Note 20 — Chapter IV

[Lady Blessington had a good deal more talent and reading than Mr. Greville gives her credit for. Several years of her agitated life were spent in the country in complete retirement, where she had no resources to fall back upon but a good library. She was well read in the best English authors, and even in translations of the classics; but the talent to which she owed her success in society was her incomparable tact and skill in drawing out the best qualities of her guests. What Mr. Greville terms her vulgarity might be more charitably described as her Irish cordiality and bonhomie. I have no doubt that her ‘Conversations with Lord Byron’ were entirely written by herself. It is true that, writing, as she did, to make money, many of her other books were exceedingly worthless.]