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96 The Translator’s Invisibilitydomestic values, however different from those that influenced theperiodical reviewers and Lamb.George Lamb (1784–1834) was born into the same aristocraticmilieu as Nott, but thirty years later. The fourth and youngest sonof Penniston, Viscount Melbourne, he practiced law for a shortWhile, but left it to pursue various literary and theatrical interests,reviewing for the Edinburgh, contributing prologues to revivals atthe Drury Lane, and writing a comic opera that was staged atCovent Garden (Gentleman’s Magazine 1834:437–438; DNB). Heeventually entered politics, first as an MP in the Duke ofDevonshire’s interest and then, on the accession of the Whigministry, as Under Secretary of State to his brother William, LordMelbourne. In 1809, George married Caroline St. Jules, one of theDuke of Devonshire’s illegitimate children with Lady Foster;George’s own birth was illegitimate, the result of LadyMelbourne’s adultery with the Prince of Wales. Everyoneconcerned knew of these relations. 16 It was Lamb who informedCaroline of her father’s identity a few years before their marriage.The Duke gave her a dowry of £30,000; Lamb’s response was that“I can only thank him by devoting my future life to Caroline’shappiness” (Posonby 1955:4). The knowledge of these relationsextended past the family. In the obituary on Lamb in theGentleman’s Magazine, Caroline was described as “a relation of theDuke of the Devonshire” (Gentleman’s Magazine 1834:438). Still,everything was treated very discreetly. Lady Foster concocted agenealogy to explain Caroline’s unusual name, “a certain obscureComte de St. Jules being the supposed father” (Posonby 1955:4).The most public scandal in Lamb’s family did not involve him: in1812, Lady Caroline Lamb, his brother William’s wife, was engagedin a notorious affair with Byron. George himself seems to havebeen happily married. His obituary referred to “the tranquillity ofhis domestic life,” stating that with the “estimable” Caroline, “ofa character entirely assorting with his own, he enjoyed the truestdomestic felicity” (Gentleman’s Magazine 1834:438).Lamb’s life attests to the fact that the increasing moral conservatismof English society during this period was affecting not only the middleand working classes, but the aristocracy as well. This bourgeoiscultural movement toward moral reform, spurred by the rise ofEvangelical Christianity and accompanied by the institution of variousphilanthropic “societies,” led to the proliferation of moral and religioustracts and continued the bowdlerization of literary texts that