of France, Founder of the Family now reigning.

Bologna boafts of feveral learned Women, among which were Joanna Blanchetta, and Novella Andrea: And of the Learning of Catherina Landa we read in Bembo's Epiitles.

In the Year of Chrift 1533, Catharine Queen of England, Aunt by the Mother's Side to the Emperor Charles V. was divorced from her Hufband King Henry VIII. She wrote Meditations upon the Pfalms, also a Book Of the Lamentations of a Sinner.

B

male Poets and Hiftorians, fufficient Examples would appear in behalf of the fair Sex, that they were equally capable of fine Literature with the Men.

We might add to these, out of an A hundred others, (fays Mr. Spectator) the two Le Fevres among the French, one of them married to M. Dacier, and the other to the famous Le Clerc; and among ourselves, Mrs. Catharine Philips, and Mrs. Elizabeth Singer, afterwards Rowe, as no ways inferior to any that have been mention'd.But I hope my fair Readers, who have any Tafte of Learning, will think a long Paper of little more than Gleanings of the Names of Learned Women, fufficient to keep them in Countenance against the too prevailing Cuftom of Cards, Vifitings, and other Ways of killing tha Time, hich fhould be always held preous by both Sexes,

What fhall we fay of her Sifter Joanna, married to Philip Archduke of Auftria, Duke of Burgundy, and by his Wife King of Spain? She anfwer'd extempore in Latin the Orations made to her in that Tongue, C in a Progrefs thro' her feveral Towns and Cities after her Acceffion.

Sir Thomas More, Chancellor of England, had three Daughters, Margaret, Elizabeth, and Cecilia, of whom their Father took care that

OF

Old England, Jan. 12.

Leave.

N° 92.

they were not only very chafte, but D Mr. BROADBOTTOM preparing to take bis very learned; because he rightly judged, that their Chastity would be by this Means the more fecure. [There is indeed nothing like a Love of good Books to preferve the Purity of the Mind.]

The Learning of Fulvia Olympia Morata, Daughter of Peregrine Moratus, is evident from the Writings he has left: And that Hippolita Taurella's was equal, appears from her Pieces collected together with thofe of Marata.

It is needlefs in England to quote Queen Elizabeth, or the Lady Jane Gray, as eminent Inftances of this Kind; because our Hiftorians are full of their Praises upon the Subject.

E

F

Voffius mentions farther only Anne Schurman, a noble Dutch Virgin, whofe Latin Poetry recommends her G to this Day.- He thinks, that if his Catalogue was added to those he had given feparately of the fe

all fublunary Beings, no Creature is fo fond of Exiftence as an Author. After his Health and Vigour are gone, he generally tugs Life along in a wretched confumptive State; his Reputation, if he retains any, fubfifts upon what it has been ; and, like a Bear, in the Winter of his Life, he lives upon the Grease his Paws have gather'd in the Summer of his Fame. For my Part, of all Pagans, I honour Cæfar, who thought it was Time to die when one had lived enough for Glory. In Imitation of this laudable Maxim, I Jeffrey Broadbottom, of Covent Garden, Efq; was deter

mind to put a Period to my Existence, as

a political Author, this Day; but the Indulgences I have been honour'd with from the Publick, require certain Forms of Decency to be obferv'd before I take Leave. Tho' I have been a Miles Emeritus in the Caufe of Old England, tho' I have serv'd her under many Denominations, with unvarying, faithful, and, I hope, fuccessful Endeavours, yet the Publick is the Prætor who is to give me Manumiffion; ror fhall I ask my Nunc dimittis, before I fatisfy my Country of my Reafons for demanding it, and humbly hope, when I retire, that

the

Weekly ESSAYS in JANUARY, 1745.

e publick Voice fhall fay, Well done,
shou goed and faithful Servant!

But all this is to be understood, provided
mb Accident, no Difappointment of the
publick Hopes fhall happen in the inter-
mediate Time, which may call upon me for
the Renewal of my political Function. I
moft fincerely hope that none fhall; and IA
moft heartily congratulate my Country upon
the great, the steady, the promising Ap-
pearance there is of her being, at last,
faithfully ferv'd in many of her moft im-
portant Posts, if not in all. We are to
confider that Changes, even for the better
in themselves, may, if too violent, give
too great a Shock to a political, as well as
natural Body, when weakly or confump- B

tive in its Habit.

31 ments, as an Author, to the third B-d of our naval Department.

The Reason why I treat this illuftrious Body with particular Regard is, because fome of my Brother Journalists very fenfibly felt the Effect of their Resentment, for or five Years ago. It is true, I am told making free with their Conduct about four the H-ble B-d had the Law on their Side, from this very laudable Maxim, viz. That a Matter of Fact may, in all Refpects, be as it is laid before the Publick, and strictly true, but may be a Libel at the fame Time. This Doctrine, for ought I know, may be very good Law, but I am fure it carries ing in Cafes of wanton perfonal Abuse, with it, neither Senfe nor Reason, exceptfrom which, by expofing Facts, no Good can arife either to Particulars or to the Publick, tho' great Damages may enfue to private Perfons and Interefts. But can this be applied to a Matter which affected the Lives and Health of 30 or 40,000 Men, each of Ction ?--I am far from afferting that the whom were paid and maintain'd by the NaMatter I have hinted at was a real Fact, as related by the Journalist, only I think the Manner in which it was huddled up, was by no Means for the Honour of those accus'd, or the Intereft of the Publick. If the former were innocent, a proper Trial or Enquiry into the Fact, would have eftablish'd them vindicated their Innocence, and have dein the good Opinion of the Publick, have tected the popular Odium upon the Authors of fo black a Calumny. If, on the other hand, there was Foundation for the Charge, was it fitting, was it decent, was it honest, that fo important an Enquiry should be ftifled, because of a dirty Quibble in the Law? Juftice, for the Sake of the public Service, ---I hope, therefore, for the Sake of for the Sake of Liberty in writing, that the Gentlemen then charged may either call upon, or be called upon to vindicate themfelves from the Imputation of evading publick Juftice by this low Evasion 1.

Of all Departments of publick Bufinefs,
the Naval is of the greatest Consequence to
Britain, in Time of War. It confists prin-
cipally of three Boards; one, as I appre-
hend, of Direction, and two of Execution.
His Majefty, with remarkable Indulgence
to the Wishes of his People, has been
pleas'd to fill up the firft, viz. the Admi-
ralty, in fuch a Manner, as bids fair to bind
up those bleeding Wounds which our Naval
Glory has lately fuffer'd; and we can now,
with the utmoft Propriety, apply to his
Royal Perfon that Motto which is infcrib'd
under his Statue, where it stands, as it
ought, most confpicuous, Hic amas dici Pater
etque Princeps. But fome at a certain B-d D

had endeavoured to render this no truer
a Representation of their Royal M——r's
Character, than the Statue is of his Per-
fon. This generous Provifion for restoring
the natural Strength of Old England is an
Earneft of other good Things to come.
The Alteration already made in one of the
other two Boards belonging to the fame E
Department, is fuch, as from the Choice
of the Perfons introduced, may convince
us, that a Change of Men alone is not in-
tended, but of Measures likewife. Far be
it from me, to point out the Expediency of
an honest Administration at this B-d; -
the Neceffity of the Measure speaks itself,
fince upon it depends no less than the Be-

ing of the English Navy. All I fhall ob- F

serve is, that it is equally fatal to the Na-
tion, whether Malice or Ignorance has oc-
cafion'd those pernicious Blunders com-
monly complain'd of, and of late fo fen-
fibly felt, in the Building of the Royal
Ships; and that fuch Blunders exift, is t
the Opinion of that brave Man, who, un-
doubtedly, stands at the Head of all our G
Sea Offices as an Ad--l.

Having faid thus much with Regard to the two B-ds of the Ad-ty and the N-y, I come now to pay my Compli

Enquiries of this Kind are the more neceffary, as every body is fenfible, not only of the great Inconveniences our Sea Offi

cers have, for fome Years paft, had in

manning the Navy, but of the fhameful Miscarriages which have happened in our Sea Affairs.-Publick Offices may be called the Stomach of the Body Politick, where its Food is concocted for Diftribution thro' its feveral Members: If this is foul, how Functions, or that the Members will percan we expect it can perform its proper form theirs.

I fhall finish this Paper by recurring to the fame Head with which I began it, and affuring the Publick that I never oppos'd

At Greenwich. + See a Pamphlet entitled A-IV——-n's Opinion, &c. sar Mag. for 1740, p. 82, 85, 85, 86.

any

↑ Sre

any Set of Men in Government, but from a thorough Conviction of the Expediency, may, Neceffity of fuch an Oppofition; and that the Publication of this Journal shall cease as foon (which I hope will be more Speedy than fome imagine) as the Measure which it was intended to fupport is compleated.

JEFFREY BROADBOTTOM.

Copy of the late Duchess of MARLBOROUGH'S WILL, continued from our Mag. for December last, p. 606.)

ND whereas by Leafe from the Crown,

A

Body lawfully begotten, who fhall live to attain the faid Age of 21 Years, then in Truft for Charles Spencer Efq; commonly called Lord Charles Spencer, fecond Son of the faid Charles Duke of Marlborough, for so much and fo long of the faid Term or Terms of 50 Years therein as he shall live. And from and after his Decease, in Truft for fuch Son of the Body of the faid Charles Spencer lawfully to be begotten, as shall first attain the Age of 21 Years; and the Executors and Adminiftrators of fuch Son, c. as before.

Provided always, That in Cafe the faid Charles Spencer fhall have no Son of his Body lawfully begotten, who shall live to

A bearing Date one or about the 10th B attain the said Age of 21 Years, then in

Day of July laft paft, I am poffeffed of or intitled to All that the Capital Meffuage in which I now inhabit, call'd MarlboroughHoufe, with the feveral Yards, Gardens, Curtilages, Ground, Edifices, and Buildings thereunto belonging, or therewith ufed, occupied, or enjoyed, fituate, lying, and being within or near the Parishes of St. James within the Liberty of Westminster, and St. Martin in the Fields in the County of Middlefex, or one of them, and in and by the faid Lease more particularly mentioned and defcribed, To hold unto me, my Executors, Adminiftrators and Affigns, from the Date of the faid Leafe, for the Term or Terms of 50 Years:

D

Now I do hereby give and bequeath all my Estate and Intereft in the faid Capital Meffuage and laft mentioned Premiffes (fubject to fuch Charge thereon as is herein after mentioned) unto my Executors (herein after named) upon the Trufts following; that is to fay, in Truft for the faid John Spencer the Father, for fo much and so long of the faid Term or Terms of 50 Years E therein as he fhall live; and from and after his Deceafe, then in Truft for George Spencer Elq; commonly called Marquis of Blandford, eldeft Son and Heir apparent of the faid Charles Duke of Marlborough, for fo much and so long of the faid Term or Terms of 50 Years therein as he fhall live; and from and after his Decease, in Truft for fuch Son of the Body of the faid George Spencer lawfully to be begotten, as shall first attain the Age of 21 Years, and the Executors and Adminiftrators of fuch Son, for all the then Refidue of the faid Term or Terms of 50 Years therein; and in the mean Time, in Truft to permit the eldest Son, for the Time being, of the Body of the faid George Spencer, lawfully to be be- G gotten, to have, hold, and enjoy the fame Capital Meffuage and Premiffes to and for his and their own Ufe and Benefit.

Provided always, That in cafe the faid George Spencer shall have no Son of his

F

Truft for fuch other Son of the Body of the faid Charles Duke of Marlborough, lawfully begotten, or to be begotten, as thall first attain the faid Age of 21 Years, and the Executors and Adminiftrators, c. as be fore.

Provided always, That in Cafe the faid Charles Duke of Marlborough fhall have no other Son of his Body lawfully begotten, or to be begotten, who fhall live to attain the faid Age of 21 Years; then in Truft for the faid John Spencer the Son, for fo much, and fo long of the faid Term or Terms of 50 Years therein, as he shall

live.

And from and after his Decease, In Trust for fuch Son of the Body of the fame John Spencer, lawfully to be begotten, as fhall first attain the Age of one and twenty Years, and the Executors and Adminiftrators, &c. as before.

Provided always, That in Cafe the faid John Spencer the Son fhall have no Son of his Body lawfully begotten, who shall live to attain the faid Age of 21 Years, Then in Tr for other Son of the Body of the faid John Spencer the Father lawfully begotten, or to be begotten, as shall first attain the faid Age of 21 Years; and the Executors, and Administrators, &c. as be fore.

Provided always, That in Cafe the faid John Spencer the Father, fhall have no other Son of his Body lawfully begotten, or to be begotten, who fhall live to attain the faid Age 21 Years, then and in fuch Cafe, the fame Capital Messuage and Premiffes fhall from thenceforth for all the then Refidue of the faid Term, or Terms of fifty Years therein, be, go and remain, In Truft for the Perfon, or Per fons, who for the Time being fhall be intitled unto, and inherit the Honour and Title of Duke, or Duchefs of Marlborough, (other than, and except the faid Charles Duke of Marlborough.)

Pro

Duchefs of MARLBOROUH'S WILL.

Provided always, That in Cafe my faid Grandíon John Spencer fhall at any Time after my Decease, difpofe of his Estate and Intereft, or any Part thereof in the faid Capital Meffuage and Premiffes, or any Part thereof, or depart from the Poffeffion and Occupation of the fame, by Leafe, Sale, Exchange, Loan, or otherwise how- A foever, on any Account whatsoever, (except the little Houfe adjoining to the Chapel, ufed as a French and Dutch Church, now inhabited by Robert Earl of Clancarty ;) then and in fuch Cafe my. Will is, and I do hereby order and direct, that my Executors herein after named, or the Survivors, or Survivor of them, his Executors, or Adminiftrators, fhall and do immediately thereupon fell, and difpofe of the fame Capital Meffuage and Premiffes for all the then Refidue of the faid Term, or Terms of 50 Years therein, for the most Monies, and best Price they can get for the fame; and the Monies arifing by fuch Sale fhall be taken as Part of, and go along with the Refidue of my C Perfonal Estate, as the faid Refidue is herein after difpofed of, or directed to be difpofed of.

B

Provided always, That in Cafe the said George Spencer, commonly called Marquis of Blandford, or any of his Sons, or the faid Charles Spencer, commonly called Lord Charles Spencer, or any of his Sons, or D any other Son of the faid Charles Duke of Marlborough hereafter to be born, fhall at any Time after my Decease, and during the Life of the faid Charles Duke of Marlborough, difpofe of his or their Eftate and Intereft, or any Part thereof, &c. as before;

or if the faid George Spencer, commonly called Marquis of Blandford, &c. fhall during the Life of E the faid Charles Duke of Marlborough, do or fuffer, or covenant, or agree to do or fuffer any Act, whereby all, or any of the Eftates, Remainders, Limitations, or Ufes in the faid late Duke of Marlborough's Will, declared or expreffed, may be defeated or barred; Then and in any, or either of the faid Cafes, all and every the Bequefts of any Eftate, or Interest whatsoever, of or in the fame Capital Meffuage, called Marlbarcagh-Houfe, and other the Premiffes hereby given or limited to them, the faid Gerge Spencer, commonly called Marquis of Blandford, &c. fhall abfolutely from thenceforth ceafe, and be void to all Intents and Purposes,

And then, in fuch Cafe, the fame Capi- G tal Meffuage and Premiffes fhall immediately thereupon, after the Death of my faid Grandion John Spencer, go, be and reinain to the feveral Ufes, Trufts, Intents and 1745

33

Purpofes following; that is to fay, in Trust
for the faid John Spencer the Son, for fo
much, and fo long of the faid Term, or
Terms of 50 Years therein, as he shall live,
in the fame Manner as if all the Iffue Male
of the faid Charles Duke of Marlborough
were dead.

And from and after the Decease of the
faid John Spencer the Son, In Truft for fuch
Son of the Body of the fame John Spencer
lawfully to be begotten, as shall first attain
the Age of 21 Years; and the Executors
and Administrators of fuch Son, for all the
then Refidue of the faid Term or Terms of
50 Years therein. And in the mean time,
Time being, of the Body of the faid John
In Truft to permit the eldest Son for the
Spencer the Son, lawfully to be begotten,
to have, hold and enjoy the fame Capital
Meffuage and Premiffes, to and for his and
their own Ufe and Benefit. Provided al-
ways, that in Cafe the faid John Spencer the
Son fhall have no Son of his Body lawfully
Age of 21 Years, then In Trust for fuch o-
begotten, who shall live to attain the faid
ther Son of the Body of the faid John Spen-
cer the Father lawfully begotten, or to be
begotten, as shall first attain the faid Age
of 21 Years, and the Executors and Ad-
miniftrators, &c. as before. -Provided

always, That in Case the said John Spencer
who fhall live to attain the faid Age of 21
the Father fhall have no other Son of his
Body lawfully begotten, or to be begotten,

Years:

Then, and in fuch Cafe my Will is, and
I do hereby order and direct, that my Exe
cutors herein after named, or the Survivors
or Survivor of them, his Executors or Ad-
ministrators, fhall, and do fell, and dif-
Premiffes, for all the then Refidue of the
pofe of the fame Capital Meffuage and
faid Term or Terms of 50 Years therein,
for the moft Monies and beft Price they
can get for the fame. And the Monies a-
rifing by fuch Sale, fhall be taken as Part
of, and go along with the Refidue of my
Perfonal Eftate, as the faid Refidue is here-
pofed of.
in after difpofed of, or directed to be dif-

And my Will is, and I do hereby autho-
rize, impower, and direct my Executors
herein after named, their Executors, and
Administrators, from Time to Time as Oc-
cafion fhall require, and as they shall think
proper, during the Continuance of the faid
Trufts by me herein declared, (of and con-
Premiffes) to apply for, and do their En-
cerning the faid laft mentioned Leasehold

deavours to renew the said Leafe of the faid
Capital Meffuage and other the faid laft
mentioned Premiffes; the Cofts and Charges
of all which Renewals, I do hereby charge
E

on

on the fame Capital Meffuage and Premiffes.

And I do order and direct, that all new Leafes hereafter to be obtained of the fame Premiffes, fhall be, and be declared to be on the like Trufts, and subject to the like Provifoes and Contingencies as are herein declared, of and concerning the faid now A fubfifting Leafe of the fame Premiffes, or fuch of the fame Trufts as fhall be then fubfifting.

And whereas I am poffeffed of, or intitled to another Leafe from the Crown, bearing Date on or about the 13th Day of February, 1728, for a certain Term of Years not yet expired, as in and by the faid Leafe more fully will appear:

Now I give and devife the fame Lease, and all my Eftate and Intereft thereby demised to my Executors herein after named, In Truft for the Owner and Proprietor, forthe Time being, of the faid MarlboroughHouse, to go along, and be held and enjoyed with the fame, and subject to the fame Conditions and Limitations.

And whereas I am impowered by the Duke of Marlborough's Will to difpofe of fuch of the Goods and Furniture in Marlborough-Houfe aforefaid, as are my own, though they were bought in his Life-time :

And whereas there is an Inventory, which will fhew which of the Goods and Furniture in the faid Houfe are mine,

B

to be enjoyed by my faid Grandfon John Spencer, his Executors and Administrators, (unless the faid Goods and Furniture in Althrop Houfe fhall be of greater Value than my faid Goods, Furniture, and Pictures in Blenbeim Houfe; in which Cafe, the faid Duke of Marlborough may remove from Althrop House Part of the faid Goods or Furniture, leaving only so much thereof as fhall be equal in Value to my said Goods, Furniture, and Pictures, which, at the Time of my Deceafe, fhall be in Blenbeim House.)

And, in cafe the faid Charles Duke of Marlborough fhall refufe to perform the faid laft mentioned Condition, then I give all my faid Goods, Furniture, and Pictures in Blenheim House, (except as aforefaid) to the fame John Spencer, his Executors and Administrators.

And my Will is, and I do hereby order and direct, That all the Goods and Furniture, which at the Time of my Deceafe thall be in or about my Manfion-House at C Holywell in St. Albans, in the faid County of Hertford, (except fuch of them as I fhail otherwife difpofe of by this my Will, or by any Codicil or Codicils to be by me hereafter made thereto) fhall remain and continue there, and be always held and enjoyed therewith, as far as the Law will admit of.

(whether bought in the faid Duke of Marl-D borough's Life-time, or fince his Decease :)

Now I do hereby give and bequeath all fuch of the Goods, Furniture and Pictures, which are and shall be my own, and which thall be in the faid Marlborough-Houfe at the Time of my Deceafe, except fuch of them as I fhall otherwife difpofe of by this my Will, or by any Codicil or Codicils to E be by me made thereto, unto my faid Grandfon John Spencer, his Executors and Adminiftrators.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my faid Grandfon, Charles Duke of Marlborough, his Executors and Administrators, to and for his and their own Ufe and Benefit, all fuch Goods, Furniture and Pictures, as are, or shall be my own, and which shall be in Blenheim Houfe in Oxfordshire at the Time of my Decease, (except fuch of the faid Goods, Furniture and Pictures, whereof I fhall otherwife difpofe by this my Will, or by any Codicil er Codicils to be by me made thereto.)

F

But the faid Bequest of my faid Goods, Furniture, and Pictures in Blenheim Houfe G to the faid Charles Duke of Marlborough, is upon this express Condition, That he do - not remove any of the Goods or Furniture From Albrop House, but permit the fame

And whereas by Letters Patent, dated on or about the 18th Day of July, in the eighth Year of the Reign of her late Majefty Queen Anne; her said late Majesty granted the Rangership and Office, or Place of Keeper of Windfor Great Park, and of all the Houses or Lodges there; and alfo of the keeping the Paddock Walk, and the Houfes or Lodges belonging to the fame Walk, and all other Profits in the faid Great Park, unto James Craggs, Samuel Edawards, and Charles Hodges Efquires, and their Heirs, In Truft for me and my Heirs, during the Lives of myself and Henrietta late Duchefs of Marlborough, and Mary Duchefs of Montagu, and the Life of the longeft Liver of us :

Now I do hereby will, order and direct, That the Heirs or Affigns of the faid Sumuel Eduards fhall ftand feized, poffeffed, and interested of and in the faid Rangership and Office or Place of Keeper of the faid Great Park, and of and in the faid Houfes or Lodges there, and of and in all other the faid laft mentioned Premiffes, for and during all the Refidue of my faid Estate and Intereft, which fhall be to come therein at the Time of my Decease, by Virtue of the faid Letters Patent, In Truft for my faid Grandfon John Spencer, his Heirs and Affigna

And