if fuch a one was in her company; upon which occafion, she would fay many things very entertaining and humorous.

She never interrupted any perfon who spoke; fhe laught at no mistakes they made, but helped them out with modefty; and if a good thing were spoken, but neglected, he would not let it fall, but fet it in the beft light to thofe who were prefent. She liftened to all that was faid, and had never the leaft diftraction, or absence of thought.

It was not fafe nor prudent, in her presence, to offend in the leaft word against modefty; for fhe then gave full employment to her wit, her contempt, and refentment, under which even ftupidity and brutality were forced to fink into confufion; and the guilty perfon, by her future avoiding him like a bear or a fatyr, was never in a way to tranfgrefs a fecond time.

It happened one fingle coxcomb, of the pert kind, was in her company, among feveral other ladies; and, in his flippant way, began to deliver fome double meanings: The rest flap their fans, and used the other common expedients practifed in such cases, of appearing not to mind or comprehend what was faid. Her behaviour was very different, and perhaps may be cenfured. She faid thus to the man: "Sir, all these ladies and I "understand your meaning very well; having, in "fpite of our care, too often met with thofe of your fex who wanted manners and good fenfe. VOL. XI. Ff.

* But,

"But, believe me, neither virtuous, nor even "vicious women, love fuch kind of converfation. "However, I will leave you, and report your "behaviour: And, whatever vifit I make, I "fhall first enquire at the door, whether you are " in the house, that I may be fure to avoid you." I know not whether a majority of ladies would approve of fuch a proceeding; but I believe the practice of it would foon put an end to that cor rupt conversation, the worst effect of dulnefs, ignorance, impudence, and vulgarity, and the highest affront to the modesty and understanding of the female fex.:

By returning very few vifits, fhe had not much company of her own fex, except those whom the moft loved for their eafinefs, of esteemed for their good sense; and thofe, not insisting on cere mony, came often to her. But the rather chofe men for her companions; the ufual topics of ladies difcourfe being such as she had little knowledge of, and lefs relifh. Yet no man was upon the rack to entertain her, for fhe easily defcended to any thing that was innocent and diverting. News, politics, cenfure, family-management, or town-talk, the always diverted to fomething else: But these indeed feldom happened, for the chofe her company better; and therefore many, who miftook her and themfelves, having folicited her acquaintance, and finding themselves disappointed after a few visits, dropt off; and she was never known to enquire into the reason, or ask what was become of them.

She

She was never pofitive in arguing; and fhe ufually treated those who were so, in a manner which well enough gratified that unhappy difpofition, yet in fuch a fort as made it very contemptible, and at the fame time did fome hurt to the owners. Whether this proceeded from her eafinefs in general, or from her indifference to certain perfons, or from her despair of mending them, or from the fame practice which the much liked in Mr Addison, I cannot determine; but when the faw any of the company very warm in a wrong opinion, fhe was more inclined to confirm them in it, than oppofe them. The excufe fhe commonly gave when her friends afked the reafon, was, that it prevented noife, and faved time: Yet I have known her very angry with fome, whom the much efteemed, for fometimes. falling into that infirmity.

She loved Ireland much better, than the gene-rality of those who owe both their birth and and riches to it; and having brought over all the fortune fhe had in money, left the reversion of the best part of it, one thousand pounds, to Dr Stephen's Hospital. She detefted the tyranny and injuftice of England, in their treatment of this kingdom. She had indeed reason to love a country, where she had the esteem and friendship of all who knew her, and the univerfal good report of all who ever heard of her, without one exception, if I am told the truth by those who keep general converfation. Which character is Ff2

the.

the more extraordinary, in falling to a perfon of fo much knowledge, wit, and vivacity; qualities that are used to create envy, and confequently cenfure, and must be rather imputed to her great modefty, gentle behaviour, and inoffenfiveness, than to her fuperior virtues.

Although her knowledge, from books and company, was more extensive than ufually falls to the share of her fex; yet fhe was fo far from making a parade of it, that her female vifitants, on their first acquaintance, who expected to dif cover it, by what they call hard words and deep discourse, were fometimes difappointed, and faid, they found fhe was like other women. But wife men, through all her modefty, whatever they difcourfed on, could easily obferve that she understood them very well, by the judgment shown in her obfervations, as well as in her questions.

A

PRAYER, ufed by the DEAN, for MRS JOHNSON *, in her last fickness.

Written in October 17. 1727.·

OST merciful Father! accept our humbleft prayers in behalf of this thy languishing fervant. Forgive the fins, the frailties, and infirmities of her life paft. Accept the good deeds fhe hath done, in fuch a manner, that at whatever time thou fhalt pleafe to call her, fhe may

Mrs Johnson was the daughter of Sir William Temple's fteward, and the concealed, but undoubted wife of Dr Swift. Sir William Temple bequeathed her, in his will, 1000l. as an acknowledgement of her father's faithful fervices. I cannot tell how long the remained in England, or whether she made morejourneys than one to Ireland, after Sir William Temple's death; but, if my informations are right, fhe was married to Dr Swift in the year 1716, by Dr Afhe, then Bishop of Clogher.

Stella was a most amiable woman in mind and perfon. She had an elevated understanding, with all the delicacy and foftnefs of her fex. Her voice, however fweet in itself, was ftill rendered more harmonious by what fhe faid. Her wit was poig-nant, without feverity. Her manners were humane; polite, eafy, and unreserved. Wherever fhe came, fhe attracted attention and esteem. As virtue was her guide in morality, fincerity. was her guide in religion. She was conftant, but not oftentatious, in her devotions. She was remarkably prudent in her converfation. She had great fkill in mufic, and was perfectly well verfed in all the leffer arts that employ a lady's leifure.

Her