OLIVER GOLDSMITH S LIFE AND TIMES. [BOOK ra.

1764. and could not have believed that Lady Susan would have

-m-26: stooped so low. On the other hand. Goldsmith speaks of

O'Brien's elegance and accomplishments, (" by nature formed

to please," said Churchill), and seems to think them, not

unfairly matched.* But much depends on whether these

" as the most honorable alliance in the pedigree. The dowager Lady Walpole,"
'(his aunt) " you know, was a French staymaker's daughter. When ambassadress
'' in France, the queen expressed surprise at her speaking so good French. Lady
' Walpole said she was a Frenchwoman. ' Francaise !' replied the queen. ' Vous
' 'Francaise, madame ! et de quelle famille ?' 'D'aucune, madame,' answered
' my aunt. Don't you think that aucune sounded greater than Montmorency
' would have done ? One must have a great soul, to be of the aucune family •
' which is not necessary, to be a Howard." Lett, to Mann, ii. 221.
* A clever little piece called Cross Purposes was written by O'Brien, who after-
wards, on his return from America, less successfully borrowed from the French
a comedy called the Duel. O'Brien lived to a very great age, and is remembered
living "on his farm" in one of the midland counties during the first quarter of the
present century; while his wife, Lady Susan, did not die till 1827, at the ripe age
of 84. I am happy to be able to quote a hitherto unpublished letter of his to George
Garriek, which pleasantly exhibits the social nature of the man, the regret with
which he entered the temporary exile to which the pride of his wife's grand relations
had sentenced him, and the wondrous changes which something short of a century
has made in the scene of his exile. The letter was probably one of his first from
New York, and its date shows with what a horrible haste (" O'Brien and his lady
" big with child," writes Gray to the master of Pembroke, Oct. 29, 1764, " are
"embarked for America to cultivate their 40,000 acres of woodland") the
fashionable folk had packed them off. " NEW YOBK, Nov. IQtJi, 1764. DEAR
" GEORGE, Though I think you don't deserve it at my hands, yet I must write
" to you, and beg you will take the first opportunity, to let me hear from you,
" how you do, and how every thing goes on among you at old Drury, where
" I often wish myself, just to take a peep thro' the curtain and have a frisk in the
"green-room. How came-you never once to take your leave of us, but go to
" Hampton and take no sort of notice of us; you must clear that up to me. Is
" your Brother come to England ? I shan't write to him till I hear from him, and
" know where he is. I suppose you long to have an account of our passage, and
" this place. As to the first, it was a very remarkable one for the time of year,
'•" they say, being only 34 days—but between you and I, the tempest we have been
" used to see on dry land before a crowded house, is far pleasanter than some we
" met with on the American coast. I assure you I thought it a serious affair, and
" began to say my short prayers. Lady Susan was vastly ill the whole way, but
'' is now quite well again and sends you her compliments. New York is not equal
" to London, but we shall be very comfortable I make no doubt—every one here
" seems extremely disposed to make it as agreeable as possible to us. Everything
"appears just in the bud, a.world in its infancy, which to folks used to the
"conveniences and luxuries of" London is at the first rather awkward—timetes Desmoulins, and does not love Williams. Desmoulins