New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-04-05
NEW PUBLICATIONS..
A WOMAN OF FASHION.

DIN avol. limo. Harper Brothers
The meteoric career of = woman, whose high
sst ambition Wa to shine in the brilliant circles
~ f..hion and literature that spsrkled ia her
s.Ioops 10 described in these volumes oy prossic
AZ ,eSapt, who seems - have been selec,ed for
NE tack on account Of q certain confidence in
liz discretion, ratter than Of any peculiar qualif
cations for i.s accomplishment. He had enjoyed
The intimate acquaintance and friendship OF Lsdy
BIes.ngDn for some twenty-five or thifts years
he was ismDiar WITH many Of the celebrated men
Who danced attendance On the literary beanty-and
was PAL .ulsrly converssnt with the iocidens' IN
her early history. With these advantages IL might
be supposed that be would have Completed 'hls
work with a .upersbundance OF junction. If not
with competent ability. He bss, indeed, made co
pious selections from the correspondence Of the
Counter, gathered an immense amount OF per-
sonal gossip in regard 10 several leading celebri-
tes of The day, ard brought together variety Of
details concerning the babitu6s of Gore House,
which possess kind Of seductive fascination TO
the lover Of biographical minutei but whenever
he fpeaks in his own person, ne utters farrago
of pompous sentences which challenge dlstnc-
GOn az the very climax of formally, common
place moralism, end numbering, INEXPENSIVE die
HOh. STILL bis book will be eagerly read. The
same charm which crowded the drawing roomsof
Lady BlessDgton with the elite of London So
eiety Oesvipg out visitors of her own sex, "bo
do not Gu tivate her acquantsnce) will attract
people 10 the perusal of her biography She pos
sessed precisely the qualities which awaken pop
slsr interest, aud in spite Of certain unc1nonc4i
passages in Der life made her the object of an adj
DiriDg and devoted friendship with many OF the
most eminent characters Of her time. Without
possessing genius, in any degree, and not more
than an ordinary share OF talent, the supplied the
place Of those gifts by an admirable taste IN lit
e-ature, never falling exquisite tact in social
life, great personal beauty, Winning grsce and
viyacity of expression aud delightful aud earnest
cordially Of manners that could have proceeded
emily from genuine kindness Of heart Her viola
hon Of dome site etiquet,es, which excluded her
In great degree from the society of women, does
not appear TO have been combined with RECKLESS
love of pleasure or to have led to the forfeiture
of her own selfrespect But rs her biographer
does no. raise the vail from this deiicate subject
we shall do well to follow his example, aud con-
slider her only in the light of leader 10 the fash
loDable world, and the center Of q distinguished
literary and artistic reunion.
The father of Lady BIessiDgton was an Irish
country gentleman named Power, who had seen
something Of life In bis day, aud retired 10 the
rural distrsts as hack politician aud broken
down sdventurer. With a passion for dogs,
horses, VINE and Irish dissipation ia general, he
cherished q sublime Indifference to such mundane
interests as the concerns of business or the care
of his family. He was dashiog, snowy looking
blade, with an aristocrasic air, rel oicDg in pro-
fusion of ffils and rufles, aud greatly addicted to
white cravats, leather breeches, and top boots.
The Tipperary men complimented him with the
title Of "bacb," "sbiver the frlls," "Beau
Power" and other expressive appellations In
honor of bic sporting character jovi,l tastes and
stunning costume. Marguerite, who sfserssrd
hlundered into the thoes of the Countess OF Bles-
sipgton, was bis third child and second daughter.
She was born in 1890, 80 that although she re-
tanned her powers Of pleasing to the last, she was
nearly sixty years old at the time Of her death.
welcome guests, sbe saw good deal of society,
while yet mere child. At the age of fourteen,
she bt gan to attract the notice Of distinguished
vstors. Her dancing was already model of
grace, and her conversation began 10 exhibit the
charms for which, at later period, sbe was still
more remarkable than for her physical beauty.
About this period che made the acquaintance Of
two officers of the British army, Capt. Murray
and Capt. Farmer, who at once laid siege to her
youthful heart. Her preference was fer Murray,
although he failed to win her affections while fer
Farmer che cherished no sentiment but disgust
md terror. This was thought strange by all her
friends, for he was in the prime of manly beauty,
end sAiled In the arts which captvase the good
gFsees Of woman. But she could not control the
secret instinct which made him her aversion. At
length, despairing of success by his personal sd-
dresses, he applied to her parents, without her
knowledge, proposing for the hand of their daugh-
Ter, and promising the most liberal settlements.
They favored the suit Of the military aspirant.
She received the intelligence with dismsy. In
pite of tears, applications and protests, she
was compelled to yield to the commands of her
parents; and before abe had completed her IF
tecpth year. became the wife of man whom she
could not look on without det< station.
The marriage led to the misery which might
saaiy have been foretOd. Though she tried to con-
seN the extent Of her aversion, her husband was
swMe Of her feelings. He soon gave way to those
psroxysms of jealousy and rage which caused his
beautiful victim to tremble at his approach.