VERY few of those ladies who were emi- Mary Kirk was a beautiful brunette; one neut for their personal endowments, and that was almost sure to captivate wherever who composed the court of Charles II. had she appeared; though her person was more interest attached to their little day rather disproportioned, her head being of celebrity than Madame Kirk, better somewhat too large for her form, which known by her assumed title of Mrs. War- was sylph-like and slender; but her comminster. No constellation once shone more plexion was most animated, her eyes had brilliant; but the star was wandering, and, the lustre of diamonds, and she had that at length, it, fell, overpowered by the gor peculiar charm and temptation in her geous splendor of those planets, which, countenance which ensured her empire while they could not but admire her bright-over the hearts of men: love spoke in her ness, resolved to obscure it, and to drive | fine eyes, and her continual good humour her from the pure sphere of chastity, which she seemed, at first, destined to adorn.

and gaiety encouraged hope in the breast of the specious and abandoned libertine.

The famous Chevalier de Grammont was led captive for a short time by her outward attractions, and every valuable trinket was'

It was very customary at that time to give the Queen's maids of honour the title of Lady, or Madame; but Miss Kirk was a very young lady when first she was ap-imported from France to lay before the pointed maid of honour to Catherine of Braganza, Queen to Charles II. George Kirk, Esq. her father, was groom of the King's bedchamber, and his eldest daughter was Diana, married to the Earl of Oxford, the last of the name of Vere.

shrine of such piquante beauty, so highly pleasing to the taste of a Frenchman: perfumed gloves, elegantly wrought boxes with pocket looking-glasses, costly preserves, odoriferous essences, with every other delicacy that gallantry could devise, poured in weekly; presents of more in

found also were not taken amiss: such as diamond necklaces and earrings, &c. with which he found the easy ladies of the court as well pleased as if he had purchased them abroad.

We are not sufficiently informed why Miss Kirk took the fictitious name of War-trinsic value, of English manufacture, he minster. Lord Orford makes mention of a family of that name, five persons of whom are interred in Worcester Cathedral; one of which was a dean of the church, and his epitaph mentions his sincere attachment to the royal family. Though Mary Kirk is often called Miss Warminster, we should be led to imagine that she assumed

The Chevalier, however, did not long remain on the list of Miss Kirk's admirers; the superior charms and truly virtuous