(1720 - 92), 1st dau. of Henry Drax of Ellerton Abbey, Yorks; m. 1 1744 4th E. of Berkeley (d. 1755), 2 1757 1st E. Nugent [I] (d. 1788).
1778 - 9 Florence (Oct. - Nov. 1778), Rome (by 28 Nov.), Naples (by 5 Jan. 1779), Rome (Feb.)
Elizabeth, Countess of Nugent, travelled under the name of her first husband as the Countess of Berkeley. She was accompanied by her daughter Lady Louisa Nugent. Notorious for her gallantries, the Countess's second marriage was at an end; Lord Nugent had disowned Lady Louisa, their second daughter, and Horace Mann, reporting their arrival in Florence in October 1778, reserved his most disparaging remarks for the Countess.1 On 17 November Mann noted the ladies' departure for Rome and Naples;2 Devereux Mytton saw her in Rome in November,3 and Sir William Hamilton confirmed their arrival in Naples on 5 January 1779 with Lord and Lady Maynard and the Bishop of Derry and his wife.4 Lady Hervey wrote that in Naples the Countess was 'in an agony to get away before the earth opens up and swallows up all this city which she is convinc'd will be the case'.5 When she returned to Rome 'she gave a ball, and many English absented themselves'6 and she maintained a feud with 'Lady Susan' [Lucan?].7 In March 1779 Walpole speculated on the Countess's activities at Naples, unaware that she had already left the city.6
Lady Louisa, meanwhile, was described by Martin Sherlock as speaking Italian and French, passionately fond of painting and a most accomplished singer; trained by Giuseppe Millico, 'I have seen her several times enchant the most critical judges of Rome and Naples', he said, going on to ennumerate her considerable physical charms.8
1. Wal.Corr., 24:417 - 18. 2. Eg.2641, f.103 (to Hamilton). 3. Mytton letters MSS (28 Nov. 1778). 4. SP 93/31 (Hamilton, 5 Jan. 1779). 5. Childe-Pemberton, 1:229 (25 Jan. 1779). 6. Wal.Corr., 24:451n10. 7. Swinburne, Courts, 1:233 - 4. 8. Letters from an English Traveller, [1780], 120 - 2.