Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-04-28
PROVIDENCE.
LITERARY LADIES.

We take great pleasure in presenting to our
readers, the annexed sketches Of eminent Lit
erary Ladies, who have acquired no ordinary
fame by their productions and genius And
whilst we are pleased, in having an opportunity
presented, which allows us to introduce to our
readers a class Of females, who will be remem-
bered whilst literature is honored, we are proud
to say, that one Of them is native of America,
and has offered to the world, works which will
not shrink from a comparison with any that
have thus far been issued from the British Press
That we have among us literary females Of
unquestionable talents has already been proved
to the satisfaction of the world, and we take
pride in saying that this town, has the honor of
possessing two or three, who, if they possess
ed little more nerve, and would venture upon
the "seas Of Literary trouble" would be
quickly claimed by the coteries Of polite liter
atnre, and soon gain for themselves good de-
gree of " honest fame" Should either of the
ladies to whom allude, observe these remarks
and apply them to themselves, as they may
without subjecting themselves to the charge
of vanity-we hope they will be induced
! to grace the humble columns Of our periodical,
with the rich emenations of their pens There
is in Boston, young Lady, who has OCCASION
ally ventured her productions on the world,
and has published two novels, which have been
we'll received by the public, and we should have
taken the liberty, to add her name and biog-
raphy to the subjoined sketches, if we were not
fearful that she would take exceptions to such
a course. But although we now abstain from
doing so, we hope we shall be PERMITTED to
crafty ourselves and the public hereafter. But
! lest we exhaust the patience of our readers, we
proceed to the sketches, and have only to
regret more that they are not here and COM
petc
CATHARINE SEDGWICK,
Author oftwo very popular novels, the 'New
! England Tale, 4" and Redwood" )" is the daugh-
ter Of Judge Sedgwick, and was born at Stock
| bridge, Massa chusetts, in the year 1898. She
| is deservedly ranked among the most elegant
! prose writers Of the day; and is understood to
be now engaged in the preparation of a series
of Tales, founded on scenes in New England.
MARIA EDGEWORTH
Is the daughter Of Richard Lowell Edge
worth, Esq of fEdgeworth-town, Ireland, gem
tlcman distinguished in the literary world for
/ his talents and writings. The daughter is said
TO excel her parent in talents che ha- devoted
herself to literary pursuits with zeal and uItcur.
! One of her objects has been to perfect the sys-
| tenn of female education, in which she has in
! part succeeded. AS q novel-writcr, she ranks
| among the most eminent; and the Irish char
! acter has never been drawn with equal truth
! end spirit by any other writer. Her publica-
| tions which are numerous, have been well re-
! ccivcd on both sides Of the Atlantic
MRS. OPIE.
This lady was born in 177l. She is the
daughter of DR.. Anderson, an eminent physician
of Norwich. She early evinced superior tai
cnts, by composing poems and descriptive pic
ces, at an age when young ladies have not usll-
ally finished their education In 1898 she mar
ried Mr.. Opie, celebrated painter; and soon
after his death, in 1908, she published me-
mor of his life, prcfixed to the lectures he had
read at the Royal Academy. BY this and 9TH
er publications, she has acquired considerable
reputation, both 4 prose and poctcal wri-
| ter.
MRS. SIDDONS
Is the daughter of Mr.. r. Kemble. She was
! born about the year l749 This lady COM
| menced her career singer, but she soon
relnquished that employment, and attempted
| tragedy. On her appearance at Drury-Lanc
! theatre, in 1882, her success was complete;
the public were astonishcd at her powers, and
| she was acknowledged to be the first tragic ac-
tress of the age For more than twenty years
she retained her high rank as an actress, and
continued, during that period, TO enchant the
| lovers of the drama. She also possesses con-
| cilnra hIp MORT N "a Spulpfnr Mrs Siduops In {
accumulated an ample property, with which
| she has retired from the stage to the quiet of
domestic life
| JANE AND ANN MARIA PORTER.
| These ladies are sisters, and daughters of Sir
[ Robert Porter. They have long held a high
rank among the female nove-writcrs Of the
day. The former has written "Thaddcus of
Warsaw" "The Scottish Chiefs and other
works, which have been well received by the
public, and very extensively read. The young
er sister has published "The Hungarian Broth
ers," "The Recluse of Norway and, more
recently. the " Fast of Saint Magdalcn." Un-
til the appearance of that splendid series of
works, the Waverly novels, these sisters had
gained great degree of popularity. They
have, however, with others, been obliged to
yield to the unrivalled merits of the "Great
+ Unknown"
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD.
This lady is the daughter of the Rev. John
Aiken, an English dissenting clergyman, and
wife of the Rev. r. Barbauld, master of a
school in Norfolk. She was born in the year
1884, and was carly instructed in the Latin and
| Greek languages by her father She is distin-
guished for her numerous writings, which have
gained her great celebrity. She is now far
advanced in life and yet retains great vigour,
both of intellect and of body. As writer of