Lady Morgan’s Memoirs
Emma Stanley to Lady Morgan, 20 March 1809
23, New Norfolk Street,
March 20th, 1809.
With the greatest pleasure and ease have I executed your
little commission, and only hope it will meet with your approbation. I should
have been something happier had you given me a hint of about what breadth you
would have liked it, but what I have sent is between broad and narrow; and
should you like more of that kind, or any other, pray send me a line, and I can
procure it with the greatest ease. You particularly mentioned mitred lace, but I think the present fashion rather runs on the
scolloped edge.
I shall be very glad of a few lines from you, announcing
the arrival and your opinion of the lace, but let the money remain in your
possession till a better ![]()
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opportunity. I had almost forgot
to tell you the price. I, myself, did not think it dear; it was nine shillings
a yard. And now, as I am writing from London, you will perhaps expect some
account of the fashions; I am afraid I can give you but a very imperfect
account, for I go out but very little, and have not been at any smart parties;
but the greatest novelty is gold lace, which in a morning appears on hats and
pelisses, and in the evening on the head and on gowns; and you may wear a broad
gold girdle and clasp with any gown you like. They now wear the girdles rather
broad, and it is by no means necessary they should be a piece of the gown, as
formerly. Very few white muslins are to be seen; either velvet, cloth, gauze,
crape or coloured muslins. Waists are making a bold attempt to get long, but I
do think a very long waist gets stared at. Young ladies are certainly very
economical in the quantity of materials they put in a gown, for I saw a few the
other night who looked as if they were sewed up in bags. Spanish hats, turned
up in front, with feathers, are a good deal worn; but the account I now give
you is but the winter one, and in about a month the spring fashions may have
more novelty; but I dare say I have told you of nothing but what you already
know, for fashions must pass with great rapidity from London to Dublin. I
imagine you at present in the height of gaiety. London is said to be very dull
at present. I go out so very little that I know not what is going on. Alas! one
pleasure is greatly curtailed: only think of the two great theatres burnt to
the ground within five months. I have not yet ![]()
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been to the
opera, but I hear the singing is very bad, but the dancing tolerable. I think
our stay in London will not be much longer.
Good bye, then, dear Miss
Owenson, and believe me to remain ever,
Yours sincerely, &c.,
Emma Carpenter [née Stanley] (d. 1842)
The daughter of Sir John Thomas Stanley, Baronet; in 1810 she married Captain Digby
Thomas Carpenter of the tenth regiment of infantry.
Frederick Augustus, Duke of York (1763-1827)
He was commander-in-chief of the Army, 1798-1809, until his removal on account of the
scandal involving his mistress Mary Anne Clarke.
