Grand Masters of Scotland - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic ...

“Grego’s Green Room of the Opera House always delights me. The formal way in which Mdlle. Mercandotti is standing upon one leg
for the pleasure of Lord Fife and Mr. Ball Hughes [whom she married]; the grave regard directed by Lord Petersham towards that
pretty little maid-a-mischief who is risking her rouge beneath the chandelier; the unbridled decorum of Mdlle. Hullin and the
decorous debauchery of Prince Esterhazy in the distance, make altogether a quite enchanting picture.”
http://www.sakoman.net/pg/html/20001.htm
THE ENGLISH SPY:
An Original Work
CHARACTERISTIC, SATIRICAL, AND HUMOROUS.
COMPRISING SCENES AND SKETCHES IN EVERY RANK OF SOCIETY,
BEING PORTRAITS DRAWN FROM THE LIFE
BY BERNARD BLACKMANTLE
THE ILLUSTRATIONS DESIGNED BY
Robert Cruikshank.
By Frolic, Mirth, and Fancy gay, Old Father Time is borne away.
London:
PUBLISHED by Sherwood, Jones, and co.
PATERNOSTER-row.
1825.
“In this society, I made my first appearance in the green room; a little, narrow, pink saloon at the back of the stage, where the
dancers congregate and practise before an immense looking-glass previous to their appearance in public.
To a fellow of warm imagination and vigorous constitution, such a scene is calculated to create sensations that must send the
circling current into rapid motion, and animate the heart with thrilling raptures of delight. Before the mirror, in all the grace of
youthful loveliness and perfect symmetry of form, the divine little fairy sprite, the all-conquering Andalusian Venus, Mercandotti,
was exhibiting her soft, plump, love-inspiring person in pirouétte: before her stood the now happy swain, the elegant H------ B-, on
whose shoulder rested the Earl of F-e, admiring with equal ecstasy the finished movements of his accomplished protégée [4 see
note below]; on the right hand of the earl stood the single duke of D--------------e, quizzing the little daughter of Terpsichore through
his eye-glass; on the opposite of the circle was seen the noble musical amateur B-----h, supported by the director De R-s on one
hand, and the communicative manager, John Ebers, of Bond-street, on the other; in a snug corner on the right hand of the mirror
was seated one of his majesty’s most honourable privy council, the Earl of W-----d, with a double Dollond’s operatic magnifier in his
hand, studying nature from this most delightful of all miniature models. “A most perfect divinity,” whispered the exquisite. “A
glorious fine study,” said Transit,—and, pulling out his card-case and pencil, retired to one corner of the room, to make a mem., as
he called it, of the scene.
(See Plate.) “Who the deuce is that eccentric-looking creature with the Marquis of Hertford?” said I. “Hush,” replied the exquisite,
“for heaven’s sake, don’t expose yourself! Not to know the superlative roué of the age, the all-accomplished Petersham, would set
you down for a barbarian at once.” “And who,” said I, “is the amiable fair bending before the admiring Worter?” “An old and very
dear acquaintance of the Earl of F-e, Mademoiselle Noblet, who, it is said, displays much cool philosophy at the inconstancy of her
once enamoured swain, consoling herself for his loss, in the enjoyment of a splendid annuity.” A host of other bewitching forms led
my young fancy captive by turns, as my eye travelled round the magic circle of delight: some were, I found, of that yielding spirit,
which can pity the young heart’s fond desire; with others had secured honourable protection: and if his companion’s report was to
be credited, there were very few among the enchanting spirits before yet with whom that happiness which springs from virtuous pure
affection was to be anticipated. If was no place to moralize, but, to you who know my buoyancy of spirit, and susceptibility of mind, I
must confess, the reflection produced a momentary pang of the keenest misery.
Note 4 - It was very generally circulated, and for some time believed, that the charming little Andalusian Venus was the natural
daughter of the Earl of F-e: a report which had not a shadow of truth in its foundation, but arose entirely out of the continued
interest the earl took in the welfare of the lady from the time of her infancy, at which early period she was exhibited on the stage of
the principal theatre in Cadiz as an infant prodigy; and being afterwards carried round (as is the custom in Spain) to receive the
personal approval and trifling presents of the grandees, excited such general admiration as a beautiful child, that the Earl of F-e,
then Lord M- and a general officer in the service of Spain, adopted the child, and liberally advanced funds for her future
maintenance and instruction, extending his bounty and protection up to the moment of her fortunate marriage with her present
husband. It is due to the lady to add, that in every instance her conduct has been marked by the strictest sense of propriety, and
that too in situations where, it is said, every attraction was offered to have induced a very opposite course.”
52. Acting, Sir John Majoribanks of Lees, Bart., M.P. 1816-18 [aka Marjoribanks]
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an11460758-1
Sir John Marjoribanks of Lees, first cousin of Elizabeth Macarthur Onslow
http://www.nesbittnisbet.org.uk/carfin_nisbet.pdf
Walter Nisbet of Mount Pleasant, Nevis, and of Grafton Street, London, born in Nevis
3 January 1745; married at St. Marylebone, London, 19 April 1784, Anne, daughter of
Robert Parry of Plas Newydd, Denbighshire. He died in Nevis 8 December 1797. She
died at Bath 2 December 1819, aged 67.
They had issue-
1. Caroline, born 26 August 1787 ; died unmarried at Bath 30 March 1867.
2. Walter, born at sea 1789 ; Bengal Civil Service 1805-1833; Secretary of the Board
of Trade, Calcutta; died unmarried at Calcutta 11 October 1833.
3. Josiah, born l790; Madras Civil Service 1806-1834; Senior Merchant at Dharwar,
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