Page:Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and Round the World in the Years 1791–95, volume 1.djvu/197

Jatiuiil V. The quren-motluT, alihoiigh dcflitutc of any pretenfions to beauty, and liaving in lur ptrlon a very niafculine appearance, has yet, in her general deportment, fonicihing excellively pleafing and engaging; free from any aufteriiv or pride, fiie is endued with a comparative elegance of" manners, which phiinly bel'peaks her defcent, and the high fituation in which flie is placed. Although her figure exhibited no external charms of feminine foftnefs, yet great complacency and gentlenefs were always confpicuous; indicating, in the mod unequivocal manner, a mind pollclfing. and alone actuated by thofe amiable qualities which moll adorn the human race. All her a6lions feemed directed to thofe around her with an unalterable evennefs of temper, and to be guided by a pure difinterelled benevolence. Self, which on mofl: occafions is the govern- ing principle in the conduct of thefe iflanders, with her was totally dif- regarded; and indeed, fuch was her very amiable difpofition, that it counterbalanced any difadvantages fhe might labour under in a deficiency of pcrfonal atirattions. The portrait of fier re te on canvas would mod probably be gene- rally thought intitled to a preference ; yet flie appeared by no means to poflefs either mental endowments, or other excellent qualities, in the fame degree with the queen-mother; if fhe had them, they were latent, and required fome particular exertion to bring them into aftion. Her foftnefs and effeminacy afforded her fome advantage over her fifler ; )'et there was a fhynefs, want of confidence and manner in her gene- ral demeanor, that evinced her motives to be lefs difinterelled. We were however led to believe, that fhe was not deflitute of the amiable qualities, though to us they did not appear fo confpicuous as in the tharaftcr of the queen-mother. Of the two ladies, fier re te was now the favorite of Pomurrey, at lead we had every reafon to think fo by the general tenor of his conduti. Notwithflanding this preference, he was obfervcd in feveral inflances to abide implicitly by the advice and opi- nion of the queen-mother, and to treat her with great affetlion and re- gard ; who in return never appeared jealous or diflliiisfied at the marked ■*i-'; ' attention, or evident partiality, treated by Pomurrey, with which her fiilei Fier re te was In '{"1^.,,