The Ladies' Garland

A HEROINE.

Persons who read the public papers will remember, that Lady Hester Stanhope, an English woman, made herself, either by her beauty or skill, Chief of a tribe of Arabs in the desert of Syria, over whom she reigned with absolute power. News had lately been received of this extraordinary woman, whose family, rich and powerful, have vainly endeavored to entice her back to Europe. Captains Irby and Mangles were charged to carry her some books and letters, and with this intention repaired to Jaffa, which is in the interior, to the place of her residence, the old monastery Mar Elias Alza, situated a league and half from Saide. There they heard that this sovereign was gone to Jeba, in the middle of the mountains. The two English men sent her letters and books with which they were charged, and at the same time requested permission to pay their respects to her personally, but she replied, that she had laid it down as a law, never to suffer an Englishman near her. The two captains were informed that she was generally dressed like a Turk: that the people adored her, and were never satiated with talking of her beauty and magnanimity.

[Paris paper.

We never hear of this singular female, except through the French papers. On reference to the Mercury of May 31st, 1816, we find the first mention of her, which we copied from the French journals. Lady Hester Stanhope is there described as the niece, friend, and intimate companion of the late Mr. Pitt, after whose death she formed the project of travelling in the Levant. She visited Malta and Constantinople, and was shipwrecked in her voyage to Palestine. She was rescued, and conveyed to Syria, after which she travelled in all directions, accompanied by her countryman Bruce, who aided in the escape of Lavalette. The same account adds, that after innumerable adventures, she was then at the head of some tribes of Badouin Arabs, who regarded her as a being of a superior order. This was the substance of the French accounts of our fair countrywoman in 1816, to which, together with the more recent intelligence from Paris, our readers may attach what credit they deem it deserving of.

[Liverpool Mercury]