AN ACCOUNT OF MRS. ROBINSON. THIS lady, whofe literary talents we have had frequent occafions to celebrate, is defcended from a good family. Her father, whofe name was Darby, having loft a confiderable fortune in promoting a scheme for the commercial advantage of this country, accepted the command of a feventy-four gun thip in the fervice of the Empress of Ruffia. He was an American by birth, though originally of an ancient family in Ireland, and died in December 1787, honoured with the higheft efteem by his Auguft Miftrefs, and lamented by ali who knew him, as a brave and worthy member of fociety. His widow, Mrs. Robinfon's mother, ftill living, is grand-daughter to Catherine Seys, of Boverton Caftle, in Glamorganfhire, whofe fifter, Anne Seys (married to Lord King, then Lord High Chancel lor of Great Britain), was a woman celebrated for every virtue and accompifhment that could adorn her fex * Mrs. Robinfon was born in the College Green, Briftol, in which city the reCived the early part of her education. At the age of ten years he was reved to one of the firft feminaries of female tuition in the vicinity of the metropolis, and at the early age of fifteen years was married to her prefent hband, then a ftudent in Lincoln's Jan. Neither party being poff:ffed of independence, in a fhort time Mr. Robinion became embarraffed in his Circumftances, which probably gave oc cafion to the first thoughts of Mrs. Robinfon's exerting her talents on the Stage. She accordingly, under the particular patronage of the Duchess of Devonfhire, made her first appearance at Drury Lane on the 10th of December 1776, in the character of Juliet, and during the three feafons the continued on the Stage, performed the parts of Lady Macbeth, Imogen, Rofalind, Cordelia, Ophelia, Viola, Palmira, the Irith Widow, Perdita, and a variety of other characters, with univerfal applaufe. In the latter character the attracted the notice of a diftinguished perfonage, which occafioned her feceffon from the Theatre at a time when fhe was rifing very rapidly in the eftimation of the public. In 1778 the produced a mufical farce at Drury Lane, entitled "The Lucky Elcape," and about the fame time a poem called 66 Captivity," dedicated to her patronefs the Duchefs of Devonshire. This poem certainly poffeffed fome merit, but must be allowed to be inferior to thofe pieces fince publifhed, which have cttablished her reputation on a folid and durable bafis. Mrs. Robinfon, befides the pieces just mentioned, has already published a volum of Poems, in octavo, Vancenza, a Novel, of which three editions have been fold, Ainfi va le Monde, a Poem; and a Monody to the Memory of Sir Joshua Reynolds; befides many pieces under the fignatures of Laura Maria, Julia, See Collins's Peerage, article Lord King. 415953 Laura, Laura, Oberon, &c. &c. fome of which, we have obferved, are not collected in the volume above mentioned. To this lady alfo fome popular pamphlets have been attributed. Of a lady whofe name is fowell known, it will be expected we fhould gratify our readers with fome further particulars. We fhall therefore add, that our beft celebration of her exquifite beauty will be, to refer to the portrait in the prefent Magazine; and concerning her general character to fubjoin the following, which we have received from one who profeffes to be well-informed on the fubject" She is miftrefs of exquifite fenfibility and tenderness of mind, blended with a vivacity of temper that has frequently led her into hafty decifions, where mature deliberation would have tended to promote her intereft; the is liberal even to a fault, and SIR, LORD many ftrong traits of her life will evince, that he has ever been one of the most difinterefted of her sex." Mrs, Robinfon has one daughter, a lovely and elegant girl, whom the has educated with the strict attention of a fond parent, and the cautious exactitude of the most rigid governefs. Mifs Robinfon is Taid to be converfant in the French and German languages, with a competent knowledge of mufic, dancing, &c. The feeling reader will experience a fhock to his fenfibility when he is told, that this accomplished woman has for near fix years been a victim of rheu matic attacks, which, though they have weakened her fair form, have not yet had power to debilitate the ftrong encrgies of her mind, which foars above sublunary calamity. SOMER S. To the EDITOR of the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE. THE following Anecdotes of the celebrated Statesman whose name is at the head of this communication, were copied many years ago from a Manufcript then in the poffeffion of Dr. BIRCH. They have never been printed, and therefore may afford fome entertainment to the readers of your excellent mifcellany. APRIL 26, 1716, died John Lord Somers. Burnet hath done him juftice in feveral places, and Addison has given us his character in colours fo Strong, that little remaineth to be added. any His application and capacity were equally great and uncommon. At his firit going to fchool, he never gave himfelf of the diverfions of children of his age; for at noon the book was never out of his hand. To the laft years of his life a few hours of fleep fufficed; at waking, a reader attended, and entertained him with the moft valuable authors. Such management raised him to the higheft eminency in his own profetiion, and gave him a fuperiority in all kind of useful know ledge and learning. Natural Atrength and clearnefs of understanding thus improved, was the diftinguishing peculiarity which appeared in all his performances.. Every thing was eafy and e rrect, pure and proper. He was unwearied in the application of all his abilities for the fervice of his country. As a writer, he greatly afhifted the caufe of liberty in the days of its utmost peril. As an advocate, a judge, a ferator, and a I am, &c. D. G. minifter, the highest praises and the moft grateful remembrance are due to his merit. and as He was invariable and uniform in the purfuit of right paths. As he well understood, he was equally firm in adhering to the intereft of his country while in its fervice, and when in a private ftation. To this uniformity the calumnies and reproaches of his enemies may be truly afcribed. They envied him his fuperiority; their wishes and defigns were far from being engaged for the real welfare of fociety, a man fo upright and able naturally became the object of their hatred; and they had too easy and too much credit. What greater misfortune can be entailed on popularGovernment, than forwardnefs in receiving all the impres fions of malevolence! When I had finished my Letter it came into my head to add Somers's Character, which was uniform, to Shrewsbury, which was all deformity. I have been fo very fhort, not only for the reafons prefixed, but in expectation of your having additions from your truly worthy friend Mr. Yorke. The account of his behaviour at fchool I had many years ago from a school follow. fellow. I think Walfal in Staffordshire was the place where they learned their Grammar together. I remember very well his account of Johnny Somers being a weakly boy, wearing a black cap, and never fo much as locking on when they were at play, &c. Mr. Winnington's account is, that by the exactness of his knowledge and behaviour he difcouraged his father, and all the young men who knew him. They were afraid to be in his company. He gave inftances of his vindictive temper when he had full power and opportunity. 'Till turned of forty, he is fuppofed never to have had any commerce with a woman. His indulgencies that way are faid to have been eager and ravenous, and without much care or choice; though he was particularly fond of Mrs. Blount.-His education was under Mr. Woodhoufe, who kept a private Academy at Sheriff Hales, in Shropshire.-Remind me to give in converfation a conference with Mr. W. relating to Mrs. Blount. Will you not apply to Judge Burnet for a fummary of his father's character, to be inferted after his death, &c.? The good Bifhop was far from being falfe and hypocritical. He was all freedom and opennefs. By this means his conduct often became weak and unguarded. Inftances must be referved for converfation. The following Letter is copied from the Original. It is imperfectly printed in the General Dictionary Article SOMMERS. It was addreed to the Marquis of WHARTON. MY LORD, 28 July, 1710. THO' I gave you very lately a trouble of this kind, yet Mi Denton is not to leave England without a Letter. In a very thort time wee fhall be ready for the fecond tranfmiffion, and foon after SIR, wee fhall be glad to hear you are preparing to come among us. My Lord Grandifons Bill is agreed to, & fo is the Linnen Bill, with an amendment or two, which I believe will not be difapproved on your fide. The Bill for preferving Timber Trees is alfo agreed to. I defire that all these may be understood to be agreed to at the Committee, for they have not yet bin offered to the Q. in Council. I am not able to fend you any certainty as to the Diffolution. Tis a ftrange uncertain ftate we are in, & perhaps wee may have this good effect of the prefent irrefolution, as not to be without hopes of a good Parlt. in cafe they will put us upon a new election, that is by your Lordships help & not otherwise. Your Lordship has heard that Mr Creffet was going for Hanover. After his Difpatches were finifhed, & he had his last inftructions from the Queen, he was taken ill on Tuesday, and died on Thursday morning. His death has given much difturbance to of great men, & has difconcerted their affairs. I cannot find that all the endeavours poflible have fucceeded to fhew a way to preferve credit, or to furnish the ne ceffary fums for the army, unless the prefent Parliam' be continued. This article, & the French prefumption in breaking off the conferences, are the grounds of our hope. And wee are apr to add to thefe two, that there is no certainty what the complection of the new Parliament will be, nor what will be the turn they will take, fince they are not Whiggs only who will be affected by the Diffolution. Lam, with the greateft refpect, My Lord, Your Lordships Moft obed & moft humble Serv, SOMERS To the EDITOR of the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE. IWAS furprized lately to fee in the European Magazine for November, a Letter relative to ARCHBISHOP LAUD printed as original, it having been published, verbatim, by Peck, in the first edition of his Defiderata, and of courfe in Evans's republication, p. 556, Vol. II. with a memorandum that the Medal was actually feen by Dr. Dickens. I have feen fome hundreds of modern Medals, but never faw, or heard of any one elfe that had feen, this.-There is a famous medallion of the Archbishop publifhed in Evelyn's • So Lord Sommers used to fign his name, which has milled both Hiftorians and BioFraphers to fuppofe he fpelt his game with a fingle w. EDITOR. Numifmata, Numifmata, which is in mine among other Collectors' Cabinets in filver; but that was ftruck many years before Mr. Hearne's was thought of; and I do not conceive it poffible that a die (a very expenfive job at the cheapcft) could be cut, and only one Medal fhould have been ftruck from it.-It would be very fatisfactory to procure an Engraving of the Medal in queftion for your Magazine, if it is ftill extant. The Anecdote, however, of Lord Nottingham's is new and curious. I am, &c. Jan. 11, $793 AMICUS. [We are obliged to this Correfpon dent for his information, which is ac curately true. On enquiring of the Correfpondent from whom the communication came, we find it was a copy tranfcribed from an ancient manufcript, once belonging to Archbishop Sancroft, which our Correfpondent did not know had been printed. If any perfon is in poffeffion of the Medal in queftion, we should cfteem it a favour to be permitted to engrave it for our Magazine, according to our Correfpondent's wish. EDITOR.] EXECUTION OF LOUIS XVI. PARIS, MONDAY, JAN. 21. THE unfortunate LOUIS was this morning, at ten o'clock, beheaded in the Place de la Revolution, formerly the Place of Louis XV. The following is the report upon the death of Louis the XVIth made to the Commons: Jacques Roux (the Prieft and Preacher of the Sans Culottes, one of the Commiffioners named by the Commons to affift at the execution of Louis) fpeaks: were "We come to give you an account of the million with which we charged. We went to the Temple, where we announced to the Tyrant, that the hour for his execution was arrived. "He defired fome minutes alone with his Confeffor. He wanted to give us a parcel for you; but we obferved we were only charged to conduct him to the fcaffold. He answered, that is true, and gave the packet to one of our colleagues. He recommended his family, and requested that Clery, his Valet de Chambre, thould be that of the Queen; and then haftily faid, of his wife. He further requested, that his old fervants at Verfailles fhould not be forgotten. He faid to Santerre, Marchons, let us go on; he walked through one Court, and got into the carriage in the fecond. The most perfect filence reigned during the whole proceffion. Nothing happened. We went up into the offices of the Marine, to prepare the Procesverbul. We never loft fight of Capet tili we arrived at the Guillotine. He arrived at ten minutes after ten; he was three minutes getting out of the carriage; he wished to harangue the people; Santerre oppofed it. His bead was fevered from his body. The citizens dipped their pikes and handkerchiefs in his blood. "After the drawing out of the Proces-verbal we went to the Provisional Executive Council, who were bufy in enquiring into the affaffination of St. Fargeau *." Santerre. "You have heard an exact account of all that paffed. Louis Capet wanted to fpeak of mercy to the people, but I would not let him." Another account of this horrid murder is as follows: Agreeably to the Proclamation of the Provisional Executive Council, at eight o'clock in the morning, Louis was conducted from the Temple to the Place of the Revolution, along the Boulevards, in the carriage of the Mayor of Paris, accompanied by M. Defirion his Confeffor, and two Gendarmerie, and attended by the Commiffioners of the Department of Paris, the Commiffioners of the Municipality, the Members of the Criminal Tribunal, and General Santerre, with a ftrong detachment of National Guards. On his approaching the place of execution, at the appearance of the fcaffold, and the Guillotine, the fatal inftrument of death, each covered with black, he fhrunk back with horror; but, collecting himfelf, he ftepped with firmnefs and compofure from the carriage, and afcended the scaffold amidst the brutal huzzas of the populace, and the noife of drums and trumpets. He made feveral endeavours to ipeak, but * A Member of the National Convention, who was that day affaffinated at a Reftaurateur's, where he had dined, by M. PARIS, formerly one of the Corps du Garde. his voice was drowned in the tumultuous uproar. In one short interval of filence he made the following fhort but pathetic difcourfe, which the brutality of the ruffians who furrounded him prevented being heard, except by a few perfons who were very near him : "Je prends Dieu à temoin, que je "meurs innocent des crimes dont j'ai "été accufé. J'aime & j'ai toujours "aimé mon Peuple, et j'ai faite mille "facrifices perforels pour le rendre "heureux; ainfi je ne lui attribue pas mes malheurs, mais bien à une Faction, qui a degradé la France aux yeux de l'Etre Supreme et de tout l'univers. Daignez, O mon Dieu! "recevoir men ame, et m'accorder cette "paix dont je n'ai pas joui dans ce "monde; pardonnez à mes ennemis, "et faites renaitre le bon ordre le "tranquillité et le bonheur dans ma "malheureufe Patrie; c'eft là mon der"nier fouhait. Amen." After pronouncing these words he dropped his handkerchief, and received the fatal ftroke which put a period to his existence. The fcaffold was between the Champs Elyfées and the Pedestal which was formerly ornamented with an elegant equeftrian ftatue of Louis XV.; it was furrounded by foldiers, and none of the people were permitted to approach it. His hair was dreffed; he wore a brown furtout coat, white waistcoat, with black breeches and ftockings, and his appearance all together was majestic. The King withed to cut off his hair; feiffars were refufed him-they took away his knife." Fools," faid he, "to think I would bafely turn my hand against my own life!" The King's hair was cut off, diftributed, and fold to the crowd. Louis XVIth afcended the Throne on the 10th of May 1774; was driven from the Thuilleries on the 10th of Auguft 1792; thrown into prifon on the 14th of September, and dethroned on the 22d of the fame month. The following is the fubftance of the will of Louis the XVIth, written in his own hand: "In the name of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, this 25th of December 1792, I Louis the XVIth by name, King of France, having been confined with my family in the Tower of the Temple at Paris, by thofe who were my fubjects, and fince the 11th deprived of all communication whatever with my family, befides which under a trial of which it is impoffible, on account of the paffions of men, to foresee the iffue, and for which no pretext or means can be found in any exifting laws, having only God for wit nefs of my thoughts, and to whom I can addrefs myfclf, I here in his prefence declare my laft will and fentiments. "I refign my foul to my Creator & I pray him in his mercy not to judge it after its own merits, but by thofe of our bleffed Saviour Jefus Chrift, who offered himself to God his father for us men, how unworthy foever we may have been, for me the most fo." The unfortunate Monarch next profeffes his adherence to the Roman Ca tholic religion very fully, and asks forgivenefs for any acts he may have done (though against his will) contrary to the difcipline of the Catholic Faith, and then proceeds as follows: "I pray thofe whom I have inad vertently offended (for I do not recol lect to have wilfully offended any one), or thofe to whom I may have given any bad example, to pardon me the evil which they fuppofe I may have done them. "I pray all charitable perfons to unite their prayers to mine, to obtain from God the pardon of my fins. "I forgive with all my heart those who have made themfelves my enemies without my having given them any caufe; I pray God to pardon them, as well as thote who, by a falfe or mifguided zeal, have done me much harm. "I recommend to God my wife, my children, my fifter, my aunts, my brothers, and all who are related to me by ties of blood or otherwife. I par ticularly befeech the Almighty to look with eyes of mercy upon my wife, my children, and my fifter, who have fuffered fo long with me; that it will pleafe him to fupport them with his grace, if they thould lofe me, and as long as they remain on this perishable earth. "I recommend my children to my wife; I never doubted of her tendernefs for them. I recommend her particularly to make, them good Chriftians and worthy members of fociety; to learn them to look upon the grandeur of this world (if they are condemned te |