The Greville Memoirs, Part 2 (of 3), Volume 1 (of 3): A Journal of the Reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1852 — John Shaqi
The Greville Memoirs, Part 2 (of 3), Volume 1 (of 3): A Journal of the Reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1852Greville, Charles
History
The Greville Memoirs, Part 2 (of 3), Volume 1 (of 3): A Journal of the Reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1852
Greville, Charles
Great Britain -- History -- Victoria, 1837-1901
that Petworth was unvisited by some painter or sculptor, many of
whom he kept in almost continual employment, and by whom his loss
will be severely felt. He was extremely hospitable, and Petworth
was open to all his friends, and to all their friends if they
chose to bring them, provided they did not interfere with his
habits or require any personal attention at his hands: from any
such obligation he considered that his age and infirmities
released him. He received his guests with the utmost urbanity and
courtesy, did the honours of his table, and in every other
respect left them free to abide as long as they pleased, but to
amuse themselves as they could. Petworth was consequently like a
great inn. Everybody came when they thought fit, and departed
without notice or leave-taking. He liked to have people there who
he was certain would not put him out of his way, especially those
who, entering into his eccentric habits, were ready for the
snatches of talk which his perpetual locomotion alone admitted
of, and from whom he could gather information about passing
events; but it was necessary to conform to his peculiarities, and
these were utterly incompatible with conversation or any
prolonged discussion. He never remained for five minutes in the
same place, and was continually oscillating between the library
and his bedroom, or wandering about the enormous house in all
directions; sometimes he broke off in the middle of a
conversation on some subject which appeared to interest him and
disappeared, and an hour after, on a casual meeting, would resume
it just where he had left off. But this habitual restlessness,
which was so fatal to conversation, served perhaps to exhibit the
vivacity of his mind and its shrewd and epigrammatic turn in a
more remarkable manner: few persons visited Petworth without
being struck with astonishment at the unimpaired vigour of his
intellectual powers. To have lived to a great age in the practice
of beneficence and the dispensation of happiness, and to die
without bodily suffering or mental decay, in the enjoyment of
existence up to the instant of its close, affords an example of
human prosperity, both in life and in death, which has fallen to
the lot of few, but which may well excite the envy and admiration
of all.[11]
[10] [See for descent of Lord Egremont, p. 337, vol. ii. of
the First Part of Mr. Greville's Journals.]
[11] The substance of this character of the Earl of Egremont
was inserted in the _Times_ newspaper of Saturday, 18th
November 1837.
November 3rd, 1837 {p.026}
At Court yesterday when the Queen received the Address of the
Commons. She conducts herself with surprising dignity: the
dignity which proceeds from self-possession and deliberation. The
smallness of her stature is quite forgotten in the majesty and
gracefulness of her demeanour.
[Page Head: RADICAL DISCONTENT.]
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