III.

GARTH, PHYSICIANS, AND LOVE-LETTERS.

Garth, and a Dedication to him by Steele.-Garth, Pope, and

Arbuthnot. Other physicians in connexion with wit and

literature.-Desirableness of a selection from the less-known

works of Steele, and of a collection of real Love-Letters.-Two

beautiful specimens from the "Lover."

IV.

COWLEY AND THOMSON.

37

Nature intended poetry as well as matter of fact.-Mysterious

anecdote of Cowley.-Remarkable similarity between him and

Thomson. Their supposed difference (as Tory and Whig).—

Thomson's behaviour to Lady Hertford.-His answer to the

genius-starvation principle.-His letters to his friends, &c. 51

V.

BOOKSTALLS AND "GALATEO."

Beneficence of Bookstalls.-"Galateo, or a Treatise on Polite-

ness."-Swift.-Ill-breeding of Fashion.-Curious instance of

Italian delicacy of reproof.

VI.

BOOKBINDING AND "HELIODORUS."

65

A rapture to the memory of Mathias Corvinus, king and book-

binder.-Bookbinding good and bad.-Ethiopics of Holiodorus.

-Striking account of raising a dead body.

VII.

.76

VER-VERT; OR, THE PARROT OF THE NUNS.

CHAPTER I.-Character and manners of Ver-Vert.-His popu-

larity in the Convent, and the life he led with the Nuns.-

Toilets and looking-glasses not unknown among those ladies.-

Four canary birds and two cats die of rage and jealousy. . 87

CHAPTER II. Further details respecting the piety and ac-

complishments of our hero.-Sister Melanie in the habit of ex-

hibiting them.—A visit from him is requested by the Nuns of

the Visitation at Nantes.-Consternation in the Convent.-The

visit conceded.-Agonics at his departure.

95

CHAPTER III.-Lamentable state of manners in the boat which

carries our hero down the Loire.-He becomes corrupted.—

His biting the Nun that came to meet him.-Ecstasy of the

other nuns on hearing of his arrival.

99

CHAPTER THE LAST.-Admiration of the parrot's new friends con-

verted into astonishment and horror.-Ver-Vert keeps no

measures with his shocking acquirements.-The nuns fly from

him in terror, and determine upon instantly sending him back,

not, however, without pity.-His return, and astonishment of

his old friends.He is sentenced to solitary confinement, which

restores his virtue.-Transport of the nuns, who kill him with

kindness.

103

VIII.

SPECIMENS OF BRITISH POETESSES.

No. I.-Paucity of collections of our female poetry.-Specimens

of Anne Bullen, Queen Elizabeth, Lady Elizabeth Carew, Lady

Mary Wroth, Katherine Philips, the Duchess of Newcastle,

Anne Killigrew, the Marchioness of Wharton, Mrs. Taylor,

Aphra Behn, and the Countess of Winchelsea.

110

No. II.-Miss Vanhomrigh, Lady Russell, Mrs. Manly, Mrs.

Brereton, Mrs. Greville, Lady Henrietta O'Neil, Duchess of

Devonshire, Miss Carter, Charlotte Smith, Miss Seward, and

Mrs. Tighe.

129

No. III.-Mrs. Hunter, Mrs. Barbauld, Lady Ann Barnard, and

Hannah More.

144

IX.

DUCHESS OF ST. ALBANS, AND MARRIAGES

FROM THE STAGE.

Comic actors and actresses more engaging to the recollection than

tragic.-Charles the Second and Nell Gwynn.-Marriage of

Harriett Mellon with the Duke of St. Albans and Mr. Coutts;

Marriages of Lucretia Bradshaw with Mr. Folkes, of Anastasia

Robinson with Lord Peterborough, Beard the singer with

Lady Henrietta Herbert, Lavinia Fenton with the Duke of

Bolton, Mary Woffington with Captain Cholmondeley, Signor

Gallini the dancer with Lady Elizabeth Bertie, O'Brien the

comedian with Lady Susan Fox, Elizabeth Linley with Richard

Brinsley Sheridan, Elizabeth Farren with the Earl of Derby,

Louisa Brunton with Earl Craven, Mary Catherine Bolton with

Lord Thurlow.-Remarks on Marriages from the stage.

160

X.

LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU.

AN ACCOUNT OF HER LIFE AND WRITINGS.

A party of wits and beauties.-Lady Louisa Stuart's Introductory

Anecdotes.-Lady Mary's recommendation respecting marriage.

-Her early life and studies.-Marries Mr. Wortley.-The

union not happy.-Her introduction at court, and curious ad-

venture there with Mr. Craggs.-Accompanies her husband in

his embassy to Constantinople.-Excellence of her letters from

Turkey.-Portraits of her.-Conjugal insignificance of Mr.

Wortley.Pope's unfortunate passion discussed.-Lady Mary

the introducer of inoculation into England.-She separates

from Mr. Wortley, and resides abroad for twenty-two years.—

Reason of that sojourn.-Her addiction to scandal.-Morality

of that day.-Question for moral progress.-Alleged conduct of

Lady Mary abroad.-Her return to her native country.-Her

last days, and curious establishment.-Character of Wortley,

jun.-Specimen of Lady Mary's wit and good writing; and

summary of her character.

200

XI.

LIFE AND AFRICAN VISIT OF PEPYS.

Characteristics of Autobiography.—Account of Pepys's "Diary,”

and summary of his life.—His voyage to Tangier, and business

in that place. Character and behaviour of its Governor, the

"Infamous Colonel Kirke."-Pepys's return to England. -

Gibbon's ancestor, the herald.—Pepys and Lord Sandwich,

&c. &c.
. 262

XII.

LIFE AND LETTERS OF MADAME DE SÉVIGNÉ.

Singular and fortunate reputation of Madame de Sévigné.-Un-

satisfactory biographies of her. Her parentage, education, and

early life.-Description of her person and manners.—United

with the Marquis de Sévigné.-His frivolities and death.—

Unsuccessful love made to her by her cousin Bussy Rabutin,

who revenges himself by calumny.-Character and conduct of

Bussy. His correspondence with his cousin.-His account of

the effect produced upon her by her dancing with the king.-

The young widow's mode of life.-Her visits at court, and ob

servations of public occurrences.-Her life in the country.—List

and characters of her associates.—Account of the Marquis her

son, and of her correspondence with her daughter, Madame de

Grignan. Surviving descendants of the family.-Specimens of

Madame de Sévigné's letters.-Expected marriage of Lauzan

with Mademoiselle.-Strange ways of Pomenars, and of Du

Plessis.-Story of the footman who couldn't make hay.-Tra-

gical terminations of gay campaigns. - Brinvilliers and La

Voisin, the poisoners.—Striking catastrophe in a ball-room.—

A scene at court.-Splendour of Madame de Montespan.-De-

scription of an iron-foundry; of a gallop of coaches; of a great

wedding; of a crowded assembly.-Horace Walpole's account

of Madame de Sévigné's house at Livry.-Character of her

writings by Sir James Mackintosh.-Attempt to form their

true estimate.

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300