Palace and Hovel; Or, Phases of London LifeKirwan, Daniel Joseph
History
Palace and Hovel; Or, Phases of London Life
Kirwan, Daniel Joseph
London (England) -- Description and travel; London (England) -- Social life and customs
Walton on the 10th of July; Lord Cole arrived the same day, and left
the day before Sir Charles's return. Sir F. Johnstone, when he stayed
at Walton, was often in her ladyship's sitting-room while the rest of
the party were shooting or hunting. I left Walton with Sir Charles on
the 5th of April, 1869. After her confinement Lady Mordaunt used to
take the papers from me, and once proposed to go fishing, as she had
done before; but I said it was too cold. She seemed quite rational. I
went on the 20th of August to Worthington in order to accompany her
to Bickley. She shook hands with me. I told her Sir Charles had gone
to Scotland, and that Taylor, the gamekeeper, had gone with him. She
laughed and said, "Only think of Taylor's going." She referred to the
death of the Dowager-Lady Mordaunt's son, Mr. Arthur Smith, and said
how sorry his father must be to lose his only son. I remained five or
seven minutes.
A package of letters, a love valentine, and some flowers, which the
Prince of Wales had sent Lady Mordaunt, were found by Miss Jessie
Clarke, and were given to Sir Charles Mordaunt by her. It has been
stated there were other letters from the Prince of Wales to Lady
Mordaunt, which were destroyed in time to save the Prince from the
reputation of a dastard. The letters which were found were produced in
court, but were not read in the early stage of the proceedings, until
the leading newspapers had by some stratagem succeeded in getting
copies, which they published, to the great indignation of Lord Penzance
and other toadies of the Prince. These letters I give as specimens of
the style of writing, amusement, and companions, which the dear Prince
affects. They are ungrammatical, silly, and slangy, and show a vivid
dearth of ideas in the heir to a great kingdom.
I.--She Sends Him Muffetees.
"Sandringham, King's Lynn, January 13, 1867.
"My dear Lady Mordaunt,--I am quite shocked never to have answered
your kind letter, written some time ago, and for the very pretty
muffetees, which are very useful this cold weather. I had no idea
where you had been staying since your marriage, but Francis Knollys
told me that you are in Warwickshire. I suppose you will be up in
London for the opening of Parliament, when I hope I may perhaps have
the pleasure of seeing you and making the acquaintance of Sir Charles.
I was in London for only two nights, and returned here Saturday. The
rails were so slippery that we thought we should never arrive here.
There has been a heavy fall of snow here, and we are able to use our
sledges, which is capital fun.
"Believe me, yours ever sincerely,
"Albert Edward."
II.--Would Like to See Her Again.
"Monday.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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