��fame has long been out of my power to increase as a poet I ; as a man of sensibility perhaps these lines may set him higher than he now stands. I remember with gratitude the friendly tears which prevented him from speaking as he put them into my hand.
Near this place Are deposited the remains of
HESTER MARIA,
The daughter of Sir Thomas Cotton of Comber- mere, in the county of Cheshire, Bart, the wife of
John Salusbury,
of the county of Flint, Esquire. She was
born in the year 1707, married in 1739, and died
in 1773.
A pleasing form, where every grace combin'd, With genius blest, a pure enlighten'd mind; Benevolence on all that smiles bestow'd, A heart that for her friends with love o'erflow'd : In language skill'd, by 'science form'd to please, Her mirth was wit, her gravity was ease. Graceful in all, the happy mien [sic] she knew, Which even to virtue gives the limits due ; Whate'er employ'd her, that she seem'd to chuse, Her house, her friends, her business, or the muse. Admir'd and lov'd, the theme of general praise, All to such virtue wish'd a length of days ; But sad reverse ! with slow-consuming pains, Th' envenom'd cancer revell'd in her veins ; Prey'd on her spirits stole each power away ; Gradual she sunk, yet smiling in decay ; She smil'd in hope, by sore afflictions try'd, And in that hope the pious Christian died.
The following epitaph on Mr. Thrale, who has now a monu ment close by her's in Streatham church, I have seen printed and commended in Maty's Review for April 1784 2 ; and a friend has favoured me with a translation.
1 'Speaking of Arthur Murphy, It is probable that this was said whom he very much loved, " I don't before Goldsmith's plays were writ- know (said Johnson) that Arthur can ten, for Dr. Maxwell who reports it be classed with the very first drama- made Johnson's acquaintance in 1754. tick writers ; yet at present I doubt Ib. p. 116.
much whether we have any thing 2 A New Review. By Henry
superiour to Arthur.'" Life, ii. 127. Maty, A.M., 1784, p. 269.
Hie
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