Part 14 (1/2)
HANNAH MORE.
[BORN 1745. DIED 1833.]
PROFESSOR CRAIK.
The greatest name in the list of female writers on moral and religious subjects in the last century was born in Gloucesters.h.i.+re in 1744. In 1762 she is said to have written her pastoral drama in rhymed verse, ent.i.tled ”The Search after Happiness,” which was immediately performed by the young ladies of the school of which she, with her sister, was the mistress. If it was not much improved before its publication eleven years afterwards, this was certainly a remarkable production for a girl of seventeen. Shortly after the production of this poem, the sisters had prospered sufficiently to enable them to build a house, the first erected in Park Street, Bristol. The order and management of the establishment, together with the superior quality of the education afforded, rendered this school the most celebrated of the kind in the kingdom. It comprised upwards of sixty pupils, and twice the number might have been easily entered had the accommodation admitted.
The person to whom Hannah was indebted for her advancement in critical knowledge and the principles of correct taste was, we are informed, a Bristol linen-draper named Peach. ”He had,” says Mr Roberts, ”been the friend of Hume, who had shown his confidence in his judgment by entrusting to him the correction of his ”History,” in which, he used to say, he had discovered more than two hundred Scotticisms.” ”At the age of twenty,” says Mr Roberts, ”having access to the best libraries in her neighbourhood, she cultivated with a.s.siduity the Italian, Latin, and Spanish languages, exercising her genius and polis.h.i.+ng her style in translations and imitations, especially of the Odes of Horace, and of some of the dramatic compositions of Metastasio.”
One of the most important events in Hannah More's history was her first visit to London. ”The theatre,” it is said in her Life, ”on her arrival in town, was the great point of attraction, and Garrick the great object of curiosity.” Garrick ”was delighted with his new acquaintance, and took pride and pleasure in introducing her in the splendid circle of genius in which he moved. To the royal family, who inquired of him concerning her, he spoke in terms of the most ardent commendation. Mrs Montagu, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Dr Johnson, rapidly succeeded in her acquaintance; and in the course of six weeks (for such was the limit of this visit) she had become intimate with the greatest names in intellect and taste.”
In 1774 she published her tragedy of the ”Inflexible Captive,” altered from Metastasio. The following year it was acted, first in Exeter and then in Bath, with the greatest applause; Garrick on the latter occasion being behind the scenes, and a host of distinguished persons filling the house. Her first publication, ”The Search after Happiness,” had by this time reached a sixth edition, besides having been reprinted in America.
In November 1777 her tragedy of ”Percy” was produced at Covent Garden theatre; Garrick, who had also contributed both the prologue and epilogue, sustaining the princ.i.p.al character. The success of the play was complete, perhaps at that time unsurpa.s.sed. It was translated by the prime minister of France into French, and in a German dress ”Percy”
appeared on the stage of Vienna. Miss More received on the occasion the most flattering honours and distinctions; the whole blood of the Percys did honour to their minstrel. The Duke of Northumberland, Earl Percy, and the editor of the ”Reliques,” all came forward, complimented, and thanked her. An edition of nearly four thousand copies of the play was sold in a fortnight, and the auth.o.r.ess realised on the whole nearly 600. The tragedy of ”Percy,” nevertheless, has now ceased to be acted, and has, it may be apprehended, been read by very few living men.
But Hannah More's exertions in the cause of religion, morality, and civilisation, were not confined to the writing of books, of which she produced a great number, realising to her ultimately 30,000. One of her most meritorious services to the best interests of her country was her establishment of schools for the young throughout the district around her place of residence, the mining region of the Mendip hills, where, till she came among them, the people, taught scarcely anything either by schoolmaster or clergyman, were almost universally in a state of barbarism. Schools upon the same system were established in neighbouring parishes, and in a short time five hundred children were in training in ten schools. Her habitual cheerfulness never forsook her, and in some other respects she was, at near the age of ninety, what many have ceased to be at seventy.
ANNA SEWARD.
[BORN 1747. DIED 1809.]
SIR WALTER SCOTT.
This poetical lady was born in 1747. Her father, the Rev. Thomas Seward, rector of Hyam, in Derbys.h.i.+re, prebendary of Salisbury, and canon residentiary of Litchfield, was himself a poet; and a ma.n.u.script collection of his fugitive pieces is now lying before me, the bequest of my honoured friend, when she entrusted me with the task which I am now endeavouring to discharge. Several of these effusions were printed in Dodsley's collection. Thus accomplished himself, the talents of his eldest daughter did not long escape his complacent observation.
[In 1754, Mr Seward removed with his family to Litchfield.] The cla.s.sical pretensions of this city were exalted by its being the residence of Dr Darwin, who soon distinguished and appreciated the talents of our young poetess. At this time, however, literature was deemed an undesirable pursuit for a young lady in Miss Seward's situation--the heiress of an independent fortune, and destined to occupy a considerable rank in society. Her mother, although an excellent woman, possessed no taste for her daughter's favourite amus.e.m.e.nts; and even Mr Seward withdrew his countenance from them, probably under the apprehension that his continued encouragement might produce in his daughter that dreaded phenomenon--a learned lady.
After the death of Miss Sarah Seward, her sister's society became indispensable to her parents, and she was never separated from them.
Offers of matrimonial establishments occurred, and were rejected in one instance entirely, and in others chiefly from a sense of filial duty. As she was now of an age to select her own society and studies, Miss Seward's love for literature was indulged; and the sphere in which she moved was such as to increase her tastes for its pursuits. Dr Darwin, Mr Day (whose opinions formed singular specimens of English philosophy), Mr Edgeworth, Sir Brooke Boothby, and other names well known in the literary world, then formed part of the Litchfield society. The celebrated Dr Johnson was an occasional visitor of their circles; but he seems, in some respects, to have shared the fate of a prophet in his own country--neither Dr Darwin nor Miss Seward were partial to the great moralist. There was perhaps some aristocratic prejudice in their dislike; for the despotic manners of Dr Johnson were least likely to be tolerated where the lowness of his origin was in fresh recollection. At the same time, Miss Seward was always willing to do justice to his native benevolence, and to the powerful grasp of his intellectual powers, and she possessed many anecdotes of his conversation which had escaped his most vigilant recorders. These she used to tell with great humour, and with a very striking imitation of the sage's peculiar voice, gesture, and manner of delivery.
Miss Seward, when young, must have been exquisitely beautiful; for, in advanced age, the regularity of her features, the fire and expression of her countenance, gave her the appearance of beauty, and almost of youth.
Her eyes were auburn, of the precise shade and hue of her hair, and possessed great expression. In reciting, or speaking with animation, they appeared to become darker, and, as it were, to flash fire. I should have hesitated to state the impression which the peculiarity made upon me at the time, had not my observation been confirmed by that of the first actress of this or any other age, with whom I lately happened to converse on our deceased friend's expressive powers of countenance. Miss Seward's tone of voice was melodious, guided by excellent taste, and well suited to reading and recitation, in which she willingly exercised.
She did not sing, nor was she a great proficient in music, though very fond of it, having studied it later in life than is now usual. Her stature was tall, and her form was originally elegant; but having broken the patella of her knee by a fall in the year 1768, she walked with pain and difficulty, which increased with the pressure of years.
[In 1784, Miss Seward produced a poetical novel, ent.i.tled ”Louisa,”
which became popular, and pa.s.sed through several editions. Her memoirs of the life of Dr Darwin was her last composition. In this she lays claim to the lines at the commencement of ”The Botanic Garden,” though unacknowledged by the author. Her other poems are ”Langollen Vale,” a volume of sonnets, and some paraphrases of Horace. She died in March 1809, leaving Sir Walter Scott her literary executor. Mr Polwhele, in his ”Uns.e.xed Females,” speaks thus: ”Miss Seward's poems are thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.”]
CATHERINE c.o.c.kBURN.