Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Mary Pendarves's letters to Ann Granville about her visit to Killala, 1732 (Author: Mary Pendarves)

Entry 8

Mrs. Pendarves to Mrs. Ann Granville.


Killala,

27th August, 1732

I believe Gloster looked dirty enough after the sweets of the Vale of Evesham and Glostershire hills. I have not heard lately of young Walpole's25 love: I do

p.378

not hear he has applied elsewhere since his disappointment, and am willing to believe him that rarity, — a constant man. Puzzle has acted like one of his profession: I think him monstrously ungrateful to my mother; I have no notion of Tom Frederick's26 marrying for love, I fear the love of money has too powerfully got the possession of him, to let in a spark of generosity.

Now, having answered all your queries, I proceed to inform you how we have passed our time since I last wrote. Last Tuesday our family and the Palmers went to a place called Kilcummin, not very unlike Down Patrick, but nearer to us; the day was very fine, the sea in a great agitation; we had a magnificent entertainment, with a rock our table, and rocks for seats, where we had a full prospect of the sea in all its glory, and were shaded from the wind. We were exceedingly merry; no one of the company seemed to want anything to complete their pleasure, except myself. I fell into my usual reveries, which are now so well understood, that I am indulged in them. We returned home well satisfied with our entertainment.

Last Friday we were diverted in another way: it was Mr. Lloyd's birthday, his father was bishop of this place, and Mr. Lloyd was born in this house, for which reasons it was thought proper to solemnize it. We all dressed ourselves out with all our gaiety and abundance of good taudry fancy. After dinner a fiddler appeared, to dancing we went ding dong, in the midst of which I received your last dear letter. Notice was given that a set of maskers desired admittance; so in they

p.379

marched, three couple well adorned with leeks, and a He and She goat were led bridled and saddled with housings and pistols, and their horns tipped with leeks; the whole concluded with an entertainment of toasted cheese.

The enclosed poem was presented to the gentleman of the day, which I think well deserves your notice. They were made by Mr. Donnellan, though he will not own them.

    1. Recitative
      Hail to the day
      That gave the noble Welshman birth;
      Th' illustrious Lloyd.
      The pride of Wales and glory of the earth.
      Descended from a kingly race
      Of Welsh nobility.
      Cadwaladyr and Tudor's grace
      His royal stock and blazon out his pedigree.
    2. Air
      What tongue can tell, or pen describe the joy
      That ushered in the lovely royal boy.
      The shaggy tribe in transports wild,
      Did frisk, curvet, and play;
      The rugged rocks and mountains smiled,
      And Penmaen mawr looked gay.
      The leek in freshest verdure clad,
      Its choicest odours spread
      And formed a beauteous garland glad
      T' adorn the hero's head.
    3. Recitative
      From heavenly mansions bright,
      The gods with Taffy posted to the earth,
      And at Penhwnllys27 famous castle light,
      T' attend the great, the vast the important birth,
      They club the lovely babe t'endow.
      With every virtue, every grace.
      Each god and goddess did their gifts bestow
      To dizen out his body, soul, and face.
      These Taffy mixed, and his best clay employed,
      Then called the happy composition, Lloyd.

      4. p.380

    4. Air
      Let every Welshman then with might and main,
      Echo aloud his praise,
      And every harp with stirring strain
      Call forth its choicest lays.
      Let the seas roar,
      On the bleak shore,
      The rocks their joy proclaim;
      And kids and goats,
      With quivering throats.
      Bleat forth his mighty fame.
      Chorus.
      Let every, etc.28