Belgave, Nov. 15. 1850.
_Mrs. Partington_ (Vol. ii., pp. 377. 411.).--In the Rev. Sydney Smith's
speech at Taunton, on the Lords' rejection of the Reform Bill, October,
1831, is this passage:
"The attempt of the Lords to stop the progress of reform, reminds me
very forcibly of the great storm of Sidmouth, and of the conduct of the
excellent Mrs. Partington on that occasion. In the winter of 1824,
there set in a great flood upon that town--the tide rose to an
incredible height--the waves rushed in upon the houses, and everything
was threatened with destruction. In the midst of this sublime and
terrible storm, Dame Partington, who lived upon the beach, was seen at
the door of her house with mop and pattens, trundling her mop,
squeezing out the sea-water, and vigorously pushing away the Atlantic
Ocean. The Atlantic was roused. Mrs. Partington's spirit was up; but I
need not tell you that the contest was unequal. The Atlantic Ocean beat
Mrs Partington. She was excellent at a slop or a puddle, but she should
not have meddled with a tempest."
This speech is reprinted in the collected editions of Sydney Smith's
_Works_. Unless an allusion to Mrs. Partington of a prior date to October,
1831, is produced, we may fairly consider that the celebrity of that lady
is owing to Sydney Smith.
I doubt if Lord Brougham ever alluded to Mrs. Partington. Certain it is he
never made any speech in the House of _Commons_ on the Reform Bill, as he
was raised to the peerage some months before that bill was brought forward.