Stanhope rarely accompanied his wife when she dined out. After CHAP. an evening at Mrs. Grenville's, Mrs. Stapleton wrote to Lady XIII. Chatham Lord Stanhope as usual has too many engagements to meet us.'1 James Grenville adds that he 'disliked the hurry and frolic of any parties abroad.' Political dinner-parties were now becoming rather embarrassing. I dined at Lord Stanhope's,' wrote the Duke of Leeds on April 16, 1791; a mixed company, Lord Chatham and Lord Grenville both there. The Duchess was much struck with Lord Grenville appearing extremely out of spirits and scarcely speaking the whole time.' 2 As Stanhope became more and more prominently identified with the championship of French ideas, he felt it his duty to discard the emblems of his rank. He rolled up the magnificent tapestry which the first King of Prussia had presented to the first Earl. Even the coronets over the iron gates at Chevening,' adds the Duchess of Cleveland, 'were taken down, and he was styled Citizen Stanhope. Later in life, I believe, his opinions were modified; he dropped the citizenship and replaced the coronets.' 3 Stanhope did nothing by halves, and he was ready to sacrifice his own comfort as well as that of his household to the exigencies of political principle. The voluminous correspondence of their grandmother renders it clear, nevertheless, that the girls enjoyed every privilege and pleasure suitable to their station and age. However stern to his sons, to his daughters Stanhope was an affectionate and even indulgent father. On the least symptom of illness, doctors. dentists and oculists were sent for, and his anxieties are mirrored in the bulletins of his mother. When the three little girls were sent to the seaside and Hester was recommended bathing, her father hurried down to test the baths. The legend that Chevening was a sunless prison in which the children were immured by a selfish tyrant cannot survive the following typical extracts from the letters of Grisel, who, from her quiet retreat at Ovenden in a corner of the great park, watched with loving interest the fortunes of the family. November 29, 1790.- The Three Graces have just left me. They drank tea with me, and we were a very happy parti carré.' February 24, 1791. The three and Mahon dined with me. a few days ago on Lucy's birthday. I must say they are very thankful for any little advice I am capable of giving, and return 1 April 28, 1791. Pitt Papers, Record Office. "Political Memoranda of Francis, fifth Duke of Leeds, p. 167. CHAP. me thanks with a kiss. Such good heads and hearts make me XIII. hope that they will conduct themselves well and creditably throughout life. God bless them, sweet dears.' July 28, 1791. The three and the governess dined with me yesterday, very happy and very busy, finishing a trimming they have worked to present to Lady Stanhope on her birthday, and I hear were out in the garden by five o'clock in the morning and erected a small theatre of hurdles and boughs, in which they acted a play composed by Griselda for her, Lucy and brothers to act. Hester, too tall to match, was chief engineer.' October 4, 1791. Hester is much better. I believe that the greatest attention is paid to their health at all times, and what is thought right to preserve or restore it is never neglected.' The children entered into some, at any rate, of their father's interests. That they shared his detestation of the Slave Trade was shown in a practical manner. December 4, 1791.-'The present passion among the flock is leaving off sugar; their motive so commendable (that of humanity) that all one can say is to put it in every light for and against. You cannot imagine their eagerness, and they are a little displeased at not having yet persuaded the elder ones of the family to do the same, who are not less humane in our way of thinking, though at present we make use of sugar as usual.'1 January 8, 1792.- Our young ones have, I hear, been well amused at home, dancing, acting, &c.' September 17, 1792.- I wish they had more settled health, but that may come. That every attention is paid to them in everything is a great satisfaction to me. The rest we must leave to Providence.' November 8, 1792.-' Hester rides vastly well, and is a fine figure on horseback.' November 5, 1793.-' Hester looks jolly and well and is in very good spirits. I wish I could say as much of my son's looks; but he says he is well, so I hope with a little rest he will plump up, for at present he is very lanthorn-faced.' November 25, 1793.-' Yesterday our three girls dined with me. They are very well in health and looks, and very merry and happy. Hester made me admire her brown gown, which colour becomes her very much. She has a very good taste for dress; but one of her jokes is to overdo the fashion in something or other when she comes to me, to amuse me or make me laugh. 1 Young people must be in the fashion, but I try to laugh them out CHAP. of extremes. I like their innocent mad pranks, as they behave XIII. so well in company; the two eldest were at a ball a few days ago and much admired for the propriety of their behaviour, so much so that a lady there, who has some female children, said to Lady Stanhope that she must consult her about their education, as ours did her so much credit.' December 26, 1793.-'I fancy you hear from some of the girls, whose talents, I agree with you in thinking, are equal to everything. They ride, they drive with neighbours, and go to balls and amuse themselves.' March 19, 1794.—' This day at last a letter from Hester, who says, "My dress, a pink train, drapery done round with gold fringe and a white spangled petticoat, cap, little more than four feathers, with a quire of white satin tied up and gold tassels, very much frightened. I think it very dull and formal; at Gloucester House not much better. I have been at a ball, not a good one, but expect a better soon." I hear from another quarter that she made a good appearance.' March, 26, 1794.-' I have just been informed that a lady met Hester at a great Rout at Lady Amherst's, and was much pleased at her appearance. I have also heard from another that she goes everywhere where Lady Stanhope goes and that she looks incomparably well.' August 13, 1794.- Hester has had a friend with her for about three weeks. Every amusement that riding, visiting, &c. can produce, they have had without interruption and which the uncommon strength of Hester bears most amazingly, for none can keep up with her. Yesterday they wished to go to a ball at Tunbridge Wells on the Prince of Wales' birthday.' January 2, 1795.- Our three lasses have passed a very merry Christmas, and this night are going to the great annual ball in our neighbourhood,—that is, used to be so, but gentlemen are in general pretty scarce at balls, as I am told.' April 17, 1795.-' About a week ago my four females were at a great ball and supper, and they took the two eldest boys with them. After supper the ladies retired and the two little boys remained, and thought themselves, no doubt, persons of importance. The gentlemen said to Mahon], Come, you shall be toast-master; and he accepted with the greatest gravity. The first toast he gave was "To the immortal memory of Lord Chatham." I do love him for it, more than I can tell you, 'tis a sweet dear and a sensible, for it came from his heart and head, both good as you see. 'Tis said that old people CHAP. are twice children, perhaps 'tis so, for I cannot write this with XIII. dry eyes.' December 28, 1795.- The three dancing away; every week of late at one or two balls, I hope to their hearts' content.' January 12, 1796.- As to the three damsels they are this night gone to a ball, of which there has been one every eveninĮ for some time, and after them suppers. I hear they looked well, and caps elegant and becoming. They return never before five, often seven o'clock. One of the old attends, sometimes both, but papa the oftenest, as late hours don't suit others. The three are much obliged to him, as it don't suit him much either.' Not the most exemplary father could do more than take three daughters some sixteen miles over the heavy Kent roads, wait patiently at a ball, and return at seven in the morning. December 29, 1796.- Balls begin as usual next week.' August 19, 1797.-'I heard yesterday from Hester from Tunbridge Wells. Lady Stanhope, Griselda and her are there; Hester had not been quite well, and it was thought the waters would be of service. Hester says that Griselda goes to all the balls, but, as she is prudent, she has not yet been. But fair or foul I don't believe they miss riding. Hester to be sure shews to great advantage on horseback, and peaks herself on her horsemanship, and very vain that her opinion is often asked, as being knowing in jockeyship.' The picture painted by the fond and gentle Grisel shows that the boys and girls enjoyed a normal and happy childhood. But as they grew up difficulties arose, and Stanhope was at last left alone in the great house which had echoed with the prattle and laughter of half a dozen children. The daughters were older than the sons, and with them the trouble began. Lucy, the youngest, had fallen in love with Taylor, the family doctor, and in 1796, when only a little over sixteen, married him. Stanhope's democratic principles did not cover such a case, and the match was treated as a mésalliance, though Taylor was a man of excellent character. The ministerial caricaturists naturally made the most of the incident. His old enemy Gillray drew a picture of the ceremony, entitled the Union of the Coronet and the Clysterpipe,' in which Fox, the officiating clergyman, read the service from Paine's Rights of Man,' and Stanhope looked on with approval. Since my last,' wrote Grisel on October 6, 1796, to Lady Chatham, 'I received a present of game from those who for some time have taken up much of my thoughts. I took a hint and wrote desiring they would dine here |