"To describe to your Ladyship the effect the recent work, published by Messrs. Longman, Orme, and Co., entitled ' Love's Exchanges,' has had on the public mind, is not within my capability. Every lady that I meet, seems full of anxiety on the subject, observing,' Not yet in the petticoats?' The gentlemen say,'What! still in the same dress?' Thus I will leave your Ladyship to judge what I go through, from day to day, while my likeness is portrayed as an elegant woman, in all the pictureshops in London. Why, therefore, I may say, should not the first ladies in the land have the society and friendship of one of the fairest flowers? should I, by being in petticoats, be transgressing the rules of morality or propriety? Probably not; could I, by acting as I wished, obtain forgiveness after M A guarantee to that effect, would tend to relieve my anxiety of mind, and remove my scruples, if I am now thought over-fastidious. Being without incumbrance, could I not say, why should I hesitate? my dress would be respectable without being gaudy. "My time is short, and my funds are exhausted, while I am fearful I shall have a painful struggle to provide for my necessities! Should I be generously aided with pecuniary means to forward my prospects in France (in the event of not being united to her Majesty), that help, when forwarded to me by your Ladyship and your friends, will be refreshment to the weary, as Petrarch beautifully expresses it in his commentaries—' Crede mihi non est parvae fiducie volliceri opem decertantibus consilium dubius umen coecis spem dejectio refigerium fescis magna quidem haec sunt si riant parva si promittantur.'* "In the fervent hope this will find your Ladyship in good health, please to accept my prayers for a continuance of your happiness in this world and the world to come. "I have the honour to be, with sincere regard, "Your faithful and affectionate friend, "L. N." From the same. "Lincoln's Inn Fields, June 7, 1840. "Honoured Madam, "The duty and profound respect I must always feel bound * Sic in original letter. to entertain for my Sovereign Lady the Queen (for the public say that illustrious lady now patronizes me), as well as sincere regard towards yourself, would induce me without hesitation to consent to the apparent wish of clothing me in petticoats, if 1 could be favoured with a specific authority for such a very important change in my habits, as well as exterior appearance (for I am sure I should look like an old washerwoman in female attire); and notwithstanding which, I could not but feel highly honoured by her Majesty's condescension in thus selecting me to occupy a situation (governess, I presume, in the royal family, and to reside in the palace), if such duties could with strict propriety be considered to fall within the scope of my knowledge, which, matured by experience, might be useful in such a capacity; and if it even were so, my endeavours to meet the Queen's approbation would be at all times exercised with sound judgment and energy; but I may, while thus expressing my ideas confidentially on so interesting a subject, be still greatly mistaken, while my awkwardness in petticoats would expose me to the ridicule of all the distinguished guests at the palace. "The ladies of the capital say, I shall look like a fine woman. The gentlemen say I could not wear stays without springs, and they don't think I should look handsome in a bonnet, and therefore I had better remain in breeches. "If they are all in error on the subject, then, I trust, you will do me the kindness to afford me a solution of the mystery. If the public are wrong (errant quidem gravissimfe), who is to put them right? "In the event of funds being forwarded to me (in a parcel sealed up and directed as above), I will occupy furnished lodgings at Kensington, for I am in impoverished circumstances, and if £50 is sent to me it will be very acceptable and useful, these hard times. "Hoping this will find your Ladyship in good health, "I remain very truly, "Your faithful and affectionate friend, "L. N." From the same. "London, May 28, 1841. "Hongured And Much Esteemed Madam, "Although still (after a lapse of three years' written communication), without a single reply either in the affirmative or the negative, and having been personally present at your abode nine times, without being favoured with an appointment or an interview, I take leave to offer an explanation to your Ladyship on the subject of a bond of indemnity (which I mentioned in the postscript of my last letter), a legal instrument cased with armour, to be a defender against the poisoned darts from the venomous tongue of the rocky-hearted slanderer. A shield against the malicious and mischievous deeds of the secret enemy. "The obligor is the party bound, whereby he or she obliges themselves, their heirs, executors, and administrators to indemnify and save harmless the obligee, which surety without the condition is called simplex obligatio; but with the covenant, a specialty, the damages therein being particularly specified in writing, and the contracting parties' seal, while regularly acknowledging the same, and duly confirming the contract, being affixed thereto, thus rendering it a security of a higher nature than those entered into without the solemnity of a seal. "But if it be to do a thing that is malum in se, the obligation itself is void, for the whole is an unlawful agreement, and the obligor could take no advantage from such a transaction; and if the condition be possible at the time of making it, and afterwards becomes impossible, by the act of God, the act of law, or the act of the obligee; there the penalty of the obligation is saved, for no prudence or foresight of the obligee could guard against such a contingency. "My playing, therefore, a second character in this drama (by acting a woman's part), would depend in toto on my own conduct for honour and integrity. Could I therefore, with safety, enter upon such an engagement, without the liability of being a particeps criminis in any unlawful action which might subsequently follow? My opinion from the first was, that it would be an impracticable scheme, and I think my friends will admit I have taken a correct view of this extraordinary design of the projectors; for baffled and frustrated in all my efforts to become the husband of the lady agreeable to the wishes of the public, the disguise of a gentleman, in the apparel of a lady, with an intention of having a conversation with his sweetheart at a ball (such a plan being suggested in my letter of July 8,1839j, would, as that lady is married to another, be now entirely out of season; what motive, therefore, there can be now for exhibiting my portrait (in flagrante delicto) in female clothes, is to me incomprehensible, and I remain in hope your Ladyship will do me the kindness to afford me a solution of the enigma. "Whatever is the object, it has inflicted on me manifold injury and mischief, by the construction put upon it. Even at this time more calumny is issuing from the 'press, and the work entitled 'De Clifford, or the Constant Man,' has very much astonished the public. "My proposal to raise £1000 by way of loan being unattended to, I am of opinion the most judicious plan of arrangement and relief would be for me to quit my native country; and if I had £50 a quarter allowed me for my maintenance, in the city of Brussels, I would go and reside there, from which capital I would correspond with my amiable friend. "Your Ladyship's most obedient, humble servant, "L. N." "P.S. If your Ladyship should honour me with your company for a few weeks in the summer season at Ostend, not only for the benefit of sea-bathing, but also to assist you and your friendi in the completion of works for the press, I should esteem it a favour, and learn much from you.".* * The extravagant epistles bearing the signature L. N. hare lx*n erroneously ascribed by some readers of the first edition to Louis Napoleon. It was supposed that state affairs of much importance wen covertly alluded to in those apparently incoherent communications; and that Lady Blcssington had a key to the real signification of then313 CHAPTER XII. CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE MATHEWS. From Lord Blessington to Charles Mathews, Sen. "Mountjoy Forest, August 2, 1823. "My Dear Mathews, "I am determined to build a house here next spring, and I should like to give your son an opportunity of making his debut as an architect. "If you like the idea, send him off forthwith to Liverpool or Holyhead, from which places steamers go, and by the Derry mail he will be here (with resting a day in Dublin) in five days; but he must lose no time in setting off. I will bring him back in my carriage. "Remember me most kindly to Mrs. Mathews, "And believe me, ever yours truly, "Blessington." "I suppose it would be utterly useless my asking you to come with Charles; but if you wish to spend a week in one of the most beautiful spots in Ireland, eat the best venison, Highland mutton and rabbits, and drink the best claret in Ireland, this is the place; and you would be received with undivided applause, and I would give some comical dresses for your kit. "Yours, B." Letters from Charles James Mathews, Esq. to Lady Blessington. "Torre del Annunciata, Napoli, "Wednesday Evening (1824). . "Dear Lady Blessington, "On Wednesday last, at half-past twelve o'clock precisely, |