A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Carter, Elizabeth
CARTER, ELIZABETH,
Was the daughter of Dr. Nicholas Carter, an eminent Latin, Greek, and Hebrew scholar, one of the six preachers in Canterbury Cathedral, and perpetual curate of Deal, in Kent, where Elizabeth was born, December 16th., 1717. She was educated by her father, who made no distinction between her and her brothers. She became very well acquainted with the learned languages, and also Italian, German, Spanish, and French. She likewise was a proficient in needle-work, music, and other feminine accomplishments. Her first productions appeared in the "Gentlemen's Magazine," under the signature of Eliza. In 1738 she published some poems, and a translation from the Italian of Algarotti, "An Explanation of Newton's Philosophy, for the use of Ladies, in Six Dialogues on Sight and Colours." These publications appearing when Miss Carter was only twenty-one, gave her immediate celebrity, and brought her into correspondence with most of the learned of her day. Among others. Bishop Butler, author of the "Analogy," Archbishop Locker, Dr. Johnson, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Burke. Dr. Johnson said, when speaking of an eminent scholar, that "he understood Greek better than any one he had ever known except Elizabeth Carter." Among the numerous friends who appreciated the talents of this amiable lady, was one friend of her own sex. Miss Catharine Talbot, who was kindred in feeling, as well as gifted with genius to sympathize in the pursuits of Miss Carter. A correspondence by letter was soon established between these two ladies, which continued for nearly thirty years, and was only terminated by the death of Miss Talbot, in 1770. A portion of these letters have been published, in four volumes, forming a work of much interest, and teaching by its spirit of Christian philosophy many valuable lessons to their own sex, especially to young ladies.
Miss Carter was never married, and, after becoming matronly in years, she assumed the title of a married lady, and was styled Mrs. Elizabeth Carter. There are in her familiar letters many particulars of her daily habits of life, and also expressions of her opinion on subjects connected with which every person is more or less interested. Among other things she often remarked that varying her occupations prevented her from ever being tired of them; and accordingly she hardly ever read or worked for more than half an hour at a time, and then she would visit, for a few minutes, any of her relations who were staying in her house, in their respective apartments, or go into her garden to water her flowers. Before this period she had, however, studied very assiduously.
Her regular rule was, when in health, to read two chapters in the Bible before breakfast, a sermon, some Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and after breakfast something in every language with which she was acquainted; thus never allowing herself to forget what she had once attained. These occupations were of course varied according to circumstances, and when she took exercise before breakfast her course of reading was necessarily deferred till later in the day.
Her constitution must have been strong to have enabled her to take the very long walks to which she accustomed herself; but she suffered greatly from headaches, not improbably arising from her over-exertion of body and mind in early youth, and the not allowing herself sufficient repose to recruit her over-tasked strength. At one time of her life she was wont to sit up very late, and as she soon became drowsy, and would sleep soundly in her chair, many were the expedients she adopted to keep herself awake, such as pouring cold water down her dress, tying a wet bandage round her head, etc. She was a great snuff-taker, though she endeavoured to break herself of the habit to please her father. She suffered so much, however, in the attempt, that he kindly withdrew his prohibition.
Mrs. Carter was not much more than thirty when she undertook to finish the education of her youngest brother Henry, which had been commenced by her father. She completed her task so well, that he entered Bennet College, Cambridge, in 1756, and passed through the University with reputation. He had afterwards the living of Little Wittenham, in Berkshire.
In order to devote herself more exclusively to this occupation, she, for some years previous to the completion of his education, resisted all temptations to leave Deal, and refused all invitations to spend a portion of the winter with her friends in town, as had been her general practice. Part of this retirement was devoted to the translation of "Epictetus," her greatest work, by which her reputation was much increased, and her fame spread among the literati of the day. This work was commenced in the summer of 1749, at the desire of Miss Talbot, enforced by the Bishop of Oxford, to whom the sheets were transmitted for emendations as soon as finished. It was not originally intended for publication, and was therefore not completed till 1756, when it was published with notes and an introduction by herself, by subscription, in 1758. Mrs. Carter, besides fame and reputation, obtained for this performance more than one thousand pounds. A poem, by her friend Mrs. Chapone, was prefixed to it.
After the publication of "Epictetus," Mrs. Carter became, for one of her prudent habits, quite easy in her circumstances, and usually passed her winters in London. In 1767, Lady Pulteney settled an annuity of a hundred pounds on Mrs. Carter; and some years afterwards our authoress visited Paris for a few days.
In 1762, she purchased a house in her native town. Her father had always rented one there; but he removed to hers, and they resided together till his death in 1774. They had each a separate library and apartments, and met seldom but at meals, though living together with much comfort and affection. Her brothers and sisters were married, and gone from their father's house; Elizabeth, the studious daughter, only remained to watch over and supply all the wants of her aged parent. She attended assiduously to every household duty, and never complained of the trouble or confinement.
About nine years before her death, she experienced an alarming illness, of which she never recovered the effects in bodily strength; but the faculties of her mind remained unimpaired. In the summer of 1805, her weakness evidently increased. From that time until February, 1806, her strength gradually ebbed away; and on the morning of the 19th. she expired without a groan.
The portrait of Mrs. Carter, which her nephew and biographer, the Rev. Mr. Pennington, has drawn, is very captivating. The wisdom of age, without its coldness; the cool head, with the affectionate heart; a sobriety which chastened conversation without destroying it; a cheerfulness which enlivened piety without wounding it; a steady effort to maintain a conscience void of offence, and to let religion suffer nothing in her exhibition of it to the world. Nor is her religion to be searched for only in the humility with which she received, and the thankfulness with which she avowed, the doctrines of the Bible, but in the sincerity with which she followed out those principles to their practical consequences, and lived as she believed. Very wide, indeed, from the line which they have taken, will the cold, formal, and speculative professors of the present day, find the conduct of Mrs. Carter. We hear her in one place charging upon her friend Mrs. Montague, the necessity to enlist her fine talents in the cause of religion, instead of wasting them upon literary vanities. In another, we hear her exposing the pretensions of that religion, which does not follow men into the circle in which they live; and loudly questioning, whether piety can at once be seated in the heart, and yet seldom force its way to the lips.
Mrs. Carter is an eminent example of what may he done by industry and application. Endowed by nature with no very brilliant talents, yet by perseverance she acquired a degree of learning which must be considered as surprising. The daughter of a respectable country clergyman, with a large family and limited income, by her unaffected piety, moral excellence, and literary attainments, she secured to herself the friendship and esteem of the great and the wealthy, the learned and the good. In early youth her society was sought by many who were elevated above her in a worldly point of view; and instead of the cheerless, neglected old maid, we view her in declining life surrounded by
"That which should accompany old age,
As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends."
Her friends were numerous, distinguished for wealth and rank, as well as talents and learning. Mrs. Montague, Mrs. Vesey, Miss Talbot, the first and dearest, and Mrs. Chapone, were among her most intimate associates.