As a woman she was to a considerable degree a spoilt child of the world.

She had been early in life distinguished for talents, and poems of hers were published whilst she was a girl.

She had also been handsome in her youth, but her education had been most unfortunate.

She was totally ignorant of housewifery, and could as easily have managed the spear of Minerva as her needle.

It was from observing these deficiencies that one day, while she was under my roof, I purposely directed her attention to household economy, and told her I had purchased scales which I intended to present to a young lady as a wedding present; pointed out their utility (for her especial benefit), and said that no menage ought to be without them.
Mrs.Hemans, not in the least suspecting my drift, reported this saying in a letter to a friend at the time, as a proof of my simplicity.