In 1737 Watts sustained a loss in the innermost and most intimate circle of his acquaintance by the death of Mrs. Rowe. His early relations with this lady have round them some traditions of a tender mystery; it is generally supposed that upon his side at one time his feelings for Miss Singer, her maiden name, were something more than those of mere friendship. The charms of the lady appear to have been considerable, and procured her previous to marriage many admirers, among others Prior, the poet, who sought the lady’s hand in vain, and in his poem on “Love and Friendship” expresses himself after the most approved fashion of the disconsolate Werthers of that day, informing her that— He dies in woe, that thou mayst live in peace. It would seem that Watts’ attachment was some time talked about extensively, for Young refers to it in one of his satires: What angels would those be, who thus excel In theologies, could they sew as well! Yet why should not the fair her text pursue? Can she more decently the Doctor woo? Isaac, a brother of the canting strain, When he has knocked at his own skull in vain, To beauteous Marcia often will repair, With a dark text to light it at the fair. Oh how his pious soul exults to find Such love for holy men in womankind! Charmed with her learning, with what rapture he Hangs on her bloom, like an industrious bee; Hums round about her, and with all his power, Extracts sweet wisdom from so fair a flower. More respectfully, Mrs. Barbauld appears to allude to the circumstance when addressing Mrs. Rowe, she says: Thynne, Carteret, Blackmore, Orrery approved, And Prior praised, and noble Hertford loved, Seraphic Ken, and tuneful Watts were thine, And virtue’s noblest champions filled the line. But there is no reason, beyond the idle chatter of the town, to suppose that there was more than ardent friendship between the two; Watts was not a man ever likely to have been refused in marriage, and the talk appears only to have originated from the fact that people in general suppose that there can be no community of taste, and intellectual intercourse, and high and even ardent friendship between opposite sexes without its pointing to marriage. That it was not so in this instance appears certain, not only from the very high regard Mrs. Rowe always entertained for Watts, but from the terms of the letter addressed to him to be delivered after her death; we would rather suppose it possible, although we do not assert it, that Elizabeth Singer might have been not indisposed to a relationship the idea of which was not encouraged by the Doctor, and which he deferred to the calmer communion of intimate friendship and high esteem. The proofs that this was the case are not very clear if the circumstance is probable. However it might be, it never interfered with their friendship which continued not only unbroken to death, but beyond death.