When sensible at length of her approaching dissolution, she looked forward to it without alarm; not alone in that peaceful state of mind which is the proper reward of innocence, but in reliance on the divine promises, and in hope of salvation through the merits of our blessed Lord and Saviour.  The last name which she pronounced was that of the gentleman whose bounty she had experienced, and towards whom she always felt the utmost gratitude.  Gradually sinking under her malady, she passed away on the 27th of August, 1825, before she had completed her seventeenth year.  Her person was singularly beautiful; she had “a high, open forehead, a soft, black eye, perfect symmetry of features, a fair complexion, and luxuriant dark hair.  The prevailing expression of her face was melancholy.  Although, because of her beauty as well as of her mental endowments, she was the object of much admiration and attention, yet she shunned observation, and often sought relief from the pain it seemed to inflict upon her, by retiring from the company.”

That she should have written so voluminously as has been ascertained, (says the editor of her Poems), is almost incredible.  Her poetical writings which have been collected, amount in all to two hundred and seventy-eight pieces of various length; when it is considered that among these are at least five regular poems of several cantos each, some estimate may be formed of her poetical labours.  Besides there were twenty-four school exercises, three unfinished romances, a complete tragedy, written at thirteen years of age, and about forty letters, in a few months, to her mother alone.  To this statement should also be appended the fact, that a great portion of her writings she destroyed.  Her mother observes, “I think I am justified in saying that she destroyed at least one-third of all she wrote.”

Of the literary character of her writings, (says the editor), it does not, perhaps, become me largely to speak; yet I must hazard the remark, that her defects will be perceived to be those of youth and inexperience, while in invention, and in that mysterious power of exciting deep interest, of enchaining the attention and keeping it alive to the end of the story; in that adaptation of the measure to the sentiment, and in the sudden change of measure to suit a sudden change of sentiment; a wild and romantic description; and in the congruity of the accompaniment to her characters, all conceived with great purity and delicacy—­she will be allowed to have discovered uncommon maturity of mind, and her friends to have been warranted in forming very high expectations of her future distinction.

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Curious Dial.

[Illustration:  Curious Dial.]