Copy Book Archive

Portrait of a Lady Edmund Burke takes time off from campaigning for liberty to reflect on the delights of captivity.
1757
King George III 1760-1820
Music: John Garth

By George Romney (1734-1802), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain. Source

About this picture …

Laetitia à Court, née Wyndham, second wife wife of Sir William Pierce Ashe à Court, 1st Baronet, soldier and MP for Heytesbury in Wiltshire.

Portrait of a Lady
Edmund Burke remains one of the most significant statesmen in British history, who spoke up for the American colonists and the people of India as well as the English working man. Around the time of his marriage to Jane Mary Nugent in 1757, Burke also shared with us some thoughts on his ‘Idea of a Woman’.
Abridged

SHE has a face that just raises your attention at first sight; it grows on you every moment, and you wonder it did no more than raise your attention at first.

Her eyes have a mild light, but they awe you when she pleases; they command, like a good man out of office, not by authority, but by virtue.

Her stature is not tall. She is not made to be the admiration of every body, but the happiness of one.

She has all the firmness that does not exclude delicacy: she has all the softness that does not imply weakness.

Her smiles are inexpressible.

Her voice is a low, soft music, not formed to rule in public assemblies, but to charm those who can distinguish a company from a crowd. It has this advantage — you must come close to her to hear it.

No person of so few years can know the world better; no person was ever less corrupted by that knowledge.

Précis

Prominent Georgian statesman Edmund Burke described his ‘idea of a woman’ in terms of a young lady who is not a striking beauty or the kind of conversationalist to hold a room, but a quietly spoken, intelligent woman of discerning character whose personal charm and magnetism are felt more strongly at each meeting. (53 / 60 words)

Source

Abridged from ‘The District School Reader’, edited by William D. Sawn.

Suggested Music

Cello Concerto in D major, Op. 1 No. 1

Andante

John Garth (1721-1810)

Performed by Richard Tunnicliffe, with the Avison Ensemble conducted by Pavlo Beznosiuk.

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Georgian Era (224)
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