ings, writing letters, and holding those in- bell again. Now, as servants, when terminable conversations which filled so fatigued, do sometimes sleep so sound as large a portion of her time, and seemed so not to hear, and sometimes are purposely necessary to her life. When these were deaf, Lady Hester Stanhope had got in the over she would prepare herself to go to quadrangle of her own apartments a couple bed, but always with an air of unwilling-of active fellows, a part of whose business ness, as if she regretted that there were no it was to watch by turns during the night, more commands to issue, and nothing and see that the maids answered the bell: more that she could talk about. When they were, therefore, sure to be roughly she was told that her room was ready, one shaken out of their sleep, and, on going, of the two girls, Zezefoon or Fatoom, who half stupid, into her ladyship's room, by turns waited on her, would then precede would be told to prepare a fomentation of her with the lights to her chamber. chamomile, or elder flowers, or mallows, or the like. The gardener was to be called, water was to be boiled, and the house again was all in motion. During these preparations perhaps Lady Hester Stanhope would recollect some order she had previously given about some honey, or some flower, or some letter-no matter however trifling; and whoever had been charged with the execution of it was to be called out of his bed, whatever the hour of the night might be, to be cross-questioned about it. There was no rest for any body in her establishment, whether they were placed within her own quadrangle or outside of it. Dar Joon was in a state of incessant agitation all night.

"No soul in her household was suffered to utter a suggestion on the most trivial

"As it had become a habit with her to find nothing well done, when she entered her bed-room, it was rare that the bed was made to her liking; and, generally, she ordered it to be made over again in her presence. Whilst this was doing, she would smoke her pipe, then call for the sugar-basin to eat two or three lumps of sugar, then for a clove to take away the mawkish taste of the sugar. The girls, in the mean time, would go on making the bed, and be saluted every now and then, for some mark of stupidity, with all sorts of appellations. The night lamp was then lighted, a couple of yellow wax lights were placed ready for use in the recess of the window; and, all things being apparently done for the night, she would get into bed, and the matter-even on the driving-in of a nail in maid whose turn it was to sleep in the a bit of wood: none were permitted to exroom (for, latterly, she always had one) ercise any discretion of their own, but having placed herself, dressed as she was, strictly and solely to fulfil their orders. on her mattress behind the curtain which Nothing was allowed to be given out by ran across the room, the other servant was any servant without her express directions. dismissed. But hardly had she shut the Her dragoman or secretary was enjoined door and reached her own sleeping-room, to place on her table each day an account flattering herself that her day's work was of every person's employment during the over, when the bell would ring, and she preceding twenty-four hours, and the names was told to get broth, or lemonade, or and business of all goers and comers. orgeat, directly. This, when brought, was Her despotic humor would vent itself in a new trial for the maids. Lady Hester such phrases as these. The maid one day Stanhope took it on a tray placed on her entered with a message 'The gardener, lap as she sat up in bed, and it was neces- my lady, is come to say, that the piece of sary for one of the two servants to hold the ground in the bottom is weeded and dug, candle in one hand and shade the light and he says that it is only fit for lettuce, from her mistress's eyes with the other. beans, or selk [a kind of lettuce], and The contents of the basin were sipped such vegetables.' Tell the gardener,' once or twice and sent away; or, if she she answered vehemently, 'that, when I ate a small bit of dried toast, it was con- order him to dig, he is to dig, and not to sidered badly made, and a fresh piece was give his opinion what the ground is fit for. ordered, perhaps not to be touched. This It may be for his grave that he digs, being removed, the maid would again go away, and throw herself on her bed; and, as she wanted no rocking, in ten minutes would be sound asleep. But in the meantime her mistress has felt a twitch in some part of her body, and ding ding goes the

·

it may be for mine. He must know nothing until I send my orders, and so bid him go about his business.' The consequence of all this was, she was pestered from morning till night, always complaining she had not even time to get up, and always mak

ing work for herself. Here is another ex-
ample. A maid, named Sâada, was de-
sired to go to the store-room man, and ask
for fourteen sponges.
She went, and add-
ed, out of her own head, when she deliver-
ed the message, 'Fourteen to wipe the
drawing-room mats with'--it being custom-
ary in the Levant (and an excellent cus-
tom it is) to clean mats with wet sponges.
In the course of the day, this slight varia-
tion in the message came to Lady Hester's
ears, and she instantly sent for the culprit,
and, telling her that she would teach her
for the future how she would dare to vary
in a single word from any message she had
to deliver, she ordered the girl's nose to
be rubbed on the mats; while this injunc-
tion was impressed on her, that, whatever
the words of a message might be, she was
never to deviate from them, to add to them,
nor to take from them, but to deliver them
strictly as she received them. In fact, she
maintained that the business of a servant
was not to think, but simply to obey.
Truly did old General Loustaunau say
sometimes, that, with all her greatness and
her talents, there was not a more wretched
being on earth. People have often asked
me how she spent her life in such a soli-
tude. The little that has been already re-
lated will shew that time seldom hung
heavily on her hands, either with her or
those about her. In reference to the blind
obedience she required from servants, La-
dy Hester Stanhope one day said to me,
'Did I ever tell you the lecture Lord
S******* gave me? He and lady S

and wherefores." When Lady Hester Stanhope got up, increasing attention to her own personal wants through long years of bad health had rendered her a being of such sensitiveness, that a thousand preparations were necessary to her comfort; and herein consisted the irksomeness of the service for those about her. Yet this, if ever it was pardonable in any person, was surely so in her; for her nature seemed to lay claim to obedience from all inferior creatures, and to exact it by some talismanic power, as the genii in Eastern tales hold their familiar spirits in subjection."

May all such tyranny, again say we, meet with such return; where there is so little good, there can be no gratitude. But we have done with the morale of this miserable body; and would remind our readers that they must look for their entertainment in other features of the Memoirs, the multitude of piquant anecdotes, and variety of amusing descriptions, etc.

"She made the following remark The peers in England may be compared to doctors who have made their fortunes: if they continue to practice, they do it out of regard to some particular families, or from humane motives. They know better than those who are sick what is good for them, because they have had long practice; and if their sons are no doctors, they have heard so much talk about the matter that they sit in a corner and watch the effect of the medicine.' I was struck with the resemblance of Lady Hester's style to had taken me home to their house from Junius's in her letter to Sir Edward. the Opera. It was a cold snowy night; This led me to reflect, as I had observed and, after I had remained and supped tête- on many occasions that Lady Hester's lanà-tête with them, when it was time to go, guage was the counterpart of her grandowing to some mistake in the order, my father's, whether Lord Chatham might not carriage never came for me; so Lord S- have been the author of Junius's Letters; said his should take me home. When he but it has since been suggested to me that rang for the footman to order it out, I there would be an absurdity in such a suphappened to observe, 'The poor coach- position (for I had no opportunity of consult man, I dare say, has just got warm in his ing books where I was), because some of bed, and the horses are in the middle of the most eloquent passages of Junius are their feed; I am sorry to call him out on his panegyrics on Lord Chatham, and it is such a night as this.' After the man had not likely that he would have been guilty left the room, Lord S- turned to me, of writing an eulogium on himself; howand said, My dear Lady Hester, from a ever, I mentioned it to her. She answerwoman of your good sense, I should never ed: My grandfather was perfectly capahave thought to hear such an observation. ble and likely to write and do things It is never right to give a reason for an which no human being would dream came order to a servant. Take it for a rule from his hands. I once met with one of through life that you are never to allow his spies,' continued she, a woman of the servants to expect such a thing from you: common class who had passed her life they are paid for serving, and not for whys dressed in man's clothes. In this way she

went, as a sailor, to America, and used to woman I have just told you about, who write him letters as if to a sweetheart, knew me by the sound of my voice. giving an account of the enemy's ships There were two hairdressers in London, and plans in a most masterly way, in the the best spies Bonaparte had. A hairdescription of a box of tools, or in some- dresser, generally speaking, must be a thing so unlike the thing in question man of talent; so must a cook; for a cook that no suspicion could be had of the must know such a variety of things about meaning of the contents. This woman which no settled rules can be laid down, by accident passed me at a watering- and he must have great judgment. Do place, whilst I was sitting near the sea- you think I did not immediately perceive side talking to my brother, and stopped that those four Germans we met at short on hearing the sound of my voice, were spies? directly. I never told Bwhich was so much like my grand-father's and Lord S-, because they would have that it struck her. And there is nothing let it out again. François was the only extraordinary in this: I have known a one who knew it besides myself. He took horse do the same thing. My father had an opportunity one day of saying to me, two piebald horses: they were very vicious, when nobody was by, My Lady, one of and hated one of the grooms so, that, one those Germans. . . . . .' 'Yes, yes, François, day, whilst he was taking them out for ex- I understand you,' answered I, before he ercise, one threw him, and the other flew had said three words: 'you need not put at him, and attempted to strike him with me on my guard, but I am much obliged his fore feet; but, as he could not succeed, to you.' 'Why, my lady,' said François, the other, that had run off, turned back, when I was one day standing sentry at seized the groom with his teeth, and bit Bonaparte's tent, there was one of those him and shook him. That very horse very gentlemen I have seen go in and out: went blind, and got into an innkeeper's I recollect his face perfectly.' François hands, who made a post-horse of him. was right, doctor: there they were, there One day, on the high road, I saw him, and was the sick one, and the learned one, and made an exclamation to somebody who the musician, and the officer, for all sorts was with me. The horse, although blind, of persons. You recollect, when we were knew my voice, and stopped short, just at Constantinople, one day I went to meet like the woman. I, too, was struck with the Count de la Tour Maubourg on the the woman's manner; and, without saying banks of the Bosphorus, and he intimated any thing, went next morning at daylight, to me that I had kept him waiting. 'Yes,' before anybody was about, to the same said I, there was a spy following my spot, and, finding the woman there again, boat: I knew him directly, and wanted to inquired who and what she was. A con- prevent his dogging me.' 'Pooh! nonversation ensued; and the woman was de- sense,' replied Mr. de la T. M: but we lighted, she said, to behold once again had not talked for an half hour, when, lo! something that reminded her of her old em- there he was, taking a look at us. ployer. As for the ministers of the pre- day, when I saw Mr. Canning, 'Oh! Lady sent day,' she observed, they are good Hester,' said he, how did you spend your for nothing. When I went to prefer my day yesterday!' Why,' answered I, 'your claim for a pension, one called me Goody- spy did not spoil it.' 'Ah!' rejoined he, laughtwo-shoes, and told me to go about my ing, for he perceived at once it was of no business.' A government should never use to make a mystery of what he had done, employ spies of the description generally you should not do such things; I must chosen-men of a certain appearance and write it home to government.' Yes,' said information, who may be enabled to mix I, I'll write a letter, too, in this way :in genteel society they are always known My lord, your excellent young minister, to or suspected. My grand-father pursued show his gallantry, has begun his diplomaquite a different plan. His spies were tic career by watching ladies in their assigamong such people as Logmagi-a hardy nations,' &c. &c. And then I laughed at sailor, who would get at any risk into a port to see how many ships there were, and how many effective men-or a pedlar, to enter a camp-and the like. This was the way he got information as to the armament at Toulon: and such a one was the

Next

him, and then I talked seriously with him, till I made him cry, yes, doctor, made him cry. Spies, as I said before, should never be what are called gentlemen, or have the appearance of such; for, however well they may be paid, somebody else will

:

Of Mr. Pitt we are told:

always pay them better;-unless fortune an idle looker-on. He was not fond of the should throw in your way a man of integri- applause of a mob. One day, in going ty, who, from loyalty or love of his coun- down to Weymouth, he was recognised in try, will adventure every thing for the some town; and, whilst the carriage stopcause he is engaged in such a man is ed to change horses, a vast number of another sort of a thing!' people gathered round us; they insisted on dragging the carriage, and would do so for some time, all he could say. Oh, doctor! what a fright I was in! Mr. Pitt bore with ceremony as a thing necessary. On some occasions I was obliged to pinch his arm, to make him not appear uncivil to people: There's a baronet,' I would say ; or, That's Mr. So-and-So.' I never saw Mr. Pitt shed tears but twice.'" Of Lord Chatham :

a

"She denied that Mr. Dundas had any direct influence over Mr. Pitt, as Wraxall avers. Her words were: Because Mr. Dundas was a man of sense, and Mr. Pitt approved of his ideas on many subjects, it does not follow, therefore, that he was influenced by him.' With the exception of Mr. Dundas, Lord, and another that she named, all the rest,' said Lady Hester, 'were a rabble--a rabble. It was neces- "Lord Chatham never travelled without sary to have some one at their head to lead mistress. He was a man of no merit, them, or else they were always going out but of great saad (luck). He used to of the right road, just as, you know, a keep people waiting and waiting whilst he mule with a good star must go before a was talking and breakfasting with her. caravan of mules, to shew them the way. He would keep his aide-de-camps till two Look at a flight of geese in the air: there or three in the morning. How often must always be one to head them, or else would the servant come in, and say supper they would not know in what direction to was ready, and he would answer, Ah! fly. Mr. Pitt's consideration for age was well, in half an hour.' Then the servant very marked. He had, exclusive of Wal- would say, 'Supper is on the table;' and mer, a house in the village, for the recep- then it would be, Ah! well, in a quarter of tion of those whom the castle could not an hour.' An aide-de-camp would come hold. If a respectable commoner advanc-in with a paper to sign, and perhaps Lord ed in years and a young duke arrived at Chatham would say, 'Oh, dear! that's too the same time, and there happened to be long; I can't possibly look at it now: you but one room vacant in the castle, he must bring it to-morrow.' The aide-dewould be sure to assign it to the senior; for it is better (he would say) that these young lords should walk home on a rainy night than old men: they can bear it more easily. Mr. Pitt was accustomed to say that he always conceived more favorably of that man's understanding who talked agreeable nonsense, than of his who talked sensibly only; for the latter might come from books and study, while the former could only be the natural fruit of the imagination. Mr. Pitt was never inattentive to what was passing around him, though he often thought proper to appear So. On one occasion Sir Ed. K. took him to the Ashford ball to shew him off to the yeomen and their wives. Though sitting in the room in all his senatorial seriousness, he contrived to observe every thing; and nobody (Lady Hester said, could give a more lively account than he. He told who was rather fond of a certain captain; how Mrs. K. was dressed; how Miss Jones, Miss Johnson, or Miss Anybody, danced; and had all the minutia of the night, as if he had been no more than

camp would present it next day; and
he would cry, Good God! how can you
think of bringing it now? don't you know
there's a review to-day?' Then, the day
after, he was going to Woolwich.
'Well,
never mind,' he would say; have you got
a short one?-well, bring that.'"

A personal bit or two:

"I recollect once, at Ramsgate, five of the Blues, half-drunk, not knowing who I was, walked after me, and pursued me to my door. They had the impertinence to follow me up stairs, and one of them took hold of my gown. The maid came out frightened out of her senses; but, just at the moment, with my arm I gave the foremost of them such a push, that I sent him rolling over the others down stairs, with their swords rattling against the balusters. Next day he appeared with a black patch as big as a saucer over his face; and, when I went out, there were the glasses looking at me, and the footmen pointing me out-quite a sensation!

"After Mr. Pitt's death I could not cry for a whole month and more. I never

shed a tear until one day Lord Melville cleverest man of her time, in politics, busicame to see me; and the sight of his eye-ness, &c. Even the late Lord Chatham, brows turned gray, and his changed face, his son, had but an imperfect idea of all made me burst into tears. I felt much that took place; for he was either absent, better for it after it was over. * or, when not so, taken up by dissipation."

"On some occasions she had singular ways of talking; sometimes as if she were addressing herself to the wall, sometimes to her lap; and latterly, when most of her teeth were gone, she mumbled a great deal."

As varieties, we quote :—

"In the cottages of Mount Lebanon there are many things occurring daily which would greatly surprise an English practitioner. A luxation of the shoulderjoint in an infant, real or supposed, was cured, they told me, by taking the child by the wrist and swinging it round with its feet off the ground, until the bone got into place again. I assisted, the second time, at the cure of a sore throat, in a man thirty-six years of age, who suffered a pocket-handkerchief to be drawn tightly round his neck until his face turned black and he was half-strangled. The man declared next day he was well, and the operator assured me it was a never failing reme

dy."

Not knowing exactly how much dependence we can repose in Lady Hester's recollections, we are not sure whether we may return to these volumes or not. They ought to be better than the common run to deserve serious consideration: for Lady H. is herself a tolerable critic. On one occasion we read:

To finish: "The Memoirs of a Peeress," ascribed to Lady C. Bury, was among the books sent to Lebanon; and Dr. M. says:

"I began reading it to her to-day. She was calm and composed. The history of events, so well known to her, seemed to afford her singular pleasure; and it was evident that if she had always sought for amusement in books, instead of spending her time in disciplining incorrigible knaves and wenches, she might have found many happy hours even in the midst of sickness and solitude. Lady Hester had been looking into the book in the course of the day, 'I do not think,' observed she, that the heroine's character is hers; it seems to me a fictitious one, made up partly of her own observations, partly of what has happened to herself: if it is anybody, it must mean Lady Caher. Perhaps Lady Charlotte's husband writes the books, and she supplies the materials. The style is not that of a woman like her; she is more likely to set off on foot three or four miles to see how they ploughed at Abra, for example, like an active Scotch woman; but as for writing a book, I think she was no more likely to do it than I am.* I could not write a book, doctor, if you would give me the world. Ah! I could dictate a little to anybody who wanted to "Some one I suppose you-sent me write down a correct account of circumthe Life of Lord Edward Fitzgerald.' stances that I know. I remember Lady It is I who could give a true and most ex- Charlotte's first going to court, and the traordinary history of all those transac-effect was very much what she describes of tions. The book is all stuff. The duchess Miss Mordaunt :-that is, somebody said, (Lord Edward's mother) was my particular 'She is too thin-very handsome to be friend, as was also his aunt: I was intimate with all the family, and knew that noted Pamela. All the books I see make me sick-only catchpenny nonsense. A thousand thanks for the promise of my grandfather's letters; but the book will be all spoilt by being edited by young men. First, they are totally ignorant of the politics of my grandfather's age; secondly, of the style of the language used at that period; and absolutely ignorant of his secret reasons and intentions, and the real or apparent footing he was upon with many people, friends and foes. I know all that from my grandmother, who was his secretary, and, Coutts used to say, the

sure, but too thin:' and somebody else observed, that in a year's time, when she filled out, she would be remarkably beautiful, which turned out to be the case. She was three years older than me; but she had such a hand and arm, and such a leg! she had beautiful hair too, gold color, and a

"On returning to Europe, I discovered that this novel, although edited by Lady C Bury, was the production of another lady, Mrs. C. Gore. Nevertheless, the observations made on it and on its supposed author are retained, in the hope that each of these highly gifted persons, as well as the reader, will be amused in hearing spirit from a critic's in the Edinburgh Review,' Lady Hester's comments, made in a different or the office of the Literary Gazette.'"