“_14 April 1829._
“DEAR MARY DACRE,—Pardon my use of a name, which belonged to
you when I first knew you. I can sincerely assure you that I
have often, often thought of the person who bore that name
when I knew her, with, may I say, sentiments of most sincere
affection? If I had been Lord Stowell, her name now might
neither have been Molly Dacre, nor Mary, Lady Clarke.
“Thank you a thousand Times, thank you for your Letter, which I
have this moment received. I would thank you more at large if
I could delay in an hour, in which I am much engaged, to thank
you, but that I cannot persuade myself to do.
“I have done my best to defeat this disastrous measure. If I am
wrong God forgive me! if I am right God forgive others, if He
can! Lady Eldon, Bessy Surtees, sends her Love to you with that
of,
Yr obliged and affectionate Friend,
ELDON.
Mary Lady Clarke,
100 Princess Street,
Edinburgh.”
The second letter is written, on the 29th of June in the same year “as
Lady Eldon’s Secretary” to thank Lady Clerk for a present of jewellery.
“... After the Lapse of so many years to be remembered by one
whom we remember, I can most sincerely say, with Respect and
affection, is perhaps the most gratifying circumstance that
could have happened to either of us. I feel the Value of your
kindness to her ten thousand Times more than any that could
have been shown to myself. She will wear the Ornaments from
you and the Grampians as in Truth the most valuable she has,
as long as she lives, and we shall both take some Pains to
secure its being, in the possession of those who follow after
us, an heir Loom. I know not why we search the World over for
Diamonds, when the Grampians can furnish what equals, if it
does not surpass them, in beauty and brilliancy.
“How often have Lady Eldon and I—distant as we are from your
Habitation—fancied that we have been looking at Molly Dacre,
and listening to ‘Auld Robin Gray’ sung exquisitely by her?
eyes and ears alike highly gratified. Excuse this—remember
that it comes from one, who, in his last Letter, expressed a
wish that he had been THE ELDER BROTHER.
“With Lady E’s Thanks and affectionate Regards,
Yr
Dear Madam,
Eldon.
ELIZ: ELDON.”
The allusion at the close of the first letter is to the Catholic Relief
Bill which Lord Eldon so strenuously opposed. Only four days before the
date of the note his name had headed the protest of the Peers against
the measure.
The Lord Stowell referred to is the Chancellor’s elder brother, Judge
of the High Court of Admiralty. He was born in the same year as Mary
Dacre, and, curiously enough, his birth also was associated with the
presence of the Pretender’s army. As in the other case there are
varying versions of the story. One tradition asserts that the town of
Newcastle being fortified and closed in anticipation of the approach
of the Jacobites, who were then in possession of Edinburgh, it was
thought that his mother should be removed to a quieter place, in
anticipation of her confinement; and that this was effected by her
being lowered in a large basket into a boat in the river and conveyed
to Heworth, a village four miles distant. The other version assigns the
perilous descent to Dr. Hallowel, her medical attendant, who was let
down from the top of the town wall of Newcastle in order to be present
at Heworth at the critical moment.
The remaining letters afford even a more curious glimpse of the
fascination which Rosemary Dacre exercised upon those who came within
the circle of her influence. The first is addressed to her husband’s
nephew and successor the Right Hon. Sir George Clerk, and is dated—
“CHITTON LODGE,
_3 June 1830._
“MY DEAR SIR GEORGE,—Enclosed I send you Capt. Morris’s verses
which I mentioned to you. The circumstances which occasioned
them were the following. Lord Stowell, Lord Sidmouth, and
Capt. Morris, with some other Friends, were dining with me
last Spring, when Lord Stowell remarked that although Capt.
Morris was the same age as himself he was much more active
and elastic. Capt. Morris attributed this to his having been
ardently in Love for the whole of his Life; and on being
pressed to disclose the object of his passion confessed that it
was Lady Clarke, who at the age of sixteen won his affection,
and that although he had been since married she had never
ceased to exercise an influence on his heart, and be a source
of animation. Lord Stowell immediately acknowledged that by
a remarkable coincidence he also had been enamoured of Lady
Clarke, and at the same age of sixteen, and that although twice
married, the recollection of her charms had not been effaced
from his mind. This of course gave rise to much mirth among the
company, Lord Sidmouth particularly laughing at the Lovers,
who at the age of eighty-four declared that their passion was
undiminished towards a Lady who had attained the same age,
I am,
My dear Sir George,
Yours truly,
JOHN PEARSE.”
Then follows a copy of the enclosure from Captain Morris of the Life
Guards, who, it may be remarked, was a well-known politician and
popular song-writer, and a boon companion of the wits at Brooks.
His portrait, engraved by Greatbach, is given in an early volume
of “Bentley’s Miscellany,” and another portrait, painted by James
Lonsdale, was recently acquired by the National Portrait Gallery,
London.
“NO. 1 THORNHAUGH ST.
BEDFORD SQ.
_May 29, 1829._
MY DEAR SIR,—Looking in my Scrap Book to-day, I find a few
Stanzas, on my _deathless Passion_ for my _first love_,
written in my latter days, and as such an extraordinary and
singular coincidence on that subject occurred at your table on
Wednesday, I take the liberty of enclosing them to you, the
more so as Lady Sidmouth is a correspondent, and perhaps might
have no objection to honour them with a perusal; if you think
so, and will let her Ladyship see them, I beg permission to
commit them to your care, and I remain,
My dear Sir,
Most gratefully and faithfully
Yours,
CHAS. MORRIS.”
“I beg leave to add that it is sixty-eight years since I lived
in Carlisle with my Father and mother. Lady Clark will of
course have no recollection of my _Boyish adoration_, but to
recall it, if possible, to her memory, I would wish her to
know that it is Chas. Morris, son of Col. Morris, of the 17th
Regt., who lived with my mother at Carlisle, and with whom Lady
Clark and the Dacre Family were acquainted.”
Then follows the brave old jingle of rhyme which the ever-faithful
lover had made in praise of his lady:—
“Though years have spread around my Head
The sober Veil of Reason,
To close in Night sweet Fancy’s light,
My Heart rejects as Treason;
A spark there lies, still fann’d by Sighs,
Ordained by Beauty’s maker,
And fix’d by Fate, burns yet, tho’ late,
For lovely Molly Dacre.
Oh! while I miss the days of Bliss
I pass’d in rapture gazing,
The Dream impress’d still charms my breast
Which Fancy ever raising.
Tho’ much I meet in Life is sweet,
My Soul can ne’er forsake her,
And all I feel, still bears the Seal
Of lovely Molly Dacre!
Whene’er her course in chaise or horse
Conveyed her to our city,
How did I gaze, in bliss’d amaze
To catch her smile of pity;
And round her door the night I wore,
Still mute as any Quaker,
With hope-fed Zeal, one glance to steal
From lovely Molly Dacre.
When rumour dear proclaimed her near,
Her charms a crowd amazing,
How would I start with panting Heart
To catch her eye when passing.
When home she turned, I ran, I burned
O’er many a distant Acre,
To hope by chance one parting glance
From lovely Molly Dacre.
I’ve often thought the happy lot
Of Health and Spirits lent me,
Is deem’d as due to faith so true,
And thus by Fate is sent me.
While here she be there’s life for me,
And when high Heaven shall take her,
Alike last breath, I’ll ask of Death
To follow Molly Dacre.