The Stratfords in Their Own Words
Full title: Long Forgotten Days (Leading to Waterloo)
Creator / Author: Ethel M. Richardson
Item Type / Page count: Book / 403p
When Published: 1928
Publisher / Place of Publication: Heath Cranton Limted / 6 Fleet Lane, London E.C.4
About: A substantial book which relates some of the story of the Stratford Family during the period 1738-1815. Most of the book consists of transcripts and extracts from letters, diaries and correspondence written by the family whose chief residence was at Belan, Co. Kildare. They were also the main landowners in the Baltinglass area and held another residence at Stratford Lodge. A detailed list of contents is given below.
ID number(s): None
Contents: [Foreword] [Chapter I [1738-1740] Jealousy over birthrights — What Edward Stratford did — Euseby Stratford’s bucolic tastes — Twenty-five years’ friendship — A final break — A cruel letter — Euseby writes about “a fatt bullock”— Benjamin makes a momentous decision — Writes from the Temple Exchange Coffee House — “Mourning, and such extraordinary contingencies”— War, and risks of Spanish invasion — “Princess Amelia on the tapis “— Discord between Land Forces and Tars — “Decencies due”.
[Chapter II] Aterrible family feud — Steps in the Peerage — John, first Earl of Aldborough — Busts and urns — A family of fifteen — Lady Hannah Stratford is offered “a good fortune” — Lady Anne sings songs from “The Beggar’s Opera” delightfully.
[Chapter III] England at war — Benjamin Stratford worried over ways and means — “Dacent clothes, books proper for study” — “Proper decorum” — Two important events — “Hott words” — “A naked pocket” — Admiral Matthews chases the Spaniards — Martin allows one hour to come to terms — The Young Pretender — Benjamin writes the news — List of ships engaged.
[Chapter IV 1743-1747] An “Extraordinary Gazette” — “Mr. Matthews in the Mediterranean” — A heeling over of a sixty gun ship — Jemmy Doyne’s murder trial — An artful lady — “The Dowager Virago” — A terrible sea voyage — The heiress, Miss Belcher — A year’s school accounts in 1746-7 — Servant troubles — Success at sea — London rejoicing — Dublin “One continued blaze” — Euseby writes about his nephew — “Distresses like a sore burden”.
[Chapter V 1748-1755] Inflexible wills — A family suit — Benjamin marries his “Jennie” — “Light gold” — “Lads require punctuality” — Frank a sportsman — Wants “a genteel saddle and bridle” —A butler and house steward for Belan — £8 a year —”Black hafted knives and forks” —Marauding mice in Lady Baltinglass’s closet — Lord Shelborne buys an Irish estate — Jack Higinbottom’s sad peccadilloes — “This idle woman” — “You are the only person on whom he can rely” — A Lord-Lieutenant’s entry — Lord Kildare arrives.
[Chapter VI 1755-1762] Bath waters — Brother Weyms suddenly recalled to Dublin — An early race meeting on The Curragh — “A hard skull” — “Two hundred guinea plates”— Edward Stratford falls in love — Miss Theodosia Magill — A love poem — Lord Bowes is asked to be godfather — Benjamin, later fourth Earl of Aldborough, decides on the Army — His brother writes for him — Lord Aldborough worried over Edward’s doings in London — George III’s Coronation — More urns — “Useless encumbrances” — “A neat silver punch ladle” — A list of Hogarth prints and prices — Molly Stratford’s troubles — “Shifts and aprons” required.
[Chapter VII 1763] The Peerage is conferred — A lucky lot drawn — “A certain lady” — A letter from Lady Baltinglass — “Weakness in her eyes” — “I’m a bad architect” — Wants to hear the latest fashions in ladies “heads and hair,” and “size of ruffles” for gentlemen — Lord Baltinglass writes to Edward — Mrs. Neale dies — Edward much upset — “Houseful of company” — “If she keeps till Saturday” — “£5 to the poor” — “I’ll allow it in the rent” —Francis Paul, “A Gentleman Commoner” at Oxford — He writes to Edward — “As well go without my gown as a kidney” — Costs at Oxford — Mr. Saunders of Saunders Grove — Lord Baltinglass writes again — A mother’s hopes and fears for her boy — Francis Paul loses £20 at Bath — He longs to be a soldier — Decides to take orders — Edward Stratford engaged to Barbara Herbert — Francis Paul’s congratulations.
[ChapterVIII 1765] A happy marriage — Edward is told to return to Ireland — Lord Baltinglass discourses with the Lord-Lieutenant — “True Love” finding difficulties as usual — A stern letter from Mr. Nicholas Herbert — Francis Paul worried and ill at Oxford .
[Chapter IX 1765] A terrible letter from Benjamin to Lord Baltinglass — “Indecent and improper conduct” — “Look at Richard III” — “I make no parallels” — “Your independent nephew” — No reconciliation possible.
[Chapter X 1765] Trouble over Miss Herbert’s settlements — Lawyers busy fomenting it — “English or Irish money?” — Mrs. Saunders shows a letter — Lord Baltinglass gets the gout, and loses all patience — Unreasonable clauses — Pouring rain, and a hackney coach — Lord Louth’s motto — Lord Baltinglass angry — “Ned” — “People will take their own way to their ruin” — The marriage takes place before the settlements are signed — Edward “hates confusion or trouble”.
[Chapter XI 1766] A party for the Lord-Lieutenant — Edward’s dissatisfaction at Lord Baltinglass’s help — John Stratford writes to Mr. Tynte — Sister Tynte has the toothache —Severe punishment for cutting trees — Sophia Saunders has a lover — Mr. Meade Swift’s proposal — Francis Paul leaves Oxford — Wishes for Lord Bristol’s help in preferment —Pope’s caustic lines — Francis Paul in poor health — Becomes priggish and pedantic — Defies “Fickle Fortune” — Mr. Morley Saunders — Mrs. Saunders “in hourly expectation” — Mrs. Hartpole in “a dangerous way” — Benjamin Stratford fights two duels in a week — Bath ornaments — Young Morley Saunders goes to Eton — “A compliment to your lady” — Mr. Saunders gets a welcome legacy — “A second pock,” saved Mrs. Hartpole’s life — Family pride over Ben’s duels — Bath stone ornaments again — Mr. Saunders’ “days of tryal” — “Weathered the storm” — “A stranger to Halcyon days” — His prudent forethought —Edward’s settlements still hang fire — Morley Saunders “unmindful of books and cloathes” — The Saunders children have “fevour”.
[Chapter XII 1766] Politics in 1766 — American Colonies resolve on resistance to the Stamp Act — Stamp Act repealed — Pitt takes an earldom — England loses the American Colonies — George III to blame — Stockwell Lodge — Dr. Shadwell, Pene, and Mr. Tozer — An amusing stutter — “How happy cou’d I be with either!” — A haunch of venison — “Good Father Isaac” — “Poll’s tricks or talking nonsense like a parrot” — “Americans will quickly become independant” — “Peers so many cabbage plants” — An olio — “Write by Gales” — A duel — “Heats of last winter” — Pigs for Upper Brook Street — “The Fallen Hero” — “A Peerless height” — “Pandora’s box” — “Peace in Israel” — “The Stentorophonick tube” — “Oh, the Peerage” — “Pulse of North America” — “Blood beats high” — “Crisis of Delireum” — “Bleeding, blistering &c.” — “Squire Sugarloafe” — “The noble exile” — “Boxes . . . filled with air” — Dirty Peer’s robes — “The Pynzent Arms” — “Patriotism in the Suds” — Pitt’s fall — “He must die that we may live” — A mansion house at Cheam.
[Chapter XIII 1766] A country home — The never satisfied great city — State lottery tickets — Joint epistles — The Stockwellites — “Prisoner of Pain” — “Pene’s eyes twinkled” — “Thirteen dozen bottles” — Pigs popular — “A word to the wise” — “Raving with pain” — A dull boy — “Everything looks melancholy” — “A Mungrall writer” — “Dean Swift’s broomstick” — “Rapsodical Brain Effluvia” — Cider tax — “A Herbert” — Costs Mr. Tozer an eye — “Kingdom in a ferment — A binding Certificate — “It, it, it” — A pig for your spit — Burning of Judd’s hand — “Will Hartpole is no more” — “Prodigious wet summer” — Eton School — Mount Felix — Vauxhall, Ranelagh and Marybone — Aesau’s mess of Pottage —Murders in County Wicklow — “Animosities and reflections” — Prudent Mrs. Saunders —Catherine the maid — King David the father of Wisdom — No pigs or turkeys — A family compact.
[Chapter XIV 1767] A cold winter — “Words froze as utter’d” — “My leathern wastecoat” —Venison feasts — “Aching head but sound Heart” — A painted ribbon for Mrs. Stratford’s night-cap” — “An unweildy traveller” — An ague — A cold “fallen into her eyes” — “Unbecoming letters” — A white elephant — Mr. Fortescue — An interesting personality — “The Cut” — Lord Clermont — Ravensdale Park — Mr. Saunders reclaims a mountain —Morley Saunders at Eton — Lord Aldborough “in pleasing humour” — An inventory in 1767 — A week at Powerscourt — “Young Scot” — A Midshipman — An Indian china dinner set — A Midshipman’s outfit — “A better man than your father” — A boyish letter — Thin Assizes — Foreman of Stockwell Village — “Old men are slow” — General Pulteney — Dean Tucker rides 1,500 miles in France — A friend’s sympathy — “Paregorics” — “Psalmody bad for the nerves” — “A Brunette” — Brother Bob given over — Catherine gets into trouble — A wonderful find of £17,000 in gold.
[Chapter XV 1768] A bad opening — Illness and a troublesome father-in-law — Frost and snow — Morley’s education causes anxiety — A broken thumb — “Pukes ” for the Saunders children — Mr. Saunders ill — Mrs. Colwell forgot her relations — “My poor dear miscarried” — “A good wife and a good heart” — A better account of Morley — Mr. Saunders a peacemaker — The Freeman’s Journal — An Oratress worthy of Billingsgate — The Borough of Baltinglass — Paul “too selfish” — Poplins all the fashion — Mrs. Saunders silenced at Belan — Gowns for Miss Dennis — Mr. Tozer does secretary — “Physicians Shadwell and Plunkett” — A Poplin ball — “Matty’s serious illness”.
[Chapter XVI 1769-1772] Mrs. Saunders an untiring dancer — Edward’s letters worry Mrs. Saunders — She is not in a “travelling condition” — Paul Stratford writes from Dublin — Sister Saunders “vastly better” — Paul’s views on matrimony — Family’s anxiety over Robert Stratford — Mr. Howard and the County Wicklow election — John Stratford’s election address — Robert leaves for London — An Eton boy’s visitor — Sir Edward Hawk’s advice to Robert — “A new Funeral apparatus” — Sir James Coulter shilly shallies — An “obliging letter” — “Lady Rachel?” — Violent winds —Viscount Pery — “Rise up daughter” — A Speaker’s election — Lord Northumberland’s party — “Extremely obliging” — “A drunken decay’d fellow” — Sister Tynte is better — Spars “out of fashion” — “The old Trott” — Death of Mr. Saunders — “Busy about nothing” — Lady Powerscourt’s twins — Robert tired of the Navy — A remedy for avarice — Paul’s love affair — “Intrinsick Excellence” — Wishes that “she had less, or I had more” — “Permitted to hope” — Another disappointment — Christmas tide.
[Chapter XVII 1773-1776] Paul writes with impatience and anxiety — “An ignorant and viscious multitude” — Paul’s ordination — Has suspended all thoughts of matrimony —Benjamin marries Miss Burton secretly — “A reflection on her modesty” — A diamond box — Lord Baltinglass is failing — “Vastly” an Eton term — Paul is ill himself — Robbery and violence in Dublin — Mr. Mason Gerard — A pen picture of life in the ranks — Dr. Shadwell holds his “bed of Justice” — “Our Court and Fish Bason” — Hannah Stratford’s letters.
[Chapter XVIII 1777] Lord Baltinglass becomes an Earl — He dies —This creates a turmoil in the family — “Le Roi et mort” — Treasure in an orchard — Mr. Shiel writes to the new Lord Aldborough — “Put your fingy in” — “No Gentlemen will keep them company” — A long talk with the Dowager — Lady Martha Saunders writes — Servants quite sober — “Two pewter plates and a table Cloath” — Mr. Shiels account of the Dowager’s views — “John inflammable. Paul reserved and cool” — Lady Ann’s singing of “The Beggar’s Opera” — “The Dowager talks of Death and the Churchyard” — Ladies make a butt of Mr. Shiel — Mrs, Plunkett’s letter a pleasant change — Lady Frances Stratford writes very humbly — “Niece Holt” — “A real Holt” — Mrs. Meade Swift — Awful scandals in Society — Many “partings” — “Kitty cut a dash” — “The Town run mad!” — “Scotch collops, haricoa or vegitablcs” — A letter from J. Coghill — Lord Aldborough moralizes.
[Chapter XIX 1778] William Pitt, Earl of Chatham — His fatal illness — Lord Townshend writes to Lord Pery — Lady Hannah Stratford writes to her mother — “My heart is broken” —”We want a few firelocks” — “Sprightly lively Morley Saunders” — “After Salt and Pharo” An old-fashioned wallpaper — Lady Aldborough dies — Lord Aldborough fights a duel — A gay bachelor — “Bread and cheese and kisses” — “Rook and fruits” — Mr. Shiel describes the Dowager’s appetite — A bigoted Protestant — Sir Godfrey Webster loses £80,000.
[Chapter XX 1787-1788] “Long forgotten days” — Lady Blaney — Her life story — Her wonderful letters — “Our American Colonies” — Her daughters — Lady Clermont — Her friendship with Queen Marie Antoinette — Lovely presents — A fancy ball at Versailles —Madame D’Arblay — “Lace her tea” — Mrs. Jones — Mount Kennedy — Lady Rossmore —Her blazing turban — Sir Robert Peel orders her carriage — A drunken coachman — One shilling fine — Lord Rossmore’s ghost story — “Rossmore; Rossmore; Rossmore” — The ’45 — Walter Jones dies in Sweden — A scratching on a window-pane — Corke Abbey — The Westenra diaries — Opa water — “Looking at tumblers” — Lady Clanwilliam — Duke of Rutland dies of a putrid fever — An express to Lord Chatham — An impressive funeral — “Emmense black plumes” — “Great decency and propriety” — “Saw something I did, not like” — “Disturbed with my maid, who was in labour” — “Legs violently streaked” — Lady Lanes-borough dies of “a putrid fever” — Marchioness of Buckingham brought to bed, at the Old Man’s Hospital.
[Chapter XXI 1789] Lady Carden has a large boy — Fanny “comes out of the chamber” —Miss Magill of Gill Hall — A managing lady — The Countess of Clanwilliam — An extravagant husband — One guinea a day — The Gill Hall ghost story — “I departed this life on Tuesday” — The Attic Theatre — A masquerade — The Queen’s birthday — Miss Farren — Mr. Middleton — Harriot’s aching heart — Lord Westmoreland Viceroy — Insurrection at Brussels — “Ye Duenna Cirque” — Lady Blaney dies — Her will.
[Chapter XXII 1792] ‘Two leather-bound diaries — The really great things — A wonderful kingdom — Dublin and Belan — “Parlor filled with Alphabets” — Popacy Bill debated — “Walked eight miles before breakfast” — Despatching “Bomb Cart” — Journey to England —Expenses on the way — Bristol and Bath — “Laura Place and The New Crescent” — “Mock Cards” — “Ramsay’s songs, and Lyttleton’s poems” — Bristol Cathedral — St. Mary’s, Redcliffe — Cirencester — Lord Bathurst’s — Fairford — Lady Henniker’s funeral — Gold fish and pheasants — More live stock in wicker’d baskets and chaise pockets — Becalmed off Orme’s Head — Returned thanks for safe arrival — “Le Jeu de Guerre” — A trip to Munster — Colonel Edward Wingfield — Lord Kenmare — Mr. Herbert — The pole breaks — Untiring energy — “Agreeable girls” — “Hunting duck and hare” — Thirteen counties seen — Busy nieces — A touch of lumbago — The caravan — “A Burgundy Pitch Plaister” — An accident to the new organ — Christmas hospitality.
[Chapter XXIII 1798] An eventful year — A wonderful Countess — Aldborough House — A sermon in stone — Lord Aldborough sentenced — Newgate Prison, Dublin — His pardon — Visits of felicitation — “An ungrateful and avericious friend” — The Civil Rebellion — “Boots and trunks” — “Fortifications at Aldborough House” — Another law-suit settled — Baltinglass Races — A story of Robespierre — A wild shot at pigeons — Two odes — A birthday greeting — Some accounts — A summing up — Aldborough House — General Dennis’s recollections — Little to be seen to-day — Lady Hannah’s will.
[Chapter XXIV 1805] Sir William Verner — A curious will again — Tommy Moore — Joins the 7th Hussars — “Bobby Trotman” — A clever ruse — A.D.C. to the Duke of Richmond —War against France — Troops leave for Spain — Tremendous seas — Arrive at Corunna —Muleteers’ meal described — Marching — Forage short — Sudden orders —Retreat in full swing — Sir John Moore’s horse — “Galloped off without a word” — His death — “Is Paget in the room?” — “I fear I shall be long dying” — A French tribute to him — Wolf’s lines —No horseshoes — Captain Verner’s adventures — General Stewart’s consideration — Loss of the Despatch — Captain Dukinfield’s death — “Thirty-two children”.
[Chapter XXV 1813] Why Napoleon stopped short? — His marvellous Empire — England alone unbeaten — Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajos — Salamanca — Crossing the Pyrenees —French in full retreat — An Army doctor hoaxed — The Duke impatient — A French dancing master — The Duke is wounded — A running fight — Eagles on poles — A narrow defile — Major Thornhill’s adventure — “Colonel Florian” — A spy hanging — Spins like a teetotum — The Abbé Dare again.
[Chapter XXVI Waterloo 1815] England in turmoil over Corn Laws — Napoleon watching from Elba — The moment arrives — Lands near Cannes — Reaches the Tuileries — Europe arms as one man — The 7th Hussars embark — The Richmond ball — “Duchess, you may give your ball” — Captain Verner takes the invitations — The plains of Grammont — The State Room — Lord George Lennox — “Prussians have attacked” — Room in great confusion — “Finish your dance” — “No time for dancing” — Hunger and thirst — “Cuirassiers so close” — French cavalry — Lancers unknown to British Army — Lord Uxbridge — “Shall we charge?” — “As well charge a house!” — Regiment in dangerous position — “Wet through and through, and covered with mud” — In the field of rye — Daylight comes — Servants with welcome food from Brussels — Captain Wildman, 7th Hussars — A faithful sergeant-major’s wife — Ordered to the rear — The Coldstream Guards suffer — Captain Verner’s charge — “Is he shamming?” — Wounded in the head — Rides to Waterloo — Confusion on the road — A hungry horse — Arrives at Brussels — French en plaine retraite — Brussels full of wounded — The Duke visits Captain Verner — Mrs. Hodges’ bravery — “Was the canon ball extracted from his head?” — Captain Elphinstone a prisoner — Interviewed by Napoleon — “Come, Sir, answer the Emperor” — “The Morning Post or Chronicle?” — The Comte de Flahault — Miss Mercer-Elphinstone — The Marquis of Lansdowne — Captain O’Grady confesses — Princess Charlotte at Weymouth — Sends for Major Verner — Her accurate knowledge — A tragic story of her death — General Vaudamme — His sanguinary sister —The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to lunch — The Duke of Wellington’s life attempted —A faithful steed — Roll of the 7th Hussars — A story of Napoleon.
[Epilogue] Courtship – A happy marriage – A passing show. [Appendix] [Index]
Extra #1: Includes several illustrations and a short genealogical chart.
Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.
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