Year: 1879

MARY woLLsToNEcRAFTs LETTERS.


1t was in the spring of 1898 that Mary Wollstone
craft the perfdious Gilbert INLAY in Paris She
had just published her vindcation of the rights OF
woman. which made her more enemies than friends,
and thirty years of age. Up to this age she
had remained heart whole. but the moment the dash
ing American laid siege she surrendered. Biogra-
piers differ the question of her marriage, but Mr.
Kegan Paul, who has written her latest memoir
(Scribner 4 Welfordl, thinks beyond doubt. that
they were married according TO some form. if not
generally recognized.


Mary wollstonecraft was born at Hoxton. England,
iu 1859. Her home life unhappy. and after the
death of her mother her father marrying again. she
resolved to leave his roof entirely She went to live
with her friend Fanny Blood. whose father
was not unlike the disreputable Wollstone-
craft. Miss Blood artist and earned
D scanty living with her brush. Her mother
took in needlework. and long she lived with
them Mary aided her. Eliza Wolstonecraft had mar
red miserable man by the name of Bishop. whom
Mary urged her to leave and arranged the details OF
her flight She considered that Bishop had dissolved
their marriage by his brutality. legal separation
at last arranged, and Mary Eliza and Miss Blood
took house together at Newngton Green and opened
school. This venture not pecuniary success
and after two years the school was given up. Mary
accepted position as governess in the family Of
Lord Kingsborough when she was about twenty
eight years of age Up to this time she had written
nothing but family letters but these in great guam
titles. She was very unhappy and saw but little to
cheer her in life. She wrote---


My harassed mind will in time out my body.
have been hunted down by and


many that must encounter that my spirits are quite
depressed. l have lost all relish for life. and my
almost broken heart is cheered by the prospect OF
death.


After living year with Lady Kingsborough she was
dismissed for the that the children loved her
better than they did their mother. Mr.. Johnson, the
publisher in st. Paul's Churchyard made her
offer of constant literary work. mainly in the way of
translation from the French and she also acted his
adviser and reader 1t while with Mr.. johnson
that she wrote her famous work, "a yindication of
the Rights OF Woman" which is dedicated to IN.
Talley dPergord. late Bishop of Autun." 1t was
the title of the book more than its contents that
raised such hue and cry for it contains attack
upon marriage does she assai orthodox religion.
The book really plea for equality of education.
While her views being derided and decried by
reviews and reviewers she France. and there,
have said, met Gilbert INLAY. INLAY would
probably have been known to the present gen.
Grafton but for his brutal treatment Of Mary
Wollstonecrart. He had been a captain in the
Revolutionary War. and after peace was declared
ne became a commissioner for laying out land in the
back settlements. From Kentucky he wrote letters
the state of the country to Irish friend, who
published them in Dublin in 1893. The book passed
through several editions, and may now be found
the shelves of second hand book dealers. He
man of marked ability and fine education. He
seems to have fallen in love with Mary Wollstone-
craft. who exceedingly beautiful woman.


her portraits in this volume prove. But his passion
spent itself. for find that in few months
time he left her in Paris and went to Havre. And
begin those heartbroken. sorrowful letters that
Mr.. Kegan Paul repubshes in this volume. At first
she does not understand that he has really deserted
her. and writes him in loving words:-


God bless you my love; do not shut your heart
against return of tenderness and as in fancy
cling to you, be more than my support. Feel
but aectionate when you read this letter did
in writing it and you will make happy your Mary.


After very afectionate letter she writes ~ am
afraid to read this prattle but is only for your
eye" Poor woman. how little she dreamed Of the
thousands of eyes that would read and reread every
one of the words from her heart. Being unable
to stand their separation any longer she went to
Havre, and after she had been there fortnight I'm
lay returned TO Paris, leaving her behind. Perhaps
she began to suspect that all not right she
wrote:--


There qualities in your heart which demand
my affection. but, unless the attachment appears
me clearly mutual shall labor only to esteem your
character instead of chershing tenderness for your
person.


He must have assuaged her alarms to some extent
for after they have again changed postions-he in
Havre and she in Paris-she writes. playfully:-


If you do not make haste back 1 shall be half in
love with the author of the "Marseaise.' who is
handsome little too broad faced SO, and
plays sweetly ON the violin.


Then sadly


Having suffered so much IN life do not be surprised
If sometimes when left TO myself. grow gloomy and
suppose that 1t was ali dream and that my happi-
ness is not to last.


Fearing that her hold upon him weakening she
held out attractions in the shape of their child whom
he had never seen "Our darling is becoming a most
intelligent little creature and gay as lark" and
my little begins to show her teeth and use her
legs She wants you bear your part the nursing
business. for fatigued with dancing her. and yet
she is not satisfied. She wants you to thank her
mother for taking such of her. you only can.


One would think that she had reason become dis
couraged; still she to have hope. and writes:
"Tell me when may expect to you, and let me
not be always vany looking for you. till grow sick
at heart" Then, half apologetically. she adds
''Adieul am little hurt. must take my darling
TO my bosom to comfort me-"


To get her further out of the way INLAY sent her
to the Netherlands business for him. where she
acted his wife, Her letters written at that time
were published and widely read for their beautiful



the North she found her worst fears realized. She
threatened TO leave him. but scorned TO accept any
pecuniary aid at his hands. "Do not suppose that
neglected by you. will be under obligations of
pecuniary kind to youl No; would sooner submit
to menial service. i wanted the support Of your
Affection; that gone all's overt" He Joined her in
London in 1885, but carried on shameless intrigue
with another woman at the same time. Poor Mary
attempted to take her life and threw herself into the
Thames for that purpose. but rescued by
boatmen. In one OF her last letters to INLAY she
wrote:-


In tearing myself from you it is my own heart
pierce and the time will come when you will lament
that you have thrown away heart that, in "a
moment OF passion. you cannot despise


After all his bad treatment she seems still to have
retained affection for the man--''1t is strange
that in spite of all you do something like conviction
forces me to believe that you not what you ap-
pear TO be. part with you in peace"