A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Martineau, Harriet
MARTINEAU, HARRIET,
Was born in 1802; she was one of the youngest of a family of eight children. Her father was proprietor of a manufactory of Norwich, in which place his family, originally of French origin, had resided since the revocation of the edict of Nantes. Miss Martineau has herself ascribed her taste for literary pursuits to the delicacy of her health in childhood, and to her deafness, which, without being complete, has obliged her to seek occupations and pleasures within herself; and also to the affection which subsisted between her and her brother, the Rev. James Martineau. When her family became unfortunate in worldly affairs, she was able, by her writings, to relieve them entirely from the burden of her support, and she has since realized "an elegant sufficiency" from the same source.
Her first work, "Devotional Exercises, for the use of Young Persons," was published in 1823. The following year, appeared "Christmas Day;" and in 1825, "The Friends," being a sequel to the last named. In 1826, she wrote "Principle and Practice," a tale, "The Rioters," and "Original Hymns." In 1827, "Mary Campbell" and "The Turnout" were published; and in 1829, "Sequel to Principle and Practice," "Tracts for Houlston," and "My Servant Rachel." In 1830, appeared her best work, because evincing more tenderness of feeling and faith in religion than any other she has written,—this was "Traditions of Palestine;" also a prize essay, "The Essential Faith of the Universal Church," and "Five Years of Youth." In the following year, 1831, she obtained prizes for two essays, "The Faith, as unfolded by Many Prophets," and "Providence, as manifest through Israel."
Miss Martineau seems here to have reached her culminating point in religious sentiment; her faith never rose above sentiment, except in the "Traditions of Palestine," which has passages of, seemingly, true and holy fervour of spirit. In 1832. she commenced her series of tales, as "Illustrations of Political Economy," "Illustrations of Taxation," of "Poor Laws," &c. Miss Martineau was induced to prepare these books, from reading Mrs. Marcet's "Conversations on Political Economy," and thinking that illustrations through stories, theory put in action, would be most effective in producing reforms. The books were very popular when they appeared; but we doubt if their influence on the public mind was productive of any beneficial improvement. The tales were read for amusement; the political notions were forgotten, probably, before the incidents of the story had been effaced by some newer work of fiction.
In 1835, she visited the United States, where she had many friends, warm admirers of her talents, and of the philanthropy with which her writings were imbued. She was welcomed as a lister; and throughout her "Tour in America," the kindest hospitality of the American people was lavished on her. She published the result of her observations and reflections, in 1837, in two works, entitled "Society in America" and "Retrospect of Western Travel." She brought to these investigations some excellent qualities and much benevolent feeling. She was earnest, enthusiastic and hopeful; her books, though marred by many mistakes, some misrepresentations, were yet more candid in tone and true in spirit, than any preceding works of British travellers in America had been. The style is spirited, graphic, and frequently eloquent. Miss Martineau is remarkable for her power of portraying what she sees; she revels in the beauties of landscape, and Has a wonderful command of language. Her writings are usually entertaining, even to those who do not agree with her in theory and sentiment.
Miss Martineau's first regular novel appeared in 1839, and was entitled "Deerbrook." Chambers says of it, that "though improbable in many of its incidents, this work abounds in eloquent and striking passages. The democratic opinions of the authoress (for in all but her anti-Malthusian doctrines, Miss Martineau is a sort of female Godwin) are strikingly brought forward, and the characters are well drawn. 'Deerbrook' is a story of English domestic life. The next effort of Miss Martineau was in the historical romance. 'The Hour and the Man,' 1840, is a novel or romance, founded on the history of the brave Touissant L'Ouverture, and with this man as hero. Miss Martineau exhibits as the hour of action the period when the slaves of St. Domingo threw off the yoke of slavery. There is much passionate as well as graceful writing in this tale; its greatest defect is, that there is too much disquisition, and too little connected or regular fable. Among the other works of Miss Martineau are several for children, as 'The Peasant and the Prince,' 'The Settlers at Home,' 'How to Observe,' &c. Her 'Life in the Sick-Room, or Essays by an Invalid,' 1844, contains many interesting and pleasing sketches, full of acute and delicate thought and elegant description."
It is known that in 1832, Lord Grey, the then premier of England, made Miss Martineau an offer of one hundred and fifty pounds per annum from the civil list, which she refused, because she objected to share in the proceeds of a system of taxation, against which she had written. This offer was 'afterwards, when the author was prostrated by a lingering sickness, repeated by Lord Melbourn, and again declined. Miss Martineau's recovery from her long illness was effected through the agency of mesmerism, at the close of 1843, and of the perfect restoration of her mental and physical energies, she gave evidence in her "Forest and Game Law Tales," in three volumes, which were followed by a single volume tale, called "The Billow and the Rock."
In 1846; Miss Martinean, in company with intelligent friends, made a journey through Egypt, to Palestine. Greece, Syria, and Arabia. She has Riven her impressions of those countries in her work, "Eastern Life; Present and Past," published in 1848. That she is an intelligent traveller, and knows "how to observe," better than almost any tourist who had preceded her, there is no doubt. Her work is exceedingly interesting; but it is marred by the mocking infidelity which she allows for the first time to darken her pages, and testify to the world her disbelief in divine revelation!
A new work from the pen of Miss Martineau, "Letters on Man's Nature and Developments," appeared in London in 1851; it is decidedly atheistic in its tone; the only foundation of morality, the belief in God, is disavowed, and his Holy word derided as 'a book of fables, unworthy the study of rational beings. There is something in this avowal by a woman of utter unbelief in Christianity which so shocks the mind, that we are troubled to discuss it; we draw back, as from a pit of destruction, into which to gaze, even, is to sin.
Besides the works above enumerated, this volummous author has written "A History of England during the Thirty years War," which is generally commended for its vigour and impartiality. She has also given a free and condensed translation of "Compters Positive Philosophy,"and produced a great number of phamplets on various social and political questions. She is now residing at Ambleside, in Westmoreland, where she is actively engaged in cultivating her little farm with great energy and success.