Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-04

Six years travel through and residence In Italy
were concluded In 1928, by Lord Biessington's re-
turn 10 Paris BY this time his prncely fortune
had been greatly injured by reckless expenditure
In italy, At Paris he continued the sans extrav-
agance raising money on al sidea aud at heavy
loss, by mortgages on his estate In June, 1928,
on the death Of his only Legitimate son, Che had no
family by his second marrisge,) Lord Blessington.
was induced 20 exefute a codicil 10 his VIII, by
which he bequeathed the greater part Of his prop
erty 10 Count DOrsay, conditional on his marrying
either Of his daughters. At that time Lady Har-
riet Gardiner the youngest was not eleven years
old. The marriage with D0rsay took place In
1927, at the age of fifteen. A most unhappy union
II was. The young wife saw that her step-mother,
and not herself had D'0rsay's affections and
lifelong separation between and wife was soon
the result. In May, 1929, the Earl OF Blessington
suddenly died, leaving e., 900 year TO his widow.
All his vast wealth subsequently wasted by
D'Orsays extravsgance--to the amount OF over
El2O,000-and TO meet this load Of debt aud pay
off the old mortgages the Blessington estates were
sold, in ls46, for ESQ, 00o--leaving only $4,000
a year 10 D'orsay's widow.
At the close OF 1880 Lady Blessington returned
10 London, and resided, first in Seamore-place,
May Fair, and subsequently, in Gore House, Ken
sngton. She could not or would not, renquish
her expensive habits and plunged into perfect ex-
travagance in furnishing and embellshing her
$4,000 from her husbands will, whereas the be-
quest was only half that amount; but she lived at
the rate Of 100000 year. She gathered around
her great many political, artiatical, and literary
celebnties--but as before, ladies declined visiting
her Assnredly, the society she was the gay cen
tire Of was very brilliant She reigned like queen
over it, and though her beauty had faded, she
dressed with taste and splendor and well concealed
many Of the ravages which time had made. Until
she became very stout, Lady Blessingtons appea'
ance showed that she had been handsome. Lat
terly, placing small confidence in rouge, pearl
powder, and enamel she rarely went into public.
To exc out her comparatively narrow income,
she applied herself to literature. In 1922 she had
published some lively prose sketches, which showed
a facility of writing. In 1882, she commenced her
Journal of Conversations with Lord Byron, which,
first in a magazine, and next in volume, gained
great popularity. Its admirers may judge how
completely the work was mana actured, when they
learn, from her biographer that she really saw
Byron only six times in her life, and had very little
conversation with him during these few brief inter
views.
After this she took to woodworking, but failed
in the nttempt. Her Idier in Italy and France
was successful, but her actual literary income
was derived from her edtorship Of several annu-
als---of which the Keepsake and The Book of Beaa-
ty were the most profitable. For each of these
she had about $500 a year. From this she was to
only gave smiles, dinners, and aattery, while she
made presents of bjouteric to such ladies wrote
for her This was while her credit at her jewelers.
continued good.
D'Orsay, who wholly resided at Lady Blessing
toms after he separated from his wife, Cher step
daughter, had the art Of running in debt beyond
all modern precedent He was man of varied
Enthusiastically all rendered next to useless by his
being merely :" the glass Of fashion" At last he
was compelled TO remain at home on six days Of
the week to avoid arrest. He had tried all means
Of gaining credit and of raising money. In the
spring of l840 the crash came. Howell & James,
the fashionable shopkeeper in Regent street, put
an execution into Gore House for CA, 900, owing
to them by Lady Blessington for dress and jewels.
AT oncr, with only single portmanteau, DOrsay
took fight to Paris
The fancy articles, furniture, pictures, library,
and jewels, in Which, Lady b had taken 30 much
pride were brought 10 tie hammer, and realized
over 4lS,Ooo-about fifth of what they cost.
Lady Blessing'on, with her nieces, followed Dor
say 10 Paris, and might have lived superbly there
on the f2,000 jointure which she inherited from
her second husband. Within two months she
seized will apoplcxy, and died ON the 4th OF June,
1919. Count D'0rsay survived her three years.
So pcrished two beings originally endowed by ma
ture mentally and personally, who wasted life in
mere frivoltyif the nature OF their intimacy does
not merit harsher name-and might have been
happy, respected and respectable. They sacri-
feed all to fashion, and were repaid, at the last,
rs the world generally repays its votlries.
Lady Blessingtons rank among the Hterdti is
nowhere. She scribbled very Indifferent verses
spun out tedious novels, wholly deficient in plot
and character; described pleasantly enough what
she had seen, and sometimes was moral and d.
dactic in her writings, as If to show the difference
between her prccept and practice. Her manners
we're truly fascinating. She conversed well. She
appeared to sympathze with every one. No one
could so gracefully please a mans amour propre by
insinuatng a compliment. No one better loved 10
be paid back In kind-and there was little reason
to fear that any hattery could be too highly
soned Her life, from the time Of her second mar
riaga, was wholly artificial She lived but for the
world.
This resord Of her literary life by DR.. Madden
win he popular not only for what il relates Of the
lady herself but for its revelations TO her friends
and the interesting correspondence with distin-
guished people, which he copiously communicates.
He surs over most Of the details Of her private life,
but s,ys enough to waken suspicion and challenge
inquiry. For long time we have not encountered
book more painfully suggestive IL exhibits mod.
eru society In London IN variety Of phases, and,
we dare say, has fallen on the fashionable world
there with the force Of Congreve rocket.