Women of History: Selected from the Writings of Standard AuthorsVarious
History
Women of History: Selected from the Writings of Standard Authors
Various
Women -- Biography
[BORN 1750. DIED 1828.]
TEMPLE BAR.
The youngest daughter of Augustus, fourth Earl of Berkeleigh, born in
1750, came into the world two months ere by the laws of nature she was
to be looked for; and this circumstance, which was a fit prelude to an
eccentric life, had nearly led to an abrupt termination of the infant's
earthly career ere its sands of life had run through the boiling of an
egg. A certain ceremonial was observed in those days when ladies of a
certain rank swelled the rolls of the aristocracy; and the first person
who approached the bed of the noble _accouchee_ was the Countess of
Albemarle, her aunt. The infant which had so unexpectedly claimed its
share of the world had doubly disappointed its mother; first, by being a
girl, when a boy had been predicted with assurance, for Lady Berkeleigh
had previously had four girls in succession, three of them, singularly
enough, at one birth; next, the little being, so far from exhibiting any
signs of the future beauty, presented the most miserable half-alive
aspect imaginable; and there being nothing ready to receive it, a piece
of flannel was huddled round it, and it was left on an arm-chair in a
kind of despair, and for some minutes altogether unheeded, till the
visitor already named was on the point of sitting down on foresaid
arm-chair, and, but for the screams of the attendants, would have
driven out, once and for ever, the small instalment of life-breath the
forlorn babe had been strenuously endeavouring to suck in.
Thereupon Lady Albemarle snatched up the child, took it to the light to
examine it, and observing that it there managed to open a pair of very
bright eyes, pronounced its chances of vitality to be far from
desperate. A wet nurse was therefore immediately procured; and, by dint
of great care, the puny little being was preserved to become eventually
the lovely, accomplished, and vivacious subject of this article
[afterwards to become first Lady Craven, and subsequently the Margravine
of Anspach]. Lady Berkeleigh, who is described by the margravine in her
own memoirs as having but little maternal affection, treated her
youngest daughter with even worse than indifference, and reserved all
the indulgence and attention she was disposed to show to her offspring
for her eldest sister, Lady Georgiana, who was regarded as the beauty.
The neglect and severity of the mother stamped a peculiar air of shyness
and modesty on Lady Elizabeth; and as her natural character was
vivacious, and disposed to gaiety and enjoyment, a contrast was thus
created, which, as she herself very unreservedly confesses, greatly
contributed to her fascination.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account