The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-23

tain recent undertakings which reflect honor on
our country, il would be unjust to omit one
which reflects honor on our sex. Justice, as
well as gratitude, would be wounded, were no
tribute to be paid TO the most heroic Of women.
The reader will have anticipated that | alude
to the female Howard"
The female Howard, to which such happy
reference is made, is Mrs Fry, the sister OF Sa-
muel and Joseph j. Quincy. She has explored
the principal prisons in this country and on the
Continent, not merely to crafty phllosophlc Gu
riosity to enlarge the boundaries Of knowledge,
but to 'take the guage of misery" and measure
the depths of woe, that she might ameliorate the
sorrows of the wretched inmates in these dreary
abodes In this arduous and perilous work, the
astonishing fortitude, courage, skill, and perse-
| verance, she has evinced, are equalled only by
the long and lovely train of alleviating influences
which are following in the path of her labor
| Those who best know the nature and extent OF
| her tolls, will be the most ready to award her
the enviable title Of ''the female Howard"
| Though Mrs. Fry is very affable and easy OF
access, she carries herself with great dignity
having fine person and striking and noble
counenance, which, in its youth, must have
been attractive, if not decidedly handsome
On the occasion which l now have in my I'VE,
| was peculiarly pleased with her demeanor to-
wards the Duche of Sutherland, who consti-
tuted one of the party, and OF whom, word in
passing.
When led to the altar, the Duchess of Suther-
land was reputed 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 had faded though no
doubt the lady of the richest Duke in England,
and the mistress of her Majesty's robes, Is en-
titled to considerable constructive beauty. The
manners of her Grace are polished, and her con-
versation remarkably intelligent-.for one Of her
rank. Though Graded in the lap of the an
cient aristocracy (the patent Of the Earl OF
Carlisle, her father, dates back 200 years) and
early placed in the very focus of royal splendor,
and religious freedom. Indeed, she was ultra
liberal in some of her notions. The blood OF
the Towards which puppies her veins, is deeply
tinged with Radicalism. Her brother, Lord
Morpeth, is among the most democratic young
f noblemen in the country. l wish some of the
bellies of your city could have seen her Grace
on the occasion of which | speak. She was
, dressed plainly, and in good taste, and nothing
in her appearance would, to a stranger, have
marked her as any thing more than an intelligent
;, woman, who had moved in good society, and
possessed too much sense to make herself a
walking milliner's shop. But to our heroine.
Mrs. Fry was sitting engaged in playful chat
with two or three of her friends, when the lady
of whom have just been speaking approached
to salute her. She arose and drew her tall
figure to its full height, and received the saluta.
tons of the Duchess of Sutherland, as if she
f herself had been the Empress of Russia. There
was nothing stiff, affected, or repulsive in he,
manner; but only an homage-exacting dignity
which sat most becomingly on the commanding
person of an exalted woman, whose patent Of
nobility was from the King of kings. 1t is in
admirable contrast with the fawning airs oil
several other ladies of the company, when ad
:. dressed by her Grace. These English, who
bear themselves so proudly towards their equals,
and so haughtily over their interiors, will cover
at the feet OF their superiors with the cringing
humility of spaniel A profound reverence
for rank and title is one of their national sins.
The many fine things which Mrs. Fry and the
Duchess of Sutherland said of America, must
be reserved for our private chit-chat Till then,
Health to thee. MANHATTAN.