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Lady Morgan’s Memoirs
Countess of Charleville to Lady Morgan, 24 November 1817
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Preface
Vol. I Contents.
Prefatory Address
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Chapter XXVII
Chapter XXVIII
Chapter XXIX
Chapter XXX
Chapter XXXI
Chapter XXXII
Chapter XXXIII
Chapter XXXIV
Chapter XXXV
Chapter XXXVI
Chapter XXXVII
Chapter XXXVIII
Vol. I Index
Vol. II Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter IV
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Chapter XXVII
Chapter XXVIII
Chapter XXIX
Chapter XXX
Chapter XXXI
Chapter XXXII
Chapter XXXIII
Chapter XXXIV
Chapter XXXV
Chapter XXXVI
Chapter XXXVII
Chapter XXXVIII
Chapter XXXIX
Chapter XL
Vol. II Index
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14, Terrace, Piccadilly,
November 24, 1817.

I never was more pleased to hear from you, dear Lady Morgan, than in the receipt of yours of 27th of October, as the explanation you gave me of Perney’s name sliding (through natural confidence in a decent man’s catalogue) into your work, did away a cruel prohibition of the higher powers, who, on their arrival at Worthing, said they knew that author to have written only indecent blasphemy! and that they who approved
FIRST VISIT TO FRANCE—1815-1816.71
of it could not be my correspondent. Thank God, you did not do so; such a heart and such talents as yours should not be exposed through the idle vain-glory of seeming to have read everything, to so dreadful an imputation; and it is in the fulness of good-will and admiration for your talent, which is superior and improving every year, that I rejoice all these stern readers can now say is, that you relied too hastily on the bland and decent manners of Frenchmen, and could not conceive, with a pure and honest heart, that any one could recommend an unvarnished tale of indecency to your consideration. Lord Charleville says this wicked man has never written but against religion and decency, and that one line of his principal work contains more shocking impiety than the folios of all the encyclopedists; he will not allow that Voltaire’s Pucelle (giving it up as a work too free, yet rather calculated for the Romish abuses of religion than to impugn the basis of all), or Chaucer’s loose tales, should do away their fame, since Voltaire’s other works are highly beneficial to mankind, and highly moral; and, at least, old Geoffrey, though a libertine, is not an impious one! The parallel, therefore, he thinks unjust, and yet he would wish, in praising either Voltaire or Chaucer, that a woman should mark something of disapprobation of the loose parts of their writings. Such is the result of all he said to me; and once more your letter of the 27th has set all to right again, and I trust in heaven that your warm and amiable feelings may no more be tortured by the disapprobation of good and stupid men, or the slanders of ruffians.

72 LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR.  

I received your letter of the 7th; you now know why it remained unacknowledged. I knew before I received it that Mr. Croker was the author of the article, in which, some say, he was assisted by Mr. Barrow, Secretary to the Admiralty; but of that I doubt, as hitherto this gentleman has kept to the investigation of science only. I am quite of your opinion that Mr. Croker deserves all the reprobation of candid, honourable men; but I don’t think squibs will touch him—his mail of brass, and his heart of adamant secure him; and though I sincerely wish him every mortification, I don’t see what can afford it to such a man. I sent the lines to Scotland* to some clever people, who think as I do, about the general merits of France. I am sure all the newspaper mention of it was in its favour, for people do love controversy. 1 hope the next edition may, somehow or other, do away with the mention of Perney’s name! which is of more import than you can well believe in respect to society.

The Danish Ambassador, who speaks English as well as we do, said to me the other day, “We, in Denmark, cannot impeach Lady Morgan’s politics as being dazzled with Napoleon!”

I agree in toto with your feelings of what true religion should be, “to visit the sorrower in affliction, and keep one’s self unspotted from the world;” this, with a firm acknowledgment of the great truths of Christianity, would be the perfection of all doctrine!!! To persecute is horrible, and every species of protection

* See ante, p. 58.

FIRST VISIT TO FRANCE—1815-1816.73
that law, and liberty, and property inviolable, can bestow, is the indefeasible right of a subject of these realms; but what has that to do with the question of giving legislative rights to Romish persons, insomuch as their fatal superstition has established deism on the continent in all thinking men. We should dread and deplore to encourage a worship of such baleful effect; nor ever give them power to sap the foundations of a pure and holy form of worship, which, allowing of the finest system of ethics for our guide, requires no sacrifice of the understanding.

* * * * *

I have heard since I came into town yesterday, that Walter Scott has given Rob Roy to the press as his own, and says he has another novel ready. Sir J. B. Burgess is publishing The Dragon Knight (a poem epic). Mr. Ellis has disappointed all his friends by his dull narrative about China.

Sir William Gell is gone back to the Princess of Wales, and those anxious for her honour and security are glad of it, as the wretches in whose hands she is, have already contrived to load her with debt as well as dishonour.—She, who in England (dearer than in any other spot on the globe), did not leave a debt, and refused an augmentation of income. Mr. Brougham tried, but could not break the spell; but Gell has more power with her, and equal goodwill.

M. Charleville.