A WOMAN'S VIEW OF DRAMA, 1790-1830:

The Diaries of Anna Margaretta Larpent from the Huntington Library

Indexes and Abstracts

Index - 1790

(The last entry for 1790 is on 2 July. There are no entries for 1791).

Index - 1792

Index - 1793

Index - 1794

(Last entry for 1794 is on 22 August).

Index - 1795

Index - 1796

Index - 1797

Index - 1798

Index - 1799

The format of the diaries then changes slightly from 1800 onwards.  There are no more indexes in the form given above.  However, there are reviews of reading and lists of books desired etc.  For instance, for 1806, at the end of the year there are lists for the following categories:

"Religious Reading"

"Novels"

"Miscellanies"

"Writing"

"History, Biography & Politics"

"Travels"

"Drama & Poetry"

Abstracts

12 February 1814

“MS Play to be licensed.  The Stepmother or Fraternal Friendship.  More like a tragedy properly so called than most now offered – Here is plot, characters, situations of passion, management, a Drama.  Language and similies occasionally elegant, but often very tame, prosaic, images trite – the Story that of Roxalana wife of Solyman – who endeavours to raise her own son to the throne by crimes that removed from it, at length murdered her son-in-law.  The generous feelings & affections of these young men are pleasing & finely contrasted to her ambitious Attachment.  There is an underplot lightening the interest; both Youths love the same princess, & the noble conduct of the one whose love is not returned (the son of Roxalana) here was some very glowing touches.  This piece certainly has merit.  Yet is may act heavily & it has merit rather from being compared with the trash continually offloaded on the theatres than from its own intrinsic worth as a composition; it seems well understood as to length and is Short."

20 March 1972

“Rose at half past 7.  Pray’d.  Read three sermons…  Breakfasted.  Taught George to spell, Read, learn Latin & write Geography.  Walked with Mr Larpent to Mrs Sargents … found her, Mrs F Sargent, Miss Chambers, Mrs Brereton.   Returned home, settled the weekly house book.  Worked at the chairs.  Dressed.  Mrs & Miss Fremeaux dined here.  Evening – we all went to see Mrs Siddons act Lady Macbeth.  the house is too large.  Attention becomes a wearisome task to your Eyes & Ears. – She acted well.  Kemble, stiffly.  Truthfully, yet in one scene preceding the King’s Murder, sensibly – he was perturbed, absent, & in a checked agitation that was well conceived …”

14 May 1828.  At Miss Jeffrey’s, Windsor, Wednesday.

“Rose past 7.  Devotions alone & then attended morning prayer – Also evening with family.  Reading: Looked over some of From Life of Columbus.  Writing: to Charlotte, but went out early first to see the improvements at the Castle.  The quadrangle is cleared; the Round Tower brought in finely – the merging with the old still seemed to me very good & the view through the principal gateway up the Great Walk & the woods in the park peculiarly fine – the angular building & gateway on the left as I stood at the great entrance … very well done, & the gallery that is in this quadrangle must be very fine.  The person is allowed now to see the altered part of the Castle: I went into the Chapel which is very fine … I did not like the splendid banners over the knights’ stalls all apparently new & glittering … these … accord ill with the solemn sobriety all around.  Had a most pleasing drive through the Great Park.  There is a  flatness when it is first entered that disappointed me though the fine trees & foliage form Avenues & shade that relieve the eye … which however gradually varies into mounds & pretty dells, & the fine beech with their marbled roots & the Oaks with their bowed & stretching branches altogether formed a very pleasing scenery.  The Thorns also are in great beauty.  We passed Holly Grove & The Broadleas…  Went to the House where the Giraffe & other animals are kept in large comfortable airy yet shaded enclosures.  We first saw this animal I believe one of the first brought to this Country… its long throat I should think at least 3 feet when moved in a gentle waving motion, graceful, tho’  there is a general appearance of weakness in this poor animal that is painful, its legs very thin & weak it has the same callosity at the knees that distinguishes the Camel – this animal was taken very young & driven hard, then its legs were tied & it was thrown on a camel’s back, it does not seem come to its full growth – it has teeth only in the lower jaw.  It puts out its tongue like the anteater & laps it round its food.  The tongue is a purple black, the coat a soft buff colour with regular spots of deep fawn, its eye mild yet brilliant, the head like an elegant horse, its ears graceful & 2 horns behind them covered with hair & tufts at the ends.  It is a mild creature & feeds on grain.  We next saw the kangaroos leaping about, then an elegant very very small Burmese pony of a fine fawn colour & jet black mane & tail …  There  is also a bull in miniature form – covered with a soft silvery gray hair – such an animal I have often seen in the Indian papers but I was most struck with seeing the Gnous of which there is a pair.  Creatures partaking of the Bull, the hog, the horse, the wolf … & such sharp high horns that they were guarded – a dark coat with high Bristles it is a malicious looking creature.  The keeper told me that when it attacked anyone it knelt down, put its head between its knees, fixed its eye like a marksman on what it means to attack & then darted forward like a deer, butting & driving down its prey or enemy.  It requires 4 men to hold one when they see it.  They feed on Hay – these are a pair – we saw the real hunting falcon … many peacocks, one beautifully white – various Indian deer – our drive home and round the park & walk in it very pleasing.  Called to see Mrs Bridges who is ill & Miss Goodford her mother.  I then went to the chapel again.  It was to see the Princess Charlotte’s Cenotaph which seems to me in extreme bad taste – a sarcophagus or bed on which the form of a body is thrown & the outline seen through a sheet, one hand falls below it & the idea offered is that of this being the body above which s a female ascending figure as it in clouds & with the princesses likeness.  This is to be considered as the part that ascended going to Heaven assisted by two angels one of which holds a little infant with a retched looking bald head & seems offering it also up.  These figures stand before a sort of canopy formed by drapery very like bed curtains but in the hanging folds very well executed around the Tomb or rather at each Corner are 4 Mourners … the whole gave me the  idea of 5 persons who had been all drowning, one lost, 4 recovered but still in their wet clothes or coverings …  yet I think the execution of the outlines of the figures & the drapery finely done, tho’ perhaps too clinging, & there is too gaudy a canopy over the whole – gold and crimson. – Today called on Mrs Kenpricotts (?) & saw the sad wreck of such an animated mind now in almost imbesility.  The days that are past when she was the delight of so many from her playful manners, & her sprightly sole & conversation came before me & gave pain. – Rest of the day spent in conversation with Miss Jeffreys.  To bed at 11.  Temper right & mind interested & amused.”

The following 2 lists are taken from Anna Margaretta Larpent’s “Methodized Journal” of 1773-1780.  They gave quite a good idea of her social life and the scope her social engagements:

List of publick places & private entertainments I went to in 1773

January 13 “A the play – I saw Mason’s Elfrida & Cross Purposes.  Elfrida delightful !  Cross Purposes humourous !”

February 17 “At the play.  Saw King Lear.  Lear by Garrick, never better entertained – too much so.”

October 4 "At the play – The West Indian & Cross Purposes."

October 30  “At the play – The Jealous Wife & the Jubilee.  Ill acted, the farce most tiresome, the whole ennuiant.”

February 27 “At the opera.”

September 16  “At the Richmond Assembly – danced all the evening.”

April 16 “Ranelagh which is certainly the most agreeable public place.”

May 28 “At Ranelagh that Evening.  I could not help remarking yet I should have been as agreeably & I am sure more comfortably entertained at home with Mrs Deane, Miss Chambers, & Miss Alwood who accompanied me to Ranelagh than I was in all that hurly burly.  But so it is !  One must conform to the world.  A young person must sometimes mix in the pastimes stiled diversions, or she is looked upon as ridiculous, particular !”

January 9 “A Ball at Lady Apsly’s at Fairy Hill.  An elegant supper.  Everybody was agreeable & I never was happier.”

January 21 “A Ball at Mrs Pouschkin’s – the Russian Minister’s wife – The Company alone constitutes pleasure at a Ball.”

March 29 “A Ball at Marchioness Grey’s.  I wished for the Country all Evening and wondered at the mad multitude who hunt London dissipation.”

April 2 “A most magnificent Ball at the French Ambassador’s – Monsieur de Guignes.  It is right to see the most talked of admired fashionable Amusements that one may be convinced of their emptiness.  I observed this Evening in their Crowd of persons of rank & fashion that of all things the Men of this Age are of most contemptible (the very fine men I mean) a compound of affectation, ignorant vanity, self sufficient carelessness – in my opinion very bad bargains for any person with a grain of reflection.”

April 9 “A Ball at Lady Apsley’s.  A most agreeable ball.  I found it necessary this evening to guard myself against Vanity.  I observed yet a Young Woman of too forward & free a carriage encourage an equal freedom from the men; one of too reserved a manner grows tiresome to them; whilst a third who turns all into a joke & laugh, will find a laugh often prove serious, & may be joked into doing any foolish thing.  Let me hit the medium; neither be too forward, nor too reserved nor too good humoured; but cautious & prudent, cheerful & easy.  Know when to show a proper contempt & when to hide it; when to encourage & when to avoid.”

April 24 “A Ball at Mrs Cross.  Had it been less crowded it might have been more agreeable.  But the more I see of such amusements the less I find them worth seeking or worth the trouble of following as pleasures.”

January 18 “In the Lord Chamberlain’s Box to see the Ball at St. James’ – more tired than entertained.  Very well to see once & to mask how far Vanity carries too many of his Majesty’s subjects."

February 18 “To see Masks at Lady Apsley’s & at Mrs Pouschkin’s.  It was very agreeable.”

Through the year “At several Card parties & a few Assemblies – which made me wonder how people can go to watch such abominable things.”

October – November “During a 6 weeks stay at bath where we went ye 5th October – I was at 2 Balls in a Week.  Concerts & dissipation in proportion a surfeit !”

List of the public places I went to & private entertainments in 1780

March ye 15th “Went to Bach’s Concert.  I liked my party, Mrs Campbell, Miss Ord, Miss Ewer, Miss Milner, & Miss Lindsay & was well entertained.”

March ye 19th “Went to a Concert at Mrs Hoares.  Piozzi sang; Jones play’d on the Harp.  I was much entertained.”

Through the year “Attended the Concerts at Baron Alvensleben’s through the year & with pleasure.”

The 4th & 5th September “I thoroughly enjoyed Mrs Bates’ Musical powers at Cicester.  Mad Bess quite overcame me.  The luxury of Music was enjoy’d.”

March 21 “The Ball at Mrs Walpole’s.”

April 18 “A little Dance at Mrs Beavers’, rather stupified.”

May ye 4th A Ball at Sir Gerard Vanneck’s.  Really an elegant Ball; but – why that but ? the truth must be owned ! I can find no pleasure in such amusements.  The vanity, the littleness of them tire me; I would really wish not to feel this, & would often give much for a little portion of the spirit of amusement; it is not in my composition.”

May 12th “A dancing party at Mrs Bevons.”

The 9th August “The Races at Cicester, of  which Lord Apsley was Steward.  A scene of dissipation & hurry.”

27 May “At Vauxhall, where I never was before, & which I thought a most disagreeable place.  Went with the Morrisons.”

Through the year “Went to several Assemblies at Miss Vannecks, Mrs Williamsons’, Mrs  Cross, etc… but by degrees kept back from going out, my sister was too young, I was too much occupied."

10th March “Went to see Gardners’ pictures.”

25th April “Went to see Theo Verhul’s pictures.  I was pleased with the picture of the young Le Nain by his Father: the Spirit & the Simplicity of the picture is Charming.  A landscape of Ferriers extremely pleased me.  Rubens on horseback by Van Dyke; the anatomy of his horses seems very fine.  The feast of Belthaszar by Rembrandt & a Dutch lady studying by the same Master highly pleased me, particularly the first in which the effect of light & shade is very great.  The countenance of the second figure is highly interesting."

May 2nd “Went to an exhibition of Angelica’s principal pictures; Rylands’ prints, & Sandby’s.  I was much pleased, particularly with Angelica’s picture of Lady Grey & King Edward.”

May 3rd “At the Exhibition I was pleased with the Portrait of a Lady in a black Cloak, by Sir Joshua, the ease & the expression of the figure particularly fine.  Justice by the same hand also pleased me.  An herb girl by Joffani extremely delighted me.  The Cavern by Wright, the Sybil & Vestal by Angelica with the figure of religion, one or two of Gainsborough’s Landscapes, though I own the colouring appeared to me too much charged , the Samuel & Ely by Copley struck me as being very fine.”

May 27th “At the Exhibition I was much pleased with a Landscape by Gainsborough.  Ye Churchyard finely introduced into it: There is so much Nature & Softness in the Figures.  It extremely pleased me.  A Landscape by Louthesbourg with a fine glow also pleased me.”

June 2nd “Saw Angelica’s pictures.  Much pleased; particularly with that of Hector & Andromache.”

June ye 16th "Saw the Camps in Hyde Park & St. James’ often.”

August “In August at the Wood House Meeting in Cirencester Woods.  A day of rain & disappointment, when we were all crammed into a damp Gothic hall & the pleasantest part was going home.”

A final list from the same part of the diary gives valuable information on her reading habits:

"List of all the Books I red in 1780: those of study included"

Manière d’Etudes les Belles Lettres.  Rollin.

Clarke’s Sermons. I.

Foster’s discourses. I.

Carr’s Sermons.

Esther – Tragedie de Racine.

Cozen’s System of the principles of Beauty, examined with the prints.

Dialogue on Taste by Mr Rannoy.

Moral Miscellany – only the Allegory of prosperity & Adversity.

Haley’s Address to Romney.  Poem on Painting.

Essai sur les femmes par Thomas.

The Odyssey.

King Lear.

Macbeth.

A View of Modern History &c.

Aitkins Miscellanies.

Histoire Ancienne. Rollin. (part of)

Restant’s Grammaire Raisonnée.

Spectator.

Pococks Travels to Egypt (abridged).

Hoadley’s Sermons. 3.4.

Tillotson’s Sermons. 3.

Clarkes’ Sermons. 4.

Sir J. Reynolds’ discourses on Painting &c.

Berenice. Tragedie de Corneille.

The Castle of Otranto.

The Busy Body.  A play.

Histoire de la dernière Guerre de Boperne.

Burke’s Speech on the Reform.

Homer’s Battle of the Frogs &c.

Homer’s Life.

Lady Juliana Harley.  A Novel by Mrs Griffith.

Sir Thomas Overbury.  A Tragedy.

Sophia. By Mrs Lennox.

Law.  The Antiquarians Repertory with some Attention.

Paraphrase on Isiah by Pope.

The fashionable Lover (Camberley).

Townson on the Gospels.

Series of papers on the pleasures of the Imagination by Addison.

Life of Aristotle from Biographical Dictionary.

Attesbury’s Sermons. I.

Life of a Bishop.  Abbot Rischylus.

Rsop in Biographical Dictionary.

Essaie de Bossu sur le poeme.

Epique de l’Odyssée.

Life of Lord Anglelesey under Charles II’s reign.

Cox’s Account of ye Discoveries of the Russians in the Northern Seas.

Lettere del Seneca Di Nicolosi.

Doddington’s Sermons. I.

Seneca dei Beneficii Nicolosi.

The Fashionable Day.

Virgil’s Georgics by Dryden.

Life of Virgil.

Rodogune. tragedie de Corneille.

Conte Moraux. Sophie. Rolle.

Pope’s Art of Criticism.

The Pantheon by Lady Craven.

Rensi. Conte Morale.

Cinna. Tragedie de Corneille.

Midnight the Signal by Joans Hanway.

Dryden’s Aeneis.

Beatties Essay on Truth.

Le bon Mari.  Conte Morale par Marmontel.

The Tempest by Shakespeare.

La Mort de Pompée.  Tragedie de Corneille.

Epictetus by Carter.

Looked over Beauties of ye Magazines.

Hayley’s Essay on History.

Spencer’s Fairy Queen.

Marianne. Roman de Marivaux.

The School for Wives.  A play.

The Plain Dealer. Wycherley.

Blair’s Sermons. I.

Mille. L’une Nuit.

Young’s Letters on pleasure.

La Princesse de Babylonne par Voltaire.

Life of Cowley by Johnson.

Fontaines. Fable, fine Edition to the beautiful prints.

Life of Waller by Johnson.

Vie de Maximilien de Bethune from Vies des Hommes Illustrés de la France.

Paysan Parvenu.  Marivaux.

Monboddo on the Origins of Language.

Akenside’s Pleasures of the Imagination.

Metastasio’s Sacred Operas.

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