THE SALISBURY LINE 237
He died in 1823, a t the age of seventy-five, his wife surviving him by twelve years.
" Old Sarum," as she was irreverently called, remained to the last one of the chief leaders of society. Her " assemblies " were said to be the best of their class in London, and the hostess, a typical " great lady " of the old school, with her fine figure and courtly manners, could not fail to be the centre of attraction. For nearly half a century her Sunday parties and suppers in Arlington Street were frequented by all the most distinguished society in London. To these parties no cards of invitation were sent out. " It was always ' Come to me on Sunday,' to those whom she met in the preceding week, and all the young aspirants were anxious to attract her notice." 1
At one of her parties at Hatfield she had the misfortune to be knocked down by some of the dancers, whereupon a wit, said to have been Lord Lytton, celebrated the occasion in the following verses :
" Conservatives at Hatfield House
Have grown quite harum-scarum ; For Radicals could do no more Than overturn Old Sarum."
To the last she adhered to the state of her early days, going to Court in a sedan chair with magnificent liveries, and driving in the park in a phaeton with four black ponies. Here is a
1 Raikes' Diary, December 2nd, 1835.
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