BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. MRS. Chapone's Letters on the improvement of the Mind, and Dr. Gregory's Legacy to his Daughters, have so long been standard books in every female library, that it would be quite unnecessary now to offer any other recommendation than what they derive from the neat typography and convenient size of the present edition. Mrs. Chapone was the daughter of Thomas Mulso, Esq; of Twywell, in Northamptonshire, where she was born, October 27, 1727, and at an early age exhibited proofs of a very superior understanding. Her first production was an "Ode to Peace," and Verses addressed to her friend the celebrated Miss Carter, on the publication of her Epictetus. About the same time, also, she wrote the very interesting story of Fidelia, which was published in the Adventurer. In 1760, she was married to Mr. Chapone, a solicitor in London, but enjoyed the happiness of this state, a very short time, as her husband was carried off by a violent fever about ten months after marriage. 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 caused her name to be generally known, and increased the number of her admirers. During its popularity, she published a small volume of Miscellanies, which contained the story of Fidelia, and a few Poems. The latter part of her life was embittered by the loss of most of the friends of her youth, and this, with the sudden death of her favourite niece, and the infirmities of age, had begun to affect her mind, when her sympathizing friends persuaded her to remove to Hadley, in Middlesex, where she died December 25, 1801, in the 74th year of her age. Her Letters were contemporary with the Legacy of Dr. John Gregory, a physician of great skill and eminence, and admired perhaps yet more as a man of general taste and literature, and a Christian philosopher. He was born at Aberdeen in 1725, of a family long distinguished both in Scotland and England in the learned world. After being educated at the University of Aberdeen, he went to Edinburgh in 1742, to study medicine, and from thence, for farther improvement, he went to Leyden and Paris. On his return to his native city, he was appointed Professor of Philosophy in the King's College, and for some years gave Lectures on Mathematics, Natural and Experimental Philosophy, Ethics, and Moral Philosophy. In 1754 he went to London, where he was chosen a Fellow of the Royal Society, and obtained the friendship of many distinguished persons, particularly Lord Lyttelton and Mrs. Montague. From this journey he was recalled to succeed his brother Dr. James Gregory, as Professor of Physic. In this situation he remained until the year 1766, when he was appointed his Majesty's First Physician in Scotland, and Professor of the Practice of Physic in the University of Edinburgh, and afterwards he exchanged with Dr. Cullen, and became Professor of the Institutes of Medicine. During his life-time, he published "The Comparative View of the State and Faculties of. Man with those of the Animal World;" "Observations on the Duties and Offices of a Physician, and on the method of prosecuting Enquiries in Philosophy;”—and, lastly, "Elements of the Practice of Physic,, for the Use of Students." The work now before the reader was prepared by him, when, from an inveterate gouty affection, he had reason to think his days would be shortened, and his death probably sudden, which was exactly verified. On the 10th of February 1773, he was found dead in his bed. In 1774, his son, the present Professor of Medicine at Edinburgh, published “The Father's Legacy to his Daughters,” which was written solely for their use, when death had deprived them of their mother. On such an occasion we cannot be surprized that he was inspired with the most tender solicitude for their welfare. Parental love and anxiety are manifested here without disguise or restraint. It shews in a most conspicuous point of view, the goodness of his heart as a man, and his merit as a philosopher. Mr. Hayley says, that he united the noblest affections of the heart, to great elegance of mind; and is justly ranked among the most amiable of moral writers. Dr. Beattie, who was long his intimate friend, paid a tribute to his memory in the following beautiful lines of his Minstrel : "Adieu, ye lays, that fancy's flowers adorn, And pour my bitter tears-Ye flow`ry lays, adieu! And am I left to unavailing woe! When fortune's storms assail this weary head, 'Tis meet that I should mourn-Flow forth afresh, my tears." |