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Lady Morgan’s Memoirs
Journal entries: October-November 1832
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Preface
Vol. I Contents.
Prefatory Address
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Chapter XXVII
Chapter XXVIII
Chapter XXIX
Chapter XXX
Chapter XXXI
Chapter XXXII
Chapter XXXIII
Chapter XXXIV
Chapter XXXV
Chapter XXXVI
Chapter XXXVII
Chapter XXXVIII
Vol. I Index
Vol. II Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter IV
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Chapter XXVII
Chapter XXVIII
Chapter XXIX
Chapter XXX
Chapter XXXI
Chapter XXXII
Chapter XXXIII
Chapter XXXIV
Chapter XXXV
Chapter XXXVI
Chapter XXXVII
Chapter XXXVIII
Chapter XXXIX
Chapter XL
Vol. II Index
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October 25.—I have just got a fine new cloak, and am so smart! Went to Riversdale, to see Lady Guy Campbell in it. [Lady Guy Campbell was the daughter of Lord and Lady Edward Fitzgerald.] She had just got a picture of her old granny, Madame de Genlis, and of her mother, Pamela, which had belonged to the ladies of Llangollen, and which I put her in the way of getting.

Lady Guy Campbell told me some curious anecdotes
FLYING VISIT TO ENGLAND—1832.347
of her mother’s birth. She has no doubt that Pamela was the daughter of Egalité and Madame de Genlis, and she told me that she has a paper signed by them both, being a contract of adoption of the child Pamela by both. She recollects an angry dispute between her mother (Lady E. Fitzgerald), and Madame de Genlis, when the latter said, “ne vous vantez pas d’être ma fille vous ne êetes pas.” “Pardi” replied Pamela. “Il n’y a pas de quoi s’en vanter!” Pamela was born whilst Madame de Genlis was in the West Indies. She sent for the child to London to speak English with Mademoiselle D’Orleans, and Lady Edward said that when she arrived in her little English Red Riding Hood cloak, Madame de Genlis was sitting with the D’Orleans family, and surrounded by the court. The child looking about it, and astounded by so fine a party, flew to Madame de Genlis’s arms, whom she had never seen since she was a baby. “Such was her sagacity,” said Madame, “that she knew me from my reputation!”

I see a great likeness in the upper part of Lady Campbell’s face to Madame de Genlis; but en beau, very pretty from expression and movement of countenance. The King of France was present at her mother’s marriage with Lord Edward Fitzgerald, at Tournai; he was then the Duke de Chartres, and Fitzgerald was in Dumouriez’s army.

November 2nd.—Just returned from Bray Head, its delicious scenery, and its beneficent mistress. But what a neighbourhood to live in with its cagoteries! What society! all effete races worn out. The very
348 LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR.  
air breathes Methodism, and every tree looked like a preacher. I walked in the sweet Dargle, but not before the evangelical gate-keeper received half-a-crown from Mrs. P—— for letting us into Powerscourt. I went to Holly Brook to see my old friend and Livy’s old schoolfellow (Lady Hudson still deep in mourning for her favourite child, Sir Robert); I was delighted with Holly Brook. The old tottering mansion full of the tippling memory of Robin Adair. His glass, half a yard high and half a yard round, was shown to me, and his drinking bout with a Scotchman related. The low, dark room is covered with divine pictures. Lady Hudson was Miss Nevil. We have often spent our holidays together.

William Plunket (the hon. and reverend), who sat beside me at dinner to-day, at Bray Head, told me he had been with his father, Lord Plunket, at Holland House, which was almost their home when in London. “One day,” he said, “we were the only guests at Holland House, when Prince Talleyrand came in.” “Where do you think I come from?” he demanded of Lord Holland. A hundred vain guesses were made. “Well, then, from dining and passing the day tête-à-tête with Jeremy Bentham.”

I have often thought of this tête-à-tête. How could they understand each other? The extremes of sensibility and insensibility, of honesty and roguery—philosophy and philanthropy against diplomacy and villany!!!

November 28th.—Just returned from Lord Cloncurry’s, a vastly gay party for Lyons. “Dear Lady
FLYING VISIT TO ENGLAND—1832.349
Morgan” and her “agreeability,” all the rage once more. Why? Dio lo so! Why did she lose her popularity? I know not. Take the world as it runs, it is never worth a thought; whims, passions, interests, any thing but feeling, truth, reason. Lord Brabazon was deputed my cavalier—a cold, sensible, travelled, electioneering young gentleman, far better than his race. I was thought quite charming! “Adieu, dear Lady Morgan, and may you long continue the agreeable creature you are now!” The other day only, “the agreeable creature” was toute au contraire!

November 30th.—Met a poor starved beggar child, and gave him a penny. “Och, the Lord pour a blessing on your honour!” “And how does your poor mother live?” I said, among other things. “Och thin, by ating cowld victuals, marram!”

By-the-bye, this reminds me of a blessing I once received from an old beggar woman, to whom I had given a sixpence. “Och thin! the Lord bless yer sweet honour, and may every hair of yer head be a mould four, to light yer sowl to glory!” What an imaginative race they are,(!) would sixpence ever have stimulated an English beggar to such an invocation!