LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - FEBRUARY 24, 2019 by Lynne Belluscio I’ve been watching the PBS series, “Victoria”, and it brought to mind that Jacob LeRoy’s sister, Caroline, (who was Daniel Webster’s second wife), toured Europe with her husband, and they were invit- ed to Queen Victoria’s court. It is documented in Caroline’s 1839 diary. As I reread her account of being in London, I thought I should see if there was more information and dis- covered another diary written by her friend, Harriette Story Paige who accompanied the Websters on the trip. Harriette’s husband was related to Daniel Webster’s first wife. The Paig- es and the Websters were very good friends. ( In fact, Harriette named one of her daughters, Caroline LeRoy Paige.) Also accompanying themwas Daniel Webster’s 20-year old daughter Julia. In fact, Julia would be married to Samuel Appleton in St. George’s Church while they were in England. Daniel Web- ster was the senior member of the party. Born in 1782, he was 57 on this trip. He had just lost his attempt to run for president on the Whig ticket and had de- cided to travel to Europe as a private citizen, not as a repre- sentative of the United States. Yet his reputation preceded him, and the Websters were wined and dined for the seven months they toured England and France. Queen Victoria was only 20 when the Websters were in England. She had ascended the throne in 1837 when she was 18 and was crowned in 1838. At the time of the Webster visit, she had not become engaged to Prince Albert. (They would marry in 1840.) Caroline’s diary describes their visits to the countryside, and cathedrals, and art galler- ies. She briefly describes the visits with the Queen: “Supper was superb and the gold on the side board of every device and enough to dazzle one. The par- ty consisted of about 30... The queen conversed across the table with Lord Palmerston. The room full of mirrors, fine paintings, side tables covered with gold. . . .the queen rises and we all follow. She passes through for about ten minutes - then returns - Her majesty laughed and talked with per- fect ease, with me - said Julia was not my own child; spoke of the manner of spelling Mr. P’s name and the singular ti- tles given her . . hoped I would come back to London - When the Queen stands everyone must, but I became very tired. The coffee was introduced as soon as we entered the draw- ing rooms. Julia danced in the Queens cotillion. I left after the Queens dance as I was very tired. A very splendid party. I like the Queen very much – she has fine spirits, laughed and was very animated. I had a very pleasant time.” Harriette’s account is much more detailed and describes what everyone was wearing in great detail: “Mrs. Webster wore an embroidered pink silk, Julia a white tulle over satin, trimmed with pink roses,and I was dressed in a rose colored silk with a deep flounce of thread lace, the waist trimmed with a berthe . . . ornamented also with a garniture of pink and silver flowers. The queen was dressed in a blue crepe over white, ornamented with roses, the center of each, being set with a large brilliant, and a wreath of roses on her head, each rose with one of those precious gems. The queen does not sanction the wearing of feathers in dancing. This is considered “mauvais ton.” Her majesty when not dancing (which she did constantly) sat on a raised platform, on one side of the ballroom, surround- ed by her family, court, and also by the Marchioness of West- minster. The handsome Mar- quis of Douglas was thought to be a prodigious favorite and the Royal eye was kindly bent in that direction. She dances well and appears conscious of it too. We returned in time to see the daylight dawn, sorely fatigued both in mind and body.” The queen wore a white point lace dress, of the richest pattern over satin, her hair sim- ply dressed with flowers, inter- mingled with diamonds, and a diamond bandeau, with the broad blue velvet belt, or Order of the Garter, across her shoul- der and chest, meeting under the arm. As I looked at her, I could not but confess, that had she not been distinguished by that blue order, (worn by no other female in England), she would have entirely escaped my notice, or recollection. Her Majesty is not pretty, is very short, inclining to “en bon point,” her hair is light and her eyes a greyish blue. “ And the evening meal was de- scribed in detail: “ The dishes were mostly French, and high- ly and tastefully ornamented. An abundance of fruits, such as pines*, which are very de- licious and grown in pineries*, strawberries and cherries (fruit is more costly than with us, and frequently grown under glass), champagne, and selter water, which they mingle with the for- mer, and ices of all kinds . . . The side-board was in a raised niche, covered and hung with crimson velvet, and ornament- ed with a massive gold can- delabra, and wax candles, and was literally groaning under the weight of the very superb gold plate with which it was covered. This exhibition struck us all, as magnificent in the ex- treme, not only beyond what we had ever seen, but what we ever dreamed of. The blaze of jewelry was also astounding.” * Pines and pinery is a refer- ence to pineapples that were grown in special greenhouses called pineries. Caroline LeRoy meets Queen Victoria