Being denied a home under her father’s roof, she for some years lived in seclusion and study, but becoming acquainted with the Earl of Blessington, married him in February, 1818. Then another phase of her life commenced, and their mansion in St. James’s Square was the resort of the most fashionable of the day. Her beauty at this time was very great, and afforded a theme for the pen of Byron, and the pencil of Sir Thomas Lawrence. With the poet she became acquainted during her well-known continental tour, during which the introduction to D’Orsay also took place. Lord Blessington dying at Paris in 1825, his widow remained there till after the Revolution of 1830, when she returned to London. Connected with the story of Lady Blessington, that of Count D’Orsay is intimately woven. He was a great favourite of Lord Blessington, whose daughter by his first wife was, when quite a young girl, fetched from school to marry him; and a promise also is said to have been given from the Count to his Lordship, and from the Count’s mother to Lady Blessington, that they (the Count and her Ladyship) would never leave each other. Be that as it may, they lived together for above a quarter of a century, and increase of years seemed still stronger to consolidate the engagement. D’Orsay led a gay and extravagant life in London, considerably beyond his means, in great measure appearing to consider his patronage sufficient payment. He undoubtedly possessed great abilities, was an excellent artist, and a humourist of the first water. But his conduct to his wife was cruel in the extreme; she was spurned by him entirely; he still pocketing an income from her father’s estates! For a long time he could only make his exit from Gore House on Sundays, for fear of arrest, and his extravagancies vastly accelerated the day of retribution. He and Lady Blessington retired to Paris, and Gore House was stripped of its contents by public sale. There, whatever was the cause, they met not with the reception anticipated. Lady Blessington died soon after, on June 4th, 1849. D’Orsay designed her monument, and in little more than three years after his career was ended. He died July 1st, 1852. Gore House became, in 1851, Monsieur Soyer’s “Symposium for all Nations.” Here that celebrated minister of the interior provided international feasts, farewell banquets, &c.; and various amusements in the highly-decorated rooms conduced to the public pleasure. The gardens were beautifully laid out and ornamented with sculpture, while the interior testified to the industry and taste of Madame Soyer in the art of painting. In February, 1852, all was again dismantled, its _Baronial Hall_ and _Encampment of all Nations_ being sold by auction.