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flattered and cajoled, petted and ignored, praised in prose, 
vilified in verse—a woman of high spirits, although for the last 
ten years of her life suffering from a painful and incurable 
malady, yet preserving through all a noble equanimity—tried by 
both extremes of fortune and never overmuch disturbed by 
either. 
The Christian name of her father was Evelyn—he was a 
relative of the great diarist of that name. Her mother was a 
Fielding—a connection of the author of ‘‘Tom Jones.” Some 
reflex of the diverse talents of Diarist Evelyn and Novelist Fielding 
may be noted in the writings of their relative Lady Mary. 
Untoward fate befell several of her attempts at preserving a diary. 
Each one of the several relatives who has written histories or 
sketches of Lady Mary dwells with inflated pride on that simple 
incident in her education when Bishop Burnet commended her 
translation of a work of Epictetus. 
The story of her marriage to Edward Wortley presents many 
singular features. Fortunately her lover kept all her letters, and 
in his precise official way docketted each one most carefully. 
They form interesting reading. All the world seemed to be in 
opposition to her espousal, but she faced her fate, and a runaway 
marriage was arranged. The husband’s behaviour to his young 
wife was far from kindly. 
They went together to Constantinople, where Mr. Wortley was 
English Ambassador, and remained two years. On her return 
the wife found herself the first woman in England. In 1739, 
after twenty-seven years of married life, she went on the continent 
—alone. It was not until after Mr. Wortley’s death in 1761, 
that she returned to England. The stern logic of facts and dates 
disproves some of Horace Walpole’s charges and insinuations 
against Lady Mary. There were two children of the marriage— 
one daughter, the Countess of Bute, and one son. The conduct 
of the boy throughout his life caused his mother much anxiety 
and distress. 
England is indebted to woman for the greatest blessings by 
which she has been distinguished. In no instance in the annals 
of the country is this reflection more amply justified than in the 
action of Lady Mary in introducing the Turkish custom of inocu- 
lation. Through her courageous conduct the terrible scourge of 
smallpox was greatly mitigated. Her son was the first English 
child to be ingrafted. The opponents of the new process fastened 
on the young fellow’s escapades, and put the matter briefly and 
bluntly :—Young Wortley had been inoculated ; he turned out a 
scamp: the inference being obvious. 
