taining an interesting account of the Mexican War, and of California.
The poetical compositions of Mrs. Willard are few, and are chiefly comprised in a small volume, printed in 1830.
WILLIAMS, ANNA,
Was the daughter of a surgeon and physician, in South Wales, where she was born, in 1706. She went with her father to London, in 1830, when, from some failing in his undertakings, he was reduced to great poverty. In 1740, Miss Williams lost her sight by a cataract, which prevented her, in a great measure, from assisting her father; but she still retained her fondness for literature, and what is more extraordinary, her skill in the use of her needle. In 1746, she published the "Life of the Emperor Julian, with Notes, translated from the French." She was assisted by her friends in this work, and it does not appear that she derived much pecuniary advantage from it. Soon after this. Dr. and Mrs. Johnson became interested in her, and at Dr. Johnson's request an operation was performed on her eyes, but without success; and from that time, even after his wife's death, she remained almost constantly an inmate of Johnson's house. Her circumstances were improved in the last years of her life, by the publication of a volume of prose and verse, and by some other means, and the friendship and kindness of Johnson continued unalterable. She died at his house in Boltcourt, Fleet Street, aged seventy-seven.
WILLIAMS, HELEN MARIA,
Was born, in 1762, in the north of England, and was ushered into public notice by Dr. Kippis, at the age of eighteen. Between 1782 and 1788, she published "Edwin and Eltrada," "An Ode to Peace," and other poems. In 1790 she settled in Paris, and became intimate with the most eminent of the Girondists, and, in 1794, was imprisoned, and nearly shared their fate. She escaped to Switzerland, but returned to Paris in 1797, and died there in 1827.
She wrote "Julia, a Novel," "Letters from France," "Travels in Switzerland," "A Narrative of Events in France," and "A Translation of Humboldt and Bonpland's Personal Narrative." Miss Williams possessed a strong mind, much historical acumen, and great industry, though her religious sentiments were not free from some errors of the period. As a poetess she had little more than some facility and the talent inseparable from a cultivated taste.
WILSON, MRS.,
An Englishwoman, who deserves an honoured place among the distinguished of her sex, for her noble self-sacrifice in going out to India, to introduce the light of female education into that region of moral darkness. She also founded the first orphan refuge, or asylum for female native children, established under the British sceptre in the East. This beginning of female instruction was introduced but little more than thirty years ago; the East India Company had held rich possessions and controlling power in India for morel than a century, yet no man had sought to remedy or remove the horrible degradation and ignorance of the female sex. The spirit of selfishness or sin reigned paramount in the hearts of men; and
