Volume 1

The Farington diary / edited by James Greig.

  • Joseph Farington
Date:
[1922?-1928]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Farington diary / edited by James Greig. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Hopetoun,* who inherited it from the Marquiss of Annandale, but He found it necessary to dispose of this as well as several other valuable estates in this Country to the amount of £100,000, besides which He sold in other parts not far distant estates which produced him £90,000 more, so heavy were the burdens & great his debts. He is much regretted as a Landlord by those who were his tenants as He was indulgent & kind to the greatest degree. * George IV. in Scotland.—Lady Dorothea Hope, South Park, Bodiam, Sussex, having read with great interest the Farington Diary, sent to the Morning Post the following letter referring to the Knighthood given to Sir H. Raeburn by King George IV. at Hopetoun House, South Queensferry, on August 30, 1822 : Copy of a Letter to Miss Pringle of Yair, from her sister Susan, the wife of Robert Scott Mon- CRIEFF, Yr. OF NEWHALLS, DESCRIBING THE VISIT TO HOPETOUN OF GEORGE IV. WHEN HE CAME TO EDINBURGH in August, 1822. Newhalls, August 30, 1822. My Dearest Margaret, On Wednesday we went out after dinner to the “ Royal Sovereign ” Yacht. It was about two miles from South Queensferry and we had a lovely sail. It was the late King’s yacht, and I never saw anything more comfortable. There was a dining-room, a bedroom, and a state-room, furnished with sofa chairs and sofas covered with crimson damask, the wainscoating being richly gilded. Our mortification was great yesterday, when upon looking out in the morning, we saw an Eastern haur * and heavy rain. Aunt Stark with a coachful arrived to breakfast, that she might go to see the King embark at Port Edgar, a little harbour near Hopetoun. Our Invitation was for the grounds at Hopetoun, where we knew a cold collation was prepared for four hundred of the gentry. The tenantry had the grounds in front of the house allotted to them. We hesitated whether or not we should go at all, but at last we decided to drive up at least, and to return if we found that we were not to be under cover, and it was well we went for we had a noble day of it. We found the Saloon, the large drawing-room and the dining-room reserved for His Majesty. The libraries and the garden parlour were open to us, so as we found every one admitted, we proceeded, and there met all the neighbours, and a good many Edinburgh acquaintances, so it was just like a rout. Lady Hopetoun is not strong yet, and did not come down till the King came, so we just received one another, and bemoaned the weather. At last the hall was opened, part of the Archers were admitted, and we hurried to get near the door that we might see Lord Hopetoun receive the King, who had called at Dalmeny in passing. So we stood until I was nearly exhausted with fatigue, as there were no seats but the heads of busts ! Scarlet cloth was laid for the King to walk upon, and a passage was cleared for him from the great door to the door of the saloon upon the right. Each side of this passage was lined by His Lordship’s sons, nephews, and a few nieces; there were above four and twenty children, nicely dressed. I think eight were His Lord¬ ship’s sons ! I stood just behind them, and was amused by their anxiety to keep their line, like a General’s sons. The youngest, a pretty little boy of about four years old, was so overcome with the grandeur of the thing and the firing of the Cannon that he turned sick, and had to be sent away. At last the music announced the King’s approach. Lord Hopetoun went to the Carriage, and led him up the front stair. Lady Hopetoun had come out of the saloon, beautifully dressed, looking very pale and shaking a little, but quite possessed of herself. She stood surrounded by her sons, and Lord H. presented her to the King. He smiled very sweetly, took her hand and hoped that she was getting strong, and that his visit might not hurt her ; then giving her his arm they went to the saloon followed by all the grandees. The tenantry before the House rent the air with their acclamations, and we returned to the garden parlour ; by this time it was quite fair and clearing up. The Archers were shooting at a mark, the fountains were playing, and the music by the band was delightful. Sir Alexander Hope then came and requested all the ladies to follow him to the saloon, so we were ranged on each side of it when the King came out, and Lord Hopetoun called for Captain Fergusson. He walked up the middle of the saloon, and knelt before the King who laid his sword upon his shoulder, gave him his hand, and raised him up “ Sir Adam Fergusson ” ! Mr. Raeburn then went through the same ceremony, after which the King gracefully put his sword in its scabbard, smiled good-humouredly upon us, and returned to the drawing-room. I was told that he there asked to see little Lady Alicia. She was brought to him and he kissed her—so she has been early presented. We all went to the libraries, where we had an excellent collation of everything that was good and rare. While we were eating we were told to hasten to the hall, as the King was just going away, so we went, and saw him into his carriage. Lord H. and several others followed him down to Port Edgar, where Aunt Stark had been waiting some time. There were not many people there, and she with her nymphs stood close to the platform upon which the King walked to his barge by which he was conveyed to his yacht. We then all returned home, where our flags were flying on the roof of the house to which we went up, and we all cheered as we saw the King pass in his yacht. The two Wares joined us at dinner, so we had a large party. The Salisbury Green party went home at night, except Aunt Stark and Mary who go to-morrow. Adieu dearest M. I am tired of writing, and perhaps you are tired of reading, so with kind love to all. I remain your very affectionate Sister— Susan Scott Moncrieff. * Scotch mist. [Apart from the general interest of this letter, it tells us for the first time where Raeburn was knighted. His fellow-artists entertained him to a public dinner to celebrate the honour conferred on him by George IV., who, by the way, was the first King to visit Scotland after the Union of Parliaments.—Ed.] VOL. I. 22