The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-10-16

a lsesseoable wife!
The following singular epistle was writ
ten. near the close Of the 10th century, by
the sole daughter and heiress Of Sir John
Spencer, esteemed the richest citizen OF his
day. as he died worth nearly million
sterling. Lord Compton, afterwards Earl
of Northampton, the husband OF the lady,
was SO transported with his wealth that he
lost his wits for some years. Possibly, he
was restored by discovering that his wiie's
stalent for expense" was equal to amy for
tune. =,
"My sweet Life,-now | have declared
to YOU nv mind for the settling OF your
state, suppose it were best for me to be-
think and consider within myself what al
lowance were meetest for me. pray and
besesch you to grant 10 me, your kind and
loving wife, the sum OF f2,OGO, quarterly
to be paid. Also, | would besides that al
lowance, have 1900, quarterly TO be paid,
for the performance of charitable works !;
and those things would not. neither will
be, accountable for. Also, | will have
three horses for my own saddle, that none
shall dare to lend or borrow; none lend
but |, none borrow but you. Also, would
have two gentlewomen, lest one should be
sick, or have some other let; also, believe
it, it is an indecent thing for gentlewo-
man to stand humping alone, when God
hath blessed their lord and lady with great
estate. Also, when ride a-hunting or a.
hawking, or travel from one house to an
other, will have them attending; SO for
either of these said women must and will
have for either of them horse. Also, |
will have six or eight gentlemen; and
will have my two coaches, one lined with
velvet to myself, with four very fine horses
and coach for my women, lined with
cloth, and laced with gold, otherwise with
scarlet and laced with silver, with four good
horses. Also, will have two coachmen,
one for my own coach, the other for my wo-
men. Also, at any time when | travel,
will be allowed not only coaches and spare
horses for me and my women, but | will
have such carriages as shall be fitting for
all orderly, not Fostering my things with
my womens, nor theirs with either chamber
maids, nor theirs with wash-maid's. Also,
for laundresses, when travel, will have
them sent away before the carriages,
to see all safe and the chambemaids
| will have go before, that the chamber
may be ready, sweet, and clean. Also.
for that it is indecent for me to crowd up
myself with my gentleman-usher in my
coach, will have him TO have conve-
nient horse to attend me either in city or
country. And must have two footmen.
And my desire is that you defray all the
charges for me. And for myself, besides
my yearly allowance, ! would have
twenty gowns of apparel, six Of them e1-
cellent good ones, eight of them for the
country, and six other Of them very excel
lent good ones. Also | would have put in
my purse $4,000, and f20O and so you to
pay my debts. Also would have $4,000 to
buy my jewels, and $4,000 to buy me a
pearl chain. Now, seeing have been and
am 50 reasonable unto you, | pray you do
find my children apparel and their school
ing, and all my servants, men and women,
their wages. Also will have all my hous-
es furnished, and my lodging chambers to be
suited with all such furniture as is fit; as
beds, stools, chairs, suitable cushions, car
pets, silver warming,pans, cupboards Of
plate, four hangings, and such like. So for
my drawing chsmbers in all houses, | will
have them delicately furnished, both with
hangings. couch, canopy, glass, carpet,
chairs, cushions, and all things thereunto
belonging.
Also my desire is that you would pay
your debts, build up Ashley House, and pur-
chase lands, and lend no money, as you
love God, to my Lord Chamberlain, who
would have all perhaps your life.
So now that | have declared to you
what would have, and what it is that
would not have, pray you, when you be
an Earl, to allow me $4,000 more than |
now desire, and double attendance"