Biography of William Lamb 2nd Viscount Melbourne 1779-1848

Letters of Harriet, Countess Granville. To Lady G. Morpeth (age 31). Paris: 1815.

I have been more hurried and less amused since the last courier went, which has made me put off writing to the last moment. The fact is the novelty of the sight was its charm, and I am very glad to set off for England at four on Wednesday morning. In politics there is nothing new. Fouché is said to look very grave. The Emperor, whom Granville saw this morning, says the state of affairs is quite inexplicable. Our military seem much amused, tearing up the Boulevards in the morning, filling the theatres at night, and losing their money at the Salon.

Of sights I have seen the Halle au Blé, the Marche de Legumes, the model of the Hôtel des Invalides, service performed at Notre Dame and the Duke of Rutland in it, talking in a style prophetic of another Jour. 'This is indeed a most striking and a most curious sight. It is indeed a state of things in which,' etc., his eyes in a tame phrenzy rolling.

I have seen Talma and Mlle. Georges act very finely in 'Œdipe' and Mile. Mars delightfully in the 'Misanthrope,' but the theatres are intolerably hot. The carriages rattle more than ever or than anything but Lady Castlereagh, whose society is now settled in Lady Camden and suite. Lady Grantham and EngUsh red coats. Madame de Coigny has difiiculty in re-uniting people chez elle, and if one meets a Frenchman there, he draws into his shell and sits in gloomy silence. Hart has seen and bought all that Blücher has left, and intends to be at Saltram the 28th.

Sovereigns, wits, Pozzo, Metternich never show the tips of their little fingers. The dandies are broken in hearts and fortunes. Lord Alvanley has taken a lodging at Versailles, Henry Pierrepoint has hurried back to. England, Baron Tripp gives us his honour that it is very good taste in us to go away, and P. Lamb has taken to his bed.

Nothing is agissant¹ but [his wife] Caroline William (age 29) in a purple riding habit, tormenting everybody, but I am convinced ready primed for an attack upon the Duke of Wellington, and I have no doubt but that she will to a certain extent succeed, as no dose of flattery is too strong for him to swallow or her to administer. Poor William (age 35) hides in one small room, while she assembles lovers and tradespeople in another. He looks worn to the bone. She arrived dying by her own account, having had French apothecaries at most of the towns through which she passed. She sent here immediately for a doctor, but by mistake they went for the Duke of Wellington.

God bless my own best of sisters. I pine for a pure air and country life in England, but I am glad to have been here.

Lady HoUand, you may have heard, has had seven hundred pounds' worth of goods ripped from a featherbed.

Monday night. — I have just come from seeing Potier in the 'Ci-devant Jeune Homme' and 'Je fais mes Farces' Hart is gone to win a few parting pounds at Eoberts'.

I trust my letters have reached you. I have never missed a post or opportunity.

Note 1. "Acting", "Taking action", "Behaving", "Operating", "Effective", in some contexts.