One of the most celebrated poems of the countess of Winchelsea, was that upon the Spleen, printed in a new miscellany of original poems on several occasions, published by Mr. Charles Gildon, 1701.
That poem occasioned another, by Mr. Nicholas Rowe, entitled An Epistle to Flavia, on the Sight of two Pindaric Odes, on the Spleen and Vanity, written by a lady to her friend. A collection of her poems was printed at London, 1713, together with a tragedy never acted, entitled Aristomenes. A great number of her poems still remain unpublished.
One or two are in the Elegant Extracts. She died 1720.
WOFFINGTON (MARGARET), a celebrated Actress, was born at Dublin, 1718.
For her education, in the very early part of her life, she was indebted to Madame Violanté, a French woman, of good reputation, and famous for feats of agility. From her instructions, she learned that easy action and graceful deportment, which she afterwards endeavoured, with unremitting application, to improve. When the Beggar's Opera was first acted at Dublin it was so much applauded and admired, that all ranks of people flocked to see it. A company of children, under the title of Lilliputians, were encouraged to represent this favourite piece at the Theatre Royal; and Miss Woffington then
