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lightly clad, as representing the goddess of health, Hygeia.Numerous artists, exercised their graphic powers, in deli-neating her exquisite forms. Romney, the painter, repre-sented her as Venus, Cleopatra , Leda, and as the “penitentMagdalene.” The historical painter, Angelica Kaufmann of Rome , has transmitted her likeness to posterity, in thecharacter of St. Cecilia, the patroness of music. She thenbecame connected with a gentleman named Greville, anephew of Sir William Hamilton , who falling into pecuniarydifficulties, sent her to Naples, for the double purpose ofsoliciting assistance, and the hitherto withheld permissionof his uncle to make her his wife.
The old Sir William was greatly struck with Emma’sbeauty, but still he could not be prevailed upon to grant therequest of his nephew and his presumptive niece, to theextent of their request. However, he paid the whole ofthe debts of the former and sent him store of gold,—butEmma he kept, an hostage I suppose, for its repayment.Having had the misfortune to bury his first wife, during hisresidence at Naples, he offered his hand to the lovely Emmawho, nothing loath, was married to him under the name ofMiss Harte.
Emma, become my lady and British ambassadress,sustained her part with natural ease and unaffectedly. Nosooner did Lord Nelson evince for Emma the violent pas-sion which he no doubt did entertain for her, than thecrafty Queen Caroline, who until then, had kept my ladyat all convenient distance, attached her to her person, by allthose lures to vanity which a Queen can offer. At thetheatre, the promenades, Emma was seen seated besidethe Queen; and further, in the privacies of the palace,she often shared with her, her meals, her bath, her bed.Emma was incentive to various passions. When, in thesequel, as I have stated, the Queen and royal family
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