1797: ] Deaths. —Countefs of Exeter. 
and Gilbert, of Cockfpur Street. Mr, T. Wright, 
of Peterborougb Court, Fleet-{treet, printer. 
Mis. White, of Piccadilly. In Duke-ftreet, 
Portland-fquare, Mrs. Byham, 
Of the late Countess of ExETER, whofe 
death we noticed in cur laft Number, we bave 
be-n favoured with the following AUTHENTIC 
end INTERESTING memoirs: — 'Vhe amiable 
woman- whofe: virtues lately gave a luitre to 
the title of Countess of ExeTER, and who 
died lamented by all who Knew her, has fome- 
thing fo uncommonly interefting in the hiftory 
of her life, that a detailed fketch of it cannot 
but be acceptable to every reader of fenfibility. 
When the prefent Earl was a minor, he 
married, at an early age, a lady, from whom he 
was afterwards divorced. After the feparation 
had taken place, the earl, his uncle, advifed 
him to retire into the country for fome time, and 
pals as a private gentleman. Mr. Gecit, 
accordingly, bent his courfe into a remote part 
of Shropthire 5 and fixing his refidence at aninn, 
in a little rural village, he amufed himfelf there 
for fome months, paffing by the name of 
“ones. As he had plenty of money, and was 
extremely liberal to all» about him, fome 
perfons in the neighbourhood conceived a 
notion that he had not come honeftly -by his 
riches, grew fufpicious of him, and fhunned his 
_ company. They took him for an Indian nabob ; 
and, as he pated along, he often heard the 
ruftics exclaim, ‘* There goes the Lind n gen- 
tlemon.’ Laking a diflike to his fituation at 
the inn, he fought out a farm-houfe, where he 
might board and lodge---feveral families had 
yefufed to take him in, becaufe he was ‘“ too 
fine a gentleman, and they could not underftand 
how he came by his money.’ At length, 
he found a fituation, which anfwered his pur- 
poie, and in confideration of his liberal offers, - 
Tr 
and the knowledge ‘of his pofiefling money, 
a farmer fitted him up aroom. Here he con- 
tinued to refide for about two years, going up to 
London twice in the year, and returning with 
fuch money as he had occafion for; when he 
departed, the country people thought he was 
gone to gather in his rents, and became more 
affured of this, from his aiways returning with 
plenty .of cafh. Time hanging heavy on his 
hands, he purchafed fome land, on which he 
intended to build a houfe; but neither ftone- 
mafon nor carpenter would undertake the job, 
for the reatons already mentioned, He did not 
condefcend to contradi€t the reports of the 
villagers ; but offering to pay fo much money 
beforehand, the tradefmen, after fome grave 
confultation together, agreed to finifh his work 
---this was done accordingly, and every perfon 
was paid to the full extent of his demands. 
‘The farmer, at whofe cottage his lordfhip re- 
fided, had a daughter, about feventeen years of 
age, whole ruftic beauties threw at an infinite 
dittance, all that his lordfhip had ever beheld 
in ‘the circle of fafhion: the fofteft rofes that. 
ever modcfty poured upon youth and lovelinefs, 
glowed upon her lips---her cheeks were tinged 
with the divine bloom of Hebe; and the purity 
ef the Huntrefs Nymphwas in her breaft ; 
: 239 
_ © Her lips were red—the one was thin== 
“« Next to that her chin--. 
< Some bee had ftung it newly---” y 
---and, whenever any part of her neck or 
bofom was accidentaliy difplayed, the “ Nreor 
Splendens, marmore purior’? dazzled the ob- 
ferver’s eye. Although this charming 
maid was placed in the humble lot of life, 
his lordthip perceived, that her beauty would 
adorn, and her virtue fhed, a luftre on the rmoft 
elevated fituation. One day, when the farmer 
returned home from his plough, Mr. Cecil frank~ 
ly told them, that he liked their daughter, and 
would marry her, if they would give their 
confent --- *¢ Marry our daughter !” exclaimed 
Mrs. Farmer, ‘‘ what, toa fine gentleman ?--- 
No, indeed !”” “ Yes, marry her,” fays the huf- 
band, ¢ he fhall marry her, and fhe Jikes him--- 
has he not houfe and land tao, and plenty of 
money to keep her?” In fine, the matter was 
made up, and Mr. Cecil married (his chairning 
raftic. Mafters of every kind were now pro- 
cured, and, in twelve months’ time, Mrs. © 
Ceci became an accomplifhed woman, to the 
envy of the country girls around, and to the 
afionifhment of the villagers, who now beean 
to be reconciled to the {uppofed too fine a gen- 
tleman, It was not long before the news ar- 
rived of his uncle’s death, when he found it 
neceflary to repair to town. He accordingly 
fet oat, taking his wife with him, and on his 
Journey, called at the feats of feveral noblemen, 
where, to the utter aftonifhment of his wife, 
he was welcomed in the moft friendly manner. 
At laft, they arrived at Burleigh, in Northamp- 
tonthire, the beautitul patrimonial feat of his 
lordihip. Here they were welcomed with 
acclamations of joy. As foonas he had fettled 
his affairs he returned into Shropfhire, difcovered 
his rank to his wife’s father and mother, 
put them into the houfe he had built there, 
and fettled on them an income of 7ool. per 
annum. ~ He afterwards took the Countefs with 
him to London, introduced her to the fathion-- 
able world, where fhe was refpeCted, admired, 
adored, until it pleafed the great Difpenfer of 
providential events, to call the fpirit of life 
to a more lafting region of happinefs. Her 
ladythip has left two fons and one daughter. 
At Buckingham-houfe, aged 66, Madame 
Schwellenbergen, keeper of the robes to Her 
Majefty fince her arrival in England. She ne- 
ver fulpeéted her diffolution to be fo near, al- 
though fhe had long laboured under the infirmi- 
ties of age. Onthe evening of ‘her death, in 
attempting to divert herfelf at cards, and draw- 
ing near the table for that purpofe, fhe fell into 
a fit, and expired, without uttering a fentence. 
It has been commonly believed, that this lady, 
from her opportunities of acquiring wealth, &c. 
was immentely rich; it is probable, however, 
that her property has been greatly exaggerated. 
She was ever humane and liberal to the unfor- 
tunate and wretched. To the junior branches 
of the royal family, during their tender years, 
fhe ated with the tender folicitude and warm — 
affection of a mother. The Queen has lof in 
her an accomplifhed woman and a very faithful 
fervant. At 






