ART. III. Some Account of the Life and Writings of Mrs. Trimmer, with original Letters, and Meditations and Prayers, selected from her Journal. In two Volumes. 8vo. 18s. Rivingtons. 1814.

THE place which Mrs. Trimmer attaiued, while living, in the esteem of her contemporaries, and the value of the works which she left behind to benefit those also who should come after, are such as could not fail to insure a considerable portion of notice to any competent and well authenticated narrative of her life. We do not wonder, therefore, that it should have been in the contemplation of her friends, speedily after her decease, to publish such an account, "from an idea that it might be interesting to those who are acquainted with her writings." We may add, also, that the present volumes will afford an ample justification of the additional and higher motive from which this task has been undertaken," the hope that a recital of the virtues which adorned her character, might be beneficial to others.

Sarah, the daughter of Joshua and Sarah Kirby, was born at Ipswich, on the 6th of January, 1741. At the age of fourteen she left that place, with her father and mother, to settle in London, where Mr. K. had the honour of teaching perspective to the present King, then Prince of Wales; and afterwards to her Majesty. About the year 1759, Mr. K. removed to Kew, on being appointed clerk of the works at that palace. There his daughter became acquainted with Mr. Trimmer; and at the age of twenty-one she was united to him in marriage. From that time, for many years, she was occupied, almost constantly, with domestic duties; devoting herself to the education of her own children. In a letter written after her family were grown up, she says,

"I have been the mother of twelve children, nine of whom are still living, five daughters and four sons. All my children were nursed by myself; my daughters wholly educated under the parental roof; my sons chiefly so. For many years, therefore, I could find but little leisure for reading: the needle was my principal occupation when I was not nursing or teaching."

These early and long-continued occupations gave the character to her own life. If, in after years, she became an author, the education of youth was still her undivided care. It was only that she might continue a nurse and teacher; but now indeed, far beyond her own doors; if it might be, to the whole. family of mankind; and especially to those who stood most in. need of a charitable and fostering hand. About the year 1780,

the notice of contemporaries, who look on and envy, not consi dering how small an accident of health or temper is enough to put high faculties out of tune; how trivial a jest will seem to soil the brightest reputation; or, if all this will not do, the happy must be inventing drawbacks on their too plentiful income of blessings, and life grows wearisome, distasteful, and melancholy, for very want of real evils to contend against. Lastly, it would reconcile men of genius and learning to such needful humiliation, by pointing out its final cause. Without some wholesome chill our fairest flowers would become rank weeds, blossoms of pride and selfishness; or, at best, we should be too well pleased with our present reward to be solicitous about doing more good or earning higher glory. For literary fame, as it is a surer and more exalted advantage, so is it a more seductive object to superior minds, than any which an active life affords; and they are the more in danger of taking the shadow for the substance, the praise of men for the praise of God. Also the solitariness of their labours is a great and peculiar temptation to overweening thoughts; the hero and the statesman must divide their renown with the armies and councils which obeyed them, but this man's merit seems all his own: the fruit of time and patience and self-denial, sown and watered in obscurity, of tardy and anxious growth; who can say of himself, that he shall not go beyond sober complacency, when he beholds the plant which he has reared magnificent in verdure, liberal of shelter and refreshment, the boast of his own time, and the hope of future generations? wisely therefore and in mercy is it ordained, that the tempting way should be Fugged and uneasy; that head-aches, and heart-aches, and nervous irritations of body and mind, vexing and involuntary suspicions, fears, discontents, and melancholies innumerable should be allowed to swarm around, and mortify the pride of genius, and dim the clear sight which begins to flatter itself that it can look through all things. To avoid these altogether we must needs go out of the world to lessen them there is but one way, and that is, for all who are beginning a course of study or authorship especially to cultivate in themselves the grace of humility to say nothing of higher interests, it secures them, if they succeed, the substantial enjoyment of the good they may do and the credit they may acquire if they fail, it makes their descent easy, for they have not indulged extravagant hopes, and the cheering consciousness of their own virtue and discretion is well worth the disap pointment.

ART.

ART. III. Some Account of the Life and Writings of Mrs. Trimmer, with original Letters, and Meditations and Prayers, selected from her Journal. In two Volumes. 8vo. 18s. Rivingtons. 1814.

THE place which Mrs. Trimmer attained, while living, in the esteem of her contemporaries, and the value of the works which she left behind to benefit those also who should come after, are such as could not fail to insure a considerable portion of notice to any competent and well authenticated narrative of her life. We do not wonder, therefore, that it should have been in the contemplation of her friends, speedily after her decease, to publish such an account, "from an idea that it might be interesting to those who are acquainted with her writings." We may add, also, that the present volumes will afford an ample justifi cation of the additional and higher motive from which this task has been undertaken, "the hope that a recital of the virtues which adorned her character, might be beneficial to others.

Sarah, the daughter of Joshua and Sarah Kirby, was born at Ipswich, on the 6th of January, 1741. At the age of fourteen she left that place, with her father and mother, to settle ia London, where Mr. K. had the honour of teaching perspective to the present King, then Prince of Wales; and afterwards to her Majesty. About the year 1759, Mr. K. removed to Kew, on being appointed clerk of the works at that palace. There his daughter became acquainted with Mr. Trimmer; and at the age of twenty-one she was united to him in marriage. From that time, for many years, she was occupied, almost constantly, with domestic duties; devoting herself to the education of her own children. In a letter written after her family were grown up, she says,

"I have been the mother of twelve children, nine of whom are still living, five daughters and four sons. All my children were nursed by myself; my daughters wholly educated under the parental roof; my sons chiefly so. For many years, therefore, I could find but little leisure for reading: the needle was my principal occupation when I was not nursing or teaching."

These early and long-continued occupations gave the cha racter to her own life. If, in after years, she became an author, the education of youth was still her undivided care. It was only that she might continue a nurse and teacher; but now indeed, far beyond her own doors; if it might be, to the whole family of mankind; and especially to those who stood most in need of a charitable and fostering hand. About the year 1780,

soon after the publication of Mrs. Barbauld's " Easy Lessons for Children," Mrs. Trimmer wrote, and published her "Easy Introduction to the Knowledge of Nature." By the approbation which that book obtained, she was encouraged to proceed; and from that time, to the hour of her death, she was unremittingly and indefatigably employed in a variety of literary undertakings, all, more or less, connected with the subject of education. For several years, the compilation of a set of books, to be employed in the education of the children of the poor, was the great object of her solicitude: and perhaps to no individual is our country more indebted for the great advancement which recently has been made in that most important branch of National and Christian economy, than to this lady. On the 15th of December; 1810, after scarcely one hour's previous indisposition, and without any symptoms of illness that could alarm her family,

"As she was sitting in her study, in the chair in which she was accustomed to write, she bowed her head upon her bosom, and yielded her pure spirit into the hands of her Creator and Redeemer. Her children, who were accustomed to see her occasionally take repose in this manner, could scarcely persuade them. selves that she was not sunk in sleep, and it was not till after some time that they could be made to believe that it was the sleep of death."

The narrative from which we have derived the above brief abstract, is but scantily interspersed with anecdote or incident. Besides the account of Mrs. Trimmer's writings, it consists principally of a review of her character, and the manner in which she discharged her duties in her several relations as a woman and a Christian. As such, it is very interesting, and may be perused with great pleasure and improvement.

But this narrative of her life is neither for extent nor value the most important part of this publication. It does but reach to p. 64 of the first volume. The remainder of the work consists of extracts, chronologically arranged, from a private journal, of original Letters to and from Mrs. Trimmer; and of such occasional observations from the hand of the compiler as are necessary to combine these materials into a consistent history.

This Journal was begun in the year 1785, the keeping of it having been suggested by the perusal of the Journal and Prayers of Dr. Samuel Johnson. As we are informed in the preface, it was written in the most secret hours of retreat, and without the least intention of the writer that it should meet the eye of any human being besides herself. For many years it was never

seen

seen by any other person; but as the events which she had recorded became less recent, she occasionally read passages to her children, and a few other persons. Hearing them express great satisfaction in what was thus communicated, and finding that some under afflicting circumstances were soothed and comforted, and likewise reaping benefit by recurring to it herself from time to time, she was unwilling to destroy it, and left it behind her without any injunctions or directions whatever.

"Her children, who had before been acquainted with it, neturally had recourse to this Journal for consolation under the heavy affliction occasioned by her death. The comfort they derived from the perusal induced them to shew some parts to a few friends, who mourned with them the loss of one of the best of women and of Christians. By these friends they were so earnestly solicited to lay extracts from it before the public, that after much deliberation they have resolved so to do, from the hope that the pious effusions of one of the tenderest and purest hearts that ever warmed the human breast, may edify others."

It is impossible not to rejoice in this determination.

But, a specimen of the food here provided, will speak in more forcible language in commendation of these volumes, than any words which we can use.

The following are some of Mrs. T.'s reflexions on the death of her husband.

May 22. This day the silent tomb is closed upon the remains of my dear departed husband. On the 15th I was waked from a comfortable sleep by the sound of his dying agony. I found him in a strong fit. In a very short time he expired. I am now a deep and sincere mourner for his loss. Oh he has been to me the tenderest of husbands, and long shall I lament the fatal separation. My thoughts have been successively calm and tumultuous. I have received much inward consolation. I trust that though his death was sudden, he was not unprepared for it. I think he had been in expectation of a speedy dissolution for some time past; and his life had been a series of good and benevolent actions, such as the Gospel recommends. I am persuaded he performed them with singleness of heart, and that he had a real zeal for the interests of true religion. I think he was merciful and a peace-maker in an eminent degree. He was also of a most forgiving temper. O he had many virtues !

"I have the comfort of knowing that I performed my duty as a wife to his entire satisfaction.

"I purpose, with divine grace, to pass the remainder of my life in the practice of piety. I will seek to my Saviour, and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Surely then the blessing of God will remain with me!

O mer