Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/673

Rh by profane or Christian philosophers. I have heard also, she was so far from being unacquainted with the antiquities of her own country, that she knew almost as much as the greatest proficient in that kind of knowledge. Nor is this to be much wondered at, since she had in her youth the most excellently learned Sir Norton Knatchbull, Bart. for her tutor and preceptor; and, after she was married, the famous Hammond, and others his cotemporaries, very celebrated men, for her companions and instructors.'

He also affirmed that he had seen the manuscript written with her own hand; which from the many erasures, alterations, and interlinings, he was fully satisfied was the very original book.

The next evidence is, the author of the Baronetage, who tells us, 'that she was one of the most accomplished persons of her sex for learning; and the brightest example of her age for wisdom and piety. Her letters and other discourses still remaining in the family, and in the hands of her friends, are an admirable proof of her excellent genius and vast capacity; and as she had the reputation of being thought the author of The whole Duty of Man, so that none who knew her well, and were competent judges of her ability, could in the least doubt of her being equal to such an undertaking; though her modesty would not suffer her to claim the honour of it; but as the manuscript under her own hand now remains with the family, there is hardly room to doubt it.

'By her great virtues and eminent attainments in knowledge, she acquired the esteem of all our learned divines, particularly Dr. Hammond, bishop Morley, bishop Fell, bishop Pearson, bishop Henchman and bishop Gunning; who were ever ready to confess, they were always edified by her conversation, and instructed by