hymeneal altar; and shortly afterwards Fordyce became the wife of Mr Bedford. Mr Medlicott gave her away, for Mr Norrys continued sulky, not altogether relishing the deceit which, he declared, had been practised on him relative to Dr Hooliloo being a brother coin-collector. Mr Medlicott, however, stoutly defended himself, and boldly affirmed that he had spoken nothing but truth, for that Aspinax Ringles had an undoubted right to call himself by his Indian name if he liked; and moreover, that he was a bona fide collector of coins on a large scale; and that he had given a considerable portion to those who knew how to value them. It was a famous joke for the facetious Mr Medlicott; but the sedate Mr Norrys of Lisbourne House seldom condescended to joke. The Misses Norrys also were of opinion that Fordyce Brandon-as Adelaide's sister-rather demeaned herself by marrying an individual, however worthy and respectable, who had once been her father's clerk. Nevertheless, in process of time, Sir Frederic and Lady Arlington, who did not live together on the most amicable terms, were glad to accept invitations to the hospitable and princely mansion of Timothy Bedford, the prudent and prosperous merchant, where Fordyce presided, as radiant in happiness, kind in heart, and brilliant in beauty, as in the days of her early prosperity. Thither, too, often came Mr and Mrs Medlicott, as the most honoured guests, the doctor having retired from active life, owing to the infirmities of age creeping on. With unwearied patience, and a ready smile, Timothy listened to Mr Medlicott's oft-repeated joke about Dr Hooliloo; while Mrs Medlicott quite eschewed fictitious romance, and declared there was nothing like the romance of reality.

HER LIFE AND WORKS.

F Napoleon was the greatest man of his time, Madame de Staël was no less the most eminent woman. If he, beyond all men who have ever lived, was subtle in contrivance, strong of will, and daring in exploit-she, as a woman, was the most original thinker, powerful writer, and eloquent talker, the world has yet produced. Even setting sex aside, we doubt whether they may not be said to differ less in the actual amount than in the nature and direction of their individual powers. Both were giants, both intensely desirous of fame and glory; but his was a cold-blooded egotistical ambition, that united with contempt for his fellow-men, and could take

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no rest until he saw them under his foot; hers, a generous and loving enthusiasm, that could enjoy no distinction unaccompanied by the conviction, that in raising herself, she was helping to elevate the whole human race. And hence the continual jar between them, his hatred of her, and the tyrannical persecution which imbittered and shortened her life. There was, nevertheless, in her high moral patriotism and purpose, a clear and distinct voice, which, though overborne and inaudible amidst the éclat of his first military glories, was afterwards eagerly listened to, and had no feeble share in discrediting, and finally undermining his empire. Unfortunately, the recognition came too late for her safety. Like Macbeth with Banquo, he felt that in her royalty of nature reigned much that would be feared,' that 'under her his genius was rebuked, his sceptre barren;" and less scrupulous than his prototype, he dared' with bare-faced power to sweep her from his sight, and bid his will avouch it.' It was the over and over again struggle-the old barbarian victory of physical might over intellectual and moral right. As she naïvely expressed it: she had nothing to conjure with except her poor genius, and for a time at least genius could avail little against a mounted gendarme.

A complete and faithful portraiture of Madame de Staël would be a desirable addition to literary biography; but the task will be a difficult one. The most ambitious attempt that has yet been made, even in her own country, towards setting forth the inner life and outward manifestations of this very remarkable personage, is the sketch of her character and writings by her accomplished kinswoman, Madame Necker de Saussure, which was prefixed to her posthumous works published by her son in 1820. The review or analysis there given of her numerous literary productions, is carefully and admirably executed, and contains some useful notes and explanations to be met with nowhere else. But the memoir makes no pretensions either to completeness or impartiality. It is an eloquent and affectionate eulogium, rather than a biography, impressing us throughout, somewhat too much, perhaps, with the cleverness, elegance, and fine moral tact of the author; and chiefly interesting as indicative of the large and important place Madame de Staël held through life in the hearts and minds of those who had the best opportunity of knowing her. Though enriched with many admirable illustrations, and containing an abundance of striking and varied characterisation which ought to place, and really does place, her heroine on the very highest pinnacle of human elevation, it must be owned that the effect, on the whole, of Madame de Saussure's elaborate notice, is rather to dazzle the eye by a profusion of luminous points and brilliant tints, than to satisfy it by the presentment of a carefully shaded and lifelike portrait. She succeeds much better in the sketches she attempts of the Neckers and other subordinate persons of the scene; but there is in her manner a certain air of rigidity and scientific

precision particularly unfitted for the delineation of the chief figure of one so entirely out of the common mould-whose vast intellectual proportions seem to lie floating many a rood,' and of whom it may so well be said, that her soul was larger than logic.' We are, however, greatly indebted to Madame de Saussure for her affectionate labours. It would have been difficult, as she says with her usual elegance of expression,' to write Madame de Staël's history while her contemporaries were yet on the world's stage, to disengage her part from theirs, to select the bright thread of her course from the delicate and complicated tissue of the history of the present time.' But from Madame de Staël's own works, from her Thoughts on the French Revolution and Ten Years of Exile, especially, we learn many additional particulars, which, with the numerous and interesting notices of her by contemporary and succeeding writers, would now furnish materials for a tolerably complete biography. At present, we propose to lay before our readers as entire an outline of her eventful life and important works, as our ability and the limits of this paper will allow.

Anne Louisa Germaine Necker, afterwards Baroness de Staël Holstein, was the only child of M. Necker, the wealthy Genevese banker, and his wife, Susanna Curchod, a beautiful and accomplished Swiss lady. She was born at Paris in 1766, at the commencement of the most important era that has yet occurred in the history of civilised Europe, and was about ten years old when her father, who had been long distinguished as a financier and able writer on political economy, was called upon to fill one of the chief offices of the state, as Minister of Finance to Louis XVI. Although Mademoiselle Necker was by nature quickwitted, energetic, and affectionate, the accessories of her position and education must have prodigiously increased the power and vivacity of her natural faculties, and had great influence over her peculiar intellectual development. Perhaps there was never so excitable a child, or one so early and imprudently stimulated. Her father's position, and the esteem in which he was held, with her mother's beauty and talents, made their house the resort of the most intellectual society in Paris; and we have a picture of the precocious little wit at ten years of age, with brown complexion and bright black eyes, already sparkling with kindness and intelligence, surrounded by the chief men of the day, and eagerly listening to conversation on subjects far beyond her years. By the side of Madame Necker was a little wooden stool on which sat her daughter, obliged to hold herself very upright indeed. Scarcely had she taken her customary place there, when three or four gentlemen of the company came up and accosted her with the tenderest interest. One of them, who wore a little bob-wig, took her hands in his, and held them for a long time, conversing with her as if she had been five-and-twenty. This was the Abbé Raynal; the others were Messrs Thomas, Marmontel, the Marquis de Pesay, and Baron von

not

Grimm. At table, you should have seen how she listened; a word did she utter, and yet she seemed to be speaking, so much expression did her flexible features display. Her eyes eagerly followed the looks and motions of those who spoke, as if to seize the ideas before they were uttered. She took an interest in all that was said, even on political subjects, which at this time were the leading topics of conversation.

'After dinner, came more company; and every one, on approaching Madame Necker, had a word to say to her daughter of compliment or raillery. She answered all with perfect ease and grace. They took pleasure in attacking her, embarrassing her, and in exciting that little imagination, already so brilliant.' Extraordinary treatment this, it will be agreed, of a little being already so brimful of sensibility, that 'the praise of her parents would fill her eyes with tears, and the mere sight of a person of celebrity cause her heart to palpitate!' But M. and Madame Necker, though devoted parents after their respective fashions, seem to have been as little prudent as they were of one mind in respect to their daughter's upbringing. The mother is everywhere described as a noble-minded woman, of fine understanding, and accomplished, though somewhat formal manners. The daughter of a Protestant clergyman in the canton of Bern, she had herself been so carefully trained, and had acquired so much by profound study, that she had, unfortunately, become convinced that there was nothing in natural bent, and everything in a proper method. In the last degree true to her principles, she studied herself, society, individuals, the art of writing, of housekeeping, and above all, that of preserving the purity of her principles; then reduced all these to system, and from this system deduced precise rules for the regulation of her conduct. No great wonder, then, that, as Madame de Saussure allows, 'there was a stiffness in her and near her,' and that her daughter should have respected rather than loved her.

The father, on the other hand, though full of benevolence and practical wisdom in general, appears to have been somewhat selfindulgent as a family man, and even slightly capricious towards his model-consort. She is said to have possessed his love, confidence, and admiration in a high degree; but we suspect a less pretending woman might have suited and pleased him in a yet higher degree. Indeed, he confided to Madame de Saussure one day, that the only fault he had to Madame Necker was her faultlessness -'that there was nothing to pardon in her.' He was solemn and reserved in society, perhaps as much from caution as profundity; was probably tired of being always wise, and would, not unnaturally, have preferred unbending and being amused rather than edified in the leisure of his home. Instead, therefore, of shewing an ardent interest in the ingenious speculations of his accomplished better-half, he rather discouraged her zeal; actually prohibited her from spending her time in composition; would not allow her to have a writing-table in the room, in case he might at any time