thousand pounds (being part of her portion) out of my lands in Craven: nor did there want divers malicious ill-willers to blow and foment the coals of dissension between us. So as, in both their life-times, the marble pillars of Knowle in Kent, and Wilton in Wiltshire, were to me oftentimes but the gay arbor of anguish. A wise man, that knew the insides of my fortune, would often say, that I lived in both these my lords great families as the river of Roan runs through the lake of Geneva, without mingling its streams with the lake; for I gave myself up to retiredness as much as I could, and made good books and virtuous thoughts my companions, which can never discern affliction, nor be daunted when it unjustly happens. And by a happy genius I overcame all these troubles, the prayers of my blessed mother helping me therein."

On the 18th and 20th of January, 1616-17, the countess was brought before king James, in Whitehall, to give her consent to the award which James intended to make (and afterwards executed) of the lands of her inheritance. This having refused to do, she was involved by her opposition in many difficulties and vexations.

Soon after the decease of her first husband, she had the small-pox, from which, after the most immminent danger, she escaped with life, but with the destruction of her beauty.

In speaking of the characters of her two husbands, "The first," says she, "was in his nature of a just mind, of a sweet disposition, and very valiant in his own person. He had great advantages in breeding, by the wisdom of his grandfather, Thomas Sackville, earl of Dorset, and lord-high-treasurer of England, who was held one of the wisest men of his time, by which means he (i. e. her husband) was so good a scholar, in all manner of learning, that in his youth, when in the university of Oxford, of which his grandfather was the chancellor, there was none of the young nobility or students that excelled him. He was a good patriot to his country, and well beloved in it; much esteemed by the parliaments that sat in his time; and so great a lover of scholars and soldiers, that, with excessive bounty towards them, or any of worth who were in distress, he did much diminish his estate, also with prodigality in housekeeping, and other noble ways at court, as tilting, masqueing, and the like. By prince Henry, then alive, and much addicted to these noble exercises, he was well beloved."

Her second husband, who died 1650, is thus described by her: "He was no scholar, having

passed but three or four months at Oxford, when he was taken thence, after his father's death, in the latter end of the reign of Elizabeth, to follow the court, judging himself fit for that kind of life when not passing sixteen years old. Yet he was of quick apprehension, sharp understanding, very crafty withal, of a discerning spirit, but a choleric nature, increased by the office he held of chamberlain to the king. He was never out of England but two months, when he went into France with other lords, in 1625, to attend queen Mary, when coming over to marry king Charles. He was one of the greatest noblemen of his time in England, and well beloved throughout the realm." Ballard's British Ladies-Gilpin's Account of a manuscript life of Mr. Sedgewick (written by himself), secretary to the countess of Pembroke.

CATHERINE CLIVE.

MR. WILLIAM RAFTON, the father of Catherine, a native of Kilkenny in Ireland, was educated for the law; but, having attached himself to the fortunes of James II. and entered into his service when James was in Ireland, he forfeited to the crown a considerable paternal estate. After the battle of the Boyne, he still adhered to his master, through whose recommendation, and his own merit, he obtained a captain's commission in the service of Lewis XIV. Having afterwards procured a pardon from the English court, he came to London, where he married the daughter of a respectable citizen. Several children were the fruit of this union.

Catherine, who was born in 1711, gave early promise of talents for the stage. Her humour, and agreeable manner of singing lively, spirited, songs, recommended her to the notice of Colley Cibber, then manager of Drury-lane, to whom she had been introduced by some friends. She was immediately engaged by Cibber, on a small salary. She first appeared in boy's clothes, in the character of a page, in the tragedy of Mithridates, king of Pontus, when she merely sung a song, which met with applause. She was at this time (1728) seventeen years of age. During the same season, she attracted particular attention from the audience, in the part of Phillida, in Cibber's "Love in a Riddle." A popular prejudice against the author had predetermined the fate of this play; on which occasion a compliment was paid to the rising merit of Catherine, which, on the ensuing night, the presence of the royal family could not command: whenever she appeared on the stage, the clamours against the author were suspended.

In 1731 she burst upon the public in the full lustre of comic excellence, in the part of Nell, in " The Devil to pay, or the Wives metamorphosed," a farce, by Colley Cibber. Her success in this character procured her salary to be doubled, established her reputation with the town, and placed the piece in the constant list of acting farces.

In 1732 she married G. Clive, esq. brother to Mr. Baron Clive. These nuptials appear not to have proved fortunate: a separation soon took place: yet, in a situation thus delicate and exposed, Mrs. Clive preserved an unblemished cha

racter.

After continuing on the stage, the ornament of her profession, and the delight of the public, more than forty years, she retired with dignity, her powers unimpaired, in 1769. On taking leave of the audience, she spoke an epilogue, written by Horace Walpole, near whom she fixed her residence, at Strawberry-hill, Twickenham. In this situation, she continued to enjoy health, ease, good-humour, and independence.

She introduced upon the stage, at different benefits of her own, several little pieces, not devoid of merit: 66 Bayes in Petticoats," 8vo. 1753. "Every Woman in her Humour," 1760, not printed. "The Faithful Irish Woman," 1765,