Tom Duncombe describes Lady Blessington’s parties as gay, “where all the men about town assembled, and sunned themselves in her charms; and where, for certain reasons, she was secure from the intrusion of rivals. There Count d’Orsay, tied by the leg with 120,000l. of debt, was sure to welcome his ‘cher Tomie.’”
“Cher Tomie” saw and knew much of D’Orsay, and did his best to help him in his money troubles. The following letters tell a tale of woe:—
Saturday, 12th February 1842.
“My Dear Tommy,—I know that you have been to C. Lewis, and that he told you it was settled. It is not so; he expected that I would have signed the renewals at sixty per cent. which he sent me, and which I delivered. Therefore, if you have a moment to lose, have the kindness to see him this morning and persuade him of the impossibility of my renewing at that rate; say anything you like on the subject, but that is the moral of the tale. You must come and dine with us soon again.—Yours faithfully,
“D’Orsay.”
Thursday, 6th April 1842.
“My Dear Tommy,—I see by the papers that Lord Campbell and Mr T. S. Duncombe received a petition against the Imprisonment for Debt! It is the moment to immortalise yourself, and also the sweetest revenge against all our gang of Jews, if you succeed in carrying this petition through. I have taken proper means to keep this proposal alive in the Press. Will you come and dine with us?—Yours affectionately,
“D’Orsay.”
This last may refer to the schedule above-mentioned:—