poor]. 
were—Lady Macbeth ; : Fuliet 5 Ophelia; 
Rofalind; Imogen ; Viola; Palmyra; Oc- 
favia; Statira; and Perdita, 
In the character of Perdzia, in the laf 
of the two feafons during which fhe was 
on the ftage, her uncémmon beauty cap- 
tivated the heart ofthe heir-apparent of a 
throne. _ It is not for us to apologife for 
the engagements of Mrs. Robinfon with 
that Priaces The circumftances that 
would extenuate the error, whether of at- 
traction in the rank and perfonal accom- 
plifhments of that illuftrious perfonage, 
or of difguft in the indiferetions of a huf- 
band and the deierted fate of the wife, or 
any thing befide that can be added to them, 
re not of weight to excale the fault ; 
while, on theother hand, they will not be 
overlocked in the eftimate made by the 
moit rigid, of thistranlaction. Mrs. Ro- 
binfon herfelf at leiiure repented of the 
offence ; and we may clofe this part-of her 
life by obferving that, during the fhort 
period of her favour with the Prince, 
which was little more than two years, Mrs. 
Robinfon’s houfe and table were diftin- 
guifhed for the talents even more than the 
vank of her vifitors; and that fhe was lefs 
the objeét of envy in that delicate fitua- 
tion, than of univerfaiefteem. The name 
of the great orator and fiatefman who ftood 
between Mis, Robinfon and the Prince, 
when a provifion for her was propofed by 
the latter, is in itfelf a proof in what 
honourable regard Mrs. Robinfon was 
held ; and the noble manner in which fhe. 
cancelied a bond for 20,c00l.- from his 
Highnefs, previous to thac fettlement, 
and even without any ftipulation for an 
_ equivalent, will be witneiled by that great 
charaéter we have alluded to, now that 
his evidence in her behalf has ceafed tobe, 
what it was, one of the fources of her fin- 
cereft pleafures. 
The Priace fettled 500]. per annum on 
Mrs. Roiinfon, for her lite; and 200]. per 
annum on her daughter for life, to com- 
mence at the deceafe of Mrs. Robinfon. 
This young lady, who is ftill living, is 
the daughter of Mr. Robinfen; but the 
noble-minded perfon already alluded to, 
who was in faét the fole arbiter of this 
matter, was quick to perceive what would 
be the helplels condition of Mifs Robinfon, 
if the thould furvive her mother, with- 
out provifion from his Highnefs, and it 
is to the honour of all the parties that 
this arrangement was adopted, but moft of 
all to the arbiter with whom it originated. 
Mrs. Robinfon had paffed through the 
fun-fhine of her worldly grandeur with un- 
rivailed praife for her beauty and manners. 
Avnd, in truth, the was calculated to move 
Memoirs of the lote A4rs. Robinfon. | 
37 
in a higher foheré, She was endowed 
with a genius of the fineft mould. It: 
is true, her talents were, to that mo- 
ment, little cultivated. But the poffef- 
fed a rich and powerful imagination; @ 
rectitude and vivacity of moral feeling; 
andan early acquired, or, as it is termed, 
a natural tafte; that were the bef of tu- 
tors for literary purfuits, and the fureft of 
preparations for the enjoyment of intellec- 
tual and rational delights. Befide the an- 
nuity of sool, Mrs. Robinfon. poffefled 
jewels to the amount of oool. And, ale 
though the whole of her property, at this 
moment, was not adequate'to {plendid ap- 
pearances,it was fully equal to eale anid com= 
petence ; efpecially when added to Mrs. Ro- 
binfon’s power of earning an income by 
literary labours, which have, in fa&,; 
fince yielded Mrs. Robinfon nearly as 
much as her annuity. But thefe happy 
powers, this happy difpofition, and this 
fair profpe€t, were all pariially blighted 
by an unfortunate attachment. The gen- 
tleman who was the object, without any 
thing grofsly faulty in his charaGter, and 
with a great deal that was excellent in his 
difpofition, was, neverthelefs, infinitely 
below Mrs. Robinfon in underftanding, 
and had no relifh for any but the obvious 
pleafures of life. Mrs. Robinfon’s at- 
tachment was blind; ard fhe plunged 
headlong into an expenfive mode of living, 
in which he was the chief participator. 
We do not write the defence, but the 
ftory, of a imoft extraordinary woman, 
who, uniformly, we believe, paid the ex- 
treme forfeiture of all her miftakes. Yer, 
here we may be permitted to fay, that the 
generofity of her tempera little fanétion- 
ed the folly we have jut mentioned.—. 
The perfon here alluded to had refolved to 
go abroad ; .and the immediate oczafien of 
his refolution was the want of Sool. Mrs. 
Robinfon had no property on which the 
could inftantly raife the amount, and the 
affair admitted ofhodelay. Sheaddrefled a 
note to the perfon who had been the arbi- 
ter of her fortune in the fettlement made 
by the Prince, to requeft the loan of Sool. 
Her meflenger returned with 3ool. and a 
note, faying, Mrs. Robinfon might de- 
pend on receiving the remainder on the 
following morning. This was at night. 
Mrs. Robinfon had been at the opera; and 
the Duke de Biren, and an Englifh noble- 
man of the higheft rank had returned 
with her from that place to fupper. Not 
having feen at the opera, where 
he had promifed to join her, nor finding 
him at her houfe, fhe fent to every quar- 
ter in fearch of him; and as no intelli - 
gence of him arrived, the concluded he 
. a had 
