Part 18

He ascribes the misfortune of Solano to the machinations of a faction actuated by personal hatred. Had Solano complied with the demands of the mob, the consequence would have been the complete destruction of their own fleet, as at that moment the ships were so intermingled that the French could have sunk the Spaniards. Apodaca seemed satisfied with himself for his dexterity in getting out the Spaniards and not endangering them. They were in great spirits at the surrender of Dupont, and also at the news of the evacuation of Madrid. It appears that Joseph Bonaparte withdrew from thence on ye 29th, after staying only 3 days in _his_ Capital, rather hastily, with the spoils and plunder of the palaces. He is at Segovia, with a force of 23,000, waiting orders from Napoleon. Moncey and his shattered Valencian army are with him. Mr. Vaughan writes from Coruña that Mr. Stuart (who was formerly at Petersburg) was received with great demonstrations of regard and friendship; the officers, naval and military, had shown him Ferrol, and as he returned the villages were illuminated. They had heard of Sr. A. Wellesley’s landing at the mouth of the Mondego, the river so praised by Camoens.

We left home on Sunday, August 22nd, for this place Boundes, Ld. Hy. Petty’s. Made an excursion from thence along the coast from Hastings to Brighton; passed a few days at Mr. Beauclerk’s, and returned home, 1st September.

At the end of October the Hollands set out for Spain, and did not return until the following August. Lady Holland continued to keep a detailed account of their travels and the information which reached them concerning the movements of the opposing forces in Spain and the progress of the war. This portion of her Journal, however, is omitted.

On August 12th, 1809, reached Holland House, where we found the children and my mother perfectly well. The Pettys and Beauclerks and many of our friends came from the country to see us, and stayed a few days in the house.

[Sidenote: LORD LANSDOWNE’S DEATH]

_22nd Nov._--It is too distant from this present period to make a review of all the occurrences from that time to this. Mr. Canning and Ld. Castlereagh fought on 21st Sept. Ld. Wellesley has accepted his recall,[328] and is daily expected; many believe he is coming upon the misapprehension that the Premiership has been offered to him. Lord Lansdowne[329] died on 14th Nov., which event is fatal to the Opposition by removing Petty from the H. of Commons. He has endeavoured to annoy Petty by his will and much disrespect for his father’s family, by making the remainder over to Ld. Winchilsea, and then to Ly. Lansdowne and her 2nd daughter.[330] To the latter, they say, a lease for 21 years is granted of L. H.

On 7th Nov. I was brought to bed of a daughter.[331]

Tuesday, 21st Nov., 1809, Ld. H. on this day completed his thirty-six years. He dined at Ld. Winchilsea’s.[332] Mr. Allen and I alone. He read in eve. Berington’s _Life of Henry II._, a work not without merit, tho’ the language is frequently barbarous.[333] The character of Becket is well drawn, and from his close researches into monkish chronicles he gives many interesting anecdotes which throw light upon the manners and mode of life in those times. He is a Roman Catholic priest, and tho’ one sees a bias, yet he has more liberality than usual with persons of his class. Indeed, at Rome he was suspected of giving up the cause of the Church too much: accordingly for some time he was suspended from his clerical functions by a papal mandate. He is also the author of a life of _Abelard and Eloïsa_, and possesses in manuscript, which he dare not publish, a history of the revival of learning.

Mr. Canning wrote to Ld. G. Leveson: ‘Lord Chuckle [_sic_] is, I hear, sufficiently recovered to take his prescription; accordingly, I shall send my letter to-morrow, and the other shall go abroad the day following.’ So we may expect to-morrow to see this long announced and much looked-for _second_ statement.[334]

Henry and his tutor, Mr. Shuttleworth, left us on Sunday for Hinckley.

_Wednesday, 22nd._--Mr. Tierney, Mr. Grenville, and Ld. Darnley dined.

_Thursday, 23rd Nov._--Ministerial papers announce very triumphantly that Ld. Wellesley has accepted the office offered to him by them, and is to come home immediately and fill his place.

Ly. Eliz.[335] came, the first time I have seen her since her marriage with Duke of Devonshire; I could not utter a congratulation upon the occasion. The Lambs, Mr. Windham, S. Lockington, Sr. Robt. Wilson, Mr. Stuart, Duke of Argyle, Ld. Robt. FitzGerald, Ly. Affleck dined.

Mr. C.’s statement is not yet out. My mother returned from Gosport with Charles, whom she had been to see on acct. of his illness.

_Friday, 24th Nov._--Ld. Wellesley has written to Mr. Canning assigning his reasons for accepting, but what they are I know not.

[Sidenote: PANSHANGER]

_14th Dec., 1809._--The Whig Corporation of Nottingham having done Ld. H. the honour of choosing him their Recorder, vacant by the death of the D. of Portland, it was necessary for him to go there and take the oaths. Accordingly we took the opportunity of making the journey in part with him, and of paying some visits on our way, for change of air for me after a confinement is indispensable to keep off a whole train of nervous disorders, and I did not much relish the notion of a trip to Nottingham to share his civic honours. On this day we went to _Panshanger_, on the _banks of the Mimram_, a very Asiatic sound! A pretty place of Lord Cowper’s in Hertfordshire. We took Tierney with us. Found besides the family, Lds. Essex, Erskine, and Mr. Giles Lewis. No news of the result of the election at Oxford,[336] but the Grenvilles began to despond.

Drove out to see the new college at Haileybury, a large, ugly, mean-looking conventual building. In the eve, news came of Lord Grenville’s success at Oxford; carried it by a majority of 13.

_15th._--Drove to Woolmers, a dismal, damp, ill-kept house, belonging to Ld. Stafford. It was too cold to walk to the spring, and, indeed, I am too lame to undertake any excursion on foot.

_16th, Sunday._--We were to have gone away, but delayed our departure in order to see Ly. Melbourne, who was coming on the ensuing day.

_17th._--Ly. Melbourne came.

_18th, Tuesday._--Set off and resolved to go as far as we could, as Ld. H. was to be at Nottingham to a great dinner on Wednesday. The roads were in a very bad condition owing to the great fall of rain; however, we reached Stamford and slept.

_19th._--Ld. H. set off alone to Nottingham. Mr. Allen, Charles, and I went to see Burleigh, a stately edifice, not improved by the bad taste of the last proprietor. A few good pictures, and several beautiful portraits of Mde. de la Vallière after her profession, in the dress of the Order. Ascertained that the story of Ld. Exeter having made a bonfire, in the courtyard, of Voltaire, Rousseau, &c., was true. This was done to edify the people at Stamford during the _alarm_, to teach them to shun the doctrines of those apostates from religion, morality, &c. From thence we went to Grantham, where I resolved to take up my abode till Ld. H. returned.

_20th._--Went to see Belvoir, which is undergoing a thorough reparation and improvement by Wyatt. It commands a staring, ugly view of the Vale of Belvoir. The antique baronial costume of the castle is destroyed by the introduction of modern fortifications and of artillery mounted upon the walls. The collection of pictures is very good. The famous ‘Sacraments’ of _Poussin_, and a pretty _Murillo_ with three Virgins in white, exactly in the style of those in the famous ‘Transito de Santa Clara,’ in the convent at Seville. We sent for _novels_ to the circulating library, and sat up reading the trash it furnished half the night.

_21st._--Ld. H. returned pleased with the reception he had met with from his fellow Burgesses, and we got on to Stilton, a bad, dismal inn.

[Sidenote: CAMBRIDGE]

_22nd._--We went to Cambridge, to show Mr. A. the colleges, &c. Got there by daylight. Dr. Davy,[337] the Master of Caius College, made us dine with him; a good-natured, trifling, insignificant man. Lord Percy, Dukes of Rutland and Gloster are to be the candidates for the Chancellorship, whenever the D. of Grafton will die and give them an opportunity of trying their popularity.

_23rd._--A fall of snow which rendered the walking across the Quadrangle unpleasant. The Library at Trinity is very handsome, but the books are the least to be praised in it. A good bust of Newton. The chapel contains a statue of Newton; the countenance is full of expression and genius, but the sculpture is very moderate, altho’ considered by them as a _chef-d’œuvre_. Went to the chapel of King’s College. Glad that my recollection of Batalha was so fresh that it enabled me to compare the architectural styles and beauties. That of Batalha[338] is generally superior in execution, the taste of King’s chapel perhaps is more chaste and simple, but it does not possess one specimen of exquisite delicacy of sculpture; the roses and portcullis are coarsely carved.

Passed through Eaton and Bedford. Reached Ampthill to a late dinner. Waters very much out.

_24th, Ampthill._--Ld. Ossory as usual kind and very pleasant. Capt. Waldegrave, a cousin, and son of Lady Waldegrave. Our old shipmate, Sr. John Sinclair, Dr. Hunt, &c. A contagious fever at Southill prevents our visit; Lady Elizabeth ill. Mr. Whitbread came over to see us, much offended and irritated at the anonymous circular; ascribes all as intended offences from Grey and Tierney to _him_. Reached Brocket on the 27th.

_28th, Brocket._--Large family party with the addition of Messrs, Luttrell and Nugent. Ld. Kinnaird dined one day, grave, good-humoured, and agreeable; his illness has subdued and softened his naturally irritable character. We were to have set off again on the 1st January for Woburn, but I was seized with such a severe headache that I was compelled to return to my bed; sent an excuse for that day to the D. of B. by Aleck, who was to meet us at St. Albans on the following day.

_Monday, 2nd January, 1810._--Very much alarmed at the account brought by Aleck of Charles having met with a severe fall. Contrary to a promise given me by Lady Anne (and his uncle),[339] she allowed him to go out with her to a fox chase. He cut the inside of his leg between ham and knee dreadfully. Reached Woburn late, and after a hasty dinner Mr. A. and I set off to see Charles; found him with fever. Went again next day to see the wound; found it a most dreadful gash, as bad as anything can be which has not touched a vital part, and may not perhaps do him a permanent injury.

_Sunday, 7th._--Ld. H. was so much pressed to go to town that he went to see Lds. Grey and Grenville, and dined at Mr. Grenville’s. Duke of B. went next day and returned to dinner, bringing Lord Holland down with him. Ld. Kinnaird, Mr. Chester, Delmé Gunning, Morrice, General Fitzpatrick, Tavistocks, &c., compose off and on the party.

_10th Jan._--We this day brought Charles over from Ampthill, who bore the motion of the carriage tolerably. He will oblige us to defer going away much longer than we intended to be absent from home.

[Sidenote: DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS]

Left Woburn on ----. Stayed at H.H. until Monday, 22nd Jan., the eve of the meeting of Parlt., and on that day took possession of our former dirty habitation in Pall Mall. On 23rd there were very sanguine expectations entertained of not only a good division, but even of a majority of 13 in the Commons, it being confidently asserted that many of the stoutest adherents of the former Ministry would keep away, such as the Lascelles’, Pagets, Ld. Newark, &c. However, every one of these came up, and after a flat debate the majority was all on the wrong side. Numbers, 167 to 263.[340]

Mr. Ward made a brilliant display, and all the young gentlemen, movers and seconders, acquitted themselves with propriety. Mr. Canning voted for the Address in a bad, blundering speech, in which he did not redeem the pledge he had made of justifying himself in his place in Parlt. It was rather a whimsical coincidence that Ld. G. Leveson could not vote, not being _in time_ to take his seat. This is the third time in his Parliamentary life that he has been baffled in voting upon dubious occasions however. In the Lords the attempt to stir Ld. Wellesley failed. Lord Grey’s speech was a most finished oration. The division was great, 92; numbers which would formerly have broken up any Administration.[341]

On Friday Lord Porchester’s motion of inquiry into the Walcheren expedition was most unexpectedly carried by a majority of 9 against Ministers.[342] Wilberforce behaved in the most flagrant but sanctified manner; he deserted his friend Perceval at the critical pinch. Mr. Ponsonby is recovering his reputation; he made a sharp, sarcastic speech which produced a considerable effect and reconciled those who had _snouched_ most at him. Mr. Canning acted against inquiry, and upon observing to Ld. Temple that he (Ld. Temple) was in a majority, was answered, ‘Yes, and the best part of it is that it was without yr. assistance.’ Ld. Castlereagh, whose manly conduct and being considered as an injured man by the House has conciliated him much public esteem, voted for the inquiry.

Ld. Wellesley made his debut in the character of Minister upon the thanks of the House being moved to Ld. Wellington. Some commend, and others disparage his speech; perhaps the middle line of praise would be nearest the truth. He was rather oriental in his style of praising his brother, but much may be owing to his feelings upon such a subject as that of his brother’s merits undergoing a slighting review.

Poor Hoppner, the painter, is dead. Public attention and sympathy has been fixed by the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Mr. Eden,[343] who left his father’s house in Old Palace Yard on Friday eve., having previously told his servant he should return in an hour, and from that time to this, an interval of ten days has elapsed without any tidings. A man was seen on that Friday, at 9 o’clock, scrambling upon the ice on the Thames, who, upon being called upon to stop, rushed on and plunged into the stream. Poor young man, he was to all appearance the last person in the world likely to lay violent hands upon himself.

_Sunday, 28th Jan., 1810, Pall Mall._--A belief afloat that Prince Stahremberg is the bearer of an offer of peace from Ld. Wellesley to Napoleon. He went yesterday to Paris.

Lds. Thanet, Erskine, Sr. Philip Francis, and Don Domingo de Souza[344] dined.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: WINDHAM’S WILL]

_June, 1810._--It appears that Windham from the period of his leaving College had kept a diary; the last entry was on the day the operation was decided.[345] He says: ‘This day sentence has been passed upon me,’ It fills 15 vols. in 4to., and according to his will is annexed as an heirloom to the proprietor of Fellbrigge; so in case of failure of issue in Capt. Lukin, it will fall into the hands of the Egremont family. A curious instance of weakness in Windham, and one that probably never would have been drawn forth, but for the feelings stirred up by the French Revolution: he has put Lord Egremont into the entail of his estate, treating him as a relation. During his life the relationship was never claimed, and certainly not admitted, either by him or by Ld. Egremont; the mode of spelling the name is quite different. He left six thousand pr. ann., at least, to his wife, who has most indecorously exposed to public sale all his books and common pamphlets; the latter especially are scribbled over entirely with his own observations on the margin. These have been bought up by the booksellers, and will hereafter be sold as immensely valuable from possessing his notes. There is a pamphlet of Sr. S. Romilly’s upon the state of Criminal Law, which is entirely written over by W.; and the strictures intended merely for himself to reply to in the H. of Commons are most likely not calculated to please Romilly, or indeed could they have been designed for his eye.

When Perceval proposed last year, 1809, to Lord Grenville and Grey to form a _part_ of his Administration, some private correspondence in consequence of this overture took place between these Lords. They agreed perfectly in the propriety of rejecting the terms as proposed, but as it was just possible they might be addressed again upon a similar occasion, they discussed the state of their own views, &c. Ld. Grenville told Grey that whenever they came into office, and were enabled to make the concessions deemed necessary to the Irish Catholics, he intended to propose that his brother, Lord Buckingham, should be the person sent over; that he had always contributed so disinterestedly to the support of the party, that as it was his wish to go, he considered him entitled to it. This hint was not relished, nor was it combated; but the Grenvilles are great graspers and encroachers.

At the Installation[346] Lord Grenville promised the heads of Houses to supply them with venison, having been promised by his brother 15 brace. A few days before the festival Ld. B. sent to say he could not furnish any venison, and but for the good nature of private friends he would not have been able to fulfil his engagement. The Duke of Bedford told me this, and was one of the persons applied to, and gave 4 brace. Ld. B. is envious of his brother, and enjoys his feeling any mortification.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: THE LAKE COUNTRY]

We made an excursion for seven weeks to the North in order to amuse Henry, and try the effect of change of air, as he was not well. We went by Derby and Lancashire to Appleby Castle, Ld. Thanet’s. We stayed there a few days in order that Ld. H. might get some fishing; from thence we went to the Lake of Ullswater, and dined at Patterdale. Returned and slept at Penrith.

At Keswick we saw Southey, who was very agreeable; he is just about publishing two epic poems. Windermere is the pleasantest and most agreeable of all the Lakes to my taste. Mr. Dumont was of our party. We went rather impromptu to Edinburgh, by the Kelso road, to see Melrose Abbey. Kelso is a charmingly situated town and exceedingly pretty. Melrose Abbey disappointed me greatly, especially after John Clerk’s praise, who described it as the finest remains of the richly wrought Gothic in the Island. I did not mind Walter Scott’s poetry, but was very considerably chagrined at its being so very inferior to many even in England. The high roads now making in Scotland are very characteristic of the nation; they are _scientific and thrifty_, for they are upon good principles, but are excessively dangerous and alarming from the parsimony with which they are executed. They are contrived to go upon the mountains like terraces or ledges, so that the up and down is avoided, but then they are rather narrow, and there is not the smallest parapet or any protection which intervenes between the poor traveller and the deep valley below.

We remained only two days at Edinbro’. During that time poor Lady Rosslyn[347] died unexpectedly at Rockville. We dined one day with Mr. Clerk,[348] and were visited by the few persons then in town--Jeffrey, Murray, &c. We went to Dunbar; then to Howick; and spent a couple of days with Sydney Smith at Heslington, near York. I went to the Roman Catholic convent in York, to visit the daughters of Mr. Gordon, of Xeres; they seemed dejected and apprehensive that the state of Spain would prevent them from joining their family.

We made a deviation from the North road to see Lincoln Minster. We were repaid for the inconvenience of a very bad road and without exception the worst inn in England, as the Cathedral is very curious and magnificent. It is not so large as that of York, but the workmanship is much richer. I was startled when I entered the Cathedral at York; I could scarcely credit that it was the identical building which appeared spacious and lofty formerly, my eye having been recently so accustomed to the Cathedral at Seville which is about three times the size of York. At York the centre aisle is wide, but the two side aisles are narrow and low, whereas at Seville there are five aisles all equally wide and lofty, and _beyond_ are large side chapels (at York there are none).

From Lincoln we went through Spalding to Peterboro’; I asked at Spalding how far off it was to the Fens. The postmaster replied that there were no fens in Lincolnshire now, and that geese were full as scarce as in Middlesex or elsewhere. I think it impossible he can be correct, for, tho’ draining may do much, yet I remember such dykes and embankments against the waters then covered with flocks of geese, about 23 years ago, that it cannot be possible those waters can have been carried off, the bottom made sound, and put into tillage; about Boston and Crowland I meant. Peterboro’ Cathedral has a beautiful façade; the inside is not worth much. Katherine of Arragon and Queen Mary of Scotland[349] are buried there.

We returned here[350] on August 2, and found all well; the library wall rebuilt, but the house not in a condition for our reception. Accordingly we are going off in a few days to inhabit the Govt. House at Portsmouth, which Genl. Fox has lent most kindly to us.[351]

[Sidenote: GENERAL FERGUSON]

The few days we have been here we have seen Tom Sheridan and his wife, Ld. Erskine, D. of Argyle, Ld. Robt., Gen. Tupper, Mr. Whishaw, Kemble, Gen. Fox, Caroline Fox. I went one night to the Haymarket and saw the _Iron Chest_. General Ferguson[352] has been compelled to leave Cadiz on acct. of his health; he is afflicted with a liver complaint which is always aggravated in a hot climate. He acted the part of a real friend to our dear boy,[353] he went out with him in the _Lively_, and assumed a parental authority over him. He also, upon arriving at Cadiz, removed him from that ship, and placed him with Capt. Codrington of the _Blake_, where he now is, and is gone up to Minorca to escort the Spanish ships from Cadiz thither. He confirms the stories of the desertions from the French armies, and himself conversed with _three_ native-born Frenchmen, who had deserted from want of pay and want of food, the most pressing want.

On Thursday, -- August, left home for Portsmouth. Henry, &c., accompanied us; the girls were to follow a few days later. Mr. Dumont came with us; we slept at Liphook, and reached Portsmouth on Friday. The Government House is a very large, rambling habitation, and was formerly a Cistercian convent.[354] From the interior arrangement of the rooms, and very inconvenient distribution of space, one can still trace its monastic origin. The conventual church, now converted into the garrison chapel, communicates with the great apartment, and access is immediate into the tribune. In that church Charles the Second married the Infanta of Portugal.

[Sidenote: CAPTAIN MOORE]