Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/766

752 in our language) are in very extensive circulation.

In 1736, the importunity of some of Mrs. Rowe's acquaintance, who had seen the History of Joseph, in manuscript, prevailed on her (though not without real reluctance) to suffer it to be made public. She wrote this piece in her younger years, and when first printed, had carried it no farther than the marriage of the hero; but, at the request of her friends, particularly of the Duchess of Somerset, that the relation might include Joseph's discovery of himself to his brethren, she added two other books; the composing of which, I am informed, was no more than the labour of three or four days. This additional part, which was her last work, was published but a few weeks before her death.

This grand event, to prepare for which she had made so much the business of her life, befel her, according to her wish, in her beloved recess. She was favoured with an uncommon strength of constitution, and had passed a long series of years with scarce any indisposition severe enough to confine her to her bed. But about half a year before her decease, she was attacked by a distemper, which seemed, to herself as well as others, attended with danger: though this disorder, as she expressed herself to one of her most intimate friends, found her mind not quite so serene, and prepared to meet death, as usual; yet, by devout contemplations on the atonement and mediation of Our Blessed Redeemer, she had fortified herself against that fear and diffidence, from which the most exalted piety does not always secure us.

After this threatening illness, Mrs. Rowe recovered her usual good state of health; and though at the times of her decease she was pretty far advanced in age, yet her exact temperance, and the calmness of her mind,