MARY, an English lady who was an eminent writer, was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the year 1663. Her father, who was a merchant, committed the education of his daughter to her uncle, who was a clergyman. Convinced of the general injury done to young ladies at that period by the deficiency of their education, he taught her the Latin and French languages, and instructed her in the principles of logic, mathematics, and natural philosophy. Having spent 20 years of her life in Newcastle, she retired to London, where she continued the pursuit of her studies; and, deeply affected with the general ignorance of her sex, she employed the first fruits of her pen to rouse them to a proper emulation, in a work, "A serious Proposal to the Ladies, wherein a Method is offered for the Improvement of their Minds," printed in 1700, at London 1697. The chief object of that book was to erect a seminary for female education. A certain lady, supposed to be the queen, formed the design of devoting 10,000l. to this honourable purpose; but Bishop Burnet having suggested, that it would have too much the appearance of a nunnery, the design did not take effect.

Disappointed in the article of marriage with an eminent clergyman, she next wrote a book entitled "Reflections on Marriage," which was published in 1700. This lady was a zealous advocate for the religious system commonly called orthodox; and in politics, defended the doctrine of nonresistance. About this time she published some controversial pieces, among which are the following: "Moderation truly stated;" "A Fair Way with the Dissenters;" "An Impartial Enquiry into the causes of the Rebellion;" and "A Vindication of the Royal Martyrs;" all printed in 4to in 1704. Her most finished performance was, "The Christian religion as professed by a Daughter of the Church of England," published in 1705, in a large octavo volume. Dr Waterland speaks of this book in very favourable terms; and such was the intrepidity of this lady, that she has attacked both Locke and Tillotson in the controversial part. In the evening of her life Mrs Astell was attacked with the severe disease of a cancer in her breast; the amputation of which she bore with singular fortitude. At the advanced age of 63 she died in the year 1731.

Mrs Astell appears to have been a woman of uncommon talents as a writer and scholar; rigid in her principles, and austere in her manners. Since a new era of female education has commenced, such an author as Mrs Astell would have attracted little notice; but at a period of society when few women could read, and scarcely any could write, it was highly honourable for a female to suggest hints, however imperfect, for the improvement of female education. It may farther be remarked, that it deserves to be mentioned, that about a century ago a lady informed the public by her pen, that "women, who ought to be retired, are for this reason designed for speculation," and that "great improvements might be made in the sciences, were not women enviously excluded from this their proper business." Deeming her time more valuable than to be wasted by trifling visitors, and abhorring the practice of teaching servants to lie, she would humorously accost such visitors by saying, "Mrs Astell is not at home." (Gen. Biog.)