The Ladies of Llangollen | Page 8

LOCK OF "MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS" HAIR.
INTERESTING MISCELLANIES, CURIOSITIES AND RELICS,
VIZ.
Very fine missals, beautifully illuminated; autographs of numerous
renowned personages, particularly a letter by "Charles the First" to
Lady Fisher, from Whitehall, during his confinement; presentation
snuff boxes, many of value, and most with lines of dedication; relics of
great antiquity, and many of modern date, presented by travellers,
forming altogether a Museum of great interest and amusement.

SEVERAL REMARKABLY FINE CAMEOS AND INTAGLIOS.
A MODEL OF THE WARWICK VASE, IN SILVER,
Richly Chased, most exquisite in Workmanship and perfectly Unique.
Many curious models, bronze busts, and in Sevres bisquit; MUSICAL
AND OTHER ELEGANT CLOCKS, in ormolu; China essence, and
flower vases; a large
AEolian harp, telescopes, microscopes, &c.
AN EXTENSIVE AND VALUABLE LIBRARY OF BOOKS,
Comprising many Thousand Volumes, elegantly bound in folio, quarto,
and
octavo, (large and small.)
A SERIES OF ETCHINGS.
THE POWER AND PROGRESS OF GENIUS,
EXECUTED BY
THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH,
AND PRESENTED BY HER
TO THE PRINCESS AMELIA;

AN AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM
THE PRESENT KING OF FRANCE,
Accompanying the Memoirs du Duc de Montressor, in scarlet and
morocco, a present from His Majesty to Lady Butler and Miss
Ponsonby; with many other contributions and valuable presents from
persons of the highest
rank and literary acquirements to these highly gifted Ladies.
PICTURES, VALUABLE DRAWINGS, AND PRINTS,
In frames and in portfolios, comprising a collection the most choice and
valuable, many by the first Artists of the day, Portraits of Kings,
exalted and renowned Characters, and Views of the most celebrated

Scenery
of various Countries. A small quantity of
RARE WINES AND LIQUEURS;
Viz., Old Port, Sherry, Madeira, Lisbon, Bucellas, Vidonia, Maraschino,
Noyeau, Eau de la Reine, and other estimable Liqueurs.
0. The entire Sale will be on View at the Chateau from the 4th to the
13th of August.
The CATALOGUES will be ready Three Weeks prior to the Sale; and
may be had at 3s. each, at the Villa; Phillips's Hotel, and the King's
Head, Llangollen; the Lion, Shrewsbury; the Owen Glendower,
Corwen; the Great Hotel, at Bangor; the Waterloo Hotel, Liverpool; the
Hen and Chickens, Birmingham; York Hotel, Bath; of Mr. Guernon,
Molesworth-street, Dublin, and at Mr. GEORGE ROBINS' Offices,
Covent Garden."

The present occupiers were also purchasers of many of the rare
"curiosities and relics."
We shall now proceed to cite the descriptions which have been put
upon record by several distinguished and popular authors, relative to
the "Ladies of Llangollen."
It appears from Volume VI. of the published Letters of the late Miss
Anna Seward, that a friendly intimacy was cultivated between that
clever _literateur_ and the recluses of Plas Newydd; and it would seem
from her correspondence, that their tastes were very comprehensive and
multifarious; poetry and politics, music and mystery, tragedy and tattle,
being alike acceptable. In a letter addressed to Lady Eleanor Butler and
Miss Ponsonby, under date Lichfield, October 4, 1802, Miss Seward
exclaims:--
"Ah! dearest ladies, it is under the pressure of a severe cold, fierce
cough, and inflamed lungs, that I address you. A duty so delightful had,

but for this incapacitating malady, been earlier paid.
"I have to thank dear Miss Ponsonby for a manuscript of many verses,
which she had the goodness to make for me in hours so engrossed,
amid engagements so indispensable. I had the honour to receive it as I
was stepping into the chaise which was to convey Mrs. Smith and
myself far from that Edenic region