Whilst at Baron’s Court, Miss Owenson completed her Indian novel of the Missionary, and every day, when there were no visitors, she used to read aloud, after dinner, to the Marquis and Marchioness, what she had written in the morning. She said, when talking of these times in after life, that the Marquis used to quiz her most unmercifully, declaring that the story was “the greatest nonsense he had ever heard in his life,” which did not, however, prevent him from listening to it with great amusement. Lady Abercorn yawned over it very dismally. Certainly, a more romantic or a more foolish story could scarcely be imagined.
When the book was completed, she purposed to go over to England to arrange about the publication, and left Baron’s Court on her way east for that purpose; but she delayed her journey, loitering in Dublin to see her friends. The Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn wrote to her whilst she was there.
| 408 | LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR. |
From their letters, by the way, a few amusing extracts may be culled. The “glorvina,” about which her ladyship writes, was a golden bodkin for fastening up the hair, after the pattern of an antique Irish ornament, and was called a “glorvina,” in honour of the Wild Irish Girl, who, in the novel, wears one of similar fashion. The Marchioness had a passion for ordering anything she heard of, and she invariably disliked it, or grew tired of it, before it could be sent to her—a peculiarity extremely embarrassing to those whom she honoured with her commissions. The reference to le bien aimé is to Sir Charles Ormsby, whom Lady Abercorn still regarded as Miss Owenson’s adorer.
You know so well the way we contrive to find no time for
anything in this house, that I am sure you will not accuse me of ingratitude in
not having thanked you, either on Saturday or Sunday for two delightful letters
I have of yours, as well as for the songs and French letters, and the designs
for glorvinas, &c., &c.; but Saturday was so delightful, that I was out
from breakfast till dinner, and yesterday, I went to church (where,
par parenthèe, there is
the most delightful singing you can imagine), and after church, my usual Sunday
walk with mon époux filled up
the morn. You also know, that after dinner, what with hot wine and hot dishes,
I am never in a state
| THE MISSIONARY. | 409 |
I hope you yourself did not suffer from fatigue and anxiety, and that you are now in as perfect health, beauty, and spirits, as you ought to be.
Now for my glorvinas. Could you not enclose the one you think “precisely what I should like” the price three guineas, and I can order the others after I have seen it. I think I should like to have the motto on Lady Hamilton’s glorvina “Our hopes rest on thy dear black head.” Now do not laugh at my way of expressing what I wish you to put in better language, and in Irish; but I think we might unite notre espérance and the black head, which we fixed upon, for this glorvina.
As to the Princess’s, I intend only a glorvina, and the motto you mention would be very pretty; but that must be very handsome, and as it will not take long to make, I conclude, it shall be the last.
I should like to see a small ten guinea Irish harp; but it would not be advisable to risk sending it by post.
Before this, you will have seen Miss Butler; I did hope to have heard from her to-day. I trust she did not catch cold on the journey, and that she will find the festivities of Dublin repay her for the inconvenience.
Nothing new has occurred since you left us; you, and your
harp, we miss in every possible way. It was
| 410 | LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR. |
Have you sent the Luxima to England, yet? pray tell me, for though I never wished to hear it read ten pages at a time, I am very impatient to see it all together, and sincerely anxious for its success.
The “Jane” mentioned in Lord Abercorn’s note, which follows next, is Anne Jane, his third wife and Marchioness. The “Livy,” with whom Lord Abercorn threatened to fall in love, is Lady Clarke, Miss Owenson’s beautiful sister.
This, you know, is audience-day, dear
little Glo. (what familiarity to a great Princess!), so I have
not a minute of morning to myself. But, as to-morrow is audience-day too, and
next day Friday, I determine to thank you for your letter, in a hurry, rather
than
| THE MISSIONARY. | 411 |
So here I am, with my dinner in my throat, and my coffee in my mouth (having left my arm chair and your “boudoir,” to console each other in our absence), just to assure you what you know well enough, that I have not yet forgotten you; and also what I have already assured you through Jane, that I understood, and (in your own phrase) appreciated your dislike to parting words and looks. I was going on, but will stop for fear of falling into the tender and sentimental, so, once for all, assure yourself that I feel your feelings as they deserve—as our friends the Orientals say, “what can I say more?”
I think, under the various circumstances of the case, I have written as much now as I well can, or you will wish, so, till your next letter and “Livy’s” postscript bring me fresh materials, bye! bye! Have you told her that I have some thoughts of falling in love with her, if we ever meet?
Need I say, that I am and ever shall be,
I received the Glorvina this morning, which I do not very
much admire, and as I do know you do not mind
| 412 | LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR. |
My harp will be beautiful, and of course I chose Hawk head, and should also like the threefold honours as ornaments; it is a pity we cannot introduce the crest and the garter, that it might be perfect. I believe, when the Garter was instituted, that the wives of the knights had a right to a bracelet with the motto; if so, I do not know why I should not introduce it on my harp, as it will, I hope, be a specimen of Irish ingenuity long after I am in another and a better world, and may be the cause of considerable curiosity (to some persons unacquainted with the history of the noble house of Hamilton) in future ages, which is an interesting consideration to me. I hope the groupe will not be preserved so long, unless you write a novel in which you introduce the modern Solyman and his sultanas, for I confess I should never lament that such a quiz had lived a generation before. Seriously, it is quite a monster; I hope you did not really see him as you drew him. Julia was quite angry that such a thing was intended for pretty brother.
Why do you tell me of Mademoiselle Espinasse’s letters if you cannot get them for me? perhaps you could get them at Archer’s—pray try. Alfieri has been long promised to me from England, but has never arrived.
I do congratulate you upon the conquest you have made of
the Duchess of Gordon. If she does not find
| THE MISSIONARY. | 413 |
You know I never felt much for any mortifications the Miss G—— might receive, so the present does not make me very unhappy. I dare say the Duchess of Gordon will be more kind to them.
We have had Captain Pakenham here some days; he has just gone to Lifford, but is to return on Wednesday. He is a very pleasant young man; I wish he had been here when you were, that your recollection of Baron’s Court might have been more lively.
I have got two cantos of the Lady of the Lake—as beautiful as possible. You cannot write too much or too often, so make no excuse for doing so; but do pray fold your letters as I do, and put a cover over them, as I lose half of your precious words by the way they are put up.
I am very glad your friend Mr. Atkinson will not give your money to the Granards; it would be too foolish to lose one’s all out of delicacy. When it is well disposed of, let me know, as I shall feel very anxious.
As I cannot, in any other way, copy Glorvina, I am trying to make my handwriting as unintelligible as possible, that at least in something there may be some similitude, and, therefore, scratch and blot at a great rate, and console myself, when I look at a horrid griffonnage, by the conviction that it is a proof of genius!!!
| 414 | LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR. |
Remember, I am only joking about the garter and crest.
Lord Abercorn thinks you very foolish not to send your novel to London immediately, as the season is passing over. So mind you do.
The Missionary was sent over from Dublin; and Phillips, who was her regular publisher, put it to press. But the publisher and author began to quarrel about terms, as they were pretty sure to do; the young Irish girl being quite as sharp as the experienced Welsh tradesman. On which side the wrong lay, and on which the offence, it would be idle to enquire. Most authors quarrel with their publishers, and will probably do so to the end of time. Miss Owenson had the highest sense of her own worth, not only to the public but to the trade. She thought her right to the lion’s share of profit on her book clear; a pretension which Phillips would not allow. After printing a volume, the press was stopped. The manuscript had to be recovered, and a new “adventurer in setting forth” found. Stockdale and Miller were the rival powers in the trade; and, with these gentlemen, Lady Abercorn, on her removal to Stanmore Priory, began to negotiate for her friend, who still remained in Ireland.
| THE MISSIONARY. | 415 |
I shall go to town in a few days, and I will call on Miller, and see whether he is worthy of introducing your Wanderer. I am sorry you had anything to do with that shabby man—Phillips; I hope, however, you have recovered the manuscript, and that you will learn wisdom from experience, for I think, notwithstanding your talents—which I do not underrate, I assure you—a little worldly wisdom is one you do not possess; so pray set to work and acquire some small share of it, if you can. If you should think coming to England will forward any of your plans, you know where to come, and this is a very convenient distance from London, you can get there as often as you like.
My harp, I have no doubt, will be perfect; alas! who is to play it? for Lady Aberdeen is the only one in this family who can, and she is soon going to the sea—the rest of the family will remain here till after Christmas.
You do not say to whom you have consigned my harp, nor do you mention having sent your picture, which I was to have if I liked it better than the one I now possess.
Walter Scott’s success exceeds
everything; the quarto edition of two thousand did not last a fortnight, and
upwards of four thousand of the octavo
| 416 | LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR. |
I have seen both Mr. Knight and Mr. Price, here, since my arrival, and many other friends; but none that you know from reputation, except those two. I think Mr. Knight more agreeable than ever. I am sorry to tell you Lord Guildford is to be married next Thursday, so you must think of some one else.
None of your friends forget you, I assure you; Julia often talks of you—she is as violent an Irish girl as she ever was. Her brother Charles has been here for a week, which gave her great pleasure. He is a very fine boy—or a little man, I may venture to say.
Pray who are your two new lovers?
I am not a little stupid at present, I can tell you. I want the harmony of the Irish war harp to revive me. I have felt a little le mal du pays since I returned here; but you must not tell, mind!
Your harp is arrived, and for the
honour of Ireland, I must tell you, it is very much admired and quite
beautiful. Lady Aberdeen played on it for
an hour, last night, and thought it very good, almost as
good
| THE MISSIONARY. | 417 |
The Baron’s Court field flowers were very well received; but as Frances is thanking you herself I have nothing more to say. The harp suffered a little in the journey; but I shall, I hope, be able to get it repaired.
I went to Miller, the day before yesterday, and was as civil as possible to him; paid him many compliments upon his liberality to people of genius; talked of Walter Scott, and proposed his publishing your new novel, saying, you expected five hundred pounds for it; but I do not think he answered as your proud spirit would quite like, for he said he would not purchase a novel from any one in the United Kingdom (nor did he except Walter Scott) without reading it first; and, in short, I did not proceed, for I know how high Glorvina is, and I was satisfied he was not the person who was to introduce her Missionary. He is, however, to be in Dublin in three weeks, and I was to give him a letter to you; but I did not, as I am sure he can find you out in Dublin.
I shall be very happy, I assure you, to see you when you
come to England, nor do I at present see any thing that would make it necessary
for me to say, “your hour is not come.” I know of nothing that
could, except what I trust in God will not occur—the illness of those
dear to me. I have seen your
| 418 | LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR. |
If you knew how much I am hurried, and what a pain I have in my shoulder from the rheumatism, you would say, I was very good to write to-day; but I had those things I wished to express immediately—my failure with Miller, my admiration of the harp, and that I shall have great pleasure in seeing you here whenever you come.
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