Lady C in the jungle

Current-day Lady Colin Campbell is generating a lot of interest as she participates in reality show “I’m A Celebrity.” There are curious parallels with her Victorian counterpart. Both married into the Argyll family after a whirlwind romance – hers was 5 days, Gertrude’s 3 days. Both separated from their husbands after a short-lived marriage and both accused their husbands of cruelty but continued to use the married name. Both became writers and also wrote etiquette books.
I also think they have similar character traits: I spoke to the current Lady C when researching my book and it was clear from just a phone call what a feisty lady she was and quite a character. I wish her all the best of luck in the jungle!

Utterly numbed by pain

This is how Lady Colin Campbell described her feelings after the death of her sister in January 1885. Mary had been beautiful, popular in society, and was only around thirty. They had attended parties and other social events together, and were known as the two beautiful sisters, Gertrude “dark and dashing”, Mary “fair and sweet”.  It was probably typhoid or another infection contracted from poor water supplies, rather than the “east wind” as one journal stated, but coming mid-way during Lady Colin’s legal battles with her estranged husband, it knocked her back and left her feeling “desolate.”

I’ve recently discovered that a stained glass window was created as a memorial for Mary, presumably organised by her family, and announced two years after her death. It is located at St. Michael’s Church, Bray, near Maidenhead, where Mary is buried. Still partially hidden by some organ pipes, the window will be fully on display soon, as a new organ will allow the old organ paraphernalia to be removed. 

The window is described as “two lights depicting the Annunciation, made by Clayton and Bell in their Regent Street studios” and underneath is a plaque which reads: “In memory of Mary Beatrice wife of George Thomas Bolton of Ballynastraw Co. Wexford, Ireland and eldest daughter of Edmond Maghlin Blood of Brickhill, Co. Clare, Ireland. Obit Jan-2-1885.” 

 

With thanks to Ken Amery and St. Michael’s Church, Bray.

Bold attempt to steal Crown Jewels!

Yesterday’s headlines reporting that thieves had stolen keys to the Tower of London reminded me of one of Lady Colin Campbell’s colourful Irish ancestors, who in 1671 became the only person to have ever stolen the Crown Jewels.

“Colonel” Thomas Blood was born in Ireland in 1618, the nephew to Lady Colin Campbell’s great great great great great grandfather. He initially fought for the Royalists in the English Civil War but switched allegiances to the Roundheads. After hostilities had ended in England, Cromwell shifted his focus to Ireland and set sail with a large force of men to assert his leadership. Thomas joined their number and was given confiscated lands as a reward for his services. However, he only enjoyed a decade of peace, before the monarchy was restored and former Royalists regained positions of power.

Like many of the disgruntled Cromwellians, Thomas feared for his land and his religious freedom as a non-conformist Protestant, so decided to take action. In 1663, with a group of sympathisers, he hatched a plot to capture the Duke of Ormond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and issue a declaration for religious and property rights. Later known as Blood's Plot, it failed and most of the group was arrested. Thomas escaped using various disguises and spent several years on the run. In 1670 he made another attempt to capture the Duke of Ormond and again he failed. He then decided on his most daring plan – to steal the Crown Jewels. His motivation was political, rather than financial, to show the authorities that they would have no peace until they granted religious tolerance. Using the guise of a parson, Thomas befriended Talbot Edwards, keeper of the Jewel House. On 9 May 1671 he visited with some friends, and whilst waiting for dinner, Thomas persuaded the keeper to show them the jewels, kept in the basement of the Martin Tower. This was not unusual, as Edwards supplemented his meagre income by charging visitors to view the jewels. However, on this day the unsuspecting keeper was knocked to the ground, then bound and gagged, whilst his supposed new friend and accomplices escaped with the jewels. Edwards managed to raise the alarm and Thomas's prodigious luck finally ran out; he was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Thomas refused to answer any questions except to the King. He was taken to the palace and questioned by Charles and other members of the royal family. Despite facing the ultimate penalty for this act of treason, Thomas mysteriously received a pardon and left the Tower in July 1671. Some believe the King was amused at his audacity, others that he must have served him at some time as a secret agent. The King may have feared an uprising from Blood's followers, and decided he could be of more help alive, aiding negotiations with the Non-Conformists. To the disgust of the Duke of Ormond, not only did he escape with his life, but the King also restored his land in Ireland, worth £500 a year.

For those wishing to read some more, there is an excellent biography by David C. Hanrahan, “Colonel Blood: The Man who Stole the Crown Jewels.”

Rift with Lady Miles?

Lady Miles was a good friend to Lady Colin Campbell throughout her divorce trial. She accompanied her to court many of the days, sitting next to her during proceedings and some suggest, lying in the witness box to protect her friend's name as Lord Colin unleashed witness after witness against his former wife.

After the trial Lady Colin wrote to friends in the press asking if there was anything that could be done to stem the media frenzy and the frequent attacks on the reputation of Lady Miles. All evidence pointed to their continuing friendship, but a new letter from 1888, part of some papers recently purchased from the estate of Lady Colin’s father, now points to a rift between the pair.

Lady Colin writes to her brother informing him of her return to London after a trip to France, and suggested times they could meet if he wishes. It’s all very frosty!!

“I shall certainly be there on Friday and Saturday & if you still see anything but lasting unpleasantness to be gained by the interview which you shied off when I offered it before, I am willing to see you either Friday or Saturday evening after dinner when we can be sure not to be interrupted. However if you have any wisdom left of which Lady Miles has not yet deprived you, you will not ask for the interview in question, as you can hardly think it likely that after the course you have taken, I shall be likely to accept from you or Lady Miles any interference whatsoever in my private affairs.”

Ouch!

Poems about Lady Colin Campbell

A new poem has just been published about Lady Colin Campbell by blogger JZ Knowles-Smith (http://digbig.com/5bgjrt ). “Reflections on Lady Colin Campbell” expresses the thoughts of the poet on viewing her portrait by Boldini. I thought it interesting to compare today’s “reflections” with those of Lady Colin’s peers in two poems from the 1880’s. The first reproduced below was published in 1883. It praises her beauty, the Irishwoman amongst Scotswomen, and ironically her “cheeks and lips more sweet with hues of health” at a time when she was still sick and bedridden after a serious bout of illness, consequent to the venereal disease, she had contracted from Lord Colin. (The author of this poem, C.C.B. is possibly Charles Dickens, Jr, born Charles Culliford Boz Dickens.)

The second poem reproduced below is more a favourite of mine. Written by Wilfrid Meynell under the pen name of John Oldcastle in 1886, “On hearing her praised for her repartee” does not only look at her physical beauty but also at her wit.

LADY COLIN CAMPBELL

By C.C.B.

Life, 26 April 1883

In the gallery, long and splendid,

Of the Campbells' ancient clan,

That with history's march was blended

Ere more mushroom growths began,

Thronged are many chiefs and sages,

Hands to strik and heads to think,

Names on Time's recording pages

Writ in blood or ink.

Turn we from those warriors famous,

From those seers, the council's pride -

Find a livelier gandeamus

In the ladies by their side!

Fairest faces smile, resplendent

With all charms that men adore,

Near each haughty-browed descendant

Of Mac Callum More.

Scottish damsels, blithe and blooming,

Out from ilka vale and glen

Brought their name and fame illluming

Lineage a' the world must ken.

Guest from lowland home or highland

Ne'er did Campbell lovlier hail,

Than this stranger from the island

Of far Innisfail.

Though the Bruce and Stuart Mary

Each was fairest of her line,

Ne'er looked gates of Inverary

On girl-eyes mre bright than shine,

Nor on cheeks and lips more sweet with

Hues of health and Heaven's own air,

Than it now's their pride to meet with

In the belle of Clare.

ON HEARING HER PRAISED FOR HER REPARTEE

By John Oldcastle

Merry England, March 1886

"When thou the sun for the sun's spots dost praise;

Dost deem that beauty lies in its defects;

Dost love the Church as mother of the sects -

And these spring breezes for the dust they raise"

"When thou dost count the forest and the sea

Made for mere sport and merchandise of men;

Dost seek light for its shadow - not til then

Praise thou Belinda for her repartee."

"She is a Woman: that alone is awe.

Beauty and youth are hers.  And the dread law

Of Womanhood she duteously obey."

"And when I think what she is, and these are

Whose laughter greets her sallies, - her tongue's care

I would rein up, save when she sings and prays."