affected though more than ordinary beautiful, were the least of her ornaments compared with those of her mind. Of early piety, singularly religious, spending a part of every day in private devotion, reading, and other virtuous exercises; she had collected and written out many of the most useful and judicious periods of the books she read, in a kind of common-place book, as out of Dr. Hammond on the New Testament, and most of the best practical treatises. She had read and digested a considerable deal of history and of places. The French tongue was as familiar to her as English; she understood Italian, and was able to render a laudable account of what she read and observed; to which assisted a most faithful memory and discernment; and she did make very prudent and discreet reflexions upon what she had observed of the conversations among which she had at any time been, which being continually of persons of the best quality, she thereby improved. She had an excellent voice, to which she played a thorough-bass on the harpsichord, in both which she arrived to that perfection, that of the scholars of those two famous masters, signors Pietro and Bartholomeo, she was esteemed the best; for the sweetness of her voice and management of it added such an agreeableness to her countenance, without any constraint or concern, that when she sung, it was as charming to the eye as to the ear; this I rather note, because it was a universal remark, and for which so many noble and judicious persons in music desired to hear her, the last being at lord Arundel's of Wardour. What shall I say, or rather not say, of the cheerfulness and agreeableness of her humour? condescending to the meanest servant in the family, or others, she still kept up respect, without the least pride. She would often read to them, examine, instruct, and pray with them if they were sick, so as she

was exceedingly beloved by every body. Piety was so prevalent an ingredient in her constitution, (as I may say,) that even amongst equals and superiors she no sooner became intimately acquainted, but she would endeavour to improve them, by insinuating something of religion, and that tended to bring them to a love of devotion. She had one or two confidants, with whom she used to pass whole days in fasting, reading, and prayers, especially before the monthly communion, and other solemn occasions. She abhorred flattery, and though she had abundance of wit, the raillery was so innocent and ingenious that it was most agreeable; she sometimes would see a play, but since the stage grew licentious, expressed herself weary of them, and thought the time. spent at the theatre an unaccountable vanity. She never played at cards without extreme importunity, and for the company, but this was so very seldom, that I cannot number it among anything she could name a fault. No one could read prose or verse better, or with more judgment; and as she read, so she writ with that maturity of judgment and exactness of the periods, choice of expressions, and familiarity of style, that some letters of hers have astonished me and others to whom she has occasionally written. She had such a talent of rehearsing any comical part or poem, as, to them she might be decently free with, was more pleasing than heard in the theatre; she danced with the greatest grace I had ever seen, and so would her master say, who was Mons. Isaac; but she seldom shewed that perfection, save in the gracefulness of her carriage, which was with an air of spritely modesty not easily to be described. She was nothing affected, but natural and easy, as well in her deportment as in her discourse; which was always material, not trifling, and to which the extraor

dinary sweetness of her tone, even in familiar speaking, was very charming. Nothing was so pretty as her descending to play with little children, whom she would caress and humour with great delight.

sex;

"But she most affected [loved] to be with grave and sober men, of whom she might learn something, and improve herself. I have been assisted by her in reading and praying by me; she was comprehensive of uncommon notions, curious of knowing everything, to some excess, had I not sometimes repressed it. Nothing was so delightful to her as to go into my study, where she would willingly have spent whole days, for as I said she had read abundance of history, and all the best poets, even Terence, Plautus, Homer, Virgil, Horace, Ovid; all the best romances and modern poems; she could compose happily, and put in pretty symbols, as in the Mundus Muliebris, wherein is an enumeration of the immense variety of the modes and ornaments belonging to the but all these are vain trifles to the virtues which adorned her soul, she was sincerely religious, most dutiful to her parents, whom she loved with an affection tempered with great esteem, so as we were easy and free, and never were so well pleased as when she was with us, nor needed we other conversation. She was kind to her sisters, and was still improving them by her constant course of piety. Oh dear, sweet, and desirable child, how shall I part with all this goodness and virtue, without the bitterness of sorrow, and reluctancy of a tender parent! Thy affection, duty, and love to me was that of a friend as well as a child. Nor less dear to thy mother, whose example and tender care of thee was unparalleled, nor was thy return to her less conspicuous; Oh! how she mourns thy loss! how desolate hast thou left us! To the grave shall we both carry thy memory!

"God alone (in whose bosom thou art at rest and happy!) give us grace to resign thee and all our contentments, (for thou indeed wert all in this world!) to his blessed pleasure! Let him be glorified by our submission, and give us grace to bless him for the graces he implanted in thee, thy virtuous life, and pious and holy death, which is indeed the only comfort of our souls, hastening through the infinite love and mercy of the Lord Jesus to be shortly with thee, dear child, and with thee and those blessed saints like thee, to glorify the Redeemer of the world to all eternity! Amen!

"It was in the 19th year of her age that this sickness happened to her. An accident contributed to this disease; she had an apprehension of it in particular, and which struck her but two days before she came home, by an imprudent gentlewoman whom she went with lady Falkland to visit, who, after they had been a good while in the house, told them she had a servant sick of the small-pox (who indeed died the next day); this my poor child acknowledged made an impression on her spirits. There were four gentlemen of quality offering to treat with me about marriage, and I freely gave her her own choice, knowing her discretion. She showed great indifference to marrying at all, for truly,' says she to her mother, (the other day,) were I assured of your life and my dear father's, never would I part from you; I love you and this home, where we serve God, above all things, nor ever shall I be so happy. I know and consider the vicissitudes of the world; I have some experience of its vanities, and but for decency more than inclination, and that you judge it expedient for me, I would not change my condition, but rather add the fortune you design me to my sister's, and keep up the reputation of the family.' This was so discreetly and sincerely uttered, that it could

not but proceed from an extraordinary child, and one who loved her parents beyond example.

"At London she took this fatal disease, and the occasion of her being there was this, my lord viscount Falkland's lady having been our neighbour, (as he was Treasurer of the navy,) she took so great an affection to my daughter, that when they went back in the autumn to the city, nothing would satisfy their incessant importunity but letting her accompany my lady, and staying some time with her: it was with the greatest reluctance I complied. Whilst she was there, my lord being musical, when I saw my lady would not part with her till Christmas, I was not unwilling she should improve the opportunity of learning of signor Pietro, who had an admirable way both of composure and teaching. It was the end of February before I could prevail with my lady to part with her; but my lord going into Oxfordshire, to stand for knight of the shire there, she expressed her wish to come home, being tired of the vain and empty conversation of the town, the theatres, the court, and trifling visits which consumed so much precious time, and made her sometimes miss of that regular course of piety that gave her the greatest satisfaction. She was weary of this life, and I think went not thrice to court all this time, except when her mother or I carried her. She did not affect showing herself; she knew the court well, and passed one summer in it at Windsor with lady Tuke, one of the queen's women of the bedchamber, (a most virtuous relation of her's); she was not fond of that glittering scene, now become abominably licentious, though there was a design of lady Rochester and lady Clarendon to have made her a maid of honour to the

n, as soon as there was a vacancy. But this she did

her heart upon, nor indeed on any thing so much