at the articulation of the name.--How could you, Eliza, leave them
(or suffer them to leave you, rather), with impressions the least
favourable? I have told thee enough to plant disgust against their
treachery to thee, to the last hour of thy life! Yet still, thou
toldest Mrs James at last, that thou believest they affectionately
love thee.--Her delicacy to my Eliza, and true regard to her ease
of mind, have saved thee from hearing more glaring proofs of their
baseness.--For God’s sake write not to them; nor foul thy fair
character with such polluted hearts. _They_ love thee! What proof? Is
it their actions that say so? or their zeal for those attachments,
which do thee honour, and make thee happy? or their tenderness for thy
fame? No.--But they _weep_, and say _tender things_.--Adieu to such
for ever. Mrs James’s honest heart revolts against the idea of ever
returning them one visit. I honour her, and I honour thee, for almost
every act of thy life, but this blind partiality for an unworthy being.”
The remonstrances of these friends of Eliza were not so outrageous as
Sterne deemed them. There was, indeed, some ground for gossip, though
perhaps not for scandal--enough, certainly, to alarm people interested
in the lady: Sterne’s visits to Mrs Draper were too frequent, and Mrs
Draper was so indiscreet as to visit Sterne at his lodgings in Old
Bond Street and dine there with him _tête-à-tête_. There has been
much discussion as to whether the relations of the Brahmin and the
Brahmine, as they loved to call each other, were innocent or guilty;
but there can be no doubt that the intimacy was not carried to the
last extreme. “I have had no commerce whatever with the sex--not
even with my wife--these fifteen years,” Sterne told his physicians
shortly after Eliza had returned to India. This in itself would not be
conclusive evidence, though there could have been no reason for him to
lie to these people; but the fact that he wrote down this conversation
in a Journal intended exclusively for the eye of Mrs Draper makes
it certain that his assertion was accurate--at least, so far as he
and she were concerned. A man would scarcely trouble falsely to tell
his mistress in confidence that he had had no intimacy with her. The
Jameses most certainly believed in the innocence of the friendship,
else they could scarcely have countenanced it; and not even Thackeray,
who shares with John Croft the distinction of being Sterne’s most
envenomed critic, could have believed that the following letter
(whether ultimately despatched or not) could have been written by a
guilty man.
LAURENCE STERNE TO DANIEL DRAPER
“Sir, I own it, Sir, that the writing a Letter to a gentleman I have
not the honour to be known to, and a Letter likewise upon no kind of
business (in the Ideas of the World) is a little out of the common
course of Things--but I’m so myself--and the Impulse which makes me
take up my pen is out of the Common way too--for it arises from the
honest pain I should feel in avowing in so great esteem and friendship
as I bear Mrs Draper--If I did not wish and hope to extend it to Mr
Draper also. I fell in Love with your Wife--but ’tis a Love you would
honour me for--for ’tis so like that I bear my own daughter who is a
good creature, that I scarce distinguish a difference betwixt it--the
moment I had--that Moment would have been the last. I wish it had been
in my power to have been of true use to Mrs Draper at this Distance
from her best Protector--I have bestowed a great deal of pains (or
rather I should say pleasure) upon her head--her heart needs none--and
her head as little as any Daughter of Eve’s--and indeed less than any
it has been my fate to converse with for some years.--I wish I could
make myself of any Service to Mrs Draper whilst she is in India--and I
in the world--for worldly affairs I could be of none.--I wish you, dear
Sir, many years’ happiness. ’Tis a part of my Litany to pray for her
health and Life--She is too good to be lost--and I would out of pure
zeal take a pilgrimage to Mecca to seek a Medicine.”[17]
[17] British Museum, Add. MSS. 34527.
If the intimacy was, as is here contended, not carried to the last
extreme, there is no doubt of the vigour with which Sterne and
his Brahmine flirted, and therefore Sterne cannot be acquitted of
insincerity when he wrote to Daniel Draper that he looked upon Eliza as
a daughter. But if there is little that is paternal in the few letters
of his to Mrs Draper that have been preserved, on the other hand there
is nothing from which the conclusion of undue intimacy can be built up.
It may be taken for granted that Mrs Draper’s feelings were not very
deeply engaged by Sterne. A woman of three and twenty does not often
find such enduring attraction in a man of four and fifty as a man of
that age does in a woman more than thirty years his junior. But Sterne
had fame and undoubted powers of fascination, and Mrs Draper had in her
composition an innocent vanity that induced her to encourage him. The
homage of one of the most famous men in England was a compliment not
lightly to be ignored; and, being flattered, Eliza, unhappy at home,
was far from unwilling to enjoy herself abroad. She was clever and
bright--perhaps a little bitter, too, remembering that she had been
married before she was old enough to know what marriage meant, to a man
with uncongenial tastes, dour, and bad-tempered. It is to her credit
that she never told Sterne of her marital infelicity, though candid
friends left him in no doubt as to her relations with her husband. “Mrs
James sunk my heart with an infamous account of Draper and his detested
character,” Sterne wrote in the “Journal to Eliza” on 17th April 1767,
a few weeks after the lady to whom it was addressed had sailed for
India.
Eliza is a figure so fascinating to the world interested in the
personal side of literary history that a few pages may perhaps be
devoted to tracing her life after her acquaintance with Sterne. She
was undoubtedly an attractive woman, and made conquest of others than
the author of “Tristram Shandy” during this visit to England. The
Abbé Raynal, a man about the same age as Sterne, fell a victim to
her charms, and expressed his passion in a strange and wild piece of
bombast, which he inserted in the second edition of his “History of the
Indies.”
It was not only to men of middle age that Mrs Draper appealed, for her
cousin and playmate of her youth, Thomas Mathew Sclater, was one of
her most devoted admirers. That she was fascinating may be taken for
granted, but wherein lay her attractiveness is not so clear. Raynal
laid more stress on the qualities of her mind than on her appearance.
Sterne, too, by his own not too artless confession, was in the first
instance drawn to her by something other than her good looks.
“I have just returned from our dear Mrs James’s, where I have been
talking of thee for three hours” (he wrote to her when they had
become well acquainted). “She has got your picture, and likes it; but
Marriot, and some other judges, agree that mine is the better, and
expressive of a sweeter character. But what is that to the original?
yet I acknowledge that hers is a picture for the world, and mine
is calculated only to please a very sincere friend, or sentimental
philosopher.--In the one, you are dressed in smiles, and with all
the advantage of silks, pearls, and ermine;--in the other, simple
as a vestal--appearing the good girl nature made you: which, to me,
conveys an idea of more unaffected sweetness, than Mrs Draper, habited
for conquest, in a birthday suit, with her countenance animated, and
her dimples visible.--If I remember right, Eliza, you endeavoured to
collect every charm of your person into your face, with more than
_common_ care, the day you sat for Mrs James.--Your colour, too,
brightened; and your eyes shone with more than usual brilliancy. I
then requested you to come simple and unadorned when you sat for
me--knowing (as I see with _unprejudiced_ eyes) that you could receive
no addition from the silk-worm’s aid, or jeweller’s polish. Let me
now tell you a truth, which, I believe, I have uttered before. When I
first saw you, I beheld you as an object of compassion, and as a very
plain woman. The mode of your dress (though fashionable) disfigured
you. But nothing now could render you such, but the being solicitous
to make yourself admired as a handsome one.--You are not handsome,
Eliza, nor is yours a face that will please the tenth part of your
beholders--but are something more; for I scruple not to tell you, I
never saw so intelligent, so animated, so good a countenance; nor was
there (nor ever will be) that man of sense, tenderness, and feeling, in
your company three hours, that was not (or will not be) your admirer,
or friend, in consequence of it; that is, if you assume, or assumed, no
character foreign to your own, but appeared the artless being nature
designed you for. A something in your eyes, and voice, you possess in
a degree more persuasive than any woman I ever saw, read, or heard of.
But it is that bewitching sort of nameless excellence that men of nice
sensibility alone can be touched with.”
While all are agreed that Mrs Draper had beauty of expression rather
than perfectly formed features, there was given a description of her as
having “an appearance of artless innocence, a transparent complexion,
consequent upon delicate health, but without any sallowness, brilliant
eyes, a melodious voice, an intellectual countenance, unusually
lighted up with much animation and expressing a sweet gentleness of
disposition.”[18] She had, we are told, engaging manners and numerous
accomplishments. She talked well and wrote well, and could play
the piano and the guitar. Her faults were a tendency to pecuniary
extravagance and a liking for admiration--which latter trait, in her
correspondence, she admitted and bewailed. She was also, it must be
admitted, a most arrant flirt.
[18] _Bombay Quarterly Review_, January 1857, p. 191. The article is
anonymous, and can scarcely have been written by one who knew Mrs
Draper, though he may well have been acquainted with those who had.
MRS DRAPER TO HER COUSIN, THOMAS MATHEW SCLATER
“_Earl Chatham_, May 2nd, 1767.
(Off Santiago.)
“... From the vilest spot of earth I ever saw, and inhabited by the
ugliest of Beings--I greet my beloved cousin--St Jago the place--a
charming passage to it--fair winds and fine weather all the way.
Health, too, my friend, is once more returned to her enthusiastic
votary. I am all Life, air, and spirits--who’d have thought
it--considering me in the light of an Exile. And how do you, my
Sclater?--and how sat the thoughts of my departure on your Eyes? and
how the reality of it? I want you to answer me a thousand questions,
yet hope not for an answer to them for many, many months. I am....
Did you receive a letter I wrote you from the Downs, with a copy of
one enclosed from Sterne to me with his sermons and ‘Shandy’? I sent
such to you, notwithstanding the Bagatelle airs I give myself--my
heart heaves with sighs, and my eyes betray its agitating emotions,
every time I think of England and my valuable connections there--ah,
my Sclater, I almost wish I had not re-visited that charming country,
or that it had been my fate to have resided in it for ever, but in the
first instance the Lord’s will be done, mine I hope may be accomplished
in the second.”
MRS DRAPER TO THOMAS MATHEW SCLATER
“_Earl Chatham_, November 29th, 1767.
(Off the Malabar Coast.)
“They all tell me I’m so improved--nothing--I say to what I was in
England--nobody can contradict the assertion--and if it adds to my
consequence, you know--it is good policy. Always self to be the
subject of your pen (you say) Eliza--why not, my dear cousin? Why
have I not as good a right to tell you of my perfections as Montaigne
had to divulge to the World he loved white wine better than red? with
several other Whims, Capricios, bodily complaints, infirmities of
temper, &c., &c.--of the old Gascoignes, not but I love his essays
better than most modern ones--and think those that have branded
him with the name of Egotist--deserve to be Debar’d the pleasure of
speaking of--or looking at themselves--how is it we love to laugh,
and yet we do not often approve the person who feeds that voracious
passion? Human nature this! vile rogue!--’tis a bad picture--however
there’s a great resemblance.... Once a year is tax enough on a tender
Conscience, to sit down premeditatedly to write fibs--and let it not
enter your imagination that you are to correspond with me in such
terms as your heart dictates. No, my dear Sclater--such a conduct
though perfectly innocent (and to me worth all the studied periods of
Labour’d Eloquence) would be offensive to my Husband--whose humour
I now am resolved to study--and if possible conform to if the most
punctilious attention--can render me necessary to his happiness ... be
so--Honour--prudence--and the interest of my beloved children ... and
the necessary Sacrifice--and _I will make it_. Opposing his will will
not do--let me now try, if the conforming to it, in every particular
will better my condition--it is my wish, Sclater--it is my ambition
(indeed it is)--to be more distinguished as a good wife than as the
agreeable woman I am in your partial Eyes even--’tis true I have
vanity enough to think I have understanding sufficient to give laws
to my Family, but as that cannot be, and Providence for wise purposes
constituted the male the Head--I will endeavour to act an underpart
with grace. ‘Where much is given, much is required.’ I will think of
this proverb and learn humility.”
[Illustration: _Laurence Sterne_]
MRS DRAPER TO HER AUNT, MRS PICKERING
“Bombay, High Meadow, _March 21st, 1768_.
“I found my Husband in possession of health, and a good post.
Providence will, I hope, continue to him the blessing of the one and
the Directors at home, that of the other. My agreeable sister is now
a widow, and so much improved in mind and person, as to be a very
interesting object. May she be so far conscious of her own worth as to
avoid throwing herself away a second time.”
MRS DRAPER TO THOMAS MATHEW SCLATER
“Tellichery, _May 1769_.
“Mr D. has lost his beneficial post at Bombay, and is, by order of the
Company, now Chief in one of the Factories subordinate to it. This was
a terrible blow to us at first, but use has in some measure reconciled
the mortifying change, though we have no prospect of acquiring such an
independence here as will enable us to settle in England for many, very
many years, as the country for some time has been the seat of war, and
still continues subject to frequent alarms from the growing power of an
ambitious usurper. I’ve no doubt but a general massacre of the English
will ensue, if he once more visits this coast. Our fortifications
are a wretched burlesque upon such. Troops not better soldiers than
trained Bands, and too few in number to cope with so able a general and
politician.
“I was within an hour once of being his prisoner, and cannot say but
I thought it a piece of good fortune to escape that honour, though he
has promised to treat all English ladies well that cheerfully submit to
the laws of his seraglio. The way of life I’m now in is quite new to
me, but not utterly unpleasant. I’m by turns the wife of a Merchant,
Soldier, and Innkeeper, for in such different capacities is the Chief
of Tellichery destined to act. The War is a bar to Commerce, yet I
do a great deal of business in the mercantile way, as my husband’s
amanuensis. You know his inability to use the pen, and as he has lost
his Clerks and Accountant, without any prospect of acquiring others,
I’m necessitated to pass the greatest part of my time in his office,
and consent to do so, as it gives me consequence and him pleasure.
I really should not be unhappy here if the Motive for which we left
England could be as easily accomplished as at Bombay, but that cannot
be without an advantageous place--then indeed we should do very well.
“The country is pleasant and healthy (a second Montpelier), our house
(a fort and property of the Company) a magnificent one, furnished,
too, at our Master’s expense, and the allowance for supporting it
creditably, what you would term genteelly, though it does not defray
the charge of Liquors, which alone amount to six hundred a year,
and such a sum, vast as it seems, does not seem extravagant in our
situation. For we are obliged to keep a public table, and six months in
the year have a full house of shipping Gentry, that resort to us for
traffic and intelligence from all parts of India, China, and Asia. Our
Society at other times is very confined, as it only consists of a few
factors, and two or three families: and such we cannot expect great
intercourse with on account of the heavy rains and terrible thunder
with lightning to which this Coast is peculiarly subject six months in
the year.... I flatter myself I’m beloved by such of the Malabars as
are within reach of my notice. I was born upon their coast, which is an
argument in my favour.... I never go out without a guard of six Sepoys
(Mahomedan soldiers) armed with drawn sabres and loaded pistols, as
some of the natives are treacherous and might be induced to insult a
woman of _my Consequence_ without a Veil.”
MRS DRAPER TO THOMAS MATHEW SCLATER
“Surat, _April 5th, 1771_.
“... I received your affectionate letter, my dear Coz, and I prophecy
that I shall answer it very stupidly for I danced last night--supped
on a cool terrace, and sat up till three o’clock this morning. This
may appear nothing very extraordinary to you, my spirits and love of
the graceful movement considered, but it was a very great undertaking,
the climate, my plan of temperance and exercise considered; for you
must know that I find it necessary to live simply mechanical, in order
to preserve the remains of a broken constitution and some traces of
my former appearance. I rise with the lark daily, and as constantly
amble some eight or sixteen miles--after the fox too, occasionally, but
field sports have something Royal with them here. What think you of
hunting the Antelope with Leopards? This I have frequently done, and a
noble diversion it is. Early hours and abstemious Diet are absolutely
necessary to the possession of health in India, and I generally
conform to the one, and invariably practise the other. Ten or eleven
o’clock at the latest, is the usual time of retiring, and soup or
vegetables with sherbet and milk constitutes the whole of my regimen.
Still I cannot acquire anything like confirmed health or strength here;
but if this mode of living preserves my being, my cheerfulness and
natural disposition to make the best of things will I hope teach me to
bear it.... At least I will not thro’ any fault of my own, return to
Europe with the dregs of life only, but endeavour by every honest means
to preserve such a position of animating spirit as may qualify me for
the character of an agreeable companion; and then, who knows but cool
weather, fashionable society and the animating presence of those I love
may enable me
‘Formed by their converse happily to steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe.’
“Do you know that I begin to think all praise foreign but that of
true desert. It was not always so, but this same solitude produces
reflection, and reflection is good.
“It is an enemy to everything that is not founded on truth,
consequently I grow fond of my own approbation and endeavour to deserve
it by such a mode of thinking and acting as may enable me to acquire
it. Seriously, my dear Sclater, I believe I shall one day be a good
moralist.”
MRS DRAPER TO MRS RICHARD SCLATER
“Bombay, _February 6th, 1772_.
“I cannot say that we have any immediate hopes of returning to England
as independent people. India is not what it was, my dear Madam, nor is
even a moderate fortune to be acquired here, without more assiduity and
time than the generality of English persons can be induced to believe
or think of as absolutely necessary; but this Idea, painful as it is
to many adventurers who’ve no notion of the difficulties they are to
encounter in the road to wealth, would not affect me considerably, if
I had not some very material reasons for wishing to leave the Climate
expeditiously. My health is much prejudiced by a Residence in it, my
affection for an only child, strongly induces me to bid farewell to it
before it is too late to benefit by a change of scene. Mr Draper will
in all probability be obliged to continue here some years longer, but,
as to myself, I hope to be permitted to call myself an inhabitant of
your country before I am two years older.”
MRS DRAPER TO MRS ANNE JAMES
“Bombay, _April 15th, 1772_.
“You wonder, my dear, at my writing to Becket--I’ll tell you why I
did so. I have heard some Anecdotes extremely disadvantageous to
the Characters of the Widow and Daughter [of Sterne], and that from
Persons who said they had been personally acquainted with them, both
in France and England.... Some part of their Intelligence corroborated
what I had a thousand times heard from the Lips of Yorick, almost
invariably repeated.... The Secret of my Letters being in her hands,
had somehow become extremely Public: it was noticed to me by almost
every Acquaintance I had in the Ships, or at this Settlement--this
alarmed me, for at that time I had never communicated the circumstance
and could not suspect you of acting by me in any manner which I would
not have acted in by myself--One Gentleman in particular told me that
both you and I should be deceived, if we had the least reliance on the
Honor or Principles of Mrs Sterne, for that, when she had secured as
much as she could for suppressing the Correspondence she was capable of
selling it to a Bookseller afterwards--by either refusing to return it
to you--or taking Copies of it, without our knowledge--and therefore
He advised me, if I was averse to its Publication, to take every means
in my Power of Suppressing it--this influenced me to write to Becket
and promise Him a reward equal to his Expectations if He would deliver
the letters to you....
“My dear Friend, that stiffness you complain’d of, when I called you
Mrs James I said I could not accost you with my usual Freedom entirely
arose from a Depression of Spirits, too natural to the mortified, when
severe Disappointments gall the Sense--You had told me that Sterne
was no more--I had heard it before, but this Confirmation of it truly
afflicted me; for I was almost an Idolator of his Worth, while I found
Him the Mild, Generous, Good Yorick, We had so often thought Him to
be--to add to my regret for his loss his Widow had my letters in her
Power (I never entertained a good opinion of her), and meant to subject
me to Disgrace and Inconvenience by the Publication of them. You know
not the contents of these letters, and it was natural for you to form
the worst judgment of them, when those who had seen ’em reported them
unfavourably, and were disposed to dislike me on that Account. My dear
girl! had I not cause to feel humbled so Circumstanced--and can you
wonder at my sensations communicating themselves to my Pen?