in four more, befide her domeftics, and a numerous train of the populace, who, in the proceffion, as at the grave, teftified their forrow for fo general a lofs by a mournful and respectful filence.

She was interred on the Weft fide of the Cloysters, Weftminster Abbey (the Rev. Mr. Champnes reading the funeral fervice), between the graves of Dr. Dupuis and Sir Richard Jebb, and covered by a marble stone with the following plain infcription :

In Memory

of Mrs. ELIZABETH POPE, late of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden,

who departed this Life

on the 15th of March 1797,
aged 52 Years.

"Renowned be thy Grave". And "may the Worthy thus with Honour and Regret be mourned."

HER CHARACTER.

Such are the brief Memoirs of Mrs. Elizabeth Pope-there remains to be added a sketch of her public and private character; and it is pleafing to the pen of Biography to review both; because in doing fo it will fulfil the laft melantholy yet pleafing office of friendshiprecord departed excellence, and fet before the Public an example truly worthy their imitation.

That Mrs. Pope was born for her profeffion the various qualities of her mind and perfon evidently proved. Of the latter we have already reported in the beginning of thefe Memoirs; hence we have little more to fay, but that as time had added fullness and rotundity to her figure, thefe gave her a greater degree of grace and dignity. In respect to her talents, though they may be called univerfal, her forte confeffediy lay in the grave and dignified parts of Tragedy, and particularly in thofe which required the powers of recitation-here the was at leaft equal to any one actress in her time, and fuperior to moft, as the best judges who have feen her in many of her parts, and particularly in Queen Catherine, have unanimously testified.

Her Comedy was rather of the wellbred fteady kind, fuch as Mrs. Belmour, Lady Eafy, Lady Brute, Mrs. Sullen, &c. which required a fenfible marked delivery-not but what we have feen her in Beatrice, Clarinda, Eflifania, Rofalind, &c. to very great advantage; and, in

deed, when we recollect her performance of Letitia Hardy, in the "Belle's Stratagem," we are tempted to withdraw our former opinion, as here the displayed fuch grace, fpirit, and verfatility of character, as to make it original in her hands.

Her ftudy was favourable to her genius; as there was feldom known an inftance in which the wanted, the aid of a Prompter. Her affiduities in her profeflion were likewife conftant and unremitting the drew her information from the best fources, from the converfation of intelligent perfons; from obfervation on those eminent on the Stage who preceded her; and from the study of the old and modern drefles, &c. &c.; the was fo particular in this laft, that before the firit appeared in the character of Quen Elizabeth, he had not only reviewed the dreffed figure in wax work of this Princets in Westminster Abbey, but carefully read over and noted the minutiæ of her drefs, as related by the celebrated Paul Hentzner during his refidence in England towards the clofe of Queen Elizabeth's reign;-her attentions were fully repaid, as we believe the made as fine a representation of this character in point of fimilitude, fpirit, and deport ment, as ever was difplayed fince the days of Shakespeare. In short, after the example of her great mafter, Garrick, the omitted no enquiries, no affiduities, that could enlarge the bounds of her prefeflion.

Her private life reflected credit on her theatrical character. Called upon at an early age to exert herself for her future maintenance, he had the good fenfe to profit in this school of trial; the had the grace to know herself, to have a respect for the fufferings of others, and to eftimate the value of independence; thefe, tempered by a juft fenfe of religion, gave a

colour to her life of the best complexion; it checked all rifing temptations, which the gauds aud vanities of her profeffon might otherwife expote her to; it taught her equanimity of mind and economy of fortune; and by perfevering in these duties fhe became ufeful to hertelf and others.

She had, like most women fo high in her profeffion, many temptations to mix in what is called "the Great World; but her natural inclinations (independent of her prudence) led her to preter com forts to externals; the seldom, therefore, appeared in those circles, except in returning morning viits, or paying her

occa

ccafional refpects to those who patronized her in her profeffion. To her friends The was cordial, affable, and polite, and did the honours of her table with very be. coming hofpitality and attention. Her converfation partook as little of the Stage as any performer we ever knew; and yet when the fubject was afloat amongst intelligent perfons, fhe gave a very good opinion both of plays and players, but with a referve" that never once outftepped the modefty of nature." Indeed, her difpofition to fpeak well of every body was univerfal, and fhe had this deferved character from her friends, her neighbours, her fervants, and from all who knew her.

She was regular in the whole of her conduct-in her devotions, her charities, her hours, and in all her domeftic concerns; fhe kept her accounts herself, which the generally fettled weekly, and, like moft people who are their own ftewards, the felt the benefits, and her tradesmen the punctuality, of this conduct. But the trueft teft of a well spent life, and that which should accompany its clofe, as honour, love, obedience, troops of friends," fhe enjoyed to a degree which was as gratifying to fee as it is now gratifying to relate.

From the first to the laft hour of her ilinefs, crowds of perfons of all ranks were found at her door, inquiring the flate of her health with the moft anxious folicitude. She was attended entirely by her own fervants, who would fuffer no common nurfe-tender to approach her, but who took the charge of fitting up with her themselves, and who executed this charge with a readinefs, a tendere nefs, and a fympathy, that at once befpoke the goodness of the miftrefs, and the gratitude of the domeftic.

To thefe were added two ladies of her intimate acquaintance, who daily visited her, and conftantly adminiftered, or faw administered, to her the prefcriptions of her phyfician, accompanied with every degree of comfort and attention. One of them in particular deferves to be recorded as a fhining example of female friendship in thefe days of frivolity and diffipation. This lady, though in the bloom of youth and beauty, living much in the circles of fashion, and in the poffeffion of a handfome fortune, not only gave her friend the tenderest affiduities by day, but fat up feveral nights with her, fuggefting every degree of comfort and relief, and doing all the menial offices of a fick

room; the three laft nights she never once ftirred from her bedfide; nor did the leave her till death closed this melancholy fcene for ever.

From this example let the Good and Virtuous be cheered with the pleafing hope of having their deeds repaid them by the tender offices of friendship, and the affectionate regards of the Public; whilft the proud and vain of heart may be taught, that without a merited affection the numerous train of vifitors and domestics are but the unfeeling pageants of ceremony, and the pity or wailings of a fick room the cant of intereit or hypocrify.

The following articles are fubjoined to fhew, from this Lady's first appearance on the Stage to the meridian of her theatrical excellence, what opinion the beft judges, as well as the Public at large, entertained of her profeffional abilities.

ACCOUNT OF HER FIRST APPEARANCE.

(From the St. James's Chronicle.)

THEATRICAL INTELLIGENCE.

"Drury-lane, O&. 25, 1768. "The young Lady who last Saturday (22d October) made her first appearance in the very difficult character of Imogen has more than answered the expectation of the Public. Though her great fenfibility the first night hindered her from exerting the powers of her voice, and

occafioned her at times to be a little too

low, yet the audience perceived that this fault (if it might be called one) proceeded from a proper and meritorious feeling of her fituation; and her eafy deportment and graceful action, with her very forcible manner of expreffing the ftronger part of her character, convinced them that, when her fears were removed, they fhould have no reafon to complain of her want of exertion. Her fecond performance fully justified their opinion, and it was agreed by the audience laft night, that no actrefs ever made fuch a figure, and gave fuch hopes, at the firft and fecond time of her appearance.

"The particular merit of this young Lady (whofe name we hear is Younge) is, that he has acquired that part of acting at her first letting out, viz.-Eafy addrefs-expreffive attention, and a na tural familiar manner of speaking, which it requires years to attam to. Her greatest praife was fpcken by a gentleman in the boxes from the fulness of his Hha

heart

whom Mr. Jephfon had undervalued. I will not fufpet that she had the weaknefs of preferring the daughter's part for her youth, because the must know the world too well not to be fenable that nothing makes the middle age fo apparent as appearing in too juvenile a light.

"If I am not much mistaken, Madam, when you hear the Play read you will be truck with the opportunities the Countels's part will give you of exerting the variety of your abilities. Devotion and jealouly contrafted are not all: there is conjugal and maternal tenderness too, very different fhades, as you know, Madam: there is fovereign dignity, and the philofophic command of pride in withing to wave that dignity. But unleis I were as great a maiter of the Stage as you are a mistrefs, Madam, I could not defcribe half that you will call out from the part; and I will truft to your good fenfe more than to my own rhetoric for the part's making an impreffion on you.

"I am, with great respect,
"Madam,

"Your most obedient

"humble Servant, "HOR. WALPOLE."

To Mrs. POPE,

ON HER PERFORMANCE OF QUEEN
CATHERINE IN HENRY VIII.”
BY A FRIEND.

WHEN 6ixth-wiv'd Henry, void of shame cr fear,

From vows eftrang'd, bids Catherine appear In open Court-not e'en the Monarch's frown, [down; Nor Wolfey's arts, can weigh the Princefs

Great and collected in that awful hour,
Her caufe her counfel, and her truth her

power,

She fcares their coward hearts, protracts her caufe,

And wrefts from "hard rul'd Harry" forc'd applaufe *.

Yet when, d.fiob'd of all her power and state, She bows fubmiffive to her humbler fate, Not the foft lute that breathes the melting ftrain,

Nor "the blefs'd trcop" that swim before her brain,

Can give fuch earnest of congenial grief,
Or yield the finer paffions fuch relief;
Touch'd by the fcene, Ambition drops her
wings,

The world grows faint, and all the world's vain things

Crowns, wealth, magnificence, before us fly,

For, taught by you, we learn the rule to die.

These are the arts which prop a moral

Stage ;

Thefe are the gems which grace our Poet's page;

'Tis your's to fet them with a skilful hand, And fcatter radiance round a claffic land; And may long health and well-earn'd praise confpire

For many a year to aid this genuine fire,
Till mellowing time fhall confecrate your

name,

And lift another Pope to endless fame.

[In our next Number we shall give a Portrait of Mrs. POPE, from an original Picture painted by Mr. POPE.}

SIR, CAN give you no particular account of Mr. Vernon's will, having feen nobody who was at the opening of it; and I believe you understand more of it than I o, as Mrs. Robinson may very probably

A. L.

HEN. VIII. A&. z.