her debut at Drury-Lane, London, in 1793; she was considered at the head of the second-rate actresses, and was often intrusted with first-rate comic characters. In 1815, Miss Mellon married Mr. Coutts, a wealthy banker, who had long been attached to her; and, at his death, in 1822, he left her his immense fortune. Mrs. Coutts afterwards married the Duke of St. Albans, a man much younger than herself. On her death, she left most of the property to Miss Burdett, daughter of Sir Francis Burdett, on the condition that the young lady should bear, in addition to Burdett, the surname and arms of Coutts.
MERCER, MARGARET,
Deserving a place among the most distinguished of her sex, for her noble philanthropy, and efforts in the cause of female education, was born at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1791. The family of Mercer descended from an ancient English stock, transplanted to that country soon after its colonization; the race has, in its new location, done honour to the source from whence it was derived. The father of Margaret was, at the time of her birth, governor of Maryland, a man of excellent education, refined taste, and large wealth. Retiring from public life, Governor Mercer withdrew to his estate at Cedar Fork, and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, and the training of his children. Margaret was his only daughter, and her education was conducted under his immediate care, with little assistance from other teachers: she often remarked, that she had been "brought up at her father's feet. Margaret Mercer is another example, added to the list which this book furnishes, of the beneficial influence which through mental training exercises on woman's character, by enabling her to make her moral power more respected and effective. Scarcely an instance can be found where a father has aided and encouraged the mental improvement of his daughter, but that she has done honour to his care and kindness, and been the brightest jewel in his intellectual crown. Such was Margaret Mercer; proud as the family might well be of the name they bore, she has added its holiest lustre. "Her character," says her biographer, Morris, in his excellent "Memoir" of this noble woman, "comprised elements apparently very diverse, and yet all combined into a perfect whole, as the varied colours of a ray of light. Gentle, and full of affection for all, and ready to sympathize with sorrow wherever met with; feelings, the evidence of which will be found scattered everywhere around these traces of her path through life, she yet possessed an energy and firmness rarely found in this connexion."
If Dr. Morris had reflected farther on the subject, how few girls are trained as Margaret Mercer was—her mental powers developed, and directed to guide and strengthen rightly those delicate moral sensibilities and tender affections peculiar to her sex, he would have found the reason of her superiority; and also he would have understood why learning—we use the term in its widest sense—is of great advantage to woman as well as to man.
Well fitted as she was by education and energy of mind, and noble philanthropy of purpose, Miss Mercer was to have a wide sphere for the office of teacher, which seemed her peculiar mission. Her mother died when she was young. Her father's death, which took place at Philadelphia, whither she had accompanied him for his health, proved the crisis of her life. She had been accustomed
