instantly into it, and found her fallen off the chair on the floor, speechless, and in the agonies of death.  She had the immediate assistance of a physician and surgeon, but all the means used were without success, and having given one groan she expired a few minutes before two o’clock, on Sunday morning, February the 20th, 1736-7:  Her disease was judged to be an apoplexy.  A pious book was found lying open by her, as also some loose papers, on which she had written the following devout ejaculations,

  O guide, and council, and protect my soul from sin! 
  O speak! and let me know thy heav’nly will. 
  Speak evidently to my list’ning soul! 
  O fill my soul with love, and light of peace,
  And whisper heav’nly comfort to my soul! 
  O speak celestial spirit in the strain
  Of love, and heav’nly pleasure to my soul.

In her cabinet were found letters to several of her friends, which she had ordered to be delivered to the persons to whom they were directed immediately after her decease.

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Mrs. Rowe lived in friendship with people of the first fashion and distinction in life, by whom she was esteemed and respected.  To enumerate them would be needless; let it suffice to remark, that her life was honoured with the intimacy, and her death lamented with the tears, of the countess of Hertford.  Many verses were published to celebrate her memory, amongst which a copy written by Mrs. Elizabeth Carter are the best.

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Thus lived honoured, and died lamented, this excellent poetess, whose beauty, though not her highest excellence, yet greatly contributed to set off her other more important graces to advantage; and whose piety will ever shine as a bright example to posterity, and teach them how to heighten the natural gifts of understanding, by true and unaffected devotion.——­The conduct and behaviour of Mrs. Rowe might put some of the present race of females to the blush, who rake the town for infamous adventures to amuse the public.  Their works will soon be forgotten, and their memories when dead, will not be deemed exceeding precious; but the works of Mrs. Rowe can never perish, while exalted piety and genuine goodness have any existence in the world.  Her memory will be ever honoured, and her name dear to latest posterity.

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Mrs. Rowe’s Miscellaneous Works were published a few years ago at London, in octavo, and her Devotions were revised and published by the reverend Dr. Watts, under the title of Devout Exercises, to which that worthy man wrote a preface; and while he removes some cavils that wantonness and sensuality might make to the stile and manner of these Devotions, he shews that they contain the most sublime sentiments, the most refined breathings of the soul, and the most elevated and coelestial piety.

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