continued to sustain them, until death, in the path of duty
and of honour.

Among statesmen, lawyers, and divines, we find marked mention made
of the mothers of Lord Chancellors Bacon, Erskine, and Brougham--
all women of great ability, and, in the case of the first, of
great learning; as well as of the mothers of Canning, Curran, and
President Adams--of Herbert, Paley, and Wesley. Lord Brougham
speaks in terms almost approaching reverence of his grandmother,
the sister of Professor Robertson, as having been mainly
instrumental in instilling into his mind a strong desire for
information, and the first principles of that persevering energy
in the pursuit of every kind of knowledge which formed his
prominent characteristic throughout life.

Canning's mother was an Irishwoman of great natural ability, for
whom her gifted son entertained the greatest love and respect to
the close of his career. She was a woman of no ordinary
intellectual power. "Indeed," says Canning's biographer, "were we
not otherwise assured of the fact from direct sources, it would be
impossible to contemplate his profound and touching devotion to
her, without being led to conclude that the object of such
unchanging attachment must have been possessed of rare and
commanding qualities. She was esteemed by the circle in which she
lived, as a woman of great mental energy. Her conversation was
animated and vigorous, and marked by a distinct originality of
manner and a choice of topics fresh and striking, and out of the
commonplace routine. To persons who were but slightly acquainted
with her, the energy of her manner had even something of the air
of eccentricity." (9)