ADDISON'S " SPECTATOR " AND A LANCASHIRE LADY'S COMMONPLACE BOOK.
[To ms EDITOR 01 THE "SPECTATOR." J SIB,''''"/ think you may be interested to know that amongst some old family relics we have lately found a manuscript book, 7 by 8 inches by 2 inches thick, written by my mother's great-great-grandmother in a most beautiful hand, and filled chiefly with letters and extracts copied from the volumes of Addison's Spectator. We suppose the book was com- menced about the year 1710, and the extracts deal with such subjects as Greek, African and American legends, Philo- sophy, Simonides on Woman, Education, Fame, Atheism, Genius, &a. On some of these subjects the writer has written very able commentaries herself. The following is interesting :- On the SPECTATOR by Mr. Tate. "When first the Tatler to a mute was turn'd, Great Britain for her Censors silence mourn'd ; Bobb'd of his sprightly beams, she wept the night,
'Till the Spectator blaz'd as bright.
So the first man the Sun's first setting view'd, And sigh'd 'till circling day his joys renew'd, Yet doubtfull how that second sun to name, Whether a bright successor or the same. So we : but now from this Suspense are freed, Since all agree who both with judgment read, 'Tis the same Sun, and does himself succeed."
Nearly at the end of the book, the writing of which appears to have spread over most of a lifetime, is the following note :—
" How much I admire these papers of the Spectator—may they have a proper effect upon my future conduct.—Lucy Lewis.'
The book has impressed me very much, for the reason that we hear so often the education of women only commenced about 1840, and before that they were unreasoning dolls and uneducated toys. The woman who copied these articles— apparently of upper middle class position—must have thought deeply and read widely upon many subjects and taken a very intelligent interest in life. What she knew was thoroughly known and understood, and I cannot think that she was either handicapped for want of knowledge or lacking in intellect.
Are the girls of to-day better educated?
There are a few pages of " memoirs," and one or two may
be of interest:— "Gave ten pounds to poor Mrs. —. Mom. to retrench one dish at my table until I have fetched it up again."
" Paid the apothecary for caning an old woman that confessed herself a witch."
" Prevailed upon M. I. Esqre not to take the law of the Farmer's son for shooting a partridge and to give him his gun again." "Laid up my chariot and sold my horses to relieve the poor in a scarcity of corn."
" In the same year remitted to my tenants a fifth part of their rents."
"Made the Minister of the Parish and a Whig Justice of one mind, by putting them to explain their notions to one another."
It would be interesting to know whether any of your readers know more particulars of Lucy Lewis. Her maiden name was Ward, and she was first cousin to the Earl of Dudley and a connexion of Lord Bathurst. Her husband's family lived near Liverpool.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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