pen of Mrs. Hale. Nothing that she has ever written, probably, has been more productive of good than this series of annual reports; and though they may be, from their official character, such as to add nothing to her literary laurels, they certainly form an important addition to her general claims to honour as one of the wise and good of the land.
Besides “Northwood,” which was republished in London under the title of “A New England Tale,” her published works are: “Sketches of American Character;” “Traits of American Life;” “Flora’s Interpreter,” of which more than forty thousand copies have been sold, besides English reprints; “The Ladies’ Wreath,” a selection from the female poets of England and America;” “The Good Housekeeper, the way to live well, and to be well while we live,” a manual of cookery, of which large and very numerous editions have been printed; “Grosvenor, a Tragedy;” “Alice Ray, a Romance in Rhyme;” “Harry Guy, the Widow’s Son, a Romance of the Sea” (the last two written for charitable purposes, and the proceeds given away accordingly); “Three Hours, or the Vigil of Love, and other Poems,” in 1848; “A Complete Dictionary of Poetical Quotations,” a work of nearly six hundred pages, large octavo, printed in double columns, and containing selections, on subjects alphabetically arranged, from the poets of England and America; “The Judge, a Drama of American Life,” published, in numbers, in the Lady’s Book, and about to be given to the world in book form. Mrs. Hale has also edited several annuals—“The Opal,” “The Crocus,” &c., and prepared quite a number of books for the young. A large number of essays, tales, and poems lie scattered among the periodicals of the day, sufficient to fill several volumes. These she proposes to collect and publish, in book form, after concluding her editorial career.
By far the most important and honourable monument of her labour is the volume now passing through the press, entitled “Woman’s Record.” This is a general biographical dictionary of distinguished women of all nations and ages, filling about nine hundred pages, of the largest octavo size, closely printed in double columns. Mrs. Hale has been engaged for several years upon this undertaking, the labour of which was enough to appal any but a woman of heroic spirit. It needs no prophetic vision to predict that this great work will be an enduring “Record,” not only of woman in general, but of the high aims, the indefatigable industry, the varied reading, and just discrimination of its ever to be honoured author.
The first extract from the writings of Mrs. Hale is taken from the work last named, and is in some measure a continuation of the present biographical notice.
