One of the literary people befriended by Lady Cork was Thomas Hogg, a poet that she picked up in a ditch (he was a hedger and ditcher). She clothed and fed him, and had a bed made up for him in her stables. Great was the astonishment of Mrs. Opie and her friends when this "man in a slop" (an unbleached linen garment, worn by labourers) arrived, escorted by Lady Cork's footman, to read out his poem on Hope.
Though Lady Cork was famed for the excellence of her dinners, she was very temperate both in eating and drinking. Her usual drink was barley water. She chose to dress in pure white, and always wore a white crepe cottage bonnet, and a white satin shawl, trimmed with the finest point lace. She was never seen in a cap, and, although so old, her complexion, which was really pink and white, not put on, but her own natural colour, was beautiful. She had often been at the court of France during the reign of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette, and never forgot what the Princess de Joinville once told her, that "neatness is the beauty of old age." She was very fond of birds, especially parrots and macaws, and once invited all the birds of her acquaintance to a party, in order that she might decide which was the cleverest. The winning bird was presented with a little gold collarette, from which a medal was suspended.
Lord Lansdowne said that he called on Lady
