Fifty-One Years of Victorian Life

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FIFTY-ONE YEARS OF VICTORIAN LIFE

All Rights Reserved

[Illustration: Margaret Countess of Jersey]

FIFTY-ONE YEARS OF VICTORIAN LIFE

by

THE DOWAGER COUNTESS OF JERSEY

London John Murray, Albemarle Street, W. 1922

DEDICATED TO MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

Printed in Great Britain by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

"What is this child of man that can conquer Time and that is braver than Love? Even Memory." LORD DUNSANY.

Though "a Sorrow's Crown of Sorrow" Be "remembering happier things," Present joy will shine the brighter If our morn a radiance flings.

We perchance may thwart the future If we will not look before, And upon a past which pains us We may fasten Memory's door.

But we will not, cannot, banish Bygone pleasure from our side, Nor will doubt, beyond the storm-cloud, Shall be Light at Eventide. M. E. J.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

AN EARLY VICTORIAN CHILD

The Duke of Wellington--Travelling in the Fifties-- Governesses--"Mrs. Gailey"--Queen Victoria at Stoneleigh--A narrow escape--Life at Stoneleigh--Rectors and vicars--Theatricals pp. 1-22

CHAPTER II

A VICTORIAN GIRL

Mentone--Genoa--Trafalgar veterans--Lord Muncaster and Greek brigands--The Grosvenor family--Uncles and aunts-- Confirmation--"Coming out"--Ireland--Killarney--The O'Donoghue--Myths and legends--The giant Benadadda pp. 23-50

CHAPTER III

MARRIAGE

Fanny Kemble--An old-fashioned Christmas--A pre-matrimonial party--Fonthill Abbey--Engagement-- Married to Lord Jersey pp. 51-64

CHAPTER IV

EARLY MARRIED LIFE

Lord Jersey's mother--In London--Isola Bella, Cannes-- Oxfordshire neighbours--Caversfield Church--Life at Middleton--Mr. Disraeli--Froude and Kingsley--James Russell Lowell--T. Hughes and J. R. Lowell--Mr. Gladstone on Immortality--Thought-reading--Tom Hughes and Rugby, Tennessee--Cardinal Newman pp. 65-93

CHAPTER V

BERLIN AND THE JUBILEE OF 1887

Sarah Bernhardt--Death of Gilbert Leigh--In Italy, 1884-- Court Ball in Berlin--The Crown Prince Frederick--Prince Bismarck--Conversation with Bismarck--Bismarck and Lord Salisbury--Thanksgiving Service--Trials of Court Officials--The Naval Review--Knowsley--Apotheosis of the Queen pp. 94-121

CHAPTER VI

GHOST STORIES AND TRAVELS IN GREECE

Lord Halsbury's ghost story--The ghostly reporter--A Jubilee sermon--Marathon--Miss Tricoupi--Nauplia--The Laurium Mines--Hadji Petros--Olympia--Zante pp. 122-140

CHAPTER VII

VOYAGE TO INDIA--HYDERABAD

Mr. Joseph Chamberlain--Departure for India--Colonel Olcott and Professor Max Müller--Sir Samuel Baker-- Mahableshwar--H.H. the Aga Khan--Races at Hyderabad-- H.H. the Nizam of Hyderabad--Purdah ladies--Breakfast in a zenana pp. 141-161

CHAPTER VIII

MADRAS, CALCUTTA, AND BENARES

Brahmin philosophers--Faith of educated Hindus-- Theosophists at Adyar--The Ranees of Travancore--The Princesses of Tanjore--"The Heart of Montrose"--The Palace of Madura--Rous Peter's Sacred Door--Loyalty of native Indians--Passengers on the Pundua--The Brahmo Somaj--Maharajah of Benares--Marriages of infants and widows pp. 162-187