This is gracefully said, and we know it to be the expression of genuine feeling. Until her sixteenth year, Miss Browne had not been absent from her home at The Elms for any length of time; but the sum- Her visits to town, which hitherto had mer and autumn of the year 1828 were been few and far between, became now passed at Swansea, in Wales. The con- more frequent and of longer continuance. trast between the soft beauties of Berkshire, At Mr. Jerdan's house, Brompton, she was and the wild but picturesque scenery of a welcome guest; and with his daughters, South Wales, must have powerfully affected her own equals in age, she was in habits of her mind. Now, for the first time, she intimacy. Another friend, who received made acquaintance with the ocean, and the her with the greatest kindness, was the lone sternness of stupendous mountain gifted painter, Martin. His evening recepscenery; and new ideas must have been tions were crowded with the most emigathered in from the contemplation of these, nent cognoscenti in the Fine Arts, and everythe mightiest works in nature. On leaving thing going on in the world of letters was Wales, she returned, not to the early home familiarly canvassed there by celebrated of her childhood, but to a new residence at names. Some of our readers will remem-. Isleworth, distant about twelve miles from ber the late Dr. Borthwick Gilchrist's conLondon. Worton Lodge, where, during versaziones, and to such, a mere allusion her absence, the family had removed to, will be sufficient; to others, however, we was a large mansion, a short time previously may explain that this gentleman, a Scot, in occupation of Lord James Hay. Judg- having realized, in India, a princely fortune, ing from letters written at the time, the settled in London, and in the season threw change was not made without much sacri- open his rooms to poets, painters, and aufice of feeling. To her early home and its thors of all grades. Here, too, the young beautiful vicinage, her thoughts returned poetess made the personal acquaintance of with untiring fondness, and like all other many eminent litterateurs. We may not memories of deprivation, when hallowed omit mention of leal-hearted Allan Cunand softened by time, they afforded calm ningham, at whose hands our young mindelight in their contemplation. Alluding strel met much friendly attention; nor of to this capability of deriving happiness that good man, Professor Rennie, who forfrom the recollection of beloved, but far-warded her views to the utmost of his power. away, scenes, we find her, many years afterwards, saying: Indeed, we are not to wonder at the general feeling of admiration she created; for, "Often in the crowded city, in the solitude of my apart from authorship, and the fame it little apartment, in the still deeper solitude of sick- had brought her, her manners and appearness, have I thanked God for this power of drawing ance, at this time, were highly prepossesspleasure and beauty from a spring that never fails. ing. A brunette, with large, dark eyes, Scenes beheld years ago, picturing incidents even in the days of childhood, arise before me again, and softened by a shade of melancholy-the ever with unwearying solace. There are some old richest profusion of raven ringlets-feascenes beheld in early childhood which I always re-tures, pleasing if not decidedly handsomecall with pleasure. There is a kind of magic about and a graceful figure; to these attractions them, probably the effect of the fresh heart and feelings I brought to their enjoyment, which those of future days do not possess so completely." Again "To me the world is full of the picturesque. Ever since I can remember I have been continually storing my memory with scenes and fragments of scenery which at the time have given the idea of pictures. My childhood was peculiarly rich in visions of beauty. Fairy tales I read, until my heated imagination conjured up the highly colored and unnatural scenes they described. In the lovely world without, The Beautiful met me at every turn -it glanced upon me from every flower-there seemed to be a beauty pervading everything around me, an impalpable spirit that hallowed all." minded me that it is Miss Browne's father, who is in the habit of coming to London. Him I shall be equally delighted to see, provided he can bring me some specimens of the productions of his talented daughter." The were added a winning address-a guileless * Sterne. spirits-it tinged, with a morbidness hi- dearest companions wild birds and flowers; therto unknown, her very poetry. Alluding L. E. L. had been nurtured wholly in the to some verses of this kind she had sent city, which she loved as devotedly as did the Literary Gazette, for the opening num- Dr. Johnson or Charles Lamb. We do not ber of 1830, the editor, in the true spirit desire to form any contrast of comparison, of a well-wisher, remonstrated on this evil which might disparage either, and shall not tendency:enlarge on their differences of character. "I was sorry," he wrote, "I did not see you the Miss Landon came to visit her friend at other day, and more sorry to insert your very affect-Worton Lodge, on the latter's return, of ing verses in the Literary Gazette. But, my dear which we have before spoken; and here girl, you must not yield to feelings of morbid me- the acquaintance, begun amid the gaiety of ancholy, nor indulge too far in imaginative sorrows. You are too young, I trust, for real ones; yet these London, ripened into sincere attachment. Lines appear to be too much grafted on excited sensi- The more I know L. E. L.,” she enthubility. I entreat you, as a friend, not to suffer vague siastically wrote to a friend, "the more I notions of love or mystical exhalations of religion like her." to misguide your mind. The earthly passion unlooked-for tidings of that young being's Years afterwards, when the ought to be beautiful and cheering to you, and the heavenly one consolatory and soothing. What decease on a foreign strand were brought have you to do with images of death? Be natural, home, the tide of her friend's affection be happy, and let your genius take its fair and plea- poured itself forth in a Lament of which sant way." we must quote a few stanzas :— This was wise counsel, reflecting all honor on the well-minded giver, for which reason he will pardon our quoting him, without his definite permission to do so; and it was received with the thankfulness we should have looked for. "I think Jerdan," the diary of the same date remarks, a kindhearted man. His last letter to me proves it." A return to her quiet country home induced a restoration of her olden tranquillity, and brought back health to her mind and body. Her own intense delight at her deliverance from what was felt a thraldom, is sufficiently seen in the following extract: "I knew thee first when early dreams "Thy lays were read in solitude, And praised with silent tears, "I met thee in thy palmiest days, I was a passing dream to thee- "I never felt such a palpable revolution of thought and feeling as took place on my journey here. Between Brentford and Isleworth, London seemed a dizzy dream. I was like a bird of the Mr. Browne's family removed to the air restored from captivity to my native element. north of England in the summer of 1831. I put down both windows of the Their first residence was at Bootle, a vilcoach, and let the sweet air breathe in on me, and it brought my old feelings back with a thrill glad-lage on the Mersey, in the immediate videning like the breath of spring." cinity of Liverpool. Here they remained only for a brief period, the locality having It was about this time, Miss Browne's been found inconvenient; and it was deemthird volume, Repentance and other Poems, ed advisable to remove into Liverpool, appeared. The pieces were chiefly reli- where a house was taken in Soho-street, gious; and among them were several that then in the outskirts, but now, we believe, have since become favorites with the pub-swallowed up by the encroachments of the lic, such as "The Sleepers," "Thy King- leviathan of towns. dom come," "Who loves me best?" and Liverpool cannot be said to rank high. As a literary place, others of a similar caste. It About this time, is an exchange, an emporium for the westtoo, she met and became acquainted with ern world, a scene of unending trafficking, the late Miss Landon, who was then in the the Tyre of England; but it is not a locale zenith of her fame. It was strange that where mind predominates, or where booktwo who differed so widely in almost every habit of thought, should have become such fast friends. Our young poetess was the creature of the country, having for her lovers are in a majority. Miss Browne's new house was, as might be looked for, in consequence, deficient in those intellectual delights which she knew so well to appreci ate. Alluding to the subject, at a period long subsequent, she thus wrote :-"I can myself speak feelingly on the subject of literary isolation. Residing for the last twelve years at a distance from the metropolis; cut off almost entirely from the society or correspondence of literary persons, and with few acquaintances possessing even literary taste, I have found my intellectual life a continual striving against the stream-an effort at self-sustenance almost beyond my powers. Had I not loved lite rary employment very deeply and very dearly for its own sake, I should long ago have thrown down my pen in despair, and abandoned a pursuit, with which those, by whom I was surrounded, had so little sympathy." Still Liverpool was highly advantageous to our author as a dwelling-place, and produced on her mind the happiest influences. She found there many estimable friends, and some not unknown to fame. Among "Oh, blest embracing, thronging Hurrah! "Why clink'st thou thus for pleasure, My sword, why clink'st thou thus ? "Well, well may I be thrilling: My hope's resistless glow, Hurrah!" the most valued were the gifted Chorleys, of Saint Anne-street, and Dr. Shelton Mackenzie, who, "of all her literary friends," she used to say, "knew her mind the best." Previous to her change of residence, she had been for some time in correspondence with Mr. W. B. Chorley, chiefly in relation to the Winter's Wreath, an Annual under his superintendence, to which she had often contributed. The opportunity, long wished for on both sides, of a better acquaintance than by letters, was now presented, and many delightful hours A series of Fairy Tales for fireside amusewere spent with the members of this inte- ment was commenced-each member of the resting family. Such meetings, too, were little coterie to furnish his or hers in an enhanced by the occasional presence of appointed succession. One of these, writkindred spirits, like Miss Jewsbury (after- ten by Miss Browne, found its way anonywards Mrs. Fletcher), the Howitts, Mrs. mously to our own pages,* and its after fate S. C. Hall, and other talented writers. deserves recording. A German lady, who Miss Browne's attention was directed by had travelled in Ireland, gave it in her the same friends to the wealth of German" Tour" for a legend she had picked up literature; and the proficiency she ere long herself among our peasantry; and Mr. made in its study, induces only the regret Shoberl, unaware of its true origin, rethat her time and thoughts were not suffi- translated it into English for the Forget ciently free to enable her to devote herself Me Not of 1845 (pp. 205-220), where it systematically to its full acquisition. Out duly re-appeared after its twofold transmuof a few translations we select one speci- tation. This graceful little story was Miss men, a spirited version of Theodore Kör-Browne's first contribution to our Maganer's famous zine. & SWORD SONG. "Sword! on my left side gleaming, 'Tis joy to gaze on thee. Hurrah! Liverpool was destined, also, in the wisest hands, to lead her mind to a change, the greatest she had yet experienced, because it related to higher things than of this world-the most extensive, because it brought a happiness, not based on excite*The Fairy Shoe. UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE, January, 1839. ment, and which remained with her latter In the month of May of the following year, end. Her mind had been always serious, she visited Cork, and received such agreeand her respect for divine things full and able impressions of its beautiful neighborunfeigned. But religion, hitherto, had hood, as afterwards to select it for a resibeen with her too much of a natural cha- dence, when she came to dwell in Ireland. racter the tribute of a spirit that saw on Four or five years had now elapsed since every side a beautiful world, and, without the publication of Repentance, but silence knowing Him, worshipped its Maker. was now broken by the appearance of a Were this the place to analyse such impres- small volume of poetry, called The Coronal, sions, or ours the pen to do it, we might, in which was issued in 1833, during her Cork showing their commonness, fitly designate visit. In 1834, a companion volume, The them the religion of the Imagination"- Birthday Gift, was published; and, along the most perilous, because the most fasci- with its predecessor, immediately attained nating to young, ardent minds. How much the honor of a second edition. The pieces have all its followers to unlearn, before contained in the latter were, as Mr. Wordsthey become wise! Our highly-endowed worth kindly wrote of them to a mutual friend was now to exchange fancy for faith, friend-" remarkable both for tenderness and submit her reason to the mysteries of and poetical spirit." "We have read," Revelation. She did so, and she thus the amiable bard goes on to say, “and found peace-the peace that passes under- been much pleased with, the animated piece standing. This was in the summer of 1832. in which the course of a river is traced from Narrow as our limits are, we cannot its fountain to the sea. This was not less bring ourselves to suppress an incident interesting to me, on account of its remindwhich closely followed this change we have ing me of Coleridge's intention of writing a spoken of. On a visit to Chester, made at poem to be called, The Brook, and of my this time, Miss Browne was introduced to own Duddon." We need scarcely add, the the Rev. Mr.- a well known Socinian praise so gently given was always referred clergyman of the place. He started the to by Miss Browne, as furnishing one of her controverted theme, which she now felt to happiest recollections in reference to her be her all in all, and argued with all the little book. skill of a practised debater against its Ignatia, her next volume, was published truth. But he failed in confuting the sim- in 1838; and was, at the time, reviewed in ple and scriptural replies of his youthful our own pages (August, 1839, pp. 171opponent; and at last, he requested a 173). In preference, therefore, to any written statement of her positions, promis- repetition of our own critical judgment, we ing to overturn every one of them in a select a few passages from a letter, written written reply. We have perused the trea- to the author, on the appearance of her new tise on Christian Evidences, which was publication, by a highly distinguished drawn up in consequence, and admire its friend. The poem,' ," he wrote, "is a cogency of reasoning, no less than its happy very beautiful one, and nobly sustained and conciliating tone. Women, it is said, throughout. I doubted not that you could are but poor adepts in the science of induc- write as you have written, but I did doubt tion, because they reach the conclusion your ability to concentrate your thoughts as before they have well-nigh established the you have done, and to fuse them down. . . premises. But here nothing is anticipated It is clear that you have been severely -nothing is strained. The arrangement critical upon yourself, and quite as clear is lucid, and the accumulation of proof, to that you have gained by it. What I mean a candid mind, irresistible. A copy was is this-there is scarcely a line too much in laid before Mr. , according to his the poem. . . . I admire the exquisite harrequest, but there was no reply. The dis- mony of Ignatia. I cannot find any defect puter remained silent. in the rhythm. The measure is suited to This same summer of 1832 was memo- the earnestness of the subject, for which a rable as bringing with it the first of those dancing measure would be as out of place visits to Ireland, which were almost annu- as a Fool's cap and bells upon a Philosoally repeated, until her permanent settle-pher. But one thing pains me to think ment here ten years after, consequent on what terrible experiences your mind must her marriage. On this first occasion she have had, to be able to describe them so landed at Warrenpoint, and made a pleas- well." This last is in allusion to the heroant sejour with some friends near Newry. ine's sorrows, who, disappointed in her husband's fidelity, carries with her a broken | boy stanzas are its general characteristics, heart to the grave. while to these are too often joined those In the year 1839, she took her place irreverent expressions of erratic rapture, among our own contributors, as we have which Heber well declared to be painful before incidentally mentioned; and from almost as the profanities of the common that time forth her literary history will be swearer. Sacred poetry should be "poetry," chiefly gathered from our pages. Without in the most exalted sense of that exalted offensively alluding to ourselves, we may word. It demands the highest efforts of take on us to assert that her best poetry the Muse, and when it fails to receive them, was that given to our own Magazine. It it perishes through its own inanity. And was her latest, her best finished, that in its scope should be emphatically "sacred;" which her ripened genius displayed all its hallowed fire must first touch the lips of the richness; and upon it assuredly the main poet, ere he breaks silence. No Uzzah foundation of her fame must rest. In the hand should be put forth to grasp the ark August of this year she commenced for us of God, even with the plea of supporting a series of prose tales, entitled "Recollec-it. The praise we bestow on Miss Browne's tions of a Portrait Painter," which were little volume is this, that it adheres to the continued at intervals until they amounted double rule. It is poetry of a high order, to about a dozen in number. These sketches, and a holy character. Much of its conwe have been assured, were all founded on tents bring to one's mind the fervid pleadtruth; and the writer, under the guize of a ing of our own elder poets; and we might professed artiste, embodied memories brought point to the "Prayer for Spiritual Life," from her own childhood or after years. The and "Praise and Prayer," as possessing "Recollections" had their faults, and faults the unction of excellent George Herbert. of that nature that we often desired the stories themselves untrue; they were at times painful to read, because too much unrelieved by any bright tints. Each was a miniature tragedy, which we gazed on until we were "brimful of horrors." Some, of course, were less distressing than others; but the pervading hues were all too sombre, and the dark passions in man and woman introduced overmuch on the canvas. When we criticise, with such plainness of speech, what we ourselves gave to the world, it follows that many beauties to counterbalance these faults, must have existed in the sketches. And such we believe the case. They possess vigor, pathos, and skill in analysation of character, united with much knowledge of human nature. The stories all have their unobtrusive moral; for the sorrows that gather round the chief actors in them are shown to have been in every" Recollections" from our own pages (the instance"the fruit of their own doings." A tiny volume of Sacred Poetry was the next addition to Miss Browne's publications. It appeared in 1840, and was not unworthy of any of its predecessors. Few save those who have thought and felt much, and whose souls are filled with the sense of the sublimity of the theme, and the incapability of man to honor it aright, know the difficulties of sacred poetry. By a strange anomaly, which we have no inclination to investigate here, no verse is more common in our own day than that which is miscalled "religious;" but bald rhymes and school Miss Browne's marriage took place in the latter end of 1842, and soon after she came to reside at Sunday's Well, in the beautiful environs of Cork. We have conscientiously abstained in this sketch, hitherto, from any unwarrantable intrusion into the things of "home;" and now that we draw near its close, we have no desire to depart from this simple rule of propriety. Suffice it then, that by her union with one who understood her worth, and appreciated her talents, she found all the happiness that we are capable of knowing on this side the grave. Her studies were continued with renewed ardor, and their fruit was shown in numerous contributions to the Annuals, Chambers' Journal, our own, and other periodicals. Many engagements were also sent to her from American publishers; and a reprint of her poems at Boston, with the latter, of course, anonymously), met with a ready sale. She had many kind friends in the United States, who had, by making her writings known, done much to create the popularity her name enjoyed in that country; among them it would be unpardonable to omit mentioning the late Mr. B. B. Thatcher, and Pierpont, the poet. A new volume of verse, chiefly collected from this Magazine, called Sketches from the Antique, and other Poems,* was issued by Mrs. Gray, *Shall we not be forgiven some egotism, when we indulge in it less for our own sake than our friend's? The "Embroideress at Midnight," re |
