The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-31
MISCELLANEOUS.
From an Eagiisa Publication.
MRS. HEMANS.

lhnO.
The powers of her memory were so extra
ordinary, as to be sometimes made the sub.
isfita ri agss55Ry .h9ss %ha yvsFe sasRlisal
would, in the most undoubting simplicity, I'M
dertake to perform. On one of these occa-
SONS, to satisfy the incredibly of one of her
brothers, she learned by heart, having never
read It before, the whole Of Heber's poem Of
Europe, in one hour and twenty minutes, and
repeated it without single mistake or mo-
ment's hesitation. The length Of this poem is
424 lines.
She had also great talents for drawing and
music, and was proficient in nearly all the
modern languages; and she added to all this
indomitable energy in the acquisition of in
formation.
Her eagerness for knowledge Of every kind
was intense and her industry may be attest
ed by volumes, still existing, of extracts and
transcriptions, almost sufficient to form IL
brary in themselves. The mode Of her stu
dies was, to outward appearance, singularly
desultory, as she would be surrounded by
books OF all sizes, in divers languages, and on
every variety Of topic, and would seem to be
turning from one to another, like bee flying
from flower to flower; yet, whatever conlu
sion might reign without, all was clear and
well defined within. In her mind and memo
nv. the varied stores were distinctly arranged,
ready to be called forth for the happy illus
tration, the poetic imagery, or the witty COM
parison.
1t was interesting to observe the manner in
which any new idea, accidentally suggested in
the course Of her reading, would take hold OF
her imagination, awakening, as with an cleo
trio touch, whole train Of associations and
developments Most truly, in her case, was
exempiified Mr.. Wordsworth's observation
respecting poetic sensibility, in which he says,
that !. the more exquisite il Is, the more VIDE
will be the range Of poets conceptions, and
the more will he be melted to observe objects,
both as they exist in themselves, and as re-
acted upon by his own mind"
The practice Of keeping faithful record oil
transient images and suggestions need not be
commended, since every body knows how
quickly these slight visions of fancy fit away,
and how utterly impossible it is to recover
them. If they be not seized and shaped into
words nj the instant A few specimens OF
these interesting notes are highly emblernatic
of the tone of Mrs Hemans' mind, and the
general character Of her poetry.
A traveller, sleeping on the banks Of the
Oronoco, has heard the mysterious sounds OF
the Larus de mnsica. He wakens his Indian
guide, and tells him they are the voices of his
departed friends from the regions OF the dead,
giving him assurance that they are happy, and
that they watch over him; that he need not
now fear the paw Of the tiger, nor the bite Of
the serpent, for he is thus protected; but Tar
happier IRE they who 90 guard him."
IA scene of surprising beauty in Swlzer,
land, with cottage, inhabited by the wife o.
n chamois hunter Soloquy Of wandcrer
who magnes that no human passion, can even
have disturbed the repose OF that Solitude
The chamois hunter is brought in dead"
"The maid before the wizards glass--he,
mind wcaried with the excitement Of its scene
turns in Joy TO the green fields and the skies.
On leaving church full Of sculpture, anc
coming into the open air The blessing o
those feelings which withdraw us occasionally
| from thoughts too high and awful"