New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-02-21
A Lsdy's Wants,

Elizabeth, the daughter Of Sir John Spencer.
who aourished in the middle Of the sixteenth
century, and was known as the g Rich Spencer
married an English nobleman, to whom, a few
years after her marriage, she addressed the fol-
lowing letter.
MY Street Life--Now that have declared
70 you my mind for the settling of your estate,
suppose that it we're best for me to bethink
what allowance we're best for me; for, consider
ing what care have ever had Of your estate,
ana new respectfully dealt with those, which
both by the law Of God, natnre and civil policy,
WIT, religion, government and honesty YOU. my
dear, are bound to, pray and beseech you To
grant to me, your most kind and loving wife, the
sum Of one thousand poun per .annan, to be
paid quarterly.
"AIso, would, besides that allowanee for
my apparel, have six hundred ponnds added
yearly for the performance of charitable works
Snese things would net, neither be accountable
sAlao, will have three horses for my own
saddle that none shall dare to lend or borrow;
none lena put l. none borrow but you .r7
also, Houid nave two gentleWonnen, lest
one should be sick; also, believe it would be an
indecent thing for gentle woman to stand mum
ping alone, when God has blessed their Lord
and Lady with great estate
ssAlso when / ride hunting or hawking, or
travel from one house to another, viii have
them attending, SO for each Of those said women
must have horse.
'sAlso, will have siI or eight gentlemen, and
will have two coaches; one lined with velvet to
myself, with four very fair horses: and coach
| LOT my women, lined with sweet cloth. oreiaid
with gold; the other with scarlet, and laid with
Watchet lace and silver, with four good horses.
also' WILL have two coaehmen, one for myself,
the other for my women.
| $ Also, #hanever | travel, will be allowed
and r j
| my women, but such carriages as shall be it,
ting for all orderly, not pestering my things
| with my Wonlen's, nor theirs with chamber
maids, nor theirs with washmaids'
Also, Iaundresses, when tpagel; / will
| have them sent away with the carriages to see
ITall safe; and the chambermafds shall 20 before
| with the grooms that the chambers NAV be
I ready, sweet and clean.
| Also, for that it is indecent for me to crowd
myself with my gentleman usher in my coach, 1
| will have him have convenient horse, to attend
me either in city OF country; and must have
! four footmen; and my desire is that you will
defray the charges for me.
"And for myself, besides my yearly allow
ance, l would have twenty gowns apparel, six Of
the country. and six others Of them excellent
good ones. -24
| g Also, would have to put in my purse two
Thousand pounds and two hundred pounds, and
so you to pay my debts. Also, would have
eight thousand pounds to buy me Jewels, and
six thousand pounds for pearl chain
ssNow seeing ? have been and am 90 reason
able unto you, pray you to find my childrer
apparel. and their schooling. and all my ser.
wants, men and women, their wages. H.
"Also, will have all my houses furnished
and all my lodging chambers to be suited with
such furniture as is fit, as beds, stools, chairs
cushions, carpets, silver warming pans, cup
boards of plate, fair hangings, etc; for my
drawing chambers in all houses, will have
them delicately furnished with Iangings, couch
| canopy. cushions, carpets, etc. .0.
'sAlso. my desire is that you would pay you
!, debts, build up Ashly House, and purchas
{ lands, and lend no money tas you love Cod t.
II the Lord Chamberlain, which would have all
perhaps your life, from you; remember his son
f my Lord Wildan, what entertainments he CAV
me when you were at the Tiltyard. If you wer
| dead, he said he would be husband, a father
!. brother, and he said he would marry me.
protest, grieye to see the poor man with 50 littl
wit and honesty to use his friend so vilely also
| he fed me with untruths concerning the Charta
r House; but that is the least; he wished me mucl
harm; you know how. God keep you and m
from him, and such as he is.
+ So now | have declared to you my mind
| what would have and what would not have
| pray you, when you be Earl. to allow thoui
and pounds more than now desired, and doub
attendance. Your loving wife,
y | ss EI1z. COMPTON.