The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-31
MRS. AMELIA oprE.

The London Atkeaanm has an interesting
sketch of the life and literary career Of the
late Mrs. 0pie, who, in the earlier part of the
present century, ranked with Miss Burney
and Miss Edgeworth, as one of the most pop.
ular writers of moral fiction. Mrs. Opie FIRST
attracted attention in her birth place, Nor
witch, as the beautiful and accomplished
daughter of DIR. Anderson of that town. Sub
sequently, her musical talents and reputation
as novelist, drew around her large circle
of friends and admirers in London. She was
sought and priced as one of the women OF &c.
MUS Of her time, and, adds the AthenGum,
the list then included Harriet Lee, Charlotte
Smith, Madame d Arblay. Mrs. lnchbald, the
Porters, Lady Morgan, Miss Edgeworth and
Anne Radclide:-most of these pioneers If
not positive inventors in fiction,-who open
ed in romance, historical and supernatural, in
domestic fiction and in the national tale,-
paths that the proudest men las Sir Walter
Scott bears witness for usl were only too glad
to follow further, when their turn and time of
appeal to the public came.
After the Accomplishments and triumphs of
girlhood, married life, and first years of wi
dowhood of this popular authoress and lady,
she became tired of the world, and attracted,
says the 4Atheaeafn, by the influence exercised
over her mind by Mr. Joseph John Quincy,
of Earlham, (the brother of Mrs. Fry, and one
OF the most learned and refined of Quakers,)
Amelia 0pie sought and obtained a member
ship of that sect, of which the ordinances add
init neither music nor tale telling, nor the en-
trance of frivolous and imaginative gaiety in
any form. Laying aside the habiliments of
''the world" the novelist adopted the uniform
of the "staid silk bonnet and dove colored
shawl" and attended the Friends Meeting
with great regularity and devotion Her ina
ginative pen lay idle for some years. but she
suddenly appeared again as the Authoress of
"Iilustrations Of Lying" a work Gin which
fiction, by thought, word or work, was whims-
ically denounced in a series of small fictions.
This was followed by Detractfon Displayed,
| second draught from the same Fountain
But neither in the world she had quilted, nor
| in the world she had entered, were these ny
| brid attempts to reconcile "old things with
| new received with any extraordinary COM
| placency. The fame of the Father and
Daughter, and of the opera "Agnese," could
not be got rid Of could not be dyed drab; and
| for its sake, the worldly world of critics for
| gave the feebleness and unconscious olsen
genucusness of Amelia Opies later attempts
to reconcile callings, habits and associations,
essentially and sternly irreconcilable.
After some years of these new efforts Anne
liza Opie gently and gracefully oscilated back
to the same place and pleasure in the world,
where her earlier, and we think, her more real
| life had been led. She was once more seen,
| though still as Friend in general society,"
and when seen there, was always welcome for
the vivacity of her manner, the kindliness of
her heart, and her anecdotes and reminis
cences of gone by worlds of art and fancy
BY those who were personally acquainted
with her. rAmelia Opie must be always plea
sanity remembered!-by those who knew her
not she can never be overlooked, when the
works and claims of the English authoresses
of the nineteenth century have to besummed
| up.
Mrs. Opie died at Norwich ON the Cd of De-
| cember, st the advanced age of e5