The Autobiography of William Jerdan
William Augustus Conway to William Jerdan, 18 October 1822
“Oct. 18th, 1822.
“Dear Sir,
“I gladly avail myself of your kind permission to
renew, through this medium, the subject of our last conversation, and though
experience forbids me to entertain any sanguine hope
from your promised interference, my most sincere acknowledgments will be yours
for your friendly endeavours to serve me. In that conversation I spoke of
Lord William Conway as my father,
and I must now inform you that, owing to peculiar circumstances, he has never
supported or assisted me, and though not formally
disowned I am not acknowledged by him. My various letters soliciting that act
of justice, or an interview to enable me to demonstrate my claims to it, remain
unanswered. On one occasion I traced him to an inn at Ringwood, and in a note,
which I prevailed upon the landlord to place in his hands, implored an
audience, if only for a few minutes; instead of granting it, however, he
referred me in general terms to his family. I then wrote
to the late Marquis,
and to give weight to my application, procured it to be conveyed by persons of
rank—the Hon. Mr. Tollemache and his
lady, the Duchess of Roxburgh, who had
frequently distinguished me by their kindness and hospitality. The Marquis
acknowledged that he had always understood me to belong to his family, but
added, that unless Lord William became himself my advocate he did not feel called upon to render me
assistance. I next sought Lord Robert,
by whom I was very courteously received, and afterwards Lord George, but owing to their alleged
disunion from their brother I could not obtain from ![]()
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them
any promotion of my object. My last effort was through
the assistance of a particular friend, a gentleman eminent in the literary
world, whose knowledge of my straitened circumstances and natural claims upon
the Hertford family, induced him to seek an interview with the late Marquis for
the purpose of pleading my pretensions. On account of ill health the Marquis
declined seeing him, but intimated his readiness to receive a written
communication. Such communication was accordingly made, but did not obtain an
acknowledgment. I send you a copy of it, and of the request which preceded it,
that you may be able to appreciate the strength of that application, which was
not honoured even with a reply. I fear these details will have been
sufficiently tedious, hut in justice to myself I could not be less
circumstantial. My hopes now rest with Lord
Henry and the present
Marquis, to neither of whom I have the honour of being
personally known. By your strong representations, perhaps, these noblemen may
bestow a closer consideration upon my very hard lot, than it has hitherto been
deemed worthy of. Their lordships may be humane enough to feel, and candid
enough to allow, that though Lord William chooses to
estrange himself from his connections, it is most unjust that I should be the sole victim of his peculiarity. For though his
legitimate children may not have a large share of his personal attention, they
are at least supported by his purse, and enjoy the full
benefit of that rank in society to which their birth entitles them; while I am
not only without any mark of personal notice which might give me a decent
respect with the world, but am also without the slightest pecuniary aid that would enable me to live without it. Little
sanguine as repeated reverses have taught me to be, I cannot forbear to
entertain some hope that their lordships will
commiserate ![]()
| MR. CONWAY: THE HERTFORD FAMILY. | 245 |
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my
situation when reminded that while every member of their numerous family,
legitimate or otherwise, enjoys some provision from the wealth or influence of
their connections, I alone of all their blood am doomed to neglect and
penury—am abandoned to struggle as I may with adversity, without assistance or
encouragement—and left to battle or beg my way through the world unregarded and
unrelieved! I hope, Sir, that what has fallen from my pen cannot justly subject
me to a charge of vanity or presumption: it is far from my wish to urge a
syllable that can be construed disrespectful to any member of their
lordships’ family; but I find myself struggling with an undeservedly hard
fate, and in a communication like the present it becomes me to dispense with
reservation or disguise. Through your kind interference, therefore, I most
respectfully solicit either that their lordships will be good enough to cause
some annual provision to be allotted me, sufficient to
remove the importunities of want, and which I may
endeavour to increase by the exercise of any little talent it has pleased
Heaven to give me—or that through their powerful interest such a situation in
one of the public offices may be obtained as with my own industry will yield
the means of a decent livelihood. But if this assistance is considered as
beyond my claims, I do then most earnestly call upon their lordships to exert
that influence which their seniority may naturally be supposed to afford them
with their family, and prevail upon Lord William to grant
me an audience. To this favour I am entitled upon every
principle of natural justice. Lord William may then hear
how much I need assistance, and I shall have the long desired opportunity of
learning from himself his reasons for withholding it.
“Such, Sir, are my opinions and feelings upon this ![]()
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disagreeable subject, and such the expectations I have
ventured to build upon them. How far they are rash or reasonable experience
must determine; but I request you will be good enough to expunge or alter any
expression of my letter your judgment disapproves, before applying it to the
intended purpose.
“I know it cannot quicken your zeal, though it may
hasten your endeavours, to be informed that now the theatre is closed I am
without any prospect of provision for the passing day. Of course I shall attend
your answer with some solicitude, and hope that it will convey a permission for
me to see Lord Henry.
Mary Bellenden-Ker [née Bechinoe] (d. 1838)
The daughter of Captain Benjamin Bechinoe; she married, first, William Bellenden-Ker,
fourth Duke of Roxburghe, and second, in 1806, the Hon. John Manners, son of John Manners
and Louisa Tollemache, Countess of Dysart.
William Augustus Conway (1789-1828)
Originally Rugg; he was an English actor at Covent Garden, and from 1823 in the United
States. The nature of his relationship with the elderly Hester Thrale Piozzi has been
disputed; he died a suicide.
Hon. John Manners (1768 c.-1837)
The son of John Manners and Louisa Tollemache, Countess of Dysart; he was MP for
Ilchester (1804-06 ).In 1806 he married Mary Bechinoe, widow of the fourth Duke of
Roxburghe.
Lord George Seymour (1763-1848)
The son of Francis Seymour-Conway, first Marquess of Hertford, educated at Eton and
Harrow, he was MP for Orford (1794-90) and Totnes (1796-1801).
Lord Henry Seymour (1746-1830)
The second son of Francis Seymour-Conway, first Marquess of Hertford, educated at Eton
and Hertford and Merton Colleges, Oxford, he was MP for Coventry (1766-74), Midhurst
(1774-8)), and Downton (1780-84). He was an acquaintance of George Crabbe.
Lord Robert Seymour (1748-1831)
The third son of Francis Seymour-Conway, first Marquess of Hertford, educated at Eton, he
was an army officer and MP for Wootton Bassett (1784-90) and Carmarthenshire
(1807-20).
Lord William Seymour-Conway (1759-1837)
The son of the first marquess of Hertford; he was educated at Harrow and Christ Church,
Oxford and was MP for Coventry (1783-84), Downton (1785-90), and Oxford (1790-96).
