“Mr. Emin was most graciously received by the Duke, had offers of
money and all marks of regard from his Royal Highness, so that his
letters express the highest satisfaction ... there must be a nobler
seat than the Persian throne reserved for that fine spirit which,
born in slavery and nurtured in ignorance, aspired to give liberty,
knowledge, and civil arts to his country. To compass this he
risqued his life, and endured the greatest hardships, and ventured
all dangers and uncertainties in a country whose very language he
was a stranger to; how different from so many of our countrymen,
who for little additions of power and greater gratifications of
luxury, in spite of their pride of birth and advantage of a
liberal education and the incitements of the great examples of
all ages and nations, will hazard enslaving us to a nation our
forefathers despised.”
In this letter we learn that Lord Lyttelton had returned from a Welsh
tour very unwell, had spent two days with her and Mrs. Scott at Bath
Easton, _en route_ to Hagley, and that on her return to Sandleford she
expected a visit from Dr. Monsey.
[Page heading: LADY LYTTELTON’S TEMPER]
In a letter from Rev. Charles Lyttelton from Hagley of August 17, one
catches a glimpse of the second Lady Lyttelton’s temper. He says--
“My brother Lord Lyttelton returned from his Welsh expedition the
same day I came home, and you will easily believe how welcome he
was to Miss West and me, as we had nobody to converse with or
rather to eat with, but ye amiable Lady of ye house, for she does
not deign to converse or hardly say a single word to either of us.
On Saturday, Hester[171] arrived, so we are now a strong party, and
her Ladyship may be as sulkey and silent as she pleases.... Lord
Lyttelton is got pure well.”
This expression is often used in the eighteenth-century writings;
apparently it meant perfect health at that time.
[171] Lady Hester Pitt.
From Merton, on August 30, Lady Frances Williams[172] writes to Mrs.
Montagu, and in her letter alludes with joy to Emin’s safety, and then
adds--
“By the accounts arrived from Lord Loudoun,[173] _the_
_Mediterranean tragedy_ seems to be acting over again in the
American seas. A Council of War was call’d to advise whether the
10,000 men brought to Louisburgh[174] should be landed or not; it
was determined in the _negative_ upon finding the French had 2 more
ships than we had. Lord Charles Hay’s only entering his protest,
and they are returned to Halifax to wait a reinforcement.
“This brings to my mind the death of Admiral West, and the
disgust given our friend Admiral Boscawen, which I look upon as a
retaliation from the Pittites for the dismission of the former last
Spring.”
[172] Lady Frances Williams was daughter of the Earl of Coningsby;
her husband, Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, was a statesman, poet,
and wit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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