]
{20} In a letter which I afterwards received from Lady Hester, she
mentioned incidentally Lord Hardwicke, and said that he was "the
kindest-hearted man existing--a most manly, firm character. He
comes from a good breed--all the Yorkes excellent, with ANCIENT
French blood in their veins." The under scoring of the word
"ancient" is by the writer of the letter, who had certainly no
great love or veneration for the French of the present day: she
did not consider them as descended from her favourite stock.
{21} It is said that deaf people can hear what is said concerning
themselves, and it would seem that those who live without books or
newspapers know all that is written about them. Lady Hester
Stanhope, though not admitting a book or newspaper into her
fortress, seems to have known the way in which M. Lamartine
mentioned her in his book, for in a letter which she wrote to me
after my return to England she says, "Although neglected, as
Monsieur le M." (referring, as I believe, to M. Lamartine)
"describes, and without books, yet my head is organised to supply
the want of them as well as acquired knowledge."
{22} I have been recently told that this Italian's pretensions to
the healing art were thoroughly unfounded.
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