Rosa Bathurst, known as “the Angel Girl,” was a beauty with grace. She was the middle child of Benjamin Bathurst, who left behind a wife and three children when he mysteriously disappeared. This article explores the tragic events surrounding Rosa’s life and untimely death in 1824.
Key points
Rosa’s Life in Rome
In the winter of 1823-1824, Rosa stayed with her uncle and aunt, Lord and Lady Aylmer, in Rome. The winter was harsh, and everyone eagerly awaited spring. On March 16, 1824, the Aylmers, Rosa, and the Duc de Montmorency-Laval, the French Ambassador, planned a ride on the Campagna.
The Fateful Ride
As the group prepared to ride, they discovered that Lord Aylmer’s horse was lame. Montmorency offered his horse, but Aylmer, recovering from an illness, hesitated to ride an unfamiliar mount. They decided to take a gentler route instead. Montmorency’s groom dismounted and lent his horse to Aylmer, then walked to the French embassy to get another horse.
With Rosa and Montmorency leading the way, the Aylmers followed, along with a nervous English girl and her groom. They took a longer route around Villa Borghese and the Austrian College, allowing Montmorency’s groom time to catch up.
A Dangerous Path
The younger riders were eager to canter, so Montmorency suggested a shortcut through a vineyard. However, when they arrived, they found the gate locked. The Duc led them along a narrow path beside the Tiber River. As they navigated the winding trail, Lady Aylmer asked the nervous girl to dismount and lead her horse.
Lord Aylmer rode back to reassure the women that the path would soon widen. Unfortunately, Rosa’s horse became frightened and tried to turn around. Lady Aylmer shouted a warning, but it was too late. The horse lost its footing and slid down the steep bank into the Tiber.
A Desperate Rescue
Lady Aylmer jumped off her horse to save Rosa, but she was too late. Rosa fell into the swollen river, which was rushing with spring meltwater. Lord Aylmer, despite being weakened from his illness, dove into the water to reach his niece. However, the current was too strong, and he struggled to swim against it.
After a failed attempt, he swam to shore, stripped off his wet clothes, and went back in, but Rosa was gone. Lady Aylmer sent the nervous girl and her groom back to Rome to raise the alarm. With their horses having run off, the Aylmers set off on foot for the Ponte Molle.
The Search for Rosa
Meanwhile, the Duc rode ahead, unaware of the tragedy. The Aylmers, in distress and suffering from the cold, eventually met Lady Coventry, who helped them find a carriage. They were taken home, where Lord Aylmer was put to bed, still recovering from the ordeal.
Search boats scoured the Tiber for Rosa, and the Duke of Devonshire organized a search party. A reward of £50 was offered, but there was no sign of her. Roman society mourned her loss, and many poems were written in her memory. The Aylmers decided to leave Rome, moving to Geneva with Mrs. Bathurst and her remaining daughter, Emmeline.
A Grief-Stricken Discovery
In October, Sir Charles Mills, a friend of Rosa, returned to Rome from Naples. He stopped at the Ponte Molle to remember Rosa. While walking along the riverbank, he noticed two peasants pulling a piece of blue cloth from the sand. Curious, he crossed the river and approached them.
He asked for spades to uncover what lay beneath the sand. To his horror, he discovered Rosa’s body, still dressed in her blue riding habit, her bonnet tied under her chin, and her rings still on her fingers. It looked as if she were merely sleeping, with her hair and clothing untouched except for a small bruise on her forehead.
Final Resting Place
The Minister of Hanover and the Charge d’Affaires of France took charge of Rosa’s body until her family returned to Rome. She was buried at the spot where she fell, and her mother placed a monument in her honor. The inscription read:
“Beneath this stone are interred the remains of Rosa Bathurst who was accidentally drowned in the Tiber on the 16th March 1824, whilst on a riding-party, owing to the swollen state of the river and her spirited horse taking fright. She was the daughter of Benjamin Bathurst, whose disappearance when on a special mission to Vienna some years since was as tragical as it is unaccountable—no positive account of his death ever having been received by his distracted wife. His daughter, who inherited her father’s perfections, both personal and mental, had completed her sixteenth year when she perished by as disastrous a fate.”
Conclusion
Rosa Bathurst’s tragic story is a reminder of the fragility of life. Her beauty and grace left a lasting impression on those who knew her. The mystery surrounding her father’s disappearance adds another layer of sorrow to this family’s history. Today, Rosa’s memory lives on, a poignant tale of love, loss, and the unpredictability of fate.
