 | Letters of Mrs. Adams, |  |
Congratulate me, my dear sister, it is over. I
was too much fatigued to write a line last evening.
At two o'clock we went to the circle, which is in the
drawing-room of the Queen. We passed through
several apartments, lined as usual with spectators
upon these occasions. Upon entering the antechamber,
the Baron de Lynden, the Dutch Minister,
who has been often here, came and spoke with me.
A Count Sarsfield, a French nobleman, with whom
I was acquainted, paid his compliments. As I
passed into the drawing-room, Lord Carmarthen and
Sir Clement Cotterel Dormer were presented to me.
Though they had been several times here, I had never
seen them before. The Swedish and the Polish
ministers made their compliments, and several other
gentlemen; but not a single lady did I know until
the Countess of Effingham came, who was very
civil. There were three young ladies, daughters of
the Marquis of Lothian, who were to be presented
at the same time, and two brides. We were placed
in a circle round the drawing-room, which was very
full, I believe two hundred persons present. Only
round to every person, and find small talk enough to
speak to all of them, though they very prudently
speak in a whisper, so that only the person who
stands next you can hear what is said. The King
enters the room, and goes round to the right; the
Queen and Princesses to the left. The lord in waiting
presents you to the King; and the lady in waiting
does the same to her Majesty. The King is a personable
man, but, my dear sister, he has a certain countenance,
which you and I have often remarked; a
red face and white eyebrows. The Queen has a
similar countenance, and the numerous royal family
confirm the observation. Persons are not placed according
to their rank in the drawing-room, but promiscuously;
and when the King comes in he takes
persons as they stand. When he came to me, Lord
Onslow said, "Mrs. Adams"; upon which I drew
off my right-hand glove, and his Majesty saluted my
left cheek; then asked me if I had taken a walk today.
I could have told his Majesty that I had been
all the morning preparing to wait upon him; but I
replied, "No, Sire." "Why, don't you love walking?
"says he. I answered, that I was rather
indolent in that respect. He then bowed, and passed
on. It was more than two hours after this before
it came to my turn to be presented to the
Queen. The circle was so large that the company
were four hours standing. The Queen was evidently
embarrassed when I was presented to her.
I had disagreeable feelings too. She, however,
Pray, how do you like the situation of it?" Whilst
the Princess Royal looked compassionate, and asked
me if I was not much fatigued; and observed, that it
was a very full drawing-room. Her sister, who came
next, Princess Augusta, after having asked your niece
if she was ever in England before, and her answering
"Yes," inquired of me how long ago, and supposed
it was when she was very young. And all this
is said with much affability, and the ease and freedom
of old acquaintance. The manner, in which they
make their tour round the room, is, first, the Queen,
the lady in waiting behind her, holding up her
train; next to her, the Princess Royal; after her,
Princess Augusta, and their lady in waiting behind
them. They are pretty, rather than beautiful, well-shaped,
with fair complexions, and a tincture of the
King's countenance. The two sisters look much
alike; they were both dressed in black and silver
silk, with a silver netting upon the coat, and their
heads full of diamond pins. The Queen was in
purple and silver. She is not well shaped nor
handsome. As to the ladies of the Court, rank and
title may compensate for want of personal charms;
but they are, in general, very plain, ill-shaped, and
ugly; but don't you tell anybody that I say so. If
one wants to see beauty, one must go to Ranelagh;
there it is collected, in one bright constellation.
There were two ladies very elegant, at Court,—Lady
Salisbury and Lady Talbot; but the observation did
not in general hold good, that fine feathers make
dressed than your friends, but I will venture to say,
that I saw none neater or more elegant; which
praise I ascribe to the taste of Mrs. Temple and my
mantua-maker; for, after having declared that I
would not have any foil or tinsel about me, they
fixed upon the dress I have described. Mrs. Temple
is my near neighbour, and has been very friendly
to me. Mr. Temple, you know, is deaf, so that I
cannot hold much conversation with him.
The Tories are very free with their compliments.
Scarcely a paper escapes without some scurrility.
We bear it with silent contempt; having met a
polite reception from the Court, it bites them like a
serpent, and stings them like an adder. As to the
success the negotiations may meet with, time alone
can disclose the result; but, if this nation does not
suffer itself to be again duped by the artifice of
some and the malice of others, it will unite itself
with America on the most liberal principles and sentiments.
Captain Dashwood come? Why, I have not half
done. I have not told your aunt yet, that, whilst I
was writing, I received her thrice-welcome letters,
and from my dear cousins too, aunt Shaw and all;
nor how sometimes I laughed, and sometimes I
cried. Yet there was nothing sorrowful in the letters,
only they were too tender for me. What, not
time to say I will write to all of them as soon as
possible? Why, I know they will all think I ought
to write; but how is it possible? Let them think
as my furniture is come, and will be landed
to-morrow. Eat the sweetmeats. Divide them
amongst you, and the choicest sweetmeat of all I
shall have in thinking that you enjoy them.
I went, last evening, to Ranelagh; but I must reserve
that story for the young folk. You see I am
in haste.
| Letters of Mrs. Adams, | |