A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1825
Sydney Smith to Lady Grey, [14] October 1825
Newcastle, Oct. 4th, 1825.
Dear Lady Grey,
I have been on a visit to Brougham, where I met Mackintosh. We had a loyal week, and spoke respectfully of all
existing authorities. A pretty place; Brougham very
pleasant; Mackintosh much improved in health. Mrs. Brougham is a very fine old lady, whom I
took to very much.
From Brougham I went to
Howard of Corby,—an excellent man,
believing in the Pope; and from thence I proceeded to Ord’s, over the most heaven-forgotten country I ever saw.
Ord lives in this very beautiful, inaccessible place
at the end of the world, very comfortably.
I now write from a vile inn at Newcastle, where I can get
neither beef, veal, nor sealing-wax.
I have a great prejudice against soldiers, but thought
248 | MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH. | |
Mr. —— agreeable, and with a good deal of humour.
I am very much pleased that the
Howards intend to live on at Castle Howard. They are
very excellent people, and I am most fortunate in having such neighbours.
Eleanor Brougham [née Syme] (1750-1839)
The daughter of James Syme, niece of the historian William Robertson, and mother of Lord
Brougham.
Henry Peter Brougham, first baron Brougham and Vaux (1778-1868)
Educated at Edinburgh University, he was a founder of the
Edinburgh
Review in which he chastised Byron's
Hours of Idleness; he
defended Queen Caroline in her trial for adultery (1820), established the London University
(1828), and was appointed lord chancellor (1830).
Henry Howard (1757-1842)
Of Corby Castle in Cumberland; educated at Douai and Paris, he was a Roman Catholic
landowner and antiquary, a Whig, high sheriff of Cumberland (1832), and friend of Louis
Phillipe.
Sir James Mackintosh (1765-1832)
Scottish philosopher and man of letters who defended the French Revolution in
Vindiciae Gallicae (1791); he was Recorder of Bombay (1803-1812) and
MP for Knaresborough (1819-32).
William Ord (1781-1855)
Of Whitfield Hall, Northumberland; he was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and was
MP for Morpeth (1802-32) and Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1835-52).