A Letter From the Duke of Rutland

John Henry Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland

From the Duke of Rutland to Lady Shelley

Belvoir Castle, November 26, 1825.

My Dear Lady Shelley,

“So, at length you have deigned to notice me, and to remember that you had such a friend in existence! I know not how many months it is since I wrote my last letter to you; and I was trying to recollect whether it contained aught which could have affronted you, when your letter arrived to dispel all sombre suppositions from my mind, and to revivify me again with the cheering ray of your kind friendship, on which, believe me, I place a value of high (I may say highest) degree. At one time I thought you was treating me as you did at Burlington House, completely as a faute de mieux fellow; and that you was engaged in a more agreeable correspondence, perhaps with the very Duke who, on the occasion alluded to, drove me to the wall. Several times have I nearly been writing to you; but I have restrained myself, from the practice which I have of writing to you, Mrs. Fox, and a few other such highflown dames of fashion, only when I have received a letter from you. 1 do this from the idea that, till you write, you do not wish to hear from me. . . . You will hear from Shelley of all that passed during October. We were very merry at Cheveley. But to myself it was a most disastrous month, as far as gambling was concerned. I lost nothing terrifick on the turf; but the whist table really persecuted me! I shall be like Shelley, and give it up; at least all future high play. I mean to reduce my stake one-half, and my resolution is so fixed that I feel confident that it will not give way. … It is a sin that you should have Mazeppa (a horse) in your possession, and not bring him here to show his perfections to an admiring field! But Mazeppa goes out to a disadvantage under you, since he gets robbed of a considerable part of the admiration he would, under other circumstances (Jest a dire, under another person’s pressure) attract. It is a case in which ‘the horse and is rider’ must share by tallies, in admiration and applause. I have an admirable set of horses if I had nerves and head to ride them. Yet I entertain no doubt that Mazeppa would show a brilliant gem among them. Charles Thornton was asking after him last night. He has a monstrous opinion of him.

Belvoir Castle

“We are living entirely alone here; the Duchess has not been very well lately, and she wishes an interval of quiet, in order to recruit before the bustling time, a large society of Christmas, summon her to a re-exertion of strength. There is almost as much labour in directing the household concerns of a large party in a country house, as in guiding a hunter across a stony country in a mist. We have not yet allowed my two brothers (who are at Melton) to come to us. On December (?) I go to Beaudesert for a couple of days woodcock shooting, and when there I shall probably press forward for two nights to Willey. So you heard of the Anklet! We all agreed it was a beautiful, as well as a novel custom, and credit was given to the Columbus of it. It will very likely be the fashion next year in London, but there must be a curtailment of the flounces and furbelows, or it will be like the flower which springs to blush unseen. . . .

“You have my best wishes for your success in the important object relative to the diversion of the turnpike road. I can easily understand how great an improvement it will make to the comfort, the privacy, and the actual appearance of Maresfield. Nothing will give me greater pleasure than to visit you there; but I do not look so much to the pleasure of seeing the place, as of seeing its owner, and I beg that the success of your turnpike road diversion may not be the sine qua non of our visit to Maresfield! I trust that I shall also be able to congratulate you on the realisation of your golden dreams respecting the union of the Medway and the Ouse, and the consequent improvement in value of your property. Besides being an important object to you it would be a most important one to the country, for the causes which you ave detailed. Our lake here is just completed, and the water turned into it for a perpetuity a fortnight ago. It has all the effect which we wished, and expected, and does the Duchess’s conception and planning the highest credit. We are busily engaged in fitting up the large drawing-room, which I really think will be the handsomest room in the kingdom, as well as unique in its design. Twenty gilders are at this instant busily occupied at Knipton Lodge in preparing the parquets from Madame de Maintenon’s apartment in the Trianon, which are to form the fittings of the room, and they are superb. Our object was to have the room completed by New Year’s Day; but it is impossible.
Ever truly and affectionately yours,
Rutland

Christmas Ideas from the National Trust

When you are making up your Christmas list for yourself or for lucky giftees, you might want to take a look at the National Trust’s gift shop.

The historic Blewcoat School on Caxton Street in London is a to-die-for shop you won’t want to miss next time you are in London.  But if you can’t quite make it to London this holiday season, shop on line here.  There is something for everyone.

If you live in the US and travel to Britain, you should join the Royal Oak, the US support group for the National Trust. It will give you free admission to Trust properties, newsletters and magazines from both organizations, discounts on purchases, and a great deal of satisfaction.  I have often shown my Royal Oak membership card at a Trust stately home and received a big cheer from the volunteers.  “We love our Royal Oak members,” they always say.  Additional perks are invitations to special programs in major US cities by traveling lecturers and authors sponsored by the Trust and the Royal Oak — and some travel tours that sound brilliant. Or if you are in Britain or elsewhere, join the Trust. And memberships make great gifts too.

As you will see on their website, the Trust’s shops have a wide variety of books. The Christmas recipe collection above is on my list, for sure.

A few more selections… of 100’s.

Or you could choose a photo album and fill it with your own snapshots.

As seen in the examples above, the Trust sells magnificent prints, many by renowned photographers, suitable for framing.

The National Trust runs many shops both in cities and on their properties. They are always good for a browse.

Many popular items such as ceramic mugs and pieces of china compete with wonderful lotions and soaps, silk scarves and shawls, umbrellas and even hiking shoes.  Here are two more books I covet:

Could someone please contact Santa and give him my list?

Photos from the National Trust.

London Advent Calendar

I am devoted to Jacquie Lawson animated e-cards, for almost any occasion.  Jacquie (I feel like she is my friend!) has created two advent calendars to mark the 25 days leading up to Christmas 2011.

The panorama changes according to the time of day; London’s night lights are particularly lovely. Each day there is a new scene or story to enchant you and  kiddies of all ages.  Also available is a Village Advent Calendar.

Colorful and musical, these calendars are as charming as the Jacquie Lawson cards.  You really need to see the animations to get the full effect.  See the website here.

Joining the website is not expensive and you will have many choices of Christmas, birthday, Easter, Valentine and other holiday cards — British, Canadian and American.  All are accompanied by delightful sound tracks. 

It is certainly not too late to send Thanksgiving cards, such as the above Turkey created from bunches of vegetables.  Most of the cards can be sent almost instantaneously once you are registered, but obviously you have to take traffic into consideration for popular holidays.

Jacquie Lawson, above, lives in the village of Lurgashall in West Sussex.  She is a lady of a ‘certain age’ but has about the most youthful and creative mind I can imagine.  According to the story — nearly a legend by now — she created an animated Christmas card and sent it to 30 friends about a dozen years ago.  She got back thousands of responses — for everyone had forwarded it to their entire e-address book. From this modest beginning, her business has become wildly successful, sending millions of cards each year on behalf of members.

Among her most requested cards are those with her dog Chudleigh, a black lab, and his canine and feline friends.  Some of the cards are done as Pelmanism puzzles, favorites of many in the younger set.  You match pairs (as in the game Memory) and when you make a match, another section of the card is revealed.

Another favorite recurring figure is Teddy, who has many adventures indeed, and will bring greetings for almost any purpose — or none but a cheery hello.

Returning to the holidays fast approaching, check out Jacquie’s wonderful e-cards, screen-savers and note cards, just in case you still like to send actual paper cards, as I often do — though not often enough.

And as the days darken ever earlier — until the most welcome day of the year, the winter solstice — keep your days bright and merry with Jacquie’s creations.

Just so you know, this blog post is done unsolicited, without the knowledge of Jacqui Lawson — just a hint about something we enjoy and you might too.  Cheerio!

London Calling…

The New York Times book Review of Sunday, November 13, 2011, carried a review of a new book I need to add to my library: London Under: The Secret History Beneath the Streets by Peter Ackroyd.
To read the review, click here.

The book begins with a warning to tread carefully in the streets of London, for one is walking over the remains of tens of thousands over many centuries. It is no surprise to think of cities buried beneath us; that is true of many cities. But for London junkies like Kristine and Victoria, all other locations pale in comparison.
Author Peter Ackroyd (above, from The Guardian in 2008) has written dozens of books, many about London and its residents.  One of my favorites is London: The Biography, published in 2000. Beginning with pre-history, Ackroyd brings London’s story up to the Greater London of almost today, a metropolis that sprawls over a vast region. London Under tells about what is below, from the earliest races of human habitation along the river Thames to the constant expansion of the Underground, or as it is more affectionately known, the Tube. The chapter headings begin with “Darkness Visible” and run to “Deep Fantasies.”
Ackroyd’s biographies include such subjects as Chaucer, Shakespeare, William Blake, J.M.W. Turner, Charles Lamb, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, T.S. Eliot, and Ezra Pound.  Don’t you wonder what he does in his spare time? 

I seem to have missed Ackroyd’s 2007 book Thames: Sacred River, a situation I will have to remedy soon.  He has also written fiction, some sounding like fictional biography, a genre that has become increasingly popular lately.

Above, the story of Charles Lamb, written as a novel, published in 2004.  From what little I recall about Charles and his sister Mary, the truth is actually stranger than fiction.  But the story of the pair no doubt makes for a dramatic account of interesting aspects of the regency era.

I guess I have set us up for a lot of reading in the near future.  But as long as the topic is London, it is a labor of love.  Thanks, Mr. Ackroyd!

Above, my photos:  Seven Dials, 2010; The London Eye from Parliament, also 2010.

In Praise of Alan Rickman

Here in the US, Masterpiece on PBS recently presented The Song of Lunch  starring Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson.  A BBC dramatization of Christopher Reid’s poem, the program was unique, in my (Victoria, here) view.  Poetry.  On tv.  Brilliant acting. Emma.  And Alan. Sigh.

I consider myself a charter member of the Alan-Rickman-can-do-no-wrong Club. Though he has been cast in some unsavory roles, to me he is always a hero.  As “he” in The Song of Lunch, Rickman portrays a self-pitying character who meets a former lover (Thompson) in an unsuccessful encounter for which he had some unrealistic expectations.

By the way, Alan, I am available for lunch in Soho almost any time — just e-mail me right here. And figure in enough time for me to fly across the pond — and have my hair done.

Sad to say, I haven’t kept up with the character development of Severus Snape, the role that most young people will associate most with Rickman.  He was a villain early on, but I believe he evolved into a very good guy in Harry Potter’s world. 

Villain-wise, however, I choose the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1991 film Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.  There’s a dastardly fellow we can all love.  If we can stop laughing long enough.

And just about my favorite of Rickman’s many film roles is that of Col. Brandon in the 1996 version of Sense & Sensibility, a role that forever altered my view of Jane Austen’s first published novel. Until I saw — and heard — Rickman wooing Marianne and confessing to Elinor, I had felt only moderate interest in and compassion for Brandon.  But now I can never think of Brandon without seeing and hearing Alan Rickman.  Which makes Marianne’s obsession with the shallow Willoughby even more foolish — and her reluctance to immediately adore Brandon almost impossible to accept. That’s one of the drawbacks to watching filmed versdions of favorite novels, isn’t it?  Can anyone think of Darcy again without seeing Colin Firth?

I think I read that Rickman is bound for Broadway soon — so Alan, maybe we could have that luncheon in New York?  Just name that date!! 

I am expecting to have to arm-wrestle a few of our regular readers to win this encounter.  I’m ready!!

But wait, there’s  more!  Gambit will be coming out soon (?).  A remake of the 1966 Michael Caine/Shirley MacLaine caper film, this new version stars Alan Rickman, Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci and Cameron Diaz, among others.  The Coen Brothers are involved — but I couldn’t find a set release date. 2012 is all I found. Let’s hope it is as soon as possible!!