DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.65479#0065
LIONEL ROBERT TOLLEMACHE.
LIONEL ROBERT, son of John Tollemache and Lady Bridget
Tollemache, was, as already been said, born in 1775, and was
only two years old when his father was killed in the duel at New
York.
Lionel Robert Tollemache was educated at Harrow, but as the
records of Harrow School are unfortunately lost during the period between
1785 and 1791, the date of his entrance cannot be traced. He was, how-
ever, at Harrow in 1789, and wrote to his aunt, Lady Frances Tolle-
mache, on the 27th of June in that year. In reference to the Speech Day
which had just taken place, he says: “I wish you had been at Harrow
to have heard me speak. My Oration was Greek, it was Medea bewail-
ing over her two children before she is going to kill them. I figured away
in my Aunt’s [embroidered] waistcoat and my U ncle’s buttons, and perhaps
they were more admired than the person who wore them. You cannot
Expect a very long nor a very entertaining letter from a schoolboy, there-
fore for the present I must take my leave of you. I am your affecte [nay,
dutifull if you please] Nephew. Pray write me an answer. Never mind
how short it may be.”
In 1791 Lionel Robert Tollemache went to Dresden to stay with
his aunt, Lady Elizabeth Eden. Her husband, Mr. Morton Eden
(afterwards the first Lord Henley), was a distinguished diplomatist and
filled several important posts. He was at this time at Dresden, and by his
advice Lionel learnt to speak German fluently and visited several of the
battlefields of the Seven Years’ War. Lionel wrote frequently to his
uncle, Wilbraham Tollemache, in England, describing all that he saw.
Soon after he reached Dresden he wrote: “ This is a very pretty town.
Last Sunday I was introduced to the Elector of Saxony, who is a very
great brute. He only delights in boar-hunting. There is a species of
dogs here, some of them about three foot high, and with that immense
size extremely active. They set on eight of these immense animals on
93
LIONEL ROBERT, son of John Tollemache and Lady Bridget
Tollemache, was, as already been said, born in 1775, and was
only two years old when his father was killed in the duel at New
York.
Lionel Robert Tollemache was educated at Harrow, but as the
records of Harrow School are unfortunately lost during the period between
1785 and 1791, the date of his entrance cannot be traced. He was, how-
ever, at Harrow in 1789, and wrote to his aunt, Lady Frances Tolle-
mache, on the 27th of June in that year. In reference to the Speech Day
which had just taken place, he says: “I wish you had been at Harrow
to have heard me speak. My Oration was Greek, it was Medea bewail-
ing over her two children before she is going to kill them. I figured away
in my Aunt’s [embroidered] waistcoat and my U ncle’s buttons, and perhaps
they were more admired than the person who wore them. You cannot
Expect a very long nor a very entertaining letter from a schoolboy, there-
fore for the present I must take my leave of you. I am your affecte [nay,
dutifull if you please] Nephew. Pray write me an answer. Never mind
how short it may be.”
In 1791 Lionel Robert Tollemache went to Dresden to stay with
his aunt, Lady Elizabeth Eden. Her husband, Mr. Morton Eden
(afterwards the first Lord Henley), was a distinguished diplomatist and
filled several important posts. He was at this time at Dresden, and by his
advice Lionel learnt to speak German fluently and visited several of the
battlefields of the Seven Years’ War. Lionel wrote frequently to his
uncle, Wilbraham Tollemache, in England, describing all that he saw.
Soon after he reached Dresden he wrote: “ This is a very pretty town.
Last Sunday I was introduced to the Elector of Saxony, who is a very
great brute. He only delights in boar-hunting. There is a species of
dogs here, some of them about three foot high, and with that immense
size extremely active. They set on eight of these immense animals on
93