The Highland Lady In Ireland. Elizabeth Grant
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Moore after all is but an Irishwoman—uneducated, selfish, peremptory, unfeeling to those beneath her; she is a fair sample of her countrywomen—pleasant and ladylike in the drawing-room and the less that is known of her out of it the better.
17. I write here, my little girls, to let you see the evil consequences of want of propriety in the conduct of a mistress of a family towards her servants. You will be, I hope, too well brought up to find like poor Mrs. Moore any pleasure in the gossip of a servant; these undereducated persons are of course apt to quarrel among themselves. And be lenient in judging of them. Do not expect from uncontrolled tempers the same patience strict discipline has I hope produced in yourselves, nor imagine that uninstructed people can perform their duties as conscientiously as you would do. But endeavour by strictness and kindness to induce them to serve you well—teach them to improve themselves by your example and by your advice and by your assistance. Good books, a kind though serious reproof, and above all family prayer properly followed up will effect this in all who are worthy of remaining with you.
I do not know any part of an Irishwoman’s character that so ill bears to be scrutinised as her conduct towards her dependants generally—her servants in particular. She is capricious with her tradespeople, and exacting, and bargain-making—almost unknown to her husband’s tenants—of very little use to the poor—very fine in her own person—very niggardly in her own house—treating her servants as in other countries people do not treat dogs and her governess as no other lady would treat a servant. All the fault of education, the evils of which of course descend, rendering the lower order of Irish generally as unworthy of confidence as the upper are of intimacy. At present with the exception of Tulfarris the Hornidge family home I know of neither ladies nor gentlemen in Ireland—and even there I am not thoroughly satisfied.
18. Queen opened parliament in person with a sad silly speech—things of importance hardly touched on—about the weakest ever uttered of all those unmeaning productions. Great fears of the Chartists doing mischief in London. I can just remember walking on Windsor Terrace when a very little girl, and my brother William at school at Eton to see the old King George iii with Queen Charlotte. How much per cent has the value of royalty fallen since those days and like enough to get down to zero before very long if this silly girl has not fixed on a wise husband. We all seem tired of the folly of such a Court, really a disgrace instead of the blessing it might be.
19. Found the Doctor at home in sad distress at Mrs. Moore’s discreditable conduct. Made me promise not to whisper it even—seemed delighted I had burned her notes. Indeed I will try to forget them thinking perhaps I have judged her unfairly by a standard with which she is perfectly unacquainted, viz: the feelings of an English lady, and then her father one of the profligate though brilliant set that shone when neither religion nor morality was in fashion, her mother not to be mentioned in the line with the word lady, and herself very much spoiled by family flattery before marriage, a husband’s folly after, and too clever often to meet with an equal among her own sex; naturally of an arrogant temper, selfish and under-educated—a really fine character that has been irreparably injured.
There is such an evil spirit abroad, in all the manufacturing districts especially that it is impossible not to dread future events, and the links which used to connect the different ranks of society together have been so rudely cut asunder by the haughty bearing of the aristocracy of birth that very unkind feelings have been created between classes which might have been mutually agreeable and together most useful to the community at large. A little of the Highland manners would have done more for the good of the empire than people are perhaps aware. Who ever there thinks less of the purest blood in Europe because the hand of the highly-born is extended to every fellow creature—his table open to every person of respectability—his assistance at the command of every individual round him? All his dependants known to him by name—their well-being as much his object as that of his own family. When did anyone hear of Radicals in the Highlands? Are there any Chartists there? And where can be found such a society of gentlemen as among her chiefs and nobles. There was nothing struck me so remarkably when I first came here as the tenants marrying their children—setting them up in different trades, etc. without ever saying one word about it to their landlord. It went through their whole conduct—we were to them only the receivers of a much grudged rent. It has been my endeavour faithfully pursued through many discouragements to establish a more affectionate intercourse between us. I have certainly succeeded in a great degree—time is acting for me—and I hope you, my dear children, will assist in accomplishing the good work which will provide you with humble but true friends, and give my little Johnny an improving tenantry.
21. Mr. O’Connell telling unblushing falsehoods as usual and using language in the House such as he uses to his mobs—called to order even by the Speaker. What a disgrace to have him and his tail in a British House of Commons—an assemblage once of gentlemen.
25. Little Post girl came for the little bundle we had made up for her to help her on her way to Australia—the poor thing was going with one shift, one frock, etc. I told her what she would most want. She is a wise girl—a friendless orphan will do better there than here.
28. Janey and I walked through all the mud to school— twenty-seven children all clean and happy looking; boys reading—girls at work—three sewing beautifully. Called at Judy [Ryan’s], found it all filthy, house, people, children and pig! Poor Sarah, if she does take the vacant room there she surely will not stay long with such a crew and so nasty.
31. Most beautiful day. What a fine winter. For these windy storms do incalculable good. They dry the ground— drive away fever—clear the air of all the miasma our damp Autumns generate. All the people busy with their manure preparing for the potato planting. Thus ends the first month of my Diary. All of us in health. Children improving—dear Hal happy with plenty of the active business he likes on his hands, and by good management money enough to carry on his improvements gradually. Though far from rich we are perfectly independant. We live comfortably—can afford to keep all neat about us—can see our friends in all hospitality—can give a little way—can assist many—and have the hope of bringing up our dear children in the station we hold ourselves—probably the happiest in our mixed society—above want—below parade—leaving us at liberty to enjoy the quiet domestick life that suits us best. With a grateful heart do I acknowledge these many blessings. May God Almighty keep me as I strive to be, humble. ‘Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.’
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1. Hal after the fox-hounds, I busy preparing for the new laundry maid, much annoyed at the loss of things mostly by carelessness and the very improper habits of these lawless Irish replacing what they have wantonly destroyed by the very first available article they can lay their hands on. Such as the ironing blankets disappearing and without a word to me, a good set of blankets taken off a bed to be scorched to tinder. A poker broken, a common iron poker, never mentioned, but a cut steel one from the best bedroom brought down immediately and burned so black that there it must now remain. Fifty things of like nature making it so troublesome to keep house in Ireland, as unless the mistress sees to every individual order being executed she need not take the trouble to give one. She must be herself a servant to keep up order. I am sorry to be obliged to have this fourth maid but I cannot help it, they are all so slow, so bewildered, so ignorant that one is forced to have double the necessary number, of course they can neither be so well fed, so well paid, nor is the work so well done as where there are fewer.
2. Read the debate on the Irish side of affairs to Hal, most extremely interesting, nobody spoke well on the Ministerial side. Lord Stanley again! the only man who did not blink the ‘no popery’ cry, tolerating most liberally, nay more, willing to employ useful men of any creed in proper places, but never forgetting that we are a Protestant country with a Protestant Government and a Protestant sovereign.
3. Poor Widow Bankes came for some little presents. Do you remember, Janey and Annie, how frightened you were of this poor half crazy woman, and how Mama cured you by making her a sort of pet, giving you clothes for her, and letting you give her a dinner sometimes, little foolish girls, were you not?
End of the great Debate. Sir Robert Peel so very fine, honest, open, manly, straightforward constitutional