The ‘Grand’ Scandal
Anindita Mazumder
She was the belle of Chandernagore, the bride of a British civilian in Bengal by the age of fifteen and only a year later, the Indian flame of Philip Francis, member of the Council and bete noire of Warren Hastings, the then Governor General. Following the scandal she disappeared only to reappear in the French shores to become a mistress and then wife to Talleyrand, the French Foreign Minister of Napoleon Bonaparte. In this edition, we recount the tale of Calcutta’s greatest beauty, Madame Grand, later Princesse de Benevento who created a stir, both in the heart and society wherever she went.
Catherine Noel Werlee was born on the Indian shores at Travancore, the daughter of a Danish port officer at Chandernagore and went on to marry the Company’s official, Mr. George Francoise Grand in 1777. A rare beauty, her strange fortune riveted the attention of Philip Francis in Calcutta society as well those of fashionable society of Europe in her matured years.
Dr. Busteed during his painstaking research found every authority testifying her beauty, particularly her luxuriant, blonde tresses “the crowning glory” of a woman. “Mrs Grand was at that time most beautiful woman in Calcutta. She was tall, most elegantly formed, the stature of a nymph, a complexion of unequalled delicacy, and auburn hair of the most luxuriant profusion; fine blue eyes, with black eyelashes and brows gave her countenance a most piquant singularity,” was the elaborate description, recorded by Dr. Busteed.
On the other hand Philip Francis was also a strikingly handsome man-tall, erect, well proportioned physique with classical features in addition to rare mental endowments. His manner towards ladies was said to be characterised by an air of easy politeness and attention marked with deferential admiration. He was nearly thirty-eight years of age as against Mrs Grand’s fifteen.
By Mr. Grand’s own admission he had become a part of Warren Hastings’ family and enjoyed his confidence since he was entrusted the responsibility of transcribing the Governor-General’s documents and secret papers. The newly married couple lived at a red garden house in Alipore, a short distance from the town. On the fateful night, December 8, 1778, Grand, described to be a large man had hurried to supper with Barwell who was in the habit of entertaining his friends every evening at Le Gallais Tavern in town. Scarcely had he sat down when a messenger brought the news that Council member, Francis who lives behind the playhouse had been surprised in his wife’s room. He rushed to Hastings’ military secretary, Major William Palmer to accompany him home. However, when they reached home they found to their utter surprise that there was no trace of Francis while his jemadar kept Francis’ friend George Shee tightly secured, two of the city’s prominent citizen, Shore and Archdekin were entreating his release. The jemadar said he had caught Francis as he came out the lady’s apartment but these gentlemen had rushed in responding to loud whistles from the prisoner. In the melee Francis escaped and the servant instead, had held his friend as a proof of his guilt. Shore said he and Archdekin were in a neighbouring house when Shee had entreated them to come and prevent Francis from being murdered. Asking his servants to release the prisoner, Grand spent the night at Palmer’s house, returning without meeting his wife. The next day Francis was invited for a duel by Grand but the former declined maintaining that he was an unsuccessful lover and Mrs. Grand had not responded to his advances. Attempts to hush up the matter added insult to injury. Dr. Busteed concluded that perhaps Francis had decided this was the best course to save Mrs. Grand’s reputation because it would have been difficult to hush it up once the duel had taken place.
Grand then proceeded to part with his wife but not before lodging a case before three judges of the Supreme Court- Hyde, Impey and Chambers. Although Francis’ guilt was not substantiated the Court held that Grand should be compensated for the wrong done in injuring his wife’s reputation. Francis was to pay Rs 50,000 and as the Chief Justice was delivering his judgement, Hyde, up in excitement for the cause of morality, cried out, “Siccas, siccas, brother Impey,” since the worth of siccas was 11 per cent more than that of rupees. HEA Cotton had himself found the yellowing receipt of the siccas in the archives of the High Court.
Grand claimed he never set his eyes on his wife again whom he left with his in-laws. Mrs. Grand left India after few months before Francis left for home. Busteed after great research found that she had been accompanied by Thomas Lewin of the Madras Civil Service who later stayed with her for some years at Paris but then returned to England after settling an annuity upon her. Busteed’s painstaking research found her in Paris, moving in the first circles of fashionable society as a mistress to Tallyrand. Her Indian connection made her an enigmatic Nordic beauty though not a bright one. But in 1802 it was Napoleon Bonaparte who after discovering that Tallyrand’s demi-official functions as the Foreign Minister were being held by Madam Grand ordered a marriage. Grand who had already consented to a divorce and was rewarded with the appointment of Privy Councillor at the Cape of Good Hope by the Frenchified States of the Batavian Republic. But his wife’s matrimonial venture was not successful as she separated from Tallyrand soon after the Battle of Waterloo and lived apart till her death in 1835.