A Family Piece

This wonderful cartoon is by 14 year old Anne Lindsay. She provides a candid view of a social occasion in her family home at Balcarres sometime in 1808. The names were added 50 years later, by her son Robert. He has not included the names of the Duke, the Marquis, or the sleeping man with the Garter Star on his breast.

The sketch

Anne was about 14 when she drew this snapshot cartoon of her family and friends at a party in Balcarres House. The drama is enlivened with speech bubbles, transcribed below: The first detail: Alexander 6th Earl of Balcarres: Robert, you see everyone. How’s their game to play, eh? Hon. Robert Lindsay: Mine shall be Morrits if you please Hon. Mrs Robert Lindsay: Now, my dear Johnny, you may acknowledge that you are a great deal better Lady Charlotte Lindsay: Go!! I have no patience for you, what with your bleedings, blisterings, cuppings, purges, pills, and quackery — I think you will finish yourself Hon Col. John Lindsay: Ah, palsy, Oh, Destroy, Oh, Apoplexy, Oh, Death !!! Bishop of Kildare: God bless you, my dear brother. How do you do? Hon. Mrs Hugh Lindsay: Do you think so, Hugh? Hon. Hugh Lindsay: Ah, Charles, How do you do? What a fine turtle feast we had yesterday!

Second detail: Lady Hardwicke: Oh, Margaret, do contrive to take Elizabeth away from the Duke! Colonel James Lindsay: Mrs Martin, it’s really prima to see these ladies maneouvering, just look at Lady _____ Lady Margaret Fordyce: Sweetest, pray come into the next room with me, for I have something to shew you. Mrs Martin: Hush! The Duke: Upon my word, it’s very like James; how beautifully you have done it. Lady Elizabeth Lindsay: Do you know, I’m quite pleased you have found it out so soon

Third detail: Lady Anne Barnard: Is it Nannie? Who did it dance with last night? Lady Anne Lindsay: That must remain a mystry, Aunt Anne Lady Stuart of Rothesay: I am glad, Marquis, that you are going to the ball, tonight Marquis: Will you do me the honour to dance with me? Lady Caledon: Now do pray come into our Opera Box before you go to the Ball

James Lindsay: Damn ye all !!!