[This work is, to our thinking, what it professes to be, an
actual correspondence, and from the pen of a lady who, as her
motto states--"writes of countries and their societies as she
finds them, and as they strike her imagination." There is much
good sense in her letters, and less aristocratic affectation
than might be expected. The subjects are of the most
miscellaneous description. Her pen is what the small critics
call eminently graphic: in short, the work is one of the
pleasantest of the season. To be more explicit, it consists of
letters written between June, 1814, and December, 1816;
dated from South Lancing, (near Worthing), Rouen, Paris, and
Brussels; and the writer's _domicile_, Hampton Court. The most
interesting portion of the work is the gossip it contains on
the _state of things_ in the French capital, on the return
of Napoleon, in 1815, and in Brussels, before and after
the battle of Waterloo. Nevertheless, as the whole is
indiscribably discursive, so must be our quotations.]
_Arundel Castle._--Arundel Castle did not gratify my expectations
although the _coup d'oeil_, taking the structure _en masse_, is
imposing, and it has an advantageous position on the banks of the
river Arun. The Castle has undergone modern alterations in bad taste;
the details are of that description of the ornamental gothic, which
appear to me to throw severe criticism on the abilities of the
architect; and, as a family residence, its interior is neither grand
nor comfortable. From its commanding site and vicinity to the Roman
villa, it was probably a Roman station previous to its becoming a
Saxon residence. The walls and Norman gateway are fine. The massive
keep, ponderous in stability, has the characteristic marks of the
twelfth century, and is a noble ruin. It is called King Alfred's Keep;
and with what hallowed feelings of reverence must a _locale_ ever
be approached which bears the name of that illustrious monarch! The
present occupants are an assemblage of German owls, of varied species;
they look analagous with the venerable ruin.
The castle contains a few curious portraits of the illustrious race of
Howard, which have an interest also from the distinguished parts that
family have played in English history. There is one of Henry Howard,
Earl of Surrey, so famous for his talents in state affairs, and for
his bravery in the field. He is represented standing under a noble
gateway. The picture is moreover valuable as a work of art.[6]
[6] Surrey's accomplishments and political talents, and his
bravery in the battle-field, cast additional splendour over
the house of Howard; and his violent death, another stain on
the tyranny of Henry VIII.
Some richly-wrought chalices[7] and censers, and other symbolic
emblems of the Roman Catholic religion are there, but I imagine little
prized by the present noble possessor; for at the age of twenty-seven,
he became a convert to the Protestant faith. Whether conviction, or
ambition to serve his country as a legislator were his motives, it is
not for man to judge: but he is unlike his ancestor, Philip
Howard, Earl of Arundel, who, braving the power of Queen Elizabeth,
disregarded her favour, and almost merited the title of martyr from
the persecutions she heaped upon him for having abjured the Protestant
worship, although educated in it by his father, the attainted Duke of
Norfolk, in despite of Mary and her Spanish consort, who was likewise
his sponsor.
[7] Several of these splendid emblems of the Roman Catholic
faith the late duke gave to his worthy kinsman, the present
possessor of C----y Castle; and they decorate his house
in London, amidst some _chef d'oeuvres_ of the old Italian
masters, which his good taste selected in Italy.
_The late Queen Caroline._--A servant entered in haste to induce me to
go down to the sea-shore, and witness the embarkation of the P----ss
of W----s. I immediately sallied forth, and found her r----l h----ss
seated on the shingles, the _adopted boy_ at her feet; and on her left
sat, with the skirts of his coat spread under his r----l mistress,
to protect her from the stones, our old ally Sir W----m G----l. The
frigate had arrived off Worthing some days previous, commanded by
the handsome Captain K----g; but her r----l h----ss was deterred from
embarking there by a numerous assemblage of John Bulls, their wives,
and babes, who were so rude and impetuous, as to terrify and induce
her to take refuge on a less populous shore. The lively and merry Lady
C---- L----y, and the less pleasing Lady E---- F--s, with two foreign
women, Major S--r, and the odious S----o, composed her suite. Her
r----l h----ss was habited in light green cloth, embroidered in
silver, a Prussian cap of green satin, with a splendid plume of
green feathers: the crown of the cap was conical, giving her an air
something resembling Mother Shipton. Terror and dismay were depicted
on her countenance, with all the varieties of unhappy feelings--not a
smile played over her features--her voice was tremulous, and her
brow contracted into one deep furrow--she was highly rouged, and her
eyebrows pencilled with a broad line of black chalk--never was any
person's appearance less formed to inspire interest!
Sir W----m forgot his usual indifferent manner on seeing me, and put
on one of his comic expressions. In the impulse of the moment, I was
on the point of addressing him, but fortunately recovered my presence
_d'esprit_, and did not commit such a breach of etiquette, although
there was such a total deficiency of r----l dignity in the group that
I might almost have been excused. In half an hour the cutter put off
from the frigate: Captain K--g came from W---- by land, and apologized
for the delay. Her r----l h----ss replied in a tremulous voice "Never
mind!" A small group of persons kept a respectful distance and a
profound silence. One old man blessed her and wished her a
safe return--when her footman burst into tears. The ocean raged
tempestuous, as if in the spirit of anger, and the boat could not
reach the shore. Her r----l h----ss was obliged to enter a pony cart,
and her coachman drove it with difficulty through the billows. With
some exertion Captain K--g and his lieutenant dragged her unwieldy
form into the barge: the P----ss went first, Lady E. F----s followed,
and then the _tin box_: our knight went last; he came up to me,
squeezed my hand affectionately, whispered a saucy adieu, and jumped
into the boat. Such was the embarkation of the P----ss of W----s, and
so passed away the illustrious consort of the heir apparent of these
realms.
[WE SHALL RETURN TO THESE AMUSING VOLS.]
* * * * *