The next individual to whom our reader is to be introduced, is a personage of very congenial feelings, and of similar merits with her who preceded, though possibly somewhat inferior in ability. But the love of justice scorns to make invidious discriminations, where the general claims to approbation are alike, and universally acknowledged; where they are founded on the noblest and most generous private virtues, continually exercised for the good of the community. Here let it be remembered, (as indeed it has before been remarked) that regular and circumstantial biographical sketches are not to be expected. Had the Sexagenarian survived, he would in all probability have filled up and compleated these portraits, of which, unluckily, the outlines only, are to be found in his notes. Whatever his ultimate intention might have been, in their present form they seem only intended to call his recollection to those, to whom, from a congeniality of pursuits, an introduction, more or less familiar, was obtained, in the progress of a literary life.
Some of these connections and acquaintances were formed at a house, where, previously to the calamity of the French Revolution, individuals of all parties and persuasions, political and religious, used to meet in easy and agreeable familiarity. Here were seen Dr. Priestley, Mr. Henley, Dr. Price, Horne Tooke, Dr. Aikin, Mrs. Barbauld, Bishop Percy, the venerable Bishop Douglas, Dr. Gregory, and Mrs. Woolstoncroft, to whom there could not possibly exist a greater or more striking contrast than the immediate subject of this article.
Mrs. T⸺.
The master of this house (there is no occasion to designate him by name) was a very austere and rigid dissenter of the old school, but friendly to literary men, and on all occasions ready to assist in the promotion of their literary views. The commencement and progress of the French Revolution seemed to be a signal for the dissolution of those amicable bonds. The Pater-familias was the devoted friend of Priestley and of Price, and of consequence took a most active and zealous part in what he was pleased to call the cause of political and religious liberty, and what was a very customary and favourite phrase among them, the general melioration of the state of man.
Vain and illusory ideas! but it was a long, a very long time, before this misguided man, and his more intimate associates, saw and acknowledged their error, and that the only consequence of the horrible combustion, was impiety, cruelty, and anarchy.
Bitterly did he suffer in his own person, from the consequences of his strong predilection to a class of men, whose sentiments and whose writings declared open and eternal war against what they foolishly and impertinently denominated “The Church and King System.”
It was this personage, however, long since no more, who first encouraged Mrs. T. to systematize and publish her various excellent performances for the benefit of mankind. At this hospitable house it was, that our Sexagenarian first met with this lady. The pious, loyal, and amiable bias of Mrs. T.’s mind, led her, in a very short time, to other and very different connections; and her exertions in the cause of religion, good morals, and the safety of the state, were universally acknowledged, and duly rewarded. For a considerable part of a long life, she was honoured by the countenance of the Royal Family, as well as by the friendship and protection of the most distinguished characters of the country. Among others, the venerable Bishop Porteus, always among the foremost to discern merit, and to reward it, on every occasion professed the warmest esteem for her person and character, and to demonstrate the sincerity of his regard, presented her son to a considerable benefice in his diocese.
This brief descriptive sketch here concludes, first observing, that in society her manners were simple, gentle, and unassuming; her conversation sedate, her pronunciation deliberate, her mind cultivated with a very strong and leading propensity to subjects of a religious nature, to which indeed her information was principally confined.
Εν γαρ τι καὶ τουτο των αλλων καλλωπισματων αυταις δοκει, ην λεγηται ως πεπαιδευμεναι τε εισι, καὶ φιλοσοφοι, καὶ ποιουσιν ασματα ου πολυ της Σαπφους αποδεοντα.