factress. For some years before her death, she had been in the habit of giving a yearly entertainment, on May-day, to the chimney-sweeps of London, who mourned her loss with great grief. Her published works are "Essay on the Genius and Writings of Shakspere," 1799; "Four Volumes of Letters," 1809 and 1813; "Dialogues of the Dead, in part," 1760
MONTAGU, LADY MARY WORTLEY,
Was the oldest daughter of Evelyn, Duke of Kingston, and Lady Mary Fielding, daughter of the Earl of Denbigh. She was born at Thoresby, in Nottinghamshire, about the year 1690. She early gave such evidence of genius, that her father placed her under the same preceptors as her brother, and she acquired a singular proficiency in classical studies. Brought up in great seclusion, she was enabled to cultivate her mind to a degree rarely seen in women of that period. In 1712 she became the wife of Edward Wortley Montagu, and continued to live in retirement until her husband's appointment, on the accession of George the First, to a seat in the treasury, which brought her to London. Introduced at court, her wit and beauty called forth universal admiration, and she became familiarly acquainted with Pope, Addison, and other distinguished writers. In 1716, Mr. Wortley was appointed ambassador to the Porte, and Lady Mary accompanied him. Here began that correspondence which has procured her such wide-spread celebrity, and placed her among the first of female writers in our tongue; and here, too, her bold, unprejudiced mind, led her to that important step which has made her one of the greatest benefactors of mankind.
While dwelling at Belgrade, during the summer months Lady Mary observed a singular custom prevalent among the Turks—that of engrafting, or as it is now called, inoculating with variolous matter, to produce a mild form of small-pox, and stay the ravages of that loathsome disease. She examined the process with philosophical curiosity, and becoming convinced of its efficacy, did not hesitate to apply it to her own son, a child of three years old.
On her return home she introduced the art into England, by means of the medical attendant of the embassy; but its expediency being questioned among scientific men, an experiment, by order of the government, was made upon five persons under sentence of death, which proved highly successful.
What an arduous and thankless enterprise Lady Mary's was, no one, at the present day, can form an idea. She lived in an age obstinately opposed to all innovations and improvements, and she says herself, "That if she had foreseen the vexation, the persecution, and even the obloquy which it brought upon her, she would never have attempted it." The clamours raised against it were beyond belief. The medical faculty rose up in arms, to a man; the clergy descanted from their pulpits on the impiety of seeking to take events but of the hands of Providence; thus exhibiting more narrowness than the Turks, whose obstinate faith in predestination would nave naturally led them to this conclusion. Lady Mary, however, soon gained many supporters among the enlightened classes, headed by the Princess of Wales, afterwards Queen of George the Second; and truth, as it always does, finally prevailed. She gave much of her time to advice and superintendence in the families where inoculation was adopted, constantly carrying her little daughter with
