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ELIZABETH CARTER.

BORN 1717. DIED 1806.

-Time gently led

Her steady footsteps down the giddy steep
Of human life; surrounded by the blaze
Of talents, fair desert, and high distinguish'd praise.

In early youth, from pleasure's train retir'd,
Willing she trod stern learning's rugged way;
By praise undazzled, humble, though admir'd,
She tun'd her lyre to wisdom's moral lay ;
Even in that season when the sportive pow'r
Of fancy strews our path with many a blooming flow'r.

Mild in the even temper of her mind,

Benevolent to all, to merit just,

Still on the side of mercy most inclin'd,

Unwillingly she blam'd, where blame she must.

Pious as learned; and in faith sincere,

Her trust was fix'd in heaven, her hope already there.

(MRS. OPIE.)

This learned and excellent lady was born at Deal, where her father, the Rev. Nicholas Carter, D. D. was curate of the episcopal chapel; he was also rector of Woodchurch and Ham, and one of the six preachers in the cathedral of Canterbury. Dr. Carter was a pious, learned, and highly respectable clergyman, and author of a volume of sermons, and some tracts on religious controversy. He gave all his children a learned education; Elizabeth was the eldest, and she had the misfortune to lose her mother, who was the daughter of Richard Swayne, Esq. of Bere, in the county of Dorset, when she was only ten years old.

Mrs. Carter, for by that term she chose to be distinguished at a very early period of her life, evinced when yet a child, a determined resolution to become a scholar, but we are assured by her relation and biographer, that she acquired the rudiments of learning with much difficulty, and not without severe sacrifice of time, and it is to be feared even of health and comfort. She devoted herself to regular and intense study, and consumed in severe application to books, the hours which should have been devoted to repose. She accustomed herself to rise at four o'clock in the morning, and did not usually retire to rest until past midnight; to prevent sleep during this long period, she not only acquired the disgusting practice of snuff-taking, but she was also accustomed to chew green tea and coffee, and even to bind a wet towel round her head, or apply it to the region of the stomach. By these practices she laid the foundation of an incurable head-ache, which accompanied her through life, and in all probability prevented her from making the fair use of the learning so painfully acquired.

Though the ruling passion of this excellent woman's mind was certainly a fondness for acquiring languages, yet she did not absolutely neglect the accomplishments more peculiar to her sex. She acquired some proficiency in music, attempted to learn drawing, was fond of dancing, subscribed to assemblies, and once in her life acted a part in a play for the amusement of a family party. She had in her youth some share of beauty; her complexion was fair and clear, and her features regular, but she never possessed a good figure. She had offers of marriage, and formed at least one attachment, which does not appear to have been

very strong, as we are informed by her biographer that it gave way to an imprudent copy of verses written by her lover. It is probable that she had resolved early in life to devote herself to celibacy ;-she did not however seem to relish the compliment paid her by Mr. Hayley, when he dedicated to her his curious essay on old maids.

By incessant application Mrs. Carter acquired a knowledge of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese and Arabic. She learned, we are told, without the use of grammars. Besides these

several languages she was fond of astronomy, and acquired an intimate knowledge of it; had some insight into mathematics; and became a profound scholar in the science of ancient geography. As the means of retaining the languages she had acquired, it was her custom to read a portion of each every day, added to which she possessed by nature that peculiar kind of memory which retains permanently, what it admits with difficulty.

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The first literary productions of this learned lady were poetical; she is said to have translated an Ode of Anacreon in 1734, when she was only seventeen years of age. These attempts were first printed in the early volumes of the Gentleman's Magazine, the projector and publisher of which was a friend of her father's. By his means she became acquainted with Dr. Johnson, with whom she commenced an intimacy in 1738, which continued during his life. During this year also, she formed a small collection of her poems, which was printed by Cave, in a quarto pamphlet of twenty-four pages, and has been lately republished, together with her more mature efforts.

In 1739 she translated, and published without her name, a French critique on Pope's Essay on Man ; and in the same year a translation from the Italian,-Sir Isaac Newton's philosophy explained for the use of Ladies, proceeded from her pen in two small volumes. Both these works are scarce from not having been reprinted; when advanced in life Mrs. Carter rarely spoke of them, and seemed to wish them to be forgotten.

In 1741 she contracted a friendship with Miss Talbot, which continued during the life of the latter. By means of this lady she was introduced to Archbishop Secker, and several other eminent characters.

In 1749 at the request of Miss Talbot she commenced her translation of Epictetus, which occupied her leisure hours for several years, and was not completed before. 1756. It does not appear that she at first had any intention of publishing this laborious work, but she was prevailed upon principally by her friend the Archbishop to do so, and it was submitted to his correction for that purpose. This translation was printed in quarto in 1758, at the price of one guinea; 1250 copies were printed, and Mrs. Carter is said to have gained by the first impression the very handsome remuneration of £1000. Several other editions have since appeared.

During the time she was employed in this uncommon task, she was also actively engaged in educating one of her brothers, whom she prepared for the University.

The publication of Epictetus established Mrs. Carter's fame as a scholar, and procured her the intimate friendship of several distinguished characters, and the general notice of all friends of learning. Among these the most remarkable were the witty and accomplished

Mrs. Montague, her relation the Earl of Bath, and Lord Lyttleton. By the advice of these noblemen, when on a visit at Tunbridge, she was prevailed upon to form a second collection of poems. These were published in 1762 in a small volume dedicated to Lord Bath, and having an introductory copy of verses prefixed, from the pen of Lord Lyttleton.

These several publications rendered her easy in her circumstances. She purchased a house at Deal in 1762, which she hired to her father, with whom she continued to reside during the remainder of his life.

In 1763 she went abroad with Lord Bath and Mrs. Montague, and visited Spa, Germany, and Holland. Her letters written during this short tour, have been published in the memoir of her life by Mr. Pennington, and form the best part of that gentleman's work.

Lord Bath died in 1764, and contrary to general expectation, the name of Mrs. Carter was not to be found in his will. Ample amends was however made for this apparent neglect by Sir William Pulteney, when he became possessed of the Earl's property in 1767; his first care was to settle upon Mrs. Carter, in the most generous and handsome manner, an annuity of £100 a year, which was afterwards increased to £150. About this time her father's circumstances were also greatly improved by the death of a brother, who bequeathed to him and bis family a considerable property.

In 1768 Mrs. Carter lost her great friend Dr. Secker, who also neglected to name her in his will. Two years after she sustained a greater loss in the death of her valuable friend Miss Talbot; the literary remains of this excellent lady were intrusted to Mrs. Carter who derived considerable benefit from their publication.

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