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Mary Russell Mitford and her surroundings

Chapter 44: INDEX
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About This Book

The book traces Mary Russell Mitford’s life and surroundings in chronological fashion, progressing from her birthplace and childhood through schooling, notable social encounters, and the rural communities that shaped her sketches. It surveys her dramatic and poetic efforts, extensive correspondence, domestic relocations from larger houses to cottage life, local walks and travels, and the friendships and visitors that animated her days, closing with quieter later years. Chapter-length vignettes are accompanied by portraits and site illustrations, and the narrative emphasizes her observational acuity, rural sensibility, and the intimate link between place and literary creation.

INDEX

  • A
  • Abbey School, Reading, its interesting associations, 63-65
  • Alresford, Hants, birthplace of Mary Russell Mitford, description of, 1-2;
  • Broad Street, Dr. Mitford’s house in, 5
  • Andersen, Hans, his visit to England, his words in an album, 349
  • Anning, Mary, an inhabitant of Lyme Regis, discovers the gigantic fossil bones of the Ichthyosaurus,
  • receives a visit from the King of Saxony, Kenyon’s verses upon her, 44-46
  • Athol, Dowager Duchess of, M. R. M. visits her at Alnwick Castle, 1806, description of, 104-7
  • Austen, Jane, M. R. M.’s admiration of, 253-255, 368-369
  • Aynsley, Lord Charles Murray, son of the Dowager Duchess of Athol, visited by M. R. M. in Northumberland in 1806, 103-105;
  • receives visit from Louis XVIII, in Bocking Deanery, 111-118
  • Aynsley, Lady, wife of the above, first cousin of Dr. Mitford, is visited by
  • M. R. M. in Northumberland in 1806, at Little Harle Tower, takes her to Alnwick Castle, 103-107;
  • describes visit from Louis XVIII in Bocking Deanery in letter to Mrs. Mitford, 111-118
  • B
  • Baillie, Joanna, meets M. R. M. in society, 329
  • Barrett, Miss Elizabeth. See under Mrs. Barrett Browning
  • Bath, M. R. M.’s visit to, 252-255
  • Belford Regis, by M. R. M., published 1835, 339
  • Bonar, Charles, translator of Hans Andersen’s’ works, friend of M. R. M., 349
  • Browning, Robert, meets M. R. M., 329;
  • his marriage, 348
  • Browning, Mrs. Barrett, first meets M. R. M. before her marriage, 1836, their interesting correspondence, 330-334;
  • her marriage, her correspondence with M. R. M., 348
  • C
  • Chorley, Henry, meets M. R. M. in London, 329;
  • persuades her to resume literary work, 352
  • Cobbett, William, friend of Dr. Mitford, 126-127
  • Country Stories, published 1835, 339-340
  • Cowper, William, his letters, 131-132
  • E
  • Elford, Sir William, his influence on M. R. M., their interesting correspondence, 128-133;
  • his views upon Our Village, 203-205
  • Exeter, Bishop of, 1
  • F
  • Fermor, Arabella (the “Belinda” of The Rape of the Lock), marries Mr. Perkins and lives at Ufton Court, 257-264
  • Fields, James T., American publisher and author, describes first visit to M. R. M. at Three Mile Cross, her surroundings and interesting conversation, 316-319;
  • M. R. M.’s letters to him, 350-1;
  • describes his visit to her at Swallowfield, 362-365;
  • her letters to him, 368, 372, 376-378
  • Foscari, M. R. M.’s tragedy of, performed at Covent Garden, 5th November, 1826, 223-227
  • H
  • Hall, Dr. Spencer T., his visit to Three Mile Cross, 354-356
  • Harness, Rev. William, valued friend of the Mitfords, his
  • wise guardianship of a bequest of Dr. Russell, his views on Dr. Mitford’s conduct, 158-159;
  • meets M. R. M. in London, 329;
  • M. R. M.’s letter to him on Church Reforms, 340-341
  • Hawthorne, Nathaniel, publication of The Scarlet Letter, House of Seven Gables, etc., etc., M. R. M.’s interest in them, 367
  • Haydon, Benjamin Robert, his picture the “Judgment of Solomon,” becomes friend of M. R. M., described by M. R. M., 318-319;
  • his Life by Tom Taylor, 318
  • Hemans, Mrs., letter to M. R. M., on publication of Our Village, 208-209, 220
  • Holmes, Dr. (Oliver Wendell), M. R. M.’s admiration of his poems and personality, 366-367
  • Howett, Mrs. (Mary), authoress, letter to M. R. M. on Our Village, 321-322
  • Howett, William, author, describes visit to M. R. M. at Three Mile Cross, letter to M. R. M., 319-321
  • J
  • Jephson, Miss, letters to her from M. R. M., 335-336, 370-371
  • K
  • Kenyon, John, friend of the Mitfords, his lines on Mary Anning, 46;
  • his words on M. R. M. to James T. Fields, 316
  • Kingsley, Charles, 341;
  • described by M. R. M., 366
  • L
  • Landor, Walter Savage, meets M. R. M. in London, 228, 229
  • Landseer, Edwin, offers to paint M. R. M.’s dog, 330
  • Lansdowne, Lord, proposes M. R. M.’s health at meeting, 137-139
  • Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, M. R. M.’s words on his poems and the Golden Legend, 366
  • Louis XVIII and court at Gosfield Hall, his visit to Bocking Deanery described by Lady Charles Aynsley, 110-118;
  • his remarkable memory, 136, 137
  • Lyme Regis, removal of Mitfords to, in 1795, the Great House described by M. R. M., its association with the Monmouth Rebellion, 29-39
  • M
  • Macready, William Charles, takes leading rôle in Foscari, 222-224
  • Mitford, Dr., marriage and birth of child, 2;
  • his gambling, loss of fortune, starts practice in Reading, 22, 23;
  • removal to Lyme Regis, 29-50;
  • further losses, flight to London to debtors’ Sanctuary, wins prize in lottery, 52-56;
  • builds Bertram House, 92;
  • further losses, 139-141;
  • obliged to leave Bertram
  • House, settles at Three Mile Cross, 158-162;
  • witnesses performance of Foscari, 221;
  • portrait by Lucas, 330;
  • illness and death, confusion of his affairs, 341-343
  • Mitford, Mrs., née Russell, only child and heiress of Dr. Russell, Rector of Ashe, marriage with
  • Dr. Mitford, birth of her only daughter, Mary, in 1787, home in Alresford, 2-8;
  • visits her daughter in Hans Place, 72;
  • another visit, 87, 88;
  • letter on Louis XVIII’s visit to Bocking, 113-118;
  • her death, New Year’s Day, 1830;
  • buried in Shinfield churchyard, her daughter’s tribute, 325-326
  • Mitford, Mary Russell, born at Alresford, Hants, December 16th, 1787, 2;
  • early recollections of her home in Broad Street, precocious power of reading, 5-8;
  • their village neighbours, at a rustic wedding, 9-21;
  • removal of family to Reading, 1791, her early recollections of the town, 22-25;
  • a flying visit to London, 25-28;
  • removal of family to Lyme Regis, 1795, her recollections of the Great House, etc., 29-39;
  • rambles on the shore, 40-44;
  • sudden loss of fortune, flight to London, 49-51;
  • family takes refuge in debtors’ Sanctuary, a lottery ticket bought, turns
  • up a prize, 52-55;
  • sent to a school in Hans Place, her recollections of it, 64-73;
  • amusing account of old French Society, 74-81;
  • interest in French drama, visits to the theatre, great actors of the day, Miss Rowden’s inspiring influence, 82-88;
  • an incident of school life, 88-91;
  • leaves school, 1802, recollections of old Reading, 92-99;
  • removal of family to Bertram House, 99-100;
  • her visit to Northumberland with her father, guests of Lord and Lady Murray Aynsley, visits to Alnwick Castle, Morpeth and Cheviot Hills, returns home, 104-109;
  • early poems published in 1810-11, successful, 119-121;
  • describes performances of “Greek tragedies,” by Dr. Valpy’s pupils, 121-123;
  • short visit to London, 123-125;
  • writes of Cobbett and Sir Francis Burdett, 126-128;
  • introduced to Sir William Elford, becomes his chosen correspondent, their interesting letters, 128-133;
  • in London in June, 1814, witnesses the assemblage of Crowned Heads on the fall of Napoleon, sees the Duke of Wellington, 134-137;
  • an ovation to M. R. M. at a public meeting, 137-139;
  • more loss of money owing to her father’s gambling, 139-140;
  • flattering recognition by
  • American publishers, 141-143;
  • Sir William Elford’s visit to Bertram House, their correspondence resumed, writes of singers and actors of the day, and distinguished writers, 144-155;
  • Haydon’s “Judgment of Solomon,” describes the artist, 156-158;
  • further losses of property, forced to quit Bertram House, the family settle in Three Mile Cross, M. R. M.’s detailed account of their cottage and the village, 161-178;
  • describes village scenes, and a sunset over the Loddon, 182-189;
  • The Talking Lady, 190-196;
  • describes her garden, a quack doctor, 196-202;
  • publication of Our Village, the opening paragraph, letters received about it, its early success, 203-211;
  • Patty’s New Hat, 212-217;
  • a fog in the country, Mrs. Heman’s words, 217-220;
  • tries hand at tragedy, Foscari and Julian approved by Macready, Foscari performed at Covent Garden Theatre, 1826, M. R. M. present and describes its success, 221-229;
  • writes Rienzi, produced at Drury Lane Theatre, its great success, M. R. M. in town, letters of congratulation, performed in New York, tribute from James Crissy, 230-240;
  • her stories of two émigrés neighbours, 241-249;
  • describes visits to Southampton, Bath, Richmond Park, and Hampton Court, 250-259;
  • writes of Ufton Court and its associations, 264-270;
  • writes of Three Mile Cross in 1830, The Black Velvet Bag, 271-282;
  • stories of eccentric neighbours, 283-291;
  • attends country Mayings and visits Silchester, 292-301;
  • a trip to Aberleigh (Arborfield) on the Loddon, 302-306;
  • stories of gipsies, 306-314;
  • her friendship with James T. Fields, his visit to Three Mile Cross, also visits from William Howett, George Ticknor, and Daniel Webster, 315-325;
  • words on her mother’s death, letter to a child, 325-327;
  • stays with Sergeant Talfourd, receives warm welcome from leading writers, correspondence with Miss Barrett (afterwards Mrs. Barrett Browning), 328-334;
  • pecuniary anxieties, receives pension, undertakes fresh literary work, 334-337;
  • writes on first appearance of Pickwick, 337-338;
  • publication of Belford Regis, and Country Stories, Our Village, translated into Spanish, 339-340;
  • writes to William Harness on Church reforms, 340-341;
  • death of her father, 1842, resolves to pay all his debts but whole sum subscribed by
  • friends, receives constant supply of books from Mr. George Lovejoy, little Henry, adopted child of the family, 341-345;
  • her interest in Modern Painters and friendship for Ruskin, her words on Browning’s poems, Hans Andersen in London, 345-349;
  • letters to Mr. Fields, Country Stories republished, commencing her Recollections of a Literary Life, an Italian exile in Three Mile Cross, her views on Louis Napoleon, receives a visit from
  • Dr. Spencer Hall, decides to leave Three Mile Cross, her farewell to the village, 350-359;
  • settles at Swallowfield, describes her cottage and garden, visits[**P3 1st i missing] from Mr. Fields, Mr. James Payne and others, her affection for the Russells of Swallowfield Park, 360-365;
  • her interest on works of Longfellow, Hawthorne, O. W. Holmes, and Whittier, 366-368;
  • Recollections of a Literary Life published, its success in America, her admiration of Jane Austen’s works, her remarks on Shelley and on Saint Bouve, writes introduction to her dramatic works, 368-370;
  • her severe accident, her courage, cheerful letters to Mr. Fields, kind attentions from far and near, visits from Mr. Ticknor, writes Atherton and Other Stories,
  • dedicated to Lady Russell, its great success, 370-376;
  • her last illness, her delight in beauty of nature to the end, her last letter to Mr. Fields, her death, January 1st, 1855, buried in Swallowfield churchyard, 376-380
  • Molière, M. R. M.’s early delight in his comedies, 84-85
  • “Monsieur” (Le Conte d’Artois) visits Lord and Lady Aynsley in Bocking Deanery, 114-118
  • N
  • North, Christopher (John Wilson), his amusing scene in the “Noctes Ambrosianæ” upon the publication of Our Village, 209-211
  • O
  • Our Village, publication of, March, 1824, its success, etc. (see under Mary Russell Mitford), 203-211
  • P
  • Pepys (Samuel), M. R. M. on his “Memoirs,” 153
  • Pickwick, publication of, 31 March, 1836, its great success, 337-338
  • Pope (Alexander), M. R. M.’s early remarks on him as a letter writer and poet, 132-133;
  • quotation from Rape of the Lock, 258-259;
  • its heroine Belinda, 260-263
  • R
  • Racine, his “Athalie,” 221
  • Reading (“Belford Regis”), removal of Mitford family to, 1791, 22-23;
  • M. R. M.’s early recollections of, 25, 56-59, 63-65;
  • shopping adventures, 271-282
  • Recollections of a Literary Life, by M. R. M., 352;
  • published in January, 1852, its success in America, 368
  • Rienzi, M. R. M.’s tragedy of, performed at Drury Lane, October 4, 1828, 232-235 (see under Mary Russell Mitford)
  • Rowden, Miss, a teacher in the school in Hans Place, her inspiring influence on M. R. M., 68, 85-88
  • Russell, Dr., Rector of Ashe, his daughter marries Dr. Mitford, 2
  • Russell, Lady, of Swallowfield Park, 365, 371;
  • M. R. M.’s Atherton dedicated to her, 375
  • S
  • St. Quintin, M., arrival in Reading, becomes head of Abbey School, marries the English teacher, removes School to Hans Place, London, 1798, M. R. M. becomes their pupil, 64-68;
  • his hospitality to émigrés, 74-91
  • Sedgwick, American authoress, her letters to M. R. M., 220, 326-327
  • Seward, Anna, “Swan of Lichfield,” M. R. M.’s early
  • strictures on her writing, 130-132
  • Shakespeare, William, M. R. M.’s early appreciation of Much Ado About Nothing, 133
  • Shelley (Percy Bysshe), M. R. M. on his poems, 369
  • Sherwood, Mrs. (née Butt), sees M. R. M. when a child, 23-25;
  • her recollections of Abbey School, Reading, 64-65
  • Swallowfield, M. R. M. residing at, 360-380
  • Swallowfield Park, abode of the Russell family, 365
  • T
  • Talfourd Sergeant, author of Ion, present at performance of Foscari, 222-224;
  • M. R. M. at his house in London, interesting society, 328-330
  • Three Mile Cross, prototype of Our Village, description of, 156-183 (see under Mary Russell Mitford)
  • Ticknor, George (American author and publisher), describes visit to M. R. M. at Three Mile Cross in 1835, 323;
  • visits her at Swallowfield, 374
  • Trollope, Mrs. (authoress), describes performance of Rienzi in New York, 236
  • U
  • Ufton Court (in Berkshire), description of, 260-269
  • V
  • Valpy, Dr., headmaster of Reading Grammar School, man of great influence, 62-65;
  • introduces acting of Greek tragedy in original language, described by M. R. M., 121-123
  • Voltaire, M. R. M. reading his tragedies at school, 83
  • W
  • Walpole (Horace), M. R. M.’s admiration for his letters, 132;
  • her words upon him, 257
  • Webster, Daniel (American statesman and author), his visit to Three Mile Cross described by M. R. M., 323-325
  • Whittier (John Greenleaf), M. R. M.’s admiration of his “Massachusetts to Virginia,” 352;
  • and of his poem on Burns, 368
  • Wordsworth, William, his personality described by M. R. M., 328-329
  • Y
  • Young, Charles Mayne, performs leading rôle in Rienzi, 232-235