There was no mercenary alloy in Miss Lyons' | exertions. She gave all that she possessed,—her time, her intellect, her energy, and her love, and asked as her pecuniary recompense, but a home in the Seminary, and two hundred dollars a year. There is not room here to speak of her virtues as a daughter, sister, and friend. In all these relations she acted as might be expected from one whose affections were so strong, and whose ideas of duty so high. Neither can we give but a faint idea of her Christian character, nor of her liar influence over her pupils. With her strong, clear, penetrating mind, controlled always by the highest and purest motives, she possessed also the power given to but few, of infusing into those around her, her own aims and her own feelings. pecu Having finished her course, Miss Lyon was taken to her reward. She died of an epidemic at South Hadley, March 5, 1849. On one side of her monument is a sentence she uttered in the last instruction she gave to her school a few days before her death, in reference to the prevailing DAUGHTER of Hon. Langdon Cheves, of South Carolina, and wife of D. J. McCord, an eminent lawyer of that State, has distinguished herself in what may be styled political literature, a species of writing seldom attempted by woman. Miss Cheves was carefully and liberally educated, partly in Philadelphia. She was, in early youth, remarked for her abilities and her earnest efforts after excellence. The warm enthusiasm of her nature was intensified by her Southern patriotism, and these feelings have caused her to enter earnestly into questions of State policy, and lend her ready pen to uphold what to her seem the most important truths. She has published, chiefly, in the Southern Quarterly Review and Literary Messenger, but a few of her best articles appeared in De Bow's Review - among these "Woman and her Needs" is exceedingly well written. Indeed, we think her Essays will be found, upon fair comparison, equal to any that form the higher articles in the very best Reviews. She reasons well; her style is excellent, and flashes of wit, "temperately bright" as a woman's should be, please without wounding. Her "Letter to the Duchess of Sutherland" was published in the Charleston Mercury, 1853, and deservedly admired for its dignified tone. Among her articles in the Southern Quarterly may be named "The Right to Labor," "Justice and Fraternity,' ," "Enfranchisement of Woman," and "Uncle Tom's Cabin," as papers of great power. "Woman's Progress" is another of her sterling articles. Mrs. McCord has written some beautiful poems one volume," My Dreams," was published in 1848, and a tragedy, "Caius Gracchus," in 1851. MAXWELL, LADY, A WOMAN who attained high preeminence in the religious world by her holiness of life and character, and her active benevolence, was born about the year 1742, in the parish of Largs, county of Ayr, in Scotland. She was the daughter of Thomas Brisbane, Esq. There was nothing in Miss Darcy Brisbane's childhood indicative of her future devoted piety, although, even at an early age, she was distinguished by a humane and charitable disposition. She was educated in a manner becoming her position; and, after spending a winter in London with her aunt, the Marchioness of Lothian, she married, at the age of seventeen, Sir The happiWalter Maxwell, Bart., of Pollock. ness she had promised herself in this union was soon blighted. In a little more than two years her husband was removed by death, and in six weeks after she was deprived of her son and only child. Thus she was left, at nineteen, a widow and childless. Her affliction was great, and for a time overwhelming. She was never known to mention either her husband or child after their death. In a letter written to an intimate friend, more than fifteen years after these sad events, she remarks "You ask me to give you the particulars of my awakening and conversion; and how, since, the work of sanctification has been carried on. To give you a minute detail of this, would carry one beyond the limits of a letter, and lead me to do violence to my temper and feelings: the former by nature shy, and in this respect not entirly conquered by grace; the latter keen and tender, easily wounded by recalling past scenes of woe, when indeed they were tried to the uttermost. Suffice it to say, I was chosen in the furnace of affliction. The Lord gave me all I desired in this world, then took all from me; but immediately afterward sweetly drew me to Himself.” It was while Lady Maxwell was in this deep affliction, that she became acquainted with that part of the church of Christ with which she was afterward associated. The ministry of the Rev. John Wesley and the Rev. George Whitefield was at that time highly approved in Scotland; and they' numbered among their audiences not only the respectable and the wealthy, but also the high-born. Lady Maxwell was induced to attend the Wesleyan chapel; and in 1764 her personal acquaintance with Mr. John Wesley commenced. ripened into a friendship which continued firm and unabated until Mr. Wesley's death, and doubtless influenced Lady Maxwell through her whole life. They corresponded constantly; and, even in his advice and exhortations, Wesley shows the exalted estimate he had formed of the young widow. This soon In 1764, she renewed a covenant with God which she had made just after her great affliction, and soon after decided to join herself openly with the purpose of the pious founders, to provide a place of worship for the gay visitors at that then fashionable watering place, would be better accomplished by allowing an Episcopal minister to officiate, she, with her usual liberality, relinquished her own prepossessions in favor of the dissenting form. that body of Christians in connection with Rev. | her dear friend; and finding, after a trial, that John Wesley. Not that she disapproved of the Established Church of Scotland, in which she had been educated, or thought that true piety was not to be found under a variety of forms- - for her spirit was preeminently catholic, - but, after mature deliberation, she decided that among the Methodists she would find that state of religion best suited to her own wants. In taking this step she continued to afford without partiality, as far as it was in her power, her aid for the furtherance of true religion in every department of the church of Christ. From the time Lady Maxwell became a widow, she resided in Edinburgh or its vicinity. Ever after her conversion to God, she sought retirement from the gayeties of the world. She had her daily walks of benevolence. In name and character, she became well known to a large circle of religious friends. Her influence was great, and her usefulness extensive; but it was silent and unobtrusive. Easy in her circumstances, and surrounded by her friends, her life from this time to its close is marked by no striking incident. It was spent in the blessedness of being, receiving, and doing good. Strikingly beautiful, with a person at once graceful, dignified, and commanding, with a mind superior both in its kind and culture, she had, in the early part of her Christian course, to hold a constant conflict with the world. She was also frequently solicited to enter again the marriage state, and might have formed an alliance with the first families of the empire; but she never, except with regard to one offer, and that for a short season, entertained a thought of the kind. She devoted herself wholly to the service of God, and in promoting the welfare of those around her she found all that was necessary to give her heart and mind full employment. Many of her early associates withdrew from her when she became a Methodist. But this Lady Maxwell never deplored, and perhaps did not feel. Among her friends she numbered Lady Henrietta Hope, and Lady Glenorchy, a woman who, in her trials as well as in her religious experience, had so many points of similarity with Lady Maxwell, that there could not but be a great sympathy between them, although they differed widely in many of their religious opinions. Lady Glenorchy died in 1786, leaving a large part of her fortune to be devoted to religious and charitable purposes. By her will she appointed Lady Maxwell her sole executrix and the principal manager of her chapels, both in England and Scotland. This appointment brought with it great responsibility and much solicitude; but it also led her into an extensive field of usefulness. She steadfastly believed that she had been called by God to this work, and carried into effect, with scrupulous conscientiousness, every title of Lady Glenorchy's will. She took several journeys to Bristol in order to superintend the building a chapel there, which had been projected by the Ladies Hope and Glenorchy. This Lady Maxwell named "Hope Chapel," after No outward work seemed to her so important as that of saving souls. To do her part in this was one of her most earnest desires. For the purpose of affording education and Christian instruction to poor children, Lady Maxwell established, July 2d, 1770, a school in Edinburgh. Over this she kept a constant and careful supervision, and had the satisfaction of knowing that it accomplished much good. At the time of her death, about eight hundred children, boys and girls, had been taught every branch of education proper for their line of life, and every possible attempt used to induce them to take a living interest in eternal things. This charity is still in active operation; her ladyship having made provision for its existence, so long as time shall last. With Lady Maxwell, benevolence continued to expand in proportion to her piety; her faith and works ever walked hand in hand. She was among the first and most zealous patrons of Sabbath schools in Scotland. In 1787, while burdened with the heavy charge left to her by Lady Glenorchy's will, she established several Sabbath schools in Edinburgh, under her own patronage. This was a new work at the time, Robert Raikes having announced the noble undertaking but a few years before in England, and she had to struggle against the prejudices, distrust, and indifference with which innovations of any kind, especially those of a religious nature, are always regarded. But faith, and the perseverance that is its fruit, enabled Lady Maxwell to triumph over all opposition, and now, nowhere is there a warmer interest felt in such labors, than in Scotland. She died at her residence, in Edinburgh, on the second of July, 1810, at the age of sixty-eight, while still in the possession of all her powers, both of mind and body, and before she had the pain of feeling that she had outlived her usefulness. Her last moments were filled, as she herself said, with a "peace inexpressibly sweet." All ranks and classes in Edinburgh mourned for the loss of one of such exalted piety and great usefulness. There was scarcely a humane institution in the country, or a public or private charity, whether for the repose of age, or the instruction of youth, the relief of indigence, or the help of sickness; for the reformation of morals, or the support of religion, to which she had not been a benefactor. For although her income was not large, by avoiding every useless expense, she was able to give more than many who possessed ten times her means. And it has been recorded of her, that there was no sum which she gave, however small, whether to an institution or an individual, but was followed by an earnest prayer, that what she had done might receive the blessing of God. MULOCK, MISS. A YOUNG Irish authoress of great promise. She has already given to the world several novels that have obtained decided success. The best of these is "Olive," a very charming work. It developes woman's true advantage, her spiritual superiority-and shows how that quality, fostering all woman's virtues, can overcome the world's greatest temptations:-that the world's best gifts, beauty, wealth, rank, are mean and pitiful without the soul's real dignity. "The Head of the Family," another of her novels, has been greatly praised, but we think it decidedly inferior to "Olive" in its sustained power and truthfulness of delineation. "Agatha's Husband," and "The Ogilvies," are respectable productions, but Miss Mulock's genius gains no lustre from these. Still the author of " Olive" holds a warm place in the heart of young lady novel-readers, and she has an opportunity of holding a very high rank among popular writers. P. PACKER, HARRIET L., WIDOW of the late William S. Packer, of Brooklyn, N. Y., has done a noble deed, well entitling her to a place in the Records of distinguished Women. She has given the sum of sixty-five thousand dollars for the endowment of a Female Academy, to be located at Brooklyn. Mr. Packer, her husband, had thought of endowing such an institution, but he died without fulfilling his intention; his widow has carried out the munificent idea, which will make their name to be ever remembered. PHELPS, ELIZABETH STUART, DAUGHTER of the late eminent Professor Moses Stuart, of Andover, Mass., displayed in her girlhood unmistakeable promise of fine abilities. She was carefully educated, and had the blessed lot to marry a man of rare talent and fervent piety, the Rev. Austin Phelps, who loved and cherished the genius of his gentle, lovely wite. She had, however, hardly begun her literary career, before she was called to a higher life: she died, in Boston, November 20th, 1852. Her three works, "Sunny Side," "A Peep at No. Five," and "The Angel over the Right Shoulder," have beautifully portrayed departments of religious duty, not often thought of, and thus awakened many slumbering minds. "Sunny Side" is the most remarkable for its dramatic power; but all are distinguished by rare delicacy of thought, which clothes the humblest condition in beauty and glory when the inner life is pure and holy. The influence of rightly-guided genius is inestimable, and Mrs. Phelps had genius of the highest order in its aspirations. PUTNAM, MARY LOWELL, WIFE OF SAMUEL R. PUTNAM, Esq., of Boston, Mass., is acknowledged to be the most accomplished lady linguist now living; few men excel her in the knowledge of the modern European languages. She belongs to a distinguished family, daughter of the Rev. Charles Lowell, D. D., sister of James R. Lowell, the Poet; and her mother, the late Mrs. Lowell, possessed extraordinary genius, which she devoted to the training and education of her children. To the example of this excellent mother, Mrs. Putnam is doubtless indebted for the persevering zeal which has kept up and on her own course of intellectual improvement since her marriage. Her extraordinary knowledge of the languages is only one of her many accomplishments. In History she is equally well versed, as was lately shown in her articles on the " Hungarian Question," published in the Christian Examiner, where she exposed the errors and overthrew the arguments of Mr. Bowen, then Editor of the N. A. R., who had attempted to disparage Kossuth, and the cause of freedom in Hungary. Mrs. Putnam felt obliged to reply, for the sake of truth and justice; her papers were effectual, and her name deserves honour from all who love genius devoted to truth and justice. MOTHER of the celebrated founder of Methodism, was the youngest daughter and favorite child of Dr. Samuel Annesley, a distinguished nonconformist divine of England, who was, at the period of her birth, 1669 or 1670, residing in London. He belonged to a good family, and possessed an independent fortune, so that his children were de prived of no advantages to be derived from society or careful culture. Susannah Annesley was endowed by nature with a sound and vigorous understanding, which, under such favorable circumstances, developed itself at a very early age. Under the parental roof, and before she was thirteen, she examined without restraint from her father, a man too liberal and enlightened to be a bigot, the controversy between the Established Church and the Dissenters. The result of this investigation was, that she renounced her religious fellowship with the latter, and adopted the creed and forms of the Church of England; to which she adhered as long as she lived. About the year 1689, she became the wife of Mr. Samuel Wesley, a clergyman of the Established Church in England, but who, like herself, had been brought up among the Dissenters. He was ༣ at that time a curate in London, with a yearly pears also, that she had no small share in salary of thirty pounds, which sum he increased managing the secular concerns of the rectory. by his writings to sixty. They lived in lodgings The tithes and glebe were much under her inin London for about a year, when they removed spection. to South Ormsby, in Lincoln county, where Mr. Wesley had been appointed to a living worth about fifty pounds. Here they remained until about the end of 1696, when Mr. Wesley, by his boldness in reproving vice, having fallen under the displeasure of the nobleman who had obtained the living for him, was obliged to resign; and soon after, with his family, consisting, by that time, of a wife and five or six children, he removed to Epworth, where he had obtained a rectory valued at somewhat less than three hundred pounds a year; here he remained until his death, in 1735. Their pecuniary circumstances have been so carefully detailed, that the reader may know with what difficulties Mrs. Wesley had to contend from the earliest part of her married life. Her husband, though a devoted Christian, and a man of great integrity of character, was too much absorbed in literary matters, and in the religious and polemical questions of the day, to attend carefully to his own affairs. All matters connected with the household economy or the training of the children fell to Mrs. Wesley's lot; and the heart of her husband seems to have trusted in her with a feeling of entire confidence and safety, which the result proves to have been fully deserved. At the time of her marriage she was young, heautiful, and accomplished, with a loveliness of face and figure which remained even in her old age. She gave no thought to making a figure with these advantages, or to her own pleasure or comfort. She devoted all the faculties of a nature strong in every way, in its conscientiousness, its mental powers, and its affections, to the duties she had taken upon herself. Of the nineteen children that were born to them, ten lived to grow up, and to bear witness, by their fervor of religious zeal and their uncommon mental powers, to their careful training. Mrs. Wesley had many trials in her married life apart from the loss of several children. About 1701, Mr. Wesley observed that his wife did not say amen, when, during family prayer, he uttered the petition for the king. He asked the reason of her silence. Because,' said she, I do not believe the prince of Orange to be king.' 'If that be the case,' said he, we must part; for if we have two kings, we must have two houses.' Mrs. Wesley, conscientious in every thing, was inflexible. Her husband went immediately to London, where, being convocation man for the diocese of Lincoln, he remained for the rest of the year. In 1702, King William died; and as Mrs. Wesley agreed with her husband as to the legitimacy of Queen Anne's title, the cause of the misunderstanding ceased, and Mr. Wesley returned to Epworth. The parsonage house was twice burnt. The last conflagration occurred in 1709, when the building, and almost all it contained, was entirely destroyed; and until it could be rebuilt, the family were scattered among neighbors, relatives, and friends. This separation was a great grief to Mrs. Wesley, who did all in her power to correct the injurious effects of it upon her children, by full and constant correspondence with them. Mr. Wesley sometimes attended the sittings of the convocation, and on these occasions was obliged to reside for a length of time in London. In 1711 or 1712, he spent some months in that city on this business, and the care of the parish devolved on a curate, who was but indifferently qualified for the charge. During her husband's absence, Mrs. Wesley felt it her duty to pay more attention to her children, especially on the Sabbath, as there was then no service in the afternoon at church. She read prayers and a sermon to them, and conversed with them on religious subjects. The neighbors asked permission to join in these services, which was granted them. A good report of the meeting became general, and at last more than two hundred attended; the house was so full that many were obliged to go away for want of room. This led John Wesley to remark, that his mother, as well as her father, grandfather, husband, and her three sons, had been in her measure a preacher of righteousness.' From Mr. Wesley's narrow circumstances, the education of their children fell especially upon Mrs. Wesley, who seems to have possessed every qualification requisite for a public or private teacher. Her powers of systematizing and arrangement were especially remarkable, and from her, her son John Wesley evidently derived the peculiar gift, which enabled him to form, out of the discordant and undisciplined masses that As she wished to do nothing without her husyielded to the power of his eloquence, and to the band's knowledge, she acquainted him with their blessed influence which followed it, a body so com- meeting. While he approved her zeal and good pact and efficient, that it has derived its name sense, he stated several objections to which it was from its regular organization. This same son liable. What these were may be seen from her mentions with admiration, "the calm serenity answer, dated Epworth, February 6th, 1712. We with which his mother transacted business, wrote have not room for this admirable letter, and a letters, and conversed, surrounded by her thirteen synopsis would not do it justice. Suffice it to children." All these were educated by herself. say, that her husband felt its power and wisdom, And as she was a woman who lived by rule, she and cordially gave her his approbation: she went methodized everything so exactly, that to each on her way rejoicing, and great good was done, operation she had a time, and time sufficient to more probably, by this irregular ministry, through transact all the business of the family. It ap- the grace of God, than had been effected by that of the rector and his curates for the preceding | It is worthy of remark, that Mrs. Wesley, in Mrs. Wesley lived long enough to see her maternal labors and love rewarded by the celebrity and usefulness of her two most eminent sons, to know that her ardent aspirations for personal holiness and devotion were shared and strengthened by them, and to have her declining years soothed by the warm affection and care of all her living children. She survived her husband about seven years, and died at the house of her son John, in London, on the 23d of July, 1742. Her last words to those who stood around her dying bed were, Children, as soon as I am released, sing a Psalm of praise to God.' Although the fame of John and Charles Wesley has overshadowed the merits of the other members of the family, yet many of them were persons of unusual mental and moral endowments. In a work on distinguished women Samuel Wesley, Jr., can have no place, but Emily Wesley, afterwards Mrs. Harper, and Mehetabel Wesley, afterwards Mrs. Wright, were both women worthy of record. WETHERELL, OR WARNER, ELIZABETH, HAS written several popular works. Her first was the "Wide, Wide World," published in 1851. Since then, she has sent out " Queechy," "Ellen Montgomery's Book-shelf," and "The Law and the Testimony," a collection of texts from the Bible, which shows a profound reverence for and love of the doctrines of Holy Writ. The work will be of use to Biblical students. SUMMARY. SINCE the Fourth Era of this book was prepared, 1851, changes have occurred among the living writers then included. Some of these changes are noticed under the names in that Era, others in the New Supplement; here we have small space for the closing remarks. The Coup d'Etat struck down Genius as well as Liberty in France; when men dare not write, women must be silent. Thi dulness pervades the continent; scarcely a new work of any note from woman's pen has appeared in France, Germany or Italy, for the last three years. Sweden has done bette: Miss Bremer's "Homes of the New World" might have beer made a capital work, if the author had properly revised and novels, none of great excellence. Jenny Lind has become Madame Goldschmidt. condensed her materials. Mrs. Carlen has written several And In Great Britain there is life for the mind; the Word of have free access to the Bible, or her genius dies or goes mad Divine Truth is in the hands of the people. Woman must English female writers have sent forth a large number of books during the last three years; yet those already known to fame, have not much increased their popularity. With one or two exceptions, there is nothing new in their productions. The great questions—“Education of Girls," and Legal Protection for Married Women," are not entered on by these gifted female writers. Mrs. Norton and Lady Bulwer have set forth, in shocking pictures, their own individual little for the moral advancement of public opinion. It needs sufferings from marital tyranny; but such revelations do the advocacy of women like Mrs. S. C. Hall, and Mrs. Mary Howitt, happy in their own homes of domestic peace and love, to arouse attention to the barbarous laws respecting married women, which now disgrace the British code. there has never yet been made any adequate provision for female education in that old land of Universities, where every means and aid, which wealth, power, and knowledge can gather, are bestowed on the training of the male mind. Yet, "the woman is the glory of the man." of the last three years is by Mrs. Barrett Browning-her "Casa Guidi Windows," written in Florence, 1851, is a noble production, full of the fire of genius, kindled in the holy cause of humanity. Ireland has spoken worthily by her daughter, Miss Mulock (see page 896) and the author of "Margaret Maitland," is a star of promise for Scotia; and a bud of exquisite beauty has put forth from a cultivated root in Eng land--Miss Anna Mary Howitt, though still in early youth, has taken her place among accomplished artists and popular writers. Her "Art-Student" is remarkable for its power of thought and beauty of style. The best poem In America there has been much literary activity, but, generally speaking, the books produced have not altered the award given the writers in the first edition of "Woman's But Miss Wetherell has made her name a house- Record." Elizabeth Blackwell, M. D., (see p. 584) has conhold word, by her fresh romances of real life.tributed to popular and practical science a little work of The stories are interesting, the scope of her works much value "The Laws of Life; with special reference to the physical education of Girls." There is also a new name excellent, inasmuch as she inculcates the highest deserving note here. Jane G. Swisshelm, Editor of a popular motives of action. She teaches, with all good newspaper-"The Saturday Visitor," is doing what she can people, that "this world is all a fleeting show;" for the cause of womanhood. Her "Letters to Country that happiness must be grounded on higher and Girls" is a book of much value to the class she addresses, as a guide to real womanly excellence. Fanny Fern has made holier views than fallen humanity can reach; in a snug fortune, it is said, by her vivacious Sketches, and short, she makes the Bible a text-book for her waked up a host of imitators, who have sent out a variety characters. Her child heroines are very loveable, of works. Before our next edition is prepared, the claims of these new writers to more particular notice may be better and the influence of their example will, we trust, be salutary. Miss Wetherell has undoubted claim to the honour of originating a new style of novel, and already has a number of imitators settled. But the book of the three years is, as all the world knows, "Uncle Tom's Log Cabin." Mrs. Stowe (see p. 837) achieved a reputation at once by this work of fiction, which was unparalleled in its success. We have no room here for an analysis of the story or the history of its triumphs: these WRIGHT, FANNY, died at Cincinnati, Dec. 2d, matters will be more suitably discussed ten years hence. But 1852. (See page 842.) we may say that another work by Mrs. Stowe, just published, will do more to lower the standard of her genius and We give here the record of two noble English destroy the prestige which her assumed philanthophy had women recently gone from this world. SALE, LADY, died at Cape Town, July 6th, 1853. (See page 849.) SOUTHEY, Mrs., died in England, July 20th, 1854. (See page 702.) given to "Uncle Tom's Cabin," than all that carping critics or party writers, who have denounced her first work as "anti-ministerial and anti-christian," could have done. Her "Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands" (query, did she inten tionally imitate the title of Mrs. Sigourney's work-" Pleasant Memories of Pleasant Lands?") is a pleasant tribute to her self and her English friends. 1 |