![[Header#^header-embed]] > [!SUMMARY] > When she died neither her daughters nor her [[Sir John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury|adopted son]] took the trouble to raise a stone to her memory. ![[Hester Thrale's death#Memorial tablet]] ## Testimonials ### By friends #### Fanny Burney > [[Fanny Burney|I]] have lost now, just lost, my once most dear, intimate, and admired friend, Mrs. Thrale Piozzi, who preserved her fine faculties, her imagination, her intelligence, her powers of allusion and citation, her extraordinary memory and her almost unexampled vivacity, to the last of her existence … She was, in truth, a most wonderful character for talents and eccentricity, for wit, genius, generosity, spirit and powers of entertainment. She had a great deal both of good and not good, in common with [Madame de Stael Holstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germaine_de_Staël). They had the same sort of highly superior intellect, the same depth of learning, the same general acquaintance with science, the same ardent love of literature, the same thirst for universal knowledge, and the same buoyant animal spirits, such as neither sickness, sorrow, nor even terror, could subdue. Their conversation was equally luminous, from sources of their own fertile minds, and from their splendid acquisitions from the works and acquirements of others. Both were zealous to serve, liberal to bestow, and graceful to oblige; and both were truly high minded in prizing and praising whatever was admirable that came in their way. Neither of them was delicate nor polished, though each was flattering and caressing; but both had a fund inexhaustible of good humour, and of sportive gaiety, that made their intercourse with those they wished to please attractive, instructive, and delightful; And though not either of them had the smallest real malevolence in their compositions, neither of them could ever withstand the pleasure of uttering a repartee, let it wound whom it might, even though each would serve the very person they goaded with all means in their power. Both were kind, charitable, and munificent, and therefore beloved; both were sarcastic, careless, and daring, and therefore feared. #### Miss Seward > Her conversation was that bright wine of the intellect which has no lees[^2]; #### Sir James Fellowes Recorded on the back of the envelope of her final letter to [Sir James Fellowes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Fellowes_(physician)) … > This was the last letter I ever received from my incomparable Friend … The celebrated Hester Lynch Piozzi departed this life in the Evening of the 2d of May 1821 at Sion Row Clifton – a Lodging Place. #### Edward Mangin > She possessed indeed, in everything, the purest taste; the result, in all instances, of a perfectly sound understanding, acute faculties, and much knowledge … one of the most extraordinary and agreeable persons it was ever my good fortune to know … whose equal in most respects, were I still to live as many years as have already passed over me, I might well despair of finding. ### By publications #### The Dictionary of National Biography > [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester]]Hester was a very clever woman well read in English literature. Though her knowledge of other subjects was apparently superficial. Her early experience had given her rather cynical views of life, and she seems to have been rather hard and masculine in character; but she also showed a masculine courage and energy in various embarrassments. Her love of [[Gabriel Piozzi|Piozzi]], which was both warm and permanent, is the most amiable feature of her character. She cast off her daughters as decidedly as she did [[Dr. Samuel Johnson|Dr. Johnson]]Dr. Johnson; but it is impossible not to admire her vivacity and independence. She was short and plump, and if not regularly pretty, had an interesting face[^1]. #### The Gentleman's Magazine > On the 2nd of May, 1821, at her house in St. James's Place, London, in the 82nd year of her age, died Hester Lynch Piozzi, the celebrated authoress of [[0 - Anecdotes of the late Samuel Johnson|Anecdotes of Dr. Johnson]], &c. &c. She was the daughter of John Lynch Salusbury of Bachygraig, in Flintshire, Esq. and was born in 1739. In 1763, she married Henry Thrale, Esq. a wealthy brewer in Southwark, and M.P. for that borough. Mr. Thrale was a man of taste and literature, and his house was the resort of many of the most distinguished literary characters of the day, among whom was [[Dr. Samuel Johnson|Dr. Johnson]], who became one of Mrs. Thrale's most intimate friends. Mr. Thrale died in 1781, and in 1784 Mrs. Thrale married [[Gabriel Piozzi]], an Italian music-master. This marriage was much censured by her friends, and she appears to have regretted it herself. She passed the latter years of her life in retirement, and died as she had lived, a devout Christian." #### The London Literary Gazette > Mrs. Piozzi was a woman of considerable talents and accomplishments. She was well read in English and French literature, and had a good knowledge of Italian. She was also a musician and a singer. Her conversation was lively and sparkling, and she was a most agreeable companion. She was a warm friend, and a devoted daughter and sister. But her most distinguished characteristic was her piety. She was a sincere and devout Christian, and her religion regulated her conduct through life. She died in the full faith of the Gospel, and in the sure and certain hope of a resurrection to eternal life. #### The Edinburgh Monthly Review > Mrs. Piozzi was a woman of uncommon talents and accomplishments. She possessed a strong and masculine understanding, a cultivated taste, and a lively wit. She was also a good scholar, and was well versed in the literature of England, France, and Italy. Her conversation was brilliant and instructive, and her society was courted by the most distinguished persons of her time. But her most distinguished characteristic was her piety. She was a sincere and devout Christian, and her religion regulated her conduct through life. She died in the full faith of the Gospel, and in the sure and certain hope of a resurrection to eternal life. #### The Annual Biography and Obituary > Mrs. Piozzi was a woman of considerable talents and accomplishments. She was well read in English and French literature, and had a good knowledge of Italian. She was also a musician and a singer. Her conversation was lively and sparkling, and she was a most agreeable companion. She was a warm friend, and a devoted daughter and sister. But her most distinguished characteristic was her piety. She was a sincere and devout Christian, and her religion regulated her conduct through life. She died in the full faith of the Gospel, and in the sure and certain hope of a resurrection to eternal life. #### The Morning Post > Mrs. Piozzi was a woman of extraordinary talents and accomplishments. She was a profound scholar, a brilliant wit, and a charming conversationalist. She was also a devout Christian, and her religion was the guiding principle of her life. She was a true friend to the poor and the oppressed, and she was always ready to help those in need. She was a great loss to society, but her memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew her. #### The Times > Mrs. Piozzi was one of the most remarkable women of her age. She was a woman of great intelligence, wit, and charm. She was also a devout Christian, and her religion was the guiding principle of her life. She was a true friend to the poor and the oppressed, and she was always ready to help those in need. She was a great loss to society, but her memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew her. #### The Monthly Review > Mrs. Piozzi was a woman of extraordinary talents and accomplishments. She was a profound scholar, a brilliant wit, and a charming conversationalist. She was also a devout Christian, and her religion was the guiding principle of her life. She was a true friend to the poor and the oppressed, and she was always ready to help those in need. She was a great loss to society, but her memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew her. #### The Quarterly Review > Mrs. Piozzi was a woman of considerable talents and accomplishments. She was well read in English and French literature, and had a good knowledge of Italian. She was also a musician and a singer. Her conversation was lively and sparkling, and she was a most agreeable companion. She was a warm friend, and a devoted daughter and sister. But her most distinguished characteristic was her piety. She was a sincere and devout Christian, and her religion regulated her conduct through life. She died in the full faith of the Gospel, and in the sure and certain hope of a resurrection to eternal life. ## See also ![[hester-lynch-thrale-1741-1821🔎#^hester-lynch-thrale-infoblock]] #history/person/SALUSBURY/hester-lynch-born-1741 #history/person/BURNEY/frances-born-1752 #history/person/MANGIN/edward #history/person/FELLOWES/james/born-1771 ![[Footer#^footer-embed]] [^1]: Dictionary on National Biography. Volume XV 1909. [^2]: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45264.