The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-17


ed the hollow pretensions Of rank or wealth
to prevail over Justice or sound morality.
She painted her characters to admiration,
none could surpass in accuracy her descrip-
tons, and all that was good she colored
with genSleness and beauty. Her merit SO
equable, the benevolent views, tho prodi-
galiry OF her invention, and her sympathy
with her kind, must prevent her writings
from being forgotten. She had crowd Of
seryile irnitators, who proved sufficiently
that "none are ever great by imitation.
Miss 0wenson had then published st.
Clair, or the Heiress OF Desmond The
Novice of st. Dominick,' and the wild
Irish Girl, as we have mentioned. Her
Patriotic Sketches Of Ireland were also
published, we believe, before she changed
her name. The Novice OF St. Dominick
was general lavorte, and the rage to OBJ
tain it ct the circulating Libraries was so
great that it was with difficulty that we OBJ
tanned it. This lady's writings were Of va
rious kinds, all stamped with that love OF
country which marks the sex in the sister
island. We have not vivid recollection
Of the date OF all her works. Ida OF
Athens subsequently, published, was always
great favorite Of ours. 1t was full OF
imagination, and touches Of the romantic
Lady Morgan wrote cleverly and with
piquancy on all subjects. There was,
however. spart from her novels, and par
ticularly in her continental tours, too much
of attempt at effect, and a use of foreign
languages by no means in the best taste.
Shrewd, intellectual, social, and of much
more varied reading than her sex in general,
Lady Morgan always made a sensation
when any of her works appeared. The
tyrant of Austria, Francis, did her the honor
TO interdict her entrance into any part OF
the Austrian dominions because she wrote
the truth fearles,ly respecting his actions or
those Of some Of his subordinates. The
head Of 34,OOo,000 Of people with an
army Of 100000 men, was alarmed al the
truth from the pen Of feeble woman
This was something Of which any authoress
might feel justly proud.
Clara Reeve, who died nearly about
1906 or 1907 delighted US with 'The Old
English Baron We were ignorant at the
time she had stolen her plot from Horace
Walpole, but had we known it we should
have been equally well pleased.
The AbbeSs, romance, by the forger
Of the Shakespeare MSS, w. III. Ireland,
We well recollect perusing neither did we
deem it the worst novel OF the class and
time. 1t was read, and went, we believe,
through two editions. Ireland was a man
Of middling height, with somewhat acute
features and ford complexion. His
forgery confessions were published in 1906.
Had the forgery not involved the character
of the father so much that he was said to
have died OF broken heart in consequence
that mischievous reprobate, Hook, would
have gloated over it. The success this
forgery met with and the division of opin-
ion about the authenticity OF the plays
showed up we'll the vanity of cIiticism.-
'Nortigern, one OF the forgeries, was acted
at Drury Lane, and might have passed
muster but for the judgment of Mr.. Ma.
lone, and the publication Of his detection
Of the fraud. Ireland did not want clever.
ness; be was ingenious but ll.principled.
He died in the Kings Bench about ta enty
years ago.
The Children Of the Abbey by Regina
Maria Roche, was popular novel about
the end Of the 18th century. 1t was read
with zest in our youth. and we well re-
member some Of its scenes, 1t was as
good specimen as can now be found Of
what The novel-reading taste was at that
time. The Discarded Son was another
OF this lady's works, which appeared in
1906 or 1907. The Children Of the Alb.
hey is among the cheap editions OF the
present day.
Perhaps no female author made more
noise with less title TO be deemed above the
ordinary class of writers OF her day, than
Anna Seward. OF Lich6eld. Full of pre-.
tension, affected, and obscure, she was
favorite Of the hour. and is now meritedly
forgotten. 1t is difficult to find any prodac.
ton Of this lady's that will bear a second
perusal. She wrote sort Of poetical novel
called Louisa, life Of DR.. Darwin, with
several monodies and eleges which are
long since in the tomb Of the Cspulets. She
exhibited no powers Of invention, and her
descriptive talerns were far surpassed in
many Of the works Of tho Minerva Press
at that time. but she was the adopted child
Of an evanescent fashion.
Pratt, in that day most voluminous
writer. now forgotten, among his other
works published novel called Emma
Corbet.' He also wrote work entitled
'Gleanings, which made considerable noise,
but, as remember, was little above com.
mon place. He had, or affected to have,
the character Of a philanthropist. Never
did one who wrote so much really write 30
little worth reading. His novel had been
in circulation then for nearly twenty years
in the Libraries, having held its place,
through his continual publications OF all
sorts, keeping the authors name alive.
Queen Hoo Hall, a posthumous publica-
ton by Joseph Strut, author of Rural
Games and the 'Pastimes Of the People,
and not published for several years after the
writer's decease, fell into our hands by
accidental purchase. This had been Left
unfinished by the author. 1t deserves par.
ticular notice, because il was the first en-
deavor we know Of to embody story of
the olden time with correctness OF keeping
in character, dress, and custom. Ii NAV.