George Selwyn: His Letters and His Life

Richmond-The Duke of

e King's illness-Th

astle Howard-In Glou

ociety at Richmond-T

ench friends-Christe

ld-Selwyn's ba

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 Carlis

n 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 23r

onally 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 o

cted upon his Civil List Revenues, and for preventing the same from being in arrear for the

ted at Christchurc

n. 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. Fre

rincess'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

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

ith 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 pic

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 im

e fine weather, and fine sport; so I wish the fifth-form boy [Lord Morpeth]

tion 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 o

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

news I may hear in Town, and as thi

e. 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 s

en kept. K(ing) G(eorge) 1st took a final leave of the Princess of Wales, afterwards Queen Caroline, the night before he went to

res herself ready. She flaps her sides as she sits up in her bed,

heir faces were familiar to me for above five and forty years. I mean little Compton, Bully's friend and min

am glad of. But that she could like his person would amaze me, if I

Guildford (1766-1827), the famous Greek schol

ge III. Always delrcate, the King was constantly concerned about her, and her dying gift of

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

Ekins, Dean of Car

ician of the time. He was a man of great ability and ju

ively 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 ex

hat 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

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

e. 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

tland'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? an

d St. Petersburg. Miss Gunning, who was Maid of Honour to the Queen, must not be confused with the two celebrated

bit 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 do

. 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 Gaz

bliged, 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. A

ssions, 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

ceeding letters are wr

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 ab

ne, 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

an 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

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 carros

will increase, and perhaps destroy me. Mie Mie is an excellent nurse, and a most reasonable girl indeed. If her mother was so, I

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 co

ove 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 tal

t with a Council, and Tany that Council. You say n

eal of hunting, sans etre trop temeraire. My hearty love to Lady Caroline. Mie Mie and I have not laid aside the thoughts of that

ear the thoughts of not seeing you till after Christmas. The winter will appear terrible (sic) long

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

y destruction, with the cold that I endure after it. I shall keep myself, if I can, from any complaint that will preve

d 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,

f the Regency during

20-1798); known for his

Prince of

though a member of the King's Household, markedly

rlisle, born December 25, 1

Carlisle, Major 10th Hus

arlisle's to

Lord T

lin, and advertised impossible discoveries; he declared he could impart the secret of living beyond the natural span of life. He became fashi

Brinsley Sheri

ow the glory

s worse, all

but for a

wrathful, who

s own ends,

3, sc

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 ar

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,

oubt 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

d 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.

elf 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 a

ment 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

eeing him gratified, and when I know how, I intend to write George a letter, who will believe, I am s

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 u

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

ally 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 o

m 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 i

ll me that the present Ministry is determined to try the number of those who will support them, and are not afraid of being ove

e, known as "Jack Payne," was s

ment of Life Guards, and was a favourite of George III., whom he deserted at the division caused

T. Tow

erick, Duk

sent, 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

on the King took place by direction of Pitt on December 3rd, the da

wer of the preced

to be changed into the Constituent Assembly, the tricolour had sprung into existence, and the Bastille fallen. The Declar

ie 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 inte

e 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

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

lorence in 1764, an, Italian philolog

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

eneral did not ope

f the Notables took pla

bore the title of Grand d'Espagne through his marriage in 1761 with th

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 lett

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 o

es 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 y

brother or Lady Southerland. I could not have made their party if I had been sure of their bein

lf 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 de

ad 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

e 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 gone as he did to the Hotel de Ville, the Duke of Orleans(263) would immediately have been declared Regent. There seems some s

usand a year to maintain their establishment, including what the Court of Chancery will allow for the guardianship of the chi

ar. 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

rs 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

elles 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

f Queen

he Earl of Carlisle, marr

arie An

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

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 sat

h 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 electi

ne and Sir C. Bunbury int

intefoy 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 tim

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

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 n

rried to John Campbell, after fir

fe. 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

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 a

e 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

h 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 mad

ing 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

nt times. The history of the Bourbons is become thread-bare, and their lustre too is extinguished, as suddenly as that of a farthing candle.

rney 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

ther,(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 s

may be assured that he has from me at least an equal return. Of Gertrude he says nothing, and yet, I am confi

he 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

ds married to

iam, Duke

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 c

, 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 convin

sented to me as very agreeable people. Other company we shall have none, I take for granted, and that Mie Mie, finding he

cestershire Lord Co

9). He married his cousin, Lady Elizabeth Laura W

ption 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

y 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

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 disgu

e 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

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 d

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 petit

sure 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 var

with difficulty to England, 300,000 livres being

er Douglas, L

lation 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, e

ady Lucan, with whom I have tried to menager some petit-petits soupers for these poor dist

enue. He cannot get a guinea, or deserves one. He is universally despised and detested. Me Buffon is said de lui avoir

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,

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

atch-maker, against his coming home. Miss Digby, the Dean's(278) daughter, it is supposed, will be the new Maid of Honour

ughts of your brother's going Ambassador to France.

re prodigious. Tears of joy were shed in abundance. Nous savons ce que c'est que la populace,

think a change of Government would make us happier. John is now at the ackma (acme) of Theatrical reputation, and we shall see his na

n. 6, 1790, see ante letter of November 2, 1788, paragraph beg

erson'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

r-General, but lost the post in 1787. "A man of incredible facility, facile action, facile elocution, facile thought. . . . in her Majesty

y, fourth Earl of

nd Earl of Ashbu

gby, Dean of Clo

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

he 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 Piozz

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

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 firesi

gion 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 h

o 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 househo

ayette 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

Queens

servations and Reflections made in a Journey through France, Italy, and Germany,

appy story was the subject of tragedies

en 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 a

Mie Mie and me to come sometimes to hear her daughter-in-law play upon the harp. I did not expect melody in their heavine

or 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 shal

ird Duke of Newc

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 B

ay that Prince Augustus(287) was dead, but it is contradicted in the papers of

ugh 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

ham, to see the Dean. I have not heard one syllable about him a great while. You know, perhaps that Pyrome(?) is d

t as well as a noted posting house. Mrs. Forty, the wife of a subsequent proprietor, w

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

Chevalier of Malta (1750-1816), h

rried, in July, 1790, the Marquess of Graham, who succeeded h

, Duke of Suss

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. Campbel

nd 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 separa

ng 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

ajoles 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

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 l

r, married to Sir Archibald Ma

ded 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; s

whole time was excessive. After all, she was not in the places which I had provided for the greater security, but went int

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, n

eed 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

ock told me yesterday, I shall have nothing very comfortable to tell him touchant la sante de son bon precepteur, n

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

e 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 Antie

donald, afterward Chief

John S

of Guildford (1704-1790)

enry St

, seventeenth and las

, Gibbon's one attachment. Their only child became the celebrated Mme. de Stael.

es which have become classics. His energy in travelling and scientific spirit and capacity of observation ma

day in the afternoon, en passant, that is, in her boat, which was full of the company she had had at dinner, and w

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

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 tol

d'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

me 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 Parleme

re 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

e 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

nd in course, it would be to say "Good morrow" to you, or, as t

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 o

dy 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 anythi

lle 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

ve 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 F

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

k 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

e. Vixen is sitting for his picture, and this is all the news of Isleworth. I may have more to tell Lord C(

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 voul

homas T

onnections 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

nal 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 opin

hall 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 o

he Duchess a visit, but that I think it right to forbear going in a carriage as long as I can; and then, p

Queens

abbe, the eloquent support

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

in 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

d Lady C. go to town this morning, but return to dinner. We shall

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 conversati

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 sing

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 reje

ring 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

infancy. I wish Barthow had left Lady Caroline, and was here only to dress me in warmer clothes, but she goes f

y 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 b

ke 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 a

hip 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 h

N

avenn

gdon

ms,

bury,

arle,

oms, King Street, St

stopped by bi

all; events at; thriv

"bureau;" Selwyn a

y

on,

orp,

a, Pr

e, peace commissione

tzpatrick in; colon

ith Carlisle in; news

n; Prohibitory Bill;

n England and; Selwyn

ociety concerning; Fo

interest in; motion

gre

rst,

e, M

che,

fifth

d, Be

ugh,

am, seco

, Lord, s

on,

ton

f Notables

ley

n, S

First Lord

ord) Lord; Lord

er,

Comte

ol Co

more,

ctures (Dr

the, see He

t's L

ker

ngton

e. Du "An

d, sixth Earl

d, seventh Ea

ry,

more,

e, Lord,

th,

si

a

hamp,

am; married to

ort,

rd, Al

n of Alderman Beckfor

, fourt

, fifth

d, Duc

rd fa

House; p

gio

eley

y, A

ry,

ie,

oroug

" see Howard,

Duche

dmiral,

on,

n, D

ke,

ke,

ke,

ford,

ere, S

en

sbury

, Co

lin, C

gbrok

oke, Lor

, Ch

hby,

y, Sir

on,

ederick, s

erie

erie

de; Queen of the e

lie, Comtesse

eton

ol, E

roderick),

e, Ea

oks

tics and gambling a

nis at; Fox and Fitz

an question discu

tical discussion a

y instant at; a p

uriosity; Whigs at

ence

nell,

gh, Duc

h, third

ngham

ngham

ham Hou

shire, thi

on,

see Bol

charm of; sought afte

Carlisle's youthful

rc

y, Sir

Hill, B

yne,

bad judgment

ows,

e,

on,

Lord (t

), Admiral,

gan,

as,

nne,

s, Mm

University

ford,

r. (first B

en,

e, thir

, fourth

f, Frederick Howard; i

yn's letters to, comm

lay of Ribband and B

for Fox; Fox and Carl

digality; Viceroy o

oner to America; re

als; thankfulness for

of, see Howard, Geo

bella, Counte

oline Gower, (wife

rthen

er, Lad

ret,

fort,

le H

Inn,

, Empress

h, Lord

sh, Lor

ish, L

rst Lord,

erlai

es," s

ueen, wife o

res,

let,

, first

, secon

ndeley

orth,

eul,

l, Duch

ul, Mo

eul,

abeth, see King

hill,

nce,

ndon,

erin

of the

mont

mont

nd, Duc

n, Sir

ve,

b,

ompton

ton,

pictur

reve

y, Lad

Princ

y, Ge

r, Si

allis

allis

don,"

on," C

try,

ntry

er,

er,

dock

s, Ge

en,

James, "

ford

we,

we,

Mrs.

me (

land,

gham,

er,

., of Camb

The, at

d, Sir

urst,

ci,

eter ("t

igh,

the Che

y, E

by,

ng,

ire, Du

re, fift

shire

oliad

ean of

y,

y,

by,

ti, Soc

(Doil

rai

t, Du

en,

las,

er,

ffand

fand,

, Sir

n, first Bar

ore,

ey, S

am, first L

n,

; one of Straw

mont

tutor to Lord Carlis

lis

ot,

, Sir

is,

s, W

here,

res,

of Derry) "Emily,"

Germany, se

am,

ex,

x, E

isle at; Crawford at;

ick at; Walpole at;

at; Lord

on,

e,

ons, Se

iani

rchesa, moth

aria (and s

r, Sir

ly c

haw,

on, Gen.

ener

ener

qui

on, Si

on, fifth Earl; R

he, see

erber

("Richard, the Beau

losses at Newmarket;

wins money at Brooks

s taken from his co

for; the Beau Richar

's; with the King;

; provok

, Lady

illia

iam, sec

cher

d, H

, Lad

yd,

omas, sec

er,

St.

Charles,"; chief of g

North; friendship wi

g party; fortune des

goes to Bath; sugg

bles, Selwyn's opini

y of debts; frien

money at Newmarke

aboliad;" Selwyn and

itzpatrick with; Je

nted with Pitt's spee

n at his house; gami

speech; first figure

reeableness of; Selw

; the new administrat

kes a house in Pall

lwyn, rel

, youngest son of

ard Vassall, th

second Baron

an

in, Be

ser

ick th

h Rev

h; picture

way,

Lord, see

ick,

ick,

m,

Howard, George

rge

Lord Georg

(hist

, Sir

t, Mr.

Lord, Sylv

ower,

ter, Du

ster,

y of St. Peter at; s

ber for; e

phin,

ree's

e,

fourth

, Duch

, Lord

, Lord

er,

ady Evel

Leveson (sister-in-

lis

secon

dy

on, D

ham

am,

t, G

tham

homas,

e, Mr. (G

wich'

ucceeded Delme as

le, Mr.

lle, G

ev

y,

eve

enor

er

, Earl of

se,

h (afterwards Duc

g, Eli

Charlotte

ing,

ing,

g, Sir

on, Du

ton,

er,

ourt

t Newmarket; at Lady

at Brooks's; opens

ociety;

idan

ngton

ngton

s, Al

all (O

ley,

rt, Mar

e, S

, Member

t, Pre

age,

ge, Selwyn at;

ford

ford

second s

ey,

orough

cliff

ness,

ry Fox, firs

en Fox, second

nry, third

iana Caroline Gordon

death of;

d, Lad

House.

on,

sale of

fifth Earl of Car

count Morpeth, afte

le, "G

third son of fift

am, second so

ne, daughter of fif

Lady Cawdo

tte, daughter of fi

h ("Lizzy"), daughter

rl

(afterwards Lady G. Sl

fth Earl

sister of the fif

th ("Betty"), sister

afterwards

ances, sister o

d, La

ulia, sister o

orge, Lieu

afterwards Du

hes

David;

ngdon

tephen Fox,

homas, second Earl

quin,

cours

d Carlisle r

n, S

, J

ey,

fourth

key

el, his "Live

ton,

es,

s, T

, Emperor

ni

he blue

, Co

ne,

h, S

mb

st Viscount; First L

lliam Rober

e, see G

Duchess of

ton,

tte, Ma

, Si

rt, S

Lord (see

dale

lois

lls,

President of the

e,

s, D

er, Du

ter,

Sir

es, third Duk

nasse,

is,

sham

nier,

oln,

urne,

ian,

ies, C

orough

is

is

Lady,"

an,

an,

, borough i

ourg,

eton,

on, Sir

on, Sir

ca

aro

tney,

eorge, afterward

sfield

d, Sir A

on,

non, M

n, Vi

Minister un

ster,

Sir

ers,

a macaroni

ield,

s fourth Duke of Queen

mont,

Anto

ough, D

gh, fourt

oroug

ne, Phil

illage, m

ry,

, Sir

d, Sir

men

lor,

urne,

urne,

see M

am,

uen,

ell,

etons

ouse; leaves England,

n; description of;

ng to Gainsboro

to,

neux

on,

gu, S

nt

ery, Si

e,

, Si

wards sixth Earl of

or

h, bor

rave

William, of

bs,

er,

, Lord

Sir Char

Sir Geor

ir Willia

wo

n, sch

, M.;

lls,

tle, D

mar

lson

lk, D

arl of Guildford; Sel

f his

ick, fifth Ea

th,

on, secon

erland,

land, seco

, Sir

nt,

(Lord In

ley

lvy

ver

sl

ows,

, M

, thir

, four

l Co

ns, D

ohn, seco

ry,

n,

of; corporation o

er, Si

; Tre

, Geor

ne,

ne,

e, S

am,

, Lady

am,

roke

roke

nt, T

st (Pen

, Sir

rc

sham,

deric, Comte de Maure

.

ips,

ervant of

t, Ad

Mme, (Mr

t, La

as (uncle

nal relations with W

f; sudden rise of,

him speak; another

pected to join the Ca

fice; at Windsor wit

meet him

ym

our, M

mp

onby

arre,

ortine),

and,

inge

ell

is,

stly

, Sir

c Adv

, see Charlotte, w

Douglas, third Earl o

"Old Q"; char

rry, fif

sberr

iffe,

kes

en, S

Selwy

swort

swort

on,

English,

cy, F

r Joshua; Se

, Si

," see F

ards

eu, Mar

rles Lennox,

nd, Du

mond

fashionable resort; Du

ey,

ight Hon

ecretary to the T

nson

quis of; party meeting

ons with; and Shelb

d of the Treasury;

Cardi

olles,

lyn,

ghe, D

d, Duc

, fourt

ount, see Lord

hn, Fr

; legacy from

y; legacy from

ury, B

y, seven

lv

George Montagu,

Lady," s

nia,

ridg

t, G

tt,

ight,

on,

r., banke

wards Lady Sydney), Ma

cen

yn f

us; importance in soc

ots, jokes fathered o

ncestry, inheritance

rge"; possession of M

ateway of Lantony

f sinecure post, il

arshly judged at co

ttends Duchess of Be

pointed Paymaster

of Mie Mie, anxiety

Howard, at Milan; f

anionship, his frie

lessness, lover of

verywhere; as a poli

sociations; as a go

II. and character of

rite in France; secr

, his death a loss t

Carlisle; admiratio

with Walpole's, t

sle; friendship with

garding Fox's debts

for Royal Society;

at; to Ranelagh; rec

at Streatham; on lo

ffice, appointed Sur

st; ill; corresponden

oung men; at Richmo

last ill

yn,

John,

, elder brot

Colonel John, woman of

Geo

ne, M

to,

urne,

, Richar

ley,

ons,

Master of Tr

h, G

on, Si

set,

a, Pr

well,

orge John,

r, Lad

, Lord

Lord Robe

tt,

l, M

arquis of;

ope,

dy ("Harriot

hope

y, Lad

ley,

eton,

Lord; is a h

nd Lord Hol

art,

ewer,

, the "Bon ton"; belon

ife of; attachment t

ription of Pitt's th

dia affairs; loses a

at Cockpit; grie

mont

berry

rts,

olk,

en, C

n, Com

land,

f Meltings

x, Du

rland

nshend, first Visc

ot,

rvill

tock,

ton,

ry,

s. (reader t

d House

as,

, Lord;

om

bury

Mrs. (Mr

Edward, f

, Charles

John, fir

hend,

Thomas, Vis

ngton

tham

ty Co

y Nigh

Selwyn's

rg

r, Ch

e, S

, Duche

gh, Si

eck,

ck, S

a

a

ere, Mm

nnes,

n, La

n, Ri

, Co

rave,

grave

grave

ince of (

ker

lis

llness of Selwyn; his

of men of letters;

Pennant accused of

of S

e, Sir

ngham

re

en,

, Dr.

r, Re

gton,

Selwyn's lad

ter,

n, see Lo

ies (

, Ri

reland

outh

ely,

r, Sir

th at; Selwyn and Sir

n prefers it to Broo

and Fitzp

de Deffand

ber

Mr. John

George Jam

Sir Char

s, Will

hby, Si

ls,

elsea

ham,

bu

cock

cock

fall

ouse,

ter, B

ley,

y, Sir

sley,

of, third Mar

, Du

ederick,

k,

g, S

ini, a