The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-07-27
I'll Hlis1rlla M.
The Last Moments of 81. e. L.n

a degree of mystery has hung a.
round the death to this lamcnted poet
ess. In the year 1888, as our readers
are aware, " IS Landon was married
to Captain Maclean, the Governor Of
Cape Coast Castle. She had scarcely
been two months in Africa, when she
was found dead in her room, with a
bottle Of Prussic acid at her side. This
mysterious and tragic circumstance is
fully explained in the following extract
from review in an English paper of
a late work by Captain Cruickshank
upon his residence in Southern Africa:
"Few passages in the personal his
tory Of modern literature have been
more discussed than the various cir
cumstances connected with the sudden
death Of this popular favorite, and, as
the published information on the sub
ject before the the public is neither
ample in amount nor unimpeachablc
in character, we avail ourselves OF such
new lights as Mr. Cruickshank may
afford us. lis means of knowledge
we're, in any case ,frst-ratc. lie speaks
of himself "as one who had the happi-
ness of seeing good deal Of this ac-
compllshcd lady upon the coast, who
enjoyed and keenly felt the fascina-
tions of her society, who only ten
hours before her death had sat and lis.
tened with a rapt attention to her bril-
liant sallles Of wit ard feeling; who
was present at the investigations con-
sequent upon her sudden death; whose
eyes were the last to rest upon those
rigid features so recently beaming
with all the animating glow of fine
intelligence aud who, with a sorrow
lul heart, saw her consigned to hel
narrow resting place.
81 will endeavor to place it in it:
true light short account of her to(
brief sojourn in Africa. When Mrs
Maclean arrived at Cape Coast, there
was no European lady then at the set
tlement, and her husband was in yer,
bad health. Mr.. Cruickshank was al
so i'll. An invitation to visit the gov
ernor and his wife found him in bed
and it was some days before he coul
venture out to the Castle. | sent i
my name by the servant and immedi
ately after, Mrs. Maclean came to til
hall and welcomed me. l was hurrie
away to his bedroom, Mrs. Maclea
saying, as she tripped through the lon
gallery, "you are privileged person
Mr.. Cruickshank for | can assure yor
it is not every one that is admitte
here" took a seat by the side {
his bed, upon Which Mrs. Maclean ST
down, arranging the clothes about he
husband in the most affectionate maj
ner, and receiving ample compensate
for her attentions by very sweet ar
expressive smile Of thankfulness. "
5 thus sat and chatted together for son
5 hours, Mrs. Maclean laughingly r
counting her experience Of roughil
it in Africa, and commenting, with d
! greatest good-humor and delight up
; what struck her as the ODDITIES in su
a state of society.
"She pointed to temporary be
which had been made for her on I
floor, and said Mr. Maclean's suffi
!. ings had been SO great for some nigh
:, that the little sleep which she had {
g had been taken there. / declined
y occupy an apartment in the Cast
0, but promised to call daily during
B, stay in Cape Coast to pass few ho'
Of with them" We pass over the da
record Of social intercourse. \