DOI chapter:
Chapter VIII
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62095#0102
Eighteenth-Century Colour-Prints 7 3
baby, afterwards the Countess of Carlisle, upon her knee. This very maternal picture can
be set off against Rowlandson’s satirical print called “Political Affection,” which shows the
Duchess’s baby neglected in a cradle, while she nurses a fox-cub. This, of course, was
mere brutality, for whatever were her faults there is no doubt that she was a good mother.
So, with the lines of Coleridge which she inspired, and for which alone we should be
grateful to her, I will leave some sympathetic member of the other sex to take up her
canvas challenge, and decide whether she deserved all the admiration she excited.
You were a mother ! at your bosom fed
The babes that loved you. You, with laughing eye,
Each twilight thought, each nascent feeling read
Which you yourself created.
Plate IV. Lady Betty Foster.—Lady Elizabeth Foster was the second daughter
of Frederick Augustus, fourth Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry. She married first
John Thomas Foster, and secondly, on 19th October 1809, William, Fifth Duke of Devon-
shire. She must have been a remarkable woman in many ways, for not only did she
enjoy the friendship of Madame de Stael, but, as an “alluring” widow, she evoked the
admiration of Gibbon, who said of her that no man could withstand her, and that if she
chose to beckon the Lord Chancellor from his Woolsack, in full sight of the world, he
could not resist obedience ! Lady Betty succeeded the beautiful Georgiana in position,
but preceded, or was at least contemporary with her, in her husband’s affections. Fanny
Burney tells us of a visit she received at Bath from Lady Spencer with her two beautiful
daughters, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and the unhappy Lady Duncannon, who
were accompanied “ by another lady ; a beautiful alluring woman with keen dark eyes
who smiled like Circe.” Lady Spencer introduced her daughter to Miss Burney
with warmth and pleasure, and then slightly, as if unavoidably, named the beautiful
enchantress, “ Lady Elizabeth Foster,” who was already supposed to account for
Georgiana’s recklessness of conduct, her wild spasmodic delight in gambling, her
occasional disregard of appearances, and all the other wayward signs of unhappy wifedom.
The Duke of Devonshire was fortunate in both his wives; but, judging by the description
we get of him, they were not to be equally congratulated. Even the Duke’s most intimate
friends, at the time of his marriage, could only apologetically say that he had sense,
although he had not yet exhibited it, and did not want merit, although it was difficult to
discover in what it lay. “To be sure the jewel has not been well polished. Had he
fallen under the tuition of the late Lord Chesterfield, he might have possessed les graces,
but at present only that of the Dukedom belongs to him,” says Mrs. Delany. That his
distinguishing characteristic was “ constitutional apathy,” was Wraxall’s summary. He
might have been too apathetic to guard, but he was not too apathetic to win, these two
brilliant, fascinating women !
After the death of the Duke in 1811, the Duchess resided much in Italy, chiefly at
Rome, where she took a great interest in the excavations carried on in that city between
1815 and 1819. These excavations were remarkable for the uncovering of the Column of
Phocus in 1816, an event commemorated by a series of medals bearing the Duchess’s bust.
While at Rome she also interested herself in the printing of many remarkable works, and
L
baby, afterwards the Countess of Carlisle, upon her knee. This very maternal picture can
be set off against Rowlandson’s satirical print called “Political Affection,” which shows the
Duchess’s baby neglected in a cradle, while she nurses a fox-cub. This, of course, was
mere brutality, for whatever were her faults there is no doubt that she was a good mother.
So, with the lines of Coleridge which she inspired, and for which alone we should be
grateful to her, I will leave some sympathetic member of the other sex to take up her
canvas challenge, and decide whether she deserved all the admiration she excited.
You were a mother ! at your bosom fed
The babes that loved you. You, with laughing eye,
Each twilight thought, each nascent feeling read
Which you yourself created.
Plate IV. Lady Betty Foster.—Lady Elizabeth Foster was the second daughter
of Frederick Augustus, fourth Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry. She married first
John Thomas Foster, and secondly, on 19th October 1809, William, Fifth Duke of Devon-
shire. She must have been a remarkable woman in many ways, for not only did she
enjoy the friendship of Madame de Stael, but, as an “alluring” widow, she evoked the
admiration of Gibbon, who said of her that no man could withstand her, and that if she
chose to beckon the Lord Chancellor from his Woolsack, in full sight of the world, he
could not resist obedience ! Lady Betty succeeded the beautiful Georgiana in position,
but preceded, or was at least contemporary with her, in her husband’s affections. Fanny
Burney tells us of a visit she received at Bath from Lady Spencer with her two beautiful
daughters, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and the unhappy Lady Duncannon, who
were accompanied “ by another lady ; a beautiful alluring woman with keen dark eyes
who smiled like Circe.” Lady Spencer introduced her daughter to Miss Burney
with warmth and pleasure, and then slightly, as if unavoidably, named the beautiful
enchantress, “ Lady Elizabeth Foster,” who was already supposed to account for
Georgiana’s recklessness of conduct, her wild spasmodic delight in gambling, her
occasional disregard of appearances, and all the other wayward signs of unhappy wifedom.
The Duke of Devonshire was fortunate in both his wives; but, judging by the description
we get of him, they were not to be equally congratulated. Even the Duke’s most intimate
friends, at the time of his marriage, could only apologetically say that he had sense,
although he had not yet exhibited it, and did not want merit, although it was difficult to
discover in what it lay. “To be sure the jewel has not been well polished. Had he
fallen under the tuition of the late Lord Chesterfield, he might have possessed les graces,
but at present only that of the Dukedom belongs to him,” says Mrs. Delany. That his
distinguishing characteristic was “ constitutional apathy,” was Wraxall’s summary. He
might have been too apathetic to guard, but he was not too apathetic to win, these two
brilliant, fascinating women !
After the death of the Duke in 1811, the Duchess resided much in Italy, chiefly at
Rome, where she took a great interest in the excavations carried on in that city between
1815 and 1819. These excavations were remarkable for the uncovering of the Column of
Phocus in 1816, an event commemorated by a series of medals bearing the Duchess’s bust.
While at Rome she also interested herself in the printing of many remarkable works, and
L