The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-04 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 4, 1861.

BARRETT BROWNING.

The death of Mrs. Browning, announced to u
in • letter from our Turin correspondent, will he
felt as • deep loss not only by a wide circle of attached
friends but by a host of sympathising readers of her true
and noble poetry. She was, beyond all doubt, • born poet.
Itis not enough to say that—regard being had merely to
the artistic qualities of her works—it would be difficult to
name any one of her see who has equalled or even sp
preached her ; it is perhaps higher praise to affirm, as A
may be safely affirmed, that she had in larger measure then
usually belongs to poets of either sex, the strong and
noble instincts towards freedom and humanity, the deep
compassion for suffering, and the burning hatred of
cruelty and wrong, that transform what is else a mere intel-
lectual accomplishment into a source of power to the best
Notts and aspirations of society. Such poems as her
"Cry of the Children," and Tom Hood's "Song of the
Shirt," as scarcely be overvalued for their power to stir a
nation's beak and clear its eyes from the slowly-gathering
film of apathetic routine. The following description of
Mrs. Browning is taken from " Men of the Time" :

A reference to the various works which have given limb..
to the name of this lady an scarcely be better introduced
than by a slight sketch of her pawed eharacteruitios and
history as afforded in the " Literai7 Recollections" of Mire
Mitford. "M find acquaintance," writes this authoress is
1862. "with Barrett commenced fifteen years
age, and she was thee seelataly one of the most interesting '
persons I had ever seen. Of a slight, delicate figure, with a ,
shower of dm* curls falling on either side of a mast expres-
sive face—large, tender eyes, fringed with dark lashes—
a smile like a sunbeam, and such a look of youthfulness,
that I had some difficulty in persuading a friend, in whom
carriage we went to Chiswick, that the translatrees of the
Prometheus' of Sachylus, the author of the 'Essay on
Mind, was, in technical language, ' out.' During my stay
in town we met frequently, and after my return to the
country we corresponded very regularly ; her letters being
just what letters ought to be—her own talk put upon paper.
The next year was a painful one to herself and all who loved
her ; she broke a blood-vessel in the lungs. If there bad
been consumption in the family, that disease would have
supervened; but, happily, she seamed this fatal English
malady. The vernaLlhowever, refund to heal ; and after
attending her for a year at her father's house in Wimple.
street, Dr. Chambers, on the approach of winter, ordered
her to a milder climate. Her eldest brother—a brother in
heart and talent worthy of such a sister—together with
other affectioaate relatives, accompanied her to Torquay ;
and there occurred that fatal event which saddened her
bloom of youth, sad pee • deeper hue of thought and
feeling, especially devotional feeling, to her poetry. Nearly
a year had quest, and the invalid, still attended by her
I scam putate% had derived much benefit from the mild see:
bream dDevouhire. One Gee summer morning, her fa-
vourite brother, together with two ether fine young men,
his friends, embarked ce board • small sailing vessel for a '
trip of • few hours. Excellent sailors all, and familiar with
the scoot, they sent back the boatmen, and undertook them.
! Weft the management of their little craft. Danger WAS not
' dreamt of by any one—indeed, after the catastrophe no or
could divine the cause ; but in a few minutes after their
embarkation, and is sight of their very windows, and just
as they wen etualag nos bar, the boat went down, and all
who were in her ' Even the bodies were sever
fesad. This t y nearly killed Miss Barrett ; she was
age* yeast i
by the horror and grief and a natural,
bat meet wejust feeling, that she bad been s geese sort the
MIMI of ttos great cowry. It was nee email the (snowing
year that she could be removed in an invalid carriage, and
by journeys of twenty miles a day, to her afflicted family
! her London home. Os bier return began the life which
I she esstiosed for so sway years—confined to one large and
aommedises, but darkened chamber, to which only her own
feaßy and a few daubed trierads were admitted. Heading,
mseawidle, absent every beak wank vreenag, is almost
every
eMierae ; studying with ever-fnek deliskt the
kart authors in the arligheal ; ud giving herself
and seal to that poetry ot which she seemed born to
be the priestess." We learn from the soaves whence the
above remarks are derived that Miss Barrett's vocation
displayed itself very early in life ; that she wrote largely
at tea years old, and well at fifteen. Her first important
wry in authorship was a translation of the " Prometheus "
of ./Esehalue, published anonymously in IMO ; her own
VOMllNlCiiidguseet pronounced this attempt a failure, and
It wee, tberefeee, replaced in the collected edition of her
works by as stately new
.o 'fillet:M. Five years later ap-
peared " The Seraphim, —a poem, holding, as it were, an
intermediate position between an ancient Greek tragedy and
a Chyle's& mystery; the idea of which had suggested
itselfdering Ine proems of her labours on the " Promelhene
Bound.* -With it wen associated some miscellaneous
poems, a portico el which bad already appeared in the pages
of periodicals, when they had won (in spite of some ob-
scurity of manner and expression) high appreciation for
their poetic beauty and earnest tone of feeling. Though
chiefly known to the multitude by these productions, Mies
! Barrett also wrote many admirable and erudite prose
articles on the Greek Christian Poeta, and other subjects,
which were considered to afford evidence of uuusuallktekr
insight, and extended Intellectual attainments.
long continuance of that secluded life which has bees
referred to in the Innis of her intimate friend, a gradual
improvement took place in her state of health • and the
beauties and pleasures of the external world, from which
she had beau debarred for years, once more became accessible
to her: Several years ago she became the wife of Robert
Browning, the poet, and immediately after her marriage
accompanied him to Pile. They subsequently removed to
Florence, which has continued to be their permanent hone,
although occasional visits to England have afforded °ppm-
tunity to Mrs. Browising's friends el rejoicing with her in the
poseessios of a lovely hey, sell a renewed measure of health
and strong&two
volu The pubheables is 1850 of her collected
poems, in mes, pee a great impetus to her repute-
WO, sad obtained very general acknowledgment of her
, title to rank, in many points of view, as the first female
peel of the age. A small number of unpublished poems
in this edition, and among them sou " Lady
• Courtship," which has been cited as one of her
happiest
bespiratione An inspiration it might indeed be
isserench as it was written in twelve hours, baying
been required at the last moment to complete the uni-
formity of her volumes, and composed iu haste to save the
packet which was to convey the proof-sheets to America.
In 18:r1 appeared "Casa Guidi Window.," a poem, the
theme of which was the repeated struggle for liberty which
she had opportunities of witnesaieg from the windows of
the Case Guidi, her own Florentine residence. Although
critics have not failed to do full justice to the generous
impulse, fine imagination, and social and political wisdom of
this production, the fantastic and rugged forms in which
the ideas as frequently clothed would be likely to render
It oely partiany acceptable. It is probably by such poems
as the " Poet's Vow," "Catharine to Campus," " Bertha
in the Lane," " Cowper s Grave," and a host of others
which throng upon the memory, that Mrs. Browring will
toads the hearts of bar readers most closely, and it will
be fns them, therefore, that she will denve her most
enduring renown. In 1855 Mrs. Browning published
" Aurora Leigh."
Since "Aurora Leigh " the only published work of Mrs.
Browning'., we believe, is • small volume which eppeared
last year, entitled " Poems before Congress," and which was
briefly noticed in our columns at the time. Gee or two
little pieces of hers have still more recently adorned the
pages of the Contkell Mayazine. In her later poems
eurious and loving students of her verse fancied they could
detect some unconscious reflection—very pleasant to see—of
her gifted husband's thought and style. It is less doubtful
that her love of Italy and her desire for its freedom and in-
dependence were intensified by his well-known passionate
strength of sympathy for that country and that cause. It
takes away something from the pain which them who love
and honour her memory must feel at her loss to remember
that she lived to witness the regeneration, and breathed her
last on the enfranchised soil, of the nation whose redraw
tion had been one of the strongest aspiration. of her noble
heart.

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CONSUMPTION 07 LIGHT WINES.

ROYAL AOJIMULTURAL SOCIETY.-TRILL OP

IMPLEMENTS.

LEEDS, JOLT &

The town selected for this year's meeting of the
Royal Society is generally regarded as purely manufactu-
ring in its character, but it is surrounded, neverthelees,
by an extensive agricultural district, and if the attendance
at and interest tether, in the trial of implements, which is
introductory to the show itself, be considered as any crite-
rion, the society has exercised a wise judgment in visiting
this thriving and populous hive of industry.
The trial of steam cultivators commenced yesterday, and
is expected to occupy about a week. The implements
entered were divided into two classes—the first being for
the beet application of steam power for the cultivation of
the soil, and the second for the same worked by an ordinary
portable engine not exceeding 10-horse power, the prize in
each class being 1001. The land selected for the trials
is admirably adapted for the purpose, and is situate
at Garforth, four or five miles from Leeds.
It consists of 00 acres of light limestone turnip and seed
land, on the farm of Mr. Brady Nicholson, a well-known
agriculturist, and of about 70 SOW (heavy clay subsoil) on
the farm of Mr. Furniss, of Stank-house. The preliminary
experiments are now being made on the softer soil, and
the practical capabilities of the implements will Dube'
quently be more severely tested upon the heavier land,
which has also the additional advantage for the
trial of being slightly rising ground. There were
eleven entries (a larger number than has been
usual)—sia in the fist-class and eve in the second. The
trials of the cultivators had not commenced whoa our pared
was despatched, but they were expected to do so this after-
noon, and will be continued simultaneously with those ei
the steam ploughs. The judges are, Mr. Owes, CA., Mr.
0. Wallace. and Mr. Sewell Read; Mr. Amos being eon•
suiting engineer, and Mr. Gibbs director of the field. The
weather, both yesterday and to-day, wee unsettled,
but there was, notwithstanding, on both days
an unusually large attendance, including the prin-
cipal agriculturists of the surrounding district. Special
trains were run from Leeds every hour, and thousands
availed themselves of the opportunity thus afforded for
witnessing the trials.
With respect to the general exhibition of implements,
we believe that it will be larger than at any previous show,
the entries amounting to upwards of 2,000. The exhibition
will commence on Monday, the 16th instant, and cowls&
on the Friday following.

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PERPETUAL LAND AND BUILDING SOCIETY.

Yesterday evening the 10th annual meeting of
this society was bolded Reales Hotel, New
Blackfnars. At 6 o'clock the chair was tareelitirkaa
Gorr; Faq., New Kent•inad, the chairman sad trustee of
the moiety.
The CLIMAX briefly vned the proceeding's, and called
upon the secretary to read the report
Yr. J. Z. ThiIIIDDZII thee read the 10th lama report,
which stated that the receipts frees all soma in the year
amounted to 117,2881. 21. 2d., whisk MO. Wald to the
receipts of the nine previous years„ mails an segregate of
915,0121. its Bd. It farther staled that 1,01 new shares
had been issued during the yesr. That 31,4921. Va. W.
had been received upon reaboad and subscription far invest-
went) shares, and the balsam standing in the books to
that account was 123,1281. uti. 3d., and 12,2331. 4s. Bd. for
accumulations of intense sad profits. The stun of
34,4391. 6s. Bd., with interest, had been repaid to share-
holders, including amounts paid upon shares, the term of
which expired during the past year. The subscription
share account. had been credited with the amount of
interest provided for in the tablet; whilst upon realised
shares interest at the rate of 46 per neat. had been
paid, or placed to the credit of the respective amount&
'the directors had, from the ascertained surplus profits of
the year's business, added 10 per cent., or 2U41. Bs. to the
reserve fund, which now amounted to 7811. 12e. 3d., and
was invested in Consols. They bad also added to the sob-
scription shares of 12 mr.vlthe or 160111 a buntli NMI to
4 per cent. The sum of 14,2561. odd had been deposited
with the society at 4 per cent., of which 8,751/. odd had been
resolved in sums; 34,1fi0/. odd bad been advanced during
the year, on the mortgage of properties ; and 2,1351. on
tie seserity ad
_shares ; sod the total sans advanced sines
the society ~341,6391. odd. The report
concluded lry congratulating the shareholders on the con-
tinued prosperity of the society.
The (31M1111e411, In moving the adoption of the report,
said it was a fall report and a true report, and touched
upon everything about which the members required infra-
:nation. Upon -all points, especially as regarded the amount
of bonus, and the extensive character of their business,
the society was in a most nourishing 000dition. The dirge-
tors bad gone carefully into the statement of the account.,
and they were able confideotly to declare that they wen
of a most satisfactory character. The bonus on this occa-
sion, as be had been stated, was 4 per cent.—a larger boons
than had yet been given, and that, too, with a stationary
business. Though they had no increase of business, they
had given an increase of bonus. The chairmao concluded
by moving the adoption of the report, which was agreed
to unanimously.
The retiring directors (John Gayer, Req., John Robed
Burton Esq., and Joeeph Burgess, Esq.) were then re-
elected'.

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The retiring auditor (Thomas; Mars, Fag.) was also re-
elected.

The re-elected directors severally returned thanks, and
bore their testimony to the great and satisfactory
which the society had mede since the first year
formation. All the society had to do was to go on in the
etteiginfonrard steady course which it was at present
penning, mid they entertained no doubt that by so acting
the society would be able to announce as good a bonus
rant year as it did at present.
The reelected auditor also returned thanks, and said in
going through the accounts his colleague and himself had
received every assistance from the directors.
The thanks of the meeting were then given to Mr.
Miller, the chairman, that gentleman having succeeded Mr.
(lover during the proceedings.
Mr. Mat= briefly returned thanks.
A cordial vote of thanks wea also passed to the secretary,
Mr. Tresidder, who was complimented for the ability and
xesl he bad shown in promoting the intonate of the societ).
Mr. TRIMIDDER expressed hie acknowledgments for the
compliment, when the business terminated.