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and at a very early age exhibited proofs of a lively imagination and superior understanding. It is said that at nine years of age she composed a romance, entitled, The Loves of Amoret and Melissa, which, we are told, exhibited "fertility of invention, and extraordinary specimens of genius."

Her mother was a beauty, with all the vanity of her sex; and fearing that her daughter's understanding might become a more attractive object than the personal charms on which she valued herself, took no pleasure in the progress which Hester seemed to make; and if she did not obstruct, took at least no extraordinary pains in promoting her education.

This mother, however, died when her daughter was yet young; and a circumstance which otherwise might have been of serious consequence, seemed to strengthen the inclination Miss Mulso had shown to cultivate her mind. She studied the French and Italian languages, and made some progress in the Latin. She read the best authors, especially those who treat of morals and philosophy. To these she added a critical perusal of the Holy Scriptures; but history, we are told, made no part of her studies until the latter part of her life.

Her acquaintance with Richardson, whose novels were the favourites of her sex, introduced her to Mr. Chapone, a young gentleman then practising law in the Temple. Their attachment was mutual, but not hasty or imprudent. She obtained her father's consent, and a social

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intimacy continued for a considerable period, before it ended in marriage.

In the mean time, Miss Mulso became acquainted with the celebrated Miss Carter; a correspondence took place between them, which increased their mutual esteem, and a friendship was thus cemented, which lasted during a course of more than fifty years.

Miss Mulso's first production appears to have been the Ode to Peace, and that addressed to Miss Carter on her intended publication of the translation of Epictetus. About the same time she wrote the story of Fidelia, which Miss Carter and her other friends who had read it, persuaded her to send to the editor of the Adventurer.

In 1760, she was married to Mr. Chapone, removed to London, and for some time lived with her husband in lodgings in Carey Street, and afterwards in Arundel Street. She enjoyed every degree of happiness which mutual attachment could confer, but it was of short duration. In less than ten months after they were married, Mr. Chapone was seized with a fever which terminated his life, after about a week's illness. At first, Mrs. Chapone seemed to bear this calamity with fortitude, but it preyed on her health, and for some time her life was despaired of. She recovered, however, gradually, and resigned herself to a state of life in which she yet found many friends and many consolations.

Most of her time was passed in London, or in occasional visits to her friends, among whom she had the happiness to number many distin

guished characters of both sexes, Lord Lyttleton, Mrs. Montague, and the circle who usually visited her house. In 1770, she accompanied Mrs. Montague into Scotland.

In 1773, she published her Letters on the Improvement of the Mind, originally intended for the use of her niece, but given to the world at the request of Mrs. Montague, and her other literary friends. As this was her first avowed publication, it made her name more generally known, and increased the number of her admirers. This work was followed by a Volume of Miscellanies.

The latter years of her life were imbittered by the loss of the greater part of the friends of her youth; and after the death of her brother in 1799, as London had no more charms for her, she determined to settle at Winchester, where her favourite niece was married to the Rev. Ben. Jeffreys; but the death of her niece in childbed made her relinquish this design, and remain in her cheerless lodgings in London. So many privations had now begun to affect her mind, when her sympathizing friends persuaded her to remove to Hadley, where she died Dec. 25, 1801, in the 74th year of her age

*

Such are the few particulars we have been able to collect relative to the history of the Adventurer +. Its pleasing variety rendered it at

* This sketch is taken from her Memoirs lately published, 2 vols. 12mo.

Dr. Johnson asserted, that the Hon. Hamilton Boyle wrote in the Adventurer; probably one of the few papers which remain without assignment. Boswell's Journal, p. 240.

xlviii HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL PREFACE.once more popular than the Rambler. The sale in numbers was considerable, and four large editions in volumes were published in less than nine years. The elegance, indeed, of the composition; the charms of the narrative part, and its evident tendency to promote piety and virtue, are recommendations which, it is hoped, can never lose their effect.

THE

ADVENTURER.

No. 1. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1752.

Hâc arte Pollux, et vagus Hercules

Innixus arces attigit igneas.

HOR. CAR. iii. 3. 9.

Thus mounted to the towers above,
The vagrant hero, son of Jove.

FRANCIS.

As every man in the exercise of his duty to himself and the community, struggles with difficulties which no man has always surmounted, and is exposed to dangers which are never wholly escaped; life has been considered as a warfare, and courage as a virtue more necessary than any other. It was soon found, that without the exercise of courage, without an effort of the mind by which immediate pleasure is rejected, pain despised, and life itself set at hazard, much cannot be contributed to the public good, nor such happiness procured to ourselves as is consistent with that of others.

But as pleasure can be exchanged only for pleasure, every art has been used to connect such gratifications with the exercise of courage, as compensate

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