New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS

ccld BY Frsnsk 90
In the fGl6llment Of premise made 10 her husband
before bis decesse Mrs MowAtt here gives the history
of a romantic and not uneyentia life with frrskness
Of Communication which has not often been equaled u
the composition OF personal memoirs Her booa is
filed with lively chay gossip about the details of her
early history Der runaway marriage before she was
fairly out of the nursery, the pecunsry nisortunes
which led her to appear before The public, first
dramatic reader and then an actress aud her 'aei
experiences during peripatetic life as : thcatrcal
star, both in this country and Great Britain
Mrs Mowait, il appears, was born in Bsrdesnx
during temporary residence OF her parents u that
city. Her earliest recollec;!ons date from charming
country residence in the vicinity OF Bordeaux, where
she remained for the greater part OF The time an her
/ seventh year. The family then embarked for New
York but the vessel wrecked the passage, AMI
after enduring great peris they at length arrived in
another slip During her school las s. the preeociOas
child exhibited uncommon viva lty of intellect with
decided turn for poetry. Her passion for reading led
her to devour every book which she cosld lay her
hands Before she was years old she had real the
whole of Shakspesres plays many times over, besides
very promiscuous course OF general teratere, both
in French and English She not yet IN her teens
before she sat up poetess while her 10 pr
yate theatricals won the applause OF large social cir
Gle
In her thirteenth year, she became acquainted with
Mr. Mowatt. q; that time "a young barrsser of sdd-
cation and fortune" who had taken fancy to OF
her married sisters, whom he net AZ watering place,
sappospg her to be young widow. lie did not dis
cover his urlucky bluDce until be began TO express his
admiration openly. When informed tina, he al.
h 4
SO much 10 heart that she undertook 70 coasoe HE
chsgrin by inviting him to visit the family, promising
to introduce him to plenty of yonng sisters one of
whom was much like herself MIR. Aowatt lost no
tine in accepting the invitation He fell in love with
Anna at first sight From that moment he determined
10 educate her according TO his own IDEAS and as soon
she had attained marrageable age 10 make her his
chd.wife. He would follow on her way TO Madame
Cbegay's school of which che papil, carrying
her books and slate he questioned her about her sta
dies dIec ed her reading, kept her supplied with
endless profusion Of lowers while she finding 10 very
grand TO have such devoted lover play the juvenile
trauness to her hearts content Before she was fifteen
lie made the offer OF lis heart and bsnd. The little
dansel frightened at the proposal and in hor dis
trees Hade a COMPLIANT of her eldest sister. After
quoting for some time with her eccentric lover and
positively refusing bis addresses her reluctance was at
length overcome and she consented to clAndestino
marriage This was celebrated just after she was
turned Of fifteen, in the most meodramatic style soon
after the honeymoon the enthusiastic couple retired 30
delightful residence on Long Island, where they
passed strange, idyllic life, which is mnutely de-
scribed BY our loquacous narrator:
The bearing Of new name ani the wearing of a ring
made very Little alteration in my mode OF life, in tho
me9ner IN WHICH Occupied N TINE resumed S;l,ef 10y
siructed in French and in the high branches Of Eng
lbh took music and singing lessons three times week,
end only abandoned drawing because stopping position
found INJURIOUS TO my health. In this latter accom-
lisbmeLt several of my fathers children had shown
marked proficiency, which had exhibited in music,
ard laid aside my pencils with regret
was excessively fond Of the country ard carly ia the
spring Dir. howat took me 10 reside IN Flstbush, Long
bland. The house in which boarded a large old
fashioned mansion, built before the revolution and had
belonged 10 General Giles There were dark and spa
coos vaults beneath the Kitchens where said Eng
lhh prisoners had been confined and there secret
chamber above the great ball room TO which
could be ound save by small window The neighbors
O6iImed That young girl had been purposely starved %
death ~ that chamber, and that her ghost wandered
night sbout the house. Indeed. this report had gained
such eredence that nothing coud have induced many #
the older Inhabitants OF the village pass ng Int beneath
the haunted roof
The house stood hack from the main road embowered
by magnificent Old trees. Tho property consisted OF
twenty OF land, In a high state Of cultivation
became 80 much attached 10 this place that Mr.
however, that should content myself In passing the
greater portion Of the year in the country. gladly
sered The house repaired and regurnshed the gar
dens and orchards enlarged and planted With innu
merabe variety Of fruit trees and flowers green house
built long aTbor erected whore could walk at mid
day, quite shaded from the sun and a summer house
reared in Its center In which could sit aud write or study
| had numberloss pots-brds dogs, pgeons rabbits a
goat and Kid, and beautiful Arabian mare for nv own
especial use. We NAMED her Queen Nab At sixteen
years old found myelf the mistress Of this mansion
without a wish unqualified.
After time, my father kindly allowed a dear and
gentle sitter some four younger 10 reside with me-
that might not be lonely Ny tune was occupied In
sudyng taking of my pets riding about the )untry
ard DstTueDg my sister May In whatever learned nv
self-Freneh. Spanish music. &c.
Brilliantly happy were the days We passed together
We neither ceased TO be children, gave up child
th sports. Our morning amusements were trundlin2 a
couple huge hoops through the favorts arbo dancing
with The skipping rope or floating round the " flying
course, which had been erected to promote our health
ul exercise Sometimes ordered ladders be placed
by cherry trees loaded down with fruit and spent our
mornings Ia the branches gathering cherries and reading
when we Wcreted. An easy saddle horse placed az
eonIaned by the gardener orcoachman. Mr. Mowat not
berg fond OF the exercise. We had also a cOmmolous
carriage and fine pair Of coach horses but NAV and
preferred horseback exercise driving seemed too quiet an
amusement for cur exuberant spirits
From every book which / read made extracts. and
wrote down my Impressions of the work These extracts
and criiiques kept in the form of Journal During sew
menied upon between ninety and one hundred volumes
yearly.
Every possible means taken to strengthen nv con
sttsOn through abundance Of exercise and thus 10 ward
on he illness 10 which subject For this purpose
MI hovat taught me the Of the gun. lie was him