DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51519#0123
THE COUNTESS DE GRAMMONT.
103
balls, and country frolics; and poor Lady Muskerry and her
bambino, and her costumed la Princesse de Babylon I—But we
must descend to grave biography, and take things in order. The
advice of the giant Moulineau, “ Belier, mon ami! commencez an
commencement,” is excellent; particularly when we are writing or
reading the life of a celebrated beauty,—where the conclusion is
to the beginning, like a musty moral out of Epictetus tacked to
the end of a fairy tale.
Sir George Hamilton, fourth son of James first Earl of Aber-
corn, after distinguishing himself greatly in the civil wars, retired
to France on the death of the King, his master. He resided
abroad for several years, had a command in the French army, and
in France several of his children were born and most of them
educated; which accounts for the predilection they afterwards
showed for that country.* At the Restoration, Sir George Hamil-
ton returned to England with a numerous family of gallant sons
and lovely daughters; among them Elizabeth Hamilton, his
eldest daughter, who being then just at an age to be introduced at
court, soon became one of its principal ornaments.
She appeared in that gay and splendid circle with many advan-
tages. She -was of noble descent, allied to the most illustrious
families of England, Scotland and Ireland ; she was the niece of
the Duke of Ormond, her mother being the sister of that great
nobleman; her eldest brother was groom to the bedchamber, and
a special favourite of the King; her two younger brothers were
distinguished among the brave and gay: she herself united to a
most captivating person and manner, such accomplishments as few
women of her time possessed, and which she had cultivated during
her father’s exile. It does not appear that Miss Hamilton
accepted any ostensible office near the person of the Queen, or of
the Duchess of York; but she was soon distinguished by the
* Two of Miss Hamilton’s brothers died in the service of Trance, with the title
of Count.
103
balls, and country frolics; and poor Lady Muskerry and her
bambino, and her costumed la Princesse de Babylon I—But we
must descend to grave biography, and take things in order. The
advice of the giant Moulineau, “ Belier, mon ami! commencez an
commencement,” is excellent; particularly when we are writing or
reading the life of a celebrated beauty,—where the conclusion is
to the beginning, like a musty moral out of Epictetus tacked to
the end of a fairy tale.
Sir George Hamilton, fourth son of James first Earl of Aber-
corn, after distinguishing himself greatly in the civil wars, retired
to France on the death of the King, his master. He resided
abroad for several years, had a command in the French army, and
in France several of his children were born and most of them
educated; which accounts for the predilection they afterwards
showed for that country.* At the Restoration, Sir George Hamil-
ton returned to England with a numerous family of gallant sons
and lovely daughters; among them Elizabeth Hamilton, his
eldest daughter, who being then just at an age to be introduced at
court, soon became one of its principal ornaments.
She appeared in that gay and splendid circle with many advan-
tages. She -was of noble descent, allied to the most illustrious
families of England, Scotland and Ireland ; she was the niece of
the Duke of Ormond, her mother being the sister of that great
nobleman; her eldest brother was groom to the bedchamber, and
a special favourite of the King; her two younger brothers were
distinguished among the brave and gay: she herself united to a
most captivating person and manner, such accomplishments as few
women of her time possessed, and which she had cultivated during
her father’s exile. It does not appear that Miss Hamilton
accepted any ostensible office near the person of the Queen, or of
the Duchess of York; but she was soon distinguished by the
* Two of Miss Hamilton’s brothers died in the service of Trance, with the title
of Count.