244 
Should it be commercial adtivity, 
*¢ Alf nations have agreed on 
The enterprize of Fredon.”? 
Perhaps it may refer to our exports; why 
then 
“¢ The Portuguefe may feed on 
The wheat and maize of Fredon.” 
It may be defirable to celebrate our agricul- 
ture, as in the following diftich, 
‘© No land fo good as Fredon 
To fcatter grain and feed on.” 
On the fuppofition that a fwain wifhes to 
eompliment his country-women, he may in- 
form them that 
«© The graceful nymphs of Fredon 
Surpafs all belles we read on.” 
Memoirs of Mis. Chavlotte Sinith. 
[April 1, 
And, indéed, if it is his defire to ejaculate 
in a ferious ftrain, it may be written 
‘In this fair land of Fredon 
May right and juftice be done.” 
We give thefe as famples of what may be 
accomplifhed in this way; adding, that the 
poet may eafily contraft his country with 
Sweden, or compare it to Eden, if he is puz- 
zled for a rhyme. | 
On the whole, we recommend thefe words 
to the ferious confideration and {peedy adop- 
tion of our feilow-citizens: that our common 
and kéloved portion of the earth may thereby 
acquire a same, and be famous among the 
nations. 
MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. 
Se 
MRS. CHARLTOTE SMITH. 
Sxeteu of the Life of this juftly ce- 
lebrated, and much lamented lady, 
was intended to have been inferted in this 
work for the month of November, but the 
friend who undertook to fupply it was 
prevented by accidental circumftances 
trom fulfilling his intention, and it has 
confequently been poftponed. 
Three accounts of the Life and Wit- 
tings of Mrs. Smith have appeared; one, 
fome years previous to her diffolution, in 
the Third Volume of Public Characters, 
and two finee; the firft, very imperfectly 
executed in the European Magazine for 
the Month of November, and the fecond, 
in the firft number of a new work enti- 
tled Cenfura Literaria, by Samuel Eger- 
ton Bridges, E.ig., whote elegant pen “has 
paid a juti tribute to the genius, literary 
talents, and private virtues of the de- 
ceafed; and the intention of her family 
has already been announced of publifhing 
her Memoirs on a more enlarged plan, 
with a feleétion of ‘her correfpondence 5 
it would therefore be anticipating the 
pleafure the public are likely to receive 
trom fo defirabie and interefting a piece 
of Biography, were we here to enter into 
a minute detail of circumftances; and it 
is hoped this reaion, combining with other 
confiderations, will apologize tor the bre- 
vity of the prefent article. 
Mrs. Smith was the eldeft daughter of 
Nicholas Turner, Efq., a centleman of 
fortune, who inherited confiderable eftates, 
in the counties of Surry and Suffex. He 
was a man of very fuperior talents, 
remarkable for the brilliancy of his wit, 
lus powers of conveffation, and a pecu- 
liar vein of humour, which rendered him 
the delight of fociety. Her mother, 
whofe maiden name was Towers, was as 
diftinguifhed by the graces of her mind, 
as by a perfon of exquilite beauty 5 _ Bat 
this lady died in childbed before her eldeft 
daughter had attained her fourth year, 
and the care of her perfon devolved on 
an aunt, the fifterof her deceafed mother. 
Mr. Turner early difcovered fuch indica- 
tions of genius in the infant mind of his 
child, that he determined no expence 
fhould be fpared in the cultivation of 
thofe talents which the feemed to have 
inherited from both her parents; and 
therefore beftowed on her what was 
thought the beft education. She was 
placed i in one of the moft diftinguifhed fe- 
minaries in the neig hbourhood. of Lon- 
don; and, on quitting { fehool, which fhe 
did at an early age, fhe was attended by 
various matters: and, if expence confiitu- 
ted a good education, fhe may be faid to 
have received the beft that could have 
been given; but Mrs. Smith frequently 
regretted, that in the conduét of it fo 
little judement was fhewn, and that the 
time loft in the attainment of fuperficial 
accomplifhments was not employed in 
more ufeful fitudies, in the acquirement 
of languages, and ftill more, that fo little 
attention was paid to enforce thofe im- 
por tant principles which fortify the mind, 
and enables it to flruggle againft the ine- 
vitable evils of life. Her father was him- 
felf a poet, and encouraged this talent in 
his daughter, who, as fhe tells us in one of 
her laft works, compofed verfes at a very 
“ear rly age; but her aunt. had imbibed an 
opinion, that learning disqualified women 
for 
ee os 
