The Life and Letters of John Gibson Lockhart
Chapter 21: 1842-50
John Gibson Lockhart to Violet Lockhart, 20 August 1847
“August 20, 1847.
“My dear Violet,—As by
some mistake of Mr. Hope’s clerk
the papers of this morning don’t say anything on our subject, be it known
unto you that Charlotte’s wedding
and the breakfast after (in her absence and her youth’s) went off very
prettily. She conducted herself well, and with very tolerable firmness, and
they were at the altar a very handsome pair indeed. They retired cunningly to
Richmond, and left me to do the honours of chickens, cutlets, all cold, tea,
coffee, and plenty of champagne to some forty-five people, including several
fine ones, and many, as I believe, sincere friends. The bridesmaids were six:
Lady Susan Holroyd, Miss (Stratford) Canning, Caroline Gifford, Isabella Grant (Frank the
painter’s daughter), Sophia Christie,
and Scott Wilson; of whom Scottie and
Miss Grant were most to be admired for looks, though I
am very partial to Sir S. Canning’s
very clever, nice girl, who is returning in a few days to
Constantinople—very sorry, no doubt, at not having caught a
Jim.1 I am to dine with
the Hopes on Sunday, and on
Monday go to visit Sir G. Warrender at
Cliefden, and thence to the Ashburtons, on
the coast of Hampshire. I am therefore much better, but still it may be some
time ere I dare put myself beyond a few hours of Sir B. Brodie.—Yours affectionately,
Alexander Baring, first baron Ashburton (1773-1848)
London financier who made a fortune in the United States; he was MP for Taunton
(1802-26), Callington (1826-31), Thetford (1831-32), and North Essex (1833-35); he was
president of the Board of Trade (1834) and raised to the peerage in 1835.
Mary Isabella Geary [née Grant] (1831-1854)
The daughter of the painter Sir Francis Grant; in 1852 she married Sir Francis Geary,
fourth baronet. [Dates from unsourced genealogy sites.]
Sir Francis Grant (1803-1878)
Scottish artist known for his portraits and sporting scenes; he was president of the
Royal Academy (1866-78).
James Robert Hope-Scott (1812-1873)
The son of General Hon. Sir Alexander Hope; in 1847 he married Charlotte Harriet Jane
Lockhart, daughter of the editor of the
Quarterly Review. He was a
barrister and Queen's Counsel.
John Gibson Lockhart (1794-1854)
Editor of the
Quarterly Review (1825-1853); son-in-law of Walter
Scott and author of the
Life of Scott 5 vols (1838).
Violet Lockhart (1801-1849)
The second daughter of the Rev. John Lockhart and younger sister of John Gibson Lockhart;
she died unmarried.
Sir George Warrender, fourth baronet (1782-1849)
Educated at Christ Church, Oxford and Trinity College, Cambridge, he was MP for
Haddington (1807-12), Truro (1812-18), Westbury (1826-30) and Honiton (1830-32). He was
Lord of the Admiralty (1812-22).
