House to catch a glimpse of Lady Sarah. +At the drawing room after the royal marriage, at which, by the wish +of the King, she was first bridesmaid, Lord Westmoreland, who was an +adherent of the Stuarts, knelt to Lady Sarah, mistaking her for the +Queen. Selwyn said "the lady in waiting should [must] have told him +that she was the Pretender."* + +* "Memoirs of third Duke of Grafton," p. 33. + +Paris was no more able to resist her than London. "Votre milady +Sarah a en un succes prodigieux; toute notre belle jeunesse en a eu +la tete tournee, sans la trouver fort jolie, toutes les principantes +et les divinites du temple l'ont recherchee avec une grande +emulation. Je ne l'ai point vue assez de suite pour avoir pu bien +demeler ce qu'on doit pensez d'elle; je la trouve aimable, elle est +douce, vive et polie. Dans notre nation elle passerait pour etre +coquette. Je ne crois pas qu'elle le soit; elle aime a se divertir; +elle a pu etre flattee de tous les empressements qu'on lui a +marquees, et je soupconne qu'elle s'y est livree plus pour +l'apparence que par un gout veritable. Je lui ai soupconne quelques +motifs cachees, et je lui crois assez d'esprit pour avoir trouve nos +jeunes gens bien sots. Si vous etes de ses amies, elle vous dira ce +qui en est."* + +* "Correspondance complete du Mme. du Deffand," vol. i. P87. + +The letters for the succeeding year contain frequent references to +Carlisle's youthful passion. Lord Holland had taken his family +abroad, and Charles James Fox, whose brilliant public career +Carlisle had foretold in verse at Eton, was a congenial companion +during a part of his continental travels. + +Carlisle at this epoch of his life is an interesting study. Here is +a boy of nineteen voluntarily leaving home because of a fascinating +woman; he is anxiously awaiting the delayed green ribbon, and his +investiture by the King of Sardinia. He is in close association with +the foremost men of that and a later day. For three days he is +crossing the Alps, a journey filled with as many hopes or fears of +adventure as could have befallen one a century earlier. + +At the time when the correspondence begins, Selwyn's friend, the +third Duke of Grafton, was virtually Prime Minister, or as it was +then termed, "principal Minister," for the personal ministerial +responsibility of the head of the Government was, in the days of +Chatham, Grafton, and North, less distinct and less recognised than +in the nineteenth century. Chatham still held the office of Lord +Privy Seal, which he had accepted on the formation of his Ministry +in 1766. But by this time ill-health had rendered him unable to take +any part in public affairs. In October, 1768, Chatham resigned +office, and Grafton became the recognised head of a Ministry the +policy of which he was incapable either of formulating or directing; +and when in January, 1770, Grafton resigned office and handed over +the Ministry to Lord North, it released him from a trying and +irksome position. + +Kindly and shrewd in worldly affairs, and well intentioned as a +politician, but wholly lacking in strength of purpose, the third +Duke of Grafton was a man who obtained the goodwill and lost the +respect of his contemporaries. Between Selwyn and him there existed +a cordial friendship, of which there are many evidences in these +letters. + +It is time, however, to let the correspondence speak for itself; as +has been already said, Carlisle was now at Nice. + +[1767,] Dec. 29, Tuesday, de mon Chateau de Tonderdentronk.(1)--I +received your letter of the 8th and 10th, that is, one part wrote at +Antibes, the other at Nice, here yesterday, which gave me every +degree of pleasure and satisfaction that a letter can give; it could +never have come more seasonably, than when I cannot possibly, from +the snow without doors, and the Aldermen(2) within, have any other +pleasure. + +As I am well furnished with maps, I had recourse to them to follow +you in your travels, and had besides the pleasure of hearing that +you were well, and knowing exactly where you are, which was an +occupation for the whole morning. The Antiquities of France have +furnished me with the knowledge of some places through which you +have passed. Mme de Sevigne(3) did, long ago, bring me acquainted +with others; and sure I am that when she was at Rochers, she could +not think more of the Pont de Garde than I should have done, if I +had known of your being there. + +If you do me the honour to give me in future letters so much detail, +I shall be infinitely happy. You may be assured that I shall not +communicate a letter of yours to any one, not even to L(ady) +S(arah),(4) who hinted to me she wanted to see your last, without +your leave; but as for burning them directly, I cannot in your +absence resolve upon that; je les conserverai pretieusement till +your return, and that is all I can promise without your very express +commands. + +The accident that had like to have happened to you and Charles(5) ma +fait glacer le sang. I hope it was not Robert that was so heedless. +But that, the wild boars, the Alps, precipices, felouques, changes +of climate, are all to me such things as, besides that they +grossissent de loin, that if I allowed my imagination its full +scope, I should not have a moment's peace. + +I shall think no more of anything that may happen unfortunately +either to you or me for the next twelve months, than I do in passing +from Dover to Calais of the one-inch plank that is between me and +Eternity. I have assured myself that as long as the time will appear +in passing now, I shall think some time hence its progress not so +slow, and I will not add imaginary to real evils, by supposing it +possible that I shall not meet you again. + +I came down here on this day sevennight, and could I have walked +Out--but the deep snow has prevented that--I should have passed my +time among my workmen tolerably well. + +Lord Lisbourne(6) and Williams(7) were to have come with me, but +disappointed me. His lordship was hunting a mare's nest, as they +say, and fancied he should be this week nominated either of the +Admiralty or Board of Trade. He is fututo de, and Lord Ch[arle]s +Spencer(8) is of the first, and no vacancy in the other. + +Vernon(9) has Fanshaw's place at the Green Cloth, and this Greasy +Cook dismissed with a sop, but of what sort I know not; however, he +thinks himself happy that a dish-clout was not pinned to his tail. +March(10) is passing Xmas between Lord Spencer's and the Duke of +Grafton's.(11) There is no Oubourn;(12) that family has been +occupied, and is now, between recovering a little of his Grace's +sight, and niggling themselves into Administration. + +I believe I told you of Crawfurd's(13) preferment in my +letter of last Friday sevennight. I shall return to London the end +of this week, and go in search of further news for your +entertainment. The journal which you suppose me to keep is no other +than minutes I make of what I hear. When you come back from your +travels my office of journalist will cease. + +I have no one with me but Raton,(14) but he is in great health and +beauty. I'm sorry that you told me nothing of poor Rover; pray bring +him back if you can, and don't let a Cardinal or any other dog stick +it into him. + +I find my affairs here, which you are so good as to enquire after, +much as I expected them. The needy and tumultuous part of my +constituents are daily employed more and more, as the time of +election approaches, to find me a competitor, and put me, if they +cannot, to a needless expense, but I believe their schemes will be +abortive as to the main design; and as to money, I must expect to +see a great deal of it liquified and in streams about the streets of +the neighbouring city. + +Morpeth I hope will be settled to your satisfaction for this time by +the help of the Duke of Grafton, and in all future times by no means +but what are in your hands. I hope as soon as I come to town to find +the St. Andrew(15) ready to be sent, and shall by this post send a +quickner to Hemmins; if a courier goes before I come, I hope he will +carry it. Lady Carlisle(16) was to go and see it. I take it for +granted that Sir W. Musgrave(17) will have an eye to the courier's +going. I believe, at least the papers say so, the other two Ribbands +are given away; so yours must be dispatched, of course. What would I +not give to see your Investiture! What indeed would I not give to be +with you on more occasions than that! I know nobody but Charles that +I should not envy that pleasure, but il en est tres digne by knowing +the value of it. + +I shall be in pain till I hear again concerning Lord Holland(18); il +fait une belle defense, mais il en demeure la a ce qu'il me paroit; +I see nothing like a re-establishment. Ses jours sont comptes au +pied de la lettre. I beg my best and kindest compliments to him, +Lady Holland,(19) and to Charles, to whom I wrote by the last post. +I desired him to do me the favour to stick a pen now and then into +your hand, that I might hear often from you. I shall be extremely +glad to have some of your observations upon the places to which you +go; but if that takes up too much time, I shall be contented to know +that you are not any more within pistol-shot. + +Lord Beauchamp(20) trains on well, as they say, but il n'a pas le +moyen de plaire. Lord Holl[an]d's criticism upon Beauc[hamp] is not +just; he will get nine daughters if he goes on as he does, before +me; and I thought once it was a hard-run thing between us. + +Poor Lady Bol(ingbroke),(21) quelle triste perspective pour elle! +J'en suis veritablement touche. Adieu, my dear Lord, pour +aujourd'hui. God preserve you from boars of any kind, but one, which +is the writer of a long letter; for mine to you cannot be short, or +ever long enough to tell you how sincerely and affectionately I am +your Lordship's. + +(1) Writing from Matson. + +(2) Of Gloucester. + +(3) Selwyn rivalled Walpole as an ardent admirer of Mme. de Sevigne +(1626-1696) through her "Letters"; he read them assiduously, and +passionately collected any information relating to her; prizing the +smallest object that had once been hers as a precious relic. + +(4) Lady Sarah Bunbury (1745-1826), youngest daughter of Charles +Lennox, second Duke of Richmond; great granddaughter of Charles II.; +sister to Lady Holland, Lady Louisa Conolly, and Lady Emily, +Duchess of Leinster; divorced from her first husband, Sir Charles +Bunbury, the well-known racing baronet, in 1776; married, for the +second time, George Napier, sixth son of Francis, fifth Lord Napier, +in 1702; mother of the distinguished soldiers, Sir Charles James +Napier, Sir George Thomas Napier, and Sir William Francis Napier, +the historian of the Peninsular War. Constitutional reasons alone +prevented George III. from marrying her; he settled 1,000 pounds a +year on her at Napier's death in 1807. She was quite blind when she +died. + +(5) Charles, whenever the name occurs, refers to Charles James Fox +(1749-1806). He entered Parliament at nineteen; at twenty was made a +Lord of the Admiralty; in 1773 a Commissioner of the Treasury; in +1782 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the Rockingham +Ministry; in 1783 he became again Secretary of State in the +memorable Coalition Ministry formed by himself and Lord North +under the nominal premiership of the Duke of Portland. When the +Whigs at length returned to power in 1806 he was again Secretary for +Foreign Affairs in Lord Grenville's Ministry of all the Talents, and +died in office. No statesman so little in office ever obtained so +great influence in Parliament and in the country. + +(6) Wilmot, fourth Viscount Lisbourne. + +(7) George James Williams, commonly known as Gilly Williams +(1716-1805), son of William Peere Williams, an eminent lawyer; uncle +by marriage to Lord North; appointed Receiver-General of Excise in +1774. It was he of whom it was said that he was wittiest among the +witty and gayest among the gay, and his society was much sought +after. He and Edgecumbe, with Selwyn, met at Strawberry Hill at +stated periods, forming the famous group--Walpole's "out-of-town +party." + +(8) Lord Charles Spencer (1740-1820); second son of third Duke of +Marlborough; M.P. for Oxfordshire 1761-1784, and again 1796-1801; +filled from time to time several minor political offices. + +(9) Richard Vernon (1726-1800), termed father of the turf. He was a +captain in the army and a Member of Parliament; it was as a sporting +man, however, that he was best known. One of the original members of +the Jockey Club, he had a racing partnership with Lord March, and +rode in races. His skill at cards and on the turf afforded the means +for extravagant living. He married the youngest daughter of the +first Earl Gower. + +(10) William Douglas (1725-1810), third Earl of March and fourth +Duke of Queensberry, in his later years called "Old Q." He was +appointed a Lord of the Bedchamber on the accession of George III., +and in 1767 made Vice-Admiral of Scotland. Pleasure in all its forms +was the sole object of his life, regardless of public opinion; he +was good-natured and shrewd, and not without interest in politics +and literature. At the time of the King's madness, in 1788, he +openly declared for the Prince of Wales, and voted for the regency; +he entertained the princes and Fox with reckless prodigality until +the King regained his reason, when he lost his place at Court, and +prudently retired to Scotland for a time. Among Selwyn's many +friends the Duke of Queensberry held the first place. "Hors son +milord March, il n'amie rien," writes Mme. du Deffand, in her +portrait of Selwyn, whose unentailed property was left to the Duke +of Queensberry, and who survived his friend by nineteen years. + +(11) Augustus Henry, third Duke of Grafton (1735-1811). In 1766 he +became First Lord of the Treasury in Lord Chatham's Ministry, +resigning in January, 1770; and in 1771 Lord Privy Seal in Lord +North's Government, stipulating at the same time that he should not +be "summoned to any Cabinet." He resigned in 1775, but joined the +Rockingham Ministry in 1782 as Lord Privy Seal. On the formation of +the Coalition Ministry of North and Fox, in 1783, Grafton left +office for the last time. + +(12) Woburn. + +(13) James Crawford of Auchinames, Renfrewshire. He belonged to the +group of fashionable young men who frequented the clubs and played +heavily. He was a Member of Parliament. In 1769 he accompanied +Charles Fox abroad, and the following year visited Voltaire at +Ferney. He was a correspondent of David Hume and of Mme. du Deffand, +who always referred to him affectionately as "Mon petit Crauford"; +in a letter in which she urges her desire that he should become more +intimate with Horace Walpole, she writes, "Vous etes melancholique, +et lui est gai; tout l'amuse et tout vous ennuie." Crawford was +called the Fish at Eton, a name which clung to him throughout life. +He had wit and vivacity, but the reputation of being affected, +insincere, and jealous. Much of his life was passed abroad. He died +in London in 1814. + +(14) Raton was a present from Lady Coventry, and Selwyn was much +attached to him. Sir Joshua Reynolds introduced him in his portrait +of Selwyn and Lord Carlisle which is at Castle Howard. + +(15) The Order of the Thistle had just been conferred on Carlisle. + +(16) Isabella, Countess of Carlisle (1721-1795); daughter of fourth +Lord Byron. In 1743 she became the second wife of the fourth Earl of +Carlisle, who died in 1758, and was the mother of the fifth Earl. In +1759 she married Sir William Musgrave. + +(17) Sir William Musgrave (died 1800), of Hayton Castle, Cumberland. +Commissioner of Customs and a well-known personage in London +Society. He was Vice-President of the Royal Society, and filled many +useful offices. + +(18) Henry Fox, first Baron Holland (1705-1774); Secretary for War, +1746; Secretary of State, 1735 Paymaster General, 1757; Leader of +the House of Commons, 1762; created Baron Holland, 1763. He had at +this time gone abroad for his health. + +(19) Lady Holland (1723-1774); eldest daughter of Charles, second +Duke of Richmond. Her runaway marriage to Lord Holland, then Mr. +Fox, which, however, proved very happy, created much talk at the +time. + +(20) Francis Seymour (1743-1822); son of Francis, Earl of Hertford, +afterwards second Marquis of Hertford. + +(21) Lady Diana Bolingbroke (1734-1808); eldest daughter of second +Duke of Marlborough; sister to Lady Pembroke. She was celebrated for +her high character, beauty, and accomplishments. Two days after her +unhappy marriage with Lord Bolingbroke was dissolved she married +Topham Beauclerk. + + +1768, Jan. 5, Tuesday morning, Chesterfield Street.--Many and many +happy new years to you, some of which I hope to have the pleasure of +being a witness of. When I came to town yesterday from +Gloucestershire, I received, to my surprise and great satisfaction, +your letter of the 16th of last month, for this is now the second +which I have had within a week beyond my expectation. + +My answer to the first is now on the road to you, and will, I hope, +reach you some time next week. I don't recollect in any which I have +wrote that there was any expression of formality, which you seem to +have observed, and which I certainly did not intend, because I know +it would not be acceptable to you; and therefore don't interpret +that to be formality, which can be nothing but that respect, which +no degree of familiarity can ever make me lose in my commerce with +you. + +I was surprised to find that Sir Ch[arle]s and Lady Sarah [Bunbury] +were in town, and had not been out of it. The weather has been and +is so cold there is no stirring from one's fireside, and so they +changed their mind. I dine with them to-day, when I hope I shall see +Harry; I have not seen him yet. I have been absent, it is now above +a fortnight. I shall not seal up my letter till I have been in Privy +Garden. I was asked to dine at Lord George's(22) to-day, but am glad +that, it being postday, I can dine where I may be able to pick up +something that will be interesting to you. I don't wish to add fuel, +but it is natural to wish that one's letters are made as acceptable +as possible. + +I have had a message to-day from Sir W. Musgrave, who desires to see +me to-morrow; I will endeavour to see him to-day, as the post goes +out; I don't know particularly what he has to say. I have sent to +Hemmins this morning, but he is not yet come to me. + +Lord W. Gordon(23) says he thinks his brother will ask for the other +Ribband. I long to see the Duke of Buccleugh(24) in his. I can tell +you no more at present of Brereton's(25) affair than that he is to +be prosecuted. I send you his advertisement, which came out a +fortnight ago. I think some answer should have been made to it; +although I think the controversy very unequal, and a paper war with +such a low fellow very disagreeable. But the assertions in this +advertisement will gain him credit. As I live with but one set of +people, I do not hear all the animadversions that are made upon this +affair, but I believe there is a certain monde where my two friends +pass but for very scrubby people; a bold assertion, and a great deal +of dirt thrown, although by a very mean hand, must inevitably have a +disagreeable effect. + +The night robberies are very frequent. Polly Jones, my neighbour, +was a few nights ago stopped, when the chair was set down at +Bully's(26) door, and she robbed of 12 guineas. + +Lady Bolingbroke has sent her resignation to the Queen, who wrote +her a very gracious letter upon it. Bully kisses hand[s] to-morrow; +the others soon after. Lord Gower(27) is the only one who has kissed +hands as yet. Fanshaw is not to be in Parliament, so there is so +much money saved to him, and his pension consequently in greater +security. + +I am glad that there is so much care taken of Rover. I think, if he +has the good fortune to survive Alps, &c., and ever come to Castle +Howard, that he has an establishment for life, and may be a +toad-eater of Stumpy's. + +I had a letter yesterday from Sir J. Lambert,(28) who says he can +contrive to send the Badge safely. I hope he sends my letters +regularly. March is still at Lord Spencer's, where he amuses +himself, as he tells me, excessively. + +I will write more after dinner, when I hope to be more amusing to +you. I am glad for your sake and mine that they are still in town. I +shall not forget to faire valoir tous vos beaux sentiment. I'm +persuaded that I shall not be thought borish upon that subject. + +Lord March's election at the Old(29) is to be to-night, if you can +call a constant ejectment an election. I thank you for your offer of +a Circassian in case you travel into Greece; you must suppose me to +be like the Glastonbury Thorn, to receive any benefit by it. + +I am also much obliged to you for your hint about Hazard. Foolish, +very foolish it is I grant you, and if anything was prevalent enough +with me to relinquish so old and pernicious a practice, it would be +your condemnation of it. Heureusement pour moi, the occasion fails +me more than my prudence would serve me, if that offered. The rage +there is for Quinze is my great security. Can you forgive these +borish letters; can you excuse my leaving you to go and sup with Sir +Ch[arle]s in Privy Garden? + +My dear Lord, you have been very kind in writing so often to me; the +only mischief of it to me will be, that you will have accustomed me +to that which I cannot expect, when you are no longer in that state +of retreat and indolence in which you have been at Nice. I owe much +to your friendship and great complaisance on all occasions, but I +cannot expect to interfere with what will occupy you in those places +with so much reason. However, whatever you are, I hope I may have +leave to assure you from time to time how truly and affectionately I +am, and ever shall be yours. + +I should be glad to know if all my letters have come to your hands. + + +(22) George Sackville Germaine (1716-1785); known from 1720 to +1770 as Lord George Sackville, from 1770 to 1782 as Lord George +Germaine; son of the seventh Earl and first Duke of Dorset. A Member +of Parliament and a soldier, he became in 1775 Secretary of State +for the Colonies in Lord North's Administration until the fall of +his chief. His rise to the peerage in 1782 as Viscount Sackville +gave cause to some acrimonious debates, which are referred to later, +see Chapter 5. The Letters of Junius have often been ascribed to +Sackville's pen. + +(23) Lord William Gordon; brother of the fourth Duke of Gordon and +of Lord George of the Gordon Riots fame. He was Ranger of Windsor +Park. + +(24) Henry, third Duke of Buccleugh (1746-1812); eulogised in Lord +Carlisle's well-known verses on his Eton schoolfellows. He succeeded +as fifth Duke of Queensberry in 1810. + +(25) Colonel Brereton on leaving the army had become a gambler of +doubtful reputation. + +(26) Frederick St. John, second Viscount Bolingbroke (1734-1787); +known among his friends as "Bully." He succeeded his uncle, the +famous Henry St. John, in 1751, and married in 1757 Lady Diana +Spencer, daughter of the third Duke of Marlborough; the marriage was +dissolved in 1768. He married secondly, in 1793, Arabella, daughter +of the sixth Lord Craven. + +(27) Granville, second Earl Gower, first Marquis of Stafford +(1721-1803). Appointed a Lord of the Admiralty in 1749, and resigned +in 1751; having filled various court offices he became in 1767 +President of the Council. He resigned in 1779. Upon Pitt's accession +to power in 1783 he became again Lord President of the Council; in +1784 left this office and was appointed Lord Privy Seal; in 1786 +created Marquis of Stafford; in 1794 resigned the office of Privy +Seal. At first opposed to America's independence, he later declared +against the war. He was the father of Lady Carlisle. + +(28) English banker in Paris. + +(29) A club at White's Coffee House in St. James's Street was formed +in 1730. About 1745 so many gentlemen were waiting for admission to +its membership, that a second club, known as The Young Club at +White's, was established. It had the same rules and was in the same +house as the Old Club, the members of which were usually selected +from the younger society. In 1781 the Old and Young Club: were +united, and have since been known as White's Club. + + + +[1768,] Jan. 12, Tuesday morning.--I went to White's to enquire +after your ticket, and found The Button with a letter in his hand, +which he desired me to direct to you. It was only to tell you that +your ticket was a blank: it came up the 2nd instant. + +Mr. Walpole's book(30) will not be out this month; I will send it by +the first opportunity I can find. Pray let me know if you have +received Hume's Hist[ory],(31) that Lord Pembroke(32) was to carry +for you to Sir J. Lamb[er]t. The apology for Lord B., that is, Lord +Baltimore,(33) I sent for, but it contained nothing to the purpose, +and it was a title formed to draw people in. + +I dined at Crawfurd's on Saturday; there were Robinson, Sackville, +and R[ichar]d Fitzpatrick,(34) who a la suite d'une heure, has been +attacked with the rheumatism, and looks wretchedly, and quite +decrepid. I went afterwards and sat an hour with poor Lady +Bol[ingbroke]; she was very easy and cheerful, et avec une +insensibilite qui m'en donneroit pour elle; but that cannot be. She +told me she had a favour to ask of me, which was, that I would use +my endeavours that she might see her children. Bully is at present +out of town, but to be sure, I shall have no difficulty in that +negotiation. I have supped at Lady S. several times, and last night +went home with her and Miss B. from the play. Je profite de certains +momens pour vous rappeller a son souvenir, if that was necessary; +they are to dine here, but have not fixed the day. Little Harry and +his French friend are at Mrs. Blake's in the country. Sir C. will +make him write to you when he returns. Lady Hertford(35) is actually +(as Lady S. told me last night) Lady of the B[edchamber]. + +I expect Sir W. Musgrave to call upon me at three to take measures +about the courier, and Hemmins has promised to bring me the Badge at +two. I shall then have more to say upon those points. Parker(36) +gave us a great dinner, but the company was not numerous. I dine +to-morrow at Lord Harrington's,(37) and, I am told, with the new +Ministers.(38) I had a little supper at Lady Harrington's(39) on +Sunday, en famille; Lord and Lady Barrymore(40) were there. She goes +on with her pregnancy. + +I found Beauc. sitting with his future,(41) en habit de gala; he +soon went away to the Opera, so I had a tete a tete. Mr. Radclif(42) +is still talked of for Lady F., but I have not asked Sir Will[ia]m +Mus[grave] if it is true. He is very well spoke of, et le nom est +assez beau. + +Quinze goes on vigorously at Almack's.(43) Lady S. says +that you have fixed your coming of age as an epoque for leaving off +that and all kind of play whatsoever. My dear Lord, vive hodie; +don't nurse any passion that gathers strength by time, and may be +easier broke of at first. I am in hopes indeed that when you are +maitre de vos biens, as the French say, you will not invite Scot, +Parker, or Shafto(44) to partake it with you. Your condition of +life, and the necessary expenses of it, will not allow that +coalition. I never kept so long from play yet, but I frankly own I +have not much virtue to boast of by that continency. I know of no +good opportunity which I have resisted. St. John(45) told me at the +play last night that you was to go and return from Turin alone. I +hope that is not so; I shall be very angry with Robert, if he does +not take great care both of you and Rover. I will finish the rest +when I have seen Sir William. + +Tuesday night.--Sir W[illia]m sent me word he did not call upon me +to-day because he could not settle with the courier till Thursday; +and Hemmins did call, and assured me that on Thursday the Badge +should be ready. I scolded till I was in a fever; I believe he will +not venture to put me off any longer. + +(30) "Historic Doubts on Richard the Third." + +(31) The best English history that had been written up to that time, +and the first that made any attempt to literary merit. The first +edition was published at intervals from 1754 to 1761. A second +edition had been issued in 1762. + +(32) Henry, tenth Earl of Pembroke (1734-1794). He married in +1756 Elizabeth, second daughter of the third Duke of Marlborough. + +(33) Lord Baltimore had been acquitted of the charge of abduction +which had been brought against him, but the prosecution brought +forward facts sufficient to justify the public indignation that was +raised. He soon after went abroad, and died in Naples in 1771. + +(34) Richard Fitzpatrick (1747-1813); second son of John, first +Earl of Upper Ossory and Lady Evelyn Leveson Gower, daughter of +second Earl Gower. His sister, Lady Mary Fitzpatrick, married +Charles James Fox's elder brother, Stephen, afterward second Lord +Holland. Fitzpatrick is one of the best known names in the history +of the social life of the last half of the eighteenth century--the +Duke of Queensberry left him a legacy in recognition of his fine +manners. He was the talented and accomplished friend of Fox, whose +excesses in gaming and in all the fashionable follies of the day he +rivalled. He served with credit in the American war; in 1780 was +returned to Parliament; in 1782 appointed secretary to the Duke of +Portland, then Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland; in 1783 made Secretary at +War. At his death he was a Privy Councillor, a general in the army, +and colonel of the Forty-seventh Regiment of Foot. + +(35) Lady Isabella Fitzroy, youngest daughter of Charles, second +Duke of Grafton. She married in 1741 Francis, first Marquis of +Hertford. + +(36) George Lane Parker(1724-1791), second son of George, second +Earl of Macclesfield. He became a general and a Member of +Parliament. + +(37) William Wildman, second Viscount Barrington (1717-1793). He +filled various high official and court offices; he was a Chancellor +of the Exchequer in 1761, and subsequently Secretary at War. + +(38) The Bedford faction effected a junction with the Government at +the end of 1767, and Lord Sandwich, and Lord Weymouth, and Rigby +entered the Ministry. + +(39)5 Caroline Fitzroy, eldest daughter of the second Duke of +Grafton. She married Lord Petersham, second Earl of Harrington in +1746. + +(40) Richard Barry (1745-1773) succeeded as sixth Earl of Barrymore +at six years of age. He married Lady Stanhope, daughter of William, +Earl of Harrington. He was notorious as a skilful gambler. He is +said to have been an excellent officer, holding a captain's +commission at the time of his death. + +(41) Alice Elizabeth, youngest daughter and co-heir of Herbert, +second Viscount Windsor. She married Lord Beauchamp that year. + +(42) John Radcliffc married Lady Frances Howard, Lord Carlisle's +sister. + +(43) Almack's Club was established by Macall in 1764. It was +subsequently taken over by a wine merchant named Brooks and was +thenceforward known as Brooks's. This club was primarily formed for +the purpose of high play; one of the rules reads: "Every person +playing at the new quinze table shall keep fifty guineas before +him." At play it was the fashion to wear a great coat, sometimes +turned inside out for luck; the lace ruffles were covered by a +leathern bib. Broadbrimmed high hats, trimmed with ribbon and +flowers, completed a proper gaming costume. + +(44) Robert Shafto of Whitworth, M.P. for Durham--fond of racing and +betting. + +(45) Henry St. John, called "the Baptist," was a brother of "Bully," +second Viscount Bolingbroke. Horace Walpole writes of them as Lord +Corydon and Captain Corydon. He was a Groom of the Bedchamber, a +Member of Parliament, and a colonel in the army. He was a man of +wit, universally popular. + + +[1768,] Jan. 15, Friday morning.--We are at this moment in some +alarm about you, which I hope to find has been given without any +foundation; however, en tous cas, I hope this will find you at Nice, +and not at Turin, where Lady Carlisle has been told there is a +contagious disorder. You are near enough that place to have better +intelligence than we. + +I dine(d) with the Duke of Grafton the day before yesterday at Lord +Barrington's, who assured me the death of Mr. Shirley would not +occasion any delay in regard to you. Sir W[illiam] M[usgrave] and I +have been contriving how to save you the price of the courier, +which, for going and coming, is above 150 pounds. I shall apply to +Lord Clive(46) through his former secretary, my neighbour Mr. Walsh. +Lord Clive is going to Nice, although I suppose by a slow progress, +and can supply this courier's place, a pas de tortue, that will not +be inconvenient if you don't leave Nice immediately; if you do, a +more expeditious method may be thought of. But I am very desirous of +adding no more expense to that which this Order will cost you. + +Almack's was last night very full; Lady Anne and Lady Betty(47) were +there with Lady Carlisle. The Duke of Cumb[erlan]d(48) sat between +Lady Betty and Lady Sarah, who was his partner. Lady Sarah, your +sister, and His R[oyal] H[ighness] did nothing but dance cotillons +in the new blue damask room, which by the way was intended for +cards. The Duchess of Gordon(49) made her first appearance there, +who is very handsome; so the beauty of the former night, Lady +Almeria Carpenter,(50) was the less regarded. We will follow, if you +please, the veteris vestigia flamme. + +There has (sic) been no events this week that I know of, except his +Grace of Bedford's(51) appearance at Court. His eyes are a ghastly +object. He seems blind himself, and makes every [one] else so that +looks at him. They have no speculation in them, as Shakespear says; +what should be white is red, and there is no sight or crystal, only +a black spot. It alters his countenance, and he looks like a man in +a tragedy, as in K[ing] Lear, that has had his eyes put out with a +fer rouge. + +I dined yesterday at Lady Sarah's with Mr. and Mrs. Garrick.(52) I +say as much as I can of Lady Sarah, and her name shall be in every +other line, if it will excuse the borishness of my letters in other +particulars. + +March leaves Lord Spencer's to-day. He and Varcy like [lie] to-night +at St. Alban's, and are to be in town to-morrow. The Northampton +Election will cost God knows what. I dine to-day at Ossory's.(53) +Lady Sarah, Miss Blake, Sir Ch[arles], &c., Sec., dine here on +Tuesday. I chose that, being a post day. + +I believe that the best thing I can do is to ask Lord Shelbourne(54) +for the courier's place. I should be glad of it, if it was tenable +with my seat in Parliament. Sir G. Mac sat last night at supper +between Lady Bute(55) and his future, who by the way is laide a +faire peur. I was asking Lady Carlisle which was the most likely, +some years ago, to have a Blue Ribband, du beau-pere et du gendre. + +Little Harry is not come to town. Sir Charles goes down into the +country next week, but not Lady Sarah that I know of. I expect +Hemmins every hour with the St. Andrew. He has so much abuse from me +every day, that I believe he wishes that I had been crucified +instead of St. Andrew. He swears that one man left the work in the +middle of it, and said he would not have his eyes put out in placing +those small diamonds that compose the motto. + +Mr. Brereton is returned to the Bath, and the street robbers seem +dispersed. The hard weather is gone for the present, so that London +will be pleasanter than it has been, for the Jockeys and +Macaronis.(56) Garrick criticised your picture of mine, which he saw +at Humphry's; he has that and Sir Charles's; it is like, but not so +good and spirited a likeness as Reynolds's(57) certainly. But I am +much obliged to you for it. If you sit to Pompeio I shall hope to +have a better, and with your Order. + +The Duke of Cumb[erlan]d attacked the Duke of Buccleugh last night +for wearing his under his coat; son Altesse R. a une bovardise fort +intiressante il faut lui rendre justice. + +I should not have troubled you so soon if this alarm from Turin, and +the courier, &c., had not filled my head. My best compliments to +Lord and Lady Holland and my love to Charles and Harry.(58) Charles +is in my debt a letter; I shall be glad to hear from him. Crawfurd +desired me to make his (ex)cuses to you, that he has not answered +your last; he gains no ground; I think he is immaigri, et d'une +inquietude perpetuelle qui porte sur rien. + +The Duke of N[ewcast]le(59) seems to have gained strength and life +since that manly resolution which he took last week of being no +longer a Minister of this country. Let what would happen, he has +given a conge to his friends to do what they will, and it shall not +be looked upon as desertion. That is undoubtedly the most capital +simpleton that ever the caprice of fortune placed in the high +offices which he filled, and for so long a time. + +The last paragraph of this letter can scarcely belong to this date, +for the Duke of Newcastle was not in Chatham's Ministry, which was +formed on the fall of the first Rockingham Administration in July, +1766. + +(46) Lord Clive had recently returned from India in bad health. He +lived, however, till 1774. + +(47) Sisters of Lord Carlisle. + +(48) Henry Frederick, younger brother of George III.; notorious for +his dissipation. + +(49) Jane Maxwell, Duchess of Gordon, wife of Alexander, fourth +Duke. She was a social leader of the Tory party, and a confidante of +Pitt. Horace Walpole called her "one of the empresses of fashion." + +(50) Lady Almeria Carpenter was famous for her beauty. She was +lady-in-waiting to the Duchess of Gloucester and mistress to the +Duke. "The Duchess remained indeed its nominal mistress, but Lady +Almeria constituted its ornament and its pride." (Wraxall, vol. v. +p. 201). + +(51) John Russell, fourth Duke of Bedford (1710-71), died 1756. He +was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in 1762; he went as +Ambassador to Paris, where he negotiated the unpopular Treaty of +Paris. He was at the head of the place-seeking politicians called +the Bloomsbury Gang, from his town house in Bloomsbury Square; and +when, in 1767, his faction came into power, the Duke of Bedford, +who was worthy of better clients, made a feeble effort to arrive at +an understanding with Lord Rockingham about a common policy; but he +could not keep his followers for five minutes together off the +subject that was next their hearts. Rigby bade the two noblemen take +the Court Calendar and give their friends one, two, and three +thousand a year all round ("The Early History of Charles James Fox," +p. 132). An overbearing manner and the character of his followers +made him unpopular. In 1731 he married Lady Diana Spencer, daughter +of the third Earl of Sunderland, and sister of the third Duke of +Marlborough. He married for the second time, in 1737, Gertrude, +eldest daughter of the first Earl Gower. At the death of their only +son, Lord Tavistock, in 1767, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford were +harshly charged with want of respect for his memory. + +(52) David Garrick (1717-79). In 1749 he married Eva Marie Violette, +of Vienna, a dancer who had been received in the best houses in +England. "I think I never saw such perfect affection and harmony as +existed between them" (Dr. Beattie). Selwyn criticised disparagingly +his Othello. + +(53) John, second Earl of Upper Ossory (1745-1818). He was the +brother of Richard Fitzpatrick and of Mary Fitzpatrick, wife of the +second Lord Holland. He was educated at Eton and Oxford. "The man I +have liked the best in Paris is an Englishman, Lord Ossory, who is +the most sensible young man I ever saw" ("Walpole's Letters," vol. +iv. p. 426). He married Annie, daughter of Lord Ravensworth, shortly +after her divorce from the Duke of Grafton. + +(54) William Petty, second Earl of Shelburne (1737-1805); created +Marquis of Lansdowne, 1784; he became Secretary of State in +Chatham's second Administration, 1766, and resigned office on +October 20, 1768, almost simultaneously with Lord Chatham on the +fall of Lord North. In 1782 he again became Secretary of State in +Lord Rockingham's Ministry, and First Lord of the Treasury on the +death of Rockingham. His Government came to an end on the coalition +of Fox and North in 1783. He was the most liberal statesman of his +time, "one of the earliest, ablest, and most earnest of English +freetraders," but he was at the same time one of the most unpopular, +a supposed insincerity being the cause of it. + +(55) Lady Bute was the daughter of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. + +(56) A society of exquisites drawn from the younger men at Brooks's, +noted for their affectation in dress and manner; travel abroad was +necessary for admission to their society. + +(57) Sir Joshua Reynolds(1723-1782). Selwyn was his patron and +friend. When it was reported that Reynolds would stand as a +candidate for the Borough of Plympton, and all the town was laughing +at him, Selwyn remarked that he might very well succeed, "for Sir +Joshua is the ablest man I know on a canvass." + +(58) Henry Edward Fox, youngest son of Lord Holland. + +(59) Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle (1693-1768). For half a +century in the front of English political life. In 1724 he became +Secretary of State in Walpole's Administration, and continued in +office until 1756, having on the death of his brother, Henry Pelham, +in 1754, become First Lord of the Treasury. In 1757 he returned as +Prime Minister to office with the elder Pitt, resigning again in +1762. In Lord Rockingham's Ministry, 1765 to 1766, he was Lord Privy +Seal. Newcastle is a remarkable instance of a man of apparently +ordinary capacity holding high office in the State for many years. + + + +Jan. 17, Sunday morning.--We received your Badge at last yesterday. +Sir W. Musgrave and I deliberated a great while about the method of +sending it, and at last went together to Lord Clive, who sets out +for Paris to-morrow, and will take charge of it, as the surest +conveyance. The courier was rejected as too expensive, and Mr. Ward +as too uncertain. I have enclosed a schedule of what the packet +delivered to Lord Clive contains. It is addressed to Sir J. Lambert +and Mr. Ward. If he goes to Paris to-day, as he intended, [he] will +carry a letter from me to Sir J. L[ambert] with directions for the +safest and speediest conveyance of this to you; I shall write to him +again upon the subject on Tuesday. + +I wish somebody had received a letter from you by Friday's post, to +satisfy us where you was. This idea of an epidemical disorder at +Turin has alarmed Lady Carlisle, and I have caught some of the +fright of her. March returned yesterday from Lord Spencer's, and the +usual company supped at the Duke of Grafton's. + +Mrs. Horton(60) sets out for Nice with a toad-eater and an upper +servant of the Duke's this next week. The night robbers prove to be +soldiers in the Foot Guards, which I suspected; we have not +recovered our terrors, and still go home, as they travel in the +Eastern countries, waiting for convoys; it ruins me in flambeaux's. + +Lord Clive will not I think live to go to Nice, but I hope he will +get safe to Paris, and then Sir J. Lambert will take care of all the +rest. The Badge is pretty, excepting that the shape of it is too +long, and the whole seems too large for a young person. But that was +the fault of the sardonyx. + +The Duchess of Bucc[leugh](61) is very far gone with child; but I +believe I told you so in my last. I will write the rest when Lady +Sarah is gone from my house Tuesday after dinner. + +Tuesday night.--My dear Lord, I have waited till my foreign letters +came in before I would finish this, always in hopes of one from you. +I have received one by this post from Charles of the 6th of this +month; and he says you was answering one which you had just had from +me. This gives me hope that I shall hear from you on Friday. + +Lady Sarah dined with me, Miss Blake, Sir Charles, Lord March, Lady +Bolingbroke, and Crawfurd. Lady S[arah], &c. went to the Play soon. +She received a long letter from Lady Holland while we were at +dinner, but only said that Lord H[ollan]d was well, which I was glad +to hear. We were 16 yesterday at the Duke of Gr[afton's], a very +mixed company. He enquired very kindly after you. + +I think I shall have both trouble and expense at Gloucester, as I +have had heretofore, but that is all I apprehend, and that I have +been prepared for a great while, by expectation. I am in great hopes +from Charles's letter that you are still at Nice. Not that I think +but, being so near Turin, if there was anything to be feared from +the distemper, you would certainly hear it, and not go. Perhaps +there are letters from you in Cleveland Court; I shall send to Sir +Wm.(62) to enquire. + +The great event at Almack's is that Scott has left off play; he is, +I suppose, the plena cruons hirundo. I am not quite satisfied that +Sir J. Lambert is punctual in forwarding my letters; pray let me +know it. Those who have been to see me think your picture very like, +but not a good likeness is agreed on all hands; but such as it is, I +am very much obliged to you for it. + +I am extremely glad to find that you are applying to Italian, but to +anything is useful. You will find the benefit of it your whole life. +There are lacunes to be filled up in every stage, which nothing can +supply so well as reading, I am persuaded. + +I find the last of mine that you had received when Charles wrote his +was a month ago; that makes me afraid Sir J. L[ambert] keeps them. +There [they] are no more worth his keeping than your receiving, but +they give me the pleasure of assuring you, which I can, with great +truth, that I am ever most truly and most affectionately yours. + +(60) The Duke of Grafton made no secret of his relations with Mrs. +Horton. + +(61) Elizabeth, Duchess of Buccleugh, daughter of George, Duke of +Montagu. She was married in 1767. + +(62) Sir William Musgrave. + + +Intermixed with the personal news which fills the next letter there +are allusions to some social and political incidents very +characteristic of the time. The Indian nabob, or millionaire as we +should now call him, had begun to desire a seat in Parliament for +his own purposes, just as the sinecurist did for his, and he was +able to outbid the home purchaser. The jealousy with which the Court +party regarded the encroachments of these returned Anglo-Indians in +their preserves is amusing, especially when we recollect that so +great was the venality of the age that a respectable corporation +such as that of Oxford did not hesitate to offer the representation +of their borough for sale for a fixed sum. + +1768, January 26, Tuesday night, at Almack's.--I received last night +yours of the 9th of this month, for which I thank you most heartily. +It is really so much pleasure to me to have a letter from you, that +it makes me wish away five days out of seven, and at my age that is +too great an abatement. I intended to have called to-day upon Sir +W[illiam] Musgrave in consequence of it, but neither he [n]or Lady +Carlisle having received any letters (if they are come, he might not +have received them), that (sic) he prevented me, and called upon me +at three o'clock to know if I had had any account of you. + +Mr. Ward did not set out the Sunday he intended, that is the 17th +inst., but he gave the letter which he was to carry to Sir J. +L[ambert] to Mr. Hobart,(63) who was to set out for Paris the day +after, that is, the 18th. + +Lord Clive did not sail, as Sir W[illiam] M[usgrave] tells me, till +last Sunday, so the Ribband and Badge, &c., will not arrive at Paris +till next Saturday, or Sunday probably; but Sir J. L[ambert] will be +prepared to have sent these things, by a safe hand to you either at +Turin, or Nice. I shall write to him to-night again with a full +explanation of all, that no time may be lost. + +I conclude you came to Turin last Saturday, according to the letter +which I received yesterday, unless Lady Carlisle's letter about the +epidemical disorder prevented you, which was wrote the 5th inst., +upon seeing Monsieur Viri(64) at the Princess Dow[age]r's Drawing +Room. According to the usual course of the post you must then have +received that the 19th, the evening of your intended departure, and +whether it prevented you or not, is still for me a scavoir. I hope +it did, all things considered. But if you really went to Turin last +Wednesday, then you will have been there perhaps near three weeks +before your Investiture. I hope no part of this delay will be +imputed to me. You will not have passed your time, I should think, +ill at a Court, where you was so announced, and to receive that +distinction. I am sure, if any time had been lost by my means, I +should be very sorry, when you tell me that the going so soon to +Turin will accelerate your return hither. For to tell you the truth, +I begin to think the time long already, and it is too soon to begin +counting the months. + +I am extremely glad to find that you had the Marquis(65) with you. I +did not like the idea of your travelling alone. Your application to +Italian, or to anything, is what will certainly turn to account, +because, if I am not much mistaken, yours is the very age of +improvement; but your growing fat must be owing to more indolence +than can be salutary to you, and I hope you will take care that that +is not too habitual. The inconveniences of it you may not find +immediately, but they are certain, and very great, of which I could +enumerate very remarkable instances; but they do not interest me as +that does which concerns yourself. I find by Sir W[illiam] that you +have already heard all that your family knows of Lady Fr.; your +great good nature makes me not surprised at your anxiety, but there +is no occasion for it, if I am rightly informed. Your monk's +disinterest[ed]ness is a mare's nest; you will find he expects some +gratuity that will amount to more than a certain stipend; there is +no such thing in nature as an Eccle[si]astic doing anything for +nothing. + +As to Morpeth, the best that can be done at present is done. I'm +persuaded what can be done in future times will depend upon +yourself, as I hope and suppose. I do not wonder that Lady Carl, +prefers Reynolds' picture, but I am not sorry to have that which I +have neither. It is a great likeness, though not a good one. + +Your seal you will receive with the other things. You ask me about +Lord Tho[mon]d(66) and Will: all [the] party is so broke up at +present that they are au desespoir. The Bedfords are in +extraordinary good humour; that elevation of spirit does them no +more credit than their precedent abasement; the equus animus seems a +stranger to them. G. Greenv.(67) is certainly [befouled] as a +Minister, but he is so well manured in other respects that he cannot +be an object of great compassion certainly. + +I hear you was alarmed in the night by a violent squabble in your +retinue. I hope Robert behaves well; as a native of Castle Howard I +have the most partiality to him, although I really believe Louis to +be a very good servant. I shall be glad to know if Rover is still in +being; he shall have his picture at the dilitanti (sic'), if he +returns. + +I hope you will not travel Eastward but upon the map. L'appetit +vient en mangeant, but pray let me not find that in respect to your +travelling; I cannot be so selfish as not to be glad that you make +the tour of Italy, but I can carry my disinterestedness no further I +confess; more than 18 months' quarantine will be too much for me. + +Lord March is much obliged to you for your kind and constant mention +of him; he is extremely well, and' not plagued with Zamparini's(68) +or anything that I know of. The Duchess of North[umberlan]d(69) +according to her present arrangement sets out for Paris, or some +place or places abroad, next week. If she is not constantly wagging, +as I'm told, she is in danger of a lethargy. Mrs. Horton sets out +for Nice on Friday. + +There has been a very long debate in the House of Commons to-day +upon a motion of Ald. Beckford's(70) concerning a Bill he intends to +bring in for the more effectual prevention of bribery and keeping +out nabobs, commissaries, and agents of the House of Commons, or at +least from their encroachments upon the claims of persons +established in towns and boroughs, by descent, family interest, and +long enjoyed property; the principle of his scheme is certainly +good. + +The Mayor and Corporation of Oxford are to appear at the Bar in +defence of themselves, for having offered themselves to sale for +7,500 pounds. They had the honnetete to offer the refusal to their +old members, who told them in answer to their modest proposal that +as they had no intention to sell them, so they could not afford to +buy them. I was not at the House, but this is likely to make a great +noise. Bully's petition has been presented by Lord Sandw.,(71) and +will probably be carried through this Session. Some of the Bishops +intend to make speeches against it, as I hear. + +Charles Boon has married a squint-eyed, chitten-face citizen with +about 5,000 pounds fortune. Sir G. Mac(72) wedding will be about +Monday or Tuesday next. They consummate at Comb, Vernon's house. Sir +Ch[arles] is returned from Barton, and Lady Sarah gone to the Opera. +You may be sure that we do not pass an hour without mention of you, +but, shall I tell you mind (sic), when Lady Carlisle tells you that +she has seen her at Chapel, and when I tell you that I have dined +with her, we certainly mean to please you; but do we not help to +keep up a flame that, in as much as that is the proper description +of it, had better be extinguished? Crescit indulgent isti. I am sure +I shall never say anything to lessen the just and natural esteem +which you have for her, but when there is grafted on that what may +make you uneasy, I must be an enemy to that or to yourself, and you +know, I am sure, how incapable I am of that. I have a long letter +almost every week from my flame also, Me du Deffand,(73) but these +are passions which non in seria ducunt. She is very importunate with +me to return to Paris, by which (?), if there is any sentiment, it +must be all of her side. I should not be sorry to make another +sejour there; but if I did, and it was with you, I should not throw +away with old women and old Presidents,(74) which is the same thing, +some of those hours which I regret very much at this instant. You +may assure Lord Kildare that I will do my best about his election at +the young club.(75) + +(63) George Hobart, third Earl of Buckinghamshire (1732-1804). He +was returned to Parliament in 1761, 1768, and 1774, and he was +manager of the Opera for a time. In 1762 he was made Secretary to +the Embassy at St. Petersburg, where his half-brother John, second +Earl of Buckinghamshire, was Ambassador; in 1793 he succeeded him. +He married, in 1757, Albinia, eldest daughter of Lord Vere Bertie. + +(64) The Count de Viry, Sardinian Minister to England. + +(65) William Robert, Marquis of Kildare (1748-1805). He succeeded as +third Duke of Leinster in 1773. + +(66) Percy Windham O'Brien, Baron of Stricheh and Earl of Thomond, +brother of Lord Egremont and of Mrs. George Grenville. He was a +Member of Parliament for Mmehead, Lord-Lieutenant of the county of +Somerset, and a member of the Privy Council. + +(67) George Grenville (1712-1770). Prime Minister and Chancellor of +the Exchequer in 1763. The author of the Stamp Act. See his +Character, Lecky, "History of England," vol. III. p. 64. + +(68) A dancing girl of fifteen and her family, at the moment the +object of Lord March's attention. + +(69) Lady Elizabeth Seymour, Duchess of Northumberland, generally +called Lady Betty. In 1740 she married Sir Hugh Smithson, against +the will of her grandfather, the Duke of Somerset, who disliked this +marriage for the heiress of the Percys, but there was no power of +depriving her of the property, and Smithson succeeded to the title +in 1750; from this time they both figured prominently in society and +politics, and the Duchess's entertainments, where the best musicians +performed, were famous. + +(70) William Beckford (1709-1770). Alderman and Lord Mayor of +London, and Member of Parliament for the City of London. The friend +and supporter of Wilkes, he was an upholder of popular rights at a +time when men of wealth were usually supporters of the King. + +(71) John George Montagu, fourth Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792); was a +party politician whose term of office as First Lord of the Admiralty +brought him into general opprobrium; in private life he was even +more severely condemned. With the Earl of March, Sir Francis +Dashwood, and others, he was associated with Wilkes in the infamous +brotherhood of Medmenham, and later, when they made public the +secrets of the club against Wilkes, popular feeling rose high +against Sandwich, and he was characterised as Jemmy Twitcher, from a +play then running; the theatre rose to the words "That Jemmy +Twitcher should peach me I own surprised me." + +(72) Sir George, afterward Lord Macartney (1737-1800). An ambitious +young Irishman; a tutor and friend of Charles James Fox, he had been +assisted in his career by Lord Holland. In 1764 he had been +appointed Envoy Extraordinary to Russia, and later held appointments +as Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, President of Madras, +Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, and Ambassador to China. He +married Lord Bute's second and favourite daughter, Lady Jane. + +(73) Marie de Vichy Chamroud, Marquise du Deffand (1697-1780). She +married, in 1718, the Marquis du Deffand, from whom she soon +separated, and lived the life of pleasure so common in the period. +At the age of sixty-two she became totally blind. This misfortune +but made her the more celebrated and sought after. In 1764 occurred +the quarrel with Mlle. Lespinasse, which divided her salon and left +her quite alone with her faithful secretary, Wiart. With the +exception of her correspondence with the Duchesse de Choiseul, she +bequeathed all her letters to Horace Walpole. She was seventy and +Walpole fifty when they met and their famous attachment and +correspondence began. + +(74) President Henault (1685-1770). He was President of the +Parliament, a member of the Academy, and author of "L'abrege +Chronologique de l'Histoire de France." His devotion to Mme. du +Deffand lasted until his death, which preceded hers by ten years. + +(75) At White's. + + +(1768) Feb. 2, Tuesday Morning.--Yesterday Sir T. Stapleton and Mr. +Lee, the members for the town of Oxford, read in their places, by +order of the House, the letter which they had received a year and a +half ago from the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Council of Oxford to offer +them a quiet election, and absolute sale of themselves, for 5,670 +pounds sterling; the sum which the Corporation is indebted, and +otherwise as they declare unable to pay. Eleven sign, of which +[whom] one is since dead; all the rest are ordered to attend at our +Bar on Friday with the Mace Bearer, &c. Their Regalia has been +pawned for their high living. The House was excessively crow[d]ed; +Thurloe and Rigby,(76) for the Duke of Marl(borough's) sake, made +weak efforts to bring them off. Some of these people are fled to +Calais, as it is said, to avoid Newgate; it may be that none of them +will appear who signed. + +Mr. Walpole's(77) book(78) came out yesterday, but I got it from him +on Saturday, and my (?) Lord Molyneux carried it for me that morning +to Sir John Lamb[er]t to be forwarded to your Lordship immediately. +I'm confident that it will entertain you much, and, what is more +extraordinary, convince you; because I have that good opinion of +your understanding as not to think that ages and numbers can +sanctify falsehood, and that such is your love of truth as to be +glad to find it, although at the expense of quitting the prejudice +of your whole precedent life. I will not forestall your judgment by +saying anything more of this book, but only wish it may afford as +much entertainment as it has me. This historic doubter dined with me +yesterday, Williams, Lord March, Cadogan, and Fanshaw, qui m'a +demande a diner, at the House. + +Horry seemed mightily pleased with the success which his new book +has met with; nobody cavils at anything, but here and there an +expression; his hypothesis is approved of from the most reasonable +conjectures, and the most indisputable authorities. I would have had +Bully [to] have dined with us, but he was engaged to his brother, +qui donne a diner fort souvent. I told him, that if he would pay his +court to Horry he might give him a lick of his vernis, that would do +his repu[ta]tion no harm. He is in high spirits; his divorce is +making a rapid progress through your House. + +Beauclerck looks wretchedly, and has been very ill. Our +Minister,(79) as you call him, goes on very well, but he is now a +widower a second time; his Lady set out for Paris last Saturday. I +hope he will not be undermined. The King will never have a servant +that will please the public more. I dine with him often a petit +convert at March's. I am not desirous that my friends should become +ministers; but if they are ministers, it is fair to wish they may +become one's friends. He is yours very cordially, I'm persuaded. He +always asks very kindly after you, and seems uneasy that the Order +has not yet reached you. He said the other day at dinner, aun ton +tres patetique, "I shall be much disappointed if in four or five +years Lord Carlisle does not give a very good account of himself." +Ministre, ou non ministre, qui tient des propos pareils, n'aura pas +grande difficulte a me contenter sur le reste. I have abandoned him +to-day for Lady Sarah, at which you will be neither surprised, [n]or +offended. He dines at March's, and I in the Privy Garden. + +The D[uke] and D[uches]s of Rich[mon]d are in town. A young man +whose name I cannot recollect asked me very kindly after you +yesterday, at the H[ouse] of C[ommons]; he used to sit by your +bedside of a morning in King Street; he is tall and thin. + +Dr. Musgrave, the Provost of Oriel College in Oxf[or]d, cut his +throat in bed the other day; he was ill, but he had taken to heart a +mistake which he had madeabout a letter of Sir J. Dolben's, who is +to be member for the University the remainder of this Parliament. A +dispute with the Fellows, as they tell me, arose in consequence of +it, and this seized the poor man's brains. He was reckoned very +passionate, but d'ailleurs a good kind of man. I knew his person and +his elder brother, Sir Philip, formerly very well. There is a +stagnation of news just at this moment, but as soon as any +preferments, peerages, or changes of any kind are known for certain, +I will send you word of them. + +I dined at the D[uchess]'s or Duke's, which you please, of +Northumberland's(80) on Saturday; you are a great favourite of her +Grace's. She told me of I don't know how many sheets which you had +wrote to Lady Carlisle, giving an account of your travels. All the +company almost were of Yorkshire, or of the North; Lord and Lady +Ravensw[orth], Sir M. Ridley and his father, the Punch Delaval, Lord +Tankerville, &c. Her Grace goes soon to Paris, but has as yet fixed +no day. + +A disagreeable report has prevailed lately, but I believe without +the least foundation, that Crew has lost a monstrous sum to Menil. +Almack's thrives, but no great events there. I have ordered the +M[arquis] of Kildare to be put up at the young club, at White's. If +little Harry is come to town, he shall write to you; others should +write to you if I could make them, but I am afraid those wishes are +more of a courtier than a friend. I should be sorry and ashamed, by +endeavouring to flatter your inclination, if I lost your good +opinion, which without flattery I value much. + +I sat the other morning with Miss Blake; Lady S[arah], and Sir +Ch[arle]s were rode out, and I did not see them. She told me a +letter was come from Charles, and there is a rendezvous she said, +somewhere, but she could not recollect where. She thought you +intended to meet Charles and their family at Spa the end of the +summer; if so, I shall not despair of seeing you many months sooner +than I can otherwise expect it. I shall know to-day at dinner more +particularly about it. Lord March thanks you for your frequent and +kind mention of him. + +My new chaise comes home the week after next. I shall defer making a +chariot for some time. I may, perhaps, ask your opinion about a +friensh [French?] equipage. March's great room is gilding, and when +finished he is to give a dinner to Lady Sarah, and a concert to a +great many more. I will finish this au sortir de table. + +Tuesday night.--I dined at Sir Charles's. Harry came to town this +morning with his French friend and Academist. He has promised me to +write to you next post. Lady Sarah says that if you are not +satisfied about the St. Andrew, Hemmins is to blame, not her. She +could not get him to come near her; and the day it was finished, +which was the day before it went away, she never saw it. + +Charles, I find, is to meet you in April at Rome; and Lady Sarah the +latter end of the summer to meet him at Spa. You do not return to +Nice. I do not count much upon hearing from you, but by accident, +when you proceed further into Italy. + +Sir R. Rich died last night only, so I can know nothing of his +preferments yet. Dr. Smith, the Master of Trinity, is also dead, and +Dr. Hinchliff asks for his Headship. Lady Sarah was melancholy about +Stee (81); she hears that his lethargy increases, and thinks it +probable her sister may lose both her husband and son in a very +short time; that is a disagreeable perspective. They all desired to +be remembered to you. Adieu, my dear Lord, pour aujourd'hui. I have +no chance of hearing from you by this post, the letters having come +yesterday; so God bless you. I am ever most sincerely and +affectionately yours. + + +(76) Richard Rigby (1722-1788). A prominent politician, he was for +many years Paymaster of the Forces; but was a coarse, hard-drinking +place-man. + +(77) Horace Walpole (1717-1797) was the fourth and youngest son of +Sir Robert Walpole. He was Selwyn's lifelong friend. His biographers +place him at Eton with Selwyn, the two Conways, George and Charles +Montagu, the poet Gray, Richard West, and Thomas Ashton. On leaving +Cambridge he made the continental tour with Gray, but after two +years of travel together they disagreed and separated for the +homeward journey. In 1747 he bought Strawberry Hill, which he +transformed into his Gothic Castle, ornamenting the interior with +objects of beauty or curiosity. In 1757 he set up his private +printing press, where he brought out Gray's poems and other +interesting English and French publications, beside his own +productions, which culminated in "The Castle of Otranto," a +departure in fiction beginning the modern romantic revival. In 1765 +he visited Paris, where he went much into society, and when his +celebrated friendship with Mme. du Deffand began. He helped to +embitter Rousseau against Hume by the mock letter from Frederick the +Great offering him an asylum in Germany. In 1789, nine years after +Mme. du Deffand's death, he met the two sisters, Agnes and Mary +Berry, who came to live near him at little Strawberry, which he left +them at his death. He succeeded his nephew as fourth Lord Orford in +1791, but he preferred the name which he had made more widely known, +and signed himself "Horace Walpole, uncle of the late Earl of +Orford." The celebrated letters begin as early as 1735 and extend to +1797. Walpole never married. + +(78) "Historic Doubts on Richard the Third." + +(79) The Duke of Grafton. + +(80) Hugh, second Duke of Northumberland (1742-1817). + +(81) Stephen Fox. + + + +[1768,] Feb. 16, Tuesday morning, Newmarket.--I have just finished a +long letter, which, when I came to sand, I have, par distraction, +covered all over with ink. I came down here on Saturday with March +to meet the Duke of Grafton, who by the by only stayed here that +night, and then went to Bury, so that I have scarce seen him. + +We are at Vernon's house, that is, dinner and supper; which he has +bought of Lord Godolphin(82) [for] 4000. Here has been Sir J. More, +Bully, and Polly Jones, Vernon's Polly, Mr. Stoneheir,(83) who came +with the D[uke] of G[rafton], Sir Charles Bunbury and little Harry, +and Mr. Richmond has been here also to lay out Vernon's gardens. Sir +Charles has held us a Pharo bank of a night which has cost him 200 +pound, a sum, I imagine, not so easily spared at this juncture by +him. + +March promised that I should be in London again today, but you know +his irresolution, and the little opposition which I can give to what +he desires; but it is a great sacrifice for me, for you have been so +good in writing to me since I left you, that there is not a week +that I am absolutely without my hopes of hearing from you, although, +when I left you, I should have been glad to have compounded for once +a month; and I'm the more impatient to know what accounts are come +by Monday night's post, from what you told me of the gripe, and that +you could not go to the French Amb[assado]r's Ball. Harry tells me +that he wrote to you, as you ordered him. + +Lady S[arah] is in town, and I suppose very happy with the thoughts +of a Mascarade which we are to have at Almack's next Monday +sevennight, unless in the interim some violent opposition comes from +the Bishops. Harry has had here with him a son of Lord +Carysfort's(84) from Cambridge. Bully's affair ends with the +Session; as soon as that is concluded, he will be in respect of +matrimony absolutely evinculated. + +There has been an Almack since I wrote, but no events. + +At the other shop, a great deal of deep play, where I believe Ossory +has been a great sufferer; the D[uke] of Roxb[urgh](85) is become a +very deep player also, and at Hazard. I have been, as you justly +call it, foolish, but very moderately so, and rather a winner, for +which I'm not certainly less foolish. But my caution at present +arises from being at the eve of an expense probably for which an +opposition at the Hazard table is but a bad preparatif. However, all +things are quiet as yet, and my own private affairs en bon train, +according to the present appearances. + +The D[uke] of G[rafton] tells me that he wishes to recommend for +Luggershall, Lord Garlics,(86) and a son of Sir M. Lamb's. I wish +Morpeth(87) could have waited till you come of age. But I hope that +in future times everything will be done there and elsewhere which +your family consequence entitles you to wish may be done. + +The Corporation of Oxford was dismissed on Wednesday last with a +reprimand that is to be printed; un discours assez plat, as I have +heard. That affair has raised up many others, and a multitude of +attorneys, who have been hawking about people's boroughs, have been +sent for. It is high time to put a stop to such practices, and to +check the proceedings of nabobs, commissaries, and agents. + +Very luckily for you I cannot find many materials here for detaining +you long, so God bless you, my dear Lord. I wish I may be able to +contrive some means of abridging the time and distance which seems +determined to separate me from you. I am constantly regretting that +which I gave up to old women and presidents. But il est de nos +attachemens comme de la sante; nous n'en sentons pas tout le prix +que quand nous l'avons perdue. I beg my compliments to the Marquis +of Kildare; I am happy to know that you have a companion, and that +it is him. + + (82) Francis Godolphin Osborne, Marquis of Carmarthen, fifth Duke +of Leeds. In 1773 he married Amelia, daughter of Robert d'Arcy, Earl +of Holdernesse. He was Secretary for Foreign Affairs 1783-91. + +(83) Richard Stonehewer, the Duke of Grafton's private secretary. He +was a friend of Gray, the poet, and of Horace Walpole. + +(84) Sir John Proby (1720-1772). He was created Baron Carysfort in +1752, and appointed one of the Lords of the Admiralty in 1757. + +(85) John, third Duke of Roxburghe (1740-1804). In society he was +regarded as one of the most agreeable and handsome men of his day, +but he is now chiefly recollected as a book collector. The sale of +his library in 1812 occupied forty-five days. The Roxburghe Club was +inaugurated at the time of the sale. + +(86) John Lord Garlics (1735-1806), seventh Earl of Galloway. + +(87) The parliamentary representation of. + + +[1768, Feb. 26]. . . .The Bishops have, as I apprehended that they +would, put a stop to our Masquerade, for which I am sorry, +principally upon Lady Sarah's account. I shall go this morning and +condole with her upon it. . . . March is very pressing to know if I +do him justice in my letters to you; he is not very fond of writing, +and therefore deposits with me all his best and kindest compliments +to you. + +I thank you for saying that you would have me a few hours gazing at +amphitheatres, and you for the same time gazing here at something +more modern. That would not answer my purpose. I never carried my +love of antiquity and literary researches to that point. I should be +glad to have a view of Italy, but with you; and if you should take a +trip here for a few days, pray don't insist on my being at that time +in contemplation of the mazures de nos ancetres. The last letter +which you mention to have received from me was of the 15th of last +month, and you did not receive it till the 3rd of this. I hope my +letters come to you, since you permit the writing of them. I shall +always hereafter put them myself into the post. . . . + +A match is much talked of between Lord Spencer Hamilton and Miss +Beauclerk, the Maid of Honour. I hope it will not take place. There +is not as much as I have sometimes lost of a night at Hazard between +them both, either at present or in expectation, and the number of +beggars is increased to an enormous degree. . . . + + +1768, February 28, Sunday morning, Chest(erfield) Str(eet).--I wrote +to you on Friday morning, and at night, just before the post was +going, received the pleasure of yours of the 10th; so that what I +wrote afterwards was much in haste, and from the impetuosity of my +temper to make my acknowledgments to you. I was yesterday at Lady +Carlisle's door, to enquire for Sir W(illiam), but he was not at +home. I asked if they had had any letters from you, and being told +they had not, I took the liberty to leave word that I had received +one of the 10th, and that you was then very well. + +I believe all the apprehensions which Me Viri had filled us with, +are now dispersed, and not fearing anything from cold, I hope that I +shall not be so foolish as to be thinking of the consequences of +heat; cela ne finit point. I saw Viri at Lady Hertford's at night; +he was unacquainted with the particulars of the courier, &c., but +only said that the King, his master, had assured him that he should +invest you with that order, as his Brother(88) had desired he would, +and that it should be done avec toute la pompe et eclat dont la +chose fut susceptible. He is a stupid animal in appearance, this +Viri. + +I had yesterday morning my conference with the D(uke) of G(rafton); +he has assured me that I should have the place of Treasurer to the +Queen, added to that which I already have (without any kind of +pension), as soon as ever one could be found out for Mr. Stone, but +he having been the King's Preceptor there will be some management +with him, but the Duke said, if he would not acquiesce, he +insinuated force. The two places together, if I am not mistaken in +the estimate, will be near 2,300 pounds per annum. I'm much obliged +to the D(uke) for his liberal and kind manner of treating with me. I +have succeeded better, I find, in negotiating for myself, than when +I employed another; but I have this time had to deal with a person +who seemed willing to comply with anything which I could propose in +reason, and has even gone beyond my proposals; and I have reason to +flatter myself that his Majesty has not that reluctance to oblige +me, which his grandfather had, and has certainly a much better +opinion of me. Then, if this Election goes off without an enormous +expense, I shall be enabled to pay off much the greatest part of my +debt; but my imprudences have been beyond conception. I hope that +that Providence which has preserved me from the usual effects of +them will be kind enough to let me enjoy some few years of ease, and +to pass them with your Lordship. I will not then complain of my lot +here, which, were the cards to be shuffled again, I might mend in +some particulars, without perhaps adding anything to the general +felicity of my life. + +I went from the D(uke) of G(rafton's) to a little concert at +March's, where was Sir C(harles) and Lady S(arah). She and I went up +into the rooms above, which are now gilding and repairing, and I +communicated to her such parts of your letter as I thought would +please her, and which I thought you would be pleased that I should +repeat to her. . . . + +Monday morning.--Miss Blake(89) did not leave them till yesterday. +She went with Lady S(arah) to Court, and then Sir Ch(arles) and Lady +S(rah)dined at Mr. Blake's and left her there. I saw Lady +S(rah)afterwards at the D(che)s of Hamilton's.(90) Assembly is there +at present; Lady Harrington has not been able to see company for +some time. + +There is now no talk but of Elections. Lord Thom(n) is thrown out at +Taunton, and opposed at Winchelsea, and so it goes on. This is the +week I am in most apprehension of, because I think next, as the +Judges will be then in the town (loucester) there can be no treating +nor bustle; but as yet I know of no opponent. Sackville sticks close +to . . . (sic). I was with her Grace most part of yesterday morning, +with Lord W. Gordon. Harry St. John asks me if you have mentioned a +Me Chateau Dauphin; all Italian news interests him much. . . . + +(88) George III. + +(89) Carlisle in a letter refers to her as Selwyn's ward. + +(90) Elizabeth Gunning, Duchess of Hamilton and Argyll (1734-1790); +a sister of the equally beautiful and famous Maria Gunning, Lady +Coventry, who died in 1760. The Duchess of Argyll, who married the +second time the year following the death of the Duke of Hamilton, +was generally known as the Duchess of Hamilton, and in 1776 was +created Baroness Hamilton in her own right. This untitled daughter +of a poor Irish gentleman was the wife of two dukes and the mother +of four. + + +(1769,) July 4, Tuesday night.--I have sent to-day for you 45 +bottles of the vin de Grave and six bottles of Neuilly, and the same +quantity is ready to be packed up and sent when I have your further +commands. The reason why I did not send the whole at once, was the +consideration of the weather, etc.; when this comes safe, the rest +shall follow directly, and then according to my cellar-book you will +have had in all ten dozen, that is seven dozen and a half now and +two dozen and a half before, of that particular wine, and about a +dozen of Burgundy. It goes by sea to Hull. The Knight cutter, Thomas +Savil, master, Hull, at the custom-house quay. That custom-house +quay may mean at London. However, this is the method prescribed by +your porter, for I have been at your house to enquire, as well as my +servant. + +I have wrote to Frances about the tricote, and will send you an +account of it by next post. I have regulated the papers to-day, for +upon enquiry at the house, I found two were sent you from thence, +and the three besides from Jolliffe, which you ordered; so I bid +Jolliffe look to that. + +I was at Vauxhall last night with Lady Harrington, Lady Barrimore, +Mrs. Damer,(91) Lady Harriot, March, Frances, and Barker. Very fine +music, and a reckoning of thirty-six shillings; fine doings. I had +rather have heard Walters play upon his hump for nothing. I dined +to-day at James's with Boothby, Harry St. John, March, and Panton. +To-morrow Lord Digby and I dine at Holland H(ouse), and on Thursday +Harry and I dine at Beckford's with Sir W(illiam) M(usgrave). Rigby +gave a dinner to-day to the Duke and Duchess of Grafton. + +(91) Anne, only daughter of General Conway. She ultimately became +possessed of Strawberry Hill. She devoted herself to sculpture; the +heads that ornament the bridge at Henley-on-Thames are her work. + +The Newmarket people go the beginning of next week. I shall then go +into Kent, and the beginning of the week after I shall set out for +Castle Howard. I long to see you dans votre beau Chateau. But where +is it that I do not wish to see you? If anything is published that +is not a mere catch-penny, as it is called, I shall send it +directly. I believe the account of the D(uke) of G(rafton) and Nancy +is of that sort, but I know no more than the advertisement. + +Almack's is extinct. I am writing from White's, which I have long +wished was so too. + +Bad news from the Colonies. The P(rince) of Brunswick has another +son. The people are come from the Installation at Cambridge, but I +know no more of what has passed there than you see in the papers. +Harry pursues the Bladen, and March will be talked of for Lady +Harriot till he does or does not marry her. I wish it decided one +way or other. I own I have his happiness too much at heart not to be +anxious about it, and hate to have it in suspense. + +Lord Farnham has distributed four hogshead of some vin de Grave, +which he had, among his friends, and they prefer it to that which +Wion (?) furnishes us with. I cannot help that, all things are good +and great and small, &c., by comparison. God bless you, my dear +Lord; I will come, as you have given me leave, as soon as my affairs +here will possibly permit it. + +I write to-night for ten dozen more of vin de Grave. + + + + + +CHAPTER 3. 1773-1777, 1779 AND 1780 POLITICS AND SOCIETY + +Fox's Debts--Lord Holland--News from London--Interview with Fox--The +Fire at Holland House--A Visit to Tunbridge--Provision for Mie Mie +--County business and electioneering at Gloucester--Lotteries--Fox +and Carlisle--Highway adventures--London Society--Newmarket +intelligence--An evening in town--Charles Fox and America--Carlisle +declines a Court post--Money from Fox--Selwyn and gambling--A +Private Bill Committee--Selwyn in bad spirits--The Royal Society +--Book-buying--Political affairs--London parks--Gainsborough--The +Duchess of Kingston--Selwyn's private affairs--"The Diaboliad"--A +dinner at the French Ambassador's--Politics and the Clubs--In Paris +--Electioneering again. + +A distinguished man of letters of the present day has called Selwyn +the father confessor of the society of his time: it is a tribute to +his friendliness and good sense, as well as to his good nature and +patience. Without them he could never have been the trusted adviser +of Carlisle in those financial difficulties in which the young +peer's friendship for Charles Fox involved him. It was in 1773 that +the crash came in Fox's affairs. His gambling debts had been +accumulating. The birth of a son to his elder brother--closing, at +any rate for the time, Charles Fox's reversionary interests--caused +his creditors to press their claims. Lord Holland was obliged to +come to the assistance of his son. It is at this moment that the +correspondence which is gathered in the present chapter begins. Lord +Holland had raised a large sum with which to pay off his son's +debts. Selwyn was indignant because it seemed as if creditors less +indulgent than Carlisle would be the first to be paid. So in many +letters he presses upon Carlisle that he must not allow his +friendship for Charles Fox to outweigh the monetary claims which he +had upon him, and in no measured terms he condemns the carelessness +with which Fox regarded his financial obligations to his friend. + +The correspondence contained in this chapter commences at the end of +the year 1773, after an apparent break of four years; there is no +doubt, however, that it continued and the letters from Selwyn have +not been preserved. The letters in 1773 begin by referring to the +financial matters to which brief allusion has just been made, and +which formed a subject so full of interest and anxiety for Selwyn. +He has time, however, to give his friend news of the political and +social events of London. The American question was becoming more and +more important, the Declaration of Independence had startled England +in 1776, and in 1774 Charles Fox had finally left the Administration +of Lord North, soon to become the leader of the Whig party and the +champion of the American Colonists. + +(1773, Dec. 1)--This is the severest criticism which I have heard +passed upon you. In all other particulars be assured that you have +as much of the general esteem of the world as any man that ever came +into it, and will preserve the highest respect from it if you will +only from this time have such a consideration, and such a management +of your fortune, as common prudence requires. Charles has destroyed +his, and his reputation also, and I am very much afraid that, let +what will be done now, they will in a very few years be past all +kind of redemption. You will have been the innocent cause of much +censure upon him, because all the friendship in the world which you +can show him will never wipe off what he and his family at this +instant stands (sic) accused of, which is, setting at nought the +solemnest ties in the world and after the maddest dissipation of +money possible, the amassing for his sake 50,000 pounds to pay +everybody but those who deserved the first consideration, and +without which he could never [be] said to be free, and it would [be] +a constant reproach to be easy. When there was no idea but of his +having 20,000 advanced, which sum was otherwise to have been left +him, and I said that such and such persons would be paid first, you +did not seem to credit it. Was I right? or not? in my conjectures? +If I tell you now, that 16,000 pounds more than the present sum of +50,000 will come, I cannot pretend to say from what quarter, but I +mean from the Holland family; and, if I tell you also, that as much +more will be borrowed for purposes which do not now exist; I must +tell you that I think that these sums will be sent after the others, +if you do not strenuously oppose it, and if somebody does not watch +over the springs from whence these supplies are to flow. + +As to Hare,(92) you will do me the justice to own that I have not +said a word to impeach his friendship to you. But I must set him +aside as a man capable of transacting this business. It is not de +son ressort, and I know that he has difficulties to combat with, if +he undertakes it, which are insuperable. Now, when I talk of men of +business, I will explain myself. I mean three for example: Mr. +Wallis, if ever you consult him, Mr. Gregg, and Lavie. I would also +seriously apply to my Lord Gower for his advice, and make him a +confidant in what relates to this business. He has very powerful +motives for interesting himself in it. All others I would silence at +once by saying that you had fixed upon particular persons to talk +with upon this subject, and that you would not listen an instant to +any other. After one or two attempts to discuss the point they would +give it up, and, knowing in what channel it was, would be more +afraid to trifle with you about it. Charles never opens his lips to +me upon the subject, and when Hare was last at my house he did not +say a single word relative to it. The bond was not so much as +mentioned. To speak the truth, I had rather that they would not, for +I should not be able to keep my temper if they did. + +I have talked this matter over with persons of established +reputations in the world for good sense, knowledge, and experience, +and with as nice feelings in points of honour and friendship as +anybody ever had. It is their opinion which makes me so confident of +my own, exclusive of the arguments themselves, qui sautent aux yeux. + +Now, as to the expedients. The capital sum,(93) let us call it, +15,000. Let Charles pay immediately 5,000 pounds from the 50,000 +pounds. I will endeavour a year hence to raise you five more. Let +Charles and Lord Stavordale,(94) by their joint securities (and let +Lady Holland contribute hers), try to raise the other 5,000, and +then this debt is paid; and when the worst comes to the worst, you +will lose yourself only the 5,000, which we shall endeavour to get +from your own securities and resources. All this is very practicable +with people who are disposed to think of their honour more than of +the gratification of their own pleasure. + +The Holland family went to Bath yesterday. I took my leave, and it +may be a final one, of them on Monday. Charles, it is said, will +follow them. What is become of Hare I know not. If you desire a +letter to be shown to Lord Holland,(95) Lady H. must shew it. I will +speak to you, as I promised, without reserve. I am apt to think that +he will comprehend what you say very well. It is not my judgment +only, but I have heard it said, that a great deal of his inattention +upon these occasions has been affected, and that if the same money +was to be received and not to be paid, our faculties would then +improve. I wish that if he has any left, he would exert them now for +the sake of the reputation of his family as well as of his own; or +he will add a load of obloquy to that which has been already +derived (?) upon him, on account of the means by which this +dissipated wealth has been acquired; and by this last act of +indifference to the honour of his son he will seem to justify all +that abuse with which he has been loaded, and they will be apt to +apply, what he does not certainly merit, but will nevertheless carry +an air of truth with it, and they will say that-- + +"Plundering both his country and his friends, + It's thus the Lord of useless thousands ends." + +You see, my dear Lord, with how much confidence I treat you. I have +thought aloud, when I have been speaking to you, which perhaps I +ought not to have done, but I cannot help it. I hope that you will +burn my letters, for if they served as testimonies of the warmth of +my friendship to you, they might be ill interpreted by others. . . . + +Charles you say has not wrote to you. There is no accounting for +that or for him but by one circumstance, and that is, that the +gratification of the present moment is the God of his Idolatry. You +mention his credit with Lord North.(96) I know for a certainty that +Lord North disavows that which I know he once gave him. "He will," +they say, "manage this, and will settle that, with the Minister." +Stuff! The Minister, whoever he happens to be, will settle this +matter with Charles, and say, "Sir, I know you want me, and that I +do not want you, but in a certain degree. Speak, and be paid, as Sir +W. Young was." Alas, poor Charles! Aha promissa dederat. You say +that you have not had a line from Lady H(olland); have you then +wrote to her? I will add more to this if I see occasion, after I +have been to talk with Lavie, who really means, I believe, to serve +you with great fidelity, and reasons about this matter with great +nettete and percision. + +(92) James Hare (1749-1804); son of Richard Hare, apothecary, of +Limestone; grandson of Bishop Francis Hare; at Eton with Fox and +Carlisle, and afterwards entered Balliol College, Oxford. As a young +man he was considered more brilliant than Fox, and more was expected +of his future. He sat for Stockbridge from 1772-1774, and for +Knaresborough from 1781 to his death. Like all of the fashionable +men of his day, he played heavily. In 1779 he had become deeply +involved in debt, but obtained the post of Minister Plenipotentiary +to Poland, which he held until 1782; in 1802 he was very ill at +Paris, where Fox made him frequent visits. He died at Bath. Lady +Ossory described his wit as "perhaps of a more lively kind than +Selwyn's." Storer left him a legacy of 1,000 pounds. + +(93) Fox's debt to Carlisle. + +(94) Henry Thomas, afterwards second Earl of Ilchester (1747-1802); +the cousin and companion of Fox, and as great a gambler. "Lord +Stavordale, not one-and-twenty, lost eleven thousand last Tuesday, +but recovered by one great hand at hazard." + + +(95) Lord Holland had amassed a large fortune when Paymaster-General, +and on this account his unpopularity was so great as to amount to +public detestation. + +(96) Frederick North, second Earl of Guildford, known in history as +Lord North (1732-1792); Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1767; First +Lord of the Treasury, 1770 to 1782; Secretary of State, 1783 (March +to December); succeeded to Earldom of Guildford, 1790. + + +(1774,) January 18, Tuesday, Chesterfield Street.--I received +yesterday your extreme kind letter, while I was at Lord Gower's at +dinner; which dinner, by the way, or the supplement to it, lasted so +long, that I have increased my cough by it greatly, and am so unable +to go this morning to Court, that I think now of putting on my +clothes in the evening only, and so going, as I did last year, to +the King's side, to make her Majesty my bow as she passes from that +apartment to the ball-room. We had yesterday at dinner Dick Vernon +and Keith Stewart only, besides Lord Gower's family. + +I was going home to dine by myself tres sagement et tres +tranquillement, dans le dessein de me menager, when Lord G. was so +good as to propose my going home with him; and thinking that to be +an opportunity of talking more with him upon you and your affairs, +as we did, I could not resist it. I do assure you, my dear Lord, it +is a great pleasure to me to see the zeal with which he speaks of +you, and your interests, which is not, to be sure, surprising, +considering your connection, but it makes me happy that my former +intimacy with him begins to revive, which it has gradually done, +from the time that you have belonged to him. + +Miss Pelham(97) came to Lady Gower after dinner, and I think intends +to go to-day to the Birthday, but such a hag you have no conception +of; and a patch which she is obliged to wear upon the lower eyelid, +improves the horror of her appearance. She will kill herself, I make +no doubt. + +The letter which you have been so good to enclose for my +satisfaction, from Lady Holl(an)d to you, does not much elate me, I +own; it is just that of one who is obliged to say a great deal, and +finds an inconvenience in doing anything; and as to Charles's +writing to you, you know best how these promises have been +fulfilled. If I could direct her Ladyship's good disposition, I +should make her show your letter to her to Lord Holl(an)d; I am +persuaded that his faculties are not so entirely lost as not to +discern with how much force of reason, propriety, and good nature it +is wrote. What he would do in consequence of it, I cannot be quite +so sure. Then he might, perhaps, relapse into a state of imbecility, +or affected anility, which might deprive you of the advantage which +you should expect from it. + +Among other things which passed between Lord Gower and me upon the +subject of Charles, to which our conversation, by the way, was not +confined, I told him that your people of business had proposed that +you should sue Charles for the Annuities, and how that advice seemed +to shock you. He was not surprised at that, knowing your delicacy +and friendship. But sueing Charles, you will find in a short time, +has no horror but in the expression. If you are shocked, you will be +singly so; Charles will not be so, it is my firm belief. As soon as +Lavie comes to you, he will tell you how far Mr. Crewe has embraced +that idea, and what has been the consequence of it. If you will sue +Lord H(ollan)d and Mr. Powell, or (for?) them, in Charles's name, +you will do your business. But I do not say that it is time for +that. + +What I proposed to Lord Gower was only this, and that cannot have +nothing (sic) rebutant in it, to either Charles or you. It is this. +To hear Charles's story patiently, but to answer or reason with him +as little as possible. To desire that he would be so good as to meet +you at your own house, with Mr. Wallis and Mr. Gregg; we will have +nothing to do with Lavie, pour le moment. Il ne respectera pas +celui-ci comme les deux autres. Discuss with them before Charles the +means of extricating yourself from these engagements. Let him hear +what they say, and what they would advise you to do, as guardian to +your children; for there is the point de vue, in which I am touched +the most sensibly; and whatever Charles has to offer by way of +expedient, by way of correcting their ideas, whatever hopes he can +give, which are rationally founded, let him lay them before these +people in your presence. + +Why I wish this is, the [that] he must then have something to combat +with, and that is, truth and reason. Without that, and you two +together only, or Hare, what will follow? There will be flux de +bouche, which to me is totally incomprehensible, as Sir G. +M('Cartney) told me that it was to him. Il fondera en larmes, and +then you will be told afterwards, whenever a measure of any vigour +is proposed, that you had acquiesced, because you had been disarmed, +confounded. This happened no longer ago than last Saturday, with +Foley,(98) who related the whole conference to me, and the manner in +which it was carried on. "However," says Foley, "I carried two +points out of four, but I was obliged to leave him, not being able +[to] resist the force of sensibility." + +I confess that, had it been my case, I should have been tempted to +have made use of Me de Maintenon's words to the Princesse de Conti-- +"Pleurez, pleurez, Madame, car c'est un grand malheur que de n'avoir +pas le coeur bon." I do not think that of Charles so much as the +rest of the world does, and to which he has undoubtedly given some +reason by his behaviour to his father, and to his friends. I +attribute it all to a vanity that has, by the foolish admiration of +his acquaintance, been worked up into a kind of phrensy, I shall be +very unwilling to believe that he ever intended to distress a friend +whom he loved as much as I believe that he has done you. + +But really this is being very candid to him, and yet I cannot help +it. For I have passed two evenings with him at supper at Almack's, +ou nous avons ete lie en conversation, and never was anybody more +agreeable and the more so for his having no pretensions to it, which +is what has offended more people than even what Lady H(ollan)d is so +good as to call his misconduct. I do assure you, my dear Lord, that +notwithstanding all that I have been obliged by my friendship and +confidence in you to say, I very sincerely love him, although I +blame him so much, that I dare not own it; and it will give me the +greatest pleasure in the world to see him take that turn which he +professes to take. But what hopes can we have of it? + +Vernon said yesterday after dinner, that he and some others--Bully, +I think, among the rest--had been driven by the rain up into +Charles's room; and when they had lugged him out of his bed, they +attacked him so violently upon what he did at the Bath, that he was +obliged to have recourse, as he did last year, to an absolute denial +of the fact. The imagination of the blacklegs at the Billiard Table +that he was gone over to Long Leate to borrow the money of Lord +W(eymouth?) had in it something truly ridiculous, and serves only to +shew that his Lordship had been never trusted by them. + +Gregg dines to-day at Lavie's; I shall go down to meet him there, +and perhaps order my chicken over from Almack's, that I may converse +more en detail with Gregg upon this business of the Annuities. I +like his conversation the best, I own, because I see less resentment +in it. He speaks to the matters of fact, and not to the characters +of the actors, which now is losing of time. God knows how well, and +how universally, all that is established. + +The women in town have found this a good morsel for their invective +disposition, and the terms in which they express themselves tiennent +de la frenesie, et de l'entousiasme. Lady Albemarle, who is not a +wise woman, certainly, was at Lady Gower's the other evening, and +was regretting only that Charles had not been consumed in the Fire, +instead of the linnets. I am glad it was no worse. I think your +fears about the rebuilding of the House are not so well founded as +your satisfaction might be, that you had not been drawn in to insure +it. I think that you are more obliged to what he thinks upon that +subject (for he said that he did not believe in fire) than to your +own prudence. I am in daily expectation of the arrival of these late +sufferers at Holl[an]d H(ouse). I wish them all arrived there, I +own, and that they may stay there, and that there may be no real +sufferers by the fire, which there would be if any workmen had begun +to rebuild the House. That would be a case of true compassion. + +You desire me to tell you something of Hare and Storer,(99) &c. +Storer, the Bon ton, is still at Lord Craven's. I supped with the +Mauvais ton at Harry St. John's last night. I do not dislike him: he +does not seem to be at all deficient in understanding, and has +besides de la bonne plaisanterie. Hare is in town, and, if I was to +credit his own insinuations, upon the point of bringing his affair +to a conclusion. But I think that he prepares the world too much for +some change in his condition, for he drives about in an old chariot +of Foley's,(100) as I am told, with a servant of his own in livery; +and this occasions so much speculation, that his great secret diu +celari non potest. I would advise him to conclude as soon as he can +this business; sans cela la machine sera d'erangee; elle ne peut +aller jusques au printemps, cela est sur. + +The Duke of Buccleugh has said nothing to us as yet about our +anniversary dinner, but I hope that so good a custom will not be +laid aside. If it is, Richard must take it up, as it is his +birthday, and so I shall tell him. I have myself, by all which I +have said upon the history and fate of that unfortunate Prince, +excused myself from giving any sort of fete at my own house; but I +do not carry my rigour so far, as not to accept one on that day at +the house of another person. Voila le point ou ma devotion se prete +un feu. Your letter to Lord Grantham shall be sent to the +Secretary's Office this evening, and some compliments from me at the +same time. I wish that he was here, that I might talk with [him] for +half an hour upon your subject. + +(97) Sister of Henry Pelham, niece of Duke of Newcastle (1728-1804). +died at her estate at Esher, in Surrey, leaving a large fortune. + +(98) Thomas Foley, second baron (1742-1793). He was noted for his +sporting proclivities; Fox was his racing partner, and the money +they lost, which included a hundred thousand pounds for Lord Foley, +and its replenishing, was a never-ending source of gossip. + +(99) Anthony Morris Storer (1746-1799), called the Bon ton, and Lord +Carlisle, were termed the Pylades and Orestes of Eton, and the +intimacy was continued in later life; M.P. for Carlisle +1774-80, and for Morpeth, together with Peter Delime, 1780-4. In +1781 he succeeded in obtaining the appointment as one of the +Commissioners for Trade, in which Selwyn and Carlisle had so deeply +interested themselves. He was with Carlisle on his mission to +America in 1778 and 1779. During their political connection he acted +as a medium between Fox and North, in whose family he was intimate. +Fox made him Secretary of Legation at Paris in 1783--Gibbon +competing for the office, and when the Duke of Manchester was called +home he was nominated as Minister Plenipotentiary; six days later, +however, his friends were no longer in power. It was in this year +that his long friendship with Carlisle was broken; he did not stand +for re-election for Morpeth and revoked the bequest of all his +property which he had made to him. Storer never married. He was +universally admired for his versatility and his proficiency in all +he undertook; he excelled in conversation, music, and literary +attainments; he was the best skater, the best dancer of his time. He +began his valuable and curious collection of books and prints in +1781. On these and card-playing he spent more money than he could +afford, but in 1793, at his father's death, he received an ample +fortune. He then occupied himself building and adorning a property, +Purley, near Reading. He left his library and prints to Eton +College, which also possesses his portrait. + +(100) See note (98). + + +1774, July 23, Chesterfield Street.--I received yesterday a reprieve +from Gloucester, and Harris's sanction for my staying here a week +longer; so that the meeting, and the report of Mr. Guise and Mr. +Burrow's declaring themselves both as candidates upon separate +interests, but secretly assisting one another, were, as Richard the +3rd calls it, a weak device of the enemy. I found myself greatly +relieved, and sat down and wrote a letter to the Mayor and +Corporation, which I may cite as a modele de vrai persiflage. I +went and dined with Lord Ferrars and Lady Townshend;(101) she has +received all her arrears, so we have now the pleasure of continuing +our hostilities les pieds chauds. + +Poor Lord Thomond died the evening before last of an apoplexy, with +which he was seized the night before. I thought, as well as himself, +that he was very near his end, and imagined that it would be this. +But the news struck me, for not an hour before he was taken ill he +passed by March's door as he was going to take an airing in Hyde +Park, with Clever in the chariot. I was sitting upon the steps, with +the little girl(103) on my lap, which diverted him, and he made me a +very pleasant bow, and that was my last view of him. I had had an +acquaintance with him of above thirty years, but for some time past +I had seen him only occasionally. He was a sensible honest man, and +when he was in spirits, and with his intimate friends, I think a +very agreeable companion, but had too much reserve to make a +friendship with, and not altogether the character that suits me. + +White's begins to crumble away very fast, and would be a melancholy +scene to those who remained if they cared for any one person but +themselves. Williams gave a dinner to talk him over, which I suppose +was done with the voix larmoyante, et voila tout. Lord Monson a +creve aussi, and Tommy Alston, who has left a will in favour of his +bastards, which will occasion lawsuits. + +I have made an agreement to meet Varcy to-morrow at Knowles; from +thence we go to Tunbridge; so I shall live on Monday on the +Pantiles, and on Tuesday return here. I dine to-day with the Essex's +at March's; we supped last night at Lady Harrington's, the +consequence of which is to eat a turtle on Tuesday at an alehouse on +the Ranelaugh Road, which she has seized from Lord Barrington. I +called at Lady Mary's first, and found her tres triste. + +Lady Holland was thought to be dying yesterday, for Lord Beauchamp +was to have dined there, and at three o'clock a note came from +Ste(104) to desire him not to come. The late Lord Holland's +servants, preserving their friendship for my thief whom I dismissed, +were so good, when their Lord died, to send for him to sit up with +the corpse, as the only piece of preferment which was then vacant in +the family. But they afterwards promoted him to be outrider to the +hearse. Alice told me of it, and said that it was a comfort and +little relief to the poor man for the present; and Mr. More, the +attorney, to whom I mentioned it, said that they intended to throw +him into the same thing--that was the phrase--when Lady Holland +died. I beg you to reflect on these circumstances; they are dignes +de Moliere et Le Sage. How my poor old friend would have laughed, if +he could have known to what hands he was committed before his +interment! + +The night before last Meynell lost between 2 and 3,000; what the +rest did I don't know. They abuse both you and me about the +tie,(105) and Hare says, it was the damned[e]st thing to do at this +time in the world. I told them, as Lord Cowper said in his speech to +the Condemned Lords in the year 16--, "Happy had it been for all +your Lordships had you lain under so indulgent a restraint." It is +difficult for me to say which was the kindest thing you ever did by +me, but I am sure that this was one of the wisest which I ever did +by myself; and so remember that I do by this renew the lease for one +month more, and it shall be as if it had been originally for two +months instead of one. To this I subscribe, and to the same forfeit +on my side. I received a consideration ample enough if the lease had +been for a year. + +(102) Anne, daughter of Sir William Montgomery, and second wife of +George, first Viscount Townshend. + +(103) Maria Fagniani, Selwyn's adopted daughter. This is the first +mention of her in this correspondence. + +(104) Stephen Fox, second Baron Holland. + +(105) A self-mposed restriction on gambling. The ingenious and +rather childish character of this pledge is described in a letter of +December 1775. + + +1774, July 26, Tuesday night? Almack's.--Lady Holland, as you +will see by the papers, died on Sunday morning between 7 and 8. I +saw Lady Louisa and Mrs. Meillor coming in Lady Louisa's chariot +between 10 and 11, which announced to me the close of that +melancholy history; I mean, as far as regards my two very old +friends. The loss of the latter, I must own, I feel much the more +sensibly of the two; serrer les files, comme Von dit a Varnee, n'est +pas assez; la perte ne laissera pas de reparoitre, in that I had +counted upon a resource in the one more than in the other. + +I went for a minute to see Ste(106) and Lady Mary, and then I set +out for the Duke of Dorset's at Knowles (Knowle Park), where I met +Varcy, and where I dined; and after dinner Varcy and I went to +Tunbridge. We saw Penthurst (sic) yesterday morning, and dined with +his Honour Brudenell, who gave us, that is, Varcy, Mr. and Mrs. +Meynell, and Sir J. Seabright, an excellent dinner. We were at a +private ball at night, and this morning early I set out for London. + +Tunbridge is, in my opinion, for a little time in the summer, with a +family, and for people who do not find a great deal of occupation at +their country houses, one of the prettiest places in the world. The +houses are so many bijouzs made up for the occasion, so near the +place, so agreste, and the whole an air of such simplicity, that I +am delighted with it, as much as when my amusements were, as they +were formerly, at the Rooms and upon the Pantiles, which are now to +me detestable. + +I was pressed much to stay there to-day to dine with Meynell upon a +haunch of venison, but I had solemnly engaged myself to Lady +Harrington, and to her party at Spring Garden, on the road to +Ranelagh. We had a very good turtle. Our company were, Lord and Lady +Harrington, Lady Harriot,(107) Lady A., Maria Ord, Mrs. Boothby, +Richard(108) from his quarters at Hampton Court, Crags, Lord +Barrington, Barker, Langlois, and myself. + +March went yesterday to Newmarket, and left a letter behind for me, +to excuse him to the party; he returns on Thursday. Here is not one +single soul in this house, but I came here to write to you plus a +mon aise. Lady Mary Howard was at Tunbridge, and asked much after +you; Lady Powis, the Duke of Leeds, hardly anybody besides that I +knew. Gen. Smith came there yesterday, and I believe was in hopes of +making up a hazard table; at last Lord Killy (Kelly?) said that I +might have one if I pleased. + +Charles and Ste, &c., are gone for the present to Red Rice. I was in +hopes of seeing Storer to-day, but this damned turtle party has kept +me so late that I doubt if I shall see him to-night. I met him on +the road, as I was going to Knowles, on his return from Tunbridge, +and he then told me that he should set out for Castle Howard +to-morrow, and would have set out to-day, but that I begged that I +might see him first. + +They can find no will of Lord Thomond's as yet; so his poor nephew +will by his procrastination be the loser of a considerable estate; +for he certainly intended to have made him his heir, and the +attorney had left with him a will to be filled up. But we are never +sure of doing anything but what we have but one minute for doing; +what we think we may do any day, we put off so many days that we do +not do it all. + +This reflection, and the experience which I have had in other +families of the consequences of these delays, determined me to lose +no time in settling, for my dear Mie Mie, that which may be the only +thing done for her, and only because we-may do it any day in the +week. But I thank God I've secured, as much as anything of that +nature can be secured, what will be, I hope, a very comfortable +resource for her. I am egregiously deceived if it will not. As for +other things,' I must hope for the best. It makes me very serious +when I think of it, because my affection and anxiety about her are +beyond conception. + +I shall not think of setting out for Gloucester, unless there is +some new occurrence, till next week. I have had no fresh alarm. The +lawyers are going on furiously and sanguinely against the Duchess of +Kingston,(109) who is, they say, at Calais. Feilding also complains +of her; so elle s'est bromllee avec la justice au pied de la lettre. +Nobody doubts of her felony; the only debate in conversation is, +whether she can have the benefit of her clergy. Some think she will +turn Papist. All expect some untimely death. C'est un execrable +personage que celui que (sic) fait mon voisin. + +James has cut out work enough for himself in Hertfordshire; il s'en +repentira, ou je me trompe fort. Adieu; my best compliments to Lady +Carlisle and Lady Julia, and my love to the little ones. I long to +see the boy excessively. I hear of your returning to London in +September; pray let me hear your motions very particularly, and if +you bring up the children. I am ever most truly and affectionately +yours. + +(106) Second Lord Holland. + +(107) Lady Henrietta Stanhope, daughter of second Earl of +Harrington. She married Lord Foley in 1776, and died 1781. + +(108) Fitzpatrick in this correspondence is usually spoken of as +Richard. + +(109) Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingston (1720-1788). The celebrated +public trial of the Duchess of Kingston for bigamy took place in +Westminster Hall, April, 1776. It was proved that she had privately +married Augustus, second son of Lord Hervey, but the marriage was +not owned. She lived publicly with the Duke of Kingston and finally +married him during Mr. Hervey's life, but at the death of the Duke, +who left her all his disposable property, proceedings were +instituted against her and she was found guilty. She afterwards went +to St. Petersburg, where she gave an entertainment for the Empress +Catherine said to be more splendid than had ever been seen in +Russia. She bought an estate near St. Petersburg, calling it by her +maiden name of Chudleigh, where she intended to manufacture brandy, +but found herself so coldly treated by the English ambassador and +Russian nobility that she removed to France, where she became +involved in a lawsuit regarding the purchase of Another estate. The +chagrin at loss of the case caused her death. + + +[1774,] July 30, Saturday night, Almack's.--I write my letter from +hence, from the habitude of making this place my bureau, not that +there is anybody here, or that there was the least probability of my +finding anybody here. The last post night I was obliged to have an +amanuensis, as you will know to-morrow morning when the post comes +in. I had got a small particle of shining sand in my eye that during +the whole day, but particularly at night, gave me most exquisite +pain, and prevented me from writing to you, which, next to receiving +your letters, is one of my great pleasures. So this was un grand +evenement pour moi, par une petite cause. While the writer was +writing, Hare came in, and he said that he would finish the letter +for me, but what they both wrote God knows. + +Storer I suppose set out yesterday for Castle H(oward), and I take +for granted will be with you before this letter. March has been out +of town ever since Monday till to-day. He has been at a Mr. Darell's +in Cambridgeshire, who has a wife I believe with a black eye and low +forward [forehead]. I guessed as much by his stay, and young Thomas +who came up with him to town told me it was so. + +I supped last night at Lady Hertford's with the two Fitzroys, Miss +Floyd, and Lord F. Cavendish;(110) and to-day, Lady Hertford, Miss +Floyd, and Lord Frederick and I dined at Colonel Kane's, who is +settled in the Stable Yard, and in a damned good house, plate, +windows cut down to the floor, elbowing his Majesty with an enormous +bow window. The dog is monstrously well nipped; he obtrudes his +civilities upon me, malgre que j'en ai, and will in time force me +not to abuse him. He would help me to-day to some venison, and how +he contrived it, I don't know, but for want of the Graces he cut one +of my fingers to the bone, that I might as well have dined at a +cut-fingered ordinary. + +I am diverted with your threats that I shall have short letters, +because you are plagued with Northumberland disputes. You say that +you have every post letters to write, and so you will have them to +write for some time, for the Devil take me if I believe that you +have wrote or will write one of them. A good ronfle for that, an't +please your Honour, with about twenty sheets of paper spread about +upon the table, and on each of them the beginning of a letter. + +You know me very well also in thinking that my heart fails me as the +time of my going to Gloucester approaches. I made a very stout +resistance a fortnight ago, notwithstanding Harris's importunate +summons, and now he plainly confesses in a letter which I received +from him to-day, that my coming down upon that pretended meeting +would have been nugatory, as he calls it. The Devil take them; I +have wished him and his Corporation in Newgate a thousand times. But +there will be no trifling after the end of this next week. The +Assizes begin on Monday sevennight. Then the Judges will be met, a +terrible show, for I shall be obliged to dine with them, and be in +more danger from their infernal cooks than any of the criminals who +are to be tried, excepting those who will be so unfortunate as to +have our jurisconsult for their advocate. + +I would not advise you to be unhappy about Caroline's(111) want of +erudition; a very little science will do at present, and much cannot +be poured into the neck of so small a vessel at once. I agree with +you that it is not to be wished that she should be a savante, and +she will know what others know. I have no doubt there is time enough +for her to read, and little Morpeth(112) to walk. + +There is, I grant you, more reason to fear for Hare. Boothby(113) +assures me that as yet no prejudice has been done to his fortune. I +have my doubts of that, but am clear that he runs constant risk of +being very uneasy. But there is no talking to him; he has imbibed so +much of Charles's ton of qu'importe, que cela peut mener a +l'hopital. + +Lady Holland(114) will be removed on Monday, and my thief one of her +outriders. All Lord Holland's servants, since he had that house at +Kingsgate, have been professed smugglers, and John, as I am +informed, was employed in vending for them some of their contraband +goods, for which he was to be allowed a profit. He sold the goods, +and never accounted with his principals for a farthing; and so now +they place him to sit up with the corps[e] of the family, and to act +as one of their undertakers, that they may be in part reimbursed. +This is the dessous des cartes, qui est veritablement comique, et +singulier. Ste, &c., will be here about the end of the week. + +I hear that the night that Charles sat up at White's, which was that +preceding the night of Lady Holland's death, he planned out a kind +of itinerant trade, which was going from horse race to horse race, +and so, by knowing the value and speed of all the horses in England, +to acquire a certain fortune. + +I learned from Bore to-day, that Sir G. M'Cartney is a debtor to the +family as well as myself, and his debt is to the amount of five +thousand pounds, which I am afraid he will find it difficult to +raise. + +Blaquiere and George Howard are to have two Red Ribbands on +Wednesday. There is no end to the honours of your family. I have +entrusted Lady Carlisle's picture, I mean your grandmother's, to +Linnell, to be framed and cleaned, and then it will be sent to +Castle Howard. March I hear goes to Huntingdon next Tuesday. + +I think that I shall set out on Thursday next, or if my heart fails +me, not till Saturday. I shall then be time enough to meet these +Judges, who do not begin to poison and hang till Monday. Lady Mary +has promised to make me a present of the little antique ring which +you gave to Lord Holland. + +Did I tell you that I saw Lord Ilchester?(115) He shewed me a letter +which he had received from Ste on his mother's death, and some +trifling things which had belonged to Lord H(olland). Lord Ilchester +was extremely pleased with this mark of his affection, and indeed +the letter was a very kind and well-bred letter as any I ever read. + +I find Lord Thomond most excessively blamed in having neglected to +make his will, so that he has died at last en mauvaise odeur with +his White's friends. I cannot but think, as he was so remarkably +methodical, that he intended, by making no will, that the estate +should go where the law directs, especially as the second son of his +brother has besides so ample a fortune. + +Williams has been giving a different account of the public money +left in Lord Holland's hands from any which I ever before heard. He, +Walters, Offley, and March dined at White's. I called in there after +dinner. Williams said that a calculation is made of what the +interest of that money will amount to from this time to the +settlement of the account; and that it is to be made capital, and is +part of what is due to the public. I protest I don't understand him, +nor do I conceive what the residue of the personal estate will +amount to; but not to much, as the opinion of the family is. The +reports, and belief of those who are not in the secret, are out of +all credibility. + +Lady Holland's second will, or codicil, will not be opened till the +family returns to town. Everybody is inquisitive to know if you and +Foley are safe. Il est merveilleux l'interet que tout le monde prend +a tout ceci, aussi bien qu'au manage de notre Prince, dont je ne +saurois pour dire des nouvelles. Meynell, Panton, and James are in +Hertfordshire, and the highty-tighty man at Port Hill in the damnest +(sic) fright in the world about the small-pox. I hope the poor devil +will get over it. + +Adieu, my dear lord. If I was prevented from writing by last post, +cette fois-ci je m'en suis bein venge. . . . + +I see your porter every morning in the grove, as he returns from +Islington, where he is drinking the waters; he looks a little +better, but not much. They have lent him a horse to ride there, and +he says that he finds the air where he is to agree better with him +than that of the country. + +Pray tell Shepardson that I ask after her, and my compliments to Mr. +Willoughby, if you see him. I have demonstrated to Sir G. Metham +that I [am] originally a Yorkshire man, and that my name is +Salveyne; and he says that the best Yorkshire blood does at this +time run through my veins, and so I hope it will for some time +before the circulation of it is stopped. + +(110) A distinguished soldier, afterwards Field-Marshal (1738-1803). + +(111) Eldest daughter of the Earl of Carlisle; married, 1789, John +Campbell, who was created first Lord Cawdor; she died 1848. + +(112) George, Lord Morpeth, afterwards sixth Earl of Carlisle +(1773-1848). In this correspondence Selwyn often refers to him as +George. Selwyn had a strong affection for him, and treated him with +sympathy and tact. + +(113) Sir Brooke Boothby (1743-1824). One of the fashionable young +men of the period. He devoted himself particularly, however, to +literary society, and published verses, and political and classical +works. He lived for a time in France, and was a friend of Rousseau. + +(114) Lady Holland died on July 24th. + +(115) Stephen Fox, first Earl of Ilchester (1704-1776), the elder +brother of Henry, first Lord Holland. + + + +The duties of a country gentleman and a Member of Parliament, the +boredom of a visit to a constituency could not always be avoided by +Selwyn. Thus the two following letters are written from +Gloucestershire. + +(1774,) Aug. 9, Tuesday, Gloucester.--I set out from London on +Saturday last, as intended, and came to Matson the next day to +dinner. I found our learned Counsel in my garden; he dined with me, +and lay at my house, and the next morning he came with me in my +chaise to this place for the Assizes. I have seen little of him +since, being chiefly in the Grand Jury chamber, but I take it for +granted that till this morning that he set out for London his hands +were full of business, and the two men condemned were his clients, +who were condemned only par provision till he had drawn up the case. + +This town has been very full of the neighbouring gentlemen, and I +suppose the approaching elections have been the cause of it. I am +not personally menaced with any opposition, but have a great dread +of one, because the contentions among those who live in the country +and have nothing else to do but to quarrel, are so great, that +without intending to hurt me, they will stir up trouble and +opposition, which will be both hazardous and expensive. I am +tormented to take a part in I know not what, and with I know not +whom, and my difficulty is to keep off the solicitation of my +friends, as they call themselves, who want a bustle, the expense of +which is not to be defrayed by themselves. + +I do assure you that it is a monstrous oppression of spirits which I +feel, and which I would not feel for an hour if I had nobody's +happiness to think of but my own, which would be much more secured +by a total renunciation of Parliament, Ministers, and Boroughs than +by pursuing the emoluments attached to those connections. However, +as it is the last time that I shall ever have anything to do of this +kind, I will endeavour to keep up my spirits as well as I can; but I +must declare to you that it is an undertaking that is most grievous +to me, that I am ashamed of, and that neither the established +custom of the country [n]or the nature of our Government does by any +means reconcile to me. + +I have dinners of one sort or other till Tuesday, and then I purpose +to set out for London, unless some unforeseen event prevents me. +Horry Walpole has a project of coming into this part of the world +the end of this week, and, if he does, of coming to me on Saturday. +I shall be glad to converse with anybody whose ideas are more +intelligible than those of the persons I am now with. But I do not +depend much upon seeing him. + +The weather is very fine, and Matson in as great beauty as a place +can be in, but the beauties of it make very little impression upon +me. In short, there is nothing in this eccentric situation in which +I am now that can afford me the least pleasure, and everything I +love to see in the world is at a distance from me. All I do is so +par maniere d'acquit, et de si mauvaise grace, that I am surprised +at the civility with which I am treated. + +I am in daily hopes of hearing from you. I am sorry that the +children are to be left behind; that is, that their health, which is +a valuable consideration, makes it prudential. I shall be happy when +I see them again, but it is not in my power to fix the time any more +than the means of my happiness. . . . + +Storer has little to do than to sing, Se caro sei, and to write to +me, and therefore pray make him write. Richard the Third is to be +acted here to-night. I will go and see an act of it, pour me +desennuyer. + + +(1774,) Aug. 13, Saturday, Matson.--As you are one of the first +persons who occupies my thoughts when I awake, so it shall be a rule +with me hereafter, when I am to write to you, to make that my first +business, and not defer, as I have these two last posts, writing +till the evening, when it is more probable, at least in this place, +to suffer some interruption. This looks like an apology for what I +am sure needs none; it requires much more, that I seem to have +established it as a rule to trouble you so often. I have not here +the shallow pretence of telling you some little occurrence[s] which +can hardly be interesting in the Parish of St. James's, but when +they are confined to this spot. I can have no reason for pestering +you with them, but par un esprit de bavardise, ou pour me rappeler +plus souvent a votre souvenir; ce que votre amitie a rendu pour moi +tres inutile. + +I have this whole week been immersed in all the provincial business +of a justice, a juryman, and a candidate; and yesterday was forced +to open my trenches before the town as one who intended to humbug +them for one seven years more. + +J'ignore le destin qui le ciel me prepare, + Mais il est temps enfin qu' larbe se declare. + +I entertained the whole Corporation (of the City of Gloucester) +yesterday at dinner, and afterwards made them a speech, which I am +glad that nobody heard but themselves. However i'ai reussi, I do not +mean in point of eloquence, but I carried my point; and if it was +possible to judge from the event of one meeting only, I should think +that there would be a peaceable election, and the expense not exceed +many hundred pounds, and those given chiefly to the service of the +city. But if [I] did not make my escape, and parry off all the +proposals made to me by the people whose whole employment is to +create disturbance, I should soon be drawn into a contest from which +I should not escape but at the expense of thousands. + +At night I heard that Mr. Walpole is here; I was then at Gloucester; +so I hurried home, and have now some person to converse with who +speaks my own language. He came yesterday from Lady Ailesbury's, and +stays with me till Tuesday, and then I hope we shall return to +London together. I am to have the satisfaction of another festival +on Monday, on which day Mr. Walpole proposes to go and see Berkley +and Thornbury Castles. + +I have had the advantage of very fine weather, and should have had +all the benefit of it if I was in any place but where my mind has so +many disagreeable occupations, and my stomach so many things which +it cannot digest. But it is chiefly their liquors, which are like so +much gin. The civility which they shew me, I may say indeed the +friendship which I have from some of these people, make me very +sorry that I cannot prevail on myself to stay a little longer with +them; but in regard to that, I can hardly save appearances, either +by staying, or by forbearing while I do stay to shew them what a +pain it is to me. + +Your friend Mr. Howard, who is to be Duke of Norfolk, and who by his +wife is in possession of a great estate in my neighbourhood, takes +so much pains to recommend himself to my Corporation that we are at +a loss to know the source of his generosity. I have no personal +acquaintance with him, but as a member of the Corporation have a +permission to send for what venison we want. He has some charming +ruins of an abbey within a mile from hence, with which I intend to +entertain Mr. Walpole, and if that is not enough, I must throw in +the mazures of this old building, which, I believe, will not hold +out this century. + +Horry tells me that a scheme has been formed, of replacing Charles, +but that Lord North will not hear of it. I should certainly myself +have the same repugnance. But as I love Charles more than I do the +other, I wish that, or anything which can put him once more in a way +of establishment. I shall however not have any hopes of that, till +he is less intoxicated than he is with the all sufficiency, as he +imagines, of his parts. I think that, and his infinite contempt of +the qu'en dira-t-on, upon every point which governs the rest of +mankind, are the two and (sic) chief sources of all his misfortunes. + +Ste, they tell me, has come to a resolution of selling Holland +H(ouse) as soon as possible, and of rebuilding Winterslow. If Lady +Holland had not died just as she did, I believe that I should have +had him and Lady Mary here for some days, which I should have liked +very well. + +I have got a prize in Barbot's Lottery, as it may be Conty has told +you. I left a man in London, when I came away, with a commission to +see that justice was done me, and to send my pye, if I should have +one, into Kent. Mine is a quatre perdrises (sic); so I have no +reason to complain of Conty's Lotteries, for I have had a prize in +both of them. + +If you intend to buy a ticket in the State Lottery, I should be glad +to have a share of it with Lady C(arlisle), Lord Morpeth, and little +Caroline, that is, one ticket between us five. Three of my tenants +joined for one in the Lottery two or three years since, and they got +a 20,000 pound prize. I made a visit to one of them the other day, +whose farm is not far off, and he had made it the prettiest in the +world; and he has three children to share his 10,000, for one moiety +of this ticket was his. + +Pray make my very best compliments to Lady C. and Lady J.,(116) and +give my hearty love to Caroline; and as for the little Marmot, tell +him that if he treats his sister with great attention I shall love +him excessively, but s'il fait le fier, because he is a Viscount and +a Howard, I shall give him several spanks upon his dernere. Make +Storer write to me, and make Ekins read Atterbury till he can say +him by heart. + +(116) Lady Juliana Howard was Lord Carlisle's youngest sister. She +died unmarried. + + +By the end of August, Selwyn had escaped from Gloucester and was +again among his friends and in his favourite haunts in London. + + +[1774,] Aug. 25, Thursday night, Almack's.--Here are the Duke of +Roxb[urgh], Vernon, James, and Sir W. Draper at Whist; Boothby, +Richard, and R. Fletcher at Quinze. I dined to-day at the Duke of +Argyle's(117) at a quarter before four. He and the Duchess went to +Richmond at six. The maccaroni dinner was at Mannin's. My eyes are +still very painful to me at night, and I do not know what I shall do +for them. I hear of no news; that of the Duchess of Leinster's(118) +match is very equivoque; and extreme their drawing-room. + +I (am) in constant expectation of being sent for again to +Gloucester, and begin (sic) a canvas. I think if I prevent it, and +an opposition, I shall be very vain of my conduct. There is nothing +so flattering as the shewing people who thought that they could dupe +you, that you know more of the matter than they do. I know too +little to be active, but have prudence enough to take no steps while +I am in the dark upon the suggestion of others who cannot possibly +interest themselves for me. But I really think it will be a miracle +if this is not a troublesome and expensive Election to me. However, +I will not anticipate the evil by groaning about it before it +happens. . . . + +The Duke of Newcastle is to bring Will Hanger into Parliament, but +what is to pay for his chair to go down to the House the Lord knows; +they tell me that there is absolutely not a shilling left. + +(117) John, fifth Duke of Argyll (1723-1806). He had married for his +second wife the Duchess of Hamilton, nee Gunning, the famous beauty. + +(118) Lady Amelia Mary (1731-1814), daughter of Charles, second Duke +of Richmond, as celebrated for her beauty and charm as her sisters, +Lady Holland, Lady Louisa Connolly, and Lady Sarah Bunbury, The +reference is evidently to her approaching second marriage to Mr. +Ogilvy. + + +The correspondence of 1775 begins with the frequent story of Charles +Fox's debts. It has been well said of Carlisle, that each fresh +instance of prodigality in Fox "affected his generous heart with +anxiety for the character, the health, and the happiness of his +friend before he found time to compute and lament its calamitous +influence on his own fortunes."(119) Selwyn's solicitude for the +welfare of his friend urged him, as we see in the following letter, +to something like impatient expostulation on his forbearance and +good nature. + + +(1775?) (Beginning wanting.) . . . Gregg wants me to dun Charles. He +lost last night 800 pounds, as Brooks told me to-day. He receives +money from More the Attorney. He forestalls all he is to receive, +and unless the importunity begins with you, mine will avail nothing. +Besides, I fairly own that I cannot keep my temper. My ideas, +education, and former experience, or inexperience, of these things, +make me see some things in the most horrible light which you can +conceive, and I am far from being singular. Pray write a letter to +Charles, a tella fin que de raison; otherwise there will be no +ability left, and then it will be to no purpose. + +What management you choose to have with him is more than I can +comprehend. I can conceive the intimacy between you. Your delicacy +of temper, ten thousand nuances de sentiments. But I can never +conceive that all feeling, all the principle, &c., should be of one +side only. If you don't press it, he will not think it pressing, and +will say so; that must depend upon what you choose to reveal. He may +not think you want it, or may think that all mire in which he +wallows is as indifferent to you as to him. Je me perds dans toutes +ces reflections. My God, if they did not concern you, I should not +care who were the objects of them. + +(119) "The Early History of Charles James Fox," p. 460. + + +1775, Aug. 1, Tuesday afternoon, from your own house, below stairs. +--I came from Richmond this morning on purpose to meet Gregg here to +dinner, and we have had our leg of mutton together; a poor epitome +of Roman greatness. I believe, as Lord Grantham told me, few have +so little philosophy as I have. You have a great deal, having a much +more manly understanding. . . . + +I have been misunderstood about Stavordale, because just what you +tell me you approve of is what I meant to propose, or if I had any +conception beyond it, it was from a sudden thought which I retract. +I have said a few words to Charles, but I do not find that he has +more intercourse with him than you have. He says that there can be +no doubt of the validity and payment of the debt, and there is no +anticipation of it. But it is not to be expected that Charles should +think more of Stavordale's debt than his own. He lost in three +nights last week 3,000, as he told me himself, and has lent Richard +God knows what; the account, and friendship, and want of it, between +them is as incomprehensible to me as all the rest of their history. +It is a mystery I shall never enquire into, when what concerns you +is out of the question. I never heard of the same thing in all the +first part of my life, and it shall be my own fault if I hear any +more of it. + +I rode over yesterday to Lord Besborough's at Roehampton, on purpose +to see Lord Fitzwilliam,(120) and had a long discourse with him in +the garden. He was excessively pleased with the account which I gave +him of the present state of your affairs, together with your manner +of expressing yourself about them. Every word which dropped from him +discovered the real interest which he took in whatever concerned +you, and his affection for you. He is a very valuable young man. + +Hare went away without being certain that he was to go to Castle H. +He will excuse me if I don't rely upon his resolutions in parties of +pleasure. But I should have been glad to have known for a certainty +that he was to have set out. I believe March's money and mine helped +to grease his wheels. March deserves to have lost his, because he +was the seducer. I could not have lost mine if he had kept me to my +obligation; but I will not resign my fetters any more. Welcome, my +chains; welcome, Mr. Lowman, the keeper. I am glad it went no +further. + +(120) William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, second Earl Fitzwilliam ( +1748-1863). He began at Eton his lifelong friendship with Fox and +Carlisle. In 1794 he was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. + + +(1775, Aug.?.)--I am just come from Almack's. Many are gone to the +Thatched House,(121) to sup with the ladies, as they call it. These +ladies are Lady Essex and Miss Amyas(?). Richard won last night +1,300 ostensible, besides what he pocketed to keep a corps de +reserve unknown to Brooks. For Brooks lent him 2,300, and then +laments the state of the house. He duns me for three hundred, of +which I am determined to give him but two; as he knows so well where +to get the other hundred, which is that Richard owes me, but seems +determined that I shall not have. Charles is winning more, and the +quinze table is now at its height. I have set down Brooks to be the +completest composition of knave and fool that ever was, to which I +may add liar. You say very true, that I have been in a bank, that I +have lost my money, that I want to get it back; but it is as true +that I shall make no attempt to get it back till my affairs are +quite in another posture from what they are at present; so pray give +me no flings about it, for I lay all the blame upon March, who +should not have contributed to it. + +(121) The Thatched House Tavern in St. James's Street stood on the +site of the present Conservative Club. Various well-known clubs were +in the habit of meeting here, notably the Society of Dilettanti +which was formed in 1734, of it Walpole wrote that "the nominal +qualification is having been in Italy and the real one being drunk." + +(1775,) Sept. 1, Friday, Richmond.--I have omitted, contrary to my +usual custom, two posts, the writing to you, which being out of +course may perhaps make you at a loss to guess what is become of me. +I am here with Mie Mie, and shall be so for ten or twelve days +longer, and then the weather being cool and the days grown short, I +shall find the evenings too tedious to myself and not very +beneficial to her, which would undoubtedly be with me the first +consideration. My journey to Castle H(oward) I would not postpone, +if the postponing of it was the prevention of it. + +But as I am determined to go there, and it is not as I apprehend +material whether it be the first week of this month or of the next, +I have submitted to those who desire to govern me in this matter, +and that is in regard to Luggershall. My lawyers and Mr. T. +Townshend,(122) who is the heir of entail to that estate, have +entreated me not to omit any longer the holding what they call a +Court Leet. + +Mr. Grenville's Bill, as I apprehended that it would, has made it +very dangerous to omit any forms which the law prescribes, and the +failure of what I am enjoined as lord of the manor to do by the +charter would certainly be very prejudicial upon an enquiry, and +perhaps lay me open to an opposition, which could never be made to +my interests or property there without such negligence. + +For this reason I must either postpone my journey to Castle H(oward) +till after that, or make my stay there if I go before too short. +This is my present arrangement, which, however important it may be +represented to be, should be altered if I could be essentially +useful to you or to your affairs by it. I beg that you will not omit +to acquaint Mr. Gregg with this, who will see immediately the +necessity of it. + +I could indeed have set out as I originally intended so as to have +met you upon your return, and should have done it if I could have +prevailed upon M(arch?) to have allowed me to do what I am now +doing, by which I flatter myself to bring about what will be in many +respects of use to that little infant, who has very little thought +bestowed upon her but by my means. It is a sore grievance to me, but +it is my lot and I must endure it. + +My excursions to town are not above once in six days. On Saturday +last on my return hither I was indeed very near demolished. My +coachman thought fit to run for the turnpike, as the phrase is, and +against a four-wheeled waggon with six horses. He seemed to me to +have very little chance of carrying his point, if it was not to +demolish me and my chaise, but almost sure of succeeding in that. I +called, roared, and scolded to no purpose, il ne daigna pas +m'ecouter un instant: so the consequence was, what might be +expected, he came with all the force imaginable against the turnpike +gate, (and) set my chaise upon its head. Mr. Craufurd was with me, +and on the left side, which was uppermost, and we were for a small +space of time lying under the horses, at their mercy, and the +waggoner's, who seemed very much inclined to whip them on, and from +one or other, that is, either from the going of the waggon over us, +or the kicking of the horses, we were both in the most imminent +danger. Lady Harrington was in her coach just behind us, and took me +into it, Mr. Craufurd got into Mr. Henry Stanhope's phaeton, and so +we went to Richmond, leaving the chaise, as we thought, all +shattered to pieces in the road. This happened just after I had +finished my last letter to you, and which I think had very near been +the last that I should ever have wrote to you, as those tell me who +saw the position in which we for some time were. + +Postscript. Richmond, Saturday morning.--I received to-day yours +from C(astle) H(oward) of last Monday, the 28th August, and you may +be sure that it is no small pleasure to me to find by every letter +which I receive, that there is such an attention to your affairs, as +is really worthy your understanding and capacity. You will find your +account in it, by preventing ennui in yourself and roguery in +others, besides a thousand train (sic) of evils that are inseparable +from dissipation and negligence. I hope that you made my compliments +to Mr. Nicolson; il a l'air d'un personnage tres respectable, d'un +homme affide et sur. I cannot afford to wish any period of mine, at +ever so little distance, to be arrived, but I am tempted to wish +that I was two years older, for this reason, that I am confident +your affairs, and the state of your mind, will be pleasanter than it +has been in for a great while. So my wife(123) has made you another +agreeable visit for a fortnight, as she called it. I am sorry for +what you tell me of the visit which was not made. I don't love +excuses, but perhaps there may be some which need not give any +jealousy of want of true affection. I hope you will receive mine as +such, or I would set out for C(astle) H(oward) directly. I have +totally laid aside the thoughts of going this year to Matson, or +even to Gloucester. I have no engagement, but to be one day at +Luggershall, but that with difficulty can be dispensed with. Neither +Lord N(orth) or his Parliament, or anything else shall prevent me +from going to you when you desire it. + +But the alteration in the little girl is so visibly for the better, +since she has been in this air, and Mrs. Craufurd acts so much like +a guardian to her, that I am in hopes by degrees to be the means of +placing her where my mind will for the present be easy about her, +and that she may be brought up with that education that, with the +help of other advantages, may in some measure recompense her for the +ill fortune of the first part of her life. This is, if my heart was +kid open, all that you could see in it at present, except the +anxiety which is now almost over in regard to you. + +For I verily believe that what has happened, although it came upon +me like coup de tonnerre, and has given me a great deal of bile, and +my stomach I find weakened from that cause, more than from any +other,--for I'm more and more abstemious every day,--yet I now see +that all will end well, and that in the meantime neither you (n)or +Lady C(arlisle) will make yourselves uneasy by placing things before +you in a wrong light. + +I will speak to Ridley when I go to town, but scolding increases my +bile, and so to avoid it I sent that coachman who had like to have +destroyed me this day sevennight out of my sight, and his horses, +without seeing him. + +You say that C(harles) will receive four or five thousand from Lord +S(tavordale?) upon the same account. Je le crois, and others will +soon after receive it from him, but I am afraid not you. You may be +sure that he said nothing to me of that; he does not talk of his +resources to me, except that of his Administration, which you will +be so just to me as to recollect that I never gave any credit to, +because he knows how I desire that those resources may be applied. +On the contrary, when I spoke to him the other day about your +demand, I was answered only with an elevation de ses epaules et une +grimace dont je fus tant soit feu pique. But it is so. I shall say +no more to him upon that or any other subject than I can help. La +coupe de son esprit, quelque brillante quelle puisse etre, n'est pas +telle qui me charme et luisera par la suite pour le mains inutile. + +I am now going in my chaise to dine at Mr. Digby's, ou cette branche +de la famille ne sera pas traitee avec beaucoup de management; and +first I am going to write a letter to my Lord Chancellor to thank +him for a living which he has given to a friend of mine at +Gloucester, accompanied with the most obliging letter to me in the +world. This and yours have put me to-day in very good humour. We had +an assembly last night at Mrs. Craufurd's for Lady Cowper, Lady +Harrington, Lady H. Vernon, &c., and Mie Mie was permitted to sit up +till nine. She wanted to see "an sembelly," as she calls it, and +was mightily pleased. . . . + +(122) Thomas Townshend (1733-1800), afterward first Viscount Sydney, +was Selwyn's nephew. He was Secretary of War in 1782, and in 1783 +Secretary of State, when he initiated the policy of sending convicts +beyond the seas as colonists. Sydney in Australia was named after +him. His second daughter married the second Earl of Chatham, and his +fourth daughter married the fourth Duke of Buccleugh--"the +beautiful, the kind, the affectionate, and generous Duchess" of Sir +Walter Scott. + +(123) A joking allusion to one of his friends. + + + +(1775,) Oct. 7, Saturday night.--I returned from Luggershall +yesterday, a day later than I was in hopes to have come, for I was +made to believe that the Court Leet, which was my object in going, +would have been held on Wednesday; however I passed a day +extraordinary better than I expected in that beggarly place. I made +an acquaintance with a neighbouring gentleman, who has a very good +estate, and a delightful old mansion, where I played at whist and +supped on Wednesday evening. He is a descendant of the Speaker +Smith, and son of that Mr. Ashton whom we saw at Trentham, or whom I +saw there the first'time I went, and who was an evidence against me +at Oxford 30 years ago--a sad rascal; but the son is un garcon fort +honnete, and he received me with extraordinary marks of civility and +good breeding. + +We have the same relations, and his house was furnished with many of +their pictures. There was one of a great grandmother of mine, who +was the Speaker's sister, painted by Sir P. Lely, that was one of +the best portraits I ever saw. I wish Sir J. Reynolds had been there +to have told me why those colours were so fine and looked as if they +were not dry, while all his are as lamb (sic) black in comparison of +them. I am to have a copy of this picture next spring. + +I shall appoint Gregg on Monday to meet me on business, and I will +therefore defer talking upon that subject till I have seen him. +Storer dined with me to-day. Hare and Charles I am told have lost +everything they had at Newmarket. General Smith has been the winner. +Richard also is stripped. No company in town as yet, or news. I have +been writing Gloucester letters to-night about this damned contest +till I am blind, so I must be short. Ridley has assured me that he +has sent the books. + +Have you read the Anecdotes of Me du Barri? They are to me amusing. +The book is I think a true picture of the latter end of the life and +court of that weak wretch Louis XV., not overcharged, and so many of +the facts being incontestable, you may take the whole story for a +true one, no one part being more improbable than another. Will you +have it sent? It is dear, half-a-guinea; un recit trop graveleux +pour etre recommande aux dames. My most affectionate compliments, +and so adieu. My eyes grow too dim to write, but are infinitely +mended. + +I dine to-morrow at the Ambassador's, and after dinner we go to make +our visits at Richmond to Lady Fawkener, and to Petersham. I thank +you for your idea of Emily(124): j'en profiterai; I can depend upon +no other's. + +(124) Edward Emly, Dean of Derry. Selwyn always writes of him as +"Emily": in a letter of March 24, 1781, he calls him "Mr. Dean +Emily." + + +In the midst of the news of the gaieties of the town, of the begging +of political placemen for a higher rank in the peerage, we now come +upon the question of America. The English people had not yet +appreciated the momentous struggle into which the King and his +ministers had drawn their country. The flippancy with which Selwyn +alludes to the rebellion is indicative of the general state of +opinion even among those who were constantly at the centre of +political affairs. The battle of Bunker's Hill had been fought on +the 17th of the preceding June, and yet to Selwyn the struggle +beyond the Atlantic was merely a "little dispute." + + +(1775,) Oct. 11, Wednesday m(orning).--I went last night after I had +sent my letters to the post, which by the way was not till past ten, +to Lady Betty's. There were with her Lady Julia, Gregg, and a Mr. +Owen at whist. There were Hare, Delme,(125) and his odd-looking +parson, who came to town to christen the child. I went from thence +and supped at Lady Hertford's, with Lord Fr(ederick) Cavendish, Mrs. +Howe, and the Beau Richard, who is returned from Jamaica. His friend +Colonel Kane has got the start of him since he went dans la carriere +politique, mais le bon Colonel est un peu plus intriguant que son +camarade; celui-ci est certainement un charactere bien sauvage, un +melange d'irlandois et de Creol, et avec tout cela, un fort honnete +garcon. . . . + +You pant after news from America; there are none pour le moment. +But you may depend upon it, if that little dispute interests you, I +will let you know, quand le monde sera rassemble, tout ce que +j'apprens, et de bon lieu. + +Charles assures us that nothing is so easy as to put an end to all +this, but then there must be a change of Ministry, quelconque, no +matter what, as a preliminary assurance to the Insurgents; and then +for the inference, under any change he can't allow himself to take +an employment, and lay more money upon shark(s?). But there will be +no change yet, I am confident, and when there is, he will as much +want another. + +They now doubt of Southwell's peerage,(126) after all the bustle in +our country. All the claimants for new peerages oppose it with their +clamours, as if this was a creation, and taking it for granted that +the King is to accept their interpretations instead of his own. I +suppose, if he fulfilled all his engagements upon that score, there +would be an addition to the House of Lords equal to the present +number. + +Ergo, if I was King, I should expunge the whole debt, and begin sur +nouveaux fraix. I think that I should have answer ready to make to +my Minister against those promises. I should tell him, if my affairs +required a Sir G. Hawke or who(m) you please to be made a peer, it +should be down (done) sur le champ, but I would not be hampered by +engagements. Qu'en pensez-vous, Seigneur? I take it for granted that +Lord Gower will be here soon. I have desired Gregg to wait on him +with an account of all that has passed in your affairs during my +regency, because Gregg will be better able to state the matter to +him, and to explain the necessity I have been under, by an +unexpected increase of demands, of transcending the bounds of the +deed, as well as to satisfy him upon your own domestic economy, +which is certainly by all accounts irreprehensible. + +(125) Peter Delme, married in 1769 to Lady Elizabeth Howard, Lord +Carlisle's sister; he was called Peter the Czar, in allusion to his +great wealth, which, however, he and Lady Betty very much reduced by +high play. He shot himself in Grosvenor Square, April 10, 1770. + +(126) Thomas George, third Baron Southwell (1721-1780), was created +Viscount Southwell in July, 1776. + + +(1775,) Nov. 16, Thursday night, the Committee Room of the House of +Commons.--I received last night, but late, your much wished-for and +expected letter concerning the Bedchamber;(127) which, containing +what it did, and the style of it being what it was, I carried this +morning to Lord G(ower), who seemed perfectly satisfied with the +option you had made, and the manner in which you expressed yourself +in relation to himself. Lord North dines with him on Saturday, when +he intends to expatiate more at large upon your views, and to urge +further your pretensions to some more advantageous situation. + +I must say for the Bedchamber, you could not have a more honourable +post or at the same time a more insignificant one. I ventured to +tell Lord G. that I believe (sic), notwithstanding the demur you +made upon it, if it had been a point with him that you should have +accepted it--I did believe that you would. I thought that I ran no +risk in making on your behalf that compl(imen)t, as he seemed to be +so perfectly agreed with me that it was better not to accept it. + +He entered with me on the last account from the Colonies, which is +undoubtedly much more favourable than was expected by friends, or +enemies; and it agreed so perfectly with the private letters which I +have seen, that I could not but credit it. It is my real belief that +the Opposition will be disappointed, and those who have joined them +upon speculation and resentment, not a little vexed at being duped. +It is impossible to answer for events, but these must be such as are +very little expected or probable, before there can be any breach in +the present Ministry, or the King obliged to make a change in it. + +Burke's speech(128) to-day was three hours and twenty minutes. Lord +Ossory has hoisted his flag, and spoke. It is now about 9 o'clock; +it will be midnight in all probability before we rise, for none of +the leading persons in Administration has spoke, or the principal +squibs of opinion. Charles is down, but has not yet spoke. I am more +desirous myself of hearing Lord G. G(ermaine) than anybody. He looks +very confident, and I take for granted is prepared for all kind of +abuse. + +Rigby came to me in the House last night to know if I had heard from +you, adding, "I hope to God that he will accept the Bedch(amber)." I +was not more desirous that you should, because that was his opinion. +I thought that Lord G(ower) had been talking to him, but he assured +me that he had not; so from what quarter his intelligence came I +know not. Lord G. thought that it was most probable from Lord North. +If you had made that your option, I should have proposed that you +should at the same time have been sworn into the Privy Council, as +an earnest that more was intended, and in a Line of Business, and I +think that they would not have objected to it. + +Adam Hay, Lord March's Member for Peebles, died yesterday, I am +afraid to say suddenly, because it is a suspicious word, and will be +more so in his case, as I believe Fortune has not been favourable to +him. But I do not believe anything of that sort; his general state +of health has been bad for some time, and I was told that his last +and fatal attack was in his bowels. The two Lascells and (sic) dined +at his house not a week ago. Sir R. Keith comes in, in his room. +Lord N(orth) and Lord Suffolk recommend him. March has demurred upon +it, but seems not determined for particular reasons. I have been +employed about this, this whole day at Court, and then with Lord +North, and going backwards and forwards. March will not do what he +should, at the time it ought to be done, and then things are in +confusion, when they should be adjusted, and carried into execution. +It is to no purpose endeavouring to persuade him; if you tell him +what may happen, he silences you with some adage, or a qu'importe, +and so drives everything off till he does (not) know what party +(parti?) to fix upon. + +(127) Lord Carlisle declined the offer of a Lordship of the +Bedchamber, see Trevelyan's "Early Life of Fox," chap. iv. + +(128) On November 16th Burke moved for leave to bring in a Bill for +composing the present troubles and for quieting the minds of his +Majesty's subjects in America. The motion was negatived, after an +important debate, a little before five o'clock in the morning, by +210 to 105 votes. + + +(1775,) Dec. 9, Saturday m(orming), at home.--By accident you will +receive no letter from me to-morrow, but by no accident facheux. For +the future, however I conclude my day, I will begin it by writing to +you, when the day comes that I am to write. + +Yesterday I dined at Lord Gower's; there were the B(isho)p of +Worcester, Lord Stanley and Lady Betty, Lord March, Storer, K. +Stewart, and la famille; en verite votre beau-pere est bien servi; +le diner fut superbe. I was obliged, without staying for my coffee, +to go to the House, where we were till about ten. I hope that it is +the last day of business before the Recess. + +I sent your letter last night to Lady Carlisle, and wrote to her +myself. But I will defer no more writing to anybody till the +evening, excepting to Ald. Harris, who is at present very clamorous +for a letter, for he has not heard from me in God knows how long a +time, and at this minute I have mislaid his last letters. + +I have contrived to wrench out of Charles's black hands 50 pounds +for Spencer, by watching the opportunity of his play, and should +have got from anybody but himself one thousand of the 1,500, for he +had won that, and more, the other night, and it was to have been +paid to him the next morning. I sent immediately to Gregg, and it +was my design to have carried your bond to Brooks, who should have +intercepted the 1,000 for his own use, and then I should have +applied the same sum afterwards to the tradesmen; but he was too +quick for me, and set (sat) up and lost it and more to Lord +Stavordale. I know that he could have pleaded his debt to Lord +Cholmondly, and to Brooks himself, &c., neither of whom probably +would have received a groat; but that matter is over for the +present. However, Brooks has promised me that (sic), if any event of +this kind happens again, to avail himself of it, for your +convenience. + +I have taken the liberty to talk a good deal to Lord Stavordale, +partly for his own sake and partly for yours, and pressed him much +to get out of town as soon as possible, and not quit Lord Ilchester +any more. His attention there cannot be of long duration, and his +absence may be fatal to us all. I painted it in very strong colours, +and he has promised me to go, as soon as this Sedgmoor Bill is +reported. I moved to have Tuesday fixed for it. We had a debate and +division upon my motion, and this Bill will at last not go down so +glibly as Bully hoped that it would. It will meet with more +opposition in the H(ouse) of Lords, and Lord North being adverse to +it, does us no good. Lord Ilchester gets, it is said, 5,000 pounds a +year by it, and amongst others Sir C. Tynte something, who, for what +reason I cannot yet comprehend, opposes it. + +The comparison of me to Arlequin, I allow to be in a great measure +just. The events have frequently called his (sic) to my mind. But I +beseech you do not say that you do not desire to hinder me from a +favourite amusement. If it was an innocent one also, passe; but it +is not only dangerous, but in its consequences criminal, and there +is no dependence upon any one man breathing, who pursues it with the +chaleur which I have done. How can I expect another man to trust me, +if I cannot trust myself? + +Therefore, although March has dissolved the tie,(129) I beg that you +will lay me under some sort of restriction about it. I do not speak +this from having now suffered, for I have not, as I told you before, +since March last; that is, by the event. But I have been susceptible +(since?) then more than once, and it has been my good fortune and +not my prudence which has kept me above water. + +What I propose is, to receive a guinea, or two guineas, and to pay +twenty, for every ten which I shall lose in the same day, above 50, +at any game of chance. I reserve the 50 for an unexpected necessity +of playing in the country, or elsewhere, with women. All things +considered, it is the best tie, and the tax the easiest paid, and +restrictive enough, and twenty guineas you will take; and if you tie +me up, I beg my forfeitures may go to the children, and then perhaps +I may forfeit for their sake, you'll say. I really think it will be +a wise measure for me, and a safe one; and let this tie be for this +year only, and then, if it is demonstrable that my fortune is +impaired by not playing, the tie will be over, and not renewed the +next. In the mean time, and till I shall hear your sentiments upon +this, I must avoid going to Almack's, and so I will. . . . + +I dine to-day at Harry St. John's, and to-morrow at Eden's(130); and +on Monday all the St. Johns in the world, old and young, dine here. + +Lord Northington(131) brought me home two nights in his coach, and +in one of them the conversation turned upon you. He said there was +nobody had a better idea of what a gentleman should be than +Carlisle; that you was so throughout. There is a singularity and +frankness in some people's manner of delivering their sentiments, by +which they receive great advantage. You remember Sir R. Payne's way +of describing you, which was still more odd; he said if anybody +looked through the keyhole at any time to see how you behaved when +you was alone, that he was sure there would be no more impropriety +in it than if you had a hundred eyes upon you. I don't like +commending you myself, but I like to hear others do so, and +especially when they speak about what they think, and when what they +think has the air of verite in it. + +I hope you make my compliments to Ekins, and that he has by this +time read Atterbury quite through. I do not propose the Bishop as a +pattern for anything but for eloquence; and for argument, on n'en +trouve pas, chez lui. + +I think that Storer, John St. John,(132) and I, shall set out in +about ten days. My coach, cloak, and muff are ready. Adieu most +affectionately. My respects to Lady C(arlisle) and my love to the +children, and last of all do not despair of me about Hazard, for it +being what I love so much, is precisely the reason why I shall be +more upon guard in respect to it. I do not mean by this to limit, +but the ense recidendum; every other parti is delusive and childish. + + +(129) See ante, note 105. + +(130) William Eden, Lord Auckland (1744-1814). He was educated at +Eton and Oxford; called to the Bar in 1769. In 1778 was one of the +peace commissioners to America with Lord Carlisle, accompanying him +later to Ireland as secretary. Between 1785 and 1789 he filled +appointments as ambassador successively to France, Spain, and the +United Provinces. In 1789 he was created Baron Auckland in Ireland, +and in 1793 raised to the English peerage. He married Eleanor, +daughter of Sir Gilbert Elliot and sister of the first Earl of +Minto. + +(131) Robert Henley, second Earl of Northington (1747-1782), a +friend of Charles Fox. The main event of his political life was his +tenure of the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in the Coalition +Ministry in 1783. + +(132) John St. John (1746-1793), third son of John, second Viscount +St. John, a typical specimen of the macaroni. He was an M.P. from +1773 to 1784, held a sinecure post as Surveyor-General of Land +Revenues. He wrote some political pamphlets, a play, and an opera. +The play was a tragedy--"Mary Queen of Scots"; it was acted at Drury +Lane with some success in 1789, Kemble and Mrs. Siddons taking the +leading parts. + + +(1775,) December 12, Tuesday night.--General Scott is dead; sic +Diis placuit. Bully(133) has lost his Bill. I reported it to-day, +and the Question was to withdraw it. There were 59 against us, and +we were 35. It was worse managed by the agents, supposing no +treachery, than ever business was. Lord North, Robinson, and Keene +divided against. Charles said all that could be said on our side. +But as the business was managed, it was the worst Question that I +ever voted for. We were a Committee absolutely of Almack's; so if +the Bill is not resumed, and better conducted and supported, this +phantom of 30,000 pounds clear in Bully's pocket to pay off his +annuities vanishes. It is surprising what a fatality attends some +people's proceedings. I begged last night as for alms, that they +would meet me to settle the Votes. I have, since I have been in +Parliament, been of twenty at least of these meetings, and always +brought numbers down by those means. But my advice was slighted, and +twenty people were walking about the streets who could have carried +this point. + + +December 14, 1775.(134)--I was much disappointed yesterday in not +receiving a letter from you. I dined here and alone and was in hopes +that a letter from you would have come or I should have dined out +for my spirits at present are not good, nor can I contrive that they +should be better, and yet je ne donnerai pas la mort though nothing +in the world has happened, but j'ai les dragons noirs et fort noirs; +l'avenir me donne des horreurs, but brisons la pour la present: I +have bought to-day at Lord Holland's sale of books, "Dart's +Antiquities of Westminster Abbey," a very complete copy on large +paper. But I paid 6 pounds for it, which is 2 pounds more than it +has been usually estimated at. Dr. Baker has promised to propose me +for the Royal Society, and I will be of as many societies as I can +which may serve for dissipation and to avoid what I have more reason +to dread than anything in the world. I am sure a grand coup de +malheur at play would oppress me beyond anything. + +I hope that apprehension will keep me from it, and you must assist +me. Don't say, he knows it, it is to no purpose--speaking to +anybody. . . . Speaking does operate if you esteem the person who +speaks, and those who are silent have an indifference about what +happens to their friends which I know you have not. There is an old +translation of Plutarch two hundred years old by Amyot, in twelve or +fourteen volumes 12mo. bound in blue maroc. Gibbon tells me that it +is a very rare and valuable book, one of the first translations +which was in that language, and has infinite merit. The print is not +good enough for me, it will come high and I seldom read. I must buy +quartos now, large letter, and books of another kind which amuse me +more. Lady Holland has got well again. Scott has left 200,000 pounds +and two daughters who divide it. ... I hear some good news is come +to-day from America. I shall know more of it from this dinner I am +going to. I have no mind to go, but cannot recede. I hope that my +spirits will be the better for it, but it is the gloomiest day I +ever knew. The Duchess of Kingston is in a great fright for the +consequences of her trial. Where she is to be tried is not yet +decided. Most people I take it for granted wish it may be in +Westminster Hall. Lord Mansfield opposes it. It is near five so I +shall take my leave. I wrote this for fear this dinner and a nap, +etc., might prevent my writing. My respects to Lady C. and the dear +children. + +(133) Lord Bolingbroke. + +(134) This letter was not included in those printed by the +Historical MSS. Commission. + + +In this last letter Selwyn notes the arrival of news from America. +But he preferred to let his friend Storer forward the political +information of the moment to Carlisle, so that a letter of Storer is +sometimes supplementary to one of Selwyn. The following is a +continuation, so to say, of that which Selwyn wrote on the same +date. + + +Anthony Storer to Lord Carlisle. + +1775, December 14, Portugal Street.--I did not give Selwyn my +promise concerning our expedition to Castle Howard, and therefore +should not have mentioned it to you; but if I am not able to come, +it will be some comfort to me to know that you will have him and St. +John; so that if you fail of getting any politics out of George, I +think you must be very unlucky if you have not, what you wish, a +boar (sic) of politics from the other. + +I assure you, at least so it appears to me, that American politics +are very much altered. Taxation and the exercise of it are totally +renounced. You never hear the right mentioned, but in order to give +it up. The rigid politician of last year, such a man for instance as +Wellbore Ellis, stands now almost single in the House of Commons. + +You ask me if the Intercourse Bill,(135) as it is called, cuts off +all commerce and communication with the Islands. You may guess why +it is called the Intercourse Bill; it is lucus a non lucendo. The +Americans are neither to trade with the West Indies or Great +Britain; they are not interdicted any commerce with us, but they are +to be treated, both themselves and their vessels, as enemies in open +time of war, and the captures are to become the property of the +commanders and the sailors. + +This is the winding up of our catastrophe. If it lasts more than one +year, it seems even to moderate West Indians to be totally ruinous +to them. What seems to affect them most by the passing of this Bill +is not the fear of starving, which they have their apprehensions of, +but the danger there is of their being taken on false pretences by +the men of war that are to protect them, or by the Americans, on +whose coast they are always obliged to pass very near. In short, +every West Indian, except Jack Douglas, is in the utmost +consternation. + +Parliament, that is, the House of Commons, have done their business; +we are now waiting for this Bill to pass the Lords, and then we +adjourn for the holidays. The day before yesterday, the Sedgmoor +Inclosure Bill, in which Lord Bolingbroke was very much interested +(G. Selwyn was Chairman for and in the Committee) was thrown out, +owing to some irregularities--some differences in the Assent Bill +and the House Bill. As you have had something to do with enclosures, +you understand those two words, so I need not explain them. + +It is true I have spoke, and as you say, and as I meant, not +brilliantly. Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien, is a very favourite +maxim of mine. Perhaps, as this is one of my great undertakings, it +is more owing to you, than to any other motive. I know you will +laugh at me, for saying so, but I really believe it. I said a few +words, too, upon your Morpeth business, which encouraged me perhaps +to do afterwards, what I did with respect to Mr. Oliver's motion. + +Lord G. Germaine's coming into office seems to have been a greater +acquisition on the side of Government, than on his. Office adds +dignity and respect to some men; others, who derive no dignity from +it, generally lose by it. This I think Lord G.'s case. He seemed to +speak with much more weight, before he was in office. The Ghost of +Mindon is for ever brought in neck and shoulders to frighten him +with. Willes (Wilkes) and Sawbridge have attacked him more than once +with the British Cavalry; and thus, he must either turn absolute +knight errant, or else put up quietly with constant affronts. + +The news-papers must have given you the general features of this +year's politics. The complexion of them, I own, is somewhat altered; +and so much, that I dare say you will hardly know 'em again. You +will soon grow used to them, however, and upon very little +acquaintance, will be as intimate with them as ever. So much for the +affairs of the Nation. You, who hear no politics, will be astonished +at this boar (sic), but must excuse it from me, who hear nothing +else. + +Indeed, there is another operation which breaks in upon this +subject, i e., the game of Commerce. Lady Betty has taken to this +game, and she makes all the world, bon gre, malgre, play at it till +five o'clock in the morning. I live there almost; what with Balls, +Bt (?), Tessier, Commerce, Supper, and Quinze, I am never out of the +house. They have invited me to go to the Oaks, this Christmas, but +if Castle Howard is too far, the Oaks, I assure you, will be much +farther. I rather think I shall go for a fortnight to Bath. You have +heard of Gen. Scott's death. George's motto for his achievement is +--sic Dice placuit; and for his sarcophagus--Dice Manibus, &c. . . . + +(135) The American Prohibitory Bill, to prevent trade and +intercourse between the American Colonies and Great Britain and the +West Indies. + + + +(1775?) Dec. 19, Tuesday.--I write to you before dinner, and before +I have all the opportunities which I might have before night of +sending you news, for fear that it should happen as it did last +Saturday, that I fall asleep, and so let pass the hour of the post. +The cold drives me to the fire, and the fire into a profound nap, in +which every earthly thing is forgot; but it shall happen no more, +that a post goes without something to indicate my existence. + +Last night and the night before I supped at Lady Betty Stanley's. +Their suppers are magnificent, but their hours are abominably late; +however, they do not discourage my Lord of Worcester from staying +them out. We are very merry, all of us, and I think Mrs. North the +merriest of us all. At 2 this morning, the Bishop and I were almost +left alone; the rest of the company were in their domino's, and +going to the Masquerade. I have seen nobody to-day to tell me what +passed there. + +I have been with Mie Mie at Gainsborough's,(136) to finish her +picture. I thank you for inquiring after her; it has been one of my +comforts that she has escaped any of these colds. She seems to grow +very strong; so far, so good. + +Sir G(eorge) M'Cartney and Lady Holl(an)d dined here yesterday, and +we had the contrivance to keep our party a secret from Craufurd, +for, although he was engaged to two other places, he told March that +he should have been glad to have come, and certainly would, if he +had known it. I think verily he grows more tiresome every day, and +everybody's patience is a bout, except Smith's and Sir George's. + +Sir G(eorge) has been telling me to-day, that Lord Stormont is +coming from France, and is to have Lord Marchmont's place, who is +satisfied by the peerage of his son, and that Lord Harcourt will +stay but a very little while longer in Ireland. This must produce in +all probability other removes. + +I dine to-morrow with Lord Gower, Lady G(ower), Lord and Lady +Waldegrave, l'Ambassadeur, and Monsr. Tessier, at Bedford House. I +shall know, perhaps, something more of this then. Her Grace has +suppers for the class I dine with to-day, but I am not of them. +Monsieur Tessier is to read to the Queen, and till then, will read +no more; he goes down to pass his Xmas at Wilton. I wish, for Lady +Carlisle's entertainment, that you had him for two or three days, at +Castle H. + +I should, with your approbation, have been glad to have carried him +with me. I shall be glad to bring anybody, but I have no prospect, +but of John St. John. Storer tells me that he goes to the Bath. Eden +would be excessively happy to go, if it was for a few days only, but +his attendance at this time seems scarcely to be dispensed with. Our +last news from America are certainly not good, but it does not alter +my expectations of what will be the issue of the next campaign. It +is a great cause of amusement to Charles, but I see no good to him +likely to come from it in the end. + +I wish to know, if I could, precisely your time of leaving Castle +H(oward). I should be glad to contrive it, so as to return with you. +You will be here for the Trial,(137) I take for granted. It will be +altogether the most extraordinary one that ever happened in this or +I believe any other country. It is a cursed, foul pool, which they +are going to stir up, and-how many rats, cats, and dogs, with other +nuisances, will be seen floating at the top, nobody can tell. It +will be as much a trial of the E(arl) of B(ristol) as of her, and in +point of infamy, the issue of it will be the same, and the poor +defunct Duke stand upon record as the completest Coglione of his +time. The Attorney and Solicitor General have appointed Friday, as I +hear, for a hearing of what her Bar can say in favour of a Noli +prosequi, which is surely nothing. + +(136) Gainsborough was at this time living at Schomberg House, Pall +Mall, and therefore was a near neighbour of Selwyn. This portrait is +not to be found among Gainsborough's existing works. + +(137) See note (109) + + +Selwyn, as we see by the preceding letter, represented the +optimistic spirit of the English people in regard to the American +War. His friend Storer, though one of the Court party and a place +seeker, shows a much truer appreciation of the actual condition of +affairs. With a keener interest than Selwyn in political matters he +sometimes, as already mentioned, took his friend's place as Lord +Carlisle's correspondent when political interest was aroused. In the +letter which follows he perceives clearly the future course of the +struggle. + + +Anthony Storer to Lord Carlisle. + +(1775,) Dec. 29, Bath.--I broke off very abruptly in my last, telling +you that Oliver's Motion came into Parliament in so strange a form, +that it met with very little encouragement; Wilkes counted twelve +who divided with him on the main Question, and he dignified them by +calling them his twelve Apostles. + +Sawbridge had attacked the present Administration for their intended +folly of taking up four other persons besides Mr. Eyre upon +the news of that plot, that made so much noise for a day or +two at the opening of Parliament; and said that some person in +Administration had very wisely objected to it, because instead +of having the Wilkes, there would immediately be five. + +To which Lord North answered by saying, though he might believe a +Buckingham House Junto might do a great deal, yet he had so much +respect for Mr. Wilkes, as not to imagine that they could easily +make another person at (all?) similar to him; that he had seen the +difficulty of such an undertaking by observing, that gentlemen who +made it the whole object and study of their lives to resemble him, +had failed in the attempt. He ended by quoting--Non cuivis homini +contingit, etc.; some of the Treasury prompted him--Ex quovis ligno +non fit Mercurius. + +We divided twice that day, besides having a third Question. The +order of the day was first put, then the previous Question, and the +main one. So that Wilkes and his party divided with us upon the +previous Question. Lord North upon this desired, while the minority +was in the Lobby, that gentlemen would stay for the main Question, +as we should not have some of the present majority with us. Upon the +whole, I never saw a Question in Parliament treated with so little +respect. + +Now I ought, according to the course of proceedings, give you some +account of Hartley's; but as he has printed his speech, I will not +take that out of his hands, which he has so much more right to. He +spoke for above two hours. Good God! I shudder even now at the +thoughts of it. No one can have a complete idea of a boar (sic) who +has not been in Parliament. + +Thus you have seen an epitome of what we have been about; what we +are to do, you are more likely to know than I, having a direct +avenue to the Cabinet; but I believe it is scarcely in their power +to say what we are to do. Whether we are to send Russians, or +French, or what nation the troops are to be of, I cannot guess. They +say Russians cannot go on account of the ice in the Baltic; and then +if they could, they say the French and Spaniards would not let them. +We are playing tres gros jeu, and in every way a losing game. + +As for conquering America, without foreign troops, it is entirely +impossible; and I think it pretty near a certainty that the Rebels +will be in possession of all America by the spring. By the news of +Fort St. John's and Chambley, and the investiture of Quebec, their +diligence and activity is wonderful, and it must end in the +possession of all N(orth) Am(erica). They have taken a store-ship, +and have several ships at sea. De peu a peu nous arrivons; if they +go on so another year--fuit Ilium et ingens gloria--we shall make +but a paltry figure in the eye of Europe. Come to town, and be +witness to the fall, or the re-establishment, of our puissant +Empire. . . . + + +Little of Selwyn's correspondence in 1776 and 1777 has been +preserved. Possibly he wrote less, and made a long stay at Castle +Howard. "I have more bon jours and bon soirs for her en poche," +referring to his little child-friend, Caroline Howard, "than I shall +be able to give her during the whole time I shall stay at Castle H." +For the despatch of political news he trusted, as he often did, to +Storer. "I hope that Storer gives you a more particular account of +what is said in the House than I can do. What is he employing +himself about? Why won't he attempt to say something? What +signifies, knowing what Cicero said and how he said it, if a man +cannot open his mouth to deliver one sentence of his own?" But +Storer, like many able and cultivated men, was more critical of his +own powers than those who want both talent and knowledge. He was +not, however, altogether neglectful of Selwyn's wishes, and he +presently sent Carlisle some political news, but of no great +interest. + +Selwyn himself was in somewhat low spirits, he was as we know +troubled by Mie Mie's parents, and he longed for the society of +Carlisle and his family. + + +(1777, Feb.) Tuesday night.--. . . As to my own situation I cannot +say it is a happy (one), although I have so much more than I could +have expected. I have, indeed, for the present all I ever wished, +but I have also the strongest assurances given me that at all events +things shall continue for some time in the state in which they now +are. But whoever upon that concludes that I must be easy is either +ignorant or indifferent to the feelings of mankind. The bare +possibility of be[ing] rendered so unhappy as I should be made upon +a change of their resolution, or from the operations of caprice and +travers, I say the mere apprehensions of that, even slightly +founded, prevent my mind from being in that equilibre which is +absolutely necessary to my tranquillity. We are, I say, at present +going on very well, in as good and regular a progress of education +as it is possible; both Mie Mie and I as tractable as it is +possible; et troubler ce menage seroit une cruaute sans example. + +I have also to grieve at other times for a great deprivation of part +of my happiness; that, I mean, to which you contributed, Lady +C(arlisle) and your children. There is a hiatus valde deflendus; +indeed, a lacune which I do not know how to fill up, and I sigh over +the prospect of it perpetually, and without seeing my way out of it. + +I have, at another part of my day, a scene, which time or use cannot +reconcile to me. I see my mother's strength grow less every day, +without any consolation, but that her mind does not decay with it. +In short, my dear Lord, as I have often told you, j'ai l'esprit et +le coeur trop fracasses for me to be happy at present, and all I can +say is that I might, by untoward accidents, be more miserable, and +these are removed from my view pour le moment; but I wait for a +period of time when I shall be relieved from uncertainty of what may +happen, and when I may live and breathe without restraint and +apprehension. That period will, as I imagine, arrive in about two +months, and till then les assurances les plus fortes sont trop +faibles pour mon repos. + +It is some time since I have had a long letter from you. I hope to +have one of some sort or other to-morrow. I hope all goes quietly, +at least Gregg says that you write cheerfully. On s'accoutume a +tout, they say, but I know and feel very sensibly that there are +exceptions to that adage. + +The author of a new Grub Street poem, I see, allows me a great share +of feeling, at the same time that he relates facts of me, which, if +they were true, would, besides making me ridiculous, call very much +into question what he asserts with any reasonable man. I do not know +if you have received this performance. If I thought you had not, +paltry as it is, I should send it to you. The work I mean is called +"The Diaboliad."(138) This hero is Lord Ernham. Lord Hertford and +Lord Beauchamp are the chief persons whom he loads with his +invectives. Lord Lyttleton (and) his cousin Mr. Ascough are also +treated with not much lenity; Lord Pembroke with great familiarity, +as well as C. Fox; and Fitzpatrick, although painted in colours bad +enough at present, is represented as one whom in time the +Devil will lose for his disciple. I am only attacked upon that trite +and very foolish opinion concerning le pene e le Delitte (ed i +delitted), acknowledging (it) to proceed from an odd and insatiable +curiosity, and not from a mauvais coeur. In some places I think +there is versification, and a few good lines, and the piece seems to +be wrote by one not void of parts, but who, with attention, might +write much better.(139) + +I forgive him his mention of me, because I believe that he does it +without malice, but, if I had leisure to think of such things, I +must own the frequent repetition of the foolish stories would make +me peevish. Alas! I have no time to be peevish. Quand on a le coeur +gros, et serre, comme je l'ai souvent a cette heure, il est rare que +l'on a de l'humeur; l'ame est trop serieusement attaquee et touchee +pour preter attention a de petites choses; chez moi, je suis triste, +je soupire, mais je ne gronde plus, je ne m'emporte pas. + +Richard, I hear, goes in about a fortnight. Fish Craufurd thinks, as +I am told, that Lord O(ssory?) should pay his debts; that is, give +him 40,000 pounds from his own children, pour le delivrer des Juifs. +He pays already to one of them out of his 300 pounds a year, which +he meant to have paid to his brother for a more comfortable +maintenance. + +I dined on Sunday at the French Ambassador's; a splendid and +wretched dinner, but good wine; a quantity of dishes which differed +from one another only in appearance; they had all the same taste, or +equally wanted it. The middle piece, the demeurant, as it is called, +a fine Oriental arcade, which reached from one end of the table to +the other, fell in like a tremblement de terre. The wax, which +cemented the composing parts, melted like Icarus's wings, and down +it fell. Seventy bougies occasioned this, with the number of persons +all adding to the heat of the room. I had a more private and much +better dinner yesterday at Devonshire House. + +(138) "The Diaboliad, a poem dedicated to the Worst Man in His +Majesty's Dominion," London, G. Kearsley, 1777. + +(139) "The Diaboliad" was a social satire: in it the devil was +supposed to have grown old, and being anxious to find a successor +for his throne visits London. He appears to a gambling party:-- + +"With joy and wonder struck the parties rise! + 'Hell is worth trying for' . . . cries; + Pigeons are left unpluck'd, the game unplay'd, + +And F forgets the certain Bett he made; + E'en S-l-n feels Ambition fire his breast + And leaves half told, the fabricated Jest. + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + The murmurs hush'd--the Herald straight proclaim'd + S-l-n the witty next in order nam'd, + But he was gone to hear the dismal yells + Of tortur'd Ghosts and suffering Criminals, + Tho' summoned thrice, he chose not to return, + Charmed to behold the crackling Culprits burn + With George all know Ambition must give place + When there's an Execution in the case." (pp. 3 and 17.) + + + +(1777, Aug.) . . .. I am convinced that I shall be free some time +hence from that agitation of mind with which I am now so tormented, +and from those almost constant sinkings of my spirits; but, my dear +Lord, you may be quite assured that des plaies comme les miennes ne +se referment fas bientot, and when they do they have altered the +whole constitution of the mind to such a degree as never to let it +feel as it did before. But brisons la. + +Mr. D'Oyley tells me that no important news is likely to come from +America before the 20th of this month. Lady Cornwallis told me +yesterday she expected some much sooner. Mr. D'Oyley's picture of +affairs was not a joyous one, but he gave an infinitely better +account of them to me than I have had from anybody else. + +The Opposition affects great spirits, and to be sanguine about a +change of men and of measures. Je n'en crois rien. Charles said last +night if I would give him five guineas he would give me 100 if I +lost my place. He must get one himself to justify my accepting the +proposal. The match of tennis stark naked was not played, which I am +sorry for. Another red Ribbon vacant, Sir C. Montagu. Clinton +anticipated that which Lord Inchiquin had. + +I saw Horry W(alpole) yesterday for a few minutes; his distresses +are, Lord O(rford's) lunacy, and the Duchess of Gloucester's +situation if his R(oyal) H(ighness) dies, who will probably come and +die in his own country. I wish these were mine, and I had no other, +but we cannot choose our own misfortunes; if we could, there is +nobody who would not prefer being concerned for a mad nephew whom +they did not care for, or a simple Princess whom they would laugh +at, si l'orgueil ne s'en meloit pas. + +The great rendezvous of the White's people has been at my Lord +Cadogan's, as that of the Macaroni's at Lord Egremont's. Adieu pour +aujourd'hui; I need not conclude, as this letter does not go till +Tuesday. + +Monday morning.--At Almack's last night: +Duke of Grafton, Lord Egremont, Jack Townsh(en)d, W. Hanger, Lord +March, Varcy, Barker, Hare, 2 Craufurds, Thompson, Lord +North[ingto]n, Foley, Sir W Draper, Sir C. Davers, Self, Boothby. + +There was no news last night, and but little play. Boothby loses +regularly his 300, and, if he had a run in his favour [has] nobody +to furnish him with materials to profit by it. Lady Harriot came +again to fetch her husband in their vis a vis, and I crammed myself +in too. I left Draper and Sir C. Davers travelling through the worst +roads of Canada, Triconderaga (sic), and the Lord knows what +country. But it was so tiresome that I was glad to leave them in the +mud in[to] which their conversation had carried them. + +Lord North (ingto) n is very sour about Lord Cov(entry)'s treatment +of his sister, and talks of going to Crome to expostulate with him +about it. I hope that he will not. It will do the cause no good in +any respect. I am for leaving everything for the present, bad as it +is, where the ill stars of them all have placed them. Cov (entry)'s +mind will take another turn, and [he will] do of his own accord +perhaps more than he ought. + +Mademoiselle D'Eon goes to France in a few days; she is now in her +habit de femme, in black silk and diamonds, which she received from +the Empress of Russia, when she was in the army and at her Court as +minister, A German of her acquaintance has promised Lady Townshend +to contrive that she and I shall have a sight of her before she +goes. She met her grandson coming to town in a chaise and four, +ventre a terre, from Brighthelmstone; he dined with us. Storer's +attachment at present, as he says, is to Lady Payne. O'Brien gets +9,000 pounds a year, and the title, by Lord Inchiquin's death. + +The absence of Lord Carlisle as a Commissioner to America caused a +break in the correspondence. Selwyn was much abroad during his +friend's absence, and the distance between England and America was +prohibitive of letters frequent. Two, however, from Paris in 1779 +give an insight into Selwyn's life abroad. He resumed the +correspondence in 1780. He was not well; he was being pressed to go +to "that abominable town" of Gloucester. He hated electioneering, +but it is from Matson that the next letter, in the midst of the +General Election of 1780, is dated. He lost his seat--perhaps not +without regret--for he returned to the less irksome representation, +if such it could be called, of Ludgershall. + + +(1779,) April 18, Sunday, Paris.--. . . I have managed in regard to +my lodging as I once did in regard to poor Mr. Pottinger, whom I +wanted to avoid and so asked him in my confusion to dine with me, +which you cannot forget that he accepted. I wished above all things +to be lodged as far from a certain Lady(140) as I could, and I have +so contrived it, that for the present I am next door. I intend for +the future to describe her by that name, that is, La Dame, as Lord +Clarendon does the Duchess of Cleveland. I will for the rest of my +life mention her as little as possible; but when I am forced to +speak upon her subject I will take care not to call her by her name, +and I am the more authorised so to do, as she has called me by every +name but that by which I should be described, and that is your +friend. + +The Barone servante is gone to England, as you perhaps know, and +perhaps she is now on his (sic) road back. However I shall be quit I +hope for a distant bow; for although honest Iago had taken as much +care as possible that he should cut my throat, a much better friend +took care that he should not; which is the Marechal B(iron).(141) + +I went yesterday to the Marechal for the first time; he was in his +levee room; it was the day that the officers of the Gardes +francoises always dine with him. We dropt upon him once (again?) the +same day; but this was at noon, and he was giving audience. He took +me out immediately into another room, and after some civil +reproaches for not having been there before--for some English, who +dine with him on a Friday, had told him that I was come--he entered +into a very particular conversation upon that very disagreeable +subject, upon which he spoke with all the reason and good nature and +propriety imaginable. + +I said for you everything which I could conceive it would be +agreeable to you that I should say. I found it very acceptable, and +his respect for you so great, and so much real kindness mixed with +it, that having in my coach a picture of Caroline, which I had +intended for the Duchesse de la Valiere, I desired him to accept of +it, and I think he received it as well as I could for her sake have +wished him to do. I believe he will think that Lady Dunmore's +daughters will not be the only beauties that we shall be able to +produce. He was delighted with it. I gave him also another of +Admiral Keppell,(142) which is an extraordinary good one. Caroline's +was not a good impression, which I am sorry for. I gave my other +where I dined, to Me de la Vaupaliere, to be a pendant to your own, +and you must send me one of Lady C(arlisle), ill as she is +represented, that the collection may be complete. + +What he said besides was inevitable. I am unwilling to repeat it. I +wish that there was not so much truth in it. I wish that it could be +remedied, but that is impossible, for the only step towards it, +which is returning to her family, and to yours, she is determined +not to take; she will return no more to England I believe, if she +can help it, unless [to] be totally abandoned and plundered +everywhere else becomes a necessary inducement. + +I am at Galan's, at the Hotel de Bourbon, next door to where we used +to lodge, what is now called l'Hotel de Danmark. But I must remove, +for one apartment will not do; we must have three; one for Monsieur +le Marquis, another for the child and her people, and one for +myself. So I think I must go for the present to the Pare Royal. +Every kind of house has been offered to me, to induce . . . + +(140) The Countess Dowager of Carlisle, whose proposed marriage to a +foreign baron met with opposition from her family and friends. + +(141) Armand Louis de Gontaut, Duc de Biron (1753-1794). Though he +joined the Revolutionists he perished on the scaffold, + +(142) Admiral Lord Keppel (1725-1786), second son of second Earl of +Albemarle. He was a Whig in politics, and was First Lord of the +Admiralty under the Rockingham Administration in 1782, and was soon +after created a peer. "I ever looked on Lord Keppell," Burke said, +"as one of the greatest and best men of his age." + + +(1779,) Avril 18, Sunday night, Paris.(143)--I wrote to you this +morning, as I hope that you will know. This afternoon I find tous +mes projets pour le present sont suspendus. I am obliged to set out +to-morrow for Lyons. It is so unexpected, that it is by much the +greatest embarras I ever felt, and a monstrous exercise of expense +to me. But Mie Mie will be there to-morrow. Les parens ont change +d'avis, and I must go to Lyons to fetch (her). God knows how much +further I would go to conduct her safely, but I was made to believe +there was no occasion for it. I expected her here on Friday next, or +on this day sevennight. Combien de termps faut-il que je sois le +jouet des caprices des autres? + +Mrs. Webb also is not in a good state of health for travelling so +far or so fast. I have had a letter from Warner; he has seen the +Baron, who was charged, I find, with a commission to you. . . . + +I shall write to you from Lyons; but when I shall hear from you the +Lord knows, and I want to hear how the children do. + +Ma patience et ma perseverance sont inepuisables sur ce qui regarde +Mie Mie. Je me croyois tranquillement etabli ici. J'aurai des +entretiens avec la mere, qui ne sont pas toujours composes avec du +miel. "Helas! Rende mi figlia mia." Voila ou j'en reviens. Adieu. +Ayez un peu de pitie de tous mes embarras, qui ne finissent pas. + +(143) See Chapter 1: "In the spring it was arranged that the +Marchesa Fragniani should bring Mie Mie to Paris . . ." + + +(1780,) Sept. 11, Monday morning, 7 o'clock, Matson.--You will +receive a long letter from me to-day; and this will come to you on +Wednesday; so by these repeated courtesies you will see that I have +no repugnance to writing, although you have, and that I am very well +pleased to go on in my old way of scribbling, as long as I am +convinced that it is agreeable to you. But a line now and then is +comfortable, for, as Lady Macbeth says, "the feast grows cold that +is not often cheered," or something of that sort; so a +correspondence is awkwardly maintained, and is a contradiction in +terms when it is on one side only. + +At present I am afraid that I shall be particularly tiresome, +because, much against my will, they have filled my head with +Election matters, and will not allow me a moment's time for anything +else. I have no comfort, but that it will be concluded on Thursday, +or Friday, but till then, what I shall suffer from folly and +impertinence, and from everything that is disagreeable, cannot be +described. + +There is a party here called the True Blues, who lead Sir A. H. and +I (me) about, as if they had purchased us, to show in a fair. They +cost me, some years ago, twice two thousand pounds, by opposing me, +and now are doing all they can to make me pay four for befriending +me; and these people have given Administration such an idea of their +own omnipotence that I should have never been forgiven, if I had not +yielded to this importunity. I am assured that it will succeed, and +that both Sir A. and myself shall be returned, but my credulity does +not extend to that point. It is very probable, indeed, that by this +effort I may retain my own seat, which I did not care for, but to +attempt the other does as yet appear to me a great piece of +extravagance, considering the party which we have to contend with, +who have had their secrets well kept, and been very industrious for +two years in bringing about this opposition, whereas this scheme of +the Tories has not been taken up with any support, but a fortnight +ago. + +My best and ablest friends here are dead; their survivors supine and +superannuated; their connections new Whigs and Reformers, and +Associators; myself grown quite indifferent upon the point; and the +principal Tories, such as the Duke of Beaufort, &c., and those who +would have been active, if they had been desired to be so half a +year ago, never spoke to. Mr. Robinson,(144) in his letters to me, +has always spoke in the plural number, our friend and I; so it is a +scheme adopted by both, I am to suppose, and a hazardous one it is. +But one Member they will have, I believe, and I wish they had fixed +upon any one but me to be their choice. + +Sir Andr. goes upon the surest grounds, because I believe that he +will be franked to a certain point, and is sure of a seat in another +place, if not here. He is really a very agreeable man, and seems to +penetrate into the characters of the people he has seen very well. +He entertained me much yesterday with his account of my old friend +the Duke of Newcastle. He speaks of you in terms of the highest +esteem. + +We stole away the day before yesterday from our keepers, to dine +here, which was a great relief, but we were jobed (sic) for it at +our return. I get here time enough to go to bed, that is about 11 +o'clock, and I do not leave this place till about nine, that is till +Mie Mie and I have breakfasted together. + +We have a committee sitting at what is called the New(?) Inn, which +has been built, and never repaired, three hundred years since; and +here this swarm of old Jacobites, with no attachment to Government, +assembles, and for half an hour you would be diverted with their +different sentiments and proposals. There is one who has a knack at +squibbs, as they call it, and he has a table and chair with a pen +and ink before him, to write scurrilous papers, and these are sent +directly to Mr. Raikes. I wish to God that it was all at an end. + +What sin, to me unknown, + Dipped me in this? My father's, or my own? + +I am very glad that you have so quietly abandoned a contention for +Carlisle. When these things come to us without trouble it is very +well; but when they do not, I do not know one earthly thing that +makes us amends, and it is not once in a hundred times that you are +thanked for it. ... + +I am old indeed, as the papers say, and if not trained up in +ministerial corruption, I am used to all other corruption whatever, +and of that of manners in particular; and the little attention that +is paid to what was in my earliest days called common honesty, is +now the most uncommon thing in the world. . . . + +Let me have the pleasure of hearing that you are going on well in +Ireland,(145) for the loss of that I should have in being there with +you, which is impossible. Keep yourself, as you can very well do, +within your intrenchments, that no one may toss your hat over the +walls of the Castle. I dread to think what a wrongheaded people you +are to transact business with for the next three years of your life. +But I am less afraid of you from your character, than of another, +because I think that you will admit, at setting out, of no degree of +familiarity from those you are not well acquainted with. I hope that +Eden goes with you. I have a great opinion of his good sense and +scavoir faire. + +(144) John Robinson (1727-1802), the son of an Appleby tradesman. He +grew wealthy by marriage and inheritance, and locally influential. +He became member for Westmoreland in 1764. In 1770 he was appointed +Secretary to the Treasury, which office he retained till Lord +North's fall in 1782. He was the business manager of the Ministry, +and had in his hands the distribution of the party funds and +patronage. He was an honest, able, and cool man of affairs, who +regarded politics wholly from a business point of view. + +(145) Lord Carlisle had this year been appointed Lord-Lieutenant of +Ireland. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 4. 1781 THE DISASTERS IN AMERICA + +A drum at Selwyn's--George, Lord Morpeth--Dr. Warner--Sale of the +Houghton pictures--The House of Commons--Pitt's first speech--Selwyn +unwell--Play at Brooks's--London gaieties--Fox and his new clothes +--Gambling--The bailiffs in Fox's house--"Fish" Crawford--Montem at +Eton--Mie Mie's education--Second speech of Pitt--Lord North--A +Court Ball--Society and politics--The Emperor of Austria +--Conversation with Fox--Personal feelings--American affairs--Lord +North and Mr. Robinson--State of politics--London Society. + +The year 1781 will remain memorable as that in which the connection of +England with her American Colonies was finally broken. The surrender of +Cornwallis at Yorktown on October 19th impressed the Government with +the futility of a contest which the country had already realised, and +which would have at once caused a change of administration if the House +of Commons had been truly representative of the opinion of the country; +"a sense of past error," wrote the Duke of Grafton in his +autobiography, "and a conviction that the American war might terminate +in further destruction to our armies, began from this time rapidly to +insinuate itself into the minds of men. Their discourse was quite +changed, though the majorities in Parliament were still ready to +support the American war, while all the world was representing it to be +the height of madness and folly."(146) But though the country was +oppressed by taxation, and disgusted at the want of success of its +armies, society in St. James's Street took the national disasters with +perfect composure. It troubled itself more about the nightly losses of +money at the card-tables of Brooks's than of soldiers on the Delaware. +It lived in the same kind of fatalism as the House of Commons and the +King, who, with characteristic obstinacy, refused to bow to the force +of events, and kept in office, but not in power, a minister who did not +believe in the policy which he was compelled to support in Parliament. +From contemporaries the cardinal events of history are obscured by the +course of their ordinary social or political life. To us, who can see +them so large and momentous, it appears strange that they do not fill a +greater place in the public mind of the period. Selwyn constantly +hearing of the course of the vital conflict between England and her +Colonies, fills his correspondence with details of the day, mingling +remarks on facts which have become historical with the latest story of +the clubs. + + +1781, Feb. 1, Thursday morning, Cleveland Court.--. . . I saw Lord +Gower yesterday morning; he is grown very corpulent, and his face +fuller of humour than I ever saw it. While this humour keeps out he +will be well, but when it returns I am afraid the consequences will +be fatal to him. . . . + +We dined at March's yesterday. Boothby, James, Williams, Offley, Lord +W. Gordon, Dr. Warner,(147) and myself. The place of rendezvous for the +morning is I believe, the Park, and it is a reconnoitring party too. +Where the Prince sups, and lies, and with whom, are the chief objects +of the politics of a certain class of people. All agree that at present +the agreement between him and the King is perfect. The speculation is +only how long it is likely to last. His Royal Highness stoops as yet to +very low game. In some respects it may be better. You will have heard +of Captain Waldgrave's success with the two Dutch ships, and the French +merchantman, if I am right. + +To-day is to be one of violent attack upon Lord Sandwich and Palliser. +Charles makes the motion. We shall have a great deal of abuse, and +reply and declamation from Bourk(148) (Burke), and vociferation from +Lord Mahon, and perhaps a long day; and I must go down early, because I +was yesterday when the House was called a defaulter; so I shall dine +there, and after dinner I will collect upon paper what I hear of the +transactions of the day. + +I read yesterday in the P(ublic) Advertiser an account of your box at +the play. I am not knowing enough in what is called humour, to be sure, +if that was such, and pure invention, or not. I hear that you did not +produce yourself enough, but retired too much within the box, which did +not please the Irish, who do not so well comprehend what it is to be +out of countenance. I wish to know if Lady C(arlisle) will find for +Caroline masters to her satisfaction, and a country house. I have not +seen as yet Lord Fitzwilliam, or had any answer about the pictures. +Eden they tell me calls too soon for coffee. But upon the whole, the +reports concerning you, and your Court, and your ministers, &c. is +[are] good. I do not expect this business in which you are engaged to +be quite couleur de rose. I hope you will preserve your health, and the +peace of your mind, your temper, and your fortune. I am in no pain +about anything else. + +Lord W(---) had yesterday an air more egare than usual; he is enlaidi, +et mal vetu, et enfin il avait plus l'air de pendard que son frere. +Vous pouvez bien vous imaginer que nous n'avons pas parle de corde, pas +meme celle du mariage. The Marechal de Rich(e)lieu was told that the +mob intended to have hung me, but que je m'en suis tire comme un loial +chevalier. This was their notion in Paris of the mob which insulted me +at Gloucester. + +(146) Page 314. + +(147) Dr. John Warner (1736-1800) was the son of a clergyman and +educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He took orders, but had a +literary and social, rather than theological, bent. He was a +confidential friend of Selwyn's, and after his death wrote a defence of +him in regard to witnessing executions. + +(148) Edmund Burke (1729-1797). The only political office that the +great publicist ever held was that of Paymaster of the Forces for a few +months under Lord Rockingham and the Coalition Government. + + +(1781,) Feb. 11, Sunday morning, Cleveland Court.--I received your +letter of the 5th, yesterday, in the afternoon, and another of the same +date from Dr. Ekins, at the same time the day before: why they did not +come together, I know not. But so it has happened, I believe more than +once before, since my connections with Ireland, which I wish to God +were at an end. There is one indeed which will plague me, while I live, +and that is an annuity upon Mr. Gore's estate, which I must sue for as +regularly as it becomes due. + +I was prevented from writing to you yesterday by I do not know how much +disagreeable occupation. I had a Drum, and that began early; I was to +prepare for it, I was to be served in ambigu, and it was to be the +easiest, most agreeable, best understood thing in the world. It was to +my apprehension the very antipode of this. I do not know how my company +felt, but I was not at my ease a moment. I had a Commerce table, and +one of Whist. My company were Middletons,(149) Bostons,(150) +Townshends, and Selwyns. + +March came to the door at eleven, but hearing that supper was served, +and almost over, and perhaps hearing of the company too, he went away; +they were all good kind of people, and who I dare say had conversation +enough in their own families, but although we were all related, we had +not one word to say to one another. There was Mr. Methuen, Lady +Boston's father, who seems to be a shrewd entertaining man, if he was +where he found himself at home. The cook, the housekeeper, and Maitre +Jacques all exerted themselves, and did their parts tolerably well, but +rien n'a pu me mettre a mon aise, and the more I tried to be at home, +the more I was desoriente; so I believe I shall try some other kind of +party for the future; otherwise I may say que le jeu ne vaut pas la +chandelle. But now for your letter. + +George's subject is not the first in course, but it has taken the first +place in my thoughts. I do assure you that I am not his puff. What I +tell you of his reading is literally true; but it is not reading that +expresses it, for I could have said as much if he had read nothing but +the History of Cinder Breech and that kind of biography. He read with +me English History, and stopped for information, and showed an uncommon +thirst for it. He asked me as many questions in the History of George +1st concerning the South Sea Scheme, the prosecution of Lord +Macclesfield, and the Barrier Treaty, as another boy would have asked +me about Robinson Crusoe. He likes other books too, and it is agreeable +to hear him talk of them. For which reason I should be glad, if you +approved of it, that he had a choice of books, to a certain amount +--a little library--as many as would fill a small bookcase. Mr. Raikes +tells me that he is remarkably careful of his books, and therefore +was not displeased that those which you gave him I had well bound, +and that it was a fair edition. An early love of books will produce +a desire to read, which amusements may suppress for a time, but is a +constant resource against ennui. I have been years without looking +in a book, and God knows in my long life how few I have read; but +when it has happened that I could, par force, do nothing else, I +have collected together a number, began a piece of history, and have +thought at last the day too short, because I wanted to read more; +and this I attribute to having once read, although it was but a +very little. Rollin was the first author I read by choice. . . . + +I am in hopes that your kindness to Storer will take place; il en est +digne, soyez en assure, sur ma parole. I never doubted, I was quite +persuaded indeed, that you would do what you have done, and properly +too. I have been told that he is to have this place, but I have not +seen him much lately. I hope that he will dine here to-morrow, or on +Tuesday, when all the Gregg family comes, and it may be, Dr. Warner. +Your letter to Hare was sent to him by the post of the day that I +received it, and you will have had information of it, I doubt not, by +this time. He was not that day in town. You desired it to be sent, +without loss of time. I therefore lost none. But unluckily he was on +the road, although nobody knew it; he must have received it a few days +after, so I suppose by this time he has acknowledged to you the receipt +of it. I shall send your letter to Dr. Warner to-day, and invite him to +meet Mr. Gregg's family at dinner here on Tuesday. . . .I believe him +to be a perfectly honest man; he is uncommonly humane and friendly, and +most actively so. But he has such a flow of spirits, and so much the +ton de ce monde qu'il a frequente, that, had I been to have chose a +profession for him, it should not have been that of the Church. There +is more buckram in that, professionally, than he can digest, or submit +to. The Archbishop, who has been applied to in his favour, by the late +Mr. Townshend, said he was too lively, but it was the worst he could +say of him. Lord Besborough served him once essentially, and esteems +him. The family of Mr. Hoare, the banker, has assisted him, and so he +has been able to support his mother and his nearest relations, whom his +father, with a great deal of literary merit, had left beggars. I have +given you this succinct history of my doctor, whom you have enlisted +into your corps. I was once before obliged to write his character for +Lord Ossory, when he settled himself in Bedfordshire, and Lord Ossory +has found it true in all particulars. + +The K(ing) has told my friend M. that Lord Cadogan(151) wants to sell +his house at Caversham, for why, I know not. Lord Walpole's eldest son +is to marry Lady Cadogan's sister. Churchill, du cote du falbala, ne +reussit pas mal; his sons, I am afraid, one of them at least, has +(have) not managed so well. But I would myself sooner have been married +to (a) Buckhorse, than to that (A)Esop Lord C. The Zarina repents of +her bargain, and, it is said, will give no more than 20,000 for the +pictures.(152) If that is not accepted, Lord Orford make (may) take +them back. He gets an estate of near 10,000 pounds a year by his +mother's death. Her will is all wrote in her own hand, and not one +word, even her own name, rightly spelt. + +(149) George, fourth Viscount Middleton (1754-1836); son of George, +third viscount, and Albinia, daughter of the Hon. Thomas Townshend. He +married first, in 1778, Lady Frances Pelham, daughter of Thomas, first +Earl of Chichester, who died in 1783. + +(150) Frederick, second Baron Boston (1749-1825), son of Sir William, +first Baron Boston and Albinia, daughter of Henry Selwyn. He +married, in 1775, Christiana, only daughter of'Paul Methuen. + +(151) Charles Sloane, third Baron and first Earl Cadogan (1728-1807). +The house at Caversham Park was destroyed by fire in 1850 and re-built. + +(152) The gallery of pictures at Houghton, collected by Sir Robert +Walpole, was, with some reservations, sold by the third Lord Orford, to +the Empress Catharine of Russia in 1779. "Private news we have none, +but what I have long been bidden to expect the completion of the sale +of the pictures at Houghton to the Czarina" (Letters of Walpole, vol. +vii. p. 234.) The date of the sale and of Selwyn's gossiping allusion +are not reconcilable. + + +Few events in the annals of the House of Commons are more remarkable +than the sudden rise of Pitt. His maiden speech--in support of +Burke's Bill for economical reform--placed him at once in the first +rank of parliamentary orators. "I was able to execute in some +measure what I intended," was Pitt's own modest account of this +speech in a letter to his mother. The opinion of the House of +Commons and the town was wholly different: his speech was regarded +as masterly--astonishing in one so young and new to Parliament. +Selwyn had not heard it, but in the following letter he tells +Carlisle of the general impression it had made; and on June 13th he +gives his own critical opinion of Pitt's third speech. The detailed +description by Storer, who supplemented Selwyn's letters of the +debate of February 26th, adds to our knowledge of this memorable +debate. + + +(1781,) Feb. 27, Tuesday.--I have received no comfort or pleasure for +some days, but what I had last night by a letter from Mrs. Sowerby to +Lady Gower, and which Lady Gower was so good as to send to me. + +I find by that that the children at Trentham are well, and that +Charlotte is so altered for the better as to be reconnoissable. But of +you and of Caroline, Lady C., Louise, I know nothing. The weather has +been so wet that I have not proposed to Storer his visit to George, of +which I shall profit. For my own pleasure, I long to see him. + +We were in the House of Commons last night till half [an] hour past +twelve. The majority of our side against the second reading of Burke's +Bill,(153) and in fact, by a following question of rejecting it, was of +43, if I mistook not. I was not in the House to hear anybody speak a +syllable, nor do I ever wish it. I believe there is no actor upon the +stage of either theatre who, repeating what the author has wrote, does +not, at the same time, recite his own private sentiments oftener, than +our pantomimes in Parliament. + +The chief subject of C. Fox's harangue yesterday was an eloge upon +economy, and Jack Townshend,(154) who spoke for the second time, +rehearsed these maxims of his preceptor. Jack did better than the time +before, but was so eclipsed by Mr. W. Pitt, that it appeared to +impartial people but an indifferent performance. This young man, Mr. +Pitt, gained an universal applause.(155) I heard Lord N(orth) say it +was the best first speech of a young man that he had ever heard. It was +a very crowded House, but there were there neither Mr. Dunning, Mr. +Barry, or General Burgoyne. This was matter of speculation. + +The P(rince) of W(ales) is said to have a kind of carbuncle. Mr. Delme +told me that Lady B(etty) had heard from her mother, and that she +talked of being here in April. Indeed I see no feasibility in any other +scheme, although many would to her passions appear more eligible. + +Lord Althorp(156) is to be married before the 10th of March--that is +all that Lady Lucan would tell me. I hear of no more news. The Emperor +is expected or it is hoped will assist us, at least with his mediation. +There is all my foreign politics. The regaining America or having any +kind of peace from that quarter is with me a perte de vue. I wish the +spring was a little advanced that I might walk out, for nothing but +George can make me stir out of my room, except in fine weather, and I +have a hundred places to call at. I do not tease you, or ever will, +about writing, but pray get some one person in your allegiance to write +to me for you. I want neither anecdotes, or sentiments, or politics, +but I want to know frequently how you all do. The Attorney General told +me last night that there was no expecting an account of you but from +me; j'eus honte de le detromper. I am supposed to have letters +constantly from my Lord Lieutenant, and I give myself so much air at +least as not to deny it. + +(153) For the better regulation of Civil Establishments, and of certain +public offices, and for the limitation of pensions, and the suppression +of certain useless, expensive, and inconvenient places. + +(154) John Townshend (1757-1833); second son of the fourth Viscount and +first Marquis of Townshend. He was returned for the University of +Cambridge in 1780, and lost his seat in 1784 when Pitt was elected. + +(155) See Storer's letterbelow: "Anthony Storer to Lord Carlisle," +(1781), Feb. 28. + +(156) George John, afterwards second Earl Spencer, K.G. (1758-1834); +married March 6, 1781, Lavinia, daughter of the first Earl of Lucan. + + +Anthony Storer to Lord Carlisle. + +(1781), Feb. 28.--I have not wrote to you so often as perhaps I ought +to do, and as I really wish, because in regard to everything that +passes on this side the water at present, the newspaper is a very +authentic chronicle. The debates in Parliament are not frequent, and +when they do happen Mr. Woodfall reports them very much at large, and +almost always faithfully. In regard to the chronique scandaleuse, there +is no occasion for any report, as the Session seems a maiden one. +These two heads, which Selwyn does not in general interfere with, +I should have thought fell under my department, and I should certainly +[have] told you all I knew but for the reasons which I have given. I +take it for granted Selwyn writes to you principally about Lord +Morpeth, as I perceive he is in general uppermost in his thoughts, and +the subject on which he converses le plus volontiers avec moi. Le seul +bien qui nous rests, &c. + +We had a debate on Monday, when Mr. Pitt for the first time made such a +speech, that it excited the admiration very justly of every man in the +House. Except he had foreseen the particular species of nonsense which +Lord Nugent was to utter, his speech could not be prepared; it was +delivered without any kind of improper assurance, but with the exact +proper self-possession which ought to accompany a speaker. There was +not a word or a look which one would have wished to correct. This, I +believe, in general was the universal sense of all those who heard him, +and exactly the effect which his speech had on me, at the time I heard +it. + +Mr. Sheridan did very well; he said a very (few) words in answer to Mr. +Courtenay, each word being exactly placed where it ought to be--quasi +tesserata emblemate--as if he had studied them a week beforehand, and +had read them instead of speaking them. His harvest at the Opera House +is likely to be very successful, for his Saturdays and Tuesdays are so +full, that he is going even to attempt the Thursdays. Vestris' Ballet +people think too long. "It is impossible that an English audience +should be satisfied. They don't know when they have got a good +spectacle, and think that finding fault is the only way to pass for +judges." Such are the words of his Honour, the prophet Brudenell. John +St. John says that the Baccelli is thrown away in the part of Nannette; +au lieu d'etre danseuse, elle n'est que la Columbine. This he takes +from the Baccelli, and the Duke of Dorset. John acts a strange +underpart at the theatre. Mademoiselle Baccelli's runner is not so +honourable an employment as being Lord North's. + +Selwyn lost within this week a large sum of money. He was so larmoyant +the other morning, that I did not dare to ask him any questions about +it. Delme has sold all his hunters, and sold them at very extraordinary +prices; his hounds too sold excessively well; it was fortunate at all +events to part with them, but the people who bought them, according to +all accounts, were as mad as he had been in keeping them. . . . + +In Monday night's debate neither Dunning (n)or Barry was in the House; +that looks very like a measure; it is impossible that should be mere +accident. Opposition were without several of their plumpers that +evening, either from their being ill or their being out of town. Lord +Robert and Lord Edward for instance were ill; Ned Foley and his +brother-in-law, out of town; Lord Howe and Doily not in the House, with +more that do not occur to me. Burke acted with his usual bad judgment +in not letting Sir Fletcher Norton speak before him, but rather +pressing his privilege of bringing in the Bill, to speak before him; +consequently Sir Fletcher did not speak at all. It was a debate of +young members entirely. Neither Charles Fox or Lord N(orth) spoke. +There is a Select Committee upon East India affairs sitting, at which +there is a great deal of curious evidence given relating to the +manners, customs, and religion of the Gentoos. I was there one morning, +and was very much entertained with the accounts of the witnesses. A +Brammin, who is now in England, was examined on Monday. Voici, milord, +assez de details. + + +(1781,) March 24, Saturday.--. . . Mr. Potts has just left me. I +have been freer from pain these last 29 (or 24?) hours. I am now to +bathe three times a week, take opiate going to bed for some nights, +and begin a course of bark. I take nothing after my coffee, besides, +except Orgeat. I have quite relinquished nasty Brooks's, as Lady +C(arlisle) calls it. I am with the sexagenary of White's, et de +cette maniere je passe le temps assez tranquillement. + +12 o'clock.--Here comes a letter from George for Lady C[arlisle], +brought to me by a gardener of Mr. Raikes, under his cover. Lord +Deerhurst has sent a formal proposal of marriage by Lord Ligonier to +Lady something Powis--Lord Powis's sister, who, to save appearance +of repulse, has returned for answer that she will take three or four +days to consider of it. This I have from Williams. He and his father +have constant altercations upon this subject. Lord Cov(entry) does +not object to the plan of marriage, but says it is not practicable, +on account of circumstances. I shall hear nothing of the matter from +the parties themselves. Ce n'est pas mon affaire, et je ne m'en +melerai pas, aux signes de perdre les bonne graces de ce belle-mere. +Lady M'Cartney has wrote to me to hire my house; but one thing I am +resolved upon is, not to let it to an acquaintance. I shall keep it +in its present state till these things at Avignon are determined +upon. + +I dine to-day at the Bishop of Salisbury's, and to-morrow at Lord +Lisbourne's. I was to have gone for a day with Lady Fitzw[illiam] to +Roehampton, if these damned spasmodic complaints ne m'etoient pas +survenus. However, Potts assures me that I shall be well again, but +that I must take more care of myself. Je le crois. I have a great +mind, as you may imagine, to see you again, and Lady C(arlisle) and +Caroline, and all of you, and I have d'autres raisons qui +m'attachent au monde, et je n'en suis pas degoute parce qu'il est +comme il a toujours ete et comme il sera a toute eternite. I am very +angry with Emily, that he will not write to me; is he afraid that +his style is not good, or of what? . . . The play at Brooks's is +exorbitant, I hear; Grady and Sir Godfrey Whistler and the General +and Admiral are at the head of it. Charles looks wretchedly, I am +told, but I have scarce seen him. Richard is in high cash, and that +is all I know of that infernal house. Adieu; my respects to Lady +Carlisle, and my most hearty love to the children. My best +compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Eden, and to Crowle, and pray rub Mr. +Dean Emily's ears till he writes to me. + + +It is not desirable that those who present a correspondence for +perusal should play too much the part of a showman. Letters speak +for themselves. Yet that which Selwyn wrote on April 14th may well +be pointed to as giving, in a few lines, a reflection in miniature +of the events grave and gay which were then interesting London +society. We see it vividly, how people were admiring Lady Crawford's +new chair, remarking parenthetically of bad news from across the +Atlantic. But society was less frivolous perhaps than it seemed; the +distance from America, the length of time which elapsed between the +happening of an event and the news of it in England, the meagreness +of the intelligence when at length it arrived, prevented the public +imagination from being aroused, and so public interest and opinion +lay inert. + + +(1781,) April 24, Tuesday noon, 1 o'clock.--. . . . . . + P.S. Tuesday afternoon, 3 o'clock.--. . . Vary has just dropped in +upon me, and says that news is come from Arthburnot (sic), that +there has been a skirmish with the Fr(ench) Adm[iral], and it was a +kind of drawn battle; that General Phillips has joined Arnold with +2,000 men. He came to ask after George; il ne scait pas encore, a +quel point le monde s'interesse pour lui. My best and most +affectionate respects to Lady Carlisle, and my love to Caroline, and +to her sisters, not forgetting Louisa, chi gia non sovra di me. + +Two balls! very fine, Caroline. Mie Mie will have seen but one, and +that is Mr. Wills's annual ball. But we are very well feathered for +that, a la Uestris. I had not the ordering so much ornament, and +when it is over, and we have had our diversion, I shall read a +lecture upon heads, which I wish not to be filled with so many +thoughts about dress. But she coaxed Mrs. Webb into all this a mon +inscu, and then I cannot be Mr. Killjoy; so pour le moment I seem to +approve of it. + +We have been at one opera, and| instead of other spectacles, I +propose to go for the first part of the evening to Ranelagh, quand +la presse n'y sera pas. Lady Craufurd's new chair is, as Sir C. +Williams said of Dicky's, the charming'st thing in town, et les deux +laquais qui la precedent attirent les yeux de tous les envieux et +envieuses. + +Sir Alexander comes and dines here with March, and is as easy as +ever was Sir Jos. Vanheck, and lives with his friends now upon the +same foot as before this acquisition of honour. I am told that you +have a receipt as Lord Lieutenant to make knights yourself. But I +suppose if you intend me such an honour I must come and fetch it. I +suppose you do everything that is Royal except touching for the +Evil, which would be the most useful fleuron of the Crown if it was +effectual. + +Storer was out of spirits yesterday at dinner, and I found out +afterwards that he had been losing, like a simple boy, his money at +Charles's and Richard's damned Pharo bank, which swallows up +everybody's cash that comes to Brooks's, as I am told. I suppose +that the bank is supported, if such a thing wanted support, by +Brooks himself and your friend Jack Manners. It is a creditable way +of living, I must own; and it would be well if by robbing some you +might pay others, only that ce qui est acquis et (est?) jette par la +fenetre, et si l'on paye, ou ne s'acquitte pas. + + +(1781,) May 16, Wednesday night.--I was engaged to dine to-day at +Lady Ossory's,(157) but I called in at Lady Lucan's, and they +obliged me to send an excuse, and so I dined there, and dine at Lady +Ossory's on Saturday. I found myself with a party of Irish, Dean +Marly, and Lady Clermont, and with her Mrs. Jones, whom I was +ravished to see, for she had given a ball where Caroline was, and +commended her dancing, and I tormented the poor woman with such a +number of questions about her, that I believe she thought me +distracted. It is hard upon me to be so circumstanced that I cannot +see what would give me so much pleasure, but on ne peut pas menager +le choux et la chevre. If it pleases God that I should live, I shall +have that, and for a time a great deal more, for I think that I must +be quite wore out with infirmities, and blindness must be one, if +seeing Caroline appear to advantage will not give me pleasure. . . . + +I saw Charles to-day in a new hat, frock, waistcoat, shirt, and +stockings; he was as clean and smug as a gentleman, and upon +perceiving my surprise, he told me that it was from the Pharo Bank. +He then talked of the thousands it had lost, which I told him only +proved its substance, and the advantage of the trade. He smiled, and +seemed perfectly satisfied with that which he had taken up; he was +in such a sort of humour that I should have liked to have dined with +him. His old clothes, I suppose, have been burned like the paupers +at Salt Hill. + +(157) Anne, only child of Lord Ravensworth. In 1769 she was divorced +from the Duke of Grafton and shortly afterward married the Earl of +Upper Ossory. She was a correspondent of Selwyn, and of Walpole, who +called her "my duchess." She was "gifted with high endowments of +mind and person, high spirited, and noble in her ways of thinking, +and generous in her disposition." + + +(1781,) May 21, Monday morning.--. . . . Yesterday about the middle +of the day, passing by Brooks's, I saw a Hackney coach, which +announced a late sitting. I had the curiosity to enquire how things +were, and found Richard in his Pharo pulpit, where he had been, +alternately with Charles, since the evening before, and dealing to +Adm. Pigott only. I saw a card on the table--"Received from +Messieurs Fox & Co. 1,500 guineas." The bank ceased in a few minutes +after I was in the room; it was a little after 12 at noon, and it +had won 3,400 or 500 g(uineas). Pigott, I believe, was the chief +loser. + +At Devonshire House there had been a bank held by Sir W. Aston and +Grady, and that won 700. Martindale cannot get paid, because, as +Charles says, he is not allowed to take money from the bank; he +means for the payment of debts, but yet I hear some are paid, such +as O'Kelly and other blacklegs. But there are at this time two +executions in his house, and Richard's horses were taken the other +day from his coach, as Lady Ossory tells me. + +Charles says that he is accable de demandes, comme de dettes, et +avec la reputation d'avoir de l'argent, il ne sait ou donner de la +tete. A vous dire la verite, si j'avais une tete comme la sienne, ou +je me la ferois couper, ou j'en tirerois bien meilleur parti que ne +fait notre ami; son charactere, son genie, et sa conduite sont +egalement extraordinaires et m'est (me sont) incomprehensibles. + +Lord G. Cavendish is to be married to Lady Eliz. Compton, it being +agreed that the Cavendish family must be continued from his loins. +Me. La Duchesse fait des paroles, mais non pas des enfans. I hear +that she has won immensely, et avec beaucoup d'exactitude, ce qui +n'est pas fort ordinaire aux dames. + +Harry St. John has been here to ask me to hold a bank to-night at +his wife's, and I had an invitation from Mrs. Crewe(158) also this +morning to come to her, and I suppose for the same purpose. Je +rename a tout cela; les inconveniens en sont innombrables; all my +play at present is confined to a rubber at whist, and a little Pharo +with Ailsford, and perhaps two or three more. Le grand evenement +c'est la perte or la gain de 50 or 80 guineas. + +4 o'clock.--Come home to dinner. No letters as yet come from Ireland. +Lord Egremont tells me that Digby is sent after La Motte +Piquet.(159) I went to Miss Gunning's to carry her a parcel of +francs, but I did not find her at home. I expect to see Mitchel back +in a few days; the wind, as I am told, is favourable for his return. + +The post has brought me letters from Holyhead, but no other, so what +kind of passage my dear little boy has had over the sea I am still +to know. But he was, I doubt not, safe with you on Friday, and will +I hope in God remain so. I met Sir N. Thomas to-day, with whom I had +some conversation about him. I do not perceive that he has a very +favourable opinion of the Irish climate, for those whose lungs are +not very strong. I hope to hear that Louisa is better. My love to +them all most cordially, and to Lady Carlisle with my best respects +at the same time. What a cursed affair to me is this Lieutenancy of +Ireland, and a damned sea between us! Lord Buckingham shewed me last +night an infernal ugly gold box which he had received from the town +of Cork, and such another I understood that you would have. Adieu; I +have heard no news to-day. + +Our club at White's commence a tomber; la grande presse n'y (est?) +pas; c'est un asyle toujours pour les caducs, et pour ceux qui n'ont +pas une passion decidee pour le jeu. + +(158) The fashionable beauty, "whose mind kept the promise was made +by her face," as Fox sang; the woman whom he said he preferred to +any living. She was the daughter of Sir Everard Falkener, and was +married to Mr. Crewe in the same year (1764) as her sister who +became the celebrated Mrs. Bouverie. + +(159) Commander of the French fleet. + + +(1781, May 29.)--You must know that for these two days past, all +passengers in St. James' Street have been amused with seeing two +carts at Charles's door filling, by the Jews, with his goods, +clothes, books, and pictures. He was waked by Basilico yesterday, +and Hare afterwards by his valet de chambre, they bein(g) told at +the same time that the execution was begun, and the carts were drawn +up against the door. Such furniture I never saw. + +Betty and Jack Manners are perpetually in a survey of this +operation, and Charles, with all Brooks's on his behalf, in the +highest spirits. And while this execution is going on in one part of +the street, Charles, Richard, and Hare are alternatively holding a +bank of 3,000 pounds ostensible, and by which they must have got +among them near 2,000. Lord Robert since his bankruptcy, and in +consideration of his party principles, is admitted, as I am told, to +some small share in this. + +What public business is going on I know not, for all the discourse +at which I am present turns upon this bank. Offly sat up last night +till four, and I believe has lost a good part of his last legacy. +Lord Spencer did not sit up, but was there punting at 4. Now the +windows are open at break of day, et le masque leve, rien ne +surprend qu'a qui tout soit nouveau, et ne ressemble a rien que l'on +ait jamais vu depuis le commencement du monde. There is to-night a +great ball at Gloucester House; it is the Restoration Day, and the +birthday also of Princess Sophia. Lady Craufurd is now dressing for +it, with more roses, blood, and furbelow than were ever yet +enlisted(?). My love and thanks to my dear boy for his letter, which +I will answer. + + +(1781,) May 31, Thursday.--If I did not send you tous les petits +details de ma vie, as insignificant as it is, our correspondence +must soon cease, which is one of the greatest pleasures to me, or +rather comforts, in your absence. I trust to others the information +of things of more consequence. I have, then, if this is not +disagreeable to you, a perpetual source of intelligence, for +although je ne fais rien qui vaille, I am always doing or hearing +something, as much as those who are employed about more important +matters, and if among these a circumstance happens to interest or +amuse you, je ne serai pas fache de vous l'avoir mandee. + +The diversion of seeing Charles's dirty furniture in the street, and +the speculations which this execution has caused, avec tous les +propos, et toutes les plaisanteries qui en resultant--all that is +now over, and he is established either at his Pharo table, or at his +apothecary's, Mr. Mann, who, as a recompense for the legacy which +was left by his father and not yet paid, has Charles for a lodger. +Jack Manners does not scruple to say that he knows for a certainty +that this bank has won to the amount of 40,000 pounds, but then Jack +does not scruple to lie when he chooses so to do. I cannot conceive +above half the sum to have been won; but then, most of it has been +paid. + +Trusty's advancement to a share in this bank, and his new occupation +of dealing, was what I had a great curiosity to see; and although he +is, as you know, fort chiche de ses paroles, he is obliged for the +time that he is upon duty to say "The King loses," and "The Knave +wins," and this for some'hours, while Charles and Richard are in +bed. Hare is also indefatigable, but what his share is, or what have +been his profits, I know not. Never was a room so crowded or so hot +as this was last night. I could not stay, or chose so to do. The +punters were Lord Ossory, Lord C. Spencer, Admiral Pigott, General +Smith, Lord Monson, Sir J. Ramsden, &c., &c. + +To-day I dine at Lord Ossory's with Lord Robert and Harry Conway, +qui m'avoient demande a diner, but it was by Ossory's desire to his +house. I mentioned to Lord Ossory the offer which the Duchess of +Bedford had made me of Streatham, and I was much blamed for refusing +it. If the offer is made again I shall accept it, and it will serve +me for a villa till I have hired another. + +The Fish came a few evenings ago to dine at Brooks's after the House +of Commons was up, but hearing by accident that Lord North dined at +White's he went thither, and ordered some champagne and burgundy +from his own house for his Lordship's use. He got a dinner by this +means the next day at Rigby's with Lord Mansfield and the +Chancellor, and then he came to Ossory, and gave himself a thousand +airs upon this invitation. I have told you perhaps that a nephew of +Lord Chedworth's, the heir of his title and estate, got into the +same scrape at Epsom as Onslow did at the Exhibition; ceci prouve la +force d'une passion qui est hors de la nature; les autres ont leurs +bornes, et de la discretion jusqu'a un certain point. + +I went from dinner yesterday to the House of Commons, and came just +time enough to be in a division upon some American question, God +knows what. I was received in the House with a laugh, because three +parts out of four believed me to be with you in Ireland, as bouffon +de la Cour. This the morning papers had instructed them to believe, +and such is the notion I believe that the writers of those papers +have of my talents and turn. You have not told me that Lady Carlisle +is with child, but I hear it from other hands. Be so good as not to +let me be ignorant of these probable events, in which my affection +to her and to you is so much interested. + + +I sat a great while the other morning with Miss Gunning at St. +James's; Sir Robert was with her. She is afraid of having the +measles; her sister has them at present. The Ball at Glouc(ster) +House was magnificent, and their Royal Highnesses gracious al +maggior segno. They call the others, "the people in Pall Mall," and +the man in Pall Mall calls the Duke(160) "the Warden of the Forest," +and distinguishes him by no other name. I wonder that they do not +let other people find names for them both, who know them better than +they do themselves. + +64 +(161) is to be a fine sight, that is, a great concourse of people +will be there, I suppose, on their Majesties' account. Mie Mie wants +to go. If the Townshends, that is Mary and Lady Middleton, had +offered to be troubled with her, I should have consented and gone +there myself. I have made no preparations for the Birthday, but +thinking where I shall go to avoid it; or for yours, but I will; +Storer shall dine with me that day, et ceux que je crois vous etre +les plus attaches, and we will drink the health of their +Excellencies, cela du petit dauphin, of my dear little Caroline, et +ainsi du reste. Pierre tells me that she is not so tall as Mie Mie +is at present; en dedommagement de cela elle est cent mille fois +plus robuste. As to myself, j'ai un management pour ma sante +incroyable. For I am determined, if it pleases God, to live to see +you and all of you again, but when or where, that must be left to +the chapter of accidents. Emily has left off writing to me; he wrote +to me twice pour faire votre eloge, ce qui ne fut fort peu +necessaire, and there was an end of his epistolary correspondence. +Pray goad that Dean(162) who slumbers in his stall, and make him +write. . . . + +(160) Of Gloucester. + +(161) In the time of George III. and up to the date when it was +abolished in 1847, Montem at Eton was a school holiday, an "event," +as we should now say, of the London season. Of its origin nothing is +known, but the ceremony of a procession in military costume "ad +Montem" to a mound near Slough, now called Salt Hill, can be traced +back to the sixteenth century. Visitors were offered salt by some of +the boys, and in exchange gave money. The amount collected after +payment of the expenses belonged to the captain of the school. +--"History of Eton College," by H. C. Maxwell-Lyte, p. 450. + +(162) Edward Emly, Dean of Derry. + + +(1781,) June 1, Friday m(orning).--I am at this moment employed fort +pedagoguement. I have taken into my own department Mie Mie's +translations out of English into French. That is, I am at her elbow +when she translates, and by that means can see what faults she makes +from insufficiency, and what are produced from carelessness. She is +very much so if left to herself, but is very much improved, as I +perceive. But Mrs. Webb can be of no use in this, and so I have the +task when Labort is not here. I hope that Caroline has somebody to +read French with her who has a real good pronunciation, otherwise it +will take un mauvais pli, which will not be so easy to recover, and +it is better not to speak a language at all than without some sort +of grace. + +To-day I give a dinner to the bankers; the two not upon duty come +here at five, and when the other two come off they will find here +des rechauffes; to the Duke of Q(ueensberry) and Mr. Greenville, and +to two chance comers; it may be Boothby and Storer, or Sir C. +Bunbury. It is too hot to go out to-day. I have seen nobody, and the +rise and fall of the bank is not as yet added to the other stocks in +the morning papers. It is frequently declared from the window, or +gallery, aux passans. Pigott was there this morning at four, and +from May the 31st (sic) at night, that is, from Tuesday night, about +nine. The account brought to White's, about supper time, was that he +had rose to eat a mutton chop. But that merits confirmation. + +Young Pitt made yesterday on the Accounts another speech,(163) which +is much admired, in which there was du sel, et du piquant, a pleines +mains. Charles en fut enchants, and I hear that the satire of it was +pointed strongly against Lord N(orth). It wanted no other +recommendation to the party who dines here to-day. Sir J. Irwin will +be soon with you. I supped with him at White's, and with Lord +Glendower and Lord Westmoreland, &c., &c., and I concluded my +sitting with a little bank to Harry Carteret, Sir W. Gordon, Lord +Ailsford and General Grant, and to no others. I had them in great +order. I do not allow the opposite no greater sum than 5 guineas, +and such byelaws as these I oblige the observance of, and I won 120 +guineas. They waited till near one before I had finished my prosing, +and telling old stories at supper to the two young men. When they +were finished, I retired and opened my bank. + +Charles's house is now going to be new painted, and entire new +furniture to be put into it, belonging to I do not know who(m). He +was security for an annuity of Richard's, and so suffered this +seizure on his account. It is a strange combination altogether, and +is now more the subject of conversation than any other topic, and it +serves me also as one to fill my letter. Si le recit vous ennuye, +vous n'ignorez pas le motif que j'ai a vous le faire. I suppose that +you are not always at audiences, and that you may like sometimes to +know what passes in circles from whence everything of moment is +excluded, and where you may be again, to relieve yourself from +business. + +To-day I expect a letter from Warner, and of great decision and +importance as to the matter about which he has been employed. But if +I see him come in while I am at dinner I shall not be surprised. If +I have a letter I will send you the substance of it, for I may not +go out again after dinner, or only to Lady Harrington's. My bank is +not like that at Brooks's; there are a great many lacunes, and it is +not above once in I do not know how long that I can get such a party +as I had last night. + +Ossory's new house is delightful, and the furniture mighty well +chose. I have not met yet Lord Euston there, as I expected, But I +have dined there less this than former years. + +(163) Pitt's second speech, on May 31st, was against a Bill to +continue an Act for the appointment of Commissioners' accounts. The +Opposition were defeated by 98 votes to 42. The speech attracted +great notice. + + + +(1781,) June 2, Saturday morning.--Charles Fox has desired me to +send Gregg to him, and is to discharge the annuity for which you are +bound, and, I hope, to pay off the arrears at the same time. I have +wrote to Gregg, to desire that he will lose no time, as Charles's +property is of a very fluctuating kind. My dinner of yesterday was a +very agreeable one to me, and seemed to be so to the rest. But +Charles had forgot, when he promised to come to me, that he was +engaged to the Duke of Grafton. The rest came, for this remarkable +sitting at Pharo was over yesterday morning about seven o'clock, and +so shall be my further account of it. The event is so often repeated +that it becomes less extraordinary. But I have known of no other to +entertain you with for some days past. General Craigs sets off for +Ireland in about a week or ten days. I shall send my box of things +for the children, either by him or Mr. Kinsman. . . . + +The Montem is put off from Monday till Wednesday, for the +convenience of their Majesties, who are to be there. The Queen will +not have prayers read in the manner that they have been used to be +there; she sees it [in] the light of a comedy acted, and therefore, +improper. Doctor Young, the Fellow, has just been with me, to ask me +if I could borrow a regimental suit of clothes, sash, and gorgette +from some officer of the Guards, of my acquaintance. I intend to ask +Richard, for the boy who is to wear it is, by Doctor Y(oung)'s +account, of Richard's height. If I had known it before, I could have +sent to Matson for a sash which my father wore at the battle of +Blenheim, where he assisted as Aid-de-Camp to my Lord Marlborough. +It will be a very lucrative campaign for the boy, who is captain. +His name is Roberts; he is a son of one of the Fellows. + +Storer's business is not, from what I have accidentally heard, in so +great forwardness as I was in hopes that it had been. There must be +two vacancies at the Board before he has a very good chance, if he +has any. Lord Walsingham has no inclination to quit; it is a scene +of business which he likes. \ Mr. Buller has been many years in +Parliament, and I am afraid that his pretensions will preponderate +above the friendship or good-will which Lord N(orth) professes to +Storer. I picked up this by accident as I was going out yesterday +airing with Mie Mie, after my company had left me. I met Lord +Brudenel, and I collected this from his conversation, for he did not +tell it me directly. But this and everything else, trifling or not, +I think myself obliged to let you know, et enfin ne n'en laisser au +boute de ma plume. + +But I am particularly desirous to inform you of what concerns +Storer, because I am persuaded that you wish to serve him. Your +protection ought to be a valid one, and Lord N(orth) will not, I +should imagine, choose to displease you; as to myself, maintenant +que mes ongles sont rognes comme ils le sont, he will treat me with +what indifference he pleases, and I know no remedy for it, but what +is worse than the disease. Then it is more supineness, +insensibility, and natural arrogance than any desire to use me worse +than another. He has no tact in point of breeding, and he lays all +his business on Robinson's(164) shoulders, who has behaved worse to +me than any man ever did; but I must take shame to myself for that, +because, if I had rejected his first proposal of standing for +Gloucester, by his suggestion, against my own reason and +inclination, he would never have dared to have treated me ill any +more. I hope to be rich enough in a year or two more, if I live, to +be as much a patriot as I happen to choose; but it is a fichu +matter, as times go, and nobody of common sense ever gives you any +credit for it. I shall be contented only, if, instead of making a +bargain with a Minister, I can be in circumstances good enough to +sell him one, if he uses me ill. + +(164) John Robinson, Secretary to the Treasury. + + +[1781,] June 5, Tuesday.--. . . . I know of nothing rpmarkable at +the Birthday yesterday. I put on the best clothes which I had, about +nine at night, to make a bow to their Majesties sur leur passage, as +they went to the ball room, and there the Queen stopped and said +some very gracious things to me, which my great deference to her +Majesty made me not understand, but I bowed and thanked her, +supposing that she said something that interested me. The King's +face was turned the other way, and he did not see me, but I was +taken notice of dans l'antichambre du Roi, and so it was very well, +and it was there that I saw my nephew Broderick, who had just had an +audience of the King. His Royal Highness's(165) equipages are very +becoming, and give some little splendour to the Court. I could tell +poor Guerchy now that we had not des vaisseaux only, but des +carro(s)es; we have des Princes, God knows, a foison. The Princess +Royal seems a very agreeable young woman, but I had only a transient +glance of her. Her air and manner seemed good. One coach came by +after another in their liveries, and each stuffed with royal +children, like a cornucopia with fruit and flowers. Bory got I do +not (know) how many of my servants, by some escalier derobe, to see +the ball-room and some of the dances; he has a back stairs interest +through that of Lord Trentham's nurse, and being himself the State +Trumpeter in a neighbouring kingdom, is of some note and importance, +and all is at my use and service. He is a very honest good creature. +I wish that I had room for him here in this house instead of in +Chesterfield Street. Bob grows every day more and more attached to +him, but I cannot dawdle him as Horry Walpole does Tonton, for Me du +Deffand's sake, nor does he seem to expect it. He has the accueil of +a respectable old suisse in my hall, where I meet him on coming home +in a posture couchante. Adieu; till I have letters, remember me +kindly to all, but to the dear children in particular. It is a great +grievance to me not to see them. Je vieillis, et je m'en appercois. + +(165) The Prince of Wales. + + +(1781,) June 11, Monday evening.--. . . . The Duke of Q(ueensberry) +dined here to-day, and, by an accident, the Duke of Dorset. I had +also Mr. Selwin who was a banker in Paris, a worthy man, but a more +splenetic one I never knew, with an extreme good understanding. We +are of the same family, by his account, although I do not know the +degree of affinity in which we stand to each other. + +To-morrow I find a Motion(165) is to come from Fox concerning +America, to which he may, contrary to his expectation or wishes, +find in the friends of Government an assent. People now seem by +their discourse to despair more of that cause than ever. There has +been wretched management, disgraceful politics, I am sure; where the +principal blame is, the Lord only knows; in many places, I am +afraid. + +The Duke of Gloucester is going to-morrow, as I hear, to Brussels, +to meet the Emperor. I hope for our sake that they will be deux +tetes dans le meme bonnet, but la difference en est trop evidente. +That between our master and his son is not less, if report says +true. They have great reason to be uneasy, I believe, but they must, +when they reflect, think, that their own conduct has been very much +the cause of it, and that they either have not read history, or +forgot it. + +The Pharo bank goes on, and winning; cela s'entend. The winnings are +computed to be 30,000. Each of the bankers, to encourage him in his +application and to make him as much amends as possible for the waste +of his constitution, is entitled to a guinea for every deal from the +bank; and so our Trusty is in a way of honest industry, dealing at +the pay of a guinea every ten minutes. There is also an insurance +against cards coming up on the losing side, which is no +inconsiderable profit to the underwriters. + +Offly has had unexpectedly fallen to him, by way of legacy, an +estate of some hundreds a year, which enables him to punt till past +five in the morning. + +I had a very pleasant day yesterday at Gregg's, and as often as I +mention these excursions I have a long dissertation from the Duke +[of Queensberry] upon the folly of having a country house at above +ten or fourteen miles distance from London; which reflections will +end in nothing but a condemnation of what he has, and never procure +the enjoyment of that which I am sure he would like above all things +if he had it. His uncertainty is in some measure the cause of my +own, but shall not govern it, beyond the present year. + +Craigs sets out for Ireland on Thursday. I am concerned at the +account which you give me of Ekins. I hope to hear no more of your +own gout. But if you feel symptoms of it, pray do not conceal them +from me. + +I go to-night to Marlborough House,(166) and there is also a +promenade at Bedford House,(167) but it is announced that no candles +will be lighted. My nephew Broderick is to have a 500 pound +gratuity, and a Majority, and Lord Cornwallis(168) will solicit +leave for his purchasing a company in the Guards. + +Pray remember me most kindly to Lady Carlisle, and my hearty love to +all the children without exception or preference. If George is to +come here again, let me know it. If not, I shall not expect it. + +Charles's house, like a phoenix from the flames, is new painted, and +going to be new furnished, with certain precautions to keep his +furniture a l'abri de ses creanciers. You have heard how he has +liquidated the annuity for which you was engaged. There are still +arrears due to you, to a considerable amount. This Pharo Bank is +held in a manner which, being so exposed to public view, bids +defiance to all decency and police. The whole town as it passes +views the dealer and the punters, by means of the candles, and the +windows being levelled with the ground. The Opposition, who have +Charles for their ablest advocate, is quite ashamed of the +proceeding, and hates to hear it mentioned. + +I hear of neither deaths, marriages, or preferments; public news +come to your knowledge sooner, and with more authenticity, than +through me; so I have no more to say at present, but to beg that I +may hear from you as often as possible, and that I may have the +satisfaction of knowing that you are well. These assurances cannot +be too often repeated to me, who am interested by every degree of +affection in knowing whatever concerns you or yours. + +My best compliments to Dr. Ekins, and my love once more to George, +and to his sisters. He has wrote as often to me as I expected. I +shall never, as long as I live, forget his assurances upon that +head, the tone and air with which he said it, and the cordiality of +it. Il a indubitablement le meilleur des coeurs possibles. + +(165) On June 12th Fox moved that the House should resolve itself +into a Committee to consider the American war, at the same time +moving a further resolution that Ministers should take every +possible measure to conclude peace with the American Colonies. The +Motion was rejected by 172 to 99. + +(166) Marlborough House was designed by Wren; it reverted to the +Crown in 1817. + +(167) Bedford House, built in the reign of Charles II., covered the +whole of the north side of what is now Bloomsbury Square. It was +sold and pulled down in 1800. + +(168) Charles first Marquis Cornwallis (1738-1805). In early life +Cornwallis was both a soldier and a politician. Though one of the +few men opposed to the taxation of the American Colonists, he felt +bound as a soldier to serve against them and was undoubtedly the +most able of the English generals. In 1786, at the urgent request of +Pitt, he became Governor General of India and did not return to +England till 1793. In 1798 Cornwallis again entered the public +service as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and occupied that position at +the time of the Union. At his death he was again Viceroy of India. + + +(1781,) June 13, Wednesday m(orming).--As I think, after having +wrote a long letter to Dr. Ekins, I shall have little to say to you, +so I take only this vessel of paper for my purpose. Mrs. Webb and I +are going to consummate our unfinished loves at Streatham, and to +reside there at times for the next six weeks. I shall make use of +this opportunity to fix myself in a country house for next year, and +perhaps the Duke of Q(ueensberry) may do the same, for from that +distance to about ten miles further we have agreed is the best to +answer our purposes. We must necessarily have two houses, that +purity and impurity may not occasionally meet. Lady Ossory has +negotiated this matter for me, and this morning I shall go to +Bedford House to do homage, as a tenant-at-will. + +I heard yesterday young Pitt; I came down into the House to judge +for myself. He is a young man who will undoubtedly make his way in +the world by his abilities. But to give him credit for being very +extraordinary, upon what I heard yesterday, would be absurd. If the +oration had been pronounced equally well by a young man whose name +was not of the same renown, and if the matter and expression had +come without that prejudice, or wrote down, all which could have +been said was, that he was a sensible and promising young man. There +is no fairer way of judging. + +Lord Cambden's son acquitted himself but very ill; however, Lord +Chatham did him the honour to say that he sees he will make a +speaker, so we must give him credit for what he may do by what Lord +Chatham has said. + +If I wanted reputation, and to be puffed, and could afford to pay +for such nonsense, I would certainly be in Opposition, and sit in +the House in the places where Ossory and Lord Robert and young +Greenville sit. But the difficulty would be to extol my speaking +when I said nothing. + +The guinea a deal is now deemed too much, so Charles has published a +new edict, and they have only five guineas an hour, by which Lord +Robert cannot earn in a day more than Brooks gets by furnishing +cards and candles. Pigott has found out that punting is not +advantageous, and has left it off. The General is not yet of the +same opinion. Lord Spencer, Mr. Heneage, Offley, &c., are des culs +de plomb, and the bankers' coaches are not ordered till about six in +the morning. + +Lord Abergavenny's son is certainly to marry Robinson's daughter. He +gives her 25,000 pounds down, which does not pay all the young man's +debts. Lord A(bergavenny) gives them a thousand a year. He is a +weak, good-tempered young man, or, as the King of Prussia called an +acquaintance of mine, the Comte de Bohn, une belle bete. + +Robinson seems rejoiced that he is to be allied to the Nevills, and +that his posterity is to have the bear and ragged staff, red roses, +and portcullises for their insignia. Malden, to console himself for +the infidelity of Mrs. Robinson, is gone to Bruxelles with his Royal +Highness.(169) + +(169) The Duke of Gloucester. + + +(1781, June 13,) Wednesday, 4 o clock.--P.S.--I have been at Bedford +House, and performed my homage. I dine at Streatham on Sunday, and +in the course of the next week go to settle myself there. I met +Admiral Biron in my way back, and had some discourse with him on the +subject of his sister.(170) He spoke to me about her with great good +nature and reason, but said that the correspondence was between his +wife and her, and seemed to hint, if he was himself consulted, he +should advise her better. He expects her home, from the tenor of her +letters to Mrs. Biron, so perhaps, after all, she may come. If she +does, Bory and I shall prepare a reception for her. + +Storer is coming here to dinner. He lives now with Mr. Walpole; has +his lodging at Strawberry Hill, as an antiquarian. March dines here +also. There are to be two more promenades at Bedford House on a +Monday, and then she (the Duchess) goes to Ouburn (Woburn) for the +rest of the year. + +The bank won last night, as Lord Clermont (tells me?), 4,000; that +must have been chiefly of the General; but of the bankers, those who +deal, punt also; so they may have contributed. + +At Streatham I shall be within two miles of Gregg, so we shall have +together a great deal of discourse about you. Admiral Biron was the +other day at Castle Howard, and saw little Elizabeth, who was very +well. I like the Admiral much. + +P.M. (sic).--Poor Storer is gone away in great dudgeon. March fell +asleep on one side of him, and I on the other, the moment that the +cloth was taken away. He was not last night in the Division, or made +any bargain. He has been all this day at Charles's auction, to +secure for him his books. All his things were upon sale yesterday +and to-day. Some of his books are very scarce and valuable. +I wonder that, knowing himself liable to such an attack, he did not +keep them at Brooks's, where they would have been for ever +unmolested. + +Mrs. Elliot is returned from France, and I have seen her in a +vis-a-vis with that idiot Lord Cholm(ondeley); so I suppose that is +to go on as it did. + +My servants tell me that Sir J. Irwin sets out for Ireland +to-morrow, but that I believe is not so; I understood him last night +that it would be a month before he went. He said that he should go +no more this Session to the House of Commons. I believe that Mr. +Robinson will find it very difficult to muster so many of his troops +as were assembled there last night, any more this year. It was +insufferably hot and dull. + +I wish that Storer would be in humour with them till the Session +was over, and say nothing. If then nothing is done, he may begin his +grumbling. W. K. and John, I take it for granted, report these +things, if they happen to hear of them. He will succeed at last, I +do not doubt; in the meantime, le meilleur parti est de se taire. + +Lady Julia, as I understand, is to meet Lady B(etty?) in the +country, and come up with her to town. What a fracas we shall have +when my Lady Dowager arrives; and if she does not, I see no end of +her vexations. The Admiral says that she talks of coming. . . . + +(170) The Countess Dowager of Carlisle. + + + +(1781,) June 18, Monday night.--I saw this morning Lady Julia, who +looks very well, and has no brogue. I sat a great while with her and +Lady Betty, and talked over with them our foreign affairs; but no +letter is come from Warner, although a mail is, as I see by the +papers, arrived both from France and from Flanders. The Jamaica +fleet is safe at last, and the Emperor(171) declares Ostende to be a +free port. The two Houses will rise yet this month, and this is all +that I know of public matters. + +Charles, from paying his debts, proceeds to make presents; he is now +quite magnifique avec une abondance de richesses. Varey dined with +me to-day, Storer, and Lord Carmarthaen. + +I have now settled with my servants to go to Streatham on a Saturday +after Mie Mie's dancing, and to stay there till Tuesday noon, and +this every week, during the time that I shall stay in this part of +the world; and if I can get no one else to be with me on those days, +I shall take Lobort(?), which will be a benefit to Mie Mie. + +The Duke of Gloucester is returned from Bruges, where he passed two +days with the Emperor. What object there was in this expedition +besides that of seeing the Emperor, I do not know. But a cat looking +on a king, could not, in all probability, have more innocent +consequences. Malden, I suppose, is come back with him, as his +conferences with his Imperial Majesty could not be more interesting, +after his R(oyal) H(ighness) was gone. + +Lord Cornwallis's letter to Mr. Webster's father on the death of his +son est tres touchante. The town empties extremely. I reckon my stay +to be from this time about five weeks. Belgiosioso told me last +night that he had had letters from Milan, by which he was informed +that the M. Fagnani was gone quite mad. He has been stone blind a +considerable time, and I take for granted both these misfortunes are +come from the same cause, that is, mercury. His experiments to ease +the one probably occasioned the other. I never hear one syllable +from any of the family; I hope in God that I never shall, or poor +Mie Mie either. It grows every day less likely, and yet when I am +out of spirits that Dragon, among others, comes across me and +distresses me; and the thought of what must happen to that child, if +I am not alive to protect her. You will not wonder then, that I am +afraid of being left to my own reflections: elles sont quelque fois +fort tristes. Clubs are better for dissipation than consultation; +all which being considered makes me wish myself not alone, or so +much in public. But to find a person who really interests themselves +{sic} about you, and is able and willing to give you such advice as +applies immediately to your case, is of all things in the world most +difficult to meet with, but the most comfortable when you do, and is +the utmost service which I ever expect from anybody in this world, +and yet what I despair of finding, in the circle in which I move. I +will not fatigue you with any more bavardise. Remember me most +kindly to Lady Carlisle and my cordial love to all the children, and +pray let me know how my dear little George goes on. + +(171) Joseph II., Emperor of Germany; he died in 1790. In 1781 he +had declared the Barrier Treaty no longer binding. See his +character, Lecky, "History of England," vol. v. p. 218. + + +(1781,) June 19, Tuesday.--Last night I went, when I came from +airing, to White's, where I stayed in the Chocolate Room till I went +home to bed, that is till 12--Lord Ashburnham, Williams, and I +--hearing Lord Malden's account of the Emperor, and of the manner of +his living, and travelling, and behaving. It was very amusing and +circumstantial. He is really a great prince dans tous les sens, and +by Lord M(alden's) account a sensible man, with a very amiable +address and behaviour. + +He talked of the excessive gaming here, and of Charles Fox, and he +spoke of him not in terms of very high esteem. Speaking of his +talents and oratory, he said, "Il suffit qu'il dite (dise?) des +injures" + +What of business there was passed between his R(oyal) H(ighness) and +the Emperor; Malden was not of that Cabinet. I suppose nothing +essential is as yet concluded between them. He promised the Princess +Sophia, when he took leave of her, that he should certainly be +returned on Sunday, and kept his word very punctually; so something +may transpire through her R(oyal) H(ighness's) channel. + +While I was hearing these things, I was called into the vestibule by +Gregg, who communicated to me your letter, which corresponded with +the last which I received from you. It is a pity that Warner should +not know your just idea of what is right or wrong. I am and shall be +very uneasy till I hear from him. + +I observed, in your letter to Gregg, that you press him to solicit +the payment of the arrears from Charles. I had mentioned it in mine +to you, as you will find in a few days. But you will not be +surprised at anything which that boy does; you must know not half an +hour before Fawkener said that he left Charles a loser (of) 5,000 to +General Smith at picquet, and (he) was then playing with him 100 +pounds a game. + +I go to-night with Mie Mie to the Opera in Lady Townshend's box, to +see this famous dance of Medea and Jason. The girl had not in her +head to go this year any more to the Opera, but Lady Townshend made +this party. It will be etouffante; Vestris, it is said, dances for +the last time. + +The Emp(eror), I forgot to tell you, said that he had now in his +pay, and ready for service, 300,000 men and 40,000 horse. I have +heard before the same thing. He is attentive to the greatest detail; +he travels and lives in journeys, and at such places as Bruges and +Ghent, with the utmost temperance and simplicity. He refuses +audiences to no one individual, [so] that he is occupied with that +and his reviews from very early in the morning till it is dark. He +speaks French without the least accent whatsoever. He has a dark +complexion, bazane, but very lively eyes, and fine teeth, and a most +manly carriage, with great affability. We all went home to bed in +admiration of this Emperor. + +He received a letter from Belgioso while the Duke of Gloucester +was there. I have no doubt but what passes at Brooks's makes part of +the despatch. He reads all our papers in English, so I asked Lord +Malden if he said anything of my jokes, and was mortified to find +that they had escaped his Imp[erial] Majesty's observations. But he +has read some of them, sans doute, so I may have the same vanity as +poor Dick Edgcumbe had, of thinking that the Emperor of +Constantinople had from the windows of his seraglio heard him play +upon the kettle drums. + +I heard no more of an approaching Peace. Dr. Gemm assures me that +the French will make no overtures towards it, and that we must ask +it ourselves. The Emperor does not seem to be of opinion that we +shall subdue our Colonies, but thinks our cause a just one. He does +not seem favourable to the French, or to like his sister the French +Queen. He said one day, que la bongress(?) ma soeur aime la France; +that, if she does, deserves another reflection; his is not a just +one; elle aime les dames francoises, cela n'est pas a douter. La +Princesse de Carignan et Me. de Polignac en sont temoins. + +Gregg has been here for (a) quarter of an hour; he came to desire +that I would meet Lord Ravensworth at dinner at his house next +Sunday. It is the day I go to Streatham. I have told you that I have +now fixed to be there from Saturday till Tuesday m(orning) each week +during my lease. I asked Gregg when he went into the North; he has +fixed no time. I asked him if he went alone; he said yes. It is an +idea of mine that he would not dislike the carrying Mrs. Gregg and +his daughter with him, if while he went into Cumberland he had your +permission to leave them at Castle Howard. I have thought it proper +to hint this to you, because, if you cho(o)se to make him that +offer, you may. He does not expect it; and I do assure you that I +will not say one single word to him to let him understand that I had +mentioned (it). I do not, indeed, believe that he would like that I +should; so whatever you do, I beg not to be committed. + +I believe that I shall take it upon myself to speak to Charles about +these arrears, for he has that good humour in his composition, that +he never takes anything amiss that I say to him, and I am sometimes +very free in telling him how opposite my sentiments are to him, and +to his conduct. I should rather say to his conduct, for, personally, +I love him, as he would have had no doubt, if he had been like other +reasonable people; car avec les defauts les plus insignes il y a +quelque fois un brin de raison dans la pluspart des hommes; mais en +lui, ce qui est defectueux, l'est radicalement. He has adopted it +with so much earnestness that there is no room for reproof or hope +of correction. + + +(1781,) June 22, Friday.--I must begin my letter of to-day by +contradicting the piece of intelligence with which I concluded my +last. I went to Lady Betty's yesterday after dinner, who was gone +with Mr. Delme to Bray, till Wednesday. I saw your porter, who is +established there, and he told me that no letter from abroad was +come; so this came from the vague report of servants who never +comprehend truth, or tell it. + +I went to White's, and there met with Lord Loughborough, who goes +the Oxford Circuit. He finishes at Stafford, and from thence goes to +Ireland. He desired me to go upstairs into the supper room with him, +to which I had consented, but Williams and Lord Ashburnham,(172) and +he and I assembled around the cold stove, till the supper was +forgot, and I fell asleep. + +I walked home, but called in at Brooks's as I passed by; Hare in the +chair; the General chief punter, who lost a 1,000 pounds. The bank +concluded early a winner, 12 or 1300. Charles, de cote ou d'autre, +told me that he had won 900. I said that I was informed from the +Emperor that he had lost lately 8,000. He said, in two days, at +various sports. I hinted to him that I had a suit to prefer. He +guessed what it was, and begged that I would not just then speak to +him about money. He was in the right. I meant to have dunned him for +yours. + +I told him that I had been reading his character in the Public +Advertiser. The writer says that his figure is squalid and +disagreeable. I told him that my opinion coincided with half of that +account, that he was undoubtedly squalid, but if by his figure was +meant, as in French, his countenance, it was not a true picture. He +said he never cared what was said of his person. If he was +represented ugly, and was not so, those who knew him would do him +justice, and he did not care for what he passed in that respect with +those who did not. The qu'en dira-t-on? he certainly holds very +cheap, but he did (not?) explain to me exactly to what extent +proceeded his indifference towards it. I then went home. + +To-day we have a late day in the House, but I shall go and dine +first at Lord Ashburnham's in the King's Road, and to-morrow to my +villa at Streatham. I have bought Johnson's Lives of the Poets,(173) +and repent of it already; but I have read but one, which is Prior's. +There are few anecdotes, and those not well authenticated; his +criticisms on his poems, false and absurd, and the prettiest things +which he has wrote passed over in silence. I told Lord +Loughborough(174) what I thought of it, and he had made the same +remarks. But he says that I had begun with the life the worst wrote +of them all. + +Charles was yesterday very abusive upon Johns(t)on.(175) Lord +N(orth) said in his reply that the gentleman was at a great +distance; that if he had been on the spot, he would have given him +as good an answer then as he had done on other occasions. We shall +sit, I believe, till about the 11th of next month. John says, in +regard to the East India business, we are now all afloat. It is a +recommencer. I should, if I was the Minister, put (it?) into his +hands for dispatch. + +Mr. Raikes has sent to me this morning to know how George does. I +sent him word that he was very well, that I heard from him, and that +he had particularly desired to be remembered to him. + +(173) The first hvraison was published in 1779; Johnson completed +the work in 1781. + +(174) Alexander Wedderburn (1733-1805). He was appointed +Solicitor-General in 1771 and Attorney-General in 1778. He was +created a peer as Lord Loughborough on his appointment as Chief +Justice of the Common Pleas. In 1793 he reached the Woolsack, and in +1801 was created Earl of Rosslyn. Beginning political life as a +Tory, he presently became a Whig and an opponent to Lord North; then +he took office under him. A member of the Coalition Cabinet of Fox +and North on its fall he became leader of the Whigs in the House of +Lords, only to conclude his official life as Lord Chancellor in +Pitt's administration. + +(175) George Johnston (1730-1787), sometimes called "Governor" +Johnston; a naval officer. He became Governor of West Florida in +1763, in 1768, having returned to England, he became member for +Cockermouth, and in 1778 he was appointed a commissioner to treat +with America, from which, by reason of a partisan letter, he was +obliged to withdraw. In 1779 ne was appointed commodore of a small +fleet. In 1781 he was again returned to Parliament. He was a violent +and self-advertising politician. + + +1781, Nov. 17, Saturday night.--I do not know how I shall conclude +my letter, but I begin it in no better spirits than I can have, when +I reflect, as I can never help doing, upon a loss which I sustained +this day; it is now thirty years, and which as many more, although +they will certainly annihilate the reflection of, can never repair. +I will not be so unjust to the kindness which I have received from +you and some others as to say that when I lost my father I lost the +only friend I could have, but I most undoubtedly lost the best, and +being to-day where that happened, and more at leisure to recollect +it, je la sens, cette perte, avec la meme vivacite aujourd'hui, que +je ne l'eusse faite que depuis trots jours. + +I set my heart therefore particularly on receiving to-day a letter +from you, et la 'voici. It is a great consolation to me, as that it +proves to me, with manifold other arguments, that whatever may be +your occupation, you will find a moment to tell me, what if you did +not I should have not the least doubt of, and that neither business +or distance will deprive me of the place which I have always +maintained in your mind and regard. + +But mes jeremiades ne sont pas encore finies. The Castle air, by +which I find the health of the children must be in some measure +affected, and your own to be made a sacrifice to I do not know what, +is to me a great grievance, and one to which I know as yet no +remedy. The only one is to return here, and the sooner you do the +better, and the happier we shall both be, I am sure. + +Ce retardement de la poste, aussi, si cela n'est pas un malheur +excessif, il ne laisse pas d'etre un tres grand inconvenient; and I +have only to comfort myself that when it was the most necessary to +the ease of your life to have my letters come to you more exactly, +that is, when the poor boy was so il|, that then they came with more +expedition, et qu'alors et les courriers et les vents aient eu +egalement compassion de ce que vous avez senti a cette occasion. +. . . + +Gregg is to go to Neasdon to-morrow from Mitcham; he has dined here +once; when his business will permit it I shall see him again. I have +already hinted to him what you have desired as to his account. He +desires it as a satisfaction to himself as well as to you. Delme +does not please him by his conduct in any manner, and I think that +he will, if he undertakes anything for him, do it more to oblige you +than for any other reason. + +I am very sorry to hear such an account of the affairs of that +family, and of so little disposition to do what is necessary to set +them to rights. If the estate and the resources were forty times +what they are, such dissipation and want of management must undo +them. + +I am very glad that Storer is coming, and when he does I hope that +he will come and attend with better grace that that has been done, +which has been done (sic) for him. But the point of the cause to +which he is to advert, and the only one, is the part which you have +acted by him, and the benefit which will accrue to him from it. He +has, when he reflects, a great deal of sense, and his heart is very +good; therefore I look upon his present humour to be rather un +effervescence than the result of much reflection. + +The town is at this moment, as much as I can judge of it, as great a +solitude as it has been at any time these two months past. But we +are at the even of beaucoup de tintarparre, comme de nouvelles. Lord +Cornwallis's situation is as critical, both for himself and for this +country, as any can possibly be; and if George, in his History of +Greece, and of Nicaeas in the expedition to Syracuse, can find a +parallel for it, I cannot; no more than a remedy, or a reparation +for all the losses which we have and must sustain, if we are not +successful. Till I see the issue of this cast, I will not conclude, +what the Duc de Chatelet told me to be true, that it is une cause +perdue. + +I will take the first opportunity of speaking to Gregg about your +not writing to him, for he has been waiting for a letter from you, +with unusual impatience, and I will write to Boothby if he does not +in a few days return to town. I was with Ekins last night, and I +stayed with him till ten. He is more crippled than I ever knew him +to be. He is going to change his house, from which change, as of +posture, he derives some comfort. It matters little from what +hope(s) we derive comfort while we hope them. + +Lady Mary H(oward) is very angry with me, as Lady Townshend assures +me, for not having been near her. The truth is, that when I carried +George to wait on her the day that he was in town, before his going +to school, her room was quite insupportable, and for that reason I +could not allow him safely to stay there. + +Mr. Walpole, more defait, more perdus de ses membres, than I ever +yet saw any poor wretch, is gone to-night to the play-house, to see +the Tragedy of Narbonne. The gout may put what shackles it pleases +on some people; on les rompt, et la vanite l'emporte. He seems as +able to act a part in the drama as to assist at the performance of +it. + +Poor Barker has lost all the hopes which he ever had of resource. +His uncle, from whom he had great and reasonable expectations +formerly, is dead at Constantinople, and without a groat. He has +now, poor man, pour tout potage, Lady Harrington's dinner and +compassion, and the one is as late and uncertain as the other. If +his own relation, with his enormous wealth, and after such +unexpected and unmerited good fortune, does not assist him, he will +for ever pass with me for a man destitue de sentimens comme de +principes. But, perhaps, not knowing more than I do of the +connection and of the persons, my judgment may be severe and unjust. + +My dear Lord, to what an unreasonable length have I spun out this +letter. But from my disposition of mind to-day, and being alone, or +en famille only, I did not think that I should be very concise. To +my own tristes you have added more, and the account(s) which I have +of your health, and of what it may be, and of the Castle air, &c., +do by no means aid me on this occasion. I will fairly own to you, +that, a quelque prise que ce soit, I wish this administration of +yours in Ireland was at an end; and if no other ever began, I should +be as well contented, unless, what is impossible, it could be exempt +from those solicitudes which do not seem in any degree to be +suitable to your constitution. However, it will be not what I think +or feel which must determine that question. I am only sorry that +whatever be the burthen, I can take no part of it, for you, on my +own shoulders. You have given me one occupation,(176) and for that I +am much obliged, because, while no adverse accident happens, it will +be one of the pleasures of my life, and not an inconsiderable one +neither, and will, I hope, be one of those indisputable marks of +affection with which I am, ever have been, and shall remain your(s). +My best and most cordial respects to Lady C(arlisle) and my love to +the children, and my compliments besides to whom you please. + +(176) Probably to look after Lord Morpeth during his father's +absence in Ireland. + + +(1781, Nov.?) 27 (26?), Monday night.--Storer came to town this +morning, as he proposes to tell you to-night; he dined with me. I +met him first in the street, as I was returning from Lincoln's Inn. +He had been, as he was engaged to do, to Lord Loughborough, to whom +he had made a promise of going on his arrival. Neither the air or +the bonne chere of the Castle have (has) done him any harm; il a +bonne mine. He has left me to go to Brooks's, and perhaps to the +Cockpit(177); but as that is a compliment to the Minister rather +than as a support of Government, he shewed no great empressement; +nor could I inspire him with a zeal which I have not myself. I am +not a solicitor of any future benefit from those who are in power, +and when I require no more than common civility, they must not be +surprised, if I [do] not pay what I do not receive. + +We have had a blow, for the cause is a common (one). This surrender +of Lord Cornwallis (178) seems to have put le comble a nos +disgraces. What has been said about it, either at White's or parmi +les Grenouilles at Brooks's, I know not.(179) I have not been out +but for an hour before dinner to Mr. Woodcock. I received the first +news of this yesterday from Williams, who dined with me, but you may +be sure it was a subject he did not like to dwell upon, and I chose +to talk with him rather of old than of modern times, because of them +we may be agreed; of the present, whatever we think, we should talk +and differ in discourse widely. + +This evening I have had your letter of the 20th. I am diverted with +your account of my two Irish friends. They are so completely of that +cast, that I cannot but imagine that they meant to be of your side. +Richards was sent away quickly for that purpose by my Lord +Chamberlain, as my Lord told me. The other I have but a slight +acquaintance with. I only guessed, as he desired a letter of +introduction to you, that he meant to profess, by that, attachment. +I had no doubt that in neither the one (n)or the other it was +disinterested, but I own that I was so far their dupe that I +imagined that they would not begin with opposition. Kingsman['s] +proposal of being your private Secretary, without a previous +acquaintance, seems to be an idea quite new; what crotchet the Beau +Richard has got in his head the Lord knows. + +Storer has drawn to me a very pleasing picture of your present +situation, satisfaction, and domestic felicity. All that gives me +pleasure enough, as you may imagine; but when he talks to me of the +length of time that you may stay, and the probability of it, I am au +desespoir. I see myself deprived of my best resource for the passing +of my life agreeably, when the greatest part of it is already gone. +If I dwelt on this long I should be desole. I will there (fore) +endeavour to think only of what is a consolation to me, that you are +all well--en bonne odeur--that it is the beginning perhaps of a very +career--that I may see some part of it--that I have little George +here from time to time, and the pleasure of looking after him, and +as I hope to your and to Lady Carlisle's satisfaction. You think, I +am afraid, that I nurse him too much. . . . + +(177) The Treasury was on the site of the Whitehall Cockpit, which +had been placed there by Henry VIII. It was converted into offices +for the Privy Council in 1697. The Ministerial meetings being held +there, the word, in political slang, was used for a meeting either +of Ministerialists or the Opposition. + +(178) The news of the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown +on October 17, 1781, was received in London on November 25th. + +(179) See letter from Storer, November 26th, below. + + +Storer as usual supplemented his friend's letter by the following +note: + +Anthony Storer to Lord Carlisle. + +1781, Nov. 26, Monday.--I arrived in town this morning, time enough +to do all in my power to send to Gregg, to try if I can get a +qualification to take my seat to-morrow. My qualifications have been +always embarrassing to me. I have too attended the Cockpit to-night, +where there were a great many long faces. What we are to do after +Lord Cornwallis' catastrophe, God knows, or how anybody can think +there is the least glimmering of hope for this nation surpasses my +comprehension. What a stroke it is! but it still seems determined to +pursue the game, though we throw nothing but crabs. . . . + +Selwyn meant to treat you to-morrow with a Georgic, Everybody that I +meet seem(s) to think that you did right in dispatching Mr. Flood. I +am so loaded with questions about Ireland, that I have no time as +yet to make any myself about England. Indeed, the attention of +everyone is confined to our situation in America. The Speech from +the Throne contains the same resolution which appeared in times when +we seemed to have a more favourable prospect of success, of +continuing the war, and of claiming the aid of Parliament to support +the rights of Great Britain. Charles has a Cockpit to-night, as well +as Lord North. The blue and buff Junto meet in St. James' Street to +fix upon their plan of operations for to-morrow. + +With regard to private news, I find Lady Worsley is run away from +Sir Richard, and taken refuge with some gentleman whose name I do +not know in the army. I must go and pay my respects to my father. + + +Parliament opened under the shadow of the disasters in America on +November 27th. The Speech from the Throne showed no appreciation of +the gravity of the national situation, and the policy of the +Government was at once challenged by Fox, who moved, an amendment to +the Address. It was negatived, however, by 218 to 129 votes. The +House of Commons though it supported the Minister was conscious of +the folly of his policy, and on the following day the Opposition +again challenged the Government on the Report of the Address. The +result was again a defeat--more nominal than real--of the Opposition +by 131 votes to 54. Two days later (November 30th) on the motion +that the House should go into Committee of Supply, Mr. Thomas Pitt +(afterwards Lord Camelford) the uncle of William Pitt, who from +character and position carried great weight, rose to object to the +Speaker leaving the chair. In other words, he moved a vote of want +of confidence in the Government. The House again supported Lord +North by their votes, though the impossibility of continuing the +ministerial policy was obvious to all. "If measures and conduct are +not to be changed we are completely undone," wrote Selwyn in the +beginning of December--but he had no idea of supporting his opinion +by his vote: there were many others who thought and acted as he did. + + +(1781, Nov.) 28, Wednesday.--It is you see with me, that I address +you, veniente die comme decedente. I sent you some account of the +H(ouse) of Commons last night before the division; we were about 89 +majority. I got home between two and three. I can no more go to +Brooks's to hear a rechauffe of these things, or assist at the +incense offered to Charles, or his benediction and salut to those he +protects. The reserve at White's tempts me as little, and so I think +my own pillow the best resource after these long days. + +Young Mr. York brought me home, who commended your Speech, and the +manner in which you spoke it. He was present. + +The terms of the Capitulation are now come, and everything known +which has happened, and in a few days more everybody will be as +indifferent as ever, except in their political language, about +[what] will happen. + +I spoke to Keene about Richard's conduct; he laughed, and well he +might he said, Poor Beau! he does not mean to oppose; it was only in +that instance where the Sugar Islands were concerned, that he +dissented, and there he was by his property personally interested; +well then, for this time passe, as private motives must and will +ever supersede public considerations; so on that ground, et pour le +coup, he is excusable. But when Lord Hertford would not admit of his +staying one day at Rayley with his son, to shoot, lest he should not +be in time to give you the fullest assistance and concurrence +possible in all your measures; this deviation could not but make me +smile, as well as his friend Mr. Keene. + +As to the other, he is a puppy du premier chef. I could not refuse +to his solicitation a letter of introduction, he himself being a +Member, and having a brother-in-law also in the House. But I could +not doubt neither from his discourse but he meant to support you; +and although I must have known that it was an interested motive +which actuated him, that matter I left for your consideration. His +father I knew well, God knows, and every step which I take in this +House reminds me of him, malheureusement pour moi, and why I do not +choose to say or to think of, now that he is dead, and is better +judged than by me. However, none of my resentment to him descended +to his son, and when he made himself known to me I was as willing to +receive him as if his father had behaved better towards me. + +Gregg and Storer will dine here to-day. Storer says that he wrote to +you last night. What should or could I add to the account which the +papers now give of the debates? Charles is for my part the only one +I can bear to hear, but although it be impossible for him to do +anything but go over and over again the old ground, make the same +philippics, it is entertaining to me, and I can hear him (which is a +singular thing) with the same pleasure and attention as if I gave +ample credit to what he said, with such talents, and with such good +humour, as is at the bottom of all that pretended acrimony. It is as +impossible not to love him, as it is to love his adversary. +The unfeelingness which he applied yesterday to our Master, +characterises much more the Minister. Charles aims sometimes at +humour; he has not an atom of it, or rather it is wit, which is +better, but that is not his talent neither, and they are indeed but +despicable ones in my mind, et de tous les dons de la nature celui +qui est le plus dangereux et le mains utile; but Charles's poignancy +and misapplication of truth, making the most known falsehoods serve +his person (purpose?) better, in all that he is admirable. His +quotations are natural and pleasing and a propos, and if he had any +judgment or conduct, or character, (he) would, and ought to be, the +first man of this country. But that place, I am assured now, is +destined for another. I said in this country, not in Ireland. +Whenever that happens, I do assure you neither Barbados nor any of +the Sugar Colonies shall interfere in my political conduct; but +Barbados (is?) a d'autres, and in a very short time I believe. Now +my next sheet shall be for the evening. + +No, I must go on, for here is just come into my room a man in black; +I did not ask him his name. I suppose by his mourning he belongs to +Mr. Fraser. He has brought me your letter to George, which I longed +for. . . . + +Wednesday night.--I did not go to-day [to] the House, but there has +been there a rechauffe of yesterday's debate. I hear there has been +a political event. My Lord Advocate's speech has given great +jealousy to Administration. There are now three parties on the Court +side of the House, the King's, Lord North's, and [the] Lord +Advocate's, on which is Rigby and the Chancellor. + +The Fish did not vote last night, which he was much impatient to +discover to Charles, with one of his fulsome compliments. Mr. Pitt's +speech to-day has made a great noise. + + +(1781,) Nov. 30, Friday m(orning).--I have sent my coachman this +morning to Neasdon, with your letter to George, and two or three +ripe pears, which he desired, so that before I seal up this letter, +I shall be able to let you know how he does. I wrote to him to +excuse my not answering his letter, which came to me on Monday, but +I have made him amends by sending him yours. I hear that Lord and +Lady Gower will be in town this evening, so I suppose that they will +go and make him a visit. When any of these are to be paid, I shall +be a candidate for a place in the coach. + +The reason why I did not send your letter before was that I have had +no leisure to think of anything but what I would have avoided +thinking of, if I possibly could, but the truth is that I cannot +divert myself of thinking upon what must occupy everybody's mind, +which is, our public calamity and disgrace.(180) They are become too +serious and irretri(ev)able, in my opinion. I have had superadded to +these my own private mortifications, and I will be so frank as to +own I feel them too amids(t) what is of more consequence. + +I have also had a great deal of conversation with Storer, have heard +his grievances, and I think that he has had very just cause to +complain, and if I wish or desire him to be pacified, it is not that +I do not think he has had great provocation. But he has taken the +only just and true line of reasoning and acting for him, which is to +do whatever is the most consonant to your plan and idea, +acknowledging as he ought, avowing, and giving me authority also to +say, that he thinks himself obliged to you and to you only for the +situation he has. + +To the obligation which you have laid him under, and of which no one +can be more sensible, Lord North might have added one of his own, +which was, to have done what you required, and had a right to +require, de bon coeur, with a good grace. Instead of that, he has +permitted a little attorney,(181) upon whose good judgment and +liberality he reposes for all the great conduct of his +Administration, to job away from Storer and Sir Adam Ferguson half a +year's salary, in order to put one quarter more into the pocket of +Lord Walsingham, who had the pride, acquired by his title, of +disdaining to be in a new patent, and so pressing that the old might +not expire till he had received 200 pounds more salary. + +Mr. Robinson intended to have come to me on Sunday to speak upon +this subject, as if it concerned me, before I had seen Storer, or +knew what he authorised me to say, forgetting all his own +impertinent behaviour towards myself. It is the true picture of an +indolent, selfish Minister, and of a low Secretary. + +March dined at my house with Greg and Warner; he had them all to +dispute with, so I had few words to say. But without knowing one +syllable of the story, and from mere contradiction, he supported the +Secretary in his conduct, that is, he took that line as his +advocate. He will in some instance or other receive the same +treatment, sooner or later, from the same persons, and then what I +would have said the other day will have its force. + +I have told you this, that you may know how you stand in the H. of +Commons, and that there no one can pretend to divide with you any +obligation. I have dwelt the more upon it from knowing what language +has been held by Lord N(orth's) toadeaters about Storer. You will +always hear of his acting agreeable to you, and that is what he +ought to do, and what will give to you the weight which is due to +you. + +I supped last night at Brooks's with Lord Ossory, and chiefly on his +account. There was a large company besides: the D(ukes) of +Q(ueensberry) and of Devonshire,(182) Percy Windham, Charles Fox, +Hare, Lord Derby, Mr. Gardiner, Richard, Belgiosioso, &c., &c. I +stayed very late with Charles and Ossory, and I liked my evening +very much. A great deal of the political system from Charles, which +he expatiated upon in such a manner as gave me great entertainment, +although, in all things which regard the K(ing) and his Government, +I differed from him toto caelo. Lord D(erby's?) nonsense was the +only drawback upon the rest. He is the most mechant singe I ever +knew. + +Hare opened the Pharo Bank in the great room, but had so few and +such poor punters that Charles and Richard was (were) obliged to sit +down from time to time as decoy ducks. The Bank won, as Hare said, +about a hundred, out of which the cards were to be paid. I do not +think that the people who frequent Brooks's will suffer this pillage +another campaign. Trusty was there to go into the chair, when he +should be called upon. I told him that I was extremely sorry that he +had quitted the Corps de Noblesse pour se jetter dans le Commerce; +but it is at present his only resource. I cannot help thinking that, +notwithstanding our late disasters, Bob's(183) political tenants +will be very tardy in remitting him their rents. But between Foley +House, and the run of Mr. Boverie's kitchen, with his own credit at +Brooks's, and his share in and affinity to an opulent Bank, and +flourishing trade, he may find a subsistence. + +The D(uche)ss of Marlborough,(184) I hear, is already laying a +scheme for marrying Lord Blandford to a great fortune, so by that +any hopes which I might have had of my dear little Caroline being +Duchess of Marlborough are blasted. I am told, that Miss Child's +alliance is in her Grace's contemplation. I saw Ekins yesterday; he +mends very slowly. Lady Althrop is breeding, Lord Harrington has +another son. Lord Sandwich looks near to death with fatigue and +mortification. + +Burke(?) said in the House the other day that he had so little +credit that his evidence was not good even against himself. All this +may be, but he is the last of all his Majesty's Ministers which I +shall give up. He has experience, assiduity, e(t) du zele. Whether +he has blundered or not I cannot tell, or been obliged to adopt the +blunders of others. He has judged right in one thing, if he ever had +it in his head to make a friend of me. For he has been always +extremely civil, and indeed that is not only a sine qua non with me, +but all that I have to ask of any of his Majesty's Ministers, and +that I am intituled to at least. + +Now do I wish that my coachman was come back, that I may hear how my +dear little friend is, and at night I will let you know. + +(180) See Storer's letter of December 1, below. + +(181) John Robinson, Secretary to the Treasury. + +(182) William, fifth Duke of Devonshire (1748-1811), married, in +1774, Georgina, daughter of John, Earl Spencer, the well-known +beautiful Duchess of Devonshire; their daughter, Georgina Dorothy, +married George, successor to the fifth Earl of Carlisle. + +(183) Lord Robert Spencer? + +(184) Caroline, only daughter of John, fourth Duke of Bedford. + + + +Anthony Storer to Lord Carlisle. + +1781, Dec. 1.--I received your short note with an enclosed letter +for Boothby, which I sent into the country to him. You laugh at me +when you talk about the tears at the Drawing Room. I confess to you +that I left Ireland with a great deal of regret. If you had not +packed me off to Parliament, I suppose that by Christmas I should +almost have thought myself happy to have established myself in +Dublin. There is a great misfortune in your being Lord Lieutenant, +not only to yourself, but to your friends--for en fait des femmes, +you can neither do anything for yourself, nor can you for me; so +that (I) having no confidant but yourself, all my tender messages +are perfectly put a stop to. I hope Trentham has made greater +advances amongst them since I left Ireland than he did whilst I was +there. He takes time to consider and moves but slowly on to the +siege. + +During the few days I have been in town, I have had as much of +Parliament, Levee, and Drawing Room as if I had been in Dublin. I +have been nothing but proper things. Lord Loug(h)borough, whom I +called upon, has got the gout; but that is what I need not tell you, +for he said that he should write. We had no Irish conversation, for +the Duke of Queensberry was with me, and we made but a short visit. +I understand from Delmc, who came up the first day of the meeting of +Parliament, that Lady Betty is coming up to town next week to lay +in. + +Town is very full, and the Opera is really infinitely better in +every respect than ever I yet saw it or ever expected it to be. +Perhaps coming from what is very bad in Dublin makes me find what +was only moderate before exceedingly good now. The roof of the +theatre has been raised, and the loftiness at present of the house +makes it look really well. + +For the same reason it is perhaps that I was so much struck the +first day of Parliament. Charles Fox, who did not speak as well as +he usually does according to the opinion of many, yet in mine was +astonishingly great. I never attended to any speech half so much, +nor ever did I discover such classical passages in any modern +performance. Besides (th)at, I owned, he convinced me. + +I wished not to talk to you of political events, but nothing else is +thought of. The events that are passed are not half so melancholy as +the prospect which is looked to. The Supply was opposed by Tho(mas) +Pitt, for the first time since the Revolution, yesterday. I did not +hear Mr. W. Pitt, which I regret very much, as it is said that he +even has surpassed Charles, and greater expectations are formed from +him even than from the other. + +There surely must be some change or alteration in Administration. +Lord George Germain seemed to lay a very heavy charge the first day +of the Sessions against Lord Sandwich, but what will come of it, it +is difficult to say. Speculation upon political events, however +justified by seeing what ought to be, is not always to be depended +upon. You can judge better than I can, because you have probably +sure information, and I can only form conclusions by what everyone +sees and knows. From what Lord Germain said, C(harles) Fox told him +that when he impeached Lord Sandwich, he should consider him as a +principal witness. + +The most melancholy events are predicted with regard to the W(est) +Indies. Indeed it is true that everything is now at the mercy of the +Enemy, and it is their fault if any possessions whatever, either in +N(orth) America or in the W(est) Indies, remain under the British +Empire. Our affairs in Ireland go on pretty well, and that is the +only place where they do. (The) Lord Advocate made a downright, open +speech, but Lord Geo(rge) did not understand it; though parts of it, +by what the Advocate has said in debate, were most probably levelled +at him. + + +(1781), Dec. 4, Tuesday morning.--I found, when I came home last +night, this letter from your son, which I enclose. Dr. Ekins shewed +me a letter from him yesterday, which was with less mistakes in the +writing, and was verily (sic) prettily expressed, but it was +shorter. I find my idea of the Provostship will never do. There are +other arrangements for him, and the Provostship, as I hear, will be +given to Dampier, Mr. North's tutor. + +Burke's Motion is withdrawn. The Opposition thought this was exactly +the proper moment to increase and inflame the quarrel between us and +the Americans. Unluckily for them, Government is in possession of a +letter from Mr. Laurens,(185) in which he expresses himself +perfectly satisfied with the treatment of him, in all respects; so +this was communicated to Burke. I heard of no other business +yesterday, or of any news, but Lord Cornwallis, it is said, goes to +Paris. I do not envy him the civilities which he will receive there. + +Monsieur de Maurepas(186) heard of our defeat just before he died, +and expired with a line of Mitridate in his mouth, which sounded as +well I suppose as a Nuncdimittis, and was as sincere: + +Mes demurs regards ont vu fuir les Remains. + +An old coxcomb! I wish that I could live to see our hands trempes +dans le sang odieux de cette nation infernale, rather than our +petits maitres here, in Caca du Dauphin, Boue de Paris, Bile +repandue du Comte d'Artois, ou vomis (sic) de la Reine. Ce sont les +couleurs les plus a la mode, et pour le Carnaval qui vient. + +Lord Loughborough has the gout, and is confined to his bed. To-day I +have all the Townshends and Brodericks to dine here, and Mie Mie +goes after dinner to the Opera with Lady Payne, so I must be dressed +to be her beau, which, if it was not for the pleasure of being +assistant to her, would be souffrir le martyre. + +We shall adjourn next week, I believe, till after the Queen's +birthday. There was a talk yesterday of changes in the Admiralty, +but without foundation. Lord Lisbourne, who dined with us yesterday +at Lord Ashburnham's, did not seem to think that there would be a +change of any sort. I hope he means as to men then only; for if +measures and conduct are not to be changed we are completely undone, +supposing anything of that now left to do. + +The Duke of Newcastle's youngest son is at Lisbon for his health, +and not likely to live. What is become, or will become, of his +eldest God knows. His Grace's pride has settled everything upon Sir +H(enry) Clinton, for the sake of the name, and Oatlands is to be +sold and no vestiges left, of his infinite obligations either to +Lord Torrington or to the Pelhams. He is 200,000 pounds in debt, and +will, if Lord Lincoln marries, of which nobody doubts, have probably +6,000 pounds a year to pay in jointures to Lady Harrington, and Lady +Hertford's daughters, and when this and the usual charge upon the +maintenance of great houses is defrayed, he will leave nothing to +Sir Henry but the expense of his own monument. He is a complete +wretch, and no one ever deserved more to be so. + +(185) Henry Laurens (1723-1783), President of the American Congress +in 1777; he resigned in 1778, and was appointed Ambassador to +Holland, but was captured by the English at sea and imprisoned in +the Tower. After his release he was sent by Washington to Paris to +negotiate for a new loan, and in 1783 he signed there the +preliminaries of peace with Franklin, Adams, and Jay. + +(186) Jean Frederic Phe'lippeaux, Comte de Maurepas (1701-1781), +Minister of Marine under Louis XV., but banished through the +influence of Mme. de Pompadour; recalled by Louis XVI., he was made +first minister, and though himself more courtier than statesman, +succeeded in his policy of the recognition of the United States, and +brought into the Ministry such men as Turgot, Malesherbes, and +Necker. + + +Earlier in this year Walpole had written to Sir Horace Mann: "Mr. +Fox is the first figure in all the places I have mentioned, the hero +in Parliament, at the gaming table, at Newmarket." The sentence with +which Selwyn, half angry and half amused, concludes the last letter +of 1781, emphasises the extraordinary and commanding position which +Fox held at this critical moment in the House of Commons. + + +(1781,) Christmas Day, Tuesday m.--. . . . I dined yesterday at Lady +Lucan's. The dinner was at first designed for George and Mie Mie, +but upon my explaining myself to Lady Lucan concerning that [his +objection to their dining out late], this dinner took another turn, +and was at their usual hour; so instead of them, I met Lady +Clermont, Sir R. and Lady Payne, Mr. Walpole, and Mr. Gibbon.(187) +There were a few at Brooks's, and Hare in the chair to keep up the +appearance of a pharo bank, but nobody to punt but the Duke of +Rutland and Fish Craufurd. Charles, or Richard, if he is there, +never fail(s); and at their own bank they will lose a thousand in +one deal, and win them back in the other; but Richard, as I was +told, lost tout de bon 7,000, the other night, to this bank, in +which Hare and Lord Robert have a twelfth. The whole manoeuvre, +added to their patriotism, their politics, &c., &c., are incredible. + +I am going to dine to-day at Delme's; he +has promised me some plum porridge. His son is to dine here with +George. Lady B(etty) brings him at half-hour after two. On Friday I +dine at Keene's, and in the evening George and Mie Mie come, and +George may renew his addresses to the young lady. Lady Lucan desires +that we should choose King and Queen at her house. I have myself no +objection to anything but the dinner abroad, + +Tuesday night.--No letter come. At Delme's the D(uke) of +Q(ueensberry), Storer, Hanger, and G. Fitzwilliams, Lady Ann, and +the family. . . . Hare holding the Bank. The punters are, Charles, +par interet, Fish Craufurd, par complaisance, and the D. of R., par +betise. Storer's patent is at last passed,(188) as Gibbon tells me. +I hear no more; it is likely, for this next week, to be a great +dearth of news. For be the West India Islands taken, or secured, it +will be no matter I suppose of concern till Charles has made a +speech about them. + +(187) The historian (1737-1794). + +(188) See note (99). + + +How close were the ties of friendship which united Selwyn with +Storer and Hare has been told at the beginning of this volume: the +following letter will add to the picture of the group of friends and +of the diversions of London society at this moment. + + +James Hare to Lord Carlisle. + +(1781,) Dec. 29.--I stayed at Foxley till the middle of October, and +then came to Town, where, for want of other amusement I chose to +take the diversion of Hazard at the House in Pall Mall, and lost +near 4,000 pounds in three nights to a set of fellows whom I never +saw before, and have never seen since. Though it has generally +happened to me to begin the winter without a guinea, I did not make +up my mind to it this year so easily as I have done formerly, +because I knew that I deserved to be poor for having been fool +enough to lose my money at Hazard instead of saving it for Pharaoh. + +Richard played at the same place, and lost 8,000 gs., which he paid +immediately, though he had declared to me a few days before that he +had not a quarter of that sum in the world; but you know how to +estimate his veracity on these subjects as well as anybody. + +Charles, in the October meetings, lost about 10,000, the greatest +part of it on Races, and the rest to General Smith at picquet. The +general opinion was, that Charles was extremely partial to horses of +his own confederacy; this he denies, and of course is angry to hear +suspected, but you and I shall not be very backward to believe it to +have been the case. + +Most of the joint annuitants agreed to a proposal made to them by +Richard and Charles, viz., to receive 6,000 immediately, and the +remainder by instalments in three years. One of them refused to +accept this proposal, and seized soon after the meeting four of +Charles's horses, which were of trifling value, and therefore bought +in again at a small expense by Derby, in whose name they now stand; +whether some time or other his protection may not be insufficient, I +shall not pretend to say, but it is not quite out of the reach of +possibility. + +Thus, you see, the Bankers did not meet at the beginning of the +winter in the same opulent circumstances as they had parted in at +the end of the last campaign. Lord Robert and I proposed to have our +share increased from a twelfth to an eighth. Charles consented, but +Richard refused, and we remain on our former footeign (sic). The +Bank has already won considerably, and would probably have done +still better if money was not very scarce, as most of the punters +retain their passion without the means of gratifying it. + +You will be surprised when I tell you that Richard is our most +valuable punter, and has lost this year full as much as his share of +the winnings of the Bank; and as he would not agree to my having a +larger share, I have no great remorse in taking his money. Last +night he lost 3,000 pounds, and Charles above 5,000; all the other +players won something, but not a sum at all equal to our partner's +losses. Pray do not mention this, unless you hear it from some other +person, as probably you will. + +The club at Brookes's is very ill attended, and Brookes enraged to +the last degree that gentlemen should presume to think of anything +but making his fortune. He complained to Charles that there was +17,000 pounds owing to the house, which is a most impudent lie; and +even if it were true he would have no reason to complain of the +balance, as he has 15,000 belonging to the proprietors of the Bank +in his hands, for which he pays no interest, though he receives at +least 5 per cent, for all money owing to him. + +There are two Clubs lately formed, both consisting of young men, and +chiefly of different parties in politics. Goostree's(189) is a small +society of young men in Opposition, and they are very nice in their +admissions; as they discourage gaming as much as possible, their +Club will not do any harm to Brookes's, and probably not subsist a +great while; it seems to be formed on the model of the celebrated +Tuesday Night Club. The other is at Welche's,(190) in St. James's +Street, consisting of young men who belong to Government; and poor +John St. John, whose age and zeal for Government particularly +qualify him to be a member, has hitherto met with objections on the +ballot, which I hope will be withdrawn on another trial of his +interest, and that the Town will have the advantage of his +management at the next Masquerade, which that Club is to give after +Xmas. + + Boothby has just told me that James finds himself in such bad +circumstances that he is obliged to sell all his horses, and give up +hunting entirely; but as James is in Town, and has not said one word +to me about it, I am in hopes that it is not exactly so: the Prince +is rather a dark painter, and fond of placing the principal figure +in the shade. The Prince himself, I am afraid, is rather distressed, +as he never games, and it is observed invidiously enough by people +who do not love him, that he must be poor, as he has grown so much +more agreeable than he used to be. + +Crawford was giving himself great airs the other day on having taken +Longchamp, the man who keeps the rooms at Newmarket, into his +service as cook, but on enquiry it appeared that he had taken one of +his brothers: the Fish was unspeakably mortified to find that his +cook was not a man of so great celebrity as he had imagined, and +gave his first dinner yesterday with a determination to condemn the +cook's performance, whether good or bad. I am very ill qualified to +tell you the scandalous history of fine ladies, not having been at +one assembly this winter. . . . + +Lord Salisbury sacrifices his whole time and fortune to +Hertfordshire popularity, and six years hence may perhaps reap the +reward of his labours by bringing in a Member for the county, after +an expensive contest. . . . + +Lord Morpeth looks remarkably well: I hope George's fondness will +not spoil him, for he is the prettiest boy I ever saw. + +(189) See letter of Feb. 19, 1782: "Young Pitt has formed a society +of young Ministers, . . ." and note (204). + +(190) See letter of Feb. 19, 1782 below: "Weltie's Club is going to +give a masquerade . . ." and note (203). + + + + + +CHAPTER 5. 1782. THE FALL OF LORD NORTH. + +Fox's political principles--The fifth Duke of Bedford--A little +dinner--A debate in the Commons--The attack on Lord George Germaine +--Beckford--An evening at Brooks's--Pitt and his friends--Possible +changes in the Cabinet--Faro at White's--A story of the Duke of +Richmond--An address to the King--A levee--Play and politics at +Brooks's--Government and the Opposition--Selwyn and his offices--The +position of the King--Fears of change of administration--The King's +objections to Fox--Probable debates--Political prospects--Debates +and divisions--The fate of the King's friends--Illness of Lord +Morpeth--Annoyance of Selwyn at the state of affairs--Fox and +Selwyn--Fall of Lord North--A new Ministry--Official changes--Fox +and Carlisle--Carlisle's position--Morpeth and Mie Mie. + +"The year 1782 is memorable for the fall of Lord +North. It was more than the end of a Ministry, to a great extent it +was the end of the system of personal government by the sovereign." +"The King," wrote Selwyn, on March 27th, "will have no more personal +friends, as Lord Hertford says; there will be no opposition to that +in this new Government, what a cipher his Majesty will be you may +guess." Selwyn had no great respect for the King, and not much +liking for his minister, Lord North. "I see him in no light, but +that of a Minister, and in that I see him full of defects, and of +all men I ever yet sate down to dinner with the most disagreeable. +But he is so, in part from a scholastic, puritanical education, to +which has been superadded the flattery of University parsons, led +captains, and Treasury dependants. Without this, he would have been +a pleasant companion. He has parts, information, and a good share of +real wit, and (is), I believe, not an ill-tempered man by any means. +But with all this, he has un commerce qui me rebute. As to what he +says, or promises, it is sur la foi de Ministre and credat Judeus, +but I never will." (May 15, 1781.) + +But like many others Selwyn had grown accustomed to the existing +method of carrying on the government and obtaining majorities in the +House of Commons. He had seen much of political corruption and +official influence, and having no high political standard he had +come to regard the system of George III. and North as normal and +constitutional. He had, too, a fear of a ministry in which Fox and +his friends should take a leading part. In Selwyn's mind Fox was +connected with the wildest gambling and with a carelessness in +regard to monetary obligations which he considered to be almost +criminal. There were many others who shared this opinion: it was one +thing for a gambler to hurry from the card-table in St. James's +Street to the floor of the House of Commons and delight alike +Ministerialists and Opposition by a brilliant attack on the +Government: it was quite another for him to be responsible for the +affairs of the nation. George III. and Lord North were men of +business. Fox was a man of pleasure, and those who were most +intimate with him at the clubs were the last--very often--to desire +to see him a Minister. "From a Pharo table to the headship of the +Exchequer is a transition which appears to me de tenir trop au +Roman, and those who will oppose it the most are those whom he has +been voting with and assisting to ruin this country for the last ten +years at least." Selwyn underrated the need for Fox's great +abilities in office; so powerful a debater could not be used by a +party in opposition only. But he certainly expressed a feeling which +existed in the minds of many. + +Selwyn's letters which were written at this crisis give a lively +description of the dismay which the change of Ministry produced +among those who had begun to consider Lord North's Government as a +part of the established order of things. The Court party had hardly +taken the Opposition seriously; there were many who had grown to +suppose that nothing could overturn the individual authority of the +King, and they were puzzled and surprised at the impending changes. + +In the first of the following letters there is an account of a +curious academic discussion at Brooks's on the theory of government, +in which Fox took part. Those who listened to him hardly realised +that presently he would be the most important member of a new +government. It would not be easy to find a clearer picture of Fox at +that extraordinary time than is given to us in these letters; the +apprehension and the affection felt by his friends, the contrast +between his social bonhomie and his political fervour is +conspicuously presented. We understand his greatness better when we +see him moving among his contemporaries, good-natured, indifferent +to what was said or thought of him, telling his opinions without +hesitation--a giant among political and intellectual dwarfs. + +Again in the midst of the gambling, the supper parties, and the +gaieties of the town, there is the continual sombre shadow of an +important constitutional change--a system and a Cabinet were falling +under the deep resentment of the country. Neither the King, the +Ministry, or its supporters appeared to appreciate that, even in an +age when public opinion was chaotic and often hardly audible, there +must come a time when a day of reckoning was certain for a +Government which had discredited and injured its country. + +We see the apprehensions, the personal expectations, the +littlenesses of political society. Then comes the final crash when, +after twelve years of opposition, the Whigs take office, watched +half with fear and half with contempt by those who had been unable +to understand the forces which had produced this inevitable result. + + +(1782,) Jan. 8, Tuesday.--I did not go to bed this morning till +seven, and got neither drunk, or gamed. The Duke of Rutland,(191) +Charles Fox, Belgiosio (Belgiojoso), Gen. Smith, and I supped at +Brooks's, but it was pure conversation between Charles, the Duke, +and I which lasted so long. Our chief and almost only topic was that +of Government, abstractedly considered, and speculations about what +would be the best for this country; Charles's account of his own +principles in that respect; his persuasion about mine; his Grace's +lessons from Lord Chatham, and commonplace panegyric upon that +unparalleled statesman, and the utility to the public derived from +paying his debts and maintaining his posterity. The principal is, +that hereafter people in employment will be indifferent about the +emoluments of office, persuaded that a grateful country like this +will not suffer the wife and children of great characters to go +unprovided for, or their tradesmen unpaid, and a great deal of this +sublime nonsense. + +Charles was infinitely agreeable, or I could not have stayed so +long. A quarrel, he says, had like to have happened at Quinze +between the General and the Fish. The General told the +Ambassador(192)2 how rich he was, and how well the English (meaning, +he said, people of distinction, such as his son) were received both +at Brunswick and at Vienna; lied immoderately about the affairs of +the India Company; and was ten times more at his ease than ever, to +shew Belgiosio that he had the ton de cour. Charles shewed me two of +Brooks's cards; on one he was Dr. 4,400, on another Cr. 11,000 +pounds. This was the Rich Bank he belongs to. + +(191) Charles, fourth Duke of Rutland, K.G. (1754-1787). He was +Pitt's first Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and died in office at the +opening of a promising political career. + +(192) Belgiojoso. + + +(1782,) Feb. 4, Monday morning.--You will not expect me to give you +so soon any more account of George than I shall have from Sir John +Eden, who intends to go either to-day or to-morrow to Neasdon, and +who will bring me word how he does. + +I was at Lord Gower's last night; and I saw there the Duke of +Bedford,(193) who, I must own, surprised me by his figure, beyond +measure; his long, lank, black hair, covering his face, shoulders, +back, neck, and everything, disguised him so that I have yet to know +his figure; I can but guess at his person. Why this singularity at +17 years of age? cela n'indique pas un esprit solide. + +They saw the astonishment which this exhibition created in me, and +Lord Gower laughed, and said, "You perhaps do not know who it is?" +Indeed I did not. Je define seulement que sa figure n'est pas laide. +His chevelure was like that which I see in a picture of the grand +Conde. If there is anything of that hid under this disguise je lui +passerai cette singularity and yet, if your sons or either of them +should have all which Monsieur le Prince possessed, and Colbert too, +I had rather that they would not be singular. It may divert, but can +never add to the respect which they might otherwise have. + +I went with Lord Trentham to the Speaker's, and returned to Lord +G(ower), but had no conversation either with him or the Countess. +When they go to Neasdon, I hope that they will carry me with them. +When George meets me, he accosts me with these words, "Quomodo vale +(sic) my petite sodale;" ou il a peche cette plaisanterie I do not +know. His namesake, Lord G. Germain,(194) is to kiss hands this +morning for the title and peerage of Sackville. Drayton, it seems, +goes to the Beauclerks, if he becomes Duke of Dorset and has that +estate. + +My dinner yesterday with Fawkener and Warner at Mr. Crespigni's was +a very agreeable one indeed; la chere plutot bonne quexquise; +excellent vin. You will not forget Warner, I hope, when the +opportunity offers, afin qu'il soit dans le cas d'en tirer de sa +propre cave. We generally close the evening around the fire in the +card room at White's, a forte feu de fraix; Williams, Lord +Ashburnham, Vary, Fawkener, etc.; that is, those who either sup, +game, or sit up. The season of all that is over with me, and I have +little inclination left for either of them. I am quite well, vu mon +age, and as likely to see you again as any other who is a +sexagenaire, et meme davantage. It is the chief part of my Litanie. + +I talked of Caroline last night with Lady Ann, till I could ask no +more questions about her. I am glad that her dancing is admired. We +have here Mademoiselle Theodore, who takes Mr. Willis'(?) place till +the season is over. She has half a guinea a lesson, but it is to +stay an hour. There is a good account of Johnson's prices, but he +himself is gone to Lisbon to be married; whether that will be a +prize, is a Scavoir. That of the Duke of Newcastle's(195) (sic) is +already condemned, at least by his Grace, but he nuptie sunt vere +nevertheless. Lord Cornwallis is, I believe, going to inhabit my +house till midsummer. That has been a heavy charge upon my hands, +instead of a profit. + +(193) Francis Russell, fifth Duke of Bedford (1765-1802)5 succeeded +his grandfather in 1771. He was badly educated, indifferent to +public opinion, liberal and independent in political views, a +consistent follower of Fox. In later life he showed great interest +in the advancement of agriculture, by practice and experiment. + +(194) See note (196) to letter of Feb. 8 below. + +(195) Thomas, third Duke of Newcastle (1752-1795). He married in +this year, the second daughter of the Earl of Harrington. + + +We have now nearly reached the climax of the political interest and +excitement which had been growing greater since the memorable +session of 1781 began. To appreciate the letters which follow, it is +necessary to bear in mind some of the main parliamentary incidents +of this particular period. On February 7, 1782, the House of Commons +resolved itself into a Committee to inquire into the present state +of naval affairs. Fox in an elaborate speech reviewed their course +for the preceding five years, and concluded by moving "that there +has been gross mismanagement of the naval affairs of Great Britain +during the course of the year 1781." The supporters of the +Government were as little satisfied with the administration of the +navy as the Opposition, and the debate, which was concluded by +another remarkable speech from Fox, resulted in a virtual defeat of +the Administration. The Opposition were in a minority only of 18 +votes. On February 22nd a different ground was chosen by the +Opposition for their attack, General Conway moving an address that +the war in America should no longer be pursued. The noticeable +change in the feeling in the House of Commons, crammed as it was by +place-men, is clearly exemplified by the result of the division. On +this occasion the Government were only able to defeat the Opposition +by one vote, 194 to 193. On February 27th a similar address was +again moved by Conway and an attempt by the Government to adjourn +the debate was defeated by 234 to 215 votes. The address was then +carried without a division. Selwyn looking at events from what was, +politically speaking, a somewhat non-party point of view, is +obviously puzzled as to how the crisis would end. He tells us, too, +of the formation of a group of young politicians under Pitt. He +ascribes to the future Prime Minister the organisation of a party, +though hitherto these meetings at Goosetree's have been regarded +chiefly as social gatherings. + +(1782,) Feb. 8, Friday, the Fast Day.--We were not up last night +till near three this morning; our numbers were 205 and 183. Our +majority was but mince, but it was a popular Question, but Lord +Sandwich is not a popular man; but I have lived long enough to have +remembered other ministers less popular, if possible, and who have +been since reverenced, and by the most respectable among those who +had traduced them. Charles made two speeches; the last was much +animated. Admiral Keppell spoke, and so did Sir E. Dering, drunk, +sicut suus mos est; but he says in that ivresse des verites vertes +et piquantes. He is a tiresome noisy fool, and I wish that he never +spoke anywhere but in the House of Commons. + +Saturday.--I was prevented from continuing this letter yesterday, by +a visit from Lord Digby, who assured me that to the best of his +judgment you had nothing to fear from that quarter which has now and +then alarmed me not a little. I dined at Lord Ash[burnham's]: Lord +Frederick, Williams, Sir J. Peachy(?) and old(?) Elison. I do not +perceive that Lord Carm(arthen) has got any repu(ta)tion from his +violence against Lord George.(196) The attack surprised, (and) had +not been concerted with anybody; he had revealed his design but to +one, as he said, and that I am told was Lord Pembroke, une tete +digne de cette confidence. + +It was a Motion cruel and ill-mannered, and not becoming one man of +quality to another; at the same time an unpardonable insult to the +Crown. Lord de Ferrars, I hear, has found out a precedent for it, as +he thinks, in King James 1st('s) time, but a precedent of what? of +ins(o)lence to the Crown; it was in that reign begun, with impunity. +If there could be any hesitation in this peerage, this motion must +have confirmed it. + +Lord Abingdon spoke like a perfect blackguard, and Lord Shellbourne, +in a speech which Lord Cov(entry) calls such a model of perfect +oratory, to exemplify the contempt which the late King had of Lord +George, quoted not only his own words, but imitated his manner--two +of his grand-children, the Princes, in the House. This part of his +speech was a pantomime fitter for the treteaux des boulevards than +for a chamber of Parliament. However, Lord George will take his seat +next week, and what he will do, or be, afterwards, God knows. +Ellis(197) has his place. + +Poor General Fraser died of an emetic, which occasioned the bursting +of a vessel. Lord Talbot has had another warning, and so has Lord R. +Bertie, and neither can live long. I was last night at Lady Lucan's, +to see young Beckford,(198) who seems to possess very extraordinary +talents; he is a perfect master of music, but has a voice, either +natural or feigned, of an eunuch. He speaks several languages with +uncommon facility, and well, but has such a mercurial turn, that I +think he may finish his days aux petites maisons; his person and +figure are agreeable. I did not come till late, and till he had +tired himself with all kind of mimicry and performances. The Duchess +of Bedford [was] there, and Lady Clermont. There is a picture +engraving at the man's house in St. James's Street where your +picture is to be engraved. His design is ingenious; it is the story +of Pharaoh's daughter finding Moses in the bullrushes. The Princess +Royal is introduced as Pharaoh's daughter, and all the other ladies, +celebrated for their beauty--the Duchess of Devonshire, Lady Jersey, +etc. etc.; on briguera les places. The portraits will be originals, +and the whole, if well executed, will be a very pretty print. I +would have a pendent to it; and that should be of Pharo's sons, +where might be introduced a great many of our friends, and +acquaintance, from the other side of the Street. I am so taken up +with business this morning, that I did not endeavour to make a party +with Lord Gower to go and see George. Gregg has wrote me word that +he shall ride that way to-morrow. + +(196) Lord George Sackville Germaine, on his resignation of the +Secretaryship of the Colonies, was, in February, 1782, created a +peer as Viscount Sackville of Drayton Manor, Northampton. Thereupon +the Marquis of Carmarthen brought forward a motion in the House of +Lords that it was derogatory to the honour of the House that any +person under the censure of a court martial should be raised to the +Peerage. The motion was defeated, but was repeated on February +18th after Lord Sackville had taken his seat. Though personal in its +form, this was simply a Parliamentary attack on the Ministry and the +Crown. Sackville had at the battle of Minden, in 1759, disobeyed the +orders of Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, the commander-in-Chief, by +refusing to advance with the cavalry. In the following year he was +dismissed by court martial from the army. The use made of an event +more than twenty years old illustrates the temper of the Opposition. +The subject is referred to in a subsequent letter, see p. 198. + +(197) Welbore Ellis, appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies +March 8, 1782. + +(198) William Beckford (1759-1844), son of the well-known member of +Parliament and Lord Mayor. As a boy of nine, he came into possession +of a property of a million. "Neither his genius nor his fortune +yielded what they would have produced to a wiser and better man. +. . . Hardly any other man has produced such masterpieces with so +little effort." He was the author of "Vathek," an Oriental romance, +and other works. He was an enthusiastic collector, and he made +Fonthill, where he lived in later life in eccentric seclusion, a +complete museum. + + +(1782,) Feb. 19, Tuesday morning.--I wish that I could repeat and +describe, as well as I can hear and attend to what is said to me, +when people speak sense and to the purpose, and are not trying to +mislead you. When I went to Brooks's it was in search of the +Duke;(199) there I found him at dinner, altercating Lord Sackville's +cause, and Stirling, with Charles, Lord Derby, &c., &c. You may +imagine with what candour and fairness his arguments were received. +I am, it is certain, a friend to him, and not to Charles, but all +partiality or prejudice laid aside, I think my friend as good a +reasoner as the other; but one employs his faculties in the search +of truth, and the other in disguising it and substituting falsehood +in its room, to serve the purpose of Party. + +I soon left them and went to White's; I like the society there +better. There was a dinner also for the Lords, and there was Lord +Loughborough, Lord Buckingham, Duke of Dorset, Lord Cov(entry), Lord +Ash(burnham), &c., &c., &c. I stayed with Lord Loughborough, Lord +Ash(burnharn), and Lord Cov(entry) till past two this morning. The +Duke changed his court and came to us, to plead in the common pleas, +but with us there was no dispute. There was one who would have +disputed if he could, which was Cov(entry), but Lord Loughborough +has such a variety of incontestable facts concerning the affair of +Minden, the opinions of foreign officers relative to P(rince) +Ferd(inand's) whole conduct in respect of Lord George, the faction +and partiality and injustice in the proceedings of the court +martial, with so many arguments and precedents against the Question +of yesterday, that poor Cov(entry) had not a word to say but that he +had been soliciting privately--which I do not credit--the Lords in +Opposition not to bring on this question, which at the same time he +rejoiced at. Lord Ash[burnham] is among many others one whom +Cov(entry) is practising constantly his astucity upon, and whom he +thinks that he deceives. I was extremely entertained. + +I have no liking and esteem for Lord Sack(ville), or ever had, any +more than acquaintance with him, but from the first to the last I +have believed that he has been sacrificed to the implacable +resentment of P(rince) Ferd(inand), the late Duke of Cumb(erlan)d, +and the late King, helped on by all the private malice and flattery +in the world; and all which I heard last night, of which I cannot +have the least doubt, confirms me in that opinion. I am clear in +nothing concerning his personal merit, or defects, excepting of his +abilities, and when these could be of any use to Party, they were +extolled, and his imperfections forgot. He was invited to take a +share in Government by the people who think, or have pretended to +think, him a disgrace to the peerage. + +I am sorry for it, but Lord Carm(arthen)(200) has in all this made +but a miserable figure. I am sorry, from wishing well towards him, +that I had not been apprised of this. I could have assured him of +what even the best of his own party would think of his Motion, after +it was made. I know that Lord Cambden(201) was strongly in his +private opinion against it. [The] Lord Chancellor(202) spoke out I +hear; his speech was admirable, en tous points; and upon the whole, +I believe Lord Sackville to have been infinitely more served than +hurt by this proceeding. + +I saw on Brooks's table a letter directed to you from Hare, so I +hope that it was to give you an account of these things, partial or +impartial. I have no doubt but his account will be an amusing one. I +left him in his semicircular nitch at the Pharo table, improving his +fortune every deal. I wish Monsieur Mercier would come here and +write a Tableau de Londres as he has that of Paris, and that he +would take for his work some anecdotes with which I could furnish +him. + +It is thought that we shall be run hard in the House to-morrow. And +so we shall, but we shall not be beat, as Charles gives out, and +does not believe. I suppose our majority will be about twenty. +Absentees in the last Question on both sides will now appear. I hope +that Government will send two Yeomen of the Guard to carry the Fish +down in his blankets, for he pretends to have the gout. He should be +deposited sur son maniveau, and be fairly asked his opinion, and +forced to give it, one way or the other, en pleine assemble, for at +present it is only we who can tell s'il est chair ou poisson. . . . + +(199) Of Queensberry. + +(200) See note (82). + +(201) Charles Pratt, Earl Camden (1713-1794). Lord Chancellor in +1766; the friend of Pitt (Lord Chatham). + +(202) Thurlow. + + +(1782, Feb. 19?) Tuesday night, 8 o'clock.--I saw Lord R. Spencer +and Lord Ossory to-day, who tell me that they suppose that we shall +carry the Question by ten, if the Question is put; but it is +imagined rather by them that the Ministers will give it up. Ellis +has added another footman to his chariot, and is a Minister in form, +and fact, and pomp, and everything. Lady Ossory is just come to +town. Lord Clarendon has wrote a copy of verses upon Lord +Salisbury's Ball, which the Essex's are so kind as to hand about for +him. The verses are not numerous. There are not above two stanzas, +and not good enough to suppose that they had been composed even in +his sleep; so much nonsense and obscurity and want of measure and +harmony I never saw in any composition before. But as they love to +laugh at his Lordship in that family, so, as he had the absurdity to +communicate them, they are determined that they shall not be +suppressed. . . . + +Weltie's Club(203) is going to give a masquerade like that given by +the Tuesday Night's Club. I hear that all the different parties in +Opposition are determined to draw together in this Question, how +much soever they may differ afterwards, in hopes, I suppose, by +their united force, to destroy this Administration. Young Pitt has +formed a society of young Ministers, who are to fight under his +banner, and these are the Duke of Rutland, Mr. Banks, Lord Chatham, +&c., &c., and they assemble at Goostree's.(204) + +To-morrow no post goes, as I am told, and on Thursday Storer shall +give you an account of what will have passed in the House; he will +do that better than I can. He attends at his Board very exactly. You +have done a great thing for him, and no one seems more sensible of +it. Lord Cov(entry) would have persuaded me to-day that things were +going very ill in Ireland, but till I hear it from you I shall not +believe it. All my accounts hitherto have had a different tendency. + +I hear from one quarter that a change of some sort in Administration +is determined upon, and that the Chancellor has the task of +composing those jarring atoms to prevent the King's Cabinet from +being stormed. That Lord Shellbourne will be taken in, de quelque +maniere ou d'autre. Storming a Cabinet is a phrase coined in my +time, to express what I cannot pretend to say that I do not +understand, but how the fact is practicable, invito rege, will be +for ever a mystery to me, and if it happens with his consent I am +yet to learn how the Cabinet is storm(ed). I will never believe but +if a prince very early in his reign had a mind to set a mark upon +those who distinguish themselves in Opposition with that view, he +would never have the thin(g) attempted. It may be necessary to +change measures and men, but why it is necessary that particular men +must be fixed upon you, whether you will [or] not, I do not +conceive, nor will ever admit as [a] possibility, while the Laws and +Constitution remain as they are; so with this I wish you a good +night. + +(203) Weltzie's Club was at No. 63, St. James's Street. Weltzie was +House Steward to the Prince of Wales, by whom the Club was +established, in opposition to Brooks's. + +(204) This club was at No. 5, Pall Mall, which was occupied by +Almack's before it was taken over by Brooks' in 1778, and removed to +St. James's Street. Goosetree's was quite a small club, of about +twenty-five members, of whom Pitt was the chief. + + +(1782, Feb.) 26, Tuesday m(orning), 11 o'clock.--. . . . I went last +night, after the children were in their beds, to White's, and stayed +there till 12. The Pharo party was amusing. Five such beggars could +not have met; four lean crows feeding on a dead horse. Poor Parsons +held the bank. The punters were Lord Carmarthen, Lord Essex, and one +of the Fauquiers; and Denbigh sat at the table, with what hopes I +know not, for he did not punt. Essex's supply is from his son, which +is more than he deserves, but Malden, I suppose, gives him a little +of his milk, like the Roman lady to her father. + +A very large company yesterday at Lord Rocking(ham's). The whole +Party pretends to be confident of their carrying the Question +to-morrow, if people are properly managed and collected. I do not +believe it, but they do. The main point will not be more advanced in +my opinion. + + +(1782,) March 1, Friday.--George seems so well today that there does +not seem wanting the coup de peigne. I have not heard a cough +to-day. We have been walking. It is the finest day that ever was, +and we are going in the coach to meet one part of His Majesty's +faithful Commons, who go to Court at two o'clock with their Address. +People are either so close, cautious, or ignorant, that among those +I converse with I can be informed of nothing which is to happen in +consequence of the last majority. It may be nothing at present, but +the Opposition is in great glee, to judge from their countenance. I +shall know before I sit down to dinner not only the K(ing's) answer, +but the manner of the answer also. + +Lord Ossory is this morning gone to the Levee, and others of his +sort, I suppose, with a design to countenance and spread the credit +of their coming in. Fish, as I hear, doubles and trebles all his +flattery to Charles, and now and then throws in a compliment to Lord +N(orth), not being quite sure of what may happen, and then adds, "In +that respect I will do him justice; I do not think better even of +Charles, as to that"; and goes on in this style till the whole room +is in a laugh. + +But now I have a story to tell you of his Grace the Duke of +Richmond.(205) Lord Rawdon, I hear, came over from Ireland for no +earthly reason but to oblige his Grace to a recantation of what he +had said in the H(ouse) of L(ords) about Haines. He wrote to him +here a very civil but a very peremptory letter, and at last Lord +Ligonier(206) went to him, at Lord Rawdon's request, with the words +wrote down which his Grace was to use, on his subject. At first the +Duke hesitated, but Lord L. said that he recommended it to him to +read it over carefully, and then decide; that he was limited as to +time, and hinted that, upon a refusal, he should be obliged to come +with another message. The Duke complied very judiciously, and a +speech was made accordingly; and Lord Huntingdon was present, and +heard justice done to his relation. The Duke was conscious of the +part which he was forced to take by what he said to Lord Lothian and +to Lord Amhurst; and this, as I am told, is the third time that his +Grace has been compelled to make these amendes honorables. I am glad +to have heard this, because so much mechancete deserves this +humiliation. It may be that in telling me the story, it was +aggravated, but I believe the fond of it to be true, and that his +Grace deserves this and ten times more, and so probably Mr. Bates +will directly or indirectly let him know. + +Saturday morning.--Mr. Walpole came to me last night, as +George and I were playing together at whist with two dummies (for +Mie Mie and Mrs. W(ebb) were gone to her dancing academy), and he +stayed with me till near eleven; so I was obliged, finding it so +late, only to scrawl out three words to let you know that the little +boy was quite well. . . . + +I do not find upon discourse anything exaggerated in the least in +regard to his Grace. Lord L(igonier), to those to whom he chooses to +talk upon this subject, is very explicit, and from these I had it. +It was the same with Mr. Clavering and Colonel Cunning(ham). Now for +the Address. I saw all these brouillons and their adherents go by; +that starved weasel, Charles Turner, in his coach, grinning and +squinting: Wilkes(207) in his; Charles F(ox) and Ossory, laughing in +Charles's chariot, a gorge deployee. They were not detained long. +The King beheld them come up the room with a very steady +countenance, and one which expressed a good deal of firmness. I have +been told by several that he is shrunk, and does not look well. I +have heard that the Chan(cellor) sat up with him the other night, +and till five in the morning. Of this I know nothing. + +He made them the only answer which he could, in my opinion, have +made with any propriety, had he been less displeased than he has +reason to be with these people. But he laid such an emphasis upon +the words, "By the means which shall seem to me the most +conducive," &c., &c., that the answer was by no means acceptable, or +the reception; and what will follow from it and what (be) voted upon +it, the Lord knows. + +Next week will be one of bustle, and I will beg Storer to be +circumstantial in all he relates to you of the House of Commons, as +I shall myself, as far as it shall come to my knowledge. + +At the Levee Charles presented an Address from Westminster. The King +took it out of his hand without deigning to give him a look even, or +a word; he took it as you would take a pocket handkerchief from your +valet de chambre, without any mark of displeasure or attention, or +expression of countenance whatever, and passed it to his +lord-in-waiting, who was the Duke of Queensberry. It was the same +with Sir Jos(eph) Mawbey. He spoke to none but one word, and it was +inevitable, to Admiral Kepple, who had bouche son passage. When he +was upon the throne the Chancellor was at his right hand, and +looking with such a countenance as affords to the people of Brooks's +much occasion of abuse. Arnold(208) was behind the throne. The King +looked much displeased with Mr. Conway, the mover, at the right hand +of the Speaker. + +I do not find that they expect any immediate changes to follow from +this, but so various is the discourse at White's and at Brooks's +among themselves, that it is difficult to collect anything which is +worth recording. + +I went last night to Brooks's, and stayed with them all after +supper, on purpose to hear their discourse, which is with as +little reserve before me as if I was one of their friends. Charles +says that it was some comfort to him to have frightened them, at +least; but he was so candid to me as to own that from the beginning +of this emeute he could not perceive in me the least expression of +fear or disquietude whatever, and that, to be sure, he did not like. + +The truth is, I have made up my mind to whatever shall happen. I +wish the King to be master, and he may be so, if he pleases, I am +confident, and all whom I saw at Brooks's last night anneantis as +politicians, if he will stand but firm upon the ground on which he +now is. + +Sir G. Cooper(209) tells me that two only were lost by the +disappointment of the Loan. Several Scotch members went off, for +reasons but too apparent, and which justified but too much the +character given of them. Mr. W. lays this upon Rigby's agitated, +restless humour and intrigue, but how much he has contributed to +this bustle I am sure I cannot tell. If I was in his circumstances, +I should not be disposed to hazard any change. + +The Taxes, which were to come on on Monday, are put off till +Wednesday. Questions will be followed by questions, but all will not +be carried by a majority against Government, if the King expresses +an inclination to yield as to measures and to be resolute as to men. + +I own that to see Charles closeted every instant at Brooks's by one +or the other, that he can neither punt or deal for a quarter of an +hour but he is obliged to give an audience, while Hare is whispering +and standing behind him, like Jack Robinson, with a pencil and paper +for mems., is to me a scene la plus parfaitement comtque que l'on +puisse imaginer, and to nobody it seems most [more] risible than to +Charles himself. + +What he and his friends would really do with me, if they had me in +their power, I cannot say, but they express in their looks and words +nothing which I can fairly interpret to proceed from ill-will. I +have been lately not so contentious or abusive as formerly, no more +than I have flattered them, and my appearance among them is from +mere curiosity, and to amuse you by my recitals more than from any +other motive. + +(205) Charles Lennox, third Duke of Richmond (1735-1806). He was a +Whig of strong liberal opinions. In 1782 he joined Lord +Rockingham's Cabinet as Master General of the Ordnance. He +resigned office when Fox and North came into power in 1782. In 1783, +on the fall of the Coalition Ministry, he joined Pitt's first +Administration, from which time his opinions grew more conservative. +In 1795 he gave up office but continued to give an independent +support to Pitt. Richmond's handsome person, high station, love and +patronage of the fine arts, and his political ambition and capacity, +combined to make him one of the first men of the time. + +(206) Edward, Earl Ligonier, died 1782, of the Irish peerage, and +a general in the English army. His grandfather was a native of +France, and a Huguenot. His uncle was Marshal Lord Ligonier. + +(207) John Wilkes (1727-1797). He first made use of the power of the +press in politics. In 1782 his election for Middlesex Was finally +pronounced by Parliament to be valid. + +(208) Benedict Arnold (1741-1801). Arnold, after brilliant military +services on behalf of the revolted Colonists, had entered, in 1780, +into negotiations with General Clinton to give up to the English +commander the position of West Point with its stores. Major Andre +was sent to him on behalf of the English general. Arnold's treachery +was discovered, and he had barely time to escape to a British sloop. +In 1782, after being given the rank of Brigadier-General in the +English army, he came to London. + +(209) Sir Grey Cooper, died 1801, one of the Secretaries of the +Treasury from 1765 to 1782, and again under the Coalition Ministry. +Noted for his administrative ability and accurate knowledge on +questions of finance. + + +The correspondence must again be interrupted to continue the +narrative of the parliamentary struggle. On receipt of the King's +answer to the Address which, it has already been stated, was carried +without a division, Conway moved another hostile resolution, to the +effect that those who should advise the further prosecution of the +American war should be considered enemies of the country. This was +also carried without a division, but Lord North still remained in +office. + +On March 8th, therefore, the attack was renewed, Lord John Cavendish +bringing forward a resolution which concluded with the words, "That +the chief cause of all these misfortunes has been the want of +foresight and ability in his Majesty's Ministers." The Government +were still able to depend on their place-holders, and averted a +direct defeat by carrying the order of the day by ten votes. + +The Opposition was as obstinate in assault as the King--for it was +virtually he against whom the attacks of Fox and his friends were +being pressed--was in defence, and on the 15th of March a direct +resolution of want of confidence was only defeated by nine votes. + +Notice was promptly given of a renewal of the struggle on March +20th, but when that day arrived Lord North came down to the House of +Commons and announced the resignation of the Government. It was one +of the momentous declarations in English history. It virtually +proclaimed the independence of the American colonies and the +beginning of a new epoch of ministerial responsibility to the House +of Commons. Among the frequenters of St. James's Street the first +thought was how would their own political fortunes be affected. +Fox's declaration that an end had come to a political system was +received with incredulity. To Selwyn it was a time at once of +annoyance and interest. He feared for his sinecure offices; he had, +as has been already pointed out, grown accustomed, like many others, +to the Administration of the King and Lord North. He had no personal +liking for the fallen Minister, and he had watched the career of Fox +from boyhood with mingled admiration and disgust. He could not +realise him as a Minister. + + +(1782,) March 6, Wednesday morning.--I told you, in my letter of +Monday, that I should Write to you yesterday, and so I should have +done, if there had anything come to my knowledge more than what you +see in all the public papers, and which must be of equal date with +my letter. + +What conversation I have with the people at Brooks's or White's upon +these matters is really not worth putting down. Those who are out, +and wanting the places of those who are in, either for themselves or +for their friends, talk a language which has much more of phrensy in +it than common sense, which, in the most rational and the best +tempered, seems as much out of sight, as the spirit of the +Constitution itself. + +You will laugh at my mentioning that, because you will not conceive +that I understand it; perhaps I do not, but I perfectly remember how +(I) have heard and read it described to be, and it is as different +from what our present Patriots or Whigs represent it, as the +Government of the Grand Senior (Signer). + +Poor Fitz(willia)m, whom I really love on many accounts, held me in +conversation last night, his brother only being present. I do not +know if he was in earnest, but I suppose that he was. He had worked +himself up to commiserate the state of this country, nay, that of +the King himself, [so] that I expected every instant that his heart +would have burst; but to speak more to my passions, he lamented, in +the terms the most attendrissants, your situation, and how much your +pride, and feelings of every kind, must be hurt, and that for no +estate upon earth he would be in your perilous state. + +I begged for a little light, and to know if there was a possibility +of salvation in any position in which our affairs could be placed. +He asked me then with the utmost impetuosity, what objection I had +to Lord Rockfingham(210) being sent for. You may be pretty sure that +if I had any, I should not have made it. I contented myself with +asking how he intended to begin his operations, to which I was +answered in two Latin words, de nova. + +If that should be, and the in nova fert animus should take place, we +must as individuals be meta[mor]phosed indeed, and what will become +of the public neither he, Burke, Charles, or any one of the +Cavendishes I suppose knows or cares. But I think that Lord +N(orth's) peremptory assurance of yesterday, together with the +King's strong expressions of resentment for the manner in which he +has been treated, may suspend all this nonsense for the present, and +leave us at leisure to regret something of more essential +consequence to the public than whether Charles and Hare live in St. +James's Street, or at the Treasury. + +To-day we have the Taxes, which are heavy enough of themselves +without all the speeches made to oppose them; to-morrow I know +nothing of; and on Friday we shall have another trial of skill +between the Privileges of the Crown and the Prerogative of the +People. In the meantime there is in the larder the loss of Minorca +and of St. Kit's,(211) with good hopes of further surrenders, to +feed our political discontent, and private satisfaction. I have a +new relation, as you know, that is the most zealous Constitutionist, +according to his own notions, that ever was, and he has honoured me +lately with very long conferences; ma porte ne lui est jamais +refusee, cela s'entend. But I can only ask questions for +information, and even my doubts or ignorance are not acceptable, but +we part always upon very good terms, because I always appear +attentive, and so he presumes that of course I must be more +instructed than when he came to me. + +Charles has attempted more than once to feel my pulse, but finding +them (sic) beat pretty much as usual, he augurs no good from it. I +have only desired, if they are resolved to turn me out, to have +three months' warning, that I may get into another place, which I +shall certainly have if I go with the same character which I had in +my last. I am sober, and honest, and have no followers, and although +I used to be out at nights and play at the alehouse, I have now left +it off. + +I was asked last night at Lady Buckingham's, and am ashamed of my +laziness in not going. I dine with his Lordship on Saturday, and +to-day I am going with Mie Mie and Mrs. W(ebb) to Mr. Gregg's, who +has got a little ball for a dozen children of her age, because it is +the birthday of one of his own. + +Arnold's being behind the King's chair when the Address came up has +given great offence. They will not suffer soon an enemy to the +Americans to come into the guard room. I think that Arnold might as +well have paired off with Laurens;(212) it would have conciliated +matters much more. + +. . . Poor Lady H(ertfor)d['s] civilities in inviting so many of the +Opposition to her Ball, afford a great deal of mirth. Charles did +not go; he has not leisure for those trifles. Hare and Lord Robert +have the drudgery of dealing between them. Your kinsman Walker is a +cul de plomb at the table, and has lost, I believe, both his eyes +and fortune at it. He seems so blind as not to see the card which is +before him. Keene seems to have surrendered in his mind this +forteresse, so I take for granted that he knows how little a while +it will last. + +I wish I could know at this moment for a certainty what is to become +of you and me. I talked long with Gregg about this when Storer had +left us. It is my opinion, from all I hear of your circumstances and +my own, that we shall be both reduced to 2,000 a year each, and as +great as the inequality is between us in all other respects, in that +we shall be equal, and the alternative is to submit to the terms +imposed by the new people, which may be very humiliating to us both. +If you are not an object of their justice, of their esteem, and +respect, you will, I am sure, not consent to be one of their mercy +only. I shall feel the deprivation of two parts out of three of my +income, but I hope that I shall have enough left for Mie Mie's +education, and to supply possible losses to her in other respects. +If I do that, and am lodged up two pair of stairs in a room at half +a guinea a week, as I was when I lodged with Lord Townshend and Lord +Buckingham in 1744 or 5, I will never utter an impatient word about +le retour de mon sort, whatever injustice may have been done me. If +the storm falls upon you only, I am willing that you should avail +yourself of anything in my situation, by which you can be assisted. +But I shall never bear with patience the insults which I know would +be offered to you, if these people had their terms, in their full +extent. + +The King, I hear, is in good spirits, and went yesterday to Windsor +to hunt, so I hope he knows that he is in a better situation than I +fancy him to be. If it is not so, and he can make up his mind to it, +I must envy him his insensibility. But I think that if he had one +atom of it, and heard a hundredth part of what I hear from those who +are forcing themselves into his councils, he would lose his Crown, +and his life too, rather than submit to it. It is better certainly +to be kicked out of the world than kicked as long as you live [in] +it, whatever his Grace may think. But the Duke intended to insult, +and not to be obliged to apologise. + +A peace, I find, of some sort is negotiating with Mr. Adams.(213) +Lord Cov(entry) dropped hints of a great deal which he knew of this +matter, but could not reveal. No credit seemed to be given yesterday +at dinner, either to his intelligence or credit with the new people, +and he had a very dissatisfied look. Two of the Bedchamber are to be +left, Lord Ailesford and the Duke of Queensberry, but the Duke's +other place will be annihilated. + +The Duke of R(ichmond) affects to say that he will take nothing, and +when this is repeated there is a laugh, thinking how suddenly his +Grace is changed, for lately he took anything, and what no man +living would have taken but himself; he has met with more of this at +Chichester. His pride must have suffered of late immensely. Lord +Huntingdon dined with us yesterday, and we had the whole story en +detail, from the beginning to the end. Mr. Bates pines in his +confinement for a sight of the papers; it will not be long, I +daresay, before his resentment is gratified. + +It is certainly a great consolation to me, in this trouble and +public disgrace to the King, and private distress to myself and to +you, that you stand, as you do, upon such high ground in point of +reputation; not a mouth is open against you, not a person but is +ready to say, that no one ever executed a great office so becomingly +or so judiciously as you have done. But I am afraid not of your +conduct, but of your decline, and therefore wish for a timely +retreat if possible. That others may repent of it, is true, but a +good man and one who meant the good of his country only would never +wish to have Administration pass out of your hands into those of +such a calf as they now talk of.(214) But things must have their +course; they are grievous to me, but not unlooked for. + +If I had had any conception that this storm would have come so soon, +I could have supported it with less embarrassment; but I must now +bear up against it, as well as I can, and so must you, for si tout +sera perdu, horsmais votre honneur, there is no help for it. Le Roi +ne s'est pas encore rendu. + +As to Ireland, you have passed over that subject very slightly with +me, but the approaching troubles or danger of them could not be a +secret from me long. As accounts were exaggerated, so I was in hope +no part of them were (was) true, but it is manifest to me now, from +what I hear, that there are materials in that country for the +greatest confusion, tot ou tard. There is a spirit of independency, +and impatience of Government, and an aversion to rule, which has +infected every part of his Majesty's dominions. It is to me +wonderful that with all this he preserves his health, for to public +distress is added the utmost degree of domestic infelicity, and no +prospect of a change for the better. + +Charles did not go to Lady Hertford's ball last night, although +invited, in so distinguishing a manner. The Duke of Devonshire told +him that twenty ladies had kept themselves disengaged in hopes of +having him for a partner. Mie Mie goes to-night to the Theodores' +benefit, with Lady Craufurd and Lady something Aston. I shall stay +at home with George and get Fawkner to be her beau, if I can. I +could not parry this off, but am in pain about it. + +(214) The Duke of Portland, who subsequently succeeded Lord Carlisle +as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. + + + +(1782,) March 12, Tuesday.--. . . . Dr. Ekins and I dined yesterday +at Lord Gower's, when I received your letter of the 6th, and Lady G. +one from Lady Carlisle. Lord G. and I had a good deal of discourse +on the present state of things, but my curiosity led to know chiefly +how any alterations would affect you in your present situation. He +seemed to think not at all. What may become of Storer, of me, or of +John St. J(ohn) is another thing. These people, by long opposition, +hunger, and engagements, are become very ravenous; and Charles, as +far as he should be concerned, I am persuaded, would have no +consideration upon earth but for what was useful to his own ends. +You have heard me say that I thought that he had no malice or +rancour; I think so still, and am sure of it. But I think that he +has no feeling, neither, for any one but himself; and if I could +trace in any one action of his life anything that had not for its +object his own gratification, I should with pleasure receive the +intelligence, because then I had much rather (if it was possible) +think well of him, than not. However, I am inclined to believe, that +whenever there is anything like a settlement in Government, he will +find himself disappointed and mortified, and he will then see that +he has been doing other people's work, and not his own. + +Brooks's is at present a place open to great speculation and +amusement and curiosity, and I go there and talk there, but it is +without heat, or anything which makes it in any respect disagreeable +to myself or others. If that was not my temper I should not go among +them. Boothby said last night to me, that he thought that they were +not so cock-a-hoop, as he phrased it, and Lord G[ower] said that he +believed, what may be true, that they become frightened at their own +success. It is much easier to throw things into confusion than to +settle them to one's own liking. Troubled waters are good to fish +in, it is true, but sometimes in searching for a fish you draw up a +serpent. I have much more admiration of Charles's talents than +opinion of his judgment or conduct. + + +(1782,) March 13, Wednesday m(orming).--Two packets of mine were +sent yesterday to the messenger who was, as Sir S. Portine told me, +to set out for Ireland last night at nine. I intended to have sent +another by the post; but I had not materials enough, and I found +myself indisposed with my cold, and could do nothing but drink tea +by the fireside at White's. + +The story of St. Christopher's tells well at the outset, and gives +me at least, who am sanguine, great hopes, but the Opposition still +is incredulous as to good news, and the same intelligence which they +dispute the authenticity of to-day, would be, to-morrow, if they +were in place, clear as proofs of Holy Writ, clearer indeed than +those are to the greatest part among them. + +I was assured last night, that the King is so determined, as to +Charles, that he will not hear his name mentioned in any overtures +for a negotiation, and declares that the proposal of introducing him +into his councils is totally inadmissible. I should not be surprised +if this was true in its fullest extent. I can never conceive that a +King, unless he and his Government differ from all others, can do +otherwise. + +Friday is our great day of struggle; some changes I should think +must be, but Denbigh,(215) who is a good calculator as to numbers, +says that we shall have eight more than last time. That will make +but a paltry majority; however, if it be so, we shall brush on, I +suppose, live upon expedients, and hope for a more favourable +crisis; and then we shall be soon prorogued, and so give time for an +arrangement in which our poor master will have better terms. + +I said to Sir S. Portine yesterday, by way of conversation, that I +wished you was here to take the seals. He said that undoubtedly you +might have them, when you came over, and so I suppose you may. But I +am sure it is not the station (in) which I the most wish to see you. +As to Ireland, I have no doubt, as you say yourself, but that you +have touched your zenith, and if circumstances permitted it, I wish +to God that you was returned. No one can have done better than you +have, in all respects, et de l'aveu de tout le monde; but you are, I +see, non nescius aure fallacis, and in Ireland the winds rise +suddenly, and are violent and blast, quand on y pense le moins. + +You have, I understand, made Mr. Cradock one of your Aid de camps, +which has pleased the Duchess of Bedford much; elle se loue +continuellement de la lettre qu'elle a recue de votre part; elle se +vante du credit qu'elle a aussi apres de vous. C'est un beau garcon, +et tres digne de sa protection a tout egard. I know him a little +myself; he seems a very right-headed, well-bred young man, and when +we played together, as we have done at Kenny's, he showed me +particular civilities, so I was glad to hear of the kindness which +you have had for him; but I had never heard that he had any such +thing in contemplation. . . . + +I fancy that Wyndham(216) is returned for Chichester, but by a very +slender majority. Betty's patriots spread it about yesterday that +Lord N(orth) was out. What that lie was to be, which must be +contradicted an hour after, is difficult to say; perhaps to get a +vote or two of ours to go out of town, or some such flimsy scheme. I +hear that we shall be about twenty. Conway was at the Levee +yesterday, and scarce noticed; the King talked and laughed a great +deal with both Rigby and the Advocate, who were on each side of +Conway. + +I was at night at Brooks's for a little while; it was high change, +all sorts of games, all kinds of parties, factions, arrangements, +whispers, jokes, etc., etc. John in better spirits; he had had a +cordial from Brummell, Lord N(orth's) secretary. Storer plays his +whist at White's. Nobody at supper there but Lord Fr. Cavendish, +Lord Weymouth, and one or two more. My circle around the fire in the +card room breaks up at about twelve, and the Duke of Q. generally +joins us towards the conclusion, and when he has talked himself out +of breath at Brooks's. + +Charles dined yesterday, I believe, at Lord Rockingham's; I saw him +about five in great hurry, and agitation. What is to be done, may +not probably be concluded upon till the Easter holidays, and by that +time I hope to hear that his Majesty has been better served in the +W(est) Indias than in other parts of the world. + +Negotiations for peace are much talked of. I hope that we shall +first have a little success, and then go with our proposals to +Versailles. Monsieur de Vergennes(217) says, that si l'Angleterre +veut avoir la Paix, il faut frapper a ma porte, and the sooner we +are in his cabinet for that purpose the better. If we do not begin +there, I am afraid, as Lord Bolingbroke says, we shall be suing for +it elsewhere, and at the gates of every other palace in Europe. + +I have received an anonymous letter from Ireland, dated Dublin the +6th inst. I call it anon(ymous), because I believe the name of R. +Thomas to be feigned. The hand is a good one, and of a person of +fashion. He makes a demand of 500 pounds, which he says that he must +have by my means. The place I am to direct to is specified. Ekins +will carry over the letter. I rather suppose it to be from a +lunatic. He talks of not selling his voice, but I have no more light +into his scheme, or who the man is. + +There is to be a great Drawing Room to-day, because Lord G(eorge) +and his bride will be presented, and with them come La Noblesse, +that is, the heads and tails of a hundred great families, to which +these young people are allied. Her head runs upon nothing but dress, +and expense; she is rather plain, as I hear, but not disagreeable. +She has made great terms for herself; her pin money is 1,500. She +will give up no part of her fortune to her husband. It is settled +upon the children; a jointure in proportion. + +I saw the Duke of Bedford coming out of Charles's yesterday, so +there is another Duke for him to lead by the nose. For him he is, I +suppose,-obliged to Ossory. Young Pitt will not be subordinate; he +is not so in his own society. He is at the head of a dozen young +people, and it is a corps separate from that of Charles's; so there +is another premier at the starting post, who, as yet, has never been +shaved. I hope George will have a little more patience, but he is, +as I hear, the first speaker in his school, and by much the most +beloved, which pleases me more than if I saw the seals in his hands. + +(215) Basil, sixth Earl of Denbigh (1719-1800). He was Master of the +Royal Harriers, and was deprived of his office by Lord Rockinghham. + +(216) Percy Charles Wyndham was returned March 11, 1782. + +(217) Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes (1717-1787), Minister of +Foreign Affairs under Louis XV. His policy had been to humble +England by assisting the United States. + + +(1782,) March 16, Saturday morning, 10 o'clock.--We divided this +morning between one and two; our majority was nine, the numbers 236 +and 227. I came home; my cough is so bad that I shall put off all +my engagements to dinner, and stay at home, I believe, till I have +got rid of it. But there is to be another trial of skill on +Wednesday. Charles's arrogance both in the House, and out of it, is +insupportable. I can neither think or speak of him with patience. +Gilbert voted with us, Sir J. Wrottesley against us, Lord Trentham +went away, McDonald with us. This is Denbigh's way of calculation; +he was positive that we should have 30, or at least 22. + +But good God! what a Government is this! if the King has not the +power of choosing his own Ministers. It is enough, when he has +chosen them, that they are amenable to Parl(iamen)t for their +conduct. But if it is in the power of any man, on account of his +Parl(iamen)t[ary] talents, to force himself upon the King and into +Government, when his private character would exclude him from +ever(y) other station, or society, I wish for my own part not to +belong to that Government in any shape whatever; and it would +satisfy my mind infinitely more, that, while things remained upon +that foot, that neither of us were in any kind of employment +whatsoever. But I do not presume to dictate to you. You can see and +feel for yourself, with as much discernment and sensibility as +another. + +Lord North was thought to speak better, and with more spirit than +before. I could not go down into the H(ouse) to hear the Advocate, I +was so oppressed with my cold. You will see the substance of the +speeches in the Chronicle; I suppose that you have all our papers. +Storer will write to you, and tell you of his conversation with +Charles, but do not say that I anticipated the account. I must talk +with Gregg upon the subject of your return here, for neither the +removal, or the mode or the time, will be weighed by any other +scales than those of their own convenience. + +The Fish voted with us, and upon the merit of this assistance, and +at this important crisis, I suppose something was founded, for when +the H(ouse) was up, he was never from Lord North's elbow. +Notwithstanding Charles's impatience, it will not be settled all +this (month?) till the Easter holidays, and how it will be settled +then, I do not conceive. They talk now of Barre for Rigby's place. I +have never once heard my nephew's(218) name in any part of the +arrangement, but he has, I presume, a situation fixed in his own +mind, as adequate to his consequence. Young Pitt expects to be sent +for from the circuit to the Cabinet, but not in a subordinate +capacity. George has not sent from Neasdon any proposals to the +K(ing), so I suppose (e is)waiting till he can negotiate a Peace. I +wish that I could overhear him in his rhetorical mood. + +(218) Thomas Townshend. + + +(1782, March 16,) Saturday noon.--Lord G(ower) assured me that he +knew that at this juncture there was no arrangement; that there +certainly would be, and soon; that it was impossible to guess at the +disposal of the parts. That Charles would be, and has been, a thorn +in the side of his party; that the Ministers would not suffer him to +rule, nor would the country gentlemen endure him. But you might be +recalled; that it was not now an object of ambition to be the +Governor of Ireland; that he thought it would have been a lucky +event for you, and that it would have afforded you an occasion of +resigning, the best that you could have had; for things would grow +worse, and that hitherto all had been well, and that you might now +come away without reproach; but that your circumstances opposed this +option.. He was, on account of the great expense and your love of +show, afraid how these would be hurt; that he could not help being +alarmed, notwithstanding the prospect Mr. Gregg held out of saving, +at one time, to provide against the extra charges of another. + +I own that these reflections have often struck me, and very +forcibly, and makes us in a sad dilemma and perplexity about what +can be done. He assured me that as soon as he knew anything, I +should be informed of it. I told him that I wish(ed) we had our four +members, which could not be, unless Lord Mellbourn could be made by +some consideration to vacate his seat; but if we had, I would risk +my fortune in Government with yours, and take my chance, and be +served in the second place, when those had the administration with +whom we could draw. + +What these will do, and in what manner they will treat the King's +friends, the Lord only knows. Charles made it an objection, your +attachment to the King; that was beginning well. He has none, God +knows. His countenance to Hare or Fitzpatrick are [is] no proof of +it to me. People can like and protect those who are subservient to +them, and persecute them when they are not. Had he been capable of a +good sentiment, he would have had one for you. Instead of that, he +puts your fortune into immediate danger, by a sacrifice of his +honour and engagement, and when he has done that, you and those +attached to you are treated as mercenary, and illiberal, because you +desire to be rescued from the impending ruin. Not a hundredth part +of what has been said on this subject comes to my knowledge, but +enough to fill me with horror and indignation. + +While I was writing, and just before my dinner came up, I saw Mr. +Cook, who brought me your letter. You needed not to have cautioned +me against asking after matters of state. Those nearer to me are no +objects of curiosity, further than you are concerned in them. It is +a pleasure to have such a recent account of your being well. I wish +my letters could go as speedily to you, to prevent the radotage +incident to letters of an old date. Your correspondence with Lord +Hilsborough will soon cease; who(m) you will have to write to +afterwards I have not heard. It may be Charles. + +Hare and Richard came into White's just before dinner. I stopped +there to hear what was going on. They can talk of nothing but the +demolition of the last Ministry, and abbai(s)sement of his Majesty, +but of this they speak without reserve. Lord Cov(entry) was there, +as malignant and insulting as possible. It requires some degree of +temper to refrain from a reply to these things, but I shall. I have +made up my mind to these revers; no future minister can hurt me, for +none will I ever trust. + +Lord North and his Secretary, Robinson, have acted such a part by me +that I should never have believed anything but a couple of attorneys +of the lowest class to have done; but my conduct has been uniform, +and not changed towards the King, whom I have meant, though +unsuccessfully, to support. Had I been a bargain-maker, I could have +made as good a one with the Opposition as another, and could have +justified it better. + +I hope that in about a week more, I shall be able to send you such +intelligence as will put us both out of doubt of what is or ought to +be done. Lord G(ower), I believe, six months ago, wanted to be at +the head of affairs; he might now, but will not.(219) Nothing but +the worse management on earth in our leaders could have brought +things to such an issue. + +(219) "Attempts were made to induce Shelburne and afterwards Gower +to construct a Government but they speedily failed." (Lecky, vol. +iv. p. 203). + + +(1782,) March 18, Monday m(orning).--I am sorry to begin my letter +with telling you that George is again in my house, but so it is. Mr. +Raikes brought him to me, and little Eden to the surgeon's, on +account of his chilblains, yesterday morning in a post chaise. Sir +N. T(homas) came, and he ordered George to be blooded, which he was +directly, and wrote other prescriptions. I believe there was some +James's powder taken last night, and he is to help his cough with +something in a certain degree emetic. His pulse were [was] above a +hundred, and his cough very troublesome, but there is nothing that +forebodes any mischief. I do not hear of the least apprehensions of +that. Dr. Ekins was here, and Mr. Nevison. Lady G[ower] could not +come on account of her cold, Lord G(ower) will be here this morning. +. . . + +I have no objection to declaring my own [opinion], but I beg you and +Lady Carlisle to know that what is done now, if it is with my +opinion, it was not in consequence of it, for I have been perfectly +passive. Dr. Ekins went done to Whitehall to acquaint Lord and Lady +G(ower) with this, who approved of what was done, and last night I +was there myself; and Lord G(ower) and I had more conversation with +him upon this horrid situation of affairs. That I should be much +disturbed about them, on your account, and my own, is not +extraordinary. I have, in certain circumstances, fixed and +determined in my own mind what would be most becoming for us both to +do, and what in the end would be most advantageous, but I shall not +obtrude my advice upon you, whose judgment I hold in higher esteem, +infinitely, than my own, and whose temper is more equal. But I will +say what I believe to be the state of things now, and what they +probably will be, and you will judge the best, it may be both for +yourself and me. + +I called in at Brooks's last night, but avoided all conversation, +and will for the future with any one belonging to the party. Their +insolence, their vanity and folly, and the satisfaction expressed in +their countenances, upon fancying themselves Ministers, and going +into the place of them, as they think, and to drive the K(ing) from +every shadow of power and dignity, is no object to me now of mirth; +so, as I cannot help it, or approve it, and shall get nothing by a +dispute with such people, I am determined to act for my own part +--what I think is becoming me to do--to resign all ideas of +pecuniary advantage, if I cannot have them upon the terms I like, +and wait for better times. + +The P(rince) of W(ales) supped the night before last at Lord +Derby's; there were as I am told no less than six courses; the women +were Lady Payne, Lady Jersey, perhaps Lady Mellbourne; I have not as +yet been informed of particulars. He stayed there till six, and +then, I hear, carried Charles home in his coach. He canvassed in the +last Question against his father. Lord Mellbourne stayed away at his +instigation. In this he has acted contrary to his engagements. He +says that he purchased his seat at Luggershall.(220) It is a +falsehood. If he did, he has not paid the money he ought for it; but +both Lord N(orth) and Robinson have acted in this, towards me, in +the most scandalous manner in the world, and I will inform the +K(ing) of it myself by an audience, if I can find no other means of +doing it. + +I warned Lord North over and over again of this supercherie. I knew +his intention, and he was so weak as to neglect the means of pinning +this fitz scrivener, [this] fitz coachman, this fitz cook to his +word, and putting it in his power to use me in this manner, as if he +had bought of me a seat in Parliament, which no man living ever yet +did, but the King himself. + +Lord Gower told me last night, that it might be a week before it was +possible to guess in the least how things would [be] settled; he +believed that the King would not send for you from Ireland, unless +you chose it. I think, and so I told him, that that was more than +the King himself could answer for. + +I am now confident they would give it to the Duke of Devonshire if +he would accept it; he will not, and the Duke of Portland, that +jolt-headed calf, certainly will.(221) I wish to have nothing but +Buckinghams and Portlands for their subalternate ministers as long +as they are at Court, and then their damned Administration will be +over in six months, and they sunk into the herd of the people, and +the contempt which they deserve from any man of sobriety and +character. + +Rigby and Lord G(ower) werd in another room in close conference a +great while. The negotiation has been carried on, but at present +broke off, between the Chancellor and Lord Rock(ingham). Burke's +Bill, they say, is insisted on, that is, a Bill which, while they +promise the public to carry into execution, they are determine(d) +shall be rendered (as) ineffectual as this they broke off. The +Chancellor went yesterday out of town. + +The thought of a new Administration is so prevalent with Charles +that he would not go to Newmarket. I heard him last night tell his +people that he saw no reason, when he was Minister, that he or his +assistants in Administration should sit upon the Treasury bench. The +merry and the sad, as my Lord Clarendon says, have employment +enough, while these actors are dressing themselves up for the play, +and rehearsing their parts. + +(220) Lord Melbourne was returned with Selwyn as M.P. for borough of +Ludgershall on September 12, 1780. + +(221) The Duke of Portland succeeded Lord Carlisle as Viceroy of +Ireland on the formation of the Rockingham Ministry. + + + +(1782,) March 19, Tuesday, 11 o'clock, morning.--. . . . Gregg dines +with me to-day. He has been ever since Friday last at Saffron +Walden, so I have as yet not seen him. I have a great deal to +say to him. The seeming impossibility of your staying in +Ireland agreeably to your own sentiments, and the inconvenience +which returning suddenly will be to your private affairs, gives me +at this moment not a little disquietude, and Lord G(ower) cannot +help it, by any lights which as yet he has himself. + +I saw Charles last night, and by accident was alone with me (him); +he stretched out his hand to me with great good humour. I could have +asked him an abundance of questions, and could have reasoned with +him a great while. For although in that sphere he has much +superiority to me, he has not the faculty of persuading me in the +least of what I know to be without reason, and a great part of which +he knows to be so himself. However, I did not, for fear of betraying +a want of temper which could be of no use, and I asked him no +questions, lest he should interpret them ill, and think that I +wanted to deprecate his vengeance or solicit his favour. He must be +reduced to his former despair before I shall discuss these matters +with him pleasantly. + +He spoke of all coming to a final issue now within a very short +space of time; he talked of the King under the description of Satan, +a comparison which he seems fond of, and has used to others; so he +is sans management de paroles. It is the bon vainqueur et +despotique; he has adopted all the supremacy he pretended to dread +in his Majesty. It seems a dream that I survey his figure, and know +his history. His talents are great, but talents alone never operated +in this manner. + +When he said how few days we had to subsist, I uttered in an humble +voice, "Greek text"; I have forgot to write my Greek. To that he +said, "You are in the right--that is the only reflection which can +be suggested for your comfort, but it is next to an impossibility." +He talks of us so much as an Opposition, that even the Wine Surplus, +which we call a majority, is forgot, and I wonder he does not in his +sleep walk into St. James's with the seals of his new Government in +his hand. He told me that he would make me a Baronet, for my vote +to-morrow night. The Duke of Devonshire said gravely, "A vast price +for one vote only!" Charles Turner has seriously insisted upon it. + +The Fish told Lord N(orth) the other night, after the Division, that +he had only three bottles left of that champagne which he liked so +much, and if he would come and dine with him they were at|his +service. Lord North replied, archly enough, "What! still, Mr. +Craufurd, may I dine with you?" + + +(1782,) March 21, Thursday m(orning).--In the midst of all that +multiplicity of distress and confusion in which I am at present, as +well as the public, I will not omit to let you know that, excepting +the cough, George is very well. . . . What happened yesterday in the +H(ouse) of C(ommons), of which you will by various channels know the +particulars, with many more in a few days, must for ever astonish +you, if you were not sufficiently apprised of the characters of the +persons concerned. I hear that the Duke of Montagu at Windsor, the +day before, told the King of the impossibility of continuing the +Administration. + +Lord N(orth), when he went to the King, was told abruptly of these +intentions; and then He (sic) sent for the principal persons in +Administration, and those who had assisted him, and having thanked +them, went down to the House to declare this in his place in the +manner in which you will, I suppose, see it described in the +papers.(222) + +The old Ministry is at an end, and of what materials the new one +will be composed, the Lord knows. The insolence, the hard heartiness +(sic), brutality, and stuff, which these people talk, altogether +give me the worst apprehensions of what they will do, and I have +only to hope that from this, which seems so irreconcilable to +reason, decency, or the usual practice of Government, some system +will be formed that I shall like better. + +As to Lord N(orth), what happens disagreeable to him he merits in +greatest degree, and if the King chooses to acquiesce in all this +ill treatment of him, I see no reason why I should be offended, or +feel more for a man's disgrace than he feels himself. He might have +prevented it; he seemed to wish that he could; he now seems not +affected by it; but je courerois risque d'extravaguan(ce) si je +continuois sur le chapitre. + +I stayed at Brooks's this morning till between 2 and 3, and then +Charles was giving audiences in every corner of the room, and that +idiot Lord D.(223) telling aloud whom'he should turn out, how civil +he intended to be (to) the P(rince), and how rude to the K(ing). + +Thursday night, 9 o'clock.--George is going on as before, no fever, +but a cough. Sir N. T[homas] has forbid his going out as yet. I took +him out airing yesterday in the middle of the day for an hour, but +to-day he has had some physic. + +Lord Gower and I were a long while together at Whitehall; we both +agreed that, re bus sic stantibus, it seems impossible that you +should stay in Ireland. Hare informs me that they do not mean to +remove you. I should wonder if they did, for such an account as I +have of the state of Ireland is terrible, and I am sure one cannot +wish to send a friend to weather such a storm. The best thing for +you would be their sending another in your room, but, if they do not +do that, the next is to desire to be recalled, when you know who +these Ministers are. You must expect a pause for some time in your +political carriere, and you must in that interval practise a great +economy, which will do you infinite credit, and then, upon a new +turn of affairs you will be called with more lustre into a better +situation. This was Lord Gower's opinion, and is mine. + +Charles assured me, not half an hour ago, that the King had sent for +nobody, that all was as much at a stand as before the Creation. +Nobody knows what to make of it. But a Ministry must be formed by +Monday. It is thought that my nephew will be Chancellor of the +Exchequer and C(harles) Fox the Secretary of State, and of the rest +I know nothing, of that nothing like intelligence (sic). It is +imagined that Lord Rock(ingham) and Lord Shelbourn cannot agree. + +The King had no Drawing Room, only the Queen between him and Lord +Robert; Lady Sefton next to Fitzpatrick; the Prince between the +D(uchesse)s of Devonshire and Cumberland; on the other side of the +Duchess of Devonshire the Duke of Cumberland. + +When I left the House, I left in one room a party of young men, who +made me, from their life and spirits, wish for one night to be +twenty. There was a table full of them drinking--young Pitt, Lord +Euston, Berkley, North, &c., &c., singing and laughing a gorge +deployee; some of them sang very good catches; one Wilberforce,(224) +a M. of P., sang the best. + +I shall go at noon(?) to Whitehall, and write again in the evening. +I dine at home to-day, but to-morrow at Lord Ossory's. I would not +leave my house when George was here, but Mrs. W(ebb) has a care of +him, and attention to him in everything, as much as Mie Mie. Poor +Lady Craufurd wished to go to this Ball. I did not know, or would +have contrived it for her. She was at Lady Hertford's, but the +Duchess is so (sic) at Gloucester House, so that cannot be, upon +admissible terms. + +Lord Sheilbourn was at Devonshire H(ouse) the whole night, which +seems to countenance the report that Lord R(ockingham) and he cannot +act together. Plut a Dieu que la discorde, cette deesse si utile en +certaine occasions, voulut bien se meler de cet arrangement; ce +seroit bien a propos. But there is no agreement among them but which +tends to create confusion. Tommy T(ownshend) and his family seemed +in high glee. Lady Middleton's daughter danced with my cousin of +Westmoreland; il est tant soit peu gauche, sa danse a fort peu de +grace. The women looked extremely well. Lord George presented to me +his bride; she is her father toute crachee, but not so handsome. +Charles has not bought a good coat yet upon the change in his +affairs. I thought that his former calling would have supplied +[it?]. Mrs. Bouverie(225) at supper. Many ladies who had not +received cards were sure it was a mistake, and sent for them. This +was an additional pleasure to those to whom they were sent, for here +was a school for scandal as well as for dancing. Lady Warren played +at Pharo; the Prince at Macco, and the Duke of Cumberland. John, +with a very handsome coat, satin, couleur de mar on, and an applique +of silver and des diamans faux--a coat d'hazard sent from Fripier's +in the Rue de Roule. The Duke and I did not receive our cards till +five o'clock. It was such a snow and hail and rain when we were +coming away as never was seen. + +I am glad my dear little boy is in this house now; I am sure that he +would run a great risk out of it, just at this time. . . . He is +mighty busy in making out his Latin with Littleton's Dictionary, +which I have given him. ... I left Lady Gower and Lady Ann and the +Dunmores at the Ball. The Duchess of Bedford has invited me to +Bedford H(ouse) to see your letter to her. ... + +Storer carries this off with such seeming spirits as are certainly +more becoming than an apparent dejection. But I dread to think to +what, I verily believe, that he will be reduced. I utter no +complaint, but I feel the danger I am in, and the distress which it +may occasion to me, and still more Lord N(orth's) abominable +treatment of me. If I had resented it, as many would have done, I +know what might have been said. But I have acted my part well and +steadily, and when I have done all which becomes me to do, I shall +make up my mind to the event. + +(222) See earlier in this chapter, paragraph which begins "Notice +was promptly given . . ." + +(223) Probably Lord Derby, Edward, twelfth Earl (1752-1834). + +(224) William Wilberforce (1759-1833), the abolitionist and +philanthropist; at this time M.P. for Hull and one of Pitt's closest +friends. + +(225) The fashionable and courted beauty. The portrait of her and of +her sister, Mrs. Crewe, together as shepherdesses, by Sir Joshua +Reynolds, in 1770, attracted much notice. + + +(1782, March 22,) Friday m(orning), 11 o'clock.--George seems very +well; his cough is considerably abated, but the weather is so +remarkably wet and bad, that Sir N. T(homas) wishes him to stay +within. + +I was at Devonshire H(ouse) till about 4, and then left most of the +company there. All the new supposed Ministers were there except Lord +Rock(ingham), who had probably other business, and perhaps with the +K(ing). Rigby assured me that some one was sent (for?), and if +Charles did not know it, he was more out of the secret than he +thought that he had been. To be sure, the arrangement is entame, la +pillule est avalee, et bien des couloeuvres apres. Charles I left +there; I believe that he had heard what did not come up to his full +satisfaction, so probably a little water is mixed with their wine. +We shall know to-day, for this strange situation of things cannot +remain till Monday; la machine n'est pas construct a pouvoir alter +jusques a la. + +I conversed privately a good while with Lord Ashburnham. I have the +greatest opinion of his judgment in the conductive part of life. I +really believe, if any man ever went through life with consummate +discretion, it has been himself, and he has preserved his reputation +at the same time, or else I should not give his conduct this eloge. +He asked me after you in the most obliging and interesting (sic) +manner, and solicitude about the part you would act, not hinting a +doubt of your not performing it well, but with great expressions of +esteem. He hoped much that you would take this opportunity, as he +said, of leaving Ireland. He said that it would be laying the +foundation of a very brilliant situation to you at another time. He +is very much in the right. I could not, to be sure, explain all the +difficulties in the way of this. There are none, indeed, +comparatively speaking. + +Hare writes to you; he expresses a tenderness for your interest; je +ne la revoque pas en doute, but his interests and yours are not the +same. These new people will wish you perhaps to stay, and say it is +from regard to you. If you believe it you will deceive yourself. If +they will send another, so much the better; let their friend stay to +govern Ireland when Ireland is what it will be. But if they talk of +keeping you there, wait to see the Ministry established, and then +ask for your recall. I hope that you will not reflect a moment with +concern upon the straights to which you may be reduced by way of +expense. We will do all we can to arrange this matter, but honour +and figure, as you know, cannot be added, or taken from you, by +expense. That is not the scale in which the respect which all the +world owes and is ready to pay you and Lady C(arlisle) will be +weighed. If you came from Holyhead in the stage waggon, it would +only be more reputable to you. There was a strong instance of that +in the story of this Duke of Newcastle's father. Lord Gower tells me +that Lord Rock(ingham) is personally not attached to you from +provincial reasons. I never adverted to that consideration. + +The K(ing) had a most narrow escape hunting on Tuesday. His horse +ran away with him; he was thrown on a gate; he seems to be marked +out for a people (sic) to be distressed and disgraced in every way +possible. Burke was last night in high spirits. I told him that I +hope, now they had forced our entrenchments and broke loose, that he +and his friends would be compassionate lions, tender-hearted +hyaenas, generous wolves. You remember that speech of his; he was +much diverted with the application. Our fete was very brilliant +indeed, and well conducted; there was a supper for at least 300 +people; eight rooms where there were tables. The Prince l'astre de +la nuit, couvert de faux brilliant (sic); c'est un beau cavalier. +The Duchess of Cumberland was there, but not the Princess Royale. It +was proposed, as is said, that the Duke of Gloucester should be +Commander in Chief. + + + +(1782, March) 23, Saturday night.--George goes on well, but Sir N. +T(homas) will not let him go out. The weather is worse than it has +been at any time this winter. Leveson has been all this evening at +my house to play with him. + +Nothing as yet arranged, and we meet on Monday. It is imagined that +we must then adjourn till Friday; about that there will be a bustle. +Lord Gower was sent for yesterday morning by the King, and was with +him a great while. I was this morning at Whitehall. The Chanc(ello)r +was there. Gregg showed Lord G(ower) your accounts; they are better +than'he expected. Charles expressed to me last night more than once +an anxiety lest you should be in Opposition, and asked me if the +Master of the Horse would please. I could give him no answer to +that, but that it depended upon circumstances. He said Lord +Cadogan's place would do for Lord Foley. That this Revolution which +he brought about was the greatest for England that ever was; that +excepting in the mere person of a King, it was a complete change of +the Constitution; and an era ever glorious to England, and a great +deal of such rhapsody. Richard insolent to a degree. + +I was a good while to-day with Lord G(ower); still of opinion that +your return here would be the most favourable event that could +happen to you. Ossory hinted to me this afternoon that the King +would see Lord Rock(ingham) to-night. Hanger assures me that Charles +is better disposed to me than to anybody, but that I have enemies +who surround him; so there is one friend in a corner. + +On Monday I expect some envious dissertations in the H. of C. on the +nature of the new Government. The Duke of Gloucester won't be +Comm(ande)r in Chief for two reasons; one is, that the Duchess can +be admitted at Court; and the second is that Lord Rock(ingham) will +not permit it. It is meant to take the Army out of the K. hands, and +that would be putting it into them. I have no more for to-night. My +love and respects to your fireside, shall see Caroline again with +great pleasure indeed, and the little boy. + + +(1782, March 27,) Wednesday night, 10 o'clock, at home.--The Cabinet +Council(226) kissed hands to-day, and Dunning with the rest. He is +Chancellor [of the] Duchy of Lancaster and a peer. At this I was +surprised. Ashburn(h)am is kept, and all the Bedchamber. Lord +Hertford is delivered up at discretion; either he or his son Isaac +must be sacrificed. But his Lordship has not been thought the father +of the faithful, or so himself. Their trimming has released his +M(ajesty) from any obligations to protect them. + +The Duke brings me word from Court that I am safe, but how I do not +comprehend. To take away my place, which is to be annihilated in two +months by Burke's Bill, (is absurd), and a pension I would not +receive, but as an appendix to a place or as a part of it. But the +D(uke), whose friendship for me is very vif, on some occasions, has +fished out this for me. I could not go to Court, my temper would not +permit. I could have seen my R(oyal) master on the scaffold with +less pain than insulted as he has been to-day. I am going out to +hear all that passed, and how he bore it. From my parlour window I +saw Mr. Secretary Fox step into his chariot from his office, and +Lord Shelbour(n)e and Dunning from the other office. The Levee was +not over till near five, that is, the audiences, a most numerous +Court--souls to be saved, and souls not to be saved. + +Warner dined here, and Storer. Mie Mie went to her Academy, so I +stayed at home to keep George company. He was upon the dining table +hearing Warner, Storer, and I (me) talking over this political +history, with an attention and curiosity which would have charmed +you, as well as the questions he asked. He looked like a little Jesu +in a picture of Annibal Carraci's listening to the Doctors. He has +been reading to-day speeches in Livy, with the French translation. +We gave him sentences this evening to construe. It was wonderful how +well he did them. The weather grows fine, and I shall desire leave +to carry him back till the 25th of next month, for he is very well; +the cough which (he) has is trifling. He has no heat;--he looks +delightfully. + +I was with Lord Gower this morning. The Chanc(ello)r dined there +to-day. I talked with Lord G. about you; he has explained your +situation, and I suppose has told you that arrangements will be made +here to your satisfaction. I see some comfort in all this. Nous +reculerons pour mieux sauter. Your return will mortify some of the +Opposition, who hope to keep you a year in Ireland out of charity, +to insult you, and for their convenience. Lord Carmarthen solicits +this with chaleur and impatience. I believe there is in this tant +soit peu de malice, et pour se venger, for he will have your +Lieutenancy in the County too. He has lost himself with me entirely. +A thousand traits of him have crowded upon me, which a little +partiality to him had obscured. + +I was asked to dine at Derby's to-day with the new Ministers; I +could not accept it. Prudence forbid(s) that, as well as want of +temper. What I said or did not say would have been ill interpreted, +so I refused. + +Charles has taken a house in Pall Mall. Sheridan is his secretary. +What becomes of Hare and Richard I know not. Richard has provoked me +beyond measure by his insolence and unfeelingness about everybody +and everything. The Garters are for the Duke of Portland, D. +Devonshire, Duke of Richmond, and one of the Princes. + +My nephew, Secretary at War, and Burke, Paymaster. This was what he +hoped for, I mean Tommy. The Chancellorship of the Exchequer not +determined upon it (yet?). Lord John Cav(endish) balances about it. +Young Burke, Secretary of the Treasury. Another ball at Devonshire +House. I long to see you, Lady Carlisle, and the children. This is +the only balm in all this infernal business. But vous avez un beau +role a jouer, but you must have patience for the present and, as +George says, wait the event. This is a plusieurs facettes. I will +now go to White's for more intelligence, and write more if I can, +but it is half-hour after ten. + +(226) The new Cabinet. The Rockingham Ministry consisted of Lord +Rockingham, First Lord of the Treasury; Lord Thurlow, Lord +Chancellor; Lord John Cavendish, Chancellor of the Exchequer; +Charles James Fox, Secretary for Foreign Affairs; Lord Shelburne, +Secretary for the Home and Colonial Departments; Admiral Keppel, +First Lord of the Admiralty; Lord Camden, President of the Council; +Duke of Grafton, Lord Privy Seal; Duke of Richmond, Master of the +Ordnance; Dunning (Lord Ashburton), Chancellor of the Duchy of +Lancaster; General Conway, Commander-in-Chief; Burke (not in the +cabinet), Paymaster of the Forces. + + +(1782,) March 29 (30?), Saturday m(orning), 8 o'clock.--I could not +write last night but a few lines, but if I could, many pages would +not have been sufficient, or any force of language which I possess +strong enough to express all I feel from reading your letter of the +22nd instant. Although my friendship, and tenderness for what +concerns you, may not be greater than that of . . . (sic) my judgment +has on this occasion been, as I perceive, more corresponding with +your sentiments, which I have spoke from the dictates of that pride +which I can adopt on your account, but would be presumptuous on my +own. I hope, in avoiding one inconvenience, that I have not fallen +into another, but if I have, the mistake can be easier corrected if +necessary. + +When Charles has expressed to me, as he did more than once, an +anxiety about your conduct, and an uneasiness lest it should be in +opposition to his own, I contented myself with saying, that it was +impossible for me to know what you would do, but I was in no pain +about it; that if he could, as I had heard him say that he could in +very strong terms, answer for your ready judgment on all occasions, +so I would answer for your honour, which two things made me sure +that you would always act as became you, and that, therefore, I was +in no pain upon that head; that whatever might happen disagreeable +to you, or to me, we were both prepared for it. And when I have +expressed a curiosity concerning the disposal of offices in general, +I have been sometimes taken up shortly, impertinently, and dirtily +by that jackanapes, Lord D., and he has said, "Your friend will not +stay in Ireland." + +I have then only answered, "My Lord, my wishes are that he may not, +and it is most probable that he will not desire it; but you are +quite mistaken if you suppose that in these arrangements I have any +anxiety or curiosity about him." All that is an object of my love +and esteem is quite independent of other people's resolutions; and +as for what regards myself, I am not indifferent, I own, and I shall +wish to know how I may be treated by those to whose power I am +delivered up, but I have never asked one question concerning it. I +shall provoke no man's anger unnecessarily; it is my only solicitude +to let people see that if they oblige me by good treatment, they +oblige one whom they do not despise, and who has acted 'in all +circumstances like a gentleman. + +I have, I find, from what I have been told by the Party, the credit +of having behaved better and calmer on this occasion than many of my +fellow convicts. What I have felt I have felt like a man, and that I +have not attempted to deprecate by pretending that I thought myself +to blame. But, my dear Lord, this has been merely exterior, for at +home and alone I have been greatly depressed, both on your account +and on that of others. I have felt for the honour and credit, and +sufferings, of a person to whom I can only be attached by principle. +For the sentiment of personal affection does not arise for objects +of such inequality. I do not know how to account for it, but I have +had, and still have, such a share of that, as would make one think +that with the air of France and with the language of the country I +had imbibed all the prejudices of their education. My thoughts about +your distress, and of those dear children, which seem to belong as +much to me as to you and Lady C., have really affected me at times +in a manner which would have exposed me anywhere out of my own room, +and to anybody else but to Dr. Ekins, who knows how naturally, and +justly, I feel for you, + +I have in the last place been touched, as I must be, with the great +difference of my own circumstances, such as they were and might have +been, and such as they would be if all this impending mischief had +its full effect. The loss of three thousand pounds a year, coming +after debts created by imprudence, and which might otherwise have +been soon liquidated, is a blow which I confess that I was not +prepared for, and if I could not feel it for myself, I must have +felt it for you. Born for your use, as Zanga says, I live but to +oblige you, and as soon as I become unprofitable to you, I shall +feel then the most sensibly, how imprudently I have acted, and how +unjustly I have been dealt with. I have, as I have told you before, +not had yet the courage to look upon that ledger, where I saw once +so fair an account, and where I must now make myself so many +rasures. Stabant tercentum nitidi in praepibus altis. I must now see +myself reduced in comparison to a narrow or at least a circumscribed +plan, and without a possibility of assisting one object of my +affection without hurting another. + +However, gloomy as the prospect has been, it may clear up, and I +could, if it was right, encourage hopes and anticipate a perspective +that is not unpleasing to me. + +I shall see Lord G(ower)to-day, who will tell me more particularly +how things have been settled since yesterday, when I was with him. +It is an idea of my own that he has contrived an arrangement for +you, which, while it relieves your distress, saves, I hope, your +honour. I have myself as much dreaded as you could do, your being +thought of as an object of mercy, and I trust that so near a +relation will dread that for you, as well as myself, and that if he +secures you from injustice that he will secure your credit at the +same time. I have my eyes opened now upon the intrigues of a Court +more than they were in all the former part of my life, and of all +people I believe that I shall be the last for the future who will be +the dupe of Ministers. + +The new Government, for it is more that than merely a new +Administration, has given me quite a new system for my own conduct. +If they have by violence &c. got into places from whence I would +have excluded them, if now they should behave rightly in them, and +the country becomes better and safer for their conduct, it would be +folly not to assist them. But I am, above all things, desirous that +both your assistance and my own, such as it is, should be more +wished for by them than their assistance wished for by us. + +I think that you stand clear of all which can humiliate you at +present. No one's conduct in every circumstance, so far as regards +your administration in Ireland, can be more universally commended. +You do not desert, but retire, when those who are at the helm, if +they have confidence in your understanding and honour, mistrust your +inclinations towards themselves, and you leave to their friends and +dependants a business from which no honour can be derived. + +You are not driven from your post, because they will have recalled a +man manifestly more willing to leave it, than they to profit of the +resignation. They would have kept you perhaps for their own sakes, +although they would do nothing for yours, and they would have made +you a tool, but cannot, as they know, make you a friend but by +behaving well towards [you] and towards their country. + +Your private circumstances, if known to be embarrassed, are known at +the same time not to embarrass you. Your chop and your pewter plate +will reproach others sooner than they can reflect disgrace upon +yourself. The audax paupertas, however, is not necessary, but great +economy is. I myself will give you an example of it, and contribute +every atom in my power to ease your mind from what will most +sensibly and naturally affect it. What interest in Parliament is +left me shall be yours, and if my little bark, sailing in attendance +upon yours, is able to assist you, I shall be happier in that +circumstance than from any which I could otherwise have derived from +it. + +But we may perhaps all act in concord for the present. I am told, I +do not [know] how true, that no hostilities are intended towards me; +nous verrons. I can never be used by any set of Ministers so ill, or +with such indignity, as by those who are removed. . . .(227) said +last night that the executions were now near(ly) over. I will open +my mind to you. I think both his and Richard's language in all this +transaction has been to the last degree indecent, and I am sure, +unless these two are better advised, they will do their chief more +disservice than any ill-conduct of his own. When people of low birth +have by great good luck and a fortunate concurrence of events been +able to obtain, from lively parts only, without any acquisitions +which can be useful to the public, such situations as are due only +to persons of rank, weight, and character, it is surely an easy task +not to be insolent. It is all I require of them; I envy no man his +good fortune, ever so undeserved, while he shows no disposition to +offend others. But with all this I have not been provoked enough to +express my resentment, or mean enough to deprecate that of others. + +(227) An erasure. + +I was last night at supper with Charles, but not one syllable passed +between us. He knows that I see him in a situation where I cannot +wish to see any one who has aspired to it and obtained it by the +means which he has used. No one admires more or thinks more justly +of his abilities than I do; no one could have loved him more, if he +had deserved it; what his behaviour has been to the public, to his +friends, and to his family is notorious. Facts are too stubborn, and +to those I appeal, and not to the testimonies of ignorant and +profligate people. However, if hereafter you can reconcile yourself +to him and to his behaviour towards you, I will forgive him, and +although I desire to lay myself under no obligation to him, I will +remember only that he is the child of those whom I loved, without +interest or any return. + +George wonders to see me write so much to you; he is so well that I +will carry him to school on Monday, without consulting any person. +. . . He has read more Latin to me than I have to him, for my breath +as been affected by the cold, or I should have read more with him; +but he has hammered out his Latin with the dictionary and what +assistance I can give him, and construes it wonderfully well. He +will be at school till the 25th of next month, and then I propose +exercise abroad, and the Modern History of Europe at home, and +French; for to speak the truth he is defective in the pronunciation +of that, for want of practice. The Theodore's coming here obliges me +to have my nieces dine here, to see her. I'm afraid people will come +to see Mie Mie dance par billets. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 6. 1786-1791 THE CLOSING CENTURY + +Political events--At Richmond--The Duke of Queensberry's villa +--Princess Amelia--The King's illness--The French Revolution +--Proposed visit to Castle Howard--In Gloucestershire--Affairs in +France--The Emigres--Society at Richmond--The French Revolution +--Richmond Theatre--French friends--Christening of Lady Caroline +Campbell's child--Selwyn's bad health--Death. + +OF the series of political events which in rapid succession followed +the formation of the Rockingham Ministry, the death of its head, the +accession to the premiership of Lord Shelburne, the resignation of +Fox, and lastly the coalition between that statesman and his old +antagonist Lord North, Selwyn tells us nothing. His correspondence +with Carlisle came to an end for the time when his friend was +recalled from Ireland in 1782. Thus the last group of letters has +rather a social and a personal than a political interest. + +For a number of years Selwyn had been in a constant state of alarm +lest he should be deprived of his sinecure office of Paymaster of +the Board of Works. Burke's scheme of economical reform had been a +constantly threatening cloud to him. The passing of this Bill, +which that statesman had so persistently but unavailingly pressed on +the House of Commons, had, however, been made one of the conditions +on which the Rockingham Ministry came into office. It became law in +1782,(228) and under its operations Selwyn was deprived of his +office. But in 1784, when Pitt was safely in power, Selwyn was +appointed to the equally unarduous and lucrative post of Surveyor +-General of Crown Lands. He was thus able to enjoy the last years of +his life in affluence, and enjoy them he did, in spite of failing +health. His letters are still gay, showing unabated interest in the +world around him. He retained that remarkable sympathy for the young +which had characterised his life. The children of Carlisle had grown +out of childhood. Lord Morpeth was going to Oxford,(229) Lady +Caroline was married. His adopted daughter, the Mie Mie of so many +of the preceding letters, had become a woman, and the care and +affection with which Selwyn had watched over her growth and +upbringing was now transferred to her well-being and pleasure in +the first society of the country. It is a charming picture--the old +man without a wife or children of his own finding in the friendship +of young and old all that his kindly and affectionate nature +required. It heightens our ideas of the breadth and the depth of +friendship when we see how it can compensate for the lack of those +natural relationships which are supposed to be the solace of +advancing years. Of political events in England during the period +covered by this last correspondence the most important was the mental +illness of the King. It began early in November, 1788; it ended in +the spring of the following year. On the 23rd of April, 1789, the +King, the Royal Family, and the two Houses of Parliament attended a +thanksgiving service at St. Paul's. But in the interval important +constitutional debates had occurred in Parliament on the question of +the Regency. That the Prince of Wales should be Regent both +Government and Opposition were agreed; but whilst Pitt and the +Cabinet desired to place certain limits to his power, Fox and the +Whigs regarded his assumption of the office as a matter of right, +and held therefore that he should have the powers of the Sovereign. +The constitutional question was complicated by personal feeling, so +that all London society was ranged on one side or the other. Selwyn +was a ministerialist, though he seems to have kept a cooler head +than many of his friends. But the rapid recovery of the King +rendered these discussions abortive and put an end to the political +hopes and fears which were aroused by his illness. Pitt remained in +office, the Whigs in opposition. + +Presently, however, the French Revolution became all-important. +Events in France were watched with the keenest interest by Selwyn, +to whom many of those who figured in the tragic scenes in Paris were +personally known. But he regarded the state of affairs in France +with greater calmness than many, though he was shocked at +revolutionary violence. It is, however, the picture in these letters +of the society of the French emigres in and about London that gives +so much interest to the last group of correspondence. Of this, +however, it will be more fitting to speak when the letters which +touch on it are reached. + +(228) 22 Geo. III. c. 82, 1782. An Act for enabling his Majesty to +discharge the debt contracted upon his Civil List Revenues, and for +preventing the same from being in arrear for the future, by +regulating the mode of payments and by suppressing or regulating +certain offices. + +(229) He metriculated at Christchurch, October 19, 1790. + + +(1786, Oct. 25,) Wednesday m., Richmond.--I was in London on Monday, +but returned hither to dinner. I propose to go there this morning, +and to lie in town. I am to dine with Williams, who is quite +recovered, as I am; he is kept in London, Lord North being there, on +account of his son's ill health--Mr. Frederick N(orth).(230) I hear +no news, and am sorry that that which Lord Holland told me is not +true, of his uncle's annuity, which I mentioned in my last. + +The Princess Amelia(231) is thought to be very near her end; there +is to be no Court to-day, which is unusual on this day of the +Accession. But I do not know that the Princess's illness is the +cause of it. I intended to have gone to the Drawing Room and have +put on my scarlet, and gold embr(oidery), for the last time. Pierre +I believe has contracted for it already. I cannot learn from any of +your family when you propose to return; I hope in less than three +weeks. I wrote to Lady C(arlisle) yesterday. + +I have no thought myself of settling in London, nor am I desirous of +it, while the Thames can be kept in due bounds. At present it is +subdued, and all above is clear after a certain hour, and my house +is the warmest and most comfortable of any; and when I came here to +dinner on Saturday last, having given my servants a day's law, +everything was in as much order, as if I had never left it. + +The Duke [of Queensberry] dines with me when he is here, a little +after four, and when we have drank our wine, we resort to his great +Hall,(232) bien eclairee, bien echauffee, to drink our coffee, and +hear Quintettes. The Hall is hung around with the Vandyke pictures ( +as they are called), and they have a good effect. But I wish that +there had been another room or gallery for them, that the Hall might +have been without any other ornament but its own proportions. The +rest of the pictures are hanging up in the Gilt Room, and some in a +room on the left hand as you go to that apartment. The Judges hang +in the semicircular passage, which makes one think, that instead of +going into a nobleman's house, you are in Sergeants' Inn. + +There is, and will be, a variety of opinions how these portraits +should be placed, and with what correspondence. I have my own, about +that and many other things, which I shall keep to myself. I am not +able to encounter constant dissension. I will have no bile, and so +keep my own opinions for the future about men and things, within my +own breast. I am naturally irritable, and therefore will avoid +irritation; I prefer longevity to it, which I may have without the +other. I have had a letter from Lady Ossory, who is impatient to +tell me all that has passed this summer in her neighbourhood, but +she is afraid of trusting it to a letter. I can pretty well guess +what kind of farce has been acted, knowing the dramatis persons. The +Duke of B(edford?) was to wait on her Grace. . . . + +I thought that Boothby had been with you. Mrs. Smith assures me that +you have fine weather, and fine sport; so I wish the fifth-form boy +[Lord Morpeth] had been with you, and his sister Charlotte, to make +and mark his neckcloths. + +I hear no more of Eden, but my neighbour Keene's conjectures on his +refusal, which are very vague, et tant soit peu malignes. I expect +more satisfaction to-day from Williams: not that I want really any +information about him. I have already seen and known as much as I +desire of him; he is a man of talents and application, with some +insinuation, and cunning, but I think will never be a good speaker, +or a great man. But what he is I do not care. + +My best compliments to the Dean,(233) and Corbet. I have not heard +from you, nor do I expect it. Mrs. Smith says, that sometimes you do +not return till 8 in the evening. Then I suppose que vous mangez de +gran appetit, et que vous dormez apres; so how, and when, am I to +expect a letter? Write or not write, I am satisfied that you are +well, and be you, that I am most truly and affectionately yours. + +I shall keep this half sheet for the news I may hear in Town, and as +this letter is not to go till to-morrow. + +Thursday m., Cleveland Court.--I met no news in Town when I came, +but the Princess Amelia has at present, in Dr. Warren's(234) +estimation, but a few days to live. If her own wishes were completed +in this respect she must have died yesterday, being on the same day +in October that the late King died. It is a pity that she should not +have been gratified. But she still hopes it will be in this month, +that she may lose no reputation in point of prevoyance, which would +be a pity. + +It is not an unnatural thing, with our German family, to make a +rendezvous as to death, and it has in more instances than one been +kept. K(ing) G(eorge) 1st took a final leave of the Princess of +Wales, afterwards Queen Caroline, the night before he went to +Hanover for the last time; and the Queen afterwards prophesied that +she should not outlive the year in which she happened to die. + +But her R. H. is firm and resigned, and, as Dr. Warren says, +declares herself ready. She flaps her sides as she sits up in her +bed, as a turtle does with its fins, and says, "I am ready, I am +ready." + +I heard yesterday that I have lost two other friends, whom I valued +as much, and for the same reason, that their faces were familiar to +me for above five and forty years. I mean little Compton, Bully's +friend and minister, and Sturt of Dorsetshire, both victims to the +gout. I am also told that Sir G. Metham is dying. . . . + +Harry Fox is to have a tolerable good fortune with his wife, which I +am glad of. But that she could like his person would amaze me, if I +did not know that, for particular reasons, women will like anything. + +(230) Frederick North, afterward fifth Earl of Guildford +(1766-1827), the famous Greek scholar. He was Lord North's third and +youngest son. + +(231) Princess Amelia (1783-1810) was the youngest and most beloved +of the children of George III. Always delrcate, the King was +constantly concerned about her, and her dying gift of a ring with a +lock of her hair is said to have helped to bring on his last mental +illness. + +(232) Queensberry Villa, which stood by the riverside, was purchased +by the Duke of Queensberry in 1780. It was built by the third Earl +of Cholmondely in 1708, and subsequently became the property of the +Earl of Brooke and Warwick, and then of Sir Richard Lyttleton. It +was purchased by John Earl Spencer for his mother, the Countess +Cowper, on whose death, in 1780, it was sold. The Duke of +Queensberry bequeathed the house to Maria Fagniani (Mie Mie). In +1831 it became the property of and was rebuilt by Sir William +Dundas. The old house was of red brick with a balcony running round +it above the first floor windows. ("The History and Antiquities of +Richmond," by E. B. Chancellor, p. 160.) + +(233) Dr. Jeffrey Ekins, Dean of Carlisle (1782-1792). + +(234) Richard Warren (1731-1797). The most eminent physician of the +time. He was a man of great ability and judgment. In 1762 he was +appointed physician to George III. + + +In the summer of 1788 Selwyn was laid up by an illness. "Mr. Selwyn +has been confined in Town by fever and I have not seen him since the +royal progress was intended," wrote Walpole to Lady Ossory in July. +The visit of the royalties to Matson took place later. "Mr. Selwyn, +I do not doubt, is superlatively happy. I am curious to know what +relics he has gleaned from the royal visit that he can bottle up and +place in his sanctum sanctorum." Such was Walpole's news in August +to the same correspondent. Selwyn recovered from his illness, and +left Matson to join the Carlisles. "The Selwyns I do not expect soon +at Richmond for the Carlisles are going to Cheltenham; but so many +loadstones draw him, that I who have no attraction seldom see him." +But in the autumn Walpole could again enjoy his friend's society. For +--as the following letter to Lady Carlisle shows he had returned +to Richmond for a time. + + +(1788,) November 2, Richmond.--It must seem, dear Lady Carlisle, +very shabby that on this day I do not afford a sheet of gilt paper +for my letter to you, but it is to no purpose giving any other +reason when I have that to give of having none by me. But truth on +plain paper is better than a compliment without sincerity, with all +the vignettes which could be found to adorn it, and nothing can be +truer than that I rejoice at the return of this day, which gave +birth to what I have on so many accounts reason to value and esteem. +I wrote yesterday such a long epistle to Lady Caroline, as would +have worn out anybody's patience but hers. . . . + +Miss Gunning(235) is I find at the Park with Mrs. Stewart and +to-morrow morning I shall go in my coach to see her. I wish it were +possible for her to accept a corner in my coach, and go with me to +C(astle) Howard, but I am afraid that it is not. I take for granted +that you have fixed upon the 20th for our setting out, and that you +intend that Lord Morpeth should come to my house the day before, +which will be on Monday fortnight. He wishes to have leave to come +from Eton on Saturday, and, as he has told me in a letter which I +have received from him to-day, he has hinted it to his father. I +promised to second his motion, and I hope it will be complied with. +. . . + +I shall remove with my family to town from hence in about ten days. +As yet we have leaf and verdure and air, and the country is very +agreeable. We have a few to associate with, and not too many. Old +Mrs. Crewe is my passion, and her house free from that cohue with +which others are filled; and as we have no connection with those who +make a public place of this situation, I find it a much more private +one than I expected. + +The Duke seems for this year to have deserted us. Monsieur de +Calonne engrosses all the time which he can spare from Newmarket. +Frederick St. John's match is, as I am told, at an end. But then the +Duchess of R(utland's) widowhood is just begun. I have lost myself +the opportunity of being his rival. Her Grace was in this house last +summer with me, and alone, but how could I foresee the event which +has since happened? and a survivance at my age could not be thought +an object. I do not hear who are to compose the next Court at the +Castle. You see whom the papers name, and perhaps can say who are +the most likely to go there. . . . + +(235) Charlotte Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Gunning, K.C.B., +Minister at the Courts of Copenhagen, Berlin, and St. Petersburg. +Miss Gunning, who was Maid of Honour to the Queen, must not be +confused with the two celebrated sisters of an earlier period, or +with Miss Elizabeth Gunning, a well-known and much-talked-of beauty +at this time, + +The correspondence from 1788 to the end of Selwyn's life is entirely +with Lady Carlisle. Carlisle himself appears to have been much in +London during that period, and thus in companionship with his old +friend. But letter-writing had become at once a habit and a +necessity. It was--and can always be where there is what he has +called an epanchement de Coeur--an unceasing pleasure and solace. +There is only required pen, paper, and ink, and the last bit of +news, the thought of the moment can be written down and exchanged +with the friend at a distance. It matters not that the letter does +not reach its destination for some time to come. In the transcribing +of the thought, there is the sharing of it with another, and +imagination anticipates its reception. + + +(1788, November) 20, Thursday, Cleveland Court.(236)--George, you +know, set out on Tuesday, and to-morrow I hope that you will see +him, and as well as when I took leave of him. I will own fairly to +you, that it was some degree 'of anxiety to me, that he had no +servant to go with him so long a journey. . . . When I left him in +Grosvenor Place I came here to write to you a letter, . . . but +condemned it to the flames. This Lord C., with whom I have +breakfasted, has reproved me for: he was sorry that I did not send +it; you should not be left out of the secret, you should know as +much as your neighbours, &c. You shall do so, if I can furnish you +with any intelligence, and although you never tell me anything which +I have not seen before, a fortnight past, in the Gazette, I shall +not use the same reserve with you. I intend to write constantly to +you, or to my Lord, what comes to my knowledge, true or false, and +when I may cite the authors of my news I will, and what I ought to +keep secret I must, but I think that there will be no occasion for +that; I desire to be trusted with no secrets myself. Those who are, +tell them soon enough for me. . . . + +The account of the K(ing) this morning in the papers, and which, to +a certain degree, is generally true, is as bad as it can be, and +from such information I dare say, with regard to his health or the +continuance of his disorder, the whole world can have but one and +the same opinion. But I am obliged, I find, to be cautious of saying +in one place what I am ordered to believe from authority in another; +and when I am enquiring or saying anything concerning the present +state of things, I am precisely in the situation of Sir R. de +Coverley, enquiring, when he was a boy, his way to St. Ann's Lane. +Nothing, it is supposed, will be said to-day in either House. We +shall meet about three or four, and agree to adjourn, about which I +hope and presume there will be no difference of opinion. Lord +C(arlisle) thinks that there will not, and that the adjournment will +be for a fortnight. + +To-day, I have heard, is fixed upon to speak reason to One who has +none. Dr. Warren, in some set of fine phrases, is to tell his +Majesty that he is stark mad, and must have a straight waistcoat. I +am glad that I am not chosen to be that Rat who is to put the bell +about the Cat's neck. For if it should be pleased (sic) God to +forgive our transgressions, and restore his Majesty to his senses, +for he can never have them again till we grow better, I suppose, +according to the opinion of Churchmen, who are perfectly acquainted +with all the dispensations of Providence, and the motive of his +conduct; I say, if that unexpected period arrives, I should not like +to stand in the place of that man who has moved such an Address to +the Crown. If the Dr. should, as it was told me, say simply that he +must be under government, the K. will not be surprised at what, bon +gre, mal gre, has happened to him so often. But what happens, when +it comes to my knowledge, I will write it, and something or other I +shall write to C(astle) H. every day. . . . + +(236) This and all succeeding letters are written to Lady Carlisle + + +(1788, Nov. 26?) Wednesday m(orning).--I have had the infinite +pleasure of receiving your letter this morning, so I shall write to +you to-day, and not to Lord C., and I am the more glad to do so, +because I think it but fair, as you have married him for better, for +worse, that you should divide my nonsense and importunity between +you. Je laisse courir ma plume, which would be abominable and +indiscreet, if I was not writing to one who is used to hear me say a +thousand things which he attributes to passion and perverseness, and +is not for that the less my friend. Then I like, when my mind and +heart are full, and I cannot open the budget before him, to +evaporate upon paper, which provokes no tart reply. I wish that we +were agreed upon every point of consideration in the Grand +Affair(237) which occupies the whole country, so naturally, but I am +afraid that we are not, yet he will not be angry with me. For when I +change my mind, or my rage is abated, it will be more from cool and +friendly advice from him than from anybody, and to make me, as I +have told him, quite reconciled to measures. I must, besides, seeing +they have not all the evil tendency which I expect, be persuaded +that he will be considered as he ought to be, and that they think +one person of character, as well as rank, is no disparagement to +their connection, but on the contrary will give some credit to it. I +shall say no more to you upon this matter. + +The K. is so much in the same state he was, and there is so little +appearance of any immediate change, that I am not, for the present, +solicitous about it. There must be a new Government I see, and it +may be a short or a lasting one, for it will, or ought to depend +entirely upon his Majesty's state of mind. For my own part I am free +to confess, that if I only see his hat upon the Throne, and ready to +be put upon his head, when he can come and claim it, and nothing in +the intermediate time done to disgrace and fetter him, as in the +[year] 1782, I shall be satisfied. It is a sad time indeed, and if +the Arch(bishop)p pleases, I will call it by his affect(ted?) +phrase, an awful moment. + +I pity the poor Queen, as you do, most excessively, and for her +sake, I hope that a due respect will be paid to the K., and while he +and she were grudged every luxury in the world, by those mean +wretches Burke, Gilbert,(238) and Lansdown, all kind of profusion is +not thought of to captivate his R(oyal) H(ighness).(239) In short, I +shall be glad, if his Majesty has lost his head, to hear that the P. +has found it. I have given him as yet more credit than I would own, +for I will not be accused of paying my court to him while, I say, I +see the K.'s hat only upon the Throne. + +I know that you will say that I am heated with a zeal that in three +months' time may be out of fashion. It may be so; but I rather +believe myself that this misfortune will add greatly to the +veneration which the public has of late had for his Majesty, and +make it more necessary for his successor to be cautious with whom +and how he acts. He has beau jeu, I hope he will make a right use of +it. The K. will be soon removed and in a carrosse bourgeoise but +whether to the Q(ueen's) House or to Kew I cannot learn for certain. +I should prefer Kew, if the physicians did not by that sacrifice too +much of the care which is due in their profession to the public. + +I cannot get sight of the D.,(240) the P(rince) will have him to +himself. I am now confined; my cough must be attended to, or it will +increase, and perhaps destroy me. Mie Mie is an excellent nurse, and +a most reasonable girl indeed. If her mother was so, I should hear +no more of her. But there will be still du management necessaire a +avoir; however, I have no fears of the issue of it. + +Mie Mie, I believe, will be glad, when your L(ad)y (ship) comes to +town, to go to the Chapel with Lady Caroline; you will tell me tout +bonnement if you should have any objection; a tout evenement she +will have a pew somewhere. She can no longer support the idea of +belonging to no communion, that en fait de salut she should be ni +chair ni poisson. She pleases me in that, and I shall be completely +happy to see her established in the Protestant religion, provided +that it is her own desire. But my profession is not that of making +converts, et je ne veux me charger de fame de personne. + +My dearest William,(241) pray mind your Billiards; whatever you do, +do not apply to it slovenly, wish success In it, and be so good, for +my sake, as to love reading; you may entertain me, if you do, with a +thousand pretty stories of Hector and his wife, of Romulus and +Remus, and at last we may come to talk together of M. de St. Simon. +Learn to make a pen, and write a very large clean hand, and then I +shall love you, if possible, more than I do at present. + +Frederick,(242) what would I give to see you Regent with a Council, +and Tany that Council. You say nothing to me of Lizy or Gertrude; my +love to them. + +George must certainly be grown, but I do not perceive it. I perceive +that he is strong and well, and I hope he will have a great deal of +hunting, sans etre trop temeraire. My hearty love to Lady Caroline. +Mie Mie and I have not laid aside the thoughts of that which is so +connected with our wishes and affections, but I see no immediate +prospect of doing or hearing anything one likes as yet. + +I was in hopes that when Lord C. came here next, you and the family +would come with him. I cannot bear the thoughts of not seeing you +till after Christmas. The winter will appear terrible (sic) long to +me, who have so little pleasure here besides that of going in a +morning to Grosvenor Place?(243) + +To-day I have a bill sent me of 100 pounds 12 shillings 0 pence. +laid out for the poor King, who ordered me to bespeak for him the +best set which I could get of the glass dishes and basons for his +dessert. The Regency may perhaps not want them, thinking that they +have no occasion for any dessert, and that they can do without it: +perhaps so, nous verrons. Old Begum, as they call her, is more +absurd, I hear, than ever. + +I was sorry that I could not dine yesterday at Whitehall, but I +shall not dine out of my room for some time. Wine is my destruction, +with the cold that I endure after it. I shall keep myself, if I can, +from any complaint that will prevent my going to Parliament. The +rat-catchers are going about with their traps, but they shall not +have a whisker of mine. + +Lord C. sets out you say on Monday next; then I shall see him, I +suppose, on Wednesday; he will not hurry up as he did down, and then +I am afraid I shall hardly get access to him. Charles you know is +come; I have not heard anything more of him. The papers say that +Pitt and the Chan(cell)or(244) went to Windsor together in one +chaise, and he and Dr. Graham(245) in another. I want to know, how +he has relished Sheridan's(246) beginning a negotiation without him. +I have figured him, if it be true, saying to him, at his arrival, as +Hecate does to the Witches in Macbeth, "Saucy and (over) bold, how +did you dare to trade and traffic, &c., and I, the mistress of your +charms, the close contriver of all harms, was never called to bear +my part," &c. I will not (go) on to the rest of the passage,(247) +for fear of offending. I hope that I shall not have offended you by +anything which I have said; if I do not, you shall hear from me as +often as you please. Be only persuaded that I am most truly and +devotedly yours. + +(237) The question of the Regency during the King's illness. + +(238) Thomas Gilbert (1720-1798); known for his reform of the poor +laws. + +(239) The Prince of Wales. ||' + +(240) Duke of Queensberry, who at this juncture, though a member of +the King's Household, markedly allied himself with the Prince of +Wales's party. + +(241) Second son of Lord Carlisle, born December 25, 1781, died +January 25, 1843. + +(242) Third son of Lord Carlisle, Major 10th Hussars, killed at +Waterloo. + +(243) Lord Carlisle's town residence' + +(244) Lord Thurlow. + +(245) Dr. Graham (1745-1794); a noted quack doctor. Returning from +America, he claimed to have learned marvellous electrical cures from +Franklin, and advertised impossible discoveries; he declared he +could impart the secret of living beyond the natural span of life. +He became fashionable, received testimonials from many well-known +persons, and occupied part of Schomberg House, Pall Mall, where +Gainsborough had his studio. + +(246) Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816). + +(247) "Or show the glory of our art? + And, which is worse, all you have done + Hath been but for a wayward son, + Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do, +Loves for his own ends, not for you." +(Act 3, scene 5.) + + +(1788, Dec. 4?) Thursday morning.--I begin my letter to you this +morning, and at an early hour, before I can have been informed of +anything, but I do so to shew you that I am impatient to obey your +commands, and that I intend to write to you as often as I can pick +up anything which I think will interest or amuse you; in which I +shall not forget that George and Caroline are now of an age to take +some parts in public affairs. What is of a more solemn and profound +nature and secrecy, such as the deliberations of the Cabinet, that +you will learn from those who will relate them to you with more +precision and authenticity. Of these, if anything transpires to me, +it must be through Jack Payne,(248) Lord Lothian,(249) or Trevis, +and these are such confused and uncertain channels that there will +be no dependence upon the veracity of them. Ils ne laissent pas +pourtant de donner leur avis de temps en temps, et d'en parler +apres, a ce que j'ai oui dire. So that de cote ou d'autre you are +sure to know something, and perhaps what may not come to the +knowledge of those who furnish materials for the daily papers. + +The K. is undoubtedly in a state in which he may remain, and a +deplorable one it is; deplorable and deplored, I believe, by every +honest and feeling man in this country. But he has now a comfort +which, as the poet says, none but madmen know. You, nor any +belonging to you, I hope in God will ever know what it is; but he +diverts himself now, as I hear, without his reason, precisely in the +same manner as I have seen the children do, before they had any, and +from this account you will have a just conception of his present +state. + +There was a meeting last night at Lord Sydney's,(250) and another at +the Cockpitt, and what was said and done the public papers will, I +doubt not, more fully relate than I can. I could not stir out or see +anybody after Lord Carlisle, who dined with me, went away, except +the Duke, who now sups every night with H.R.H. and his Brother(251) +at Mrs. Fitzherbert's,(252) and is so good as to call here before he +goes. + +This cough which I have now has confined me to my room every since +last Monday was sevennight, and has for the time been more severe +than any which I have ever had. I could not be permitted to lose any +blood till yesterday, which I am surprised at, and sorry for too, +for I think that if I had been blooded a week ago the effect would +have been more than I find it to be yet. I must keep at home. +Blisters are recommended, but as they are sometimes attended with +painful complaints, so I cannot submit to them. In other respects I +am perfectly well, and in spirits. + +H.R.H. has been so good as to enquire after my health of the Duke, +and I have desired him to say, that I find myself better, and am +told that I may go out in a few days. I think it is most likely that +I shall. I wish it were as likely that poor Corbet came in for +something or other that would render his situation more comfortable +to him. + +My Lord tells me that he has had Zenks to dine with him, which T +shall undoubtedly quote as a precedent, whenever my friends now in +Government shall think it right to bring forward in Parliament the +Recovery of his Majesty's Reason. I must own, my dear Lady C., that +I think that you had all of you too much courage in allowing of that +visit, and especially at dinner, amongst all the knives and forks. I +believe, if I had been there, I should have hemmed in all the +children with the chairs, as a chevaux de frise, and placed myself +before them with the poker in my hand. + +Lord C. looks very well, and seems in great but modest glee. I hope +at least to have the comfort of seeing him gratified, and when I +know how, I intend to write George a letter, who will believe, I am +sure, that in that instance, if in no other, I shall lay aside party +prejudices, and rejoice with him. + +I had laid aside my paper, and intended to have wrote no more till +somebody came to me to give me new information. But I have had my +apothecary at my bedside, who has been giving me an account of the +examination of the physicians by the Privy Council.(253) The +physicians, one and all, declared his Majesty to be, at present, +unfit for public business; but when Mr. Burke, who was a leading +man, and the most forward in asking questions, put this to them, +whether there was any hope of his Majesty's recovering, they did not +scruple to say that they had more reason to hope it than not. Dr. +Warren was the most unwilling to subscribe to this opinion, but did +not refuse his assent to it. It was, to be sure, the answer which +Mr. Burke wished and expected. He told me that the Party, as he +heard, is very angry with Mr. Fox, and will not believe the +indisposition, which confines him to his bed, not to be a feigned +one. + +This is my apothecary's news, but if it was the barber's only, I +should tell it to you. I wish to find it all true, but not a little +also that Mr. F(ox) has displeased some of his friends; for if he +has, and that should not be Lord Carlisle, I shall have the better +opinion of him. Lord C. has held out to me, in his last letter, the +language of a man of sense, of honour, and of feeling, but the +misfortune is that all he says, from the sincerity of his mind and +heart, will be adapted (adopted?) by those who have not one of his +qualities, and yet are compelled to talk as he does, to serve their +own purposes. + +As to Mr. Fox, although I am at variance with him, and am afraid +shall for ever be so, for reasons which I do not choose now to urge, +although I am determined never to be connected with him by the least +obligation, I am free to confess that I am naturally disposed to +love him, and to do justice to every ray of what is commendable in +him; and I will go so far as to protest, that, if he acts upon this +occasion with a decent regard to the K(ing), and his just +prerogatives, I will endeavour to erase out of my mind all that he +has done contrary to his duty, and "would mount myself the rostrum" +in his favour. To gain his pardon from the people would be now +unnecessary, that is, with some of them; with the best of them, I +know it would be impossible. + +Lord North's speech I shall be very impatient to read, for hear, I +fear, that I shall not; I see little probability of my going out for +some time. I wish that I had gone from Matson to Castle H.; I might +perhaps be there now, and have escaped this martyrdom. You say +nothing of your coming here, and will not, I daresay, come the +sooner, for my impatience to see you and the children. I must live +upon that unexpected pleasure; but whom I shall collect to eat my +minced pies on William's birthday, I do not as yet know. + +The business of Parliament does not begin till Monday; till then, it +will be nothing but hearsay, speculation, &c., &c. Some tell me that +the present Ministry is determined to try the number of those who +will support them, and are not afraid of being overrun with Rats; +nous verrons. Lord Stafford(254) was to have come to me yesterday, +when the Council was up, but it was too late. + +(248) Captain John Willett Payne, known as "Jack Payne," was +secretary to the Prince of Wales. + +(249) The Marquis of Lothian (1737-1815) belonged to the "fast set." +He commanded the first regiment of Life Guards, and was a favourite +of George III., whom he deserted at the division caused by his first +attack of insanity; at the King's recovery he was transferred to +another regiment. + +(250) T. Townsend. + +(251) Frederick, Duke of York. + +(252) Mrs. Fitzherbert (1756-1837). It was the occasion of much +curiosity during her life and after if she were legally the wife of +the Prince of Wales, afterwards George IV. The marriage took place +in her own house, her brother and uncle being present; a clergyman +of the Church of England performed the ceremony. But by the Marriage +Act of 1772 a marriage by a member of the Royal Family under +twenty-five, without the King's consent, was invalid, and by the Act +of Settlement a marriage by the heir-apparent to a Roman Catholic +was also invalid. In 1787 the Prince, in order to obtain money from +Parliament, without doubt gave Fox authority to deny the marriage in +the House of Commons, though he pretended great indignation toward +Fox to Mrs. Fitzherbert. On the Prince's marriage to the Princess +Caroline, Mrs. Fitzherbert ceased for a time to live with him, but +acting on the advice of her confessor, returned to him, and gave a +breakfast to announce it to the fashionable world, where she was a +favourite. About 1803 she broke off all connection with the Prince, +retiring from the Court with an annuity of 6,000 pounds. George IV. +wore her portrait until his death; her good influence over him was +recognised by George III. and the Royal Family, who always treated +her with consideration. + +(253) The examination on oath of the five physicians in attendance +on the King took place by direction of Pitt on December 3rd, the day +before the meeting of Parliament. Fifty-four members were present. + +(254) The Lord Gower of the preceding correspondence. + + + +Between the following and the preceding letter events had moved +rapidly in France. The National Assembly had been formed to be +changed into the Constituent Assembly, the tricolour had sprung into +existence, and the Bastille fallen. The Declaration of the Rights of +Man had been promulgated. But Selwyn's information upon the state of +France was not very accurate. + + +(1788, Dec. 5?)--Postscript. Good God, Lady C., what have I done? +Mie Mie wrote a letter yesterday to her mother; I was to put it in +the same envelope with' my own. They were only to thank her for +hers, which the Comte d'Elci(255) brought me from her, enquiring +after Mie Mie's health. To-day I find Mie Mie's letter on my table. +I shall send it by the next post, but I am afraid that I put into my +envelope a sheet which was intended for Lord Carlisle. Pray ask him +if he had two sheets, or what he had. I am in hopes that, par +distraction, it was only a sheet of blank paper. Yet that I did not +intend neither; she shall have no carte blanche from me. I am +miserable about this. What makes me hope that it was not part of my +rhapsody to Lord C. is, that generally my sheets to him are +barbouilled on all the sides, and I know there was nothing of that. +Tirez-moi de mon incertitude, si vous le pouvez, + +Lord Stafford has just been with me. He says that he had a letter +from Windsor this morning. The K. passed a quieter night, but I do +not find out that he is less to-day what we are obliged to call him +now. It is a new event, and a new language never heard before in the +Court. Me de Maintenon would say, "Heavens! Do I live to call Louis +14 an object of pity?" You remember that pretended letter of hers, +which was said to be dropped out of Me de Torcy's pocket at the +Hague. (Do I live) to speak of my master at last as a lunatic(?) +--Burke walking at large, and he in a strait waistcoat! Charles +wrote a letter to the Prince the day he came. He wrote it about +noon, and at one the next morning he received his R.H. answer. I +wish Craufurd would pick it out of his pocket to shew me. + +There may be another adjournment, as I am told. Business can be +suspended a little longer. If supplies are wanted much in some +places, they can be postponed in others. So the Cardinal de +Rohan(256) is then chosen President of the States,(257) is that the +phrase? But he is chosen President toujours of the notables,(258) or +something. This I had last night from the Marquis de Hautefort.(259) +What this Marquis and Grand d'Espagne has to do out of France at +this time I have as yet to learn. I see that I am to have the +introduction of him everywhere. He thinks me a man d'une grande +existence dans ce pais. He says that I am lie avec M. Pitt; he wants +me to present him to him. He fancies that the P(rince) has a convert +here whenever he pleases. It is my singular fate for ever to pass +for something which I am not, nor cannot be, nor desire to be +--sometimes indeed for what I should be ashamed to be. But I am used +to this. On se trompe, on se detrompe, et on se trompe encore. I do +not find, au bout du compte, that it signifies anything. With one's +friends one must be known, tot ou tard, to be exactly what we are. + +(255) Angelo, Comte d'Elci, born in Florence in 1764, an, Italian +philologist and archaeologist. He died in 1824. + +(256) Louis-Rene-Edouard, Prince de Rohan (1734-1803). In 1760, soon +after taking orders, he was nominated coadjutor to his uncle, +Constantin de Rohan, Archbishop of Strasburg and Bishop of Canopus; +in 1761 elected member of the Academy; in 1772 ambassador to Vienna +on the question of the dismemberment of Poland; in 1777 made Grand +Almoner of France; in 1778 Abbot of St. Vaast and cardinal; in 1779 +succeeded his uncle as Archbishop of Strasburg, and became Abbot of +Noirmoutiers and La Chaise. He led a gay, luxurious, and extravagant +life rather than performed his clerical duties; he had political +ambitions, but he was never able to overcome the predisposition +against him with which Marie Antoinette had come to France. He was a +dupe of Cagliostro, and of Mme. de Lamotte-Valois, the adventuress +who, in 1782, drew him into the intrigue of the diamond necklace, +for which he was sent to the Bastille, and which gave him the name +of le cardinal Collier; he was acquitted in 1786, and in 1789 +elected to the States-General; in 1791 he refused to take the oath +to the Constitution, and went to Ettenheim in the German part of his +province, where he died on the 17th of February, 1803. + +(257) The States-General did not open until May 5, 1789. + +(258) The Convocation of the Notables took place the 19th of +December. + +(259) Armand Charles Emmanuel, Comte de Hautefort, was born in +1741; he bore the title of Grand d'Espagne through his marriage in +1761 with the Comtesse de Hochenfels de Bavere Grand d'Espagne de la +premiere classe. + + +Richmond of to-day, with its villas and streets, a town of houses +occupied by professional and business men who spend their life in +London, is unlike the gay and lively resort of the last days of the +eighteenth century. Then the elite of the fashionable society of +England gathered on the hill and by the river as people now do on +the Riviera or in Cairo. "Richmond is in the first request this +summer," so wrote Walpole in the very year at which we have now +arrived. "Mrs. Bouverie is settled there with a large Court. The +Sheridans are there too, and the Bunburys. I go once or twice a week +to George Selwyn late in the evening when he comes in from walking; +about as often to Mrs. Ellis here and to Lady Cecilia at Hampton." +Once in Richmond men and women stayed there walking, talking, and +calling on each other, sometimes driving into London, but enjoying +it as a residence, not as a mere resort for an evening's pleasure. +Selwyn communicated the news of Richmond to his country friends as +one does in these days when at some German Spa. It may seem to us, +to whom so many opportunities of enjoyment of all kinds and in all +parts of the world are open, a tame kind of life to spend days and +nights strolling about a London suburb, attending assemblies, +playing at cards, with now and then a visit to town or a row on the +river. But our ancestors were necessarily limited in their +pleasures, and to them Richmond was a God-send, especially to men +like Selwyn, or Queensberry, or Walpole, who delighted in social +intercourse, and liked to enjoy what they called rustic life with as +much comfort as the age provided. Something of this life we have +learned from Walpole's and Miss Berry's letters, but no truer +picture of it can be found than in the last letters of Selwyn. To +the ordinary habitues of Richmond, however, there were in 1789 and +1790 added a throng of French ladies and gentlemen. Driven from +their agreeable salons in Paris, they endeavoured to make the best +of life among their English friends at Richmond. Exiled among a +people whose language few of them could understand, they' received +little of the hospitality which had been so freely extended to +English visitors in Paris. It was the last and a sad scene in that +remarkable intercourse between the most cultivated people of England +and France which is one characteristic of the society of both +nations in the eighteenth century. This entente was destroyed by the +French Revolution. Selwyn, who had figured in this international +society more than most men of the age, lived to tell of its last +days in the letters which he wrote during the two final years of his +life. + + +(1789, Aug. 21?) Friday night, Richmond.--I did not come hither till +to-day, because I was resolved to stay to see the Duke(260) set out, +which he did this morning for Newmarket, from whence he goes with +his doctor to York. He said that he should not go to Castle Howard, +which I looked upon as certain as that the Princes will be there. It +would have been in vain to have held out to him the temptation of +seeing his goddaughter, and I know that, if I had suggested it, he +would have laughed at me, which would have made me angry, who think +Gertrude(261) an object worth going at least sixteen miles to see. + +He was in very good spirits when he left London; and in +extraordinary good humour with me. But he would not have me depend, +he said, upon his going to Scotland, although he has, sent as many +servants in different equipages as if he intended to stay there a +twelvemonth. It was quite unnecessary to prepare me against any kind +of irresolution of his. After all, I hope that he will go to Castle +Howard. I believe it is just five and thirty years since we were +there together, and all I know is, that I did not think then that I +should ever see it so well furnished as I have since, and I will +maintain that Gertrude is not the least pretty meuble that is there. + +I was so unsettled while I was in London that I did not even send to +make enquiries about your brother or Lady Southerland. I could not +have made their party if I had been sure of their being in town. Sir +R. and Lady Payne are at Lambeth. They propose coming to dine here +in a few days. + +I dined with Crowle and the younger Mr. Fawkner yesterday at the +Duke's, and asked them many questions about poor Delme's affairs, +and concerning Lady Betty. I hear that Lady Julia has been much +affected with this accident. He had persuaded himself that he should +die, although either Dr. Warren saw no immediate danger, or thought +proper not to say so. The French, as I said before, have good reason +to say that il n'est permis qu'aux medecins de mentir, and Delme +certainly justified the deception, if there was any; but he had at +last more fortitude or resolution as I hear than was expected. I +hope that Lady Betty will be reconciled to her change of life; there +must have been one inevitably, and, perhaps, that not less +disagreeable. + +I am unhappy that I have not yet received any account of Caroline. +Mr. Woodhouse has returned my visit. I did not conceive it to be +proper that Mie Mie should wait upon Mrs. Bacon till an opportunity +had been offered of her being presented to her, but I shall be +desirous of bringing about that acquaintance. Mrs. Webb is now with +us, which is a piece of furniture here, not without its use, and +which I am in a habit of seeing with more satisfaction than perhaps +Mie Mie, who begins to think naturally a gouvernante to have a +mauvais air. I am not quite of that opinion dans les circonstances +actuelles. + +No more news as yet from France. I expect to have a great deal of +discourse on Tuesday with St. Foy, on the subject of this +Revolution, which occupies my mind very much, although I have still +a great deal of information to acquire. It may be peu de chose, but, +as yet, I know no more than that the House of Bourbon, with the +noblesse francoise, their revenues and privileges, are in a manner +annihilated by a coup de main, as it were, and after an existence of +near a thousand years; and if you are now walking in the streets of +Paris, ever so quietly, but suspected or marked as one who will not +subscribe to this, you are immediately accroche a la Lanterne: tout +cela m'est inconcevable. But we are I am sure at the beginning only +of this Roman, instead of seeing the new Constitution so quietly +established by the first of September, as I have been confidently +assured that it will be. + +Preparations were certainly making here for her Majesty the Queen of +France's(262) reception, and I am assured that if the King had not +gone as he did to the Hotel de Ville, the Duke of Orleans(263) would +immediately have been declared Regent. There seems some sort of +fatality in the scheme of forming (sic) a Regent, who, in neither of +the two kingdoms, is destine a ne pas arrive a bon part. + +But one word more of Delme. I am told that if Lady Betty and Lady +J(ulia) live together, they will not have less than two thousand a +year to maintain their establishment, including what the Court of +Chancery will allow for the guardianship of the children. That will +be more comfortable at least than living in the constant dread of +the consequences of a heedless dissipation. + +It was conjectured that Lord C(arlisle) would bring Mr. Greenville +in for Morpeth, which, if it be so, I shall be very glad to hear. +Crowle says that the cook is one of the best servants of the kind +that can be, and would go to Lord C. if he wanted one, for sixty +pounds a year, par preference to any other place with larger wages. +I was desired to mention this; it may be to no purpose. + +The King, as I hear, is not expected to be at Windsor till +Michaelmas. I received a letter to-day in such a hand as you never +beheld, from Sir Sampson Gideon, now Sir S. Eardley, a name I never +heard of before, to dine with him to-morrow at his house in Kent. I +was to call at his house in Arlington Street, and there to be +informed of the road, and to be three hours and a half in going it. +It was to meet Mr. Pitt, and to eat a turtle: quelle chere! The +turtle I should have liked, but how Mr. Pitt is to be dressed I +cannot tell. The temptation is great, I grant it, but I have had so +much self-denial as to send my excuses. You will not believe it, +perhaps, but a Minister, of any description, although served up in +his great shell of power, and all his green fat about him, is to me +a dish by no means relishing, and I never knew but one in my life I +could pass an hour with pleasantly, which was Lord Holland. I am +certain that if Lord C(arlisle) had been what he seemed to have had +once an ambition for, I should not have endured him, although I +might perhaps have supported his measures. + +You desired me to write to you often. You see, dear Lady Carlisle, +toute l'inclination que j'y porte, et que, vraisem(bla)blement, si +vous souhaitez d'avoir de mes lettres, une certaine provision de +telles fadaises ne vous manquera pas. But I must hear myself from +Caroline, or nothing will satisfy me; as yet I have not her +direction, and so bad is my memory now, that this morning I could +not even be sure if Stackpoole Court was near Milford Haven, +Liverpool, or Milbourn Port. I do not comprehend how I could +confound these three places, or be so depaise in regard to the +geography of this island. + +(260) Of Queensberry. + +(261) Third daughter of the Earl of Carlisle, married W. Sloane +Stanley, Esq. + +(262) Marie Antoinette. + +(263) Louis Philippe Joseph, Duc d'Orleans (1747-1793). As the Duc +de Chartres he pretended to the philosophical opinions of the +eighteenth century, but followed the dissolute customs of the +Regency. Marie Antoinette never attempted to overcome or conceal her +aversion to him, which helped to divide the Court. On the death of +his father in 1785 he came into the title of the Duc d'Orleans. +Interpolating the King at the famous royal sitting of the 19th of +November, 1787, which he attended as a member of the Assembly of +Notables, he was exiled to Villers Cotterets; in four months he +returned and bought the good will of the journals by money and of +the populace by buying up provisions and feeding them at public +tables; he was nominated President of the National Assembly but +refused the post; he attempted to corrupt the French guards, and so +serious were the charges brought against him that La Fayette +demanded of the King that he should be sent from the country. He +went accordingly to England on a fictitious mission in October of +1789. He returned in eight months to be received with acclamation by +the Jacobins, who were, however, themselves irritated at the +coolness by which he voted for the death of his cousin, Louis XVI. +in 1792; he was present at the execution, which he beheld unmoved, +driving from the scene in a carriage drawn by six horses to spend +the night in revelry at Raincy, but the title Egalite, which the +Commune of Paris had authorised him to assume for himself and his +descendants, did not save him from the same fate. The Convention +ordered the arrest of all the members of the Bourbon family, and he +was guillotined the 6th of November, 1793. The Duc de Chartres +visited England in 1779 and was intimate with the Prince of Wales; +on his return he introduced in France the English race meetings, +jockeys, and dress. It was said that the Prince of Wales, on hearing +of his conduct at the execution of the King, tore into pieces his +portrait which he had left him. + + + +(1789, Aug.) 27, Thursday noon, Richmond.--I have received yours +this morning, and a very fine morning it is, and made still more +agreeable to me by your letter, which I have seated myself under my +great tree to thank you for. I have no doubt but every one who +passes by will perceive, if they turn their eyes this way, that I am +occupied with something which pleases me extremely. It is a great +part of my delight, and of Mie Mie's too, that we shall see you so +soon. ... It would have been a great satisfaction to me to have been +able to have accommodated Miss Gunning, and to have had her company +with us at C(astle) H(oward). . . . I have had a letter from Lady +Caroline.(264) I have directed my letters to her at Stackpole Court, +Milford Haven. . . . + +I received at the same time with hers a letter from Lord Carlisle, +who, as he says, finds it necessary to Recommend Gregg, for the +remainder of this Parliament, to the borough of Morpeth. I should +have been glad that the return could have been of the same person, +Whoever he may be, who is designed to represent it at the ensuing +and general election. To be sure it seldom happens que l'on meurt in +all respects fort a propos, and this death of poor Mr. Delme is, as +much as it regards Lord Carlisle, an evident proof of it. + +Sir R. Payne and Lady Payne and Sir C. Bunbury intend dining here +to-morrow. + +Mr. Saintefoy, with Storer, dined here yesterday, but informed me of +nothing new concerning France. We talked the matter over very fully, +and it was very satisfactory to me, what I learned from Mr. +Saintefoy upon the Revolution and the causes of it; and now I think +the constitution of that country, as it has happened in others, will +be quite new modelled, and that the new adopted plan, after a time, +will be so much established as that there will be, probably, no +return, if ever, for ages, of the old Constitution, unless produced +by the chapter of accidents, to which all human things are liable. + +I should have gone to town to-morrow to have taken leave of your +brother, but this intended visit from Sir R. and Lady Payne will +prevent me. I was not in the least aware that during the week of the +York Races your Ladyship would be alone, and am therefore much vexed +that Mie Mie and I are not at C(astle) H. at this moment. It was +indeed what came into her head, and very properly; but the idea of +running foul upon his R(oyal) H(ighness) (to use a sea term) was +what prevented me from taking the measures which I should otherwise +have taken. Lord C(arlisle) will leave C(astle) H., as I understand +by his letter, on Saturday sevennight. I hope then to be at C(astle) +H. by the time that he goes. + +I am glad, for George's sake, that Lord H(olland)(265) has been with +you, but you could not be surprised to find, in one of that family, +a disposition to loquacity. He is, I believe, a very good boy, and +his tutor is, they say, a very sensible man; but he has a most +hideous name, and if you do not know how to spell it, I, for my +part, can with difficulty pronounce it, the sound of it being so +near something else. + +(264) Lady Caroline Howard was married to John Campbell, after first +Lord Cawdor, on July 28, 1789. + +(265) Henry Richard Vassall Fox, third Baron Holland (1773-1840). +The nephew of Charles Fox. He was imbued by his uncle with liberal +opinions, which he upheld throughout his life. On the death of Fox +in 1807 he became Lord Privy Seal in the Grenville Ministry. In 1830 +he was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the Reform Cabinet of +Lord Grey. It was he and his wife, whom he married in 1797, who gave +to Holland House a world-wide celebrity as a gathering place of +eminent people. In Selwyn's lifetime he was only a youth. + + +(1789,) September 3, Thursday, Richmond.--I am vexed to find, by the +letter which I have had the pleasure to receive to-day, that I am +expected to be at C(astle) H(oward) on Saturday, when I do not set +out till Sunday, so that, as I told Lord C. in my last, which he +should receive to-day, I shall not be there till Wednesday. I am +dilatory and procrastinating in my nature, but am not apt to defer +what, when done, will make me so happy as I shall be at C(astle) H., +and should not have been so now, if I had been more early apprised +of your wish to have our journey accelerated. + +I am very glad that H.R.H. was pleased with C(astle) H(oward). I am +sure, that if he had not been so, he would have been difficile a +contenter. But yet, it is a doubt with me, if he and I are equally +delighted with the same objects. It is not that I expect others to +love and admire your children as I do. There is a great deal in the +composition of that; but he might if he pleased have pleasures of +the same nature, but he seems to have set so little value upon +resources of that kind, that I am afraid we shall never see any of +H.R.H.'s progeny, and that this country must live upon what is +called the quick stock for some years to come. I wish that it had +happened that he had dined at Castle H. to-day, and have celebrated +Caroline's birthday, which Mie Mie and I shall do here in a less +sumptuous manner. + +I was yesterday morning at Mrs. Bacon's door, nay further, for the +servant said that she was at home, and I was carried into the +parlour, but there it ended; Mrs. B. was dressing, and I could not +see her, I left word with the servant that I was going into the +North, where in a little time I should see Mr. Campbell,(266) and to +receive her commands relative to him was the object of my visit. I +must now leave this place without having made any progress in her +acquaintance, or in that of her niece. All this you will, I know, +put to Caroline's account, and indeed you may, for the talk of her +was the pleasure which I had promised myself by both these visits. + +So Lord C., I find, sets out to-day for N(aworth), and would not go +to Wentworth. I cannot wonder at his preference. That you went is +compliment enough, in my opinion. I shall ask George, when I see +him, if he had any hand in penning the Address to His R(oyal) +H(ighness), or in the answer. I shall desire also to know of him, if +I am to approve of it. All I know of the times is what I am informed +of by the World, which perhaps, like other worlds, is full of lies. +It is equal to me; I am very little interested in it, at present; +nay, if I was Argus, who by taking that title would make us believe +that he saw and knew more, I should be only more satiated, and see +more of what I dislike. + +The French politics, as they move me less, suit me better; but of +these I begin to be tired, and shall for my amusement revert to more +ancient times. The history of the Bourbons is become thread-bare, +and their lustre too is extinguished, as suddenly as that of a +farthing candle. This Revolution is by no means unprecedented, but +being transacted in our own times, and so near our own doors, +strikes us the more forcibly. + +To-morrow we shall go to town, and that, and the next day will be +taken up in our preparatives. It was not so formerly; an expedition +was fitted out at a much less expense, and in a shorter time. But a +journey of above five hundred miles strikes us at present as a great +undertaking. But after we shall have left Barnet, I know much of +this will vanish, and I shall think of nothing but of my gate, and +of all whom I shall see in a few days after. I will bring down the +maps which you mention, and other things, if I knew which would be +most acceptable to them, but as they will never tell me, I can but +conjecture. + +You do not say anything of the D(uke) of Y(ork); perhaps he was not +well enough to be of all the parties. We have here, for our pride, +and amusement, the third brother,(267) who drives about in his +phaeton, with his companion, bespeaks plays, and seems to have taken +Richmond under his immediate patronage. A report has been spread +here that Mrs. F(itzherbert) has obtained leave to come and lodge at +the next door. I hope that that will not be the case, for her own +sake, as well as ours. + +I thank William for his letter, although he tells me little more +than that he is my affectionate W. Howard. He may be assured that he +has from me at least an equal return. Of Gertrude he says nothing, +and yet, I am confident, the P(rince) did not overlook her. My +hearty love to them all, and to Lady Caroline if you write to her. + +I read yesterday a little Latin poem upon a Mouse Trap, with which I +was most highly delighted; wrote near a century ago, by a Mr. +Holdsworth. It has been much celebrated, but never fell into my +hands before yesterday. There is a great eloge upon the Cambrians, +but whether Mr. Campbell would be flattered with it I am not sure. +If I did not suppose it to be no more a curiosity than was the +Blossom of the Chestnut Tree, with which I was so struck the +beginning of the summer, I should bring it with me. There is a +translation of it in English verse, that is little short of the +original. Dear Lady Carlisle, adieu. I never know when to leave off +when I am writing to you, nor how to express the affection and +esteem with which I am ever yours. + +(266) Afterwards married to Lady Caroline. + +(267) William, Duke of Clarence. + + +(1789,) Oct. 22, Thursday, Matson.--We arrived here yesterday at +four in the afternoon from Crome.(268) We left there a very fine +day, which grew worse every hour, and before we got to the garden +gate it was as bad and uncomfortable as possible. Mr. Bligh would +have said unprofitable, and perhaps with truth, for I see no +advantage in having come here, and shall be very glad to find no ill +consequences from it. We found to receive us, Dr. Warner, who had +been here almost a week, and another gentleman who was come to dine +with me, and both of them so hoarse that they could not be heard. I +was by no means elated with finding myself where I am, and it was +well that, upon getting out of my coach, I had the honour of your +Ladyship's letter, which was some consolation to me. But I find by +it, what I have a long while dreaded, that Car's going away would be +attended with great uneasiness to you. . . . It is well that you can +meet it with so much reason and fortitude. I have, I know, the +smallest portion of either that any man ever had. + +This day has cleared up. I am as yet very well, and shall be very +careful of myself, and I propose, as I told you, to set out from +hence on Sunday sevennight, the first of the next month, and stay +with George two days at Salt Hill. I am sure that I should not have +the pleasure I have in meeting him, if there were not some intervals +when I cannot see him, and I am convinced, that a life must (be) +chequered to have it really a plaisant one. I am glad that he and +W(illia)m were amused while they stayed in town. I expect to hear +from them some account of it. + +The new Bishop is at Gloucester, as I am told, with his family; +c'est une faible ressource, but it is one; they are represented to +me as very agreeable people. Other company we shall have none, I +take for granted, and that Mie Mie, finding herself so much alone, +will be glad to return to Richmond. ... I am most excessively +concerned for poor Lord Waldgrave.(269) + +(268) Croome in Worcestershire Lord Coventry's family seat. + +(269) George, fourth Earl of Waldegrave (1751-1789). He married his +cousin, Lady Elizabeth Laura Waldegrave, daughter of James, second +earl, in 1782. + + +(1789,) Nov. 6, Friday m(orning), Richmond.--Lord C. will receive a +letter from me this morning which will be sufficient to assure you +that George is well. He is so indeed, a tous egards. I stayed with +him all Wednesday, and yesterday about noon I left him, so that in +reality his course of erudition had but one day's interruption from +me. Mr. Roberts is au comble de sa joie, et de sa gloire, having +gained the prize for a better copy of verses upon the Deluge than +that of any of his competitors. They are to be printed, so I shall +see what I can at present have no idea of, and that is, how he will +find matter from that event to furnish a hundred or two of blank +verses. I should think that no one, but one like our friend John St. +J(ohn), who uses Helicon as habitually as others do a cold bath, is +equal to it. I only hope, for my part, that the argument will not be +illustrated by any dkbordement of the Thames near this house; at +present there is no appearance of it. + +I stayed at Matson, I will not say as long as it was good, but +before it became very bad, which I believe it did before we had left +the place two hours. The storm was brewing in the vale, but upon the +hills we bade it defiance. I am very glad to be at a place where I +can be stationary for a considerable time; and it is what is very +requisite for my present state of health, which requires attention +and regularity of living. If these are observed, I am as(su)red that +after a time I shall be well, and that my lease for ten or twenty +years seems as yet a good one. As for the labour and sorrow which +his Majesty K(ing) D(avid) speaks of, I know of no age that is quite +exempt from them, and have no fear of their being more severe in my +caducity than they were in the flower of my age, when I had not more +things to please me than I have now, although they might vary in +their kind. When I see you and Lord C. with your children about you, +and all of you in perfect health and spirits, my sensations of +pleasure are greater than in the most joyous hours of my youth. It +is no solitude, this place. We have got Onslows and Jeffreyes's, Mr. +Walpole, &c., &c., and if Mr. Cambridge would permit it, I could be +sometimes, as I wish to be, alone. + +On Monday Mie Mie and I shall go to town for one night. I am to meet +Me de Bouflers(270) at Lady Lucan's. I think that if this next +winter does not make a perfect Frenchman of me, I shall give it up. +I hope, more, that it will afford Mie Mie also an opportunity of +improving herself in a language which will be of more use to her, in +all probability, than it can ever hereafter be to me. I am not +disgusted with the language by the abhorrence which I have at +present of the country. But these calamities, at times, happen in +all climes, as well as in France. Man is a most savage animal when +uncontrolled. + +The last accounts brought from France fill me with more horror than +any former ones. The King is to be moved only by the fear of some +approaching danger to his person. The Queen is agitated by all the +alarming and distressing thoughts imaginable. Her health is visibly +altered; she cries continually, and is, as Polinitz says of K(ing) +James's Queen, une Arethuse. Her danger has been imminent; and the +K(ing) left his capital, and her in it, as he was advised to do, il +eut ete fait d'elle; she would have been, probably, dragged to the +Hotel de Ville, et auroit fini ses jours en Greve. She holds out her +children, which are called les enfans de la Reine exclusivement, as +beggars in the streets do theirs, to move compassion. Behold, how +low they have reduced a Queen! But as yet she is not ripe for +tragedy, so John St. John may employ his muse upon other subjects +for a time. To speak the truth, all these representations of the +miseries of the French nation do not seem to me (very decent) proper +subjects for our evening spectacles, and it is not, in my +apprehension, quite decent that Mr. Hughes, Mr. Astley, or Mr. St. +John should be making a profit by Iron Masques, and Toupets stuck +upon Poles. + +The D(uke) of Orleans's embassy here is universally considered as +one devised for his own personal safety, and he is equally respected +here and abroad. The subject of his credentials and object of +negotiation had no more in them than to say that his most Xtian +Majesty desired to know how his brother the K(ing) of England did. +The answer to which was, very well, with thanks for his obliging +enquiries. The King speaks to the D(uke) of O(rleans) civilly, mais +il en demeure la. His behaviour to the Duc de Luxembourg(271) and to +other Frenchmen of quality was more distinguished. He talked +yesterday to M. de Luxembourg for an hour and 17 minutes. You know +how exact we courtiers are upon these points. + +Charles Fox was at Court, but was scarcely spoke to. Il n'en fut +pour cela plus rebute. He stayed in the apartments till five in the +afternoon. Others of the Opposition were there. Lord North came to +Court with his son-in-law, Mr. D.(272) I must wait for a future +opportunity of paying my court. The Duke has finished his, I +believe, for the present. I expected to have found him here or in +London. He went again into Scotland last Friday, and will not be +returned in a month, and this sans qu'il m'en ait averti. Il faut +avouer que notre Duc, a regard de tous les petits devoirs de la vie, +est fort a son aise. Me de Cambis is also come; il en fourmille, but +all of them almost beggars; some few, I hear, have letters of +credit. Poor Me de Boufflers, as Lady Lucan writes me word, is dans +un etat pitoyable. But for the French, brisons la pour le present. + +(270) Marie Charlotte Hippolyte de Saujon, Comtesse de +Boufflers-Rouvel (1724-1800). One of those remarkable women who in +Paris at the end of the eighteenth century united a love of +intellect and literature with a pleasure in society. After being +left a widow in 1764, she lived with the Prince de Conti. She was a +friend of Hume and Rousseau, the rival of Mme. du Deffand. Her salon +in the Temple was a meeting-place for a singular variety of persons, +among whom she was known as Minerva the Wise. Her daughter-in-law, +the Comtesse Emilie de Boufflers, was guillotined in 1794. She +herself was imprisoned, but was released after the death of +Robespierre. + +(271) The Due de Luxembourg and his family escaped with difficulty +to England, 300,000 livres being set on his head. He arrived in +London July 19, 1789. + +(272) Sylvester Douglas, Lord Glenbervie. + + +(1789, Nov.?) 19, Thursday night, Richmond.--I left London to come +here to-day to dinner, as I have told you that I should, but I did +not come away till I had seen Miss Gunning,(273) who told me that +she should write to your Ladyship either to-day or to-morrow. I +found her gaie, fraiche, contente, and writing a letter, and when I +began by saying, "So you persist then in leaving this very pretty +room," she smiled. I think that she is perfectly satisfied with the +option she has made, and I really think that she has reason to be +so, toutes choses bien considerees. If I had been a woman, and could +not have been my own mistress, I should have preferred subjection to +a husband, whom I approved of, to a Queen (sic). We talked a great +deal of the menage, and I am to take my chair and have my convert +there when I please; and it is (a) stipulation that not a petit pot +is to be added on my account. She is to be married, I find, at the +beginning of the new year, and she is to have immediately four +children, three boys and one girl. I should on her account have +liked it as well if she had begun sur nouveaux frais; but, it not +being so, I think that the three boys and one girl is a better +circumstance than if there had been more girls. He is really, as far +as I can judge of him, a very worthy man, and I believe will make +her a very good husband, and I have no doubt but that she will +receive from his family as much regard and attention as any other +woman would have had. When I left St. James's, I went in search of +Me de Boufflers, and found her at Grenier's Hotel, which looks to me +more like an hospital than anything else. Such rooms, such a crowd +of miserable wretches, escaped from plunder and massacre, and Me de +Boufflers among them with I do not know how many beggars in her +suite, her belle fille (qui n'est pas belle, par parenthese), the +Comtesse Emilie, a maid with the little child in her arms, a boy, +her grandson, called Le Chevalier de Cinque minutes, I cannot +explain to you why; a pretty fair child, just inoculated who does +not as yet know so much French as I do, but understood me, and was +much pleased with my caresses. It was really altogether a piteous +sight. When I saw her last, she was in a handsome hotel dans le +quartier du Temple--a splendid supper--Pharaon; I was placed between +Monsr. Fayette and his wife. This Fayette(274) is her nephew, and +has been the chief instrument of her misfortunes, and I hope, par la +suite, of his own. I said tout ce qui m'est venu en tete de plus +consolant. + +I would, if I had had time, have gone from her to Me la Duchesse de +Biron, but I went to Lady Lucan, with whom I have tried to menager +some petit-petits soupers for these poor distressed people. That +must be, when Lord Lucan returns from Lord Spencer's, after the +X'ning. + +The Duke of Orleans, they tell me, goes all over the city to borrow +immense sums, offering as a security his whole revenue. He cannot +get a guinea, or deserves one. He is universally despised and +detested. Me Buffon is said de lui avoir fait le plus grand +sacrifice, sans doute, le sacrifice de sa reputation et de son etat. +Que peut-on demander davantage? + +There are parties among them, I find; la Duchesse de Biron and Me de +Cambis for the Etats Generaux; Me de Boufflers (and) M. de +Calonne(275) pour le parti du Roi. It was right to apprise me of all +this, or I should, with my civilities, have made a thousand qui pro +quo's; but had I known that Lady Derby was in town, I should have +gone to her, undoubtedly, par preference, as I shall do, the very +next time I go to London. I am desired to dine there on Sunday with +Lord Brudnell, but really the going, though but nine miles, par des +chemins si bourbeux, and changing my room and bed at this time, is +not to my mind. I shall keep here quietly as much as I can, till I +know of your being come to town, but when will that be? + +If Lord Jersey(276) cannot keep himself steady neither on his legs +or his horse, you may be confined at C(astle) H(oward) the whole +winter, which is better than to be at Gainthrop with me, and +Hodgsson, that is certain. I did not hear but of one of his falls +till yesterday, at Lord Ashburnham's.(277) My respects to them both, +I beg. Mie Mie sends hers to your Ladyship, with a thousand kind +compliments besides. Caroline will receive both from her and me a +letter on her arrival at Stackpole Court, and I shall now make no +scruple to write to her often, since I find, what I wished, that it +is paying my court to Mr. C(ampbell) expressing my affection to her. + +Poor William's watch I found in a sad condition. I brought it to +town, as he desired, and have lodged it safely with my watch-maker, +against his coming home. Miss Digby, the Dean's(278) daughter, it is +supposed, will be the new Maid of Honour. Hotham has poor Lord +Waldegrave's Regiment; the chariot is not yet disposed of; I will +bet my money on Lord Winchelsea. + +I wish that I could find out, if there were any thoughts of your +brother's going Ambassador to France. I have as yet no authority for +it, but the papers. + +The K(ing) was at the play last night, for the first time. The +acclamations, as I am told, were prodigious. Tears of joy were shed +in abundance. Nous savons ce que c'est que la populace, et combien +peu il en coute a leurs caprices, ou de pleurer, on de massacrer, +selon l'occasion. + +We are at peace at home, I thank God, four le moment. I hope that it +will continue, and that no Lord Stanhope, or a Dr. Priestly, will +think a change of Government would make us happier. John is now at +the ackma (acme) of Theatrical reputation, and we shall see his name +on every rubrick post, I suppose, of all the Booksellers between St. +James's and the Temple, with that of Congreve, Otway, &c., &c. + +(273) Miss Gunning was married to the Hon. Stephen Digby on Jan. 6, +1790, see ante letter of November 2, 1788, paragraph beginning "Miss +Gunning I find at the Park . . .", and note (235). + +(274) The Marquis de La Fayette (1757-1834). Assisted the Americans +in the War of Independence. While in America he sent a challenge to +Lord Carlisle, who refused to fight. He went home to aid the +revolutionists in his own country. In 1789 he placed before the +National Assembly a Declaration of Rights based on Jefferson's +Declaration of Independence. It was he who introduced the tricolor. +The Revolution assuming a character beyond constitutional control, +he left Paris in 1790 for his estate until called to the head of the +Army of Ardennes. After gaining the three first victories of the +war, finding he could not persuade his soldiers to march to Paris to +save the Constitution, he went to Liege, where he was seized by the +Austrians. He was again active in the Revolution of 1830. He was +greatly admired and beloved in America. In 1824, when in America by +invitation of Congress, he was voted 200,000 dollars in money and a +township of land. + +(275) Charles Alexandre de Calonne (1734-1802); statesman, +financier, and pamphleteer. On the 3rd of November, 1783, he was +made Controller-General, but lost the post in 1787. "A man of +incredible facility, facile action, facile elocution, facile +thought. . . . in her Majesty's soirees, with the weight of a world +lying on him, he is the delight of men and women." (Carlyle, "French +Revolution," book lii. ch. 11.). + +(276) George Bussey, fourth Earl of Jersey (1735-1805). + +(277) John, second Earl of Ashburnham (1724-1812). + +(278) William Digby, Dean of Clonfert (1766-1812). + + + +(1789, Nov. 21?) Saturday night, Richmond.--I finished my short note +of to-day with saying that I intended to have wrote to you a longer +letter, but I sent you all which I had time to write before the post +went out. It is, I think, a curious anecdote, and I know it to be a +true one; I was surprised to find that the Duke had heard nothing of +it, but I suppose that his Highness the D(uke) of O(rleans) does not +find it a very pleasant subject to discuss, and if the allegation be +true, no one in history can make a more horrid, and at the same +time, a more contemptible figure, for I must give him credit for all +which might have been, as well as for what was certainly the +consequence of his enterprise. I hope that, for the future, both he +and his friend here will (to use Cardinal Wolsey's expression) +"fling away ambition. By that sin fell the angels. How can man then +hope to win by it?" And of all men, the least, a Regent. If I had +not been interrupted by the Duke's coming soon after I received the +paper, I should have myself wrote a copy of it for Caroline, because +I must not have a Welch Lady left out of the secret of affairs. + . . . + +The Duke(279) looks surprisingly well. He came from London on +purpose to see us, and intended, I believe, to have stayed, at least +to dinner, but H(is) R(oyal) H(ighness) interfered, as he often does +with my pleasures; so the Duke dined at Carlton House--I do not say +in such an humble, comfortable society, as with us, but what he +likes better, avec des princes, qui sont Princes, sans contredit, +mais rien audessus. All in good time, as Me Piozzi(280) frequently +in her book, but what she means by it the Devil knows, nor do I +care. I only say, that her book, with all its absurdities, has +amused me more than many others have done which have a much better +reputation. + +I heard the D. say nothing of his affairs in Scotland, of those in +France, or indeed hardly of anything else, and I, for my part, am +afraid of broaching any subject whatever, because upon all there is +some string that jars, and to preserve a perfect unison, I think it +best to wait than to seek occasions of offering my poor sentiments. +He is going again to Newmarket, to survey his works there I suppose, +so that he holds out to us but an uncertain prospect of seeing him +much here. Je l'attens a la remise, as Me de Sevigne says, and +there, after the multiplicity of his rounds and courses, I might +expect to see him, if the number of princes, foreign and domestic, +were not so great. Dieu merci, je n'ai pas cette Princimanie, but +can find comfort in a much inferior region. + +At Bushy are Mr. Williams, Mr. Storer, and Sir G. Cooper, and in +their rides they call upon me, but besides the Harridans of this +neighbourhood, the Greenwich's, the Langdales, &c., I have in the +Onslows and Darrels an inexhaustible fund of small talk, and, what +is best of all, I have made an intimacy, which will last at least +for some months, with my own fireside, to which, perhaps, in the +course of the next winter I may admit that very popular man, Mr. +Thomas Jones, of whom I shall like, when I know him better, to talk +with your Ladyship. + +I am now going to share with Mrs. Webb a new entertainment, for I am +made to expect a great deal from it. It is Dr. White's Bampton +Lectures, which they say contain the most agreeable account +imaginable of our Religion compared with that of Mahomet. Mrs. W. +reads them to go to Heaven, and I to go into companies where, when +the conversation upon French Politics is at a stand, it engrosses +the chief of what we have to say. I have a design upon Botany Bay +and Cibber's Apology for his own life, which everybody has read, and +which I should have read myself forty years ago, if I had not +preferred the reading of men so much to that of books. + +I expect you in London on Wednesday sevennight, and there and in +Grosvenor Place will you find me, en descendant de votre carrosse. I +shall then begin to renew my attentions to the Boufflers, Birons, +etc., and so prepare my thoughts and language for the ensuing winter; +but I shall not remove the household from hence till after +Christmas. Till then, if you allow me only to pass two or three days +in a week with you, I shall be, for the present, contented. + +I am glad that this last mail from France brought nothing so +horrible as what I was made to expect. Yet I am not at all at ease, +in respect to that poor unfortunate family at the Louvre, which, I +protest, I think not much more so than that of Galas.(281) Of all +those whom I wish to have hanged, I will be so free as to own that I +am more disposed in favour of the M. de la Fayette than of any +other, because in him I do not see, what is almost universal in +those who have pretensions to patriotism, an exclusive consideration +of their own benefit, and meaning, at the bottom, no earthly good to +any but to themselves and their own dependants. M. Fayette est +entreprenant, hardi, avec un certain point d'honneur, et avec cela, +plus consequent que le reste des Reformateurs, qui, apres tout, est +un engeance si detestable a mon avis, qu'un pais ne peut avoir un +plus grand fleeau. How often will that poor country regret the +splendour of a Court, and that Lit de Justice, sur lequel le Roi et +ses sujets avoient coutume de dormir si tranquillement! But when I +think of ambition, it is not that of all kinds that I condemn . . . + +(279) Queensberry. + +(280) Mme. Piozzi, formerly Mrs. Thrale (1741-1821). The reference +is to "Her Observations and Reflections made in a Journey through +France, Italy, and Germany," which was brought out in 1789. She is +best known as the friend of Dr. Johnson. + +(281) Jean Galas (1698-1762), whose unhappy story was the subject of +tragedies prought out in Paris in 1790 and 1791. + +(1790) July (Aug?) 7, Saturday, Isleworth.--I hope that this letter +will reach you before you set out for Cumberland, because I am +impatient to tell you that the Perfection of Nature is at this +instant the Perfection of Health. I came over here in my boat to +write my letter from a place where I am sure that your thoughts +carry you very often, and to make my letter from that local +circumstance more welcome to you. I brought over with me two, almost +the last, roses now in bloom, which I could find in the Duke's +garden; one of them would have been for you if you had been here, +because I know the complexion in roses which you prefer; so I have +desired Lady Caroline to smell to it sympathiquement. I found upon +my table at Richm(on)d, when I came down, as I expected, Lady +Sutherland's letter envelop(p)ee a la francoise, and in my next I +will transcribe so many extracts, as it shall be the same as if I +sent you the letter; but I am not sure that sending the original +itself would not be illicit without a particular permission from her +Excellency. I am much obliged to her for it, and shall do my best to +obtain more, although France is a country now which, if I could, I +would obliterate from my mind. Had this Revolution happened two +thousand years ago, I might have been amused with an account of it, +wrote by some good historian, or if it had happened but a few years +hence, I should not [have] felt about it as I do; as it is, the +event is too near for me not to feel as I do. I do not like to be +obliged to renounce my esteem for any individual, much less to think +ill of such numbers. The oppression suffered under the former +Government, or [and] the desire of giving to mankind the rights +which by nature they seem intituled to, are with me no excuse, when +a people sets out, in reforming, with acting in direct opposition to +all the principles which before they thought respectable, and really +were so, and, to become a free people, commence by being +freebooters. However, as this savours too much of party zeal, I will +have done with it; yet it is not relative to this country, which I +hope will be free from these calamities and abominations, and so I +need not fear expatiating sometimes upon the subject. + +Me de Boufflers, la Reine des Aristocrates refugies en Angleterre, +was to see us yesterday in the evening, and to invite Mie Mie and me +to come sometimes to hear her daughter-in-law play upon the harp. I +did not expect melody in their heaviness, but I shall certainly go, +as the recitative part will be in French, and that you know is +always some amusement to me. + +The Duke, I hear, will be in London to-night, and so may come to +Richmond to dine with us to-morrow. If he does, I shall be a little +embarrassed between my two Dukes, for the Duke of Newcastle(282) +expects me to dine and to lie at his house at Wimbledon. If I can +reconcile two such jarring attachments, I will; if not, I believe I +shall prefer my neighbour, as loving him very near as much as +myself. Well, Mr. C(ampbell) and Lady C(aroline) are going out in +their phaeton, so I shall now have done. . . . + +(282) Thomas, third Duke of Newcastle (1752-1795) + + +(1790, Aug.? or Oct.?) Saturday, Isleworth.--. . . Mr. C(ampbell) +called upon me yesterday. He came to see my two pictures, which I +had cleaned by Comyns, and are very pretty, as Mr. C. allows, but he +will not assent to Comyns's opinion that they are Cuyp's, although +much in his style. Comyns values them at what they cost me, which +was 50 gs. or thereabouts. Mie Mie has them in her dressing-room, +and is vastly pleased with them. We all dine to-day at the +Castle.(283) Me la Comtesse Balbi(284) chooses to give a dinner +there to all her friends, the Me'sdames Boufflers, the Comte de +Boisgelin,(285) M. d'Haveri(?), &c. The Duke, Mie Mie, and I are +invited, and the Duke intends to bring Mr. Grieve with him, and as a +Member de la Chambre Basse he will pass muster, but he is most +wretched at the lingo. They will assemble in the evening at the +Duke's, where I suppose that there will be tweedle dum, and tweedle +dee, for the whole evening, till supper. George will not, after +this, call our house a hermitage; if it is, it is a reform of a +merry Order, in which neither St. Francis or St. Bruno have any +share. + +Lady Graham(286) has got her Duche very soon. A report was spread +here yesterday that Prince Augustus(287) was dead, but it is +contradicted in the papers of to-day. Mr. C(ampbell) is gone to +town, but he and Mr. Grevil return to dinner. + +I hope that Frederick liked my letter, and that in my letter to +Gertrude there was some bad French for her to correct, and then I +Shall hear from her again. I hope that William will be indulged in +staying here a day or two with his sister, and that George will not +fly away on his Pegasus to Oxford the instant he comes, although I +know that the Muses are impatient to see him, and will set their +caps at him the moment he comes. I hope that you approve of my +choice of what the colour of his gown is to be. I think a light blue +celeste, which Lord Stafford had, would be detestable, and scarlet +is too glaring. No; it must be a good deep green. I want to know the +name of his tutor. I hope that he will have a very good collection +of books in his own room, a sufficient allowance, and a hamper of +claret, en cas de besom. I think, if there are to be no hounds or +horses, we may compound for all the rest. But these I believe the +Dean will never suffer to be matriculated. . . . + +I have some thought of going to pass a day in town when Warner +comes, and if I do I will certainly go there by Fulham, to see the +Dean. I have not heard one syllable about him a great while. You +know, perhaps that Pyrome(?) is discharged, and relegue a ses +terres. He (has) a mechante langue, and to keep himself in place he +should cut it out. + +(283) The Castle Inn, Hill Street, Richmond. It was for many years a +fashionable resort as well as a noted posting house. Mrs. Forty, the +wife of a subsequent proprietor, was the subject of Sheridan's toast +at the Prince Regent's table--"Fair, Fat, and Forty." + +(284) Mme la Comtesse de Balbi (1753-1832), celebrated for her +connection with the Comte de Provence, afterward Louis XVIII. At the +epoch of the Revolution she retired to Coblentz with Monsieur. +Leaving him she came to England, where she remained until the First +Consul permitted the emigres to return to their homes, but she was +soon discovered to be engaged in royalist intrigues and exiled; her +endeavours to obtain the royal favour at the Restoration were vain. + +(285) Louis de Boisgelin de Kerdu, Chevalier of Malta (1750-1816), +historian; brother of the Cardinal. + +(286) Caroline, daughter of the fourth Duke of Manchester, married, +in July, 1790, the Marquess of Graham, who succeeded his father as +third Duke of Montrose in September of that year. + +(287) Augustus, Duke of Sussex, died 1843. + + +(1790,) Aug. 12, Thursday m(orning), 8 o'clock, Richmond.--I sit +down now to write you with some satisfaction, because that I shall +have to tell you, towards the end of my letter, that Caroline is +perfectly well, but you must have patience; I have not seen her +to-day; I shall finish my letter at Isleworth. At present, I only +know that about 12 o'clock last night she eat plumb cake and drank +wine and water in my parlour--she, Mr. Campbell, and Mie Mie, and +who besides I have not yet asked. I was in bed when she came; it was +an heure perdue, but not lost upon me, for I was not asleep, nor +could sleep till I heard that those two girls were come home safe. + +From what, in the name of God? you will say. From seeing that +etourdi Lord Barrymore(288) play the fool in three or four different +characters upon our Richmond Theatre. Well, but what did that +signify? Nothing to me; let him expose himself on as many stages as +he pleases, and wherever the phaeton can transport him, but he comes +here, and assembles as many people ten miles around as can squeeze +into the Booth. I had every fear that Mrs. Webb's nerves or mine +could suggest: heat in the first place; I considered Car's +situation; an alarm, what difficulty there might be of egress; but +we provided, Mr. Campbell and I, against everything. Mrs. Vanheck, +who has a most beautiful place at Roehampton, came and carried Mie +Mie into her box. Places were separated in the pit; at first Lady +C(aroline) was to have been there with Mrs. Woodhouse, etc.; but, I +say, the egress was the point I wished for, and looked to. I got two +places, by much interest and eloquence, in the hind row of the front +box. A door opened into the lobby, and from the lobby you go +directly into the street. So I shall hear, I suppose, to-day that +all went au mieux. + +I did not expect them to be clear of the House till near 12, so went +into my room, and soon after to bed, but I slept well. For I had +heard of them. They were all, I tell you, before 12 in my parlour, +eating cake and chattering, and talking the whole farce over, comme +a la grille du convent. I can at present tell you no more, but I was +impatient to begin my letter a cette heure; j'ai en quelque facon +satisfait a mon envie. I shall embark at eleven for Isleworth, and +hope with a fair wind to land at Campbell-ford stairs in ten minutes +after. From thence I will finish my letter. I shall there have the +whole en detail. The Prince and the Duke of Q. were expected, but I +heard from my servants nothing of them. + +Il fait un lien beau tems; c'est quelque chose. It has come late, +and to make us only a short visit I suppose, and to tell us that we +shall have a better autumn than we have had a summer; no courtier +cajoles one like a fine day. Yesterday was a fine day also, and I +completed, as they call it, my seventy-first year. I dined at your +sister's.(289) Mr. Campbell and Car and Mie Mie were to have been of +the party; they had an apology to make, I had none. 71 is not an age +to Barrymoriser. There were only Mr. Woodcock and his wife. I met on +my return their Majesties, que j'ai salues; and so ended my day. + +(288) Richard Barry, seventh Earl of Barrymore (1769-1793). Lord +Barrymore was brilliant, eccentric, and dissipated, and in his short +life he managed to spend 300,000 pounds and encumber his estates. He +gambled, owned racehorses and rode them, played cricket, and hunted. +He had a strong taste for the stage. At Wargrave-on-Thames he had a +private theatre adjoining his house, and liked to make up companies +with a mixture of amateurs and professionals. He is the prototype of +many modern and aristocratic spendthrifts. He was killed by an +accident when he seemed about to be giving up his wild career for a. +more useful life. He accepted a commission in the Berkshire Militia +and threw himself into his work with characteristic zest. When +escorting some French prisoners near Dover, the gun which was in his +carriage accidentally exploded and wounded him fatally. (See "The +Last Earls of Barrymore," by J. R. Robinson, London, 1894.) + +(289) Lady Louisa Leveson-Gower, married to Sir Archibald Macdonald +in 1777. She died 1827. + + +(1790, Aug. 12,) one o'clock, Richmond.--I have been at Isleworth. I +found Car very well, and at her painting, with the Italico Anglico +artiste of Mr. Campbell's, and Mr. Lewis. Mr. C(ampbell) was gone to +London. They were asked to dine to-day at Fulham Field, that is, I +think, the name of the Attorney Gen(era)l's(290) place. I am not +sure if she told me that they intended to go. Lord Barrymore danced +the pas Russe with Delpini, and then performed Scaramouche in the +petite piece. I asked how he danced; Mr. Lewis said very ill. How +did he perform the other part? execrably bad. "Do you think," I +said, "that he would have known how to snuff the candles?" "I rather +think not," says Mr. Lewis. Mie Mie is more satisfied with his +talents; she thought him an excellent Escaramouche; ce seroit +quelque chose au moins. But I am more disposed to think that Mr. +Lewis is in the right, and I hope, for the young nobleman's own +sake, that toutes les fois qu'il s'avise de se donner en spectacle, +et faire de pareilles folies, il aura manque a sa vocation. Sa mere +ne jouoit pas un beau role, mais elle y a mieux reussi. + +But enough at present of this. No harm of any sort has come from it, +but Mie Mie tells me that Mr. Campbell's anxiety the whole time was +excessive. After all, she was not in the places which I had provided +for the greater security, but went into those which were originally +intended for her. The Prince was there, but not the Duke of York, or +my friend the Duke of Q. + +Now a d'autres choses. I have in my last fright forgot one where +there were better grounds for it. The day I wrote to you last, as +you know, I was at Isleworth. Coming from thence, and when I landed, +the first thing I heard was that people with guns were in pursuit of +a mad dog, that he had run into the Duke's garden. Mie Mie came the +first naturally into my thoughts; she is there sometimes by herself +reading. My impatience to get home, and uneasiness till I found that +she was safe and in her room, n'est pas a concevoir. The dog bit +several other dogs, a blue-coat boy, and two children, before he was +destroyed. John St. John, who dined with me, had met him in a narrow +lane, near Mrs. Boverie's, him and his pursuers. John had for his +defence a stick, with a heavy handle. He struck him with this, and +for the moment got clear of him; il l'a culbute. It is really +dreadful; for ten days to come we shall be in a terror, not knowing +what dogs may have been bitten. Some now may have le cerveau qui +commence a se troubler. + +John(291) has a legacy from Lord Guilford(292) of 200 pounds a year, +the General(293) one of a thousand pounds; Mr. Keene has a hundred. +He has left in legacies about 16,000 pounds, as Mr. Williams tells +me, but not much ready money besides. His estate was about 2 or +3,000 per annum. It is to be a Peer, I hear, who shall succeed him. +I will write no more to-day. I will send you the extract from Lady +Sutherland's(294) letter in my next. The President has told me this +morning that Mr. Neckar(295) a faille d'etre pendu. Il voulut tirer +son epingle du jeu; il fut sur le point de partir; on ne pousse pas +la Liberte a ce point en France; il n'avait pas demande permission a +la Populace; ainsi, sans autre forme de proces, on voulut le +conduire du Controle a la Lanterne. I am glad to hear that the brats +are well. You set off, I understand, on Tuesday; so this will find +you in your Chateau antique et romanesque. J'en respecte meme les +murailles; tout y a un air si respectable. + +I will write to my Lord in a few days, and when I hope to have seen +the Dean, but from what his neighbour Mr. Woodcock told me +yesterday, I shall have nothing very comfortable to tell him +touchant la sante de son bon precepteur, ni sur la mienne; elle +exige un management et une regime que je n'ai pas encore observee +avec la rigueur necessaire. + +Now I expect a troupe of French people whom I met in a boat, as I +came this morning from Isleworth--le M. de Choiseul, Me de Choiseul, +&c. I have engaged myself to go with them to Mr. Ellis's, because it +belonged to Mr. Pope. I said I must go home to finish mes depeches, +but I expect them every minute. Je sers d'entreprete entre le M. de +Choiseul et Me sa femme. + +My love to George. I hope that le Chateau de ses ancetres a pour lui +des charmes. I read a great deal of the Howards in Pennant's(296) +book. It is the only part that gives me pleasure; such an absurd +superficial pretender to learning I never met with, and after all of +what learning! Then he tries to copy Mr. Walpole's style in his Book +of Antient Authors; le tout est pitoyable. Adieu, dear Lady +Carlisle; si vous pouvez supporter tout ce bavardage, cest parce que +vous aimez votre fille, qui en est en partie la cause. + +(290) Sir Archibald Macdonald, afterward Chief Baron of the +Exchequer. + +(291) John St. John. + +(292) Francis North, Earl of Guildford (1704-1790), father of the +statesman. + +(293) Henry St. John. + +(294) Wife of William, seventeenth and last Earl of Sutherland. + +(295) Jacques Necker (1732-1804), the famous financier. He married +Mdlle. Curchod, Gibbon's one attachment. Their only child became the +celebrated Mme. de Stael. In 1790 he finally was forced to retire +from office as Director-General of Finance. + +(296) Thomas Pennant (1726-1798), the naturalist and traveller, +author of several "Tours" in the British Isles which have become +classics. His energy in travelling and scientific spirit and +capacity of observation made him too modern for Selwyn and his +friends: Walpole said that, Penaant picked up his knowledge as he +rode. + + + +(1790,) Aug. 22, Sunday, Richmond.--.. . I have nothing (more) to +tell you of Caroline, than that we saw her yesterday in the +afternoon, en passant, that is, in her boat, which was full of the +company she had had at dinner, and which, as Mie Mie told me, were +the Greggs, but ayant la vue courte, I could not distinguish, +myself, who they were. + +My garden was as full as it could hold of foreigners and their +children--Warenzow's boy and girl, and the Marquis de Cinque +minutes, who, of all the infants I ever saw, is the most completely +spoiled for the present. His roars and screams, if he has not +everything which he wants, and in an instant, are enough to split +your head. His menace is, "Maman, je veux etre bien mechant ce soir, +je vous le promets." + +The Duke was in the best humour the whole day I ever saw him, who +you know has been at times as gate as the other. He said that my +dinner was perfect, and so it was dans son genre. The ladies were +much pleased with their reception, and the Duke took such a fancy to +them, and to the place, that he believes that he shall be more here +than anywhere, and he went to town intending to send down all +preparatives for residence. Me de Bouflers told me que je m etois +menage une tres jolie retraite, and indeed at this time it is +particularly comfortable to me, and the circumstance of Caroline +having a house so near is not by any means the least of its +agremens. . . . + +Monday.--Yesterday was a fine day, but neither news or event; on the +Thames une bourgeoisie assez nombreuse, and in the Gardens. I saw +our friends at Isleworth in the morning, before they went out in +their phaeton. They were going to Lord Guilford's, and to-day dine +at Mr. Ellis's. I believe that Madame de Roncherolles dines at Mr. +Walpole's, for she has sent to me to carry her. I do not dine there +myself, but shall go to fix with Mr. Walpole a day for Caroline and +Mr. C(ampbell) to see Strawberry Hall. Her journey to Lady +Egremont's is put off for a week. To-morrow I go to Fulham, and from +thence to London, from whence I return on Wednesday. Mie Mie and I +dine at Isleworth when I return. Mr. Grevil is to be with them this +week. + +Bunbury is returned from Portsmouth; his news to me were, that the +emigration from France thither increases every day, and that in the +provinces, as these people say, who are come last from France, the +revolt increases, and a desire for the old Constitution. In Britany +and Normandy the party is very formidable. M. de Pontcarre, +President of the Parlement de Rouen, is in London; so there is +another President for me, if I choose it. The young French people +and their wives dined yesterday, as they usually do, at the Castle. +. . . + + +(1790 Aug. 23?) Monday night, 11 o'clock, Richmond.--I wrote to you +this morning, reserving to myself the liberty of lengthening my +letter, after I shall have seen Caroline for the last time before +her return from Cliveden, where it was her intention to go to-morrow +for a week or ten days, c'est selon; but I must begin this appendix +tonight, late as it is. I am still waiting till these French Ladies +come with Mie Mie from the play. It is Mr. Parson's benefit, and was +expected to be very full. The evening is cold, that is something, +but I must see Mie Mie before she goes to bed. + +We were to-day at dinner ten, besides the Duke; Madame de Boufflers, +the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, M. de Calonne, The Fish, +Thomas,(297) Mie Mie and myself. I had liked (sic) to have forgot +Lady E. Forster, que l'on n'oublie pas souvent, dans cette partie au +moins; but now on sonne deja; le reste donc sera pour demain, et +pour quand j'aurai ete l'autre cote de la Riviere; so, for the +present, I wish you a good night, my dear Lady Carlisle. + +Tuesday morning, Isleworth.--Now, to begin my letter properly, and +in course, it would be to say "Good morrow" to you, or, as they say +in Ireland, "Good morrow morning" to you, my dear Madam. + +I hastened my coming here lest they should be gone, but they do not +set out till after dinner. Caroline is well enough to take a much +longer journey than from hence to Cliveden. I came with a commission +from the Duke to invite them to dinner, to meet the Princess +Chatterriski, whom I suppose you know; I find that she is no +favourite of Lady C(aroline), nor is her friend D'Oraison of mine, +but he comes to. The Duke left me to go and invite the Boufflers, +but whether they will come or not I do not know. + +Calonne would have entertained yesterday. You never in your life saw +any man so inveterate as he was against M. de la Fayette, and, to +say the truth, he had reason, if all was true which he imputed'to +him, as I believe it was. But what diverted me the most was, that +Fayette had seriously proposed to make him, Calonne, King of +Madagascar. Surely there never was, since the Earl of Warwick's +time, such a king-maker. I would to God that he had accepted of the +diadem, but then perhaps he would not have dined with us yesterday. +Il en contait a Madame la Duchesse, and sat at dinner between her +and Lady E. Forster, avec qui je faisois la conversation; the Duke +over against us on the other side of the table, comme la Statue dans +le Festin de Pierre, never changing a muscle of his face. The +Marquis was above, and there Me la Duchesse lui donna a diner. I was +determined upon an audience, and found l'heure du berger. He +received me avec un sourire le plus gracieux du monde, and I was +obliged to present my address of compliments. But I think that the +Nurse is a bad physiognomiste if she did not see that what I said, +and what I thought, were not d'accord. He is like the Duke if he is +like anything, but a more uninteresting countenance I never saw-- +fair, white, fate, sans charactere. In short, on a beau faire, on a +beau dire. If un enfant ne vous tient d'une maniere ou d'autre, I +cannot admire it as I am expected to do; and what a difference that +makes will be seen two months hence. Toutes mes affections parlent +due meme principe. The Duchess offended me much by coming with a +couronne civique, which is a chaplet of oak leaves. In England they +are a symbol of loyalty. Il n'en (est) pas de meme en France. I +asked if she wore it before the Queen; I was told yes. Je ne +comprens rien a cela. + +The whole behaviour of the Queen, in her present wretched, +humiliated state, is touchante et interessante au dernier point. +Elle ne rit, que quand elle ne songe pas a ses malheurs. At other +times she is, as Polinitz says of K(ing) James's Queen, when he saw +her after the Revolution, une Arethuse. M. le M(arquis) de la +Fayette comes to the Tuilleries, and although he be really no more +or less than the jailer, he is received with graciousness. + +But now, four les Evangiles du jour. I had a letter from Warner this +morning before I left Richmond, dated last Thursday night. Your +brother's courier did not, however, leave Paris till the morning of +Friday. Warner's words are these:--"The courier goes to carry the +news of the Decree, of fitting out 25 ships of the line, and +adhering to the Family Compact in the defensive Articles, which +looks so like a war that it frightens us with the apprehension of +being sent packing home to you, or rather without packing." + +If the consequence of a war is your brother's return to this +country, I do not think it a misfortune to him, and I wish, no other +may happen to us, than the expense at which we must be to support +one campaign against these United Powers. Still I am of opinion that +peace will follow immediately these preparations. But Calonne +alarmed me yesterday, when he said, that he thought that the +National Assembly would draw them into a war with us. He had not +then received his dispatches. I shall hear a great deal of it +to-day, true or false, from D'Oraison. + +Mrs. Bartho is already gone to Lady Lewisham. Caroline stayed to +dine in town, and they returned here about six. I think that Mr. +C(ampbell) seems to-day not determined to stay so long at Cliveden +as he thought to do. I shall wish them to return, be it only that I +may have the more to say to you, and the better security for my +letters being well accepted. + +I hope that George was amused at the York races. I have seen this +morning in Lizy's letter that he was there. Vixen is sitting for his +picture, and this is all the news of Isleworth. I may have more to +tell Lord C(arlisle) when I write to him, which I shall do by the +next post. My love to them all, you know whom I mean. + +What does Lord C. mean by calling himself alone? Peut-on etre mieux +qu'au sein de sa famille? That was part of an ariette which M. de la +Fayette's music played the day the K(ing) went to the Hotel de +Ville, as I have been informed by a pamphlet, wrote to abuse Mr. +Neckar, and which is incomparably well wrote. I will get it for +George if he desires it, and will promise to read it. I am afraid +that he is too much of (a) Democrate, but as a lover of justice, and +of mankind, and of order and good government, he would not be so +long, s'il vouloit se rendre a mes raisons; mais il croit que je +n'en ai pas, et que je me retranche a dire des invectives, sans +avoir des argumens pour soutenir mon systeme; en cela il se trompe. +God bless him; je l'aime de tout mon coeur, et je l'estime aussi, +qui est encore davantage. + +(297) Thomas Townshend. + + +(1790,) Sept. 4, Saturday m(orning), Richmond.--. . . My larder is +rich from Mr. C(ampbell's) chasse. I had some game the day after the +first hostilities against the partridges commenced. . . . Our +foreign connections here increase; le Comte de Suffren and his +family are going to establish themselves here in a house above the +Bridge, and on the banks of the River. He came to the Duke's(298) +yesterday, where we dined, and stayed with us the whole evening. He +is an aristocrate, and a great sufferer by the troubles in France, +but he is a very sober, moderate man, and intelligent. The Duke +liked his company very much. + +I am loaded now with pamphlets upon this great and extraordinary +event; some entertain me, some not. I like much what I have just +been reading, which is the opinion of the Abbe Maury,(299) delivered +in the National Assembly, upon the executif and legislatif power, in +regard to declaring war, and concluding treaties of commerce and +alliance. There is a great deal of good sense in it, and comes the +nearest to my own opinion of what has passed. I suppose that Lord C. +has read it. I hope that George will read it too. If I was sure that +the speech was not at Castle H. I would transcribe some passages out +of it, a sa consideration. + +I desire very much to be of his mind about everything, but, if he is +a Republican, I have done with him. If he will in his Republican +system throw in a little royal authority as ballast, we shall soon +come to an agreement. I wish him to come neuf to all those great and +important questions, and examine them sans l'esprit de systeme, +without prejudice and strong inclination to be of either side, but +to investigate the truth, and adopt it. Il est fait pour raisonner; +il commence etre d'un age ou le jugement acquerera tous les jours de +la maturite. My love to him, I beg. + +I think Lady Derby mends in appearance; the Duke and I go often to +her. I would cross the water and make the Duchess a visit, but that +I think it right to forbear going in a carriage as long as I can; +and then, perhaps, I may go with safety to London, from time to time +to see Caroline, when she removes thither. . . . + +(298) Queensberry. + +(299) Jean Siffren Maury, abbe, the eloquent supporter of the +monarchical cause. + + +(1790,) September 7, Tuesday, 8 o'clock, Richmond.--. . . . I was +surprised in the evening with a visit from Mr. Campbell. We were au +dessert, that is, the party which dined here after they returned +from Egham. . . . His visit put out of my head, in a minute, all the +pretty French phrases which I was brewing. . . . Mr. C. stayed to +converse with the Welch heiress, to talk with Me de Choiseul upon +Greece and the Archipele, and of his uncle's voyage pittoresque, and +he spoke a great while in Italian with Me la Comtesse de Suffren. I +long to hear, as I shall this morning, his opinion of the party. I +asked them (a) few questions about their day's sport; it was a +novelty with which I know that they would be pleased. + +So Me de Choiseul has obtained leave of her husband, I believe +without much difficulty, to stay here one day more. I shall, for my +part, make no efforts to detain them. Me de R. has explained to me +sufficiently en quoi consiste la mauvaise conduite du Marquis. But +young people ne regardent que le surface. The Duke did not return; I +believe that he dined and lay at Oatlands. His horse had a violent +fall; but I heard of no other event. I suppose he may have lost by +that accident. + +I know as yet no more of Mr. C(ampbell's) motions than that he and +Lady C. go to town this morning, but return to dinner. We shall dine +with them, when these Races are over; they finish to-morrow. + +I sat yesterday morning a great while with the Fish's friend, Me de +Roncherolles. Entre nous, I like her much more than any of the whole +set. She has neither du brillant dans son esprit, ni une infinite de +grace dans ses manieres, je l'avoue, mais, elle est sans +pretensions, et avec beaucoup de bon sens, meme de la solidite, et +elle est instruite suffisamment. Mr. Walpole ne lui donne pas la +preference. He must have something de l'esprit de l'Academie, &c., +something of a charactere marque. Je ne cherche rien de tout cela; +je suis content du naturel, et de trouver une personne raisonnable, +honnete, et de bonne conversation. She is going to-day for a week or +more to Lady Spencer's at St. Alban's. I am sure that it is not +there, que je trouverois cette simplicite qui me plait. But this, +till it is time to embark for Isleworth, when I shall have something +more interesting to talk of than the perfections of Me de +Roncherolles. . . . + + +(1790, Nov.?) Thursday, Richmond.--You are so good, when you do not +see me or hear of me, to be desirous of having some information of +my state of health and existence. Now I must let you know that I +have at this moment every distress, negative and positive, that I +can have, et les voici. My negative one is, being for the moment in +an impossibility of going to town to see you, Caroline, and the +bambino, and that is enough, for it would be a great pleasure to me, +as you must imagine. Then, I am, in a manner, here with one single +servant. Pierre has left this house to go to his own, where he is +very well looked after by his wife, and is (as) comfortably lodged +as it is possible to be; but he is, as Mr. Dundas tells me, in a +very perilous situation, and yet, by excessive care, may recover. + +He has been my doctor lately instead of his own, and given me, +daily, powders which he said were the bark, and which I was to take. +No such thing; they were powders of a different sort, which, it is +fortunate, have done me no mischief. They were in the drawer, and so +brought to me as bark. Dundas thought I neglected myself, and +rejected the prescription. I maintained that I had missed taking the +bark but one day. He knew the contrary from his shop book, and +to-day only the mystery was cleared up. + +My next grievance is, that je peris de froid; j'en mis penetre au +pied de la lettre, and the reason is plain, but why I did not +discover it myself is hardly to be conceived. I have no clothes; my +stockings are of a fine thin thread, half of them full of holes; I +have no flannel waistcoat, which everybody else wears; in short, I +have been shivering in the warmest room sans scavoir pourquoi. But +yesterday there was a committee at the Duke's upon my drapery, and +to-day a tailor is sent for. I am to be flannelled and cottoned, and +kept alive if possible; but if that cannot be done, I must be +embalmed, with my face, mummy like, only bare, to converse through +my cerements. Then, my other footman, the Bruiser, is that, and all +things bad besides; he is not an hour in the day at home, and is +gaming at alehouses till 12 at night; so the moment that I can get +any servant that is tolerable to supply his place I shall send him +out of the house, sans autre forme de proces; but, till he is gone, +my whole family lives in terror of him. + +It is amazing to what a degree I am become helpless; nothing can +account for it but extreme dotage, or extreme infancy. I wish +Barthow had left Lady Caroline, and was here only to dress me in +warmer clothes, but she goes from here, I hear, to Lady Ailesford, +so that I must not think of lying in and being nursed for some time. +. . . + + +(1790,) Dec. 8, Wednesday, Richmond.--You have bean at C(astle) +H(oward) ever since Monday sevennight, and not one single word have +you received from your humble slave and beadsman. . . . Here is now +come a snip-snap letter of reproach from Lady Ossory for not having +answered her letter of compliments upon Lady Caroline's delivery. I +received yours on Sunday. That was no post day, so I resolved to +answer it in Berkley Square on Monday. But I did not set out till +three o'clock, lost all the fine part of the morning, and did not +get to town till five in the afternoon--dragged for two hours, two +whole hours, through mud, and cold, and mist, till I was perishing; +so that when I had eat some dinner I was fit for nothing but to go +to bed, and therefore did not go to Berkley Square till yesterday at +noon. . . . I saw Caroline and her bambino. . . . The christening is +to be, as I understand, to-morrow. I hope in God that I shall be +well enough to assist, and name the child, and eat cake, and go +through all the functions of a good gossip. If I am obliged to give +up that which seems to have been my vocation, c'est fait de moi; I +must declare myself good for nothing. I carried yesterday the +regalia. The cup has been new boiled, and looks quite royal. + +Sir L. Pepys was with me in the morning, and thought my pulse very +quiet, which could only have been from the fatigue of the day +before--juste Dieu! fatigue, of going 8 or 9 miles, my legs on the +foreseat, and reposing my head on Jones's shoulder. The Duke would +make her go, and everybody. He thinks that I am now the most +helpless creature in the world, when, from infirmity, I want ten +times more aid than I ever did. Sir Lucas pronounced no immediate +end of myself, but that I should continue to bark, with hemlock. +I'll do anything for some time longer, but my patience will, I see, +after a certain time, be exhausted. As to poor Pierre, it is over +with him. Sir Lucas says the disorder is past all remedy. This is a +most distressful story to me, and how to supply his place I do not +know. + + +With this letter a correspondence, unique and delightful, extending +over many years, ends. At its close we may well recall Lord +Carlisle's words written fourteen years before, "I shall always be +grateful to fortune," he said, ". . . for having linked me in so +close a friendship with yourself, in spite of disparity of years and +pursuits." Selwyn returned to London shortly before Christmas, and +died on the 25th of January, 1791. On this very day Walpole, with a +touching simplicity and truth, wrote to Miss Berry, "I am on the +point of losing, or have lost, my oldest acquaintance and friend, +George Selwyn, who was yesterday at the extremity. These +misfortunes, tho' they can be so but for a short time, are very +sensible to the old; but him I really loved not only for his +infinite wit, but for a thousand good qualities." + + + + +INDEX + +A + +Abergavenny, Lord + Abingdon, Lord + Adams, John + Ailesbury, Lady + Albemarle, Lady + Almack's Assembly Rooms, King Street, St. James'; masquerade + at; masquerade stopped by bishops; extinct. + Almack's Club, Pall Mall; events at; thriving; Selwyn and Fox at + supper at; Selwyn's "bureau;" Selwyn avoids; house occupied + by. + Alston, Tommy + Althorp, Lord + Amelia, Princess + America--Lord Carlisle, peace commissioner to; Gower, Lord, on + independence of; Fitzpatrick in; colonies, bad news from; + question of; Storer, with Carlisle in; news from; colonies in; His + Majesty's subjects in; Prohibitory Bill; Selwyn on the war in; + letter-writing between England and; Selwyn regarding politics in; + want of interest in society concerning; Fox's motion to conclude + peace with; public interest in; motion as to; President of + Congress. + Amhurst, Lord + Andre, Major + Androche, Marshal + Argyle, fifth Duke of + Arnold, Benedict + Ascough, Mr. + Ashburnham, second Earl of + Ashburton, Lord, see Dunning + Ashton, Thomas + Ashton, Mr. + Assembly of Notables, National + Astley, Mr. + Aston, Sir W. + Auckland, First Lord, see Eden + Aylesford (Ailsford) Lord; Lord of the Bedchamber + +B + +Baker, Dr. + Balbi, Comtesse de + Balliol College + Baltimore, Lord + Bampton Lectures (Dr. White's) + "Baptist," the, see Henry St. John + Barbot's Lottery + Barker, Mr. + Barrington, Lord + Barry, Mme. Du "Anecdotes of" + Barry, Richard, sixth Earl of Barrymore, +Barry, Richard, seventh Earl of Barrymore + Barry, Mr. + Barrymore, Lady + Barrymore, Lord, see Barry + Barth, Mrs. + Basilico + Bath + Beauchamp, Lord + Beauclerk, Topham; married to Lady Bolingbroke + Beaufort, Duke of + Beckford, Alderman + Beckford, William, son of Alderman Beckford, author and collector + Bedford, fourth Duke of + Bedford, fifth Duke of + Bedford, Duchess of + Bedford faction + Bedford House; parties at +Belgiojoso + Berkeley, Lord + Berry, Agnes + Berry, Mary + Bertie, Lord + Besbborough, Lord + "Betty, Lady," see Howard, Lady Elizabeth + Biron, Duchesse de + Biron, Admiral, see Byron + Biron, Mrs. + Biron, Duc de + Blake, Miss + Blake, Mr. + Blake, Mrs. + Blandford, Lord + Blaquiere, Sir John + Blenheim + Bloomsbury Gang + Bohn, Comte de + Boisgelin, Comte de + Bolingbroke, Lady + Bolingbroke, Lord "Bully," + Boon, Charles + Boothby, Mrs. + Boothby, Sir Brooke + Boston, Lady + Boston, Frederick, second Baron + Bouverie, Mr. + Bouverie, Mrs. + Boufflers, Comtesse de; Queen of the emigres; at Richmond + Boufflers, Emilie, Comtesse de; at Richmond + Brereton, Col. + Bristol, Earl of + Brodrick (Broderick), Colonel Henry + Brooke, Earl of + Brooks, Mr. + Brooks's Club, politics and gambling at; fortunes lost at; + card-room at; macaronis at; Fox and Fitzpatrick at; gossip at; + Selwyn at; American question discussed at; supper at; + ill attended; political discussion at; in opposition to; + Fox closeted every instant at; a place of amusement, + speculation, and curiosity; Whigs at, in 1781; Fox gives + audiences at + Brudenell, Lord + Buccleugh, Duchess of + Buccleugh, third Duke of + + Buckingham, Lady + Buckingham, Lord + Buckingham House Junto + Buckinghamshire, third Earl of + Buffon, Mme. + "Bully," see Bolingbroke + Bunbury, Lady Sarah; charm of; sought after by the king; social + successes in Paris; Carlisle's youthful passion fon; at Lord + March's + Bunbury, Sir Charles + Bunker's Hill, Battle of + Burgoyne, General + Burke, Edmund; bad judgment of in Parliament + Burrows, Mr. + Bute, Lady + Byron, Lord + Byron, Lord (the poet) + Byron (Biron), Admiral, The Hon. John + +C + +Cadogan, Lady + Calas, Jean + Calonne, M. de + Cambis, Mme. De + Cambridge University; Walpole at + Camelford, Lord + Campbell, Mr. (first Baron Cawdor) + Camden, Earl + Carlisle, third Earl of + Carlisle, fourth Earl of + Carlisle, fifth Earl of, Frederick Howard; in America, letters from +Hare and Selwyn; Selwyn's letters to, commence; sketch of life;' + Order of Thistle; delay of Ribband and Badge; fears for health + at Turin; friendship for Fox; Fox and Carlisle at Eton; anxiety + regarding Fox's prodigality; Viceroy of Ireland; Storer to; + ill; Peace Commissioner to America; recalled from Ireland; + children of; high ideals; thankfulness for Selwyn's friendship. + Carlisle, sixth Earl of, see Howard, George, Viscount Morpeth + Carlisle, Isabella, Countess Dowager of + Carlisle, Lady Caroline Gower, (wife of the fifth Earl) + Carmarthen, Lord + Carpenter, Lady Almeria + Carteret, Harry + Carysfort, Lord + Castle Howard + Castle Inn, Richmond + Catherine, Empress of Russia + Cavendish, Lord Frederick + Cavendish, Lord George + Cavendish, Lord John + Cawdor, first Lord, see Campbell + Chamberlain, Lord + "Charles," see Fox + Charlotte, Queen, wife of George III. + Chartres, Duc de + Chatelet, Duc de + Chatham, first Earl of + Chatham, second Earl of + Cholmondeley, Lord + Chedworth, Lord + Choiseul, Duc de + Choiseul, Duchesse de + Choiseul, Mons. De + Choiseul, Mme. De + Chudleigh, Elizabeth, see Kingston, Duchess of + Churchill, Lord + Clarence, Duke of + Clarendon, Lord + Clavering, Mr. + Clerk of the Irons + Clermont, Lady + Clermont, Lord + Cleveland, Duchess of + Clinton, Sir Henry + Clive, Lord + Club, Young + Comb Compton, Lady + Compton, Lord + Comyns, picture cleaner + Congreve, Mr. + Conolly, Lady Louisa + Conti, Princesse de + Conway, General + Cooper, Sir Grey + Cornwallis, Lady + Cornwallis, Lord + "Corydon," Lord + "Corydon," Captain + Coventry, Earl of + Coventry, Lady + Cowper, Lady + Cowper, Lord + Craddock, Mr. + Craigs, General + Craven, Lord + Crawford, James, "the Fish," + Crawford, Mrs. + Crewe, Mr. + Crewe, Mrs. + Crewe, Mrs. ("Old") + Croome (Crome) + Cumberland, Duke of + Cunningham, Colonel + +D + +Damer, Mrs. + Darell, Mr., of Cambridgeshire + Darrels, The, at Richmond + Dashwood, Sir Francis + Deerhurst, Lord + D'Elci, Comte + Delme, Peter ("the Czar") + Denbigh, Lord + D'Eon (the Chevalier) + Derby, Earl of + Derby, Lady + Dering, Sir E. + Devonshire, Duchess of + Devonshire, fifth Duke of + Devonshire House + "Diaboliad, The," + igby, Dean of Clonfert + igby, Lord + igby, Miss + Digby, Mr. + Dlettanti, Society of + DOyley (Doiley), Mr. + D'Oraison + Dorset, Duke of + Dolben, Sir J. + Douglas, Jack + Draper, Sir W. + Du Deffand, Mme. + Du Deffand, Marquis + Dundas, Sir William + Dunning, John, first Baron Ashburton + Dunmore, Lady + +E + +Eardley, Sir S. + Eden, William, first Lord Auckland + Eden, Mrs. + Edgcumbe, Dick; one of Strawberry Hill Group + Egremont, Lord + Ekins, Dr. Jeffrey (tutor to Lord Carlisle, afterwards Dean of + Carlisle) + Elliot, Mrs. + Elliot, Sir Gilbert + Ellis, Mr. + Ellis, Welbore + Ellishere, Mrs. + Emigres, the + Emly, Edward (Dean of Derry) "Emily," "the little Parson" + Emperor of Germany, see Joseph II. + Ernham, Lord + Essex, Lady + Essex, Earl of + Eton, Selwyn at; Carlisle at; Crawford at; Carlisle's verses on + friends at; Fitzpatrick at; Walpole at; Storer at; Fitzwilliam + at; Montem at; Lord Morpeth at + Euston, Lord + Eyre, Mr. + Executions, Selwyn and + +F + +Fagniani, M. + Fagniani, Marchesa, mother of Mie Mie + Fagniani, Maria (and see Mie Mie) + Falkener, Sir Everard + Family compact + Fanshaw, Mr. + + Farrington, Gen., of Kent + Faukener, Lady + Faukener, Mr. + Fauquiers + Ferguson, Sir Adam + Ferrers, Washington, fifth Earl; Robert, sixth Earl + Fish, the, see Crawford + Fitzherbert, Mrs. + Fitzpatrick, Richard ("Richard, the Beau Richard"); at Quinze; + friendship with Fox; losses at Newmarket; returns from Jamaica; + in "The Diaboliad;" wins money at Brooks's; Pharo bank; in his + Pharo pulpit; horses taken from his coach; holds a gambling + bank; Fox as security for; the Beau Richard; at Brooks's; loses + at Hazard; at White's; with the King; elated at change of + ministry; provokes Selwyn + Fitzroy, Lady Caroline + + Fitzwilliam, Lady + Fitzwilliam, second Earl + Fletcher, Mr. + Flood, Henry + Floyd, Lady Mary + Floyd, Miss + Foley, Thomas, second Baron + Foster, Lady + Fort St. John + Fox, Charles James, "Charles,"; chief of group; great qualities; + coalition with Lord North; friendship with Carlisle; gambling + debts; leader of Whig party; fortune destroyed; Selwyn advises + concerning debts; goes to Bath; suggested sueing of, by + Carlisle; money troubles, Selwyn's opinion of; women's opinion + of; frequent story of debts; friendship for Richard + Fitzpatrick; loses money at Newmarket; on the American + Question; in "The Diaboliad;" Selwyn and; speech on economy; + holds Pharo bank; Fitzpatrick with; Jews seize effects; his + furniture sold; enchanted with Pitt's speech; motion concerning + American war; auction at his house; gaming; and Selwyn; has a + cockpit; flattery of; speech; first figure in all places; loses + heavily at races; agreeableness of; Selwyn's admiration of his + talents; arrogance of; the new administration; as Secretary for + Foreign Affairs; takes a house in Pall Mall; coalition with + North; Selwyn, relations with + Fox, Henry Edward, youngest son of first Lord Holland + + Fox, Henry Richard Vassall, third Baron Holland + Fox, Stephen, second Baron Holland, "Ste" + France + Franklin, Benjamin + Fraser, Mr. + Frederick the Great + French Revolution + +G + +Gainsborough; picture of Mie Mie by + Galloway, Earl of + Garlies, Lord, see Galloway + Garrick, David + Garrick, Mrs. + Gemm, Dr. + "George," see Howard, George, Lord Morpeth + George III. + Germaine, Lord George Sackville + Gibbon (historian) + Gideon, Sir Sampson + Gilbert, Mr. Thomas + Glenbervie, Lord, Sylvester Douglas + Glendower, Lord + Gloucester, Duchess of + Gloucester, Duke of + Gloucester, monastery of St. Peter at; situation of; city of, + Selwyn member for; election at + Godolphin, Lord + Goostree's (Club) + Gore, Mr. + Gordon, fourth Duke of + Gordon, Duchess of + Gordon, Lord George + Gordon, Lord William + Gower, Lady + Gower, Lady Evelyn Leveson + Gower, Lady Louisa Leveson (sister-in-law of fifth Earl of + Carlisle) + Gower, second Earl + Grady Mr. + Grafton, Duke of + Graham, Dr. + Graham, Lady + Grant, General + Grantham, Lord + Gray, Thomas, the poet + Greenville, Mr. (Grenville) +Greenwich's, The + Gregg, Francis, succeeded Delme as M.P. for Morpeth + Grenville, Mr. George + Grenville, G., Lady + Grevil + Grey, Lord + Grieve, Mr. + Grosvenor Place + Guerchy + Guildford, Earl of, see North + Guise, Mr. + Gunning, Elizabeth (afterwards Duchess of Hamilton) + Gunning, Elizabeth + + Gunning, Charlotte Margaret + Gunning, maria + Gunning, Miss + Gunning, Sir Robert + +H + +Hamilton, Duchess of + Hamilton, Duke of + + Hanger, Will + + Harcourt, Lord + Hare, James; Losses at Newmarket; at Lady Betty's; at Almack's; + letter to; with Fox; at Brooks's; opens Pharo bank; letter on + London society; at White's + Harridans, the + Harrington, Lady + Harrington, Lord + Harris, Alderman + + Hart Hall (Oxford) + Hartley, Mr. + Hautefort, Marquis de + Hawke, Sir S. + Hay, Adam, Member for Peebles + Henault, President + Heneage, Mr. + Hertford College, Selwyn at; Charles Fox at + Hertford, Lady + Hertford, Lord + Hervey, second son of Lord + Hervey, Lady + Hillsborough, Lord + Hinchcliff, Dr. + Holderness, Earl of + Holland, Henry Fox, first Lord Holland + Holland, Stephen Fox, second Lord, see Fox + Holland, Henry, third Lord Holland + Holland, Lady, Georgiana Caroline Gordon, wife of first Lord + Holland; death of; funeral of + Holland, Lady Mary + Holland House. fire at + Horton, Mrs. + Houghton, sale of pictures at +Howard, Frederick, fifth Earl of Carlisle, see Carlisle + Howard, George, Viscount Morpeth, afterwards sixth Earl of + Carlisle, "George" + Howard, Frederick, third son of fifth Earl of Carlisle + Howard, William, second son of fifth Earl + Howard, Lady Caroline, daughter of fifth Earl of Carlisle + (afterwards Lady Cawdor); marriage + Howard, Lady Charlotte, daughter of fifth Earl of Carlisle + Howard, Lady Elizabeth ("Lizzy"), daughter of the fifth Earl of + Carlisle + Howard, Lady Gertrude (afterwards Lady G. Sloane Stanley), daughter + of the fifth Earl of Carlisle + Howard, Lady Anne, sister of the fifth Earl of Carlisle + Howard, Lady Elizabeth ("Betty"), sister of the fifth Earl of + Carlisle (afterwards Lady Delme) + Howard, Lady Frances, sister of the fifth Earl + Howard, Lady Mary + Howard, Lady Julia, sister of the fifth Earl + Howard, George, Lieut.-General + Howard, Mr. (afterwards Duke of Norfolk) + Hughes, Mr. + Hume, David; history + Huntingdon, Lord + +I + +Ilchester, Stephen Fox, first Earl of + Ilchester, Henry Thomas, second Earl of, see Stavordale + Inchiquin, Lord + Intercourse Bill + Ireland; Lord Carlisle recalled from + Irwin, Sir J. + +J + +Jay, John + Jersey, Lady + Jersey, fourth Earl of + Jockey Club + Johnson, Samuel, his "Lives of the Poets" + Johnston, George + Jones, Mrs. + Jones, Thomas + Joseph II., Emperor of Germany + Junius + Junto, the blue and buff + +K + +Kane, Colonel + Keene, Mr. + Keith, Sir R. + Kemble + Keppel, Admiral, First Viscount; First Lord of the Admiralty + Kildare, William Robert, Marquis of + King, The, see George III. + Kingston, Duchess of; trial of + Kingston, Duke of + +L + +La Fayette, Marquis de + + Lamb, Sir M. + Lambert, Sir J. + ansdowne, Lord (see Shelburne) + Langdales, The + Langlois, Mr. + Lascells, The two + Laurens, Henry, President of the American Congress + Lee, Mr. + Leeds, Duke of + Leinster, Duchess of + Leinster, Duke of + Lely, Sir Peter + Lennox, Charles, third Duke of Richmond + L'Espinasse, Mile. + Lewis, Mr. + Lewisham, Lady + Lignonier, Lord + Lincoln, Lord + Lisbourne, Lord + Lothian, Lord + Lotteries, Conty's + Loughborough, Lord + Louis XV. + Louis XVI. + "Louisa, Lady," see Gower + Lucan, Lady + Lucan, Lord + Ludgershall, borough in Wiltshire + Luxembourg, Duc de + Lyttleton, Lord + Lyttleton, Sir George + Lyttleton, Sir Richard + +M + +Macall + Macaronis + Macartney, Lady + Macartney, Sir George, afterwards Lord Macartney + Macclesfield, Lord + Macdonald, Sir Archibald + Mahon, Lord + Maintenon, Mme. De + Malden, Viscount + Malesherbes, Minister under Louis XVI. + Manchester, Duke of + Mann, Sir Horace + Manners, Jack + Mannin's, a macaroni dinner at + Mansfield, Lord + March, Lord, afterwards fourth Duke of Queensberry, see Queensberry + Marchmont, Lord + Marie Antoinette + Marlborough, Duchess of + Marlborough, fourth Duke of + Marlborough House + Mattesdone, Phillippus de + Matson; village, manor house + Maury, Abbe + Mawbey, Sir Joseph + Maynard, Sir William + Medmenham + Meillor, Mrs. + Melbourne, Lady + Melbourne, Lord + Menil, see Meynell + Metham, Sir G. + Methuen, Mr. + Meynell, Mr. + Middletons, The + Mie Mie; at Campden House; leaves England, relatives negotiated + with for her return; description of; at Richmond; at the + Assembly; sitting to Gainsborough; at the Opera + Minto, Lord + Molyneux, Lord + Monson, Lord + Montagu, Sir C. + Montem + Montgomery, Sir William + More, Mr. + More, Sir J. + Morpeth, Lord, afterwards sixth Earl of Carlisle, see Howard, + George + Morpeth, borough of + Musgrave, Dr. + Musgrave, Sir William, of Hayton Castle + +N + +Nabobs, Indian + Napier, George + Napier, Lord Francis + Napier, Sir Charles fames + Napier, Sir George Thomas + Napier, Sir William Francis + Naworth + Neasdon, school at + Necker, M.; abuse of + Nevills, The + Newcastle, Duke of + Newmarket + Nicolson, Mr. + Norfolk, Duke of + North, Lord, fourth Earl of Guildford; Selwyn's description of; + fall of his Ministry + North, Frederick, fifth Earl of Guildford + North, Mrs. + Northington, second Earl of + Northumberland, Duchess of + Northumberland, second Duke of + Norton, Sir Fletcher +Nugent, Lord + +O + +O'Brien (Lord Inchiquin) + Offley, Mr. + Ogilvy, Mr. + Oliver, Mr. + Onslow + Onslows, The + Ord, Maria + Orford, third Lord + Orford, fourth Lord + Oriel College + Orleans, Duke of + Ossory, John, second Earl of + Ossory, Lady + Owen, Mr. + Oxford, University of; corporation of; Lord Morpeth at + +P + +Palliser, Sir Hugh + Paris; Treaty of +Parker, George Lane + Payne, Jack + Payne, Lady + Payne, Sir R. + Pelham, Henry + Pelham, Lady Frances + Pelham, Miss + Pembroke, Lady + Pembroke, Lord + Pennant, Thomas + Penthurst (Penshurst) + Pepys, Sir Lucas + Percys + Petersham, Lord + Phelippeaux, Jean Frederic, Comte de Maurepas' recognition of the + U.S. + Phillips, General + Pierre, servant of Selwyn's +Pigott, Admiral + Piozzi, Mme, (Mrs. Thrale) + Piquet, La Motte + Pitt, Thomas (uncle of William) + Pitt, William; personal relations with Wilberforce; Duchess of + Gordon confidante of; sudden rise of, first speech; second + speech; Selwyn hears him speak; another speech of; his young + political friends; expected to join the Cabinet; gives Selwyn a + place; remains in office; at Windsor with Lord Thurlow; Selwyn + asked to meet him at dinner + Plympton + Pompadour, Mme. De + Pompeio + Ponsonby, Mr. + Pontcarre, M. de + Porten (Portine), Sir Stanier + Portland, Duke of + Pottinger, Mr. + Powell, Mr. + Powis, Lady + Priestly, Dr. + Proby, Sir John + Public Advertiser + +Q + +Queen (of England), see Charlotte, wife of George III. + Queensberry, William Douglas, third Earl of March, fourth Duke of + Queensberry, "Old Q"; character and life + Queensberry, fifth Duke of + Queensberry villa + +R + +Radcliffe, John + Raikes, Mr. + Ramsden, Sir J. + Raton, Selwyn's dog + Ravensworth, Lady + Ravensworth, Lord + Rawdon, Lord + Regency, English, question of + Regency, French + Reynolds, Sir Joshua; Selwyn's joke on + Rich, Sir R. + "Richard," see Fitzpatrick + Richards, Mr. + Richelieu, Marechal de + Richmond, Charles Lennox, second Duke of + Richmond, Duchess of + Richmond, Mr. + Richmond-on-Thames, a fashionable resort; Duke of York at; theatre + Ridley, Sir M. + Rigby, Right Hon. Richard + Robinson, John, Secretary to the Treasury; Selwyn on + Robinson, Mrs. + Rockingham, second Marquis of; party meeting at house of; Cabinet; + Thurloe's negotiations with; and Shelburne; and King; and + Carlisle; first Lord of the Treasury; formation of Ministry + Rohan, Cardinal de + Roncherolles, Mme. De + Rosslyn, Lord + Roxburghe, Duke of + Rutland, Duchess of + Rutland, fourth Duke of + +S + +Sackville, Viscount, see Lord George Germaine + St. John, Frederick + St. John, John; legacy from Lord Guildford + St. John, Henry; legacy from Lord Guildford + Salisbury, Bishop of + Salisbury, seventh Earl of + Salveyne + Sandwich, John George Montagu, fourth Earl of + "Sarah, Lady," see Bunbury + Sardinia, King of + Sawbridge, Mr. + Scott, General + Scott, Mr. + Seabright, Sir J. + Sefton, Lady + Selwin, Mr., banker in Paris + Selwyn, Albinia (afterwards Lady Sydney), Matson re-entailed on her + descendants + Selwyn family + Selwyn, George Augustus; importance in society, as wit, as beau, + man of fashion, bon mots, jokes fathered on, reputation; a type + of his time, life, ancestry, inheritance of social qualities, + Walpole's "famous George"; possession of Matson, description of + house; to remove gateway of Lantony Priory, schooldays, + sobriquet, holder of sinecure post, illness; recovery, at + Oxford, in Paris, harshly judged at college, no attempt to + renounce pleasure; attends Duchess of Bedford to Paris; member + of Parliament, appointed Paymaster of the Works; life + uneventful, adoption of Mie Mie, anxiety for her; grief at her + departure, at Castle Howard, at Milan; fear of losing Mie Mie, + delight in her companionship, his friends; friend of Fox, + annoyed by his recklessness, lover of the town, journey to + Yorkshire; welcome everywhere; as a politician, Parliamentary + career, personal associations; as a gossip, at executions; + anecdote of George III. and character of, by Mme. du Deffand; + francophile, a favourite in France; secret of charm of; life + comparatively simple, his death a loss to society; commences + corrrespondence with Carlisle; admiration for Mme. de Sevigne, + letters compared with Walpole's, time spent in Paris, + friendship for Carlisle; friendship with Grafton; at Vauxhall; + advises Carlisle regarding Fox's debts; the tie; praise of + Tunbridge; proposed for Royal Society; at Devonshire House; + goes to Lyons; drum at; to Ranelagh; reception in the House of + Commons; six weeks at Streatham; on loss of Minorca and St. + Kitts; deprived of office, appointed Surveyor-General of Crown + Lands; a ministerialist; ill; correspondence with Lady Carlisle + begins; advice to young men; at Richmond; reading Bampton + Lectures; last illness; death + Selwyn, Jasper + Selwyn, John, Colonel + Selwyn, John, elder brother of George + Selwyn, Mary, wife of Colonel John, woman of the bedchamber, mother + of George + Sevigne, Mme. De + + Shafto, Robert + Shelburne, Lord + Sheridan, Richard Brinsley + Shirley, Mr. + Siddons, Mrs. + Smith, Dr., Master of Trinity College + Smith, General + Smithson, Sir Hugh + Somerset, Duke of + Sophia, Princess + Southwell, Baron + Spencer, George John, second Earl + Spencer, Lady Diana + Spencer, Lord Charles + Spencer, Lord Robert, "Bob" + Spratt, Bishop + Stael, Mme. De + Stafford, Marquis of; and see Gower + Stanhope, Henry + Stanhope, Lady ("Harriot") Henrietta + Stanhope, Lord + Stanley, Lady Betty + Stanley, Lord + Stapleton, Sir J. + Stavordale, Lord; is a heavy gambler + "Ste," second Lord Holland, see Fox +Stewart, Keith + Stonehewer, Richard + Storer, Anthony Morris, the "Bon ton"; belonging to the Fox group; + opinion of Selwyn; life of; attachment to Lady Payne; kindness + of Carlisle to; description of Pitt's third speech; writes to + Carlisle; on East India affairs; loses at play; Lord North's + friendship for; at Cockpit; grievances; at White's + Stormont, Lord + Strawberry Hill + Stuarts, The + Suffolk, Lord + Suffren, Comte de + Suffren, Comtesse de + Sunderland, Earl of + Surveyor of Meltings in the Mint + Sussex, Duke of + Sutherland, Lady + Sydney, Thomas Townshend, first Viscount, see Townshend + +T + +Talbot, Lord + Tankerville, Lord + Tavistock, Lord + Taunton, Lord + Terry, Mrs. + Tessier, Mons. (reader to the Queen) + Thatched House Tavern + Thomas, Sir H. + Thomond, Lord; will of + Thompson + Thornbury Castle + Thrale, Mrs. (Mrs. Piozzi) + Thurlow, Edward, first Baron + Townshend, Charles, Viscount + Townshend, John, first Marquis + Townshend, Lady + Townshend, Thomas, Viscount Sydney + Torrington, Lord + Trentham, Lord + Trinity College + Tuesday Night Club + Tunbridge, Selwyn's opinion of + Turgot + Turner, Charles + Tynte, Sir C. + +V + +Valiere, Duchesse de la + Vanbrugh, Sir John + Vanheck, Mrs. + Vanheck, Sir Jos. + Varcy + Varey + Vaupaliere, Mme. de la + Vergennes, M. de + Vernon, Lady H. + Vernon, Richard + Viri, Comte de + +W + +Waldegrave, Captain + Waldegrave, Lady + Waldegrave, Lord + Wales, Prince of (George IV.) + Walker, Mr. + Wallis, Mr. + Walpole, Horace; on illness of Selwyn; his "out-of-town party" at + his villa; opinion of men of letters; his life; arrives at + Matson; at Richmond; Pennant accused of copying style; mourns + death of Selwyn + Walpole, Sir Robert + Walsingham, Lord + Warenzow + Warren, Lady + Warren, Dr. Richard + Warner, Rev. Dr. + Washington, George + Webb, Mrs. (Selwyn's lady housekeeper) + Webster, Mr. + Wedderburn, see Loughborough + Weltzies (Club) + West, Richard + Westmoreland, Lord + Weymouth, Lord + Whately, Mr. + Whistler, Sir Godfrey + White's Club; Lord North at; Selwyn and Sir J. Irwin at; Selwyn in + the card room; Selwyn prefers it to Brooks's; pharo at; Storer + at; Hare and Fitzpatrick at + Wiart (Mme. de Deffand's secretary) + Wilberforce + Wilkes, Mr. John (Willes) + Williams, George James ("Gilly") + Williams, Sir Charles Hanbury + Williams, William Peere + Willoughby, Sir Ambrose + Wills, Mr. + Winchelsea, Lord + Windham, Percy + Woburn + Woodcock, Mr. + Woodcock, Mrs. + Woodfall, Mr. + Woodhouse, Mrs. + Worcester, Bishop of + Worsley, Lady + Worsley, Sir Richard + Wrottesley, Sir J. + + +Y + +Yarmouth, Earl of, third Marquis of Hertford + York, Duke of + York, Frederick, Duke of + York, Mr. + Young, Sir W. + +Z + +Zamparini, a dancer + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEORGE SELWYN: HIS LETTERS AND HIS +LIFE*** + + +******* This file should be named 16661.txt or 16661.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/6/6/16661 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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