THE CONGRESS OF WOMEN.
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At all events it would be hard to choose between our rights and our romance. People will get their rights some time, but romance may escape us.
While visiting Lady De Courcy, Blennerhassett met Miss Agnew. She was a young, beautiful, enthusiastic girl, trained in a school of romance and with a passionate love for her island home. With great energy of character, intelligence and a wealth of affection, in Blennerhassett she met her fate. Such a woman must have a hero to worship; the young Irishman was her ideal. They were married, I believe, in 1796. Mrs. Blennerhassett never wavered in her affection for her husband. She always believed in him. Eagerly adopting his views about settling in America, she was charmed to go with him to that land of her dreams.
Mr. Blennerhassett was kindhearted, devoted to science, but could not adapt himself to those around. He certainly lacked common sense. He was one of those students who are more careful in their cross-examinations of nature than of humanity. Such people are often made game of by the average boy. Though a gentleman in all his feelings, he was not quick to see those side lights upon a subject which result in humor or wit in many minds, and keep people from being absurd, but in the eyes of his wife he was perfect. The young girl had absolute faith in her husband. Was he imposed upon, she never blamed him; did he fail in any undertaking, it was the fault of adverse fate; did he stoop as he walked, it was only a proof of his devotion to science. So thought his devoted wife. What cannot a glowing imagination paint when it is inspired by love!
How shall I describe Lady Blennerhassett? Not ennobled by any earthly monarch, but by the grace of God, who made her what she was, and by the unrecorded vote of those among whom she lived, and who best know her, so she was universally called in her Western home, and so we must speak of her.
Lady Blennerhassett! The glamor has not yet faded from her name. She was taller than most women, but exquisitely proportioned. Fair, with Grecian features— but we can not bring her before you by a catalogue of her beauties of mind and person. Her winning, gracious manner would have adorned a court. It was prompted by a warm heart and quick interest and sympathy in all that appealed to her, either in enjoyment or misfortune.
In 1797 these two favorites of fortune started for the New World. Like the prince and princess in the fairy tale, they went to seek their fortune in an unknown country. Mr. Blennerhassett took his chemicals, his retorts, his telescope and extensive library with him. A large fortune placed almost everything at his command; the hopeful nature and enthusiasm of his beautiful wife was more than any mine of gold in its promise of happiness. They crossed the Alleghanies, and a keel boat carried them from Pittsburg to Marietta, Ohio. Four miles below this town, and two below the Little Kanawha, they were entranced by the sight of Bacchus Island. The willows dipping into the water and forest trees garlanded with vines made a magical picture to the two homeseekers.
Mr. Blennerhassett paid forty-five hundred dollars for the upper part of the island. The house that he built upon it cost sixty thousand dollars.
The mansion has been variously described. As it has long since been burned to the ground, no mirage eludes us more effectually than the truth about it. One authority speaks of the magical effect of this palace on the voyagers descending the river: “The colored glass, the groups of turrets are not unlike a Moorish palace in Andalusia, as embowered by shrubbery, with long, sweeping vistas, showing grand forest trees, and suggesting wilder scenes of sylvan solitude.” On the other hand, Parton, resenting Wirt’s flowery description on the trial (as if the beauty of the house made Burr more guilty), speaks of it as “ the country seat of an eccentric, romantic, shiftless Irishman, who contrived to spend a fortune in building a house of original ugliness.” He says, “ It suggests the idea of semi-circular barracks, though, of course, there were gardens and bits of primeval wilderness, forming a pleasant but not very sumptuous residence.” Oh for a good photograph! Prejudice does not influence the sun. He gives us impartial pictures.