Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-10-13
For the New ok American
ENGLAND.-RANDO SKETCHES.

something of Lady Byron, whom II my plea
sure to meet in London. A few words must &c
deem the pledge. ] have rercly been more inter
cs,ed in any either side Of the Atlantic, than n
this lovely, winning woman. She appears as mil,
as the blue sky OF an Italian evening. lnstTue'e,
by her intelligent conversation. and charmed will
the sofcnod graccs which modestly spanked on thi
current Of hor thoughts, said to myself, Can bt
that that pale blde eye, that mellow voice, thos,
band manners, belonged TO hs Lady Byron, Tho
wife Of the Wild genus, whose cratic hrc while i
startled the round world with It's glare withered al
that was swee, and beautiful within its own domes
&c circle, and ultimately consumed itself by the IN.
tensity Of its own heal" Hidden under the wan
cheek and quiet counienancc Of this unfortunate
lady, there tnay lie the smouldcrng embcrS Of the
fierce passions that once shot their flames through
the very veins oil the noble bard, and made him the
despairns suicide he was-but. they now slumbor
80 profoundly that cannot, " Ill not believe, they
IN being.
But, this is needless conjecture. Moore the par
tia friend of the poet, admits that Lady Byron was
gentle ana lovely; and the impartial world cannot
wholly acquii her OF blame IN the unfortunate at
fair TO winch | have alluded. Let oblivion cover
all
There !. a sprightlncss in the conversation of
Lady Byron that wins and weds her listener, and
dignihed common that edhes him. The
tinse of sldneSS-shall call It menncholy (which
flows through 1t, gives serious and sincere hue to
the vein Of pure morality which pervades much Of
her discourse. Her address and mein are familiar
and easy. Decidedly plain looking, her counte-
interesting. When excited by the ardent CONVEX
sntion OF kindred spirits, It beams but never flashes
Even III her bloom she could not have been hand.
some. The portraits OF her, which are usually met
with IN the shops, or appended TO the works OF La.
dy Byron, tolerably faithful TO the original.
As might be expected, shS is very sensitive TO al
illusions, however remote, TO her late husband.
an told she often leaves the room when his name
and history are introduced-not rudely, OF course
but on some feigned or real excuse. | was standing
near hen we but lin
tleman spoke to her OF her 'husIrious husband
With much readiness she adrotly turned the con.
versiton, and politely discnsaged herself from the
circle.
1t is not so with Ad, Augusta, her daughter, tn.
present Lady Loychcc. She loves to talk of h.r
father, and is delighted when you tell her that his
works universal ly read not only in the board
C ties Of America, but among the flr-off hills and
praires of the New World. Ada is gentle, witty,
and pretty, but neither beautiful large minded
She is said to be the happy wife of Lord Love
lace.
You tease me to tell you about Mrs Opie -
You have read her work Lying" We'll : III
say any thing of this good old lady, it be the
truth, lest the book at my elbow open It's lips and
rebuke me. To speak, or not To speak that's the
question. Mrs. o. is far advanced in life. The sun
and shade of more than sixty winters have chased
their alternate brightness and gloom her path
Still, she has much Of the sprishtiness OF youth IN
her conversation; and in her manners affects even
more ii'n she possesses.
|, may lie parjoned, though, in a venerable au.
thnrtss no has done something TO improve her
The fines: mub'r has its flaws. Mrs Ope is a
Quaksrcss. H. doctrine she Of the sirarest Of the
sect ans talks ui Barclays Apology and Byron's
Glide Harold, OF Geo FOX's preaching and Wa.
ter ScDtt's novels, ~ the same sentence and with
,qua delight. Her thee and thou did sound oddly,
in such company; ana thought they slipped and
trippet occaSIOnily. when d'scouIsns of Tom
Moore's Jokes, at Lord Hollands literat dinners
Her dress, loo How fastdous the arrangement;
40 tF
it throws back IN dISdain the envIouS braney OF
that blazing chandelier. Not belle IN the room
h's foiied al her toilette hours this evening
than she.-But, will not forget that she was not
"U.rthr.ht member" OF the plain spoken sect whom
thou callest Quakers, but joined the quiet, sombre
FnentS, '.on commencement" when in the pos,.me
rdlan OF life with Habits indeb!e impress on mind
and manners. Is she therefore insInccre Can the
leopard change his spots Those who cr,icise
Mrs OplC, the 0uakeTcss, should know that CLOS
sy white satin dress, beats over heart whose every
door is open 10 the IUgress OF truth, and whose out.
gushings return no; ull they have swept the en-
tire circle of charity and benevo!encG.
Our worthy uulhoFess is full OF anecdoie, talks
nueUty, IS sensitive, eccentric. She lives IN neat
style at Norwich-shows you rooms lined with ex.
cclIeut painting, ther husband was eminent
artisi,) rare sIatuary, &c. &c. Lord Coke says
there ot-times much meaning hid under an Il esi-
era She is active ia all works Of love and mercy;
on good terms with that excellent old divine the
Lord Bishop Of Norwich; and delights to guide
strangers through the long asIes ofhi. aged Cattle
dral when the organ plays its sweetest notes.
Quite Catholic for u Quaker, methinks | hear you
say. George Fox cherished as deadly hatred for
"steepe houses" as Don Qulxote for windmills
But, c., the march of mind!
Think not from the almost trivial way in which I
speak Of Mrs Ope, that would detracl from her
reputation as a useful agreeable writer, or her cx-
celient character as Christian phanlhropist Sup
pose she s fond of telling her auditors OF clever
things Sir Walter Scott said TO her when she sat az
his night hand at General CInnon's dinner party;
or OF the dull Joke which the Earl of DJddingIon
cracked in her at Lord Hollands; OF Of the sharr
discussion she once had at WordswoGth's with
Campbell and Moore. She is only one ola great
crowd of people on either side Of the Atlantic, who
glory IN being a spangIe in some huge comets lu-
mnOus train.
Twenty years ago, Hannah More, Inv pen
seems bent upon d5coJrsing Of wOmen-lel Il rum
N her moral sketches, speaking of the efforts which
had been made TO improve the condition of tie IN
fortunate women and chi drcn confined in Newgatc,
said: "ln aluding 10 certain recent undertakings,
which reflect honor on our country, It would be un-
Just 10 omit one which reflects honor on our sex.
Justice, as well as gratitude, would be wounded,
were no tribute TO be psd to the most heroic oil
women. The reader will have anticipated that
alIude TO the female Howard"
The female Howard, to which such happy re-.
ference is made, IS Mrs Fry, the sister of Simuei
and Joseph J. Quincy. She has explored the prin
cipll prisons In this country and the continent,
not merely 20 gfn'ty phnOsOphic curiosity ST en-
large the boundaries acknowledge, but TO take the
guGge Of misery and measure the depths Of woe,
that the might ameorate the soTrows OF the wretch.
cd inmates IN these dreary DbOdes. II this ardu-
Gus and perIous work, the astonishing lorllude
courage, skill and perseverance she has eyinccd.
IRE oqualicd only 10y the long and lovely train of
al'eyutins influences which are following in the
path OF her aUOrs. Those who best know the ma.
ture and extent OF her tolls, will be the most ready
20 award her the envlable title Of "the female How
ard"
Though Mrs Fry is very nfibIe and easy Of
access, she carries herself with great dgnity-hav-
ing fine person and a striking and noble cOunte.
nance, which, IN its youth, must have been attrac-
tive, II not decidedly handsome. On the occasion
which now have ~ my eye. ! was peculiarly
pleased with her demcnuor towards the Duchess Of
Sutherland, who constituted one Of the party, and
Of whom, word IN passing.
When led 70 the altar, the Duchess Of Su,ber
land was Geputcd the most beautiful woman in the
Kingdom. Even now she essays to bear away the
palm among the married ladies Of the court. But.
the rose has faded; though no doubt the LADY, of tts
richest Duke IN England, and the mistress Of her
MaJcstys robes, Is entitled 10 considerable consruc-
tive beauty The manners OF her grace are polish
cd, and her conversation remarkably Intelligent
for one Of her rank. Though Graded in the Isp oil
the ancient arlsiocmcy lthe patent Of the Earl o.
Carlisle, her uther, dates back 200 years) and ear
Iy placed 10 the very focus Of royal sp'endor she
decidedly American IN her views Of civil and rel
gOus freedom. Indeed, she was ultra LIBERAL n
some Of her notions. The blood Of the lovards
which puppies her veins is deeply tnged with Rad.
ca.ism. Her brother, Lord Morpeth, 10 among th
most democratic young noh,meu in the country.
wsh some Of the bellies Of your city could hav
L.