Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-09
masbingtun gentinel.
Another Chapter in Strange History.

Mrs. Anna Jane Maclean, q well known con-
trlbutor to the columns of the Sunday Dis.
patch, but there are some additional incidents
OF her sorrowful end, related in that journal,
which will be perused with interest. The edi-
tor says:
Our first interview with her took place some
lew months since when she wished to consult us
relative to play which she had written, en-,
Titled Eman More"-an exquisite thing in its
way which she had dramatized from narrative
poem of the same name, which she published
some years since in Europe, under the distin
guished patronage of many persons Of botl
sexes. We pronounced the play excellent,
and tried hard to have it produced at one OF
our theatres, but although it was acknowledged
to be capital production by most of our lead
ing managers, none of them felt disposed to
give living price for it.
Alter our first interview, she called from
time to time at the office with her productions.
and although she led us to suppose that she
was in comfortable circumstances herself and
merely wrote for pastime, yet upon two differ.
ent occasions she laid before us certain particu-
lars concerning parties in distress, and was
mghly gratihed when we interested ourselves
IN the matter. Although invariably lively and
agreeable in her manners, and somewhat To-
quacious when conyersing upon literary sub
lects, she was yet very reserved with regard to
her personal and private affairs, and it was not
till q week ago last Wednesday that we were led
TO suppose she might have met with some pc
cuniary misfortune. On that occasion she in
CURED what kind of matter paid best. HNot,n
SAID she, that care particularly Just now, but
at some future time the knowledge may be of
advantage to me-" We then gave her our
ideas upon the subject, and ended by engaging
her to furnish certain matter. She departed
apparently highly pleased, and that was the
last time we ever saw her alive. We should
mention in this connection, as a singular fact
that just previous to her death, she sent us
note requesting us TO publish an advertisement
In our columns, the object of which was to OBJ.
tain situation as governess.
From conversation, since Mrs. Maclean's
death, with Mrs. Graham, near and dear
friend OF hers, we learn that our gifted contri.
butor had not relative in the world. Her
maiden name was Mccarthy; she was born in
the city of Dublin, Ireland, and when but a
mere girl was married to a gentleman of some
wealth, who was many years her senior. After
travelling with her considerably through Eng
land, Ireland, and Scotland, her husband 10
Gated her in Ireland, and went to the West
Indies on business. Here he died; and, after
remaining In Europe but o short time after
his decease, Mrs. Maclean came to this coun.
try, whittier her friend, Mrs Graham, had pre-
ceded her. We should remark that shortly
after her marriage, Mrs. Maclean published
"Eman More" the narrative poem before al
luded to, as well as small volume of religions
poems. Both these books were presented to us
by her shortly after our first interview. They
are exquisite productions.
Mrs. Maclean was highly intellectual, and
tone of deep moral feeling pervaded every line
which fell from her ready pen. Her tempera-
ment was OF that sanguine nervous order, be-
speaking great vigor Of mind and depth of
feeling; but, while her frmness was large. her
hope was small, and despair followed fast upon
the heels of disappointment. She was keenly
sensitive, as an evidence of which we NAV
state that upon one occasion an article which
she had left with us for insertion late in the
week was unavoidably crowded out at the last
moment, and no mention made of it in the no
tees to correspondents. This brought from
her note, in which she expressed herself
as very much hurt. ~ am not so vain she
wrote, as TO suppose that every thing l write
is worthy of insertion in the columns of YOUR
paper; but am no needy adventures, nor do
depend upon my pen for support" The next
week the mistake was rectifed, and she de-
clared, when she met us, "that she was hearti-
ly ashamed Of herself for being so foolish, but
she had cried bitterly over her disappointment
when she opened the paper without finding
her article, and did not eat anything for two
days" This statement was also confirmed by
Mrs. Graham.
HER LAST LETTER.
We will now publish the last letter which the
poor lady ever wrote, and if any body can
read the poem which accompanies it without
shedding tears, he must be made Of sterner
stuff than enters into the generality of man
kind. She alludes to a severe loss which she
recently sustained, and this loss the pastor of
the church to which she belonged states was
f200, which she had entrusted 10 the care of
some person on the other side Of the Atlantic !;
this, taken in connection with the other unfor-
tunate matter 10 which she makes allusion,
doubtlessly led 10 the deplorable results:
DEAR SIR: 1t may seem strange that to you
and you only should pour forth, in this awful
moment, the secret anguish Of heart that will
soon cease TO beat; but as the editor of the
paper for which have been contributor for
a long time, and as one who always, in the few
and far between moments when | saw you at
the Dispatch Office on business, treated me,
may say, with the cordiality Of friendship 2
(And o, If you could have known the utter
loneliness Of the heart your kindness cheered,
how grateful you would have felt) As such,
to whom can SO reasonably look for sympa.
thy in this trying moment, or who will be so
ready to give the true reason Of the step il
seems TO me j must take. / have prayed with
ferver known only TO the God who heard me,
10 learn bis will, and still one voice, morning,
noon, and night, was whispered to my heart
"diep God knows have died hourly; but
know that He TO whom am going is merciful.
Had He spared me to realise any Of those glow.
ing anticipations which filed my bosom when
first trod the shores Of this glorious country,
/ should have liked it well but His thoughts
are not our thoughts, and what we think would
be for our advantage, would very possibly end
in ruin. Meeting, as j did lately, with a seri-
Gus loss, it might have been well for me had
fulfilled promise which rashly made; but
every day that brought me nearer to the even.
ing which was to join my fate to another, con-
WINGED me more and more Of the madness
Of giving my hand to one, while my heart was
hopelessly yet irrevocably fixed upon another.
lfmy love for that other was not of the purest
and most exalted nature-if it had any other
effect than that Of making me anxious so TO
improve my mind and SO jealousy to watch