The Thrales of Streatham Park, II. The "Family book": (ii) 1773-1774
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Citation Hyde, Mary. 1976. The Thrales of Streatham Park, II. The "Family book": (ii) 1773-1774. Harvard Library Bulletin XXIV (3), July 1976: 306-348.
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II. THE FAM/LY BOOK (ii) 1773-1774 15: Feb: 1773. tbis Day H: S: Thrale is six Years old, he is got as far as the Verbs in his Latin Grannnar; he must now begin to read comtrne and perse in that Language - tomorrow u·e will make our Com111e11ce- me11t with the Scrap of Latin at the Head of some Psalm or another. TVriting also should now be set solidly to work upon it is high Time to be sure, b11t I have of late been so much & so anxiously employed both in the Affairs of the Trade & my sweet Mother's Illness that I hope my Negligence is excusable - Yet I am not pleased with myself: Harry might do more 1 think, & I do all ! bave done. 1
It is hard to see how Mrs. Thrale could have done more: she was caring for five children and for her dying mother, and struggling with the management of the brewery. She was keeping a business memorandum book, one more journal to claim her attention; and she was writing letters about business to Johnson, for though he was still confined to his house, he was actively involved in problems of the uade. On 20 Fehruar_\· she wrote to him about Perkins' report on "the had Beer" and also how extrerncl_v pleased the chief clerk was when Thrale brought him to tea in the drawing room. In the midst of this, she said, Thrale' s sister, Lady Lade, had come in ( that tall woman, once a beauty, now rather ugly in appearance and stout; but still lively, with an air of dignity and haughtiness, and lovely manners that hid her lack of knowledge). As ever, she was too youthfully and gaily dressed . . . . you know I have not seen [her] now these two Years and more: She took a great many very rough Words from me so patiently and so prettily, that we kiss'd and friended and promised to quarrel no more: She had been with my Mother first. Then went I to M" Nesbitt's Rout ... (Letters 29fA)
1 This passage, here printed in its proper chronological place, is written in the Family Book between the one headed "18: Oct' 1772." and the one headed "9. Dec' 1772." The Tlm1les of Streatham Park
On 10 ,\larch she "rote to Johnson ahout Thomas Alcx:mder, a chemist, who \\-as threatening a la"-suit for fraud. ,\lrs. Thralc said she had followed Johnson's directions in handling the man, and ''Your Advice \\·as precise!_\-right. upon Il1_',-talking in a higher & more fc1rless Tone m:·friend Alc:,,:ander \\-as much disconcerted - apparent!:· so ... I He l profcss'd his Confidence in ,\Ir Thrale's honour & Perkins's Honest_',·, both \,·hich he said I had clcar'd to him. he then cxp,itiatcd in praise of m,· po,\ ers of ~egotiation ... '' (Letters 300C). Another harassment in 1\larch was an old story raked up by the JVestmimter 1Hagazine abour Thrnlc and Poll_v Han, the courtesan, " ... Genius of the \Vood and Table; equally syh-an, festi,-e, and gay. She had spirit to lead the Hounds in the Field, and YVir to en- tertain them in the house." Thralc's liaison with Pol\\· Hart had ended before his marriage. The stoff ,,·as pointless nm,·, but mortif_',·ing. J\-frs. Thralc's real trial was the increasing illness of her mother. The cancer had spread, and Dr. James sa,v no hope (Letters 300); neither did Pinkstan. All they could think of doing was to purge their patient. i\Irs. Sainsbury was now "so weak She [could] hard- ly totter down Stairs, bur rshe ,,·ould] not keep up [Stairs], tho She fainted yesterday with the Effort" (Letters 300A). On Ir .\larch :\Irs. Thrale was so alarmed b,· her mother's condition that she sent for Dr. Thomas, the clcrg_',·man "·ho kept a bo:-s' school in Streatham, to give her mother the Hol_v Sacrament. Johnson realized that the end was near and sent J\lrs. Thrale let- ters of render consolation.
21 .. \larch 1773 . .Hy .\!other's Illness has lately increased so fast that it /.,asrequired all my Attention & shall hai·e it - Jfy Children I shall keep illy _\father is le.wing me, and Filial Duty shall not be cheated of its due. eu-·hat Gratitude do I not oc:..·eher? '"u.:hatEsteem hm:e I not of Her? '"i1:hat Tenderness do I not feel for her? Oh my sru.:eetMother/ I ha,:e 110'-u.: past many days & Nig,1.itsin her room in her Room I sic l, -c1.:/.iileM' Tl1rale proceeded •1-;_:ithhis Affairs in London - they thank God do mend c'<-·eryday, !mt nobody cmz guess '"J.·!Jata TVimer tl.iisbas been to me, & big ci.rithChild too again God help me_! This Jforning therefore finding my self incapable of attending to e'"L·erybody, & e·,:ery thing, I fairly resoh:ed to '"<1.:alkup the Common '".1:ithHarry to D: Thomas eu-:hokeeps a Boy's School here; & may at least keep up that Knou·ledge Har·-,:ardUbrary Bulletin he has, & perhaps get more: /Jc ·-1.::illlikere,;,•ise go on ,-e,;,,it/,1his TT'riting 111orcco1Jnnodiously there, ·1.:hilcI pJ,.:cto 111y.\lotl1cr 711.Yu11di,:ided Attention; & She scc7/ls ,.:astly delighted too that She has li,:ed to sec hi711a School-boy. As for Hetty, She already bzore,;,•sso 111ucl.1of His- tory, Geography, Astronomy & Natural Philosophy; that S1.ie be- gim 110w to study for her orz.nzsake, & does 11ot so much require keepin The judicious little girl was a helpful person to have around the house during these anxious days; she ,vas alwa_\'S quiet, considerate, and polite to her grandmother. But her brother, Harr_\·, though he meant well, was too noisy and exuberant. i\lrs. Thralc carried through her idea of sending him to Dr. Thomas' school in Streatham. John- son's comment on the fact that she had ceased to be her son's teacher ,vas that the boy \\ ould "be happier no,v he goes to school and reads l\iilton" ( Letters 304). At the brewery things \\·ere going along satisfactorily. The rela- tionship between Thralc and Perkins had improved somewhat, per- haps because Johnson was acti,·c again and could mediate. He wrote to Mrs. Thrale that "Perkins says . . . the Customers arc much pleased ,vith their beer. That is good news, and Perkins is always a credible ·witness" (Letters 30 r. 3). In April an amusing and romantic interlude lightened the gloom of the household, a situation in which everyone at Sucatham parti- cipated, even Mrs. Salusbury, ill though she was. The drama was raking place in her house in Dean Street, now inhabited by Alder- man Plumbe and his family. Fanny Plumbe, his pretty daughter, had fallen in love with a twenty-two-year-old lad, Jack Rice, son of a former High Sheriff of Surrey. This was a suitable match - but Fann:· was only fifteen, and Alderman Plumbe was dctcm1ined she ,vould not be married at such an age. The Thrales of Strcatha7J!P,,rk Fanny and Jack were very much in love, and they were able to win the sympathy of a number of their ciders: Rice's father offered support for his son, i\Irs. Plumhc pleaded for her daughter's happi- ness, and the Thralcs and ,\lrs. Salusbury sided with the young ones, as did Dr. Johnson, surprisingly enough. But Alderman Plumbc \Yould listen to no one. He ,nmld never give his consent; he would lock his daughter up in a conHnt. \Yhen this "·as threatened, Jack and Fann:· decided to elope. to go to Scotland. and he married at Cretna Green. The Thrales, hmYevcr, persuaded them to go to Holland instead and arranged.... with the obliging...... Dr. Thomas to ....go along.... and be chaperone. The three departed for Holland, and Jack and Fanny were married there. On 2 3 May Thrale \\Tote to the bridegroom, urging him to sta~T abroad until the senior Rice had settled his "Indepcndency." And generous Thralc added, "If :nm should h:_ffCoccasion for more mone_\· rh:m :·ou chuse to rrouhk _\-our Father for, :•;ou ma_\· draw on me for an:· sum you please" (Rice, 1). On 15 June Thralc wrote to the ne,d_\'\veds in Rotterdam, suggesting that "when _\"OU have seen Hol- land & are tired of it, go to the German Spa where _\·ou'II meet \lrs. ~eshitt & more of ~-our Friends than _nm think of at present" (Rice, 2). 1\leanwhile Alderman Plumbc, as soon as he was a\\·are of his daugh- ter's flight, turned "his wrath upon rthe Thrale l House, where f they] stood a regular Seige" (Rice, 6). Thralc himself sta_'·ed in Soutlrn:ark, hue 1\lrs. Thrale held fost at Streatham. If he knew all, she wrote to Johnson, ''I suppose we should not sec him for a fortnight ... " In London Fanny's mother had made herself ill with wild apprehensions. She was "foolish & frantic to a supreme Degree" but "the Children [ were l well & happ~/' (Letters 3 11 B) and, as /\lrs. Thralc had ,uittcn to Johnson, "it ,\-ould be reall_v a choice Thing to sec somebody hap- py ... " (Letters 308A). 23: .Hay 1773. Swmma Arabella T/.,ra/e is tbis Day 3 Years old: Her general Health is me11ded, her Rupture almost --u:e/1;but her Colour still like tbat of a Clorotic Virgin at IS, imtead [ of] a Baby; aJld her Stature 'very lo·w: her Temper is so peevish & her Person so displeasing, that I do not /m.:e to cowuerse ---...6th ber: I .--._;_•assaying yesterday to my Afother- sure this Child swallowed sometbing iu her Infancy, that makes such a Creature of her: -Ay replies my Jiotber, a \Vasp I 3 1 o Har·rard Ubrirry Bulletin fancy. Sbe bas bov.:ever good Sense I am sure, and has learned the Cate- c/.iism& Te dcum by l.icart,:cry prettily - TVe 11C7.'erattempted teach- ing her to read. ber Appetite & Digestion begin to 111e11d,and as She has gone tbro' so 1m1ch, l 110';.;.: expect her to li·,.:c;but Sbe has a stiffness in her Joints, & a Palpitation in Her Bosom t/Jat I cannot account for, nor can a11yof the people u·c co11mlted. So nmc/J for little Crab. Susan's appearance of a "Clorotic Virgin," of someone suffering from green sickness, was prohabl_v due to the iron-deficient anaemia of prematurity, which responds very slowl:' to a diet containing iron. The palpitations were presumably caused by the anaemia, and Susan's joints were stiff because of the weakness of her muscles. 30: ,\fay 1773- Lucy's Ear is got quite '"u.:ell;my 1llothcr & Pi11kstanagreed to dress it wit/., tbe Ex: Satumi of Gou/ard- tbis ..rns i11 January - it healed '"..:.:itha quickuess & c!ecmlilless that ama:::.edme, but a large S1;:elling soon bega11to appear in that Side of the Throat so as to alarm us all: It '"c")asas big as a Hen's Egg 1 am sure, and the Child '"uYCSsadly dis- tressed by it - this remained more or less I tbi11k till about a TVeek ago; 1,J1cn after strict Diet, very se.. we Purging, & Sarsaparilla Tea, it dispersed, a11dthere is JJO'I.,' 110 Sign left on 't; but the poor Girl is cruelly reduced by all this Discipli11e. The Saturni of Goulard with which Mrs. Salusbury and Pinkstan treated Lucy's car was a mixture of sub-acetate lead, a lotion named after its original maker, the French doctor, Thomas Goulard. A "gou- lard," as it was called, was commonly used to combat inflammation or infection. In Lucy's case the ear improved. The large swelling on the side of her throat was probably due to an inflammation of the tonsil- lar glands, and this in time subsided. Purging was believed to be helpful for Lucy, and sarsaparilla tea was given to purify the blood and to increase perspiration and the flow of urine. None of these treatments had any effect upon the basic problem of mastoid infection. Lucy's illness caused Mrs. Thrale much anxiety, and her mother's condition even greater concern; she was giving all her time and strength to caring for them. It was no time for Johnson to come home, par- The Thra/cs of Streatham Park 3 I I ticularly since he \LlS again ill himself - a se,·ere inflammation in his seeing e_\·e. But with little feeling for her problems, he wrote on 29 .\la_,·,begging to come to Streatham. He "·anted to talk to the "dear Lad_\·," Mrs. Salusbur:·; he longed to be in his own room again, and he told i\1rs. Thrale that he hoped "at least to give [her] some little solace or amusement" (Letters 3 1 1. 1). ,\Irs. Thrale dreaded ha,·ing three im·alids on her hands, but she unwisely took pity on Johnson and sent her coach for him on \Vednes- dar, 2 June. \ Vhat Johnson found at Streatham was not the solace for which he longed. He was saddened by the state of his godchild and his moments with Mrs. Salusburv. were melancholv.. Mrs. Thrale cared for his eye, but she had no time to entertain him. She was either ,vith Lucy or her mother during the day, and she was up half the night com- forting the latter, fur i'llrs. Salusbur:-,· was no longer able to lie down. She could breathe on!_\· when propped up in a chair, and "·anted all the \Yindmn "·ide open for air. This had gi,·en her a cold and a bad cough. She had trouble eating, and her limbs were becoming numb. And here was Johnson, thundering about the house, or sitting alone in his room, thinking about death, which he dreaded, watching its awful approach just beyond his door. Thrale was not at home to stop his morbid fancies (he absented himself in Southwark ,vhenever Strea- tham was unpleasant). i\lrs. Thrale could be caught only in glimpses. The children were kept out of the \\-a_\·, and just occasionally did a friend come to the house. From Mrs. Thrale's point of view the gloomy, complaining, demand- ing presence of Johnson ,vas unbearable. Last summer he had been her greatest strength, but now he was a burden. He was always in the wa:·, under foot, irritating, and distracting. He realized this himself, on!:· too well, and from his room sent a note in French. She must tell him what was permitted and what forbidden; whether he might wander freely or if he should sta_v within prescribed bounds. She could even lock· him in his room if she wished (Letters 307. 1). J\lrs. Thrale, be- side herself and with a hundred worries, wrote back that she ,,;as sorrv he was "obliged to be so much alone; I foresaw some ill Consequcnc~s of your being here while my Mocher was dying thus; yet could not resist the temptation of having you near me" (Letters 3 11. 1 A). Ob- viously it had been a mistake. There was no need for him to be tortured by the agonizing scene at Streatham. There was nothing he could do co help. If he stayed, she cold him, he must keep to himself, except 3 I 2 Har1.:ardLibrary Bulletin when compan:T came. But what he should reall:r do was to go awa:T and be cheerfull:T occupied. His eye was better, he was well enough now, so why did he not make the journey he had of ten talked about, a tour to the Hebrides, with the :young barrister, his Scottish friend, James BoswelP Johnson did not feel well enough for a Highland ramble yet, and he was well aware of the fact that Boswell could not leave Edinburgh until after the court recess in late August. Johnson knew he was un- wanted at Streatham and he was miserable there, but he could not bear to leave. 18: June 1773. On this fatal & ever memorable as miserable day did I lose my dear itfother; & in her, my Companion, my Friend, my Con/idem; my Cor- respondent: 'ti.:hoseKindness softened all rny Sorrorz..vs, & 7.d.10segen- erous Fondness 'u.:asconteuted to partake of all my Cares. to 'u:bom nor.1,• shall I tell the little Foibles of my heart, tbe Tendernesses of my Hus- band, or the reparties of 111yChildren? to whom shall I mYu) recount the Con·versations of the day? & from 0u.:hom hope Applause for tl.ie Labors of Education? to 'u.:homshall I carry my Criticism of a Book, secure of Approbation if the Remark be a good one, & certain of Secresy if detected in being absurd? u:ith rwf.1omshall I talk oi:er Eve1lfs lo11gpast, Characters known only by ourseh:es, and Accide11ts r.1,.•ehm.:e together been sharers in? 011 this day She died, & left me destitute of e1.:eryreal er~•erynatural Friend: for Sir Tho' Salusbury has long ago cast me off, & M~ Tl.irate & Jf Jolmson are the mere Acquisitions of Chance; u·hich chance, or change of Beha1.:iour,or Imerve11tion of 11e7.l.' Objects or tu:enty Things besides Death can rob me of. One solid Good I had & that is gone - my Mother! Her Illness 'u.:asa Cancer in the Breast, occasioned originally by a Blow of my little Harry's head two Years & nine Months ago, as She 1u·as playing ii.:ith him in the green Parlour at Streat/Jam after dinner, I u·as not by, but in a TVeeks Time, observing her frequemly to un- button her J esuit,2 and handle the part: I insisted on knowing what had bappened, and found a 'uery rmall ["ump u·hich gradually & in despite of Mcdiciue & Surgery increased in Size & Pain till today /when/ it ended in Death. it nci·er broke at all tho' sometimes it would bleed; 2 Jesuit: a dress which buttoned up to the neck, a kind of indoor morning gown. Tbe Tbr,rles of Streat/.JmnPark 3 I3 but the S'"",1.:clling'""t.l,·as mormous, & the blackness quite horrible. Hunter & Bromfield for the 1 :' 1 Year, James & Piukstan for the last 2 1 Jlomhs had the Care of her health, but 11otbing could bar.:eSL1'"<.,'ed her. Sbe felt her Dissol1ttio11approaching -z:ery hastily from tl1 e 12: of this _lfomh, & guessed nearly the i'ery time "..:..:hen She 'U:asto lea-,:eus: h<.:r Voice fai/'d her first I think 011 that d11y, but so littll' that -~·c "u.:eredis- puting "u.·itheach other coJ1ccnzi11gtbe Truth of tbe Symptom, till .\Jr .\Jurphy "u.·hodined b<.:retbe 13: th & had not seen her for 3 1Vet!ks, co11finn'd my Fears and said She '""t.l,"11Sotber'""t.l,'ise 11111cb alter'd- He said "You ha-..:ealready kept your .\/other too long, dear Jladam, - you must JJO'W part 'i.'erysoon, and I confess I 'u:isb the Crisis o,:er for your sake." I liked Baretti's 3 Speech better- it ,..11,.,15"God bless you dear .\lad'!' & gi-,.:e:vou patience & her Patience, and as long a Co11ti11uance as both may be able to bear." She bowe-.,,erpresen·ed her dear lmel- lects entire 'u.:he1lher Voice 71,·asgone, & e·ven kept her po·u:ers of de- lighting by lxr !Jllmour to the last. She sar-.»me one day the 15: I t'-1ink lamenting m·er ber & on my e11quiringhou· Sbe did- She replied i11allusion to the old Story of tbe Irishman - "11ot dead but speecbless.'' She had long ordered 7• ..:/:Jat .lfourning the Children should rz1:earfor her, & '1vho should carry her to Streat/Jam Church; & 011 the Thursday Night her Voice returning we spoke togetber quite freely - I helped ber off her Knees r~-/.1rnSbe had done Devotion - & said May Heaven hear your Prayers -She mwu.·ercd gra-.,·ely,I bm:e bad Time giwn me; I /.,ope I hai·e wed it. I memioned the i'igorous beatiug of her pulse as a happy Symptom, but spoke of tbe dismal Alteration in ber face; & added that Sbe looked as if She had 110tbing110ru.,· to do but lie down & die: '"".i.,·byr't.l,·hat said Sbe can/ b,,-.,-celse to do?- Sc1: my .\laster.' so ,..~-ea/--u:ays ca/I'd _\1' Tbrale, & She repeated again - See my ,\faster. Shall I send for him said I? 11ottonigbt She made Answer - I shall li'i.•etill tomorrou\ be 'll:i/lthen come to Dinner u·o1,'t be? The Cow,:ersation cbanged, & we talked of the neu· Library & of the TVorkmen: I me11tioned a .llacaro11i Plaisterer, She poimed to her Maid Sally, & smiling expressed that the , Giuseppe Baretti was a scholar and writer, then living in London. He was author of The ltaliau Library (li,·cs and works of Italian authors), 1757; A Dic- tionary of the English aud lt.1/ian Languages (v.·ith a dedication by Johnson), 1760; A Grammar of tbe Italian Language, 1 762; and A Journey from London to Genoa, 1770 (the subject suggested by Johnson). Johnson had introduced Barctti to the Thrales, and he was now a frequent guest at Streatham. H arL'ardLibrary Bulletin F el/mi.: sh:d court her - No Madam replies tl.1eGirl he is a marrit:d ,Han. She made me 1.hmdlcher Breast that Night, touched it roug/.ily herself & slx"u.:edus that all soreness & Pain 'IL'asgone. Her Legs ",;.:ere swelled ,:astly, but quite easy - like Sally's Face said She after a Fit of the Toothach. She slept very easy in the 11ight, but had as usual all tbe TVindm.i.·sopen, the J1onl howei·er she'"u.'eda Still more 'risible Alter- ration I sic I in her C 01mte11a11ce& at 7 o'clock l.1erU ttera11ce1.ras quite gone. She try' d to take her Coffee but there was no passage Harry had the Toast as he ahrnys had, & after Prayers the Cl.iildre11read the Lessons to her as usual- She heard & understood us all perfectly '",...:ell: ho"i1.:e1..•erI Sw.i.·· 7.i..:e must send for ,W Thrale as Life ebbed apace, & dispatched a .Hessengcr accordingly: I t!Jen call '\Villiam Seward: This young man of rwenty-six was becoming a favorite at Srrcatham. He was the onl)· son of a brewing rival of Thrale's (Cah-ert and Se- ward). He had been at Oxford, Oriel College, from June 1764 until December 1766. After this he had traveled upon the Continent, spending much of the time in Italy. He returned to London a confirmed lover of literature and the fine arts and, to the dismay of his father, announced that he had no desire to continue in the familv business. Young Seward was an odd character, frigid and humorless, extremely critical, and somewhat affected, yet amiable and very intelligent, of high moral character and capable of great kindness. He enjoyed perpetual ill health. The Thrales of Streathmn Park had dressed her hfad & rc;.:orn her Cbint:. Go·-,.;.:ne-,:ay day till the first, and had bfcll led or carried to the Dressing Room rc;.)_1e17unable to 1110,.:e LL'ithout help. on the ,\1011day pr<:Cedi11gher l)f,1th - (She died on Fryday) ,H' Thralc had carrifd her r,.;.•iththe Assistance of her Serrant to see the 11e'U-'Rooms that 0u:ere building, - & She ru.:ith110 small dif- fiwlty because of her Voice, had gJ-..·enher Opinion of each. She is 1wu· in H ea-..·enrejoicing doubtless at her Deli-..·erm1cffrom a fife of Trouble Sickness and Sorroc1.:;and has not left behi11dher rm Equal in every rnluable & pleasing Quality. I ha-..·enow k110...;,·n/.1er as I 11llty say 20 Years, & seen her in the Characters of DallJ!,hter,Sister, TFife [,] :lfother, & Jfistress of Serrnnts, performing absolutely to perfection: & "Finis cormzat ' - Oh let me die the Death of the Righteous, and let my last end be like hers! -- 1'1rs. Salusbuff. was sixn·-six. "·hen she died. She had been a re- markable woman, strong-minded, strong-principled, and dcepl_r reli- gious, and over the years she had not lost her cham1, elegance, md \Vit. If circumstances had been different, she would have shone in society'; but, without mone:', she had no choice but a simple life and she ac- cepted this with dignity and cheerfulness. She had devoted herself for over twenty _\Tars to her husband and her daughter, and for the last ten to this daughter and her famil:·· She loved her grandchildren and was ahn:·s happy to assume responsibility for their care and to help \\·ith their tutoring. She had been godmother to all except Penel- ope (who had no godparents - there had barely been time for a chris- tening in her ten hours of life). i\l;s. Salusbur_\"s attitude toward the Thralc family was what one might expect. As an aristocrat, she nenr forgot that the Thralcs were in trade, and neither did her daughter. ;\lrs. Salusbury· held Hester back from forming- a1w intimac,· \\·ith Thrale's sisters, hut Hester also in- stincrivelv h;ld b~ck. ;\ci~her she nor her mother, hmnver, was lack- ing in re~pect; the:~ assumed all the usual family responsibilities and fulfilled the expected duties. Mrs. Salusbury's special affection for Henry Thrale, and his for her, was a rare relationship, which spoke well for the characters of both. A mother-in-law's constant presence traditionally causes trouble, but there was never any friction between these two. Thrale continued to 'Finis coronat: the end crowns all. Harvard Library Bulletin treat :\Jrs. Salusburv with the same consideration and def ercnce that he had shown when he first met her at Offlcv. Place en-er ten .,·cars be- fore; and 1\frs. Salushury's admiration for him ne,-cr flagged. In the last months of her life she expressed the wish to he buried not in \Vales \\·ith her husband, but in the Thralc yault at St. I ,eonard's, ;md her son-in-law promised that this would be done. She worried at the last that Hester might become a "tcizing \Vife," and told her daughter that, "if She had had mch a Husband, She would h,n·e never cross'd him in any thing" (Letters 307A). 1'1rs. Salusbury's feeling for her daughter ,,·as the most remarkable relationship of all; as close as a mother and daughter could possibly be - a domination which began when John Salusbur)· ,ms absent on his missions in ~ova Scotia. As the on}~, parent, she had molded her daughter's character and mind, trained and disciplined her, controlled every action. Before Hester's marriage to Thrale, she and her mother "had never been twelve hours apart from each other" and after mar- riage, they were never "more than twelve Days apart" (Thralirma, p. 5 5). Mrs. Thrale could never have become an independent person so long as her mother lived. From childhood to the time of her mother's death, she followed J\lrs. Salusbury's every command and direction, and loved her more than an)r living person. "For true Love of one's Mother & real preference of her to all human Kind, I believe I am a singular Example. Johnson sa:,,·sit was not right though'" (Tl.mrliana, P· 3s 5) · 1\Irs. Thrale was never to have a child who had anv such attach- ment for her. 22: June 1773. Lucy Eliz: Tbrale is four Years old today; She is a lovely Girl but son1e'l1.:l.,atchop-fallen rdcjcctcdl from the Discipline Sbe bas under- go11eon account of that humour in her Head - it is ho1..uver all m:er, & the Hair is groirn again. Sbe has lost some Time for improvemem of late, for 'U.Jantof attention; he came of poor Grmzdmama's lllness - but we nmst 1zo"wgo to TVork i11earnest & make up past Neglects. Lucy was enjoying a remission in the progress of her disease, and this Mrs. Thrale mistook for improvement in her condition. July of- fered some consolation to her. Tl.if Thralfs of Stre,rtham Park As for her husband, Jul:T "·as a memorable time for an event which occurred then - he rccci,·cd an honorar:• degree from Oxford. Lord ~onh had been installed as Chancellor the past October, two years after becoming Prime 1'1inister. It was, and still is, the custom for the nc,\· Chancellor to designate the degree recipients at his first Encacnia ( the annual commemoration of rhc U niversit:· 's founders and benefac- tors). This ,,·as a threc-da:· occasion in 1773, taking place on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of JuhT.. A degree of Doctor of Divinit,·. was conferred upon Frederick Cornwallis, Archbishop of Cantcrliur:·, twcnt:· hon- orar_\· ;\l.A.'s \\Tre granted, and sixt_'·-cight honorar_,. degrees of Doctor of Ci,·il Law - a ,·er_,· long list. \Yhile visiting Oxford, Thralc sta:·cd with Robert Chambers, Prin- cipal of New Inn Hall, and Vincrian Professor of Law. He was a good friend of Thr~1lc's, introduced a while before b,·. Johnson (who had helped Chambers write his law lectures). Chambers, 110\Y thiny- six, had recent!:· been appointed to the Supreme Court of Bengal, a post he planned to assume earl:· in the next :·car. ,\lrs. Thrale, in deep mourning for her mother, was not present at Encaenia and neither \\·as Johnson. He "·as nursing his health; the in- flamed e:·e ,,·as gradual!:· gro,, ing stronger - ''I can nm,· ,nitc with- out trouble, and can read large prints'' (Letters 3 1 3). He ,,·as mak- ing preparations to join Bos,,·cll. Their tour to the Hebrides was fi- nally materializing. In Oxford, Thrale talked to Robert Chambers about the possibility of conducting Johnson on his ,,·a\•. north as far as Newcastle, Chambers' nati,·e town, where he ,,·ished to go for a farewell visit with his relations before leaving England. Chambers agreed to the plan, for which his guest was grateful. Thralc enjo,·cd his st,ff at Ne"· Inn Hall ven· ;nuch , also \he visits to his old ~ollcge,.,__ l:nl,Tcrsitv.. On Thursday,. ·s Julv r 77 3, he received his DCL, and on the following day his friends, Sir. Joshua Revnolds, the painter, and Dr. James Beattie, the Scottish poet and phil~sopher, were granted the same degree. Encaenia \Yas a pleasant inrcrludc. 26: July 1773 . .11~ Thrale took Queeney & I a little Excursion up the River to Rich- n1011d&c. and when we returned at night I found Harry very feverish & some Spots appearing as he lay in Bed - they were all well in the Morning- Harvard Library Bulletin The excursion up the Thames w3s to dine with Sir Joshu3 Re_\·nolds, at his prett_v house on Richmond Hill. Re_\T110ldshad become a friend through Johnson some while ago; Thralc had liked him irnrnediatcl_\T, but i\lrs. Thrale had had reservations. Ren10lds ,n1s not her idea of a knowledgeable, cultivated gentlemen, not a universitv man. He \\·as self-made, ~not that she was ~against that. but she disiiked his bland- ness and pointless vanit_\'· She also disliked the \\":t_\" he treated his sister, Frances, ,vho acted as his housekeeper and hostess. He suffered her presence with obvious discomfort. ;\lrs. Thralc wondered if Sir Joshua's rude behavior might be the result of jealous:,·. for .\ liss Re_\·- nolds had artistic and literary talents in her own right. The true reason Iav more in Frances herself. She ,ns not an attrac- tive person, not good-looking nor pleasing in manner, and she \\·as ahvays irritating. She was never able to make up her mind about an:,·- thing. She was perpetually fearful and miserable; she knew that she ,vas unlovable. The tensions benvcen the Rcynoldscs notwithstanding, the Thrales had a fine, carefree day Jt Richmond Hill, but the:,· returned home to find something vcr_\· disagreeable. 27: July 1773. It is the Measles, I find D~ Thomas bas it in /.,isSchool & now all the Girls must catch it too - God seJld us happily t/Jroug/J! Mrs. Thrale wrote to Johnson the same dav, 2 7 Julv. He was ex- pected at Streatham on the 28th, and earlier she had p~omised a warm welcome. His new room, she had hoped, would be ready. (It was in the addition to the house, the room with a bow window, abo,·c the library. His old room was "pulled to pieces.") But if Johnson had not had measles, she now \Varned him, he "must sleep awav" (Letters 313A). 10: Aug: 1773. I think the 1Heas/esare done with though they ha'l..•eleft the Children enough affected too. Queeney bas lost her Appetite, and co11ti1111esto cough; Lucy looks peking, tho' She had it much the lightest, ou·ing I guess to her being well emptied afore: Sop by was quite blind with tben1, yet She recovered most quickly - indeed Susan seemed to be no 1u.:orsewith them than She is without - it was only an Excuse for her to cry ru:ithout ceasing & disturb the otbers. The Thrales of Streat/Jam Park l sent for no D" nor 'Pothecaries, but kept diluting all l could 'I1.:ith cooling Liquors --..·ariedso as to ac·oid Disgust. l hac·e had all the Symptoms of the Disorder myself - the Trutb isl am near 8 .\font/.ls gone r...;,•ithChild, so perhaps my Baby /.1ascatched them too. l had them long ago in good Earnest. --- .\ Irs. Thrale 's treatment of the children \ns standard for the time. The "cooling Liquors" were valuable in preventing dch:vdration and imaginatin in their nriation. The:i,' \\·ere not, hmvever, eff cctivc in attacking rhc ha sic infection. Ir is unlikch· that .\Irs. Thrale TlO\\- had measles herself for a second time. She had had an attack which put her "in some Danger" when she was eleven ( Thraliana, p. 801). But even if she had contracted measles at this time, her pregnancy was too far advanced to injure the haby she carried. The child was expected at the end of October or in the carl:i,·part of ~ovcmbcr. On 1 3 August, after the measles siege was over, the Thrales gave a dinner part:i,' at Strcatham. Sir Joshua Rc:i,,nolds and his sister, Frances, came, bringing James Beattie \\-ith them; and also present were Gold- smith, Baretti, and Sir Thomas .\lills a (Clifford, p. 121, n. 2). The Thralcs had first met Beattie in r 77 1, and the next ~,rear ,\ Irs. Thralc jokingly told Johnson that if she ever took another husband it ,nrnld be Beattie, he \\·as so amiable, kind, and courteous (Life, II, 148). Though happil:i,, married, Beattie himself had found i\Irs. Thrale's "vivacit!', learning, affability, and beauty" exceedingly attractive; he thought her "indeed one of the most agreeable women [he] ever saw ... " (Thralimza, p. 1083, n. 2). Johnson ,,·asnot present at the Thrales' parr:i,· for his journc!· to the Hebrides had begun; he had left Chambers in Newcastle and was on his ,va\' to Edinburgh, where he "·as to meet Boswell the next da\·, r 4 Augu~t. His birrhda:i,· this !·car was spent with the i\1acLeods ·at Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye. Queeney, his frequent fcllow- celebrant, spent hers at Streatham. 'Sir Thomas ,\lills, knighted in 17i2, was gencrall~· supposed to be the natural son of Lord i\hnsfield ( Lord Chief Justice). In her Thraliana character-ratings, Mills is credited ( out of a possible 20) with the following scores: morality 18, scholarship o, general kno\vlcdge 10, \·oicc and person 9, manner 9, wit o, humor 1, and good humor 19. Only Lord Sandys, a friend of Thrale's at Oxford, Dr. Burney, and Boswell equalled Sir Thomas :\lills in good humor. 3 20 Harvard Library Bulletin IT Sept 1773 H: .11: Thrale is 9 Years old today; still '1.:eryhandsome iJZher Face & elegant in her Air, 110 Dancing .\taster bas as yet been try'd. her Kno'u.:lt:dge of English Literature is clear & compendious & I am per- tectly Satisfied ru.,,ifb it - bm it is time to begin some ne·-u;Language. Sbe UTites u·cll enough too but 110 extraordinary hand. her Temper comimtes the same, and her Health is l2.oodin general, 011/yfrom Time to Time She has a Toucl:, of the TVorms. During the autumn i\1rs. Thralc was greatl_v concerned ahout her uncle, Sir Thomas Salusbury - his health and his actions. An agent of his had gone to R1ch-y'-Graig, and come to Streatharn as well, at- tempting to gain possession of the legal papers concerning her father's mortgage on the \ V clsh property', now hers since her mother's death. Sir Thomas had paid the f 6,000 mortgage for her father in 1 7 5 5, hue she was sure that this money was never meant to be repaid. She saw Lady' Salushur_\''s hand in the hiring of the agent. Fortunately' this man got nowhere, because the papers ,vere safely held by the Thralcs' at- torney, Bateman Robson. However, the Salusburys had made their intention clear. In October i\lrs. Thrale learned that her uncle was verv ill, and that he might be taken to Bath to tr_,· the \\·,1tcrs. She wrote t(; Johnson, asking whether or not she should go to sec him. Johnson answered from Auchinlcck, where he and Boswell were visiting the latter's father, "If Sir Thomas goes to Bath, it may desenre consideration whether y'0U should not follow him. If you go, take two Footmen, and dress in such a manner as he may be proud to see" (Letters 3 3 7). Johnson's letter was written on 3 November and by this time all was over - Sir Thomas had died on 2 8 October and Offley Place, 7 wirh his entire es- 'Offley Place belonged to Lady Salusbury unril her death ( 1804), when it passed to Sir Robert Salusbury of Denbigh. It continued to be owned by various Salusbury descendants until sold in 1928 to a Colonel Acland. In 1943 Colonel Acland sold it to the Froebe! Institute of Education. Since 1962 Offiev Place has been under the control of the Hertfordshire County Council, a reside,;tial center for short study courses. The handsome house is still surrounded by a large park with fine trees. Offier Church is across the meadow from the house, and in the chancel of the church are Penrice memorials, including those of Sir Henr~- Penrice and his daughter, Anna Maria, the first wife of Sir Thomas Salusburv. Facing Sir Harry is a marble monume~t by Nollekens, to the memory of Sir Thomas and his second wife, Sarah. Their life-size figures, in classical dress, stand T/.ie T/.irales of Streatham Park 3 2 1 tace, ,ns left to his widmL The possihilit:i· of his niece inheriting an:i·- thing was totalh· extinguished, and the mortga,Te on Bach-,·-Graig ,,-as nm,~a debt she ~rn-edt~ Lad,· Salusbun-. - ::, · - - - Johnson ,note to :\lrs. Thralc from Edinburgh on , 1 1\'m·ember: I ne,·er had much hope of a ,, ill in :'Our faniur, hut 11·as \\·ii ling to believe that no \\'ill would h:ivc been made, The event is 11011 irrevocable, it remains onlv to bear it ... Uc alone as little as :·ou can; 11-hen :-ou arc alone, do not suff~r your thoughts to (fo-cll on 11·hat you might have d()ne, to prevent this disap- pointment ... Remit yourself solcmnl_1.·into the hands of God, and then turn your mind upon the business and amusements 11·hich lie before :·ou. (Letters 338) 17: Oct 1773. This Day my eldest daughter H: M: T/Jrale begun to stlldy Italian under the instructions of Jf: Barctti ru.1!.ioseSkill in modern Lmguagcs is unri"c.·alledI suppose; his Expectations of Credit from her are high and r<.L•i!lnot I hope be disappointed. ;\lrs. Thralc had liked the idea of having this distinguished scholar teach Italian to Queenc:i·, and she made Johnson urge B:1retti to under- take the assignment. Johnson did so, "assuring me," Baretti later said, "that, after a few years attendance in that occupation, a rich man like /\Ir. Thrale would make me eas\'. with an annuity. for the remainder of my days" (Emopean Magazine, June 1788, p. 398). In this wa:i· Baretti came to Streatham, as part guest - part tutor. Every day except Sunda:" he worked in the library with Queeney, an hour in the morning, an hour in the afternoon. At first he gave her vocabulan· lists: nouns, verbs, adjectives, articles, and prepositions; and after she ~vas familiar with these, he began instruction according to his ingenious method of "dialogues." Queeney would choose a subject and Baretti would dash off an illustrariv~ conversation: Italian for several speeches, then an English translation. Fine "bubbles full of air," he called his dialogues; "empty bladders all," the formidable child declared (Barctti, p. 37). The:i· were imaginative and entertaining talks about the Streatham nurser:ir and barnyard, brilliant nonsense to hold Queene\''s attention and to make her i'augh, for she loved nonsense even more ·than jumping over settees under an oak tree, where, as the story goes, their engagement was finally made, after having been broken. 322 H an.:ard Library Bulletin or bouncing on chairs or tumbling on the grass with Harry, or gnawing her gloves. (It must be remembered that Queene_\· was not _\'Ctten.) She was exceeding!_\· bright but hard to control and Baretri soon discovered that even if he could make her sit still she often became sullen, and then he could accomplish nothing at all. In time a "Cove- nant" was drawn up, witnessed by her mother and Johnson, in ,\·hich Queene_\· solemnly promised to come promptly to her "Taskmaster'' at the appointed hour and to be good natured, polite, and attentive throughout her lesson. After this ,ns over, she promised to read the most recent dialogue several times by herself, and then cop_\· it into her little red book. She was responsible at all times for the contents of this book. Soon it contained a great number of dialogues between ''1\Iaestro'' and his pupil, and these are extremely interesting for the details - personal and domestic - ,vhich they give: "1\laestro's" forgetfulness (almost coming to breakfast without his shoes), his shortsightedness, clumsiness - and his pointless and expensive habit of taking snuff; "Es- teruccia" ( as he called her) continuing to jump about like an idiot, her bashfulness and fear of being laughed at, her passion for eating, and her torment from worms (tortorelle, "little doves,'' the,· called them). There were dialogues bennen Streatham birds a·nd animals: 1\Iaca- roni Cock and his wife Cottager, white as snm\·; between a peacock and his hens who discussed shocking world tragedies reported in the newspapers as ,nil as ,\liss Hett_\·'s being scratched b_v a cat; a con- versation between the latter and a dog, who accused the cat of loving liberty as much as the Americans; confidences of the two coach horses, Popp~t and Ramper, who complained of the time the coach ,ns so full of children it was ready to burst. In a dialogue between Esteruccia and Old ~urse, this stead_\· drinker of brandy insisted she was forr:v- two; it was only the rude livery fellows ,vho said she was sixty. And in an exchange benveen Esteruccia and Bet, the chambermaid said she took no delight in learning except what she knew, and asked ;\liss Hetty if Italy was truly as large and fine a town as London. (Bet also had a passing slur for Maestro, that he was not a Christian but "a papish.") Little Harry Thrale was mentioned in a number of dialogues: "·hen he and Queeney had had a fight because he would not let her see the five kittens born the day before; when Harry had pulled the tail of a cow, and thrown a quid (firecracker) at Old Nan, a maid. Harr_\· ------··----·---- The Thrales of Strcatha111Park 323 ,,;as basicall>' a good boy but, as the dialogue of the rod recorded, he was whipped at least rn-o or three times a week just for jumping ditches and climbing trees. There was not a tree in the neighborhood he had not climbed. Harry found no pleasure unless some danger was in- volved. Harn' was onlv six but he was a handful. Harrv, hm,e,-cr, ,\·as not Baretti's responsibilirv - onlv Quccne,· was a c·onstant pupil, and her mother ,,·as an infr~quent c;ne. B:uer~i had promised to read and explain the Italian poets to ~lrs. Thralc hut, he complained, the chatelaine of Srreatham spent so much time with her chickens and rurke>'S and geese and ducks and peafowls that there was little left for Dante. Baretti got along better with the master of the house, courteous, eas)T-going Thralc, and he loved all the children. He encouraged their spirits and freedom and saw no reason for strict discipline. Herc, obviously, was an immediate cause of friction bern-ecn the reacher and 1\lrs. Thrale, for she insisted upon complete obedience from her chil- dren. She carried an ivor>Twhistle in her pocket to call them if pro- ,·oked (and the)' came on the run). Her treatment was hot and cold, as she herself admitted, she kissed them if the>' pleased her and boxed their cars if they did not - with "blows of her Salusbur_\·-fist," ,\·hich Baretti said "she herself called her beautiful hand ... of such a stout- ness and size, as would not disgrace . . . a coalheaver of the Tha1rn:s ... " (European .Haga,:,ine,June 1788, p. 395). One day, earl)' in Baretti's residence at Streatham, he asked the little girls to come across the "Ha-ha! drawbridge" and walk with him in the great field - not aware of the fact that their mother had for- bidden ...them to cross the drawbridge. As the children ,vere delightedl)· tumbling about in the field, .\1rs. Thrale came out of the house and spied th~m. According ro Barecri, the sight "kindled" her rage. She stormed at the girls and at him - for there was a pond in the field, and "lVhat do ~children know ... of the difference between land and water?" Baretti soon after asked Soph), rhis question and she replied "I I"would] rather be \\'hipped than go cross the pond . . . I should be dro,,·ned like a rat if l did; and, rto l be sure, whipping is not so bad as drowning'" (European Magazine, June 1788, p. 394). According to Barctti, i\1rs. Thralc was nor only ignorant of the little girls' "distinct ideas about solids and fluids," bur also about taste, for not long after this incident she said to him, \\·hen the:· ,,·ere alone at the table, "It is not the taste of fruit ... but the prett!' appearance of 324 Harvard Library Bulletin it, that strikes children's fancies, as their palate docs not at all distinguish the diff crence between an apple and an onion; and this I kno\,- b)- long and repeated experience." Soph)- (again Baretti's little "che1,al de bataille") was summoned and her confident mother cut and put in her mouth a large slice of onion, and told her to eat it. Soph)- did so ,vith "astonishing intrepidity." \\'hen Baretti, however, asked if she would not rather have an apple, Sophy s;i.id indeed, but she had eaten the onion because '\vhen Marnma bids me do a thing, I must do it, and '- quick, or she gives me a good hox on the ear; but, to be sure, I would rather cat an apple than an onion at any time, as I love apples ,-er_\-much, and onions not at all" (Emopeau Jfagaz.ine, June r 788, p. 395). Baretti, a haught:v and emotional man, held a difficult position in the Thrale household as these examples of disciplinary contretemps show. He was, .i\lrs. Thrale once said, "for ever in the State of a Stream dam' d up" ( T hraliana, p. 4 3). He not onl_v violently disagreed with her methods of discipline, but also \Vith her insistence upon doctoring. She was constantly dosing the children with her own remedies when . '- thev were ill.~ Like Johnson, she was an amateur doctor, but he in the main was content doctoring himself, while she wanted to treat every- one within range. 24: Nov: 1773. on the 1 5: of Aug: having gone thro a 1J/Ost1J1iserable Sunnner betv.;een my Mother's neath, the Childre11'sMeasles, & every thing; Ai: Thrale took Queeney & I to TViudsor to ~.,,isitLady Lade, shew the Child the Palace, & drown my Anxiety - TVe left the little ones therefore with Old Nurse & Sally, & Harry goes to School all day - co1J1i11ghome at Night & Meal Times. The Journcy quite restored Queeney's Appetite & Complexion, which this late Illness had in no small Measure affected, but after ten Days absence If ound Lucy very dull and drooping in her Spirits I know not how: I concluded these odious Measles had left a Foulness which v.:anted Purging, & as She complained of the head-a ch I gave her a gentle Puke. She mended on this, & the other Children laughing at 'my Uneasiness protested that Lucy was as saucy as ever; the maids said so too, but I did not heed them The Child herself once told me a blind Story of a Blow Harry had given her I but/ I belie've it meant nothing. ho'UN'uerin a few Days the fcetid Smell of her Ear 'She always, incidentally, put a bit of spirits in the glass, so that liquor would have the association for them of evil taste. The Thrales of Streat/Jam Park 325 returning I purged her again, & the Symptom disappeared: She '1.rns 110'1v '1)erylanguid & ber Appetite failing. Lucy's talk of a bl1m· that Harr:· had gi\·en her C\Irs. Thralc was still haunted h:· her mother's story) had no bearing upon her present condition; the attack of measles did. It lmvered her resistance to infec- tion and the fetid smell marked the return of secondary infection to her ear. · On 1 2 ~onmbcr Johnson had \Hirtcn to ,\lrs. Thralc from Edin- burgh. He worried about his goddaughter, "Surely my dear Luc:' \,·ill recover; I \,·ish I could do her good. I love her very much; and should love ,mother godchild, if I might have the honour of standing to the next bab:··" And he had a message for Queene:·: I have been able to collect verv little for [her] cabinet; but she will not ,vane ro:;s now, she is so well crn.plo:·ed f leaming Italian from Baretti]. I \\·ish her success; and am not \\·ithout some thought of becoming her school-fellow. I have got an Italian Rasselas. ( Letters 33 8) 1\lrs. Thrale now sought medical help for Lucy. /I/ applied to Pi11kstau'"'u-·ho ordered the Sarsaparilla Tea & bid me do not/.ii11gelse. Lucy ho'""u-·e1..·erf ,u:as] fading away very fast, though e1..-ery body in the house persisted She '",.,:as·1,.:ell, I took her to Herbert La1:.:- reuce, ·c:.·hosaid it '""u.:asthe origi11alhumour repelled by Pinkstan, -u:hich 7.vasfasteni11g on her Brain but that he ·u:ould try to restore it. a Blister was accordingly laid 011 behind the Ear, & a 'very small running recom- me11ced but ru:ouldnot continue: in tbe mean Time the Child ru:asgoing, & ob 7.d,at '"'u-·eremy Feelings for my Lucy? my Dear, my fa'uourite Girl.' The sarsaparilla tea which Pinkstan ordered induced perspiration and discharaeo of urine, but \Vas a useless treatment. Its futilitv. was ap- parent to 1\Irs. Thrale ,\·hen she carried Lucy to London to be examined by Herbert Lawrence. He said that Pinkstan's treatment in January, the goulard, which had healed the running ear, had only succeeded in producing the swelling on the throat, and he now thought there was water on the brain. He placed a patch behind rhe ear to raise a blister to draw out the inflammation. This was of no benefit. \Vhile the family was watching Lucy with anguish, Mrs. Thrale's Harvard Library Bulletin new baby was born - a boy at last - but she did not make a separate cntr:· for this important event, just a phrase in passing. She \\·as too distraught about Luer. Bromfield, who was 01l the 8: or N 01·: called to delic-c.-cr1JIC of my second Boy -- Ralph Thrale -- 'I.ms quite of La'"<.1..:rencc'sOpinion as to !"ucy, said the old Humour '"LL'asrepelled upon the Brain & acfcL'ised me to call in James. I did so, and he like the rest i1rueighcdloudly agaimt Pini-wan - yet hoping foul Bou:els might still be the Cause, he '"<.1..·ould hm:c her once n10re roughly Purged which She 7.ras;& all t/.Je.Haids 'u.:ereenraged, as they thought evacuation the sole Cawe of her Com- plaints. A large Rlister on the H cad had ho'"LL:cverthe best E f1ect of any thing; the Child hou·e'ver gro'"<.1..1ing worse & her F ei•er increasing even to Delirium, they bled her with !"eeches u·:r" rouzed her once /more/ & She even eat with an Appetite Our Spirits u:ere then raised; fresh Blisters u:ere applied, & the Camphor Julep administered: this threw her into a copious Perspiration and I think kept her alive till the 22:d of N or.H:mber,u·hen She expired, being on tbat Day four Years & 5: Afonths old. - 24: Nm·: 1773.0 Quecney behm:ed '"LL•iththe greatest propriety both on t'-1isOccasion, & the late melancholy one of 1ny Mother's death, but Harry shewed only a small Share of Semibility for his Gra11dma1na,and 11one at all for poor Lucy. Susan's Health improves mrprizingly, S/.Je has mended ei-er since t'-1e Measles. The Rupture is 71:ell,& She gets more Strength a11dSpirits. 30: No1·: 1773. On 5 December, Ralph, the Thralcs' ninth child, \\"aS christened at Sr. Leonard's. Thralc's pride in having a second son can he seen b:' the name chosen for the hoy, Ralph, in honor of his father whom he so greatly revered. Johnson's hint that he would like to be a sponsor was ignored; aristocrats were chosen instead: two of Thrale' s \ Vorces- tershire friends, Lord Sandys of Ombersley Park (a loyal Nev; Col- 'Lucy's mastoid abscess led to an abscess on the brain which caused her death. Antibiotics, with possible surgery, arc now given for mastoiditis as soon as it is diagnosed. And today there is every hope for a quick and complete restoration of health. ------.,. ...-=_- _ __,.,.,-r-T n ~~-• The Thrales of Streatham Park 3 2 7 lege, Oxford man) and \ Villiarn He110, Lyttelton of Little Hagley (who would soon be Lord \Vesrcote). /\lrs. Thrale's friend, ~liss Burgoyne, daughter of Sir Roger and Lady Frances Burgoyne (a sister of Lord Halifax), was the godmother. These sponsors are noted in the Family Book, bur not until 1'1a_v1775. 31: Dec.J 1773. I am 110wcome to the End of the Year 1773. during the last six Jiomhs of ru.-•hich,I ha1·e suffered the Loss of a Parent, a Child, & the almost certaill Hopes of aJI ample Fortune, in the full expectatio11 of r ;: Aforch 1774. Susanna Arabella Tbrale on this Day first weJit to my Friend AtJ Cumyns; 7.vho !Ja,uing passed thro' various Sbades of Life 170'IL' keeps a high-prized Boardi11g School at Kensington. a Siwatio11 comiderably below her Abilities, but her Ufe has been zmf ortzmate. U11der her Care I expect our Susan u·ill improi:e 11111cbmore than at home, ,.J.:here Sbe is not exceedingly admired, and where She 'ivill not learn, because She 11111stnot be fretted. Her long Series of ill health bas gii1en her a Habit of self-Indulgence, wbicb l do not cbuse to undertake the breaking through, as l am 11ot partial to her Person, & might be too rougb with her perhaps - so She goes a Carte bla11cbe to MrsCmnyns, who will make a point of doing her [best] by the Girl, as we hm.:e sbeunz her no little Friendship. l\1rs. Cumyns (Betsv Thornton) had been one of Mrs. Thrale's earliest friends. The Thornton family lived near East Hyde, her grandmother Cotton's house, and during Hester's visits there the little girls played together and became inseparable friends. The two were exact contemporaries, born on the same day of the same year. Time passed and Betsy married a "J\'1' Cumyns who was a shocking Scoundrel." He took all her money and reduced her "to the necessity of keeping a School in Kensington Square" (Thraliana, p. 29 1). Mrs. Cumyns, though no longer attractive in appearance, was a fine, good- hearted woman, with a great deal of useful knowledge and more than a little ornamental knowledge. Her school was well thought of, and Mrs. Thrale felt safe in entrusting Susan to her friend's care, though the child was not yet four. Dr. Johnson gave his Susy a Bible and Prayer Book as a going-away present. The T/.iralcs of Strt!atbam Park F9 9: Jlay ,774. TVhe11Quee11ey was about 8 Years old, She 011eDay ,..,.vasdh:crti11g herself by emnnerati11g all t/.ie Misf ortl/11esShe could tbi1Jk of, and sayi11g/.,ow they should all happen to me. Papa sayd She sball die, so shall Gmama; JI, Jol.111so11 shall be aff·romed & ne'1:ercome /.,ere agaiu, Harry shall go to Sea a11dbe cast a,..,.;,:ay,and I shall die - poor Lucy must die too, & you shall bai:e uotbing left at all bw Susan for your Child, & Kit (that ,..i.1,·asa poor u·retcb of a Feflo,w) for your .Han. I think I am baste11h1gto that St,rte for my Part - J-fy ,Hother & Lucy are gone - Tbank God the rest are all well /.i071.,•e'verand Sophy bids fair to be a 1·ery fine Girl - of the same kind as Lucy, but far inferior - Sbe is 11ei•ertheless11 pleasing Child & quite healthy & stollt tb1111kGod.- The Thrales had been considering the possibilit_\' of making a trip, not simply an excursion of a few da_1,·s,but a journc_v Listing two months or so, like Johnson's very successful excursion to the Hebrides. (He had returned at the end of Xovemher, full of his adventures, and cager to set out for more with the Thr:1lcs.) The pbn was for a classical ramble through Italy. The spring seemed an ideal time: PerJ.:ins was managing \Hll at the brewery, the children were in good health, and ~lrs. Thralc for once was not pregnant. Johnson "·as fired ,Yith enthusiasm for Italy. Thrale was wholly amenable, and Baretti had agreed to he courier for the party. Queenev ( not vet ten) wished vcrv much to go. In his dialogues, Baretti had been ·preparing her for the trip, perfecting her lang..__uage and explaining the manners and customs of the countf_',', "How hap- py I shall be," said Esteruccia, " when I see half a dozen of cardinals'" \Vhv? asked 1'1aestro. Because, she said, they "dress very fine, and ride aho~t in coaches, like so man~· English ladies" (Baretti, p. 70). One evening there was so much talk of the "future journey to Rome" at supper that Queene)" "dreamt of nothing else the whole night long" (Baretti, p. 93). Next morning in her dialogue with Baretti, they "flnv" over the ·whole route - delicious enchantment - until Mrs. Thrale's whistle "destroyed at once the ·whole charm of [their] fly- ing" (Baretti, p. rn8). Mrs. Thrale naturally wanted to see Italy and its classical treasures, 33° Harvard Library Bulletin but not at this particular time. There were too many problems ,vith her mother's \Velsh estate (now hers) that ought to be settled first. Johnson said her mind should be on higher things, and was so sure of the Italian journe:•: that he reported the plan to Bos,\·ell. \Vhen the latter wrote on 13 May 1774, he was fearful that the party might be going abroad before he could come to London to see Johnson. In this letter Boswell told the Thrales how shocked he was to hear of the sudden death of Oliver Goldsmith, ,vho had died on + April of a fever which Johnson claimed was made "more violent by un- easiness of mind. His debts began to be heavy, and all his resources were exhausted" (Letters 357). The Streatham circle was saddened by the loss of Goldsmith and J\frs. Thrale fretted oyer the report that in his fatal fever Goldsmith had doctored himself with James's fever powder, a remedy she often used in the Thrale nursery. To return to the Italian trip, the project was abandoned in the end because of Mrs. Thrale's worries about her \Velsh propert:v. She had put little Harry's "life into lease" for it, as the expression went, so it would be his one day. She wished to inspect the property and meet with the old agent, Edward Bridge. It was important to discuss general problems of management with him, and the particular problem of the mortgage payment, which Lady Salusbury now claimed was owed to her. Thralc and Johnson were sympathetic and, though they were not stirred by the thought of a trip to \Vales, they agreed to go for Mrs. Thrale's sake. So the Italian excursion was postponed and Johnson turned his mind to an examination of Salusbury papers pertaining to \Vales: deeds, legal documents, correspondence from Bridge, and letters from various members of the family. Johnson found the task so absorbing that he looked at other papers in the mass of material, even though they did not bear on the issue, such as John Salusbury's Nova Scotian diaries and Mrs. Thrale's letters from her tutor, Dr. Collier. (Her early men- tor, two years older than Johnson, was still alive, but she had lost all touch with him.) f A Is my Father's Estate is nor..J..:become mine, I think it i·ery fit - so does M' Thrale, that 'We should go down thither & shew ourselves: we therefore propose to take our Queeney & to leave both the/little/Girls under the Care of M" Cumyns where they will be safer than with Ser- The Thrales of Streatham Park 3 3 I vants, & Sophy will be learning some thing: besides - I see Susan im- prove e'i.-'eryDay, and begin to ha-.,·egood hopes of her myself. 5: July 1774. Tomorrow u·e set fon.1.:ardon our Journey to TVales; Yesterday, - no/ this very ,Horning I set Sophy safe at Kensington with her Sister, who is so altered for the better it quite charms me; I ne·ver saw any thing like the Improvement only from Jfarcb to July - 'tis incredible. yet I an1 very lowspirited at lea7.:mgthem, - tht! tu·o Hoys too - "...L"l.1at will become of them? Ralph is just eight Months old, a fine Hoy to look at, but strangely backward somehow in his Understanding - however if he lh:es & thrives - that "...villcome; Old Nurse doats upon bim, & will I a1J/sure be careful; my sweet Harry.' I ha'::eordered him to board at Thomas's School during our Absence, and come home only to bed; - for I tbought be might take Liberties of cJmsing his 0'1..1..m Dinners if be tabled here, and not only eat too much perhaps, & of im- proper Things - but turn his )Hind too much towards his Belly the only Fault I think he naturally has. I can do 110 better for them all, yet somebo'v...: I am not satisfied i.:ith myself: bad my )Hotber been Ji,uing perhaps I bad done better; perhaps I bm..'elost my Virtue 'idtb my Parem: She 11...:ouldnot ha-veappro,·,.;ed my Iem;ing them, & then I should not /.ia,·egone. I shall 11m;.: perhaps ne- glect the111more & more - 0/.i God forbid! and gram w if it be t/.iy blessed u:ill, a a I sic J happy meeting at my return from 1Vales. I ca11- uot write for crying tonight, I am so "..'eryLou· spirited: I shall perhaps be better in the .Horning. Adieu to my Dear Cbildre11then.' - Adieu i1zdeed,for to God's care do I co1J1mitthem - late at night >:July 1774. The journe~' to \Vales took place from 5 Jul~, to 30 September 1 774, and both I\lrs. Thralc and Johnson kept diaries. Though the main purpose of the trip was to inspect 1'1rs. Thralc's property, the usual travelers' sightseeing was undenakcn as well, and social visits along the way added pleasure. A few acquaintances were renewed, and Johnson and the Thralcs introduced each other to their various friends and relations. The Thrales, Queeney, and Johnson set forth from Sucatham and after dropping Baretti in London they went to Barnet, where they stopped briefly at the Mitre (managed by a former employee of Lady 332 Har·vard l,ibrary BulletiJZ Lade). On to St. Albans, \\-here the_\· had a good dinner \\-ith Thrale's first cousin, Ralph Smith of Kingsbury, and his wife, i\lar_v. The Smiths' hospitality was ,nrm and Thrale had much trouble get- ting his pany away to visit his other first cousin, Henry Smith of New House, St. ,\lichaels, his ,,·ifc, Jane, and their eighteen-:·ear-old son, Henry. This young man made an excellent impression upon Thrale - and he was not to forget him. Finall_v, the pan:-,-drove on toward Dunstable. As they came close to Offie:·, man:· memories were revived for i\lrs. Thrale. The countr:·- side was little changed: she remembered ,\-here she had walked and fished with her father, where her uncle's first \\·ife, Anna Maria Salus- bury, had fainted in the coach, where her uncle had hunted and she had ,ntched him, hill-topping in the postchaise - and the place where she had written "foolish verses which were praised by rher] foolisher Friends" (Broadie_\', p. r 59). The party spent the night at Dunstable, and the next morning headed for Lichfield. Johnson had proposed rising at six to make the heavy day's journey ( eighty-three miles) before dark. All ,nre up at that time except Johnson, and he appeared around ten, with the result that it was midnight by the time the part)' reached the Swan in Lichfield. And Queeney had caught cold. The visit to Lichfield meant a great deal to .Johnson. His friends there had heard about the Thrales and he was eager that they should make a good impression. \Vhcn Mrs. Thrale joined him next dav in a "morning night gown and close cap" Johnson sent her back to change into something "more gay and splendid" (Broadley, p. 160). This accomplished, they all set out, first to /\Ir. Green's I\luseum, a "curious collection of all natural and artificial rarities" (Broadlcy, p. r 6 r), which must have interested Queeney but discouraged her when she compared it with her o,,·n sparse collection in the cabinet Johnson had given her. Next they visited the Cathedral, and then went to the house where Johnson had been born. (Mrs. Thralc lingered there, deeply moved.) After seeing the birthplace, they paid a call on Lucy Porter, Johnson's step-daughter. i\1iss Pon er - or "i\1rs." according to her courtesy title - was now almost sixtv. She was found at cards with friends, but she immediately abando~ed the game and gave her full attention to the Thrales, showing them about her fine house and pointing out the portraits of herself and her mother, Johnson's Terry. In the evening the Thrales and Johnson visited Elizabeth Aston at Stow The Thrales of Streatham Park 3 3 3 Hill. This maiden lady, a year older than Johnson, showed them great courtesy, and it ,ns clear to everyone thar she had a particular regard for Johnson and chat it "·as reciprocated. 1\Irs. Thrale found ''some dignity and much oddit_v both in the mansion and the possessor," but she admitted that Elizabeth Aston was "a high-bred woman, quite the remains of an old beauty, loft)- and civil at once" (Broadie;,·, p. 162). Johnson noted Anna Seward in his journal, simply· giving her name. ,\lrs. Thrale's comment (not in her diary) was that "Dr. Johnson would not suffer me to speak to Miss Seward" (Life, V, 429, n. i). This self-satisfied celebrity took a condescending ,·iew of Johnson; in return he thought little of either her verse or herself. But Mrs. Thrale was disappointed not to meet the "Swan of Lichfield," a year her ju- ruor. Apart from this omission, all the great of Lichfield mer and were charmed by- the Thrales: this included Dr. Erasmus Darwin (grand- father of Charles) and Peter Garrick (eldest brother of David). There was something around Peter Garrick's eyes that reminded l\lrs. Thrale of her mother; Queeney saw the resemblance too, and so did Sam and the other servants "'ith them. (These did not include a maid for i\Irs. Thrale. She was such a novice at traveling, she recorded, that she had not thought to bring a maid - a fact she regretted throughout the trip.) After Lichfield the party went to Ashbourne, where Queeney's cold became complicated ,vith a cough and an attack of worms. From 9 to 20 July the Thrales enjoyed the liberal hospitality of Dr. John Taylor, Johnson's earlv friend at the Lichfield Grammar School as well as at Oxford. T;y·lor, a substanrial divine who enjoyed good living, had a fine house in Ashbourne, handsomely furnished. Every- thing around him ,vas "both elegant and splendid": beautiful pictures, "a glorious Harpsichord," a lawn, a lake, and a waterfall, "deer in his paddock, pheasants in his menagerie, the finest coach horses in the County, the largest horned cattle" in England, and "a Bull of an enor- mous size" (Broadley, p. 1 64). His table was bountiful and the wines excellent. Nothing was too much trouble for the Thrales' obliging host: there were dinners at Okcover, excursions to see the gardens at 11am, to see Chatsworth, the great Devonshire House (and library), to sec the crags of Dovedale, and to see Kedleston, a house newly built for Lord Scarsdale - also to see Mr. l\,foyncll's kennel of ·fine fox hounds. 334 Harvard Library Bulletiu Thrale's own pack had been sold (Fellowes, p. 2 5). Tador's kindness \Vas overpowering, and when the parry left Ashbourne on 20 Jul:-,·, i\lrs. Thralc worried rhat her relations would not srand up to Johnson's friends. There is a fleeting romantic note that should be mentioned. During their stay in Derbyshire, Taylor's friend, Edward Okeover, introduced the Thrales to an accomplished youth of seventeen, \Villiam Gilpin, in his first year at Queen's College, Oxford. \\'illiam \\'aS traveling about England with a Christ College, Cambridge friend, John Parker of Browsholme, Clitheroe; both were seeking pleasure and improve- ment during the long summer holiday. Gilpin was captivated by nine- year-old Hester i\laria Thrale ( despite her cold) and he declared that he would speak to his father about her upon his return home. After leaving Ashbourne, the travelers set out for Cheshire, passing through Buxton, where Mrs. Thrale bathed in the delightful waters. They went on to i\facclesfield for the night, and next day came to Combermere Abbey, where, as a little girl, lvlrs. Thrale had spent many happy days with her uncle, Sir Roben Cotton. This spacious place ( once belonging to the Benedictines) had, at various times, had additions of different materials: timber, stone, brick, plaster - "the best house that ever I saw of that kind," Dr. Johnson commented (Broadley, p. 22 8). It was situated on a large mere, or lake, on which was a small island with a summer house, and great shade trees. The propeny consisted of several thousand acres - planted fields, rolling pasture, and woodland. Cornbennere Abbey, for the last twenty-six years, had belonged to Sir Roben Cotton's brother, Sir Lynch. He and his wife were now close to seventy and not very well nor ver:-,ractive, but the:-,rshowed their niece and her parry every civility during their stay ( 2 1 to 2 6 July). Mrs. Thrale was self-conscious about her uncle and aunt; Sir Lynch was absurdly rustic in his odd ways and his sense of humor was embarrassing (Johnson called him "gross"). Mrs. Thrale found Lady Cotton as empty as ever. (Johnson called her "weak and ignorant.") The greatest amusement encountered dur- ing the stay at Combennere was the runaway marriage of the young- est daughter of the house, Hetty Cotton, who had visited the Thrales early in their marriage. Hetty, now in her mid-twenties, was five years older than her bridegroom, Corbet D'Avenant of Adderley Hall. He was a son of Colonel Thomas D'Avenant, whose present (second) The Thra!es of Streat/Jam Park 33 5 wife was Hettv's eldest sister, Elizabeth. Quite a famih· s1tuanon. i\1rs. Thrale records: Mr. Thrale and Dr. Johnson lent their assistance to pacify the Parents [ of Miss Hetty) and smooth the objections, but ... great '-Vrath is expected from the young gentleman's Father and :\lother ... (Broadley, p. 178) On 26 July the parry left Combermere Abbey and proceeded to Chester, where they sav,r the Cathedral and Johnson and Queene:-,· walked the citv wall, which, he recorded in his diary, contained "one mile three qumers, and one hundred and one ya;ds" (a fact Mrs. Thrale said he could have learned "from anv one"). She was verv angry with Johnson for keeping Queeney ~p beyond her bedtim~, walking the \Vall in the dark, where some accident could easilv have befallen her - and him as well (Life, V, 5 8 5). ,Vhat remai~ed of the night was spent at their inn, and the next morning the party pro- ceeded to North ,vales, to the Vale of Chvvd in Flintshire, where thev visited Sir Lynch's eldest son, Robert Cott~n, and his wife at Llewc~- ny Hall. This enormous house had also belonged to Sir Robert Cotton, and was another place where Mrs. Thrale had made lengthy visits as a child. Llewenny had a great deal of superfluous space, a vast hall and a gallery that was "7 5 of my steps" (Broadley, p. 182). Combermere was far more livable; Sir Robert had chosen this in the end, and it was Sir Lvnch's choice now. His eldest son, Robert, had Llnvennv - plenty o{ room for a growing family. · .\lrs. Thrale had known ''Bobbv" from childhood. He was two and a half years her senior, and uncle Robert had teased her bv sa,·ing • • • 1.-- she should marff her cousin. Hester had replied that she liked "Coz RO\dev" better· (the next of mam· brothers) but, with her usual tact as a vi;itor, had quickl:-,· added "b~r I like you best of all, & will marr:· who ever :rou please for I'm sure _nm knm,· best" (Thralimza, p. 28+, 11. 4). She had seen a g-ood deal of Bobbv Cotton when he was a , Vest- minster bo:-,·;he h;d spent every weekend and holida:r Yrith Mrs. Sal- usburv and Hester, though the lodging thev then had in Charles Street was very cramped f~r space, "a\w~ Pai~ of Stairs Room for our Bed Chamber, and the Use of a Parlour - Boarding included - for 40£ a year" (Thraliana, p. 2 90). The:-,· placed a little bureau bed be- side their own for Bobb,·. Har·vard Library Bulletin He had grown into a fine man, upright, capable, generous, and charming. And sewn :·cars earlier ( 1767) he had married Frances Stapleton of Bodrrddan, a Flintshire heiress, prett:-, efficient, modest, and S\\·eet-tempered. The atmosphere at Llewenn:" was very differ- ent from Comhermere. The younger Cottons \Vere not provincial, they were cultivated and gracious, their hospitality was open-handed and their company delightful except for the fact, Johnson complained, that Fanny was "the poorest talker ... that ever opened lips" (Hay- ward, II, 323). The Cottons had five children by the time of the Thrale visit, and Stapleton Cotton, "little Rapid," the baby born the year before, much admired by the Thralcs and Johnson, was one day to become a Ficld-i\larshal. 10 All the children adored their mother - and watch- ing them made J\lrs. Thrale feel b,1dly about having left her own babies. She was panicubrly concerned when a letter arrived from Barer- ti (in charge at Streatham) informing her that Harry had a black eye and Ralph was cutting teeth with pain. These distant ,vorries soon bothered her less, however, than an immediate one: Queene:- had a pain in her head ( a frightening thing, remembering Lucy), and she re- corded in her travel journal, "I have nobody to tell how it vexes me. Mr. Thralc will not be conversed with by me on any subject, as a friend, or comfoner, or adviser. Every da~r more and ·more do I feel the loss of my Mother. My present Companions have too much phil- osophy for me. One cannot disburthen one's mind ... " (Broadley, PP· 1 93- 1 94). \Vhile at Llewenny (28 July to 17 August) the Cottons, Thrales, and Johnson saw the ruins of Denbigh Castle, attended services at St. Asaph Cathedral, and tried to see the library, but the key was lost. They visited Tremeirchion Church, ·where Mrs. Thrale's father, John 10 The Field-Marshal, Sir Stapleton Cotton, 6th Bt. ( 1809) and I st Viscount Combermere ( 1827), made Combermere Abbey his main residence. This property passed to his son, ,vellington Henn· Cotton. The 2nd \'iscount let Combermere Abbey to Elizabeth, Empress of Austria, for two seasons of hunting (1881-1882); and from the end of the nineteenth ccnrnr~·, for twem~· years, he let the property to Katherine, Duchess of ,vcstminster, widow of the first Duke. In 1918 Combermere Abbey was sold bv the 4th Viscount to Sir Kenneth Cross- ley, Bt., and upon his death i~ 1957 ( his Sl;n and grandson having predeceased him), it passed to his granddaughter, now Viscountess Garnock. The property is being farmed at present by the Garnocks, who are in the process of restoring the house to its eighteenth-century size, removing later additions and the Gothicized stucco facing of 1820. PLATE IX OFFLEY PL\CE FR0:11 A;,.; E:'\Gll.-\\T\G BY VARRAL _-\FTER :'\EALE Photograph by Ron Hu-..~-,1rd PL\TI-: X 1\10).JUMENT TO SIR THOl\lAS A-:\'D L\DY S".\RAH SALL:SBCRY BY '\OLUKE'\S 0'"c" ,:,,, ~i- Pun: Xl CO:\lBFR.\IFRF ABI3EY ~- -~+,., " :•' c .. > -C~-~- i - ·' ' / .i . ..,,;] :---~, • ... -~, ..__;.~_· ~-- .- ff fffi'.11~. ,• :· ·= , PLATE XII LLE\VEN:\'Y HALL FROi\1 Al\' E'\GIC\\'I:\(; BY A'\GCS AFTER BIRA --:· .. -::~-~- _;>-: PLATE XIII BACH-Y-GRAIG HOL'SE FRO?\l A ORA \\"l'>:G BY HOOPER Four Oaks Farm PLAT! xn- CATI-IERI~F OF BFR.-\ Y~E . ),,,,. - /- ' .: ::,,...__,,....,.. ; I~.,.,,1 ' ~ •"' - ~'!,.. Pun x,· Photograph bv CRO\ \ \IARSH B .-\TT LE J7.-\R,\I . Reproduced by permission of Mrs. C. A. C. Perkins PLATE X\'I JOH~ PERKINS A1TRIBl:TED TO RAEllURN Tl.1 1: Thrales of Strc,1t/.iamPar/.: 337 Salusbur_\-, ,ns buried, and she was distressed b:- the condition of this small building: the "seats all rnmhling about," "the Alrar rail falling,'' "the cloth upon the t:ible in a thousand holes, and the floor strewed ,,-ith rushes" (Broadie!-, p. 186). · Throughout the ,-isit, J\Irs. Thrale, assisted b\-. her husband and b.1 Johnson, ,, orked \\·ith the agent Bridge on the problems of her\ V clsh estate. The:' made several ,-isits from Lle,,-enn_\- Hall to Bach-_\·-Graig, ,d1ich ,ns less than two miles a\\ a:·· Bach-_\--Craig had been built in the sixreenrh centur_\- b_\-Sir Richard Clough, the second husb:md of Cnherinc of Ber:l\"ne, .\Irs. ThL1lc's anccstress. 11 It ,,as a red brick structure, in the Flemish stde, si,; store, s high. \\ -ith its curious p:na- mid shape and its pri,·:1te ohsen·ator_\· on the roof, the house "as the ,nmder of rhe" hole Yale of Chn-d \\ hen it \\·as built. "'m, it was in a dilapidated sure. Tlualc, ne,-crtheless, found his \\·ifc's ''poor old house" better than he expected; Johnson and 1\Irs. Thralc found it worse. The floors had been stolen, the \\ indm,·s stopped; the trees \\-ere de- c1_\·cd, or lopped, or too _\-oung to haYe Yalue. Bridge ,ns a scoundrel. :\ lrs. Thrale soon disconred. Her mother had thought him "the ,rnnhiest of :\ Ian kind, f but he has] plundered us for 20 Years most gross!:· ... " ( Thraliana, p. 3 15). ".\Ir. Thralc persecutes Bridge e,·cr_\-da_\-for this odious ;:iccoum, but cannot get it" (Broadie_\', p. 206). Finall_\- the account came and, after it \\"as re- ,-ie\\"ed, ,\Irs. Thr:1lc dismissed Bridge and :1rr:111gedwith her Dach-_\-- Craig tenant to pa_\· renr ro her cousin, Robert Cotton. ;\lrs. Thrale left Llc,,·enn:,' Hall regrerfull:-, for a close fomil:,· friend- ship h:1d been rene\\·ed. E,·cr:,-one had enjo_\·ed the ,-isit - she pressed the Cottons to come to London soon and the:,· promised that the:,- \\· "Catherine of Bcran1c, ,\!rs. Thralc claimed. was a granddaughter of Richard \'ch·illc of Bcr,l\'nc. an illcgirimatc ,011 of Henn- \'II. Cathcri11c \ 1;1arital car~cr was remarkable.· She wa, first the wife of Sir John Salusbun· ( \\"ho built Lk\\ c1111\·). then rhc wife of Richard Clout2:h. thc11 of .\lauricc \ \\ 1111 ,;nd tinalh· of Ed,\ ard ·Thch\"all. She had so 1na11\"c.listin~uishcd descendants - ' . . - that she was k110\,·11as the "\!other of \\"ales." "Bmhcl Hall and some ;50 acres wrrounding: now belong to .\Ir. & :\lrs. G. F. ,\lorris, who farm the propcrr:,·. H ari:ard Library Bulletin tening, and she told me many things of rn:, poor dear i\1other, what she suffered at my birth'' (Broadlcy, p. 20 r). Johnson wrote that she "remembered the rooms [ of the house], and wandred over them, with recollection of her childhood. This species of pleasure is always melancholy. The ,valk was cut down, and the pond was dr~'· Nothing was better" (Life, V, 450). On the return from Caernarvon to Bangor, as they passed through the lovely hills and vallc)ls near J\lount Snowdon, Queene:· counted goats; her father promised her a penny for each seen, and short-sighted Dr. Johnson kept the account: " [ Queeney's l goats, one hundred and forty-nine, I think" (Life, V, 45 r, n. 2). From Bangor the party went to visit at Gwaynynog, the fine house of John J\lyddleton, an Oxford man and contemporary of Thralc. From 29 August to 7 September Myddleton provided splendid en- tertainment, and despite her business worries and another Streatham report from Baretti, this time giving news that Harry had made him- self sick by eating too many cherries, i\lrs. Thrale enjoy-ed herself greatly. "Herc we arc loved, esteemed, and honoured, and here I daresay we might spend the whole \Vimcr if we would" (Broadley, p. 206). Myddleton was so flattered to have entertained Johnson that a few years later he erected an urn in his park to commemorate the great moralist's visit. 1'i On 7 September the Thralcs and Johnson left Gwaynynog and "set out in search of fresh adventures" (Broadley, p. 207). They passed through vVrexham, saw Chirk Castle, traveled through Oswestr_\', Llanrhaiadr, and on into Shropshire, through \ V cnlock and Bridg- north, to Ombersley Court in \Vorcestershire. Here, from r 4 to r 6 September, they visited little Ralph Thrale's godfather, good-natured Lord Sandys, an enormously big, soft-spoken, scholarly man. He had been married since 1769 to a rich widow. Lady Sandys had physical disabilities and was not intellectual nor handsome, but her good humor and kindness made up for all deficiencies. "I liked her the first day," 1\Irs. Thrale wrote, "and loved her the last" (Broadlcy, p. 2 r o). At Omberslcy the party \Vas entertained with a libcralit_v of friend- ship which could not have been surpassed, and it was here that John- 13 This gracious act was not pleasing to Johnson, who wrote to \!rs. Thrale on 18 September 1777 that it "looks like an intention to bur:-: me alive" (Letters 548). The beautiful urn is still at Gwaynynog, which property is at present ( 1975) owned by Captain Oliver Burton. T/.Je Thrales of Streatbmn Park 339 son ate all the peaches he wanted ( only twice in his life, at Omberslcy and once at Streatham, did he have his fill of the fruit - Thralicma p. 186). "Lady Sandys's care of me was tender ... " 11 (Broadlcy, P· 2IO). The next sta_',·(16 to 19 September) \\'as with Ralph Thralc's other godfather, \Villiam Henry Ixttclton. Something went wrong at Lic- it,.. • • -.. .__ tic Hagle:v, for it was not the happ_v time promised three :·ears earlier, when their host had said he would make "so much" of a visit. The usu- ally good-humored Lyttelton seemed distracted; his pretty wife was indifferent and, like Fanny Cotton, a poor conversationalist. L_',·ttelton, after being a widower for almost ten .vears, had taken a second wife in Februar:·, Caroline Bristow, daughter of a late suh-Gonrnor of the South Sea Company, and he ma_v well have been more interested in his bride than his guests, anxious about her reactions to the domineering Doctor and to his friend of bachelor clan, with talkati\·e wife and precocious child. Or perhaps as joint hosts the L_ntelrons had not _','Ctformed an easy pattern of hospitality; at an_,. rate, the hostess forced Mrs. Thrale to play cards against her will ( though she won three shillings), and as Johnson sat to read a while and then walked about "l\Ir. Lyttelton advertised if he did not use his candle to pm it out" (Broadlcy, p. 2 r r). Queeney spent most of her binhda:· ( 1 7 September) pla:ving in the grounds of Hagle\· Park,1'; the beautiful great house nearb,·. owned '-- lo,.' • ... • at the time by their host's nephew, Thomas L:·ttelron. Johnson's birthda_',", Sunda_',·, 1 8 September, was spent at Little Hagley - there were no binhdav celebrations. On 19 September, in cold and heavy rain the Thrales and Johnson "made haste away from a place where all were offended" (Life, V, 457). On their wa_',' to Birmingham, they stopped, and despite the disaQ"recable weather made a visit to The Leasowes, which had be- longed to \ Villiam Shenstone, the poet (a Pembroke College man). \ Vith painstaking care Shenstone had created this Ln-ishing house and property bur, ironicall~·, had nor lind to enjoy it. The Lcasowes charmed 1\Irs. Thralc. "Ombersle:-· Court still belongs ro the Sand:·s family; its present owner ( 19i5) is the 7th Baron Sand,·s. '"Hagley Park is ·still a Lyttclton properr~·, the seat of the wth \ ·iscount Cob- ham, Governor-General of New Zealand 1957-1962, and since 196i Lord Lieutenant of \Vorcestershire. LTnlikc his ancestor, he is unfailingly hospitable. H,1r7-'ardLibrary Bulletin In Birmingham the Thralcs met Johnson's early friend, Edmund Hector, and his widO\nd sister, 1\1rs. Careless. Breakfast the following morning \\·as cooked b_\' ,\[rs. Clfelcss, and Johnson told them later that he had once been in love with her. As i\lrs. Thrale recollected the old lady's figure, she "thought she hacl the remains of a beauty" (Broad- ley, p. 2 14), and was disappointed that she had not observed her more closely. She was even more disappointed not to have asked Edmund Hector for some juvenile anecdotes about Johnson, but bv the time the party reached Birmingham, .\[rs. Thrale, who had nor· been \\Tll since they left Lle\\·enn_'I·, was feeling too wretched to ask Hector any questions about Johnson's childhood. From Birmingham the travelers set out for Oxford, and along the way met their friend, \Villiam Seward, who joined the party. The_\· stopped at Blenheim, scat of the Duke of J\brlborough, inspected the park and the library, and then continued on to Oxford. Herc the:, visited several of the colleges, in particular Oriel, where Se\vard hacl been, 1 n and U niversit_'I·, Thrale's college. Thc_1,· dined at the latter and drank "tea in the Common Room f and had j a \\Torld of talk" (Broadley, p. 2 16). During their stay the? also went to New Inn HalL where Thrale had been fourteen months earlier at the time he was given his honorar_'I· degree. Robert Chambers, though still nominal Principal, was now in Bengal. In .\hrch he had married Jane \Vilton, whom Johnson described as "a girl of sixteen, exquisitely beautiful." Cham hers, "with his law_'l·cr's tongue, persuaded l her] to take her chance with him in the East" ( Letters 34-8). Less than a month after their marriage, Chambers, his wife, and his mother sailed on a ship for Bengal in the compan:-,· of three other Supreme Court judges. On 2 8 September, l\frs. Thralc recorded in her tranl journal that, on the wav from Oxford to Beaconsfield to visit Edmund Durke and his family, the pan_'I' paused in the delightful countryside near Benson to inspect Crowmarsh Battle Farm, 17 Thralc's O:-;:fordshirc pm pen:- '" According to the college Burten· Books, \ Villiam Seward entered Oriel in June 1764 and departed in December , 766. "Cnrw111arsh Battle Farm: The word ··Battle'" comes from the fact that the farm ·was one of the lands \\'illia111 the Co119ucror gan: to Battle .\hhn ar Hastings. as p,irt of its endowment. \Yhcn this prnpcrt,· was tal-cn o, n ll\· I lenr_,. \'Ill. it was farmed In· various tenants. In the latter part of the sn·cntccnth ccntur:· London speculators bought Crowmarsh Battle F.irm, and in 16q6 it was sold to Tho111as C'Ai,,slad of ."Jew bur:' for £~, ,oo. In 1742, on the bankruptcy of Cowslad's son, Crowmarsh Battle Farm was sold to Ralph and Henry Thrale (the latter onl:· fourteen at the time) for £1,997. Tbc: Thralc:s of Strc,rt!iam Park 34 1 of some +oo acres. (From Cro\\1narsh, according to her marriage set- tlement, \Irs. Thrale received an annual income of £200, Thralc re- ceiving the remainder.) Thralc's tenant, Robert Lovegro,·e, seemed to have everything "neat and bright" ahour the place, though \lrs. Longron \\·as not helpful - she was a drunkard (Broadie_\·, p. 2 r 7). :\Irs. Thrale gan no indi- cation in her diary· of Queeney's first impressions of Crmnnarsh, a place she was rn own one day·, though this was little guessed at the moment. Johnson's diary· gan no mention whatever of the visit. It was late at night \\'hen the Thralcs and Johnson arrind at the Burkes', bur the:· \Hrc greeted with open arms. Ever_\·one anticipated an enio:·ahlc and leisurcl_\· visit, but unfortunatcl_\· their pleasure was renninated after a single day. As ;\lrs. Thralc recorded in her tra\·cl jounul, on the morning of 30 September: \Vhen I rose ,\ 1r. Thralc infonncd me rhat the Parliament \\·as suddcnh· dis- solved and that all the \ Vorld \1·as to hustle, rh,1t \\'e were to go to Southwark. not to Strc1rha111. and canvass a\\a:,. (Broadie:·· p. 219) It \\'as a bitter disa ppointmcrn for 1\1rs. Thralc to have to settle m Deadman's Place before she had had am·. time to be in the country:. I thought to ha\·e li\'Cd at Srreatharn in quier ,md comfort, ha\·e kissed my children and cuffed them b1· turns, and had a place ah\ a_1·sfor them to pla:· in, ;1nd here I must he shut up in that odious dungeon, \1·here nobod:· \I ill come near me, the children ;1re to be sick for want of air. and I am neYer to see a face but .\ Ir. Johnson·s. Oh, \\·hat a Life that is' and ho\1 truh- do I ab- hor it' (Brnad!C\·, p. 2 19) Back to SourlnL1rk the travelers \\-Cnt. i· In thinkinrr0 cn-cr the , \' elsh ourne\',• i\lrs. Thrale realized that a good deal had been accomplished in the way of her estate business, and also in the matter of maintaining family tics. But she was sadly disappointed that none of her companions had appreciated the beauties of \ \'ales. Johnson preferred to read a book rather than to enjoy a prospect. Thralc \\ as uncommunicative; Qucene:· more burdensome than a rwo-nar-old, for she had to be dressed, mended, combed, and packed - a;1d her cold, cough, hcad,1chcs, and\\ urms had been trouble- some. :\lrs. Thrale herself, from the time of their departure from Llewennv had felt ill all the time, and had hated traveling over the . ' rough roads - she was pregnant again. Her record continues in the Family Book. 34 2 Hari-ard Ubrary Bulleti77 30: Sept.J 1774. I returned safe home from my loug Tour; bro: 1 Queeney safe back, called 011 my Girls at Ke11Si11gto11,'",..:ho111 I found quite ·well; (I had no Time to examine mental lmproi:eme11ts.) and got in good Time to Streat/.iam "'LL11.1ereHarry met & rejo y ced over us ·,:ery kindly: he is uonderfully grov.:n & seems in per[ ect health tho' hai 1ing lost a feu' Teeth gives him rm odd Look, but he appears /.,appy & chcarful, and full of Spirits. Little Ralph is more 7.:isibly improved tban any of 'cm, except Susa11; who 11orwcommences botb TVit and Beauty forsootb; She is in 110respect the same Child She 7.. ras t"',L'Oor tbree Years / ago:/ so that if She did not grmv 'very like Harry, I tell JJrs Czn11y11SI s/:1011/d think She had cba11g1:dher. £7..•ery thing ho•i;.,·e'l'erhappens to per- plex me, & 1zor-,.;_•tl. 1at I hoped to come home & be quiet e.1:mni11cmy Cbil- dre11 & see '"dJat deficiencies could be supplied, and enjoy a little Quiet after the hurrying Ufe I bm.:e been leading of late - here is the Gen- eral Election broke out, duce take it.' -- and my Attendauce is 'u.:mzted in tbe Borougb. 2: Oct' 1774. Before I launch into tbis new Confusion let me mention a lVord of my little ones; Quee11ey kept ber Birtbday rznmi11g abollt Hagley Park. She 'u.:aspretty 7.rell all the Journey, except a sci·ere Cold & cough 'u:hi!st ·1ve were at Ashburne, & 1ZO'VJ & tbe11 a Slight Touch of the lVorms. but nothing really f or111idablc. upon the whole She has been active, intrepid and observing: & tho' we nzay hai1e lost some Italian, 'We bave I think gained some Images which u~ill make more tban amends. Nothing escapes this Girl's penetration, nothing intimidates her Cour- age, notbi11g flutters her Fancy ..- /\Jean funs, or splendid Apartments - for we have experienced both, find her Mind always prepared to enjoy the one & to defy the other. Mr Johnson tells how Sbe wished to sec a Storm when we cross'd over to Anglesey, & bow She rode 15 Miles once on a Single hard Trotting in the Night among tbe Moun- tains of Snowdon. These are certainly noble Qualities and great per- formances for a Girl scarce ten Years old, yet is Queeney no very de- sirable Companion - Sullen, malicious & perverse; desirous of tormenting me even by hurting herself, & resolute to utter nothing in my hearing, that might give Credit to eitber of us. She often tells me what She thought on such an Occasion what She could have said &c. when we are alone, Tix Thrales of Streathmn Park 343 but bas an aff'ectation of pl,zyiug the Agnes 18 'UAJeJI'c..'e are in Com- pany together. Howei·er u·ben my Back is turned, & She sees 110 Danger of gi'ving me any Delight, her Tongue is voluble enough l find, & her Manner so particularly pleasing, that a Y omzg Fello·i:..:u:ho saw her in Derbyshire half a Dozen times persuaded his foolish Father at his Return to propose him to marry her; protesting he ·would rather wait se1.'e11Years for Miss Tbrale, tban hm.Je any other Girl be ever scn1.·in his Life. - an early Conquest l mwt confess.' so mucb for Hetty, or Queeney or Niggey as we called Her. Queeney's suitor was \Villiam Gilpin, the Oxford student, "vho had met the travelers in Derbyshire and vo\nd that upon his return he would speak to his father. This gentleman, the Renrend Mr. \Yilliam Gilpin, was far from "foolish"; he was a distinguished scholar, artist, and headmaster of the Cheam School, \\-hich \\·as about ten miles from Streatharn. After meet- ing Queeney, it is likely he agreed with his son that the young lad~-'had unusual possibilities, and it would be wise to take time by the forelock. During the past summer, at the same time that young \ Villiarn Gilpin had been acquainting himself "·ith the beauties of Derbyshire, Lan- cashire, and Yorkshire, headmaster Gilpin had been making a sketching tour rhrough Hampshire, Sussex, and Kent. Life in the Gilpin farnil~· would not be dull. Ralph is most exceedingly come 011;grou:n vastly h,mdsome, & much more intelligent; has a healthy Colour in his Cheeks, & promises mighty --.cellindeed- he makes 110 Eff-ort to talk ho·we·i.'er, but Nurse is be- ginning to set him on bis Feet. Sbe is not a little proud of him. Harry is the 1very best Boy in the TVarid, has minded his Bwiness as ff l bad been ,..J.·atchi11ghim, l shall make JI' Jones 11' a Present - I see there has been great pains taken on both Sides, and 110 F au/ts f ou11d on either - that is S1I1:eet. The Girls do 'very well as to healtb, a11dM:" Cumyns 'tvrites me won- derful Acc: 1' of Susan's prO'Wess in the literary lVay, so wonderful "Thralc-Johnson famil~· talk: the~· called a creeping, clinging-\-inc kind of wom- an after Molicrc's Agnes in L'Ecole des Fe111111es. "John Jones was a cousin who lived at nearb~· ;\litcham. The Thrales had asked him to keep an eye on Harrr during their absence in \Vales. --- ·······-~ --- 344 Han:ard l.ibrary Bulleti11 indeed that I do 11ot belie·ve them; but '"cdienthis odious Election is O'c'er- I shall sec. The Truth is Susan is so changed in her Face & Figure that if C'c'eryt/.,ing dse keeps Pace - all S/.,e says may be true. I used to joke '".,;.:ithmy poor ,llothcr & .wy - Susan '"..i.:ozrld be co111e the pillar of the Family perhaps - as e",:erything happens contrary to one's Expectations - little thinking it hou'e'ver - but as Goneril says in King Lear Jesters do oft pro·-,:eProphets.' - ::o N o·u· for this filthy Election! I 111ustleave Queo1ey to tbe Care of .W Baretti I believe, or him to hers; & She must keep Howe here at Streatham, u·hile I go fight the Opposition in the Borough: Oh my S'"i.l1eet .\!other! how e""·erything makes your Loss more heavy! .2: Oct: 1774- The campaign of 177 4 was a hitter contest. Thralc, representing the Ministry, faced four other candid;ites in South,nrk, and feelings ran high in the Borough. As before, there ,ns rioting in the streets, and again the mob was led b~, \\'ilkes's "Patriots." The choice of this name for \\'ilkes's rabble infuriated Johnson, it was an outrageous de- ception. He took the word as a title for his pamphlet, The Patriot, in suppon of Thrale. Thrale was the true "patriot," devoted to his coun- trv. and its \\-clfare, without self-interest. Thralc sourrht the counsel of the strong and the \\'ise, not the idle, ignorant, and dissolute. Thrale did not make empt_v promises, sound ::ibrms without foundation, den~- the government due praise, insult the King, deceive the credulous, dis- seminate discontent, and instigate rage. Look at YVilkes: "1\"o man can reasonahly· he thought a lm·er of his country, for roasting an ox, or burning a hoot, or attending rhe mcetinf! at ,\ Tile-end, or registering his name in the Lumber-troop. He may, among the drunkards, be a hearty f ello"',1:,and among sober handicrafts- men, a free spoken gentleman; but he must have some hetter distinc- tion, before he is a Patriot." It was candidate Thrale "·ho had the rights of the citizens at heart, who was the "Patriot." An elector \\-ho voted for him, voting "honestly for known merit, ma~· he certain that he has nor Yotcd in \'::tin." "1 "' King f_ear, \'.iii.71. "Tl,,,, P,1triot, Addressed to the Electors of Cire,1t Rrit,1i11 ( London: T. Cadcll, 1 774), PP· 1 5, 32- 3+5 1\lrs. Thralc cook an active part in the campaign, though handi- capped, as before, by pregnanc:,- and business "·orries. She canvassed hard, never sparing herself, exerting all her power of argument and charm. "\Ve lead a wild Life,'' she told Johnson on + October, "I wrirc surrounded b:,: people making a noise & scarce knm\· what I Sa_\· ... " (Letters 360A). The Yoting was close, but on I 8 October Thralc "·as returned for Southwark, second in the polls. 3,: Oct! 1774. TVe/1'c~-e f.,a-..·e '"11.·on the Race by a Lc11gt/_,or so & that is ,11/. .lf Tlm1le is once more elected for Soutb-wark, & bis best Friends say be may thank his lVife for his Seat - the Truth is I ba-..:ebeen indefatigable, and our Endea-vours hm;e been crown'd with Success. 12: N01f 1774. About a nreek ago, wben the Election ,..,...:asO'i..ler & e7.:eryt/.iing quiet; I took a Ride to see my Girls at Kemi11gto11,intending to fetch them home the follo--u.:ing/),1y: as I had 110-1:..~rested myself from the cruel fatigues I had undergone of getting Votes all day, & settling Books '",..;:ith the Clerks all Night; but in Hogmore Lane dor-,1..:71fell my Horse, ,io'"c1.·11 of comse fell I - u·e '"u.:ereon a smart Gallop - the P01mnel struck my Side '""J.:it/Jgreat Viole11ce,& my Lip ,-...:ascut almost through: add to this the t'""u.:oblack Eyes I had gained, and an immense S1:..:ellinp; at my !aw, -7.1..·/.Jic!.1tho' not broke u·as greatly injured: as soon as I re- co.-..·crcdmy Senses, I imisted 011 being carried to Jt' Cumym's, ,..,.dJere I took as I couc/udcd a last lea---..:eof my poor Girls, & bc,e,gedher to be kind to them, telling her that :W Thrale 7-::ouldprobably se11dQueeney tbither too if I should die, as u:as most to be expected, being four months gone 16th Child & so monstrously bruised. I then dro.-..·e/Jome, '"whereI immediately f aimed, & ha.-..·ekept my Chml!ber e,:er si71ce& perhaps mmt 1cear a .ll.rsk for the remainder of my Life long or sbort. Although :\ lrs. Thralc was in a state of shock after the accident, badhr bruised and bleeding·, she was not seriously injured. There was no ,;cccssin- of a mask, th<;ngh the cut on her lip. from the horse's hoof ·was to lea;e a slight... deformit\'. on the right side of her mouth for the rest of her life. Harvard Library Bulletiu lW Thrale appeared more concerned than I had any Notion of, and behm:ed with more Tenderness than I Supposed to have been in his nature: but I had lately been useful to him, and tho' he did not love me much the better for that when I was well, he pitied me the more for it when I was sick. Queeney's whole Care was to keep out of my Sight; She '""i.L"asshocked at the Spectacle extremely, but not I belie7.·eat all more griei:ed than She u·ould hai,e been to see a Stranger in the smm mangled Conditio11.Poor Harry cried as loud & as long as if he had been 'Whipt to death, & the Children at Kensington hung about me & '""i.L'him- pered terribly. 20: Nmf 1774. Jt, Thrale had a mind to inoculate Ralph before we went to town, & I tho't him much in the right. So Da11:Sutton who inoculated the others bas performed the Operatio11- He is a fiue boy & "'u.·illdo "'..t·cll I doubt not - God lmo11.:sit is a mighty slight Business, 11011eof 'cm yet had ever so Pustules - it is in fact nothing at all - but a mere Farce. On the morning when Daniel Sutton came to inoculate Ralph, John- son was present and, discoursing on mone:·, he observed that it re- sembled poison " ... a small Quantit:' would often produce fatal Effects; bur given in large Doses though it might ... leave the Pa- tient well." Sutton, according to i\lrs. Thralc, was a fello,\· of very quick parts hut ''as ignorant as dirt both with regard to Books and the \Vorld." He listened and grinned and gaped and finally said" ... half out of Breath I never kept such Company before and cannot tell how to set about leaving it now" (Thraliana, p. 168). This compliment pleased Johnson greatly. On the last day of November, an important event occurred, con- nected with the brewery: Thralc's chief clerk, John Perkins, took a second wife. (The first Mrs. Perkins, a Polhill of the tobacconist fam- ily, had died childless some five years before.) The new wife was Amelia Mosely Bevan, in her late twenties, a widow, pretty, talented, charming - and rich. She had been attracted to Perkins (seventeen years her senior) as someone able and ambitious and also handsome and virile. \Vith his marriage Perkins gained strength and independence. The future brightened for him; not so for the Thrales. The Thrales of Streathanz Park 3+7 I 2 J8: No~,f 1774. Here lam 7.L"el!paid for my Presumption The Child [Ralph] is 7.'astlyill indeed - dying l think - the Confiuem Sort, Sutton Jiei.:er Saw any thing so bad himself: Oh Lord Oh Lord.' TVhat shall l do? Johm on & Baretti try to co111fart me, they only plague nze - Up e~~·ery Xigbt and all Night long again.' - well if this don't kill me & tl.1 e Child l carry, sure we are made of Iron. Sutton's smallpox inoculation of material from another human case had given the bab_.,~the disease itself, the virulent, confluent son, where the pustules enlarge until they touch. i\Irs. Thralc's fear that Ralph's smallpox might endanger the child she carried \\ as probabl_\' unfounded. Her pregnanC_\' was too far advanced for damaging structural change or severe toxemia (blood poisoning). z9: Dec. Ralp/J is recm.:er'd, but so altered one could not know him, had one not seen the Progress of the Disorder. so languid too - he ".;,·ill1zo-..;,' I be] thro1.L·nback 0-...,.:ard·1.L·itl. 1 11 ,.;.:itlless"" - Ix seems all relaxed l think, & has 1zo Stre11gth left to battle 0u.:ithhis Teeth which are c01ning every Day. Tomorrow we go to London - this house smells like a Hospital -1 must have the Nursery all ne·w papered, before I come back to lyi: ill, or the ncu: comer '""'-"-·illcatc/.i tbe lnfi:ction. God gi1.:eus a quiet TVinter.' My Mot/.ier's Death, no; t/Je Uproar in the Trade & the Story in the Newspapers 1772 - was the begill- ning of my Jfiseries; then came my .\.father's death; then came Lucy's, then S' Tho' Salusbury's, tben the Electio11,then tbe Fall, then Ralph's Smallpox; Oh 7.,.:hen,1.L 0 hen, shall! ec.'erkno'"w peace & Happiness again. I 7.i.:il!come home hither on the 20: of next April if I can - I expect to lye ill the first TVei:k i11Jfoy, but tl.1 cse distractiom dming Pregna77cy mill my Cbi!dren. Something which certainly made Mrs. Thrale a little more cheer- ful at Chri~mas time was J~hnson's present, an advance copy of the book he had written about his tour ,vith Boswell to the Hebrides. The expedition had been an enormous success and his account of it was eagerJ_.,,n1:aitcd. He wrote her that "i\Ir. Strahan docs not publish f A "An archaic expression, meaning "with a ,·cngcncc.·' Hnrvard Librnry Bulletin Jounzcy to the TYestern Islands of Scotland] till after the Holidays, and insists rhat onlv. the King... and .\·ou shall have it sooner, and rhat :·ou shall he engaged not to lend it abroad." Johnson added that there "arc errata in ir ·which I wish :·ou to mark. I do not forget Carter'' (Letters 365.2). Charles Carter was Mrs. Thrale's riding master (a son of the late Captain Carter), a nice ~-oung man, "·ho had exerted all his power to serve 1\[r. Thralc at the late election. He "·as verv decent, cour- teous, conservative - and extremclr hard up - he had a wife and fourteen children. ,\[rs. Thralc, li:· ,n:· of helping him, had been taking lessons ( i\ [rs. Salusbury would never have allowed this, but she ,vas independent now) and was "learning to ride in the Borough'' (Thralia11a,p. 116). She did not give up lessons ,vith Carter after her bad fall. Johnson liked the man and was also tr:·ing to help. He felt that there might be a chance of establishing a riding academy at Oxford, with Caner as its head, because profits from the sale of the /,if e of Clarendon had been \\·illed to the Uni\-crsity for the teaching of riding, fencing, and dancing, needed reforms the Earl of Clar~ndon h;d thought, but none of these imprm·ements had yet been undertaken. Johnson promised to stir up his Oxford friends to sec if an:·thing could be done for riding. Meanwhile ,\lrs. Thralc was tn·ing to educate the voung Carters; ._, • L all were cxceedingl~, handsome children hut their only proficienc:· was handling horses. She was trying to enter the eldest Carter boy in a good school, Christ's Hospital, and she was cr~·ing to find a place for Laura, the eldest of the twelve girls. She soon discovered that Laura could "neither read, nor write, nor \York, nor wash," so she took her into the Thralc nursery, where she taught her to read and taught her her prayers and her catechism (Thralia77a,p. 1 r 7). (To be continued) CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE ,. S1sTER M.-\CRFr::-,;FARRELL, F.C.J., is associated with the Department of Histor:,· of Science and T echnolog_v of the L1ni versit_',· of J\1anchester Institute of Science and Teclmolog_\·, where her dissertation ( 1973) was ,nitten on the life and works of \Villiam \Vhiston. WALTER GRoss:-.1ANN,Director of Libraries and Professor of History at the Uni- versity of Massachusetts, Boston, is editing the Sdmtliche Schrift;n of Johann Christian Edelmann in thirteen volumes, of \\·hich eleven ha\'C been published thus far by Friedrich Frommann \'erlag. His Harvard dissertation ( 1951) \\·as "Schi lier's Idea of Histor_',·," and from 19 51 to 1967 he was on the staff of the Harvard Library, where he was the second Archibald Cary Coolidge Bibliog- rapher; he has contributed to three previous issues of the HARVARDLIBRARY Bl'LLFTI:-,;. P111L1PHoFFR, Curator of Printing and Graphic Arts in the Harnrd College Library, Emeritus, ,md Honorary Curator of Asian Graphic Arts of the \Villiam Ha_',·cs Fogg Art Museum, founded the Librar_',''s Department of Printing and Graphic Arts in 1938 and headed it until his retirement in 1968. His numerous publications include fifteen contributions to previous issues of the HAR\'ARD LIBRARY fh,u-FTI'-', and he was the subject of an article b,· Peter A. \Vick, "Philip Hofer, Scholar-Collector," in the issue for July 1968. · MARY HYDE, a member of the Overseers' Committee to \'isit the Harvard Uni- versity Librarv and of the Editorial Committee for the Yale Edition of Samuel John;on's iv ~rh, is an author. scholar, and collector. Playwriting for Eli':Ll- - betham, 1600-1605 (published by the Columbia University Press in 1949) gre\\' out of her dissertation; The Impossible Frie11dship: Bosv:e/1 and Mrs. Thrale was published by the Harvard U niversit_\· Press in 1972 following its serialization in the HAR\'ARD LIBRARY BL'LLETI'-'. • R1cHARD S. KFS'-'F.DY, Professor of English at Temple University, wrote his Harvard dissertation in 1953 on Thomas \:Volfe, and The Wi11dwJJ of Afemory: The Literary Career of Thomas TVolfe was published by the Universit_\' of North Carolina Press in 1962; he has also contributed articles on Wolfe to two previous issues of the HARVARDLIBRARY BuLLETIN. At present he is at work on a critical biography of E. E. Cummings.