Napoleon fought the battle of Nangis against Blucher on the
17th of February, 1814, and that of Montereau against Prince
Schwartzenberg on the following day.
List of Journal Entries
Contents
Sunday, March 6th [1814]
Tuesday last dined with Rogers,—Madame de Staël, Mackintosh,
Sheridan, Erskine
, and Payne Knight, Lady Donegal, and Miss R. there. Sheridan told a very good story of
himself and Madame de Recamier's handkerchief; Erskine a few stories of
himself only.
She
is going to write a big book about England, she
says;—I believe her.
by her how I liked Miss Edgeworth's thing,
called
Patronage
, and answered (very sincerely) that I
thought it very bad for
her
, and worse than any of the others.
thought it possible Lady Donegal
, being Irish, might be a
patroness of Miss Edgeworth, and was rather sorry for my opinion, as I
hate putting people into fusses, either with themselves or their
favourites; it looks as if one did it on purpose. The party went off
very well, and the fish was very much to my gusto. But we got up too
soon after the women; and Mrs. Corinne always lingers so long after
dinner that we wish her in—the drawing-room.
Campbell called, and while sitting here in came Merivale
.
During our colloquy, C. (ignorant that Merivale was the writer) abused
the "mawkishness of the
Quarterly Review
of Grimm's
Correspondence
." I (knowing the secret) changed the conversation
as soon as I could; and C. went away, quite convinced of having made the
most favourable impression on his new acquaintance. Merivale is luckily
a very good-natured fellow, or God he knows what might have been
engendered from such a malaprop. I did not look at him while this was
going on, but I felt like a coal—for I like Merivale, as well as the
article in question.
to Lady Keith's
to-morrow evening—I think I will go; but it
is the first party invitation I have accepted this "season," as the
learned Fletcher called it, when that youngest brat of Lady ——'s cut
my eye and cheek open with a misdirected pebble—"Never mind, my Lord,
the scar will be gone before the
season
;" as if one's eye was of
no importance in the mean time.
Lord Erskine called, and gave me his famous pamphlet, with a marginal
note and corrections in his handwriting. Sent it to be bound superbly,
and shall treasure it.
my fine print of Napoleon
to be framed. It
is
framed;
and the Emperor becomes his robes as if he had been hatched in them.
Thomas, Lord Erskine (1750-1823), youngest son of the tenth
Earl of Buchan, a midshipman in the Royal Navy (1764-67), an ensign, and
subsequently a lieutenant in the First Foot (1767-75), was called to the
Bar in 1778, and became Lord Chancellor in 1806. As an advocate he was
unrivalled.
"Even the great luminaries of the law," says Wraxall (Posthumous
Memoirs, vol. i. p. 86), "when arrayed in their ermine, bent under
his ascendancy, and seemed to be half subdued by his intelligence, or
awed by his vehemence, pertinacity, and undaunted character."
With a jury he was particularly successful, though he lived to write the
lines quoted by Lord Campbell (
Lives of the Chancellors
, ed.
1868, vol. viii. p. 233):
"The monarch's pale face was with blushes suffused,
To observe right and wrong by twelve villains confused,
And, kicking their ——s all round in a fury,
Cried, 'Curs'd be the day I invented a jury!'"
A Whig in politics, and in sympathy with the doctrines of the French
Revolution, he defended Paine, Frost, Hardy, and other political
offenders, and did memorable service to the cause of constitutional
liberty. In the House of Commons, which he entered as M. P. for
Portsmouth in 1783, he was a failure; his maiden speech on Fox's India
Bill fell flat, and he was crushed by Pitt's contempt. As Lord
Chancellor (1806-7) he proved a better judge than was expected. At the
time when Byron made his acquaintance, he had practically retired from
public life, and devoted himself to literature, society, and farming,
writing on the services of rooks, and attending the Holkham
sheep-shearings. Lord Campbell has collected many of his verses and
jokes in vol. ix. chap. cxc. of his
Lives of the Chancellors
. His
famous pamphlet,
On the Causes and Consequences of the War with
France
(1797), was written, as he told Miss Berry (
Journal of
Miss Berry
, vol. ii. p. 340),
"on slips of paper in the midst of all the business which I was
engaged in at the time—not at home, but in open court, whilst the
causes were trying. When it was not my turn to examine a witness, or
to speak to the Jury, I wrote a little bit; and so on by snatches."
His
Armata
was published by Murray in 1817. In society Erskine
was widely known for his brilliancy, his puns, and his extraordinary
vanity. His egotism gained him such titles as Counsellor Ego, Baron Ego
of Eye, and supplied Mathias (
Pursuits of Literature
) with an
illustration:
"A vain, pert prater, bred in Erskine's school."
Miss Edgeworth's
Patronage
was published in 1813-4.
In 1813 she had been in London with her father and stepmother. The
following entries respecting the family are taken from Byron's
Detached Thoughts
:
"Old Edgeworth, the fourth or fifth Mrs. Edgeworth, and the
Miss Edgeworth were in London, 1813. Miss Edgeworth liked, Mrs.
Edgeworth not disliked, old Edgeworth a bore, the worst of bores—a
boisterous Bore. I met them in Society—once at a breakfast of Sir
H. D.'s. Old Edgeworth came in late, boasting that he had given 'Dr.
Parr a dressing the night before' (no such easy matter by the way). I
thought her pleasant. They all abused Anna Seward's memory. When on
the road they heard of her brother's—and his son's—death. What was
to be done? Their London apparel was all ordered and made! so
they sunk his death for the six weeks of their sojourn, and went into
mourning on their way back to Ireland. Fact!
"While the Colony were in London, there was a book with a subscription
for the 'recall of Mrs. Siddons to the Stage' going about for
signatures. Moore moved for a similar subscription for the 'recall of
Mr. Edgeworth to Ireland!'
"Sir Humphry Davy told me that the scene of the French Valet and Irish
postboy in Ennui was taken from his verbal description to the
Edgeworths in Edgeworthtown of a similar fact on the road occurring to
himself. So much the better—being life."
The Marquis of Donegal married, in 1795, Anna, daughter of
Sir Edward May, Bart.
For J. H. Merivale, see
Letters
, vol. iii. (January,
1814.
note
1).
Hester Maria, eldest daughter and co-heir of Henry Thrale,
of Streatham, the friend of Dr. Johnson, married, in 1808, Viscount
Keith.
Byron's "Portrait of Bonaparte, engraved by Morghen,
very fine impression, in a gilt frame
," was sold at his sale,
April 5, 1816.
List of Journal Entries
Contents
March 7th [1814]
at seven—ready by half-past eight—went to Mr. Hanson's,
Bloomsbury Square—went to church with his eldest daughter, Mary Anne (a
good girl), and gave her away to the Earl of Portsmouth
. Saw her
fairly a countess—congratulated the family and groom (bride)—drank a
bumper of wine (wholesome sherris) to their felicity, and all that—and
came home. Asked to stay to dinner, but could not. At three sat to
Phillips for faces. Called on Lady M. [Melbourne]—I like her so well,
that I always stay too long. (Mem. to mend of that.)
Passed the evening with Hobhouse, who has begun a poem, which promises
highly;—wish he would go on with it.
some curious extracts from a
life of Morosini
, the blundering Venetian, who blew up the Acropolis
at Athens with a bomb, and be damned to him! Waxed sleepy—just come
home—must go to bed, and am engaged to meet Sheridan to-morrow at
Rogers's.
Queer ceremony that same of marriage—saw many abroad, Greek and
Catholic—one, at
home
, many years ago. There be some strange
phrases in the prologue (the exhortation), which made me turn away, not
to laugh in the face of the surpliceman. Made one blunder, when I joined
the hands of the happy—rammed their left hands, by mistake, into one
another. Corrected it—bustled back to the altar-rail, and said "Amen."
Portsmouth responded as if he had got the whole by heart; and, if any
thing, was rather before the priest. It is now midnight and ——.
Lord Portsmouth (see
Letters
, vol. i. p. 9,
note
2 [Footnote 3 of Letter 3]), who had long known the Hansons, from whose house he
married his first wife, married, March 7, 1814, Mary Anne, eldest
daughter of John Hanson. A commission of lunacy was taken out by the
brother and next heir, the Hon. Newton Fellowes; but Lord Chancellor
Eldon decided that Lord Portsmouth was capable of entering into the
marriage contract and managing his own affairs. The commission was,
however, ultimately granted. Byron swore an affidavit on the first
occasion.
"Denman mentioned Lord Byron's affidavit about Lord Portsmouth as a
proof of the influence of Hanson over him; Lord B. swearing that Lord
P. had 'rather a superior mind than otherwise'"
(
Memoirs, etc., of Thomas Moore
, vol. vi. p. 47).
The following is the note which Byron sent Hanson to embody in
his affidavit:
"I have been acquainted with Mr. Hanson and his family for many years.
He is my solicitor. About the beginning of March last he sent to me to
ask my opinion on the subject of Lord Portsmouth, who, as I understood
from Mr. H., was paying great attention to his eldest daughter. He
stated to me that Mr. Newton Fellowes (with whom I have no personal
acquaintance) was particularly desirous that Lord Portsmouth should
marry some 'elderly woman' of his (Mr. Fellowes's) selection—that the
title and family estates might thereby devolve on Mr. F. or his
children; but that Lord P. had expressed a dislike to old women, and a
desire to choose for himself. I told Mr. Hanson that, if Miss Hanson's
affections were not pre-engaged, and Lord Portsmouth appeared attached
to her, there could be, in my opinion, no objection to the match. I
think, but cannot be positive, that I saw Lord Portsmouth at Mr.
Hanson's two or three times previous to the marriage; but I had no
conversation with him upon it.
"The night before the ceremony, I received an invitation from Mr.
Hanson, requesting me, as a friend of the family, to be present at the
marriage, which was to take place next morning. I went next morning to
Bloomsbury Square, where I found the parties. Lady Portsmouth, with
her brother and sister and another gentleman, went in the carriage to
St. George's Church; Lord Portsmouth and myself walked, as the
carriage was full, and the distance short. On my way Lord Portsmouth
told me that he had been partial to Miss Hanson from her childhood,
and that, since she grew up, and more particularly subsequent to the
decease of the late Lady P., this partiality had become attachment,
and that he thought her calculated to make him an excellent wife. I
was present at the ceremony and gave away the bride. Lord Portsmouth's
behaviour seemed to me perfectly calm and rational on the occasion. He
seemed particularly attentive to the priest, and gave the responses
audibly and very distinctly. I remarked this because, in ordinary
conversation, his Lordship has a hesitation in his speech. After the
ceremony, we returned to Mr. Hanson's, whence, I believe, they went
into the country—where I did not accompany them. Since their return I
have occasionally seen Lord and Lady Portsmouth in Bloomsbury Square.
They appeared very happy. I have never been very intimate with his
Lordship, and am therefore unqualified to give a decided opinion of
his general conduct. But had I considered him insane, I should have
advised Mr. Hanson, when he consulted me on the subject, not to permit
the marriage. His preference of a young woman to an old one, and of
his own wishes to those of a younger brother, seemed to me neither
irrational nor extraordinary."
There is nothing in the note itself, or in the draft affidavit, to bear
out Moore's report of Denman's statement.
Byron, according to the account given by Newton Hanson, is wrong in
saying that Mrs. Hanson approved of the marriage. On the contrary, it
was the cause of her death, a fortnight later. In 1828 the marriage was
annulled, a jury having decided that Lord Portsmouth was
non compos
mentis
when he contracted it.
Francesco Morosini (1618-1694) occupied the Morea for
Venice (1687), besieged Athens, and bombarded the Parthenon, which had
been made a powder-magazine. He became Doge of Venice in 1688.
List of Journal Entries
Contents
March 10th [1814]
Thor's Day
On Tuesday dined with Rogers,—Mackintosh, Sheridan, Sharpe,—much talk,
and good,—all, except my own little prattlement. Much of old
times—Horne Tooke—the Trials—evidence of Sheridan, and anecdotes of
those times, when
I
, alas! was an infant. If I had been a man, I
would have made an English Lord Edward Fitzgerald.
Set down Sheridan at Brookes's,—where, by the by, he could not have
well set down himself, as he and I were the only drinkers.
means
to stand for Westminster, as Cochrane
(the stock-jobbing hoaxer)
must vacate. Brougham
is a
. I fear for poor dear Sherry.
Both have talents of the highest order, but the youngster has
yet
a character. We shall see, if he lives to Sherry's age, how he will pass
over the redhot plough-shares of public life. I don't know why, but I
hate to see the
old
ones lose; particularly Sheridan,
notwithstanding all his
méchanceté
.
Received many, and the kindest, thanks from Lady Portsmouth,
père
and
mère
, for my match-making. I don't regret it, as she looks
the countess well, and is a very good girl. It is odd how well she
carries her new honours. She looks a different woman, and high-bred,
too. I had no idea that I could make so good a peeress.
Went to the play with Hobhouse.
. Jordan superlative in Hoyden
,
and Jones well enough in Foppington.
What plays
! what
wit!—
hélas
! Congreve and Vanbrugh are your only comedy. Our
society is too insipid now for the like copy. Would
not
go to
Lady Keith's. Hobhouse thought it odd. I wonder
he
should like
parties. If one is in love, and wants to break a commandment and covet
any thing that is there, they do very well. But to go out amongst the
mere herd, without a motive, pleasure, or pursuit—'sdeath! "I'll none
of it." He told me an odd report,—that
I
am the actual Conrad,
the veritable Corsair, and that part of my travels are supposed to have
passed in privacy. Um!—people sometimes hit near the truth; but never
the whole truth. H.
know what I was about the year after he left
the Levant; nor does any one—nor —— nor—nor—however, it is a
lie—but, "I doubt the equivocation of the fiend that lies like truth!"
I shall have letters of importance to-morrow. Which, ——, ——, or
——? heigho!— —— is in my heart, —— in my head, —— in my eye,
and the
single
one, Heaven knows where. All write, and will be
answered. "
I have crept in favour with myself, I must maintain
it;"
but I never "mistook my person,"
though I think others
have.
—— called to-day in great despair about his mistress, who has taken a
freak of ——. He began a letter to her, but was obliged to stop
short—I finished it for him, and he copied and sent it. If
he
holds out, and keeps to my instructions of affected indifference, she
will lower her colours. If she don't, he will, at least, get rid of her,
and she don't seem much worth keeping. But the poor lad is in love—if
that is the case, she will win. When they once discover their power,
finita è la musica
.
Sleepy, and must go to bed.
Thomas, Lord Cochrane (1775-1860), eldest son of the ninth
Earl of Dundonald, a captain in the Royal Navy, and M. P. for
Westminster, had done brilliant service in his successive commands—the
Speedy, Pallas, Impérieuse
, and the flotilla of fire-ships at
Basque Roads in 1809. In the House of Commons he had been a strong
opponent of the Government, an advocate of Parliamentary Reform, and a
vigorous critic of naval administration. In February, 1814, he had been
appointed to the
Tonnant
for the American Station, and it was
while he was on a week's leave of absence in London, before sailing,
that the stock-jobbing hoax occurred.
During the days February 8-26, 1814, it seemed possible that Napoleon
might defeat the Allied Armies, and the Funds were sensitive to every
rumour. At midnight on Sunday, February 20, a man calling himself Du
Bourg brought news to Admiral Foley, at Dover, that Napoleon had been
killed by a party of Cossacks. Hurrying towards London, Du Bourg, whose
real name was Berenger, spread the news as he went. Arrived in London
soon after daybreak, he went to Cochrane's house, and there changed his
uniform. When the Stock Exchange opened at ten on February 21, 1814, the
Funds rose rapidly, and among those who sold on the rise was Cochrane.
The next day, when the swindle had been discovered, the Stocks fell.
A Stock Exchange Committee sat to investigate the case, and their report
(March 7) threw grave suspicion on Cochrane. He, his uncle, Cochrane
Johnstone, a Mr. Butt, and Berenger, were indicted for a conspiracy,
tried before Lord Ellenborough, June 8-9, and convicted. Cochrane was
sentenced to a year's imprisonment and a fine of £1000. On the back of
the note for £1000 (still kept in the Bank of England) with which he
paid his fine on July 3, 1815, he wrote:
"My health having suffered by long and close confinement, and my
oppressors being resolved to deprive me of property or life, I submit
to robbery to protect myself from murder, in the hope that I shall
live to bring the delinquents to justice."
Cochrane was also expelled from the House of Commons and from the Order
of the Bath. There is little doubt that the circumstances were extremely
suspicious. Those who wish to form an opinion as to Cochrane's guilt or
innocence will find the subject of the trial exhaustively treated in Mr.
J.B. Atlay's
Lord Cochrane's Trial before Lord Ellenborough
(1897).
Henry, Lord Brougham (1778-1868) acknowledged that he wrote
the famous article on Byron's
Hours of Idleness
in the
Edinburgh Review
(Sir M.E. Grant-Duff's
Notes from a
Diary
, vol. ii. p. 189). He lost his seat for Camelford in
September, 1812, and did not re-enter the House till July, 1815, when he
sat for Winchelsea. In the postscript of a letter written by him to
Douglas Kinnaird, December 9, 1814, he speaks of Byron thus:
"Your friend, Lord B., is, in my opinion, a singularly agreeable
person, which is very rarely the case with eminent men. His
independent principles give him a great additional charm."
But the part which Brougham played in the separation, both as counsel
and in society, infuriated Byron, who wrote of him in his letters with
the utmost bitterness. (See also the passage, now for the first time
published, from Byron's
Detached Thoughts
, on his Parliamentary
experiences, p. 198,
of
note
.)
Dorothy Jordan (1762-1816) first appeared as "Phoebe" in
As You Like It
at the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin, in 1777. After
acting in provincial theatres, she made her
début
on the London
stage at Drury Lane (October 18, 1785) as "Peggy" in Garrick's
Country Girl
, an expurgated version of Wycherley's
Country
Wife
. During the season she appeared also in six of her best parts:
"Miss Hoyden" in
The Trip to Scarborough
, "Priscilla Tomboy" in
The Romp
, "Hypolita" in
She would and she would not
, "Mrs.
Brady" in
The Irish Widow
, "Viola" in
Twelfth Night
, and
"Rosalind" in
As You Like It
. Her last appearance on the London
stage was as "Lady Teazle" in
The School for Scandal
, at Covent
Garden, June 1, 1814. A list of her principal characters is given by
Genest (
English Stage
, vol. viii. pp. 432-434). As a comic
actress, Mrs. Jordan was unrivalled; her voice was perfect; and her
natural gaiety irresistible. Sir Joshua Reynolds preferred her to all
other actresses as a being "who ran upon the stage as a playground, and
laughed from sincere wildness of delight." In genteel comedy, critics
like Genest (
English Stage