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man than Clarkson Stanfield。 But by the father； and the two
remaining Miss Campbells； people of fierce passions and a truly
Highland pride； the derogation was bitterly resented。 For long the
sisters lived estranged then； Mrs。 Jackson and Mrs。 Adcock were
reconciled for a moment； only to quarrel the more fiercely； the
name of Mrs。 Adcock was proscribed； nor did it again pass her
sister's lips； until the morning when she announced： 'Mary Adcock
is dead； I saw her in her shroud last night。' Second sight was
hereditary in the house； and sure enough； as I have it reported； on
that very night Mrs。 Adcock had passed away。 Thus； of the four
daughters； two had； according to the idiotic notions of their
friends； disgraced themselves in marriage； the others supported the
honour of the family with a better grace； and married West Indian
magnates of whom； I believe； the world has never heard and would
not care to hear： So strange a thing is this hereditary pride。 Of
Mr。 Jackson； beyond the fact that he was Fleeming's grandfather； I
know naught。 His wife； as I have said； was a woman of fierce
passions； she would tie her house slaves to the bed and lash them
with her own hand； and her conduct to her wild and down…going sons；
was a mixture of almost insane self…sacrifice and wholly insane
violence of temper。 She had three sons and one daughter。 Two of
the sons went utterly to ruin； and reduced their mother to poverty。
The third went to India； a slim； delicate lad； and passed so wholly
from the knowledge of his relatives that he was thought to be long
dead。 Years later； when his sister was living in Genoa； a red…
bearded man of great strength and stature； tanned by years in
India； and his hands covered with barbaric gems； entered the room
unannounced； as she was playing the piano； lifted her from her
seat； and kissed her。 It was her brother； suddenly returned out of
a past that was never very clearly understood； with the rank of
general； many strange gems； many cloudy stories of adventure； and
next his heart； the daguerreotype of an Indian prince with whom he
had mixed blood。
The last of this wild family； the daughter； Henrietta Camilla；
became the wife of the midshipman Charles； and the mother of the
subject of this notice； Fleeming Jenkin。 She was a woman of parts
and courage。 Not beautiful； she had a far higher gift； the art of
seeming so； played the part of a belle in society； while far
lovelier women were left unattended； and up to old age had much of
both the exigency and the charm that mark that character。 She drew
naturally； for she had no training； with unusual skill； and it was
from her； and not from the two naval artists； that Fleeming
inherited his eye and hand。 She played on the harp and sang with
something beyond the talent of an amateur。 At the age of
seventeen； she heard Pasta in Paris； flew up in a fire of youthful
enthusiasm； and the next morning； all alone and without
introduction； found her way into the presence of the PRIMA DONNA
and begged for lessons。 Pasta made her sing； kissed her when she
had done； and though she refused to be her mistress； placed her in
the hands of a friend。 Nor was this all； for when Pasta returned
to Paris； she sent for the girl （once at least） to test her
progress。 But Mrs。 Jenkin's talents were not so remarkable as her
fortitude and strength of will； and it was in an art for which she
had no natural taste （the art of literature） that she appeared
before the public。 Her novels； though they attained and merited a
certain popularity both in France and England； are a measure only
of her courage。 They were a task； not a beloved task； they were
written for money in days of poverty； and they served their end。
In the least thing as well as in the greatest； in every province of
life as well as in her novels； she displayed the same capacity of
taking infinite pains； which descended to her son。 When she was
about forty （as near as her age was known） she lost her voice； set
herself at once to learn the piano； working eight hours a day； and
attained to such proficiency that her collaboration in chamber
music was courted by professionals。 And more than twenty years
later； the old lady might have been seen dauntlessly beginning the
study of Hebrew。 This is the more ethereal part of courage； nor
was she wanting in the more material。 Once when a neighbouring
groom； a married man； had seduced her maid； Mrs。 Jenkin mounted her
horse； rode over to the stable entrance and horsewhipped the man
with her own hand。
How a match came about between this talented and spirited girl and
the young midshipman； is not very I easy to conceive。 Charles
Jenkin was one of the finest creatures breathing； loyalty；
devotion； simple natural piety； boyish cheerfulness； tender and
manly sentiment in the old sailor fashion； were in him inherent and
inextinguishable either by age； suffering； or injustice。 He
looked； as he was； every inch a gentleman； he must have been
everywhere notable； even among handsome men； both for his face and
his gallant bearing； not so much that of a sailor； you would have
said； as like one of those gentle and graceful soldiers that； to
this day； are the most pleasant of Englishmen to see。 But though
he was in these ways noble； the dunce scholar of Northiam was to
the end no genius。 Upon all points that a man must understand to
be a gentleman； to be upright； gallant； affectionate and dead to
self； Captain Jenkin was more knowing than one among a thousand；
outside of that； his mind was very largely blank。 He had indeed a
simplicity that came near to vacancy； and in the first forty years
of his married life； this want grew more accentuated。 In both
families imprudent marriages had been the rule； but neither Jenkin
nor Campbell had ever entered into a more unequal union。 It was
the captain's good looks； we may suppose； that gained for him this
elevation； and in some ways and for many years of his life； he had
to pay the penalty。 His wife； impatient of his incapacity and
surrounded by brilliant friends； used him with a certain contempt。
She was the managing partner； the life was hers； not his； after his
retirement they lived much abroad； where the poor captain； who
could never learn any language but his own； sat in the corner
mumchance； and even his son； carried away by his bright mother； did
not recognise for long the treasures of simple chivalry that lay
buried in the heart of his father。 Yet it would be an error to
regard this marriage as unfortunate。 It not only lasted long
enough to justify itself in a beautiful and touching epilogue； but
it gave to the world the scientific work and what （while time was）
were of far greater value； the delightful qualities of Fleeming
Jenkin。 The Kentish…Welsh family； facile； extravagant； generous to
a fault and far from br