The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-22
JOLLITY OF ENGLISH HIGH LIFE

The following pleasant peep at English do
mestic life is extracted from a letter written BIZ
an officer of the frigate Merrimac, when she Law
at southampton, in October We find it in the
Washington (N C( Lp,rynal:
Much attention has been paid us ashore.
too, especially by two families-one. that of an
old East India General; the other, that of Lord
Hardwlcke. General Frazier has passed most
OF his lite IN India. and now lives in ease and
comfort on the Southampton Water. At din
ner at his house we had an opportunity Of see
ing how the aristocracy here live. Lord Hard.
woke and family and several other guests were
there to meet us, and everything was in salen-
ala style. One turbaned Indian, with several
otner servants, waited at the table. The plate
was superb, and the dinner the most rcclercEr.
We sat down to the table at -. These are al
ways epaulette and sword occasions.
Lord Hardwiclle's family consists Of his
Countess, his eldest son, (about Is or 20. and
Lord Royston, by courtesy,) three OF the finest
looking daughters you ever saw, and several
younger sons. The daughters-Lady Ella.
beth, Lady Mary, and Lady Agnjta-are sur
passlnely beautiful; such development such
rosy cheeks, laughing eyes. and unaffected
manners, you rarely see combined. They take
great deal Of outdoor exercise. and c..ra
aboard the Merrimac in q heavy rain. with
Irish thiCkersoled shoes than Won or I ever
wore, and cloaks and dresses almost imperyi
Gus to wet They steer their fathers Yacht.
walk the Lord knows how many miles. and
don't care cent about rain, besides doing a
host OF other things that would shock cur ladies
to death: and yet in the parlor are tie most
elegant women in their satin shoes and dia.
Inonds / ever saw.
line Countess, IN her coronet oC Jewels. is al
Her. Mt lafl
three such women. His Lcrdship has given us
three or four dinners. He lives here merely
during the yachting seastu, and leaves here on
Friday, for his country seat at Cambridre.
where he spends his winter, as do al English
gentlemen of means, hunting, Ne, and when
Parliament IS IN session lie lives in London, IN
his town house. Here be has q host of ser
wants, and they wear the clsudiest livery-whi:e
coats with big silver buttons, white cravafs.
plush knee-bTeeche5 aud vest, white silk STOCK
lngs, and low shoes. Lord Iardwickg's br1ll
or Is Dean Of York, a high church dignitary ::
has two pretty daughters, and is himself q ioiv
gentleman.
"After dinner, the ladies' play aud sins. for
US, and the other night l-ey got up : game C.
blind mans rui, IN which the ladies said ST..
had the advantage, iE:.srrch as iheir petit
coats rustled SO that they were easily caught.
They call things by their names hero. In the
course OF the game, Lord Hardwicke himself
was DlInd!olded, and, trying 10 catch some one.
fell over his daughters Tap on the floor, wha-.
two or three of the girls caught him by the les
and dragged his lordship roaring with lau,h-
ter, as we all were-ou his back INTO the mid
die OF the floor. Yet they are perfectly respect
ful, but appear on a perfect equality with each
other. In fact, the English are q great people.
Two clubs here have offered us the use Of Their
rooms"