early productions are sufficient to place her among the best poets of her sex.
"All high poetry must be religious," says Professor Wilson; and who that is conscious of possessing a soul that longs for immortality but feels the truth of this doctrine? There is an aspiration in every mind for something higher, better, lovelier than can be found on earth; and it is the holiest office of poesy to embody in language those vague yearnings for happiness and purity; and paint, on the dark and torn canvas of human life, transparent and glowing pictures of heavenly beauty and tranquillity. Few writers have done this with more effect than Mrs. Southey. There is a sincerity, a devotedness, ay, and an enjoyment too, in her religions musings, which shows that Christian feeling has elevated the poetic sentiment in her heart till she can sing of the "better land" with the sure and sweet conviction of its reality and blessedness. In private life Mrs. Southey is the Christian lady, doing good and communicating happiness in her domestic pursuits as she does by her literary talents.
SOUTHWORTH, EMMA D. E. NEVITTE,
Is the daughter of the late Charles Le Compe Nevitte and Susannah George Wailes, of St. Mary's, Maryland. On either side, her ancestors were French and English Roman Catholics, who came to America in 1632, with Calvert, and settled at St. Mary's, the first settlement in Maryland, where they became extensive land-holders. Here they continued to reside for nearly two hundred years, holding honourable posts, and taking an active part in the government of the province and the state. At the age of four. Miss Nevitte lost her father, and after that event resided with her grandmother, Mrs. Wailes, a Maryland lady of the old school, and a worthy member of the Episcopal church. Her mother was married a second time, to Joshua L. Henshaw, Esq., formerly of Boston; and to his personal instruction his step-daughter is indebted for all the education she received. In 1841, Miss Nevitte became Mrs. Southworth; and in 1843, by a sudden and overwhelming misfortune, she was left; destitute, with two infants to maintain. In 1846, she wrote her first sketch, and published it anonymously; her second story she sent to the "National Era," and its editor. Dr. Bailey, not only approved the sketch, but saw so clearly the genius and power manifested by it, that he sought out the writer, and, by his encouragement, induced her to venture more boldly on the thorny path of authorship. Her principal productions are "Retribution, or The Vale of Shadows," 1849; "The Deserted Wife," 1850; "The Mother-in-Law, or The Isle of Rays," and "Shannondale," published in 1851. She has also written several very interesting tales and sketches for periodicals.
Mrs. Southworth is yet young, both as a woman and an author; but she is a writer of great promise, and we have reason to expect that the future productions of her pen will surpass those works with which she has already favoured the reading public—works showing great powers of the imagination, and strength and depth of feeling, it is true, but also written in a wild and extravagant manner, and occasionally with a freedom of expression that almost borders on impiety. This we are constrained to say, though we feel assured that no one would shrink more reluctantly than the young writer herself from coolly and calmly approaching, with too familiar a
