t_, p.
750.). Lieut.-Col. Barton, usually called her husband, was her brother. The
pedigrees published by Turnor recognise this fact: Swift distinctly states
it, and Rigaud proves it in various ways in letters to Baily, which lately
passed through my hands on their way to the Observatory at Greenwich. The
mistake ought never to have been made, for _Mrs. C. Barton_ (as she was
usually denominated) must, according to usage, have been reputed single so
long as her Christian name was introduced.

Mrs. C. Barton married Mr. Conduitt, then or afterwards Newton's assistant,
and his successor: this marriage probably took place in 1718, the year in
which Newton introduced Conduitt into the Royal Society. Among the Turnor
memorials of Newton, now in possession of the Royal Society, is a watch
leaving the inscription "Mrs. C. Conduitt to Sir Isaac Newton, January,
1708." This date cannot be correct, for Swift in 1710, Halifax in 1712,
Flamsteed in 1715, and Monmort in 1716, call her Barton: all but Flamsteed
were intimate acquaintances. Any one who looks at the inscription will see
that it is not as old as the watch: it is neither ornamented nor placed in
a shield or other envelope, while the case is beautifully chased, and has
an elaborate design, representing Fame and Britannia examining the portrait
of Newton. Moreover, "Mrs. Conduitt" would never have described herself as
"Mrs. C. Conduitt."

Montague was not, so far as usual accounts state, what even in our day
would be called a libertine. He married the Countess of Manchester (the
widow of a relative) before his entry into public life, and was deeply
occupied in party politics and fiscal administration. I am told that
Davenant impugns his morals: this may be the exception which proves the
rule; some of the lampoons directed against the Whig minister are
preserved, and these do not attack his private character in the matter
under allusion, so far as I can learn.

All the cotemporary evidence yet adduced as to the relation between Lord
Halifax and Catherine Barton, is contained in one sentence in the _Life_ of
the former, two codicils of his will, and one allusion of Flamsteed's. The
_Life_, with the will attached, was appended to two different publications
of the works of Halifax, in 1715 and 1716. The passage from the _Life_ is
as follows (p. 195.):

"I am likewise to account for another Omission in the Course of this
History, which is that of the Death of the Lor