Memoirs, journal, and correspondence of Thomas Moore

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I

[

MEMOIRS,

JOURNAL, AND CORRESPONDENCE

OF

THOMAS MOORE.

VOL. VI.

(The Auihor's Aikigneet hereby give Notice that they reserfe to themselves the right of

Translatlou of this Work.)

]

%♦ The Copyright of this Work is protected in France by Regis-
tration at Paris, pursuant to the Convention for the establishment of
International Copyright signed at Paris, 3rd November, 1851.

London:

Spottirwooobd and Sbaw,
New-ttreet-Square.

v

iversitt;

M B M C li R e „

MBM0IE8,

JOURNAL, AND C0REE8P0NDENCE

THOMAS MOORE.

EDITED BY
THE BIGHT HONOURABLE

LORD JOHN RUSSELL, M.P,

■' spiral fldhnG amor." — Hon.

LONDON:

LONGMAN, BKOWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS,

1854.

N

>

<«

9SB

PHEFACE

THE SIXTH VOLUME.

To the close of tte present volume I have glv-en from
Moore's own diary, fully and minutely, the story of his
life. Having reached a period only twenty years from
the present time, I propose to employ with more reserve
the remaining portion of my materials. The constant re-
petition of daily engagements becomes at length wearisome ;
and as we approach nearer the present day the duty of
omission becomes at once difficult and indispensable.

But before I quit these volumes, it may be weU to take
a retrospect of that portion of the course which has been
run, to throw a light on some passages that may seem
obscure, and to obviate some inferences which have been
rashly made from imperfect knowledge or malignant con-
jectui-e.

It must be obvious, to any one who has read these
pages, that the character of Moore was not difficult to
understand, although, like that of most men, it was
not without inconsistencies and contradictions. "With a
keen sense of enjoyment, he loved music and poetry, the
' world and the playhouse, the large circle of society, and

VOL. VI. a

i

VI PREFACE,

the narrow precincts of his home. His heart was thriUed
by deep feelings of devotion, and his mind expatiated over
the wide field of philosophy. In all that he did, and
wrote, and spoke, there was a freedom and a frankness
which alarmed and delighted: — frightened old men of the
world, and charmed young men and young women who
were something better than the world. With a love and
affection ready to burst out on all sides, he felt as he
sang:

^ They may rail at this life : from the hour I began it,
I've found it a life full of kindness and bliss ;
And until they can show me some happier planet,
More social and bright, T\\ content me with this.

*^ Oh ! think what a world we should have of it here,
If the haters of peace, of affection, and glee
Were to fly up to Saturn's comfortless sphere.

And leave earth to such spirits as you, love, and me/*

I have not endeavoured to conceal his weaknesses. I
have allowed it to be seen that he was dazzled by the
first aspect of London society ; that, in making confessions
to his mother which he would not make to any one else,
he avowed his delight at being noticed by the Prince of
Wales, and chronicled all the praises which his poems re-
ceived. Sagacious persons have thence argued that he
had a great deal of vanity. A few words on this topic
may not be amiss.

There is much truth in the maxim of La Kochefoucauld,
that ** what most offends us in the vanity of others is that it
jars with our own," Every one says to himself, "There is
a man so absorbed with his own merits that he does not per-

PREFACE. yii

ceive mine." Still there are different kinds of vanity, and
each partakes of the character of the person in whom it
resides. Of these kinds the worst is that which makes
little display, but is continually at work in depreciating
others that our own superiority may become conspicuous.
A vanity of this kind is largely mixed with envy. It is
an envy too. the more odious, as it is not content with
hating some single person, or aiming at some single advan-
tage, but hates every person who is admired and loved,
and every quality for which a person is admired and loved.
This kind of vanity cannot bear that a girl of eighteen
should be admired for her beauty, or a child of three for
its prattle. Any thing that attracts and absorbs attention
is gall and wormwood to it. But above all, when that parti-
cular merit which competes with its own supposed eminence
is admired, nothing is spared to injure, to depreciate, to de-
press the person thus endowed. The most sacred bonds of
friendship, the strongest ties of affection, are broken to
indulge its boundless passion. Truly did Mr. Sheridan say,
that ambition and avarice are not so destructive in their
rage or so furious in their career as vanity. He must
have meant vanity of this kind. There is another kind of
vanity, which is in many respects the opposite dT that
which I have described. It is open and ingenuous, taking
for granted that all the world adopts its own estimate of its
own excellence, and therefore in excellent humour with all
the world. If the world sneers and depreciates, a person
of this character ascribes the sarcasm to the malignity of
some one, or some few, and goes on satisfied and happy as
before* Vanity of this kind is often joined with much

a 2

Vm PREFACE.

kindness^ and even with simplicity and candour. It is
compatible with a high appreciation of the works and
acts of others. It often overflows in benevolence towards
family, friends, neighbours, and mankind in general

I own it appears to me that an open confession of this
kind is preferable to a humility which is often nothing
better than hypocrisy. It is difficult to believe that a
poet, an orator, or an historian, whose fame is an echo to
every effort of his genius, can be ignorant of his own
merit. When Horace says —

*^ Exegi monumentum sere perennius,'*

and when Ovid, in the same spirit, exclaims —

'* Jamque opus exegi quod nee Jovis Ira nee ignis,
Nee poterit ferrum, nee edax abolere vetustas,"

I applaud their manly candour^ and acknowledge the truth
of their prophecies. It is the same with Dante, Milton,
Ariosto, and many others. They knew their powers and
were too honest to affect ignorance of them. But when Mr.
Burke, who must have been conscious that his eloquence
was stamped with genius and fraught with the treasures
of a rich iniagination, represents himself as nothing more
than an industrious plodding member of Parliament, I
cannot fail to perceive that he is mocking his hearers, and
that he pretends to a humility he does not feel.

Now it would be folly to deny that Moore had a good
opinion of his own powers, and that he was delighted
with every tribute, oral, written, and printed, to his
talents. But his love of praise was joined with the most
generous and liberal dispensation of praise to others, He

PREFACE. IX

relished the works of Byron and of Scott as if he had
been himself no competitor for fame with them. Another
man^ in his position, upon seeing the hospitable mansion
of Abbotsford, might have felt some envy at the largeness
of the possession acquired by the pen of a rival. But Moore
only felt that it was a position due to genius ; and, when
the frail fabric of Scott's fortune tumbled to the ground,
lamented with genuine sympathy the downfall of a pro-
sperity to which he himself had never aspired, but which
he considered the right of the ** Author of Waverley."

The Journal or Diary of Moore occupies the chief part
of these volumes. He has recorded in it the conversations
which took place at the dinners and parties where he was
a guest. Some persons are of opinion that such conver-
sations ought not to be written, and if written ought not
to be printed. Yet it wiU hardly be denied that there is
an interest in the talk of men of talent which is hardly to
be found in their most laboured works. One poet has
recorded of Addison that he was

" Form'd with each talent and each art to please,
And born to write, converse, and live with ease."

Another poet, remembering the groves he loved, says —

" 'Twas here of just and good he reasoned strong.
Cleared some great -truth, or rais*d some serious song."

There is no one, I imagine, who would not be glad to

have before him a journal of these conversations, and to

see rescued from oblivion the discourse which Pope and

Swift and Tickell celebrated for its thought and loved for

its amiability.

a 3

I

X PREFACE.

The defect of Moore's Journal, in my opinion^ is, that
while he is at great pains to put in writing the stories and
the jokes he hears, he seldom records a serious discussion
or notices the instructive portion of the conversations in
which he bore a part. It may be of some interest to
recall, however, the character and type of the conversa-
tions which were carried on by the eminent men now
lost to us with whom Moore habitually lived. Lord
Bacon has said that ^^ reading makes a full man, writing a
correct man, and conversation a ready man." It may be
added that in this, as in other arts, *^ practice makes
perfect." Those who have been renowned for their
powers of conversation were constantly engaged in that
pleasant task. Addison would pass seven or eight
hours a-day in coffee-houses and taverns. Johnson told
Boswell that his habit was to go out at four o'clock
in the afternoon and not to return till two o'clock in the
morning. A vast time for these learned men to spend in
talk ! Yet, having armed themselves at all points by
study, it was no doubt a great delight to these knights
of the library to try the temper of their weapons, to run
full tilt against an adversary with pointed epigram, and to
win the prize in a tournament of wits.

But beyond the mere pleasure of the encounter, it can-
not be disputed that much is to be learnt from the con-
versation of men of reading and observation. Mr. Fox
declared that he learnt more from Mr. Burke's conversa-
tion than from all the books he had ever read. It often
happens, indeed, that a short remark in conversation
contains the essence of a quarto volume.

PREFACE. XI

Of all those whose conversation is referred to hj Moore,
Sir James Mackintosh was the ablest, the most brilliant, )-
and the best informed. A most competent judge in this '
matter, Sydney Smith, has said, ^^ Till subdued by age
and illness, his conversation was more brilliant and in- -
structive than that of any human being I ever had the t
good fortune to be acquainted with."* His stores of i
learning were vast, and of those kinds which, both in
serious and in light conversation, are most available. He .
was profoundly acquainted with the doctrines of the
ancient sects of philosophy and the modem churches of
Christianity, and he so tempered, assisted, and controlled
his memory by his judgment, that if he were referred
to on any disputed point, his answer would give, not
merely the fact, but a condensed argument on the con-
troversy. So that not only was the hearer correctly in-
formed of the exact nature of the tenet which he inquired
about, but such light was thrown upon it that he could
account for its rise, its prevalence, and its tendency, with-
out further investigation. This information too, which
no book or number of books of reference would have
given, was conveyed in the easy language of conversation,
and^with the unassuming tone of an equal and a com-
panion. Indeed, his mind seemed to comprehend in dis-
tinct but harmonious method the whole history of human
thought, from the earliest speculations of the friends of
Job to the latest subtleties of the disciples of Kant. With
rare impartiality of mind, and a charity of disposition stil

♦ Life of Mackintosh, vol. ii. p. 500. \ ^

a 4 ^

XU PREFACE.

more rare, he gave its full weight to every opinion, and
made the fairest allowance for every error. Not less copious
and instructive was his knowledge of civil and political
history ; the conduct of Queen Elizabeth to Queen Mary,
the projects of the Crusaders, the views of the leaders of
party during the French Revolution, — all found in him
a searching inquirer and an impartial judge. On lifter
subjects he was equally at home; epigrams, farces, and
novels were not less familiar to him than the treatises of
Grotius or the annals of Thuanus. Possessing a good
share of wit and humour, he took his part in political
warfare, armed no less with the ^* tart reply " than with
the *^ eloquent harangue." I remember sitting by him
when a great lawyer, disclaiming, from the Treasury
Bench, all participation in the opinions of the Liberal
party, said, " I could see nothing to tempt me in the views
of the gentlemen opposite." *^ For views read prospects,"
whispered Mackintosh to me. Thus endowed, conversa-
tion was his favourite employment and his chief seduction.
His style in writing was far from being clear and idio-
matic; his manner of speaking in Parliament was too
elaborate, perhaps too didactic, and his voice harsh and
hoarse ; but in society his gentle bearing and his vigorous
tone made him powerful and pleasing, victorious and
delightful.

If it is difficult to convey any notion of the conversation

of Sir James Mackintosh, it is hardly possible to de-

1 scribe that of Sydney Smith. There are two kinds of

colloquial wit which equally contribute to fame, though

not equally to agreeable conversation. The one is

1

PREFACE. XUl

like a rocket in a dark air which shoots at once into
the sky, and is the more surprising from the previous
silence and gloom ; the other is like that kind of firework
which blazes and bursts out in every direction, exploding
at one moment, and shining brightly at another, eccentric
in its course, and changing its shape and colour to many
forms and many hues. Or, as a dinner is set out with
two kinds of champagne, so these two kinds of wit, the
still and the sparkling, are to be found in good company.
Sheridan and Talleyrand were among the best examples
of the first. Hare (as I have heard) and Sydney Smith
were brilliant instances of the second. Hare I knew only
by tradition; but with Sydney Smith I long lived inti-
mately. His great delight was to produce a succession of
ludicrous images: these followed each other with a rapidity
that scarcely left time to laugh; he himself laughing
louder and with more enjoyment than any one. This
electric contact of mirth came and went with the occasion ;
it cannot be repeated or reproduced. Anything would
give occasion to it. For instance, having seen in the
newspapers that Sir JEneas Mackintosh was come to
town, he drew such a ludicrous caricature of Sir JEneas
and Lady Dido, for the amusement of their namesake,
that Sir James Mackintosh rolled on the floor in fits of
laughter, and Sydney Smith, striding across him, ex-
claimed, "Ruat Justitial" His powers of fun were at
the same time united with the strongest, and most practical
common sense. So that while he laughed away serious-
ness at one minute, he destroyed in the next some rooted
prejudice which had braved for a thousand years the battle

'{

xiv PREFAClfc.

of reason, and the breeze of ridicule. The letters of Peter
Plymley bear the greatest likeness to his conversation;
the description of Mr, Isaac Hawkins Brown dancing
at the court of Naples in a volcano coat with lava
buttons, and the o<Mnparifion of Mr. Canning to a large
blue-bottle fly with its parasites, most resemble the pictures
he raised up in social conversation. It may be averred
for certain, that in this style he has never been equalled,
and I do not suppose he will ever be surpassed.

It has been said that Moore was a cordial admirer of
Scott. Nor was personal intimacy likely to diminish
their mutual attraction. For Scott had, like Moore, a
frankness and a freedom in his conversation which soared
far above the small jealousies, snarling criticisms, and
faint praise, which are but too often exhibited among
authors when speaking of each other. Scott, with a
good, sound understanding, had an open, hearty man-
ner, and, where his politics did not interfere, a cordial
warmth towards his fellow-men. His chief merits in
society were a cheerful tone, an inexhaustible memory,
and a fund of anecdotes and stories which he told
with strong Scottish humour, aided by a strong Scottish
accent. But, in order to see Walter Scott at his ease, it
was necessary to see him at the head of his own table, or,'
at least, in his own coimtry. When he came to London,
he was stiff and constrained, and seemed always appre-
hensive of remarks which he should feel bound to resent.
The consequence was, that his London acquaintance were
equally constrained with him. But put him in his own
house, surround him with friends, and there could not be

\i

PREFACE. XV

a more jovial, a more agreeable, or a more unaffected
member of society. Like Samuel Johnson, he pretended
to no fine sentiment, or divine inspiration, which made
him an author. He did his work as a workman ; knew the
merits and the defects of his writings, and was contented
to reap the reward of a very popular talent without over-
rating the intrinsic value of the article he produced. This
wholesome, genial, kind, and manly disposition is as visible
in his letters as it was in his intercourse with his neigh-
bours. Byron has said, —

*' I hate an author who's all author : fellows
In foolscap uniform tum'd up with ink."

Scott was the reverse of this, and enjoyed his pony and
his dogs as if he had been the homeliest squire on Tweed-
side.

Among the houses where Moore was most in the habit
of dining when m London, was Holland House. The
conversation of that house has been commemorated with
no more than just praise in an article of the " Edinburgh
Review," written by Mr. Macaulay. Yet I cannot deny
myself the pleasure of adding my tribute to the name of
Lord Holland.

Lord Holland early in life sate at the feet of his cele-
brated uncle. From Mr. Fox he learnt an ardent hatred
of oppression, an attachment to the leading principles of
the British Constitution, indignant detestation of reli-
gious persecution, and a sympathy for all nations endea-
vouring to shake off the yoke of tyranny. With a taste
also fostered by, if not derived fromy»Mr. Fox, he had a
great love of classical literature, both ancieht and modern.

Xyi PREFACE.

With these strong affections and decided tastes, he united a
love of society, which absorbed much of his time, and dis-
sipated much of his energy ; so that instead of being like
Mr. Fox a great leader of party, he was rather a faithful
adherent to generous principles, and a warm friend to all
who suffered from the fury of an Anti- Jacobin ascendency.
But the same love of agreeable society which somewhat
blunted the weapons of Parliamentary warfare, added to
the grace and liveliness of his conversation. The extreme
cheerfulness of his disposition, his kindness to all around
him, his toleration for aU opinions, his keen sense of the
ridiculous, his anecdotes of political debates, enlivened by
his admirable mimicry of the chief speakers, made him the
pleasantest host who ever presided over a hospitable feast.
Lady Holland took care to collect around him nearly
every man of eminence in the political, literary, scientific
and social world: each received a genial welcome, and
shared in a refined and friendly intercourse, no less re-
markable for its absence of formality or exclusiveness, than
for its wit and intelligence. Such was Lord Holland in
the position where he was most admired, and could best be
appreciated. From want of practice, and it must be said
for want of that animated kind of debate which was
best suited to his powers, he never rose to great emi-
nence as a speaker ; from want of leisure and time to
concentrate his thoughts and polish his style he never
attained to much distinction as a writer: in conversa-
tion, however, if he had neither the extensive learning
of Mackintosh, nor the broad humour of Sydney Smith,
. he had £t quickness of observation and practical experience

PREFACE, Xvii

of the stirring conflicts of the age, which made him the
equal of any man of his time in the charm of conversation.
He won without seeming to court, he instructed without
seeming to teach, and he amused without labouring to be
witty. But of the charm which belonged to Lord Hol-
land's conversation future times can form no adequate
conception : -—

^* The pliant muscles of the various face,
The mien that gave each sentence strength and grace,
The tuneful voice, the eye that spoke the mind.
Are gone, nor leave a single trace behind."

Such were some of the class which Moore loved to
frequent. Scott, indeed, did not properly belong to it,
but the others are a sample of men belonging to the
higher society of England in the first half of the present
century.

The character of Moore was much influenced, however,
by conversation of a very different kind from that of phi-
losophers, or poets. It is impossible to read many pages
of his " Journal " without perceiving that the conversation
of women had for him a very great attraction, and that
among women he always preferred the natural, the simple,
and the amiable, to the learned, the brilliant, and the
wise. Or rather, perhaps I should say, he considered that
the women who had the truest hearts had likewise the
best minds, and that the authoress who shines as a wit too
frequently loses that quick perception of the just and the
unjust, the truth and the pretence, which seems to belong
as an instinct to the less celebrated of her sex. If Moore's
taste in this respect may have misled him in his youth, he

XVIU PREFACE.

was saved from final error by his marriage to one of the
noblest of women. Mrs. Moore brought him no fortune ;
indeed it was intended that she should earn her living by
the stage^ and Moore^ afraid that so unworldly a match
might displease his parents^ at first concealed from them
the fact of his marriage. But the excellence of his wife's
moral character ; her energy and courage 5 her abhorrence
of all meanness ; her disinterested abstinence from
amusement ; her persevering economy ; made her a better,
and even a richer partner to Moore, than an heiress of ten
thousand a year would have been with less devotion to her
duty, and less steadiness of conduct.

There was another person whose society Moore fre-
quented with a growing admiration of its excellence, and
an increasing appreciation of the benefits he derived from
it. I cannot properly expatiate upon the character of one
whose virtues loved to retire even from the praise of loving
retirement ; who sought in works of charity and bene-
ficence among her poorer neighbours, a compensation for
the worldly advantages which excited the envy of others j
but among the good influences which surrounded Moore,
and led him to revere a woman *' unspotted from the
world," I could not omit to allude to his intercourse
with her who diffused an air of holiness, and peace, and
purity over the house of Bowood, which neither rich nor
poor can ever forget.

In the former volumes some errors have been pointed
out to me, which, in future editions, will be corrected.
Mr. Leeves was not the author of the words of " Auld
Bobin Gray," but of the music. Dr. Croly was men-

PREFACE. XIX

tioned as one who had attacked Moore anonymously;
there was no truth in this report ; and I have to regret
that, misled by a different spelling of the name, I allowed
a passage to stand injurious to the reputation of a man of
Dr. Croly's talents and character.

I hope to complete the work in eight volumes.

MEMOIRS,
JOURNAL, AND CORRESPONDENCE

ov

THOMAS MOOEE.

VOL. VI.

'university

DIARY

OF

THOMAS MOORE.

1829.

[The year 1829 opened with a very general speculation
and anxiety as to the course about to be pursued by the
Duke of Wellington and his colleagues in the question of
Koman Catholic Emancipation, Since the time when
Mr. Pitt resigned his undisputed power because he was not

I allowed to bring this question forward, the plan of relieving
the Roman Catholics from their civil disabilities had from
time to time been a subject of parliamentary discussion.

f Mr. Fox, in 1805, had introduced a motion in the House
of Commons for this purpose. From that period the
Whigs, with undeviating consistency, had declared that
the claims of the Catholics were founded in justice, and
ought to be conceded. The more able of the Tory party
generally adopted the same view. Lord Wellesley, Mr.

I Canning, Lord Castlereagh agreed with Lord Grenville,
Lord Spencer, Lord FitzwilHam, and Mr, Windham upon
this question. Lord Liverpool had made it an open
question in his cabinet. Hence, upon this vital question
of internal government, Mr. Canning was seen consulting

B 2

4 DIARY OF [^TAT. 60.

witli Sir Francis Burdett and Mr. Brougham, while he
answered his colleague Mr. PeeL The great schism
among the Tory party, in 1827, rose from this diversity
of opinion. Lord Eldon and Mr. Peel would not consent
to serve under a Prime Minister who favoured the Koman
Catholic claims.

The Duke of Wellington had taken little part In these
discussions. He supported Lord Liverpool in the cabinet,
but would have supported him equally had he declared
at any time that the claims of Koman Catholics could no
longer be resisted.

When he became himself Prime Minister, he took a
calm view of the situation of the country. In the summer
and autumn of 1828, Ireland was organised for agitation
and almost for civil war. The Duke determined to yield.
By his great authority, by his firmness, by his patience^ he
gained over his colleagues. He then obtained the reluctant
assent of the King to announce the proposed concession in
the speech from the throne.

The following extract alludes to the subject. — Ed.]

January 1st, 1829. Left Bowood before breakfast, in
order to have more of the day to myself. Intended, at
first, to return to dinner, but fixed for Saturday next
instead." Found a letter from Barnes, saying that the
verses I had sent him (in ridicule of the Duke of Welling-
ton) had been actually set up in type, but that, on maturer
deliberation, he had decided not to print them. He then
gives his reasons at length, being, in substance, that he
has great hopes from the Duke for the Catholic question ;
that it would be, therefore, wrong to maTse a laughing-
stock of him, &c. &c., but that they will watch him well,
and should they see reason to attack him, will then be glad
of the aid of my '^ formidable artillery."

Jan. 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 5

3rd. Walked over to Bowood to dinner. The only
addition to the company a Russian, whose name nobody
could pronoimce for me. Lady L. begged me to take
Miss Fox out in going to dinner, and sit next Lord
Lansdowne. After the ladies went followed him to the
other end of the table, and got next the Kussian ; a very
intelligent man, and much versed in the literature of
England, as well as of every other part of Europe.
Told me that there were two translations of my ** Irish
Melodies " into Russian, and that he had with him the
translation of my ^^ Peri," made by the Russian poet
who accompanied the present Empress when she was at
Berlin. In the evening sung a good deal. The Russian
showed me the translation of my ^^ Peri " in a collection
of Russian poems which he had bound together to read in
travelling. My name in the Russian was made MurosoUy
the ou at the end being, as in Greek, the sign of the geni-
tive case, '^ of Moore." Walter Scott not at all to be
recognised in its Russian shape. Said that there are two
different schools of style in Russia ; the one being advo-
cates for a mixture of the old Sclavonic words with their
diction, and the other all for a new and purer phraseology.
Petersburg and Moscow have each their distinct literary
circles, — that of Moscow he thinks the best. Generally
two translations of any celebrated foreign work, — a Mos-
cow and a Petersburg one. Read aloud to us a good part
of the Russian '^ Peri," which sounded very musically.

4th. News of Lord Anglesey's recall from Ireland.
A great sensation at breakfast, every one producing their
letters of private intelligence, with rumours of his succes-
sor, &c. &c. Lord L., when asked how he was this morn-
ing, answered, " All the better for reading Anglesey's
admirable letter."

B 3

6 DTART OF [JEtat. 50.

8th* Bessy took Anastasia to Devizes, to consult Dr.
Brabant about her knee, which has been more than usually
tender these some days past : her cries this morning dread-
ful. Little Henry Fitzmaurice called with a message
about to-morrow from Lady L. Sent oflf the verses,
'' Rival Topics," to « The Times." Find it a hard task
now to write anything with a mind so harassed as mine is
by the prolonged illness of the child, and the evident effect
it begins to have upon the (even far more precious) health
of the mother, who looks every day more and more worn
with it.

9th. The Lansdownes' carriage came for us at half-
past seven, and Bessy, Tom, Kussell, and I set off in it ;
my dearest Bess looking remarkably well, and danced four
country dances.

16th. Walked over to Bo wood to dinner. Lord L.
showed me after dinner a letter he had received from Lord
Anglesey, explaining the circumstances that led to his re-
call and to the publication of his letter to Curtis ; was very
well written, and both the style and the feeling showing
him to have been fully capable of the letter to the Arch-
bishop. One word in it rather an odd coinage : ^^ up-
holdatory of his government." Set off at nine for the ball.
The Houltons there, looking very handsome. Kerry all
happiness, and I tant soit peu ennuye. Got to Bowood be-
tween two and three. My intention was to return home,
but Lady L. persuaded me to stay and sleep.

19th. Walked into Devizes, to see Dr. Brabant about
Anastasia. Had a long consultation with him ; the state
of inaction into which she has fallen lately having given
us great uneasiness, and the limb making no progress
whatever.

20th. A letter from my sister Ellen, to say that my
mother is very ill, and Crampton attending her. This, at

^

Jan. 1829.] TH6MA& MOORE. 7

her age, is alarming, and affected me deeply, my darling
Bessy doing all in her power to strengthen and prepare
my mind for the worst. A note from Lord Kerry, pro-
posing to take Bessy and me to the Devizes ball to-night,
but declined.

21st, 22nd. A letter to say that my mother is better.

26th. Some conversation with Lord L., Elwyn, &c.,
after breakfast. Lord Peterborough, being once sur-
rounded by a mob, who took him for the Duke of Marl-
borough, then very unpopular, looked out of the carriage
window, and said, ^* I assure you, my good friends, you
are mistaken in your man ; I have rather a large sum of
money in my carriage, and, to convince you I am not the
Duke of Marlborough, here it is, very much at your ser-
vice." Elwyn mentioned to me an anecdote of Lord

Byron having once taken a challenge from to

Chief Justice Best, on accoimt of the latter having said

that was a great rascal. ** I confess, my Lord, I

did say that was a great rascal, and I now repeat

the assertion to your Lordship ; but are you aware. Lord
Byron,** (he added, laughing,) " of the consequences you
expose yourself to, by bringing a challenge to a Chief
Justice ?" Lord Byron was soon made to feel the ridicule
of the step, and they parted very good friends, leaving

's honour to shift for itself. Fielding and Lord

Lansdowne walked part of the way home with me.

27th. Busy reusing my MS. of Byron's Life, in order
to send some of it up by Lord Lansdowne.

[The beginning of this year was clouded by the iUness
and death of Anastasia, the remaining daughter of Mr.
and Mrs, Moore, She was of a gentle and affectionate
nature, with a sensibility and modesty of character which

B 4

I

8 DIAET OF [JEtat. 50.

deeply engaged the tenderness of her parents, Moore
seems to have been afraid of disturbing her mind with
religious preparation; but Mrs. Moore had long before
inculcated in her daughter's mind those lessons of piety
she was so well qualified to give. — Ed.]

February 1st, Walked over to Bo wood, with my two
copybooks ; found the Fieldings there to luncheon. Lord
L, asked me to stay and dine with them as I was. Went
in to prayers with them; a passage in the sermon Guthrie
preached, "scenes of great distress await us all," struck
mournfully on my heart, which has long had sad misgiv-
ings about our poor Anastasia. Staid to dinner* Walked
home at night.

2nd. Bessy called with the Hugheses and Anastasia ;
asked me to go in and dine at Devizes, which I did. Our
dear child not looking at all as I could wish. Though
Dr. Brabant and I were left alone together after dinner,
dreaded asking him about her.

3rd. Breakfasted at Hughes's ; our darling child look-
ing, as she lay in bed, like one dying. Walked home to
Sloperton with a heavy heart.

4th and 5th. At home at work. On the 5th, Bessy
came with the Hugheses and Anastasia ; a sad scene with
my poor Bessy, who evidently fears the worst. On the
evening of the 5th received a letter of Luttrell's to Scott
(which my kind Bess despatched to me), announcing the
certainly that Emancipation is to be recommended in the
King's forthcoming speech. Could I ever have thought
that this event would, under any circumstances, find me
indifferent to it ? yet such is almost the case at present.
Did not see Bessy's writing on the cover (congratulating
me on the news, and saying, " let me have one line ") till

Feb. 1829.] THOMAS MOOEE. fl

I had sent off the servant ; and fearing she might be dis-
appomted, wrote a little note, and went out to get some
one to take it, though past eight o'clock and pitch dark.
The blacksmith's boy, however, undertook it readily.

6th. Obliged to go to Locke's to dinner, having pro-
mised a fortnight since to meet the Bishop of Bath and
Wells, who made it a particular request that I should be
of the party. Were I in a state to be amused, would
have been abundantly so by the consternation of my
Lord the. bishop and five parsons (who proved our com-
pany) at the announcement in the King's speech. Dis-
cussed the subject after dinner, and (notwithstanding our
toto coelo difference of opinion) got on very smoothly with
them. Slept at Locke's. The Bishop expressed great
compunction at having been one of those who gave way
on the Corporation and Test Acts.

7th, Locke at breakfast said that the Bishop (who had
started early) was quite delighted with me and with the
way I spoke my mind I After breakfast set out to walk
to Devizes, but met Bessy and Anastasia coming for me ;
got in with them and went on to Devizes. The dreadful
truth at last forced upon me, that there were but little
hopes for our poor girl. Bessy herself has known (and
been wasting away on the knowledge of) it these three
weeks, but feared to distress me by telling it. Has sent
for Dr. Fowler of Salisbury, and expects him to-day.
Walked home.

8th. Bessy arrived with Anastasia between three and
four. Fowler has twice seen her, and says there are some
favourable symptoms, but those of an opposite kind, by
what I can collect, predominate. Never was there any
thing in this world equal to the feeling, the firmness, the
total sacrifice of self, the perfection, in short, of all

10 DIARY OP [^TAT. 50.

womanly virtue that exists in my beloved Bessy. Re-
solved, for her sake, to rally all my fortitude, and prepare
for the worst.

9th to 12. A melancholy week, but lucky for me that
I am obliged to work, as it, in some degree, distra<its my
thoughts. The dreadful moment is that interval at night,
when I have done working and am preparing for bed. It
is then every thing most dreadful crowds upon me, and
the loss not only of this dear child, but of all that I love
in the world, seems impending over me. Have sent up to
Murray, since Lord L. went, two more books of copy.
Shall be obliged to go up myself to arrange about printing.
Sent an apology to the Fieldings for both the lOth and
the 12th, when I was to have dined with them, telling
them the hopeless state of our poor child. Nothing could
surpass the kindness of them and everybody else. A
letter from Lady Lansdowne, offering Bessy and me
rooms at Bowood whenever we might wish to go there.
Our poor girl sometimes cheerful, and the night before
last not only made me play some waltzes to her, but
hummed one or two herself.

13th to 15th. Some signs of amendment in our dear
girl ; so much so, as to give us a gleam of hope — Bessy,
particularly, beginning to think more cheerfully of it.

16th. All our hopes dashed ; the darling child's weak-
ness evidently increasing. Doubtful whether I should
leave home, but Bessy thinks it better now than later.

17 th. Walked to Devizes, and started in the Emerald
a little before eleven o'clock ; only one companion. Bead
Penrose's Journal, on account of Lord Byron's mention of
it; found it tiresome. Got to town between nine and
ten; found my room at Sandon's ready for me. Had
something to eat at the Athenaeum.

Feb. 1829.] THOMAS MOOBE. 11

18 th. A note from Murray, to come and breakfast with
him ; found Davidson there. Called upon Rogers ; walked
with me on my way to Power's. In speaking of Young the
poet, as being a very merry fellow in conversation, he said,
** I dare say that people who act melancholy as he did, must
have a vent in some way or other. Now, mutes at fune-
rals, I can imagine them when they throw off their cloaks,
playing leapfrog together.'' From Power's went to Lans-
downe House ; saw her ; full of kindness and feeling about
our dear child ; neither herself nor Lord Lansdowne well.
Went to the Donegals; saw poor Lady D. Thence to
call on O'Connell at Batt's. The waiter told me that
there came about forty or fifty poor devils of Irish there
every day with petitions to the great Dan. Found with
O'Connell Mr. Bellew, Sir T. Esmonde, O'Gorman, and
a priest. O'Connell, showing me a packet just arrived
from Charleston with contributions, said, ^^ It is these
things have done it." Mentioned a curious judgment he
once heard Curran deUver as Master of the Rolls, on a
case connected with the theatre, about free admissions,
which the renters wished to restrain ; in which he drew
an illustration from Lundy Foot, and said that this tobac-
conist might as well bring an action for damages against a
man, who, in passing by his shop, ^^ caught an eleemosy-
nary pinch of snuff on the breeze." He then proceeded to
say that the case reminded him of his youthful days, when
he was a great visitor of the theatre, and when, being
always of an aspiring disposition, he used to choose the
loftiest situation in the house; that there he used to
observe that the gratuitous part of the audience were the
most clamorous and applausive ; and accordingly came to
the conclusion, that " if free admissions were not allowed,
not only would the theatre be proportionately thinner, but

I

12 MARY OF [-Etat. 50.

(what would be a serious grievance) bad acting would go
without applause.^ Told me a story of himself having,
one morning, at the inn at Killamey, got up early for the
purpose of setting off by the coach, and as he walked up
and down the passage repeating to himself my lines :

" The friends we've tried
Are by our side,"

just as he came to '* the foe we hate before us," a bed-
room door opened, and out walked Goulbum. On my saying
that from the wretched state of my mind at this moment
I could not bring myself up to the feeling they all had at
this moment, O'Qorman answered, " 'Faith, and you were
up to it as early as any man I know." I then reminded
him of a conversation we had one night in the year 1797
(I think) when he and I were in college together, he
rather my senior.

19th. A note from Murray to come and breakfast;
did so. Had been reading my MS. of Byron, and ex-
pressed himself highly delighted with it, which gave me
pleasure. Publishers, like picture-dealers, are sharpened
into taste by their interest, and acquire a knack of
knowing what is good without understanding it. Called
upon Rogers ; he had yesterday, at my request, written
to William Bankes to know whether I might call upon
him on the subject of Byron, and his answer was, cer-
tainly. Set off for Bankes's ; found him at home. Was
very civil ; said he had but few letters of B.'s he
thought free enough from personal matters to suit my
purpose, but those that were fit to be published should be
at my service. Mentioned a key to the persons alluded
to in " Hours of Idleness," which Byron had given him,
and which I should have if he could find it. Talked with
much affectiou of B. ; his sensitiveness to criticism. When

Feb. 1829. J THOMAS MOOBE. 13

Bankes was with him at Venice, he told Byron of some

Mr. S (then also at Venice, and, as Byron said,

*^ a salt fish seller"), who declared that Don Juan was all
** Grub Street.'' The effect of this on Byron was so
great, that Bankes is of opinion (as, indeed, Byron himself
told him) that it stopped Don Juan for some time. '^ That

damned Mr. S ," he used to say, speaking the first

syllable (as was his custom sometimes) broadly. He
also showed Bankes one day a drawer containing the
MS. of Don Juan, saying, "Look, here is Mr. S— 's
Grub Street." As an instance of his good nature, said
that when he arrived at Venice he found Byron had
marked down the pages of different books he had been
reading in which Bankes was favourably mentioned ; par-
ticularly what Napoleon says of him in his Memoirs.
Found Byron, he said, greatly altered in Italy ; had got
coarse. Gave me seven or eight letters, but could not
find the " Key ; " promised, however, to look for it. From
thence went to call on Mrs. Speaker, and was not a little
amused to see her-enshrined in her magnificent establish-
ment. Showed great feeling and kindness about my poor
girl. On my mentioning that I had some idea of going to
the House of Lords in the evening, asked me to dine
^ quietly with herself and daughters, and I should be put in
there when I liked. Left my card at Secretary Peel's ;
thence to Croker's, and sat with him some time.

20th. Breakfasted at the Athenaeum. Wrote a note
to Peel, saying that he must be rather surprised at seeing
my card yesterday, but that I had two motives for leaving
it at his door; the first and chief, to pay my humble
homage to what I considered the finest example of moral
courage and high-mindedness in our times, and the other
(which but for the first I should not have troubled him

14 DIAEY OP [JEtat. 50*

with) was to ask whether he recollected a cu'cumstance
which Byron mentions of him in one of his letters, and
which I then stated. I added that (as it might give him
less trouble to speak with me on the subject for two
minutes than to write) I would, myself, leave this note at
his house on my way to William Bankes's and call as I
returned. Did so. William Bankes had not been able to
find the Key to the " Childish Recollections," but gave me
another letter of Byron's. Was admitted at Mr. Peel's ;
received me very kindly, and said how much obliged he
was by my note. The circumstance mentioned by Byron
was, that Peel, in the year 1810, I think, had met (as he
thought) Lord Byron in the streets of London at a time
when the latter was actually lying ill of a fever at Patras.
The fact was. Peel said, (though he did not like his name
to be quoted seriously as an authority for a ghost story,)
he was. really under the impression, and still continued so,
that he had not only seen, but talked with Lord Byron at
the time. He then talked a good deal of Byron ; men-
tioned his fondness for low company ; the influence that the
example of his grand-uncle, the old Lord, had over his mind,
and particularly on the subject of duelling, which he accus-
tomed himself to connect with the name of Byron, and to
look to as a resource and a revenge in his manhood when
under any mortifications from being bullied by stronger
boys at school. This last remark, I owned to him, had
not occurred to me before, but I felt its truth and should
make use of it: the former observation (respecting the
general effect of the old Lord's example on his mind) I had
anticipated. On shaking hands at parting, he assured me
that nothing had been said on the late occurrences that
gave him so much pleasure as my note. Called upon Lord
John Kussell and found him at home. A good deal of

k

-\

Feb. 1829.] THOMAS MOOBE. 15

conyersation; find there is a drawback (in the mind of him
and others) on the merit of Peel's conduct, from the consi-
deration that he must have had pretty nearly the same
views of the necessity of yielding the question at the time
he separated from and opposed Canning on it. Lord J.
walked out with me. Dined at the Athenaeum between
seven and eight, and went afterwards to Power's, and
tlience to Printing House Square to see Barnes. Had
written to him before I left home, to say how impossible
it was that I could do any thing to assist him now, from
tlie state of mind I was in, and proposing to give him a
draft on the Longmans for the money the proprietors had
advanced me. Had sent me an answer, as he now told me,
to say that I need not make myself uneasy on this point,
as the proprietors were well satisfied to wait till my mind
was more at ease. Added now, too, that Walter (who
was the only one of the proprietors he ever consulted) felt
the value of my co-operation so much that he would be
most unwilling to do any thing to risk or disturb it. Met
Lord Grey this morning, as joyous as a boy about these
events (as, indeed, I find ev^ry body except myself).
Told me he counts on near sixty in the Lords.

21st; A little after nine Mrs. Shelley (on whom I
called yesterday) came in a hackney coach, as she had
announced by a note last night. Went afterwards to
Rogers's: Carey (Dante), and Danby the painter, with
him. Forth thence to the Athenaeum, where I had pro-
mised to meet Truganofi^, the Russian, who was to bring
me an accoimt of the names of the Russian translators and
imitators of Byron ; brought me also a publication he had
just received from Petersburg, containing several transla-
tions from myself, and made me a present of it. Went to
Longman's, Forget whether I mentioned their proposal

16 DIAEY OF [^TAT. 50.

to me when I was last in town respecting a sort of Cyclo-
paedia publication they meditate^ and which it was their
wish to commence with histories of Scotland and Ireland
(one small volume each) by Sir Walter Scott and myself.
What they proposed to offer me then was 500/., but, by a
letter written after my return home, 1 declined the pro-
posal, giving my reasons at length. They now returned
to the charge on new and certainly more tempting grounds,
their plan being to have a history of England by Mac-
kintosh in three small volumes, and those of Scotland and
Ireland (as before) by Scott and me, but the price raised
to 10007. for each volume ; 30007. to Sir James, and 10007.
each to Scott and me. The difficulty they apprehended
(I having said that under such circumstances I saw no
objection to the undertaking) is on the part of Scott, who
has given for answer, that in his " Tales of a Grandfather,"
he has already performed the task they demand of him.
Begged that I would join Mackintosh m a request to Sir
Walter to be our collahorateur^ which I promised to do.
Went home for my letter ; our darling, in driving out the
day before yesterday, was so exhausted that Bessy says she
can attempt it no more. Had asked Dr. Brabant whether
she should hurry me down, but he said Sunday would be
time enough, adding at the same time, that we should have
very little warning of what must soon come. Went to
Rogers's to look over the letters he has of Byron's. • * *
Slept at the Gloucester.

[The plan which is here mentione'd, of combining Mr.
Moore with Sir James Mackintosh and Sir Walter Scott
in historical works, was carried into effect. Had Mr.
Moore been able to keep to the restriction of one volume,
which seems to have been originally in contemplation, the
result might have been an easy, agreeable, and readable

Feb. 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 17

work. But, unfortunately, he extended his labours,
and spread the work over several volumes. For this
task he was not originally very well qualified. No man
knew better how to turn his researches in libraries to
account, and to pick out the jewels from the stone and
rubbish of the mine in which he was employed. But a
critical examination of obscure authorities on an obscure
subject was not a pursuit well suited to his genius. His
time was absorbed by it, his health worn, and his faculties
dragged down to a wearisome and uncongenial task.

I had long urged him to undertake the life of Grattan ;
and when the documents for that purpose were not con-
fided to him, I advised him to pass lightly over the earlier
periods of Irish history in order to narrate at length the
events which took place from the first formation of the
Volunteers to the conclusion of the Legislative Union.
There is much that is bright, as well as much that is sad,
in the history of that period. The characters of Lord
Charlemont and Mr. Grattan deserve to be drawn with a
'^ pencil of light." Purer and more upright statesmen have
never adorned the annals of any coimtry. The story of the
Kebellion of 1798, and the devotion to their mistaken cause
of Lord Edward and his associates, is of melancholy interest.

Had Moore undertaken this task, materials would have
been poured at his feet in abundance. His country would
have found in his brilliant and touching narrative the
highest examples of virtue to imitate, the sad memorials of
misdirected patriotism to lament, the foul stains of corrup-
tion to loathe, and the dreadful records of cruelty to abhor.
It is much to be regretted that such a task has not been
performed ; to a friend of Moore's, it is matter of deep
concern that he should not have performed it — Ed.]

22nd. Off at seven: an intelligent man in the coach,
VOL. vr.

\.

18 DlAEY OF [^TAT.OO.

who knew the history of all the seats along the road and of
their inhabitants^ and strewed the whole way with anec-
dotes. Arrived at Calne before five, and set off on foot
for home. Felt most anxious as I approached the cottage,
not knowing what might have happened since the day be-
fore yesterday. Could not bring myself to enter at the
hall-door, but tapped at the back kitchen window in order
to know what I was to expect. Our poor child much the
same; found her up stairs in the room she was never
again to leave alive.

23rd to 28th. The next fortnight furnishes but a me-
lancholy detail of the last hours of our darling child, the only
consolation of which was that she passed them without suf-
fering, and even in calm and cheerful enjoyment. She had
no idea of her danger, nor did Bessy, nor I, nor any of those
about her, ever show the least sign of alarm or sorrow in her
presence. There are some pious persons who would think
this wrong, and who would have disturbed and embittered
the last moments of this innocent child with religious ex-
hortations and preparations (as they would call it) for
another world, as if the whole of her short and stainless
life was not a far better preparation than any that their
oflSciousness could aflTord her. We passed every evening
together (she, and I, and her mamma) in some amusement
or other, and as it had been seldom in my power to spare
so much of my Company in this way, it was a treat to her
which she enjoyed most thoroughly. ^* What nice even-
ings we have 1" she would say to her mamma continually.
Sometimes we used to look over together a child's book in
which there were pictures from history, and talk of the
events and persons they alluded to; at another time,
Caroline Fielding's sketch-book and the engravings of
Pinelli were an amusement to her ; but, in general, what

Mabch, 1829*] THOMAS MOORE. 19

gave her pleasure was either playing a game or two at
draughts with me herself, or looking on while her mamma
and I played draughts or cribbage, and betting with me as
to which should win. However difficult it was to go on
cheerfully in such circumstances, I am convinced that
the effort did both Bessy and me much service, by
accustoming us to control our feelings, and, in a certain
degree, hardening us for the worst. I have already men-
tioned her having attempted to sing through a quadrille
one evening, a little before my departure for town, and
at the same time she gave an imitation of a foreigner
whom she had heard counterfeiting the tones of different
musical instruments with his voice at Devizes. A few
nights after my return (on the 27th I think) she said to her
mamma, when she was putting her to bed (having been all
the ev^hing in most cheerful spirits), " Shall I try and
sing?" ** Do, love," said her mamma, and she immediately
sung the line " When in death I shall calmly recline,"
without, however, (as Bessy is persuaded) having the least
idea of applying it to her own situation. In the meantime,
the poor child grew weaker every day, and the swelling in
the legs increased. She continued, however, to eat very
well and to sleep comfortably, and sat up every day,
employing herself a great part of the time (for, notwith-
standing her years, she was still perfectly a child) in dress-
ing and undressing a little doll in which she took great
delight.

March 1st to 12th. Towards the end of this week she
began to have accesses of extra weakness in the mornings,
so much so as to make me think, each time, that her last
moment was come ; but she revived from them after taking
some refreshment, and the strong cheerful tone of her
%'oice on recovering from what had appeared to be death

c 2

80 PIART OP L^TAT. 50.

seemed wonderful, and even startling. On Thursday
evening (5th) I looked over with her Pinelli's prints,
and she was much amused with and made remarks on
most of the subjects. When she used to close her eyes
from weakness, she would say, ** I can't talk, but do you
and mamma go on talking, for I like to hear you." On
Friday, she was again alarmingly weak in the morning,
and her sweet face still more sadly altered. That evening
she played a game of draughts with me ; but her exhaus-
tion was so great on getting to bed, that Bessy (who for
the last month has slept, or rather lain down on a sofa in
her room) sat up the greater part of the night. The dear
child, indeed, had often said, ^' It is odd, mamma, I never
wake in the night, but there I see you and Hannah with
your eyes fixed on me, and looking so cheerful and nice."
Poor child, she little knew what those cheerful looks cost.
On Saturday morning she was so weak that we thought it
better not to move her from her bed, and she dozed away
most of the day, occasionally teazed by her cough, but
without any other suffering. That evening she expressed
a wish that mamma and I should play a game at cribbage
together, and she would listen to us ; but she remained in
a drowsy state the whole of the time. As she did not
appear to me much weaker than last night, I entreated
Bessy to take a little sleep that she might be better able
to go through what was yet before her ; but though she
did not say so, I saw that she would sit up. Next morn-
ing (Sunday, 8th) I rose early, and on approaching the
room, heard the dear child's voice as strong, I thought, as
usual ; but, on entering, I saw death plainly in her face.
When I asked her how she had slept, she said, '* Pretty
well," in her usual courteous manner ; but her voice had a
sort of hollow and distant softness not to be described.

Mabch, 1829.] TH6MAS MOOBE. 21

When I took her hand on leaving her, she said (I thought
significantly), " Good bye, papa." I will not attempt to
tell what I felt at all this. I went occasionally to listen at
the door of the room, but did not go in, as Bessy, knowing
what an effect (through my whole fiiture life) such a scene
would have upon me, implored me not to be present at it.
Thus passed the first of the morning. About eleven
o'clock (as Bessy told me afterwards) the poor child, with
an appearance rather of wandering in her mind, said, some-
what wildly, "I shall die, I shall die;" to which her
mamma answered, " We pray to God continually for you,
my dear Anastasia, and I am sure God must love you, for
you have been always a good girl.'* ** Have I ?" she said ;
" I thought I was a very naughty girl ; but I am glad to
hear you say that I have been good; for others would
perhaps say it out of compliment, but you know me, and
must therefore think so, or you would not say it." " But
every body thinks the same, my love. All your young
friends love you. Lady Lansdowne thinks you a very
good girL" **Does she, mummy?" said the dear child;
and then added, ** Do you think I shall go to Lady Lans-
downe's party this year?" I don't know what poor Bessy
answered to this. Li about three quarters of an hour or
less she called for me, and I came and took her hand for a
few seconds, during which Bessy leaned down her head
between the poor dying child and me, that I might not see
her countenance. As I left the room, too, agonised as her
own mind was, my sweet, thoughtful Bessy ran anxiously
after me, and giving me a smelling-bottle, exclaimed, " For
God's sake don't you get ilL" In about a quarter of an
hour afterwards she came to me, and I saw that all was
over. I could no longer restrain myself; the feelings I

c 3

22 DIARY OF [-fiTAT. 5<W

had been so long suppressing found vent^ and a fit of loud
violent sobbing seized me, in which I felt as if my chest
was coming asunder. The last words of my dear child
were ** Papa, papa." Her mother had said, " My dear, I
think I could place you more comfortably; shall I?'' to
which she answered, ** Yes," and Bessy placing her hand
under her back, gently raised her. That moment was her
last. She exclaimed suddenly, ** I am dying, I am dying.
Papa! papal" and expired.

On the 12th our darling child was conveyed to Bromham
churchyard, poor Bessy having gone the night before to
see where she was to be laid. Almost all those offices to-
wards the dead which are usually left to others to perform,
the mother on this occasion would perform herself, and
the last thing she did before the coffin was closed on
Wednesday night, was to pull some snowdrops herself
and place them within it. She had already, indeed, laid
on her dead darling's bosom a bunch of cowslips, which
she had smeUed to (and with such eagerness) the day
before her death, and it was singular enough, and seemed to
give Bessy pleasure, that though lying there three days
they were scarcely at all faded. I had ordered a chaise on
the morning of the funeral to take us out of the way of
this most dreadful ceremony, (well remembering how it
harrowed up all our feelings in following my poor father
to the grave,) and a most melancholy drive we had of it
for two long hours, each bearing up for the sake of the
other, but all the worse, in reality, for the effi^rt

And such is the end of so many years of fondness and
hope ; and nothing is now left us but the dream (which
may God in his mercy realise) that we shall see our pure
child again in a world more worthy of her.

April 1st, &c. It has been most lucky for me that

Apbh., 1839.] iHOMAS MOOBE. 28

I have had compulsory work to do ; work which I could
not put off, and which is of a nature to force my mind to
it- This, with Bessy's cahn, wasted looks, which tell me
hourly what an effort she is making for my sake, has
enabled me to rally far beyond what I expected, and
I have accordingly worked, and am now working, almost
as if but I must have done with the subject.

Received, since I left town, the most flattering letters
from Murray respecting my work, which, as far as it has
gone, he is delighted with. The first time I touched the
pianoforte for months (excepting the evening when I
played over a waltz or two to our dying child) was
about the beginning of this month, when I sat down
to sing Over by myself some words which I had written
for Power to a melancholy Spanish air. The thought
uppermost in my mind had shadowed itself out in the
words, and on my attempting to sing them over, I
burst out into the same violent fit of sobbing which had
seized me on the fatal day. Moved from Sloperton to
Bowood on the 10th, Bessy remaining at the cottage to
pack up everything. Weiit to dine with the Hugheses
on the 15 th to meet dear Tom, who came home for a
few days. Had a chaise In the evening, and took him
immediately to Spye Park to Bessy ; she having moved
there from Sloperton, after finishing her operations of
packing. Should have mentioned how truly kind Lady
Lansdowne has been about my going to Bowood. She had
already, before our dear child's death, written to offer Bessy
and me rooms there, and when I proposed lately to accept
the offer for myself, nothing could be more comfortable
and cordial than her answer. On the 21st went with Dr.
Starkey to Devizes to consult William Salmon with respect

c 4

24 DIABT OP [^TAT. 50.

to the arrangement we have in contemplation respecting
/ Soperton. Towards the latter end of last month, having
made up my mind to leave the cottage, unless some plan
could be hit upon to give me such an interest in it as
would justify me in rebuilding and making it comfortably
habitable, I commimicated this resolution both to my
landlord and Dr. Starkey, on which the latter expressed
himself willing (for the purpose of retaining us still in the
neighbourhood) to consent to the sort of agreement which
was thought of once before, but relinquished ; namely, the
taking into his own hands, as tenant of Mrs. Goddard,
both the house of Sloperton and the property around it^
and giving me such a lease of it as would enable me to lay
out money on building, or if I Uked it better, letting him
build, and giving him a rent accordingly. I lost no time
in making a proposal to this effect to Mr. Goddard, and
his consent being as promptly accorded, everything
appeared in a fair train for the accomplishment of our
object. The view in consulting Salmon was to ascertain
what rent it would be right that I should pay (in the
event of my building myself) so as not to be, on the whole,
a loser by the transaction ; a lease of fourteen years being
all that Starkey has it in his power to give me. It now
appeared, however, that it was doubtful whether Starkey
could give a valid title to property held by such a tenure
as he would hold Sloperton by from Mrs. Goddard ; his
settlement giving him such power only over property in
possession^ not over that in reversion. This set us all
adrift again. Dined at Hughes's. In the evening Starkey
went for a short time to the ball, and we returned at night
to Spye Park, where I slept, as I have indeed done fre-
quently during this time.

22nd. Bessy set out (the morning being most dreadful)

April, 1829.] THOMAS MOORJJ. \^yf ^^

to take Tom to Salisbury. Had a note ff^^g^^CNRlSl^
Bowood in the evening, to say that she had been ol
to turnback. Neither her spirits nor health are at all good;
and have got worse, I think, since she has lost the occu-*
pation which Sloperton gave her.

During this whole time I have been as hard at work as
cares and some sad thoughts would let me be* Have heard
from various quarters of Murray's delight with my work,
as far as it has gone. He has sent me many interesting
communications, and among others. Dr. Kennedy's con-
versations with Lord B. (which by my advice he means to
publish), and Hoppner's " Recollections." Dined one day
with the Fieldings, and slept there. Attempted in the
evening to sing the new song I have written, ^^ Bring thy
lute hither, love ;" but just at the last line, when I had
with difficulty restrained myself throughout, the violent
burst came ; and for near ten minutes (to the great alarm
of the girls, who fled out of the room) I continued to sob
as if my chest was coming asunder. Was to have dined
with Elwyn at Bath on the 2dth, but as I felt a strong
wish to be up in town time enough for the meeting on the'
subject of a statue to the Duke of Wellington, and the in-
terval would barely allow of my doing so, sent him an
apology. Received a letter on the 29th from the Duke of
Ijcinster to say that the meeting was put off to the 6th^
telling me at the same time that my name was added to
the committee, and begging me to draw up a set of reso-
lutions Tor them. This, however, I had not time for.
Angell has signified to me tiiat he will be most ready and
willing to build a cottage for me on the site of old Romsey
House, after whatever plan I may suggest. Strong, by
the by, has drawn a plan for us, which we mean to follow,
if we build. His estimate for the labour is 400/., and,^

26 1>IABY OF LfflTAT.SC.

with the materials^ he calculates that the house when built
would be worth ten or eleven hundred pounds. Had no
idea that Lord L/s contribution formed bo large a portion
of the expense.

May 5th. Started for town in the York House ; Tom
Bailey in the coach. Mentioned that he heard Sir W.
Scott say once, of the imitators of Johnson's style,
*^Many can make Johnson's report^ but few can carry
his bullet," Found on my arrival a long note from
Lord Lansdowne on the subject of the meeting, which,
he says, ** you seem so anxious to attend ; " stating his
objections to it. Bather puzzled by this note. Had
already thought it odd that so few of the names of the
great Irish Whig proprietory appeared on the list of the
committee. Called upon the Fieldings; found them at
dinner ; told me that there was a very general dislike to
this meeting among our Whig friends. Lord Auckland,
Lord HoUand, &c.

6th. Went in search of Corry, who had come up from
Cheltenham to the meeting, solely because I was to be
there. Found Mr. Mahony, the projector of the whole
affair, at the same coffee-house with Corry. The re-
solutions (which had been one of the chief grounds of
objections among the Whigs) were now altered. Told me
they coimted upon me to move one of them ; this not at
all fair, as I had written to offer myself as **a mouth-
piece " to the Duke of Leinster, and on his not noticing
my offer in his answer had dismifiaed the whole thing from
my mind, so that I had not suflSciently prepared myself to
address a meeting of so much importance. Went to call
upon Lord Lansdowne, Corry walking part of the way
with me. C. very anxious that I should consent to move
the resolution. Lord L. not at home. Went to Lord

Mat, 1829.] THOMAS MOOBE. 27

J* Sussell's ; found him at home. Said he did not mean
to \ attend, bnt quite agreed with me^ that as I had oom&
up, I ought to go. Have no time to give details of the.
meeting. In the course of my walks, I had thought over
something to say, and communicated to the secretary that
I was now willing to move the resolution. The other
resolutions were moved by the Duke of Leinster, Marquis
of Downshire, Lord Damley, Lord Clifford, &c. &c.
Nothing could equal the enthusiasm of my reception ;
huzzas, hats and handkerchiefs waving, the whole audience
standing up ; it was several minutes before I was able to
utter a word; my speech, too, though so hastily got up,
produced a great effect. Came away with Agar Ellis,
who regretted extremely the. view that so many of our
Whig Mends took of the matter, and thought it would do
them harm with the public.

7ih. Staid at home in the morning, correcting. Dined
at Lord Lansdowne's : the Cowpers, the Hopes, Lord W.
BusseU, Lord Villiers, Caroline Fielding, the George
Lambs, &c. A good deal of conversation with Lord W.
Kussell in the evening about Byron; his dissipation at
Venice ; doing it very much out of bravado, and not really
liking it. Used often to fly away from home and row all
night upon tiie water. Mentioned what he had heard of
Byron's not feeling any admiration of Bome: saying to
Hobhouse **what shall I write about?" and H. giving
him the heads of what he afterwards described so power-
fully. Some talk with Lady L. (who is not at aU weU)
about the cottage, the lease, &c. Promised to come and
bret^ast with tiiem some morning and talk over it.

8th. Had been invited to dine to-day with Mackintosh^
to meet Dr. Lardner, our joint employer in the historical,
line ; but Clapham is a deadly distance to dine at : besides.

/

28 DIARY OF [JEtat. 50.

I wanted to see Malibran and Sontag. Breakfasted wit&
the Lansdownes ; nothing could exceed their kind anxiety
about our cottage affairs. On jnj telling Lord L. of
the alarm we were in at the meeting lest some one should
propose to substitute Lord Anglesey for the statue
instead of the Duke (a proposition not imlikely to have
been carried), he mentioned a parallel case in Dublin at a
meeting for some sort of testimonial to Isaac Corry, when
just as the whole thing seemed to be settled, an amendment
was moved that the two words " Isaac Corry ^ should be
omitted, and the words ** John Foster" substituted, and
without much diflElculty carried. Went with Corry at one
o'clock to call on Lord Anglesey, a fine gallant feUow.
Told us of the King's wish (as far back as his visit to
Ireland) to make him Lord-Lieutenant. I mentioned to
him oiur alarm at the meeting lest the Duke should be
ousted and he put in his saddle, which amused him a
good deal. Asked me if I could meet Lord Lansdowne
at dinner with him some day soon ; most happy, of course.
Told him of the scene at the Bowood breakfast-table
the morning that the newspapers with his letter to Curtis
arrived.

9th. A kind note from Lord Grey, to say that his turn
of nomination for the Charter House being come, he had
very great pleasure in offering it to me for Tom.

10^ Breakfasted at the Athenaeum, and set off to the
Charter House to look for Barber. Found him at his
office in Fetter Lane ; told me various particulars that I
wished to know, and said he would write that day to Dr.
Bussell, the master, for further information on the subject.
Dined at Lord Listowel's j Con^ and I In the evening to
Lady Jersey's. Some talk with the Duke of Sussex about
the settlement of the great question. Thence to the ball at

Mat, 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 129

I^vonshire House ; very fine and very hot. Interesting
conversation with Lord Clare ; his confessing what wrong
he had done me for a great part of his Ufe from what he
had thought due to his father's memory (whom I had
attacked in an early poem, ** Corruption"); his having
refused to be introduced to me by Rogers, &c, I told him
I had never in the least blamed him for this feeling, as it
was one I should most probably have had myself. He
then said, **But I do feel that I have been guilty of tart
towards you, and you cannot conceive with what zeal
Byron took your part against me when we met in Italy,
and when I stated the reasons of my feeling, he said
laughingly, * Well, you are both Irishmen, and therefore,
perhaps, both in the wrong.' Lord Clare then added,
** Byron was strongly attached to you, and I feel quite
sure that you and I were the persons he liked best in the
world." Got home to bed at two o'clock.

11th. Called upon Lord Grey, and received the war-
rant of our dear Tom's nomination ; some talk about the
ball. Called upon Lady Lansdowne, read her a letter I
had had from Bessy, full of sadness and sweetness. Could
hardly refrain from giving way while I read it. Again
discussed with much kind anxiety all the various plans for
our residence in their neighbourhood. Lord L. joined us,
and said that he had been casting about in his mind
whether there was any thing in his own grounds he could
give me ; but there was no building any where. There
was, however, a situation, and a very pretty one, at Cassan,
which I should have to build upon if nothing better
offered. Dined at Lord Auckland's, having been asked
to various other places. Thence to the Opera to
Kogers's stalls he and I having changed tickets in the
morning; odd enough that the Duke of Wellington

-s

30 DIART OP tiETAT. 50.

should have taken one of these stalls. Rogers told him
that he had tried to get the one next ; ^* I wish you had,"
he said, *^ I don't know either of my neighbours ; " and
there he sits, between John k Nokes and John k Styles,
subject to have all who want to reach their seats pushing
past him and treading on his toes. No doubt he is glad
to be placed between strangers, as it gives him time to
think, and he has thus both the credit of idleness and the
opportunity for thought. Did not stay out the ballet,
being tired.

13tL Dined with^CLj-called and left my name, at the
Duke of Sussex's in my way. Party at dinner. Lord
Palmerston, Lord Lowther, Sir G. Clerk, and Spencer Per-
ceval. The conversation agreeable. The King, it appears,
did not ask Scott (as I have always understood) whether he
was the author of the novels ; he only alluded pointedly to
some character in them, upon which Scott said, " Sir, it is
impossible to mistake the meaning, &c. &c, and I beg to
say, &c. ftc.," disclaiming in the most decided manner his
being the author. This was going out v( his way to deny ;
had the Prince asked him, he might have been justified in
doing so ; but volunteering an untruth in this way is unin-
telligible ; always taking it for granted that the story is
true, which it may not be. C, however, said he was by
when it happened.* Speaking of Canning's excessive
fastidiousness in the style of his papers, C. said that,
after all his painstakings, he would suffer any body to

* It is very strange that Moore, who was constantly denying his
authorship of the squibs in the " Times " and " Morning Chronicle,"
should be so severe upon Scott. The person to be blamed in these
instances is the asker of impertinent and unjustifiable questions. Nor
does it much signify whether the question is by a point-blank shot,
or by the mode of sapping and mining. Either mode is hostile and
aggressive.— Ed .

May, 1829.] THOMAS BfOOEE. 51

make alterations in them with the utmost good-humour
and readiness. This seems unaccountable^ but Lord
Palmerston seemed to confirm the assertion. In talking
of my " Byron," said he hoped my printer was a good
critic, as he had told him wonders of its merit ; that the
printers could not get on at their work from admiration of
it, &c. &c. This is all that chattering fellow Davidson.
Came away with Spencer Perceval and Sir G. Clerk.
Packed up and went to sleep at 'the Gloucester Coffee-
house, where I had ordered beds for myself and Corry.
Did not get to bed till past one.

14th. Up at five, and off at six. An old acquaintance
of mine. Miss Addison (now the widow Macpherson) in
the coach with us ; a good deal of talk on the way. On
our arrival at Cheltenham learned that my darling Bess
had got there half an. hour before. Found her in lodgings
(which I had written to Williams's of the circulating
library to procure for her) in High Street, looking languid
and a good deal tired, but rather better than I expected.

15th. Walked out with Bessy and Corry, looking at
different houses, Corry being in search of one. Walked
a little in the evening, and Bessy bought some books
for my birthday* present. Offered to stay with her a day
or two more if she wished it, but as my time is precious
just now she thought it better I should return to town.
Fixed all our plans about dear Tom, &c. &c.

16th. Off at eight for town; had the coach to myself
most of the way, and got through J. Cooper Walker's
** Memoirs of Tassoni." Had dinner at the Athenaeum.

17th. Went out to breakfast at Holland House, having
written to my Lady from Cheltenham to offer myself for
dinner either on Wednesday (20th) or Friday, 22nd ; but
my letter not yet arrived, as it was too late for the post on

f

32 DIART OF tiETAT.60.

Tuesday. Found that Lord and Lady Holland had slept
in town last night ; but learning that Lord John Kussell
and Lord Clanwilliam were in the hou8e5 joined them at
breakfast. On my mentioning what had been said at C.'s
of Canning's dispatches^ Lord C. said that it was true
Canning allowed (what, indeed, he could not help,) the
alterations and manglings of his papers in council ; but tiiat
this was merely directed against their sense and purport,
and tiiat Canning had them back again to correct the
style before tiiey left his hands.

18th. Called at Murray's; found the sub-committee
for Byron's monument sitting; a hearty shake of the
hands from Hobhouse. Went to the House of Commons
early, having begged Mr. Speaker yesterday to put me on
tiie list for under the gallerj^ An inunense crowd in the
lobby, Irish agitators, &c. : got impatient and went round
to Mr. Speaker, who sent the train-bearer to accompany
me to the lobby, and, after some littie difficulty, I got in.
The House enormously full. O'Connell's speech good and
judicious. Sent for by Mrs. Manners Sutton at seven
o'clock to have some dinner; none but herself and
daughters, Mr. Lockwood and Mr. Sutton. Amused to
see her, in all her state, tiie same nearty, lively Irish-
woman still. Walked witii her in the garden; tiie
moonlight on tiie river, tiie boats gliding along it, the
towers of Lambeth rising on the opposite bank, tiie lights
of Westminster Bridge gleaming on the left ; and then,
when one turned round to tiie House, that beautiful Gothic
structure, illmninated from within, and at that moment
containing within it the council of tiie nation, — all was
most picturesque and striking. Did not return to the
House, but went home to dress ; then to Sir G. Warren-
der's music, where I for the first time heard Pesaroni.

Hat, 1829.] THOMAS MOOBE. 33

Left it with Lord Lansdowne to go to Lady Jersey's, and
after staying there a short time returned to Warrender's
to hear the duet in ^^ Semiramide *' between Pesaroni and
Sontag.

19th. Called upon O'Connell to wish him joy of the
success of his speech; told him how much Lord Lans-
downe was delighted with it. Asked him did he feel at
all the novelty of his station. Said he felt that he was not
on an equality with those he was addressing. Livited to«
day to Lord King's, Lord Leitrim's, George Dawson's,
Poodle Byng's, Alexander Baring's, and one or two other
places, but bound to refuse all in favour of my partners
at Hampstead. Cost me seven shillings to reach them in
a hackney-coach. The company niunerous, and among
them Miss Lucy Aikin, M'Culloch the political economist,
and old Wbishaw.

20th. Dined at the Speaker's, himself being (as this
was Wednesday) of the party. No one else but the
two Messieurs that we had on Monday. The Speaker
very agreeable. Told me a good deal about the manu-
scripts found in the State Paper office : those of Wolsey
very curious: show the skill with which he ruled the
King. Mentioned a curious proclamation (I know not
whether among the new State papers) issued in Queen
Elizabeth's time, forbidding people, under pain of punish-
ment, to talk of the Queen's person or features, or to
describe them in writing or otherwise. In a conver-
sation with him after dinner dwelt much on the ad-
vantages of humbug; of a man knowing how to take
care of his reputation, and to keep from being found out^
so as always to pass for cleverer than he is : the wisdom,
particularly, of looking to the position of those who offer to
promote Imn ; whether it is in order to bolster themselves

VOL, TI. D

34 DIART OP [^TAT. 60.

Up or not. The position of a Government makes all the
difference, and in one state of affairs the same man will
disgrace himself as Secretary of State who, in another,
will fill that office with honour and success. As it was not
civil to differ with him on his imputation of humbug to
himself, I insisted that the policy he had been describing
was that of a wise man, not of a humbug ; that to know
what one was fit for, and manage skilfully one's resources
and opportunities, was the part of prudence and wisdom,
not of imposture ; that even if, by this line of conduct, a
man induced his fellow men to give him credit for being
cleverer than he really was, the fault could not be his, as
long as he did not himself advance any claims to this
credit ; the moment he pretended to what he did not pos-
sess, then began humbug, but not sooner. He still pushed
his point, playfully, but pertinaciously ; and in illustration
of what he meant, put the following case : — ^^ Suppose a
Speaker, rather new to his office, and a question brought
into discussion before him which parties are equally divided
upon, and which he sees will run to very inconvenient
lengths, if not instantly decided. Well, though entirely
ignorant on the subject, he assumes an air of authority,
and gives his decision, which sets the matter at rest. On
going home, he finds that he has decided quite wrongly ;
and then, without making any further fuss about the
business, he quietly goes and alters the entry on the jour-
nals." To his supposed case, all I had to answer was, that
I still thought the man a wise one, and no humbug ; by
his resolution, in a moment of difficulty, he prevented a
present mischief; and by his withdrawal of a wrong pre-
cedent, averted b. future one. Got home early.

21st. Breakfasted with Sharp (having first sat some
time. with the Lansdownes), to consult with him about my

May, 1829.] THOMAS MOORE, 35

projected flight to the little inn in the neighbourhood of
his estate near Dorking. It is totally impossible for me
to do any thing in town ; and the consequence is, though
a good deal a-head of the printers' devils when I came up,
they have now caught me, and are ** crying aloud for
copy." Not a minute of the day am I left without cards
to answer, visits to return, authors and authoresses,
musicians and musicianesses (not to mention peers and
peeresses), to attend to ; and, in short, such a ceaseless
whirl, that if I do not fly I am ruined. Sharp, aided by
his ward, gave me, most good-naturedly, all the renseigne^
ments; and on Sunday I shall be off. Dined at Lord
Anglesey's : company. Lords Harrowby, Lansdowne,
Carlisle, Damley, Holland, Wellesley, and the Duke
of Sussex. Dinner agreeable as well as splendid. The
avowal of some of the noble Lords of their having as-
sisted at some of the Jacobin Clubs at the beginning
of the Revolution rather amusing. When Lord Anglesey
smiled at it. Lord Harrowby said, *^ Why, it was some-
thing like attending the Catholic Association." Lord
Harrowby gave a detailed account of Thistlewood's con-
spiracy, and of the share he himself had had in detect-
ing it : all seemed to consider Thistlewood as a very ex-
traordinary man. After dinner made a third (being
listener for the most part) in an agreeable conversation
with Lords Wellesley and Holland, chiefly about Mr. Pitt
and Mr. Fox, who (they agreed) had a kindly and gene-
rous feeling towards each other. Mentioned several curious
prognostics of Pitt in his young days; Lord Mansfield
saying, *^He has twice his father's parts, and half his
sagacity;" old Lady Holland saying to Charles Fox,
" That boy will be a thorn in your side one day or other."
A good deal of humbug about Lord Chatham ; used to

i> 2

86 DIARY OF [iETAT. 60.

mutter pompously over a great portion of his speech till he
came to the fine parts ; and, in his latter days, used to go
on with a sort of gabble, as if he was speaking, saying
nothing whatever all the lime.

22nd. Breakfasted with Lord John Bussell; Lord
William joined us afterwards. Forgot to mention that I
was yesterday for some time with Lord Clare, looking
over his own early letters to Byron (those of Byron all,
except one, which he gave me, unluckily lost), and felt
much interested by them : from one of them it appeared
that Byron was violently jealous of some regret Clare had
expressed at the loss of Lord John Bussell, who was then
going abroad. Told this to Lord John, who said it was
the first time he ever heard of it. Mrs. S., between four
and five, took me out in her job to Holland House, where
I was nearly too late for dinner : company, Duke of Graf-
ton, Lords John and William Bussell, Marsh, Leslie the
painter, Bogers and Miss Bogers, Luttrell, Woolriche,
&c. &c. Table too full. In the evening the Duke of
Bedford and two of his younger sons ; the latter offered
to take me to town. Walked with the Duke to Camden
Hill (his groimds joining with those of Holland House),
lighted by a servant with a lantern ; very kind and civil ;
hoped he should soon see me here.

23rd. Breakfasted at the AthenaBum for the pur-
pose of meeting Mr. Matthews, with whom I had been
lately corresponding so much about his brother, &c. &c
A good deal of conversation on the same subject and
about his father, whose remains he has some notion of
publishing. The parody on Eloisa to Abelard, so gene-
rally attributed to Person, was, it seems, really written
by Mr. Matthews's father. Dined at Lansdowne House,
having been asked to Lord Darnley's to meet 0*Connell

May, 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 37

and his brother agitators: company. Baring and Lady
Harriet, the Carlisles, the Lord Chancellor and Lady
Lyndhurst, Lord Dudley, &c. Sat next to the Chan-
cellor, and found him very agreeable. A good deal
of talk with Lord Dudley after dinner; came away
pretty early. Had rather a painful scene this morn-
ing. While I was knocking at Lord Ilchester's door.
Lord Anglesey, with his daughters, drove up to his own ;
and calling me over, seized me by the arm, and said,
" Now that I have caught you, I will not let you go till
you hear my daughter sing, and sing something in return
for her." In vain did I protest that I was in a hurry
somewhere upon business ; he would hear of nothing, but
forced me upstairs, where I was introduced, for the first
time, to his lady. The girl was set down instantly in a
bustle to the pianoforte, and sung my " Common Sense
and Genius," which Lord A. declared to be his especial
favourite. I was then obliged (in spite of various protesta-
tions about want of voice, long time since I sung, &c. &c.)
to take my seat at the pianoforte ; and the moment I sat
down, felt that I should make a fool of myself. With
difficulty I got through ^^ When he who adores thee ;" but
when I came to " Keep your tears for me," the melancholy
sound of my own voice quite overpowered me ; and had I
not started up instantly, I should have burst into one of
my violent sobbing fits, which, before strangers, would
have been dreadful. I never was better pleased than to
find myself in the street once more. When shall I be able
to sing again? The thought of my dear child comes
across me at these moments with a gush of bitterness which
is indescribable. Called upon Lady Jersey, who was full
of tenderness ; thence to Lord Auckland's, for the purpose
of going with him to the distribution of prizes at the

j> 3

38 DIARY OP [iETAT. 50.

London University, The ceremony very interesting;
Lord Lansdowne in the chair. All went from thence to
the Zoological Gardens, where I met, among others, the
Fazakerleys ; and Mrs. Fazakerley having offered to bring
me home in her open carriage, I enjoyed the drive exceed-
ingly, being languid and exhausted with the sad struggle
I had undergone, and the fresh air seeming to bring com-
fort to me. All this should have been mentioned before
my account of my dinner; also, that on coming in to
dress, I found an invitation (i. e. command) to dine with
the Duke of Sussex to-morrow, which rather puzzled me,
as likely to disconcert my project of going to take ^^ mine
ease in mine inn" for a few days, not quite liking to
refuse him, as being always so imroyally good-humoured
and good-natured. On consulting Lady Lansdowne, how-
ever, plucked up spirit enough to send an excuse.

24th. Busy all the morning getting together my papers,
&c., and at two set off in a chaise for my inn at Burford
Bridge. Found the house fiill of company, and even the
rooms I had bespoke invaded by intruders. After a little
time, however, got settled in a sitting-room, and worked a
little.

25th, 26th. Working and walking ; delightful out of
doors, but the devil within ; noise and eyes in all direc-
tions. Contrived, however, to do a little.

27 th. After a busy morning set off in the coach for
town at four. Dined at the Athenaeum between eight and
nine ; found my table literally heaped with letters, notes,
&c. One among them from Agar Ellis, with whom I was
to have dined to-morrow to meet the Duke of Orleans,
saying, ^^ Here's a pretty business ; the best of kings has
taken away the Duke of Orleans and the Duke of Chartres
from me," &c. &c. ; in short, his dinner was given up in

May, 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 39

consequence of the King's dinner and juvenile ball, to
the latter of which the Duke of Orleans and son were
invited. Another note from Lady Lyndhurst, with whom
I was to have lunched, saying that from the same cause
her luncheon was given up. Had refused Mr. Thomas
Grenville for the 28th, and others.

28tb. My birthday. " What, oZc? Thomas ?" as the catch
has it. Yes, alas ! old Thomas. Staid at home working.
Called upon Rogers ; found him in a most amusing state
of causticity. His saying, when I made some remark
about the Duke of Wellington's good sense, " Yes ; I once
thought Chantrey the most sensible man going, but now
that he haa been spoilt by vanity and presumption, the
Duke is the man that takes that place in my estimation."
In speaking of Mackintosh, and the difficulty of getting
him to work at his ^* History," though he has been always
ready to fire off articles in reviews or periodicals, Rogers
quoted what Allen said of him, that he was like your
profligate fellows, who will go after any one but their
wives, being always ready and willing to write anything
but his book.

29th. Worked in the morning.. Took to Power the
money (raised by a bill I drew on him yesterday for 300/.
at six months) to meet some payment he has to make for
me. Confessed he had been in some little alarm, lest from
some accident or other I should, for the first time since
our intercourse, be unpunctual to my engagement, and
added, with tears in his eyes, ^* I assure you I never yet
have had any dealings with but one truly honest man, and
you are he." Met Livius, the opera manufacturer, and
wishing to see his " Massaniello," at Drury Lane, asked
whether there was any chance of a place in a private box.
Said, if I would dine with him to meet Charles Kemble

i> 4

40 DIARY OF [uEtat.SL

and Moreton the dramatist^ we could go together. This
I did not accept, but promised to call upon him after
dinner. Meant to have dined with the Fieldings, but
haying sat down to correct a sheet at six o'clock, continued
at it till near eight. Dressed, and dined at the Atheuasum.
Called at Livius^s ; found them hardly done dinner ; staid
a short time, and giving up the plan of Drurjr Lane went
to pay a visit to Lady Grey. Found only her and Lady
Durham ; talked of the King's ball last night ; the gentle-
men got no supper, there being some difficulty in seating
the Duke of Orleans with the foreign ambassadors, who,
it seems, could not yield the point of precedence to him.
It was, therefore, only the ladies that supped, the King
saying to the Duke of Orleans, ^^ Vous vous passerez de
souper ce sotr,^^' The little Queen of Portugal fell down in
the dance, and cut her nose with one of hir diamonds,
which made her blubber most unroyally. Talked of Lord
Holland, the most affed man of his i/ears that one knows :
has been, ahnost as long as I can remember him, called
" the venerable Lord Holland," though now no more than
fifty-five, just ten years younger (as Lady Grey said) than
Lord Grey. She mentioned also, that when Lord Hol-
land was thirty, having told his age to some Frenchman,
the Frenchman remarked, with the air of a compliment,
Vous representez Men quarante^ milord, /.

30th. Received an invitation yesterday from Peel to
dine with him on the 14th. Kather amused, as I sat at
breakfast, on looking up at my card-rack and seeing there
not only this invitation from Peel, but the names of the
Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of.
Commons among my visitors. Called upon Miss Crump,
and found Lord Dillon with her. His description of
the way in which he Uves at Ditchley; reading aloud

/

«Mat, 1829.] THOMAS MOOBE. 41

of an evening all " the good old coarse novels," Peregrine
Pickle particularly, because Commodore Trunnion was
his (liord Dillon's) uncle. Told of the manner in which
this uncle died. His old rough tar of a servant came
to his room to say the carriage was ready, and then
looking at his master exclaimed, ^* Why, you're dead on
one side." "1 am, Tim," he answered; "turn me on
the other," which Tim did; and he died. Called upon
Lady Bath, and sat some time ; Murray's. Murray foil
of ultra-Tory predictions about Peel ; that he is a ruined
man; wiQ be obliged to give up; to go to the con-
tinent, &c. &c. Dined at Holland House : company, the
Lady Fitzpatricks, Captain Spencer, Lord Melbourne,
&c. &c. Allen said that Jeffrey is about to give up the
" Edinburgh Review ; " question whether they can get
another editor ; the "Edinburgh Review " and the Catholic
question ceasing together. Brougham, he said, would like
to keep it still alive, for the purpose of forwarding his
education plans. Talked of Campbell as an over-rated
man, and as now afraid of his own reputation. Talk with
my lady in the evening ; her attacking my *^ Life of
Sheridan : " " quite a romance " — " want of taste and
judgment " — and " from you whom the world always ex-
pects so much from;" then stopping herself suddenly,
"What am I saying to you?" Told her she might go
on; that I took everything and anything in good part
from her, &c. &c.

31st. Staid at home in the morning to work : called at
various places; Murray's. Sadler told him that Lord
Eldon in referring to Peel's change, said that Mr. Pitt
once consulted him with respect to some change in his
opinions, and that he (Eldon) advised him not to declare
it, there being nothing, according to his view, more fatal

42 DIARY OP IjEtat. 51.

to a public man^ than any alteration of his course on any
great question. Dined at Lord Essex's : the Fords,
Bruce, &c. &c. In the evening Lord G. went to War-
render's music, where I left him, taking his carriage on to
Twiss's^ where I found a strange mixture of company ; his
dinner party having consisted of the Duke of Devonshire,
Lord and Lady Bathurst and Lady Georgiana, Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Kemble, and Theodore Hook! Theodore
Hook told me of Mrs. Nash saying that I had been to see
her husband's gallery ; described me as a little gentleman
(" so far," says Hook, " I could not deny"), with high brass
heels to my boots (" here," he said, " I ventured to doubt
her accuracy "), and that I was in a hurry, going away to
church (" this, of course," he added, " I did not dare to
question"). A gentleman standing by said, that Mrs.
Nash had shown him the person she took for me, and that
he then saw she was quite mistaken.

June 1st. Finished some more copy for the printer.
My spirits sadly depressed ; a barrel-organ passing while I
was at work, played an air which set me crying like a
child. Dined at Lord Auckland's : company, F. Baring,
Villiers, and Caroline Fielding ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Went to
Prince Leopold's. Bronald Ferguson advising me about
Brookes's club, and pressing me to let him and Lord Dun-
cannon put me up for it; said I would consider of it. Said
he always observed that I never talked to any but the very
prettiest women in the room (I had just been speaking to
Miss Bailey and Lady Graham). The view of the music
room from the gallery, at Prince Leopold's, quite a pic-
ture. Some admirable singing, particularly the duet from
the " Didone," between Sontag and Malibran.

2nd. Breakfasted with Rogers : the Lady Harleys.
Talking of the sort of mountain and mouse results of the

June, 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 43

great measure of emancipatioii, R. said, ^* all our ancient
bulwarks are removed; the barriers of law are broken
down, the gates of the constitution are burst open, and —

in enter P— — and Lord ! " Went out to Ken-

sington to 'call upon the Duke of Sussex; shown into his
waiting-room, where I found one unfortunate man, and we
were soon joined by a third. After a pretty long interval,
the servant siunmoned the last comer, a captain, and for
more than half an hour the first gentleman and I were
left silent in opposite comers of the room. At last was
called in, in preference to the poor first gentleman, who,
I dare say, is waiting there stilL "Ah, Tommy 1 (said
the Duke, when I entered his room) had I known it
was you, you should not have been kept waiting a
minute/' Gave me his two speeches on the Catholic
Question. Told him of my " Irish History," and he very
civilly said, I might command his library for the purpose.
Took me up to it and made his librarian produce two or
three Irish manuscripts ; one of them an account of the
family of O'Connor, which, if it has never been published,
may be of some interest Said I should have a room all
to myself whenever I chose to come and read there. Ser-
vant announced the Duke of Orleans, and he left me,
begging I would wait there till he returned, and he would
most likely bring the Duke of Orleans up with him, but he
no sooner turned his back than I left my excuse with his
librarian and fled. If waiting for one Royal Highness had
taken so much of my morning, what would waiting for two
do ? * * * ♦ Went to the Catch Club at five, but
found dinner nearly over, their regular hour being half
past four. Had my dinner at a side table. Found in their
book my words of "Maid of Marlevale" attributed to
C. Fox. Off to Drury Lane, where I found the Lockes.

44 DIAEY OP [^TAT. 51.

3rd. Breakfasted with Rogers : company. Sharp, Lord

Lansdowne, and Hallanu R. very amusing ; his account

of a club to which Sharp and he belonged, called " Keep

*^j the Line." Their motto, written up in large characters,

the composition of Reynolds —

** Here we eat and drink and dine —
Equinoctial — keep the line."

Most of them being dramatists, the effect of a joke upon
them, instead of producing laughter, was to make them
immediately look grave (this being their business) and
the tablets were out in an instant. Went to the London
University, in consequence of an invitation from Dr»
Lardner to meet Lord and Lady Stafford, &c. &c. ; to
whom he was to display his sections of machinery. As I
was fearfiil of not being back in time to dress for Lord
Essex's early dinner. Lady Carlisle very good-naturedly
hurried away and took me home. Company at Lord
Essex's: Warrender, Miss Stephens, her brother and
niece, Rogers, Mr. York, and Archdeacon Macdonnell.
Dinner agreeable. Taken to the Ancient Music by Lord
Essex (Lord Cawdor having given me a ticket) and sat in
the preserve^ as the director's box is called. The Arch-
bishop of York very civil to me. Sat with Lords Lans-
downe and Essex and Lady Mary Fortescue (that was).
Remarked to Lord L. that some of the Handelian part of
the selections might be called the ultra-Toryism of music.
When we came to the duet of Malibran and Sontag, he
said, " We are now getting into the New Light a little."
4th. Staid at home till one; working. Called upon
the Fieldings ; Lady E. anxious that I should go with
her to Holland House, Sunday evening next. Dined
at Lord Bath's; dinner very late, on account of tiie

June, 1829.] THOMAS MOOBE. Vv^ 45^'^* JCY

Epsom races. Company : Lord and Lady HareT!^S^^bfiR_^^
Carlisles, Mr. Lister (the novelist), Lord Cawdor, fecTcfec.
Day rather agreeable : conversation with Lord Harewood
after dinner about Political Economy. *^ The first thing
(he said) I always take for granted in any position of a
political economist is, that he has a sinister object in it."
Gave us an instance of their theory about absenteeism,
which was all for the purpose of drawing off the interest
of the aristocracy from their respective neighbourhoods,
and undermining their moral station in the community.
His lordship a thorough-paced Tory. Went to Lady
Grey's ; taken by the Carlisles ; a small and choice assem-
bly ; did not stay long. Was to have gone to-day to the
Exhibition with Lady Lyndhurst, but received a note
from her saying, that her lord and master required her to
dine at Wimbledon, and '* in her quality of a good wife "
she was about to do so. Proposed to me Saturday morn-
ing a1> eleven instead. Called upon the Donegab before
dinneK

5th. At home, working in a sort of way. Murray came
and introduced me to my fellow lodger, Mrs. Knox,
Avife of the President of Ithaca during Lord Byron's visit
there.

6th. At home, working, till between two and three.
A visit from Murray : mentioned that he heard yesterday
Dr. Hume describe some circumstances connected with
the Duke of Wellington after the battle of Waterloo :
his going to bed, covered with dust as he was, having
stripped himself, and lying there on his back, talking
to Hume of the friends he had lost that day. There is
such a one gone, and such a one ; and then, " There is
poor Ponsonby : I have some hopes that his body will be
found, and have despatched an orderly to search for it."

46 BIARY OF t-ETAT. 61.

He then, Hume said, burst into tears as he lay, and said,
" I have never lost a battle, but to win one thus is
paying hard for it " (or something to that effect). Called
for by Denman to take me to dinner with Mackintosh, at
Clapham: company, Charles Grant, Falck, Elphinstone
(the writer on Cabul), and Lady Mackintosh herself. The
conversation very delightful, at least Mackintosh's part of
it. In speaking of the advocates of religious liberty said,
*^ that among the earliest in England were to be accounted
Jeremy Taylor and Sir Harry Vane ; the latter particu-
larly, whose book upon the subject called forth Milton's
fine sonnet to him. Neither this sonnet nor that to Crom-
well published till after the Revolution. Discussed the
difficulties of French poetry ; the faults that grammarians
find with Boileau and Kacine. M. quoted the lines of
Boilean (the beginning of his epistle to MoliSre), where
the vein is clumsily made the agent in writing,. — " Dont
la fertile veine ignorcy en ecrivant^ &c. &c. Talking of
College reputations, quoted a remark of Lord Plunket,
'^ That a distinction ought to be drawn between the repu-
tation a young man has among his teachers and that which
he enjoys among his associates ; the former may be falla-
cious, but the latter not." A very striking objection of
Warburton's to mathematical studies, " That in making a
man conversant only with matters in which certainty is the
result, they unfit him (or, at least, do not prepare him) for
sifting and balancing (what alone he will have to do in the
world) probabilities ; there being no worse practical men
than those who require more evidence than is necessary."
Thanked Mr. Elphinstone for the aid I had received from
his work in " Lalla Eookh." Brought into town by Mr.
Falck ; told me as a proof of the circulation of my poetry
in Holland, that a friend and countryman of his, who had

June, 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 47

never been in England, wrote to him at the time of the
passing of the Catholic Question, to direct his attention to
the prediction, in my Irish Melodies, of this achievement
of the Duke of Wellington. Denman mentioned Lord
Byron's affidavit about Lord Portsmouth as a proof of the
influence of Hanson over him; Lord B. swearing that
LiOrd P. had '^rather a superior mind than otherwise."
Must inquire into this.

7 th. At home till latish. Dined at Holland House ;
had been asked for the two days. "Was to have slept to-
night, but finding that the man with whom I am in treaty
for the three acres at Sloperton has fixed to-morrow morn-
ing to meet me at Power's, wrote to tell my lady I could
not sleep. Company : Mr. Grenville, the Vernon Smiths,
Mackintosh, Lord St. Asaph, &c. Lord H.'s story of the
man in Spain with a basket of vipers proclaiming their
freshness and liveliness to a large party of travellers who
slept in the same room with him. At night somebody
awaked by feeling something cold passing over his face; and
at the same moment the viper-merchant exclaiming aloud
in the dark, " My vipers have got loose, but lie still, all of
you ; they will not hurt you, if you don't move," &c. &c
In the evening Lord H. showed me, according to promise,
Byron's poem of the "Devil's Drive" (which he had, I
must say, made a good deal of fuss about showing, nor
should I have seen it at all but for my lady). A good
deal disappointed by it. Lady H. asked me to come some
morning, and mark what I wished extracted from it.
Came away with Mr. Grenville ; made me the offer of his
library, to make use of whatever it contained relative to
Ireland. In speaking of Mackintosh, remarked (as charac-
teristic of that distrust of himself which prevents his great
acquirements from telling in society as they ought) his

48 DIABY or C-ffiTAT. 51.

habit of advancing three or four steps forward while he is
conversing, and then, as if suddenly recollecting himself,
retiring again. Leffc me at Lord Bective's : Lady Bective's
daughter, Adelaide, simg some Italian things with the true
hereditary taste and feeling.

8th. Breakfasted at the Athensum. Went to meet my
old man about the acres, at Power's ; better appearances
with respect to the validity of the title ; little doubt that
the son, whose claim we apprehended, has been dead a
year or two. Two letters from my sweet Bessy within
these few days, of which I cannot help transcribing some
passages. I had told her in one of mine how much deeper
every day the memory of our sad loss sunk into my heart.
**How exactly (she says) your feeling about our sweet
girl resembles mine. All last night I was with her, and
had hopes of her recovery ; but the light of the morning
again told the same sad truth, that she was gone, and, in
this world, we should never meet, but in dreams." In
another part of the same letter she says: ** There are three
sisters here (Cheltenham), that always remind me of what
our dear girls might have been. It is not that they are at
all like any of our dears, but they are three in number,
and about a year or so between them, dressed alike, and
full of the life and happiness so beautiful .at that age.
There are, indeed, many other children here, that often
make me sigh ; and there are times when the sweet music
and their happy faces and firm step make me feel most sad
and lonely in the midst of all the gaiety ; but I do not in-
dulge more than is quite necessaiy to me, and I trust I
shall meet you, improved and strengthened, both in mind
and body." In the second letter, announcing her coming,
she says : ** I am already, thank God, better ; but it is my
mind that prevents me from going on as well as you could

Jtob,1829.] THOMAS MOORE. , 49

wish. Every day only adds to the loneliness of the future,
and the happy face of that sweet child is for ever before
me, as she used to sit at the other side of the table. But
I will try and only think of her as I trust she w, — happy,
and often looking down on those she so tenderly loved.
How she thought of and loved you I Her dear eyes were
always full of light if you but went upstairs, and she
thought there was a chance of your coming into the par-
lour. Though my thoughts are melancholy, and my heart
sad, still I have great, very great blessings ; and if God
but allows me to live for and with the three beings that
are still left, I must be happy." Bless her admirable
heart I At a quarter past four was at the coach-office to
receive little Tom from Southampton; deposited him at
Power's ; dined at the Athenaeum ; and, between seven and
eight, went to receive Bessy also, who came last from
Buckhill. Pound she had left Hannah and Kussell be-
hind, and means only to stay till Friday, Took her to
Power's. Letter from Tom's schoolmaster, confessing that
he had given our poor little fellow an over-severe beating
one day, for a supposed offence of which he afterwards
found the child to be innocent. The fellow's confessing it
is something, though the marks all over the child's body
sufficiently tell the tale. Little Tom very manly and
sensible about it. Supped at Power's, where Bessy and
Tom were to sleep, and home to my lodgings.

9th. Breakfasted with Rogers. Went off (Bessy and
I with little Tom) to the Charter House, to inquire into
particulars. Saw the old matron ; much pleased with her ;
every thing looking highly comfortable and regular. To
Somerset House Exhibition on our way back; then to
Lady Donegal's. Dinner at Power's, and Astley's (to
Tom's great delight) in the evening.

VOL. VI. E

50 DIARY OP [iETAT. 61.

10th. To breakfast (Bessy and Tom and I) with
Rogers : Philippa Godfrey and Barbara, Colonel Napier
and LuttrelL In talking of Tom's schoohnaster, R,
seemed to think that his frankness in telling me what
he had done was some little palliation of it. " On the
principle,*' says LuttreU, " of Sir Lucius O'Trigger, that
an affront handsomely acknowledged becomes an obliga-
tion." Rogers very comical about Bessy's denying herself
to visitors. " We know," he said, ^^ how hard it was to
get admitted at Homsey when she was there. Curran
got in once, and he had a stroke of the palsy " (alluding
to poor Curran having had the first attack of the com-
plaint that earned him off at our house at Homsey).
Mentioned what La Place had said of Mrs. Somerville,
" that he never knew but one woman before so deeply
versed in mathematics, &c., and that was a Mrs. Gregg ; "
being evidently the same Mrs, Somerville whom he had
met before under the name of Gregg.

11th. Breakfasted at home. Bessy with me between
eleven and twelve. Went out with Tom and her; took
them to see the statues of Tam O'Shanter, &c. Then to
the Solar Microscope, in Regent Street, which is truly
curious. From thence to the Charter House, to see Dr.
Russell, the master, on the subject of Tom. Found that
Russell was (as I had suspected) an old acquaintance of
mine, having met him, ages ago, at William Spencer's ;
said, however, that he had seen me some time before that
at a masquerade at Mrs. Egerton's, with Tom Sheridan.
Remarked to him how odd it was that, with another grave
Doctor, whom I waited on upon business (Lushington);
without being in the least aware that we were acquainted
with each other, and expecting to see a pompous big-
wigged civilian, it turned out, in the same way, that we

June, 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 51

were old masquerading acquamtances. Russell begged to
be.understood that the masquerade where he met me was the
only one he had ever been at, and I promised, laughingly,
not to commit him. He entered my little Tom's name, and
talked to him very kindly and civilly. Came down, too, to
be introduced to Bessy, who left the place quite delighted
with our good luck in being able to place our dear boy so
comfortably. Went to the Bazaar with him to buy some
little articles he wanted. Dined at Power's, and off again
to the Charter House in the evening, to deliver up our
young Carthusian into the hands of the old matron. Sent
for Sydney Smith's son, the only boy whose father I
thought I knew, to introduce Tom to him. Brought with
him a son of Sir James Montgomery, who is also on the
foundation, while the matron sent for the boy that was to
be Tom's monitor. Afker talking to them a little, gave
Smith a sovereign and a half to divide between the three.
While I was doing this, Bessy took Tom aside (on whom
we have always impressed the propriety of not taking
money from any one but ourselves) and endeavoured to
explain away the inconsistency of my doing with these
boys what I did not choose should be done with him;
telling him that some people did not mind their sons
taking money, but that he knew our feeling on the subject
was quite different. Back to Power's, and thence to
Duke Street, where Bessy, for the convenience of starting
in the morning, slept

12th. Up early, and saw Bessy off early in the coach
for Salisbury (on her way to Weymouth) at nine. Break-
fasted at the Athena&um ; went with the secretary to look
over the new building; 40,000/. the expenditure on it.
At the Charter House, too, 50,000Z. is laying out on
building ; and all this, while the country is avowedly in a

B 2

52 DIARY or [.ffiTAT. 51.

state of distress 1 Went to Murray, and found Hobhouse
and him still in discussion about those works of Byron's
which are still in the hands of the executors. Hanson's
opinion (confirmed by that of Denman, to whom he sub-
mitted the case) is, that the executors cannot be a party to
any such arrangement as Murray proposes for the works,
and that their duty is to set them up to auction, and let
them go to the best bidder. Hobhouse seemed, very
properly, to disapprove of this mode of proceeding. Mur-
ray told me he had just received a note from the widow

K , in which she quotes Greek to him : " There's

an end to our acquaintance," he added. Called upon Pusey,
who has been good enough while at Florence to procure a
cast from Bartolini's bust of me, and is having it brought
over with some things of his own. Dined at Fielding's ;
no one but Lord Auckland. In telling Lady Elizabeth
about the scene at the Charter House last night, men-
tioned a conversation I had once, on the subject of tipping y
with Lord Holland, who, like most men brought up at
public schools, is an advocate of this as well as for any
other abomination connected with them. ^^ I remember
once (said Lord Holland) refusing a pound which a man,
whom I used sometimes to go to see at Windsor, offered
me; but the man, thinking that I had only refused it
because the sum was so small, offered me five pounds, and,
egad, that I couldrCt withstand." Went with the party to
Prince Leopold's box at Covent Garden. Left them for
half an hour to look in at Phillips's lecture on singing^
and after waiting through part of the farce, got home
early.

13th. After breakfast set off to Richmond to call
upon the Lansdownes, who (I know not whether I before
mentioned it) have had the great kindness to offer us this

JUNE^1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 53

beautiful villa for the summer. Meant to have accom-
panied Lord L. to lunch with Lady Lyndhurst at Wim-
bledon^ but find he had slept in town last nighty and was
to go from thence. Nothing could look more beautiful
than the view from this place, nor anything more friendly
than its admirable mistress. Showed me the rooms she
thought would be most comfortable for Bessy an^ me, and
pointed out in the comer of the drawing-room a provision
of wooden rakes, wheel-barrows, &c., she had made for
little Russell. After lunching set off for town, she having
pressed me much to stay to dinner. A man in the coach
so delighted with the beauty of the women we met flocking
out in barouches, &c., to Lady Ravensworth's breakfast ;
'* Gad, how gracefully they loll I" Dined at Barnes's.
In talking of the Apollo (the statue), Barnes said that to
him it always " gave the idea of a barber." The last time
I dined with him he abused Grattan, and said his oratory
was all humbug. Grattan a humbug, and the Apollo a
barber ! Twiss quoted a joke of his own, saying, of the
man who remained so long swung from the dome of St.
Paul's, while taking a panorama of London, ^^ It was a
rfomy-silly-airy visit;" a domiciliary visit. Qaxne away
with Twiss in his cabriolet. On my return found the
following note from Lord Essex, who had promised to let
me know the result of my ballot at Brookes's : —

'^ My dear Moore — Though the Knight of Kerry is
gone to your house to tell you ^j i t- Broo kes's Club has
shown its good taste this evening in electing you, I cannot
help writing this to say how happy I am, as it will,
I trust, make us meet oftener, which is so agreeable to

« Yours, very faithfully, Essex.

" Brookes*s, half-past 1 1 o'clock."

E 3

-f

54 DIARY OP [-«t'at.51,

14th. Breakfasted at home. Went to Brookes's to
pay twenty-one guineas; a costly honour. Thence to
Power's; to Lady Donegal's; to Holland House, where
I marked out the passages of the " Devil's Drive" I wished
to extract, and my lady undertook to have them copied
out for me. Found Rogers and Luttrell there ; and all
walked out in the grounds with Lady H., who set off in
her whiskey with Lord Ashbumham, while we remained
with Lord HoUand stock-still on horseback, and flattering
himself that he was taking exercise. Lord R. Fitzgerald,
who had been there some time, offered to take me into
town in his pony chaise, which I accepted. Before I went
to HoUand House, called upon Lord King, and sat some
time with him looking over the proofs of his **Life of
Locke." Pointed out to me the strong passages against
the Church ; and when I was coming away said, " Then,
you don't think I shall be in good odour with the Church?"
Called upon Mr. Thomas Grenville ; very amiable in his
offers of the use of his library to me. Spoke of Lord
King ; his agreeableness in a country house ; his readiness
to take a part in everything, drawing, architecture, &c. :
regretted his embroiling himself still further with the
Church. Gave me an account of the manner in which the
King bestowed the Ribbon on Lord Ashburnham lately,
the Duke of "W. wanting to give it to some one else.
Dinner at Peel's ; went with Rogers and LuttreU. Party
very large. Lords Carlisle and Farnborough, the Attorney-
General, Watson Taylor, Lyttleton, Wilkie, Smirke,
Wyatville, and God knows how many artists besides.
Sat between the Attorney-General and Watson Taylor.

Mentioned to the former Elwyn's story of having

once sent a message to Judge Best through Byron.
Seemed to doubt it. Advised me to write to Best about

June, 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 65

ity and asad tiiat T should find him very good-humoured
and willing to give me an answer. Had some conver-
sation with Mrs. Peel ; the evening most lovely, and the
effect of the water and St. Paul's, &c. &c., from Peel's
balcony beautiful. Went to Lady Grey's ; some move-
ments towards asking me to sing, but a few words to
Lady Grey put an end to them, and nothing could be
nicer than she was about it. A gck>d deal of talk with
Lord Grey about the King; his manner of receiving
different people : cutting Lord and Lady Lyndhurst ;
saying nothing to Lord Rosslyn on his official presentation
but " There's another oath you must take." On my way
home went into Brookes's, and was received with hurras
by those there : George Ponsonby, General Ferguson,
&c &c. Ferguson assured me that if the whole club
could have been collected at my ballot, they would have
admitted me by acclamation.

15 th. In some anxiety for the receipt of Bessy's letter,
as the day after she left town a letter arrived from the
Starkeys, whom she was going to at Weymouth, to say
that they were on the point of leaving that place. Her
letter arrived; she found them still there. Called at
Murray's to settle about the size of page, portrait, &c. &c^

16th. Breakfasted at home. A message from Rogers
to say he was waiting breakfast for me with a party of
beauties. Miss Wynnes and Miss Brook; could not go.
Off to Davidson's, carrying with me in a hackney coach all
the remaining materials of my Byron in order to have
their quantity estimated in pages by the printer. Find
that, together with what is already printed, and not allow-
ing for what my text will occupy, they will make 1260
pages; two volumes, therefore, are inevitable, which

E 4

66 DIABY OP [-ffiTAT. 61.

I regret. Called at Longman's^ and thence to my darling
—A Tom at the Charter House. Fomid him quite well and
happy 5 eyerybody, he^says, kind to him. By great good
luck, too, his monitor (to whom yoimg Smith had given
his share of the tip the other night) had set Tom the very
example I could have wished, by returning it to me
through his hands, and bidding him say how much obliged
to me he was, but his father did not allow him to take
money,

17th. Breakfasted with Rogers; the Fielding girls
and F. himself: Lady E. came afterwards. Thence to
Mrs. Baring's (who was to have taken me out to Wimble-
don to Lady Lyndhurst's luncheon) to beg her to make
my excuse. Showed me some new pictures Baring had
Just bought. On my mentioning that HolweU Carr pro-
nounces Lord Lansdowne's beautiful little Claude (for
which he gave 1500i) to be " a good Patel;^^ (?) she told
me of a picture by Rembrandt that Baring once bought at
a very large price, which used to make Sir T. Lawrence
unhappy from its being a finer Rembrandt than that of
Angerstein. After contemplating it, however, for several
hours one day, he came to the conclusion that it was too
highly finished to be a genuine Rembrandt, and, in conse-
quence of this opinion of his, the picture fell in value
instantly. Went to Printing House Square to look for
Barnes, in consequence of a troublesome agency imposed

upon me by Sir A. F , who wishes to be employed

as a correspondent to some of the newspapers while on his
projected tour through Italy. Did not find Barnes.
Called upon Mr. Bell, editor of the " Atlas," and men-
tioned the subject to him. Went to Brookes's: found
Lords Carnarvon and King. Lord C. very anxious for
me to join him in a visit to Baring's this summer, as was

JuNE^ 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 57

also Mrs. Baring tliis morning. Brougham came in and
said, in shaking hands with me, " This is the first time
I have seen you since you took your seat." Dined at
Lord Lansdowne's (meant to have established myself at
Kichmond yesterday, but Lady L. made it a point
I should stop for this dinner) : company, the Clanricardes,
the Sandons, Lord Gosford, Empson, &c. &c. * * ♦
My neighbour on the other side. Lady Sandon, whom
I made laugh a good deal by my account of Varley's book
on Astrology, his portrait of the " Ghost of a Flea," &c.
&c. Mentioning, in the evening, to Lord L., Mrs. Baring's
story of the Kembrandt, he said that Lawrence had in the
same manner destroyed the credit of a Correggio of An-
gerstein's, by declaring his opinion that the one in the
Duke of Wellington's possession was the original.* Lord
L. aware that his own Claude is questioned. Mentioned
to him what some one said of a portrait of Holwell Carr,
that it looked as if in the act of saying, ** The original is
in the Borghese Gallery." Cautioned me against the
hospitable assaults of the Kichmond people, who, he
thought, would be very apt to pounce upon me for their
parties.

18th. Busy preparing for my flight to Richmond.
Our. cook arrived from Wiltshire yesterday, and was de-
spatched off* by Power to have everything ready for me.
A housemaid of Lord L.'s also in the house. Dined at
the Athenseum. Not able to get either chaise or place in
the stage on accoimt of the races, and obliged to take a
hackney coach. Got to Richmond between nine and ten.
Forgot to mention that I sent Peel since I dined with him

* The Correggio in the National Gallery, formerly in Mr. An-
gerstein*s collection, was bought by him on Sir Thomas Lawrence's
express and urgent recommendation.

58 DIABY OF [^TAT. 61,

an autograph of Lord Byron (being a leaf relating to Peel
himself out of B.^b manonDiidbBm-biK^), wad ree^ved fiem

him the foUowing answer : —

" My dear Sir, — I shall prize very highly the autograph
which you have sent me, and for which I return both you
and Mr. Murray my best thanks.

*^I think I have the most curious and characteristic auto-
graph of Buonaparte that is in existence, and this of Byron
will not be an unworthy companion of it. Ever, my dear
Sir, very truly yours,

** BoBfiBT Peel.

*^My autograph of Buonaparte was given by Talleyrand
to the Duke of Wellington. The channels through which
it has come into my possession add an interest and value
to it, of which this of Byron sent to me by your hand par-
takes in the highest degree."

19th to 22nd. At Richmond, busy; the place delicious
and quiet.

23rd. Went into town for the Lansdowne ball. Dined
at Spottiswoode's. The ball beautiful, and the fine statue
room looking to great advantage with such a profusion of
lights, flowers, and pretty girls.

24th. Called upon Lady Cowper, having fixed to do so
last night. A good deal of talk about Byron ; wished to
know from her the date of B.'s proposal for Miss Milbanke,
but found her (as every one is) all adrift about dates.
Said she was sorry at Middleton to see that Lady Jersey
wished the verses about the picture and the king to be
inserted, as it would revive all the sore feeling on that
subject at Windsor. Spoke of the King with great liking ;
his being so agreeable, and so full of fun and good nature.
Out early to Richmond ; Bessy, who had taken Buckhill

JULT, 1829.] THOMAS MOOBE. 59

on her way from Weymoutli, having fixed to turn off the
Bath road at Brentford and come across to Richmond.
Arrived safe, she, and Hannah, and Russell.

25th to July 4th. Domesticated comfortably at Rich-
mond, and working at the ** Life."

. 5th. Had a fly, and went into town with Bessy. My
lodgings occupied : no room either at Sandon's. Went to
Rogers's (he having often asked me to take a bed at his
house) and. fixed to sleep there ; Bessy going as usual to
Power's. Dined at Lord Durham's : Rogers, Luttrell,
and I going together. The Duke of Sussex, on my enter-
ing, started up, ** Ah I Tommy, I am so glad to see you."
Company, besides his R. H., Lord and Lady Cleveland,
Lord Grey, Lady Cecilia Buggins, Duke of Somerset,
Lord and Lady Lyndhurst, &c. A good deal of talk
with his R. H. after dinner about his library, &c. Told
him I heard he had 60,000 volumes. ** Not quite so
much," he answered, *^but about 50,000." Asked me
when I had been to Holland House, and when I said not
for some time, but that I meant some morning soon to put
myself in a Richmond coach and go there to breakfast,
he said, very good-naturedly, " A much better thing for
you to do would be to come sleep at my house the
night before : I can give you a very comfortable room,
can't I, Stephenson?" Party separated at twelve, the
Durhams going to Lady Grey's, and asked us to ac-
company them, but we thought it too late. Home with
Rogers. Mentioned a clever thing said by Lord Dudley,
on some Vienna lady remarking impudently to him, " What
wretchedly bad French you all speak in London I " *^ It
is true, Madame (he answered), we have not enjoyed the
advantage of having the French twice in our capital."

6th. The Henry Grattans, Mrs. Blackford, and her

60 DIARY OP [^TAT. 51.

sister Harriet to breakfast; Luttrell too. Rogers call-
ing on Wilkie the other morning ; when he entered the
room, Wilkie exclaimed, ^^ and your goat ; " on which R.
tmning round saw that a goat had followed him out of the
street, and came upstairs with him. Luttrell said it was not
an unconmion thing for goats to follow people in this man-
ner, and to affect to belong to them. Went to Power's

for Bessy, and took her shopping. Called upon Lady ,

who gave me another letter. Mentioned a little trait of
Byron's egotism at a party in London, where they ap-
pointed to meet each other at a certain part of the room,
in order, I believe, to go down to supper together. Her
going there at the moment fixed, and waiting for him in
vain ; his saying to her afterwards, when she reproached
him with disappointing her, " What, do you think I would
run the risk of being disappointed myself? I did not ex-
pect you would come, and so did not expose myself to the
slight. I was, however, watching whether you came or
not, and if you had not, I never would have spoken to
you again." Met Lord Strangford by appointment (he
having written to me to fix a time) at the Athenaeum.
Showed me a note from Canning, which he had lately
found, and which oddly enough (notwithstanding his own
admission to Napier, that the despatch was written in
Bruton Street) proved that, after all, it was written in
Stanhope Street, Canning, at the time, not having got to
his house in Bruton Street, This, though of no conse-
quence otherwise, shows at least how little memory is to be
depended upon. Repeated me some rather comical verses
he wrote on his way home, about his own mission to Don
Pedro. Said that Gordon (the minister before Lord
Ponsonby) having made Pedro very angry about some-
thing, Pedro exclaimed, ^^ The House of Braganza never

JuLT^ 1829.] THOMAS MOOBE. 61

was before so insulted," on which Gordon, who had also
felt himself insulted by Pedro, answered, ** Give me leave
to tell your Majesty that the House of Gordon is as
ancient, if not more so, than the House of Braganza."
Pedro was of course dumb-foundered at such auda-
city, and afterwards, when Lord Ponsonby was coming to
succeed Gordon, in making inquiries of some one re-
specting Lord Ponsonby his Majesty asked, '^ Do you
know whether he belongs to the Royal family of Scotland,
because, if so, he shan't stUy here." Went to Brookes's,
where I found Luttrell and Lord Sefton, and the latter of-
fered to take us aJl to dinner. Called for us at Kogers's at
half past seven, and proceeded to Prince Leopold's. Party
numerous: Hollands, Carlisles, Durhams, Seftons, Lords
Grey, Clifden, Gower, Essex, &c. &c., to the amount of about
twenty-eight. Got well placed with Lords Grey, Clifden,
and Holland, and found the dinner agreeable. On my tell-
ing Lord Clifden the first anecdote about Gordon and Don
Pedro, he mentioned as something parallel what Elliot said
to Frederick of Prussia, on his sending a roue of a fellow as
minister to England, merely to spite the English Cabinet.
" Well, what do you think (asked Frederick tauntingly) of

Monsieur ? " ^* Digne representant de voire Majeste^^

answered Elliot, bowing very low. From Prince Leopold's
went to Lady Grey's, taken by Lord Grey. Some of
Lady G.'s children (as well as two of Lord Durham's)
had gone with Lady Jersey to Asdey's ; she having made
a party of more than thirty children, and taken them,
together with the Duke of Wellington, to see the battle
of Waterloo I In talking of the odd effect of seeing a
comic personage in ill-humour (as I saw Listen once,
when dressed for the part of ^^Rigdum Funidos;" and
as W. Irving described to me his having seen Grimaldi

62 DIARY OF [JEtat. 51.

behind the scenes in a fiirious rage, with the regular
grin painted on his cheeks), Lady Grey reminded her
daughter of the passion Lord Grey was in the night of
Watier's masquerade, at their having got him a dirty
white sUk doLo, and the mask he wore being a very
smiling, complacent-looking one ; the effect of his anger as
he walked impetuously about the room was, she said,
highly ludicrous, and the more angry he grew, the more
they laughed. This to me an additional proof of the ex-
ceeding amiableness of Lord Grey in his own family. On
our return home, sat up talking with Rogers, and got to
bed rather late. R. had asked Lady Lyndhurst, Lord
Grey, and some others to breakfast in the morning.

7th. A desperate wet morning. A note from Bessy
to say she would get out to Richmond by an early coach.
Luttrell arrived to breakfast, and after him Colonel Arm-
strong ; near twelve when Lady Lyndhurst came ; a good
deal of laughing. ♦ ♦ ♦ The rain continuing violent.
Lady Lyndhurst offered to take any of us about wherever
we wanted to go. " Unluckily," I answered, " I want to
be taken about all day;" on which Armstrong said,
" Suppose we all club to take Moore about all day, it
would pay well." Set Luttrell and me down at Brookes's.
Went thence to Murray's ; got my bill for 1,200/. from
/ him, out of which I must return him 250Z., having anti-
cipated to that amount upon it. Down to Longmans' to
put the bill in their hands ; thence to the printer's. Dined
at Athenaeum, and set off for Richmond at a quarter past
seven.

8th to 12tK At Richmond, and working ; nothing but
rain all the time. On the 11th had dear Tom home from
the Charter House ; took him and Russell boating in the
evening. On the 12th (Sunday) all the Powers, nine in

/

July, 1829.] THOMA? MOOBE. 63

number, came out to dimier : meant that they should have
dined in the sunmier-house by the river, but, on account
of the rain, had only tea there ; took the children in a boat.
Tom returned to town with the Powers. Great con-
gratulations yesterday to the Carlisles on the approaching
marriage of Lady Blanche to young Cavendish : told us
the girl was just turned seventeen and he twenty-one.
Luttrell remarked very truly that the family of the Car-
lisles act as softeners on society; there are so many of
them, and all so gentle and good-tempered, that they
diffuse a kindly tone around them.

13 th to 15 th. At work and unmolested. On the 15 th
a very pretty scene on the Thames from a boat-race ; the
shores and water covered with people.

16 th* Went into town for some queries. Lord Sandon
outside the coach, but when he saw me came inside. Very
agreeable. Talking of Hall's book and the question of
primogeniture, explained how the law for division of pro-
perty in Germany is counteracted by family compacts,
without which all the great houses would have dwindled
away. The siu^prise of Auguste de Stael on finding how
deep-rooted the love of entails was in England. Was pre-
sent at a debating society of radicals, where the question
was mooted and carried triumphantly in favour of the
principle of entaiL Lord S. agreed with me that our here-
ditary aristocracy could not co-exist with a law of equal di-
vision of property. The very act of attempting to form a
chamber of peers was a violation of the principle of this law,
as there was no reason why the eldest son should be chosen
for such a distinction more than the rest. The mothers and
younger sons are the great supporters of the present law
of property in France, and so much does the general
feeling influence those even who are naturally opposed

64 DIARY OF [iETAT. 51.

to it, that there are very few peers, who have availed
themselves of the permission they might obtain of es-
tablishing a larger majorat^ but have confined themselves
to the low degree of majorat they are compelled to make.
The present state of domestic politics very like that which
intervened between Walpole's ministry and Lord Chatham ;
the distinction between Jacobite and Whig then broken
down as those between Whig and Tory are now, and the
boundaries of party confused. A similar laxity, too,
ensuing in the conduct of public men. Called at Rogers's,
found he was at Wobum ; at Luttrell's, gone to Lord
Sefton's ; at Murray's, who was going in the Stationers'
barge up the river. Went to the printer's. To Long-
man's: got 250/. from them to return to Murray out of his
1,200/. Met Sir A. — on the subject of his news-
paper scheme : asked him to dine to-morrow. Went to the
Royal Institution to look over old newspapers. Dined at
the Athenaeum, and back to Richmond by coach at half-past
seven. Met Tom Hume in the Strand, just returned from
Naples ; said he saw my books in English all along his
road. Davison mentioned the enormous price given by
Murray for Irving's two last works; 3,000 guineas for
« Columbus," and 2,000/. for the '' Chronicles of Granada;"
the latter never likely, he said, to sell at all. Longman,
by the bye, in talking of my *^ Byron," said he thought
Murray was bound to give me more for it, as being so
much more voluminous a work than was foreseen.

19th. Had Murray out to dinner, and Fielding to meet
him ; the latter being brought by Murray in his carriage.
The day dreadfully wet, and all our fine rurality spoiled ;
but got on, nevertheless, very well.

22nd. Went into town to see Murray on some business
before his departure for Wales. Met Sir T. Lawrence,

JULT;1829.] THOMAS MOOEE. 65

and £xed to sit for my picture (which he is about to
paint for the illustrious Murray) on Tuesday next. A
sad drain upon my time just now, and must try to avoid it.

23rd and 24th. At work. A note from Denman to
ask me to dinner on Sunday to meet Brougham and
Mackintosh.

2dth. A note from Denman to say he had asked
Burdett, who, he hoped, would come and bring me*

26th. Burdett called upon me soon after breakfast;
doubtful what he should do, having promised the Duke of
Sussex yesterday to dine with him ; but still not liking to
lose such a party as Denman's. Kesolved, after many pros
and conSy to cut the Duke and take me to Denman's. Sent
his carriage for me at half-past five. Great diflSculty in
finding Denman's house. In talking of the vanity of great
men, said that Mr. Fox was an instance of a great man
without a particle of vanity ; Pitt, he believed, also. Com-
pany at dinner besides ourselves. Brougham, John Wil-
liams, Denman's own family, and some naval officer^ also,
I believe, a relation. Brougham not in his usual feather,
but still very agreeable. In talking of Junius was glad to
find that he considers this writer much overrated; said
that he had declared this opinion once in the House of
Commons, in making some reference to Lord Mansfield
(qticere, in his long speech on the Reformation of the
Law?). Francis's handwriting a very strong part of the
evidence in favour of his being Junius : his feigned hand
(of which there were specimens on one or two occasions ;
particularly in some contributions he sent to Lady Miller's
*^ Batheaston poetry ") agreed perfectly with the feigned
hand of Junius. It was singular enough, too, that the first
present which he made to his wife, on their marriage, was a
splendidly bound copy of "Junius," nott however, the

VOL. VI. F

66 DIARY OF [MTAT.Bh

famous vellum-bound copy that Junius had bound for him-
self. Brougham was by when Francis made the often
quoted answer to Rogers — ** There is a question. Sir
Philip (said R.), which I should much like to ask, if you
will allow me." "You had better not, Sir (answered
Francis); you may have reason to be sorry for it (or repent
of it)." The addition to this story is, that Rogers, on
leaving him, muttered to himself, " If he is Junius, it must
be Junius Brutus.^ Brougham himself asked him one day,
" Is it a thing quite ridiculous to suppose that you might
be the author?" « Why, Sir," he replied, "if the world
is determined to make me out such a ruffian, I can't help
them." He never. Brougham thinks, actually denied the
charge, but at all times, in this sort of angry way, evaded
it* To Lady Holland, too, who tried him with the ques-
tion, he answered, " Now that I am old, people think they
may with impunity impute to me such rascaUty, but they
durst not have done so when I was young." Francis's
vanity, it appears, led him to think that it was no great
addition to his fame to have the credit of ** Junius," having
done, according to his own notion, much better things.
This gets over one of the great difficulties in accounting
for the concealment ; and it must have been, at all events,
either some very celebrated man who could dispense with
such fame, or some very vain man who thotight he could.
In talking of handwriting and its being sometimes here-
ditary. Brougham said that he had found some of his
grandfather's which exactly resembled his own, though the
grandfather had died before he was bom, and his father's
writing was altogether different. Thought Curran boring
in his latter days, being much disposed to argue, which
was not his forte, Burdett agreed with me in thinking
him, to the last, wonderful. Home pretty early.

JNJVT^.RSIT

Aug. 182».] THOMAS MOOBE. ^ ^a ^7 *^\V*

28th. Went into town (Bessy with me) to sit
rence. Found him engaged with somebody else; and
not sorry, as it gave me more confidence in putting off
the operation altogether, at least for some time. Some
hitch in the negotiation for the three acres, in which I
am engaged, one of the deeds on which the title depends
being, it appears, mutilated, and in such a way as to
be fatal to the validity of the title. Dined (Bessy and I)
at Lady Donegal's ; she had just received a present from
the Duchess of Gloucester with a very pretty and friendly
letter, which we read. Jekyll, in speaking of the length
of time Lawrence takes in finishing a picture, says that a
man not very young, musf leave it to his executors to
finish the sittings, and he means to look out for a good-
looking executor to perform this task for him. Returned
in the coach at night. Lady D. having sent us in her
carriage to the White Horse Cellar.

August 1st to 3rd* At home.

4th. To town. Went out to dine at Mrs. Mont-
gomery's, where poor Lucy Drew has been some time
not at all well. Party, Bessy (who had come to Brompton
by a later coach). Fielding, tiie two Montgomerys, Lucy,
and Miss Montgomery. Found there Mrs. Blencoe's
Miscellany, "The Casket," tiie first I had seen of it
Besides my own acknowledged contribution, she has put
in an old poem of mine (" Verses in a Lady's Album ")
as Lord Byron's. Very near missing tiie coach at night ;
poor Bessy and I had a run for it.

5th. Barbara Godfrey brought by her aunt Philly to
pass a few days with us, having been passing some time at
Hampton Court with Lady Montague. Murray (Bessy's
brotiier-in-law) came out to dine accompanied by his sister,
Mrs. Henry Siddons, to pay a visit. Murray very amusing

p 2

68 DIARY OF [^TAT.51.

at dinner ; returned to town at night Murray's story of
a poor Irishman he met with on his way from Edinburgh.
This poor Paddy was leaning disconsolately at a gateway,
with a small panfull of potatoes near him, when a dandy
on the top of the coach said to him, pointing to the pota-
toes, " I say, Pat, how do you call those things in Ireland?"
**Call, Sir," answered the other; "oh, faith, there's no
use in calling them ; we're obliged to fetch them."

7th. Had asked a party to dinner to-day, Fielding, the
two Montgomerys, and Barber ; and Bessy suggested to
me, an hour or two before dinner, to send over and invite
Sir F. Burdett also, who came. : Neither Fielding, how-
ever, nor Barber was able to. come. Montgomery men-
tioned a curious translation into French of a sentence of
Lady Morgan's. In talking of Lord Castlereagh, she said
that "he had purchased for himself the scorn of all
Europe," which the translator made ^^ II s*est achete tout le
hie de F Europe,^ In another place where she had remarked
that some one had a "very pretty hrogue^^ the version
rendered it " Elle avait unjoli sabot." Burdett full of the
last number of "Blackwood" (which he brought in his
pocket) containing an ultra-Tory article on Reform, which,
he said, was but a rechauffe of all his own Middlesex
"Addresses and Speeches." In talking on national
vanity, M. mentioned a Sicilian he once knew, who, when-
ever there was a question of the merits of different
countries, always produced a bit of Sicilian garlic, saying,
" Che hel paese, &c. ; what a fine country it must be that
can produce such a morso cTaglw.^* Burdett very agreeable.

8th and 9th. Quiet and at work.

11th. To town at half past one. Dined at Lady D.'s.
Drove out with Bessy and Barbara in the evening to the
Regent's Park, and heard the bands. Slept at Rogers's.

Aug. 18290 THOMAS MOOBE. 69^

12thu Breakfasted with Mrs. Shelley. In talking of
Byron's religion, mentioned a book, " Easy Way with
Deists," which made a great impression upon him. Shelley
undertook to answer it ; but when he had got through six
pages, stopped in his task, saying that Byron was a person
who wanted checks rather than otherwise. Byron shocked
afterwards at the life he had led at Venice, and hated to
think of it. Called for Bessy and Murray at Power's and
went to the Charter House to see Tom : agreed to dine
with Murray at the Hummums. Foimd out Mrs. Kean,
to whom I wished to put some queries. Told me about
the presents from Lord B. of a box and a sword. The
former has on it a representation of a boar-hunt, and was
presented by him to Kean after seeing him in Bichard IIL
Byron offended at Kean's leaving a dinner, which had been
chiefly made for him, at which were B. himself. Lord
Kinnaird, and Douglas Kinnaird. Kean pretended ill-
ness and went away early ; but Byron found out after-
wards that he had gone to take the chair at a pugilistic
supper. B., after this, would not speak to Kean. He
was, however, so delighted with his acting in Sir Giles
Overreach, that, notwithstanding all this, he presented to
him, immediately after seeing him in this character, a very
handsome Turkish sword, with a Damascus blade. Sent
him 50/. at his benefit. In talking of the circumstance of
Kean's first appearance in London, I said that spme memo-
rial of it ought to be preserved ; on which she exclaimed
eagerly, " Oh, will you write his life ? you shall have all
the profits if you'll only give me a little." Had called at
Lady D.'s ; Jekyll had just been there, having returned
from his visit to Windsor to the King, and had been amus-
ing them with an account of it. The early dinner, the

drives out afterwards to the Virginia Water, and on their

r 3

70 DIABY OF [-ffiTAT*51.

return tea. and marrow^hones. Jekyll startled when he first
saw this latter appendage to the tea-table, but took his
bone with the rest ; and there was, in consequence, a larger
supply every evening afterwards. The King never made
his appearance till late in the day, as the lacing he requires
would not be endurable if he underwent it early. It did
not strike Jekyll that the Duke of Cumberland had much
the ear of the King ; on the contrary, the latter seemed to
treat him yery cayalierly.

13th to 15th. Murray with us; highly amusing and
intelligent; his anecdotes and illustrations all cleverly
done. Kemble's opinion of Kean's *^ Othello: " *^ If the
justness of the conception had been but equal to the bril-
liancy of the execution it would have been perfect ; but
the whole thing was a mistake ; the fact being that Othello
was a sloto many Kemble consulting the man for some
ornament (to the cloak, I believe) to wear in " Coriolanus ; "
the man saying he had just the sort of thing that would do,
and then calling to some one to bring "that thistle^ which
had just been finished.

16th, 17th, 18th. Sent to the printer the last copy for
my first volume of Byron. A note from Rogers to say that
he sets out on his tour in three or four days.

19th. Went into town to see Rogers; Bessy with me.
Dined with R. ; no one but ourselves. Millingen in the
evening. His son has written an account of Lord Byron's
death for the purpose of defending himself on the subject.
Both Murray and Colbum have had the MS., but neither
will publish it. His statement is, that it was Lord B.'s
left foot that was lame; most strange discrepancy of
evidence on this point. Miss Pigot, Mrs. Leigh, the old
shoemaker at Southwell, and others, say the right (which
is also Bessy's impression from the once she saw him);

Aug. 1829.] THOMAS MOOBE. 71

but, a^ many more, on the contrary, say it was the left.
Hunt (for instance), Mrs. Shelley, Dr. Kennedy, &c.
Lord Chesterfield said, on seeing some people dance a
minuet, ^^ They look as if they were dancing for hire,
and were not very sure of being paid." Rogers going
off on Friday (21st), and expressed a strong wish that I
should come in again to him to-morrow. Promised to do
so. The coaches having to go by Curzon Street (on ac-
count of the paving of Piccadilly) stopped and took up
Bessy at Lady Donegal's.

20th. To town rather late ; dined with Rogers. Have
made a mistake in saying it was yesterday evening that
Millingen joined us, for it was this evening. Took leave
of Rogers and back to Richmond at night, having to come
in again for a dinner at Rees's to-morrow. Sad expense
and destruction.

21st. To town late; went to printer's. Dinner with
Rees : company, Spottiswoode, Dickinson, Dr. Ure, Mur-
ray, Allan, &c. &c. Murray's stories of Mathews; his
being twice in danger of drowning. Once in a bath, when
he was pulled out by the little finger by a dandy ; *^ Happy,
Pm sure, to be of the least service to Mr. Mathews."
The other time, on recovering from insensibility, hearing
an Lish fellow saying, " Can you see any visible object ? "
and beholding a large blind, goggle eye which this fellow
presented to him, with a candle close to it, to ascertain his
powers of vision. Went to Vauxhall: Rees, Murray,
Allan (the Scotch painter), and myself. The night chilly,
and the place, with its ill-lighted walks, moumfuL Had
some conversation with the proprietor, Hughes, on the
badness of this season for his purpose. On his remarking
that Itey were obliged to light upon fixed nights, let them
be ever so bad, I said that it was difficult to imagine a

7 4

72 PI ART OF [^TAT. 61 •

xnore melancholy spectacle (in his eyes particularly) than a
place of this kind on one of those rainy nights we have had
lately, illuminated and empty : " Sir (he replied), the
deserts of Arabia are nothing to it." Supped between
twelve and one, and, to warm ourselves, had some burnt
port. To bed a little before three ; slept at Paternoster

Row.

22nd. Went to the printer's, thence to Power's. Saw
Bessy off in the coach at two, and took my own place for
eight in the evening. Met Jackson, the boxer; asked
him which foot Byron was lame of, and, strange to say,
even he, who had seen it so often, having constantly
bathed with Byron, hesitated in his decision about it
Expressed himself, however, pretty sure that it was the
left foot from his recollection of Byron's attitude when
sparring. Being a right-handed man, he would naturally,
he said, place his right foot behind, and the strength
with which he followed his man up showed that this
foot must have been the sound one. This very asso-
ciation, however, staggers me as to the correctness of
his conclusion, as I think I remember wondering at the
power which Byron's foot seemed capable of, notwith-
standing its lameness, in this position. Dined at Lady
Donegal's; a dreadfully wet evening, and when eight
o'clock came, so did not come tiie coach tiiat was to
call for me. Waited in a worry for some time ; at last
sent off the servant to the office and ascertained the coach
had started without me. Had nothing for it but to send
for a chaise, and at the expense of two or three and twenty
shillings (to inflame my other long list of disbursements)
got to Richmond a littie after eleven. Found Bessy all in
alarm, and determined if I had riot arrived at twelve to set
off to town.

Aug. 1829.] THOMAS MOOBE. 73

23rd to 26th. At work. All this time past various
plans in agitation with respect to oiir future disposal of
ourselves. The purchase of the three acres^ and Dr.
Starkey's negotiation with Goddard having failed^ our pro-
jects were either to go and pass the winter months in
Dublin, or to take a house temporarily in the neighbourhood
of Bowood till something better should turn up. In the
ihidst of this, received a letter from Lord Lansdowne to
say, that, in casting about to see what other spot (besides
Cassan, which he before offered) could be found for us
on his property, he had hit upon one on the high road
between Calne and Melksham, which he thought would
suit our purpose exactly to build on. Being part of the
property he could not alienate it, but I might have a lease
of twenty-one years, and be in short a freeholder and only
pay him a moderate ground-rent, leaving the whole of the
money I could command disposable for the building.
Nothing could be more kind than this letter. Before I
answered it, in the course of some correspondence with
Goddard on the su|>ject of my rent for Sloperton, it ap-
peared that he had let the whole Sloperton property (the
cottage, at lOZ. per annum) to Webb of Bromham, but
gave us a hope that if we should like to have the cottage
at this rent on a repairing lease, it was very possible Webb
would consent to give it back. Wrote to him to say we
should be happy to have it on those terms.

27th. Dined with Sir Francis Burdett, he having called
himself in the morning to press Bessy to accompany me,
offering to send the carriage for her and back. She, however,
declined. No one but their own family, except Sir Robert
Wilson. A very wet night ; B.'s carriage brought me home.

28th. A note from Lord Sandon to say they were
going to Ham House, and, as I expressed a wish to see it.

74 DIARY OF C-ffiTAT. 51.

they would be happy to take me. Too busy, however, to
go. Dined at Lady Bute's; taken there by Burdett.
Company, the Duke of Bucoleugh's two sisters, the San-
dons, and a clergyman of the name of Byron. Day very
agreeable. In the evening was induced to sit down to the
pianoforte (for the first time in society since my scenes
at Lord Anglesey's and the Fieldings') and was rejoiced
that I did so, as I found myself able to go on as usual, and
have now, I trust, surmounted the feeling. Was very
much led to it by the gentle unaffectedness of Lady San-
don, who sung some of my own things with me, and in-
deed seemed familiar with every thing I have ever
written.

2 9th. To town for some inquiries. Went to the
printer's; to Peel's Coflee House to look over a file of
newspapers. Received the long promised communication
from Scott concerning Byron ; luckily, just come in time
to be inserted. Dined at Lady D.'s and back to Bichmond
atnight.

September 5th. Left Richmond for town ; Bessy and the
boys to go to Lady Donegal's, and I to 19. Bury Street.
Dined at Lady D.'s ; she all delight with the two boys.
Jekyll the only company, and very agreeable company he is
still in spite of his deafness. Gave me an account of Lord
Erskine's strange history. First, an officer in the Royals ;
marrying for love ; writing a sermon at Malta, which he
himself read at the head of the regiment ; taking to the
law on his return to England, his whole means consisting
in 300Z., which some relation had given him, and lOOZ. of
which he laid out with a special pleader, having a wretched
lodging near town, and a string of sausages hanging in the
fireplace, to which they resorted when in want of food.
After he was called to the bar, was asked one Sunday to

Sbpt. 1829.] THOMAS MOOBE. 75

dine with Welbore Ellis, but preferred walking put some
miles to dine with an old half-pay friend of his. Caught
in a violent shower of rain, and kept for hours under a
gateway, till it was too late for his friend's dinner. Be-
thought him then of Welbore Ellis, and went there to
dinner, which proved the making of him. Among the
company was Captain Bailey, brother to the Colonel
Bailey, against whom an information had just been granted
for a libel on Greenwich Hospil^, and Lord Sandwich ;
struck with Erskine's eloquence, and when he went away
said to W. Ellis, that he had a great mind to employ him
on his brother's trial that was coming on. Did so. Jekyll,
who at this time had seen Erskine but once, met some
eminent lawyer, who said, " We had a most extraordinary
young man at our consultation yesterday evening, who
astonished us all," and added, that this young man (who
was Erskine) had given it as his opinion, contrary to that
of all the rest, that the rule against Bailey would be dis-
charged. Then came the day of trial Jekyll returning
into court * (having been called away during Erskine's
speech) and finding the whole court, judges and all, iq a
sort of trance of astonishment. Next day Erskine's table
was crowded with retainers, and from that moment he
flourished both in fame and fortune. He immediately
moved to handsome lodgings in town, and the string of
sausages was no longer resorted to. As Erskine began
life without a sixpence, so he ended it. What became of
his money no one can telL He had made in the course of
his practice, 150,000/., and had besides his pension as ex-
chancellor ; yet all vanished. * * * Erskine showed
Jekyll the guinea he had got from Bailey, which he had
had fixed in a little box, in which you saw it by peeping
in* Story of Jekyll going to the chemist in some country

76 DIABT OF [-ffllTAT. 61.

town^ and telling liim^ if he should bring a tall^ good-looking
gentleman (describing Erskine) to ask for laudanum^ not
to give him any, as he meant to commit suicide. The
scene between Erskine and the apothecary; the former
asking for " Tinctura sacra;" the significant looks ex-
changed between Jekyll and the shopman, and the surprise
and anger of Erskine on being told that there was no such
thing to be had. His revenge on Jekyll for this trick,
having him called up in the middle of the night at the inn
where they both lived, by an ostler, who came into Jekyll's
room, saying, that his friend was dying, and wanted him
in a hurry to come and make his will ; his finding Erskine
sitting up in bed looking very melancholy, with papers,
&c. before him. E.'s dictation of the will. "Being of
sound mind, &c. &c., do bequeath the pond in my garden
at Hampstead to the Newfoundland dog ; my best beech
tree to the macaw, with full liberty to bark it as he pleases ;
but for my friend who, &c. &c." Erskine's fun afterwards
about this one day in court during the state trials ; ima-
gining the validity of the will discussed before Lord Ken-
yon. Lord Kenyon's inquiries as to "who waa tins
Colonel Macaw (Erskine's name for the bird), &c. &c."
Erskine always as frolicksome as a boy. Canning's joke
about Lord Sidmouth's house; calling it the Villa Medici;
lately applied to Lady Lyndhurst on her dining at Sir
Henry Halford's with a party of physicians — the Venus de
Medicis. Jekyll's story about " Honest John " (Sheridan's
servant). Kemble making him bring wine after all the
rest of the party had gone to bed, and sit down with him;
taking him to see him home, and bidding him strike him if
he saw him getting into a row. Kemble quarrelling with
the coachman, and "Honest John" obeying him; upon
which Kemble turned to and gave him a desperate licking.

Sept. 1839.1 THOMAS MOORE. 77

&C. &c. Bessy joined us in the evening from her mother's,
and was much amused with JekjU's fun.

7th. At work in the morning. Dined at Lady D.'s,
and went in the evening, Bessy, Barbara, Tom, Bussell,
and myself, to the Surrey Theatre. Elliston hearing I
was in the house, came to the box. Not home till between
one and two.

11th. Took them to Sir T. Lawrence's; very civil to
Bessy; asking her. wishes and notions respecting the pic-
ture he is. about to paint of me. Thence to Chantrey's;
he himself in the country. . Bessy a good deal affected by
his monumental groups. Then to call on Mrs. Siddons at
Bayswater. In the evening to Astley's.

IStL Breakfasted at Lady D.'s, and went with Bessy,
Barbara, and Tom, to the Warwick Street chapel : music,
though not so good as when the best singers are there,
charming. Dined at Lady D.'s. Slept at the Gloucester
Coffee House in order to see Bessy off in the morning.

14th. Up at six, and off to Curzon Street. Brought
Bessy and the two boys and Hannah to the coach, and
saw them off. Not well all day ; tried to work, but could
not. A note from the Donegals to come and meet Mrs.
Stratford Canning at dinner. Did so. The dinner and
talk revived me. In the evening sung alone and with
Barbara ; and as well as in my best times.

15th. At work seven hours and a half. Dined alone
at the Athenaeum.

16th. To Holland House. At dinner, Duke of Bed-
ford and young Dundas. Slept there.

17th. Lord Holland came and sat with me in my bed-
room some time. Walked into town; back to dinner:
company, Mr. and Mrs. Calcott, Leslie, and young Dun-
das, &C. Leslie's description of Sir W. Scott when he

78 DIARY OP [JEtaT. 61.

(Leslie) went to Abbotsford to paint him. Scott thinking
that it was the same as with Chantrey, who let him move
about and turn as he pleased while making his bust, said
to Leslie, ^* You will see me, you know, about the house
and at breakfast and at dinner, which, of course, will be
enough for you." Lord H. referring to Erasmus (one of
whose large foKos he read through last year) to see who
was the painter he mentions as having (besides Holbein)
painted him, found it was Albert Durer. Question,
whether this portrait is in England ? Lord H. delighted
to find Erasmus's authority for Burgundy not being heat-
ing. Slept there.

18th. Sir F. Burdett to breakfast; promised to come
out to dine with him on Friday next. Mentioned his
having given a guinea, by mistake, to a beggar, and saying
to him, ^^ You are in luck, my good fellow, I meant to
have given you only a shilling ; but as you have it, you
may keep it." This was told a propos to some other stories.
One by Lord Holland, of Erskine having once dropped
20,0007. of stock out of his pocket in a shop ; and on dis-
covering his loss, after some time, running back and find-
ing it still on the floor of the shop, it being some sort of
shop where there were cuttings of paper lying about, which
prevented these others from being noticed. Rogers tells
of Tennant, that, having lost sixpence one day when a boy,
on coming back to the spot next day to look for it, he
found sixpence in halfpence in its place. Talk of foreign
politics and Russia. Lord Holland all for Russia, and
says it has been always the natural side of England. Even
in the aifair of Ockzakow, Pitt did not (he says) profess to
act against Russia so much as in favour of Prussia. Lady
Holland has at last taken the trouble of looking out
Bvron's letters to Lord Holland for me. Went into town.

Sept. 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 79

Charles Greville, at Brookes's, offered me the use of his
carriage and horses during the two months he is about to
be away from town. Returned to Holland House to
dinner : company. Sir T. Lawrence, Lord Essex, Wool-
riche, &c. My Lady unwilling to let me go and dine with
Lord Essex to-morrow. Slept.

19th. Busy after breakfast copying out Byron's letters.
Staid some time with Lord Holland in his own room.
Kead me some of the materials he is collecting for the life
of Mr. Fox. Many curious anecdotes from the unpub-
lished papers of H. Walpole, with remarks upon them,
pointing out their inaccuracies, &c. &c., by Lord Holland.
Walpole's account of the dissipation and extravagance of
the two Foxes almost incredible.

2QtL At work all day. Dined at Lady Donegal's.

21st. Took C. GreviUe to see Lawrence's pictures.
Said, in looking at the portrait of Canning (for Peel), that
he could imagine him speaking those very words, in his
great Portuguese speech : ** Here I plant my standard,
and where the standard of Britain is planted, no oppressor
can. ever come."* These are the words (said Lawrence)
which I had in my mind in painting him. Greville talked
of his delight at s«ne of my squibs, particularly

" Who the devil, he humbly begs to know,
Are Lord Glandine and Lord Dunlo ? *'

Went to Murray's, to Longman's, and to the printer's.

Was to have dined with Lord Essex, but fatigued by my

walk into the city, stopped short on my way back at the

! Athenaeum, and dined. James Smith at a neighbouring
table ; agreed to go with him to see the new piece at the

♦ (( ^e go to plant the standard of England on the well-known
heights of Lisbon. Where that standard is planted, foreign dominion
shall not come." — Canning" a Speeches^ vol. vi. p. 92.

I

80 DIARY OF C^TAT. 51.

Haymarket. Quoted a well-rhymed epigram he had found
insomeoldmagazme: —

" The truth is — if one may say so without shocking 'em — "

" The truth to declare — if one may without shocking 'em —
The nation's asleep — and the minister Rockingham."

The following also of his brother Horace's: —

" I cannot comprehend, says Dick,
What 'tis that makes my legs so thick ;
You cannot comprehend, says Harry,
How great a calf they have to carry."

I Mentioned an anecdote told by Croker as one of the hap-

piest things he ever heard. Fenelon, who had often
teazed Richelieu (and ineffectually it would seem) for sub-
scriptions to charitable undertakings, was one day telling
him that he had just seen his picture. *^ And did you ask
it for a subscription," said Richelieu sneeringly. " No, I
saw there was no chance," replied the other; *^it was so
like you," (Resembles the epigram, *^Come hither. Sir
John.")

23rd. To Holland House; used Greville's carriage,
and took Woolriche. As I was about to take my place
next Lord HoUand at dinner, my Lady said, ^* No, come
up here," ordering me to another seat. " So you have
taken Moore from me," said Lord Holland, with the look
of a disappointed schoolboy: company, Lord Porchester,
Sharpe, W. Ponsonby, &c. &c. Slept there.

24th. Conversation after breakfast about Mackintosh.
I said he was the only man that, in abundant stores of
knowledge, and in the power of generalising and bringing
his knowledge to bear, gave me an idea of what Burke
must have been. This brought on a comparison between

1

SSPT. 1820;] THOMAS MOORE. 81

him and Burke. Sharpe mentioned a habit Mackintosh
used to have of lifting up his heel, and looking down and
whistling at it In speaking of the Archbishop of Tuam's
strange speech on the Catholic Question, Lord Holland
imitated Horsley in his speech on the Slave Trade, " What
does the Holy Apostle say," &c. ; and then, when some
Peers laughed, *^ My Lords, when I quote the words of
the Holy Apostle, I expect to be listened to, not only with
awe, but with reverence." Went into town to the prin-
ter's, about Byron's letters to Lord Holland : at dinner
Lord H. again referred to Horsley's speech, and most
amusingly gave an imitation of another passage, where he
said, *^ My Lords, we have the authority of Mr. Mungo
Park, that to such a pitch of elegance and refinement has
Africa advan<5ed, that iu the bosom, in the very heart of
that calumniated country, there are women to be found
wearing white petticoats," Lord Thurlow, in answering
this part of his speech, said, in his peculiar way, " With
respect to what the Right Rev. Prelate has said of the
black women in the white petticoats," &c. &c. Another
time, when Lord Stormont (I think) had quoted some
resolutions which he had heard brought forward at the
Freemasons' Tavern, Lord Thurlow, in answering him,
said, ^^ In regard to what the Noble Lord may have hap-
pened to hear at the ale-house," &c. : company at dinner,
Burdett, Lord and Lady Dudley Stuart, Byng, &c. &c.

25tlu Sat to ^^aj^rence : this the third time of sitting
Began an entirely new picture, having seen Shee's por^
trait of me at Holland House, that he had taken the same
view of the face with him, and wishing to have one dif-
ferent. In talking of Sir J. i^eynolds's tapering-chinned
faces, said (" in confidence,** as he impressed upon me) that
the fact was. Sir Joshua was not sufficiently acquainted

VOL. VI. G

82 DIARY OF [.ffiTAT.Sl,

with drawing to venture out of- that one particular style of
beauty, and hence the mannerism of his fancy heads. Re-
turned home to work a little, and at four started for Bur-
detfs (at Richmond) in his cabriolet, which he left in town
to bring me: company at dinner, the Dudley Stuarts,
Brownlow, and George Sinclair. Found G. Sinclair to be
the same whom Byron mentions in one of his journals as
*^ a prodigy of school learning." Music in the evening.
Lady D. Stuart sang some songs of the Roman peasants,
and Clara Burdett also some Italian and Spanish songs to
the guitar. Slept there.

26 th. After breakfast, Burdett accompanied me to the
coach-office. Found the coach not quite ready, and walked
on with him, intending to be taken up on the road ; but
being engaged in conversation, took the wrong road, and
had to walk all the way to Putney, and get from thence
as I could in a Fulham coach* Talk chiefly' about
religion.

27th. At work in the morning. To Holland House to
dinner, taking Irving and Newton in my carriage with me.
Lord H. had mentioned to me a curious speech imputed to
Lord Chatham (by Walpole, I think), in which, observing
some of the Lords smile at the high-flown way in which
he spoke of the Livery of London, he said, " My Lords,
the Livery of London is the most ancient body connected
with our institutions. My Lords, when Csesar landed in
England, he found the Livery of London existing and
flourishing!" Showed me now a printed report of the
speech, from which it appears he must have said something
pretty nearly, if not to the full, as absurd as this; the
report representing him as asserting that, at the time of
Caesar's landing, Arviragus was Lord Mayor of London.
Returned at night.

Oct. 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 83

28th. Dined with Bailey in Seymour Place : company,
David Bailey^ Ben King, Prendergast, &c. &c Talked
of Canning's suffering under the attack of Lord Grey
during his ministry ; was Hke a man frantic and in his first
paroxysm declared that he must have himself called up to
the other House to answer it, • Sloperton Cottage, after
all, to be ours. Somebody at dinner said that the watch-
men in Portugal (who proclaim the state of the weather
as ours used to do) are called serenos ; and if this be true,
it tells well for the climate.

29tL Dinner at Lord Essex's : the Tiemeys, Ben King
again. Lord Clifden, &c. &c. A good many particulars
about the Duke of Wellington's duel with Lord Winchil-
sea; the awkwardness of the Duke's sending a government
messenger with his letter to Lord Winchilsea's country-
house; the messenger arriving at dinner-time, and the
Mat such a circumstance naturally made. I think I
should not hesitate to trust my wife under such circum-
stances, having always impressed upon her the vital im-
portance of a man's honom: on these occasions. Brought
home by Lord Clifden.

30th. At work, as I endeavour to be most mornings.
Asked to Lord Essex's, but had to meet my dear little
Tom at the coach-office, from Wiltshire, and deposit him
at the Charter House. Did so ; and having seen him safe
in the matron's hands, dined at the Athenseum between
eight and nine.

October 1st. Saw Luttrell at Brookes's, just arrived
firom Lord Batburst's, when he told me I had been invited
also, from their thinking that he was on a visit to me when
they wrote to ask him, * * • By the bye, I have
found in some book those lines of Foscolo*8 on Machiavel

o 2

84 DIARY OP [-S:tat. 51,

and Petrarch which he once repeated to me as some of the
best he had ever written, and which I find I had but im-
perfectly remembered. Here they are: —

" yidi OTe posa il corpo di quel grande,
Chi temprando lo scettro a* regnatori
Gli allor ne sfronda, .....
E tu*, i cari parent! e V idioma,
Desti a quel dolce di Calliope labbro,
Che Amore in Grecia nudo, e nudo in Roma,*
D* un yelo candidissiino ornando,
iElendea nel grembo a Venere Celeste."

Company at Byng's, Sir C. Bagot, Vesey Fitzgerald,
Newton, Irving, and Luttrell, who, on hearing I was to
dine there, offered himself. Rather amusing,

2nd. Dined at Lady Donegal's, to meet Lord Clifden,
Irving, Newton, young Jekyll, and Luttrell; the latter
asked by me. Singing in the evening,

3rd. Galled upon Dr, Lardner after breakfast to fix
about taking him out to the Longmans to-day. Showed
me some proofs of Sir W, Scott's " Scottish History;*^
complained- grievously of the trouble he gives with correc-
tions, and the extreme carelessness of his first manuscript,
as to style, &c. &c. ; repetitions and clumsinesses without
end ; is sure he must always have somebody " to look
after him " in such points. Lardner also gave me to look
over the proofs of Mackintosh's commencement of his
*^ History ; " the Introduction, and part of First Chapter.
Mackintosh's corrections also elaborate, notwithstanding
the carefulness of his first copy. To Hampstead at five,
taking Lardner and Brown in the carriage with me ;
singing in the evening.

4th. CiEtlled for by Mrs. Shelley to take me to Barnes's

* Florence.

Oct. 1829.] THOMaS iViOOBE. 85

at Barnes Terrace, where he has had a house for the sum-
mer. Stopped at Holland House ; saw Lord H. Men-
tioned Pitt's having been guilty of a false quantity, which I
was not before aware of, " capit opes " instead of ** ducit^^
John Hunter once saying to Lord Holland, " If you wish
to see a great man you have one before you. I consider
myself a greater man than Sir Isaac Newton." Explained
then why ; that discoveries which lengthen life and alleviate
sufferings are of infinitely more importance to mankind
than any thing relating to the stars, &c. &c.
r 5th. Dined at Murray's : company, James Smith,
J Irving, Newton, Mr. and Mrs. Rogerson, &c. Criticisms
of some one on Elemble's (I think) acting of Don Felix :
** Too much of the DoUy and not enough of the Felix?^
Charles Lamb sitting next some chattering woman at
dinner ; observing he didn't attend to her, *^ You don't seem
(said the lady) to be at all the better for what I have been
saying to you." ^^ No, Ma'am " (he answered), but this
gentleman at the other side of me must, for it all came in
at one ear and went out at the other." Bannister's melan-
choly at finding himself sixty-five, exactly the number of

! his own house. Looking up at the plate on the door, and

soliloquising, ^^ Aye, you needn't teU me, 1 know it ; you
told me the same thing yesterday." lieceived to-day a
letter from Madame GuiccioH in EnglisL Henry Fox
delivered me a message from her the other night with

f respect to her family limjig upon Byron, which, if I could

collect rightly from him, she wished me to contradict.
Confirmed what Lord W. Russell told me of her enthu-
siasm for Byron's memory, but advised me not to make
her too much of a *^ heroine de roman^^

6th. Dined at Holland House > went in G.'s carriage.

G 3

86 DIABY OF [-ffiTAT. 6k

Company^ Lady Hardy and daughters^ Lord Castlereagh^
Lord Seafordj &c. &c. Home at night.

7tL Sat to Lawrence; his portrait of the Duke of
Wellington scratching his elbow^ a frequent trick of his.
Mentioned it once to the Duke : ^^ Me I '* he exclaimed^
^* me have such a trick I I*m sure I haven't : " and all the
while he was speaking his fingers were unconsciously at
work at the elbow. Called for by Mrs. Shelley in her
job ; the day desperate ; storms of wind, snow, &c. Drove
to the Charter House, to see dear Tom, who came to me
with his bare head all feathered with snow. Mrs. Shelley's
admiration of him ; said she could have sworn he was the
image of his mother; ** there was all the woman in his
fece, particularly at the rise of the cheek near the eyes."
Dined at Lord Essex's to go and see Miss Kemble, a girl
of wonderful promise. After her potion scene, went be-
hind and was taken by Clmrles Kemble to her dressing-
room.

8th. Set off in the coach for Bowood. Stopped at
Buckhill, where I found Bessy and Bussell comfortably
established. Had dinner there, and walked to Bowood
(Lady Lansdowne having sent down the key of the
pleasure-grounds for me) between eight and nine. Found
Miss Bicardo with them.

9th, 10th. On the 10th met the builders on the sub-
ject of the cottage, and discussed theh: plan with them.
Drove with Bessy to the lodge, which Dr. Starkey offers
us for the winter ; met himself there. Nothing could be
more kind. Thence to Wyatt's, where there are lodgings
we can have for five guineas the half-year's rent The
lodge, of course, a far better residence, but lonely, and too
far from Sloperton. Almost fixed to take Wyatt's.

Oct. 1829.] THOMAS HOORE. 87

Went to Sloperton: looking dismal^ but still home-
like.

11th, 12th. On the 12th walked to Sloperton to meet
Bessy; thence to Spye Park. Dinner at Bowood; the
Starkeys, Bowleses, Moneyweather, &c. &c.

13th. The Lansdownes left home for Mrs. Bicardo's,
and I dined with Bessy at Buckhill.

15tL To Bath with Bessy to make purchases, carpets,
chimney-pieces, &c. &c. In the carpetnshop (in Milsom
Street), when I gave a cheque for the money, and my signa-
ture betrayed who I was, a strong sensation evident through
the whole establishment, to Bessy's great amusement ; and
at last the master of the shop (a very respectable looking
old person), after gazing earnestly at me for some time,
approached me, and said, ^^ Mr. Moore, I cannot say how
much I feel honoured, &c. &c.," and then requested that I
would allow him to have the satisfaction of shaking hands
with one ^^ to whom he was indebted for such, &c. &c."
When we left the shop Bessy said, " What a nice old man I
I was very near asking him whether he would like to
shake hands with the poet's wife too." Had a snug dinner
of mutton-chops at Hughes's on returning. Found the
Abercrombies at Bowood, arrived to-day.

19th to 23rd. For the remaining week I passed at
Bowood had no time to journalise ; the little I was able
to do of my work and the society of the house taking up
every minute of my day, besides visits to Bessy, who being
so near the gate of the pleasure-grounds had frequent
calls from me. The after-breakfast conversations (gene-
rally agreeable) lasted usually into the middle of the day,
and in the evenings Lady Macdonald and I sang. Here
follow a few things I remember from our talks. Louis

G 4

88 DIARY OP [.ajTAT. &1.

Dixhuit's cook aaid to his royal master's ph7sician5 on the
latter expostulating with him on the high seasoning of
some t)f his dishes^ " Jlf. le Medecin c^est a moi de faire
manger Sa Majeste; c^est a vous de le faire digerer,^^ In
talking of the horror some people have of innovations,
soine one told of a very religious French woman saying of
conductors, which she looked upon as a most impious inven-
tion : ^^ Je le regarde comme un autre coup de lance que Ton
met dans le sein de notre Seigneur J. C7." Sandal Jackson
once said in the House of Commons, " If this bill should
pass into a law, I shall expect to see the city of London
left to warble her native wood-notes wild in some vast
wilderness." Baring told me, as an instance of the pre-
carious value of pictutes, that a supposed Correg^o, bought"
by Lord Grosvenor for 5000 guineas, was afterwards, on
being discovered not to be a Correggio, sold at a Sale for
500/. Lord Lansdowne's story of a Fitzmaurice coming
to beg of him, and claiming to be a relation. Gave him a
pound note, with which the Fitzmaurice went to a public-
house and got roaring drunk. On his sallying out into
the street, the first object that caught his eye was ,Hat
Vaughan, whom he flew at instantly, and would soon have
demolished both his hat and himself had not somebody
interfered. All the watchman could get out of him was,
that he was a cousin of Lord Lansdowne, who had given
him a pound-note, for the purpose, it would appear, from
the fellow's account, of setting him at old Vaughan's
hat.

24th. Meant to have been off to-day, and had taken
my place; but my kind hosts expressed such anxiety for
me to stay till Saturday, that I consented. Wrote to
Lord Essex to announce my coming, ^and to say that
Abercrombie would be soon after me.

%

(

Nov. 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 89

' 26tii. Breakfasted with Bessy at Hughes's^ and started
for town. Supped at Power's.

November 1st. Dined with Lord Essex* Working
away at proofs every morning.

2nd. At the White Horse Cellar at four to accompany
Croker to Moulsey. Smith (of the " Rejected Addresses")
with us. At dinner, besides Croker's family, a Mr. Fol-
lett. To Justice Park's brother, who is a great church-
goer, some one applied the words. Parens deorum cultor.
Bentley once wrote to Walpole, " Why do you complain
of the badness of the summer ? As for me, I always have
my summers from Newcastle."

3rd. Went over in Croker's cab to Richmond, and
there took the coach to town. Dined at Lord Essex's;
Captain and Mrs. Montague, Mr. and Mrs. Hibbert, and
Woolriche. Sung in the evening, as did also Mrs. Mon-
tague, some of my songs, and very prettily.

4th. Dined at the Athenseum.

5th, At Lady Donegal's.

6th. Dined with Corry and Philip Crampton (who has
been in London some davs, at the Union Coffee House.
Both good fellows, and Crampton a right clever one.
Told me he never saw my mother looking in better health.
Told a remarkable story (which is too long to relate here)

about , who was hanged a year or two ago for

the murder of his father-in-law, in Lreland, and who, it
appears, was innocent, and died to save his mother. Must
write this case down some time or other. Parted between
eleven and twelve.

7th. Dined with Lord Essex ; taken by Sir F. Burdett
in his cab, and found him not a very safe driver.

10th. Lord John Russell just returned from Paris;
wanted me to go down for a couple of days with him

90 DIARY OF [^TAT. 51.

to Brighton; was nearly tempted to do so. Went to
Roehampton to Lord Clifden's (taken by Greville) to stay
till Thursday. Company : the Ellises, Mackintosh, Gre-
ville, and Byng.

1 Itlu Set out to go and see Strawberry Hill, but the rain
coming on turned back. Mackintosh, as usual, delight^;
his range of knowledge and memory so extensive, passing
(as Greville remarked) from Voltaire's verses to Sylvia up
to the most voluminous details of the Council of Trent.
Mentioned, as one of the happiest applications of a classic
quotation that he knew anywhere, that of Leibnitz in his
answer to Bayle's objections against Theism in the Theo-
dicee. Bayle had died before Leibnitz pubUshed this work ;
and in speaking of this event, the latter said that it was
but natural to suppose one of the rewards of his candid
spirit, in its present state of bliss, would be the happiness
of seeing all his former doubts on divine subjects cleared
away —

" Candidas insuetum miratur limen Olyrapi
Sub pedibusque videt .nubes et sidera." ♦

The epithet ^^ insuetum" M. remarked as particularly
happy and arch in its allusion, as well as ^^ nubes et sidera,"
which were applicable to Bayle's doubts, and to the wit
with which he illuminated them. (This last addition,
I rather think, is my own.) Mentioned Gibbon saying of
Priestley, ^^ The miraculous conception, &c., were the last
articles he has retrenched from his scanty creed." Talked
of the excessive stupidity of the Tories in their misrepre-
sentation of what Plunkett said of their " turning history

♦ *' Candidas insuetum miratur limen Olympi,

Sub pedibxLsque videt nubes et sidera Daplmls."

Virgil, Eel. 5.

Nov. 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 9 1

into an old almanack/' as if he had meant himself to assert
that history ¥ras no more than an old almanack. There is^
however, quite as much of Tory craft as of Tory stupidity
in this wilful mistake. Clapham Common, from being a
great abode of the Saints, called Campo Santo.

12th* Came back to town, with Gxeville. Left some
of the printed sheets with Irving to be sent off to America,
he having undertaken to make a bargain for me with the
publishers there. If I but make a tenth of what he has
done lately for himself in that quarter, I shall be satisfied:
3000/. he received &om Murray for his ** Columbus,'*
and 2000/. for his *^ Chronicles of Granada ;" and on the
same two works he has already got 3000/. from the
• American market, with the property of the copyright
there stiU his own. It is true that for Murray (according
to his own account) they have not been so fortunate ; his
loss ^on the two publications being (as he says) near 3000/.,
which may not be far from the truth, as the ^^ Chronicles"
have not sold at all. Dined at Lord Essex's.

14th. Had Tom home from the Charter House to stay
till Monday at Lady Donegal's ; stopped at my lodgings
on his way. Helped to scrub and brush the little dog,
and try to get the dirt of school out of him, and walked
with him to Curzon Street. Dined there: company,
Jekyll, and his son, and Irving. Jekyll's stories of Sir
Whistler Webster (the father of Lady Holland's husband),
lus walking with Lady Webster and Sir W* without
knowing that she was married, or being acquainted with
him ; her saying continually, " Sir Whistler says this,"
and " Sir Whistler says that," and Jekyll, taking it for
some cant phrase, saying, ^^ I am really not up to the
joke; what does this mean?" then being introduced by
her, &C. &c. The servants somewhere announcing him

92 DIARY OF [JEtat.61.

and his wife by a whistle from one to the other, *^ Sir
(here a whistle) and Lady Webster," Spoke of the
talents of General Fitzpatrick ; his speech about Lafayette
very fine, but delivered in so low a voice as to have made
but little impression. Lafayette finding a copy of the
*^ Morning Chronicle" with this speech on his prison table
without knowing where it could have come from, as all
communication had been long cut off between him and his
friends. Gave Irving, to take home and read, tKe first
200 pages of the " Life."

15th. At work all the morning. Dinner again at
Lady Donegal's, for the . pleasure of Master Tom's com-
pany, who, bless the dear fellow I was more amusing than
any of the beaux esprits. On Barbara's telling of her
having seen a woman in the streets the other day selling
the works of the poets of the day, printed on long ballad
sheets at a penny a yard, Tom exclaimed waggishly, look-
ing at me from head to foot, "Only think of a yard and
a half of Papal" Went in the evening to Charles
Kemble's, and found a good many people ; Lawrence, Sir
G. Smart, Durant, &c. &c Fanny Kemble and her sister
sat down and sung my duet, *^ Farewell, Theresa."

16th. A note from Lady Holland to express her dis-
appointment at not seeing me arrive with Lord John, and
entreating me to come down as soon as possible ; adding,
^* though we cannot lodge you, we shall be most happy to
feed you." Sat several hours- to Lawrence; thence to
Longman's. L.'s opinion that it would be wise of Murray
to publish the first volume separately. Sir T. Lawrence's
story of the " Teniers " offered to the King for 2000 guineas,
and his Majesty sending for him to see it ; his delight with
it on the first view, but his altered feeling in looking more
closely into it. The King saying, " Why, you have no

i

~\

Nov. 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 93

doubts about It, have you?" and Lawrence answering,
" It would be more satisfactory to me if your Majesty
would allow Mr. West to see it." L. accordingly showed
it to West, whose admiration of it as a genuine Teniers
was equal to what his own had been. *^ May I ask you,"
says Lawrence, **to look at it a little more closely."
West accordingly went down on his knees before it, and
after minutely examining every part, turned round and
said, " I see why you bid me do that ; it is not a Teniers."
The King got the picture after this for seven or eight
hundred pounds.

17th. Lord Lansdowne arrived in town; had written
to me to say he was coming.

18th. Dined at Longman's at Hampstead. Mentioned
to Longman that Murray had resolved to publish the first
volume immediately, but that the engraving, not being
ready, must in that case be reserved for the second.
Thought this unlucky, and that the engraving was worth
waiting for. Brought home by the Spottiswoodes. Find
that Madame Belloe has just arrived post-haste from Paris
about the translation of the ^^ Life."

19th. Told Murray, who called upon me, Longman's
opinion that he ought to wait for the engraving ; deter-
mined, to do so. Lord John called and sat some time.
Dined at Murray's: company, Su: J. Mackintosh (whom
I was lucky enough to sit by), Sir T. Lawrence, Irving,
Lockhart, the Somervllles, a Mr. Miller, who has written
well it seems on law. Mentioned the circumstance of
Coke being called Lord Coke, though with no right to it-
Lord Bacon, too, a misnomer ; ought to be called Lord
Verulam. . Judge Blackstone a vulgarism,

Pearce's account of Lord Stowell and Capt. Morris ;
the former saying to the latter (both being of the same

84 DIABY OF C-ffiTAT. 51.

age, eighty-five), "What is it keeps yon so young,
Morris ? " *^ It is all owing (says M.) to my having fallen
violently in love at sixteen, and that has kept my heart
warm and fresh ever since* I have married in the in-
terim, but never forgot the impression of that first love,
though the girl never knew I felt it for her.'* Lord
Stowell pleaded guilty to the same sort of youthful pas-
sion, and it turned out, on comparing notes, that it was
for the very same girl, who was a celebrated beauty in
their yoimg days in the town of Carlisle where they both
lived. On coming to inquire what had become of this
common object of their admiration (whom Morris supposed
to have been long dead), it appeared that she too was
still alive, and also in her eighty-fifth year, having changed
her name from *' Molly Dacre," under which they first
knew her, and being now a widow. This discovery in-
spired old Morris's muse with some very good stanzas, of
which the following are the prettiest : —

" Though years have spread around my head

The sober veil of Reason,
To close in night sweet Fancy*s light

Mj heart rejects as treason.
A spark there lies, still fanned by sighs,

Orddned by beauty*s Maker ;
And, fixed by Fate, burns yet, though late,

For lovely Molly Dacre.

^* Oh, while I miss the days of bliss,

I passed enraptured gazing.
The dream impressed still charms my breast,

Which Fancy's ever raising.
Though much I meet in life is sweet,

My soul can ne'er forsake her ;
And all I feel still bears the seal

Of lovely Molly Dacre.

N

Mot. 18S9.] THOMAS MOOBE. 95

" Fve often thought the happy lot

Of health and spirits leil me
Is deem'd as due to faith so true,

And thus by Fate is sent me.
While here she be [or " lives she"] there's life for me ;

But when High Heaven shall take her,
A like last breath Til ask of death,

To follow Molly Dacre."

Lady Clarke, upon being informed of her two old lovers
(for, I believe, the first time), wrote a letter to one or both,
very playfully and cleverly expressed.

20th. Set off between ten and eleven to Lawrence's
through a dense fog, but in vain; no painting to-day.
Found him in the precious room where he keeps his
drawings, which arc most curious and valuable. Has the
original drawings of L. da Vinci for the heads of the
•^ Last Supper," which will be one day beyond price,
Rubens' drawings too of some of his own pictures for the
engraver. Showed me that they had no other way then
of designating the differences of colour in engraving but
by light and shadows. Now an engraver can so meander
his shadows as to convey (to a painter's eye, at least) the
idea of blue and (I believe) one or two other colours.
Went to Murray's; means to wait for the engraving.
Four sheets given to Madame Belloe to be^n her transla-
tion, but no settlement of terms with her till we have an
answer from Galignani. Set out for Lord Clifden's with
Charles Greville at five. Fog very thick: got off the road
once, and were obliged to have boys with links through the
lane near Fulham. No one but themselves.

21st. Went to see Strawberry Hill; Greville, Agar
E., Lady Georgiana, and myself. The day too cold to
enjoy anything. Some pretty and carious things, such as
Benvenuto Cellini's bell. Cardinal Wolsey's hat, &c. &c. ;
but, upon the whole, a mere showbox, and, after the grand

96 DIARY OP [iETAT. 5U

engravings of it in Walpole's book, disappointing and

mesquin. *s report of what he had heard say of

the King, that he has great moral courage, is always for the
boldest measures ; in short, fears nothing but ridicule : be-
fore this he is a rank coward ; hence his secluding himself
so much, his never having anything but dull men about him,
&c. &c; This led them to talk of my squibs against him ;
whether he had seen them all. A. Ellis said he had been
told that " The Tailor's Song," at the opd of the ^^ Fudges"
had annoyed him very much.* Ellis repeated it to my
own amusement, having almost wholly forgot it. Between
him and Greville I am reminded of all my delinquencies
in this way, as they have them all by heart* Irving alone
came to dinner, Maclean (his principal) being ill. Byng
too came. Sung in the evening. Lord Clifden's hints
for my " Irish History : " those who had been dispossessed
in 1615 being still young enough to take their vengeance
in 1641.

25th. Dined at Lockhart's : company, Irving, Christie
and a brother of Lockhart's. L. mentioned Chantrey's
description of a morning in the King's bed-chamber at the
Cottage. His tailor, Wyatville, Chantrey, and somebody
else in attendance, and the King in bed in a dirty flannel
waistcoat and cotton nightcap. A servant announces that
the Duke of Wellington is arrived, and waits an audience
in the adjoining room. His Majesty gets up, puts on a fine
silk douillette and velvet cap, and goes to the Duke, and
after the conference is ended, returns, puts on the dirty

* At the same time there was good-humour and good-fellowship in
his quoting to Scott Moore's lines, —

** The table spread with tea and tonst,
Death-warrants, and the * Morning Post.* '*

See " Life of Scott.'" — Ed.

Dec. 1829.] THOMAS MOOUE. 97

flannel waistcoat and cotton nightcap^ and to bed again.
Generally walks about in his room all the morning in bare
legs. In talking of Sir W. Scott's quaigh of whiskey after
dinner^ which I had fancied w^is merely taken to show
off the Scotch usages to me, Mrs. Loekhart told me it was
his daily practice. *^ Aye," added Loekhart, *^ and a good
pot of porter every night too." Walked home in a snow-
storm.

27th. Made all preparations for my start to-morrow.
Dined at Lord Essex's: Rogers, Mr. Greville, Lord
Lansdowne, &c. &c. Li talking of suicide. Lord L.
quoted Montesquieu : II faut avouer que c'est une grande
commodite pour Theroisme,

28th. With Lord L. to breakfast at half-past eight,
and started at quarter-past nine. A very agreeable jour-
ney. Took a chaise at Calne, and arrived at Wyatt's
before seven. Found it all made most comfortable, the
magic wand of my sweet Bess having converted it into a
little palace of snugness, and all for 4/. 155., the half year's
rent. Li the rooms where, when I last saw them, were
washing tubs and flitches of bacon, I now found books,
maps, pianoforte, &c &c.

December. Must dispatch this month rapidly. On
the 3rd went to Bowood. Returned home on the 6th. On
the 9th received a letter from the doctor of the Charter
House, to say that Tom had shown symptoms of scarlatina,
and had been removed to the matron's rooms, and that it
was necessary some one should take charge of him on his
coming down for the holidays. Bessy determined upon
starting herself, and wanted to go the same night, but
I would not let her. Walked with her to Buckhill. Met
Lady L. in her jaunting car near the lane to Buckhill,
and she turned back and took Bessy the rest of the way

VOL VI. H

98 DIAEY OF [iEtAT. 51.

Her kindness and evident sympathy with Bessy's appre-
hensions (though, as usual, making no display of it), highly
amiable. Left Bess at BuckhiQ and walked home*

11th. Very anxious all day; Bessy having gone by
one of the late coaches, too late to write, and no letter
from the doctor. Walked over to Locke's ; asked to dine,
and gladly consented.

'12th. A letter from my sweet Bess, enclosing me one
from the doctor, with the iatelligence of Tom's complete
convalescence, and that I might expect them down iq the
evening. Was to have dined at Bowood, but sent an ex-
cuse, and between five and six Bessy and Tom arrived.

13th. Allowed Tom to walk out a little alone, and a
good deal alarmed by his returning home as pale as death,
and but just able to crawl along. I had thought the jour-
ney would have accustomed him to the air, but it was too
much for him, and he had nearly fainted, and been obliged
to lie down upon a bank. The thoughts of his catching
cold from the damp, together with the exhaustion of his
looks, kept me for some time in an kgonj of apprehension,
but IQ an hour or two he quite revived again. Dined at
Bowood ; only the two Strangways.

15th. Went to Bowood. Party: Lord Auckland and
his sister, the Strangways, an extraordinary fellow, a Rus-
sian, who has been in all parts of the world — Japan,
Mexico, the Swan River, &c. Slept there and staid over
the

16 th. The Russian mentioned at dinner an anecdote of
a Swiss and a Brabanter talkrog together, and the latter
reproaching the Swiss with fighting for money, while he
(the Brabanter) fought for honour. ^^ The fact is," an-
swered the Swiss, drily, ^' we each of us fight for what
each most wants." An old story this.

•-*,.

.^^^^

Dec 1829.] THOMAS MOOEE.

ITth, Strangways walked home with
letter from Murray, full of alarm about Byron's veral
Lady Jersey, declaring that they must be cancelled, and
entreating me to do what I could to fill up the blank. Too
provoking this. Continually have called his attention to
these verses, and, finding that even in their entire state, he
made no objection to them, left out, of myself, all the
severe parts against the King, and thought no more about
them. Must go up to town : cannot otherwise manage it.
Wrote to tell him I should come up on Sunday.

19th. A letter from Murray, expressing his regret at
the trouble his want of attention is giving me, and enclosing
a bill for 100/. in lieu of the money from Galignani, which
(having broken off all that negotiation) he requested me
not to accept.

20th. Off to town. In late, from the slippery state of
the roads. Found Murray's servant waiting for me ; bed-
room ready, with fire, and all sorts of luxuries ; but decided
for my own den in Bury Street. Expecting me to a late
dinner, they had had nothing since luncheon-time, and at
ten o'clock we sat down to a hot dinner. Murray's joke,
or story rather, of a man recounting his feats in shooting,
and appealing to Murray, who had been out with him.
"What he hit is history; what he missed is mystery;"
a double joke, taking it as ** his story," and " my story."
Home to Bury Street, tired.

21st. Hunted out, among my papers, a poem of
Byron's (which I had rejected) to supply the blank left by
the cancel. Thence to Murray's and the printer's. Left
the verses at Printing House Square, on my way to the
Longmans'. Dined at Byng's, having had a letter from
him before I came up, to say that he would secure Lut-

H 2

100 DIABT OP [^TAT.51.

trell and Greville on the chance of my meeting them.
Company, besides these two, Vesey Fitzgerald and
Irving. Luttrell's delight at Hood's puns, particularly
one where he makes a soldier say, ^^ I thought; like La-
vater, I could write about face^ Though Hood is -admi-
rable in his line, yet what a line it is for men like Luttrell
to admire I Was ever Pope, Prior, Addison, any one^ in
fact, of real wit a pun-hunter? It was among Swift's
drivellings, to be sure ; but all the lucid intervals of his
humour were free from it.*

22d. Dined with the Hollands : only themselves. Lord
H. delightful ; his saying, after dinner, about the ordinaire
claret, ^^ If we finish this, we shall be able to get some bet-
ter." Told of Mr. Fox saying one night in the House, that
his person had been frequently caricatured, but that he de-
fied any one (and in saying this he placed his hands on his
fat sides) to paint him in the character of Envy. Spoke
of Fox's famous answer to Lawrence's parallel of Hanno
and Hannibal; his application of the words. Ego Hannibal
peto pacem.' In speaking' of Burke he said, ^^ You all
overrate Burke ; you, too. Master Moore, among the num-
ber ; particularly in saying that he ever could have been
trusted as leader of a great party." This I, of course,
denied having said ; the fact being, as well as I can recol-
lect, that I have maintained the direct contrary. In the
evening Rogers came, Luttrell, Lord Ashburnham, Byng,
&c., but not Lord John (whom, by the bye, I had sat some

♦ Luttrell's jokes were chiefly puns. For instance, when Mr.
Croker had charged the public with war salary on account of Algiers,
and thereby excited much indignation, it happened that some one at
dinner talked of the name of Croker Mountains given to land sup-
posed to be seen in one of the voyages to the North Pole. " Does
any thing grow on them ? " said some one. " Nothing, I believe, but
a little wild celery ** (salarv), said Luttrell. — Ed.

Dec. 1829.] THOMAS MOORE. 101

time with in the morning), though I chiefly waited for him
and for the Americans. Lord Ashburnham quoted an
epitaph Vhe had met with in. a churchyard, and which, he
said,; .".contained poetry, piety, and politeness." The fol-
lowing are the lines :

•* You who stand around my grave,
And say, * His life is gone ;*
You are mistaken— pardon me —
My life is but begun."

23rd. Asked to various places to dine, but reserved my-
self for the chance of seeing Fanny Kemble in Belvidera.
Fanny K.'s acting clever, but not touching, at least, to me.
Was unmoved enough, during the pathetic parts, to look
around the house, and saw but few (indeed, no) symptoms
of weeping. One lady was using a handkerchief most
plentifully ; but I found it was for a cold in the head. Sir
Thomas Lawrence in the orchestra, full of anxiety and
delight ; and I made it a point whenever he looked our
way, that he should see me clapping enthusiastically.
Came over to speak to us afterwards. Got home between
ten and eleven, with all the horrors of correcting the cancel
and of packing before me. Dispatched all, and set off* in
a hackney coach for the Gloucester Coffeehouse, where I
slept

24th. Started for home ; a deuce of a journey. On
Marlborough Downs was within an inch of being upset,
having got off the road, which was untraceable from the
drifting of the snow. Got out with all speed, the leaders
of the six horses that drew us being already down in a
hollow, and the heavily-loaded coach within an inch of fol-
lowing. When the coach was righted, took in two poor
^Is (milliners, apparently, from their smart dress), who

H 3

102 DIARY OF [^TAT. 51.

had been all along outside. The rest of our way to Calne
very slow and perilous, the coachman being obliged to get
down continually^ to see if we were still keeping the road.
25th to 31st. The printing off of the first volume
delayed by a mistake at mv lodgings relative to the trans-
mission of the revised cancel to the printer.

Jau. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 103

i

1830.

January, 1830, let to 3rd. Busy at my second volume.
4th. Went to Bowood : party, the Barringtons, Henry
and Mary Fox, the Hallams, father and son ; Spring Rice
and son. Staid till the 7tL Henry Fox's story of the
wonderful calculating boy in Italy (only seven or eight
years old). Two young men one day being inclined to
quiz the child, asked him several frivolous questions, and,
among others, ** Due e due^ quanto fanno f " The boy
answered, *^ Quattro centoJ*^ " The devil I " they ex-
claimed; ^*how is that?" On which he replied, calmly,
*^ Due € due fanno quattro, e poi (pointing to them) due
zerV^ This is hardly credible. Talkiiig of the small
potentates of the Continent; the Prince de Beuss (?) one of
the first to acknowledge the French Republic ; the terms
of his recognition as follows : — ^^ Le P. de Beuss reconnait
la Republique Frangaise ;^ to which Talleyrand returned
for answer, ^^ La Republique Frangaise est bien aise de
faire connaissance avec le Prince de Meuss.^ The present
Prince of Monaco is Hercules the 50th. Dean Ogle a
very absent man ; has been known more than once at a
strange table, where there happened not to be a very good
dinner, to burst out with, " Dear me, what a very bad
dinner 1 I am so sorry not to have given you a better,"
&c. &c., thinking himself at home. Story of a sick man
telling his symptoms (which appeared to himself, of course,
dreadful) to a medical friend, who, at each new item of the
disorder, exclaimed, "Charming!" "DeUghtfiill" "Pray

H 4

104 DIARY OP [iETAT. 51.

go on I " and, when he had finished, said with the utmost
pleasure, ^^ Do you know, my dear sir, you have got a
complaint which has been for some time supposed to be
extinct?"

8th to 15th» Busy, and wondering at the further delay
of the first volume. At length an article in the ^^ Times,"
and another in the " Courier," both favourable, announced
its publication at hand.

16th. Received a copy of the book.

19th to 27th. At work. Loads of letters every day
about my book, and most flaming eulogies of it in the
" Sun," '' Atlas," '' Court Journal," " Northern Whig,"
&c &c.

31st. Walked home from Lacock. Found my own
darling Bess a little better ; the state of her health gives
me many a sad moment. Great God 1 spare her to me.
An article in the ^^ Times " of yesterday, very flattering to
me, but hard upon poor Byron.

February 1st. A chaise in the morning to take me to
Bowood. Started with Lord L. at a quarter past nine.
Dined at Maidenhead, and got to town iabout eight.
Found myself very comfortably lodged at Fielding's, in
Sackyille Strqpt

2nd. Working at home. Murray called. Very good
accounts of the " Life." Talked of the late Radical article
in the " Quarterly," and the sensation it has made. When
Croker, among others, was expostulating with Murray
about 'it, the latter reminded him that he (Croker) had
sent for him a short time ago, and said, ** You may be
sure, Murray, Reform must be given some time or other,
and the sooner you take up that tone the better for the
* Review.' " Croker said he only meant as far as related
to East Retford, &c. &c. Talked of the letter Davison^

Feb. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 105

the printer, had from- Bland, Lady Byron's solicitor, in
which he says that Lady Byron was highly pleased with
the "Life." Murray assured me that Bland is not the
man to have said this, unless he had good grounds for it.
Dined by myself at Brookes's, and home pretty early.

3rd. Notes from Lady Holland and Rogers, to ask me
to dinner to-day. At home all the morning, working,
tying called, and sat some time. Company at Lord
King's : Sir J. Graham, Wilson, Sharpe, Warburton, Dr.
Rees, and Macaulay. Tiemey, to the last, very nervous
about speaking ; Pitt, too, ^d I think they said Erskine.
Brougham said of Wetherell that he « drives his sub-
stances and four." Lord King showed me a journal kept
by the Chancellor King, in short-hand, which Dr. Rees
had lately deciphered for him.

4th. Went at one to call upon poor Mary Godfrey,
who was quite overwhelmed upon first seeing me, but
more composed afterwards. The meeting altogether a sad
one, and both Barbara and she seemed to recover their
spirits at last far more than I did.

6th. To printer's, &c. Dined at the Athenaeum; a
grand dinner, for the opening of the Club, consisting of all
those members that had belonged to Committees. Croker
in the chair, supported by Lords Lansdowne, Gower,
Lowther, and Bexley, Bishop of London, Agar Ellis, &c.
&c., to the amount of about thirty. Sat next Chantrey.

7th. Worked all day ; and, intending to return to it in
th6 evening, ordered a dinner at Brookes's, but had scarcely
done so, when Stephenson (who had been commissioned
by the Duke of Sussex to throw his drag-net at Brookes's
for any stray guests he could catch for an impromptu
dinner at Kensington) tempted me to join the party, and I
c/i9ordered my cutlet. Set off, six in a coach (one of the

106 BIABY OF LiETAT.61.

Duke of Sussex's which he had sent in for the haul),
consisting of Lords Durham, Howick, &c., and found
myself most heartily and hospitably welcomed by his
R. BL Lord and Lady Cleveland and daughter. Lady
Cecilia Buggins, &o. of the party. The day most royally
odd, and (to do it justice) Mwroyally easy and amusing.
Brought back by Lord Durham.

8th. Worked at my sheets six hours* and a half. Dined
at Athenaeum alone, and worked for two or three hours
afterwards.

9th. A note from Lady Holland, to say she would
wish to put me off from dinner till Friday or Saturday, as
to-morrow she means to go to the play. Glad of the
opportunity to accept Kenny's invitation instead.

10th. Dined at Kenny's, taken by Rogers. Company:
Jekyll and son, Irving, Newton, Mrs. Badham (Fanny
Holcroft that was), and her husband. In talking of the

Duke of , Jekyll mentioned that for years, whenever

he met him, his R. H. used to ask regularly, ** I hope
your two daughters are well?" (Jekyll's being two sons):
to which Jekyll would answer, ^* Quite well, thank your
R. H. ; they are both at Westminster :" and the Prince's
reply was always *^ They couldn't be better placed." An
e^ccellent specimen of the sort of attention royal ques-
tioners pay to their answerers.

[At this time a proposal was made to Mr. Moore,
apparentiy with Lady Canning's ftdl approbation, to write
the life of Mr. Canning. There was much that was
tempting m this proposal ; the brilliant oratory and de-
lightful wit of Canning would have found a congenial
biographer in Moore. On the other hand, the career of
the friend and disciple of Pitt, Anti-Jacobin and Anti-
Reformer, must have jarred with the liberal and reforming

Fkb. 1830.J THOMAS MOORE. 107

politics of the author of the Irish Melodies and the
" Twopenny Post-bag." Here is the result]

11th. The first aspect of the plan appeared to me
most inviting ; the importance of the period, the abun-
dance of materials I should have to illustrate it, and my
general coincidence with the principles of Canning^s latter
line of politics; not to mention (what unluckily is always
last in my calculations) the .great pecuniary advan-
tages I should reap from having (as was agreed I should)
the whole of Ae profits resulting from it; aU tius was,
I own, most tempting. But, upon coming to consider
the matter more closely, an obstacle presented itself in
the person of Lord Grey, which at once put an end
to the whole speculation. The decided hostility in which
he and Canning were placed during the period in ques-
tion, would make it wholly impossible for me to enter
into the subject, without such a degrea of freedom in
speaking of the conduct of Lord Grey as both my high
opinion of him, and my gratitude to him for much kindness,
would render impossible. K left to myself I might per-
haps manage to do justice to all parties, without offending
any; but under the dictation of Lady Canning, the

thing would be impracticable. Told accordingly

(who felt my reasons to be unanswerable) that I must
decline the undertaking.

1 2th. Dined at Longman's ; M^CuUoch and Dr. Lard-
ner. M^Culloch mentioned Dobbs on the ** Trade of
Ireland" as good; spoke of a pamphlet published by
Dilby in 1786, in which the fallacy of the Sinking Fund
was exposed. Talked of Sir W. Petty ; a clever book

** on the Bills of Mortality, by Captain ," said by

Burnet to be really written by Petty. This is however
improbable ; why should he, who avowed everything else

108 DIARY OF [^TAT. 61.

he wrote, be so chary about one book, and that a good
one ? Talked of Evelyn's account of Sir W. Petty ; his
mimicry, dancing, &c. &c. Spoke of the republication of
Berkeley's ^' Querist," with notes ; a good idea, and well
executed, though in some instances deficient in informa-
tion; found, from M^Culloch, it is by Vernon Smith.
Lord Lansdowne had already told me he knew whose it
was, but had been enjoined secrecy.

13th. After working a little, off to the Charter House.
Tom better. Dined at the Athenaeum, and home in the
evening to work.

14th. Dined at Chantrey's. Had been asked to the
Lord Chancellor's, and promised Lady Lyndhurst, if
possible, to come in the evening. Company at Chantrey's :
Bedford, Babbage (the great mathematician), Penn,
Stokes, and one or two others. Babbage, in praising
my *^ Byron," said that my analysis of the character of
Lord B. came nearer to the clearness of science than
anything he had ever read. * * ♦

15th. To Tom at Charter House. Dined at Sir E.
Codrington's. Company: Lord Essex, and Sir H. Bunbury.
The Codrington girls sung in the evening very nicely,
their brother, the Captain, joining them. Brought home
by Sir H. Bunbury.

20th. Took Miss Macdonald to see over new Athe-
naeum; met Mr. Grenville, who took advantage of the
escort to see it also. Dined at Byng's ; Agar Ellis, Gre-
ville, Lring, Lyttleton. Received from Dr. Lardner some
of the sheets (about half a volume) of Mackintosh's ^* His-
tory of England ;" read them with much avidity, and was,
on the whole, not disappointed, which, taking into account
the expectation with which one must always approach any
thing of Mackintosh's, is saying a great deal.

Fbb. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 109

21st. At home, as usual, at work most of the day.
Dined at the Lord Chancellor's. Company : the Granvilles,
the HolMnds, Lord Lansdowne (Lady L. too ill to come),
Lords Auckland and Carlisle, and C. Greville. Lord
Holland's remarks on Thurlow and Mansfield presiding in
their respective courts, both handsome men, both able
judges; but while' law was all gentleness and suavity,
equity was aU violence and savageness. Told of Allen
standing some time before Vandyke's portrait of Laud,
which is in Lord Holland's possession, and at last being
heard to mutter, with a sort of growl of pleasure, to himself,
** But he was beheaded." An assembly in the evening of
the most chosen. Had some talk with I^ady Glengall
about my ^^ Byron ;" said she had sat up till seven in the
morning to finish it. The Duke of Wellington of the
party, and he and I exchanged greetings for the first time
since I knew and dined with him, as Sir A. Wellesley, in
Dublin. Nothing more, however, than his blunt *' How
d'ye do?" in passing.

22nd. Called and saw Lady Lansdowne, who is
confined with cold; offered kindly to take Tom down
to Wiltshire where she is going. Went to Tom ; found
him pretty well, but looking so delicate as to make
me very uneasy. Indeed, what with one or other of
those in whom my heart is wrapped up, I am doomed
perpetually to anxiety. My poor mother, too, is in a state
of sad weakness ; and I am in constant apprehension about
her. Dined at Colonel Bailey's. Company : Lords Cleve-
land, Saye and Sele, Reay, and Duncan. Brought home
Dy Lord Cleveland.

26th. Dined at Lord Lansdowne's. Company : Lord
Auckland, C. Greville, Doherty, C. Kemble, &c Kem-
ble's story of the Irishman mulcted in 6/. for beating a

N

110 DIART OP [iETAT. 51.

fellow, and sayings ** What, five pounds 1 Well (turning to
the patient), wait till I get you in Limerick, where bating
is cheapi and I'll take it out of you."

27th. To Tom again ; took him out in a hackney coach
to St. John's Wood Koad, and having there walked him
about in the sim for half an hour, returned with him en
fiacre to the Charter House. Dined at Hallam's: Rogers,
Lady C. Lindsay, Lady Davy, &c. &c. To the Opera for
a short tune.

March Ist. Dined with Murray. Meant to have
joined the Lansdownes at "the play afterwards, to see
Fanny Kemble, but had a note from Murray before dinner
(a messenger from the Lansdownes to leave the niunber of
their box for me at his house, having apprised him of my
design) to say, " For God's sake do not go to Lord Lan&-
downe's this evening ; you live with him, and it can be of no
consequence to him, but to me it will be thrusting a knife
into my feelings," &c. &c Company at Murray's : James
Smith, the Lockharts, Irving, &c. &c Staid there the
whole evening, and sung, — the first time for near two
months, — and was actually pleased with the soimd of my
own voice. A niece of Madame D'Arblay's also sung
some things with an Italian, and very prettily.

3rd. Off at seven, Tom and I, for home, and most glad
to get there. Found Bessy pretty well.

4th to 17th. Hard at work (as hard as it is my nature
to be), and but two days of company ; one at the Fieldings'
on the oth, when I dined there and slept, and the other
at Starkey's on the 11th.

18 th. Started for town with Tom. Kept him to sleep
with me that night.

19th. Up at a little after seven, not having slept mv.ch ;

March, 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. Ill

and having breakfasted at Power's on our way, deposited
my young Moretto at the Charter House. Dined at
Edmimd Byng's: a theatrical party; Jack Bannister,
Mathews, Listen, Yates, Bardey, &c. &c ; the Knight of
Kerry and myself being the only non-dramatic part of the
assembly. Bannister's imitation of Garrick in private life :
a sort of hesitating finery in the manner of speaking, hardly
like what one could have expected, and which Bannister
said that Grarrick, who was fond of the great, took up in
imitation of Lord Mansfield. Mathews's imitations admi-?
rable. William Linley singing, ** Stay, traveUer," and his
brother Ozias in agonies under it. ** What dreadM stuff
is that?" asks the brother. "Ozias," answers William,
with a solemn and reproving voice, " It is our father's."

20th. Had called at the Hollands' yesterday, and they
asked me to dine to-day. Went. Nobody but themselves
and Lord Robert Spencer. Forgot to mention that a few
days before I left home I received from Lord Holland
Lady Byron's printed remarks upon my book, trans-
mitted to me by her own desire. Told him, in answer^
that I would, with her permission, subjoin it to the second
edition of my work, and received from him a most flatter-
ing reply, praising the good humour and judiciousness
of this step ; also entering into some particulars respecting
the part of my book relative to Lord Carlisle's father, and
suggesting some little softening explanations, which, he
thought, if given in a second edition, would gratify Lord C.

24th. Murray very worrying about omissions; has
taken fright at the whole Guiccioli affair.

26th. Note from Lord Essex to say that the Directors
of Ancient Music last night expressed great regret at my
not coming, and that there was some talk among them of

112 DIARY OF [^TAT. 51.

making me henceforth free of tlie Ancient Music. Dined
with Mrs. Manners Sutton for the pui^ose of accompany-
ing her to Mrs. Shelley's in the evening, they having made
up an acquaintance together since I was last in town. At
dinner only Mr. and Mrs. Hare.

26th, Dined with the Fieldings, and went in ihe
evening to a party at Dr. Bowring's. Introduced to several
first-rate literati, whose names I knew nothing about ; also
to Pickersgill and Martin, the artists. To my surprise and
pleasure saw Washington Irving among the group, who
proposed that I should accompany him back to a party of
Americans he had just left (at Mr. Maclean's), which I ac-
cordingly did to his great delectation. Foimd the party
numerous. A yoimg American lady played the harp and
I sang, while Mrs. Maclean sat by my side, exclaiming
enthusiastically, " Oh elegant I elegant ! " Notwithstanding
this Iri^h Americanism, however, a very nice woman.

28th. Glad to accept Lord Essex's offer of an airing
in his barouche. . Took me out to Holland House. Lady
H., on asking him to dinner some day, said, *' As to
the little poet, there is no use in asking him." " Try
me," I said. ^^Well, Thursday next," she replied; and
most luckily I happened to be disengaged for that day.
Went from thence to see Wilkie's pictures. Dined at
Lord Lansdowne's, and went with him at night to Lord
Essex's, where we found Miss Stephens, the Codringtons,
&c. Sung with great success. Had received a note from
Twiss in the morning, saying, *' Is there by any possibility
a chance of finding you disengaged to day ? If so, pray
come, and meet the Duke of Wellington here at seven
o'clock."

29th. Dined with Dr. Holland. In the evening went
to Martin's (the artist), and met a large party of small

ApaiL,1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 113

literati. Flattered and talked at by them till I was sick
and ran away.

30th. Dined at Lord Charlemont's. Company: the
Caulfields, Lady Davy, and Lord Dudley. Lord Dudley's
dialogue with himself, and silence to the rest of the com-
pany during dinner, very awfiil and damping.

31st. Dined at Lord Carnarvon's. Company: Lords
Mahon^ Auckland, Cowper, Porchester, Mr. Algernon
Herbert, &c. &c OS early to the Ancient Music, Lord
Cawdor having given me a ticket. Came in for tiie
second act. After it was over, the Archbishop of York
most graciously told me tiiat tiie Directors were all very
sorry at my disappointment last week, and tiiat he was
sure that he spoke but tiieir united wish in saying that I
might consider myself free to come to tiieir box whenever
I pleased.

April 1st. Dined at Holland House. Company: Lords
Carlisle, Euston, Melbourne, and John Russell, Lady
Hardy, and daughters. Lord Holland having told me of,
a letter which Lady Byron had sent tiiat morning, upon
the subject of Campbell's rhapsody, to Lord Melbourne,
asked Lord M. after dinner whether he had any objection
to show it me. ** On tiie contrary," he said, and went
upstairs to his room for it. In this note to Lord M. she
expresses great regret at tiie " injudiciousness " of what
Campbell has done, though convinced tiiat it was very
good-naturedly meant, and adding that she has known
him a long time, &c. &a

3rd. Went in tiie evening to Lady F. Gower's
theatricals. The second piece a kind of iahleau founded
on tiie ballad of ** Zarifa ; " most beautiful. Lady F. Gower's
looks, dress, and singing as pretty as need be, and the

VOL. VI. I

114 DIAET OP [iETAT. 51.

whole thing admirable of its kind* The company very
chosen ; hundreds of the usual party people being left out.
4th. Breakfasted with Rogers, to meet Luttrell and
Sandford. R. quoted the following good epigram : —

" * See the justice of Heaven,' America cries,
* George loses his senses, North loses his eyes I '
But before they attacked her, *twas easy to find
That the monarch was mad and the minister blind."

Mentioned also the following upon Mrs. Cowley's tragedy
of ^* The Fate of Sparta " (or some such name) : —

** When in your mimic scenes I viewed
Of Sparta*8 sons the fate severe ;
I caught the Spartan fortitude,
And saw their woes without a tear.**

S. quoted Charteris' saying, ** I'd give at any time ten
thousand pounds for a character, because I know I could
make twenty by it." Called on the Godfreys, and at
Shee's. Dined at A. Baring's. Company : the Fazakerleys,
Rogers, Mrs. Norton, who was at war all dinner time,
most amusingly, with Rogers. Sung in the evening ; and
so did Mrs. Norton, some songs full of feeling.

5th. Forgot to mention that Henry de Kos has given
me some papers of his family, consisting of letters
from the Duke of Marlborough, Lord Coningsby, &c.
&c., to do with as I liked. Called to-day upon Agar
Ellis, who has got some of them to look over, and
was glad to find that he thinks they may be turned to
account. Dined with Sir Henry Bunbury. A fine old
lady there, his aimt, Mrs. Gwynne, who was one of the
two pretty girls relative to whom the story of Goldsmith's
petty jealousy is told ; aU, she assured me, a misrepresenta-
tion. Goldsmith merely said, playfully, to their mother^

APML,18Sa] THOMAS MOORE. 115

on some one having come to speak to him, " You see I
haye my admirers too." Such is the truth of history and
biography. Talked a good deal with her (into her
trumpet) about Sir Joshua, Burke, &c.

6th. Sent some things to the printer. Walked out
with Corry, who staid with me till he saw me off in the
coach for Cashiobury, where I was glad to fly to for a few
days' quiet. The evening delicious when I arrived, and
the place looking beautifiiL Ko one but Lord Essex him-
self and Batcliffe.

7th to 9th. Had my mornings to myself till between
two and three, and then drove out for an hour or so with
Lord Essex. Got pretty well on with my work, and en-
joyed my solitary walks in the park and about the Swiss
Cottage exceedingly. At the last day's dinner we had the
addition of Codrington, Woolriche, and Sabine.

10th. Started for town in a chaise with Batcliffe.
Employed myself aU day in preparing for to-morrow's
flight to Wiltshire. Dined at the Speaker's: an odd
assemblage ; the Mathewses, Mrs. Shelley, yoimg Kitch-
ener (son of the Doctor) and his wife, &c. &c., besides
Corry (who went witii me) and Washington Irving.
Forgot to mention in its place Ixving's description of the
evening at Horace Twiss's (the evening of the day he
wanted me to meet the Duke of Wellington). But few
people had come ; and ** there was Twiss," said L-ving,
" witii his two great men, tiie Duke and the Chancellor,,
just like a spider that has got two big flies, and does not
know what to do with them." Sung a littie, and walked
home with Lrving and Corry. The Speaker very agree-
able after dinner.

11 Ul At breakfast with Sir Henry Bunbury in Gros-
venor Street at half past seven, and started with him for

1 2

116 DIAKY OP [J3TAT. 51.

Bromham (he going to Napier's) at eight. A very agree-
able journey, but, on my arrival, found my darling Bessy
looking sadly ilL Has not been at all well ever since I
went.

12th to 23rd. At home, quiet and at work. Bessy a
little better, b^t by no means in a comfortable state of
health, and giving me many an uneasy thought. God
preserve her to me, I pray day and night.

24tli. Up to town.

26th. Hard at work, copying out and correcting what
I had written while at Sloperton. Met O'Connell, just re-
turned from Ireland. Found he had very good-naturedly
called to see my mother. . Could speak of nothing but her
likeness to me and the powers of her mind. ** Yes," I
said, " a very active mind." ^* Aye, but," he answered,
" such quantities of it."

28th. Dined with Lord Essex, and went to the Direc-
tors' box at the Ancient Music ; the first time of my using
the privilege that the Directors had given me.

29th. Went, for a little quiet, to Bichmond, to the
Castle. Arrived at nine in the evening.

30th. Passed the whole morning at Lord Lansdowne's
villa, working. The day delicious.

May 1st to 4th. All this month I was so occupied with
work in the mornings and society in the evenings that I
found it impossible to snatch a moment for my journal,
and a few memorandums is all I have preserved of this
period. 1st. Passed the morning at the villa, as I had
done the day before ; lunched at the Castle, and returned
to town in the evening. 2nd. Breakfasted with Rogers.
Went out to Holland House. The lev^e there of a Sun-
day always delightful. My Lord on his stock-still pony,
taking exercise, as he thinks: and my Lady in her

i

Mat, 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 117

whiskey, surrounded by savans. There were to-day. Sydney
Smith, Brougham, Jeffrey, &c. Sydney Smith praised my
" Byron," the first book of mine (or indeed any one else's) I
ever heard him give a good word to ; seemed to do it, too,
with sincerity. Went to the Duchess Cannizzaro in
the evening. Lord Dudley, upon being asked whether
he had read some new novel of Scott's, said, ^*Why,
I am ashamed to say I have not; but I have hopes it
will soon blow overJ^ It is, I believe, in Murphy's
" Apprentice," that the fellow who is to act Ghost asks
** Whether he is to bow to the audience ? " and the other
answers, " Why yes, if you are the ghost of a gentleman,
certainly."

6th. Saw Tom off^ at seven in the coach for Wiltshire :
could hardly hold my head up all the day after. Break-
fasted with Jeffrey to meet Sydney Smith, W. Irving, &c.
Smith very amusing. In talking of Sir T. Lawrence's
death, he said he had heard that it was entirely owing to
his bandage (after bleeding) coming off", and the ignorance
of his servant in not binding it on again, that he lost his
life. On my remarking the additional ill-luck, after such
a death, of falling into the hands of such a biographer as
Campbell, he started up, and exclaimed theatrically,
" Look to your bandages, all ye that have been blooded ;
there are biographers abroad 1" Nothing could be kinder
or more affectionate than Jeffrey's manner and expressions
in taking leave of me ; and when! he shook my hand and
said, *^ God bless you," his voice evidently faltered.

11th. Set off* for Cashiobury, where I remained till the

14th, enjoying myself with the sweet quiet of the place,

and the leisure which my long mornings afforded me. Our

only company, Woolriche, Baring Wall, and. (one of the

days) Codrington.

I 3

118 DIARY OP [JEtat. 52

25tli. Dined with Lord Lansdowne; Lady Jersey's
in the evening. 27th. Willi Lord Lansdowne again to
meet a large party. Lord Grey, Brougham, the Carlisles,
the Hollands, &c. &c. The dinner afterwards made some
noise in the newspapers, being represented foolishly as a
reconciliation dinner to Lord Grey.

28th. (My birthday). Started for Sloperton, Bessy
being anxious to have me, at least, to a birthday supper.
The state of politics had, before I left town, become rather
interesting; Lord Grey having returned to his former
station beside (or rather at the head of) his old fellow
Whigs, and some demonstrations of a spirited opposition
having been exhibited. Though the dinner of the 27th at
Lansdowne House was not quite of so prononcea character
as the papers would have it, there is no doubt it made a part
of the mutual movement towards a renewal of old friend-
ship that has taken place between the parties. It was, I
dare say, for the purpose of giving a less political air to the
dinner that Lord L. was so anxious that I should be of it,
as, after having invited me for the 25th, he wrote to say,
that he wished, ** without detriment" to that day, that I
would dine with him also on the 27th ; but that if I could
only give one day, he begged it might be the latter. Lady
E. Fielding, who talked to me about it afterwards, took the
same view of its being a reconciliation dinner, and said it
was remarked that, notwithstanding this being the object.
Lord L. had never paid any attention whatever to Lord
Grey, but had, after dinner, talked only to me ! Such are
the exaggerations that get about. How can it be expected
that people at a distance should know anything of the
mysteries of the great world, when they who live in the
very thick of it are so constantly (as I see every day) at
fault?

Ji7NS|18SO.] THOMAS MOOBE. 119

June 1st, 2nd. Returned on the latter day to town,
Napier going up with me. He and I have been appointed
members of the Committee of thirteen chosen by the Athe-
nseum Club to elect 100 out of 1000 persons at present
candidates for admission ; an honoilrable but troublesome
trust Found on my table, upon coming up, forty letters,
thirty of which were from canvassers for the Club. The
claim of one of these to admission, was his having written
about the Siamese Twins. The members of our Commit-
tee are so chosen as to represent different classes ; for in-
stance, the representative of the peerage is Lord Fam-
borojagh; ofv: ^e commons, ^ roker; of the clergy, the
Bishop of Llandaff ; of the law, Mr. Justice Parke ; of the
army and navy, Napier ; of the arts, Chantrey ; of the
sciences, Davies Gilbert, and Professor Sedgwick; of
general literature, Thomas Moore ; and so on. * * *

5tL Dined with Sir G. Bobinson. Company : Lord
and Lady Tavistock, Lord John Bussell, Lord Clifden,
and Agar Ellis. Had been asked to Baring Wall's to
meet the Lansdownes ; also to Bulwer's, where I went in
the evening, and was made to sing by the handsome
hostess.

6tL Dined at Holland House. Company : the Gran-
villes, Ellises, Lord Seaforth, &c. Forget whether I
have mentioned that Henry de Bos had placed at my dis-
posal a large collection of papers which have come to him
from his father : some of tiie Duke of Marlborough's, Lord
Coningsby's, &c. &c. Among the mass are some very
interesting letters, &c., connected with the last moments of
Lord Edward Fitzgerald, which Agar Ellis thinks I might
make something good of. Told Lord Holland of this.
Highly approved of it ; said he would give me some help

I 4

120 DIARY OF [^TAT.52.

in the work, Pigott's Petition*, &c. Took me to his
room^when we retired for the night, and read to me from
the " Account of his Own Times," which I have before
mentioned, a long character of Lord Edward, bs well as
remarks on the Kebellion in which he engaged ; all very
clever and very bold. Said he at present saw no ob-
jection in letting me have tiiiB for my work. Kead me
also a character of Lord Shelbume, apparently very fair,
though some parts very severe. Li the character of Lord
Edward, he cites, as applied to him, my song, " Oh,
breathe not his name!" which is, however, a mistake, as
that song alludes to Emmet and the passage in his speech
on receiving sentence, " Let no man write my epitaph."
Lord H. discusses, in this character, the question of calling
in foreign assistance, and puts very manfully the circum-
stances by which such a step may be justified. Did not
leave him till near two o'clock. Slept there.

10th. Was to have dined to-day with Rogers early,
but our Committee (electoral) meeting at five, it was out
of the question. Told tiie Fieldings I would come to
tiiem. Our business to-day merely preliminary and
smoothing the way to our regular meeting on Saturday.
In alarm (botii Ellis and I) for Barnes, whom it was our
great object to get in, and whom we understood it was the
intention of the Bishop to protest against in consequence
of the late attack on the Bishop of London in the
*^ Times." On its being proposed (as one of the steps fad-
litatory of our fiiture operations) that each should mention
the person or persons we were more particularly anzious
about, Ellis, who was tiie first called upon, began ratiier

* This was the petition to the House of Lords, written by Sir
Arthur Figott. The calm argumentative eloquence of this paper is
very striking.-ED.

JuKB, 1830.] THOMAS MOOBE. 121

imprudently by saying that there was one person he felt
most especially anxious for, so much so, indeed, that if that
person should be objected to, he rather feared he should
be compelled to exercise his veto against those proposed by
others ; this was, he added, Mr. Barnes. He then named
his father (Lord Clifden) and two or three others. When
it came to my turn, I mentioned Barnes and only him.*
Company at Fieldings in the evening. Pressed to sing,
and refused stoutly for some time, tiQ Lady Glengall got
between me and the door as I was going away to Lady
Graham's, and took me by main force to the pianoforte.
I could hardly at first get a note out for anger. After a
song or two set off to Lady Graham's; a marriage party,
the nuptials of Miss Sheridan with Lord Seymour being
celebrated there this evening.

11th. Dined at Lord Jersey's. Company: Lord and
Lady Go#er, Lord and Lady Rosebery, Coke and Lady
Anile, Lord Lansdowne, Sydney Smith, &c.

1 2th. Meeting of Committee ; got through our business.
Had resolved to stand by Ellis in his general veto, in case
the Bishop opposed Barnes ; but all was right and unani-
mous. I could not, indeed, have anticipated that thirteen
men should have got on together at onciB so conscientiously
and smoothly; and our list tells well, I think, for the
conscientious part of the business. Left them nearly
finished at a quarter before seven. Dined with Mr.
Grenville. Company : the Gowers, the Lansdownes, the
Cawdors, the Braybrookes, &c. Murray (Bessy's brother-
in-law) arrived in town with his boy Charles, on their
way, as I hear, to Switzerland, for the purpose of putting
Charles to schooL

* ^^ I have made a mistake. All this took place on the 8th^ aa we
had three meetlDgs.**

122 DIART OF [^TAT.62.

16th, 17th. Uncertain abont Bessy's time of coming
up.

18th. Bessy has decided for Saturday. Dined at Wil-
braham's: company. Lord Ebrington, Lady Clinton (I
think), &C, &C. Li the evening to Stafford House (taken
in his cab by Lord E*), which was opened for the second
time in compliment to Prince Frederick of Prussia. No-
thing can be more magnificent than the staircase ; its size
and grandeur made the whole company look both pigmy
and dingy. Seemed to remind everybody of the Caserta
at Naples. Lady Stafford (who received the company in
a manner worthy the staircase) particularly civil to me«

19th. Having a long engagement to dine with the
Clanricardes, dressed pretty early, in order to meet Bessy
on her arrival before I went to dinner, and despatched off
a messenger to the Charter House for Tom. As she did
not come in the first coach, left Power at the Gloucester
to wait for her ; and was proceeding towards my dinner,
when the messenger from the Charter House overtook me
with a note from Dr. Kussell, saying Tom was ill, and he
did not like to let him out. All this threw me into such a
fidget, what with my anxiety about Tom and my fear lest
Bessy, on her arrival, should go on to the Charter House,
and find him perhaps even more ill than Kussell had de-
scribed him, that I resolved to send an apology to the
Clanricardes, and did so at twenty minutes before eight
Returned then to my post in Piccadilly, where I waited
till half-past nine (having gobbled up a hasty and dirty
morsel of dinner at the Gloucester Coffee House), but no
Bessy arrived. Took for granted she could not get a
place.

20th. A note at seven in the morning from Bessy, who
had travelled all night, and was now at Benetts' expecting

Jims, 1830.] THOMAS MOOBE. 123

me to breakfast Found that Murray and Bees had met
h6r in Piccadilly by chance on her aniyaL Little Charles
with us to breakfast All went, Bussell too, down to the
Charter House to see Tom : found that he was now quite
well again. Brought him away with us, and all dined
together at Power's.

21st, 22nd. Devoted myself diiefly to Bessy, doing
but little at my work.

23rd. Wednesdays being half-holidays at the Charter
House, went for Tom, and passed the whole day saunter-
ing about the city, seeing sights, &c. At five o'clock (the
Longmans having kindly offered to have dinner for us)
went to Paternoster Bow, where we dined, our plan being
a little disturbed by the politeness (very kindly intended)
of Mrs. Longman and her daughters coming into town to
meet us; all in fine evening dresses, and Bessy in her
country cottage bonnet. However, all went on well and
agreeably. Came away early, Bessy having to pack for
the morning.

24th. Up at six, and off to Albemarle Street for the
travellers. Went in the coach with them as far as Ken-
sington ; and having put some proofs in my pocket, walked
for an hour and a half in Kensington Gardens, correcting
them. Then went to the inn (kept by Lord Holland's
old butler), and breakfasted.

26th. Tempted out from my work by the fine day
and the death of his Majesty, both of which events have
set the whole town in motion. Never saw London so ex-
cited or so lively. Crowds every where, particularly in
St. James's Street, from the proclamation of the new King
being expected before the Palace. The whole thing re-
minded me of a passage in an old comedy : *^ What makes
him so merry?" "Don't you see he's in mourning?"

124 DIAEY OF [iETAT.52.

Went with Lord Essex down to the House of Lords ; left
him to go take his oath^ and called at the Speaker's^ wh^re
I had been asked to dine^ but could not. Found that he
had no intention of putting off the dinner. Met Miss
Eden^ who wanted to press me into the service of a party
on the Th^es with the Francis Levesons, &c. &c.. Lord
Francis haying put off a dinner he was to have had, and
exchanged it for a water party. Should have liked it,
but was engaged. Dined at the Lansdownes : company,
Duke of Grafton, the Jerseys, the Morleys, the Vemons,
the Lord Chancellor, &c. Sat next the Lord Chancellor,
and was much amused by his manner. Was laughing at
the state of nervousness Scarlett had got into on the sub-
ject of the press. Vernon told me that the first account
he had of the King's death in the morning was from
Botham (at Salt Hill, where Vernon and Lady Eliza-
beth slept), Botham saying to him, when he came down
stairs, " Well, sir, I have lost vaj neighbour J^

27th. Dined with Lord Carnarvon : company, B^gers,
young Norton, Lord King, &c. &c. Went in the evening
to Lady Grey's. Lord Grey told me that having to
attend a meeting of the Governors of the Charter House
the other day, he inquired about my little Tom, and was
told that he was the quickest, liveliest, and most agreeable
little fellow in the world, full of fun and stories ; but that
he could not be got to work. This but too well agrees
with what his master told me.

28th, 29th. Forget what became of me.

30th. Was to have dined with Lord Dudley, but re-
ceived a put-off last night, in consequence of the debate in
the Lords. Had been asked to divers other places : Hol-
land House, Lord Worcester's, &c. Wrote to Lord Wor-
cester to offer myself, and received for answer that he was

JciLT, 1830.] TUOMAS MOQBE. 125

€€

enchanted'' to have me. Company, Duke of Grafton,
Lord and Lady Anson, Lord and Lady Fitzroy Somerset,
Matuscevich, &c.

July 1st to 7 th. Working all the mornings, and dinner-
ing it in the evenings, but took little note of my move-
ments. Dined on the 5th with Agar Ellis: company,
Dukes of Grafton and Norfolk, the Lansdownes, Carlisles,
&c. &C. 6th (I think it was). Dined with Mrs. Manners
Sutton, and went under the gallery of the House of Com-
mons afterwards. Was lucky enough to come in for
Brougham's speech on the Regency : one of the most
powerful and spirited sallies of oratory I ever heard. The
effect of his humour upon the House I Mrs. Speaker had
allowed me but an hour to stay ; and very near the end of
Brougham's speech one of the officers, in a fine gown,
came and whispered me, officially as it were, ** Sir, your
hour's out." Found an evening assembly on my return ;
quadrilles, &c. Sung a few songs, and home between one
and two. Could not help next day writing Brougham a
note to say how entirely his speech had captivated and
astonished me. 7th. Dined at Lord Grey's: company,
the Hollands, Lansdownes, Carlisles, Duke of Bedford, &c.

8th. Dined at Sir F. Burdett's: Hobhouse, Rogers,
Bruce, Trevanion, &c. &c. Have met Hobhouse once
before this season (at the Barings'), and got on very
smoothly with him. A very curious letter from Brougham
in answer to my note.

9th. Dined with Lord Worcester, for the purpose of
going to the French Play party. Alvanley had asked me
yesterday to meet Heff ConsadineliSd'^HIes Daxon, but
my engagement to Burdett prevented me. The Irish
wags, he now told me, were shy. Theodore Hook had
joined them in the evening ; and, by his powers of fun.

126 DIARY OP [JETAT,52.

astonished the Paddies. Consadine^ in talking of it to^
day to somebody, said, " I never saw such a fellow as
thsitllome Tooke.^ In the evening Luttrell and I paired
off from the Play party, and went to Brookes's; from
thence to Lady Cooke's, to Mrs. Cunliffe's, and to Lady
Grey's. At Lady Cooke's met Gait, the writer, who told
me that he had brought away with him from Upper Canada
a bit of my tree. I asked, '' What tree ?" « Why, that
you used to sit under," he answered, *^ at Ontario, when
you were there." It appears they point out some tree
with this recollection attached to it> and that travellers are
in the habit of taking away bits of it.

10th. Dined with Rogers: company. Lord Grey,
Lord Carlisle, Huskisson, Sturges Bourne, Lord Gran-
ville, Brougham, Luttrell, and myself. Brougham very
amusing.

12th. Approaching very near the close of my task;
the printer having promised me the last proofs on Wed-
nesday next. Brougham having told me last night that
he should speak to-day, went down to the House of Com-
mons to hear him. Found there was no house. Dined
at the Athenaeum.

13th. Went towards five to the House of Commons.
Heard but the beginning of Brougham's speech, which
was so far heavy and wordy; the benches too nearly
empty. Dined with Lord Essex.

15th. Dined with Lord King. 16th, with Lord Lans-
downe, to meet some Americans. Forgot to mention
Brougham's having asked me at the Fieldings' assembly,
(11th), whether Rogers had received Lord Grey's permis-
sion before he invited such a party of Huskissonians to
meet him : considered it very extraordinary, and was sure
Lord Grey viewed it in the same light, " as he was silent

Aira. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 127

the whole day.'' All this an imagination of Brougham's.
Lord Grey, it appears, knew whom he was to meet, and has
since said that the party was a very agreeable one.

17th. Set off for Sloperton; even yet not quite
finished, as I take the last proofs with me for correction.

18th to 31st. During this month there is nothing to
particularize. I had brought down with me the papers
which Henry de Eos gave me ; and in arranging those
relative to Lord Edward Fitzgerald chiefly occupied my-
self. I forgot to mention that while in tovm I had seen
old Ogilvie on the subject, and found him most promptly
disposed to give me all the assistance in his power. Be-
ceived from him some early letters of Lord Edward, and
took down from his relation several particulars of his life.

August 1st to 17 th. Keceived some further materials
from Ogilvie ; arranged all the papers according to their
dates. Employed myself also in writing a thing for
Power, to be called (I think) the « Summer Fete." Our
first intention was to sail for Lrelaiid on the 18 th, but we
deferred it till the 21st.

18th. Dined at Bowood. Bessy asked, but did not go.
Company, the Felloweses and Bowleses. Walked home
at night

19th. Preparing for departure. Copying out what I
have written for Power.

20th. Finished my copying. Between two and three
started for Bristol — Bessy, the two boys, Hannah, and
myself. Stopped an hour or so at Bath, and got to
Bristol, to Harris's hotel, between eight and nine.

2 1 St. On board the Killamey packet at seven, and sailed
between eight and nine. Beautiful weather. Among our
fellow passengers were Lord and Lady Sherboume and
son. Lady S. very agreeable and remarkably kind to

128 DIAKY OF [.Etat. 52.

Bess ; pressed her to occupy her sofa (our berths being the
worst in the vessel), as her own intention was to stay on
deck the greater part of the night ; Bessy, however, de-
clined. The night wretched enough. I lay on the floor
of the great cabin.

22nd. The morning very fine, and the Wicklow Moun-
tains to welcome us when we rose. Cast anchor off Kings-
town to wait for the tide. Got to Dublin between twelve
and one. Took two jaunting cars for ourselves and lug-
gage, and proceeded to Abbey Street. My de arest mot her
a good deal overcome on meeting us ; but, thank God, much
better in health and spirits than I expected to find her.
My sweet sister Nell just the same gentle spirit as ever ;
both in great delight with our boys ; and my dear Bess never
before looked so handsome as she did sitting by my mother,
with a face bearing the utmost sweetness and affection, all
for my sake. Had a most happy family dinner.

23rd. Walked about witii Bessy and the boys. The
theatre imluckily shut, but saw there was to be some mise-
rable play or other at Fishamble Street (for the night only),
and resolved to take the young ones to it. Cralnpton
called before dinner, and wanted me to dine with him,
offering the temptation of Shiel, Curran, and Sir Henry
Hardinge ; but I remained faithfiil to the boys. Never
was tiiere such a bear-garden as the theatre; nothing
but rows from tiie beginning to the end of the night, and
our box (from which tiiere was no retreat, being the stage
box) on the point of being made the tiieatre of war. Bessy
about to hand Russell to tiie actors to take care of, &c. &c. ;
but I managed to get the drunken fellow who was the
nucleus of tiie row out of the box, and we finally got away
without damage.

24th. Dined (Bessy and I) at Crampton's, having

Au<K 1830,] THOMAS MOORE. 129

walked about and paid some visits in the morning, besides
buying a smart bonnet for Bess. Nobody at C.'s but a
Mr. Macnamara, who had been at Paris during the late
crisis, and gave a most lowering picture of the greater part
of the transactions ; quite unlike the heroic character thrown
around them by the pubKc accounts. Crampton very
amusing in the evening ; his imitations of the dancing at
Donnybrook Fair, &c. &c. Oldham saying of some one,
*^ He lives at the last house of Dublin on the left hand
side." Some conversation to-day with Curran about Lord
Edward Fitzgerald. Had been told by Judge Johnson
that Lord E. disapproved very much of the plan of plunder-
ing houses for arms, as it produced unnecessary irritation
and alarm, and tlie arms were better in the keeping of the
gentlemen tiU the fit time came for taking them. All the
organisation he thought necessary was to train the fellows
(in small squads of from fifteen to twenty) to marching by
the plmnmet, performing equal distances in equal times.

25th. Dined at home. Left a note for Major Sirr in
Ihe evening. Much pressed to attend a public dinner to-
morrow to celebrate the election of Colonel White ; a depu-
tation appointed to ask me ; but resolved to decKne. "^

26th. A note from Sirr. Called upon him. The rencontre
he had with the party the night before Lord Edward's ap-
prehension. Lord E. (if really among them, which he
did not seem quite sure of,) must have been going, he
thinks, to Moira House, from Thomas Street. Two ways
by which he might come, either Dirty Lane or Watling
Street. Sirr divided his forces, and posted himself, accom-
panied by Began and Emerson, in Watling Street, his two
companions being on the other side of the street. Seized
the first of the party, and foimd a sword, which he drew
out ; and this was the saving of his life. Assailed by them

VOL. VI. K

1

130 DIARY OP [JEtat.62.

all^ and in stepping back fell ; thej prodding at him* His
two firiends made ofil On his getting again on his l^s^
two pistols were snapped at him^ but missed fire ; and his
assailants at last made ofF. On joining the other division
of his forces, found that they had encountered the rebel
party, and had made one of them prisoner. His suspicious
account of himself; a muslin manufacturer. Sirr taking
him through Dublin next day; no one recognising him ;
taking him to Newgate ; to the provost : but could find no
one to identify him ; gave him up to Cook, and then told
by some one that he was M^Cabe, who had organised alL
His going to Cook and finding that M^Cabe had been
liberated, having passed himself off as an innocent Scotch-
man. Fixed with Sirr to call upon him again. Set off
with Bess, mother, Nell, and the boys, for Donnybrook
Fair, having hired a job carriage ; saw shows, &c. &c.
Proceeded thence to Kingstown to see my sister Kate,
whom I found also better than I expected. Thence to
the Mearas' (at whose town house I am very comfortably
lodged, while Bessy and the rest are at my mother's):
lunched there, and then went on to dine (myself only, the
remainder of my party having returned to town) at Cum-
ing's at Roebuck. Party: Bees, MiUiken, Reeve, &c. &c.
Brought to town at night by Milliken.

27th. Desperate wet day; passed some hours at Mil-
liken's, looking over Irish pamphlets. Dined at Lady Mor-
gan's : company, C urran, Shiel, North, Edward Moore,
the Clarkes. Lady Morgan's story of her telling Lady
Cork, on the morning of one of her assemblies, that she
had just seen Sir A. Carlisle, who had been dissecting and
preserving the little female dwarf Crachami. ** Would it
do for a lion for to night?" asked Lady Cork. ** Why, I
think, hardly." ** But surely it would if it's in spirits,^

Ace. 183a] THOMAS MOORE.

Their posting off to Sir A. Carlisle's, and La(
the servant for the little child. ** Therels no child here,
ma'am." " But I mean the child in the bottle." " Oh,
this is not the place where we bottle the children,
ma'am; that's at master's workshop." In talking of Irish
pronunciation. Lord Gort saying, in court, when some one
was called forth, " He's in jeeV^ A lady, too, describing
the situation of her house, " We've the bee in our rare "
(tlie bay in our rear). An assembly in the evening, to
which Bessy (having got off dining) came, with Ellen and
Tom. Singing by the Miss Clarkes (very good indeed),
and my London friend Batcliffe. I too sung with great
applause, being in excellent voice. All agreed that my
voice had lost nothing of its freshness, while in strength
they thought it improved.

28th. At Milliken's some time, looking over pamphlets.
Walked with Cuthbert Eccles, talking of Irish History.
Recommends Warner as the best. Some curious things
about Glamorgan in Birch ; promised to lend me Belling ;
thinks the Catholic historians far the most trustworthy.
Dined at home.

30th. Passed the evening at Abbey Street very com-
fortably, and had a good night's sleep.

31st. Duke of Leinster called upon me at one o'clock.
Some conversation with him about my intended " Life of
Lord Edward." Did not think he had any papers tiiat
would be of use, as Lord E.'s communications with his
fatiier related purely to family affidrs, his wish being
(though he resided all the time at Leinster House) not to
commit the Duke in the conspiracy. Pressed me to come
to Carton, which I promised. While he was with me
Major Sirr left a card ; the man who killed his uncle ;
such changes does time produce I Showed his card to the

K 2

132 DTART OF [^TAT. 52.

Duke, who, I found, knows him, and thinks him, in his
way, a good sort of man. Drove out to pay visits with
ray mother, Bessy, &c. &c. Dined (Bessy, Tom, and I)
at Crampton'sj none but themselves. Home pretty
early.

September Ist. Fixed to go to Bryan's on Saturday
(4th), as the meeting on the subject of the French Revo-
lution, which I have promised to attend, will net take
place before Monday week. Drove out in a jaunting car,
with my mother and Bess, to visit the Grahams at Dun-
ville, where I once passed a few days as a child, and where
I well remember being carried in triumph by other boys
to an old ruin of a castle which stood in one of the fields,
and there crowned king of the castle, — Callings Castle
(I think it was), now thrown down, and a good house built
in its place. As I stood at the end of the garden at Dun-
viQe, and looked into the field, it is odd enough that
(although &om some other changes I had been led to
suppose that the field where I used to play was quite in a
different direction) I felt at the moment that this must
be the spot; though there was nothing but the grass, and
perhaps the relative position of the field to the garden, that
was at all likely to act upon my recollections. On my re-
turn to the house, I learned that it actually was the very
spot where I had played during the short period of my
visit in childhood, when I could not have been more
than seven or eight years old. Such vitality is there in
some associations I On returning to town met Shiel, and
walked for some time with him. Metaphors, he says, are
going fast out of fashion i^ Ireland ; in the courts there is
now hardly one to be heard. Kemarked the change in
this respect since the time of Temple Emmet, who had
great reputation for eloquence, and whom old Peter

-t

Skpt. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE, 133

Burrowes once heard say, in arguing an abstract point of
national law, " When twelve eaglets (meaning the United
States) lefib their parent nests, and soared to independence
upon dauntless wings," Called with h\m on the ** Evening
Post," and sat talking some time with Magee and Conway.
Shiel thinks I should have no diflSculty whatever in getting
into Parliament for some Irish seat, if I but looked to it.
Dined in Abbey Street, and having borrowed the fOies of
the "Evening Post" for 1792 — 5, passed the evening
looking over them. In talking with Peter Burrowes this
morning, got on the subject of Robert Emmet, whose
counsel I found Burrowes had been. Told me that Emmet,
on his apprehension, had confided some money he had
about him (together with a letter) to somebody he thought
he could trust, to be delivered to Miss Curran. The per-
son, whoever it was, pocketed the money, and carried the
letter to the government ; on hearing which Emmet, in
despair at the thought of having committed the girl by
anything he might have said in the letter, addressed,
through some channel or other, the most earnest entreaties
to the government that they would suppress the letter,
engaging himself, if they would do so, not to say a word
in his own defence, but to go to his death in silence. This
latter offer he made, knowing how much it was an object
with the authorities that he should not address the people.
Burrowes told me, too, that during the trial, whenever he
was endeavouring to disconcert any of the witnesses in his
cross-examination, Emmet would check him, and say,
" No, no ; the man's speaking truth." This was, however,
only on points bearing against himself; for whatever testi-
mony was likely to involve or criminate others, he showed
the utmost anxiety that the truth should not appear.
When Burrowes, too, was about to avail himself of the

K 3

134 DIAKr OF [-ffiTAT. 52.

privilege of reply (wearied to death with anxiety^ and feel-
ing both the painfulness and inutility of what he was about
to do), Emmet said, " Pray do not attempt to defend me ;
it is all in vain;" and Burrowes accordingly desisted.
Nothing could be more warm and unqualified than Bur-
rowes's praise of him and his feeling for his memory.

3rd. One of these mornings called on Major Sirr, and
had his description of the seizure of Lord Edward. Got
the information as to where he was but the moment before
he acted upon it. Ryan and Swan happened to be with
him at the time : took five or six soldiers in plain clothes
with him; when arrived in Thomas Street sent for the
pickets of cavalry and infantry in the neighbourhood ; had
altogether between two and three hundred men. While
he was fixing the pickets round the house. Swan ran up-
stairs ; soon after which Sirr, hearing a shot, ran up also,
and found Lord Edward struggling with Swan and Ryan,
the latter at his feet. Could not well make out whether
Sirr fired from the hall (they being at the top of the stairs),
or from the landing at the top into the room (they being
still in the room) ; rather think the latter. Ryan had only
a sword cane. Lord E. again making efforts to escape in
the haU, and it was then he was wounded by the drummer.
Neilson told Sirr afterwards that had it not been for the
number of soldiers he had collected, there would have been
a rescue, as he (Neilson) had 500 fellows ready to under-
take it. Dined in Abbey Street. Ordered chaise to be
with us early in the morning.

4th, Set off, with Bessy, the boys, and Hannah, for
Jenkinstown, starting at twenty minutes past seven.
Breakfasted at Kilcullen Bridge. Arrived at Bryan's at
six ; found them all delight to see us. A Mrs. Keating on
a visit with them, and George, who has been ill, there afeo.
Had seen Mrs. George Ryan before we left town

Sept. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 135

6th. Drove into Balkenny, with Bryan and Bessy. In
looking along the walk by the river, under the Castle, my
sweet Bess and I recollected the time when we used, in
our love-making days, to stroll for hours there together.
We did not love half so really then as we do now. Heard
from Mr* Fitzsimon (O'Connell's son-in-law), on the sub-
ject of the French meeting. Wants me to write an address
for them to the French nation, but declined. Colonel
Lecky, who commands at Kilkenny, called to invite us all
to a dgeuner on Wednesday.

7th. Asked to lay the first stone of a new house build-
ing for George in the neighbourhood of Jenkinstown. In
starting for this ceremony the horses in Mrs. Bryan's car-
riage showed rather alarming restiveness. Bessy went
with George in his curricle, and Tom and I walked. After
the laying of the stone, Bryan ordered ten barrels of beer
to the workmen : but on the master builder representing to
him that this would make them drunk for a week, the
choice was given them whether they would have the beer
or the value of it (one pound a barrel), and they wisely
and ttn-Irishly chose the money, having one barrel of beer
(which George had before ordered them) to drink. In re-
turning home Mrs. Bryan's horses ran restive against the
gate, broke the pole, and threw oflf the postillion ; luckily no
further harm done ; but the horses of George's curricle also
becoming unmanageable, I, with much fear and trepidation,
got Bessy and Tom down &om it, cursing, in my heart, all
such over-fed, never-worked horses.

Stlu Helped Tom a little with his Greek holiday task.
Much discussions and doublings as to the horses that were
to be put to the carriages to-day; my wish being to send
for post-horses, but I was over-ruled. Set off between
two and three. The Bryans, Mrs. Keating, and Bessy in

K 4

136 DIARY OF [;Etat.52.

the coach-and-four^ and Tom and I in the curricle^ with a
postillion and pair. Got there very safely. Walked with
Tom into Kilkenny, to show it to hinu Called at Mr.
Banim's (the father of the author of the ** Tales of the
O'Hara Family," who keeps a little powder and shot shop
in Kilkenny), and not finding hhn at home, left a memo-
randum to say that I had called out of respect to his son.
Took care to impress upon Tom how great the merit of a
young man must be who, with not one hundredth part of
the advantages of education that he (Tom) had in his
power, could yet so distinguish himself as to cause this
kind of^taibute^Qfrespeet to be paid to his father. I have
not, it is true, read more than one of Banim's stories my-
self, but that one was good, and I take the rest upon cre-
dit. Besides, he dedicated his second series to me, calling
me " Ireland's free son and true poet," which was hand-
some of him. A paragraph, by-the-bye, in the Kilkenny
paper (of yesterday, I believe), in mentioning that they
had seen me drive through the town with Captain Bryan,
apparently in good health and spirits, added that the latter
seemed to sink a little when I looked at the theatre, the
scene of my former gaieties, and saw that place turned
into a horse-bazaar, where I once used to make the gal-
leries roar in Peeping Tom and Robin Eouffhhead, The
party at the barracks very numerous and gay ; the dinner
well managed ; and the dancing afterwards, if not very
graceful, at least active enough. My old friends, the
Powers of Kilfane, there, and glad I was, for the sake of
old times, to see them. Pressed us much to go to Kilfane,
but cannot spare the time. Sat next Major Campbell, an
intelligent, manly oflSicer. In speaking of Napier, said his
book was their "Bible." Quoted what some French
officer of note had said, in speaking of the British troops :

Sept. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 137

he had remarked as very formidable^ ^^ cet affreux silence
que Von observe en marchant en ligne.^ In coming back
Tom and I obliged to join them in the carriage, firom the
heavy rain. Had a near escape of being upset at the turn-
town to Jenkinstown, which the postillions, being drunk,
had passed too fiu: to turn with safety; the leaders, how-
ever, being taken off, we managed it, and got home, for
a wonder, with bones imbroken.

9th. Took a solitary walk towards Castle Comer.
Thought of some points for my speech. Mrs. Bryan
quoting from the ** Deserter," about war, " (Test une belle
chose quand on en est revenuJ"

10th. Off in the Eolkenny coach for town* Coach
called for us at the house, and took us most comfortably
to town (having taken the inside to ourselves) before six
o'clock.

11th. Met Lady Campbell driving about ; got into the
carriage with her. Conversation about her father (Lord
Edward). Lady Lansdowne had already told me that she
was rather apprehensive as to the prudence of the pro-
jected *^ Life." Her exclamation, on hearing that I had so
many of his letters, she never having seen a scrap of her
father's handwriting. Asked us to dinner to-morrow.
Dined at Crampton's.

12th. Dined with the Campbells. Company, only the
Richard Napiers, who took Bessy ; Tom and I following
in a hackney coach. Lady C. told me the circumstances
connected with Lord E.'s escape from arrest, which she
had heard from an old woman-servant of the family. Tony,
the black, giving the alarm to Lord £., and the latter
escaping (it was at Leinster House) by the stables. The
officer who came to make the search (Swan, I think,) say-
ing, when he required her keys to look for papers, " It is

138 DIARY OP IMtat.52*

a very disagreeable task for a gentleinan to be employed
in:" and Lady Edward answering, with much dignity,
" It is a task no gentleman would perform.** A few days
after this. Lady Edward having gone to lodge in Denzille
Street, the same woman, coming into the room in the
evening, saw Lord and Lady E. sitting over the fire toge-
ther, and in tears.

13th, A dinner-party at my mother's; the Mearas,
O'Meara, and Peter Lee. All very nicely done} my
sweet Bess having worked hard to have everything com-
fortable and creditable. A large addition to the party in
the evening, and dancing, refreshments, &c. &c. ; my
mother in high spirits at seeing her family and friends
about her,

14th. Dined (I alone) at Crampton's. Called for by
Bessy and Ellen in the evening to go to a party at Mrs.
Smith's. Music; sung. Have observed (what I should
not have believed had I not witnessed it) that the Lrish
are much colder as auditors (to my singing, at least) than
the English* Nothing like the same empressement^ the
crowding towards the pianoforte, the eagerness for more
which I am accustomed to in most English companies.
Thia may be, perhaps, from my being made so much of a
Hon here, or from some notion of good breeding and finery,
some idea probably that it is more &shionable and English
not to be too much moved. From whatever reason it may
proceed, it is the last thing I should have expected.

15th. Day of the meeting to celebrate the late French
Eevolution.. Went at one o'clock; Bessy, Ellen, Mrs.
Meara, &c., having gone before. Saw that they were
well placed, and my little Tom with them. The Committee
still in deliberation on the forms of proceeding. At this
time more than 2000 persons collected: the room (the

Sept. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 139

National Mart) being nearly full. Shiel one of the earliest
speakers ; his manner^ action^ &c., all made me tremble a
little for his chances of success in the House of Commons,
about which I had before felt very sanguine. His voice
has no medium tone, and, when exerted, becomes a scream ;
his action theatrical, and of the ham order of theatricals ;
but still his oratorical powers great, and capable of pro-
ducing (in an Irish audience at least) great excitement.
It was wished that I should second the resolution he pro-
posed, and a call to that effect was becoming very general,
but I resolved not. About this time the doors, which had
been closed, were burst open by the people without, and
the room was completely filled: supposed to be about
3000 persons in all. After a resolution proposed by Mr.
Hamilton, late candidate for the county of Dublin, the
call for me became obstreperous, and I rose. My recep-
tion almost astoundingly enthusiastic. For some minutes
I got on with perfect self-possession, but my very success
alarmed me, and I at otice lost the thread of what I was
about to say ; all seemed to have vanished &om my mind.
It was a most painM nioment, and Shiel (who was directly
under me) told me afberwards that I had turned quite
pale. I was enough collected, however, to go on saying
somethinffy though what I hardly knew, till at length my
mind worked itself clear, and I again got full possession of
my subject. So luckily, too, had I managed these few
minutes of aberration, that, as I found afberwards, the
greater part of my audience gave me credit for having
assumed this momentary fit of embarrassment. From this
on to the end my display was most successful; and the
consciousness that every word told on my auditory, reacted
back again upon me with a degree of excitement that made
me feel capable of anything. The shouts, the applauses.

140 DIARY OF [^TAT. 52.

the waving of hats^ &c.y after I had finished^ lasted for
some minutes. I heard Shield too^ as I concluded^ say
with much warmth, ^ He is a most beautiful speaker ! ^
Found Bessy and Ellen where they sat as soon as I could,
and had to make up my face to stand, for the rest of the
day, the uninterrupted stare of some dozens of girls near
us, many of them as good specimens of the *^ beau sang'^ of
Ireland as could be found, I found that a very melancholy
thought had crossed my dear Bessy's mind at the time
when I paused in my speech. ** He is thinking," she said
to herself, " of Anastasia : " and her heart beat so violently
with the idea, that she thought she should have fainted.
It is true I had often during the day thought with sad
regret of our sweet child, and the delight she would have
felt in witnesaing my succesa had she been spared to us;
but, of course, at the moment of my bewilderment I thought
of nothing but how to find my way back again. It was,
however, a natural consequence of the state of excitement
into which Bessy had been thrown by the whole scene (for
at the first peal of acclamation on my entering the room,
she burst into tears) to have such sad thoughts mingle with
her pleasure and triumph. The aurgit amari aliquid is so
desolatingly true ! Two of the speakers that succeeded
me very good. Murphy and Sheehan (editor of the "Mail");
the only two I heard that struck me as likely to do in the
House of Commons. Between four and five, with some
difficulty, got Bessy and Tom away (my sister having
gone before). As soon as the meeting perceived me
going, the acclamations were renewed; found outside a
large concourse of people to receive us, who hurrahed,
shook hands, &c. ; and, when we got into the carriage,
insisted upon taking the horses off, and drawing us home.
When we had proceeded half up the quay, however.

Sept. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 141

I prevailed upon them to put the horses to again, and
having provided myself with a pound's worth of silver,
scattered it all for a scramble among my escorters, and
got quietly home. BM promi&ed Stanton of the " Morn-
ing Register" to try and furnish him with as correct a
notice of my speech as I could muster up from recollection,
and after dinner went to Bachelor's Walk for that purpose.
Found there emissaries from the other morning papers
waiting with the same design upon me, but referred them
all to Stailton, who had promised me to give them slips
from his copy. Having despatched off my report (the
devil waiting in the room the greater part of the time
while I wrote it), dressed for my mother's party, which
I found already assembled. Sung to them, and did the
honours «s well as fatigue would let me. O'Connell's
daughter (Mrs. Fitz-Simon, a very nice person) among
the guests. Did not get to bed till late.

16th. Dined at Crampton's, to meet Sir H. and Lady
Emily Hardinge. Bessy asked, but did not go. No one else
but Mr. "Wood. Sir Henry very agreeable and commu-
nicative. Among other things, in speaking of the Duke
of Wellington's powers of letter-writing, mentioned that
those letters in the affair with Lord Winchilsea (in which
Hardinge was his second) were written off at the moment
with pencil, on being called out of the House of Lords by
Hardinge as the negotiation went on. Said also, tiiat the
night he went to tiie Duke to tell him there was nothing
left for tiiem but to fight, he found the Duke in bed and
asleep. It was then one o'clock ; and after waking him,
and mentioning what must be done, the Duke coolly said,
** Very well ; see tiiat I am called early enough in tiie
morning;" and, turning round, betook himself to sleep
again. A good deal of conversation on general politics.

142 DIARY OP [JEtat. 6«.

and Hardinge nnreserved on every subject. In the even-
ing, as he and I stood together, talking of the present state
of parties, he said, " A strange position ours (meanbg &e

Mmistry) is at this moment : in the first place /' Here

we were provokingly interrupted by Crampton's coming to
tell us that a young lady was going to play the harp ; by
which unlucky cotttretempSy the Secretary was stopped in
his revelations, and I lost (as Grumio says) '^ many things
of worthy memory, which now shaU die in obUvion, and
I return unexperienced to my grave." Had 'settled this
evening with Cassidy (the brother of a new acquaintance
of mine who has invited me down to his house at Monas-
tereven to meet Judge Johnson) that I would join him
and Mr. Murphy (the Murphy who spoke so well at the
meeting) in a 'chaise to*morrow morning to Monastereven*
One of my great objects has been to have an opportunity
of conversing with Judge Johnson on the subject of Lord
Edward Fitzgerald ; and Mr. Cassidy, in whose neigh-
bourhood Johnson lives, has arranged our meeting for me.
Sir H. Hardinge, by the bye, complimented me on my
speech far more than I could have expected from such a
quarter,

17tL Started before eleven. Murphy a well-informed,
agreeable man. Mentioned Lord Plunket saying of Lord
Lyndhurst (whom he likes), ** Indifference is the vice of
that man's mind." Told some other things of Plunket,
and a good many rather amusing anecdotes, which, from
not journalising at the time, I have forgotten. Stopped at
Kildare to look at the spot where Lord Edward's cottage
(Conolly's Lodge ?) once stood. No trace of it now. It
adjoined the castle ; the passage to it up a narrow, dirty
lane. Went from thence to call upon a man of the name
of Garry, a farmer, who was one of Lord Edward's cap-

Sept. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 143

tains in 1798. A fine, grave, handsome, and intelligent
spoken old fellow, who showed, by the way in which he
spoke of posing events, that the fire of '98 was not quite *
extinct in him. ** It is of the Kingdom of Grod (he said)
I have now alone to think ; but still, to the last moment
of my life, it will always give me pleasure to hear of the
downfal of despotism," Arrived at Monftstereven between
four and five. Went to old Mr. Cassidy's, and having
left Murphy (who U hk son-in-law) and the younger
Cassidy there, proceeded to the house of mi/ host, about a
mile and half from Monastereven. Joined at dinner by
Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, Miss Cassidy, &c. &c. Music in
the evening. Excellent people, and all of them (except
Murphy) as good rebels as need be. Murphy, who, it is
evident, has an eye to getting on by English Whig interest,
differs altogether from the radical views of his brothers-
in-law. Judge Johnson could not come to-day, but has
been invited by Cassidy to join us at breakfast in the
morning.

18th. Walked with Cassidy in his garden before
breakfast. Much talk with him about the state of Ireland
at present. Kesumed the subject we had already spoken
of after dinner yesterday, namely, the chance (or rather,
as he thinks, certainty) of my being brought in for some
Irish county, if I should desire it. Murphy said yester-
day that it was the general talk of everybody on the day
after the meeting. The elective power in Ireland now so
constituted that none but candidates on popular principles
are likely henceforward to succeed ; the ten-poimd free-
hold system having given the power of voting to a class of
men on whom public opinion directly acts, namely, tie
shopkeepers and small farmers. Lefr Cassidy in the
garden for some time, and on returning saw with him a

?

144 DIARY OP [iETAT. 52.

short, slight figure (the back turned towards me), with a
light step, and dressed in a neat blue firock and a foraging
cap. Though aware that Judge Johnson was expected,
I could hardly suppose that this slight boyish figure could
be the venerable eighty-year-old judge ; but so it was.
After breakfast a good deal of conversation with him,
which I have mflde memorandums of elsewhere. Drove
out in Cassidy's open carriage with him, Mrs. C, and
Judge Johnson ; went to see Moore Park, and from thence
to Johnson's house. He had already explained to me
Lord Edward's views with respect to the best mode of
training the people to arms; having observed, while in
America, that the Indians, who are the best marksmen
(with the rifle) in the world, brought their eye and hand
to this perfection by practising with bows and arrows from
childhood; this method not only saving the expense of
powder and shot (which they could of course by no means
afford), but enabling them equally well to attain that
sympathy between the eye and head which makes the
good marksman, and which, after such practice, they could
in a fortnight transfer to the use of the rifle. Lord
lldward's notion was to introduce this habit among the
young Irish. In connection with this^ I may mention a
curious instance of the readiness with which even the
fairest men allow themselves to misrepresent things, either
for the sake of a joke, or merely to surprise their hearers.
In talking to me of Johnson, in Dublin, William Curran
said, ^* He has some odd whims, which you must be on
your guard against ; for instance, he thinks that the sal-
vation of Ireland is to be brought about by bows and
arrows." This, of course, made me stare, which is all
perhaps it was intended for; but the suppression of all
that lends rationality to Johnson's plan makes the whole

Sept. 1830.] THOMAS MOOBE. 145

difference both in the force and truth of the statement.
It is certainly quite true, however, that Johnson's head
runs upon military matters in a way most strange (to say
the least of it) in an ex-judge of eighty. As soon as we
got to his house, he took me into the library to show me
the sort of short rifle which Lord Edward recommended
instead of the long unwieldy one used by the Americans
and Indians ; also the kind of pike contrived either by
Lord E. or Johnson himself, to be used in popular war-
fare, as at once the most effective and portable. This
pike, the handle of which is immensely long, but, from
being hollow, extremely light, divides in two when not
meant for use, and can thus be conveniently strapped to
one shoulder while the small rifle is slung on the other,
leaving the hands of the soldier perfectly free. It was
curious to see the little old judge, in an erect posture, and
with an eye full of fire (as if anticipating the sort of use
that was to be made of the weapon), slinging the rifle over
his shoulder to show me with what ease it could be
carried. His history is remarkable. He was originally
one of the Whig followers of Grattan, &c., in the cause of
Irish independence; but on an occasion, as he himself
explained to me, when a motion for the relief of the
Catholics was brought forward under the influence of the
Government (1783), and was defeated by the Whigs in-
sidiously recommending, as he said, the Catholics to couple
Reform with their politics, he so much resented, accord-
ing to his own account, this double dealing, that without
any hesitation he accepted offers made to him by the
Government to join them, and continued from thence-
forward attached to Castle politics. **In fact," said he,
with great nawete, *^ we were all jobbers at that time."
For his vote for the Union he was made a judge, and now

VOL. VI. L

\

146 DIARY OP I^TAT. 52,

holds a pension from the Groyemment of 1500/. a year^
which enables him to publish pamphlets in Paris, recom-
mending separation from England. Our drive altogether
very agreeable. All the Cassidys at dinner. Music in
the evening.

19th. Chaise at the door at eight, being obliged to
return to town, to attend as collector to a Catholic charity
sermon. Cassidy accompanied me as far as Monastereven.
Pressed me on the subject of coming into Parliament, and
said he would answer for there being such a requisition to
me, in case of a vacancy, as I should find it difficult to
reftise. Showed me a letter to him from O'Connell on the
proposed system of agitation, which he had just answered,
telling O'Connell that he thought the Repeal of the Union
ought not yet to be brought forward ; but that grievances
on grievances should be thrust in the Government's face,
till at length the English themselves should be wearied
out, and feel quite as ready to separate as the Irish.
At all events, Cassidy told him, that if the question
of Repeal was to be urged, he (O'Connell) would do
it more harm than good by putting himself at the head
of it. This I quite agreed with him in. The day a
most desperate one; almost blown out of the crazy-
chaises; but amused myself on the way by composing
a squib against Gait's " Life of Byron," which that
wretched thing richly deserves. Arrived a little after two,
and proceeded to Dominick Street Chapel, where I was
introduced into the preacher's room, and found cake and
wine prepared. Learned that Bessy, Nell^ and the boys
were already in the chapel. The sermon in an austere
spirit, demanding charity to the poor as a right. The col-
lection followed, which I began by putting 1/. in the plate^
and had to stand a pretty good staring from all the other

Sept. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 147

contributors. At the end I was told that an old lady
who could not come to the plate had reserved her money
for the purpose of giving it to me, and begged that I
would come to her, which I did ; and the poor lady, who
was nearly blind, all but hugged me, to the amusement of
the bystanders. Bessy, &c. invited up to the priest's room,
where we were introduced to several other priests, all very
well-mannered and amiable-looking men. On coming out to
walk home, we found almost- the^ whole congregation wait-
ing for us in the street. They took off their hats respect-
fully to us, and the greater part of them followed us the
whole way to Abbey Street (in perfect silence, it being
Sunday), and then took leave of us at the door. Was
delighted to see that my poor mother was at the window
and witnessed our escort. My sister Kate dined with us.

20th. Dined at home, having taken a box at the
Adelphi Theatre for the evening. Found out before long,
by the audience, and after almost every act was hailed with
plaudits. " Clap for Moore 1 " " Clap for Mr. Moore and
his family ! " &c. &c. When we were coming out at the
end, found numbers of the people (though we had waited
tiU the last to avoid it) assembled in the rooms below and
outside, who cheered, shook hands, and huzzaed us off
most uproariously.

21st. Dined at Crampton's; Shiel was to have come,
but could not. In mentioning to Shiel how much I was
pleased with the rough, straightforward eloquence of a

man who spoke at the meeting, named R , and how

direct from his heart he appeared to me to speak, Shiel
said, " You must not be too much taken by that fellow :
he is what we call here, a brewer's patriot ; most of the
great brewers having upon their establishment a regular
patriot, who goes about among the publicans, talking

L 2

148 DIABY OP [^TAT. 52.

violent politics, and so helps to sell the beer." So much,
indeed, have politics to do with trade in Dublin, that one
very extensive brewer (whose name he mentioned) lost all
his customers by taking the side of the veto.

22nd. Had written, on my return froin Monastereven,
to the Duke of Leinster, to say that I would come to
Carton on Wednesday (to-day) if he would receive me ;
but that Mrs. Moore (whom he had invited, together with
the boys) would not be able to accompany me. Gave my
squib to Conway for to-morrow night's " Evening Post.'*
Started for Carton in a chaise about half-past three.
Company at dinner besides the Duke and Duchess and
Lord William, Lady Caroline Stanhope, Lord — — (one
of the Fitzroys, I believe, but forget), the pretty Miss
Stanhope, and the Miss Colmans. Music in the evening ;
Miss Colman and myself, and the Duke at his double
bass. My voice in very good force, and by no means
thrown away upon my audience. Miss Colman a very
agreeable singer and guitarist.

23rd. Desperately wet. Started after breakfast in a
chaise, and got to town between twelve and one. Saw a
proof of my squib at the ** Evening Post" Office at three,
and despatched a slip off to the ** Times " for insertion.
Saw Luttrell, who arrived the day before yesterday, and
was to meet us at dinner to-day at Sir Henry Hardinge's.
Called upon (Bessy and myself) by the Cramptons to take
us to the Park to dinner. Company : Lord Brecknock,
Archdeacon Singleton, Dr. Wood, &c. &c. Hardinge very
communicative after dinner. He told, as illustrative of
the vicissitudes to which a soldier's life is subject, the
circumstances of his lying to have his hand amputated
(after the wound he received at Waterloo) in a wretched
hovel on the road, and then in a month after sleeping in

Sept. 1830.] THOMAS MOOBE. 149

one of the royal beds (at St. Cloud, I believe) by the par-
ticular desire of Blucher, who insisted upon his choosing
this gorgeous resting-place. Sung in the evening. Lady
Emily a good deal affected by one of the songs.

24tL Had been told that Mr. T. Browne, the builder,
of Bagot Street, knew a good deal about Lord Edward,
and was also in possession of the dagger with which he
killed Kyan. Called upon him and found him at home ;
a good deal of conversation of which I have preserved
notes elsewhere. The dagger not to be found ; but he is
continuing his search for it. Mentioned M rg^ Dill on
(Shee's aimt), and said the Berrills (?) could procure me
access to Her. Called upon the Berrills, and begged of the
daughter to write to lilrs^Dillon (who lives at Bray) on
the subject. Dined at home.

25th. Dined at Crampton's, Bessy, Nell, and myself.
Company : Archdeacon Singleton, Lord Brecknock, Rat-^
cliffe, and Luttrell. Lord Brecknock took out our dear little
Nell to dinner. The Frankses and music in the evening.
Singleton very civilly lent us his carriage home. A card
fix)m the Duke of Northumberland to dine with him on
Monday next.

26th. Miss Berrill having arranged for me to go to
Mrs. Dillon (at Bray) this morning, called at Berrill's
between ten and eleven, in a hired chariot (little Tom with
me), and, accompanied by Kate Berrill, proceeded to Bray.
Day delightful. Mrs. Dillon, a fine specimen of an old
patriotic Lishwoman, between seventy and eighty ; and
has lost her eyesight, but the mind and the rebel spirit as
fresh as ever. Her enthusiasm in talking of Lord Edward^
** Ah, the sweet fellow 1" Have set down elsewhere me-
morandmns of what she and her daughter told me. Got
home to Abbey Street about five, and dined there. Have

L 3

150 DIARY OP [-ffiTAT. 52.

received a letter from Sir C. Morgan in the name of the
Dawson Street Club (chiefly Catholic),, to beg that I would
fix a day to dine with them^ but have declined on account
of the uncertainty of my time of departure. This is the
third dinner that has been in contemplation for me ; one
of the others being a mob feast^ at six shillings ar-head>
which Jack Lawless wants to get up for me. And as a
good contrast to this, Crampton tells me that the Kildare
Street Club (which is deep Orange) had some intention of
inviting me.

27th. Have been petitioned these two days past to
patronise the benefit of the managers at the Adelphi to-
night, but being engaged to the Park, endeavoured to
make that an excuse. However, the man has been so
pressing that we consented to take a box, and I shaU join
Bessy and her party as soon as possible from the Park.
Taken to dinner (Luttrell and I) by Crampton. The
Duke of Northumberland (whom I used to know ages ago
as Lord Percy) recognised me very kindly as an old ac-
quaintance. Company: the Hardinges, Singletons, the
Dean of Emly, Sir John Byng, &c. Before we went out
to dinner, one of the aides-de-camp, Doyle, whispered me
(evidentiy from authority) to get as near the Duchess as I
could at dinner ; but as I am not good at pushing, my
attempts thereat failed. The Duchess played and sung
rather agreeably, after which my turn came, and then
the Duchess sung with me one or two of my own
duets. As soon as we saw that we could get away,
Crampton and I slipped off and got to the theatre about
the middle of the farce. There had been several cheerings
during the night for Mr. Moore's family ; and now, after the
first act of the farce, I got my greetings in a most enthusi-
astic style, and was obliged to stand up and acknowledge

f

SfiPT. 1830.] THOMAS MOOBE. 151

tlie acclamatifiiiB more tiian once. When we were coming
out,.too, the crowd were in attendance at the door, and I was
obliged to make my way through hand-shakings and huzzas
to the carriage. Poor little Nell and her escorter were
for some time separated from us by the dense wall of people
that surrounded the carriage, and it was with some difficulty
she got to us. One fellow in the mob said, " Well, Mr.
Moore, you'll stay a little longer with us now, won't you ? "
Meara came home to supper. Crampton mentioned that
the Duke and Duchess this evening were talking of asking
Bessy to the Park, should we prolong our stay.

28tL Have been lucky enough to find out Murphy,
the man in whose house Lord Edward was taken, and who,
they told me, had died long since in America ; while all
the while he has been living quietly in the same unlucky
Thomas Street, though not in the same house. So diffi-
cult is it to come at facts I Have taken notes of my con-
versations with him elsewhere. Dined at Lady Morgan's :
company, Luttrell, Shiel, Curran, Wallace, and Shiel's
new wife. Bessy and Nell came in the evening. Had
music.

29th. Occupied in preparing foi our departure. It
had been my intention (at least wish) to return by Bristol,
as the saving in fatigue and expense would have been
considerable, and Bessy on both accoimts desired it very
much ; but the weather had become so invariably stormy,
that I, at last, decided for Holyhead. Dined in Abbey
Street, and took leave of my dearest mother (who was, of
coYurse, sadly down at the prospect of losing us) about ten
o'clock, having ordered a job coach to come in the morn-
ing to take us to Howth. Altogether our visit has been a
most happy one. My mother and Nell had known little
of my excellent Bessy but through my report of her, it

L 4

0^^

152 DIABY OiF lJEtAT.52.

being now fifteen years since they had (for a very few
weeks, and living in separate houses) any opportunity of
knowing her. They have now, however, had her with
them as one of themselves, and the result has been what
I never could doubt it would be. Her devoted attention
to my mother, her affection to dear Nell, all was in the
best spirit of amiableness and good sense. Being better
able to see than I could all the little things, in tKe way of
comfort, that my poor mother's establishment wants, she
has, in the nicest and most delicate way, procured them^
and made a few pounds do wonders in this way. The
two boys, too, have been a great delight to my mother.
7 Young Mulvaney has painted a picture of her for me, with
>i " * Tom leaning on her lap ; jand Lever has done a very suc-
cessiul portrait of dear Kussell, taking his idea of the atti-
tude, &c., from my song of ^^ Love is a himter boy.**

30th. Off from Abbey Street before eight, and arrived
at Howth some time before the packet was ready to start.
A good deal alarmed by a horse that broke loose with a
cart, and ran in all directions about the pier. Our captain
was Bessy's old favourite, Stevens, with whom she sailed
the last time she came over to Lreland. Found both him
and our passage very agreeable, the latter not six hours*
duration. He insisted on our dining at his house ; and we
passed a very comfortable day with hun and Mrs. Stevens.
Was lucky enough to get the inside of the coach to our-
selves to Shrewsbury. Slept at Spencer's.

October 1st. The morning wet, but cleared up when
we got out of Anglesey ; and nothing could be more deli-
cious than all the rest of the day; our journey lying
through such a series of pictures, and Bessy had never
before seen the Menai Bridge. Arrived at Shrewsbury in
time for tea, and a very comfortable night's rest, our whole
party having enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

Oct. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 153

2nd. Thought ourselves lucky in again getting the
inside of the coach for Worcester; but found that it
stopped, for two hours, half way, where we were to be
taken up by another coach. On this coach coming in,
there turned out to be a hitch about the places, as it was
quite fiill, and they were going to forward us in what they
called a car ; but on my making a little piece of work, they
dispossessed the other passengers, and we proceeded in the
coach to Worcester.

3rd. Started in a chaise and travelled post the rest of
the way home to Sloperton, where we arrived before six
o'clock : a beautiful evening to welcome us ; and all kissed
and congratulated each other on the safe and happy termi-
nation of our agreeable excursion.

4tL Found the whole neighbourhood in a paroxysm of
dancing and dining, which was anything but what I wished,
as quiet and hard work were now indispensable to me aftei?
my late ruinous run of idleness. Bessy, however, having
been so long in arrears with all the neighbours in the way
of visiting, and her health and spirits being now, thank
God, so much better than I have seen them for years, I
thought it a pity not to take advantage of her mood, and
so went on idling again, as usual. A great ball to-morrow
night given to the yeomanry, to which we are asked, but
shall not go.

6th. Our dear fellow traveller Tom left us for school ;
9, week beyond his time.

8th. Dined at Napier's, and went with them to Mrs*
Salmon's ball, which was very well worth going to ; nothing
could be prettier or more tastefully managed. In talking
to Watson Taylor about Lord Edward, he took occasion
to assure me that Lord Camden was, in Lreland, constantly
out-voted in his wish for a more moderate system of
government^ by Clare and Castlereagh.

154 , BIART OP C'^TAT. 52.

9th to 16tli, Busy, as far as people will let me, witli'wy
'' Life of Lord Edward" and the " Summer Fete" for Power.
One of these mornings my darling Bessy came to me,
with her eyes full of tears, bringing some lines written
down, half prose and half poetry, which had come into her
head, as she lay awake thinking of our dear lost Anastasia.
I could not help crying myself in reading them, and was
sorry I let her tear the paper* Dined at Salmon's, at
Phipps's, and at Scott's ; Bessy at the two latter with me.
Asked to Heneage's, but refiised.

^ 20th. Have b(een invited to Watson Taylor's to meet
the Duchess of Kent and young Victoria.

23rd. Walked into Devizes, Watson Taylor having
fixed for me to be there at three, to be taken by him to Earl
Stoke. Got to Earl Stoke about four. Kather amused
with being behind the scenes to see the fiiss of preparation
for a royal reception. About half past five the Duchess
and Princess arrived ; found that Sir J. Conroy, their at-
tendant, was an old acquaintance of mine. No guests to-
day at dinner but myself. Lady Theodosia Hall, and Fisher
(the Duchess's chaplain) ; this being a private day. Music
in the evening. The Duchess sung a duet or two with
the Princess Victoria, and several very pretty German
songs by herself. One or two by Weber and Hummel
particularly pretty, and her manner of singing just what a
lady's ought to be. No attempts at bravura or graces, but
all simplicity and expression. I also sung several songs,
with which her R. H. was pleased to be pleased. Evi-
dently very fond of music, and^ould have gone on singing
much longer if there had not been rather premature pre-
parations for bed.

24th. After breakfast proceeded to the little church 6n
W. Taylor's ground. The morning very fine, and the

Oct, 183a] THOMAS MOOBE. 153

groups waiting under the shade of the trees for the arrival
of the two carriages with the royal ladies^ &c., made a
very pretty picture. Sat in the same pew with their Royal
Highnesses. Fisher, the oflSciator. After luncheon went
to view the farm, &c. ; the ladies in the carriages, and
I walking with the young Taylors. Large party at
dinner; Lord and Lady Sidmouth, the Members for
Devizes and the county, the Mayor, &c. ; none of the
ladies of the neighbourhood asked, from the invidious diffi-
culty, of course, of making a selection. Great anxiety for
music in the evening, but the Duchess very prudently (it
being Simday), and very much to my satisfaction, protested
against it.

25th. After breakfast the Duchess expressed a wish
for a little more music, and she and the Princess and
myself sung a good deal. The Duchess sung over three
or four times with me, ^^Go where glory waits thee,"
pronouncing the woids very prettUy , and altogether singing
it more to my taste than any one I ever found. Repeated
also her pretty German songs, and very graciously promised
me copies of them, having intimated how much she should
like to have copies of those songs I had sung for her. At
two their R. H.'s took their leave for Salisbury, and I soon
after departed for Devizes, on my way to Locke's, where
Bessy was to meet me, to pass a few days ; an old promise.
Company at Locke's, the David Macdonalds. Had a good
deal of conversation this morning with my old butty Lord
Sidmouth, who recognised me with great courtesy, referred
to the times of our first meeting, five and twenty years
ago, at Miles P. Andrews's, and at Mr. Gosling's, and
talked a good deal of poor Lady DonegaL Repeated to
me, as words which he thought would do very well for me
to set to music, some very spirited lines (from the German*,
* In reference to Koemer*9 famous song, probably.

■1

156 DIABY OP [^TAT. 52.

I believe) addressed by a warrior to his sword. I spoke
of Lord Stowell (Lady Sidmouth's father), and his opinion
upon the question of Slave Grace (?), in opposition to that
of Lord Mansfield a few years ago, when he was turned
eighty, showing such strength and clearness of intellect.
So little, however, did Lord and Lady Sidmouth think
him capable, at that time, of such an effort, that had tiiey
been consulted as to his undertaking it ihey would have
most earnestly deprecated it. Quoted what a great American
judge (?) had written to Lord Stowell concerning his Ad-
miralty judgments, to the effect, that though tiie Americana
had been naturally discontented with decisions so much
against their interest during tiie war, his book had now
become a portion of their Maritime Law.

November 1st to 30th. From this till the 12tii of
December, remained at home and at work, chiefly upon
my Life of Lord Edward, my sole interruption, and a very
agreeable one, being a visit from my old friend Corry, who
came on the 19th to dinner. On the 20th had the Starkeys
and Mrs. Ceilings to meet him, and all were highly amused
with his well acted stories. 21st. Took him (Bessy and I)
to Bowles's church, and lunched there ; Bowles full of alarm
at the riots now spreading through the country. The
Prowses that day dined with us, and on the next Corry left
us for London. Henry Bushe's account of his place to
the Sinecure Committee, that he was *^ Kesident Surveyor,
with perpetual leave_ of absence." ** Don't you do any
work for it ? " " Nothing, but receive my salary four
times a year." *' Do you receive that yourself? " *^ No,
by deputy."

December 1st to 12 th. Preparing the first part (about
half) of my MS. of Lord Edward for the press.

13 th. Started for town, taking Bessy to Buckhill in

Dec. 1830.] THOMAS MOORE. 157

my way. Her healthy I grieve to say, which has shown
such signs of improvement since our return from Ireland,
has again within these few days given way; and an
attack of illness has at once taken away almost all the
good looks and strength she had gained. My companions
on the coach, an M.P. (could not make out his name), and
a gentleman who had been in the army. The former a
staunch political economist and anti-slavery man; the
latter, upon most points differing with him, and their argu-
ments the whole way through very amusing. By occa-
sionally taking part with one and the other, I kept up the
ball between them, and was appealed to with more defer-
ence and anxiety by each from their not knowing which I
would agree with. The M.P., in talking of the late King,
remarked how entirely he was forgotten, or, if at aU re-
membered or mentioned, what a true view was now taken
of his worthless character. He then quoted from my lines
on the death of Sheridan, —

** Forgotten as fool, or rememberM as worse ;*'

saying, as he quoted them, '^ I forget who those lines were
written by.'* " They are Moore's,** I answered. *^ True,"
he replied, *' they were said, I remember, to be Moore's."
** I suppose," remarked the Captain, " we shall have Tom
Moore now coming into office." " Oh no," interrupted the
political economist, in a tone that made me rather appre-
hensive of what was coming (the Benthamites being, to a
man, deadly enemies of mine) ; and, though the Captain
very good-naturedly put in a word for me, saying, ^^ Why,
he's counted a very talented man in other ways than
poetry," I lost no time in putting an end to the topic by
saying, ** No, I don't think it is at all likely," and then
started a fresh subject of conversation. Felt rather tempted

1

158 DIARY OF [JSTAT.si.

to reveal myself to them before we parted, but did not.
After leaving my portmanteau at Sandon's, went to
Power's, where I found Tom, his holidays having been
begun to-day. Thence on to the printer's, and found that
they were hard at work getting the second volume of
Byron out. Supped at Power's.

14th. Breakfasted at the Athenaeum. Called upon
Rogers, who had been very ill. Learned from R. that
Barbara Godfrey was in town, at Stratford Canning's, and
went to call upon her. Sat some time. Dined with
Rogers ; his sister and niece of the company. Talked of
Mackintosh's History; thinks the style very bad. Re-
marked the use of the genitive " whose,'* as applied to
things, pronouncing it vicious. (N. B. Have looked since
in Johnson, and find it authorised both by Shakspeare and
Prior : *^ Thy name affrights me, in whose sound, &c. ;"
and Prior has ^^ Those darts, whose points.") Observed
that the life of Alfred had now been written by four great
men, Milton, Hume, Burke, and Mackintosh. Wrote to
Lord John, whom I met to-day at Brookes's, to come to
breakfast at Rogers's the day after to-morrow.

15th. Breakfasted at home, expecting Washington
Irving to call upon me, and employed in transcribing what
remained unfinished of the copy I brought up. Irving
came. My American business (that is, the negotiation for
me with the American booksellers for their edition of the
Life of Byron) was the subject I wished to speak to him
upon. The sheets have been regularly sent, and he thinks
there is no doubt of my receiving the money stipulated for.
Finished my transcribing. Dined with the Fieldings ; no
one but Lord Auckland. After dinner all went to the
Duke of Devonshire's box to see the new farce, and came
in for the last act of Werner, quite unexpected by me, as

Bxc. 1830.] THOMAS HOOlElE. 159

I did not even know of the intention to act it. The
plaudits of the house most enthusiastic at the dose^ and
continued and renewed for a long time.

16th. Breakfasted with Rogers and Lord John, who
was just entering upon his duties of Paymaster-General,
his chief cashier being appointed to come and receive orders
from him after breakfast. A very agreeable morning.
Down to the Longmans ; arranged some money matters
with them of very pressing interest to me on the approach
of my Christmas bills. Found them ready and accommo-
dating as usual. Called upon Lord Lansdowne, and sat
some time with him. Said he would dine with Lord Essex
to-morrow (not having sent his answer), if I would promise
to go there too. Did so. Have been invited this week past
to dine with Byng to-morrow, in order to celebrate Do-
herty's most unlucky appointment to the Chief Justiceship,
but finding from Doherty that he should not be able to join
us, considered myself free. Dined with Lord Essex:
company. Sir G. Robinson, Hibbert, Luttrell, and one or
two more. Luttrell full of spleen at the new arrangements
and reforms, and evidently thinks his own place in danger.
Says that Lord Althorp is like the manager of a theatre
before a tumultuous audience, bowing and scraping, and
asking what is their pleasure, sometimes applauded, but the
next moment getting a shower of oranges about his ears.
His opinion of the state of the country very much what my
own is. We are now hastening to the brink with a rapidity
' which, croaker as I have always been, I certainly did not
anticipate. Called before dinner at the Hollands, and saw
Lord Holland. Talked of my ^^ Life of Lord Edward," and
said he thought it was worth ray while to consider whether
I should publish it just now, in the present ticklish state
of Ireland, as I could not (he said) " do justice to Edward,"

i

160 DIARY OF [jEtat. 62;

without entering into the question of resistance, and this,
as things were going on now all over the world, was rather
a perilous topic. I owned that it was rather an unlucky
moment for such a book, but that it was not of my
choosing, as I had begun the work before any of this ex-
citement had occurred, and it must now take its chance.
I must only endeavour to keep the tone of the book as cool
and moderate as the nature of its subject would admit of.
As to waiting till Ireland was quiet, that would, indeed, be
like Horace's Rusticus, waiting till the stream went by.
He and Lady Holland are to leave for Brighton to-morrow.
17 th. Breakfasted at Athenaeum. Went again to the
Longmans to look out Bryan's library. Executed little
commissions. Called upon Sir Robert Doyle, who men-
tioned his having supped with his relative, Doyle of Dublin,
the night before he (his relative) fought Provost Hutchin-
son. They were a very gay party; and the host being
dressed in a sort of loose coat, handsomely embroidered
(his intention being to go from the supper table to the
ground), some one remarked how smart he was. ** To be
sure," he answered, " it is but proper that I should dress for
the Provost's halL^ Called upon Mrs. Shelley. Went to
take leave of Rogers, who sends by me to Bessy a large paper
copy of his most beautiful book, *' Italy," the getting up
of which has cost him five thousand pounds. Told me of a
squabble he has had with the publisher of it, who, in trying
to justify himself for some departure from his original agree-
ment, complained rather imprudently of the large sum of
ready money he had been obliged to lay out upon it. *' As
to that," said Rogers, ** I shall remove that cause of com-
plaint instantly. Bring me your account." The account
was brought; something not much short of 1500Z. ^^ There,*'
said Rogers, writing a cheque for the whole sum, ** I shall

(

Dec 1830.J THOMAS MOOfi£» 161

leave you nothing inore to say upon that ground.'* ** Had
I been a poor author (added Kogers, after telling me
these circumstances)^ I should have been his slave for life.'^
Dine4 at Lord Essex's ; a most lordly party ; *^ myself the
sole small Mister of the day ;" the remaining seven being
Lords Essex^ Lansdowne^ Brougham^ Melbourne^ Albe-
marle> King, and Foley. # ♦ * * Two of the cabinet
ministers of our company came in hackney coaches.
Brougham a nd Md bgurne ; the latter offered to take me
home in his fiacre^ but I had already agreed to go with
Lord Foley ; and was not much better off, as his was an
old crazy job. Set me down at Brookes's. Brougham men-
tioned to-day that on the Princess of Wales' coming over
to England, it was a matter of discussion among a party,
where Lady Charlotte Lindsay was, what one word of
English her Royal Highness (who was totally ignorant of
the language) should be first taught to speak. The whole
company agreed that ** yes " was the most useful word,
except Lady Charlotte, who suggested that "no" was
twice as useful, as it so often stood for "yes." This
story. Brougham said he once made use of in Court,
in commenting on the manner in which a witness had said
*^ no." What suggested it to him now was my describing
the manner in which Grattan said, " Why no," one day
when Kogers asked him whether he and I could maaage
another bottle of claret.

18 th. Started for home a quarter before nine. Found
all well.

19th to 29th. At work. Dined at Bowood soon
after my return, to meet Mrs. and Miss Dugald Stewart,
and slept there. On the 29th dined at Hughes's, at De-
vizes : a man of learning, but odd and tiresome ; at

least, in the long run. Nothing strains and wearies atten*

VOL. VI. M

162 DIARY OF [^TAT.52,

tion SO much as an artificial man ; and the more he knows^
the more his power of boring ;s multiplied.

30th to 31st. Here ends the year 1830, and here most
gladly do I take leave of this melancholy book*, which I
have never opened without a fear of lighting upon those
pages of it that record the event to me the most saddening
of my whole life; the only event that I can look back
upon as a real irreparable misfortune ; the loss of my sweet
Anastasia.

* Meaning the MS. volume in which thb year was recorded.-^ Ed.

JAK. 1831.] THOMAS UOOBK 163

K(^ OP- THR

IVEUSIT

O-F"

lilFO^'

Januaky 1st and 2nd. At home and at work.

3rd. Dined at Bo wood. Had dined there, by the bye,
about a week before to meet Mrs. and Miss Dugald
Stewart, Lord Lansdowne at that time not come down.
Company, Lord Dimcan and son, and Miss Fox. Lord
D. after dinner complained to me of the state of the Scotch
representation, and gave me a much clearer idea of its
abuses than I had before conceived. To show the value
of votes, he told me that he himself had a year or two
since got for a property which did not bring him in much
above 1501 a year, 15,000/. of money, all for the votes
that formed a part of it. * * *

4th. Returned home. The dear boys all agog about
the party at Bowood to-night The Lansdownes' carriage
came between eight and nine. But few house visitors
there. A very agreeable evening, and all home safe again
between three and four. Agreed to go to the Houltons on
the 13th.

13th. Houlton's carriage came to take us to Farley.

15th. Tpok my solitary walks. Tried over Italian
duets with Eliza Houlton. A Mr. Mead and his wife as
dinner. Singing in the evening, the whole family being
(what Jackson of Exeter called the Linleys) a " nest of
nightingales." A chaunt composed by Eliza and sung
with her by her sister Catherine (a new beauty springing
up) most touchingly. The Madre Amata and Padre

M 2

164 DIAKY OF [JEtat. 52.

Amato of Winter performed with much success by Isabella,
Eliza, and myself.

1 6th. Started for home about twelve, Houlton's carriage
taking us back. Delighted with our visit.

17th. A letter from the Duke of Leinster on the sub-
ject of my " Life of Lord Edward ; " written, as he says, at
the request of Lady Campbell, to beg I would postpone
the publication, and adding that he agrees with her as to
the expediency of doing so. Lord Lansdowne, just returned
from town. Called and sat some time with me. A good
deal of talk about politics. Agreed to be at Bowood to-
morrow night and stay over next day.

18th. To-morrow being the close of our dear Tom's
holidays, we all passed the day at Buckhill, for the conveni-
ence of his starting from thence in the morning. At nine
at night left Buckhill for Bowood, where I found Lord
and Lady L. at tea. And sat talking with him till

twelve.

19th. Walked home after breakfast, and worked for
some hours ; then returned to Bowood, where I dined
and slept. Only themselves. Answered the Duke of
Leinster, saying that I felt myself committed to the pub-
lication, nor could I agree with Lady Campbell or his
Grace in their views of its. postponement; adding, that
those persons who had given me the materials and had
therefore, perhaps, the best right to interfere with my
task, had by no means done so, but left me to pursue my
own discretion and views in it.

20th. Lord L. walked part of the way home with me.
Asked me (first time this long while) how I was getting
on with Lord Edward : a ticklish subject now between us,
as, of course, anything likely to affect the present state of
Ireland is, from his ministerial responsibility, of double in-

Jan, 1831.] THOMAS MOOEE. 165

terest and importance to him. If anything, indeed, could
make me sacrifice my own views (and in some respects, I
think) cliaracter on the point, it would be the gentle an<J
considerate delicacy with which he has refrained, not only
from urging, but even from hinting, what I know must be
his anxious wishes on the subject. Discussed together all
sorts of things; how long the Ministry would be likely to
stay in; what class of politicians would most probably
succeed them; what extent of reform would satisfy the
people, &c. &c. Beminded him of what I had predicted to
him when he was last in office, that we should thenceforth
see a quick succession of ministers, as was the case in
France before the Revolution ; calling in fresh doctors as
the patient grew worse and more restless, seeking a new
change of position, &c. We both agreed that the next
r change would be in the Radical direction, and that the day
J of the Ultra-Tories was gone. Found to-day a curious
instance of floridness in Jeremy Taylor*: ^* Celibate, like
a fly in the heart of an apple, dwells in perpetual sweet-
ness, but sits alone." * * *

2 1st and 22nd. Lord Lansdowne starts for town at
five to-morrow morning, in order to be present at a council
at three.

23rd to 25th. On the 25th, went into Devizes (Bessy
in her jaunting car) to dine at Salmon's, for the ball.
Took dear Bussell back to schooL Company, Mrs. Napier
and Fanny, the Fishers, Miss Tugwell, &c. &o. Ball
rather amusing ; Sally Locke would make, me dance with
her. Slept at Salmon's : agreed to stay over to-morrow.

26th. Walked home after breakfast. Found a letter

* Sermon on the Marriage King, part 1. — " Celibate, like the fly in
the heart of an apple, dwells in a perpetual sweetness, but sits alone»
and is confined and dietf in singularity,**

M 3

16iB DIABY OF * [-^TAT. 52-

from William RomiUy (Sir SamuePs son) on the subject
of the passage relative to his father in the second volume
of " Byron." Lord L. had already mentioned to me that
he had heard people regret those passages being retained.
Answered Romilly/ and returned to Devizes. Company
at dinner, the Scotts. Slept there.

27th. Saw dear Kussell before we left Devizes.
Home. Some very gratifying letters about the second
volume of "Byron," from strangers as well as frielids; one
particularly from a Mr. Brackenbury, a clergyman, ftill of
the warmest praise, which is the more welcome as he tells
me he once published something against me.

28th. A reply from Romilly, thanking me in -^ry
cordial terms for my " ready and gentleman-like " answer
to his application.

29th. Received the " Quarterly Review,'* with the
article of my second volume of** Byron." From Murray's
interest in the work and Lockhart's previously expressed
admiration of it, I did not much expect (though never
of course sure of such critics) any thing like hostility. He
has, however, not gone to much expense of praise. In
acknowledging the receipt of it to Murray, I have said
something to this effect : " It is evidently weU meant tor-
wards all the three parties concerned — the parson, the
undertaker, and the body; and the reviewer, whoever hie
may be, is as generous towards myself as his nature would
admit of. In short, I feel about it as Dogberry did about
another sort of favour, i.e. * Give God thanks, and make
710 boast of it.' "

30th. "Walked out to Bowood, wishing to see Lady L.
before her departure, and also to consult a Spanish dic-
tionary for the purpose of coiTCCting a letter in that lan-
guage of Lord Edward's* Had a long conversation with

JFeb. 1$31.] THOMAS MOORE. 167

her, and came awaj' (as I always do) more aiid more Im-
pressed with the excellent qualities of her mind and heart ;
even her very faults are but the selvage of fine and sound
virtues. Called at Buckhill.

31st. At home, and at work.

February 1st and 2nd. Ditto.

3rd. An attack in the *^ Times" to my great surprise,
upon the second volume of " Byron ;" an attack, too, the
most mischievous that could be made, as seizing upon what
is certainly the least safe part of the volimie, in this island
of saints, — the account of Byron's Italian loves. Sat
down and wrote a letter to Barnes, expostulating a little
upon this perfidy ; but when it was written, threw it in
the fire.

8th. A letter from my sister Ellen, containing an
alarming account of my dear mother's state of health, from
an attack brought on by the late severe weather. My
first impulse was to start immediately for Dublin ; but as
Crampton (who had been attending her) had not written,
Bessy thought it better for me to wait ; particularly as the
effect the news had had upon me, in bringing on one of my
convulsive fits of sobbing, had considerably weakejied me.

9th. No letter, which we looked upon as favourable.

10th. A letter from Crampton, the commencement of
which represented my mother as in a state which twenty-
four hours must decide one way or other, for life or for
death. The postscript, however, written the following
day, announced that she had then rallied, and was in ^^ a
fair way of recovery." This, of course, tranquillised us
considerably.

1 1th. A letter from Ellen, written on the night of the
day on which Crampton had despatched his postscript,
saying that in a few hours more our dear mother would

M 4

168 DIARY OP [^TA4v52,

have passed tranquilly from this life, and entreating me to
come to her (Ellen) as soon as possible. Started at two
o'clock, in a chaise, intending to get to Worcester that
night ; but on reaching Chippenham, determined to go by
Bath. At Bath took the Bristol mail to Birmingham,
and travelled all night. Nothing could be sweeter or more
soothing than the sympathy of my dear Bessy on this
occasion.

12th. Arrived at Birmingham between six and seven ;
breakfasted, and took the coach for Shrewsbury at half-
past eight. Dined and slept at Shrewsbury.

13 th. Off in the coach for Holyhead at six. The day
fine, and Wales in high beauty. In leaving Bangor, where
we dined, were joined by a gentleman and his wife ; proved
to be Staunton, editor of the ''Dublin Morning Register."
Gave me the first intelligence, which he had himself just
received, of the arrangement between O'Connell and the
Government on the subject of the pending trials ; seemed
to think it very much of a giving in on the part of his
brother agitators, and was evidently not a little pleased at
it. Said they had been driving the machine too fast, and
had come to a point where it was necessary for their own
and the country's safety to pull up. * * * He had himself
been obliged to come to Wales out of the way of the law,
and was now returning, as he told me, to avail himself of
the amnesty he seemed to anticipate for all agitators. On
our arrival at Holyhead, being anxious, in my present
£tate of mind, to get rid of all companionship, did not enter
the inn, but called at Stevens's (whom I found recovering
from a bad illness) ; and finding that his packet sailed that
night, begged him to arrange so that I could get on board
before the other passengers. This he did very good-
naturedly, and after having had some tea with him, I accom-

Fes^ 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 169

panied his steward (himself not being able to go to-night)
on board the packet, where I betook myself instantly to my
berth. Could not help feeling a faint hope (from there
having been evidently nothing in the late Irish newspapers
about my dear mother) that I should find all better on my
arrival than I expected. And yet, to come in for the last
painful scene would be more than I could well bear ; the
43usperise, altogether, dreadful.

14th« A seven hours' passage, during which I dozed a
good deal Waited till the other passengers were off in
the mail, and then had a chaise to Dublin. Went to Bil-
ton's, and despatched a note to Ellen, bidding her let me
have a line by the bearer to say if the worst was over, and
at what time ; telling her, at the same time, that my mind
was fully made up and composed on the subject. There is
BO telling what was my astonishment and delight when I
received her answer to the following effect : — " Can you
ever forgive me for having made you take this long jour-
ney ? Our dearest mother has rallied most wonderfully,
and will see you as soon as you come. You need have no
dread of any thing to shock you ; you will see nothing but
extreme weakness." Hurried off to Abbey Street, and
found my darling mother far better than I could have had
the slightest anticipation o£ Her cheerfulness and power
of mind, too, wonderfuL When Crampton came to see
her yesterday, she raised herself up smiling in the bed,
and said, ^*Well, * Richard's himself again;'" on which
Crampton said, in his jocular way, ^* Ah, Mother Hubbard,
I shall make a book about you ; " and then both patient
and doctor fell to laughing at each other. Twice has she,
-within these ten djiys (as Crampton expresses it), *^ fought
off death ; " and on Wednesday last, under the certainty
that she had but a few hours to live, she had cahnly and

170 DIABY OF I^TAT.SS,

minutely given directions to Ellen with respect to all that
was to be done about the funeral, &c. &c* Her delight at
seeing me was evidently very great, though she expressed
strong anxiety and regret at the trouble and expense I
had had in coming. Told me that she wished to give me
before I left her the medal she had had struck off, with
the date of my birth, as also my school and college medals*
The animation and excursiveness of her mind on all sub-
jects quite as great as ever. Went to call upon Crampton,
who, I found, had written to me by Thursday's post, ad-
vising me not to come, as it was now not necessary. Saw
my mother again before dinner. Company at Millikin'8,
William Curran and Cuthbert Eccles. Story of Neilson
(the famous United Irishman) meeting Reynolds, at the
time he suspected him of having betrayed them, and hur-
rying him along to some retired place ; then presenting a
pistol at him, and saying, '^ What does that man deserve
who could betray such a cause as ours ? " " To be shot
through the head," answered Reynolds, so coolly as to dis-
arm all Neilson's suspicions, and to make him apologise
for having even harboured them. This story evidently
but another version of what Mrs. Meara has communicated
to me, and shows (if anything was wanting to show) the
difficulty of arriving at facts through the various imagina-
tions that have tried their skill on them. Story of the
two United Irishmen going on some secret mission of great
importance, and being pursued by soldiers, and blockaded
in a small house to which they had fled for refuge. Their
desperate defence, being well armed, till at length one of
them received a wound which he felt to be mortal He
then said to his companion, *^ It is all over with me, but
you may yet escape. I shall run out among the soldiers,
as if .trying to make my escape ; and while their attention

■\

FfeB. 1831.] THOtMAS MOORE. 171

is engaged in putting me to death, you can be off by the
back of the house." He accordingly did so, and his com-
rade escaped, and succeeded in achieving the object of
their mission. Sung in the evening.

16 th. Passed a great part of the morning with my
mother, and Kate, and Ellen. Some conversation with
old Peter Burrowes. Agreed with me in opinion that
O'Connell had done more harm to the cause of Liberty in
Ireland than its real friends could repair within the next
half century; and mentioned what Qrattan had said of
him, that " He was a bad subject^ and a worse rebel."
This is admirable ; true to the life, and in Grattan's hap-
piest manner. The lurking appreciation of a ffood rebel
which it implies is full of humour. Dined with Crampton:
no one but Curran. Told me he had a manuscript of his
father's, treating of Irish affairs, which he had had some
idea of using when he wrote his Life, but did not ; that it
was much at my service if it could be of any use to me.
When O'Connell, in his last speech, on Sunday, said, *^ I
am open to conviction," some one in the crowd said, " And
iojudffmentylhope,^^ (in allusion to the trials he has slipped
himself out of). Curran asked me whether I had yetieft
my name with Lord Anglesey, and advised me to do so, as
the omission of it would be considered politically meant.

16th. Sat some time with my mother, who appears to
me even better than when I came. Spoke to me of my
letters to her, and her wish that I should seal them up
myself, and write upon them that they were to be the
property of Ellen after her death. ** They belong to youy
my dear Tom," she said, " but this wish of mine I know
you will not have any objection to." I told her she had
already known this, and that all I should want with these
letters would be to look over them^ somQ time or other.

172 BURY OP [iETAT. 5^.

for the purpose of ascertaining such dates d.tid facts ad
might assist me in a memoir of my own life^ which I look
to leaving behind me as a legacy. In the course of our
conversation, she said, '* Well, my dear Tom, I can say>
with miy dying breath, that you have from the first to th«
last done your duty, and far more, indeed, than your
duty, by me and all connected with you. At least / can
say so from my heart." Went to Millikin's, and had some
conversation with Curran and Peter Burrowes about young
Emmett, and the part Plunket took on his trial Bur-
rowes seemed to be decidedly of opinion that Plunket
could not have refused the brief of Government, though
he might have avoided, perhaps, speaking to evidence;
almost immediately after, too, Plunket came into place.
It was not true (I think he said) that Plunket had been
acquainted with young Emmett. The passage in the
printed 8peec)x of Emmett, where he is made to call
Plunket " -mat viper, ftc," was never spoken by Emmett,
and the secret of its finding a place there was owing,
Curran said, to the following circumstance. The person
who took down the speech at the trial was, I think,
McNally, the son of the barrister, and he had afterwards
some conversation with Emmett in the prison. It was
during that conversation that Emmett, in speaking (^
Plunket, used those expressions, which McNally intro-
duced subsequently in the speech. Peter Burrowes spoke
of the wonderful strength and resolution of Emmett in
standing so long (twelve hours, I think), through all the
fatigue and anxiety of the trial, and then delivering that
noble speech with such energy before the pronouncing of
sentence. Left my name at the Castle for Lord Anglesey.
Dined with the Morgans : had expected they would have
Lord Cloncurry to meet me, but therq was none but

Feb. 1831.T THOMAS MOORE. 173

iiieinselves at dinner, and a large party forthcoming in the
erening. The party a very pretty one; a good many
beauties ; and some of Kossini's things sung very well by
the Clarkes, assisted by the two Hermans. I sung also;
and with no ordinary success. Among the pretty women
were a Mrs. White and a Mrs. Hobson. A party of diners
from the Castle, consisting of some of the young Lord
Pagets, the Chief Justice Doherty, &c. &c. Doherty the
bearer of a message for me from Lord Anglesey, to say
how sorry he was that I had not made one of the party.

I7th. Have been preparing my dear mother for my
leaving her, now that I see her so much better. She is
quite reconciled to my going, and said this morning,
•* Now, my dear Tom, don't let yourself be again alarmed
about me in this manner, nor hurried away from your
home and business." She then said she must, before I
left her this morning, give me her wedding-ring as her
last gift ; and accordingly sending for the little trinket-box
in which she kept it, she herself put the ring on my finger.
Have written to Skinner, who sails on Saturday (the day
after to-morrow), to tell him I shall sail with him. Met
Lord Forbes, who asked me anxiously whether I had yet
seen Lord Anglesey, and said I must certainly come and
dine at the Castle before I went. Received a card from
the Lord Chancellor (Plunket) for dinner on Monday, but
shall not stay for it Dined quietly in Abbey Street with
dear Nell on some salt fish and biscuits: expected that
Kate would join us, but she didn't. Sat and talked with
my mother in the evening. Found a card at my hotel
from Lord Anglesey for Sunday, with a note from Lord
Forbes, saying that Lord A. sent me a card for Sunday,
but wished particularly I should dine with him on Tues-
day, when he would have a pleasant party to meet me.

174 DIAKY OP [^TAT. 62,

Very &otrj it so happens, but I cnnnot stay beyond
Saturday,

18th. Wrote my excuses to Forbes instead of to the
aide-de-camp in waiting, and soon after received a card of
invitation for to-day. Made sundry arrangements for my
departure to-morrow, devoting as much time to my dearest
mother besides as I could manage. Ought to have men-^
tioned that I breakfasted with old Ogilvie, who, luckily
for me, was at the moment in Dublin, having come up
with an address to Lord Anglesey. A good deal of con-
versation about Lord Edward; made him repeat much
of what he had before told me. • • ♦ gaid he had
recollected a batch of papers in London which he thought
might be useful to me, and if I was going to town myself
he would intrust the key of the escritoire^ where they
were, to me. Answered that I would most willingly take
London in my way home for that purpose. Called to pay
a visit to the priest (Mr. O'Connell) who comes occa-
sionally to pray with my mother ; a well-mannered and
intelligent man, whom I found lodged in a very handsome
apartment of the house attached to the chapel in Dominick
Street, and his room ornamented with several small casts
fix)m the statues of Michael Angelo, &c., which he had
lately brought with him from Italy. Called upon Mr.

, the editor of the "Freeman's Journal," whom I

had never before seen, but whom I wished to thank for
his civilities to my mother. Talked of the Bepeal ques-
tion, he being one of the most furious of the repealers.
Told him frankly, and at some length, my opinion of the
injury that has been done to the cause of Irish liberty by
this premature and most ill-managed effort of O'Connell's.
Time, and the spirit rising in England, as well bs over all
Europe, is fast ripening that general feeling of inde-

Reb. 1831.] THOMAS MOOBE. 173

pendence oF which Ireland, at her own time, may take
advantage. The same principle Is also In full progress
towards removing, without any eiFort of hers, some of the
worst grievances that weigh her down. The Church, for
instance, which would be just now fought for, against any
such attack as O'ConnelPs, with the whole Protestant
force of the empire, would, if left to the natural operation
of the revolution principle, be put aside, in due time,
without any difficulty ; England herself leading the way
by getting rid of, or at least lowering, her own establish-
ment. This was the great struggle for which the energies
of Ireland ought to have been reserved. In assailing the
enormous abuses of the Irish establishment. Catholics
would have been joined by dissenters, and in the pursuit
of this common object that amalgamation would have
taken place between them, that nationalised feeling, with-
out which (as O'Connell's failure has shown) It is In vain
for Ireland to think of making head against England. In
another way, too, they had done injury by exposing the
poverty of their cause in the way of talent and intellect ;
this ferment not having been able to throw up a single
man of ability. • ♦ ♦ All this (coming from one who,
he could not doubt, felt strongly, and even greenly , about

Ireland) seemed to astonish Mr. exceedingly. To

the Castle at seven; the party (little more than Lord A.'s
own family and household) consisting of old Colonel Arm-
strong, Skinner, a Mr. St.. George, who had been the
bearer of an address to Lord A., and myself; those of the
family being, the three young Pagets, Lord Forbes, Baron
Tuyll, and Captain Williams. Lord Anglesey leaned upon
me in to dinner, and placed me next him. Abundance of
conversation between us about the state of Ireland,
0*Connell, the durability of the present ministry, &c. &c.,

[

176 DIARY OF [iETAT.52.

and nothing could be more frank and communicative tliaji
he was on all these subjects. Told me not a bad anecdote
of Lord Cloncurry, who, in coming to town the other day
was upset in the snow, and some fellows on the road
lending their assistance, he was quickly set right again^
on which he said to them, ^* Thank you, my lads. Now I
shall treat you as O'Connell does," "Oh long life to
your honour for that," they exclaimed, with great joy, but
were rather taken aback when I^ord Cloncurry, holding
out his empty hand to them said, '^I'U trouble each of
you for half a crown. O'Com^l takes more from you ;
but, as you have been such good fellows, I'll only ask
half a crown," The fellows felt the fun of this, and, <tf
course, got something else into the bargain. In talking
of the Repeal question, I told him of my scene in the
morning with the editor of the " Freeman," and repeated
the substance of most of what I had said to him. Saw
plainly that he was very nervous about the state of Ire-
land. ♦ ♦ ♦ Asked his permission to leave him early^
on account of my mother, and got to her about ten o'clock.
Staid till eleven, and then home to my hotel to pack.

19th. Off in the mail to Howth at seven; Skinner
with me. Our passage to Holyhead Under six hours.
Called upon Mrs. Stevens, at Holyhead. Dined with
Skinner, who had a party of three or four to meet me/
and a good hospitable dinner, which I enjoyed exceedingly
after my qualms. Slept at Spencer's ; a very comfortable
bed.

20th. Off at six for Shrewsbury. ^Weather delicious,
and the road and scenery in thefr fullest perfection.
Stopped at the same inn as in coming ; had the inside to
myself most of the way, and read " Jefferson's Memoirs
and Correspondence." Left Shrewsbury in the coach for

Feb. 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 177

Birmingliam ; joined by a lady within thirty miles of
Birmingham, who amused me a good deal with the history
of all her family concerns. Dined at Birmingham. Started
in the mail for town at six. One of my companions, in
the intervals of dosing, gave me some curious particulars
respecting that class of persons called Commercial Tra-
vellers ; the rate of their expenses, the sort of club they
form themselves into when they meet at an inn, appointing
president and vice, and every man being expected to order
his pint of wine, whether he drinks it or not. A wretched
night; cold and sleety outside, and close and smothering
within. Got to Bury Street about seven in the morning,
not at all well.

22nd. Called at Murray's. Mentioned to him Lady
Morgan's wish to contribute something to his '^Family
Library," and that she has materials ready for lives of
five or six .Dutch painters, which she thinks would suit
his purpose. The great John said, without minding the
painters, " Pray, isn't Lady Morgan a very good cook ? "
I answered, I did not know ; but why did he ask. " Be-
cause," said he, ^* if she would do something in that line."
*' Why, you don't mean," exclaimed I, " that she should
write a cookery book for you ! " *^ No," answered John,
coolly, " not so much as that ; but that she should re-edite
miW," (Mrs. RundaU's, by which he has made mints of
money). Oh, that she could have heard this with her
own ears ! Here ended my negotiation for her Ladyship.
Dined at Longman's; Dr. Lardner and M^Culloch the
company. Forgot to mention that Mr. Kennie called
upon me this morning with the papers, which turn out,
however, to be all on the subject of the attainder, and not
very interesting. Wrote to dear Tom to ask leave of
Dr. Bussell to come to me for a few hours to-morrow.

VOL. VI. N

178 1>IART OP IMtjlT,52,

24th. Breakfasted with Rogers. He had told Lord
John I was to be with him, and soon after he had break-
fasted he came. " I was wishing," he said, in his quiet
way, *^ to have you come to my house (his official house) ;
but then I have no beds up, and they tell me I am such a
bird of passage there, that I don't know what to do about
it. However, if I am still in when you are next in town,
you must come to me." Had a good deal of conversation.
Called, in the course of the day, on the Hollands; saw
both my Lord and my Lady ; Lord H. very ill ; hardly
spoke a word while I was there. ♦ ♦ *

25th, Started at eight o'clock for Sloperton. Right
glad to get back again.

26th, 27th, &c. From this time, till the latter end of
April, I remained quietly at home, working at my " Life
of Lord Edward," and occasionally doing some musical
things for Power. My only excursions from home were
to the Fieldings, Methuens, and Starkeys, among whom I
dined out about six times. On the 19th of March Bessy
was to have accompanied me to dine at Fielding's, and
walked over dressed and ready to the Prowses (our
curate's), the carriage being appointed to come and take us
to Lacock at four ; but I had a note from her to say that
she found Prowse himself (who has for some time been ill)
in such a dangerous state, and his family in such distress
and consternation, that she could not leave them, and
that I must therefore go to Lacock alone. Slept at La-
cock ; Methuen of the party. Talking of the ^^ Morning
Chronicle" squibs, since published under the name of
" The Tory Guide," J^ethuen told us he was the author of
almost all those about theRat Club, which are certainly
some of the best. On my return from Lacock next day,
found that Bessy had been up almost all night at Prowse's.

Mabch, 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 179

On the morning of the 2l8t she was summoned over there

at six in the morning, Prowse having died in the night ;

and for several days afterwards devoted herself to arranging

all that was necessary for the family on this sad occasion*

On the 26th Prowse was buried, and I attended his

fimeral. On the 28th Bessy went with me to dine at

Lacock^ and was much delighted with her visits from

which we returned home next day. Lady E. whispered

me, on our arrival, " I take for granted there is nobody

dying in your neighbourhood, or we shouldn't have had

Mrs. Moore's company to-day." It is true that she is

never half so happy as when helping those who want

assistance, or comforting those who are afflicted. My

** Lord Edward " has lingered on hand (like everything

else I do) much longer than I anticipated. This is all

owing to the slowness of my execution* I see rapidly

how the thing ought to be, and will be, but to make it

so is the difficulty. Finding myself in some difficulties

relating to parts where Arthur O'Connor was concerned,

I ventured to write to him to Paris, and am very glad

I did so, as he has set me right about two or three

points on which I should have gone astray. In my

musical department two piracies have been committed

on me which rather flatter my vanity as a composer.

In a set of Greek dances, my " Komaika " (an air in the

"Evenings in Greece") has been announced as the real

and original ** Komaica," and the " Harmonicon " has

published, as a great treasure, from a copy brought from

Sweden, an air of mine in the " National Melodies," " My

harp has one unchanging theme," which I have given in

that work, as Swedish. Have been, as usual, all this time

overwhelmed with letters and MSS. Several letters on

the subject of my second volume of " Byron," have given

K 2

180 DIARY OP L^TAT. 52,

me sincere pleasure ; some of them from America, and of
these, one was accompanied by a very elegant volume (both
within and vnthout\ the authoress naming herself lanthe,
and speaking of me and my works in a way that could not
but be very gratifying to me. On the 25th of March, in
passing through the churchyard of Bromham alone, I for
the first time ventured to approach the tomb of my poor
Anastasia, and take a hasty glimpse of her name on the
marble. What I feel, whenever I think of her, need not
be mentioned here.

April 21st. Started from home with Bessy and Kussell,
in order to leave the latter at school at Marlborough. Saw
the dear boy comfortably installed, and then Bessy re-
turned to Sloperton, and I remained to proceed by coach,
next morning, to London.

22nd. Started in the Marlborough coach at eight ; my
darling Russell was, with his schoolmaster's sister, at the
open window as I passed, looking very rosy and happy,
and kissing hands to me most actively. It was very nice
of them to have him there for me. Took up a young
fellow as passenger on the road, with whom I had a good
deal of conversation ; had travelled in France and Ger-
many, knew a great deal of the current literature, and
(most inconveniently for me) was full of Byron and
Moore. " Have you seen. Sir, (he asked) the second vo-
lume of Moore's * Byron?'" "No," I answered, "not
yet." " Nor I either," he replied ; " but I am most
anxious to get it." " It is such an expensive book," said
I, " that I mean to wait for the octavo edition, which I
hear is preparing." I then changed the subject, but he
often returned to it. In talking of Sir Hudson Lowe,
and the sort of mark that mankind concur in fixing upon
bim^ he said, " I do think I had rather die at once than

April, 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 181

have such verses written upon me as those of Moore's on
Sir H. Lowe.'' Before we parted, I thought it fair to
tell him who I was, and I never saw a man so full of sur-
prise and joy. We had had an old woman in the coach
(the very image of Lady Cork) who w^as a great follower
of preachers and prophets, but a remarkably clear-headed
old lady, and evidently full of energy and character. She
and I entered into a long discussion upon religion, and it
was amusing to see how, by the force of a little logic
(going on very gravely all the time), I brought her to
agree with me on all the points most adverse to her own
creed. The young man was much amused throughout,
and when he knew who I was, said it was a circumstance
he would remember to the last day of his life. Im-
mediately on arriving at my lodgings, heard of the dis-
solution that had just taken place, and the surprise and
bustle of the King going down in person to declare it.
Went to Brookes's. Found them all in the highest state
of excitement ; heard all the particulars of the last stormy
moments of' this parliament. Peel's violent speeches in-
terrupted by the coups de canon announcing the King's
coming ; every shot received with loud cheers by one side,
and yells and groans by the other. The Lords still more
tumultuous; Lord Mansfield brandishing his fist at his
opponents. Their hustling Lord Shaftesbury into the
chair, and hooting after Brougham. Found Shiel at the
Athenaeum, who sat with me while I dined. Talked
(7 did) of the great success of his speech in the House ;
and he repeated, what he had more than once said to me,
namely, that my views (in my " Life of Sheridan ") of the
distaste which I suppose to have arisen for the higher
order of eloquence, were, he thought, quite mistaken;
that rhetorical flights are certainly rare, but that when

K 3

182 DIARY OP [^TAT. 52.

they do come, and are well done, the House receives them
not only favourably, but warmly. Gave, as instances, — ►
the manner in which they took the very happy illustration
of " Old lamps for new ones,'' in a passage merely read by
Peel from a former speech of Lord John Kussell's ; Peel's
own allusion, in speaking of the ministry, to that fancy of
the Indians, that a new tenant of a wigwam succeeded to
all the qualities and virtues of its former inhabitant ; and
lastly, the great success of Mr. Hawkins's noble speech
some nights since. It appears, however, that Lord John's
** Old lamps for new ones " had no effect whatever at the
time he spoke it, and Peel's figure was borrowed from
Lord Erskine, whom I myself heard make use of it at a
public dinner (a Dublin University dinner, in London) ;
and, by the bye. Peel himself (then Irish Secretary) was
one of the diners that very day.

23rd. Made calls. Dined with Miss Rogers and her
nieces, and home early to bed. Luttrell at Brookes's
this morning ; very amusing. Forgot one lively thing
he said, which was provoking, and remember another
not half so good : " In one Latin word (he remarked)
is comprised the history of the two parties at present.
* Reform-I-do,' says the Whig ; * Reformidoy says the
Tory."

24th. Called upon Lady Cork in the morning, who
snubbed me for using the word "nice," and said that
Dr. Johnson would never let her use it. Dined at Rogers's,
though fitter for my sofa at home. Company: Newton,
Leslie, Turner, and one or two more. Walked with
O'Connell, by the bye, for some time, this morning, and
was glad to have an opportimity of repeating to himself
all I had been saying to some of his followers lately, in
Dublin, respecting his management of the Repeal ques-

Al»EIL, 1831.] THOMAS MOORE, 183

tion. I had, indeed, felt uncomfortable at the thought of
attacking him to others without putting also himself in
full possession of my sentiments; and I must say that
he bore all I said with the most perfect candour and
good-humour, though I went so far in describing what I
thought the mischief of his premature agitation as to say,
that its obvious effect was to divide the upper classes,
and madden the lower. In short, I put everything that
occurred to me quite as strongly as I had done before

in Dublin to his friend Mr. , and he was just

entering on his defence when some one interrupted us
and took him away. Had some talk about '98, and Lord
Edward. Showed wonderful ignorance of the events of
that time ; confounded Neilson (the vapouring fellow who
attacked Newgate on the 23rd May, 1798) with the
gallant Bussell, the friend of Tone, who rose with Emmett
in 1803 ; and on one or two other points showed how
little even the actors in such scenes (if he was really one
of the actors) are to be trusted in their recollections.

25th. Dined at Sir George Philipps's, though still feel-
ing iQ and uncomfortable. Company, the Lord Advocate
(Jeffrey) and Mrs. Jeffrey, John Murray (of Edinburgh),
Sharpe, Lady Anne Wilbraham, &c. But for the tempt-
ation of meeting Jeffrey, I should not have encountered
so large a party. Jeffrey by no means in good spirits,
nor looking as he ought. Talked of the spirit with
which the Irish members now did their duty on the
side of liberty, though for some time after the Union
they were mostly tools of the Ministry, as Grattan pro-
phesied they would be, saying, " Well, my much injured
country will have her revenge for all her wrongs; she
will send into England, and into the bosom of her par-
liament, and the very heart of her constitution, a hundred

N 4

184 DIARY OF [JEtat. 62.

of the greatest rascals that can be found anywhere."
It was mentioned that Tiemey, when at the bar, told
Perceval one day that he meant to buy stock, and go
and make speeches at the India House, on which Per-
ceval advised him not to do so, saying, that a lawyer
who wished to succeed in his profession ought to confine
himself to it entirely. In relating this circumstance
Tiemey used to'say, that if they had both attended to this
advice, he (Tiemey) might have had a little more money
in his pocket, and Perceval might have been still alive.
Tiemey, at first (and even at the time when he belonged
to the Friends of the People), thought himself incapable
of public speaking, and never ventured to speak but for a
few minutes at a time.

26th. Called at the Longmans' : had been also at the
printer's, and find that the matter of my " Life of Lord
Edward" has (as happens generally with me) overflowed
the bounds originally intended, and cannot well be com-
pressed in one volume. Called at Lord John Russell's
(had seen him but once since I came, and thought he
looked ill and fagged) : not at home : found that he was
to set out for Devonshire next morning at ten. Went to
pay a visit at the Speaker's ; saw Mrs. Manners Sutton,
who said to me, " I am told, your friends, the Whigs,
have resolved, from an idea that the Speaker has acted
partially, not only to endeavour to throw him out at
Scarborough, but to prevent his re-election as Speaker,
and to deprive him of his peerage. They had Better take
care. The most unpopular thing they ever did in their
lives would be nothing to their attempting to prevent his
re-election to the chair; and if we have but fair notice
beforehand, we shall beat them by three times their
number*" She then (as if I was the most tried Tory

-f

April, 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 185

m

friend in the world) begged me to give her prompt notice
if I saw any such intentions on their part. Went to
Brookes's.

27th. Feeling still the pain over my right eye, and
not sleeping well at night, wrote a note to Dr. Holland
to beg he would call upon me. Burdett called for me^n
his way to the city, but I could not, of course, go with
him. Asked me to dine quietly with him, which I pro-
mised to do, if well enough. Holland came and pre-
scribed. In talking of the Reform Bill, I said, I should
not wonder if it added to his number of patients ; and he
assured me that such was seriously the case, more than
one or two instances of illness brought on by anxiety and
alarm for this subject having occurred in his practice.
Refused, with much kindness, my offer of a fee, though I
said he ouffht to take it, if for nothing but the rarity of
the event, as he was the.first physician I had consulted on
my own account for God knows how many years. Went
to dine with Burdett ; none but themselves. A good deal
of conversation with him after dinner ; and the fluency
with which,, in talking of the Reform question, he went
through the history of the representative system from
its earliest periods, was curious enough. * * * To-night
being the general illumination for the dissolution of Par-
liament, some of the Miss Burdetts expressed a wish
during dinner to drive through the streets and see it, and
the carriage was ordered accordingly ; but it occurred to
us afterwards that Burdett might possibly be recognised
by the mob, and some demonstration, such as taking the
horses off, or something might happen which would neither
be agreeable nor prudent : so we gave up the plan, and
the Burdetts' carriage took me home.
. 28th. A letter from Bessy to say she thinks of coming

186 DIARY OP [^TAT.52,

up to-morrow or Monday, in consequence of which I
deferred my own intentions of going down. Dined
with Rogers: company, only Sharpe, Miss Rogers, and
Mrs. Lockhart. Mrs. L. gave a better account of Sir
Walter, who has had a, bad attack lately. Lockhart
told me, a day or two since, that it was not apoplexy,
but an affection of the stomach, which produced effects
very much the same in appearance, by sending up blood
to the head. Mackintosh, he said, had suffered from a
similar complaint. Mrs. Lockhart said, that worry and
alarm at this new measure of reform had a great deal
to do with it, and that just before this late attack some
person had written him a letter from London containing
an account of the dissolution, and the scenes in the two
Houses in consequence, which threw him into a state of
great nervousness and agitation. A curious conversation
after dinner from my saying that, " after all, it was in
high life one met the best society ; " Rogers violently
opposing me ; he, too, of all men, who (as I took care
to tell him) had through the greater part of his life
shown practically that he agreed with me, by confining
himself almost exclusively to this class of society. It
is, indeed, the power which these great people have of
commanding, among their other luxuries, the presence
of such men as he is at their tables, that sets their circle
(taking all its advantages into account) indisputably

above all others in the way of society. said, with

some bitterness, that, on the contrary, the high class
were the vulgarest people one met. Vulgar enough,
God knows I some of them are ; vulgar in mindy which
is the worst sort of vulgarity. But, to say nothing of
women, where y in any rank or station in life, could one
find men better worth living with, whether for manners.

-I

April, 1831.] THOMAS MOORE, 187

information, or any other of the qualities that render
society agreeable, than such persons as Lords Holland,
Grey, Carlisle, Lansdowne, Cowper, King, Melbourne,
Carnarvon, John Russell, Dudley, Normanby, Morpeth,
Mahon, and numbers of others that I can speak of from
personal knowledge ?

29th. While at breakfast received a note from Rogers
to remind me that I had promised to breakfast with him.
Went, and found Miss Edgeworth, Luttrell, Lord Nor-
manby (now Mulgrave), and Sharpe. Miss Edgeworth,
with all her cleverness, anything but agreeable. The
moment any one begins to speak, off she starts too, seldom
more than a sentence behind them, and in general con-
trives to distance every speaker. Neither does what she
say, though of course very sensible, at all make up for
this over-activity of tongue. Dined at Lansdowne House :
Lord Minto, Lord Fitzharris, Lord and Lady Roseberry,
Lord Dudley, Lady Davy, the Abercrombys, &c. Sat
next Lord Dudley, who gets odder and odder every day.
His mutterings to himself; his fastidious contemplation of
what he has on his plate, occasionally pushing about the
meat with his finger, and uttering low breathed criticisms
upon it, — all is on the verge of insanity ; but still very bril-
liant and agreeable. In speaking of my second volume of

m

Byron, he repeated what Murray had told me he said to
him about it ; that he had resolved not to read it all at
once, but to keep it as a sort of cordial to his mind, to be
taken now and then, when he was in low spirits and
wanted refreshment and excitement. One great source
of the pleasure it gave him was, he said, his knowledge
of all the persons and circumstances it referred to, which
made him feel as if living over past times again. Lord
Lansdowne very anxious that I should dine with him on

188 DIARY OF [-ffiTAT. 52,

Sunday to meet the Lord Chancellor, but have already-
pledged myself to Fielding to meet LuttreU. Home
early.

30th. Dined at the Academy dinner at Somerset
House ; Lord Cawdor took me. One grand thing, full of
poetry, of Turner's, " Baiae and the Bridge of Caligula."
A touching story of a crazed girl, by West, which every-
one admired : old Stothard, every ten minutes, taking up
some one to look at it. The poor artist himself, who has
befen long hopeless of any notice, was all this time (as W.
Irving told me) moping at home, little thinking his picture
would be so successful ; but his friends, Irving and New-
ton, were determined not to let the night pass without
letting him know his success. Was rather lucky in
my place at dinner, having got next Jones. He and
Howard talked of the abundance of subjects my " Epi-
curean *' would furnish for the pencil; and Jones men-
tioned three or four he himself had intended to try his
hand on, particularly the approach of the girl and her
lover to the Night Fair on the Nile. Jones added, how-
ever, as the difficulty in taking any of my subjects, '* You
do too much yourself: you leave hardly anything to the
artist." This is, I suppose, true ; a more vague and
sketchy style would more easily se prHer to the fancy of
the designer. A letter from Bessy to say she is coming
to town on Monday ; a propos of which, a very good-
natured thing of Greville. When I was with him yester-
day, and on my mentioning that Mrs. Moore was coming,
he said, *^ If you have no better gtte for her, here is my
house for the next week, as I am myself going to New-
market ; and she shall have it all to herself, and my car-
riage to make free use of into the bargain." Told him

Mat^ISSI.] THOMAS MOORE. 189

that the latter, at all events, would, I knew, be very wel-
come, and I would most thankfully accept of it for her.
May Ist. Began my week of GreviUe's carriage by

'taking It to pay a visit at Holland House. Called first at
the Duke of Sussex's (who, I found, however, is now to be
lasited in town), and at the Duchess of Kent's. Thence
to Holland House; found Lord H. himself very much
recovered, and in his usual good spirits. Lord Alvanley
with him, but, after a little time, summoned to my lady.
Lord H. showed me a ballad he had written and got
printed, about the King : " King William the Tar for
me ! " and to which he had just added two verses. Asked
me why I didn't do something for them? Told him I
feared that what was at the bottom of my want of enthu-
siasm on the subject was this very circumstance of the

i King having so much to do with it. It was, in fact, the
old king-ridden feeling by which the people of England
had been so long and often led into what was wrongs that
waa now, by the mere accident of the present man's
character, influencing^^Wem towards what was right ; and
though I rejoiced at the result, my conviction of the
source from whence most of the enthusiasm sprung very
much damped my sympathy with it. Lord H. owned
that, as to what I said of the "king-led feelings" of the
people of England, " there was some truth in it." My
lady's page having then summoned me, I went to her
room, and found Alvanley with her, who mentioned two
rather amusing things. One, of a foreign servant, who,
on being asked what had been his qualifications for his
last place, always began by saying, " Je savais^*^ putting
the fore-finger of his right hand to the thumb of the left,
and then counting upon the fingers, " ni lire, ni icrire, ni
monter h cheval, ni raser, ni rien,^ The other was in

190 DIARY OF t^TAT. 52.

talking of Sweden. Alvanley said he believed that there
was no such thing as a Swedish grammar^ and mentioned
a man at Paris who, intending to pay a visit to that
country, was anxious to leam the language, but could*
neither find a grammar nor any person capable of teaching
it. At last he was waited upon by a' man whom his
inquiries had brought to light, and who undertook to
instruct him, and being very assiduous he learned, as he
thought, sufficient for his purpose, and set off with it to
Sweden. On his arrival there, however, he found that
not a creature could comprehend a single word he said,
and it turned out that what his friend, the language-
master, had, with so much expense of time and money,
been teaching him was Bas-Breton 1 Forgot to tell Lady
Holland what I had, in coming up the avenue, fully re-
solved not to forget, namely, the following anecdote.
Among other stories told to the honour and glory of
the reforming monarch, it is very generally stated, that
Maclean, the American ambassador, said to His Majesty,
" I little thought, sir, I should live to see the day when
I should envy a monarch." In paying a visit at Maclean's
the other morning, I mentioned the currency of this anec-
dote ; on which Mrs. Maclean (who is a very amiable,
natural person) said, " It is very true that Mr. Maclean
said he envied the King, but it was not on the Reform
question; it was (I am ashamed to say) on seeing the
King kiss Lady Lilford." Thus are stories made up.
Luttrell has put his pun on the two parties into verse,
as follows :

" To the same sounds our parties two
The sense by each applied owe ;
The Whig exclaims * Reform-I-do/
The Tory ' Reformido/ "

-/

May, 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 191

5th, It being Bessy's wish to return home to-morrow,
I went to take places, but found I could not get the inside
of the coach I wanted till Saturday, so took them for that
day. Drove about with her shopping. As she had fixed
to pass the evening with her mother, I accepted an invi-
tation at Lord Ducie's for to-day, having been asked also
to Lord Listowel's and Agar Ellis's. Company at Lord
Ducie's : the Duke of Norfolk, Lords Lansdowne, Albe-
marle, Suffield, Downes, Kerry, &c. Sat next Lord
Suffield (who is an old friend of mine), and reminded him
of a story he told me years ago, of his having been laid up
with a sprain, so as to be confined to his chair and fiannels,
just on the eve of a race which he was to run for a great
wager ; his finding out that electricity had the power of
restoring him the use of the limb for a short time ; his
having himself brought to the ground in his invalid chair ;
being there electrified; running and winning the race,
and then returning to his lameness and flannels again.
He seemed much amused at my remembering a story of
such ancient date, and vouched for the whole truth of it.

6th. Having made up my mind to return with Bessy,
arranged all matters with the printer and the Longmans.
Forgot to mention (and now have not time to detail) a
conversation which I had with two noble lords at Brookes's
one of these mornings, on the subject of Reform, when
I ventured to put strongly to them my view of the matter;
the tendency, I thought, there has long been in England
to a change, — a revolution, in fact; that we have been in
the stream of a revolution for some years ; and that the
only question is, whether the present measure of reform
will hasten or retard the stream. They listened patiently,
and as if they agreed with me, confessing that our friends
the Ministers might have satisfied the country by a far

192 DIABY OF [^TAT,52.

less dose of reform than the present. On my expressing
my curiosity to know (what never, perhaps, will be tho-
roughly known) how such men as Lords Lansdowne,
Holland, and Melbourne, to say nothing of the Canning-
ites, came to let themselves be hustled into such a mea-
sure. Lord said, that whatever might have been the

steps of the process, it was certain that Lord Durham was
at the bottom of it all ; that, from his influence with Lord
Grey, he got it fully into his mind ; and then Lord Grey's
weight with his colleagues, not a little backed by his re-
presenting to them that it must be either this measure or
resignation, did all the rest. Lord Lansdowne, while at
all times disposed to liberalise the working of our insti-
tutions, has invariably been for leaving their machinery as
it is : and Lord Melbourne's view of Reform has always
been that which, in politics as well as religion, most defies
conversion ; and that is, the scoffer's view. How they all
come to be, on the surface, at least, radical Reformers
1 (for it is nothing less), I cannot comprehend. For myself,
I have always been for improvementy thinking that every-
thing, in the end, will be the better for it, though the process
through which that better must be reached is, I own, rather
trying ; and, after all, it may but prove the truth of the
French saying, that frequently " Le mieux est Tennemi du
bien.^ Lord Lansdowne, at least, must know or guess
what I now think of his Reform from a letter I wrote him
last March, before any one knew what plan was to be
proposed.* He had, in writing to me, said that he had
heard rumours of my being radical and anti-unionist ; in
reply to which, after some remarks on the latter charge.

* There must be some mistake here, as the plan was opened on the
1st of March. — Ed,

^

May, 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 193

I eaid that, so far from being radical with respect to
English affairs, it was my firm belief that the Reform
which the country was at present forcing upon the minis-
try would give but an opening and impulse to the revolu-
tionary feeling now abroad ; and though there might be a
temporary satisfaction produced by it, it would be but
like the calm described in those lines (borrowed by
Campbell) :

" ad prseceps immane ruinae,

Lseyior, en, facies fit properantis aquae.*' *

7tb. Left Hatchett's with Bessy, Tom, and the two
Powers (who are going to pass some time with us) between
seven and eight, in the Marlborough coach. Saw dearest
Kussell at Marlborough for some time, and from thence
Bessy and the rest set off for Sloperton in a chaise, and

* The lines of Campbell are,

** But mortal pleasure, wbat in sooth art thou ?

The torrent's smoothness ere it dash below."

It is not perhaps surprising that in this and other passages Moore
should express some fear of the consequences of the Reform Act ;
but those who drew it felt no such apprehensions. They knew the
strong veneration which the people of England feel for Monarchy and
its attendant institutions. ' Had the nation not been imbued with
such feelings, the mock elections of the nomination boroughs would
have been a spur and not a curb to their speed; as it is, a re-
formed Parliament is a far stronger barrier against wild innovation
than the Parliaments chosen on the old model could have been. Lord
Melbourne, in his speech in the House of Lords, truly said that the
consent of the people formed the strength of the Parliament, and that
when that consent was wanting it was time to change the form of the
governing body. On such principles, those of Lord Grey's cabinet
who had been against reform acted in unison with those who had been
long its advocates. Lord Grey and his colleagues, in thus combining
to bring in the Reform Bill, acted with true patriotism and true fore-
sight. They knew the institutions which they amended ; the people
with whom and for whom they acted ; the principles of sound policy,
and the course required by honesty and wisdom. — Ed.
VOL. VL O

194 DIARY OF [jEtat. Sft.

I in one of the Bath coaches for Devizes, from whence I
Avalked home.

8th to 31st. For the rest of the month busy at home>
on my second volume of " Lord Edward/' dining out but
once the whole time, which was at Mr. Hughes's, at De-
vizes. Forget whether I have, in any part of my journal,
mentioned the course of my money transactions with
Murray. At the time when he allowed me to avail myself
of whatever I could get from France and America, for an
early copy of ^^ Byron's Life," to be published there, the
sum agreed to by the American publisher was 3337. ; and
as an accommodation towards enabling me to pay some of
the bills for the rebuilding of my cottage, Murray allowed
me to draw upon him for 5007., which, it was understood,
I should repay him when the arrival of this money from
America would so far give me the means. From the delay
of the work, the money, of course, did not come ; and after
renewing my bill upon him once, my bankers at Devizes
were unwilling to renew it a second, time; and I had
nothing for it but to offer that he should draw upon me.

June Ist^ Started with Tom in the coach for town.
Discovered, in one of my travelling companions, an old
raasquerader of other days. Sir Thomas Champneys, and
found him very amusing. Tom particularly delighted with
his stories. Brummel saying to some grave minister of
state who was explaining to him the operation of the in-
come tax, at the time it was about to be brought forward,
*^ Then I see I must retrench in the rosewater for my

bath," Old Judge saying to Lady Hippisley, who

was sitting near him on the bench, in a riding habit and
hat, "Why doesn't that man take off his hat?" The
people round whispered to him that it was Lady Hippis-
ley ; his not hearing them. " I say, make that man take

JtJNE, 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 195

oiF his hat," &c. &c. Champneys acting all this very
amusing. Deposited Tom at Power's, and went to dine at
^j the Athenaeum; joined by James Smith. Mentioned a
sermon of Swift's on sleeping in church, which I must see.
Kepeated to me some verses of his in imitation of Crabbe,
which, for neatness of execution in the four last lines^ are
admirable: —

" Hard is bis lot who edits, thankless job I
A Sunday journal for the factious mob.
With bitter paragraph and caustic jest,
He gives to turbulence the day of rest.
Condemn'd this week, rash rancour to instil,
Or thrown aside, the next, for one who will.
Alike undone, or if he praise or rail,
(For this affects his safety, that his sale) ;
He sinks, alas I in luckless limbo set, —
If loud for libel, and if dumb for debt."

Told me that he and his brother had got 10007. for the

^* Rejected Addresses," and copyright of ^^ Horace in

London ; " he himself, also, got 300 guineas from Mathews

for the ^* Trip ta Paris," and pretty nearly the same sum

for the other things of this kind he wrote for him. Took

up my abode in Bury Street, where they have put me in

front rooms.

2ncl. Found the noise of the street intolerable. Have

left a good deal of my *^ Lord Edward " still to be done,

and fear I shall encounter sad interruptions : to add to the

tranquillity of my study, I have my host's seven children

lodged over my head. Sallied out at half-past three down

to the printer. Called upon Murray, whom I found just

about to set off with his son and Harness to a villa dinner

with Andrews the bookseller. Pressed me to accompany

them, and I had half a mind thereto, but thought better

of it. A note from Bowles to propose our dining together

o 2

\

196 DIARY OF [2ETAT. 63.

at the AthenaBum; assented. Found at the Athenaeum
Smith and Mathews. Told a pun of Smith's : on Mathews
saying, on some occasion, of Tom Hill, *^ Will nobody stop
that fellow's mouth ? " '' Not me/' said Smith, '' I know
the way to Highgate, but not to Muswell Hill (Muzzle

4th. At work, as well as the infernal noises would let
me, most of the morning. Called at Rogers's ; saw Miss
R. ; she and he have been passing the week at Cashiobury.
Yesterday, Brougham, Denman, and Lord Duncannon
had come down to dinner there, in an odd little sort of
garden-chair belonging to the Chancellor.

5th. Out pretty early. Meant to have called at Hol-
land House, but rain came on and prevented me. Paid
visits. Called on Lord John Russell, whom I found
dressing to go to Holland House with Lord Holland, who
was waiting for him at the door. Asked me (as he had
done when I was last in town) to come and take up my
quarters at the Pay Office. Half-promised to do so.
Dined at Lord Listowel's; only themselves. Music in
the evening.

6th. Dined with Macdonald at eight : company, Faza-
kerley, T. Baring, Wilmot Horton, Sir A. Johnston, Ro-
bert Grant, and the Brahmin Rammohun Roy, a very
remarkable man, speaking English perfectly, and knowing
aU about English institutions, even to the details of Scotch
boroughs. Said that most of the Brahmins are Deists.
Gave an account of a society at Calcutta, formed of per-
sons of all countries, religions, and sects — Hindoos, Mus-
Bulmen, Protestants, Catholics. A sort of service performed
at their meetings, from which all such names as marked
any particular faith, as Christ, Mahomet, &c. &c., were
excluded; but the name of God in all languages and

■/

JUN», 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 197

forniB^ whether Jehovah, Bramah, or any other such title,
retained.

7th. Breakfasted at Eogers's; Sydney Smith, Lord
John, Luttrell, and Greville. Sydney beyond anything
amusing. * * * Left Rogers's with Lord John, who
repeated with much earnestness his wish that I should
come to his house. Told Lord John, laughingly, when
we were parting, that " I had better not come to him ; I
^ould bring disgrace upon a ministerial residence ;" but
he pressed me most kindly to do so, and having asked me
to dine with him on Saturday next (the first dinner he has
ever given), I promised that I would become his lodger on
that day. A message by Luttrell from Holland House
to ask me to dine to-day. Dined at Sir George Phillips's :
company, Sydney again. Ladies Charlemont and Davy,
Lord John, and the Listers. It was mentioned, I think,
by Sydney Smith, as a proof how little political men
sometimes understand each other, that he found Canning
(on meeting him once somewhere abroad) quite under the
impression that Sir F. Burdett was ambitious of seizing
the reins of government. Got a note from Lord Lans-
downe from Bowood, just before he left it, asking me to
name some day to dine with him, and proposing Sunday ;
was obliged to answer that I was engaged every day but
the 15th and 18th till the 21st or 22nd ; indeed, I already
have duplicates and triplicates for most of my days, and for
the 18th am asked, but have not yet answered,

8th. Went at three to Power's to meet Bishop about

the arrangement of my songs for the summer fSte : he did

not come, however. Dined at Longman's. Had been

asked to Lord Essex's, to Mrs. Norton's, and one or two

other places: Dr. Lardner, McCuUoch, Mr. Dickinson,

&c. &c. Talking of writers who, like Scott, are in the

o 3

■€

1 98 DIARY OF [iETAT. 53;

habit of dictating to amanuenses, that it makes them dif-
fuse, Mc Culloch quoted Adam Smith as an instance. His
^^ Theory of Moral Sentiment," which he wrote with his
own pen, being admirable in its style, while the *^ Wealth
of Nations," which he dictated, is exceedingly diflfuse.
Quoted some Irish depositions of a witness who had gone
to present a writ, " that on deponent's reaching the door
of the house, a man appeared at the window with a gun,
and threatened to blow his (deponent's) bloody soul to the
devil, which deponent verily believes he would have done."
9th. Breakfasted at Holland House, having sent word
by Luttrell that I would do so. No one at breakfast but
Lord H. and Allen. Talking of metre, difference between
the musical ear and poetical ear. Lord H. said that the
person who came next to me in the excellence of the
former was Monk Lewis. Talked of Lowth; that he
spoiled the language, "Who's there?" "Me." This
he thought not only English, but good English, in the
same manner that the Frenchman would answer " MoV
Long conversation with Lord H. on the question of West
India slavery ; thought it one of the most difficult points
they (the ministers) had to handle ; the great fear lest they
should go too far. Brougham particularly had committed
himself to great lengths. Told me the whole course of
the King's conduct in the affair of the dissolution. It was
long a point of ticklish doubt with them whether he coul^
go along with their views ; had a great dislike to dissolu-
tion. When they came to him, however, after the divi-
sion, and represented the necessity of such a step, he
agreed at once and without hesitation, saying, when they
asked how soon it was his Majesty's pleasure it should
take place, *' As you consider it necessary, the more de-
spatch and decision it is done with the better." Lord H.

June, 1831.] THOMAS MOOKE. ffl77{T^^^^ >>'^ ^^

evidendy nervous about the whole state of \lM|fs. Ttt '"y^^Jy^
• ^^^j^^ ^ '^ » "'^^ ^

reading a speech of William Brougham's at someSjjftraJjg^ * * ,
where he used the words " The Lords dare not rejeK^j^gtlJjt^
Jbill," Lord H. said, ^' Very imprudent words from the
brother of a minister ; these are the things that do us
harm with the King." Talked of the state of the press ;
the great misfortune of the total severance that had taken,
place between those who conduct it and the better rank of
society ; even from literature it had become, in a great
measure, separated, instead of forming, as in France, a dis-
tinguished branch of it. ^^ Nowyow," he said, " and all the
other eminent literary persons of the day, keep as much
aloof from ^ the gentlemen of the press' as we of the poli-
tical world do ; and they are, therefore, thrown, with all
their power and their virulence, unsoftened by the com-
merce of society, to form a separate and hostile class of
themselves." Summoned to my Lady's room ; very
gracious. In asking me how Bessy kept her looks, she
said, ^^ I thought her a beautiful woman, when I saw her."
Walked into town. Dined at Sotheby's : company,
Jekyll, Sydney Smith, Bowleses, &c.

10th, Finding myself unable to do anything at home,
went off in despair to Kensington Gardens, though the day
was rainy, and got wet in going there. Sauntered about
for some hours, taking shelter during the rain, and con-
trived to get through a page or two of my work. Called,
in returning, at Lord Listowel's, and got some luncheon,
which was most welcome. Dined at Sir F. Burdett's :
company, Rogers, Joy, Stevenson, Lady Sarah Bailey,
&c. Went from dinner to Lady Grey's great assembly.
Lady Grey, whom I found labouring under her task of
reception, asked me to occupy the chair next her for a

little while. This I saw was partly as a relief and help in

o 4

200 DIARY OP [^TAT, 58,

her conversation with her presentees, and partly to keep
others from occupying the chair.

11th. Breakfasted at Rogers's: Sydney Smith, Wil-
mot Horton, and Luttrell. Walked some time with
Sydney, who again reminded me, with much kindness,
of my promise to pay him a visit in Somersetshire this
autumn. Talked of Mrs. Moore, and of all the praises
he had heard of her, and hoped I should be able to
persuade her to come too. Dined at Lord John's, having
removed all my goods from Bury Street thither. Com-
pany: Lady Hardy and her daughters. Lord Seaford,
Lord Fordwich and his brother. Went in the evening
to the Opera, the Burdetts having sent me a ticket. Lord
Seaford took me. Pasta and Taglioni both incomparable.

1 2th. Staid great part of the morning at home, enjoy-
ing the delicious quiet of my nice retired room looking into
the Park ; such a contrast to Bury Street ! Lord John and
I breakfasted together. Told me of Lord Grey's com-
munication of the Reform plan to the King, who had
been very anxious during the concoction of it. Lord
Grey remained with him three hours, and almost imme-
diately after their interview, the King said to Lord Hol-
land (it was at Brighton), on the latter inquiring after his
Majesty's health, " I am very well, and 1 assure you all
the better for two or three hours' conversation I have just
had with Lord Grey, which has been very comfortable to
me." Called upon Corry, who arrived in town last night.
Walked about together. Saw Shiel at the Athenaeum.
In talking of the certainty there would be of my election
for ahnost any place in Ireland that I chose, he assured
me that if I had selected Louth to stand for, he himself
would not have had the least chance against me. Dined
at the Fieldings', who, on finding that I had refused the

i

Juke, 1831.] THOMAS MOOBE. 201

Lansdownes on account of my engagement to them, asked
the Lansdownes to meet me. Company : Lord and Lady
Lansdowne, Lord Mahon, Sir E. Deering, the Nortons,
Luttrell, &c. Singing in the evening by Mrs. Norton
and myself. Told her of my intention to dedicate my
*^ Summer FSte " to her, which seemed to please her very
much.

13th. Breakfasted with Moore the sculptor, to the
routing-up of my day. Told me of Chantrey's saying,
in his artist language, looking at his own bust of Sir
Walter Scott, ^^ I must put a little more into that head."
Dined at Phillipps's (George, junior) : company, Sydney
Smith, Spring Kice and Lady, George Lamb, Lord
King's eldest son, &c. &c. Sat next to young King, who
had just returned from his travels in Egypt and elsewhere.
Told me that *^he had been over all the scenes of the
Epicurean." I was placed far away from Sydney, procul
a Jove ; which he himself complained of afterwards, say-
ing, he could only get a glimpse of me now and then
through the flowers of the plateau^ like " Love among the
roses." Neither did they seem to be much more agreeable
in that upper region.

14th. Walked into the Park to enjoy the band, which
plays every morning just near the house. Lord John's
table loaded every morning with letters from all parts
of the country. Lucky for him that he is so little of an
irritable or fussy nature. Being now the mark for the
whole country to look to, every suggestion and criticism
respecting the Bill (most of them from men of local
knowledge, and therefore demanding attention) is levelled
at him. Shiel, having mentioned to me his wish to be-
come a member of Brookes's, I sounded to-day some of
the leading persons of the club, and found that they

I

202 DIARY* or t^TAT* 53.

had no doubt of his being readily elected. Walked (ot
eome time with Lord Durham, who had just been at the.
creation of the new peers, A. Ellis, Lord Fingall, &c. &c.
In talking of the necessity that might arise for a further
creation, he said, so far from hesitating at such a step, he
would, if they had a majority of 400 in the Lords against
the Bill, create 401 peers rather than lose it. Met Agar
Ellis (Lord Dover), with whom I was to dine, on my way
home to dress. Company : the Lansdownes, Lord and
Lady Morley, Miss Berry, C. Greville, S. Smith, Lord
Brougham and his step-daughter. Miss Spalding. In the
evening sang. Brougham's delight at my singing ; said
of ^ This world is the planet,' " It is all so W2ce." Men-
tioned, with great praise, my " Vision of Chancery " as
one of the best things of the kind ever written. Told me
of a party he had made to go see Buckingham Palace
next Sunday, and asked me to join them. S. Smith
amusing before dinner ; his magnanimity (as he called it)
in avowing that he had never before heard of Lamartine
(of whom Miss Berry and I were speaking). ^^ Was it
another name for the famous blacking man?" '^ Yes."
^' Oh, then, he's Martin here, La-Martine in France, and
Martin Luther in Germany." He never minds what
nonsense he talks, which is one of the great reasons of his
saying so much that is comical.

15th. Conversation with Lord John at breakfast about
my coming into Parliament. He said, that as I wished
but for a short trial of it, it was a pity I had not come
in this time, the duration of the Parliament being just
what would have suited me. Talked about preparing
speeches; agreed that to speak well it was necessary to
prepare in some shape or other, but whether to write
down what one prepares ? Lord Grey, he said, had wished

June, 1831.] THOMAS MOORE, 203

him to write down beforehand his speech for the intro-
duction of the Reform Bill, and he tried to do so ; but
found he could not, in delivery, keep to what he had
written. Asked him whether it was true that his illus-
tration of ^^ Old lamps for new ones," produced little, if
any, effect at the time he spoke it? Said it was true;
but owing, he thinks, very much to some interruption
that occurred behind him, and which made him turn round
from the House while he was delivering the passage.
Said that Brougham used to sneer a good deal at this
image of his, saying, for instance, " Gentlemen who talk
figuratively about lamps," &c. &c. Peel (Lord J. said)
a very dexterous debater. Went down to the printer's.
To-day the Hollands come to Lord John's, which will a
good deal disturb the quiet of the house. Had a specimen,
while dressing for dinner, of what I was to expect; a
message being brought by my Lady's page to say, they
would be at home to-night at eleven, if I would look
in upon them. Dined at Cunliffe's ; a dreary set except
the Ordes and Mrs. Meynell, whom I sat next. She
talked most enthusiastically of my Life of Byron, and
begged of me a bit of his writing for some lady, a
friend of hers at Paris, whom she said it would be the
making of; there being a great Russian princess there,
whose name I forget, who does nothing day and night
but read my book, and rave of Byron, and her great
ambition is to have some of Byron's writing, which, if
this lady can procure for her, it may be the means
of helping her materially in some object she wishes
to gain from this said princess. Under such circum-
stances, of course, could not refuse, though I have but
a scrap or two left disposable. Taken home by Lord and
Lady James O'Brien. Joined the Hollands, Lord H.

204 BIAEY OF [iETAT. 53.

just returned from a Cabinet dinner. Lord John had
stolen off to bed. They had been employed at their dinner
chiefly (Lord H. said) in ^* mending sentences" (the King's
speech, no doubt). A little after twelve my Lady retired,
and intimated that he ought to do so too ; but he begged
hard for ten minutes more. Talked of the sedition and
blasphemy that was abroad, and the difficulty there was in
dealing with it. " I wish," he said, ^^ some of you gentle-
men who have clever pens, would exert yourselves to
check it." ^^ We could hardly do so," I answered, " with-
out taking up the old anti- Jacobin tone, which, on me^
at least, would sit rather awkwardly." He then began
reciting some fine passages of Cowper, and continued, as he
lay on his back on the sofa, spouting out to the amount of
two or three hundred lines. It was past one before I left
him. In writing to Sydney Smith to-day, sending him
Crabbe's address, which he wanted, I said that "I was
sorry he had gone away so soon from Ellis's the other
night, as I had improved (t. e, in my singing) afterwards,
and he was one of the few I always wished to do my
best for." In answer to this received the following flatter-
ing note from him, written evidently under the impression
that I had been annoyed by his going away : —

^^My dear Moore, — By the beard of the prelate of
Canterbury, by the cassock of the prelate of York, by the
breakfasts of Rogers, by Luttrell's love of side-dishes, I
swear that I had rather hear you sing than any person I
ever heard in my life, male or female. For what is your
singing but beautiful poetry floating in fine music and
guided by exquisite feeling ? Call me Dissenter, say that
my cassock is ill put on, that I know not the delicacies
of decimation, and confound the greater and the smaller

JUNB, 1831.] THOMAS MOOEE. 205

tithes; but do not tliink or say that I am insensible to
your music. The truth is, that I took a solemn oath
to Mrs. Beauclerk to be there by ten, and set off, to
prevent perjury, at eleven ; but was seized with a violent
pain in the stomach by the way, and went to bed.

" Yours ever, my dear Moore, very sincerely,

^^ Sydney Smith."

16th. Called upon Shiel to take him, according to
promise, and introduce him to Lord Lansdowne ; had
fixed the hour with Lord L., who was all kindness
to him. Invited him to their ball, this evening. Called
upon Corry, and he and Shiel and I drove off to the
Charterhouse to see Tom. Their delight with him.
Corry not having seen him for some time, thought him
wonderfully improved, and the image of his mother.
The dear dog was looking very pretty and animated, I
must say for him. Went on to see Barnes, with whom
we were to have dined on Saturday, but had been put
off on account of his illness. Found him recovering,
but still in a bad state. Dinner at Longman's. Left
at eleven, having promised Lady Lansdowne that I
should make a point of coming to her balL Found Lord
Ducie and Lord Sherborne sauntering about the square,
afraid of the heat inside. Shoals of royalty there : Cum-
berlands, Cambridges, Landgravines, &c. &c Forgot to
mention on Monday last that I had had a note on that
morning from Lady Jersey, one of the patronesses of
the Irish Bazaar, asking me to send her my hand-writing
on some pretty cards (which I was to get in her name, at
some place in Bond Street), and saying, she was sure it
would be a thing that would bring a good deal of money.
It would, I fear, have looked conceited on my part, but

206 DIARY OF [iETAT. 63.

had there been thne I dare say I should have done It. Was
talking to her now about this, when the Landgravine (our
Princess Elizabeth) called her over, and desired she would
present me to her. Nothing could be more overwhelm-
ingly civil than her Koyal H.'s reception of me. *^ Every
one must be desirous of knowing Mr. Moore, and it had
been for years her ambition/' &c. &c. Lady Lyndhurst
very amusing and handsome ; took pains to pick out one
of the prettiest roses of her bouquet for me.

17th. Met Bishop, at Power's, to arrange about my
music. Mentioned what some of the fine ladies of the
Bazaar had told me of the trouble some of their customers
had given in looking over different things and not buying
any ; and that they were sure some of the tradesmen they
had themselves plagued in this way had come there expressly
to turn the tables on them. Bishop remarked that this
would tell very well in a farce, and so it would. Staid to
dine at Power's, and went to the Fieldings in the evening.
Had some music.

18th. Had breakfast at Lord John's : Sydney Smith,
Rogers, Luttrell, Allen, Greville, and Lady Hardy.
Talking of battles ; a fellow being " shot in the drum."
Sydney S. told of a young officer in his first battle,
who, having been for some time fighting without well
knowing where he was, at last, seeing the party he
was iinmediately engaged with giving way, took off his
cap and began roaring enthusiastically, ^^ Victory ! Vic-
tory !" on which some veteran near him cried out, " Hold
your tongue, you foolish fellow ; we have been retreating
these two hours." Luttrell quoted from Henry VL,
" Knowest thou the Lord of Salisbury ?" ^^ Eight well,
and oft have shot at him ; " which Sydney parodied, " And
oft have preached at liirn." On looking at the play itself

June, 183L] THOMAS MOORE. 207

I find the fun of the quotation vanishes, as what the
gunner says to his son is as follows : —

" Sirrah, thou knowest how Orleans is besieged,
And how the English have the suburbs won;'*

to which the other answers, ^^ Father, I know, and oft
have shot at them." (1st part Hen. VI. acti. so. 4.) Kirk,
the Irish sculptor, came with a cast of his bust of me.
Introduced him to Lord John and Rogers ; they didn't like
it. Walked with Sydney Smith ; told me his age ; turned
sixty. Asked me how I felt about dying. Answered
that if my mind was but at ease about the comfort of
those I left behind, I should leave the world without
much regret, having passed a very happy life, and en-

1 joyed (asf much, perhaps, as ever man did yet) all that

is enjoyable in it ; the only single thing I have had to
complain of being want of money. I could therefore die
with the same words that Jortin died, " I have had enough
of everything." Dined at Lansdowne House ; Corry and
I went together : company. Lord Mulgrave, the Cunliffes,
Luttrell, &c.

19th. While we were at breakfast Lord William was
announced as just arrived from Paris. I begged Lord
John to let me give him up his room (the bed-room I
occupy being that Lord W. always sleeps in); but he said,
** No, no, you shan't be disturbed; he shall have Pudar's"
(Lord J.'s servant) "room; it's a very good one;" and
immediately ordered Pudar to get it ready for him. The
meeting between the brothers highly characteristic; so
quiet, but at the same time ^ cordial. Lord W. gave us
an account of the state of France, which he thinks pro-
mises for peace. Went to Power's, and saw dear Tom,
just returned from Greenwich, where Power had taken

208 DIARY OF [JKtat.53.

him to see the Prowses. Dined at Lord Grey's: com-
pany, the new-made Lord Munster and Lady, Lord
Frederick Fitzclarence, Lady Clanricarde, the Dawson
Damers, Sydney Smith, &c. &c. The beauty of the scene
from the back windows; the Park and its beautiful
gardens, swarming with such a gay-coloured population.
Sang a good deal in the evening, as did Wortley, Mrs.
Bradshaw, &c.

20th. Lord John, at breakfast, returned to the subject

of my " Lord Edward."* Asked me what I meant to do

about it? Told him that I could not now, in justice to

myself, give it up or even defer the publication ; people

(in Ireland particularly) would think it was from my

friends having come into power that I was influenced;

that I looked to place, &c. &c. " Be assured," I said,

" that it will do no mischief; at least, will not add to the

' mischief which is but too abundant and inevitable already.

. I should only damage my own character by what you

\ wish me to do, without any good whatever resulting from

^ it to others. I mean, in a preface to the work, to incul-

jy^ cate confidence in the present Ministry, and to express

my own reliance upon their honest intentions towards

Ireland ; and a good word of this kind from an honest and

consistent man (humble though he be) will do you more

service than anything that is in the work can do harm, or

than I could ever do either you or myself if I were to

tarnish my reputation by any suspicious compliance with

the wishes of persons in power." In answer to all this.

Lord John said, that he did not much mind it himself,

* Sir John Newport also spoke to me on the subject at Brookes's :
said he was very angry with me about it ; that such a book would do
great mischief; and that my friend Lord Lansdowne thought the
same that he did about it.

Jtoe, 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 209

but that, Lord Holland being related to Lord Edward's /ft-
family, it would look (to say the least of it) ungracious i
towards him to publish such a work in opposition to his
wish. I then reminded him of what I had already told
him — namely, that Lord Holland was the person who had
the most strongly urged me to the task, and had even, in
answer to a letter of mine, in which I had rather con-
founded the character of my present hero with my two
former ones, Sheridan and Byron, said expressly, " It is
a very different task ; for you can do full justice to poor
Edward's memory without wounding or even offending
the feelings of any person whatever." In the course of
our conversation, in speaking of the danger of such a work
in the present excited state of the public mind, I said,
^^ Why, the subject has become historical ; and I don't see
why it should be more dangerous than your own * Life of
Lord Russell' would be, if published now." To this Lord
John answered (but too truly), in his little quiet way,
^^ Ah, that's a quarrel that has been long made up ; not so
with the Irish question." Went to the printer's, and at
three o'clock started in a coach for Tunbridge Wells,
having promised the Godfreys to pay them a short visit.
Found them all well, and most cordially glad to see me.
Slept at the inn.

21st. Breakfasted with the Godfreys; visited all the
old places rendered memorable to me by our gay party
here in the year 1806 or 1807*; the house which poor
Lady Donegal had ; the lodging which Rogers, W.
Spencer, and myself lived in ; the assembly room on the
Pantiles, where I used to dance with my pretty friend,

* See his Works, " Lines to Lady H., on an old ring found at
Tunbridge Wells." (Dated 1805.) See also his letters in the 1st vol.
of this work.

VOL. VI. P

-i

i

210 DIARY OP [iETAT. 63,

Mrs. Barbat, &c. &c. Drove about to different pretty
spots; called at Mrs. Tighe's, who was anxious to have
me at a party in the evening, which I luckily escaped.

22nd. Breakfasted with the Godfreys, and started for
town at ten o'clock. Was to have gone to Lady Wharn-
cliffe's dejeuner y but did not. Went to the printers. Dined
at the Athenaeum, and home early to dress for Lady
Frances Leveson's play, ** Hemani " (Lord F.'s rhyme
translation). The Queen there, and many other royal
persons. JVBss Kemble played the heroine, and Lord F.
himself Don Ruy.

23rd. Breakfast with Lord John and Lord William ;
very agreeable. The latter proposed that we should go
together to the Duchess of Bedford's d^euner. The
day fine, and the assemblage of pretty women in these
green flowery grounds (Camden Hill) very charming.
Lady Cowper gave me her arm, and we walked together
to have strawberries and cream ; a delightful person.
Pretty as it all was, I soon got tired of it, and returned
to town. Met Rogers at Brookes's, and agreed to dine
with him and go to hear Paganini. The opera (" Prova
d'un Opera seria ") very amusing, and Pasta, in her new
aspect of comic actress, admirable. Paganini abuses his
powers : he cotild play divinely, and does sometimes, for
a minute or two ; but then come his tricks and surprises,
his bow in convidsions, and his enharmonics like the
mewlings of an expiring cat. Had some talk, by the bye,
with Lord Francis at the dejeuner.

24th. Breakfasted at Rogers's to meet Maxjaulay. Talk-
ing of Pascal's " Lettres Provinciales," Macaulay said it
was almost the only book one could never get tired of.
Spoke of the proof that is afforded oifame by the creation
of new words, such as Quixotic^ which pervades all Ian-

I

June, 1831.] THOMAS MOOKE. 211

guages^ Machiavellian^ Rodomontade (from Kodomonf),
&c B. told me that the Duke of Wellington had said
lately to him in speaking of my " Lord Edward," that
** he could not conceive what I could make of it." Called
with Corry at the Speaker's ; met himself at a little dis-
/tance from his house, and asked permission to go under
/ the gallery that evening to hear Lord John bring forward
the Beform BilL Granted it most readily. Found Mrs.
M. Sutton and the girls ; asked us to dine some day, and
we fixed to-morrow, Barnes having just put ns off (in con-
sequence of illness) from an engagement that Corry and
I and Shiel had made with him for that day. Betumed
home to work a little, and went to the House of Commons
with C. between four and five. Lord John's speech was
(I could not help feeling) somewhat feeble and diluted,
except in one or two passages. It was, however, well re-
, ceived, and the passage where he applied Cromwell's
words, *^ The Lord hath delivered them into our hands,"
to the conduct of the opponents of reform, produced con-
siderable effect. There being no debate, we were let off
earlier than we expected, and dined at the Piazza; Corry
insisting on bearing the damage of the dinner, and giving
me turtle and claret. Went to the Haymarket Theatre.

25th. Lord John a little tired this morning, though he
felt not at all so (he said) last night. His speech took
two hours in delivery. In talking of the passage where
he quoted Cromwell, said, that though he had thought
over that point in preparing himself, he had not intended
to use it upon this occasion till a few minutes before he
brought it out. This shows great self-possession in speak-
ing. Dined at the Speaker's; none but the family, be-
sides Corry and myself. The Speaker very agreeable:
described his dinner lately with the King, on the day

p 2

212 DIARY OF L^TAT. 63.

when all the Judges dined with him. The King had
asked him that very morning at the levee, saying, " I don't
well know what name to call you by, for you know you
are not Speaker now ; but still I will say, Mr. Speaker,
I am most happy to see you here, and if you have nothing
better to do to-day, I wish you would come and meet the
Judges at dinner." Described the manner in which the
King wakes suddenly from his occasional dozes after
dinner, and dashes at once into conversation. On that
day he rather awkwardly, in one of these sorties^ began
upon the subject of the Queen's trial, saying that he had
high respect for judges, but by no means the same feeling
for lawyers, who were often led, by their zeal for their
clients, to do things by no means justifiable ; ^^ As you
may recollect," he added, turning to Brougham and Den-
man, " in a case where you, gentlemen, were concerned,"
&c. &c He got out of this scrape, however (the Speaker
said), very good-himaouredly and skilfully. The Speaker
told us several interesting anecdotes of the old King during
his last melancholy years of madness, blindness, and, at last,
utter deafness, which he had himself heard from his father,
the Archbishop, who was one of the persons chiefly entrusted
with the task of visiting and superintending the care of
the Royal patient. The old King's horror at the first
suggestion of a strait waistcoat, and his saying that he
would go on his knees to the Archbishop if he would save
him from it. His notions of kingly power to the last, and
the cunning with which he contrived to keep up the
appearance of it, ordering carriages and horses to be ready
at a particular hour, and then taking care to countermand
them a little before the time arrived. The Prince, not
having seen him for a long time (it being found that
intercourse with any of his own family excited and irri-

June, 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 213

tated him), was at length permitted one day to come into
the apartment for a few minutes, and look at his father as
he sat in his chair, without speaking. Shortly after his
departure, the old King, in taking his usual exercise of
walking round the room, stopped suddenly on the spot
where the Prince had been standing, and said, *^ If I did
not know it was impossible, I should say that the Prince
of Wales was now in the room ; " giving, as his reason,
the strong smeU of perfume which he perceived.

26th. Went (Lord John and I together, in a hackney-

^ coach) to breakfast with Rogers. The party, besides
ourselves, Macaulay, Luttrell, and Campbell. Macaulay
gave us an account of the state of the Monothelite contro-
versy, as revived at present among some of the fanatics of
the day. In the course of conversation, Campbell quoted
a line, ^* Ye diners out, from whom we guard our spoons,"
and looking over at me, said significantly, " You ought to
know that line." I pleaded not guilty ; upon which he said,
** It is a poem that appeared in ^ The Times,' which every
one attributes to y<?M;" but I again declared that I did
not even remember it. Macaulay then broke silence, and

^^ said, to our general surprise, "That is mine ;^^ on which
we all expressed a wish to have it recalled to our me-
mories, and he repeated the whole of it. I then remem-
bered having been much struck with it at the time, and
said that there was another squib still better, on the sub-
ject of William Bankes's candidateship for Cambridge,
which so amused me when it appeared, and showed such
power in that style of composition, that I wrote up to
Barnes about it, and advised him by all means to secure
that hand as an ally. " That was mine also," said Macau-

'\ lay ; thus discovering to us a new power, in addition to

p 3

214 DIARY OP [iETAT. 63.

that varied store of talent which we had already known
him to possess. He is certainly one of the most remark-
] able men of the day. ♦ ♦ • Returned home to work.
Have been sadly interrupted while in town, and shall
never again adopt the plan of working in London, or of
leaving any part of my books but the mere printing to do
there. Dined at Fielding's : company, chiefly ^* young
men about town." A party in the evening, and music ;
the Gents, &c. &c. I never was in better voice, and
pleased even myself. Sang some duets of my own with
Miss Gent and with Lord Valletort.

29 th. Took my last breakfast with my kind and ex-
cellent host. Made preparations for my departure to-
morrow ; and, not being able to get a bed in Bury Street,
asked Murray to allow me to sleep at his house for the
convenience of starting in the morning. Seemed highly
pleased at my request. "Went to the Charterhouse to see
dear Tom. Dressed at Murray's : party at the Duchess
of Kent's very large ; Leopold, the Duke of Saxe Coburg
(just arrived), the Duchess of Cambridge, and an abund-
ant array of nobles and gentry. Went into dinner with
Denison, and got placed between him and his wife (Duke
of Portland's daughter), and near Lord Plunket, with
whom I had a good deal of conversation. The dinner as
good as most dinners, and from being so numerous had all
the ease of a table (Thdte. The Duchess's reception of me
very gracious: and Leopold talked to me for near a
quarter of an hour in the evening ; beginning with Harrow,
which he had lately visited, and ending with Lord Byron^
of whom he spoke very feelingly and sensibly. Had an-
other royal addition of the Princess Sophia in the even-
ing ; and the greater number of the party being engaged
to the Queen's concert, they all separated early, Charles

July, 1831.] THOMAS MOOKE. 215

Grant bringing me home. Found supper at Murray's, and
got to bed in good time.

Forgot to mention that in one of my conversations with
Lord John, about my forthcoming book, I told him that it
had been my intention to quote a passage, which I
thought very good, from his " Life of Lord Russell," on
the subject of popular resistance, but that I had given up
the quotation from a fear lest those scribblers, who are
accusing the ministry of favouring revolutionary designs,
might take advantage of the passage and tease him about
it. I added, however, that it was my intention to borrow
the thought from him and put it in my, own language : to
which he answered " Do ; that will be the best way." The
following is the passage ; and it is after all quiet enough to
be fathered by any body : ^* Whilst they (the Tories)
spoke with abhorrence of resistance to their sovereign,
their conduct had a direct tendency to produce it: for
their silent acquiescence in acts of tyranny encouraged the
King to still greater outrages ; till, at last, no remedy was
to be found but in a revolution. The Whigs, on the other
hand, by their persevering opposition, acted in a manner
to prevent the necessity of the resistance of which they
spoke so much." As it happened, I had no opportunity of
introducing this passage at all

30fh. Off at eight o'clock for dear Sloperton; found
Bessy and her two visitors (Power's two daughters) full of
the new pic-nics for archery that have begun in the neigh-
bourhood. One at Locke's yesterday, which, if I had re-
turned sooner, we were to have gone to.

July 1st to 21st. During this and the following month
(being at home all the time) I have kept no regular jour-
nal. Not being able to put the finishing touch to my
" Lord Edward " in town, it was some weeks after my

p 4

216 DIABr OF t^TAT. 63.

return before the book was published. Sent but few
copies about^ as there were some of my friends who I knew
would not like it^ and many more whom I was at least
doubtful of. Thought it right, however, to send copies to
the Duke of Leinster and Lady Campbell, neither of
whom has ever since acknowledged or taken the least
notice of them. What my Whig friends will think or say
of the book I know not, and (I must say) do not much
care. The insight I got into the views and leanings of the
party during my last visit to town has taken away much of
my respect for them as a political body, and changed my
opinion of some |is private men. I am convinced that
ithere is just as much selfishness and as much low party
spirit among them generally as among the Tories ; without
any of that tact in concealing the offensiveness of these
qualities which a more mellowed experience of power and
its sweets gives to the Tories. There are a few men
among them who have the public weal, I believe, most
sincerely at heart ; and these are easily nmnbered, — Lord
Grey, Lord Althorp, Lord John Bussell, and Lord Lans-
downe; but even these are carried headlong through a
measure, of which in their hearts they must see the danger,
by an impulse of party spirit which supersedes too much
every other consideration ; and as to the herd of their
followers, any few grains of patriotism there may be among
them are so mixed up with an overflowing portion of self
as to be diluted away to nothing.* The change of tone,

* I have lefl this passage as it stands in the Journal, but I cannot
subscribe to Moore's judgment on the Whig party. There is, no
doubt, in every political party, as in every community, sect, or asso-
ciation of men, a large ingredient of selfishness ; but the party of which
Moore speaks had followed Mr. Fox, Lord Grey, and Lord Lansdowne
for half a century, in the assertion and maintenance of principles which
were not likely to lead to favour either with the Court or die people.

I

July, 1831.1 THOMAS MOORE. / 217

too, among some of them would be most amusing if one
was not obliged to look grave while one listens.

Found our dear Russell returned from school on my
arrival. Made a little party of children to go and dine on
the top of Round-a-way Hill ; had a most delicious day of
it ; Bessy, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Napier, and myself being the
only elders of the party.

About the 12th we had a pic-nic archery meeting at
the Phippses' ; very gay, and graced by all our pretty girls,
Houltons, Lockes, &c. Lord Kerry, who has been sent
down to Bowood with a tutor to read, in high glee and
rattle all the evening.

22nd. Mulvany, a young Irish artist, arrived from
town to pay us a visit on his way to Bristol ; stayed till
the 29th ; went with us to an archery meeting on the 26.th
(a regular series of them having been established by subr
scription at the Spa Rooms at Melksham ; Lord Kerry,
president, and Lady Theodosia Bute, the patroness). My
dear Bessy looking very handsome ; and danced gaily all
the evening.

28th. Dined at Bowles's : party, Mulvany and our-
selves, old Hoyle (the Exodiad poet), and another person.
Mentioned a pun of Pitt's, viz. Latin for a rimy morning,
Aurora Musis arnica. Never saw Bowles in more amus-
ing plight; played for us on the fiddle after dinner a
country dance, which forty years ago he heard on entering
a ball-room, to which he had rode, I don't know how
many miles, to meet a girl he was very fond of, and found

Opposition to tbe French war, support of Koman Catholic Claims,
enmity to the Slave Trade, promotion of Parliamentary Keform ; such
were the leading points of a policy which no sensible man could have
adopted with any other view than that of advancing the welfare of the
State, in spite of the frowns of the Sovereign and the hostility or in-
difference of the country. — Ed.

218 DIARY OF [^TAT. 53.

her dancing to this tune when he entered the room. The
sentiment with which he played this old-fashioned jig be-
yond anything diverting. I proposed we should dance to
it ; and taking out Mrs. Bowles, led off, followed by the
Powers, Bessy, Mulvany, &c. &c. Our fiddler soon
tired, on which Hoyle volunteered a scrape, and played so
dolefully slow as to make us laugh in far quicker time
than we danced. However, we briskened up his old bow ;
and Mrs. Moore taking Bowles for a partner, we got
through one of the most laughing dances I have seen for a
long time. In the course of the evening I sung " Ally
Croker," ax^companied by Bowles on the violin, much to
the amusement of the whole party. Next day, 29th,
Mulvany left U9.

August 10th. Dined (Corry and I) at Scott's, to meet
Luttrell and Nugent. Luttrell repeated to me six lines
he had written lately about the "two things" that
at present "absorb us," being "the bill and the cholera
morbus ; *' that the Tories " if they had their will, would
bring in the complaint to get rid of the bill ; " while the
Whigs seemed resolved " in this very hot weather," ^hat
we should be doomed *^ to both evils together." He re-
peated it but once; so I could catch but the general
meaning and the tags.

11th. Had the Starkeys to dine, and during dinner
Mr. Power arrived from town, bringing with him dear
Tom for the holidays. ^

15th. Power and his two girls left us.

16th to 29th. All this time, and ever since I got rid of
my " Lord Edward," have been reading hard at theology
for a work I have now in hand, "Travels of an Irish
Gentleman in search of a Religion." Dined one day with
Lord Kerry, at Bowood, to meet a young friend of his,

r

I

Sept. 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 219

O'Brien. Went another day with him to Farley ; Bessy
was to have accompanied us, but was not well enough.

30th. The last archery meeting for the season ; great
delight to our dear Tom, who enjoyed himself prodigiously.
He and his mamma were both among the archers, and she
next in shots to the winner of the silver arrow. Had
fixed with the Houltons to go on with them to Farley in
the evening; followed their carriage, and arrived there
between twelve and one.

September 3rd. Left Farley after three very agree-
able days. Had employed myself in the mornings in an
article for the ** Edinburgh Review," having long promised
the editor, Napier, and the Longmans, that I would give
them something. Chose the subject of German Rational-
ism in consequence of Dr. Brabant having pointed out to
me some errors in a late work on that topic. Desired
Brabant also to write on the subject, and then we should
be able to make out something tolerable from our joint
labours. The Doctor all delight at the idea of co-
operating with me.

4th to 12th. Not a little puzzled with my literary
partnership ; find I can retain but little of B.'s, and fear
he will be disappointed.

13th. Despatched the article to Edinburgh, having
retained but two pages of B.'s (the .exposition of the
principles of Rationalism) in the introductory part, and
clothed his detection of Lee's mistake at the end in my
own language. Have prepared him as well as I could to
find his bantling a changeling.

24th. Received a proof (contrary to my expectation)
of the article, with a letter from Napier, saying, I had his
*^ warmest thanks for this very pungent and very, very
admirable article." Happy he likes it. Sent back the

220 DIARY OP [-Etat. 53.

proof same day. Had a very pretty party of girls one of
these days (the day before the coronation, by the bye) to
archery in the morning and dinner; two Lockes, two
Starkeys, and two Napiers : no beaux for them but Tom
and myself. Sung to them in the evening, and made two
of them cry so much that one went out of the room
ashamed of her emotions, and sat on the stairs listening,
while the other turned her face to the wall to hide her
disfigurement. This latter a very pretty girl, Sarah
Locke.

Lady Lansdowne came down from town, and called
upon us soon after her arrival. Told us of the awkward
way in which the Archbishop of Canterbury had put on
the Queen's crown at the coronation. There had been a
little knot or tuft made in dressing her hair, for the express
purpose of receiving the crown upon it; and instead of
pressing the crown down upon this, the archbishop kept it
toppling on the top of it ; and had not the Queen kept her
head quite still till one of the ladies came to her aid, the
bad omen of the fall of the crown would have been
exhibited. By the bye the Queen being (as is well
known) adverse to the measure which is giving such popu-
larity to her royal husband, reminds me a little of the
story of the King of Sparta who first gave his assent to
the establishment of the Ephori. His wife, it is said,
reproached him with this step, and told him that he was
delivering down the royal power to his children less than
he had received it ; *^ Greater," he answered, *^ because
more durable." This is just such an answer as "William
the Fourth would be likely to give to his wife. But the
event proved the Spartan queen to have been right, for
the Ephori extinguished the royal power ; and if Queen
Adelaide's bodings are of the same description, they are

Sept. 1831.J THOMAS MOORE. 221

but too likely to be in the same manner realised The
Fieldings also returned to Lacock^ and called upon us
soon after their return; went over one day and dined
with them. Have the Miss Gents staying there ; so that
we had some very good singing in the evening. Made
my escape before breakfast in the morning. Lady E. told
me that Miss Fox (Lord Holland's sister) had nearly
cried her eyes out over my ^* Lord Edward."

28th. "Walked over to Bowood to call upon Lady L. ;
Lord Lansdowne expected down for two or three days
previous to the second reading of the bill in the Lords ;
brought me part of the way home on her jaunting car.

29th. A note from Lady Lansdowne to say that
Lord L. was most anxious to see me, and begging me to
come to dinner to-day or to-morrow. Fixed to-morrow, as
Mrs. Napier takes her farewell dinner with us to-day.

30th. To Bowood ; none but themselves. Lady Louisa,
and Kerry. Lord L. I was glad to see very well. A
good deal of talk about the bill, and the state of public
opinion : not, to be sure, as unrestrained as our last con-
versation on the subject some eight months ago, but still
(on my side at least) suflSciently open.' On my asking
him whether it was true that Hallam was a strong anti-
reformer, he answered, *^ Yes, he is ; and the world says
you too are an anti-reformer." This led me to explain
how I felt upon the subject, and how it came that my
opinions were thus misinterpreted. The fact was that from
the very first, while I agreed with the Whigs in the prin-
ciple of the measure, I also agreed with the Tories in their
opinion as to its consequences. ** How is it then," said
he, *^ that you can approve of a measure which is likely,,
as you think, to lead to mischievous consequences ?" "I
do not," I answered, " look upon them to be mischievous.

222 DIARY OP t^TAT. 53.

though certamly awful^ and, for us who may have to
witness them, disagreeable ; but the country will ultimately
be all the better for the movement. We are now come
to that point which all highly civilised countries reach
when wealth and all the advantages that attend it are so
unequally distributed that the whole is in an unnatural
position ; and nothing short of a general routing up can
remedy the eviL This I own is a disagreeable process ;
to those who have much to lose it may be a fatal one :
but there is every reason to think that the country
itself will come out of the trial stronger than ever ; dis-
encumbered of the financial machinery that now weighs
her down, and ready to start in a new course of wealth
and greatness. But even should this be a mere dream^
the experiment has become in the minds of most people
necessary, and is I am persuaded about to be tried. The
people have received an impulse (I might have added
received it in a great measure from this bill) : and there
never yet has been an instance known of a people stopping
in such a career where they ought to stop; *a downhill
reformation (as Dryden says) rolls on fast.'. Taking this
view, whether right or wrong, of the present course of
affairs, I certainly cannot help feeling grave at the pro-
spect that is before us. Were I a young man, it would only
brisken up the spirit of adventure within me, as I might
then hope to outlive the storm, and enjoy the advantage
of the calm ; but not being young, and wishing the re-
mainder of my course to continue on the same level as
heretofore, I cannot bring myself to dance down these
first steps of the precipice so gaily and sanguinely as I
see others do. All this produces naturally a sobered,
though by, no means reluctant, concurrence in measures
which I think may be ultimately for the good of the

Oct. 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 223

country, but which, whether for good or for ill, are amongst
those efforts after improvement which nations from time
to time make, and which nations have an undoubted right
to make ; all that we have of good and free in the world
being the result of such endeavours." I have here
scrambled (being at this present writing half asleep) into
an amplification (or rather I fear botheration) of what I
said, but this is pretty much the spirit and substance of
it.* Slept at Bowood.

October 1st. Retumed home after breakfast.

2nd to 10th. Have been under a promise for some
time to pay a visit to Sydney Smith, and, after two or
three notes exchanged between us on the subject, had nearly
made up my mind to set off to him about the 7th or 8th ;
but some communications from town led me to change my
plans. In the first place, I felt a strong wish to see poor
( Sir Walter Scott (perhaps for the last time) before his
"A departure^ for Italy; and this wish was not a little in-
creased by learning from Murray that Scott had also
expressed a strong desire to see me. In addition to this,
the new plan of Murray with respect to Bjron's Life
and Works (about which he and I had some correspond-
ence) seemed to open to me a chance of making some
arrangement with him, so as to get rid of the present
balance against me in our account, which I thought ought

* The event proved that Moore had not well calculated the temper
of the country. Far from making a financial revolution or disturbing
property, the people were well content to enjoy the advantages of a
real representation, and to receive from the House of Commons the
abolition of slavery, the commutation of tithes, the reduction of pro-
hibitory duties, the repeal of the corn laws, the equalisation of the
sugar duties, the repeal of the navigation laws, the promotion of
education, and all those other measures which, in the course of twenty
years, have been enacted by the wisdom and patriotism of our re-
formed Parliaments. — £d.

224 DIARY OP [^TAT. 53.

not to be neglected. I therefore (after having been still
more authentically assured of Scott's, wish to see me, by a
very kind note from Lockhart) resolved to go up to towil.

1 1th. Started with Bessy in a chaise for Marlborough ;
drove directly to the school, and found our darling Kussell
quite well. At three, Bessy left me to return home, and
I had a long and lonely evening at the Duke's Arms.

12th. Off in the Marlborough coach for town : alone
all the way, and having a volume of Mosheim to get
through, made the most of my time ; despatched the four
hundred and odd pages on the way, besides writing six-
teen lines of a love song for Power. To Murray's, where
I had been invited to fix my quarters ; received most
kindly : went and dined at the AthenaBum, meaning to call
upon Power afterwards ; but the night too bad. Re-
turned and supped at Murray's : found him full of san-
guineness about the new edition of Byron ; looks to selling
80,000 copies of it. Talk of the sanguineness of men of
poetry ! your men of trade beat them hollow.

13th. Breakfasted with Murray; called upon Lord
John Russell, and found him looking a good deal pulled;
but much better, every one says, than he has been.
Seemed a little bored, and no wonder, at having to ** go
over the thing all again." Asked me if I could dine with
him to-day, and I was very glad to say that I could ; no
one to be at dinner (besides himself and the William
Russells) but Lady Holland. Asked him if he thought
Lady Holland was angry with me (I meant about Lord
Edward). ** No," he answered, *^ I don't think she is."
Made some calls. Lady Holland tolerably gracious. In
the middle of dinner Lord H., from the House of Lords,
oined us (not at dinner, for he now dines at three o'clock),
and took his seat next me. Thought him at first colder

^

Oct. 1831 j THOMAS MOOBE. 225

to me than usual ; but this might be fane j^ and at all
events no great matter. Dinner amusing. Allen said
some strong things about bishops^ which my ladj tried to
suppress, sajing *' Such talk was not fit for a convivial
party." ♦ ♦ ♦ • Some talk about poetry with Lord
H. Was to have joined Lord Cawdor and the Gowers at
the Adelphi to see the ** Wreck Ashore," Lord C.
having asked me this morning, but did not get away in
time. Found the Murrays waiting for me on my return.
14th. Spottiswoode and Harness to breakfast at
Murray*s, for the purpose of consulting about the new
edition of Byron. I have not myself come to any decisive
explanation with him as to what my part or share in the
business is to be. In one of my letters to him, from
Sloperton, I had (in answer to his request that I would
suggest what I thought useful towards the imdertaking)
said, that, as far as the works were concerned, I thought q.
running commentary throughout, like that of Warton on
Pope, would be the most attractive means of giving them
freshness and novelty with tiie public ; but adding, at the
same time, that tiie task would be a very responsible one,
particularly if it was a rhymer like me, who undertook to
criticise such a poet. Harness very anxious that I should
give him an epilogue for the tragedy he is bringing out.
A good deal of talk about tiie projected edition of Byron,
in which I saw that Harness took a great lead. Being
obliged to leave them soon after breakfast, took Murray
out of the room, and impressed upon him, that if I were to
have anytiiing to do with tiiis concern it must be left all
to myself without any other interference ; he said ** Cer-
tainly." Called upon Mrs. Shelley, who told me she had
heard, through some of the Beauclerks^ that old Ogilvie

VOL. VI. Q

I

226 DIART OF iMTJLT.5S.

was delighted with the way I had done my ^* Life of Lord
Edward."

On my return to Murray's in the course of the day,
found Mihnan. Had already told Murray, on his asking
me had I seen the mention of Milman in the last ** Edin-
burgh " (my own article), that I was myself the author of
that article, and authorised him to tell Milman so in con-
fidence. Rather a good scene now took place on the sub-
ject between us ; Murray asked M., had he any suspicion
who wrote that article ; and on Milman's answering, *^ Not
the least ; " " Could you at all have suspected our friend
Mr. Moore of such an article ? " *^ Moore ! " exclaimed
Milman ; " No, no, I know Moore to be very multifarious,
but I don't think he has yet got to German theology." It
was with some diflBculty, that when I myself assured him
that it was mine, I could get him to believe that I was
serious : a good deal of talk upon the subject ; about Gese-r
nius, &c. &c. Said he knew of no such able book as that
of Gesenius on Isaiah; and that, putting the peculiar
opinions of the author out of the question, he had gained
from it a greater insight into Isaiah than from all the other
commentaries besides. In speaking of the letter which
the Bishop of London wrote him (at the time of the outcry-
about his ** History of the Jews "), approving highly of the
work, and condemning the opposition that had been raised
to it, Milman told me that the bishop had afterwards got
alarmed.

To dinner at Sir Walter Scott's (or rather Lockhart's).
On my way to dinner, with Murray, who took me, told
him that I had made up my mind to be editor at all events,
and that he might announce me as such ; which seemed
very much to please him. Was rather shocked at seeing
and hearing Scott ; both his looks and utterance, but par-

I

Oct. 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 227

ticularly the latter, showing strongly the eflPects of para-:
lysis. At dinner we had, besides Murray and myself,
their own family party (the Lockharts and Miss Scott),
and Sir William and Lady Kae. Scott took but rarely
any share in the CQiiversation, and it was then with diffi-
culty I made out what he said. On going up stairs found
rather a large party collected, all Scotch, — Lady Belhaven,
Lord and Lady Ruthven, Lady Louisa Stuart, the Mac*
leods, &c. &c. On looking over at Scott once or twice,
was painfully struck by the utter vacancy of his look.
How dreadful if he should live to survive that mighty
mind of his I It seems hardly right to assemble company
round him in this state. Saw that I was doomed to sing.
Mrs. Lockhart began, and sung her wild song "Achin
Foane " (as the words soimd) to the harp with such effect
on her Scotch hearers as made me a little despair of being
listened to after her. I however succeeded very well, and
was made to sing song after song till poor Scott's time of
going to bed; soon after which I came away. Mrs.
Macleod also sang some Scotch duets with her sister. It
is charming to see how Scott's good temper and good
nature continue unchanged through the sad wreck of
almost every thing else that belonged to him. The great
object in sending him abroad is to disengage his mind from
the strong wish to write by which he is haimted ; eternally
making efforts to produce something without being able to
bring his mind collectively to bear upon it — the multum
cupity nihil potest. Alas ! alas ! In my visits this morn-
ing called at Lord D.'s, and sat some time with Lady D. : a
good deal of talk about politics. I spoke pretty freely my
opinion of our friends the Whigs ; of their vile practice of
canvassing enemies and neglecting friends. As for myself,
I said, so long had it been manifest to me that this was

il2

228 mABT OF [^TAT. 53.

their system^ that I had for many years (lackfly for my
own peace of mind) given up all hopes of iheir ever thinh^
ing of doing me a service. So far did this poco-curantism
of theirs extend^ that, even in the trifling article of franking^
not one of them (though knowing how much I had to
do with printers in the way of transmitting proofs, &c.)
ever offered^ when in office, to be of any service to me ; and
I have always gone on (when I could) with my old
firankers : with Croker while the Whigs were last in, and
with Greville during their present ministry. The only
attempt at a favour, indeed, I ever experienced for myself
was under a Tory administration (Addington's), when,
through the medium, it is true, of Liord Moira, I got that
unlucky registrarship of Bermuda. Lord Hardwicke, too,
when the Tory Lord Lieutenant of L*eland, offered to
create a laureateship in L*eland, with the same emoluments
as the English one, if I would accept it. Neither ought t
to forget that to poor Lord Moira (whom the Whigs
hardly acknowledged as one of themselves) I owed the
barrack-mastership for my father, which made his latter
days comfortable. That from Whigs, as Whigs, I never
Ijeoeived even the semblance of a favour. All this I said
to Lady D., and she admitted that there was but too much
truth, she feared, in the charge, so general against them on
this point. On her saying some flattering things of the
peculiar claims / had upon the regard of all parties, I
answered, that the only merit I could arrogate to myself
was, that *'* I was at no time purchaseable, and that this I
believe the Tories knew.** ** Oh dear,'* she exclaimed,
*' if the Tories had such a person as you on their side, we
should be made to feel the difference" (alluding, I take for
granted, to my knack at ridicule ; and God knows how
open my friends the Whigs are to that same weapon).

Oct. 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 229

^ Called at the Speaker's ; saw both her and him, and he
with much kindness asked me to his country place. When
I expressed my wonder at his being able to hold out
through all these long nights, he said it was all by not
eating ; if he had lived in his usual way he could not have
borne it, but the want of exercise luckily took away his
appetite, and this temperance saved him. Called also this
morning on Burdett, whom I found laid up with the gout.
In talking with Burdett on Reform, told him I had heard
from Lord Lansdowne that he supposed me to be an anti-
reformer ; told him how this report had arisen from the
stupidity of certain of my neighbours, who, seeing but one
side of the question themselves (and that but dully), cannot
understand the language of a man who happens to see
both. On comparing notes with him I found we very
much agreed on the subject, except that he is sanguine
enough to think that the monarchy can go on with a
purely popular House of Commons, and I for my part be-
lieve no such thing. Such is, no doubt, the theory of the
English constitution, but it has never yet been tried in
practice (which Burdett was obliged to own); nor will
ever I am convinced be brought to work quietly in scecula
sceculorum,

15 th. Breakfasted at Athensemn. To Power's, and

thence to Longmans'. Looked over some religious books

'^ for my ^* Travels of an Irish Gentleman." Then on to

the Charter House for Tom ; found him ready. To

Brookes's Club-house, where I took him in to show him

the little dingy room where all the great Whig Lord$

and M. P.s assemble. Found there the Duke of Norfolk,

who shook hands with Tom most heartily. I then set

V off with him to Sir Walter Scott's, being determined that

' the little dog should have to say in future days that he

Q 3

-)

230 DIARY OF [^TAT. 53.

had seen this great man. Found Lord Clarendon caUing
at the same time, and admitted with us : Scott very kind
to Tom. Had taken with me a book of his (the ^^ Demon-
ology ") that he might write his name in it for Bessy. He
said that I ought to have let him have the pleasure of
giving the book as well as the name. Returned to an
early dinner at Murray's for the purpose of taking Tom
to the Haymarket in the evening ; got admirable places ';
and were joined in the course of the night by three oi*
four young Greys (Lord Grey's sons), with the yoimgest
of whom, a very nice boy, Tom struck up an acquaintance.
Murray also came to join us ; and we found Mrs. Murray
waiting supper for us on our return.

16th. Out early with Tom in order to surprise Rogers
at breakfast ; found him entirely recovered from his
late illness (having just returned from the country), and in
high good humour and playfulness. In talking of the
difference of the present times from former ones, mentioned
the circumstance of Charles II. attending the House of
Lords' debates, standing with his back to the fire, and
interrupting sometimes the members in their speeches
(where is this mentioned ?). Queen Anne, too, going to
hear the debates (?). Showed me a curious passage in the
Introduction to Fox's History where the present demand
on the part of the people of an entirely popular House of
Commons is foreseen and deprecated.

Set off with Tom at twelve for Greenwich in order to
see the Prowses; walked about Greenwich with them.
Hearing that Lord Auckland had a house there, called
upon him ; found him and his sisters, and introduced Tom
to them, who had asked me very innocently *^ whether
Lord A. was a Reformer." On my telling this to Lord A.,
he said, ^f You wouldn't, I hope, have come inside my

Oct. 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 231

door, Tom, if you had known I wasn't." Tom himself is,
it appears, in a very small minority of Reformers at the
Charter House, the great mass of the younkers being
dntis. It is the same, I understand, at Westminster, and
wherever the clergy interest is prevalent. Left Greenwich
at three, bringing Bessy Prowse away with us to dine at
Power's ; had reserved myself to dine at Scott's in case
he would have me, and gave accordingly conditional
answers to Burdett and the Speaker, both of whom had
asked me. Found a kind note from Mrs. Lockhart to
say how happy they would be to have me ; and having
left Tom at the Powers', dined with Sir Walter. The
day interesting on his account: and had it been in his
better times, I should have had many a lively tale to
enrich these pages with ; but he spoke little. In talking
of a novel which he had sent to Scott, L. said that it
I was no matter how bad a book was ; if it had but a story
I in it, Scott would read every word of it; and to this
' Sir Walter pleaded guilty very amusingly: left them
early.

17th. Breakfasted with Rogers to meet my old friends
Lord and Lady Dunmore, whom I had not met for, I
believe, ten years. Stuart also of the party, and (by
accident) Campbell, who had happened to call upon Rogers
on business : the conversation at breakfast amusing.
Campbell mentioned how his vanity was once mortified
on giving his address to some Scotch bookseller : *^ Camp-
bell I" said the man; "pray. Sir, may you be the great
Campbell?" "Who do you call the great Campbell?"
said Tom, putting on a modest look. " Why John
Campbell, the African traveller, to be sure," answered the
other. In talking of getting into awkward scrapes at
dinner tables. Lady Dunmore mentioned a circumstance

Q 4

232 DIAET OF liEXAT. 5«.

of the kind in which Rogers himself was concaned.
It was at the time when Madame de Stael was expected
in London^ and somebody at table (there being a large
party) asked when she waa likely to arrive. *' Not till Miss
Edgeworth is gone," replied Rogers ; *^ Madame de Stael
would not like two stars shining at the same time.'' The
words were hardly out of his mouth when he saw a
gentleman rise at the other end of the table, and say in a
solemn tone, ^^ Madame la Baronne de Stael est incapable
^une telle bassesse^* It was Auguste de Stael, her son^
whom Rogers had never before seen.

Left Rogers's with Campbell, who told me, as we walked
along, the friendly service which Rogers had just done
him by consenting to advance 500/., which Campbell
wants at this moment to purchase a share in the new
(Metropolitan) magazine of which he is editor, the oppor-
tunity, if let slip now, being wholly lost to him. Campbell
had offered as security an estate worth between four and
five thousand poimds which he has in Scotland, but
Rogers had very generously said that he did not want
security ; Campbell, however, was resolved to give it
These are noble things of Rogers, and he does more of
such things than the world has any notion of.*

Took my place for Wednesday morning. Received
afterwards a note from Lord Lansdowne to say, that if
I would wait for the prorogation, he would take me down,
and that he believed it would not be later than Friday :
determined, however, to keep to my coach plan, having
arranged with Milliken and his son to come to Sloperton

* "Not only more than the world had any notion of, but more than
any one else could have done. Being himself an author, he was able
to guess the difficulties of men of letters, and to assist them, not only
with his ready purse, but with his powerful influence and his judicious
adyice. — Ed.

KoT. 1831.] THOMAS MOORE* 233

on Friday^ and the time of the prorogation appearing
rather doubtfuL Went to Longmans' and got some
money ; looked over some books, and made extracts, and
then hastened to Power's to meet Bishop for the purpose
of some musical arrangements. A large dinner at Murray's,
but hardly any of the company he had promised me 5
Croker, Lord Mahon, and Hallam having sent excuses.
The day dull, though a few of the men there, if left to
themselves, coidd have made it otherwise, there being
Shiel, James Smith, and Chantrey among the guests ;
the rest were Lockhart, Wilkie, Lord Napier, Macleod,
&c. Got away as soon as I could to Lord Dudley's,
where I had been asked to dine ; found Lady Dunmore,
Lady Kuthven, and Lady Charlemont, the gentlemen
not having yet left table. Came away with Rogers, who
had been one of the dinner guests ; he having undertaken
to negotiate for me with Murray as to what sum to get
for my name and co-operation in this new edition of Byron :
thinks I ought to have lOOOZ. ; biit I shall be very well
pleased if it but rids me of this incubus of a bill, by which
I have been so long haunted.

18th. My last day in town ; busy about commissions,
&c. : was to have dined at Lord Belhaven's, but found I
could not manage it comfortably; dined earlyish with
Murray, and went out for an hour or two afterwards.

19th. Off at half-past eight in the « White Hart"
Found Bessy, as I expected, at Devizes, where she had
been passing the two last days with the Scotts, and took
her home. * * *

November 1st. Napier came to pass a day or two with
us. Biots at Bristol.

2nd. While we were at breakfast, Phillips, our curate,
came over in a state of great agitation, having received a

iZi DIAEY OF t^TAT. 5d,

letter from his wife's fatter, whose property at Bristol
had been all destroyed on Sunday night. Scene between
him and Napier; Napier, anxious to be at home, there
being reports of riots also at Bath, left us after break&st.

3rd to 9th. Saw my " Lord Edward " announced as
one of the articles in the ^^ Quarterly," to be abused of
course ; and this so immediately after my dinings and
junkettings with both editor and publisher 1 Having occa-
sion to write to Murray, sent him the following squib : —

THOUGHTS ON EDITORS.
Editur et edit,

No, editor? don't care a button
What false and faithless things they do ;

They'll let you come and cut their mutton,
And then they'll have a cut at you.

With Barnes I oft my dinner took.

Nay, met ev'n Horace Twiss to please him ;

Yet Mister Barnes traduced my book,
For which may his own devils seize him !

With Doctor Bowring I drank tea,
Nor of his cakes consumed a particle ;

And yet th' ungrateful LL.D.

Let fly at me next week an article.

John Wilson gave me suppers hot.

With bards of fame like Hogg and Packwood,
A dose of black strap then I got,

And after a still worse of " Blackwood."

Alas, and must I close the list

With thee, my Lockhart, of the " Quarterly,"
So kind, with bumper in thy fist,^-

With pen, so very gruff and tartarly.

Now in thy parlour feasting me.

Now scribbling at me from thy garret, —

Till 'twixt the two in doubt I be
Which sourest is, thy wit or claret.

J^ov. 1831.] TH6MAS MOORE. iSS

Found, on looking at my memorandum book, that my
bill on Murray (500/.), which I had taken it into my
head would not be due till January, will fall due next
month. Wrote instantly to him to express my hope that
some arrangement might be made, springing out of our
proposed plan with respect to the new edition of Byron,
by which this suspended transaction between us might be
finally settled. * * *

10th. To dinner at Lacock ; none beside themselves
but Lord VaUetort and Mademoiselle Emmeline. Had
known very little of him before, and once rather disliked
him ; but he appears to me an honest, kind-hearted man,
and, though a strong Tory, seems a fair one. Told some
interesting things of the Duke of Wellington, to whom
he is (like all who have been much about him) strongly
attached. His saying, that no man should hesitate to
apologise whenever he had said or done anything that
required one ; yet in military affairs he has been known
on more than one occasion to avoid owning he was wrong,
though conscious that he was so. This done'on principle.
*^ No, no ; never put myself wrong with the army." His
shedding tears when he took leave officially of the Queen
at his last resignation ; this the Queen herself told Lord
VaUetort. Of the King, Lord V. told several little things
which show great good-nature and warm-heartedness.
Music in the evening; Valletort's voice good, but not
under good management. His father and mother were
(as I told him) amongst my earliest acquaintance in
London. I remember how proud I used to be of going to
Lady Mount Edgecumbe's suppers (one or two at the most)
after the Opera. It was at one of these, sitting between
Mrs. Siddons and Lady Castlereagh, I heard for the first
time the voice of the former (never having met her before)

7336 BIARY OF C^TAT. 59;

transferred to the ordinary things of this world, — and the
solemn words in her most tragic tone, — "I do love ale
dearly."

13th. A letter from Murray, which threw me into no
little consternation, as it not only defeated all my hopea
of being able to settle the forthcoming bill by some
arrangement as to my editorship of Byron, but coolly
tells me that, in consequence of his having got entangled

with , I am not to be editor of that work at all.

This, after having courted me to undertake the ta£k,
after having gladly accepted me as editor. Wrote to
Rogers and the Longmans, acquainting them with this
disappointment, and the quandary it had thrown me into
with respect to the bill.

14th. Was to have dined at Bowood, but put off my
starting till it was late : and then, as the weather was
bad, delayed, in expectation that the Scotts, who were
also going, would call upon me; but they did not, and
I was forced to have a broil at home*

loth. Called upon Lord Lansdowne to explain my
mishap of yesterday. Some talk with him about the
public dinner to him at Devizes to-morrow. Asked me
how far I thought they would expect him to be com-
mimicative on the subject of Reform, as it was rather a
ticklish thing for him (being the only one of the ministers
thus brought en evidence during the recess) so to manage
as to send his hearers away satisfied, without at the same
time too much committing himself. He added, that his
colleagues were rather uneasy on the subject. Told him
that I thought his true policy was at all events not to be
too short with them. They would then go away with the
impression that he had been very communicative ; whereas,
if he said but little, though there might be twice as much

Dec. 1831.] TUOMAS MOORE. 237

matter In it, they would be sure to say, '* How short and
costive he was with us." But on the plan I suggested, even
though the more acute might see through his policy, they
could only say, *^ How well he managed in such a difficult
position to give perfect satisfaction to his hearers, without
in the least degree committing himself or colleagues !"
This he seemed to think a just view of it, which I was
glad of for every reason. Walked a good part of the way
home with me.

16th. Corry arrived for the dinner in consequence of a
letter I wrote to ask him over ; at a little after four Lord
Lansdowne called for us (having Senior, the political
economist, with him), and we all proceeded to Devizes.
Nothing could go off better than the dinner. I was seated
between Corry and Senior, and opposite the chairman and
Lord Lansdowne : Lord L.'s speech excellent ; there was
not a dissenting voice as to its good tone and good taste.
The reception of my health most enthusiastic, and my
speech exceedingly well received.

19th to 30th. Received very kind letters both from
the Longmans and Rogers : the former telling me not to
have the slightest uneasiness on the subject of the 500Z.,
as they would retain my bill on Murray, and put the amount
to my account ; the latter offering most cordially to pay
the 500Z. for me himself.

December 1st and 2nd. Met Fielding on my way to
Bowood ; the marriage to take place next Tuesday, the 6th.

3rd to 9th. On the 6th Caroline Fielding's marriage
at Bowood : none but the relations of the family present ;
and after the ceremony, which took place at night. Lady
Lansdowne and the rest of the party set off for Lacock,
leaving the bride and bridegroom at Bowood.

10th. Lord and Lady Valletort passed on their way to

23§ DlAEY OF IMtat, 53i

Lord Ilchester's. Soon after a note arrived from Lady
Lansdowne to Bessy, saying that she and the Fieldings
were returning to Bowood, and asking us to come there
to-morrow and stay till Monday. Obliged to refiise on
account of the boys* coming from school to-morrow.

11th. Another note from Lady L., pressing that we
should come, and saying that the whole party were very
downcast, and my company would do them a great deal of
good. Promised to come to-morrow. Russell the only
arrival, Tom not being able to leave school till Tuesday
next.

12 th. To Bowood to dinner, Bessy and I and Russell ;
the party : Fielding, Lady Elizabeth and Horatia, Mont-
gomery, and Madlle Emmeline ; very agreeable.

13th. The day most tempestuous; the Fieldings re-
turned home, but. Lady Lansdowne insisting, very kindly,
on our staying, ,we did so. The Miss Selwyns to dinner ;
Henry Fitzmaurice and myself the only males. Lady L.
said after dinner, " How proud he was to do the honours
to me ; he little expected such grandeur." He is a very
nice boy, and inherits all the unafFectedness and good
nature of his excellent father and mother. Music in the
evening.

14th. After breakfast tried over some masses with
Lady Louisa on the organ, or rather she played them and
I sung some of the passages ; magnificent things of Haydn's.
Bessy then walke4 through the pleasure grounds to Buck-
hill, to remain there till to-morrow (Tom coming by the
coach this evening), while I returned home and dined
alone.

15th to 25th. Ella Houlton came to us to go to the
Devizes ball; dreary work at the ball; home at three.

Dec. 183i;] THOMAS MOORE.

Have not time to notice the heaps of stn
have been receiving : such as, from a young
MS. poem; from some anonymous persoA in Ireland,
lamenting that my delightful talents should continue to be
sacrificed to party, and that the Radicals in England and
the Papists in Ireland should both consider themselves
entitled to claim me as their own, — the latter (the writer
said) being the more extraordinary as I was bringing up
my own children to that religion (Protestant) which I
ridiculed, and seemed to despise, and which my talented
sister professed to be her own.

Have had various letters too from Ireland on the sub-
ject of Neilson (Lord Edward's man), my mention of whom
has produced an immense excitement among the Northerns ;
and, as usual with my countrymen, they not only run
away with the thing, but run away with it in a wrong
direction. So wholly, too, have they lost sight of the
original passage which set them a-going, that they now
represent me as having accused Neilson of betraying Lord
Edward, whereas I merely mentioned his having been
suspected of itj and they show there were no sufficient
grounds for such suspicion. Amongst other letters on the
subject, I have received one from old Hamilton Rowan,
which was civil and gratifying. Shiel, too, transmitted to
me one from Dr. Doyle about the same matter, most
laudatory, saying that I had a far better right than Swift
to be called ^^ Ireland's glory," &c. &c. Talking of letters
on the subject, I think I have forgot to mention one which
J received several months ago ; a communication from the
King of the French, through my old acquaintance, and his
right-hand man, Chabot*: nothing could be more in cha-

* Vicomte Chabot of Templetown, Ireland.

240 DIABY or t-ffiTAT. 68.

racier with the CUoyen Roi than the directness and in-
formality of this communication, which was with reference
to the claim of Lady Edward to the near relationship she
is supposed to have borne to the family of Orleans. This
/ the King denies ; and both he and Madame Adelaide ex-
press their desire that I would set the matter right in a
future edition.

26th. Went to Lacock — Bessy, myself, and the boys,
to stay till Wednesday. • The Lockes to dinner, C. Talbot,
and Montgomery ; music in the evening.

27th. On asking Fielding as to the propriety of some
sea phrases I was introducing into a translation from the
Anthology (Leonidas, 57.), *^ heave the anchors and cut
the cables," I found that the two operations were incon-
sistent, there being no cutting of cables when there is
time to weigh anchor, nor is there any other operation in
setting sail to which efckuaaio ^vcMa, i.e. **let loose the
cables," is applicable. Talbot (who is a great yachtman)
said that the best description of naval movements he had
ever read was that of St. Paul's, Acts xxviL The cast-
ing out of four anchors (which, Fielding said, always
astonished the middies when it was read) suits exactly the
sort of boats, according to Talbot, that are still used in
those seas; Maltese galliots, I think he called them.
Chippenham ; ball in the evening.

28th. Home to Sloperton.

30th. The annual Bowood dance. Had all the little
Napiers and Ella Houlton to lodge with us on the occa-
sion. The whole party enjoyed themselves very much,
and the Lansdownes* carriage, as usual, took us and
brought us back; not me, however, as, by Lady Lans-
downe's desire, I slept at Bowood, and remained the two

Dec. 1831.] THOMAS MOORE. 241

following days. Had told Lord L.> the night of the dance>
that I could not remain to sleep ; and, on seeing me next
morning at the breakfast table, he said I was like that
class of persons in London whom Colquhoun mentions,
who, when they rise in the morning, have not the least
idea of where they are to sleep at night.

VOL. VI.

242 DIABY OF [iETAT. 53.

1832,

January 1st. Both days at Bowood.

2nd. Home after breakfast.

3rd. OS to Houlton's, Bessy, myself, and the two
boys ; their carriage took us on from Melksham.

4th. Napier in the morning; walked with him to
Freshford. On mentioning to him what Lord Valletort
told me of the Duke of Wellington saying, ** Never put
myself wrong with the army," Napier said that the occa-
sion on which the Duke used this expression was a mistake
he had made in promoting an oflScer, and praising him in
his despatches for some service that had really been per-
formed by my Bath friend. Colonel . It was when

D , expressing his gratitude for the promotion, and

his hope that he should be allowed to keep it, added his

desire also that the Duke would do justice to , that

the Duke replied in those words, " No, ," &c. &c

Some neighbours to dinner ; music in the evening.

5th. Tried to read a book in the morning ; dreadful
idleness. Joy and his new wife to dinner ; music.

6th. Fielding and Horatia to dinner ; music.

Tib. Returned home by Bath ; borrowed some books
from Upham ; arrived at Sloperton at eight in the evening.

9th. To Fielding's to meet the Valletorts ; the Houl-
tons there also ; Isabella's guitar in the evening delightful.
Slept there. In talking of some of Lanark Owen's speeches,
&c., Talbot said, that though he builds in parallelograms
he argues in circles.

10th. Walked home early for a little work. In walk-

Jan. 1832.] THOMAS MOOBE, 243

Ing home composed some verses on Lady Valletort, but
did not write them down. She had asked me to write
something in a copy of the ^^ Irish Melodies " Bessy had
given her as a wedding present- All this idling ruinous
to me. Returned to Lacock to dinner; conversation,
music, &c., all agreeable. An invitation this morning for
Bessy 'and me to dine at Bowood on Thursday; Bessy
declined.

11th. Home after breakfast.

12th. To Bowood to dinner; taken by Scott and
Brabant (the latter's jfirst appearance at Bowood). Com-
pany, besides ourselves, John Starkey, the Fieldings, and
Valletort. In speaking of Lord Erskine, and his keeping
the first guinea he had ever received in his profession
enshrined in a little case, into which he used sometimes to
peep at it. Lord Lansdowne told of his having dined one
day with Lord Erskine, just after his recovering from
some complaint, of which he had been cured by two
leeches ; his launching out in praise of those leeches, and
at last starting up and ringing the bell, saying, " I'll show
them to you ; " the leeches then brought up, in a bottle,
and sent round the table with the wine. " I call one of
them," said Lord Erskine, ^* Cline, and the other Home."*
The manner in which Lord Lansdowne imitated Lord
Grenville (who was one of the guests) putting on his
spectacles when the leeches came to him, looking gravely
into the bottle, and then as gravely passing it on, was
highly comical.

14th. Met Lord Lansdowne riding with Lady Louisa
and Henry : said he was to be ofi* to town on Monday,
and asked me to come over to luncheon to-morrow ; men-

* The great surgeons of the day, Mr. Cline and Sir Everard

Home. — £d.

B 2

244 DIARY OF [^TAT. 53.

tioning that if I chose to stay for chapel, I should hear
Lady Louisa, for the first time, perform the part of
organist. Combe being ilL

1 5th. Went to Bowood, and stayed prayers. Lord L.
mentioned at luncheon the saying of the old proud Lord
Abercom on somebody remarking how well his trees grew,
" Sir, they have nothing else to do." Lord L. walked
part of the way home with me : some talk about the pro-
spects of the ministry in carrying Reform, &c. &c., which
gave me but ill auguries of what is coming. He himself,
evidently averse to the creation of new peers, seemed to
contemplate, among the possible results, the resignation of
the ministry: then the question whether this would not
produce serious disturbance? Scotland the quarter from
which those who were best acquainted with it, apprehend,
he said, the greatest mischief in the event of another failure
of the question. Abercrombie, in particular, writes the
most urgent letters on the subject.

16th to 31st. Nothing remarkable. Talking of letters
received lately, forgot to mention two from Mr. E. L.
Bulwer, endeavouring to press me into the service of the
*^ New Monthly," of which he has become editor ; highly
flattering : ^^ Something like those exquisite morgeaux I
gave to ^ The Times ;' " ^^ Name my own terms," &c.

February 1st. The Joys offered us tickets for a great
fancy ball at Chippenham; but Bessy, after a good deal of
consideration, both of the expense of providing a dress and
the formidableness of Derry Hill at night, gave up all
thoughts of it. The Joys, however, returned to the charge,
and removed the objection of Derry Hill by inviting us to
their house, while Lady Elizabeth Fielding facilitated the
toilette part by offering the choice of a whole room full of
costumes, which Lady Valletort used to dress her sister

Jan. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 245

In to draw from. Bessy, however, still declined, and, as It
turned out, a bad attack of influenza would have, at all
events, prevented her from going. That Joy, however,
might not have all his kind trouble In vain, I consented to
go myself; and a very pretty thing the ball happened to be ;
some of the dresses, particularly those of the Houltons, as
Indian slaves, very picturesque, &c. &c. Supper and all
exceedingly well managed ; got back to Joy's a:bout three
o'clock.

2nd. The Joys wished me to stay over to-day, but I
was anxious to get home, and Miss Joy took me as far as
Spye Park, where Bessy slept last night: dined there,
and walked home at night.

3rd, &c. For the rest of this month remained at home
and ki wofk ; Interrupted only by an attack of Influenza,
whioh a good deal weakened and deranged me. The
verses I had composed on Lady Valletort, walking home
one morning from Lacock, remained In my memory, floating
in Indistinct fragments, for some weeks, during which time
I was too busy about other things to write them do\vn.
From time to time I took a look, as It were, Into my memory^
to see If they were still there : at last I copied them out,
and took them over to Lacock ; where I found the whole
party (the Valletorts excepted, who had gone to town for
the opening of Parliament), with the addition of Lady
Lansdowne, who had come over to luncheon: read the
verses to them ; poor Lady Elizabeth very much affected,
and exclaimed, when I had finished, " And I have lost all
this ! " Fielding and Horatia both crying. Lady Lansdowne
said, ** You have Indeed praised her to our hearts' content,
and It was not easy to do that."

8th to 23rd. Forgot to mention one of the anecdotes
Lord Valletort told about the present King, highly to his

B 8

246 DIARY OP [-ffiTAT. 68.

credit ; at the time he was dismissed from (or at leasts got
a hint to resign) his office of First Lord of the Admiralty,
under the Duke of Wellington, the latter, in their final
interview on the subject, was taking his formal leave, "when
the Duke of Clarence, holding out his hand, said, '* No, no,
this must not be ; the Prime Minister and the First Lord
may misunderstand each other, but this should make no
difference between the Duke of Wellington and the Duke of
Clarence ; " at the same time shaking the Duke cordially by
the hand. Found that from my resources through the
Longmans being stopped (by their taking on them my debt
to Murray), I could not get through with my little bills
•■vJ without applying to Rogers ; almost my last twenty pounds
(25Z. indeed this time) having gone to pay my mother's
half-yearly rent. Accordingly wrote to him that I should
draw upon him for 200Z. : and he most kindly answered,
" for three times the sum," if I wanted it ; and remitted
I me the 200/. It is now, as I told him in my letter, about
six-and-twenty years since he most seasonably performed a
similar service for me (lending me 500Z. to pay Carpenter,
which I repaid him out of my " Lalla Rookh " money) ;
and when I now look back upon the interval since then, it
appears to me a marvel (notwithstanding all my '^ aurea
carmina ") how I have managed to get on without recur-
ring either to him or any one else (except in one single
instance) for the same sort of assistance.

24th. Was surprised by a letter from Murray, asking
whether I could not furnish him with an essay on Byron's
poetical character, to be prefixed to his new edition, so as
to make his the only genuine one ; adding, that on my com-
pliance with his request, we should then talk of terms.
Though I was determined to do nothing of the sort, thought
it was as well to acquaint the Longmans with his proposal.

*^ V

-I

Feb. 1832.] TH03IAS MOORE. 247

Note, — February, 1840. Notwithstanding this and
some other little grumblings of mine, I look back upon

\ Murray's conduct towards me, upon the whole, as most

' liberal and creditable.

26th. An answer from the Longmans, to say that they
felt delicate in advising me, as they knew how anxious their
partners in [Lardner's] CyclopaBdia were that I should as
soon ai possible complete my promised " History of Ireland."
Wrote to Murray, saying that I must decline his proposal,
being occupied with other works ; adding, that in any case
I should not have liked to undertake what he proposed, as
an es^y could be little else than a rifaccimento of the cri-
ticisms in the " Edinburgh " and " Quarterly ;" and even
if /.could bring myself to write such a thing, I questioned
whether any one could be brought to read it. The plan I
had always thought of was to write a sort of running com-
mentary on Byron's works ; which would have left me free
to introduce anecdotes, quotations, and all such touch-and-
go things as the formality of an essay would not admit of,
but which would be far better than the most elaborate
essay that could be fiimished.

I 28th, 29th. Another letter from the illustrious John
Murray, returning to the charge, saying that he sees I can
do, without much trouble, the very thing he wishes, and
that he shall have great satisfaction in giving me 500
guineas for the task ; the very sum he shrunk from some
months since. He alleges, indeed, as an excuse for his
conduct at that time, that he was a good deal embarrassed
by the failure of some houses he was connected with, and was
fearful he should not be able to remunerate me as I deserved ;
but that now, the success of this edition of Byron being
established, he is very happy to, &c. &c. The fact is,
I have been able to trace the progress of his mind all along

B 4

218 DIABY OP [JCtxt. 5».

tliTOugh the clianges of his advertisements. Somebody
having, most likely, told him (for he is always the slave of
his last adviser) that the " Life" was the most ticklish part
of the whole undertaking (families not likely to admit it &c.
&€.), he gave as little prominence to this part of the fcook
as possible ; putting the " Works of Lord Byron" in ca^pitals
at the head, and omitting my name in the advertisements
altogether: gradually, however, I saw the "Lifej" and
name taking a respectable station in the announcement ; at
least my name was rather barefacedly put forward^ as if I
was the editor of the whole ; and latterly the hea^ng of
*^ Works of Lord Byron " has been exchanged in some ad-
vertisements for " Life, &c. &c., by Thomas Moore." Wrote
a civil and indeed friendly letter to him (for after all I have
had several kindnesses at his hands), and expressed regret
that it was not possible for me to comply with his proposal,
March 1st to 24th. Apropos of this, have been working
s away hard and fast at my *^ theology," which amuses me
exceedingly ; though I fear it will be dull to others. To
write livelily on such a subject would be dangerous and
would indeed defeat my object. Have had a letter from
Edinburgh, for which I paid 3*. 8rf. postage, signed " Kobin
Eoughhead," full of dull' Scotch doggrel, ** Oh, ho. Tommy
Moore," &c. &c. This is too provoking. Meant to have
timed my visit to town (the chief object of which is the
settlement of my accounts with Power), so as to be in town
to attend the St. Patrick's dinner: and Bessy was to have
gone up with me ; but finding that Tom could not, accord-
ing to the Charter House rules, be let out during Lent, she
gave up the project; and I deferred till after the 25th
(our marriage day), which is always a happy celebration
with us.

I find, by the bye, that I have omitted attending to a

■/

^

March, 1832.] THOMAS MOOBE. 249

circumstance which for some time gave us both great un-
easiness; and that was a fancy which our dear Tom had long
had in his head^ but which lately took a more serious and
insisting shape^ to be made a sailor of. Finding that his
mind was beginning to dwell upon this whim, I thought it
right fet last to interpose a little serious authority, and wrote
him a -letter to that purport ; which produced all the good
effect I could desire. Nothing could be more dutiful or,
at the same time, more manly than the manner in which
the dear little fellow gave up his fancy.

Sent a short squib to " The Times " about Lord Koden,
which seems to have had some effect. *^ The Freeman's
Jouriial," in copying it, says, " It is not diflScult to tell from
whose * Koman ' hand this piece of lively satire comes."
Lord Kerry down for a few days, which he passed at
Phipps's ; asked to meet him at dinner, but went in the
evening and had a good deal of town news from him.
Asked me about the above squib, which he said I got the
credit of in London.

25th. Preparing to start for town to-morrow. My
only regret at not having gone yesterday is, that I should
have liked to have attended the Duke of Sussex's Royal
Society party last night, for which he was civil enough to
send me a card down here ; but a bumper after dinner to-
day to the 25th of March, 1811 (twenty-one years since),
will be a far better thing.

26th. Off in the York House coach for town. Alone
a good part of the way ; read Pascal's ** Lettres Provin-
ciales." Went to the Fieldings', who have kindly offered to
lodge me.

27th. Breakfasted at E.'s ; found there Barry Cornwall
and Charles Murray. Proctor's stories of Charles Lamb.
His excluding from his library the works of Robertson^

<1

I

-i

250 MART OP T-fiTAT. 58.

Hume, Gibbon, &c., and substituting for them the heroes
of the " Dunciad," of whose writings he has made a collec-
tion. His saying to , in his odd, stammering way, on

— 's making some remark, " Johnson has said worse things
than that ;" then after a short pause, *^ and better.^ R.'s
story of the parson who was called upon suddenly to preach
to some invalid establishment; poor, maimed creatures,
hardly one of them able to get over a stile ; and the only
sermon he happened to have with him, and which he
preached, was one tigsanst foreiffu travel. Grattan's saying
to a lady, who asked him what was the subject of some
letter he was reading, " It is a secret." ** Well, but tell it
now." ^* No ; I would trust my life in your hands, but not
a secret."

"Went to Power's. Then to the Longmans ; said that
the sale of my " Lord Edward " was going on steadily ;
talked of Murray's late conduct to me. Had called upon
Corry, on my way, and brought him with me. Fixed, he
and I, to dine with the Longmans on Thursday. To
Brookes's, where I found Sterling, of ^* TheTimes," who
has been lately admitted a member. Strange^noug^his,
and done by Lord Duncannon. Dined at Fielding's ; and
then to the Opera ; where my name has been placed on the
free list by my countryman, the new manager. Opera
changed from La Vestale (the overture of which I went
to hear) to the Mose. House empty and cold. Came away,
and went to Brookes's to hear politics instead.

28th. Called upon Corry ; and he and his nephew ac-
companied me to the Charter House to see Tom, and have
him out ; but Dr. Bussell not being at home, this was
impossible. The dear little fellow quite well and rosy.
From thence to Barnes, who was ill in bed ; left word for
him to come and dine at Longmans' with us on Friday.

Habch, 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 251

—I To Mrs. Manners Sutton, whom we found at home. She
mentioned a rumour that Lord Durham was outy founded,
of course, on the supposed difference between him and
Lord Grey. Promised to dine with her on Sunday.
To Brookes's. Mentioned to Lord Dover the rumour
of Durham being out. " No," he said ; " not out, though
he was very near it."

* * * Dined with Rogers : company, Luttrell, Kenny,
C. Murray, and R.'s sister and niece. Was to have dined
to meet the Valletorts at Fielding's, but had got engaged
with Rogers. Luttrell quoted apropos to something from
the ^* Trip to Scarborough :" *^ If he gives me 500/. to buy
pins, what will he give me to buy petticoats ?" Stories of
instinct in animals, carrier pigeons, &c. ** I am told,"
says Luttrell, **a man who buys a flock of Welsh sheep
never sees them again; they're all off to Carnarvonshire
that night." Story of a man putting a crown piece under
a stone, and sending a dog back a great distance to fetch it ;
delay of the dog ; returned at last with the crown in a
purse. A man had seen him turning up the stone, and
took the piece from him ; but the dog saw him put it in
his purse, and never left him till he had it back again.
Story of the man in the Highlands who buried his wife, and,
as was the custom, read the fiineral service over her him-
self; the same night as he was sitting lonely by his fire,
heard a knock. " That's Mary's knock ; go and open the
door." His opening it himself, and finding it was his wife ;
who had been brought to life (according to the old story)
by the sexton endeavouring to cut the ring off her finger.

29th. Breakfasted at home. Copied out the lost verses
for Lady Valletort, and took them to her. Called at the
Lansdownes' and saw them ; had asked me to dinner to-
morrow to meet Lord Plunket, but I had engaged myself

252 DIARY OF iMTAT.BS.

already to Lord Essex : visited Kenny in his high attic
regions. * * * Dinner at Longmans' ; Barnes grown most
perilously corpulent. On putting a large bludgeon, which
he brought with him, in the comer, he said, ^^ There's my
Conservative stick ;" and added, " They have threatened to
knock me on the head going over the bridge." " They !" I
exclaimed ; *' who are tha/ ?" not knowing whether it was
Greyites or ultras that had menaced him. ^^ The people of
the Rotunda," he answered ; *^ I have had mobs of them in
the Square." Company ; besides Corry, his nephew and
myself, M^Culloch and Barnes. Sat drinking port till
eleven o'clock, Barnes owning that he " loved wine." On
my mentioning what Charles Lamb said, told a similar sort
of saying of his, — ^^ You have no mock modesty jibout you,
nor real either."

Home 'to dress, and got to Lansdowne House about
twenty minutes after twelve ; and entered one door just as
OrlofF, the newly-arrived lion, was disappearing through the
other. * * * Found Sydney Smith holding forth to a laugh-
ing circle on the subject of tithes and the Tripartite divi-
sion : " I am sorry to tell you," said he, " that the great
historian Hallam has declared himself in favour of the
Tripartite, and contends that it was so in the reign of King
Fiddlefred: but we of the Church (continued Sydney,
slapping his breast mock heroically) say, a fig for King
Fiddlefred : we will keep our tithes to ourselves."

30th. Breakfasted with Rogers, to meet Washington
Irving, who is about to start for America ; glad to get a
glimpse of him before his flight.

Went with Irving to call upon Mr. Van Buren, the

American ambassador, who has been recalled: received

I me very graciously ; and, in the short conversation I had

i with him, gave me the idea of a well-bred and intelligent

March, 1832.] THOMAS MOOEE. 253

man. In speaking of poor Lord Dudley, whose melancholy
state is now so much the topic of conversation ; his large
dinners, the manner he treats his guests, never speaking to
them, but sitting in a sort of stupor, or reading to himself
" Hume's History of England " (as he did one day Lord
Lansdowne dined with him) — I remarked it showed what
rank and station could do in England, when a man in such
a state was still able to bring the best company about him ;
on which Van Buren said, " If there is any thing which
rank and station cannot do in England, I have not found it
out." He then added (what struck me a good deal, both as
coming f5pom a republican and as agreeing perfectly with
my own opinion), ^^But still I must say that rank and station
in England deserves (as far as society goes) the value set
upon it; for I have found that the higher one rises in the
atmosphere the purer the tone of society is." Told him
how much this coincided with the whole of my own ex-
perience ; that such an opinion, however, coming from a
person like myself, who lived with that class without na-
turally belonging to them, was apt to be regarded with
suspicion by my own equals, who were naturally inclined
to say, *^ Oh yes, he is flattered by living with the great, and
therefore flatters them in this way in return." I was glad
to be backed in my opinion by such an authority as his,
coming as he did free from all our little prepossessions and
ambitions, and being in this respect so much more qualified
to form an impartial judgment. He expressed at the same
time strong disgust at the perpetual struggle towards this
higher region that was visible in those below it ; all trying
to get above their own sphere, and sacrificing comfort and
temper in the ineffectual effort. I agreed with him, and
said it was like the exercise of the tread-mill ; perpetual
climbing without ever mounting. It was indeed the absence

254 DIAET OF C-Etat. 53.

of this sort of ambitious effort that gave the upper classes
so much more repose of manner^ and miade them accord-
ingly so much better company.

Dined at Lord Essex's; good deal of talk about politics:
ventured to maintain the opinion that the cause of liberty-
has always (at least hitherto) suffered more than it gained
by the AVhigs being in power : forced as they are while in
office to suspend if not relinquish the principles they held
while out; and the Tories, to do them justice, seldom
allowing even exclusion to alter theirs. The consequence
is, that the Whig principle, unsupported on either side,
remains in abeyance till somiB good chance turns its
champions out again ; even a boon such as the Whigs are
now giving the people would have come better, at least
with more safety, from Tories. In the first place it would
have been dealt out with a reluctant hand, which would
\ not have let the line run so rapidly through the fingers as
I it is ^oing at present, when the government and the
people are both on one side ; it is, as the saying is, " too
much of a good thing." There is no counterpoise ; all are
pulling one way ; and the consequence is, what we are
but too likely to witness. It is in human nature, too, that
favours from an opponent should have something sweeter
and more piquant in them than when dispensed by a
friend. If conceded graciously, gratitude is of course the
natural consequence ; if extorted, generous feelings succeed
as naturally to triumph. It was at once the grace and
strength of the Emancipation Bill that it should come
frum the hands of Wellington. R. remarked to-day that
there were three great men in three different arts who all
died at the age of thirty-seven ; Raphael, Mozart, and
Byron.

31st. Breakfasted at home; the Fieldings off to La-

1

APBIL,1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 255

cock ; Talbot alone remaining. Went to Power's to beg
hini to send for Tom to the Charter House ; from thence
to Evans's to look over a copy of Irenseua (Grabe's
edition) which he had procured for me. Back to Power's
to meet Bishop for our musical arrangements: dined
there, Tom and I, and off in the evening to the Olympic,
where we were much amused ; young Lord Duncan sitting
behind me. In our way out was addressed with much
cordiality by a lady whom at first I did not recognise, but
who proved to be Mrs. Douglas, my old friend the
admiral*s wife ; told me her address. Went to Power's,
where I left Tom for the night after having supped.

April 1st. Have always intended to go some time
to the Warwick Street Chapel during my visit to town,
the music there is so good; but something has always
prevented me. Reserved this morning for the purpose ;
breakfasted at Brookes's, and went : a mass of Haydn's
performed ; and being alone, I had my full enjoyment of
it. My mind being just now full of Catholic reading, I
felt myself transported back to the days of the St.
Ambroses and St. Chrysostoms, when Christianity was
yet in the first glow and enthusiasm of its triumph ; and
while the Sanctus was singing, " that dread moment," as
St. Cyril calls it, found my eyes full of tears. What will
not music make one feel and believe? On coming out,
met Howard, who begged that, whenever I came again, I
should make use of his pew.

Went to Rogers ; talked politics. • • •
Had visits to pay, and R. said he would walk with me.
In our various talk, he remarked what amusing memoirs
I might write of my own life; told him I had long
anticipated doing so, as a provision for those I should
leave behind me; and if I could but once make a be-

256 DIABY OF IMTAT.&S.

ginning, I should be sure, I thought, to go on with it, as
I intended to take no pains with the style, but let it run
a plume courante^ like a letter. He said that his sister
admired my letters very much ; thought them so well and
shortly expressed. This rather a surprise to me, who hare
never had a very good opinion of my own powers of letter-
writing. Met Lord Aberdeen in the park, and had some
conversation with him about poor Lord Dudley, whose
reconciliation dinner to Lady Holland takes place to-day.
People thought something awful was going to happen to
him, when, after such a long and obstinate holding out, he
himself proposed terms of pacification in that quarter.
Luttrell, too, whom he has for some time had some grudge
against, is to be also one of the smokers of the calumet
to-day. Made my visits to Mrs. Mason, Mrs. Shelley
(whom we found at home), and, lastly, Admiral Douglas,
where R. left me. To Brookes's, where George Ponsonby
told me he was coming to meet me at dinner at Sterling's
on Saturday next ; odd enough this. Sterling having so
generally the reputation (and I think with truth) of being
the writer of the late bitter articles against Lord Grey :
Ponsonby, however, I found, thinks they are not his. Shiel
asked me anxiously whether I had made up my mind about
Limerick, as he knew that the party there for bringing me
in were seriously bent on it; but that if I did not bestir
myself in time, some other candidate who was on the spot
might pop in and have the start of me. Dined at the
Speaker's: company, a Mr. and Mrs. Pemberton, ditto
Kitcheners, William Bankes, and one or two more. The
Speaker, as usual, good-humoured and agreeable. Bankes's
story of the little girl in the street stopping with awe and
amazement, on seeing a chariot stop at a door opposite, in
which there were three or four skeletons seated in various

I

AnaL»l83$.] THOMAS MOOEE. 257

fantastic attitudes^ with their laps full of livers and lights.
It happened to be the day on which the sale of the grea{
Burgeon Heaviside's effects took place ; and this was a coach
Tall of his anatomical preparations going to the auction-^
room. Jekyll^s sayings when it was mentioned that th^
Russians during their stay in England eat up great quantities
of taUow candles, that it was a species of food " bad for the
liver, but good for the lights." The Speaker said, that in the
riots at Wigan this year, the mob, in plundering the house
of their member, got possession of his will, and read it aloud
at the market cross, whereby several near and dear relations,
having found out that they were entirely cut off in hia
will, there had been nothing but dissension in the family

- ever since. Went to Mrs. Lytton Bulwer's assembly, and
found Quch a collection as is seldom brought together;

' there was young Disraeli, and Banunohun Boy, and Lord
Mulgrave, and Mrs. Leigh (Lord Byron's sister), and
Godwin. Mrs. Leigh asked me, " Does Lord Mulgrave's
look, when he laughs, remind you of somebody ?" I said, it
did a little,

2nd. Breakfasted at Brookes's : went to the printer^s
with my MS., and left it for Simmons to calculate how
many pages it would make in the printing. Went to the
Longmans' : in talking of this work I am about, they said,
^'But when are we to have a poem from you?" Asked
them, did they really think a poem would have any chance
of success now, when the public had been so glutted with

\ rhymes and rhymers? *'From you we really think it

would," was their answer, much to my surprise. Dined at

Lord Lansdowne's : company. Lord Auckland, Macaulay,

Ilogers, Schlegel, Charles- Murray, &c Rogers seated

'next Schlegel, and suffering manifest agony from the Ger-

! man's loud voice and unnecessary use of it. Got placed

^ yoL. VI, s

258 DIABT OF tMvAT.9B.

between Lady Lansdowne and Macaulay very agreeably.
In quoting Voltaire's '* Super/lu, chose si necessaxre^ I re-»
inarked that it had been suggested^ I thought, by a passage
in Pascal's ''Lettres Proyinciales ;" and Macaulay agreed
with me, «A (remembering, as he does everytMnTre-
peated the passage.
\ Had some talk with Schlegel aftei^ dinner ; asked me^

if a man conscientiously, and without any intentional levity,
published a book in England expressive of his disbelief in
the Scriptures, and giving the reasons of his disbeHef, how
such a book would be received? Answered, that as to the
booky I did'nt know, but I knew well how the man would
be received ; and I should not like to be in his place. In
speaking of Pope, whom I, of course, praised, but whom
he seemed not to have much taste for, he exclaimed, ^^ Yes^
to be sure, there are some fine things in him ; that passage^
for instance, ^ Upon her neck a sparkling cross she wore,'
charming !" So much for the German's appreciation of
Pope. Intimated that Goethe was jealous of him in con-
sequence of some Indian poem that he (Schlegel) wrote or
ti^nslated. Rogers and I in doubt whether we should go
to Lady Grey's or Lord Burghersh's music; decided for
the latter. Told me, that on his asking Schlegel, in allusion
to Goethe's death, '* Are there any German poets now
left?" Schlegel blurted out, "Jam a German poet;" throw-
ing his arms open pDmpously as he said it. Lord Lans-
downe, by the bye, told me a curious mistake Charles Grant
had made on his introducing Schlegel to him. Lord L.
had told the latter beforehand, that Charles G. was very
much versed in Indian learning ; and the first thing Schlegel
said to him when they were presented to each other was,
*' On nCa dit monsieur, quevous voiis occupez de la littkrature
Sanscrite.^ "Mats toute r Europe sait cela^ answered

Apul,1632.] THOMAS MOORE; 259

Grant ; thinking that Schlegel had said he was himself 80
occupied.

The music at Lord Burghersh^s chiefly his own : over-
heard the Duke of Wellington and Lord Lyndhurst speak-

Ung about poor Lord Dudley, who was not able to meet his

j dinner guests yesterday, and who was now, as I could learn
from them, quite gone. " Something, of course, will be
done hnmediately," siud the Duke, ^' about his property ;
and I suppose the Chancellor will look to-morrow to the
custody of his person." Exchanged a few words with the
Duke about the singing ; though I doubt much whether
he knows who I am. Since he was Secretary in Ireland,
when I dined with him at his own table, I have met him
very little in society. Came away with the Lansdownes,
who brought me as far as L. House. Heard an anecdote
(this morning I think) from Bobinson, which^is interesting,

.as showing, what I have never doubted, that poetry is a
far more matter-of-fact thing than your people, who are
only matter-of-fact, can understand or allow. Goethe told
Bobinson that his description of the Carnival at Bome,
which is accounted one of the most delightful of his writings^
had its origin in the following manner, Goethe*s lodgings
were on the Corso, and being solitary and ennuye^ he amused
himself by taking notes exactly of all that passed before
his eyes during the Carnival ; and from those matter-of-
fact notes, without any addftion from fancy, he afterwards

. composed his description. Mentioned this to Schlegel to-
day, and he confirmed the truth of it.

Srd. Breakfasted with Bogers: company, Macaulay,
Luttrell, Lord Kerry, and Wishaw. • • • Some strong

'politics talked, condenming Lord Grey's hesitation to

make peers. Talking of success in college ; how far it is

a promise of future eminence. A number of persons men-

i 2

260 . DIABY OF : tiETir. 53»-

tioned, now distinguishing tbemselves (particularly in the
law), who carried off honours at the university, Lord
Grey distinguished at college. Anecdote of his being
punished for knocking a man down in a row. Had
been with some other young fellows to hear a speech of
Burke's (where ?), and was reciting the speech through the
streets drunk. His eloquent apology before the college
authorities when brought up for his offence, extorting
from his ju4g6 the expression " Melius sic panituisse quam
non errassej" Luttrell's story of a tailor who used to be
seen attending the Greek lectures constantly ; and when
^ome one noticed it to him as odd, the tailor saying
modestly, that he knew too well what became his station
to intrude himself as an auditor on any of those subjects
of which from his rank in life he must be supposed to be
Jgnbrant ; but *' really (he added) at a Greek lecture I
think we are all pretty much on a par."

Dined at Lord Dover's (who had made me fix the day) :
company, Duke of Devonshire, the Mount-Charleses, the
Jklorleys, the Vemons, Lord De Roos, and C. Greville*
Sat next Greville. In speaking of Ireland, asked me had
I seen that my lines in Bock — " As long as Popish spade
and scythe," &c. — ^^were prefixed the other day to a violent
petition on the subject of tithes ? Mentioned also, that the
first time he ever heard those verses was from Lord
Manners (then Chancellor of Ireland), who repeated thenl
to him, as well on account of their cleverness as of (what
he was pleased to call) their mischievousness. After some
conversation with Lady Morley, went to the Opera.
Visited the Duchesse Cannizzaro, and found her with her
newly- returned husband. Went from her to Lady
Mansfield's box, where I remained for some time talking
with Lady Caroline; then home.

April, ISSi.] TIIOMAS MOOBE. 261

6th. Breakfasted at the Literary Union — my first
repast at this club, where I have been a long time an
honorary member, — and shall make more use of it now
1;hat I have quitted the Athenaeum. Found Lardner,
whom I had asked to meet me there; talked oyer my
unfortunate history, not a line of which is written yet;
^aid he should not want it till about November, and h6
will be lucky if he gets it about June.
. Went to call on Lord John Kussell, who was at Woburn
on my first arrival ; only heard of his return from Lady
William the night before. Found him at home, and as
kind as ever. In the course of our conversation asked
me how I came to write such a letter as I did some time
since to Lord Francis Gower, saying of the Reform Bill,
that it was a bill quite after my own taste, but that I was
a little surprised at my friends the Whigs bringing in a
measure of so evidently a republican tendency. Told hini
I had no recollection of having used those expressions, but
it was not impossible that I might have said something
like it; that, in fact, I had been always too much accus-
tomed to speak my mind to be a very prudent friend of
people in power, and that there was nothing I so con-
stantly congratulated myself upon as living quietly the
greatest part of my time in the country, where I could do
no harm by my free speaking or thinking to any one. I
said, " You yourself very well know what my opinion of
this bill has been from the very first." " Yes," he
answered ; " you told me, I recollect, in one of your
letters, that you were in heart and feeling with us, but in
opinion with the Tories*; but I was sorry you wrote any

•

* What I meant bj this was, that though the bill was quite ia
consonance with mj own political feelings and principles, yet in the

3

-/

262 DIABT OF [£tat. 5^

thing of this nature to Lord Frp-ncisi for he showed it
about^ and the Tories were all delighted with it," Told
him he might talk of my Happriauiy but the worst things I
have heard said about the ministry since I came to town
were from some of their own troops. (I alluded to
Macaulay's complaining the other day of their backward^
liess and timidity ; of their being displeased^ for instancCj
with the boldness of Hobhouse's speech^ while Macaulaj
find all those on the back rows were delighted with it^
&c. &c.) He said this was very true, and had sprung up
but lately, as during the beginning of their career they
had nothing but cheers and eulogies from their supporters.
Promised to breakfast with him on Saturday.

Called upon Mrs. Norton ; foimd her preparing to go to
Hay ter's, who is painting a picture of her ; and offered to
walk with her. Had accordingly a very brisk and agreeably
walk across the two parks, and took her in the highest
bloom of beauty to Hayter, who said he wished that some
one would always put her through this process before she
sat to him. Hayter's picture promises weU. Happening
to mention that almost everything I wrote was composed
in my garden or the fields, " One would guess that of your
poetry ; " said Mrs. Norton, ^' it quite smells of them.'*
Left her at Hayter's, and went to look for the American
Secretary of Legation, through whom I wished to send a
scrap of Byron's writing which I promised to Van Buren,
but could not find him. Dined at Admiral Douglas's;
Hinchcliffe the only one of the party I had ever met
before, but almost all were West Indians; and for a
wonder Reform was not mentioned during the day,

view of the consequences to which it must ultimately lead (that of
democratizing our whole system), I could not but agree with the
Tories.

Apbu^ISS^.J THOMAS MOOBE. 263

MtMng being talked of but the Orders in Council, the
last meeting at Antigua, Mr. Somebody's excellent speech,
&c. &C. Came away early.

5th. Breakfasted at home with Fielding. To Power's ;
have been urging him for my account ; indeed, had written
before I came up to town to say that one of the chief
objects of my coming was to see how our long pending
accounts stood, but he seems nervous and shy upon the
subject. Called at Jeflfrey's; saw Mrs. J., and bid her
tell JeflTrey to meet me at Lord John's to-morrow
morning.

Dined at Lord Essex's to meet Miss Stephens : com*
.pany, besides her niece. Sharp and his ward, Rogers and
his sister, Woolridge and LuttrelL Singing in the even
ing; duets between Miss Stephens and her sister; Sharpe's
ward also sung, and so, of course, did I. Miss Stephens
tod her niece evidently , I think, pleased with my singing*
Kogers and I walked home together, and the difference
. there is between him thus tite-h-^tite and when in society
was never more striking ; he both amused himself and me^
and laughed at something I said like a boy.

6th. Breakfasted at Lord John's: company. Lady
Hardy and one of her daughters. Lord William, Sydney
-7 Smith, and Luttrell: Sydney delightful. When the
horse guards were passing the windows, said to Lord
W., " I suppose now you must feel the same in looking at
those that I do at looking at a congregation." Talking of
the feelings people must have on going into battle. Lord
William appealed to. Said it was, at first, always a very
anxious and awM feeling, but soon went offi I mentioned
my having been on board a frigate when she was cleared
for action ; and Luttrell said he had been in the same situ-
ation aboard a Post Office packet, and had a musket put

8 4

264 I>IABY OF ^ [£UT.Ii3'«

into bis hands. This set Sydney off on the inglorionsn^d
of such a combat ; drawing a penny-post cutlass^ and cry-^
ing, " Freeling for ever I " Spoke of the knowledge sailors
have of ships at a great distance ; took them off, saying,
with a telescope to the eye, " Damn her, she's the * Delight *
laden with tallow,'*

' Sydney highly comical about Sir Henry Halford; his
rout pill, to carry a lady over the night ; his parliamentary
pill, &c/ Never shakes any one by the hand; seizes
always the wrist . ^

Told of Leslie, the Scotch philosopher, once complain-
ing to him that Jeffrey had " damned the North Pole."
Leslie had called upon Jeffrey just as the latter was going ,
out riding to explain some point (in an article for the
"Edinburgh Review," I believe) concerning the North
Pole; and Jeffrey, who was in a hurry, exclaimed iin*
patiently, as he rode off, " O damn the North Pole ! ^
This Leslie complained of to Sydney ; who entered gravely
into his feelings, and told him in confidence, that he h im-
pelf had once heard Jeffrey " speak disrespectfully of the
Equator." Left Lord John's with Sydney and Luttrell ;
and when we got to Cockspur Street (having laughed all
the way) we were all three seized with such convulsions of
cachinnalion at something (I forget what) which Sydney
said, that we were obliged to separate, and reel each his
own way with the fit ; I thought if any one that knew us
happened to be looking, how it would amuse them. Lord
John, by the bye, had asked me to meet them at dinner
next Tuesday, but I shall then be at Sloperton. Turned
back with Sydney to call at the Duke of Northumberland's ;
left our cards. Told me that he had been knocked down
by a coach the other day in crossing the street, and was
nearly run over ; and that, knowing how much of Lord

Ann^iasa.] thOHAS HOOIke. 265

Grey's patronage had accrued &om accidents happeiuog to
clergymen^ lie found himself' saying as he came down,
** There's a yacancy."

Dined at Sterling's: company^ Lord Plunket, Mrs.
Archdeacon Singleton, Shiel, G. Ponsonby (who took
ine). Colonel Shaw, and Mrs. A., next whom I got seated ;
still a yery handsome woman. A good deal of talk with
her and Plunket, who sat at the other side of her. In
speaking of the Duke of Wellington, after the ladies left
us. Lord P. mentioned having been on a committee of the
Dublin House of Commons with him in 1791 (I think),
the case being some petition against Hutchinson of the
College : Lord E. Fitzgerald was, he said, also on the
same committee. The Duke was full of tricks ; he and
the other aide-de-camp always at some mischief or another
* * * On Lord P.'s mentioning some fine reply or
extempore speech made by Grattan, Shiel sharply asked,
"Could Grattan speak extempore?" Shiel himself is
beginning, as he told me the other day, to interweave
occasionally extempore Ints in his speeches, which have
hitherto been all prepared elaborately and verbally.
Finds that he can manage this, and that his speeches are,
of course, all the more effective for it. Tins, in fact, the
great secret of public speaking : to prepare weU the main
points, and then to be able to fill up without much dis-'
parate as you go on with matter rising out of the occa-
sion ; the " callida junctura " is the difficulty.

During dinner a good deal of talk with Mrs. A. about
German literature, her hobby. Mentioned a love song
of Goethe's, and gave the literal English of it ; which,
she said, might be made a good deal of in my hands. Ap-
peared to me (in her translation, at least) the tritest stuff
possible. The only words in which there was anything

266 - DIABT OF [Mtat.S^

Kke originality or nature were as follows : ** It is for him
alone I walk out of the door ; it is for him alone I look oat
of the window." But tkoa are peofAe decelyed hj the
sound and the mystery of a language foreign to them^ the
novelty of the words, the pride of raising the veil and dis-
covering the " no meaning " under them ! Paid back her
brass with gold by quoting some of the beautiful ballad
(of Logan's, I believe), *' His mother from the window
looked, with all the longing of a mother, &c." Talked of
the state of religion in Germany. A deep reli^ous feelings
die said, everywhere prevalent, and yet the freest tolera-
tion for the most bold and infidel opinions. This, I re-"
marked, was perhaps the very reverse of what existed iu
England, where a most worldly indifference prevailed as
to real religion, while the slightest whisper of scepticism
was sure to raise an outcry against him who dared to
breathe it. She mentioned with enthusiastic envy some
person who had the good luck to meet (all together at
some evening assembly) Goethe, Herder, Schiller, and
Wieland ; a most illustrious group certainly. Either she
or Plunket cited Berkeley as one of the purest writers of
English, and were astonished at the instance to the con*
trary which I produced in his use of the word ** embarrass "
as a noun. Dryden, too, who may also be counted one of
the best writers of good English, uses "painture'' for
painting; to ^^ falsify a shield," meaning to break it,
&c. &c.

7th. Meant to have gone to Warwick Street Chapel,
but happening to mention it to Rogers he said, if I would
breakfast with him, he would accompany me thither.
Foresaw that this would be fatal to my plans : accordingly,
when I went found that he had asked Jeffrey to meet me ;
a good meeting at all times, but I had now set my heart

Afril,183$.] THOMAS MOOBE, 267

upon the mnsic^ and did not like being disappointed.
Was, however, soon reconciled hj the pleasure of seeing
Jefirey, who is one of my most especial favourites. In
talking of Allen, mentioned that he once had a sort of
Frankenstein fancy for producing life out of blood ; and
used to have a large tub of blood which he watched over
like a wizard as it became (or as he thought it became)
vascular and ** instinct with life : " this, of course, a joke.
Bogers produced a letter of Allen's, which he had just
received, containing remarks on a late work of the Ame-
rican Channing, which B. had lent him. Allen's remarks,
though written off ^ plume courante, very clever ; showed
how ignorant Channing was of the English divines, and
that he criticised them evidently without having read them.
His absurdity in classing Heber with Berkeley ! Talked
of Berkeley ; his powerfully philosophic mind, and the sort
of form in which he conveyed his thoughts (that of dia-
logue) being characteristic of such a mind ; sifting both
sides and leaving nothing t/nenforced on either.

In talking of different races and the proportionate pre-
dominance of the father and mother in the mind, com-
plexion, &c. of the progeny (the Mintos, for instance ;
some of whom are very fair, like one parent, and others
almost black, like the other), Bogers mentioned an ob<
servation of John Hunter's, that wherever there was but
one boy with a number of sisters the boy was sure to be
effeminate ; and John Hunter used to give it as a proof of
Homer's knowledge of human nature that he makes the
cowardly youth, Dolon, in the night scene, /'sole brother
of five sisters."

Went to make calls, and to prepare for my departure
to-morrow. Dined with Bogers : company. Lord Clifden,
Sir J. Newport^ Shiel, Barnes, and JiUttr^U, Sat next

268 WAEY OS* Imtat.:^*

Barnes, to whom I gave some verses about the peerage
which I had copied out in the morning, '* A Letter from

the Honourable Henry to Lady Emma .*!

Begged me, in anything I might now write for bim, to
spare Croker; which, I told him, was an unnecessary
caution, as Croker and I were old allies.* Conversation:
chiefly on Irish subjects. Sir John Newport mentioned
some gross instances of corruption at the Union. Shiel
more than usual (at least more than I have ever seen) loud
and ardent. Talk of Molyneux, who, it appears, was a
great advocate for union with England, and has in hia
book some strong expressions on the subject. Left party
early and home to pack.

8 th. Started at eight o'clock and arrived safely at the
dear cottage.

From this period to the present day (June 14th) I have
not had time to do more in the way of journaUsing thaa
merely to copy out at full, in the foregoing pages, the
pencil memorandums which I had made during my visit
to town. In the course of the two months that have
since passed, enough has happened both to embarrass and
to afilict me. * * *

April 12th. A visit from a bookseller, Mr. Harding of
Comhill, who came down, by one of the night coaches,
expressly for the purpose. Had called at Power's, to ask
my address in town, but found I had started the day
before ; and thought it better to come himself, on the busi-
ness he had with me, than write. His object was to get

* To Moore it was unnecessary to address a request to spare a
fnend ; if the request had been addressed to the other party, asking
him to spare Moore, what would have been the result? Probably
while Moore was alive, and able to wield his pen, it might have beeu
Successful ; had Moore been dead, it would have served only to give
an additional Eest to the pleasure of safe malignity. — J}p.

Afbb^183^.] THOMAS MOOBE. 26S

ine to write a poem for him and have it illustrated in the
manner of Rogers's Italy. Asked him^ did he know what
kn enormous sum Mr. R/s book cost him? (7000/. I
think Rogers told me^ when I was last in town.) Said he
was perfectly aware of this^ and had made all his calcula*
tions on the subject^ and had no doubt that a poem by me
thus illustrated would pay him handsomely. I then put
to him what the poem itself would cost ; that I was accus-*-
tomed to high prices ; had received 3000 guineas from the
Longmans for " Lalla Rookh^" and so on. He answered
that he was prepared for all this ; that he should require
for his jiurpose a poem but a third of the length of ^^ Lalla
Bookh," and would of course pay accordingly. I then told
faim that I was at present much occupied with other tasks^
but would consider of the matter^ and after having con*
suited with the Longmans^ would let him know my deci-
sion. Pressed him to lunch^ dine, &c., but the poor man
was anxious to get back to his business after his (I fear)
totally useless journey, and off he went. When I told
Bessy, it amused her to think that, at the very moment
when I was turning a thousand guineas from the door, she
was just considering, with much anxiety^ whether she
would go to the expense of five or six shillings for a fly
to take her to Devizes to-morrow. • • •

14th. Went into Devizes (Bessy and I) to hear two
^wiss singers, and dined at Hughes'.

ITth. To Lacock, to dine with the Fieldings; only
Kit Talbot ; slept there.

21st. A visit from Lord Lansdowne, who had come
down for a few days ; was on foot, and I walked back with
him a great part of the way. Conversation about the
prospects of the Reform Bill ; expressed his hope that tiiere
would be no necessity for a new creation of peers, to

270 MART OF ■ {-fflaPAT.

which step he seemed to have strong repugnance. ToM
him of the journal kept hj Crabbe in one of his visits to
London^ which has been found among his papers^ and
which the son has sent me. But little of it^ and^ in
general^ mere detsuls; but there were a few striking and
characteristic bits.

24th. To Bowood to dinner; only themselves; very
agreeable ; slept there. '

28th. To Fieldings' to meet Madlle. M. and Lord
Lansdowne. In talking of the letters of Napoleon that
remain^ Madlle. M. mentioned that Montholon has heaps
of notes in pencilling which Napoleon used to write to
him from his-*chambers at St. Helena. In speaking of
French readings^ Lord L. told very livelily of his being
nailed one evening after a dinner at Benjamin Constant's
to hear Benj^amin read a novel ; he (Lord L.) wanting to
go somewhere else. Two long hours was he kept imder
this operation, seated next Madame Constant ; when by
good luck for him her favourite Tom cat, which had, con-
trary to custom, been excluded, on this occasion watched
its opportunity of entrance and made a sudden irruption
into the room. ^^ Instantly (says Lord Lansdowne), with
an adroitness of which I could have hardly thought myself
capable, I started up, as if indignant at the interruption,
and, seizing the cat in my arms, rushed out with him upon
the landing-place, from whence I lost no time in escaping
as fast as possible to the hall door." Slept at Lacock.

29th. After breakfast Fielding and Madlle. M. walked
part of the way home with me. * * * In talking of
the late Lord Hastings, she said that she had often heard
her father mention a day he passed in company with the
Comte d'Artois (Charles X.), Lord Hastings, and the
Due de Blacas ; and his being so much struck^ not only

Hat, 1882.] THOMAS MOOBE. 271

*^ With the high-bred deportment of all three, but with the
great resemblance they bore in their manners to each
other. Power's accounts at last arrived ; being busy, how-
ever, did not look into them till

May laL Glanced my eye hastily over the balance
against me, and was somewhat startled by its amount ; but
on looking through some, of the items saw such regularity
and (as I thought) fairness in them, that I concluded all
'was right, and wrote to Power to say so, adding, in my
simplicity, that I flattered myself never were accounts of
80^ long a standing settled so smoothly and amicably as
ours would be.

. 4th. Took the opportunity of a leisure moment to look
-Aore accurately over Power's accounts ; and foun<^ to my
consternation, that they are anything but what I had
(Supposed. * * * Wrote to him that in looking more
accurately over his accounts I had found what musty I
thought, be a mistake; namely, his charges against me
during several years for the half (125/.) of an annuity
which it appeared he paid to Mr. Bishop, and the tokaie of
the large sums charged by Mr. Bishop for the compo-
sitions and arrangements to my songs ; that it was very
true I had assented to a deduction of SOL annually from
the 5002. that had been for some years paid to me, as an
aid towards defraying the expense of the composer, but
that I had never, by either w<)rd or writing, consented to
any further reduction of my stipulated annuity, nor had
he himself ever even hinted to me his intention of 'making
such a reduction, and therefore his bringing such charges
against me now must be an entire mistake.

6th. A smooth answer from Power, saying that it was
no mistake; that having informed me at the time what
was the annuity he was about to give Bishop, he^^cpit-

272 DIARY OF [jEtat. 5Si

eluded^ that I would not consider It too much to pay the
half of it. ^' Concluded," indeed I not the slightest notice
does he take of the actual fact that I never assented, in
word or writing, to any other reduction of my annuity
than the 507. which was agreed on between us. Instead
of which, he has now mounted up charges little short of
from 150L to 200/. each year.

8th. Keceiyed a letter from my sister EHen, sayings
that our dearest mother was by no means well Have
never of course had much confidence in her health since I
last saw her, when she had recovered as it were from the
very grave ; but have indeed blessed God for every hour
of comfortable existence that has been granted to her \
since, knowing well that she could not long be left to us^
and dreading only for her a death of lingering pain«

9th. Another letter, if I recollect right. In which Ellen
desired me not to think of coming over till I should hear
further from her, as my mother was then much easier,.
Had I followed my own wishes I would have started in-
stantly ; but Bessy, full of alarm about the cholera, which:
is raging In Dublin, entreated me not to go, and seemed
resolved if I did to accompany me. I therefore wjuted.

12th. A letter from Crampton, which Bessy gave me,
saying that my darling mother was almost insensible ; but
that, as she had recovered from quite as bad a state before^
she might now ; and entreating me not to stir till I should ^ ^
hear from him again. Resolved to start inunedlately ; but ^
after breakfast my sweet Bessy, after preparing my mind
to hear the worst, produced another letter from Peter
Leigh, which she had withheld, and which contained the
'.account that all was over (on Wednesday night), and that
the funeral was to take place on this very morning (Satur-
day). Returned home.

Mat, 1832.] THOMAS MOOKE. 273

It is now useless, besides being painful, to say what I
felt at the event. I had been too well prepared for it to
feel anything violent, and the effect it had upon me was
rather that of deep and saddening depression, which con-
tinued for some days, and seemed more like bodily indis*
position than any mental affliction. The fact was too
that I was ill, whether from the shock at the last I know
not. The difference it makes in life to have lost such a
mother, those only who have had that blessing, and have
lost it, can feel : it is like a part of one's life going out
of one.

, .14th. Forgot to mention that about a week since I
had a visit from Saunders, the present publisher of the
y ^^ Metropolitan " (who came down by the night coach ex-
'^ ^j^ressly for the purpose), to request me to become a con*
\ -itributor to that publication. Proposed to me three hundred
. ' va-year for my contributions ; but I declined it, expressing
r '^my general repugnance to having anything to do with
' periodicals, and adding that, at all events, the sum he
proposed was not such as could ever tempt me to get over
that' repugnance. He then begged me to name my own
terms, but I would not. Promised, however, to give him
^ for his next month my verses to Lady Valletort, in case
she and her family should have no objection to their pub-
lication. Asked him to stay to dinner, but he was obliged^
he said, to return by the night's coach. In consequence
of this visit of Saunders's, have had a letter from Captain
Marryat, the proprietor of the " Metropolitan," renewing
his proposals. The depression of my spirits, and the feel-
ing of indisposition, still continued. I should have been
much better I know had I followed my own first impulse,
and started immediately for Ireland; for even though I
had but gone half way I should have felt I was doing

VOL. VI. T

'^K

274 DIARY OF [iETAT.53,

»

something : the very effort and excitement of the journey
would have done me good, and I should not have been left
so helplessly to my own feelings as I was now.

15th to 21st. An effort of nature considerably relieved
me, and I began to feel lighter and better. Bessy wrote
to the Napiers to propose our coming to see them for a
day.

22nd. In a fly to Freshford ; our dear Tom riding and
in high delight, Mr. Hughes having lent him young Bra-
bant's pony during the holidays. The Napiers very kind,
and Napier himself hospitable and agreeable.

23rd. Received a letter from Captain Marryat, the
proprietor of the ^^ Metropolitan," proposing to me 1000/.
a-year, if I would become editor of the " Metropolitan,"
and saying there would be no necessity for my living in
town in consequence, as there was a sub-editor who would
look to all the details. Took time to consider of the pro-
position, which was one not hastily to be rejected. I had
sent up to them the verses to Lady Valletort, and had
said that whatever sum they thought them worth would
be very acceptable ; in consequence of which Marryat now
inclosed me 1007., expressing a hope that I would continue
my contributions through the two next numbers. Re-
turned him the 100/., saying that I could not pledge
myself to any further contributions, and that for the verses
I had sent a sum in proportion to what Mr. Saunders had
offered annually would be abundantly sufficient.

24th to 26th. From some late letters of Lady Morgan
on the subject of the ^^ Metropolitan," I had been led to
believe that Campbell meant to give up the editorship of
the magazine, which belief alone could have induced me
to enter into any negociations on the subject. Finding,
however, from Marryat that Campbell was still to con-

June, 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 275

tinue in the concern, I felt that my engaging as editor
v would look like forcing myself into his shoes ; and there-
fore wrote to decline the proposition, saying, that " though
I should consider it an honour to succeed Campbell, I could
not possibly think of supplanting him."

27th. Another offer from Marryat, which he said he

could not help making, though with but little hope of my

' acceptiijg it ; and this was 500/. a-year for contributions

as often as it might suit me to give them, and only stipu-

T lating that for each of the three next numbers I should

give them something. This I felt was too liberal an offer

, ■ and too convenient to me in my present circumstances to

refuse, though hating the thing most heartily, and still

. feeling it to be a sort of degradation of literature. I wrote

!l to him to say that I should act unfairly, both by him and

. myself, were I, without due consideration, to reject an

offer so handsome, and that, therefore, I should turn the

matter over in my mind and let him know my deteri)iina*

tion in a day or two,

29th. Our dear Tom's holidays being to expire tO'-
morrow, we took him off to Marlborough for a gipsy
party in the Forest, with Bussell and some of his school-
fellows. A delightful day of it, though I (in walking on
before the rest of the party) lost my way as usual, and
had some difficulty in finding the place which they had
fixed on for dinner. Five or six of Russell's schoolfellows,
chosen by himself, formed our company, and all very
merry.

30th. "Wrote to Marryat, to say I accepted his offer
for one year.

June 1st to 16th. Much annoyed and disgusted on re*

ceiving the new number of the " Metropolitan " (that which

-\ contains my verses to Lady Valletort) to see some ribald

T 2

/

276 DIABY OF [-Etat. 54.

attacks upon Rogers in it^ and also some vulgar trash about
myself. The latter I did'nt care a pin about^ but the stuff
against Bogers, appearing in a work with which my name
will now be connected, annoyed me exceedingly and gave
ine the first specimen of the sort of tarnish one must expect '
by such contact Wrote to Captain Marryat to say that
I really must pause here, and ask leave to be off my bargain,
if there could be the slightest risk of any repetition of such
disreputable attacks. Keceived a very gentlemanlike an-
swer from Marryat, to say that he was as much shocked as
I had been to see the passages about Rogers ; and that I
might depend upon nothing of the kind being ever again
suffered to appear.

17th to 26th. Received a letter from M., in which he
said, that in the course of an interview with Spring Rice
upon some business. Rice had expressed to him the great
pleasure it would give him to have me for a colleague in
the representation of Limerick (should he not leave that
place for Cambridge) ; and added that it was also the wish
of government to have me in for Limerick. The govern-
ment are, however, mistaken if they think they might count
upon me as a supporter on Irish matters. I can already
foresee I should be against them tooth and nail.

27th. Went (Bessy and I and little Russell) to pass a
day or two with the Salmons.

28tb. To Watson Taylor's sale. Met there Wm. P.,
who told me that the metropolitan elections, instead of
taking the turn that he and others dreaded they would, were
likely to be, if any thing, too aristocraticaL

29 th. A curious journal of Sir Edward Bayntun's has
fallen into Salmon's hands, of which I glanced through a
few pages. His difficulties about money, and the small
sums he raised by bills (though living in the first company).

-i

July, 1832.] THOMAS MOOBE. 277

very striking ; taking up, for instance, a bill of 25/. by
another to the same amount. Dinner hours of people of
rank at that time (1740 or so) from three to four o'clock ;
then to White's, and afterwards to the Smyrna.

July Ist to 3rd. On the 3rd dined at Salmon's (myself
only) : a large party, Lockes, &c. Slept there.

4th. Received a letter from O'Connell, marked *^ con-
fidential,** on the subject of my return for Limerick ; of
which he says there would not be the slightest doubt, were
there not an impression entertained that, from my friendship
with Lord Lansdowne, I should consider myself bound to
follow his line of politics. Answered to say, that if I did
come into Parliament it would not be to follow the track
of Lord Lansdowne or any other man's politics, but to
maintain L:ish liberties and Irish interests at all risks and
against all ministers ; that it would, of course, be painful
to me to come politically into collision with one or two of
the present ministers, whose friendship I highly valued,
but that these friends themselves were too well acquainted
with my opinions not to be fully prepared for the line I
should take on Irish politics, and that, at all events, pre-
pared or not, Irish they should find me to the back-bone.
I then added, that having thus answered for myself as far
as regarded English influence, I must say to him who em-
bodied in his own person all Irish influence, that of him
also, in the event of my coming into Parliament, I must
keep myself equally independent; and, in short, to repeat
his own words in his letter, ^' be bound to uo man or party
whatever^^

5th. A letter from John Scully relating to Cashel,
where they appear, by his account, to be even still nwre
eager to have me for their member than at Limerick. Ac-
cording to his showing, out of 200 and odd votes which

T 3

278 DIARY OF t-aETAT. 54.

the reform will create, 150 are already secured to me ; and
on my presenting myself there (which he strongly urges)
there would not be, he says, the slightest doubt of my
success.

6th. A letter from Captain Marryat, he having pro-
posed himself some weeks since to come down to us.
\ 7th. Took Marryat over to Bowood.
^ \ 8th. Marryat left us. In the course of one of our con-
/ versations together, I took an opportunity of representing to
him that he was really throwing away his money in giving
me so much for my mere name ; and his answer was, that
if he was satisfied with the bargain, he did not see why /
should make myself uneasy about it.

9th to 16th. Have been kept in a good deal of anxiety
and doubt by the expectation of my dear sister Ellen, who
is coming to pass some time with us, but is delayed by
business.

1 7th. Set off to go to Bristol, to meet Ellen, who I had
some reason to think was to sail this morning from Dublin.
At Melksham received a letter from her to say that she
should not sail till next Tuesday. Having taken my place,
went on to Bath ; drove about the new park with Crawford,
who had a very comfortable dinner got ready for me at
four ; and at five I started to return home.

18th to 23rd. Writing some verses on Crabbe's ink-
'"! stand for the " Metropolitan."

24th. Set off for Bath, with Bessy and Kussell, in a
fly ; walked about performing commissions till four, when
they left me to return home ; dined at the York House,
and was lucky enough to find Bowles there, with whom I
had some very amusing conversation.

25th. Off for Bristol in a chaise. Arrived early at
Clifton ; and walked about the whole day, enchanted with

JutY, 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 279

the place, which I had never seen before, having once
merely passed through. It is quite unlike anything else, and
in its way most beautiful. Called upon Strong the book-
seller at Bristol, who took me to the Library, the Institu-
tion, &c. At four the packet (the Killarney) with my dear
little Ellen arrived. Two other packets preparing to go
out at the same time ; in one of wliich O'Connell was to
start. Some conversation with him about my return for
some Irish place or another, which he said I was quite sure
of; and added that I myself could have no notion of the
enthusiasm that prevailed about me everywhere in Ireland.
Told him of a correspondence I had had on the subject
of Limerick with M. ; and of which, as I have not noted it
down in its place, I shall here hastily give the particulars.
M. sent me a copy of a letter from a Dr. Griffin of Limerick,
very sensibly written ; in which he said, with reference to
my election for Limerick, that those who represented me
as likely to be backed by Lord Lansdowne's interest there
did me more harm than good, as at present the only draw-
back on the disposition of the people of Limerick towards
me was their being afraid, from my known friendship with
Lord Lansdowne, that I should be little better than his
nominee. In my answer to M. on the subject of this letter
I begged him to set his Limerick correspondent right with
respect to my supposed dependence on Lord Lansdowne,
or on any other man. My whole past life ought to have
been a sufficient security, I thought, for my independence in
future ; and so far from there being any chance of my
becoming the nominee of Lord Lansdowne, I doubted very
much whether (knowing the line I should take in Irish
politics) he would be at all disposed to give me his interest
in Limerick ; and most certainly / should not be disposed
to ask him for it After something more to the same pur-

T 4

'

280 DIAEY OP [:Etat.64.

port I added; that whether I should make up my mind to
come into Parliament or not was a matter of very trifling
consideration in my mind compared with the duty I felt
thus instantly to repel such unjust surmises. The substance
of this I now told briefly to O'Connell, representing to him
at the same time the impossibility I feared there would be
of my coming into Parliament at all, from my whole means
^ I of subsistence being dependent on my daily labour. The
conteipptuous snap he gave of his fingers when I mentioned
Lord L.'s interest in Limerick was but too expressive, I
fear, of the real facts of the case ; i. e. of the impotence of
any lord's interest, anywhere, opposed to himself and the
people. Got dear Nell safe ashore ; and, having dined at
-~y Bristol, set off for home, where we arrived about ten at
night.

August 1st. Bowles and the Hughes dined with us.
Bowles very amusing ; full of a story he is about to write
concerning Ela, the foundress of Lacock Abbey ; could not
get on, however, without consulting Matthew Paris, and
said he should be obliged to go to Salisbury expressly for
the purpose. Recollected that J had a copy of Matthew
Paris, and, to his great joy, produced it,

8th to 19th. Nothing noteable. At work at my
" Travels," &c. ; wrote, for the " Metropolitan," ^* Song of
the departing Spirit of Tithe ;*' also songs for Power, to
complete the number wanting of my annual amoimt, and
something for " The Times."

20th to 25th. A visit from Lord Lansdowne, who had
arrived a day or two before. Walked part of the way
back with him ; and was rejoiced to see how firmly and
healthily, and in his old way, he was again able to step
out.

27th. The day tremendously wet; made up my mind

Sept. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. ^81

to remain ; wrote some verses for ^' The Times" — " Tory
Pledges." In the evening, the two Galways, Horatia
Fielding, and Edwards acted charades : their dresses very
well managed, and showed off the beauties of the whole
party to great advantage.

28th. Returned home pretty early.

29th. A letter from Corry, in which he tells me of a
conversation he had had with a good '^ factious priest " (as
he calls him), at Cheltenham, with respect to my forth-
coming work. The priest had asked him, with much
anxiety, to which religion I meant to give the preference
in my " Search." '^ All I can tell you," answered Corry,
" is, that I believe he means to place your religion very
high." "Then he is a true Irishman?" demanded the
priest. ** That he is in every respect," answered Corry.
A ball at Phipps's, to which Bessy and I went, not for-
getting dear Tom and Nell. A very pretty ball, good
supper, &o. &c. Bessy danced herself nearly off her legs.

September 1 1th. : Corry at breakfast ; speaking of the
/theatricals at BlessingtoiTs. A set of mock resolutions
' drawn up, one of which was the following, chiefly levelled
at Crampton, who was always imperfect in his part : —
** That every gentleman shall be at liberty to avail himself
of the words of the author in case his own invention fails
him." P. F., who acted the King in Warwick, saying, in
his affected way, with a twist of the mouth, ** Gracious
heavens I what am I ? " and Humphrey Butler, who was one
of the lords sitting round him, and was rather tipsy, an-
swering,- in an under tone, " By — — you're the ugliest
fellow and the worst actor that I ever saw 1 " Grattan
saying to Corry, about the head of John Crampton, which
is given in the ** Kilkenny Theatricals," ^* How very
unkind to give Mr. Crampton without his legs!" "It

282 DIARY Ot [iETAT, 54,

would be hard to manage it/' said Corry. " Why no ; I
would put one leg there, and the other there," pointing
to each side of the head. Fielding to dinner : Corry very
amusing.

12th. To Bath, Corry and I; my object being to
attend a dinner given to Henry Hobhouse by the electors,
to which they have invited me. Placed at dinner next
'trr^ John Cam Hobhouse, whom I found very good-natured
and agreeable. My health drunk, and my speech in re-*
turn very flatteringly received, though I found the first
part (in which I lamented the little prospect there was of
any change for the better in the system of government in
Ireland) fall but coldly on the ears of my auditors. This
is lamentable. When I came, however, to speak of Eng-
land and Reform I got on most triumphantly, and the
company called for me afterwards to address them again,
but I declined. Got home, with my host. Dr. Crawford,
about twelve. Despatched a note to the editor of the
'* Bath Chronicle," entreating him not to give a report of
my speech.

13th. Called upon Burdett. Left Bath, with Corry,
for Joy's before five, Joy having invited him to accom-
pany me. It was near twelve before we arose from table ;
and soon after Corry and I started for Sloperton, where we
arrived about a quarter past one, and found Bessy sitting
up for us.

14th. All dined at Bowood — Corry, Bessy, my sistei/
Ellen, and myself. Xothing could exceed the kindness of
the Lansdownes to my poor dear little Ellen, who told me
afterwards that the sad thought often crossed her mind
during the day, what delight it would have given to our
darling mother to have seen her among such people, and
BO cordially noticed by them : company, the Scotts, Lut-

Sept. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 28 ^

trell, &c. Spoke, among other things, of the pretty
French farce " Les Voltures versees," and the old fellow
describing the delights of a good upset at his gate ; poets,
musicians, painters, &c. : *^ Imaginez vous quand tout ga
verse a lafoisP'*

17th. Dined at Bowood: company. Lord and Lady
Harrington, P. Oakden, the Listers, two Poles (one of
them old Nimyerich, a Polish poet, who has been staying
at Lacock, and expressing great impatience to ^^ see his
brother poet, Thomas Moore "), Luttrell, &c. Talking of
the late Duke of Devonshire, his taciturnity, losing a game
at cards one evening, and saying, ^^ That's unlucky, Chis-
wick was burned this morning ; " being the first intima-
tion he had given his family of the accident.

Nimyerich mentioned a German author who has written
two large volumes on the *^ Digestion of a Flea." A
French term of cooking, " Dinde a la veuve ejploree^'^ I
mentioned Diodati having accused the French language
(most foolishly) of being deficient in terms of cookery, and
Voltaire replying to him, ^^Plut a Dieu que vous eussiez
raison t Je vrHen porterais mieux ; mais malheureusement
nous avons un dictionnaire entier de cuisine,^*

Talked of Gibbon's French ; the manifesto in that lan-
guage which he drew up during the American war (the
^* M^moire Justificatif "), which was considered in England
so perfect in its style ; but which Lord Lansdowne said
some Frenchman told him was easily discoverable to be a
foreigner's. Talked of Sir W. Jones's French and of
Beckford's in " Vathek." Anecdote of Mad. de Sl^el mis-
taking Charles Long for Seijeant Lens, who had just then
done something disinterested in the way of refusing office ;
and saying to him. What a pleasure and honour she felt it
to be made known to a man who in these days could sa

284 DIARY or [^TAT. 54.

magnanimously ^^rejeter Us emplois,^* Music in the
evening. Lady Barrington's Scotch song, " Charlie," most
stirring and triumphant; shows off her fine clear, bell-
toned voice with great effect. Slept there.

18 th. Walked home, had three or four hours' work,
and returned. Rogers arrived from town at five.

19th. A walk before breakfast with Rogers, who was
in a most amiable mood. After breakfast had music, at the
organ first, and then at the pianoforte. Sung a good deal.
R. and Luttrell walked part of the way home with me.
Had Dr. Starkey, Coventry, and the girls to dine with
us. R., during our walk, mentioned what Bobus Smith

says of : '* Why he is the most capacious believer

that's to be found anywhere I he believes more than almost
any other man : he believes in no cause at all ; in the ex-
istence of all things from all eternity without any begin-
ning whatever ; that they could not be otherwise than they
are," &c. &c.

20tL Met Rogers, by appointment, on his way to call
upon Bessy ; full of kindness to her, as usual. Told me
what success my late squib against tithes has had ; heard
several people in town speaking of it. It is odd enough
that he had never seen my verses to Crabbe's inkstand,
where he himself plays a part.

21st. Lady Elizabeth called, with Lady Valletort and
the old Pole, Nimyerich, who had been anxious to see my
cottage. Fixed me to come to Lacock on Wednesday
next, and, if possible, stay over Thursday ; foresee that I
shall have nothing now but idleness for a fortnight to
come.

* Lord B., who was standing by, said, "I beg your pardon.
Madam ; Mr. Long has shown his patriotism by serving the Crown.'*
— Ep.

Sept. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 285

23rd. Walked to Bowood to call upon Kogers ; found
he had gone to breakfast and church at Bowles's, and set
off there, accompanied part of the way by Lord L. and
Luttrell. Lunched at Bowles's, and walked back with
Kogers ; making, by the time I reached Sloperton, between
twelve and thirteen miles. Bowles, by the bye, has been
writing a most twaddling answer to my tithe squib, which
has appeared in the Devizes paper; looked a little nervous
on the strength of it to-day. Bessy said, when I read it
to her, "It is lucky for him he is your friend;" and I
couldy to be sure, have made rare reprisals on him. A
note from Mrs. Napier to Bessy, in which she says how
much Napier had liked my late speech (of which " The
Times " has given a good report) at the Bath dinner. *^ I
have never," she says, '* seen him more delighted than with
the reading of it." This proves I was at least radical
enough. Received a letter from Dr. Griffin of Limerick,
telling me that they had formed an Election Society there,
which would command at least 1500 of the 2000 votes
likely to be registered there ; and that they waited but
for my consent to send me a public in^tatlon,

25th. Bessy and Tom off to BuckhiU, in order to start
from thence to-morrow. Called myself on Rogers at Bo-
wood. Talking of Ireland, he enumerated the long list of
distinguished men whom she has poured into England.
Believed the Irish to be beyond most other people in
geniusy but behind them in sense. Dined at BuckhiU, and
walked home at night ; Bessy and Tom being to start in
the York House in the morning.

26th. Struck by a curious account in the newspapers
of the effects of darkness in producing deformity. Some
caverns mentioned, I forget where, in which the poor people
take up their abode ; and where, there being little or no

286 DIARY OF [.Etat. 54,

Kght, monstrous births are frequent. In confirmation of the
same fact, some French naturalist has found that tadpoles,
if kept in the dark, may be nursed up to an enormous size
without ever becoming frogs. To Lacock to dinner:
company, Luttrell and Count Zamoiski; slept there.
Luttrell telling of Sir F. Gould, on some one saying to
him, " I am told you eat three eggs every day at break-
fast ;" ^^ No ;" answered Gould, " on the contrary." Some
of us asked, "What was the contrary of eating three
eggs ? '' " Laying three eggs, I suppose," said Luttrell.

27th. To Bowood to dinner ; two Neapolitan Counts
Poerio* (father and son), Rogers, and the Mundys. The
old Count very eloquent after dinner on the state of
Italy ; spoke very good French. Some conversation with
him and his son after dinner ; with the latter upon lite-
rature, NicoUini, Manzoni, &c. &c. Slept there.

28th. Walked home; Rogers with me great part of
the way. Told a story of a young girl who had been
saoristine (query, are there female sacristines ?) in a con-
vent, and conducted herself most innocently and indus-
triously ; till having her imagination inflamed by the
searching questions of the confessor, she left her situation
and abandoned herself to a licentious life. Her becoming
weary of it and repenting, and returning to the neigh-
bourhood of the convent ; where some woman, a stranger
to her, seeing her fatigue and distress, asks her to take
refreshment. The girl inquiring about the convent and
asking who was now sacristine of it; and the woman
answering, " Antonia " (the girl's own name), and adding
*^ The same who has been sacristine for some years ; a

* Poerio the father was a man of very considerable talent. The son
is one of the victims of the political persecutions of Naples ; himself
a patriot, and distinguished for his abilities. — £d.

Sept. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 287

yery good and pious girl." The girl's amazement ; and
her having a dream that night, in which the Virgin Mary
appeared to her and said, that in consideration of her
previous goodness and innocence, and the prospect of her
repentance, she herself had acted as sacristine for her ever
since her fall, and that she might now resume her place
without tarnish, and become again worthy of her former
character. R. said, that on mentioning this story (which
W. Irving had told him) to Lady Holland, she re-
membered having read it somewhere, and sending her
page for a volume of Le Grand's " Fabliaux," they
found it. * * * In talking of pictures, R. mentioned
Lord Carhampton saying to some one who asked him
•whether he would like to see a very fine picture of
Poussin's, " Why yes ; and if it is a fine picture, I had
just as lieve it had been painted by any one else." Re-
turned to Bowood to dinner: company, Dr. and Mrs.
Fowler, Lady Elizabeth, Luttrell, and Zamoiski. Slept.

29th. Rogers and Lord L. walked part of the way
home with me. R.'s account of the early part of Home
Tooke's life ; his life in Italy ; being cut by a whole party
on being found out to be a clergyman ; his winning them
all over, and being seen home to his house with a band of
music. A saying of Home Tooke's, " I don't like to hear
people dwelling so much on precedent; it always shows
there is something wrong in the principleJ^ To Lacock
to dinner ; slept there.

30th. Meant to have staid at Lacock, but received a
letter to say that Bessy was returning from town this
evening, so came away after breakfast; I answered Dr.
Griffin's letter, declining the proposal of the Limerick
people on the ground that my circumstances are not such
as could justify my coming into Parliament at all.

■ (

288 DIABT OF [iElAT. 54.

October let, 2nd. A note from Lord Lansdowne asking
me for Thursday to meet Lord John.

4th. To Bowood to dinner. Lord John in excellent
spirits after his canvass. I had mentioned to Lord L.
in a note that I should like to go up to town with Lord
John if he could take me, and he now offered most cor-
dially to do so. Talked in the evening of Pascal, Gibbon,
&c. ; and Lord L. read out Gibbon's splendid, but far too
operose and ostentatious, passage about comets.

5th. Obliged to return home, though they wished me
to stay ; day desperately wet.

6th. Lord John called, and was very agreeable ;
laughed like a schoolboy half the time. Staid a good
while with us, and delighted both Bessy and my sister ;
particularly the latter, to whom the sight of the famous
Lord John was quite a godsend.

7 th. Preparing for my trip to town. To Bowood to
dinner: company, besides Lord John, the Bowles's and
Fieldings. Bowles amusing us by saying that he had
once an offer to be made a member of the Whig Club ; on
our looking a little surprised, " Yes," he added, ^^ and of
the Linnaean, too." I said, that in both instances it must
have been some mistake, as he was neither Whig nor
naturali&t. Whishaw (who had been some time at Bowood
confined by an accident, in consequence of which he
bruised his nose very much) was able to come down and
join us in the evening. Forgot to mention a note I had
from Talbot, who was staying at Lord Shrewsbury's, at
Alton, saying how much Lady Shrewsbury wished to be
acquainted with me, and telling me that she had my
^^ Melodies " bound in green velvet embroidered with gold,
and the Irish harp in gold upon the covers. In answering
him, I inclosed my note in a letter to Lord Shrewsbury,

Oct. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 289

communicating to him tte nature of the work I was
engaged upon, and paying him some compliments upon
his own work on the same subject ; asking, at the same
time, with respect to his theological library, and whether
I might be permitted to have access to it. Keceived a
very polite answer, saying that he had a great number of
books of the kind I wanted at Alton, and would forward r
to me such as I should mark in his catalogue ; but that it
would gratify him and Lady Shrewsbury much more if I
would come and study at Alton, where they would be
glad of my company for a month, or as long as I could
make it convenient to stay.

8th. Started with Lord John about eight o'clock. A ,
good deal of conversation about politics; never ceased,
indeed, talking on one subject or another the whole way.
Told him freely that I was still of the same opinion as to
the rashness of giving so much to the people at once by
the Reform BUI. He said, ^^ So far from its being rash,
he thought it the most prudent thing they could have
done. It was a very different measure they had to take
of the quantum of reform necessary when in and when
out. While in opposition they were obliged to take what
they could get; but when in power, and called upon to
originate a measure themselves, they were pledged, he
thought, to give the amplest they could with safety." In
these latter words, however, lay the point upon which
our difference of opinion turned. It appeared to me that
the principle upon which they justified their giving so
much, — namely, that if they had given less, the people
would not have been satisfied, — ought, on the contrary,
to have made them reserve still further boons in their own
hands, as the people were sure to be dissatisfied, at all ^
events, and to ask for more, let the quantity given be

VOL. VI. u

4

290 DIARY OP [^TAT.64.

as ample as it might. This is human nature^ at least
popular nature ; and they had made a false calculation^ I
thought^ in supposing it would be otherwise. Already,
I said, this was apparent in the demand for ballot and
shorter parliaments. To this he answered, fairly enough,
that these two points were not to be considered as
exceeding the principle of the Bill; because he himself
had expressly adverted to them, in proposing the measure,
as subjects open to future consideration. In speaking of
the position in which the Ministry were now placed, I
mentioned how constant were my apprehensions lest cir-
cumstances should arise to place them still more and more
every day in opposition to the popular feeling, and to
their own former principles. As a symptom of this, I
referred to Lord John's own answer lately to a speech of
Burdett's on the foreign policy of the Ministry, and said
how sorry I was to see the tone he was forced by cir-
cumstances to take on that topic. Told him what Hob-
house had mentioned to me of the consternation into
which Burdett's foreign policy speech had thrown the
Treasury Bench, and of Lord Althorp saying to him
(Hobhouse), " Now I dare say it would give Sir F. Bur-
dett very sincere pain if, in consequence of that speech, I
were to-morrow to resign ; but really to that it must come
if our supporters bring us into such difficulties by indulg-
ing in such speeches." Lord John, however, seemed to
say that it was not on that occasion but on some other
that Althorp threatened to resign. Spoke very cordially
of Lord Althorp, and of the sort of Pylades and
Orestes style (this my phrase, not hii) in which they
had gone on together through the Bill. As a proof of
their inseparableness during that time, he mentioned that,
in company somewhere, where Lord Althorp was not

Oct. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 291

present, on some one asking him (Lord John) whether
he had a snuff-box, he answered, " No ; but Althorp
has." * • ♦

Speaking of Lord Grey, he said that there was far
more humility and tractableness about him in his opinions
and decisions, than the world, from his reputed temper
and his manner, gave him credit for ; that, in fact, few
men were more ready to consult with and pay deference
to others. Said that the only time during the progress
of the Reform Bill that he himself felt nervous, was on
their being about to resume oiSSce on the failure of the
Duke of Wellington to form a Ministry. Was much
struck, I own, during this whole day's conversation, not
only with the manly frankness of Lord John himself,
but still more at the temper and candour with which he
bore the free speaking of his companion. Lord John
mentioned that he had dined with Caniung at Paris at
the time when my squib about the Turtle and the Foreign
Secretary appeared ; that they talked about it, and Can-
ning seemed much amused by it. Luncheon at Beading,
and arrived at the Pay Office before seven. Found a
snug dinner ready, and also a snug bed-room, into which
(instead of going to Fielding's) I turned for the night;
Lord John expressing his regret that he could not ask
me to use it aU the time I remained in town, as he
expected Lady William up daily from Wobum.

9th. Lord John had told me as we came up, that he
had been employed during his other great occupations no
only in writing a book but in printing it, and would lend
me the sheets to look over. Could not, however, now
find them. Left him after breakfast. Went and took
possession of my comfortable bed-room at Fielding's.

Breakfasted at Brookes's; called upon the Bryans

V 2

t-

I

292 DIARY OP C-^TAT. 54.

the chief object of my coming to town, Bessy having
told me that Bryan said he wanted most anxiously to see
me upon a matter of much importance. Walked with me
as far as the Charter-house to see Tom.

From thence I went to the Longmans ; promised to dine
with them on Friday. Told me they thought the Trade
gave some symptoms of improvement, though whether it
might not be a mere momentary excitement produced by
the fenny things which are now inundating the world of
literature they could not feel quite sure. At a late sale,
however, of theirs, they had sold upwards of 20,000/.
worth of stock. Thought of calling at Rogers's, on the
chance of his not having yet gone to Broadstairs : found
that he was not to go till morning and would dine at
home, alone ; so took my seat and waited his return. A
most agreeable tete-h'tUe dinner and evening. Spoke of
poor Mackintosh* : said he had sacrificed himself to conver-
sation ; that he read for it, thought for it, and gave up
future fame for it. Told an anecdote of the Empress
Catherine, which Lord St. Helen's had related to him.
At one of her private parties, when she was as usual
walking about from card-table to card-table looking at the
players, she suddenly rang the bell for her page, but he
did not come; she looked agitated and impatient, and
rang again, but still no page appeared. At length she
left the room, and did not again return ; and conjecture
was of course busy as to what might be the fate of the in-
attentive page. Shortly after, however, some one having
occasion to go into the anti-chamber of the pages, found a
party of them at cards, and the Empress seated playing
along with them. The fact was, she had found that the

* Sir James Mackintosh died in the year 1832. — Ed.

Oct. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 293

page she rung for was so Interested in the game he was
engaged in, that he could not leave it to attend to her
summons ; and accordingly she had quietly taken his hand
for him, to play it out, while he went on the errand. So
meekly can they who have the power of life and death
over those around them sometimes deal with their slaves !
Lord St. Helen's himself was one of the Empress's com-
pany on the occasion.

lOth. Breakfasted at Brookes's. Thence to Holland
House ; saw my Lady, who is very ill, and poor Lord H.
still worse. Called at Murray's to inquire what was doing
relative to the subscription for Sir W. Scott's family.
Found I had been appointed on the committee formed
for that purpose; some of the members of which are to
have a meeting on Friday next.

11th. Breakfasted at Brookes's. Called on Marryat
at United Service Club, but did not find him. "Went
hunting among the book-stalls of Holborn for theological
books, and treated myself to a few. Back in time to dress
for a five o'clock dinner at Holland House. Saw Lord H.
before dinner lying on a sofa, with a folio volume of
Erasmus propped up before him; looked very languid.
Told me I should see him again after dinner, either there
or in his bed. No one at dinner but Allen, Miss Fox,
and my Lady ; the latter most perilously well and in
a high state of excitement and agreeableness. * ♦ *
Promised to send me to Sloperton a few flaggons of her
light dinner Burgundy, the Vin de Nuit Just as we
had finished our dessert Lord John and Lord Lansdowne
arrived, having come from the great Cabinet Council for
which they have all been summoned to town. Lord John
dined, but Lord L. returned to town to dine with Lord
Melbourne. After his dinner Lord John went to Lord

v 3

294 DIABT OF [^TAT.54.

Holland to talk over what had been done at the Coun-
ciL * * *

12th. Either to-day or yesterday went in search of
Barnes^ who has temporarily changed his residence. Could
not find him. • • * Went to the meeting at Mur-
f ray's relative to the subscription for Sir W. Scott. Found
"^ there Scott of Harden, Sir Coutts Trotter, Pusey, Hay,
and one or two more. The object was to raise a sum for
the purchase of Abbotsford. A statement of the amount
of property left by him, how disposed of, and how encum-
bered, was laid before us. Abbotsford itself, it appeared,
was not worth at the utmost 600/. a-year ; and it would
take that sum at least to keep it up, the very window-tax
absorbing a good part of it. Though Scott was insolvent
(not, of course, knowing that he was so) at the time when
He settled Abbotsford on his son's wife, it appears that the
settlement is not (as it would have been in other cases)
null ; as, Mrs. Scott's fortune (60,000/.) having been ad-
vanced on the faith of that settlement, her claim takes
precedence of that of the creditors. Letters were read
from Scotland requesting that we should merge our
object in theirs and subscribe for the monument: as if
the most solid monument, and the most welcome (if I may
so say) to the spirit of Scott himself, would not be the gift
from the country to his family of the place which will be
for ever connected with his name. I saw plainly that
there was but little hope of our object being attained ; and
/ fear much that even party has a good deal to do with the
/ coldness if not disinclination manifested towards it, as if
forgetting that Scott was a man of mankind, and one that
ought not to be measured within the small and wretched
circmnference of Party.

Dined at Longman's : company, all, with the exception

A

Oct. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 295

of M^Culloch and iriyself, printers, paper-men, and book-
sellers ; the high chur ch Rivin gton among the latter. Got
on very well, though I now and then startled the ears of
the Establishment publisher with our political heterodoxies.
Talking of the Benthamites; a good specimen of their
slang given in one of the objects professed by them,
namely, ^^To minimise the degree of official pay, and
maximise that of political aptitude." Wrote a note to
Tom to tell him I should have him out to-morrow.

13th. Preparing for my departure on Monday, having
taken my place in the York •House. Dined at Bryan's ;
none present but myself, Edward Moore, and Bryan.
Kather uneasy at Tom's absence. Took Bryan's carriage
after dinner and whisked off to the Charter-house ; found
that he had supposed the note to refer to to-morrow.
Returned to Bryan's, and home early. Met Tom Camp-
bell in the course of the day, and promised to breakfast
with him to-morrow.

14th. Tom with me between eight and nine. Took
him to Campbell's, where we breakfasted in the room
allotted to the Polish Association ; Campbell himself (the
President) occupying the bed-room annexed to it, all
for the good of poor Poland. Had at breakfast also the
secretary. Dr. Bache, and one or two more. Walked
about with Campbell afterwards. Forgot whether I have
mentioned that he has withdrawn himself from the "Me-
tropolitan." Explained to me the reason now, which was,
that Marryat had required of him an article in prose
as well as in poetry every month. (Marryat himself, by
the bye, told me that it was an article in prose instead
of one in poetry he had asked of him.) Took him with
me to call at Power's. My first visit to that gentle-
man since I have been in town. Had called at his shop

u 4

■i

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296 DIARY OF [^TAX. 54.

yesterday, and learned that he was still confined by illnesd
to his bed; found him there now, and staid but a few
minutes. Campbell left me to go pass the day with Hob-
house at Richmond. The Longmans had told me of a
design Heath has on me, in the annual way ; and to-day
I had a visit from him on the subject. What he proposes
is this : that I should furnish the whole contents of bis
Annual (the " Keepsake") myself, and that he shall give me
a thousand pounds for it; in short, that it is to be my
book illustrated, or rather my book illustrating his prints.
Confessed to him that in this shape the task appeared to
me a more attractive one than any other (annual) shape lie
could have put it in. Begged most earnestly that I would
give^ it a favourable consideration, which I promised.
Dined, Tom and I, at Admiral Douglas's : none but them-
selves ; and after dinner I was left alone with my excel-
lent old friend over a bottle of his good wine, just as we
used to sit opposite each other, twenty- nine years ago,
aboard the crazy old Boston, in which ship, with no other
ally than a twenty-gUn sloop (the Driver), he had before
challenged two fine French frigates, the Didon and Cybele,
to come out from New York and fight him ; though having
every reason to fear, as he told me, that at the very first
broadside the quarter-deck of the old Boston would go to
pieces. Walked with Tom part of his way at night, and
then put him into a cabriolet to go to the Longmans,
where he slept. Had packed up before dinner and left
my things at the Gloucester Coffee House, where I was to
sleep.

15th. Off in the morning at seven. An agreeable old
gentleman in the coach, with whom I had much conver-
sation: and astonished him exceedingly at the close by

Oct. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 297

telling him who I was. Saw dear Russell at Marlborough
on my way. Found Bessy and Ellen quite well.
/ 16th. Preparing for the departure of our dear Ellen,
I whom it grieves us to lose. To Bessy the loss is irre-
parable; for no two beings could go on more sweetly
and happily together, and the contrast between Ellen's
quiet and Bessy's life and energy makes them but the
more agreeable to each other. Both, too, so cheerful : it
is quite a delight to me when in my study to hear their
frequent laughter down stairs over some story or novel.

17th. Went to Bowood, Bessy, Nell, and myself;
Lady L. having expressed a wish to show the gardens to
Ellen before she went.

19th. Set off with Nell (Bessy of the party) for
Bristol, stopping about an hour in Bath on our way.
Had thought that the packet was to sail early the follow-
ing morning, but found that it would not sail till half-past
three in the day ; so that we might have enjoyed this day
quietly at home, and saved the expense also of the night
passed at Bristol. Provoking! Passed a comfortable
evening, however, for our money, at the " Gloucester."

20th. Passed the morning in walking about the cliffs
and through Bristol ; and at one o'clock (in order to avoid
the expense of a chaise) Bessy and I took our departure
in the coach, leaving our darling Ellen to the care of the
master of the inn to see her on board, with every prospect
of a most prosperous passage. Got a fly at Bath, and
arrived at home (with a tired horse, which could hardly
drag us the latter part of the way) before eight.

I shall now put down hastily such particulars as occur
^ to me with respect to my projected election for Limerick.
I know not whether I have already made mention of a
letter from Dr. GriflSn (arising out of that which I had

298 DIARY OF [^TAT. 64.

addressed to M. on the subject), wherein he informed me
of the organisation of a political union in Limerick, of the
result of the registries hitherto, and of the certainty he
foresaw of my being returned if 1 would allow them to
put me in nomination. To this I returned an answer,
acknowledging warmly and gratefully their kind inten-
tions towards me, and adding that it had always been one
of the fondest objects of my ambition to sit in Parliament
for Ireland: but that, unfortunately, my circumstances
were such, at once so narrow and precarious, that it would
be impossible for me to aflford either the time or expense
which a proper attendance upon Parliament would require
of me; in short, that my pen was my only support, and
that to shut up the workshop for a single session would
entail embarrassment upon me which neither my own
feelings of ambition, nor any service I could hope to render
Ireland, could in any degree justify. In this letter I hap-
pened to mention an opinion on the subject of the Repeal
of the Union thus : — " For myself I will say, with Grattan
in 1810, that 'having been an enemy to the extinguish-
ment of the Irish Parliament, I must be a friend to its
restoration,' but I will also add, with Grattan, that ' such
a proposition in Parliament, to be either prudent or pos-
sible, must be called for and backed by the Irish nation."*
The only part of this letter which my correspondent, as it
seems, allowed to transpire, was the first clause of the
quotation from Grattan. The refusal to accept their offer,
and the second qualifying sentence of the quotation, appear
to have been entirely suppressed, or at least withheld, from
the public. The consequence was, my warm-hearted (and
warm-headed) friends then continued as much a-gog for
ine as ever ; and, in a set of resolutions passed by their
political union, I was announced as an unqualified Re-

Oct. 1832.] THOMAS MOOBE. 299

pealer, and hurraed for accordingly. On my return from
town I received a letter from Dr. Griffin telling me of
the enthusiasm which my declaration in favour of Repeal
had excited ; that they were determined to have me for
their representative; and, in order to remove the only
obstacle which appeared to their wishes, were about to
raise a subscription for the purpose of purchasing an estate
for me, and were then actually (as he communicated in
confidence) negociating for a small estate of 400/. a-year
which was for sale in Limerick, and which the owner had
agreed to suspend the sale of till the determination re-
specting me was known. As he had intimated in this
letter (if I recollect right) that I was not as yet to be
supposed to know what was going on, I answered in
general terms expressive of my gratitude for the kind
feelings entertained towards me, and saying that in any
further step on my part I must be guided by the further
intelligence I should receive from him. Shortly after
this arrived a letter from Dr. GriflSn, written before his
receipt of mine, and begging for a definite answer as to
my intentions with respect to accepting their proposal, as
there were many who hesitated in acting for me on account
of the uncertainty there was of my, after all, acceding to
their wishes. Thus called upon for my decision, I could
not hesitate as to the answer I ought to give. Expressing
all the gratitude which I could not but feel at their
generous offer, I added that, while it removed the diflSculty
which I had alleged on the score of want of means, it was
attended with a difficulty of another kind still more insur-
mountable. To receive such a popular tribute after the
performance of parliamentary services would, I said, be as
honourable to him who accepted as to them who gave it :
but to be thus rewarded beforehand, to go into Parliament

300 DIART OF IJStat. 54.

their feed counsel, and even in my heartiest efforts for
their cause to be exposed to the suspicion (tarnishing even
when unjust) that I derived my inspiration from my ^ent-
roll, and was at best *^ a labourer worthy of his hire ; ^
this, I said, was a situation in which neither for their sakes
nor my own was it advisable that I should place myself.
However generously and honourably both the parties con-
cerned might enter into such a transaction, there was but
too much danger, constituted as this world is, of its ending
in disappointment to one of the parties, and perhaps dis-
grace to the other.

Not long after the above answer I received an applica-
tion from another quarter, which was not a little, I confess,
flattering, and the more so from its being so totally un-
expected. It came in a letter from my old friend Arcl^j:
Douglas, who was then on a visit to his brother-in-law.
Lord Cloncurry; and the following are his words: —
" Lord Cloncurry tells me that he has just come from
Lord Anglesey, who expressed himself most anxious that
you should start for the College, and you should be sup-
ported by all the government interest^ which must be con-
siderable, in particular with the Bar. All expectants for
appointments in the law would of course go with the
government ; and as to my profession I think you might
-reckon on a fair support. I feel there is no constituency
by whom you could be returned to Parliament on whom
you have so graceful and well-founded claims as Trinity
College, Dublin. Your distinguished career in that univer-
sity, of which you were one of the best ornaments, places
your pretensions to its representation on high grounds.
By the long conversation I had with Lord Cloncurry on
the subject, he seems to think Lord Anglesey is most
anxious to have you represent the College." * * * In

iryi7ERSITT

Nov. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. '^^^ ^

my answer to Douglas's letter, I professed myself, of
deeply grateful for the honour which Lord Anglesey did
me in considering me worthy of such a station and such
patronage; but (on the same grounds on which I had
declined the Limerick proposal) assigned the limited state
of my means as an insurmountable bar to my coming into
Parliament. Lest, however, this might seem to imply
that, had my circumstances allowed of it, I would have
accepted of the proposition, I took care to say that, ^^ Even
if this objection did not exist, I felt that, with the views
I entertained, it would be hardly possible for me to come
into Parliament under the sanction of the present govern-
ment;" adding, **When I say the present government,
I must mean, I fear, any government, for where they fail
how can I hope that others will succeed ? but as long as
the principle on which Ireland is at present governed
shall continue to be acted upon, I can never consent to
couple my name, humble as it is, with theirs."

November 1st to 8th. Talbot came over unexpectedly

from Lacock, and brought us the account of Lady Valle-

tort's safe accouchement of a boy. Asked him to come to

dinner the next day. Was surprised by a visit from two

Limerick gentlemen, the brothers of my correspondent in p

^ that city. Dr. Gbaffin-h<an4.raeof them the author of the , /

/^ery striking novel, " The Collegians." They^had come, as

they told me, expressly on the subject of my electj^on for

Limerick ; their brother being of opinion that in a personal

interview they could best convey to me all the anxiety

there existed amongst the electors to have me for their

member, and the certainty of the success of those measures

which they were now vigorously setting on foot for the

purpose of removing all the obstacles I had alleged to

my consent. Asked them to stay to dinner, which they

302 DIABY OF [^TAT. 54*

readily agreed to do ; and, though I was obliged to leave
them a great part of the day to themselves, not being able
to spare the time from my study, we had at intervals a
good deal of conversation on the subject of their mission,
and there certainly could not have been found two more
anxious or pressing suitors. The estate which the electors
had their eye upon for me, and which T)r. GriflSn repre-
sented as worth 400?. a-year, was reduced in their state-
ment to about 300Z. ; but, as a proof of the facilities and
the ardour there was towards the purchase of it, they told
me of one man, a man in business in Limerick, who had
offered to contribute to the subscription as his own share
100?. Talbot at dinner, and very agreeable. My Irish
guests shy and silent ; but Talbot and I made up the de-
ficiency in both ways. Agreed with my two friends (who
to the last expressed their hope of a favourable answer)
that I would give the matter still further consideration,
and would let them know the result to-morrow. In the
course of our conversations, referring to the Bepeal of the
Union, I gave it as my opinion, that whoever took up that
question as an object of serious pursuit, must be prepared
to look separation in the face as an inevitable consequence
of it. This startled them, and they most earnestly (and I
have no doubt sincerely) disclaimed for themselves, as well
as for the great majority of Irishmen, all thoughts or ap-
prehension of the Repeal leading to such a result. But
what strange short-sightedness 1 As if a Catholic House of
Commons (which they would be sure to have out and out)
would not instantly set about disposing of Church property
in the first place, and absentee property in the second ;
and as if England would stand quietly by to see the work
of spoliation go on : as if (even were these elements of strife
out of the way) there would not constantly arise questions

Nov. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 303

on trade^ foreign treaties, going to war, &c., on which two
legislatures like those of England and Ireland would be
certain to differ; and then away would go their slight link
of connection to the winds. What was so near happening
in 1789, when the Irish parliament was Protestant, could
hardly fail to take place after a repeal, when it would be
to all intents and purposes Catholic. To these and other
such points which I put to them, they did not know well
what to answer. " Still," I continued, ** notwithstanding
all this, and with all these (to me) evident consequences
staring me in the face, so hopeless appeared the fate of
Ireland under English government, whether of Whigs or
Tories (the experiment now having been tried with both,
and the results of both being the same), that, as the only
chance of Ireland's future resuscitation, I would be almost
inclined to run the risk of Repeal, even with separation ns
its too certain consequence, being convinced that Ireland
must go through some violent and convulsive process be-
fore the anomalies of her present position can be got rid of;
and thinking such riddance well worth the price, however
dreadful would be the pain of it. Whether, even then,
she would be able to remain free between England and
France, to one or other of whom she seems destined to
belong, is another awful question ; but that she will be at
some time or other not very distant the seat of war be-
tween both countries, is but too probable."

9th. At three o'clock my two friends called according
to appointment, when I told them definitively that it was
impossible for me to accede to the proposition, and, having
before they came pencilled in my pocket-book a sketch of
the sort of answer I meant to return to the Limerick
Union, submitted it for their approval. This done, I saw
them cross the fields on their way to Devizes, and the

304 DIARY OF [^TAT. 54.

warm-hearted fellows parted from me, I must say, with
tears in their eyes.

10th. Despatched my answer to the Requisition.

11th to 13th. Received a letter, one of these days,
from Dr. Griffin, in the postscript of which he informed
me that O'Connell had just arrived in Limerick ; and
having seen my answer, which was on the point of being
laid before the Union, begged that it might be withheld
till he himself should have communication with me, as he
thought he could put the matter to me in such a shape as
would remove all my objections. In consequence of this
I waited some posts, as a matter of courtesy ; and then^
not hearing from O'Connell, wrote to him to say that I
had heard of his kind interference, but that nothing even
he could say (though his word, like Joshua's, seemed to be
capable of controlling far greater luminaries than I was)
could have the effect of altering my resolution ; at the
same time wrote to Dr. Griffin, that if my letter did not
soon appear in the Limerick papers I should be forced in
my own defence to publish it here.

14th to 30th. For the remainder of the month at work
in various ways ; at my Theology ; for the ^^ Metropoli-
tan," and for the " Times." Sent two squibs to the latter
lately, which appear to have been very successful, —
*^ St. Jerome on Earth," First and Second Visits. Soon
after the appearance of the first received a letter from
some person (a stranger to me) asking in very civil and
flattering terms whether this jeu-d^esprit was mine or not ?
as he had laid a wager with a friend on the subject, and
had inquired in vain of the editor of the " Times " to help
him to a decision on it : not that he had himself, he said,
the least doubt on his mind that the verses came from the
same hand that had already given the world a series of the

Nov. 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 305

most exquisite, &c. &c. &e., but because the wager could
not be decided without some such authority. Thinking it
was a pity so civil a gentleman should lose his wager, I
got Talbot one morning to write him a letter for me saying,

'^ The person to whom Mr. addressed a letter of such

a date takes this method of informing him that he is right
in his conjecture, and is therefore the winner of the wager."
December 1st, 2nd. Great praises of me in the late
speeches of O'Connell at the Dublin Union. My letter to
the Limerick people printed at last, and most flattering
comments on it by some of the speakers at the Limerick
Union.*

* This is the address alluded to in the text : —

«* Sloperton Cottage, Not. 8th, 1832.
'* GsNTXiEMEN,

" I have to acknowledge, with every feeling of respect and gratitude,
the requisition so numerously signed, which I have this day had the
honour of receiving from you. Already had I been in a great degree
prepared for such a call by a correspondence in which I have been
engaged with one of your fellow-citjizens, and which, though but pre-
liminary to the decisive step which has now been taken, had put me
fully in possession of the kind feelings entertained towards me by the
greater portion of the enlightened electors of your city.

^* To know that even a thought of selecting me as their representa-
tive had once entered into the contemplation of persons like yourselves,
BO well qualified by a zealous sense of the value of liberty to judge of
the requisites of those to whom such a trust should be confided, would
in itself have been a source of pride and gratification to my mind ;
you may judge therefore what are my feelings on receiving so signal a
proof, both in the cordial and unsought requisition which has this
morning reached me, and in those further proceedings which I under-
stand you meditate, that the honour you did me in selecting my name
from among the many ofilsred to you was no light or transient com-
pliment, but that you deliberately think me worthy of being the re
presentative of your interests in the great crisis, as well for England
as for Ireland, which is now approaching.

'^ But, Gentlemen, rarely in this life can so high and bright a posi-
tion as that in which your offer now places me be enjoyed without its
opposing shadow; and in proportion to the pleasure, the triumph,

VOL. TI. X

306 DIABY OP [iETAT. 54.

3rd. A visit from Bowles, full of delight at my letter ;
" manly, affecting, &c. ; had made him cry in reading it."

4th. Lord Kerry called ; spoke also of the letter : ** The
best letter ever written.*' Asked me to attend his election
dinner. Lady Lansdowne and Lady Louisa called like-
wise in the course of the day ; Lady L. bringing a nice
French bonnet as a present for Bessy from Paris.

wbich I cannot but feel at this manifestation of your opinion, — placing
as it does within my reach a post of honour which I have so often in
the ambition of mj young days sighed for, — in proportion to my deep
and thorough sense of the distinction you would thus confer upon me,
is the pain with which I am compelled reluctantly to declare that I
cannot accept it. The truth, plainly told, is, that my circumstances
render such an appropriation of my time impossible ; not eyen for a
single session could I devote myself to the duties of Parliament without
incurring considerable embairassment. To the labour of the day, in
short, am I indebted for my daily support ; and though it is by being
content with this lot that I have been able to preserve that independence
of mind which has now so honourably, and I may be allowed to boast
in so many quarters, won for me the confidence of my fellow-country-
men, it is not the less an insuperable impediment to the acceptance of
the high honour you ofier me.

^^ I am not unaware* as I have already intimated, that, in your strong
and generous desire to remove this only obstacle which you know
opposed itself to my compliance with your wishes, you have set on
foot a national subscription for the purpose, as you yourselves express
it, of providing me with the qualification necessary for a member of the
House of Commons. This proof of your earnestness in the cause I
feel, both on public and private grounds, most sensibly. But, however
honourable I might deem such a gift after the performance of services
in Parliament, I see objections to it which to me are insurmountable.
Were I obliged to choose which should be my direct paymaster, the
Government or the People, I should say without hesitation the People ;
but I prefer holding on my free course, humble as it is, unpurchased
by either : nor shall I the less continue, as far as my limited sphere
of action extends, to devote such powers as God has gifted me with to
that cause which has always been uppermost in my heart, which was
my first inspiration and shall be my last, — the cause of Irish freedom.
** I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,

" Your faithful and devoted Servant,

'* Thobias MbOBB."

Dec, 1832.] THOMAS MOORE. 307

5 th to 1 1th. A visit from Talbot to tell us of his success
at Chippenham. A letter from Lord John Bussell^ in
which he says, ** I am glad to find, what I should have been
sorry to find on any other occasion, that you are not coming
into Parliament : I should have been sorry to see you going
out into the lobby when I was staying in ; and as I am con-
vinced that must have been the case, I would rather have
a worse man in your place than have that violence done to
my feeUngs."

12th. Lord Kerry's election dinner at Calne. Lady
L. had written to say Kerry would take me ; but Phipps
having already offered, went with him. Nothing could go
off better than the day did altogether ; the young chairman
very adroit in his tOast givings, and the company very
civilised and intelligent. Their reception of me most
enthusiastic. Some good glees sung ; and one of the singers
in them a shoemaker. Brought home by Phipps. They
had wanted me to sleep at Bowood, but I preferred this.

13th. A note from Lord L. to ask me to fix a day to
dine. Said he could not delay, even iill then, telling me
how very much he admired my address to the Limerick
electors. " It was," he said, " really perfect for the
occasion.'*

15 th. A note from Lady L. to say the carriage would
be with me at four. Nobody but Labouchere. In talking
in the evening Lord L. asked me whether I had ever read
any English work of Sir Thomas More, as Mackintosh
praised him for being one of the first that wrote anything
like a good English style. We then consulted a Biblio-
graphical Dictionary, and found some English works of
his mentioned which none of us knew anything about.
Speaking of the construction so often used in public speak-
ing, of the " then Government," " then Minister," Guthrie

X 2

308 DIABT OF lJEa^AJT.54*

said it was following the Greek idiom ; but I expressed my
doubts whether he could show either "now" or "then**
used before a noun in this manner in Greek. In the
course of the evening he showed me a passage of Thucy-
dides^ which certainly came near the case in question,
though it was not altogether what he had asserted — rrj^
vvv *FiXKr}vi/ci]9 %dXaaa7)s. Slept there.

18th to 31st. A letter from Corry, in which he quotes
to me some opinions of his Irish correspondents about my
address to the Limerick people. Bellew says, " Moore's
address does him infinite honour." The Chief Justice
Bushe writes, ** I rejoice with you at Moore's farewell : he
was right ; what would the Muse do in a Pandemonium?''
William Curran says, ^* I join most heartily with you in
your admiration of Moore's address : it breathes the dignity
of the bard and the spirit of the gentleman; the latter
rather a novelty of late here."

Jan. 1833.] THOMAS HOOBE. 309

1833.

January let, 1833. Had been for some days in cor-
respondence with Lardner respecting my Irish History,
which I am now about to resume in earnest ; and my re-
sources from Power no longer going on, and my supplies
from the " Metropolitan" being now at an end, I found it
necessary to request of him an advance of money on the
work. With great readiness he entered into my wishes,
and agreed to the terms of accommodation which I pro-
posed. Dined at Bowood, to meet Sydney Smith and his
family : party, besides the Smiths, Lord Ilchester and his
family. Sydney, as usual, full of wit and fun. Talking of
Dumont and Bentham ; the luminous manner in which the
former brought Bentham*s thoughts out : a good deal of his
own must have been mixed up with it ; his remarks on the
drama, for instance. The chapter on Peines Caract^ris-
tiques full of stark staring Benthamism : the punishment'
for a coiner of false money, a hot half-crown impressed
upon the cheek ; a woman who murdered her child, to
carry always a basket suspended from her neck with a
leaden child in it of a weight proportioned to her strength,
a sa force naturelle. * • * Talking of a paragraph lately
which stated that all the Church dignitaries meant to
resign in case the threatened Church Reform was brought
forward, he went off at score on the sad state we should be
reduced to by such a resignation ; our being obliged to send
to America to borrow a bishop : ** Have you such a thing
as a bishop you could lend us ? Shall keep him only a
fortnight, and return him with new cassock," &c.

310 DIABY OF C-fiTAT. 54.

2nd to 4th, Sydney called at Sloperton, and was very
good-natured in admiring and praising everything; said
afterwards that it gratified hitn to see genius so well
lodged^ and that he had found out a good motto for my
house — ** Ingenium bene habitat^

5th. Went to Bowood to dinner. I staid to sleep, and
pass to-morrow.

6th. Talking of the bread they were now about • to
make from sawdust, Sydney said, people would soon have
sprigs coming out of them. Young ladies, in dressing for
a ball, would say, ** Mamma, I'm beginning to sprout,"
Spoke of derivations of different words : nincompoop, from
non compos ; cock-a-hoop, from the taking the cock out of
the barrel of ale, and setting it on the hoop to let the ale
flow merrily. Talbot, by the bye, has since suggested
that it was from a game cock put on his mettle with his
houppe erect.* • • * Quoted an excellent mot of some-
body to Fontenelle, on the latter saying that he flattered
himself he had a good heart — " Yes, my dear Fontenelle,
you have as good a heart as can be made out of brains."

In talking with Hallam afterwards, I put it to him, why
it was that this short way of expressing truths did not do
with the world, often as it had been tried, even Rochefou-
cauld being kept alive chiefly by his ill-nature. There
was in this one saying to Fontenelle aU that I myself had
expended many pages on in my " Life of Byron " endea-
vouring to bring it out clearly ; namely, the great differ-
ence there is between that sort of sensibility which is
lighted up in the head and imagination of men of genius
and the genuine natural sensibility whose seat is in the
heart Even now, in thus explaining my meaning, how
many superfluous words have I made use of? Talking of
the Brahmins being such good chess-players (nobody it

Feb. 183S.] THOMAS HOORE. 311

seems can stand before them at the game)^ Mrs. Hasting^)'
naivete was mentioned in saying, **Well, people talk a
good deal about the Brahmins playing well ; but I assure
you Mr. Hastings, who is very fond of chess, constantly
plays with those who come to the Government House, and
always beats them." Lord L. mentioned Mrs. Siddons
saying one day, when looking over the statues at Lans*
dovne House, that the first thing that suggested to her
the mode of expressing intensity of feeling was the position
of some of the Egyptian statues, with the arms close down
by the sides, and the hands clenched. This implied a more
intellectual feeling as to her art than I have ever given
Mrs. Siddons credit for. To be sure, if ever great actor
or actress had that feeling, she (the greatest 1 had ever
seen) ought to have been inspired with it ; but, in my opi-
nion, none have. It is not an intellectual art. She was a
dtdl woman. Kemble was a cultivated man ; but a poor
creature when he put pen to paper, or otherwise attempted
to bring out anything of mind. Had a good sermon from
Sydney Smith ; only that it was all expressly addressed
to people living in London (one of his St. Paul's sermons,
in short), and therefore ninety miles wide of the mark.
Dined and slept.

7th. Sydney and his family off after breakfast Staid
for an hour or two looking over books in the library, and
then took leave of Lord Lansdowne, who starts for town
in two or three days.

8th to 31st. From this time busy at home, with the
exception of a visit which Bessy and I paid for two days at
Lacock, where we made acquaintance with Talbot's newly
espoused wife.

February Ist to 27th. So busy finishing off my theo-
•^ logical work, that I have not had time to journalise. Sent

X 4

A

312 BIAEY OF [JStat.54.

a squib to the " Times," entitled ^^ Lord Henry and St. Ce-*
cilia." Had before sent an *^ Ode to the Youths of Trinity
College." Towards the latter end of the month my peace
very much disturbed by this new Algerine act of my frienA,
the Whigs, against Ireland, the Coercion Act. Consts^it
discussions with my friend Fielding on the subject.

28th. Sent Barnes some verses against the late a^t>
entitled ^* Paddy's Metamorphosis." Through fear, I sup-
pose, of his saintly readers, Barnes altered my ejaculation
^^ Oh Christ I " into ^^ Father's blood," which is quite new
to me either in Ireland or anywhere else, and is a di8-»
figurement to the verses.

March 1st. A visit from Lady E. Fielding, who brok^
out about the verses which were in to-day's paper. Wants
me to defer my visit to town in order to meet the Valle-
torts, who come in a few days, and she wishes Mrs. Moore
and me to meet them ; but must be off on Tuesday or
Wednesday. A letter from Lord John this morning as

follows : —

*' Dear Moore,
" Here is for your ' black and woolly already,* * if it be yours ; more
sense, though less poetry. Yours truly, J. R."

(Lord John's verses.)
" The Ibish .

" In Genoa 'tis said that a jewel of yore,

Clear, large, and resplendent, ennobPd the shrine.
Where the faithful in multitudes flock*d to adore ;
And the emerald was pure and the saint was divine.

" But the priest who attended the altar was base.

And the faithful who wori>hippM besotted and blind ;
He put a green glass in the emerald's place,

And the multitude still in mute worship inclined.

" So Ireland had once a fair gem of pure water,

When Grattan and Charlemont wept with her sorrow ;
But a token of glass her new patriots have bought her, —
'Tis a jewel to-day, — 'twill be shiver'd to-morrow."

♦ The burden of my verses.

March, 1833.] THOMAS MOOKE. 3lS

6th. Started for town. Had written to Bryan to say
I should dine with him ; and arrived there before half-past

seven : none but himself and Mrs. B. Told of ►

ote of the new Irish members, that having, at his election^
bantered a butter merchant who came to vote against
hun, asking him at which side of the firkin of butter he
put the stone as a make-weight, the fellow, after giving
him some answer, said, " And now, Mr. — , let me ask
you a question : which was it, the leaders or the wheelers
you held that night when your father robbed the mail?"
Bryan, as usual, savage against Ireland, and all for the new
bill. ^* By God I it's not half strong enough." Got to my
lodgings (15, Duke Street) early.

7tli. At home till three. Went out with Mrs. Bryan
in her carriage ; drove to Charter House, but could not
see Tom. To Rogers's at six, to take my chance of dining
with him ; had dined, and was going alone to some theatre,
but ordered a beefsteak for me, and both went to Drury
Lane, where we saw ^^ Don Juan," and a beautiful ballet,
the ** Sleeping Beauty ; " very pretty dancing, a la
Taglioniy by Madlle. Duvemay. Rogers very kind and
agreeable ; fixed to dine with him again to-morrow.

8th. At home busy till four. At Brookes's found two
or three, who, when I stud, " I can't bear this biU," an-
swered in an under tone, " I don't like it either." They
are all in a wretchedly false position, and evidently feel
that they are so. Dinner with Rogers. Even he (whose
views of politics are in general so manly and consistent)
has got bitten a little with this new Whig frenzy, and
tries to defend their apostacy, for it is apostacy. Went
together to the oratorio, which was very fine throughout ;
the last scene of the Israelites passing through the Red Sea
very animated and striking.

314 DIABT OT [£TAr. 54.

9tL Had Tom out from the Charter House. Talking
of " Killing no Murder," Sharp said that it appeared, after
all, it was not written by Col. Pride. Remarked how ad-
mirable it was, and quoted a famous passage fr<»n it. Dined
(Tom and I) at Edward Moore's, for the purpose of going
to some theatre. Met a Mr. Nugent, nephew to Mrs.
Edmund Burke, to whom, it appears, she left all Burke's
papers. Mentioned his having found the rough draft of
the Prince's celebrated letter at the time of the Regency
among Burke's papers. Is at present in negociation, by
his own account, with Lord Milton (Lord Fitzwilliam) on
the subject of these papers, which Lord F. means to edit.
Two opera tickets having arrived, determined to take
Tom to the opera. The opera, " Corradino;" the ballet^
« Faust."

10th. Made calls ; saw Barbara Godfrey. Dined with
Rogers to meet Wilkie and Kenny. Talking of the picture
from "Lalla Rookh" which is now exhibiting at the
British Gallery, — " Mokanna unveiling his face to Zelica," '
— Wilkie, in his matter-of-fact way, said, "Pray, Mr.
Moore, can you give me any idea of the sort of face you >
meant to be under that veil?"

11th. Hard at work all day. Dined at Lord Hol-
land's : company, Duke of Bedford, Lord Lansdowne,
Lord J. Russell, Marsh, &c. * * * The Hollands talking at
dinner of their tour on the continent in 1800, when Marsh
accompanied them ; some difficulties they had with a com--
mis in their way ; his saying, ** Enfin 1 je suis dans le cds
de vous arreter;"*^ Marsh's alarm at the phrase, je suis dans
le cas — "I don't like that dans le cas.^ Marsh having
arrived at Dover before them, was seized as a spy, on
account of his memorandum-book, and kept there a long
time ; not suffered to stir out without somebody to watch

Mabob^ 1833.] THOMAS MOOBE. 315

him, but told, for his comfort, that " the Government was
disposed to be lenient."

12th. Taken out by Mrs. Bryan to make calls : a great
saving of coach-hire. Called^ upon Mrs. Conyngham,
whose face reminded me a little of poor Emmett's. Dined
at Rogers's: Leslie and Chalons dined; we had also
Kenny and Allen. In talking with Leslie in the evening
I put it to him to account for the extraordinary fact, that
the Italian artists of the present day, living in the midst
of all that is most beautiful in art, and having it constantly
before their eyes, should yet produce nothing but abortions
themselves. Hi&s explanation of this not satisfactory; so
little so, that I forget what it was.

13th. Dined at Lansdowne House. Had told them
that I meant to have Tom out, and they were good-natured
enough to ask him also, but I did not take him. A family
party ; Miss Fox, Lady Mary Fox, and Bobus Smith, —
the first time of my ever meeting him. Very agreeable ;
and I can easily imagine, in his best time, preferable, with
•^ some people, to Sydney. Lord L., for instance, rates him
higher. But Sydney, Sydney is, in his way, inimitable ;
and, as a conversational wit, beats all the men I have ever
met. Curran's fancy went much higher, but also much
lower. Sydney, in his gayest flights, though boisterous, is
never vulgar.

14th. At home at work, as usual. Dined with Mrs.
Manners Sutton, for the purpose of attending the House
of Commons after dinner, to hear the Irish Church Re-
form discussion ; but was disappointed. Found, on taking
my seat under the gallery (next to Lord Sandon), that
the debate was put off*.

15th. Dined at Lord Listowel's : company. Lord and
Lady Mayo, the Newtons (she a very pleasing as well as

316 DIARY OF t-^TAT. 5i.

pretty person), Latham, the Bushes, &c. Sat within
one of Lord Mayo :

" For who, with an ounce of sense, would go
To sit and be bored by Lord Mayo ?"

Suppose he never heard of those wicked lines of mine ; at
all events, nothing could be more friendly than both him-
self and his lady.

1 5th. Had Tom out, the Lockes having good-naturedly
asked him to dine. Singing in the evening ; but I took
flight at ten, having engaged to accompany Rogers to
the Duke of Sussex's conversazione. Called upon him at
Sharpe's, where he had dined with Macaulay, Jeffrey^
Charles Grant, &c. Had a good deal of conversation with
Jeffrey (whom it always delights me to meet) on the sub-
ject of the Irish bill, and I saw that he feels most sorely
the position in which it places him and all of them. Asked
me could I think that anything but a strong sense of the
necessity of the crisis could induce men to damage them-
selves in the eyes of the public (as he owned was but too
likely to be the case) by such a departure from their gene-
ral principles ? The necessity, however, is what I question ;
and though the excitement produced everywhere by their
own precious Reform Bill may have stirred up into some-
what more activity the spirit always alive in Ireland, I
think there has not passed a year, during the last thirty,
in which almost as good a case might not have been made
out for a green bag or a red box, as these ministers have
produced. But the fact is, that Jeffrey, and other such
conscientious members of the party (and there cannot be a
man more honourably and liberally disposed than he is),
are the victims of their position* From that much abused
feeling of honour which binds party-men together, one hot.

^

y

March, 1833.] THOMAS MOOEE. 317

petulant man, like , can commit the whole set, by

making them gulp down measures the most alien to their
real sentiments.

16th. My mornings mostly the same; despatching, as
hastily as I can, the last sheets of my work. Dined at
Rogers's, a dinner originating in my wish to meet Barnes
while in town, and which was to have taken place last
Sunday but that B. was engaged: company, the Duke
of Argyll, Lord Clifden, Lord Gosford, Burdett, C. Fox,
W, Ponsonby, Luttrell, Labouchere, Warre, and one or
two more. In talking of Wolfe Tone's Journal (which
Labouchere compared with Swift's " Journal to Stella ! "
and pronounced it affected, insincere, &c.), Rogers men-
tioned what I was glad to hear, that the Duke of Welling-
ton had spoken highly of it to him, and said that but few
books had ever interested him so much. Burdett and
myself remained with Rogers talking politics after the rest
had gone, Burdett's conservatism deplorable. By the
way, young Murray told me the other day that Croker
had lately met Burdett somewhere (for the first time) at
dinner, and that he said afterwards to Murray, " Talk of
conservatism I he beats me hollow." As an addition to
this, I have heard since that Peel was also of the party ;
and that, after one of Burdett's extravaganzas in his new
line. Peel said quietly, ** This is all Very well, and I, of
course, agree with you ; but it would be as well not to
take quite so high a tone." Peel keeping down Burdett's
Toryism is excellent I But I doubt this supplement to
the story.

I7tb. In talking one of these days at Brookes's with
Lord K. he said, ** What's to be done with Stanley ? for
he won't go with the times, and no ministry can go on
without him." He then remarked that he (Stanley) and

318 DIAEY OP [A3TAT.54.

Peel were evidently destined, before long, to c<Mne to-
gether ; the only difficulty was, which should yield to the
other, as both would want to be leaders.

18th. Went to Lansdowne House: found a large
assembly: talked with a number of old acquaintances.
Sydney Smith, in speaking of the meditated **Life of
^^ I Mackintosh," by his son, said to me, '* How I wish it was
in the hands of a certain friend of mine, instead I " Men-
tioned that a journal which Mackintosh kept while in
India, and which it was feared had been lost, has been
lately discovered.

19th. Dined with Byng: company, Lord de Ros,
LuttreU, Greville, Dr. Quin, &c. In my way to dinner
left at De Ros's the papers relative to Lord Edward he
lent me : as well as some curious old letters of his family ;
some of Lord Coningsby, &c., which miffht have been,
perhaps, turned to some account, had I had time to ex-
amine them. Dinner agreeable enough. Went after-
wards to the Opera.

23rd. Paid a visit to Mrs. Conyngham; promised to
dine with her next week. A visit, before I turned out,
from Tom, whom the Merewethers have undertaken to
dine to-day. Dined, myself, at Brookes's. Forgot to '
mention a sally of Lady Holland s the other day, which
amused me a good deal from its truth. Lord John had
been mentioning some proceedings of Hume and others, in
the House, all indicative enough of what is still further to
come. " Well," she said, with a sort of shrug of disgust,
addressing herself to Lord John and Lord Holland, *^ Tu
Tas vouluy George Dandin.^ Nothing can be truer. They
have no right to complain who so deliberately gave the
impulse Have been sitting to Moore, the sculptor, for ^

\

Mabch^isss.] rrHOMAs hoobe. 319

my bust. On my way from him to-day called at Sir
Martin Shee's, and agre^ to dine with him to-morrow.

24th. Tom disposed of at the Merewethers'. Dined
at Sheets : his own family merely. A good man, and inde-
pendent. The gentlemen at Brookes's full of ire at Aber-
cromby's vote against them the other night. " / take him
to my heart for it," said I to Hobhouse ; " but I suppose you
are all in a rage with him." On talking with Fazakerley
afterwards, I found that the ministers were fully prepared
for the thing. Faz. himself highlj^ indignant with Aber-
cromby, and had called upon him to rate him on the sub-*
ject '*I suppose," said A. to him, **the moh of the
House are in high dudgeon with me." ♦ ♦ * I will
not give up my good opinion of Abercromby.

25th. Mrs. Bryan took me about in her carriage to
pay visits. Called at Lord Dover's, and saw Lady
Dover, who asked me to name some day this week to dine
with them ; named Thursday. Met there Lady Stafford
(Gower that was), who asked me to dine on Wednesday,
and go to a private view of the microscope in the evening.
Unluckily engaged for dinner, but promised to join her
party in the evening. Took advantage of the carriage to
be left at Longman's, where I was to dine, and had an
hour's talk on business before dinner. A few days after
my last interview with Power I wrote him a note to say
that, in order to avoid coming to any extremities, I was
very willing to submit the differences between us to the
arbitration of two persons appointed by common consent ;
that I would name either Mr. Longman or Mr. Rogers,
both men of business, and he should appoint somebody
equally qualified on his side ; or (as I looked for nothing
that any two fair men would not award to me) he might
appoint both arbitrators, aiid I was perfectly ready to

320 DIARY OF [iETAT. 54*

abide by tlieir decision. To this he answered that he had
no objection whatever to Mr. Longman or Mr. Rogers,
and would be very glad if Mr. Rees would act on his side.
This ready assent to my proposal of an arbitration looked,
I thought, well and promising ; and, in the note I wrote
acquainting him of Rees's consent to act between us, I
took the opportunity of mentioning the favourable im-
pression this step of his had made upon me. In talking
over the matter with Rees and Longman now, I found
that Power had been with Rees in the morning, and left
him our deeds of agreement and some extracts from my
letters to look over; the result of which examination,
was that, in the opinion both of Rees and Longman (to
the latter of whom the matter was more explained).
Power " had not," as they expressed it, *^ a leg to stand
upon." Even the deduction of the 50Z. annually from my
annuity (which I agreed to give towards the payment of
the arranger), he has, from these documents, they think,
no power of enforcing, if I chose to refuse it. In conse*
quence of finding the case so bad, it was Rees's intention
to decline being arbitrator; but I suggested that it would
be advisable to state, at the same time, his reasons for so
declining, as it might have the effect of making Power
think a little more seriously on the subject. Company
at dinner, Merivale (who has sent me lately the new
edition of his agreeable work, the " Greek Anthology "),
M^Culloch, James Stuart, author of the " Three Years in
North America," and the partners. Story of a Scotch
divine, well-known for being a seccatore in his preaching,
who, having been caught one day in a shower going to
church, was conjplaining to a friend of being very wet ;
*^ Well, Geordie," said the friend, " only get up in the
pulpit, and ye'll be dry enough."

March, 1833.] THOMAS MOORE. 521

27tli. Told Rogers (who, I forgot to meDtioD, had
consented to meet Rees as my arbiter in the business with
Power) of Rees having looked over Power's papers, and
then declined having anything to do with the business.
Nothing, Rogers thought, could be more injudicious and
mischievous to me than this step. Rees ought to have
refused looking at my papers till they were laid before
him and Rogers together, when they might have secured a
settlement ; but now, by defeating thus the prospect of an
amicable arrangement, he had thrown the whole thing
adrift, and left no other alternative but law. This I felt
to be but too true. * * * Rogers was most hearty
and anxious on the subject, and (as he never fails to be on
matters of business) clear-sighted and judicious.

3 1 st. Wished much to have been able to get to the
Warwick Street Chapel, but could not leave my tran-
scribing. Tom went, but, from the great crowd, could
not get in. Walked about with him a little, intending
him to return to the Charter House afterwards, but, by
good luck. Admiral Douglas, on whom we called, kept him
to dinner, I myself being engaged to Lansdowne House.
Had been asked, also, to the Speaker's. Large party at
L. House ; Sir C. and Lady Coote, Hobhouse, Codrington,
Spring Rice, &c. Somebody mentioned that the Duke of
Modena has set up a newspaper in his dominions, of which
he is himself the editor, and calls it ^^Luce di Veritit.^^ Was
told, one of these days, of a smart thing said by Alvanley
respecting an exquisite bachelor's box, fitted up, it appears,
in the most ornamented style, but where, it also appears,
there is never by any chance a dinner given. " I should
like a little less gilding and more carving," said Alvanley.
Luttrell mentioned rather an amusing quaintness he had
read somewhere lately. In speaking of some young man

VOL. VI. Y

322 DIABY OP E^TAT. 54.

just come of age, it was said, " he had nothing to do, and
a great deal of money to do it wj^A."

April 2nd. Walking with G D , he mentioned

having met Talleyrand yesterday, and his saying of some

woman that L was praising as having heaucaup

d'esprity ** Omi, beaucoup d'esprit^ beaucaup ; elle ne s*en
sert jamais^'* Mentioned a thing Talleyrand had said to

him in speaking of the Americans, which he (G )

professed not to be able to understand, nor do I quite
comprehend it either : " Comme toutes ks nouvelUs nations,
ils manquent de sensibilitey^ meaning physical sensibility.
Talleyrand's notion must, I think, have been that civilisar
tion and luxury act, through the mind, upon the body,
and render men physically more sensitive both to pleasure
and pain ; and there may be some truth in this. Talked

over some of Talleyrand's mots; his replying to

(I forget who, some notorious reprobate*), who had said
to T., ^* Je rCaifait quHune seule mechancete dans ma vie ; '*
*^ Et ce/fe-Za,"'answered Talleyrand, " qiiand Jinira-t^lle f "
His sitting by M.'s bed when the latter was in great
agony, and thought to be dying. ^^ Je sens les tourmens
de Tenfer;' said M. ; '' Deja ?" asked TalleyranA Of the
same nature was another, on some occasion when M., very
ill, had fallen on the floor, and was grasping violently at it
with his hands : ^* II veut absolument descendre^^ said T.

4th. Visit from Power. Was soon made sensible of
the great injury Sees had done me by declining the arbi-
tration, and declining it, too, in such a way as to leave
Power still under the impression that there was nothing
beyond the mere ordinary course of business in his conduct
to me. * * * Dined at Byng's: company. Lord

* Said to be Rivarol. — Ed.

April^ 18S3.] THOMAS MOOBE« 323

Essex, Sir Francis Burdett, Baron Dedel^ the Dutch
ambassador^ and somebody else, whom I now forget.
Dedel a sensible man, and speaks English like an English-
man ; the only word he used which betrayed the foreigner
was in speaking of the arrangement he is come to effect :
** It would be very desirous that it should take place,"
This, too, he has an authority for in Gray, who, in one of
Macheath's songs, uses the word in this sense, being forced
thereto, however, by the hard necessity of rhyme.* In
talking of the present state of politics I took an oppor-
tunity of saying, that '* Whatever excuses might be pleaded
for men placed as the Whigs now are for occasionally
departing from the principles which they had all their
lives professed, it was at least unfortunate for the cause of
freedom that they should be driven to any such change, as
it could have no other effect than that of bringing all
public principle into disrepute." I was ratiier glad to have
this slap at Burdett, and before the Dutchman, too, aa it
will show him what little men in this country can venture
to say to ffreat ones,

5th. A fine day. Wrote to Refers to propose we
should pass it together, and he answered, ^' I am delighted ;
come here early, and let us go to the Zoological Gardens."
This I, at first declined, . as rather a greater abandon of
the day than I had meditated ; but, at last, not being able
to resist the sunshine, I sallied out. Found Bogers had
just set off to Newton's, and guessed it was to ask N. and
his wife to dinner: got th^re before him. As I antici-

* ** Fill eVry glass, for wine inspires ns,
And fires us,
With courage, lore^ and joy.
Women and win* should life employ ;
Is there aufjht else in life desironaf^

Beggar^ s Opera*
T 2

324t DIAKY OF L^TAT. 54.

pated; he invited them to join us, and they consented. All
started together in R.'s carriage for the Zoological, and
dined together afterwards. Day altogether very agreeable ;
and the Newtons proposed the same sort of dinner with
them on Monday next, my last day»

6th. Hard at work transcribing notes to swell out my
first volume, the second having exceeded it in bulk hy
near fifty pages.

7th. Staid at home all day to write a preface for pay
book, but could not please myself. Cut away half, and
^ent the remainder to the printer. Tom drove with
Mrs. Bryan to the park. Dined, both of us, with tne
Bryans ; none but ourselves* On consideration made up
my mind to have no preface at all.

8th. Went to the printer's and cancelled preface.
Busy with commissions for home. Dinner (Tom and I)
at Newton's. N. and his wife sung in the evening, and
her singing very agreeable indeed. Her expression and
manner of pronouncing in some old duets of my own, very
much to my taste. Rogers came away with Tom and me
in the evening, and was most kind and amiable. His
manner of speaking of my dear Bessy full of cordiality ;
and it always warms my heart through and through to
hear any one do her justice. Saw Bessy's mother before
I went home to pack, having first packed Tom off to
Paternoster Row. Did not get to bed till late.

9th. 03" in the " Emerald " at eight. In stopping to
dine at Marlborough was accosted by Talbot's servant,
who told me that Lady Valletort was at the inn, on her
way to town. Went up to her immediately, and have
seldom seen (even in painting) half so beautiful a group
as herself, her child, and her pretty Irish nurse presented ;
each perfect in their several ways, and all rayonnans with

ApRiL^1833.] THOMAS MOORE. 825

freshness and good humour. She was on her way to' join
Lord Valletort, and pay a visit to Windsor (to show the
king his little god-son) before they leave England. When
this said Irish nurse first came to take charge of the child
she asked one of the servants its name, and was told
" Mr. Edgecumbe." " Faith then," she answered, ^' it's
the smallest gentleman to be called a mister that ever I set
my eyes on." Arrived at Devizes between six and seven,
and took a chaise home.

One day I was told that there had h^enfotir gentlemen
inquiring after me, and that they seemed to be foreigners.
Poor devils ! They were Irishmen ; a deputation, from the
Committee of the Irish Working Classes in London, to
ask me to write an inscription for a piece of plate they
ftre about to present to O'Connell. Sent them an answer
to " The Coach and Horses," Hatton Garden, explaining
the reasons of my not being able to comply with their
request, and (in defiance of the sneers of Brookes's) prais^
ing O'ConnelL By the way, I have forgot to mention
that' one of the first things I did on coming to town was
to call upon this great Bug-a-boo of the Whigs, much to
the horror, too, of my quondam Radical friend; B* Found
him at home, and had some conversation with him* In
talking of the Coercion Bill, and the feeling of the House
of Commons towards Ireland, he said, " I am noy con-
vinced that Repeal wont do, and that it must be Separa-
tion." I told him that I had always considered them
identical questions, and that my great difiiculty in espous-
ing Repeal publicly (that is, in Parliament) wotdd have
been to conceal (if I could have concealed) the conscious-
ness, or rather conviction, there is in my mind that one
would be followed by the other as naturally and necessarily

as night is by day-light,

T 3

T

/

326 DIARY OP [JBtAT. 54.

In one of my conversations with Lord John this time
we talked about my forthcoming book, and I explained
to him the nature of it, adding that I had not the least
doubt in my own mind of the truth of the case I un-y
dertook to prove in it, namely, that Popery is in all
respects the old original Christianity, and Protestantism a
departure from it. In talking of prose-writing one morn-
ing with Ec^ers, he pointed out to me a letter of Lord
Essex's (printed in Bacon's works) which Hallam had
directed his attention to. Some most admirable writing
in it Must see (for I had then but time to glance over
it) whether this is the letter mentioned by Hume.

24th. Made up my mind to write to Sir R. Peel on
the subject of the Charter House for my little Bussell^
though having still less hope of success than ever from
Tom having told me that a relative of Peel's has been
lately placed on the foundation. Begged of Peel in my
letter not to take the trouble of answering if (as I felt
pretty sure would be the case) he should be unable to
comply with my request ; adding that, giving him every
credit for good will on the subject, I would take his silence
as a negative.

26th. An answer from Sir Robert of the kindest de-
scription; fully justifying the high opinion which (even
when most hating his politics) I have unvaryingly enter-
tained of him. The following is the commencement of his
letter :^ — "My dear Sir, — I must say I should have had
the greatest personal satisfaction in being enabled to com-
ply with your wishes, for I feel I could not make a
worthier use of my Charter House privilege than by
nominating the son of one who has done honour to the
literature of his country by his genius, and has upheld its
character by a high spirit of integrity and independence."

v

MAT9 1838.] THOMAS MOOBE. 327

He then mentions his haying so recently nominated the son
of a relative of his own^ but expresses a strong wish and
hope that it may be in his power^ by some arrangement
or other^ to make his next turn of appointment available
towards my object. This opens, at least, a chance for my
little Russell; for I remember some years since General
Bathiirst being very anxious to exchange a present ap-
pointment (which his son was not then old enough to
acdept) for the promise of a future one, and something of
this kind may turn up for my Bussell. At all events, it is
m«st ki^d, liberal, and high-minded conduct on the part of
PeeL

- Had a strange letter from a nian about the Irish
Kound Towers, saying that he, and he. alone, has found
out their whole secret history, and will communicate it to
me for my present work, moyennant une bonne somme
dHargent A second letter from him, offering to come and
pass a month with me, or more, if occasion should require ;
during which time he will make me master of the whole
birth, parentage, and bringing up of the Irish Bound
Towers, asking of me only (in addition to the honour of
^ his visit) one hundred guineas for the same I
• May 1st to 19th. At work, and little else.

20th. Bowles called with Hughes on his way to De-
vizes, and we asked him to return and dine, which he did.
Very amusing and good-hmnoured about my theology,
about Miss Martineau, about Lord Henley, &c. &c. Have
not for a long time laughed so much.

24th. After breakfast went to Upham's to look over
his catalogue, and found some books useful to me in my
Irish task, which I brought away with me. Started for
Buckhill (where Bessy and son were to meet me with the
car) at three. Dined there, and home in the evening.

T 4

328 DIABY OF IJETAT. 55.

Our dear Tom*s improvement, in every way, is most
delightful to us, and never did we enjoy his company (nor
he, to all appearance, ours) half so much as we have done
these holidays.

June 1st to 8 tL To dinner at Hughes's in Devizes:
company. Dr. Thackeray (the provost of King's College,
Cambridge), young Phipps, and Mr. and Mrs. de BouHly,
Talking of strange texts for sermons, the following vere
mentioned : ^' Take it by the tail," from Exodus (" Put
forth thine hand and take it by the tail ") ; the argument
founded upon it being that we must judge of God's pro-
vidence by the event ; *' Old shoes and clouted "
(Joshua ix.), which I forget what the preacher made of;
and " Top not come down," from Matthew (^* Let him
which is in the house-top not come down"), which was
taken as a text for a sermon against ladies' top-knots.

25th. Our Dublin friend, Meara, arrived unexpectedly
from London. Walked him over to Spye Park, where
he had a good specimen of English heartiness and hos-
pitality in their very kind attentions to him, their anxiety
that he should stay and dine, their offer of the curricle to
take him to Bowood, &c. I was glad that he should
return to Ireland with a better impression than the
^^heartlessness" (as he calls it) of London had left upon
him. Dined with us, and returned to Devizes in the
evening.

26th. Started for Bath (Bessy, Buss, and myself), on
our way to visit the Napiers and Houltons. Called upon
Mrs. Crawford, and sang over to her some of the words I
have written to her pretty Bussian airs. Met M. at
Upham's, and had some curious opinions from him on the
subject of my ** Irish Gentleman," which he was then
jengaged in the perusal of. Said ^^ it would be the text-

Jt7NE,183S.l THOMAS MOOBE. 9i9

work of the Christian world in some half century hence."
Praised the style of it very warmly ; but remarked upon
what he considered an Irishism^ and what Burke himself,
he added^ had fallen into, — my saying the ** three Jlrst cen-
turies," the ^^four first centuries," &c., instead of the
** first three," the " first four," &c. Told him, however,
thsct it was not inadvertently nor Irishly that I had fallen
into this mode of expression, but from deliberately thinking
(whether rightly or wrongly, I could not be sure) that it
wae the true English idiom. For instance, every one
says ** the two first cantos of * Childe Harold,' " meaning
the two cantos that come first, or are placed first. I re-
collect having a little struggle with Simmons, my valu-
able typograph, on this very point, as he wanted to make
it ** first two cantos," but I held out stoutly for the other
way. Whether I am right or not can't say. On to
Napier's.

28th. People to dinner from Bath; to wit, General
Mina, Madame Aguada, a pretty S^^anish woman, who
teaches music and languages at Bath, and Mr. and Mrs.
Soden.

29th. An impudent trick in to-day's ** Standard," but
I must say (though myself the victim of it) not a bad
^ one. The fellows have pretended to think that some very
trashy verses which have appeared in the ** Times " (why
•admitted there I know not) are mine^ and have shown
them up with all their might. What makes it more pro-
voking is, that I must bear it all sans repllquey as to put
in a disavowal of these verses would be in some degree to
acknowledge others. Napier very anxious to stimulate
me to somethiDg vigorous on the occasion ; but the true
strength on such occasions is to keep quiet. Removed
bag and baggage to Farleigh, where we had at dinner a

330 DIABY OF [^TAT.55.

rector and his lady, and a young curate. Speaking of the
horreurs which are sometimes told as exhibited in Paris^
I said it would be found, I thought, on inquiry, that
Englishmen are, in nine cases out of ten, the chief pro-
moters and spectators of such abominations. The Italians
have a sort of proverb which says (as well as I can re-
collect it), —

*^ Inglese Italianato
£ UQ diavolo incarnato;**

and certainly the manner in which this ^^ most moral of
all nations '' breaks loose when abroad is quite frightful.

July 1st to 5th. Left Farleigh for home about twelve,
the Houltons sending their carriage on with us to Melk-
sham» where we took a fly. On the 5th Mrs. Napier and
Fanny arrived to pass some days with us, in the hope that
the change of air may do poor Fanny some good.

6th to 13th. On the 12th or 13th the Napiers left us.
The sight of the poor girl every day made me melancholy,
by bringing back some most sad recollections. Kead
plays to her two or three evenings, which seemed to
give her great pleasure. Received a letter (accompany-
ing a copy of his lately published work) from Dr* Rock,
a Catholic divine, full of the most enthusiastic praises of
my book.

14th to 31st. Nothing else of any importance this
month.

August 2nd. ' Set off for town, partly as a little change
of scene, and partly for the despatch of some business
which could not be so well managed at a distance. Alone
all the way, and employed myself in polishing some verses
I have written to Russian airs. Went to the Fieldings,
where I had been kindly offered house-room. Found
them at dinner, in order to be early enough at the French

^

Aug* 1833.J THOMAS MOOBE. 331

play. After dining with them called upon Bessy's mother;
thence to Brookes's^ and home early to bed,

3rd. Went to the Charter House : saw Saunders, the
master, who gave me a very good account of Tom, and
took the trouble of calculating the periods of the different
nominations for the next few years, in order to see what
was my chance of getting Russell on the foundation. It
appeared that, even if I could not effect an exchange in
the intermediate time. Peel's turn for a nomination will
recur sufficiently soon to enable him to appoint Russell.
This very agreeable intelligence I of course communicated,
by letter, to mamma.

4th. Breakfasted with Rogers, and went afterwards to
the Warwick Street Chapel ; a fine mass of Haydn's, but
the female voices wretched. Joined there by Tom, with
whom I walked about. Took him to Lansdowne House
and saw Lady L. Were both with Rogers at four to go
dine at Highbury (his sister's). Drove to Regent's Park;
told of Coleridge riding about in a strange shabby dress,
with I forget whom, at Keswick, and on some company
approaching them, Coleridge offered to fall behind and pass
for his companion's servant. "No," said the other, **I
am proud of you as a friend ; but, I must say, I should be
ashamed of you as a servant." Called for one of Rogers's
married sisters on our way, and had a very agreeble din-
ner at Highbury, taking care that Tom should be off early
enough in the evening for the Charter House hours.

5th. Called at Sir Robert Peel's and just missed him,
but saw and sat some time with Lady Peel. Showed me
Haydon's picture of Napoleon at Elba: sometMng fine in
the simplicity and solitariness of it ; nothing but the man,
the rock, and the sea. Left a message for Sir Robert,
which she very willingly and kindly undertook, telling

332 DIARY OP [^TAT. 55*

him the state of the future . presentations at the Charter
House, and the good chance there was in prospect for my
little Russell, if he (Sir R.) should find that it was in his
power to appoint him. Went afterwards to the Speaker's,
and found Mrs. Speaker herself and Billy Holmes at their
wine: the Speaker having just left them to go into the
House.

7tli. Breakfasted at Brookes's, and received there a
young American, Mr. Ritchie, who brought me a letter of
introduction from Washington Irving. After saying in it
that he had been on a tour to some of their most wild and
beautiful scenes, Irving adds that he has settled himself
in a snug rural box of his own, and that Mrs. Moore will,
he IS sure, be rejoiced te hear that he has got in the neigh-
bourhood of Sleepy Hollow. This is in allusion to Bessy
having often laughed at hin> for his habit of falUng asleep
after dinner.

8th. Sat te Moore. Took Mrs. Bryan and Mrs. George
to see Rogers's house, and was astonished myself at the
variety and rarity of his treasures. He had very kindly
left out some of his most beautiful and precious things for
us to look at, and the ladies were enchanted. Dressed
early te go with Lady Elizabeth Fielding to dine at Rich-
mond with the Lansdownes. Sauntered about the grounds
and wrote letters before dinner: company, the Lord
Chancellor (Brougham), Lord Melbourne, Lord Auck-
land, the two Villierses, Smyth, and ourselves. The
day dull enough. Lord Melbourne laughs more and at
less than ever. Wm. Smyth rather amused us, for lack
of better, with an account of the last scientific meeting at
Cambridge, and his complaints of some hard-hearted Irish
orators who would speak, though the dinner was waiting
and spoiling. The naivete with which he dwelt on the im-

Aug. 1833.] THOMAS MOORE. 33S

portance of the dinner was excellent. ♦ ♦ * I may, per-
haps^ speak (rom jealousy of his powers, for he has done me
the favour of writing all the " Irish Melodies " over again
for the world. For instance, *' The Minstrel Boy " goes
thus in his version —

** Then, soldier, come, fill high the wine,
For we reck not of to-morrow," &c.

One of the verses is in the following poetic strain —

" Driveller to be in my fire-side chair,
With saws and tales unheeded ;
A tottering thing of aches and care,
No longer lov'd or needed."

As nobody would mind or sing my " Go where glory waitsi
thee," he has kindly supplied the air with such rhjTnes
as the following: —

** Oh ! thou hapless soldier,

Left alone to moulder (motddier /)."

And "Eveline's Bower" is thus moralised by the Pro-
fessor —

" I am bow'd down with years,
And fast flow my tears.
But I wander, I mourn not, your pity to win :
*Tis not age, want, or care,
I could poverty bear," &c. &c.

In the same improving spirit he has turned the song
** Avenging and bright fell the swift sword of Erin"
into —

^* Oh who, my dear Dermot, has dar*d to deceive thee ?"

And " The Valley lay smiling before me" is, in his rifa"
cimentOf thus —

** Oh, would I were but that sweet linnet,
That I had my apple tree too ;
Could sit all the sunny day on it.
With nothing but singing to do!**

I <

334 DIARY OP [iETAT. 56.

9th. Breakfasted with Bogers. Went and lodced over
books at the Museum for two or three hours^ haying agreed
to dine and go to Yauxhall with K. He took me first to
the British Grallery to see the triple exhibition of Rey-
nolds^ West, and Lawrence ; and never was there a more
fatal juxtaposition than that of Reynolds beside Law-
rence is to the latter : it amounts almost to a deathblow to
his fame. After reading at the Museum (book about be-
laud) went to sit to Moore. Dined with Rogers and
Wilkie, and about eleven R. and I (gay young fellows !)
sallied forth for Vauxhall. Met there the Clanricardes,
and sat with them to see the fireworks. Have taken my
place in the ** Emerald" for Monday next.

Forgot to mention that one of these mornings I called
upon Lord John and sat some time with him. Told me
that he was going to teland as soon as Parliament was up,
with Lord Ebrington. Spoke a good deal of Peel ; it was
owing to him that the Tories did not press their late op-
position so far as to defeat the Ministers in the House of
Lords. The old eager ones, * *, very angry with him,
said, *^ It's all very well for Peel to take this line : he is
still young and has a large fortune, and so can wait ; but
wey &c." This is in the true spirit of blind and reckless
place-seekers. Lord J. seemed to think the Ministry in
smooth water now for some time to come.

11th. Breakfasted at Moore's, to meet the famous and
anonymous caricaturist H. B. ; a brother-in-law of his also
of the party. H. B. (who is an Irish artist) a very sen-
sible and gentlemanlike person, and it was not a little in-
teresting to hear his history of the course of his anonj/me,
the guesses, risks of discovery, &c. Told him of Rogers,
Wilkie, and myself having been employed the night before
one, in looking over his caricatures, and comparing them

Aug. 1833.] THOMAS MOORE. 335

with Gilray's. He was evidently anxious to know what
Wilkie thought of them, and I told him pretty nearly the
general result of our comparison ; which was that, with the
exception of one or two things (** George the Third with
Napoleon on his hand" being of the number) we all agreed
that there was a quiet power about his caricatures, pro-
ducing as they did their effect without either extravagance
or ill-nature, which set them, in a very important respect,
far above Gilray's.

12th. Off at eight. Met a very agreeable fellow-
traveller in Miss Wyatt, whom I had seen once before at
Devizes. Found dear Bess and Tom waiting for me at
Devizes, with the car.

13th. Archery meeting. Lady Lansdowne offered to
take us; but Bessy, wishing to be there early for the shoot-
ing, preferred our own fly and one to the Marchioness's coach
and four. My voice completely gone with cold ; could not
speak above a whisper. By the secretary's wish, took
Lady Lansdowne in to dinner, and sat between her and
Lady T. Hale, the lady patroness. Glad to get home at
night, being in but bad tune for a fSte.

14th to 16th. On this last day Rees arrived to pay
us a visit. Were about to go to a pic-nic on Boundaway,
but, on receiving his letter by the morning's post an-
nouncing himself, it was decided that Bessy alone should
go. Arrived at dinner hour.

24th. Bessy returned from Freshford, bringing with
her Napier. Napier full of my book (the " Travels").

27th to 30th. Have not had time to journalise. Busy
at my History ; at " Irish Melodies ; " at an article for the
" Edinburgh," &c. &c. My singing voice, I grieve to say,
not yet returned.

Slst. Letter from Lord John Bussell, telling me that

336 DIABT OF [^TAT. 55.

he was at last actually going to Ireland, and asking me to
join him there in a trip to Killamey and return by Dublin.
This a most tempting offer, and under any other circum-
stances but ihe present I should have jumped at it ; but
money and time both run short with me, — bills coming in
at Christmas, and my History due at the same time : what
was I to do ? My dear generous Bessy all anxiety that I
should go ; and enumerated all the little businesses I could
transact, to show that it would be well worth my while.
Took time to consider, and wrote to Lord John for further
particulars. In his letter Lord John says very good-
humouredly, *'You may be as patriotic as you please
(during our journey) about the * First Flower of the Earth,
&c. ; ' indeed, your being a rebel may somewhat atone for
my being a cabinet minister."

September 5th. Dined at Bowood, Bessy and myself,
to meet the Bowleses and Fieldings. Madame M. there
also. Day very agreeable. The Lansdownes' carriage,
which had taken us, brought us back again. Bowles in a
most amusing mood during the evening, showing himself
up with a degree of abandon which convulsed us all with
laughter. His account of his course of education at Stras-
bourg, where he was for a short time when young; his
having learnt French fortification, and the pierres gravies
(peer ffravvt/, as he pronounced it); and the specimens he
gave us of his proficiency in these two branches of learning,
French and the peer grawy, beyond measure laughable.
Fixed to go with him on Saturday to Stonehenge, a long-
projected expedition.

6th. Bowles called to make some alterations in our
arrangement for Saturday (to-morrow), and was evidently
uneasy at the exhibition he made of himself yesterday
evening ; but I assured him that nothing could be more

mi Sept. 1833.] THOMAS MOORE. 337

n: delightful, and that such playfulness and bonhomie could
i leave no other impression behind than that of pleasure,
m which is very nearly the truth.

;lc 7th. Bowles called for us in his carriage about nine,

|f when we all set off together, Tom riding. At Ledway,
fk four miles beyond Devizes, we found B.'s pony-carriage,
ii. which had been sent on there last night ; and in that we
i proceeded to Stonehenge. It was my first time of seeing
I this '* noblest ornament of Albion's isle," as Warton calls
it, and the impression of its grandeur r^pther ffrew upon me
t than struck me all at once ; which I find is the course its
t effect takes with most people. Found some sensible
\ Quakers there, with whom we had some conversation, and
one of them mentioned his having lately taken an Ameri-
can gentleman there, making him keep his eyes shut till
he got directly under the highest stones. But the Ameri-
' can, on looking up, merely said, *^ What do you mean by
this?"^ and saw nothing wonderful in it. The same per-
son, however, when they took him to Salisbury Cathedral,
was .overwhelmed with admiration and astonishment at it.
The Tact is, that it is art surprises the Americans ; nature
they have on the grandest scale themselves : and stones so
little removed from a state of nature as those at Stone-
henge (however wonderfully they may be placed) have but
little of new or marvellous for him who has seen the rocks
beyond the Atlantic, and has ever sailed in a tall ship (as
this American said he had done) under a natural arch of
rock. But the wonders of art they are wholly unaccus-
tomed to — the combination of size and space with laborious
ornament and elegance ; and therefore is it that Salisbury
would carry it hollow with them against Stonehenge.
Dined at the ^' Bustard," well and cheaply, and taking the
carriage again at Ledway, were conveyed back comfortably

VOL. VI, z

338 DIARY OP [iETAT. 65.

by our Reverend VetturinOy reaching home before eight
o'clock. Nothing could be managed better or more agree-
ably than the whole journey ; Powles and I talking Dru-
idical learning the whole way, much to Bessy's edification
and amusement.

8th. Wrote to Lord Lansdowne, at Hughes's request,
on the subject of his son. Received a letter from Lord
John from Holyhead, whither mine, which I sent to the
Foreign Office, had followed him. The violent winds had
induced him to change his route : and had I known this,
and been able to join him in England, the thing would
have been more feasible, as I might have staid in Dublin
during the greater part of his visit to the south ; and thus
(besides seeing my dear Nell) have turned my time in
Dublin to some account (in the book way), which would
have reconciled me to the waste of time and money other-
wise. Made up my mind, with great reluctance, to de-
cline joining him. I had told him, in my letter, of Mrs.
Moore's anxiety that I should go; and he says in his
answer that it only confirms the opinion he always enter-
tained of her amiability.

9th. A note from Lord Lansdowne just before he
started, in which he says that if I should make up my
mind to go to Ireland, and will join him at Limerick, he
will take me on to Lord Duncannon's, and from thence
bring me, by Lord Cawdor's, home. All very tempting ;
but I had made up my mind not, and accordingly wrote
to Lord John to say so.

10th to 18 th. One of these days had a visit from an
Irish priest, who brought me an introduction from Ellen ;
a very interesting and intelligent little man, and armed at
all points in theology : fall of praise and surprise at my
book.

Sept. 1833.] THOMAS MOORE. 339

20th to 22nd. Nothing. Received a letter from Lord
John from Bessborough, saying he was expecting me,
and that Lord and Lady Duncannon would be most happy
to see me. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ^ letter from Lord John from
Cork, beginning ^* Dear Captain Rock," and saying that I
was very wrong in not joining him, but that he was him-
self very much to blame for it in not giving me earlier and
clearer notice of his intentions. Received some short time
ago a letter from a gentleman at New Orleans, informing
me that a manuscript had come into his hands at the sale
of some deceased Englishman's effects, which was evidently
writt-en by some one concerned in the Revolution of 1688,
and which he thought curious and valuable. His wish was
to present it to some public institution in England, as from
a friend to the historical literature of that country ; and as
soon as he received my answer he should transmit it to me
for this purpose. The tone, style, and subject of the
letter are such as one could have little expected from New
Orleans, Though singling me out as the channel for his
gift, there is not a word of the usual flattery about ^^ genius,"
**high reputation," &c.; but, coming at once, simply and in-
telligibly, to the point, he leaves his reasons for addressing
me on the subject to speak for themselves. This struck
me, both from its singularity and its good taste. Have
received within these few days another transatlantic letter
from Washington, written by a gentleman who signs himself
member of the Asiatica/, Geographical, and Anthropological
Societies of Paris, late United States Consul General for
the Empire of Morocco, &c. &c. Notwithstanding this
battery of titles, his letter is both intelligently and mo-
destly written ; his chief object being to request my jud in
collecting autographs for him among our great men for
some library at Washington. After mentioning that there

z 2

340 DIABY OP [iETAT. 55,

are several cenotaphs erecting or about to be erected
throughout America to Byron and Scott, he proceeds to
say : " The feeling produced in this country by your
* Satires ' has long been consigned to oblivion from the
great pleasure and instruction derived from the perusal of
your other productions ; and where your effigy would once
have been burnt, your eulogy (if you were to die to-
morrow) would be pronounced by* the most competent man
in the States."

October 1st. Dined at Merewether's, his daughter
and Miss M acdonald having called to fetch me. Bessy not
well enough to go. His grounds pretty, and the day .de-
licious. Nothing, indeed, can equal in the way of weather
the days that are now passing over us. I sit out in the
garden from breakfast till dinner-time, with my books and
papers about me. Walked about with Merewether be-
fore dinner. Company, the Bowleses, Macdonalds, and
Salmons, Heneage, and an old Dr. Hawes. Sat next to
Bowles luckily. He had shown me, before dinner, a letter
he had just received from his friend Archbishop Howley,
in answer to one he had written to him on the subject of
the Mausoleum at Bowood, which Lady Lansdowne wishes
to have consecrated, a step at which, it seeins, the Bishop
of Salisbury hesitates. After saying that he sees no ob-
jection to the consecration, the archbishop proceeds to
speak of the aspect of the times, which he declares to
be not a little lowering (meaning, in respect to the
Church), and adds, "For myself, I can say with La-
tinus, Mihi parta est quiesy omnisqve in littore portus t ^
Bowles had read the name of this author Latinensis;
but I saw it was Latinus, and found on reference to
« Morhofius," when I came home, that the archbishop's
classic is Latinius Latinus, a Catholic divine of the six-

Oct. 1833.] THOMAS MOORE. 341

teenth century, who wrote, among other things, Latin
poems, and is lauded as a very honest man by Lip-
sius. In speaking of Sir W. Petty's double-bottomed
ship, which was meant to be capable of sailing against
wind and tide, but which, after one successful voyage, went
down, Bowles told me that the last Lord Lansdowne
thought he had found out why the contrivance had failed,
and constructed a ship accordingly, which he put to sea in
himself from Southampton, asking Bowles to accompany
him I He had persuaded a German and a Frenchman to
accompany him, and as the ship sailed from the shore, the
pe(^le on the beach cried, " She'll be over ; she'll be
over ; she is over, by G — d I " which was actually the
case, the ship having capsized before they got many yards
from the shore, the noble inventor and his companions
being thrown out into the mud, where, to make the ridicule
the greater. Lord Lansdowne began to speechify to the
German and Frenchman, making a thousand apologies for
having brought them into that condition. A good many
jokes of Jekyll told. Mr. Salmon mentioned having heard
Jekyll make a quotation in one of his speeches, which he
could never trace to its source. The subject was, the em-
ployment of two physicians instead of one, as a means of
making death doubly sure. The one physician was com-
pared to a single scull, in rowing —

*^ But two physicians, like &pair of oars,
Waft us more swiftly to the Stygian shores.'*

♦ * * Keturned at night in a fly.

2nd to 6th. A visit one of these days from Lord
Lansdowne : sat some time with me. A good deal of con-
versation. Asked whether I was not surprised at Lord
Wellesley*s wishing to take the government of Ireland

z 3

342 DIABY OF [iETAT. 65.

again. Never saw Lord L. in better spirits, and as kind
and agreeable as, to do him justice, he always is. Franked
some letters for me; one acknowledging a civility from
the new manager of the two great theatres, Mr. Bunn, who
lately wrote to me to say that he had placed my name on
the free list of both houses. * * *

7th. A good deal of talk about politics after breakfast
In talking of the lord-lieutenancy of Ireland Lord Lans-
downe said, " If I were to consent to take it, it would be
on the condition of having much more power placed in my
hands than (looking archly and laughing at me) you would
be inclined to give me.'' I answered that, on the contrary,
I thought an autocrat could alone do what was wanting in
Ireland, and that there were few hands I would so readily
trust with the autocracy as his : but still there was some
smashing work to be done, which I feared he would rather
shrink from ; the Church, for instance, which must go by
the board to have any peace in Ireland. He then pointed
out strongly and fairly the difficulty, and still more, as he
thought, the injustice, of dealing so smnmarily with an
establishment which had grown up under the auspices and
encouragement of England, and round which so large,
wealthy, and respectable a portion of the population rallied.
All this I could not but grant to him, so that, in fact,
hopelessness, utter hopelessness, seems the only result one
ever arrives at in considering Ireland's miseries ; it has
been the burden of her sad song from the first, and will
be to the last.

14th. A visit from Lord Kerry, who has just returned
from his Norwegian trip. Came to tell me that Lady
Lansdowne would send the car for me. Went in it only
as far as the " George," and walked the rest. Company
(besides John and Mrs. Starkey), Serjeant Merewether,

Oct. 1833.] THOMAS MOORE. 343

and two barristers (who are come to Calne on a com-
mission), — the Belgian minister Van De Weyer, and
two ladies^ artists, who have come to copy some of
the Bowood pictures. An odd assemblage, but not un-
amusing. Some talk about the antiquities of Wiltshire
after dinner. Van De Weyer having been employed in
reading Button during the morning, and being full of
Wansdyke and the *^ Belgic boundary." Miller talked
of Kammohun Roy ; some difficulties, as it appears, about
disposing of his remains, so as not to interfere with the
Indian law of caste. Strange that he should have kept
caste while a,live, considering all the un-Brahminical things
he has done ; crossing the forbidden river in the first
place, and then turning Unitarian Christian in the second.
If this makes no difference in a Brahmin's orthodoxy, it's
all over with the Veds, Miller mentioned some of the
cases of caste that come before the law courts in India :
and one was where a man in giving a dinner left out some
particular person, and this person immediately brought an
action against the entertainer, on the ground that such a
slight was likely to endanger his right of caste. Lord
Lansdowne mentioned having been once at a lecture of
Owen's, at the time when he first began his operations ;
and there were among his auditors, on this occasion, be-
sides bishops and archbishops, one of the royal princes,
the Duke of Gloucester, I believe. For the purpose of
better explaining his views of society, Owen had prepared
small pieces of metal of different sizes, to represent the
various classes of the community and the relative value
which they bore as parts of the whole, and began by
apologising to the illustrious duke for the very small bi
of metal that represented royalty on the occasion.

16th. Before breakfest Lord Kerry came in to my

z 4

344 DIARY OP CffiTAT. ^5.

room with some Norwegian songs he promised to show
me. Read over a translation of them to me, while I
traced the sense through the original, and the similarity
of a number of words to the English was far closer than
I could have conceived. A party after breakfast to the
Wansdyke to show it to Van De Weyer, but I did not ac-
company them, having to occupy myself in the library.
Bobus Smith arrived to luncheon ; full of agreeable know-
ledge and conversation. In talking of the two races into
which mankind are generally divided, the Celt and Goth,
seemed to think that the Scandinavian was a race distinct
from both ; but there is no end to the variety and confu-
sion of the hypotheses on this subject. The company at
dinner all the better for being plus by Smith, and minus
by some of yesterday's folk. The Belgian said that one
of the worst names you could call any body (in Belgium,
I think) was un hibou quarre. Lord L. owned he should
not like to be called a hibou quarre.

Mentioned also an action brought by some one against
another for calling him un individu, and, it having appeared
on the trial that the plaintiff had called defendant un Sti'e^
the judge decided that they were sur un pied d^egalite
with each other. Lord L. told of some old woman who
was shocked at being called a ** noun-substantive." The
caller of names had tried all possible terms of reproach —
"wretch," "old devil," &c. .&c., but nothing produced
any effect till the word " noun-substantive " was applied ;
the ignotum pro horrifico was then fully exemplified. In
talking of the general spread of information and of a cer-
tain degree of artificial cleverness that is now in progress,
which will ultimately raise the whole of society to the
same level, and render distinction a rare phenomenon.
Smith told of a conversation he had once with Talleyrand

Oct. 1833. J THOMAS MOOBE. 345

oa this point. Referring to the number of clever men,
in all walks, that used to appear in France, he asked
** QtCest-elle devenue cette classe d^hommes delettres ?" " Vous
voulez que je vous dise (answered Talleyrand) ce qiielle est
devenue; elle est devenue tout le monde.^* This was well
said and true; but what is ultimately to come of such a
state of things it is hard to conjecture. In talking of
Frere, Smith told a mot of his I had not heard before.
Madame de —— having said, in her intense style, " I
should like to be married in English^ in a language in
which vows are so faithfully kept," some one asked
Frere, " What language, I wonder, was she married in ?"
** Broken English, I suppose," answered Frere. Sung a
little in the evening.

16th. Some agreeable conversation after breakfast with
Smith and Lord Lansdowne. In talking of O'Connell,
of the mixture there is in him of high and low, formidable
and contemptible, mighty and mean. Smith summed up
all by saying, " The only way to deal with such a man is
to hang him up and erect a statue to him under his gallows."
This balancing of the account is admirable. Told of Lord
Camelford taking an old fiddler with him to Tom's (a place
where, during the times of Jacobinism, the Radical fellows
used to assemble at night), and having planted his musician
in a comer, taking his seat by him and saying, " There, now
play God save the King." In a small minority there waa
on one occasion for peace, upon a question moved by Lord
Grey, the name of Lord Camelford was, to the astonish-
ment of everybody, found among the peace-seekers ; but it
turned out that he had, for some offence, challenged a
German ofiScer who refused to fight him till after the war,
and he therefore felt himself bound, in spite of his political
opinions, to vote for peace.

346 DIABT OP L-aSTAT. 55.

This leading to some talk about duelling, I remarked
that one of the worst things, perhaps, O'Connell had done
for Ireland was his removing, by his example, that restraint
which the responsibility of one man to another under the
law of duelling imposed, and which in a country so little
advanced in civilisation as Ireland was absolutely neces-
sary. We see accordingly that the tone of society there is
every day growing lower and lower, and men bear black-
guarding from each other in a way that to an Irishman of
the good old school, or to real gentlemen of any school^
seems inconceivable. In all this they both agreed with me,
and said that to the existence of the code of honour intro-
duced by duelling we owed very much the great difference
between the modems and the ancients in the good breeding
and decorum of manners in social life. What personal
abuse, for instance, what blackguarding (as it would now
be deemed), Cicero indulged in towards his adversaries !
Walked home.

23rd. To Bowood : walked. Company at dinner, the
Listers, the Fieldings, Mr. Topenny, young Villiers, and
Mr. Grenville. Day very agreeable : sung in the evening.
Asked Mr. Grenville about the Irish MS. which Lord
Holland told me he had, relating to the Brehon laws (had
already seen by a note in O'Connor's book that he had
given it to the library at Stowe). Said that it was still at
Stowe ; that he had sent an order to have it purchased for
him at the sale of Count Macarty's books at Paris, and had
commissioned his agent to go as far as lOZ., but got it, I
think, for 4/. O'Connor all in raptures at the sight of it,
on finding that it was on the subject of the Brehon laws :
but, on examining further into its contents, met with so
many unintelligible law words and ancient phrases as made

Oct. 18330 THOMAS MOORE. 347

it almost a matter of despair to think of translating it ;
meant^ however, to do what he could with it, but died soon
after.

24th. At breakfast Mr. Grenville told some amusing
things. In talking of Baron de RoUe (a follower of the
exiled Bourbons), whom I met a good deal at Donington
Park, told of De Rolle when on a visit at the StaiFords'.
Lady Stafford wishing, one day, to get rid of him, pointing
to a mountain at a distance which she told him was very
curious, and advising him to go and see it : " Vous aurez
un petit cabriolet^ et cela sera fort agreahle ! " ** Ah !
Miladiy^ replied De Rolle, holding up his hands in a sup-
plicatory posture, *' Je suis Suisse : fai tant vu de moU"
tagnesV^

Mentioned as a good trait of Bourbon character that,
when Charles Dix was at one time shooting in Lincoln-
shire, whenever they came to any of those wet ditches or
pools which abound there, and the rest of the party were
floundering through as well as tliey could, a chasseur who
attended the Comte d'Artois always stepped forward, and,
laying himself down as a bridge across the puddle, was
w^alked over by his royal master as unconcernedly as if he
was a plank made expressly for such purposes.

Kead Whitaker's " Manchester," and Kichard of Ciren-
cester's " Itinerary ;" then took a walk to Spye Park, and
wrote, chemin faisanty a verse of my "Irish Melody." The
same party to dinner as yesterday. Talked of the Americans ;
the aristocratic distinctions they have among themselves,
and their looking up to what they call " the high social
class." A story Cooper (the novelist) told Lord Lans-^
downe, as a proof of their passion for races. In their
anxiety, on this occasion, for the success of a favourite horse

348 DIARY OF [jEtat. 65.

which had failed for want of a good rider, they looked
round for some one worthy to mount him, and fixed on an
eminent bank director at Philadelphia, who was famous
for his good riding. A deputation waited upon him ; he
declined, but they were resolved to have him at all events,
and a purse was made up by subscription, which, being of
a large amount, the bank director could not resist it, and
accordingly rode and won the prize. This story from
Cooper, of all people I What would he have said or done,
if it had been told in England by any one else ? Lord L.
mentioned also, that on one occasion, when Cooper dined
with him, some one (whose name he would not give us)
had the bad taste to relate before Cooper a circumstance
which he said had been told to him as having occurred once
in Congress. This was, that in the warmth of discussion
one of the members walked across the floor, and spat
in another's face. Cooper acknowledged that the story
was true, but said, rather indignantly, *^ You should
have added, however, in justice, that though he certainly
did spit in his face, the other immediately knocked him
down." Evening altogether very agreeable. Asked
Fielding about the best word for aditus in translating
what Tacitus says of the partus et aditus of Ireland
being better than those of England ; whether the " waters '
was not better than the ^^ approaches," and he said,
« Certainly."

2dth. After breakfast walked home, having promised
after some struggle to come again to dinner to-morrow.
Found Bess returned from Spye Park, where she has been
while I have been away. Delivered to her Lady L.'s
pressing request that she would go there to dinner to-
morrow and sleep ; but my dear girl, from some difficulties

Oct. 1833.] THOMAS MOORE. 349

about her toilette, and in fact from not being well enough
for the eflfort, made up her mind not to go.

29th. Off at half-past ten by the '' Emerald." On my
arrival had a mutton chop and negus at Brookes's. My
lodging at Sackville Street (which Fielding has again
kindly accommodated me with) most comfortably ready to
receive me.

30th. Disappointed of having Tom, the boys now not
being allowed to come out on Wednesdays. Dined at Long-
man's : company, M^Culloch, Dr. Lardner, and a Mr.
Murray. Talking of Professor Leslie ; his review of some
voyage of Humboldt's, in which the latter expresses great
regret at not having had with him Leslie's differential
thermometer : " Most sincerely do we join in this regret of
Mr. Humboldt," writes the Reviewer. In talking of Sir
W. Scott's rapid and careless manner of writing, Lardner
mentioned that, in sending to him (Lardner) the MS. of his
** History of Scotland," he begged that he would be so
( kind as to " throw in a few dates and authorities."

31st. Asked by Lord Essex to dinner. Company at
Lord Essex's, Le Marchant, Grenfell, Kich, &c. Le M.
told some stories of Erskine, rather amusing. His being
sent for on some important case tried in the country;
arriving the evening before the trial and finding Serjeant

, the counsel who sent for him, waiting dinner for

him. The Serjeant anxiously endeavouring to explain
to him the merits of the cause ; but Erskine impatient of
his learned brother's prosing, and apparently much more
interested in discussing several bottles of wine, which they
finished between them. The Serjeant's uneasiness next
morning ; his sense of the great responsibility he had taken
upon himself in bringing down Erskine, and his panic at

350

DIARY OF THOMAS MOOBE.

[.^TAT. 55.

the failure which he thought could not but take place from
Erskine's total ignorance of the case. Then his joyful sur-
prise in coiurt, at the luminous statement which broke forth
from Erskine, showing that he had^ at once^ fathomed
the whole question from the few hints to which he had the
night before so impatiently listened ; the complete triumph
of the cause, and the gratitude of the party concerned to
the Seijeant for calling in the aid of such a man.

1

HHX ^0 ^^

END OP THE SIXTH VOLUME.

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