MRS. MADISON.

THE parents of DOLLY PAYNE were natives of Virginia, and ranked among the most respectable citizens of the state. While on a visit to some of her friends in North Carolina, Mrs. Payne gave birth to her eldest daughter, the subject of this memoir, who, although accidentally born in another state, claims the title, so dear to all who possess it, of being a Virginian. In disposition she is decidedly so, having been imbued by nature with all that warmth, frankness, and generosity, which are the distinguishing traits of the Virginian character.

Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Payne joined the society of Friends, or Quakers, manumitted their slaves, and removed to Pennsylvania. The subject of this memoir was educated in Philadelphia, according to the strict system of the society to which her family belonged; a system which has utility for its basis, and which forbids the acquirement of those graceful and ornamental accomplishments, which are too generally considered the most important parts of female education.

Whatever grace and polish, dancing, music, painting, and foreign languages may bestow, many most lovely examples among the women of this society, prove, that these accomplishments may be dispensed with without any diminution of the attractions of the sex.

To none of these acquired graces and accomplishments was MISS PAYNE indebted, for the admiration and regard which followed her wherever she was known: nor were her attractions only those of form or feature, for although nature had lavished on her much personal beauty, her greatest charm consisted in the warm heart, that lent its glow to her cheek and its sparkle to her eye, -the kindness and benevolence of her disposition, which imparted a fascinating smile to her lips, and a beaming brightness to her countenance. These were the charms that won not only admirers, but friends, and which the withering effects of time cannot destroy, but which "At sixty, bloom as fair as at sixteen."

1 April, 1801.

that time almost a willosed on a piece of waste ol by an almost impassable leted, and standing as it did. er materials collected for its erable oaks that still shaded uin in the midst of its fallen new and rising edifice. The ding space were calculated to pitol-hill, far as the eye could in a state of nature, covered with and verdant plains, with only here secting ways, that could not yet be

he grounds on which the city was ences and their habits of living. The to the seat of government, came from ging with them the modes and customs Mr. Madison from Virginia, Mr. Galneral Dearborn from Massachusetts, and id, were the heads of the several departith these came numerous political friends subordinate places in the public offices. ich various materials, presented a most novel y similarity of habits-by established fashions aintance or consanguinity, this motley throng nto one close and intimate circle, by a feeling y were strangers in a strange land, and felt the aid and accommodation, and might be compared of Mosaic, in which an infinity of separate pieces .s, are blended into one harmonious whole. Mr. >ars after his retirement from public life, recurring Marked to a friend, that the peculiar felicity of his was, the unanimity that prevailed in his cabinet; "we "like one family." The same spirit of union and ided the whole circle of society-a circle, at that time, in its extent, and very simple in its habits. The most social intercourse prevailed through all its parts, unv that etiquette and ceremony, which have since been

Although nature was prodigal, fortune was niggard in its gifts, nor in her early life was she indebted to wealth or rank for the consideration she enjoyed in society.

At an early age MISS PAYNE was married to Mr. Todd, a young lawyer of Philadelphia, and member of the society of Friends. During his life time she continued to live in the simplicity and seclusion of that sect, though even then, the beauty which became afterwards so celebrated, began to attract attention. Soon, however, she was left a widow with an infant son. After the death of her husband, her father also being dead, she returned to live with her surviving parent, who had fixed her residence in Philadelphia.

The personal charms of the young widow, united as they were with manners, cordial, frank and gay, excited the admiration and awakened the kind feelings of all who came within their influence, and unaided. by the extrinsic and accidental advantages of fortune or fashion, she became a general favorite, and the object not only of admiration, but of serious and devoted attachment. Among many lovers, equally distinguished by their rank and talents, who sued for her favor, she gave the preference to Mr. Madison, then one of the most conspicuous and respectable members of congress; and in the year 1794, became the wife of that truly great and good man.

From that time until Mr. Madison came into the administration along with Mr. Jefferson, she lived in the full enjoyment of that abundant and cordial hospitality, which is the distinguishing characteristic of a Virginia planter. The house was always filled to overflowing with guests, who came, not ceremoniously invited to formal entertainments, but, freely and kindly bidden to the hospitable board, and social pleasures of the domestic circle. Her widowed mother, and orphan sisters, were made partners of the bounties and blessings lavished on her by a kind providence, and the fond affection of her husband was evinced by the regard and kindness he showed to all whom she loved and cherished, and on her part, was reciprocated by a similar attention to the happiness and comfort of his aged mother, who continued to dwell with her son.

In this situation Mrs. MADISON appeared to be in the very sphere for which nature had designed her. Her circumstances were in perfect accordance with her disposition, and the liberal gifts of fortune were liberally participated with all around her. The happiness she herself enjoyed, she bestowed on others; and the sunshine of her own bosom gladdened with its warmth and brightness the little world of which she was the centre-her family and friends.

Mr. Madison being appointed secretary of state, removed with his family from his happy home to Washington, in April, 1801.

The infant metropolis of the union was at that time almost a wilderness. The president's house stood unenclosed on a piece of waste and barren ground, separated from the capitol by an almost impassable marsh. That building was not half completed, and standing as it did amidst the rough masses of stone and other materials collected for its construction, and half hidden by the venerable oaks that still shaded their native soil, looked more like a ruin in the midst of its fallen fragments and coeval shades, than a new and rising edifice. The silence and solitude of the surrounding space were calculated to enforce this idea, for beyond the capitol-hill, far as the eye could reach, the city as it was called, lay in a state of nature, covered with thick groves and forest trees, wide and verdant plains, with only here and there a house along the intersecting ways, that could not yet be properly called streets.

The original proprietors of the grounds on which the city was located, retained their rural residences and their habits of living. The new inhabitants who thronged to the seat of government, came from every quarter of the union, bringing with them the modes and customs of their respective states. Mr. Madison from Virginia, Mr. Gallatin from Pennsylvania, General Dearborn from Massachusetts, and Robert Smith from Maryland, were the heads of the several departments of government. With these came numerous political friends and dependants, to fill the subordinate places in the public offices.

A society formed of such various materials, presented a most novel aspect. Unconnected by similarity of habits-by established fashions -by the ties of acquaintance or consanguinity, this motley throng soon became united into one close and intimate circle, by a feeling common to all,-they were strangers in a strange land, and felt the necessity of mutual aid and accommodation, and might be compared to a beautiful piece of Mosaic, in which an infinity of separate pieces of diversified colors, are blended into one harmonious whole. Mr. Jefferson, many years after his retirement from public life, recurring to that time, remarked to a friend, that the peculiar felicity of his administration was, the unanimity that prevailed in his cabinet; "we were," said he, "like one family." The same spirit of union and kindness pervaded the whole circle of society-a circle, at that time, very limited in its extent, and very simple in its habits. The most friendly and social intercourse prevailed through all its parts, unshackled by that etiquette and ceremony, which have since been