The girlhood of Maria Josepha Holroyd (Lady Stanley of Alderly). Recorded in letters of a hundred years ago: from 1776 to 1796

Front matter

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Chapter I. Fagb

Letter from Serena— Going to the play— The Polish dwarf— An 61oge —First mention of Gibbon— Original story— Serena's advice as to deportment— Mrs. Siddons— Lord Sheffield an author— Varied reading— Daily occupations— Duchess of Portland's museums- Improvements at Sheffield Place— First Sunday School at Bath— Industrial Schools— Gibbon's expected visit— Sir Joseph Banks . 1

CHAPTER IL

FIEST FLIGHTS.

Invitation from Gibbon to Serena— Portrait of Lord Sheffield by Sir Joshua Reynolds— Trial of Warren Hastings— Study of Botany- Sir G. and Lady Webster — The Sloop • Maria '—Dress— Performance of the ' Messiah '—Lord Sheffield's Eeception at Bristol- Lady Sheffield's Pets — Exeter Change — Lady Bristol's Assembly — The Drawing Eoom and Ball— Projected Visit to Gibbon at Lausanne — Preparations for the Journey — Serena's Fears ... 20

Chapter III. Crazy Paris

June to August, 1791.

Departure from Sheffield Place — Flight of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette — Arrival at Dieppe — Rouen — Chateau de Navarre — Paris in 1791— Debate on King and Constitution — Royal Prisoners at the Tuileries — Dinner at Roberts' — Apotheosis of Voltaire — Visit to the National Assembly— Noailles — Palmerston — Extracts from Maria's Diary — Fontainebleau— Discomfort — Dijon — The Hospital — Letter from Serena 35

GIRLHOOD OF MARIA JOSEPH A IIOLROYP.

Chapter IV. With Gibbon At Lausanne

August to October, 1791.

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Arrival at Lausanne — Gibbon's Home^The Severy Family — M. and Madame Necker — Madame de Stael — Excursion to Chamounix — Lady Webster — Geneva — Marriage of the Duke of York — Society at Lausanne — Comte de Lally ToUendal — Scenery — Sufferings of the Exiles — Letters from England 62

Chapter V. Across Perturbed Europe

October to December 1791

Homeward journey — Berne — Basle — Strasburg — Arrest of officers — The hew National Assembly — Adventures on the road — Mannheim — Embarkation on board the Rhine boat — Disasters — The Aristocrats — Through Belgium — Departure from Calais — Trials en voyage — Joyful home-coming— Lady Webster's letter from Nice — Gibbon to Maria Josepha — ' Old Nick's ' letter — Lady Craven — The Orleans Princesses — Madame de Genlis — Pamela — Lavater's remarks on Lord Sheffield's picture — His nose — * Caroline de Lichfield ' 88

Chapter VI. The Travellers At Home

January to May, 1792.

First visit of Comte de Lally Tollendal to Sheffield Place— French enigma— Foreign pohtics— Pamela introduces a Red Cap— Louisa Holroyd sent to live with ' Aunt Serena ' — Letters to her sister- Lady Webster corresponds with Maria Josepha— Miss Moss at Geneva — Her adventures at Gray hq

CHAPTER VII. COMTE DE LALLY's TIDINGS

May to July, 1792

Letter from France— Tragic end of Theobald Dillon— Vicomte de Noailles transmits news of June 20th— Mob at the Tuileries— Insults to the King and Queen— Ten hours of agony -Fainting of

CONTENTvS. xi

Louis XVI.— The National Assembly opens with a ballet-pantomime— Dinner to 600 Sans-culottes— Stormy deliberations— The Procession— The Tables of the Law— Assault on the Tuileries— Courage of the King and Madame Elisabeth—* Les tigies adoucis ' —The Dauphin pliiys with the Bonnet rouge- The Queen's dignity inspires respect— At last the day ends— The decrees— P6tion—' Go to bed ' .

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Chapter VIII

EVIL DAYS. THE PITY OP IT.

Scene in the Champ de Mars and the Ecole Militaire— Fidelity of the Grenadiers— Fortitude of the Eoyal Family— Qa ira— Seditious cries— Temporary revulsion in favour of the Royal Family— Princesse d'Henin reports the manifesto of the Duke of Brunswick —Paris the week previous to the Massacre of August 10th, 1792— Letter from Berne — Charges against the Swiss Guards refuted — Arraignment of the King— His dignified Demeanour . . .156

CHAPTER IX. August to December, 1792

Louisa's letters — Miss Moss's flight — Her journey home from Geneva — Lady Webster on Venice and Vienna — The Comte de Lally again at Sheffield Place — His Imprisonment at L'Abbaye — His release — Arrival of eight shipwrecked priests — Their joy at finding Lally alive — Their tale — More Emigres are received — Subscriptions for the sufferers — Letter from Gibbon — Anxiety about Lally — Lady V7ebster at Naples — Louisa's opinion of Mr. Fox. . 180

Chapter X. Death Op Abigail, Lady Sheffield

Lady Webster's son— Death of Louis XVI.— English politics— Housekeeping — Gibbon mourns over changes at Lausanne — Lady Webster at Naples — The Emigres— Their destitution — Lady Sheffield's exertions on their behalf — Disquieting foreign rumours— Lady Sheffield's illness— Her death— Miss Burney— Evelina. . .209 xii GIRLHOOD OF MARIA JOSEPHA HOLROYB.

Chapter XI. Paqe

The Camp at Ashdown Forest— A lull in France— Lady Webster's visit— Gibbon grumpy— News of Dunkirk— Tunbridge Wells- Society there— Death of Marie Antoinette — Brighton— Home life. 234

CHAPTER XII. THE historian's LAST PAGE

January to July, 1794.

Quests at Sheffield Place— Gibbon— Hay ley —Mr. Jekyll— Gibbon's failing health — Gloomy political prospects — Narrow escape — Gibbon's serious illness — His death — Grief at his loss — His funeral — His manuscripts — Quiet days — Inoculation — Canning's first speech — Talk of invasion — Ireland prosperous — The Gibbon Memoirs — Kaising a Yeomanry Corps — Fashions — Politics — The wry-necked Secretary — Gibbon's first love — His library . . 256

Chapter XIII. Old Friends And New Ties

July to December, 1794.

Ministerial changes — Highland uniform — Papers and picture from Lausanne — Alarming adventure— Neighbours — The camp at Brighton — The review — Interesting Swiss and German guests — Revising the Gibbon Memoirs — Marriage of the Prince of Wales — Ingenuity of Fletching Ringers — Loss of Friends — Lord Sheffield's second marriage — Invitation to the wedding — Letter from Hayley — A friendly hermit's advice . 292

Chapter XIV

Lady Sheffield's influence — The Birthday dance — Reception at Carlton House— East India Company entertain Warren Hastings— Louisa leaves Bath— Serena's regrets— Wheat and flour— Mr. Jekyll—

CONTENTS. XIU

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Effervescence of wits— Madame d'Arblay — Edridge'a portraits — Lady Sheffield to Maria — The Brighton ball — Attempt on the King's life — • Vie de Madame Roland ' — An old friend's wedding 313

CHAPTER XV. Januaby to April, 1796

Duke and Duchess of York — Brown bread and pottage — French guests — Anxious times — Narrow escape of George III. — Publication of Gibbon's Memoirs — London life — Mr. Stanley . . . .358