The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-06
DIARY OF A LADY OF QUALITY.
RemiRiscenceS Of walter scott, Mrs.

the "lady" in question being Miss Frances
Williams Wynn, who was the daughter of Sir
Watkin Williams Wynn (tho fourth baronet) and
Charlotte, daughter Of George Grenvle First
Lord Of the Treasury, 1868 TO 1863; and had for
uncles the first Marquis Of Buckingham, Lord
Gronyille, ana the Right Hon. Thomas GrenvilIe.
Miss Wynn was an accomplished, kindly lady,
who, during her long life, from 1880 10 1857, had
ample opportunity for storing up lively gossip Of
notable peTsonages aud events aud we find chit
chat about memorable ghosts aud ghost stories
which excited or amused our grandiathers; Of
Napoleon, kean, Junius, Louis Philippe, Sir
Waiter Scott Cannibalism i'm Sumatrl, the Old
Woman Of Dcamero Forest, Balloons, Magic,
Queen Anne, Lady Morgan, Wellington, MARI
borough, Macready, the PrCtcndCr, George III
and Queen Victoria.
Here is an allusioDIto "sr Walter :--"
"ArRiL, lSO7.-Mr. Scott, the author Of the
lay told us some curious border histories. We
were much pleased with the conclusion Of tho
history Of Wat Tynn. When he was grown old
and blind, one of the agents Of the Lady Of Brank
some, in her absence, called upon him for the
rent OF q small tower which he Inhabited, part Of
which is standing TO this day. Wat inccnsed, re-
piled he never had paid rent, would he at that
age. At last he delivered his bow 10 the steward
and said he would pay the man who could draw
that bow the bow was certainly tried, but we will
hope that the lady would never have Obliged
such man TO pay his rent. However, certain ii
Is that some vain attempts were made 10 draw his
T.
Scott spoke Of one story which might
make an excellent ballad, but he said he
could not write il, rs to do 1t Justice
much humor, a quality he never possessed.
was required. Scott of Harden one Of his ances-
tors, was famous border thief, and at Outltime
when he had either spoiled the neighbOring Eng
llsh OF all their cattle or bad frightened them all
away, he began to fear that from disuse he might
become less expert at the honorable trade he pur-
sued and, to keep his hand iu amused himself
with driving the cattle of one of his own COun-
trymen and ncighbOrs, Murray of Elibank, an
ancestor of the present Lady Eibank. Murray
soon found means Of reyenging himself, and
brought Scott, his followers, his cattle, &C., all
prisoners TO Elibank Castle, ROn tthe walls
was sitting his wife, who, perceivng the train that
followed him, asked what he meant TO do with
Scott why, hang him, to be sure was the
answer. The more prudent wife exclaimed -
What hang such n winsOme mamie as Harden,
when we have three such sorry damsels at home ?
Murray was persuaded by his wife, and sending
for one Of his daughters, whose ugly face and
immense mouth had acquired her the name of
Mag Omoulh Murray, proposed TO Scott 20 marry
her, leaving him no other alternative but haltep
Ibe unfortunate prisoner most ungallautly re-
fused the lady and the tradition says that ii was
not till the rope was tied to the tree, and he began
to feel il tighten, that he repented. lie was mar
ried, and sorrowfully bent his steps homewards,
taking with him his ugly wife,
Another little memorandum aboutthe Wizard
of the North -"
"My uncle gave me curious account Of the
introduction Of Mr.. Scott to the Princess of Wales.
Mrs. Hayman, in sending the invitation to my
uncle (LOrd Grenyillc), added personal request
that he would come early to protect the poet (for
as such only was he KNOWN, who she believed
would not know any one other guest. Scott ar
rived late W only presented to the Princess just
before she went TO dinner, at table his place was
of course far removed from her, and little if any
conversation took place between them. Very
soon after the gentlemen came up from dinner,
Princess | "a
great collection of stories which you tell remark
ably well; pray let us hear one. without any
disclaiming speeches, without hesitation, almost
without delay, Scott began. Madam, there was
once &C. The story was much applauded; an
otner was called for and followed with equal
facility"
MRS. sIDDoNs.
In speaking of this celebrated woman, Miss
Wynn is rather critical -
"Mrs. Siddons in her prime is certainly
bright recollection, but did not feel for her act
ing quite the enthusiasm that most people pro-
tudes were fine and graceful, but they always
seemed to me the result of study; not like Miss
ONeil, who always was graceful merely because
She could not help 10, because IL was impossible
to throw those beautifully formed limbs and
especially that neck, into any position that was
not beautiful. At the same time l must say,
in Isabel aud in Jane Shore Miss ONril |
struck me as very inferior indeed to Mrs. Sid |
horror which made my blood tinge at my |
fingers end. ] was melancholy, and that was !
all. Miss O'Nei had sense enough TO refuse !
the character Of Lady Macbeth conscious that |
her powers were inadequate to it, | never saw |
Mrs SddOns with good Macbeth for Kemble |
| never reckOned tOlerable; nor did feel knew |
what the character was until / heard Mrs. Sid |
dons read the play. Certainly in that reading, |
some speeches of Macheth's' and almost the |
whole OF the witches were the parts that struck
me most. Probably Lady Macbeth" however
excellent, had, by frequent repetition, lost some
Of her power certainly ii telt) in that part Mrs.
Siddons could no longer surprise me. Yes, she
did, though. / looked with impatience for the
grand sleep walking scene and thought would
take advantage of my position, which was very
near her, TO watch the fine fixed, CLASSY glare
which she cOntrived to give 10 her eyes. Alas!
that was quite gone. Whether the dmnutiOn of
the natural fire of the eye prevented this effect
or whether the muscles were grown less flexible
from age and want of constant practice, know
not, but feel quite certain of the fact. lt struck
me when saw her once more, in one Of her fire.
quent re.appearances, act Lady Macbeth" on
the opera stage. Then my pleasure in seeing her
was Increased by my delight in Watching the
effect she produced on the very eloquent though
plain countenaucc OF Madame de S,ael who sat
in the staRe-boN, literally wrapped up in tne per-
fOrmanCo'
MACREADY.
Ofths actor Miss Wynn says -
FEmUARY TO- 1851 saw last night
MaCCady in King Lear, aud little expected in
the present degraded state of the stage to
see any performance that would give me such
pleasure. First ut all, it is Shak,speares 'Lear;