“this lady was the daughter of sir john ashley, of the abbey foregate, shrewsbury. she manifested a passion for music very early, in practising on the german flute, which was then little known in the country, sir william fowler and this lady being the only performers on that instrument that obtained, or deserved the least notice. miss ashley practised the harpsichord likewise, and took lessons of my brother: and she used to make little matteis, the language master, and first violinist of the place, accompany her. she was an espiegle, and doted on mischief; and no sooner found that matteis was very timid and helpless at the slightest distress or danger, than she insisted, during summer, upon taking her lessons in the middle of an old and lofty oak tree; placing there a seat and a desk, adroitly well arranged for her accommodation; while another seat and desk, upon a thick but tottering branch, was put up for poor matteis, who was so terrified, that he could not stop a note in tune; yet so fearful, that he could not bring himself to resist her orders.

“in 1738, she married lord ossulston, son of the earl of tankerville: and i remember leading off a choral song, or hymn, by her direction, to chaunt her out of st. julian’s church. i was then quite a boy; and i heard no more of her till i was grown up, and settled in london.”