History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

256 LOCKHART
livings. This was the prevailing report this day week. Besides the disagreeable
rubs he has met at Court, he has been much vexed by a favourite daughter
marrying without his consent. In a temper always fretful these accumulated
disappointments have produced so great an irritability that he is barely toler-
able. Judge, then, whether a letter from Worcester will not have the greatest
effect. In writing to him, the living of Baynton should be the first in the letter,
that he may see its purport at a glance."
Johnstone sent his letter, and Lockhart wrote : " I took it to the Chan-
cellor's House in Great Ormond Street. He is in the country, nor do the
servants know when he will be in town. I left the letter and half-a-crown to
the care of one of the servants, who faithfully promised to deliver it the instant
he could."
Another letter from Lockhart alludes to the medal adjudged by the Royal
Medical Society to his father for a treatise on scarlet fever. He inquires after
Mrs Siddons, whom Johnstone was attending, and laments that she had left
the stage before he came to town. He describes debates he had heard in the
House of Commons, in one of which Eldon was at his best. Lively and
amusing, Lockhart got anything he wanted out of his father, who, on his tenth
birthday, had written to Edward fondly describing his cleverness, and that he
was growing "very handsome." He was started under good auspices, as,
besides the patronage of Sir W. Pulteney, he was intimate with some of the
future lights of the Bar—Mr Pearson, afterwards Advocate-General of India
Erskine, who asked him " to spend two days with him at Hampstead, where
he was going for fresh air"; Mackintosh (Sir James), who, "when I dined with
him, seemed to have given up the French Revolution." He alludes to the
death of the Marquis of Annandale, and to a rumour that " Sir James Johnstone
of Westerhall will succeed to his titles." He was evidently fond of saying
unpleasant things.
Edward's marriage settlements were arranged in accordance with his
wishes, the bride's estates and £17,000 being settled on their joint heirs,
failing which, entirely on himself. This was her wish, as she had no heir-at-
law except her uncle, Thomas Holden of Erdington Hall. He was of extravagant
and dissipated habits, having quarrelled with her father, the late Rector
of Solihull, because he had warned him of the consequences ; and she was
anxious that Fulford Hall should in no event revert to him. Mr Mynors and
Mr L. Withering were the trustees. Edward wrote to inform his mother that
the wedding was to take place at Solihull :
" Dear Mother,— I hope the things I have sent will be sufficient for the
purpose I intend, if not, I do insist on your informing me of everything you
want, and also that you do not on any account use what I send for any other
than yourself. I know the generosity of your temper has been such as to lead
you at all times to deny yourself to accommodate your family, but it becomes
them in their turn to take care of you, for they owe much to the unceasing
tenderness which you have shown them both in sickness and health. I hope