The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-10-19 00:00:00

" MR. GARRICK'S MARRIAGE, &i.

" It is rather singular that lir. tiarricies numerous
biographers should hare entirely omitted not the least
of the interesting particulars of his marriage with
Sign= Vic)letti ; particularly as they have thought
proper to trouble the war!.! with the too4t eirentnstantial
iitHi wino • account of his fuihlcs, peculiarities, and ec•
eentritities. _ _

"The late F.arl of Cork and Burlington, that distin-
guished patron of the tine art.,, bad, during his tour
through Italy, an Amour with a p•ting hey ut family, in
the city of Florence. Their intimacy produced, at a
naturally caper:NA peeled, a sweet pledge of their en-
dearments. Ilia Lordship w.• 4 untortonelely called
home before beeould have the pleasure of beholding the
dear offspring of his tender attachment; and the mother
although she was abandoned by her relative for the
disgrace she had brought upon her family, sought in
her infant the only comfort she welt 6ntl for the ab.
score of its beloved father. Nuttily considerations
obliged him, soon after his Worn from Italy, to Garin
mit rimonial connection with a native of hls own court-
t-y. But this aniu• of family prudence and accenno.

•no-ve-- ..n.

PRICE SEVEN PENCE.

dation could not obliterate his fond remembrance of his
former love, nor the affection which he felt se a parer. .
In a word, he deserted neither the Italian lady nor 111 a
child : he sent ample remittances to liar, and a,.tuali,v •
corresponded midi her by letters and several tens, y nue,-
sengers, whom he employed for the purpose of hearing
faithfully the state of the mother and tar infant, who he
had every reason to believe was his own. The lovely
girl received from tier well bred mother a virtuene, and
accomplished education. She was the delight of bee
parents; and the great alliances she made in every
branch of politenes and rendered bcr capita.,
of adorning the most exalted spheres of ;if.... Unfortu-
nately., before she arrived at ounatilsood she lost her mo-
ther. whom stir had the afiiction to see gradually falling
the victim of a cause too latent for her to discover; and
as her mother never gave her the least personal knots -
ledge of her real father, she thee found herself, at a very
early period of life. in (he untion of an orphan, *kit-
out a parent to guide. protect, or cherish that period of
female life, when all around is danger and delusion. She
hail, however, the satisfaction of berating taint her mo-
ther that her father was of a family huth honourable
and noble. Ills Lordship having early intelligence ut
the death of the amiable woman,• immediately formed a
plan r ''r completing the education of his dalaliter,
iv hick the mother had, with his liberal and powerfal as-
sistance, considerably advanced towards a state of singu-
lar perfection. 'l'o effect this desirable purpose, be
wrote to a person at Florence, in whom he had great
confidence, to take instantly charge of the young crea-
ture. This person, however, proved so ut.f dthful, as to
appropriate the greater part of the alloteance that
should have supported and educated the absent daugh-
ter with every ependour and accommodation becoming
her descent. She was even thanktnl to him for en en-
gagement he obtained for tier as a dancer in the Opera-
house of the Great Duke; so much was she deceived by
the pretences and representations of this perlid:oui
monster, that she even received the most trifling idiots
mace as the gratuity of his own beucticence. 11.-r ap-
pointment as a dancer soon reaching the ears of her nu-
' tile father and protector, made him resoles that she
shout.. no longer continue at such a distance from his
care and observance. Being to riv,ed at rie omit pre-
carious time of life, and her situation being, in every re-
spect. truly hazardous, still more determined him with,.
patch a messenger fur her, who engaged her to coins to
England at a mink greater salary thee she could era
possibly expect to have in Italy.. The offer was irresisti-
ble, and either a presentiment of what followed; or a
desire to visit other climes, induced her to take theca:-
Heat opportunity of coming to liegiend.
" The period of the arrival of Signora Violetti was •
soon after Mr. Garrick (with whom she was engaged)
commenced manager of pritry-lane Theatre. Thegraves
that attended her first appearance, charmed and
prepos-
sessed every spectator in her favour. " She won the
hearts of all the swains, and rivalled all the fair." Al
lesty, like her native ltudivaid, waited on ail her steps ;
and flame Fortune, Weever gruel to others, lavishost
upon her the must desirable of brr bounties.
" My readers tonal almost anticipate my Isfurmain
them. that the Nettle Lord, her father, although ender
covert, was 00t, the less 109d01111 or inaz:ive to establish-
ing hrr reputation. lie likewise eraf.ra.ad every oppar.
ofsonversing stills his fair offspring in her 0..-
five lingnage, in a Lich be found her possess ahl the
perfection his most anxious wishes could have tot med.
Bat these frequent and pleasing conversations to both
were not yet sufficiently satisfactory to the parent.
Was naturally impatient to have the mutual enjoyinaur
that arises from filial and parental intercourse, amain-
treuled by disguise, and unfettered ht- mystery. Nothing.
could possittly ease the solicitude of the anxious parent•
but providing her an asylum under his own roaf. To
accomplish this desirable ohjeet, required the greatest
delicacy and discretion. Ills Lordship being bleseel
with a daughter* some years younger than Signora Via-
, letti, this circumstance suggested So him the idea of
having his fair exotic the tetnress of her unknown sis-
ter. Signora winning incasaintly on his affections, in=
creased his impatience to effect his purpose of haring
h•r in his family. As his daughter by his laity fre-
quently accompanied him to the theatre, he availed him-
self of this circumstance, to create an e•teent in her tor
her unknown reiatitm, the admired &neer. Particu-
larly sprrifyir:g tier graces and excellences Ist soon
caused his honourable daag liter to feel warmly is the
interest of Signora. Finding that he bail thus far sur-
cetaled in his stislues, lie asked her one night as they
we,e sitting in the stage box, if she would approve of
Signora Violeta as companion and tntoreae in the
Han tongue, in which he informed her that she nos
most end:ten:ly perfect, and that her other accato•
hlishments were equally excellent. Ila was happy to
iind his ardent wishes almost anticipated, by the ready
and pleased compliant* of the young 144. Sigtlo.:l
teas, therefore. conveyed the same night in bis Lord-
ship's carriage, to the towu mansion in Piccadilly.

"This fair and amiable stranger at home found her
accommodations in that abode of hospitality, in every re•
spect coal, and even surpassing the most sanguine
wishes of her heart. And site felt 1::•rself for the Brat
time in a state of happiness, in which nature had mord
concern than reason at present could explain. But as
the tenor of Tolman comfort was not meant to consist its
a continuity of satisfaction, her's was soon interrupt,.)
by him mho wounds every breast, either to till it often
with time balm of enjoyment, or the bitterness of atilt,
Lion. Love sat heavy on her breast, and pallid on her
cheek. Iler diaries uithered, an.: her health tiemiced :
nature. pxha stc,!, oblige.: her to recline tom the
couch of sickness. ! fere, to the great alarm and come ern
of her mint:corn relations, she langnishe a considerable
time. II er amiable pupil was uncommonly concerned ;
perhaps time ties'of hature latently increased the
non ; the ablest physicians were obtained fur her relief;
' but notwithstanding all the care, ability, and tenderness.
! that were employed for her recovery, the violence of her
indisposition frustrated every endeavour. Her omen de-
licacy would not permit her to divulge the secret cause
of her malady. ~Ithomigh it threatened her with alma sat
insta»taneens dissolution, yet the hopes of a cars
imuid not induce her to ackno,rledgc Iterseif the victim
of affection. Ills Lordship felt the hitter pangs of a !.iv•
ing parent, distressed by the visibledeeline of anted
daughter. lie saw, with extreme distress, the teti.kr
plant that he was witli wi touch care awl anxiety foster
tug, wither beneath the e. 11 band of an invisible ;:•:.
rase. ilia Lady was, likewise, greatly affected, ani !us
pathisodl with her Noble partner, for the loss tbey r. ere
all likely to 'Wain. Her Ladyship, however, not de-
spairing of a remedy being found, took the most
deetial at.d elfeetuat method, by delicately searching the
tender heart ut the ahlicted fair one. I kvlor Mead, VI.
Karulapius of his day, proninmeind, her disorder
has power, or even that of ladicine, to remote,
prompted the good lady to divine the cause. She was col&-
riuced that lore alone was the disturber of bee mind, an 1

• She wee afterwards married to the most Noble 11l -
goes, of Hartingtoa t who. .rn the demise of his fa:hoo,
came to the tit'e sad estate of Duke of Devenahire.