Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/333

Rh creation, which the eye could not detect, even when she herself pointed it out. Mrs. Delany continued in the prosecution of her design till the 83d year of her age, when the dimness of her sight obliged her to lay it aside. However, by her unwearied perseverance, she became authoress of far the completest Flora that ever was executed by the same hand. The number of plants finished by her amounted to nine hundred and eighty.

This invaluable Flora was bequeathed by her to her nephew, Court Dewes, Esq. and is now in his possession. The liberality of Mrs. Delany's mind rendered her at all times ready to communicate her art. She frequently pursued her work in company; was desirous of shewing to her friends how easy it was to execute, and was heard to lament that so few would attempt it. It required, however, great patience and great knowledge in botanical drawing. She began to write poetry at eighty years of age.

herself by her wit and knowledge; writing, both in prose and verse, in a natural and elegant style. She was the friend of Mademoiselle de Scuderi. Some of her pieces are in the poetical collection of P. Bouhours—and the poems of Madame de la Suze; but her chef-d'œuvre seems to be two compositions, in which she has raised a lasting monument to the memory of her uncle. The first is called La  tion