fatality seemed to attend upon it, and some fresh obstacle was continually arising to prevent the luckless Constance from obtaining an efficient representative on the London stage. Under these circumstances, Mr. Kemble at length confessed that he could not recommend the reproduction of the piece; and Mrs. Hemans acquiesced in the decision, with feelings which partook rather of relief than of disappointment. She never ceased to speak in the warmest terms of Mr. Kemble's liberal and gentlemanly conduct, both before and after the appearance of the piece, and of his surpassing exertions at the time of its representation.

It was with no small degree of surprise, that, in the course of the following February, she learned, through the medium of a letter from Mrs. Joanna Baillie,' that the tragedy was shortly to be represent

1

Though Mrs. Hemans had never the advantage of being personally known to this gifted and excellent lady, the occasional interchange of letters, which, from this time forward, was kept up between them, was regarded as one of the most valuable privileges she possessed. It was always delightful to her when she could love the character, as well as admire the talents, of a celebrated author; and never, surely, was there an example better fitted to call forth the willing tribute of veneration, both towards the woman and the poetess. In one of her letters to Mrs. Baillie, Mrs. Hemans thus apologized for indulging in a strain of egotism, which the nature of their acquaintance might scarcely seem to justify." The kindly warmth of heart which seems to breathe over all your writings, and the power of early association over my mind, make me feel, whenever I address you, as if I were writing to a friend."

It would have been very dear to her could she have foreseen how graciously that "kindly warmth of heart" would be extended to those of her children, who are more fortunate than her

ed at the Edinburgh Theatre-Mrs. Henry Siddons undertaking the part of Constance. The play was brought out on the 5th of April, and the following particulars of its reception, transmitted by one of the zealous friends who had been instrumental in this arrangement, will prove how well their kindly intentions were fulfilled :

"The tragedy went off in a style which exceeded our most sanguine expectations, and was announced for repetition on Wednesday, amidst thunders of applause. The actors seem to have done wonders, and every one appeared to strain every nerve, as if all depended on his own exertions. Vandenhoff was the elder, and Calcraft the younger Procida. The first recognition between father and son, was acted by them to such perfection, that one of the most hearty and unanimous plaudits followed that ever was heard.

*

*

*

*

*

"Every re-appearance of the gentle Constance won the spectators more and more. The scene in the judgment hall carried off the audience into perfect illusion, and handkerchiefs were out in every quarter. Mrs. Siddons's searching the faces of the judges, which she did in a wild manner, as if to find how Raimond's father was to save him, was perfect. She flew round the circle-went, as if distracted, close up to judge after judge-paused before Procida, and fell prostrate at his feet. The effect was magical, and was manifested by three repeated bursts of applause."

self, in enjoying the personal intercourse she would have prized so highly.

VOL. I. -9

A neatly turned and witty epilogue, surmised, though not declared, to be the production of Sir Walter Scott, was recited by Mrs. H. Siddons. When deference to a female was there laid claim to, loud bursts of applause ensued; but, when generosity to a stranger was bespoken, the house absolutely rang with huzzas.

"I knew how much you would rejoice," wrote Mrs. Hemans to a warm-hearted friend, "in the issue of my Edinburgh trial; it has, indeed, been most gratifying, and I think, amongst the pleasantest of its results, I may reckon a letter from Sir Walter Scott, of which it has put me in possession. I had written to thank him for the kindness he had shown with regard to the play, and hardly expected an answer; but it came, and you would be delighted with its frank and unaffected kindliness. He acknowledges the epilogue, "stuffed," as he says it was, "with parish jokes, and bad puns;" and courteously says, that his country folks have done more credit to themselves than to me, by their reception of The Vespers.

To another uncompromising champion she wrote: -"I must beg you will bear our faculties meekly:' you really seem to be rather in an intoxicated state; and if we indulge ourselves in this way, I am afraid we shall have something violent to sober us. I dare say I must expect some sharp criticism from Edinburgh ere all this is over; but any thing which deserves the name of criticism I can bear. I believe I could point out more faults in The Vespers myself than any one has done yet."

And then, with that endearing predominance of the

mother over the author, which formed one of the loveliest features of her character, she would turn to some nursery topic in strains such as these:-"I am just returned from a game with one of the English shuttlecocks (which are pronounced to be much the best flyers,) in which I have so distinguished myself by my strenuous exertions, that I feel in some danger of writing one of the three hands on which I have heard a distinguished lawyer piques himself—I mean the one which neither he himself nor any one else can read. Tant les forces de ma puissante vie' (as Mademoiselle de Staël says of Corinne) sont épui

sées.'""

6

And a letter of "high discourse" on the writings of Dr. Channing, merges in the domestic mood, as follows:-"Now, lest you should forget your Aunt Becky's' character, I have two important commissions to keep you in heart and in practice. We are in the greatest want of two humming-tops! One is to be rather a large one, but plain, and as little expensive as may be; the other of small dimensions, even such as will hum upon a table. Sundry teeth have been drawn in the household, and the tops have been promised to reward the fortitude evinced on these trying occasions."

She delighted, too, in relating little anecdotes of

1 See The Inheritance, by Miss Ferrier. This pet name had been bestowed upon the indefatigable friend who was, for eigh

teen years, the purveyor of all things needful, from Italian classics to humming-tops; and, like the Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery, a reference and authority in everything, from "predestination down to slea-silk."

her children, when writing to the partial friends by whom such "trivial fond records" were most likely to be prized. "I must tell you," she writes, “a remark of my little George's the other day, not only as I was much pleased with its discrimination, but as a proof of the attention and interest with which he has read our dear Swiss history. He was reading to me an account of the proceedings of the precious triumvirate, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius; when, suddenly pausing, he exclaimed, after a moment's thought 'Oh, mamma! what a contrast to the meeting of the three Swiss patriots on the field of Grutli!"

66

Another of these "Oh, mammas," was somewhat

1 A History of Switzerland, for young persons, published by Darton and Harvey. This very interesting volume was written by Mrs. Hemans's accomplished friend, the dear " Aunt Becky" of the note above; and she took an interest in its progress, and a pleasure in its success, which could scarcely have been exceeded had the work been her own. A little volume of Devotions for Youth, written by the same friend, and published by Rivingtons two or three years afterwards, was one she prized yet more highly, and frequently used with her children. "On Christmas morning," she wrote, when they had been lent to her in MS., "I read your prayer for that day with my boys, and I cannot tell you the pleasure I have in associating a thought of you with the feelings excited in such moments. I was pleased to hear the boys say, 'Mamma, that is the nicest prayer you ever read to us;' and could not help thinking that you, too, would like the approbation of such accomplished critics. In the lines which I suggested as a motto to the prayers, and which are from a birthday address to my little George, the idea of the cares of earth lying dim on the spirit's wings, was meant to imply the gradual fading of youthful fancy and imagination in the world's atmosphere, just as the feathers of a bird of Paradise might be soiled with a mist or shower."