of the Month-and then moves on to Holliam. Robert is with us for a few days-and has been at Edinburgh during the Race week, which was very brilliantly attended. Lady Londonderry was down at Dalkeithand shewed off all her diamonds. I do feel for poor Hallam. What a heavy and severe blow! 1 There is plenty of combustible matter for formidable war, but Austria must remain quiet, on account of Italy, and neither Russia or Prussia dare attemptwhilst England and France remain united, which cannot fail, for no illiberal Government can now exist in these two Countries. There will be then after all nothing but local strife. Mary is now quite well again, and sends her love to you both and to Lady Charlotte [Lindsay]. We have had beautiful weather, but cold. It now looks. like days of rain. I think it was wise in you not to make a move until you were to go into your Winter quarters,-Ever Affectionately Yours, ROBT. FERGUSON.2 Mary Berry to Miss Cayley CURZON ST., February 12, 1834. MY DEAR PHIL.,-Gerard conveyed to me the other day, in perfect condition, your kind remembrance of me, in the shape of two pots of Pinks. They gave my conscience a twinge for never having acknowledged a most kind and flattering letter I received from you before you left town last Summer. The truth is, I am grown very old, very idle, and very indifferent to every thing but the affections of the Heart. All my little 1 Arthur Henry Hallam, son of the historian, died at Vienna on September 15, 1833, at the age of twenty-two. 2 Add. MSS. 37726, f. 193. remaining thought of mind or character has retreated to that citadel, and there I mean it to hold out valiantly, till the whole place falls honourably together, after disputing every inch of ground on the encroachments of Indifference, or else falling at once, by a coup de main --which you know I rather prefer. In the meantime I am getting on better than I could expect, but as nobody seems to be aware of my age but myself, I lose credit for many exertions. Friday, February 14. I was interrupted by being sent down for, to take leave of Macaulay, who leaves England this very day for India. An honourable desire for securing to himself political Independence, and the fortune of two Sisters has engaged him to take a most honourable place in the Council at Madras, but there he must remain for at least six or seven years! So that my farewell was for ever: and it was certainly not without sincere regret that I saw depart, so distinguished, so extraordinary a member of Society! so very unlikely to be soon replaced! For his conversational powers were yet greater than his House of Commons Eloquence. I see your Nephew often. He much improves on acquaintance, and the world much improves him-which I believe to be the case with all the better order of understandings. I introduced him last night to Lord Lansdowne, and they seemed to take to each other. I have told him (your Nephew) whenever he sees a light in our windows to come up without invitation, which is a more comfortable thing to a single man in London than [formal] parties. I should ask if you had no intentions of reoccupying your old quarters at Gerard's this Spring, but that I am myself uninterested in the question, for if I do not slip down much lower on the inclined plane on which we are all treading, we mean after Easter to cross over to Paris for three or four months. I wish once more to see it, and hating London after Easter and being determined not to remain in it, I would rather go there at that season than anywhere else. The Spring at Paris and its environs is beautiful, and I shall endeavour to let somebody into our House here who prefers smoke and bustle to flowers and a clear sky. I suppose I shall see Sir George here, before we go, which will be about the 8th or 10th of April. And now farewell, dear Phill.-for I have been again interrupted, altho' not by another Macaulay. God bless you and keep that corner of your heart warm where you have been so good as to allow me a place. M. BERRY.1 Richard Westmacott, R.A.,2 to Mary Berry 21 WILTON PLACE, May 10, 1834. DEAR MADAM,-You were so good as to say you should be glad to hear from me some account of the Exhibition, Belles Arts, &c., and I best show my sense of the distinction by obeying your wishes, tho' I fear you will be ready to blame your own rashness in volunteering to encounter so sorry a letter-writer as you will find me. I almost foreswore criticism the other day-at least before non-artists-from an observation that was made in my presence by a Dilletante, one who "paints" himself! It arose from an Artist's praising the works of some of his brethren now in the exhibition-"Ah! they all hang together-Praise me, I'll praise you!" And within a quarter of an hour, upon being told that a work he commended was not thought very highly of by the Pro 1 Add. MSS. 37726, f. 195. 2 Richard Westmacott (1799-1872), eldest son of Sir Richard Westmacott. Both father and son were distinguished sculptors. |