A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Porter, Jane
PORTER, JANE,
Was sister of the preceding, and the oldest of the two, though she did not commence her career of authorship so early, nor did she write such a number of novels as her sister, yet she has succeeded in making a deeper impression of her genius on the age. She was the first that introduced that beautiful kind of fiction, the historical romance, which has now become so popular. Her "Thaddeus of Warsaw" was published in 1803, and "The Scottish Chiefs" in 1810; both were highly popular, but "Thaddeus of Warsaw" had unprecedented success. It was translated into most of the continental languages, and Poland was loud in its praise. Kosciusko sent the author a ring, containing his portrait. General Gardiner, the British minister at Warsaw, could not believe that any other than an eye-witness had written the story, so accurate were the descriptions, although Miss Porter had not then been in Poland. She was honoured publicly by having the title of Chanoiness of the Polish order of St. Joachim conferred upon her after the publication of "Thaddeus of Warsaw."
Miss Porter's last work was the "The Pastor's Fireside;" and she also wrote, in conjunction with her sister, "Tales round a Winter's Hearth." She contributed to many periodicals; and her "Biographical Sketch of Colonel Denham, the African Traveller," in the "Naval and Military Journal," was much admired. The genius of both these ladies was similar in kind; they described scenery vividly, and in appeals to the tender and heroic passions, were effective and successful; but their works want the permanent interest of real life, variety of character, and dialogue. The career of Miss Porter was not marked by any striking event; she won her celebrity by her genius, and the excellence of her character brightens the picture, and makes her fame a blessing to her sex. Miss Porter died May 24th., 1850, at the residence of her brother, Dr. Porter, (the last survivor of the family,) at Bristol. She was nearly seventy-four years of age.