The cultivated with no common zeal and success by her maids of honour, and the ladies of the court. age of Anne forms an epoch in the history of shellwork and embroidery; while some specimens of tapestry are still preserved in the houses of the great, most exquisitely wrought into strange and fantastic shapes by the fair and patient fingers of our female ancestors, on the accession of the house of Hanover. The long peace with France, while Sir Robert Walpole was prime minister, rendered us more familiar with the continent. The mind began to be attended to as well as the body. The Spectator, published about this period, contributed to diffuse a taste for books; style and composition were cultivated with assiduity; female education assumed more of the appearance of a science, and by being confided to mercenary hands, has at length become a trade! The spinet (the precursor of the harpsichord) descended in regular gradation from the court to the counter, while taste in every shape and every form began to be cultivated, At length land dragons and sea monsters, formed of pebbles and cockle-shells, disappeared at the accession of George III. from the mantle-pieces and side-tables of those considered as polite. These were replaced by the produce of the pencil; and drawings under the plastic hand of the fair artist assumed a thousand different hues, all of which were borrowed from nature. Finer tones were at the same time drawn from new instruments; and while the pedal harp exhibited all the symmetry and graceful propor tions of a fine person, the introduction of the piano. forte demonstrated that music itself had received no small share of convenience, if not of improvement. Mental talents were at the same time perfected ; ladies not only read but wrote also. Some of the English Sapphos tuned the lyre to strains that would not have disgraced the poetess of ancient days; others cultivated all the varieties of prose composition with success; and the names and accomplishments of a Lambert, a Dacier, and a Motteville, were at length rivalled, if not excelled, by a Montague, a Burnaby, a Carter, and a Barbauld. The subject of this memoir is liable to the trite and vulgar appellation of cockney, having been born in the vicinity of the Temple, in a house afterwards inhabited by Chief-justice Willes, February 22, 1737. Her father, Mr. Ford, was intended for the bar, but having obtained the lucrative and respectable situation of clerk of the arraigns, he changed his original views, and became a solicitor, equally celebrated for his eminence and his extensive practice. Dr. Ford, physician to the Queen, so justly esteemed on account of his knowledge in the obstetric art (the father of the present Sir Richard), was one of her uncles; another (Mr. Gilbert Ford) was attorneygeneral for the island of Jamaica. Being an only child, the education of Miss Ford was cultivated with uncommon care, and at no small expence. By means of English, French, and Italian masters, she at an early period obtained a proficiency in the languages; while a young lady (the daughter of of Signor Planta) was kept in the house as a companion, for the express purpose of affording an opportunity of daily and familiar intercourse with them. Every thing that could flatter a young woman of taste and sentiment, was done to please her. Hone, considered at that period as the Sir Joshua of the day, painted her in the character of a muse playing on a lyre, sweeping the strings of the viol di gamba, and expressing, if not uttering, melody. Some years after Gainsborough, an artist who possessed better founded pretensions to genius, also employed his pencil on her portrait; on which occasion she was represented tuning her harp, and leaning on her own compositions, She was taught music by the most eminent professors of that day; and attained such a degree of perfection in dancing, as to draw forth the praises of the polite and accomplished Earl of Chesterfield, who dedicated some stanzas to the express purpose of celebrating her excellence in this art. In respect to drawing, Miss Ford also obtained a happy facility; and the author of this article has lately seen some slight and unstudied sketches from her pencil, that would not have disgraced the labours of a great master. With such accomplishments, added to an exquisite voice and a good face, it is but little wonder that this young lady should have been at once followed, flattered, and caressed. Such an education would be at this day very expensive; it was then estimated by her father at from four to five hundred pounds per annum. In addition to to this, a chariot, coachman, and footman, were always kept expressly for her use; she was introduced to the best company, and visited the first people in the metropolis. They returned the compliment on an afternoon expressly fixed upon for this purpose and Miss Ford's Sunday concerts attracted the notice of all the gay and fashionable world. The following list of her occasional performers (of which the accomplished hostess is, we believe, the only one that *The editor has been at great pains to obtain a list; and it is not without some melancholy reflections that he now publishes it, as not above two or three survive at the present day! 1 Duke and Duchess of Montague. 2 The present Earl of Aylesbury, then Lord Bruce. 3 General Irwin and Lady. 4 Lady Jane Scott. 5 Lord and Lady Tankerville. 6 Lady Lucy Boyle, afterwards Torrington, 7 The Dowager Lady Powerscourt, her Son Lord Powers court, and her Daughter. 8 The Honourable Miss Wingfield. 9 Lord and Lady Litchfield. 10 Earl of Tyrawley. 11 General Guise. 12 The present Lord Somers. 13 Lieutenant-Governor the Hon. Daines Barrington. 14 Lady Betty Thicknesse. 15 Two Earls of Jersey and the old Countess. 16 Lord and Lady Dowager Bateman. 17 Sir Richard Fowler. 18 Lady Barrington. 19 Sir William and Lady Young. 20 The present Lady Laforey. 21 Lady Hescotte. survives) survives), will perhaps be considered by some as curious, if not interesting: Marchioness of Rockingham, (vocal) never sang but once. Governor Thicknesse, theorb, or lute. Miss Ford (now Mrs. Thicknesse), the viol di gamba. PROFESSORS. Burton, Froud, Baildon, (vocal) 3 4 Leoni, the harpsichord. 2d violin. the Spanish guitar. the violoncello. Dr. Arne, Signior Tenduci, (vocal) Signior Passerini, the harpsichord. the viol d'amour. A little anecdote which occured somewhat anterior to this period, may not be considered as unworthy of insertion in this place. Miss Ford, having been introduced by Mr. Ford, the attorney-general, alluded to above, to the late Lady Huntingdon, they were both invited to dinner on a day and at a time fixed. When the period arrived, Miss Ford was ushered with the rest of the company out of the drawing-room into the parlour; where to her surprise, all the ladies and gentlemen, instead of sitting down to the repast, stood behind their respective chairs, with their faces inclined to the cieling, while the |