fictitious letters, which aim to Imitate the epistolary style, by a recital of false sentiments and feigned adventures to imaginary correspondents." She died in 1698, in her seventy-first year, at her daughter's residence in Provence, of a fever brought on in consequence of the anxiety she bad endured during a dangerous illness of Madame de Grignan.
SEWARD, ANNA,
Daughter of the Rev. Thomas Seward, was born, in 1747, at Eyam, in Derbyshire. Very early in life she manifested a talent for poetry, which her father in vain tried to discourage. She acquired considerable reputation as a poet; and also wrote "A Life of Dr. Darwin," in which she claims the first fifty lines of his "Botanic Garden" as her own.
In 1754, Mr. Seward removed with his family to Lichfield, the birth-place of Johnson and Garrick, and the residence of Dr. Darwin; and Miss Seward continued to live there till her death in 1809. Her only sister dying in 1764, just as she was on the eve of marrying Dr. Porter, step-son to Dr. Johnson, Anna found her society so indispensible to her parents, that she rejected all offers of matrimony on their account; although, being young, beautiful, and an heiress, she was of course much sought. She was remarkable for the ardour and constancy of her friendships, as well as for her filial devotion.
Her sonnets have procured her the greater part of her celebrity as a poetess; though her poetical novel, entitled "Louisa," was very favourably received at the time of its publication. Miss Seward died in 1809, aged sixty, two years. Among her publications were six volumes of "Letters." The "Description of the Life of an English Country Clergyman some eighty or ninety years ago," is a fair specimen of her prose, which we think is superior to her poetry.
SEWELL, ELIZABETH M.,
Is sister of the Rev. William Sewell, A. M., Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Oxford, and well known as the author of "Hawkstone," and as the editor of her works. Miss Sewell's first publication was anonymous—"Stories on the Lord's Prayer," about 1843. The next, "Amy Herbert," established her reputation as a graceful and useful writer, both in this country and America. It was followed, at intervals, by "Gertrude," "Margaret Percival," in two volumes, "Laneton Parsonage," and "The Earl's Daughter;" besides, she united with her brother, the Professor, and the Rev. W. Adams, in bringing out a volume called "The Sketches," consisting of stories, of which she wrote "Walter Lorimer." She is also author of a little volume entitled "Is it a Dream?" All her works have been republished in the United States and widely circulated. Pious sentiment is the predominating characteristic of the writings of this amiable lady. Belonging to what is styled the High Church, she delineates with much effect the educational power of religion. Her patients, persons of great worth and respectability, are deceased, and she resides with other members of her family at Seagrove Cottage, in the Isle of Wight.
