Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-12-28
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COMMUNICATED.

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COMMUNICATED.
Mr.. SSowpEN: There is common saying
tina, s.. We must no from home to hear news"
Was torcibly reminded IF this in reading in the
Quarterly Review U.Ondon) an account OF rare
|, gifted Young lady ofour own country. Of whom
i mad never heard syllable before. The ac-
count is contained in review of a work entitled
Amir Khan and other poems: the remains Of
Lucretia Maria Davidson, who died at Platts-
burg. n. Y. August D, 1925, aged 10 years
and IL months. With biographical sketch
bv Samuel F. B. Morse, A. NJ" and though
the editor of the Review above mentioned, is sui
fl iently prvjudiced and severe, in his animal
versions upon the Government Of the United
States, and upon the manners and customs of the
people vet he seems, in this instance at least, to
70 have been fully sensible of individual merit.
The whole of the article Is interesting, but It Is
too long for insertion in your paper. will there
fore, for the amusement Of YOUR readers, offer
them short sketch.
..Lucretia Maria Davidson was born Sept. q.
1908. at Plattsburgh on Lake Champlaln. her
parents we're in stiaitened circumstances, and It
was necessary from an early age. that much OF
her time should be devoted to domestic employ
mpnts: for these she had no Inclination, but she
performed them with that alacritv which always
accompanies good will: and when her work was
dane, retired To enjoy those intellectual and i'm
acinatiye pursuits in which her whole heart was
engaged. This prediction for studiOus retire
ment she is said to have manifested at the early
ace of four years.''-Reriewer. IF any one came
up9n her retirement, she would conceal or de-
strov the work she was engaged upon; and in
stead Of satisfying the enquiries OF her father and
mother, replied to them only by tears. The mo-
l.., f,,.
in dark and unireguented closet, found a con-
al cradle number of little books, (made of paper
which she had obtained. to the wonderment of
her parents at the quantity she usedl filled with
rude drawings, and With strange aud apparently
ille.ible characters. winch, however, were at
once seen to be the child's work. Upon closer
inspection, the characters were found TO consist
of the printed alphabet; some of tine letters being
formed backwards, some sideways, and there be-
Inv no spaces between the words. These writ
,n.s were detyphered not without much Difficult
": and it then appeared that they consisted OF
regular verses, generally in explanation of rude
drawing sketched on the opposite page. When
she found that her treasures had been discovered,
she was greatly distressed. and could not be pa
cited until they were restored; and as soon as
they were i'm her possession, she took the first OPP
portunity of secretly burning them.-Rerietc.
:" We are told, that before she was twelve years
of age, she had read most of the standard English
Poets. Much history she had also read, both sa-
cred and profaue; the whole of Shakspeare's.
Kotzebue's and Goldsmith's dramatic works, and
MANY Of the popular novels and romances of the
dav: Of the latter, she threw aside at once those
which, at first sight. appeared worthless.
Reriev.
ssShe was often in danger, when walking, from
carriages. &c. in consequence of her absence Of
mind. When engaged int poem Of some length,
she has often forgotten her meals.-A single in
cident, illustrating this trait in her character, is
worth relating. She went out, early one morning,
to visit neighbour. promising to be at home to her
dinner. The Neighbour being absent, she request
ell to be shewn into the library. There she be-
came SD absorbed in her book. standing, with her
bnnnet unmuved. that the darkness Of the COM
iny night FIRST reminded her that she had forgot
ten her meals. aud expended the entire day in
readiay. BiOgraph Sketch
..She was peculiarly sensitive to music There
was one song III wus Moore's Farewell to his
Ham. to which she took special fancy;' she
wished to hear it only at twilight;-thus. with
tina, ,ane perilous love Of excitement viii, made
ber see the wind harp in the window hen she
mas composing, seeking to increase the effect