Eliza Courtney

Unlike her mother's legitimate children from her marriage, Eliza was not raised as part of the Devonshire House set in London.

Several anguish-ridden poems from mother to daughter survive; two are reproduced below: And yet remote from public view Flower there is of timid hue, Beneath a sacred shade it grows, But sweet in native fragrance blows.

My bosom struggles with its pain And checks the wishes form'd in vain; Yet when I perchance supremely blest, I hold the floweret to my breast, Enraptur'd watch its purple glow And blessings (all I have) bestow.

The gentle fragrance soothes my care And fervent is my humble prayer That no dread evil may beset My sweet but hidden violet.

[1] Unhappy child of indiscretion, poor slumberer on a breast forlorn pledge of reproof of past transgression Dear tho' unfortunate to be born

For thee a suppliant wish addressing To Heaven thy mother fain would dare But conscious blushes stain the blessing And sighs suppress my broken prayer

But in spite of these my mind unshaken In present duty turns to thee Tho' long repented ne'er forgotten Thy days shall lov'd and guarded be

And tho' to rank and wealth a stranger Thy life a humble course must run Soon shalt thou learn to fly the danger Which I too late have learnt to shun

Thou art innocent[2] Georgiana was allowed to see her daughter occasionally when the Greys brought Eliza to London, and acted as a sort of unofficial godmother.

In 1809, Eliza's "quasi-sister" (but actual aunt) Lady Hannah Althea Grey, widow of George Edmund Byron Bettesworth, married MP and trader the Rt.

[6] After a distinguished speakership of the House of Commons, Eliza's husband was created Viscount Hampden; later still he inherited from his brother the Barony of Dacre.

[7] Eliza died on 2 May 1859, at the age of 67, and was buried on 7 May at Kensal Green Cemetery, when her address was stated as Queen's Hotel, Norwood, and 2, Cadogan Place.