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

A VISIT TO PORTUGAL 271
with valetudinarians, and in this instance fifty-nine persons were stowed in a
ship of about 300 tons burden." The voyage took eleven days, and Mr Newport,
one of the passengers, entertained them with impromptu verses as they
entered the Tagus, specially referring to the three Graces of Staffordshire, as
the Miss Pearsons were called.
After six weeks in Lisbon, the Pearsons and Dr Withering joined another
English family in taking a large house— St. Joze de Riba Mer— five miles out
of the extremely dirty capital, and on the road to Cintra. There the young
ones danced or held an amateur concert every night, and studied natural
history in the day. The seniors visited some of the hospitals for consumption
in Portugal, and, from its extreme prevalence in this lovely climate, felt con-
vinced that it was contagious, and spread by the foreign invalids. On May 14
they sailed for England, escorted by an armed cruiser, as war had just been
declared with France. The vessel was chased out of its course by a privateer,
and was three weeks on the road. 1 Sea-sickness and real privation compelled
many of the passengers, including the Pearsons, to remain some time at Falmouth
before they began their journey to the Midlands. Among those who
called on them were the Fox family, with whom they kept up a correspondence
for many years.
On returning to Tettenhall, Penelope, the second daughter of the Pearsons,
married Mr John Tayleur of Buntingsdale, Shropshire, his father being still
alive ; and the youngest, Anne, married the Rev. Richard Warner, of Bath, a
theologian and antiquarian of European celebrity. Before Elizabeth's engagement
her second brother, Thomas, one of the clergy of Bath Abbey, married
Sarah, the daughter of an old friend and neighbour, Mr Gibbons ; and the
youngest, Edward, was united at St. George's, Hanover Square, to Lucy,
the sister of Sir Thomas Hesketh. Only John, a rising barrister in London,
remained at home, and he was engaged, and when Mrs Pearson saw a prospect
of settling her eldest daughter she gladly gave up Tettenhall to this son, and
went to live with the Warners in Somersetshire.
Edward Johnstone had left Moor Green soon after his first wife's death,
intending to retire to Leamington, but, strongly advised by Dr Parr to con-
tinue his profession, he removed to Ladywood House, which then stood in
picturesque grounds among fields, with two or three detached houses near.
Now the grounds are covered by streets, one called after him, if the house
itself still stands.
On the rupture of the Peace of Amiens a third battalion of Loyal Birmingham
Volunteer Infantry was formed in 1803. They paid for their own arms
and equipment. Lord Dartmouth, who lived at Sandwell Park, close by, was
the Colonel ;
Henry
Johnstone was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel ; and among
the other officers were John Wilkes, Wyrley Birch, Jervis, Attwood, William
Withering, E. Thomason, Bellamy, Meredith, Lloyd of Bingley, Moore, Cope,
Francis Eginton, Rabone, Steward, Whitmore, Linwood, John Parkes, Webb,
1 The captain had broken his parole when a prisoner, and prepared to blow up his ship
rather than surrender.