"snug little nut-shell" of a house was the rallying place for all that was best and brightest in Dublin Society. Moore records in his diary that he dined there. He says (April 21, 1823)—"Dined at Lady Morgan's. Company, Lords Cloncurry and Dunsany, old Hamilton Rowan, and Burne, the barrister. The style of the dinner quite comme il faut. In the evening, a most crowded soiree—Ladies Cloncurry, Cecilia La Louche, Catalani came late." Another time he relates that he dined with the Morgans, no one but themselves at dinner, and a large party in the evening, the party a very pretty one, a great many beauties, and some of Rossini's things sung very well by the Clarkes (Lady Morgan's "harmonious nieces"). I sang also, and with no ordinary success."
Lady Morgan prided herself on her cooking. She says, "I dressed half the dinner myself, which everybody allowed was excellent. It matters little how great dinners should be dressed, but small ones should be exquisite."
Lady Morgan, as a woman of society, is described by Dr. Maginn in the following lines—
And dear Lady Morgan, see, see, how she comes.
With her pulses all beating for freedom like drums.
So Irish, so modest, so mixtish, so wild,
So committing herself, when she talks like a child;
So trim, yet so easy, petite yet big-hearted,
That truth and she, try all she can, won't be parted!
