Lady Ford
b.1767 d.1949
to my little Meta. So I shall be left, high and dry, to console myself with Jamones y seco. Not but what a lady told me yesterday that she heard as positive that I was booked also. The ardent imaginations of the best half of creation rush at conclusions, and underrate the difficulties of fifty-four. After this, let no man despair. Instead of making love, I have been pursuing a more becoming task of writing articles.”
In the summer of 1851, Ford married Mary, only daughter of Sir Arscott Ourry Molesworth, Bart., of Pencarrow, near Bodmin, sister of Sir William Molesworth, who had succeeded his father as eighth Baronet in 1823, and was at this time, and to the date of his death (1845-October 1855), M.P. for Southwark. Politically Ford was little in sympathy with his brother-in-law, who was an advanced Liberal, and for many years the leader of the “Philosophical Radicals.” Writing to the Dowager Lady Molesworth, August 18th, 1851, Ford says:—
The pen seems to have passed from the fingers of the late literary Mr. Ford into those of Mrs. Ford. She is now with her nose in her blotting-book, diligently, dutifully, and no doubt delicately inditing to you. I generally leave her to the monopoly of the inkstand, and take refuge in my paint-box, having begun a series of Spanish views to decorate her room, in the hopes of keeping her out of Spain by bringing the Peninsula to Park Street.
Meanwhile we rub on pleasantly and much enjoy the repose of London “out of town.” We vary existence by suburban trips of an approved cockney and connubial character. One day we steam down to Greenwich, champagne and whitebait; another, we float down the beautiful Thames at Twickenham, to the disturbance of swans and punters.
You will have heard from Mary of all our sayings and doings. Nothing could be kinder or more hospitable than Miss Molesworth[53] was. She is a very superior and a right honest woman. We fraternised and sisterised greatly. I suppose I have some old hankering and a predilection for the name of “Miss Molesworth.” Assuredly we shall repeat our visit, which our hostess so repeatedly and really pressed.
The lady of the Lodge gave me lessons in the cultivation and concoction of flax, which she conducts with great profit, and I hope I may do no worse when an Irish proprietor. I shall grow a small plot of hemp for Cardinals and Co. By the way, what an excellent politician Miss M. is!