ABSTRACT
In January 1794, this notice of death appeared in the Morning Chronicle:
Early on Thursday morning, at Clapham Terrace, after a short illness, Mrs. Barclay, wife of Mr. Robert Barclay, in Southwark. To those who enjoyed the happiness of an intercourse with the numerous and well-ordered family over which she presided, with equal elegance and decorum, it cannot be necessary to describe the excellencies which distinguished her character as a wife, a mother, a mistress, and a friend, amiable, affectionate, upright, and humane. Born to affluence, and endeared to her nearest connections early in life, by an uncommon sweetness of disposition, and a person singularly lovely; instead of launching into the common amusements and dissipation of the age, her mind was early imbued with sentiments that regarded the serious and important duties of life; her conduct, regulated by these sentiments, gave a distinction to her character, as well in the sedulous care and education of her children, twelve of whom survive her, as in the discharge of the social and domestic duties, which were marked with acts of tenderness and benevolence. Such excellence departs not without tears of friendship; what then must be the feelings of her tender, but mournful offspring, of an affectionate, but afflicted husband! to whom the deceased was endeared by every consideration that a constant attachment, and a continued scene of domestic felicity can suggest.1
