Elizabeth Inchbald 1753-1821
Kavanagh’s English Women of Letters . *
“Miss Simpson... was... tall and slender, with hair of a golden auburn, and lovely hazel eyes, perfect features, and an enchanting countenance.”—1771.
Mrs. Inchbald’s Memoirs .
“Description of Me.
Age.—Between 30 and 40, which, in the register of a lady’s birth, means a little turned of 30.
Height.—Above the middle size, and rather tall.
Figure.—Handsome, and striking in its general air, but a little too stiff and erect.
Shape.—Rather too fond of sharp angles.
Skin.—By nature fair, though a little freckled, and with a tinge of sand, which is the colour of her eyelashes, but made coarse by ill-treatment upon her cheeks and arms.
Bosom.—None; or so diminutive, that it’s like a needle in a bottle of hay.
Hair.—Of a sandy auburn, and rather too straight as well as thin.
Face.—Beautiful in effect, and beautiful in every feature.
Countenance.—Full of spirit and sweetness; excessively interesting, and, without indelicacy, voluptuous.
Dress.—Always becoming; and very seldom worth so much as eightpence.”
—About 1788.