I was led to entertain of Mrs. Macauley, previous to my introduction to her acquaintance. Judge then of my surprise, when I saw a woman elegant in her manners, delicate in her person, and with features, if not perfectly beautiful, so fascinating in their expression, as deservedly to rank her face among the higher order of human countenances. Her height was above the middle size, inclining to tall; her shape slender and elegant; the contour of her face, neck, and shoulders, graceful. The form of her face was oval, her complexion delicate, and her skin fine; her hair was of a mild brown, long and profuse; her nose between the Roman and the Grecian; her mouth small, her chin round, as was the lower part of her face, which made it appear to more advantage in front than in profile. Her eyes were as beautiful as imagination can conceive; full of penetration and fire; but their fire softened by the mildest beams of benevolence; their colour was a fine dark hazel, and their expression the indication of a superior soul. Infirm health, too often the attendant on an active and highly cultivated understanding, gave to her countenance an extreme delicacy, which was peculiarly interesting. To this delicacy of constitution was added a most amiable sensibility of temper, which rendered her feelingly alive to whatever concerned those with whom she was connected either by nature or by friendship."

In her friendships, we are told by this lady, she was fervent, disinterested, and sincere; zealous for the prosperity, and for the moral improvement, of those whom she distinguished and loved. She was earnest, constant, and eloquent in her efforts for rectifying the principles, and enlarging the minds of her friends and

connexions. It was her favourite maxim, that universal benevolence, and a liberal way of thinking, were not only essential to the freedom and welfare of society, but to individual virtue, enjoyment and happiness.

In her twenty-seventh year, she was united to Dr. George Macauley, a physician of eminence and a man of worth. The sedentary life of Mrs. Macauley, united to a fondness for study, soon became injurious to her health, and, towards the latter end of the year 1777, her physicians thought the only chance there was of her recovery was the mild air of France. She accordingly set out for France, accompanied by Mrs. Arnold. On their arrival

at Paris, she found her health so much improved, that in a few days, she collected around her, by her letters of introduction, an agreeable society.

Persons of the first rank and eminence, were gratified with the opportunity of paying their respects to a woman whose talents entitle her to distinction. Among the number of her visiters were the family of the Count de Sarsfield; the dukes of Harcourt and Laincourt; the Chevalier de Rigement; the Abbé Colbert; Madame Boccage; Lord Stormont, the English ambassador; Marmontel and the widow of Helvetius. After having remained in Paris six weeks, and the object of her journey had been accomplished, for her health and spirits were both restored, she returned to England, and engaged with fresh ardour in literary pursuits. Having been personally acquainted with the greater number of the celebrated Americans who had visited England, and in the habit of corresponding with most of them, Mrs. Macauley was very desirous of making a visit to the United States; a design which she executed in 1785. She visited

nine of the thirteen states, by whom she was received with kindness and hospitality. She terminated her journey to the south, by paying her respects to General Washington, at his seat at Mount Vernon. Under the roof of this illustrious man, she remained three weeks; and continued to correspond with him during the remainder of her life.

It seemed to have been her intention, after her return to England, to have composed a history of the American contest; for which purpose she had been furnished by General Washington with many materials. It is to be regretted that thus qualified, she was, by the infirm state of her health for some years prior to her death, prevented from the execution of her plan. She resided during the greater part of the remainder of her life at Binfield, in Berkshire; where, after a tedious illness, attended by much suffering, she expired, June 22, 1791.

Mrs. Macauley when in tolerable health, was accustomed to be in her library by six in the morning: she was tenacious of the value of time, and solicitous for its improvement. Mrs. Arnold in her account of the private character of this lady, says, "as a wife, a mother, a friend, neighbour, and the mistress of a family, she was irreproachable and exemplary. My sentiments of this amiable woman are derived from a long and intimate acquaintance with her various excellencies; and I have observed her in different points of view. I have seen her exalted on the dangerous pinnacle of worldly prosperity, surrounded by flattering friends, and an admiring world; I have seen her marked out by party prejudice as an object of dislike and ridicule; I have seen her bowed down by bodily pain and weakness; but never

did I see her forget the urbanity of a gentlewoman, her conscious dignity as a rational creature, or a fervent aspiration after the highest degree of attainable perfection. I have seen her humble herself in the presence of her Almighty Father; and, with a contrite heart, acknowledging her sins and imploring his forgiveness; I have seen her languishing on the bed of sickness, enduring pain with the patience of a christian, and with the firm belief, that the light afflictions of this life are but for a moment, and that the fashion of the world will pass away, and give place to a system of durable happiness."

Her works are "The History of England, from the accession of James I. to that of the Brunswick line," nine volumes, 4to. "A treatise on the Immutability of Moral truth," one volume, 8vo. "Letters on Education;" "Remarks on Hobbe's Rudiments of Government and Society;" "A modest Plea for the Property of Copy Right," one volume, 4to.; "Observations on Burke's Reflections on the French Revolution," &c.

MONTAGU.

MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU, a lady of great wit and literary talents, eldest daughter of the duke of Kingston, was born at Thoresby, in Nottinghamshire, about the year 1690. The first dawn of her genius opened so auspiciously, that her father resolved to cultivate the advantages of nature, by a sedulous attention to her early instruction. Under his superintendence, she acquired a knowledge of the Greek, Latin, French, and Italian languages. Her studies were afterwards super

intended by bishop Burnet, who fostered her superior talents with every expression of dignified praise. Her translation of the Enchiridion of Epictetus received his emendations. For so complete an improvement of her mind, she was much indebted to uninterrupted leisure, and recluse habits of life. In 1712, she was married to Edward Wortley Montagu, Esq., a gentleman of brilliant acquirements. He afterwards became a lord of the board of treasury, which circumstance introduced him to the court of George the First, and occasioned lady Mary to quit her retirement at Warncliffe. Her first appearance at St. James' was hailed with that universal admiration, which beauty, enlivened by wit, incontestibly claims; and while the tribute of praise, so well merited, was willingly paid in public to the elegance of her form, the charms of her conversation were equally unrivalled in the first private circles of the nobility. She was in habits of familiar acquaintance with Addison and Pope, who contemplated her uncommon genius, at that time, without envy. But in the versatility attached to human nature, Mr. Pope afterwards treated her with insolence and contempt. In the year 1716, he was appointed ambassador to Constantinople. Early in August, he set out upon his journey to that city, accompanied by lady Mary. Whilst on her journey, and residing in the Levant, she amused herself and delighted her friends, by a regular correspondence, chiefly directed to her sister, the countess of Mar, describing the manners and customs of the Turkish court; and the elegance of her language, the sprightliness of her observations, and the justice of her descriptions, have been universally admired. When she arrived at