Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-02-21
From the Ladies' Garland
LIFE OF A DUCHESS.

saoPS ~ 10" iStuoicS, Whain a do
mcs-ic sphere, led a more rema rkable
lslc than the late Jane Max wei /, d duchess
OF Gordon. Of unpretending birth. bv
no means superior education, less con-
spicuous for beauty than for a strong
Sco'ch acseat, this lady, by the merr
character Of her mind, ruled all who
came within her sphere, and FOR many
years held even PIT in her tolls. De-
serted by her husband, who, shut up in
his northern feudal castle, treated her
with the must conspicuous neylcc,. the
duchess was neither mortified nor sinh
dued: still she held the whole power
a ID influences of the Gurdon dukedom
and any withdrawal of countrnacce or,
his part, she took care was oaly "a an
individual, and never as Duke. She
was still Duchess of Gordon. and man
aged, no one knew exactly how.to make
not only the vast income of the family
go to the support Other individual splen-
dor, but even OF the large sums Obtained
oy the ID Ike Tor sale Of yarious extensive
estates, the Duchess contriyed to d;,ec,
the appropriation Of suchporiioas as such
exiSencies from tune to time required
Her house IN London, although her lord
abscnted himself from it. was the centre
o: all that was brilliant of the minister
al party. ticrc Pitt met the phalanx OF
aristocracy that. Throughout his admin
is traiion, siood like rock by himself
and the crown and here many plans OF
party were discussed and the disc intent
ed more effec. ualty Influenced than they
could have been BY parliamentary de
bate. In spite OF certain SANDER afFsct
ing the purify Of the character OF this
most accomplished woman, wit. beauty
and rank filed her halls, aad she sue
ceedcd in every great scheme which she
attempted.
Her first entry into srciety laid the
foundation Of all her fu,ure greatness.
The Duke Of Gordon had rec .n,ly come
of age, and long minority Ind increas.
ed his rentsl to 100000 year. lie
was toleraby handsome, and had the
charac er of being extremely affab and
good-humored. There was groat bali
given in Edinburgh, at which MANY OF
the Scottish peers were present; but the
CHIEF parsonage Of the evening was the
young Duke, who, in rank and wealth,
outshone all compeers. Never was
there a faircr crowd Of Scottish beau les
assembled together than on that even.
ing; and 10 all, or by far the greatest
portion Of these, the Duke of Gordon
was the night star which their imagina.
ton followed Even the male portion
Of the party were paying homage to The
great man. and evidently anxious to be
distinguished by his notice
Among the ladies assembled was a
Miss Jane Maxwell, daughter OF a coun-
try gentleman OF small property, who in
beauty, rank, dress, and in every other
way, appeared to be Immediately out
shone by many around her. Jane Look
ed with much interest at the respect and
court which was paid TO the Duke, as e
moved there like King, and suddenly
exclaimed aloud,to those around, Good
ness! how | should like TO be Duchess
Of Gordon!,
The Duke either heard the words. or
they were reported to him, and feeling
an interest IN one who had so openly
declared in his favor, requested to be
Introduced 10 her, which was the com
of an acquaintance, that in
4 very short period obtained for Miss
Max we'll the man, or the coronel, which
she desired
Piquant, lively and witty, she made
up FOR any striking beauty by her pow
ers oil fascination, which resulted from
her mind aad character alone. Not that
she was by any means deficient in charms
oil person, yet certainly these, dnassist-
ed, would never have given her that in
Hucnce over the minds and feelings Of
others which she so remarkably posses
sed.
The young lady, however, was not
content with being duchess; she was
determined 70 be the first Of all British
duchesses; splendor upon splendor rose
around her-she saw the vast power
which the name she bore gave her in
Scotland-she rallied the strangers
from the political party, Of which the
Duke, north Of the Dee, was naturally
the head; she carried her influence with
her to the metropolis; and aided by her
own talents, drew around her the lead
ers Of the party which then governed
the country.
She II was thai raised the 42d reei
ment, that gallant body of men so dis
tIngulshed in the annals Of the late war.
The regiment was commanded by her
SON George, Marquis Of HuniIey, who
died the last Duke Of Gordon about Eve
years ago, and by whose amiabIe widow
alone, ducal coronet is borne over the
arms Of Gordon. The manner in which
the enterprising duchess raised the bat
tallion which the government then ur-
gently required was somewhat charac-
terlstic Of her bold manner ofmanaging
matters. The Hi0hlandera vere No,