Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1827-04-13

an actress, and made her first appear
ance at the Hay-market Theatre, Lon
don, in the character of Portia, in Shaks-
peare's celebrated play O! the Merchant
of Venice. Her personal attractions did
not more successfully operate upon the
audience, than her talents, and it is said,
that the following beautiful apostrophe 90
Mercy, which she that night rec;ted, at
once established her reputation:
"The equality Of mercy is not strained;
II deOppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon The place beneath it is twice blessed
/. bcsse,h him that gives and him that takes:
'ris m,sh;iesi IN the mish,iest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown
His sccptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute TO ave and majesty,
Wherein doth SIT the dread and fear Of kings
But mercy is above this sceptcred swoy,
1t is euhroned in the hearts Of kings,
1t is an attribute to God himself;
An earthly power doth then show likcst Gods,
When mercy seasons Justice"
1t is difficult to say what were the mo-
tives that urged her to the stage, but it is
generally believed that desire for new
cUnquests was the ruling incentive; and
that she very Justly entertained an opin-
ion, that by thus displaying her charms,
united with her talents, she would be
enabled TO accomplish all those ambitious
designs for which she SO ardently painted.
BE this however us it may, it had the eff
ect pre-supposed, and led 10 an acquaint-
ance with his Royal iIighness the Duke
of York, and subsequently to those in
trigues, which distinguished her, and to
that influence which she So artlully exer-
cised, till it had, in no small degree, al
tected the political harmony and happi-
ness of the British people.
Ii was at Brighton, that Mrs. Clarke
became acquainted with her iiustrious A.
donis; and she then laid the foundation
10 her subsequent fame and fortunes. BY
what means he became acquainted with
her is not now known, but it is said that
1t was thro' the agency of John o.
rifle, man who lived but TO cater for
the vanity and pleasure Of his Royal
liighnesS-and rather than be separated
from whom, ne would have sacrificed his
"Dukedom for ducat." At first he
visited her from motives of mere curioSi-
ty; but whilst he gazed with rapture up
on her charms, admiration sOftened into
love, and ere he was aware oft, he found
himself attached to her by tie almost
iudissoluble. Artful and designing, she
made the most ofthe ascendancy she had
gained over him, and used him rather as
her slave, than as her adorer. Her ex-
travagance was unbounded, and mad her
adorer possessed ihe wealth of Golconda
and the mines OF Potosi, it would scarcely
have been sufficient to have supported
her prodigality. Her establishment at
Gloucester-place was the most splendid
IN the realm, and the mere furniture in
her kitchen, was far more costly than
that fany Of the royalty III England.
Ihe Duke settled upon her an allow
ance, OF one thousand pounds per year,
which was paid monthly, but which,
with the addition OF presents amounted to
upwards oEiwelye thousand pounds ster-
ing per annum. Yet this was not suli-
cienr to satisfy her extravaganza; and
being complete mistress ofthe Duke, she
originated sums for almost any amount,
whenever her caprice or whims led her 10
such measures.
TO carry these plans into effect, she
assumed the power delegated 10 the Duke,
as COMMUNICATIVE Chic OF the British az
mics, and transferred commissions, at her
pleasure; for which she usually received
eXtravaganI Jonas. indeed, Mrs. Clarke,
instead OF the Duke, was IN tact the prin-
clphl military commander IN the realm
aud so deeply involved was he in her
wiles, that he silently looked on, and
with comPidcency saw her abusing the
trusts vested 10 MIN alone, and which,
when unaltiifully discharged, operated
SO odlously upon the Iighs aud property
OF the British people. Inc investigation
vi the charges preferred agalnstthe Duke,
by Mr.. Wardei, exhibit one OF the most
extraordinary exposltions OF the power OF
women over DIen, that mas ever been re-
corded; but as II would be tedious 70 Ell
ter upon IT, we refer the reader to the
report itself, which though somewhat old,
Will be found To contain Iacls and details
OF great interest.
The investigation broke up the in
tlguc between lhe Duke and Mrs. c.
VINO at one "ieIl swoop," was reduced
from her lofty estate, down to the level
from wncn sue originated; and was left
TO Ieei the verify OF that maxim, which
teaches US, that when woman DEPARTS
. from the paths OF prImeyai purity, she