Cornell University Library 
 PR 5059.M3Z55 1859a 
 
 Passages from my autobiography. 
 
 3 1924 013 527 415 
 
• i H] B Cornell University 
 f Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013527415 
 
PASSAGES 
 
 MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 
 
 By SYDNEY, LADY^MORGAN. 
 
 "LEST AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT." 
 
 Old Scotch Song. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 
 
 346 & 348 BROADWAY, 
 
 M.DCCO.LIX. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The following pages are the simple records of a 
 transition existence, socially enjoyed, and pleasantly 
 and profitably occupied, during a journey of a few 
 months from Ireland to Italy. 
 
 They were not written for the special purpose of 
 any work, but were mere transcripts of circumstances 
 incidental to that journey, which was delayed in its 
 progress by all that could interest the feelings or 
 gratify the mind. I lingered in this "path of dal- 
 liance," this " delicate plain of ease " (as dear old 
 Bunyan calls it), with the same careless enjoyment as 
 "Little Red Riding Hood" must have had on her 
 way to her granddame's hut, pausing only to pick a 
 flower here or a pebble there, insensible to the prox- 
 imity of the grim wolf who was waiting to devour her. 
 I, like Little Red Riding Hood, loitered to pick up a 
 flower or secure a pebble that lay in my way, whilst 
 the proximity of that grim wolf, Time, which sooner 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 or later devours all things, was unheeded. But the 
 flower gathered still retains its fragrance for me, and 
 the pebble, like the scarabseus found among the antique 
 rubbish of Egyptian tombs, bears the divine impress 
 of genius. 
 
 During what was then deemed a perilous journey 
 to Italy, I followed up my old habit of occasional 
 diary ; and one still older and dearer, a constant corre- 
 spondence with my dear and only sister. These home- 
 stead letters — these rapidly-scrawled diaries, written 
 " a saute et a gambade,''' 1 form, I believe, the materiel 
 portion of this volume. The more spirituel and inter- 
 esting part will be found in the letters of some of the 
 most eminent men and women of the times they illus- 
 trated by their genius, their worth, their cultivation 
 of letters, and their love of liberty. 
 
 Egotism is the sin of autobiography, and vanity 
 naturally takes the pen to trace its dictation. The 
 vanity, or, to give its better name, the pride with 
 which I give these letters to the public, with the per- 
 mission of, alas ! the few survivors, and the concur- 
 rence of those most interested in their posthumous 
 reputation, is attributable to the enduring friendship 
 and support with which the writers honoured me, fore- 
 most among whom I place General La Fayette, Baron 
 Denon, and Catherine, Countess of Charleville. 
 
PREFACE. 5 
 
 The genuineness of the little work lies in this irre- 
 fragable testimony of the autograph letters, from 
 which uncopied they have been printed ; amongst the 
 rest my letters to my sister, which, frivolous and do- 
 mestic as women's confidential letters generally are, 
 convey some idea of the habits, times, and manners 
 when they were composed. There they are ! records 
 of the passage of more years than I am willing to re- 
 veal, with their old horrible postmarks of two-and-six- 
 pence and two-and-tenpence (which now would be a 
 penny a head), or the franks 
 
 " By many a statesman, many a hero scrawl' d ;" 
 
 and it is only due to the patience of the printers and 
 their devils to acknowledge the difficulties they have 
 had to overcome. 
 
 " Little do the landsmen know 
 What we poor seamen undergo ! " 
 
 My original intention was to publish an autobiog- 
 raphy from my starting-point on a certain Christmas 
 p a y — an anniversary I this day celebrate : but failing 
 health and failing sight have delayed the undertaking ; 
 to assist in which, however, my late dear brother-in- 
 law, Sir Arthur Clarke, made me the following propo- 
 sition. The letter bears such an impress of genuine 
 good-will and ambitious affection, that I may be ex- 
 cused for giving it here in all its original integrity, 
 
6 PBEEACE. 
 
 knowing myself how warmly lie championed me on to 
 the task. 
 
 Dublin, 1854. 
 " My dear Sydney, 
 
 " I hate made up my mind to seek for my retiring 
 pension, and devote myself to your service. I am up 
 to my eyes now, though they are not quite well in 
 ' Moore's Memoirs,' in which I take great interest ; 
 but every page I read makes me wish that our own 
 Wild Irish Girl would sit down and dictate her own 
 memoirs, (if she cannot write them,) which nobody 
 living but herself can do. I now offer myself for her 
 amanuensis, when my retiring pension will enable me 
 to withdraw from professional business. Why should 
 you not reap the benefit of the most amusing work 
 you ever published, and what might bring large prof- 
 its, not only without working the brain for new inven- 
 tions, but merely stating the old facts ? Your Euro- 
 pean correspondence with many of the most celebrated 
 characters of the age for literature and rank must bo 
 all arranged. I have no talent for writing, but I think 
 I have an organ for condensing and arrangement. 
 You will laugh at me, perhaps, for my vanity in think- 
 ing I could be of any use in such an undertaking ; but 
 industry and perseverance, which it is thought dis- 
 tinguish my habits, may assist and be useful to one of 
 a higher order. Now I do hope, dear, to live to see 
 
PREFACE. 7 
 
 your life and memoirs published by yourself and for 
 yourself. 
 
 " Ever yours, my dearest Sydney, 
 
 " Arthur Clarke." 
 
 Alas ! this hope was never realised ; had it been I 
 should have considered it as one of the greatest ad- 
 vantages of my literary life.* The death of this dear 
 old friend, the increasing infirmities of my sight, and, 
 finally, an illness all but fatal, interfered with my hope 
 of producing a work, into the execution of which "the 
 flattering world had talked me," as Lady Townley 
 says of her beauty. I found for the present I was 
 obliged to give it up, and to present to that dear 
 public, which has ever been my best friend, a promis- 
 
 * From a Dublin Paper. 
 
 9th Nov. 1857. 
 Sir Arthur Ciarke, M. D. — Ireland has to lament the loss of this 
 eminent physician and philanthropist, who died on the 10th inst., in his 
 eighty-fourth year. He was respected and popular with all classes ot 
 all persuasions in Ireland, and had filled responsible professional posi- 
 tions under successive governments with deserved credit and author- 
 ity. Among his good works, we may mention the foundation of a Fe- 
 ver Hospital, of an Establishment of Baths for Sick and Wounded 
 Seamen, and of an Hospital for Decayed Gentility, after the plan of the 
 French Maisons de SanU. Sir Arthur Clarke was married to Sydney 
 Lady Morgan's only sister, whom he survived. It was, we believe, 
 Lady Morgan who, in 1816, brought from Paris the plan of the Maison 
 de Sante which was established in Dublin by Sir Arthur Clarke, under 
 the highest patronage. One of the most useful and popular of Sir Ar- 
 thur's medical works is his Essay " On the Exhibition of Iodine in Tu- 
 bercular Consumption " — a treatise which reached ten editions. We 
 may add that Sir Arthur Clarke had been for fifty years a respected 
 magistrate in his native county. 
 
8 PREFACE. 
 
 sory note, in the form of an odd volume, which at 
 some future day may drop into a more important 
 series, where I may yet be able to wind up the con- 
 fessions of " my life and errors," as the old Puritans 
 phrased it, and obtain absolution without going into 
 the confessional. 
 
 I cannot conclude this little appeal to the indul- 
 gence of my dear public without acknowledging the 
 services I have derived from the younger energies 
 and clairvoyance of Miss Geraldine Jewsbury, already 
 known to the public by her own charming works. 
 
 Christmas Day, 1858. 
 
 II William Street, Albert Gate, Belgravia. 
 
 Note. — I hope I may not be accused of disrespect to my readers by 
 the careless simplicity of a style which the Prince de Ligne calls the 
 styleparle ; it is the same in which I have already thrown together the 
 pages of the "Book of the Boudoir," and the " Book without aName," 
 — books of whose passing success I had no reason to complain. 
 
DIARY 
 
 OF 
 
 LADY MORGAN. 
 
 JOBKNAl. 
 
 Kildare Street, Dublin, 
 August, 1818. 
 
 Well ! until this blessed day we have remained 
 uncertain and uncomfortable about our wished-for 
 journey to Italy. 
 
 The indecision arises from feeling, prudence, and 
 precaution. I do not like to leave my dear sister 
 in her present delicate situation. The expense will 
 be enormous, and the pecuniary return is uncertain, 
 till at least we hear from Colburn, to whom we 
 have notified our intention. 
 
 The decree against my works by the French 
 Government still hangs in terrorem over me ; and 
 the attacks of Tory detractors in England — at the 
 head of whom stands the " Quarterly " — are not 
 encouraging. They all turn moi, jpauvre chetive, 
 into political capital in the fund of Illiberals. How- 
 
10 DIAUT OF 
 
 ever, we are both inclined (our husband and our- 
 self ) to proceed on our mission of doing good by 
 telling truth according to our impressions. I, in 
 my little way, and my dear husband in his more 
 competent and useful views — in the interests of hu- 
 manity, or, at least, what we deem to be such. 
 
 We are deep in the lore and literature of old 
 Italy ; but we have seen no books upon it in its 
 present state. Eustace's elegant and classical work 
 is still the book of a churchman and Catholic parti- 
 san. "We want to get at living Italy as she now is, 
 after the passage of so many recent and important 
 events. Still we are somewhat nervous on the sub- 
 ject of such a journey and such an enterprise. We 
 want something to give us an impulse and set us 
 free from the comforts and family intercourse of our 
 own Irish home. It would seem as though I had the 
 knack of writing what is called travels, for Colburn 
 has brought out the third edition of " France " 
 within the twelve months, and has accepted an 
 Irish novel of extravaganza, which shows me that I 
 stand well " in the market." 
 
 This day's post brings us a charming letter from 
 General La Fayette, to cheer us on, and to assure 
 as that if any political annoyance awaited us in 
 Paris, he would be the last to tempt its over, as he 
 has clone by his invitation to his Chateau de la 
 
LADY MORGAN. 11 
 
 Grange. He says that Lord and Lady Holland are 
 to come to him in the course of the autumn ; and 
 they lie under the same interdiction as ourselves, 
 which, au reste, he seems to consider merely a form 
 held out to please the Ultras, who may say to me, 
 as the man says to the intrusive old woman in the 
 play, " Au plaisir de ne vous revoir jamais ! " — also 
 a brilliant little note from Denon, beginning, " Ve- 
 nez done, chere drole de corps, tout le monde vous 
 attend avec impatience, et moi avec enthousiasme 
 comme tout mon cercle." Here is the general's 
 letter : I pin it in, for I consider it the first page of 
 my compte rendu. 
 
 I am giving my last touch to " Florence Mac- 
 arthy," which I shall leave in Colburn's hands. 
 I really think it is good fun, particularly the sketch 
 of the " Castle Hacks ; " for last night, as Morgan 
 was strumming over his eternal Handel, and had 
 got as far as " Angels ever bright and fair," and I 
 was writing in a scene of my Attorney Crawley — 
 my favourite of the whole batch of Irish originals 
 • — -I laughed so heartily, that Morgan started up ex- 
 claiming, " Good heaven, Sydney ! what is the mat- 
 ter 2 " 
 
 " Well," I said, " Old Crawley is so droll, that 
 I cannot help laughing." If one could only insure 
 equal hilarity in one's readers ! 
 
 And now for packing up and packing oif. 
 
12 DIAET OF 
 
 From General La Fayette to Sir Charles Morgan. 
 
 La Grange, 12th August, 18J8. 
 
 The last letter I received from you, my dear Sir 
 Charles, informed me that five weeks after the mid- 
 dle of July you would be near your departure for 
 the Continent. This good news has caused a lively 
 satisfaction in the colony of La Grange, which you 
 will find increased by a new little boy presented to 
 us by my daughter-in-law, and who completes the 
 dozen of my grandchildren. I hope that the expres- 
 sion, " for a short time " — the only one in your cor- 
 respondence of which we can complain — will not 
 be realized, and that you will give us a long time, 
 which will always appear too short. Tou have 
 enough to spare before you are compelled to con- 
 tinue your intended route to Italy. If I knew 
 exactly the date of your arrival in Paris, I would 
 contrive to meet you at the first moment. "Write 
 to me as soon as you are there, and let me know 
 your travelling arrangements, reserving, we all beg 
 of you, the longest possible period for La Grange. 
 
 It affords me much satisfaction, before your de- 
 parture, to dissipate your fears respecting disturb- 
 ances in France, of which the political articles in 
 your journals have given you the idea. The papers 
 in the interest of the two parties, Ministerial and 
 Ultra, which dispute power with us, have excited 
 more attention to the conspiracy in London than it 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 13 
 
 has produced in Paris. It seems quite true that 
 the Ultras have addressed themselves this year, as 
 in the years preceding, to foreign powers, calling 
 for their armed intervention in favour of the preju- 
 dices and interests of an incorrigible minority. 
 Very reprehensible conduct, no doubt, and against 
 which the patriots have a right to throw the first 
 stone. It appears, also, that with the same party, 
 and in a more important proportion, I believe, than 
 the small number to which it was ostensibly con- 
 fined, there has been a question of active intrigues, 
 and even of violent measures, to obtain a change 
 of ministry ; while the ministry, on their part, have 
 not been sorry to discover in these hostile, and 
 more or less real projects, a means of gaining some 
 favour in the opinion of the patriotic section. But 
 you will be surprised, on arriving here, at the tran- 
 quillity with which the French public, in turn, re- 
 gard, what your newspapers have predicted to you 
 as the harbingers of trouble and confusion. No 
 pretext will be found therein for prolonging the 
 stay of the foreign armies. Perhaps, ministerial 
 influence at the elections may not be much aug- 
 mented by these causes. At all events, this con- 
 spiracy, and all the others that have been spoken 
 of, ought to have no weight whatever in your trav- 
 elling plans, or in your anxiety for Lady Morgan. 
 
14 DIAEY OF 
 
 I see with pleasure that you are well satisfied 
 with your elections. Ours will soon come on, at 
 least for the division of the Chamber of Deputies. 
 The actual state of our exceptional laws relative to 
 the press, of our jurisprudence with regard to per- 
 sonal liberty, and of our administrative system 
 under the relations of ministerial influence, give the 
 government so much advantage, that it is difficult 
 to foresee what will be the isolated chances of the 
 independent opposition. Those of the Ultras are 
 extremely weak. I cannot look on the European 
 elections — on those of France, sometimes confined 
 to two classes, and sometimes to the ratepayers of 
 three hundred francs ; on yours, divided between 
 corrupt pollings and tumultuous assemblages, to 
 the exclusion of many principal towns — without 
 admiring the progress of American civilisation. In 
 fact, throughout the United States, the right of uni- 
 versal suffrage to all who pay the smallest tax, so 
 appalling for your most ardent patriots, is exercised 
 on all occasions by thinly-scattered populations, as 
 well as in the crowded capitals, without leading to 
 the slightest commotion or embarrassment. 
 
 I know not whether you received, in time for 
 your third edition, some observations which Dr. 
 Montegre undertook to submit to you. He is not 
 appreciated in this country. Allow me to repeat to 
 
LADY MORGAN. 15 
 
 you how much I feel touched and flattered by the 
 additional note you have had the kindness to send 
 me. You ask for information respecting a work 
 which merited your interest. Alas ! the amiable 
 authoress, Lady Morgan's correspondent, has been 
 taken from her friends ; and amongst the many re- 
 grets of which she is the deserving object, none 
 have been more acutely felt than mine. Her un 
 fortunate husband has gone to the distant provinces. 
 Her intimate friend remains in Paris. I believe 
 that both will be there when you arrive. I shall 
 hasten to introduce them to you. They will be able, 
 much better than I, to answer a question which, 
 during the last melancholy days, it was impossible 
 to put to them. 
 
 All my family desire me to convey to Lady 
 Morgan and yourself the sentiments of gratitude, 
 attachment, and impatience to see you again, with 
 which they are impressed. We had flattered our- 
 selves with a long visit ; allow us to still retain the 
 expectation. "We hope that " Florence Macarthy," 
 the "Sketches," and the Third Edition will accom- 
 pany you. Accept both, with your usual goodness, 
 the expression of tender and grateful friendship 
 which my heart has devoted to you. 
 
 La Fatette. 
 
16 DIAET OF 
 
 August. — This morning, as I was on my knees, 
 all dust and dowdyisrn, comes the English post — 
 old Colbum — no ! not old at all, but young enthu- 
 siastic Colbum, in love with "Florence Macarthy," 
 and a little epris with, the author ! " Italy, by 
 Lady Morgan ! " he is " not touched but rapt," and 
 makes a clashing offer of two thousand pounds — to 
 be printed in quarto like " France" — but we are to 
 start off immediately, and I have " immediately" 
 answered him in the words of Sileno in " Midas" — 
 
 " Done ! strike hands — 
 I take your offer, 
 Further on I may fare worse." 
 
 Morgan, of course, consenting ; he is, in fact, charm- 
 ed. How he will come out with his Dante and 
 Tasso ! above all, with his favourite Macchiavelli, 
 of whom he has been longing to give a new read- 
 ing, the very reverse of generally-received opinions. 
 For me, I must rub up my Goldoni, and flirt and 
 flutter with Pastor Fido and Metastasio. 
 
 Alas! that money should have so much in- 
 fluence over our noble intentions ! Knowledge 
 power ? not a bit of it ! Money is power ; it sub- 
 sidises all powers, and 
 
 " rules the court, the camp, the church ; " 
 
LADY H0KGAN. 17 
 
 that is our improved reading on the twaddle 
 "grove." Oh, but intellect? Philanthropy? (Jest 
 egal. 
 
 And so we start on our expensive pilgrimage, 
 not dropping a bead, nor muttering a prayer, nor 
 fixing " a scallop on our hat before' ' after the man- 
 ner of pilgrims, but looking out for a comfortable 
 travelling carriage ; for I hear that travelling in 
 Italy is beyond everything desolate and unaccom- 
 modated — worse even than a journey to Conne- 
 mara, where people still travel by the stars. 
 
 But my poor darlings in Great George Street 1* 
 how am I ever to leave them ? My dearest sister's 
 present situation fills me with doubts and fears, 
 and throws a cloud over the otherwise sunny pros- 
 pect before us ; but if I go on in this way I shall 
 never start. Journalising is a dangerous temptation 
 to the garrulity of women. One reason why they 
 love their doctors and confessors is, that they are 
 allowed to talk to them lf a coeur ouvert et a langue 
 deliee " also ! a journal represents both. 
 
 Diary. — Well, I have taken my last leave of 
 my darlings in Great George Street. I put my 
 brother-in-law in our secret ; but my blessed Olivia 
 suspected nothing. She wanted me to go up to 
 
 * For thirty years the residence of Sir Arthur and Lady Clarke. 
 
18 DIARY OF 
 
 the nursery as usual, but I refused on plea of fa- 
 tigue. 
 
 "And can I leave my pretty doxies?" 
 
 Dear little toddles ! I am sure that nepotism is 
 an organic affection in single and childless women ; 
 it is a maternal instinct gone astray. In popes and 
 princes it is a frustrated ambition, a substitute for 
 paternity. It is a dangerous tendency. Aunts and 
 uncles never love wisely, but too well ; besides it 
 brings with it responsibilities without authority, and 
 imposes dirties without giving rights. 
 
 And so bye-bye, babies ! 
 
 From Lady Cliarhville on receiving a neiv edition of " France." * 
 
 June 30th, 1818. 
 
 Theee are not many so pleasant moments in 
 life as those where past and pleasant feelings are 
 renewed with an increase of whatever gave birth 
 to them ; and though, perhaps, it may be that this 
 arises in some degree from the self-complacency of 
 having not originally judged wrong, yet, for the sake 
 
 * Finding this note, I cannot resist giving it in this place, although 
 it is a little ante-dated, as I well recollect the cheer it gave me, coming 
 as it did at the moment when the reviews were at their blackest and 
 bitterest against me. They were the paid hirelings of party : this is 
 the testimony of a noble and independent mind. 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 19 
 
 of the warmer and kindlier natures, I will aver, in 
 your case, that I am delighted with the great and 
 important progress in literature — in thinking, in 
 style, in grace and playfulness (where they might 
 emhellish a desultory subject), for your own sake 
 and for my country's. 
 
 I have just received your note, and I have long 
 finished the work. 
 
 I do not pretend to deserve any one of the ma- 
 terials for criticism you ascribe to me ; but eight 
 years' residence in France with a large portion of 
 literary people perhaps entitles me to the sort ot 
 tact I may possess to judge of French people and 
 French ways ; and the unceasing interest I have 
 felt from first to last in the great events affecting 
 them the last thirty years since I quitted the coun- 
 try, has prevented my deciding in the superficial 
 manner I often hear done concerning them. 
 
 To conclude : your work charms me ; it breathes 
 a fair spirit of philanthropic inquiry and observa- 
 tion of facts and effects, most interesting to every 
 friend of humanity. The style is clear and nervous, 
 and at the same time playful, and suited in its tone 
 to the lighter matter, though the graver observa- 
 tions are given en philosqphe. I think the writing 
 as excellent as the materials are interesting and 
 well digested. I would not intrude all this on you, 
 
20 DIAUT OF 
 
 but that you tell me you have not heard from 
 home, and therefore to know the impression it 
 must make and has made is satisfactory. 
 
 Yet of course it will not be let to glide down 
 the stream without opposition ; but that is no mat- 
 ter : the river broken by rocks and shallows is 
 more beautiful than the torpid, smooth, glassy lake, 
 all points of which are equally uninteresting. I 
 honour the manly instructive writing, and the 
 knowledge communicated in the Appendix. I al- 
 ready observed what is there said on torture, and I 
 supposed it is more critically exact than I was ; as, 
 living at the time in the old Duke of Nivernois' 
 house, with his daughter, the Duchess of Cosse, I 
 heard only of the praises bestowed on the fact of 
 his (Louis XVI.) having abolished the question 
 ordinaire and extraordinaire, &c. 
 
 I believe as to the nursing, that, in the provinces 
 (where I was almost entirely), suckling was as uni- 
 versal as it is now in England ; but I doubt not the 
 fact of Paris fine ladies having adopted it but par- 
 tially. I am sure Jean Jacques thought right on 
 this subject, at least ; but I am not equally certain 
 that many a poor infant Las not suffered by the 
 exchange from robust peasants' milk to fine ladies'. 
 
 What a dreadful thing it is if your book be cut 
 and garbled by those vile inspectors of a tram- 
 
LADY M0KGAN. 21 
 
 melled press, for I really hoped some solid good 
 might arise therefrom, seeing how liberally and 
 how justly an Englishwoman could appreciate 
 their good qualities and account for their errors. 
 It seems to me, on the whole, that you are the only 
 foreigner who has entered into the spirit of the 
 people. Better, tenfold, than any Scott, Williams, 
 or, in short, any of those writers who have fallen in 
 my way. 
 
 As I live here so much, I should rejoice in your 
 doing so ; but to give up a place under govern- 
 ment, and probably established practice in Dublin, 
 seems adventurous. That you should be on the 
 spot at the time when your books aro printing is 
 true and obvious. As to society, there you will 
 gain much, but for that very reason you will write 
 less. 
 
 The pours and contres are before you. May 
 the path you choose lead you to honourable dis- 
 tinction and fortune ! and that you may enjoy both 
 in health and the happiness of domestic, confiding 
 attachment, is the sincere wish of your very faith- 
 ful servant, C. M. Chakleville. 
 
 P. S. — Mr. Lewis is abroad. His sisters* have 
 
 * These conscientious ladies, frightened at the heterodoxy of their 
 brother's works, wrote ». pamphlet to assure the public they did not 
 
22 DIAET OF 
 
 published disgraceful nonsense, because it is stupid. 
 Sir "William Gell I did not see often before his 
 departure ; he has got ridiculed aboxit royalty, and 
 Lord C. didn't like him. Lady Cork says she will 
 have Talma to-morrow night (who is in London on 
 a visit), and is growing old in active dissipation, and 
 too completely occupied by the number and names 
 of the haut ton invitations for me. I like, if I was 
 able for it, the coup Wc&il well enough ; but the 
 deep and eternal plans and counterplans for the 
 repetition of a scene so seldom productive of a real 
 hour's amusement, tire me to death. My children 
 are at your feet, and I hope will all know you well 
 and enjoy your approbation. — C. M. 0. 
 
 To Lady Clarice [my sister) at Great Oeorge Street, Midland 
 
 Square, Dublin. 
 My DEAES ALL — Holyhead. 
 
 And, above all, my darling Olivia — be of good 
 cheer, though we have had a bad passage. Did 
 not get into Holyhead till near midnight, and had 
 not the benefit of excellent Captain Skinner's con- 
 voy. He met us, however, as we got out of the 
 
 participate in his opinions. Like Sir T. Robinson, who, when called on 
 to deny being the author of " Junius," began his exculpation — " This is 
 to &cratify," &c. 
 
LADT MOKGAN. 23 
 
 packet, and wanted us to go home and sup with 
 him, which of course we didn't, but were made very 
 comfortable at our dear old inn. 
 
 I am so upset by sickness that Morgan is deter- 
 mined we shall not proceed on our long journey 
 to-morrow ; but my greatest anxiety, dearest Olivia, 
 is for you. I shall expect a letter at Colburn's on 
 my arrival in London, so do not fail. This evening 
 was so beautiful after the stormy night that we 
 walked to dear Penros ;* it was really a pilgrimage 
 to the shrine of a pilgrim saint. This is the first 
 time I arrived at Holyhead without the hope of 
 seeing my dear Lady Stanley standing at her own 
 gate, with Sir John on one side and Susanne on the 
 other, with her lady's shawl and dog. The gates 
 were now closed, and all looked gloomy and deso- 
 late. The family are, however, expected, and much 
 as I admire the present Lady Stanley, no one can 
 ever replace my dear old friend. 
 
 We start at daybreak to-morrow for Shrewsbury, 
 but Morgan will not let me stop an hour to see my 
 uncle, we are so pressed for time. En avant is now 
 our motto ; so, God bless you all, my dear darlings, 
 for my heart is very full. Morgan kisses you and 
 
 ■*■ Lady Stanley of Penros, mother of the late, and grandmother of 
 the present Lord Stanley, of Alderley, one of my earliest and truest 
 friends. 
 
24 DIAEY OF 
 
 the babies tenderly, and begs you will let him know 
 soon whether he is an uncle or an aunt. S. M. 
 
 Diary. — London, August, 1818. — We left Dub- 
 lin in more than usually low spirits on such 
 occasions ; my poor sister still painfully and patiently 
 expecting her mauvais quart oVheure. What a 
 penalty and what a distinction that the most impor- 
 tant incident in the great scheme of the creation 
 should have fallen to the lot of the feeblest and 
 finest organisation ! 
 
 I dined with them, but concealed the fact that 
 we were to sail that evening ; and so I spared the 
 painful formalities of parting for an indefinite time. 
 
 A very bad voyage to Holyhead : a tedious 
 land journey, and we arrived in London — drove to 
 lodgings in Conduit Street taken for us by Colburn 
 to be near him, as I have still some of " Florence 
 Macarthy " to write, and proofs to correct. 
 
 Immediately after our arrival, we despatched 
 the kind Duke of Leinster's letter to his brother-in- 
 law, Lord Kinnaird, who was to give us letters for 
 Italy, where he resides with his family. 
 
 Italy ! Est-il possible that I am going to Italy ? 
 
 Lord Kinnaird answered the' letter in person 
 this morning. Oh, what a charming man ! After 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 25 
 
 all there is nothing so charming as an Englishman 
 when he is charming (" cosa rara ") ; he is the real 
 thing, and no mistake. However, when I return 
 from Italy, "I will," as Sir Benjamin Backbite 
 says, " tell you more another time." 
 
 Lord Kinnaird said, in answer to some of our 
 rather apprehensive suggestions, " Leinster desires 
 me to give you letters for Italy, but it is quite 
 unnecessary ; you are better known there through 
 your work on France, which, entre nous, just now 
 suits their book, than you are at home. Do you 
 speak Italian?" "Oh yes," said Morgan; "the 
 Italian of Tasso and Metastasio." " That will do to 
 begin with," said he, laughing ; " but your Italian 
 valet de place will get you up a language more to 
 your purpose." We said we did not think of 
 starting from France for a month, where we had so 
 many friends, notwithstanding our proscription by 
 Louis des Huitres. " Come," he said, " you ought 
 not to complain at being put on the same list with 
 Lord Holland. My brother Douglas is going to 
 see Byron, and I return immediately to Milan, 
 where I have left Lady Olivia and my family ;" 
 and so with his pleasant sans adieu and au revoir 
 at Milan he took his leave. I asked Morgan why 
 he did not request letters to Byron. " I don't want 
 to know him." "What! the writer you adore 
 ?■ 
 
26 DIABT OF 
 
 beyond all others, and whose books you read every 
 night like your Breviary?" "Yes, but I don't 
 want to know him personally." I knew the lout 
 defil and said nothing, but laughed in my sleeve — 
 God forgive me ! 
 
 My note and card to Melbourne House was 
 answered by a note and basket of fruit from Lady 
 Caroline, who is at Brockett. "What a true heart 
 and what a fanciful head ! She is to be in town 
 immediately. 
 
 We dined yesterday at Col. Roderic M'Eeil's, 
 the Laird of Barra. He came in from some review 
 as Colonel of the Guards in full costume, and looked 
 splendid. His brother-in-law, the divine Charles 
 Brownlow, was of the party. He is worthy of a 
 conversion to liberalism, and I intend to try my 
 hand on him when I return. He will be won by 
 pathos and sentiment, but never through reason. 
 Pretty Jane M'Neil, and Lord and Lady Darnley, 
 the aunt and uncle of the party, were there. Fine 
 types of the Whig aristocracy of England ; for 
 they came into Ireland with Cromwell, where they 
 obtained immense property, but have returned to 
 England with all the old prepossessions with which 
 they had started two hundred years before ! Race 
 and temperament go for so much in influencing 
 opinion ! It has struck me here that the Tory 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 27 
 
 ladies are more Celtic, and have more poetry about 
 them : they are frisky and confident in their present 
 political supremacy. I had a clinical study of them 
 at Stanmore Priory.* 
 
 We have delayed our departure from necessi- 
 ty ; we wait for our passport for Miss Florence 
 M'Carthy ; and Morgan declares his " Philosophy of 
 Life " cannot stand against the tedium of the delay. 
 
 To Lady Clarke. 
 
 8, Conduit Street, Hanover Square, 
 My DEAKS ALL, August, 1818. 
 
 I despatched you my despatch to inform you of 
 our safe arrival two or three days back, which I 
 trust you got safely. We found a packet of pleas- 
 ant letters waiting for us at Colburn's — your most 
 cheerful and cheering one the most welcome of all. 
 The announcement of our arrival in London (a puff, 
 I am sure, by Colburn) has brought down upon us 
 a flock of friends, great and small ; and London is 
 not, as I expected, burned out ! First amongst the 
 first was that truly dear and constant friend, Lady 
 Arran : handsome Flora M'Leod came with her 
 ladyship. She brought me a very kind message 
 from her daughter, Lady Cecilia, and her husband, 
 
 * The seat of the Marquis of Abercorn. 
 
28 DIABY OF 
 
 Sir George, to request we would join a family party 
 at tea in the evening. "We were delighted to do so. 
 I longed to hear something of the Priory family, 
 and a more detailed account of the illness and 
 death of poor Lord Abercorn than Bowen sent ns 
 in his short letter ; so we went to Cumberland 
 Place early. We found Lady Cecilia and Sir 
 George, Lady Arran and Lady Isabella, and Mr. 
 Douglas — Lady Arran looking as pretty as her 
 daughters, though Lady Cecilia is improved beyond 
 everything you can imagine, and Lady Isabella all 
 bloom and good looks. It is curious that we had 
 none of us met since we were married. We only 
 wanted the Hon. Mrs. Browne, who was married 
 about the same time, when, lo ! she entered with 
 her mother, the beautiful Lady Elizabeth Monck, 
 another of the charming clan Arran, who for grace 
 and beauty, when they were in their prime, could 
 not have been matched in Europe. Lord Arran 
 ought to have had some prize for the specimens 
 of physical perfection he gave to the world in his 
 daughters. 
 
 Sir George is good-humoured and courteous, 
 though a petit didble hoiteux in person. It was a 
 marriage de convenanoe on the part of Lady Cecilia, 
 to please her family (for he is old enough to be her 
 father) j but she looked as happy as if it had been 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 29 
 
 made to please herself. Sir George is enormously 
 rich, and she has as fine diamonds as any duchess 
 in the land, par compensation. Oh, those dia- 
 monds ! We were in the midst of some Dublin 
 cancan when the door opened, and His Royal 
 Highness the Duke of Sussex was announced. 
 Grand mouvement ! We all rose up, and then all 
 sat down. Morgan and myself were presented to 
 him : the rest were old acquaintances. The duke 
 kept up a pleasant bantering conversation with me 
 on the subject of my work on France, not agreeing 
 with me in many of my opinions, occasionally ap- 
 pealing to Morgan, and saying many civil things 
 on his part of the work, which pleased me more 
 than any iloge he could have given on mine. 
 " But, sir," interrupted Lady Cecilia, " do tell us 
 something about the royal wedding now ; " and 
 Lady Arran pressing him close, and wanting to 
 learn details, he said, " Why, ma'am, you did not 
 expect me to have stayed for the wine-posset and 
 the throwing of the slipper ? " At which we all 
 threw down our eyes, and affected prudery. His 
 royal highness, I thought, looked grave, and said, 
 after a pause, " A wedding is no joke, and least of 
 all a royal one." He probably thought of his own 
 marriage, recently broken, and the similar position 
 of his brother, still, perhaps, devoted to the mother 
 
& 
 
 30 DIAEY OF 
 
 of his beautiful children. " How did the duke 
 look, sir ? " said Lady Arran. " Humph," said he. 
 "not very brilliant." " And the Duchess of Clar- 
 ence, sir," said Lady Cecilia ; " is she as plain as 
 is reported ? " " Quite," said the Duke of Sussex, 
 emphatically ; " but so amiable and gentle : her 
 goodness is unmistakeable." He then, I thought, 
 rather hastily threw off the subject, and talked to 
 Morgan on French politics. We were all chatting 
 entre loup et chat, and more people had dropped 
 in, when the grands battants of the back drawing- 
 room were thrown open, and exhibited an interior 
 brilliantly lighted, with a card-table on one side, 
 and a buffet with refreshments of all sorts on the 
 other. The Duke, Sir George and Lady Cecilia, 
 and Lady Arran sat down to cards. The Douglases 
 and ourselves attacked the buffet, and chatted of 
 our Priory days ; and so we parted, they for Argyll 
 House, to inquire for his sister, Lady Aberdeen, 
 who is not well, and we for home, and a pull at 
 the proofs of " Florence M'Carthy." But I must 
 not toss off my royal duke without giving you my 
 impressions of him. In person, sensual ; like his 
 brothers, full and florid, his voice alternating con- 
 tinually from a soprano to a deep barytone. He 
 seems eminently intellectual, unaffected, and kind ; 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 31 
 
 he is also a thorough-bred gentleman, which is not 
 what can be said of all princes. 
 
 I send this in a frank of Mr. Courtnay's, who 
 walked to see us the other day with his dear little 
 boy. 
 
 And so, dears, good-bye. 
 
 S. M. 
 
 Lady Cork has found us out. I send you a note 
 of hers, which reminds one of " Arlequin ambassa- 
 deur," — "Sire, voila mes depeches, et voila mes 
 contres-depeches." 
 
 A very, very agreeable man dines with me on 
 Sunday, the 4th. Will you and your spouse hon- 
 our my poor board that day ? But do not mention 
 your coming, for I profess never to see company 
 upon the Sabbath. We shall be only a snug party : 
 Morgans, two; Carlisle, one; self, one; friends, 
 three. 
 
 Fool that I am ! I forgot I was engaged on the 
 4th. It must be Saturday, the 3rd, that you must 
 dine here. Say Yes. 
 
 Yours, 
 
 Mary Cork and Orrery. 
 
32 DIARY OF 
 
 From the Baron Dinon to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Paris, 1818. 
 
 Dear good Child, 
 
 Mr. Dalton has handed to me your letter. 
 From the pleasure I have felt in reading it, I judge 
 how ill-considered it is to remain so long without 
 writing to those we love ; but this is really your 
 own fault. It is you who have created my cabinet 
 a la mode, which occupies my entire morning ; the 
 evening I give up to parties, and all this without 
 any advantage. You were contented there, be- 
 cause you had a friendship for me, and we chatted 
 together so delightfully, that Ave always parted with 
 mutual satisfaction. But we do not chat with 
 everybody, which makes people say, " Is this all we 
 are asked for ? It is a silly, thoughtless woman who 
 has deceived us." But, after all, dear friend, we 
 are not the less worthy, nor shall we be the less 
 charmed to see you again. I never doubted the 
 attraction of your last work ; you have a wonder- 
 ful faculty of drawing from nature, and all your 
 pictures are perfect; but I am delighted that you 
 have sold them well. The money derived from our 
 works is our most exclusive property, and that 
 which we value the highest. Bemember that you 
 owe me a comedy. This is the road to the highest 
 celebrity, particularly in your country ; where the 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 33 
 
 ground is scarcely cleared. "We will debate this 
 subject on the days when we are inclined to talk 
 rationally. You will find all here your friends. You 
 will only have to allow others to come, and the 
 number will increase, for all will seek you. The 
 great secret is — not to appear anxious for celebrity, 
 and to possess real merit. It is true this is not 
 practised by all the world. People are beginning 
 to forgive your work here, and to render it jus- 
 tice. You are abused, but purchased, in English. 
 You see, therefore, that your affairs are not going 
 badly. 
 
 I took a liking to M. Dalton at first, from all that 
 he said to me. You will find everything here as 
 you left it, and we shall now begin to talk of ex- 
 pecting you. The amiable idler, who loves you 
 sincerely, is always determining to write when I 
 do ; but I fear I shall betray her this time. 
 
 I hope the serious labour of the work on which 
 Sir Charles is engaged has not made him lose any 
 of his delightful cheerfulness, and that we have 
 many pleasant evenings in store, and shall invent 
 some good charades. 
 
 Adieu, dear friend. That my letter may reach 
 you, it is necessary I should finish, and send it to 
 the post. 
 
 I still hope to receive a letter from you before 
 
34 0IAEY OF 
 
 your departure from Dublin. I love you with all 
 
 my heart. 
 
 Denon. 
 
 Diary, August. — If there is anything more de- 
 lightful than another to witness, it is the sponta- 
 neous outbreak of a good and kind heart, which, in 
 serving and giving pleasure to others, obeys the 
 instinctive impulse of a sanguine and genial dispo- 
 sition — waiting for no rule or maxim — not opening 
 an account for value expected — doing unto others 
 what you wish them to do unto you. This, in one 
 word, is Lady Caroline Lamb ; for if she does not 
 always act wisely for herself, she generally acts 
 only too well towards others. On hearing of our 
 arrival in town, her first self-indulgence was to send 
 us a basket of fruit and flowers ; the next was to in- 
 vite us to Brockett Hall ; and finding we could not 
 go, she overlooked all inconveniences of her London 
 house at this season — carpets up and curtains down 
 — she had her couchette put up in one of the sitting- 
 rooms at Melbourne House, and there she is stop- 
 ping whilst we remain, with no other motive than 
 to be of use to us. Since I first made her acquaint- 
 ance, before my marriage, this has been invariably 
 her conduct towards me. Here is her first note : — 
 
LADY MORGAN. ' 35 
 
 Sunday, Brockett Hall. 
 
 My deae Lady Morgan, 
 
 Name any day you like this week, and I will 
 drive up and see yon ; but if it is as hot as to-day 
 I think I should like to set out at six, to be with yon 
 at nine in the evening. I have no house or bed, 
 and shall either come back here or go to an hotel. 
 Pray bless Miss Spence's eyes with your presence 
 while you are in town, as she has raved about your 
 coming. Oh ! that I could prevail upon you to 
 come here for one day — it is a paradise, and full ot 
 flowers and fruits : — it only wants inhabitants. 
 Yours most sincerely, 
 
 Caroline Lamb. 
 
 We expressed a wish to see " Faust" — the great 
 attraction just now. We might have had a fairy 
 godmother, for this note came directly after she 
 left. 
 
 Mind the opera. Come early I beg you, for 
 they say "Faust" is beautiful. I will leave word at 
 the door — it is the private door near the king's box. 
 Ask for the king's box, and they will show you the 
 door ; then ask for me in the Duke of Devonshire's 
 box. lam. certain you will find no difficulty. Will 
 your very interesting-looking friend come ? She is 
 like Miss O'Neill — I like her countenance much 
 
36 DIAEY OF 
 
 — and tell Sir Charles I am enchanted with his 
 
 aunt. I had a great mind to ask her blessing — 
 
 " Bless me, even me, also," when she was about it. 
 
 Had I been like her, I should have looked on beauty 
 
 as a hussy. 
 
 Ever yours, 
 
 Caroline Lamb. 
 
 You must all come and sup with me to-night, 
 to show Sir Charles my room. 
 
 Whilst with us in the morning, she had met my 
 husband's aunt — a very fine old lady, and with quite 
 as much character as herself. Lady Caroline had 
 been much struck with her. It amused me to see 
 them side by side — the lady of supreme London 
 ton, and the wealthy old lady de province, who 
 has more than once turned the scale of an election, 
 and who boasts of her illustrious race as being de- 
 scended from Morgan the buccaneer and " sister to 
 the brave General Morgan in India." She told 
 Lady Caroline she had never married because she 
 would not give any man a legal right over her ; 
 nor would she have any but women in her house 
 (boarding her men-servants at the hotel). A gang 
 of housebreakers having broken into her house at 
 
LADY MORGAN. 37 
 
 Grantham in the middle of the night, she went 
 alone to discover what was the matter, and found a 
 man getting in at the window. She caught him by 
 the leg, and held him long enough to make herself 
 sure of recognising him. He was taken, tried, and 
 hanged at the county town on her evidence. The 
 gentlemen of the town had advised her, as a matter 
 of prudence, to refuse to prosecute, as she was a lone 
 maiden lady, and would be a mark for the revenge of 
 the rest of the gang. " Be it so," said she ; " but 
 justice is justice, and the villain shall be hanged ! " 
 Kobody ever molested her afterwards. The con- 
 trast between the lisping, soft voice of Lady Caro- 
 line, and the prim, distinct tones of the old lady 
 was curious and amusing. 
 
 To Lady Clarice. 
 
 Conduit Street, August, 1818. 
 
 Mr own dear Olivia, 
 
 Here I am seated in very nice apartments, cheek 
 by jowl with Morgan, who is writing to Clarke on 
 subjects political and medical, having despatched 
 our despatches to Colburn for the day I hope, being 
 twenty pages of proofs. But here is a changement 
 de decoration I We are not to start for France for 
 a fortnight ; that is, until I leave the whole of my 
 
38 DIAEY OF 
 
 MS. of " Florence Macarthy " in Colburn's hands. 
 Part of it is not yet written. His reader is charmed 
 with it, and he himself is in extasy with his third 
 edition of " France." Meantime, having signed 
 and sealed for the future " Italy," he will not let me 
 allude to it now, or take up my mind with any sub- 
 ject but my Irish heroine. Colburn, as usual, has 
 indulged his puffing vocation by sending our ar- 
 rival to the "papers," as if anybody cared about it. 
 This has brought down a shower of visiting-cards 
 and notes to me. 
 
 " I once more take the road, the hour of attack approaches, 
 Hark ! I hear the sound of coaches ! " 
 
 Lady Charleville's the first — her two tall footmen 
 actually looking in at our drawing-room windows 
 from behind the carriage. I ran down to her, and 
 she insisted on my going with her to Grosvenor 
 House, to meet Sir Thomas Lawrence in the Picture- 
 gallery. I was delighted with the opportunity, 
 never having seen him since I was at the Priory : 
 so I sent up for my hat and scarf, and off we went. 
 We had a charming conversation ohemin faisant. 
 The Charlevilles have exchanged their maisonette 
 in Berkeley Square for Queensberry House, Picca- 
 dilly, and, with their usual kindness, have invited 
 us to two dinners and one rout whilst we remain. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 39 
 
 She is not only the truest and best of friends, but, 
 to my mind, one of the first of women. She is, how- 
 ever, a Tory, or at least an aristocrat, whilst I, God 
 save the mark, am— 
 
 Your poor, affectionate sister, 
 
 S. M. 
 
 P. S. — Among the calls here to-day are cards 
 from Lady Besborough, Lady C. Lamb, Lady De 
 Ameland (Duchess of Sussex), and lots of men — 
 the Hammonds all out of town, and the Sollys off 
 for Paris, as are the M'Neils, &c. 
 
 To Lady Clarice. 
 
 August 26th, 1818, Conduit Street. 
 
 My deaeest LivY, 
 
 I thought it best not to write to you for some 
 days past, that I might have something to tell worth 
 reading ; but events have so crowded on me en at- 
 tendant, that I scarce know where to begin. We 
 live in a sort of tornado between business and pleas- 
 ure, and my head literally turns round. Our re- 
 ception here is, beyond all expectation, delightful, 
 and my poor much-abused "France" (in reviews 
 and newspapers), so far from operating against us, 
 has made us more noticed than ever. All my old 
 
40 DIAET OF 
 
 great friends are still in town, and have come for- 
 ward to make London delightful, and I have been 
 presented to lots of new ones. The Duchess of 
 Leinster was one of the first who called on me. 
 Unfortunately I was out, but I saw her and spoke 
 to her a moment at the Opera : she is grown thin, 
 but still pretty. The Dowager Lady Cork almost 
 lives with us, or rather we with her. Her most 
 curious and beautiful house is in the next street, 
 and every morning I am sure to have a note from 
 " Mary Cork and Orrery,"* brought by an elfin 
 page. She takes us about everywhere, and makes 
 parties for us of all sorts of colours — pink, blue, 
 gray, and a colour I have supplied her with (not 
 from the rainbow), dun-ducketty mud colour — -I 
 must explain. She said to me one day, " My dear, 
 I have pink for the exclusives, blues for the liter- 
 ary, gray for the religious — at which Kitty Birm- 
 ingham, the Irish saint, presides — for I have them 
 all in their turns ; then I have one party of all 
 sorts, and I have no colour for it." " Oh," said I, 
 " call it ' dun-ducketty mud colour.' " She laughed, 
 
 * Her mode of signature led to a funny quid pro quo the other day. 
 She wrote to an upholsterer in the city, to send her some expensive 
 Tneuble that had caught her eye en passant in his shop. His answer 
 was — " D. B. not having any dealings with M. Cork and Orrery, begs 
 to have a more explicit order, finding that the house is not known in 
 the trade." 
 
LADY MORGAN. 41 
 
 and adopted it. I must send you some of her notes, 
 for they are impayahle. "With all her oddity, she 
 is good-nature itself. A wealthy and bachelor 
 friend of Morgan's, his godfather by-the-by, Mr. 
 Const, has a box at the opera, which he has lent 
 me while I remain in town. We went last Tues- 
 day, and took Lady Susan Douglas, and sweet 
 Lucy Drew, her daughter, whom I think you saw 
 at Lord Cloncurry's. Lady Susan is sister to Lady 
 De Ameland. 
 
 As the Duke and Duchess of Clarence were 
 there, the house was full and brilliant, but the 
 women were nothing to compare in beauty with 
 Dublin. The opera was very bad, but the sole 
 lustre with which it was lighted with gas (I believe 
 for the first time) was beyond all description, and 
 well worth going any distance to see. In spite of 
 its beauty and brilliancy, the women are out- 
 rageous about it, as they declare it makes them all 
 look frights. The Duchess of Clarence, in this 
 respect, leaves all competitorship behind. We 
 stood near her in the cloaking-room for five min- 
 utes, so that even Morgan could see her, who sees 
 nothing. Her skin is yellow, her hair lemon-col- 
 our, her eyes pink, and her features sharp. She 
 looked timid, poor thing, but curtseyed very grace- 
 fully when " God save the King" was played a son 
 
42 DIAEY OF 
 
 intention, and applied to her honour by the 
 audience. His handsome royal highness honoured 
 me with a salute of recognition, in memory, I sup- 
 pose, of our conversation at Harrington House, 
 years ago. The duchess, an Albino in appearance, 
 is an angel in character, although " angels were 
 not painted fair to look like her." 
 
 The next night was one of Lady Charleville's 
 conversaziones. There was the Rev. Mr. Milman 
 there, author of "Fazio," the play a la mode, — 
 which he might be himself, if he chose to take the 
 trouble ; but he was retiring, and kept in the back- 
 ground, where, however, many sought him. My 
 old crony, Mrs. Opie, was there, en grand costume 
 as usual, and lots of grandees, ambassadors, and 
 ambassadresses, &c. My hero of the night, how- 
 ever, was Jekyll, the wit par excellence, but always 
 so much pleasanter than wits generally are, par- 
 ticularly as he made my "France" the subject of 
 his conversation. He told me he was at Lord 
 Sheffield's when the book came out, the circle 
 chiefly consisting of the Ministerial people ; and 
 the sensation it made among them was very curi- 
 ous : and even old George Rose said he could not 
 let it out of his hands till he had read it through ; 
 " and," added Jekyll, " what was comical, he said, 
 with a dry air, ' and I believe in my heart every 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 43 
 
 word of it is true.' " But what pleased me most 
 was, that lie said Morgan's Appendix had opened 
 the eyes of many, for people had known so little of 
 the interior of France till lately; and what he, 
 Morgan, had said, were considered as things of 
 authority by all parties, as they were evidently 
 written with great temperance and simplicity. 
 " As for the ' Quarterly Review,' " said Jekyll, 
 " that, instead of exciting, has damped party pre- 
 iudico against you, and by none was it more cried 
 down than by some of the Ministerialists them- 
 selves ; in fact, they are ashamed of it." 
 
 This was all curious, coming from the personal 
 friend of the Regent, which Jekyll is. He is cer- 
 tainly the most delightful creature I ever met, 
 partly, perhaps, because he natters me up to my 
 bent, and partly because he is delightful. He was 
 very inquisitive about the Irish bar, and so, being 
 in high fun, I thought I would amuse him a little 
 by parading the whole Irish system of things before 
 him, and particularly the attempted degradation of 
 the Irish bar by the Government : and I made him 
 laugh not a little at the expense of the Counsellors 
 O'Shaughnessy, &c, &c. ; but the anecdote of the 
 dialogue between the Chief Baron O'Grady and his 
 brother Darby, the Secretary, muttered before the 
 whole court, nearly killed him! You remember 
 
44 DIARY OF 
 
 it, " Be aisy, you omadaun !"* but though I had 
 many auditors, I had none who seemed to relish 
 my Irish nonsense so much as a tidy little old gen- 
 tleman, who was afterwards presented to me as 
 the Vice-Chancellor ! (the " Lady Leech" of the 
 " Morning Chronicle"). JekylPs rival wit, Luttrell, 
 was not there, although one of Lady Charleville's 
 especial clique. He made a mot the other night to 
 Lady Cork, which was certainly one of the very 
 wittiest things ever said, hut too broad to repeat. 
 
 * An anecdote, forgotten now, but only one of the many which oc- 
 curred every day in the Irish courts. The Chief Baron O'Grady had 
 for his secretary his brother Darby, who, sitting under him, occasion- 
 ally threw back his head to communicate some fact or incident of the 
 moment. One day, seeing a very handsome girl brought into court as 
 a witness, he looked up at his brother, and muttered, loud enough to be 
 heard, "Chief! there's a colleen for ye!" (Irish for a handsome girl.) 
 The chief justice, assuming a solemn look, stooped down his head as 
 though communicating an important fact to his secretary, and re- 
 torted, " Be aisy, ye omadaun ! " 
 
 Darby O'Grady — a very humorous and agreeable member of Dublin 
 society, and the hero of many mots not unworthy of record — smuggled 
 himself one day to the top of the dinner-table, next to the Right Hon- 
 ourable Robert Peel, who was dining with Darby's brother, the chief 
 baron, and had just arrived in Ireland to take office. Mr. Peel dropped 
 into a conversation with his unknown neighbour on the subject of 
 O'Connell's legal abilities. " Why then, sir," said Darby, " in regard 
 of the law he is no great things, no more than the mare that ran for 
 the whiskey." " But he has great power over a jury," said Mr. Peel : 
 "how would you explain that ? " " Why, Mr. Peel, d'ye see — first he 
 butthers them up, and then he slithers them down, and then the divil 
 himself is not equal to him." If Mr. Peel was not satisfied with this 
 explanation, he must at least have been amused ; and Darby's classical 
 ■ brogue added great piquancy to his conversation. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 45 . 
 
 In the days of Swift, however, it would have been 
 thought good fun at Lady Betty Germain's. 
 
 The next day the dear kind Lady De Ameland 
 came to take me to drive ont wherever I liked. 
 We drove first to Melbourne House. The groom 
 of the chambers told us Lady Caroline received in 
 her bedroom, which turned out to be the beautiful 
 saloon which looks into St. James's Park. The 
 immortal chair in which Byron sat for his picture 
 to Sanderson* is fastened to the ground in the bow 
 window. She was lying on a couch rather than a 
 bed, wrapped in fine muslins, full of grace and cor- 
 diality, but more odd and amusing than ever. She 
 embraced me with all the cordiality of authorical 
 sisterhood, and insisted on my meeting her, with 
 my husband, this evening at Almack's, for which 
 she gave me tickets, desiring me to send a note to 
 Lady Besborough, Cavendish Square, who would 
 come to take me with her. When I hesitated, the 
 duchess advised me not to think of refusing. She 
 said half the fine ladies in London could not get 
 such a ticket d poids d'or. She mentioned Lady 
 Saltoun, and a great Irish lady, a friend of ours, 
 who is not sure whether she will acknowledge me 
 here or not; perhaps she will to-night — if she gets in ! 
 
 * This valuable picture was bequeathed to me by Lady C. Lamb, 
 and is now in my possession. 
 
46 DIAET OF 
 
 All this was said apart, whilst Lady Caroline 
 was examining a page, sent her by Lady Cork, of 
 whom more hereafter, c'est d mourir de rire* I 
 despatched my note to Lady Besborongh, according 
 to orders, and then Lady Cork called on us at seven, 
 and took us to dine at Sir George Cockerell's, the 
 richest nabob in London. Such a palace ! on Pic- 
 
 * Lady Cork's fading sight induced her to borrow eyes from every- 
 body who dropped in, in the course of the morning : I was frequently 
 on service. One morning she said in her peculiar way, when I asked 
 her how she was, "Well, child, of course I am well, but I want you to 
 write me two notes. I am going to get rid of my page." — "What ! get 
 lid of your pet ? " " Don't talk, child, but do as I ask you.'' So I took 
 up my pen, and wrote under her dictation, " To the Duchess of Leeds. 
 My dear Duchess, this will be presented to you by my little page, whom 
 you admired so the other night. He is about to leave me ; only fancy, 
 he finds my house not religious enough for him! and that he can't get 
 to church twice on Sundays. I certainly am not so good a Christian as 
 your Grace, but as to the Sundays it is not true. But I think your 
 situation would just suit him, if you are inclined to take him. Ever 
 yours, M. Cork and 0." "Now," said she, "fold that up, and put on 
 the address, for fear of mistakes. Now, my dear, begin another to 
 your friend Lady Caroline Lamb, who, 'tis said, broke her page's head 
 with a teapot the other day." — " A Tory calumny," said I ; " Lady Caro- 
 line was at Brockett the very day the adventure was said to have hap- 
 pened at Whitehall." " I don't care whether it's true or not," said 
 Lady Cork ; " all pages are the better for having their heads sometimes 
 broken ; now write, please : ' Dear Lady Caroline, will you come to me 
 to-morrow evening, to my Blue party ? I send this by that pretty little 
 page whom you admired so, but who, though full of talent and grace, 
 is a little imp, whom, perhaps, you may reform, but I cannot.' (Parpa- 
 renthese, the page just described as a little saint was the "little imp" I 
 was now desired to prbner.) ' He is very like that boy you used to take 
 into your opera box with you, and was so famous for dressing salad. 
 I would not advise you to take him, if I did not think he would suit 
 you. Ask any one you like to my Blue soiree, particularly Mr. Moore. 
 Yours, in all affection, M. C. and 0.' Now, my dear, put that up, and 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 47 
 
 cadilly Terrace. "We dined in an apartment that 
 opened on gardens in Hyde Park. All was luxury 
 and splendour. The dessert was literally an East- 
 ern apologue — elephants, pagodas, rajahs, forests, 
 and flowers : it looked fabulous. I sat next a yel- 
 low Indian judge, just arrived en passant par St. 
 Helena, and who offered me a written account of 
 his interview and conversation of two hours with 
 Napoleon. There was an assembly in the evening, 
 for which, of course, we did not wait ; but, by-the- 
 by, I saw three handsome brothers all in a row, 
 looking very hautain — their name is Lygon. Lady 
 Besborough called to pick us up, with her usual 
 kindness and courtesy : Lady Caroline met us at 
 the entrance with a beautifully-embroidered sac 
 upon her arm. " What have you there V said Lady 
 Besborough. "Well, dear mamma, it is a piece 
 of very curious rhubarb, quite like a ion-ion; I 
 brought it to recommend it toHartington (the Duke 
 of Devonshire). It will do him all the good in the 
 
 good morning to you.'' This scene was only one of many of the same 
 sort at which I assisted in Mary Cork and Orrery's Bureau des affaires 
 Urangeres. 
 
 To me Lady Cork was always amusing and instructive, as " the Lit- 
 tle Dunce " of Dr. Johnson, and " the honourable and charming Miss 
 Monckton " of Miss Burney's Memoirs. She was a great tradition, and 
 a most amusing one. I have the honour of being the historian of her 
 macaw, under the title of " History of a Macaw of a Lady of Quality." 
 See " Book without a Name." 
 
48 DIARY OF 
 
 world, mamma : he is looking so ill." But the 
 duke had not yet come, so on we went. The great 
 Irish lady now sailed in and looked at me 
 
 " With eyes malign askance," 
 
 and was passing on, when, perceiving that I was 
 leaning on Lady Besborough's arm, she approached 
 to speak to me, and I had not the heart to refuse 
 her my patronage ! and so I bowed just as she 
 would have done to me at a ball at the Rotun- 
 da, when she was of " the Lady Lieutenant's " 
 party. 
 
 I 'found after a little I knew many people. 
 Mrs. "Wellesley Pole was particiilarly civil, and 
 asked for you. Mr. Cornwall, the aide-de-camp, 
 was there. There was some pretty quadrille-danc- 
 ing ; all the girls in gauze frocks, with ropes of 
 satin, and tulle flounces, and abundance of scarlet 
 flowers on the bottoms of the petticoats in bunches. 
 The heads worn in every way, but all flat, and the 
 hair chiefly divided down the centre to show the 
 skull (like your own way), and then jutting in curls 
 behind the ears. The Duchess of Argyll — who, 
 with the exception of Mrs. Fitzherbert, was the 
 handsomest woman in the room — had a beautiful 
 black crop with no ornament : the Duchess of Rich- 
 mond, with the " ancient old " castle diamonds ; 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 49 
 
 and the Duchess of Rutland, bean tiful as ever ; the 
 girls and young women frightful ; more beauty 
 in a little Dublin party than in all London. "We 
 left it soon, though Lady Besborough begged of us 
 to stay to hear a little Russian girl recite verses. 
 However, as we had seen her dance with a Russian 
 boy in full Russian costume, and were not particu- 
 larly amused, we went off. This Russian girl is 
 an object of sentimental fashion. She was found 
 among the heaps of slain near Moscow. She has 
 the face of an old Calmnc Tartar, and was dressed 
 in a blue and silver tunic, with a turban and 
 feathers. The ladies were crying " Charming ! " 
 but I never saw such a fright. Friday (yesterday), 
 we dined at Lady Cork's, with Jekyll, Lord Car- 
 hampton, and some other famous wits and men of 
 pleasure about town — a most delicious day. Lord 
 Carhampton made Lady Cork give this dinner that 
 he might meet me, for he raves about " France ;" 
 and you may be sure I was not sorry to meet the 
 once famous Colonel Luttrell, the opponent of 
 Wilkes, and the victim of Junius. He is odd, but 
 clever and pleasant, and the conversation was 
 delightful. We retired after dinner to a room, 
 opening into a curious garden, with parrots and 
 macaws flying about, music heard among the trees, 
 and rose-water spouting out of fountains, and es- 
 3 
 
50 DIAUT OF 
 
 sences and perfumes carried in red-hot ladles by 
 servants, till we were enveloped in clouds of in- 
 cense. At eleven o'clock we all set off for Lady 
 Charleville's concert, which was deemed one of the 
 finest things given this year. Morgan entered the 
 room with Mrs. Opie on one arm and me on 
 another. Conceive the formidable sight. The 
 music (professional) was very fine; Sir George 
 Smart presided at the piano ; Crivelli (an heroic 
 singer in the grand serieux) was divine ; and Am- 
 brogetti sang all Leporello's songs from Don Juan 
 with exquisite humour. I think he is the finest 
 buffo I ever heard. A young lady of fashion 
 played the harp with one hand, and with the other 
 the piano. The ladies of fashion were all ready de 
 pdmer d'aise, and Sir G. Smart and ourselves ex- 
 changed looks of disgust. It was execrable play- 
 ing. I played a little, and sang " Kate Kearney." 
 "While I was talking to Lady Lonsdale and Lady 
 William Bentinck, the Duchess of Richmond came 
 most graciously forward to salute me. I have met 
 her every night since I came to London, and she 
 has always looked kindly on me ; though, observe, 
 she never took the least notice of me in Ireland — 
 indeed, I never was introduced to her. I was 
 presented last night to the Duchess of San Carlos, 
 the Spanish ambassadress, and ambassadors of all 
 
LADY MORGAN. 51 
 
 sorts. The person that interested me most was 
 Lady Sarah Bunbnry, the king's first passion, and 
 once the most beautiful woman in England: im- 
 agine a dignified though infirm old lady, stone 
 blind, led in! Mrs. Fitzherbert sat next me; 1 
 never saw such lovely blue eyes. • She appeared to 
 me what I thought her when I was a little child 
 and saw her picture — fat, fair, and forty. We have 
 refused two invites for to-day. 
 
 Diary — London, 1818. — Dined at Lady Cork's ; 
 and most agreeable company : the Duchess of Sus- 
 sex (or Lady De Ameland,* comma il vous plaif), 
 the first by all right, divine and human, the second 
 by an Act of Parliament and the Prerogative 
 Court. Oh, these men and their laws ! so lightly 
 made, so lightly broken ! as passion or expediency 
 suggest ; from Henry VIII. and his pope, before 
 and after. Mr. Milnes, as celebrated for his maiden 
 oration as "Single-speech Hamilton "f was for his; 
 
 * The Duke of Sussex in 1793 married Lady Augusta Murray, and 
 in London again the same year, also at Hanover. This marriage, in 
 spite of the threefold ceremonies of the church, being considered a vio- 
 lation of the Koyal Marriage Act, was dissolved in 1794; " but without 
 the slightest reflectiou on the honour of His Royal Highness." In 1806 
 the ex-duchess assumed, by sign manual, the title of Countess De Ame- 
 land to mark her descent from the ancient family of that name. 
 
 t 1858. — This speech was made on the proposal of peace with France 
 
52 diaut or 
 
 his beautiful wife (Miss Monckton, daughter of 
 Lord Galway), carrying on the hereditary con- 
 nexion of Moncktons and Milnes ; General Monck- 
 ton and a young Monckton, a family party congre- 
 gated under the roof of Johnson's " little dunce"- — 
 pretty Maria Monckton; with the addition of the 
 amusing Sir A. Carlisle, who entertained us with 
 an account more amusing than proper, of a fairy 
 child who had been made a show of in London, 
 and which, after its death, he had preserved in 
 spirits. This caught Lady Cork's attention, and 
 the following little dialogue ensued : — 
 
 Lady Cork. — My dear Sir Anthony! will you 
 let me have that little curiosity to-morrow night? 
 It will be very curious. 
 
 Sir A. — Well, madam, I don't think she can 
 come on so short an invitation. She is like other 
 lions, with the exception of the " learned pig," who 
 never required pressing. 
 
 Lady Cork, peevishly. — Well, but I have had 
 the pig, and it is a humbug. To-morrow is my 
 "Blue" night, and your little anatomy — what do 
 
 in 1808. He was offered the Chancellorship of the Exchequer, when 
 only twenty-three, by Mr. Perceval. George IV. offered him a seat in 
 the House of Peers, which Lord Palmerston repeated ; but he refused 
 this and all other public honours. He was made of the true metal of the 
 old English great country gentleman. See Miss Burney's "Memoirs," 
 for an. account of Lady Cork when Miss Monckton. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 53 
 
 you call her? — would just answer the "Blues," 
 they are so fond of science and that sort of thing ; 
 and then, Sir Anthony, you would give us a little 
 discourse, as you did at the College of Surgeons. 
 You will meet two reviewers and the editor of the 
 " Court Journal." It may be of service to you ; 
 indeed it may, they cut up folks so ! "What do yon 
 think, Sir Charles Morgan ? you are a physician. 
 
 Sir 0. M. — "Well, Lady Cork, Sir Anthony is 
 so distinguished for his own skill in " cutting up " 
 that I would not trust your " reviewers " near him, 
 for fear of the effects of a jalousie du metier. 
 
 Lady Cork. — "Well, you are both very tiresome : 
 clever men are so sometimes — there's Horace Smith 
 whom I invited for this evening particularly, and 
 he had the pertness to write me word he was en- 
 gaged to the elephant. 
 
 " "What has your ladyship done with your Irish 
 saint, Kitty Birmingham ? " asked I. 
 
 " Oh, she is coming to-morrow, my ' Gray ' 
 evening." 
 
 A general titter followed, which was cut short 
 by Lady Cork saying, " Duchess, shall we go ? "* 
 
 In the drawing-room, whilst we were taking 
 coffee, the duchess drew me over to her sofa, with 
 
 * See " Book of the Boudoir," for my first party at Lady Cork's. 
 
54 DIAEY OF 
 
 all her former kindness and cordiality, and invited 
 us to dinner. "What a noble creature she is, and 
 looks ! She always reminds me of that beautiful 
 description of " La belle Hamilton" in Grammont, 
 " grande et gracieuse dans ses moindres mouve- 
 ments." No doubt she is the type of her cousin 
 once removed, Mary Queen of Scots. She is, I be- 
 lieve, lineally descended from the Regent Murray, 
 and, the Scotch will have it, nearer to the English 
 throne than, the progeny of the Electress Sophia. 
 
 Although it was Lady Cork's " Pink night," 
 the rendezvous of the fashionable exclusives, we 
 got away as soon as Sir Charles came up, being 
 voues to dear Lady Charleville's. There we found 
 an agreeable party already assembled. Lady 
 Charleville, wheeled in her great chair from one 
 drawing-room to another by her handsome son, 
 Lord Tullamore, his rich bloom and her pale 
 thoughtful countenance making a fine contrast. 
 The " two great marchionesses," Hertford and Sal- 
 isbury, were there, the latter still giving her " Sun- 
 day evenings," to which all the saints, as well as 
 all the sinners, were anxious to gain admission. I 
 met several old Priory* acquaintances, amongst 
 
 * Stanmore Priory, the seat of John James, Marquis of Abercorn, 
 where my happy residence gave me the advantage of knowing so many 
 distinguished persons, whose friendship has come down as an inherit- 
 ance to the third generation. — (1858.) 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 55 
 
 others Berkeley Craven, Mr. Mercer, who played 
 like an angel — of fashion — at the piano, the Rev. 
 Mr. Milman, one of the superfine Vernons, the 
 Misses Fanshaw, the eldest of whom had been 
 gouvernante to the Princess Charlotte of Wales, 
 Tom Moore, who wouldn't sing till a larger au- 
 dience of pretty women were collected, we being 
 all in the dowager line. William Spencer* was 
 there, but I suspect he was waiting for Cap- 
 tain Moms, whom I was longing to meet and to 
 hear ; but he is so engaged at Oatlands that Mer- 
 cer told me he was sure he would not get away 
 from his duchess of York : " Besides," said he, "he 
 is getting lazy ; and since his romantic passion 
 for Mrs. Sheridan was disappointed, he is mucli 
 changed. His poetical love of wine has been re- 
 duced to too severe a practice ; he finds in every- 
 thing 
 
 " ' A reason fair to fill his glass again.' " 
 
 " I suppose," said Morgan, 
 
 " ' He takes to drinking ratafie, 
 And thinks upon Miss Bailey ?' " 
 
 * " William Spencer may be regarded as much the representative 
 of a class as John Clare or Robert Burns. The style of his verse, emi- 
 nently airy, polished, and graceful, as well as his personal qualities, 
 combined to render him the idol of that society, which, by common con- 
 sent, we are content to call the best. His varied accomplishments en- 
 livened a country house, his brilliant wit formed the delight of a dinner- 
 table ; while his singular charm of manner, and, perhaps, of character, 
 gave a permanency to his social success by converting the admirers of 
 
56 DIARY OF 
 
 Lady Hertford's nieces, the fair Misses Mey- 
 nell, came in, escorted by their brother, the navy 
 officer. 
 
 But I missed many dear old faces ; Mrs. Abing- 
 ton, the last fine lady of the dramatic court, not 
 excepting Lady Derby (Miss Farren) ; above all, 
 poor Monk Lewis, who died the victim of his own 
 benevolence. He visited his estates in the "West 
 Indies for the express purpose of liberating, or at 
 least ameliorating, the condition of his slaves. He 
 failed, and his health broke down under the dis- 
 quietude and opposition which he experienced 
 there. He died on deck, in his passage back. 
 His last act was to write on the crown of his ser- 
 vant's hat a request to his heirs that they would 
 add three holidays yearly to those already enjoyed 
 by his slaves. As he could not give them their 
 rights, he tried to multiply their enjoyments. 
 
 He was the founder of the dramatic school of 
 novel writing — the novel of action since developed 
 and followed up by Walter Scott. Lewis is in many 
 respects comparable to Gil Bias ; but his novel of 
 the "Monk" fell justly under the ban of Use 
 moralites. His "Castle Spectre" and "Tales of 
 
 an evening into friends for life. The grandson of two dukes, and coming 
 into fashion when wit and fancy, and the higher graces of person, were 
 most cordially welcomed by the higher circles. Among his contempo- 
 raries were Sheridfsm, Moore, and Byron." — Recollections of a LUermij 
 Life, by Mary Russell Mitford. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 57 
 
 Wonder " are full of dramatic power, and broke in 
 on the monotony of the rhyming sentiments which 
 preceded the brighter and grander outburst of 
 Byron. I asked Spencer for a copy of his verses 
 to Lady Anne Hamilton. He said he would give 
 them to me in Paris — a charming rendezvous ! * 
 
 I was still lingering in the hope of hearing Cap- 
 tain Morris, but Morgan, in the most husband-like 
 and arbitrary manner, said, " Come, come, we must 
 go home ! " so I sulked all the way, singing to vex 
 him — 
 
 " Then who'd be grave, 
 
 When wine can save 
 The heaviest heart from sinking, 
 
 And magic grapes 
 
 Give angel shapes 
 To every girl we're drinking." 
 
 * To tlie Lady Anne Hamilton, by William Robert Spencer. 
 Too late I stayed, forgive the crime, 
 
 Unheeded flew the hours ; 
 How noiseless falls the foot of Time 
 That only treads on flowers ! 
 
 What eye with clear account remarks 
 
 The ebbing of his glass, 
 When all its sands are diamond sparks 
 
 That dazzle as they pass ? 
 
 Ah ! who to sober measurement 
 
 Time's happy swiftness brings, 
 When birds of paradise have lent 
 
 Their plumage for his wings ? 
 
 These verses are so elegant, and perhaps now so forgotten, that I 
 cannot resist reviving them here. 
 3* 
 
58 DIARY OF 
 
 Morgan and I always have a little tiff going 
 home — I always wanting to stop longer, and he 
 wanting to come home sooner. 
 
 Everybody seems bound for Italy: the papers 
 announce the Duke of Devonshire's departure to- 
 day : Duchess Elizabeth is already off: Sir Thomas 
 Lawrence going to Home to paint the Pope's pic- 
 ture. Everybody, it seems, is to muster at Paris, 
 and I wish you were of the party ! And so God 
 bless you, dear, and good night. 
 
 S. M. 
 
 P. S. — Dear old Bowen, the Abercorn chaplain, 
 came to see us to-day, kind and good as ever. Lady 
 Abercorn is very ill ; when able she will go to Italy 
 with her sister, Lady Julia. Toques like yours are 
 very much worn. Send me word all about the ba- 
 bies and yourself. Morgan's kisses and loves to 
 you all. He loves you better than anything but 
 me, and I see no such husband anywhere : the wo- 
 men all think him handsome, and the men very 
 clever, and I am very proud. 
 
 S. M. 
 
 I never looked half so well, and am grown quite 
 fat, fair, and a beauty ! ! ! 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 59 
 
 August, London. 
 
 My dear Love, 
 
 Notwithstanding the voluminousness of my last 
 epistle, I have not got half through all I bad to say, 
 and at ten o'clock this morning the printer's devils 
 were at my elbow : they are getting on so rapidly 
 with " Florence Macarthy," that I tremble for my 
 own strength to write the original matter with 
 which I am obliged to fill out the third volume, in 
 which, by-the-by, I have changed the closing 
 scenes, I think advantageously. Now add to all 
 this, that, intending to rig myself out in Paris, I 
 have had to set myself up with an evening dress ; 
 and though materials are extraordinarily cheap 
 here, work is wonderfully dear, so dear, that I can- 
 not get a plain dress made up under a guinea and 
 a half. I am now sorry that I did not bring sulky 
 Annette with me ; however, I have made myself 
 a very pretty dress with my own two hands — white 
 satin, with a deep lace flounce. With the skirt I 
 got on beautifully, but as to the corsage, fortunately 
 there is scarcely any, what there is being covered 
 with falls, frills, and lace, so it does not signify how 
 the body is made. Over the flounce is a rouleau 
 of satin, which you make with a quarter of a pound 
 of lamb's wool, which you pull out to the thickness 
 you please. Dear Morgan has brought me a beau- 
 
60 DIAET OF 
 
 tiful lace scarf, the most beautiful I ever saw, or 
 rather ever possessed ! Only think of Colbum's 
 liberality ! On reading over the proofs of the 
 Second volume of " Florence Macarthy " (he can- 
 not read manuscript, you know), he sent me a hand- 
 some letter and a red leather case containing a 
 beautiful jparure of amethysts ! necklace, cross, and 
 brooch ! Did Sir Richard Phillips ever do as much 
 for the " "Wild Irish Girl " (poor dab !) in the height 
 of his passion for her ? Dear ISTanny * is not yet 
 come to town : she is still with dear grandpapa at 
 Champneys, where they are angry we do not go to 
 them ; but we cannot leave town for a minute, so 
 she is to be lent me for a day or two before we 
 start for France. 
 
 I have been all over London for a fawn-coloured 
 shawl for you, but can find no such thing ; nothing 
 but red and white, three guineas and a half, as 
 handsome as mine ; but one for five guineas much 
 handsomer, a deep border all round. Shall I send 
 you a bit of lace ? it is so cheap. I shall send with 
 them two dressed dolls for the two babies, as modes. 
 Would you venture to send this hasty letter to Mrs. 
 J. Bushe or Lady Charlemont? they will like to 
 know how I am getting on. Nanny just arrived — 
 
 * Sir C. Morgan's daughter by bis first marriage. 
 
LADY MOBGAU. 61 
 
 such a handsome little creature ! but so awkward 
 Her father would be so delighted to take her with 
 us to France ; but when I alluded to it grandpapa 
 exclaimed, " What, madam ! to make an atheist of 
 her, or a papist at a French school ? No, indeed ! " 
 
 Colburn is delighted with Morgan's work, and 
 thinks it will have a great run : he is to send him 
 some articles for his " New Monthly," so we shall 
 pay our way ; but our expenses are enormous. 
 
 As to France, don't be alarmed at all you hear 
 about it ; it is "fudge" got up by the " Courier," 
 and the " conspiracy " talked about was some in- 
 trigue of the French princes against the king, at 
 which the French people are highly amused. But 
 when I tell you it is said that De Cazes, the pre- 
 mier and king's favourite, is to be married to the 
 pretty daughter of the Prince de Beauveau, with 
 whom we lived so much at Paris, and have corre- 
 sponded with since, I think you may believe we 
 shall not be in much danger. However, to secure 
 all, we have written to our French friends, to know 
 how the land lies, and we shall be determined by 
 their answers. You may depend on it we won't 
 stir if there is the least symptom of danger, but re- 
 turn quietly to Dublin. 
 
 "We went to the Cobnrg Theatre on Saturday. 
 The Duke of Sussex was there, with Lady Arran, 
 
62 DIAET OF 
 
 Lady Cecilia and Sir George, Colonel Gore, and 
 
 the whole family of Gore : they were all, as usual, 
 
 kind and courteous to us. 
 
 S. M. 
 
 From Lady Cork to Lady Morgan. 
 
 I thought to have borrowed Lady 's 
 
 carriage, but she has given up her horses ; she 
 would be proud to have a job, believe me. Lady 
 A. Lindsay, and some right honourables of my 
 acquaintance, go in hacks, and I shall be happy to 
 accompany you in one, rather than broil in my 
 chair. Lady Cockerell would be glad to send one 
 of her three carriages, but 'tis not worth while 
 troubling her ; she shall send us home. Here is an 
 English milliner with French fripperies ; pray see 
 her, she is cheap. We shall meet you at dinner 
 to-morrow. Yours affectionately, 
 
 M. Coek. 
 
 From Lady Caroline Lamb to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Melbourne House. 
 
 So you will not vouchsafe one word to me, — 
 what, not one ? — are you afraid ? Call upon me ; 
 name your hour, for I am going abroad as soon as 
 
LADY MORGAN. 63 
 
 I recover my strength a little. My brother, "Wil- 
 liam Ponsonby,* wishes me to speak to you very 
 much, but I must tell you I can only see you 
 before four, or after eleven at night, as I am out in 
 the cool of the evening. 
 
 Yours, most truly, 
 
 Caroline. 
 
 From Baron Denon to Lady Morgan. 
 
 12th August, 1818. 
 
 My deae Fkiend, 
 
 Things are going on better and better. The 
 papers tear you to pieces. This strengthens your 
 party ; you are read. Your translation is found 
 much fault with ; the English version is eagerly 
 asked for, and everybody seizes on the few copies 
 that are here. Your anonymous detractors are 
 looked upon as hired. They copy from each other, 
 or merely indulge in paraphrases. The pamphlet 1 
 send you with this letter is by the pretended author 
 of " Fifteen Days in London," who has adopted an 
 entirely new style to write against you. I add to 
 it a justificatory note, of which you will make what 
 use you think proper. If you print a second 
 edition, yon can, without changing your opinions, 
 
 * The late lamented Lord de Morley. 
 
64 DIARY OF 
 
 show that you have just reason to be offended with 
 those who have such weak pretensions. Would not 
 this be highly profitable to your publishei ? 
 
 Mr. Moore is extremely amiable. You are re- 
 quested to say that we shall see him again with 
 much pleasure, that we often speak of him, and 
 that I am commissioned to tell him so. Adieu, 
 dear friend. I fear that Mr. Fletcher will leave 
 this to-morrow, and not find my despatches ready. 
 I embrace you both with all my heart. 
 
 Here is a letter from the mother * of the amiable 
 family. I shall send you a portrait of the whole 
 circle in the course of the present month, and in 
 the meanwhile receive this sample. 
 
 Dear friend, the breeze subsides. I send you 
 the "Mercury" I have just received, in which 
 there is a freely- written article, as just as can be 
 expected. To obtain a little good, we must submit 
 to the accompanying evil. I shall write again by 
 Mr. Fletcher. 
 
 Denoh". 
 
 Paris, August, 1818. 
 
 Diary. — Never employ your bookseller or pub- 
 lisher to take lodgings for you. Dufar, who stands 
 
 * The family of the Prince de Bcauveau. The sketch, now in iut 
 possession, was done by Denon himself. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 65 
 
 in both those honourable positions (having published 
 the translations of " The Novice of St. Dominick," 
 "The Wild Irish Girl," and " France "), has settled 
 down at the Hotel d'Espagne, Faubourg St. Germain. 
 Oh, such a darling dusty o\Afahrique ! just as it was 
 iu the time of Louis XIV., or even of the Eoi Dago- 
 bert ; qui sait ? As we drove up to Dufar's house, 
 Quai Voltaire, he was actually waiting for us at the 
 door, all bows and scrapes ; and then putting on his 
 casquet, ran beside the carriage like a running foot- 
 man. Only think of the Johnsons, or Millers, or 
 Murrays doing this ! Dear friendly Mr. Warden 
 sent his bonne to inquire if we were arrived ; and 
 while I was writing him a note, I saw her eyes fixed 
 on my little Irish harp case, with divers exclama- 
 tions of " Mon Dieu, est-il possible ! comment done !" 
 I looked up at her, and she answered my inquiry 
 with " (Test un petit mort, n'est-cepas, Madame V 
 She explained that she thought it was my dead 
 child that I was travelling with for the honour ot 
 entombment in Pere-la-Chaise ! It was now my turn 
 to exclaim, " Man Dieu et comment done /" and her 
 answer was "Mais, Madame, vous aut/res dames 
 Anglaises, vous etes si drdles /" The drollery of 
 travelling with a dead child ! 
 
 Dear old Warden,* looking more cowardly and 
 
 * Minister from the United States, and author of a very clerer work 
 on America. — See " France, 1816." 
 
66 DIAEY OF 
 
 frightened than ever — looking like " the thief that 
 fears an officer in every bush," — for he has never 
 recovered the Reign of Terror, — took us with him to 
 dine at Verey's, aux jardins des Tuileries, and after 
 our demi-tasse, we jumped into a fiacre, and away to- 
 the Vaudeville : quels delices ! was I tired ! And 
 so ends my rentrie into charming Paris, under the 
 scourge of proscription. By-the-by, "Warden told us 
 many pleasant anecdotes at dinner. He said the 
 Comtc D'Artois was the most ridiculous personage 
 in the drama of the Restoration ; that on the rentree 
 of the royal family, he kept bowing and scraping, and 
 showing his immense tusks, answering the paid 
 vivas of the populace with one of his jolis mots, 
 " Mes amis, il rCy a qu'un Frangais de plus /" 
 The • next day the shops were full of a caricature 
 of the giraffe (whom he resembled, and who had 
 made his entr&e into Paris the day before, on his way 
 to the Jardin des Plan tes), with a label in his mouth 
 addressed to the gazing multitude, " Mes amis, il 
 n'y a qu'un oete de plus /" 
 
 He observed, that the French had a prompt but 
 an unenduring sensibility. On the execution of 
 Louis XVI. there appeared in the English journals 
 the day after, this annonce, " Aux emigres Eran- 
 cais, on est prevenu qu'on ne donne pas des fetes 
 aujourd'hui." Two days afterwards, the brilliant 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 67 
 
 Count de Vaudreuil gave a reunion, where the 
 proverbe played was "II wy a point oVeternels 
 douleurs," a parody on the song, II n'y a point 
 Weternels amours. 
 
 Paris. 
 
 Diary. — A delightful rencontre at the Opera 
 last night with a charming man, Berkeley Craven, 
 the man in the world I wanted most to meet, as he 
 and Sir William Gell are living in Italy (Naples), 
 and, I believe, both with his mother, the Mar- 
 gravine of Anspach, whose books were the first 
 books (not school books*) that chance threw in my 
 way ; and as to Sir "William Gell, does he not fill a 
 large space in my autobiography, which is to come 
 out some day or other ? It was he who inspired 
 me with a desire to write in favour of Greek lib- 
 erty ; and I have still the plan of Athens which he 
 and I drew out at a side table one night at a party 
 at the Dowager Lady Donegal's. " Ida of Athens " 
 appeared three months after, for which Messrs. 
 Longman gave me 700Z. tale quale. Well, Mr. 
 Craven said he and my old beau, Gell, would take 
 care of us when we got to Naples, where his 
 mother reigned supreme, with the prime ministry 
 
 * " Travels by Lady Craven." 
 
bo DIAET OF 
 
 of good dinners and private theatricals. We set- 
 tled everything, though Mademoiselle Mars was on 
 the stage, giving Elvire in " Le Tartuffe," with all 
 the grace and quiet force which belong to her 
 genius and her knowledge of what constitutes a 
 fine lady in real life. He is off to-morrow for 
 Italy, and so we parted with d revederla in the land 
 of the Syrens. 
 
 August.- — This morning, a long and admirable 
 letter from Lady Charleville, who also talks of 
 going to Italy. What a woman ! and how proud 
 I feel of her early distinction of me when I was a 
 poor girl, if not an obscure one. Her friendship, 
 demonstrated by every circumstance that could be 
 advantageous to my youth, and protective of my 
 respectability, has never flagged.* 
 
 * 1858.— Since I penned the above lines (now forty years ago), I 
 have lost this inestimable friend, and London has lost one of the most 
 distinguished members of its aristocratic and literary society. The 
 following tribute to her memory, by one who knew her well, and en- 
 joyed the advantage of her intimacy, appeared in one of the public 
 prints. I cannot deny myself the pleasure of quoting it. 
 
 " The late Dowager Countess of Charleville. 
 
 " The late Dowager Countess of Charleville, who died on Monday 
 last, at the advanced age of ninety, was one of the most estimable and 
 remarkable women of any age or epoch. Had she been born a French- 
 woman and lived in France, she would have been assigned a place in 
 social history with the Sevignes and the Du Defrauds, for she possessed 
 in an eminent degree the qualities to which they owe their fame, with- 
 out a particle of their frivolity or their heartlessness. Her maiden 
 name was Dawson, and she was a member of the family which was eu- 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 69 
 
 Extracts from Letters to Lady Clarke. 
 
 Puns, August, 1818, 
 Hotel d'Espagne. 
 
 My dearest Deae, 
 
 This morning we trotted off to Denon, calling 
 chemin faisant at our old Hotel d'Orleans. Alas ! 
 we found our venerable hostess dead — the fine old 
 
 nobled in the person of the first Lord Cremorne. She received the 
 principal part of her education at a French convent, and her memory 
 was stored with curious traits of French manners prior to the first rev- 
 olution. But Dublin, in its most brilliant days, was her favourite theme. 
 She had mixed familiarly with all that was most distinguished for 
 talent, eloquence, wit, or patriotism, during the concluding quarter 
 of the eighteenth century, in the Irish capital. Lord Clare and Grat- 
 tan, notwithstanding their marked oppositiou of character and party, 
 were equally her friends. She was with Grattan in his last illness, dur- 
 ing the memorable interview with the late Lord Castlereagh, when that 
 noble lord announced to him that he was to be buried in Westminster 
 Abbey. She was the person to whom Lord Clare communicated the re- 
 markable fact (left unnoticed by Moore), that when Lady Edward Fitz- 
 gerald entreated Lord Clare (then chancellor) to give her an order to 
 see her husband in prison, Lord Clare replied — ' I have no power to give 
 you an order, but I can take any one I like with me to visit any prison- 
 er, and my carriage is at the door.' 
 
 " Her first husband was a gentleman of family and fortune in the 
 county Louth. He died in 1797, and in the following year she married 
 the late Earl of Charleville. Soon afterwards her firmness and conjugal 
 affection were put to u severe test. During the Irish Rebellion, Lord 
 Charleville was acting as one of the district Generals in King's County, 
 whilst she remained in Dublin. She resolved on joining him, and ef- 
 fected her purpose with no other escort than her maid, but armed with 
 pistols, one of which she had occasion to present at the head of a trou- 
 blesome innkeeper, who thought proper to usurp the duties of the police. 
 Her name has been popularly associated with literature in a manner 
 which always gave her unmitigated pain. Early in 1798, and prior to 
 the marriage, the late earl (a very clever and accomplished man) print- 
 ed for private circulation a translation of Voltaire's ' Pucelle.' In one 
 of the notes to a satirical poem from the pen of an Irish barrister (now 
 
70 DIAET OF 
 
 man (seated under his vine, as usual) dying, while 
 Pierre and Marie nearly kissed our hands off. 
 Pierre danced about roaring to his master, " Mais, 
 c'est M. Morgan et Madame, levez-Tous done ; " 
 he assured us we were well off in the Hotel 
 d'Espagne, as Josef the frotteur was his " ami 
 intifne, un garcon tres-aimable, a. qui je pouvais me 
 
 un English privy councillor of no inconsiderable note in politics and 
 literature), it was insinuated, that ' lawn sleeves and gauze petticoats ' 
 had been associated in some manner with his lordship in this work. 
 The 'lawn sleeves' were understood to belong to the late Bishop Mar- 
 lay, and the ' petticoats ' to indicate that Lady Charleville had lent her 
 aid. The work is now exceedingly scarce, and much prized by book- 
 collectors ; and, to enhance its value, it is almost invariably advertised 
 as by Lady Charleville. The fact is, she had nothing whatever to do 
 with it. Her distinct disavowal, for which we can vouch, will fully satisfy 
 all her personal acquaintances on this point — for she was the soul of 
 truth and honour. They also — at least those who lived much with her — 
 must know that nothing could be more alien from her tone of mind, 
 taste, and intellectual tendencies, than the translation in question. It 
 is rendered into vernacular English, and abounds in phrases with which 
 no woman in Lady Charleville's rank of life could be familiar. She 
 thoroughly enjoyed wit, but had comparatively small relish for humour, 
 and was instinctively repelled by the smallest approximation to vulgar- 
 ity. Now, in this translation, the wit of the original is very frequently 
 broadened into humour, and coarsened without warrant from the text. 
 Judging, therefore, solely from internal evidence, we should no more 
 believe that the English version was, wholly or in part, the work of 
 Lady Charleville, than that a woman was the author of ' Tom Jones.' 
 
 " The part of her life to which Lady Charleville herself recurred with 
 most pleasure, and in which she took most pride, was that which she 
 passed at Charleville Castle, King's County, in the midst of her late 
 husband's tenantry and dependents. She was bred up in Protestant 
 ascendancy principles, and had imbibed strong family prejudices against 
 Roman Catholics. But her mind was far too liberal and too enlight- 
 ened to miss the true course to be pursued by an Irish proprietor. She 
 established schools open to both creeds alike, and lived on excellent 
 terms with the Roman Catholic clergy in the neighbourhood, who— 
 
LADY MORGAN. 71 
 
 confier." This Josef is ready dressed for a figurant 
 at the Opera, his white shirt fastened with a large 
 ruby, a bouquet in his green jacket, and his hair 
 frise a ravir. 
 
 We found dear Denon surrounded by English 
 fashionables, from whom he rushed, when we were 
 announced, into our arms alternately. We met at 
 dinner chez Madame d'Houchien, who received us 
 like her children. We found some of the old 
 habitues there ; but Denon and Morgan set me 
 down at our hotel early in the evening, I was so 
 
 seeing that proselytizing was the last thing in her thoughts, and that 
 she was simply anxious to elevate the moral as well as to improve the 
 physical condition of the peasantry — cordially co-operated in her views. 
 It was her fixed belief, founded on careful observation and deep reflec- 
 tion, that a State provision for the Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland 
 was indispensable to the lasting tranquillization of the country. 
 
 " She lost the use of her lower limbs from rheumatism before she 
 passed middle life, and she was entirely dependent on others for loco- 
 motion ; yet her spirits were excellent, except under the immediate 
 pressure of affliction, to which she was exposed in no ordinary degree 
 from her warm heart and affectionate disposition. It would be impos- 
 sible to cite a more memorable example in disproof of the common- 
 place doctrine — that the heart and the imagination necessarily grow 
 torpid and inactive in old age. We strongly suspect that, when fancy 
 and sensibility appear to pass away with advancing years, they never, 
 in point of fact, existed, and that the flu sh, flutter, and vivacity of youth, 
 were mistaken for them. Her chief amusement, almost to her last hour, 
 was painting, and the style of art which she cultivated was the very 
 highest. Her generosity was boundless, and whenever any sacrifice, 
 personal or pecuniary, was demanded of her, her only anxiety was to 
 do what was right. The moment she was satisfied in this respect, the 
 struggle was at an end. Her conversation was eminently entertaining, 
 instructive, and improving. But we have said enough to complete our 
 tribute." 
 
72 DIARY OF 
 
 tired, and they proceeded to the Bishop of Blois 
 (G-re'goire). The bishop actually embraced him, 
 heretic as he was, before all the company, although 
 there were two Italian bishops present, praised my 
 work on " France," and assured him it had done 
 infinite good. You may, therefore, be perfectly 
 easy about us. We are to dine to-morrow with 
 Denon. Humboldt asked to meet us. 
 
 The Princess de Craon sent us a message 
 through M. Lattin, that notwithstanding our dif- 
 ference of opinion, 6he would come and see us 
 immediately. Benjamin Constant has written us a 
 beautiful letter expressive of his desire to make 
 our acquaintance. He has married a German 
 lady of high rank, who left her card for me. This 
 is all very -flattering. The clever little Inez Es- 
 menard tells me that my account of her in my 
 first " France " has brought her into great fashion, 
 and she has already made %000f. by her pic- 
 tures since my affiche* A Doctor Morgan is 
 settled here, and people supposing him to be our 
 relation, have followed him very much. All our 
 friends say that if Morgan would remain here, and 
 resume his profession, he would make a fortune in 
 a short time. So you oAve us a fortune, mind ! for 
 
 * The story of this little lady will be found in my "France, 181C;' - 
 she was the daughter of the ex-minister of police under Napoleon. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 73 
 
 nothing would bring us back to Ireland but you and 
 your babies — the tiresome family in Great George 
 Street! I bave sent you some ribbons for poor 
 Molly, by Miss Nugent. Curran, whom we saw 
 yesterday, brings you another packet of more con- 
 sequence for yourself. Dress here is much dearer 
 than in London. A little dress of coloured muslin, 
 for which I paid ten shillings in London, I was here 
 asked forty for ; but en revanche, I got four pairs 
 of beautiful satin shoes for fifteen shillings. There 
 is a tricote silk scarf which they wear here round 
 the head, en turbane, which is really very elegant. 
 I have sent you one by Curran. I have promised 
 to sit for two pictures for Denon — one for engraving 
 (seated by-the-by in one of his magnificent Egyptian 
 chairs, with a curious lion's head on each side), and 
 the other picture for the Exposition du Louvre, 1821. 
 I have already given une seance for the first ; but 
 the man was so much more occupied in sketching 
 the lion's head than mine, that, after three hours' 
 sitting, I declared to Denon I would not poser any 
 more unless he nurffled his lions, at which he laugh- 
 ed heartily. The second is to be a very grand af- 
 fair ; it is to be done in the school of David, and by 
 his most eminent disciple and pupil, Berthon ; it is 
 to be finished before I start for Italy. Direct to me 
 here before I get to La Grange, La Fayette's. We 
 4 
 
74 DIARY OF 
 
 are every hour expecting a good account from 
 Clarke : our anxiety about you embitters all our 
 pleasure. Describing to Madame d'Houchien your 
 situation, and my anxiety about you, she exclaimed, 
 " Pourquoi, Madame, fait-elle ce vilain me'tier-la!" 
 French women of condition, she said—" des femmes 
 comme il faut" — never have more than two or three 
 children at most ! So you see, my dear Olivia, they 
 manage these things better in France. 
 
 Susan Morgan, our half-sister, is here at a cele- 
 brated English school. Here is M. Thierry, my 
 great admirer from Metz. He brought his hand- 
 some son with him. He invited us most cordially 
 to pay him a visit at Metz. 
 
 P. S. — Your letter just arrived has set our hearts 
 at rest for the present. At the same time I do 
 think you might have found a larger sheet of paper 
 to tell us more about yourself and everybody. 
 Several letters from Oolbnrn ; one from Mr. Harris, 
 of Covent Garden. It is most polite, respectful, 
 and kind : he appoints a day to call on me to talk 
 over your play, which he seems inclined to bring 
 out, although two months have elapsed since his 
 letter was written. I have thought it better late 
 than never, so I have written to recommend your 
 play. Let me beseech of you not to bring it out in 
 
LADY MOEGAK. 75 
 
 Dublin under any circumstances : the success of 
 my little opera was not due to its merits, it was a 
 piece de circonstance, and upheld by a party. 
 
 By the same packet I had a letter from Miss 
 Drew — the daughter of Lady Susan Douglas, and 
 niece to the charming Duchess of Sussex — with an 
 account of the death of Lady Cecilia Leeson, daugh- 
 ter of Lady Oloncurry. It has shocked me much 
 — so young, so clever, and so good ! In haste, and 
 bless you all ! S. M. 
 
 From General La Fayette to Sir Charles Morgan. 
 
 La Grange, Monday morning. 
 My dear Sir Charles, 
 
 The letter which announced to me your arrival 
 in Paris, and the approaching pleasure of soon see- 
 ing you here, reached me on "Wednesday last ; too 
 late to reply by the same post. My friend, M. 
 D'Argenson, who left this on Thursday morning, 
 offered to take charge of my answer; by which 
 means I gained a day. This advantage seemed the 
 more important to me, as I understood you would 
 be free from Friday. You have not yet realized 
 our anxious hope, which we readily account for by 
 the many engagements or objects of curiosity that 
 may have detained yon. We should regret even 
 
76 DIARY OP 
 
 more, if in this matter you did not consult your en- 
 tire convenience ; while the impatient desire to see 
 you again is the sole motive we have for preferring 
 one time to another for your welcome, and, as we 
 hope, long visit. Meanwhile a sudden apprehen- 
 sion has seized us that some accident may have 
 happened to my answer. Two young friends of 
 mine leave this morning by the diligence : they 
 have promised me to call on you the moment they 
 arrive, and I take this opportunity of repeating to 
 you that I have no engagement or business to call 
 me from La Grange, or prevent me from enjoying 
 the whole time you may feel inclined to pass there. 
 They say the elections are postponed. These will 
 occupy three or four days in October, at a distance 
 of eight leagues from hence. USTo other duty can 
 interfere with my liberty, and you see that they are 
 a long while off. Besides, if we were fortunate 
 enough to keep you till that time, I should ask 
 your permission to absent myself for the purpose. 
 I beg Lady Morgan and yourself to accept the ex- 
 pression of our affectionate regards, and of the anx- 
 ious impatience of the whole family. 
 
 La Fayette. 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 11 
 
 From Benjamin Constant to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Rue St. Honorfi, No. 366, 
 September the 1st, 1818. 
 
 Though M. Benjamin Constant is informed of 
 Lady Morgan's intended visit to La Grange, he 
 would not wait till her ladyship's return to express 
 his regrets at being still confined, and prevented 
 from paying his respects to her. He takes the lib- 
 erty of reminding Sir Charles that he kindly prom- 
 ised to let him know when he and Lady Morgan 
 will again be in Paris, and hopes then to be able 
 to go out and make amends for what he is now un- 
 fortunately deprived of. The high reputation of 
 Lady Morgan, her liberal opinions, and excellent 
 works, must make every person worthy of convers- 
 ing with her ladyship lament at such a pleasure 
 being uncertain or delayed. 
 
 Diary. — We began this day with the "Bib- 
 Hotheque Historique," which I wanted to consult 
 on the subject of my Italian journey, for I am 
 cramming for Italy all the time I am hustling and 
 bustling about. After which, we drove to several 
 portes-cocheres ; but the general answer was, 
 " Parti pour les Eaux" or " Pour leur campagne." 
 We got admission, however, to the venerable Bish- 
 
78 DIABY OF 
 
 op of Blois, Gregoire, and found him at home and 
 alone, gracious and kind as ever. He talked with 
 flattering admiration of my work on France, and 
 of the eulogium I had made on him. On our re- 
 turn to our hotel, we found the member for Metz 
 waiting for us, who fancies himself an English coun- 
 try gentleman because he wears top-boots. He 
 talked to Morgan on the British Constitution, and 
 asked me " what I thought of ' Betsy Thatless ? ' " 
 (Betsy Thoughtless). A letter from General La 
 Fayette, fixing our visit to La Grange for the third 
 of September. He sends us carte de voyage, and 
 the carriage is to meet us at Grande Yille — " a vil- 
 lage," he says, " on the confines of civilisation." 
 
 To-day we walked to the Barbe bleue, MarcM 
 ties Innocents, where I bought myself a c7iapeau de 
 soleil, with corn flowers stuck in the side of it — a 
 regular Leghorn — -twenty francs. In London I was 
 asked three pounds for just such another. We then 
 got into a cabriolet, and drove to Eauoonne, to see, 
 or at least to inquire for, poor dear Madame Gin- 
 guene.* Alas ! she was not there. What desola- 
 tion ! and yet, by what immortal names is not Eau- 
 ionne consecrated— Ginguene, Rousseau, St. Lam- 
 bert, Madame d'Houdotot, &c, &c. We put up 
 our cabriolet, and dined deliciously as to the menus, 
 
 * "France, 1816." 
 
 & 
 
LADY MORGAN. 79 
 
 though not gaily, for four francs, at a little guin- 
 guette, under the heights of Montmorenci, over the 
 door of which was inscribed, " Ici on danse tous les 
 jours." They were clearing out for the ball, and 
 so we cleared ourselves out for Paris. Oh J Eng- 
 land, if you would only have guinguettes where 
 "on danse tous les jours" instead of drinking por- 
 ter and gin, what misery and murder might it not 
 spare ! The worst of the English temperament and 
 habits is, that they lead to sullen fanaticism, which 
 restricts innocent amusements, and leaves the field 
 clear for brutal indulgence. The man who has no 
 scruple to get drunk on gin of a Sunday would 
 shrink scandalised from dancing and eau sucree on 
 that day "appointed by the Church to be kept 
 holy." Porter and piety can go hand in hand ; 
 and so the orthodox 
 
 " Compound for sins they are inclined to, 
 By damning those they hare no mind to.'' 
 
 On our return, found that Humboldt had called. 
 It is too provoking ! He left us a little billet in- 
 stead of a card : 
 
 " Le Baron de Humboldt est venu s'informer du 
 retour bien tardif de Sir Charles et Lady Morgan." 
 
80 DIAKY OF 
 
 Note from Madame la Marquise de ViUette, the " Belle et 
 Bonne " of Voltaire. 
 
 August 27th, 1818. 
 
 Madame de Villette presents many compli- 
 ments to Lady Morgan, whom she proposes to visit 
 at noon this day. For two days she has wished to 
 pass a moment with her, but the bad weather has 
 kept her at home. 
 
 She sends her Fables, which she has been de- 
 sirous of lending to Lady Morgan in exchange for 
 St. Clair. Madame de Yillette regrets to hear of 
 the approaching departure [for La Fayette's,] which 
 she could have wished to see indefinitely postponed ; 
 and all who have the pleasure of Lady Morgan's 
 acquaintance concur in the same feeling. 
 
 Letters from Lady C. Lamb, which have made le tour du monde. 
 
 Melbourne House, 
 Saturday, 11 o'clock evening. 
 
 I am returned from riding alone, to find myself 
 in these large rooms alone ; but I sent for some 
 street minstrels to sing to me, and whilst they have 
 been thus employed, I have scribbled over a bit ot 
 paper without in the least intending it ; so, as you 
 profess to like these odd twists of my pen, I shall 
 answer your kind note with this truly edifying 
 
LADY MORGAN. 81 
 
 frontispiece.* I would you had stayed a few days 
 longer ; your head, with far more of genius, has 
 much hetter sense in it than mine ; and hesides, 
 you have a much better temper, and you have gone 
 through more, formed yourself more, seen the ne- 
 
 * Two specimens of Lady C. L.'s artistic facility, both in the gro- 
 tesque and elegant, accompanied this letter. 
 
 The following poem, printed afterwards in " Glenarvon," accompa- 
 nied the letter and the sketches : — 
 
 " Waters of Elle ! thy limpid streams are flowing 
 
 Smooth and untroubled through the flowery rale ; 
 O'er thy green banks. once more the wild rose blowing, 
 Greets the young spring and scents the passing gale. 
 
 " Here 'twas at eve, near yonder tree reposing, 
 
 One still too dear first breathed his vows to thee ; 
 ' Wear this/ he cried, his guileful love disclosing, 
 ' Near to thy heart in memory of me.' 
 
 "Love's cherish'd gift — the rose he gave — is faded; 
 Love's blighted flower can never bloom again. 
 Weep for thy fault, in heart and mind degraded ; 
 Weep, if thy tears can wash away the stain. 
 
 " Call back the vows that once to heaven were plighted — 
 
 Vows full of love, of innocence and truth ; 
 Call back the scenes in which thy soul delighted, 
 Call back the dream that bless'd thy early youth. 
 
 " Flow, silver stream ! though threatening tempest lower, 
 
 Bright, mild, and clear thy gentle waters flow ; 
 Round thy green banks the spring's young blossoms flower; 
 O'er thy soft waves the balmy zephyrs blow. 
 
 "Yet all in vain, for never Spring arraying 
 
 Nature in charms, to thee can make it fair ; 
 Ill-fated love clouds all thy path, portraying 
 Years of past bliss and future of despair." 
 
 4* 
 
82 DIAEY OF 
 
 cessity of, in some degree, considering the opinions 
 of others, although for the matter of that, you have 
 got yourself exiled, so that you have not sacrificed 
 your principles to your interest. Now my case is 
 this ; if I were alone to consider my own interest, 
 it is to bear all very gently, be very friendly, say 
 nothing, think nothing, feel nothing, but, studying 
 the present very unbecoming French fashion, to 
 join my cousin the ambassador, make love to every 
 one in power, look askance at those who are not, 
 and climb up that slippery rock- — fashion — from 
 which I chose to throw myself down as in an ava- 
 lanche or parachute — quite plump ; — the only ques- 
 tion being into which pond, lake, or chasm I like to 
 rest. But it is not my character, and the torrent 
 will take its course. I go, therefore, off, and you 
 will probably see amongst the dead, in some news- 
 paper — Died, on her voyage to Bonneberga Hague, 
 Lady Caroline Lamb, of the disease called death ; 
 her time being come, and she being a predesti- 
 narian. 
 
 Thank you for "Absenteeism," which I am now 
 going to read. I hope you saw my brother. 
 
 How did you like your sejour in London % "Will 
 you return ? Do you like the " Crusaders ? " I 
 will send you a letter of Lord Byron's, to keep ; 
 there are some verses to me which I think pretty ; 
 
LADY MORGAN. 83 
 
 they were written in a moment. I shall Bend these 
 when I hear from you ; in the mean time, believe 
 me, with much truth, 
 
 Yours, 
 
 Caroline Lamb. 
 
 Broekett Hall. 
 
 My very dear Lady Morgan, 
 
 Believe me I have, as Ariel did for Prospero, 
 obeyed your commands ; but like Ariel, I am tied 
 in a gnarled oak (that is, I am too ill to go about), 
 so I came to live quietly, until after my wedding- 
 day, at Broekett Hall. My brother "William is in 
 trouble that you have not received my letter, be- 
 cause it was such a stupid letter. I dare say he 
 would not send it until he had added to it what you 
 wanted. " Ada Beis " I sent to you long ago, with 
 some little pride — that L-eland, for whom you, as 
 well as I feel interest, should uphold it ; here, all I 
 have asked of Murray is a dull sale or a still birth. 
 This may seem strange, and I assure you it is con- 
 trary to my own feelings of ambition ; but what can 
 I do ? I am ordered peremptorily by my own family 
 not to write. All you say is true, and so true, that 
 I ask you, my dear Lady Morgan, if one descended 
 in a right line from Spenser, not to speak of the 
 
84 DIAET OF 
 
 Duke of Marlborough, with all the Cavendish and 
 Ponsonby blood to boot, who you know were al- 
 ways rebellious, should feel a little strongly upon 
 any occasion, and burst forth, and yet be told to 
 hold their tongues and not write, by all their re- 
 lations united — what is to happen ? Yon cannot 
 do me a greater favour than to recommend and set 
 abroad " Ada Reis." I will send you three copies, 
 and with them the letters I have received from 
 Gifford, Lady Dacre, and several others whom you 
 know. In the mean time, I am doing all I can for 
 your future work upon Salvator Rosa,* but until I 
 go to town, I can do but little. I have written to 
 my father, the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Palmer- 
 ston, Lord Cowper, and I have received from each 
 of them very kind answers, in which they say they 
 will certainly obey your orders. You must wait, 
 but depend on the information. Now, in the mean 
 time, will you do me this favour — will yon, in re- 
 turn for three " Ada Reises " which I shall send 
 you, and which I value at sixpence a head — will 
 you read the enclosed list, and serve me, if you 
 can, by trying to secure me a vote in "Westminster 
 
 * Lady C. Lamb having mentioned to me that some of the finest 
 works of Salvator Rosa were in the possession of certain members of 
 her family, I wrote to beg she would procure me a list of them, as I 
 had some idea of collecting materials for the life and times of that poet 
 and painter. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 85 
 
 Hospital, in the case of a vacancy for a physician ? 
 it may not happen this year, and it may in a month. 
 All I ask you is to write, and to beg for Lady C. 
 Lamb, never mind anything else : but to you I com- 
 municate that I am anxious to serve a physician 
 who is with me, whose name is Dr. Roe, who was 
 and is highly recommended ; and as we both love 
 Ireland, let me speak it, to the honour of that coun- 
 try, that he sprung from it. He has done every- 
 thing he could for my dear and only child ; I there- 
 fore have done and will do everything for him. As 
 you estimate talent so highly, and place mine so 
 high, what must I not say of you ? will you at least 
 use your influence discretionally, as there is no va- 
 cancy at present, and without naming him, do what 
 you can for me? It is Scotland, Ireland, and Eng- 
 land that are opposing each other. You know you 
 are all-powerful with the Opposition, and I hope, 
 for Ireland, you will do your best. I will do all I 
 can for Salvator Rosa. Depend upon me, and you 
 will see how zealous I will be very soon. I re- 
 ceived both your letters, but I could not answer 
 you myself ; and now, I am obliged to dictate, 
 being far from well. You talk of talent — look at 
 
 home. 
 
 Ever yours, sincerely 
 
 Caroline Lamb.* 
 
 * N. B. — These letters followed me to Italy. I give them as I find them. 
 
ob diaet or 
 
 Diary. — To-day being our last day in Paris for 
 the present (we go to La Grange to-morrow), we 
 made a tour of public libraries— dined at Verey's 
 — home — dressed, and went to Baron Denon's in 
 
 the evening. The Prince de S and his wife 
 
 were there. General Sebastiani dropped in, and 
 the dear Comte de Segur, with a green shade over 
 his eyes, and almost blind, still in deep despond- 
 ency for the loss of his noble son. Humboldt came 
 in, and was unusually pleasant ; gave us anecdotes 
 of the emperor and Josephine, and threw new light 
 on the cause of their separation. Denon spoke of 
 his indulgence to Marie Louise, and his love of 
 children. He saw him twice take the son of Hor- 
 tense* to council. He said the little King of Pome / 
 jouait son role de roi to admiration. One day 
 when Denon came to the emperor upon business, 
 the little Napoleon was playing with some toys on 
 the floor. The emperor called him, and put his 
 little hands into Denon's, saying, " Eemerciez 
 done, M. Denon, qui a tant travaille pour nous." — 
 " Je serai charme, M. Denon, de travailler quelques 
 fois avec vous," said his tiny majesty. " From that 
 moment," said Denon, " we were great friends, and 
 I invented some pretty toys for his little palace in 
 the Tuileries gardens." Turning to me he added, 
 
 * The death of this promising child much affected the emperor. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 81 
 
 " That unfinished drawing of Isabey's, which Inez 
 Esmenard gave you, Lady Morgan, would have 
 been perfect had he been allowed to finish it." 
 
 During the " Hundred Days," Isabey, to please 
 the emperor, went to Vienna, where the poor little 
 Napoleon was residing with his grandfather, the 
 Emperor of Austria. Pie took his unfinished draw- 
 ing in acquarelle to work out his design, if possible ; 
 but when admitted to the little dethroned sover- 
 eign, he found his fair locks cut off, his head pow- 
 dered, pomatumed, and covered with a cocked hat ; 
 and himself dressed in the white uniform, turned 
 up with red, of an Austrian general, decorated 
 with the order of Maria Theresa, military boots, 
 and white leather breeches. Isabey never waited 
 on him again : the next day the news came of the 
 battle of Waterloo, and that Napoleon was a cap- 
 tive to England. 
 
 A note from the general : here it is : — 
 
 From General La Fayette to Sir Charles Morgan. 
 
 La Grange, September 3rd, 1818. 
 My dear Sir Charles, 
 
 Your letter of the 31st only arrived yesterday, 
 too late for the same day's post. This disappoint- 
 ment is repaired by the departure of M. d'Argen- 
 6on, and you will receive to-day our thanks for 
 
88 DUET OF 
 
 your kind intentions in regard to La Grange. The 
 news of your coming has circulated much joy here. 
 All my family are collected here, with the excep- 
 tion of my two sons-in-law. You will also find, in 
 addition, Madame de Tracy, mother of my daugh- 
 ter-in-law ; Madame de Maisonneuve, sister to M. 
 de Maubourg ;* and a young painter of much dis- 
 tinction, brother of the liberal writer, Scheffer. 1 
 feel convinced that this addition to our circle will 
 be agreeable to you. The happiness of receiving 
 Lady Morgan and yourself will be participated by 
 our guests. "We all agree that the sooner the bet- 
 ter. Do not trouble yourself about the elections. 
 They must be preceded by the assembling of the 
 Holy Alliance at Aix-la-Chapelle, although it does 
 not seem very clear what they can have in com- 
 mon with foreign diplomacy. It however appears 
 quite certain that the meeting of electors will not 
 take place before October. I hope it is superfluous 
 to tell you, my dear friends, with what impatience 
 you are expected, and how happy we shall be to 
 renew the expression of our affectionate and grate- 
 ful sentiments. 
 
 La Fayette. 
 
 * Sister of the celebrated Count de Maubourg. She obtained per- 
 mission to join him at Glatz, and only quitted him when he was trans- 
 ferred to Austria. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 89 
 
 The pleasure of seeing you overcomes the mor- 
 tification I feel in thinking that La Grange, the 
 object of your kind partiality, will again be pre- 
 sented to you in a deformed state, owing to the 
 want of rain, which will make you blush for your 
 praises. May the inhabitants, towards whom you 
 are so indulgent, not find themselves in the same 
 condition ! 
 
 Madame la Marquise Vitlette to Lady Morgan. 
 
 29th August, 1818. 
 
 Madame de Villette salutes Lady Morgan, and 
 expresses her regret at not having once more em- 
 braced her before her departure. She sends her 
 the Epistle of Chenier, which she seemed desirous 
 of having. With respect to the note relative to my 
 brother, the Chevalier de Varicourt, that which 
 has been already drawn up is too voluminous to 
 send to Lady Morgan. It would occupy too much 
 space. For the memory of the Chevalier de Vari- 
 court a short notice will suffice, which will recom- 
 mend itself sufficiently when it appears in your 
 ladyship's works. On the night of the 6th of 
 October, the Chevalier de Yaricourt was on guard 
 over the queen, and perished, the victim of honour 
 and fidelity, while resisting the attacks of the popu- 
 
90 DIAET OF 
 
 lace long enough to afford the queen sufficient 
 time to save herself in the king's apartments. If 
 he had not heen my brother I could add many 
 details which would elevate still more highly his 
 heroic conduct."* 
 
 "We are off to-morrow for La Grange ; post- 
 horses to Grandeville, and such a caUche et chaise 
 de poste ! 
 
 Chateau de la Grange, 
 
 September 6, 1818. 
 
 Diary. — At Grandeville, where the general's 
 carriage met us, occurred an incident so dramatic 
 that it might have served for an interlude at the 
 Opera Comique. 
 
 "Whilst our trunks were changing to the gen- 
 eral's carriage, we joined a group who were stand- 
 ing houchs Mante opposite the window of the au- 
 berge. Their curiosity was directed to an open win- 
 dow, before which every now and then a most fan- 
 tastic object presented itself. I asked " a nice 
 young man " standing near us what it meant. He 
 
 * The family of Varicourt having been reduced from wealth to 
 poverty, Voltaire adopted the children, and married the eldest daughter 
 to his friend and ward, the wealthy and noble Marquis de Villette, one 
 of the brilliant wits of Paris — when wits abounded. 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 91 
 
 said, " Oh ! c'est Miladi Morgan, qui a si bien parl6 
 de nous autres industriels dans son petit livre sur ' la 
 France ;' elle attend la voiture du General La Fay- 
 ette." 
 
 At that moment the " Lady Morgan" came to 
 the window. It is impossible to describe anything 
 so grotesque, though such figures are still seen in 
 France. A head, powdered and creped, two feet 
 high ; several couches of rouge on her cheek, and 
 more than one on her chin ; black patches d discre- 
 tion ; a dress of damask silk with scarlet flowers. 
 She had on what was called a mantille de vieille 
 dame : she was apparently any age after seventy. 
 She was fanning herself, and seemed highly flatter- 
 ed by the homage paid to her charms (she could 
 suspect no other source). 
 
 In a few minutes she came out, and entered one 
 of those curious little vehicles called a desdbligeante, 
 such as one still meets with in the chemins de travers 
 in France. It was driven by a little dumpy coach- 
 man, in a livery as old and rusty as if he had served 
 in the Fronde ; in short, it was a scene from Mo- 
 liere realised, the " Comtesse d'Escarbagnas and her 
 page Criquet." She smiled and bowed graciously 
 as she passed the crowd, and was evidently a grande 
 dame de Province. 
 
 Hitherto Morgan had kept me quiet, but my van- 
 
92 DIAKY OF 
 
 ity at last broke bounds ; my charming chateau de 
 paille, with its poppy flowers, my French cashmere 
 and my coquetry, which, young or old, will go with 
 me to my grave, could stand it no longer. 
 
 " 'Odious in woollen, 'twould a saint provoke,' 
 Were the last words that poor Narcissa spoke. " 
 
 As I was stepping into the La Grange carriage, 
 I turned to the " nice young man," who handed me 
 in, and said, " Je snis, moi, la veritable Lady Mor- 
 gan." He said he guessed as much, and announced 
 to the ions gens who I was, and we drove off amid 
 vivats and laughter. 
 
 We arrived at sunset last evening, and the old 
 tower, covered with the ivy planted by Charles 
 Fox, shone out in strong relief from the dark 
 woods behind ; but the brightest of all sunshine 
 was the dear La Fayette's own noble countenance, 
 beaming with smiles and cordiality, as he stood at 
 the castle gate to receive us, surrounded by his 
 children and grandchildren, and other members of 
 his family. What a joyous reception ! There were 
 also some strangers whom I had not seen before, 
 but who were presented to us individually as soon 
 as we reached the salon. And what names ! An- 
 guste Thierry, the most promising litterateur of the 
 day ; Scheffer, a young but already celebrated 
 
LADY MORGAN. 93 
 
 artist, who was then painting the general's picture ; 
 Carbonel, the most delightful composer de salon 
 that France has yet had ; (and Beranger, charming 
 as he is, owes him much for his happy adaptation 
 of his poetry to his music, of the school of the 
 truest old French melody) ; two Americans ; and 
 two country gentlemen, who took their leave just 
 after we arrived. One of them had expected to 
 find La Fayette eighty years of age, and a cripple, 
 if not a dotard ! I asked the Englishman where he 
 had picked up the notion. He said, " Why, I read 
 in the ' Quarterly Eeview ' on your ladyship's work 
 on France that La Fayette was a dotard.' " 
 
 We had scarcely finished our toilet, when the 
 sound of the well-remembered old tocsin summoned 
 us to the evening repast, which was made rather 
 more substantial than usual a notre intention. The 
 whole family of three generations were assembled 
 in the fine old salle a manger, the stone hall with 
 its groined roof, and at a table where every one 
 dropped into their own place just as I had left 
 them, the strangers taking theirs under the direc- 
 tion of the ladies who did the honours, Madame 
 George La Fayette and Madame Lastyrie. By- 
 the-by, the company at La Grange was seldom 
 less than from twenty to thirty guests, the venera- 
 ble chief occupying the centre of the table between 
 
94 DIAET OF. 
 
 his two youngest grandchildren. Gaiety and con- 
 tentment were upon every countenance ; all gold 
 and silver vessels were banished from the table, 
 and the refreshments, without being recherches, 
 were varied and ajppetisanis. The dear children 
 were much grown since I parted from them at the 
 same table in 1816. Their charming education, 
 and, perhaps, also their fine original natures, pre- 
 vented their being importunate or troublesome, 
 and not one enfant terrible was to be found among 
 these noble descendants of the two great races, 
 Nbailles et La Fayette. They were certainly better 
 educated than the royal pupils of Madame de Main- 
 tenon, the pert precoces Dukes de Maine and Bur- 
 gundy. The natural man is the most selfish of all 
 created beings ; but early training will break even 
 him in, like " the beautiful hyena which never was 
 tamed," according to the eloge of the showman at 
 the Tower. The youngest grandchild, little Oscar 
 de La Fayette, had taken a most passionate love 
 for me in 1816, and he was, like the rest of his sex, 
 faithless in 1818. I said to him across the table, 
 " 3Pai?nes-tu tovjours, mon cher Oscar ? " He 
 hesitated, looked earnestly at me, and then, turn- 
 ing round with a look of extreme fondness at his 
 bonne, who was standing behind him, he replied, 
 " Oui, miladi ; mats faime mieux ma vielle ! " 
 
LADY MORGAN. 95 
 
 "We had a charming aprls-diner. Carhonel 
 sang some of his delightful songs, particularly " 11 
 estpassSle oon vieux temps" and " Je ne vous le 
 dirai pas ! " the words of both by Beranger. The 
 celebrated General Carbonel, his uncle, ancien chet 
 de l'etat, major de la garde nationale, and a great 
 friend of M. George La Fayette, is expected to-mor- 
 row. Lord and Lady Holland are announced for 
 the end of the month. The description of Lady 
 Holland's arrival at the castle of the republican 
 general is most amusing. She is always preceded 
 by a fourgon from London, containing her own 
 favourite meubles at Holland House — her bed, fau- 
 teuil, carpet, &c, and divers other articles too 
 numerous to mentio"h, but which enter into her 
 ladyship's superflu, chose trls-nbcessaire, at least to 
 a grande dame. One of her female attendants and 
 a groom of the chambers precede her to make all 
 ready for her reception. However, her Original 
 manner, though it startles the French ladies, 
 amuses them. 
 
 To-morrow I am to sit to Scheffer for my por- 
 trait. 
 
 After the departure of the children, who kissed 
 all the grands parents and made the most graceful 
 little salutes to the stranger guests, we fell to dis- 
 course. I inquired after my old friend the Abbe 
 
96 DIARY OF 
 
 Morellet, whom I visited at Paris, on what I be- 
 lieve was his death-bed. No memoir has yet been 
 written of him, though the general says he had a 
 most extensive correspondence with all the liter- 
 ary and celebrated characters of the eighteenth 
 century. 
 
 He was a member of the French Academy so 
 far back as 1785, and though all present were anti- 
 Bourbon, jusqu'aux houts des doigts, all gave due 
 honour to his present majesty for the restoration 
 of the pension which he had enjoyed under Louis 
 XVI. "What is curious about the pension is, that 
 it was originally obtained for him by an English 
 peer, the Marquis of Lansdowne,* when Earl of 
 
 * 1858. — Doubting the accuracy of the anecdote, I wrote a few days 
 back to Lord Lansdowne for information on the subject, when his lord- 
 ship thus answered : — 
 
 "Saturday. 
 "Dear Lady Morgan, 
 
 " I should have answered your note sooner, but could not imme- 
 diately tell whether I possessed the Abbe Morellet's works here. Un- 
 luckily, I find, after a diligent search, those I have of them, not large 
 or numerous, are at Bowood, where, as I have only servants in the 
 house, nobody could find them till I am there. They would have been 
 otherwise very much at your service. I can, however, answer your 
 queries. The Abbe Morellet was not my tutor— he was too old for that 
 — but an old friend of my father's, whom, in consequence, I saw a good 
 deal of the first time I visited Paris. He was then considerably above 
 eighty > I believe near to ninety years of age — one of the last of the 
 Academicians then alive. 
 
 "My father signed the Treaty of Paris in 1782. 
 
 " I am obliged to write in haste, just leaving town. 
 
 " Very faithfully yours, 
 
 " Lansdowne." 
 
LADY M0KGAN. 97 
 
 Shelburne, who having signed the peace between 
 England and France, in 1782, asked and obtained 
 a pension on the ground that the French writer 
 had liberalised his ideas ; that is, had contributed 
 to fix in his mind those principles which would 
 have a tendency more closely to connect the two 
 nations for the happiness of both. 
 
 Auguste Thierry observed, that he heard that 
 he had collected many anecdotes, both from 
 books and society, which would be a curious 
 illustration of the history of the times. We all 
 expressed a wish that the manuscript might fall 
 into the hands of Auguste Thierry, who will, I 
 prophesy, be the greatest historian of France, 
 though now young in life and letters. 
 
 Chateau de la Grange, Blesneau, Pas de Eogoy, 
 Department de la Brie, 
 
 September 10th, 1818. 
 
 My deak Livy — 
 
 Nothing can equal our uneasiness at not hear- 
 ing from you. We lingered in Paris day after 
 day, still expecting a letter and good news, until 
 General La Fayette wrote to us to say how anx- 
 iously we were expected here this some time back ; 
 and in the hope that your letter would follow us 
 
 immediately, we set off for La Grange, Mr. Warden, 
 5 
 
98 DIAKY OF 
 
 ota* American friend, having taken charge of all 
 our letters, which he is to forward us as they 
 arrive. As almost the whole route to La Grange 
 lies through cross roads, and partly through the 
 forest of Senars, our coachman, a most ignorant 
 and obstinate fellow, lost his way, and owing to 
 this circumstance we got into the most intricate 
 roads, into little remote hamlets, vineyards, and 
 woods, that afforded us an excellent view of the 
 interior, especially as we were obliged to alight 
 every half-league to ask our way on, because we 
 were afraid of being overturned. At a very pretty 
 little inn where we stopped to dine, and were 
 turned (literally) into a plantation of peaches and 
 grapes to amuse ourselves while dinner was getting 
 ready, a carriage full of gentlemen drove up : 
 they alighted and told us that the best thing we 
 could do was to return to Paris, because we were 
 in the directly wrong road! This was pleasant 
 news ; but there was nothing for it but to keep 
 moving — going back was not to be thought of. 
 Some of the gentlemen having ascertained our 
 names from our luggage, expressed themselves 
 much pleased with this accidental introduction, 
 and said some very fine things about our "France;" 
 and so they bowed themselves off, and seemed 
 pleased with the accident that afforded them an 
 
LADY MOKGAN. yt) 
 
 opportunity of seeing us. It is curious that I 
 should be better known here than in my own 
 country. We had another little adventure at 
 Grandeville, which I shall keep for another letter, 
 as I have other matter for to-day. They advised 
 us to return to Paris ; but nothing could persuade 
 our coachman, and so he took us across the country, 
 where I am sure no coach-wheel ever went before, 
 and of course doubled the length of our journey. 
 Imagine, however, that it lay through vineyards 
 bowed down with grapes, and orchards that strewed 
 the way with apples. It was curious to see the 
 peasants, even the children, working and walking 
 through them with as much indifference as our 
 people do through their potatoes ; but maybe we 
 did not wish for the children, only I am afraid they 
 would kill themselves here in the shortest given 
 time ! Nothing could equal the kindness, cor- 
 diality, and affection of our reception here. We 
 found the general younger by a dozen years ; 
 another grandchild, making twelve, in addition to 
 his family ; also a delightful old lady, Madame la 
 Comtesse de Tracy, whose brother, Monsieur de 
 Scoval, married a sister of Lord Kinnaird's, and 
 whose daughter is married to young La Fayette, 
 the colonel ; but her greatest illustration is that she 
 is the wife of one of the most eminent men and 
 
100 DIARY or 
 
 celebrated metaphysicians in France. A very 
 clever young artist, who is painting the general's 
 picture, Monsieur Scheffer ; and one of the most 
 delightful musicians I ever heard, a Monsieur 
 Carbon el, whose playing and singing is such a 
 treat to Morgan that he keeps him to it from 
 morning till night. He goes through whole operas, 
 and his French songs would delight you as much 
 as Moore's. He is also a charming composer, and 
 seems partly amateur, partly professional : he assists 
 in the academy of the children — for it is literally 
 an academy— as does also Monsieur Scheffer. 
 There are, besides, in the house a music-master 
 and an English governess. Before breakfast I find 
 all the young people at their easels painting from 
 models in the anteroom; then they go to their 
 music (there are three pianos) ; then they all turn 
 out into the beautiful park for two hours, and then 
 resume their studies for two hours more. But I 
 never saw such happy children ; they live without 
 restraint, and, except while at their lessons, always 
 with the grown people. If the little ones are 
 noisy, they are sent into the anteroom ; but their 
 gentleness and good conduct are astonishing, con- 
 sidering, too, that eleven of the twelve are always 
 with us. Oscar and Octavie, a little boy and girl 
 of three and four years old, are great friends of 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 101 
 
 mine. Octavie puts me so much in mind of dar- 
 ling baby, that I have her often with me. She 
 said yesterday to her mamma, " J'ai cherche une 
 rose pour cette petite dame, qui est si bonne pour 
 moi, mais le jardinier m'a ferme le grille (the 
 garden gate) au nez ;" would you not be surprised 
 at such a gallantry on the part of Miss Baby ? it 
 amused me much, as being so French. But the 
 children are amazingly forward here ; they break- 
 fast, dine, and sup with us, and nothing amuses 
 me more than to see them conversing with all 
 their little airs and graces, and not the least noisy. 
 "What would amuse you most is to see them break- 
 fasting on soup, made dishes, and drinking Bur- 
 gundy after it ; it is a knockdown to all Morgan's 
 arguments and mine. Morgan breakfasts like the 
 rest; but I have coffee, by particular desire, after 
 breakfast. Every one drinks tea and coffee as after 
 dinner ; and though this substantial meal is taken 
 at ten o'clock, every one is ready for the abundant 
 and excellent dinner which is served at four ; coffee 
 comes immediately after, and tea at ten. I never 
 saw such a beautiful picture of domestic happiness, 
 virtue and talent. The general has proposed inviting 
 Humboldt and Denon to join us. If they come, 
 Europe could scarcely present such another circle 
 of talent and celebrity. Morgan (when our minds 
 
102 DIAEY OF 
 
 are at rest about you) will be too happy. He is 
 now seated under the towers of La Grange by the 
 side of a pond fishing ; add to this a fine library 
 and Mozart's " Don Giovanni " played and sung 
 in the best style, and you may judge of his happi- 
 ness. He is quite recovered, and looking " charm- 
 ing well again." Whenever Carbonel sings his 
 delicious vaudevilles we think of you ; I have heard 
 a great many curious anecdotes of my " France " 
 since I came here. The first copy that arrived at 
 Madame de Stael's, Benjamin Constant, and La 
 Fayette, and several persons of celebrity were 
 present. She was herself in her last illness ; but 
 expressed herself extremely anxious to see me, and 
 much pleased by what I said of her. As soon as her 
 daughter, the Duchess of Broglie, returns to Paris, 
 she is to visit me ; but I hear of so many that are 
 to do so that I believe I must beg an apartment at 
 the Tuileries to receive them. There is at this 
 moment twenty times more liberality and public 
 spirit in France than in Ireland, or even in England. 
 Every shop is crowded with the pictures of La 
 Fayette and other patriots, and pamphlets are pub- 
 lished here which would be prosecuted with us. 
 Many of them are so here ; but there seems but one 
 sentiment through the country. There is no liberty 
 of the press for newspapers, though they are miser- 
 
LADY MOEGAIT. 103 
 
 able things, without news or discussions ; but the 
 people make themselves amends in pamphlets and 
 caricatures. Here is Morgan come in, after having 
 been overtaken in a storm of rain, thunder, and 
 lightning ; I fancy, too, by his appearance, he fell 
 into the pond ; but he has had great success — " one 
 nibble." As we were walking in the Champs Ely- 
 sees with Susan Morgan, who is at school there, we 
 met Miss O'Connor; she was very good-natured, 
 and consented to carry you a knit silk scarf, provided 
 she might wear it travelling; they are so strict 
 at the custom-house : so I thought it would not be 
 much worth at the end of her journey, and I will 
 wait till a better opportunity. I dream incessantly 
 that I am attending yon, and trying to keep the 
 children quiet ; but that Molly will make a noise : 
 this is my nightmare. Here is Morgan wants to 
 say a word — " My dear Livy — I suppose Sydney 
 has told you how anxious we both are about you. 
 I fear it will be yet some time before we shall hear 
 how matters have gone with you ; by this, how- 
 ever, you must be out of the scrape, I trust to your 
 entire satisfaction. Sydney, who takes everything 
 in heroics, is not, however, so easily satisfied, and 
 is impatient to know all about it. If he is a boy, 
 have him named after me, and I'll make him a good 
 Christian, and teach him to hate all heretics and 
 
104 DIAKT OF 
 
 schismatics with all his heart. We conclude Clarke 
 has written to us, and that the letter is en chemin ; 
 but write to us again as soon as you receive this, 
 lest the last should have miscarried. Old Barois, 
 at the Hotel d'Orleans, is dying of dropsy, and has 
 let his house. You must therefore direct for the 
 present dies Monsieur Warden, Hue de Pot de 
 Fer, No. 12, F. St. Germaine. I suppose Syd. has 
 told you all the news, and how delightfully we are 
 situated here. We have a musician from Paris in 
 the house with us that bates the world ; he has long 
 pieces of vocal music by heart of Grliick's that would 
 enchant you, full of force and vigour, with the 
 sweetest melodies. Salute our brethren the wicked, 
 and whip the children. — F. C. M." 
 
 Diary — La Grange. — A wintry evening kept 
 us in the salon after coffee. The weather is quite 
 changed. The general entered to us, saying, " Al- 
 lons, mes amis, point de pelouse, et vivent les 
 buches ! " 
 
 The next moment half a forest blazed on the 
 cavernous hearth, kindling the dead white ashes of 
 former times, where more than one Duchesse de 
 Noailles may have warmed her little feet.* We 
 all cried out bravo ! The ladies took to work, the 
 
 * The chateau of La Grange was inherited by the general in right 
 of his wife, the daughter of the Due de Noailles. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 105 
 
 children to play, and ran off to their schoolroom. 
 All my Irish turf-fire habits came strong upon me, 
 and the idlers followed my example, and " met- 
 taient les pieds sur les chenets," that foyer of gos- 
 sipry in France as in Ireland. Carbonel, however, 
 went to a piano that looked very like a spinnet, 
 and muttered sotto voce, " La Sainte Alliance," the 
 most anarchical of Beranger's songs. It is charm- 
 ing ! and didn't we all join in the refrain ! 
 
 1 Vivent les rois qui sont unis, 
 Vivent Algier, Maroc, et Tunis ! " 
 
 It was encored ; and then he sang us an unpub- 
 lished one, called " Mon petit coin." It begins, 
 
 " Non, le monde ne peut me plaire." 
 
 Carbonel said, " It is not only unpublished, but 
 it is not even written down by himself; for he 
 never writes down his songs, but leaves them to 
 his friends to pick up as they can when he sings 
 them." 
 
 " And where does he sing them ? " asked Mor- 
 gan ; " for one would go on a pilgrimage to hear 
 him." 
 
 " Au caveau,"* said Carbonel, laughing. 
 
 * Le caveau, he rementioned, may date back to the time of Henri 
 IV., who, like our Charles II., was prone to de cowir les aventwes. He 
 
 5* 
 
106 DIAET OF 
 
 " And where is that ? " I asked. 
 
 '' The caveau is his favourite haunt, and from 
 time immemorial it has been sacred to good wine 
 and good fellowship." 
 
 Morgan observed, " These joyous cellars were 
 derived from monkish times ; for the good fathers 
 often left VMtel for le caveau." 
 
 " By-the-by," said I, " when I was a child, I 
 recollect hearing my father say he was going to 
 the ' October cellar,' which was in Trinity College. 
 ' The Silent Sister,' as Oxford and Cambridge call 
 her, was, to say the least, as famous for her ' Oc- 
 tober ale ' as for her Greek and Latin. The junior 
 
 wrote one of the best drinking-songs, and addressed it to his stern min- 
 ister, Sully. It begins — 
 
 " Je bois a toi, Sulli! 
 Mais pour les divins appas 
 
 De la Duchesse 
 
 Chapeau bas ! " 
 
 It afterwards became a rendezvous for wits and humorists, and was 
 frequented by Pieron, Panard, Collet, and the two Crebillons, pire etfils. 
 Even in prudish England the Cyder Cellar has survived Crockford's 
 and occasionally been the resort of learning and fashion. Porson is 
 said to have composed his best Greek epigrams there, and Alvanley to 
 have frequented it. The charm of these cellars was probably their 
 obscurity to those who thought with Comus — 
 
 " 'lis only daylight that makes sin : " 
 
 it — reveals it ! Sheridan, in his Duenna, was the last to bring forward 
 the jollifications of the "Monks of the Screw" for the amusement of the 
 public in his opera of the " Duenna;" and the Irish Catholics, when it 
 was played in Dublin, assisted — an applauding audience ! 
 
LADY MORGAN. 107 
 
 fellows had the privilege of inviting their friends 
 one evening in the week to drink and make merry 
 in their Protestant caveau, which was brilliantly 
 lighted up for the occasion, and their orthodox ale. 
 was considered as their eau benite* But, general," 
 continued I, " why don't you invite the charming 
 Beranger here ? " 
 
 " Because," said La Fayette, " he won't come. 
 I have asked him, and he has refused, on the same 
 principle that he declined to dine with Talleyrand 
 and the Eochefoucaults — because I am trop grcmd 
 seigneur. I commissioned Manuel, the only one 
 who has any power over him, except it be la belle 
 Lisette of the moment. His answer was, ' My in- 
 stinct leads me to the caveau, and not to the 
 chateau.' " \ 
 
 " That," said I, " is rather the reverse of Moore, 
 whose instinct lies quite the other way." 
 
 To my great surprise, those present seemed to 
 know veiy little of Moore. I can understand how 
 difficult it would be to translate his works. Even 
 
 * It is curious to observe that the most frequented taverns in Dub- 
 lin were opened underground in the crypts of the two cathedrals and 
 other churches : probably a good old Catholic custom, sanctified by the 
 place. — See " History of Dublin," written by J. T. Gilbert, Hon. Sec. 
 Irish Archaeological and Celtic Society. 
 
 t Since the above scene occurred, here narrated, Beranger himself 
 has given a similar version of his refusal; but he does justice to the 
 noble character of the " seigneurs " with whom he declined to associate, 
 and, above all, to La Fayette. — See " Life of Beranger, 1858." 
 
108 DIAJJT OF 
 
 the exquisite verses adapted to Irish melodies are 
 more classical than national, and would answer for 
 any country as well as Ireland, with the exception 
 of a very few Irish heroic names and allusions. 
 Moore is the cliansonnier of the British aristocracy, 
 and belongs to gilded saloons and grand pianofortes. 
 
 Beranger has that fonds gaillard of French 
 vivacity which Habelais and Moliere alike possess- 
 ed (he always sang at table without accompani- 
 ment), and which makes him in every sense the 
 cliansonnier of France alone, whilst he is also the 
 ardent and unswerving friend of her liberties. 
 
 Moore, in his love of the society of the great — 
 Beranger, in his aversion to it — only show in in- 
 verted forms the same over value for external and 
 accidental advantages. 
 
 Vulgarity is setting store by " the things which 
 are seen." They who are poets by the grace of God, 
 ought to be able to look indifferently on outward 
 show, to leave coronets and the household gods of 
 "plate and gold, basins and ewers" and all their 
 catalogue, to their lawful guardians and bounden 
 worshippers of the Heralds' Office and the Butler's 
 Pantry, neither rejecting the amenities of politeness 
 (be the rank of the person what it may), under pre- 
 tence of being independent, nor seeking to affect 
 familiarity, where there can be no social equal- 
 
LADY M0KGAN. 109 
 
 ity.* It is, however, curious that both these men 
 of genius should have sprung from the people, the 
 master race of energetic ability ! 
 
 The general, turning to me, said, apropos of 
 nothing, " What first induced you to write, Lady 
 Morgan?" 
 
 " My instinct," said I ; " for I certainly had 
 very little encouragement." 
 
 " Oh," said Morgan, " do relate your deb&t with 
 your first MS. in the bookseller's shop." 
 
 The suggestion was received with acclamation, 
 and I accordingly told them the " Birth, parentage, 
 and education of Mrs. Denis Bulgruthury," which 
 produced shouts of laughter, though they could not 
 understand the brogue or Irish gesticulation with 
 which I gave it, in which lies the greatest merit of 
 the Irish raconteur. I sang an Irish song for Car- 
 bonel, which I think surprised more than charmed 
 him. 
 
 Sept. 14. — The happy news of my sister's happy 
 accouchement arrived this morning before we were 
 
 * If I missed making acquaintance with Beranger on this occasion, 
 ten years after I went along with my husband to visit him in the prison 
 of La Force, and had the honour of being received by him with cordial 
 courtesy. — See "France, 1829-30." Beranger took the place of Paul 
 Courier, and had his apartment in the state prison of France. " Les 
 envieux meurent, mais non l'envie ; " and though the Fouches, and 
 Marchangers, and the Villeles, and the Blacas, have made their exit, 
 there will always be entrances for their successors when the agency of 
 such men is required. 
 
110 DIARY OF 
 
 up. A boy at last ! I am sorry for it : those boys 
 bode no good, particularly the only son, as this 
 may be, of one who is all over morbid maternity. 
 
 Yesterday we accompanied La Fayette on a 
 ramble through his farms, and partly to meet the 
 Prince and Princesse Charles de Beauveau. As we 
 passed the ci-devant Pont Levis, I paused to look 
 through the open gates of the court at the fine old 
 chateau, with its souvenirs as far back as Louis le 
 Gros, and all the Noailles that ever were, the niece 
 of Madame de Maintenon included. 
 
 " These are dangerous fragments," I said, " of 
 olden times. They almost make one in love with 
 feudality. Quel beau heritage pour vos enfants ! " 
 
 He answered, "Ma chere amie, il n'y a qu'un 
 beau heritage ; c'est une bonne education, morale, 
 intellectualle, et physique." 
 
 " Et en donnant une bonne direction a leur in- 
 telligence," added Morgan, " for the benefit of so- 
 ciety." 
 
 " Do you remember," said La Fayette, " Beran- 
 ger's verses, ' La plainte d'un vieux vagabond ? ' 
 
 " ' Comme un insecte, fait pour nuire : 
 Hommes, que m'ecrasiez-vous ? 
 Au plutot, tous deviez m'instruirc 
 A trarailler au bien de tous. 
 
LADY MOEGAN. Ill 
 
 Mis a l'abri d'an vent contraire 
 
 Le ver fut devenu fourmi ; 
 
 Je voua aurais chGri en frere, 
 
 Vieux vagabond ; je meurs votre ennemi.' " 
 
 " Good verses," said Morgan, laughing, " but 
 bad philosophy. Nothing would make an ant of a 
 worm." 
 
 We laughed at this bit of natural history from 
 the physiologist, or, as the " Quarterly Review " 
 would call him, the materialist, and hand him over 
 to Mr. Reynolds, the Christian advocate of Cam- 
 bridge, for prosecution or persecution, as it might 
 turn out. 
 
 As I thought the general limped a little, al- 
 though Morgan gave him his arm, I proposed, as 
 we reached the extremity of the grande pelouse, 
 that commands such a beautiful view of the chateau 
 and its five towers, that we should sit down to en- 
 joy the scene on one of the many wooden benches 
 with which the grounds abound. The shade of two 
 fine trees offered us repose and shelter from the 
 sun, and, above all, one of those charming causeries 
 with the general, to which he unsuspectingly lent 
 himself. In those low, slow, modulated tones, which 
 gave to everything he said such emphasis, he an- 
 swered our questions by replies, that might almost 
 be called historical. 
 
112 DIAET OF 
 
 " Is it true, general," I asked, " that you once 
 went to a oal masque at the Opera with the Queen 
 of France, Marie Antoinette, leaning on your arm, 
 "the king knowing nothing of the matter till after 
 her return ? " 
 
 " I am afraid so," said he, " she was so indis- 
 creet, and I can conscientiously add, so innocent ; 
 however, le Comte d'Artois was of the party, and 
 we were all young, enterprising, and pleasure-lov- 
 ing. But what is most absurd in the adventure 
 was, that when I pointed out Madame du Barri to 
 her — whose figure and favourite domino I knew — 
 the queen expressed the most anxious desire to hear 
 her speak, and bade me intriguer her. She an- 
 swered me flippantly, and I am sure if I had offered 
 her my other arm, the queen would not have ob- 
 jected to it ; such was the esprit oVaventure at that 
 time in the Court of Versailles, and in the head of 
 the haughty daughter of Austria." I said, " Ah, 
 general, you were their Cromwell Grandison." 
 
 " Pas encore," replied he, smiling, " that soubri- 
 quet was given me long after by Mirabeau." " I 
 believe," said I, " the queen was quite taken with 
 the American cause." " She thought so, but un- 
 derstood nothing about it," replied he. 
 
 " The world said at least," I added, with some 
 hesitation, " that she favoured its young champion, 
 
LADY MOKGAtf. 113 
 
 le heros des deux mondes." " Cancan de salon ! " 
 he replied, and the subject was dropped. 
 
 I asked him if it were true that the Emperor 
 Napoleon had served under him ? He replied, 
 " No ; my intimacy with his compatriot Paoli gave 
 rise to the supposition. Napoleon was the general- 
 in-chief when his name first penetrated into my 
 dungeon at Olmutz. I was even ignorant of the 
 events that followed the siege of Toulon. Buried 
 alive, and, as I believed, almost forgotten, my coun- 
 trymen began at that period to speak aloud of the 
 prisoners of Olmutz, and allusions were made to us 
 — the Comte de Maubourg and myself — in the jour- 
 nals, the theatres, and even at the tribune. The lead- 
 ing generals expressed an interest in our fate, and 
 the first act of one of the chiefs of the directory,* 
 Barthelemi, the moment he heard of his nomina- 
 tion, was to write on my behalf to the Emperor of 
 Austria. So did the directors, Carnot, Barras, and 
 Kubel. The directory, in fact, charged the French 
 plenipotentiaries with our deliverance, without any 
 particular condition against my return to France ; 
 but I knew nothing of this negotiation until after 
 my liberation. Bonaparte interested himself much 
 for us, and hastened our deliverance by some 
 
 * May, 1797. 
 
114 DIAKY OF 
 
 months ; our letters of acknowledgment were ad- 
 dressed to the ministers of foreign relations, Talley- 
 rand, General Clarke, and General Bonaparte." 
 
 " I should like to see your letter to the citoyen 
 general-en-chef," I said. 
 
 " Remind me, Sir Charles, that it is given to 
 you in the evening," said the general ; " I thought 
 I had already done so. I was rather surprised not 
 to receive an answer from Bonaparte, particularly 
 as he had told my friend, Madame de Stael, that 
 he intended to write to me ; hut I discovered that 
 he was very angry at my returning immediately to 
 France.' He said, 'If he exposes himself to the 
 chance of being taken by the English, the coalition 
 will never give him up.' He added, ' La Fayette 
 has the talent of making friends ; if fortune were to 
 abandon me, il ne me resterait que ma femme, et 
 peut-etre mon frere Joseph : on a toujours la per- 
 sonne avec qui on couche.' When Bonaparte re- 
 turned from Egypt, I was in Holland ; my friends 
 wrote me word that he was well inclined to me. 
 He was already powerful, as every one felt that ho 
 was Vhomme du air Constance. He said to his 
 brother Joseph, that I ought to be named general- 
 issimo of the National Guard. Alexandre Romseuf 
 brought me a passport for France, and the com- 
 mandant of Utrecht gave the mot d , o?'dre, ' Liberte, 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 115 
 
 Pans, et La Fayette.' I then retired with my fam- 
 ily, whom I gathered round me, to the mountains 
 of the Haute Loire, in Auvergne, and I once more 
 found myself in the old feudal territory of the La 
 Fayette. My letter displeased Bonaparte. He did 
 not want me to return to France. Talleyrand had 
 given me a rendezvous at St. Jean d'Angely. Mad- 
 ame La Fayette, who was then in Paris, was how- 
 ever graciously received by Bonaparte. He told 
 her that my sudden appearance entraverait sa 
 marche. ' I know best, Madame, what is to be done 
 for his interests ; I beg of him to avoid all eclat, je 
 m'en rapporte a. son patriotism.' But he spoke of 
 me with lively interest to Sieyes.* Yolney joined 
 me, and I benefited much by his counsel to keep 
 myself quiet. Bonaparte adopted perfect silence 
 in respect to me, and when the eloge was pro- 
 nounced on the death of General Washington at 
 the Invalides, he desired the orator not to men- 
 tion my name in the oration, and was even angry 
 that my son was invited to the ceremony. During 
 his government as First Consul, I was frequently 
 en rapport with him : he was a charming causeur : 
 we had many curious conversations together. Tal- 
 leyrand was permitted to offer me, and even to press 
 me to accept an embassy to the United States; a 
 
 * See letter from La Fayette to the Consul-Provisoire Bonaparte. 
 
116 DIAET OF 
 
 proposition backed by the ministers. I answered 
 that I was too much an American to present my- 
 self in the part of a foreign diplomatist. Talleyrand 
 afterwards pressed on my acceptance a seat in the 
 senate. I declined it laughingly, saying, that prob- 
 ably the very day after my admission, I might 
 find myself under the necessity of denouncing the 
 administration of the chief. The mot was carried 
 to the First Consul, who said to General Dumas 
 (father to the novelist), '■ Je n'aiine pas a passer 
 pour un tyran : le General La Fayette semble me 
 designer comme tel.' I replied, that if Bonaparte 
 would serve the cause- of liberty, I would serve 
 him with devoument, but that I would not serve or 
 associate myself with an arbitrary government. On 
 my return to Paris, notwithstanding all these little 
 taoqvineries, I was in frequent rapports with him, 
 and after the infernal explosion, I waited on him ; 
 the intention was simply to congratulate him on 
 his escape from one of the nearly successful attempts 
 of the Jacobins : the Chouans had their share of 
 the suspicion, while other reports traced it to Eng- 
 land. He told me that Louis XVIII. had written 
 to him to disavow the crime ; a good letter, said he, 
 smiling, but finishing by begging that I would place 
 him on the throne ; promising me a statue, in which 
 
LADY MORGAN. 117 
 
 I should be represented as placing the crown on 
 the king's head ! " 
 
 The glimpse of a carraige, winding its way 
 amongst the trees, interrupted this interesting con 
 versation. 
 
 Sunday. — This is always a happy and a joy- 
 ous day at La Grange ; a day in which the blessed 
 commandment, " In it thou shalt do no manner of 
 work," is strictly fulfilled. Religious service at 
 the parish church, a walk, a dinner — as well as I 
 remember, a cold dinner — a delicious lounge, sur la 
 pelouse, every one at ease, every one enjoying 
 themselves ; and, to crown all, a dance in the great 
 hall, which, like Torick's "dance of grace," was, 
 in its innocent enjoyment, like this smiling celebra- 
 tion of the Sabbath. The great hall (where the 
 mark of one of Marshal Turenne's balls had lodged 
 during the Fronde, is still visible) filled rapidly at 
 eight o'clock with the peasantry of the neighbour- 
 hood, the servants of the castle, and all the com- 
 pany ; two or three gensd'armes looked in en pas- 
 sant. The ball opened with the steady solemn 
 dance of la ronde, to the music of the violin of the 
 concierge, with the addition of a nondescript in- 
 strument, something like an English dulcimer, fur- 
 nished by a poor Savoyard passing by, who had a 
 franc for his pay. All the company danced in the 
 
118 DIARY OF 
 
 first contre danse, with the exception of the general, 
 who stood looking on, and leaning on his stick, the 
 happiest of the happy. A little scene took place 
 which really gave the fete an air dramatique. 
 While the dance was going on, a party entered the 
 outer door from the court, and passed behind the 
 dancers, through a door which led to the interior 
 of the castle. They were a young gentleman in 
 deep mourning, and one something older, in travel- 
 ling trim, followed by a clumsy livery servant, 
 with a most Diggory-like appearance, and a port- 
 manteau over his shoulders ; a groom with a trunk 
 followed. The general started up, exclaiming, 
 " Mais c'est mon cher Auguste de Stael ! " This 
 annonce brought all the house of La Fayette on 
 their legs, who followed the interesting guest who 
 so unexpectedly, but so welcomely arrived. 
 
 I was very desirous to know him as Madame 
 de Stael's son, and favourite son. Of her elder one 
 who died young, she was wont to say, " Pauvre 
 garcon, il est imbecile comme son pere ! " Le 
 cadet, on the contrary, might have walked out of 
 a page of Mademoiselle Scuderi's sentimental ro- 
 mances. He perpetuates une grande passion for a 
 fair dame, who can never be his, simply because she 
 is another's. It is said he is conscience-struck as 
 well as heart-struck and consults his cure at Ge- 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 119 
 
 neva on the mortal sin of his attachment. He is a 
 pious Calvinist, and, for probity and honour, a 
 worthy grandson of old Necker. So much for what 
 I had been told. As to my own opinion, formed 
 on a long conversation yesterday evening when we 
 returned to the salon, I thought him a oharmant 
 jeune homme, et voild tout for the present. So 
 much for that day. 
 
 Diary — Tuesday. — Point de Beauveau,* an 
 apology, and so no Yaux until they come, because 
 it would have been a great treat to me to have 
 visited the glorious chateau of the Praslin-Choiseuls, 
 where every square inch of earth and water is con- 
 secrated to a history, from Fouquet and La Valliere 
 down to the present fair representative of a race of 
 charming women. The Princesse Charles de Beau- 
 veau is the daughter of the present Due de Praslin- 
 Choiseul. 
 
 Charming days, more charming evenings, flow 
 on in a perpetual stream of enjoyment here. The 
 general and myself sit alternately to Scheffer for 
 our picture ; Carbonel, fnll of some new composi- 
 tion, drops in, and then drops down at the piano, 
 
 * See " Book of the Boudoir," for » notice of Vaux and Fouquet's 
 party. 
 
120 DIAKT OF 
 
 and mutters and strums some pretty phrases, and 
 then runs off to his room to note them. Auguste 
 Thierry gives us an historical anecdote now and 
 then worthy of all Kollin ever wrote, or any German 
 historian ever will write ; the young ladies brodent ; 
 Madame George La Fayette and the Comtesse 
 Lastyrie, and the Comtesse de Maubourg are busy 
 with the children, and do not appear ; then we walk 
 or drive ; yesterday to Vaux, which upset us all ; 
 after dinner conversazione, sometimes sur la pelouse 
 as long as the light lasts, and then in the salons, 
 where we get the general on his legs, and set him 
 a-talking, particularly as to his rapports with Na- 
 poleon ; for having voted against the consulate for 
 life, all intercourse between them ceased ; but he 
 ended in saying last night, " Cependant, Bonaparte 
 avait toujours de l'attrait pour moi." 
 
 From Sir Charles Morgan to Lady Clarice. 
 
 La Grange, Seine et Maire, 
 September 16, 1818. 
 Ml DEAR LlVIBUS, 
 
 Clarky's letter arrived this morning, and re- 
 lieved us from an anxiety that was becoming every 
 day more insupportable. Sydney, whose imagina- 
 tion is always afloat, had composed a romance of 
 
LADY MORGAN. 121 
 
 God knows what misfortunes ; and even I was be- 
 ginning to think there was something amiss. You 
 may suppose we are both in high spirits at your 
 safety, and at the good time you have had : but, 
 upon reflection, we are afraid, you have fared so 
 well, that you will be " having these frolics often," 
 and then, you know, "it will be pleasant spending 
 a summer with you." For God's sake, however, 
 think better of it ; at best it is a vilain mSlier, and 
 if you will take the pains to read three thick vol- 
 umes of Malthus on Population, you will find it' 
 not a very profitable one. I suppose you are in 
 love with the warm bath ; La Fayette tells me that 
 the Due de Broglie's sister (sister-in-law to young 
 De Stael, who is now here ou a visit) is usually put 
 into a bath under similar circumstances — a practice 
 which is now becoming fashionable. Tell this to 
 Clarke. But,, above all, I congratulate Molly* 
 upon the turn affairs have taken : she, who is a 
 connoisseur and an amateur, will have great pleasure 
 in the event. We are leading a most delightful 
 life here : the place is heavenly, the weather good, 
 and our host what he always is. We have a con- 
 stant succession of visitors, all more or less dis- 
 tinguished. Young De Stael speaks English with 
 
 * This faithful old servant had nursed both my sister and myself.— 
 S. M. 
 
122 DIARY OF 
 
 the accent and manner of our English men of 
 fashion, whom he much resembles in his dress and 
 address : he is fall of all sorts of information, and a 
 great musician. We have had every evening 
 music of the very best description. M. Carbonel 
 who has left us this morning, is a thorough profi- 
 cient in the science, with an immense musical 
 memory, and sings to perfection, though with- 
 out much voice. By dint of sharp sixths and flat 
 sevenths we have become very intimate. He has 
 played for me a great deal from Gliick's operas, 
 and has raised the French opera (as a school) very 
 much in my estimation. The music is passionate, 
 rich in harmony, abounds in transitions, and pos- 
 sesses here and there fine strains of melody : per 
 contra, it is trainante, often too scientific and old- 
 fashioned in its phrases. On the whole you would 
 admii'e it greatly, and I think I shall bring over one 
 or two of the best operas. Sydney is going to sit 
 for her picture. I think posterity will dispute on 
 her, as we do on Hercules, to know whether there 
 was one or many Lady M.'s, seeing that not one of 
 her portraits resembles the other. I must leave off 
 for I have only this page allowed me. Whatever 
 you call the boy, he must be a Charles ; for as I 
 mean to take charge of that most essential part of 
 a gentleman's education, his vices, he will doubt- 
 
LADY M0KGAN. 123 
 
 less be worthy of that appellation. Thank Clarke 
 for his news and salute him. 
 
 Yours till death, &c, 
 CM. 
 
 La Grange, Sept., 1818. 
 
 My deak Love, 
 
 You have no idea the delight your letters gave 
 us. I was so unhappy, that in the midst of enjoy- 
 ment I could enjoy nothing, and was absolutely 
 planning an immediate return to Ireland when 
 your letter arrived. As every one here took part 
 in our anxiety, every one sympathised in our joy; 
 and to show you the extent of the good-nature of 
 these people — deemed so heartless — a charming 
 woman, who left this for Paris a few days since, 
 Madame de Maisonneuve, desired them to write 
 to her an account of your accouchement. She did 
 not say a word to me, but I found one of the ladies 
 writing to her, and she told me it was by her 
 orders, for that she was quite unhappy to see me 
 so concerned. Do you know, I am quite delighted 
 you have a boy : he will be easily provided for. 
 We will educate him among us, and he will be a 
 comfort and protection to his sisters. I should 
 much wish him to be named after poor dear papa, 
 and after his own father, also. It is a pity I am 
 
124 DIAEY OF 
 
 not with you, to read Kousseau's " Emile " to the 
 nurse ; not that I succeeded much in that way with 
 Syd's attendant. I hope you have not made too 
 free with yourself, and that you are just as careful 
 as if you had had a bad time. What I would give 
 to have you all here ! You would be delighted 
 with the scene of domestic happiness, enjoyment, 
 and goodness which this family presents. Al- 
 though there are three families, the twelve cousins, 
 brothers and sisters, live in the most perfect har- 
 mony. The eldest boy, Jules, ten years old, has 
 really a sort of gallantly for the little girls, besides 
 being my professed lover. Every morning, before 
 I am up, he has a nosegay ready for me, which he 
 lays on my breakfast-plate, and then another when 
 I go to dress for dinner. Since I came to the 
 house, I never heard the cry of a child, nor have 
 seen the symptoms of a dispute. They are all so 
 polite and affectionate to each other, and so unlike 
 English children, that I am convinced the French 
 character is more physically amiable than ours. 
 On Sunday there was a fete du village, and we all 
 walked down to the village to join it. It was com- 
 pletely such a scene as one sees at the Opera. The 
 villages here are very straggling, and resemble 
 English hamlets rather than towns ; but the scene 
 of action was principally in a little square before the 
 
LADY M0KGAN. 125 
 
 gates of a little nunnery, where all the nuns were 
 assembled in their habits, in the midst of the fun. 
 This religious house — which was founded by the 
 Duchesse de Noailles, M. Lafayette's mother-in- 
 law— leaves the sisterhood at liberty to go out, and 
 is almost laical. Several groups of young men, 
 playing the violin, were walking through the vil- 
 lage to select the dancers. Some were shooting 
 arrows, others trying fortunes, a number of little 
 booths with toys, &c, &c. The beaux had their 
 hair powdered as white as 6now, with immense 
 queues, and dimity jackets and trousers : the 
 women in such caps as I brought over, with a 
 profusion of lace, gold crosses, white gowns, and 
 scarlet aprons. At four o'clock the ball began on 
 the green. It is astonishing to see with what per- 
 fection men, women, and children dance the quad- 
 rilles, which are here called country dances, and 
 how serious they all look. "We left them hard at 
 it, and retired to dinner at five. They all came up 
 to the general to speak to him. He shook hands 
 with all the old folk, and talked to them of their 
 farms. It was the most delightful scene you can 
 imagine. My English dress excited great amaze- 
 ment, especially a long gray cloak I brought from 
 London. In the evening there was (as there is 
 every Sunday evening) un hal au chateau. After 
 
126 DIAET OF 
 
 coffee we all ' went down to the hall, and there 
 children, guests, masters, mistresses, and servants 
 joined together in the dance, as they had done 
 in the morning at prayers, for there is a chapel 
 belonging to the chateau, where the priest of 
 the parish officiates. The servants danced in 
 the quadrilles — six femuies-de-chambre, and all 
 the lacqueys.* Oscar and Octavie, the two young 
 ones, three and four years old, danced every quad- 
 rille, and never once were out ; — in short, these 
 scenes of innocence, and gaiety, and primitive 
 manners are daily repeated. In the midst of our 
 ball the Baron de Stael arrived. The general is 
 the oldest of Madame de Stael's friends, and 
 greatly attached to her children. M. de Stael is 
 a very superior person, interesting, and talking 
 English fluently, to our great relief. His sister, 
 the Duchesse de Broglie, is expected in a fort- 
 night. He sits by me every day at dinner, which 
 affords me an opportunity of conversing with him, 
 and learning a good deal of his mother, whom he 
 seems to have adored. He told me that a little 
 before she died she had my " France " read out to 
 her, and was much pleased with it. He has shown 
 
 x This condescension on the part of the masters never induces want 
 of respect or familiarity on the part of the servants, and explains the 
 intimacy of the Columbines and Scapins of the old French Comedies 
 with their masters. 
 
LADY MOKQAN. 127 
 
 us two miniatures of her, one of which he is send- 
 ing to the Duchess of York, a great friend of theirs. 
 He is now busy reading " O'Donnel," and seems 
 to understand MacRory perfectly. All the clever 
 men from Paris come here constantly : our party 
 is usually from twenty to thirty. I am sitting for 
 my picture to M. Scheffer, in oil, and large as life. 
 My little harp has had the greatest success : in 
 short, eveiy one has their day from which they 
 date, and this is mine. On Monday the vintage 
 begins, and that is a great festival here. Mrs. 
 Solly (Morgan's sister-in-law) has arrived in Paris. 
 She is quite a dasher ? and longing to have me with 
 her. You have no idea how fat I am grown 
 already : I think I am not the same person I was 
 in England. The Duchesse de Berri has miscar- 
 ried — four months gone :_ they style the produce 
 of this fausse couche, in the papers, the high and 
 mighty prince. I'm glad you liked the things : 
 did you get Miss ISTugent's parcel? — boots and 
 stockings for baby. To save you the expense of 
 paying postage in Dublin, get your letters franked 
 to Colburn, and he will forward them ; but write 
 him always a line on the envelope to beg he will 
 forward them directly. When Crewe* returns to 
 
 * Sir Charles Morgan's cousin, and was at that time Secretary to 
 the Ordnance. 
 
128 DIAET OF 
 
 London, you can send through him. Now, as 
 postage is so expensive to you, don't expect a 
 letter from us for some time : this is the fourth 
 we have written since we came to France. Your 
 letter to me was opened, and sealed again most 
 clumsily. Have you got my picture from Col- 
 burn ? We think, to avoid the risk of cross posts, 
 you had better direct your letters to us to M. War- 
 den, at Paris, until we leave La Grange, as he does 
 all our commissions for us. Direct thus : — Cheva- 
 lier Morgan, chez M. Warden, No. 12 Rue Pot-au- 
 Fer, Faubourg St. Germain. 
 
 Thousands of loves and kisses to the child ; our 
 compliments to Sir Arthur and Clarke ; most par- 
 ticular remembrances to Mrs. Fletcher and Mrs. 
 Bushe ; to whom, on my return to Paris, I mean to 
 write. Recollections to the Doyles. I hear of 
 nothing so much as the good my book has done. 
 
 Write soon, and God bless you all ! 
 
 Sept. 1818. 
 
 Diary — Sept. 1818. — In answer to some ques- 
 tion of Morgan's, relative to the famous coup d'etat 
 of the eighteenth Brumaire, the general said that 
 Bonaparte had expressed himself contemptuously 
 of coups d'etat, except when they were justified by 
 
LADY MORGAN. 129 
 
 very extraordinary circumstances. Sir Charles ob- 
 served that, " Coups d'etat being the triumph of 
 brute force, rarely the result of moral combinations, 
 seem to have been peculiar to semi-barbarous times. 
 Clovis, Pepin le Bref, and Hugh Capet, gave the 
 first examples in modern times of coups d'etat, so 
 that they began early in France. Its religious 
 coups d'etat — the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, 
 and Louis XIV. 's revocation of the Edict of Nantes 
 — produced the greatest evils France has ever sus- 
 tained from despotic coups d'etat. In England," 
 continued Sir Charles, " such violent outbursts have 
 been few and far between : Cromwell and "William 
 III. scarcely come under the category." My ig- 
 norance ventured to suggest that the ancients did 
 not excel either in such designs or in their execu- 
 tion : the murder of Csesar was a vulgar crime and 
 a personal treachery. " It would be impossible," 
 said I, " to have a coup d'etat in Ireland — Paddy 
 could never keep his secret, but -whirling his shil- 
 lalagh over his head, he would give his old cry of 
 ' Faugh na ballagh ! ' (clear the road !) which pro- 
 duced such an effect when General Sir John Doyle 
 led on his own ' Irish boys ' at the Battle of 
 "Waterloo." 
 
 Yesterday the weather was so fine that we 
 started for Vaux, for ever notable in the fasti of 
 
130 DIAET OF 
 
 unmitigated despotism for one of the most splendid 
 fetes ever given, and for one of the meanest crimes 
 ever committed by unlimited power. The gorgeous 
 palace of Yaux was raised by Fouquet, the last sur- 
 intendant of France, in the reign of Louis XIV., a 
 man whose name belongs to history and poetry, the 
 protector of Moliere and of La Fontaine, the victim 
 of Colbert and Louis XIV. His existence was 
 scarcely known, when he was seen occupying the 
 highest dignities of the kingdom — commanding its 
 wealth, governing its monarch, and second only to 
 Mazarin. Scarcely appointed to the ministry of 
 finance, than he passes from his golden salons of 
 Vaux to the dungeons of Pignerol ; scarcely under 
 the towers of Pignerol than he is forgotten, and his 
 great name a sound signifying nothing. Such are 
 the merits of despotism ! The fete given ostensibly 
 to his royal master, but really with reference to the 
 king's beautiful mistress, La Valliere, was cele- 
 brated on the 16th of August, 1661,* and on the 
 17th of the following month he was doomed to 
 death and cruelly reprieved for perpetual incar- 
 ceration. Six thousand invitations for this fete had 
 been sent to England, Italy, and Spain. A king, 
 a queen, princes, ambassadors were among the 
 guests ; but the name of him who composed his 
 
 * The year after the restoration of Charles II. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 131 
 
 charming comedy of " Les F&cheux " for the occa- 
 sion is, perhaps, the only one on whom posterity 
 will dwell with pleasure. 
 
 As we now approached the noble place, all ap- 
 peared silence and desolation ; neither the grands 
 novpetits eaux threw up their diamond springs in 
 the sunshine ; and as we drove through the gates 
 where Louis XIV. had ordered his Mousquetaires 
 Gris — those famous and fatal household troops — to 
 be in readiness to guard the intended arrest of his 
 betrayed host and minister, we perceived that one 
 of the great iron grilles hung off its hinges. We 
 passed into the celebrated cour des homes, where 
 the royal lottery had been held, and its four stalls 
 presided over by the King in person, Anne of 
 Austria, Henrietta of England, Duchess of Orleans, 
 and the duke, the king's brother. The stalls were 
 formed of odoriferous shrubs, and prizes were won 
 (furnished by the gorgeous host), which comprised 
 the most precious gems along with invaluable 
 works of art — collars of pearl, bracelets of dia- 
 monds, and, above all, sculptured gems in which 
 the royal deity of the day was depicted in every 
 form of grace and dignity. It is traditional " that 
 to Madame de Sevigne's lot fell an ermine muff 
 (then of immense value), which she sent to the 
 dangerous Ninon de PEnclos, who was tres-frileuse, 
 
132 DIAET OF 
 
 to bribe her to spare her spells over her young 
 son ; an unnecessary caution, as Ninon declared that 
 the 3'onng de Sevigne's heart was une pompion 
 fritte en niege." 
 
 We passed on to the vestibule, once paved with 
 blue and white marble, and where Louis XIY. had 
 once trod with a conscious power, like Solomon, 
 Augustus, Napoleon. 
 
 In the billiard-room, formerly called the Salle 
 de Hercule, we looked in vain for the squirrel and 
 the serpent, which once formed part of the orna- 
 ment of the architrave, images emblematic of the 
 power of Fouquet and the rising envy of his suc- 
 cessor Colbert ; but among the defaced arabesques 
 few traces of the original design were visible, or of 
 the many other allegorical works of art and epi- 
 grammatic mottoes, one of which attracted Louis 
 XIV. on the occasion of this festive visit, and which 
 he in vain endeavoured to understand, being au 
 bout de son Latin ; and he turned to his accom- 
 plished English sister-in-law, the Duchess of Or- 
 leans, for the meaning of the inscription, which was 
 round a figure of Apollo chasing the monsters from 
 the earth. The duchess read : — 
 
 " Quo non ascendam ?" 
 Oil ne monterai-je pas ? 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 133 
 
 We passed on through a splendid room, called 
 the Salon ; and through several smaller rooms, 
 more or less neglected and disfigured. "We came 
 to one which is still called the " cabinet de predic- 
 tion," and which is celebrated for Le Brun's beauti- 
 ful picture of Sleep, imaged as a beautiful woman 
 asleep, of whom La Fontaine, in his poem of " Le 
 Songe de Vaux," observes : — 
 
 "Laisse tomber des fleure, et ne les repande pas." 
 
 When those "origands du IWord" (Russians) 
 entered the Chateau de Vaux in 1813, they de- 
 stroyed all that was get-at-able in this boudoir ex- 
 cept the plafond, which was beyond their reach, 
 and contains the beautiful " Sommeil " of Le Brim; 
 but they cut with their swords furniture almost as 
 beautiful, and made handkerchiefs for their heads 
 and necks of the fine tapestries of Aubuisson, which 
 covered the furniture.* In the noble salle d manger 
 stood a large coarse deal table. One of the drawers 
 was half open. I had the vile curiosity to draw it 
 out : it contained a pewter salt-cellar, with some 
 black salt, some stale bread, and a mouthful of 
 
 * The Russians were not more complete in their notions of costume 
 than the New Zealanders of the present day, who strut about in an 
 English shirt-collar and a pair of boots, neglecting le beau milieu — 
 leaving the interval to nature's own toilet. 
 
134 DIAKY OF 
 
 cheese, and a dirty coarse canvas serviette. I shut 
 it up — the transition from the fete of 1661, given 
 by one of the most sumptuous of ministers to the 
 most despotic of kings, surpassed all that philosophy 
 can collect to give point to her admonitions. 
 
 The impressions made on me by this great mon- 
 ument of the times it represented — the sweep of 
 events that had passed over its dilapidated walls — 
 depressed and fatigued me. What a refreshment, 
 on entering the salle d manger at La Grange, to see 
 all the children and grandchildren awaiting our 
 return with hungry impatience ! * 
 
 Retwn to Paris from La Grange. 
 
 October 6th, 1818. 
 
 Aeeived in Paris from La Grange, October 1st, 
 1818. Having stayed two days, to repack our 
 things, in the Hotel d'Espagne, we took possession 
 of a charming apartment in the Rue d'Anjou — 
 very near La Fayette's town residence, and in the 
 midst of all our friends. Madame d'Houchien gave 
 us a little dinner, where we met dear Denon, the 
 Baron Beneval — late private secretary to the Em- 
 
 * Chateau de Vaux was the residence of the late Due de Praslin, ot 
 miserable memory. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 135 
 
 peror — and the Baron de Mortemart, very pleasant 
 — a good creature, and an amusing artist, for_he 
 turned a pack of cards into groups d mourir de rire 
 — the nine of diamonds, for example, composed a 
 group of blanchisseuses, with their tubs in the cen- 
 tre. I have kept them all for dear old George 
 Street. Denon, always delightful, was less talkative 
 than usual, because he would make me describe my 
 life at La Grange, &c, &c. 
 
 Saturday, October 3. — We went to the Institute, 
 accompanied by the celebrated and learned aveugle, 
 Charles Pougence,* and his amiable English wife. 
 It was a very full seance. I remembered many of 
 the fine heads that had struck me in 1816. Cuvier 
 seized on Morgan as we entered, and placed him 
 among the members. This pleased me more than 
 if they had placed me on a pedestal and worshipped 
 me as an Isis. Not but what I had my petit bout 
 of homage too ; for many of them, as they handed 
 me on, expressed their regret that ladies were not 
 allowed to be members of their society. I said, 
 " It is always the remains of your loi salique." 
 Among the pleasant recognitions of friends already 
 known, and of others who wished to become friends 
 on this occasion, an incident occurred, which would 
 
 * He was one of the most learned men of his time, and wrote several 
 works of history, biography, &c, and he was blind from his birth. 
 
136 DIAKY OF 
 
 be a painful view of human nature, if it were not, 
 at the same time, an amusing and absurd one. I 
 give it as it occurred, and announce the hero as M. 
 Charles Dupin. It happened one evening in Kil- 
 dare Street, as my husband was, as usual, at the 
 piano, a note was presented, in French-English, from 
 a Monsieur Charles Dupin, who had met with a 
 severe accident on landing from the packet three 
 weeks before, and who now appealed to our sym- 
 pathy. He had no letter of introduction, and was 
 still confined to his bedroom suffering and alone, 
 in a land of strangers. He wrote to us on the 
 strength of my work on France. "Without further 
 delay Sir Charles dropped Handel, called for his 
 hat and coat, and set off for M. Dupin's lodging, 
 like a good Samaritan as he was. The result of 
 this visit was, that he continued his attendance both 
 as a friend and a physician * until his patient was 
 able to become his guest, and took his place at our 
 little round table as often as he pleased. We had 
 also the pleasure of presenting Monsieur Dupin to 
 the most distinguished persons in Dublin. He re- 
 paid our hospitality by gallant poems to me of a 
 
 * Though my husband's professional skill was always at the service 
 of his friends and the poor, he had given up his profession at the pe- 
 riod of the persecution of " The Christian Advocate;" after which he 
 never practised or took a fee. He refused to belong to a profession 
 whose great truths he was not permitted to avow. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 137 
 
 Valentine fashion, and professions to Sir Charles of 
 unalterable attachment and esteem. On his de- 
 parture he threw out a hint that he had been em- 
 ploying his convalescent hours in writing a com- 
 mentary on .my " France," which he considered 
 just, and he hoped I would not consider displeasing. 
 It would make, he said, a good brochure, and he 
 would send me a duplicate MS. copy, in case I 
 should wish to defend certain political opinions 
 which were not exactly his. I said, that opinion 
 was free to the world, and that I could not object 
 to the exercise of the right of private judgment by 
 another when I took it to myself. And so we 
 parted, tres-bon amis. This was in 1817. Shortly 
 after, I received the MS. brochure: it was impos- 
 sible for anything to be more severe or disagree- 
 able. 
 
 The first person I met on the steps of the Insti- 
 tute was M. Charles Dupin. We saluted him with 
 cordiality. He turned from us in apparently super- 
 cilious surprise at the liberty we took, for we were 
 still under the Bourbon ban. " Good den, Sir Rich- 
 ard. God-a-mercy, fellow !" Although we often 
 met in society, we never renewed our acquaintance. 
 He has risen rapidly, however.* 
 
 * His " Voyages dans la Grande Bretagne," in 6 vols., were pub- 
 lished in 1820, but do not, of course, contain any reference to the above 
 incidents which, as the Italian Arliquino says, " Toca, a me." 
 
138 DIAKY OF 
 
 I observed that several of the young men wore 
 spectacles, and men in the prime of life were bald. 
 Some of the most eminent were almost blind. The 
 Comte de Tracy, Benjamin Constant, the Comte de 
 Segur, and others of less note, were among the lat- 
 ter. Study, vigils, and brilliant lights account for 
 this greatest of all calamities, so prevalent in France 
 among the learned and the enlightened. Certainly, 
 a great sensation was awakened by the crowning of 
 the young men who had won their medals, &c, 
 &c. Query as to the effect of these institutions ? 
 Mediocrity protected, vanity gratified, genius tram- 
 melled, and exertions forestalled. Intrigue and 
 family rank and influence have always much to do in 
 these matters. The present Due de Richelieu, on his 
 election, modestly observed — " Je suis ici pour mon 
 grand-pere ;" and the poor pedagogue, who started 
 up at the same moment, with his book in his hand, 
 exclaimed — "Et moi, pour ma grammaire."* 
 
 Petit diner afterwards with Denon in his splen- 
 did palace of the arts, a parti carre; only his 
 
 * Apropos of such dramatic effect, Denon observed that the fitefn- 
 nehre of Dessaix, got up by Bonaparte, on Mont St. Bernard, when six 
 hundred soldiers were billeted on the convent to throw laurels on the 
 tomb of the hero, was merely a grand spectacle — the monks and mili- 
 tary officiating, and the scene the summit of the Alps. We observed 
 that the young men who won the prizes never even looked at the 
 medals, which they received with the most nonchalant air. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 139 
 
 nephew, M. Brunet, and ourselves — as good a lad 
 as ever stepped in shoe-leather. 
 
 Monsieur Maoul Hochette to Lady Morgan. 
 Palace of the French Institute, Western Pavilion, Paris. 
 Madam, 
 
 I have too mnch reason to congratulate myself 
 on the occasion which has procured for me the hon- 
 our of your acquaintance not to seize with eager- 
 ness all that may renew it. • If the sitting of the 
 Institute could possibly interest you, I should feel 
 doubly nattered, first, because it would be honoured 
 by your presence, and also because the ideas I 
 should express there might possibly suggest to you 
 some connection with those which you have so 
 agreeably displayed in your charming work ol 
 " Glorvina."* At any rate, Madam, I shall esteem 
 myself extremely fortunate in having been able to 
 offer you that respectful homage ; and if, as you 
 have had the goodness to permit me to hope, your 
 memory could suggest any anecdotes relative to 
 improvisation, with which I might embellish the 
 work I am preparing on that subject, I should feel 
 proud, by preserving this, in rendering you a pub- 
 
 The Wild Irish Girl." 
 
140 DIARY OF 
 
 lie testimony of the high esteem I profess for the 
 talents of the authoress of " Ida," " Glorvina," and 
 " O'Donnel." 
 
 Accept, Madam, the respectful devotion of one 
 of your sincerest admirers. 
 
 Eaoul Rochette, 
 
 Member of the French Institute, Professor 
 
 of History in the Faculty of Letters 
 
 of the Academy of Paris, &c, &c. 
 
 Madame de Villette to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Paris, October 9th, 1818. 
 
 I have passed two months in the country, con- 
 soling an unfortunate mother, who has lost her only 
 son by a terrible catastrophe. I read no papers, and 
 only learned your residence in Paris two days ago. 
 I hastened to ascertain your address, that I might 
 express the pleasure I should have in seeing you. 
 Will you be so obliging as to let me know when I 
 may hope to find you at home? I wish to signify 
 to you in person how much I have been flattered by 
 the kind and too-indulgent things you have said ol 
 me in your work, for the slightest details become 
 interesting by the charming manner in which they 
 are related. 
 
 Accept, I pray you, Madam, the assurance of 
 
LADY MORGAN. 141 
 
 the distinguished sentiments with which I have the 
 honour to remain 
 
 Your very humble servant, 
 
 The Marchioness de Yillette. 
 
 From General La Fayette to Sir Charles Morgan. 
 
 Monday morning. 
 
 I fully reckoned on having the pleasure of see- 
 ing you, my dear Sir Charles, but the death of the 
 wife of one of my intimate friends, and the duties 
 resulting therefrom have engrossed my entire morn- 
 ing. The evening also has been occupied. I go 
 out before eight o'clock ; but I shall call at your 
 residence between two and three in the day, or 
 between seven and eight in the evening, if I do 
 not find you at the earlier hour. I have not neg- 
 lected the affair of your translation. I think I 
 have found what will suit you. The work is still 
 in the hands of the member of the Institute, or 
 according to the new style, of the Academy of 
 Sciences, whom I have in view. Madame de Brog- 
 lie has gone to Lady Morgan's, and is most anxious 
 to see her. She has commissioned me to say 
 so. Receive both the assurance of my sincere 
 
 friendship. 
 
 La Fayette. 
 
142 DIARY OF 
 
 From Madame la Marquise de Villette to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Paris. 
 
 I am deeply sensible of Lady Morgan's remem- 
 brance. An obstinate cold, which has tied me to 
 the corner of the fireplace for fifteen days, has been 
 the sole cause of depriving me of the pleasure of 
 enjoying her delightful society. I trust she is well 
 persuaded of the eagerness I shall display to recom- 
 pense myself as soon as I am in a condition to go 
 out. I have not even been able, as I intended, to 
 be present the other day at the Athenaeum, on the 
 opening of M. Constant's course of lectures, and 
 when I should have had the pleasure of meeting 
 Lady Morgan. I entreat her ladyship to accept 
 the assurance of my distinguished consideration. 
 The Marchioness de Villette. 
 
 Paris, October 8, 1818, 
 4, Eue d'Anjou, Faubourg St. Honor6. 
 
 My dear Love, 
 
 Sinoe Clarke's most welcome letter, dated Sept. 
 7th, we have not received a line from you ; and de- 
 lighted beyond expression as we were with the 
 good news, we were still most anxious to hear how 
 things were going on, and that you were fairly -out 
 of the wood. "We have written you four letters 
 from Calais, one or two from La Grange, and one 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 143 
 
 from Paris on our arrival, and have not received 
 an answer to a single one. For God's sake Avrite 
 on receipt of this and direct as above, and don't 
 send it under cover to any one ; for I fear that is 
 the way we have missed your letters, as I take it 
 for granted you must have written in the course 
 of five weeks. We spent a month at La Grange 
 that appeared an hour, and with difficulty got away. 
 I never saw so perfect a picture of virtue and 
 happiness. Besides our usual amusements and 
 occupations, we had the enjoyment of the vendages, 
 or gathering in of the grapes. There were above 
 two hundred persons employed in the vineyards 
 for three days, with all the family, visitors, children, 
 and servants, and all went out with their little 
 baskets and cutting knives. May-be the children 
 were not happy ! What I would have given to 
 have had our children among them ! There was 
 little Oscar (baby in age), the future seigneur du 
 chateau, laden with his basket in the morning, and 
 dancing quadrilles in the evening, with the gravity 
 of a French dancing master. The vendages, how- 
 ever, is not so picturesque as I made it in my " Nov- 
 ice of St. Dominick." The women cut and gather 
 the grapes in little baskets, then fill the hampers, 
 which the men carry on their backs, while they 
 bring their loads to immense waggons containing 
 
144 DIAET OF 
 
 hogsheads, into which the grapes are flung. Here, 
 however, all is spoiled ; for a number of little boys 
 jump into the hogsheads, and with their naked feet 
 bruise the grapes as they are thrown in. All the 
 wine you drink is made so. When the vines were all 
 gathered, the vinedressers came in procession under 
 the castle windows with a large vine-tree hung with 
 flowers and fruit (like our Maypole), and carried it 
 solemnly round the court and lawn. They had 
 refreshments and a dance, and so ended the Vin- 
 tage. The wine is so plenty, that any one bringing 
 two hogsheads gets one filled with wine for leaving 
 the other behind him. On our arrival in Paris, our 
 first object was to fix ourselves comfortably, as we 
 mean to stay here for the three severe winter 
 months, and then proceed to Italy. "We were deter- 
 mined to leave the old-fashioned quarter of the 
 Faubourg St. G-ermaine, as being too remote and 
 gloomy, and the focus of all the old emigres and 
 ultras, and we are now fixed in what is called " le 
 quartier brillant," — the west end of the town. We 
 have not more than half the rooms we had where 
 we were ; but the other advantages outweigh this 
 consideration. We have delicious air, are in the 
 midst of all our friends, and of everything that is 
 delightful ; close to the Champs Elysees, in a superb 
 hotel, which stands in a large light court, planted 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 145 
 
 with shrubs and flowers, even now in lull blow. 
 The rooms are very small, en suite, clean, fresh, and 
 pretty, with a little staircase to ourselves. "We 
 have got a pianoforte, and every room stuffed with 
 flower-pots. You will be surprised to hear, as I am 
 to see, that there is a sort of second spring in 
 France, when the season is fine, as this has been ; 
 and I have at this moment the greatest quantity of 
 mignonette, roses, pinks, jasmine, all in full flower 
 and bloom, as if in the month of May, in the cor- 
 ners of the room. I have tall, beautiful green trees 
 five feet high, and all for seven francs (5s. 10d.). I 
 am delighted with our lodgings ; but from the expe- 
 rience of last night I am told I must seek for larger 
 ones, for I had a party, and the French people were 
 suffocated. The night before I was at a reunion at 
 the famous Benjamin Constant's, and mentioned 
 that I should be at home on Thursday even- 
 ings. Imagine my surprise to find my rooms 
 crowded the next night, and certainly with all that 
 Paris has most distinguished ; for there was in one 
 group in the beginning of the evening Denon, La 
 Fayette, Constant, Jay,* and the Baron de. Stael. 
 No one went away till near one o'clock — a thing 
 
 * Jay is the author of many excellent political works, and editor of 
 the " Minerve " — the " Edinburgh Review " of Paris. He is witty and 
 pleasant. 
 
 n 
 
146 diaey or 
 
 unknown here ; and every one seemed amazed to 
 find so many people collected at this season of the 
 year, and all so distinguished. M. Constant said 
 that the moment it was known I opened my salon 
 in the evening, I should have half Paris trying to 
 get admittance, and they have persuaded us to get 
 a larger apartment, which I submit to unwilling- 
 ly, as we are so snug. I had some French women, 
 but only three English — -Mr. Rogers (a college 
 friend of Morgan's), Mrs. Langford Brook, of our 
 fine London acquaintance, and Mrs. Dawson, 
 mother to Lord Cremorne. I never saw women 
 so delighted, and so grateful. Though some time 
 at Paris, they had never been in French society be- 
 fore, and seeing so many famous people together 
 was a great point. I mean, however, to keep as 
 clear of the British as possible, as they are neither 
 profitable nor amusing. 
 
 I have had a quantity of books of one sort or 
 other sent to me by different authors. The Comte 
 de Segur has presented me, and brought them him- 
 self, with above twenty volumes of his works ; and 
 Denon has given me a fine collection of his en- 
 gravings. Scheffer finished my picture while at 
 La Grange — the most striking likeness you ever 
 saw, but flattering. The hands, arms, and drapery 
 admirable. It is done for the Exhibition here ; bat 
 
LADY MORGAN. 147 
 
 whether it is to fall to my lot afterwards I don't 
 know. He has introduced the little harp into it. 
 Tell Egan all the world is running after his harp, 
 and that he will soon be as well known here as at 
 Dublin. Although Paris is still comparatively 
 empty, we have constant invitations in the few days 
 we have been here since our return, and it is evi- 
 dent I have gained cent, per cent, since I was here 
 last. Mrs. Solly (Morgan's sister-in-law) spends 
 the winter here. They are enormously rich, give 
 great entertainments, and will be an acquisition to 
 us. You are not to suppose we spend all our days 
 in idleness ; for we study hard as ever in our differ- 
 ent departments. I give an hour to Italian every 
 morning, and have begun a course of history, an- 
 cient and modern, to rub up my memory before I 
 touch on classic ground. Morgan is busy with his 
 physiology and hospitals, and all that occurs. "We 
 shut ourselves up till three o'clock every day ; and, 
 what will surprise you, we went to a grand seance 
 at the Institute (such as I have described in my 
 " France "). It was for giving medals to the young 
 Sieves in music, painting, and statuary who had won 
 the grand prizes, and were to be therefore sent to 
 Italy to perfect themselves, at the expense of gov- 
 ernment. We were late, and as soon as we came 
 in, Cuvier (who, like the rest of the members of 
 
148 DIAEY OF 
 
 the Institute, sat in. full costume apart from the 
 spectators) rose and took Morgan by the arm, and 
 placed him on the seat with the learned members. 
 This was very handsome ; and, as all the rest were 
 dressed in embroidered clothes, point lace, and 
 swords, Morgan was pretty conspicuous in his plain 
 black dress. Nothing could be so affecting as the 
 whole exhibition ; I cried the whole time. After 
 the president read the disoours the young men (all 
 lads, very interesting-looking, and dressed in black) 
 came forward one by one, their age and name being 
 announced aloiid, and ascended the tribune. The 
 president presented the young and successful candi- 
 date for immortality a little wreath of laurel and 
 a gold medal, and embraced and congratulated him 
 affectionately. The hall rung with applauses. The 
 young men then ran, or rather flew, to the circle 
 of the Institute, where the master of each Sieve (all 
 celebrated men) sat in the greatest agitation. They 
 literally sprang into each other's arms, and the 
 triumph of the master and gratitude of the pupil 
 were expressed not .only by embraces the most 
 cordial, but by tears. "When Gros, the famous 
 painter, and Cherubini, the composer, received their 
 triumphant pupils, I could see the working of their 
 expressive countenances, as I was quite close to 
 them. When the young men returned to their 
 
LADY MORGAN. 149 
 
 ■seats they laid their little crowns at their feet, and 
 never once looked at the fine gold medals they 
 had received. There were about five hundred 
 persons present (in full dress), and fine music. It 
 was a beautiful and most affecting sight. 
 
 Conceive Colburn's neglect : he has never writ- 
 ten us a line, nor let us know whether either of our 
 books has been published, nor sent us a copy of 
 either of our works. Has he sent you my picture, 
 &c, &c, &c? Is our house likely to be let for the 
 winter ? — God send — as it will be of great use to us. 
 Morgan is more anxious about " The Clarkes" than 
 I am. We both long to have a peep at you all. I 
 am grown so fat, you would scarcely know me, and 
 am, thank God, in excellent health and spirits, as I 
 trust you are all, you dear souls ! I shall expect 
 great improvement in French and music from the 
 " chillies," who must write to me soon. 
 
 God bless you all ! 
 
 Diary. — We are become regular flaneurs. We 
 work from nine till three, and then we are off ! 
 Visits to pay — sights to see — and libraries to fumble 
 in ! all" a propos to our grand Italian enterprise ! 
 " It is wonderful," said Denon once to a very por- 
 tentous pedant, " que des choses que vous ne con- 
 
150 DIAET OF 
 
 naissez pas ! " It is the case with us ; we don't feel 
 our ignorance till we begin to. learn a little ! 
 
 Just as we were stepping out of the porte-cochere, 
 this morning, Micali was stepping in — Micali, the 
 historian of " L'ltalia avanti Pomani." I took his 
 arm, and we carried him oif with us ; a most ap- 
 propriate compagnon d'armes, for we were starting 
 for the Bibliotheque Poyale, with its celebrated 
 librarian, M. Langlais. After a charming two 
 hours, we agreed we would all go and dine at the 
 Palais Poyale. We parted after our demi-tasse, 
 and with our tablets teeming, went home to dress 
 for a soiree priee atDenon's, given in honour of the 
 most charming woman in Paris, Madame St. Aulaire 
 and mother-in-law of the Due de Cazes. Lo ! when 
 we arrived at home, we found a card from Auguste 
 Thierry, the future historian of France ; for hitherto 
 France has only had chronicles and memoirs, and 
 perhaps, after all, generally " les uns valent bien 
 les autres ! " 
 
 Humboldt had called, and, as usual, had written 
 his scrap in the porter's lodge. The poor porter ! 
 had he known the value of this autograph he would 
 have pilfered it ; and, what renders it more curious, 
 it is written on the back of a milliner's card ! 
 
 Diary. — Went to a soiree at Madame Sophie 
 
LADY MORGAN. 151 
 
 Gay's, a beautiful writer, and still a pretty woman, 
 in spite of the rivalry of two beautiful daughters 
 who were in attendance on her all the night, 
 Madame O'Donnel and Delphine Gay,* still in her 
 teens, but promising to surpass her mother's full- 
 blown talent. 
 
 Madame O'Donnel thanked me gracefully for 
 illustrating the name of her husband, General 
 O'Donnel, who begged permission to wait on me. 
 These French women have such a peculiar grace 
 in saying gracious things! a certain little twist 
 about the mouth ; a movement of goodwill which 
 is pleasant, but has not the affectation to faire la 
 ■moue. I made the remark to a John Bull who was 
 standing near me, and he replied, gruffly, " Grimace, 
 ma'am — all grimace ;" a sentence which his wife — 
 a piece of still-life with an implacable face, all 
 Sternhold and Hopkins in every feature — endorsed. 
 
 There were many celebrities present,, literary 
 and dramatic ; one particularly struck me — a frag- 
 ment of the supreme Beauty of the Directory : it 
 was La Princesse de Chimie ! Madame Tallien, a 
 puissance of the Directory! A very fine young 
 
 * De.phine Gray, as Madame Emile de Girardin, fulfilled all my 
 prophecies of her future fame. Her novels are too well known to need 
 commendation. " Les Parisiennes " is said to be her best ; and among 
 her comedies "Lady Tartuffe," illustrated by Rachel's acting, had a 
 great success. She died in the prime of her life and talents. 
 
152 DIARY OF 
 
 man stood beside her : it was her son, the present 
 prince. I was presented to her, and had a few 
 minutes' pleasant conversation. Another, a simple 
 and elegant-looking woman, no longer young, and 
 plainly dressed in white silk, without a single orna- 
 ment, and only a bandeau binding her beautiful 
 black hair ; but such eyes ! once seen they were 
 never to be forgotten. I asked Madame Gay who 
 she was; she hesitated, and then said, "Eh bien, 
 c'est Mademoiselle Mars." 
 
 " Then," said I, " those are the eyes of Elvira ! " 
 " Yes," said Madame Gay, " et vous l'avez 
 joliement critique in your remarks on her acting in 
 ' Le Tartuffe ;' apropos, I must not mislead you by 
 letting you suppose actresses are received in society 
 with us as they are with you ; but I take out my 
 privilege as an auteur dramatique to receive a 
 charming creature." 
 
 I moved on, half inclined to turn back to beg 
 pardon for my judgment on Elvira, which was in 
 opposition to that of all France, though I made 
 to myself a mental compliment on my moral 
 courage !* All this time Morgan was " in colloquy 
 
 * This mild and matronly-looking lady, three years after, was en- 
 chanting the dramatic world by her performance of " Valerie," the blind 
 girl of eighteen, in one of the most popular of M- Scribe's thousand and 
 one dramas, perhaps, since Moliere, the most popular of all French 
 dramatists, and deservedly so. His interesting play of " Valerie " was 
 
LADY MORGAN. 153 
 
 sublime" with Benjamin Constant on the subject 
 of their mutual eloges, Sir Samuel Romilly. We 
 afterwards went to Madame de Souza's, who, as the 
 Comtesse de Flahaut, during the Revolution, had 
 rendered herself remarkable by the courage with 
 which she had borne her reverse of fortune, her 
 literary works,* and her devotion to her son, the 
 present Comte de Flahaut.f 
 
 So we drove off to the Portuguese embassy; 
 but his excellency was at the opera, and the 
 countess had retired for the night. Being very 
 weary, we gave the word " Home," but according 
 to which ritual of the antechamber our valet de 
 place translated it — whether he gave the "allez" 
 of nobility, the "au logis," the " gentillatre," or 
 the " a la maison " of the bon bourgeois — I was too 
 sleepy to hear! But on reaching home I was 
 sufficiently eveillee to read a note from the Princess 
 
 founded on a less correct romance of that name by the inspired 
 prophetess, Madame de Krudener, in whose pious fancy 
 
 " Soft love, soft devotion, sat perched up together." 
 
 * " Adele de Sennanges " is the best of them, and shows itself still 
 full of a high-bred, tender beauty, unattainable by the present school 
 of French novels, where 
 
 " Who peppers the highest is surest to please." 
 
 t He married the Baroness Keith, a peeress in her own right, and is 
 father of the present Countess of Shelburne. 
 
154 DIAKY OF 
 
 Jablonowski, the only -woman who was ever tho 
 intimate friend of Napoleon without being his 
 mistress. 
 
 Rue de Richelieu, No. 12. 
 
 Le 19me Octobre. 
 
 Yotee aimable souvenir, madame, ajoute encore 
 au regret que j'ai eu de ne pas vous voir chez vous 
 Mercredi ; e'est un mechant rhume qui m'a prive 
 du plaisir de voir tant de talents reunis chez une 
 personne aussi interessante. 
 
 En v6rite, il faut toute mon amitie pour Mon- 
 sieur Denon (et le souvenir que c'est a lui que je 
 dois votre connaissance, madame) pour ne pas me 
 brouiller avec cet aimable homme. Comment c'est 
 lui qui me prive de la satisfaction de vous recevoir 
 chez moi? En verite, je ne le croyais pas capable 
 de cette atrocite. Si vous voulez, madame, ne pas 
 causer une brouillerie complete entre lui et moi, il 
 faut m'en dedommager. Je n'ai pas de jour de- 
 termine pour recevoir, mais je suis toujours cinq 
 jours de la semaine chez moi ; j'y serais aujourd'- 
 hui. Domain j'espere vous rencontrer rue d'An- 
 gouleme, et vous dire mes projets pour la semaine. 
 Permettez-moi de me rejouir de l'espoir de vous 
 rencontrer. Jablonowski.* 
 
 * Princess Jablonowski, a Polish lady of great beauty and merit, 
 
LADY MORGAN. 155 
 
 Paris, le 22me Ootobvc, 1811.* 
 
 J'ai regu settlement liier au soir, inon clier ami, 
 tout 3, la Ibis vox deux lettres pour M. Denon et M. 
 Gregoire, qui seront remises anjourd'hui, et le bel 
 ouvrage de milady. Je vous en remercie tons les 
 deux avec tonte l'expression de inon amitie pour vous. 
 J'attendais de le recevoirpourrepondre a la savante 
 et ample lettre que vous m'avez ecrite il y a quelque 
 temps ; mais aujourd'hui je suis trop presse d'ouv- 
 rage pour pouvoir le faire avec detail. Je vous 
 dirai seulement que je reconnais tout a la fois votre 
 excellent jugement et votre amitie dans ce que vous 
 me dites de inon livre. Vous etes, consequent a vos 
 idees anglaises sur la inedecine, qui vous condnisent 
 a ne voir dans les maladies que des clioses isolees, 
 et qui son t soustraites aux regies ordinaires de la 
 vie, tandis que nous pensons tout le contraire, et que 
 dans inon esprit du raoins tous les objets soumis a 
 l'observation du medecin sont lies par un sj'steme 
 dont les loix sont generates {positis ponendis) peut- 
 etre, et je suis dispose a croire que nous portons de 
 part et d'autre nos idees trop loin ; mais, surement 
 personne n'a parle plus sagement et d'une maniere 
 plus exacte de l'etat de la medecine chez nous. Je 
 ris, je vous l'avoue, de voir ces changements subits et 
 
 and the particular friend of Napoleon and the Empress Josephine. 
 Her salon was illustrated by the literary talent of all Europe. 
 
 * 1858. — This and the following letter belong to an earlier date, but 
 ihey are worthy of insertion any when and anywhere — S. M. 
 
156 DIAET OF 
 
 absolus dans la pratique medicale, qui font que 
 pendant un an on guerit tous les malades avec 
 du vin de l'opium et autres stimulants ; que 1'annee 
 suivante on les guerit tout aussi bien avec la diete et 
 la voncB-section cornme vous l'appelez, et que dans 
 line troisieme annee ces excellents moyens sont re- 
 jetes, et qu'on ne guerit plus qu'au moyen des pur- 
 gatifs — e sempre bene. Je vous parlerai une autre 
 fois de tout cela et de l'ouvrage de M. Thorn. Wills, 
 dont je suis bien reconnaissant. 
 
 Je n'ai pu encore que parcourir en poste votre 
 belle "France," mes amis, mais je veux l'examiner 
 toute a petits pas en faisant des notes. M. de la 
 Fayette me disait l'autre jour, " Cet ouvrage est lo 
 meilleur qu'on ait fait sur la France, et il faut 
 avertir Lady Morgan des petites erreurs qui s'y 
 sont glissees, parce que cela donne prise a ses enne- 
 mis, et diminue le credit que l'on doit accorder a 
 l'ouvrage." II me dit qu'il avait fait sur cela des 
 notes, et je les lui demandai pour vous les envoyer ; 
 elles etaient il, la Grange, et sitot que je les aurai, 
 je vous les ferai passer. Une tres-aimable dame 
 de Paris, Madame du Bignon, femme d'un colonel, 
 et qui vous admire beaucoup, ma belle et aimable 
 amie, a pris soin de faire un releve exact de toutes 
 les suppressions, additions, ou mutations qu'on a 
 fait a, l'ouvrage clan les deux editions de la 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 157 
 
 traduction frangaise. Comme elle n'avait point de 
 
 liaisons avec vous, elle a envoy 6 cela en Belgique 
 
 pour le faire imprimer sons le titre de "Esprit de 
 
 Lady Morgan." Je l'ai vne depuis, et elle m'a 
 
 promis une copie de cet ouvrage pour vous le faire 
 
 passer. Je vous parle de tout cela sans etre assure 
 
 qu'il lui convint d'etre connue pour l'auteur de cet 
 
 ouvrage, et vous savez que nous avons ici des 
 
 moeurs un peu differentes des votre3 sur ce point. 
 
 C'est la seconde Edition que j'ai regue, et elle 
 
 fourmille encore de fautes ; comment n'a-t-on pas 
 
 corrige cet enorme errata — celle des bas de coton 
 
 de Madame Ginguene, par exemple ? Elle m'a pri6 
 
 de vous demander de la reformer ; mais elle me l'a 
 
 demand^ avec beaucoup de bonte et de simplicite, 
 
 et non pas avec les criailleries et les convulsions 
 
 de colere de l'autre. Pour en revenir a Madame 
 
 Ginguene. la seule difficult^ qu'il y eut, c'est qu'on 
 
 voulait a. la cour de Turin qu'elle fut habill6e a la 
 
 mode antique, c'est-a-dire, en paniers, etc., et que 
 
 son mari insistait pour qu'elle fut mise a la mode 
 
 de France ; or toute la cour s'imaginait que cette 
 
 mode de France etait celle des Komaines de 
 
 theatre, presque nues. II fallut leur expliquer ce 
 
 qu'il en etait, et ils eurent beaucoup de peine a, se 
 
 rassurer et a croire que tous les femmes en France 
 
 ne montraient pas dans les rues ce que vous savez 
 
158 
 
 DIAET OF 
 
 bien. Ce qu'il y avait de mieux, c'est que ni elle 
 ni son mari ne voulaieut qu'elle fut presentee, et 
 que c'etait la cour qui insistait pour cela. Elle y 
 alia done habillee a la frano-aise, mais je vous jure 
 tres-bien paree. 
 
 Adieu, belle dame, adieu, mes chers amis. 
 
 Sam. Mon'i*gee. 
 
 Je dois vous prevenir, pour vous et vos amis, 
 qu'on vient de publier le Catalogue de la Bib- 
 liotheque de M. Ginguene, qui contient notamment 
 toutes les meilleures editions des meilleurs ouvrages, 
 principalement italiens, qu'il avait remis pour en 
 composer l'histoire. II en a publie six volumes de 
 plus, tous les classiques de toutes les langues, et des 
 collections litteraires de la plus grande richesse. 
 Faites, je vous prie, savoir a ceux qui pouvaient en 
 vouloir qu'on la mettra en vente en fevrier, 1818, 
 et qu'en attendant on traitera avec ceux qui 
 voudrait acquerir, ou la totalite, ou seulement la 
 partie italienne. 
 
 Paris, 1817. 
 
 Mes bons amis — 
 
 Votee lettre vient encore ajouter aux reprocbes 
 que je me faisais de ne pas vous avoir encore re- 
 pondu ; mais je vais m'acquitter en vous prouvant 
 
LADY MORGAN. 159 
 
 que je n'ai pas cesse de m'occuper de vous, et de 
 meriter votre amitie an moins par celle que je vous 
 porte. D'abord, votre lettre (la premiere) ni'est 
 arrivee fort tard, soit que cela depende de la poste, 
 soit que cela vienne des intermediates que vous 
 aviez employes. Pour eviter cela, je vous prie de 
 m'ecrire sous le couvert de M. Joseph. Ritchie, at- 
 tache a votre ambassade a Paris — je recevrai vos 
 lettres plus promptement. J'ai dine il y a quatre 
 jours chez Madame la Marquise de Yillette avec 
 Madame Patterson,* rien que nous trois. Nous 
 avons porte un toast a notre illustre aniie, Lady 
 Morgan, et a, ses magnifiques ouvrages. lis sont 
 attendus hien impatiemment ces ouvrages ; et ces 
 maudits libraires nous font bien du chagrin par 
 leur lenteur. Je suis toujours pret a faire ce que 
 vous desiriez, soit pres des redacteurs des jour- 
 naux, soit de toute autre maniere. Je ferai soig- 
 neusement aussi toutes vos commissions sur le quai 
 Voltaire, la rue Pot de Fer, M. Warden, etc. A 
 propos de notre eternel Voltaire, vous savez peut- 
 etre ce qui nous est arrive — un libraire ayant 
 imagine de publier une nouvelle edition de ses 
 oeuvres completes ; tous les pretres ont pris l'alarme, 
 
 * Madame Jerome Bonaparte, who, after her marriage was annulled 
 by tie emperor, took her family name. She was sister to the Mar- 
 chioness of Wellesley and the Duchess of Leeds. 
 
160 DIARY OF 
 
 et ont fulminei (comme on dit) un mandement — 
 non pas de ceux sur lesquels on paye quelque 
 somme, mais de ceux dans lesquels on outrage les 
 vivants et les morts conjointement avec la raison. 
 Yoici a quoi tout le bruit qu'ils ont fait a servi — ■ 
 on a mis en chanson leur mandement (je vous le 
 fais passer) ; et ce qu'il y a de raieux, au lieu d'une 
 edition de Voltaire, on en fait quatre a la fois : 
 tant il est ion d'etre recommande au prone. Ma- 
 dame Patterson, que je n'avais pas eu l'honneur de 
 voir depuis un an, me dit l'autre jour que vous lui 
 temoigniez le desir de revenir en France ; rien, 
 mes bons amis, ne saurait etre plus agreable, non 
 seulement a moi, mais a tous ceux qui ont le bon- 
 heur de vous connaitre. Vous lui demandiez si 
 vous seriez bien recus ; permettez-moi de vous dire 
 ce que j'en pense, recommandes et presentes comme 
 vous le serez par votre ambassadeur et par vos 
 puissances, vous serez tres-bien recus, meme a la 
 cour si quelque chose pouvait vous faire desirer 
 d'y aller ; et mime dans le cas ou votre ouvrage 
 contiendrait des choses desobligeantes pour eux, ce 
 que je ne puis encore savoir; mais dans tous les 
 cas, vous serez recus ici au bras ouverts par tous 
 les savants, artistes, et gens aimables de tous les 
 genres, et, en verite, pass 6s les premiers moments 
 qu'on est tente de sacrifier a l'ostentation, il n'y a 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 161 
 
 plus que les societes bonnes et aimables que l'on 
 puisse rechercher. 
 
 Convenez done que notre pays de France est 
 un bien excellent pays, puis qu'il suffit d'en parler 
 pour faire d'aussi bonnes affaires : il est vrai que 
 e'est le talent du peintre qui met surtout le grand 
 prix au tableau, et que Raphael n'est pas moins 
 sublime en peignant Satan qu'en faisant le portrait 
 du most honourable St. Michel. 
 
 Je vous demande, belle dame, la permission de 
 dire un petit mot a Sir Charles. TJne des raisons, 
 mon ami, qui m'ont einpeche de vous ecrire plutot, 
 e'est un travail force que je poursuis depuis un 
 mois sur une affection que je crois mal connue, 
 bien qu'on ait ecrit des bibliotheques entieres a son 
 sujet ; ce sont les hemorro'ides. Ayant et6 charge 
 de faire cet article pour votre dictionnaire des 
 sciences medicales, qui se continue toujours, j'ai 
 repris des notes que j'avais autrefois recueillies sur 
 cet objet, et j'en ai fait un volume. Lorsqu'on im- 
 primera le dictionnaire, je ferai tirer a part des ex- 
 emplaires de cet article, a dessein de prier mes 
 amis de me faire des observations et des remarques 
 critiques, afin que je puisse m'en servir dans le 
 projet de perfectionner mon travail. Vous pensez 
 que je ne vous oublierai pas ; en attendant, nean- 
 moins, si vous aviez quelque chose a me faire passer 
 
162 DIAET OF 
 
 sur cet objet dont je pusse me servir, je vous en 
 serais bien oblig6. 
 
 Je viens a l'aimable communante ; bier au soir 
 le bon eveque et moi en avons beaucoup parle : il 
 m'a charge de vous le dire de sa part, et d'y joindre 
 toutes sortes de choses affectueuses. II a sn qu'on 
 avait imp rime en Belgique son projet d'association 
 litteraire, mais il n'en a pas recu d'exemplaire. II 
 est vrai que Madame de Stael est fort malade ; 
 l'aimable Corinne n'est plus qu'une machine sans 
 force, et qui ne peut penser : helas ! qu'est-ce que 
 de nous ? on ne croit pas qu'elle puisse se retablir : 
 je ne la connais malheureusement, pas. Pen en- 
 tends quelquefois dire des choses qui me font penser 
 comme medecin qu'on ne la traite pas convenable- 
 ment ; cependant a qui le dire, la mort de cette 
 celebre serait une calamite europeenne. II n'a paru 
 ici aucun ouvrage important sur la politique depuis 
 " l'Histoire des Colonies " par M. de Pradt. Deux 
 ouvrages ou pamphlets, assez insignifiants, ont 
 fourni le pretexte de condamner leurs auteurs a 
 des peines tres-graves, ce qui n'encourage pas les 
 ecrivains. L'autre jour le journal des " Debats," 
 de tout temps devoue au despotisme, s'etant avise 
 de dire que la presse etait genee a. Paris, on l'a 
 suprime pour trois jours, et on lui a fait mettre un 
 article dans lequel il declare que la presse est tres- 
 
LADY M0EGAN. 163 
 
 libre, ce qui etait assez prouv6 cependant par la 
 suppression. Parmi les ouvrages de literature, on 
 a beau coup remarque deux petits volumes intitules 
 " Confessions d'une Femme ; " cette femme est 
 Madame de Foui-queux, et M. Suard* est l'editeur 
 de ses m6moires. Madame de Genlis vient aussi 
 de publier quatre volumes d'extrait des " Memoires 
 de Dangeau " sur la cour de Louis the Fourteenth. 
 C'est la que l'on voit ce grand roi se promener lui- 
 meme, et prendre la peine de faire cent autres 
 choses egalement importantes qui prouvent toute 
 sa grandeur et son extreme bonte\ Imaginez- 
 vous que je n'ai pas encore vu les fragments sur 
 l'lrlande.f Je suis bien malheureux d'etre si fort 
 occup6. J'oubliais de vous parler d'un tres-impor- 
 tant ouvrage dont le premier volume vient de 
 paraitre sous ce titre : " Conque"tes, Victoires, et 
 Desastres des Francais," etc. : on en dit beaucoup 
 de bien. Dans les sciences, an medecin de Stras- 
 bourg vient de publier un gros traite, en deux vol- 
 umes, sur le delire ; c'est M. Fodere, J'auteur d'un 
 excellent trait6 de medecine legale et de police 
 sanitaire. II comprend sous le nom de delire 
 toutes les alterations de l'esprit, febriles ou non. 
 
 * Secretaire perp^tuel de l'Acad^mie Imperiale et Royale. 
 t " Patriotic Sketches," one of my earliest works. 
 
164: DIARY OF 
 
 Un autre de me6 amis, M. Broussais, a publie une 
 sorte de diatribe virulente sous le titre " D'examen 
 des Doctrines Medicales Modernes." II nous dit 
 des injures a tous: son opinion est que toutes les 
 fievres dependent d'une phlegmasie. M. Louyer 
 Villermay a fait paraitre, en deux volumes, un tres- 
 bon traite des affections hysteriques et hypochon- 
 driaques ; cependant on parle beaucoup d'une or- 
 ganisation nouvelle de la medecine en France, qui 
 va bientot paraitre. Je vous fais passer des chan- 
 sons (il faut toujours commencer par la), le compte- 
 rendu des travaux de l'Academie des Sciences pour 
 1816, un petit ecrit de M. le Comte Lanjuinais, sur 
 le conseil d'etat. Adieu, mes bons amis. Je ne 
 sais si l'aimable M. Moore est a Paris, et je vous 
 ferais passer cette lettre comme la premiere. 
 
 Sam. Montague. 
 
 Je mets dans mon paquet une lettre que m'en 
 remise Madame de Yillette d'une jeune personne 
 qui vous demandait a traduire voire ouvrage. Si 
 cela avait dependu de vous, j'aurais demande la 
 preference pour Madame de Bon. 
 
 From Oregoire, Bishop of Mois, to Sir Charles and Lady 
 Morgan. 
 The celebrated author of the " Marseillaise," M. 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 165 
 
 Eouget de Lisle, has requested me to transmit to 
 Sir Charles and Lady Morgan his charming poem 
 entitled " The Morning." I should reproach my- 
 self if I delayed the pleasure they will have in 
 reading it, and I hasten to forward it to M. "Warden, 
 who will place it in their hands. He will tell them 
 at the same time, if considerations of which they 
 are aware prevent me from calling to see them, my 
 sentiments of esteem and affection for both are in- 
 variable. 
 
 M. Eouget de Lisle will be delighted to make 
 their acquaintance. He resides at the Brazilian 
 Hotel, Notre Dame des Victoires. If Lady Morgan 
 should publish, as is hoped, some new work, M. 
 Eouget de Lisle offers beforehand to translate it into 
 French. He is familiar with the English language, 
 and it will be assuredly agreeable to my lady to 
 have for her translator a man whose far-famed song 
 has led our armies to victory, and has been rendered 
 into every European tongue. 
 
 I am anxious to find opportunities of proving to 
 the illustrious travellers how much I have it at 
 heart to become serviceable to them. 
 
 Gkegoiee, Eveque. »j« 
 
166 DIAEY OF 
 
 Madame Tracy La Fayette* to Lady Morgan. 
 I eegeet much, madam, that I was not fortunate 
 enough to find you at, home when I called to see 
 you. During the month that I have been in Paris 
 my children have been continually ill, and that 
 was the iirst time I had been out. I received with 
 gratitude your kind invitation, and I should have 
 profited by it, if I went at all into the world ; but 
 I never go out at night, and I must request your 
 permission to visit you in the morning, in the con- 
 fidence with which you inspired me at La Grange, 
 and to renew the assurances of all the sentiments I 
 then expressed towards you. 
 
 Teacy La Fayette. 
 
 From the Baron de Stael to Lady Morgan. 
 I eejoice extremely, madam, you have conde- 
 scended to furnish me with an opportunity of being 
 in some degree useful to you. Here is " Sismondi," 
 and I should reserve the honour of presenting it to 
 you myself, if some important affairs did not detain 
 me at home. Receive with indulgence the homage 
 
 of my respectful attachment. 
 
 De Stael. 
 
 * Count de Tracy's daughter, married to the only son of General La 
 Fayette, was one of the most charming women in France, 
 
 "et par droit de conquSte, et par droit de naissance." 
 
LADY MOBGAN. 167 
 
 "What a nice note from M. de Stael, and what a 
 valuable present ! It does not signify, I am spoiled 
 for life, or at least for Dublin. "Whilst in foreign 
 lands, kind friends and approving readers over- 
 whelm us with testimonies of good-will. It has 
 been debated in the Royal Society House in Dub- 
 lin, whether our works ought not to be turned out, 
 as we should be ourselves if we showed our faces. 
 This little galcmterie of my countrymen has been 
 told me by Lord Aylmer, Adjutant-General of the 
 Forces in Ireland, and our most particular friend, 
 to whom the proposition was made, he being one 
 of the members. He flung it from him with indig- 
 nation, as we should say in Ireland. 
 
 Two notes from ATbertine, Duchesse de Broglie, daughter of 
 Madame de Stael, to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Thursday evening. 
 
 "Will you be so good, my lady, as to send me 
 the two remaining volumes of your work, which 
 interests us deeply ? If I do not return the two 
 first, it is because Mademoiselle Eondall is reading 
 them. I regretted much that I was unable to go 
 to you yesterday evening ; but the people who 
 dined with us remained too late. Accept the as- 
 surance of my distinguished regard. 
 
 Stael de Beoglie. 
 
168 DIARY OF 
 
 I am very grateful, my lady, for the interest you 
 so kindly take in my health. I have been in a suf- 
 fering state for some time, which has prevented me 
 from calling upon you oftener. I cannot have the 
 happiness of going to you this evening, for I am 
 obliged to remain with a friend who is going to the 
 country ; but is it possible that I could see you to- 
 morrow before four o'clock ? I am most anxious 
 still to profit by your short stay here, and to recover 
 what my indisposition has occasioned me to lose. 
 Accept, madam, the assurance of my entire regard. 
 
 Stael de Broglie. 
 
 Here is a note which has given us great pleas- 
 ure. Such eminent names belong to the land- 
 marks of time, no matter how simple the illustra- 
 tions to which they are prefixed. 
 
 Paris, Oct. 29th, 1818. 
 
 Monsieur and Madame Cuvier are fully sen- 
 sible of the honour which Sir Charles and Lady 
 Morgan desire to confer on them, and will be de- 
 lighted to receive them. They are most anxious, 
 if they could, to contribute to the enjoyments of 
 their visit to Paris. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 169 
 
 From M. Boucher to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Rue Vaubadeau, Paris, Thursday, Oct. 1, 1818. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 The desire of knowing so distinguished a person 
 has induced me to entreat of Messrs. La Fayette 
 and Benjamin Constant to present me to you, who 
 are the angel of impartiality, in a country where 
 they pride themselves on rendering the smallest 
 possible justice to Frenchmen, who, on their side, 
 have adopted the opposite mania of Anglicism, 
 down to the most trifling fashions, and singing the 
 praises at random of their natural enemy. 
 
 I thought, madam, you were an Englishwoman. 
 I felt surprised, in reading your works, to see that 
 you had bestowed a just eulogium on my country. 
 But I have since learned that you are a native of 
 Ireland, and my surprise has ceased. 
 
 General La Fayette, who had led me to expect 
 the favour of being presented to you, being absent, 
 Mons. Benjamin Constant has promised to mention 
 my name, with the view of satisfying my impatient 
 desire to see, to hear, and to admire a lady so 
 worthy of her exalted celebrity. 
 
 May I flatter myself, madam, that you will 
 
 honour my talents by accepting the invitation to a 
 
 private assembly of persons worthy of meeting you ? 
 
 Mons. and Madame Constant will acquaint you 
 
 8 
 
170 DIART OF 
 
 with the particulars of this matinee musicale, which 
 will take place next Sunday, the 8th inst., between 
 the hours of twelve and five. My wife, to whose 
 request I have the happiness to add my own, will 
 endeavour to entertain you by playing on the harp 
 and piano, which instruments she professes. Sev- 
 eral other artists, whose ability equals their reputa- 
 tion, will also unite their efforts to ours. 
 
 Tou will find in my house none but literary 
 men, ladies, artists, and distinguished persons, all 
 your ardent admirers. Do not refuse, madam, to 
 embellish by your presence a frank and liberal 
 meeting, in which friendship and the arts preside, 
 with equal anxiety to offer you their homage. 
 
 I have the honour to be, with respectful admira- 
 tion, madam, 
 
 Tour humble and obedient servant, 
 
 Alexandre Boucher,* 
 
 Ex-Director of Music and Private Tutor to 
 King Charles IV., and Member of 
 several Academies and Learned Societies, dec., &c. 
 
 Humboldt has been again to-day, and again Ave 
 were out. How very mortifying ! His visits are 
 
 * Alexander Boucher, an inspired musician, but in all else as " mad 
 as a hatter ! " 
 
LADY MORGAN. 171 
 
 none the less " angel visits " because they are not 
 " few or far between ;" and certainly, so far as my 
 acquaintance goes with the angelic choir, " celui-la 
 vaut bien les autres." He left a precious little 
 billet in the porter's lodge, where he wrote it: 
 " Alexandre Humboldt toujours assez malheureux 
 de ne pas trouver Lady Morgan." 
 
 H6tel du Tibre, Rue de Helder, 
 Boulevards Italiens, 
 
 Paris, October 31, 1818. 
 
 My deab Love, 
 
 I was sitting alone, waiting for Morgan to come 
 in to dinner (for he had gone to see his sister Su- 
 san, who is at school in the Champs Elysees), when 
 enter a Mr. Luby, a friend of Mr. Cumin's, who 
 offers very civilly to take a letter or little parcel 
 for me to London, and to try to forward it to 
 Ireland. So, the moment Morgan came home, and 
 we had swallowed our " bit and our sup," out we 
 sallied to the Palais Eoyale to get you une echarpe 
 tricotee. It was now six o'clock, and we were to 
 send to Mr. Luby by eight, so we had not much 
 time to look about us — and, worse, had to choose 
 by lamplight. I hope, however, you will like it. 
 As well as I can guess, the colours are pretty ; but 
 it strikes me (owing, I believe, to the fineness of 
 
172 DIAET OF 
 
 the web) to be very small ; but la belle dame I 
 bought it from assured me, "parole Whonneur" 
 that it was " la largeur au juste pour coiffer les 
 cheveux." The fashion is to put a silk handkerchief 
 of the prevailing colour under it, and then roll it 
 round. I have begged of Mr. Luby to send you 
 this letter by post from London ; and if you do not 
 get the scarf directly, write to him for it. I send 
 the cherub also some toys, which in my hurry is 
 all I can mark out for the present. "Write to me 
 the moment you receive this. Direct your letters, 
 in future, under cover to Mr. Crewe, which will 
 save you postage, and direct as above. I hope you 
 got my letter about your play, and that you have 
 written to Harris accordingly. You will think 
 there is no end to our changing lodgings ; and, in 
 fact, the difficulty of getting apartments at all ele- 
 gant and comfortable for people, not of the first 
 rank or fortune, is immense, particularly in winter. 
 We have at last succeeded, and are lodged in the 
 most delightful part of Paris, which you will see 
 by consulting Lady Morgan's work on France, 
 under the head of " Boulevards Italiens," for we 
 are only two houses down the street from them. 
 We have got three very pretty rooms de reception 
 and a boudoir, besides an anteroom. Morgan's 
 work comes out in London to-morrow ; the trans- 
 
LADY MORGAN. 173 
 
 lation is already undertaken by a member of the 
 Institute — a scientific man of great celebrity. Trut- 
 tel and Wurtz, German booksellers here, have pur- 
 chased the right of translating "Florence Macar- 
 thy " from Colburn at a large sum ; and the hurry 
 is so great to have it come out with the original, 
 that they have set two persons to work at it, who 
 will make pretty nonsense of it, no doubt ; it is, in 
 fact, untranslatable, but will, nevertheless, make 
 you die laughing.* [The elections here are inter- 
 esting us beyond everything. Last night we had 
 all the popular candidates with us at our fireside, 
 receiving messages from their electors, &c, &c. 
 Constant and La Fayette stayed with us till one 
 in the morning. From one-half to two-thirds ot 
 the new members are Liberals. Constant has lost 
 his election by eighty voices only out of ten thou- 
 sand, with all the force and intrigue of the ministry 
 against him. La Fayette, after having been set 
 up for the department of Seine et Marne, and 
 government spending thousands, and using every 
 species of calumny and bribery to worst him, was, 
 on his failure there, set up by the Parisians with- 
 out his knowledge, and afterwards by the depart- 
 
 * If you think the politics of this scribble would amuse Mr. Bushe 
 or Lord Charlemont, let Clarke copy out the paragraphs between the 
 [ ], and give them to Mrs. Bushe. 
 
174: DIAET OF 
 
 ment of La Sarthe. When government found he 
 was succeeding in the latter place, they suspended 
 the election, in the face of the laws. Notwith- 
 standing all this, he has this moment sent me word 
 he has been elected — the greatest triumph of public 
 opinion known for years. The king had been heard 
 to declare he would rather hear of two provinces 
 in insurrection than La Fayette elected ; and it is 
 said for Madame d'Angouleme, that she would not 
 remain in France if he succeeded. The triumph 
 is universal, and they say my book, " France," was 
 the best canvasser La Fayette had. The Emperor 
 of Bussia arrived here at three in the day, went to 
 the Tuileries to dine at four, had a conference 
 tete-a-tete with the king for an hour, and left Paris 
 at eight to sleep at Senlis. This was a short visit, 
 you will say. The King of Prussia is still here, 
 running about the shops, and spending his evenings 
 at the theatre, and making about as much sensation 
 as baby would if he came here. The Duchesse de 
 Proglie spent an hour with me the other day. She 
 is reserved and simple, and not the least what you 
 would suppose Madame de Stael's daughter to be. 
 She and the duke go down to La Grange with the 
 general, to pass next week after the hurry of the 
 elections, and we are asked to dine with them on 
 their return.] I long to hear from you and what 
 
LADY M0KGA1T. 175 
 
 you are about. I send you a shawl, and that's all. 
 My love all round. What is doing about the un- 
 fortunate house ? Morgy wishes Clarke would say 
 to Staunton that he has had nothing particular to 
 communicate worth postage, and give him the 
 cream of this letter, and tell him I have ordered 
 Colburn to send him a copy of the " Philosophy." 
 Love and kiss darling baby ; love to Molly. 
 
 Diary. — Denon's party was charming last night ! 
 The best society in Paris assembled in what is out 
 and out the most curious of all the curious hotels 
 in Paris — a precious cabinet of all that is most pre- 
 cious of works of art, from the skeleton hand of 
 Cleopatra to the model in marble of that of the 
 Princess Borghese. But as I knew De"non's hotel 
 par cceur, and have besides published the catalogue 
 raisonne in my " France," I turned to the living 
 monument of court favour, who was amongst the 
 company, the Due de Cazes. He is very hand- 
 some, engaging, and courteous, of the type of the 
 Carrs and Villierses, those beau-ideals of royal 
 favourites. He well became the external marks 
 which he wore of royal distinction, and justified 
 the tradition of a noble descent. When I was in- 
 troduced to him, I thanked him for his kind mes- 
 
176 DIARY OF 
 
 Bage through Denon (which had been to the effect 
 that we need fear no molestation during our stay 
 in Paris, Anglice, that we should not be turned 
 out) ; his answer was too courtly for even my 
 frank vanity to repeat. There was a freedom of 
 conversation about men and things this evening 
 that struck me. It is the freest moment, so far as 
 the expression of liberal opinions in private society 
 goes, as it is also the most tranquil period France 
 has known for the last fifty years. The change 
 which has taken place since we sent forth our 
 " France " in 1816 is extraordinary, but not unac- 
 countable. The king's character and constitution, 
 his tastes and his habits, all tend to repose. He is 
 false, not ferocious ; and, having permitted Ultra 
 vengeance to glut itself during the first period of 
 his restoration, he now resumes habitudes nour- 
 ished in his long exile. A fine gentleman, an 
 elegant scholar ; graceful (if not grateful), as the 
 Bourbons always are ; gracious, as the French 
 princes always have been, even when their courte- 
 sies meant nothing — he owes much to the privacy 
 and privation of Hartwell, and a little to the great 
 reformer of all selfishness, age (for there is nothing 
 like the despotic selfishness of youth). Sensual 
 and sentimental, he applied the honhommie of the 
 old court to the courtiers of the present. He has 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 177 
 
 his petit mot galant for the ladies and his bon mot 
 fpirituel for the old voltigeurs by whom he is sur- 
 rounded. He affiches his innocent passion for the 
 sister of the Due de Oazes, and his friendship for 
 her brother (hi8 prime minister), by throwing his 
 arm around his neck en ion papa. He leaves the 
 ministry to the full enjoyment of their own doc- 
 trines and pedantry. His particular friend, the 
 Due de Richelieu, has been dismissed. His suc- 
 cessor has, however, assured him a liberal pension ; 
 a curious fact, considering the duke is the collateral 
 descendant to the most powerful minister France 
 ever produced. Still, however veiled, it remains 
 but a mild despotism, gently agitated by ministe- 
 rial dissensions — the commotion of mediocrity ex- 
 cited by the love of place, and the fear of losing it. 
 There is no liberty of the press, and without that 
 the people can have no rights, and liberty no bul- 
 warks. Contemptible as the present state of things 
 is, the power of the infiniment petit, it is better 
 than military despotism, of all despotisms the most 
 brutalising. It is threatening the body to coerce 
 the spirit ; and physical force in its most odious 
 form, without any sublimity to disguise it to the 
 imagination. 
 
 Diary. — Whilst we were eating our morsel at 
 home, enter Denon with a delicious bouquet. He 
 8* 
 
1Y8 
 
 DIAEY OF 
 
 had come to carry us off to the Ambigu, because, 
 he said, they were to give an Irish play, called 
 "Le Songe." The young hero was a "Monsieur 
 Patrique," who always addressed his patron, Lord 
 Lindore, as " votre grace." Miss Pauline O'Con- 
 nell was an incarnation of Ossian's Malvina, and 
 declaimed most heroically on her country's wrongs. 
 This false chronology is not altogether out of place 
 in the Irish dramas of Irish writers of a certain 
 class. I recollect an Irish schoolmaster who wrote 
 a tragedy, called " Manlius " (which he wanted to 
 produce on the Dublin stage), and who, after 
 bringing his hero to the very edge of the Tarpeian 
 rock, makes him exclaim, " Oh, Jasus ! where am 
 I going to ? " 
 
 Diary. — I had a reception last night in my new 
 apartment, brilliantly lighted, by-the-by, and well 
 attended. A good many English : the Duchess of 
 Devonshire, Leitrims, and Sollys. Then there was 
 Benjamin Constant and Madame Constant (nee 
 Comtesse de Hardenberg), and the delectable 
 Denon, and Count de Segur. The Comtesse de 
 Hardenberg is quite as delightful a person as her 
 husband. The conversation turned upon Madame 
 de Stael, which I thought might a little discom- 
 pose Madame Constant, as "Benjamin the Euler" 
 was the most affiche of GoY'iima? $, patiti. However, 
 
LADY M0KGAN. 1V9 
 
 I was soon relieved, as Constant gave us the most 
 admirable and graphic description of Madame de 
 Stael's mode of exhibiting, "car elle se posa toujours." 
 
 " Do you remember," said he turning to Denon, 
 " that night at Madame de Tracy's,* where Alber- 
 tinaf had her branch of laurel (de rigueur), which 
 she always presented to- her mother when she saw 
 inspiration coming strong upon her \ " (He took 
 down an allumette as he spoke, and twisted it 
 round his finger and thumb with the " preliminary 
 look" with which she was wont to collect her au- 
 dience. The imitation was so good and so comic 
 that everybody burst out laughing, and Madame 
 Constant loudest of all.) "Taking for her text," 
 continued Constant, " some word dropped on poli- 
 tics or literature, she burst forth in one of those 
 rhapsodies of eloquence — for she never conversed ; 
 she lost sight of every one, except the one, over 
 whom, for the moment, she wished to throw her 
 spell. All this looked like art ; but in her it was 
 second nature." 
 
 " Cependant," said Denon, " c'etait une bonne 
 pate de femme," and Lady Morgan has done her 
 ample justice in her work upon France.^ 
 
 * La Comtesse Destrutt de Tracy, the admirable wife of the cele- 
 brated metaphysician. 
 
 + Albertina de Stael, Duchesse de Broglie. 
 t See "France in 1816," toI. i. p. 385. 
 
180 DIAET OF 
 
 Lavater says, that to suppress a oon mot would 
 merit canonization ; a Frenchman never does, even 
 at the expense of his friend, or — of his mistress. 
 Constant related that Corinna had smiled, but in 
 vain, on the brilliant Count de Kivarol, the spoiled 
 pet of two courts. Meeting her one night at a hal 
 masque, he turned away from her. " De quelle 
 deesse voulez-vous echapper done ? " said the friend 
 with whom he was walking ; " and how do you 
 know the masque ? " 
 
 " Par lepied de Stael," he answered. 
 
 Madame de Stael's foot was not that of Atalanta. 
 I saw Kivarol in his last days in London. He was 
 even then pre-eminently distinguished for his wit 
 and brilliant conversation.* 
 
 November, 1818 : Hue de Helder. We are much 
 pleased with our new locale; we were scarcely 
 campe, when Berthon, who was the favourite pupil 
 of David, arrived with a note from Denon to say I 
 must sit for my picture for Denon for the next 
 Exposition, 1820. It is to be as large as life — no 
 
 * It was at Harrington House, where a greater wit than himself had 
 already arrived — Madame la Duchesse de Coigny, who sat huddled up 
 in a black cloak and bonnet, the impersonation of the whole Faubourg 
 St. Germaine. Whilst the two were engaged in the "keen encounter 
 of their wits," Lady Asgill, the charming coquette fieffee of the day, 
 glided up to the old duchess, and said angrily, " Est-il vrai, Madame la 
 Duchesse, que vous dites partout que je suis plus bete que belle ? " 
 "Pardon, miladi," said the duchess, "je l'ai souvent oui dire, mais je 
 ne l'ai jamais repe'teV 
 
LADY MORGAN. 181 
 
 very immoderate dimensions, that! The canvas 
 and frame arrived here this morning, for I refused 
 to go and sit in Berthon's atelier. It will fill up 
 the entire back of my pretty boudoir. Kildare 
 Street, be proud ! It will be like the family pic- 
 ture in the " Vicar of "Wakefield " — too large for 
 the house ! 
 
 A note from the dear General : he is returned 
 for La Sarthe ; but though so near us, cannot come 
 to see us for some days. 
 
 A Lady Morgan. 
 Mes bons Amis, 
 
 Me voila depute pour La Sarthe moins d' oppo- 
 sition que je n'attendais ; le gouvernement a menie 
 mis de la coqueterie a rendre cette nomination plus 
 flatteuse. Impossible de vous voir, mais a tantot, 
 quand je vous en dirai des nouvelles. 
 
 La Fayette. 
 
 De Stael compte vous aller voir avec Manuel 
 demain ; il est tres-occup6 de sa Societe de la Presse. 
 Je lui ai donne votre adresse. 
 
 Looked up all my great and small names in my 
 old French visiting-book, and went out with my 
 invitations for a reunion every "Wednesday, in due 
 form, which I left at the Hotels La Tremouille, Biron, 
 
182 DIAEY OT 
 
 Beauveau, Colbert, Chabanis, d'Ossonville, Ruolze,* 
 &c, &c. The day divinely bright and fright- 
 fully cold ; my nose inclined to be red ; but my 
 new viclmra, bleu f once, lined with ermine, consoled 
 me for everything. It is beautiful — a present im- 
 provise from my dear Morgan, whom I scolded for 
 his extravagance. 
 
 "We spent the evening tete-a-tete, with our feet 
 in the ashes, which may have warmed the feet of 
 Madame du Deffand and Mademoiselle de l'Espi- 
 nasse. I am sure the foyer has never been swept 
 out for the last century. Morgan read aloud a de- 
 lightful pamphlet of Paul Courier's, pleasant and 
 brilliant as a pleading of Beaumarchais ; but what 
 a difference between the vigneron of Touraine and 
 the harpiste of the two old maiden daughters of 
 Louis XV. ! Both, however, out of the common 
 role of men in their respective ways. 
 
 Diary. — To-day very busy sending out cards 
 for my Wednesday, when our valet, throwing open 
 the grands battants, announced M. Raoul Hochette, 
 one of my affides of 1816. Raoul ! — spirit of my 
 sainted sire ! what a chivalrous name ! He is 
 waging a war, however, very much opposed to 
 chivalry. He is a very Zoilus, and a great con- 
 
 * The translator of my " Novice of St. Dominic," to whom I owe the 
 honour of my first introduction into France. 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 183 
 
 tributor to the " Minerva ; " but he is more than 
 that in my opinion; for he is the friend of the 
 honestest man and purest patriot in France, the 
 identical Paul Louis Courier we were reading last 
 night, and he actually brought a request from the 
 Vigneron to be presented to us ! "What a charm- 
 ing apropos ! I immediately filled a card for my 
 Wednesday evenings. M. Eaoul said, " I will pre- 
 sent it to him, but I am sure he will not come. 
 He hates large assemblies, and would much prefer 
 to be received by you and Sir Charles enfamille. 
 He says he is afraid of being mistaken for a 
 gentleman. Although he inherits- a nom de terre, 
 as the proprietor of the ancient estate De Mere, in 
 Touraine, he never receives his title of count. He 
 wishes to be the founder of his own illustration ; 
 and, instead of being M. Courier de Mere, he 
 simply writes himself ' le Vigneron.' " 
 
 " Although very witty," said M. Eochette, " he 
 is a profound mathematician, and one of our most 
 learned and elegant Hellenists. He was highly edu- 
 cated by his very intellectual father. He entered 
 the army in his youth, fought bravely through the 
 republican campaigns in Germany and Italy, and rose 
 rapidly from a subaltern to be a chef oVescadron. 
 But he had a higher and a better calling. The in- 
 dependence of his nature and his intellectual voca- 
 
184 DIAJKY OF 
 
 tion soon drew him from a profession whose dogma 
 was blind obedience, and gave to France one of her 
 best patriots and profoundest thinkers. He had 
 taken up arms against a foreign invasion ; but he 
 laid them down after the battle of "Wagram, and 
 retired during the despotism of the Empire to his 
 farms in Touraine. It was said that one of his 
 commanding officers, to whom his caustic wit had 
 rendered him offensive, General Berthier, would 
 not accept his resignation. It appeared that on 
 Berthier'' a fourgons was inscribed the name of ' Cesar 
 Berthier,' and the sarcastic young soldier, as he 
 passed the military van, dashed his sword through 
 the classic cognomen of Caasar, exclaiming, ' Ber- 
 thier oui, mais Cesar non ! ' The point of the 
 epigram lay in the reputation of Berthier for being 
 more discreet than valiant : to be sure ' he chose 
 the better part.' During the last ten years he has 
 followed up his learned researches in Italy, where 
 he frequently violated the laws of military discipline, 
 to rummage some old, obscure, and curious library, 
 or to rescue some precious MS. from dust and 
 worms, which chance had discovered to him. To 
 these fouilles" said M. Bochette, " we owe his 
 publication of the ' Pastorales de Longus.' It was 
 in collating the entire MS. that he let some ink 
 fall upon the precious fragment. The librarian 
 
LADY MOBGAST. 185 
 
 profited by the spot of ink to accuse him of having 
 destroyed the original, that he might appropriate to 
 himself the publication. Courier disdained to ex- 
 culpate himself, the charge appeared so absurd ; but 
 being cited by the Prefect of Rome, he answered the 
 charge in his celebrated letter to M. Remusat, his 
 publisher, a chef-d'oeuvre of good sense, wit, and 
 pleasantry. After the Restoration he retired to 
 his vineyards in Touraine, 1815. The attempts at 
 a counter revolution by the Bourbons roused him 
 from his retirement, and his Petition from the 
 inhabitants of the little village of Luines, on the 
 banks of the Loire, so full of caustic wit and bitter 
 pleasantry, struck the minister, the Due de Cazes, 
 who was anxious to found his power on the ruins 
 of the two extreme parties, so forcibly, that he 
 made use of this petition against the ultra royalists. 
 Persecution ceased, and the Yigneron retired again 
 to his vendages. The government asking what they 
 could do for him, he replied, ' Rien ; je ne pretends 
 a, rien, et je ne me crois meme propre a, rien !' His 
 Letter to ' Messieurs de l'Academie d'Instruction et 
 de Belles Lettres,' and his '- Provinciales Politiques,' 
 in the form of letters, recall the immortal letters of 
 Pascal — ' la meme force de logique, la meme hau- 
 teur de pens6e, la meme finesse d'esprit avec plus 
 de bonhommie encore.' It is unnecessary to say 
 
186 DIAKT OF 
 
 that he has the priesthood against him, and that 
 little persecutions are daily getting up, which rather 
 agagaieni than depress him ; and we owe to them 
 his letter 'Aux aines devotes de la Paroisse de 
 Veretz, petition des Villageois qu'on empeche de 
 danser,' and other unpardonable pleasantries, fre- 
 quently more effective than graver essays." To all 
 these little biographical details my refrain was, 
 " But when will you bring him to see me ?" " Give 
 me your invitation," he said, " et va pour votre 
 Mercredi prochain !" The country must be saved 
 when there are still such men in France. What 
 does the present lull portend? En attendant, 
 jouissons. 
 
 The Princme de Beauveau to Lady Morgan. 
 
 You have good reason, dear Lady Morgan, to 
 think me weak for refusing an invitation that comes 
 from you ; but, alas ! my evening is not my own. 
 I have been for a long time engaged at home by 
 persons whom I cannot set aside without offence ; 
 nevertheless, if I can snatch a few moments from 
 them without running that risk I shall hasten to 
 devote them to you with the eagerness which you 
 may readily give me credit for when an opportunity 
 
LADY MORGAN. 187 
 
 offers of assuring you personally of my tender 
 attachment. 
 
 MoKTEMAKT DE BeATJVEAU. 
 
 " L'esprit de Mortemart " has descended intact 
 to this lady by Nature's own " right divine." 
 
 M. Constant to Lady Morgan. 
 
 November 2, 1818. 
 M. Constant presents his best compliments to 
 Lady Morgan, and presumes to apply to her lady- 
 ship for something, in which he believes her lady- 
 ship's kind advice and assistance would be very 
 useful to him. The attacks he has been exposed to 
 from the Ministerial party during the elections 
 make it necessary for him to publish some Memoires 
 sur les Cent Jours, which he wrote in England 
 three years ago, when residing there to avoid the 
 prosecutions of 1815. As during the period he 
 describes he was constantly with Bonaparte, and as 
 he means to give a fair and complete account of his 
 motives in uniting then with a man he till then had 
 avoided and disapproved, he thinks the work will be 
 curious ; and he is offered a pretty large sum by his 
 bookseller here. But he believes an agreement with 
 an English publisher would be more advantageous, 
 especially if he sells only the English edition, and 
 
188 DIAKY OF 
 
 reserves himself the power of making an arrange- 
 ment for France, which would be no prejudice to 
 the English publisher, since, books being dearer in 
 England, the English edition will always be super- 
 seded by the French. He therefore takes the lib- 
 erty of requesting her ladyship's advice, and if 
 possible, introduction to some English bookseller. 
 M. Constant had treated for that work with Colburn, 
 of Conduit Street; but, upon his returning to 
 France, he gave up every idea of publication, and, 
 the time fixed for publishing being past, Colburn 
 himself agreed to break up the agreement. The 
 work is nearly finished, and must be printed within 
 six weeks. 
 
 M. Constant begs Lady Morgan's pardon for his 
 importunity, and relies on her kind and friendly 
 disposition towards him. 
 
 M. de Constant to Laiy Morgan. 
 
 Not. 2. 
 Lady Morgan's kind letter encourages me to 
 propose a means of negotiating with Colburn, which 
 would, I think, render the negotiations more easy 
 and more profitable. It would be Lady Morgan's 
 writing a few lines, informing Colburn that I intend 
 publishing the work in question, and directing him 
 
LADY MORGAN. 189 
 
 to make propositions to me concerning it. The 
 battle of the elections, though lost, will give some 
 additional interest to the publication, and Lady 
 Morgan's interference would certainly be of weight. 
 If my proposal has any inconvenience which I can- 
 not foresee, I beg Lady Morgan to refuse. My 
 work will be ready in a fortnight or three weeks, 
 and the printing will begin at latest within a month. 
 As soon as I have a moment's time, I intend doing 
 myself the pleasure of waiting on Lady Morgan, 
 and request her ladyship till then to believe me her 
 sincere admirer, and most humble obedient servant, 
 
 B. Constant. 
 
 Diary. — Dined in the apartments of Madame 
 Geoffrin, 322, Eue St. Honore. Her cabinet in 
 high preservation, and a portrait of Marmontel is 
 inserted in a rococo frame as a dessusporte. Paris 
 abounds in this sort of interesting topography. 
 Dear old Paris ! may you live for ever as you are ! 
 Whoever should turn this house of brick into a 
 house of marble would destroy one of the volumes, 
 and graphic volumes, which has preserved the his- 
 tory, the manners, and individuality of the most 
 interesting epoch of French society — the grand in- 
 terval between receding middle ages and the ad- 
 
190 DIAKY OF 
 
 vance of a phase of flimsy civilisation. How charm- 
 ing, as one runs along the streets (for I always run), 
 to read, " Maison de Voltaire," " Ici demeurait 
 Moliere," "Hotel de Carnavalet," the whole of the 
 Place Poyale conspicuous for the house of Ninon 
 de l'Enclos, and other historically-named hotels 
 which ahound in the Marais, the Hotel de Guise 
 being the most splendid representative of the age 
 in which it was raised. Oh ! should the genius of 
 the "Wyatvilles ever run riot here, and replace these 
 memorable sites — these facades of dingy but fine 
 architectural lines, with spick-and-span-new plaster 
 of Paris and patent cement, 
 
 " Then dear Paris to you 
 I will soon bid a long and a careless adieu ! " 
 
 Architecture is the printing-press of all ages, 
 and gives a history of the state of the society in 
 which it was erected ; from the cromlech of the 
 Druids to those toyshops of royal bad taste — Carl- 
 ton House and the Brighton Pavilion. The Tower 
 and Westminster Abbey are glorious pages in the 
 history of time, and tell the story of an iron des- 
 potism and the cowardice of unlimited power.* 
 
 * 1858. — Holy St. Francis ! how you and your brother saints in- 
 crusted on the walls of Westminster Abbey, spiritual and sovereign 
 lords over the liberties of that gull, man, if you could be galvanised 
 into temporary life, how you would grin at that senate-house of a free 
 people — a bad imitation of a bad reality — and how indignantly you 
 would repudiate all connection " with the house over the way ! " 
 
LADY MORGAN. 191 
 
 From Princesse Jallmowshi to Lady Morgan. 
 
 A thousand thanks, Madame, for the agreeable 
 
 hours you have enabled me. to pass by reading your 
 
 charming romance. I thank you for having named 
 
 in it my revered and worthy countryman, our friend. 
 
 There is too much resemblance between our two 
 
 nations not to deserve your interest. To-morrow, 
 
 Sunday, I pass the evening at home. It would be 
 
 extremely kind if you would come to embellish it. 
 
 You will probably meet Madame de Sismondi. I 
 
 hope Sir Charles will accompany you. It is not a 
 
 set party, but one without full dress or ceremony. 
 
 I trust you will not refuse. 
 
 Jablonowski. 
 
 From General La Fayette to Lady Morgan. 
 
 La Grange, November 23rd, 1818. 
 "Without doubt, my dear lady, if I had arrived 
 in Paris on Friday, I should have anticipated my 
 departure by two days. The pleasure of again 
 seeing you both, of obeying your commands, and 
 the attractions of the agreeable society assembled 
 at your- house on "Wednesday, are the more than 
 sufficient causes to make me regret the adjourn- 
 ment of the Chambers. I have persuaded myself, 
 in my agricultural vanity, that I should make a 
 
192 DIAKY OF 
 
 great sacrifice in quitting my farm for several 
 months. There are many previous arrangements 
 which I like to think indispensable to the public in- 
 terest of my speculations. A dozen children, who 
 count for something in the desire of prolonging my 
 residence here. The king having assured us that 
 he should not require our attendance before the 
 tenth of December, I thought I might remain here 
 with my family until the fourth or fifth of that 
 month ; and our plans, which it would be difficult 
 to alter, have all been settled with this view. Re- 
 ceive, therefore, with indulgence, my dear lady, 
 the apology of my excuses, and of my regret for 
 the motion of adjournment which will follow the 
 sitting of Wednesday. I should be only too happy 
 to be introduced to your distinguished friends, and 
 to meet again, in your house, all those you wish 
 to present to me. 
 
 I have read "Florence Macarthy" with the 
 warmest interest. The story, and its accessories, 
 however attractive I find them, comprise its smallest 
 merit in my eyes. The courageous denunciation of 
 the oppressors and opposers of your country, with- 
 out question takes the lead. But, between this 
 double enjoyment, I find much additional pleasure 
 in entering into details of localities, manners, and 
 language ; which, perhaps, cannot be thoroughly 
 
LADY MORGAN. 193 
 
 understood and felt by a foreigner unless he has 
 been thrown into the early situations and habits of 
 ray life. It seems to me that the translator of 
 " Florence Macarthy " will require much literary 
 dexterity, if I may so express myself, and that he 
 should be as much as possible acquainted with the 
 politics, manners, and popular phraseology of the 
 united islands. Much must still be lost; but 
 enough will remain for a reading as agreeable as 
 instructive, and sympathetic with all generovis 
 instincts. 
 
 The inhabitants of La Grange write to offer to 
 you and Sir Charles the attachment of three gen- 
 erations. 
 
 La Fayette. 
 
 P. S. I have heard from Lord Holland, who 
 tells me that, in the midst of his profound affliction, 
 he has received Sir Charles's letter, informing him 
 of my election to the Chamber of Deputies. I am 
 instructed to return his warmest thanks. 
 
 Thursday.- — I was sitting this morning for my 
 picture to Berthon, when the frotteur of the hotel, 
 in the absence of my servant, threw open the door, 
 and announced in one word, " Lordvillanspence ! " 
 
194 DIABY OF 
 
 and enter the charming William Spencer, the poet- 
 laureate of the aristocracy of London. What an 
 agreeable surprise ! He always brings a ion-ton 
 London atmosphere about him. Berthon was 
 charmed with the cordiality of our meeting, which, 
 he thought, brightened up my countenance — which 
 had hitherto expressed nothing but bore. He made 
 Spencer sit down — -per far effetto — whence I could 
 see him, and kept poking my head with his mahl 
 stick till, I am sure, raj pose gave me the air of an 
 illustration of the petit courier des dames. I took 
 the opportunity of asking Spencer for a copy of his 
 beautiful verses of " Apology to Lady Anne Ham- 
 ilton" for staying too late at her house, spell- 
 bound by the eyes of the lovely Susan Beckford 
 (afterwards the Duchess of Hamilton). He pre- 
 tended to have forgotten them. I said that was an 
 affectation unworthy of him ; and I repeated the 
 first verse myself: — 
 
 " Too late I stayed — forgive the .crime, 
 For who could count the hours ? 
 For lightly falls the foot of time 
 That only treads on flowers," &c. 
 
 Berthon, affecting to be charmed with the metre, 
 said, "Mais traduisez moi cela, Miladi." I began, 
 " J'ai reste trop tard l'autre soir," but Spencer and 
 
LADY MORGAN. 195 
 
 I both burst out laughing, so that we could not 
 pi'oceed. Berthon looked confused. " Oh ! " said 
 Spencer, in beautiful French, " it is only nonsense 
 worthy of Voiture ; or the Hotel Rambouillet." 
 " Vraiment ! " said Berthon, who had, most likely, 
 not heard of either one or the other, " Attention, 
 Miladi ! " 
 
 So he went on with his painting, and we fell 
 into discourse, in English, on the cancan of May 
 Fair, and into fashionable frivolities, and Miss 
 Berry's last mot — "No friendship can cross the 
 north of Oxford Street" — when a letter was de- 
 livered to me, on the outside of which was written, 
 " Alexandre Von Humboldt." The dirty little spot 
 called the world disappeared into its own mists, 
 and the universe, of which Humboldt is at this 
 moment the high-priest, seemed to replace the 
 puppet-show with which we had been playing. 
 
 Spencer begged the cover, and read out the 
 letter, that vaj pose might not be disturbed; and 
 Berthon said, looking at the picture through his 
 hand, " C'est un grand homme, M. Humboldt ! 
 J'ai ambition de faire son portrait, et de le mettre 
 a l'exposition du Louvre avec le portrait de 
 Miladi." 
 
 I promised to invite Spencer to the first "Wednes- 
 
196 DIARY OF 
 
 day evening I expected Humboldt. This is Hum- 
 boldt's letter : — 
 
 From M. Humboldt to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Thursday. 
 
 The pleasing remembrance of Sir Charles and 
 Lady Morgan adds to the deep regret I felt at not 
 having enjoyed their interesting conversation at 
 Madame d'H's. My health is almost entirely re- 
 established, and I shall hasten to present myself at 
 Lady Morgan's residence to offer what is her due 
 on so many claims, the homage of my sentiments 
 of admiration and devoted respect. Alas! what 
 pitiless j ndges I have in your beautiful Albion ! 
 You will permit me, I hope, to complain a little 
 when you see how I am treated in the last number 
 of the " Quarterly Eeview." But I have well de- 
 served it. 
 
 Humboldt. 
 
 Scarcely had Mr. Spencer — that type of an Eng- 
 lish man of fashion — simple, pose, and well dressed 
 (though not too well dressed), bowed himself out, 
 and Berthon and myself settled again in earnest to 
 business, and I had " called up a look," like Lady 
 Pentweasel, with which he was satisfied at last, 
 
LADY M0KGAN. 197 
 
 when the Vicomte D'Arlincourt was announced, and 
 an original, the reverse of my English type — se 
 dandinant — as he advanced, smilingly said, "Je 
 me presente, miladi, sans introduction, vous con- 
 naissez mes ouvrages sang doute ; on m'appelle ici 
 ' le Virgile Frangais : ' exaggeration ! J'admire vos 
 sentiments quoique je ne partage pas vos opinions, 
 et je viens vous offrir mes hommages en fraternite 
 d'auteur !" 
 
 Taken thus by storm, and quite upset by the 
 humorous though provoked look of Berthon, my 
 " Pentweasel look" gave way to one I tried to con- 
 ceal behind my handkerchief. It was quite unne- 
 cessary. The Yicomte saw nothing but the reflec- 
 tion from an opposite mirror before which he had 
 seated himself, and he heard nothing but his own 
 voice as he poured forth, en grandes phrases de 
 Chateaubriand, an incoherent rhapsody on the 6tate 
 of French literature — past, present, and to come — 
 from Jodelle and Rotrou down toPicard and Scribe ; 
 all of whom he anathematised, declaring that Cha- 
 teaubriand was the renaissance of genuine French 
 literature, with a slight hint that he himself was not 
 a mean satellite of the illustrious orb round which 
 he moved ! 
 
 All this time Berthon was sketching him in on 
 the side of the canvas. His shirt collar was d la 
 
198 DIAET OF 
 
 Byron, thrown back to show his throat, his hair 
 ruffled, and he looked semi-tragic, semi-comic, like 
 a mask with two sides, which, together with his 
 scarlet and gold waistcoat, made a style of man such 
 as the chef of the school of David had certainly 
 never painted before. The entrance of Denon and 
 my husband caused a break-up of the seance, 
 and the French Virgil evidently discomfited by the 
 invasion, took his leave with a " Je me sauve, miladi, 
 c'est pour une autre fois." We all laughed, and 
 Denon complimented me on my distinguished visi- 
 tor, which Morgan took au serieux, as nobody had 
 introduced him. " It is very odd," said Denon, " how 
 much intense vanity is the prevailing temperament 
 dans nous autres Francais. Paiwre gargon ! He 
 will most probably die by his own hands. Do you 
 know, that nearly all our suicides, so much more 
 numerous in Paris than in London, are caused by 
 disappointed vanity ? Our hereditary nobility have 
 safety-valves in their rank, and in the offices of 
 which they are the inheritors, in church and state, 
 which protects them from lesser temptations to self- 
 destruction. Such events as the suicides of such 
 men as your Lord Castlereagh, and Sir Samuel 
 Romilly, are unknown in France." 
 
 Morgan said, " It is a curious fact that some 
 men are born with a tendency to self-destruction, 
 
LADY M0KGAN. 199 
 
 which exhibits itself at intervals from an early- 
 period of life, even before it can be the result of 
 feeling or reflection. It is generally accompanied 
 by mental aberration, consequent on pressure on 
 some portion of the brain, and is more purely 
 physical than the amour jpropre of man is willing 
 to allow. What poetical suicides and sublime 
 despair might have been prevented by a timely 
 dose of blue pill, or the offer of a Loge aux 
 Italiens ! " 
 
 " An excellent peroration, and trls a projpos" 
 said Denon, laughing, " for here I have brought 
 Miladi precisely a ' Loge aux Italiens ' to see Car- 
 raffa's last opera, recommended ia a note from 
 Milan, by De Steindhal. I will call for you both 
 at seven o'clock." 
 
 I was charmed, and set off to dress for dinner, 
 whilst Denon sat down to criticise the picture, which 
 is a commission from him, he being much interested 
 in the artist, and somewhat, too, in the subject. 
 
 From Gregoire, Bishop of Blots, to Lady Morgan. 
 
 I shall have various observations to suggest to 
 you on your work, if you are disposed to attach any 
 importance to their reception. Your answer will 
 .inform me. I have read, with the greatest pleasure, 
 
200 DIAEY OF 
 
 the three short appendices attached to the second 
 volume. My opinion with regard to them at the 
 same time echoes the opinion of the public. Ac- 
 cept, Madame, and divide with your learned and 
 excellent husband, the affectionate regards of the 
 old bishop of Blois, who waits your reply with 
 
 impatience. 
 
 Geegoibe. »J« 
 
 Diary. — -A pleasant, chatty morning. Some- 
 body quoted a good epigram, which was found 
 written on the statue of Henri IV. the other day, 
 now engraving by public subscription — 
 
 " A l'appel je viens de repondre : 
 J'ai souscrit pour Henri le Grand ; 
 Pour ses neveux j'en ferai tout autant 
 Si l'on veut les rSfondre." 
 
 Napoleon had the bad taste to put on the 
 Tnileries the inscription " La Republique Fran- 
 chise." Madame de Stael observed, that in this he 
 acted like a bad painter, who writes under his pic- 
 ture " Ceci est un lion." 
 
 What splendid fragments France still exhibits 
 of intellect and genius ! It is grievous to say, how- 
 ever, that these great men are in the decline of life 
 — Yolney, La Fayette, Segur, Destrutt de Tracy, 
 
LADY M0KGAN. 201 
 
 Cuvier, Geoffroi, St. Hilaire, Denon, &c, and 
 Humboldt is not in his premiere jeimesse. What 
 are the rising talents or budding notabilities ? Are 
 we to have nothing better than Chateaubriand and 
 his contemporaries — hommes de circonstances — the 
 Swiss of literature, ready to fight for any god or 
 king that hire's them to plaquer their coats with a 
 bee or a lily as it may happen ? 
 
 At all times the rarest moral quality to be found 
 in France is political honesty. 
 
 Lady Morgan to Lady Clarke. 
 
 November, 1818. 
 
 My deak Livy — ■ 
 
 'Tis now three months since I received a letter 
 from you — the first and last you wrote after your 
 lying-in. For some time I was so miserable I could 
 enjoy nothing, and was on the point of returning 
 home at all risks, as I was certain you had made 
 too free with yourself and sunk under it. Lady 
 Leitrim was the first to set my mind at ease. She 
 had received a letter from Lady Charlemont say- 
 ing, Lord C — had derived great benefit from 
 Clarke's baths. Other people told me they re- 
 ceived Irish letters, and heard nothing of you ;* 
 
 * Lady Clarke's letters, though duly written and sent, were never 
 delivered until they all arrived in a, bundle from New York, whither 
 9* 
 
202 DIAKY OF 
 
 but at last arrived Mrs. Fletcher's letter, which 
 was full of your health and gaiety, and so for your 
 safety I was at rest ; and am now utterly at a loss 
 to guess the cause of your silence. I have sent you 
 several letters and shabby little trifles : — a scarf, 
 books, music, shoes, workboxes, bonbonnieres, &c, 
 &c, not one of which, I suppose, has reached you, 
 since you have not acknowledged one. I sent 
 them at different times by a Mr. Luby, Mrs. 
 Blashford, Mr. Dalton, and I now send twopenny- 
 worth of nonsense by Mr. Quentin Dick, hopeless 
 of anything reaching you ; but still not liking that 
 the chance of an opportunity should escape of re- 
 calling myself to dearest darlings' recollections, 
 though, I suppose, they have quite forgot poor little 
 mamma and big papa, who talk of them as often as 
 they are alone together. I have scarcely energy 
 enough to write to you, so hopeless am I of anything 
 reaching you, or, at least, of obtaining an answer. 
 "We are both well, Morgan particularly so, and 
 looking much younger and handsomer than you 
 ever saw him : I must add too, if possible, more de- 
 voted, and kind, and amiable than ever. He has 
 had a number of patients on his hands ; but he 
 takes no fees. Poor Denon has been confined to 
 
 they had been carried by the American gentleman to whose care she 
 had addressed them. 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 203 
 
 his bed these twelve days, and will let no one near 
 him but Morgan, who is curing him, though slowly, 
 by the vapour-bath. He is also attending Lady 
 Augusta Leith's son — a very tine boy, the image 
 of the poor General — Mrs. Solly, and many French 
 friends, whose names you do not know. This, with 
 his visits to the hospitals and public institutions, 
 keeps him in constant practice, and his occupation 
 is so far' profitable. His book here has had the 
 greatest vogue, and is now translating by the 
 famous La Croix, of the Institution. He is to be 
 made honorary member of some of the first medi- 
 cal societies, and, in short, is justly appreciated. 
 Dr. Portail, the king's first physician, Moreau, and 
 most of the eminent men, have waited on him, and 
 spoke in handsome terms of his work. Humboldt 
 said here, in a large circle, that he had read it with 
 equal delight and instruction ; that it was the first 
 book of the kind ever published in the English 
 language, and was worthy of being translated into 
 every language. It has been placed in all the 
 public libraries here, while it has been formally 
 attacked at Cambridge, his own alma mater, by 
 the " Christian Advocate," Mr. Reynolds, one of 
 their professors, on the score of materialism. Mr. 
 Lawrence has also come under the same ban, but 
 he has prudently withdrawn the offending passage. 
 
204 DIAEY OF 
 
 Morgan is ready to take the field. His work is 
 merely physiological, and they mean in England 
 to attack it on theological grounds, which is ridicu- 
 lous. Meantime, while a beautiful translation is 
 doing of " Florence Macarthy " here, with a fine 
 engraving, the wretch who translated " France " 
 has brought out a translation of " Florence," the 
 four volumes, a history of me, and a terrible fic- 
 tion : it is full of notes to turn me and the work 
 into ridicule and to destroy my popularity here.* 
 I am almost quite worn out with persecution, and 
 would most gladly exchange my fatal notoriety for 
 the most profound obscurity. The "Ultras" here 
 hate me with such virulence, that the other night 
 when an English lady praised me overmuch, an 
 " Ultra marquis," who is going to be married to 
 her (it is said), started up and said, " Madame, il 
 faut choisir, .on moi ou votre Lady Morgan ! " 
 This does not prevent me being more followed 
 than ever, if that was any solace. Two "Wednes- 
 days ago, I had twelve nations in my salon (includ- 
 ing Florentines, Milanese, and Venetians) ; but 
 though I had set my face against English and 
 Irish at my soirees, they have so got in by intro- 
 ducing each other, that they are completely elbow- 
 
 * The translator was a gpvernment defaulter, and afterwards an 
 emissary of police. His name is Fauconpr<5. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 205 
 
 ing out the foreigners. I reckoned thirty English 
 here the other night, scarcely one of whom I had 
 seen before. I found, however, some old acquaint- 
 ances among them : — Admiral and Lady Codring- 
 ton, whom I knew in London years ago, and Colo- 
 nel and Mrs. Doyley, he an old flirt of yours and 
 mine at poor Atkinson's when a little lieutenant. 
 She is a regular beauty and dasher ; they are going 
 to take command in Dublin, and I am to introduce 
 them to you. To do the English justice, they are 
 civil in return. "We have dined at eight English 
 houses running ; two of the pleasantest dinners 
 were, one at Mr. Lattin's,* a friend of Mrs. H. 
 Rowan's, and at Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham's. 
 She is sister to Lady Aylmer, and so like in per- 
 son and in voice that when Lady Augusta Leith 
 brought her the first night to my soiree I thought 
 it was Lady A. We dine to-day at Colonel Rod- 
 erick Macneil's, a young Scotch laird, married to 
 Miss Brownlow, whose brother won the election 
 from Col. Caulfield : she is niece to Lady Powers- 
 court, De Vesci, &c, &c, &c, and very rich — 
 quite a little elegante. The Frenchmen and Ital- 
 ians come on purpose to see my English beauties, 
 for, as usual, I keep out all that is ugly, old, or in- 
 
 * See "Book of the Boudoir" for an account of this brilliant Irish 
 wit. 
 
206 DIAEY OF 
 
 significant. Lord and Lady Leitrim seldom miss 
 my "Wednesdays, and bring little Lord Clements 
 and Lady Maria. They were at Mrs. Solly's the 
 other night ; who gave one of the best balls in 
 Paris this winter. Morgan said you would have 
 died laughing ; for I asked half the company, as 
 usual. I took the Sardinian ambassador, and four 
 Italians, the Princes de Beauveau, the Kochefou- 
 caults, two pretty Polish princesses, young Orrns- 
 by, and a dozen more. "We go to the Princess 
 Jablonowski's on Sundays, the Due de Broglie's 
 on Mondays, Due de la Rochefoucault's on Tues- 
 days, my own nights on Wednesdays, and so on 
 every week pretty much the same, which is much 
 more agreeable than our set invitations. Madame 
 de Genlis has sent to me to go to her to-night ; she 
 would be at Lydia "White's. She is young and 
 blooming as ever. I ought not to write to you all 
 this nonsense since you seem to care so little 
 about me ; at least, kiss dear Clarke and the baby 
 
 for me. 
 
 S. M. 
 
 As to public news, the " Ultras " are quite out 
 again, the Liberals gaining fast. The liberty of 
 the press is, it is said, to be given directly by the 
 minister in compliance with public opinion. The 
 A _ iolent Royalists, trying to make disturbances. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 207 
 
 attack a Colonel Favier, who fought a duel, and 
 behaved, as you must have heard, most gallantly. 
 Adieu. S. M. 
 
 For God's sake write by post, and soon ! Send 
 me word how the house in Kildare Street stands, 
 and all the news. 
 
 I send this by Mr. Dick. 
 
 From General La Fayette to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Sunday, December 20tb. 
 
 My deae Lady, 
 
 The Count de Confalonieri, a distinguished Mi- 
 lanese, leaves Paris shortly for his own country. 
 He wishes to receive from you personally any com- 
 missions with which you may honour him respect- 
 ing the period of our journey to Italy. I have 
 taken the liberty of naming to him "Wednesday as 
 a day on which I could readily introduce him, if 
 you will permit me to do so. Sir Charles, of 
 course, is included in the visit. I intended to call, 
 but I have been prevented, and I send you this 
 billet, without prejudice to my waiting on you at 
 the earliest moment. A thousand regards. 
 
 La Fayette. 
 
208 
 
 DIABY OF 
 
 Diary. — When La Fayette met the Commission- 
 ers of the Allied Powers at Hogeneau to treat for 
 an armistice after the battle of Waterloo, Lord 
 Stewart had the insolence to address himself per- 
 sonally to him, for the purpose of remarking that 
 if the French wished for an armistice, they must 
 commence by surrendering Napoleon to the 
 Allies. La Fayette's reply was, " Et pour cela, 
 vous vous addressez a un prisonnier d'Olmutz?" 
 In a letter to the Emperor of Russia, he made some 
 application in favour of Hortense, and concluded 
 by urging his request, as he said to me, " even at 
 the risk of being esteemed Bonapartist by the 
 Allied Monarchs, quoique ni eux, ni leurs ministres, 
 ni leurs fils m'ont vu a la cour imperiale." 
 
 This anecdote was quoted the other morning by 
 Auguste Thierry, perhaps the most promising genius 
 of his time and country, in whatever way his extra- 
 ordinary talents may develop themselves. 
 
 Apropos to the conversation, Morgan observed, 
 " That in the early history of Europe the several 
 nations consisted of an aggregate of slaves subjected 
 to one master, and the interests of the masters com- 
 ing in antagonism the nations were thrown into 
 warfare ; they had no other relationship than that 
 which arose out of the condition of the masters. 
 At present, mankind are divided into the partisans 
 
LADY MOKWAN. 209 
 
 of privileges and of rights ; the interests of all 
 nations concentrate on one or other of these points." 
 
 After everybody was gone, I said to Morgan, 
 " You always say the best thing that is said ; 
 only for the battledore and shuttlecock of conversa- 
 tion, you are perhaps too sententious in manner." 
 " Perhaps," he said, " non ho avuto tempo d'esser 
 breve," as Casti says ; and so we went to dress for 
 a dinner at the Due de Broglie's. 
 
 Diary. — A small but exquisite party at the 
 Broglie's yesterday ; they are always themselves 
 the most distinguished-looking couple wherever they 
 appear ; they are both so handsome. But his great 
 name, and her intellectual birthright to distinction 
 as the grand-daughter of Necker and the daughter 
 of Madame de Stael, are not favourable to individual 
 and personal comparisons. The duchess was remark- 
 able, during her mother's passage in England, for her 
 gentle grace and diffident manners ; she is now 
 cold and pensive-looking, as if the greatness of her 
 mother had cast a shadow over her, or, perhaps, it 
 may be the recurrence of the temperament of her 
 grandmother, Madame Necker, the Minerva of 
 Messieurs Thomas, and other philosophers de salon 
 of that day : Geneva and Calvin may also have 
 something to do with it. The duke is a tradition 
 of the grands seigneurs of the courtly times of 
 
210 DIAET OF 
 
 France, a tradition fast wearing out ; but lie is a 
 good patriot and an honest, unswerving politician. 
 The party, which was composed of General La 
 Fayette, Manuel,* the pure and the brave, a man 
 to redeem a whole generation oigirouettes politiques, 
 such as now courent les rues, Benjamin Constant, 
 and Denon, and a lady, whose name I did not know, 
 but of the order of the sisterhood, who are supposed 
 d'avaler les couleuvres, and yet no witch either, in 
 short, a regular " Norah in white dimity." She 
 was, in fact, the ancienne dame de compagnie of 
 Madame de Stael, and, I suspect, a bequest to her 
 daughter. The tone of conversation on the whole, 
 considering the personages, was not brilliant, but 
 frank, unreserved, and political, and remarks were 
 
 * In looking over this souvenir of a charming dinner, I am recalled 
 to Beranger's funeral poem over the tomb of Manuel : 
 
 " Contre un pouvoir qui de nous se separe, 
 
 Son eloquence a toujours combattu ; 
 Ce n'^tait pas le foudre qui s'egare, 
 
 C'etait un glaive aux mains de la vertu. 
 De la tombeau on l'arrache ; il en tombe 
 
 Entre les bras d'un peuple tout entier. 
 La haine est la ; d^fendons bLen sa tombe ; 
 
 Prfitez secours au pauvre chansonnier. 
 Tu l'oublias, peuple encore trop volage, 
 
 Sitot qu'a l'ombre il gouta le repos ; 
 Mais noble esquif mis a sec sur la plage, 
 
 La seule mort troubla la solitude, 
 Ou mes chansons accouraient l'egayer 
 
 Pour effacer quatre ans d'ingratitude. 
 
 Pretez secours au pauvre chansonnier,'' Ac. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 211 
 
 made on recent acts of the government which would 
 never have been risked under the Empire. We 
 took our leave, pleading the fact that it was my 
 own night of reception. The duchess answered, 
 " And mine too ; but your parties font jour in my 
 salon, so do not be surprised if you see us en suite 
 of the general and Constant, who I know are going 
 to you." The duchess always treated Constant like 
 a father, and there was some resemblance between 
 them, especially in the colour of their hair. 
 
 On entering my salon, where people had already 
 assembled, the first person I met was the Kaima 
 Khan of Moldavia in all his gorgeous trappings, 
 chatting with Talma, who was probably taking a 
 lesson from his grand oriental movements, and the 
 foldings of his drapery, which was perfectly theat- 
 rical. Similar incongruities came pouring in. 
 Among my " perfides Anglais " were the dear 
 Reynolds Sollys, Lord and Lady Leitrim of the 
 bonne pate, Irish and English. Among the former 
 enter Johnny B., the young Faublas ! The foreigners 
 gave way to let him pass ; his tight whites and tight 
 silk stockings showed his colossal legs moulded on 
 the type of an Lrish chairman to great advantage, 
 and " faisaient bracquer les lorgnettes " of several 
 demure French ladies, with the muttered exclaiua- 
 
212 DIAJ1Y OF 
 
 tions of "Que des j arrets !" "A-t-on jamais vu, 
 madame, des jarrets comme 5a?" &c. 
 
 By way of redeeming the immorality of his 
 apparition I went up to him, and said, austerely, 
 " But where is Lady Louisa 1" " At home, reading 
 her Prayer-hook," he replied with a wicked demure 
 look. But amongst the most distinguished guests in 
 the circle were two Italians, presented to me hy 
 General La Fayette, whose friends they were. They 
 were first-class men, and would have heen consid- 
 ered as such from one end of Europe to another, even 
 before their historical names were announced. The 
 Count Confalonieri, of Milan, and the Marquis Gino 
 Capponi, of Florence, representatives of two of the 
 most noble and illustrious families of Italy. They 
 were in the prime of young manhood, lofty in stat- 
 ure, beautiful in their persons, and gracious in their 
 manners. They had been visiting England and 
 Ireland ; in the latter place they had been residing 
 at Lyons, the seat of our dear friend Lord don- 
 curry, and were now fresh from the salons oi 
 Holland House and Devonshire House.* Confa- 
 lonieri was the very type of a splendid leader of the 
 Condottiere in the middle ages — tall, dark — such 
 
 * 1858. — The terrible 7iereafter, which pursued them from their 
 palaces to their dungeons, was then undreamed of in their laughing 
 philosophy, for they were full of hope and enthusiastic expectations oi 
 the liberation of their glorious native land at no distant period. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 213 
 
 eyes and teeth! with the head of an Antinous ! 
 Capponi's person was marked by peculiar elegance, 
 and the graces of an accomplished fine gentleman. 
 What an agreeable conversation we had in a corner ! 
 while Boucher was playing mad pranks with his 
 violin. This modern Yiotti was so in love with Na- 
 poleon, that he always dressed d la Napoleon, whom 
 he resembled, or thought he resembled so much. 
 My two Italians urged our visit to Italy, and said, 
 " they only asked such a book as ' France,' " 
 adding, " and with such feelings of sympathy with 
 the oppressed as in your Irish novels ;" these were 
 Confalonieri's own words. They promised to have 
 everything prepared for us in Milan and Florence, 
 and before they leave Paris they are to furnish us 
 with letters of introduction to the best and safest 
 man there, the ex-grand Almoner of Italy, the 
 Abbate Brenne. They said, too, many other things, 
 which it will not do to commit to a journal in an 
 hotel garni, rue ole Helder ! They have invited us 
 to their respective palaces, and with an earnestness 
 of manner that left no doubt of their sincerity — nous 
 verrons. In short, last night was a grand sueces. 
 Paul Courier, however, did not come, and so the 
 part of " Macheath " was left out, but not by par- 
 ticular desire ! Paoul Pochette made his apology. 
 
214 DIAET OF 
 
 Lady Morgan to Lady Clarke. 
 
 Hotel du Tibre, Rue de Helder, 
 
 Boulevards Italiens, December, 1818. 
 My deae Love, 
 
 Me. Warden has been here to say that a gen- 
 tleman belonging to the Insurance Office of Belfast 
 has offered to take some little things for him to 
 Dublin, and so I seize on the opportunity of 
 writing, as usual, and sending a very little thing or 
 two. Observe, you have three of mine now un- 
 answered : one was about your play, telling you 
 Mr. Harris had written to me. I have not received 
 any answer from him since I wrote to him a fort- 
 night back, but suppose he has written to you. I 
 sent you by Mr. Luby a French book for the 
 children, and a scarf for your head. I trust you 
 have got it all right and safe by this. Paris is 
 beginning to fill, and the number of persons that 
 get introduced to us of all nations is very amusing. 
 Yesterday we had an Italian princess, a Venetian 
 count, and a Maltese knight commander, all very 
 delightful people, and offering their services to us 
 in Italy. The Yenetian young, and very handsome 
 and amusing ; told us a great deal of Lord Byron's 
 sejour at Yenice. At first he was very little 
 known, and only seen at a Countess Albrizzi's, to 
 whom we have letters, and who is the first woman 
 
LADY MORGAN. 215 
 
 in Venice ; but now he is repandu, and receives 
 company in his box at the opera. All the Italians 
 here seem much interested in our journey, and 
 anxious to forward our views. We have authors, 
 poets, and patriots of all sorts. A Count DArlin- 
 court came to see us the other day; he is the 
 author of a new poem called " Charlemagne " — 
 very bad. He is well-looking, rich, has a fine 
 hotel, but wears a velvet waistcoat bound with 
 gold, and told me he was called the "Virgile of 
 France." So much for Buckingham! Another 
 poet — the son of the well-known Madame de Cam 
 pan, and first cousin of Marshal Ney — has been 
 here, with twenty others, to get the translation of 
 "Florence;" but that being disposed of, he is 
 translating " Lalla Rookh " in prose. He has 6ent 
 me two books of it to look at : not ill done. An- 
 other gentleman has written the most supplicating 
 letter to go to his concert, saying he had been 
 trying all over Paris to get himself introduced to 
 me, and in despair wrote to me himself. M. and 
 Madame Constant, and the Countess Hardenberg, 
 daughter-in-law to the Prussian minister, are to go 
 with us. What it is all to be about I don't know, 
 but begins at twelve, and I have got up early to 
 write to you before I go. The fun of it is, that 
 dear Denon has begged of us, in the name of one 
 
216 DIAEY OF 
 
 Italian lady, to go to her concert in the evening ; 
 so, for once, Morgy will have enough of it. All 
 our friends are returning back from Spa and their 
 chateaux. Every member of the Prince de Beau- 
 veau's family has been here, and we were with 
 them yesterday. The Yillettes and the La Roche- 
 foucaults wrote to me to make an appointment to 
 see me to-morrow. This being at home is by no 
 means an expensive concern. In some houses they 
 give nothing at all ; I give simply tea. The other 
 night a lady called for a lump of sugar ; she had 
 no sooner begun to eat it than almost every one 
 called for a lump of sugar; and there was my 
 whole party, each with a bit of sugar in their 
 hands. At last I ventured to ask what preference 
 they had for that sort of refreshment. One said, 
 "C'est bon pour la digestion;" another, "Cela 
 bernis le gosier;" another, "Cela distrait," &c, &c, 
 and all this quite seriously. ]STow, you will allow 
 this is entertaining your friends at a cheap rate, as 
 you can provide a whole party at the expense of a 
 pound of sugar. There is a very pretty melodrama 
 come out here, which we went to see — " Le petit 
 chaperon rouge " (" Little Red Riding Hood"). It 
 was played, I am afraid, when Harris was here, 
 and it is just possible he may be getting it trans- 
 lated. I send it to you, however; if you could 
 
LADY MOEGAK. 211 
 
 translate the poetry, and adapt it to old English 
 popular airs, change the scene from Switzerland to 
 England, and make all the characters old English, 
 I think it might do. The music is not all out yet, 
 except one or two popular songs, which have been 
 stolen. The most popular of all, sung by Little 
 Red Riding Hood, I send you. It is what the 
 French call a ronde — the prettiest thing in the 
 world — that is, a Dance. It is waltzing time ; and 
 while the chorus sing, they all waltz. I send you 
 a burlesque of " Charlotte and "Werter." Charlotte 
 is a colporteur in petticoats. I send the. girls a 
 bonbonniere among them, and your papa sends 
 baby a Polichinelle, for whom he will probably get 
 an engagement at the Stephen Green Theatre 
 Royal, together with some new music for all, and 
 a sketch of me by Denon, and a scarf for your own 
 handsome shoulders. Just as I get so far, enter 
 Mr. "Warden, with a great lump of a Belfast man, 
 Billy Fitz-Adam, with red hair, eyes, and whiskers, 
 who jumped a mile back when I showed him 
 Polichinelle, and said it was " uncummen large," 
 and, in short, refused to take anything but a letter, 
 and that open, as he was uncommon afraid of the 
 custom-house officers, &c, &c. So, without cere- 
 mony, and in a great passioD, I turned him out, for 
 the price of his taking my parcels was giving him 
 10 
 
218 DIAET OF 
 
 leave to come and look at me, at least. I have 
 now hopes of another gentleman, a Mr. Sanky, 
 who, I understand, is very obliging, and who is to 
 call on me to-day. Well, we have been at the 
 concert, and found there every noted person in 
 France. Morgan and I got into a corner with the 
 celebrated Comte Lanjuinais, Constant, and Talma. 
 Imagine my horror when, in the midst of this 
 crowd, the master of the house (the finest violin- 
 player I ever heard) insisted on my coming forward 
 and taking a seat in the front of all, saying I was 
 his inspiration (!) I thought I should have died of 
 it. Morgan was enchanted with the concern, as 
 well he might be. The best of it is, that this 
 fanatico violonico and his wife, who is the first 
 harp-player in Paris, volunteered to play on 
 my Wednesday evenings ; and not only that, but 
 to bring tous les premiers artistes de Paris with 
 them ; so I am to have a concert in form without 
 any trouble ; and to my great astonishment as 
 well as Morgan's, the Princess de Beauveau, the 
 Due and Duchesse de Broglie, the Countess Harden- 
 berg, and La Rochefoucault, with all their families, 
 are coming; and among my celebres, Talma, Constant, 
 Jouy (the hermite de la Chaussee d'Antin), Du 
 Patty, the poet, Etienne, ditto, Denon, Segur, Baron 
 de Stael, and many others. Morgan swears I'll 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 219 
 
 suffocate them all, as the French are wholly unused 
 to a squeeze. I have asked Mrs. Blashford, 
 Mr. Grattan, and the Bushes to come, though, 
 generally speaking, I keep very clear of the English. 
 There is an ultra-royalist work which has attacked 
 me here, and every one is indignant ; they have 
 attacked Madame de Stael at the same time. Are 
 you reading the " Memoirs of Madame d'Epinay" 
 I sent you by Miss Nugent ? Your letter is just 
 come and has spread great joy ; we were longing 
 to hear from you. We are well contented with the 
 bargain made for the house, though half regret it 
 is let so long as a year. We should like to have 
 the house in Merrion Square, but for the moment 
 that is out of the question. However, nothing that 
 we know of can prevent our returning and settling 
 in old Dublin for life in a year's time at farthest. 
 I am delighted with all you tell me of the children : 
 they are dear good girls. I'll have the finishing 
 of them myself, and shall be greatly annoyed if no 
 one will take charge of their little boxes. As to a 
 history of France, Morgan will look about for one, 
 but there is scarcely one I could recommend to 
 children, nor would I be at all anxious they should 
 look into history for some years ; languages, geog- 
 raphy, a little astronomy, some time hence ; writ- 
 ing, arithmetic, all that employs the memory, and 
 
220 DIARY OF 
 
 develops the character, and regulates conduct and 
 temper; for the present, plenty of stories, tales, 
 &c, &c. ; and, above all, habits of reading and oc- 
 cupation : and so much for my lectures on educa- 
 tion ; but remember, theirs is particularly the age 
 for languages. We were last night at a party at 
 Benjamin Constant's, "where there were Poles, Ger- 
 mans, Italians, all speaking their different languages. 
 Prince Paul of Wurtemburg was there, whom I met 
 before when I was in Paris. Answer these ques- 
 tions : — Has Colburn agreed with Clarke about 
 his book ? Have you got the triootee ? Has the 
 old lady asked another bed or carpet ? — I hope not. 
 In future we will have the rent paid into the bank ; 
 the lady to send word to Clarke the day it is paid : 
 we are going to write to her to that purpose. The 
 death of Sir S. Eomilly has tilled us all with grief 
 and consternation. What a fatality ! If you get 
 a hundred pounds down from the proprietors of 
 Crow Street for " Red Biding Hood," you would 
 do well to give it them. We enjoyed your account 
 of the christening above all things, and your de- 
 scription of Weld Harstong's wig, together with 
 Bob King's* emotion. Morgan would have liked 
 to have been present on the occasion. I rejoice 
 
 * Archdeacon Robert King, son of the celebrated Irish Archbishop 
 of that day. 
 
LADY MOKGAH. 221 
 
 in your French Governess, and suppose she is the 
 Madame du Barry, Louis XV.'s mistress ! I shall 
 expect to hear the girls speak nothing but French. 
 If Nanny returns with us, what an academy of 
 sciences we shall have ! Susan Morgan came to 
 spend a day with us. She is a fine-looking, hand- 
 some creature, and in love with brother Charles, 
 whom she resembles. Have you got my picture 
 and magazine? Don't give up the key of the 
 closet for the little soul. Did Molly go over to give 
 up the tea-things, blankets, carpets, &c, &c? Look 
 up in my room : I have a catalogue here with me, 
 besides that I left with Humphreys. Take care of 
 yourself and don't catch cold this winter. I have 
 quite set myself up. 
 
 November 12th, 1818. — This letter was begun a 
 week ago. Last night was my ""Wednesday." 
 Everybody came that I mentioned before, and a 
 great many others. Denon brought an ambassador 
 with him ; the Commander of the Knights of Malta, 
 with a large white cross embroidered on his black 
 dress, came with the Comte de Velo, my Yenetian 
 favourite. "We had first-rate music, for Boucher, 
 directeur de musique to the King of SpaiD, the first 
 violinist in Europe, and his wife, offered their ser- 
 vices, and not only sent harp and violin, but wanted 
 to bring a whole band with them, which I declined. 
 
222 
 
 DIAKY OF 
 
 Carbonel sang like an angel. Johnny B fell 
 
 desperately in love -with the beautiful Countess de 
 la Rochefoucault, who was greatly amused with 
 him and his French ; and it is difficult to say 
 whether he was most charmed with her, Denon, or 
 some brandy punch, which is all the fashion here. 
 To-morrow I am going to take Mrs. Blashford* and 
 Mr. Grattan to see Denon's collection ; I need not 
 say how happy I am to be able to show them any 
 attention. Mrs. Blashford has consented to take 
 the music and letters ; but every one flies my 
 Punch and workbox. I have made myself up for 
 the winter very snug. There is apoele in my ante- 
 room, a vat-ish-das in my salon — make money of 
 that ! — and I have a magnificent vitchura when I 
 walk out. Morgan has furnished himself with 
 foulards, and sables, and other necessaries ; and if 
 you don't know what all these things, indispensa- 
 ble to us elegantes of Paris, mean, you are a poor 
 creature ! I wrote you word that La Payette has 
 been elected, and the triumph it has made. Tell 
 Mrs. Bushe to propose the following enigma, with 
 my best compliments, to the Ladies Caulfield : — 
 "Si nn cornichon jouait la comedie, quel role jou- 
 erait-il ?" Morgan will never forgive me if I don't 
 
 * Mrs. Blashford, now Countess of Carnwath, and the eldest of 
 Henry Grattan's two accomplished daughters. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 223 
 
 leave room for a line. Did baby get the stockings 
 I sent her by Miss Nugent ? Did Curran give you 
 a little bandbox of flowers % Sanky went off with- 
 out calling when he heard of a workbox and Po- 
 lichinelle. I send a letter open for Clarke's perusal 
 for Lyons, and beg he will enclose and send it to 
 Lady C . 
 
 From the Marquis Capponi, a friend of Count Confdlonieri. 
 
 Monday. 
 
 I send you, my lady, my conversation with 
 Bonaparte. I have copied it with the most scru- 
 pulous exactness, as far as my memory has served 
 me. I have too much sincerity and too little talent 
 to have added anything to it. 
 
 I entreat you to send me the fourth volume of 
 your " Florence Macarthy," of whom I begin to 
 be absolutely enamoured. I delight in seeing Gen- 
 eral Fitzwalter, though a man of spirit, embar- 
 rassed by a woman. It is the only case in which 
 our self-love is not shocked, although usually so 
 imperious. I am, with the most respectful at- 
 tachment, 
 
 Capponi. 
 
224: DIARY OF 
 
 19 Rue des Petits Augustins, Paris, 
 
 December 18th, 1818. 
 My Lady, 
 
 I am flattered and honoured beyond measure 
 by the approbation of Sir Charles. The esteem of 
 men like him is made to be appreciated to the 
 highest degree by all those who feel and think. 
 My "Tresor des Origines," and " Dictionnaire 
 Grammatical Kaisonne " of the French language 
 have cost me forty-one years of labour. I com- 
 menced them at Home in June, 1777. All the ar- 
 ticles on the three first letters of the alphabet, 
 amounting to three thousand eight hundred and for- 
 ty-one, similar to those of the specimen I had the 
 honour of placing before you, are at the disposal of 
 Sir Charles. The other letters of the alphabet 
 are in my house at Yauxbain, near Soissons, depart- 
 ment of the Aisne. 
 
 I know, my lady, that you have very little leis- 
 ure, and I am well aware that to intrude on your 
 time is to commit an absolute peculation. I am 
 anxious, nevertheless, that you should read my 
 " Abel, or the Twin Brothers." This work includes 
 three philosophical ideas of considerable impor- 
 tance. My conversation of the Jesuit with ' the 
 tiger, &c, will make you smile. You will see in 
 my doctor of the Sorbonne, which I believe I sent 
 you, that in my turn I banter a little with certain 
 
LADY MORGAN. 225 
 
 expressions of a man that neither you nor I partic- 
 ularly like. I had some wish that these humorous 
 trifles should be printed in London ; but after what 
 you have told me, I see that this would be attended 
 with some difficulty. I am sorry for myself, and 
 more for England. Undoubtedly I prize my own 
 country above any other in the world ; neverthe- 
 less, my true and ardent love for liberty well un- 
 derstood, and for public happiness, leads me to 
 embrace all nations without distinction. As soon 
 as you have finished reading my philosophical va- 
 garies, I will send you my letters on various sub- 
 jects, in which you will find several anecdotes that 
 may interest you respecting personages of noto- 
 riety — J. J. Rousseau, and my master and estimable 
 friend, M. d'Alembert. You can keep this manu- 
 script as long as you wish. 
 
 Admiration and respect, 
 
 C. Pougeance. 
 
 Diary. — A small political party had begun to 
 spring up when we were last in Paris, which pre- 
 sided in particular salons, where all the women 
 were wise and all the men virtuous. It had ob- 
 tained the soubriquet .of " Messieurs du Canape," 
 because they always contrived to occupy the same 
 10* 
 
226 DIAEY OF 
 
 sofa, seeking speciality rather than personal com- 
 fort, and their numbers were not then more 
 than enough to fill one sofa. They have now de- 
 veloped into a political party, and have assumed or 
 accepted the title of " Doctrinaires ; " and the Due de 
 Cazes, now in the height of his power, has received 
 some of them into the ministerial ranks — a great 
 improvement on the Vaublancs and Blacases. 
 
 They have the cachet of Geneva, and are great 
 partisans of their own opinions, and believers in 
 their own importance. Their first and great article 
 of faith is, " Nul n'aura de l'esprit hors de nous et 
 nos amis." Their names have as yet, however, no 
 national influence ; wit stands aloof from them ; phi- 
 losophy, with sarcastic ceremony, draws aside to let 
 them pass ; and the people know little about them. 
 The king endures them (but votes them mauvais ton), 
 en attendant — another phase in political and minis- 
 terial society, as he smiles upon his ministers with a 
 twinkle in his sly eye, which indicates his inherent 
 falseness. " Je ne suis que le premier gentilhomme 
 de mon royaume," said Henry IV. ; and Louis 
 XVIII. most likely thinks of himself, " et moi, je 
 suis le seul." Still there is more than one clever 
 man, or rather clever lecturer, among the Doctrin- 
 aries ; but, to judge from the languid conversation at 
 a Doctrinaire dinner, where I had the honour to be 
 
LADY MORGAN. 227 
 
 present the other day, they are all too didactic to 
 be agreeable. 
 
 There was, however, an exception, Du Vergier 
 du Haurranne, who was our Amphytrion, and gave 
 the dinner a notre intention. As for me, I sat si- 
 lent till I was tired, and then I suddenly invoked 
 the attention of a Calvinistic-looking gentleman who 
 sat beside me, and who had hitherto preserved a rig- 
 orous silence. " Monsieur," said I, " ose-je vous de- 
 mander quelle est la religion a la mode a Paris 
 maintenant ?" II me toisa ; and then came a long- 
 drawn " Comment, madame ?" I found myself on 
 the wrong tack, and endeavoured to get out of my 
 scrape as well as I could, seeing he took me au grand 
 serieux; so I said, " In Paris people change the fash- 
 ion of their religion as they do of their politics, — at 
 least they change the object of their superstition. 
 Madame Guyon founded her faith of love, and upset 
 that of Fenelon ; and Madame de Krudener, the 
 Prophetess of the Holy Alliance, what a success she 
 had ! — making a despot listen to his faults, seasoned 
 with the delicate flattery of her prophecies about the 
 ' white angel ' and the ' black angel ' " — (the epi- 
 thets by which she distinguished Alexander and 
 Napoleon). 
 
 My flippant nonsense brought down on me a 
 lecture instead of an answer, far too clever for me 
 
228 DIAET OF 
 
 to reply to, seeing I did not understand it, and too 
 long to register here if I could. 
 
 " L'art d'ennuyer est l'art de tout dire." 
 
 Morgan was all this time talking metaphysics 
 on the other side of the table, but not unobservant 
 of me either, being always afraid of my getting out 
 of my depth (which I generally do, though some- 
 how, like other light things, I always contrive to 
 float) ; and he snubbed me well when we met at 
 home at one o'clock in the morning, for exposing 
 my ignorance to these well got-up Doctrinaires, of 
 whose doctrines I knew nothing.* 
 
 " "Well, my dear ! " as we say in Ireland when 
 we enter on a gossipry, when we rose from table, 
 and had had our demi-tasse, we got into our remise 
 — that special French carriage which never breaks 
 down, drawn by horses that never tire, and driven 
 by a coachman who never sleeps ! I set Morgan 
 down at the Opera Comique, where a fair English 
 relative had reserved him a seat in her loge.- — [IS". 
 B. Morgan enjoys an opera, serious or comic, 
 beyond everything else in the world.] — I drove to 
 the Faubourg St. Honore, to pay a visit to Madame 
 
 * This was not the case ten years afterwards. See " France, 1830," 
 which shows what the one sofafull of Doctrinaires had developed into. 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 229 
 
 de Houchien, who receives in the charming easy 
 French style every evening. 
 
 Madame de Houchien had been a dame cPatour 
 of the Empress Josephine, and her salon was Bona- 
 partiste tout pur. 
 
 Her comperes this evening were no less than 
 Denon, Segur, and M. de Mqrtemar, the latter 
 creating groups out of a pack of cards scattered 
 on the table. Well, the moment I mentioned 
 where I had come from, grande hilarite ! 
 
 " Figurez vous," said Madame de Houchien, 
 "the author of that maudite 'France,' popped 
 down among these Solons and Lycurguses." 
 
 They insisted on hearing how I had debuted, 
 and my irreverent question as to the religion d la 
 mode was the text to a most curious and interest- 
 ing conversation, in which every one bore a part, 
 and were well qualified to do so, as they knew all 
 the chief actors, and, above all, the principal act- 
 resses at the Congress of Vienna (1814), where Ma- 
 dame de Krudener was the pythoness, and the 
 Duchesses de Biron and de Bragazia were the 
 secret oracles of Metternich, who won his spurs in 
 their boudoirs. 
 
 Lady Castlereagh (with whom, by-the-by, some 
 two or three years ago, I lived for three days every 
 week — for she used to come to Lord Abercorn's 
 
230 DIAUT OF 
 
 whilst I was there every Saturday, and stopped till 
 Monday), who was " so innocent, dear chuck," oi 
 the knowledge of all politics, that even that Mephis- 
 topheles of diplomacy, Talleyrand, gave her up in 
 despair, though he tried his hand to turn her to ac- 
 count whilst she was at the Congress. 
 
 " Oh," said Denon, " Madame Krudener en- 
 grossed all influences. I remember her at the 
 Congress, and later at Paris, when her salons were 
 crowded with devotees and crowned heads. She 
 was the greatest actress I ever saw — too melo-dra- 
 matic for a Clairon or a Mars, but quite good enough 
 for an audience of kings and emperors ; for royalty 
 has loved the drama from Csesar to Bonaparte." 
 
 "How was she dressed?" I asked — always a 
 woman's first idea. 
 
 " Well, in a flowing robe of white cashmere, or 
 some soft fabric, but draped artistiquement, the 
 folds gathered round her waist by a silver girdle, 
 des tresses dorees flowing in profusion over a neck 
 of alabaster. She had the air of having been flung 
 on a crimson velvet sofa piled with cushions — the 
 sort of background a painter would have chosen 
 for her. Always two or three crowned heads in at- 
 tendance : — Alexander on one side, dressed to effect 
 in black and diamonds ; the King of Prussia, nowise 
 remarkable except by contrast, on the other. On 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 231 
 
 a low stool at the feet of the prophetess sat her dis- 
 ciple, Bergasse, and her high priest, Jung Stilling." 
 
 " Ecoutez done ! " said Madame de Honchien, 
 nudging me ; " est-il artiste, notre D6non ? Quelle 
 groupe ! " 
 
 " Attendez, attendez ! " said Denon. In the 
 midst of a solemn silence she rose, and extending 
 her arms, exclaimed, with a strange and penetrating 
 tone, '■'■Prions!" Down on his knees went the 
 Emperor of all the Eussias, followed by everybody 
 present, kings, aides-de-camp, and valets included. 
 
 " And this," said Segur, starting up, " was the 
 grandson of my great Catherine ! " 
 
 " You may well say your great Catherine," said 
 Denon. " What must the Prince de Ligne * have 
 thought on the occasion ? He was present." 
 
 "Madame de Krudener must have had great 
 talent," said Madame de Houchien. 
 
 " Pas le moins du monde," said D6non. " She 
 had art, the genius of mediocrity." 
 
 " Yes," ventured I, " she had religion for her 
 aid ; but she fought with the arms of St. Therese, 
 who legislated for popes, and made princes do her 
 
 * The Count de SiSgur, ambassador from France, the Emperor Jo- 
 seph, and the Prince de Ligne, were the compagnons de voyage of the 
 Empress Catherine on her first visit to her new acquisition of the 
 Crimea. The Count de S^gur was supposed to be distinguished by the 
 Empress's particular favour. 
 
232 DIARY OF 
 
 bidding Once you get into the spiritual, you have 
 nothing to go by but faith ; and Madame de Kru- 
 dener had the greatest faith in Jung Stilling, as the 
 Emperor Alexander had in her." 
 
 Here Humboldt was announced. I never hear 
 his name without rising with involuntary deference. 
 His presence recals all that is most sublime in the 
 capability of human nature. His gigantic labours, 
 contrasted with the pleasant familiarity of his con- 
 versation, indicate the universality of the highest 
 order of mind. He is like the elephant, who can 
 with equal ease tear down an oak or pick up a pin ! 
 With me, he always " picks up the pin," and we fell 
 into persiflage as usual. His frequent visits to my 
 salon, and his great kindness to us, have not dimin- 
 ished the awe and reverence with which 1 first met 
 him. He is reckoned very sarcastic, and given to 
 mystification. Denon put me en garde against this 
 habit, on which I answered, " Jalousie du metier." 
 And so I soon after took my leave, somewhat 
 wearied, but highly delighted by the contrast of the 
 two societies, " Les hommes de la veille et les hom- 
 ines de l'avenir." I am glad, however, I was born 
 soon enough to live among the former. 
 
 Diary. — At breakfast the next morning Morgan 
 resumed the subject of those sage, grave young 
 men, with whom we had dined the day before. He 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 233 
 
 said they reminded him of the mystics of the thir- 
 teenth century, and the cold pedantry of the dialec- 
 ticians of that pedantic age. 
 
 "La gravite," says Voltaire, "n'est que la 
 masque de la mediocrite." 
 
 The wits, philosophers, and even churchmen ot 
 the age of Louis XIV., were all professors of " la 
 gaie science." Even Fenelon wrote charming mad- 
 rigals, and thought so well of them, that he inserted 
 one in one edition of Madame Guyon's " Pious 
 Breathings." I quoted, for Morgan's amusement,, 
 this charming madrigal of the Archbishop of Cam- 
 brai : * — 
 
 " Jeune, j'Stais trop sage 
 Et voulais trop sayoir ; 
 
 Je ne veux a mon age 
 
 Que badinage, 
 Et touche a mon dernier age 
 
 Sans rien prevoir." 
 
 Morgan was charmed, and when I told him Lulli 
 had set it to music, he declared he would go that 
 very day to all the old music-shops to try and find 
 it. Following up the subject in my own mind, 
 whilst Morgan read the " Globe," the vehicle of the 
 Doctrinaires, it struck me that jjeople of slow tern- 
 
 * " Les Nonettes/' said Voltaire, " took exception to the madrigal," 
 and it was left out in all the subsequent editions. 
 
234 DIAET OF 
 
 perament, pale colour, and motionless muscles are 
 always grave, if not dull. Animal spirits are vital- 
 ity itself; and when that spirit fails, " tirez le rideau 
 la farce est jouee ! " " Is it not so ? " said I to my 
 Fellow of the College of Physicians, and a very 
 good fellow, though it is I, his wife, who say it. 
 " "Well," said he, " it is not a bad hit for you." 
 For me, forsooth ! Oh, man — " man dressed 
 in a little brief authority ! " — how you hector it ! 
 Well, our day will come : and so I pursued my 
 reverie, of which the sublime Humboldt was the 
 hero and the subject. 
 
 Diary. — The gods take care of Caesar ! — that 
 may be said in truth of the professed bore, " who 
 comes, and sees, and conquers ! " He knows he is 
 a bore, and trades upon it. I have two bores who 
 haunt me, male and female. They began in Kil- 
 dare Street, they continue it in Paris, and they 
 will pursue me to the Pontine Marshes !* 
 
 " They stop the chariot, and they board the barge.'' 
 
 Well, I gave notice in the porter's lodge that I 
 
 * This foreboding was realised ; for the man-bore actually did over- 
 take us at the Pontine Marshes, whilst we were changing horses at the 
 " Tre Taverne," and I was talking to a monk who was going to Rome, 
 the most agreeable man I ever met by chance. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 235 
 
 never would be " at home " to Mr. W — die, and 
 would never be " out " to the Baron Humboldt. 
 " Bien, bien, miladi," said the porter, writing on 
 his slate ; and so I thought myself secure of the re- 
 ception of the first man in the world in my opin- 
 • ion, and safe to escape the last man in the world I 
 ever wished to see. "Well, my own servant being 
 out, the frotteur entered this morning, announcing 
 Mons. Valdie ! and complacently presenting me, 
 at the same time, with a little billet written in the 
 lodge from M. Humboldt !* Here it is. " M. 
 Humboldt toujours malheureux." After such a 
 contretemps, one has nothing left to do but to die, 
 to retire into a convent ! Paris abounds in these 
 enfonceurs des partes, as the great central place 
 where bores from all regions most do congregate, 
 every nation sending its contingent, but where I 
 never met a native bore. 
 
 Mr. W.'s word, on entering, always was, "I 
 
 come to beg of you to introduce me to ," and 
 
 this was the prologue to a " swelling tale ; " for 
 it began with some French minister or English 
 duchess, and ended with the Dog of Montargis, or 
 some other animal celebrity, taking in its course 
 all that was best worth knowing or desiring to 
 
 * I made use of this incident in my novel of " The Princess," the 
 perpetrator being " Lady O'Doherty." 
 
236 DIAET OF 
 
 know in Paris. One of his modes of procedure 
 was to tread on somebody's toes, then beg pardon, 
 and ask permission to leave his card the following 
 day ! And this was a plagiarism from a certain 
 Mr. " Toe " King, so called from this invention ! 
 
 Diary. — A dinner and delightful soiree at the 
 Comte de Tracy's, with all the family La Fayette. 
 The daughter of Comte de Tracy is married to 
 George La Fayette, the general's only and worthy 
 son, and we had all the de Lastyries and de Mau- 
 bourgs, the charming offspring of the general's two 
 daughters, to freshen up the historical reunion. 
 Youth, just budded into adolescence; middle age 
 on the right side of declining life ; and grandsires 
 and granddames passing through it with uusubdued 
 vigour and lustre. The Countess de Tracy is a 
 brilliant tradition of the times of the witty du 
 Chatelets and du Deffands, with the liberalism and 
 patriotism of Madame Roland, and a conversa- 
 tional eloquence which I rather suspect surpassed 
 that of the sublimest victim of the Reign of Terror. 
 Not even the victories of Bonaparte, to the honour 
 and glory of France, could reconcile Madame de 
 Tracy to his despotism ; and when I spoke of the 
 little king of Rome with interest, she said, '' ]STe 
 
LADY MORGAN. 237 
 
 parlez pas de ce petit vipre, ma chere ; si jamais il 
 reviendra, il chassera de race." Speaking of Ma- 
 dame de Stael, with whom she lived in intimacy, 
 she said, " Her social ambition was quite morbid ; 
 she was so covetous of the distinctions of society 
 that she could not bear to hear of a grand party of 
 which she was not either the giver or the receiver. 
 It happened one evening," said Madame de Tracy, 
 " that a brilliant locataire of ours in this hotel gave 
 a soiree priee, whilst Madame de Stael was sitting 
 with me tete-d-tete ; carriage after carnage rattled 
 into the court ; Madame de Stael began to fidget, 
 exclaiming, from time to time, " Que du monde ! 
 Mais cette dame done est bien a. la mode ! N'e"tes- 
 vous pas jalouse qu'une de ces voitures ne viens 
 vous chercher % " Bonaparte hated ideology and 
 ideologists, but he had a great respect for the 
 genius and high character of the Count de Tracy. 
 In the evening our apresdiner was ennobled by the 
 arrival of Count Segur and the Baron Denon. The 
 conversation turned on very abstruse subjects, 
 but very delightfully discussed. Count de Tracy, 
 speaking of his own " Elemens d'Ideologie," which 
 had become the subject of discussion, let fall opin- 
 ions which would make the bench of bishops jump 
 sky-high ! " But being down, are there any levers 
 to lift them up again ? " as Falstaff asks. Speaking 
 
238 diakt or 
 
 of the Chapelle Ardente, which had been raised at 
 Vincennes at the Kestoration to the memory of the 
 Due d'Enghien, La Fayette observed, " Ces dou- 
 leurs politiques, dont les autels d'expiation ne sen- 
 tent et ne levent que la vengeance, et qui nous 
 revendiquent le droit de pleurer que pour avoir 
 le droit d'hai'r ! " Madame de Tracy's description 
 of a soiree at Madame de Stael's, where the Em- 
 peror Alexander was present, was most graphic. 
 Among other mots of Napoleon addressed to La 
 Fayette, he has the following, which he most em- 
 phatically pronounced : " Avec mes prefets, mes 
 gens d'armes et mes pretres, je ferai toujours ce 
 que je voudrais ! " Speaking of the ancienne 
 noblesse who filled his court on his accession to 
 imperial power, he said, " Quand je leur ai ouvert 
 la porte des armes, personne n'est venu, a peine 
 ai je ouvert la porte de l'antichambre qu'ils s'y 
 precipitaient en foule ; il n'y a que les gens de 
 cette classe qui sachent servir." " Quel eloge pour 
 nous autres ! " said Madame de Tracy, laughing. 
 The conversation turned accidentally on Mirabeau ; 
 his wonderful genius, his wonderful talents, and 
 wonderful vices ; Madame de Tracy said, nodding 
 to La Fayette, "Vous etiez son bete noir, mon 
 ami ; il disait toujours ' Est-ce que La Fayette 
 sera done " dictateur ? " ' It frequently happens 
 
LADY MORGAN. 239 
 
 how ill the true character of a great man agrees 
 with the popular impression of it. To clear a good 
 name from the aspersions of ignorance and preju- 
 dices of party or calumny, is a sacred duty to those 
 who have within their power the means afforded 
 by truth and observation, and earnestness of pur- 
 pose to carry out a task which restores to virtue 
 its own rights, and to society an example and a 
 theme to illustrate its true interests, and to better 
 its condition. Bad men and bad women are bad 
 elements for any purpose. The two most salient 
 characters of the age in which they flourished were 
 La Fayette and Mirabeau, the two extremes of 
 human idiosyncracy, physical and moral. 
 
 From the Count de Skgvir to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Paris, Monday. 
 
 M. de S^gite's state of health rarely permits 
 him to mix with society in the evening. This alone 
 prevents him from profiting by Lady Morgan's in- 
 vitation ; but if she will premit him, he will have 
 the honour of occasionally paying his respects to 
 her in the morning, and he begs her to accept his 
 
 respectful homage. 
 
 The Count de S^gur. 
 
240 DIAET OF 
 
 Diary. — Deo. 1818. — Jouy, on l'Hermite de la 
 Chaussee d'Antin, has become a great crony of 
 ours, and is at present in a delightful state of excite- 
 ment about his new play, from which so much is 
 expected ; but which is actually proscribed by the 
 Censeur. Jouy inveighs most brilliantly and daring- 
 ly against the present order of things, and says that 
 France has not advanced a step towards the liberty 
 of the press since the license granted to the publica- 
 tion of the Koran — in which, said the Censeur, " II 
 n'y a rien contre le roi ou la religion de la patrie." 
 " The French rniladi, are still the "Welsh of Vol- 
 taire : their love of despotism is an instinct. A 
 Bourbon or a Bonaparte, p , est egal ! only give them 
 fetes and processions. You saw the Duchesse de 
 Berri walk past your windows to the Church of St. 
 Germaine en Laye, in white satin shoes, with her 
 lover behind, and the crucifix before her — and the 
 people qui se pamait d'extase at the sight. Diable 
 cela fait enrager ! "■ 
 
 "But of what do they accuse you?" said Sir 
 Charles. 
 
 "How should I know?" said he; "but I will 
 bring you my play, and read it to you." 
 
 " Well," said I, " you will be here to-night, 
 when Talma and Duch&iois will be here ; and Talma 
 has promised to recite for us his scene of Macbeth, 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 241 
 
 who, in Dncie's translation, is made to recite as a 
 dream the scene with the witches ; something 
 after the manner of the dream of Richard III." 
 
 " 'Tis a great mistake," said Jouy, " but it is 
 Talma's cheval de bataille at present, and it is impos- 
 sible de lui demonter. I will ask him and DuchSnois 
 to read the act, par excellence, of my forbidden play, 
 and you must get together an audience worthy of us." 
 
 Diary, Thursday. — I had a brilliant assemblage, 
 chiefly English however, as I knew it would be a 
 treat to them to see Talma off the stage, and to 
 hear Shakspeare disguised in his French dress. A 
 few excellencies, and a pack of German savants, 
 were brought by Benjamin Constant, who had no 
 knowledge of Shakspeare, except through Schlegel, 
 but great pretensions — several habitues, who had 
 face tickets, and, alas ! some of those enfonceurs de 
 fortes, who, having forced themselves on our ac- 
 quaintance, stick like burrs. 
 
 The recitation of Talma was fine, but cold ; and 
 more terror was conveyed by the old witches in 
 their high-crowned hats than by all the emphasis 
 and points of Ducie. 
 
 Shakspeare is supreme in melodrame, and he 
 is its founder ; and the melodrame of Macbeth is 
 finer than any modern exhibition which has follow- 
 ed it. But his high-wrought poesy, and all that 
 11 
 
242 
 
 DIAEY OF 
 
 makes the supremacy of his genius, leave far behind 
 the contrivances and mechanical aids of science and 
 scene-shifting.* 
 
 DuchSnois came holding a bouquet of violets, 
 as large as a full-grown cauliflower. Talma, I 
 perceived, kept his eyes on Duchenois, valuing, 
 perhaps, her judgment above that of the princesses 
 and duchesses who cry " bravo" to the echo. "When 
 he had done she presented him with her bouquet, 
 which, of course, comme de rigueur, he kissed as he 
 took it. 
 
 There is not the least use in a French woman's 
 being handsome. Duchenois is a great illustration 
 of this — she has so many charms, and une gr&ceplus 
 que la beaute mime, and yet in any other country 
 she would be thought " plain indeed." She was 
 dressed in black velvet, with .diamonds on her 
 bosom, and a coiffeur a la grecque. She is certainly 
 a noble-looking creature, albeit the ugliest woman 
 I ever saw ! 
 
 Talma and Duchenois agreed to come on my 
 next Wednesday, and read the act from Sylla, as it 
 was not possible to read it to-night. 
 
 * 1S58. All honour, however, to the historical fidelity and poetical 
 conception of Charles Kean, the son of a great actor, and himself the 
 founder of an eminent art. At the time this diary was penned, the 
 future illustrator of the grand idealities of Shakspeare was a boy whose 
 vocation had as yet " not come within the prospect of belief." 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 243 
 
 From the Prince de Croon (M. Edward de Bemveau) to 
 Lady Morgan. 
 
 I hasten to send to dear Lady Morgan, what at 
 present is more than anything else in request, and 
 difficult to obtain, a ticket for the opening of the 
 Chambers. Most happy shall I be if I can thus 
 assist to procure for her numerous readers — or 
 rather admirers — one of those lively articles with 
 which they are so unanimously charmed. 
 
 It will afford me equal pleasure if Lady Morgan 
 should turn into ridicule, and excite to ultra rage, 
 those who are envious of her — that is to say, the 
 enemies of her sincerely devoted knight, 
 
 Edwakd de Beauveatt. 
 
 From General La Fayette to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Wednesday morning. 
 
 I went yesterday to the Chamber, my dear 
 lady, to secure you two tickets, and only accom- 
 plished half my object ; but the absence of two col- 
 leagues, and the complaisance of the third, have 
 enabled me to obtain all the interest of the Depart- 
 ment of the Sarthe. They say a lady's ticket is 
 admissible everywhere, but in taking the place ex- 
 clusively reserved for ladies, you must separate 
 from your companions. 
 
24A DIARY OF 
 
 If you have received your two tickets from any 
 other quarter, return these to me. I do not wish to 
 make a boast of my refusals, but in case you do not 
 both require my aid to be present at the sitting, 
 which is my first object, I know where I can dis- 
 pose of those tickets very acceptably. My daugh- 
 ters have told me of your kindness in inviting them 
 for this evening. They added, that there was some 
 apprehension of "Wednesday being adjourned to 
 Thursday ; but I have also heard that M. Talma 
 played at the Theatre Francais. In that case he 
 will visit you to-day. I am the more anxious for 
 this, as on the evening of the "speech from the 
 throne," the deputies may be obliged to converse 
 together. Good-bye until we meet. 
 
 La. Fayette. 
 
 Opening of the Chambers, 1818. — There never 
 was known such a desire to get tickets, &c, on such 
 an occasion, or such difficulty. We succeeded in 
 getting three. The opening of the seance was most 
 imposing — the splendour of the throne was daz- 
 zling : — peers in their robes — the conseil d'etat in 
 their livery at the foot of the throne — deputies to 
 the left — tabourets for the princes. "When La 
 Fayette entered, every eye was turned on him, and 
 
LADY MORGAN. 245 
 
 every tongue pronounced his name as admiration, 
 fear, or hope dictated. "When the chancellor read 
 out the list of names, each answered with French 
 impetuosity or petulance, save La Fayette, whose 
 calm and distinct tones produced a great effect. 
 Who there had not ejaculated their "Jejure" to 
 all forms of government under heaven, and yielded 
 to all in turn save La Fayette ? I observed that 
 before he pronounced the word he stretched out his 
 hand in a very emphatic attitude. "We were seated 
 near the princesses and their suite, and therefore in 
 the very foyer of ultra legitimacy ; and after the 
 king had passed to the throne, and they were all 
 about to disperse, I heard some of them say, " I will 
 wait to see how La Fayette conducts himself." 
 The lady who sat next me, " une tres-grande dame," 
 was reading ses " Heures " all the time. The ex- 
 ternal forms of Catholicism have greatly gained 
 ground since the return of the Bourbons, and the 
 petites maitresses of the Faubourgs toddle about 
 with splendidly-bound " Heures " and magnificent 
 reticules. Remarking this to Denon, he said, " Oni, 
 ma chere, la sottise est bien developpee ! " and St. 
 Thomas Aquinas, the favourite saint of the present 
 day, disputes the pas with Victorine et le petit 
 Dunkirque (the famous toy shop). The church of 
 
246 DIAKY OF 
 
 St. Thomas Aquinas was the fashionable resort of 
 the beau monoie. 
 
 Lady Morgan to Lady Clarke. 
 
 Hotel da Tibre, Rue de Helder, Paris, 
 Sunday, December 20th, 1818. 
 
 My dear Love, 
 
 The habit of not hearing from you does not at 
 all reconcile us to your silence, but if you would 
 only just say you do not mean to write more than 
 once in six months, we would then make up our 
 minds : remember, however, that we ought to have, 
 by times, more anxiety than you, as, besides yourself 
 and Clarke, there are other distinguished persons 
 in the family, about whose health and safety there 
 is always de quoi craimdre — this by way of exordi- 
 um ! Have you got Morgan's book, and my "Flor- 
 ence ? " Does the one edify you and the other 
 make you laugh ? I am all curiosity to know how 
 it takes in Ireland — the Irish, and particularly the 
 Irish Catholics, owe me something, that's certain. 
 I have made no small sacrifices for them, being both 
 their champion and martyr. Denon, the other day, 
 was talking of having a medal struck of my little 
 head here. I was thinking it would be long before 
 my Irish friends would suggest such a compliment, 
 
LADY MORGAN. 247 
 
 and I am, alas ! the old story of the prophet in his 
 own country over again. To judge by the English 
 papers, "Florence" is playing the very deuce in 
 London. The " Morning Chronicle " says the whole 
 of the first edition was bespoke before it was pub- 
 lished, and a second came out in five days after : 
 this is success with a vengeance ! What a tri- 
 umph after the persecution I have undergone! 
 Those who have read it here, think it my chef- 
 d'oeuvre : the translation is doing admirably un- 
 der the inspection of Jouy (the Hermite de la 
 Chaussee d'Antin). We are here every day get- 
 ting more into the world, or rather the world 
 is more getting at us. The concourse of people of 
 all nations that assemble here, on a Wednesday 
 evening, is overwhelming. Everybody begs leave 
 to bring somebody ; and such a Babel ! such a va- 
 riety of languages and faces, and orders and 
 dresses ! Oh ! how I long tor you and Clarke ; 
 how you would both laugh ! My last " Wednes- 
 day " Talma did for me what, I believe, he would 
 not do for a crowned head : he recited from " Mac- 
 beth." We had some very pretty French singing 
 by amateurs afterwards. The crowd, however, was 
 so much too great for my small apartment, that 
 the women only sat, the men stood outside the 
 door, in the anteroom, on chairs or tables. Every 
 
248 DIARY OF 
 
 one agreed they never saw such an assemblage of 
 beauty in a French salon. My beauties were the 
 Princesse de Beauveau and her two most lovely 
 daughters, the Princess Jablonowski, (a Pole, 
 whose son, Prince Antoine, went lately to Switzer- 
 land, to claim the domains of his friend, poor Kos- 
 ciusko) : she is still uncommonly handsome ; the 
 beautiful Countess de la Rochefoucault ; Countess 
 Hardenberg (who with her husband, son to the 
 Prussian minister, Prince Hardenberg, never 
 misses my evenings) ; a Countess Lucia Ciconara 
 — a perfect Catalani — reckoned the finest woman 
 in Italy (her husband a real delight and great 
 friend of ours, both Venetians of high rank) ; a 
 Mrs. Colonel "Wyly, a friend of Lady Aylmer's, 
 very like Mrs. Bushe, a London belle of the first 
 water going to Ireland, by-the-by, where her hus- 
 band is on the staff ; the pretty Duchesse de Broglie, 
 and, I flatter myself, my handsome Irish countess, 
 who looked as young as her daughters, was among 
 the most distinguished in my galaxy of beauty, 
 and I was not a little proud of so fair a specimen 
 of my countrywomen. The number of Italians that 
 come to us is overwhelming : in short we have so 
 many letters and invitations for Italy, that I fancy 
 we shall be quite as much at home there as here. 
 Young Ormsby and Dalton are generally with us. 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 249 
 
 The latter, who, I believe, delivers you this, will 
 tell you all about us ; he is a very gentlemanlike, 
 unpretending, sensible person. A Mr. W — die has 
 introduced himself to us as an acquaintance of Mr. 
 Hamilton Rowan's, who would have given him a 
 letter to us. Delighted to show any attention to 
 a friend of Mr. Rowan's, I gave him the entree on 
 Wednesdays, with which he seemed delighted, but 
 he is a bore. Pray mention this to Mr. Rowan as 
 soon as you can, and ask him if he knows such a 
 gentleman. Only think of Lydia "White* being 
 frequently with us : may-be she does not dia- 
 loguer Constant, De*non, Talma ! She is still young 
 and fair and excellent company. Tell this to 
 Mrs. Kearney ,f whom I beg you will go and see, 
 as I know she is interested for me, and will be glad 
 to hear you "prate of my whereabouts." We 
 dined the other day at the Due de Broglie's (a most 
 princely hotel, once poor Marechal Ney's), quite 
 like a great London establishment. The duke is 
 young, handsome, spirited, and one of the best 
 patriots in France. We had the best of the Liber- 
 
 * Wilkes ("No. 45 ")> writing to a friend at Bath, observes: "If you 
 have not seen Lydia White, you have not seen what is best worth 
 knowing in Bath." Miss White was a lady of large fortune, very hand- 
 some, very witty, of great attainments, and noted for her hospitality in 
 most of the capitals of Europe, especially London. 
 
 t The accomplished wife of the then Bishop of Ossory, and the pa- 
 troness of John Wilson Croker's early days. 
 -11* 
 
250 DIAEY OF 
 
 als there. We are going to-day to the Prince de 
 Beauveau's, where we are to meet Lord and Lady 
 Leitrini. So you see we are pretty gay, and want 
 nothing but you, to enjoy very much. "We seldom 
 go to the theatres ; but I was at a spectacle the 
 other day worth all the theatres together, the 
 Seance Moyale des Chambres, or opening of Parlia- 
 ment. As the royal family took all the tickets for 
 their own party, it was next to impossible to get 
 them ; however, we had no less than three at our 
 disposal. We were obliged to go at eight in the 
 morning, and wait till three. I thought I should 
 have died of it ; still I would not have missed it 
 for the world. I sat immediately before the box 
 occupied by the princesses, and, of course, sur- 
 rounded by Ultras, whose conversation amused me 
 not a little, and will amuse more than me one of 
 these days. All the peers were in their superb the- 
 atrical dresses, all the deputies in theirs : the throne, 
 with its hundred steps, was all crimson velvet 
 and gold, surrounded by La Garde de la JUanche 
 in the costume of Henry IY.'s day. The king 
 was dragged up the steps, poor man ! Lord Castle- 
 reagh was in the tribune with the ambassadors. 
 'Not one of the French about me knew who he was 
 till I told them, though the English papers said he 
 excited a sensation. The hero of the day was La 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 251 
 
 Fayette : I never saw such a sensation as lie 
 excited when he arose to take his oath to the king ; 
 almost every one arose too, and murmurs ran round 
 the whole audience. His calm emphatic manner 
 of saying "Jejure" was quite affecting. I never 
 saw him so grand, so noble. He stood silent and 
 conspicuous by his superior height, while the peers 
 (all creatures formed of Eonapartists) were throw- 
 ing up their hats and white feathers, and screaming 
 with the royalist ladies, Vive le Roi ! as if the sen- 
 ate was a playhouse, which, in fact, it was. The 
 Due de Broglie was almost the only peer that kept 
 silent. The deputies, too, did not join the cry. 
 The king's speech is deemed so despotic and fatal 
 to the interests of France, that the funds descended 
 rapidly, and all the monied men were thrown into 
 consternation. 
 
 De Cazes has twice given in his resignation and 
 taken it back. The king, frightened at the ascend- 
 ancy of the liberal party, and the election of La 
 Fayette, is retreating back to the arms of his old 
 friends, the Ultras. If they get into power nothing 
 can save France from new convulsions ; the whole 
 nation is against them. All is now perfectly quiet, 
 and no danger whatever can occur to strangers ; so 
 make yourself easy, and, depend on it, we are too 
 prudent to run any risks. 
 
252 DIABY OF 
 
 Wednesday. — Here has my letter been waiting 
 ever since the 20th, for Dalton's departure. We 
 had a delightful party at the Beauveaus — all my 
 own Wednesday evening people. They all meet 
 here to-night. I forgot to tell you Mr. Lattin, the 
 witty, never fails me ; yesterday he sent me a note, 
 by an Irish boy just caught. My Frenchman came 
 in and told me there was " une personne tres-extra- 
 ordinaire " in the anteroom, whom he could not un- 
 derstand, " et dont le costume etait tout a fait singu- 
 lier." We dined yesterday with Miss White, and 
 went in the evening to Madame de la Eochefou- 
 cault's. After all the attention that is paid us, we 
 look forward with delight to laying our old bones 
 among you, and returning in a year to whip the 
 children and fight about the lamplight. I am going 
 to coax Dalton to take a box to you which every 
 one has refused. I was charmed to see Clarke's 
 work announced in the papers, and am looking out 
 for your play. A Mrs. Nugent introduced herself 
 to me (sister of Mrs. Colonel Talbot) as a friend of 
 Mrs. Protheroe. So I asked her here Wednesday 
 next, and gave her baby's Polichinelle to leave at 
 Colburn's shop in Conduit Street : so if you get 
 some one to call for it in London you'll have it ; but 
 twenty to one it is seized at the Custom House. 
 Mrs. Nugent is the only one who would consent to 
 
LADY MORGAN. 253 
 
 take anything over. My God! how we long to 
 hear from you I 
 
 Sydney M. 
 
 Diary. — Engaged with Berthon. These sittings 
 for my picture m'ont porte bonheur, as they keep 
 me at home for two or three days in the week, and 
 I relieve the monotony of sitting from three till five 
 by letting in everybody who comes. To this I 
 owe many gracious receptions ; — to-day, for instance, 
 Auguste Thierry and Ary-Scheifer sent up their 
 cards, and were of course admitted with acclama- 
 tion.* I met with these two gifted young men at 
 La Grange, since when we have opened a mutual 
 account of goodwill and intimacy : they have both 
 started fair for posterity, and I am quite sure will 
 
 * 1858. Whilst I am looking through this old record of my prophecy 
 and my hopes respecting these young men, the following announcement 
 of the death of one has reached me (Ary-Scheffer) ; Thierry had gone 
 before. Both had fulfilled the promise of their youthful prime : — 
 
 " The death of M. Ary-Scheifer deprives Trance not only of a great 
 artist but of a great example. Of his career and works as a painter it 
 may here suffice to say that in these, as well as in his personal life and 
 character, the same nobleness of soul, the same elevation of thought, 
 the same single-mindedness, the same true-heartedness, were always 
 present, and always felt. But of his technical merits and deficiencies as 
 an artist there may be as many opinions as critics : of his life and 
 character there can be but one ; and this is not the time in which we 
 can suffer such a man to pass away without a word of sorrowing re- 
 spect." 
 
254 DIARY OF 
 
 reach their goal amid the acclamations of their own 
 contemporaries. When the two artists had dis- 
 cussed the merits of the portrait, which Scheffer 
 observed was better than his own, which Berthon 
 begged permission to see, the conversation turned 
 entirely on politics — both Liberals in the extreme, 
 and Thierry, by his great historical acquirements, 
 well suited to the task which I see he has begun. 
 I had difficulty, from the freedom with which they 
 spoke, in believing we were not living under the 
 protection of a constitutional government, or that I, 
 a few months before, had been a pauvre jprosorite ! 
 
 Paris, Monday 29th. 
 
 The Duchess of Devonshire returns Lady Mor- 
 gan the first volume of " Florence Macarthy," know- 
 ing how anxiously it is expected, and returns her 
 many thanks for the second volume, which she 
 wished very much for. If it is possible, the duchess 
 will call upon Lady Morgan on "Wednesday, but she 
 has already two engagements with Madame Ke- 
 camier for that evening. The duchess hopes to see 
 Lady Morgan again before she leaves Paris. 
 
LADY M0KGAN. 255 
 
 Prom M. Talma to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Tuesday morning. 
 
 Heee is indeed, my lady, an unlucky obstacle, 
 which deprives me of the advantage of passing the 
 evening with you, to-morrow ! I am obliged to go 
 to Versailles to play " Hamlet," and I cannot pos- 
 sibly put off this representation to another day. I 
 am much vexed at this disappointment, which I 
 sincerely regret. I shall have the honour of seeing 
 you on the Wednesday after, if that should accord 
 with your arrangements. I beg you, my lady, to 
 accept the homage of my profound respect. 
 
 Talma. 
 
 From M. Jouy to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Tuesday morning. 
 
 I have the honour to salute Lady Morgan, and 
 to send her the short note of reply I have received 
 from Talma. I cannot say, whether, in his present 
 state of mind, we can reckon him for the soiree. 
 Perhaps it would be desirable in her ladyship to 
 write a line to him, putting off the party to the 
 following week. I beg to offer my respectful salu- 
 tations. 
 
 Jouy. 
 
256 DIARY OF 
 
 Note from Talma, enclosed in the foregoing. 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 I will do all in my power to wait on Lady 
 Morgan, on Wednesday next. But my affairs are 
 empires since yesterday. The company are behav- 
 ing shamefully. I sent for some dresses to my 
 room, and they objected to anything being taken 
 out. Heaven knows what I may have to do on 
 Wednesday, or whether my head will be in its 
 
 right place. 
 
 Ever yours, 
 
 Talma. 
 
 From Baron Oirard* to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Paris, Monday. 
 
 I hasten to acquaint Lady Morgan that it is on 
 Thursday we shall have the honour of receiving 
 her and Sir Charles. I beg her ladyship to accept 
 
 * Painter Laureate of the Empire under Napoleon I. The best 
 portrait painter France had at that time. 
 
 The story attached to his well-known plafond in the Salle des Mare- 
 chaux, in the centre of which was a splendid portrait of Napoleon, is 
 well kDown, but I repeat it here. 
 
 "When Louis XVIII. arrived at his palace, he was struck with this 
 -plafond, and ordered workmen to be sent for to tear it down. The fatal 
 message was transmitted to Gerard, who flew to the Tuileries, and 
 threw himself at the king's feet, entreating that his chef d'auvre should 
 not be destroyed, but returned to him, when he would remove the centre 
 portrait and replace it by something less offensive. The request was 
 granted on these terms, and the portrait of Napoleon was afterwards 
 replaced by a beautiful picture of his tomb at St. Helena, by moonlight. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 257 
 
 the expression of high esteem with which I have 
 the honour to be her obedient servant, 
 
 F. Gerard. 
 
 Diary. — Thursday. — Our dramatic soiree of 
 Sylla went off, after all delays, with great eclat — 
 honour to the author, and admiration to Talma and 
 Duchenois. The play is full of action, and I think 
 more modelled on Corneille than Racine. The 
 reason of its proscription by the government was 
 the parallel they feared might be drawn between 
 Sylla the Dictator, and Bonaparte the Emperor. 
 The role of Sylla has evidently been indicated more 
 by Montesquieu's admirable character of him than 
 Plutarch's imperfect sketch. The resemblance be- 
 tween the two brilliant usurpers and destroyers of 
 the liberties of a great people was finely brought out, 
 and almost excused the apprehensions of the feeble 
 and suspicious Bourbons. Sylla, like Napoleon, 
 was severe and sombre in the exercise of his power, 
 but frank and communicative in private life; he 
 despised the priests, and yet he was superstitious ; 
 
 The four admirably-drawn figures, which are allegorical, have never 
 been surpassed in their genre. Fine engravings, from all the works 
 here mentioned, are well known to the public, and consecrate my little 
 den in the Banlieu of Belgravia and were presented to me by the Baron 
 Gerard himself." The portrait of Napoleon removed from the plafond 
 was afterwards obtained by the Duke of Wellington, and is now at 
 Apsley House. 
 
258 DIARY OF 
 
 he always believed he was protected by a demon, 
 who watched over his fortunes, and he took the 
 name of " Faustus, or " the happy," which he trans- 
 mitted to his son, who less merited it. Proud, yet 
 familiar, he terrified by a frown, and seduced by a 
 smile. His eloquence was sharpened by a happy 
 abruptness, which had great effect; his longest 
 speeches were but a few epigrammatic sentences. 
 One private trait in both was remarkable ; Roscius 
 was the bosom friend of Sylla, and Talma was the 
 secret friend of Bonaparte ; and both actors de- 
 served the distinction. But the sting of the play 
 lay not in this parallelism, but in the contrast it 
 drew between the brilliant despotism of genius and 
 the dull tyranny of legitimate mediocrity. The 
 small space allotted to Talma and Duchenois in my 
 salon for giving a scene from this grand tragedy, 
 of course deprived them of all the advantages 
 which scenic representation gives ; but still the 
 recitations of Talma, and his occasional action, 
 maintained the illusion. He was magnificent in 
 the last scene, where Sylla throws from his brow 
 the symbol of his dictatorship, and, turning to the 
 Lictors, exclaims to the people : 
 
 " Je depose la pourpre . . . £Ioignez-vous, licteurs, 
 Mo voila dSsarmfi! je vous livre ma vie, 
 Aux complots, aux poignards j'oppose le g&iie. ' 
 
LADY MORGAN. 259 
 
 * * # * * 
 
 Vainqueur de Marius, je l'avais aurpasse, 
 Et j'ai conquis le rang ou je me suis place. 
 Eomains, je romps les nceuds de votre obeissance, 
 Mais sur vos souvenirs j'ai garde ma puissance, 
 Et cette diotature a l'autre survivra; 
 Prive de mes faisceaux je suis toujours Sylla." 
 
 The effect was tremendous; and on the stage, in 
 the then excitable reactionary state of the people, 
 it would have been enough to produce a counter 
 revolution. • 
 
 Mademoiselle Duchenois, as Valerie, was charm- 
 ing, and her declamation of the last scene, where 
 she says to Sylla — 
 
 " De crimes, de yertus, effrayant assemblage, 
 Tu subjugues ma haine et brises mon courage ; 
 J'admire et je fremis — honteuse des bienfaits 
 Que doit payer trop cher l'oubli de tes forfaits," 
 
 justifies the boast in her grand speech — 
 
 "S'il n'est plus des Eomains, il reste de Eomaines." 
 
 After the company dispersed, Talma and Jouy 
 remained, begging a cup of green tea, with & petite 
 goutte de cognac in it. 
 
 "We talked of the successes of the evening, par- 
 ticularly of the delight of the English portion of 
 the audience. Talma said, " It is curious that my 
 
260 DIAKT OF 
 
 first success in acting was in London, in a theatre 
 which was supported by subscriptions for French 
 plays, in Tottenham Court Road ; but the nation- 
 ality of John Bull rose against it, and after the 
 first night it was all but pulled down. My father, 
 at this time, was a flourishing dentist in London, 
 the rival of Dumergue, and hoped to see me his 
 successor — 
 
 ' But I had tasted blood,' 
 
 and I could not neturn to ignoble pursuits. The 
 applause on the night of my debut decided my 
 fortunes. 
 
 " The admirers of French plays were not to be 
 bullied out of their amusement; every fashionable 
 salon in London was opened for French theatricals. 
 I was asked to become the entrepreneur, and I 
 became the cocluchon of all the fashionable dowa- 
 gers, at the head of whom was the Countess of 
 Cork. After a season of this amateur performance 
 I started for Paris, and entered steadily on the 
 profession, and enfin me void ! " 
 
 " Yes," said I, " Lady Charleville, in one of her 
 letters to me alluded ' to the passion of Lady Cork 
 for Talma,' in a very humorous way." As it was 
 now very late, and Talma had to appear at rehearsal 
 early for Neron, in " Britannicus," he and Jouy 
 rose to go ; Talma prophesying that the time would 
 
LADY MORGAN. 261 
 
 come when " Sylla " would be performed at Le 
 Francais with all the success it deserved.* 
 
 Diary, 1818. — Denon was uncommonly amusing 
 this evening ; he dropped in and found us looking 
 over an edition of Voltaire, which Sir Charles had 
 bought in the morning. " Here is a fine line," said 
 Denon, pointing to it with his finger, as to the supe- 
 rior genius of the reign of Louis XIV., which Vol- 
 taire calls " Le siecle des grands talents plutot que 
 des grandes lumieres." " Yes," said Morgan, 
 "science and Cocker had not yet awakened in 
 France." Denon said, " I think it was in the year 
 1776 that I obeyed an invitation to give Voltaire 
 rendezvous at the little Swiss town of Annecy. I 
 found him full of spirits and gaiety, though it was 
 eleven o'clock, his usual hour of retiring ; but in 
 spite of all Madame Denis, his niece, could say to 
 get him to bed at one in the morning, he replied, 
 " Non, non, ma chere ; qu'est-ce que cela fait si je 
 m'amuse ?" The church bell of Annecy continuing 
 to ring Christmas morning incessantly, and the 
 fusils of the peasantry firing in every direction, 
 interrupted and annoyed Voltaire. He grew petu- 
 lant and impatient, exclaiming from time to time, 
 
 * Sylla became afterwards one of Talma's most popular parts, and 
 is celebrated as such by Henri Beyla (de Steindhal), in bis correspond- 
 ence, lately edited by M. MiSrim^e. 
 
262 DIAET OF 
 
 " Oui, oui ; venir au monde pour cela — pour etre 
 adore — comme cela — et ou? a Annecy, pardi!* 
 
 The celebrated Dr. Portail came in to pay Sir 
 Charles a visit: he entered into the subject of our 
 conversation. " By-the-by," said Denon, " mon 
 cher docteur, when Voltaire paid his last visit to 
 the Academy, 1778, we were very young fellows then 
 (vous savez qne j'etais tres-joli garcon !), he was 
 passing by when somebody told him who you were." 
 He replied, " Comment, celui qui a si bien consulte 
 les morts pour conserver les vivants !" 
 
 It was curious enough when we paid Denon a 
 visit at eleven o'clock at night, a few days after- 
 wards, from a dinner-party in the Faubourg, being 
 anxious about him as he had been confined to his 
 bed by illness, we found him alone, studying an- 
 tiquities, by a solitary lamp, in his beautiful Egyp- 
 tian chamber ; a parcel of medals of the 14th cen- 
 tury lying before him, on which subject he gave us 
 some most delightful details. He told us he was 
 Voltaire's age at the period of the former anecdote, 
 
 * The coarse infidelity ascribed to Voltaire by all who never read 
 him is utterly false. The expression so often cited against him, 
 "Ecrasez l'infame," was one aimed, not at Christianity, but at the sys- 
 tem the Jesuits were then trying to re-establish, after having been 
 driven out of every kingdom in Europe. Dumont, speaking of Voltaire, 
 observes : " He and Locke were the first who ever preached toleration." 
 Voltaire held no theology, but he was the only man in Christian Eu- 
 rope who raised a church and dedicated it to God. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 263 
 
 viz. 76. I never saw him more brilliant or more 
 entertaining. " They told me to-day," said he, 
 " that I had been in great danger ; mais la mort ne 
 m'est jamais venu dans l'esprit." 
 
 Diary. — I was sitting, as usual, for my picture, 
 Morgan reading, a solemn silence prevailing, when 
 Dr. Montegre was announced. 
 
 The two doctors forthwith fell to discourse, 
 Montegre having expressed his admiration of the 
 picture. 
 
 " Yes," said Morgan ; " but she ought not to sit 
 to-day ; she is looking the picture of dyspepsia, 
 after Mrs. Solly's ball and supper last night." 
 
 " A very intellectual malady," said Montegre ; 
 " the heritage of genius ! " 
 
 " I think quite the contrary," said Morgan, dog- 
 gedly. " I think it is dyspepsia that is the cause of 
 genius, not genius of dyspepsia. The healthiest 
 subjects are always the dullest." 
 
 " Par exemple," said Berthon, raising at once 
 his eyes and his mahl-stick : " Est-il profond, Sir 
 Charles ? " 
 
 " Oui ; en paradoxes," said I. 
 
 " Genius," continued Morgan, " is like the pearl 
 in the oyster, which you will allow, Montegre, is 
 the disease of the fish." 
 
264: DIAEY OF 
 
 " A la bonne heure, as far as the oyster goes," 
 said Montegre. 
 
 " In man," said Morgan, " genius is the result 
 of a morbid determination to the head." 
 
 " An original suggestion," said Montegre. 
 
 " Je crois bien ! " said Berthon. 
 
 " Not so original," said Morgan. " I am not 
 sure I did not borrow the idea from Dr. Jenner, 
 with whom I had the honour of conversing fre- 
 quently when I was at Cambridge, in consequence 
 of having written a pamphlet in defence of his vac- 
 cine doctrine at a time when ignorance, prejudice, 
 and professional envy were doing their worst to 
 check the great blessing he had conferred on man- 
 kind by his discovery, just as they nearly worried 
 Lady Mary "Wortley Montague to death about in- 
 oculation." 
 
 I slid in my old Irish story of the man sinking 
 in the Liffey, crying, " I will be drowned and no- 
 body shall save me ! " 
 
 And then Morgan threw a dab of Latin at Mon- 
 tegre, which upset my talk for the rest of the seance. 
 
 " "Well," said Montegre, " we shall know it all 
 by-and-by. Nature is always progressing." 
 
 " I don't think so," said contradictory Morgan ; 
 " that is, I ought not to think so ; it is not ortho- 
 dox, and I mean to be orthodox for the rest of my 
 life." 
 
LADY MORGAN 265 
 
 " It is a curious fact," said Montegre, " that few 
 people of genius die of apoplexy or die young." 
 
 " Why, yes," said Morgan ; " there was Yoltaire 
 all alive at eighty, and making mots on his deathbed 
 a few nights after bringing out his ' Irene.' Fonte- 
 nelle, still older, making terms with his epicure 
 friend, who was to dine with him, an octogenaire 
 like himself, not to have white sauce with his as- 
 paragus. The argument put his friend in a passion, 
 who dropped dead of apoplexy ; and on hearing of 
 it, Fontenelle cried out to his cook, ' Point de sauce 
 blanche I ' " 
 
 " Tour illustration is something d Vantique, 
 Morgan, but we will give you the benefit of it," 
 said I. 
 
 " There is Madame de Genlis," continued Mon- 
 tegre, " approaching her eightieth year, full of verve, 
 and announcing her ' Memoires de Dangeau,' and 
 giving her last coup de plume to her saintly ro- 
 mance in honour of the Bourbons, ' Les Battuecas,' 
 a flagonnerie to recover her pension given her by 
 Napoleon and withdrawn by her friends the Bour- 
 bons. She is now collecting materials for her 
 ' Memoires.' She is not pleased with your ' France,' 
 Lady Morgan ; she says you have ' committed her.' " 
 
 " Why, I praised her warmly," said I. 
 
 " But that might be her ' committal ' in the eyes 
 12 
 
266 DIAET OF 
 
 of the Bourbons when you were still under the ban 
 of the Eestoration." 
 
 The conversation was interrupted by the en- 
 trance of Lady Aldborough, the wit and beauty of 
 former days in Ireland. It was her first visit to me 
 in Paris. Her manners were cold and reserved, 
 and she looted suspiciously around her. When we 
 touched on politics, she said, languidly, " I never 
 meddle with politics, and I live here with the 
 Chateau" (the name taken by the Ultras tout pur), 
 " who are all my old friends." 
 
 " By-the-by," said I, *' the old Duchesse de 
 Coigny has made a mot worthy of your ladyship. 
 On hearing the soubriquet the Ultras had taken, she 
 said, ' Le Chateau reste, mais les esprits n'y revien- 
 nent plus.' " 
 
 " I beg to decline the adoption," said she, pet- 
 tishly, " and I hope you will not lay it at my door." 
 She then rose and took her formal departure. 
 
 To reconduire les dames ou les meilles is an item 
 in French gallantry always observed, but having 
 accepted Sir Charles's arm she dismissed him at the 
 door of the antechamber. 
 
 " Is this," said he, returning, " the frolicsome 
 Lady Aldborough of Merrion Square, the kind and 
 courteous hostess of the Clarendon Hotel? Oh, 
 these qirouettes ! " 
 
LADY M0EGAN. 
 
 267 
 
 Lady Morgan to Lady Clarice. 
 
 Christmas day, 1818, 1 o'clock. 
 
 Mebey Christmas ! and a thousand of them, il 
 it were possible. I trust this is the last we shall 
 spend asunder. We have just drunk all your 
 healths in a bumper of vin de chablais, and wish 
 we could inclose you a hogshead of it. I have not 
 a doubt but you all drank little mamma's health and 
 birthday, who wishes she was in the midst of yon, 
 and longs to hail the young Sir Arthur. As all 
 the shops are open to-day, I went out to see what I 
 could buy to put in the little workbox, and picked 
 up a pair of Russian gloves for pretty Miss Baby, 
 to keep her little hands warm. Dalton does not go 
 for a day or two ; meantime I keep my letter open, 
 to get news till the last ; a letter of a few lines once 
 every two months does not deserve this. The weath- 
 er here is intensely cold ; our wood fire scarcely 
 suffices to keep up the radical heat. As we were sit- 
 ting with our feet on the fender before dinner to- 
 day, the Duchess of Devonshire called, and sat with 
 us some time. The news she brought in was that De 
 Cazes was dismissed. He was the only tie between 
 the kiDg and the people, particularly the moneyed 
 interests. Then came in the Sardinian minister, 
 with two other Italians, and Benjamin Constant ; 
 
268 DIAET OF 
 
 and we sat talking politics over the fire till past six, 
 so that we have only just dined, which we now do 
 at home, as there is a good restaurant in the house. 
 Constant brought its two tickets for the Athenee, 
 where to-morrow he is to pronounce an oration on 
 Sir S. Komilly. All that is most interesting in Paris 
 is to be present. 
 
 The ministry, it is thought, will be ultra. The 
 cause in dispute was the law of election. The ob- 
 ject is to put down freedom of election, in conse- 
 quence of La Fayette's coming in ; in a word, the 
 establishment of despotism. Lord Castlereagh did 
 not come here for nothing. All is commotion. '"We 
 were at a concert at a great commerganl (merchant) 
 last night where the news excited great emotion. 
 How it will all end, God knows ! Depend, how- 
 ever, upon our safety, as the storm, if it comes on 
 at all, is remote. Morgan wants sadly to write in 
 this, but I won't let him, so he is writing all the 
 news to Judge Fletcher. How do they like " Flor- 
 ence ?" I have just had a letter from Lady Charle- 
 ville, six pages in praise of Morgan's work and 
 " Miss Florence." Very cheering, as I depend 
 more on her judgment than on that of any woman 
 living. What is said of Morgan's book in Dublin ? 
 Has Counsellor "Williams written a book against it 
 yet? If you show my letter to any one scratch 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 269 
 
 out all that ought not to be Been. "Will you never 
 write ? 
 
 Sunday. — ISTo letter yet, and Dalton does not go 
 till Monday. There is still here a great deal of po- 
 litical emotion. We went from Constant's salon to 
 the Princess Jablonowski's, where there were a 
 number of persons, and nothing thought of but 
 politics. The news of the night was, that the Due 
 de Richelieu want to bring into the ministry a little 
 of all the parties ; and that as the Ultras won't coa- 
 lesce with the Constitutionals, nor they with the Ul- 
 tras, there is absolutely no ministry at this moment. 
 The king sees De Cazes five times a day, though he 
 is out, and is himself heartily sick of inquiring. 
 Lord Castlereagh's visit here lias given rise to all 
 this ; it is by his advice. The king endeavours to 
 strengthen himself against the Liberals even by 
 throwing himself into the arms of the ferocious Ul- 
 tras, whose political and religious fanaticism have 
 set the provinces in a blaze. Colonel Favier, who 
 is now standing his trial for discovering their atro- 
 cities, was with us on Wednesday evening, and ex- 
 cited much sensation. These Italians are almost all 
 singularly handsome, elegant, and well informed. 
 Last night the Due de Kichelieu going into his 
 house fell and hurt himself dangerously ; people say 
 it will be deemed ominous. S. M. 
 
270 DIABY OF 
 
 To Lady Clarke. 
 
 Paris, Tuesday 29th, 1818. 
 My deak love, 
 
 I give you one word more. No letter yet ar- 
 rived from you. The public news is at a stand. 
 The old ministers cannot go out because no one 
 will take their place. Even Cuvier, the naturalist, 
 whom the French call plat et scruple, has refused 
 being Minister of the Interior. The king cries all 
 day long. The other day he had De Cazes and 
 Richelieu, the two rival ministers, with him, but 
 could not get them to pull together. He said, at 
 parting with them, " Mon cher De Cazes, je vous 
 aime : Mons. le Due, je vous estime." 
 
 The Duchess of Devonshire comes to me to- 
 morrow night, and some Russian princess, whose 
 name I can neither pronounce nor spell, but sounds 
 something like Kowrikans. We dine on Tuesday 
 next at Mr. Lattin's. Morgan has one of his bad 
 colds, and I am grown quite thin for want of sleep. 
 I cannot discover the cause, but my rest has quite 
 abandoned me. I am beginning to think 'tis the 
 strong coffee. The weather is intensely cold, but 
 clear and bright. The poverty of the lower classes 
 excessive, and all commerce at a stand-still for the 
 present. Not the slightest commotion, however, 
 expected, and all safe and secure for the present. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 271 
 
 I had a sort of little triumph at the Athenee the 
 other night when I went to hear Constant's oration 
 on Sir S. Romilly. I came in late, and every place 
 was occupied. The Princess Jablonowski, who sat 
 in the front, said, pretty loud, who I was. Every 
 one got up ; a clearance was made in a moment ; 
 every one offered me their seat ; and a chair was 
 at last placed for me near the princess, who en- 
 joyed all this amazingly. So she took us home 
 with her, and we remained with her till midnight. 
 Once more, God bless you all ! 
 
 Morgan begs a word from Clarke on the state 
 of medical affairs, and a bit of Irish politics. He 
 has effected a great cure here of a bilious woman 
 who was at her extremity. What coloured eyes 
 and hair has the young dandy ? 
 
 Love to the Macarthys. Does the puppet-show 
 
 go on ? 
 
 8 S. M. 
 
 As usual, in haste. 
 
 Wednesday, one in the morning. 
 My deae Clarke, 
 
 I sent off a large packet for Livy this day by 
 
 Mr. Dalton ; but as I am just returned from the 
 
 Due de la Eochefoucault's with a budget of fresh 
 
 news, I send you my last bulletin. The ultra- 
 
272 DIARY 01? 
 
 royalists are quite put down. De Cazes is rein- 
 stated, and with him a constitutional and liberal 
 ministry, at least comparatively. By this unex- 
 pected measure, France, it is thought, is saved 
 from great commotions, and things will now go on 
 better than they have yet. I send you word of 
 this to relieve you and Livy from any uneasiness 
 you might have on our account. Just as I sealed 
 my last of this day and sent it, arrived a letter 
 from Colburn, with the good and most extraordi- 
 nary news of the third edition of " Florence " being 
 out, and the certainty, he says, that a fourth will 
 soon be called for. Morgan's work, he says, is 
 thought a miracle of learning and talent, and 
 going off famously. I never saw a man better 
 pleased with'-his bargain than old Colburn. He 
 says he has a packet of letters for us, which he will 
 send by the diligence directly. I comfort myself 
 that there is one from you all for me, for I am sick 
 of expecting. So, good-night, dear, dear loves all ; 
 God bless you a thousand times ! 
 
 S. Morgan. 
 
 Diary, Dec. 30th. — Here is a letter that gives 
 me the sincerest pleasure. It is from the eminent 
 philosopher and celebrated physician, Lacroix, to 
 
LADY MORGAN. 273 
 
 my dear husband, on reading the pleading of the 
 " Christian Advocate," of the University of Cam- 
 bridge, against his book, " The Philosophy of Life." 
 This paltry persecution on the part of the Rev. Mr. 
 Reynolds, who enjoyed a large salary from the Uni- 
 versity of Cambridge for his espionage in the cause 
 of the Church, has had the good effect of drawing 
 forth from some of the most eminent men in Europe 
 testimonies of their admiration and esteem for the 
 author of the work, of which the Comte de Tracy 
 said, " C'est un livre qui devance son siecle." 
 
 From M. Lacroix (the great psychologist and physician of his 
 time) to Sir Charles Morgan. 
 
 Monday morning, November, 1818. 
 SlE, 
 
 I have run through, as much as my occupa- 
 tions have permitted me, the defence of the " Chris- 
 tian Advocate" of the University of Cambridge. 
 I have found nothing in it but the utmost com- 
 monplaces, repeated a hundred times over with 
 a refuted tone. I do not think such a weak criti- 
 cism can do anything but excite a desire to see 
 your excellent work on the part of those who are 
 yet unacquainted with it. Besides which, you will 
 readily perceive that they have placed you in good 
 12* 
 
274 DIARY OF 
 
 company ; as far as I am able to judge, at least, by 
 the name of Bichat, who enjoys a just celebrity in 
 our country, even with those who have but very 
 superficial notions of the science which he has 
 brought to perfection. 
 
 The " Christian Advocate," and those who pay 
 for and support it, are the miserable remains of a 
 party which struggles before expiring. It is to be 
 hoped that knowledge is too much expanded to be 
 stifled by such prejudices. Vain clamours ought 
 only to stimulate still more the friends of reason to 
 set forth the principles they acknowledge, and the 
 conclusions they approve, so as to take possession 
 of the wavering minds which superstition endeav- 
 ours to control. Your work is calculated to do 
 much to dissipate useless terrors, and to lead back 
 to truths, which, whatever may be said, is invaria- 
 bly the source of good. Pursue, therefore, your 
 course, without bestowing another thought on the 
 " Christian Advocate " and its partisans. Present, 
 I pray you, our respectful compliments to Lady 
 Morgan, and accept the salutations I have the hon- 
 our to offer you. 
 
 Laceoix. 
 
 Letter from the Countess of Charlevitte to Lady Morgan. 
 Twenty times I have intended the day should 
 not pass, dear Lady Morgan, without telling you 
 
LADY MORGAN. 
 
 275 
 
 the delight I have found in your perfect delinea- 
 tion of the genuine Irish character. Had you 
 never written a line but O'Leary's and the Ea- 
 bragh's personifications, it were enough to stamp 
 you the best painter of your day ; — the person 
 whose touches, true to nature, go straight to the 
 heart. It may seem presumptuous in me, who can 
 neither speak nor write, to seem to decide ; but I 
 have felt, I have observed, and had opportunity to 
 follow mj poor countrymen through all the changes 
 of the last eventful thirty years. I, too, had a fos- 
 terer and a nurse ! Their conduct to me — which I 
 will tell you one day, because you can appreciate 
 it — may serve to show I know how to value and 
 understand your invaluable O'Leary. I think the 
 Crawley family incomparable ; but I would not 
 have had the father the more prominent character 
 percM. " Florence " is a lovely creature, body 
 and soul ; and the second edition — already out, I 
 hear — shows how well she is liked in this great 
 town. This must satisfy you, and confound your 
 enemies, if any you have ; but I tremble for her 
 French costume, because I think the best part of 
 the book — the highly original part— untranslat- 
 able. I wished to have delayed telling you all 
 this until I had ended reading " The Philosophy of 
 Life ; " but your letters this day arrived — of the 
 
276 DIAUT OF 
 
 24th November— and their kind enclosures compel 
 me to write ; for I would not seem insensible to so 
 much goodness, or delay to thank Sir Charles Mor- 
 gan for the improvement and pleasure he intended 
 me. I am, alas ! quite unworthy of the favour he 
 has done me. I have tried hard to be otherwise, 
 but the want of preparatory knowledge is not to be 
 overcome ; and though I have read, and thought I 
 understood, Buffon's great and magnificent Cha- 
 pitre sur l'Homme, yet here the detail and quantity 
 of physical knowledge overwhelms me, and I feel 
 myself thoroughly incapable to offer him any 
 praise beyond a sense of the beauty and clearness 
 of the style, and of the extraordinary merit which 
 even my ignorance is struck by, of his chapter 
 concerning " the Combination of the Organs," and 
 "The Inadequacy of Language to convey precise 
 ideas," &c, and many other observations which I 
 must not quote to you, who, questionless, are bet- 
 ter aware than myself of the general merit of the 
 whole. I will only, therefore, speak of my real 
 sensibility of Sir Charles's kind politeness ; but I 
 must not assume information to entitle me to it, 
 because I have it not. Tell him, with Louisa's* 
 best thanks, she fancies lie was not aware how you 
 
 * Lady Charleville's only daughter, Mrs. Marly, and the mother 
 of the late beautiful and most lamented Lady John Manners. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 277 
 
 quizzed the unlucky Senora, or he would not have 
 led her on to give you food for your delectable 
 classification of the guitarerie : but either of those 
 sweet airs he has copied were well worth a joke ! So 
 laugh on ; et "Dieu sgait la racleri-e" that we shall 
 go on with en attendant ! 
 
 You are sanguine ; but you are too near the 
 scene to be unbiassed in your judgment, I think ; 
 yet mark down the characters that must decide the 
 fate of libertj r in France ; and in your closet, away 
 from the charme entrainante of party enthusiasm, I 
 think one must see little hope of constitutional 
 freedom winning from the contentions of the thrice- 
 contemptible Ultras, the dregs of the bloody Moun- 
 tain, the scoundrel Talleyrand, or a king who, for 
 any dignity this world could offer, would receive 
 Fouche's help and compunction. To oppose these, 
 what have they ? A corrupt, disorganised, unedu- 
 cated mass of ardent-minded guard-room youths, 
 with a few — and but few — people who, like your 
 favourite, La Fayette, have always loved liberty — 
 rational and constitutional — for itself alone, and 
 have, alas ! lived to see that all moderate men like 
 himself will be sacrificed to the violence and per- 
 sonal interests of those who will go greater lengths 
 than themselves. These seem to me the constituents 
 of the great public scene in France, from which I 
 
278 
 
 DIAJJY OF 
 
 infer no nappy conclusion ; but should a better sun 
 dispel these horrid glooms which, I think, now 
 bespread its horizon, what a delightful feeling it 
 will give me, who love her with all her faults ! 
 
 I think Madame de Stael spoke to me of her 
 son's talents being inclined rather to the exact 
 sciences than to literature ; but he seemed pleasing 
 and good ; and yet I think, with you, the aureole of 
 the mother's fame too strong a light for his slighter 
 figure. If she had not condescended to flatter the 
 great, I think she had been immortal ; but this 
 lets her down. And yet I recollect Louis XYIII. 
 telling me, at Bath, " Madame, cette fille de Necker 
 m'a coudoye ce matin" (these were his words), 
 when he was unkinged ; therefore, he certainly was 
 not treated then with the respect due to fallen 
 majesty ; and yet, on the throne, he is praised. 
 Now I do feel this is not the march of a strong and 
 great mind, &c, &c. 
 
 Farewell ! I forget when I am writing to you 
 how much better you can employ your time than 
 reading my reminiscences, as Miss Berry says. 
 Do not fail to trust in my kindest wishes, and 
 believe me, dear Madame, 
 
 Truly yours, 
 
 0. M. Chakleville. 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 279 
 
 Diary. — A delightful morning, owing to two 
 pleasing visitors, the Count de Lanjuinais, pair de 
 France, and one of the first writers of the day, and, 
 by a curious coincidence, M. du Bignon, depute du 
 department de l'Eure, who has made a popular 
 speech on universal finance and the administrative 
 situation of France. Baudoisin, his publisher, had 
 sent to us, by Lanjuinais' desire, his brochure on the 
 "Depenses et des recettes de l'etat et du credit 
 public pour l'an 1818." "We had read it, and so 
 were up to the mark. Morgan and the two staticists 
 fell to discourse immediately. I could not follow 
 them, pauvre chetive that I am, though I enjoyed 
 seeing my dear Morgan take such a distinguished 
 part in the deep discussion, and in such French as 
 justified D6non's observation — " Notre cher cheva- 
 lier a toute le luxe de la langue ; il ne lui manque 
 que le necessaire." "When he speaks physics or 
 metaphysics, science or literature, he goes upon 
 velvet ; but rather roughs it in common parlance. 
 All this time I was sitting for my picture to good, 
 nai've little Berthon, and who kept muttering all the 
 time, " Que de grandes tetes ! regardez-moi, Ma- 
 dame ! quelles belles discussions ! mais tenez-vons 
 done, Madame!" Just as Lanjuinais and Bignon 
 left us Denon entered, who surveilles Berthon's 
 portrait with great interest, and comes every day 
 
280 DIABT OF 
 
 that I sit. I reproached him with the frights 
 he has drawn and lithographed of me himself. -It is 
 curious that the first virtuoso in Europe should be 
 insensible to resemblances. He is for ever making 
 sketches of the beautiful Mrs. Cadogan : such cari- 
 catures ! Morgan, in talking over the conversation 
 of our late visitors said, " My dear Denon confesses 
 that such discussions could never have taken place 
 in the reign of the emperor. If the liberty of the 
 press is curbed, the liberty of the tongue is taken to 
 a wonderful degree, and I am not certain that its 
 propagandism is not the stronger of the two. As 
 long as such heads and such men as these exist in 
 France, let the Bourbons look to it. Their days are 
 numbered." Denon cordially agreed, and so we 
 broke up the conference, and went to dine together 
 by appointment at Madame d'Houchien's, the 
 epitome of a Frenchwoman de bonne pate of all 
 times. After dinner, Denon took us to the Princess 
 Jablonowski's, where we had been long due. She 
 introduced us to General Kapp, to whom she was 
 talking when we entered. "We fell to discourse at 
 once, and the general, with his franchise militaire, 
 for which he is so celebrated, attacked me at once 
 on some mistake I had made in my " France " 
 relative to his conversation with the emperor. He 
 said he would call and correct it next day. It is 
 
LADY MORGAN. 281 
 
 the anecdote about his putting the emperor on his 
 guard against a rogue — " Enfin, sire, c'est un 
 Corse." 
 
 Diary. — As my portrait is now removed to 
 Berthon's atelier, and nearly finished, I went to give 
 a last sitting. Lady Leitrim had the great kindness 
 to take me there, and to remain whilst I sat. She 
 is a fine artist herself, and I wished for her opinion 
 of Berthon's work by daylight. She mentioned 
 what I was not aware of, that Lord and Lady 
 Charlemont and their children, Lord Clements and 
 his two sisters, had passed through Paris on their 
 way to Italy. It is a pleasant event to have the 
 certainty of meeting with those abroad whom we 
 respect and admire at home. They will do cipdit 
 to their country. It is impossible not to feel proud 
 of the impression they will make ; her unsurpassed 
 beauty will, I think, delight the Italians, itis so purely 
 classic. It would be wasted on the French, who 
 acknowledge no beauty out of a cachemere shawl or 
 a jolie tournure. Lord Byron used to rave about 
 her in London, and, I am told, has written some 
 beautiful lines to celebrate it.* 
 
 * I don't know whether these are the lines, but they are to the 
 same lady — 
 
 " There was an Irish lady, to whose bust 
 I ne'er saw justice done ; and if she must 
 
282 
 
 DIABT OF 
 
 "What a strange disorderly place is an artist's 
 atelier, and what strange stories it might tell if walls 
 could talk ! 
 
 Diary. — "We were writing letters this morning 
 at the rate of ten miles an hour, when a card was 
 brought in with the time-honoured name of Lacroix. 
 Morgan blushed up to the eyes, as if it were a 
 billet-doux from his mistress. He had just time to 
 whisper to me " the greatest mathematician of 
 Europe," when the celebrity entered : a grave-look- 
 ing elderly gentleman, most gracious in his manner. 
 He entered at once into conversation with Morgan, 
 on subjects that threw me out, but to which I 
 listened with reverence. The conversation turned 
 on his calculation of probabilities and his mathe- 
 matical geography. Fortunately for me, one of the 
 most perfect of j>etites mattresses in Paris tortilled 
 in (there's a word !) to take me by appointment to 
 Herbault, to buy a chateau d plumes for the even- 
 ing; and so, without interrupting the sage grave 
 men, we sidled off. What a contrast between the 
 heads I left and the pretty head that carried me 
 away ! Nature was answerable for both ; it would 
 be impossible to conceive Madame working a 
 
 Yield to stern time, and nature's wrinkling laws, 
 They will destroy a form which mortal thought 
 Ne'er compassed, nor less mortal chisel wrought." 
 
LADY MORGAN. 2 S3 
 
 problem in Euclid, or Lacroix organizing a chcvpeau 
 d plumes for the evening. On our way I said to 
 her, " Why do you always go to Herbault ?" 
 
 She replied, with a pretty dogmatism, " Ma 
 chere, c'est le seul homme de l'Europe pour poser 
 une plume." 
 
 From Signor Micali (the learned Italian historian, author of 
 " Italy he/ore the Romans") to Lady Morgan. 
 
 November 9th. 
 Deprived of the honour of seeing Lady Mor- 
 gan by an indisposition which has confined me to 
 my room for several days, I call myself to her 
 amiable remembrance, and take the liberty of send- 
 ing her a little work, which I trust she will find 
 acceptable, from the enlightened regard she b^ars 
 to the fine arts. 
 
 I have the honour to remain 
 Her very humble servant, 
 Joseph Micali. 
 
 From Baron DSnon to Lady Morgan. 
 
 November 11th, 1818. 
 Dear Friend, 
 
 Here is your charter which associates you with 
 a certain Count de Kerven Huller, formerly Am- 
 
284 DIARY OF 
 
 bassador to the Grand Seigneur, endued with an 
 admirable talent for conversation. He will, per- 
 haps, think it strange that I should leave him to go 
 to you, who, I know, he has such an anxious desire 
 to become acquainted with. If he is not engaged, 
 allow me to bring him to your house. You will 
 find him good company, in the fullest extent of the 
 term. Adieu, dear friend, until presently. 
 
 Dtims. 
 
 From General La Fayette to Lady Morgan. 
 
 La Grange, November 9th. 
 
 I scarcely appeared in Paris, and your change 
 of residence prevented me, my dear lady, from call- 
 ing to see you. Nothing has reached you from me 
 but an incoherent note. I do not wish to introduce 
 these unfavourable appearances, and I add here a 
 letter I bave just received. I was the more hurried 
 in my return home, as Madame de l'Aubuisson, 
 sister of my daughter-in-law, is expected in Paris. 
 The death of Sir Samuel Pomilly has sincerely 
 afflicted me. He is as much regretted by our 
 French patriots as by his fellow-citizens. By the 
 end of the month I shall have the pleasure of seeing 
 you again, my dear friends. All the inmates of La 
 Grange unite with me in offering you the expression 
 
 of their attachment. 
 
 La Fayette. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 285 
 
 From Carlonel (the celebrated composer) to Sir Charles Morgan. 
 Monday morning, December 1 4th. 
 
 Caebonel lias the honour to acquaint Sir Charles 
 Morgan that he cannot possibly have the pleasure 
 of passing the evening of next Wednesday at his 
 house, as he hoped to have done, being obliged to 
 command the guard for twenty-four hours at the 
 Porte St. Martin, beginning from noon on that day. 
 
 Carbonel earnestly hopes to compensate himself 
 on the "Wednesday following, and in anticipation of 
 that pleasure, he begs Sir Charles to accept his 
 respectful compliments, and to communicate the 
 same to Lady Morgan. 
 
 From Lady Charleville to Lady Morgan. 
 
 London, January 1, 1819. 
 
 Although you must be much better occupied 
 than in reading my letters, I cannot deny myself the 
 pleasure of wishing you, my dear lady, a happy new 
 year ! I know you are overwhelmed to-day with 
 pretty nothings, therefore the silence of one who is 
 really interested in your welfare and yourself would 
 be strange indeed. In the midst of a fog, with the 
 candles lighted at two o'clock in the day, you will 
 accept the expression of the true friendship and 
 
286 DIAET OF 
 
 sincere sentiments I offer you, although they are 
 not accompanied by a single spark of physical or 
 moral light. 
 
 May you continue to enjoy health, and the 
 blessing of a happy home, and, in addition, all the 
 advantages which your talents can command ! I 
 have at length finished the perusal of Sir Charles's 
 work. I shall read it again, and shall feel satisfied 
 if I am then able to appreciate its merit. I find it 
 singularly well written, and profound in its object. 
 I am grieved, however, to perceive that it leans to- 
 wards opinions which wise philosophers, such as 
 Newton, Locke, and Kirwan, have pronounced base- 
 less : but I know that others think with Sir Charles, 
 and I feel that he is to be pitied, but not blamed, 
 if his study of physics has led him to conclusions 
 contrary to that delightful hope in which souls who 
 firmly believe themselves to be immortal and inde- 
 pendent, find their consolation, or at least their 
 only hope, when the sad realities of life deprive 
 them of enjoyment here below. 
 
 I feel that desiring a certain thing to be is no 
 sound reason for proving its actual reality ; but it 
 never has been, and never can be, demonstrated that 
 the soul has no existence. Thus, of the two uncer- 
 tainties, that which elevates and consoles me is the 
 one I adopt. This is my logic. In other respects 
 
LADY MORGAN. 287 
 
 I admire, with all my faculties, the depth of learn- 
 ing and study developed in this work. I have the 
 greatest possible respect for the author, and perhaps 
 both you and he will smile when I tell you that I 
 have addressed with a loud voice, and from the 
 bottom of my heart, a prayer to God that he will 
 deign to add to so much knowledge and talent a ray 
 of that divine light which will stamp them with the 
 seal of immortality. Do not think I am either a 
 dotard or an enthusiast ; but be assured that I love 
 you both, and I earnestly wish you could partake 
 the happiness which my way of thought bestows 
 on me in the midst of the storms, and through the 
 trials of a suffering life. 
 
 It gives me real pleasure to believe that the Ul- 
 tras are crushed. If Mons. de Cazes has lofty 
 views, and the king is sincere, all will go well. But 
 these two are weighty questions. As to M. de Tal- 
 leyrand, I never could trust him. Here they pre- 
 tend that the proof of his being a great man is that 
 he still maintains his ground in the midst of so 
 many changes. The cat always falls on its feet, 
 &c. I see in him more cleverness than true merit, 
 and have no love for treason or traitors. I beg of 
 you never to name me in your circles, but for the 
 friendship I bear you. I know nothing that can 
 give me the slightest pretensions to judge of any- 
 
288 DIAKY OF 
 
 thing. I have seen and felt much, and for those 
 reasons I have a right to be believed when I assure 
 you of my sincere good wishes. The beautiful Lady 
 Crewe is dead ; she had a mind and heart, and in- 
 deed some fine remains of a race that has passed 
 
 away. 
 
 C. M. Chaeleville. 
 
 Diary, Jan. 1819. — I have just had a visit from 
 Denon. I told him that I wanted to go under his 
 auspices to revisit that glorious " Bibliotheque du 
 Roi," which 1 did not half see when I gave my ac- 
 count of it in my " France, 1816 ;" above all, I 
 wanted to see the chair of "~ie bon roi Dagobert," 
 and in which Bonaparte was crowned Emperor of 
 France. Denon said he doubted any such piece of 
 furniture; it was improbable that an old wooden 
 chair would be left there to preserve itself. "But," 
 said I, " the chair of St. Peter, what do you say to 
 that ?" " Bah ! mystification," said he, " mais je vous 
 en dirai des nouvelles." At that moment " les grands 
 battants" were thrown open with a grand air by 
 Charles, who announced Madame la Marquise de 
 Villette ! the dear " belle et bonne" of Voltaire. 
 I submitted our dispute to her. She said, " Pour 
 ce qui est de la chaise -de Dagobert, celui-la vaut 
 
LADY MORGAN. 289 
 
 bien l'autre ; " they were both " des soldats hen 
 reux," but the barbarian king was in earnest, the 
 other fit ses farces. " Oui, mais il jouait nn grand 
 role," said Denon. " I have a chair worth a thou- 
 sand such," resumed Madame de Villette ; " the 
 chair of wit, philosophy, and humanity, the fau- 
 teuil de Voltaire, in which he wrote his ' Mahomet,' 
 and his defence of the unfortunate Calas family 
 whom he saved from torture and execution. I 
 will give yon," said she to me, "a copy of their 
 picture which he always hung at the foot of his 
 bed ; and Denon, if you survive me, you shall have 
 the fauteuil ; my son does not care for such things." 
 Denon took both her hands and kissed them in 
 silence, and almost with emotion ; then turning to 
 me she said, " I am come to make you a propo- 
 sition : will you be a Freemason ? Yes; don't be 
 frightened, I want to instal you in the ' Loge Ecos- 
 saise, Belle et Bonne,' established last year, a 
 branch of the vieille sonche, and in which 'les 
 femmes vont pour quelque chose.' I am grande 
 maitresse for the present, and your friend, the 
 Countess Gaiton de la Bochefoucault, is secretaire. 
 The loge works in my own hotel on Thursday next ; 
 you will meet Prince Paul of Wurtemburg, Talma, 
 and the Archimandrite of Jerusalem, and your 
 beautiful countrywoman, the Honourable Mrs. 
 13 
 
290 DIARY OF 
 
 Hntcheson, will all be admitted along with you. 
 The grand ceremony will take place in the Salle 
 Voltaire, in which, you know, I have his statue by 
 Pigale. After we have done working, we adjourn 
 to my own salon, where we shall have tea and a 
 dance.' I at once entered into the spirit of the prop- 
 osition, whilst Denon's face would have made a 
 cat laugh ; he is so grimacier ! At this point 
 enter— my husband — -whose permission I had not 
 waited for; he immediately proposed himself, and 
 was admitted par acclamation. He saw at once 
 that the "Loge Belle et Bonne" was an anti-Bour- 
 bon societe, for which he is always primed. So 
 much for our conspiracy ! 
 
 Diary. — I should have thought that the Loge 
 Belle et Bonne was a mystification of Madame de 
 Villette's, if Denon had not jnst dropped in, and 
 showed us his invitation to our initiation in the 
 "Loge Belle et Bonne" — here it is ; and I pin it 
 into my journal with my own, as curious traits of 
 these times of transition, when all is doubt and 
 " nothing is, but what is not." 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 291 
 
 Lady MorgarCs certificate of being admitted to the Loge Belle et Bonne. 
 
 Sous la voute celeste du zenith, sur le point repondant au 48* degre 
 60 minutes 14 secondes, latitude nord, le 21' jour du 1™ mois de 
 l'an de la V.-. L.\ 5819 (ere Yulgaire 27 mars 1819). 
 
 OEDO AB CHAO. 
 
 Sup.-. Conseil du 33" degre du Kit Ecossais ancien et accepte. 
 
 PROGRAMME. 
 
 Les Souv. - . Gr.\ Inspeeteurs generaux se reunirent en Sup. - . 
 Conseil, et ouvrirent les travaux du 33" degr£, le troisieme jour du 
 second mois de l'an de la V.'. L.\ 6819 (ere yulgaire samedi 3 avril 
 1819), dans leur local ordinaire, rue neuve des Petit-Champs, n" 36, 
 a sept heures tres-precises du soir. 
 
 Les travaux seront puverts par le Tres-Puiss. - . Souv.-. Graud- 
 Commandeur Titulaire, comte Decaze, pair de France, roinistre sec- 
 retaire d'Etat au departement de l'interieur, et en son absence, par 
 le Lieutenant Grand-Commandeur Titulaire, general de Fernig. 
 
 EXCEPTION. 
 
 II y aura reception au 33" degre, d'apres le rituel de l'Ordre, avec 
 la pompe et la magnificence que prescrivent les statuts. 
 
 Apresque le President du Sup.'. Conseil a proclame le Candidat, 
 Sour. - . Grand-Inspecteur du 33" degre, et pendant qu'il le decore 
 des cordons de l'Ordre, les FF.\ de l'harmonie jouent, sans 6tre 
 apercus, des airs analogues a la ceremonie. L'Intendant de lo 
 musique fait ensuite executer uue marche militaire qui n'est d'abord 
 
292 DIARY OF 
 
 que faiblement entendue, et dont les sons augmentent progressive- 
 ment. 
 
 Quand l'harmonie a cesse de se faire entendre, le President 
 ferme les travaux du Sup.'. Conseil. 
 
 A hurt heures et demie, ouverture de la Cour des Grands-Com- 
 mandeurs du Temple, 2"7° degre, pour l'installation du Sublime 
 Chapitre metropolitan! des Dames Ecossaises du Temple, qui lui 
 est attache. 
 
 TEAVAUX D'ADOPTION. 
 
 Le rituel de cette Maconnerie d'Adoption, peu connu en France, 
 et qu'aucun At.', n'a encore suivi, sera exactement observe pour 
 toutes les ceremonies qu'il present. 
 
 Les 111.'. Dames Ecossaises du Temple seront introduces dans la 
 Cour des Grands-Commandeurs, avee tous les honneurs. 
 
 L'oriflamme sacr6 du Temple les precede. Le Grand-Maitre des 
 ceremonies des Grands-Commandeurs donne la main a la Grande- 
 Maitresse d'honneur ; le Maitre des ceremonies a la Grande-Maitresse 
 titulaire; l'Adjoint au Maitre des ceremonies a la Grande-Introduc- 
 trice. L'etendard de l'Ecossisme est porte par une Dame du Tem- 
 ple, a c6te de la Grande-Maitresse d'honneur. 
 
 Pendant cette introduction, les FF.-. de l'harmonie exeeuteront 
 une marche d'un caractere grave et religieux. 
 
 Les travaux d'Adoption seront ouverts par la Grande-Maitresse 
 d'honneur du Subl.-. Chap.'. Metropolitain des Dames Ecossaises, au 
 premier grade du regime Templier. 
 
 Les HI. - . Visiteurs et les Dames SS.\ qui les accompagnent, sont 
 introduits avec tous les honneurs qui leur sont dus. 
 
 Les 111.". FF.'. de la K.\ L.'. des Amis des Lettres et des Arts, et 
 les 111.'. SS.'. de la Grande Loge Ecossaise Belle et Bonne, sont 
 aussi introduits avec les plus grands honneurs. lis seront precedes 
 du Grand-Maitre des ceremonies, des Grands-Commandeurs et de 
 la Grande-Introductrice des Dames du Temple. 
 
 Les deux 111.'. Grandes-Maitresses d'honneur et titulaire de cette 
 Loge sont placees sur le trone, a la gauche du Tout-Puissant Grand- 
 Commandeur ; l'lll.'. Ven.'. de la R.'. L,\ des Amu des Lettres et 
 des Arts est aunres d'elles. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 293 
 
 L'harmouie s'est fait entendre pendant cette introduction. 
 
 La Grande-Mai tresse titulaire du Subl.\ Chap. - . M.\ compli- 
 mente fraternellement les Dames SS.\ et les Visiteurs qui sont 
 entres avec elles. 
 
 Installation de Buhl.'. Chap.-. M.\ 
 
 Les 111.'. Commissaires Installateurs du Sup. - . Conseil sont an- 
 nonces et introduits avec tous les honneurs. 
 
 L'harmonie execute une nouvelle marche, pendant que les In- 
 stallateurs prennent leurs places dans la Cour des Grands-Com- 
 mandeurs. Les travaux du Sup.-. Conseil du 33" degre sont ouverts 
 par eux au premier grade symbolique. 
 
 Apres que les Dames Ecossaises duS.'. C.\ M.'. du Temple auront 
 pret<j leur serment au pied du trone, en presence des 111.". Installa- 
 teurs, on executera le superbe chceur de la composition de l'IU.\ 
 F.-. Boucher — Jurons, &c. 
 
 L'installation du Subl.-. Chap. - . M.-. des Dames Ecossaises du 
 Temple est proclamee par les 111.-. Installateurs du Sup.-. Conseil. 
 
 Les travaux d' Adoption repvennent leur cours. Le Tout-Puiss.-. 
 des Grands-Commandeurs remercie, au nom de la Cour et du S.\ 
 C.\ M.-., la commission installatrice. II fait applaudir a ses travaux 
 par les batteries d'usage. 
 
 L'lll.-. S.-. de Munck chante un cantique adapte a. la fete: ce 
 cantique sera accompagne sur la harpe par l'lll.-. S.-. Boucher. 
 
 L'lll.-. F.-. Chancelier des Grands-Commandeurs prononce un 
 discours analogue a l'installation. 
 
 On entend ensuite les FF.-. et SS.\ qui ont des discours a pro- 
 noncer ou des airs a chanter et a executer. 
 
 Cloture des travaux d'Adoption. 
 
 A dix heures le bal s'ouvrira dans les salles de recreation. 
 
 Vous etes invites, T.\ 111.-. F.-. et T.-. 111.-. S.-., a augmenter 
 par votre presence l'eclat de cette solennite, et a venir y partager 
 les douceurs de 1'union ct de l'amiti6 qui regnent parmi nous. 
 
294 DIABY OF 
 
 J'ai la faveur do vous saluer fraternellement P.'. L.\ N.\ H.\ 
 Q.\ V.-. S.\ C: et A.-. T.\ L.-. H.\ Q.-. V.-. S.\ D.\ 
 
 Le Lieutenant Grand-Commandeur titulairc, 
 
 Gen£bax DE FERNIG. 
 
 Par mandement du Sup.'. Conseil, le Secretaire du 
 Saint Empire : 
 
 JUDESRETZ. 
 
 J°.S. Cette invitation est personnelle, et on devra la presenter 
 a l'entree du Temple pour etre admis dans son enceinte. 
 
 Nota. Vous etes invites a apporter avec vous vos 0.\ et decora- 
 tions maconniques. 
 
 0.-. de Paris, le 13" jour du 1" mois 5819. 
 Ere vclgaire, 13 mars 1819. 
 
 L.-. DES AMIS DES LETTRES ET DES AETS, 
 
 ET 
 
 GRANDE LOGE ECOSSAISE BELLE ET BONNE. 
 
 S.\ S.\ S.\ 
 
 T.-. Ch.-. F.-. et T.-. Ch.-. S.-., 
 
 Nous avons la faveur de vous prevenir que la R.\ L.\ des Amis 
 des Lettres et des Arts, et la Grande Loge Ecossaise Belle et 
 Bonne, ouvriront leurs travaux d'adoption au premier grade, dans 
 leur local ordinaire, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honor^, n° 30, le 18" jour 
 du 1™ mois de l'an de V. 4 . L.-. 6819, ere vulgaire, jeudi 18 mars, 
 1819, a sept heures precises du soir. 
 
LADY MOKGAU. 295 
 
 II y aura : 
 
 1° Ouverture des travaux a l'heure indiquee, par 1*111.-. ch.\ 
 Leroy, Ven.-. titulaire de la R.\ L.\ des Amis des Lettres et des 
 Arts. 
 
 2° Introduction des Visiteurs. 
 
 8° Introduction du V. - . d'honneur, comte de Lacepede, pair de 
 France, qui prendra la direction des travaux. 
 
 4° L'harmonie executera une marche d'un caractere grave et 
 religieux. 
 
 5° Initiation de plusieurs profanes au premier grade sym- 
 bolique. 
 
 6° Discours de l'Orateur, adjoint aux inities. 
 1° Harmonie. 
 
 TKAVAUX D'ADOPTION. 
 
 8° Le Grand-Maitre des ceremonies ira s'assurer si leslll.-. S.-. de 
 la L.\ Belle et Bonne sont arrives sous les portiques du Temple, et, 
 sur son rapport, les Ecuyers designes par le Ven.-., precedes du 
 Grand-Maitre et des Maitres des ceremonies, iront recevoir 1*111. •. 
 Grande-Maitresse d'honneur, 1*111.-. Grande-Maitresse titulaire et les 
 autres S.\ de la Grande L.-. Ecossaise Belle et Bonne. 
 
 9° L'harmonie executera la marche de l'initiation aux mysteres 
 d'Isis. 
 
 10° Discours du Venerable, adress6 aux 111.-. S.-. de Belle et 
 
 INITIATION. 
 
 11° L'lll.-. Grande-Introductrice annouce a 1*111.*. Grande-Mai- 
 tresse d'honneur, que plusieurs dames profanes sont dans les avenues 
 du jardin, et demandent a y 6tre introduites. 
 
 L'lll.-. Grande-Maitresse ordonne qu'elles soient admises et ini- 
 tios, suivant les usages particuliers du rit. 
 
 12° Pendant que l'lll.-. Grande-Maitresse d'honneur reraet aux 
 SS.-. nouvellement initiees les decorations de la Grande L.-. Ecos- 
 saise Belle et Bonne, l'lll.-. S.\ de Miinck, accompagnee sur la 
 harpe par l'lll.-. S.'. Boucher, chantera le cantique analogue a cette 
 solennite'. 
 
2jyt) DIARY OF 
 
 13° Discoura adresse aux initiees par l'IH.\ F.\ Saulnier fils, 
 orateur de la Loge. 
 
 14° L'lll.-. F.-. Boucher executera la belle sympbonie maconnique 
 dont il est l'auteur. 
 
 15° Cloture des travaux, pour passer aux salons de recreation, 
 ou Ton entendra plusieurs morceaux de musique vocale et instru- 
 mentale executes par les 111.-. SS.-. de Miinck, Boucher, et par les 
 111.-. FF.-. Boucher, Alexis Dupont, Mutzler, etc. etc. 
 
 Vous etes invites, Tr.\ Ch.-. F.-. et Tr.-. Ch.-. S.-., a augmen- 
 ter par votre presence l'6clat de cette fete, et a venir y partager les 
 douceurs de l'amitie qui nous unit. 
 
 Nous avons la faveur de vous saluer fraternellement P.-. L.\ 
 N.\ M.-. Q.-. V.-. S.-. C.\ et avec T.-. L.-. H.-. Q.-. V.-. S.-. D.- 
 
 Le Ven.-. de la R.-. L.-. des Amis des lettres et des arts. 
 
 Chev. Leroy. 
 
 Le 1" Surv.-. de la R.-. L.-., Le 2 d Surv.-. de la R.-. L.-., 
 
 Talma. Jolt. 
 
 L'Orateur de la R.\ L.\, Par mandement de la R.\ L.-., 
 
 Saulnier iils. Cruzel, secretaire. 
 
 JP.S. Cette invitation est personnelle, et on devra la presenter 
 pour etre admis aux travaux. 
 
 111.-. F.-., 
 La loge des Amis des Lettres et des Arts, sera bien sensible aux 
 regrets que vous avez la bonte de lui exprimer. Vous serez con- 
 voquez pour notre prochaiue tenue, et comme elle aura lieu en 
 loge d'adoption, nous osons esperer que Lady Morgan fera pour la 
 troisieme fois la gloire de nos travaux. 
 
 Voulez-vous bien, monsieur, partager avee milady mes respec- 
 tueux hommages. 
 
 Paris, ce 5 mars, 1819. 
 
 M. Lenez. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 297 
 
 s.-. s.-. a-. 
 
 Madame, 
 
 Lorsqce j'ai eu l'honneur d'accompagner Madame la Marquise 
 de Villette, la semaine precedente chez votre seigneurie,- deux 
 dames* de yos compatriotes lui ont t6moigne le desir d'etre de la 
 Loge Belle et Bonne. Je vous prie d'avoir la bonte de m'envoyer 
 le nom et l'adresse de ces dames, pour qu'on puisse leur adresser des 
 invitations. Permettez-moi, madame, de profiler de cette occa- 
 sion pour offrir a votre seigneurie l'hommage de mon entier et re- 
 spectueux devoument, 
 
 Saulniee, 
 Orat. - . de la Loge Belle et Bonne, 
 
 Quai Malaquai, No. la. 
 Lady Morgan, a Paris. 
 
 * These two ladies were Mrs. Reynolds Solly, wife of Reynolds 
 Solly, Esq., of George Hill, Herts, Ac., and Mrs. Prescott, now Mar- 
 quise . 
 
 Madame, 
 
 La quatrieme livraison de la Bibliotheque mafonniqm donne les 
 details de la fete qui eut lieu le mois dernier chez Madame la Mar- 
 quise la Villette, pour l'installation de la Loge Belle et Bonne. 
 L'ill.\ orateur de cette loge vous distingua particulierement parmi 
 les dames dignitaires qui la composent. 
 
 Comme editeur de cet ouvrage, je vous prie d'agreer, madame, 
 cette livraison: je me trouve heureux d'avoir eu l'occasion d'y pub- 
 lier le discours de M. Saulnier fils, qui rend un si juste hommage a 
 vos talents et a votre philanthropic. 
 
 J'ai l'honneur de vous saluer, madame, avec le respect le plus 
 profond. 
 
 Le secretaire general du Sup. - . Conseil,* 
 Jolt. 
 Paris, le 17 mars, 1819. 
 
 * 1858. — Lest this account of the scenery and machinery of our ma- 
 sonic drama should startle the incredulous, I beg to state that my cre- 
 dentials and costume — my working apron and cordon hleu rouge et blane 
 — are at this moment among my other Irimborions in my boudoir. 
 13* 
 
298 DIARY OF 
 
 Diary. — Yesterday was a very busy day. Ben- 
 jamin Constant and Morgan were working at tlieii 
 eloges, in French and English, on Sir Samuel Ko- 
 milly. Morgan was obliged to send off his with 
 the packet for Colbnrn, as the French and English 
 brochures were to appear the same day in London 
 and Paris. Then, to the Jardin des Plantes, and a 
 visit to the Cuviers, who engaged us for to-morrow 
 evening, to meet a levee en masse of the scientific, 
 — and so home to dine and dress for my adoption 
 into the " Loge Belle et Bonne." Chemin faisant, 
 I called on the Countess Gaiton de la Bochefou- 
 cault, who is chef en seconde of our loge ; she was 
 out — a great disappointment, as I wanted to have 
 her advice and opinion on the subject of the even- 
 ing. I should like to know whether we are going 
 only to faire nos farces, or whether to assist at a 
 political reunion. Nous verrons ! 
 
 Diary, January, 1819. — Well, here I am, a 
 " Free and accepted Mason," according to the old 
 Irish masonic song. When we drove to the soli- 
 tudes of the Rue Vaugirard, Faubourg St. Ger- 
 maine, we found the court of the Hotel la Villette, 
 and all the remises, full of carriages. " Belle et 
 Bonne," magnificently dressed in white satin and 
 diamonds, with Voltaire's picture round her neck, 
 
LADY MORGAN. 299 
 
 eet in brilliants, received us in the salon with a sort 
 of solemn grace, very unlike her usual joyous ad- 
 dress. Madame la Generale Foy, the wife of the 
 popular militaire, stood beside her ; His Royal 
 Highness Prince Paul of "Wurtemburg ; the Bishop 
 of Jerusalem ; Talma ; Count de la E,ochefoucault, 
 in full-dress, looking very like his illustrious ances- 
 tor of " Les Maximes ; " Denon ; the Count de 
 Cazes, pair de France (brother to the premier, the 
 Due de Cazes) ; General Favier ; and many others 
 whom we knew, were assembled, and muttered 
 their conversation in little groups. At half-past 
 eight they all proceeded to hold the Chapter for 
 the installation of the " Dames Ecossaises du Tem- 
 ple," according to the programme, we, les dames 
 postulantes, remaining behind till we were called 
 for. I really began to feel some trepidation, and 
 the stories that I had heard from my childhood up- 
 wards, of the horrors of the trial of a free masonic 
 probation, rose to my mind, red-hot poker included ! 
 At nine o'clock we were summoned to attend the 
 " Ouverture de la cour des grands commandeurs." 
 When the battants were thrown open, a spectacle 
 of great magnificence presented itself. A profusion 
 of crimson and gold, marble busts, a decorated 
 throne and altar, a profusion of flowers, incense of 
 the finest odour filling the air, and, in fact, a spec- 
 
300 DIAET OF 
 
 tacle of the most scenic and dramatic effect pre- 
 sented itself. Such of the forms as are permitted to 
 reach ears profane are detailed in the programme. 
 We took the vows, but as to the Secret — " it shall 
 never pass these lips, in holy silence sealed." That 
 so many women, young and beautiful, and worldly, 
 should never have revealed the secret, is among 
 the miracles which the much-distrusted sex are 
 capable of working. When the great mysteries 
 had been celebrated, and the novices were seated, 
 and silence reigned, there was a sudden outburst of 
 harmony, through all of which, from time to time, 
 the strange musical eccentricities of the half-mad, 
 half-inspired Boucher were distinctly heard, and 
 only quelled by the melodious harp-invocations of 
 his wife, the finest harpist of her time. After the 
 overture, we had an oration by the Grand Chan- 
 cellor. The loge lasted two hours. During the 
 whole time my eyes were fixed on the Archiman- 
 drite of Jerusalem, and Talma, who had precisely 
 the same expression of countenance which he had 
 worn in " Neron " when bothered by one of Agrip- 
 pa's lectures, which was a stern ennui personified. 
 The archbishop tried to look pious, but as it was 
 the piety of the Greek Church I did not understand 
 it ; had it been an Irish priest I should have been 
 aufait. When the loge was closed, we adjourned 
 
LADY MORGAN. 301 
 
 processionally to the salle de recreation, and the 
 ball was opened. The priestesses had thrown off 
 their officiating robes, and the grande rnaitresse en 
 seconde opened the ball with Prince Paul of "Wuv- 
 temburg. 
 
 To-morrow we are to have our certificates of 
 adoption, which we shall forward forthwith to our 
 Grand Master of Irish Freemasons, the dear darling 
 good Duke of Leinster ; and now I am off for every 
 sort of packing-tip, as in a few days we shall be en 
 route for Italy. 
 
 From Thomas Moore. 
 
 11, Allee des Veuves, Friday. 
 
 I thought to have reached you to-day, but was 
 detained at -home too late. Pray fix either Friday 
 or Saturday to dine with us. The former day 
 would, perhaps, be better, as I find Madame de 
 Flahaut* expects us all on that evening, and, her 
 house being near this, we could go together ; only, 
 let me know as soon as you can. 
 
 Yours, most truly, 
 
 Thomas Mooee. 
 
 * The Countess de Flahaut is at this time Baroness Keith, the grand- 
 daughter of Madame Piozzi. Count de Flahaut is too well and too 
 generally known to need notification. 
 
302 DIAEY OF 
 
 From Benjamin Constant. 
 
 Friday. 
 
 I can assure Lady Morgan that it requires very 
 little time to read " Florence Macarthy," if I j udge 
 by the impatience with which I read each volume, 
 but the misfortune is, I am always tempted to read 
 again when I have finished. However, I will en- 
 deavour this time to resist the temptation, and re- 
 turn it as soon as I have done with it once. Only 
 I see no means of preventing Madame Constant 
 reading it, because I am a peaceful husband, and 
 do not like to resist a wife's wishes. However, I 
 will send the volume back in the course of a few 
 days, under the express condition of having it lent 
 to me again when your other friends want it no 
 
 longer. 
 
 Benjamin Constant. 
 
 From Lady CharleviUe to Sir Chirks Morgan, on his Book. 
 
 29th January, 1819. 
 
 My dear Sie, 
 
 Lord Chaeleville has had a severe illness, 
 arising, I believe, from unsettled gout, and too full 
 ii regimen. I have been by night and by day 
 occupied so bitterly, with the additional feeling of 
 incapacity to do what I wished, that I could not 
 
LADY MORGAN. 303 
 
 thank you as I ought for the honour you have 
 done me, to write to me the 10th January. I am 
 thoroughly sensible of the great indulgence of your 
 feeling it at all fitting to converse with me on the 
 subject of your most distinguished work. I wish I 
 was able to praise it as it deserves, with the knowl- 
 edge and discrimination of an enlightened reader ; 
 but I believe, from what I have heard here, that it 
 is likely to establish your fame and learning 
 amongst those who are indeed conversant with 
 physiology. It is a proud thing, so early in life, to 
 be so distinguished ; and assuredly, with a good 
 private character, I should prefer the attainment of 
 literary distinction to any other the world could 
 offer. Both these things you enjoy, my dear sir, 
 and I hope they may afford you all the happiness 
 I fancy they should bestow. 
 
 You are too modest to fancy that you have not 
 clearly shown your intention was not to discuss the 
 most interesting of all questions (the immortality 
 of the soul), and to confine your observations to 
 physical facts. You write too well for any doubts 
 to be entertained on your intention ; and I cannot 
 understand the most devout man being displeased 
 with the investigations of nature. But it was 
 equally impossible for a real friend not to feel that 
 you had not ascribed to the great source of life and 
 
304 DIAKY OF 
 
 light that vivifying principle which animates us, 
 and which (if there had never been a revelation) 
 had still asked after something beyond this perish- 
 able globe ! The cruel effects of priestcraft and 
 despotism have created systems which reason 
 mocks at ; but the philosophy of Moses and Christ 
 opens such reasonable consolation, such beautiful 
 philanthropy, such wise and absolute reference to 
 the one God, the Father, directing, governing all 
 things, and animating all nature, that, as it cannot 
 be disproved, I cling to it with a joy I would share 
 from my heart with all those I value ! I do value 
 you for all I have observed and heard of you, and 
 for contribiiting so largely to the happiness of my 
 dear Lady Morgan ; so you must not be displeased 
 with me if my wishes for your absolute enjoyment 
 of all that existing things can afford be joined to 
 an ardent wish that you may be happy also in the 
 bosom of that Being who has given you so large a 
 portion of his illumination for. the better to under- 
 stand and adore Him ! 
 
 You will smile at my enthusiasm, but you 
 cannot be angry at me, while you think that I am 
 from my heart anxious and sincere; and that I 
 only want you to have, in the progress of your 
 study, the cheering prospect of that bright centre, 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 305 
 
 the least ray of which lights us unto hope beyond 
 this wayward world. 
 
 I have a misgiving, as I may call it, that bodes 
 little of security in the politics of France. I have 
 heard, myself, the younger De Cazes speak in 
 favour of influence and interference in elections, 
 &c, &c, and the press. Such things here may be 
 done, but I do not know any young man who 
 would not blush to uphold the doctrine! The 
 rising generation Lady Morgan augurs well of, and 
 I hope they may deserve it ; but I neither believe 
 in the education of Ultras' nor Jacobins' children. 
 Relative equality of taxation and absolute impartial 
 distribution of justice, with the free power of nom- 
 inating our representatives to the Assembly which 
 regulates the burdens we must bear, and liberty of 
 conscience, appear to me what constitutes rational 
 liberty. Now, the Catholics will not allow to us what 
 they require of us — and, therefore, that religion 
 which France professes, is contrary to liberty — and 
 I do think meanly of the jargon of their debates, 
 and the strange verbosity of their courts of justice. 
 Some profess to think they have obtained at once 
 a constitution, which took us years to uprear, and 
 therefore, that all will be well ; but I cannot help 
 thinking, the time we took to raise it would infer 
 each improvement suited to the mass, and that 
 
306 DIAKY OF 
 
 men, too, were by degrees educated to understand 
 and value rational liberty ; that our situation, 
 favourable to commerce, enriched the citizen and 
 made him value the laws which protected him, 
 while the heads of the French are filled with 
 fantastic theories, or with the love of war (which, 
 in them, was debased by a love of plunder too), 
 that has taken away all that once was chivalrous in 
 the French character ; that they now allow people 
 to pray to God their own way, has proceeded from 
 indifference to the subject, — a bad foundation for 
 morals ! and I dare swear the king will do it away 
 when he dare ; and if not him, his bigoted suc- 
 cessor. I wish sincerely it may be otherwise, for 
 France should be the finest country on the earth, 
 and her people amongst the best, as they are surely 
 the most gifted. 
 
 Will you be so kind as to let Lady Morgan, when 
 she writes, say when you go to Italy, and what 
 are your intentions for your abode there ? If you 
 should go next summer, I would like to think we 
 might have some chance of meeting there, and then 
 you would prescribe for my etat physique, and 
 revenge yom-self by a nauseous drug (if you were 
 very ill-natured), for all the stuff you have been 
 forced to swallow if you read this letter. 
 
 Best and kindest wishes await miladi, and tell 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 307 
 
 her everybody delights in " Florence," but on dit, 
 
 Croker was innocent, and Southey the man ! but I 
 
 don't believe it — Southey has too much genius for 
 
 such a composition. 
 
 C. M. C. 
 
 Lady Charleville to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Brighton, February. 
 
 I have received here yours, my dear Lady Mor- 
 gan, and also the letter you wrote and intended to 
 go by the Count Capponi, &c. I shall not be in 
 London until after Easter. If your two Italian 
 friends are at that time there, I shall do everything 
 that my home can do to satisfy your recommenda- 
 tion. Lord Guildford sent me a Russian prince, 
 aide-de-camp to Alexander, too, and I have been 
 able to do nothing for him either, for I have not 
 had a thought but of misery, and that not in my 
 own person, for I am much as usual, but for Lord 
 Charleville, and for my too dear Tullamore also, 
 and it is now long since I had rest and peace, 
 either by night or by day. Lord Charleville had a 
 heavy seizure of goutte rencontre, and blood press- 
 ing on his head, and the variety of all the suffer- 
 ings consequent on this infliction, which had abat- 
 ed ; and the quantity of blood he lost required 
 bracing air, and change from bustle to quiet, and 
 
308 DIAEY OF 
 
 compelled us to leave London the last day of Jan- 
 uary ; since which Tullamore was attacked by a 
 bilious fever of slow and nervous tendency, and 
 fourteen clays has been in bed and one week out of 
 it, during all which time the whole weight of care 
 and watching of both (in a narrow lodging, noisy 
 and comfortless comparatively for invalids) you 
 will easily understand ; and Lord Charleville must 
 be carried by two noisy footmen from one room to 
 the other, up creaking narrow stairs, and rusty 
 bolts, when quiet was vitally important. There 
 was much of local addition to the dreadful crisis ; 
 but it is now past, and both are recovering, though 
 slowly. Oh, my dear Lady Morgan ! I have had 
 courage for myself, and I' do not know that I ever 
 addressed a direct prayer to God for my own re- 
 covery. I always by instinct felt that the share of 
 evil which every human creature is bound to en- 
 dure was mercifully, in my case hitherto, inflicted 
 on my body, and I knew there I was less vulner- 
 able than for my children, and I blessed the power 
 that spared them evil and me distraction. Oh, I 
 judged right at least in this ! but perhaps I had no 
 right to this blessed exemption ; and I knew not, in 
 fact, what misery was, nor was half the grateful 
 creature I should have been, and which I now shall 
 be for what I am spared ! I show you this to read 
 
LADY MOEG-AN. 309 
 
 my naked heart, because that I trust and believe 
 in yours, and will ; and I deserve you should speak 
 without reserve to me of its leanings, as you have 
 done in your last letter. I know not yet what will 
 be determined as to our leaving England, which 
 Lord Charleville's family disapprove of I see ; and 
 that was one of the causes when I wrote to Sir 
 Charles, when I bade him to let you inform me of 
 your route ; for it might be some argument with 
 them that I was sure of a medical friend in an 
 emergency being at hand ; for now I see, what I 
 already took for granted, that your tour is precisely 
 what we had purposed to make. Do not, to any 
 English or Irish person, mention Lord Charleville's 
 illness — exaggeration and insouciance and gossip, 
 are to be avoided amongst us who live upon re- 
 ports, — and my opinion conscientiously is that clear 
 skies would influence his health advantageously, 
 else no improvement of my own could have any 
 weight with me now. I will send you from Lon- 
 don letters for Lord Burghersh, whom I know, at 
 Turin, and Mr. Algernon Percy, his secretary, and 
 I will procure letters for Naples from others. Some 
 things might have been, it is true, improved in 
 " France " with advantage, and the title was too 
 high-sounding for a tourist's confined scope : yet 
 few women could have written it, and few men but 
 
310 DIAEY OF 
 
 will allow it lias the merit of quick perceptibility, 
 pleasant and amusing narrative, and, to my opin- 
 ion, a proper principle of sympathy with a great 
 nation struggling for its fair rights and emancipa- 
 tion from despotism. I was aware, from Lady 
 Hardwicke (who ought to have been above so poor 
 a feeling), that Lady E. Stewart disliked the man- 
 ner of mention of her assembly. Lord help us, if 
 that is to hurt an author, pens and ink are as well 
 proscribed at once ! I heard Mr. Croker had given 
 authority positively to deny, in his name, having 
 written the critique, which these same people attrib- 
 uted to Southey. Now it is impossible Southey 
 wrote it ; because he writes too well, and is too 
 great a man to have written it, base and unfeeling 
 as it is ; and because the style betrays the author 
 in his other productions. However, there is some 
 pleasure to make him go about telling lies, and 
 that people think him mean for the denial, who 
 approved of his diatribe. But once more as to 
 " Miss Florence." It gave me pleasure, the day I 
 dined with the Regent here, to find it on his table, 
 and to hear him say, when I took it up, " I hope 
 you like the Eagle and O'Leary ; I have never 
 read anything more delightful or more pathetic 
 than Cumhal's catastrophe ; Croker may rail on, 
 he'll do her no harm." And again he reverted to 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 311 
 
 the subject, and said, " Damned blackguard, to 
 abuse a woman, isn't it ? " and " Could not he let 
 her ' France ' alone, if it be all lies, and read her 
 novels, and thank her, by Jasus ! (with a true 
 brogue) for being a good Irishwoman ? " Believe 
 me the Regent has a heart at bottom ; and I am 
 only surprised that, surrounded as an heir-apparent 
 is, and as he has always been, every mouth and 
 every eye taught to express assent, and to antici- 
 pate his bias, and the fair plain truth never suf- 
 fered near him — I say I am only surprised he is 
 human ! He sent me all the drinks that my poor 
 child fancied (which the medical man, Tierney, an 
 Irishman, had told him of) every day ; and this it 
 was which sent me (dressed up in my rolling chair) 
 to thank him on the eve of his departure ; and it is 
 most sure I should have met less sympathy, and 
 less of apparent interest, in the inquiries of any 
 other man in the town. I had refused going all 
 along to the Pavilion (for those things I delight 
 not in), but his goodness about my child was not 
 to be passed over ; and unquestionably I do not 
 wonder his manner and his feeling should smooth 
 down bitter recollections of where he has been 
 wrong, and bind his friends to him. You ask me 
 if there be left, after Hobhouse and Hose, stuif for 
 you in Italy to work on. I like Hobhouse much, 
 
312 DIAEY OF 
 
 and Rose I have not read, but I easily believe there 
 is much ; for what have Eustace, or Hobhouse, or 
 Miss Knight done that can interfere with your 
 quick observation of the people, and their customs, 
 habits, and feelings of the past and present ? But 
 I would have you conceal, most carefully, what 
 you do think of writing, because I know already, 
 from M. Grimaldi,* the Duke of Spinella, and 
 others, they dread it. You will find them in their 
 hearts cowed, and bigoted to priestcraft, however 
 they pretend ; and a word against their priest is to 
 them more hateful than against their God. Yet 
 they will pretend philosophic apathy, to you, a 
 heretic, and liberal opinions upon government, be- 
 cause you are a subject of Britain ; but excepting 
 Trechi, and he, as a " Milanese," of course liked 
 Buonaparte (who raised Milan to opulence, and 
 made it the seat of government) — I say, excepting 
 him, all those I know are actually as fit for the 
 pope's government and his regiment of Jesuits as 
 they were heretofore. 
 
 I read with deep anxiety the state of French 
 politics. I now almost believe in the king's wish 
 to act honestly, but I dread the machinations of the 
 ultra royalists and the Bourbon princes : moreover, 
 it strikes me, that this law of election must be a 
 
 * Marquis Grimaldi, the Sardinian ambassador. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 313 
 
 most defective one, if the preVots may influence in 
 their department in the manner it is asserted they 
 do; or rather if it be possible they can create at 
 pleasure a matter of forty votes in each department 
 where they preside, in favour of whomsoever they 
 please ; and this is asserted in, and remains uncon- 
 tradicted by, the Chamber of Deputies. Their 
 mode and manner of debate appear like the irregu- 
 lar wranglings of schoolboys rather than a senate- 
 house occupied with a question of such vital import 
 as the Election Law. And lately I read a pamphlet 
 on the trial by jury, and another, a critique on poor 
 Madame de Stael (which absolutely were esteemed 
 by De Cazes, and sent over by him), that proves 
 to my conviction a want of all solid information or 
 principle to guide the boat into safe harbour. Why 
 was not the Marquis La Fayette a peer, M-hen they 
 were seeking to regenerate freedom and to honour 
 private worth ? Why was the most violent of Roy- 
 alists, Montalembert, created one? In short, why 
 are the infatuated bigots of Count d'Artois's follow- 
 ers to prevent a great nation from receiving the 
 benefits of a free constitution, and, by degrees, of 
 improving the crude suggestions of the first outline 
 which I am now (since he has acted firmly on this 
 great trial) to suppose it is his wisli to support and 
 adhere to? All these queries I should like to hear 
 14 
 
314 DIARY OF 
 
 debated on in your salon ; but the very effervescence 
 and sort of talent they all show in private compa- 
 nies is, I fear, one of the reasons their Commons- 
 house will be ever a bear-garden : for if seventy- 
 five are to speak out of two hundred and fifty, we 
 must infer (who know the quantum of human talent 
 not to be in that ratio under the most favourable 
 circumstances) that conceit and turbulence drive 
 them on to the disturbance of all those who could 
 teach and instruct them. I believe, with you, there 
 is better material in Italy, if it was free ; and there, 
 and in the bright hopes that opened to them of 
 getting rid of papist government, it is that Bona- 
 parte is a loss to Europe ; and from my heart I 
 condemn a British subject lending a helping hand 
 to restore the see of Home. I have lately read the 
 notes to the Douay Bible, published by Dr. Troy's 
 orders for the instruction of the Irish people, and I 
 do absolutely think that no person who is not 
 bloodthirsty and prejudiced as an inquisitor, could, 
 after these notes, reconcile their feelings of right 
 and wrong to put power and legislative authority 
 into an Irish Papist's hands. If they were all 
 Deists and Atheists (like my old friends the French) 
 our lives and properties had been safe ; but with 
 the catechists of this dreadful school nothing is 
 sacred but Rome ! 
 
LADY MORGAN. 315 
 
 My dearest Lady Morgan, 1 do love so many 
 individuals of various feelings and opinions, that I 
 cannot feel anything but anxiety for this great 
 country becoming free and happy ; but I fear as 
 long as there are Jesuits and ambitious unconnected 
 priests, without the gentler ties of nature and wives 
 and children to bind them, and old heartburning 
 feudal recollections in the nobility of France, we 
 shall not have it established. This I deplore for 
 them, and my heart sickens when I think how 
 many miseries new troubles would create dans cette 
 belle France ; and how ready all their military and 
 our own, and the desamvres of other nations are for 
 this desolation. 
 
 Best and kindest regards to Sir Charles. 
 
 Tell Sir Charles, Benjamin Constant does not 
 write as well as he. I am sorry he undertook the 
 subject, for it is a noble one for a master hand. 
 
 M. C. Chaeleville. 
 
 Diary. — A card has just come in from the 
 Marechale the Duchesse de Eagusa. A bal masque 
 — an invitation to a bal masque par exemple ! This 
 bal is the subject of general gossipry in Paris, and 
 will you go ? or will you not go ? is the question of 
 the day. We belong to the ayes. The doubt about 
 
316 DIAEY OF 
 
 it is the terms upon which Marmont and his wife 
 have been living for some years. She brought him 
 a large fortune, and he gave her a deathless name, 
 at least, as long as " Diccon his master was not 
 bought and sold" to oblivion, for they rose and 
 sunk together. The point is — will Marmont be there 
 masque or demasque ? Both Marmont and Bona- 
 parte were military pupils together of La Place, 
 and stood the same examination before that great 
 man at the military school, so says Denon.* He 
 remembers them being together at the soiree at the 
 Court of the Directory when Ban-as reigned, and 
 the beautiful Madame Tallien reigned viceroy over 
 him, at the same time that General Buonaparte was 
 aux petits soins with Madame Beauharnais. Denon 
 speaks in raptures of the women and the private sa- 
 ciety of that day. Madame Marmont is the daugh- 
 ter of the great banker, Perrier. 
 
 We have got our dominos and masks, mine a 
 rich black demireps, which will make me a beauti- 
 ful dress for Italy, so I don't mind the extravagance. 
 I can make up a domino for Morgan of a piece ot 
 Irish poplin, which I brought over for a present to 
 
 * Bonaparte was visiting the picture gallery of Soult with Denon, 
 and was struck with one of Raffaelle's pictures, which Denon compli- 
 mented with the term "immortal." "How long may it last?" asked 
 Bonaparte. " Well, some four or live hundred years longer," said 
 Denon. " Belle immortalite ! " said Bonaparte, disdainfully. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 317 
 
 Madame Jerome Bonaparte ; but she is gone. My 
 little mask is the impersonation of coquetry and the 
 lequin* of Louis the XVth's day : it nearly touches 
 the upper lip with a little black fall. Denon says 
 it becomes me d ravir et a bonne cause. 
 
 Brockett Hall, 
 
 December 18th. 
 My dear Lady Morgan, 
 
 Two days before I wrote to you I had fallen from 
 my horse. Three days after I was seized with a 
 most violent nervous fever, accompanied by inflam- 
 mation in the throat and stomach, so that what 
 with the general lowness and partial fulness no one 
 knew what to do. For one week I never swallowed 
 anything. The moment of danger passed, and now 
 I believe, in truth, I died; for assuredly a new 
 Lady Caroline has arisen from this death. I seem 
 to have buried my sins, griefs, melancholy, now, 
 and to have come out like a new-born babe, unable 
 to walk, think, speak; but perfectly happy. So 
 finding myself — after I had wished for death and 
 died — alive again, I made them carry me out into 
 the air in a blanket, and then, to the astonishment 
 
 * Originally Beguine, borrowed from the shade worn by the lay 
 nuns of that order over their faces. 
 
318 DIAEY OF 
 
 of every one, ordered my horse next day, and sat 
 upon it and would ride, and now am well, only 
 weak. I have positively refused to take any 
 draughts, pills, laudanum, wine, brandy, and ar- 
 rowroot, or other stimulants. I live upon milk 
 porridge, soda water and milk, and all the fari- 
 naceous grains. My mind is calm — I am pleased 
 to be alive — grateful for the kindness shown me ; 
 and never mean to answer any questions further back 
 than the 15th of this month, that being the day 
 of this new Lady Caroline's birth, and I hate the 
 old one. She had her good qualities ; but she had 
 grown into a sort of female Timon — not of Athens 
 — bitter, and always going over old, past scenes. 
 She also imagined that people hated her. Now the 
 present Lady Caroline is as gay as a lark, sees all 
 as it should be, not perhaps as it is ; and having 
 received your very clever letter, full of good sense, 
 means to profit by it ; but, at present, like her pre- 
 decessor, and like one of your countrymen, is going 
 about wanting work. I have nothing- necessarily 
 to do. I know I might, and ought to do a great 
 many things, but then I am not compelled to do 
 them. 
 
 As to writing, assuredly enough has been written, 
 besides, it is different writing when one's thoughts 
 flow out before one's pen, and writing with one's 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 319 
 
 pen waiting for thoughts. Would I could be useful ! 
 I did write a book about stables and domestic econ- 
 omy, upon a new and beautiful plan ; but unless 
 some one saw it and thought it good, I would not 
 venture to publish it : yet I wrote it whilst writing 
 " Ada Reis." 
 
 My laundry and stables I conduct upon that 
 plan to save myself trouble ; but it is more difficult 
 to put it into practice in a house, although it was 
 done, and with success, one year. 
 
 I mention this to show you that I, too, have 
 been a good housewife, and saved William * much ; 
 but he says what is the use of saving in one place 
 if you squander all away in another ? Alas ! what 
 is the use of anything ? we may go on saying what 
 is the use, till we really puzzle ourselves, as I did, 
 as to why we exist at all. When you have a mo- 
 ment to spare write to me. Remember me to Sir 
 Charles Morgan. I will give your message to Miss 
 
 White. 
 
 Believe me, most truly yours, 
 
 Caroline Lamb. 
 
 From General La Fayette to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Wednesday, 13th February, 1819. 
 
 My dear Lady, 
 
 It would be a real festival to pass the evening 
 
 * Lord Melbourne. 
 
320 DIARY OF 
 
 at your house, but a combination of affairs prevents 
 me. It seems ridiculous to appear so busy with 
 such trifling results ; nevertheless, I am obliged to 
 go where I am expected. Accept my excuses and 
 regrets. I shall arrange to indemnify myself on 
 Wednesday next. A thousand affectionate remem- 
 brances. 
 
 La Fayette. 
 
 From M. Pougenee to Sir Charles Morgan. 
 
 Paris, Rue des Petits Augustins, No. 14, 
 
 Pres le Musee, ce 27 Kvrier, 1819. 
 
 Monsieur le Chevalier, 
 
 Je vous reponds avec ma franchise ordinaire a, 
 la lettre dont vous m'avez honore en date du 24 
 courant. Voici l'exacte verite: J'ai quelque droit 
 pour etre era, car j'etais 1'eleve et l'ami le plus 
 intime de feu M. dAlembert, certes le meilleur des 
 hommes. II est faux que feu M. le Marquis de Con- 
 dorcet fat dans sa chambre a, l'epoque ou il rendit 
 a la terre ses depouilles mortelles. Depuis plu- 
 sieurs jours, il etait meme absent de Paris. Je crois 
 qu'il etait a, la Roche Guyon, chez feu Madame la 
 Duchesse d'Anville. M. dAlembert est mort la 
 te~te appuyee sur ma poitrine, avec le sang froid 
 d'un sage, et le calme d'un homme de bien. Nulle 
 crainte pour l'avenir, qui ne doit epouvanter que le 
 
LADY MORGAN. 321 
 
 mechant : nulle ostentation, qui le plus souvent 
 n'est qu'une faiblesse deguisee. Je ne parlerai 
 point ici de ses hautes lumieres ici, de son gout ex- 
 quis en litterature : l'Europe savante lui rend jus- 
 tice ; mais les gens de Lien aimeront a apprendre 
 que sa vie entiere ne fat qu'une suite de bonnes 
 actions. 
 
 J'ai l'honneur d'etre avec la consideration, la 
 plus distinguee, 
 
 Monsieur le Chevalier, 
 
 Votre tres-humble et tres-obeissant serviteur, 
 
 Pougence, 
 
 Chevalier de Vordre souverain de St. Jean de Jerusalem, 
 de VAeaaUmie Francaise des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres, die. 
 
 From M. Pougence (the friend of D' 'Alembert) to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Paris, No. 14 Rue des Petits Augustins, 
 28th January, 1819. 
 
 I have been faithful to my sovereign mistress. 
 Now, you are one of those towards whom the slight- 
 est insurrection would be an act of impiety. I 
 have read the notice placed at the head of the 
 travestie, published under the name of a translation, 
 and that because I was doubtful of the contents. 
 For what is a sincere attachment ? Is it not a solici- 
 tude and anxiety ? Madame de Pougence and my- 
 14* 
 
322 
 
 DIAET OF 
 
 self had no wish to read a single line of that dear 
 " Florence Macarthy " in a masquerade dress. I 
 wait the genuine one. Why do Messrs. Treuttel 
 and Wurtz delay the publication ? I have received 
 the order of her Imperial Majesty, the Empress 
 Dowager of Russia, to send her the first copy. The 
 courier has gone away empty-handed. Assuredly, 
 I shall not send the translation. Present my best 
 compliments to Sir Charles. I offer at my lady's 
 feet the homage of my admiration and respect. 
 
 PoUGENCE. 
 
 Theee are, in France, ninety-eight peers, amongst 
 whom are included bad subjects, blockheads, and 
 chatterers. There are only to oppose them sixty 
 permanents ; but, considering the dispositions of 
 the jeerers, these imbeciles, fearing to be lost, have 
 been obliged to have recourse to the opinion of 
 arbitrators. 
 
 Diary. — Well, our hal masque was altogether a 
 very curious thing, to me, in one instance, rather 
 disagreeable. Imprimis — the H6tel Marmont is 
 composed of quantities of little rooms of reception, 
 like Chinese boxes, fitting one within the other : 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 323 
 
 they are all most gorgeously decorated, and full of 
 beautiful things, very like, I should think, les 
 maisons de plaisance under the Regence or Egaliteh 
 famous one ; it was crowded and hot to suffocation. 
 What was remarkable was, that there was no one to 
 receive the company ; for neither Marmont nor 
 Madame appeared. Very few took off their masks. 
 I, unfortunately, was among the few who did so, for 
 I was suffocated, which exposed me to be intrigued 
 in the most ungentlemanlike manner by three 
 gentlemen. Morgan had left me to find our car- 
 riage, and I observed three masques near me, 
 laughing and muttering. One of them, the tallest, 
 addressed me in the most impertinent manner on 
 the subject of my praise of the handsome Basque, 
 who was in attendance at the Duchesse de Biron's 
 dejeuner, 1816, and who is mentioned in my 
 " France " of that year ; but it is not worth record- 
 ing their very scabreuses observations. A masque 
 stood near me, to whom I addressed myself, " May 
 I beg your protection, and request that you will 
 give me your arm to the antechamber, where my 
 husband is gone in search of our carriage?" He 
 replied, " I have placed myself near you for that 
 purpose." It was Colonel Davisier de Pontes. I 
 found Morgan, who was coming to fetch me ; but I 
 have not said a word on the subject to him. I have 
 
324 DIAKY OF 
 
 discovered the name of my persecutor ; it was 
 young La Grange, the general's son, a fierce Bour- 
 bonite for the present. I am sorry to add that the 
 Comte de , directeur du Musee, and the suc- 
 cessor to my dear gallant Denon, was of the party. 
 This fashion in France of profiting by the custom 
 dfintriguer at masque balls is replete with cowardice 
 aud malignity, and a disgrace to that social courtesy 
 for which France has always been so remarkable. 
 In the course of the evening Denon led me into the 
 boudoir of Madame Marmont, when we found her 
 seated on a sofa and unmasked, looking very tired. 
 She was very courteous, and regretted that our ap- 
 proaching departure from Paris would deprive her 
 of the pleasure of seeing us again. She was rather 
 Dodu, and quite " assez jolie pour une heritiere." 
 
 From H. Jouy to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Thursday morning. 
 
 My veey deab and illustrious Sistee, 
 
 I possess some influence, or at least some under- 
 standing with the great theatres at Paris, but I am 
 entirely a stranger to those in which they act melo- 
 drama. I have, nevertheless, a channel through 
 which I may be useful to your melodramatic 
 countryman, which is to introduce him to a young 
 
LADY MORGAN. 325 
 
 friend of mine, who superintends the rain and fine 
 weather at the Porte St. Martin. If Mr. Lawrence 
 will take the trouble of calling on me about three 
 o'clock (to-day only excepted), I will give him a 
 note for this associate, which may perhaps assist 
 him. Receive with complaisance the assurance of 
 my respectful attachment, and high consideration 
 for your admirable talents. 
 
 Your sincere admirer, 
 Jouy 
 
 Lady Morgan to Lady Clarke. 
 
 March, 1819. 
 
 My deae Love, 
 
 Youe letters have at last arrived : two of the 
 7th of December, from Colburn, one by Eobinette, 
 and one by post on 2nd of January. From all 
 these I learn that " Florence" is disliked, abused, 
 and cried down ; but whether you or Clarke ever 
 saw or had it, or liked it, I cannot discover, as you 
 never think it worth your while to say. I thought 
 it deserved a little more attention than this from 
 my own people, whatever the world might think ; 
 but, alas ! I never was a prophet in my own family. 
 You allude to some letter of Lord Ay liner's; I 
 know of no letter. I was at Lady Leitrim's one 
 
326 diaey oir 
 
 day j nst as a letter had been received from Lady 
 Charlemont. She said to me, " It is not admiration 
 my sister feels, it is enthusiasm. She says you 
 alone have courage to defend your country," &c, 
 and a thousand other flattering things. The other 
 night Lord Leitrim was here. I told him I had 
 heard Lady Charlemont did not like " Florence." 
 He said, " Don't believe a word of it ; she is enthu- 
 siastic, and told us that even Lord Norbury was 
 pleased and enjoyed it." "We dined with Lord 
 Aylmer's sister, Mrs. Cunningham, yesterday, who 
 not only sent the carriage for us, but made us take 
 it for the evening : she is constantly with us. This 
 would not be the case if her sister were offended. 
 But I wonder you don't see the drift of the per- 
 son who told you this and reported it to me ; for 
 the rest, they are only giving vent to their own 
 malice. If there are such a set of " Crawley" 
 creatures in Dublin that everybody finds an 
 original in their own circle, " then among them 
 be it Blind Harpers ! " * as we say in Ire- 
 land. I owe them nothing, and. with Europe 
 on my side, I am rather indifferent to what is 
 said or thought by a few obscure individuals in the 
 obscurest spot in the world. "Whoever tells you all 
 
 * Characters in "Florence Macarthy," which everybody applied 
 to their neighbour — or enemy, which is generally synonymous. 
 
LADY M0KGAN. 327 
 
 this, does it to vex and mortify you ; you ought 
 not to listen to them, but tell them you are not a 
 fit person to abuse your sister to. A little proper 
 spirit in this way would soon put an end to their 
 malignity. As to the dear English, I have this 
 moment a note of four pages from Mr. Lattin, apol- 
 ogising for the number he had been obliged to in- 
 troduce, and declaring he had refused persons of 
 rank and talent ; and that an English gentleman 
 said to him, " If you dare not introduce me as an 
 Englishman, say I am a Swede, for I speak the 
 language, and she won't find me out." A nephew 
 of Lord "Whitworth's, Mr. Russell, son of Sir H. 
 Russell, got Mrs. Colonel Wyly to write to me to 
 beg I would let him come, and she slips in a Colo- 
 nel Digby into the bargain. Mrs. Macneil (Miss 
 Brownlow) came in with a long face to my last 
 Wednesday soiree, saying she hoped I would not be 
 annoyed, but that Colonel "Wallace, Sir C. Camp- 
 bell, and General would follow her in. There 
 
 is a little knot of equivocal Irish ladies here, of 
 battered reputations, some of whom keep hazard- 
 tables and amuse themselves with writing anony- 
 mous letters, &c. You know what sort of creatures 
 they are, and so that is enough of them. A very in- 
 teresting youth has arrived in Paiis, who has pre- 
 sented us his works in modern Greek, and adds 
 
328 DIAEY OF 
 
 greatly to our circle : he excited some sensation 
 here last Wednesday, when I had a most brilliant 
 set-out. The books presented to us make a com- 
 plete library. But what will Clarke say when he 
 hears that I am a " free and an accepted mason ! " 
 that I have attended a lodge, taken the oath, &c. ! 
 and that I am now "Une soeur d'adoption de la 
 grandc loge ecossaise, belle et bonne, des Jardins 
 d'Eden, cote de l'Orient ; sous les auspices du su- 
 preme conseil du 33 degre, au lit aucien et accepte" 
 tres-puissant." I wish I could send you the printed 
 account of the free masonic fete, at which we were 
 present. After the grand lodge was held for the 
 men, the women were admitted (for all over the 
 Continent the women have free masonic lodges) 
 with the visitors, and those who were to be re- 
 ceived. All the grand dignitaries (peers of France 
 and deputies), with their masonic costume, were 
 present : the Count de Lacepede (the famous natu- 
 ralist), grand master, and the Marquise de Yillette, 
 with her apron, sash, &c. There were two very 
 eloquent orations made, one eulogising the masonic 
 order, and showing its antiquity, beneficence, &c, 
 the other returning thanks to the many celebrated 
 and literary characters who had graced the meet- 
 ing, in the middle of which the orator addressed 
 me as " illustre Anglaise," who alone had had the 
 
LADY MORGAN. 329 
 
 courage to stand up in defence of France in the 
 days of her greatest misfortune, and to give an ex- 
 ample of liberality. At first I did not think they 
 meant me, until they all got up to look at me, and 
 I must say it was rather a painful than a pleasant 
 moment, and I hope no one will ever address me 
 in public again. After this a most interesting 
 scene took place, a commemoration of Voltaire. 
 Near the altar on which his bust was placed, sat 
 Madame de Villette (his adopted daughter) in his 
 own fauteuil, and as the last link between the past 
 and the present age, and the last survivor of Vol- 
 taire's illustrious circle, she was a most interesting 
 object. Mademoiselle Duchenois, the Siddons of 
 France, stood before the bust and recited a very 
 fine ode to his memory, most beautifully and affect- 
 ingly. She then crowned it with the same wreath 
 that Clairon crowned the same bust in 1778, amidst 
 thousands of spectators. The whole concluded 
 with some good music by the singers from the 
 Opera. The masonic temple was splendid ; lined 
 with scarlet cloth, with masonic trophies, &c. We 
 entered under an arch of drawn swords, and during 
 the ceremony we had some musical architecture, 
 which brother Clarke will understand. "We took 
 with us the Baron and Baroness Bonstetten, de- 
 lightful young people, introduced to us by the 
 
330 DIARY OF 
 
 Duchess of Broglie. Do you know a Mr. Hodges, 
 who has been introduced here % I hear he is a 
 brother-in-law of Counsellor Farrell's, your neigh- 
 bour. It is said that in France there is no hospi- 
 tality : we have found it just the reverse. I told 
 you in my last we had nine invitations to dinner. 
 Well, yesterday we dined at Mr. Cunningham's, 
 to-day Mr. Harvey's (Sunday), for Monday we 
 have had three dinner invites, and a ball and con- 
 cert ; one from Sir James Lawrence, the Com- 
 mander of Malta, from Mr. and Mrs. Solly, and 
 from a Mrs. Rawdon. We have accepted Mrs. 
 Solly's, which came first, and go with them after- 
 wards to the concert of Mademoiselle de Munk. 
 It is indeed requisite that I should go out in the even- 
 ing, for I have quite worked myself into headaches 
 and ill health. In the morning I read and extract 
 history five or six hours a day, and am obliged to 
 give a great deal of time to Italian. If I live to 
 accomplish the work I have now in view, I have 
 done with authorship for the rest of my life, for I 
 am quite worn out. Do not say to any one I am 
 going to write on Italy, but to travel for amuse- 
 ment. We shall leave a small trunk in Paris, in 
 M T hich, with other papers, will be deposited a sort 
 of joint will of Morgan's and mine ; our plate 
 and papers, will, &c, are in Latouche's bank. 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 331 
 
 Never give up the key of the closet. Say 
 I have it, and that the birds are with Sir 
 Charles' natural history collection, in a place, 
 safe and warm, chosen by himself. "We have 
 had a packet of letters from Nanny, still at school, 
 in which it seems " she lives for the fine 
 arts." She says she reads Robertson's " Charles 
 the Fifth, " and Johnson's " Poets, " for recre- 
 ation ; recommends the Cartoons of Raphael 
 to our notice, and goes to Westminster Abbey for 
 the sake of the music ! What fun it will be to hear 
 all our eUves playing and singing together ! — I am 
 afraid, they will rather look down upon us. I am 
 delighted the little girls are making such progress 
 in music. If I return to odious Dublin 'tis for their 
 sakes, and they ought to reward me. Has baby got 
 the box of sweetmeats by Mr. Dick? I have sent 
 the poor dears nothing but trash, because I am too 
 poor and the risk is too great to send anything of 
 the least value. I sent Polichinelle to Colburn for 
 baby. I had a handsome ribbon for Molly, but 
 Mr. Barnewell went away without calling. I will 
 try and get Clarke's book translated into French, 
 and have sent to London for it. Morgan's is gone 
 to press ; and the bad translation of " Florence " 
 is selling away, and the good one is not out. Did 
 you see the description of me in the " Courier," and 
 
332 DIARY OF 
 
 the dialogue between me and a Madame de ? 
 
 I need not say this is all an invention of Croker, 
 who is rather angry. Tell Mr. Henry Grattan that 
 the letter he wrote to me from Calais is only, by 
 some- mistake, just arrived ; that I am much flattered 
 by the influence he attributes to me ; that I will use 
 it certainly in his favour with Monsieur Denon, and 
 
 mention to him Mr. G 's wish relative to the 
 
 medals : but at present poor Denon is too ill to be 
 spoken to. Morgan has been attending him this 
 month night and day, and he is so grateful you 
 have no idea. He has just sent him a present of a 
 most beautiful and valuable bronze bust, and given 
 me a collection of his own engravings, with his own 
 picture done in Sevres porcelain. We pay here, 
 for a first floor, precisely what we get for our whole 
 house in Dublin, so that we give the taxes, and the 
 use of our furniture, for nothing. We are obliged 
 to be very economical. I am still in my Dublin 
 tabinette gowns, and have not bought a single gown 
 since I have been in France, but one black one for 
 evening, and I have nothing else. 
 
 S. M. 
 
 Dear Clarke, 
 
 You will see by this letter that Syd has over- 
 worked herself and is nervous. The weather has 
 
LADY MORGAN. 333 
 
 been unfavourable, and she has taken but little ex- 
 ercise, and you know how easily she is upset when 
 that is the case. I think you had better burn this 
 letter. She was annoyed at Livy's account of the 
 Dublin folk, and took it in her head that you and 
 the children would suffer for her sake, and this 
 has put her sadly out of spirits, as you will per- 
 ceive. I am vexed and very angry that Miss 
 
 D worries you. For God's sake keep matters 
 
 there as quiet as possible, for I by no means wish 
 to be recalled for the present. I have not yet 
 been able to obtain any satisfactory answer to 
 your questions. The prussic acid, prepared ac- 
 cording to Scheel's process, is given in doses of 3 j 
 in | iv mixtures, i. e., xv to xx grs. at a time, in 
 the second stage of phthisis, as a calming medicine ; 
 and laurel water in still larger doses in palpitations, 
 with what success I don't know. The prussic acid, 
 in a state of purity, is the most active and instan- 
 taneous poison that exists ; and as it seems only to 
 be used as a substitute for opium, I have no great 
 confidence in it, and should be loth to push its use 
 upon the sole authority of Majendie, who is a dash- 
 ing experimentalist, who kills more dogs than he 
 cures patients. It requires, besides, great accuracy in 
 the preparation, and does not keep. On the whole, 
 I would advise you not to meddle with it till my 
 
334 DIARY OF 
 
 next, when I will endeavour to be more precise. 
 The recent death of Montegre is not only a great 
 loss to us socially, but to me in particular ; all my 
 acquaintance among the doctors are so high up the 
 stick, they have no time to spare to answer inqui 
 ries. Tell Dr. Pentland that I have been disap- 
 pointed of an introduction to Dubois, owing to the 
 sickness of a friend, and that I have been too much 
 occupied to make the necessary researches, but that 
 I hope before I leave Paris to be able to give him 
 some information. Apropos to that, I hope to set 
 out for Italy by the middle of March, when I ex- 
 pect my book will be finished. It has excited here 
 a very favourable notice, and will, I hope, make its 
 way very well at home. The critics seem not to 
 know what to make of it; there is, however, a 
 Cambridge doctor of divinity writing against the 
 system, so I shall have to go to war I suppose. 
 Have you got it for Samuel yet ? I wrote to Col- 
 burn to send it you. Send it to Staunton, and get 
 him to say something of it. Did he ever get the 
 " Philosophy ? " and did he notice it in the " Jour- 
 nal ? " Tell him that French news gets to London 
 by express much sooner than by the post, and on 
 that account I have not put him to the expense of 
 postage. A thousand thanks for your trouble in 
 my money matters. If you want the needful, send 
 
LADY MORGAN. 335 
 
 in the amount of my debt and I will give you an 
 order on Latouche's bank. Will you have the 
 goodness to write in my name to Howling, my land- 
 lord, and tell him that I shall be away longer than 
 I expected, but that if he wishes to have the rent 
 of Kildare Street, you will let me know, and I will 
 make arrangements for his receiving it ? You will 
 get his direction at Latouche's. His name is James 
 Howling, attorney, &c. I beg your pardon for all 
 this trouble. My love to the children, and my re- 
 spectful compliments to the young man in the town 
 below. Tell Livy I hope she is going on with 
 " Werter," which is just in her way, and must suc- 
 ceed. God bless you both ! 
 
 Yours most affectionately, 
 
 C. Morgan. 
 Write soon, in order that we may hear from you 
 before our departure. 
 
 P. S. — Morgan was charmed with Syd's attempt 
 at a printed scrawl, and her notice of him. I would 
 rather see them than all the world beside, God 
 knows. I'll write to Mrs. Bushe soon : a thousand 
 loves to Mrs. Fletcher — cling to such friends ! The 
 Honourable K. Hutchinson sat an hour over the 
 fire with us t'other day, and has been at my 
 Wednesday evenings: he is delightful, she is ex- 
 
336 DIAEY OF 
 
 emplary in her conduct, and received at the hest 
 houses. S. M. 
 
 Lady Morgan to Lady Clarke. 
 
 Paris, March 31, 1819. 
 
 My deaeest Livy, 
 
 Me. Skinnee's nephew, and Captain Skinner's, 
 takes you this, and has promised to give you all the 
 news about us, as he was at my last and final soiree. I 
 begin by answering your last letter received by post. 
 I never got the letter about the soap and candle fever, 
 and your critique on " France." I am charmed it 
 amused you all, delighted beyond all expression that 
 you are all so well and prosperous ; that my dar- 
 lings, whom I love the better the longer I am with- 
 out seeing them, are so healthy and good ; and that 
 all bids fair to our happy reunion. Then us old folk 
 shall dog-trot on together, and enjoy ourselves over 
 again in the young. I not only sent a very pretty 
 box of sweetmeats to baby, containing all the royal 
 family in sugar, several ingenious hon-lons, by Mr. 
 Dick, but two of the prettiest books for the two girls 
 I had yet met in France ; one containing all the 
 little French plays in use here for children, and the 
 other "Anecdotes des Enfants celebres." I know 
 Mr. Dick got them, because I wrote him a letter 
 with them describing what the packet contained, 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 337 
 
 which my servant gave to his ; and as he did not 
 leave Paris for two days after, he would of course 
 have written to me to say no such packet reached 
 him. It is this uncertainty that prevents me send- 
 ing you anything valuable and pretty, to say noth- 
 ing of the reluctance which people show to take 
 anything whatever. I now send a kaleidoscope 
 for your watch, a husband a-piece in sugar for 
 the young ladies, and a wife for young Sir Ar 
 thur ; but, as his worthy uncle is writing to him on 
 the subject, I shall say no more on it. 
 
 My popularity here increases daily ; and, with- 
 out either vanity or affectation, my notoriety is 
 now more a charge and tiresome to me than the 
 profoundest obscurity could possibly have been. I 
 never know the enjoyment of one day, one hour to 
 myself. Strangers of all countries not only write 
 to me to receive them, but actually force the door, 
 dispute the point with my servant, enter my room, 
 and then think they excuse this intrusion by talking 
 to me of my "reputation European." You have 
 no idea how I pant for silence, solitude, and a long 
 journey, which, thank heaven, we are now about to 
 begin. We have been for the last few weeks in a 
 constant round of gaiety and dissipation. We were 
 at a splendid lalpare at the Prince de Beauveau's — 
 above three hundred ; the most brilliant women I 
 15 
 
& 
 
 338 DIAEY OF 
 
 hare yet seen in France, and the freshness and 
 beauty of the dresses indescribable. A few nights 
 afterwards we were at a ial masque at the Mare- 
 chale Duchesse de Ragusa's. She not only sent 
 invitations to ourselves, but, hearing some of my 
 family were with me, sent invitations for the Miss 
 Owensons (taking Mrs. Solly, and another pretty 
 woman who goes out a good deal with me, for my 
 relatives). "We went in black silk domino hoods 
 and masks, — my two beauties as Tyrolese peasants. 
 I was obliged to unmask from the heat, and soon 
 got a crowd about me. Some of the Ultras en- 
 deavoured to intriguer me, as it is called here, that 
 is, to tease ; but many of the Liberals said very 
 fine things to me, and so the account was balanced. 
 The duchess sent Denon to look for me, to place 
 me near her at supper ; but I was gone, overcome 
 with heat and fatigue. As a masquerade, though 
 half the company were unmasked, it was dull, and 
 greatly inferior to our Irish masquerades in point 
 of wit, fun, and humour ; but the splendour of the 
 dressing beggars all idea or powers of description. 
 Many of the women had jewels to the amount of 
 twenty thousand pounds. The Duchess de Frejus, 
 a Spanish grandee (as a Virgin of the Sun), had 
 diamond bracelets on her legs, which were no 
 trifles ; but, as I am going to write to Mrs. Fletcher, 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 339 
 
 I will reserve my descriptive powers. In a free- 
 masons' lodge, the other night, I was introduced to 
 the Persian ambassador, and had a good deal of 
 conversation with him. I am going to pay him a 
 morning visit in form to-morrow. The Patriarch 
 of Jerusalem was also present. Their dresses, 
 beards, &c, &c, were curious among the shaven 
 Frenchmen and women. Since my reception as a 
 freemason, almost all the lodges have invited us 
 round, and given us most splendid entertainments. 
 Saturday last I went to one without Morgan (who 
 was engaged in his own lodge getting a fifth de- 
 gree), accompanied by Mrs. Solly, whom I have 
 made a mason also. "We were left in an anteroom 
 whilst the lodge were informed of our arrival, and 
 were seated over the fire alone, and gossiping, 
 when, to my utter confusion, a deputation was sent 
 to receive me, in grand costume, and an oration, 
 which lasted twenty minutes, was pronounced by a 
 master mason. Of course they expected a flourish- 
 ing answer ; instead of which I was seized with one 
 of my unhappy laughing fits, not a little increased 
 by Mrs. Solly's face of wonder and awe. I was 
 then told I was to be received with acclama- 
 tion, and three rounds of applause; and, with 
 this comfortable assurance, I was led into the 
 masonic hall, amidst two hundred persons, who all 
 
34:0 DIAKY OF 
 
 rose to receive me, crying out, "Honneur! hon- 
 neur!" There were several Irish and English 
 present, who seemed astounded ; among others, a 
 nephew of Mrs. J. Featherston, a Mr. Gray.* Im- 
 agine our astonishment, the other day, when in 
 walked Colonel Belli ! Never was there a happy 
 man in this world before ! He has got a mission 
 to visit some military works on the Continent with 
 a German friend of ours, General Chiffinger. For- 
 tunately I had a number of engagements on my 
 hands, and I took him everywhere with me — the 
 first night to the Marchioness de Villette's, where 
 he heard a delicious concert, Harderman at the 
 harp, Frederick on the horn, Paer at the piano, 
 and all the first artists at Paris ; the next night, to 
 a party at Denon's, where he saw Humboldt and 
 all the learned and literary ; and he concluded 
 with my own soiree, which, as it was known to be 
 my last, was so crowded, that they not only stood 
 in the anteroom, but on the stairs. Madame Gael, 
 the famous composer of " Pescator del ondi," and 
 many operas, sang for me — a great treat ! as did a 
 little Russian princess from the shores of the Black 
 Sea ; and, to add to my congres, I had the Prince 
 (or hospodar) of Moldavia, a Greek chief, in such a 
 dress ! He was attended by one of his gentlemen, 
 
 * Brother-in-law to Dr. Ilowley, Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 341 
 
 a Greek also. When lie came in he took off a 
 beautiful ermine mantle, which Morgan, on taking 
 from him, discovered to be of white and gold tissue. 
 I never saw such a beau, though he has his head 
 shaved, and a beard as black as jet down to his 
 middle. He admired the beauty of my English- 
 women greatly. Lady Leitrim and Lady M. Clem- 
 ents, with about a dozen very pretty English and 
 Irish women, were present. I introduced him to 
 Denon, Constant, Langlois, and all the learned; 
 for he speaks French beautifully. He (the hos- 
 podar) is a sensible, agreeable man, remarkably 
 handsome, and a good dash of the coxcomb. 
 Belli pretends he cannot speak a word of English. 
 When he met Lady Leitrim for the first time at 
 my house, he went up and made her a speech in 
 French. She laughed amazingly, and we both 
 agreed his head was turned. When he came to 
 take leave of us he was quite affected. He said he 
 was going to travel, to make himself more worthy 
 of me. Of the many persons, Irish and English, 
 whom I have pushed on in society, he is the first 
 that ever testified the least gratitude, and he by far 
 overrates the little I have done or could do for him. 
 He is an excellent and delightful creature. Ma- 
 dame Gael made a concert expressly for me last 
 night, and we had the pick and choice singers of 
 
342 DIAKY OF 
 
 the two great operas. I never heard finer music. 
 Ponchard (the hero d'opera here) and three more 
 sang a Swiss glee, which would set you mad. It is 
 not yet published. We have bought a good, com- 
 fortable travelling carriage, a German berline (ba- 
 rouche). It was absolutely necessary for Italy and 
 crossing the Alps. For every town we shall pass 
 through we have not only letters of introduction, 
 but persons of the first rank have written to our 
 Italian friends here, to say they are waiting to re- 
 ceive us, and do the honours by us. Apropos 
 oVItaliens. About the latter end of July, two very 
 distinguished Italians will present themselves at 
 your door. They have letters from me, from Lord 
 and Lady Leitrim, and many others, for Ireland ; 
 for they are going to make a tour of Great Britain, 
 for the purpose of introducing English improve- 
 ments on their Italian estates. They are both 
 young, noble, rich, handsome, and accomplished. 
 The elder, the Marquis Capponi, is a Florentine 
 nobleman ; and the Palace Capponi is among the 
 sights at Florence. If all the women don't fall in 
 love with him there is no longer any susceptibility 
 in the sex to Brutus' heads and brilliant eyes. He 
 has been amazingly run after here, and is not only 
 a delightful creature, but one of those droll dogs 
 and playful persons that we used to like, when we 
 
LADY MORGAN. 343 
 
 did like anything — alas ! now some time back. 
 The Count di Velo is a grand seigneur di Vi- 
 cenza — a Venetian — quite a boy in his gay and 
 pleasant manners. They are both great friends of 
 ours, and have been particularly kind to us in 
 giving letters for Italy, &c, &c. They will only 
 stay a few days in Dublin, on their way to Killar- 
 ney. Will you give them either a breakfast or a 
 little party ? and will Clarke tell them what they 
 ought to see ? I have given them letters for Mr. 
 Bushe and Mr. H. Rowan. They have letters for 
 Lord Charlemont, from Lady Leitrim, and for Lord 
 Cloncurry from me. They already know the young 
 ladies, and I dare say we shall one day be paying 
 a visit to Sydney, Marchioness of Capponi, and 
 Josey, Countess di Yelo ! I am afraid I must also 
 trouble you with a very amiable Pole — who wears 
 one handsome ear-ring — a Count Borewski. If you 
 give him a breakfast you will do all that is ex- 
 pected, and I think they will all amuse you. They 
 all speak French perfectly, and begin to speak " a 
 leetel Englis," but will be adepts before they reach 
 Dublin. I am sorry to disturb your classes, but I 
 cannot help it : they are all so civil, and are so 
 anxious to see a sister of mine ; for, truth to tell, I 
 am a favourite with them of no small importance. 
 I send you some of our freemasons' papers, and an 
 
344 DIAET OF 
 
 account of our lodge, with the oration to me in it. 
 You may make use of it if you like. As to poli- 
 tics, the Ultras are beaten in every election. Sev- 
 eral of my liberal "Wednesday-evening guests have 
 been made peers, and our friend Benjamin Con- 
 stant is elected Member of the House of Commons. 
 The good cause is gaining ground with immense 
 strides. We are only detained here by our two 
 translations, which appear next week. We shall 
 leave this on the 4th. Our first stop will be at 
 Turin, where we shall only remain a few days. So 
 do not be uneasy if you do not hear from us till we 
 reach Milan. I shall write to Mrs. Fletcher, to 
 whom I have long owed a letter, the day before I 
 leave Paris, and you will have our address in her 
 letter. Did you get a letter, sent under cover to 
 Mr. Crew, for fun, a fortnight back? Henry is 
 well, and making immense strides in his education, 
 if reports be true. The way to get the children 
 to speak French is to make them write down sen- 
 tences. 
 
 You are quite right to cultivate friends. I met 
 a son of Mr. H. Hutchinson's at Madame de 
 Yillette's concert. Sir Charles had a good deal of 
 conversation with him, and liked him much. God 
 bless you all, and kisses to all the darlings ! Pray 
 take care of all my freemason papers. We were 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 345 
 
 very civil to Dalton, and think he might have gone 
 to see you. 
 
 Eemember me particularly to Mrs. H. Bushe. 
 If she does not make Capponi in love with her, she 
 is not the woman I took her for. Love to Ma- 
 carthys and Doyles, and say something civil to Mr. 
 H. Rowan, if you see him. 
 
 S. M. 
 
 Rue des Saussaye, No. 13 
 M. de Constant presents his best compliments 
 to Lady Morgan, and will be extremely obliged to 
 her ladyship, if she will be so kind as to let him 
 know where the ball of this evening, to which Ma- 
 dame Constant was together with Lady Morgan, 
 invited last Tuesday at the Freemasons' Assembly 
 at Madame de Villette's, is to take place. If this 
 note should not find Lady Morgan at home, a line 
 of answer would be a great kindness. 
 
 Diary. — "We have bought a delightful travelling 
 carriage, a berline, to perform our venturous 
 journey in. It is German built, and is furnished 
 with a cupboard, which we are advised to store 
 with " the eatables and the drinkables," for the 
 15* 
 
346 DIABT OF 
 
 state of the roads, and the misery of the inns, when 
 once we leave France, are represented as most 
 desperate ! 
 
 Diary. — April 3, 1819. — I have just received a 
 little note from Humboldt, to say that he and 
 Denon will be des notres at ten o'clock this evening, 
 to give us their parting benedictions, and some 
 little renseignements besides, not forgetting St. 
 Peter's chair! 
 
 I can well understand Queen Mary's feelings in 
 pronouncing " adieu, belle France ! " and so adieu, 
 chere Paris ! 
 
 To have Humboldt and Denon with us the night 
 before our departure for Italy is de ion augure. 
 
 I undertake this awful journey with fear, if not 
 with misgivings. We are neither of us well, and 
 may never see again those who made life precious 
 to us! 
 
 Geneva. — Hotel de Balance, 1819. — I am al- 
 ways astonished to find myself in a place where I 
 never was before, and when I write " Geneva " at 
 the top of my pager's n'en reviens _pas. It is a new 
 impression, very new indeed, as I have no antece- 
 dents or interest about the city of Calvin and the 
 
LADY MOKGAIT. 347 
 
 " Caverne de ions gens " of Lord Byron. The first 
 new impression of this stern, stone town is striking, 
 not imposing. The tall stiff edifices of many stories, 
 grim and gray, and yet which, oh, sacrilege of sen- 
 timent ! are built from the Eock of la Meilleraye ; 
 the narrow, steep, ill-paved streets with their echap- 
 pes gleaming here and there above "the blue 
 waters of the ai'rowy Rhone," and the white peaks 
 of the snowy Jura ; the black cathedral with its 
 spires lost in the clouds, and eight hundred years 
 upon its venerable head ; the pavements once 
 stained by the blood of the first reformers, who pre- 
 ceded Calvin and made head against the strong- 
 hold of Catholicism, as written in " Les Actes et 
 Gestes merveilleux de la cite de Geneve, nouvelle- 
 ment convertis a, l'Evangile," etc., par Antoine 
 Froment et Nicholas Farel, two young French 
 preux, in the cause of Reformation, and, above all, 
 the ancient title of Republic, give it an interest and 
 dignity not always allowed to it, and strongly 
 contrast with the fantastic and historical Paris I 
 have left, that city of pleasant memoires ! I really 
 could, although unused " to the melting mood," 
 drop a tear over the memory of these young 
 reformers, who had not " taken the tide at the ebb 
 leading on to fortune." Nevertheless they opened 
 a highway in the desert of opinion to the spiritual 
 
348 DIAET OF 
 
 despotism of the cooper's son, Lucien Chavin, (dig- 
 nified by its Latin translation into Calvinus,) long 
 before he had lighted the fagots that reduced to 
 ashes the brave and bold Servetus, whose moral 
 courage in denying what he did not believe, at the 
 risk of torture and a fiery death, was a grand sac- 
 rifice to truth, of which man is scarcely worthy. 
 So glory be to Frornent and Farel, for whom the 
 women fought nobly in the streets of Geneva, 
 whilst the men cried, " a haute voix, confinement, 
 ' Au Rhone ! au Rhone ! Tue, tue les Lutheriens !' " 
 But at this rate we shall never get on. 
 
 Well, here pitch we our tent to-day — but where 
 to-morrow ? oela depend. 
 
 Here we are, established at the Hotel de Bal- 
 ance, which, from its coarse, uncomfortable appear- 
 ance, may have been, in the sixteenth century, the 
 " Hostel Tour de Perce," where the good Froment 
 took up his first lodging in Geneva. Still with all 
 its deficiencies, this old inn, where every room has 
 its bed, and no salon to be had for love or money, 
 has an interest for us. The more showy hotel, the 
 " Secheron," where Byron and Shelley first met 
 together, would not have suited us so well. We are 
 in the very rooms occupied by Madame de Stael 
 on her occasional visits to Geneva from Copet, and 
 in which she held her bureaux d'esprit, and, above 
 
LADY MORGAN. 349 
 
 all, where she celebrated her gestes de coguetterie 
 with the handsome young De Rocca, her future 
 husband. 
 
 Diary, April. — "We have had lots of visitors, 
 who " came like shadows," but who " did not so 
 depart ; " for their names, as they were announced, 
 realised many a pleasant dream and hope, that, 
 " posters of the sea and land " as we are, we might 
 possibly meet them in the course of our travels. 
 To begin, there have been Bonstetten, Dnmont, 
 Pictet, the Keekers, and Sismondi, to call on us. 
 Sismondi was introduced to us in Paris by Denon. 
 I remember Denon came limping up to me at the 
 English embassy, and on my asking him what was 
 the matter, he replied, " Sismondi, qui m'a ecras6 
 le pied avec ses dix-huit volumes." There was a 
 little malignity in this. Denon, who wrote in epi- 
 grams, was possibly a little jealous of the historian, 
 whose " dix-huit volumes " were then running their 
 course and dispensing knowledge over all Europe. 
 We improved our acquaintance begun in Paris ; he 
 was simple, gay, and, in short, bon compagnon.. 
 The Baron Bonstetten overwhelms us with hospi- 
 tality and kindness, for he has invited us to dine 
 with him every day while we stay here. He is an 
 old darling, fresh, frisky, and full of agreeable con- 
 
350 TIT A T?.Y OF 
 
 versation. Figurez-vous, he was a correspondent 
 of the poet Gray, so I preserve one of his notes to 
 me, though it is only the offer of his company and 
 char-a-banc for a drive.* 
 
 From Baron de Bonstettsn to Lady Morgan. 
 
 Wednesday, April, 1819. 
 
 As the heavens have moderated, I propose, my 
 
 lady, to pay you a visit about one o'clock in my 
 
 open carriage, and we will go and look at the fields 
 
 to give you an inclination to come and see us. I 
 
 love Geneva still more since I see you are esteemed 
 
 there. They are not too hospitable there to les 
 
 heureux, and you see how they treat you there, 
 
 after my own heart. 
 
 De Bonstettest. 
 
 He is one of the great notables here, and author 
 of many learned as well as pleasant works. His 
 " Eecherches sur la Nature et les Lois de 1' Im- 
 agination," is in great repute among the metaphy- 
 sicians of Paris. At home he is a grand homme de 
 province, for here are his worldly titles of distinc- 
 tion : Ancien Baillif de Nyort, de l'Academie 
 
 * Byron says of him — " I have met at Copet and elsewhere, Gray's 
 correspondent, the Baron Bonstetten. He is a fine, lively old man, and 
 much esteemed for his correspondence. He is of good report, and 
 everybody insists on addressing volumes of letters to him. He is a 
 good deal at Copct. I send you a facsimile of his writing. 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 351 
 
 Eoyale des Sciences de Copenhague et de la So- 
 ciet6 de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle a Geneve. 
 One of his titles, however, to our consideration at 
 present, is that he understands giving a good dinner 
 " car le veritable grand genie est celui l'on dine " 
 (bien) ! 
 
 Diwry. — Dined yesterday at our dear Baron's ; 
 company — Professor de Candolle, the great botanist, 
 simple and clever ; Monsieur Rossi, who left us 
 early, and whom I did not like, but " the reason 
 why I cannot tell ; " a sort of Italian exile, but for 
 what cause no one seems to know ; he is, however, 
 our host tells us, the coqueluchon of all the precieuses 
 of Geneva (no sinecure) ; Pictet, who holds a high 
 position here, intellectual and industrial ; and, best 
 of all, Dumont, who speaks English with the accent 
 of Lansdowne House, where he was long resident 
 preceptor of Lord Henry Petty, and French as one 
 who frequented the circle of Mirabeau, many of 
 whose speeches he is said to have written. He is 
 only lately arrived from England. We had some 
 dowager savantes to tea, who dealt largely in the 
 preterpluperfect and subjunctive moods. When 
 they, and all but ourselves and a few choice spirits, 
 had retreated, we fell into discourse on Madame de 
 Stael and her clique at Copet, including Lord Byron. 
 
352 DIAET OF 
 
 Bonstetteu mentioned instances of her want of tact 
 and her great naivete, which were extraordinary. 
 Eloquent as she was when she had a clear stage 
 (and she generally made one for herself), in desul- 
 tory conversation she said the strangest things. 
 " I was present that day," said he, " when, across a 
 crowded dinner table at Oopet, she asked Lord 
 Byron whether he was not the original of Lady C. 
 Lamb's portrait of Glenarvon. He answered coolly, 
 ' C'est possible, Madame, mais je n'ai jamais pose.' 
 She put a still more delicate question to him, by 
 touching on his liaison with the person who was 
 afterwards the mother of Allegra, and asking about 
 her native country, a subject of endless cancans 
 here. 
 
 " And who was the mother ? " asked Dumont. 
 " There was a hint," said the baron, " that a lady 
 who stopped at the ' Secheron ' had a philosophical 
 desire to make the noble poet's acquaintance ; she 
 succeeded, but was suspected in consequence of a 
 virtu de moins. But the mother of Allegra really 
 was, I believe, a young person in the suite of the 
 Shelley s, though no relation of theirs. She be- 
 longed to nobody, and the amiable Mrs. Shelley 
 had offered her a home, when she had scarcely one 
 for herself; but she gave her at least what she 
 could — her protection." 
 
LADY MORGAN. 353 
 
 " As to Byron," said Morgan, who was always 
 up in arms for Byron, " rebellion lay in his way, 
 and he found it." 
 
 " So much for the philosophy of morals, or the 
 ' Morals of Philosophy,' " said I, taking up the book, 
 which was lying on the table. The conversation 
 then turned on Mirabeau. 
 
 Diary, April, 1819. — Another dinner to-day at 
 the Hotel Bonstetten. It is the perfection of con- 
 versational enjoyment — light, though literary ; de- 
 sultory, but always interspersed with just enough 
 of personal anecdote and animadversion to render 
 it piquant — for I fear there is a trifle of amiable 
 malignity in our imperfect composition, which is 
 not displeased with the relation of the faults or fol- 
 lies even of our friends. La Bochefoucault even 
 goes further, and says there is something in " les 
 malheurs de nos meilleurs amis qui ne nous deplait 
 pas ; " and the subjects of our discussion, charming 
 as they were, lent themselves not a little to this in- 
 nate tendency of our nature. 
 
 The baron's silhouette of the Lady of Copet, 
 though it stopped short of the earicata, and still 
 more of the caricatura, was certainly very amusing. 
 " Yanity and good-nature," he said " prompted her 
 to ' se meler de tout,' even to the undertaking the 
 
354 DIAKT OF 
 
 reconciliation of Lord and Lady Byron, when both 
 parties would have been most averse to the success 
 of her attempt. I read her letter addressed to Lady 
 Byron. It was most eloquent, as she intended it to 
 be ; but it answered no purpose, I believe, beyond 
 displaying this power, which I once saw her exer- 
 cise upon her coachman, who had overturned her 
 into a ditch ! "When he appeared before her next 
 morning, she asked him solemnly, ' Are you aware 
 of the importance of the life you endangered V The 
 man, with much simplicity, answered that he was 
 not : but she continued her peroration all the same. 
 Oorinna never did better ; the man retired, satisfied 
 at not losing his place, but unconvinced of his error, 
 protesting it was an accident, and arising from no 
 want of skill. 
 
 Bonstetten was with her when she first saw 
 Bocca, and when he made his first impression, which 
 ended in their marriage. " Talma," said he, " had 
 arrived at Lyons to play a few nights at the 
 theatre. Madame de Stael proposed that a party 
 of us should fill a chcw-d-banc, and go and see his 
 first representation. We had scarcely seated our- 
 selves in our box when a strikingly handsome young 
 man appeared in the one adjoining. His fine head 
 immediately caught the attention of Madame de 
 Stael. Germanicus pleaded in vain — Talma was 
 
LADY M0KGA2T. 355 
 
 forgotten. At the end of the first act, having found 
 out that he was a M. Eocca, well known and much 
 considered at Geneva, she sent me to offer him a 
 place in our Loge. ' Le coup flit parti ! ' She 
 turned her back on the stage, and talked to him all 
 the rest of the evening. 
 
 C'6tait V6nus toute entifere a sa proie attachde. 
 
 And Byron, who often afterwards met him at Copet, 
 fostered her prepossession by his own liking and ad- 
 miration of the young artist. After their marriage 
 they romoved to Paris, where they both fell into that 
 state of ill health from which neither ever perfectly 
 recovered." 
 
 I mentioned an anecdote of an English friend of 
 mine going to pay them a visit, and finding them at 
 a dinner of invalid dishes, in vain pressing each 
 other to eat. " It was Death and the LSdy," said 
 he. They were both looking worn and depressed 
 in spirits ; but on the Due de Eichelieu being an- 
 nounced, Madame de Stael flushed up, and recov- 
 ered somewhat of her wonted energy. A duke, 
 and 6uch a duke, was to her a potent elixir. 
 
 Dumont, whose manner is the most charming 
 imaginable, did not lead the conversation to Mir- 
 abeau, though he responded freely to our inquiries 
 on a subject on which he was, of all persons, most 
 
356 DIAET OF 
 
 competent to afford information. He gave some 
 admirable touches relative to that great genius, who 
 had profited so largely by his friend's superior judg- 
 ment, as also did Bentham. Perhaps never were 
 two men so opposite in their qualities brought into 
 such close juxtaposition by the presiding judgment 
 of one differing from both, and who yet translated 
 their crude effusions even to themselves, and may 
 be said to have edited them both. Mirabeau, the 
 Demosthenes of the Revolution, was a man of great 
 power and few sympathies. His greatest faculty 
 was his ready adaptation of the ideas of others, and 
 making them his own through the aid of his brilliant 
 eloquence, surpassing that of all his contemporaries. 
 Never in earnest but when his own ambition was 
 concerned, without principle, but with a kindling 
 enthusiasm' which served the purposes of his oratory, 
 he somethnes touched on the very verge of mean- 
 ness, and, though careless of money, was unscrupu- 
 lous as to the means by which he obtained it. The 
 Catiline of modern times — ■" alieni appetens, sui 
 profusus ! " He was the last rejeton of the bold bad 
 race which he represented, in his prodigious physi- 
 cal force and moral delinquency — a type of the 
 noble freebooters of the feudal ages, who founded 
 the nobility of Europe, even though 
 
 .... "Their blood 
 Had crept through scoundrels ever since the flood." 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 357 
 
 It was a remarkable thing that Mirabeau stood 
 more in awe of La Fayette than of any other human 
 power during his own struggle for supremacy. He 
 used to say he always saw before his eyes " La Fay- 
 ette dictateur." He feared his great moral qualities, 
 as La Fayette feared the influence of Mirabeau's bril- 
 liant demoralisation. At one of his earliest confer- 
 ences with La Fayette, the latter declared that they 
 must renounce all projects of persecution against 
 the Queen, if they wished to preserve any relations 
 with him (La Fayette). " Eh bien ! general," an- 
 swered Mirabeau, with his jaunty air, "puisque 
 vous le voulez, qn'elle vive ! Une reine humiliee 
 peut etre utile, mais une reine egorgee n'est bonne 
 qu'a, faire composer une mauvaise tragedie a ce 
 pauvre Guibert." * This mot was one of the many 
 in which Mirabeau took pains to appear worse 
 than he was. It was quoted by the Queen herself 
 to La Fayette some months after, to his astonish- 
 ment. It did not prevent the union of Mirabeau 
 with the royalist party at a later period, when he 
 himself stipulated for the interests of the Queen in 
 the presence of La Fayette. 
 
 Sismondi spoke but little, but what he said was 
 
 * Le Comte de Guibert, the celebrated but faithless lover of Made- 
 moiselle de l'Espinasse, was author of several bad tragedies and of 
 some good works on military strategy. 
 
358 DIABY OF 
 
 always to the purpose ; and an attempt made by 
 Dumont to mystify him on the subject of his waltz- 
 ing with the Princess of "Wales at Naples, he 
 played off well and good-humouredly. Par po- 
 litesse, the conversation turned upon his admirable 
 " History of France." " It has but one fault, mon 
 cher," said Dumont, " it is too truthful, and the 
 French never tolerate a historian who is not their 
 eulogist. They like the man ' qui fait son histoire,' 
 and not him who records." I could not help tell- 
 ing him that I wished he had been less faithful on 
 one point— his discovery and publication of the 
 original letter of Francis I., after the Battle of 
 Pavia, which had destroyed the effect of his sup- 
 posed terse note to his mother, " Madame, tout est 
 perdu fors l'honneur !" The letter, as he gives it 
 at length, is feeble and commonplace, and winds 
 up thus : " Enfin, Madame, tout est perdu fors 
 l'honneur et la vie." 
 
 When we adjourned to the salon we found there 
 a most agreeable lady, whom I took for the pleas - 
 antest of all pleasant things, a pleasant Frenchwo- 
 man ; but she was a Genevese, Madame Revilliod,* 
 
 * 1858. — I received a few months back two very curious and in- 
 teresting works revised and published in all the old forms of Genevese 
 typography, of the year of grace, 1532. One called " Les Actes et 
 Gestes, merueillenx de la Cite de Geneue nouellement Conuertie a 
 l'Evangile, by Antoine Froment," and the other "Avis et devis de la 
 
LADY MORGAN. 359 
 
 a lady of high descent, a qualification, of which the 
 Kepublicans have the highest appreciation. Ma- 
 dame Necker,* the claqueur of her cousin, Madame 
 de Stael, of whom she talks incessantly, and her 
 husband, who would talk too if he were allowed, 
 but she always cuts him short with " Attendez 
 done, mon ami," came in shortly after. Eossif 
 also dropped in, but, I know not how it is, his 
 presence always casts a chill over tbe social circle. 
 There is something louche about him, which does 
 not accord with the abandon of careless, intimate 
 intercourse. *. 
 
 Morgan, as usual, got into a corner with Mon- 
 sieur Pictet, the head of the haute classe industri- 
 elle here. He (Morgan) has already made a, precis 
 
 Source de l'ldolatrie et Tyrannie Papale," par Francois Bonivard, both 
 " mis en lumiere " by Gustave Eevilliod, the grandson of the accom- 
 plished lady mentioned above, and all sent to me by the author. 
 Whilst writing this note I received, by a melancholy coincidence, an 
 " a faire part " of the death of this accomplished gentleman, from the 
 members of his family. 
 
 * Since this was written, Madame Necker has come out as an author 
 of note (in Geneva). Her apecialiti is education, but as her dogma is 
 "toute est education dans la vie humaine;" there is no more to be 
 said. Shakspeare educated in a tailor's shop, or Voltaire bound ap- 
 prentice to a shoemaker, however well educated in their trades, would 
 probably have done no credit to their preceptors of the shears and the 
 lapstone. Nature very early in human life announces her intentions, 
 " et chassez la Nature, elle revient au galop."— 1858. 
 
 + This unfortunate gentleman was assassinated at Rome— almost 
 the only crime that stained the Italian Revolution of 1848, and gene- 
 rally attributed to private vengeance. 
 
360 DIARY OF 
 
 of the statistics of Geneva that is quite wonderful. 
 How strongly and finely opposed is his clear Anglo- 
 Saxon intellect and profound reflection, to my 
 flimsy, fussy, flirty, Celtic temperament, by cour- 
 tesy called Mind ; which gives me the title among 
 my dear compatriots of being such a "talented 
 creature."* 
 
 Diary, April, 1819. — This morning we paid our 
 business visit to M. Bautte, with the intention of 
 purchasing a watch. The baron was to pick us up 
 in his char-d-ianc to take us on an excursion. It 
 happens that this great diamond merchant lives 
 next door to our hotel. We straggled into a most 
 uncouth building, crossing a flagged hall to ascend 
 a rude stone staircase, and so to an open door giv- 
 ing us ingress to a sort of anteroom. "Within this 
 was the room containing the mines of Golconda. 
 It was surrounded with counters, enclosing, in their 
 glass cases, jewels and trinkets of all descriptions. 
 Caskets of gold and coffers of mother-of-pearl, 
 
 * Dr. Southey, in the "Doctor," written so many years later, al- 
 ludes in a lively manner to this contrast between the intellectual quali- 
 fications of myself and my husband ; but I have had more than justice 
 done to me by the public, and he far less, because " il dSvan^ait son 
 siecle." To write up to your own age, and not beyond it, is a great 
 piece of luck. But every one writes as he can, for who can " preach a 
 pulse to reason," the rebellious mechanical thing ! 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 361 
 
 studded with rubies and filled with bijouterie to 
 stock a hareem or corrupt a ministry. 
 
 Behind the principal counter stood a grave and 
 very gentlemanlike personage, listening, with polite 
 indifference, to the observations of a group of 
 pretty, elegantly-dressed Englishwomen, one of 
 whom he addressed as your Grace. The clerk, who 
 came forward on our entrance, took him our cards 
 as presented by Baron Bonstetten, when, to our 
 surprise, leaving the Lady Rodolpha Lumbercourt 
 and her august mother to the mercies of a clerk, 
 he hurried to us, and with infinite courtesy handed 
 us chairs, and sat down himself, saying, that before 
 he began to talk business he must thank me for 
 the pleasure he had had in reading my " France." 
 A very agreeable conversation ensued, which was 
 interrupted by the entrance of a most picturesque 
 and splendid-looking stranger in Greek costume 
 M. Bautte introduced him at once as the Prince 
 Mavrocordato, who, like the jeweller, did us the 
 honour to recognise us in our professional capacity. 
 He spoke French very well, and Italian with flu- 
 ency. He said he had to thank me, as a Greek, 
 for " Ida of Athens," and many other civil things 
 which I shall omit on this occasion only : for I have 
 no intention of sparing myself in general any op- 
 portunities of doing the honours by myself ! Be- 
 16 
 
362 DIARY OF 
 
 fore our council broke up, Bautte had engaged my 
 husband and myself to meet, at dinner next day, 
 the Hospodar of Moldavia and the Prince Mavro- 
 cordato, his friend and secretary.* We gladly ac- 
 cepted the attractive invitation. 
 
 Diary. — This morning M. Bautte's handsome 
 carriage called to convey us to his villa situated in 
 one of the most beautiful spots in this beautiful 
 neighbourhood. But what was scenery to us com- 
 pared to the persons who peopled it with forms be- 
 longing more fitly to the Mille et JJne Nuits ! 
 
 The Hospodar's party occupied two open car- 
 riages ; the Albanian servants swinging behind in 
 costumes that would have made the fortune of the 
 Bal de l'Opera. The occupants within made two 
 splendid groups. In the first, the Hospodar and 
 the princesses — his wife and daughter — and two 
 beautiful children ; in the second, two veiled 
 ladies, with the Prince Constantine, his son, and 
 the Prince Mavrocordato ; all in their national 
 dresses, glittering in the sun with gold and jewels; 
 and the personal beauty of all, especially of the 
 men, was most striking. "We were presented in 
 
 * Byron in his Journal says of him, " Mavrocordato is worthy of 
 the best times of Greece. Patriotism and virtue are not yet quite ex- 
 tinct." 
 
LADY MOKGAN. 363 
 
 due form, and received with graceful courtesy — 
 the prince and his son speaking French and Ital- 
 ian, the ladies nothing but Greek. Dr. Johnson 
 was not more astounded at the French of the little 
 children in France than we were to hear the young 
 Hellenists lisping their vulgar tongue. The ladies 
 placed themselves as if they squatted on the sofas, 
 and during all the day, at table and elsewhere, 
 they retained their Albanian attendants, with 
 whom the children seemed to keep up a great deal 
 of fun. The entertainment was adapted to the 
 guests, and was both sumptuous and elegant, and 
 the scene and circumstances recalled to our minds 
 the meeting of Prince Ali Ebn Becar with his 
 adored Schemselnasar, the favourite of the Sultan. 
 Before the evening ended, we had got into so easy 
 an intimacy with our illustrious convives, as to un- 
 dertake to bespeak horses for their carriages, from 
 Geneva to.Susa, on the sunny side of the Alps, 
 where we gave each other rendezvous for a few 
 days later. 
 
 But what brought these illustrious oriental po- 
 tentates to Geneva, the cold and the formal ? Here 
 is their story. The Prince Caradja was a victim 
 of the recent intrigues of the Ottoman Court, and 
 was dashed from the summit of imperial favour by 
 one of those coups de foudre which despotism in 
 
364 DIAKY OF 
 
 all climes and ages lias been prone to wield. He 
 was ordered to quit his pachalic by the very short- 
 est process — the bowstring. The officers had al- 
 ready arrived within sight of his castle, when ar- 
 rangements were made for their reception which 
 saved his head at the expense of theirs. His peo- 
 ple surrounded and put to death the messengers 
 of his doom, while the Hospodar fled with his 
 family to the frontiers, and proceeded to Geneva, 
 where much of the wealth he had accumulated 
 was already in the hands of M. Bautte, in the 
 shape of jewels. Some had been sent to this cele- 
 brated jeweller to be embodied in a magnificent 
 piece of bijouterie, intended for a present to his 
 capricious Sultan. His great alarm on first arriving 
 was lest this imperial gift should have been al- 
 ready despatched to Constantinople. 
 
 From her Excellency Madame Triconpi to Laiy Morgan. 
 Portland Place, January 1, 1857. 
 My Lady, 
 
 Prince James Cakadja,* with whom you were 
 acquainted in Italy, was Hospodar of Wallachia. 
 
 * Having the honour of knowing her Excellency the lady of the 
 present Greek minister at the Court of London, I wrote to beg of her 
 to write to me the names accurately of my distinguished acquaintance 
 the family of the Prince Caradja. Madame Tricoupi is the sister of the 
 celebrated Mavrocordato mentioned here, whose society we frequently 
 enjoyed during our residence in Italy. 
 
LADY MOBGAN. 365 
 
 In his flight from that principality, he was accom- 
 panied by the Princess Helena, his wife; the 
 Princess Rallon, his daughter; the Prince Con- 
 stantine, his son; the Baron Argyropoulo, his 
 son-in-law ; the Postelaine Mavrocordato, the Aga 
 Vlangali, and a small number of servants. 
 
 Sophia Teicotjpi. 
 
 From Lady Morgan to Lady Clarke. 
 
 Geneva, April 30th, 1819. 
 
 I think I see you open your big eyes when you 
 open this letter, and I suppose that I am about to 
 realise the old story of Constantinople. I scarcely 
 believe myself that I am writing to you from the 
 Lake of Geneva ; and now, to tell you how I got 
 here. "We left Paris with infinite regret, for the 
 kindness and attention of all our friends seemed to 
 redouble at the moment of our departure. We set 
 off, however, under good auspices, for Humboldt 
 and Denon sat with us till two in the morning, and 
 we were off at six. We were five mortal days 
 going to Lyons, though we went as fast as French 
 post-horses and a light carriage could take us. The 
 three first days were through a most dreary country, 
 for vineyards and corn-fields at this season are by 
 no means amusing, the vine-grounds being nothing 
 
366 DIAJJY OF 
 
 but black earth and dry sticks until the middle of 
 summer. The eternal plains of Burgundy (Lower) 
 are literally the plains of Tipperary, which they 
 resemble ; and dreary villages and bad inns render 
 the scene truly Irish ; add to this, the cold was 
 excessive, and the rain, thunder, and lightning in- 
 cessant ; such lightning, too, as would have done 
 your heart good — white as snow, quite in a new 
 genre. From the third day, however, to our arrival 
 at the ancient and curious city of Autun, all cleared 
 up. It was a succession of novel and beautiful 
 scenery, particularly in the Beaujolois and the 
 neighbourhood of Macon. On a Sunday morning 
 on the summit of the hill that commands the most 
 beautiful scenery that can be imagined we met two 
 peasant girls, that might have been angels dropped 
 from heaven, for all we knew to the contrary, for 
 they were the prettiest and the oddest-looking 
 creatures I ever saw. Imagine a costume com- 
 posed of a black dress, trimmed curiously with 
 scarlet velvet, a stomacher of velvet, embroidered 
 in gold and silver, a scarlet apron, a high lace frill 
 around the neck, the hair plaited back with three 
 rows of black ribbon tied in large bunches under 
 the ears, a sort of little fly cap at the very back of 
 the head, and a silk hat about the size of a break- 
 fast-plate on the very point of the cap. Our sur- 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 367 
 
 prise ceased sooner than our admiration, for we 
 found, as we advanced in the country, the whole 
 female population of the Beaulojois in the same 
 costume. 
 
 It was late at night when we arrived at Lyons, 
 and as this most singular town slopes down from the 
 mountains to the banks of the Ehone and Saone, as 
 it is scarcely lighted, we felt as if we were driving 
 into some old city composed of prisons and for- 
 tresses ; the street only admitted in some places the 
 carriage to pass through ; and what with the sense 
 of our loneliness, so far from home, exhaustion and 
 fatigue, I felt rather depressed when we drove up 
 to a great gloomy building which the postilion told 
 us was the hotel. Morgan stayed to take care ot 
 the baggage, and I followed the porter, who led the 
 way, with a miserable candle, up immense stone 
 stairs and across an open corridor, at the end of which 
 he showed me just such an apartment as is de- 
 scribed in the castle of Udolpho. It was too im- 
 mense to be more than guessed at, and cold and 
 dark beyond all endurance. I begged for some 
 corner, anything that was small, within hearing of 
 the inhabitants of the house, if there were any, and 
 not separated from the main building by this gal- 
 lery ; and so I was conducted to a smaller room in 
 the interior of the building, which small apartment 
 
368 DIAEY OF 
 
 was about the size of your house and mine together. 
 I went to bed most depressed, and in admiration of 
 your stay-at-home wisdom. When I awoke in the 
 morning the whole scene was changed. Our room, 
 which a pair of wax lights left in the dark at night, 
 was gay and handsome, hanging over the Saone ; 
 on the opposite shores the loveliest heights, green 
 and high, covered with monasteries, plantations, 
 corn-fields, &c. My hostess told me, too, that I 
 occupied the room which Madame Kecamier and 
 Madame de Stael inhabited during their exile — so I 
 was on classic ground. From that moment all has 
 gone on well. As we only meant to stay at Lyons 
 a day and rest ourselves, we brought no letters, save 
 one to a magistrate, lest we should want advice or 
 assistance. My magistrate was a nice, gay, pleasant 
 beau cousin of Madame Eecamier ; but imagine 
 our modest surprise when he told us that we had 
 been expected by all the principal inhabitants ot 
 Lyons for some days back, where I was better 
 known than in Paris, as he believed there was not 
 a being, that read at all, that had not read every- 
 thing I ever wrote ; that the Mayor of the town 
 would wait upon us, the Director of the museum, 
 public library, &c, &c. The fun of it is that all 
 this was literally true. Morgan found "Miss Flor- 
 ence " lying on the table of the chef de police when 
 
LADY MOEGAN. 369 
 
 he went for the passport. The mayor, a Roy- 
 alist and man of rank, gave up his hox at both the 
 theatres while we remained (and these boxes were 
 on the stage draped with silk, &c). M. Artaud, 
 who is at Lyons what Denon was at Paris, showed 
 us all the antiquities and curiosities; and Mons. 
 and Madame Casinove, the first people of the town, 
 made an assembly and concert for ns : in short, 
 I thought we should never get away ; and if I had 
 not come to Geneva, I should say I never anywhere 
 met the same cordial heart-whole kindness I found 
 at Lyons. For Geneva, however, we at last set oft 
 instead of going by Chamberry ; influenced in our 
 change of plan partly by gratitude, partly by curi- 
 osity, and partly by the hope which was now held 
 out to us by. every one of crossing the Alps by the 
 Simplon, instead of Mont Ce"nis. To explain the 
 word gratitude to you, we learnt from some Gen- 
 evese ladies at Lyons that we were expected at 
 Geneva; that the worthy Eepubli cans were deter- 
 mined to do the honours by us, and that the Baron 
 Bonstettin, one of the first men in the town, and 
 one of the most delightful and cultivated writers of 
 Europe (whom, by-the-by, you will see quoted in the 
 last number of the " Edinburgh Beview" with hon- 
 our), was resolved to take us completely to himself! 
 Geneva is two days' journey from Lyons ; it is 
 16* 
 
370 DIAET OF 
 
 a sort of cross road through Mount Jura and the 
 Lesser Alps — and such a road ! It would be utterly 
 impossible to give you any idea of this journey in 
 a letter, or of the deep interest we took in all we 
 saw and heard, 'for, as we passed, we stopped at 
 every post house and village. We were frequently 
 obliged to alight, and walk over the magnificent 
 heights of Mount Jura. We nearly crossed the 
 whole of Mount Cedron on foot, and I literally 
 talked myself from Lyons to Geneva, asking and 
 gossiping wherever I could understand the patois 
 of the country or make my own patois understood. 
 We arrived at Geneva at sunset ; the snows of Mont 
 Blanc rising above a scene of the richest verdure, 
 cultivation, and loveliness, and the lovely lake re- 
 flecting a thousand beautiful objects. This was the 
 first time we ever breathed the free air of a Repub- 
 lic. We were up at six the next morning; and, as 
 we stood on the shores of the lake, Morgan ex- 
 claimed, " I don't know whether to cry or dance ! " 
 As you know how fond he is of tears and dancing 
 you may judge his extasy : but the scene is nothing 
 to the people. The best society is exclusively com- 
 posed of men of science and literature, professors 
 and many celebrated authors. The women are ex- 
 tremely handsome, well read, and perfectly Eng- 
 lish ; and to give yon some idea of how we have been 
 
LADY MORGAN. 371 
 
 received, we have regularly two invitations for 
 each day. All the clever men fill our room (and it 
 is a bedroom, for the inn is wretched) after break- 
 fast, and accompany us en troupe, to see all that is 
 worth seeing. They took us to the booksellers to 
 show us that our works were everywhere. In one 
 shop I saw a new edition of " France " I never saw 
 before, and which Oolburn told me nothing of; in 
 another they were binding up " Florence Macarthy," 
 which is now the fashionable subject of discussion, 
 for every creature here speaks and reads English. 
 Before dinner they bring us a char-a-hano to drive 
 round the lake, and from that till twelve o'clock 
 (when all Geneva goes to bed), we were running from 
 house to hoxise. "We have fixed day after day for 
 going, and then comes some dinner or evening party 
 made expressly for us, and here we are. We had 
 quite made up our mind to be off on the 2nd of May, 
 when a fdbriquant d) horlogerie (much such a man 
 in every respect to Kundell and Bridgess' in Lon- 
 don) came to beg we would honour his family by 
 dining with them ; that he had engaged a Greek 
 prince and his family to meet us (the Hospodar ot 
 Wallachia, whom I passed an hour with yesterday) ; 
 in short, I never saw such empresse?nent; and though 
 we would not stay for the Syndic of the town (we 
 had so completely made up all our plans for going) 
 
372 DIAKY OF 
 
 this act of hospitality and attention from a true 
 Genevese bourgeois was irresistible. Oh ! if I had 
 time or space to describe to you his magazine, his 
 musical workboxes, where a parcel of beautiful little 
 birds pop up and sing like canaries, and the magnifi- 
 cent jewels which he sends all over Europe ! "What, 
 however, would still more amuse you is Ferney, 
 Yoltaire's residence, where Morgan and I passed a 
 morning alone, seated in his bedroom, wandering 
 through his salon and garden, and visiting his 
 pretty village and church. Passing through the 
 village to the chateau is the church, raised by Vol- 
 taire, with a simple inscription — 
 
 "To THE SlJPKEME BEING." 
 
 A plain altar was served by an old domestic priest, 
 named Le Pere Adam, who, after all, was a poor 
 Jesuit ; a proof that Voltaire's hostility was neither 
 personal nor prejudiced, but levelled against a sys- 
 tem and a power which he considered fatal to the 
 interests of society. "We have also been at Pous- 
 seau's humble, but paternal dwelling, where he was 
 born and passed his youth. "We have collected a 
 volume of curious anecdotes, and are living in the 
 heart of Madame de Stael's exile ; her cousin, Ma- 
 dame Necker, was among the first to visit us. I fear 
 you cannot read this. "We set off for Italy, by 
 Mount Cenis, on Sunday; so write us to Milan. 
 
LADY MORGAN. 373 
 
 God bless you all ! I wish we were all settled for 
 life on the lake of Geneva. We have been at a 
 fete de noces in the country which was extremely 
 characteristic, all the rooms hung with flowers and 
 the most brilliant lights I ever saw — the women 
 lovely, and much dressed. The drawback on all 
 this is the bise, which is now blowing dreadfully, 
 and to which our north-east wind is a zephyr. The 
 Alps, which look as if they were coming in at our 
 windows, are covered with snow, and the cold in- 
 tolerable. 
 
 I hope Clarke has received my letter with a 
 draught for ten pounds. I kiss you all round and 
 square, and shake the two gentlemen's hands 
 again. S. M. 
 
 Diary. — Geneva, Hotel de Balance. — Oh what 
 a delightful drive ! Drive, forsooth, no ! pilgrim- 
 age, and worth the whole seven pilgrimages to the 
 6even Churches at Rome ! or to the seven churches 
 in the vale of Avoca — 
 
 " In whose bosom the bright waters meet ! " 
 
 Last night the dear Baron Bonstettin, after 
 having, as we thought, given his last oon soir, came 
 back to say : " Oh, I had almost forgotten to tell 
 you that I shall be to-morrow at the ' Balance,' at 
 
374 DIABY OF 
 
 ten o'clock in my char-a-banc. I want you to see a 
 church unique in its invocation." And so there he 
 was to a minute in his char-d-lanc with Dumont 
 beside him. 
 
 As we went rumbling and jumbling over the 
 solemn pavement of the solemn city, the baron 
 named every site that was notable ; among others 
 he drew up in front of an old watchmaker's shop, 
 where the father of Rousseau had carried on his petit 
 commerce, and where the founder of sentimental 
 philosophy was born. Some years ago I should 
 have sighed and lingered, but now I simply said, 
 Ou le genie va-t-il se nicher f " We passed on to a 
 much less genial locale. 
 
 " The tradition is," said the baron, " that it was 
 here poor Servetus was burned alive by Calvin, of 
 whose sufferings he himself said, ' Ter reboabat His- 
 panico more, misericordia? It is a spot where the 
 stones are said to be still blackened by the fires 
 which consumed the victim of a religious cruelty 
 never surpassed by the Inquisition, not even in the 
 persecution of Galileo and the torture and burning 
 of Savonarola." 
 
 Morgan actually writhed. " All religious re- 
 formers," he said, " become in their turn persecu- 
 tors — as soon as they become powerful." 
 
 " Except one," I interrupted, " whose divine 
 
LADY MORGAN. 375 
 
 charity, more prone to spare than to condemn, 
 turned in disgust from the ferocious rabbis who 
 brought the sinner to him, and pronounced her par- 
 don with that mild grave injunction ' Go and sin no 
 more.' " 
 
 Morgan said, in an absolute passion, " Calvin 
 was a villain, and a bilious villain ! I know noth- 
 ing or very little of his victim : who was Michael 
 Servetus ? " 
 
 " He was a learned physician," said Bonstettin, 
 with a look of humour, " who meddled with what 
 did not concern him." 
 
 " And was condemned," said Morgan, laughing, 
 " by some ' Advocate of Christianity ' at Cambridge, 
 which gave him a good income for his pious 
 espionage." 
 
 " Oh ! " said Dumont, " poor Servetus was pun- 
 ished for his confidence in Calvin, for having writ- 
 ten in a private letter on theological subjects in 
 which his opinion was more physiological than 
 theological; Calvin betrayed his confidence, and 
 condemned him to be brule vif for a heretic." 
 
 "But how did the Genevese stand this? "he 
 asked. 
 
 "Oh, it was rather approved of; the Dictator 
 of Geneva was no longer himself the fugitive heretic 
 
376 DIAET OF 
 
 of France who wrote against intolerance. Master 
 in Geneva — d'autres temps d'autres sentiments." 
 
 " Why, he was a pope in power among you," 
 said Morgan. 
 
 " More than that," said Dumont ; " he was a 
 legislator, and assisted the magistrates in founding 
 that code civile and ecclesiastique which is still the 
 fundamental law of the Republic." 
 
 " Republic ! " said Morgan disdainfully. So 
 seeing he was about to explode I cut in, and 
 observed, " And he was a bad husband, and 'never 
 in love ; he married a widow and treated poor 
 Idolette, his wife and convert, with great severity." 
 
 "It is curious," said Dumont, " his chief disciple 
 and chef en second, Theodore de Beze, was the 
 reverse, and was best known, during a great period 
 of his life, as a charming if not chaste chansonnier 
 in France in the sixteenth century as Beranger is 
 now in the nineteenth." 
 
 " I have all his works," said Morgan, " both in 
 Latin and French : but the best trait in his charac- 
 ter was his easy toleration." 
 
 "There was no toleration as we understand 
 it now," said Dumont, " or if there were it was 
 condemned as infidelity. The first who openly 
 preached it was Bayle, and, above all, Voltaire." 
 
LADY M0KGAN. 377 
 
 " Whose church, by-the-by," said the baron, " I 
 am now taking you to see." 
 
 " And his house at Ferney ? " said I. 
 
 " If we can get admittance," said Bonstettin, 
 " of which there is no doubt if the present liberal 
 owner be at home." 
 
 But, alas ! when we arrived before a very plain 
 unphilosophical looking house, an unpoetical, un- 
 philosophical looking female servant came to the 
 door, which she scarcely opened, with the answer 
 that the family were all away and she could not 
 show the house to strangers ! 
 
 If we had not been very tired, very hungry, and 
 very deeply engaged for the evening to a dinner 
 and party at M. Pictet's, we should have been 
 heartily disappointed. With a mutual assignation, 
 which Morgan and I made with looks that we 
 would return alone and enjoy Ferney toute notre 
 saoul, we took it with due resignation, and proceed- 
 ed to the church, a plain, comfortable tabernacle, 
 with the inscription over the portal — 
 
 "DEO OPTIMO MAXIMO." 
 
 It really impressed us with a solemn feeling : 
 there was no St. Mary or St. Catherine, St. Timothy 
 or St. Thomas, to divide our attention with the 
 Most High ; and we were tempted to fall on our 
 
378 DIAKY OF 
 
 knees and thank the Providence to whom this 
 Temple was raised for all the blessings we at that 
 moment enjoyed. 
 
 1858. — Whilst I was putting up these last pages, the " Saturday- 
 Review " came to hand for December 25th, containing an article on 
 Voltaire. To mention Voltaire at all, in a periodical aspiring "to 
 circulate in the bosom of families " during the present renaissance of 
 bigotry, shows a moral courage as respectable as rare ; for Voltaire 
 was the open and acknowledged enemy of all Jesuitry. " The head 
 and front of his offence — was that — no more." The concluding 
 passage of the article, being purely literary, may be quoted here in 
 critical sympathy with their admiration of the great genius of his 
 age. "We must, in conclusion, say a word on the literary merits 
 of Voltaire's novels. They are, in our judgment, altogether un- 
 equalled. The clearness, animation, and rapidity of the story — the 
 condensation and point of the style, are merits of which we are 
 rapidly losing even the tradition." 
 
 From Lady Morgan to Lady Clarke. 
 
 Geneva, Hotel de Balance, 
 May 3rd, 1819, two in the morning. 
 
 Farewell ! dearest Olivia and dears all ! alas ! 
 farewell from a land of liberty ! a little spot, indeed, 
 but still a free one — and for the present beyond the 
 despotism of its mighty neighbours. I am in very 
 low spirits, and I shall make this a mere letter of 
 business, which is philosophy in action, and, what 
 is better still, wisdom ! 
 
 Well, then, Mr. Warden, our American friend 
 in Paris, has taken charge of a precious box, which 
 
LADY MORGAN. 379 
 
 he will forward to Colburn forthwith, who, having 
 paid the expenses upon it, will forward the same to 
 Clarke at Dublin. The first on the list, though last 
 in the box, is Denon's folio edition of his " Egypt." 
 It was done at the expense and desire of the Em- 
 peror Xapoleon, and never in the market. Denon 
 was, I think, the chief of the literary staff who 
 accompanied him to Egpyt, and the fine drawings 
 and engravings were by the first artists, under his 
 control. The heads are portraits, and the names of 
 the original writers are under them by Denon's 
 own pencil. 
 
 The works of the Comte de Segur, with an 
 autograph letter addressed to me — the works of a 
 man of genius written by a man of fashion, for 
 they are full of energy and grace. The works of 
 Ginguene, on Italian literature, in nine vols. A 
 great work, by-the-by, and I hope you and your 
 children will one day receive delight and instruc- 
 tion from its perusal. The history of intellect in 
 Italy is the history of civilisation ; and though the 
 church set up her barrier to check its progress, 
 " E pur si muove ! " Sismondi'6 " Republiques 
 Italiennes," in eight volumes, and his "History 
 of European Literature," in four volumes. The 
 " Maxims of La Eochefoucault," given me by his 
 lineal descendant, the Comte Gaiton de la Eoche- 
 
380 DIAKY OF 
 
 foucault. The works of Madame de Sevigne (the 
 darling !), and of Voltaire, d'Alembert, Diderot, 
 Grimm, Volney, on which we have ourselves laid 
 out a little fortune; the others were all presentation 
 copies. But oh, if we live to return to Ireland, 
 what jp&ture for the winter evenings in Kildare 
 Street and Rutland Square ! that is, if the whole 
 cargo didbolique does not smell of brimstone, and 
 so be seized by the Inquisition of the Roman 
 Catholic hierarchy, and be carried off to the holy 
 office of the Protestant ascendancy. . 
 
 " Oh Father Abraham, what these Christians be ! " 
 
 At the top of the box you will find Morgan's 
 collection of music, " Le Devin du Tillage," by 
 Rousseau, Gretry's beautiful opera of " Coeur de 
 Lion," and some old trash picked up by him (Mor- 
 gan) in a stall in the Marais, composed by the 
 young Mr. Noahs during their leisure hours in the 
 Ark, and brought by them to Ireland, where the 
 old historians declare they were the first Colonisers, 
 " on the testimony of credible witnesses ! " and 
 from them we derive our talent and love of music. 
 They compose a concert in themselves. Shem a 
 tenor, Ham a barytone, and Japhet a basso can- 
 tante. The Irish harp is also ascribed to them, 
 and some paternal propensities which survive in 
 
LADY MORGAN. 381 
 
 their Irish descendants to this day ! Pray forgive 
 this nonsense, " the fun lay in my way, and I 
 found it." 
 
 The book in silver paper tied with a red ribbon 
 is the divine comedy of Beaumarchais, in which 
 there is more charming wit than was ever dreamed 
 of in the " Divina Comedia," of Dante. There is a 
 little autograph note in it from the author to Denon, 
 who was then a joli gargon and gentillwmme de la 
 cliambre to Louis XY. The author was harpiste to 
 the enfans de France, then represented by two 
 elderly ladies in hoops and hoods : see Walpole's 
 Letters. Apropos to harps, I mean to take my own 
 little Irish harp, though Morgan was rather averse 
 to it, and wanted me to leave it at Geneva till our 
 return. 
 
 And now, dear, the day is already brightening 
 the summits of Mont Blanc, and Morgan is calling 
 out from his room, " What are you about, Sydney? 
 don't you mean to go to bed to-night ? '-' which in- 
 deed I am so awake I would rather not. I assure 
 you there is no need for you to be uneasy at our 
 travelling so far without servants, as we have re- 
 solved on taking two Italians, man and maid, who, 
 on our arrival in Milan, (where every accommoda- 
 tion is provided for us by the dear Count Confalo- 
 nieri), I mean to exploiter them both, and turn them 
 
382 DIARY OF LADY MORGAN. 
 
 into Arlequino and Columbina — the hero and hero- 
 ine of the Italian stage. 
 
 Now, dear, don't send any of the " Crawleys " 
 trapseing after me ! and don't give any one my 
 Italian address, except to the O'Conor Don, who is 
 an honour to our country and one of its most grace- 
 ful representatives. 
 
 I am in very low spirits, and rather nervous 
 and wakeful ; but from this moment I am all 
 Italy's. I feel as though we had a grand voca- 
 tion : of our earnest truthfulness I have no doubt, 
 but in our power for aiding the great cause, the 
 regeneration of Italy, we feel little confidence. 
 " Who is sufficient for these things ? " as St. Paul 
 asked long ago — himself a Roman citizen, and, 
 as he boasts, " free born." And so once more, 
 dears, farewell. 
 
 Sydney Morgan. 
 
 THE END. 
 
D. Appleton & Company's List of New Works. 
 
 1 00 
 63 
 
 1 90 
 
 Miscellaneous and General Litera- 
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 An Attic Philosopher in Paris, , 
 
 Appletoni' Library Manual ] 35 
 
 Agoell's Book of Chess, l 25 
 
 Arnold's Miscellaneous Works, ' . . . S 00 
 Arthur. The Successful Merchant, , ■>« 
 
 A Book for Summer Time in the Country, 
 Baldwin's Flush Times in Alabama, . . 1 25 
 Calhoun (J. C), Works of. 4 vols, putt., each, 2 00 
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 Cornwall's Mubio as it Was, and as it It, . 63 
 Essays from the London Times. 1st* 2d Series, 
 
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 Ewbanks' World In s. Workshop, . 
 Ellis' Women of England, . , 
 
 " Hearts and Homes, . . . . . 1 50 
 
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 Foster's Essays on Christian Morals, . 
 e-jli/mith's Vicar of Wakefield, . 
 Grant's Memoirs of an American Lady, . 
 Gaieties and Gravities. By Horace Smith, 
 Guild's History of Civilization, . . 
 Hearth-Stone. By Rev. S. Osgood, . 
 Hobson. My Uncle and I, . . , 
 Ingoldsby Legends, ..... 
 
 Isbam's Mud Cabin, 1 00 
 
 Johnson's Meaning of Words, . . . . 1 00 
 Kavanagh's Women of Christianity, . 
 Leger's Animal Magnetism, . . . 
 Life's Discipline. A Tale of Hungary . 
 Letters from Rome. A. D. 136, . . 
 
 Margaret Maitland, 
 
 Maiden and Married Life of Mary Powell, . 50 
 Morton Montague ; or a Young Christian's 
 
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 Macnulay's Miscellanies. 5 vols. . . . 5 00 
 Maxims of Washington. By J. F. Schroeder, 1 00 
 Mile Stones in our Life Journey, . , . 1 00 
 
 MINIATURE CLASSICAL LIBRARY. 
 
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 Eton Parry ; or Trials of the Heart, 
 
 MRS. ELLIS' WORKS. 
 
 Hearts and Homes ; or, Social Distinctions, 
 
 Prevention Better than Cure, . 
 
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 Him, • . . 71 
 
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