Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-01-30
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a cot WIFE.


ter we ever met with, is that given by Edmund
Burke, Of his own wife. The charming
daughter of DIR. Nugent was indeed worthy
of the greatest orator of modern times, if we
are to take the husbands own account of this
admirable woman-The description reminds
us, in some of its exquisite lneamens, Of
Sheridan's first wife, whom an English Bish-
op eulogized as ''the connecting link between
women and angels"
Burke's portrait Of this lady is thus intro
duced by Prior, in his life of that statesman :
Added 10 aflectionate admiration of his tai
ents, Mrs. Burke possessed accomplishments,
good sense, goodness Of heart, and sweet
ness of manners and disposition, which sery-
ed 10 ailay many of the anxeiies Of his ca
reer, The laGoTs to attain FAME and in(lepend-
ence, the tretlul moments attendant on severe
studies, the irritation produced by party and
political zeal, and the tempestuous passions
engendered by constant contention in active
parliamentary life. He repeatedly declared
that ''every care vanished the moment he en-
tered under his own roof'' He wrote the
following beautifully descriptive paper-the
idea Of a perfect wife-which he presented
to her one morning on the anniversary of their
marriage, deicately heading the paper thus
''The character of -" leaving her to fill
up the blank. 1t is as follows
The character OF -. intend to give
my idea of a woman if it at all answers my
original, shall be pleased for if such per-
son as | would describe really exists, she
must be far superior TO my description; and
such as ! must love too well TO be able to
paint as ought.
She is handsome, but it is beauty not
arising from features, from complexion, oil
from shape; she has all three in high de-
gree, by il is not by these she touches the
heart; 1t is all that sweetness of temper, be-
nevolence, innocence, and sensibity, which
face can express, that forms her beauty.
She has face that just raises your attention
at first sight-it grows on you every moment
and you wonder it did no more than raise
your attention at first.
Her eyes have mild light, but they awe
you when she pleases they command like
| a good man out of Office, not by authority
but by virtue.
Her features are not perfectly regular: tina,
sort Of exactness is more to be praised than to
be loved, for it is never animated,
Her stature is not tall she is made to be
the admiration Of every person, but the hap
plness of one.
She has all the firmness that does not ex-
clude delicacy; she has all the softness that
does not imply weakness.
There is often more of the coquet shown
IN an affected plainness than in tawdry fine
ness. Her gravity is gentle thoughtfulness
that softens the features without discompos-
ing them she is usually grave.
| Her smiles are inexpressible.
| Her voice is a low, soft music, not formed
to rule in public assemblies but 10 charm
those who can distinguish company from a
crowd; it has this advantage, you must come
! close to her to hear it.
| 10 describe her body, describes her mind
one is the transcript of the other.-fier I'M
Outstanding is not shown in the variety oil
matters 1T exerts itself on, but in the goodness
OF the choice she makes
She does not display ii so much IN saying
or doing striking things as i'll avoiding such as
she ought not to say or do.
She discovers the right and wrong OF
things, not by reasoning, but by sagaclty
most women, and many good ones, have q
closeness and something selfish in their dis
position; she has true generosity of tenn
per; the most extravagant cannot be more
unbounded in their liberality, the most cove.
tous not more cautious in their disposition.
No person Of so few years can know the
world better no person was ever less cor
rupted by that knowledge. Her politenes:
seems rather to flow from natural DISPOSE
uon to oblige, than any rules on that subject
ana therefore never fails TO strike those who un
derstand good breeding, and those who do not