(Vol. iii., p. 422.)
The inquiry by J. M. relative to the authority possessed by the letter
quoted from the _Evangelical Magazine_ for Nov. 1797, may be fairly
answered by a reference to the letter in the magazine alluded to.
It is appended as a note to a "Memoir of the late Mr. Mouncher of
Southampton, written by the Rev. Mr. Kingsbury." The letter itself was
written from Montpellier in 1789, by Mr. Walter Taylor to his sister
Mrs. Mouncher; and, from the position of all those parties, would appear
to be deserving of credit as far as it goes.
It shows that Mr. W. Taylor, and others, conversed with the gardener of
the "King's Garden;" and from him (son of the former gardener) heard
that about forty-five years before Dr. Young had bribed the then
under-gardener to allow him to bury "Narcissa," and would thus prove
that the tradition existed at that time at Montpellier.
There is also in a retired part of the Botanic Garden (established by
Henry IV.) a stone bearing an inscription to "Narcissa," as mentioned in
Murray's _Hand-Book_, placed there probably in consequence of that
tradition. Moreover, it is believed, in the family of a gentleman of
Montpellier, that his maternal grandfather saw Dr. Young and his
step-daughter at Montpellier about the year 1741; that the lady died
there, and was buried, as is stated, in the garden; that however it was
not Mrs. Temple, but a younger sister of hers.
It appears from records in this country, that Lady Elizabeth Lee, by her
first marriage, had one son and two daughters. The son was buried at St.
Mary's-le-Strand in 1743; the elder daughter married Henry Temple, son
of Viscount Palmerston, and it appears died in France (perhaps at Lyons)
in 1736; the younger, Caroline, married Captain, afterwards General
Haviland, and died without issue. The General died at Penn in
Buckinghamshire in 1784; but no record relating to his first wife, Miss
Caroline Lee, is to be found there.
Such record, if found in any parish in England, would greatly tend to
decide the question. Possibly some correspondent may be in a position to
ascertain whether such record exists.
Lady Elizabeth had by her marriage with Dr. Young, a son only; it could
not, therefore, be a daughter of Young's who died at Montpellier.