Star.
London, England, 1824-12-13 00:00:00

LADY HESTER STANHUPE

SYRIA.

It is, perhaps, almost forgotten by many of our,
Readers, that there is still such a being in the world as
Lady Hester Stanhope ; omitted as her Ladyship's
name has long been, in those important communica-
tions which daily announce to the public the various
movements of that class of personages who compose
what is called the fashionable world. But ;ft being
appiised of her existence, they feel any surprise at such
omission, their wonder will probably cease, or change
its object, when they consider the difficulty of obtaining
accurate information of the arrivals and departures,
the spirit and &jennies that take place amongst the
knee amide on the top of Mount Lebanon, or in the de.
setts of Syria, where her Ladyship has for many years
(to use an Arab phrase) pitched her tent. For the ac-
count which we here present our Readers, of this ex-
traordinary woman's establishment and mode of life in
that wild and remote part of the globe, we are indebted
to in interesting extract from a forthcoming volume of
Travels among the Arab tribes inhabiting the countries
east of Syria and Palestine, by Mr. Buckingham,
Editor of the monthly publication, called The Omelet
Herald, who tells his readers, with a degree of candour
and simplicity, that would not ill become the unsa-
phiscated lips of one of Lady Hester's mountain neigh.
hours, that he has substituted, this extract in lieu of a
review of his book, which, in the pages of The Oriental
Herald, ,4 *tight be liable to the imputation of partial,
or interested motives." The author, in the course of
his travels, paid a visit to this Lady, by whom he was
most hospitably entertained, at her residence, near
Seyda ; and consequently he must be enabled to speak
with considerable accuracy on a matter of no small
cur insity, particularly amongst our fair countrywomeiL
Lady Rester Stanhope, soon after the death of her
blend and relative the late Mr. Pitt. being in a declin-
ing state of health, was recommended change of climate,
and she accordingly quitted Eqgland. After travelling
through France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, she stayed
some time at Constantinople ; .thence she proceeded to
Egypt, aisited Cairo. and was the first English Lady
who ever entered the Great Pyramid of Gizvh, near the
r tins of Memphis. After being wrecked on the Island
of Cyprus, she made a journey to Palmyra, in company
with several English Gentlemen, among whom was
Mr. Bruce, one of the delivererrof Lavalette. She also
visited Jerusalem, Damascus, Baalbeck, and all the
places of interest in Syria ; and at length became so
much pleased with the country and the people, that she
determined to.uke up her abode on Mount Lebanon,
for the summer, and on the coast near Sidon for the
winter months, so long at she might feel disposed to ,
remain in the East.
Of her Ladyship's summer residence in the moue-'
taint, Mr. Buckingham does not profess to give a par-
ticular description, as be had not visited it; but he
understood that it was situated on an elevated part of
Lebanon, about midway between the summit and the
more woody belt of the middle region, combining a
proximity to the snowy parts of the hollows, excluded
from the sun, with the enjoyment of fresh air, abundant
water, and agreeable shade.
The winter residence near the sea was originally a
(reek convent, and is let to Lady Hester Stanhope at
a fixed yearly rent. It stands on the brow of a bill,
fronting the sea, about five or six miles from Seyda,
and consists of a number• of separate rooms in a qua-
drangular building that surrounds an inner court made
into a fl rower-garden, into which the doors of all the
rooms open. These rooms, which are neither spacious
nor elegant. are neatly furnished, after the English
manner. Her Ladyship's domestic establishment, at
the period of Mr. Buckingham's visit, consisted of an
English physician, who lived in a separate house at a
distance of less than a mile; an English attendant, and
an English housekeeper; a Levantine Secretary, and a
small n umber of male and female servants of the
country, for the ordinary purposes of labour. She in-
dulged her extreme fondness for beautiful horses by
keeping a small stad of Arabians of the most cele-
brated breed, an which she occasionally took such ex-
ercise only as her health required. She rose generally
at eight ; walked or read 'until ten; breakfasted in the
English manner ; then wrote letters, or dictated to her
secretary; walked or rode on horseback; dined, soon
after sun-set, on fare neither too frugal nor too sump-
;unit- ; spent the evening in conversation, and retired at
midnight. Such were her general habits; but she
never suffered them to interfere with an occasion for
doing good. She maintained a correspondence in seve-
ral languages with people of distinction in most parts
of Europe and India, which, besides the interchange of
sentiments of friendship, was often carried on for the
promotion of some object of utility in the country, and
frequently led to the most happy consequences. The
author seems to have been quite transported with the
captivating charms of her conversation,the frankness and
dignify of her manner, and the extraordinary amiability
of her disposition and character. But his admiration
of her appears to be at least equalled, if not surpassed
by that of the people by whom her Ladyship is sur-
rounded. The costume which Lady Hester wears,
since her residence in Syria, is that of a Turkish Effendi,
or a private 'Gentleman, which she was induced to
adopt for these reasons—the dress of an English Lady
would, whenever she went abroad, collect a crowd of
the natives around her ; that of a Turkish Lady would
scarcely allow her to move, see, or breathe; and the
dress of an English Gentleman would be exceptionable
for another reason; whilst the dress of a Turkish Gen-
tleman, with its ample and flowing robes, that com-
pletely conceal the figure of the wearer, is quite con-
sistent with delicacy, will allow perfect freedom of mo-
tion, and will not attract a crowd from its singularity.
Her Ladyship is generally spoken of in the country,
by the • name of Bintael-Melek, or Binbel-Sultan, the
King's daughter; and passes for an inspired or insane
person, and, therefor!, one under the especial protec-
tion of GOO. Hence the numerous strange tales which
are related of her amongst the Arabs, but which, when
stripped of their exaggerations, may each be, traced
back to some simple occurrence; and hence alio, com-
bined with her amiable character, the extraordinary de.
gree of veneration in which she is held by the people
amongst whom she resides, and which, together with
her influence with the governing authorities, she never
fails to turn to the very best account, as well for the
purpose of promoting the ends of public justice, as of
doing private good. As an instance of this within his
own knowledge, Mr. Buckingham relates an anecdote
respecting a French Colonel of Engineers, who, in de-
spite of the remonstrances of Lady Hester Stanhope,
persisted in going into the mour tains of the Ansarie,
where, according to her prediction to him; he was first
sobbed and then murdered: but by her Ladyship's in-
fluence with the Pitches of Aleppo, Damascus, Tripoli,