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).