A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Thynne, Frances, Duchess of Somerset
THYNNE, FRANCES, DUCHESS OF SOMERSET,
Was born near the close of the eighteenth century. Walpole says of her, "she had as much taste for the writings of others as modes, about her own," and might have obtained fame for her talents, had not her retiring disposition and affectionate piety led her to prefer the society of well-chosen friends, to the applause of the world. Her attainments were considerable, which she employed in the careful education of her children, the charge of whom, and devoted attendance by the sick-bed of her husband, occupied the best part of her life. She was fond, however, of literary society, as is shown by her friendship for Mrs. Rowe, (she was the authoress of the letter signed Cleora, in Mrs. R.'s collection;) Thomson, whom she kindly patronized, (who dedicated to her the first edition of his "Spring;") Dr. Watts, (who dedicated to her his "Miscellaneous Thoughts in Prose and Verse;") and Shenstone, (who addressed to her his ode on "Rural Elegance.") She died in 1754. No collection of her poems has been made, although a number are preserved in Bingley's "Correspondence of the Countess of Pomfret" with our authoress.