It does not appear that the high reputation she has deservedly acquired, has in this particular at all diminished her claims to respect and esteem. She bears her faculties meekly; or at least she did, when he who writes had the opportunity of duly appreciating her estimable qualities. Her talents are before the public; and if this work were intended as an arena for the display of critical acumen, the opportunity would readily be embraced, of paying the tribute of esteem which is most unaffectedly felt, and in this place sincerely acknowledged. But we must be satisfied with the declaration, that the short and passing acquaintance with J⸺ B⸺, was a circumstance upon which the Sexagenarian has, in his manuscript notices, expressed himself with particular earnestness of satisfaction. Les passions les plus violentes nous laissent quelquefois du relache, mais la vanité nous agite toujours. CHAPTER LXIII. The transition from J⸺a B⸺e, is to a female of as different a description and character as can well be imagined. In making this assertion, we would not, in the slightest degree, be understood to depreciate the merits, the virtues, or the talents of MRS. ⸺. The Sexagenarian has taken occasion to speak of female personages equally respectable in society, equally estimable for their talents, and perhaps equally amiable in private life, but still as opposite as possible in character, temper, and manners. Let the reader oppose in imagination, Mrs. Cooper to Mrs. Yates, Mrs. Hannah More to Mrs. Wolstoncroft, Mrs. Hayley to Mrs. Trimmer, and the only conclusion to be drawn is, that from the mixed characters of life, we must extract as we can, what is useful, convenient, and grateful. The subject of Mrs. ⸺, therefore, who was known to the Sexagenarian from childhood, is entered upon without feeling the necessity of apology, (if any thing shall find its way from our notes not altogether acceptable) to the Lady herself, if she may yet survive to read these Memoirs, or to any of the numerous friends whom she has necessarily and meritoriously acquired. From a child she gave indications of talents above the ordinary level, but her earliest propensity was for music, in which she soon became a proficient; and in the provincial town where she resided, frequently entertained and enlivened numerous parties with her concerts. From music to poetry, the transition is natural and easy; she wrote, when very young, many elegant and beautiful things, which perhaps have not been excelled by any of the productions of her maturer years. Her natural connections, her education, and the principles in which she had been brought up, gave her an unavoidable predilection in favour of those, who, on the breaking out of the French Revolution, vainly imagined that a glorious opportunity was presenting itself, for the melioration of the condition of mankind.