New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-03
GOOD WOMEN IN A BAD AGE.
SOME CHARMING BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES


LEADING WOMEN or TIE RESTORATION. With
Portraits nv Grace Johnst,ne. svO PIP. 22l
London Digby. Long & Co.
The author Of thcse biographical studies was.
MS she tells u.s. moved to undertake them by The
laudablc desire of showing that during the most
dissolute times of the Stnarts there were women
at Court who led blameless Christian lives.
and whose influence and example were pure and
clcvnting The women selected as Illustrations
are Lady Russell, Lady Warwick. Lady Maynard.
Mrs Hutchinson and Mrs. Godolphin or these
five the life of the first is by far the most
moving. since it centres upon tragedy which has
stirred the hearts of Englishmen everywhere.
Tie fate of Lord William Russell Is perhaps the
most f.grant example Of Stuart tyranny in history.
while the devotion " Lady Russell and her heroic
efforts 10 save her husband can revcr be forgot
ten Apart from their relations 10 the turbulent
notifies OF the time, the lives Of this husband and
wife deserve TO he studied, for heppier union
has never been recorded, and under all clrcnn-
stances both behaved with the nobleSt hrmness
and the greatest dignity.
William Russell and his wifc Rachel led an
ideal married life. rs their corrrSpbndcnce. freely
cited by Miss Johnstonc, sufficiently indicates.
As Charles H. became more high-hanled, and his
determination 20 suppress The liberties Of English
men more apparent, Lord Russell. whose spirit
was closely akin 10 that Of his fr,l'w victim, Aleer
non sydney. entered morr and more broadly into
politics on the side OF constitutional government
II was not tie Rye-louse rot for which lie was
condemned, if indeed. there was Ryc-Il0nsc Plot
Ne was struck down because he WAS an oppo
ncnt and an open one 81 Charcss policy. But
the cnwariicc of the King and the Duke 81 York
WIS exposed 10y The malevocncc with which they
1 81. all LII, Dno -cn Il all
that could he dune 20 save his He She
obtained admittarce 20 both the King and his
brother, hut could make no impression npon
them Evidently they could not sleep soundly
while So rcsolu'c and 50 popular patriot as
William Russell lived In such haste WEIR his
enemies 70 IL rid Of them that they refused thc
petty grace Of n rppricvc Rom Saturday until Mon
day the request being made that the condemned
man might lie enabled 10 faIsh some papers he
was engaged in composing. The farewell I've
tween Lord and Lady Russell wns managed In
such way as "a put The least possible strnin
upon her feelings AMI Lori Russell. who had
never expected anything from his wifes efforts
on his behalf though lie would not check her
ardor, met death with lofty calm and rcsig-
nation. the account OF which is not the least NOV
ing episode in the tragedy. Lady Russell sur
yived her husband many wars, bringing up and
marrying the children, living saintlike life
and diving NJ last beloved by all who knew her.
OF Mary Rich Countess Of Warwick there is
not much IN tell beyond the common trins and
vcIssitudes Of life. She married man who was a
martyr 70 the gout-if il is permissible 10 cali
any one martyr 70 sclfindulgrncc-and who
having naturally bad temper, gave his wife many
unpleasant hours This she seems TO havc borne
with exemplary patience, and she was also unafrect-
eddy pious. She had deeper sorrow IN after lin.
losing her only son, in whom all her hopes
centred This cruel blow, however, did
net sour her disposition, and she continued
TO I'll the part OF Christian woman and
great lady with n sweetness and consistency not
often encountered and least OF oil in such period
az WAS hers.
Why Margaret Lady Maynard should be
given a plnhc in this catalogue OF lead
ing women Of the Restoration, we scarcely under
stand. Miss tombstone can find very little to saY
Of her, and her biography may I've summed up in
the single remark That she was pious. but common
place.
Lucy Hutchinson, the next on the list merits
and receives n much longer stnhy. L. must how
ever, h. said that she docs noe belong here,
having had, Ms Miss tombstone frankly ackn0wl-
edges nothing 10 do with the Court Of Charles n
Her time that Of tho First Charles and the
Commonwealth. Her "reminiscences werr Of Cava-
llers and Roundheads: OF the stormy scenes Of tho
Civil War; Of the defence Of Nottingham Castle ;
Of Cromwell and his Ironsides IL is a stirring
and picturesque story, and long familiar through
the memoirs Of the heroine. But one does not
easily tire Of such narratives aud it Is pleasant to
have the old times brought before US ancw In O
bright and lively style. Mr. Hutchinson, it will
be remembered, joined the Parliament was given
q INTERNATIONALLY and put in command OF
Nottingham Castle, which was little mere than O
ruin, and scarcely capable Of being put In a state
Of defence, though the Of attack were Of
the poorest. The place, however, was Of great
Importance 10 the Parliament and had to be forth
fed and held TO the last; and Colonel Hutchinson
put all his energies into the task set before him
Mrs Hutchinson gives q full description Of the
state Of the castle when her husband took charge
Of it. not emitting to give the available list VI
munitions and provisions. She says 4" was "a
Ill provided as fortified, there being bnt ten bar
rels Of powder, eleven hundred and fifty pounds
Of butter ond as much cheese, eleven quarters Of
bread corn, seven beevcs, tive hundred and four
tsen Aitches Of bacon. Ave hundred and sixty fishes
and fifteen hogsheads Of beer A good deal Of beer
for q very Moderate quantity OF brrah II the
relative proportions do not reach Sir John FSi-
Stairs account; Colonel HUTCHINSON, however
gradually drew in contributions from the town
and made his defence good The csstl. was SEVERAL
times attacked and after the lighting Mr.,
Hutchinson was aotivc in attending 10 tho
wounded. making no distinction between friend
and foe Perhaps the feelings Of the loyal wife count
for something in Mrs. Hutchnsons belief that
Cromwell, while always on friendly and even cor.
dial terms with the colonel, refused him promo.
ton in the army because he feared his Independent
e3irit and hia fraRlxne~ Of uttera4ce. Hutchin-