The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-07-19
SKETCH OF LADY BLEsslNGToN.
aH -

. n Ot Lazy BGEBBIM
NH. WILLIS.
There is an ignorance with regard to the early
history of this distinguished woman, and degree
Of misrepresentation in the popular report Of her
life in late years, which simple statement Of The
outline Of her career will properly correct Her
death lakes away from her friends the freedom Of
speaking carelessy Of her faults, but il binds ihsm
also, to guard her memory as far as truth can
from injustice and pervsrsion.
Lady BlessIngtons maiden name was Margaret
Power. SHE was born in Ireland, the daughter Of
the printer and editor Of the Cl0nme Herald and
up 10 the age Of Twelve on fourteen, las we once
heard her say,) had hardly worn d shoe or been in
a house where there was carpet. At this age Of
her girhood, however, she and her sister, (who was
afterwards Lady CanterbuFV,l were faneied bv a
family Of wealthy old maids, TO whom they were
distantly related. and taken 10 home where they
proved apt scholars IN the knowledge of luxury and
manners. On their return to Cl0nmel, TWO young
girls Of singular beauty, they became at once the
attraction Of dashing English regiment newly
stationed there, and Margaret was soon married 10
an officer by the name of Farmer From this hasy
cOnnexion, into which she was crowded by busy
and ambitious ftiends, sprang all the subsequent
eanker Of her life. Her husband proved to be La
bic to temporary insanity, and, at best. cruel
and eapricious, Others were kinder and more at
tentive. She was but sixteen. Flying from her
husband, who was pursuing her with pistol in
his hand 10 take her life, she left her home, and in
the retreat where she took refuge was found BIZ a
been her admrer, and whose protection she
now fatally accepted.
With this gentleman, Capt. Jenkinson, she lived
four years in complete secusion His return to dis
sipated habits, at the end Of that time, destroyed
his fortune and brought about a separation and
her husband, meantime, having died, she received
an offer Of marriage from Lord BlessInglon, who
was then a widower with one daughter She re-
fused the offer, at FIRST from delicate motives, easily
understood but il was at last pressed on her accep
and abe M Frlnd and abroad
Received into the best society of the continent
at once, and with her remarkable beauty, and her
husbands enormous wealth, entering upon most
brilliant career, she became easily an accomplished
woman Of the world, and readily supplied for her.
self any deficiency in her early education. 1t was
during this first residence in Paris that Lord Bes-
sington became exceedingly attached 70 Count Al
fred DOFay, the handsomest and most talented
young n0hleman Of France. Determined not to be
separated from One he declared he could not live
without, he affianeed his daughter TO hrn, persua
ded his father TO let him give up his commission in
the army, and fairly adopted him into his family TO
share his fortune with him as a son. They soon
left Paris for italy, and at Genoa fell in win Lord
Byron, who was a friend Of Lord Blessington's,
and with whom they made party, for residence
in that beautiful climate, the delightful sociatles
of which well described in her Ladyshp's
Conversations. -
A year or two afterwards, Lord Bessington's
daughter came to him from school, and was mar
ried to Count D'OFsay at Naples. The union
proved lnharmoniOus, and they separated, after iy
ing but year together. Lord Blessington died
soon after, and, on Lady Biessington's return 10
England, the Count TejOined her, and they formed
but one household till her death.
Ii was this residence of Lord Blessington's widow
and her sOn-in-laW under the same FOof-he, mean
time, separated from his wife, Lady Harriet Dor
say--which by the English code Of appearances
in morals, compromised The position Of Lady Bes-
sIngton. She ohoss48o disregard public Opinion.
where il inteFfeFed with what she deliberately made
up her mind was best, and, disdaining 10 explain
or submit, guarded against slight or iniurv bV ex-
| Guiding from her house all who would eondem
| her, viz her own sex. Yet all who knew her and
her son-in-law were satisfied that it was useful
and; indeed, absolutely necessary arrangement fol
haa-heF strict business habits, practical good sense
and the protection of her roof, being ndispen-
sable safeguard to his personal liberty and fortunes
and that this need of serving him, and The strong.
est and most dsiuteresied friendship were her only
motiVess every one was completely sure who kne w
them at all. By those intimate at her house. in
GLIDING the best and greatest men of England La
dy Blessinglon held in unqualified respect and
no shallow even of suspicion thrown over her life
OF widowhood. She had many entrealies from her
own sex to depart from her resolve and interchange
visits, and we CHANGED to be at her house one morn
| ing, when note was handed to her from one OF
the most distinguished noble ladies of England,
making such a proposal. We saw the reply. Il
expressed, with her tecious TACT full apprecia-
tion Of the confidence and kindness of the note she
had received, but declined its request from an un.
willingness to place herself in any position where
she might, by the remotest possibility, suffer from
doubt or injustice. She persevered in this to the
end of her life, few relatives and one OF two init.
mates of her continental acquaintance being the
only ladies ever seen at her house. When seized
| with her last illness, she had been dining with
| Count D'Orsay's sister, the beaStfu Duchess de
| GTammont.
Faulty as a portion of Lady Blessington's life
may have been, we doubt whether woman has
lived, in her time, who did so many actions of true
kindness, and whose life altogether was SO benevo-
lently and largely instrumental for the happiness of
others. With the circumstances that bore upon her
destiny, with her beauty, her fascination and her
| boundess Influence over all men who approached
her, she might easily, almost excusably, have left
less worthy memory to fame. Few, in their graves,
now, deserve more honorng. remembrance.