Lady Cowper's Diaries February 1715/1716

Drawing by John Charnock c.1780

To listen to the audio clip, click play on the bar below the image on the right.

14th February 1715

The Princess told me that my Lord Halifax had been with her & had justified himself very much to her satisfaction. There was a drawing room in the evening, & the Duchess of Roxburgh told the Countess of Piquebourg there, that the play the Princess was to go to the next day was such a one as no body could see with a good reputation. It was the wanton wife. I had seen it once, & I believe there were few in town had seen it so seldom, for it us’d to be a favourite play, and often bespoke by the Ladys. I told this to the Princess who resolv’d to venture going to it upon my character of it.  

15th February 1715

This night being in waiting I went to the Play with my mistress, & to my great satisfaction, she lik’d it as well as any play she had seen, & it certainly is not more obscene than all Comedys are. It were to be wish’d our stage were Chaster & I can’t but hope now it is under Mr Steele’s direction that it will mend.    

13th February 1716

I staid at home all day with my Lord who is very ill. I was to dine at Baron Bernstorff’s but excus’d myself because I was ill. The Ladys that were there came here in the afternoon, Mademoiselle Schutz a very unreasonable body, would take no hints that I wish’d to be alone but took a pleasure in staying because I was uneasie at it. I wonder that People of no consequence dare take such libertys with those, that don’t use them. She presumes to make herself Mistress of the World, & to use every body that has not as much assurance as herself as if she had a right to make them do the most contrary things in the world to their inclination.  

14th February 1716

The news was confirm’d yesterday the Pretender is gone. I have had a letter from Mademoiselle Schutz to offer to come & stay with me all day. I thank her for nothing. I had too much of her impertinence last night. I answered her with writing to her that I should be glad to see her any other time, but now my Lord was so ill I had resolved to shut myself up with him, & that I was sure that no body that was really my friend, would take it ill of me that I gave all my time to a husband to whom I ow’d so much, & who stood so much in need of my assistance.  

17th February 1716

The Duchess of Marlborough came in the Evening, I saw her tho’ I was very ill. She says the Duchess of Roxburgh is the greatest Enemy that either my Lord or I have: the Duchess of Roxburgh certainly is an ill woman. She does not care what she says of any body to reak her malice of revenge.