1806.] Account of Mrs. 
have beftowed uncommon pains on her 
education, to which he dedicated much of 
his time ; but it is evident that fhe.her- 
felf muft have contribu:ed greatly to for- 
ward his views; for without a willing 
mind, and a happy facility of talent, in ad- 
dition to the moft unceafing induftry, it is 
not poffible to conceive how this accom- 
plifhed female could have obtained the 
maftery of fo many dead and living lan- 
guages. 
A period of almoft feventy two years. 
has now elapfed fince the late Mrs, Car- 
ter firft attrafted the attention of the pub- 
lic. It is not a little remarkable that fhe 
diftinguifhed herfelf in 1734, before fhe 
had attained the age of feventeen, by a 
riddle in the Gentleman’s Magazine ; a 
fpecies of conpofition no longer in efleem, 
but for which her namefake, our maiden- 
queen,* had rendered herieif celedrated 
* Elizabeth was the author of the follow- 
ing rebus on Mr. Noel, which is commended 
by Horace Walpole, although he allows 
** there cannot be a fillier fpecies of poetry.” 
«¢ The word of denial, and letter of fifty, 
Is that gentleman’s name who will never be 
thrifty.” 
As Dr. Johnfon has been pleafed to com- 
mend the produ¢tion alluded to, by Mrs. Car- 
ter, we fhall here tranfcribe it: 
A RIDDLE. 
** Nor form, nor fubftance, in my being thare ; 
I’m neither fire, nor water ; earth, nor air ; 
From motion’s force alone my birth derive ; 
I ne’er can die, for never was alive: 
And yet with fuch extenfive empire reign, 
That very few efcape my magic chain; 
Nor time nor place my wild excurfions 
bound ; . 
i-break all order; Nature’s laws confound ; 
Raife {chemes without contrivance or defign, 
And make apparent contradi¢tions join 5 
Transfer the Thames where Ganges’ waters 
roll ; 
Unite th’ equator to the frozen pole: 
Midft Zembla’s ice bid blufhing rubies glow, 
And Britifh harvefts bloom in Scythian 
fnhow ; 
Caufe trembling flocks to fkim the raging 
main, 
And fcaly fithes gtaze the verdant plain; 
Make light defcend, and heavy bodics rife ; 
Stars fink to earth, and earth atcend the 
fies. 
‘¢ If nature lie deform'd in wintry frat, 
And.all the beauties of the {pring be loft, . 
Rais’d by my power new verdure decks the 
ground, 
And fmiling flowers diffufe their fweets 
around, 
The flecping dead 1 fummon from the tomb, 
And eft anticipate the living’s doum 5 
Elizabeth Carter. | 551 
fome centuries before. — This" produced 
the following complimentary verfes. 
To Mis db Cart-r, author of the Riddle, in No- 
vember, 1734. 
Ingenious nymph! in myftic numbers fkill’d, 
Why are thy pleafing lays fo long withheld, 
(For well the glowings of thy fire atteft, 
That Phoebus’ frequent vifits warm thy 
breaft :) 
O Jet us not thy filence ftill accufe, 
But wake our raptures. with thy powerful 
Mufe ; “ 
To wifhing’ eyes prefent thy moving pagey 
And with thy fifter Mufes charm the age ; 
With Fidy and Meliffa, dear to fame, 
Barber, Timonia, Rowe, of pure ft fame, i; 
In Urban’s lifts enroll your hosour’d name. 
SyLvius 
Mifs (for it is only of late years the 
has affumed the matron-like appellation of 
Mrs.) C, ina poetic reply, difplayed great 
diffidenge of her own talents, but at the 
fame time pointed out the fubjeéts. con- 
genial to her heart: 
‘© Q did thofe raptures in my bofom slew) 
Which in Fidelia’s moving accents flow ; 
Unbid I would confefs the facred flame, 
And ftand intrepid in the lifts of fame ; 
Pleas’d with the trial trace out human life, 
Thro’ all the fcenes of happinefs and ftrife : 
The hopes and fears which on its ftate attend, 
And how in death thefe different paffions 
end; 
Proceed in lively colours to difplay 
The folemn horrors of the laft great day 3 
Convey offenders to the fatal tree, 
- When law or ftratagem have fet them free. 
Aw’d by no checks, my roping nn can 
foar 
Beyond Imagination’s a¢tive pawer : - 
I view each country of the fpacious earth, a 
Nay, vifit realms that never yet had birth; 
Can trace the pathlefs regions of the air, — 
And fly with eafe beyond the ftarry fphere. 
‘¢ So fwift my operations, in an hour 
I can deftroy a town, or build a tow’r; | 
Play tricks would puzzle all the fearch of © 
wit, 
And thew whole volumes that were never 
writ. 
In fure records my myflic power’s confett, 
Who rack’d with ‘cares a haughty sbi $ 
breatt, 
Charg’d in prophetic exible to relate 
Approaching wrath and his peculiar fate. 
*© Ofte to the good by Heav’n’ in mercy 
fent, 
I’ve arm’d their thoughts againft fome dire 
event 5 
As oft in chains prefumptuous villains bind, 
And haunt with reftlefs fears the guilty 
mind,” 
E1iza. 
7¥a With 
