school, has never been explained. Certainly there is no gallantry in the ordinance, and not much jus→ tice or taste, if we look on the one hand to the abilities of our countrywoman, and on the other to that symmetry of form which might rival the models of Greece itself. Besides, there is something so preposterously ungrateful to the muse of Painting, from whom they receive all their inspiration and their art, to proscribe in this manner that sex of which her divinityship is a crown and a glory! It is well for these gentlemen who, like the daring Ajax, do not hesitate to " defy, affront, and blaspheme" the immortals, that the present goddess is so very volatile a being as to live altogether in a Castle in the Air ; else we might expect to see a most mighty vengeance taken upon these her rebellious sons:-Some she would transfix with their own pencils; others she would poison with white lead, mastich varnish, and drying oil; and perhaps some few, by way of distinction, would find their way to "the oblivious, shore" by means of the newly-invented Venetian vehicle! Let these modern offenders of the daughter of Olympus remember what power one crystal gem gliding down the cheek of Beauty used to have upon the sympathy of the cloud-compelling Jove! It was sufficient to drive whole navies to wreck, and to lay vast kingdoms in smoke and ashes. What then may be the fate even of a synod of painters, if half a dozen lovely eyes choose to buy its destruction with a chalice of tears? In vain they may shield

themselves

"

themselves behind their pallets, case themselves in sevenfold webs of canvas, and arm themselves with brushes, maw-sticks, and grinding stones :—if Venus and the Muses draw their arrows to the head, they will all perish, like the offspring of Niobe; or be sent down the stream of ages a mingled spectacle to future generations, like so many Orpheuses, torn to pieces by the vindictive rage of Thracian furics!

The honours which were denied to the genius of Mrs. Damer by one order of men, were amply recompensed by the warm suffrages of fame which she received from other contemporary societies of talent not less high in reputation. Wherever taste, elegance, and accomplishments were prized, there she found her admirers and her friends.

The Duke of Richmond distinguished her with a very marked portion of his esteem, and obtained, with sincere satisfaction to the lovers of the drama, her assistance in his private theatricals. His Grace was always a great advocate for this beautiful "mirror of life;" which like the magic glass in the fairy-tale, reflects those images only which are pleasing to the eye, and gracious to the heart.

Mrs. Damer's cheerful and elegant mind entered into all the Duke's opinions with promptitude and judgment. She treated with benevolent indulgencé those common and gravitating spirits which could derive enjoyment from the frivolous pursuits' of the rout, or the more sordid occupations of the cardtable; she left them with a good-natured pitying smile to their dull trifling, and turned with a fes

tive step, and soul-beaming countenance, to the lyre-resounding roof of Richmond House-to the intelligent converse of its illustrious inhabitants; or to partake in those transformations of person, air, and feeling, which brought up before the sight of the wondering and applauding audience the beings of Shakspeare, the creatures of Otway, and the charming men and women of Congreve, Centlivre, Farquhar, and the long train of our matchless comic writers.

It would be difficult in a garden of pleasure to single out the eminent objects of delight. Where, all is enchanting there is no room for comparison. The music, the scenery, the splendor of the company, the charms and graces of the performers-all combined to render the spot, and the hours spent there, too delightful for language to describe-too transporting for expression, and too lovely in me, mory, to recollect without a mourner's regret,

The

Mrs. Damer was the Thalia of the scene. inimitable grace which she displayed in personifying the wit, passion, and generous adherence to honour, in the character of Violante in "The Wonder," is yet remembered with admiration by all the spectators, who dwelt with such unalloyed delight upon the animation, delicacy, and ineffable pathos, which were pourtrayed in the contention between her and Lord Henry Fitzgerald, who supported the part of Don Felix. She was also very eminent in the comedy of "The Way to keep Him;" Mrs. Lovemore was her choice; and it was very admirably coupled with the Widow Belmour of Lady Buck

ingham

inghamshire (who was then Mrs. Hobart). These two ladies very often appeared in the same play; and in no characters were they more justly applauded than in those which move the plot of "The Jealous Wife:" Mrs. Damer in Lady Freelove, and Lady Buckinghamshire in Mrs. Oakley. Indeed the acting of the latter lady, in this part, was thought to have very much resembled in judgment and manner the famous Mrs. Pritchard.

The lapse of time, and the eventful incidents which burthened every year, considerably changed the Duke of Richmond's plans: he therefore left amusement to those who cared less for the public weal, and closed the doors of his little theatre. Such selfdenial might very well become a man and a senator; but Mrs. Damer had so long been the intimate associate of the comic muse and her graver sister, that she did not attempt to follow the example of her illustrious friend when he shut the gates of his house upon their doves, and prepared to enter, "caparisoned for war," the unfolded porches of the doublefaced Janus.

Horace Walpole (Lord Orford), the old friend of her father, participated in all her sentiments. He deemed her friendship one of the highest honours he possessed, and her occasional visits his sweetest gratification. As she was not only a perfect modern scholar, conversant with all the celebrated authors of her own tongue, and intimate with the languages of France and Italy, but also mistress of the poets of ancient Rome in their native strains, she used

to

to read classical writers with his lordship; and frequently finished the elegant pleasures of the evening with a fine Italian air, sung by her own exquisitelymodulated voice, accompanied with the harp or the piano-forte.

Strawberry Hill, a villa built in the Gothic style, by Lord Orford, in the vicinity of Twickenham, was the scene of this charming "feast of reason and the flow of soul" and when his lordship died, he bequeathed the place (which had been rendered doubly delightful to him by her presence) to the amiable promoter of so much happiness.

Every

The lenient hand of time, which had dried the tears of the widow, also wiped away the drops that bedewed the grave of her venerable friend. Mrs. Damer took possession of her rural palace. chamber and vista in the woods, filled her with a pensive gratitude; a chastened thankfulness of heart, which seemed to hallow the spot to the most pleasing and tender remembrances.

Here she drew around her a circle of the most select kind; and to amuse the persons who composed it, she fitted up an elegant little theatre, for the performance of private plays. It was on this miniature stage that the comedy (which has been attributed to the pen of Lord Orford) called "Fashionable Friends" was first represented. Mr. Kemble, who was present during the performance, obtained permission to transplant what he thought so promising a flower to the boards of Drury Lane; but alas! it was a hot-house plant,

that