Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-06
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
A WOMAN OF FASHION.

A great deal has been said of late abc
the uncommon aud ever-increasing extra,
gance Of women of fashion. 1t is indie
very trying for hard working man TO
bis little savings squandered by an ex,r
CANT wife; but be may find some consola
10 refectiug that the practice has now bee
historical and we'll established by imme,
ial usage. The following is q letter VT
by Lady Csmpton to her husband, in th
glnuing OF the seventeenth century.
she gives list of what she supposes me-
~ for woman of her position. WI
these things were considered necessari'
legal poin. OF view does not appear.
tice to Lady Campton, however, it
be said that she brought her husband
fortune:
"My Sweet Life:-Now, that havet
ed to you my mind for the settling ofy
tate, supposed it were best for me to :
or consider with myself whs. allowance
meetest for me; for, considering what
have had of your estate, and how resps
ly deal with those which, 10th by tr,
OF God, of nature, and of civil polity, vi
ligion, government and honesty, yc'
dear, are bound to, pray and beseec
to grant me, fl 600 per annum, qualteri
be paid
Also, would (besides that allowance
my appsrrel) have E600 added yearly (It
tery to be paid) for the performance Of CD
table works: and those things would n,
neither will be accountable for.
Also, will have three horses for my oN
saddle, that none shall dare to lend or 90
row; none lend but !, none borrow but yn
Also, would have two gentlewomen, 10,
one should be sick or have some other lett
also believe that it is an indecent thing iol
geutewomau to stand humping alone
when God has blessed her Lord and Lady
with a good estate.
Also, when ride hunting or hawking o.
travel from one house to another, will hay
them attending, 80, for either Of those saiC
women, must and will have for either o.
them horse
Also, will have six or eight gentlemen
and will have my two coaches, one lined
with velvet to myself, with four very ssl
horses, and a coach for my women lined will
sweet cloth; one laced with gold, the other Wit
scarlet, and laced with watch lace and silvel
with four good horses.
Also, will have two coachmen; one FOL
my own coach, the other for my women.
Also, at any time when | travel. l will b'
allowed not only csrroaches and spare horses
for me and my women, but will have sucl
carriages as shall be fitting for all, orderly
not pestering my things with my women 5
nor theirs with ohambermsids', nor their
with ~ashmaids'.
Also, for laundresses, when / travel, Iwil
have them sent away before With the car
riages to see all safe and the chsmbermaid'
l will have go before with the green's tina
the chamber may be ready, sweet and clean
Also, for that it is indecent to 10 crowd CT
myself with my gentleman usher in my coach
I will have him to have convenient horse
to attend me either 10 city or in country
And must hove two footmen. And N.
desire that you defray all the charges for me
And for myself, besides my yearly allow
ance, | would have twenty gowns of apparro
six of them for excellent good ones, eight o
them for the country, and six other OF then
very excellent good ones.
Also, / would have to put in my purs'
co. 900 and GOO, and 80 for you TO pay n
debts"