On the Duchess of Gordon

'She looks as fierce as a dragon and contents herself with spending her breath upon politics, and ringing a daily peal in the ears of her poor husband, with whom, Lord William says, she squabbles more than ever.'

-Lady Louisa Stuart

A Walk in the Park Reveals a Startling Revelation

A walk in the pleasure gardens was a perfect opportunity for celebrity-spotting in eighteenth-century London.  Fanny Burney wrote in April 1776 to a friend to tell of one particularly interesting glimpse of celebrity: none other than the Duchess of Devonshire.  However, her account of the young debutant may come as quite a surprise...although if we think of all the paparazzi photos of celebrities returning from a night out or ungracefully exiting a car perhaps Fanny's account isn't so difficult to believe:

Mr. Burney, Hetty and I took a walk in the Park on Sunday morning, where, among others, we saw the young and handsome Duchess of Devonshire, walking in such an undressed and slaternly manner as in former times Mrs. Rishton might have done in Chesington Garden. Two of her curls came quite unpinned, and fell lank on one of her shoulders; one shoe was down at heel, the trimming of her jacket and coat was in some places unsown; her cap was awry; and her cloak, which was rusty and powdered, was flung half on and half off. Had she not had a servant in a superb livery behind her, she would certainly have been affronted. Every creature turned back to stare at her. Indeed I think her very handsome, and she has a look of innocence and artlessness that made me quite sorry she should be so foolishly negligent of her person. She had hold of the Duke's arm, who is the very reverse of herself, for he is ugly, tidy, and grave.

Omai, who was in the Park, called here this morning, and says that he went to her Grace, and asked her why she let her hair go in that manner! Ha, ha, ha ! Don't you laugh at her having a lesson of attention from an Otaheitan?

Lady Hester Stanhope on...Political Hostesses' Hospitality

Lady Hester Stanhope was not a woman to hold her tongue, which was only more apparent when her doctor (and close friend) released her memoirs in 1845 - which was more like his memoirs of her.  In it, William Pitt's niece remembered the various environments created by the great political hostesses of the time:

"'I remember too what a heavy, dull business the Duchess of R[utland]'s parties were - the rooms so stuffed with people that one could not move, and all so heavy - a deal of high breeding and bon ton; but there was, somehow nothing to enliven you.  Now and then some incident would turn up to break the spell.

Now, at the Duchess of Gordon's there were people of the same fashion, and the crowd was just as great; but then she was so lovely, and everybody was animated, and seemed to know so well what they were about - quite another thing.

As for the Duchess of D[evonshire]'s, there they were - all that set - all yawning, and wanting the evening to be spent, that they might be getting to the business they were after.'

It may be mentioned that Lady Hester was always very  severe on the Duchess of D. and her friends, whenever her name or theirs was mentioned."'

Country Homes: Nocton Hall

Location: Lincolnshire
Famous Inhabitants: Albinia Hobart, Countess of Buckinghamshire
Website: http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=192338
It difficult to believe that a house with such history is listed as endangered.  After countless fires and subsequent vandalism Nocton Hall is now a shell of a once-elegant country home.  Not only did Nocton house the Tory hostess, Albinia Hobart's, lavish parties and private theatricals but also was transformed into a hospital for recovering soldiers in both WWI (for American soldiers) and WWII (for the RAF).