CHAPTER XLIX.
Mrs. C—.
Perfectly contrasted to the preceding personage, in mind, temper, and manners, and gifted with talents of a better kind, was the individual to whom a tribute of respect is now about to be paid.
Mrs. C. was distinguished by every domestic and every amiable virtue; and though her situation in life exempted her from the drudgery of minutely attending to every particular circumstance of a very large family, yet she paid the strictest attention to the education of her children, and, at the same time, found opportunity to cultivate and extend her taste for literature.
Her maiden name was B. and, as is believed, of an ancient and most respectable Suffolk family. She married early in life, Dr. C. a clergyman of whom mention has before been made, as a man of considerable learning and abilities, of good fortune, as well as preferment. In the latter part of his life, by some negotiation with the Dean and Chapter of N. he exchanged his living of B. near Norwich, for that of G. Y. In this place, he spent with Mrs. C. who survived her husband, the remainder of an honourable, useful, and amiable life; both of them distinguished by their great benevolence and hospitality, both of them conspicuous for their love of literature, and their kindness to literary men. All have their failings, but bating that our friend, the Doctor, was somewhat disputative in conversation, and rather too prone to entangle himself and his auditors in the labyrinths of metaphysical perplexities (for ne’er could he escape that Stygian gloom, which he still was apt to make darker by the intermixture of theological subtleties) he was ever mild, conciliatory, and friendly.
Mrs. C. was the authoress of two novels, one of which was most successfully published in her lifetime, under the title of the “Exemplary Mother;” the name given to the other was, “The Wife, or Caroline Herbert;” which was printed not long since under the sanction of one of her surviving sons.
Both of these publications have merit far beyond the ordinary run of novels. The first is in a more particular manner entitled to commendation. It passed through various editions, and was long a great favourite with the public. The latter also exhibits an excellent model for the conduct of a wife, placed under circumstances which too, far too frequently, occur in the present condition of society.
Mr. A. C. who is so great an ornament to the medical profession, was the eldest son of this excellent lady. Of him, it must be said in truth and justice, that, independent of his great sagacity, judgment, and skill, he is characterized by all the amiable qualities of his mother. Kind to his friends, compassionate to the poor, an example of benevolence to all.
Mrs. M—.
Concerning Mrs. M. the writer does not appear to have been qualified to say a great deal from personal knowledge. It is the less necessary, as her character, accomplishments, and manners, have been a fertile theme with a great many modern writers.
In conversation she was lively, communicative, and exceedingly agreeable. She possessed the highest polish of good breeding, as well indeed she might, and it was no unpleasant circumstance in the parties which both frequented, to listen to the sprightly dialogue concerning times which were gone by, between Horace Walpole and herself. Mrs. M. retained the dress of the old school, which afforded a whimsical contrast to the more modern habiliments of those females, by whom she was constantly surrounded.
Every thing about Mrs. E. C. tended to inspire reverence and esteem.
She possessed dignity without pride, simplicity without affectation, learning without pedantry, good breeding without any of its tinsel ornaments. She received the homage, which by common consent was on all occasions paid her, with ease and gracefulness; and she communicated what she knew (and she knew a great deal indeed) with affability and good humour, explained what was difficult with readiness, and never discovered any impatience of contradiction.
Mrs. C. received unfeigned tributes of admiration from a great many of the most illustrious characters of her country, but none paid her more particular attention than the late honoured and revered Bishop Porteus. He was an excellent judge of mental endowments, both natural and acquired; and it was the esteem which both combined to conciliate, that rendered her society so grateful at London-House and at Fulham. She was always employed on some subject or object of benevolence, and though her own means of beneficence were circumscribed, her recommendation and introduction to the great and powerful had no inconsiderable influence, and from a long catalogue of meritorious names, might Mrs. C. reasonably expect (as indeed she received) the warmest acknowledgments of gratitude.
But of this illustrious lady it would perhaps be superfluous to say more. Her literary life and private character have been communicated to the public by one eminently qualified to form a due estimate of their value. But the object, at least one object of these Memoirs, is to bring to recollection the distinguished personages of both sexes, to whom a personal introduction was obtained, from no other claims or pretensions than an ardent love and pursuit of learning. The honour of a not unfrequent meeting with this lady, was too flattering and too gratifying to be passed over unnoticed and unacknowledged.