with the design of alleviating, in some degree, the calamities which surround her, that this proposal has been made. It is honorable to those with whom it originated.
"No one who can appreciate the productions of genius; indeed, no one who can feels the claims of humanity, will view a proposal of this nature, with indifference. The mere statement of facts relating to this young lady, which has already been given, is in itself the most powerful appeal which can be made in her behalf. It is mournful to think upon such a mind, suffering under the infliction of a fate like hers; of a spirit so finely tempered,—so framed to sympathize with all the beautiful and exquisite harmonies of the outward creation,—so fitted to draw instruction and delight from the exhaustless treasury of nature; debarred from all communication with the thousand scenes of inspiration, which are continually furnishing other minds with the materials of new and expanded thought,—doomed to the endurance of bodily pain, from which there is no relief,—still rising above the trials which are wearing it away, and pouring forth, amid languishment and pain, its rich music, like the melody of the dying swan."Journal for December 7th, 1833.
To the subjoined letters,[1] the reader is referred for other interesting particulars respecting the subject of this notice.
The venerable father[2] of the author, like many other patriots of the Revolution, bequeathed nothing to his family but the memory of his good works; and their circumstances, before much straitened, have been reduced, by the cessation of his pension, within the ordinary measure of a
