talents and taste, as a successful writer and artist, are widely known. Soon after her marriage, Mrs. Hall commenced her literary career; no doubt the sympathy and approval of her husband incited her genius, and assisted materially in developing her powers. Her first work, entitled "Sketches of Irish Character," appeared in 1829. Of this, and her succeeding works, the following is, probably, a correct, though by no means a flattered estimate. We find it stated in "Chambers' cyclopaedia of English Literature," that "Mrs. Hall's sketches bear a closer resemblance to the tales of Miss Mitford than to the Irish stories of Banim or Griffin, though the latter may have tended to direct Mrs. Hall to the peculiarities of Irish character. They contain some fine rural description, and are animated by a healthy tone of moral feeling and a vein of delicate humour. The coquetry of the Irish girls (very different from that in high life) is admirably depicted. Next year, Mrs. Hall issued a little volume for children, 'Chronicles of a School-Room,' consisting of a series of tales, simple, natural, and touching. The home-truths and moral observations conveyed in these narratives, reflect great credit on the judgment of the writer. Indeed, good taste and good feeling may be said to preside over all the works of our authoress. In 1831, she issued a second series of 'Sketches of Irish Character,' fully equal to the first, which was well received. The 'Rapparee' is an excellent story, and some of the satirical delineations are hit off with great truth and liveliness. In 1832, she ventured on a larger and more difficult work—an historical romance in three volumes, entitled 'The Buccaneer.' The scene of this tale is laid in England, at the time of the Protectorate, and Oliver himself is among the characters. The plot of 'The Buccaneer' is well managed, and some of the characters (as that of Barbara Iverk, the Puritan) are skilfully delineated; but the work is too feminine, and has too little of energetic passion for the stormy times in which it is cast. In 1834, Mrs. Hall published 'Tales of Woman's Trials,' short stories of decidedly moral tendency, written in the happiest style of the authoress. In 1835, appeared 'Uncle Horace,' a novel, and in 1838 'Lights and Shadows of Irish Life,' three volumes. The latter had been previously published in the 'New Monthly Magazine,' and enjoyed great popularity. The principal tale in the collection, 'The Groves of Blarney,' was dramatized at one of the theatres with distinguished success. In 1840, Mrs. Hall issued what has been styled the best of her novels, 'Marian; or a Young Maid's Fortunes,' in which her knowledge of Irish character is again displayed. Katty Macane, an Irish cook, who adopts Marian, a foundling, and watches over her with untiring affection, is equal to any of the Irish portraitures since those by Miss Edgeworth.
The next work of our authoress was a series of 'Stories of the Irish Peasantry,' contributed to Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, and afterwards published in a collected form. In 1840, Mrs. Hall aided her husband in a work chiefly composed by him, and which reflects credit upon his talents and industry—'Ireland, its Scenery, Character,' etc. Topographical and statistical information is here blended with the poetical and romantic features of the country—the legends of the peasantry—scenes and characters of humour and pathos—and all that could be gathered in five separate tours through Ireland, added to early acquaintance and recollection of the country. The
