With her husband sailing towards Copenhagen as Captain of the Ganges, and soon to fight alongside Nelson in the glorious battle of that port, Betsy Fremantle was busy keeping house at Swanbourne in Buckinghamshire. The following diary account of a party at Swanbourne would not be out of place in Jane Austen's novels.

Swanbourne, 13th February. Monday. Lady Buckingham arrived soon after nine o’clock with Lord George, Lady Mary and Mr. Martin. We breakfasted in the Library and she admired much the House. She saw all my brats and was very civil to old Mrs Fremantle who had not seen her for some years. She left us at eleven and the moment she was gone I was busy in clearing my room for this evening’s dance, preparing the supper table &c. We dined in Capt. Fremantle’s dressing room. Miss Chaplin came in the morning and little Harriet Howard who I asked to please her Mamma and is the ugliest little ape I ever saw.

Did Betsy Fremantle ever expect her diaries to be read? If she did she might not have called poor little Harriet Howard "the ugliest ape I ever saw"! Lady Buckingham is my mother, Lord George and Lady Mary my brother and sister. Mr Martin is Abbé Martin, an exiled French catholic priest. My mother, sister and the Wynne sisters are all Catholics (Betsy Fremantle was Betsy Wynne before her marriage).

The party began at eight:

We all dressed after dinner and our company began to assemble at eight o’clock—Miss Heslop, Miss Bennett and her brother, five Miss Pouletts and their brother, General Poulett was ill but paid me a great compliment by sending all his children—Mr. and Mrs. Howard, Dr. Millner, Wodley, the Blicks, Capt. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Harman, five Lowndes, a Mr. Oddy and another friend they brought, in all we were thirty-four. Dancing was kept up with much spirit and thirteen couples had just room enough in the Library. We supped at twelve, our table in the dining room held twenty-two, the rest were in the Dressing room. Supper was very good and all went off better I expected. Dancing soon recommenced and was kept up till half-past four; I was so lame I could not dance and played Casino with Mrs. Fremantle. Everybody seemed much pleased with the party… Mr. Wodley was a great treat.

It is amusing that a Miss Bennett is mentioned as this might have been a scene out of Pride and Prejudice. Among the five Miss Pouletts was Anne Lucy who was falling in love with my brother Lord George.

Chandos Temple

Twelfth day kept in the most charming manner for the amusement of the children et toutes les jeunes personnes—Ld Temple being King & Justine Queen two thrones were erected—they were crowned & danced in their costume with the children as Pages bearing their trains, which had a very good effect. General Poulett as Chamberlain acted his part delightfully—Ld George Prince of Wales, &c. &c. Too much kissing was allowed. My brats danced & enjoyed themselves, Je me contentaide les admirer.

Lord Temple is of course myself. General Poulett of Addington is a family friend, for now. Lord George, my amorous brother. Justine (also Justina) is Betsy’s beautiful dreamy sister. That's her on the right above with her sister Harriet. 

Chandos Buckingham

My distant cousin Lady Nugent is a great diarist. Her journal is mostly written in India and the West Indies. Modern day readers of the Journal will find that dear Maria is small in stature, emotional, deeply religious, loving to her children and compassionate to her slaves. She also has a playful aspect, which does help lighten the spirit during our long Christmas gatherings at Stowe. She writes:

Stowe. Am amused to find that my old maid, Johnson, passed herself on the French valets de chambre for having been a maid of honour, in foreign parts, where; she assured them, I had been a queen! This accounts for poor nurse’s anxiety, to be dressed smarter than usual every evening; for I suppose she passed for a maid of honour also.

Chandos Buckingham