New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LADY DUFF GoRDoNs LETTERS FROM
EGYPT.

The brilliant power OF expression which charac-
terizcs Lady Duff Gordon's descriptive letters was
not the least precious gift of her natural inheritance
Her father. Mr.. John Austin. was the celebrated
writer jurisprudence. whose legal acuteness and
sagacity admirably matched by his vehement
eloquence and persuasive force of argument. Sara
Austin her mother was n member Of one of the cele
brated Taylor families of Norwich, and became con
spicuous in English lteE circles by her remarkable
TRANSACTIONS from the German, at time when
familiar knowledge of that language was less com
mon than at present. Both her parents were init
mate friends of Mr. James Mill and Jeremy Bentham,
and lived in house almost adjoining the residences
of those eminent men in London. Lucie was their
only child, and could scarcely breathe when she
came into the world. The attending physician took
her on his knees and brought her to life by his skill
in nursing, and giving play to the lungs. Her
chief pay-fellows iu her early girihood were
her cousin Henry Reeve and John Stuart
Mil. As she grew in yigor and in sense, she
displayed great originality OF mind and
Independence Of thought. Her love of animals
ut tins time was passion. At the age OF fifteen she
accompanied her parents to Germany, where sue
passed considerable time, returning as little Ger
man maiden with long braids of hair down her
back and speaking German like her own Language.
Considering the rare scholastic culture of both her
father aud mother her education was quite al ran
dom She read whatever she chose and was soon
absor bed in world of elves and fairies But she
had little regular instruction, and no attempt was
msde at Accomplishments. The want of rcgu-
lar intellectual discipline was amply supplied
by the social influences with which she
WAS surrounded. From ler earliest years,
she was accustomed to hear the best conversation.
The Mills the Grotes the Carlyles, the Sterlngs,
Sydney Smith, Luttrell, Rogers, Jeremy Bentham,
and Lord Jeffrey were constant visitors OF the
family. They all made much of the little "foode,"
rs she was called, and talked with her as
IL she had been their equal. When she was sixteen
years old she took step which must have been no
small surprise to the free-minded and outsoken err
Gle in which she was brought up. Under the ihiil-
ence of Lord Aontcage and his family, with whom
abe was on very intimate terns she decided
to become O member of the Church OF Eng
land, and was accordingly baptized AID con
firned in that communion. A remarkable
letter which she wrote at this time, explaining her
motives and feelings, exhibits a certainly rare union
of sclf-rcliance and nodesty. believe" says she,
81 have done my duty, and that in no way could
more honor my parents than by confident trust they
viii sanction my conduct hope they and VIII he
but of one heart aud mind on this important
point ! am prepared for some slight crosses from
many excellent friends, whose creed could never
satisfactorily adopt; but with the earof Cod before
my eyes could not be deferred by this difficulty,
through which l know, if place but perfect trust
in Him.. and cultivate humility, His strength
will guide rae. i expect TO be pitied for that
ignorance and weakness which has made
me an easy victim to Others rule; but my own heart
tells me have no claims upon any such ccmmsera-
ton. / already experience happiness and
advantage in and from the views and hopes which
from day to day to unfold the nseves more and
more aud expect and pray if make religion my
guide, that even the most opposed TO my present
opinions will ultimately rejoice in their influence
upon my character and conduct"
In the year 1888, when Lucie was still only in her
seventeenth year, the family made the acquaintance
of Sir Alexander Duff Gordon, who at once became
attracted TO the mother and deeply attached to the
daughter. They used to walk out together. as the
Young girl was left much to herself, and had no
companions One day Sir Alexander said To her,
Miss Austin do you know people say we are gong
10 be married I" She was somewhat annoyed at the
nbrrptncss of the question: and was about to give
sharp answer when he added, Shall we make IT
true p She replied with her usual straightforward
ness eyes" and from that day they were engaged
The marriage took place in the month of May, 1oio,
and eyewitness stiIl remember with interest the
beauty of the bridal pair
A remarkable circle of friends was at once drawn
20 the house of Lady Duff Gordon by the talent aud
Lord Monteagle. Dickens. Thackeray, Elliot Warbur-
ton. Tom Taylor, Tennyson, kingake, and Henry
TAYLOR were among the habitual visitors, aud every
celebrated foreigner looked upon the house as cen
fer of interest. Among the guests remembered by
The author of the memoir was the German
historian, Leopold Ranke, who walked up and
down in the drawing room, talking vebemently
in kind of ola pOdrida of English, French,
German Italian, and Spanish, with now and then a
attn quotation. 1t was almost impossible to under
stand him. as lie talked fast and mixed up all Ian
cuages into a compound Of his During the
whole of her married life until failing health com
PEELED change, Lady Duff Gordon was an acknow-
edged queen Of society," shining no less by the Charm
ing amenity of her disposition than by the singular
graees of her intellect and her brilliant CONVERSE
tional powers Her warIn and mellow sympathes
did not impair the raciness of her expression Nor
did her devotion to literature which she cultivated
with earnestness and success, diminish the ardor
of her attachments or her fondness for social ILL
tercourse. At length she was compelled TO seek
the restoration OF her health in ider climate and
after making trial of several different places without
any good effect, she took voyage TO the Cape OF
Good Hope in the year 1860 in a sailing vessel
From this she experienced a temporary relief but
after her return she grew much that she de-
ternined to take up her residence in Egypt. The
last two years of her life i'll that country per-
petual struggle against hopeless disease, and she
finally breathed her last in Cairo the 18th of July
1869.
The letters contained in this volume are singuarly
attractive for the naive simplicity of their details
combined with Characteristic piquancy of express
sion They jot down the little occurrences of her
daily life in Egypt, while in fact prisoner i'll that
eountrv i'm ouest of health, without the 81 ghtest