IN BAD COMPANY.
She was young, thoughtless, and very beautiful, and to be brief, she fell among wolves, as many a woman has before. She had for escort to different places, the Prince of Wales, Sir Frederick Johnstone, Viscount Cole (eldest son of the Earl of Enniskillen), Lord Newport, Captain Farquhar, the Marquis of Blandford, and among her acquaintances were the Duke ofHamilton, the Earl of Jersey, the Marquis of Waterford, and other young gentlemen, whose company or friendship alone would be enough to destroy the character of the most spotless married woman. And by the by, all these fast young noblemen are friends and boon companions of the Prince of Wales. Lady Mordaunt also knew Lord Carington, although his name did not appear in the trial for divorce.
All of these titled gentlemen whom I have mentioned, are of that class which is denominated "fast young men"—in England. They are all of good families, and are of the salt of the earth, being hereditary legislators for the English people. They gamble, own fast horses, make tremendous bets, keep mistresses, and yachts, and among this set to dishonor a young and unsuspecting married woman, and cover with disgrace an old family name, is indeed an achievement of which they feel very proud, a woman's weakness and folly being a subject for joking in their clubs, and affording much amusement to the young blackguards at covert side and in many a yacht cruise in the Mediteranean and the Baltic Seas.
lady
LADY MORDAUNT.
Lady Mordaunt had fallen among a pack of masculine wolves. Her two sisters, the Duchess of Athole and the Countess of Dudley, vainly endeavored to save their foolish sister, and her mother, Lady Louisa Moncrieffe, and her youngsister, who was engaged privately to Viscount Cole—(Miss Frances Moncrieffe), and Miss Blanche Moncrieffe, used all their powers of persuasion, but Lady Mordaunt had met already with the fate of all those who frequent bad company. She was corrupted, and her only desire was now to become deserving of the title of "fast." Lady Mordaunt soon became the leader of the "fast" feminine set in London. No lady could drive such "fast" ponies as she. None could equal her for "fast" or "slangy" talk. Her highly colored attire was voted the "fastest" in London. Her male companions who were in her company and who escorted her, were all "fast," particularly the Prince of Wales, who enjoys the proud distinction of being "fast." Lady Mordaunt never accompanied her husband anywhere—he being very often absent, and besides, he was not "fast."
And Lady Mordaunt is not alone among her aristocratic sisters of London. She has a number of imitators, who talk "fast," ride "fast" horses, frequent the company of "fast" men, and visit with these last, "fast" places of amusement. This "fast" woman has now become typical in England. She dyes her hair, she paints her face, she wears flaunting and unbecoming costumes after the style of the loose living blondes who appear in burlesque; in short, she apes the manners and the attire of that hapless class of women of whom she once spoke, when she spoke of them at all—with a shuddering thrill of mingled horror and pity. A famous female English novelist—whose heroines, by the way, are all of the light-hair-dye and "fast" type—speaking of these "fast" society-women, pertinently asks:—
SLANG WOMEN AND "MRS. JOHNSON."
"Who taught the girls of England this hateful slang? who showed them—nay, obtruded upon and paraded before them these odious women? who, indeed, but the men, who recoil from their own work of their own hands, and cry out upon the consequences of their own conduct? It was not till the young Englishman learned to ridicule everything virtuous as "spoony," and everything domestic as "slow," that the women took pains to master the slang of the race-course, and to model their dress upon the costumes of the women whom they saw from their carriage windows dimly athwart the mists of midnight flitting across the Haymarket, as they were driven away from theOpera-house. Be sure society decayed, like the tree to which poor Swift pointed with sad prophetic certainty, "first at top." It was not till the moral deterioration of the modern young man had become a fact but too obvious, that any fatal change was perceived in the modern young woman; it was not until a contemptuous and disrespectful demeanor to parents, newly denominated governors, relieving-officers, paters, maters, maternals; a scornful avoidance of sisters as muffs and dowdies; an utter irreverence for age, and a disdainful treatment of all woman kind,—had become distinguishing characteristics of young Mr. Bull, that poor, giddy, mistaken Miss Bull, too anxious to please the young cub, whose moral being and real interests had best been served by a judicious course of cat-o'-nine-tails, began to dye her pretty hair and paint her fresh young cheeks; it was not till the British lords flocked to the sale of a bankrupt courtesan's effects, and gave unheard-of sums for the tawdry crockery-ware of a courtesan's bedchamber, that British ladies began to slide downwards upon that fatal incline which their masters had smoothed for them.""In the early days of the music-halls, before the nameless Captain had begun to cultivate his too famous whiskers, or the insatiable thirst of the convivial Charley had become a fact so painfully notorious,—when the prudent Joseph was yet unknown, and the Strand not yet renowned as the dweling-place of Nancy,—there was sung a song called "Mrs. Johnson," in which the singer, in a tipsy solemnity, bewailed the fact that the tastes and manners of his amiable wife were but too identical with his own. "And so does Mrs. Johnson,"—that was the ever recurring refrain. "I drink, I smoke, I swear, I stop out to unholy hours of the night," sings this Mr. Johnson of the music-halls, "and so, unhappily, does Mrs. Johnson. I am altogether a fast and disreputable individual, and I consider it very delightful to be fast and disreputable; but—and here, I confess, the shoe pinches—so does Mrs. Johnson. This midnight rioting, this hunting up of dancing-gardens and quaffing of perennial champagne, is my very ideal of man's existence; but I recoil aghast with horror before the idea of the same predilections in Mrs. Johnson." It is only a vulgar music-hall ditty; but I think there is a moral hanging to it, which our modern Juvenals would do well to consider.""It is the story of Adam and Eve over again—"the woman tempted me, and I did eat." The historian of the future, studying the social aspects of this century from a file ofSaturday Reviews, would have fair ground for believing it was because of modest women that outraged Englishmen fled to the denizens of St. John's-wood; that it was the slang and fastness of our girls that drove our men to the race-course and the betting-ring; the women tempted them. What cowards and hypocrites men must be, when they can turn upon and assail the helpless woman who has meekly and dutifully copied the model they have set up before her eyes, and at whose shrine she has seen them prostrate and worshipping!""The modern young man, with a selfishness as short-sighted as—selfishness, which is always short-sighted, has desiredallthe delights of life. He likes the society of the venal Cynthia of the minute, as his forefathers have done before him, but it has seemed too him too much trouble to disguise that liking, in deference to the feelings of purer Cynthias, as his forefathers did before him. When Junius wished to brand the Duke of Grafton with ineffable shame, he charged him with having flaunted Miss Parsons before the offended eyes of royalty; now-a-days such a reproach would seem the emptiest oratorical truism. The royalty of virtuous womanhood is offended every day by a procession of Miss Parsonses. Everywhere Miss Parsons is followed and worshipped. At covert-side, on parade of Brighton, or in lamplit gardens of Scarborough, in opera-house and on race-course, abroad or at home—the Parsonian worship is still going on. Miss Parsons has her matins and her vespers, her choral services at five o'clock, her gatherings at all hours and all places. The bells are always pealing that call the faithful of the Parsonian creed. And woman's poor little stock of logic only enables her to frame one fatal syllogism:Miss Parsons is admired;Miss Parsons is beloved;Therefore to be like Miss Parsons is to be admirable and loveable."
"Who taught the girls of England this hateful slang? who showed them—nay, obtruded upon and paraded before them these odious women? who, indeed, but the men, who recoil from their own work of their own hands, and cry out upon the consequences of their own conduct? It was not till the young Englishman learned to ridicule everything virtuous as "spoony," and everything domestic as "slow," that the women took pains to master the slang of the race-course, and to model their dress upon the costumes of the women whom they saw from their carriage windows dimly athwart the mists of midnight flitting across the Haymarket, as they were driven away from theOpera-house. Be sure society decayed, like the tree to which poor Swift pointed with sad prophetic certainty, "first at top." It was not till the moral deterioration of the modern young man had become a fact but too obvious, that any fatal change was perceived in the modern young woman; it was not until a contemptuous and disrespectful demeanor to parents, newly denominated governors, relieving-officers, paters, maters, maternals; a scornful avoidance of sisters as muffs and dowdies; an utter irreverence for age, and a disdainful treatment of all woman kind,—had become distinguishing characteristics of young Mr. Bull, that poor, giddy, mistaken Miss Bull, too anxious to please the young cub, whose moral being and real interests had best been served by a judicious course of cat-o'-nine-tails, began to dye her pretty hair and paint her fresh young cheeks; it was not till the British lords flocked to the sale of a bankrupt courtesan's effects, and gave unheard-of sums for the tawdry crockery-ware of a courtesan's bedchamber, that British ladies began to slide downwards upon that fatal incline which their masters had smoothed for them."
"In the early days of the music-halls, before the nameless Captain had begun to cultivate his too famous whiskers, or the insatiable thirst of the convivial Charley had become a fact so painfully notorious,—when the prudent Joseph was yet unknown, and the Strand not yet renowned as the dweling-place of Nancy,—there was sung a song called "Mrs. Johnson," in which the singer, in a tipsy solemnity, bewailed the fact that the tastes and manners of his amiable wife were but too identical with his own. "And so does Mrs. Johnson,"—that was the ever recurring refrain. "I drink, I smoke, I swear, I stop out to unholy hours of the night," sings this Mr. Johnson of the music-halls, "and so, unhappily, does Mrs. Johnson. I am altogether a fast and disreputable individual, and I consider it very delightful to be fast and disreputable; but—and here, I confess, the shoe pinches—so does Mrs. Johnson. This midnight rioting, this hunting up of dancing-gardens and quaffing of perennial champagne, is my very ideal of man's existence; but I recoil aghast with horror before the idea of the same predilections in Mrs. Johnson." It is only a vulgar music-hall ditty; but I think there is a moral hanging to it, which our modern Juvenals would do well to consider."
"It is the story of Adam and Eve over again—"the woman tempted me, and I did eat." The historian of the future, studying the social aspects of this century from a file ofSaturday Reviews, would have fair ground for believing it was because of modest women that outraged Englishmen fled to the denizens of St. John's-wood; that it was the slang and fastness of our girls that drove our men to the race-course and the betting-ring; the women tempted them. What cowards and hypocrites men must be, when they can turn upon and assail the helpless woman who has meekly and dutifully copied the model they have set up before her eyes, and at whose shrine she has seen them prostrate and worshipping!"
"The modern young man, with a selfishness as short-sighted as—selfishness, which is always short-sighted, has desiredallthe delights of life. He likes the society of the venal Cynthia of the minute, as his forefathers have done before him, but it has seemed too him too much trouble to disguise that liking, in deference to the feelings of purer Cynthias, as his forefathers did before him. When Junius wished to brand the Duke of Grafton with ineffable shame, he charged him with having flaunted Miss Parsons before the offended eyes of royalty; now-a-days such a reproach would seem the emptiest oratorical truism. The royalty of virtuous womanhood is offended every day by a procession of Miss Parsonses. Everywhere Miss Parsons is followed and worshipped. At covert-side, on parade of Brighton, or in lamplit gardens of Scarborough, in opera-house and on race-course, abroad or at home—the Parsonian worship is still going on. Miss Parsons has her matins and her vespers, her choral services at five o'clock, her gatherings at all hours and all places. The bells are always pealing that call the faithful of the Parsonian creed. And woman's poor little stock of logic only enables her to frame one fatal syllogism:
Miss Parsons is admired;
Miss Parsons is beloved;
Therefore to be like Miss Parsons is to be admirable and loveable."
When the season ended it was customary for Sir Charles Mordaunt to rejoin his wife at Walton Hall, and it might have been believed that after the gaieties of the winter revels, the mistress of the mansion would seek a little rest and the quiet of the country. But no. The country seat was always full of "fast" ladies and "fast" gentlemen. Sporting men and people of loose characters, whom no sensible man would admit to the presence of his wife, became the intimates of Lady Mordaunt. In fine, the Coles, Farquhars, Johnstones, Waterfords, Hamiltons, and the like, were "doing Lady Mordaunt's business for her," as I heard a London barrister express it. People began to talk about her, and she lost the respect of her friends, who dropped off one by one. Her poor old father, Sir Thomas Moncrieffe, while sitting in White's Club (the only club of which the Prince of Wales is an active member), hears his daughter's name mentioned in a very odious manner, and that of the Prince of Wales occurs in the connection. The "Pwince," says one of these small wits, "is very devoted—ah—Lady Mowdaant—I heah," and so the scandal flies. Sir Thomas is enraged, threatens the puppy, and tells Sir Charlesof the thunder in the air. Poor old man! It is openly stated in the club that Viscount Cole and Sir Frederick Johnstone,—the former twenty-two, and the latter thirty-two years of age, are constant visitors to her boudoir,—as often as three times in a day—so says Madame Scandal. Sir Frederick Johnstone is known to be the greatest libertine in England. He is rich, of a good family, and yet no woman will marry him, for it is whispered in society,—even among ladies—that he has become so enervated and palsied from his long course of debauchery, as to be unfit for the marriage bed—and Lord Cole is a fit rival to Lord Carington for wildness and blackguardism. I saw this same Sir Frederick Johnstone slapped in the face a dozen times at the Cremorne Gardens one night, by a fashionably attired Cyprian who had been his mistress, and who had been deserted by him, but not a blush warmed his cheek under the stinging slaps of her hand. Luxury and debauchery had emasculated him. He was no longer a man—he was a frame covered over by a handsome evening dress.
A GIDDY WOMAN.
During all this time, while Lady Mordaunt was sowing the wind to eventually reap the whirlwind, her husband was ignorant of these most damnatory facts against her reputation,—which afterward became known to him. At last the scandal was bruited about so much that Sir Charles Mordaunt found it necessary to enter proceedings in the Divorce Court, at Westminster, for a separation from his wife. All England was, socially, turned upside down with amazement, when it was ascertained that the Prince of Wales was implicated. The Queen sent for Sir Charles, and begged of him to withdraw from the case, in order to secure her son's reputation from the contempt which was sure to fall upon his Royal Highness when the developments were made public. The entreaties of the Queen did not avail, however, with Sir Charles, who, with a dogged English pluck, was resolved to have justice. Then an attempt was made to bribe him, and a peerage was offered him to keep him quiet, but this did not serve, as Sir Charles refused to compromise with dishonor and shame.
Lady Mordaunt's husband had ordered her not to receive thePrince of Wales at his house while he was absent, or at any other time, but the unfortunate woman had disobeyed him. She also refused to accompany Sir Charles on a fishing excursion to Norway, as she preferred to stay at home and associate with disreputable characters. He also ordered her not to receive Viscount Cole, or Sir Frederick Johnstone, but, as in the other case, the husband was disobeyed, and his house was used by them against his will during his absence. On the 27th of February, 1868, Lady Mordaunt was prematurely confined of a child which was afflicted in the eyes with a hideous disease. The first question asked by Lady Mordaunt immediately after her confinement, was of the nurse. She asked, "Is the child diseased?" The nurse answered, "My Lady, you mean deformed;" and Lady Mordaunt answered, "No, you know what I mean." This question was repeated five or six times, and, during the night, she said to her sister, Mrs. Forbes, "If you do not let me talk I will go mad," meaning thereby that she desired to make a confession. The nurse asked if she should fetch Sir Charles to her, and she said "no," but added, "This child is not Sir Charles's at all—but Lord Cole's." She then stated that she had behaved improperly with Lord Cole in June, 1867, at her husband's house. This was testified to by the nurse, and the occurrence took place at Walton Hall. She was afraid that the baby would be blind—the disease being an incurable one.
The suit for divorce was opened in the Westminster Divorce Court February 16th, 1869, and some of the most eminent and aristocratic personages in England attended. The Prince of Wales was ashamed to be present until sent for, but as he was very anxious about the result he sent his private Secretary, Sir W. Knollys, to watch the case. That gentleman was present every day, and manifested great interest in the testimony, which was very filthy, but not so filthy but that the Pall Mall Gazette and London Times, with other leading journals, should print every line of it, day by day, as it transpired in the Court. The trial continued seven days, Lord Penzance presiding, and it created as great an interest in London as the McFarland andRichardson case did in New York. No ladies were admitted to the Court, but two thousand, the majority of whom were of the cultivated and respectable class, sought admission during the first three days of the trial. All the relatives, of both parties, who could attend were present. The Dowager-Lady Mordaunt, mother of Sir Charles, testified strongly against her daughter-in-law, whom she accused of shamming insanity to hide her crime and dishonor. The plea of insanity was the defence set up by Sir Thomas Moncrieffe, father of Lady Mordaunt. The testimony was very contradictory. Some of the physicians swore that Lady Mordaunt was perfectly sane, but that she feigned insanity to screen herself, while others testified that she was not in a sound condition of mind.
A TREACHEROUS WIFE.
But the evidence was very clear against Lady Mordaunt despite of all endeavors to save her, or rather to save the Prince of Wales, through the unfortunate lady. Testimony was adduced, that, one evening in November, 1868, Lady Mordaunt absented herself from Walton Hall and went to London in company with Captain Farquhar, one of her "fast" young male friends, and that while there she stopped a whole night with him at the Palace Hotel. To blind her husband she wrote the following note to him:
Palace Hotel, Buckingham Gate, Nov. 8.My Darling Charlie—One line to say I shall not be able to reach home by twelve o'clock train, but will come by the one which reaches at 3.50. Send carriage to meet me. I felt horribly dull by myself all yesterday evening. I have not had much time as yet to-day. I have seen Priestly and will tell you all about it when I come home.Your affectionate wife,HARRIET MORDAUNT.
Palace Hotel, Buckingham Gate, Nov. 8.
My Darling Charlie—One line to say I shall not be able to reach home by twelve o'clock train, but will come by the one which reaches at 3.50. Send carriage to meet me. I felt horribly dull by myself all yesterday evening. I have not had much time as yet to-day. I have seen Priestly and will tell you all about it when I come home.
Your affectionate wife,HARRIET MORDAUNT.
Frederick Johnson, a footman of Lady Mordaunt, testified as follows:
Frederick Johnson testified:—I was formerly footman to Sir C. Mordaunt. While Captain Farquhar was staying at Walton, in the autumn of 1867, I took a note, I believe, from Mrs. Cadogan, into Lady Mordaunt's sitting-room. The captain was there. They had carving tools before them. The rest of the party were out shooting. I did not knock before entering. Lady Mordaunt told me I ought not to come in without knocking. She hadnot told me so before. I went with Lady Mordaunt, in the spring of 1868, to the Alhambra. Captain Farquhar was there. Lady Kinnoul (with whom Lady Mordaunt was staying) went, too, in her own carriage, and Lady Mordaunt in a hired one. Lady Mordaunt left about twelve. The Captain rode part of the way home with her. I have posted three or four letters from Lady Mordaunt to him, and have also delivered a letter to him. The Prince of Wales called once in 1867; I did not see him at the house again. He also called on Lady Mordaunt while she was staying with Lady Kinnoul. I have taken letters from her Ladyship addressed to the Prince; some I took to Marlborough House, and others I posted.Cross-examined.—Letters were given me by her Ladyship, her maid, and the butler. I posted a great many. The Prince called at Lady Kinnoul's to see Lady Mordaunt just after she had got better. She had been confined to her room.Re-examined.—I took two or three letters to Marlborough House; two I am positive, and I think I posted three to the Prince of Wales within three days.
Frederick Johnson testified:—I was formerly footman to Sir C. Mordaunt. While Captain Farquhar was staying at Walton, in the autumn of 1867, I took a note, I believe, from Mrs. Cadogan, into Lady Mordaunt's sitting-room. The captain was there. They had carving tools before them. The rest of the party were out shooting. I did not knock before entering. Lady Mordaunt told me I ought not to come in without knocking. She hadnot told me so before. I went with Lady Mordaunt, in the spring of 1868, to the Alhambra. Captain Farquhar was there. Lady Kinnoul (with whom Lady Mordaunt was staying) went, too, in her own carriage, and Lady Mordaunt in a hired one. Lady Mordaunt left about twelve. The Captain rode part of the way home with her. I have posted three or four letters from Lady Mordaunt to him, and have also delivered a letter to him. The Prince of Wales called once in 1867; I did not see him at the house again. He also called on Lady Mordaunt while she was staying with Lady Kinnoul. I have taken letters from her Ladyship addressed to the Prince; some I took to Marlborough House, and others I posted.
Cross-examined.—Letters were given me by her Ladyship, her maid, and the butler. I posted a great many. The Prince called at Lady Kinnoul's to see Lady Mordaunt just after she had got better. She had been confined to her room.
Re-examined.—I took two or three letters to Marlborough House; two I am positive, and I think I posted three to the Prince of Wales within three days.
The strongest testimony against Lady Mordaunt was given by Miss Jessie Clark, lady's maid to the wretched woman. It was full and comprehensive, and I give it here from the official report, cooked up by the Prince of Wales' friends, with extenuating notes, which I omit.
THE PRINCE OF WALES CALLS OFTEN.
Jessie Clarke was then called, and deposed,—I was lady's-maid to Lady Mordaunt from her marriage till she left Walton. In the autumn of 1867 Captain Farquhar came on a visit, and stayed about a week. He and Lady Mordaunt were very much together.In November, 1867, Lady Mordaunt went up to London, and I accompanied her. We stayed at the Palace Hotel, Buckingham Gate, and remained two nights. We arrived at the hotel about 5 p.m., and about half-past ten I saw Captain Farquhar on the landing outside the sitting-room with Lady Mordaunt. The bed-room was a short distance off. I did not see him come or leave. Her ladyship went to bed about a quarter to eleven, and I called her the next morning at half-past eight. I had arranged the bed-room for her. In the morning I noticed that the books had been moved, though her ladyship never used to move anything that I arranged. The next day she was out the greater part of the day, and went out again about six. She had not returned about ten, when I went to bed, and she told me not to sit up, as she would not want me.After returning to Walton she was taken suddenly ill in the night, and was confined to her room for a week. She then got into her sitting-room. In arranging her toilet-table I found a letter, not in an envelope, under a pincushion. I read it. [Notice to produce the letter was here proved, Dr.Deane stating that he knew nothing of it.] I replaced it, and a few days afterwards showed it to the butler, then putting it back again. I afterwards saw her ladyship take it and put it into the fire. It was dated from "The Tower, Saturday," and said, "Darling, I arrived here this morning about a quarter to nine, very tired and sleepy, as you may suppose." It added that he had seen his name inserted in thePostas Farmer instead of Farquhar, and said, "So it's all right, darling, as I was afraid Charles would be suspicious if he saw my name in the arrivals at the hotel with yours." The letter was signed "Yours, Arthur." I found it the day after she left the bed-room. She seemed surprised when she found it, and said she did not think there were any letters about, and then burnt it.In September, 1868, I had occasion one evening to go into her ladyship's bed-room, and Captain Farquhar came in. Her ladyship was not there, and the Captain did not know I was there. He walked to the table, took some flowers up, and left. During the season in 1867 and 1868, Sir Charles and Lady Mordaunt were in town. Sir Charles usually went out in the afternoon to his Parliamentary duties. The Prince of Wales called two or three times in 1867 at that time of the day, and in 1868 more frequently. In 1868 he usually came about four in the afternoon, and stayed from one to one and a half or two hours. Her ladyship was always at home and saw him. No one was in the drawing-room at the time. The Prince did not come in his private carriage. I do not remember that Sir Charles was ever at home when the Prince called in 1868.LordPenzance.—Sir Charles himself has told us that he was at home on one occasion, three weeks before he left for Norway.Examination continued.—The Prince came about once a week. In March, 1868, I attended Lady Mordaunt while on a visit to Lady Kinnoul, in Belgrave-square, Sir Charles being then at Walton. The Prince came there one Sunday, for I met him leaving as I was coming in. Lady Mordaunt showed me a letter from the Prince before she was married, and I have delivered letters to her in the same hand writing; six or seven times, perhaps, in 1868. I also received two or three letters from her addressed to the Prince, which I gave the footman (Johnson) to post. During the summer of 1868, Lord Cole used to call twice or thrice a week in the afternoon, more frequently when Sir Charles was out. Lady Mordaunt was then at home. She told me we were to go home in a week after Sir Charles went to Norway [15th of June], but we did not go till the 7th of July. During that interval Lord Cole used to call, and on the 27th of June he dined there with another gentleman and lady, whom I do not know. They had not left at half-past twelve, when I went to bed. Her ladyship invariably told me not to sit up for her after twelve. We went to Paddington to take the train, Lord Cole met her there, and took the tickets, giving me mine, and handing Lady Mordaunt into a first-class empty compartment. He stood by the door till the train was starting, and then got in. He left at Reading, the first stoppingstation. The other servants came down on the 10th, and Lord Cole also; he remained till the 14th, and the next day Sir Charles returned.In December, 1868, I was staying with Lady Mordaunt at the Alexandra Hotel, Knightsbridge. The Duke and Duchess of Athole stayed there with her. The day after they left Sir F. Johnstone came, and left her ladyship's sitting-room about midnight. I was at Walton during her confinement, and until she left. After the nurse left, on the 27th of March, I attended on her. The note produced I found soon after the 10th of April in one of her ladyship's pockets in a dress which she had recently worn. [This was the letter read yesterday addressed to the nurse, and bidding her say nothing more about the nonsense the writer had uttered.] About the 25th of April I noticed in the paper the death of the Countess of Bradford. I showed it to Lady Mordaunt, who said, "Poor thing, I'm so sorry," and said she would have to go into mourning. I provided temporary mourning, and her ladyship directed me to get two mourning dresses, as she would not be going about much. She also selected mourning jewelry. On the 6th of May I saw her before the physicians came. She was conversing with Mrs. Forbes, who asked for some brandy and soda water, and while she was drinking it Lady Mordaunt laughed, and said, "Helen, if you drink all that I'm sure you'll be tipsy." The same evening Mrs. Cadogan called, and I took a photograph in. They were talking very comfortably. On the 12th of May, while dressing her ladyship, she remarked on the dress Lady Kinnoul wore, and said, "What a larky old thing she is." I told her Mrs. Forbes admired a certain dress of hers, and she replied that she wore it a long time at Yowle [Mrs. Forbes' residence]. Her ladyship looked at the newspapers until the time of her leaving, the 15th of May. Down to that day I constantly attended on her. I have never seen her since. I never saw anything indicative of unsound mind. She was perfectly rational and sensible, and appeared to understand everything.
Jessie Clarke was then called, and deposed,—I was lady's-maid to Lady Mordaunt from her marriage till she left Walton. In the autumn of 1867 Captain Farquhar came on a visit, and stayed about a week. He and Lady Mordaunt were very much together.
In November, 1867, Lady Mordaunt went up to London, and I accompanied her. We stayed at the Palace Hotel, Buckingham Gate, and remained two nights. We arrived at the hotel about 5 p.m., and about half-past ten I saw Captain Farquhar on the landing outside the sitting-room with Lady Mordaunt. The bed-room was a short distance off. I did not see him come or leave. Her ladyship went to bed about a quarter to eleven, and I called her the next morning at half-past eight. I had arranged the bed-room for her. In the morning I noticed that the books had been moved, though her ladyship never used to move anything that I arranged. The next day she was out the greater part of the day, and went out again about six. She had not returned about ten, when I went to bed, and she told me not to sit up, as she would not want me.
After returning to Walton she was taken suddenly ill in the night, and was confined to her room for a week. She then got into her sitting-room. In arranging her toilet-table I found a letter, not in an envelope, under a pincushion. I read it. [Notice to produce the letter was here proved, Dr.Deane stating that he knew nothing of it.] I replaced it, and a few days afterwards showed it to the butler, then putting it back again. I afterwards saw her ladyship take it and put it into the fire. It was dated from "The Tower, Saturday," and said, "Darling, I arrived here this morning about a quarter to nine, very tired and sleepy, as you may suppose." It added that he had seen his name inserted in thePostas Farmer instead of Farquhar, and said, "So it's all right, darling, as I was afraid Charles would be suspicious if he saw my name in the arrivals at the hotel with yours." The letter was signed "Yours, Arthur." I found it the day after she left the bed-room. She seemed surprised when she found it, and said she did not think there were any letters about, and then burnt it.
In September, 1868, I had occasion one evening to go into her ladyship's bed-room, and Captain Farquhar came in. Her ladyship was not there, and the Captain did not know I was there. He walked to the table, took some flowers up, and left. During the season in 1867 and 1868, Sir Charles and Lady Mordaunt were in town. Sir Charles usually went out in the afternoon to his Parliamentary duties. The Prince of Wales called two or three times in 1867 at that time of the day, and in 1868 more frequently. In 1868 he usually came about four in the afternoon, and stayed from one to one and a half or two hours. Her ladyship was always at home and saw him. No one was in the drawing-room at the time. The Prince did not come in his private carriage. I do not remember that Sir Charles was ever at home when the Prince called in 1868.
LordPenzance.—Sir Charles himself has told us that he was at home on one occasion, three weeks before he left for Norway.
Examination continued.—The Prince came about once a week. In March, 1868, I attended Lady Mordaunt while on a visit to Lady Kinnoul, in Belgrave-square, Sir Charles being then at Walton. The Prince came there one Sunday, for I met him leaving as I was coming in. Lady Mordaunt showed me a letter from the Prince before she was married, and I have delivered letters to her in the same hand writing; six or seven times, perhaps, in 1868. I also received two or three letters from her addressed to the Prince, which I gave the footman (Johnson) to post. During the summer of 1868, Lord Cole used to call twice or thrice a week in the afternoon, more frequently when Sir Charles was out. Lady Mordaunt was then at home. She told me we were to go home in a week after Sir Charles went to Norway [15th of June], but we did not go till the 7th of July. During that interval Lord Cole used to call, and on the 27th of June he dined there with another gentleman and lady, whom I do not know. They had not left at half-past twelve, when I went to bed. Her ladyship invariably told me not to sit up for her after twelve. We went to Paddington to take the train, Lord Cole met her there, and took the tickets, giving me mine, and handing Lady Mordaunt into a first-class empty compartment. He stood by the door till the train was starting, and then got in. He left at Reading, the first stoppingstation. The other servants came down on the 10th, and Lord Cole also; he remained till the 14th, and the next day Sir Charles returned.
In December, 1868, I was staying with Lady Mordaunt at the Alexandra Hotel, Knightsbridge. The Duke and Duchess of Athole stayed there with her. The day after they left Sir F. Johnstone came, and left her ladyship's sitting-room about midnight. I was at Walton during her confinement, and until she left. After the nurse left, on the 27th of March, I attended on her. The note produced I found soon after the 10th of April in one of her ladyship's pockets in a dress which she had recently worn. [This was the letter read yesterday addressed to the nurse, and bidding her say nothing more about the nonsense the writer had uttered.] About the 25th of April I noticed in the paper the death of the Countess of Bradford. I showed it to Lady Mordaunt, who said, "Poor thing, I'm so sorry," and said she would have to go into mourning. I provided temporary mourning, and her ladyship directed me to get two mourning dresses, as she would not be going about much. She also selected mourning jewelry. On the 6th of May I saw her before the physicians came. She was conversing with Mrs. Forbes, who asked for some brandy and soda water, and while she was drinking it Lady Mordaunt laughed, and said, "Helen, if you drink all that I'm sure you'll be tipsy." The same evening Mrs. Cadogan called, and I took a photograph in. They were talking very comfortably. On the 12th of May, while dressing her ladyship, she remarked on the dress Lady Kinnoul wore, and said, "What a larky old thing she is." I told her Mrs. Forbes admired a certain dress of hers, and she replied that she wore it a long time at Yowle [Mrs. Forbes' residence]. Her ladyship looked at the newspapers until the time of her leaving, the 15th of May. Down to that day I constantly attended on her. I have never seen her since. I never saw anything indicative of unsound mind. She was perfectly rational and sensible, and appeared to understand everything.
Henry Bird, an old servant of the family, and butler, testified in a candid, frank way, to what he knew, as follows:
FARQUHAR AND JOHNSTONE.
Henry Bird.—I am butler to Sir C. Mordaunt, and have been in the service of the family thirty years. Lord Cole, Captain Farquhar, and Sir F. Johnstone visited Walton Hall. In the autumn of 1867 I accompanied Sir Charles and Lady Mordaunt to Scotland. Captain Farquhar was staying at the same place, and I noticed that he and her ladyship were often together. Lady Mordaunt was more frequently with him than with other people. A few days after we returned to Walton he came to visit. He was often in her sitting room, generally alone with her. Sir Charles was frequently out shooting at the time. Jessie Clarke made a communication to me, and showed me a letter. That was about ten days after Lady Mordaunt's return to London. It was in Captain Farquhar's writing. I read it and returned it to Clarke. It was dated at the Tower, and said, "Darling,I got home here, tired and weary, as you may suppose. I have read theMorning Post, and have seen that they have inserted my name as Farmer. If they had inserted it Farquhar, Sir Charles would have been suspicious." There was also an allusion to having attended a play, and the persons they had seen there. Clarke did not tell me where she had found it. I referred to thePostof November 7 and 9, 1867; Sir Charles took it in. I referred to it before I saw the letter, on account of what Clarke told me, and I put aside the two papers in my cupboard. On the 7th, among the arrivals at the Palace Hotel, Buckingham-gate, Lady Mordaunt's name is given, and on the 9th Captain Farmer's. In January, 1868, Captain Farquhar visited Walton, and staid about a week. There were other visitors, and there was not so much opportunity for him and Lady Mordaunt to be together. I once found them together in the billiard-room, standing close together near the billiard-table; they seemed startled, and I apologised and left. In 1867 and 1868 the Prince of Wales called at Sir Charles's London house—in 1868 about once a week; but one week twice. He came about four p.m., and stayed from one to two hours. I received him. Sir Charles was then at the House of Commons, or out pigeon-shooting. Lady Mordaunt gave me directions that when the Prince called no one else was to be admitted. After Sir Charles left for Norway the Prince took luncheon there once, with a sister of Lady Mordaunt and a gentleman. The last two went away together, but the Prince remained about twenty minutes alone with Lady Mordaunt. Lord Cole visited the house two or three times a week—more frequently when Sir Charles was out and after he had left for Norway. Sir Charles was seldom at home in the afternoon. Lord Cole and two others dined with Lady Mordaunt after Sir Charles's departure. The two others left about eleven, but Lord Cole stayed in the drawing-room till about a quarter to one. I knew this by hearing the front door bang, and by observing that his hat and coat were gone. I went down to Walton on the 10th of July; Lord Cole arrived the same day, and left the day before Sir Charles's return. Sir F. Johnstone, when he stayed at Walton, was often in her ladyship's sitting-room while the rest of the party were shooting or hunting. I left Walton with Sir Charles on the 5th of April, 1869. After her confinement Lady Mordaunt used to take the papers from me, and once proposed to go fishing, as she had done before; but I said it was too cold. She seemed quite rational. I went on the 20th of August to Worthington in order to accompany her to Bickley. She shook hands with me. I told her Sir Charles had gone to Scotland, and that Taylor, the gamekeeper, had gone with him. She laughed and said, "Only think of Taylor's going." She referred to the death of the Dowager-Lady Mordaunt's son, Mr. Arthur Smith, and said how sorry his father must be to lose his only son. I remained five or seven minutes.
Henry Bird.—I am butler to Sir C. Mordaunt, and have been in the service of the family thirty years. Lord Cole, Captain Farquhar, and Sir F. Johnstone visited Walton Hall. In the autumn of 1867 I accompanied Sir Charles and Lady Mordaunt to Scotland. Captain Farquhar was staying at the same place, and I noticed that he and her ladyship were often together. Lady Mordaunt was more frequently with him than with other people. A few days after we returned to Walton he came to visit. He was often in her sitting room, generally alone with her. Sir Charles was frequently out shooting at the time. Jessie Clarke made a communication to me, and showed me a letter. That was about ten days after Lady Mordaunt's return to London. It was in Captain Farquhar's writing. I read it and returned it to Clarke. It was dated at the Tower, and said, "Darling,I got home here, tired and weary, as you may suppose. I have read theMorning Post, and have seen that they have inserted my name as Farmer. If they had inserted it Farquhar, Sir Charles would have been suspicious." There was also an allusion to having attended a play, and the persons they had seen there. Clarke did not tell me where she had found it. I referred to thePostof November 7 and 9, 1867; Sir Charles took it in. I referred to it before I saw the letter, on account of what Clarke told me, and I put aside the two papers in my cupboard. On the 7th, among the arrivals at the Palace Hotel, Buckingham-gate, Lady Mordaunt's name is given, and on the 9th Captain Farmer's. In January, 1868, Captain Farquhar visited Walton, and staid about a week. There were other visitors, and there was not so much opportunity for him and Lady Mordaunt to be together. I once found them together in the billiard-room, standing close together near the billiard-table; they seemed startled, and I apologised and left. In 1867 and 1868 the Prince of Wales called at Sir Charles's London house—in 1868 about once a week; but one week twice. He came about four p.m., and stayed from one to two hours. I received him. Sir Charles was then at the House of Commons, or out pigeon-shooting. Lady Mordaunt gave me directions that when the Prince called no one else was to be admitted. After Sir Charles left for Norway the Prince took luncheon there once, with a sister of Lady Mordaunt and a gentleman. The last two went away together, but the Prince remained about twenty minutes alone with Lady Mordaunt. Lord Cole visited the house two or three times a week—more frequently when Sir Charles was out and after he had left for Norway. Sir Charles was seldom at home in the afternoon. Lord Cole and two others dined with Lady Mordaunt after Sir Charles's departure. The two others left about eleven, but Lord Cole stayed in the drawing-room till about a quarter to one. I knew this by hearing the front door bang, and by observing that his hat and coat were gone. I went down to Walton on the 10th of July; Lord Cole arrived the same day, and left the day before Sir Charles's return. Sir F. Johnstone, when he stayed at Walton, was often in her ladyship's sitting-room while the rest of the party were shooting or hunting. I left Walton with Sir Charles on the 5th of April, 1869. After her confinement Lady Mordaunt used to take the papers from me, and once proposed to go fishing, as she had done before; but I said it was too cold. She seemed quite rational. I went on the 20th of August to Worthington in order to accompany her to Bickley. She shook hands with me. I told her Sir Charles had gone to Scotland, and that Taylor, the gamekeeper, had gone with him. She laughed and said, "Only think of Taylor's going." She referred to the death of the Dowager-Lady Mordaunt's son, Mr. Arthur Smith, and said how sorry his father must be to lose his only son. I remained five or seven minutes.
A package of letters, a love valentine, and some flowers, which the Prince of Wales had sent Lady Mordaunt, were found by Miss Jessie Clarke, and were given to Sir Charles Mordaunt by her. It has been stated there were other letters from the Prince of Wales to Lady Mordaunt, which were destroyed in time to save the Prince from the reputation of a dastard. The letters which were found were produced in court, but were not read in the early stage of the proceedings, until the leading newspapers had by some stratagem succeeded in getting copies, which they published, to the great indignation of Lord Penzance and other toadies of the Prince. These letters I give as specimens of the style of writing, amusement, and companions, which the dear Prince affects. They are ungrammatical, silly, and slangy, and show a vivid dearth of ideas in the heir to a great kingdom.
I.—She Sends Him Muffetees."Sandringham, King's Lynn, January 13, 1867."My dear Lady Mordaunt,—I am quite shocked never to have answered your kind letter, written some time ago, and for the very pretty muffetees, which are very useful this cold weather. I had no idea where you had been staying since your marriage, but Francis Knollys told me that you are in Warwickshire. I suppose you will be up in London for the opening of Parliament, when I hope I may perhaps have the pleasure of seeing you and making the acquaintance of Sir Charles. I was in London for only two nights, and returned here Saturday. The rails were so slippery that we thought we should never arrive here. There has been a heavy fall of snow here, and we are able to use our sledges, which is capital fun."Believe me, yours ever sincerely,"Albert Edward."II.—Would Like to See Her Again."Monday."My Dear Lady Mordaunt,—I am sure you will be glad to hear that the Princess was safely delivered of a little girl this morning and that both are doing very well. I hope you will come to the Oswald and St. James's Hall this week. There would, I am sure, be no harm your remaining till Saturday in town. I shall like to see you again."Ever yours most sincerely,"Albert Edward."
I.—She Sends Him Muffetees.
"Sandringham, King's Lynn, January 13, 1867.
"My dear Lady Mordaunt,—I am quite shocked never to have answered your kind letter, written some time ago, and for the very pretty muffetees, which are very useful this cold weather. I had no idea where you had been staying since your marriage, but Francis Knollys told me that you are in Warwickshire. I suppose you will be up in London for the opening of Parliament, when I hope I may perhaps have the pleasure of seeing you and making the acquaintance of Sir Charles. I was in London for only two nights, and returned here Saturday. The rails were so slippery that we thought we should never arrive here. There has been a heavy fall of snow here, and we are able to use our sledges, which is capital fun.
"Believe me, yours ever sincerely,"Albert Edward."
II.—Would Like to See Her Again.
"Monday.
"My Dear Lady Mordaunt,—I am sure you will be glad to hear that the Princess was safely delivered of a little girl this morning and that both are doing very well. I hope you will come to the Oswald and St. James's Hall this week. There would, I am sure, be no harm your remaining till Saturday in town. I shall like to see you again.
"Ever yours most sincerely,"Albert Edward."
III.—She Brings Him an Umbrella."Marlborough House, May 7, 1867."My dear Lady Mordaunt,—Many thanks for your letter, and I am very sorry that I should have given you so much trouble looking for the ladies'umbrellafor me at Paris. I am very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay there. I shall be going there on Friday next, and as the Princess is so much better, shall hope to remain a week there. If there is any commission I can do for you there it will give me the greatest pleasure to carry it out. I regret very much not to have been able to call upon you since your return, but hope to do so when I come back from Paris, and have an opportunity of making the acquaintance of your husband."Believe me yours very sincerely,"Albert Edward."IV.—Hamilton's Wife is Good Looking."Marlborough House, Oct. 13.SAM BUCKLEY IN HIS KILT."My dear Lady Mordaunt,—Many thanks for your kind letter, which I received just before we left Dunrobin, and I have been so busy here that I have been unable to answer it before. I am glad to hear that you are flourishing at Walton, and hope your husband has had good sport with the partridges. We had a charming stay at Dunrobin—from the 19th of September to the 7th of this month. Our party consisted of the Sandwiches, Grosvenors (only for a few days), Sumners, Bakers, F. Marshall, Albert, Ronald Gower, Sir H. Pelly, Oliver, who did not look so bad in a kilt as you heard; Lacelles, Falkner, and Sam Buckley, who looked first-rate in his kilt. I was also three or four days in the Reay Forest with the Grosvenors. I shot four stags. My total was twenty-one. P. John thanks you very much for your photo; and I received two very good ones, accompanied by a charming epistle, from your sister. We are all delighted with Hamilton's marriage, and I think you are rather hard on the young lady, as, although not exactly pretty, she is very nice looking, has charming manners, and is very popular with every one. From his letter he seems to be very much in love—a rare occurrence now-a-days. I will see what I can do in getting a presentation for the son of Mrs. Bradshaw for the Royal Asylum of London, St. Ann's Society. Francis will tell you result. London is very empty, but I have plenty to do, so time does not go slowly, and I go down shooting to Windsor and Richmond occasionally. On the 26th I shall shoot with General Hall at Newmarket, the following week at Knowlsley, and then at Windsor and Sandringham before we go abroad. This will be probably on the 18th or 19th of next month. You told me when I last saw you that you were probably going to Paris in November, but I suppose you have given it up. I saw in the papers that you were in London on Saturday. I wish you had let me know, as I would have made a point of calling. Thereare some good plays going on, and we are going the rounds of them. My brother is here, but at the end of the month he starts for Plymouth on his long cruise of nearly two years. Now I shall say good-by, and hoping that probably we may have a chance of seeing you before we leave,"I remain, yours most sincerely,"Albert Edward."V.—Don't Know the Height of the Ponies."White's, Nov. 1."My dear Lady Mordaunt,—Many thanks for your letter, which I received this morning. I cannot tell you at this moment the exact height of the ponies in question, but I think they are just under fourteen hands, but as soon as I know for certain I shall not fail to let you know. I would be only too happy if they would suit you, and have the pleasure of seeing them in your hands. It is quite an age since I have seen or heard anything of you, but I trust you had a pleasant trip abroad, and I suppose you have been in Scotland since. Lord Dudley has kindly asked me to shoot with him at Buckenham on the 9th of next mouth, and I hope I may, perhaps, have the pleasure of seeing you there."Believe me, yours ever sincerely,"Albert Edward."VI.—The "Great" Oliver is Coming."Sandringham, King's Lynn, Nov. 30."My dear Lady Mordaunt,—I was very glad to hear from Colonel Kingscote the other day that you had bought my two ponies. I also trust that they will suit you, and that you will drive them for many a year. I have never driven them myself, so I don't know whether they are easy to drive or not. I hope you have had some hunting, although the ground is so hard that in some parts of the country it is quite stopped. We had our first shooting party this week, and got 809 head one day, and twenty-nine woodcocks. Next week the great Oliver is coming. He and Blandford had thought of going to Algiers; but they have now given it up, and I don't know to what foreign clime they are going to betake themselves. I saw Lady Dudley at Onwallis, and I thought her looking very well. I am sorry to hear that you won't be at Buckenham when I go there, as it is such an age since I have seen you. If there is anything else (besides horses) that I can do for you, please let me know, and"I remain, yours ever sincerely,"Albert Edward."VII.—Sorry to Hear That She Has Been Seedy."Sandringham, King's Lynn, Dec. 5."My dear Lady Mordaunt,—Many thanks for your letter, which I received this evening, and am very glad to hear that you like the ponies,but I hope they will be well driven before you attempt to drive them, as I know they are fresh. They belonged originally to the Princess Mary, who drove them for some years, and when she married, not wanting them just then, I bought them from her. I am not surprised that you have had no hunting lately, as the frost has made the ground as hard as iron. We hope, however, to be able to hunt to-morrow, as a thaw has set in. We killed over a thousand head on Tuesday, and killed forty woodcocks to-day. Oliver has been in great force, and as bumptious as ever. Blandford is also here, so you can imagine what a row goes on. On Monday next I go to Buckenham, and I am indeed very sorry that we shall not meet there. I am very sorry to hear that you have been seedy, but hope that you are now all right again."Ever yours very sincerely,"Albert Edward."VIII.—He is Anxious."Thursday."My dear Lady Mordaunt,—I am sorry to find by the letter that I received from you this morning that you are unwell, and that I shall not be able to pay you a visit to-day, to which I had been looking forward with so much pleasure. To-morrow and Saturday I shall be hunting in Nottinghamshire, but if you are still in town, may I come to see you about five on Sunday afternoon? And hoping you will soon be yourself again,"Believe me, yours ever sincerely,"Albert Edward."IX.—He Had the Measles."Sunday.THE PRINCE HAS THE MEASLES."My dear Lady Mordaunt,—I cannot tell you how distressed I am to hear from your letter that you have got the measles, and that I shall in consequence not have the pleasure of seeing you. I have had the measles myself a long time ago, and I know what a tiresome complaint it is. I trust you will take great care of yourself, and have a good doctor with you. Above all, I should not read at all, as it is very bad for the eyes, and I suppose you will be forced to lay up for a time. The weather is very favorable for your illness, and wishing you a very speedy recovery,"Believe me, yours most sincerely,"Albert Edward."X.—Anxious Again."Sunday."My dear Lady Mordaunt,—Many thanks for your kind letter. I am so glad to hear that you have made so good a recovery, and to be able soon to go to Hastings, which is sure to do you a great deal of good. I hope that perhaps on your return to London I may have the pleasure of seeing you."Believe me, yours very sincerely,"Albert Edward."
III.—She Brings Him an Umbrella.
"Marlborough House, May 7, 1867.
"My dear Lady Mordaunt,—Many thanks for your letter, and I am very sorry that I should have given you so much trouble looking for the ladies'umbrellafor me at Paris. I am very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay there. I shall be going there on Friday next, and as the Princess is so much better, shall hope to remain a week there. If there is any commission I can do for you there it will give me the greatest pleasure to carry it out. I regret very much not to have been able to call upon you since your return, but hope to do so when I come back from Paris, and have an opportunity of making the acquaintance of your husband.
"Believe me yours very sincerely,"Albert Edward."
IV.—Hamilton's Wife is Good Looking.
"Marlborough House, Oct. 13.
SAM BUCKLEY IN HIS KILT.
"My dear Lady Mordaunt,—Many thanks for your kind letter, which I received just before we left Dunrobin, and I have been so busy here that I have been unable to answer it before. I am glad to hear that you are flourishing at Walton, and hope your husband has had good sport with the partridges. We had a charming stay at Dunrobin—from the 19th of September to the 7th of this month. Our party consisted of the Sandwiches, Grosvenors (only for a few days), Sumners, Bakers, F. Marshall, Albert, Ronald Gower, Sir H. Pelly, Oliver, who did not look so bad in a kilt as you heard; Lacelles, Falkner, and Sam Buckley, who looked first-rate in his kilt. I was also three or four days in the Reay Forest with the Grosvenors. I shot four stags. My total was twenty-one. P. John thanks you very much for your photo; and I received two very good ones, accompanied by a charming epistle, from your sister. We are all delighted with Hamilton's marriage, and I think you are rather hard on the young lady, as, although not exactly pretty, she is very nice looking, has charming manners, and is very popular with every one. From his letter he seems to be very much in love—a rare occurrence now-a-days. I will see what I can do in getting a presentation for the son of Mrs. Bradshaw for the Royal Asylum of London, St. Ann's Society. Francis will tell you result. London is very empty, but I have plenty to do, so time does not go slowly, and I go down shooting to Windsor and Richmond occasionally. On the 26th I shall shoot with General Hall at Newmarket, the following week at Knowlsley, and then at Windsor and Sandringham before we go abroad. This will be probably on the 18th or 19th of next month. You told me when I last saw you that you were probably going to Paris in November, but I suppose you have given it up. I saw in the papers that you were in London on Saturday. I wish you had let me know, as I would have made a point of calling. Thereare some good plays going on, and we are going the rounds of them. My brother is here, but at the end of the month he starts for Plymouth on his long cruise of nearly two years. Now I shall say good-by, and hoping that probably we may have a chance of seeing you before we leave,
"I remain, yours most sincerely,"Albert Edward."
V.—Don't Know the Height of the Ponies.
"White's, Nov. 1.
"My dear Lady Mordaunt,—Many thanks for your letter, which I received this morning. I cannot tell you at this moment the exact height of the ponies in question, but I think they are just under fourteen hands, but as soon as I know for certain I shall not fail to let you know. I would be only too happy if they would suit you, and have the pleasure of seeing them in your hands. It is quite an age since I have seen or heard anything of you, but I trust you had a pleasant trip abroad, and I suppose you have been in Scotland since. Lord Dudley has kindly asked me to shoot with him at Buckenham on the 9th of next mouth, and I hope I may, perhaps, have the pleasure of seeing you there.
"Believe me, yours ever sincerely,"Albert Edward."
VI.—The "Great" Oliver is Coming.
"Sandringham, King's Lynn, Nov. 30.
"My dear Lady Mordaunt,—I was very glad to hear from Colonel Kingscote the other day that you had bought my two ponies. I also trust that they will suit you, and that you will drive them for many a year. I have never driven them myself, so I don't know whether they are easy to drive or not. I hope you have had some hunting, although the ground is so hard that in some parts of the country it is quite stopped. We had our first shooting party this week, and got 809 head one day, and twenty-nine woodcocks. Next week the great Oliver is coming. He and Blandford had thought of going to Algiers; but they have now given it up, and I don't know to what foreign clime they are going to betake themselves. I saw Lady Dudley at Onwallis, and I thought her looking very well. I am sorry to hear that you won't be at Buckenham when I go there, as it is such an age since I have seen you. If there is anything else (besides horses) that I can do for you, please let me know, and
"I remain, yours ever sincerely,"Albert Edward."
VII.—Sorry to Hear That She Has Been Seedy.
"Sandringham, King's Lynn, Dec. 5.
"My dear Lady Mordaunt,—Many thanks for your letter, which I received this evening, and am very glad to hear that you like the ponies,but I hope they will be well driven before you attempt to drive them, as I know they are fresh. They belonged originally to the Princess Mary, who drove them for some years, and when she married, not wanting them just then, I bought them from her. I am not surprised that you have had no hunting lately, as the frost has made the ground as hard as iron. We hope, however, to be able to hunt to-morrow, as a thaw has set in. We killed over a thousand head on Tuesday, and killed forty woodcocks to-day. Oliver has been in great force, and as bumptious as ever. Blandford is also here, so you can imagine what a row goes on. On Monday next I go to Buckenham, and I am indeed very sorry that we shall not meet there. I am very sorry to hear that you have been seedy, but hope that you are now all right again.
"Ever yours very sincerely,"Albert Edward."
VIII.—He is Anxious.
"Thursday.
"My dear Lady Mordaunt,—I am sorry to find by the letter that I received from you this morning that you are unwell, and that I shall not be able to pay you a visit to-day, to which I had been looking forward with so much pleasure. To-morrow and Saturday I shall be hunting in Nottinghamshire, but if you are still in town, may I come to see you about five on Sunday afternoon? And hoping you will soon be yourself again,
"Believe me, yours ever sincerely,"Albert Edward."
IX.—He Had the Measles.
"Sunday.
THE PRINCE HAS THE MEASLES.
"My dear Lady Mordaunt,—I cannot tell you how distressed I am to hear from your letter that you have got the measles, and that I shall in consequence not have the pleasure of seeing you. I have had the measles myself a long time ago, and I know what a tiresome complaint it is. I trust you will take great care of yourself, and have a good doctor with you. Above all, I should not read at all, as it is very bad for the eyes, and I suppose you will be forced to lay up for a time. The weather is very favorable for your illness, and wishing you a very speedy recovery,
"Believe me, yours most sincerely,"Albert Edward."
X.—Anxious Again.
"Sunday.
"My dear Lady Mordaunt,—Many thanks for your kind letter. I am so glad to hear that you have made so good a recovery, and to be able soon to go to Hastings, which is sure to do you a great deal of good. I hope that perhaps on your return to London I may have the pleasure of seeing you.
"Believe me, yours very sincerely,"Albert Edward."
XI.—The "Great" Francis is to Arrive.Sandringham, King's Lynn, Nov. 16."My dear Lady Mordaunt,—I must apologise for not having answered your last kind letter, but accept my best thanks for it now. Since the 10th I have been here at Sir William Knollys' house, as I am building a totally new one. I am hereen garcon, and we have had very good shooting. The Duke of Cambridge, Lord Suffield, Lord Alfred Paget, Lord de Grey, Sir Frederick Johnstone, Chaplin, General Hall, Captain (Sam) Buckley, Major Grey, and myself, composed the party; and the great Francis arrived on Saturday, but he is by no means a distinguished shot. Sir Frederick Johnstone tells me he is going to stay with you to-morrow for the Warwick races, so he can give you the best account of us. This afternoon, after shooting, I return to London, and to-morrow night the Princess, our three eldest children, and myself, start for Paris, where we shall remain a week, and then go straight to Copenhagen, where we spend Christmas, and the beginning of January we start on a longer trip. We shall go to Venice, and then by sea to Alexandria, and up the Nile as far as we can get; and later to Constantinople, Athens, and home by Italy, and I don't expect we shall be back again before April. I fear, therefore, I shall not see you for a long time, but trust to find you, perhaps, in London on our return. If you should have time, it will be very kind to write me sometimes. Letters to Marlborough House, to be forwarded, will always reach me. I hope you will remain strong and well, and wishing you a very pleasant winter,"I remain, yours most sincerely,"Albert Edward."
XI.—The "Great" Francis is to Arrive.
Sandringham, King's Lynn, Nov. 16.
"My dear Lady Mordaunt,—I must apologise for not having answered your last kind letter, but accept my best thanks for it now. Since the 10th I have been here at Sir William Knollys' house, as I am building a totally new one. I am hereen garcon, and we have had very good shooting. The Duke of Cambridge, Lord Suffield, Lord Alfred Paget, Lord de Grey, Sir Frederick Johnstone, Chaplin, General Hall, Captain (Sam) Buckley, Major Grey, and myself, composed the party; and the great Francis arrived on Saturday, but he is by no means a distinguished shot. Sir Frederick Johnstone tells me he is going to stay with you to-morrow for the Warwick races, so he can give you the best account of us. This afternoon, after shooting, I return to London, and to-morrow night the Princess, our three eldest children, and myself, start for Paris, where we shall remain a week, and then go straight to Copenhagen, where we spend Christmas, and the beginning of January we start on a longer trip. We shall go to Venice, and then by sea to Alexandria, and up the Nile as far as we can get; and later to Constantinople, Athens, and home by Italy, and I don't expect we shall be back again before April. I fear, therefore, I shall not see you for a long time, but trust to find you, perhaps, in London on our return. If you should have time, it will be very kind to write me sometimes. Letters to Marlborough House, to be forwarded, will always reach me. I hope you will remain strong and well, and wishing you a very pleasant winter,
"I remain, yours most sincerely,"Albert Edward."
On the afternoon of the fifth day of the trial, the Prince of Wales, who had been driven by his royal mother to take the step, much against his will, appeared in court to testify, nominally at his own request, but really from a fear of public opinion. The presiding judge of the Divorce Court, Lord Penzance, when he heard that the Prince desired to testify in his own behalf, exerted himself in such an extreme fashion, as to call down the ridicule and scorn of the London press for his servile proceedings. Having been informed that the Prince was about to appear in court, this flunkey judge, who had been created a peer for something that he had done as a lawyer, was most eager, painfully eager, in fact, to accommodate his Royal Highness. The latter was treated by the judge with a respect which was a combination of profundity, enthusiasm, and excitement. One journal suggested to the learned judge, that while thePrince was in attendance on the trial, it was the duty of the magistrate to have a smoking room fitted up for the special use of the Prince, while another claimed that a billiard table should be provided for the amusement of the Prince between the intervals of the evidence, and asked Lord Penzance to be careful and open court daily at an hour to suit the convenience of the Heir Apparent, who is I believe, a late riser. It is a rule of British law, that the members of the Royal family cannot be called upon to testify in any case, unless of their own free will, and then they are not asked to swear to the evidence which they may give, as their simple affirmation is deemed to be sufficient. The Prince of Wales on this occasion, however, thought it necessary to be sworn, and he testified that he knew Sir Charles and Lady Mordaunt, and that Lady Mordaunt had been an acquaintance of his before his marriage to the Princess of Wales. He also testified that he was fond of riding in hansom cabs, and lastly, he swore that there never had been any improper familiarity or criminal act between himself and Lady Mordaunt. This statement, in open court, was a great relief to the Queen, who it is said, at once upon hearing of it sent for the Prince to come to Buckingham Palace, and on his arrival he was welcomed warmly by his mother.
SIR FREDERICK JOHNSTONE TESTIFIES.
The next witness examined was Sir Frederick Johnstone, who testified that he had gone to dine with Lady Mordaunt at the Alexandra Hotel, in obedience to a request which she made by letter, to that effect. The dinner was a tete-a-tete one, (no one being present but Sir Frederick and Lady Mordaunt) in a private room, and it lasted from four o'clock in the afternoon until twelve o'clock at night. Sir Frederick acknowledged that the dinner took place without the knowledge of Sir Charles Mordaunt, and that he never told the latter of the circumstance afterward, although a visitor at Walton Hall. This closed the case on evidence. A paper had been found in Lady Mordaunt's handwriting, with the memoranda "280 days from June 29—April 3d," referring, as it was supposed, to her first meeting with Viscount Cole. Sir Charles Mordaunt, in his affidavit, alleged the marriage on the 6th of December, 1866, at St.John's Episcopal Church, Perth; cohabitation at Walton Hall, and at 6 Belgrave-square; and adultery with Viscount Cole in May, June, and July, 1868, at Chesham-place, and in July, 1868, and January, 1869, at Walton Hall; and adultery with Sir Frederick Johnstone, in November and December, 1868, at Walton Hall, and in December, 1868, at the Alexandra Hotel, Knightsbridge; and adultery also with some person between the 15th of June, 1868, and the 28th of February, 1869.
The English aristocracy never have had such a blow dealt at their corrupt social system, as the developments of this suit impelled against them. "Reynolds' Newspaper," a London journal with a circulation of 280,000 copies weekly, spoke in thunder tones as follows, to its readers, the workingmen of London:
"THE PRINCE OF WALES IN THE DIVORCE COURT.The great social scandal to which we have frequently alluded, has now become blazoned to the world through the instrumentality of the Divorce Court. Nothing was left undone that might hush it up, so that the Prince of Wales' name should not figure in so discreditable a business. Every effort was made to silence Sir Charles Mordaunt. A peerage was, we believe, offered him. Any place of emolument he asked for would willingly have been given him. All the honors and dignities the crown and government have it in their power to bestow would readily have been prostituted to insure his silence. Lord Penzance, at the last moment, earnestly strove to keep the name of the Prince from coming before the public. Sir Charles Mordaunt, however, was deaf to every persuasion, and, like a noble minded man and high spirited gentleman, scouted all attempts to shut his mouth; and, with contemptuous indifference to the entreaties of the judge, and disregarding the course adopted by his own counsel, at once told the whole story of his supposed dishonor, without blinking facts or concealing names. He told the court that he forbade his wife continuing her acquaintance with the Prince of Wales on account of his character. He intimated to the Prince that his visits should cease. He, however, alleges that, despite this intimation, they were surreptitiously continued; that letters of a compromising character were found; and that other circumstances occurred leading him to suppose that an improper intimacy existed between, the Prince and his wife. It should be borne in mind that when all this is said to have occurred the Prince of Wales was a married man himself, and the father of a family. The question, therefore, remains to be solved, is he an adulterer or not? Can he disprove the apparently damnatory allegations of Sir C. Mordaunt? Of course we do not wish to prejudge the case. We hope, for his own and for hiswife's sake, that he can completely refute the heavy accusation laid to his charge, and that he will do so at the earliest opportunity. But we have no hesitation in declaring that if the Prince of Wales is an accomplice in bringing dishonor to the homestead of an English gentleman; if he has deliberately debauched the wife of an Englishman; if he has assisted in rendering an honorable man miserable for life; if unbridled sensuality and lust have led him to violate the laws of honor and of hospitality—then such a man, placed in the position he is, should not only be expelled from decent society, but is utterly unfit and unworthy to rule over this country or even sit in its legislature."
"THE PRINCE OF WALES IN THE DIVORCE COURT.
The great social scandal to which we have frequently alluded, has now become blazoned to the world through the instrumentality of the Divorce Court. Nothing was left undone that might hush it up, so that the Prince of Wales' name should not figure in so discreditable a business. Every effort was made to silence Sir Charles Mordaunt. A peerage was, we believe, offered him. Any place of emolument he asked for would willingly have been given him. All the honors and dignities the crown and government have it in their power to bestow would readily have been prostituted to insure his silence. Lord Penzance, at the last moment, earnestly strove to keep the name of the Prince from coming before the public. Sir Charles Mordaunt, however, was deaf to every persuasion, and, like a noble minded man and high spirited gentleman, scouted all attempts to shut his mouth; and, with contemptuous indifference to the entreaties of the judge, and disregarding the course adopted by his own counsel, at once told the whole story of his supposed dishonor, without blinking facts or concealing names. He told the court that he forbade his wife continuing her acquaintance with the Prince of Wales on account of his character. He intimated to the Prince that his visits should cease. He, however, alleges that, despite this intimation, they were surreptitiously continued; that letters of a compromising character were found; and that other circumstances occurred leading him to suppose that an improper intimacy existed between, the Prince and his wife. It should be borne in mind that when all this is said to have occurred the Prince of Wales was a married man himself, and the father of a family. The question, therefore, remains to be solved, is he an adulterer or not? Can he disprove the apparently damnatory allegations of Sir C. Mordaunt? Of course we do not wish to prejudge the case. We hope, for his own and for hiswife's sake, that he can completely refute the heavy accusation laid to his charge, and that he will do so at the earliest opportunity. But we have no hesitation in declaring that if the Prince of Wales is an accomplice in bringing dishonor to the homestead of an English gentleman; if he has deliberately debauched the wife of an Englishman; if he has assisted in rendering an honorable man miserable for life; if unbridled sensuality and lust have led him to violate the laws of honor and of hospitality—then such a man, placed in the position he is, should not only be expelled from decent society, but is utterly unfit and unworthy to rule over this country or even sit in its legislature."