We are fast approaching at length to the limits we had prescribed to ourselves, for the discussion of these sketches of female biography. Not that our catalogue is by any means exhausted—very far otherwise. In the course of a protracted literary life, it appears from our notes, that there were not many females who, by general consent, claimed and were allowed ascendancy and distinction, on account of their talents, to whose society, our Sexagenarian had not access. Indeed, the manuscript from which these Memorials are derived, contain a number of anecdotes, the communication of which would probably afford as much amusement as any which may have preceded. But there is still such abundance of materials before us, that compression seems beginning to be necessary. We shall therefore close this head with a brief description of a Lady, who may rank with the proudest and the highest, in the scale of intellectual endowments; who has also afforded no unavailing assistance in works requiring great and various erudition, sound judgment, and much critical acuteness.
Though educated in the principles of Dissenters, she was in the early part of her life engaged to be married to a clergyman, who was preceptor to one of the branches of the Royal Family. He unfortunately died, and she afterwards united herself to a Dignitary of the Church, whose learning, abilities, and virtues, have since deservedly obtained for him a seat upon the Episcopal Bench.
She was ever and invariably distinguished for the assiduous cultivation of her mind, her extensive and various knowledge, and indeed for her general love of literature; but she was more particularly remarkable for her fondness of theological studies, in which she became an extraordinary proficient. Indeed it has often been asserted, (nor has the assertion ever been from authority contradicted) that a popular work on Prophecy was very materially indebted, not merely to this Lady’s suggestions and assistance, but that no inconsiderable portion of it was actually written by her pen.
That she has composed many other things, there can be no doubt; and that they are alike distinguished by extensive information, judgment, and acuteness, must be equally certain. But this is not her only praise. In the higher and more important offices of private life, she has done honour to an elevated station, and effectually and usefully fulfilled every duty in the circle of female obligation.
Principibus placuisse viris non ultima laus est.
CHAPTER LXV.
We must now go back, and revert to the period at which we were, when the expediency of introducing a discussion on the characters and qualities of eminent female personages, suggested itself from our notes. Our digression commenced at the time when we were about to notice, that the presumed usefulness of our Sexagenarian’s literary labours and pursuits, occasioned his being introduced to Archbishop Moore, to Bishops Barrington, Porteus, Dampier, Tomline, and Burgess, &c. and others of the Episcopal Bench. All treated him with kindness. Of all, if he has not said it already, he has something to say, and of some not a little.
Of Archbishop Moore, the distance of rank was too great, and the opportunities of forming any judgment too limited, for him to ascertain much about the extent of his intellectual powers and accomplishments. But there was a graciousness, an affability, a benevolence, tempered with dignity, which could not fail strongly to impress, and effectually to conciliate those who were admitted to his presence. There was, moreover, obviously conspicuous, an ardent desire to discharge vigilantly and accurately, the duties of his exalted station.
When the writer of these Recollections first saw him, the mighty monster of the French Revolution was rearing its infernal brood of assassins, infidels, and miscreants; and the Archbishop sagaciously foresaw and predicted, the horrible calamities which would be produced, by letting those hell-hounds loose upon society. It was his peculiar province and duty, to guard against the circulation of the poison in this country, as far as religion was concerned. He felt the full importance of his station. The steady advocates of loyalty and truth, found in his Grace, a friend, protector, and counsellor. He collected the ablest among them under one banner, and by animating their zeal, encouraging their efforts, and rewarding their exertions, formed a bulwark for the defence and preservation of the church as connected with the state, which alike defied the open and avowed attacks of foreign adversaries, and the more formidable, because more disguised and secret, machinations of domestic conspirators.