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Published by HD. Symonds, 20 Pater Noster Row Dec 11799.

THE

MONTHLY VISITOR.

NOVEMBER, 1799.

SKETCH

OF THE

MEMOIRS OF MISS HANNAH MORE.

WE

E have long wifhed to decorate our VISITOR with the head of fome female author, whofe genius has entertained and inftructed the rifing generation. The age is not wanting in fuch characters, and the reader will be gratified by the delineation of them. The fubject of our Memoir has attracted notice for feveral years paft; her works have been numerous, and at this juncture her pen engages no inconfiderable hare of public attention.

MISS HANNAH MORE is a native of Bristol, where she refided for the most part of her life, and fuperintended a boarding-fchool of ladies, of great refpectability. Her fifters fucceeded her in the office of teacher, and they alfo have lately retired. The talents, however, of Miss More, imparted to the feminary no fmall celebrity, and we have reafon to believe that this accomplished tutorels fent forth many valuable members of the community. Her fchool opened about 1765.

The life of literary characters, it has been frequently remarked, affords few incidents for the pen of the biographer. This is the precife cafe with the prefent fubVOL..VIII.

T

ject

ject of our Memoir. We fhall, however, collect together a few anecdotes, which will ferve to throw fome light on this ornament of the female world.

From her earlieft years, we understand, that Miss MORE dedicated much of her time to the improvement of her mind. Poffeffing a natural tafte for the acquifition of knowledge, the availed herself of every opportunity to gratify it. Under fuch circumftances, we are not to wonder at her prefent eminence, which could have been attained only by intense application and unwearied industry. She affociated likewife with literary men, and was much benefited by their conversation. With the late Mr. Garrick fhe was on terms of the greatest intimacy; and Dr. Stonehoufe, now deceased, a popular clergyman at Bristol, aided her in her studies, infpected her manufcripts, and thus contributed to the perfection of her writings.

It is alfo a certain fact, that our fair authorefs learnt the Latin language for the purpose of perufing Virgil in his native tongue! This fhews that he was not deficient in improving her tafte, and was alive to the charms of claffical beauty. Indeed, thofe divine ancients have furnished us with admirable models of writing, in almost every department of literature.

Nor should it be forgotten, that the office of teacher is highly favourable to mental improvement. They who difcharge their duty in that capacity, muft familiarife their minds to the first principles of fcience, and by degrees thoroughly understand them.

Befides, knowledge thus gradually and thoroughly acquired, will operate upon natural ability, and draw forth thofe latent feeds of genius which are the germs of intellectual excellence. We may thus reafonably account for many productions with which we fhould otherwife have been unacquainted. Some of the beft Scotch pieces have originated in this circumftance, and fuch exertions are deferving of applaufe. We are ready to add, with cheerfulness, the tribute of our commendation.

The

The first publication of MISS MORE, was written by her in the eighteenth year of her age; and is entitled, The Search after Happiness, a Paftoral Drama, for Young Ladies. It was extremely well received, and contains many excellent paffages. The following lines we recommend to our female readers:

"Euphelia fighs for flattery, drefs, and show,
Too common fources, thefe, of female woe!
In beauty's sphere, pre-eminence to find,
She flights the culture of th' immortal mind.
I would not rail at beauty's charming power,
I would but have her aim at fomething more
The fairest fymmetry of form or face,
From intellect receives its highest grace;
The brightest eyes ne'er dart fuch piercing fires,
As when a foul irradiates and infpires.

Beauty, with reafon, needs not quite difpenfe,
And coral lips may fure speak common fense;
Beauty makes virtue lovelier ftill appear,
Virtue makes beauty more divinely fair!"

The authorefs has, likewife, in this piece, explained her idea of the true province of Women, which sketch may not prove uninterefting in times when the rights of women have been warmly contefted;

"As fome fair violet, lovelieft of the glade,
Sheds its mild fragrance on the lonely thade,
Withdraws its modeft head from public fight,
Nor courts the fun, nor feeks the glare of light;
Should fome rude hand profanely dare intrude,
And bear its beauties from its native wood;
Expos'd abroad, its languid colours fly,
Its form decays, and all its odours die.
So woman, born to dignify retreat,
Unknown to flourish and unfeen be great;
To give domeftic life its sweetest charm,
With foftness polish, and with virtue warm;
Fearful of fame, unwilling to be known,
Should feck but heaven's applaufes and her own,

T

Should

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