thing for Lady Austen, for it is certain that she had it not in her to exercise the patience which companionship with a person of Cowper's state of mind rendered necessary-that patience which was so salient a feature in the character of Mrs. Unwin.

As appears from the ledger of Mr. Grindon, Lady Austen was staying with her sister at Clifton again in August, 1786, and also in March, 1787.

But Cowper and she were now strangers to each other. Although only two miles separated them, there was no communication between her and the poet. Lady Austen subsequently married an accomplished French gentleman named M. de Tardiff. She died in Paris in 1802.

In the possession of Dr. Francis Grindon, of Olney, are several interesting relics of Lady Austen and her friends, to wit: (1) An exquisite clasp miniature of Lady Austen herself at the age of eighteen; (2) Her presentation dress of crimson satin brocade; (3) Her fan; (4) An interesting miniature of her second husband, Baron Tardiff-the clasp of a bracelet; (5) A small portrait of Miss Green, her niece.

IOI. The Brothers Throckmorton.-
May, 1784.

The attention of the public was at this period being attracted by the invention of balloons, and numerous were the speculations indulged in as to the results that might be looked for. "Thanks to Mongolfier," says Cowper, "we shall fly at last." Again, on November 17, 1783, he writes to Newton :

"Swift observes, when he is giving his reasons why the preacher is elevated always above his hearers, that, let the crowd be as great as it will below, there is always room enough overhead. If the French philosophers can carry their art of flying to the perfection they desire, the observation may be reversed, the crowd will be overhead, and they will have most room who stay below. I can assure you, however, upon my own experience, that this way of travelling is very delightful. I dreamt, a night or two since, that I drove myself through the upper regions in a balloon and pair with the greatest ease and security. Having finished the tour I intended, I made a short turn, and with one flourish of my whip descended; my horses prancing and curvetting with an infinite share of spirit, but without the least danger either to me or my vehicle. The time, we may suppose, is at hand, and seems to be prognosticated by my dream, when these airy excursions will be universal, when judges will fly the circuit and bishops their visitations; and when the tour of Europe will be performed with much greater speed, and with equal advantage, by all who travel merely for the sake of having it to say, that they have made it."

To the same (December 15, 1783) Cowper writes another long letter on ballooning, in which he parodies the lines of Pope :—

To

"Learn of the little Nautilus to sail,

Spread the thin oar, and catch the driving gale."

"Learn of the circle-making kite to fly,

Spread the fan-tail, and wheel about the sky."

Aeronautics at length became so much the mode that

I

even in North Bucks a balloon ascent was attempted, on the occasion of which Cowper and Mrs. Unwin were present; and as this occurrence was the means of introducing Cowper to a gentleman with whom he continued long in the most intimate terms of friendship, it will be advisable to let the poet recount the story in his own words: "You may possibly remember," he tells Unwin (December, 1783), "that at a place called Weston, little more than a mile from Olney, there lives a family whose name is Throckmorton. The present possessor is a young man whom. I remember as a boy. He has a wife, who is young, genteel, and handsome. They are Papists, but much more amiable than many Protestants. We never had any intercourse with the family, though ever since we lived here we have enjoyed the range of their pleasuregrounds, having been favoured with a key, which admits us into all. When this man succeeded to the estate, on the death of his elder brother, and came to settle at Weston, I sent him a complimentary card, requesting the continuance of that privilege, having till then enjoyed it by the favour of his mother, who on that occasion went to finish her days at Bath. You may conclude that he granted it, and for about two years nothing more passed between us. A fortnight ago I received an invitation in the civillest terms, in which he told me that the next day he should attempt to fill a balloon, and if it would be any pleasure to me to be present, should be happy to see me. Your mother and I went. The whole country was there, but the

'Mrs. Throckmorton was the daughter of Thomas Gifford, Esq., of Chillington (Staffordshire),

balloon could not be filled. The endeavour was, I believe, very philosophically made, but such a process depends for its success upon such niceties as make it very precarious. Our reception was, however, flattering to a great degree, insomuch that more notice seemed to be taken of us than we could possibly have expectedindeed rather more than of any of his other guests. They even seemed anxious to recommend themselves to our regards. We drank chocolate, and were asked to dine, but were engaged. A day or two afterwards, Mrs. Unwin and I walked that way, and were overtaken in a shower. I found a tree that I thought would shelter us both, a large elm, in a grove that fronts the mansion. Mrs. T. observed us, and, running towards us in the rain, insisted on our walking in. He was gone out. We sat chatting with her till the weather cleared up, and then at her instance took a walk with her in the garden. The garden is almost their only walk, and is certainly their only retreat in which they are not liable to interruption. She offered us a key of it, in a manner that made it impossible not to accept it, and said she would send us one. A few days afterwards, in the cool of the evening, we walked that way again. We saw them going toward the house, and exchanged bows and curtsies at a distance, but did not join them. In a few minutes, when we had passed the house, and had almost reached the gate that opens out of the park into the adjoining field, I heard the iron gate belonging to the courtyard ring, and saw Mr. T. advancing hastily towards us; we made equal haste to meet him. He presented to us the key, which I told him I esteemed a singular favour,

and after a few such speeches as are made on such occasions, we parted. This happened about a week ago. I concluded nothing less than that all this civility and attention was designed, on their part, as a prelude to a nearer acquaintance; but here at present the matter rests. I should like exceedingly to be on an easy footing there, to give a morning call now and then, and to receive one, but nothing more. For though he is one of the most agreeable men I ever saw, I could not wish to visit him in any other way, neither our house, furniture, servants, or income being such as qualify us to make entertainments; neither would I on any account be introduced to the neighbouring gentry. Mr. T. is altogether a fashion, and respectable on every account." On the 10th of May (1784) Cowper writes to Newton :

man of

"On Friday, by particular invitation, we attended an attempt to throw off a balloon at Mr. Throckmorton's, but it did not succeed. We expect, however, to be summoned again in the course of the ensuing week. Mrs. Unwin and I were the party. We were entertained with the utmost politeness. It is not possible to conceive a more engaging and agreeable character than the gentleman's, or a more consummate assemblage of all that is called good-nature, complaisance, and innocent cheerfulness, than is to be seen in the lady. They have lately received many gross affronts from the people of this place, on account of their religion. We thought it therefore the more necessary to treat them with respect.

With the amiable brothers, indeed, John and George Throckmorton, Cowper was daily becoming more