The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-23
ENGLAND SKETCHES.
From the Neap York American.

From the Neao York American.
Lady Byron and her daughter.-Mrs. Op'e-
Mrs. Fry, "the female Observation-Disclosures
Of Sutherland.
In my last letter, dear c., promised to tell
you something of Lady Byron, whom it was my
pleasure to meet in London. A few words must
redeem the pledge. | have rarely been more in
terested in any lady on either side of the Allan
tic than in this lovely, winning woman. She
appears as mild as the blue sky of an Italian
evening. Instructed by her intelligent CONVEX
sation, and charmed with the softened graces
which modestly sparkled on the current of her
thoughts, said to myself, " Can it be that that
pale blue eve that mellow voice, those bland
manners, belonged to the Lady Byron, the wife
of the wild genius, whose cratic fire, while it
startled the round world with its glare, withered
all that was sweet and beautiful within its own
domestic circle, and ultimately consumed itself
by the intensity of its own heat2 Hidden I'M
der the wan cheek and quiet countenance Of this
unfortunate lady, there may lie the smouldering
embers of fierce passions that once shot their
flames through the very veins of the noble bard,
and made him the despairing suicide he was
but, they now slumber so profoundly that can
not, will not believe they were ever In being.
But this is needless conjecture. Moore, the
partial friend of the poet, admits that Lady By
ron was gentle and lovely; and the impartial
world cannot wholly acqut her of blame in the
unfortunate affair to which have alluded. Let
oblivion cover all.
There is a sprightliness in the conversation of
LADY Byron that wins andweds htr listener, and
a dignifed common sense that ediies him. The
tinge of sadness-shall call it melancholy 2
which flows through it, gives serious and SIN
cere hue to the vein of pure morality which per-
vades much of her discourse. Her address and
mein are familiar and easy. Decidedly plain
looking, her countenance, when lying in repose,
is rather dull and uninteresting When excited
BY the ardent conversation of kindred spirits, II
beams, but never flashes. Even in her bloom,
she could not have been handsome. The por-
traits of her, which are usually met with IN the
shops or appended to the works of Lady Byron,
are toleraby faithful to the original.
As might be expected, she is very sensitive to
all illusions, however remote, to her late hus-
band. | am 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 her when well
meaning but bungling gentleman spoke to her Of
her "illustrious husband" With much readi-
ness she adroitly turned the conversation, and
politely disengaged herself from the circle.
1t is not so with Ada Augusta, her daughter,
the present Lady Lovelace. She loves to talk of
her father, and is delighted when you tell her
that his works are universally read, not only in
the sea-board cities of America, but among the
far-of hills and prairies Of the New World
Ada is gentle, witty, and pretty; but neither
beautiful nor large minded She is said to be
the happy wife of Lord Lovelace.
You tease me to tell you about Mrs. OPIE.-
You have read her work on "Lyimg:" Well:
if say any thing of this good old lady, it must
he f1.3,fh lasf fha O
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 across her path. Still, she has much
of her sprightliness of youth in her converse
ton; and in her manners affects even more than
she possesses. 1t may be pardoned, though, in
a venerable authoress who has done something
TO improve her race. The finest marble has its
flaws. Mrs. Opie is Quakeress. In doctrine
she is of the straitest Of the sect, and talks Of
Barclays Apology and Byron's Childe Harold,
of George Fox's preaching and Walter Scott's
novels, in the same sentence and with equal de-
light. Her thee and thou did sound oddly in
such company, and thought they slipped and
tripped occasionally, when discourslng of Tom
Moore's claret jokes, at Lord Hollands literati
dinners. Her dress, too! How fastidious the
arrangement; how juvenile its tout ensemble
1t daZZles my eyes as it throws back in disdain
the envious brilliancy of that blazing chandelier.
Not belle in the room has toed at her toilet
more hours this evening than she. But, will
not forget that she was not a "birth-right mem
Der" of the plain spoken sect whom thou calest
Quakers, but joined the quiet sombre Friends,
con CONFINEMENT" when in the post meridian
of life, with habits indelible impress on mind and
manners. Is she therefore insincere? Can the
leopard change his spots2 Those who criticize
Mrs. Opie, the Quakeress, should know that un-
der that glossy white satin dress, beats a heart
whose every door is open to the ingress of truth,
and whose out-gushings return not till they have
swept the entire circle of charity and benevo-
ence.
Our worthy authoress is full of anecdote, talks
tuently, Is sensitive, eccentric. She lives in
neat style at Norwich-shows you rooms lined
with excellent paintings, [her husband was an
eminent artist, rare statuary, &C., &c. Lord
Coke says there is oft-times much meaning hid
under an ct cetera. She is active in all works
Of love and mercy is on good terms with that
excellent old divine the Lord Bishop fNofwich;
and delights to guide strangers through the
long aisles of his aged Cathredal when the organ
plays its sweetest notes. Quite Catholic for a
Quaker, methinks hear you say. George Fox
cherished as deadly hatred for "steeple houses"
as Don Quixote for wind mills. But, c., the
march Of mind!
Think not from the utmost trivial way in
which speak Of Mrs. Opie, that | would de-
tract from her reputation as useful, agreeable
writer, or her excellent character as Christian
Suppose she is too fond Of tell
ing her auditors Of the clever things Sir Walter
Scott said to her when she sat at his right hand
at General Cannon's dinner party or of the
dull joke which the Earl of Duddington cracked
in her ear at Lord Hollands; or Of the sharp
discussion she once had at Wordsworth's with
Campbell and Moore. She is only one of
great crowd of people on either side of the At
lantic, who glory in being spangle in some
huge comets luminous train.
Twenty years ago. Hannah More (my pen
seems bent upon discussing Of wornen--let 1t
rum in her Moral Sketches, speaking of the eff
forts which had been made to improve the con-
diton of the unfortunate women and children
confined in Newgate, said SIN abiding to Ger