From the early age of Cambrian history, when the peerless beauty of the
high-born Myfanwy Fechan awoke the passion and the poesy of her admiring
bard, Howel ap Einion Llygliw, down to the modern days of the more
humble, but not less renowned maiden, "Sweet Jenny Jones;" Llangollen,
"that sweetest of vales," seems to have been associated with
recollections of tender and romantic interest. Our narrative, however,
albeit it relates to the Ladies of Llangollen, refers not to whispered
vows and moonlight serenades between gallant chiefs and damsels of noble
birth; nor to sentimental tales of love in a cottage; but it is rather
devoted to the records of a friendship, whose incidents and
eccentricities have engaged the attention of many eminent _literati_ and
tourists. Most persons who take any interest in the scenery or
topography of North Wales, have either seen or read of that singular
residence, Plas Newydd, at Llangollen, for so many years the home of Lady
Eleanor Butler and Miss Ponsonby.
About the year 1778, these ladies, impelled by a desire to lead a
secluded life of celibacy, forsook the gay and fashionable circles in
which they had moved; and in their search for a fitting spot, on which to
pass their days together in devoted friendship to each other, and in acts
of benevolence and charity to their neighbours, they visited Llangollen.
Rambling along this charming locality one balmy evening, when the
tranquil beauty of the lovely valley was lighted up by the mild splendour
of the moon, their eyes rested upon a cottage that stood on a gentle
eminence near the village; and there they resolved to fix their abode.
They accordingly purchased the estate; built a new cottage on the site of
the old one, in a remarkably unique and somewhat grotesque style of
architecture; and laid out gardens, pleasure grounds, and rural walks
with grottoes, temples, conservatories, rustic bridges, and other
accessories for enjoying, in the undisturbed quiet of their own domain,
the natural charms of their picturesque retreat. Their mode of life
being singular, and their costume still more so (for they assumed a style
of head-dress resembling that of men, and always wore long cloth coats,
rather like ladies' riding habits), they soon attracted the attention of
the many travellers who passed through North Wales; and as they kept up
an extensive and active correspondence with several eminent authors and
persons of distinction, the "Ladies of Llangollen," for so they were
always designated, made a much greater sensation in their seclusion, than
many less remarkable persons who are constantly living in the business
and bustle of society. Hence many literary pilgrimages were made to the
recluses of Plas Newydd; and the "even tenor" of their way was often
diversified by the calls of the illustrious, the learned, and the
curious; from whom they were as willing to learn what was passing in
politics, literature, and general gossip, as were their visitors desirous
of having a peep within the charmed circle of this mountain solitude.
Their motive for adopting this romantic seclusion is thus stated in
"Steward's Collections and Recollections:"--
"Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Ponsonby were young ladies of beauty
and rank, who loved each other with so true an affection, that they
could never bear the afflicting idea of a separation, which the
marriage of either might occasion. They therefore resolved on lives
of celibacy, and refusing many handsome offers, and remaining deaf to
the persuasions of their friends, they retired to the beautiful Yale
of Llangollen, to enjoy the happiness of each other's company, that
as their friendship began in infancy, it might be perpetuated through
life. The traveller, in passing by the celebrated abode of these
interesting women, must contemplate with a sigh that excessive
friendship which could tear from the bosom of society two of its
brightest ornaments, to bury them in the depths of seclusion:--
'Full many a gem, of purest ray serene,
The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.'
"It is on this subject Miss Seward employs her poetical talents, in
her well-known poem of 'Llangollen Vale.'--The following is an
account of these celebrated ladies, extracted from a periodical work
published in the year 1796. 'Miss Butler and Miss Ponsonby are now
retired from the society of men into the wilds (!) of Llangollen in
Wales, where they have resided seventeen years. Miss Butler is of
the Ormond family, and had five offers of marriage, all of which she
rejected. As Miss Ponsonby, her particular friend and companion, was
supposed to have been the bar to her matrimonial union, it was
thought proper to separate them, and Miss Butler was confined. The
two ladies, however, found means to elope together, but being soon
overtaken, were brought back to their respective relations. Many
attempts were again made to draw Miss Butler into marriage, though in
vain; not many weeks after, the ladies eloped again, each having a
small sum with her. The place of their retreat was confided to a
female servant of the house. Here they lived many years, unknown to
any of the neighbouring villagers, otherwise than by the appellation
of the 'Ladies of the Vale.' No persuasions could ever get them from
this retreat. A lady from Ireland told the collector of these
articles the following anecdote relative to these female friends:--An
Irish nobleman (Lord Fingal) happening to be travelling in the
neighbourhood of Llangollen Vale, and having heard much of Lady E.
Butler and Miss Ponsonby, felt a desire to see and converse with
them. But how he could obtain this pleasure (as the ladies seldom or
never saw company, and were fond of a recluse life) was the question.
At length he bethought himself of a method the most likely to answer
the purpose, without the appearance of forwardness or indelicacy. He
sent his servant with the following verbal message:--'Lord Fingal,
travelling in this neighbourhood, sends his respectful compliments to
Miss Butler and Miss Ponsonby, and informs them that he sets out
to-morrow morning for Ireland, and would be happy to be the bearer of
any commands of theirs to that country.' This message had the effect
which his lordship desired. He received, in return, a kind and
friendly invitation to take tea with the ladies, which he, of course,
accepted with much pleasure.--Lord Fingal (the collector's informant
added) was peculiarly charmed with the amiable behaviour of these
interesting enthusiasts of friendship. He found not in them the
gravity, formality, and demureness of virgin recluses, but the ease
of liveliness, and animated conversation of happy, cultivated, and
polished minds."
On June 2, 1829, death severed the faithful friendship which had existed
for so many years between the eccentric residents at Plas Newydd, by
removing from this earthly scene Lady Eleanor Butler, who had attained
the advanced age of 90; and in December 9, 1831, Miss Ponsonby, who was
seldom seen (except by her domestics) after the decease of her attached
companion, was called to her "long home." They are both buried in the
church-yard of Llangollen, where a stone monument is erected to their
memory. On this record of mortality are inserted the following
memorials:--
Sacred to the Memory of
_The Right Honourable_
LADY ELEANOR CHARLOTTE BUTLER,
Late of Plas Newydd in this Parish.
_Deceased_ 2_nd June_, 1829,
Aged 90 Years.
_Daughter of the Sixteenth_, _Sister of the Seventeenth_
_EARLS OF ORMONDE AND OSSORY_.
Aunt to the late, and to the present
MARQUESS OF ORMONDE.
_Endeared to her friends by an almost unequalled excellence of
heart_, _and by manners worthy of her illustrious birth_, _the
admiration and delight of a very numerous acquaintance from a
brilliant vivacity of mind undiminished to the latest period of a
prolonged existence_. _Her amiable condescension & benevolence
secured the grateful attachment of those by whom they had been so
long and so extensively experienced_. _Her various perfections
crowned by the most pious and cheerful submission to the Divine
Will_, _can only be appreciated_, _where it is humbly believed_,
_they are_ now _enjoying their Eternal Reward_, _and by her of whom
for more than fifty years_, _they constituted that happiness_, _which
through our Blessed Redeemer_, _she trusts will be renewed_ when THIS
TOMB _shall have closed over its latest tenant_.
"Sorrow not as others who have no hope."