Lady Morgan’s Memoirs
Sydney Owenson to Sir Charles Ormsby, 8 May 1808
Anglesey,
May 8th, 1808, Saturday morning.
I am still here, delighted with everything around
me—let me add (and not in the mere vanity of my heart) not undelighting.
All here is stamped with a character new and impressive to my fancy. The fine
old Welsh mansion, ponderous furniture, and, above all, the inhabitants! The
figure and person of Lady Stanley is
inimitable. Vandyke would have estimated
her at millions. Though old, her manners, her mind,
and conversation are all of the best school. She is a wonderful woman! The
daughter advanced et un peu
passée, has a character all her own. Sir John Stanley (the eldest son, and just come
into possession of his property) is a man “comme il y en a peu” Something, at first, of
English reserve; but when worn off I never met a mind more daring, more
independent in its reflections, more profound or more refined in his ideas. He
said a thousand things like you; I am convinced he has loved as you love. We
sat up till two this morning talking of Corinne. Oswald, Ormsby, and
Stanley, seemed to speak and feel with one heart and
one voice.
I have found a harp and piano here, and Sir John has given me a splendid little edition
of Burns for singing one of his songs.
They have loaded my dressing-box with perfumes and such simple things as you
know I like. All this brings you to my recollection—oh, what does not? In
all my joys and sorrows you have a part. The flattery, the kindness addressed
to me here! I think it is all to you it is offered, and it is most gratifying.
I have been obliged to sing “Deep in
love” so often for my handsome host, and every time it is as for you I sing it—people of true taste have but
one opinion.
Adieu; write directly to London. I leave this tomorrow.
Aimons toujours comme à l’ordinaire.
S. O.
PS. I forgot to mention in my last, Parkhurst was
326 | LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR. | |
not on board. I never thought of him—of whom did I think? Ingrate!
Robert Burns (1759-1796)
Scottish poet and song collector; author of
Poems, chiefly in the
Scottish Dialect (1786).
Margaret Stanley [née Owen] (d. 1816)
The daughter of John Owen of Penrhos; in 1763 she married John Thomas Stanley, baronet.
She was a friend and correspondent of Lady Morgan.
Sir Anthony Van Dyke (1599-1641)
Flemish painter who studied under Rubens and spent the last decade of his life as a court
painter to Charles I.