BROOKE, (FRANCES) Daughter of a Clergyman of the Name of Moore, Wife of the Rev. John Brooke Rector of Colney, in Norfolk, of St. Augustin, at Norwich, and Chaplain to the Garrison of Quebec. Died at the House of her Son, at Sleaford, 1789, five Days after her Husband of a spasmodic Complaint.
As remarkable for her gentleness and suavity of manners as for her literary talents. Her first publication was. The Old Maid, a periodical work, begun Nov. 1755, and continued every Saturday, till July 1756; since collected in one volume 12mo. In the same year she published Virginia, a Tragedy, with odes, pastorals, and translations. In 1763, appeared the novel of Lady Julia Mandeville, which, though its plan was often disapproved, as too melancholy, the execution was universally admired. In the same year, she published Letters from Juliet Lady Catesby, to Lady Henrietta Campley, translated from the French. She soon after went to Canada, with her husband, and saw those romantic scenes, so admirably exhibited in her next work—Emily Montague 4 vols. 1769. The next year came out, Memoirs of the Marquis de St. Forlaix, a translation from the French. On her return to England, she formed an intimacy with Mrs. Yates, and was persuaded by this lady to try her talents for tragedy again. Her first piece had been refused, by Garrick, and her second met with the same fate; which induced her to satirize him, in a novel, called The Excursion, 1777; but, afterwards lamented the severity she had shown. She translated Elements of the History of England, from the Abbe Millot, in four vols. 12mo. In January, 1781, the Siege of Sinope, a tragedy, was acted at Covent-garden. It ran five nights, but wanted force and originality. Her next
