When Tea was not Quintessentially English

When we think of tea we tend to think of England or even possibly China. China is where we credit the origin of tea but it wasn't until almost the 17th century that people began drinking it in Europe. The Dutch trade routes increased tea imports from China into Europe and people cautiously began to take an interest in the new hot beverage.

It was the many coffee houses that were strewn about England that got the British addicted to tea. Once the coffee houses introduced tea into their menu it became a big hit! Some say this was because tea was patriotic since it was harvested in British colonies unlike coffee. This popularity surge was actually a problem, believe it or not. King Charles II, anticipating the popularity of the newly imported good heavily taxed it so as to hinder its popularity. This tax reached its height by the middle 18th century when it was a whopping 119%. And you thought the colonists had it bad! This meant only the richest people could afford tea for their own home and everyone else was stuck scouring for a coffee house which sold their favourite beverage.

With the insane tea tax a new market emerged: the tea smuggling market. Dutch traders would smuggle tea in to England, and it would be sold at a cheaper price, but was still very pricey. Someone needed to put a stop to the tea madness. You may be surprised at who did. William Pitt introduced the Commutation Act in 1784, which dropped the tea tax down to a reasonable 12.5%, obliterating the smuggling market. Now tea could healthy grow into British culture as it had been trying to do for a century.

In the following century tea houses were introduced and it was Anna, Duchess of Bedford who would come to invent Afternoon Tea so as we could have a small meal to hold us over until supper. And of course there's the old favorite, Earl Grey, which graces many a teacup in the morning. The tea was named after Georgiana's old lover and the future prime minister. However, it remains a bit a mystery as to how the bergamot tea got its name seeing a Pitt really had nothing to do with it.

Tart of the Week: Hecca Sheridan

You could say that Hecca Ogle was Richard Brinsley Sheridan's retribution for being such a bastard to his first, and much sweeter wife, Elizabeth. Esther Jane Ogle, nicknamed Hecca, was born in 1776, the daughter of the Dean of Winchester. Her family tended to be involved in politics and move in the subsequent circles so it is likely there that the 43 year old playwright/politician first met the green-eyed eighteen year old.

Legend has it that upon their first meeting Hecca was all, "Ew go away!" and said that Sheridan was a "fright" and a "terrible creature" which of course just encouraged him all the more. At the time he was manic and depressed over rejection from Harriet Countess of Bessborough, so what better a time then to pursue a high-spirited teen. Eventually, his persistence paid off and Hecca began to say that he was "quite clever" despite being a "monster." Then Sheridan's star-quality began to dawn on her, perhaps this wouldn't be such a bad match after all. In 1794 she was in love and by 1795 they were married.

Hecca was not drop dead gorgeous but she was pretty. She also was young and had a wild side that appealed to a lot of men. Her dark features and green eyes along with her tall figure presented her as an exotic and mysterious creature that needed to be tamed. But taming was not in the works for this tart. The press began to take notice of how Sheridan's young wife's refusal to conform to the standards of a great man's wife. Yet, Sheridan was smitten and their son was soon born, with Charles Fox and Charles Grey as his godfathers. God forbid, anything happened to the Sheridans!

But things weren't to stay happy for long. Soon the arguments began. Hecca had no problem raising her voice against her Irish politician husband. She was disenchanted by her gloomy old husband who was fast becoming an alcoholic. She threatened to leave him and he begged her not to, all while thinking of Harriet. Hecca didn't leave him but she did move on to another; a man who just happened to be married to her own cousin, Charles Earl Grey.

At the time Georgiana and Grey had either reignited their affair or were good friends. Either way, Georgiana had put the past behind her and was ready to maturely move on. Grey himself, was not in love with her, yet couldn't stay away. But suddenly Grey began avoiding her altogether. This was due to Grey and Hecca hooking up. Hecca took no discretion, and once the affair reached the press, she flaunted it in Georgiana's face. I believe, after that, Georgiana finally realized Grey was just not worth it; but she still took the blow hard. Hecca relished in her victory. She would get hers later.

One night, Sheridan had drank himself into a stupor and Hecca feared for the worst. She sent for none other than Harriet who Sheridan was crying out for. Nervously, Harriet raced over at midnight. When Sheridan saw her he began apologizing for his awful treatment of her throughout the years and told her that he never loved anyone as much as her. Hecca was shocked and upset and interjected. Sheridan responded with, "My dear Hecca, you know I love you more than anyone else. Except her." When Hecca flew into a rage he merely responded, "Don't talk nonsense."

Hecca's remaining years were plagued by cancer. She perished prematurely at the age of 41, a year after her husband's death.

Devonshire Progeny: Eliza Courtney

Perhaps you are wondering whatever happened to Georgiana and Charles Grey's child, Eliza? As you may know, after the Duke of Devonshire discovered Georgiana's pregnancy he forced her into France to have the child, leaving her to wonder whether he would also divorce her. Luckily for Georgiana she had the benefit of being very loved and was accompanied by a rather large party consisting of Harriet and her husband and daughter Caroline, Lady Spencer, Bess and her daughter Caroline St Jules. However, Harriet's bad health caused all but Bess and Caro St Jules to remain with Georgiana at the time of her child's birth. Since Georgiana had such a bad history with pregnancies she was sure she would not survive this one. As she waited in anticipation of what was to come she wrote her will and goodbye letters to each of her children. Georgiana's letter to Hart was written in her own blood. It was made no secret to her children why their mother was away but the rest of England was told that their favourite celeb was going on vacay. On 20 February 1791 Charles Grey's first child was born and named Eliza (a name Bess liked) Courtney. She was then quickly taken away from her mother and placed in foster care until Grey's parents were ready to take her.

Eliza grew up as a little Cinderella in the Grey household. She was raised to believe that her father was actually her older brother and was ignored by her "parents." It seems as though the Greys resented little Eliza for her parents' error. Grey himself also seemed unattached to his child while Georgiana was heartbroken. She would act as Eliza's kind godmother who would occassionaly visit (when allowed) and give Eliza toys since no one else would. Georgiana would write to Eliza, once telling her a story about a little orphan girl who was restored to her loving mother (who was really alive) eventually. Humble little Eliza never got the hint.

I'm not sure when Eliza found out the truth of her parentage. But luckily her sad story has a happy ending. Eliza grew into a very likeable young lady. She was also very beautiful, moreso than her half-sisters. Her inner and outer beauty grabbed the attention of a Colonel Robert Ellice who fell in love and married Eliza, saving her from her miserable life with the Greys. Robert adored his wife and the remainder of Eliza's life was happy. Georgiana's (legitimate) children kept in contact with Eliza who seemed to always be welcoming of their half-sister. As for Eliza's feelings for her birth mother, there was no bitterness. She only had the fondest memories and sympathy for her mother. Her first daughter was named Georgiana in memory of the mother Eliza loved so much.

That Tea Guy: Charles, 2nd Earl Grey and his Naughty Ways

Although I'm partial to Barry's Irish Tea myself, Earl Grey remains a classic. If you buy it from Tesco it even has Charles, 2nd Earl Grey's face on it. How he got a tea named after him is shadowed in legend but what remains a fact is he was the love of Georgiana's life.

I wanted to discuss Grey now because judging from The Duchess trailer, he seems to be taking up a lot of screen time (grumble...) and appearing in places he shouldn't be. He was eldest surviving son of the first Earl Grey and educated at the best of schools, Eton, Trinity, etc. At the tender age of 22 he was elected to parliament. This was in 1786, two years after Georgiana had canvassed for Charles Fox and subsequently "retired" from politics. The young Grey was actually, well, emo. He was a dark and brooding Pisces, whose raincloud only disappeared when got his way. Upon being welcomed into the Whigs and of course the Devonshire House circle, he immediately latched on to Georgiana, 7 years his senior. She was flirtatious and welcoming with everybody, but he took her actions too seriously and became her shadow. This made Georgiana both nervous and enticed. Eventually Grey's violent declarations of love worked, and Georgiana began an affair.

Love grew stronger and friends' well-meant advice was falling on deaf ears more and more frequently. Like a high school romance, he would argue with her if he felt she was paying more attention to other members of the circle. The lovebirds let their affair get out of hand when, Georgiana was staying in Bath by herself and Grey would be seen going in and out of her house with no discrepancy. When her mother, Lady Spencer heard this she furiously wrote and put a stop to their brashness. But it was too late, the damage was done. Georgiana was pregnant.

Now her Grace had to admit many awful things to her husband before. This usually involved her massive gambling debts. But this one was big. Someone tipped the Duke of Devonshire off and he arrived unexpected to his 6-month pregnant wife in Bath. Screaming, crying commenced, followed by Bess being called into the room, and then scolding, and more screaming and crying. Harriet, Georgiana's sister sat outside hearing everything and recorded that she had never been so frightened. Georgiana was forced to leave the country. The Duke was humiliated and he gave her a choice: give the child up for adoption and never see Grey again or be divorced and never see her 3 children again. It wasn't much of a choice, but Grey still resented her for not choosing a fallen life with him. The relationship disintegrated after that. "I have in leaving him for ever, left my heart and soul; but it is over now...he has one consolation that I have given him up to my children only." Georgiana wrote in her grief. On February 20, 1791 Eliza Courtney was born and immediately taken from her mother's arms. But Eliza's story is for another time.

Three years later Grey was engaged to Mary Ponsonby. The coward couldn't even bring himself to tell Georgiana himself, he waited until she read it in the papers. She was stricken speechless with grief. The married couple had 15 children in total but that didn't stop Grey from having an affair with Richard Sheridan's second wife Hecca. He went on to outlive Georgiana by many years and become Prime Minister under William IV. However he may want to be known, for his political or sexual conquerings; he will always be the tea guy.