The Great Chemif<t, Joseph Black. 71 



Her breast can no transparent crystal need ; 



Each heavenly virtue's seen in every deed. 



Let others boast of some ncAv conquest chained ; 



Let hers be to retain those hearts she's gained." 

 Mary Isabella Stewart died early, aged only 34, but was 

 long held in remembrance by her many friends. From a Belfast 

 paper of 6th December, 1785, I extract this notice of her death : 



"Died, on Friday last, after a tedious illness, which she 

 bore with uncommon resignation and fortitude, Mrs. Mary 

 Isabella Stewart, of Ballydrain, leaving her friends and all 

 who knew her to lament the loss of a woman who stood 

 unrivalled in everything that makes the sex beloved and 

 admired, possessed of every virtue that could adorn human 

 nature. She has left to the world an example which the 

 few can equal, all should endeavour to imitate." 



" Fair like the snowy beauty of thy mein, 

 The unsullied whiteness of thy soul within. 

 Oh, thou hadst all that can the soul engage, 

 The face of youth, chastened with sapient age ; 

 Gay without lightness ; grave yet not severe. 

 Polite as courts are and as truth sincere. 

 Perfection all (as far as mortals can). 

 As soft as woman and as wise as man." 



The foregoing is taken from a copy by Annabella Sturrock, 

 then in the possession of the late R. H. Reade. 



The "blind engineer," Alexander Mitchell, the inventor of 

 the screw pile, was a nephew of this lady. 



Robert Stewart left only one son and five daughters. The 

 son, George Alexander, married Matilda Rainey, of Greenville. 

 After his uncle's death he sold Ballydrain and removed to 

 Macedon, which he had inherited from him. He died in 

 1805, and his widow afterwards became the wife of 

 Hamilton Rowan. Four of his sisters have already been 

 mentioned; a fifth girl, Mattie, otherwise Helena, died unmarried. 



