Id the street of St. Joan de Dios, of Malaga, there was, in
the early part of the present centuiy, a wealthy, intelligent,
and very attractive family residing in one of the most stately
siansions. The master of the house was an opulent merchant
from England, William Kirkpatrick, a Scotchman by bu*th.
He had been the English consul at Malaga, and had married
a young lady of Malaga, of remarkable beauty both of form
and feature, Francisca Gravisne, the daughter of one of the
ancient Spanish families.
They had three daughters, all of whom inherited the beauty, grace, and yivacity of their mother, blended with the strong sense and solid virtues of the father. The eldest of these daughters, Maria, was a young lady of extraordinary beauty. She was tall, with features as if chiselled by a Grecian sculptor, beaming with animation, with brilliant eyes, ready wit> and possessing perfect command of all the graces of language and the attractions of manner. Blended Saxon and Spanish blood circled in her veins and glowed in her cheeks. Her exquisitely moulded form is represented to have been perfect.
Her two younger sisters, Carlotta and Henriquetta, were also far-famed for beauty, grace, intelligence, and all those virtues which give attractions to the social circle. Mr. Kirk- patrick was engaged in extensive commerce with England and America. His circle of acquaintance was consequently very extensive. All foreigners of distinction were welcomed to his hospitable board ; and it was also the resort of the most refined and aristocratic native society of Malaga.
Among the guests who visited in this attractive family there was a Spanish noble, alike illustrious for his exalted birth, his large fortune, and his military prowess. A scar upon his face and a crippled limb were honorable wounds, which gave him additional claims to pre-eminence. He had joined the arriiy of Napoleon, in the endeavor to liberate Spain from the despotism of the Bourbons. He was then known 9
