It is, therefore, of the highest importance in any circle of society, that the person who gives the tone to its opinions, manners, and pursuits, should be such as best to promote its most beneficial and agreeable purposes. Fashion is closely interwoven with morals and with politics. The pursuits and manners which she prescribes, powerfully influence private integrity, public patriotism and loyalty. In no circle does that imitation, whose influence we have already remarked, operate more powerfully than in high life, and by none are people of that condition more directed than by the Duchess of Gordon. That this is the fact, all those who are acquainted with that rank in society will readily bear testimony. We hope therefore, it will not be unacceptable to our readers to present to them the principal features of this lady's history and character, to mark their operation, the influence it has procured her, and the effects which it has produced.

Sir William Maxwell, Bart. of Monreith, in the county of Lanark, in Scotland, had a large family both of sons and daughters. Of the young ladies, Jane, born in 1750, was one. As they grew up, the Misses Maxwell were distinguished for beauty and intelligence. The influence produced by the one was secured by the other; for both personal and mental qualifications, Miss Jane was peculiarly distinguished. She was eminent for agility and grace in the performance of those exercises which display beauty and symmetry on the one hand; and for the gaiety, spirit, and brilliancy of humour and wit,

which so agrecably set off acute and vigorous understanding, on the other. At seventeen years of age she captivated the affections of the young Duke of Gordon, then just come of age, and listening to his addresses, became, October 18, 1767, Dutchess of Gordon.

In this station, the agreeable, amiable, and impressive qualities of her Grace, which had before procured her the esteem and admiration of the Caledonian capital, and all those within the circle of her acquaintance, greatly extended the sphere of her influence. Henceforward, those talents and qualities more and more unfolded themselves, which have rendered her BRITISH PUBLIC CHARACTER. She was eminently distinguished for her engaging deportment, for being the life and soul of elegant parties, especially those met for festive amusement. Her sallies of wit enlivened the table, her precepts and example animated the ball-room. She was peculiarly skilled and successful in gladdening life, in diffusing delightful feelings. Wherever she presided, either directly or indirectly, to no member of the company was genial attention wanting. She had the power of making all persons within the sphere of her actions pleased with themselves; a power that in an individual must result from the union of disposition to prompt, with discernment to perceive different cases, and judgment to direct the conduct accordingly. It is not surprising that, so disposed and qualified, her Grace was extremely popular. The writer of this article remembers, that in 1777,

he

he one evening happened to be at an inn at Blair, in Athol, near Athol-house, a seat of the Duke of that: name; he had hardly arrived when a large party of country gentlemen, with all of whom he was well acquainted, came to the inn from his Grace's mansion; one of their fellow-guests had been the Duchess. of Gordon. Her charms, her attention, her manners, her accomplishments, were the theme of universal praise for several hours, and were resumed. with equal warmth in the morning. Conversing with the youngest gentleman in the company, but whom he knew to be possessed of very vigorous talents and penetrating discernment, "Pray, Charles," said the writer, "what appears to you to be her Grace's secret for enrapturing your father, and all our worthy friends?" "Careful forbearance of her display of superiority of rank in the distribution of her attentions; no marked consideration of that diversity in others, when met together at the same table; giving every one an opportunity of speaking on a subject, on which he supposed he could speak well; not all her engaging qualifications made such an impression on my father, as a conversation in which he was enabled to bring forward his favourite opinions on planting trees and potatoes, as most beneficial both to gentlemen and the poor. His good neighbour was no less captivated by her Grace's discourse with him. on sheep-farms. You may depend upon it," continued the young gentleman, "that her understanding and manners, independent of her face, countenance, and figure, will secure to her an ascendancy in any particular

particular company, in which she happens to be placed, as well as the general circle in which she moves*."

At Athol house her Grace first saw Neil Gow, the father of the present Scotch ball music. To this.circumstance may be traced the origin of the introduction of Scotch dancing into the fashionable world, which art the Messrs. Jenkins, father and son, have brought to its present perfection. Her Grace, pleased with the exquisite performance of the Athol musician, proposed to him to attend at Leith races, of which she was to be a spectator the following week. Admiring Neil's style of performance, she thought no less highly of his compositions as peculiarly adapted to the native dances of Scotland. One of his productions, though of too plaintive a cast to prompt the active movements of the Strathspey and reel, yet attracted her Grace's notice, from the taste, genius, and feelings which it exhibited. Though Neil Gow's fame, before the patronage of her Grace, was chiefly provincial, yet where his merit was known it was held in very high estimation. One of his most liberal and munificent patrons was Mr. Moray, of Abercairney, a gentleman of great fortune and distinction, father-in-law to the late eminent Sir Wil liam Erskine. Mr. Moray having died about two

* Some remark was made at table concerning the cork rumps then in. fashion, especially among ladies, to whom nature had been malignant in certain personal charms. Her Grace, who was not in that predicament, declared she would never encourage such adventitious aids.

months

months before the period at which we are arrived; Neil Gow, in remembrance of his deceased benefactor, composed a delicate and pathetic mélody, Jexi hibiting at once, the melancholy of gratitude for ever deprived of its object, and a just and vigorous coneeption of the tones best adapted to the expression of passion. This piece of music was then, for the first time, performed from the orchestra of Neil's patron, the Duke of Athol, to the exquisite delight of the company, and especially of that illustrious guest who is the subject of our narrative. She thenceforward patronized Neil, and under her protection Scotch music began to rise towards the deserved eminence.

The popularity of her Grace she employed in benefiting her country. When the discomfiture of Burgoyne's army rendered extraordinary exertions necessary, and 46yal and patriotic individuals promoted the public service by raising regiments, the Gordon family were among the first to offer their assistance. Fer Grace, conscious of the influence which she had acquired among all ranks, determined to employ it in promoting so laudable a purpose. In the very depth of winter, when the gay and splendid season of London was just beginning; when arrangements were making for the elegant parties and festive enjoyments of high life, the fair subject of our narrative left the metropolis, and set out for the cold regions of the Highlands. The presence of a lady, whose affability, condescension, and goodness, they regarded with such gratitude and admiration, inspiring the gallant mountaineers, the corps was. soon completed.