CECILIA SIDDONS

By R. J. Lane after Sir Thos. Lawrence

Brynbella, 10 Jan. 1798.

Before the long threatened Blister is put upon my right arm, I will use it once more to assure my very tenderly remembered friend that she has never been a moment forgotten. But I wrote so exceeding long a letter to Harriet Lee a great while ago, upon the odious subject of self and family affairs, and she answered me so coldly and drily, that I thought nobody would like a correspondence of that kind; and felt unable to try at others more entertaining. Desire to see our place and our acquaintance brought us hither for three months' amusement on the 10th of Octr,—I mean of August last, and the first thing we heard was that Mrs. Mostyn had [returned home]—no doubt, said I, that she may be attended by Mr. Moore, who was so comfortable and attentive when she was in the same country confined by illness seven years ago, and dear Miss Weston offered to go with us to Lisbon upon Haygarth's saying her health required Continental air. We sent, and went, and were received civilly, and not unkindly; so I thought we were upon terms, as 'tis called, and a servant was daily dispatched to know how she went on. Miss Thrale, who was with her, always returned for answer yt all was going as well as possible. So we went out as usual to visit our neighbours, and at one Lady's house heard suddenly, and accidentally, not only of her illness, but her extream danger. Mr. Moore was in the room where we heard it; she was attended by people from Chester and Ruthyn whom neither she nor I had ever seen, but tho' so oddly thrown aside, Mr. Moore, to calm my inquietude, ran away to learn particulars, and I sate in agony at bottom of Denbigh Town, while the footman galloped forward to request my admission. It was refused. Disastrous scenes ... followed; and Mr. Piozzi shed tears at the account of her severe sufferings. In due time I was admitted, and warned to make my visit short, and so I did. The visit was coldly, but not uncivilly, in course of 3 months, returned,—and all passed off quietly. The Litigation for recovery of money spent on Cecilia while she remained with us went on of course; and the other day almost, the Master made Report against Mr. Piozzi, who, he said, could compel no payment, but yt Mostyn must be a strange man (was his expression,) to endeavour so at squeezing his wife's necessary expenses out of a Father-in-law's pocket; and added—"I can tell you, gentlemen, that had you come to me as John Wilmot, not as Master in Chancery, I should have decided very differently indeed." The Counsellors on both sides beg'd him even yet to stand between us and ye Chancellor, and act as Referee. "If your clients please," replied he, "so I will." Mr. Piozzi wrote to express his consent, but when we asked Miss Thrale concerning her brother and sister's determination, she said it was a subject that had never employed their minds even for a moment. I requested her to remind 'em of it, and at night came a Billet with "Proper Coms; Mr. Mostyn will take time for deliberation." And so he does, for that's a fortnight ago.

So much for the superiority with which your poor mortified and severely humbled friend has been treated; now for domestic comforts. On the 20th of October my Master went to bed with a raging fit of Gout in breast, side, back, and collar bone, but soon fixing in one heel and one toe, it tore them open into the most frightful ulcers I or poor Mr. Moore ever did behold. There has the Gout gnawed and bitten for 12 entire weeks, during which time has the truly wretched patient suffered torments inexpressible, and I believe rarely endured: his letters from Italy irritating even that anguish by narrations of what brothers, sisters, friends, etc. endure from the rapacity of these vile French,—false as they are cruel, and insolent as they are successful. His own particular Town has been the immediate scene of distress, and all these are completely and inevitably ruined. Let us thank God they have not yet been called hither, they will do us no harm till they are called. 'Tis our own traytrous Vipers I am afraid of,—not the French: and of the taxes I am not afraid, except as it gives a handle for abuse to those who object to everything proposed, and propose nothing themselves.

We are in a leaky ship, we must pump or drown, and those are the greatest enemies to general safety who cry, "Oh, don't fatigue the poor men at the pumps with such hard work; see how cruel you are to urge them thus beyond their strength!" Not at all cruel; let us pump now with spirit, and the vessel may yet get into harbour, but 'tis no moment this for general relaxation.

When I was going over the Alps with Mr. Piozzi, the sight of a dreadful precipice made me afraid, and I said I would walk: it was very late in a fine summer evening. "Sit still," cried my Master. "I cannot sit still," replied I, "stop, stop!" "You disturb the drivers, you will make them overturn us, pray sit still." No, I would not sit still, I would walk. "Well, walk away then," said Mr. Piozzi, "if you will walk; there are troops of wolves ranging the mountains now, I was told so at the last inn; they will find their prey out in an instant." Oh you can't imagine after that how still and quiet I sate in the carriage. Britannia, in a similar situation, must act like H. L. P. She must let the driver alone, and he will avoid the precipice; she must not expose herself to this troop of wolves.

But my rheumatic arm aches with even thus much writing, and my heart aches for my own mental, and my husband's corporeal sufferings; my loyal soul too aches for the general pressure upon our brave King and skilful Minister; but tho' Cecilia does refuse to repay the £1400 she owes Mr. Piozzi, I will not grudge the taxes nor will he try to evade them. We raised two puppies I meant to drown, that they likewise might be entered.

Mr. Mostyn's Mother, not much better treated by our haughty Cecy than I have been, has sold one of her estates for £10,000, and given the money to her daughter. She is gone to live at Bath, I'm told....

When Mr. Piozzi recovers our meaning is to go to Streatham Park, and wind up our affairs, and come back hither, and live snug, and save money enough to pay our just debts, and bury us. If we could live 3 years more, we should have our income clear of every incumbrance, and I should publish another Jest Book: but both our healths are visibly declining. Love us, and pray for us, and write again soon....

The friendly Master in Chancery was John Wilmot of Berkswell Hall, F.R.S., M.P. for Tiverton and for Coventry, who assumed the additional surname of Eardley in 1812, and was ancestor of the present Sir John Eardley-Wilmot, Bart.

The "skilful Minister" was of course Pitt, who had been driven into the war against his convictions, and though carrying it on to the best of his ability, lost no opportunity of working for peace. This, however, now appeared to be farther off than ever by reason of the general dread and hatred inspired by the projected French invasion.

Streatham Park, 27 Feb. 1798.

My dear Mrs. Pennington will like to see a letter dated from old Streatham Park. We got there on Fryday, after a journey made pleasant by repeated visits on the way.... Two days were delightfully disposed of with the Recluses at Llangollen Cottage, where you would, I think, leave your heart a willing prisoner. They conquer and keep in their enchanted Castle all travellers passing that particular road—at least all those for whom they spread their nets. Harriet Lee escaped by some poetical chance, but they like her book. We were hungry for pleasure after so long a fast, and enjoyed everything with double delight.

My nerves are however terribly shaken, and I do believe we must and shall return home to Wales through Bath and Bristol, and embrace our dear Mrs. Pennington.... But we will not talk of declining health. Individuals are now of less consequence than ever, while the Nation, the Continent, the World itself, seems in its last convulsions. Can too many efforts be made to keep these marauders out, these pests of Society, who have shaken such a fabric to its foundations? I think no efforts great enough, though our Ministers and Soldiers and Sailors do set a sublime example, sure; and we must all follow at distance.

We have advertised Streatham Park to be let for three years: if Miss Thrales would have accepted it rent-free, only paying the taxes, they should have had it for nothing; but some Grandee, who is reducing his establishment, shall pay us £500 o'year. I thought Mr. Piozzi most paternally kind in his offer of it to the young ladies, but they refused with disdain. They are used to refuse good offers, as people tell me.

Mr. Mostyn's Lady is of age now, and in possession of £40,000, but nothing can we get from them except bills of tradesmen, from whom Cecy took up articles without our knowledge or consent, whilst in our house; and those bills Mostyn meanly refuses to pay, because, as minor's debts, the people cannot arrest him. So runs the world, need one wonder if God Almighty is tired of it? I am nearly tired of it myself.

The weather however is charming. You mistake in fancying Brynbella a cold spot. The Gardener brought me in two pots of the finest Carnations I ever saw in my life upon my birthday, 27 Jan., this year; and we have no hothouse. The side of our hill is particularly warm, quite a côte-rotie.... Surrey looks marvellous dull and dreary compared to the brilliant scenery from our parlours and bed-chamber windows in Wales. But the bustle here amuses me, and I like the sight of London, looking like an Ant-hill suddenly stirred with a stick, well enough.

I have not seen dear Siddons yet, but rejoice sincerely in what I hear of her happiness. Being a lucky darling of Fortune, we got her to buy us a Lottery Ticket this year, and chuse us the number. Joy will come well in such a needful time,[12] as Juliet says. And apropos to Juliet, Miss Hamilton seems perfectly happy with her Romeo. Nothing was ever so kind as her parents have been. They gave her away, and they strip themselves to furnish her house, and they now add to their excessive fondness for her, their adoration of Mr. Holman, who, I really believe, will behave most sweetly and honourably to all....

A curious account of discoveries made in the interior parts of Africa, where large Cities and Civilised Nations are now supposed to have long resided, attracts my attention forcibly; and much chat will we have together when we meet upon these subjects and a thousand more....

[12] "And joy comes well in such a needy time."—Romeo and Juliet, III. v. 106.