YALE
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

LIFE AND LETTERS

SIR GILBERT ELLIOT.

VOL. I.

LOKDOS : PMSTKD BT
SPOTT1RWOODE AND CO., SEW-KTUEET [SQUABS
AND PARLIAMENT STREET

LIEE AND LETTERS
OF
SIR GILBERT ELLIOT
FIRST EAKL OF MINTO
FROM
1 75 1 to 1806,
WHEN HIS PUBLIC LIFE IN EUROPE WAS CLOSED BY HIS
APPOINTMENT TO THE VICE-ROYALTY OF INDIA.
EDITED BT HIS GBEAT-NIECE
THE COUNTESS OF MINTO.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. I.

LONDON :
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
1874.
All rights reserved.

PEEFACE.

Dear Lord Russell, — I thank you for allowing me
to connect my book with your name. The connection
is a natural one, for the book conforms to the advice
you gave me four or five years ago ; and the hope that
you would find some interest in it has been present to
me throughout.
I have selected, as you advised, such portions of the
first Lord Minto's correspondence as, after elimination
of topics purely personal and private, have appeared to
contain matter of general interest. Of the voluminous
collection preserved in MS. at Minto, comprising public
and private, official and domestic correspondence, the
letters now published form a small part ; but they will,
I trust, suffice to present a lively picture. of the period
at which they were written. Those to and from public
men show the carefully-considered opinions of the
writers on the political questions of the day ; but the
family letters appear to me more valuable, as written

vi PREFACE
without premeditation, and as disclosing day by day
the circumstances, the passions, and motives which
shaped the opinions and decided the action of states
men ; not omitting those quasi facts, ' the flams,' which
South tells us are transmuted by History into ' lies
immortalised ! ' Upon this portion of the general col
lection I have therefore drawn most largely.
And now, one word more. I am well aware that on
certain public questions, and those the most important
discussed in this correspondence, your opinion of the
policy pursued by Lord Minto does not coincide with
his : but divergence in method does not necessarily
exclude agreement in aim and object, nor sympathy
of spirit.
In his sense of duty, at once so simple and so strong,
in the quiet confidence with which in a gloomy day he
lost 'no jot of heart or hope' in his country's cause, in
his firm persuasion that treasure and life are never
more fitly spent than in the defence of national inde
pendence and of individual liberty, in his wide
toleration and refined tastes, who should sympathise,
if not yourself ? Yours ever affectionately, Nina Minto.
December 20, 1873.

LIFE AND LETTEES
OF
SIE GILBERT ELLIOT
FIRST EARL OF MINTO.
CHAPTER I.
Gilbert Elliot, first Earl of Minto, whose correspond
ence is now published, was born in 1751 of a family
which had not been without distinguished members for
several generations. The Elliots of Minto are an off
shoot of an old Border house which in mediaeval times
gave a chief to the clan of the same name. Whether
they descend, as some say, from a native tribe, or, as
others say, from a Norman stock, is of small importance.
What is historically certain is that in the fifteenth cen-
tury they were settled in considerable numbers on the
Scotch Borders, and that the leading family among them,
that of Elliot of Redheugh,1 was held responsible by the
Government for ' good rule ! in Liddesdale.
1 In a MS. tract illustrative of Border topography addressed to Lord
Burghley in the reign of Queen Elizabeth and now in the British
Museum, it is stated that the chief surnames in Liddesdale, and ' most
VOL. I. B

2 LIFE AND LETTERS
Following the fashion of their countrymen when there
was small outlet for young men seeking their fortunes,
elder and younger sons alike settled themselves on the
land, and a considerable district of Upper Teviotdale
was at one period in the hands of Elliots, though as far
as we know not an acre of it came to them by royal
grant or favour. Like many other Border families they
have lost whatever family documents they may once
have possessed. Such as they had were burnt in a fire
at Stobs Castle last century ; and in consequence while
State-papers, ballads, and traditions bear witness to the
prominent part they bore in local history, the notices
remaining to us of their private affairs are, until the
seventeenth century, few and scanty.
Throughout the seventeenth century the Elliots of
Stobs, descendants of Redheugh, to whom passed the
chieftainship, a mere nominal honour, on the failure of
the elder branch without male issue, were the leading
family of the name in Roxburghshire, and in the founder
of their line the houses of Minto and of Heathfield find
a common ancestor.
Gilbert Elliot of Stobs, son of William Elliot of Lari-
offensive to England,' stand upon Elliots and Armstrongs, also that the
chief Elliot is at Ladiesfane, Lariston. But this was a mi stake, owing
probably to the fact that Elliot of Redheugh was at the time a minor,
his uncle, William Elliot of Larriston, acting as tutor during the
minority of the head of the house. During the sixteenth century the
name of Elliot of Redheugh appears frequently on historical documents
as that of the chief of the clan. Robert Elliot, last male heir of Red
heugh, married Lady Frances Stewart, daughter of Francis Stewart,
Earl of Bothwell, by Margaret Douglas, widow of Sir Walter Scott of
Buccleueh, daughter of David, seventh Earl of Angus, and niece of
Regent Morton.

INTRODUCTION 3
ston and Mary Scott of Buccleuch,1 was born at the latter
end of the sixteenth century. When he grew to manhood
the Borders were passing through their darkest day.
The old bonds which had kept society together were
rapidly dissolving, the great nobles had been drawn
away in the vortex of the Court, and internecine feuds
had taken the place of a national cause. Among the
most active participators in these local squabbles was
Walter Scott of Harden,2 whose daughter Margaret be
came the wife of Gilbert Elliot of Stobs, and the lawless
state of the country may. be gathered from the tradi
tion that the bride's portion consisted of ' half a Michael
mas moon ; ' — in other words, of half the produce of some
marauding expedition, carried on when the 'stooks*
were safely garnered, under the light of a September
moon ; conditions doubtless suggestive of Falstaff's
' minions of the moon,' but nevertheless such as had
invariably characterised Border warfare, whether made
by king, warden, or clans, as may be seen in the corre
spondence of the great warden, Lord Dacre, with
Henry VIIL, where he makes threat of executing all
manner of evil on the Scots next light — ' God wylling !'3
1 Mary Scott, daughter of Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch, by Lady
Margaret Douglas. Her husband is said on account of this connection
to have been the only man not of the name of Scott who accompanied
Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch on his famous expedition to release Kin-
mont Willy from Carlisle gaol.
2 Ancestor of Lord Polwarth.
* The traditional portion bestowed on Margaret Scott is rendered
more probable by the circumstances which attended her brother's wed
ding, when not only the portion but the bride herself was a prize, or
rather a penalty of war. According to the story commonly told, the
young laird of Harden was taken prisoner while engaged in a foray on
b 2

4 LIFE AND LETTERS
It is stated that of the guests assembled to witness
the wedding not one could write his name ; while those
names, though among the best of the Border, were far
less familiar to friends and neighbours than certain so
briquets founded on individual qualities or peculiarities.
Gilbert Elliot was known in the district as ' Gibbie wi'
the gowden garters*, ' and Margaret his bride has come
down to us as ' Maggie Fendy,' (anglice handy,) though
no tradition exists to tell us on what occasions the laird
of the green hills of Stobs displayed his golden decora
tions, or to what peculiar dexterity of finger was due
the name bestowed on his wife ; but that of her father,
' auld Wat,' of her mother, the ' Flower of Yarrow,' and
of her sister-in-law, ' Muckle-mou'd Meg,' are intelli
gible enough, and have lingered in the memory of the
country-side, preserving for them with posterity some
thing of the rough but kindly familiarity with which
their contemporaries regarded them.
Such having been the state of society on the Borders
in the beginning of the seventeenth century, the rapidity
is noteworthy with which these wild untutored spirits
became converted from petty chieftains into leaders of
a national cause no less sagacious than bold.
the lands of Sir Gideon Murray of Elibank, and was about to suffer
death at the hands of his captor, when the Lady Murray appeared upon
the scene. Addressing her husband in a spirit of compassion finely
blended with maternal instincts, 'Hout, Sir Gideon!' cried she;
' wad ye take the life of the winsome young laird Harden of. when ye
hae three ill-faur'd lassies to marry?' < Eight,' said her candid lord ¦
'he shall marry our muckle-mou'd Meg, or streck for it.' Between
the gallows and the lady the prisoner's hesitation was but slight. So he
carried home to Harden a bride instead of her father's 'kye,' and the
marriage turned out a happy one.

INTRODUCTION 5
To Gilbert Elliot and Margaret Scott were born six
sons ; all of whom, whether less illiterate than their
' forbears ' we cannot say, were men of action.
The elder sons can hardly have emerged from boy
hood when the first act opened of the Civil war, and
the army of Leslie marched to the Border (1638). Yet
in 1641 William, eldest son of Stobs, sat in the Great
Parliament as commissioner for Roxburghshire. In the
years following, when forces were raised by Parliament
for putting the kingdom into a position of defence, he and
his brother Gilbert were nominated among the colonels
of horse and foot for the county of Roxburghshire. Four
sons of Stobs served on the committees of war for the
counties of Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire. At a later
period, when the growing strength of the Independents
alarmed and offended the more moderate Presbyterians,
leading many of them, as is well known, to favour the
Royalist cause, among those who disliked to be ' violently
subjected ' by fanatics no less than by Princes, were
Gavin Elliot, third son of Stobs, and his nephew Gilbert,
son of the eldest brother, William.1
The younger man was knighted on the field of Largo
Sands by Charles II. in 1651, and created a baronet in
1666 ; and the sufferings of Gavin Elliot in the Royalist
cause (in 1645 and 1646) were assigned as reasons in
after years for the rescinding of an Act of Forfeiture
subsequently incurred by his son Gilbert Elliot, the first
baronet of Minto.
1 William Elliot of Stobs, eldest son of Gibbie wi' the gowden
garters, married a daughter of Lord Cranstoun of Crailing ; chief of an
old Border family that bore the significant motto : ' Thou shalt want ere
I want.'

6 LIFE AND LETTERS
Thus in the second generation from ' Gibbie with
the gowden garters,' whose bride's portion was half a
Michaelmas moon, two of his descendants had achieved
hereditary honours.
Gilbert Elliot of Minto was the first of his name who
betook himself to the Law as a profession. That he
did so with the true Border energy, may be presumed
from the fact of his having risen to its highest honours.
His portrait at Minto gives the idea of a vigorous cha
racter ; the strongly-marked features, the bold open eye,
and long upper lip bear a stamp of determmation that
might have become the leader of a foray as well as the
Lord President of the Judges' Bench ; and in the course
of his career he found more frequent occasion for the
exercise of qualities such as had been exhibited by his
forefathers, than a lawyer's life is apt to furnish.
Born in 1651, his youth was passed under the worst
Government that ever ruled in Scotland, and the per
secutions and oppressions suffered by his countrymen
and kindred made a profoimd impression on a mind
already strongly imbued with Presbyterian sympathies.
At the Restoration, two of his uncles of the Stobs
family had been subjected to heavy fines and forfeitures,
under pain of exclusion from the Act of Indemnity ; but
after the attempt, no less foolish than wicked, to esta
blish Prelacy by the Act of 1662, the whole of his con
nection, male and female, seem warmly to have taken
up the cause of the Nonconformists. Then, again the
harvest moon shone on armed bands travelling as un-
weariedly among the Border glens and hills to hear the

INTRODUCTION 7
Gospel from their fugitive preachers, as in former days
they had ridden to chase an enemy or carry off the
prey. Those who were forbidden to meet in temples
made with hands, assembled on the hill-tops, while the
glittering squadrons of Dalhousie and Airlie watched
them from the vale below.1
Nor did the Border gentry refuse the shelter of their
roof to the recalcitrant ministers, though to 'harbour'
them was to provoke fire and persecution. The ' Lady
Stobs' and the 'Lady Craigend,'2 both of whom were
fined more than once for their contumacy in not
attending church, are mentioned with special approba
tion by the ' famous worthy, Dr. John Livingstone,' as
* well-affected persons' by whom he had ' oft been well
refreshed at exercises in their house.' With the ' Lady
Stobs,' whilom ' Maggie Fendy,' her grandson Gilbert is
said to have passed much of his childhood ; and under
1 ' On a time Mr. John Welsh was preaching in our country, on a
week-day. There were several of us convoyed him into Teviotdale, where
we were to hear sermon on Sabbath after, at a hill called Ruberslaw,
when we were beset by the enemy in time of sermon, there coming a
company of horse and a company of foot, commanded by the Earls of
Dalhousie and Airlie, who surrounded the mount, and sent us word to
dismiss, or they would fall upon us. We told them we were met for
the worship of God in the fields, being deprived of the kirks, and we
would dismiss when sermon was over and not till then. So they went
about the hill and viewed us, and seeing us very numerous and also
well armed, they left us. There were several meetings of the Lord's
people up and down the country attacked after this manner, and several
times prisoners taken and carried to Edinburgh.' — Memoirs of George
Brysson. 2 Wife of Gilbert Elliot of Craigend, second son of Stobs. At times
when a whole district was peopled by families bearing the same surname,
it was customary to distinguish them by the name of their respective
properties.

8 LIFE AND LETTERS
her roof he probably first became acquainted with one
whose fortunes had no small influence on his own.
William Veitch, in after times a highly esteemed
minister of the Church, resided, in 1660, as tutor in a
family of Roxburghshire connected by marriage with
the Elliots, and, in company with his friend Dr.
John Livingstone, was doubtless often a welcome guest
at Stobs. In something less than twenty years from
that time, Gibbie Elliot was settled as a writer in Edin
burgh, and Veitch, who had cast in his lot with the
' wild western Whigs,' had become of sufficient impor
tance to give umbrage to the Government.
Obliged after the battle of the Pentland Hills to fly
from Scotland, he had taken refuge in Northumberland,
where he occupied himself in preaching to the dales
men on both sides of the Border. By his means ' the
ark, removed from Shiloh Ephratah, the ingrounds, the
places of greater outward plenty and pleasure, was to
be found in the borders of the mountains and fields of
the woods.' 1 In the midst of these ministrations, Veitch
was arrested by an act of arbitrary power, was carried
to Edinburgh, and sent by the Council before the
Criminal Court on an old sentence obtained in his
absence some twelve years before. The proceedings
against him being of a nature to preclude all hope of
justice from the King's Government in Scotland, he was
advised to send a representation of his case to London,
and he selected as the agent to conduct it, the son of
his old friends, the young writer, Gilbert Elliot.
1 McCrie's Life of the Sev. William Veitch.

INTRODUCTION 9
Elliot accordingly went up to London, where he was
successful in enlisting on behalf of his client the ardent
support and co-operation of Shaftesbury, Monmouth,1
and other leaders of the Whig party, by whom an
amount of pressure was brought to bear on the Govern
ment, under which, though not at once, its obduracy
gave way. A royal order desiring that all further pro
ceedings against Veitch should be stopped, was sent
through Lord Stair to Gilbert Elliot. To this con
summation the courage arid ability of the young agent
had materially contributed, and' the notice thus drawn
to him of the leaders of the Presbyterian Party in
Scotland and of the principal Whigs in England, laid
the foundation of his future fortunes. Not long after
the satisfactory conclusion of these proceedings, Elliot
had a share in the escape from prison and death of
a more important person, the Earl of Argyle, who,
lying in Edinburgh Castle under a false charge of
treason, had good reason to believe that his life was
aimed at by the Privy Council. To discover how far
their designs were sanctioned by the king, he resolved
to send an agent to London, and Gilbert Elliot having
had recent experience of political parties there, was
selected as a fit and proper person to be entrusted
with the mission. No opportunity was, however, al
lowed him on this second embassy to display any
higher qualities than activity and zeal. He can hardly
have arrived in London when he learnt that a king's
1 Borderers had a peculiar claim on the good will of Monmouth, as
he had recently married the heiress of the Buccleuchs.

10 LIFE AND LETTERS
messenger had been already despatched to the Council
in Edinburgh, bearing orders for sentence to be passed
on Argyle, but staying execution during pleasure. There
was no time to lose, and none was lost. Elliot started
forthwith on his return journey, outrode the king's
messenger by near twenty-four hours, and at four in the
evening of December 20th, delivered his letters to
Argyle, announcing that the sentence of death would be
immediately pronounced. In less than an hour the bird
had flown. In the disguise of a page, Argyle passed
through the gates of Edinburgh Castle, and by the time
the Council were reading the king's letter, their captive
was over the Border in Veitch's house in Northumberland,
whence both fugitives made their way to London with
out discovery. Both peer and preacher owed their
liberty, if not their lives, to Gilbert Elliot, and from
that time he became an active participant in the schemes
under deliberation, for delivering Scotland from the
intolerable tyranny of the Stuarts.
Persecutions and proscriptions had, however, widely
scattered those whose desires and objects were in unison ;
their joint operations had to be concerted in Scotland,
England, and Holland; and Mr. Elliot, trusted by all,
and able as any, was largely employed as the medium
of communication between the heads of the party.1 The
1 ' On the death of Charles II. several Scottish gentlemen,' says a
Scotch historian, ' who had been banished or forced to withdraw to
Holland by the severities of the time, met in Rotterdam to consult con
cerning the state of their native country, and their own duty in that
critical juncture of affairs. After a free communication of sentiments,
they came to the conclusion that considering the natural temper and

INTRODUCTION 11
discovery of the Rye-House Plot in England led to
further persecutions in Scotland : from these Elliot took
refuge in Holland, whither he had already made several
journeys, and when we next hear of him he was going
the round of the churches of Geneva and Germany col
lecting contributions for a rising in Scotland. In 1685
he was one of the twelve Scotch gentlemen who met at
Rotterdam to consider their duty in that critical state
of affairs, and having ' assumed and taken upon them
the character of a council,' determined upon ' a great
undertaking in defence and for the recovery of the re
ligious rights and liberties of the people of Scotland,'
resolving to make war against James, Duke of Albany
and York. When Argyle ' sailed for the Highlands on
his ill-fated expedition, Gilbert Elliot was one of those
who accompanied him on board the ' Admiral ship,' and
after the failure of the undertaking and the captivity
and death of its leader, he, among the other principal
past base conduct of the Duke of York, and the principles of the re
ligion to which he was devoted, his succession to the imperial crown
of the three kingdoms threatened their religion and liberties with the
most imminent danger, and that the behaviour of the Parliament for a
course of years, with the means used to pack and manage them, and the
ease with which he could raise a numerous army among the barbarous
and bigoted nations of Ireland, would render it easy for him to carry
on his terrible work of settling and rivetting papacy and slavery in, and
eradicating Christianity and liberty (the chief blessings of a country)
out of these nations ; at least would make the means of preventing
these great and imminent dangers more narrow and scarce, and the
practice more difficult and dangerous.' Being arrived at this conclusion,
it followed that ' as Christians and natives of Scotland they were bound
to endeavour the rescue of the religion, rights, and liberties of their
countrymen.' 1 The Earl of Argyle was nominated general of the army.

12 LIFE AND LETTERS
adherents of Argyle, was sentenced to death and for
feiture. By what means or in what direction he escaped
from Scotland has never been disclosed. It is believed
that he wandered for some months as a fugitive among
the Border hills, whence he succeeded in reaching the
sea-coast, and ultimately in escaping to Holland. It is
well known that even to recent times the dwellers among
the fells of England and the neighbouring hills of Scot
land kept to themselves the secret of certain passes by
moor and moss, which facilitated the transit of much
unlawful traffic ; it is probable that a member of
the clan whose strongholds had guarded the water
courses of those same wild districts was not without
some friendly hand to point out the path of safety.
However this may have been, Elliot succeeded in rejoin
ing in Holland his late companions in arms, with whom
he took part in forming ' a sort of Privy Council to the
Prince of Orange.' ' Among these,' says Mr. Burton in
his ' History of Scotland,' vol. vii. p. 563, ' were Patrick
Hume of Polwarth, Gilbert Elliot of Minto, afterwards
one of King William's judges, Sir James Stewart who
served him as lord-advocate, Baillie of Jerviswoode the
son of the martyr, Robert Carstairs, who afterwards ruled
the Church of Scotland, and Gilbert Burnet, the most
conspicuous of all, but not the most valuable as a sage
and secret counsellor.'
Towards the end of his reign, James II. endeavoured
by a milder policy to regain the lost affections of Scot
land. In 1 687 Elliot, among others, obtained a remis
sion of his forfeiture, especially stated to be granted in

INTRODUCTION 13
consideration of his father's sufferings in the royalist
cause during the reign of Charles I. He thereupon re
turned to Edinburgh, and was soon after, though not
without difficulty, admitted to the Bar. In the follow
ing year,' 1688, the Revolution brought his friend's into
power, and he was at once appointed Clerk of the Privy
Council, an office which he continued to hold until he
was raised to the Bench.
In 1690 his forfeiture was rescinded by a special Act
of Parliament ; two years later he was created a knight ;
in 1700 a baronet. In 1703 he was elected to Parlia
ment for Roxburghshire, in which county he had acquired
with other lands the Barony of Minto. At the Bar he
soon rose into extensive practice, and in 1705 he was
raised to the Bench, taking his seat in the Court of
Session by the title of Lord Minto.1 ' A promotion,'
says Woodrow, ' well deserved by his unshaken probity,
integrity, and boldness against all unrighteousness and
vice.' Such was the prosperous issue of the stirring career
which took its lise from the rescue of Veitch ; of
which Veitch reminded him in after years, playfully
saying, that ' had it not been for him, the worthy judge
might have been copying papers at a plack a page ; ' to
whom his friend rejoined with at least equal point,
' that had it not been for him, the birds would long
since have pecked another skull on the Nether Bow Port.
He retained his seat in Parliament until the Scottish
1 As Lord President of the Court of Session, he presided in the very
Court which had sentenced him to death and forfeiture.

14 LIFE AND LETTERS
Parliament itself became extinct, steadily supporting
the settlement of the Crown on the Hanoverian line, but
opposing the abolition of a national legislature. With
the Union his political life closed, but he is described as
having shown vigour and ability as a Judge in the
Court of Session, and as a Lord Justiciary until his
death, which occurred in 1 7 1 8. ' True, honest, just, and
bold, of which he had given good proof,' was the charac
ter given of him by Patrick Hume, Lord Marchmont.
Nevertheless ' Gibbie Elliot,' as he was popularly
called, did not escape the animadversions of those less
successful, if not less deserving, than himself. ' How
cross to the public appetite is the honeycomb which
another man eats,' says an old writer ; and in a very
poor country this feeling may be stronger than else
where. The rapid promotion, and the considerable
emoluments enjoyed by him as Clerk of the Privy
Council, and a successful advocate, seem to have been
viewed with some disapprobation, if we may judge
from a passage in a sermon believed to have been
preached in Minto Church not long after the Revolu
tion. The subject of the discourse was thankfulness to
God for His mercies, and the peroration concluded as
follows : — ' My friens, be thankfu' that Sabbath is upon
the day that it Von; for, had it been a Tysday,1 ye
wad hae been at Jeddart ; or, if a Fursday,2 ye wad hae
been at Hawick ; and, if a Friday, it wad hae been my
leddy's bucking wash. My friens, be thankfu' that ye are
1 Tysday— Tuesday, market-day at Jedburgh.
2 Fursday— Thursday, market-day at Hawick.

INTRODUCTION 15
no crown pieces, for if ye had, ye wad a' hae been tossed
into Gibbie Elliot's bonnet.' If ' Gibbie ' was present,
he too may have found cause for special thanksgiving
in the reflection that, at all events, he had escaped a
blessing — such as about the same time was delivered in
the pulpit of the Tron Church of Edinburgh : ' God bless
all fools and idiots, and particularly the Town Council
and Magistrates of Edinburgh.' '
Another anecdote, scarcely less characteristic of the
time, is told in connection with one of Lord Minto's ju
dicial appearances in the country. It is related that on
a certain occasion, when he was presiding as Judge at
Jedburgh, a valuable and favourite horse was stolen
from his stable. In all probability its merits had
become known when he made his public entry into the
royal burgh on its back.
To rob a judge at all is a sin next in the calendar to
robbing a church, but to rob him when he is sitting on
the Bench is only to be equalled by picking the pocket
of Justice when her bandage is on her eyes — a most
audacious and irreverent outrage, to award a penalty
for which might puzzle any man.
But our Judge came of the native stock, and had
not then to learn that, from the time of Froissart down
wards, Borderers had been remarkable for their appre
ciation of horseflesh, leading on occasion to peculiar
methods in horse-dealing. He knew no less well that
reverence for institution, office, or individual is a
1 I am indebted for this anecdote to my friend and neighbour, Walter
Riddell-Carre, Esq.

16 LIFE AND LETTERS
sentiment closely connected with the existence of high
roads, of which, at the end of the seventeenth century,
there were few or none among the mosses and hills of
the Borders, where lived in full security of the Sheriffs
Court the descendants of those described by the Border
Poet as able men
Somewhat unruly, and very hard to tame ;
I would have none think that I call them thieves,
For if I did it would be arrant lees.1
And he knew best of all possibly by his own feelings,
that among the dalesmen of the hills from Cheviot to
Skelf Hill, there lingered along with other reminiscences
of wilder days, a certain bond of brotherhood, arising
in a sentiment for clanship and kinsmanship and auld
lang syne.
So raising neither hue nor cry, he wrote a friendly
appeal for help to one of 'the name' down in Liddesdale,
and did this with such good effect that his correspondent
(said to have lived at Unthank, where the lights still
flit through a ruined chapel when an Elliot is near to
die), not only undertook to prosecute the enquiry in his
neighbourhood, but to forward it to the Cumbrian
frontier, resort of wilder spirits still. For this end he
despatched thereto a messenger on horseback. Alas !
next day the man returned — on foot ! Way-weary and
crestfallen he seemed, but his adventures the story does
not tell, for before he could enter upon them, sounds
of hoofs were heard approaching ; and lo ! two horses
1 See a rhyming chronicle of the history of the families of Scott and
Elliot, by Captain Walter Scott of Satchells, published 1688.

INTRODUCTION ] 7
were seen amicably trotting down the road, their tails
fast tied together, the leader making with all speed for
the familiar stable, to which he conducted in triumph
the Judge's missing steed.
Gilbert Elliot was twice married — first to Helen
Stevenson, daughter of a burgess of Edinburgh, by
whom he had a daughter married to Sir James Elphin-
stone of Logie ; secondly, to Jean Carre, daughter of
Sir Andrew Carre of Cavers, and niece by marriage of
his old friend and fellow-exile Patrick Hume, Lord
Marchmont.1 By Jean Carre, who lived to an advanced
age and is said to have been a very clever woman,
Lord Minto had an only son, by whom he was succeeded
in the baronetcy of Minto.
The second Sir Gilbert Elliot of Minto was one of
those men who, standing high in the estimation of their
contemporaries, leave only a traditional reputation to
posterity. His name is not associated, like that of his
father, with organic constitutional changes, nor, like that
of his son, with a brilliant parliamentary career. No pub
lished writings of his exist to demonstrate his claim to
intellectual power ; no private correspondence has been
preserved, from whence we can gather knowledge of his
affections and sympathies ; but his abilities are attested
by the fact of his having attained the highest honour of
the profession to which he was bred — the Scotch Bar,
1 Lord Marchmont married Grisell Carre, sister of Sir A. Carre, and
by her had numerous children, one of whom, Lady Grisell Baillie, bore
a conspicuous part in her father's adventures.
VOL. I. C

18 LIFE AND LETTERS
and evidence of his tastes and accomplishments is to
be found in various contemporary records and in family
traditions. On becoming a judge he, like his father,
assumed the title of Lord Minto, which he bore for forty
years. He also attained the dignities of Lord Justice
Clerk and Lord President of the Court of Session.
If the career of the father marks an advancement of
learning in the family, that of the son denotes the at
tainment of a farther stage in intellectual progress.
' Learning,' as our forefathers were wont to call the
more solid acquisitions of the mind, is a plant which
bears fruit ; it repays in more ways than one the efforts
made to obtain it : but the lighter mental graces, such
as display themselves in a sympathetic appreciation of
the fine arts and a familiar acquaintance with polite
literature, les belles lettres of foreign countries, are the
flowers of mental cultivation, sought by those who desire
from them enjoyment rather than remuneration. It is
noteworthy that, in the first half of last century, the
period of the Justice Clerk's career, when Scotland was
far behind England and France in acquaintance with the
refinements of life, when the manners of the gentry were
primitive to a degree of rudeness, there existed among
them a very high standard of intellectual excellence,
and, what is perhaps most remarkable, the ornamental
parts of mental cultivation were thoroughly studied.
In the judgment of his contemporaries, the second
Lord Minto was pre-eminently an accomplished man.
A distinguished scholar, the intimate friend and asso
ciate in his literary pursuits of his fellow-judge, Lord

INTRODUCTION 19
Kaimes, he was remarkable for his knowledge and love
of foreign as of native literature. In the great writers
of Italy he especially delighted, and it is said that he
himself composed with grace and facility in their soft
and rhythmical tongue. To a cognate taste it may be
ascribed that he was held conspicuous for his musical
gifts, in days when, according to Smollett,1 every man
in Edinburgh was a musician. But the attractive pur
suits of his leisure and the stern calls of his profession
were alike unable to diminish the strong ' patriotic en
thusiasm ' with which he strenuously supported every
measure that tended to the improvement of his country.
To the preceding generation Scotland owed a new
political condition based on organic changes, to the
one which followed fell the duty of developing her in
stitutions and natural resources.
Holding with his forefathers that civil and spiritual
liberty go together, he was second to none 'in his
zealous and useful exertions as a friend of the Protestant
cause.' To the measures of the Duke of Argyle, whom
he counted among his personal friends, he gave his
active support ; and, once at least in his life, his well-
known principles as a staunch Whig placed him in a
position of personal danger, of a kind more familiar
to earlier than to recent times. When, ' in the 45,'
Prince Charlie took his way from Edinburgh to Carlisle
through Teviotdale and Liddesdale, a party of his fol
lowers suddenly appeared in the neighbourhood of Minto
1 Humphrey Clinker.
c 2

20 LIFE AND LETTERS
— so suddenly that the judge had barely received warning
of their approach when they arrived before the house.
Happily his daughter Jean was equal to the occasion ;
receiving the unwelcome guests with courteous hospi
tality, she detained them within the house while her
father found time to reach the refuge of some neighbour
ing craigs. There, ' where falcons hang their giddy nest,1
he lay concealed among boulders, ivy and brushwood,
within hearing of the voices of the troopers who waited
for their leaders at the lodge below the hill, nor left his
lair till he had seen the reunion of the party, the
dismissal of the terrified shepherd's boy who had held
their horses, and themselves making at rapid pace
for the ford over Teviot and the road to the Border
Hills. Possibly, and not improbably, he may, while thus
gazing on the wide landscape below him, have moralised
on the fate which was driving the last Stuart from the
land of his ancestors. Far as the eye can reach he may
have looked from the hills of Liddesdale, cradle of his
race, a district given over by James IV. to be harried
by Henry VIIL, to far Dunse Law, where his
kindred had stood in battle-array to withstand Prince
Charlie's grandfather ; and not a feature of that wide
view, diversified with hill, and craig, and glen, and
stream, all more or less associated with the history of
the land, could recall to him one noble exploit, one royal
deed, to be laid to the account of those, termed in
1 See Lay of the Last Minstrel. Canto i.
On Minto craigs the moonbeams glint, &c.

INTRODUCTION 21
derision by their Border subjects of yore, ' Kings of Fife
and the Lothians.'
In after years the Justice-Clerk was wont to say that
he* owed his life to his daughter's presence of mind ; for
such was the exasperation of the Jacobites against him
that it would not have been safe had he fallen into their
hands. The shelter afforded him on this occasion should have
taught the judge some respect for the natural fastnesses,
the desolate places of his native land ; but he was a
scientific agriculturist, one of the earliest of the unre
lenting class who robbed Scotland of her natural tartan,
her green mosses and her purple heather, to make
sheep-walks of her muirlands and cornfields of her
broomy braes. Parochial registers record various im
provements in the county of Roxburgh inaugurated by
him, and also the public spirit he showed in undertaking
to make, at his own expense, the roads which traversed
his property, thereby giving an impetus to road-making
throughout the country. In Edinburgh both he and his
son were on a Committee of Taste for the improvement
of the town ; but it was at Minto that he best loved to
dwell, leading the walk along the glen and adorning its
' devious way ' with what are now noble forest trees. Con
spicuous among them are the rough and rich red boles
of some veteran larch, sprung from seeds enclosed in a
letter to the Justice-Clerk by John Duke of Argyle.
Carefully housed for some time under glass, they were
at last emancipated by the intervention of a Sardinian
envoy, who, when on a visit to Minto, expressed his

22 LIFE AND LETTERS
unbounded astonishment at finding the Alpine tree
forced to adopt a modus vivendi so uncongenial to its
habits. Between the grounds and the library of Minto their
owner divided his leisure, surrounded by friends, among
whom were some of the most distinguished of his coun
trymen, and by a family who held him in the highest
reverence and respect. Though a kind, he is said to
have been a strict father, whose patience was sorely
tried by any manifestations of a captious or self-indulgent
spirit in his children. One of his sons, Andrew, after
wards Governor of New York, used to describe in his
old age the impression made on his boyhood by the
awful severity of his father's countenance on overhearing
him object at dinner to eat of a leg of boiled mutton ;
and the impression was doubtless enhanced, when, turn
ing with magisterial dignity to the servant who stood
behind him, the Judge thus spoke : L Let Mr. Andrew
have boiled mutton for breakfast, and boiled mutton for
dinner, and boiled mutton for supper till he has learnt
to like it.'
Strange to say he did learn to like it, or at least he
said so to his children.
Lord Minto left a large family by his wife Helen.
daughter of Sir Robert Stewart of Allanbank ; four of
these made themselves a name, among their contem
poraries. To the eldest, Gilbert, we come presently :
his next brother, Andrew, was the last governor of New
York ; the younger one, John, bore a high reputation as
a brave and gallant sailor. Both were men of the same

INTRODUCTION 23
type, ' true, honest, bold,' and vigorous in the execution
of their duties, as was shown by John in many a well-
known action in his naval career,1 and in a remarkable
degree by Andrew, when he seized a large quantity of
arms possessed by the disaffected in New York and sent
them off to General Gage, regardless of ' some very
shocking and threatening letters upon the occasion :
behaving with so much spirit that the whole respectable
people of New York and the country round waited
upon him in great bodies to testify their approbation
and promise him support, attending him to the place
where he was to do his duty and conducting him home
in triumph.' 2
It is said that in both brothers were united warm and
benevolent feelings, with a certain uncompromising
cast of character often associated with a conscien
tious though somewhat narrow Presbyterianism. No
amount of dutiful attention could ever induce the ex-
governor to forgive a nephew who had sympathised in
the views of Burke and Fox on the American War ; no
promptings of family pride could induce him to lend
an ear, when that nephew's parliamentary distinction
formed the subject of conversation : while the younger
man in his most brilliant days did not entirely lose his
awe of the ' dour ' old uncles living in retirement on
Teviotside, who were not to be diverted or cajoled from
1 The capture by Commodore, afterwards Admiral, Elliot of a priva
teering squadron under Thurot, was considered at the time to be a very
brilliant exploit ; and it had important results, inasmuch as it saved
the town of Belfast from imminent destruction.
2 Family correspondence.

24 LIFE AND LETTERS
their early prepossessions by the influence of great
names and brilliant examples. On the cover of
a letter addressed to his wife, which enclosed one from
Burke more than commonly hyperbolical in its ap
probation of a great oratorical effort, we find these
words : ' Do not let my uncles see it, as they might
find a little ridicule in it.'
With these two lived frequently their eldest sister
Jean, who shared in a larger degree than they in the
intellectual tastes and accomplishments of her father.
Endowed with qualities of mind and character such
as attract confidence in youth and reverence in age,
she had no small influence in the family circle — an
influence increased by a natural gift of ' persuasive
eloquence,' varied on due occasion with the terse in
cisive speech that gave to the silver tongue a point
of steel, and indubitably proved her descent from
the old Border race.1 Like her father she was a great
reader, and to considerable knowledge of the classic
authors of England and France she added an intimate
familiarity with the poetical legends of the Borders,
among whose minstrels she herself has taken a high
place by her well-known ballad of the ' Flowers of the
Forest,' the most graceful and the most pathetic of all
the wails that Flodden has wrung from Scottish hearts.2
' Lesley says that the Borderers of Queen Mary's days were gifted
with ' persuasive eloquence and smooth insinuating words; ' and many a
protest from offended England attests the sharpness of the tongue-
thrusts with which they pricked the dignitaries of the period.
2 A lady, still living, informs us that she remembers having been
taken in early childhood to visit Miss Jean Elliot, accepted among her
friends and in her native district as one of the ' illustrations de son

INTRODUCTION 25
But the gifts and accomplishments of Jean Elliot
were far surpassed by those of her eldest brother, who
succeeded his father in his hereditary rank as the third
Baronet of that name, and though perhaps the most
able of his race, was the only one in the succession of
the family for four generations who attained no higher
title than that to which he was born.
To describe the public career of Gilbert Elliot, the
third Baronet of Minto, would be to narrate the parlia
mentary history of twenty years. To the elucidation
of this period his MS. journals have indeed already con
tributed, used as they have been by Sir Denis le Mar-
chant in his editorial notes to Horace Walpole's Memoirs
of George III. In the short space allotted to us such an
attempt could not be undertaken with any justice to
the political reputation of Sir Gilbert ; but a rapid review
of the chief events of his life will form an almost need
ful link between the professional careers of the two
first Lords Minto, and the political one of his son and
successor, the first peer of the same title.
Having received the education common among the
Scotch gentry of his country and period, beginning with
the Dalkeith Grammar School, and passing thence to the
temps.' She saw a tall stately old lady, conversing with a certain quiet
dignity , but ' unluckily,' she says, ' my recollections of her are very
imperfect, for my attention was soon diverted by an embroidered
peacock on a screen.' Alas ! who has ever searched the memories of the
past or striven to give a definite shape to the vague dim phantoms of
early recollections, without being made to bewail the intrusion of some
' embroidered peacock ' which distracted his mental gaze from more
worthy objects and left its own contemptible image stamped for ever
on his brain ?

26 LIFE AND LETTERS
College of Edinburgh and the University of Leyden, he
entered life with a well-stored mind and soon acquired
a reputation for sense, information, and for intellectual
tastes, such as rapidly introduced him to the most emi
nent of his contemporaries. He evinced no taste for the
legal profession, though he was called to the Scotch Bar,
and duly provided himself for his appearance there
' with a huge cocked hat, Parliament-house gown, and
a bob wig of a very formal cut.' Writing to a friend1 from
Edinburgh in 1742, soon after his return from the
Continent, and after a short visit to London, he says :
' Nature never meant me for a lawyer. I have neither
the sort of parts, memory, nor application. Yet I am
not discouraged. The same powerful habit that makes
men tumblers and rope-dancers may very possibly
mould me into a lawyer.' Something may be seen in
these words of the earnest resolution which was a marked
feature of his character and would probably have secured
his success had circumstances obliged him to follow up
a profession that had no attraction for him ; and some
thing too of the conceit of youth peeps out in other
portions of the same letter where he remarks of the
society in which he came to reside : ' I love the town
tolerably well ; there is one fine strefet, and the houses
extremely high. The gentry are a very sensible set
of people, and some in their youth seem to have known
the world ' — the writer was twenty years of age — ' but by
being too long in a place, their notions are contracted
1 Mr. Mure of Caldwell, among whose papers this letter finds place.
Caldwell Papers, printed by the Maitland Club.

INTRODUCTION 27
and their faces are become solemn. The Faculty of Advo
cates is a very learned, a very worthy body. The ladies
are unexceptionable, innocent, beautiful, and of an easy
conversation. The staple vices of the place are cen-
soriousness and hypocrisy. . . . There is here no allow
ance for levity, none for dissipation. I do not find here
that unconstrained, noble way of thinking and talking
which one every day meets with among young fellows
of plentiful fortunes and good spirits who are constantly
moving in a more enlarged circle of company. The high
schemes of youth give place to the gainful arts of a
narrower condition.' In the same letter he says that
he submits himself with great patience to the critical
observations of aunts, cousins, and grandmothers. ' I
don't avoid going to taverns, and I don't get drunk.'
It is curious to contrast these youthful criticisms with
the social relations subsequently formed by the writer
in the same circles with men of European celebrity.
As in those days ' a lawyer's library consisted of the
classics, the philosophers of mind and the civilians,' • the
young student was doubtless exploring a wide field of
literature while professedly following his father's pro
fession, and not many years had passed over his head
when he stood ' foremost in that body of accomplished
gentlemen whose friendship and companionship afforded
Hume so much pleasure and instruction.'2 Not only was
he resorted to as friend and companion, but as an autho
rity and ' master critic' 3 To him were submitted, for
1 Burton's Life of David Hume, vol. i. p. 26.
2 Ibid. vol. i. p. 320.
8 Dr. Somerville's Memoirs. The only published specimen of Sir

28 LIFE AND LETTERS
counsel and criticism, the MS. of Home's tragedy of
'Douglas,' the MS. of Robertson's ' History of Charles V.,'
and the ' Dialogues on Natural Religion ' of David
Hume. Hume moreover desired Sir Gilbert to under
take the part of interlocutor in these same dialogues,
designating that of Cleanthes, the exponent of the doc
trine of Design, as suited to his views. Sir Gilbert's
reply to Hume on this subject was found among his
papers in the form of a rough and unfinished draft, and
was inserted by Dugald Stewart in his Preliminary
Dissertation to the British Encyclopedia, with the fol
lowing introductory remark : ' This careless fragment
exhibits an interesting specimen of the progress made
in Scotland among the higher classes seventy years ago,
not only in sound philosophy, but in purity of style.'
The view taken by Sir Gilbert of Hume's sceptical
arguments appears to have been that adopted subse
quently by Reid, Oswald, and Beattie.
In Dugald Stewart's great work on the Philosophy
of the Human Mind he refers again to the correspond
ence on philosophical subjects of Hume with Sir G.
Elliot in the following words : ' Sir Gilbert seems to
have united with his other well-known talents and
accomplishments a taste for abstract disquisitions which
rarely occurs in men of the world, accompanied with
that soundness and temperance of judgment which in
such researches are so indisputably necessary to guard
the mind against the illusions engendered by its own
Gilbert's own poetical faculty is a graceful little poem which finds a
place in collections of lyrical verse under the title of ' Amynta.'

INTRODUCTION 29
subtlety.' At the period of his correspondence with
Hume on the ' Dialogues,' Sir Gilbert was under thirty.
About the same time he took an active part, according
to the wont of the Scotch gentleman of his day, in the
sittings of the General Assembly. A few years later he
became one of the original members of the Poker Club in
Edinburgh, instituted in 1762, and for several years sup
ported by some of the most distinguished men in Scotland,
David Hume, Adam Smith, Adam Ferguson, and others ;
but before that date he had entered Parliament as
M.P. for Selkirkshire, and official life as a Lord of the
Admiralty.1 Two years after his first appearance in the
House of Commons he was included in the administra
tion of Pitt and Grenville, composed of the most
eminent men of all the sections of the Whigs, and
thenceforward to the day of his death he preserved a
prominent position among the public men of his time.
Without adopting the perhaps partial testimony of his
countrymen to his successes in Parliament,' we will
1 Sir Gilbert sat in Parliament for Selkirkshire from 1754 to 1765,
and for Roxburghshire from 1765 until his death in 1777. He was ap
pointed Lord of the Admiralty in 1756, Treasurer of the Chambers in
1762, Keeper of the Signet in 1767, Treasurer of the Navy 1770. His
first political connections were with Pitt and the Grenvilles ; later he
became an adherent of Lord Bute. Various circumstances related in
Walpole's History of George III. and in Sir Gilbert's own papers show
that no pains were spared by him to reconcile Pitt and Lord Bute,
rendered nugatory by the vanity of the one and the contemptuous bearing
of the other.
2 Dr. Somerville in his memoirs mentions that he attended the
debates on the exclusion of Wilkes, and says that those considered the
best speakers were Lord North, Sir Gilbert Elliot, and Governor
Johnstone. Principal Robertson (author of the History of Charles V.)
told Dr. Somerville, that in acuteness of reasoning and practical

30 LIFE AND LETTERS
content ourselves with the testimony of a political
enemy and a most competent judge, as decisive of his
eminence in the greatest of political assemblies. Horace
Walpole, who disliked Sir Gilbert, as he disliked most
men, and more especially Scotchmen and friends of
Lord Bute, calls Sir Gilbert ' one of the ablest men in
the House of Commons,' ' and on several occasions men
tions his abilities and his speeches as remarkable.
But the pressure of public duties, and perhaps the
stronger attraction of those literary and philosophical
pursuits, ever resumed by Sir Gilbert during his resi
dences at Minto, were equally powerless to divert his
eager attention from the education of his sons.
Married in 1747 to Agnes, daughter of Hugh
Dalryrnple Murray Kynynmound, who had assumed
these names on succeeding to the estates of the Murrays
of Melgund, in Forfarshire, and Kynynmound in Fife ;
he had by her six children — Gilbert, born April 23, 1751,
Hugh, born 1752, Alexander, Robert, Isabella, Eleanor,
of whom the two eldest — Gilbert, and Hugh, — were
destined to run distinguished careers in public life.2
information Sir Gilbert's speeches excelled all that were delivered in
the House. He mentioned especially Sir Gilbert's speeches on the
Scotch Militia Bill, and on the exclusion of Wilkes. Boswell quotes his
elocution as a, model for Scotch orators. Lord Kaimes placed Sir
Gilbert Elliot foremost among the men of his acquaintance who had
become eminent for their abilities and public services.
1 Walpole's History of the Eeign of George III.
2 And the promise of Sir Gilbert's third son, Alexander, was fully
equal to that of his brothers, when death cut short his opening career.
He died of fever in India in 1778. Warren Hastings, who always spoke
of his abilities with great admiration placed a stone on his remote
grave, and alluded to him touchingly in a fine paraphrase of Horace's

INTRODUCTION " 31
In 1762 Gilbert and Hugh, the elder eleven, the
younger eight years of age, were placed under the care
of a young Scotchman, himself only twenty years of age,
who was selected for the office by Dr. Drysdale and
Professor Stewart.
To prepare himself for his charge, Mr. Liston was
desired to perfect himself in classical knowledge, in law,
and dancing. This last accomplishment was at that
time considered, according to Dr. Carlyle, to be indis
pensable even as a preparation for the pulpit.
Two years later, Mr. Liston accompanied the boys to
Paris, where David Hume undertook a general charge
of them ; and the letter in which their father announces
them to his friend, though it has been already pub
lished, may bear insertion here.1
Sir G. Elliot to David Hume. 'September 15, 1764.
4 Upon full deliberation, I am determined to send you
my boys if a tolerable place can be found for their re
ception. ... It will be no small consolation to their
mother, from whom they are now to be separated for
the first time, to know that we are not without a friend
Ode, XVI. Lib. 2, ad Grosphum, which he wrote on his way home from
Bengal in 1785: An early death was Elliot's doom,
I saw his opening virtues bloom,
And manly sense unfold,
Too soon to fade ! I bade the stone
Record his name 'midst hordes unknown,
Unknowing what it told.
1 Published in Burton's Life of Hume from the Minto MSS.

32 LIFE AND LETTERS
in Paris, who will sometimes have an eye to their con
duct. If I am not too partial I think you will find in
their character 'much native simplicity and perhaps
some little elevation of mind. Send them back to me,
my dear Sir, with the same qualities, tempered if you
will, but not impaired by the acquisition of some few of
those graces which spread such an inexpressible charm
through those societies where even you are not ashamed
to pass so many precious hours.
. . . But after all, what am I about ? At Paris to
have children at all, is du phis mauvais ton du monde,
and I forgot to inform myself, when one happens to
have them, whether it be permitted to take any thought
about them.
' Before I conclude, allow me in friendship also to
tell you, that I think I see you at present on the very
brink of a precipice. One cannot too much clear one's
mind of all little prejudices, but partiality to one's
country is not a prejudice. Love the French as much
as you will. Many of the individuals are surely the
proper objects of affection ; but above all continue an
Englishman. You know better than anybody that the
active powers of our mind are too much limited to be
usefully employed in any pursuit more general than the
service of that portion of mankind which we call our
country. General benevolence and private friendship
will attend a generous mind and a feeling heart into
every country; but political attachment confines itself
to one. "Mon^fe, sur les humains que ton 4me attendrie
Habite 1'univers, mais aime sa patrie."

INTRODUCTION 33
c I have not now leisure to trouble you with the few
observations my too short stay at Paris had but imper
fectly furnished me with. Irreconcilable to the prin
ciples of their government, I am delighted with the
amenity and gentleness of their manners.'
Hume undertook the friendly duty with which he had
been intrusted, and performed it with zeal and unfailing
attention, as many letters of his to Sir Gilbert exist to
prove ; but as the most important of these have been
published, we shall only give an extract from one which
has a curious relation to future events.
Hume to Sir Gilbert Elliot of Minto.1
'November 17, 1764.
' As soon as I came from Fontainebleau I went to the
Pension Militaire, so it is called, where I had first a
conversation with the abbe. I found him exceedingly
pleased with your boys. He told me that whenever his
two young pupils arrived, he called together all the
French gentlemen, who are to the number of thirty or
thirty-two, and he made them a harangue. He then
said to them that they were all men of quality, to be
educated to the honourable profession of arms, that all
their wars would probably be with England, that
France and that kingdom were Rome and Carthage,
whose rivality more properly than animosity never
allowed long intervals of peace; that the chance of
1 Minto MSS., published in Burton's Life of Hume.
VOL. I. D

34 LIFE AND LETTERS
arms might make them prisoners of arms to Messrs.
Elliot, in which case it would be a happiness to them
to meet a private friend in a public enemy ; that he
knew many instances of people whose lives were saved
by such fortunate events, and it therefore became them,
from views of prudence, and from the generosity for
which the French nation was so renowned, to give the
best treatment to the young strangers, whose friendship
might probably endure and be serviceable to them
through life. He added that the effect of this harangue
was such that, as soon as he presented your boys to their
companions, they all flew to them and embraced them ;
and have ever since combined to pay them all courtship
and regard, and to show them every mark of preference.
Everyone is ambitious to acquire the friendship of the ,
two young Englishmen who have already formed con
nexions more intimate than ever I observed among his
other pupils. " Ce que j 'admire," added he, " dans vos
jeunes amis est qu'ils ont non-seulement de I'esprit mais
de Tame. lis sont veritablement attendris des temoig-
nages d'amitie qu'on leur rend. lis meritent d'etre
aimes, parcequ'ils savent aimer." '
We can easily imagine the scene and the ' effusion,'
but if at that moment the veil which hides futurity had
been suddenly withdrawn, how would bright cheeks
have blanched and gay hearts sickened with dread!
'They are all of them,' said Hume, 'of the best families
in France. Hugh says there is not one that is not a
marquis or count or chevalier at least ; '—and therefore

INTRODUCTION 85
those young heads were doomed. In the struggles of
Rome and Carthage they were to bear small part.
Scaffolds and exile were before them ; the bitter bread
of the stranger for their portion, and for their life's
companion the grief than which there is no greater,
the memory in misery of happier days. When these
times were fulfilled, there were many among the ' emi
gration7 who, if they remembered the good abbe's
harangue, may have thought him gifted with prophetic
vision ; for in more than one country besides that of
France's ancient rival, they found homes under the roof
of the Elliots, whose destiny it was throughout their
public career to uphold the cause held sacred by their
early friends while opposing the Government of France.
Among the most intimate friendships formed by the
boys at the Abbe Choquart's were those they made
with the Chevalier de Mirabeau and the Comte de
Lamarck, afterwards Prince Auguste d'Aremberg, and
the chief employment of them all was the practice of
the Prussian exercises !
From the time of Mr. Liston's connection with the
young Elliots until that of their entering Oxford, he
constantly reported to Sir Gilbert their progress in
their studies ; and every day's amusement, every article
of their expenses, was submitted to his approval or
supervision. A long roll of Mr. Liston's accounts has been pre
served among his correspondence with Sir Gilbert from
whence might be framed a table of the expenses of
travelling to and from Paris, and of a residence there,
B 2

36 LIFE AND LETTERS
beginning with the cost of boarding houses and masters,
and coming down to such minute items as a pourboire
to the post-boy, a cadeau (of 2 lbs. of green tea) ' to
the nun at Boulogne,' and the fee of the Savoyard who
runs their messages. From the same source we gain
an insight into the preparations made by the young
Scotchmen for their d£but in the societies which had
charmed their father ; and perhaps few diaries could be
found to tell the tale of an introduction to the beau
monde more succinctly and cynically than the following
entries : Frs. Sous.
For two gold-laced hats  38
For soap  12
Two bags for the hair and two cocardes . 3 12
Two silver shoe-buckles  12
Two pairs of white silk stockings . . . 18
Two pairs of pumps  9
False queues and hair-dressing to 'Gilbert and
Hugh  12
Two pairs of embroidered ruffles (point de
Marseilles) 
Powder, and pommade d'ours for Hugh's hair 6
A coach to the Duchess of Douglas . . 6
A pound of sugar to Gilbert and Hugh for
taking Physic  1
It has often been found, we believe, that a file of old
bills has done more than many sermons to awaken a
sense of the vanity of worldly pleasure, but in these
few entries it is the apple of Sodom itself that is put
before us, from the gradual development of bud to
blossom culminating in full-blown splendour meet for
a Duchess of Douglas, to crumble away, at the world's

INTRODUCTION 37
first breath, into bitterness and hollowness, and dust
and ashes.
The same careful superintendence which watched
over the years of childhood was continued through the
later and more critical stages of youth and early man
hood. From Oxford, from Edinburgh, from Munich,
from India, from whatever might be the temporary
abiding place of the brothers, they wrote fully and con
stantly to their father, who answered them with equal
regularity. But as an account of this period of the family
life has been given in a ' Memoir of Hugh Elliot,' ' it is
unnecessary to go over the same ground : enough, it is
hoped, has been said to denote what manner of man was
the third Sir Gilbert, and perhaps to fulfil the object of
this introduction to his son's correspondence, namely,
to bring him nearer to those who will read it by provid
ing them with some knowledge of the influences, actual
and traditional, by which the writer's character was
formed. 1 ' Memoir of the Right Hon. Hugh Elliot,' by his granddaughter
Lady Minto : published in 1868.

38 LIFE AND LETTERS [1768

CHAPTER II.
Gilbert Elliot, after his return from Paris, was sent
with his brother to Edinburgh to the charge of their
aunt, Miss Elliot, who introduced them into society.
The winters of 1766 and 1767 were passed by them in
attendance on lectures on Civil Law, Moral and Natural
Philosophy, Humanity, History, and Rhetoric. Of
these studies Gilbert was the chief narrator, not
omitting to mention the ' dryness ' of certain pro
fessors who contrived to make their lectures duller than
they need have been ; and commenting on the want
of time to do anything well where too much was at
tempted. In 1768 both brothers went to Oxford,
carrying with them an introductory letter from Lord
Mansfield to Dr. Markham, in which they were
mentioned in terms of the warmest affection and
approval. At Oxford they found no ground to com
plain of the variety or multiplicity of their studies.
Dr. Markham assured them that 'only classical and
historical knowledge could make able statesmen, though
mathematics and other things were very necessary for a
gentleman.' As a baronet's son, Gilbert found himself
excused from all college duties and the government of a
tutor, and his general impression of the effect of Christ

Mi. 19] GILBERT ELLIOT AT OXFORD 39
Church, or of its way of life, as stated to his wife in
after years, was, 'that it had a most narcotic influ
ence, and seems to set young men to sleep at some /
of the most naturally wide-awake years of their life.' '
Perhaps it was to keep himself awake that he took to
cricket, and became an adept in those gymnastic exer
cises which stood to that generation in lieu of our
athletic sports : that he did so we know from a corre
spondent of ten years later, who, in spite of time and
decorum, was at no loss to recognise in him the youth
who ' cut capers, stood on his head or his horse's back
at pleasure, and was, in short, le coq du village.' She
might have added who danced on the tight-rope, and
performed other feats at Astley's in company with his
brother Hugh, establishing a reputation with 'Mr.
Merriman ' which secured them an entree in that trans
pontine theatre for many an ensuing day.
In 1770 the brothers were again at Paris, where they
attracted the favourable notice of Madame du Deffand
and other French celebrities. At this point their paths
diverged, Hugh proceeding to Metz, and Gilbert re
turning to Oxford. There, for a while, we lose trace of
him to recover it in an occasional correspondence with
the lady destined to become his wife,1 which forms the
germ of the voluminous collection of letters exchanged
between them during the many separations entailed
1 Anna Maria Amyand, eldest daughter of Sir George Amyand,
Bart., M.P. Her eldest brother, also Sir George Amyand, married in
1771 Catherine, only daughter and heir of Velters Cornewall, Esq., of
Moccas Court, Herefordshire, when he assumed the surname of
Cornewall.

40 LIFE AND LETTERS [1772
upon them in the course of their married lives by public
and private exigencies.
From a number of notes, so small in bulk that they
may have been slipped into a nosegay, or dropped with
a glove, and so slight in matter that the value set on
them by those who preserved them must have been a
' fancy price,' we gather that the first acquaintance of
the writers began in 1772, when he was twenty-one
and she some years younger. The time — summer ; the
scene— the banks of the Thames (where the families
of both parties had found a temporary home) ; and
their experiences much the same as those of half the
youth of England who have floated and flirted on
those softly-flowing waters :
Their loves were like all other loves —
A rose-bud and a pair of gloves ;
A little glow, a little shiver,
And ' Fly not yet ' upon the river.1
But to1 these youthful associations it was due that
through life the season of flowering chestnuts, of hay-
fields and river-lilies, attracted their footsteps to the
scenery of the Thames.
The summer idyll was followed by a London winter,
with all the facilities for frequent meetings afforded by
'balls with suppers, and supper-dances — admirable insti
tutions for persons with serious intentions ; and masque
rades, no less well suited to the lighter-minded members
of society who preferred a guerilla warfare under covert.
Miss Amyand shone in such disguises, and a certain
1 Winthrop Praed.

Mi. 22 j A FOREIGN TOUR 41
occasion on which a lively nun and a well-hooded friar
discoursed together unrecognised by any indiscreet by
stander, is a topic of frequent allusions. But life is not
all sunshine, and the unsubstantial airy griefs against
which one cannot bring to bear the heavy guns of one's
philosophy, serve nevertheless to dim the -light. ' What
was the use of walking all the morning by her side in
the Green Park if her sister would never let go her
hand ? ' ' What good could be found in a box at
Ranelagh if opposite neighbours never took their eyes
off the adorer of their friends ? '
' Murder will out,' says the proverb, and so, says ex
perience, will everything else that people would rather
like to keep in. The state of affairs between the young
couple became presently known to Sir Gilbert, and
Gilbert the younger was advised to visit the Low
Countries just as August came round again with its
flowery meadows and its shady elms and its shining
waters. The tour was to last from August to November ; that
is, it was to occupy the whole of the long vacation, the
lawyer's holiday ; and but for this consideration we
should have thought Sir Gilbert would have been wiser
in his own interests had he quarrelled with the first
man he came across, gone to law with him, and given
his son a brief to conduct the case, for business is the
surest antidote to love.
The poor, the foul, the false, love can
Admit, but not the busied man.1
1 Donne.

42 LIFE AND LETTERS [1778
' He will forget it first, for he has many things he
must think of. She has many things she may think of,'
said Dr. Johnson of a couple smitten by a common
grief; and the observation shows his knowledge of
human nature.
Across the Channel we are all in the potential mood,
and therefore it is not surprising that the current of
the young man's thoughts flowed steadily homewards,
and very often in the concrete form of good black ink.
Though a pleasant companion had been found for him
in the person of Mr. Storer, the places selected for his
residence seem to have been singularly destitute of
attractions. At Spa, indeed, he did find Russian and Polish Prin
cesses dancing cossaques with matchless grace ; and
in their society he heard with delight of the high dis
tinction gained by his brother Hugh with the Russian
army : l . but the most exacting of mistresses could find
nothing to excite apprehension in his three days' ex
perience of a German Electoral Court.
The Elector of Cologne, ' an old ecclesiastic of some
sixty years of age,' held his court at Bonn in the

1 ' I knew before that my brother had distinguished himself in three
different actions against the Turks, by letters to that purpose from
Romantzow, commander-in-chief. But I was told yesterday by Prince
Repnin that the Empress had bestowed on him her military cross,
called the Order of St. George, an order created during the war for the
distinction and encouragement of such as I may safely say my brother
has proved himself. It is astonishing how high his name is with all
foreigners ; and when you know him a little better, you will not wonder
- that I have as much pleasure in his praises as he can have himself.' —
Letter to Miss Amyand.

Mt. 22] COLOGNE 43
summer of 1773, where, surrounded by L his Grand
Chamberlain, Grand Marechal, Grand Veneur, Grand
Ecuyer, Grand Commandeur de l'ordre Teutonique, with
all other possible grands,' besides the French ambas
sador, the Governor of Bonn, and the Prime Minister,
he dined daily in solemn state at one o'clock, and re
ceived the families of fashion to play cards from six to
nine every evening. ' In those three days, everybody
being indeed very attentive and very politely-disposed
to the two English strangers, I did not find it diffi
cult to become more or less acquainted with, I believe,
every member of the court of Bonn. I told them with
how much regret I was absolutely constrained to leave
them ; but to tell the truth I don't well know how we
should have got to the end of another day. My mac-
caroni friend left the apartment or assembly at court
ten minutes after it began, protesting that he would
rather cut his throat than stay in such a court a quarter
of an hour — which obliged me to swear myself black in
the face that he had had a violent headache all day and
that it would have split in the room if he had attempted
to play at cards. We had a little opportunity of learn
ing something of their politics. We found them all
very busy in keeping a little Westphalia clergyman out
of the ministry of Cologne, and we saw the little West
phalia clergyman very busy to get himself in. We saw
Madame l'Abbesse of the Chapter of Bonn setting her
cap at his old dry electoral highness, and we saw the
prime minister's wife looking very cross on the abbesse,
— all of which seemed so serious to those about us and

44 LIFE AND LETTERS [1773
seemed so little and unimportant to us, that it almost
tempted me to think that if a man were to drop from
the clouds and look into St. James's, or take a peep
even into Westminster Hall and the King's Bench, or
consider, in short, the most weighty business of the
world — if anything can be more weighty than that of
my brethren in the Hall — he might perhaps wonder as
much at what we were all about, or how we could amuse
ourselves with such work, as we did when we saw fifty
people gaping at a little old man whom we had not yet
learned to be afraid of. But this being rather a melan
choly thought and not very philanthropical, we shall
dismiss it with your good leave.'
Bonn was the furthest point of their journey, and
thence, without a word of Drachenfels or Rolandseck,
the travellers retraced their steps with joy — Mr. Storer
being as well pleased to see an approaching termination
to all the horrors of dirty inns, bad fare, post-waggons
and barges, as his companion to feel the distance less
ening between himself and the lady of his love.
After a hurried tour through North Holland,1 they
spent a fortnight at the Hague — ' a village, and yet
the residence of the Prince, of the States, and of all
public persons.' 'Everybody here seems to be sound'
asleep,' he writes in one of his letters ; ' and all those

1 From Leydeu he writes : ' This university had the honour of
educating Mr. John Wilkes, and he is remembered in Holland with the
consideration he deserves, as a very clever man and a good scholar. He
was esteemed among the most studious of his time.'

Mi. 22] THE HAGUE 45
who live long amongst them cannot fail of soon taking
a nap with the rest.' In another he says : ' We have
been presented to the Prince and Princess of Orange,
and to the principal inhabitants of the Hague, to
whose houses we go every evening to, I think, rather
dull assemblies. In England, a young man is ashamed
of being seen at an old woman's assembly; here we
esteem ourselves fortunate to have one for every night
of the week.'
In November 1773 he returned to London, but with
drew from society to give himself up to his profession ;
and whereas in 1772-3 his sister's letters to Hugh had
described him as taking a full part in the amusements
of the day, he is only mentioned in their correspondence
of the three following years with reference to his pro
fessional pursuits. His state of mind at this time may
be guessed from the tone of a few sentences in a letter
which he wrote to Hugh in May 1774. After con
doling with him on their ' misfortunes en fait de
finances] he proceeds thus : — ' Still I cannot help
feeling convinced that some time or other at least one
of us will get beforehand with the world, and I con
sider that one watering will make both grow. At
least, if it does not, I have at present no great motive
for wishing my own single growth. We are none of
us so selfish as not to know that the only object of
success is the privilege of sharing it with somebody. . . .
You will easily guess that by success I don't here mean
only hard money, but every advantage of situation, of
credit or respect; and in this sense, to be sure, the

46 LIFE AND LETTERS [1774
more we divide the greater will the dividends be —
contrary to the common rules of arithmetic' In the
same letter he excuses himself for having little to tell
which can amuse, as he had been quite out of the world,
— ' Last Saturday, however, I had a very pleasant
breakfast at Kensington, where Lady Charlotte1 had
got together a pleasant party.'
On August 31, 1774, Gilbert described to Hugh his
first circuit, and recorded the receipt of his first fee.
' My first circuit has fixed me still more in the love of
law and of the society it has thrown me into. More
valuable men and friends are to be found in no line in
England or the world, I am well convinced, either as
to good understanding, abilities, or character. I had
no more success than was to be expected ; that is, no
thing at all. But I see that I may very well keep my
place whenever I shall become entitled to have one in
this slow march. I took my first fee at Durham, which
was pretty near, of course, and required no duty. In
the meanwhile I met with great civility, on my father's
account, all through the country.'
From this period he appears in the family cypher as
Mr. Greatwig, in allusion to his sister's assertion that
he sported the greatest wig ever seen at the Bar ; and
in the following spring, Sir Gilbert wrote to Hugh that
' Mr. Greatwig goes on successfully ; he appeared some
time ago on an appeal at the Bar of the House of Lords
and did extremely well ; he has been since before the
committee of elections on the Wigton case, where
' Lady Charlotte Burgoyne.

Mt. 23] LETTERS TO HUGH 47
Dashwood, his client, prevailed, and Lord Dalrymple's
friend Newton was beaten. He has been some days
engaged on the Poole election for Ch. Fox,1 and I am
this moment come from hearing him sum up the whole
evidence from record-charters and parole testimony,
interspersed with several law-points. He acquitted
himself much beyond my expectations ; his arrange
ment was excellent, elocution clear and manly, and his
arguments put with force and conciseness ; his manner
modest and gentlemanlike. He seems to have a very
good choice and command of words. The King always
asks about his performances, and both to himself and
his father much approves the line he has taken ; this is
lucky, as it gives countenance to the profession.' Of
this success, mentioned with pride in all the letters,
Gilbert said himself: ' The utmost that it is possible to
say of my endeavours last winter at the Bar is, that my
faults and inabilities are not so considerable as to make
me despair of removing some of them, if I am so fortu
nate as to have opportunities by a continuance of
practice ; but you must not think that in any one
instance I have been the least distinguished, or given
the slightest hopes of superiority. This is the fair
truth.'2 Nevertheless within a year from the date of this
1 ' Mr. Fox considered the speech of Wedderburn on the Douglas
cause as the best legal argument he had heard, or at least second to
none but that delivered by Sir Gilbert Elliot on the Poole election, of
which Mr. Fox always spoke with unbounded admiration.' — Lord
Holland's Memoirs of the Whig Party, vol. ii. p. 9.
2 Gilbert Elliot to Hugh Elliot, June 30, 1775.

48 LIFE AND LETTERS [1776
modest estimate of his prospects, he achieved a pro
fessional success which promised at no distant period
a position of independence, and justified a renewal of
his engagement with Miss Amyand ; on this occasion
with the entire approbation of his family.
He was actually on the point of announcing his ma
trimonial intentions to his father, when he was asked
to stand for Morpeth ; and from that place, during his
election, he wrote the following somewhat characteristic
letter to ' Maria : ' — ' In the very instant of my exordium,
when my father and I were both beginning to look
foolish, and be afraid of each other, when it did not
seem possible to delay a moment longer, Storer knocked
at the door, asked for me, and proposed the business
which brought me here within eighteen hours after I
saw him. Will you forgive me if I rather found it a
relief ? . . . We were thrown into an uproar by this
embassy of Storer's. My father liked it, and was very
happy, but became proportionally busy, hurried, and
agitated. I flatter myself I was the coolest of the
family.' The summer of 1776 was an eventful one to the
Elliots. With it came Alick from India ; and Hugh
from Munich ; its prime witnessed the first decisive
step in Gilbert's public career, and the ' smiling dawn
of promise ' that opened his domestic life ; and before
it declined into autumn the marriage of the youngest
daughter of the house took place.
It was to each and every one of the family the last
summer of his youth— the last spent under a parent's

Mi. 25] THE FAMILY 49
roof — the last before one gap either of marriage or
death had taken place in the home-circle. A hope ex
pressed by Lady Elliot in a letter to her son Hugh,
written at the opening of the year, was fulfilled : all her
six children were once more gathered round their parents
in the scene of their early days — their joyous spirits
undimmed by any foreboding that such a gathering
would occur no more ; and to us to whom their unknown
future has become a half-forgotten past, it is tempting
to linger where the streams so soon to part are still
merged in the bosom of the parent lake, reflecting the
same sunshine and shadows.
Some pencil-drawings and black shades are still
extant, which represent various members of the family,
and were probably done at this time, for at no other
can Alick and Hugh have sat for the companion
portraits which hang side by side at Minto. While
the extraordinary erection on Isabella's head — composed
of hair, feathers, and flowers — explains certain passages
in her letters of this date : — ' Poor Alick's eastern eyes
behold us with despair. He could not bear flowers nor
feathers nor stays, so to please him we have almost left
off feathers — c7est bien complaisant — but we can go no
further.' Again, ' The heads are higher than ever, with
feathers en rayons de soleil and le jardin Anglais —
fruit, turnips, and potatoes ; the gowns trimmed the same
way. To give you some idea, my gown for the birthday
was trimmed with grapes, acorns, and roses, so that I
looked like a walking hothouse, but upon the whole it
was pretty.' No wonder that Lady Barrymore, one of
VOL. i. e

50 LIFE AND LETTERS [1776
the first to import the new fashion from Paris, was
mobbed at public places— which, by the way, 'she
rather liked.' Lady Elliot describes Alick, on his first
return from India, as remarkably ' genteel ' in figure,
with the air of a man of fashion, but not at all
* swamish ! ' Everybody at home and abroad agreed
that Hugh was one of the best-looking maccaronis of
the day.
To the charm of youth and good looks he added the
graceful polish acquired in the life of courts ; and yet
there were traits about him which might not have
seemed out of place in one of his half-tamed ancestors ;
irresistible impulses to snatch at wild adventures, sudden
disgusts with the restraints of social splendour, yearn
ings after the free life of the wilderness, and a sort of
gallant but not politic readiness for any combat offered
him, he bearing his part therein without much respect
of persons.
During his mission to Munich, Hugh Elliot had
given proofs of capacity and energy which obtained for
him a transference from the Court of Bavaria to the far
more important mission of Berlin, though when he re
ceived the appointment in the summer of 1776, he had
not long entered his twenty-fifth year. A characteristic
story is told of a mystification which ensued on the
announcement of his new distinction.
While dining at a friend's house in company with a
newly arrived diplomatist from Naples, the conversation
turned on some recent diplomatic appointments, when
the Neapolitan, addressing himself to Hugh Elliot, with

Mi. 25] HUGH ELLIOT 51
whom he was totally unacquainted, but who had borne a
lively part in the discussion, said, 'Monsieur, est-ce vrai
ce qu'on dit qu'on va envoyer a Berlin un jeune homme
qui ne fait que debuter, qui ne sait rien- — un blancbec
enfin ! ' ' Monsieur, je n'en sais rien.' ' Monsieur on
l'assure, c'est tres a regretter &c.' ' Monsieur, je suis
dans une ignorance parfaite ; mais pourriez-vous me dire
si c'est vrai ce que Ton dit, qu'on nous envoie de Naples
un homme des plus ridicules — un vrai Polichinelle ? '
' Oh ! monsieur, je vous en prie — mais, que dites-vous
done ? mais, ce Polichinelle — c'est moi ! ' 'Eh bien,
monsieur,' with an air of charming simplicity; 'le
blancbec — c'est moi ! '
A mystification had no doubt a charm for Hugh, and
another instance of it gave rise to an anecdote which
in its day amused the official world of London when
brought home by a traveller from Munich. An extra
ordinary impression, he said, had been produced there
by certain mysterious relations discovered to subsist
between the legations of Great Britain and France.
Their respective chiefs, being much of the same age,
had naturally fallen into habits of friendly intercourse,
but when these suddenly deepened into an intimacy,
the extent of which it was evidently desired to conceal
from the public, the curiosity of their colleagues was
aroused. They met daily at each other's houses, were
shut up for hours together ; at these times no visitors
were admitted ; and on any allusion being made to their
meetings the countenances of both ministers wore an
expression of impenetrable reserve. Nothing could be
E 2

52 LIFE AND LETTERS [1776
more clear than that a secret understanding existed
between the two great Powers. The Court took alarm ; ,
all possible machinery, lawful and unlawful, went to work
to discover the plot so carefully concealed, but in vain,
till the first court ball revealed the secret. The repre
sentatives of His Sacred Majesty of England, and of His
Most Catholic Majesty of France, had been taking
dancing-lessons together I
Summer, with all its charm of moonlight evenings
and water-parties on the Thames, had brought about
many pleasant meetings between the dwellers at Twick
enham and their neighbours, among whom, at Bushy,
was the family of Lord North. With them Mr. Eden
was domiciled, as secretary to Lord North, and so it
happened that before the holidays were over Eleanor
Elliot had consented to be his wife. They were married
in September, and how ugly the first gap in the home
circle appeared to those she left, is best described by her
brother Gilbert. Gilbert Elliot to Miss Amyand.
' Lincoln's Inn : September 26, 1776.
' She is now fairly gone, and we have lost her. In
spite of the sincere pleasure her excellent fortune ought
to give, and really does give me, this day's scene has
left a cast of melancholy on me. It is perfectly true
that she can hardly fail of being happy, but it is
certainly true that she has left for life her father's and
her brother's house, and family, and society, in which
she has lived and been loved and wrapped up through

Mi. 25] ELEANOR ELLIOT 53
the happy years that precede her time of life. We all
love her as well as before, and shall have as much of
her affectionate heart as ever ; but we' are no longer her
home. She has got a new one, and we can never recover
her. It is lucky that there is not room for too many
thoughts at once, or that, when there are too many, they
crowd and jumble one another, so as that none can be
felt distinctly enough to have its full force. For if half
the melancholy things had shown themselves imperti
nently this morning, which have since found their way
to a little cooler reflection, the bride would not have
been so exemplary as I assure you, for your encourage
ment, she was. . . .
' As soon as she had signed her name, I took her
under my arm, and fairly, without a word or look of
the farewell kind, hurried her into Eden's coach — he
was in almost as soon as she — I shook her by the hand
— God bless her ! and away they went. And God bless
them ! I say again and again.'
The last letter written by Gilbert before his marriage
relates to his father's illness. A cold caught on the
river in summer had left a cough, and before the
winter, he, with Lady Elliot, Isabella, and Hugh, were
on their way to Nice. Kind and feeling letters from
Maria Amyand seem to have cheered the travellers on
the road ; but at Marseilles their further progress was
arrested by Sir Gilbert's increased illness, and he died
there on January 11, 1777, shortly after receiving

54 LIFE AND LETTEES [1777
intelligence of his son's marriage, which took place on
the 3rd of the same month.
For the next four or five years the-young couple were
rarely or never asunder, and the story of their life
at this period can only be gathered from the family
letters to Hugh, for the most part already published.
From these we know that Gilbert (now Sir Gilbert),
having on his father's death been returned for Rox
burghshire, he and his wife spent their time between
London and Minto, which they dearly loved ; their
constant affection soothing the last suffering years of
Lady Elliot,1 and the subsequent desolation which fell
on Isabella. Harriet Amyand found a home with them
till she left it for that of Mr. Harris ; Hugh received
from brother and sister unfailing interest in his affairs ;
and political as well as domestic interests in common
continued to bind together the Elliots and the Edens.
» Lady Elliot died in 1779.

Mr. 26] JOURNEY TO RUSSIA 55

CHAPTER III.
The affection entertained by Lady Elliot for her sister,
Mrs. Harris, seems to have been one of the most
strongly-marked traits in her character. Left orphans
at an early age, the elder had not only loved but pro
tected the younger, and, as has been said before, when
Maria married, Harriet found a home with her.
Through life the great pleasure of the sisters was to be
together, and when apart their correspondence was
closely kept up. Their first separation took place in
the autumn of 1777, when Harriet, at the early age
of sixteen, married Mr. Harris,1 then British Minister
at St. Petersburg, and accompanied her husband to
Russia ; not without casting many a longing lingering
look behind. ' For you are to know, Lady Elliot,' wrote
she on her journey, ' that of all the countries I have
seen, I like none so well as England ; for though the
views are fine, and the mountains high and vast and
great, and the rivers wide, and the towns fortified, I
prefer the little Remenham,2 with the purling Thames,
and the gradual hills, and the green boat, and the sight
of you rowing in it, to all and everything. By-the-
1 Created a K.C.B. in 1779, and a Peer in 1788.
2 A villa on the Thames belonging to the Amyands.

56 LIFE AND LETTERS [1781
bye, that sweet, dear, good, charming creature, Mr.
Harris, has given me leave to hope that we may some
day purchase the beloved cottage, and you and I will
meet there, and see the plane tree, and the gooseberry
and currant trees we used to delight in.'
In 1781 it appeared that four years' experience of the
climate of Russia had impaired Lady Harris's health in
a degree which rendered some change imperative, and
it was in consequence determined that she should re
turn home to reside with her sister until her husband
should be able to join her. The journey in those
days was long and difficult, and Sir Gilbert offered
himself as an escort to bring the young wife and her
nursery safely to England : — a proceeding which Isa
bella laughed at, as ' a piece of knight-errantry,'
and which produced from Mr. Eden an enquiry as to
whether Lady Elliot would go out with her husband, or
Sir James return with his wife ?
Sir Gilbert left Minto in June, and having passed
safely the dangers of Bagshot Heath and Hounslow,
than which he anticipated none greater, he proceeded
to London to fit himself out with weapons of offence
and defence, till, as he wrote, c I fancy myself now one
of the most formidable men in Europe ; a blunderbuss
for Joe, a pair of double barrels to stick in my belt,
and a cut-and-thrust hanger with a little pistol in the
hilt, to hang by my side. Robinson Crusoe was a lamb
to me.' For social display he furnished himself with
a pair of buckles of exorbitant price, and thus equipped
for peace and war he set off on his travels ; and how

Mi. 30] PASSAGE TO HAMBURG 57
much greater the undertaking was in those days than
it is in ours, may be guessed from the fact that the
first stage of his voyage from Westminster Bridge to
Gravesend, where he embarked in a German vessel for
Hamburg, was performed in a sailing boat and occupied
fourteen hours.
The only adventure of the passage to Hamburg was
an alarm of a privateer : — ' We were told such stories of
robbery and plunder on board neutral or even friendly
vessels, that if we had been passengers in a stage, and
to pass Hounslow or Bagshot Heath in the dark, it
would not have been worse. An innocent sloop or two
bore down towards us, which, like many an honest
apothecary, we voted thieves. At last a cutter priva
teer was announced to us. It was pleasant to see every
man make out a highwayman's purse as naturally as if
we had been in the five fields at Chelsea. As for me,
my first thought was where I could hide my pistols and
blunderbuss. All this fuss ended in smoke. The
privateer was an honest one from Leith, and only asked
us our name.'
No doubt the sailors, ' different in all things from ours
as sailors can be,' sang a Te Deum for their escape ; for
Sir Gilbert, after praising their temperance, and de
scribing the two religious services (they were Luther
ans) which they daily performed at sea, goes on to
say : — ' I doubt this religion is somewhat founded in
fear rather than love, for they begin their worship only
on going out to sea, and leave it off as soon as they
come to fresh water. That is to say, they pray and

58 LIFE AND LETTERS [1781
sing psalms when they have least leisure, but, as they
think, most occasion for it, and leave it off when they
have nothing to do, but nothing to fear. Our English
pilot disapproves of this custom extremely ; he says, it
is very well to pray when a man is in the mind for it,
but then he need not make such a noise, and has no
right to disturb the watch.'
From the time he touched terra firma Sir Gilbert
wrote to Lady Elliot from every stage of his journey.
But his most interesting experiences are comprised in
the following half-dozen letters : — 'Berlin: July 10, 1781.
' I left Hamburg on Thursday, and travelled in post-
waggons — changing waggons every stage till Sunday
morning, when, to my great satisfaction, and to the
relief of my very great impatience, I arrived at my
brother's door. I passed with the servants for an
English courier, having come the last stage on horse
back ; and the first person I saw was Liston,1 who,
although he had expected me, seemed almost overcome
with surprise. Hugh was told a courier was arrived,
and when I appeared gave all the marks of astonish
ment with which he could have received my ghost.
He had not the smallest intimation of my journey, or
the occasion for it, so you may imagine his wonder at
seeing me drop from the clouds.

1 R. Liston, Esq., ci-devant tutor of Hugh Elliot, his private secretary
during his missions to Munich and Berlin, and subsequently himself
foreign Minister and ambassador.

Mt. 30] HUGH ELLIOT AT BERLIN 59
'Mrs. Elliot1 was then informed, and the business
was broke to her, as she is not very well ; in the mean
while I ran up to embrace, first, the wet-nurse, whom
I took for her, and then her maid — every female, in
short, who opened the door — till my expectations were
at length gratified and answered by herself. She was,
it seems, a little afraid of the interview, and so was I
(among friends), although my impatience and curiosity
were far beyond my fears. I really like her extremely.
What you have heard of her beauty is not exaggerated.
Her complexion is her only fault, being one of the
fai/rest I have ever seen ; her hair is extremely light,
and yet extremely beautiful. Her features are quite
classical, and yet remarkably delicate — which is, indeed,
the character of her whole figure ; her teeth are very
good. She is tall, and perfectly well as well as
elegantly made ; in her manner she is natural, sensible,
and good-humoured. I take her, and indeed I see
her, to be extremely clever, and her disposition seems
excellent. In short, I have discovered no fault in her,
except the want of a large fortune, which I think
would suit her better than great poverty ; and I am
informed, though I have seen no marks of it, that she
has a little impatience in her temper.2
'Berlin is now almost empty, and they may enjoy as
much retirement and domestic leisure as they like.

1 Hugh Elliot's first wife, Charlotte von Krauth.
2 Sir Gilbert's stay at Berlin was not long, but before he left he saw
reason to thank heaven who had not made him the Darby of such a
Joan.

60 LIFE AND LETTERS [1781
This seems to be the taste of both at present. She
rises at seven o'clock, works hard with German gram
mars and dictionaries for several hours, takes a turn, or
amuses herself with the organ or harp, which she can
sing to ; drives at a quarter after two — a drive or a
walk, a little company in the Pare, and an early supper
at home. As for him, he has got, as Sir Peter Teazle
is told by his old friend, quite a settled married look,
and is as domestic an animal as his fat spaniel. He
sits in the forenoon in his nightcap (which is more be
coming than mine), has had no flight of any sort ever
since the day before yesterday, and talks of nothing
but the necessity of marriage at a certain time of life —
its comforts — its being in the order of nature — its use
in the way of reformation — the beauty and good
qualities of his wife, and the inclination he feels to
live in complete retirement, both as to the pleasures
and the business of the world. She really has made
great progress in English, and fags at it like a school
boy. Liston is the schoolmaster. . . .
' I propose to buy some sort of machine to carry me
with more convenience to Petersburg than gentlemen
travel with from Newgate to Tyburn, which has
been literally my conveyance night and day. The
pace under three miles an hour — the sun on my head,
and the postillion or carter's tobacco-pipe under my
nose. Yet each of these clowns has a French horn,
with which he makes all inferior carts turn out of the
road with all the dignity of a man in office. You
know our postillions are apt, by way of a dash, to

Mi. 30] BERLIN 61
scamper full gallop through a town or by a rival inn.
This, no doubt, is vanity of its sort. There is the same
vanity here, but it shows itself in another way, for we
always stop in a village and entertain the inhabitants
with a little music on the French horn, just as travellers
do under Westminster Bridge. I was asked the first
night whether I chose clean sheets, because if I insisted
on it they would give me some. In short, all that is
as miserable as possible ; and it does not add to the
pleasure of one's reflections on the poor depressed
countenance of the country, to see in all the little
towns remarkably good-looking well-appointed troops.
It seems as if a country were only for the use of an
army, instead of an army being for the use of the
country. Happy England ! in these respects, in spite
of all the business we have on our hands. Prussia is,
no doubt, differently circumstanced, and the Elector
of Brandenburgh would perhaps neither have made,
nor could support, a powerful kingdom with less efforts ;
but the success of this sort of ambition, however
glorious for the founder, is obviously miserable for the
people. Here ends this lesson.
' I should have given you a little account of my pre
sentation to the Queen,. and of her little court, but I
cannot now be very full on this subject. I shall only
say that though French is the ton of the King and a
good deal of the better sort of people here, yet nature
has made them much more like English, or perhaps
Scots, than any models they have chosen to imitate.
What I have seen of the people I like very tolerably,

62 LIFE AND LETTERS [1781
but I have seen far too little to judge. As for the
women, beauty is very precious here, for it seems very
rare. I have seen but one pretty girl since I have
been here — Madlle. de Marechale  The little
Princess Fred of Prussia also took my fancy very much ;
she is a meek little soul, and very pretty to boot. She
would have been a treasure for the Prince of Wales,
but I understand she is now betrothed to the Prince-
Royal of Denmark.'1 'Harris's Country House, Petersburg: August, 1781.
. . . . ' Harriet is better than when you parted, but
I think not so well as she imagines. She is consider
ably improved in point of substance, but not a grain
too much, and only ceases to be Sir James's old joke of
the picture of Nobody. She is really extremely pretty,
and, much against my own interests, I must acknow
ledge that a little rouge, which she puts on very well, is
a great advantage to her. If I did not think you quite
handsome enough, and trust you think so too, I should
not, perhaps, have said so much  I am much
struck by the majesty of the Empress Catherine, by the
mixture of greatness and singularity in Potemkin, and
by the magnificence of the city and court, which is not
only unknown to us, but beyond our imagination. It
is impossible to journalise my last week under a volume,
and, after all, these descriptions seldom do more than
empty the brain of the writer without filling that of the
reader. I have seen Harris's house and garden in town ;
1 She married the Duke of York.

Mi. 30] ST. PETERSBURG 63
the town, quays, palaces, and gardens. Dined with
Potemkin; saw his garden, pavilion, and colonnade; was
presented to the Empress,1 to the great Duke and
Duchess ; was at a masquerade at the summer palace, and
at the great Duchess's fete. Have been at Peterhof,
Oranienbaum, Cronstadt, with Tschernicheff [the High
Admiral] ; saw all that was to be seen there; breakfasted
at Admiral Gregg's, dined on board his ship. Have seen
a Russian play with a ballet at Czarsco Zelo. Have been
presented to all the foreign ministers; have seen the
old Countess Romantzow in Peter the Great's house.
Count Nicholas Romantzow— a family likeness to his
brother Sergi — one of the most agreeable men here.
The Marechal Gallitzin's one evening . . was asked for
country-dances — could give no account of them . . .
have walked in [Narischkin's'] garden with the flying
bridges, between this house and Petersburg — very
pretty; with many other particulars too tedious to
mention.'2 . . . ' Near St. Petersburg: August 11, 1781.
' I am so full of business, my dearest Maria, that
you will be on short commons to-day. Besides that,
honours have been so profusely heaped on my head of
late that I doubt whether it will any longer become
me to treat you with the familiarity I have hitherto
stooped to with you. The day before yesterday Harriet
' Catherine II.
2 At the foot of this letter is written in pencil, ' Revised and corrected
by me, Harriet Mary Harris.' In the same handwriting are the words
in brackets inserted in the text of the letter.

64 LIFE AND LETTERS [1781
and myself took leave of the Grand Duke and Duchess
at the summer palace in Petersburg. This was per
formed by half after one — at half after three we arrived
at Prince Potemkin's country-house, near Zarsco Zelo,
fifteen miles from Petersburg, through the sun and
the dust, all dressed and covered with diamonds.
Harriet had the honour of dining at Potemkin's table
— a distinction which I am informed never befell a
modest woman before. At six we were presented to
the Empress at Zarsco Zelo ; kissed her hand and took
leave. You must understand that, so far as regards
me, this circumstance alone of being received at her
favourite country residence, where her retreat is gener
ally inaccessible to strangers, was of itself a very
gracious attention. What shall we say therefore when
I add that I was invited, together with Harriet and
Sir James, to the concert which awaited the Empress
in a summer-house on the banks of a fine piece of
water in the garden ? We followed her to this place,
where Harriet and Sir James had the honour of playing
a pool at commerce with her Majesty, and myself to
play a rubber of whist at another table — excellent
music going on the while. We then followed the
Empress in her walk, which conducted us towards a
couple of barges on the piece of water I mentioned
before. The Empress entered one of these, and named
her company. After Harriet and Sir James were
placed, I was surprised with this fresh honour, and was
called to a seat in the barge. The company consisted
of eight in all. I sat opposite to the Empress, and if

JEt. 30] ST. PETERSBURG 65
I had listened imprudently to my ambition, I might,
by stretching a point, have touched her imperial knee
with mine. To be serious, her whole behaviour on the
occasion of Harriet's conge was infinitely gracious; and
as a humble retainer in her suite, I had the advantage
of receiving a share of that civility which was addressed
to her. The opportunity which our little voyage on
the lake gave me of observing so nearly so extraordinary
a woman was singular in the case of a traveller. Her
countenance and conversation are strongly marked with
understanding, and her manner is completely that of a
woman of fashion. She has the talent of doing two
things which are seldom done together. With the
greatest ease and civility in her behaviour, she never
loses any part of her dignity ; and with the greatest
dignity I have ever seen in her manner, she puts her
company perfectly at their ease.
' Sir James has sent for me, so I must abridge what
remains. We spent yesterday in driving to Admiral
Gregg's country-house, where we dined, seeing Peter-
hoff, &c, &c, &c. Amongst the many things I saw
yesterday I can only name in my present hurry the
room furnished with the heads painted by Rotari1
at Peterhoff. I think you would pass your life there
contentedly. There are, I think, no less than 600
heads, one more beautiful than another, and in that
number a sufficient variety is preserved ; their charac-
1 Rotari, painter, bom at Verona, 1707; became court painter at St.
Petersburg; died there in 1767. His best picture is said to be a
Repose in Egypt in the Dresden Gallery.
VOL. I. F

66 LIFE AND LETTERS 17S1
ter is perfect nature and beauty. We certainly set out
on Thursday next.' 'Warsaw: Saturday, September 4, 1781.
' We arrived here without killed, wounded, or miss
ing, on Wednesday last.
' . . . Warsaw is at present like most other great
towns at this season — a desert. We have, however,
found in it all that could interest us. At Warsaw
there is nothing to be seen but the king,1 and there is
nothing like him to be seen at any other court in the
world. Harriet will tell you of his beauty. I shall
certainly pack my ward off as soon as I can. He is in
feature more like Harry Errington than anybody else I
remember, but there is a small difference, the king's
countenance being as full of character as the other's is
vacant. The expression is that of sense and gentle
ness. For understanding, information, accomplishment,
politeness, gallantry, and misfortunes, he excels all
crowned, and I am disposed to believe all uncrowned,

1 ' The king, Stanislas Augustus Poniatowski, well brought up ; met
him on the road between Moncotoff and Warsaw in the dusk of the
evening, Harriet introduced to him there. He met us at supper at the
Stackelbergs', and afterwards at Princess Czartoriska's. We supped at
his country palace. He speaks English with remarkable propriety, and
is well acquainted with us. He was some time in England, and told a
story of his cousin the Duchess of Gordon. He sent an estafette for
ward to order our horses, and gave us a provision of wine, bread, and
water. Danced a polonaise with Harriet in the garden. Count
Stackelberg, Russian ambassador, was ambassador at the Partition-
governs Poland, and affects it in his manner both to the king and his
subjects. His two sons are to travel to England.'— Notes in Sir Gilbert's
Pocket-book.

Mi. 30] WARSAW 67
heads also. ... I should like, however, to ask him a
question or two. The calamities of his reign are so
variously related and variously attributed, and it is so
impossible for a stranger to learn, or for anyone per
haps but himself to teach me the truth, that I fear
there must always remain some reserve in one's love or
pity. He comes into society as a private man, and if
any king can be as comfortable as his subjects, it is he.
Harriet's first introduction to him was on the high road.
We were in the Russian ambassador's carriage, and the
king was sitting with some friends on a bench by the
side of the road. Our carriage was stopped, we got out,
and Harriet was introduced. They sat down with
several others on the bench. I, with some others, sat
on chairs immediately behind. A very pleasant con
versation went on in French and English, which he
speaks equally well, for about half-an-hour. We then
went to the Russian ambassador's house, where we went
to sup. The king came there soon after. We all sat
down round a large card-table and conversed till supper
was served. I sat next him at supper, and was asked a
variety of questions respecting England, the House of
Commons, the character and abilities of the different
members, and the society of England, which showed
both a regard for the country and a thorough acquaint
ance with it. We are invited to sup at his house to
morrow, and despairing of anything better after it, we
propose to say, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servants
depart in peace," and shall set out for Vienna on Mon
day.' F 2

68 BIFE AND LETTERS [1781
' September 6, 1781.
' We are now 100 miles from Warsaw, on our road to
Vienna. The various plagues of travellers have fallen
pretty heavily upon us in this part of our progress. We
are unfortunately married to two very cumbersome wives
which are always ailing something or other, and which
it is difficult either to carry forward or to leave behind
us. I am talking of the coaches. The servants broke
four pair of wheels in one day ; when we had got half-
a-day's journey from Warsaw another of its wheels gave
way, and we were obliged to send Sam back to Warsaw
with the ruins of the wheel to have it repaired. In
the meanwhile we proceeded with all the ladies and
children in our coach, and a Russian footman with
myself on the box. The coach was so heavy, the sand
so deep, and the horses, tackle, and drivers so bad, that
we were ten hours doing a stage of fifteen miles, having
passed half the night in a wood, from which all our
labour could not extricate us, till by despatching three
. postillions at different times we obtained a reinforcement
of men and cattle. The next stage of ten miles em
ployed us six hours, and in the middle of it the nurse,
who had caught an ague, was seized with her fit, and it
became impossible to proceed with her in the coach.
Half-an-hour's repose on the ground, with vinegar to
her temples and water to drink, enabled us to pack her
up in hay on a Icebithka and bring her on, through
a very scorching day, to the end of our stage ... On
our arrival last night it was perceived that our iron
crane-neck was broken in two. This was probably the

^Et. 30] TRAVELLERS' TROUBLES 69
crisis of our misfortunes. Both carriages broken, our
party scattered over the face of Poland, and some of our
troops in the hospital. The inferior grievances of
naughty children, loss of my travelling-coat, which was
my bedclothes, having left our provision of water behind
us, and having broken the blinds of the coach, hardly
deserve to be mentioned. I trust we shall be qualified
for the parts of Job and Grizzle by the time of our ar
rival. I cannot boast, however, of our having made
much progress as yet in these characters. For my own
part, all merit being comparative, I am disposed to be
in some degree contented under this sort of trial, when
I compare it with those which are inflicted on us, in
God's wrath, during our residence in great towns. The
very day of our arrival in such places, where a little
solitary repose would be very acceptable, we must run
into the jaws of ambassadors, courtiers, and kings.
From breakfast till bedtime we are in full dress. Those
to whom letters have first presented us, present us in
their turn to still newer friends. Regular visiting takes
place, numerous dinners, succeeded by posting during
the digestion, through dusty and burning roads, to
houses and English gardens in the environs, then post
ing back again (all this time full dressed, and without
the privilege of opening a button) to whist and con
versation, which is instantly followed by a repetition of
the dinner in a long and crowded supper. Next morn
ing the same life begins again, interspersed perhaps, for
variety, with going to court and such incidents. You
know how exactly suited to my habits and inclinations

70 LIFE AND LETTERS [1781
these pleasures are. There is, however, no hard labour
without its reward, and I must fairly confess, that al
though in th.e execution these things are as disagreeable
to me as you may easily imagine, yet after they are over
I am glad to have gone through them, and even in some
passages of such days I have found much satisfaction.
We have seen a variety of characters, and such as afford
a great deal of pleasant speculation. Particularly in
Poland, where romance is the leading feature, and where
it is indulged, and therefore displayed, to the utmost,
there seems hardly one sober head* on a lady's shoulders ;
and the general toleration, or rather establishment, of
this sort of religion in Poland, and the absence of many
scruples which are elsewhere rather in the way of
romance, altogether give it such a full swing as renders
this country more entertaining to travellers than most
others. What will be the reward of our labours at
Vienna I do not know, but of the labours themselves I
doubt we are certain. I am afraid you will not thank
me when I tell you that I pant after the quiet of the
Birdcage Walk.' 'Vienna: September 15, 1781.
'. . . We both find Vienna the pleasantest of our
halts. The society is renowned through Europe. It
is extremely agreeable, and has the merit of having not
a thread of blue worsted on any leg among them. Good
humour, cordial welcome, excellent living, and decent
conduct, form the character of the circle at Vienna.
Prince Kaunitz must be reserved for conversation. La
Bruyere would find it difficult to write him. His sin-

Mi. 30] VIENNA 71
gularities naturally strike a stranger, who can see no
further with his own eyes; but those who have lived
their lives with him and under him put these particu
larities a good deal out of one's sight or mind, by the
testimony of a whole people in matters more essential.
He is universally beloved by a nation which he has
governed for thirty years ; and in all that time it is said
confidently that, with absolute power, no man has had
reason to complain of an injury from his hand. He was
implicitly trusted by the Empress- Queen,1 and is now
not only trusted, but loved and indulged in all his
peculiarities, by the Emperor,2 whose own manners are
as contrary to those of his minister as those of the Duke
of Buccleuch can be to the Duke of Roxburghe.3 Prince
Kaunitz has shown Harriet the most distinguished
civilities, and has won her heart, not more by very
gallant attentions to herself, than by some flattering
things he has said, and I believe sincerely, of Sir
James. . . .
' We are pleased with the gradual improvement of the
roads, country, and climate, as we got out of Poland
and towards the sun. We began with crab apples and
pears, then sour apples and pears, then blue plums, and
at length vineyards on every hill. The day before we
arrived here baskets of peaches were thrust into the
coach, and the people fought for who should sell us a
basketful for a halfpenny. We bought about sixty
' Maria Theresa. 2 Joseph.
3 The celebrated book-collector, who is said to have had the shy and
reserved manners of a student.

72 LIFE AND LETTERS [1781
peaches for three halfpence ; and the fellows seemed to
think they had played a trick on a traveller, and cheated
us. I saw immediately afterwards a cartload of melons,
which I daresay we might have had for a penny, if we
could have afforded a couple of post-horses more to
carry them for us, — all this I will shwearJ
Isabella Elliot, writing to her brother Hugh at Berlin,
describes the meeting of the sisters, Lady Elliot and
Lady Harris, as 'a scene of rapture,' and adds a few
polite comments on the improvement in Lady Harris's
looks, ' who had become really pretty.'

Mi. 30] RETROSPECTIVE 73

CHAPTER IV.
1782 to 1786.
Feom the autumn of 1781, when Sir Gilbert returned
with Lady Harris from Petersburg, till the parliament
ary session of 1786-7, he and Lady Elliot were seldom
separated ; therefore, for fuller information of his posi
tion and opinions in connection with the various
political crises by which he was more or less affected in
this interval, reference must be made to his letters to
Sir James Harris and to his brother Hugh.
It will be remembered that Sir Gilbert entered
Parliament in the summer of 1776, immediately
before the fatal illness had declared itself which termi
nated in his father's' death. Hence, father and son
never sat in Parliament together ; and perhaps to this
circumstance it may be in part attributed that from
the first, Sir Gilbert held a peculiarly independent
position there. In a letter to Hugh, dated January,
1778, his mother wrote: — ' His (Gilbert's) appearance
in Parliament has raised him high in opinion, or
rather in expectation, for it must be followed by sub
sequent ones. He is in a great degree independent,
and I am sure very much unconnected except with the

74 LIFE AND LETTERS [1782
King and Lord Suffolk.' But though not a regular
adherent of the Ministry his agreement with them on
the main question of the day, the American war, induced
him to give it a general support ; his political con
duct being probably in no small measure influenced by
feelings such as those expressed in a letter to Hugh : —
'The parricide joy of some in the losses of their
country makes me mad. They don't disguise it. A.
patriotic Duke told me some weeks ago that some ships
had been lost off the coast of North America in a storm.
He said a thousand British sailors were drowned — not
one escaped — with joy sparkling in his eyes all the time.
N.B. — It was only reported, and false. But he is a
fool, and so has a chance of being less a rascal than you
think him from this trait. In the House of Commons
it is not unusual to speak of the Provincials as our army.
This is not general, however, and the country, though the
conduct of the war is blamed, wishes it success.'
The events of the following years, and the impression
produced on Sir Gilbert by the Parliamentary speeches
of the leaders of opposition, worked a gradual modifi
cation of his views on the American question, while
the great speech of Mr. Burke on Economic Reform,
made in the first session of 1780, 'captivated all his
sympathies,' and decided him on ' taking an active part
in that business.' From that time dates his friendship
with Mr. Burke, which soon ripened into warm and
reciprocal affection. But it was not till the spring of
1782 that he finally abandoned all hope of a favourable
issue to the American war, and in so doing lost his only

Mi. 30] RESIGNATION OF LORD NORTH 75
motive for forbearance with an Administration generally
discredited. General Conway's motion against an offensive war
with America, carried without a division, gave the
deathblow to Lord North's administration, which had
lasted for twelve years. Sir Gilbert had voted for
General Conway's first motion of February 22 — 'That
an address should be presented to His Majesty, implor
ing him to listen to the advice of his Commons, that the
war might be no longer pursued for the impracticable
purpose of reducing the inhabitants of the country by
force.' For the second address he both spoke and voted,
and from that date he considered himself a declared
follower of Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke. A letter to Sir
James Harris, of March 1782, and a letter to his brother
Hugh, of April in the same year, give very fully the
views which governed his conduct at this juncture,
and in them will be found the clue to a just appre
ciation of the motives that actuated him throughout
his political career.
Sir Gilbert Elliot to Sir James Harris. 'March, 1782.
. . . ' The grand principle of distinction and separation
between parties (the American dispute) is now removed.
There is at least an opportunity, therefore, for coalition,
without the sacrifice of former principle on either side.
That the opportunity may not be lost by the d— d
intricacies of arrangements, private interests, and
personal considerations, should be the prayer, morning

76 LIFE AND LETTERS [1782
and evening, of every true lover of his country. All the
ability of the country united to direct all the resources
of the country to one good end, is a prospect which I
hope is not quite out of sight ; but which, I fear, both
requires too much virtue, and promises too much happi
ness, for this latter age to look for with certainty.'
A month later, Sir Gilbert wrote to Hugh Elliot at
Berlin : —
' The change in Government happened immediately
after, and indeed as an immediate consequence of the
American votes. A very slight consideration will ac
count for it. The true and fundamental cause of the
removal of the late Ministry was their long and uniform
want of success, and the state of despair to which the
daily calamities of the country had reduced the most
sanguine. This cause, although it became stronger by
every day's continuance of it, yet, it might be said,
might have been expected to have produced its effect
much sooner ; and this is true. One circumstance only
prolonged the power of the Administration, which,
without it, must have fallen in a much earlier period of
our disgraces. It was the wish of Great Britain to
recover America. Government aimed, at least, at this
object, which the Opposition rejected. Those, therefore,
who thought the war with America just and practicable,
however much they may be dissatisfied with the abilities
of the Ministers, or disgusted with their mismanage
ment or misfortunes, had yet no choice left them, for
they were the only men left who would attempt the

Mi. 31] THE AMERICAN QUESTION 77
recovery of the Colonies. 'This I take to have been
the true bond between Parliament and the late Ministry,
and the true key to its otherwise unaccountable lon
gevity. For if it had had more lives than a cat, they
must all have dropped some campaigns ago, if the cause
I have mentioned had not preservedthem. I remember
when it was said Saratoga would overset them. It
was afterwards foretold that, if we should be drawn into
a war with France, Ministry could not stand.
' The necessity which produced the commission to
America, and all the humiliating concessions which
Parliament made, in a sort of panic, would have de
stroyed any other Government. The same may be said
of the Spanish, and after it, of the Dutch war ; and there
is hardly a gazette during the last five or six years
which would not account for a change of Government.
But in fact the principles respecting America were
agreeable to the people, and those of Opposition offen
sive to them.
' I speak this language the more confidently to you
now, as you must recollect the time, and that not a very
late one, -when I had a strong inclination to side with
those who wished for a change, and that I refrained
from it only on the consideration I have just mentioned ;
and whether I and the rest of the nation have been
wrong and foolish on the American question, either from
the beginning or in its progress, is a point which the
purblindness of human reason can probably never see
through. ' I must own, however, that events and experience do

78 LIFE AND LETTERS [1782
very strongly shake my past American opinions to their
foundation ; and although I could name many blunders
in policy, both civil and military, and many miscarriages
of mere fortune, which might perhaps have turned the
scale against us, and may perhaps be sufficient to ac
count for the utter loss of our object and the addition
of many heavy calamities, yet I must also admit that
the possibility of what has happened may have happened
as the natural and necessary consequence of our mea
sures, independently of blunder or accident. This is a
question of mere curiosity now, so far as America is con
cerned, for necessity has already decided, if not our
principles, at least our future conduct in regard to her.
But it is perhaps a great lesson in political wisdom,
applicable to other subjects, which we ought deeply to
study, and which I shall study for one, without that
prejudice at least which belongs to an obstinate attach
ment to former opinions. The moment America was
out of the question Samson lost the lock of his strength,
and the natural weakness of the Ministry appeared im
mediately. Questions of censure were rejected by very
small majorities, and questions for removal ran still
nearer, and could in fact have been carried if the resigna
tion of Ministers had not preceded their dismission. . .
' The Chancellor l actually remains, but I am not clear
that all the accession of ability which he brings can
compensate for the discord which his difference of
opinion with his present colleagues on their favourite
measures of Reform must introduce into the Cabinet, and
1 Thurlow.

JEt. 31] MINISTRY OF LORD ROCKINGHAM 79
for the appearance of weakness which a divided Govern
ment on any capital object must throw upon it.
' The change has been complete ; it is generally said to
have been forced on the King, and I cannot undertake
to admit or deny this ; but I am more apt to imagine
that the resolution of Parliament respecting America
was the greater violence of the two ; and whatever may
have been the first impressions, on dismissing old
friends and servants, and receiving into his closet new
and hitherto adverse men, yet there seems to me to be
an impression likely to yield to more knowledge of these
men, and to habits of doing business confidentially with
them. You will hardly need to be told that I voted for
the removal of the late Ministry. I refused however to
concur in the Vote of censure, to which I could not,
without an impression of something disgusting to myself
as well as of injustice, give my consent in the moment
of their fall. I shall support the present Ministry with
more cordiality, and therefore, I hope, with more exer
tion than I ever could the last.
' The reforms with which their Government opens, you
know I formerly approved. I think this is a happy mo
ment for gaining to the Constitution some great and
valuable improvements ; and I like them the better for
the facility with which they may now be carried, without
those convulsions which could alone have produced them
as the measures of Opposition, and which naturally, and
I think deservedly, gave great scandal, when they
were attempted before to be forced on Parliament by
the means of popular distraction, during a war which
rendered all distractions fatal.'

80 LIFE AND LETTERS [1782
Lord Rockingham's ministry, formed in March, ter
minated with the death of its chief in July ; and a day
or two later Sir Gilbert wrote to his wife as follows,1
after dining with Burke at the Spring Garden Coffee-
House : — -
' Burke is overcome by the loss of his friend, and in
a day or two will, I hope, be able to cry and relieve
himself. I fear it is too certain Lord S. will be First
Lord of the Treasury.' Two days later he wrote : —
' Lord Shelburne is appointed ; Fox has resigned ; Lord
J. Cavendish, Montagu, Lord Althorp, I believe all the
Admiralty, Burke, and several others too tedious to
mention, resign with him.2 William Pitt has the offer
of Chancellor of the Exchequer or Secretary of State.
. . . There is one general confusion. The House filled
to-day soon after three o'clock, and sat waiting till half
after four, without uttering a word, for a commission
to pass bills in the House of Lords. As soon as the
Speaker returned we expected that the fun would begin,
and that we should hear the reasons for some of going
out, and for others of staying or going in. General Con-
1 Lady Elliot had left London a short time before, not without jibes
at her husband's love of the town, to which he answered : 'I love my
country as you love the country.'
2 On July 5, Sir Gilbert wrote to Hugh Elliot at Berlin :— ' With the
opinion they (Lord J. Cavendish, Fox, Burke, etc.) entertain of Lord
Shelburne's character, they could do no otherwise with dignity or credit ;
for myself, my choice between the two is easily made. My opinion has
been, since the American war was over, that the country looked to the
abilities of Mr. Fox, and the high character of his and Lord Rocking
ham's friends, for their salvation. I know little personally of Lord
Shelburne, or of his immediate retainers, Dunning, Barre, and Alder
man Townshend, but the little I do know, added to the voice of the
world, is decisive with me.' — Memoirs of Hugh Elliot.

Mt. 31] MINISTRY OF LORD SHELBURNE 81
way rose, and we pricked up our ears. General Conway
moved that the House adjourn till Tuesday. The
Speaker put the question, and we all looked like fools
— gallery and all. It was merely accidental, for I
believe Fox and several others intended to say some
thing if the popping of the question had not unex
pectedly taken place.' . . . 'July 8, 1782.
. . . ' The arrangements are not yet finished. . . .
As for myself, I have declared myself to Charles Fox,
and dine with him to-morrow for my pains. I am
thoroughly satisfied with my choice, and am sure I have
done right, not for myself and children, but for the sake
of my precious soul and my poor country. I have a
letter from poor Hugh. It would make a heart of stone
bleed ; for it proves that he is still in love with his
wife, which is hardly credible, though true. Pity 'tis,
'tis true. He pleads hard for her.'
' St. James's Street : July 10, 1782.
. . . ' Yesterday's debate was very satisfactory to me.
The superior merits of those who have resigned and of
those who have not were fully discussed, and I had the
pleasure of hearing my first opinion fully justified and
confirmed by the debate. General Conway, Tommy
Townshend, and James Grenville looked silly, ashamed,
and unhappy. Lord Shelburne was treated by those
who oppose him as they thought he deserved; and
although his own friends could justify themselves only
by commending him, not a man was found to say they
vol. i. g

82 LIFE AND LETTERS [1782
thought well of him. They were challenged to do so,
but none ventured it. ... I found on my return home
last night a note from Lord Shelburne desiring to see
me to-day. I went, and he bestowed, in the most
profuse manner, on me, flattery, promises, and entreaties
for support. I will not undertake the whole of the
conversation at present, but will endeavour to set some
part of it on paper when I am more at leisure. The
object was, as I tell you, to gain me, and the result was
an explicit declaration, on my part, of my preference
for his opponents, and my determination not to join
him. I have had the pleasure of refusing offers, which
I have no doubt I could at this moment have made
effectual, for the sake of my opinions.' l 'July 11, 1782.
' Parliament was prorogued to-day.
'I congratulate you on Pepper Arden's being
Solicitor-General. Barre is Paymaster. There is a
Mr. Salt in the House. Dudley Long said that he
should be Attorney-General since Pepper was to be
Solicitor, as they were to have a devil of an administra
tion. ' I spent an hour this morning with Lord Mansfield
1 Lord Shelburne's impressions of Sir Gilbert Elliot are preserved in
the following extract from a letter to Sir J. Harris, published in the
Memoirs of the Earl of Malmesbury : — ' You sent your letter to me by
Sir Gilbert Elliot, whose good manners and good sense captivated me.
I do not like to separate any person from his habits, but I was very
sorry to find in him such as are likely to connect him with an Opposi
tion which stands on no public ground whatever.' — Letter from Lord
Shelburne to Sir J. Harris, July 27, 1782.

Mr. 31] SCOTLAND 83
at Caen Wood on Penitentiary business, and then
spent as much in Newgate, where I saw eleven poor
creatures under sentence of death at prayers in the
chapel ; one woman amongst them. I believe I looked
more like a man going to be hanged than any of them.
Some were not there, being chained to the floor of
their cells. The turnkey wanted very much to show
me one poor innocent lad, as he called him, in the
same situation, but I declined it. I asked the turnkey
what his crime was, and he said a footpad robbery—
poor innocent lad ! '
A day or two later Sir Gilbert set out for Scotland,
with nine folio Reports of Committees in the chaise
with him, 'besides the first volume of the Theatre
a" Education, and two volumes of a Theatre de la
SociSte. I bring also the new novel by the author of
" Evelina," so that I am safe from my own reflections
for the rest of the journey.'
Before the month of July came to an end, Sir Gilbert
left the ' green beauty of Minto ' to visit his relatives
in Edinburgh. On this occasion Lady Elliot perhaps
gave credit to the opening sentence of the following
letter : — 'Edinburgh: July 25, 1782.
. . . ' I am sick of this odious town, do you believe
me for once. All I can say is that I did not go to the
assembly last night, and that I am not gone to the race
to-day. I dined yesterday at Sir John Dalrymple
Hamilton Macgill's, to meet Sir Grey Cooper, who
G 2

84 LIFE AND LETTERS [1782
drank claret and eat flummery till any other stomach
would have been turned. At least mine was, although
I only had a share in the claret. A great man is a
great creature at Edinburgh, but of all great men the
greatest by many degrees is a Secretary to the Treasury;
but, remember, this is for your private ear. ... I
have found one just man in Gomorrah — Adam Smith,
author of the " Wealth of Nations." He was the Duke of
Buccleuch's tutor, is a wise and deep philosopher, and
although made commissioner of the customs here by the
Duke and Lord Advocate, is what I call an honest fel
low. He wrote a most kind as well as elegant letter to
Burke on his resignation, as I believe I told you before ;
and on my mentioning it to him, he told me he was the
only man here who spoke out for the Rockinghams.
What I say of the Duke and Lord Advocate is not from
any coolness towards them, but from the notion of their
joining Lord Shelburne. ... I sat next Dr. Blair at
dinner. They talked of his sermons. Sir Grey said
his Caroline had read every word of them aloud to the
family, twice through, last winter. Sir John Dalrymple
asked on this whether Sir Grey had observed the pass
age in which Dr. Blair has, without knowing it, drawn
his own character ; and on being asked by Sir Grey
which was the passage, Sir John answered, it was in his
sermon on Gentleness, where he draws the picture of a
gentleman. So you see you had mistaken the man.
Blair is really a good man as well as preacher, but is
not insensible to flattery, and stood the trowel with

^Et. 31] SCOTLAND 85
fortitude and resignation. . . . Lady Sutherland1 is
the principal figure in the group. Campbell is on duty,
and is supposed by many to be successful. The Coopers
are not indifferent spectators, and do what they can for
their absent principal. Hugh Scott shoves himself in
for a dance or so, and Mr. Scott of Harden spares no
assiduity with grandmamma. . . . Lady Wallace is as
entertaining as ever, but is two years older. The
Duchess of Hamilton2 against the field in my mind.
There is nothing more perfectly like a gentlewoman
than herself.' 'Edinburgh: July 28, 1782.
' " Populous cities please me best, and the busy hum
of men." ... I have been asked by Lady Alva3 to
dance with Lady Sutherland, by way of a bugaboo to
keep off others ; but I preferred war's alarum. I have
been at the camp two days ; and at the Bass catching
solan geese.'
From Edinburgh Sir Gilbert proceeded to visit his
property in Fife and Angus, and while so doing he
caught a severe cold, which was followed by symptoms
sufficiently alarming to make an immediate, journey to
1 Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland in her own right, married 1785
to the Marquis of Stafford, created 1833 Duke of Sutherland.
2 Elizabeth Anna, daughter of Peter Burrell, Esq., married to the
eighth Duke of Hamilton. The marriage was dissolved in 1794.
3 Lady Alva, wife of Charles Erskine of Tinwald and Alva, a Lord
of Session and Lord Justice-Clerk ; by a previous marriage with William
Maxwell, Esq. of Prestoun, she was the maternal grandmother of Lady
Sutherland.

86 LIFE AND LETTERS [1782
the south of Europe a matter of necessity, in spite of
the condition of Lady Elliot, who was on the eve of her
first confinement — which actually took place at Lyons.1
'Maria, as usual,' he wrote to his brother, 'has
behaved incomparably;' and a very few days after the
medical opinion had been given that decided them
on so immediate a step, they were on their road to the
South accompanied by a physician.
A winter spent at Nice after the lizard-like fashion
of travellers from the North — basking all day on the
rocks, exploring the coajt, and doing nothing more
laborious than was required to move from one spot of
beauty to another — restored Sir Gilbert's health. They
returned home in 1783 by Switzerland, whence he
wrote, that, had a man no other ties, Switzerland
must certainly be his chosen home — a sentiment in
which some of his descendants will agree. Summer
found them again in London. The Coalition Govern
ment in the meanwhile had come into office, Mr. Fox's
India Bill was in contemplation, and Sir Gilbert was
given to understand that in the event of its being
carried he would be one of the seven parliamentary
directors who were to be appointed under its provisions.
Writing to his wife at Moccas from London, 20th
August 1783, he says : ' I* breakfasted to-day with Mr.'
Burke at Mr. Fox's, and we had a couple of hours' con
versation ; but a couple of days would not exhaust
Burke. Everything is very much afloat.'
1 Gilbert Elliot, second Earl of Minto, was born 'at Lyons on
November 15, 1782. Died July 1859.

Mi. 32] MIRABEAU 87
Lady Elliot returned to London a few days later, and
her husband found no further occasion to write to her
till the autumn, when she accompanied Lady Harris to
Bath ; while there she received from him the following
account of the renewal of his early friendship with
Mirabeau : —
Sir Gilbert Elliot to Lady Elliot at Bath.
'Lincoln's Inn : November 19, 1783.
' I have been all this morning with Mirabeau, whom
I found as little altered either in looks or manner as
possible in twenty years.1 He is an ardent friend, and
I believe a sincere one, and I confess I have great
pleasure in seeing him again. His present dependence
is on his pen. He is a very eloquent writer, but an
English pen is but a bad provider in London, and the
best French one must be still worse. The lady is " not
his wife,2 but not the less a modest, gentle, and vir-
1 To Hugh Elliot Sir Gilbert wrote : ' Mirabeau, though consider
ably ripened in abilities ... is as overbearing in his conversation, as
awkward in his graces, as ugly and misshapen in face and person, and
withal as perfectly suffisant, as we remember him twenty years ago at
school. I loved him then, however, and so did you, though, as he
confesses, you sometimes quarrelled with him, being always somewhat
less patient in admitting extreme pretensions than I.'
2 Ln a previous letter Sir Gilbert had mentioned his having failed to
find Mirabeau at home, but says that he saw ' the Countess, though to
tell you the truth, I am not sure whether she is his wife or another
man's.' She was neither the one nor the other, but is known in the
memoirs of Mirabeau as Madame de Nehra, which name was an ana
gram of her own.
Mirabeau remained in England until the spring of 1785. In a letter,
dated February 1785, to Madame de Nehra at Paris, he takes great
credit to himself for having remained in London when the plague was

88 LIFE AND LETTERS [1783
tuous woman." She is daughter of a gentleman of the
Equestrian order in Holland ; I forget his name, but
he was a distinguished man of the popular party. He
died poor, and fixe republic, like other countries, thinks
it right that patriots and their families should starve
for the good of their souls, etpour encourager les autres.
The daughter, being handsome and destitute, " very
fortunately escaped the snares of such circumstances by
falling into the hands of an honest man." This is my
friend's story. She has the merit of fidelity to one of
the ugliest and most unfortunate dogs in Europe : and,
being a gentlewoman, has not the manners of her con
dition, which, if Mirabeau is to be trusted, is however
as good and as sacred a marriage as any formality could
make it. Mirabeau was married young to a great
match, but has been long legally separated from his
wife, though the French purity on these points does
not allow another marriage.'
When Sir Gilbert joined his family at Bath he took
Mirabeau with him, but the visit was not a success : —
' He made such hasty love to Harriet, whom he had
little doubt of subduing in a week, and so totally
silenced my John Bull wife, who understands a
Frenchman no better than Molly housemaid, and
so scared my little boy with caressing him, so com
pletely disposed of me from breakfast to supper, and
so astonished all our friends, that I could hardly keep
reported to be there, in order to share the dangers of his friend Sir
Gilbert. The whole story is so characteristic of the writer that it is
given in an appendix.

Mi. 32] THE INDIA BILL 89
the peace in his favour.' And when, some months
later, Mirabeau proposed to join the Elliots at Minto,
the impression of this visit was still so strong that
Lady Elliot insisted on two rooms being prepared for
him at the game-keeper's, as she said no power on
earth should induce her to admit him under her roof.
Mr. Fox had introduced his bill for the better admin
istration of India to the House of Commons on the day
before the preceding letter was written. On the 17th
of December it reached the House of Lords, and on the
following day the Coalition Ministry was dismissed and
a new Ministry appointed. Sir Gilbert, a few days
after this (December 1783), wrote to his brother
Hugh:— C*2}>
Sir Gilbert Elliot to Hugh Elliot.
1 1 have not time to enter fully on the inexplicable
events of the past week. . . . The East India bill
passed through the House of Commons with unusual
majorities of the House and applause of the public ;
especially considering the variety of powerful interests
it had to grapple with, and the popularity of the topics
which were opposed to it. The King had seen it in
all its stages, and encouraged his ministers to proceed,
without, however, any express or explicit approbation
of it. The House of Lords on the canvass had pledged
a majority of almost 2 to 1 in its favour, when Lord
Temple, after an audience with the King, circulated to
the peers an intimation that the King had given him
authority to declare that he was against the bill, and

90 LIFE AND LETTERS [1783
that he should consider those who should vote for it
oot only not his friends but his enemies. This had its
effect. The lords of the bedchamber, most of the
bishops, and other shabby peers, came round; and in
a word, by these means, and these means alone, a
majority of 18 was obtained against the bill, which
was thrown out. The House ofyCommons came to a
strong vote of censure on the person who propagated
these reports, and resolved that whoever should advise
the King to dissolve Parliament was an enemy to his
country. These resolutions passed with the usual ma
jorities of 2 to 1. Notwithstanding these measures,
Mr. Pitt, Lord Temple, Lord Gower, accepted offices
of First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of Exchequer,
Secretary of State, and President of the Council. It
was concluded of course that, desperate as the attempt
seemed, yet a dissolution of Parliament must be their
intent — being their only forlorn hope with the present
House of Commons inveterate against them. Such
certainly must have been their intention. Accordingly,
all the world prepared for a general election. . . .
Yesterday, to my surprise, Lord Temple resigned, and
we were assured there should be no dissolution. We
concluded of course that all was at an end, and that
this boyish freak was already over; for how was Mr.
Pitt, without even Lord Temple, and rejected by all his
friends, to carry on government for a week in a House
of Commons which both detested and laughed at him ?
This seemed pretty sound reasoning, yet to-day a com
plete arrangement of sorts and scraps is out. . . .

Mi. 32] MINISTRY OF MR. PITT 91
' The only possible explanation is that they mean to
gain a few days' time, and to wear some sort of coun
tenance in order to make a capitulation if it can be
obtained. They have taken a first step without at all
knowing what the second was to be, the second with
out the third, and so on. They have lost all character,
and are considered as a set of children playing at
ministers, and must be sent back to school, and in a
few days all will have returned to its former course.'
How these predictions, very general at the time, were
fulfilled, is well known. The minister who was to go
back to school remained in office for eighteen years,
and his opponents had had time to grow weary of oppo
sition before he ceased to be master of the situation.
On the 25th of March 1784 Parliament was dissolved,
and Sir Gilbert was one of the many who, as supporters
of the late administration, found themselves deprived
of their seats ' by the junction of local parties, animated
by a strong distaste to the Coalition.' Sixty M.P.'s are
said to have been unseated at this time. On the 26th
Mr. Burke wrote the following letter to Sir Gilbert,
whose prospects in Roxburghshire were hopeless : —
' Charles Street: Friday, March 26, 1784.
' My dear Sir, — I only came to town to-day, and did
not receive your letter until six this evening. I am
sorry for the prospect it presents, as much so as I think
I could be for the failure of any friend I have in the
world. There is indeed a great slaughter of that de-

92 LIFE AND LETTERS [1784
scription, but still the heads of the party seem in great
heart. I went to Fox as soon as I could, and found him
in the midst of a great room surrounded with the re
porters of this day's canvass. Surely a leader in party
ought never to represent such a place, especially at a
general election, when he ought to be at leisure to turn
his eye to every quarter. He assures me that he will
do his very best to serve you, though he has had already
many vexatious disappointments. My dear friend,
stand stout. Do your best. Something or other will.
happen by-and-by. You have that grand advantage of
youth. It is apt to be undervalued by those who
possess it, like every other advantage. But it does
wonders in the distempers of fortune, as it does in those
of body. Adieu ! — Believe me ever your affectionate
and faithful humble servant, ' Edmund Burke.'
That Sir Gilbert resigned himself with much phi
losophy to his temporary exclusion from public life is
apparent in the following letter to his brother Hugh,
written after the arrival in England of Hugh's private
secretary, Mr. Johnston, who had brought home the
details of the late crisis in Denmark : —
Sir Gilbert Elliot to Hugh Elliot.
'Cuffnals: October 9, 1784.
' My dear Brother, — I was made very happy by the
arrival of Mr. Johnston, for whom it is impossible not

Mi. 33] SIR GILBERT TO HUGH ELLIOT 98
to conceive an affection at first sight. . . . The ac
count he has given me of your situation and prospects
is more comfortable than I think at any past period
for many years back.
' The settlement of your domestic troubles I never
think of without joy ; and I have still more satisfaction
now than when those events were recent, in the hope
that your mind has subsided to a calmness and tran
quillity on that subject, which are not attainable either
during the conflict or immediately after such a storm.
Your little girl is a treasure, which I know better how
to appreciate than I did. You are engaged in impor
tant business, and execute it with distinction. Johnston
insists on it that your attention is fixed on a prudent
management of your own affairs, as well as on an active
discharge of your public duties ; and on this I build
with pleasure a great confidence in the realisation of
more agreeable prospects. That part of life to which
we are coming ought to be made smoother than what
we have passed ; for we neither shall have the same
activity to make our way good over flints and brambles,
nor the same spirits to support cheerfully the bruises
and scratches which we cannot avoid.
'I shall be happy, therefore, my dear Hugh, to see
you fairly a man of this world ; which is not only con
sistent with honour, generosity, and the whole class of
les vertus nobles, but perhaps inseparable from these
qualities rightly understood. Health is the first point
of all. Johnston says you are much better than you
have been, but I own I think climate an essential to a

94 LIFE AND LETTERS [1784
constitution which has been so much impaired as yours,
and this should be one of the objects most steadily kept
in view. You know the absolute nullity to which my
assistance in any public pursuit is reduced. I feel a
personal comfort in the leisure and tranquillity of this
situation, which I think rational, though it may be
suspected of sune proportion of indolence by others
who know that defect in my temper and constitution.
Perhaps my reason and my humour may both contribute
to the satisfaction I find in circumstances which, with
out either of these aids, might possibly have been ex
tremely irksome, though unavoidable. In considering,
therefore, my single self, I have discovered that good
is come out of evil, and that, whatever may be the
chances of my future life, I shall be happy enough to
play on velvet, since my temper, and I will have it my
judgment too, have made a good hedge to my ambition,
at least to the only ambition I ever shall throw for.
But when I consider others — that is, one or two others,
of whom you are the first — I am disposed to wish for a
little more significance than I am likely to attain. Yet
I am happy to think that in the present situation of
things you promise to have a better foundation for
success in any reasonable object in your own acknow
ledged merits, than you could have in any other man's
assistance. ... I told Johnston, and I believe he has
told you, that I heard from Harris that your conduct is
highly approved of. He spoke in strong terms of ap
probation himself of your later despatches; and he
observed (in character, I confess) that you do not take

Mi. 33] SIR GILBERT TO HUGH ELLIOT 95
merit enough to yourself — not so much as you are
strictly entitled to. I believe Lord Carmarthen retains,
from early acquaintance, a great degree of personal
favour towards you. Of myself, I have to tell you that
my health is confirmed to a degree of soundness which
leaves no room for uneasiness on that account. We
passed three months at Swanage, where I bathed and
sailed for health and pleasure. We are now at a house
in the New Forest, which Harris took some time ago
for three years before his embassy to the Hague was in
agitation. If you are desirous of sending your little
girl to England, we shall be happy to be trusted with
her. Maria joins heartily in this offer, and I must say
it is impossible you should put her in such good hands
— you will not suspect me of meaning mine. For my
self, I can only promise most hearty affection ; and
since you are sometimes in bad spirits about your own
health and situation, it may be a satisfaction to you to
be assured that your daughter can never, in any cir
cumstances, while I live, want a home or parents.
While both you and I live she has therefore two strings
to her bow, neither of which, I hope, is likely to break
soon. . . . God bless you, my dear Hugh ! — and be
lieve me, your most affectionate,
G. E.'
While at Swanage Sir Gilbert had received a plea
sant congratulatory note on the birth of his second son
from Mr. Burke.

96 LIFE. AND LETTERS [1784
' Beconsfield : August 1784.
' My dear Sir, — I wish you joy of the young gentle
man who is come to visit this strange world.1 I dare
say he thinks it but an odd kind of a place, though,
like other polite travellers, he is too well bred to tell
us so in direct terms. Well, I hope he will live to see
it mended, and that one of the first things he will have
to see and to learn from, is the share his father is to
have in that reformation. So wash away, like a brave
fellow, and obtain a Neptunian constitution fit for the
work you have in hand. I know you love world-making
— why not world-mending and repairing. The first, I
admit, is a noble theory ; but a cobbler is of some use
in political society. . . . Mrs. Burke joins her best
congratulations with mine to Lady Elliot on the arrival
of the new guest. We are really much interested in
whatever concerns the happiness of you both. ... I
need not go to the sea — it has come to us. We have a
deluge of rain, and the corn looks deplorably. The
land suffers much. As to your neighbouring element,
a little more or less makes no difference. All this rain,
were it twenty times more, will not lodge the seaweed,
or give the rot to a flock of John Dorys. God bless
you!— and believe me, in all weathers and in all
humours, most truly yours, Edm. BubK-E.'
The Elliots spent the winter of '84 and the spring of
'85 in London, in a house in Park Street, which ad-
1 Hon. George Elliot, admiral, K.C.B., born August 1, 1784, died 1863.

Mt. 33] RETURN OF HUGH FROM DENMARK 97
joined that of Lord Palmerston.1 The two families
were on terms of the most cordial intimacy ; and when
Lady Elliot, after her husband's loss of his seat in the
House of Commons, first broached her intention of
returning to Minto to remain there through the winter
of '86, Lady Palmerston loudly protested against so
unheard-of an arrangement: — 'Tell her,' she wrote,
' that it is a most unkind resolution. Park Street will
lose every charm without her. I shall never open my
window, which will remind me of all our pleasant tete-
a-tetes.' And Lady Harris was still more aggrieved,
especially as she declared that Maria had just come out
as a ' beauty,' and should not thus tear herself from an
admiring world. Her picture, painted by Sir Joshua
at this time, shows if not a regularly pretty, at least a
very bright and intelligent face.
Sir Gilbert remained in London after his wife's de
parture to Minto, to receive his brother Hugh, who re
turned at the end of June on leave from Denmark,
where he had played a very successful and generally
approved part;2 and a letter to Lady Elliot at Minto
records Hugh's flattering reception by the King.
1 Henry, second Viscount Palmerston, married, — 1st, Frances, only
daughter of Sir Francis Poole, Bart., who died 1769 ; and 2ndly,
January 5, 1783, Mary, daughter of Benjamin Mee, Esq.
2 A change of government amounting to a revolution in the political
affairs of Denmark, had afforded to Mr. Elliot an opportunity to dis
play his well-known spirit and determination in a moment of crisis, and
to establish confidential relations with the Danish statesman, Count
Bernstorff.

VOL. I.

98 LIFE AND LETTERS [1785
' Park Street: July 1, 1785.
' Hugh has had his audience last Wednesday, and was
extremely pleased with his reception. It lasted almost
two hours, was full, confidential, and, he says, satisfactory
as to the business, and as to himself kind and friendly
in the highest degree. You know it had been always
said by some before his arrival that he was highly ap
proved of, and favoured by everybody except the King,
who was represented as having strong prejudices against
him. The very reverse of which is certainly the truth.
The degree of uneasiness and jealousy which his presence
occasions, you know where, would be entertaining if I
did not think it always dangerous.'
Sir Gilbert rejoined his wife in the course of July,
and no further letters passed between them till the
month of December, when he paid a hurried visit to
London, and wrote to her such scraps of gossip as could
be picked up during 'a half-hour's sitting at Lady
Palmerston's toilet. Her Harry 1 is much improved,
and is a fine, eager, lively, good-humoured boy. She
says the report is that Mrs. Fitzherbert is, or is to be,
at Carlton House ; that she was married by a Roman
Catholic priest ; is to have 6,000L a year, and is to be
created a Duchess.'
1 Henry, third and last Viscount Palmerston. Two months before,
Lady Palmerston had written an account to Minto of the celebration of
her son and heir's christening with great magnificence. Mara took part
in a concert, followed by a ball. Lord Palmerston chose Winchester
for the place of performance rather than Broadlands, as more convenient
to the country in general.

JEt. 34] BETTER FROM BURKE 99
Though the year '85 was productive of but few letters
"between the husband and wife, it brought them, while
together, many pleasant ones from distant friends. ; in
:a kindly note from Mr. Burke, written after visiting
Minto in the enforced absence of Sir Gilbert, detained
by legal business in Edinburgh, we catch the first
rumblings of the thunder-storm so soon to break on the
heads of the Indian ' wild beasts.'

'Beconsfield: October 20, 1785.
' My dear Friend, — I had much to satisfy me in Scot
land, but I felt a void on quitting it. It was unlucky
that we shoidd have missed you at Edinburgh. At
Minto1 we did not expect to find you, and Lady Elliot
and Lady Harris contrived matters so that we did but
just feel you were not there. We saw you in your por
trait. I really think Lady Harris's parallel of the place
and the master to be not only perfectly just but new in

1 This visit of Mr. Burke's to Minto must have been a second one in
the same year, for Dr. Somerville (minister of Jedburgh) mentions in
his Memoirs having met him there with his son and Mr. Windham in
the summer of 1783, when Sir Gilbert was himself at home. The cause
of Burke's visit to Scotland was his re-election to the Rectorship of the
University of Glasgow, to which he had been first elected in 1783. Dr.
Somerville gives a very amusing account of the days he spent in the
-company of Mr. Burke at Minto, of the fire and brilliancy of his conver
sation, and the universality of his knowledge, of his somewhat exclusive
partiality for the Episcopalian form of church government, — of the
' contemptuous and disparaging terms in which he expressed himself
of the Americans whom he had so often eulogised, in Parliament,' and
of his enthusiasm for the character of Washington, whose praises, he
adds, were little to the taste of ex-Govemor Elliot, and of the Admiral
Ms brother, both being among the guests at Minto.
h 2

100 LIFE AND LETTEES [1785-
the thought, and exceedingly neat and elegant. Since
I got hither I have done nothing at all, and thought;
very little. I have seen very few. Windham has
been ailing.
' I have just returned from London, where I stayed
two days. I found Lady Harris had just departed..
The town seems as complete a desert as ever I have
known it. It did not appear to me to be the less so be
cause a number of wild beasts from India were prowling
about. The hotel in which I lodged was full of them.
Among others, Johnson, the principal ravager of Oude.
The Board of Control, the keepers of the menagerie,.
have now outdone their outdoings, by sending out, con
trary to the remonstrances even of the directors, a strict
order (October 20) to the whole line of service not to
write a word concerning any public matter to any in
dividual whatsoever, themselves excepted, on pain of
being instantly dismissed the service. They have now
completed the edifice. I heard about a week ago from
your friend Dick Burke,1 from Paris. He had left this
but a day or two before my arrival. Four days he spent-
in Holy Island, and sailing from thence, they beat about
for six days on the coast of England, until, finding the
time he had allotted himself for Holland expired, or
nearly so, and the wind proving unfavourable, he was
put ashore on the coast of Norfolk. Mrs. Burke's most
1 Richard Burke, brother of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, immor
talised in Goldsmith's poem of Eetaliation, one of the wittiest and most
graceful jeux d'esprit in the English language.

JEt. 34] PUBLIC PROSECUTION OF WARREN HASTINGS 101
•cordial compliments, with mine, to Lady Elliot. — Ever,
my dear sir, your most obliged faithful ' Edm. Burke.
' I am going to see the remains of my potato-mine
-dug up.'
The very next letter Mr. Burke wrote to Sir Gilbert
related vto the public prosecution of Warren Hastings,
for his conduct as Governor-General of India, which was
•commenced in February of 1786, by Mr. Burke, who
moved for copies of the correspondence which had passed
between Hastings and the directors in 1782, and for
other papers.
The history of Warren Hastings' administration of
India, and of his subsequent impeachment and trial, is
too well known to need repetition. Every schoolboy^
however much he may fall short of the knowledge as
cribed to him by Lord Macaulay, has read that brilliant
writer's essay on Warren Hastings, has blushed over his
account of the Rohilla war, when a high-spirited nation
was sold for forty lacs ; has resented the wrongs inflicted
on the helpless royal family of Oude, and the tragic fate
of Nuncomar ; has felt his wrath appeased by the won
derful description — a Paul Veronese in words— of the
¦day of retribution; and has learned at last to pity
the delinquent whose trial for years ' dragged its slow
length along,' and whose offences were atoned for by the
humiliations, bitternesses, and disappointments which
pursued him to the decline of life.

102 LIFE AND LETTERS [1786:
At the time when the prosecution commenced, ' the,
general aspect of affairs,' says Lord Macaulay, 'was
favourable to Hastings. The King was on his side..
The Company and its servants were zealous in his cause.
Among public men he had many ardent friends. Such
were Lord Mansfield. . . . and Lord Lansdowne. . . .
The ministers were generally believed to be favourable^
to the late Governor-General ; the Lord Chancellor ' in
particular . . . espoused the cause of Hastings with
indecent violence. Pitt, though he had censured many
parts of the Indian system, had studiously abstained.
from saying a word against the late chief of the Indian
government. . . . Mr. Dundas'2 (who had moved the
resolution of censure, which still remained on the jour
nals of the House) ' was the only important member of
the administration who was committed to a different
view of the subject.'
On the 20th of February Mr. Burke wrote to Sir
Gilbert as follows : — ' No. 45 Pall Mall : February 20, 1786.
' My dear Friend, — Hitherto all goes reasonably well.
The ministers in the House of Commons wish to make
an Hastings of their own. Those of the House of Lords
are content with the old one. The former have em
barrassed themselves considerably, and they are sensible
of it ; but between the fear of their adversaries in the
Cabinet prevailing on one side, or of their adversaries-
1 Thurlow.
2 Right Hon. Henry Dundas, first Lord Melville.

-Mr. 35] MR. BURKE'S CHARGE 103
in the House prevailing on the other, they have suffered
us to get the most of the papers, and now I think we
shall go on powerfully. I felt myself, from the begin
ning of this affair, in great peril as to my reputation.
There was a run against me within and without doors,
and a universal circulation that I had nothing to pro
duce. The whole is to me providential, and I ought
to be sincerely thankful. Mrs. Burke is come to town.
I want much to see you this morning.Ever truly yours,
Edm. Burke.'
On the 4th of April Mr. Burke made a charge against
Hastings of ' sundry high crimes and misdemeanours,'
and delivered the first nine articles of the charge ; the
rest, amounting in the whole to twenty-two, being pre
sented in the following week.
On the 1st of June Mr. Burke brought forward his
accusation on the Rohilla war, which was rejected by a
majority of 119 to 67.
To the friends of Hastings this must have seemed a
decisive victory, as the House had formerly passed a
resolution condemning the policy followed by Hastings
with regard to Rohilkund ; nevertheless, when, thirteen
days later (13th June), the charge respecting the treat
ment of the Rajah of Benares was opened by Mr. Fox,
119 votes against 79 declared that 'there was matter
of impeachment,' — Mr. Pitt, to the amazement of the
House, voting with the majority.
On the 15th, Sir Gilbert, who had lately arrived in

104 LIFE AND LETTERS [1786
London, wrote to his wife the news of this unexpected
triumph. 'Park Street: June 15, 1786.
... ' Our victory on the Benares charge has given
me the greatest satisfaction and comfort. It will not
lead to anything in a party view, and may perhaps lead
to little good even in India. This particular vote is
forced by the power of truth, and will probably not carry
such unwilling converts much farther. But it i3 a most
comfortable testimony to the general justice of the pro
secution, and a shield to the characters and reputation
of the prosecutors. It has saved, besides, the House of
Commons from the disgrace of approving another vil->
lany. Dundas voted in the majority, though the papers
this morning say not. So did Jenkinson,1 and Sir Gr.
Howard, who is accounted particularly a King's vote ;
but Powney — who is called, you know, the King's
member, as he is brought in for Windsor by the King's
interest with his neighbours there — voted for Hastings.
Since this vote Major Scott2 has presented the King
with a diamond of immense value, as from one of the
Indian princes. It has been in England above a year,
but was not brought forth till now, and is the subject
of much conversation. . . .
' I dined yesterday, where do you think ? Only with
the maids of honour and bedchamber women. There
1 Sir Charles Jenkinson, Bart., created in 1786 Baron Hawkeshury
and in 1796 Earl of Liverpool. Died 1808.
2 Major Scott was considered to be the organ of Hastings in the
House of Commons.

Mi. 35] RANELAGH 105
was Mrs. Herbert, and the Gunnings, to whom I be
longed, Miss Tryon, Miss Boscawen, Miss Vernon, Lady
Di Fleming, and Miss Finch, with a Mr. and Mrs.
Boscawen, just married. I never was in so large a com
pany of maidens before, and I went not without some
alarm; but it proved less formidable than one could
suppose. They were, as it happened that day, very
tolerably civil to each other. I was neither much en
tertained nor much bored. I was curious to see the
thing once, which will probably do for life. I then
went to Mrs. Herbert's apartments to tea, and we had
the Castles, Pitts, Robinson, Harris, Miss Darner, the
Gunnings, and Lady Louisa Stuart, and not a male but
myself except Cholmondeley, who was there half-an-hour.
You see I do not stint myself in number and quality in
.your absence.' 'Wednesday, June 21, 1786.
' I went, the night before last, to Ranelagh, from
Mrs. Legge's J with Lord and Lady Hambden and Mrs.
Davenport. Lady Palmerston brought me home. It
was very thin, and as little fatiguing therefore as it
•could be; but I was extremely tired, and very little
•amused, notwithstanding the number of your rivals
there, as the Pitts, Gunnings, Palmerstons, etc. The
Prince of Wales shook me by the hand very cordially,
as an old acquaintance whom he had not seen for a great
while, and asked tenderly after you. I dined yesterday
1 Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Philip Musgrave, Bart., wife of Heneage
Xegge, Esq.

106 LIFE AND LETTERS [1786.
at Lord Palmerston s with the Hambdens and Harry
Pelham.1 He and Lady Poole go on in the old swain-
ing and inseparable and boring way. Lady Poole is far
from well. . . . Cagliostro 2 was in London, at Hugh's
hotel, a few days ago, and I believe is there still. If
so, I shall take a look at him, which will satisfy me
perfectly. There is a talk of a difference in the cabinet,
and of a doubt whether Mr. Pitt may not resign. The
reason talked of is, Mr. Jenkinson's peerage and coming
into the cabinet, which Pitt opposes, and is supposed
to be made a point of by the King. I do not know
that there is any truth in this, except that some little
stir among them there certainly is.' 'Monday, June 26, 1786.
' There is no end to pleasuring and water-parties next
door. You know I went with Mr. Gaily, Le Chevalier
de Revel, and Mundy, on Friday, to Greenwich ; and
on Saturday to Dagenham Breach with the Palmerstons,
Mrs. Crewe, Molly Carter, Windham, Harry Pelham,
1 Second son of Thomas Lord Pelham.
2 Cagliostro, whose real name was Joseph Balsamo, was a celebrated
adventurer, who, in the last half of the eighteenth century, made his
appearance in most of the courts of Europe, exciting general curiosity
by his striking appearance, the universality of his accomplishments, his
knowledge of chemistry, and his pretensions to an intimate acquaint
ance with the black art. Having been mixed up in the affair of the
diamond necklace with the Prince de Rohan and Madame de la Motte,
he was thrown into the Bastille, and being subsequently exiled, he came
to England in 1786. He was tried at Rome in 1790 for the offence of
'practising Free Masonry,' and was condemned to death, but the
sentence was commuted into one of serpetual imprisonment. He died
in 1795.

Mi. 35] WILLIAM ELLIOT OF WELLS 107
Cholmondeley, and W. Payne. Sir J. Banks met us-
there, and did the honours of the house, which belongs
to a fishing-club of which he is a member. ... I
am going, sore against my will, to-day, to dine at
Brentford Court with the Palmerstons ; nobody of the
party but them, Lady Poole, and Harry Pelham. They
are gone by water, but I have positively refused that,
as it would have consumed my whole morning, and
delayed my business. . . . Lord Palmerston has
not got to his second childhood, but only as far as his
second boyhood ; for no sehoolboy is so fond of a break-
ing-up as he is of a junket and pleasuring. I am to
carry Revel to Lady Palmerston at Richmond on
Wednesday. . . .' 'June 27, 1786.
' I saw young Elliot 1 of Wells yesterday, and was
extremely pleased with him. He is most entirely
1 The Right Hon. William Elliot, son of John Elliot of Wells in
Roxburghshire (and nephew of Colonel Elliot, a distinguished military
officer, who married a daughter and co-heiress of Henry d' Albuquerque^
first Earl of Grantham) ; was made a Privy Councillor and Secretary
for Ireland in 1795. Died at Minto in 1818. He was a man of sound
understanding and cultivated tastes. He lived in great intimacy
with Burke, Windham, and other leading men of his day, though he
was comparatively but little known in general society, owing to the shy
and silent habits, which together with his appearance procured him in
Ireland the playful sobriquet of the ' Castle Spectre,' a name altered by
the Irish wits to the ' Revenant,' when in 1806 he returned to Ireland
as chief secretary with John Duke of Bedford. To him was addressed
Burke's celebrated letter on a speech made by the Duke of Bedford in-
the House of Lords. At the death of Mrs. Burke in 1811, he found
himself, by her last will, associated with Lord Fitzwiiliam and Dr.
Walker King, Bishop of Rochester, in the charge of Burke's manu
scripts.

108 LIFE AND LETTERS [1786
warmly with us in polities. I mean London politics — of
course in county politics if necessary ; and he is very
sensible, modest, and agreeable in his manner. Perhaps
you may not think him lively enough when you know
him. . . He seems serious in his intentions of following
the law, which he is now studying diligently. I am
sure I shall advise him to stick to it, unless he can
settle as a laird of Wells, for I can tell him a laird
without a profession in the world is a bad trade.'
' Saturday, July 1, 1786.
' I dined yesterday at Wimbledon with Wilberforce,
I took. Revel there. We had Windham,1 Romilly,2
Baynes, St. John, and Lord Mulgrave ; a very pleasant
dinner, and walk in the fields after it. Wilberforce is
an extremely pleasant clever man, professing a great
deal of principle, and much more attention to decency
and religion than is common. I do not know whether
this unusual quality does not now-a-days always raise
a degree of suspicion of cant, especially when united
with very unprincipled actions, such as are many that
Wilberforce has certainly committed in his public life.
And what leads me perhaps more than another to dis
trust this sort of profession is an example I haye studied
•closely, and who I fear would, pass on the world, and
even perhaps on himself, this sort of cheap and cere
monious virtue as a substitute for real practical probity
' Right Hon. William Windham.
2 Afterwards Sir Samuel Romilly.

Mr. 35] STORY OF A DIAMOND 109
and honour. I have, however, no right to conclude-
this of Wilberforce, and he is rather in favour with me
for his late Indian votes, and for having been supposed
to be instrumental in bringing Pitt to do one right
thing on that subject. I have also to commend him for
taking the penitentiary houses under his protection. . .
I was at the play the day before yesterday with Lady
Palmerston, and saw the " Fatal Curiosity," a horrid
bloody tragedy of Lillo, where an old father and mother
murder their son, without knowing him, for his
diamonds ; when the son delivered the little box of
jewels to his mother, there was a buzz run about the
whole house of a bulse, a bulse.1 This story of
Hastings' diamond seems to have made a proper im
pression ; and Major Scott's last speech, with the letter
from Hastings to himself on the occasion, seems to
leave hardly any doubt that the diamond was really
the property of Hastings himself, and of course meant
as a bribe to the King, who has pocketed the affront.
Hastings admits in that letter that he only guess'd it
was intended for the King, and therefore he admits
that it might perhaps be his own. Query, whether
anybody would part with such a treasure without Jcnoiu-
ing with certainty that it did not belong to themselves ?
This letter is clearly fabricated for the public, for
Hastings had no occasion to write all this long formal
justificatory letter to Scott, whom he saw every day.
1 A bulse is a bag or case of diamonds. ' They are always brought
home from India in a case which is called a Bulse.' From the Political
Magazine, x. 478.

HO LIFE AND LETTERS [1786
Old Pulteney has just been refused by Miss Colmore,
that pretty girl you know who has come out lately, a
beauty like you. I go to-morrow to Beconsfield, and
return on Monday.' ' Park Street : July 4, 1786.
' - . . I rode to Beconsfield l on Sunday, and found
Mrs. Crewe, Windham, young Burke, and a Mr. Adie.
I have got into a certain degree of intimacy now with
Mrs. Crewe,2 and find her like 99 in 100 — a mixture of
good and bad. I mean only in respect to agreeableness
and sense, for I know no bad in her in any other ac
ceptation of the word. She likes good conversation —
takes an interest, and even a share, in all subjects which
men would naturally talk of when not in women's
company — as politics and literature ; and she likes
arguments and discussions of all sorts. She seems to
have a clear understanding, and a good deal of refine
ment and ingenuity in her own ideas. All this is good.
i On the other hand, she is certainly not without a degree
of pedantry and over-refinement. She betrays as much
vanity and desire of admiration in her pursuit of male
1 conversation, as real taste and genuine pleasure in it ;
in short, she seems to be struggling to maintain the
same place and consequence by wit and conversation
which she once held as a beauty ; and for a wife, or one
1 Mr. Burke's place in Buckinghamshire.
2 Frances Anne, wife of John Crewe, Esquire of Crewe Hall, created
in 1806 Baron Crewe, of Crewe in Cheshire. She was daughter of
Fulke Greville, Esquire (Envoy Extraordinary in 1776 to the Elector of
Bavaria, and grandson of Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke). Mrs. Crewe
was a celebrated beauty and Whig toast.

Ms. 35] ANIMAL MAGNETISM 111
to live constantly with — begging your pardon — you
know I always protested against a professed beauty, and
so I do against a professed wit, but more especially a
professed wit grown out of a professed beauty. . . .
I do not, however, like to abuse wit, for certainly the
fault of our women is to have too little conversation
which can possibly interest men ; and I have hitherto
always found Mrs. Crewe very pleasant company. I am
going with her to-day to Dr. Bell, one of the magnetis
ing quacks, and the first whom I shall have seen. Lady
Palmerston, Mrs. Crewe, Mrs. Sheridan, and Miss Crewe
have been twice at Mainaduc's. They were all infidels
the first day except Mrs. Crewe, who seemed staggered
a little by the number and variety of the people she saw
affected by the crisis. The next time, Mrs. Sheridan
and Miss Crewe were both magnetised, and both had
what is called a crisis — that is, they both fell into a
sort of trance, or waking sleep, in which they could
hear what passed, but had no power of speaking or
moving, and they describe it as very like the effects of
laudanum. From what I have heard I am really dis
posed to believe that these people have some means or
other of producing a sort of stupor or sleep, but whether
by magnetism or any other means, I know nothing
about. And on this little portion of truth they build
all the rest of the absurd fictions with which we are
amused.' l
1 ' You seem to be a convert to magnetism. I can't say I have
absolute belief, but I am convinced no one can answer what their
imagination may lead them to, and everybody has been sufficiently

112 LIFE AND LETTERS [1786
"Park Street: July 8, 1786.
' You will see an account of the reduction of the
Prince of Wales' household to-day in the papers, which
is so like the truth that I imagine it is put in by some
body about him. He told Hugh of his intention two
or three days ago, which is to go abroad quite as a
private man, and stay till something is done for him,
or till he can pay his debts by saving. He wants
250,000Z. Hugh went to Pitt about it, who was dis
posed to undertake the payment of his debt, provided
the rest of the money he asks might be appropriated to-
some specific purposes ; but the Prince would not con
sent to that. The King, in a violent rage, wrote a
very angry, abusive letter to the Prince in answer to
bewitched in their lives to feel surprised at it afterwards. I am sure-
there have been times in my nervous days when Cagliostro might have
made me see Julius Csesar or anybody else. It is singular that if yon
go through the history of this little planet, you will find that there has
been always an alternate age of bigotry and superstition and of
infidelity. This eighteenth century has certainly been an unbelieving
one, and we are now falling into the other extreme, and our children
and grandchildren need not despair of seeing a second St. Barthelemi.
But what is really strange is that people that have least religion have
most superstition. Witness the King of Prussia, and I foresee that
the Emperor will end his days in sackcloth and ashes, and that at this
moment it would be easier to make his ghost than most people. All
bullies are cowards, and it's exactly who's afraid ? In short, those who-
don't fear God fear the devil, which convinces me more and more every
day that that honourable gentleman is an imaginary being.
' I think I have written a very pretty theological, moral, and philosophi
cal essay, instead of a letter ; pray have it bound in white parchment and
perched up amongst the Scotch lawbooks in the library, that Gilbert's
great-grandchildren may reverence their great-aunt' Lady Harris to-
Sir Gilbert : The Hague, 1786.

Mi. 35] SIR GILBERT BECOMES MP. FOR BERWICK 113
his application for the money, and said he would have
nothing to do with so extravagant and worthless a
young man. All this is secret enough — not to quote.
All the fine people have been magnetised, and are
learning to magnetise others. The Prince of Wales
had a crisis — that is to say, became sick and faint.
The Duchess of Devonshire had one ; Lady Talbot, as
she was coming out of her crisis, was asked whether
she wanted anything ; and she not being quite come to
herself, and not sensible of where or in what company
she was, spoke plain English  This, however, is
Hugh's story, and something short of gospel. I weni
yesterday to Mainaduc's, but saw nothing even to en
tertain me. It seemed the grossest dupery imaginable,
but there were several people one knows among the
dupes.' In September 1786 Sir Gilbert was returned for
Berwick by a majority of 45, an event which produced
the following letters from Mr. Burke and the Duke of
Portland : —
Edmund Burke to Sir Gilbert Elliot.
' September, 1786.
' My dear Friend, — A thousand and a thousand con
gratulations from myself and from Mrs. Burke, and
from all the old and young connections of this house,
to you and Lady Elliot on the excellent news which
you stole from your friends and your triumphs to tell
me. Number forty-five will be a much more favourite
vol. I. i

114 LIFE AND LETTERS [1786
number with me than ever it was ; and the fidelity of
the Berwick forty-five will make a very ample amends
for the perfidy of the London forty-five. Dick said
that no place in England, Scotland, or Ireland could
have so much virtue. You are extra-regnal, and a
member for a place by itself, and I hope for your life.
That life you will not forget to take a rational care of,
and by good management I trust that the adding public
to it will not make it the more unhealthy. I have
much of what all love to give and few to follow — that
is, I have much advice to give you at your leisure.
But for the present, in a few words, I wish most, most
sincerely that you would set about in downright earnest
to get rid of some of your virtues. You must be less
modest. This modesty and moderation is a misprision
of talents, and in any age hinders them from appearing
with their proper varnish (a phrase, by the way, belong
ing properly to brass). But in this age, when boys of
twenty have got to the head of affairs, and bear them
selves with all the sour and severe insolence of sixty,
and which even from sixty would be intolerable, it is
not the fit companion of other virtues or of talents.
Instead of their being sought for, they are endeavoured
to be suppressed. You must be all that you can he,
and you can be everything ; we cannot spare an atom
of you. You see I talk away, and I am in reality in
great spirits. As I am in the lecturing and command
ing humour, I advise and order that you visit Edin
burgh, and stay two or three days there before you come

Mi. 35] CONGRATULATORY LETTERS 115
southward, to see and be seen. God bless you ! . . . .
Your most faithful and affectionate humble servant,
' Edm. Burke.'
Duke of Portland to Sir Gilbert Elliot.
' Bulstrode : Tuesday, September 26, 1786.
' My dear Sir Gilbert, — I most heartily thank you
(for) the communication of one of the most interesting
and satisfactory pieces of intelligence which I could
have received ; and though your success entitles you to
my congratulations, I feel them so much more due to
the public, whom I could wish to think would become
deserving of them, and to our common friends, that
your share of them bears no proportion to that of the
obligations we owe you for the exertions you have made
on many other as well as this occasion for the service
of the country. I trust that this struggle may prevent
you future trouble and expense, and that I may indulge
myself in the pleasure of thinking that we may be
fellow-labourers in the same cause as long as it is agree
able to you to take a part in public business. — Most
sincerely and faithfully yours ever, ' Portland.'
Before the close of the year, Mr. Burke wrote to urge
his friend to prepare for active exertions when Parlia
ment should meet.

I 2

116 LIFE AND LETTERS [1786
Edmund Burke to Sir Gilbert Elliot.
'Beconsfield: December 14, 1786.
' My dear Sir,— Tt is very natural that after your late
triumphant toils you should wish to repose a little upon
vour laurels. You have a place and a family very invit
ing, I must allow, to domestic quiet and retreat ; and
there is certainly very little calculated to draw you from
home, or that is worth giving you any disturbance there,
However, as it is not in our power to forget you, you
will allow us to endeavour to keep ourselves a little in
your mind, though not by the most pleasant of all
remembrances — the public business. I doubt whether
the road into Parliament is the smoothest of all the
King's highways, and I suspect that the turnpike tolls
are a little extravagant. But you are, after* many
interruptions, there at last. At any rate, and all
things weighed, I am glad of it. It seemed to me
as if you were not in your proper place as long as you
were not in the House of Commons, even such an
House of Commons as it is. We can have nothing
better than our time and our country affords us. I
don't know very well whether, in the letter I wrote to
you in an hurry immediately after your election, I made
myself rightly understood. I wished you now and then
to make a trip to Edinburgh, though it were only for a
day or two, as times admitted, or as the new club there
happened to meet. I cannot bear that you should not
have your natural consequence in your natural situation.
This would be absolutely and inevitably the result of

Mr. 35] LETTER FROM BURKE 117
your being known. There are many inconveniences in
the distance of your inheritance from your sphere of
action ; you ought to make amends for it by the oppor
tunities of local influence which are near you. But on
this we may talk more when we are in a condition to
talk at large.
' All I have for the present to say is, to put you in
mind that the House of Commons is to meet by the
King's writ rather late ; but the writ of your particular
friends requires that you should turn your thoughts to
the business of the session before it begins, and if
possible to give us a fortnight in the south before it
actually opens. I wish you would look over the
charges, and select such a part as you might think most
proper for you to open. There is no sense in being in
Parliament without taking such a part as your abilities
fit you for. To do less is to injure and maim yourself
as well as your friends ; and I really am most earnest
that whatever you do, great or small, should not be
done carelessly or greatly within the limit of your
powers. You are too tall for the second rank. You
must not be in it. Bring up the Impey papers with
you, for that is a business which sooner or later we
ought not to blink. God bless you ! Mrs. Burke begs
her best and most affectionate compliments. Poor
Richard was ill the whole time he was in Ireland, and
has been since rather ailing, but he gets better at last,
and is much yours. — I am, my dear Sir Gilbert, most
truly and affectionately, your most faithful friend and
humble servant, ' Edm. Burke.'

118 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787

CHAPTER V.
In spite of the adjuration of Mr. Burke, Sir Gilbert
did not reach London till the eve of the meeting of
Parliament ; but as a very serious illness of Lady Elliot's
had detained him in the country, he succeeded in con
vincing his friend that disinclination for the strife was
in no wise the cause of his non-appearance until the
eleventh hour. Edmund Burke to Sir Gilbert Elliot.
' New Year's Day, 1787.
' It was but the day before I received your letter that
I heard from Windham of the sufferings of poor Lady
Elliot. Thank God that she is in such a condition after
them as to leave you such freedom of spirits as to enable
you to write the liveliest and pleasantest, as well as the
best-natured letter in the world. Thank you for it and
for everything. I now think that your exertions will
be no longer a matter of deliberation with you. So I
shall say little more on that subject, further than to
tell you that I do by no means give countenance, or
even toleration, to any virtue, which by its want of
discipline and not knowing its place, stands in the way

Ms. 35] THE MEETING OF PARLIAMENT 119
of another and prevents its exertions. Pray, my dear
friend, know and feel yourself, and all will happen of
course that I wish, and that we all stand seriously in
need of. Among the charges there is but one engaged,
two at most — the Begums to Sheridan ; the Rannee of
Goheed to Sir James Erskine. So please your palate.
What think you of that you have drawn yourself — the
Mahratta war and peace ? The pit, boxes, and gallery
are impatient for one figure more, and cry out Nosey in
a most obstreperous manner. In truth, I never knew
a greater demand for anything than the appearance of
Sir Elijah.1 . . .
' Ever faithfully and affectionately yours,
' Edm. Burke.'
Sir Gilbert took his seat on January 25, Parliament
having met on the 23rd. On February 1, his rdle in
the great drama of the impeachment was decided on.
On the 7th Sheridan made a magnificent oration
respecting the treatment of the Begums of Oude, and
Sir Gilbert's letters to his wife relate fully the im
pressions made on him by the parliamentary- events of
which he was now a witness.
Sir Gilbert Elliot to Lady Elliot.
' Park Street: January 25, 1787.
' I could not take my seat on Tuesday from a mistake
that had been made in sending the certificate of my
1 Sir Elijah Impey, chief judge of the Supreme Court of Calcutta

120 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
return to Berwick. It was rectified yesterday, when I
took my seat, being introduced by Burke and Sir Henry
Fletcher. . . . Burke made quite a riot in the House
about me, saying it was the best day he had seen in
that place for many a day, and when I was going down
the floor with Mundy to go to dinner, Burke forgot
where he was so far as to bellow out to me by my name
that I must not go out, and then scampered after me.
Mundy said, " You shall have him to-morrow, but I
can't spare him to-day." Burke answered, " No wonder
we all fight for him, he is worth a battle," and so on.
All this in his earnest way, and by the side of Major
Scott, made quite a scene of it, from which I was run
ning away really in confusion all the time it was pass
ing. My reception was kind and hearty from many
others, and I could not help feeling that it was very
generally flattering, and I think a testimony of the
favourable opinion entertained of my character, which
is the point I value most. The rest must take its
chance, and indeed I am not without my fears of having
a little trouble in other expectations — I mean as to
abilities — both from the extravagance of my particular
friend's partiality, and from being urged perhaps to
undertake more than I may execute, especially rusty as
I am. This dissertation about myself and relation of
my little honours look like Swift's vanity in venting all
his little pride and self-complaisance on his female
correspondents, who were obliged to hear it ; but there
is nothing here that one must not of course observe to
one's-self, and a letter to one's wife or other she-slave is,

Mi. 35] THE CHARGE AGAINST IMPEY 121
and ought to be, the same thing as a soliloquy. It is,
however, for nobody else.' 'February, 1787.
' It is settled that I am to move and conduct the
impeachment against Impey, for which nothing but
some diffidence in my own nerves, and perhaps appli
cation, prevents me from having as human appetite as
anybody ; for he is a consummate villain.1 ... I am
confounded a little and dismayed at the degree of
estimation a number of people seem to hold me in.
Burke, Francis, Dudley Long, Montagu, Fox, the Duke
of Portland, have all formed an exaggerated notion
and extravagant expectations about me ; and I seem
likely to have your airy dream or vision verified by
being raised to the skies and then bumped down again,
as I may very probably be even lower than I de
serve. But all must be risked for a good and valuable
purpose.' ' February 3.
' The Indian business is taking a most unexpected
but a most pleasant turn to me, who wish to see justice
done on this great object by whatever hands it may.
The examination of Thursday 2 indicated a sort of con
currence of administration with us, and a degree of
1 ' Of Impey's conduct it is impossible to speak too severely,' says
Lord Macaulay. The connection and friendship which had existed
between Warren Hastings and Sir Gilbert's brother, Alexander Elliot,
had made Sir Gilbert very unwilling to take an active part in the pro
secution of what he nevertheless considered the wholly indefensible
policy of the late Governor-General ; and it was in regard to these
feelings that the charge against Sir E. Impey was selected for him.
2 Of Mr. Middleton, February 1.

122 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
disfavour to the Indians that surprised everybody. . . .
Burke and Francis were both in the highest spirits
after it. . . . Yesterday all these appearances became
much more decisive. Sir E. Impey had been ordered
to attend as a witness by Mr. Dundas 's motion, and
the whole of his examination by Dundas was strongly
adverse to him and Hastings. . . . What is most ma
terial is, that the whole House (excepting three or
four personal and sworn friends of Hastings and Impey)
seem completely satisfied on the point, and to have
made up their minds thoroughly against Hastings on
this charge, and I think more generally too on the
rest of his conduct. What is still more material is,
that it was said by very good authority that Ministry
had given up both Hastings and Impey. ... I am
heartily glad if it be so, because the impeachment will
then succeed, and it is richly due both to India and
our own honour. . . . How high does this set Burke,
and I may say perhaps a few who have discerned be
tween his single right and the popular and universal
wrong ! He was called mad, and worse, by many
perfectly well-meaning men, on this very subject ; and
he has now dragged his own party — the King — the ,
Ministry— the Parliament, and all the rest of the
world, by the mere force of truth, and by his single
vigour, into his measure. It was curious to see Pitt
and Fox consulting amicably — Sheridan and Dundas
settling their questions together— Burke lolling on the
Treasury Bench. So things stand at present. All this
means nothing — not a feather in general politics ; but

Mi. 35] SHERIDAN'S SPEECH ON THE BEGUMS 123
it is a most excellent and comfortable thing in itself
to those who have any real principle in the affairs of
India.' 'February 6, 1787.
' I dined at the Robinsons' l on Saturday, and took my
seat at the opera, being introduced by Lady Palmerston.
' She does, I believe, really regret your absence,
having as you know a predilection for your rivals. The
Cumberland box at the opera is behind the pit, in the
centre, and adds to the splendour of the house. The
Prince of Wales sits there a good deal. The music,
that is, the singing, is very bad, and the dancing in
different.' ' February 8.
' You know, as I have just told you, that I was up
till half after three yesterday morning on account of
the masquerade. This was a bad preparation for a late
house. I slept tolerably, however, till ten ; but this
last night, though the House was up soon after one,
and I was in bed before two, I have not slept one wink.
Nothing whatever was the matter with me, except the
impression of what had been passing still vibrating on
my brain. . . . Sheridan opened his charge, and spoke
exactly five hours and a half, with such fluency and
rapidity that I think his speech could not be read in
double the time. You may imagine the quantity of
matter it contained. It was by many degrees the most
1 Hon. Frederick Robinson, son of the first Lord Grantham; married
Gertrude Harris, sister of Sir James.

124 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
I excellent and astonishing performance I ever heard,
and surpasses all I ever imagined possible in eloquence
and ability. This is the universal sense of all who
heard it. You will conceive how admirable it was
when I, tell you that he surpassed, I think, Pitt, Fox,
and even Burke, in his finest and most brilliant ora
tions. The subject was, indeed, worthy of such an
effort; and as he did ample justice to it, so did it
contribute much to the effect of his speech, and to the
applause he obtained by its affecting nature, as well as
by the clear justice of his cause. It is impossible to
describe the feelings he excited. The bone rose re
peatedly in my throat, and tears in my eyes — not of
grief, but merely of strongly excited sensibility; so
they were in Dudley Long's, who, is not, I should
think, particularly tearful. The conclusion, in which
the whole force of the case was collected, and where
his whole powers were employed to their utmost stretchy
and indeed his own feelings wound to the utmost pitch,
worked the House up into such a paroxysm of passion
ate enthusiasm on the subject, and of admiration for
him, that the moment he sat down there was a universal
shout, nay, even clapping, for half-a-second ; every
man was on the floor, and all his friends throwing
themselves on his neck in raptures of joy and exultation.
This account is not at all exaggerated, and hardly does
justice to, I daresay, the most remarkable scene ever
exhibited, either there or in any other popular as
sembly. You ask what the consequence was. All the
Ministry and all the friends of Hastings were struck

Mi. 35] EFFECT OF SHERIDAN'S SPEECH 125
absolutely dumb, and sat confounded, not knowing-
how, nor daring to meet the impression made on the
audience; and after Burgess had talked absolute
nonsense for an hour in favour of Hastings, they re
collected themselves enough to move for an adjourn
ment till to-day. Pitt, I think to the disgrace of
Government on such a question, not only never gave
the least sign of feeling or of life during the speech,
but would not give the least hint of his opinion or
intentions, which are a profound and impenetrable
mystery even to his friends at this moment. Dundas
seemed by his countenance and behaviour to be with
us, but is not to be trusted.' ' 'February 9, 1787.
' I am at last faitly afloat as regards Impey. I gave
notice yesterday of my intention to make a motion
some little time hence concerning Sir E. Impey. It
will be, I think, just three weeks hence ; ! and he has
1 Burke declared this speech to be ' the most astonishing effort of
eloquence, argument, and wit united, of which there was any record or
tradition.' Mr. Fox said, ' All that he had ever heard, all that he had
ever read, when compared with it, dwindled into nothing, and vanished
like vapour before the sun.' And Mr. Pitt acknowledged ' that it
surpassed all the eloquence of ancient and modern times, and possessed
everything that genius or art could furnish, to agitate and control the
mind.' — Moore's Life of Sheridan.
The opinion of Sir James Mackintosh, who heard the speech, was that
it would not have suited the taste of a later age. The metaphors were
often forced and in bad taste, as when Sheridan called the suckling of
an infant by its mother ' a sacrament of nature.'
2 The impeachment was subsequently postponed to the following
session, at the proposal of Mr. Dundas, who professed himself, and Pitt,
and everybody connected with them, warm friends to the measure, but

126 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787.
given me such an advantage by the impression made
on the House — both of his conduct in this last business
of Hastings, and of his general character as to veracity
and principle, by his late appearance at the bar as
witness — that I think there is little doubt of my suc
ceeding. 'Persons of all persuasions seem agreed about his
villany, and indifferent as to his fortune, so that, hav
ing no support anywhere, I daresay he will be left to
justice ; and it may perhaps even be considered as a
good opportunity for displaying a love of justice,
humanity, and so forth, without interfering with
people's partialities or interests. I am now in for it,
and although not without some anxiety, am not in bad
heart. We have carried our question of the Begums
in so decisive a way that there seems now no reason to
doubt of the impeachments proceeding to the House of
Lords, and of some justice being done.
' The defence that was made for him by his few
personal friends and advocates was more miserable than
could have been conceived. The speakers for him were
Burgess, who has completely done for himself in one
day; Nichols, a lawyer; Mr. Vansittart, a nabob;
Alderman Le Mesurier, a smuggler from Jersey ; Mr.
Smith, a director ; Major Scott, his agent ; Macdonald ;
and Dempster, who is one of the good-natured candid
men who connect themselves with every bad man they
thought it should not be brought forward at so late a period of the
session. This passed in April, and all the public business was to be
concluded by May 15.

Ms. 35] THE DEBATE ON THE IMPEACHMENT 127
can find. . . . His advocates had recourse again to the
old topics of the greatness of his services, the difficulties
of his station, and so forth, as set-offs against this error ;
, and the good-natured Dempster thought it all justifiable,
because we were in fact the masters in India, and it
was intended that we should oppress them if we held
them at all. One of them said it was not so severe on
the natives of that country, who were always accustomed
to despotic government, and used to cruelties ; he put
me in mind of the apology for skinning eels — " that they
are used to it." Pitt spoke fully, satisfactorily, and
handsomely, by which I mean in such a way as if he did
so with good views towards India and not from intrigue
here. I need not say it was for our motion. Dundas
did not speak. Our division was 175 to 86.
' There have been now three of the charges heard,
and the House has determined that there is ground to
impeach Hastings on two l of them, but it rejects the
third.2 I should have said the first, for it was that
with which they began. That vote was very scandalous,
the crime being only the extirpation of a whole nation
for a certain sum of money. But the connection with
Indians was then closer. . . . The prosperous state of
our Indian business gives me great satisfaction. The
decision of the question yesterday is the more agreeable
to me for being so much the act of Government itself,
who certainly are, more or less, though sore against
1 The Benares charge, moved by Fox; and the Oude charge by
Sheridan. 2 The Rohilla war.

128 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
our wills to trust it in such hands, the representatives
and depositaries even of our reputation, since they are
so in general of the national conduct and character ;
and I like it also the better for being in the whole (I
mean the whole of the Indian prosecution) a matter of
evident compulsion on Government and on the House
of Commons, who were certainly both founded directly
on the protection of Indian delinquency, or on the ruin
of those who were redressing it. When I say compul
sion, I mean the compulsion of truth when distinctly
presented to any large assembly, or to the public ; and
I say I like better that they should have been dragged
by truth against all their biasses and interests and en
gagements, because it will be the better understood in
India that such delinquencies cannot be protected even
by King, Ministers, or Parliament itself ; and this im
pression on the minds of the Company's servants, so
contrary to that as yet prevailing, is the object I propose
by these measures, and is that which reconciles me to
the disagreeable unthankful office of accuser and
prosecutor, which I have so long taken my share in.
' As to yesterday's particular charge, the thing that
has made me most inveterate and unrelenting in it is
only that it related to cruelty or oppression inflicted on
two black ladies ; and I see no reason for using that
colour worse than any other.' ' February 15, 1787.
' I went on Tuesday with Mrs. Robinson to the play,
and never in my life was more highly entertained and
delighted at the theatre than by Richard Cceur de Lion.

Ms. 35] PARLIAMENTARY ARRANGEMENTS 129
It is a most interesting story from our history made
into a little opera at Paris, and translated now into
English. Mrs. Jordan is quite divine in it.'
'February 20, 1787.
' We had yesterday some little talk in the House,
and we have had a good deal of private communication
with Ministry, about the impeachment of Hastings,
which I thought likely to be voted immediately ; but
there is at present a blundering crotchet in the heads
of some that if we vote the impeachment now, we shall
be precluded from going into any more charges after
wards. This is absolute nonsense, but the absolute
nonsense of many must be complied with, and the con
sequence will probably be the deferring of the vote
of impeachment till we have carried four or five more
of the principal charges. There seems a hearty con
currence of the Ministry in the House of Commons in
the business at present, but the Chancellor continues
against us ; and the House of Lords is of course doubt
ful. Impey's prosecution is approved by all mankind.
Dundas told me yesterday he thought him worse than
Hastings, and that I should find no difficulty in carrying-
on the prosecution. The fact is Dundas wants to dis
pose of his place. He made some awkward excuses to
me for not having removed him, or done something or
other with him themselves ; and I believe they will be
contented, not to be abused, which they seemed to
apprehend I might intend, as they well deserve ; but I
VOL. I. K

130 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
want their assistance for a good purpose, and shall not
quarrel with them on this subject.' ' February 22, 1787.
' I heard yesterday the first speech of a young mem
ber, Mr. Grey,1 for Northumberland, excessively good
indeed, and such as has given everybody the highest
opinion both of his abilities and his character. He
was brought in for that county by the Northumberland
interest as ministerial, which is the side of all his
friends and family, but he has taken the other line
himself, at least in the only business of this session.
' . . . . He professes not to be of a party, but I think
he has a warm leaning to us in general.'
' Bury Street : February 24, 1787.
' I dined Thursday and yesterday at Lady Pembroke's
with the Palmerstons, Revels, Lord Herbert, Archbishop
of Canterbury, and some others. Miss Beauclerc,2 the
youngest, vastly pretty, Lord Charles Spencer, with a
son taller than himself, dined there yesterday. After
dinner we had Lord and Lady Chatham, Lady Sidney,
Lady Frances Douglas, amazingly Sind as usual, without
caring a groat about us. I supped last night at Mrs.
Crewe's. . . . Mrs. Sheridan and Tickell sang like
angels — nothing can be more enchanting. Mrs. Crewe
1 Afterwards first Earl Grey. He spoke against the commercial
treaty with France, which he condemned in ' a speech no less distin
guished for eloquence of diction than strength of argument.'— Gentle
man's Magazine, 1787.
2 She married Lord Herbert in 1787. He succeeded his father as
11th Earl of Pembroke.

-Mr. 35] WARREN HASTINGS 131
refined and double refined, in a mumbling conversation
with me, but I think this much more entertaining than
nothing. Tickell l spoke with proper admiration and
respect of the Ayrshire ploughman's daisy, and Tickell
is a judge.' ' March 3, 1787.
' The Governor-General of Bengal still pleads poverty,
-as you may have observed the other day Major Scott
assured the House, on his honour as a private man
and a gentleman, that Hastings' whole fortune in the
world did not amount to 50,000Z., in which case it
seemed odd to the world that so poor a man should let
his wife wear jewels and ornaments as valuable as the
whole of his property besides ; and should bid for
-estates, and should make presents of such price.2 We
1 Brother-in-law of Sheridan, and author of ' Anticipation.'
2 The following note conveys the impression produced by the splendour
of Mrs. Hastings on Mirabeau, who saw her at the opening of Parlia
ment in January 1786 : —
' Tu peux dire a Monsieur Burke, mon ami, que place a 4 pa's de
Madame Hastings, qui m'a beaucoup gate la ceremonie peu imposante
et qui devroit etre si auguste de la rentree du parlement, plein de ces
robbes {sic) rouges, quigrace aux diamans de la Satrape, me paroissoient
degoutter de sang, je suis rentre chez moi, et qu'a l'ouverture de Pline
l'Aneien j'ai trouve ces mots que je le prie de ne pas oublier : —
' " Lolliam Paulinam quze fuit Caii principis matrona, ne serio quidem
aut solemni ceremoniarum aliquo apparatu, sed mediocrium etiam
sponsalium cena, vidi smaragdis, margaritisque opertam alterno textu
fulgentibus, toto capite, crinibus, spira, auribus, collo, monilibus,
digitisque ; quse summa quadringenties sestertium colligebat, ipsa con-
festimparata mancupationem tabulis probare. Nee donaprodigi principis
fuerant sed avitae opes provinciarum scilicet, spoliis partse, hie est
rapinarum exitus ; hoc fuit quare M. Lollius infamatus regum muneri-
bus in toto Oriente, interdicts amicitia a Caio Csesare Augusti filio
venenum biberet ut neptis ejustmadringenties sestertii operta spectaretur
;ad lucernas."- — Natur. Hist. lib. ix.

132 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787-
carried another question against him yesterday.1 It
was moved by Mr. Thomas Pelham.2 He certainly
performed very flatly, but had the recommendations of
evident timidity and modesty, which, added to good
sense and good intention, carried him through. Dundas.
spoke amazingly well, by which I mean not in ^point of
ability and eloquence, but in point of sound and just
sentiment on the subject of Indian transactions. You
would think they were all bit with justice, humanity,.
good policy, and all the virtues belonging to their
station. Whether there be any secret cause for this
revolution in the principles of ministry on this subject,
or whether it is only the operation of truth strongly
stated, and often and long presented to minds even the

' Adieu, mon ami, souviens toi de me faire entendre M. Burke et M.
Fox : de me faire connoitre celui-ciet M. Eden, et surtout de m'aimer.'
Translation. — 'I have seen Lollia Paulina, the wife of the Emperor
Caius, not on the occasion of any grave ceremonial, but at an ordinary
supper or wedding-feast, covered with emeralds, and pearls glittering ini
rows over her whole head, her hair, curls, ears, neck, collar, and fingers,.
the value of which amounted to 400,000 sesterces, as she was ready to
prove by her books and accounts. Nor were these the gifts of a prodigal
prince, but the riches of her house acquired by the spoliation of pro
vinces. But see the result of all that plundering ; it was on this-
account that M. Lollius, disgraced for receiving bribes from all the
princes of the East, forfeited the friendship of Caius Caesar, the son of
Augustus, and poisoned himself, that his niece might be gazed at by the
-supper-lights decked out in 400,000 sesterces' worth of jewels.'
1 The charge relative to. the revolution in Furruckabad.
- Hon. Thomas Pelham, born 1756, eldest son of Thomas Baron
Pelham, was called to the House of Lords in his father's barony in
1801, and succeeded his father in 1805 as second Earl of Chichester.
He represented the county of Sussex for many years in Parliament, and
filled various high official situations.

-Ml. 35] A DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 133
least predisposed to admit it, I know not, but I am
¦ sincerely happy too see good principles beginning to
• accompany great power, which they certainly have,
¦either for good or for evil. Lord Hood made a set
composed speech for Hastings, well enough written
and very well delivered, on the general topic of the
"indulgence due to men placed in difficult situations
and in foreign commands, and of the impropriety of
suffering those who had rendered great services and
had risked all personal considerations for the public
advantage and safety, to be persecuted with suits and
prosecutions. He endeavoured to confound this case
with that of generals and admirals who were obliged,
for the safety and preservation of their armies and
fleets, to do things irregular in themselves and contrary
to their own feelings, and he illustrated all this by
allusions to his own situation in the last war. The
whole of what he said was as foreign to the business as
if he had talked of the Westminster Scrutiny, but
¦coming from an old admiral and sounding very well
•and very just to the ear, where its application was not
considered it might have done mischief. Pitt, there
fore, sprang up, and made the most eloquent, the
Roundest, the most just, and most virtuous speech,
with all the animation that Burke, or the oldest par
tisan of virtue, could have shown in such a cause, and
with great compliment and great consideration for
Lord Hood, but with great spirit, tore Lord Hood's
nonsense to pieces, and laid so heavy a hand on Hastings
¦on the most delicate points, particularly on that of

134 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
corruption and peculation, that he is evidently and
irretrievably lost. This man is now rolled in the
kennel by those very persons who a year ago were all.
prostrate before his greatness, and strewing flowers and
laurels under the feet of his elephant. A bribe which
he took on this occasion of 100,000?. was for the first-
time treated and felt by the House as some impeach
ment of his pecuniary purity and of his poverty.' ' March 6, 1787.
L I supped at Mrs. Legge's with Windham, Sylv..
Douglas,1 and Lord Stormont, whom I am come to
like very much. Yesterday I was to have dined with
Windham at Mrs. Legge's, but we were kept too late-
at the House, and went to the Piazza Coffeehouse,.
where we dined very pleasantly. I then went to Fox's,.
to a little meeting of evil spirits, at the head of whom
was Welbore Ellis, the Nestor of our army. He is a
steady, honourable old gentleman, but seems out of his-
place in a hopeless Opposition, which is something like
a tontine, and seems to be a bad calculation for the-
class of lives his name belongs to. But honour and
principle are not matters of calculation, and may be-
subscribed to as reasonably at least at three score and
ten as at half that age ; and, to do Welbore Ellis-
justice, I am convinced that he is young enough to
take honour and duty into his computation, if he com
putes at all — and this is the only way in political.
1 Sylvester Douglas, created 'Lord Glenbervie. Married, in 1789,.
Katherine, eldest daughter of Lord North.

Mi. 35] GENERAL TOPICS 135
arithmetic to be sure of not reckoning without one's
host. Besides, if Welbore Ellis is not too old to be in
opposition, he is certainly not young enough to be in
office ; and in the present inversion of old order, when
our cabinet ministers are old statesmen of five-and-
twenty, I don't see why our lads of seventy should not
go into opposition. Sir Grey Cooper also represented
the other limb of the coalition. Poor Lord North is
returned from Falmouth, but is very near blind, and
very ill in all respects.' 'March 8, 1787.
'There has been a couple of days' blackguarding
between the Duke of Richmond and Lord Lansdowne
in the House of Lords, and it was reported yesterday
that they had fought ; but it was only a report. The
general wish I think was that one should be shot and
the other hanged for it. . . .
'From the opera I went to Mrs. Crewe's, where there
was a large party, and pleasant people among them —
for example, Tom Pelham, Mundy, Mrs. Sheridan,
Lady Palmerston, &c. &c. — besides all which were
three young men so drunk as to puzzle the whole
assembly. They were Orlando Bridgeman, Charles
Greville, and a Mr. Gifford, who is lately come to a
good, estate of about 5,000?. a year, the whole of which
he is in the act of spending in one or two years at
most — and this without a grain of sense, without any
fun to himself or entertainment to others. He never
uttered a word, though as drunk as the other two, who
were both riotous, and began at last to talk so plain

136 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
that Lady Francis and Lady Palmerston fled from their
side-table to ours, and Mrs. Sheridan would have fol
lowed them, but did not make her escape till her arms
were black and blue and her apron torn off. Yesterday
I called on Sir Joshua, and saw a very fine, new acqui
sition of his. It is the statue of Neptune, and brought
from Rome. He is doing the Prince and Mrs. Fitz-
herbert full-length — both perfectly like. Windham is
sitting.' 'March 14, 1787.
' I was again up till two o'clock at a ball. . . . The
ball was at Miss Adair's in Stratford Place ; she is a
daughter of Adair the surgeon-general, and sister of a
young man who wrote in the probationary odes, and is
a great buff and blue squib maker. The principal
person there was Mrs. Siddons, she did not dance, hut
was attended unremittingly by Windham on one hand,
and Tom Erskine ' on the other, and sometimes young
Burke in front, and young Adair in rear. I lost the
opportunity of being introduced to her, for which I
cannot give you any good reason, for I should have
liked it.' 'March 24, 1787.
* Windham performed extremely well on Thursday,
and carried his Fyzoola Khan. He spoke short, about
an hour and three-quarters, and was generally approved
of. His voice and delivery are exceedingly good, and
both these and his language resemble his ordinary
conversation more than public speaking generally does.
1 Afterwards Lord Erskine and Lord Chancellor.

JEt. 35] WINDHAM'S CHARGE 137
His conversation is, you know, in a considerable degree
more dressed, and approaches nearer to the tone of
debate, or other public performances, than of familiar
discourse, and his speech, still preserving the same
character, was only so much higher as to suit it to the
place and occasion. Both his ideas and language are
remarkable for a terse, accurate, logical, and scholar-
like character, and this character was perfectly pre
served throughout his performance, so that I think he
both deserved and acquired considerable credit on this
occasion. At the same time there were some defects
which flowed from defects in his character or constitu
tion. He was more miserably oppressed by fear than
anybody ever was, not excepting me, and I am con
vinced he had a taste of Palliser's hell for the day or
two preceding, during Which time he may fairly be
.said to have carried hell about with him in his mind.
The House had met and waited for him about an hour,
and at length he entered with the colour of a lemon.
His voice was extremely low, and his whole manner
dejected at the outset, and even when he had recovered
•the first flurry of rising, his sentences were every now
and then interrupted by a long, painful, fatigued,
nervous, sort of sob. This degree of apprehension and
distrust of himself, perhaps aided by the extreme in- I
decision for which he is famous, probably induced him
to decline any general exordium or introduction, or
any general statement or view of the case, such as
could prepare an ignorant audience to comprehend the
application of the particulars he was to treat of, and

138 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
fit them to form a clear opinion about it. The same
depressed sort of reserve prevented his venturing on
anything ornamental, or on urging and enforcing his-
topics with that force which is a principal excellence,
because it is essential for efficacy, in a mixed and
popular assembly, composed of understandings and
feelings of all paces, from the tortoise to lightning
itself ; and where, therefore, one should mind, while
one attends to the copper-bottom geniuses, not to-
leave the heavy sailers, who are the bulk of the convoy
and the force of the fleet, too far behind. This is all
that can be said disparaging of this performance,
which gave me and all his friends great satisfaction,
but which I was surprised had so entirely disgusted
and disappointed himself, that when I went down to
the bench where he sat, immediately after he had done,
to wish him joy of his safe deliverance, I found him
quite miserable, and with the mortified humiliated ap
pearance of a man who had just ruined himself.' x
1 Madame d'Arblay (Miss Burney), describing an appearance of Mr.
Windham during the trial of Warren Hastings, and as late as 1792,
says — ' He spoke ably and clearly as to the given point in dispute, but
with the most palpable tremor and internal struggle. I wonder, so-
" tremblingly" as he is alive " all o'er," how he ever made the first effort
to become a public speaker ; but having conquered that opening horror,
I wonder yet more, with such ability, readiness, knowledge, facility and
command of language, he has not totally vanquished the difficulties of
public exhibition. I can only suppose that by nature he is extremely
diffident, and by inclination equally ambitious ; and if so, the conflict
may last through life.' — Memoirs of Madame d'Arblay.

Ms. 35] POLITICS 1391
' Tuesday, March 27, 1787.
' My last letter was written, at least finished, at Mr..
Burke's, where I dined on Saturday. There was only
Walker King,1 John King, another brother of poor
Captain King's, Dick Burke, and Lawrence,2 the prin- ']
cipal author of the Rolliad. This Lawrence is an ;
uncommonly clever, able man, and extremely serviceable
in all the minor out-of-door politics. It was intended '
that Francis3 should bring on a charge concerning the
maladministration of the revenues in Bengal on Friday
next, but as there is to be but one charge before the-
general question for the impeachment, and as there is
a violent prejudice on the other side of the House
against Francis, whom they consider as acting on this
occasion from motives of personal resentment (although
nothing can be more perfectly unjust than this preju
dice), yet it has been thought better that Sheridan
should bring on the charge of presents and peculations.
on Friday ; and this arrangement is more advisable on
another account, for it is of much more consequence to
carry this charge of peculation before we come to the
question of impeachment than any other whatever.
The question of impeachment stands for Monday next,
but Mr. Hamilton, commonly known by the name of
Magnificent Hamilton, Lord Camelford's tenant at
1 Afterwards Bishop of Rochester.
2 French Lawrence, of whom on another occasion Sir Gilbert wrote
that, ' tho' a very clever man, with' more information than anybody, he
is not a famous articulator, and it is difficult to catch all he says. His
conversation is like a learned manuscript written in a bad hand.''
3 Afterwards Sir Philip Francis, reputed author of ' Junius.'

140 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
Petersham, gave notice yesterday that he should pre-
pose to defer it some time longer ; but I do not think
he is likely to succeed in that point, as both Pitt and
Dundas are the principal authors of the despatch. It
-shows, however, that there is still a party kept up for
Hastings, and it is now understood that they mean to
rally once more and make a push to throw out the
impeachment at last. . . . There has been reason to
think that William Grenville,1 commonly called Boguey
Grenville, is to head this party, and it is even added
that Pitt and he are now on bad terms on this subject,
and perhaps on some other accounts also. The minis
try are certainly far from cordial, and the King is
certainly no longer in love with his virtuous young
friend, and would be very happy to play him just such
another trick as he did to the Duke of Portland — that
is, to throw him out by a secret interior intrigue, while
he seems to be carrying the House of Commons very
quietly and securely along with him. As the Marquis
-of Buckingham was the instrument of this manoeuvre
before, his brother, it is thought, might not be deemed
an unfit one now, and indeed there have been various
loose conversations and conjectures this session of the
possibility of Pitt's going out, and Lord Lansdowne
coming in with the Grenvilles — Boguey to be Chancellor
•of the Exchequer, and Lord Lansdowne first Lord of
\the Treasury. Although these rumours and surmises
are probably almost wholly conjectural and imaginary
1 The Right Honourable William Grenville, afterwards Lord Gren
ville.

Ms. 35] RUMOURS AND SURMISES 141
and although in these matters one should never believe
above a twentieth part of what the world says, yet
some such small fraction of common fame may be true,
and account naturally enough for the supposed jealousy
and coolness between Pitt and Grenville. Grenville
has of late put himself very forward in debate, and
received on the commercial treaty high compliments
and rather greater distinction from our side of the
House than Pitt, which probably might help to elate
the natural pride in his blood, and to encourage any
projects of ambition he might have, while it would
also tend to increase Pitt's jealousy. I have been led
to this sketch of conjectural politics by the appearances
on this question of Hastings, on which there does ap
pear to be a little cloud brewing, and which is certainly
too weighty and material a point, and one on which
Pitt is too deeply and solemnly pledged, to admit of a
defeat, or, I think, even of opposition from his col
leagues, without consequences. This is, however, rather
reasoning on the ancient notions of the constitution and
government than on the late examples, for the defeat
of a minister has certainly not of late been considered
as affecting in any degree the situation of the minister,
who is, on Pitt's own precedent, to be considered as
merely and simply the nomination of the King, without
regard to the approbation of Parliament. It is still
understood that the root of any strength Hastings may
yet preserve is in Buckingham House ; the distinction
between Queen's Place and King's Place being, I
think, now very slender.

142 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
' As I was saying, I dined with Burke on Saturday.
Miss Palmer ' and Windham came after dinner. Miss
Palmer tells me that Sir Joshua has worked so much,
and made so many changes, on his great picture of the
Hercules for the Empress of Russia, that she is seriously
I afraid he no longer knows at all what he does to it, and
that although some parts of it were once excessively
fine, he has now made it worse than anything he ever
did. She seemed really frightened about it, and has
at least the merit of being very strongly interested
about her uncle's reputation. He means it for this
year's exhibition. . . .' ' Bury Street: March 29, 1787.
' Our business in the House last night was a motion
by Mr. Beaufoy for the repeal of the Test and Corpora
tion Acts, by which dissenters are excluded from corpo
rate and other offices civil and military. The House
was fuller than it has been of late, and, like all ques
tions relating to religion, this had excited a good deal
of expectation and attention. The gallery was full of
¦dissenters with straight heads of hair, and of parsons
with bushy wigs, and a number of bishops, among
whom Dr. Prettyman sat under the gallery. The debate
was pretty good, and was remarkable principally for the
attendance of poor Lord North, who came down for the
first time, and apparently for one of the last times,
since the first day of the session. He spoke both long
1 Mary, daughter of John Palmer, Esq., of Torrington, county Devon,
niece and heiress of Sir Joshua Reynolds. She married, in 1792, the.
first Marquis of Thomond.

Ms. 35] A MATCH AT TENNIS 143
and well against the motion, and his voice as full and
strong as ever, but he is a most miserably broken and
emaciated figure, and his strength seemed every now
and then wholly exhausted ; he is blind of one eye,
and can, I believe, only distinguish light with the
-other. . . . The division had nothing to do with party,
though probably Pitt's sentiments decided pretty much
the majority. He and Lord North were together. Fox
against them — that is to say, for the motion, and in
favour of the claims of the dissenters. I voted on this
side, and we were beat by a large majority. I am
going to-night to Mr. Kemble's benefit, to see Mrs.
Siddons in the part of Lady Restless.
' There was yesterday a grand match at tennis be
tween two French markers, Barcelon and Bergeron —
the two best, I believe, now in the world. They played
even over the court, and Bergeron was the conqueror.
I mention this particular for the Commodore's,1 benefit,
who is an amateur ; but I may add for your own that
what distinguished this match principally was the
presence of the Prince of Wales, who came for the first
time to the dedans. He was accompanied by a Monsieur
St. George, a famous French mulatto, celebrated for
his skill. in fencing, music, and most other accomplish
ments, beyond other men, and almost as remarkable in
this sort of fame as the Admirable Crichton, whom you
may have read of. The Prince was also attended by
Mr. Hesse, now commonly called the Prince of Hesse,
1 Commodore Elliot, who soon afterwards became an admiral.

144 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
and who is more with the Prince than is creditable to
his Royal Highness, as I remember we used to think
Hesse discreditable company even for Harry Hoare.
John St. John sat next the Prince, and was the happiest
of men in explaining the meaning of hazards, gallerys,'
grill, chaces, strokes, bisks, and the rest of the ABO
of tennis, the Prince not having yet learnt his letters
in that language. ... I believe it did not at all amuse
the Prince, as it requires some skill even to know the
merit and to enjoy the beauty of this game, and his
presence, though a great honour, was not very advan
tageous to the dedans in the way of pleasure or profit.
The markers were a little dazzled by a royalty, so as
to play worse than they would otherwise have done, and
the blacklegs were so respectful as to suspend even the
betting on this occasion. . . .
' I was wrong in part of my last politics about Mr.
Grenville's intention to head those who are to vote
against the impeachment ; but he gave a sort of notice
that he should be for deferring the vote till after the
holidays, which is intended to do mischief to the prose
cution, and is directly against Pitt's intentions.'
' Saturday, March 31, 178)7.
' You will have seen that I anticipated your reason
ableness as to my offer to go down, and that in the very
next letter I wrote you I restricted that gallantry to a
case which has not happened. It would, indeed, have
been the very next door to impossible to have accom
plished my visit in my present circumstances ; but I

Ms. 35] PRIVATE AFFAIRS 145
should certainly have done the impossible itself, as they
say in French, had you been really ill, or ill enough to
be out of spirits. Notwithstanding, however, the
absence of that cause for your claiming my promise, it
is fair to too-too-too you for having been so reasonable
about it, not only in giving the point up, but in seeing
and admitting so readily the difficulties which have
stopped it. A great deal of love without any nonsense
seems the perfection of wedlock, or of any other lock
which fastens two hearts together. It is gold without
alloy — it is May weather instead of April — it is, in
short, life without crosses — and it is, in shorter, my
dear Maria's own self instead of a fine lady or a senti
mental one. ... I have inquired since my last letter
as to the length of the session, and, though nobody can
speak positively, it is the general expectation that
Parliament will rise by the middle of May, which seems
next to certain if nothing happens to delay the little
progress in the business of Hastings which remains to
be made this session. The trial will certainly not take
place this year, and you will have a chance, therefore,
to partake of that solemnity. I feel in tolerable heart
as to my own business. I do not propose even to my
self any great flights of eloquence, nor aim at the lofty
fame which is attainable by four at most of all the
millions who are our contemporaries. If I can preserve
my place for clear understanding, tolerable judgment,
moderate talents, and perfection in character and sin
cerity alone, my ambition will be fully gratified ; and
if I fail much in fulfilling these temperate desires, my
VOL. I. L

146 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
nerves must take the blame, which sounds so silly that
I do not like even to suppose it. I have, however, of
late had some reason of the best sort — I mean experi
mental — to know the difficulty even of mediocrity in
this talent of public speaking, as I have seen persons,
whose general abilities and qualifications of every sort
I do certainly set above my own, fail more than I should
easily reconcile to myself in my own case. Windham,
for example, did certainly not quite justify the expecta
tions which the certainty we have of his abilities and
of his talents, even for discourse and language, reason
ably give us ; and he did himself credit on the whole,
but his shafts fell short of the> butt his friends had
placed for him, and at which probably he shot himself.
The same disappointment undoubtedly took place in
your friend Tom Pelham's performance, although the
expectations were not so high.
' On Thursday I dined at Mundy's with Mrs. Gaily,1
etc., and a Miss Bowdler.2 She is, I believe, a blue
stocking, but what the colour of that part of her dress
is must be mere conjecture, as you will easily believe
when I tell you that, talking of the operas, and^
amongst the rest of the dancers, she said she never
looked at the dancing, but always kept her eyes shut
the whole time, and when I asked why, she said it was
so indelicate she could not bear to look.'
1 Selina, wife of Henry Gaily ' Knight, Esq., daughter of William
Fitzherbert, Esq., MP., a sister of Lord St. Helens.
2 Miss Bowdler, author of 'Essays.'

Ms. 35] A PORTRAIT-PAINTER FROM WAPPING 147
, ' Bury Street : Monday, April 2, 1787.
' Having half-an-hour to spare this morning, I shall
give you a page or two, lest to-morrow should be more
engaged ; but I expect to be interrupted every moment
by a painter from Wapping Wall, a constituent who
says he has been commissioned by some freemen at
Berwick to do my picture and General Vaughan's for
the Town Hall, which I do not believe a word of, and I
think he means to force a job out of some of us when
his work is done, in which I have given him clearly to
understand that he will be disappointed. He is to take
a sketch of my head in small, from which he says he
shall easily do the large picture without any sitting ;
as for the figure, he thinks he is sure to succeed in that,
as he always makes it a rule to follow the proportions
of the Apollo Belvedere. He is a painter of the sterns.,
of ships, and such things, and I presume my picture
may one day adorn a smack, for I do not flatter myself
it will ever get within the Town Hall. The worst of it
is that he will probably destroy me a couple of good
forenoons. ' On Saturday I dined at Lady Palmerston's. . . .
Mrs. Cholmondeley ' came in just after dinner, and
called for a bottle of champagne, and was in one of her
high-spirited humours. She has got excessively fat,
like other elderly people. She told us she was fifty-
seven, and for one so near sixty she is really a surpris-
1 Wife of the Hon. and Rev. Robert Cholmondeley, and sister of
' Peg Woffington.' 1 2

148 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
ing creature both for looks and vivacity. ... I went
on to the opera, where I am now a great frequenter of
ladies' boxes. I went into Lady Carlisle's to see Bell
Gunning; into Lady Cunningham's to see Miss Gun
ning. I waited on Lady Frances Douglas, who had Lord
Dalkeith and Lord Henry witli her. Lord Dalkeith, a
fine natural-spirited boy, and by no means ill-looking,
though still promising to be like the Duke. He said
he had been laid up some time with a lame leg. I said
as he was a fine gentleman who attended the opera, I
supposed it was the gout ; he said ' No, sir ; it's a kick
in the shins at football;' which I thought a good
natural account of a schoolboy's lameness.
* After the opera I supped at Mrs. Crewe's, and once
more heard Mrs. Sheridan and Mrs. Tickell l sing
several things together, but the most lovely thing that
music can produce is their Ally Croker, which they sang
again the other night. Mrs. Sheridan is really nearer
one's notion of a muse, or an angel, or some such preter
natural or semi-divine personage, than anything I have
ever seen alive, and it is therefore not surprising that
Mr. Mundy should be very much in love with her.
Sheridan, it seems, has taken notice of it ; but there
has never been the slightest suspicion of Mrs. S. having
listened to Mundy, or to anybody else. I think he is a
universal favourite with your sex, being both handsome
and good humoured ; but I should think him too little
entertaining were I a lady. We had another pair of
1 Sister of Mrs. Sheridan.

Ms. 35] A SUPPER AT MRS. CREWE'S 149
lovers— viz. Lord Carysfort and Miss Grenville, who are
rather come to a sober time of life for the amusement 1
of courtship, but they did their best. She is much
fallen off, though she never was beautiful. When Mrs.
Sheridan and her sister were singing these words, which
they dwelt on a long time — ' This may soothe, but can
not cure, my pain ' — Lord Carysfort fixed his widower's
eyes in a most languishing, amorous, and significant
manner on his love, who did not seem at all at a loss
to understand his glances, and whether she was enter
tained with them or not, there were several of us at
table who were. We had, besides these, Sir Watkin
and Lady Williams, Dean Marly, Lady Frances Douglas,
Lord Downe — a very pleasant gentlemanlike young
man, an M.P., and a staunch friend — and Tom Pelham,
who begged another look of your portrait, which I have
no notion of going on bestowing ton him gratis, and I
proposed to let him have a look whenever he is in dis
tress, at so much a look. He said I put him in mind
of a French novel called Manon de I'Escaut, where a
lady is carried away prisoner, and her lover follows her,
and procures the indulgence of seeing her now and then ;
when the guards discover the pleasure he takes in it,
they make him pay so much a day, and then raise it to
the same sum an hour, and so on, and minutes. These
suppers are bad in one respect, they are excessively late,
and I did not get to bed till half after two.
' - . . I called yesterday on Lady Northampton ; l
1 Widow of Claudius Amyand, Esq., uncle to Lady Elliot. She had
been previously married to George Compton, Earl of Northampton.

150 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
she was very kind both towards me and you, who are, I
am convinced, nearer her heart than anybody in the
world. She likes your picture very much, and thinks
it very like.' ' April 3, Tuesday Morning.
' I must first tell you that the question of the presen
tations was carried last night with a high hand as usual,
and was remarkable for bringing Lord Mulgrave and
William Grenville out against him 1 as strongly as any
of us. They have stickled for him, and Lord Mulgrave
has repeatedly spoke for him, but yesterday they both
laid heavy hands on him, and treated him as thoroughly
and decidedly corrupt and profligate in money. He
has, however, still fast hold of Buckingham House,
and there has been a point carried for him, which,
without that support, could not and ought not to have
happened. It is to defer the vote of impeachment till
after the holidays. Pitt has been obliged to yield this
point to Grenville to avoid a rupture, and Burke con
ceded it to Pitt to avoid a separation and division of
our combined forces ; indeed, it would have been vain
to oppose it, as without Pitt he must have been beat.
Fox, however, though he saw the necessity of yielding
where we had not the power to contend, yet felt the
point so important that he made a speech and protest
for himself against it, which gave me a good impres
sion of him, as his eagerness could proceed on this
occasion from nothing but a very strong and sincere
1 Warren Hastings.

Mi. 35] A QUEST FOR A DINNER 151
earnestness on a point which he thought prejudicial to
the general powers of the House of Commons. 'April 12.
' On Tuesday, after sealing your letter, I went out
in quest of a dinner. It was past 5 o'clock. I first
went to Sir David's,1 but found an empty house, then
to Sir George's,2 who was drinking wine after dinner,
and who saved me the trouble of trying the Legges
and Palmerstons, telling me they were not at home ;
I saw the Robinsons driving by, and hoped to be taken
on by them, but found they were going to Colonel
Barre's, who might perhaps have poisoned me as a
Burkeite, which is the bane of a Landsdownite. I
turned my face eastward in despair, but was in luck
enough at last to find Morton Pitt, with whom I dined
en famille. Lord Herbert has carried his bride to
Richmond, where they are still eating their honey.
It is a very pretty match, and a pretty hive to eat it
in. I could not help expressing a wish to Lord
Herbert, or rather making him the offer to exchange
my present situation with him, and if he would im
peach Sir Elijah for me I would marry Miss Beauclerc
for him. If I had but thrown you into the bargain,
he would no doubt have taken me at my word, but as
it is I never heard more of it.
' After dinner I walked over the bridge to Astley's,
and being a friend of the family was admitted behind
1 Sir David Carnegie, married to a daughter of ex-Governor Elliot' s.
2 Sir George Cornewall, brother to Lady Elliot.

152 LIFE AND LETTERS .[1787
the scenes. I supped at Windham's with Mrs. Siddons.
There were Mr. and Mrs. Siddons, Sir Joshua Reynolds,
and Miss Palmer ; Dudley Long ; Mr. Lambton, a
learned man ; Mr. Malone, a dramatic critic ; Mr.
Metcalfe, also a scholar ; and myself.
' Mrs. Siddons is , very beautiful in a room, but of
the strong powerful sort of beauty that reminds one of
a handsome Jewess. She does not speak much, and
that modestly enough, but in a slow, set, and studied
sort of phrase and accent very like the most familiar
passages of her acting, but still in a degree theatrical.
Mr. Siddons, quite a plain, modest, well-behaved man ;
tall, stout, clean, and well-looking, but nothing the
atrical, romantic, or witty : and his appearance not
such as one would conceive the mate of the tragic muse
ought to be. The rest of the company was all very
pleasant, and the conversation now and then a little
learned, now and then a little witty, but always per- .
fectly natural and agreeable, and I got home between
one and two.' ' April 14, 1787
' I went yesterday to Mrs. Jordan's benefit with Mrs.
Robinson. We sat in the pit all in a row. The play
was " As you Like it ; " Mrs. Jordan's part Rosalind, and
she did it inimitably. I seldom remember being better
entertained at a play. Kemble played her lover
Orlando, and very well. She is, you know, famous for
her figure in breeches. She played Roxalana in the
farce of the " Sultan," and the little cocked-up nose,
you know, who plays the devil in the seraglio, and

Mi. 35] MRS. JORDAN AND MRS. SIDDONS 153
worries the sultan by being petulant and impertinent
to him. This was a famous part of Mrs. Abington's,
and I still think she gave a juster notion of the cha
racter, for with a great deal of vivacity, and all the
petulance intended by the author, her manners were
those of a lively gentlewoman. Whereas Mrs. Jordan,
though infinitely agreeable, and charming you by the
naturalness of her acting, yet does certainly now and
then, and, indeed, in the general character of her
manners, descend to a lower style of life, and nearer to
vulgarity of tone, than is always suited to the rank of
her part, or the taste of the better half of her audience.
• April 17, 1787.
' I sent you an account of Mrs. Jordan last letter.
The day after I went to the play again to see " Julia,"
the new tragedy by the author of " Braganza." Mrs.
Siddons played extremely well, and was almost con
stantly on the stage, and Kemble also did really ex
cellently, and seems to be growing into a good actor,
in which case he will be very valuable, having such
advantages in figure and countenance. These two
certainly made the play succeed better than I think
it entitled to do from its own merit. It is, like all
Jephson's l writing, too much fine writing and rhetorical
poetry, or poetical rhetoric, to affect the passions at all.
The plot is always very defective, and, on the whole,

1 Mr. Jephson had brought out a successful tragedy called The Count
de Narbohne, in 1781. — Letters of Horace Walpole, Nov. 18, 1781.

154 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
the tragedy very indifferent on the stage, though
probably good by the fireside.
L Mrs. Siddons spoke the epilogue, and exposed her
want of all comic power and familiar easy levity. She
was like the ass playing the lap-dog ; and though we did
not wish to reject her gambols with a cudgel, like the
man in the fable, yet we all longed for the real lap-
dog, Mrs. Jordan, in her place.
' I went home with Burke and Windham, and Walker
King supped with us, and we criticised Burke out of
his admiration of his countryman's (Jephson's) perfor
mance ... I called yesterday on Miss Gunning, and
found surgeons dressing her shoulder — that's to say,
they had just done their work. She was overturned
with her sister, it seems, last week in a coach in Rich
mond Park, and had almost dislocated her shoulder,
but it proves only a bad bruise. Bell Gunning1 was
there yesterday ; she was not at all hurt, having more
flesh on her bones to break the fall. Miss Gunning
has either Euclid, or a Horace, or a German poet, open
before her when one calls. She says she does not dis
cover these secrets to many, but she does not dislike to
be known to possess these unusual accomplishments for
a maid of honour. She really understands extremely
well all these things, and I have made her demonstrate
a proposition and translate and criticise an ode, so as
to be satisfied that she has been really well founded.'
1 The youngest daughter of Sir R. Gunning ; married General Ross.

Mr. 35] THE PRINCE'S AFFAIRS 155
¦April 20, 1787.
' You will see by the papers that the Prince's affairs
are coming on. There seems a considerable division
of opinion even amongst those who might most natur
ally have been expected to take a decided part for the
Prince — I mean those who generally vote with Opposi
tion ; but I understand that several of our country
gentlemen are against him, and I doubt the extremely
delicate subject of his connection with Mrs. Fitzherbert,
and the constitutional dangers and doubts belonging to
this most equivocal condition of things, will force itself
into the discussion, though not very pertinent to it.
I have always thought that part of his conduct, so far
as it is known to me, a most heavy offence against
duties and interests too sacred and too important to
eight or ten millions of us to be excused even by the
levity or the passions of youth. ... A prorogation
has been speculated on as a possible expedient for
getting rid of this subject for some months longer.
But this would, I think, give general offence, and put
the people's love for these extraordinary exertions of
prerogative to a more severe proof than can be wished
for at Court. Besides, Hastings' business will not be
far enough advanced to admit of this measure, and the
King will never venture to interrupt the proceedings
against Hastings by prorogation. That would speak
the bulse and the cradle too plainly to be ventured.'

156 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
' May 1.
'We had another conversation yesterday on the
Prince's affairs. It is well enough reported in to-day's
" Morning Herald." The material circumstance was
that Fox declared, by authority from the Prince, in
the fullest and most unequivocal manner, that there
was not the smallest foundation of any sort for the
story of the marriage with Mrs. Fitzherbert, and that
if that subject was thought fit to be brought into dis
cussion, the Prince would himself give answers to any
questions which might be put to him in the Lords.
Rolle hinted at the distinction between a legal marriage
and some ceremony that might satisfy the consciences
of some persons, but Fox rejected any such distinction,
and asserted again that there never had been the
slightest ground for this slander, either legally or il
legally, and, in a word, denied positively from the
Prince himself the whole of this slander, in words so
strong and so unqualified that we must believe him. '
This is one instance more of the difficulty there is to
know the truth of the most important facts which
happen in our own day and in the place where we live.
I own I was much rejoiced to hear this story so com
pletely contradicted, as I thought it both mischievous
in the highest degree to the country, and in the same
degree dishonourable to the Prince. Fox professed as
1 It is well known that immediately after the conversation referred
to, Mr. Fox was made aware that he had been misled by the Prince,
and Fox in consequence broke off all relations with him for a con
siderable period.

Ms. 36] THE RIDOTTO 157
strongly, on the part of the Prince, his readiness to lay
his correspondence with the King about his debts before
the House, if it was required, and even to give the
particulars of his debts as minutely as the House would
wish. ... I think yesterday was a very good day for
the Prince, as the story of Mrs. Fitzherbert was what
staggered great numbers, and he offers such unreserved
satisfaction on every point which has been started
against him, that the natural desire of every man to
relieve him from so unbecoming a situation seems now
to have nothing to contradict or restrain it. . . . This
conversation leaves Mrs. Fitzherbert in an awkward
way ; but, for my own part, I feel much better satisfied
with her conduct now than I did before.'
¦ House of Commons : Thursday, May 3, 1787.
' It is only one o'clock in the day, though I date my
letter from this place, for I am come here with Wind
ham about a paving bill for the town of Swansea. I
have also already had a visit from Burke, and been at
his house at a little consultation — all which occupations
will, I fear, abridge your allowance to-day. I was up
late last night, by going to the Ridotto with Lady
Palmerston and Mrs. Crewe ; and a worse business
never was seen. The pit was not floored, but left in its
natural ragged state, with steps thrown up to the stage,
which, of course, was so small an area for our walk,
that though there were not, I daresay, much above 100
people, there was not room to walk further than a
sailor does on a deck. It was, besides, miserably

158 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
lighted, and more favourable to retiring love than to
public festivity. Every soul was growling and grumb
ling, though it might have been easily guessed before
we went ; but Lady Palmerston had been in as great a
fever to get there as I have seen Harriet on similar
occasions. The Duchess of Cumberland was there with
Lady Elizabeth, and asked the notables to sup in her
room. I was asked with the rest of my party, but
there was so large a table, that the guests had little
communication with her, and I did not renew my
acquaintance there, which I know you will abuse me
for, as well as for never going to Cumberland House or
St. James's this year. As for Carlton House, it has not
been open in an accessible way except to his table com
panions. There were very few even of the frail at this
uninteresting entertainment, and, as soon as supper
was over, I got Mrs. Crewe off, and walked home, very
glad to be released. Between the House of Commons
and the Ridotto I went to Mrs. Gally's, where I met
the Anguishes and Pepper Arden. Windham spoke
yesterday remarkably well ; it was on the farming the
post-office tax. It was an attack on Sir Richard Hill,
a thorough-paced thick-and-thin treasury man, and was
done with great force and humour.
' The Prince of Wales' business stands still for to
morrow, but conferences and negotiations have taken
place between Pitt and the Prince and the King to
day, the result of which I do not yet know, but think
it not unlikely that some accommodation may take
place, which is most desired by all parties, for I find

Ms. 36] POLITICS 159
there is a great difference of opinion amongst those
who are called the Prince's friends, and that the busi
ness was brought on against the advice of the Duke of
Portland, Fox, and the principal people of the party.
' I wrote the foregoing pages just before dinner
time, and most unfortunately met Burke full tilt, with
whom I was kept walking in the Park and streets till
too late for my dinner, which, after all, I have had
here in Great Russell Street. I have read part of Mrs.
Crewe's Paris Journal, but am not much edified.
The best thing that can be said of it is that it aims at
nothing great, and is simple and familiar. Every now 1
and then one meets with a pleasant thought and a good
description ; but I should have supposed that a person
who saw everything with the intention of writing it
would have produced something more interesting.
There is a talk of a party from Crewe Hall, in Cheshire,
to see the Cumberland lakes. Windham is to be one,
and perhaps Sheridan and his wife. I said I would
meet them with you, and escort them northwards ; but
we are all too fine people to be depended on.'
' Bury Street : May 5, 1787.
' - . . First for politics : — You will see by the
papers that the Prince's affairs are amicably adjusted,
and that Alderman Newnham's motion in the House of
Commons was therefore withdrawn yesterday. I told
you in Thursday's letter that some communication had
taken place between Pitt and the Prince. Pitt wrote
a letter on Thursday to the Prince, informing him — (I

160 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
don't know exactly the words) — but informing him in
general terms that the King was ready to afford him
the relief he desired. The letter was so general and
so loose that Pitt added his readiness to give any
further verbal explanations of it which might be re
quired ; and Fox being out of the way, Sheridan had
accordingly a conference with him, in which he said he
meant the professions in the letter to be understood in
the most extensive and liberal sense, and that he would
abide by any construction which the Prince himself
thought fit to put upon it. The English of this is an
offer to propose, from the King, the payment of his
debt and increase of his income, instead of its being
moved in Parliament in opposition to the King, which
till that time was the state of the case. This amounts,
after what has passed, to a complete victory on the
Prince's part, and a complete defeat and surrender on
that of the King and minister. The ground, however,
taken to reconcile this assent of the King's with his
former and late position and decided refusal is the
declaration made by Fox contradicting the story of the
marriage. But this cannot pass on the world, because
first, the King must have known the real state of that
affair long ago if he had chosen to inquire : and next,
Mr. Pitt, at the very time when he professed the most
violent opposition to the payment of the Prince's debts,
and threatened the discussion of some points, which,
he supposed, would intimidate the Prince from pro
ceeding, did, however, in direct terms and repeatedly,
disclaim any allusion whatever to Mrs. Fitzherbert, and

Ms. 36] THE PRINCE'S AFFAIRS 161
treated his adversaries as scandalously misrepresenting
him when they charged him with threatening any
inquiry into that transaction. I should suppose that
Pitt apprehended, after the satisfaction the Prince
had given relative to Mr. Fox, that an opposition to
his relief would be either ineffectual or so unpopular
that he did not choose to risk the loss of so capital a
question, and perhaps was not very willing to irri
tate the future king past redemption. I consider the
turn of this business as fortunate for the Prince, be
cause I find there was a strong disinclination to the
business in many persons of the greatest weight among
his friends, or those at least lately accounted so. The
Duke of Portland, in particular, had strongly dis
suaded the Prince from bringing it on, principally on
the knowledge he had of the very general dislike to it
amongst the principal men in the party, but also, I
believe, from a disapprobation of the measure in his
own mind. Fox had been of the same opinion, and
the Prince had determined of his own head, or on the
advice of nobody knows who, to force it on contrary to
the sentiments and wishes of his principal friends. I
am sorry to find that there had been rather an angry
conference between the Prince and the Duke of Portland
on the subject, and that the Prince considers the Duke
as no longer on terms of friendship with him. I under
stand that he accuses the Duke of canvassing members
of Parliament against him on this occasion, which I
believe is absolutely false, for not only I never heard a
syllable on the subject one way or the other from him
VOL. I. M

162 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
myself, but I have not been able to hear of anybody
who has.
' This measure being pushed on contrary to the
Duke's advice, and carried through by Fox and the rest
of the party, seems to be considered as a sort of sepa
ration and schism in the party, that may lead to dis
cussion on other occasions, and perhaps to a total disso
lution of what is called the Whig party of which Lord
Rockingham was once the head, and of which the Duke
of Portland has been the head since Lord Rockingham's
death. This is the only party existing in the country,
and the only strength that can ever be opposed to the
perpetual and indissoluble weight of Court influence,
so that I should consider it as a misfortune to see this
faggot split into separate twigs which may be easily
, broken singly. I do not, however, see these conse
quences as necessary, and possibly the warmth of Burke's
imagination may exaggerate the mischief, although his
judgment is in general as much juster than other men's
as his fire is greater. His own opinion was against the
Prince, but his objections were, in a great degree,
personal to himself as having taken the lead formerly
in opposing the payment of the King's debts, and as
having moved and been the author of the Establishment
Bill for restraining and controlling the King in his
expenses on the Civil List. He had determined, there
fore, to go to the country during the discussion of this
question. There were yesterday circular cards of invita
tion to Carlton House to a great part of the House of
Commons. Burke did not think it right to go, as he -

Ms. 36] MEETING AT CARLTON HOUSE 163
did not mean to support the measure, but wrote a
letter to the Prince explaining the personal reasons
which disabled him, as mover of the Establishment
Bill, to take any part in serving him on this occasion.
When Burke wrote this letter, he did not know the
intention of the meeting, and he gave me the letter to
have it delivered or not, as the circumstances should
happen to require it, according to my own discretion.
The meeting was at three o'clock, and there were about
180 members of the House of Commons. The Prince
made a short speech, gracefully and naturally delivered,
but without the appearance of any study or preparation
in the language, though not without as much tremour
and feeling as served to make it more interesting.
The purport was only to thank us for the zealous and
generous support we had manifested an intention to
give him, which, as it eould not but be extremely
satisfactory to him in many views in an occasion so
important to his affairs, was also not a little flattering
to his vanity. He then informed us that the business
was fortunately in a train of being adjusted amicably,
and that there would therefore be no occasion to press
the motion expected that day in the House of Commons.
He expressed some regret at having been obliged to
trouble his friends on an occasion of so unpleasant a
nature, and repeated, with a great deal of natural grace,
his thanks and gratitude for the support he had met
with. He then expressed a wish that we would go
down to the House, although no difference of opinion
was to be expected' that day, but he could not help
31 2

164 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787"
feeling that such a show of support would reflect credit
on his cause ; and away we all went. Of course I did
not deliver Burke's letter, as the business was not to
come into debate. . . . This is enough of the
Prince to-day. I shall only add, what I presume you
know from my former letters, that my own opinion was-
clearly for relieving this younker once from the natural
consequences of his age and situation. While I am
on this subject, I may tell you that, coming from
Lombard Street on Thursday, I saw people crowding
into the Mitre Tavern, Fleet Street, and followed the
stream into a large room full of people of both sexes,
who were assembled to debate on the payment of the
Prince of Wales' debts. I heard eight speeches by no
means so bad, in any instance, as three-fourths of those
I hear in Parliament, and was extremely well enter
tained.' 'May 8, 1787.
' I fear I have not time to-day to tell you very par
ticularly all the stories about the Prince of Wales'
affairs, nor is it indeed of any use to retail all the lies.
and conjectures that are wandering about town on this
subject. The fact, I believe, was last night that, after
some interviews and conferences between the Prinee-
and his friends with Pitt and some other ministerialists,
the Prince had given to Pitt, in writing, some specifi
cation of his expectations or wishes, which Pitt for
warded to the King at Windsor, and the answer to
which was not expected till to-day. It seems difficult
now that the business should not be adjusted, because

JEt. 36] BURNS' POEMS 165
if they were to differ after what is passed, one or other
¦of the two — the King or the Prince — must be so much
in the wrong, that it can hardly be supposed either
would venture the consequences. . . .
' I have read about half of Burns' Poems, and am in ,'
¦the highest degree of admiration. I admire and wonder i
at his general knowledge of the human character, of [
the manners, merits, and defects of all ranlcs and of
many countries ; the great justness and also the great
liberality of Ms judgment; and, what is most to be ;
stared at of all, the uncommon refinement of his mind in '
all his views and opinions, and the uncommon refinement
of his taste in composition. This, I say, seems more :
wonderful than genius, because one is apt to suppose
genius is born, refinement only acquired. Now, grant- 1
ing his access to good books, yet consider the company
he has lived in, and in how much worse than total
solitude his mind has had to work and purify itself in ;
consider how severe labour blunts the edge of every
mind, and how the discomforts of poverty in a Scotch
climate shall cripple genius, and what a sedative it
must be to the imagination — nay, how much nearer
even the pleasures of his rank must lead to sottishness
than to elegance and ivit—a,nd then see what a victory
¦mind has over matter, and how " will has dung fate"
in this prodigy. You may keep this panegyric to
yourself, as I perceive I have indulged myself in an
oration. . . . What a pity that Hawick had not
been so celebrated instead of Ayr !
' I shall give you an account of the play at the Duke

166 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
of Richmond's which I saw last Saturday, but I really
have not time now; only this by the way: — Mrs.
Hobart is really excellent, and not to be surpassed by
any professor in point of voice and delivery. The
action on a stage should be just, but it should he.
colossal, though well proportioned and well designed.
For painting that is really good, would, in the same
manner, be miserably faint and feeble for scenes. The
still motionless manners, therefore, of gentlefolks do
not suit this situation, and give an appearance of
poverty and want of spirit to their performance. In
short, you see, good company will still be dull. Mrs.
Bruce, formerly one of the Miss Sharpes, at Bath, is a
perfect waiting-woman. Mrs. Darner, pleasing in her
self, but poor enough as an actress, Lord Derby
declaimed the declamatory parts of his character ex
tremely well, but in the bustles, agitations, and pas
sionate parts, was so ill served by his countenance and
features as to be giggish. Dicky Edgecumbe the most
entire gigg I ever saw, though I don't know that he-
did Sir Brilliant Fashion amiss.'
' Bury Street : Thursday, May 17, 1787.
' I was last night at the masquerade at Vauxhall with-
the Palmerstons, the Culverdens,1 Miss Burney, Wind
ham, Pelham, etc. I went in despair, as I always do
on such services, but it answered vastly well, and I was-
more amused than usual at such places. The buildings
and decorations were really fine and well designed. No-
1 Mrs. Culverden was Lady Palmerston's sister.

Ms. 36] VAUXHALL AND RANELAGH 167
heat, nor much cold; a great many people, but no
crowd on account of the extent of the ground. A good
supper, and a blackguardish company, with a dash of
good company, and no riot while we stayed, which was
past three o'clock ; but the Vauxhall squeak was just
beginning, and people were becoming very tender and
very quarrelsome.' ' May 22, 1787.
' Harriet arrived yesterday. I thought she looked
remarkably well, but I believe I should rather say
remarkably pretty. I don't think she ever looked
handsomer. She will come to Minto almost imme
diately, and spend the summer with us.'
' Bury Street : May 26, 1787.
c I dined yesterday at Lady Palmerston's with an
Indian or two. She had an assembly afterwards, and
after that carried me to Ranelagh, and did not bring
me back till half after two. I never saw any two
people make such toil of pleasure, as both he and she.
She seems completely worn down by her raking, but is
always eager for the next labour. This was my first
and last Ranelagh for the year 1787.'

168 LIFE AND LETTERS : £1787

CHAPTER VI.
It may be presumed that the expenses connected with
Sir Gilbert's return for Berwick in 1786 had been
heavier than he had anticipated, since it appears from
the following letter addressed to him by Mr. Burke in
October 1787, that he had already determined not to
stand a second time for that constituency. ' October 17, 1787.
' My dear Sir, — I knew from the Duke of Portland a
good while ago that you had taken your leave of
Berwick ; yet I must confess the repetition of the same
unpleasant intelligence from yourself has caused me as
much vexation as if the thing was fresh. I believe
people ought to learn their philosophy young, it has
no great effect on late beginners. The effect of this on
others at the general election is to me a subordinate
consideration indeed. I care much for the present re
presentative of Berwick. Berwick itself, and the con
sequence of its future representation in political
interests, has not cost' me a second thought.
c Parliament certainly meets at the time and
moment assigned, and as certainly I shall be happy in

^Et. 36] BURKE TO SIR GILBERT 169
seeing you at the time you have fixed; further this
deponent saith not. I endeavoured some days ago to
«ee Mr. Dundas, in order to contrive matters so as to
prevent the public business of peace and war from
clashing with its other business of public justice. He
refused to see me at that time on account of his occu
pations, but told me, in answer to my letter, that he
would name some other time for the conversation I
desired ; I suppose he does not much like my conversa
tion, for I have not heard from him since. You see
that as to the material part of your inquiry I can give
you no satisfaction at all. I am perfectly in the dark
about the interior of affairs. I see that all the nations
in Europe1 are going to war, but it is not very clear to
me about what they are to fight; perhaps it is not
quite clear to themselves. This nation, however,
knowing as little of the matter as I do, is perfectly
well satisfied, because one thing appears pretty dis
tinctly — that there is something very like an aspect of
some sort or other of war. This people, who awhile ago
took it very ill that a House of Commons should censure
any kind of peace, are perfectly willing to go to war with
or without a pretence, with or without any policy. They

1 The Empress of Russia, seeking the dismemberment of the Ottoman
-empire, was engaged in war with Turkey. The Emperor Joseph, closely
allied with Catharine, had views of aggrandisement for himself in
Germany. France, on the eve of revolution at home, was employed in
• fomenting the agitation of all other countries. In the Netherlands the
-Stadtholder had been restored to his authority by a military intervention
on the part of the King of Prussia, Frederick the Second, brother of the
Princess of Orange.

170 LLFE AND LETTERS [1787
would certainly be very angry with any who should in
this instant ask them what they mean. After what has
happened / think I shall hardly be the person to ask
them that question, and as little should I wish to put
myself forward, in case they should be disappointed and
cheated of the blessings of war ; for I am sure, in the
present temper of the people, they are perfectly ready
either to applaud the spirit of measures leading to hosr
tility, or to applaud the prudence by which the hostile
measures are no longer pursued. In this temper of
the times we are but ciphers. However, I am getting*
you into premature speculations on our conduct for the
next session. To me they are certainly premature, a§
I know very little of the spirit of what is going on.
At what price we are to purchase it is yet in the womb
of time, but in the present, view of thiDgs the entire
destruction of the French interest in Holland is a good
event to this country. Whether the mode of the
Prussian interference, in the way, on the principles
they did interfere, may hereafter be of good example I
cannot tell ; but surely the energy, activity, and rer-
sources of Sir James Harris on this occasion are
matters of wonder. I do not find that the ministers
have been so full of public acknowledgments on this
occasion as they ought to be. But to return to our
own business. — I am sure you have not been inactive,
if you have been so in any considerable degree it is not
for me to reproach you. For near three months,
almost literally I have done nothing. The strong

Ms. 36] THE WINTER SESSION 171
opinion I had of parliament not meeting till after
Christmas encouraged me in the procrastination of
idleness and recess. The consequence has been that
when, about four or five days ago, I turned to business,
it was annoying how faint and dull all impression of
former facts appeared to me. But I warm again, and
among other things will certainly turn my thoughts to
your share of the business. If I have been idle, others
have not been so. Francis has worked something.
Anstruther, Adam,1 and Lawrence work. Mrs. Burke
desires most respectfully and most cordially to be
remembered to Lady Elliot. Is Lady Harris2 with you,
or can she be absent from the Hague at such a time ?
And if she is with you, pray let us be joined in the
same good wishes to her, and add our congratulations
on the glory Sir James has acquired. It was but last

1 William Adam of Blairadam, the Lord Chief-Commissioner of the-
Jury Court.
2 Lady Harris was with her husband at the Hague. In the follow
ing spring Sir James was raised to the rank of an ambassador-extra
ordinary in acknowledgment of the great diplomatic services he had
rendered to Great Britain and Holland, especially in having nego
tiated a treaty of alliance between the two countries. On April 1,
1788, Lady Harris described to her sister the ceremonial of her pre
sentation to the Princess of Orange in her new capacity of ambassadress,
and the return visits of the Prince to her which took place two days
later. ' Ho came en gala — with sons and chamberlains, decorated with
all his ribbons and diamonds — as solemn and magnificent as if I had
been Queen Charlotte herself. The gratitude and denouement of this.
country to Sir James is as great as possible, and the alliance is as good
as concluded, and will be signed in a week or ten days. The con
sequence will be a treaty of commerce, and then I hope we shall retire.
They returned to England in tho autumn, when Sir James received his.
peerage.

172 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
night I heard his praises loudly sung at Bulstrode by
the Duke and Lord Titehfield. The chorus did not
forget its part. Adieu, my dear sir, and believe me
.ever most faithfully and affectionately yours,
' Edm. Burke.'
The winter session having begun, Sir Gilbert went
up to town in November, and resumed his corre
spondence with Lady Elliot. 'Lincoln's Inn : November 10, 1787.
' I dined yesterday with Douglas at the Bears, where
I found Pardoe presiding, and everything much as I
left it ten years ago, except that one of the company
had become a Judge, another King's Counsel, two
others Serjeants, whom I had left juniors at the bar,
and one or two others who were not known at that
time are now pretty high. Jekyll was one of the
company. He is elected for a borough of Lord Lans-
downe's, in the room of Alderman Townshend, and will
probably be a speaker, but with what success is doubt
ful. He is a professed wit in company, and in his
speeches at the bar, mixes quaintness with jesting;
but that sort of thing does not always take in the
House of Commons. He is, however, clever enough to
adapt his mannner to the taste of his audience.
Mundy is going to be married to the greatest fortune
in England — to Lady Middleton. They say she has
at least 100,000?., or 150,000?., at her own disposal^

Ms. 36] LORD HEATHFIELD 17$
besides a jointure of 4,000?. a year. She is said to be
a very pretty woman, besides about 40.'
'London: November 15, 1787.
' Elliot of Wells carried me yesterday to Lord
Heathfield,1 who received me with great politeness and
appearance of friendship. He is a fine old man, and
preserves a sort of beauty which is in character and
consists in tolerable freshness and features of a marked
and commanding style. But his age appears by the
total decay of his teeth. He seems wrapt up in his
profession, and more particularly in his own province
of Gibraltar, where he is to return at the end of next
summer, in the intention of leaving his bones under
that rock, which will, indeed, be a noble and proper
monument. I expected to have found something more
dignified, more silent, and more saturnine in his
manner, from what we know of his severity in dis
cipline, his extreme simplicity and abstinence in
living, and his unpopularity in the garrison. But he-
has a brisk, lively manner, full of attention and
civility, a great deal of conversation, approaching even
to rattle, and no starch of any kind that I could per
ceive, although no want of dignity appears either. I
should have thought that he must have been the most
popular general in the service, and I still suspect that
all the obloquy he fell under was the consequence of his;
1 George Augustus Elliot, youngest son of Sir Gilbert Elliot, third
Baronet of Stobs, Roxburghshire. He was born in 1718, and was.
created Lord Heathfield, 1787, for his gallant defence of Gibraltar.

i

174 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
adherence to his duty and the dislike of the garrison to
do theirs.' ' Pall Mall Court: ¦ Saturday December 8, 1787.
' I called in yesterday at Burke's for a chance dinner,
which is the first time I have ever done so either this
winter or last, although I had always professed to in
tend it. But, in the first place, their hours are very
irregular, and next, though I admire him so much and
like all the rest of his family, yet it is not lively
society, and dinner does not go off so lightly as in Park
Street2 or Russell Street.3 I was yesterday in the luck
to see Charles Fox. The rest of the party were Sir
 , who, though a well-meaning, spirited
young man, and not without abilities, yet has partly so
much of the modern coxcomb, and partly so much of
the sawney design in the midst of his fine gentleman-
ship, that he entertained me with the affected famili
arity but real servility and adulation with which he
bored Fox, whose natural rejection but good-natured
1 ' I have taken a lodging, No. 3 Pall Mall Court, which is extremely
quiet and has the windows in Carlton Gardens. It is the one I once
took for Mirabeau, and it was afterwards inhabited by Windham.' — Sir
Gilbert to Lady Elliot.
2 Lord Palmerston's.
3 Mr. Henry Gaily Knight's. ' Mrs. Gaily,' he says in another letter,
J ' is always in light pleasant spirits, her conversation sensible and
| agreeable, her intentions obliging. Mr. Gaily has better intentions
' than anybody, and is a friendly, upright, pious man ; his conversation is
1 in general very cheerful, too, but he is so busied about his virtue and
Christianity that he is half morose, and has forgot the principal
Christian virtue called charity, so that he seems often to think tho
. man he converses with a rogue for not having such jumbled notions of
duties, moral, political, and religious as himself.'

JBt. 36] SIR GILBERT'S SPEECH 175
toleration of it was entertaining also in its way.
There is a certain manner which it is as difficult and
as rare for nous autres Scotchmen to get entirely rid
of as to get quite right about will and shall. Besides
him we had only young Dick Burke and an Irishman
from India. I dine to-day with Mrs. Gaily, to take
leave of Harriet's clear Alleyne,1 who goes to Ireland
to-morrow, and everybody thinks with the greatest
danger to his life, his health being very bad in itself,
and such as the business and vexation he is going to
must make much worse. Indeed a robust man, I
think, might very fairly be allowed to die under the
operation of Lord Buckingham's2 conversation, pride,]
vanity, and dulness ; and this is what Fitzherbert must
retire to as a refuge from his other labours. In short,
Fitzherbert's taste is so good and delicate, and his ]
health so bad and delicate, that I think he cannot i
Dossibly survive it. That office requires nerves and?
bad taste, as Windham proved by flying from it.'
'Pall Mall Court : December 13, 1787.
' I was safely delivered, thank God, last night, and
my friends and gossips say of a fine boy. My success
on this occasion has very far exceeded my expectations
before, and, indeed, my own opinion after; and if it
had not been for the general expression of approbation,

1 Alleyne Fitzherbert, created Lord St. Helens in 1791, died 1839,
brother of Mrs. Gaily Knight.
2 George, first Marquis of Buckingham, Viceroy of Ireland in 1 7S2,
and again in 1787.

176 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787"
and for the particular warmth of my own friends in
their applause, I should literally have come home very
ill satisfied with myself, just as Windham did the day-
before, after making one of the finest appearances I
ever saw in the House of Commons, and one that was-
more honourable to him, both as to abilities and
character, than it is possible for me to express. It was
on the motion for restoring Francis to the committee
of managers ; but you will probably not wish me to
talk to you at present of other people. I assure you
that the effect this appearance of mine has produced is
such that I feel awkward in relating it even to you ;
but as it would be very unfair to punish you by these
delicacies, I shall tell you a few of those circumstances-
which have given me most satisfaction in the event. —
First of all, then, Burke is quite out of himself on the
subject, and I am quite convinced that nobody on
earth, except yourself, can feel as he does about it.
His expressions as to the composition and delivery of
it are extravagant, and I will not repeat them — " the
most beautiful thing that ever was heard, divine,
beyond human sweetness," and such like. For God's
sake do not show this to anybody else, for it is a little
too bad to repeat even to you, though I do not think it
fair to rob you of anything that will give you pleasure.
But Burke's praises in other points, which I think
more material, are really both pleasing and affecting to
me — in a word, as to the substantial points which go
to character. I went home with him afterwards to
dinner, and he could not at all contain himself. He

Ms. 36] SIR GILBERT'S SPEECH 177
was darting every now and then across the room to
embrace me. At dinner, without any provocation, he
had his hand every now and then across the dishes to *
take my hand. From the rest of his family you will
believe I had a warm reception, when I tell you that
the passage of my speech which was by far the most
admired was a panegyric on Burke, which you know
did indeed come from the heart, and which I have long
had it in my mind to acquit myself of once in my life,
as a debt due to unsuccessful virtue. That beast Lord
M. said to somebody that this passage was much finer
than the finest part of the finest speech he had ever
heard delivered. Now, I'll tell you, with literal, truth,
that there was nothing either difficult or fine in the
matter ; but it may serve to prove what a powerful in
gredient in eloquence a sincere feeling in the speaker
is. The night before there was a latish House, after
which I dined at Burke's about nine .o'clock at night,
and got to bed about eleven a good deal tired, as I
always am now after sitting a few hours in that stew
the House of Commons. I woke at three in the morn- '
ing sick and feverish, and really expected to have been
disabled from appearing. I did not get a wink more
of sleep, which was owing no doubt chiefly to anxiety.
I went to the House at a quarter after four, and sat
there till almost six, in expectation every minute of
being turned off. This was a long time to sit under
the gallows, and I do assure you I could not help re
volving all sorts of melancholy notions the greatest
VOL. I. N

178 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
part of that time. I knew the sort of expectation
which the greatness of the subject, the length of the
preparation, and the partiality of my particular friends'
had raised ; and I felt pretty sure that the moment
was come when I was to .kick it all down, and disgrace
myself and them. My voice was very much weakened
and muddled, as it were, either by my stomach or my
fears, so that I did not expect to be well heard, and my
mouth was as dry as parchment, in spite of an orange
which I kept sucking. All this was before I began.
About a quarter of an hour after I had begun, and was
going on tolerably prosperously, as I supposed, begin
ning to feel my spirits flow pretty freely, some unac
countable panic came across me, and I became a sheet
of white paper, without a single idea remaining, either
of what I had said or of what was to follow. I stood
motionless and silent for a time, which seemed to me
about the length of a moderate sermon, during which
time my friends suffered the pains of hell, and I was
not absolutely in heaven myself. After swearing at my
stupidity and cowardice a little in a whisper to Charles
Fox, who sat next me, and after taking a suck of my
orange to put off time, it all came suddenly back to
me, just as it had gone away, without my being able to
give any sort of account either of its departure or
return. You need not be very unhappy about this
little halt, as it is a thing that happens to everybody,
and never does the smallest prejudice. During the
speech Windham's voice, from a few benches behind,
was wonderfully cordial and cheering to me. The

Mi. 36] EFFECT ON THE HOUSE 179
attention of the rest of the House literally suppressed
the usual expression of their approbation by hear,
hear : and the gallery took such an interest in it, that
when somebody was walking down the House, so as to
make a little noise with his feet, the strangers called
out Hush, hush, from the gallery. I am told that
' Burke, during what I said of him, was affected so as to
drop almost off his seat, and that he shrank down into
half his size. This fact, thank God ! was universally
received, not only with applause of the manner of say
ing it, but with an approbation and sympathy and
general consent of the whole House as to the matter.
I had the honour of squeezing tears also from several,
of whom Dudley Long was one. ... I was so much
afraid of meeting the phalanx of eyes pointed at me all
round the House, that I did not face them, and spoke
almost entirely towards the Speaker, who, thank God !
is not very searching or distressing by his attention,
but is as quiet and harmless a sovereign as King Log.
. . . After I had done, and the House rose, I had as
great a crowd on my back, and as .great a flocking to
shake hands, as I walked down the House, almost as
Sheridan on his triumph. The manner of everybody
was changed to me, and it was easy to perceive that I
had got on higher ground. The shabby people proved
it as well in their way as the heartiness of my friends.
In short, the success was complete. This morning I
have not had time hardly to write this from the agree
able interruption of congratulating friends. Francis
N 2

180 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
is in ecstasy. Pelham tells me that he never heard
Fox talk in such a strain of anything ; that he dined
at Brookes's; and that nothing else was spoken of—
everybody repeating passages as they could remember
them. Fox is excessively desirous that I should print
it, but I am extremely unwilling for several reasons,
besides any doubts I may have ; that which will do
very well, when spoken with feeling may not read as
well in cold blood. I have sent you about enough for
a modest man, but it is all your due, and therefore I
have determined not to scrimp you. I do really think
this letter by far too much to show anybody else. It
is written really as a duty to you, and for your gratifi
cation alone.'1 ' Saturday, December 15, 1787.
c My honours are still in their bloom, and every
hour produces some food for my vanity, so you will he
pleased not to wonder if I come down as proud of my
parts as Gilbert. I dined yesterday with Dudley Long.
The party were — Charles Fox, Mr. Grey, Lord George
Cavendish, Windham, Long's brother (who, by-the-by,
is married and has a son), myself, Lord Maitland, and
1 Lady Elliot was in the habit of reading portions of her husband's
letters to his uncles, and to their sister, Miss Elliot, who was also an
interested listener to the London news, sent down by a nephew to whom
she was fondly attached ; hence the occasional injunctions given by Sir
Gilbert to his wife ' to keep ' certain passages ' for herself alone.' She
msntions in one of her letters that Mr. Elliot listened with great atten
tion to the general news, but maintained a strict silence whenever she
read any passage relating to Sir Gilbert's successes — the ex-governor
never having been able cordially to forgive his nephew the part he had
taken during the discussions in Parliament on the American war.

Mr. 36] SIR GILBERT'S HONOURS 181
Tom Pelham. The conversation ran still very much on
the glories of the three preceding days in the House of
Commons, which are supposed to have been all credit
able to our party. Charles Fox, who is not apt to praise
to anybody's face, said nothing about me one way or
other (although I had heard his opinion from others)
till we had sat a considerable time after dinner and
began to open a little, when, talking of one of the
topics I had treated, he broke out with the most violent
expressions of admiration I have undergone yet from
anybody. He swore that, " No, by G — , there never
was anything so entirely perfect as Sir Gilbert's speech ! "
and then he went on with passages of it, just as if he
had spoken it himself. You may imagine whether this
testimony is tickling to me or not. I have all of them
fairly on my side, and am most puffed by those formid
able wits and critics of whom I have always stood in
awe, more than was quite noble perhaps. I mean Hare,
who is as vehement as anybody, Fitzpatrick, and such
fine gentlemen ; and I have the pleasure of seeing that
all these testimonies in my favour are not mixed nor
poisoned by the least degree of jealousy or envy in any
body. Windham, on the contrary, and Pelham seemed
as highly delighted at Fox's breaking out in the way I
have mentioned as you could have been, and as much
pleased that I should have no means left after this of
doubting about the figure I had made, and the opinion
of people on the subject. . . .
' The last entertainment of the political world here

182 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
has been a letter written by Lord Westcote1 to Lord
North, in which, after repeating his assurances of regard
and devotion to Lord North, he informs his honour that,
as his Lordship (Lord North) is now in so deplorable a
situation, he cannot take it amiss if he (Lord Westcote)
should, avail himself of his opportunities to carry some
very desirable points for himself by attaching himself
to his friend Mr. Pitt. There was a dinner at the
Speaker's last Sunday, of our party, to which Lord
Westcote was invited, his going over not being known
to the Speaker when he sent out his cards. At this
dinner everybody present exercised their wit on Lord
Westcote in the way of practical jokes. The best of
these was Hare's, who asked the Speaker from the other
end of the table, so as to have a silence made and great
attention, whether he had heard of a curious anecdote,
which !had happened that week in Westminster Hall,
and the Speaker saying No, Hare told a story, invented
on the spot for the occasion, of a train-bearer of Lord
Mansfield's who had just written a letter to Lord Mans
field, in which, after thanking his Lordship for having
given him bread, and made his fortune, all his life, he
added that, however, as his Lordship had now fallen
into so deplorable a situation he could not take it
amiss if he went to offer his services to Sir Lloyd Ken-
yon. At the word deplorable there was a universal
horse-laugh, except only from Lord Westcote and the
Speaker, the latter of whom did not yet know the event
1 Lord Westcote, Lord of the Treasury under Lord North.
[' Obedient Westcote hail'd the Treasury call.'— Bolliad, Jekyll] ¦

Ms. 36] PRIVATE REFLECTIONS 183
alluded to. Then Jack Anstruther called out, 'Mr.
Speaker, have you heard of the wonderful conversion ? '
— another horse-laugh. The conversion he explained
to be that of Lord George Gordon to Jewism, but he
said the conversion of a noble Lord to Jewism. In short
they had a knock at him all round.'
'Pall Mall Court: December 22, 1787.
' I am sorry you had so much waiting, and so many
lookings-out before you received the accounts of my
delivery. . . . My own gratification in all that has
happened is certainly at least doubled by the certainty
I have of your enjoyment being equal to my own ; and-
the whole is very much increased by contrasting the
event with my expectations, and with the possibility of
a very different issue. I can hardly now conceive that
it is my own doing, and I feel like a person who has
drawn a fortunate ticket in a lottery where neither
prizes nor blanks depended upon anything to be done
by himself. I used frequently to think, before the
event, how I should feel in case of failure,- and I have
in those moments turned my thoughts to a quiet
though inglorious retreat — to my roads, bridges, books,
brats, and wives— -which appears to me, after all, no
such bad way of being ruined . . . but, besides the
mortification of my aunt at the disgrace of Minto, I
could not help recollecting that you would be mortified
also ; and although I know you would in all events be
as good a wife as if I had proved a good orator, yet I
apprehended that you might too naturally find it in-

184 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
different fun to pass your life in fondling and bearing
children with a blockhead.'
If Lady Elliot could have entertained any doubt of
the triumphant success of her husband's speech, it
would have been removed by the following cordial
letters from Mr. Burke and Mr. Windham. Of the
first she wrote that ' she would preserve it to be shown
to later generations,' and the second was no less grati
fying to Sir Gilbert : —
Edmund Burke to Lady Elliot. 'December 13, 1787.
' My dear Madam, — I have been indisposed for a few
days, but I should have been ill indeed if the medicine
of yesterday had not wrought a perfect cure on me.
This morning I rise in health and spirits ; and the
first thing I do is the pleasantest thing I can do, which
is to congratulate you on the honour acquired by Sir
Gilbert Elliot in the commencement of his great under
taking, which is complete indeed, without the. least
drawback or qualification whatsoever. I am persuaded
that, delightful as our excellent friend is to every
human creature that knows him, and most so to those
who know him best, yet you will not regret his absence,
which has produced such effects, and which will make
his virtues and talents as well known to the world as
they are now to the circle of his friends.1 . . . What
* Mr. Burke here enters into a disquisition on the component parts
of the speech, which is omitted.

Ms. 36] MR. WINDHAM TO LADY ELLIOT 185
I have never before seen, never 1 am sure in an equal
degree, the method, the arguments, the sentiments, the
language, the manner, the action, the tone and modu
lation of voice, were all exactly of a piece, belonging
each to the other, so that they were all peculiarly his
own, and not copied from any original we have seen in
our own time in the whole or in any part. . . . There
was not a topic upon which he touched that had not its
peculiar beauty and the finishing hand of a master.
. . . You will not wonder that taste should be a reign
ing quality in any performance of his. . . . Accept my
warmest congratulations, and believe jaae, my dear
madam, your most obedient servant,
' Edm. Bukke.'
William Windham to Lady Elliot.
'Hill Street: December 18, 1787.
' Dear Lady Elliot, — You will not object to a new
correspondent, who is forced into existence by his
admiration of what he heard last night from Sir
Gilbert. It is right that you should receive your
impressions through some representation more fair than
his own. You may be quite assured that the most
partial of his friends could not have raised their ideas
beyond the excellence of the performance, or the most
sanguine have extended their hopes beyond the credit
it has obtained. You must prepare your laurels for
him, at his return, as for a man who has ennobled him
self, exalted the reputation of the party he belongs to,
and made, by the confession of everybody, one of the

186 LIFE AND LETTERS [1787
grandest displays of character and talents ever heard in
Parliament.- — I am, with great truth, your most
obedient and faithful servant,
'W. Windham.'
Sir Gr Elliot to Lady Elliot.
' Pall Mali Court : Thursday, December 27, 1787.
' Burke's letter is a testimony worth preserving in
deed. I wish the figures he got into about colours, tints,
varnish, &c. may not have weakened the reverence of my
uncles for this oracle, as they are probably neither of
them very great admirers of these sorts of indulgence in
writing, and may perhaps see a little ridicule in it.
The account, however, which he gives of my perform
ance is very fine, and far surpasses the thing he was
describing.. . . I feel excessively grateful to Windham
for this mark of partiality to me, and still more for
his attention to you. It is the more to be valued as I
know writing at all is an effort to him, and he is not at
all the sort of man who makes a phrase, as we say in
Scotland, on any motive of interest or affection.'
'Pall Mall Court: January 3, 1738.
' This letter, my dearest Maria, will be a most shabby
affair, for I have been out all the morning, and a con
siderable part of it, in an engagement which I ought
not to plead as a good excuse for defrauding you of
your dues. It was to accompany Francis' daughters, at
least the two youngest of them, to Sir Joshua Reynolds'
to see Windham's picture, and the great picture of

Ms. 36] SIR JOSHUA'S STUDIO 187
Hercules for the Empress of Russia. That you may
not be too uneasy, however, Francis himself was of the
party. Windham is the god they worship and swear
by in that family ; and with very good reason, for his
defence of Francis, and the appearance he made on that
occasion, were titles enough both to the gratitude and
affection of the house of Francis, and to general fame.
You know it was the day before my benefit. His
picture is a good head, and has a very strong and
lively expression of his countenance and character, but
does not appear to me so perfect as Sir Joshua's
masterpieces. The Hercules is an immense picture,
intended to be seen at a great distance. It is full of
effect — splendid to the greatest degree in the colour
ing, arid grand in the composition. Large, however, as
the canvas is, the number and size of the figures is so
great, and there is such a variety of actions and
business in it, that it certainly appears crowded, and
though a work of great genius, and worthy of the best
living painter, will probably be the subject of a good
deal of criticism. I think, however, it will be impos
sible not to admire the Young Hercules himself and his
little mortal brother. I had at the same time the
happiness of seeing your agreeable phiz, which is still
exhibited in the picture-room.' ' Pall Mall Court : January 12, 1788.
' The Chancellor has said that Hastings' trial will be
over in six weeks, which shows- his intention at least to
make a short session of it. It is true this is not in his, or

188 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
in any other man's power when once the business is in
possession of the public. In the meanwhile the prepa
rations are in great forwardness. I went into West
minster Hall the other day and saw the scaffolding
erecting. It seems ,-already so forward as that we might
begin to-morrow if we liked. Sir Peter Burrell has the
conduct of all this business, and the disposal of tickets
for the trial. He is High-Chamberlain, you know, in
right of his wife,1 who is hereditary High-Chamberlain
of England. The Peers will have a certain number of
tickets to dispose of each ; but neither the members of
the House of Commons, and not even the managers,
will have any, although we -shall probably be indulged
with a reasonable number. Tickets and places will be
indeed cheap enough if the business lasts as long as it is
likely to do, and we shall probably act at last to empty
benches. I own the prospect I have of being a prin
cipal performer in this theatre does not give me the
most agreeable sensation ; and when I think of opening
and conducting Impey's impeachment in the face of a
thousand full-dressed strangers, half of whom will be
ladies, I could wish to be the culprit myself and to
speak by the mouth of my counsel. ... I dined
yesterday at Dudley Long's, with Grey, Anstruther,
Graham, the counsel, Dick Thomson, and Roger
Wilbraham. It was pleasant, as everything in Long's
company is ; and his dinners are remarkably handsome
and well served. Grey is a very clever, spirited, and
1 Lady Elizabeth Bertie, daughter of the last Duke of Ancaster.

Mr. 36] A DINNER AT DUDLEY LONG'S 189
pleasant man, and extremely ripe indeed for his age.
We sat till past eleven, by which time all the com
pany were in spirits except me, who, by drinking port,
drank what I pleased — that is to say, had not the
circulation of my bottle to draw me on. I find the
least quantity of claret- always affects my stomach, and
consequently sinks my spirits instead of the usual effect
of wine, which I believe in this age is an advantage,
for . the men of all ages drink abominably. How the
men of business and the great orators of the House of
Commons, contrive to reconcile it with their public
exertions I cannot conceive. Fox drinks what I should
call a great deal, though he is not reckoned to do so by
his companions, Sheridan excessively, and Grey more
than any of them ; but it is in a much more gentleman
like way than our Scotch drunkards, and is always
accompanied with clever lively conversation on subjects
of importance. Pitt, I am told, drinks as much as
anybody, generally more than any of his company, and
that he is a pleasant convivial man at table. I send
you Ellis's Tales1 — Sir Gregory Gander— which Harriet
1 George Ellis, Esq., a contributor to the Eolliad, coadjutor of Mr.
Canning and Mr. Frere in the Anti-Jacobin, editor of Specimens of
Ancient English Bomances, and author of some metrical tales. Sir
Walter Scott, in the fifth Canto of Marmion, addresses him in the well-
known lines : — ' Thou who canst give to lightest lay
An unpedantic moral gay,
Nor less the dullest theme bid flit
On wings of unexpected wit ;
In letters as in life approVd,
Example honoured and beloved,
Dear Ellis ! ' etc. etc.
' It is not generally known that George Ellis originated both the very

190 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
has just sent me from Bath. I really never read any
thing so clever, so lively, and so light before. . , ,
Usbeck is Harriet's favourite.' 1 January 22, 1788.
' The play was Lear. Mrs. Siddons was very fine as
usual in Cordelia, and gave as much dignity and
interest to the part as it is capable of. Edgar was ex
tremely well played by Wroughton, who in some of the
scenes with her, and particularly in the mad Tom parts,
gave me almost all the pleasure I had. Kemble was a
very poor and even bad Lear indeed. He made it either
dead flat or almost ludicrous, and let down a very dig
nified, though a weak character, to that of a very silly
doating old greybeard. He dressed himself out in his
fantastical way, with a long white beard half-way down
his breast, and looked, with his high hat and other
accoutrements, more like a conjuror at a masquerade,
or a pantaloon, than like Lear. The passages in which
people were falling down all round the house in fits, as
in Garrick's time, were not even, perceived at all dis
tinguishable from the rest; and as there are always
many barbarisms and absurdities to be forgiven in the
old plays which are redeemed only by the force and
energy of the characters and writing, the effect of
cleverest collections of political wit on different sides, Whig and Tory,
the Bolliad and the Anti-Jacobin. The Bolliad at first hung fire till it
was taken up by Dr. Lawrence, the dullest of speakers in the House of
Commons, but in private full of the truest wit.' — Extract from a letter
from the Very Bev. H. Milman, Dean of St. Pauls, to Lady Minto, August
II, 1868.

Mi. 36] KEMBLE AND GARRICK 191
Kemble's weakness and poverty in representing the
character was to let down the whole play into a rhap
sody of childishness and nonsense, and to make one
blush inwardly at seeing Monsieur Calonne and some
eminent foreigners judging Shakespeare and the
national taste by such a specimen. I felt the more
hurt at this failure from the strong impression I retain'
of Garrick's excellence, and my own extreme admira
tion, as well as feelings, at the former representations
of this play, which I have always considered not only
as one of the grandest poems, but the finest and the
highest dramatic entertainment existing. Notwith
standing all this, there were particular moments in which
I admired Kemble, and felt strongly the effect of the
scene. As I don't know whether you remember
Garrick in Lear (being younger, thank God ! than me),
and as you were not at the play yesterday, perhaps all
this may be a bore to you ; but I can only speak to
you of what I see, and besides this may serve as a re
corded opinion of this important point which may
amuse and interest one by-and-by, when politics are
discarded, and poetry and criticism have taken their
place, which I sometimes feel disposed to look to as a
prospect of comfort — though I allow it ought to be a
remote one — and Burke would knock me down for so
ignoble a sentiment ; although I keep it far off, and even
below the present horizon, yet it seems a good resource
for filling up by-and-by the vacancies of these youthful
and middle-aged passions, love and ambition, and
better surely than avarice. In the next box sat " a

192 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
youthful Ibving pair" — Lord Wentworth and Lady
Ligonier. Their union is fixed, and such a couple of
carcases were never seen together ; neither of them will
have a right to complain that the famous tyranny of
Syracuse has been exercised on them by chaining a live
body to a dead one. There is another marriage just
declared which sounds rather more Syracusan, for one
of the parties is alive— -Lord Aylesbury, and Lady Ann
Rawdon, sister to Lord Rawdon, and thirty-one years
old. Lord Aylesbury, by the peerage, is sixty-eight,
but some say he is not quite so much. Everybody calls
her a very good and pleasant sort of woman, who will
make him a very good wife, which Mrs. Gaily says
makes the case just so much the worse, for if she were
disagreeable one would care less what becomes of her,
and if she were good for nothing she might find
comfort with somebody else, and so not be quite so ill
off.' ' February 6, 1788.
' My health was drunk again at the Whig Club
yesterday, but I did not go there myself, being un
willing to risk a long dinner with more wine than is
good for me when I have occasion for all my wits. . . .'
'Pall Mall Court : Tuesday, February 12, 1788.
' Hastings' trial comes on to-morrow, and my new
dressed coat is just come home. The managers1 are
1 The managers were — Burke, Fox, Sheridan, Windham, Grey, Sir
Gilbert Elliot, Mr. Adam, Sir J. Erskine, Dudley Long, Esq., Thomas
Pelham, etc.

Ms. 36] TRIAL OF WARREN HASTINGS 19g
to be in full dress every morning by ten o'clock ; my
coat is drab and vig-o-gne (?) with steel buttons r
waistcoat of the same.'

'Pall Mall Court: Wednesday, February 13, 1788.
c I am this instant returned from Westminster Hall,
and have hardly a moment to tell you anything about
it. It is difficult to conceive anything more grand or
imposing than this scene, and the grandeur of the show
merely, which is very great in itself, is infinitely in
creased by the reflection who the pageants in this
procession and theatre are, and what they are there
for. Everything that England possesses of greatness or
ability is there assembled, in the utmost splendour and
solemnity, for one of the most solemn and interesting-
purposes imaginable. This centre-dish is garnished
with all the beauty and magnificence which the female
part of England can furnish, excepting only a gem now
set in the Calton Hill.1
' The appearance of the hall is, I take it for granted,
less splendid than it was on the Duchess of Kingston's
trial, because one whole side is appropriated to the
House of Commons, who are in frocks, and are not
adorned by the mixture of ladies. This cause, how
ever, is so much more noble than the intrigues and
exploits of an old  , and there is something so grand
1 Lady Elliot had removed from Minto to Edinburgh, and Sir Gil
bert congratulated himself on his being now able to hear from her by
tho regular posts three times a week, with a chance of a letter in the
intervals ; to Minto there were but two weekly posts.
VOL. I. O

194 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
in the attendance of the House of Commons as a party
and prosecutor on this occasion, that I think the differ
ence rather in favour of the present trial, although the
eye may have been better off in the former one.
There is a large place for the managers fronting the
throne, with a table and accommodation for our
counsel, agents, and attendants. We, I mean the
managers, all went in full dress, Hastings' box adjoins
to ours, and is in the centre opposite to the Chancellor's,
as ours is. Beyond his is a box for his counsel and
agents, and beyond that a box for the witnesses. We
have a retiring-room down a dark stair, where are
kept the books and papers, etc. ... I never saw
Hastings till to-day, and had not formed anything like a
just idea of him. I never saw a more miserable-look
ing creature, but indeed he has so much the appearance
of bad health that I do not suppose he resembles even
himself. He looks as if he could not live a week. I
always feel uncomfortable in the reflection of his con
nections with Alick, and I cannot say I was insensible
to that idea on seeing him to-day. But the clearness
of his guilt and the atrociousness of his crimes can
leave no hesitation in anybody's mind, who thinks as I
do about him, what one's duty is. This day has con
sisted entirely in ceremony. Burke will not begin his
opening till the day after to-morrow.' 'Friday, Febmary 15, 1788.
c I am just returned from the trial. Burke has done
nobly, and with the most universal admiration, and

JEt. 36] BURKE'S OPENING SPEECH 195
they say also with great effect and impression. He
spoke only two hours and a half, and confined himself
to a sort of general introduction and view of the
^subject. ' He gave, therefore, a complete history of the origin,
constitution, and progress of the East India Company,
with an account of the system and regulations estab
lished by them for the conduct of their servants. He
then gave a description of India, its revolutions, its
inhabitants, customs, laws, and manners, and with this
he concluded for to-day,' *Great Russell Street: February 18, 1788,
' Burke has exceeded his former excesses to-day, and
in one of his excesses he did not, I believe, leave a dry
eye in the whole assembly. Mrs. Sheridan had a fit
on the occasion ; Burke was cut short by a violent
cramp in the stomach, got probably by drinking cold
water every now and then as he spoke.'1
' Westminster Hall : February 22, 1788.
' The House of Lords decided yesterday the first point
that has been submitted to them plump against us,2
and in the debate the Chancellor and several other
1 ' Four sittings were occupied by his opening speech (Burke's), which
was intended to be a general introduction to all the charges.' — Lord
Macaulay 's Essay on Warren Hastings.
2 The Lords supported the wish of Hastings that all the charges
-sihould be opened before the defence, in opposition to the accusers, who
¦desired that the investigation of the first charge should be closed before
rthe second was opened. o 2

196 ¦ LIFE AND LETTERS [1788-
peers spoke with the most decided hostility, not only
against this impeachment, but against all impeach
ments, as founded in party and such like. . . .
' Fox is now, and has been these two hours more,;
pleading the first charge, and doing it with all his own
ability. He gave the Chancellor a severe dressing for
his speech in the House of Lords yesterday, though it
was done in such a way as made it impossible to stop
him. . . ,
' The glory and distinction which the leading
members of Opposition are acquiring in the face of the
whole kingdom, and of all foreigners male and female,.
cannot be an agreeable sight to Pitt, who is excluded
from this theatre of fame.' 'Westminster Hall: February 25, 1788. ,
' I have just heard a very great performance indeed-
from young Grey, who has been seconding Fox on the
first charge,1 and has acquired a fund of reputation to
last his life.' March 1.
'The trial was adjourned yesterday to April 10.
After the House we all dined at nine o'clock at the
Crown and Anchor — Fox treating us.' 'March 3, 1788.
' The adjournment of the trial has indeed been felt'
by this whole metropolis as a breaking-up for the
holidays is by schoolboys and schoolgirls, for besides-
1 Respecting Cheyte Sing.

JEt. 36] WESTMINSTER HALL 197
the managers, the Lords, and the person accused, all
the fine ladies and many of the fine gentlemen were on
duty, which, considering the revolution in their hours
and ways of life, must have been as severe a campaign
-as Coxheath or Warley were to the militia. The ladies
were up at six every morning, to dress and breakfast so
as to be at Westminster Hall by nine o'clock. They
waited there shivering, without either fires or beaux to
warm them, till eleven, when the managers made their
appearance. They were followed by the procession of
Peers, and by the pouring in of trhe Commons. Then
business began not much before twelve, and lasted till
it was too dark to read, and the last day it was
literally pitch dark, so that one could not distinguish
one's next neighbour. Michael Angelo Taylor's speech
was spoken wholly in the dark, insomuch that nobody
¦could guess who was speaking. ... I told you that I
walked to Kensington with Burke, Windham, and
Wells, 1 whom I have made acquainted with most of my
friends and who is extremely liked by them all. I
dined in Russell Street, after dinner came home and
dressed for the opera, which was my second perfor
mance on that stage this year, and I never saw such a
¦crowd. After the opera I got squeezed in the coffee-
joom against Mrs. Fitzherbert, in such a way that it
•was impossible to make my escape from her for ten
minutes, though neither of us knew whether to take
.notice of the other or not ; and, accordingly, all I had
1 William Elliot of Wells.

198 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788:
to do was to amuse myself with considering this sham.
queen, and what it was that could make her triumph
over all the youth and beauty of England. I could.
not, however, discover the cause of so much power,.
although I think she looks much handsomer this year
than I ever remember her. I squeezed away just as
the Prince and the Duke of York arrived at her, the
room made for them favouring my escape. Poor Mrs.
 was still hovering about with a mortified melan
choly look, though I confess I feel no more sympathy
for her prudent bosom than I do admiration for the-
prominence of her successful rival. Lord John carried
your two lovers, Tom Pelham and me, to sup at Mrs.
Crewe's, where we had Windham, Ellis, Lord Downe,,
George Conway, and several others. The only fault of
these suppers is they begin so late that I at least am
dead asleep before they begin. I got home at half
after two in the morning.' 'Pall Mall Court: March 5, 1788. -
' I dined yesterday at the Whig Club, which was-
just like all other numerous dinners of men, and only
so much better than a race ordinary as the room was-
finer, and the service something more gentlemanlikei
I It was at Almack's, where I think I have hardly been
l since you and I were lovers. I heard Captain Morris-
for the first time sing two of his political songs, and.
he came fully up to my expectations.'
During the Easter recess Sir Gilbert paid a hurried

Mr. 37 J SIR GILBERT MOVES THE IMPEY CHARGE 199
visit to Minto, and on his way back to London assisted
at the marriage of his younger brother ' Bob,' which
took place at Stilton, Yorkshire,1 whence he wrote : —
'York: April 7, 1788.
L I have been fagging terribly at my business in the
charge, and have indulged myself but now and then
with thinking back on what I left behind me . . . but
I shall certainly languish most languishingly after
pleasant Teviotside, and shall never see the sunshine
without a wistful thought of buds, and young leaves,
and singing birds, besides the pleasant smell of your
lavender, and Gilbert's gunpowder and crackers.'
The marriage took place on the 9th, and Sir Gilbert
went up to London on the following day.
'Pall Mall Court : April 29, 1788.
' I am, thank God ! delivered of a great part of my
burthen. My business came on yesterday,2 and I spoke
four hours and a quarter, without, however, getting
through anything like half my subject. The impossi
bility of finishing it in one speech has made it neces
sary to divide it, and I am to go on with the remainder
on Wednesday se'nnight, there being no vacant day
1 The Rev. Robert Elliot, rector of Wheldrake, county York, married
Mary, daughter of the Rev. Edmund Garforth, of Uskham, county
York. 2 On April 28 the House of Commons resolved itself into a Com
mittee of the whole House to consider the several articles of charge of
high crimes and misdemeanours against Sir E. Impey. — Pari. Hist. vol.
xxvii. p. 291.

20Q - LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
sooner. You may be perfectly satisfied with my ap
pearance in point of credit to myself,,although it cer
tainly had not, as I prepared you to expect, the same
sort of merit, nor the same degree of success with the
former. . . -. The matter is indeed immense, and is
¦much larger than is fit to be laid before such an assem
bly, or any other numerous audience ; but the cause
requires, it. . . . Burke is, as usual, in superlatives
-about it, and my" particular friends, I believe, really
approve of my work ; yet the general reception of this
performance neither was, nor really could be, so flatter^
ing as that of the other. . . . Elliot 1 has been a great
comfort, and of much assistance to me all through.
His affectionate manner, and the interest he takes in
all this, in his quiet way, does not make me less in
love with him than I was.' ' Pall Mall Court: April 30, 1788.
' Wells and I have been making use of our holiday to
see sights, and we have passed this forenoon at three
exhibitions of pictures, two of which are old pictures
for sale, and the third is the Royal Academy. Sir
Joshua's great picture for the Empress is the only fine
thing in the historical way, and I think it by far the
finest picture I ever saw of a modern master. There
are also a great many very fine portraits of his. The
finest, and I really think the finest portrait I ever saw,
is our chief, Lord Heathfield ;' and Windham is ex
tremely fine also for likeness and character, but is not
so magnificent a subject or style as the other. Harriet
' Of Wells.

JEt. 37] CONCLUSION OF SIR GILBERT'S OPENING 201
is there, and I still like it extremely, although there is
a degree of false expression about it. Something of
•conceit about the expression of the mouth and lower
part of the face ; it is also a little fatter and more puffy
about the face than she ; with . all this, however, it is
¦extremely like and very pleasing. She has nothing on
her head, but something in the way of the dress of
yours1 — viz. a black cloak thrown as drapery about-her—
and she is in a sort of rocky background. . . . Looking
at so many pictures is fatiguing and distracting, and
both Wells and I are a little tired with this first day's
^pleasure.' . . ,
'Pall Mall Court: Saturday, May 10, 1788.
' You may at last wish me joy of having completely
finished this labour. I concluded my opening yester
day. We were beat yesterday, but our defeat is very
like a victory. Sir E. Impey had his own personal
friends, the lawyers, in a body — that is to say, fifteen
of them out of twenty who were present, the whole
Indian corps, Lord Lansdowne's squadron, and the
whole force of the Ministry : and with all this he could
raise a majority of only 18. The numbers were 55 to
73, and we lost Francis, who could not vote for a point
of delieacy, and also Sir G. Cornewall, who was in the
¦chair. .... The debate was still more triumphant
than the division, and we brought Pitt and his lawyers
and friends to the greatest disgrace. Pitt never exposed
himself and his profligacy in so great a degree before.
My share in it has been successful -beyond my most san-
1 Lady Elliot's picture by Sir Joshua.

202 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
guine expectations. I was fortunate enough to conclude
with an affecting passage. I had tears and violent
emotions all round me as before, and my powers cer
tainly went very far beyond any idea I could have
formed of them myself. Dudley Long was one of the
weepers, Adam another, and indeed the whole House
and gallery were worked up to an extraordinary degree
of feeling and emotion. . . . The debate began yester
day at half-past six with me, and I spoke till ten. Then
a little disturbance happened by Sir J. Johnstone's being
drunk, and the debate then proceeded till about seven
or half after seven this morning. . . . Wells was in the
gallery the whole time, and you cannot conceive his
happiness and delight, and the spirits he is in, partly
with Pitt's disgrace by the profligacy of his conduct and
the badness of his speech, but principally on account of
the credit he thinks I have got, and the effect he
observed of my speech on everybody about him. His
attachment and its warmth are quite inexpressible, and
are even entertaining. There was one part of my speech
in which he imagined, though without any particular
reason, that I was likely to get disconcerted or find my
self at a loss, and during the whole of the passage he
leant over the gallery with his face crammed quite into
the crown of his hat, and he never ventured to set it
free till I had weathered the danger he expected. . . .
He is loved by Burke, I believe, next to myself, and is
admired and doated on by all my friends, with whom
he lives as much as I do. He certainly has been a great
blessing to me, and the blessing, as you say, I believe

Ms. 37] THE KNIGHTS' BALL 203-
is mutual, for it is impossible for two people to suit
each other so entirely as we do, and there appears to be
a very singular fitness, as it were, between us.'
' May 17, 1788.
' I continue to send you the " Morning Chronicle " as
generally containing the best account of the debates.
It is astonishing what these reporters are able to do by
memory, but the best of them are not only very defective
indeed, but also thoroughly mistaken and false in many
important points; and although you find here and
there a few of the separate phrases and expressions re
tained, yet there is no one sentence by which it is pos
sible to form any just notion of the speaker's style or
manner.' 'May 26, 1788.
' Sir James x has offended a dozen of people by playing
the minister upon us about his tickets for the Knights'
ball. He promised everybody that asked one, and even
volunteered in offering them to those who did not ask,
after he knew he had long promised more than he had.
He had but six or seven in all, and he promised more
than twenty. . . . You will hardly understand, in your
wild savage woods, what a prodigious object these
tickets have been, and what intriguing and caballing,
and driving and note-writing there has been about them.
Sir James used Lady Palmerston just in the same way,
and she was very wroth indeed, and told him it would
1 -Harris.

204 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
be much pleasanter if he used a little more sincerity
and plain dealing, and less of the foreign minister, in
his intercourse with his private friends and society.'
' Pall Mall Court: May 28, 1788.
'I was at Ranelagh last night, where I saw nothing
remarkable except the Duke of York and his love Lady
Tyrconnel. ' The Palmerstons were at Ranelagh of course. . . .
The last new story I heard was a dialogue between the
King and his gardener, at Richmond or somewhere, the
other day. The King on meeting him entered into con
versation as usual, and said nearly these words : — " Poor
Hastings, poor Hastings ! they'll ruin him, they'll ruin
him ! Poor Hastings, poor Hastings ! he'll be ruined,
he'll be ruined ! " Dr. Price, the calculator, and the
principal friend of Lord Lansdowne, told this story to
Wells, and whispered him he knew it to be true. By
ruined he meant by the expense of the impeachment.
It was a pretty subject for the conversation of a king
with a gardener !
' Sheridan's speech will certainly be over next week-
he begins on Tuesday. The expectation of the public^
I believe, never rose so high on any subject before, and
I have been told that tickets have been sold at twenty-
five guineas a-piece.' 'Monday, June 2, 1788.
* . . . You have no conception of the rage and clamour
for tickets for to-morrow's trial ; at Mrs. Legge's people
were almost putting their hands into one's pocket for

Ms. 37] THE TRIAL 205
them. I went afterwards to Mrs. Crewe's, where,
amongst others, I found Lord Macartney, who is as-
strong and explicit against Impey as I can be, and says
that at Calcutta, when he was there, there was no doubt
entertained of his guilt, and that he certainly hanged
Nuncomar to screen Hastings. I was glad to hear this
from him. ... I supped at Mrs. Crewe's with only
Windham, Mrs. Sheridan, and Mr. Davenport. Mrs. i
Crewe refined and double refined. Mrs. Sheridan was
very pleasant in a plainer and more intelligible way.
I went on Saturday, with James Harris, etc., to Sadler's-
Wells, and I believe the whole party was well amused.'
¦Tuesday, June 3, 1788.
L It is not yet seven o'clock in the morning, and I
expect Mrs. Morrice to call every moment on her way-
to Westminster Hall, where I am to accompany her, by
way of saving some of her bones at the door getting in.
She will have to mob it at the door till nine, when the
doors open, and then there will be a rush as there is at
the pit of the playhouse when Garrick plays King Lear.
This will give you some notion of the expectation.
raised on this occasion. The ladies are dressed and
mobbing it in Palace Yard by six or half after six, and
they sit from nine till twelve before business begins.
After seeing Mrs. Morrice safe in the Hall, I come in
to dress as_a manager, so this business is rather an,
operation. Some people, and, I believe, even women—
I mean ladies — have slept at the coffee-houses adjoining

206 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
Westminster Hall, that they maybe sure of getting to
the door in time.
'. . . Since writing the above I have been to the
Hall. We stood an hour and a half in the street in the
mob, and at last the press was so terrible, that I think
it possible I may have saved, if not her life, at least a
limb or two. I could not, however, save her cap,
which perished in the attempt. Shoes were, however,
the principal and most general loss. Several ladies
went in barefoot; others, after losing their own, got
the stray shoes of other people, and went in with one
red and one yellow shoe.' ' Pall Mall Court: Thursday, June 5, 1788.
' You will probably expect some account of Sheridan's
speech, and it has been so capital an object for months
past, that I should like to tell you something of it,
both for your own gratification and as a memorial to
recur to hereafter when we gossip of these things as
belonging to old times. But I cannot undertake a
criticism of his performance to-day, much less a report
of what he said. . . . He spoke four hours and a half,
and then paused till Friday (to-morrow), when he will
certainly conclude. If I am to give my opinion quite
sincerely, and to go no further than your own ear, I
must say that I imagine a great majority of his audi
ence was disappointed ; and to speak truth yet more
fully, I own I expected myself something more brilliant,
more striking, and impressive than we received. The
disappointment, however, if it exists, has been more

Ms. 37] SHERIDAN'S SPEECH 207
owing to the extravagance of public expectation, which
has been screwing itself up without any consideration of
reason or probability, and rather by its own operation
on itself than by any rational principle. At first the
public felt a strong curiosity to hear the repetition of
a speech which made so much noise as his former one
on the same subject in the House of Commons.1 This
occasioned early applications for tickets on this day,
and that occasioned difficulty in obtaining them for
everybody, and the difficulty increased the desire and
the opinion of their value ; and thus we went on, our
curiosity and expectation lashing itself with its own
tail into a rage, as lions are supposed to do. In the
next place,by far the greatest part of the audience did
not know what sort of excellence they were to expect,
nor what is the nature of true excellence in such a per
formance. . . . They expected the same species of
entertainment, or went in the same spirit of expecta
tion, as if they were going to Garrick in Lear, or
perhaps to the bottle conjuror. The knowledge of
these expectations increased the difficulty of gratifying
them by requiring a species of performance not in just
character as a public man doing real business and
addressing judges in a cause, but not performing to an
audience as an actor ; and it also, in some degree,
weakened his powers by affecting his nerves and his
courage. I think the circumstances in which Sheridan
1 The success of that speech had been so great that Fox advised its
repetition on this occasion, on the ground that it could not be sur
passed ; and it was not.

208 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788.
appears on this occasion must occasion a disadvantage
for which there is no possible remedy. I mean that
his coming on so much in the character of a favourite
actor, called on by the public, for the gratification of
their idle taste and pleasure, to give them a specimen
and display of eloquence and oratory, must put the
real business so much aside, and extinguish so entirely
the true character in which he ought to stand, that, let
his performance be what it will, it must lose, without
redemption, the effect which belongs to real actual
business, with the powerful impression and all the
charms of sincerity and genuine feeling. If you were to
form a judgment of Sheridan's speech on Tuesday from
this unfavourable introduction, you would certainly be
misled, and think much too low of it. It was a very
great exertion of talent, understanding, and skill in
composition, and was the work of a man of very extra
ordinary genius. There was not one sentence in which
you did not perceive the exercise of a most ingenious,
acute, penetrating, and lively mind ; and it was
strewed very thick with more brilliant periods of elo
quence and poetical imagination, and more lively
sallies of wit, than could be produced probably by more-
than one other man in the world, with whom, however,
they spring up and shoot out with all the luxuriance
and grace of spontaneous nature. This certainly
cannot be said of Sheridan's flowers, which are pro
duced by great pains, skill, and preparation, and are
delivered in perfect ordei', ready tied up in regular

Ms. 37] SHERIDAN'S SPEECH 209
though beautiful bouquets, and very unlike Burke's
wild and natural nosegays.
' I think in this respect that Sheridan's excellence
becomes perversely a sort of defect ; for the finer
periods and passages are so salient from the rest, are
so finished, and bear so strongly the evidence of regular
and laborious composition produced by premeditation
and delivered by memory, as to give the whole per
formance a character of design and artificial execution
which keeps the author rather than his work, the
orator rather than his speech, before you, which draws
the attention entirely away from the purpose to the
performance, and which can at most exercise the
wonder and admiration of his audience, leaving both
their passions and their judgment unaffected. Another
great misfortune has been either a defect in his voice,
or an error and mismanagement in his elocution. He
was very imperfectly heard, and what was most unfor
tunate was that he was heard the worst in the most
impassioned parts. Whenever he became particularly
animated, and would place the strongest emphasis, he
broke into a lower note — I do not mean less loud, but
a lower key — the effect of which is to render the em-
phatical parts the least audible, for a sharper tone is
heard with less exertion than a flatter one. He has been
told of this, and will probably correct it. I do not
think even I was more alarmed, or more oppressed, over
come, and subdued by fear, than he was when he began.
He even lost his recollection entirely for a few moments.
This, while it conciliates favour towards him, is likewise
VOL. i. p

210 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
gratifying to other cowards, who see their superiors
labouring under similar infirmities. His exordium
was, partly on this account, colder and less effective
than I expected from him ; but I think also that he
had probably neglected too long to prepare this part of
his speech, and, as it was to consist merely of general
and trite topics, had perhaps trusted himself with too
little preparation for so trying an occasion. I am con
vinced, on such occasions, the greatest men, and those
who can depend the most securely on their powers,
should yet always fairly launch themselves and set
themselves afloat by preparation ; they may afterwards
trust their genius to blow and their judgment to steer
them where they wish. I thought also that Sheridan
starved his present argument a little by avoiding his
former speech, which he was unwilling to repeat.
' . . . I must assure you that, though I have
observed these imperfections and drawbacks, I admire
this speech as one of the very finest and most surprising
exertions of genius I ever witnessed.
' I must remind you that I am now writing rather a
memorandum of my own thoughts for my own satis
faction, and for future use or amusement, than a letter
to a correspondent, and that I write it to you only
because we are not only one flesh but one spirit.
There are the strongest reasons for my not expressing
the slightest degree of disappointment, or showing any
faintness in my praise and admiration of this perform
ance. First, it would be really unjust to Sheridan to
judge the whole by a part. . . . Next, as you see,

Ms. 37] SHERIDAN'S SPEECH 211
I cannot help still comparing him with my own hero,
and, as I am known to be more particularly a worshipper
of another deity, it might and certainly would expose
Burke to the imputation of envy, or perhaps even of
envious detraction, if his friends should be found dis
paraging Sheridan. All this is, you see, very confi
dential indeed. ... I have not even trusted myself
with Burke in this matter, and have assented to all the
loud and unqualified praise which he is giving to it
everywhere. ' . . . I was yesterday put to one of the most
scarlet blushes I ever experienced, so as to be obliged
to hide my face in both my hands, though I confess the
sensation was not without pleasure as well as distress,
by the conversation turning suddenly, at Francis' table,
where I dined, from Sheridan's speech to mine ; I mean
my last. They were talking with wonder of a man
having strength and recollection to speak without in
terruption four hours and a half on the same subject,
which naturally made them point to me as having
spoken as long at three different times on the same
subject. . . . This was expatiated on by Burke
till I literally begged for mercy, and I was really dis
tressed, whatever you may think of it. There is no
doubt at all of these expressions of my success being
very much exaggerated, and of both Burke and Francis
being much influenced in their judgment by affection
for me, and also by the gratification which their own
praises gave them from my mouth ; but as others have
spoken pretty much in the same strain of it, and as it
p 2

212 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
would be impossible to hold such language if there
were not some ground for praise, I may fairly enjoy the
most unexpected, as to myself still the unaccountable,
satisfaction of being named, compared, and classed
with the first men. Now to talk of other matters.
Sir James is very likely a peer at this moment. He
expected it yesterday to take place to-day, but it was
not absolutely settled, though quite settled that it is
to be. The title is to be Malmesbury, which it seems
is at no great distance from some of his land. I went
last night to Ranelagh with Burke and the Francis
family. It was a very good and pleasant Ranelagh,
which it seems is generally the case on the King's
birthday.' ' Pall Mall Court : June 7, 1788.
'My prediction has been fully accomplished, and
Sheridan displayed powers yesterday hardly to be con
ceived, and perhaps never equalled in their kind. He
spoke three hours and a half, but did not conclude,
and he is to proceed on Tuesday, when we may expect
him yet to surpass even himself, for the most affecting
part of the subject yet remains, besides the exertion
that is to be expected in the winding up of such a
subject. . . . He was infinitely better, and, indeed,
perfectly well heard yesterday, by a better management
of his voice, although it was much more fatigued, and
his chest seemed quite broke down, as it were, with
the exertion. He had been extremely ill the night
before, and had strained himself by vomiting so severely
as to make it doubtful whether he would be able to

Ms. 37] A CRITICISM OF SHERIDAN'S ORATORY 213
speak at all. I believe that he has suffered as much
from anxiety, labour, and nervousness even as me.
The character of his speech yesterday was the same as
that of the day before, and indeed of all his great ap
pearances — that is to say, acute and forcible and close
reasoning, delivered in easy but perfectly lucid language,
and relieved and enlivened by epigrammatic points,
and by sallies of wit, both of the higher and the more
familiar kind. This is the ground, as it were, and
there is no part of the work which is less excellent than
that I have described. But on this ground are added
innumerable beautiful ornaments, and the principal of
these are so splendid, so rich, and so exquisitely
finished, as to excel the most extravagant notions of
perfection. These splendid passages are all most
elaborately composed, but they are composed by a
person warm with his subject, and inspired by the
occasion and the audience for which they are intended,
and therefore do not partake in any degree of the cold
ness generally belonging to this artificial fire. He
rises on these occasions to a pitch above any specimens
we have of oratory, and soars fairly into the highest
regions of poetry.
' . . . The grand defect (of this speech) is that of
his general style of speaking, of which I took notice in
my last letter, and which I dwelt on more strongly
there, because that defect was not so well compensated
for by the perfection of the execution as yesterday.
The defect I mean is that the fine parts, which stand
out so much from the rest, and which are therefore

214 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
almost alone retained — deciding by that means the
character of the whole, although in reality forming
but a small part of that whole — are composed too
laboriously, too accurately as to language, depart too
much from the style and arrangement of words, as well
as from the choice of the words themselves, commonly
used in oral discourse even of the highest, most solemn,
and most animated kind, and they bear by this means
too near a resemblance to the higher kind of theatrical
composition to be perfectly becoming or satisfactory in
real affairs, which, though generally treated in a less
artificial and even less lofty strain than these fictions,
are, however, infinitely of higher rank and dignity
than those mere exercises of imagination and genius
which Sheridan would make his speeches resemble. I
object to the style of these fine parts, therefore, first,
as deviating from that which is proper to the occasion
into that which is not, and next as deviating from that
which is in its own nature the higher into that which
is in its own nature the lower, although its dress and
decorations are certainly the most gaudy of the two.
But I object to it besides as bearing too evidently the
marks of deliberate and cold-blood preparation just
where the utmost degree of real passion and fire is to
be represented. The previous and considerate study,
and the present animation and fire, are both before
you at once, and are confounding and counteracting
each other. One is disposed to call out, like the
countryman at a conjuror's, " I see how that's done."
There is no denying that this defect is to be found in

Ms. 37] CRITICISMS AND COMPARISONS 215
Sheridan's speaking, and it most certainly is felt by
the judicious part of his audience, whom it annoys and
distresses just in proportion as the perfection of the
execution and the victory obtained by it over our
feelings make us wish to admit no abatement in our
admiration. This defect is rendered somewhat more
observable by something rather theatrical in his voice
and the management of his tones. When I have said
this I must add that I am now convinced, however,
that his powers in this kind are far beyond any other
man's, and that nobody living could execute what he
did yesterday. . . .
'Burke also abounds with these fine passages, and
he soars also as much out of the lower regions of dis
course, and infinitely further into those of imagination
and fancy ; but no man could ever perceive in him
the least trace of preparation, and he never appears
more incontestably inspired by the moment, and trans
ported with the fury of the god within* him, than in
those finished passages which it would cost Shakespeare
long study and labour to produce. Fox's speaking,
which excels all other men's in its kind, is also wholly
free from this defect, nature and simplicity being
indeed the true characteristic quality of his eloquence ;
but the comparison is not so fair in his instance, because
he does not deal in those brilliant periods, which seem r
in so singular a way to require indispensably both pre
meditation and the absence of it.
' You need not be afraid of a third criticism after
Tuesday, as I have, I think, now pretty nearly favoured

216 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
you with all I wish to remark on this subject. I fear
these remarks will not be very interesting to you, who
have not heard the thing to which they relate, and it
is difficult to relish a commentary without the text, but
it will be satisfactory and amusing, perhaps, to me by-
and-by to know what one thought of these matters at
the time.' ' Pall Mall Court : June 12, 1788.
' It is curious to see how exactly people follow their
own characters all through life. Mrs. Harcourt1 is
more foolish and outrageous about Hastings, and about
the King and Queen, than she ever was about anything
before. Here is an example of consistency of character;
for the two peculiarities of hers are — first, a violent
love of kings, queens, and nobles, which makes her
servile in all her opinions and actions ; and next, ex
treme violence in any idea which happens to be the
prevailing one at the time. . . . She carries her
Hastings violence so far that Mrs. Morrice could not
go to hear Sheridan's second speech without risking a
quarrel. And' she abused Miss Gunning* very much to
her face for saying that it was very fine. She said that
it was very improper that such sentiments should come
from the Queen's family, that the King and Queen
would certainly resent it, and that Miss Gunning would
never have done with it till she had made herself a
1 Wife of General, afterwards Field-Marshal Harcourt.
2 Miss Gunning and Mr. Digby are well known to the readers of
Madame d'Arblay's amusing Diary under the names of Miss Fusileer
and Mr. Fairly.

Ms. 37] DILLER'S FIREWORKS 217
martyr. This Miss Gunning told me, and it will serve
to show you what a becoming part their Majesties take
in the administration of justice. I called on Miss
Gunning lately for the first and only time this year,
and found Mr. Digby there, as I used to do more fre
quently last year. When he went away I asked her if
she was going to be married to him, and she said not,
that there was nothing at all in it, and that the report
had been disagreeable to her as tending to deprive her
of his company. She is a little faded this year, and
her sister Bell is much the most blooming of the two,
but Miss Gunning is very clever and entertaining, and
I think sensible. I dined yesterday at the Palmerstons
with Sylvester Douglas, Fitzherbert, and Mrs. Johnston
— General Johnston's widow. We all went to Diller's
philosophical fireworks, which is a most beautiful and
most ingenious exhibition, as well as a very fashionable
one at present. It is an imitation of fireworks, but
without any noise or any smoke, and the figures and
designs are infinitely more elegant and beautiful,
with the additional advantage of a great variety of the
richest and finest colours. He represents the growth
of plants and flowers, showing first a little stem, which
grows gradually, and from which is shot out both leaves
and foliage ; then comes the flower budding, expanding
by degrees, till you have the whole plant in its full
growth, with the flowers in full bloom. The proper
colours are observed, and the changes of colour take
place in their proper order. He represents different
insects and animals, and has a most curious chase of a

218 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
viper after its prey, and of a little flying dragon after
a butterfly.1 ... I cannot give you any just idea
of the beauty and elegance of the show. There is a
vast deal of ether employed, and the room smelt so
strongly of Hoffman as to add very much to my pleasure
and to that of Mrs. Johnston, who has the same affec
tion for Hoffman that I have. Everybody else was
loudly complaining of the stench, while we were whiffing
it up and agreeing that it was a nosegay, and that it
smelt of a good night. I never was in Mrs. Johnston's
company before, and she has made my conquest. You
know she is one of the finest women in the world, but
besides that she has a great deal of simplicity, of cheer
fulness, of fun, with a degree of refinement and clever
ness that makes her understand fun at half-a-word,
which is very pleasant. She has, besides these agree-
ablenesses, very good qualities, and has behaved ex
cessively well in a trying situation.' ' Pall Mall Court: June 14, 1788.
' Sheridan concluded yesterday, and the trial is ad
journed to the first Tuesday in next session. . . . He
was finer yesterday than ever. I believe there were few
dry eyes in the assembly ; and as for myself, I never re
member to have cried so heartily and so copiously on any
public occasion. . . . My admiration of his last day is
entirely without any abatement or qualification what
ever. Burke caught him in his arms as he sat down,
1 This seems to be the trick so much admired when exhibited by the
Japanese conjurors in London, and seen by Lord Elgin in Japan.

Mr. 37] END OF THE SESSION 219
which was not the least affecting part of the day to my
feelings, and could not be the least grateful testimony of
his merit received by Sheridan. I have myself en
joyed that embrace on such an occasion, and know its
value. There was a grand shaking of hands and leave-
taking among the assistants of both sexes on this day.'
It was on this occasion that Gibbon listened with emo
tion, as he tells us in his Miscellaneous Works, to the
personal compliment paid him ' in the presence of the
British nation ; ' when Sheridan, having declared that
the facts he had to relate were ' unparalleled in atro-
ciousness,' added that 'nothing equal in criminality
was to be traced either in ancient or modern history,
in the correct periods of Tacitus or the luminous pages
of Gibbon.'
It is often related that at the close of the sentence
the orator turned to a friend, and whispered : ' I said j
voluminous.' The author of the joke was not, however,
Sheridan, but Dudley Long, who was sitting next to
Gibbon in the gallery. When the passage occurred
Gibbon was naturally pleased, and, as Dudley Long
thought, for the gratification of hearing the compliment
again, he asked his neighbour to tell him exactly what .
Sheridan had said. ' Oh,' said Dudley Long, ' he said ^
something about your voluminous pages.'
Lord Russell, on whose authority we give the story,
was told it by Dudley Long himself.
At the end of the session Sir Gilbert, to enjoy his

220 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
passion for sailing, went to the north by sea. Mr-
Mackenzie, 'a gentleman known by the title of Deaf
Mackenzie, being stone deaf, has a yacht, in which he
sails to-morrow from Gravesend for his estate in the
Highlands, and has agreed to give me a passage to
Berwick. The yacht is an excellent vessel, he is an old
sailor, the weather is fine, and the wind fair, and I
hope to be home within twenty-four hours of the time
by road.' The voyage was successfully accomplished, and the
conversation, carried on by signs, afforded various
amusing stories, afterwards retailed to Lady Elliot,
whose picture, in Sir G.'s toothpick-case, along with
that of Mrs. Mackenzie, on her husband's snuff-box,
was daily toasted after dinner.

Ms. 37] NEW BY 221

CHAPTER VII.
Sir Gilbert Elliot to Lady Elliot.
'Doncaster: Tuesday, October 21, 1788.
'On Sunday we got to Newby1 to dinner, and found
them all well there. They have Lord Boringdon2 and
his tutor Mr. Worsley, and Alfred. Lord Boringdon is
a very fine young man, though still kept on the footing
of a boy. He is to pass this winter at Leicester with
his tutor, who resides there, and then to go to Christ
Church College at Oxford ; he has his hair about his
ears, and gets up in the morning to take his lesson
with his tutor ; but he is six feet high, and more
formed than many of those who are in the world. I
was much pleased with his manners and character, and
daresay he will turn out well.
' . . . I must trust you with a good story they told
us. There was a Mrs. Philippine Burton, who was no
better than she should be, who had taken the liberty of
going to the rooms at Brighthelmstone, which being
objected to by the company, it was resolved to dismiss
1 Mr. Robinson's country-house.
2 John, second Baron Boringdon of Boringdon, born 1772, succeeded
his father April 1787.

222 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
her, but nobody else liking the office it was undertaken
by a Mr. Mackrell, a gentleman then at Brighthelm
stone. He delivered his message to her accordingly,
and handed her down the room without any resistance
or remonstrance on her part. But when they had got
to the bottom of the room she turned round, just-
before she went out, and said, loud enough to be heard
by the bystanders, " Oh, Mr. Mackrell ! how can you
be so hard-roed ?" I hope you will like it, for it was
very good when I heard it.'
' Park Street: Monday, October 27, 1788.
' We • arrived here yesterday in the afternoon, after
an expeditious journey of eleven days. Our labours
seemed very ill rewarded by the dismal appearance of
London, from the moment we got within its walls, and
by the still more melancholy aspect of Park Street,
and the two empty houses we are to inhabit. I don't
know what was the matter with the streets yesterday,
for though they were full of the Sunday people, they
gave us both the impression of a solitude, and London,
we agreed, might pass for the " deserted village." One
feature of this melancholy was perhaps the shops being
shut, and another was the absence of anything like a
gentleman. We did not see one gentleman's carriage
from Tottenham Court Road to Park Street. But the
green fog, and its contrast with the green fields from
whence we are come, and the difference between brick
streets and pleasant Teviotdale, had probably the prin-
1 William Elliot of Wells and Sir Gilbert Elliot.

Mr. 37] WELBECK 223
cipal share in beglooming our arrival. Peggy was out,
so we could not get our letters, and we took possession
of Mr. Robinson's foreparlour. After a dish of tea,
Elliot set out to his tailor near the Temple, where he
also called without finding any living thing ; and on
his return we got our letters from Peggy, which
brightened us up for a time; but we were so woe
begone by this time that we could stand it no longer,
and went to bed at half after nine out of pure doleful-
ness. ' Before I come to our history in London, I will just
finish our travels. From Langold we went on Friday
to Welbeck to dinner. On our way we stopped at
Worksop Manor, the Duke of Norfolk's, and looked at
the front of the great house, without however entering
it. The Duke of Norfolk • was not at home, so I left
my name for him. The poor Duchess is confined
there, and if she were not mad already, the gloominess
of the place would be sufficient to make her so. At
Welbeck, where we dined and slept, we found the Duke
and Duchess of Portland,2 their eldest and another
daughter, and Benjamin Langlois, who now resides con
stantly at the town of Worksop. We passed a very
pleasant evening without cards, which is always an
escape ; but we were more indebted for our entertain
ment to the agreeable manners and character of the

' Charles, eleventh Duke of Norfolk, died, 1815, without issue.
2 William Henry Cavendish, third Duke, born 1738. Married
Dorothy, only daughter of William, fourth Duke of Devonshire. The
Duke of Portland died in 1809.

224 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
Duke, than to the brightness either of her Grace or of
Benjamin Langlois. Benjamin Langlois is the same
diplomatic, foreign, old-fashioned coxcomb as ever, and
favoured us with a good deal oi prose of and concerning
himself and his own consequence ; but he is, with all
this, an inoffensive and polite man. Welbeck is not
a pleasing place by any means, and the house is not
good. The Duke has great plans for rebuilding it, but
his fortune will not permit the execution of them in
his own life, and indeed I think Bulstrode will always
be a more desirable residence for the family. From
Welbeck we came to Buckden on Saturday.
' . . . I dined yesterday at Batt's with Mr. Legge
and Mr. Gamier. . . . We went to the play to
see Mrs. Jordan in Sir Harry Wildair's l breeches. She
was extremely pretty from head to toe, nothing can be
prettier than her figure as a woman in breeches, such
as Rosalind, but it never answers for the handsomest
female to play the part of a man. She played well and
agreeably, but it is a tiresome play and part. . . .
'Parliament will certainly not meet till late in
January. . . . Windham is returned. . . .
Fox is at Milan. He should have been here on
October 10 at the anniversary dinner of his election,
and his friends had such strong reasons from his letters
to believe that he was actually at Calais on his way,
and detained by contrary winds, that they made that
apology for his absence publicly. The next day they
1 In ' The Constant Couple,' by Farquhar.

Mi. 37] THE KING'S HEALTH 225
received letters from him dated Milan. Mrs. Armstead
had sprained her ankle in Switzerland, and he could
not get her to England on that account by October 10,
and he therefore indulged himself in prolonging his
travels. He instructed his friends, however, to give
any reason but the true one, and this blemish in Mrs.
Armstead's leg is therefore a secret of state which must
not transpire through you. I had the present history
from the Duke of Portland. . . .
' The King is certainly in a bad state of health, but
I fancy nothing material. They make a great mystery
about it, so that nobody knows much of the truth ; but
the best opinion seems to be that it is an unformed
gout. Elliot is just returned from the city and gone
to Bath. He called at Lord Heathfield's, who is con
fined wholly to his bed. His left side dead, but his
speech and senses entire. They call it a creeping palsy,
which is not to be cured ; but they do not seem to
apprehend immediate death.' ' October 29, 1788.
' Burke told me yesterday that the King had been
in extreme danger during his late illness ; that he had
been seized with violent spasms in his stomach, which
were so serious and so severe as to render him speech
less for an hour and a half ; that the immediate cause
of that attack appeared to be a cold, but that in fact-
he was in a bad state of health before, and that the
cold produced this effect because it met with a dis
ordered constitution. The severity of this attack did
not last long, but he is still ill. The spasms have
VOL. i. Q

226 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
affected him downwards in his limbs and feet, which
has given occasion to the report of the complaint being
gout, which he told me was not the case. Burke had
never heard distinctly what the complaint was for
which he had gone to Cheltenham, a great deal of
mystery and secrecy having been observed on the
subject of this illness, which of itself shows it to have
been somewhat serious, though it has concealed the
particular nature of the disorder. I do not know what
Mr. Burke's authority is for this account, but he con
sidered it as authentic' 'Beconsfield: Friday, October 31, 1788.
' This is not likely to be either so long or so edifying
a letter as that which I sent you yesterday, for there
is very little time left to one's own disposal in this
house, and, besides the consumption of time in meals,
conversation, and sauntering walks, I have business1
with Burke which nearly fills the intervals. The
party is Burke, Mrs. Burke, and the two Richards,
with Miss Ann Hickey and a German professor who is
here on a visit. Captain Nagle is expected to-day.
The society in which Burke lives is less like himself
than that of any other man. Everybody I meet
seems as much increased in fat as myself, or even you.
Burke has now really a most formidable belly ; so has
his brother Richard.' . . .

1 Sir Gilbert's speech on the impeachment of Sir Elijah Impey was
about to be printed, and he went on this occasion to Beconsfield to
obtain' Burke's assistance in revising it for the press.

Mi. 37] BECONSFIELD 227
' Pall Mall Court: November 4, 1788.
' I returned to Beconsfield on Sunday and found the
same party. The German professor proved a very
agreeable addition to the society of the house, being a
' learned, sensible, good-humoured, and unaffected man
of about thirty. We learnt from him that English
literature as well as English politics are infinitely more
the occupation of the rest of Europe than we are apt to
imagine here. There are few Germans of any degree i
of education who are not now well acquainted with!
our language, and they seem, by the specimen of this
gentleman at least, better read in our authors in all
branches than many of ourselves. Shakespeare is fully
as much worshipped there as in England, and they
have translated all his good plays, which are as much
followed, and admired with as much enthusiasm as in
his own national theatres.
' On Sunday evening Burke read part of the second,
speech with his son and me. Burke thought that I
should have made the printer work it into a greater
number of new paragraphs, and was very desirous also
that there should be marginal titles to the different
parts or topics to mark the more easily, in turning over
the leaves, what the subjects are. Burke read it aloud,
very slowly, very attentively, and did it justice in the
reading. ' His praises were as usual such as a man could not by
any exertion of vanity report to anybody but a wife. . . .
' Burke and the professor and 1 returned yesterday to

228 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
town. We called at Bulstrode on the way, and saw
the Duke of Portland, who is just come to Welbeck to
preside at the Revolution dinner of the Whig Club to
day. Lord Titehfield is at present with Hugh, and will
probably remain with him some time. We dined at
Sir Joshua Reynolds' very pleasantly ; nobody but
Miss Palmer,1 whom I think you will like by and by.
Sir Joshua has done a picture for Boydell's Shakespeare,
fine in the execution, but unpleasing in the subject.
It is the death of Cardinal Beaufort in Henry VI. ; the
moment of the picture is that of his expiring and the
last groan and convulsion of death is the subject.
The great subject of inquiry and speculation at
present is the King's health, and he is certainly very
ill, though perhaps not in immediate danger of his life.
The following account may, I believe, be depended
on : — He went out in the dew one morning (just before
his attack), and instead of changing his shoes and
stockings came to town in them quite wet. After the
levee he returned to Kew, where the Queen wished him
to take something cordial, but Georgy boy liked his
own way best, and ate a pear and drank a glass of cold
water. He was unwell all the evening, and went to
bed at his usual hour. About one in the morning he
was seized violently with a cramp or some other violent
thing in the stomach, which rendered him speechless,
and in a word was all but. The Queen ran out in
great alarm, in her shift, or with very little clothes,
1 Sir Joshua's niece, who married Lord Inchiquin.

Mr. 37] ILLNESS OF THE KING 229
among the pages, who, seeing her in that situation,
were at first retiring out of respect, but the Queen
stopped them and sent them instantly for the apothecary
at Richmond, who arrived in about forty minutes,
during which time the King had continued in the fit and
speechless. The apothecary tried to make him swallow
something strong, but the King, who appeared not to
have lost his senses, still liked a bit of his own way, •
and rejected by signs everything of that sort. They
contrived, however, to cheat him, and got some cordial
down in the shape of medicine, and the fit went off. ,
He has been ill ever since, although he has been out
and at Court.
' His feet and legs have swelled considerably, which
people endeavoured to call gout ; but it is not so.
They tell a story of his kicking one heel against the
other foot, which, though swelled, was soft, and yielded
to the kick ; and his saying — " They would make me
believe I have the gout, but if it was the gout, ho.w
could I kick the part without any pain ? " It's now
pretty certain to be a dropsical swelling. I believe this
account to be a true one. I do not look forward to our
Whig dinner to-day with much satisfaction. A song
or two from Captain Morris will probably be our only
reward for a mobbing stewing meal. The business of
to-day is not properly to celebrate the Revolution, but
to appoint some future day for it.'

230 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
' Pall Mall Court : Saturday, November 8, 17S8.
' The state of the King's health is so much the topic
of inquiry and attention at present, that I shall proba
bly not be able to speak of any other subject to-day,
having passed the forenoon at the Duke of Portland's,
and being obliged to write several letters for the post.
I believe it is impossible that the King can be worse
than he appears to be by the most undoubted accounts
of yesterday and to-day. It may seem extraordinary that
so little should be known of the exact nature of his dis
order ; but some of its effects are beyond a doubt, and
are of the most serious kind. His reason is entirely
gone, and I understand he has been a fortnight at least
in that situation, and what seems to render this part of
the case worse is that it has not been accompanied by
fever. He was at the same time perfectly ungovern
able, and the distress and perplexity of the Prince and
the family must have been infinite. On Thursday the
Prince sent the Duke of York for the Chancellor, who
came with him to Windsor; the Prince probably
wishing for the authority of his advice in taking steps
for that degree of restraint which the disorder rendered
necessary. He has intervals in which he is rather
better, but he is never well, and is worse after the'
intervals than before. There is nothing more certain
than the total alienation of his mind for the present ;
I believe that part of his disorder is considered as ex
tremely desperate. But his life is as certainly in the
most extreme danger ; this is the language of his
physicians and of all those about him who would be

Ms. 37] THE KING 231
most ready to conceal it if possible. Jack Payne came
from Windsor this morning at about eight or nine
o'clock with the latest intelligence I have heard.
The account he brings is that the King is no better
than yesterday, and is in the greatest danger. I have
heard that the language of those with whom the Prince
corresponds, and who have seen Payne to-day, is that
his recovery is hopeless, but that he may linger a few
days. This opinion, however, though coming from the
most authentic quarter, must still be necessarily some
what uncertain. . . .
'. . . The King is now attended by Heberden, Sir
G. Baker, Warren, old Hawkins, and some of the
Windsor apothecaries. The Queen does not now see
him ; the state of his head probably rendering the
scene too painful to her. I understand the Prince is
perfectly steady to his principles and friends, and that
he is conducting himself with the greatest propriety and
judgment. . . .
' I shall see the Duke of Portland again before the
post goes, and keep my letter open till that time. Fox
not yet heard of. ... I ' have seen the Duke of Port
land and Sheridan. Nothing new.'
' Pail Mall Court : November 11, 1788.
' It is extremely difficult, or rather impossible, to
give you any distinct account of the King's health.
On Saturday and Sunday the authentic accounts were
such as to leave little prospect of his surviving two
days. On Sunday night, by the operation of James'

232 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
powder, he was thought to be in less imminent danger
of death, but his head was as bad or rather worse than
ever. On Monday, the account sent by Sir G. Baker
to the Duke of Portland was that the King had
had some sleep that night, but that he was still
extremely ill, and there was no appearance of amend
ment at present. On Monday night the account from
authentic quarters was that he was considerably better,
his pulse at 78, appetite and strength returning, but
head worse than ever. To-day there is for the first
time a Lord-in-waiting at St. James' to answer inquiries.
I have been there, and a paper written by Dr. Warren
lay on the table, dated ten o'clock this forenoon at
Windsor. The words are — •" His Majesty has passed a
quiet night, but without any abatement in his com
plaints." '
In the all but daily letters which Sir Gilbert wrote
to his wife, he gave her as he received them the various
fand often conflicting accounts current in society respect
ing the King's health, in which there is little to interest
the reader at the present day.1 Several ktEefs^ellasv-
ing upon the last of the 11th November are therefore
omitted. What was then secret history is now well known, and
' The only topic of private interest in the letters omitted relates to
Sir Gilbert's disappointment on hearing from the post-office authorities
that there was no chance of a mail-coach via Carlisle, ' because the
western correspondence would not afford it, and that one was never
intended through Carlisle.' A curious state of things when compared
with that now existing.

Mr. 37] PUBLIC AND PRIVATE REPORTS 233
the speculations of the town on the greater or lesser
probability of the King's immediate death, or of his
prolonged life in a state of insanity, are not worth
repeating. It seems clear that the best-informed persons believed
the King's insanity to be incurable, and the contradic
tions in the accounts current in London may be trace
able to the fact that the public bulletins of the illness
as delivered at St. James' always avoided the mention of
the real disorder, while a private report was sent every
four hours to the minister which described the King's
mental condition, and was signed by the physicians.
This information was of course not imparted to the
public, but the leaders of Opposition had intelligence
as much to be depended upon.1
'Pall Mall Court: November 20, 1788.
' The King continues as ill, or rather worse than
ever. I have not yet heard the day's report, but yester
day he was as ill as possible. He had not slept since
Monday night, and had talked incessantly all the time.
The physicians, in the report they sent to St. James',
talk of fever, but I am inclined to believe he has never
yet had any fever, in the common acceptation of that
word, and that they avail themselves of some occasional
quickness of pulse to avoid the true name of his dis-

1 Madame d'Arblay's Diary gives a graphic account of the scenes
passing at Windsor. Mention is made in one of 'Sir Gilbert's letters
of the journey of Mr. and Mrs. Hastings to Weymouth with the Queen's
favourite (and Miss Burney's enemy) Madame Schwellenberg.

234 LIFE AXD LETTERS [1.788
order, and also to avoid the declaration of a circum
stance which would make his cane much more hopeless
— I mean that of delirium without fever. The Houses
meet to-day. . . .
' I was last night at a little council of about twenty
Lords and Commoners at Lord North's, where the sub
ject of consideration was, what the conduct of our party
should be to-day ; and it was determined not to oppose
the adjournment, if proposed by Mr. Pitt, and to refrain,
above all, from marking any haste or impatience for a
determination in the present state of the Government.
' The Queen is surely, as you say, sincerely to be
pitied. She has not seen the King for some weeks, but
the horror of his situation cannot be entirely concealed
from her ; indeed, the necessity for their separation
must alone explain it to her. He was, for some time,
extremely impatient under this separation, and was
indeed violent and outrageous in his attempts to get
to her apartments. He once forced his way to her door,
and finding the outer-door made fast, he was near cry
ing, and said, " Surely they might have thought one
door enough to stop me." Another time he got out of
bed in his shirt, and ran into the next room, where
people were waiting, and' called out that he was the
King, did they not know him ? and that he would go
to the Queen. The people, between fear and respect,
ran away; but Colonel Digby laid his hand on the
King's breast or shoulder, and said firmly—" Come, sir,
you must not do this ; go back to your bed." The
King immediately submitted to this appearance of

Ms. 37] EVENING PARTIES 235
authority. The disorder has certainly been coming on
for a considerable time, and had been perceived not
only by the Queen, but also by the King himself, who
expressed great horror at the apprehensions of it, and
wished he might die soon rather than live in that situa
tion. But these details are not of a kind to dwell on.
' . . . The Houses have adjourned to this day
fortnight. Not a word said except by Pitt. The
House amazingly full.' ' Pall Mall Court : Saturday, November 22.
' The King continued yesterday exactly in the same
state. , . .
' I went to Lord North's — or rather to Lady North's
— on Thursday evening, where I commenced, I think,
a violent friendship with Miss North,1 and we enter
tained each other with witty stories, and I flatter
myself to our mutual satisfaction. I also made the
acquaintance of Frederick North, the invalid, who is
the only pleasant son of the" family, and he is very
remarkably so.
' I found my old friend Lady Carmarthen2 there too,
who is really a most pleasing woman, and is most cer
tainly a far prettier marchioness than she was a girl.
' I dined yesterday at Sir Joshua Reynolds', with the
Burkes, Mr. Townley, Dance the painter, and Mr.
Boswell. Boswell paid me the most extravagant com
pliment on my Nuncomar speech. You may suppose
1 She married Sylvester Douglas, created Lord Glenbervie.
2 Miss Anguish.

236 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
that I am not much flattered by this praise, especially
as I have been in his company before since that speech
without any mention of it, but it will serve to show
that there is a strong expectation of things coming
about, of which indeed there are other symptoms.'
1 Pall Mall Court : Tuesday, November 25, 1788.
' The King continues just as before. [_Fox arrived
yesterday at six in the morning ; and I consider this as
a very important event. The messenger whom the
Duke of Portland sent in quest of him left London on
the 6th of this month, but could not cross till the 8th.
He came up with Fox at Bologna, 200 miles beyond
Turin, in seven days from Calais. Fox had not heard
from England since the month of September, and had
no suspicion of the King's illness : but he actually
believed the death of Lord Holland when the messenger
arrived at Bologna ; it had been positively affirmed by
report. An English gentleman had told him that he
had left Lord Holland very ill, and another had told
him that when he left Geneva there was an English
messenger for Mr. Fox, who did not know which road to
follow him. These circumstances had convinced him of
the truth of this report, which had afflicted him very
much, both on account of the disadvantageous change it
made in his own situation, and because he has an affec
tion for the boy. When he was told at Boulogne that
there was an express from England below, he was then
thoroughly confirmed in the belief of Lord Holland's
death ; and when he learnt his safety, was so much

Ms. 37] MR. FOX 237
affected as to fall down on a couch and cry violently
for some time. He says he had in some degree made
up his mind to the change in his own situation, and
thought he had almost reconciled himself to a retreat
from public life ; but when he heard the King's situa
tion, and the posture of affairs in England, it gave
another turn, he says, to his mind directly./ He set off
immediately, and the poor messenger, instead of resting
at the end of such a journey, rode back again night
and day, ordering Mr. Fox's horses ; and they reached
London together in nine days. [ At Lyons he heard the
King was dead, but heard the truth at Paris. Mrs.
Armstead is following at more leisure. It seems extra
ordinary that such a man as Fox could be from Sep
tember to November without receiving one line from
England, or knowing there was such a place in the
world, and that no man in England should know with
the least certainty where he was for several weeks. '
This, I think, could hardly happen to the most insig
nificant man among us ; for there is nobody who has
not some one or two in the world as insignificant as
himself to whom he is significant ; but Fox, in the
first place, wished to be lost, and was afraid even of
looking at a newspaper, for fear of finding some reason
there for interrupting the pleasure and the leisure he
was enjoying. He never asked for a newspaper, either
foreign or English, the whole time of his absence,
except once, and that was to look at the Newmarket
article ; and when he had seen that he did not read
another word. He found there that his matches were

238 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
lost; but anotJier circumstance to account for (part
torn off). . . . Yet, I own, it does still seem a sort of
phenomenon to think of Fox lost for months to
England in countries where the post goes twice a week,
and England as totally lost to him ; and that one on
whom a nation seems at present altogether to depend
should not know or inquire how the world wags from
September to November, or with his own goodwill,
to January. He passed yesterday principally in bed,
and for the effect of his arrival on business you must
wait till next post. People begin now to talk as if
the ministers considered the game as up ; there are
eyen reports of Pitt's talking of returning to the bar.
Such reports alone afford matter enough for moralising,
and present a curious picture of the mutability of.
human fortune, and the variety of human opinions and
designs. I do not much relish, however, this triumph
ant sort of conversation, especially before the battle is
won, or even fought ; for I remember that just such
triumphs preceded by a very few days our utter defeat
four years ago. The Prince is, I believe, as much
determined at present as possible never to have any
thing to do with Pitt, who was very absurdly arrogant
in his good fortune, and insulted the Prince in his
manner and conduct whenever he could, even in public
and in his presence. This has been laid up, and not
unjustly— (piece torn off). He will, I am persuaded,
be always a great name, and a considerable person in
England. ... He will continue to couple the violent
affection and compassion of the people for the King, in

Mi. 37] MR. FOX WITH THE PRINCE 239
his present affecting situation, with his own fortunes,
and he will certainly make a very popular if not at first
a very powerful opposition. To this it will be neces
sary to oppose popular measures on the part of the
Prince's new government, which is, however, always
more difficult in a government than in an opposition ;
for there are few measures strong enough to have any
effect which do not clash with the private interests or
prejudices of numbers, or which may not be mis
represented — witness our India Bill.'
'Pall Mall Court : November 26, 1788.
' This day has not produced any change in affairs.
The King continues exactly as he was, and the only
event is that Charles Fox went to-day to meet the
Prince, which I think a comfortable circumstance.
What has passed, or what the consequence of their
interview may be, I do. not yet know; but as every
thing depends so entirely on the Prince's steadiness,
Fox is certainly better company than the Chancellor,1
who has lately had frequent access to him, and is
indeed in favour with him. . . .
' It is intended, I believe, to remove the King very
soon to Kew. The Prince is, I suspect, pretty sick of
his long confinement at Windsor, and it is very natural
he should be so, for, besides the scene before him, he
has been under greater restraint in his behaviour and
way of life than he has ever known since he was his
1 Thurlow.

240 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
own master. His residence, however, at Windsor has
been useful in several ways ; for, besides placing things
under his eye and preventing the attempts at imposition
and concealment with respect to the King's situation
which would probably have been practised if the
courtiers had been left to themselves, it has given a
favourable impression of the Prince's attention to his
father, and has also prevented him from breaking out
into any unseasonable indulgence of his spirits before
the public, which might have happened if he had
resided in London. The Duke of York has been con
stantly with him, and they have both conducted them
selves in a most exemplary way. They have both, I
believe, been indulged with a visit to their respective
Princesses now and then ; the Prince at Bagshot, and
the Duke to I don't know where— and no offence in
that, I hope. I dined yesterday at the Duke of Port
land's with a most select party. The company was the
Duke and Duchess of Portland, the Duke of Devonshire,
Charles Fox, Fitzpatrick, Sheridan, Lord Loughborough,
and General Burgoyne. Fox was heated by his journey,
during which he had a severe flux, which has reduced
him very considerably in flesh. He is quite well in
other respects, and in good pleasant spirits.
' In consequence of Fox's interview,1 the Prince
desired that the members of the cabinet of 1783 (when
we were last in) should assemble for the purpose of
giving him advice. Lord Loughborough was added to
1 With the Prince.

Mi. 37] THE PRINCE AND THE DUKE OF PORTLAND 241
these. He sent also a most satisfactory message to the
Duke of Portland, and one which does him much
honour. Perhaps you do not know that there had been
a strong difference between the Prince and the Duke •
about the payment of his debts, and the explanation
ran so high between them that at that time there was
a fair rupture. Many people thought this circumstance
might still operate on the Prince's raind and occasion
a most serious and indeed incurable difficulty. The
contrary, however, has happened, and though the Prince
still considers the Duke's opposition to that measure,
or rather the advice he gave the Prince against taking
it at that time, was personally unkind to him, he lias
retained no general rancour on the subject and sacri
fices that private feeling to the general good, and
indeed, I hope, to the general respect in which he
holds the Duke's character. On parting with Fox the
other day, he took him by the hand, and said, " Pray
shake the Duke of Portland by the hand for me, and
tell him that I hope everything that is past may be
forgot between us ; and, as a proof that I retain no
impression from it, assure him that as soon as I come
to town, which will be in a day or two, I shall come to
Burlington House, and I do not desire that my going
there should be kept private." This looks more like
heart, and is done more like a gentleman than one
looks for from any other Prince we have known in
England. The Duke was properly touched with this
1 See ante, p. 161.
VOL. I. E

242 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
conduct, and sat down to answer the message. He
wrote five letters, four of which he burnt, and at length
sent for me to revise the fifth, and help him out if
necessary. He sent for Windham at the same time
" as another great critic " — these are the Duke's words,
not mine. I found the general purport and matter of
his letter excellent, but thinking some part of it a
little objectionable and a little obscure, I wrote another
on the same plan, and not departing from the material
conception of the Duke's, which, being approved by
Windham and the Duke, was sent just as I wrote it.
So I have the honour to be the author of the first state-
paper of this reign or regency. I send these little
particulars to you because I know they will be interest
ing to you, and safe with you.'
' Pall Mall Court: Friday, December 5, 1788.
' I had no time yesterday to give you any account of
the examination of the physicians at the Privy Council,
and of what passed in the House of Commons. . . .
The ministerial members of the Privy Council seem
to have formed their plan for suppressing as much of
the truth as possible, and indeed for disguising it, as
well as for preventing its reaching the public. For
this purpose they set down on paper three or four
queries which were to be answered by the physicians,
and they endeavoured to settle an agreement or reso
lution of the Council that no other questions should
be asked, and no further or closer examination should
be permitted. The pretence for this was to avoid what

,Er. 37] PHYSICIANS EXAMINED BY PRIVY COUNCIL 243
was called the indelicacy of inquiring into the particular
acts committed by the King. The three questions were
in substance — Whether the King was capable of at
tending to public business ? What probability there
was of his recovery ? And at what time it might be
expected? The majority of our friends in the Council
gave in to this idea of delicacy, and acquiesced pretty
much in restraining the inquiry within these bounds.
Burke opposed this restriction, and endeavoured to
break through it by his questions, but was not sup
ported by our friends, and was overruled by the Council.
Nothing can be more absurd than this false delicacy,.
which amounts in fact to this : — That they are indeli
cate enough to set the King aside, but they are too)
delicate to tell or to inquire why. If there was ever a
measure which required certainty as to the fact, and
therefore a minute and jealous inquiry into it ; or if
ever there was an occasion when the grounds of our
proceeding should be made notorious and unquestion
able to every man in the kingdom ; it is this. . . -1
Burke made a very rough crude sketch of an ad
dress to the Prince of Wales from the House of
Commons inviting him to assume the Regency, that
we might be ready with it when the proper time comes.
He showed it me, and desired me to revise it ; but I
found the best way was to draw a new one on my own
1 The parts omitted relate to the difficulty of ascertaining from the
medical opinions whether the King's case was one of a kind to make
recovery probable or not. The physicians all agreed in his present
incapacity to attend to business, but generally thought recovery possible,
though on this point some hesitated. e 2

244 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
plan, adapting a few of his phrases where I could.
This I did the day before yesterday. It was much
approved of by Burke, the Duke of Portland, and Fox.
Fox desired me yesterday to call on him in the after
noon, and sit an hour with him, as much company dis
tracted him, but a little quiet company did him a great
deal of good. I went accordingly, and found only Lord
Robert Spencer, and I read my address to them two.
We afterwards conversed about the present business,
and occasionally about his journey, etc., very pleasantly ;
and this visit, which was sought by him, has put me on
an easier and more cordial footing with him than I
have hitherto been. Lord Robert soon went away, and
as Fox ordered nobody to be let in except Sheridan
and such, we had a pretty long tite-a-tete. Fitzpatrick
and Lord Fitzwilliam came afterwards, and I went to
Brookes' about ten. Fox was very weak and low ; his
disorder has much reduced his strength and sunk his
spirits. . . . He is, however, better to-day, but I
suspect it is only the temporary relief of laudanum.
. . . At Brookes' I found the Prince of Wales —
that's to say he was in the house, but I did not see
him, for he had just retired to a private room with
Grey, who, I forgot to tell you, is a great favourite,
and is admitted to all their most private or cabinet
councils. We are rather afraid of his premature
ambition running foul of the established heads of the
party one day and doing mischief. This between our
selves. ' I went from Brookes' with Lord Palmerston to Mrs.

Ms. 37] THE REGENCY > 245
Legge's, where was Miss North, with whom and Mrs.
Legge I am invited to dine at Douglas' chambers. I
should not be quite surprised if he had thoughts. I
know he wishes to marry.' ' Saturday, December 13, 1788.
. . . 'Lord Malmesbury has to-day declared in our
favour, but seems afraid of being abused by the other
side. 'He went from me to the Duke of Portland, whom he
had not yet seen, and to Fox also for the first time. Fox
will probably take him to the Prince. You will see in
the papers what was done in the House yesterday. Pitt
has professed his intention to propose the Prince as sole
Regent, but has also declared his intention to propose
limitation of his power.1 Lord Malmesbury found a
large party with me— Burke, Windham, Pelham, and
Elliot, and I believe he thought it a new cabinet council.'
'December 16, 1788.
' Whether the Prince has any claims to it or not, we
are all agreed that he is to be appointed Regent ; and
he not only does not urge his claim, but expressly
1 The question about to be hotly debated was this : Should the Prince
of Wales be appointed to the office of Regent by a vote of the Houses of
Parliament, with such limitations on his power as they might see fit to
devise ; or, Should he assume the Regency in virtue of his birthright, as
he undoubtedly would the crown in case of the demise of the Sovereign.
The Government adopted the first course — the- Opposition urged the
second. In weighing the value of the conflicting arguments one must
not forget that the Ministry expected to go out with the King, and the
Opposition to come in with the Regent.

246 LIFE AND LETTERS i 1788
waives it. Pitt is, however, to bring that question on
to-day, supposing it to be a popular point, and that
Opposition, by being obliged to vote for the Prince's
rights to the Regency, will be hurt in the public opinion.
We are to move the previous question — that is to say,
to object to the question's being put at all ; and our
division and debate to-day will be not on the Prince's
right, but whether that right should be discussed or
declared by Parliament or not. This is a favourable
question for us to divide on, for it should draw to us all
moderate and neutral men who wish to avoid strong
propositions or like public tranquillity. And, accordingly
some of our friends express strong hopes of beating
Pitt on the question of this day. I confess, however, I
am by no means sanguine of the event, and that I con
sider the majority as perfectly doubtful. I still think
the business must end well ; but we are in a battle,
and all battles are precarious. The King continues
precisely in the same state. Willis has done all sorts
of real mountebank things, which have frequently done
harm. The last experiment he made was letting the King-
see one of the Princesses and the Queen. The King
has always been violent to see the Queen and the
Princesses. On Saturday Willis had Princess Emily,
of nine years old, brought to him. As soon as she was
within his reach, he caught her up in his arms, and
swore that no power on earth should ever separate them
again. The girl was terrified, and so were the by
standers ; and they could not get the child away till
they had promised to bring the Queen. She was brought

Mr. 37] DEBATES ON THE REGENCY 247
accordingly, and the King behaved exactly in the same
way — catching fast hold of her in his arms, and swear
ing that nothing should ever part them again. The
Queen fell into fits, and they were obliged to separate
them by main force ; and the King was for the first
time put in a strait-waistcoat, and continued raving
a considerable time afterwards. Yesterday morning
the King said to Warren — " I suppose that you have
heard that I have had a strait-waistcoat on ? " Warren
said " he had heard it." " Yes," said the King, " I had it
on, but I put in on myself ; and I am not sorry for it,
because it settles the matter completely, and I am now
sure of never appearing in the world again ; for you
know a man that has been in a strait-waistcoat can
never wear a crown again." This Warren told yester
day at Carlton Terrace, and Payne, who heard him, told
it me.' 'Pall Mall Court: Thursday, December 18, 1788.
' These are very busy times, and are of course much
against correspondence. Tuesday we were in the House
of Commons till three next morning. We shall have
another very late sitting to-day, and business again on
Monday. . . . We were shockingly beat on Tuesday —
268 to 204 — majority against us 64, which was much
more than we expected, although I certainly did
not expect we should carry our point. This
majority in Parliament may tempt Pitt to do still
more than he intended, and to increase yet more the
restrictions he means to lay on the Regency ; in which
he looks for one of two advantages — either that the
Prince will refuse it, and thus enable him to appoint

248 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
the Queen, or perhaps himself, and a few more of his
followers, to that situation; or else, if the Prince
should accept, that his government will be so weak as
to disable him from carrying it on without Mr. Pitt for
his minister. Things are now in a situation in which
I really cannot form a decided opinion of the event.
Much might depend on the people's perceiving and
resenting this profligate attempt to set aside the Prince
of Wales, and to weaken the Crown, in his own favour.
But I see no reason to suppose the blind will be restored
to light by this, as their eyes have continued shut to so
many instances of a similar kind. Pitt is the only
object the nation can perceive, and the only thing they
think valuable in the world ; and I rather think they
would be content and pleased to set aside the whole '
Royal Family, with the Crown and both Houses of
Parliament, if they could keep him by it. ... I dined
at Mrs. Gally's yesterday, and went to the play after
wards with Mrs. Culverden to Mrs. Jordan's benefit —
Rosalind, and Nell in the " Devil to Pay." She was ex
cellence itself in both parts ; but Rosalind is the per
fection of perfection — her figure the most beautiful
thing you ever saw.' ' Pall Mall Court : Saturday, December 20, 1788.
' . . . Both Pitt and Fox are ill ; but Pitt's illness is
only a cold and hoarseness. Fox's is a real illnesSj
which requires rest to recover from. He is much
reduced in strength and health, but not at all in spirits
nor abilities. The other side, however, with all their

Mr. 37] THE CHANCELLOR 249
tenderness and feeling for the King, are inquiring after
Fox's illness with a most blood-thirsty eagerness. . . .•
I dined yesterday at Mrs. Gally's, and found Mrs.
Morrice there. We were mutually glad to meet, but I
found her more bit by Mrs. Harcourt's folly, and indeed
madness, on this occasion of the King's illness, etc.,
than I thought possible with her sort of sense and
character. She is really outrageous. It will require
all my moderation and temper to prevent mischief
between us ; but as I should really regret very much
any absurd rupture of coldness with so agreeable a
friend, I think I shall succeed in preventing it. Mrs.
Harcourt has all this time been amusing herself by
going into fits, and by passing days in tears about the
King. I allow all the natural compassion for the dis
tress of the Royal Family, which it can be supposed to
produce in those who may be attached to them. But
it is pushed to a rage and fury completely nonsensical
against poor us, whose offence in the matter I cannot
comprehend.' 'Pall Mall Court: December 27, 1788.
' . . . Charles Fox is much better. He went yester
day to Beconsfield with Windham, to remain with
Burke quietly a day or two. The day before yesterday
there was a final explanation with the Chancellor,
which terminated in a decided separation between him
and our party, to the great joy of Fox, and of every
one of us except the Prince himself. The Chancellor
has been the whole of this time playing a shabby
trimming game, keeping himself open to both parties

250 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
till one should be completely victorious. The Prince,
who has always had a partiality for the Chancellor,
probably on account of his table qualities, has been
negotiating, and intriguing, and canvassing him in
cessantly, with very little discretion or prudence all the
time ; and in spite of many disappointments and
breaches of engagements, which the Chancellor had
made about the part he should take in the House of
Lords, he still persisted in sending for him and holding
long conversations with him on the business. The
Chancellor, by this means, learned the interior of the
Prince's affairs and intentions, and was betraying him
all the time to Pitt. Fox at last, who has uniformly
been against any connection with the Chancellor, of
whom he thinks worse than of any man in the world,
had an explicit conference with him, in which he drove
the Chancellor to a final and full declaration of his
intention ; and he is now quite off. The reason of our
satisfaction on this event, notwithstanding the strength
of the Chancellor's interest in the House of Lords, is,
that he is considered as a treacherous and dangerous
character to form any connection with, and to admit
into a cabinet. . . . '
' Pall Mall Court : Monday, December 29, 1788.
'I have been employed most unprofitably the
greatest part of this day. It was thought proper to
have a protest in the House of Lords,1 to be signed by
1 On the resolutions respecting the King's illness sent up from the
Commons.

Ms. 37 ] BURLINGTON HOUSE 251
the Lords of our party, on the subject of this day's
debate. Dr. Lawrence was first employed to prepare
it, and he did so two or three days ago, and he did
so at some length, and with a good deal of merit,
although his work was objectionable on some points.
I was desired by the Duke of Portland to meet him at
Burlington House to criticise, and Pelham was there
by accident. This was the day before yesterday.
Pelham did not like it ; and then sent to Burke, at
Beconsfield, to prepare another. He did so, and pro
duced a still larger one, with many fine things in it,
but requiring some arrangement and correction. This
was also disapproved of; and out of this work of
Burke's Lord Malmesbury had persuaded the Duke to
get a short little extract made, of only a few sentences.
This was undertaken to-day by Lord Loughborough,
and I was again sent for to criticise. I found Lord
Malmesbury at Burlington House approving of this
little paper of Lord Loughborough's, and preaching
shortness and coldness, and such-like bad advice. I
presumed to disapprove of the performance very much,
and succeeded in persuading the Duke that an appeal
to the people, which this was meant for, on a great
constitutional question, and in such a crisis as this,
without a spark of animation, dignity, or soul, could
only do us harm, by extinguishing any spirit the
subject itself might have a chance of raising. I was
then desired to take it home and prepare it as I could,
to be sent down to the House the moment it was ready.
I brought home Lawrence and Pelham with me, and

252 LIFE AND LETTERS [1788
by working very closely and briskly we inspirited this
corpse of Lord Loughborough's and Lord Malmesbury's
with a little life and vigour, without lengthening it
materially, and I carried it down to the House of
Lords at half after six, when, to our great mortification,
we found the House had been up half-an-hour, and the
protesting Lords had signed Lord Loughborough's vile
bald stuff, and entered it on the journals. So this day's
work is all but loss. The Duke of Portland, after
reading our edition, regretted very much indeed they
had lost it. You see how many wise heads are busied
in the production of some of these trifles ; but you
would be more surprised to see how very little judg
ment or genius is sometimes found in very great
men. . . .
' I dined yesterday at Francis' to meet Mr. Grattan,
the famous Irish orator, to whom you know the parlia
ment of Ireland voted 50,000?. for his services to his
country by his oratory. (Part of this letter is missing.)
' She1 is playing the devil, and has been all this time
at the bottom of the cabals and intrigues against the
Prince. It is believed that she was ready to accept
the Regency if the Prince had been advised to refuse
it. One principal engine of the intriguers, is the
opinion which they contrive to maintain in the public
that the King's recovery is to be expected with cer
tainty, and very speedily. Dr. Willis was brought
about the King for that purpose, the other physicians
1 Evidently the Queen.

Ms. 37] ILLNESS OF THE SPEAKER 253
not being sufficiently subservient, and he being a noted
shot with the long bow, besides being a quack. . . .
He has almost the entire management of the King.
The other physicians see him in their turns half-an-
hour in a day, and take Willis's report for the rest. . . .
We are sure of a favourable report the day before any
debate in the Houses ; and Willis has been detected
writing letters to Pitt, who ¦ has read them at White's
to the M.P.'s and other people, giving assurances of the
King's great amendment and of his immediate recovery,
and this on the days when he had been in a strait-
waistcoat, and at the very worst. Warren and the
other physicians have remonstrated against this, and it
has made some noise.' ' Pall Mall Court : January 1, 1789.
' The Speaker1 is dangerously ill of a pleurisy, and
it is thought he will die. The House cannot meet on
that account. On Monday, I suppose, if he is not re
covered, which seems impossible, they will choose a
temporary or pro-Speaker. . . .
' The restrictions were at last sent to the Prince by
Pitt yesterday. They consist in the following
articles :
' " No power to make Peers.
' " No power to grant places for life.
' " No share in managing the King's real or personal
estate. ' " The Household to be at the Queen's disposal."
1 Mr. Cornewall.

254 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
' No time fixed for the duration of these restrictions ;
but if "they should be disappointed in their sanguine
hopes of the King's speedy recovery, then these limi
tations may become the subject of future discussions."
You see by this news the Queen is set at the head of a
strong separate party or faction, against the govern
ment of the country. . . .
' I went to the play last night to see Mrs. Jordan
in Nell. Lord Malmesbury had the next box for him
self, Mr. Robinson, Batt, and some more men.'
' Pall Mall Court: Saturday, January 3, 1789.
' Lord Malmesbury has been one of my visitors to
day. The Duke of Portland wants him very eagerly to
return to the Hague, and seems rather hurt at his
positive refusal to do it. Fox was also very desirous
of the same thing. This I had from the Duke,
who told me, at the same time, that he had always
thought so highly of his services in Holland, and of
their extreme importance to Great Britain, that he
thought they required a reward from Parliament in
the most signal and marked way that could be devised.
Fox has desired Lord Malmesbury to take the embassy
to Paris, which he makes difficulties about. This
would be very agreeable to Harriet. . . . But it is
time now to speak of myself. The Speaker died
yesterday morning, after a short inflammatory illness.
Pitt will now have the choice of a Speaker, and William
Grenville will ceitainly be the man. The election is
to be on Monday ; but how will you be struck with

Ms. 37] LADY ELLIOT TO SIR GILBERT 255
horror when you hear, that if we had had the choice,
my friends would certainly have proposed me ! . . .
' The Duke of Portland approved of the thing very
strongly, and took it to Fox, who was also much
pleased with it ; and, last of all, the Prince of Wales
was as warm and eager on the subject as possible,
telling everybody who came in that I was the best man
in the House of Commons for the office, and so forth ;
and I am told, in high spirits and with great eagerness
on the occasion. ... It is not yet determined by my
friends whether they will propose me on Monday or
not, in opposition to Grenville. They know with
certainty we shall be beat ; but there is a doubt
whether it is not still advantageous to make a stand
on this question,'
How this piece of intelligence was received by Lady
Elliot, may be seen in the following extract from the
letter she wrote to Sir Gilbert in reply. ' Minto.
' I don't think I was ever more entertained in my
life, or laughed more heartily than I have done to-day
with the thoughts of the situation you think probable
to fall to your share. It appears to me so completely
ridiculous, that I hardly know how to speak seriously
on the subject, and cannot help feeling some degree of
doubt whether you do not mean to humbug me, and
see whether I am as great a Sawney as ever, and as bad
a hand at taking a joke ; if you are serious, however,
you may perhaps only think me very silly to be so

256 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
little sensible of other advantages as to give them up
from mere outward appearances ; but I confess I can
not compose my muscles when I think of you riding in
the state-coach with your flowing wig. However, I
must be serious, though on a ludicrous subject, and in
honest plain truth, of all places in the world I think it
the most unfit for you. Money is a great temptation
to do many unpleasant things, but as I consider health
and comfort the two essential points to happiness,
money has no weight in competition with them, and
there would certainly be a total end of the last if not
of the first. I am sure your constitution is by no
means equal to the confinement, sedentary life, and
constant bore, of being Speaker to the House of
Commons, &c. ; and last, though not least, I do abso
lutely bar a wig ! Consider how tired you would be of
sitting to hear all the prosing in the House of Commons,
and how much more so with all the great dinners and
levees. What is the use of superior talents if you are
to sit still and say nothing ? better have nothing than
be enveloped in a great wig and state-coach ; it would
be making an old square-toes of you at once. Be any
thing but Speaker, and write me delightful long letters,
as you have done to-day, let the subject be as it may.'
Sir Gilbert Elliot to Lady Elliot.
'Pall Mall Court: Tuesday, January 6, 1789.
' I was actually proposed yesterday as Speaker
against Grenville, who had a majority of 71 — 215-144.

Ms. 37] ELECTION OF A SPEAKER 257
This division, although not so good as it ought to have/
been, answered all the purposes proposed ; but really I
never knew a business so ill conducted as this was by
our friends. Two whole .days were suffered to elapse,
or rather three days, before any determination was
taken on the subject, although it was just as easy to
decide in an hour as in a year. It was not decided by
Fox till Sunday about four o'clock that we should
propose a Speaker, and he then rather suffered Burke
and Pelham to decide it than came to any resolution
himself. This I fear is a habitual defect in Fox, who
has as great difficulty or backwardness in resolving as
if he had no interest or no judgment in the affairs
that are depending, and at last he lets anybody else
decide for him ; so measures are often the production
of chance instead of wisdom. This one, however, was
certainly wise, as his advisers do not want for wisdom.
At four o'clock on Sunday we were first authorised to take
any steps in the business. Adam, : who acts already as
secretary to the Duke of Portland, or to the Treasury,
was to dine at the Duke of York's, but appointed me
at nine o'clock at Burlington House, with half-a-dozen
other friends, to concert and execute the proper
measures. We all assembled at nine and arranged a
canvass of 60 or 70 of the enemy, whom it was supposed
barely possible to get over. It was two o'clock in the
morning before we separated, and of course there was
not a word spoke, a visit made, or a note sent, till
1 Mr. Adam of Blairadam, afterwards Lord Chief-Commissioner of
the Jury Court.
TOL. I. S

258 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
\ Westerday morning, and the business was to come on
the same day. By this means I certainly lost many
votes — I should think at least a dozen — and 20 or 30
of my votes came too late and were shut out of the
division. Lord Palmerston had taken James' powders,
which he would not have done had he expected this
question ; in short, with proper management I believe
I might have reduced the majority to 50, which would
have been considerably better for the party as well as
more agreeable to me. One vote for me has quite won
my heart. It is Lord Herbert's. Recollect that -Lady
Pembroke is in the Queen's family, and that they are
all more raving mad than the King. Lord Herbert is
himself in the Household, a place given him by Pitt.
He was, I believe, the only one of the enemy who did
the thing like a gentleman and a true friend, and
came over, showing himself as conspicuously as he
could and taking pains to be observed as my friend.
When I heard of it and took him by the hand after the
division, I felt the bone in my throat. '
' Now as to the purpose of this measure, it was to
reserve our right to turn Grenville out and appoint
another Speaker next Parliament, which would have
been more difficult if we had assented unanimously to
his present election.'
1 To this Lady Elliot replied :— 'Minto: January 11, 1789.
' I am convinced his (Lord Herbert's) conduct must have given you
great pleasure, but I have no idea of any attachment to a political party>
interfering with private regard. I have none of that Roman spirit in
me, nor do I believe it exists, though it is a good name for selfishness,
and following self-interest.

Ms. 37] THE KING'S PHYSICIANS 259
' Pall Mall Court : January 8, 1789.
' I believe it was on Saturday that Warren, when he
went to Kew, was desired by Willis to sign a report
which was ready written, saying that the King was better.
He refused, saying that it was not his opinion — that
the King seemed indeed better in his general health —
but that there was no change whatever in his real dis
order, and he expressed his surprise at their preparing
a report for him before he was consulted about it.
Willis told him that the Queen had seen it and approved
of it, and that it was her order that it should be signed.
Warren still persisted in his refusal to sign what he
thought false, and Willis still urged the Queen's au
thority with threats, as from her, that it would be worse
for him if he did not comply. Warren desired an
audience of the Queen, whom he found white with rage,
and she asked him in an angry tone what he meant by
refusing to sign the report. He repeated that it was
contrary to- his opinion, acknowledging that the King's
health was apparently better, but that as to his reason,
which was his only complaint, there was no amendment
at all. She said that this was very different from the
account given by other persons, and desired to know
his reasons for thinking so. Warren answered that,
among other reasons, the King's conversation was proof
enough that there was no amendment. She desired to
know what his conversation had been that day. He
answered that, besides incoherency, it was in other
respects such as left no doubt of his continuing exactly
s2

260 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
in the same state. She desired to know what the con
versation was. Warren declined informing her, because
it was of a nature which rendered it impossible for him
to relate to her Majesty. The Queen then said she
supposed he meant it was indecent. She insisted
nevertheless on hearing it, and Warren persisted in
refusing to tell her on the ground of the impossibility
of relating such discourse to her, and he was at last
allowed to depart. He was followed out, however, by
two old ladies — Lady Charlotte Finch and Lady
Harcourt — who told him they were sent by the Queen
to learn this conversation and report it to her. Warren
told them Hawkins, the King's surgeon, had heard
still more of it, and they had better inquire of him.
Hawkins was accordingly sent for, and being asked
the same questions made the same coy resistance, as
suring them that he could not bring his mouth to pro
nounce such things in the presence of ladies.' (The end
of this letter is missing.) ' January 10, 1789.
' We are rather in distress for a proper man for that
office (Chancellorship of the Exchequer). Lord John
Cavendish is very unwilling to engage again in public
affairs. Fox is to be Secretary of State. Burke, it is
thought, would not be approved of. Sheridan has not
the public confidence, and so it comes down therefore
to Grey, Pelham, myself, and perhaps Windham. Pel
ham was, I believe, the man thought of most seriously,
but he thought himself too inexperienced to undertake
it. The Duke of Portland has thought it absolutely

Ms. 37] PREMATURE ARRANGEMENTS 261
necessary that Pelham should go to Ireland at this
critical season, confiding in his judgment and temper
as well as in his acquaintance with the country ; and
Pelham, though very averse to the employment, and
very unwilling to interrupt his English society and
views, thinks it incumbent on him to obey.1 Sheri
dan is to be the Treasurer of the Navy, but I believe
looks at some future time to the Chancellorship of the
Exchequer, or some Cabinet office, when he supposes
the ' public may have been long enough accustomed to
consider him as a person high in office, and therefore
entitled to take the place in the State which his
abilities would justify without the envy belonging
to the sudden elevation of an upstart.
' Although I can tell you nothing positive about my
own situation, I was made very happy indeed yesterday
by co-operating in the settlement of Burke's in a
manner which gives me great joy as well as comfort.
The Duke of Portland has felt distressed how to ar
range Burke and his family in a manner equal to
Burke's merits and to the Duke's own wishes, and at
1 In a former letter Sir Gilbert wrote—' I have lived of late more
with Tom Pelham than anybody, and think more highly of his character,
and indeed of the soundness of his understanding, than of any one I
know, with very few exceptions indeed.' To this Lady Elliot replied —
' Minto : January 19, 1789. — I am afraid that I shall not get a peep at
Mr. Pelham before he sets out for Ireland, but I feel very proud to have
shown my discernment in admiring his character, even knowing him
as little as I do, and before those of better judgment had led my
opinion ; but what pleased me in his manner was modesty, mildness,
and an appearance of goodness, and I shall certainly now like him better
than ever from the partiality you have for him, and his friendship with
you.'

262 LIFE AND LEITEKS [1789
the same time so -as to be exempt from the many
difficulties which seem to be in the way. He sent for
Pelham and me, as Burke's friends and his own, to
advise with us about it ; and we dined yesterday with
him and the Duchess that we might have time to talk
¦the thing over at leisure and without interruption after
dinner. We stayed accordingly, engaged in that
subject till almost twelve at night, and our conference
^ended most happily, and excessively to the satisfaction
of us all. The Duke of Portland has the veneration
for Burke that Windham, Pelham, myself, and a few
more have, and he thinks it impossible to de too much
for him. He considers the reward to be given to Burke
as a credit and honour to the nation, and he considers
the neglect of him and his embarrassed situation as
having been long a reproach to the eountry. The un
just prejudice and clamour which has prevailed against
him and his family only determine the Duke the more
to do him justice. The question was how ? First, his
brother Richard, who was Secretary to the Treasury
before, will have the same office now, but the Duke
intends to give him one of the first offices which falls
vacant of about 1,000?. a year for life in the Customs,
and he will then resign the Secretary to the Treasury,
which, however, in the meanwhile, is worth 3,000?. a year.
Edmund Burke is to have the Pay Office, 4,000?. a year ;
but as that is precarious, and he can leave no provision
for his son, it would, in fact, be doing little or nothing
of any real or substantial value unless some permanent
provision is added to it. In this view the Duke is to

jEt. 37] PREMATURE ARRANGEMENTS 263
grant him on the Irish Establishment a pension of
2000?. a year clear for his own life, with the reversion
of half of it to his son for life, and the other half to
Mrs. Burke for her life. This will make Burke com
pletely happy by leaving his wife and son safe from
want after his death if they should survive him. The
Duke's affectionate anxiety to accomplish this object,
and his determination to set all clamour at defiance on
this point of justice, was truly affecting, and increases
my attachment for the Duke, which has grown indeed
exactly in proportion as I have seen and lived with
him. Pelham has the same merit. Hereally felt on
.the subject as if it had concerned himself, or rather his
own father or brother, for I never saw anybody less
thoughtful of himself than Pelham, or more anxious
for his friends. . . . The Duke said the only ob
jection to this plan was that he thought it was due
from this country, and that he grudged the honour of
it to Ireland ; but as nothing in England was ready
this plan was settled. You may think it strange that
to this moment Burke does not know a word of all this,
and his family are indeed, I believe, suffering a little
under the apprehension that he may be neglected in the
general scramble.
' I believe there never were three cabinet councillors
more in harmony on any subject than we were, nor
three people ever happier with their day's work. Pel
ham and I went to Brookes', and from mere satisfaction
at what we had been about found ourselves in good

264 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
enough spirits to stay supper, and to sit up till three
this morning.
' . . . I dined on Saturday at the Duke of York's,
and was much pleased with him. La Coste1 was in
waiting as a page, or, in other words, as servant out of
livery. The Duke of York is extremely handsome. I
had not observed this so much before this year, but it
is certainly so. He is very gentlemanlike, with a
steadier manner than the Prince of Wales. He has
lately broken with Lady Tyrconnel, and the best of the
joke is, that not only she has been in fits on the occa
sion, but that both her father and her husband resent
the rupture as an affront and an indignity put on them
and on the family. They vote accordingly all against us.
' Thank Gilbert and Amy for their joint letter; he
is really become a great writer, and may, perhaps, be a
clever fellow some day.'
' Pall Mall Court : Saturday, January 17, 1789.
' . . . The House, at length, proceeded yesterday.
Pitt opened his limitations, and they were all voted
except that which relates to the Household, and is re
served for Monday. The first question on which we
divided was, whether there should be any restrictions
or none. The majority on that division was 73. The
next question on which there was a division was a
motion by Fox for limiting the duration of the restric
tions to some limited time. On this the majority
against us was 57 J so that we gained 16 on that
1 Formerly valet to Hugh Elliot.

iET. 37] RESTRICTIONS ON THE REGENT'S POWER 265
question. Banks and Hawkins Brown were among
those who came to us on that question. It is probable
that our division will be better on the question of the
Household, which remains, than on any other, and it is
even not improbable that Pitt will be obliged to give
up part of that scheme. The proposal, as opened
yesterday, is to place the custody of the King in the
hands of the Queen, and to give her the sole power of
appointing and removing the Household. By House
hold he explained himself to mean every office, from
the highest to the lowest, in the department known by
that name — Master of the Horse, Chamberlain, Steward
of the Household, so downward to the pages, beefeaters,
and grooms. He made this proposition as if he was
ashamed of it himself ; for the only principle on which
he could find a pretence for leaving any appointment
whatever in the hands of any other person than he who
is to have charge of the government was, that it was
proper to retain those who were immediately about the
King's person under the control of those who had the
custody of the King's person ; and in order to get the
great officers of the Household within his clutches also,
he had recourse to this argument — -that the Master of
the Horse having the control over the equerries, and
the Chamberlain over the pages who attend the King's
person, it was necessary to put themselves under the
control of the Queen ; as if it were not easy enough to
vote that the equerries and pages should not be under
the control of the Master of the Horse, etc., during the
period of these restrictions. Pitt could hardly find face

266 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
to state this, and left himself the power of retracting if
he found it would not go down, saying, that if these
great officers, or any others within the general term
Household, could be distinguished from the rest, so
that the restrictions should appear less necessary as to
them, he was willing to except them. ... I forgot
to mention that part of Pitt's scheme is, that the
Queen shall have a council to advise her in the
management of her trust, and that the council shall
have access to the King, and power to examine the
King's physicians and attendants. I take it for granted
that he, or his followers, will be of that council, so here
are two administrations in the country, and it is hard
to say which will be the most powerful ; for, besides
the great patronage taken from the regular government,
and enjoyed by the other, that other will have the King
in their hands, without the power of inspection from
any other quarter, to play tricks with, and distract the
country every week.' 'Pall Mall Court: Tuesday, January 20, 1789,
' . . . All the restrictions were voted yesterday
in the House of Commons, and are gone to-day to the
Lords. The whole Household, from top to bottom, is
taken from the Regent and given to the Queen, to be
managed by the advice of a council, to be named in
ifhe bill, and not removable by her. This council to be
composed of the great officers of the Household, the
Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Thurlow ; so that
this immense job is not trusted even to the Queen, lest

^Et. 37] PARTY POLITICS 267
she should not be steady to their purposes, but is put
directly into the hands of the faction itself. There
was reason to expect a better division on the question
of the Household, which everybody out of doors con
demns, and many of Pitt's usual supporters had ex
pressed objections to in the House ; but the majority
is still sixty-four, which is so near the usual majority
as to leave no hope at all in the impartiality of this
House of Commons while Pitt continues even nominal
minister. ... I dined on Sunday at Mrs. Legge's
in Grosvenor Square, with Windham, Pelham, Douglas,
Cholmondeley, and Elliot. Legge is a violent Tory,
or, if you please, in his heart strongly against all our
party.1 This is occasioned by his connection with
Lord Bagot and his family, who have, I know not why,
a perfect dominion over him. He is so quiet a little
man, that I never suspected this till lately ; but as
Mrs. Legge and all her friends are of another sort, I
fear Mr. Legge suffers much internal mortification, for
he never sees at his own house any company of his own
way of thinking ; and as we are pretty strong, and
sufficiently violent in our conversation, he must undergo
it all in solitary silence and dudgeon. He happened,
however, last Sunday to be moved sufficiently by our
conversation to put in his word, and drew down upon
himself such a volley from us all as was enough to
oppress a stouter man. I thought Cholmondeley and
1 Heneage Legge, born 1747, grandson of second Lord Dartmouth ;
his sister, Catherine Legge, married Charles Chester, Esq., brother of
the first Lord Bagot.

268 LIFE AND LETTERS ' [1789
he would have come to a plain quarrel, for Cholmon-
deley's debates are apt to get into loss of temper, and
Legge hates him, and complains in confidence of his
living as much in his house as himself. I went, after
Mrs. Legge's, to Lord North's, where was a large but
very pleasant roomful. Among the rest came Harriet,
Lady Beauchamp,1 and George Ellis. He, as well as
the rest of the party, is full of love and admiration for
Lady Beauchamp, and I therefore presume she is really
to be liked ; all I know of it, however, is that she is
handsome.' ' Pall Mall Court : Thursday, January 29, 1789.
' . . . An address, or rather message, is to be
carried to-day to the Prince of Wales by a Committee
of both Houses, to communicate the resolutions, and to
ask him if he will accept of the Regency on those terms,
as soon as an act of Parliament has passed for carrying
them into effect. He will give his answer accepting
immediately ; and we shall then proceed in the House
of Commons to order a commission to open the session
of Parliament in the King's name. A message also
goes to the Queen to desire her acceptance of the share
given to her in this business, and I do not think we
need despair of her consent.' ' Saturday, January 31.
' There was not a word of the Prince's letter to Pitt
(mine). It was originally Burke's, altered a little, but
not improved, by Sheridan and other critics. The
1 Afterwards Marchioness of Hertford.

Ms. 37] THE REGENCY BILL 269
answer made by the Prince yesterday to the address of
the two Houses was entirely mine, and done in a great
hurry half-an-hour before it was to be delivered.'
' Tuesday, February 3.
' . . . There will be a sham opening of Parlia
ment to-day,1 and the Regency Bill will be brought into
the House of Commons to-day. It is expected to pass
through the House this week, and through the House
of Lords next week, so that the Prince will probably
be in possession by Saturday se'nnight. . . . Burke
has come more forward in the debates since Fox's de
parture to Bath, and made a speech yesterday thought
one of the best ever heard by anybody on a?? sides ; so
that we should not be without a great leader even if
we were to lose Fox. I am happy, however, to tell
you that there has never been any danger of our losing
Fox — he is considerably better since he went to Bath.'
' Pall Mall Court : Saturday, February 7, 1789.
' - . . The Regency Bill, which was printed
yesterday, surpasses all that we conceived possible even
from Pitt. Nobody but the Queen will have the power
of seeing the King at all, except those whom she puts
about him; and she will dismiss all the physicians
except Dr. Willis, and perhaps one other, to attend
now and then, whom she thinks she can depend on.
Even her own council are not to have a right to see
1 Under the authority of a commission to which Burke gave the
name of the ' Phantom.' See Campbell's Lives of the Chancellors (Lord
Thurlow).

270 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
the King, but are to take the accounts from the ex
amination of the physicians — that is to say, from Dr.
Willis. . . . When the Queen chooses to declare
that the King has recovered, and after a few ceremonies
in the Privy Council, the King may summon a certain
number of Privy Councillors, to be selected and named
by himself — that is, by the Queen and Dr. Willis . . .
and he may then, with the advice of these Privy Coun
cillors (chosen for the purpose by himself), declare his
intention to resume the government ; after which a
proclamation is to be immediately issued, and the
Regency is to be at an end at once, and the King is to
be in complete possession of authority, as if nothing
had happened. You see the scheme of this is to ex
clude Parliament, or any other public body, from
recognising the King's recovery, and it is calculated to
enable the Queen and Mr. Pitt to reinstate the King
whether he is well or not. They will then get him to
nominate a Regency, and probably to appoint the
Queen Regent.' ' February 10, 1789.
' There was' a great riot at the Opera last night oc
casioned by the badness of the dancers this year. You
will probably see some account of it in the papers of
to-morrow ; but I hear Batt was one of the most violent
and active in destroying the scenes, harpsichord, etc.
This is a true Battism, who professes gentleness and
candour, but is in fact onlv a servile follower of what
he thinks fashion.

Ms. 37] AMENDMENT IN THE KING'S HEALTH 271
' Pall Mall Court : February 12, 1789.
' The King has been really considerably better the
last two days. Sir G. Baker saw him the day before
yesterday, and says that he conversed rationally and
coherently, with a great deal of recollection, for twenty-
five minutes. He mentioned many circumstances of
his illness, of which he knew the history very exactly
from October 22. Baker says that he does not con
sider this amendment as actual convalescence (or as
proving anything with regard to a final cure of the
disorder), but it is certainly an amendment, and as he
could not recover without passing through this state,
it is a circumstance of encouragement and hope that
he has reached that state. Warren also saw him yes
terday, and found him considerably better, but does
not seem to think the hope of perfect recovery even
now a probable one. You can hardly conceive the
effect this had in the town. The appointment of the
Regency goes on just the same. . . . There cer
tainly never was a greater combination of embarrassing
circumstances for a government or a country than the
present. A mad King was bad enough in itself. ' The
sort of government they have chosen to substitute in
its place made bad worse, but the addition of a doubt
whether the King is mad or not can alone make the
worse the worst of all. However, all good and all bad
is the affair of a few risings and settings of the sun, or
a few waxings and wanings of the moon, in this waxing
and waning, rising and setting world, where all things
last for a time ; and I presume we shall, somehow or

272 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
other, some time or other, get settled at least, if not
right, again.' ' Pall Mall Court : February 16, 1789.
' The King still better. The account to-day is that
he is in a state of convalescence. Whether this is a
recovery, or only an interval, time alone can show ; but
we are in the meanwhile in a state of total uncertainty
as to everything.' 'February 18, 1789.
' . . . The House of Lords have added a little more
to the Queen, not thinking the House of Commons had
done enough before. She is made guardian of all the
younger part of the Royal Family, and they ha.ve given
her all the houses and gardens in the country, which
gives her the patronage of the rangers, housekeepers,
apartments, etc. The House of Lords have also pre
vented a peerage to Prince William for the present,
which seems an act of pure malice. I am told this
has hurt the Prince of Wales more than all the rest.
The Duke of York said yesterday upon it, in Alice's
Coffee-house, where Elliot heard him, that it was very
hard on his brother William, who had never done any
thing to offend Mr. Pitt ; that as for himself, Mr. Pitt
did very right to do him all the injury he could, for he
certainly had opposed him, but that Prince William
had never had an opportunity of doing him either good
or harm. But the prevailing principle, not only with
ministers but with all the party, and quite to a degree
of passion and fury, is to consider the Prince of Wales,
and everything that is suspected of the least attach-

iET. 37] THE CHANCELLOR AT KEW 273
ment to him, as a prey to be hunted down and destroyed
without mercy. This, I assure you, is the private con
versation of the ministers and the Queen's whole set.
I learned some particulars at Burke's which I did not
know before. In the first place, I heard a more correct
account of the Chancellor's visit to Kew, and the opinion
he gave of it himself. The Duke of York, who is per
fectly to .be depended on both for veracity and correct
ness, told Pelham and Burke that Warren had told him
he had the Chancellor's leave to inform him (the Duke
of York) and the Prince of Wales of what had passed,
and of what the Chancellor thought of the King. War
ren's account was this, — that the King talked rationally
and collectedly enough to the Chancellor, but began to
talk of foreign politics in a hurried sort of way. . . .
That the Chancellor checked this sort of conversation,
telling the King he had a nervous fever, and that he
had not come to talk of business, as it might disturb
his Majesty. The King submitted immediately, as if
under a sort of awe or habit of obedience. Willis was
present all the time. The King renewed his foreign
conversation three times, and was three times stopped
by the Chancellor. The Chancellor, returning from
Kew with Warren, remarked that the King had cer
tainly talked collectedly, but that he was obviously
under a restraint, from which he seemed ready to break
out the moment it should be withdrawn, and that he
was by no means in a state to do business. To this I
will add what the Duke of Portland told me this morn
ing, that Warren had said to him a week ago, when the
VOL. I. t

274 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
King's amendment was first announced, that the Duke
would do wrong not to accept the government, for it
was impossible the King should come out and resume
his government in less than a year.'
' Pall Mall Court : February 20, 1789.
' The Chancellor yesterday informed the House of
Lords of the great improvement in the King's health,
and the prospect of his immediate recovery, and put off
the bill to Tuesday, when he said there might be ex
pected to be greater certainty on the subject. . . .
' I must tell you the account Sir G. Baker gives of
the King to-day when he saw him at Kew this morning.
He says that he was dressed to-day in his usual clothes,
with a star on his coat. Baker complimented him on
the occasion, and said, " I wish you joy, sir, of appearing
again like a king, and I am glad to see that star once
more." On which the King put his finger to his mouth
and said, " Hush, hush ! don't talk of stars, we must not
talk of stars ; you know I am Mopsimus, and don't like
French mottoes." He then talked^ of something else
more rationally, but once or twice more let a wild word
or so escape him.' 'February 23, 1789.
' The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York have
for this week gone repeatedly to Kew, desiring to see
the King, but were constantly refused on one pretence
or the other, though the Chancellor and many other
strangers were admitted to him. The Prince at last
wrote to the Queen on the subject, and after many

Mr. 37] THE KING AND THE PRINCES 275
shifts and delays the Prince and the Duke of York were
yesterday admitted. The meeting was extremely affect
ing and affectionate on both sides. The King, when he
came to the door of the room where they were, stopped
and said he was not yet able to go in, and cried very
much, but after a little pause he said he found himself
better, and came in. He embraced them both with the
greatest tenderness, and shed tears on their faces, and
both the Princes were much touched with the scene.
The King did not touch at all on anything like busi
ness, but talked to the Prince about horses, and to the
Duke about his regiment. The Queen was present, and
walking to and fro in the room with a countenance and
manner of great dissatisfaction ; and the King every
now and then went to her in a submissive and soothing
sort of tone, for she has acquired the same sort of autho
rity over him that Willis and his men have, and the
King's mind is totally subdued and in a state of the
greatest weakness and subjection. It is given out even
by the Prince's friends that they observed nothing wrong
or irrational in this visit, and it is material that they
should not be thought to publish the contrary. It i^
not entirely true, however, as the King made several
slips, one of which was that he told them he was the
Chancellor. This circumstance, however, is not to be
mentioned, for the reasons just given.
' The Chancellor is again getting about the Prince of
Wales, persuading him that he is attached to him, and
that he hates Pitt, which latter part is perfectly true ;
but he is the falsest and most treacherous character in
t2

276 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
the world, and is much more likely to mislead the Prince
than to serve him, or do anything else that is consis
tent or honourable.'1 'Park Street: February 26, 1789.
' I dined yesterday at Mr. Scott's, Wimpole Street,
with Monsieur de la Luzerne, the French Ambassador,
who is a sensible man, and they say a good sort of man,
but very unlike the fashionable sort of thing we have
generally had here. He was the French Ambassador
to the Congress of America, and it was thought, I be
lieve, an impertinence to send him here afterwards.' ' February 28.
' Warren told Lord Malmesbury yesterday that the
King is more rational and better in his understanding
now than he ever was before his illness. Yet I must
tell you what his situation was the day before yester
day, when the Duke of York saw him for a considerable
time. The Duke delivered up to him the keys of his
drawers, etc., at Windsor, which the Prince of Wales
had very properly taken away on the King's removal to

1 After writing the last letter Sir Gilbert removed from a lodging
into his house in Park Street, in which he had fondly hoped to be
immediately joined by his family, but the sudden illness of his eldest
boy determined Lady Elliot not to risk a long journey at an inclement
season with a delicate child, and at the moment of setting forth she
abandoned her intention. The sacrifice was great to both husband and
wife, and his letters express his disappointment very feelingly. When
Lady Elliot's change of plans became known, Lady Palmerston declared
her belief that the whole family had been dead for the two last years,
and that Sir Gilbert kept up the delusion of their existence for his
own ends.

Ms. 37] DINNER AT THE DUKE OF YORK'S 277
Kew, after sealing up everything in a very formal and
regular way before proper witnesses. When the Duke of
York gave the King the key of his papers, and I believe
jewels, the King received it with a sort of extravagant
fondness and joy, with many ridiculous actions and
words expressive of his satisfaction in recovering it.
He called it " my dear key, my favourite key," and
took it to a window and kissed it for some time. This
is quite unlike the King's own manner, and is indeed
perfectly unlike sound reason in anybody. When the
keys of the red and green boxes were given him, he
threw them away in disgust, and said he hated them,
and that he hated everything like business.'
' Park Street : Wednesday, March 4, 1789.
' I have seen all Lady Palmerston's children except
the last. Theyare amazingly thriving. Even Henry, who
used always to look so washy, has got quite stout, with a
fine high colour. He is now a vastly pretty boy, still
in petticoats, but they are measuring him for his first
breeches to-day.
c I dined yesterday at the Duke of York's with the
Prince and the Irish deputies. We were thirty-two at
table. La Coste,1 you know, is one of the Duke of York's
pages, and is a great favourite on account of his drollery.
He waits at table behind the Duke's own chair, but be
now and then takes a walk round the table and speaks
to any of the company that he knows. He brought Sir
Thomas Dundas yesterday some green sauce, and said to
1 Ci-devant valet to Hugh Elliot.

278 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
him, "Avec cette sauce la on pourrait manger son grand-
pere." I dine again with the Irish and the Prince at
Sir Thomas Dundas'. The paper I am writing for the
Prince of Wales is intended as a memorial to be deli
vered by him to the King, and will be a justification of
himself and an accusation of Pitt. It is in the form of
a letter, and I find great difficulty in doing it to my
mind, for it is expected to be a pretty full argument on
all that has happened, and is yet not to depart too much
from the manner in which the Prince may be supposed
to write himself. Don't mention this to anybody.
' The Prince was uncommonly agreeable and capti
vating yesterday the whole time, and will send the
Irish away delighted with him. Amongst other agree-
ablenesses he sang an excellent sea-song extremely
well — a battle between a French and English ship.
The French ship sank, and then the humanity and
generosity of the " Britons, who conquer to save." All
very excellent for giving a favourable impression.'
' Park Street : Saturday, March 7, 1789.
' The Duke of York saw the King two days ago, and
the conversation was made up of childish remarks. . .
He told him he intended to go to Hanover, and said he
had given orders for the cabriolet, for the Queen to
drive herself. . . .
' The Prince of Wales some time ago gave the Queen
some papers to be delivered to the King. They were his
correspondence with Mr.Pitt, and some little j ustification
of his conduct. He wrote the day. before yesterday to the

Ms. 37] ROYAL LETTERS 279
Queen desiring to know if she had delivered the papers,
and desiring an interview with the King on the subject.
The Queen sent him some shabby excuse for not an
swering that day (not choosing, in fact, to give any
answer till she could see the Chancellor next morning) ;
accordingly yesterday the Prince received her answer —
that she had mentioned to the King that he had sent
papers, but that he had not asked for them, and that as
soon as he did she would lay them before him. She
made no reply at all to the request for an interview.
The Prince and the Duke of York are going to Kew to
day to demand an audience, and to ask, the King them
selves whether he had seen the papers, and whether they
may be allowed to give him further explanation on the
subject. In the mea*nwhile the King is stated by the
ministers to be perfectly well, and they have given
notice of a message to the Houses on Tuesday, amount
ing to a resumption of his authority.
' Since writing this I have been obliged to go out,
and have lost my whole day. The Prince received last
night further answer from Kew. It was by a letter
from the Queen to the Prince enclosing one from the
King to the Queen, written with his own hand, but evi
dently dictated by Pitt or some of his people. It begins
"My dearest Charlotte," and says he is deeply im
pressed with the consideration of all the uneasiness
which his long illness has given her, and that he is
desirous of preventing any further trouble to her. He
therefore desires her to inform the Prince of Wales and
Frederick that although he shall not neglect business

280 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
that is necessary, yet he does not propose to attend to
any other matter, the tendency of which might be to
agitate him, and declines entering into the considera
tion of any business not absolutely necessary. The
Queen's letter, also in her own hand, begins " My dearest
Son," and says that she has found an opportunity of
mentioning the subject of the papers again to the King,
and that she encloses a letter which she has received in
consequence, etc. etc. I saw the originals of both letters
to-day. It is a curious and clumsy artifice, to make
the King write a letter to the Queen in the same house
with him ; if it were necessary to put his refusal in
writing, why should he not have written to the Prince ?
The letter is manifestly not his own. You will observe
the purport of it is to stop the Prince from any further
attempt to have any communication with the King and
Queen at all. It meets his application to the Queen as
a trouble to her, which he is desirous of saving her in
future, and he tells the Prince that he considers his
representations both as matters which may agitate him
and which are yet of no importance. Yet he will
adopt measures which amount to a condemnation of
the Prince's conduct and that of his friends, although
he will not hear what he has to say in his defence. The
Duke of York has been to Kew to-day, and has seen the
King. The conversation was in general affectionate and
rational, with one or two instances of singularity. . . .'

Ms. 37] GENERAL ILLUMINATION 281
' March 10.
' There is to be a most prodigious illumination to
night. In Park Street we are content with flambeaux
on the rails and candles in the windows. I hope our
windows won't be broke. I am robbed of all my private
gossip to-day by being sent for to Burlington House. I
am very sorry for it, but it cannot be helped. Lord
Apsley is going to be married to the youngest Miss
Lennox, Lord Gerald's daughter. She is very handsome.'
'Park Street: March 11, 1789.
'The town was illuminated yesterday with a good
deal of magnificence. Many houses had devices of
different sorts executed in coloured lamps and trans
parent paintings, and the blaze or masses of light in
some of the squares were fine enough. The prevailing-
devices were prodigiously ingenious — namely, G. R, with
a crown in the middle, God save the King, etc. We
agreed in Park Street to light up only to the street, but
the mob chose it also to the Park, and John not being
expeditious enough, I had a pane of plate-glass broke in
the library window. I dined at Brookes' yesterday ; and
as I was coming away after dinner I saw the Palmerston
coach stuck fast in the middle of the street, which was
so full of coaches there was not room for a wheelbarrow
more. I went down, and by creeping under horses and
coaches, like a pickpocket who is escaping, I got there,
and finding Lady Palmerston alone, I got in, leaving
my Lord at Brookes', where he dined also. We went to
Mrs. Crewe's and took her in, and then drove about the

282 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
street till almost twelve o'clock, which was rather worth
while, although the company was boring, for Mrs. Crewe
was in a nervous humour which is not entertaining.
' The Queen certainly drove about London to see the
illuminations, I believe in Lady Bathurst's coach. She
is to have a drawing-room soon, at which, it is said, she
is not to speak to anyone, but people are to pass by
her, and bow and curtsey. It is natural enough that
she should wish to avoid the excessive fatigue and bore
of speaking to such crowds, especially on such an
occasion.' • Thursday, March 12.
' Yesterday has not produced anything new of import
ance that I have heard. The Foreign Ministers went
to Kew, and were admitted to the King, who spoke to
them as usual. They say he appeared much altered,
and looking very ill in body, but that they perceived
nothing amiss in his conversation. The addresses of
the two Houses were presented by the white sticks, and
not by the Houses themselves, which is the usual way ;
but that method was thought too public for the King
in his present convalescent state. Lord Malmesbury
delivered his letter of resignation to Lord Carmarthen
in the House of Lords the day before yesterday, as soon
as the commissioners' speech was delivered, which was
the first moment he could do it with propriety, as there
was till then nothing to receive it. The letter desired
Lord Carmarthen to lay him at His Majesty's feet, and
humbly beg that he might be allowed to resign his
office of ambassador, etc'

Mi. 37] THE PRINCE OF WALES 283
'Park Street: Saturday, March 14, 1789.
' The King goes on exactly in the same way, seeing
a few people that are friends, and doing no business
himself of any kind. The Duke of York saw him
yesterday, and found him a good deal agitated and
unquiet, so as to appear by no means right. He still
talked a great deal about his intention of going to
Hanover. When the Foreign Ministers went the other
day they were in an outer room, and young Willis was
in boots, quite in undress, which rather surprised the
Foreign Ministers.
' I can vouch for the truth of the following story : — •
On the day of the illumination the Princes dined with
the Irish deputies at Lord Hertford's. The Prince and
the Duke of York went away together in the Prince's
coach, and were going to the opera. In some of the
narrow streets the coach was stopped by other carriages,
and the mob soon knew the Princes. They called
" God save the King ! " while the Prince, letting down
his glasses, joined them in calling very heartily, and
hallooed " Long live the King ! " and so forth with the
mob. But one man called out to him to cry Pitt for
ever ! or God bless Pitt ! The Prince said he would
not ; but called out, " Fox for ever, and God bless
Fox ! " The man, and I believe some others, began to
insist on his saying Pitt for ever ; and I believe he
said " Damn Pitt — Fox for ever ! " on which a man
pulled the coach-door open, and the Prince endeavoured
to jump out amongst them in order to defend himself;
but the Duke of York kept him back with one arm,

284 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
and with the other struck the man on the head, and
called to the coachman to drive on, which he did at a
great pace, the coach-door flapping about as they went ;
and so they got to the opera. From the opera the
Prince, accompanied by some of his friends, among
whom was Tom Pelham, would walk to Carlton House;
and from thence he chose also to walk abroad the
streets to see the illuminations. But they persuaded
him first to call at Brookes'. They accordingly made
their way on foot through the crowd along Pall Mall.
He was soon known, but not insulted ; and several
people called " God bless your Highness ! " which he
was much pleased with. They also called " Long live
the King ! " which he always joined in as loud as any
of them. At St. James' he fell in with a gang of
butchers, with marrow-bones and cleavers, who knew
him, and began immediately to play before him ; and
he found it impossible to get rid of them. They ac
cordingly cleared the way for him, playing and shouting
all the way up St. James' Street. When they came to
Brookes', they gave him three cheers ; and the Prince
in return hallooed out " Long live the King ! " and gave
them three cheers himself. He then sent them ten
guineas to drink. He heard at the same time that
Lord Charlemont and another Irish deputy were on the
other side of the street, and could not get across ; on
which he gave the chairmen nine guineas to help them
across. From Brookes' Pelham persuaded him to order
his coach and go home, which he did. He was just a
little elevated with his dinner and claret, but not

Mi. 37] ANIMAL MAGNETISM 285
drunk. This sort of spirit is to the credit of his spirit
and natural manners ; and he is out of luck for not
being extremely popular, for a tenth part of his popular
qualities, and indeed of his good qualities, has made
the fortune of many princes and favourites of the people.
You may judge also of the insolence with which Pitt's
friends treat him. Lord Malmesbury saw Lord Car
marthen the day before yesterday. The conversation
was as civil and friendly as possible. Lord Malmesbury
asked Lord Carmarthen whether he had shown his letter
to the King. Lord Carmarthen said he had not shown
him the letter, for they did not talk very particularly
to him on these subjects ; but that he had mentioned
the subject of it to the King. Lord Malmesbury asked
what he said. Lord Carmarthen answered that he said
nothing. All this is very like what we have been
expecting as the plan of ministers — to use the King's
name as if he were well, when in fact he is as incapable
as ever to act for himself.
' They have taken away Lord Lothian's gold stick,
and have also turned out the Duke of Queensberry.
Lord Delawarr is to be Lord of the Bedchamber in his
room.' Part of this letter is missing.
' . . . Miss Pitt (Rivers) is a most violent poli
tician, and besides that is a famous animal magnetist.
She attends Dr. Mainaduc, and is called the most sHlful
person in London in that profound science. You know
Mrs. Beckford was supposed to be cured by it. What

286 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
surprises me is that Frederick North, who has all the
cleverness and drollery and agreeableness of his family,
and whom I should have thought the most likely man
in the world to laugh at that nonsense, is one of its
greatest dupes, and is a firm believer in the whole of
it. He not only practises on himself but on all his
friends. Miss Ann Anguish has lately been excessively
ill of a most violent and painful disorder, which is now
supposed to be gout. Fred North, not being able to
persuade her to try magnetism, went and described her
case to Miss Prescott, Dr. Mainaduc's female associate,
and she was then thrown into one of her fits, during
which she described all that she felt, and inforrried them
by that means of Miss Anguish's complaints ; all which
Fred North brought back to the Anguishes as gospel.'
' Tuesday, March 17, 1789.
' One can hardly conceive anything so strong as
sending the King abroad in his present situation ; but
I don't know how to disbelieve it when the King -is
saying every day himself that he is to go there,1 and
talks of all his plans and arrangements as of a thing
determined on. The people about him know that he
does so, and they must either confess that he is stark
mad, or that his journey to Hanover is a real pro
ject. . . .
' I told you on Saturday I was going to dine at
Douglas' chambers. The company was Lord and Lady
1 To Hanover.

Ms. 37] THE DRAWING-ROOM 287
Hambden, Lady Ann l and Lady Margaret,2 George
North and his wife, Ann and Charlotte North, Colonel
Fullarton, and me. It was very magnificent, well
served, with all sorts of wines, liqueurs, ice, dessert, and
cards after dinner. I wish his passion for fashion may
not lead him too fast, but his income is very good at
present.' ' Park Street : Sunday, March 22, 1789.
' The journey to Hanover continues to be believed
universally. I have no fresh intelligence of the King,
and I suppose he is going on in the same way. The
Prince of Wales has had a smart little tussle with the
Queen, in which they came to strong and open declara
tions of hostility. He told her that she had connected
herself with his enemies, and had entered into plans for
destroying and disgracing him and all her children,
and that she countenanced misrepresentations of his
conduct to the King, and prevented the explanations
he wished to give. She was violent and lost her
temper ; and the conversation ended, I believe, by her
saying that she would not be the channel of anything
that either he or the Duke of York had to say to the
King, and that the King did not mind what either he
or the Duke of York either did or said or thought. I
do not think such a conversation well judged on the
part of the Prince. If he meant to make any repre
sentations to the Queen it should have been done with
. . . ' (end missing.)
1 Lady Ann Lindsay. 2 Lady Margaret Fordyce.

288 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
' Russell Street : Thursday, March 26, 1789.
' I have never seen a greater crowd at the Court, so
great that I was never within a room of the Queen. I
took care to be seen by as many people of all sorts as
I could, and reckon my court as well paid as if I had
accomplished her Majesty. ^4?? the women, with only
two or three exceptions, had caps with " God save the
King ! " on them — our ladies as well as the others. .4??
of us went to Court.
' The King is in London to-day — I believe for the
first time since his illness. He persists in going to
St. Paul's, although every means have been tried to
dissuade him.' ' Park Street : Saturday, March 28, 1789.
' I had yesterday my grand feast, and came off with
honour. We were thirteen. We drank tea, sang,
danced to the harpsichord, and supped — that is to say,
it was not a supper, but an ambigu. Perhaps you don't
know in the country what an amhigu is. It is supper
and dessert both on the table at once, and this makes
the ambiguity. I assure you we all looked very splen
did, by the help of all our bright candlesticks, branches,
and girandoles.
' I was yesterday at Carlton House on a little consul
tation, which sounds small, but was neither uncurious
nor quite unimportant. There is to be a concert at
Windsor, given by the King, on Thursday. The
Princes were not invited for a long time ; but at last,
the day before yesterday, the Duke of York saw the

Mi. 37] INVITATIONS TO WINDSOR 289
Queen, who delivered to him a message from the King,
which the Duke of York wrote down the substance of,
as correctly as he could remember it, the same day.
Her words, as written by the Duke of York, were thus :
"I am commissioned by the King to acquaint the Prince
of Wales and you that there is to be a concert here on
Thursday next, to which you will be very welcome, if
you like to come ; but it is right to tell you that it is
given to those who have supported us through the late
business, and therefore you may possibly not choose to
be present." The Duke of York tried to laugh the
thing off, and said — " Then it is given to the whole
nation, for all parties have supported the King accord
ing to their different opinions of his interests." But
the Queen would not let him off so, and said — " No, no ;
I don't choose to be misunderstood. T mean expressly
that we have asked the ministers, and those persons, in
short, who have voted in Parliament for the King and
me ; and we have also invited the Duke and Duchess
of Gloucester, and the Princess Sophia " (the Duke of
Gloucester's daughter). N.B. — She used never to be
asked to the Queen's House. The Duke of York was
amazingly angry, as you may suppose, and said that he
did not understand the sort of distinction attempted to
be made ; that his brother and himself did not yield
to any person in the kingdom for loyalty and affection
for the King; and since this sort of distinction
was to be made, he should certainly not come
to the concert. He added, however, that he should
inform the Prince of Wales, who would act as he chose.
VOL. i. u

290 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York were both
in a violent rage on this attack of the Queen, which
charged them in plain words with being enemies to the
King ; and they were for sending strong letters or
papers of remonstrance and justification to the King
and to the Queen. The Duke of York came to Burke
about it, who went to Carlton House, and was very
much of the Prince's mind for strong measures, and for
an open and explicit explanation. But he advised the
Prince to consult his friends first. It was accordingly
agreed to assemble some of his friends the next morn
ing, and I was sent for with the rest. The Duke of
Portland, to whom Burke went overnight, was very
much against any strong measures.1 I thought it more
important to keep the King's house open to the Princes,
and to avoid any rupture which might furnish an
opportunity for excluding them, than to make their
justification at present. It was agreed to support this
opinion, and I went with Burke yesterday morning pre
pared to give this advice, which it was thought it might
be difficult to enforce on the Princes. We found only
Sir Thomas Dundas, and the Duke of York soon came
to us. The Prince of Wales had sprained his ankle,
and could not get up. We found that the Duke of
1 ' Minto : Friday, April 3.
' It is lucky there was a cool head in the party like the Duke of Port
land's, for, if I may venture to say it, Mr. Burke's advice was the worst
possible. It is certainly material for the Princes to keep up an inter
course with the King, and the only means by which they will ever be
able to justify their conduct during his illness.' — Lady Elliot to Sir
Gilbtrt.

Ms. 37] THE DUKE OF YORK 291
York had come over to the moderate opinion on reflec
tion, and on hearing that Colonel Goldsworthy, who
was present when the King gave this commission to the
Queen to invite the Princes, reported that the King
only said the Princes were to be invited, and that they
were always to be considered as invited to everything
of course ; but had not added anything about the other
persons who were invited, or who had supported him,
or that the Princes might not like to meet them. So
that this was an addition of the Queen's own, and
intended, I suppose, to prevent the Princes from accept
ing the invitation, of which she would afterwards have
made a handle against them. Burke therefore advised
the Duke of York to write a letter to the Queen accept
ing the invitation and touching very lightly on the
offensive part of the message. The Duke of York sat
down immediately and wrote the enclosed, which I
send you in his own hand, as it may be a curiosity in
the country. Do not show it, however, except to
Miss Elliot. I did not think it quite satisfactory,
and I altered it to the enclosed paper, which you
will see is my hand. The Duke of York imme
diately copied mine fair, carried it off to the Prince
of Wales, who approved, and it was sent off. Soon
afterwards Lord Loughborough came in, and then
Lord North, and then Lord Storm ont, but the business
was already despatched. They approved, however, per
fectly what had been done. Here is a most copious ac
count of this important affair about a concert. , But it
tells one a great deal, and shows something of the Queen.
v 2

292 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789 •
' You see that the Princes are represented in the
King's family by the Queen herself as enemies of their
father, and yet they are expressly denied any opportu
nity to defend or justify themselves to the King. They
have both been attempting all possible means to have
a hearing on this subject, and have never, either by
direct application or by watching every opportunity,
been able to obtain a minute's conversation with the
King alone. He is watched like a prisoner, and is never
out of sight of one or other of the head-keepers. This
is really his situation at this moment. You may guess
whether he or the Queen is really King.'
Copy of an original letter by the Duke of York to the
Queen. ' Madam, — Having delivered, according to your
Majesty's orders, your message to my brother, I lose no
time in acquainting your Majesty, that, anxious as we
are [and we trust have ever shown ourselves, both in
our public and private conduct] to seize every oppor
tunity of testifying our warmest and most dutiful
affection and attention to his Majesty, we beg your
Majesty to believe that we cannot allow any circum
stance whatever to debar us from the happiness of
paying our duty to the King [when he is so good as to
permit it], and that we shall have the highest pleasure
in attending his Majesty at the concert on Thursday.' 1
1 The sentences in brackets were added by Sir Gilbert.

Mi. 37] DISAPPOINTMENT AND CONSOLATION 293
'Park Street: Thursday, April 2, 1789.
' The expectation of a dissolution seems to in
crease. . . . There seems an expectation that the
elections will go much against us, and indeed that can
be the only motive for dissolving the present Parlia
ment. . . . There is a little difference between our
present prospects and those which you will find in some
of my former magnificent letters of this session ; but
the wheel is always turning, and the only way of
avoiding the vicissitudes of fortune is to keep one's
mind as independent of them as possible. I have been
very happy in not getting so much intoxicated with
the approach of riches and power as to have lost a
moment's tranquillity from the disappointment which
has followed, and I have indeed fought a battle with
myself, as well as I could, to avoid being very savage
as to the cause which was to produce such great things
for us — I mean the King's horrible distemper. I cer
tainly do not feel any new affection or respect for the
King, whom I do not think either better or worse of
for being mad. Nothing can appear more preposterous
or more disgusting than the violent enthusiasm of
humanity and loyalty in those who have so manifest an
interest in the subject of their joy. I do not know, on
the other hand, whether it is possible for us, who have
such powerful interests the other way, to feel either the
same compassion for the King's misfortunes, or the
same satisfaction in his relief, as if we were not con
cerned in these events. But still I think that, on re
flection, we should wish to sacrifice as little of our

294 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
natural feelings to our interests as we are able, and I
would therefore persuade myself that such a horrible
calamity to any other person as insanity, is one of those
means by which I would not enter into power. And
with this reflection I am certainly better reconciled
to the present disappointment of these views, and to
waiting for their accomplishment till it may happen
by the usual means. I confess, however, that this
very cause, whether I am able to avoid wishing for it
or not, is likely to be the first that will produce any con
siderable change in government. The King's perfect re
covery seems, as yet, by no means ascertained, and the
manner in which he is still managed proves that those
who are about him have not a thorough confidence in
ais cure. I have heard, however, nothing new on this
subject. White's ball at the Pantheon was the subject
of conversation yesterday, and I believe it was exces
sively fine. The room is certainly much the finest I
ever saw, and the decorations and illuminations were
better than they had ever been there before. They
were managed by Wyatt. There was a prodigious
enthusiasm of loyalty, as you may suppose. Dr. Willis
was constantly surrounded by a crowd pressing to look
on him, and paying their court to him. He was, I
believe, all but mad himself on the occasion, and
seemed out of himself with transport. He supped at
the table with Mr. Pitt, Lord and Lady Chatham, and
the Duchess of Gordon. The King's health was drunk
at supper, and three times three performed by the com
pany in all the supper-rooms at the same moment ;

Ms. 37] WHITE'S BALL 295
and the ball was concluded by the band playing " God
save the King ! " and all the gentlemen singing the
words along with it, which being encored was per
formed again. It would have been curious to know
how many, in the midst of this paroxysm of love for
his Majesty, really cared a straw about him. I had
my intelligence of this first from Miss Palmer and Sir
Joshua Reynolds, who were there, as well as from
several other ladies. You will not suppose I was
there myself. I believe very few of our party were ;
and the other people are endeavouring to make a
clamour on that account, especially against the Princes,
for refusing to come and keeping others away. The
Court ladies are to attend the Brookes' ball, by way of
censuring ours for staying away from White's. But all
these petticoat politics are not very interesting, so you
shall hear no more of them at present. Fitzherbert is
going immediately to the Hague. He is not to have
the same rank or pay, however, as Lord Malmesbury
had. He is to be envoy extraordinary, with the pay of
ambassador in ordinary, in all about 4,000?. This
post, however, was promised to Eden whenever it should
open, and the offer is now gone to him. If he accepts,
Fitzherbert is to succeed him in Spain.'
Lady Elliot's view of the reverse of fortune com
mented upon by her husband is shown in her reply : —
' I have quite made up my mind to all the disap
pointments of this winter, and have a strong inclination

296 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
to believe " whatever is is best." Though, when riches
and honour stare one in the face, they must seem wel
come, yet I am clear a family is seldom much richer
in the end from any high political situation; the
habits of expense increase and become so familiar, that
thousands become as hundreds were, and much less is
ever saved than is at first proposed. . . . Lady
Palmerston, you know, has always called you Sir Bash
ful Constant, as being in love with your own wife, and
I assure you I feel very proud of this particularity.
. . . You know as well as I can tell you the satisfac
tion it is to me to read all the things which lead to
the conviction of your love and esteem ; both are
equally essential to my happiness, and, to say the
truth, are so much the most important articles towards
it, together with the health and welfare of our children,
that, feeling secure in possessing them, I am perhaps
what may be thought too indifferent to any worldly
acquirements, though I do not see either the merit or
use of making myself unhappy or uncomfortable in
search of what may never be attained. I can assure
you I do not dare say how little concern I have felt in
the disappointments of this winter — I mean those that
relate to money and ambition ; and I believe I should
sink much in the good opinion and favour of your rela
tions, if I was to acknowledge how very indifferent I
am upon such subjects. I cannot conceive their
appearing important to those who have much more
satisfactory grounds for happiness and content.'

Ms. 37] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS 297
Sir Gilbert to Lady Elliot.
' Park Street : April i, 1789.
'The reports about a dissolution fluctuate, as it
might be expected they would. . . . Jack Payne
says it is not to be, and although his information is
not much to be relied on, it shows that the Prince has
received some intelligence about it. Tom Grenville1
says so too, and I understand Charles Fox said so
yesterday. The idea is that it was once intended, and
is still wished by Pitt, but that it was mentioned very
lately to the King for the first time, and that he was
violently against it. This was understood to be the
case before his illness, and that he would never hear
of it when proposed some time ago by Pitt. ... I
heard to-day that orders are actually given to get the
yachts in readiness to carry the King to Hanover.
The Duke of Portland seemed to believe this. The
King is certainly to go to St. Paul's. Preparations
are now making in the church. Every means has
been tried to dissuade him, but in vain. If he is not
as sensible, he is at least as obstinate as ever. He is
more loquacious, if possible, than before his illness, and
talks amazingly quick, and a great deal of politics to
, people to whom he ought not. . . . The Colchester
petition was determined to-day in favour of our candi
date, Mr. Tierney. The petition for Westminster
began to-day. I attended the ballot yesterday, but
1 Right Honourable Thomas Grenville, brother of Lord Buckingham
and Lord Grenville.

298 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
luckily escaped being drawn. I was pressed very
much tc be nominee for Lord John Townshend, but
could not undertake it on account of Impey's business.
I gave Impey notice yesterday that I should bring him
on the day after the Easter recess, if we were not dis
solved sooner. ... I went the day before yesterday
to Miss Vanneck's assembly, and saw a great deal of
world, who seemed rather surprised to see me there,
but made me very welcome. I went home with Lady
Beauchamp and the Malmesburys to supper at Lord
fieauchamp's. Lady Beauchamp is not fine, nor is
she without understanding, but she has a desperate
desire for admiration, which she cannot hide, and this
always makes women look and behave more or less like
fools. I have read Prince Hoare's tragedy, and like it
extremely. I think it would succeed on the stage.1 . . .
I am going to-day to dine at Lord Palmerston's. Lady
Palmerston is gone to-day to Bath with Mrs. Culverden
in a hurry, on account of their grandmother Mrs.
Mann's illness.- She is dying, I believe. Fox, Sheridan,
Mrs. Crewe, the-Malmesburys, Bouverie, etc., are to dine
to-day with us at Lord Palmerston's. My tenant Mr.
Sumner is to stand for the county of Surrey on Pitt's in
terest. It is thought a strong measure to start a young
nabob for a county, who generally like old families.
This Sumner, at a meeting in Surrey lately, asked,
" Who are these Russells ? Who has heard of the
family of Russells in the county of Surrey ? " He was
talking of the Duke of Bedford's family. ... I saw
1 Kemble, as manager of Drury Lane, had just refused it.

Ms. 37] ACCIDENT TO THE DUKE OF PORTLAND 299
the Duke of Portland to-day. His knee is doing well.
John Hunter told him soon after the accident hap
pened that he had the greatest desire in the world to
know and to see how the knee-pan cures itself of a
fracture, but that it is almost impossible ever to see
'he process of nature on the occasion, as it would be
tecessary to have an opportunity of examining it
¦ 'efore the case was complete, and that this could only
tappen if he had the good fortune to have a patient
lie during the cure, and that he would give anything
a the world to have this opportunity. The Duke
.aughed, but told him very gravely that if he should
lie -on this occasion, he assured him Mr. Hunter should
have him to do what he pleased with, and to examine
us much as he liked. Hunter says they would have
tried the experiment on some capital convicts, but he
does not know how to break the knee-pan, and that
it, can only be done by accident. No animal but man
has a knee-pan.' ' •-Park Street: Thursday, April 9, 1789.
' The general opinion now is that Parliament will
not be dissolved. I shall consider it as a great escape
for me if there is no dissolution, and I hope never to
have so bad a prospect of a seat in Parliament on any
1 'The Duke of Portland broke his knee-pan on the first day of
March, coming out of Sir T. Dundas'. He made a little false step, by
which both his heels seemed to fly from under him, and he fell back
wards, but not to the ground, as his servants caught him. This was
all that happened. He felt little or no pain, but heard a crack. The
knee-pan was drawn up a couple of inches or so up his thigh. It was
set by John Hunter immediately.' — Letter of March 7-

300 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
other occasion. I believe I told you ncfthing about the
Windsor concert, and I have not much to tell now.
The King was remarkably attentive and kind to the
Princes ; the Queen quite the contrary, and it is said
appeared dowdy and glum at the King's behaviour to
them. Before the place at which the Chancellor sat at
supper there was some device in which his arms were
introduced with a motto alluding to the support given
by him to the King. Before Pitt there was a Fame
supporting Pitt's arms and the number 268, the first
majority in the House of Commons, written in sugar
plums or sweetmeats. At the concert the music had
most of it some allusion to politics. All this is quite
new at Court, and most excessively indecent, as the
King is always expected to be of no party, and it is an
unconstitutional thing that he should even express
openly either favour or disfavour on account of any vote
in Parliament. But it smells very strongly of the
petticoat, or rather of breeches under petticoats. It is
'also said that the King showed very marked attention
to Lady Pembroke; — that the Queen seemed uneasy,
and tried to prevent it as often as she could ; but that
the Queen being at last engaged with somebody in con
versation the King slipped away from her, and got
to the other end of the room where Lady Pembroke
was, and there was extremely gallant, and that Lady
Pembroke seemed distressed and behaved with a be
coming and maidenish modesty. I do not answer for
any part of this story about Lady Pembroke.'

Ms. 37] WOBURN AND LUTON 301
'Park Street: April 20, 1789.
' . . . We got there (to Sundon) on Wednesday in
time for dinner. On Thursday we rode to Woburn
Abbey, the Duke of Bedford's park, and after riding
through the park, and particularly through a part of it
which is planted with evergreens of all sorts for winter
enjoyment, we saw the stables and the kennel. The
house we could only look at from without, for it is only
shown on Mondays. The Duke is altering and enlarg
ing it at a great expense, although nobody ever in
habits it but Mrs. Hill, an old madame. In the stables
were about forty horses. There are sometimes sixty.
He has about ninety couple of hounds. His kennel is
just finished, and cost 4,000?. Yet he seldom uses any
of these great establishments. He rides generally the
same horse or two himself; has but two, or three, or
four servants out with him hunting ; and never mounts
any friend though his stable is full of horses. . . .
' We rode about twenty miles that day ; the country
is far from pretty, very open, and with little or no
wood. They have less fuel even than we, and the poor
burn cow-dung, which they scrape off the ground and
set up to burn as we do divots. On Friday we went to
Luton on our way to town. We had very little time,
but saw what was most worth attention — the pictures.
I never saw a house so crammed with fine pictures.
All the bedrooms and little dressing-rooms are full of
very fine pictures of the best masters. There is but
half of the house furnished. This half is a vast thing,
but not particularly beautiful in point of architecture ;

302 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
it is done by Adams. I got to town too late for dinner,
so went in the evening to Lord Herbert's, where I
ought to have dined. I found nobody but their two
selves and Miss Pitt (John Pitt). You never saw a
nicer couple than Lord and Lady Herbert.1 She has got
well again, which is a sort of miracle. They are so
handsome and so clever, and their house so new and
newly fitted up, and he so contented and so good-
humoured, and she so apparently so, that it is quite
comfortable to see. . . . Sylvester Douglas' marriage
to Miss North is now very much talked of and believed
in. He is constantly in Lord North's house, and from
Saturday to Monday generally at Bushy. . . . People
say Miss North is dying of love for him, but she has
died these deaths so often that I imagine this death
will not be more mortal than the rest. . . .'
'Park Street: Saturday, April 25, 1789.
' This week has been full of distractions and of idle
business and busy idleness, besides which I had some
busy business to fill up the intervals ; and I have been
all this day engaged at the trial, which is just up, and
leaves me but a short interval to write you before I
must go to dinner. I owe you an account of Brookes'
ball and St. Paul's, but I cannot undertake a copious
1 Elizabeth Beauclerk. second daughter of Topham Beauclerk,
Esquire, married Lord Herbert in 1787. Lady Palmerston, in a letter
which mentioned their intended marriage, wrote : — ' Miss E. Beauclerk
is, in my opinion, perfection ; the elegance of her manner — her beauty
— her entire ignorance of her own power, make her the most interesting
little mortal I ever saw.'

Mr. 38] THANKSGIVING AT ST. PAUL'S 303
one of either of these things, at least at present. The
ball was as fine as the place would admit of, but it was
impossible to make amends for the defects of the Opera
House on such an occasion. There were 1,200 and odd
people, besides the waiters and attendants — male and
female — and there were 300 waiters. You may suppose
what a squeeze it was. Some of the ladies had nofc
once found a chair or table to sit down upon at four
o'clock in the morning, and were ready to drop with
fatigue. Nor could they even get away, for it was
impossible to get up their chairs or coaches. Some of
them at last betook themselves humbly to the floor, on
which they sat. The ode was a dull poem, and though
delivered by Mrs. Siddons, had but a flat effect. The
only fault, however, to be found with the entertainment
was the great numbers who partook of it, and you
probably do not regret that you did not increase the
number. I got home between four and five, and was
obliged to be at the trial in the morning.
' The next day I was up at six for St. Paul's. Lord
Palmerston carried me. We went in procession with
the House of Commons, and were about two hours
going. This day answered extremely well as a show,
and was affecting in some moments of it. Our places
were in galleries on each side of the choir, and from
the end of the gallery where I sat I saw down the church
to the great door fronting Ludgate Hill. The whole
length of the church was lined on each side by the
Grenadiers of the Guards and the beefeaters, who formed
a wide passage or lane for the procession. Beyond the-

304 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
soldiers were the people who had got admission into
the church ; and under the dome were piled up, to a
great height all round, 6,000 children from the different
charity-schools in the city, in their different habits and
colours. This was by far the most interesting part of
the show. You may see this any year, for they are
brought to St. Paul's, and placed in the same order one
day every year, and I think it will be worth your while
if you ever come within sight of St. Paul's again. After
the House of Commons and of Peers, etc., were seated,
a signal was made by which notice was given at
Buckingham House, and then the King and Queen, etc.,
set out. When they arrived at the Park, the drums
and fifes of the Guards all struck up, and continued
till the whole party was assembled and marshalled at
the great door. As soon as they began to move up the
church, the drums stopped, and the organ began ; and
when the King approached the centre all the 6,000
children set up their little voices and sang part of the
Hundredth Psalm. This was the moment that I found
most affecting ; and without knowing exactly why, I
found my eyes running over, and the bone in my throat,
which was the case with many other people. I had not
seen the King or Queen before since his illness, and I
was much struck with the alteration in him. Indeed,
the Queen is also much thinner than she was. But the
King is quite an object of thinness, and appears ex
tremely weak by his manner of walking. The place
for the King and Queen was at the entrance of the
choir, between the two doors, and fronting the altar.

Ms. 38] THANKSGIVING AT ST. PAUL'S 305
They sat on two grand chairs of State under a canopy.
I was so much above them that I had but a bird's-eye
view of them, and could not observe the King's counte
nance distinctly. All I saw therefore was, that his face
was as sharp as a knife, and that his eyes appeared
therefore more prominent than before. ... I am told
that he appeared affected when he first came in, and
that during the reading of the prayer for himself, pre
pared for the occasion, he was so much moved as to
shed tears. The Queen certainly did. In general,
however, the King's manner was apparently indifferent ;
and he looked about with his opera-glass and spoke to
the Queen during the greatest part of the service, very
much as if he had been at a play. He was dressed
in the Windsor uniform, had on a greatcoat which
reached to his ankles, and was probably intended to
conceal his legs, which are extremely thin. Others say
it was to keep him warm, as he is excessively chilly.
The service was the whole morning service, litany, and
communion service, and all with the addition of several
very, long occasional prayers ; and it was chanted as is
done in the cathedral service, so that it was extremely
long and tedious. The Bishop of London preached ;
but I could not hear a syllable where I sat. It was a
courtly sermon, and contained a good deal of court
politics ; but, I hear, was dull enough.
'We waited Wo hours in St. Paul's Churchyard with
out hats, being full dressed, in a high wind, before we
got away ; and I was, for one, so tired, that I went to
bed at ten o'clock.
VOL. i. x

306 LIFE- AND LETTERS [1789
' I must go this instant, or I shall be too late for the
Bell as well as for dinner. God bless you all ! Love
for the children. I will take care of Anny's doll, etc'
' Park Street : Saturday, May 2, 1789.
' The business in the House of Commons went off
once more yesterday without a division, and stands for
Monday. I shall not give you any particular account
of this business, which you will see in the papers. The
general idea of it is this : — Hastings has presented a
petition to the House of Commons complaining of- the
chargers, and particularly of Burke by name, for stating
in their speeches matter which is not contained in the
articles of impeachment, and which is more criminal
than what the articles contain, and he says these matters
are false. He gives four instances, three from last year
and one from this. That instance is Burke's having
said in the course of his speech that " Mr. Hastings had
murdered Nuncomar by the hands of Sir E. Impey."
Mr. Pitt allows that these instances, which relate to
what was said last year, cannot be attended to because
there was no complaint at the time. Besides which,
we shall prove that the complaints are false in point of
fact. Burke did not say what is imputed to him. But
Pitt has signified his intention to support the last com
plaint about Nuncomar, and to censure Burke by a vote
of the House. There is not a shadow nor pretence of
justice or propriety in this, but it proves very clearly
two material points : one that Pitt means now to protect

Mr. 38] CENSURE OF BURKE 307
Hastings, and to put an end to the trial if possible ; the
other that the Queen is all-powerful.'' Park Street: Tuesday, May 5, 1789.
'We have at last got complete summer weather.
Our trees are all in full leaf, and the park is in its
bloom. This does not hinder our neighbours to the
right and left from pining and striving for a change of
situation. Lord Malmesbury is in treaty for Lady
Clifford's house in Spring Gardens, and Lady Palmer
ston is as desirous as ever of removing to a more central
situation. ' . . . The House voted a censure on Burke
yesterday, and incurred themselves by that act a degree
of dishonour and infamy which they will not easily
recover, while I believe the world thinks Burke and
the rest of us are only rendered the more distinguished
and illustrious. The trial proceeded to-day as if nothing
had happened, except that Burke spoke on the subject
of the censure against himself, and laid it to the Court
in Westminster Hall in a manner which did not leave
the disgrace of it on him.
' - . . One result of this proceeding in the House
of Commons yesterday will be that I shall drop Impey
entirely, at least while the present state of politics
continues. For this I shall give my reasons at large,
and shall therefore speak on the subject of yesterday's
debate. . . .'

x 2

308 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
' Saturday, May 9, 1789.
' I saw the Exhibition yesterday for the first time,
and it is so bad I do not think I shall return there.
Sheridan's portrait is the only very fine thing I saw
there. Sir Joshua has many pictures, but I do not ad
mire them much ; his principal one is a Cymon and Iphi-
genia. ... I saw also an exhibition of pictures bought
by Macklin to make engravings from for the English
poets. Among these are several of Sir Joshua, Gains
borough, Opie, Hamilton of Rome, and Angelica, which
are good enough, but the rest are in general sad stuff ;
and the arts do not appear to flourish much in Europe
at present, notwithstanding the immense encouragement
which is given to them. Gainsborough's pictures are
selling for 200?. to 500?. a-piece. Bad as we are, I
believe our school is as good as any other in Europe, if
not better. I have not yet seen the new Shakespeare
Gallery, where the pictures painted for Boydell's grand
edition of Shakespeare are collected.
' I was last night at the Duchess of Ancaster's at a
masquerade, where we had all the beauty and fashion
of London. There was certainly a great deal of beauty,
and I think women never were handsomer than they
now are, or at least never understood better how to ex
hibit it.' 'Sheen: Monday, May 18, 1789.
' I came to Sheen yesterday with the Palmerstons,
and dined and slept at their house. To-day I have

Mi. 38] ELLIOT OF WELLS 809
been to see Lady Northampton and Isabella,1 and am
now at Mrs. Culverden's, where I dine, and return to
town in the evening. Before I say more of ordinary
occurrences, I must tell you that I have at last spoken
to Elliot (of Wells) on the grand subject which I have
mentioned to you. The day before yesterday we had a
grand pleasuring party to the town in the morning, to
dinner at the London Tavern, to Astley's in the evening,
and to supper at Michael Angelo Taylor's. The party
consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Culverden, Emma Godfrey,
Miss Whitworth, Mr. Francis and three daughters,
Lord Palmerston, Windham, Sylvester Douglas, and
myself. We assembled at Mrs. Culverden's. Among
the carriages were two chariots, and it was so managed
that in one of these Elliot and H  went alone to
gether. I thought this a strong measure, and I knew
it was not his doing, for he could no more take the lead
in such a plan than avoid being led into it by the
ladies ; for he has not activity enough even to avoid
action. During the whole of the day, which lasted
twelve hours in various employments, Elliot was kept
possession of, and it was plain that the other ladies
co-operated in this arrangement ; but H  's own
vigilance and ingenuity and eagerness were conspicuous
among the rest, and would not have escaped shorter
sight than mine.
' . . . The next morning I came down to breakfast
resolved to attack him. I began speaking about his
1 Isabella, daughter of Hugh Elliot by his first marriage. She was
at this time at school at Richmond.

310 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
mother — his own plans of life — and at last came very
naturally and easily to a conclusion that he might do
extremely well while he was single, but that it was
impossible he should marry while his mother lived,
unless he met with an advantageous match, or unless
his own income should improve. As soon as he had
acknowledged this, as if he never had the smallest idea
to the contrary, I fell foul of him, I dare say to his
infinite horror and dismay, and not without some
nervousness and terrors on my own part who was to be
the assailant. " This," says I, " brings me to a subject
which I have for some time wished to speak to you
about. It is a subject of extreme delicacy, and such as
none but a true friend has any right to interfere in,
and such as even he must feel a great backwardness to
engage in. But you know that Burke has taught us
that delicacy is the lowest of all virtues, and when it
interferes with higher duties is a vice." You may
imagine his ghastly whiteness while I walked to and
fro delivering this portentous preface. " I must first
ask you," says I, " whether there is anything between
you and H  ." He had just power to assure me not.
I then told him that the manner in which they had
singled each other out, of which he was conscious enough,
had attracted my attention as likely to lead to conse
quences which he might not foresee so well himself.
He answered me there was nothing whatever between
them ; that he was very particularly uneasy all Saturday
on our pleasuring party, and that he had had the worst
luck that ever man had ; and then he told me how he

Mr. 38] GOSSIP 311
had always found himself, he did not know how, left
alone with her, or placed next to her, and that he had
felt so seriously chagrined the whole day (this is his
expression), that when he found himself alone with her
in the chariot, he was so chagrined that he did not
speak one word till they got to Newgate, and then he
only informed her that it was Newgate ; that he could
hardly prevail on himself to speak the whole time of
dinner ; and that, when he was put again in the chariot
with her and her younger sister C  , C  said he
must sit in the middle, where she was herself, but he
declined, and she (C  ) afterwards took notice that
he did not speak.
' This affair, thank God ! is entirely over.'
' Park Street : Tuesday.
' Our dinner at Sheen, on Sunday, at Lord Palmer
ston's, consisted of Lord and Lady Palmerston, Mrs.
Crewe, Sir Joshua and Miss Palmer, Fitzherbert, Chol
mondeley, Sylvester Douglas, Elliot, and me. Every
body returned to town after dinner except the Palmer
stons and me. We passed the eyening, reading and
chatting, very pleasantly. It is a prodigious great
magnificent old-fashioned house, with pleasure-grounds
consisting of seventy acres — pieces of water, artificial
mounts, and so forth. There will be a great deal to do
in repairing the house before it is comfortable, in
modern ideas, and Lord Palmerston seems undeter
mined whether to keep it or not, but I think he will
keep it. To give you an idea of Lady Palmerston's

312 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
perseverance in her junketing humour, she was yester
day morning at Sheen, gave a great dinner in town,
went to a great assembly, thence to Ranelagh, came
home at one o'clock and dressed for a guinea mas
querade at the Opera House, where she went with Lord
Palmerston. ) I know of no news for you to-day, except
that thereTias been a long and intricate story of a duel
between Mr. Lenox and the Duke of York, which I
cannot enter on to-day.' ' May 21.
' . . . There are some fashionable amours coming
out I hear, and likely to make an 6clat ; but I know so
little of the truth of reports, that you must not repeat
it from me.
' . . . All these are established as quietly and avowedly
as if they were marriages. There is no woman, who is
not frightful, that one can be at all sure of, be her
situation, her manners, or appearance, what it may,
and the laws of nature seem to predominate completely
over those of society. If this be so, and if it is written
in our natures that it must go on, certainly the less
said about it the better ; and it is no advantage to
convert these disorders into tragical events as they
used to be; the other set, whose wives were young
when different manners were in fashion, are lucky.
Sheridan is a great gallant and intriguer among the
! fine ladies. He appears to me to be a strange choice
for any lady who may choose, having a red face and an
\ t?? look as ever I saw. But he employs a great deal of
Sart, with a great deal of pains, to gratify, not the

Mr. 38] THE DUKE OF YORK'S DUEL 313
proper passion in such affairs, but vanity ; and he deals
in the most intricate plotting and under-plotting, like
a Spanish play.' 'Saturday, May 30, 1789.
' You will see so much in the papers about the
Duke of York's duel that I believe I must attempt a
short account of that matter, although I am not very
particularly informed about it.1 Mr. Lenox had been
amusing himself all this winter with abusing and in
sulting the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York in
the most scurrilous and blackguard way, both behind
their backs and sometimes to their faces. You must
know that this is the ton of the Court or Queen's party,
who imagine that they cannot pay their court better
than by marking in every way they can think of their
enmity to the Princes. It was the more blackguard in
Lenox as he lived a good deal with both the Princes,
and was, indeed, for some time, hardly ever out of the
Duke of York's house, whom he bored extremely.
Lenox, you know, was graciously forced into the Duke
of York's regiment, against the rules, or at least
common practice, of the army, over all the officers'
heads, and without so much as an intimation to the
Duke, who was the colonel, and I believe it is the only
instance of such a promotion taking place without the
colonel's being consulted, or at least acquainted with it.
This made a great noise in the army, and particularly
1 It will be seen that when Sir Gilbert was subsequently told the
story by the Prince of Wales himself, the version giveu in the text
proved to be ' pretty right.'

314 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
in the Guards, and most particularly in the Coldstream
regiment, which is the Duke of York's. The Duke
remonstrated and took the natural steps for a colonel
in such a situation, but without effect, and always
without any personal reflections on Lenox, but, on the
contrary, with great personal civility towards him.
When Lenox was fairly in possession, the Duke of York-
said to him that though he certainly disapproved of
the measure by which he had come into the regiment
as prejudicial to the service and offensive to himself as
colonel, and had done what he thought his duty in
opposing it, that yet he was very glad the thing had
happened in the case of Mr. Lenox, whom, considering
the thing merely in a personal view, he was very
happy to have in his regiment. To this gentlemanlike
and conciliatory speech Mr. Lenox answered that it
was the King's pleasure he should be there, and that
was enough for him. I mention this to show the sort
of man. Some time after this, Lenox was abusing the
Princes and talking offensive language about them and
their friends in the presence of the Duke of York at>
D'Aubigne's Club, when St. Leger said that it was very
odd he always chose to say these things to persons who
could not resent them. Why don't you say them to
some of us who can answer you? This was the sub
stance. I don't know the terms or the strength of the
language in which St. Leger expressed himself. To
this Lenox made no answer, and took no notice of it.
The Duke of York, it seems, said afterwards to some
body. I don't know who or on what occasion, that

Mr. 38] THE DUKE OF YORK'S DUEL 315
Lenox had submitted to language which a gentleman
ought not to bear. Lenox, hearing of this, went to the
Duke of York on the parade and asked him whether he
had not said so, desiring an explanation. The Duke of
York acknowledged having said so, but said that was
not a proper place for explanation on such a subject.
After the parade he went to the orderly-room, and
there Lenox renewed the subject in the presence of the
officers of the regiment, requiring the Duke of York to
inform him what the words were to which he alluded,
and who had spoken them. The Duke of York refused
to tell him either, because it would be pointing out a
quarrel to him, and said there was no occasion for it as
the words were spoken to Mr. Lenox himself, and he
must therefore be as well acquainted with them as
anybody. Lenox said this laid him under a great
hardship, as he was not conscious of any language hav
ing been used which he ought to resent, and as the
Duke of York refused to inform him of the person who
had used it; adding that the Duke of York was his
colonel and the King's son, which placed them on an
unequal footing, and made it impossible for him to
have satisfaction, as he might in another case. The
Duke desired that he would waive those circumstances,
and consider him on this occasion exactly as he would
any other gentleman. This Lenox declared he could
not do, and so they parted. The next thing Lenox did
was to write a circular letter to all the members of the
¦Club, desiring them to inform him if they had heard
any language which he ought to resent. You will see

316 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
it in the papers. He received no satisfaction from this
measure. As he had heard it himself, nobody thought
themselves bound to tell him what he ought to resent.
Some of the answers were in a taunting and insulting
style. St. Leger's was' in substance that he kept no
account of Club conversation, but that if he had said
anything to Mr. Lenox which he wished for satisfaction
for, he was ready at all times to give it him. After
receiving these unsatisfactory answers, Lenox sent a
challenge to the Duke of York by Lord Winchelsea ;
and you saw the result in the papers. The Duke of
York had a very narrow escape ; and Mr. Lenox had so
much an intention to kill him, that Lord Winchelsea's
carriage, with post-horses, trunks, and imperials, was
in waiting at hand during the duel. To this account I
shall add, that Jack Payne told me yesterday of the
manner in which the business was received by the
King and Queen. Observe, in the first place, that the
second who carried the challenge, and went out with
Lenox, is a Lord of the King's Bedchamber, son of
Lady Charlotte Finch, who is in the Queen's family.
While the duel was going on, the Prince of Wales was
walking about in the yard at Carlton House, in great
agitation. The Duke of York brought the account
himself, and only said, " Brother, it is all over, and all
is quite well; but I have no time to tell you parti
culars, for I must go to the tennis-court." On which
the Prince wished the tennis-court at the bottom of
the sea, and made the Duke of York relate what had
passed.

.Et. 38] THE DUKE OF YORK'S DUEL 317
' As soon as he had learnt the particulars he set off
for Kew with the Duke of Clarence, and sent up a
message to the King by Colonel Goldsworthy, that he
wished to speak to the King immediately for five
minutes, and that he wished the King to be alone.
Colonel Goldsworthy delivered the message to the
King, who said, " Very well, very well ; but / want just
to go up to the Queen first." The Prince was accord
ingly admitted to the King, Queen, and Princesses.
He said he had something particular to say, and wished
that the Princesses might not be present. They re
tired, and he then related to the King and Queen the
previous circumstances which led to the duel, and
turned about to the Queen, and said, "Madam, you
know I acquainted you with these circumstances a week
ago " (which he had done in the view of having the
thing stopped by authority). The King said, " Ay,
indeed ! / never heard a word of it before." The
Prince then related what had passed in the duel, and
when he mentioned the circumstance of the ball having
passed through the curls, the King gave a shudder and
made a little noise expressive of terror, which was the
only mark of sensibility on the occasion which he
ventured to show. The Queen heard it all with perfect
composure, and without the slightest expression of
feeling or agitation. She stood looking out at window ;
and when the Prince had told the story, the way in
which she expressed her tenderness on the occasion was
to say immediately that she understood it was all the
Duke of York's own fault, and that, according to her

318 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
account of the matter, he had showed more anxiety to
fight Mr. Lenox than Mr. Lenox had to fight him.
The Prince of Wales on this answered that she must
have been very much misinformed, and that if she
considered the circumstances he was sure she must
allow her account was extremely improbable, because if
a man was very desirous of fighting another, it was not
likely that he should refrain voluntarily from firing at
him, and that nobody was very anxious to go out
merely for the pleasure of being fired at himself.
' This interview ended without anything being said
by the King or Queen, either of approbation of his
conduct, or joy at his safety, or any other expression of
feeling, or any notice of the Duke of York at all. The
Duke of Clarence was not admitted. The day before
yesterday the Duke of York went himself to the King
and Queen. He saw the King first alone, who was ex
cessively affected and showed the strongest marks of
agitation and tenderness for him on this occasion ; but
what is remarkable is, that the door being ajar, and
the Queen in the next room, the King stole gently to
the door and shut it to, that he might not be seen or
overheard in these expressions of natural affection.
When the Queen came in she took no notice at all of
the transaction, good or bad. Just like Mr. Elliot and
my speeches, or the Speakership. All this will show
you what a step-mother she is, and what a state of ab
solute subjection the King is in. He is not to be at the
Birthday, and, in short, people seem reconciled to the
total retreat of the Kingf for whom they have all pre-

Ms. 38] QUEEN CHARLOTTE 319
tended to be in such fits of love and loyalty. Charlotte
has the breeches, but God forbid I should ever know it
otherwise than by report. They now talk of his going
to Weymouth. I went last night to the French Am
bassador's ball, which was very magnificent and very
pretty. The Queen and three Princesses were there.
The Princesses danced and seemed very happy. The
Queen sat at the end of the ball-room, and people went
up to be spoken to — that is, those who wished, and I was
not of the number. She had a table for herself and the
Princesses, and in the same room another for her ladies.
I supped in another room between Mrs. Scott and Lady
Borlase Warren, who are both as unlike the Queen as
possible. Lord Malmesbury and Harriet are not asked
to the French or Spanish ambassador's balls, and are
omitted, it is understood, on purpose.' 'June 2, 1789.
' I hear nothing particular of the King's health.
He is just well enough to keep the name of King for
himself, and the authority of it for others. He is him
self totally in the basket as to real business, and is
driven without mercy by the Queen. Her conduct on
the duel has been quite indefensible. I have had the
whole story from the Prince of Wales, which I have
not time to relate at present. The account I had from
Jack Payne, which I sent you, is pretty right. She
has never yet said once that she was glad the Duke of
York was not killed ; not once so much as that. When
the Duke of York went to the King the first time after

320 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
the duel, I told you of the King having behaved with
great feeling and affection. The Queen, on the con
trary, did not say one word to him on the subject ; and
the first and only thing she said was, " Did you think
Boodle's ball full last night ? " At the French Ambas
sador's ball she not only received Mr. Lenox very
graciously, but afterwards, when there was no occasion
for it, kissed her fan to him half the length of the room
two or three times, taking pains to mark her favour as
conspicuously as she could.
' Since this the King has been made to write a most
harsh and unnatural letter to the Duke of Clarence on
the subject of the allowance or establishment which is
to be made for him ; in which, besides many cruel
things to himself, he abuses him for associating with
his brothers, and charges them in plain terms with un-
kindness and misconduct during his illness. . I was
called on Sunday to Carlton House on this subject,
together with Burke and Sheridan, and passed some
hours there on that business, drawing an answer from
the Duke of Clarence to the King. The Duke of
Clarence was there all the time, and I have taken a
great liking to him. He is frank, sincere, spirited,
honourable, excessively attached to his brothers, ¦
zealous to the greatest degree in their cause, willing to
make any sacrifice to it ; and, besides this, affectionate
for the King, whom they all love sincerely, being con
vinced that he loves them, and wishes to do well if he
had the power. The Duke of Clarence seems to have a
good understanding, and expresses himself very clearly,

Ms. 38] THE SPEAKERSHIP 321
though naturally and bluntly, and not without a little /
ornamental swearing. This letter of the King's, ,to- '
gether with the other circumstances of the times, leaves
the Princes no choice, and obliges them to do now what
they have long sought an opportunity for — to give to
the King, and after him to the country — an account of
their conduct on the occasion of his illness. This work
is committed to me, and I am now in the midst of it,
and must not lose a moment till it is done. I was last
night at the Duke of Clarence's ball, where I stayed
but a couple of hours, and came home before supper
that I might get up this morning to work. God bless
you!' 'Park Street: Saturday, June 6, 1789.
'You will be surprised to hear (as I was yesterday)
that I am to have another battle for the Speakership,
and, I presume, with equal success as before. Grenville
is made Secretary of State in the room of Lord Sydney.
Mr. Addington, brother of my opponent at Berwick, is
to be proposed Speaker by Pitt — and I am to be started
once more in opposition to him. Pitt could not have
made a more obnoxious choice than this one. This is
Addington's first Parliament. He is son of Lord
Chatham's physician, and is in fact a sort of dependant
to the family. The chair has hitherto been filled by
persons of quite a different description, either eminent
for abilities, experience, or rank, or of independent
situations and characters.
' Pitt's friends allow that Addington is a very im
proper person for this office, and it has given great
VOL. i. Y

322 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
offence ; but I do not believe this will make much dif
ference to the event. The election will be on Monday
next. They have had great advantage in keeping the
secret, for they will have brought their friends to town,
and a great many of om-s are out of reach. There are
many changes in government. . . .
' You will see an account of Mr. Lenox dancing at
St. James's, and the Prince of Wales and the Duke of
Clarence refusing to dance with him, in the " Morning
Herald," which is nearly the truth. When the Prince
of Wales came to him he stopped short ; and when the
Prineess-Royal was going to turn Mr. Lenox, the
Prince of Wales, who danced with her, took hold of her
hand, and led her down to the bottom of the dance.
The Duke of York danced on. The Duke of Clarence
did exaetly as the Prince of Wales had done. The
Prince went up to the Queen after the dance. She
said to him that she supposed he was tired. He
answered, " Not at all." She then said she supposed
he found it too hot. He said that in such company
it was impossible but to find it too hot. On which
the Queen said, " I suppose you mean that I should
break up the ball." The Prince answered, " that he
thought it the best thing she could do ;" and she did
so accordingly.' 'Park Street: Tuesday, June 9, 1789.
'The division yesterday was 215 for Addington, to
174 against him. The former division, when Grenville
was chosen, was 215 to 144. . . . The debate was of
the most distressing nature possible — turning entirely

Mi. 38] THE KING AT THE HOUSE OF LORDS 323
on a discussion of personal merits. But, bating the
uneasiness with which one always sits under such an
operation, it was as flattering and as completely gratify
ing to me as it could possibly be. The speeches, both
of Fox and Burke, were quite enough to set any man
up in reputation with the world and in self-satisfaction
for life. ... As to this event, it certainly is no dis
appointment, because we never had the most remote
idea of success, and all the purposes were fully
answered. . . . The King is gone in person to the
House of Lords, to approve of the Speaker ; he is doing
so at this very instant, and I should have gone to see
him if I had not been prevented from writing to you in
the morning. This is the first time he has been at the
House of Lords, or done any public act of royalty, since
his illness, and the nature of the business requires only
that he should walk into the House of Lords, sit down,
and walk out again. He has not one word to say, nor
anything whatever to do. The Chancellor speaks for
him. This business of the Speakership has been an in
terruption to my work which I mentioned to you that
I was employed in by the Prince of Wales. But I have
already resumed it, and have not only been working at
it this morning, but have been with Burke and the
Duke of York, and have read to him what I have done,
and was very glad to find him highly pleased and de
lighted with it. I should have read it also to the
Prince of Wales, but he was preparing to go in state to
the House of Lords when I went to Carlton House.
The three Princes were in the House of Commons
Y 2

324 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
yesterday during the Speakership business. The Duke
of York told me to-day that when he saw the Queen
the day before yesterday she did nothing but talk of
Lord Winchelsea, and inquire about him, and what he
was doing. This was addressed to Lady Charlotte
Finch, but was certainly meant as an agreeable subject
to the Duke of York, who joined, however, in the con
versation as if nothing had happened.
' Harriet's ball was, as she says, very pretty and
pleasant ; it began with children of all ages, and con
cluded with fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts.
Tom Sheridan seemed the ringleader of the boys.
'I have heard to-day of your actual departure for
Gillsland.' •Park Street: Saturday, June 13, 1789.
'There is nothing very new or interesting here.
The King was thought to look well at the House of
Lords the other day. The Archbishop of Canterbury
complimented him on seeing him there, and on his
looking so well ; but the King told him he would
never see him there again. To which the Archbishop
said, " I suppose your Majesty means not this session."
I do not know what the King's answer was, but I
believe he meant that he should never be well enough
to come there again at all. Something of the same
sort passed with the Duke of York the day after. The
Dukeof York expressed his satisfaction with the King's
good looks, and told him that everybody had been
struck with it in the House of Lords. The King said,
" What does all that signify when I feel myself that I

Mr. 38] A MASQUERADE 325
am very ill ? " He complains of great weakness, and of
his weakness increasing. Soon after his illness he
could walk ten miles without being tired, and now he
is overcome by the smallest degree of exercise. He
says that riding agitates his nerves so much that he
shall leave it off. Whether all this is good or bad after
his disorder I do not know. His conduct with the
Princes is very contradictory. One day he does and
says everything that is harsh and severe ; the next day
he is affectionate and tender to the greatest degree. I
believe I told you of his kind reception of the
Duke of York after his duel, yet he wrote his
harsh letter to the Duke of Clarence immediately
after ; and now he has written another letter to the
Duke of Clarence, in reply to his answer, full of
goodness and affection, and has expressed also great
indulgence and love for the Duke of York. The fact,
I believe, is, that his weakness obliges him to yield to
the Queen and her faction in doing the harsh things
they require ; and, when he finds an opportunity, he
indulges his own disposition of kindness towards his
children. . . .
' Last night we were all at a masquerade at
Hammersmith, given by Mrs. Sturt. You were in
vited. It is the house that was Lord Melcombe's, and
is an excellent one for such occasions. I went with
Lady Palmerston and Mrs. Crewe, Windham and Tom
Pelham. We did not get home till almost six this
morning. I was very tired of it, being chained to
Mrs. Crewe, who is become a most wearing companion

326 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
to me. She is so extremely communicative of her own
secrets and of other people's, that if one had much
curiosity it would be worth while to be bored for an
evening or two to hear her budget ; but the price is
too heavy. The sort of things she insists on telling of
herself, of all her acquaintance, would make you stare,
and I am not breaking her confidence in telling you
this, for she says she has no objection at all to my
repeating to you everything she would tell me.
' The Princes were all three at Mrs. Sturt's in
Highland dresses, and looked very well. Their knees
were bare, and I saw the Prince of Wales make a lady
feel his bare knee. She had asked him something
about that part of the dress, and he said it was exactly
right, and she should see it was. " There," said he,
" you may squeeze it if you like," which she did ac
cordingly. They had breeches, however, above, and
only rolled up the- breeches' knees.
' Jack Payne was dressed as a young lady, and looked
quite remarkably well, so well as hardly to be a joke,
and infinitely better than in his own character. He
was chaperoned by Mrs. Fitzherbert. Douglas's affair
with Miss North seems still in suspense, but is expected
to take place. He seems to be passing the interval,
however, as agreeably as he can by an intimacy with
Lady Margaret Fordyce, who, though somewhat faded,
still retains much beauty and great powers of pleasing.'
' Tuesday, June 16, 1789.
' I am at present in high favour with all the Princes.
was yesterday by appointment at Carlton House, and

.Et. 38] THE PRINCE OF WALES 327
passed the best part of an hour alone with the Prince.
The occasion of my visit was to talk over the memorial
which I am writing, and to read to him what I have
already done. I read to him the introductory letter to
the King, and he was excessively pleased with it, ex
pressing every now and then his approbation in a very
warm and agreeable way. He made at the same time
several very sensible observations, and suggested some
alterations which I think perfectly judicious, and shall
certainly adopt. I was very much struck with the
appearance of judgment, as well as with the signs of
good disposition and proper feeling, which he gave in
this interview, and I will venture to say that few
princes have had anything like the good or considerable
qualities which both the Prince of Wales and the Duke
of York possess. You will suppose me, however, not
quite an impartial judge, as his manner and language
to me was that of the greatest kindness- and cordiality.1
1 ' C'est le plus grand roi du monde,' exclaimed Madame de Sevigne,
after Louis XIV. had danced with her, but his claims to greatness,
though enhanced in her eyes by the- action, were not limited to it. So
with the Prince of Wales. The charming manners which threw a
glamour over the utter worthlessness of his moral character were com
bined with considerable talents and acquirements, and could hardly have
existed without them, for perfect good-breeding- would seem to be either
the result of a combination of superior moral qualities, which we know
the Prince had not, or of certain mental qualities — such as quickness of
perception, readiness, and tact — and these he appears to have possessed
in no ordinary degree. The tendency of the present day is rather to
under-estimate the abilities of George IV, receiving its impulse prob
ably from Thackeray's lecture, which, nevertheless, has been pronounced
by many of those who had lived in intimacy with the King as giving
a very inaccurate portrait of him. Admitting fully the selfishness, un
truthfulness, and thoroughly vicious character of the .man, they assert

328 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
Burke, who is always friendship itself, has urged me
as much as he could to cultivate the Prince of Wales,
and to acquire his confidence and familiarity ; and he
says, in his way, that he considers it as the Prince's best
chance one day or other of getting into a good train of
conduct, and avoiding many dangers and misfortunes
which the want of some such friend may expose him to.
After making all due allowance for the partiality of
Burke, and the sanguine nature of his character, there
remains enough in these opinions of his to gratify me,
and therefore you. The King is going in a few days
on a tour to the west. He goes first to Lyndhurst for a
few days, and thence I believe to Weymouth. Chel
tenham, I hear, is quite deserted this year, and is
literally undone by its great fortune last year. . . .
The Queen is working as hard as she can to form a
party and increase the number of her adherents, in
which she has two objects — one to retain possession of
the King, and virtually of his authority, while he con
tinues in his present condition — that is to say, while he
is nominally at the head of government, but in fact

that he was endowed by nature with abilities which had not been un
cultivated, and that without them he could not have borne the part he
did in the society of the leading men of his day. Sir Walter Scott re
marked that it was impossible to form a fair judgment of the abilities
of the man who introduced whatever subject he chose, discussed it just
as long as he chose, and dismissed it when he chose ; but the remark is
only just if abilities of a high order are meant. To do the tbree things
well which Scott enumerated would require, in the society of the men
the Prince lived with, no small amount of general information, percep
tion, and observation, combined with the good-breeding which led Scott
to pronounce the Prince the finest gentleman he had ever seen.

Mr. 38] OLD FRIENDS AND NEW 329
unable or unwilling to exercise his powers himself; the
other to provide means for acquiring either the Regency
or as great a share of power as she can get if the King
should again be obliged or should choose to retire from
public affairs. All her friends as well as herself are
canvassing like candidates and agents before an election.
One of their objects is Mrs. Legge, and you would be
surprised, or, at least, I have been so, for I think your
faith in Mrs. Legge was never great, to see how easily
this prodigy of strength and understanding is won.
The Queen has got people to tell her that twenty years'
absence have not effaced the impression which the
pleasure of her company at Court had given her, and
that one of the things she thought of with pleasure was
the prospect which Mrs. Legge's recovery gave of en
joying this satisfaction again. In the meanwhile Mrs.
Harcourt and the Digbys and the Bagots and Dart-
mouths all ply her with courtship and flattery. I do
not know what renders this conquest so considerable in
their eyes. Perhaps they think that, as Mrs. Legge is
the centre of a constant and numerous society, she may
be more useful than many others in collecting friends
and drawing proselytes. Whatever their view is, it is
quite entertaining to see how easily this giant has fallen
before them. The Queen's speech, which I have told
you, vanquished her at one blow, an d it is good fun to
see her distress between her new courtliness and loyalty
and her old opinions and friends. She has twice put
herself in the Queen's way with a bandeau of " God save
the King ! " in her cap, which is considered in a great

330 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
measure as a profession of party, and in one of her
gravity and former manners, as well as actions, is quite
a thing to laugh at. Windham and I called on her
lately in the evening, and found that she had a very
bad headache, and was refused to everybody except
three or four on a small list. However, the servant
would have us go up, and we found her alone with Mr.
Cholmondeley. A few minutes after we were admitted
the servant came up and said Mrs. Harcourt was at the
door, and desired to see her only for a single minute.
There was an evident confusion in our party ; Mrs.
Legge seemed distressed what to do with us, and not to
like being caught with such rebels in such privacy.
But I made the matter easy by swearing that I could
not stay in the room if Mrs. Harcourt came in, because
I knew she did not like such company. Windham and
I were accordingly shoved into another room, like lovers
in a play when the husband comes home unexpectedly,
and there we remained laughing at poor Mrs. Legge,
though not ab»ve our breaths for fear of blowing up the
plot. When Mrs. Harcourt retired, Mrs. Legge came
creepingin and released us. I found that Mrs. Harcourt's
business was to settle Mrs. Legge's visit to St. Leonard's
at some time when there should be nobody else, and they
should have her all to themselves, and, moreover, that
the Queen was desirous of taking this opportunity of
renewing her acquaintance with Mrs. Legge. This, you
see, was quite irresistible, and I reckon Mrs. Legge, in
spite of all her twenty years' philosophy and her love for

Ms. 38] RURALISING 331
Windham, gone the way of all flesh, and like other
frail women fallen at the first summons of flattery.'
'Park Street: Wednesday, June 17, 1789.
' I sent you a letter yesterday from Sheen, where I
islept the night before, and dined at the Palmerstons'
with a large party. The weather is extremely pleasant,
and I find even that distance from London so refreshing,
that I have gone there as frequently as I could of late,
having three houses open to me,- the Palmerstons,
Culverdens, and Francises, besides Adam's in Richmond
Park, within a half of a mile. ... I wrote to you
yesterday under a great horse-ehestnut tree m Culver
den's garden ; the hay was making all round me, and
the sun very bright, though I was perfectly sheltered.
Everything is sweetness itself, even within eight miles
of London ; and I enjoy these occasional grazings ex
tremely, although you despise our cockney ruralities
among your glens and burns and cascades and woody
banks. But Sheen and Richmond Park are both more
rustic than Westminster Hall or Petty France. The
life at Sheen is certainly not over rural, being very
junkety, but that cannot be avoided in Surrey or
Middlesex, much less in any place inhabited by the
Palmerstons or any of their family. The hay is mostly
got in hereabouts.
' I received another letter from you on Wednesday,
and am now convinced that you are fallen desperately
in love, for Gillsland has become suddenly quite a Garden
of Eden, and I know no way of improving a country so

332 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
quickly except that which makes empty operas full,
and dull assemblies charming.1
' Lord William Russell is going to be married to
Lord Jersey's eldest daughter, Lady Charlotte Villiers.
I find that Lord Titehfield was violently in love with
her, and is gone abroad, I believe, on her account. She
is supposed to have preferred Lord William, and I
believe the Duke of Portland was not desirous of
Lord Titchfield's marrying so immediately. Lady
Charlotte Villiers is extremely pretty, and will be like
her mother. Lord Carlisle's daughter, Lady Caroline
Howard, who is also beautiful, is just going to be mar
ried, but, somehow or other, I totally forget to whom,
though I must have heard it fifty times within this
week.' 2 'Park Street : Wednesday, June 24, 1789.
' I have this moment at length finished the Princes'
memorial, but I am half distracted with it, for I have
been working the two last hours almost incessantly. . . .
Instead of being ready at two, as I promised the Prince
yesterday, it was five before I got out of this house.
1 Lady Elliot had gone a short time before with her children to
Gillsland, a small watering-place on the English border, which at first
sight had not impressed her favourably, but had improved on better
acquaintance. To this communication she replied : 
'Gillsland: 1789.
' I think the greatest conquest I have made was a stocking-maker
from Yorkshire, who assured me when he went away that he should
often think of me, at least three times a week when he gets the news
paper, and should never see your name in it without thinking of Sir
Gilbert's lady,'
2 She married John Campbell, Esq. of Cawdor, elevated to the
peerage in 1796 by the title of Earl of Cawdor.

.Et. 38] A MEETING AT CARLTON HOUSE 333
When I arrived at Carlton House, I found the Prince
was gone out, and I have since learnt that on a consult
ation with Lord Loughborough,- and one or two more,
he has been advised to delay it for some clays. The
King goes on his tour to-morrow, so that, if it is de
livered to him at all, it must be carried to him in the
country.' 'Danesfield: Friday, June 26, 1789.
' - . . The last time I wrote to you, which was on
Wednesday, I was half crazy with hurry, hard work, and
anxiety. All that is now over, and my business is com
pleted very much to my own satisfaction, although it
seems doubtful whether it will prove useful to anyone
else. I told you that on Wednesday the Prince was
advised by Lord Loughborough not to deliver this
paper at this particular time; that is to say, just on
the eve of the King's setting out on a journey of relax
ation, and when his spirits are understood to be low.
Yesterday the Prince desired a meeting at Carlton House
on the subject. It was attended by the Duke of Portland,
Charles Fox, Lord Loughborough, Burke, the Duke of
Clarence, and the Prince himself. In this company I
was obliged to read the whole of my work, and although
the operation was not a pleasant one, yet the reception
it met with was as gratifying as possible. ... It con
sists of two parts. The first is a letter from the Prince
to the King, intended as an introduction for the second
paper, which is a memorial, also from the Prince to the
King, containing an account and justification of his and
the Duke of York's conduct during the King's illness. . . .

334 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
' The Duke of Portland and Lord Loughborough were
decidedly against the introductory letter. Their reasons
were, that it was a declaration of open war against the
Queen ; and that the attack was so serious that it could
not be passed by, but laid the King under the necessity
of judging between them — that in the present state of
things, there could be no doubt of his deciding for her,
and that the necessary consequence must be that the
Prince would be forbid the Court, as well as his brothers,
and all who should adhere to them — which they thought
very disadvantageous to the Prince's interests. They had
not the same objection to the memorial. But I have
not a moment to finish the account, and must conclude
in a word by saying that the result of the deliberation
was for the Prince to write a short letter to the King,
expressing his uneasiness under the charge of unkindness
brought against him by the King, and that he had pre
pared a complete account of his conduct ; but that his
determination not to risk disturbing the King at an
improper moment had prevented him presenting it till
a better opportunity, unless the King should allow him
to deliver it now. This is a sort of half-measure that
will probably end in nothing. Both the Prince and
the Duke of Clarence were eager for doing the business
now, so was Burke — Fox doubted. I cannot say a word
more. ' I went home after this council with the Duke of
Portland to dinner. Burke was the only other guest,
and we found Lord Titehfield just arrived from Paris.'

Ms. 38] SYLVESTER DOUGLAS 335
'July 1.
' You will have seen Lady Middleton's death in the
papers. Everybody pities her and Mr. Mundy ex
tremely. Hers is a very sad case ; she was only just
beginning to know what happiness was, with a husband
she cared for and a child. . . . Douglas told me yester
day of his marriage being settled with Miss North.
Both seem excessively happy. He is a little conscious
about her ugliness, and when he told me of the match
said there were but two things wanting, both of which
are considered as inducements for other marriages —
money and beauty ; and, talking of the last of these
defects, he said that he did not consider beauty as
essential, and that after a time it would become indif
ferent. He hears the praises of her wit, understanding,
and goodness with evident pleasure. All the men and
all the women I have spoken to seem to think it a
wonderful match.' ¦'Park Street: Thursday, July 9, 1789.
' I am glad you think so well of Douglas's match. I
told him in general what you have said of it, and he
seems not only much pleased, but very grateful for
it. . . . Mr. Legge the other day inquired of me about
Douglas's family, and I soon discovered that he had
been employed by Lord North to learn what he could
about it. I was really unable to give him any satisfac
tion about it, and I told him fairly that in any conver
sation of this sort I was so much connected with Douglas
by friendship and affection, that I could hardly be

336 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
talked to as a third party or indifferent person. I
found that Lord North had remarked it as singular that
nobody had ever heard him, even by accident, allude to
his father or mother, and had said that Lord Guilford
was an old-fashioned man, and might think it odd,
when his granddaughter was going to be married, that
none of her family should know anything at all about
her husband's family. Legge did not talk as if Lord
North felt much on this subject himself, or as if it
would create any difficulty in concluding the match,
but only as if they had naturally a desire to be informed
r- on the subject. ... I never felt any curiosity, or even
thought of inquiring about his origin ; we are always
used, especially in professions like the law, to live with
people as we find them, and without thinking whence
they came. I told Legge, however, that although I
had no positive knowledge on the subject, yet I had
always understood that he was a gentleman in his birth,
though certainly not of any considerable origin in point
of fortune — which was a case extremely common in
Scotland, as well as usual enough in all other countries ;
that in the meanwhile he is certainly as good a gentle
man now as if he were of the oldest family in England,
for his education, his manners, his profession, and his
success in it, with the income he enjoyed, were as good
titles to be placed in the rank of gentlemen as many of
the most eminent men in the kingdom could show.
And I mentioned Lord  , Lord  , Lord  , I
believe, and several other great men, whose family
would not stand much inquiry about, but who are en-

Ms. 38] JUNKETING 337
nobled by that profession which in this country does
unquestionably confer the rank of gentlemen on its
members. . . . There is no news of consequence. The
King has carried on an affectionate correspondence with
the Prince of Wales concerning the Duke of York's
health since his illness.' 'Park Street: Tuesday, July 14, 1789.
' On Friday Windham and I were engaged to an
other junket from Sheen. The party was to see Lord
Loughborough's place near Weybridge, and Oatlands,
the Duke of York's. . . .
' We shall be left pretty much to ourselves in Park
Street, as the Palmerstons will not be there next
winter. They are going abroad in September to pass
the winter. ... I cannot help envying them a little,
for I have long thought Italy a country that it is abso
lutely necessary to see before one takes the long
journey, or makes the grand tour of all.
' I am going to-day on another junket with the
Palmerstons — on the water to see the annual sailing-
match for the Duke of Cumberland's cup.'
' Thursday, July 16, 1789.
' I write this line at Sir Joshua Reynolds', where I
am come to dine from the House of Commons with
Burke, Windham, Courtenay, Dr. Lawrence, and some
others. The picture of Cholmondeley in the room
where I am writing is the finest I ever saw; it is
perfectly like, but he is not really so handsome as his
vol. i. z

338 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
picture. There is also an excellent one of Lady
Beauchamp, just done. Harriet talks of going abroad
with the Beauchamps or Palmerstons, Lord Herbert
is going immediately to Scotland to his regiment, and
will be at Minto, but I don't know exactly when,
perhaps before me ; I need not tell you to make much
of him.' 'Park Street : July 23, 1789.
' I am really and certainly off to-morrow morning.
I went to the Duke of Clarence immediately after I
had written the line you received last, and he told me
that the Prince was to be in town next morning. This
was very good news. He came to town accordingly,
and I delivered to him in person my whole crop of
papers, which was not a small one. He was very-
flattering and very kind in his expressions on the occa
sion ; but I had less time than I wished to talk the
business over with him, and I fear that either no use
will be made of my labours, or a bad one, for he talked
of giving the papers to the Chancellor, that he might
deliver them to the King whenever a fit opportunity
should be found, etc. etc. This is a very bad scheme,
and I presume his friends will advise him better. . . .
The Prince and Duke of York returned to Brighthelm
stone yesterday in the evening. The Prince said he
should go to Weymouth immediately, but I doubt.
He certainly ought to do it.'
Sir Gilbert was delayed in London a day or two
longer than he expected, and before he left it he heard

iEr. 38] VIOLENT STORM IN THE NORTH 339
from Lady Elliot that a violent storm had temporarily
spoilt the beauty of the home to which he was hasten
ing. The tempest was of so violent a nature, and so
unusually disastrous in its effects, that the account of
it seems to be worth preserving, though its interest
will be slight to all beyond the precincts of Minto.
'Minto: Friday, July 24, 17891
' I have been sitting some time looking at the paper
without knowing how to set about telling you the de
vastations that have happened at Minto. I was in the
midst of a letter to you on Tuesday, when the most
violent storm of thunder, lightning, hail, and rain came
on, that I believe ever happened in this island ; it
began soon after eleven, and lasted above four hours
without intermission. The hailstones were as big as
the ends of my fingers, and united after they fell into
large solid pieces of ice, though the day was extremely
hot and oppressive. The lightning poured in at every
window, and the noise of the thunder was even out
done by that of the water, which came pouring in
through the bottom of the house till it was several feet
deep in water. It rushed though the stone hall like a
strong run ; the rents of doors and windows not being
enough to let it off, it was soon several feet deep. . . .
We were obliged to break a hole in the wall to save
the offices from being carried away.
' The water flowed over all the bridges. The pond
was full six feet above its banks, and fell over the
z 2

340 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
whole width of the glen. I stood trembling and watch
ing the Pond Head from the library-window, which
held miraculously above two hours, and then gave way ;
the first crash carried away the poplar-tree on the bank-
side, and quantities of trees through the whole glen.
The water filled up the bottom totally, and was there
twelve feet high, and some very large trees are now
lying in the fields, and some were seen swimming by
Chesters. Every walk is torn to pieces ; the kitchen-
garden and the hothouse were full of water. . . . Poor
George was excessively frightened, and kept crying and
asking when the house would go. Gilbert and Annie
were too busy to be afraid. The cook was in fits, and
I kept my head perfectly till the Pond Head went, and
then I heard an alarm that a man I had set near it to
watch any timber which was floating in the pond from
striking or hurting the Head, was certainly killed ; I
then felt more than I can describe, but the man has
come to the house and told us of his escape. ... All
my improvements are gone — walls, fences, hedges,
water-gates, and everything ; and the burn has changed
its course.'

Ms. 38] RETURN TO MINTO 341

CHAPTER VIII.
When, at the close of the session of 1789, Sir Gilbert
Elliot returned to Minto, an early dissolution of Par
liament was generally anticipated.1 Having deter
mined not to offer himself again as a candidate for
Berwick, he had, in preparation for the expected elec
tions, taken steps to secure himself a seat elsewhere.
Various negotiations for this object had, however,
failed, and, as Sir Gilbert wrote to his wife shortly
before the close of the session of 1789, such was the
unpopularity of the Opposition and the power of Pitt,
that at no time could a member of the Whig party
have greater difficulty in finding a seat. He was
therefore much gratified on learning from the Duke of
Portland that he might rely on a seat being found for
him — his talents and services being such as could not
easily be spared by his party. With this assurance he
went down to Minto ; but, after some months of leisure
there, which gave him an opportunity of looking into
his affairs, his views of his own position underwent a
complete change. Though well aware that by nature,
taste, and habits, he was strongly drawn to a political
1 It did not take place till the autumn of the following year, 1790.

342 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
career, he felt, nevertheless, that in the existing cir
cumstances of his party he could not pursue it without
sacrifices that he thought it his duty to his family not
to incur. He found that he had not sufficient fortune
to enable him to live with his family between London
and Minto without risking an amount of - expenditure
which might eventually impoverish his children, and
must necessarily disturb his own mind with anxieties
and cares. On the other hand, to continue the life he
had been leading for the last two years — of separation
from his family during the Parliamentary session — was
to resign all domestic comfort, which to his affectionate
nature was no common trial. And, moreover, his
affairs and property in Scotland could not but suffer
from the long-continued deprivation of his superin
tendence and control. The extreme slowness of com
munication between England and Scotland in those
days gave great additional weight to the above con
siderations. The journey from London to Minto,
which now takes eleven hours in a comfortable railway-
carriage, then occupied no less than fifty-four hours in
a post-chaise, and, thus performed, was so fatiguing
that, except under circumstances when haste became a
duty, few travellers ever thought of coming ' through,'
but took at least two nights of rest by the way. No
hasty flights during the Easter holidays or Whitsuntide
recess were dreamt of, or, if they were, the dreamer
was liable to such a mischance as befell Sir Gilbert
when, on the eve of starting to spend ten days at
Easter with his family, a heavy snow-storm made all

Ms. 38] BEFORE RAILWAYS 343
the roads so bad that he remained perforce in London,
as, after deducting the time necessary for two journeys
thus unexpectedly lengthened, only two or three days
could have been spent in the anticipated rest of home.
The country posts were so irregular that letters were
occasionally a couple of days between Minto and
Carlisle ;l ' when the roads are heavy we cannot expect,'
he writes, ' that the cross-country posts should not be
after time ; ' and every page of this correspondence
bears witness to the fact that in the enforced separation
of the husband and wife constant letters were a neces
sary condition of their comfort. Every detail of the
children's studies and pleasures, every detail of the
management of family and house, and farm and place,
were equally communicated to him ; and however
busily occupied such letters might find him, Sir Gilbert
had always time not only to return information of his
own proceedings, but also to enter into every subject
which interested those who wrote to him, and his
considerate and kindly nature breathes in every line.
At one time he is informed that a pair of old and
trusted dependents have been found utterly unworthy
of confidence, and that summary dismissal is the only
possible punishment for a course of long-continued
pilfering. ' Remove them at once from a place of
trust,' he replies ; c but don't send them away till you
have ascertained that they will have something to live
on elsewhere, or the punishment would be greater than
the offence.' At another time, in reply to some warm
1 Less than fifty miles.

344 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
praises of a new and young factor lately engaged to
succeed one superannuated, he writes, ' I am glad the
new broom is likely to succeed so well. I should be
sorry, however, that any reflections on the ancien
regime should come round to the ex-minister and
molest his retirement:' One of the gravest cases re
ferred to him for judgment was a difference of opinion
between Lady Elliot and her son's tutor, which arose in
his having struck one of the boys repeatedly in a fit of
anger. Sir Gilbert's letter in reply to his wife's is a
model of judicious kindness and good sense. ' As Mr.
H.,' he writes, ' will naturally suppose that you have
mentioned to me what passed between him and Gilbert,
he may probably be anxious to know my sentiments,
and I should wish to remove as early as possible any
apprehension he may entertain of the impression he
may suppose either the natural feeling of parents or
the circumstances of the case likely to make on my
mind to his disadvantage. My high opinion of him
and my confidence in him remain unchanged. It is
not the circumstance of his having punished Gilbert
that I blame in this instance, but the manner in which
it was done. I have always leant strongly against
corporal punishment in education, but in a public
school the number of boys makes these short methods
indispensable ; and the frequency of such punishment
removes some of its evils, for there is not the same
chance of its breaking or lowering the natural pride or
spirit which ought to be preserved when it is considered
a thing quite of course, and when it is common to all

Ms. 38] PRIVATE AFFAIRS 345
without exception. I do not believe it is necessary in
private education, and, if not necessary, I hardly think
it admissible. Above all, any punishment, this one
especially, should be entirely free from the least
appearance of passion or anger in him who inflicts it,
and should be clearly felt by the boy as an act of mere
justice, or simply inflicted on him for some good pur
pose by one who is unwilling to do it. It is in this
respect that Mr. H. erred, and the manner in which
the transaction passed shows that it was rather a
sudden flight of temper (though probably occasioned
by a natural provocation) than a sober and deliberate
correction. ' I daresay that Mr. H. will agree with me in this
view of the transaction, and I hope that he will not
think too seriously of the sort and degree of disappro
bation I have expressed concerning it. I am quite con
vinced of the severe trials to which the patience and the
tempers of those who conduct the education of boys are
exposed, even where the dispositions of their pupils are
the best ; and it would be a great want of indulgence
on my part if I did not make allowance for a single
instance of the want of that self-command so rare in
other walks of life, and for which Mr. H.'s state of health
is sufficient to account.' The tutor shortly afterwards
became insane and had to be removed from Minto.
While the education of the boys occupied Sir Gilbert's
closest attention, their pleasures were no less near to
his heart. Interspersed among his other letters, he had
preserved specimens of the handwriting of both boys — -

346 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
little notes in round text containing orders for fire
works, news of a pony, locks of a favourite dog's hair,
and sometimes only a few words of loving reproach for
his long absence. ' Why do you not come, papa ? you
always say you are coming, and never come.'
To form a complete idea of the whole nature of the
man, whose spirit was at once ' clear and sweet,' ' it
would only be necessary to give in extenso the letters
from which these selections have been made ; but
enough has been said to show that the half-yearly
absence of the head of the family was both painful and
inconvenient, and to prevent any surprise being felt by
his determination, formed during the summer of 1789,
to adopt the on]y alternative open to him — namely,
retirement from public life for a time (two years was
the period he thought of), during which, as he had
good reason to hope, the condition of his private affairs
would so far improve as to justify him in resuming
political life under easier circumstances.
Having arrived at this conclusion, he felt himself
bound in honour to impart it to the Duke of Portland,
and to resign his claims on the seat promised him by
the Duke.
In reply to Sir Gilbert's letter the Duke urged him
strongly to reconsider his views, and at all events not
to decide without previous and personal consultation
with other friends. Sir Gilbert's account of his inter
view with the Duke when he went up to London in
1 ' He was a man —
Yes, and a clear sweet spirit.' — Philaster.

JEt. 38] HON. T. PELHAM TO SIR GILBERT 347
1790 ' suffices to show the estimation in which he was
held by his friends, and also explains the conditions
under which it was finally decided that he should con
sent to come into the Parliament about to be elected.
He was not, however, destined to be indebted to the
party for his seat, as by the friendly intervention of
Lord Malmesbury, who acted on this occasion in a spirit
of frank and cordial kindness which won Sir Gilbert's
warm gratitude, he was returned for Helstone in the
spring of 1790.
The conditions und«r which he accepted the seat
offered him were that he should not be required to
attend regularly or constantly in his place, but while
residing habitually in Scotland, should hold himself
in readiness to be summoned up to London whenever it
was judged necessary or advisable that he should act
in Parliament with his party.
While at Minto Sir Gilbert kept up an active corre
spondence with various friends, from whose letters the
two following are selected as carrying on the narrative
of political transactions : —
The Right Hon. Thomas Pelham to Sir Gilbert Elliot.
• Stratton Street: August 21, 1789.
' My dear Elliot, — Having put off writing until the
last moment, I am much more hurried than I could
wish ; I am actually on my way to Spa, having left
Sussex yesterday, and intending to go by the mail-coach
this evening to Dover. I was detained longer than I
1 Letter to Lady Elliot.

348 LIFE AND LETTERS [1789
intended by the fites that have been given in honour
of the Prince's and Duke of York's birthdays; they
were very brilliant and very joyful, and there were
diversions for all ranks of people, both morning and
evening.1 The Princes have conducted themselves very
well since they have been with us, and gain upon all
those that are with them. I wish we could persuade
them to do something that might have a more general
effect. A visit to Weymouth was intended at several
different times, but as often prevented ; the day after the
Prince's birthday I really thought that they would have
gone to Plymouth. The weather was very fine, and the
three brothers seemed so pleased with being on board
a packet to see a boat-race I had made on the occasion,
that they determined to sail in her the next evening to
Plymouth ; however, they were dissuaded, and properly,
for it was too much to risk three such lives in a com
mon packet-boat ; however, the Duke of York went by
land, and carried a letter from the Prince making his
excuse, and preparing the way for delivering the paper
you drew up when a proper occasion shall offer. Fox
and Sheridan are at Brighton, and I believe were both
concerned in the letter. The Duke arrived at Saltram
before the King's breakfast, and stayed till the King
went to bed ; he was most graciously received by both
their Majesties, the Queen extremely civil to him. The
King looks well, and is very cheerful, though he still
complains of weakness and swelling in the legs ; the
Queen is grave, and very much altered in her behaviour.
1 At Stanmer Park, near Brighton, possibly.

Ms. 38] MR. ELLIOT TO SIR GILBERT 349
' All the ministers except the Chancellor went to
Weymouth a day or two before the King left it, which
occasioned some speculation; it is certain that the
Chancellor disagrees with them, and it is believed that
they did nothing with the King. A dissolution is still
talked of, but not so generally credited as it was.
Windham came to Brighton with Sir Joshua Reynolds ;
he stayed for the Prince's birthday, and then embarked
for France. Fox has had a letter from him; he writes
with all the spirit of one of the Tiers, and says there is
no danger in travelling.
'Having executed your commands in sending you
all the news from the south, I may be permitted, I
hope, to make a few inquiries about the north. I hope
to hear you are reconciled to your envied solitude of
Minto, and that you bear the loss of Sheen with becom
ing patience. We shall do you all the mischief we can in
your absence ; you had better therefore court the cruel
lady at Minto to persuade her to come to town with
you next winter, etc. etc. — Ever most sincerely yours,
'Thomas Pelham.'
, William Elliot of Wells to Sir Gilbert Elliot.
'Princes Court: February 23, 1790.
' My dear Sir Gilbert, — I now sit down to fulfil my
promise of sending you some account of the late dissen
sion between Burke and Sheridan in the debate on the
military establishments, which has really made more
noise and occasioned more conversation throughout

350 LIFE AND LETTERS [1790
London than almost any event I can recollect. I con
fess I feel myself relieved from a considerable difficulty
by having it in my power to send you Burke's speech,
which was published this morning ; for as I was not in
the House during the debate, and only had the sub
stance of it from Mr. Burke after it was over, I should
have been apprehensive of misstating it to you. You
will perceive by the perusal of the speech that Burke
expressed in strong terms the detestation and horror
with which he regards the proceedings of the democrat-
ical party in France, and he likewise mentioned the
fear he entertained lest the same principles should gain
a footing in this country and produce the same effects.
The speech was, I understand, a very fine one, but I
rather believe that it was in some respects unguarded.
' He paid many compliments to Fox in it, but he
certainly dropped expressions which tended to impress
the House with an idea that Fox was too apt to suffer
himself to be guided by the counsel of persons who were
unfit to advise him. Fox, however, rose immediately
and made a speech as well calculated as possible to take
off any wrong impression that Burke might have left
on the House.
'In the conclusion of it he launched out into so
earnest and sincere a panegyric upon Burke, that he
was almost seen to weep. Sheridan then got up, and,
after attacking the principles which Burke had avowed
relative to the French Revolution, broke out into the
most virulent personal invective against him, and asked
" whether the honourable gentleman had found his doc-

jEt. 38] MR. ELLIOT TO SIR GILBERT 351
trine amidst the stones of the Bastile, or had collected
them from the baggage of Marshal Broglie ? " In short,
it is allowed by all quarters that it was as violent a
philippic as he ever uttered against Pitt or Dundas,
and was in every view injudicious and perfectly un
justifiable. Sheridan soon discovered he was in the
wrong, and is said to have expressed some contrition
for his conduct on the very evening the conversation
passed. The next morning O'Brien was despatched to
.Burke in the capacity of mediator, and it was deter
mined that Sheridan should go to Burke's the same
night at ten o'clock. Burke, however, dined out, and
not coming home precisely at the time appointed, he
found Sheridan going away just as he reached Gerard
Street. He then got into Sheridan's coach, and they
went together to Burlington House. Burke, immedi
ately upon stepping into the carriage, shook Sheridan
by the hand, and told him that nothing remained to be
done but to make the matter up in a manner that would
appear best in the eyes of the public. However, in the
course of the conversation in the carriage, Burke con
ceived that Sheridan was attempting to justify his
conduct, and to show that he had some reason for his
warmth and the language he had used. This entirely
broke off the negotiation ; and, though they stayed
together for an hour and a half at the Duke of Port
land's, they parted without coming to any sort of recon
ciliation. ' I know that Fox, who was present at the conference
at Burlington House, thought that Burke broke off the

352 LIFE AND LETTERS [1790
treaty too abruptly, and that Sheridan expressed great
penitence, and was willing to make all the necessary
concessions. Young Burke had a conversation the day
following with Sheridan at the Duke of Portland's, but
without effect ; and I believe Pelham, who was there,
thought young Burke rather too hard with him.
' Here the matter rests, nothing further having been
attempted in the way of negotiation. It is not easy to
ascertain what it was in Burke's speech that really gave
such violent offence to Sheridan. He himself told
Burke that he conceived there were some expressions
in it that were aimed particularly at him. However,
he certainly has assigned different reasons to different
people, and one is therefore not disposed to place
implicit confidence in any of them. He has asserted
to some that his attachment to Fox was so great that
he could not endure to hear anything which in the
smallest degree implied a censure on his conduct. To
others he has said that he was irritated by the princi
ples which Burke had laid down with respect to the
French Revolution, and which were so directly opposite
to those he entertains himself upon the same subject.
In short, feeling that the imprudence of his conduct
has exposed him to the censure of the public, he has
been induced to employ a little artifice in order to
excuse himself. Burke declares that he made no
allusion which Sheridan could possibly conceive to have
been pointed at him ; but really no man can be said
to be capable of judging fairly of the impressions of
his own speech, and I believe you will agree with me

Ms. 38] MR. ELLIOT TO SIR GILBERT 353
in thinking that Burke is still less likely to do it than
almost any other man.
' Sheridan was certainly observed to redden and
change colour whilst Burke was speaking, which does
give one some reason to imagine that he did take some
expressions to himself. I know Burke's private opinion
is that Sheridan had designed to have made some
popular speech in favour of the French Revolution,
and was therefore mortified and chagrined at being pre
vented by the principles which Burke threw out.
When Sheridan's great eagerness and zeal for popu
larity is considered, this undoubtedly does not seem an
improbable conjecture. I plainly perceive, by all the
conversations I have had with Burke, that this affair
must remain where it is. He says that he has no
animosity against Sheridan, but that it is impossible
their former friendship can be restored, even if a
reconciliation were to take place. He has no objec
tion to meeting Sheridan, and they have since dined
together both at the Prince's and at the Duke of
Portland's, but I believe they had no conversation of
any sort. It would certainly be extremely desirable
that the breach should be entirely made up ; but if, on
any future discussion of these principles in Parliament,
it should appear to the public that the wound had only
admitted of a temporary cure, and was likely to break
out with fresh violence, the consequences would be then
more essentially injurious to the party than if the
business is permitted to continue in its present state.
I have now related to you all I know, and I believe all
vol. i. A A

354 LIFE AND LETTERS [1790
that has happened, upon this subject. I only wish you
may be able to read what I have written, for I have
been rather fearful of being too late for the post, and
have consequently been obliged to make great haste. I
saw Howden this morning, who tells me he is to sail
this afternoon.
' I have always hitherto been ungracious enough to
forget to thank you for your kindness in offering me
the use of my old apartments in Park Street ; how
ever, as I propose going into the country in about ten
days, I shall keep my lodgings till that time. When
I return to town, which will be probably near the time
of your coming up, I shall be much obliged to you if
you will take me in.— Believe me, my dear Sir Gilbert,
ever yours, ' W. E.'
' P.S. — The speech is published under Burke's direc
tion. ' I have spoken to Windham to take care of you at
the call of the House, but it may perhaps be better for
him to have a letter to produce from you, stating you
are detained in the country by ill-health or private
business. ' The call stands at present for Monday next.'
In April Sir Gilbert returned to London, and re
sumed his correspondence with his wife.

.Et. 38] SIR GILBERT RETURNS TO LONDON 355
Sir Gilbert to Lady Elliot.
'Park Street: April 22, 1790.
' I arrived here yesterday. ... I have been at the
trial, and the whole of the day has been employed in
debates on evidence. . . . Elliot is with me. Nothing
material has happened. I saw Harriet yesterday.
Dined with the Palmerstons. In the evening saw Mrs.
Gaily. I have not yet seen Hugh,1 nor been with the
Duke of Portland. . . .' ' April 24.
' The first thing I have to say is that you may
absolutely depend on my setting off between the 15th
and 25th of May. ... I passed the whole evening
yesterday — that is from half after nine to almost one in
the morning, with the Duke of Portland alone. We
talked over, fully and confidentially, all that relates
to the subject of our correspondence, and I have found
in every word fresh reason for loving his kind and
affectionate heart, and for revering the nobleness of
his mind. It is needless to repeat the particulars of
our conversation; but its whole tendency was to put
my mind at rest, and to make me satisfied with
myself, and to remove every notion of obligation to
him. This is not like any man but himself that I have
ever seen. He expressly approved of my resolution as
proper and as necessary in the circumstances of my
family. But he pressed on me the propriety of con-
1 Hugh Elliot had been .sent for by Mr. Pitt to undertake a secret
mission to Paris. A A 2

356 LIFE AND LETTERS [1790
tinuing in Parliament (not of attending), and said
repeatedly that he considered it as of importance to
his cause and to our party that I should be in the
House of Commons, whether I should ever attend or
not, for two, three, or even four or five years to come.
He said that he saw no difficulty, and that the only
thing to be done was to make my own mind easy on
the subject. I asked him whether I should open the
matter to Mr. Fox, and he advised me to do it, telling
me that of all men he was the most liberal and the
most considerate of private interests and duties. I
shall therefore explain my situation fully to Fox,
Burke, Douglas, and Sir George.1 . . . The Duke
talked over very fully the present state of politics, and
particularly the situation of the Princes. I find
everybody a good deal dissatisfied with the Prince of
Wales. In the first place, his affairs, as well as those
of the Duke of York, are in the greatest distress. They
had taken very uncreditable measures for relief, by
soliciting loans in Holland and elsewhere, on usurious
terms, and to be repaid at the King's death. This has
failed, however, and I am glad to find the Duke of
Portland is engaged in forming a plan for restoring the
Prince's affairs and the Duke of York's to some order ;
but, as the plan must be executed by the Princes them*
selves, one cannot feel much confidence in its success.
The Prince of Wales has got very much into the hands
of Single-speech Hamilton, who, though a friend of
yours, is the worst man alive. He is driving the
1 Cornewall.

Sn. 39] THE PRINCE OF WALES 357
Prince to very bad steps for his own interest. I mean
for Hamilton's interest; and besides he prevents the
Prince from consulting and being advised by his real
friends and those with whom he professes to be con
nected. I fear there is in the Prince this feature of
his father, that he loves closets within cabinets, and
cupboards within closets; that he will have secret
advisers besides his ostensible ones, and still more in
visible ones behind his secret advisers ; that he will be
faithful to none of them, and a most uncomfortable
master to those ministers who would really serve him.
However, there is no immediate prospect of anybody
suffering the inconvenience of being his minister. The
King is perfectly well, but is supposed not to do busi
ness. The Queen still has the sway. Some people
doubt whether the King will consent to a dissolution at
all. No reason is given for his dissent, but in point
of fact it is thought he has never yet consented to it.
/ believe, however, that it will take place.
' I have passed a great deal of time with Burke, but
he has so many and such copious subjects of conversation
that I have not yet come to my own affairs. He re
lated to me the whole affair of Sheridan, in which
Sheridan is universally allowed to have been wrong
originally, and the Duke of Portland says Burke was
afterwards wrong in not favouring a reconciliation.
Burke has a pamphlet just coming out on France, and
the relation of that subject to England, which I passed
the forenoon in reading yesterday, and I like it very
much, and think it will do both us and the rest of the

358 BIFE AND LETTERS [1790
world a great deal of good. All the Burkes are per
fectly kind and affectionate, and I pass as much time
with them as I can. Young Dick looks extremely ill,
and I fear is so. The great topic at present is the man
called the Monster, who goes about stabbing women.
No less than fourteen women, some of whom are of
fashion, have been attacked and wounded by him.
Great rewards are offered for his apprehension; he is
supposed to be mad, and to have received some injury
from your sex, which he takes this method to revenge.
He is said to succeed in clearing the streets of women
much better than Sir W. Dolbden, who brought in a
bill for that purpose last year. This man attacks all
sorts, gentle and simple. Sir Sampson Wright says
there are now 4,000 banditti about London that he
knows of. They rob in the middle of the day at
Charing Cross ; Elliot has been robbed twice, and has
lost, together with a good many guineas, a watch worth
30?. or 40?.1 I dined yesterday at Lord Malmesbury's.
1 Though Sir Gilbert describes the streets of London as at this date
in a state of more than eommon lawlessness, they had, not very long
before, offered no less remarkable experiences to passengers. When
Lady Elliot was living in Park Street (the precise date is unknown to
us, but at some time between 1782 and 1788) an attempt was made to
rob her at midday in Grosvenor Square as she was returning from the
drawing-room in a sedan chair. Taking advantage of a fog, her chair
men carried her to the part of the square nearest to the enclosure and
furthest from thefootway, where they set herdown, as she believed, with
the intention of robbing her of her jewels. Happily, however, for her,
something occurred to alarm them, and they ran off, leaving her to wait
in all her birthday finery till the occupants of a passing carriage dis
covered her situation and carried her home. But a still stranger ad
venture occurred to her on another occasion, when her carriage was
tanding at the door of one of the great London shops in a crowded

Ms. 39] LONDON SOCIETY 359
I like the house extremely well ; they are excessively
delighted with it, but I doubt the bargain is not very
secure yet, and it will be a good price if he gets it
secure at last — 10,000?. . . . Hugh is come, and is
just the same as ever.
' I have been at no public place, and not thought of
any amusement whatever. Elliot and I have never
been apart. The Exhibition is to open soon. I shall
go to the Shakespeare Gallery and the other picture-
places in a day or two. I saw Sir Joshua at Burke's.
He is in tolerable spirits, and has one eye perfect.
He can paint a little.' 'April 27, 1790.
' The quantity of French goods of all sorts, particu
larly ornamental furniture and jewels, has sunk" the
price of those things here. The price of diamonds is
much fallen. . . . Cholmondeley is much talked of as
going to marry Miss Forbes, the admiral's daughter,
who is a fortune, but he denies it. . . . The Monster
goes on cutting women ; one was dreadfully cut across
thoroughfare. While her sister, who accompanied her, was speaking to
a shopman at one window of the carriage, a, gentleman, perfectly well-
known to her as a member of society, rode up to the other at which she
sat, and stooping towards her, but without a sign of recognition, or a
deprecatory or explanatory word, snatched her purse from out the
carriage-basket and rode off with it at full speed. Lady Elliot never
saw it again. In after years she was wont to tell the story as an
instance of the desperate courses to which the gambling mania of the
day drove its victims, but not even to her children did she ever confide
the name of the individual who had placed himself at her mercy and
was saved by her silence from overwhelming disgrace.

360 LIFE AND LETTERS [1790
the forehead the night before last in Pall Mall ; one
woman is dead of wounds he gave her.'
' Park Street: Monday, May 3, 1790.
' I have been doing an odd-sounding thing, but an
agreeable one. Finding that the day is divided into
so many small parts that I could not see anything to
signify of the few friends whom I wish to be with as
cordially as I can while I am here, I have carried my
night-cap to Stanhope Street,1 and have slept there
two nights, and I mean to do so two nights more ; by
this means I am domesticated with them, and got
acquainted with all the children. I shall do the same
thing in Spring Gardens2 and at Douglas's. Isabella3
is in town at my brother's lodgings. She is grown,
and improves in beauty. Hugh still says he shall bring
her to Minto for two months, and that he shall be quite
happy if he can but fish there all the summer. He
does not appear sure of keeping his employment. Pitt
is by no means on good terms with him. He has not
seen him once yet on business. I think they want to
squeeze him out of the line, and he may probably have
his pension of 500?. a year, on which I am sure he
could not live. He has certainly public merits and
strong claims, although I fear there is a great disposi
tion to use him ill. . . .
' All the Cornewalls are fine children, and very
1 Sir G. Cornewall's. 2 Lord Malmesbury's.
s Hugh's daughter, afterwards Mrs. Payne.

Ms. 39] RUPTURE WITH SPAIN 361
pleasant. Anna Maria is much grown ; Fanny is ex
tremely nice.' : ' Park Street : May 6, 1790.
' I went yesterday to the levee, and am going to
day to the drawing-room. The King was civil enough,
which is rather more than I expect to-day from the
Queen. Everybody is full of the Spanish rupture, -of
which you will see in the newspapers nearly all I know.
I trust we shall not be drawn into actual war, and the
general opinion is that we shall not. Yet I cannot
help fearing the first steps as likely enough, in all such
cases, to lead us further than is either intended or
foreseen. There seems no connection between the
subject of our difference with Spain and the other
troubles in Europe ; but, on the other hand, as we have
actually formed engagements with Prussia and Sweden,
and as it was generally believed that the ministry
intended to send a fleet to the Baltic, or had thoughts
of it at least, I feel an apprehension that the Spanish
business may furnish a pretext for an armament, which
may be employed for other purposes when it is once
prepared.' 'London : Saturday, May 8, 1790.
' I cannot tell you much more of the Spanish war than
you will see in the papers. I fear the more general
opinion is that the affair is not likely to terminate
without hostilities. I am heartily sorry for it ; war is
not good for those who have either a great deal of
money or a little — it is only desirable for those who
have none.' 1 Afterwards Lady Hereford.

862 LIFE AND LETTERS_ [1790
'Russell Street: Saturday, May 15, 1790.
' These are my last words in town. ... I have to
tell you something of Lord Malmesbury, which entitles
him to my warmest gratitude for the greatest kindness
done in the handsomest way I ever received. It is to
him I owe the seat 1 in Parliament ; but I cannot add
a line — we shall talk it all over soon.'
' The seat alluded to was for Helstone,

JEt. 39] LADY PALMERSTON TO SIR GILBERT 363

CHAPTER IX.
While Sir Gilbert was at Minto enjoying the charms
of the country after his wont — approving of the planta
tions and fences which Lady Elliot loved to lay out and
extend — playing with his boys by rock and river — or
lounging for hours under the trees with an unread book
in his hand; — his friends in the south were engaged
in the strife of the general election.
Lady Palmerston wrote to him from Sheen on June
19:— ' Things go on but ill for our friends ; unexpected
oppositions are constantly starting up. Tooke's mad
ness occasions a great deal of trouble ; many think he
keeps back at present, depending upon Charles Fox's
fancied security, and then at last will whip in when it
is too late for Fox to overtake him. Charles wishes
his friends to poll early in order to be a thousand
ahead. He was very ill received on the first day, and
would have been worse treated if he had not retired
into the Shakespeare. Home has a great deal of
money lying in his banker's hands. Sheridan has a
violent contest to contend with at Stafford ; however,
he has the ladies on his side— for he was attended into

364 LIFE AND LETTERS [1790
the town by four hundred, headed by a beautiful Miss
Furnio. I heard yesterday of two weddings really to
take place — Cholmondeley to Miss John Pitt, and Lord
Dysart to Miss Anne Beauclerk, the maid of honour's
sister. Cholmondeley deserves to be married, for he is
indefatigable in his pursuit. Mrs. Sheridan dined here
yesterday evening, and sang like an angel till two
o'clock.' Burke's pamphlet on the French Revolution appeared
in October, and was sent by him to Sir Gilbert, with a
note which opens thus : —
Edmund Burke to Sir Gilbert Elliot.
'October 29, 1790.
' My dear Friend, — I have ordered a book written
with a good intention to be sent to you. If I could
have had your assistance as I went on, it would have
been more worthy of your acceptance, as well as more
useful to those for whom it is intended.'
The ultimate result of the pamphlet was a revolution
in the political party to which the writer belonged ;
some of its immediate effects on public opinion are
thus described by Mr. Elliot of Wells : —
'November 26, 1790.
' The effect of Burke's pamphlet on the opinions of
the public is already very perceptible. It is reported
that two of the toasts drunk at the last meeting of the
Revolution Club were, " May the Parliament of Great

Ms. 39] BURKE'S 'REFLECTIONS' 365
Britain become a National Assembly," and, " When
Mr. Burke shall be arraigned for a libel on the rights
of man, may his trial be as long as Mr. Hastings'."
Upon which Lord John Russell, who was there, cut his
name out of the book of the society. I am told that
Lord Stanhope has also withdrawn himself, but I
scarcely give credit to either of these stories.'
The new Parliament met in November, and imme
diately afterwards Mr. Burke wrote to inform his
friend of the circumstances which had occasioned the
'election of a Speaker to pass over without any ' protest,
reserving our disposition to present another upon a
future occasion — a disposition, and indeed resolution,
which has not passed out of the minds of any one of
your friends. The Duke of Portland desired Mr. Fox
to lay in that claim, and to give his reasons why it was
not asserted to the House. He went down for that
purpose, but the affair was over before he arrived.'
Burke goes on —
' Your two letters were the result of that partiality to
a friend which is the only thing that impairs and limits
your sound judgment. I have indeed occasion for
great partiality on the part of my friends, and of great
indulgence on the part of the public. I have faults
and defects enough to call for both, as a man, a citizen,
a speaker, and a writer. I have experienced a great
deal of both on the present occasion, perhaps the most
critical, certainly not the least critical, amongst the
conjunctions of my whole life. The public has been
so favourable that the demand for this piece has been

366 LIFE AND LETTERS [1790
without example; and they are now in the sale of
the twelfth thousand of their copies. I know very
well how little elated I ought to be with this, per
haps, momentary opinion, which time and reflec
tion may change, and which better information from
those who are preparing to give it may dissipate.
In truth, everything rather disposes me to melancholy
than to elevation. It is comfort, and not joy, that I
feel. It is indeed very necessary to me to have some,
and that not a little, support, when a man like Fox
declares his entire disapprobation of the work in the
most unqualified terms, and thinks, besides, that in
point of composition it is the worst I have ever pub
lished. When Fox disapproves, and Sheridan is to
write against me, do not I want considerable counte
nance ? I assure you that I have it, and I have received
from the Duke of Portland, Lord Fitzwilliam, the
Duke of Devonshire, Lord John Cavendish, Montagu,
and a long et cetera of the old stamina of the Whigs, a
most full approbation of the principles of that work,
and a kind indulgence to its execution. I think it is
only one conciliabulum that disseminates agitations
and discontents, hitherto without much success. I
was astonished at the newspaper you sent me, that
about a book published only the 1st November there
should be an attack and so able a defence on the 11th
in Edinburgh ! Who is there besides yourself that
could support me in a manner so very flattering to me ?
I hope I have been pretty consistent with myself in that
piece. Perhaps if the writer who condescends (and

Ms. 39] MR. BURKE TO SIR GILBERT 367
with a signature so soothing to my ears) to defend me
would look over some of my most public declarations,
he will see how consistent I have been with myself.
When I stood candidate for Bristol on a Whig interest,
and on that only (not having had one single Tory vote,
nor being in the least expectation of it), that the Whigs
might know on what grounds of Whiggism I offered
myself to their choice, I made a volunteer declaration
of my principles, which was printed the very day on
which I uttered it from the hustings. It found its
way into all the newspapers, and I daresay will be found
in the periodical publications of the time. There was
not a protest against it on the part of those true patriots,
and sound because moderate Whigs of that time. We
have had truer Whigs and more enlightened patriots
amongst us since the lanterns of Paris have made their
light shine before men. But my consistency or incon
sistency is a matter of small moment. If I had all my
life been of a quite different opinion from my present
(I don't know that I have, since I have been of discre
tion to ask myself what the state meant), what has
happened in France would have perfectly cured me of
the distemper of my erroneous metaphysics. Indeed,
indeed, the entire destruction (for it is no less) of all
the gentlemen of a great country, the utter ruin of
their property, and the servitude of their persons, can
never be otherwise than most affecting to my mind ;
and I never can approve any principles or any practices
which lead to such a conclusion. Every day and every
transaction in that miserable country furnishes me with

368 BIFE AND LETTERS [1790
new grounds of satisfaction for the early and marked
declaration which I made against those illusions and
modes of proceeding which are held out to our imita-'
tion. . . . Most affectionately yours ever,
' Edm. Burke.
' Duke Street, St. James' : November 29, 1790.'
. Sir Gilbert Elliot to Lady Elliot.
' Edinburgh : December 4, 1790.
' I am most sincerely sorry for what Burke tells me
of Fox's opinion about his book. It looks like adhering
to Sheridan against Burke, and if so, is a miserable
choice. I hear that there were great civilities between
Pitt and Fox on the first debate in the House, and that
Pitt moved the call of the House, and was seconded by
Fox ; but that Fox is prepared, nevertheless, for a
violent attack on the Convention.1 There is a talk of
an equal land-tax of 6c?. in the pound. This is a strong
measure, and is likely to give great discontent to the
landed interest. An equal land-tax means a tax ac
cording to the real present value of land, instead of the
old settled valuation according to which the land-tax
is now collected. This leads to an actual survey and
estimate of property, which is always an odious
measure, and it shakes the security on which land has
been bought, and long possessed, as the present rate of
the land-tax has been considered as a settled rule by
which every man knows what proportion he should pay.
1 With Spain.

Ms. 39] SIR GILBERT TO MR. ELLIOT 369
But the new method will materially alter the value of
property. I do not know, however, that the thing-
would be wrong, not having even considered the sub
ject. But I think it likely to give offence.'

Sir Gilbert Elliot to Mr. Elliot of Wells.
'Edinburgh: December 5, 1790.
c My dear Elliot, — I have come here for a few days on
business. ... I have letters from Lord Malmesbury
and Burke, with many apologies for Fox's having been
unintentionally too late to say anything about me at
the choice of Speaker. Fox's intention to do so, and
his uneasiness on the subject, as well as Burke's kind
ness on the occasion, are all agreeable and soothing
things. But, for my own part, I was by no means dis
pleased at the matter having passed sub silentio. It
would only have joined my name once more with an
ineffectual wish or proposal of my friends ; no differ
ence is made in the business, either for the present or
for future and contingent views, by the course which
the thing happened to take, and, to tell you the truth,
I have long ago dismissed this object from amongst the
possibilities of our political prospects. My wishes,
when I indulge myself in the region of dreams at all,
are very much limited to possessing the means of pur
suing the course of public life and public exertions
which my principles approve, without ruin to my family.
' Burke tells me that Fox disapproves in the most
unqualified manner his work on the French Revolution,
VOL. I. BB

370 LIFE AND LETTERS [1790
both as to matter and composition. As I differ so en
tirely with Fox on this subject, I cannot help appre
hending that his opinion is influenced in some degree
by a leaning towards Sheridan in his difference with
Burke, and that his professing these opinions unre
servedly is an indication of his intention to take part
openly with Sheridan on this occasion. I need not say
to you how miserable I should think such a choice
between such men ; but I regret the thing extremely
also, because it threatens to embark Fox in a set of
opinions, and in a course of politics, which will not do
him credit, and in which it will be impossible for the
truly respectable and weighty part of his support to
follow him- I should regret it on account of its ill
consequence to the reputation and views of Fox him
self, of whom I think most highly, and for whom I feel
a sincere attachment, both on public grounds and in
gratitude for many marks of kindness and partiality
for me. I regret it also on account of its ill effects on
the public cause in which we are all embarked, and the
disunion of the only body of men in the nation who
ever profess any public good as the principle and basis
of their association — I mean the Whigs, headed by the
Duke of Portland. With the Duke of Portland in orr
cabinet, and Fox in the field, and with the hearty
union of these chiefs, and a little troop of faithful
soldiers round their standard, I think our party will
ever be serviceable to our country, even out of power ;
and I am sure, for one, I should always feel both proud
and well satisfied while I fought in such an army, even

Ms. 39] SIR GILBERT TO MR. ELLIOT 371
without victory. But if that body is to break in pieces,
I know of none other that I should choose to enlist
with. Certainly not under Captain Sheridan, or Colonel
Price, nor General Home, nor yet Generalissimo Lans
downe ; nor could I be reconciled to any corps emana
ting in any degree from them, even by seeing Fox at
the head of it. I am really deeply affected with the
general tone of dejection in which Burke writes, and
at a time when he should be borne in triumph, with
these same captains, colonels, generals, and general
issimo at his chariot-wheels. I hope you are now
along with him, and that he is enjoying the comfort of
your testimony and your society, which I am happy to
know he ranks in the first class. He will have told
you of his being sworn on the same book with Impey
and Boswell.
'What I have said of Fox, Sheridan, and Burke is
for your own ear. I should think it wrong to suggest
the uncomfortable view I have been led, perhaps partly
by the contagion of Burke's dejection, to entertain con
cerning these subjects, to indifferent persons, or to ex
press any apprehension that is disadvantageous to Fox
till it is more sure of being realised.'
A petition against Sir Gilbert's return for Helstone
was moved in the new Parliament on December 16,
1790, and Lord Malmesbury, in anticipation of the
event, begged him to go up to London before it took
place, which Sir Gilbert accordingly did on December
13. When within a few stages of his journey's end he
E B2

372 LIFE AND LETTERS [1790
wrote to Lady Elliot, that, instead of pushing on to
London that night, as he might easily have done, he
should defer his arrival till next morning, for ' we
have met so many discharged sailors and soldiers that
I shall not trust my throat on Finchley Common in the
dark.' Sir Gilbert Elliot to Lady Elliot.
' House of Commons : Thursday, December 16, 1790.
' I have not been able to find time for a long letter,
and am writing this line in expectation of our ballot
beginning every minute. . . . Our case is so very
strong that I do not think it possible to beat us. How
ever, the most certain thing in the world is that
nothing is certain, at least in politics, and I am armed
with philosophy and resignation against all events. We
arrived yesterday at noon, having slept at Hatfield. I
dined at Burlington House with Lord Malmesbury,
Lord Titehfield, the Duchess, her daughter, and Harry
Greville. I came to the House yesterday and saw Fox
and everybody I wanted. I passed great part of the
day with Burke. I breakfasted this morning with
Douglas, and dine there to-day, but have not yet seen
.Lady Catherine. . . .' 'London: December 21, 1790.
' . . . I was at Sheen at Francis' on Sunday, and stayed
all night ; the party was Burke, Pelham, Windham,
and Lord Palmerston. Burke stayed all night, and we
returned together in the morning. There was a close
division yesterday on the malt-tax, which is very un-

Ms. 39] SIR GILBERT IN LONDON 373
popular. In the meanwhile there was also yesterday a
most snug and amicable meeting at the Speaker's of
Pitt, Dundas, Fox, and Burke, on the impeachment.1
Burke speaks of it as having been perfectly cordial,
liberal, and satisfactory. But it is a great secret, so
keep this to yourself. It related solely to the impeach
ment, but Pitt was unwilling to have it known, and it
would be awkward if it should come round from Scot
land, which Dundas would certainly know.'
'Thursday, December 23, 1790.
' We have succeeded in Helstone ; it was determined
in my favour to-day unanimously. This is a good job
over. I have felt very confident all through the
business, because I had good ground to be so ; but I
own I was not without anxiety this morning while the
committee was enclosed. They were shut up for three
hours, during the greater part of which time I was
walking in the Court of Requests with Mr. Abbot, one
of my less fortunate antagonists. The debate (on the
impeachment) was again adjourned to this day, and, I
imagine, will last till late in the morning. We shall
carry the question for the continuation of the impeach
ment, and probably with a great majority. Pitt spoke
yesterday very fairly, and has behaved handsomely on
1 On Saturday, December 18, Sir Gilbert had written— ' The debate
of Tuesday was on the continuance of the impeachment ; it was not
concluded, and is adjourned to Wednesday. Pitt behaved well ; all his
lawyers, however, besides Erskine, are against us. . . . The Speaker
made a long speech in defence of the privileges of the House on our
side. But so very poor in the performance as to have distressed Pitt.'

374 LIFE AND LETTERS [1790
the subject. What it will lead to I do not know, but a
battle with the House of Lords and with the Chancellor
seems now inevitable. The Chancellor, however, turns
tail at last.'
Sir Gilbert went to Minto at Christmas, and brought
Lady Elliot up to town with him in the following
month (1791), As she remained there till they both
returned to Scotland in May, no letters passed between
them during the session of 1791 ; but while she was on
a visit to her sister Lady Malmesbury, at Grove Place,
he kept for her benefit a sort of diary, in the following
fashion, of the dissipation in which he was engaged : ' —
'Friday, March 18.
' I never was so mobbed or so stewed as last night at
Lady Hardwicke's, which looked to me like the day of
judgment, both from the crowd and the resurrection of
some hundred souls whom I thought already in heaven
long ago.' 'March 19.
' Dined yesterday at the " Star and Garter," and, by
eating little and drinking none, I was good company
all the time — I mean to myself. I left Fox and Grey
at ten o'clock just beginning to talk thick. I came
1 A note of Sir Gilbert's to Lady Malmesbury, written in April 1791,
alludes to the recent death of Mirabeau. Some time before that event
took place Mirabeau had caused his papers to be removed from France,
and placed in the custody of Sir Gilbert Elliot. They were returned
with unbroken seals by Sir Gilbert to Mirabeau's representatives.

Mr. 39] DR. SOMERVILLE 375
straight home, and read a book about the Test Act till
eleven, when I went to bed.' •

The only record of the political transactions of the
session which has kept a place among Sir Gilbert's
papers is a curious memorandum, drawn up by Mr.
Burke, and containing the heads of an intended con
versation to be held between the Duke of Portland and
Mr. Fox. It would go far to prove, were proof needed,
the utter impossibility of satisfying Burke except by
adopting his opinions in toto, and also the fierce resent-
1 The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland having resolved to
transmit a petition to Parliament for the abolition of the Test Act, so
far as it applied to the members of the Presbyterian Church, Sir Gilbert,
at the instance of Dr. Somerville, undertook the management of the busi
ness in Parliament. In the narrative of this transaction given by Dr.
Somerville he says : ' During the suspension of our business,' (it had
been decided to postpone the presentation of the petition, lest it might
be made a handle for defeating or retarding a bill for relieving the
Roman Catholics from certain pains and disabilities wh'ch was still
pending before the House of Commons), ' I had frequent interviews
with Sir G. Elliot, and by his desire furnished him with all the approved
publications on religious liberty, toleration, and tests, &c. The inter
views and conversations I had with him gave me a new insight into his
character, and heightened my esteem of his talents and virtues. Of his
good taste, of his sagacity, of his comprehensive, penetrating under
standing I had formed the highest opinion, but till now I did not know
him to be capable of such intense application, such patient research, nor
of being so feelingly interested in the success of a question which the
generality of political men deemed of inferior concern.' Early in May
Sir Gilbert presented the petition, and closed ' a speech replete with
solid argument ' by moving that the House should immediately resolve
itself into a committee to consider how far the provisions of the Test
Act extended, or ought to extend to persons born in Scotland. The
motion was lost — 62 voted for it, 120 against it. Mr. Burke not only
took no part in this debate, but expressed ' marked disapprobation of
our application to Parliament.' — Dr. Somerville 's Memoirs.

376 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791
ment with which he sought to detach the Duke from
Fox. The paper is written in the handwriting of Burke,
but is docketed by Sir Gilbert, whose conduct on this
occasion caused some coolness on the part of Burke.
' Instructions intended for the use of the Duke of
Portland, in a conversation expected to take place
between him and Mr. Fox. May 1791.
' Brought to me, I think, by Elliot of Wells, from
Mr. Burke's, where it was drawn up, with the intention
that I should deliver it, or carry the substance of it, to
the Duke.'
' Note. — 1 declined doing so, not agreeing' with Mr.
Burke in the suspicions entertained of Mr. Fox, and
disapproving of any measure that might lead to a rup
ture between the Duke and Fox on the subject of the
French Revolution, or that should make the opinions
entertained on that subject any criterion of political
connection at home.'
' Circumstances to be observed in the conversation
between and
' This explanation, like most other measures, is liable
to some dangers. It will be equally improper to ac
quiesce in what does not amount to a full and unequi
vocal satisfaction to the Duke's mind ; or, on the other
hand, to refuse acquiescence to that which is satis
factory ; at the same time it is almost impossible to

Ms. 40] A MEMORANDUM BY MR. BURKE 377
determine what expressions or declaration of opinions
do or do not give sufficient assurance of the line of
conduct which the person speaking means to pursue.
The necessity of requiring this explanation implies that
there has been something in the conduct of Fox or his
friends (or in the circumstance of the time, say), which
forms a presumption against the person called on to
explain ; otherwise no explanation would be necessary.
This being the case, the Duke is to take care that he
does not receive that as a satisfactory explanation,
which is compatible with the presumption which in
duces him to ask the explanation.
' If Fox means to persevere in propagating the prin
ciples of the French Revolution, his object would
naturally be to set the Duke's mind as much as possible
at ease with regard to his intentions, to lull him with a
false security, and, in the meantime, to go on as usual.
' If this is really Fox's intention (requiring explana
tion, as I said, implies the possibility of it), it would be
the easiest thing in the world for him to word his ex
planation in such a manner as that the Duke would
appear excessively unreasonable in not being satisfied,
and yet by no means to preclude him from afterwards
taking what part he chose, without incurring the im
putation of departing from his previous declarations.
To do this would not require Fox's ingenuity.
'If the Duke contents himself with asking if he
means to apply the principles of the French Revolution
to England, and to acquiesce in the negative answer,
the explanation will be wholly nugatory. The point to

378 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791
be explained is not whether he means to introduce the
French Revolution here, but why, if he does not, he
extols and magnifies it in the language and sentiments
of those who do ; and how these two things are compa
tible. This is what wants explanation.
' The truth is, that no explanation can give satisfac
tion. The explanation is that of conduct and not of
language. It is as impossible to ascertain what declara
tions imply future conduct, as it (is) easy to say from
that conduct what the intentions are. On this principle
all tests are absurd ; you cannot fix on any form of
words which will bind or determine political conduct.
' The only way, therefore, is to say that he shall judge
by his future conduct what he means. But to say, Do
you mean to apply these things here ? is only to echo
their own delusive plausibilities, and to say, Pray trifle
with me.'
The following letter from Mr. Elliot of Wells, written
immediately after Sir Gilbert's return to Minto, carries
on the narrative of the party politics of the year, which
were as disturbed and unsatisfactory as those of conti
nental Europe. 'Bury Street: May 21, 1791.
' My dear Sir Gilbf rt,— I do most sincerely congratu
late you on your arrival at Minto, and only wish I were
now with you enjoying the tranquil scenes of Teviotside.
The weather has been truly delightful ever since you
left town, except the last two or three days, which have
been rather windy and unpleasant.

^Et. 40] MR: ELLIOT TO SIR GILBERT 379
' Burke's letter was published yesterday, and he has
given me a copy of it to send to you. Though the breach
between him and Fox seems perfectly beyond all possi
bility of cure, yet I am glad to observe that he appears
to retain his attachment to most of his old particular
friends, and it will perhaps be some satisfaction to you
to know that he talks, and, I really believe, feels about
you with as much earnestness and interest as ever.
Windham still continues a great Foxite, but begins to
be very much alarmed with the spirit of revolution
which is spreading itself throughout the kingdom.
There has been a Constitutional Society lately estab
lished at Norwich. There is also an association of the
same sort at Manchester, which circulates Paine's
pamphlet with unremitting industry. The circum
stance, however, which has most excited the fears of
people, is the late conduct of the Revolution or Consti
tutional Society in London, who have hired Ranelagh
for the purpose of celebrating the anniversary of the
French Confederation on the 14th of July. Their friends
in France have also been so condescending as to send
over a, flag of the national colours of France blended
with those of England, which was to have decorated
this great festival, but as it was unfortunately composed
of contraband materials it was seized, and is now at the
custom-house. Sheridan's present intention is to attend
this, meeting, and it is probable he will not be dissuaded
from it ; for I understand he. says if he should not go his
absence may be imputed to timidity, and that if he is
there he may possibly have it in his power to prevent mis-

380 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791
chief. It is also imagined that the Russian war is likely
to take place. It is reported that the King of Prussia
has changed his ministers because he suspects them
of being too much under the influence of our cabinet.
However, the strongest symptom of war is that Rose
yesterday gave directions to the clerks of the House of
Commons to hurry all the private business as much as
possible, and it is therefore expected that Parliament
will rise much sooner than was supposed a week ago. I
fear a Russian war is not likely to diminish the danger
of intestine troubles ; and I do think that if Fox does
not remonstrate with his friends and endeavour to
prevent them from attending the meeting on the 14th
of July, his conduct will be very imprudent and im
politic with respect to himself, and very injurious to
his party, and indeed to the country at large. — Believe
me ever and ever, my dear Sir Gilbert, your most
affectionate [ ' W. E.'
1 In a former letter Mr. Elliot mentioned the publication of the
Vindicitz Galliots, by Mr. Mackintosh, ' a pamphlet written in answer to
Burke's Reflections ; ' but perhaps the following extract from the life of
the Right Honourable Sir James Mackintosh, by his son, may be found
more instructive than Mr. Elliot's comments on the pamphlet. Having
been begun some time before, and its execution delayed, ' it was published
in the month of April 1791.' 'Events were in the meantime succeeding
each other with such rapidity on the scene of action in Paris, th&t if there
was to be any relation between the arguments and the facts, as they
existed at the moment of publication, there could be no longer delay.
It was accordingly finished in a great hurry, the first part having been,
as was said, committed to the press before the second was written.'

Ms. 40] LETTER FROM LADY MALMESBURY 381

CHAPTER X.
The Elliots had left London in May. While there
they had lived in Lord Malmesbury's house in Spring
Gardens, and their departure drew from Lady Malmes
bury an unusually plaintive strain : —
' Thank you for your letter from Stevenage. How
could you be so long getting there ? I need not tell
you how uncomfortable I felt that morning, and all
the preceding day ; you saw it plain enough. Why, I
know not, but I never felt so many black butterflies
before my eyes before, and, were I as superstitious as I
sometimes feel inclined to be, I should say I expected
something worse in this absence than the former ones ;
perhaps because I had always left you and you never
had left me before, for the surviving I have always
held to be far worse, just as one pities the friends of
those who die, and not the dead themselves. I hope,
however, I shall, after my own death,1 return to life
with you, and that the garret will be once more oc
cupied by its own inhabitants. In the meanwhile I refer
you to Goldsmith's " Traveller " for sentiments better
1 Allusion to her approaching departure for the Continent.

382 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791
expressed than I could give them. I spent a melan
choly morning.
'I go abroad August 1st, but shall come to London
a few days before, for they say I must take leave of
their Majesties. Lord Malmesbury has just told me
an odd story which has happened in Ireland. An old
gentleman married a young wife many years ago. She
had a son, and, growing tired of her husband, poisoned
him. The crime was proved upon her, but by beauty
and other means she contrived to make her judges
acquit her. A few days ago, her son returned from
shooting, the gun went off accidentally and shot her.
She lived only long enough to say it was just, for she
was guilty of the father's murder. It is an odd instance
of retributive justice.' -
This was the first of a series of letters1 which Lady
Malmesbury wrote to her sister during the remainder
of the year, and as no other letters of the same date
have been deemed worthy of preservation, such parts
of hers as treat of the topics of the day are now given.
It is, however, impossible to eliminate the far larger
portions which deal familiarly with the subjects nearest
the heart of her who wrote and her who read them,
' Lady Malmesbury wrote to her sister every other day, and her
letters, without any formal beginnings or endings, and always without
signature, have the character of a journal. Her handwriting was re
markably good. She playfully said of it once that ' old Lady Spencer
always said my hand was more expressive of sense than any she ever
saw, and she knows Latin and Greek, and is a blue, so she ought to
know.'

^t. 40] LETTERS FROM LADY MALMESBURY 383
without losing much of the vivid picture they contain
of two happy energetic natures, and it is no less im
possible to do this without regret.
While searching their writings, we have grown into
intimacy with themselves ; they have passed from the
world of shadows into corporeal substance ; we have
walked, talked, and eaten with them ; and it becomes
hard to part with their bright and gracious images,
and to hand them down to posterity in a condition as
impersonal as that of an old newspaper. If it is amus
ing to read Lady Malmesbury's lively chronicle of con
temporaneous politics, it is no less interesting to make
acquaintance with herself in the scattered notices of
her pursuits and occupations, when the turn of a
sentence, like the tone of a voice, tells more than many
words of the character of the speaker. Both sisters
loved information, whether gathered from books or men,
and shrank from no subject because of its abstruse-
ness, but we see that their learning sat lightly on
them, when Lady Malmesbury tells us that she ran
away in dismay from a lady who was ' very wise and
very foolish— a composition known in France as a
pre"cieuse, and in England as a blue,' — while of her
own erudition she playfully says, ' You can't conceive
how blue I am — chemistry, physics in all its branches ;
to-day I begin geometry. I must be odious, like all
people who have a smattering in everything and know
nothing ; but it diverts me very much. Adieu. I
must go, for Mr. Ellis is to read me Newton's " Optics,"
while I net a purse.' Again — 'I actually dream of

384 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791
angles and triangles ; I shall be the most disagreeable
woman of your acquaintance by the time we meet.
Indeed, I cannot speak to you unless you acknowledge
that there is no such thing as water, and that what we
call so is hydrogen and oxygen. Some time or other I
will explain this to you, in the meantime make your
mind easy, and take my word for it. Sublime as I am,
I still condescend to work, and have finished Catherine's
gown.' Lady Elliot, in the meanwhile, was employed in
teaching Latin to her boys. ' I can't tell you,' wrote
her sister, ' how much Mr. Ellis admires you for this.
I can't imagine how you do it, for I never could teach
what I do understand, much less what I don't ; ' — and
she goes on to say — ' I wonder you don't take to che
mistry, for you have a great talent for farming and
physic, which are depending parts.' Whence it appears
that Lady Elliot had proceeded to practical application
of her theoretical knowledge, and the waste grounds
reclaimed and farms improved by her at Minto testify
to her success ; while traditions exist of the potions of
herbs distilled by her for the benefit of all and sundry
in her neighbourhood, where her fame as a medicine-
woman can be scarcely surpassed by that of her great-
nephew's wife ¦ among the Arabs of Egypt at the present
day. Nothing is more surprising than the detail in which
the contributors to this correspondence, both ladies and
gentlemen, relate their complaints, and the remedies
1 The late Lady Duff-Gordon, authoress of Letters from Egypt.

Mi. 40] LADY MALMESBURY'S LETTERS 385
prescribed for them. Farquhar, the fashionable doctor
of the day, is constantly quoted, and he appears to have
held a position among them analogous to that of a
father confessor, with this difference, that their confi
dences were by no means made a voix basse. Among
the sufferers, Hugh Elliot, as was to be expected,
distanced all competitors in the originality of his dis
orders ; for, by his own account, he was distressed for
years by an internal python ' which gnawed his vitals,
the like of which was never heard of in medicine before,'
and for that reason, probably, he consulted Cagliostro
rather than Farquhar on the subject. The medical
treatment of the day was no less singular than the
maladies, for Lady Malmesbury, we are told, at one
time took twelve emetics in fourteen days, and was ' not
much better in consequence ; ' the moral of which
anecdote tends greatly to strengthen fatalistic views on
the subject of medicine. Besides all these multifarious
employments of learning, teaching, farming, physick
ing, they excelled in painting and needlework. The
walls of Minto are to this day hung with Lady Elliot's
pretty crayon drawings, and the sisters kept up a
constant Interchange of presents of painted fans and
embroidered gowns. Lady Malmesbury always pressed
her friends into her service, and George Ellis's designs
for some tapestried chairs are highly praised. ' One is
periwinkle and a yellow rose ; the border yellow roses
and periwinkles — exquisite. Another, crocuses and
geraniums; border geranium-leaves — divine. I have
done a scarlet lily fkom natuhe ! and my judgment in
vol. i. -co

386 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791
mixing scarlets and orange in the nasturtium is fully
equal to Titian in his colouring.'
The superabundant spirits which they had inherited
from their French ancestors * found vent in every kind
of amusement that a summer's day could afford.
' You will never be more than fifteen,' wrote Lady
Malmesbury to her sister, ' and can't understand my
black moods ; ' but it must be confessed that at their
blackest they had a certain grotesque touch about them,
like drawings in pen and ink — not the less spirited
because dingy of hue ; at all events, merriment was the
order of the day at Grove Place, when, in honour of
Catherine's birthday, a dance took place which lasted
' ten hours.' ' She danced sixteen country-dances, and
I six and a Boulangere, and she performed a cossaque,
which was one of the finest pieces of dancing I ever
saw.' The return of the eldest boy from Eton was, as
usual, the signal for general rejoicing, though the first
impression on the playmates whom he had outgrown
was somewhat disappointing. ' James is grown much
of a school-boy, full of cant phrases, and telling stories
of broken windows and riots, till his little sister, over
come with alarm, slipped out of the room and was
found crying on the stairs : " I'll never go to Eton — no,
never ! " And his own special companion, Catherine,
stood aghast, in deep mortification exclaiming, " He'll
never want me again."' A few days more, how
ever, restored the old loves to their full rights, and
1 The Amyands were of French extraction, and came to England with
the Huguenot Exodus.

Ms. 40] LADY MALMESBUEY'S LETTERS 387
Lady Malmesbury describes a June evening, with the
thermometer at 79° (she loved to enforce her boasts
of fine weather with quotations from the thermometer),
when the young ones, in restored harmony and good
fellowship, went out to hunt for nightingales in a wood
where hundreds were singing (' How are yours this year,
my lady ? ' J) ; while she and Lord Malmesbury, and
some * pleasant men ' of her own ' set ' from town sat up
half the night to talk over the news from France, and
persuade themselves that they too were dancing on a
volcano. ' Here we have George Ellis, who, by-the-by,
calls country visits Doll Davison, alias dull diversion ;
the Dominie,2 thin as Slender's shadow ; St. Leger, the
Colonel, handsome as ever, and Lord Malmesbury roars
because I talk of Italy ; ' and well he might, for the life
of which his wife was growing tired was a pleasant one,
and as we get up from what may be called her journal
ised account of a summer at Grove Place, we feel as if
a breath of summer were lingering in the air. The
year and the people were equally in their prime — bright
gay, and genial ; fruit and flower, happiness and hope,
were side by side ; and as for threatened calamities and
public disorders, ' After all,' Lady Malmesbury said,
' one thing is certain, we shall make a good fight and
drag Old England through at last.' 3
A wilful woman, we are told, will have her way, and
1 An unworthy taunt, for those minions of the moon never attain the
hyperborean regions in which Lady Elliot lived.
2 William Elliot of Wells, so nicknamed by Lady Malmesbury.
3 The idyll would be incomplete without mention of the French cook,
who did nothing but play on the flute and tame animals. ' He has a
tame fawn, and an owl, and two pigeons who live on the fawn's back.
o c 2

388 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791
Lady Malmesbury was no exception to the rule. She
had long keenly desired to effect a journey to Italy, and
after a correspondence in the ' style of Junius,' as she
expresses it, with some of her family who thought the
step imprudent, she bore down all the difficulties thrown
in her way by Jacobins abroad and relatives at home,
and finally carried off Lord Malmesbury and Mr. Ellis
as her companions. 'Grove Place: June 21, 1791.
' I am so excessively cross that I don't know what to
do. Imagine that it is but too true that the Emperor
is going to assist the French immediately,1 and that
the Prince de Conde is to have the command of the
army, and in this case passing through France will be
impossible, and I must, as usual, go through Germany.
I am sure I am under a spell, for whatever place I set
out from I can never go any other way. This is un
fortunately such a well-authenticated piece of news that
I have very little hopes remaining of its not being true,
indeed none. They expect, in consequence, something
horrible at Paris, and probably the King and Queen will
be the victims ; their heads will be off and there will
be an end of the matter. But conceive that, in addi
tion to going to Germany, I shall be obliged to go to
The pigeons walk into Lord Malmesbury's room, and over his table,
while he is writing.'
1 By the treaty of Mantua, concluded in May 1791, between the
Emperor of Germany, the King of Sardinia, and the King of Spain,
it was agreed that five armies should be marched by the allies to the
frontiers of France, for the purpose of overawing the French people,
and inducing them to return to their allegiance. The terms are said
to have been drawn up by M. Calonne (late minister of Louis XVI.).

Mr. 40] FROM GROVE PLACE 389
Ostend instead of Calais. In short, I am in despair.
If Kitty ] had not been going with me, I think I should
have run all risks, and so . Mr. Ellis had my epitaph ;
here it is : —
" Good Christians ! with wailing and singing of psalms, bury
The lovely remains of poor dear Lady Malmesbury.
Because she refused in Old England to stop, alas !
She was killed, do you see, by a parlez vous populace." '
' July 19.
' Anthony St. Leger and Monsieur de Champcenay
spent two nights here. The latter was governor of the
Tuilleries, and got over three hours before the order
came to stop everybody. They are committing more
horrors than ever in France, and the gentlemen are
obliged to fly in the smallest boats to get away, and are
fired upon like wild beasts. I am afraid we have some
wolfish blood in our veins.
'We have, a whole colony of fugitive French to
dinner to-day. You would be too happy here, for
there are eight or ten French at Romsey — their situa
tion is deplorable, it is impossible not to be kind to
them. They consist of members of the Breton par
liaments, and are extremely well-bred gentlemanlike
people. I assure you you must take to studying
French, as the whole island will be full of them soon.
The emigration growing greater and greater every uay.
Apropos, Tom Pelham is decidedly going abroad with
the Websters 2 the middle of this month.'
1 Her niece, Miss Cornewall.
2 Sir Godfrey Webster and Lady Webster, afterwards Lady Holland.

390 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791
' Grove Place : Wednesday.
' We are all thinking of nothing but the King and
Queen of France. You know they escaped, and that it
was said they were retaken, but by a despatch from
Brussels to the Office, received yesterday, it is said they
are safely arrived at Langon or Langry, near Luxem
bourg, in the Emperor's dominions, and it is now
supposed it was Monsieur and Madame who were
stopped ; if so, my friend Madame de Balbi was
stopped with them. Lord Malmesbury had a long
letter from Tom Pelham, who is at Paris, dated the
day after they ran away, and he says nobody can tell
how they escaped ; that the people were not at all irri
tated against their guards or any person, that they
walked about the chateau and gardens as pacifically as
possible ; and that by the evening you would not have
supposed that any considerable event had taken place.
The National Assembly deliberated with moderation,
and all the decided democrats reunited upon this occa
sion to maintain peace and order. The account arrived
from Brussels adds that the Prince de Conde was
marching as fast as possible into France. This is all
the real news, and all the newspaper intelligence pre
mature and false. This effectually decides my going
by Brussels ; indeed I believe no foreigners would be
admitted into France. The ports are, I believe, shut,
and Tom Pelham says nobody is allowed from Paris.
One can think and talk of nothing else.'

Mr. 40] FROM GROVE PLACE 391
' Grove Place : Friday.
' Alas ! the poor King and Queen were taken, and it
is really fact that he would have escaped but he insisted
upon a hot fricassee (nineteen miles from the frontier),
and in getting out was known. He lost four hours on
the road in eating and drinking, and the minute he
was taken asked for his supper. She behaved with the
greatest serenity and composure. Nobody thinks of
anything else ; and I believe it was the only possible
means of interesting me for a crowned head.' ' August 1 .
' This day fortnight we go to London, and a fort
night later shall set off. I have given up Spa, as it
would make us very late, but we must stay a few days
with the Princes at Coblentz. I think it will be a
curious spectacle, and like the dinner of Kings in
Candide. . . .' ' Grove Place : Monday, August 8.
'I think our journey seems as certain as it can be,
though I shall never believe in it till we are absolutely
gone. Lord Malmesbury returned from Brighthelmstone
yesterday. The Prince was remarkably civil, and has
behaved extremely well about the Duke of York's
marriage. He has put in a saving clause for himself in
case he chooses to marry, which he thinks probable if
he sees his brother happy with his wife, and told the
King that had he permitted him to go abroad at the
time he asked leave to do so, he meant to have looked
out for a Princess who would have suited him, as he

392 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791
was too domestic to bear the thoughts of marrying a
woman he did not like. He desired Lord Malmesbury
to see the Duke of York, so he will give him rendezvous
somewhere, and during that time I shall stay either at
Spa or Coblentz. Anthony St. Leger is to go with us,
and to bring back the result of the conferences. If it
is likely to last long, I shall take a dose of Spa ; if not,
I shall join the party of Princes at Coblentz. There I
have promised to stop a little while, at all events, to see
Madame de Balbi and Monsieur.1
' The news of the troops are now decidedly true, and
Lord Palmerston says the National Assembly are in a
bad way. I trust most of them will be hanged soon.
The Empress wrote a note in her own hand to Woronzoff
to desire he would send her the very best bust of
Charles Fox, " puisque c'etait par ses talens et son
eloquence qu'il avait epargne une guerre sanglante aux
deux nations qui les aurait egalement ruinees, et qu'elle
le placerait dans sa galerie entre Ciceron et DemosthSne."
I suppose C. Fox is quite delighted.
' The Loughboroughs have been at Broadlands. He
was on this circuit. She talked incessantly. It is no
joke, but I never heard anybody talk so much ; and she
told us an anecdote about Lord A  that charmed
me. You may recollect that when he was to dine there
after his apostasy, she never took the least notice of him.
The reason was this. As he said to everybody that the
step he had taken was by Lord Loughborough's
1 Monsieur, brother of Louis XVI., afterwards Louis XV HI.

Ms. 40] FROM BROADLANDS 393
advice, and that he would soon follow, she, without
saying a word to Lord Loughborough, wrote Lord
A  a letter, saying, that as she knew Lord
Loughborough was always unwilling to give up an old
friend, she had taken upon herself to desire him never
to come to the house again ; and he had the assurance,
after this message, to come and dine there. This, I
think, completes his character.
c I shall take my leave at the drawing-room on the
21st, as there is only one a fortnight. Everybody going
abroad. Lord Palmerston to Paris. Duchess of Cum
berland and Lady Elizabeth to Spa. The Norths and
L-  s to Italy.' 'Broadlands: August 24.
' A pretty piece of work Mr. Pitt has made of this
Russian war. I think all the foxhounds will have a
fine chase at him next session. Such an infamous '¦'¦pray,
pray forgive me " thing as the paper signed by Fawkener
and Whitworth is, that one is quite in a rage about it.
The fleet is paying off. Lady Palmerston went there
Saturday. Lord Palmerston is still at Paris ; he says
even Tom Pelham complains of the part of France he
went through, and says it looks more like a dissolution
than a revolution ; and one ought to think about ten
times as much as he says. They took a gentleman in
his chateau near Lyons. The municipalities themselves
cut him to pieces alive before his wife, and then roasted
him to eat him. She brought the account and com
plaint herself before the National Assembly, who merely
made it over to a ComiU de Recherches. The Harry

394 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791
Pelhams left Paris Thursday — he not at all well, I fear.
' Lord Palmerston describes the heat as intolerable ;
the thermometer sometimes at 89.'
' Spring Gardens : Wednesday.
' Yesterday I dined at Lady Payne's with Madame
D' Albany, the Pretender's widow, a very pleasant woman
indeed. Alfieri was there, whom she is supposed to be
married to. We had some foreigners and Lord Lorn,
who looks dying, but is only dying for love of Lady
Mexborough. He is one of the young men who have
cut their hair short in their necks behind. Harry
Greville is married to Sir Bellingham Graham's sister,
a pretty girl with 10,000?. I hope to be at Brussels
Sunday or Monday.' 'Coblentz: September 20, 1791.
'We left Spa Friday morning, dined at Aix-la-Chapelle
with Monsieur de la Vaupoliere, and slept at Juliers.
Saturday we got to Bonn, and Sunday here. Lord
Malmesbury and St. Leger left us on Monday for Berlin,
and here am I planted for a month. Nothing can be
more uncomfortable, for although I am quite overpowered
by kindness and civilities, wherever there are Princes
there is a degree of gene, and besides it is really like
living in a camp, for none of the French wear anything
but uniforms. They are lodged in a chateau, more
delabri than anything you ever saw. Monsieur Y has but
two rooms for everything, Madame 2 two, and Monsieur
.' Afterwards Louis XVIII.
2 Princess of Savoy, married to Monsieur,

Mi. 40] FROM COBLENTZ 395
d'Artois ' only one. One great room to sit, and eat, and
live in ! It really makes one's heart ache ; there are /
certainly at least eight hundred Frenchmen here, I
principally of the first families, and all the persons who
formed the gayest court of Europe four or five years
ago. 'Coblentz: September 24, 1791.
' I am already very much tired of this place, for it is
both melancholy and tiresome, and has not any of the
conveniences of life. . . .' ' Coblentz : October 7, 1791.
' . . . Lord Malmesbury must be here Thursday or
Friday, and I trust we shall be off by the 18th or 19th.
He gives a very comical account of the Duke of York's
marriage, which took place Thursday the 29th, and that
he (Lord Malmesbury) went with the maids of honour
the preceding night to break all kinds of earthenware
against the future Duchess's door, which they call a
religious ceremony. Both he and Anthony St. Leger
agree in saying that there never was heard,' seen, or
read of such a passion as the mutual one of the Duke
and Duchess. My friend Prince William of Orange
was to be married the 1st October. All this time that
he lives amongst weddings, I am spending my days in
a most funereal manner, for nothing can equal both the
melancholy and dulness of this place. The people you
like best you can only see by fits and starts, as they are
bound to certain hours and duties, and live at a most
dismal chateau three miles off. The country is a beauti-
: Afterwards Charles X.

396 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791
ful unwholesome desert. The morning fogs as bad as
in the city  This place is exactly like a magician's
glass — you see every famous person pass before you.
The Abbe Maury is expected every day. I have seen
both the Gardes de Corps who were so dreadfully
wounded at the Queen's door the 6th October. There
are two or three pleasant men. One particularly, the
Chevalier de Puysegur, is one of the most comical
entertaining creatures I ever saw ; but they are all
Cinderellas, and obliged to live by the clock. Your
Soul l is as much bored as myself, and yesterday we
went through a great dinner at the Elector's, which re
minded me of my former greatness and misery.
' I am very sorry I am grown to love these Princes so
well that their interest will go near my heart, which
is very foolish ; but I defy anybody to live constantly
with them and not to love them, especially Monsieur,
who is exactly and precisely like the bon Henri Quatre
— he has the same kindness and amabilite. The Comte
d'Artois has a more decided character, remarkably
good and graceful manners ; and they both bear their
situation with a degree of cheerful philosophy not to be
believed unless you see it, and indeed this is the case
with all the nobility. The numbers increase enor
mously every day, and the discontent in France grows
very general.
' Your Soul now thinks of nothing sublunary ; the
heavens engross his whole attention. He has got a
1 Nickname for Mr. George Ellis.

Mi. 40] FROM MANNHEIM 397
fine telescope, which was very near being seized at
Ostend, because they took it for something magical, I
suppose ; and he stares incessantly at Saturn and his
rings, and tries to instil some astronomical knowledge
into my head without the least success. I keep to my
old friend the Great Bear, which Sir Gilbert taught me
on our road from Russia ; and I shall never learn any
more, like the Americans who could not count beyond
ten.' 'Mannheim: October 23, 1791.
' At length we left Coblentz, Friday morning, and
really I had been so kindly treated there, and there
were a few people I felt so interested for, that my last
moments were melancholy enough. Monsieur has
entirely won all our hearts, and our partenza was really
so moving as to make us both weep, which you know I
am not given to. There cannot be a more interesting
situation than that of these Princes, and their conduct
in it inspires one with the greatest interest and the
strongest esteem. . . . We are now in the house of an
old friend of Lord Malmesbury's, of the name of
Kinckel.' Naples was to be the goal of their wanderings, and
a wet and stormy autumn decided them not to linger
on the road. They passed into North Italy by the
Brenner, and record a decided preference for the
' savage beauty ' of the scenery in Tyrol over that of
Savoy, meaning thereby the pass of Mont Cenis.
From Vicenza Lady Malmesbury wrote her 'first

398 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791
letter from Italy,' which, on internal evidence, might
have been supposed to have been composed in northern
climes. ' It is wet and cold. Lord Malmesbury roars
at the stone floors. Mr. Ellis sighs and laments over
England all day long; he is as bad as a Swiss. I, who
am very uncomfortable, only sigh for Naples. I
rushed out to see a famous theatre by Palladio, and
did not understand it.' At Venice they lingered some
days, not so much for the sake of its ' magnificent
Titians and Tintorets,' as because the washerwomen
would not send home their linen. Altogether, in spite
of much admiration of the palaces and of St. Mark's,
their first impressions of Venice were more matter of
fact than might have been expected from a party
gifted with artistic tastes. ' We came here by water
from Padua in seven hours. The boat, the canal, the
flat shores, put one in mind of Amsterdam, though the
elegance of the buildings is very different. The
weather is damp and cold; it has poured for two
months. A gondola is exactly like an earwig on its
back. I like it, however, of all things, and they
manage it with wonderful dexterity and grace. There
are six spectacles open ; we have been to three ; one
comic opera is very good. The Italian play, with
harlequin and pantaloon, very burlesque and original,
especially as they say whatever they choose. Lord
Malmesbury and Mr. Ellis s'ennuyent a la mort ; and
in truth it is not gay, but we cannot go till we have
clean linen ! '
At Terni the cascade is dismissed with a word, but

Ms. 40] FROM NAPLES 399
the travellers dwell upon a cheering meeting with Lord
Hervey, ' as pleasant as ever,' and with him they
' clubbed provisions and dined by the waterfall like
Gil Bias and the player.'
At Loretto they paid their devotions to Our Lady of
the finest petticoat in the world. And at Rome they
determined to postpone all their devotions till their
return in spring. The first sight of St. Peter's from a
distance struck them as not so fine as St. Paul's from
the Dover Road ; but, on a nearer view, Lady Malmes
bury wrote ' that it was the work of giants, and giants
of exquisite taste. ' The Pantheon is less superhuman,
but, as it has been pillaged to deck out the other, one
feels a sort of tenderness for it as unjustly oppressed,
and an indignation against its successful rival. The
fountains are magnificent. Au reste, I have seen
nothing of Rome, and indeed cannot during the two
days we stay here. . . . Mr. Ellis complains and
laments more than ever. Entre nous, I don't think
our party is very gay, and I have now and then re
pented having, against wind and tide, undertaken this
journey. However, it is as well to give one instance of
resolution in one's life.'
Naples was reached early in December, and, to judge
from the following letter, received them with as cloudy
a countenance as Old England herself could have done.
'Naples: December 10, 1791.
'Here we are at last, in twenty-nine hours from
Rome, without stopping, except to breakfast. ... It

400 LIFE AND LETTERS [1791.
has been a horrid thick fog ever since we have been
here, and to-day it is a complete rainy day. . . .'
'December 16.
The L  s are here. Travelling has made her more
great and dictatorial than ever. Did I mention that
she told Lady Camelford she could talk no Italian but
poetry ? Lady Camelford replied that she thought
prose would be more useful. And the story of Prince
Camille is excellent. I rather think this is the second
time of telling, but it don't signify. You remember
Prince Camille de Rohan, ambassador at Rome from
Malta. A chanoi/nesse, his bonne amie, does the
honours of his house. Mrs. L  , par pruderie, '
would not visit her (though she don't live in the same
house), and, upon finding she was laughed at, how do
you think she settled it ? She sent a card to the Prince
and Princesse Camille. This was told me under the
seal of secrecy, so pray don't say a word about it to any
body. She won't go to Caserta to see Lady Hamilton,
though every soul besides herself does. . . .
'Prince Augustus (the fifth) is here, and very well
behaved and good-humoured indeed. The King has
ordered him to live at Portici instead of Naples. He
has had a complaint in his lungs for several years, lives
entirely on potatoes and water, and yet is quite a
colossus. I can't say our colony is brilliant. Lord and
Lady Maiden ; Lord and Lady Plymouth ; Lord Dal
keith, a natural, good-humoured boy ; Lord Bruce, who
is quite Lord Aylesbury just out of the shell — which,

Mi. 40] FROM NAPLES 401
by-the-by, is no bad comparison, for they are like un
fledged turkeys — this is a peu pres tout ; two or three
Frenchwomen. Apropos to Frenchwomen, I trust the
St. Domingo business has cured Sir Gilbert of his
passion for blacks,1 especially as Mr. Wilberforce used to
hold forth how much better the French negroes were
used. They sawed the Abbe d'Osmond alive between
two planks; and note, that he was just come from
Europe, and never had anything to do with their man
agement. I left Madame d'Osmond, his sister-in-law,
at Rome, and he was at St. Domingo about her husband's
business, who is, as well as a great number of others,
totally ruined. The Democrats set this on foot, and the
blacks were actually commanded by some of them. If
anything happens to our island, I should certainly, if I
was a planter, insist on Mr. Wilberforce being punished
capitally.' 'Naples: December 27, 1791.
'I wish I could give you a good account of either
myself or this climate, but we are both detestable. It
has rained almost incessantly for ten days (I keep an
account of the weather), and what rain ! perfect buckets
of water accompanied with violent thunder and light
ning, and now and then stopped for a few hours by a cold
north wind. Yesterday morning at Caserta it froze
hard ; from eleven it rained, pouring for twelve hours,
and in the evening there was an interlude of such
1 Sir Gilbert's deep interest in the slave-trade question is often
alluded to by his correspondents. In one of her letters she bids him
withdraw his thoughts from ' blacks, prisons, and workhouses.'
VOL. I. D D

402 LIFE AND LETTERS [1792
lightning as you never saw. The thermometer never
stands for twenty-four hours at the same point — in
short, as Mr. Ellis says, if it was not for the name of a
fine climate, one might as well walk afoot. . . .
' We dined at Caserta yesterday with Sir William and
Lady Hamilton. She really behaves as well as possible,
and quite wonderfully considering her origin and educa
tion. The Queen1 has received her very kindly as
Lady Hamilton, though not as the English Minister's
wife ; and I believe all the English mean to be very
civil to her, which is quite right.
' Did I tell you that all the Lazzaroni children are
like Gilbert, and a great many of the women like your
ladyship ! I have lost all my respect for the genius of
the old painters, which consisted in nothing but copying
the models they had all day long before their eyes ; for
every creature you meet is a picturesque figure, and the
women, in their blue and red cloth dresses and veils, all
Virgin Marys. Mr. Ellis said publicly the other day,
yours were the only beautiful black eyes he had ever
seen. He sends his love to you, and says he is the
most constant of mankind, which is not saying much.'
'Naples: January 3, 1792.
' I think your ladyship has been married fifteen
years to-day. . . .
'Lord Malmesbury says this is the only very bad
climate he ever met with, and certain it is that it is
1 Caroline, daughter of Maria Theresa, and wife of Ferdinand IV.

•J -I

-iET' *0] FROM NAPLES 403
far from a good one. When it is warm it rains, and
when the sun shines there, is a north-easterly wind. . . .
'I went through a dreadful operation yesterday —
dining at Court. I was full dressed by half-past
twelve, and from that time to five at Court. Then to
visit the Grande Maitresse, and the evening concluded
with a fete at the Imperial Ambassador's. I was tired
to death. The Queen has the best and pleasantest
manners, and contrives to say everything that is
obliging. She is particularly civil to the English.
The dinner was given for Prince Augustus, and they
asked only peers and peeresses, and their sons and
daughters. This Mrs. L  disliked very much,
though she said she would rather be at the head of her
own order than the tail of the nobility. . . .
' Lady Hamilton, who behaves incomparably, she
sets her face against, and though she is obliged to see
her, yet she endeavours to prevent countenancing her.
Lady Carnegie is liked by everybody, and talks French
tolerably, and Italian wonderfully. Conceive that I
have as yet seen nothing at all. The weather has been
so intolerable. Lord Dalkeith and Lord Maiden have
both been ill. The former has never been well since
he chose to lie down and sleep on the hot lava upon
Vesuvius. He is a very pleasant, comical young man.
Poor Lord Bruce is a sad goose, but a good-humoured
creature, and so desperately in love with the Duchess
de Fleury it is quite melancholy. Lord Malmesbury
says he is in love like a rabbit with a bunch of parsley.
She is the prettiest creature that ever was seen. The
D D 2

404 LIFE AND LETTERS [1792
French Ambassador's house is a very pleasant one.
Numbers of English arrive every day.'
'Naples: January 11, 1792.
' It rains and blows eternally, and does everything
but freeze. One is under confinement absolutely; as
Lord Dalkeith says, it is like being in Noah's ark when
the flood was going off, for the tops of the moimtains
are alone to be seen. We had such a hurricane two
nights ago of wind, hail, rain, thunder and lightning,
as actually blew in one of Lady Plymouth's windows,
shutters and all. All the English have been ill ; Lady
Carnegie among them.1 She is pleasanter than ever,
and reminds me often of Sir Gilbert in her quiet
comical way and fun. Lord Malmesbury and Mr.
Ellis are quite charmed with her. She draws delight
fully from nature, and has done a trio of Kaunitz, La
Petite Veuve, and her footman, which will enchant Sir
Gilbert, who knows them.
1 Daughter of Andrew Elliot, and first cousin of Sir Gilbert ;
married Sir David Carnegie, grandfather of the present Earl of South-
esk. She lived to an advanced age (dying in 1860), and was remarkable
through life for her powers of mind, her conversational gifts, the charm
of her disposition, and, above all, for her deep and unaffected piety.
Surro.mded in middle life by a band of daughters gifted with many of
her own best and distinguishing qualities, she and they kept up an un
failing intercourse with their Elliot cousins ; and many letters of far
later date bear testimony to bright and happy meetings at Minto,
Kinnaird, Edinburgh, and London, where Jeffrey, Playfair, Lord Webb
Seymour, Francis Horner, John Murray, the Clerks, and last, not least,
Lord Lansdowne and Lord John Russell, were the habitual frequenters
of a society which playfully termed itself the 'Brown-toast Club,' in
allusion to the tea and toast distributed under the auspices of Lady
Elliot and Lady Carnegie.

Ms. 40] PEOM NAPLES 405
' You can't think what a pleasant young man Lord
Dalkeith is, which you may tell the Duchess, as it is a
pleasant thing to hear that one's son is liked and doing
well ; he is modest to a degree.
' The Websters are still at Nice, and Tom Pelham on
his way home. I hope a few days in the House of
Commons and the rival passion of politics may root out
that other passion, though, to be sure, the remedy is
almost as bad as the disease. I don't think she will
like this winter as well as last, and she never will see
such another, for there will be some other morning star
in '93, and she will have then to be an evening one. . . .
Don't you hate a bad mother a thousand times worse
than any other kind of devil ? Talking of devils puts
me in mind of bats, and bats of all kinds of vermin.
Figure to yourself that there is such a population here
in that way that three scorpions have been killed in
our room, and a good few centipedes, a kind of cater-
pillamA beast which hurts very much. There is a
family of lizards in Mr. Ellis's balcony, and he loves
them of all things ; one of them ran over my foot last
night at Mrs. L  's, and made me cut an entrechat
higher than Vestris. Don't you abhor a lizard ? I
quite dread the summer, from the number of horrid
animals, bats above all. What will always prevent me
walking in the streets is the meeting dead people all
uncovered (I don't mean naked) carrying along, and
besides, murdered ones ; for, so far from the stories
being exaggerated, they are far short of the truth.
' The King of Naples actually loses 6,000 subjects

406 LIFE AND LETTERS [1792
every year by assassination, and the wounded are not
included. When it was represented that he ought to
hang a few (for they are only sent to the galleys), he
said " he should then only lose 12,000 instead, so it was
not worth while." I have got a capital collection of
real facts in this way, which will amuse you extremely,
as they are more atrocious than any you have ever
heard, and really facts. Imagine, that eighteen mur
derers lived in Sir William Hamilton's courtyard last
spring till the King obtained his leave to take them up,
and the battle between them and the sbirri in the yard
lasted three hours, in Lady Hamilton's hearing, and
they killed two before they could take the rest. Yet
the Neapolitans are not so bad as the Romans, for they
never forget or forgive, and will kill you twenty years
after you have affronted them. Strangers are very
safe, unless they are killed by mistake.
' You never saw anything so charming as Lady
Hamilton's attitudes. The most graceful statues or
pictures do not give you an idea of them. Her dancing
the Tarentella is beautiful to a degree. It is not what
the spider makes people dance without a master, but
the dance of Tarentum, and the most lively thing pos
sible.' 'Naples: February 14, 1792.
' The last three weeks have been delicious — perpetual
sunshine — all the banks covered with violets, the wild
sweet pea, the wild heliotrope, and all in full blossom.
We have had the frigate's boat, and have been all
round the coast and the Bay of Baia?, landing now and

^T- 4°] FROM NAPLES 407
then to view the antiquities. We were five hours and
a half on the sea, and it is the most charming inlet pos
sible. Sir Gilbert would have enjoyed it of all things.
I think I have now made pretty near all my excursions,
and they are very interesting and entertaining, and the
fineness of the weather embellishes everything. During
the last three weeks we have not had a bad day.
' I long to have a thousand views, but drawings are
so dear it is impossible to afford it. They make no
scruple of asking you twenty-five or thirty guineas for
a landscape in water-colours. Everything here in the
way of art is much dearer than in England, as there
are very few good artists. Madame Le Brun, who is
now the best painter, particularly in point of colouring,
in Europe, is now at Rome, and is going to England,
but her prices are greater than Sir Joshua's.' ' February 25.
' You are very civil to me, but give me very unde
served praise in saying I remember what I read. The
only knowledge that remains with me is what I ac
quire through my eyes ; and as I fortunately have seen
a good deal, I can show off in shallow water very
decently, but I soon sink, and get out of my depth. I
think my journey to Italy has given me a very per
fect idea of the excess to which dirt, disease, and de
formity may reach, without causing death, or even dis
gust, to some millions of human creatures. As Mrs.
L  says that nobody knows anything about Italy
without having spent two years here, I say nobody

408 LIFE AND LETTERS [1792
knows what a stink is without having been at Naples.
I declare I begin to think Nero's wish not quite so
atrocious. ... I wish the Dominie1 had been here
this winter, and had escaped what General O'Hara calls
that d  d thing, a fine frosty morning. How you
would delight in General O'Hara ! He is the most
agreeable, comical creature in the world ; he is quite
no cary, laughing at everybody to their faces, but in
such a way it is impossible to take it ill ; and having
been everywhere in Europe, Africa, and America, he
goes with us to Rome, to my great joy. He is not a
young beau, as he is certainly past fifty. He says Mrs.
L  talks like a running bass in music, and makes
us laugh all day. Our beautiful Aquilon (so much
cleaner than anything on shore) leaves us to-day, and
takes away a beautiful feature from my prospect.
Captain Stopford, who commands her, is a remarkably
gentlemanlike man, and very much in Lady Courtown's
style. He is extr'emely fond of the Admiral, and was
on board his ship three years.' ' March 3.
' Vesuvius is charming, for, after my having given
up all hopes of an eruption, on Monday he took it into
his head to begin to burn. The explosion of red-hot
stones that night was beautiful, and the next morning
the lava began to run almost from the crater, and con
tinues doing so, and we rather hope increases. The
stream is narrow, but directly opposite our windows.
1 A nickname for Mr. Elliot of Wells.

^Et. 40] FROM ROME 409
I went up one morning within about quarter of a
mile of it, and the effect was very fine even by daylight,
as the fire appeared red, and the noise was magnifi
cently awful, like heavy artillery. The night before
last we took Mr. Ellis's fine telescope to a house at
the foot of the mountain, and could distinctly see every
stone, and the beautiful cascade of lava. It is a beau
tiful sight, and the reflection in the sea adds very
much to it. It is certainly but a small eruption ; and,
as Mrs. L  has seen one rather larger this year, she
is great on the subject, assuring you this is nothing,
informing you what will be its progress, and saying
she feels as if she was doing the honours of the moun
tain.' 'Rome: April 1, 1792.
. . . ' The weather here is amazingly hot, quite as
much so as July in England ; but to-day the sirocco is
excessive. ' I went to-day to St. Peter's in Montorio, to see the
famous Transfiguration of Raphael, of which you have
seen copies and engravings without end. It is certainly
a very wonderful picture ; but what one grows more
and more to perceive every day, is how very little
notion of the original is given you by any copies,
whether in painting or marble. What no one can con
ceive is the immensity of the ancient buildings, and
they are by far the most interesting part of Rome. I
go to school with Lady Carnegie, whose eagerness is
most entertaining.
' The Princess de Carignan has taken me under her

410 LIFE AND LETTERS [1792
protection, and I go with her to all the ceremonies.
In general I think them very little worth seeing, espe
cially to me, who am accustomed to those of the Greek
Church. The benediction in front of St. Peter's is a
fine coup d'ceil, and the Pope is a remarkably hand
some old man, and performs with the greatest dignity
and grace.
' I have bought you some seppia, which is a re
nowned colour, much finer than bistre, and which
stinks like poison, so that it is not a genteel but a use
ful paint. In general I have not been much tempted,
so that I have no merit in not having bought anything
but trifling presents. What is more surprising is that
Lord Malmesbury has not literally laid out a single
guinea. I think it was very ingenious in me to bring
him to a country which furnishes nothing but the
things he detests — antiquities, cameos, and intaglios.
... In general, I think the collections of pictures,
though immense, contain fewer beautiful ones than
many in England. The thing that has pleased me
most is the valley of Tivoli, and the cascatelle, which'
are divine. But the charming thing of all is the
weather, which beggars all description, and its eternity
is such a .charm. Upon the whole, there is no com
parison between Rome and Naples ; and if I were to
return to Italy I should never think of going to the
latter. The people here are far superior in person
and mind, and civil beyond measure to all classes of
foreigners. The resources are endless after one has left
school, and the villas are all charming — open to every-

Mi. 41] FROM FLORENCE 411
body. We had a most beautiful firework from the
Castel S. Angelo on Monday and Tuesday, which be
gins and ends by the famous girandola. Last Wed
nesday we had a magnificent supper in the Palazzo
Colonna. It was served in a room 230 feet long, full
of the richest treasures in painting and sculpture, and
most splendidly illuminated. The immense crowd of
servants, and the tout ensemble, was more princely than
anything I ever saw. Adieu ! Oh, how I wish I could
send you some bottles of sunshine ! '
' Florence : April 23 and 30.
' We came by vetturino in six days by the Perugian
road, through a most beautiful country. Mountains
backing the hills, and every bit of ground undulated.
All the fields full of corn in ear, or lupins in flower,
or of flax, and fifty sorts of clover, vetches, &c. ; all
shaded by trees formed into a basket-shape by vines
trained up and falling over them in the most graceful
way, among those beds of iris of which the Florence
orris is made. The news of the King of Sweden's assas
sination met us here. It is a horrid story, and shows
how these dreadful people have sown the seeds of dis
cord everywhere. They say too that the King of Por
tugal is mad. At this rate there will very soon be no
more kings and queens in the pack, nothing left but
knaves, &c. I have already seen the Venus of Medicis ;
she is a lovely creature indeed. If she stood upright
she would be exactly my height, so never call me short
again, as she is the model of perfection. I have seen

412 LIFE AND LETTERS [1792
part of the gallery. Titian's Venus disappoints me
much. The environs are most lovely — such a valley !
enclosed by beautiful mountains covered with villas;
and when the sun sets quite purple. This said sun
nobody has an idea of who has never crossed the Alps,
for our idea of a beautiful setting sun is red, whereas
this is a mixture of purple, and red, and mistiness, that
is quite ethereal and divine, and like the raiment of
Apollo. We live here very much with the Princess de
Carignan, her uncle Prince Camille de Rohan, Madame
Lebrun, who is agreeable, and a wonderful artist, and
the Camelfords, who go to-morrow. Lord Hervey is a
pleasant man, odd, but civil and gentlemanlike, and
keeps an excellent house. None of our Roman friends
are arrived yet. We are pretty tolerably lodged, and
have excellent English dinners, and capital bread for
the first time these many months.' 'Milan: May 11.
' Italy ends at the Apennines, and not at the Alps as
people suppose. Tuscany contains all the merits, the
beauties, the charms of Italy, and leaves all its faults
for Naples and Lombardy. Here we are starving over
a fire — Holland over one's head, and London under
one's feet. I am sure Tuscany is the true original
paradise — shut in within its mountains ; and I am very
like Eve driven out of it, and Sir David is the angel
with the flaming sword.1
' Lord Malmesbury having been recalled to England on private
business, had left Lady Malmesbury at Florence to pursue her journey
home in company with Sir David and Lady Carnegie.

Mi. 41] LADY MALMESBURY RETURNS HOME 413
' There was the most delightful creature in the
world, by name Fontana, at Florence, certainly the first
genius now existing for natural and experimental philo
sophy, astronomy, etc. etc. I should have laid up a
store of eternal entertainment if I had stayed with him
a few weeks longer. Peter Beckford is a very obliging,
agreeable man, and Lord Hervey was as kind and at
tentive as possible — and like all Herveys, when they
choose to please, very pleasant.
' Some other men we have been seeing all the winter
were at Florence likewise — a very good set of young
men too, neither blackguards nor too good ; and there
was a snuggery and a sameness — every day like the
other — no visiting and no fuss — oh, it was charming !
and I shall never see it more. Rome and Florence
were, in fact, all Italy — and the only places I wish to
stay at.'
Though Lady Malmesbury did not reach England
till the following August, we need not accompany her
on her loitering tour through Switzerland in company
with the Carnegies. They dined with M. Necker at
Geneva, and were edified by the deference shown to
him in his family ; and especially by the contrast be
tween the fondling manner in which Madame Necker
sidled up to him, kissed his hand and humbly asked :
' Ya t-il des nouvelles? ' and the stiff starched aspect
and sepulchral tones with which he replied, without
condescending on particulars, ' Oui — il y a des nouvelles.'
They ascended the Montanvert, and were insulted as

414 LIFE AND LETTERS [1792
aristocrates on the French frontier, to which they
had approached as near as they could to inspect
' the maypoles with caps of liberty on them ; ' and in
all points they followed the regular course of a tourist
in 1793. The last letter from abroad contains the
following passage : — 'Spa: August 26, 1792.
c You of course know La Fayette and thirteen more
are taken as they were trying to escape to Holland, and
thence to America ; they are sent to the citadel at
Antwerp to await further orders. Conceive the emi
grants being mean enough to go in great numbers on
purpose to insult and laugh at these fallen enemies.
The whole nation is vile and horrid.'

APPENDIX.

i.1
In the Memoirs of Mirabeau (' Memoires de Mirabeau,
biographiques, litteraires, et poHtiques ' : Paris, 1834) a
letter is given, written in February 1785 by Mirabeau, in
London, to Madame de Nehra, who had returned to Paris,
and there expected to be rejoined by him. In it he describes
an outbreak of a putrid fever, which, for some twenty-four
hours, caused a panic among the inhabitants of London : —
' On a mis des gardes a l'hdpital, on a parle de murer la
salle, et de faire un cordon de troupes. II n'en fallait pas
tant pour consterner la ville, et surtout pour eveiller les
brigands.' And concludes thus : — ' J'ai eu, comme vous
voyez, un pretexte pour vous suivre de bien prea ; mais
outre que la peste u'est pas dans mon esprit le premier des
dangers, a beaucoup pres, comment deserter le pays sur
lequel fond une calamite si terrible ? Je sais que, n'etant ni
homme public, ni Anglais, je pouvais me dispenser de re-
garder la Grande Bretagne comme mon poste, quoique le
sort m'y fit rencontrer dans un tel moment. Mais j'ai bien
peur que ce ne soit la une evasion plutot qu'une raison. Je
ne suis pas Anglais, mais je suis homme, et quiconque ne perd
1 This Appendix refers to a letter from Sir Gilbert to Lady Elliot,
of November 19, 1783.

416 APPENDIX
pas la tete est homme public au jour des fleaux. D'ailleurs
Elliot est si bien mon frere, je lui dois un devouement si
entier et si teudre, et il se serait trouve dans un embarras si
terrible seul d'homme dans sa f amille, surcharge" de femmes
et d'enfants, que je n'aurais pas eu le courage de l'aban-
donner.' The circumstances which called forth these chivalrous
sentiments are not mentioned in any portion of the manu
script letters, and the only allusion to them which we have
been able to discover is in the ' Gentleman's Magazine ' for
1785, where the following passage occurs : — ' The metro
polis having been disturbed with a report of the plague
having been in the Lock Hospital, owing to a putrid fever
having seized some of the inhabitants, the following notice
will serve to show the pains taken by the committee to un
deceive the public,' etc. etc. —
' " Loch Hospital, March 4, 1785. — Whereas a report
prevails that there is an infectious disease now raging in
the hospital, this is to assure the public that every persoi
in the hospital, both servants and patients, are in perfect
health!'"

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INDEX.

-Acton's Modern Cookery  20
Aird's Blackstone Economised  20
Allies on Formation of Christendom  16
Allen's Discourses of Chrysostom  1C
Alpine Guide (The)  IS
Amos's Jurisprudence  5
Anderson's Strength of Materials  a
Arnold's Manual of English Literature .. 6
Authority and Conscience  15
Autumn Holidays of a Country Parson .... 7
Ayee's Treasury of Bible Knowledge  16
Bacon's Essays by Whately  5
 Life and Letters, by Spedding .. 4
— —  "Works  5
Bain's Mental and Moral Science  8
 on the Senses and Intellect  8
Ball's Guide to the Central Alps  18
¦  Guide to the Western Alps  IS
 Guide to the Eastern Alps  18
Bayldon's Rents and Tillages  15
Becker's Charicles and Gallus  18
Benpey's Sanskrit-English Dictionary  6
Black's Treatise on Brewing  20
Blackley's German-English Dictionary . . 6
Blaine's Rural Sports  19
 Veterinary Art  19
Bloxam's Metals  9
Boom's Problem of the World and the
Church  15
 Saint-Simon  3
Boultbee on 39 Articles  15
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