Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-12-15

DEATH OF LADY WoRTLEY.-I'he Lady Eve
line Stuart Wortley died on the the 29th Of Octo-
BIER. at Beirut, Syria, where She had resided for
several years past. This lady was the second
daughter of the Duke of Rutland, and the Wild
ow of the late Charles Stuart Wortley As u
graceful and pleasing writer, her name has long
been well known in this country. She visited the
United States twice, and in 1851. published
n volume of travel<, giving her impression of the
society and institutions which came under her
observation. In one of her letters she wrote as
follows
Il like the American people more and more;
either they have improved wonderfully lately,
or else the criticisms on them have been cruelty
exaggerated. They are particularly courteous
and ohliging: and seem. | think, arniably anxious
that foreigners should carry away favorable
impression of them. As for me, let other travel
say what they please of them, am deter
mined not to be preiudiced but to Judge of them
exactly as find them and shall most pertina
eously continue to praise them, tif see no good
cause to alter my present humble opinion,) and
most especially for their obliging ciyility and
hespitablc attention to strangers, of which have
already seen several instances. | have witness.
cd but very few isolated cases yet, of the un-
refined habits so usually ascribed to them: and
those cases decidedly were not among the high
orders of people; for there seems just much
difference in America as anywhere else in some
respects. The superior classes here have al
most always superior manners and great deal
of real and natural, well acquired refine
ment; ard are often besides, (Which perhaps will
not be believed in fastdous England,) extreme
Is distinguished looking. BY the way, the cap
iains of steamboats, appear remarkably gen
tlemankc race of men in general. particularly
courteous in their department. and very eonsid-
crate and oblging 10 the passengers"
Lady Wortley visited Mr. Webster mt Marsh
field. where she was most Hospitality entertain
ed by that great Statesman. In this connection
she wrote thus:
"One cannot wonder at the Americans extreme
admiration of the genius and the statesman like
qualities of thor distinguished countryman-hi
glorious and electrfying e"quencc, his great pow
ers of ratociniaton, his solid judgementhi- store
of knowledge, and his large and comprehensive
mnd-n mind of that real expansion aud breadth
which, heaven knows, too few public men can
boast of. But what does excite wonder H. the
singular fact that neither he that other idol of
the Western world, Mr.. Clay, should ever lave
been chosen to fill the highest Office in the United
States"
During her visit to Natchez, the fair tourist
availed herself of an invitation to go and Gen.
TGvlor's cotton plantation;and she remarked that
it was truly interesting sight"
The late Presidents was there and
oeived Us with the kindest hospitality. The
slaves mustered and marshaled for US tn see:
cotton was picked from the few remaining plants
that had survived the late terrible overflow OF the
Mssissippi: and the interior of one of the slaves
houses was exhibited to us. As to the slaves
themselves they were well fed, comfortably
clothed. ane kindly cared for in every way as
possible. and seemed thoroughly happy and con-
tented The dwelling house we went TO look at
was extremely nice; it most tastefully de-
eorated and an excellently furnished one; the
walls were covered with prints, aud it was sculp
lousy clean and neat"
Next to Nine. Pruitfer,Lady Wortley was prob
ably the greatest female traveller of the present
age. She possessed a strong and vigorous in
telect and was wen of extensive informa-
ton.