| Notes |
- In The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay, Volume 1, Fanny Burney wrote…
"Lady Ladd; I ought to have begun with her. I beg her ladyship a thousand pardons–though if she knew My offence, I am sure I should not obtain one. She is own sister to Mr. Thrale.
She is a tall and stout woman, has an air of mingled dignity and haughtiness, both of which wear off in conversation. She dresses very youthful and gaily, and attends to her person with no little complacency. She appears to me uncultivated in knowledge, though an adept in the manners of the world, And all that. She chooses to be much more lively than her brother; but liveliness sits as awkwardly upon her as her pink ribbons.
In talking her over with Mrs Thrale who has a very proper regard for her, but who, I am sure, cannot be blind to her faults, she gave me another proof to those I have already of the uncontrolled freedom of speech which Dr. Johnson exercised to everybody, and which everybody receives quietly from him.
Lady Ladd has been very handsome, but is now, I think, quite ugly–at least she has the sort of face I like not. she was a little while ago dressed in so showy a manner as to attract the doctor's notice, and when he had looked at her some time, he broke out aloud into this quotation:
"With patches, paint, and jewels on, Sure Phillis is not twenty-one But if at night you Phillis see, The dame at least is forty-three!"
I don't recollect the verses exactly, but such was their purport.
"However," said Mrs. Thrale, "Lady Ladd took it very good- naturedly, and only said, 'I know enough of that forty-three?I don't desire to hear any more of it.'"
|
Search | Advanced Search | Search Families | Search Site
1733 - 1802 (69 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
