the footmen turned their backs and looked towards the wall. This was but a prelude to what followed; for her ladyship placing herself at the head of the table, after throwing her features into a variety of contortions, and exhibiting no other portion of her eyes but the whites, drawled out or rather sung a long methodistical grace, with strange intonations, and so uncommon a cadence, that although the company, consisting of Lady Selina Hastings and Miss Barlow, the first wife of the late Sir William Hamilton, &c. &c. &c. prepared for, and doubtless accustomed to the ceremony, retained all due gravity and decorum, yet it proved too much for the young lady, who actually tittered aloud, to the no small mortification of her more prudent relative. She, however, contrived soon after to make her peace with the Countess, by setting a hymn to music, which we understand is still used in the chapels of this persuasion.* The life of Miss Ford now glided smoothly on, until the current was unexpectedly obstructed by one of those untoward accidents which but too frequently occur in life. This young lady had for some time received a number of civilities on the part of a nobleman who frequented the same company, and was a constant attendant at her concerts. He was indeed old, but at the same time extremely agreeable, gay, and rich. Notwithstanding he was then married to a duchess dowager, yet he still presumed to talk of love; and that lady being supposed to be attacked by an incurable malady, which soon after actually put an end to her life, he was already looking out for a successor. He at last proceeded to such lengths as to declare he was so enraptured with the person and talents of the subject of this memoir, that he would marry her on the demise of his lady, and in the mean time make a settlement of eight hundred pounds per annum. About this period Miss Ford paid a visit to her friend Lady Betty Thicknesse, at Bath; and on her return to town, was introduced to Prince Edward, afterwards Duke of York, and brother to his present Majesty, by the Marchioness of Rockingham. Nearly at the same time she was invited to a theatrical entertainment at the hospitable mansion of the late Sir William Young, and complimented by him and his lady with the nomination of the play. After being repeatedly urged by both, she at length fixed on one of Shakspeare's, and appeared in the principal female character. Our young heroine must be allowed on this occasion to have possessed advantages over most of her contemporaries she had been taught to read by Sheridan, the father of the present orator; she was well well acquainted with, and often heard Garrick recite in private; while Mrs. Cibber, with whom she lived on good terms, gave her lessons to qualify her to shine on the stage. But poor Juliet, while rehearsing the window scene, had nearly been consigned to "the tomb of the Capulets;" for she fell from a screen placed on a table, and instead of a mimic death, stood no small chance of being buried in reality. The noble Lord now felt himself very uneasy at the applause and admiration obtained by the young lady on whom he had set his affections. He renewed the offers alluded to above in a more solemn manner than before; and proposed to bind himself down by the most sacred promises on the one hand, and every legal obligation on the other, to nake her his wife; but this coronet in expectancy had no charms for Miss Ford, and she accordingly once more rejected his proffers and his conditions, with an additional degree of disdain. At this critical period, finding herself closely pressed by her father respecting some proposals about settling in life, she was reduced to the disagreeable necessity of flying from the paternal mansion, and of taking refuge in the house of a lady of quality. Here she deemed herself equally secure from inquiry and pursuit: but she proved to be mistaken; for the premises were surrounded by the myrmidons of Sir John Fielding, whose very name carried terror along with it; and a warrant, granted under the signature of that magistrate, having been presented, presented, all resistance proved vain; so that the young lady was taken prisoner and carried home! While in the carriage, in her way back, she found herself in company with a gentleman whom she had before seen, who was particularly attentive to her, and soon after seized an opportunity to disclose his passion to her in due form; but he met with a rebuke instead of a kind return, on account of his ill-timed intervention. Mr. Ford, however, deemed him a proper person to be a suitor to his daughter, and his addresses were accordingly encouraged. It was even hinted, that marriage might conquer any affected dislike; and that before their arrival in Jamaica, where he possessed large estates, which he was about to visit, they would become a happy couple! The idea of an union with a man she could not love, and being sent into exile in the West Indies, at a distance from all her friends, appeared intolerble to a young lady possessed of sensibility. She accordingly eloped a second time, and having taken a lodging at Kensington, happily eluded all pursuit. In this situation, instead of resigning herself to grief and melancholy, she determined to turn her talents to advantage, and by one bold effort render herself independent. As she had lived in habits of familiarity with the first nobility, she conceived the idea. of rendering their patronage subservient to her scheme. The Opera-House was accordingly hired, and a fine band of music prepared for three nights only. Every one was eager to subscribe; and the young young performer was wooed, like Danaë of old, in a shower of gold. But this scheme had nearly been deranged, if not entirely annihilated, by her father. He was still vexed, and angry at her having left his house; and he abhorred the idea that his daughter should appear upon the stage for any period, however short, or under any circumstances, however favourable. He accordingly applied to the same magistrate who had before assisted him, and all the avenues to the Haymarket were occupied by Sir John's runners. these myrmidons were dispersed by the late Lord Tankerville, then an officer in the Guards, who threatened to punish any interposition on their part, at a time when some of the royal family were expected to be present; and to enforce his declaration, determined to send for a detachment of horse and foot. On this they immediately disappeared. But The timidity incident to a first performance, was in some measure repressed by the kindness and support of her friends. Prince Edward condescended to drink a cup of tea with her in the green room; on which occasion his equerry, Colonel Brudnel, brother to the Duke of Montague, stood behind his chair, and soon after handed her to the stage door, where she was received with bursts of applause. Nor was the audience disappointed, for when Miss Ford, who was dressed in white satin and pearls, sang one of Handel's oratorio songs, beginning "Return, O God of Hosts! she |