Page:English laws for women in the nineteenth century.djvu/115

103 ''Ryde, and from Wonersh; and she resolutely refused to guarantee me against similar attempts, her object evidently being by every means and pretence to excite public sympathy on the subject of the children, and for which I gave her no grounds. I was responsible for their maintenance and education, and I dreaded her intention of taking them abroad. I therefore ultimately sent them to my sister's, Lady Mensies, in Scotland, providing them with a tutor; they were thence sent to Dr Buckland, at Laleham; thence the two eldest went to Eton; and the poor youngest died of lock-jaw, resulting from a mere scratch on the bone of his elbow by a fall from his pony. He died at Kettlethorp, my place in Yorkshire, and the moment the first symptoms of lock-jaw and of danger were discovered, I sent immediately for Mrs Norton, but she arrived not until after he had expired.''

Both my elder sons stayed some years at Eton, and then Fletcher went to Lisbon as attaché, with an outfit that cost me upwards of 400l. and an allowance of 300''l. per annum, which he enjoys up to this moment. Fletcher was ill at Lisbon, and Mrs Norton took Brinsley out there, removing him from Eton against the advice of Mr Coleridge, Ms tutor, and myself. I had much difficulty in getting him back to England, when I placed him with a private tutor, Mr Heatly, to whom I paid 200l. per annum to prepare him for college. He then went to University College, Oxford, and, although I gave him an outfit, and allowed him 250l. per annum, the utmost sum Dr Plumtre advised, and which sum was afterwards increased, he got into such difficulties that he is living abroad, and I am now at an expense for his support and maintenance there. In addition to these allowances, I have sent money at various times to Lisbon, Germany, and Italy, for the support of my sons. My house has always been open to receive them; and they have not unfrequently availed themselves of it as a home. During their whole lives I have paid for their clothing, schooling, and support, with the exception of their viands at those periods when they have''