The daily union., 1852-12-25
EngIis h Obituary.


mouldering in vault at Houghton since the spring OF
l797 aud more than halt century aterat the close
OF so2s finally hushed the fascinating tongue that re
fused the proHered corone OF the pleasant letter writer
whom she really loved. The last male descendant OF
Sir Robert Walpole (eyery ones Horace Walpoie-no
ones Earl of Oford rendered sixty years since his title
to Mary Berry, and Mary Berry, after living TO charm
seventy years OF English society since, only week
ago ceased live. What thoughts and recoliec.ions
does such death awaken Miss Berry knew Horace
Wapole, and corresponded with him. and Horace
Wapole had La Belle jennings and kneio Pror's
Kitty little fancy throws us two cenu resback into
the last year Of the proeclorae, and headong into the
Trofigacies Of the restoration
Miss Bery-or rather Mary Beny-was the elder OF
the daughters OF Robert Berry, esq OF South Audey
msniormed. and certainly the disappointed heir law
OF uncle, who Unexpectedly left his wealth away from
him. The names OF the girls ere Mary and Agnes-or.
they called in society, Old Berry and Elder Ber
ry Mary even when Walpoe knew her, was mistress
OF Latin and Agnes II sald painted in water coors
well as LADY Di; and i she had taken 10 sculpture
would it thought Strawberry Hill and in South
Audley street, have nvalled the Hon. Mrs. Damar
When, and in what way, Wapoe became acquainted
with Miss Berry and her sister we have never heard
He first met them, we suspect, Lord S,rafords, al
Wentworth CASTLE in Yorkshire. Be this il may, he
met them before 1859. and was soon enamoured The
father may have had some expecances from the Lord OF
Strawberry and that this the may be fairly as
sumed from his allowing his daughters to correspond so
famrliarly with ororn antique of seventy one his
removal Of his dautes to Italy when the correspondence
was Incl easing and his final return Twckenh 10 be
within call OF the Prince of Letter Writer'S Walpoe
was fond OF his 1.-TWO wives,' as he called them, would
write and number his letters to them, and tell them stories
ten times the vivacy and mnuisness that he employed
telling similar stories 10 Pinkeron Darympe. The
ladies' listened, and II was Wslpole's Joy
Still with his f.~ori,o Berrys remain.
Delighted with what they heard, they began with notes
of what he told them; and soon induced him, by the
power Of Two female pleaders at his and IN his
favorite Tribune" 10 put in writing those charming
"Reminiscences the courts OF George the First and his
which Will continue read with long
English history il read In the opening sentence Of
his "Reminiscences Walpole tells the origin of his now
had greater pleasure" than 10 please both the ladies
So his contemporaries understood, and Cour,enay, some
what 10 his annoyance described him as one
Who to love tunes his note with the lire OF old age,
Aud ohifps the Trim lay in a trim gothic cage
alIuding 10 some rather mediocre which he
bad addressed his dear wives" and printed at his p
When Wapole died, he left to the Misses Berry, in
conjunction with their father, the greater part Of his
papers, and the charge of collecting and publishing his
works. The so-caed edition OF his works, which APP
peared in five volumes quaro was edited by the father,
who lived with his daughters at Twickenbam and al
South Audey street for some years alter Waipoes
death The father died very old at Genoa. in the
spring OF 1915 but the daughters lived in London. and
for upwards OF half century either IN South Aud
ley street, or 10 Curzon street. or al Richmond, twhn
sight OF Sawbery,) two generations OF literary men.
They love the society OF authors and OF people OF
and thought times (not uniruly) that they were The
means bringing about them more authors OF note
Monagu or the Countless OF Cork. or Lydia White her
self, had succeeded in drawing together
II would have been strange If Mrs Berry, with all her
love and admiration for Horace Wspole, bad escaped
the fate of being an authoress-an auhoress she was
though OF e note, and hot likely 10 be heard oil
such hereafter Her writings, OF very scattered and
unmporant character. collected by herself in 1874
into Two octave volumes. entitled, miscellaneously
enough, {" Enga land and France; Comparative View OF
the Social Condition OF both Countries, from the Resto
ration OF Charles the Second 10 The present lime; 10
which are now first added, Remarks on Lord Odords
Letters, the Life of The Marqa.se du Deand, the Llle Of
Rachael, Lady Russell; and fashionable Friends,
Comedy In these ".Miscellaoes" (ior by that name
should they have been caled) 10 be iound many
keen and correct remarks on society," and on men and
manners, with here and there dash OF old reading and
every now and then valuable observation or two on
the fashion and minute details OF the age IN which Wal.
pole lived. They will while away an hour agreeably
enough, bat will certainly no, maintain literary repu-
taon. rtsf+r
Miss Berry's last literary undertaking vndica
ton OF apoe from the sarcastic and not al ways cor
rect character Of him drawn by Mr. Macsuay in an article
IN the Edinburgh Review The lady shows her pln-
points well, but she is match for the dexerous wref
OF the Edinburgh, and her defence has little to recon
mend beyond The motive which induced her 10 under
take IT, OF far greater service TO Walpole and to literature
was the publication. IN 1870. for the fret time, Of The
sixty letters which Wapoe had addressed to herself and
her SISTER In his late years Walpole makes no better
appearance than he does his letters 10 Mary and Agne.
He seems TO have forgotten the gou and Chaerion Dr.
kppis and the Society OF Anuqnarss, and 10 have
written like an old longer .oured by the world,
but altogether IN love with what was good.
Miss Berry in her nlneueh year when she died,
and survived her younger sister about eighteen months
She is SAID TO have felt her sisters lo.s severely For
time she observed
To and take her solitary tea
but she rallied and continued TO cultivate the living
cicty of times, well as that vanished society
which she the Last to enjoy, and which
she has transmitted in Aesh and blood TO our own times
The society Of Waipole and his friend. Of Strawberry
Hill.
National Theatre.
oAspThe pleasure 10 announcing ha,
American comedian Mr. HAoEgrr visiting Wash
upon informed Of the and imporonae
In. .ll. .x.tHaG Ax I.xua La