Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Talbot, Catherine
TALBOT, CATHERINE (1721–1770), author, born in May 1721, was the posthumous and only child of Edward Talbot, second son of William Talbot (1659?–1730) [q. v.], bishop of Durham, and his wife Mary (d. 1784), daughter of George Martyn, prebendary of Lincoln. Miss Talbot's uncle, Charles Talbot [q. v.], another son of the bishop, was lord chancellor. Her father, Edward, who was elected fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, and appointed archdeacon of Berkshire in 1717, died on 9 Dec. 1720. At the time of his death Catherine Benson, sister of Martin Benson [q. v.], bishop of Gloucester, was residing at his house, and on her marriage to Thomas Secker [q. v.], a protégé of Talbot, in 1725, Mrs. Talbot and Catherine, who were poorly off, went to live with the newly married couple, and remained members of the household till Secker’s death in 1768.
Catherine’s education was superintended by Secker. She became learned in the Scriptures and an accomplished linguist. She also painted in watercolours and read widely. As a child her superior talent was recognised; Thomas Rundle [q. v.] (afterwards bishop of Derry) wrote to Mrs. Sandys in 1729, ‘Every day little Kitty grows a more delightful girl . . . her understanding shoots up faster than her person’ (Nichols, Illustrations of Literature, i. 33). In February 1741 commenced her friendship with Elizabeth Carter [q. v.], which lasted during Miss Talbot’s life. The introduction was effected by Wright, Miss Talbot’s tutor in astronomy. The two ladies carried on a lively and copious correspondence.
As Secker was successively rector of St. James’s, Westminster, bishop of Oxford, dean of St. Paul’s, and finally in 1758 archbishop of Canterbury, Miss Talbot frequented the best society of her time. She knew among others Bishop Butler, Lord Lyttelton, William Pulteney, earl of Bath, Mrs. Montagu, the Duchess of Somerset, with whom she often stayed at Percy Lodge, and Samuel Richardson. The last discussed ‘Sir Charles Grandison’ with her and Mrs. Carter, adopted their suggestions, and sent them parts of the novel to read before publication. Miss Talbot visited Richardson at North End, Hammersmith (cf. Correspondence between Mrs. Carter and Miss Talbot, i. 362; Memoirs of Elizabeth Carter, i. 146). She also encouraged Mrs. Carter to translate ‘Epictetus,’ and corresponded with her on the subject while the work was in progress.
During the whole period of her residence with him Miss Talbot was Secker’s almoner. Her delicate health prevented continuous work, but she wrote essays and detached pieces in a ‘green book,’ constantly referred to by her friends. They were unable to persuade her to publish her compositions. She contributed, however, one paper to Johnson’s ‘Rambler’ (No. xxx., 30 June 1750).
In 1760, accompanied by Mrs. Carter, she went to Bristol for her health. Secker died in 1768, leaving to Mrs. Talbot and her daughter 13,000l. in the public funds. The ladies removed from Lambeth Palace to Lower Grosvenor Street. There Catherine died of cancer on 9 Jan. 1770 in her forty-ninth year (Gent. Mag. 1770, p. 47). Several poems were written in her praise (cf. Butler, Memoirs of Bishop Hildesley, pp. 572–595; Nichols, Literary Anecdotes, ix. 766–769).
Mrs. Talbot put her daughter’s manuscripts into Mrs. Carter’s hand, leaving their publication to her discretion. In 1770 Mrs. Carter published at her own risk and expense Miss Talbot’s ‘Reflections on the Seven Days of the Week,’ a work that was constantly reprinted. A tenth edition appeared in 1784, and the latest bears date 1801. The ‘Reflections’ are on religious and moral topics. In 1772 another book by Miss Talbot, ‘Essays on Various Subjects,’ was published. It contained essays, dialogues, prose pastorals, a fairy tale, imitations of Ossian, allegories, and a few original poems. Between 1772 and 1819 several collected editions of her works appeared. Her familiar letters, however, are better reading than her formal literary efforts. Her correspondence with Mrs. Carter, published in 1809, shows a keen interest in public affairs, some observation of men and manners, and a deep affection for her friends. Mackintosh characterised the correspondence as ‘not first-rate, but it pleases me very much’ (Life, ii. 24).
[Elwood’s Literary Ladies, i. 127–43; Pennington’s Life of Elizabeth Carter, passim; A Series of Letters between Mrs. E. Carter and Miss C. Talbot from the Year 1741 to 1770, 4 vols. 8vo, 1809; Gent. Mag. 1772 p. 257, 1774 p. 376.]