DOING ONE'S BEST. 271 single detail. We are bound always to give of our best to our friends, and must not challenge the criticism even of a drawing-room, until we feel that we have made all the exertions honestly within our power to avoid the disgrace of failure. 'Love, and faith, and dear domestic ties, Study, and art, upliftings unto prayer, ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH. Sketch of Anne Baynard's Life-Catherine of Siena-Her Example not to be implicitly followed-A higher Standard of Duty now expected-Enthusiasm essential to True Nobility of Character-What is True Heroism? -Lines from The Angel in the House '-Shakespeare's Portia-The Type of intellectual Strength and loving Tenderness-Mrs. Jameson's Opinion-Perhaps true of Girls fifty years ago, but not now-Wordsworth's Picture of Womanhood-Lady Jane Grey-Her ChildhoodAscham's Opinion of her-Tennyson's Lines-Her Letter to her SisterCharlotte Brontë-Life at Haworth-The History of the Year 1829'Early Writings-The Miscellaneous Character of her Reading-Harriet Martineau-Her early Life - Mrs. Inchbald-Fanny Burney-Her Education-Pope quoted-The Potency of Industry-Caroline HerschelHer Letters-Her Scientific Labours-Ben Jonson's Lines-Sara Coleridge-Her youthful Pursuits and Accomplishments-Wordsworth's Poem 1 'The Trial'-Aubrey de Vere's Description of Sara Coleridge-Mrs. Hemans's Girlhood-Early Poems-Her Intellect and Accomplishments -Her extraordinary Memory-How to cultivate the Memory-Miss Marsh-Her philanthropic Labours among the 'Navvies '-Anecdotes of her Protégés-Caroline Chisholm-Extract from her Letter to a Friend -Her Work among the Emigrants-Madame de Staël-Early Development of her Genius-Frederika Bremer-Extracts from her DiaryBairy Cornwall's Lines-A. H. Clough quoted-What an English Girl should be-Talents to be rightly used, not wasted-Importance of Diligence-Proper use of Leisure—Sarah Tytler quoted. B IOGRAPHERS give a very pleasant sketch of Anne Baynard, the daughter of an eminent physician of the seventeenth century. She died in the twenty-third year of her age, but had made excellent use of the brief span of days allotted to her. Gifted with considerable intellectual powers, she had cultivated them with great fervour and untiring assiduity; so that, at the time of her premature death, she was well acquainted with philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and physics. Not only was she conversant with these sciences, but, what is more, a mistress of them. At the age of twenty-three, we are told, she had 'the knowledge of a profound philosopher,' and on metaphysical questions was a 'learned and subtle disputant.' She applied herself with much enthusiasm to the study of Greek, that she might have the pleasure of reading in their original language the eloquent writings of St. Chrysostom. In Latin she wrote with much purity and elegance. She possessed, in fact, an acute and comprehensive intellect, an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and a retentive memory. She was wont to declare, in the spirit of Pope's famous saying, and in anticipation of it, that it was a sin to be content with a little knowledge.' In these respects, Anne Baynard might well be cited as an example for English Girls; but she was something more than able, accomplished, and industrious, or I should not mention her in these pages. To her mental endowments she added the fine affections and sweet virtues of the heart; she practised a constant habit of modesty and humility, was pure in thought as in conduct, and regulated all her actions by a high sense of Duty. In her devotions, both public and private, she was constant and pious; in her manners, simple; in her munificence to the poor, unrivalled. Her income was very moderate, but she failed not to lay by a considerable portion of it for charitable uses; while she strove earnestly and ingeniously to promote the mental and moral improvement of all who came within her circle and influence. On her death-bed, this unaffectedly pious maiden earnestly entreated the priest in attendance upon her to encourage the young people of his congregation to tread in the path of wisdom as the only way to real happiness. She could wish, she said, that all young persons might be exhorted to the practice of virtue and the study of philosophy; and more especially to read in that great Book of Nature, in which the wisdom and power of the Creator stand revealed in the harmonious order of the universe, and the production and preservation of universal life. She anticipated the recent teaching of women's capacity for the higher culture: that they are capable, she said, of such improvements as will strengthen their judgment and expand their intelligence, is past all doubt, would they but set about it in earnest; would they but spend in study and thought only half of that time which they give to social vanities and follies. 'It would introduce a composure of mind, and lay a solid basis of wisdom and knowledge, by which they would be better enabled to serve God, and to help their neighbours.' This seems to me a very charming sketch of a graceful and gracious young Englishwoman; such, in truth, as I suppose most fathers would be glad to apply to their daughters in all its pleasant details. It certainly affords a striking contrast to the 'maiden of our own day,' as she too often forces herself upon our notice-bold in demeanour, flippant in speech, obtrusive in dress; without the grace of reticence, without the virtue of reserve; who is often saved from plunging into the maelström of vice only by the indolence which holds her from approaching it. No aspiration after a higher or purer life ever stirs the stagnant inertness of her heart. The weeds of trivial thoughts, PORTRAIT OF A GOOD WOMAN. 275 sometimes the ranker growth of evil passions, thrive in the congenial soil of her uncultivated mind. She does nothing towards the elevation of the social circle to which she belongs; neither by her wise speech nor her admirable conduct does she assert the dignity and authority of her sex. To the large utterances of poets and philosophers she closes her ears; it never occurs to her as a duty that she should make the best possible use of the gifts she has received at the Divine Hands. work that falls to her to do she sets aside; the responsibilities that devolve upon her, as upon each of us, she calmly ignores. She does that which she should not do, and leaves undone that which she ought to have done. And, in the emphatic language of the Prayer Book, there is no health in her. Heart and The mind are all unsound. Her temper riots unrestrained; her tongue yields to evil speech. Where noble deeds are wrought, or noble thoughts spoken, she remains untouched; to no 'higher level' rises her commonplace and vulgar nature. But I must complete my portrait of Anne Baynard, borrowing the following touches from an old writer. For her prudence, piety, and learning, he says, she deserves to have her memory perpetuated. She was skilled not only in the learned languages, but in every branch of literature and philosophy; yet was she free from vanity or affectation. Her words were few, well chosen, and expressive. 'She was seldom seen to smile, being rather of a reserved and stoical disposition-their doctrine, in most parts, seeming agreeable to her natural temper, for she never read or spake of the Stoics but with a kind of delight.' This I take to have been her only or her chief defect; and it arose, perhaps, from some natural infirmity, or from a severe theological training. The religion of Christ, rightly understood, has in it nothing of stoicism, but, on the contrary, favours a wholesome mirth, and promotes the laughter of pure enjoyment. 'She had a contempt of the world, especially of the finery and gaiety of life. She had a great regard and veneration for the sacred name of God, and made it the whole business of her life to promote His honour and glory; and the great end of her |