Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-07-28

to come and convince themselves by look
ing on an animated image Of the goddess
Hygeia. At this appeal, addressed to IL
centiousness rather than to science, the
disciples of Graham crowded mysterious
ly to his amphitheatre. The unfortunate
victim of her own charms appeared
clothed in transparent garments, in the
costume of divinity her covering
scarcely concealed her bushes.
The pride Of the physician, and the
enthusiasm OF the spectators, burst forth
In loud acclamationS. Painting and
Statuary had never before presented ideal
form and coloring equal to this example
OF living nature. Painters and sculptors
wed In rivalry to copy from this divine
original. Among them Romney, one Of
the leading artists of the day, produced
many duplicates of the same lovely coun-
tenance. He painted the fair Emma as
the goddess of the heather mythology.
and under the attributes of the leading
heroines of poetry and the drama. The
portraits, being engraved, multiplied
throughout Europe the features of the un-
known beauty. Romney, like Appelles,
subdued by Oampaspe, became enamored
of his model, and carried her of from
Graham as an exhaustless treasure of art
and fortune. He sold for their weight in
gold her portraits, either as the Sorceress
Circe, or as Innocence holding sensi.
tive plant, and astonished at the motion
of the flower. This anonymous publici-
ty at the same time protected her mod
eSty. The produce of her attitudes,
which she received from Graham and
Romney, enabled her to live in London
in the shadow Of respectable retirement.
The celebrated Madame Lebrun, artist in
ordinary to the Queen Of France, Marie
Antoinnette, painted her at this time as
a Bacchante, and carried her features
over to France. Quite young Eng
lishman, Of the Illustrious house OF
Warwick, Mr.. Greville, nephew to Sir
William Hamilton, ambassador to Ma
pies, discovered Emma in this obscurity.
Passion made him believe in her virtue;
he loved, and endeavored to seduce her.
Whether she really desired to redeem the
errors of her early life, or preferred an
honorable name to large fortune, she
steadily resisted his solicitations, and
was only won by promise of marriage
as soon as the consent of his family could
be conquered by perseverance. They
lived as man and wife during several
years. Three children followed this Sc
cret union, and nothing for time dis.
turbed their happiness. Emma, always
grateful and hearted, even at the
expense of pride, sent for her INDECENT
mother to reside with her, and treated
her with respect and kindness, in spite
of her servile condition.
In 1850, after this interval OF domestic
happiness, constantly interrupted by the
remonstrances of his relations Greville,
deprived of his salaries of office, and
pressed by accumulated debt, hesitated
between the necessity and sorrow of cast
ing off the woman he considered his wife.
Their mutual grief at the prospect of sep
aration poisoned the last days of their in
tercourse. At this crisis, Greville's uncle,
Sir William Hamilton, arrived in London.
He was unmarried, master of large for
tune, and intended his nephew for his
heir. But his ariStocratc consequence
revolted from the idea of acknowledging
as his grand nephews the children of a
prostitute. He refused either to consent
to the marriage of Grenville, or to pay
his debts; the nephew saw no resource
but in the intercession of his mistress.
Emma, at his suggestion, attired herself
in the garb of her infancy, and, in a stiff
gown and straw hat, waited upon his
uncle. She threw herself at bis feet, con-
fessed her fault, shed tears as persuasive
as they were genuine, appealed to the
tender pledges of her love, and besought
Sir William to pardon the father and
mother, for the sake of the unfortunate
children. Her triumph was more signal
than she anticipated. The old man, fas-
cinated by features and accents which
surpassed all he had ever looked on or
listened to, either in the classic master
pieces of Athenian statuary, or on the
voluptuous toards of the Italian opera
houses, yielded to the seductionS which
had enhanced his nephew. The same
love which he had refused to understand,
revenged itself by reducing him to the
thraldom of Greville.
The beauty Of Emma overpowered him,
and, like one seized by sudden madness,
he forgot, after two interviews, his age,
his rank, his repugnancc to matrimony,
her obscure birth and irregular life, the
mutual affection long subsisting between
her and her paramour, the living pledges
of their love, the scandal and infamy of a
traffic in female charms; and, finally.
purchased the possession of the venal
beauty by the discharge of his nephew's
embarrassments. They were privately
married in London, and Sir William has
tened back to Naples with his prize,
leaving his union undeclared. Her beau
ty dazzled Italy as it had previously fas-
cinated England. But the knowledge of
her avocatiOn as amodel, which could not
be concealed, and rumor of the shame
less bargain between the uncle and
nephew, preceded her to Naples. The
ambassador, to stifle these reports, and
re-establish his idol, was compelled to tho
ceremony of a public marriage. Scandal
disappeared before the rank and resist
less charms of the young ambassadress.
She was presented at Court, and at the
first glance won the admiration and en-
thusiastic attachment of the Queen.
To say the least, it is generous to be-
lieve that Nelson did not know the charm