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A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1820
Sydney Smith to Lady Grey, 30 December 1820
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Author's Preface
Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Index
Editor’s Preface
Letters 1801
Letters 1802
Letters 1803
Letters 1804
Letters 1805
Letters 1806
Letters 1807
Letters 1808
Letters 1809
Letters 1810
Letters 1811
Letters 1812
Letters 1813
Letters 1814
Letters 1815
Letters 1816
Letters 1817
Letters 1818
Letters 1819
Letters 1820
Letters 1821
Letters 1822
Letters 1823
Letters 1824
Letters 1825
Letters 1826
Letters 1827
Letters 1828
Letters 1829
Letters 1830
Letters 1831
Letters 1832
Letters 1833
Letters 1834
Letters 1835
Letters 1836
Letters 1837
Letters 1838
Letters 1839
Letters 1840
Letters 1841
Letters 1842
Letters 1843
Letters 1844
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Foston, Dec. 30th, 1820.
Dear Lady Grey,

The day I left Lambton was, fortunately for me, a very cold day, as the stage-coach was full. We had the captain of a Scotch vessel trading to Russia, an Edinburgh lawyer, an apothecary, a London horsedealer, and myself. They were all very civil and good-humoured; the captain a remarkably clever, entertaining man. All were for the Queen, except the horsedealer.

Lady Georgiana Morpeth called here yesterday, accompanied by Agar Ellice, who is on a short visit to
208MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.
Castle Howard. The Morpeths are just returned from the Duke of Devonshire’s. Ellice thinks the Ministry will not go out, but proceed languidly with small majorities; I think it most probable they will be driven out. The appointment of —— is too ridiculous to be true. If Peel refuses, it is, I suppose, because he does not choose to accept a place in a carriage just about to be overturned. The good people of Edinburgh, putting together my visit to Lord Grey, my ulterior progress to Edinburgh, and the political meeting in that town consequent upon it, have settled that Lord Grey planned the meeting, and that I performed the diplomatic part.

I will fit the Lady Greys up with conversation for the spring, and make them the most dashing girls in London. Poor ——! if in love before, what will he be next spring? Poor B——! poor E——! poor everybody! The effect will be universal.

My kindest regards to Lord Grey and your daughters. My children are all perfectly well, so is Mrs. Sydney; Douglas, my eldest son, has distinguished himself at Westminster, and is, to my great delight, become passionately fond of books.

Always, my dear Lady Grey, your sincere friend,

Sydney Smith.

P.S.—Only think of that obstinate Lord Lauderdale publishing his speech! But Lord Lauderdale, with all his good qualities and talents, has an appetite for being hooted and pelted, which is ten times a more foolish passion than the love of being applauded and huzzaed. You and I know a politician who has no passion for one thing or the other; but does his duty, and trusts to chance how it is taken.