OR, Bell's COURT AND FASHIONABLE MAGAZINE, FOR OCTOBER, 1808. EMBELLISHMENTS. 1. An Elegant PORTRAIT of HER GRACE THE DUCHESS OF GORDON. 2. THE MUSES DANCING WITH APOLLO; from the celebrated Picture of JULIO ROMANO, in the Louvre at Paris. (The description will be given in our next.) 3. FOUR WHOLE-LENGTH FIGURES in the FASHIONS of the SEASON. 4. An ORIGINAL SONG, set to Music for the Harp and Piano-Forte, by Dr. KITCHENER. 5. Two elegant and new PATTERNS for NEEDLE-WORK. London: Printed by and for J. BELL, Proprietor of the WEEKLY MESSENGER, Southampton-Street, Strand, November 1, 1808. TO OUR READERS. WE have deemed it necessary to cancel those pages in No. XXXV. in which by an oversight, which we cannot too much lament, some passages, on a medical subject relating to personal beauty, were too literally translated from the French.-We have therefore re-printed the pages, expunging those offensive expressions; and in order that our Subscribers may cancel them, we have subjoined un amended Quarter of a Sheet to this Number. The Bookbinder will be careful to observe this on making up the Half-yearly Volume. MR. BARRY'S PICTURES. After a long disappointment, arising from various causes, we are at length enabled to conclude the Series of Mr. BARRY's Pictures. The THREE PLATES, therefore, which complete the Set, will be given gratuitously, and without any diminution of the usual Embellishments, in our next Number. We shall thus, we trust, have honourably fulfilled our covenant with our Subscribers. COURT AND FASHIONABLE MAGAZINE, For OCTOBER, 1808. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ILLUSTRIOUS LADIES. The Thirty-seventh Number. HER GRACE THE DUCHESS OF GORDON. It would be impossible to select any || life, in diffusing delightful feelings. It is living female character who has made not surprising that, so disposed and qualifimore distinguished figure in the fashion-ed, her Grace was extremely popular. able world than the Duchess of Gordon. This lady, the daughter of Sir William Maxwell, Baronet, of Monteith, in the county of Lanerk, in Scotland, was born in 1750, and in early youth was peculiarly distinguished for both personal and mental qualifications. At the age of seventeen she captivated the affections of the young Duke of Gordon, to whom she was united on the 18th of October, 1767. In this new sphere, 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 a 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 This popularity she employed in benefiting her country. When the discomfiture of Burgoyne's army rendered extraordinary exertious necessary, and loyal and patriotic individuals promoted the public service by raising regiments, the Gordon family were among the first to offer their assistance. Her Grace, conscious of the influence which she had acquired among all ranks, determined to employ it in promot ing 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, she 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, and the corps was soon completed. At the time when she had the greatest weight in the fashionable world, she was strictly attentive to domestic duties. On the education of her daughters she bestowed great pains, directed by the soundest |