Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 1.djvu/22

 NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. i. JAN. i, 1910.

See Camden's ' Britannia, 1 ed. 1722, vol. ii. cols. 1279-80).

In Thomson's 'Poetical Works,' edited by Robert Bell, 1855, vol. ii. p. 151, "Betu- bium's highest peak" is said to be a pro- montory called Cape St. Andrew.

J. HOIJDEN MACMlCHAEL.

There is a place on the north coast of Sutherlandshire, where the river Naver empties itself into the sea, which still goes by the name of Bettyhill, a name certainly suggestive of an origin from Betubium, if such a word was ever prevalent.

J. FOSTER PALMEB. 8, Royal Avenue, S.W. [MR. WALTER SCOTT also thanked for reply.]

LADY WORSLEY (10 S. xii. 409). In response to the request of your correspond- ent I give the imaginary epitaph upon Lady Worsley from ' The Abbey of Kilkhampton " A CENOTAPH.

Raised to the lovely, yet ungentle Lady W

of rebellious Memory, Wight's envied Boast. Her Intrepidity was equalled only by her Address : She wished to make Sir R popular, and neglected

every other

Blessing, for the exemplary Purpose of accomplish- ing

the Object of her ambition.

The Sea-girt Isle, like that of Paphos, knew no other Divinity,

Than the blue-eyed Venus of A mbe.

The Voice, the Dance, the hearts of either Sex were

obedient

to the Despotism of her Desires : Even H. .m. s himself clung to her fair Image,

pictured in his

Eye, and (such was the Luxuriance of his creative Fancy ! )

Revelling in his Arms, while partook of less

imaginary Delights in the stolen Possession of

his fair D.

Antic Sports and frolicsome Felicity, Led on by the fair Sovereign of the Island, dwelt in

jocund State

Till the Return of General E ,

When, on Sir R 's being refused a Coalition of

Interests with

The Duke of C, Lady W took up the

Cudgels in her Husband's Cause, and annihilated his

Grace's

slender Existence at the first stroke. His M, charmed with her Spirit, created the beauteous

Amazon a P ss.

And the whole Body of our English Noblesse put

their Hands on their Hearts, and gave their Honor that her

Ladyship

was only guilty of Manslaughter. Sir Richard Worsley, of Appuldurcomb, Isle of Wight, and M.P. for Newport, married 21 Sept., 1775, Seymour Dorothy,

daughter of Sir John Fleming, Bt., of Brompton Park, Middlesex, and had a son and a daughter, who both died unmarried. On 21 Feb.; 1782, Sir Richard brought an action for crim. con. against George Maurice Bissett, but, collusion being suspected, he was awarded only one shilling damages. A report of the trial, which caused a great sensation in the fashionable world, can easily be procured.

On 14 March, 1782, Gillray published a caricature of the incident, called ' Sir Richard Worse than Sly, ? which is described in Wright and Grego's ' Works of James Gillray,' p. 33. In the Print-Room at the British Museum are the following other satirical engravings :

1. Lady Worsley dressing in the Bathing-house. Feb., 1782.

2. The Maidstone Bath ; or, The Modern Susannah. March 12, 1782.

3. The Maidstone Whim. 8 March, 1782.

4. A Peep into Lady Worsley's Seraglio. 29 April, 1782.

5. The Shilling; or, The Value of a P[riv]y C[ouncillo]r's Matrimonial Honour. 18 Feb., 1782.

Several poems and pamphlets were written about the case, such as :

1. The Whim ! ! ! or, The Maidstone Bath. A Kentish Poetic. Dedicated to Lady Worsley. 4to, Is. Qd. Williams.

2. Variety ; or, Which is the Man ? A Poem. Dedicated to Lady W si y. 4to, Is. Swift.

3. An Epistle from L y W y to Sir R d W y, Bart. 4to, Is. Wright.

4. A Poetical Address from Mrs. N[ewto]n to L. .y W y. 4to, Is. ' Swift.

Naturally, the newspapers were full of allusions to the case during 1782. I append references :

Morning Herald.

Fri., Feb. 22. Report of trial.

Sat., Feb. 23. Paragraph about Lady Worsley and Lord Deerhurst.

Thurs., March 7. Ditto.

Mon., April 22. Lady Worsley at Pantheon masquerade.

Mon., May 13. Ditto.

Tues., May 21. Lady Worsley and Mrs. New- ton.

In August, 1783, The Rambler's Magazine says that Lady Worsley is at Spa, and in April, 1785, announces that she has returned from the Continent. In December, 1786, The Morning Post speaks of her as attracting much attention in Paris ; and in May, '1787, The World describes her as " living in poverty " in France.

On 26 Sept., 1788, The Morning Post contains this paragraph :

" Lady Worsley is in Brighton with the Marquis St. George. She looks as well as regards beauty as ever, and is still first in all equestrian exercises."