APPENDIX B.

THE following curious paper I owe to the kindness of Sir Egerton Brydges and his friend Mr. Haslewood. It was discovered in a volume of manuscript law cases, purchased by the latter gentleman at the sale of the late Isaac Reed's books. It is a case submitted by the mother of Gray to the opinion of an eminent civilian in 1735; and it proves, that to the great and single exertions of this admirable woman, Gray was indebted for his education, and consequently for the happiness of his life. The sorrow and the mournful affection with which he dwelt on his mother's memory, serves to shew the deep sense he retained of what she suffered, as well as what she did for him. Those who have read the Memoirs of Kirk White in Mr. Southey's Narrative, will recognise the similarity of the situation in which the two poets were placed, in their entrance into life; and they will see, that if maternal love and courage had not stept in, in both cases, their genius and talents would have been lost in the ignorance, or stifled by the selfishness, of those about them.

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CASE.

Philip Gray, before his marriage with his wife, (then Dorothy Antrobus, and who was then partner with her sister Mary Antrobus,) entered into articles of agreement with the said Dorothy, and Mary, and their brother Robert Antrobus, that the said Dorothy's stock in trade (which was then 2401.) should be employed by the said Mary in the said trade, and that the same, and all profits arising thereby, should be for the sole benefit of the said Dorothy, notwithstanding her intended coverture, and her sole receipts alone a sufficient discharge to the said Mary and her brother Robert Antrobus, who was made trustee. But in case either the said Philip or Dorothy dies, then the same to be assigned to the survivor.

That in pursuance of the said articles, the said Mary, with the assistance of the said Dorothy her sister, hath car

the said trade for near thirty years, with tolerable for the said Dorothy. That she hath been no charge id Philip; and during all the said time, hath not und herself in all manner of apparel, but also for all dren, to the number of twelve, and most of the furf his house; and paying 401. a year for his shop, roviding every thing for her son, whilst at Eton school, he is at Peter-House at Cambridge.

withstanding which, almost ever since he hath been he hath used her in the most inhuman manner, by kicking, punching, and with the most vile and language; that she hath been in the utmost fear rer of her life, and hath been obliged this last year her bed, and lie with her sister. This she was repossible, to bear; not to leave her shop of trade for f her son, to be able to assist in the maintenance of him niversity, since his father won't.

re is no cause for this usage, unless it be an unalousy of all mankind in general (her own brother pted); but no woman deserves, or hath maintained, rtuous character: or it is presumed if he can make r leave off trade, he thinks he can then come into ; money, but the articles are too secure for his vile

aily threatens he will pursue her with all the venossible, and will ruin himself to undo her, and his in order to which he hath given warning to her quit his shop, where they have carried on their successfully, which will be almost their ruin: but s she shall go at Midsummer next; and the said his wife, in necessity must be forced to go along to some other house and shop, to be assisting to sister, in the said trade, for her own and son's sup

f she can be quiet, she neither expects or desires from him: but he is really so very vile in his nahath all the reason to expect most troublesome m him that can be thought of.

QUESTION.

he can, or possibly may do to molest his wife in h her sister, and assisting in her trade, for the n the said articles; and which will be the best r to conduct herself in this unhappy circumstance,

h

if he should any ways be troublesome, or endeavour to force her to live with him? And whether the said Dorothy in the lifetime of the said Philip, may not by will, or otherwise, dispose of the interest, or produce, which hath, or may arise, or become due for the said stock as she shall think fit, it being apprehended as part of her separate estate ?"

ANSWER.

"If Mrs. Gray should leave her husband's house, and go to live with her sister in any other, to assist her in her trade, her husband may, and probably will call her, by process in the Ecclesiastical Court, to return home and cohabit with him, which the court will compel her to do, unless she can shew cause to the contrary. She has no other defence in that case, than to make proof, before the court, of such cruelties as may induce the judge to think she cannot live in safety with her husband: then the court will decree for a separation.

"This is a most unhappy case, and such a one, as I think, if possible, should be referred to, and made up by some common friend; sentences of separation, by reason of cruelty only, being very rarely obtained.

"What the cruelties are which he has used towards her, and what proof she is able to make of them, I am yet a stranger to. She will, as she has hitherto done, bear what she reasonably can, without giving him any provocation to use her ill. If, nevertheless, he forces her out of doors, the most reputable place she can be in, is with her sister. If he will proceed to extremities, and go to law, she will be justified, if she stands upon her defence, rather perhaps than if she was plaintiff in the cause.

"As no power of making a will is reserved to Mrs. Gray, by her marriage settlement, and not only the original stock, but likewise the produce and interest which shall accrue, and be added to it, are settled upon the husband, if he survives his wife; it is my opinion she has no power to dispose of it by will, or otherwise.

"Doctors' Commons,

Feb. 9th, 1735."

"JOH. AUDLEY."

APPENDIX C.

aneous Extracts from the Manuscript Papers of the William Cole, of Milton in Cambridgeshire, relating ray; now in the British Museum.

I.

Tuesday July 30th, 1771, Mr. Essex calling on me, vay to Ely, told me that Mr. Gray was thought to be of the gout in his stomach. I had not heard before was ill, though he had been so for many days. So my servant in the evening to Pembroke-Hall, to e after his welfare; but he was then going off, and ssage could be delivered; and he died that night. sired to be buried early in the morning at Stoke;* and accordingly was put in lead, and conveyed ambridge on Sunday morning, with a design to rest desdon the first night, and Salt-hill on Monday from whence he might be very early on Tuesday g at Stoke. He made the master of Pembroke (his lar friend) his executor; who, with his neice AnMr. Cummins a merchant of Cambridge, who had her sister, and a young gentleman of Christ's-Colth whom he was very intimate, went in a mourningfter the hearse, to see him put into his grave. He his books and MSS. to his particular friend Mr. with a desire that he would do with the latter what ght proper. When he saw all was over with him, an express to his friend Mr. Stonehewer, who ately came to see him; and as Dr. Gisborne hap

y's tomb is at the end of the chancel, of Stokechurch. At Strawberry-Hill there is a drawing by f Gray's tomb, by moonlight; given to Lord OrSir Edward Walpole. See Lord Orford's Works, p. 425. Not far from the churchyard is the Cenoected by Mr. Penn to the memory of Gray, from a I believe, by the late Mr. Wyatt.

pened to be with him when the messenger came, he brought him down to Cambridge with him; which was the more lucky, as Professor Plumptre * had refused to get up, being sent to in the night. But it was too late to do any good: and indeed he had all the assistance of the faculty+ besides at Cambridge. It is said, that he has left all his fortune to his two nieces at Cambridge; and just before his death, about a month, or thereabout, he had done a very generous action, for which he was much commended.

His aunt Olliffe, an old gentlewoman of Norfolk, had left that county, two or three years, to come and live at Cambridge; and dying about the time I speak of, left him and Mr. Cummins executors and residuary legatees; but Mr. Gray generously gave up his part to his nieces, one of whom Mrs. Olliffe had taken no notice of, and who wanted it sufficiently. **** I was told by Mr. Alderman Burleigh, the present mayor of Cambridge, that Mr. Gray's father had been an Exchange-broker, but the fortune he had acquired of about 10,000l. was greatly hurt by the fire in Cornhill; so that Mr. Gray, many years ago, sunk a good part of what was left and purchased an annuity, in order to have a fuller income. I have often seen at his chambers, in his ink-stand, a neat pyramidal bloodstone seal, with these arms at the base, viz. ‡ a lion rampant, within a bordure engrailed, being those of the name of Gray, and belonged, as he told me, to his father. His mother was in the millinery way of business. His person

was small, well put together, and latterly tending to plumpness. He was all his life remarkably sober and temperate. I think, I heard him say he never was across a horse's back in his life. He gave me a small print or etching of himself by Mr. Mason, which is extremely like him.

* Dr. Plumptre certainly refused to get up to attend Gray in his last illness; but it was to be considered, that he was grown old, and had found it necessary to adopt this rule with all his patients. ED.

Dr. Glynn was Gray's physician at Cambridge, and likewise a very intimate friend. ED.

Sir Egerton Brydges informs me, that Gray's arms are the same as those of Lord Gray of Scotland; who claimed a relationship with him, (see Mason's Memoirs, vol. iv. lett. 55.) and as the present Earl Grey's.