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； and though he charged US to make him odd solemn promises of secrecy on so strange a subject； yet when we waited on him one morning； and heard him； in the most pathetic terms； beg the prayers of Dr。 Delap； who had left him as we came in； I felt excessively affected with grief； and well remember my husband involuntarily lifted up one hand to shut his mouth； from provocation at hearing a man so wildly proclaim what he could at last persuade no one to believe； and what； if true； would have been so very unfit to reveal。
Mr。 Thrale went away soon after； leaving me with him； and bidding me prevail on him to quit his close habitation in the court and come with us to Streatham； where I undertook the care of his health； and had the honour and happiness of contributing to its restoration。 This task； though distressing enough sometimes； would have been less so had not my mother and he disliked one another extremely； and teased me often with perverse opposition； petty contentions； and mutual complaints。 Her superfluous attention to such accounts of the foreign politics as are transmitted to us by the daily prints； and her willingness to talk on subjects he could not endure； began the aversion； and when； by the peculiarity of his style； she found out that he teased her by writing in the newspapers concerning battles and plots which had no existence； only to feed her with new accounts of the division of Poland； perhaps； or the disputes between the States of Russia and Turkey； she was exceedingly angry； to be sure； and scarcely； I think； forgave the offence till the domestic distresses of the year 1772 reconciled them to and taught them the true value of each other； excellent as THEY BOTH were； far beyond the excellence of any other man and woman I ever yet saw。 As her conduct； too； extorted his truest esteem； her cruel illness excited all his tenderness； nor was the sight of beauty； scarce to be subdued by disease； and wit； flashing through the apprehension of evil； a scene which Dr。 Johnson could see without sensibility。 He acknowledged himself improved by her piety； and astonished at her fortitude； and hung over her bed with the affection of a parent； and the reverence of a son。 Nor did it give me less pleasure to see her sweet mind cleared of all its latent prejudices； and left at liberty to admire and applaud that force of thought and versatility of genius； that comprehensive soul and benevolent heart； which attracted and commanded veneration from all； but inspired peculiar sensations of delight mixed with reverence in those who； like her； had the opportunity to observe these qualities stimulated by gratitude； and actuated by friendship。 When Mr。 Thrale's perplexities disturbed his peace； dear Dr。 Johnson left him scarce a moment； and tried every artifice to amuse as well as every argument to console him： nor is it more possible to describe than to forget his prudent； his pious attentions towards the man who had some years before certainly saved his valuable life； perhaps his reason； by half obliging him to change the foul air of Fleet Street for the wholesome breezes of the Sussex Downs。
The epitaph engraved on my mother's monument shows how deserving she was of general applause。 I asked Johnson why he named her person before her mind。 He said it was 〃because everybody could judge of the one； and but few of the other。〃
Juxta sepulta est HESTERA MARIA Thomae Cotton de Combermere baronetti Cestriensis filia； Johannis Salusbury armigeri Flintiensis uxor。 Forma felix； felix ingenio： Omnibus jucunda； suorum amantissima。 Linguis artibusque ita exculta Ut loquenti nunquam deessent Sermonis nitor； sententiarum flosculi； Sapientiae gravitas； leporum gratia： Modum servandi adeo perita； Ut domestica inter negotia literis oblectaretur。 Literarum inter delicias； rem familiarem sedulo curaret； Multis illi multos annos precantibus diri carcinomatis veneno contabuit； nexibusque vitae paulatim resolutis； e terrismeliora speransemigravit。 Nata 17O7。 Nupta 1739。 Obiit 1773。
Mr。 Murphy； who admired her talents and delighted in her company； did me the favour to paraphrase this elegant inscription in verses which I fancy have never yet been published。 His fame has long been out of my power to increase as a poet： as a man of sensibility perhaps these lines may set him higher than he now stands。 I remember with gratitude the friendly tears which prevented him from speaking as he put them into my hand。
Near this place Are deposited the remains of HESTER MARIA； The daughter of Sir Thomas Cotton of Combermere； in the county of Cheshire； Bart。； the wife of John Salusbury； of the county of Flint； Esquire。 She was born in the year 17O7； married in 1739； and died in 1773。
A pleasing form； where every grace combined； With genius blest； a pure enlightened mind； Benevolence on all that smiles bestowed； A heart that for her friends with love o'erflowed： In language skilled； by science formed to please； Her mirth was wit； her gravity was ease。 Graceful in all； the happy mien she knew； Which even to virtue gives the limits due； Whate'er employed her； that she seemed to choose； Her house； her friends； her business； or the muse。 Admired and loved； the theme of general praise； All to such virtue wished a length of days。 But sad reverse！ with slow…consuming pains； Th' envenomed cancer revelled in her veins； Preyed on her spiritsstole each power away； Gradual she sank； yet smiling in decay； She smiled in hope； by sore affliction tried； And in that hope the pious Christian died。
The following epitaph on Mr。 Thrale； who has now a monument close by hers in Streatham Church； I have seen printed and commended in Maty's Review for April； 1784； and a friend has favoured me with the translation：
Hic conditur quod reliquum est HENRICI THRALE； Qui res seu civiles； seu domesticas； ita egit； Ut vitam illi longiorem multi optarent； Ita sacras； Ut quam brevem esset habiturus praescire videretur。 Simplex； apertus； sibique semper similis； Nihil ostentavit aut arte fictum aut cura Elaboratum。 In senatu； regi patriaeque Fideliter studuit； Vulgi obstrepentis contemptor animosus； Domi inter mille mercaturae negotia Literarum elegantiam minime neglexit。 Amicis quocunque modo laborantibus； Conciliis； auctoritate； muneribus adfuit。 Inter familiares； comites； convivas； hospites； Tam facili fuit morum suavitate Ut omnium animos ad se alliceret； Tam felici sermonis libertate Ut nulli adulatus； omnibus placeret。 Natus 1724。 Ob。 1781。
Consortes tumuli habet Rodolphum patrem； strenuum fortemque virum； et Henricum filium unicum； quem spei parentum mors inopina decennem praeripuit。 Ita Domus felix et opulenta； quam erexit Avus； auxitque pater； cum nepote decidit。