world at large, she felt for the firm and benevolent character of the dauntless navigator, and for his tragical end. As her fame increased, she had also the pleasure of extending her acquaintance among those who were candidates for literary reputation, with whom she maintained, through life, a constant correspondence. In 1782, she published a poetical novel, entitled, "Louisa,” which was favourably received, and passed rapidly through several editions. This was followed by a volume of original sonnets, which were intended to restore the strict rules of the legitimate sonnet, and most undoubtedly contain some beautiful examples of that species of composition. In 1804, the death of Dr. Darwin, who had encouraged the first notes of her lyre, and from whom, perhaps, it had borrowed some of its peculiar intonations, induced Miss Seward to give the public a biographical sketch of her early friend. It ought, however, to have been entitled, anecdotes of the early part of his life, and of the society at Litchfield, while it was his place of residence. In this publication, she laid her claim to the first fifty verses in the Botanic Garden, which she had written in compliment to Dr. Darwin, and which he had inserted in his poem without any acknowledgment. From this period, she did not undertake any extensive works, but continued to pour forth her poetical effusions upon such occasions as interested her feelings, or excited her imagination. These efforts were, however, unequal to those of her earlier muse. Age was now approaching with its usual attendants, declining health, and the loss of friends, summoned from the stage before her. Yet her interest in literature and poetry continued unabated, and she continued an unre laxed correspondence, not only with her former friends, but with those later candidates for poetical distinction, whose exertions she approved of. Among these, she distinguished with her highest regard, Mr. Robert Southey, the present Poet Laureate of Great Britain. For a year or two preceding 1807, she set about arranging and preparing for the press, her poetical works and correspondence, which, after her death, was published by Sir Walter Scott, in nine volumes, octavo. on the 25th March, 1809. She died SHERIDAN. FRANCES SHERIDAN, whose maiden name was Chamberlaine, was born in Ireland of respectable parents, in the year 1724. She first distinguished herself by a small pamphlet published relative to a dispute between the proprietors of the Dublin theatre. Struck with the superior powers of her mind, Mr. Sheridan solicited her hand in marriage, which he obtained. It is said her amiable disposition was equal to the brilliancy of her understanding. In private life, she was beloved, esteemed, and admired, for she possessed all those qualifications which engage the affections, and excite a mixture of admiration and delight. Her admirable domestic tale of Sydney Biddulph, is well known, and justly esteemed by the public. She was also the author of a small romance, entitled, “Nourjahad,” which possesses considerable merit. She likewise wrote two comedies, "The Discovery," and "The Dupe;" the latter published in 1765. After lingering some years in ill health, she died at Blois, in the south of France, where she went for her health, in the year 1767. SMITH. CHARLOTTE SMITH, a celebrated female writer, was the daughter of Nicholas Turner, Esq., a gentleman of Sussex, England, and was born about the year 1749. At Bignor Park, the seat of her father, she passed her earliest years, amidst scenery which had nursed the fancies of Otway and Collins, and where every charm of nature seems to have left the most lively and distinct impression on her mind. From her twelfth to her fifteenth year, she resided in London, where she was introduced into various society. In her sixteenth year she married a Mr. Smith. In a few years afterwards, an unexpected transition took place in his affairs, and she had the misery of experiencing all those mortifications which are attached to an involvement in debt. It was during this period of her husband's imprisonment, which Mrs. Smith unrepiningly shared with him, that she first devoted her thoughts to literature, and flattered herself with the hope of obtaining a temporary support for her children through the medium of the press. Those beautiful little poems which have immortalized her name, were written without an idea of their ever appearing in print, but merely to amuse a mind that seemed to be anticipating the cruel stroke of adversity which it was soon destined to sustain. The following sonnet to her children, taken from the collection printed in 1784, composed long before she was assailed by misfortune, proves that she apprehended that the brilliant prospects which surrounded them, would soon be overcast; the sensations of a mo ther are so affectingly described, that it is impossibe to resist the desire of extracting it from her works. "Sighing, I see yon little group at play, O happy age! when hope's unclouded ray, Making them rue the hour that gave them birth, After having, for seven months, experienced all the miserable scènes of a prison, the creditors, by her exertions principally, liberated her husband; they then directed their course to her brother's house in Sussex. "After the scenes I had witnessed, and the apprehensions I had suffered," says this unfortunate female, "how deliciously soothing to my wearied spirits was the soft pure air of the summer's morning, breathing over the dewy grass, as we passed over the Surrey heaths! My native hills at length burst upon my view! I beheld; once more the fields where I had passed my happiest days, and amidst the perfumed turf with which one of those fields was strewn, perceived with delight the beloved group from whom I had been so long divided, and for whose fate my affections were ever anxious; the transports of this meeting was too much for my exhausted spirits; yet after all my sufferings, I began to hope I might taste content, or experience, at least, a respite from calamity." Vain was the hope, illusive the expectation, her trials and disappointments were far from complete; the supposed friends of her husband became his persecutors, and he was compelled to fly from his native land! They passed a dreary winter in upper Normandy, and the next year Mrs. Smith returned, and so far succeeded with the creditors, as to enable her husband to return to England; and soon after, they removed to Sussex. It now became necessary to exert her faculties again as a means of support; and she translated a little novel of Abbé Prevost; and made a selection of extraordinary stories from "Les Causes Celebres" of the French, which she entitled "The Romance of Real Life." Soon after this, she was once more left to herself by a second flight of her husband abroad; and she removed with her children to a small cottage in another part of Sussex, whence she published a new edition of her sonnets, with many additions, which afforded her a temporary relief. In this retirement, stimulated by necessity, she ventured to try her powers of original composition in a novel, called "Emmeline, or the Orphan of the Castle," 1788. "This," says her biographer, "displayed such a simple energy of language, such an accurate and lively delineation of character, such a purity of sentiment, and such exquisite scenery of a picturesque and rich, yet |