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.