New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-09-04
MARGARET FULLER ossoLI.

We take the following sketch Of the late
lamented MARGARET FULLER from Letters
from New York, f" in the last number Of the
Southern Literary Messenger.
No event has occurred here for loRg time that
has excited more general sensation, and more
heartfelt eions Of sorrow, than the shpwreck
on Firelsand, which destroyed the lie OF Mar
garet Fuller while within sight of the azores OF her
native land This lady for several years past had Ill
led &c conspicuous place before the public, aud had
excited so much both oil admiration and OF reproach
for the bold expression OF her opinions, without REF
erence to he course OF popular sentiment that the
intelligence Of her awful aid untimely death could
not be heard with indifference even by those who
cherished the least sympathy with her peculiar in-
tellectuu characterlstcs.
But beside these abe left large circle of friends
both in New York and New Eng and, with whom
she had always be en- object Of proud and atfec-
tonate attachment, and who regarded her With
interest for therare and noble qualities OF her
heart than for the intellectual 81 to which formed
her chief distinction in the public eye Indeed, IN
thu retirement OF the domestic circle, in the con6d
iog intimacies Of friendship, she presented an as
peet ntrongly contracted with that in which abe
principally known 10 the world IN general. In
mixed society, especially when composed of large
proportion OF strangers with whom she did not feel
quite certain of her position, her manner was often
CCIHudhlfc, ueuAHf, tethluuiSS JOROI
an intellectual Joan OF Arc, and sadly destitute of
the sweet grsces of true fcmnality. Her mental
activity, well as her masculine ambition, led her
to tske de light in sladatora contests OF intellect
whatever the circle sac was fully equipped for the
fight eager as an sssaiIans she WAS merclless as
queror and srmed with uncommon vigor
and point Of conversational expression, she would
usually remain in possession Of the field even with
opponents OF ackpo Sledged superiority.
Still harder waa tue fate Of the shallow pretense,
learned dullnefs or literary foppery with which
she came in contact. When provoked to an en-
counter with persons remarkable for these quail.
ties, she was Transformed into fearful Nemesis
drawing blood with every word Wo to the ped
ant the charlsten TIE pretepder who unwiesingly
placed himself within the roach OF her bitter and
wltterBg sarcasm, The havoc she made OF self
love OF such occasions was perfectly marvellous.
Every attempt at reply only made the matter
worse, for hes 1etoTts were more biting than the
first onslaught. In this way of course, she lost
the good opinion of those who saw her in no other
aspect, and made enemies fer life of many who
bore the amart OF the wounds that had been IN,
hlcted by her hand. They remembered her only
IS pursuing the defenceless with the intoersbie
energy OF her scorn, or rs pouring their own
heads the hsiEstones and Goals of ire of her
iunonisa wrath This, combined with the free
expression OF opinion questinns involving man.
Ibid and complicated interests, acoounis for sbe
aversion IN which she was held by many who
knew her bat specifically, and the suspicion NOT
10 say vindctiveness, with which she wss watched
by considerable portion Of the pablo press.
With her more intimate friencs, in her own fam.
lily circle, aud among those with whoa shs sus-
tanned relations OF mutual esteem and reverence.
her character presented another phase, ana one Of
tsr more beauty and Rttrscsiveness. There never
was more dsiuserested md devoted being in all
the domestic relations. AS daughter and sis
ter, she displayed q tenderness, sweetness, q
spirit of selfsscri6ce and pomany wisdom,
which might have bsen eayiad By the inmxtes OF
The most favored household. Thrown by the de-.
cease OF her father, when scarcely arrived At the
age OF zeturisy, from condition Of atfiaencs and
luxury into oae shss called for strenuous exsrtion
she st once showed herself adequate 10 sl1s etr,sr
genoy and displayed strength and praesi,aiensy.
gy Of character, which bsfors hsd scarcely bsen